CHAPTER 22: FIRST ENCOUNTER

The shriek turned into a defining roar.

ROAR!!

Every man, woman, and child could hear this roar.

It was not the stray call of a beast. It was the call of a dragon.

Dragons were a feared creature in all of Erebon. Erebon was the world that everyone lived in.

Nobles continued to drop their wine glasses. Women scurried to their carriages. Skirts and coats were blown up by the wind.

The music had died completely, leaving only the sound of rain hitting the marble finishing of the garden.

Alaric’s gaze swept the skyline. In the distance the clouds began to churn. It was unnatural. Lightning flickered randomly in the clouds.

You could see at least 100 different dragons. With one of them at least 6 meters wide in length.

"We have maybe 30 minutes or so before they reach us." Cassius said grimly.

One of his hands tightened as he touched his sword. The crunch of the leather gauntlet he wore was loud.

Cassius’ wyvern let out a low growl. Its wings flared up as it started to move back and forth. The beast was clearly on edge.

Alaric’s voice cut through the chaos. "Adrain! Rally the guard! We’ll meet them out of town to avoid civilians being dragged into this mess!"

"Yes, my Lord!" Adrain shouted as he clenched his left fist and slammed it against his torso. His eyes flickered upward briefly. He knew the danger that was approaching.

"Alright men! You heard our lord. Get your gear and get ready to go into battle. We’re being invaded by dragons. It’s time to earn your keep. It’s not very often we get to go into battle with our lord. Be grateful!" Adrain shouted as he was gleaming with pride.

"My lady! Get the household staff and our children underneath the mansion. Take a few guards. You’ll be safe that way." Alaric shouted.

Lady Genevieve didn’t argue. She kissed and hugged her husband like it was the last time she was going to see him.

Jack stood still, staring into the horizon as he watched the lightning light up the dragon’s frames.

All he could hear was the system’s last words in his head. The dragons were here for him.

He had some combat experience from the dungeons, but dragons were a different story.

--

Guards grabbed their shields, armor, and swords. The Kaiser guards put on their black Armour lined with white silver.

Once the guards were set they began moving towards the town.

’Why are they going into town first?’

"They’re evacuating citizens Jack." Octavaia shouted.

None of the guards spoke, they simply followed orders and made their way to do their rounds.

As Adrain led the guards out, everyone could hear his motivational speech.

"They will come to the city to eat your family. Destroy your home. And burn the women and children alive. We will kill them all before they step foot in the city. Do I make myself clear!!"

"Yes captain!" All the guards shouted in unison.

--

Jack followed Lady Genevieve inside as he talked to his system.

System, what is the utility skill I unlocked?

[Call of the Lightning]

[Description: Channel Lightning inside of your body before releasing it back at an enemy. Passive Skill.]

How much for that skill?

[50 Skill Points.]

Okay let’s convert my vile cores so I have enough Skill Points to buy Thunder Stomp and Call of the lightning.

[Consume 90 vile cores for 45 skill points?]

[YES] or [NO]

Yes.

[Purchase successful.]

[Lightning Mage skill unlocked.]

[Final Skill | Overcharge.]

[Description: The more Lightning you can harness, the stronger your abilities can become. Damage is determined by Lightning × Magic Stat × Magic Talent.]

What in the world? Jack’s draw had just dropped. He just saw a skill that went with his utility skill that could make him a deadly opponent.

How many Skill Points system?

[100 Skill Points.]

Let’s consume vile cores again and do it.

[Do you wish to....]

Yes! Just do it! We don’t have time right now the dragons are close. I need every advantage I can get.

[100 Skill Points added.]

Purchase the skill.

[Congratulations on learning overcharge.]

[You have learned all lightning mage class skills earlier than expected.]

[You have received a new skill.]

[Branded]

[Description: throw a lightning Bolt at the enemy. If it hits, it leaves the enemy branded. If you are within range, your skill will always hit without fail. If enemy is branded increase damage by 3.]

[Cooldown: 24 hours.]

[Mana Cost: 100 Mana.]

"Jack, are you okay!" His mother said as she shook him by the shoulders.

’Yes mother. I just spaced out and I will be perfectly fine.’

"Good, we need to get underneath the mansion right away."

’Why mother? If they’re after me I should be out there with my father.’

"It’s too dangerous Jack." Celeste interrupted.

--

Alaric and Cassius made their way inside to Alaric’s study.

"I’ll hold back first. I know you want to be the first one in the field." Cassius said.

"Fear not friend. Maybe you’ll have a new pet or two when this is over." Alalric chuckled.

After a few minutes of talking Adrian entered and gave a report. "All citizens to the east have been evacuated to the west side. We will continue the evacuation and be on the field with you within 10 minutes."

"Good. Get the ballista’s ready with silver bolts." Alaric shouted.

"At once my lord."

--

Back outside, the rain began to pick up.

The ground began to tremble.

Alaric was by himself standing in a field just waiting patiently. He looked up and saw the dragons.

Wyrms had begun to sprout out from behind the trees as they destroyed everything in their path.

They were 3 meters in length. They had no arms, legs, or wings. The most basic form of a dragon.

Dragons are classified into four tiers. You have wyrms, drakes, wyverns, and dragons.

Each one is distinctive from the next. But even a weak dragon could still destroy a whole town if it wanted to.

Alaric waited patiently as the Wyrm moved close to him. Before the wyrm could strike Alaric, a large silver bolt shot through the sky.

The bolt was 2 meters in length, and it took 4 people to load one bolt. It hummed through the air until it hit the wyrm right in the mouth, impaling it into the ground before Alaric’s feet.

Slowly more thuds were heard from the trees. More and more wyrms began coming from the tree lines.

Then suddenly. Drakes started to appear behind them. Drakes were a type of dragon that had feet, but no wings. They were black and gray on their underside.

By this time the soldiers had reached Alaric and began to form a line.

"Alirght men, let’s start this battle!" Alaric’s voice boomed across the battlefield.