The Dark Dragon's Vessel: Throne of Ash and Shadow

Guiding Light

"Dodge to your right!"

Well, this wasn't exactly the help he had expected, but it was still help. Azel was somehow able to predict Valdis' attacks, it's like she had perfected his pattern of attacks. He didn't know how, but he didn't question it, a wise man said "If it works, don't mess with it."

He stepped to his right and watched a sword slash the air beside him.

"Counter it!"

He didn't have to say that twice. Max gripped his sword and redirected it at Valdis who was still recovering after the attack, but the reaper was able to evade it.

'What kind of speed is that!'

This damn reaper looked like he was enjoying himself, he wasn't taking things seriously. But he could use this, he told his dark matter to go to his feet, then to go to the ground.

"Jump!"

As he jumped he looked down, where he saw a wolf made out of electricity run to where he was, he was just milliseconds away from not being able to evade it. Was this guy getting faster, that couldn't be possible!

As he was in the air, Max created some black matter on his back and shaped it into tentacles.

"Sadly for you, that isn't going to work again."

He looked at the giant tentacle flying at him and was about to dodge it when something wrapped around his feet. Max's plan had worked, it was a stupid plan but it worked, only reason for its success being Valdis's negligence and pride. But as Max was happy with his plan a thunder destroyed the tentacle.

He didn't think the reaper would actually deflect and attack instead of destroying it.

"In front of you!"

Max quickly turned his head to look at what was coming, it was a lasso of electricity. He managed to dodge it, but as he was checking his breath he was hit to the ground by a kick, hitting the ground a wound opened from his forehead. But the attacks weren't done, he was picked from the ground and punched directly in the face, breaking his nose.

Valdis gripped his sword and slashed Max, making a deep cut. Then he backed away.

Max's feet were wobbling, he could hardly stand. He had spent two years training to be able to stand a chance against the Dragon King, but he couldn't even touch his right hand. Was he this weak?

...

"Noble hearts are blessed with a test, complete it and all the power in the world will be yours. Until then take this small portion."

Where was this girl's voice coming from, and what was she talking about? A small portion of power what did that mean?

But then a sudden flash of light started coming from his wounds healing him.

'Light?'

After healing his wounds it continued flowing through his body, arriving at every one of his limbs.

'I appreciate the help... but I don't want your power, I can do this on my own!'

Dark Matter started wrapping his whole body eating the light.

Valdis seeing this was baffled, but also very invested, it was like a solar eclipse. The darkness was eating the sun.

After the Dark Matter successfully devoured the light, it returned to Max's soul, and he could feel a difference.

"Well, looks like you were chosen to participate in the Guiding Light Test."

'I don't want this power, I don't want to be a slave to whoever that this light is. I will continue to devour it until it gives up! I don't need its mercy.'

"Really? It looks to me like you really need some he-"

He felt a sharp pain in multiple spots on his body, as some spikes impaled him.

"Checky bas-"

He screamed in pain, as the spikes started rotating and drilling inside.

But for Max, this wasn't enough, he dashed and gave back the punch from earlier. But one became two then three.

Blood stained his hand, the blood of the person who caused him so much trouble.

After being beaten up, Valdis was finally able to escape the spikes. They backed up and prepared for a clash. Max transferred all his power into his sword, leaving only the pillow of dark matter outside it, and then dashed to his opponent.

The reaper did the same, but after being trapped by some spikes that were actively drilling inside of him his speed reduced. There was no way he could lose this clash!

"I told you already Valdis, use your dragon powers second phase. Your attacks deal too little damage inside the first."

Ok, who invited all of these voices? But this wasn't a voice, Max's face reddened as he looked at the Dragon king standing beside the reaper.

But actually, it was good that he came. He now could see his right hand get defeated by a kid.

'Huh, I fell cold?'

And now he found himself pierced by a blade, in front of him was Valdis, who looked like he wasn't about to fall unconscious just a moment ago, he now had some weird horn on his head. This was the second phase of a dragon's powers.

...

When he woke up he found himself in a cell, a prison cell.

'Not again!'

Memories of what happened earlier started flying into his mind. He had blacked out due to blood loss.

"So you have woken up? Good."

Surprised he looked up, where he saw someone he didn't want to see. He felt a bit embarrassed.

'Hey... been a while Fay.'

"We need to talk."

***

Name-Max Solutus.

Class- Swordsman.

Style- Augmenter.

Soul capacity- CCC Rank.

Drives- Blue Lightning and Dark Matter.

Species- Dragon Vessel.

Guild's titles- The Dark Dragon's Vessel,

People's title- none.

Soul class- Ruby.

Final ranking- CC Rank.

***