The Elementiels

Ch. 18: ATTACK ON DRAGON

The earth quaked as the massive dragon burst from the ground, its gaping jaws descending toward Ben in a blur of terror and shadow. Before he could react, Frank surged forward with the speed of desperation, grabbing Ben by the arm and yanking him out of the dragon’s maw just as its teeth snapped shut with a deafening crunch. 

Both boys tumbled to the ground, dust swirling around them. “You alright, Ben?” Frank asked.

Ben blinked, still catching his breath. “Yeah… yeah, I’m good. Thanks for the save.” He glanced at the beast now circling them. “How did you know it was coming?” 

Frank hesitated, his gaze lingering on the patch of earth where the dragon had emerged. “I don’t know. I just… felt it, like a warning ringing in my head.” 

Ben raised an eyebrow as he dusted himself off. “Woah, I didn’t realize these new armors came with a built-in sixth sense.” 

Frank shook his head, his tone resolute. “It wasn’t the armor. It was… something else.” 

The ground trembled again, and both of them turned to face the dragon as it prowled closer. Ben gripped his sword tightly and assessed the creature with a practiced eye. “Judging by its energy level, it’s a middle-class B dragon. Tough, but manageable.” 

Frank smirked, his confidence returning. “Good. Let’s take it down.” 

With a sharp battle cry, the two raced toward the beast, their movements fluid and synchronized. Ben darted left, slashing at the dragon’s flanks, while Frank leapt onto its back, stabbing deep into its head. Their relentless assault overwhelmed the beast, forcing it to collapse with a guttural roar before falling still. 

Elsewhere in the forest, a lightning dragon soared above the treetops, raining bolts of electric fury down on the students below. Victor narrowly dodged a strike that splintered a tree beside him, his armor crackling with residual energy. He exhaled sharply, glancing up at the sky. “If it weren’t for this armor, we’d all be fried by now.” 

The dragon roared and dived, its talons outstretched. Victor hurled one of his swords with precision, the blade striking the creature’s wing and sending it careening to the ground in a violent crash. He smirked, brushing off his hands. “See? That wasn’t so—” 

Before he could finish, the dragon rose again, its jaws opening wide to unleash a retaliatory strike. An explosive arrow streaked through the air, embedding itself in the dragon’s maw before erupting in a burst of fire and smoke. Victor shielded his face from the blast as the beast collapsed for good. 

When the dust settled, he looked up to see Cynthia approaching, her bow still in hand. She smirked, offering him a hand. “Looks like you’re the one who needed saving this time.” 

Victor chuckled as he let her help him to his feet. “I had it under control, you know.” 

“Sure you did.” Cynthia’s teasing tone softened as she glanced around, her eyes narrowing when another dragon emerged from the trees, its acidic breath hissing as it sprayed toward them. 

Victor raised his shield, blocking the attack. The acid sizzled on impact, but the reinforced metal held firm. 

“Nice reflexes,” Cynthia remarked, nocking another arrow. 

Victor smirked. “Let’s take this one down together.” 

“Right,” Cynthia said, her voice steady as they moved in unison toward the charging beast. 

On another battlefield, Beatrix stood amid a pile of dragon carcasses, her breathing steady despite the chaos around her. Her blade gleamed with blood and sparks of residual lightning as she surveyed her surroundings.