Dragon of Legend: Destiny (Published)

Chapter 19

Half of the dragons on the roof of the Academy charged forward. After a few paces, they leaped into the air. The riders who had shot the catapults, jumped onto their dragons and followed in a second wave. They rose to meet those that were rapidly approaching.

Akira sat on top of Redemption, who had stayed behind. She watched as the first two dragons clashed in midair, their riders hacking at each other with their swords while their dragons lashed out with their tails and entwined their necks, each trying to bite the other.

We're outnumbered, Redemption grimaced as Akira watched Gina and Sky disappear in a tangle of dragons.

When two enemy dragons broke through, two Academy dragons responded. They ran forward and jumped into the air, meeting the enemy before they could make it to the roof. One crashed right into the enemy while the second took a more cautious approach and first flew past, snapping at the enemy once before turning around to attack fully.

Akira pushed the helmet onto her head. Fear, mingled with determination, filled her. Let's try to even the odds. She tried to be brave.

Levi, however, seemed to think otherwise. "Stay on the roof!" he commanded before Blaze leapt into the air and joined the fight.

Akira watched in wonder as Levi cut down a rider seconds later. Blaze took care of the rider's dragon. Then, Blaze dodged another dragon and flipped so that he flew over another while upside down. Levi, who somehow managed to stay firmly seated, ran his blade through the unsuspecting rider below him, before Blaze flipped the right way around again.

He's right, Redemption agreed. It won't do any good if we're all up there fighting. Some dragons and riders might land and breach the Academy.

Akira shot a look around. She saw that at least four other riders had listened to Levi and stayed below, waiting with their dragons. They sat tensely, their eyes darting about, following the battle in the air above as they waited for any intruders to drop free and head for the roof.

As the battle unfolded above her, Akira watched in awe as dragons twisted and turned, avoiding lashes and at the same time trying to give their riders an opening to attack. Riders yelled and dragons screamed, sometimes in anger and sometimes in pain.

When Akira saw a few dragons drop from the clump and disappear through the clouds, her stomach knotted. Some dragons took their riders with them. Other riders fell off during battle and their dragons would either attempt to catch them again or die in the process.

As the battle went on, the smell of blood filled the air. It made Akira feel faint as she tried not to gag. Redemption stood still, not put off by either the sight or smell of the battle above. He was tensed and ready, waiting for his prey to come to him.

Then, suddenly, more dragons appeared and landed on the roof. Their riders clutched ready drawn swords; some carried spears and some bows. The riders waiting on the roof charged at them. The thought of death seemed to have evaporated from their minds as the dragons thundered across the roof.

Let's go, Redemption urged.

In reply, Akira drew her sword, trying to calm her shaking hand. She clutched the saddle with the other hand as Redemption leaped forward. He ran right towards a dark green dragon near them. As they drew closer to him and his rider, who was also armed with a sword, Akira felt her fear drain away. It was replaced with pure adrenaline. Her heart pumped faster, matching the pace of Redemption's every stride as she counted his steps.

And then, just like that, she found herself in the middle of the chaos.

Redemption barged right into the green dragon, knocking him and his rider to one side. He followed up by swinging his tail around at them with full force, sending the dragon crashing to the side. Another dragon from the Academy took the opportunity and pounced on him, pinning him down as his teeth tore at flesh. The dragon's scream was cut short.