Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 725: Dragon Killer ()

"What is the best way to convince a dragon to partake in a spell of dark magic?..." Asrig’s expression was one of false pondering. "The answer is simple, you don’t."

His tone was casual, almost playful as he passed a look to Rhall whose eyes were wide and horrified.

He twirled an adamantium dagger between his fingers, a small and delicately crafted item it was, sharp and glinting with the promise of a gruesome end.

Adamantium, the only metal that could pierce dragon scale and equally the only metal that could inflict a wound that hindered the supernatural healing ability of dragons, in both human and dragon form.

The most effective weapon to kill a dragon and one no dragon lord would deign to possess or wield.

Small as the dagger was, it was easily concealed beneath the robes. Easy to pass undetected and easy to unleash at close proximity and deliver a lethal strike to an unsuspecting dragon lord.

"What... have you done?... Why?" Rhall stuttered out, his words were barely above a whisper, his horror denying him the right words... just as it had done to Jian.

Neveah’s stomach churned, had this been a true reality, she would already have hurled out the contents of the last meal she had.

Hearing Everon read the records to them was one thing, seeing it with her own eyes was another thing entirely.

Asrig had written honestly and truthfully of the accounts of his escape, admitted to his crimes without remorse because he had known... that respecting his supposed trauma, King Agardan would decree no one was to investigate or look into his privacy, and the writings were documents for future use alone.

But the truth of Asrig’s escape was unlike anything anyone could have ever expected.

The sight before their eyes was sickening and more than that, Neveah’s heart was tightly constricted, just as tightly as Jian’s grip on her hand had become since Asrig had dealt the first stab... straight through the heart of a dragon lord.

And behind Asrig, they trailed as he hid the first body and lay in wait, ambushing the next dragon lord. Three strikes true to the heart...three kills.

Of the five dragon lords thrust into the realm of forlorn beasts for the challenge, there were just two left alive... Asrig and the heavily injured Rhall who had just returned victorious.

Jian held on to my hand so tightly, as though if he eased up his hold, he would fall apart. And how could he not when he had just witnessed his own brother brutally execute their kin?

Not one, but three... and soon to be the fourth kill was Rhall whose resigned expression revealed he could also tell what was to come.

"Why?" Asrig asked with a raised brow. "Because...as much as I loathe my father, I have no intentions of dying here."

"The beasts imprisoned beneath the sea number in hundreds, there will be no end to them. How long can we fight? Look at you Rhall...you have but one battle left in you. It was the same for the rest of them." Asrig gestured at the three bodies he lined side by side, blood pooled on the forest ground.

"A way out... I know the way out. For a dimension anchored on dark magic, just as with any other dark magic spell, there is a heart."

Asrig sighed heavily, crouching down, he dipped his finger into the pool of blood and then begun painting a pattern on the ground.

Neveah squinted slightly, she recognised the pattern. It was amongst the many random doodles Asrig had left on the scroll.

"This dimension was built on dark runes, corrupting magic ley lines. These runes serve as a gateway so to speak, linking our world and this through the corrupted ley lines...on the day we were chosen for the challenge, a corresponding rune was drawn on each of us."

"It formed some form of anchor, pulling us from our world to this world." Asrig explained.

"If you all bothered to study even a little magic, you would understand how runes work...to reverse a spell cast with runes, we need only remove the rune and find it a different host to remain anchored to this realm, while we go free. But to perform a dark rune transfer, a spell of dark magic is needed..."

"But you see, only a piece of the rune was drawn on each of us. Together it forms the entire rune, to be fully rid of it, the spell must be performed by each one of us... and we must choose one sacrifice to carry the full rune."

"Now how do I dare ask the high and mighty dragon lords that they must use their blood and scale to perform a spell to transfer the rune to one of us who will remain here while the rest get home safely?" Asrig left the question hanging.

"Each one of you would rather die and if I leave you to die at the hands of the beast, there may be no body to recover with which to perform the spell... and so, I devised a simple solution. You may all die... with your honour right here, while I return and tell the world of how great and loyal you were, risking your lives for me." Asrig carried on.

"Amongst them all, you are dearest to my father, Rhall. I cannot bear to kill you myself and so you will be... the sacrifice. When you are conscious, I will be gone and you will bear the full rune..." Asrig trailed off again.

"Fly high and fly with honour on your last battle at dawn, Lord Rhall." Asrig inclined his head to a bow.

Before Rhall could speak, a heavy blow to the back of his head claimed his consciousness.

And then Asrig began the spell to transfer the runes whilst Jian and Neveah watched in horror.

There was a sound from afar in the distance... Neveah knew what it meant, the challenge continued.

It took a moment, but it was soon over. Asrig was gone and left behind were three dead dragon lords and the sole challenger, the heavily injured Rhall.

"Dragon... killer..." Jian whispered, his tone hoarse. His voice cracked with despair so potent, Neveah swore she was not sure she could breathe.