Ashen Dragon

The expansive dragon wings unfurled, slowly flapping, blocking the sunlight over the knights, the enormous dragon's body hovering in the air, its edges seemingly gilded with a golden trim.

Just as the rumors described: golden vertical pupils, a robust body, menacing horns, and thick scales...

Under the overwhelming presence of the Dragon's Might, the Lionheart Knights held their breath. This was "Infernal Calamity" Cassius, the epitome of pride and brutality, the Red Dragon who single-handedly demolished thirty thousand allied forces, and their target for this mission.

At this moment, everyone couldn't help but waver in their hearts.

This thing was utterly invincible. How could they ever fantasize about killing such a dreadful monster?

That monster in the sky opened his mouth, revealing fangs, wreathed in searing white smoke that could distort the air.

"I hear... you want to slay a dragon?"

Sparks danced in those golden vertical pupils.

Frederick looked up at the sky, his expression frozen.

"Tarik, did you die at the hands of such a monster...?"

"Even an excellent knight like you perished in a sea of flames. How can I possibly defeat it?"

He instinctively rubbed the pocket watch in his hand, shaking his head and muttering to himself.

"Captain! What should we do?"

But soon his subordinate's reminder snapped him out of his daze, realizing they were on a battlefield, at a life-or-death juncture!

Years of training had made it instinctual. The "Black Lion Knight" raised his Sword of Oath, commanding in a loud voice, "Everyone, listen up! Protection link!"

The Lionheart Knights simultaneously raised their Silver Swords, which emitted dazzling light. As Holy Oath Magic took effect, luminous chains connected them, ultimately linking more than twenty of them together. They all raised their heavy shields, forming an indestructible radiant fortress.

They fought and defended as one, covering each other.

Damage hitting any member would be distributed among the more than twenty of them.

This made the Lionheart Knights a moving fortress on the battlefield, both impenetrable in defense and devastating in attack. Any commander would dread seeing dozens of Lionheart Knights charging at their position; they were known as the "Lion's Bastion."

Cassius still hovered in the sky, leisurely flapping his wings as he observed the knights below.

"Is this the tortoise shell Dolores mentioned?"

"Interesting."

The Ashen Kingdom's forces had completely surrounded the area. Cassius had no worries the knights would escape; instead, he grew curious and wanted to study this special sub-class of the Boske Family: the [Lionheart Knights].

With this in mind, Cassius swung his claws towards the ground.

[Scratch Technique]

The barely discernable claw-shaped Magical Field materialized before the Red Dragon, and with a casual wave of his claw, this magical power was directed at the Lionheart Knights on the ground.

Frederick looked at the gigantic claw marks descending from the sky, his face immediately tense, shouting loudly:

"Everyone, defensive stance!"

A light "swish" was heard as the Lionheart Knights uniformly raised their Silver Shields, engraved with lion emblems, forming an airtight defense with the shields above their heads.

"Skrriiiik—"

As the ear-piercing sound of metal scraping echoed, three narrow, penetrating scars appeared on the giant shield.

The tremendous force transmitted through the shields to everyone, nearly breaking their formation with a single swipe.

"Hold it!"

Frederick roared.

As the luminous chains flickered alternately, the vast force was distributed among each Lionheart Knight, making their faces contorted and sweat bead on their foreheads.

To withstand Cassius's attack and disperse the force, they even pressed shallow pits into the ground.

Cassius looked at the still tightly packed shield formation, amazed, and remarked:

"Tsk tsk, quite a sturdy tortoise shell, no wonder it gave Dolores so much trouble."

Though it was just a casual dragon kin spell, given Cassius's current spell power and his inherent strength, even a random attack could easily handle a typical high-rank warrior.

"So, can you withstand the flames?"

Cassius narrowed his eyes, gently opening his jaws.

Fiery light surged from deep in his throat. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire

"Boom!"

Immediately, scorching flames poured from the Red Dragon's mouth, surging toward the Lionheart Knights on the ground.

"It's Dragon Breath!"

The adjutant loudly reminded.

"So hot, so scalding."

That was what everyone felt in their hearts.

Feeling the blistering heat, the Lionheart Knights immediately thought of the rumor of the "Infernal Calamity" incinerating the allied forces with flames.

But they didn't know this was just a controlled breath attack by Cassius.

Facing these terrifying flames, the Lionheart Knights instinctively wanted to disperse and flee. Sweating profusely, their hands holding swords trembled slightly. Yet years of training made them stand firm without orders.

"Don't run, scattering only means quicker death!"

"If you want to live, withstand the pressure!"

Frederick commanded harshly.

The Lionheart Knights maintained their giant shields to fend off the sky, a thin layer of light appearing outside the shields, resisting the continuous fire assault.

"Lion Spirit Guardian!"

The "Black Lion Knight" Frederick finally issued a fierce roar.

— This was the trump card of the Lionheart Knights. They could summon a Radiant Spirit Body, uniting all knights' indomitable wills to attack the enemy.

A colossal lion phantom emerged from the tightly packed formation of the Lionheart Knights, vivid and roaring, momentarily holding back the flames, even showing signs of launching a counterattack.

"That's it!"

"We are the invincible Lionheart Knights!"

Frederick shouted, inspiring his comrades just like he remembered Tarik did, hoping to be as invincible and brilliant as the White Lion Knight.

"Oh?"

"An interesting spell, it's still a biting tortoise."

Cassius beheld this Lion Spirit Body with interest.

In his view, the combined might of the Boske's Lionheart Knights far surpassed Rackman's Northwind Eagle Guards. Their systematic Holy Oath Magic abilities were unmatched by those mere flying Eagle Guards.

"Such thick defenses, it would be a pity not to test their limits."

"So, let me play with you a bit."

A malicious grin appeared on Cassius's face.

Frenzied fire elemental energy flowed through his blood vessels into his lungs, eventually erupting.

The flames suddenly intensified, and the temperature soared. The lion spirit body that had barely held on before now wailed, gradually deteriorating into illusion amidst the encircling flames.