Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1428 - 488: Abnormal Fire Dragon (Part 2)
Previously on Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys...
The intelligence officer, in particular, was crimson with humiliation.
It was vital to recognize that, excluding powerhouses such as the Red Queen Menia, Earth Pulse Reginald, and Rein, the majority of the Imperial Delegation consisted of ordinary individuals. Should the airship succumb to this erratic and sudden fire dragon, their chances of survival would be zero.
Furthermore, the political fallout would be catastrophic if a large portion of the Imperial Delegation perished while within Federation territory.
“Please compose yourself, Vice Chairman. I suggest this is no time for casting blame; immediate combat deployment is our priority.” The refined female parliamentarian, Trena, was the only one with the courage to speak.
Bertrand’s expression softened slightly upon hearing Trena’s sophisticated, feminine voice.
Inhaling deeply to suppress his agitation, he spoke in a heavy tone:
“Admiral Ries, I am placing you in command of the upcoming engagement.”
“Protect the Imperial Delegation’s airship at all costs and eliminate the incoming threat with total resolve!”
“Understood! Vice Chairman,” Admiral Ries replied, offering an immediate salute.
Even though he was unfamiliar with the nature of this bizarre and abnormal fire dragon, he intended to give his all.
“First and second airship wings, accelerate! Establish a lateral bombardment screen!”
“Furthermore, send an immediate request for support to Sword Saint Terrio and Lord Hernandez.”
“...”
As Admiral Ries barked out his commands, they were rapidly transmitted through the ranks.
Two lines of medium-sized airships, five per row for a total of ten, pivoted their headings. They moved swiftly to the front of the hybrid fleet’s flank, positioning themselves to meet the abnormal fire dragon head-on.
At the officers' signals, side-mounted Fire Snakes extended outward, unleashing a torrential downpour of artillery fire!
To the shock of the observers, however, the fire dragon moved with incredible grace despite its massive bulk.
With subtle shifts in its flight path, it dodged the brunt of the bombardment with ease. The few shells that managed to land were unable to even scratch the Protective Fire Ring shimmering on its skin.
Suddenly, the abnormal fire dragon surged forward with a burst of speed, closing a hundred-meter gap in an instant to strike a medium airship at the vanguard.
A massive, razor-sharp Dragon Claw slammed into the airship’s envelope. With a sickening “screech!”, it shredded the giant blimp, leaving gaping holes in its wake.
As hot air escaped violently, the vessel tilted sharply and began a rapid descent toward the earth.
The abnormal fire dragon did not stop there. Twisting its body with immense force, it beat its wings and exhaled a scorching Dragon Breath toward a neighboring airship!
“Whoosh!!!”
The entire blimp of that airship was engulfed in flames, falling even faster than the first.
In a mere seven or eight seconds, the adversary had decimated two fully armed medium-sized airships, demonstrating terrifying lethality!
...
Meanwhile, at the foot of the volcanic peak,
a small group was in the midst of a frantic retreat.
“Pah!”
One man spat out a mouthful of volcanic grit, running for his life while shouting to the brawny, bearded man leading the way.
“General Richmond, that ancient fire dragon ‘Anguskin’ is far more ferocious than we anticipated! A few seconds slower and the lava would have buried us alive.”
“Indeed, the Empire’s prestigious Delegation is going to have their hands full now,” another man added with a smirk.
“Hmm.” Richmond looked up at the two burning airships falling from the sky and smiled broadly.
While he remained stoic before his men, he was internally jubilant.
The more powerful this ‘Anguskin’ ancient fire dragon proved to be, the more likely the Zaral Rebellion’s schemes would succeed.
The rebels had planted an operative within the airship formation to ensure that as the fleet passed this region, they would wake the dormant dragon. Once the beast was stirred, the operative was to unlock the container holding the Heart of Flame.
The Heart of Flame was a rare artifact that provided immense benefits to Fire Element creatures, fire dragons included.
Although the ancient fire dragon might have attacked the fleet on sight regardless, they worried that the presence of the Empire’s two Dragon Knights might scare it off. Sensing another of its kind could have deterred the abnormal fire dragon from engaging.
To ensure the attack proceeded, they had sacrificed the precious Heart of Flame as bait.
Locating the exact lair and sleeping chambers of this ancient fire dragon had cost them a fortune in resources and effort.
Legend spoke of a notoriously bloodthirsty and abnormal fire dragon named ‘Anguskin’ that had vanished mysteriously in ancient times.
....
Back at the heart of the aerial conflict,
a massive column of pale blue water, over ten meters thick, erupted from a medium airship like a crashing waterfall, aimed directly at the abnormal fire dragon. The attacker was Hernandez, the Federation powerhouse who had arrived at the conclusion of the Battle of Gazrian.
“Sizzle! Sizzle!”
The water column’s impact against the dragon’s searing body generated a cloud of steam that blanked the sky for a hundred meters.
The abnormal fire dragon, knocked several dozen meters off course by the high-pressure jet, let out a roar of pure rage!
It beat its wings to stabilize itself, preparing for a counterattack.
Suddenly, a massive cross-shaped blade of light, dozens of meters in length, tore through the steam like a bolt of lightning!
The water column had been a diversion; the cross-shaped sword light was the true killing blow.
The strike came from none other than the Federation’s Sword Saint, Terrio.
“Roar!!!”
The abnormal fire dragon screamed in sudden pain!
The Super Divine Cross Slash from Sword Saint Terrio left a deep, cross-shaped wound on its belly. Curiously, however, no blood leaked from the injury.
“What!” Terrio’s eyes widened in shock.
He was fully aware of the lethality of his ultimate technique.
He and Hernandez had coordinated this simple yet effective ambush, expecting it to cripple the abnormal fire dragon instantly.
To his disbelief, the creature’s resilience far exceeded his calculations.
Hernandez, a middle-aged man in a blue Wizard Robe with a groomed mustache, also cursed, “Damn it, its defenses are too high.”
“Now that it’s on guard, we won’t get another chance for a sneak attack.”
“We need to contact the Empire immediately and demand support from their Dragon Knights.”
...
On the deck of the Imperial Airship,
Rein squinted his eyes, analyzing the cross-shaped gash on the dragon’s hide, and quickly deduced the truth.
The abnormal fire dragon’s strange physiology was likely the result of living in magma for centuries. The heat had fused the lava with its Dragon Scales, creating a unique ‘Molten Armor.’
When combined with the Protective Fire Ring on its skin,
it was no wonder a Sword Saint, even one specializing in high-damage strikes, failed to land a decisive blow.
The infuriated abnormal fire dragon circled once before locking its predatory gaze onto the airship carrying Terrio. It kept its distance, flapping its wings violently.
In response, a massive fire whirlwind, fifty meters tall, spiraled toward Terrio’s vessel!
Faced with the overwhelming force, Terrio was forced to make a desperate leap, jumping to a neighboring airship to escape.
“Boom!”
The airship Terrio had just vacated was obliterated by the abnormal fire dragon’s strike!
The combined effort of Terrio and Hernandez had ended in total failure.
Driven to a frenzy by the Federation’s attacks, the abnormal fire dragon began a head-on charge through the thick of the bombardment.
It dove repeatedly, slicing airships in half or using its talons to snap the heavy metal chains securing the gondolas.
In thirty seconds, the Federation’s fleet lost six more medium airships.
Aboard the Federation’s Giant Airship,
Vice Chairman Bertrand’s face was dark with fury, his expression grim.
“Vice Chairman, Lords Hernandez and Terrio have sent urgent reports. They claim the abnormal fire dragon’s power is beyond their ability to contain,” a messenger reported breathlessly.
“Both lords are requesting that you immediately ask the Imperial Dragon Knights for assistance.”
...