I Ascend Alone-Chapter 126: The Birth of National Level Part V

Orion Graves, ever the embodiment of raw power, was the first to break the lull in the action. His massive frame seemed to gather the very air around him as he took a running leap, propelling himself high into the air.

The ground trembled beneath him, and for a moment, the battlefield seemed to slow as every eye tracked his movement.

Clutched in his hands was the Obsidian Greatsword, its blackened blade glistening in the firelight as he soared toward Pyraethrax.

He twisted midair, the sword held in both hands, his focus laser-sharp. As he descended, the weight of the sword was a force unto itself, creating a distortion in the air as it cleaved through the atmosphere.

The dragon raised its molten head, roaring in fury, but it couldn't quite react fast enough.

Orion's strike came down hard, the massive blade cutting through the air with enough force to crack the ground. The sword collided with the dragon's head with an explosive crash. Pyraethrax howled in pain as the blade embedded deep into its scales, but it wasn't enough to fell the creature—not yet.

With a snarl, the dragon twisted its head, attempting to shake off the assault. Its molten tail whipped violently, aiming to send Orion flying, but the veteran Hunter was ready.

His feet slammed into the dragon's skull for leverage, and with a mighty grunt, he ripped the blade free, leaping backward just as the tail's flames singed the space where he had been.

Not far behind, Mirae saw the opening created by Orion's strike and immediately reacted. Her spear, began to glow with an golden light, the energy building up around the weapon as she focused her magic. Mirae's form flickered for a split second as she vanished into the shadows of her own speed, reappearing in front of the dragon's gaping maw.

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With a swift motion, Mirae lunged forward, her spear aimed directly at the dragon's head. The spear shimmered with arcane energy, crackling with the force of a hundred storms, as it darted forward with inhuman precision.

The spear's tip struck Pyraethrax's molten eye with an explosion of light, and for a brief moment, the dragon recoiled, momentarily blinded by the force.

Pyraethrax screeched in agony, its massive wings flapping with such ferocity that the resulting shockwave sent debris flying. The force of the wind was enough to knock Mirae off balance for a fraction of a second, but she regained her stance midair, twisting away from the dragon's retaliatory claws.

With the head of the dragon disoriented from the combined attack of Orion and Mirae, the other S-Ranks surged forward, sensing an opportunity.

Celestine Ardent raised her staff high, summoning more arcane energy. This time, her spell was different—darker, more potent. A massive rune of destruction appeared in the air above her, glowing with a dark purple light.

With a sweeping gesture, she sent a pulse of energy forward, a wave of dark magic cascading toward the dragon. Pyraethrax, still reeling from the blow to its eye, barely had time to respond. The dark magic slammed into its chest, sending it tumbling backward with a roar of pain.

Meanwhile, Cain Voss, ever the shadow, seized the moment. He was already behind the dragon, a blur of motion as he darted between the massive legs.

His twin daggers flashed with deadly precision, aiming for the dragon's vulnerable spots—its underbelly, the joints between its scales, anything that could give him an edge. His movements were almost imperceptible, slipping through cracks in the dragon's defenses like water through a sieve. Each strike was calculated, aiming to weaken Pyraethrax, to open it up for a killing blow.

But Pyraethrax, despite the assault, was no mere beast—it was an ancient terror. The dragon let out a deafening roar, one that reverberated through the air and struck with the force of a shockwave. With a flick of its molten wings, it sent a burst of fire sweeping across the battlefield, scorching everything in its path.

Mirae, knowing the incoming attack would be devastating, raised her spear, calling upon her defensive magic. A shield of shimmering golden light formed in front of her, and Celestine quickly reinforced the barrier with her own protective spells. Even Orion gritted his teeth, his muscles tightening as he prepared to absorb the attack.

The fire slammed into the combined shields of the S-Ranks, the heat so intense that it warped the very air around them.

The explosion of flames consumed the space, sending shockwaves through the ground and the nearby barrier, but the magical shields held strong.

Still, the force of the blast sent the group stumbling backward, and the dragon's malicious laugh filled the air as it reared back, preparing for its next attack.

In that moment, I felt a slight tremor through the ground as Agent Hale stepped closer to me, his face unreadable. Behind him, President Vaughn remained stoic, observing the battle with a calculating gaze.

"Their coordination is impressive," Hale murmured, his eyes scanning the battlefield as the five S-Ranks regrouped. "But Pyraethrax is an ancient creature. It won't fall easily."

I nodded slowly, my eyes never leaving the dragon as it unleashed another fiery torrent.

The media around the barrier was in a frenzy, capturing every moment of the fight. The world was watching—everyone was waiting to see if these five legendary Hunters could finally bring down the creature that had terrorized so many for centuries.

"Stay sharp," Hale added, glancing at me. "This isn't over yet."

The battle came to an abrupt halt, the roar of flames fading into a heavy silence. For a moment, everything seemed still—too still. The S-Ranks, having just unleashed their most powerful attacks, stood at the ready, weapons raised, eyes narrowed. But Pyraethrax—impossibly—was not only standing tall once more, it was regenerating at a terrifying speed.

The molten scales of the dragon began to heal before their eyes, the gashes left by Orion's blade and Mirae's spear knitting together as though the wounds had never existed.

The burns from Celestine's dark magic flickered and dissipated, leaving no trace of the damage. It was as if the beast had never been struck at all.

Orion's silver eyes widened slightly, disbelief momentarily flickering across his usually stoic face. He tightened his grip on the Obsidian Greatsword, his voice cutting through the silence. "Impossible..."

"Just what kind of monster is this?" Cain muttered, his eyes locked on the creature's regenerating body. His daggers glowed faintly in his hands, but even he knew that this battle was going to take more than simple speed and precision.