The battle was about to begin. On one side was Vetto, one of the Dark Triad and an executive of the Eye of the Midnight Sun. On the other were Vanessa, Asta, and Drake of the Black Bulls, with Finral hidden in the shadows—four against one.
While the numbers seemed overwhelmingly in Vetto's favor, battles weren't solely about numbers. Vetto, like a raging beast, exuded an aura that overwhelmed the Black Bulls. Vanessa's threads were easily broken by his magic.
But Vetto's momentum was quickly countered when Drake activated Dragon Blood Mode. The heated air created currents, lifting Drake's dragon scale scarf. His eyes turned vertical, like a dragon spotting its prey.
In an instant, Drake was before Vetto. Their fists collided, creating a suffocating shockwave. Flames behind Drake formed a dragon, roaring at the beastly shadow behind Vetto.
The ground shattered under the force of their clash.
"Damn humans, despair!" Vetto roared, slowly overpowering Drake.
Drake's arm bent, but his face showed no panic.
"We won't despair!"
Flames enveloped Drake's arm, preventing it from bending further. He gathered his strength and sent Vetto flying. He continued his assault.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
The fire pillar engulfed Vetto; it was unimaginable that anyone could survive such intense flames.
"Amazing!"
Vanessa and Asta smiled; Finral, hidden in the shadows, was relieved that the battle was ending without his intervention.
Vetto, covered in smoke, fell but didn't collapse; he stood firmly.
"Let me show you true despair!"
To everyone's astonishment, Vetto's severe burns rapidly healed.
Drake wasn't surprised; Vetto's magic flow was similar to Dragon Blood Mode. Drake's Dragon Force enhanced his combat abilities; Vetto's magic gave him beast-like vitality and rapid self-healing.
Facing an invincible opponent was despair-inducing, but Drake showed no sign of giving up.
"If that level of flame isn't enough…!"
Drake's flames intensified.
"Then I'll increase it to the point of incinerating you!"
Magic power surged from Vetto's right arm, forming a monstrous claw. "Insect, talking big!"
Drake leaped, dodging the claw; it shattered rocks, sending them flying towards him. Vetto aimed at the rocks and Drake. A beast's head emerged from the magic circle.
But Drake, engulfed in flames, smashed through the rocks, appearing before Vetto like a falling meteor. He shattered the beast's head and the magic circle with a single punch.
Vetto was surprised by Drake's strength and ferocity but laughed.
"You're different from ordinary fire mages; you excel in close combat. If I break your arms and legs, you'll despair!"
Drake responded with a Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!
"Try it if you can!"
The punch sent Vetto reeling, but he quickly recovered, his burns healing instantly.
'The healing speed slowed!' Drake noticed.
Drake suspected Vetto's curse magic originated from the demon who truly reincarnated him; only demons possessed such ominous power. This demonic power prevented ordinary magic from stopping his self-healing.
Asta's anti-magic had worked in the original story because it countered even Netherworld demons. Anti-magic was created to kill demons.
Drake's World Magic enhanced his Dragon Slayer magic; it wasn't as strong as Asta's anti-magic, but it wasn't useless. World Magic wasn't strengthened through training but by traversing worlds.
Drake had only traversed two worlds; its power wasn't strong yet. But this battle wasn't unwinnable. He needed to defeat Vetto!
Drake's attacks became sharper. Vetto, his limbs infused with magic power, fought back fiercely.
"That's not human combat!" Vanessa said grimly.
They fought like a lion and a fire dragon, tearing at each other. Vetto endured Drake's punches and swatted him away.
Spitting out blood, Drake dispelled the curse magic from Vetto's attack. Vetto must have noticed the peculiarity of Drake's attacks.
Vetto was surprised by his difficulty in healing, his magic power consumption increasing. Neither gave ground; they charged again.
"Fire Dragon's Wing Beat!"
Drake unleashed two fiery whips. Vetto caught them and tore them apart. He retaliated with magic fangs.
Drake dodged the fangs, accelerating until he left a trail of fire.
"Don't get cocky, trash!" Vetto roared, his magic power becoming more ominous.
Drake kicked the magic claw; the force threatened to break his leg bones.
Drake gritted his teeth. Power-ups weren't just for protagonists! His Dragon Force and magic power were depleting faster than expected; Dragon Blood Mode's duration was shortening.
But there was no turning back. He had to give everything.
Drake fought wildly, exchanging blows.
Vanessa saw Asta step forward with his sword. "Asta, what are you doing?"
Asta gritted his teeth. "Drake's giving everything! I can't just watch! I'll help him!"
Vanessa shook her head. "We can't interfere in that kind of fight!"
"So what!" Asta said resolutely. "I won't give up, not Drake, not this mission!"
Vanessa smiled. "I understand. Let's fight together!"
__________________
for more advance chapters visit patreon.com/bars45.
For 10$- All advance chapters.