Dark Dragon: The Summoned Hero Is A Villain

Chapter 331: We’re Here For You

High above the burning academy grounds, Cecilia twisted through the air on wings of fire.

The young Gold Eater Dragon before her snapped its jaws, a missile of blue flame streaking from its mouth.

Cecilia slashed her hand downwards and a sheet of fire erupted in the air before her, intercepting the attack. The two flames collided with a violent hiss, red and blue devouring each other in a spiraling vortex before detonating.

But Cecilia was already on the move. She shot forward on wings made of fire, a sword made from the same fire forming in her grasp.

She swung with all her strength, and the sword cut through the dragon’s flank, leaving a glowing line along its golden scales. The dragon screeched and twisted, tail whipping around.

Cecilia rolled under it, slashing again at the joint of its wing. Another shallow cut.

Her jaw tightened. The dragon’s A-rank scales were too tough, and her sword skill was B-rank. Against anything lesser, it would have cut deep down to the bone, but against this, it barely went deeper than the skin beneath the scales.

The dragon lunged, claws flashing. Cecilia blocked it with a burst of flame, flying backwards in retreat. Then she let herself drop, flipping as a second stream of blue fire passed inches above her.

She could not overpower it, which meant she had to outmaneuver it.

A piercing cry rang out across the battlefield.

Cecilia’s head snapped towards the sound just as her phoenix burst through a column of smoke, its wings blazing brighter than before. The phoenix banked sharply and dove.

It slammed into the dragon from above, talons digging deep into its shoulders. This time, the scales gave way, and its fire sank deep into the dragon’s flesh.

The dragon shrieked in pain.

Cecilia surged forward, driving her sword towards the exposed wound. The sword punched into the softened scale and bit an inch deep before stopping. She twisted, ripping the sword free as the phoenix tore upwards, forcing the dragon to turn and snap at it.

They began to fight in rhythm.

When the dragon lunged at Cecilia, the phoenix raked its flank. When it twisted to face the phoenix, Cecilia hammered at its neck and wings.

The sky burned red around them.

Then out of nowhere, a massive sphere of water smashed into the phoenix’s side.

Steam exploded in the air, and the phoenix’s flames dimmed violently, its form destabilizing as it was hurled backwards.

Cecilia’s eyes widened.

Standing atop the churning sphere of water was a cloaked man, his robes snapping in the wind. His hand was raised casually, as if the attack had required no effort at all.

The dragon took the opportunity, diving towards Cecilia.

She twisted away, heart hammering, and glanced down at the academy grounds, and her stomach dropped at the sight.

Cloaked figures streaked across the battlefield, cutting through the academy’s defenders. Whatever was thrown at them didn’t seem to slow them for long.

Cecilia turned back to see that the cloaked man before her vanished. She reacted instantly, eyes widening as she tried to teleport. But it was too late.

Pain exploded through her ribs as his fist struck her from the side, the impact compressing the air itself. The world spun as she was sent flying.

She crashed into the ground, the stone around her fracturing outwards in a crater around her.

For a moment, everything was white noise. Her vision swam and she blinked rapidly, trying to stabilize it. She forced air into her lungs and rolled onto her side, pushing herself upright.

She looked up to see a hooded woman standing a few feet away. But the most unnerving thing she felt was hot breath washing over her neck.

It was as if a giant hand had gripped her heart, sending fear running through her veins. She turned slowly to see the adult dragon standing behind her, its massive head lowered and red eyes fixed on her.

Its jaws were slightly open, white heat glowing in its throat. This was a warning. If she moved recklessly, she would die.

The hooded woman laughed softly at the expression on her face.

"Oh, don’t look so alarmed," she said, voice light. "You’re quite safe. For now."

Cecilia’s eyes hardened as she turned to the hooded woman. "Who are you?"

The woman dipped her head slightly. "You may call me Lady in Dark."

Cecilia’s mind raced. She recognized the name. This was the person that had attacked Noah during the Winter Ball.

"What do you want?" she demanded.

Lady in Dark stepped closer, boots crunching over broken stone. "You."

Her gaze flicked meaningfully to Cecilia’s hand.

"Or rather," she continued, "what you’re carrying."

Cecilia’s stomach tightened. She was after her spatial ring, and there was only one item inside it worth orchestrating an assault of this magnitude.

The golden dagger.

The one thing her dead brother had given her to protect. The one capable of tearing a hole to the abyss.

Lady in Dark extended her hand towards Cecilia, palm up.

"Hand it over."

Cecilia’s thoughts raced. Should she teleport? No. The dragon would incinerate her before her fire could envelope her. What about attacking Lady in Dark? An even bigger no. She’d simply die for nothing.

Lady in Dark sighed, viewing Cecilia’s thoughts in real time.

"You really must stop thinking so loudly," she said mildly. "I can see each option forming before you commit to it, you know."

Cecilia’s blood ran cold.

The woman leaned closer, her voice dropping into something more personal.

"So tell me, Princess... will you give it willingly? Or shall I take it from you?"

Cecilia’s gaze flicked sideways as four more cloaked figures landed around them, two to her left and two to her right, forming a tight semicircle.

The dragon’s breath grew hotter behind her, reminding her that there were more ways to die right now.

Lady in Dark’s smile widened.

That was when a brilliant circle of light formed to the right. Every head turned away at the radiance, and those who were too slow were temporarily blinded by the brightness.

The light faded away an instant later to reveal several figures. The elite mages of Camelot had finally arrived.

Mana rolled off them like heat from a forge. Most were A-rank, Cecilia could tell instantly, but her gaze locked onto the three at the front.

On the right stood Irina Valey, darkness coiling around her, making her robes a deep dark blot in the night. A long scythe rested in her hand, its curved blade a surprisingly bright shade of metal. She looked like the grim reaper, here to collect souls.

On the left stood the Stormborn. His hood was down, revealing shoulder length dark blue hair that whipped in the wind and eyes the color of a violent ocean. Lightning crackled faintly around his fingertips.

And in the center, was the High Magus of Camelot.

Edric.