Free Web NovelCHAPTER 51 — THE FLAME AND THE ABYSS
The Magma Wyrm roared.
The sound shook the entire mountain.
Molten stone rained from the cavern ceiling as the ancient beast coiled around the shattered arena, its glowing body stretching farther than the eye could follow.
The Dragonkin spectators had already begun evacuating.
Warriors escorted children.
Healers carried the wounded.
No one remained simply to watch.
This was no tournament anymore.
It was survival.
Vespera stood in her Abyssal Queen form.
Dark mist curled around her scales.
Across from her, Elyra spun her spear once before lowering into a fighting stance.
For a heartbeat...
Neither woman moved.
Then Elyra smiled.
"You trust me?"
Vespera smiled back.
"I've trusted you since you warned me about its weak point."
Elyra laughed.
"Good answer."
The wyrm struck first.
Its massive tail crashed downward.
The mountain itself seemed to split apart.
Vespera leapt into the air, beating her wings just enough to avoid the impact.
Elyra charged beneath the falling debris, her spear carving through chunks of molten rock before they could crush fleeing civilians.
No words.
No commands.
Each instinctively protected the people nearest them.
The wyrm inhaled.
Its chest glowed brighter.
Lava gathered inside its jaws.
"Move!" Elyra shouted.
A torrent of molten fire erupted across the arena.
Vespera slammed both hands into the ground.
"Abyssal Wall!"
A towering barrier of black crystal burst from the stone.
The river of lava crashed against it.
The crystal groaned under the unbearable heat.
Cracks spread rapidly.
Vespera gritted her teeth.
"Not... yet..." free𝑤ebnovel.com
With a deafening explosion, the barrier shattered.
But it had bought enough time.
Every civilian had escaped.
The wyrm turned its burning eyes toward Vespera.
This time...
It ignored everyone else.
It had recognized the greatest threat.
"Looks like it likes you," Elyra joked.
"I've had worse first impressions."
Together they charged.
Elyra attacked high.
Vespera attacked low.
The beast couldn't defend both.
Its attention shifted between them, buying each precious openings.
For the first time...
The ancient monster began retreating.
The Dragonkin elders watched in stunned silence.
"They're not stronger than the wyrm..."
One elder whispered.
"They're simply fighting smarter."
The battle stretched on.
Minutes became nearly an hour.
Sweat mixed with ash.
Armor cracked.
Scales split.
Elyra's left arm bled freely.
A deep wound crossed Vespera's shoulder.
Neither stopped.
Finally...
The wyrm reared back.
Its body trembled.
The magma flowing beneath its scales pulsed wildly.
Elyra's expression changed.
"No..."
She whispered.
"It's going to explode."
The oldest elder's face turned pale.
"If its core ruptures..."
"...half the mountain will collapse."
Vespera looked around.
Thousands still remained within the fortress.
There wasn't enough time.
She closed her eyes.
The System chimed.
Warning
Abyssal Core Overload Available.
Estimated Survival Rate:
31%
Elyra grabbed her arm.
"What are you thinking?"
Vespera looked at her.
"I'm thinking..."
"...that someone has to stop it."
"You'll die."
"Maybe."
"No."
Elyra's voice hardened.
"We'll stop it."
"Together."
Without waiting for an answer, Elyra thrust her spear into the ground.
Ancient runes ignited across the arena.
The mountain answered.
Massive chains of glowing stone erupted from the earth, wrapping around the wyrm's body.
The beast roared in fury.
"It won't hold long!"
Elyra shouted.
Vespera nodded.
She understood.
She gathered every fragment of Abyss Essence she possessed.
Dark energy condensed between her hands.
Not into a weapon.
Into a prison.
A sphere of absolute darkness.
The air itself seemed to vanish around it.
The wyrm struggled violently.
Stone chains shattered one after another.
Elyra planted her feet.
She screamed with effort.
One more second.
Just...
One...
More...
Second.
Vespera released the sphere.
Darkness swallowed the blazing core.
For an instant...
The mountain fell completely silent.
Then—
A shockwave erupted.
Not outward.
Inward.
The darkness collapsed upon itself, dragging the unstable magma with it.
The explosion never came.
Instead...
The wyrm's enormous body slowly lost its glow.
Its movements weakened.
With one final mournful cry...
The ancient guardian collapsed.
Silence followed.
No cheers.
No celebration.
Only exhausted breathing.
The System appeared.
Emergency Quest Complete
Protect the Dragonspine Dominion
Success.
Rewards Pending...
Vespera staggered.
Her vision blurred.
Before she could fall—
A strong hand caught her.
Elyra.
"You did well."
Vespera managed a tired smile.
"So did you."
The Dragonkin Princess laughed.
"I suppose..."
"...our duel ended in a draw."
Vespera chuckled weakly.
"I can live with that."
Far above them, the clouds slowly parted.
For the first time in centuries...
The summit of Dragonspine stood untouched after the awakening of its ancient guardian.
And every Dragonkin present knew one truth.
The Abyssal Queen had not come to conquer.
She had come to protect.
End of Chapter 51
