Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1413 - 1412 - Trap of Hatred

The surviving dragons were not the only ones trapped in the dome. Humans, demons, aether children, and even a few Elementals appeared. They were all at least Radiant Tier Immortals but regardless of their relationships, they were all united now.

Blasts of lightning, fire, gravity, and any kind of attack launched at the vile dragon.

It was about as effective as a screen door on a submarine.

"How could these bastards allow this? They hate Fiends like the rest of us!" A human man with flowing dark hair and pale blue robes shouted his frustration. He was casting ice with lightning but it was not even putting a scratch in their enemy.

They all knew they were doomed but the sudden laughter drew them up short.

{Allow? You think I tricked them? This was their idea! Especially the tool I am using now! He volunteered before I could even try any of my usual tricks!} The group did not believe a word of it but the black claw pointed at the emerald dragon at the far edge of the barrier.

A flash of understanding went through some of the demons but the others did not understand. The Fiend seemed happy to explain, as if it was proud or something. It was definitely in no danger currently.

{Hate is a wonderful thing. You all have rivalries or even outright dislike but hate is so damned helpful. It blinds you to the truth or lets you avoid looking at reality. In the pursuit of hate you won't even see death closing in until it is too late to stop it!} The rest felt a shiver down their spine as the Fiend dragon waved his wings to ascend.

The large black body was scarred but it could no longer be hurt by them. The Heavenly Wrath also seemed lost. It was like it could not lock onto its target anymore.

{I see many of our allies are here. Unwitting allies true, but you are all such useful fools. The Seven Petals Guild is practically our information network at this point. The Sworn Blood Sect resists so much despite all the elders practically in our pocket! I could go on!} A few figures flinched at its words but the others also doubted its words.

Fiends were masters of sowing distrust and due to their loss of numbers, they had become less direct of late. Insinuation was far more dangerous than any weapon held in the hands.

"We would not dare fall for your clear tricks, monster!" A woman with skin the color of green and tan conjured a dirt filled tornado. It swirled horizontally at the dragon but it simply huffed its vile breath and the attack scattered into a gentle breeze.

{Child of the Heavens, you should not cast the first stone of all here. Your Dancing Light Sect is the most traitorous of all! Your hatred for humans and demons has allowed us to use you many times in the past and now present. Again, all your ideas! I love hatred}

Its vile words rang true that time. The Dancing Light Sect had suffered stunning revelations the day of the Fiend Frenzy. Half their elders and many prominent members were revealed to be Fiend thralls!

The aether child woman screamed as she flew at the dragon. None tried to stop her but some closed their eyes at what was to come.

A new vortex formed from the maw of the dragon. Her screams of rage turned to horror as her soul was ripped from her body. The flailing form of soul made all shiver as they understood why it was talking so much.

It was simply toying with its food.

{Like I said, I love hatred so much. The fools who let it blind them will dance in the palm of their own destruction with a smile.} The soul was about to be swallowed when a massive spike of power was felt from far away.

A solid beam of emerald light sliced into the vortex and finally had an effect. The beam also went into the mouth of the dragon and it screamed in pain!

Briefly, cracks of emerald light formed around its mouth.

Its disturbing eyes locked onto the massive dragon that now held a soul in its front left claw gently.

[Hatred is a trap if allowed to run free. It truly is the downfall of all who let it guide them, but it is not without purpose. Hatred of you makes me cautious but it is also why you underestimate us.] Lind Frey's words felt like a revitalization after the dark revelations.

He was powerful for his cultivation realm but even he could not add enough to their power. His attack had worked but only a bug bite compared to any kind of threat.

{I grant that, but my Lord has given the order. Your soul will be sent directly to him once I ascend in this body. The Heavens can't stop–} Lind Frey suddenly vanished. All swept their auras out but none more so than the Fiend dragon.

Could he have escaped. The group in the air felt like they had become nothing but an audience at that point. Emerald dragon and Fiend dragon began a chase around the enclosed space.

None understood the point of it. They were all going to die, worse, be consumed, by the Fiend but a few noticed a sliver of prismatic light flash as a ryuu suddenly dove into the ruins of the Stonehide Clan.

"What is that woman trying to do? The barrier control is clearly with that Fiend. It would not simply abandon the ruins otherwise." Many nodded and returned to watching Lind Frey essentially play tag with the dragon.

It was the Elemental that noticed an oddity first. He looked around and seemed to understand something.

"We need to land and protect ourselves. Something is coming!" Normally, they would ignore a race that was deeply in the minority and often disdained others, but the current situation was far from normal.

The group swiftly descended and erected barriers with Arts or artifacts. All felt it then.

Black clouds gathered and even the Fiend dragon gave pause. Divine power! It was Divine power!

[Eat this!] Lind Frey's voice was heard as emerald lightning descended. Finally, after easily stopping all their earlier attacks, the lighting caused the dragon to scream in true pain. Yet, it was scattered.

It struck randomly and they realized Lind Frey could not truly control it.

"So, the reports about the spiders were true. Lind Frey has the ability to summon a Dao Storm Art." The Storm Arts were known to be a 6 elemental specialty. They ranged from supportive to offensive. They could produce frustrating obstacles to attacks at an intensity few could fend off continually.

They had many downsides, usually the time it took to set up, but once enacted, the Storm Art had to be dealt with as the caster no longer was the issue.

The Fiend dragon clearly tried to resist but it seemed especially weak to the lightning.

{DAMN YOU!} The Fiend dragon screamed as its left wing was shattered by a bolt of emerald lightning. Unprotected Stonehide Dragons also were struck.

Strangely, they did not die but were in clear pain. So it was not only the direction but the intensity that could not be controlled either. The Fiend was just especially weak to whatever the Dao Storm was based on.

They also saw the toll it took on Lind Frey. His movements were once so fast even the best speed masters among them could not keep up, but now he was slow. The Fiend dragon could not get near him so long as the Storm Art was up, but how long could an Immortal keep a Dao Storm Art working?

{You are only making me angry! This is surprising but not lethal to me! This body will die but I will survive long enough to fulfill my–} The Fiend dragon suddenly looked at the ruins. They were all confused but laughter drew their attention.

Lind Frey was laughing heartily.

[What was it you said? You love hatred. I even warned you but you did not listen. Hatred has its uses.] The echo of the Fiend dragon's words made several smile in dark joy.

The Fiend dragon ignored him, however, as it shot towards the Ruins, yet emerald lighting struck as if expecting it. Lind Frey now turned back into a human and his exhaustion was clear but they had been wrong.

He did have some control over the Storm Art. It was simply very costly to him.

{You will serve as food for the Great One and watch as all creation falls under–} Something shifted. The dome broke and the Heavenly Wrath finally had a target.

{NO–!} The Fiend was struck dead on with golden, crimson, and all colors known of lightning. The dragon body was disintegrated and a humanoid man was revealed.

His ash grey skin and white hair were clear.

Yet, what had changed? It was not the feeling of a barrier being taken down, it was more like something else had shifted. A demoness with 6 swords strapped to her body suddenly laughed!

"Brilliant! The masters of this land are dead! The Stonehide Clan's intent was weakened by the Fiend itself! They laid claim to the land!" The Fiend was roasting in the lightning as they all relaxed but then the lightning was forcibly dismissed.

A burnt and injured Fiend floated in midair, but he was alive.

"That–was–unpleasant." The hope died as they realized a Divine Fiend was not so easy to defeat! The Storm Art had been dispersed by the Heavenly Wrath.

They all prepared to flee when the very earth began to shake and a different sensation spread through the Immortals. Even the Fiend was brought up short in shock before he swiveled to Lind Frey, or where he had been before.

"NO! It is not possible! The conditions have not–!" The vile voice was cut short by Lind Frey, himself.

[On the contrary. You very neatly set up the conditions for me. Every step of the way, the Fiends have laid a path I have happily walked to bring you down. The Great Bastard can hear me so enjoy what is about to happen. Know, you have made this all possible!]

The Immortals' eyes went wide as it was no longer a simple claim of land going on. It was something only heard of in legend and had not occurred in many billions of years!

A Throne was being born!