novelraw Chapter 123
Chapter 123
[Potential: √]
[Capabilities: √]
[Growth Progress: √]
[Personality: √]
[Majesty: Inconsistent]
[Resolve: Lacking]
[Tactics: Lacking]
[Swordsmanship: √√]
[Mana: √√]
[Connections: √]
...
[Bloodline: ]
[Power: ]
[Summary: ]
The quill hovered, its writer poised in the bamboo canopy.
Suddenly, Isolde looked up, her gaze sweeping the exact spot where the observer hid.
Rustle...
A light breeze stirred the leaves. Nothing.
Was it just the wind? Was she just being paranoid? Isolde's gaze returned to her opponent.
High above, the black-clad figure remained motionless, shielded by five concentric, transparent rings of magic. The observer looked down at the girl and finally lowered the quill to the notebook.
[Bloodline: √√√]
Isolde refocused on Thea. The wyvern was powerful, with a potential no less than Leona's. At the same tier, Leona had no clear advantage. Her eyes flickered to the creature's vast, black wings. Actually, it's a disadvantage. That one can fly.
She rested a small hand on Leona's armored head. "You can do this, Leona!"
[Yes... Master.]
In a formal duel, a summoner's role was supportive, not strategic. The beasts fought on instinct. Unless it was a true deathmatch—where summoners were known to draw greatswords or pull out Gnomes muskets—they were often little more than glorified mascots.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
But Thea was different. Her whip, Isolde knew, was a three stars magical weapons.
Thea's reflection was captured in Isolde's dark eyes. "Are you ready, Isolde?"
"Rooar!" The wyvern's serpentine head roared, not at Isolde, but at her Scalehide. Its red talons dug into the earth, already agitated.
Isolde could feel Leona's temper rising in response.
"Ready."
The two girls stepped back, creating a wide circle. The other students paused their own spars, gathering to watch. They were all curious to see what two high-tier magical beasts could do.
"Attack, Leona!"
"Scott, attack!"
Scott. That was what Thea had named her wyvern. Both beasts were intelligent enough to understand the simple command.
"ROAR!"
With a powerful thrust of its wings, Scott launched itself into the sky. Its opponent was grounded; it would use its advantage.
Leona, who had charged the instant the command was given, skidded to a halt, roaring at the empty air. She snapped her head up, her eyes burning with fury at the circling silhouette. What kind of wyvern was this? Get down here and fight!
"Scree!" Scott shrieked in reply from above. A black ring of mana formed before its jaws.
A storm of shadow-steel needles rained down. Leona was forced to scramble, the quills pinging off her thick armor or thudding into the earth where she'd been a second before.
The bizarre picture held: one raining death from the sky, one dodging endlessly on the ground.
This continued for five minutes.
Suddenly, the black ring in front of Scott's jaws shattered into fragments. It was out of mana.
The wyvern flapped, landing heavily next to Thea. It immediately pushed its massive head against her, demanding comfort.
[Too... tough...] it whined in her mind.
Thea stroked its head, her dark eyes looking past it. Her gaze fell on the red Scalehide, which was now charging them, absolutely bristling with black mana needles. It looked like a walking pincushion, but Thea could tell the damage was all superficial.
That thing is tough.
Thea's left hand slowly rose, preparing a spell.
Just as she did, Isolde, her black dress flying, ran and stood directly between her and the charging beast. Thea’s hand froze.
"Leona, STOP!"
The Scalehide, its eyes red with rage, heard the command. The authority in Isolde's voice cut through its battle-lust. It dug its claws into the ground, skidding to a halt just inches from its master.
"Hrrrmph." Leona let out a low, deeply aggrieved growl. She'd said stop. Just when it was getting good!
Isolde knelt, placing her hand on Leona's massive, quilled snout, stroking her gently. "It's okay. Good girl, Leona..."
Thea watched, her gaze sharp. Isolde's control was just as impressive as her beast's durability.
She raised her right hand, the blue sigil glowing. The portal opened. It was time to send this... thing... back.
Scott didn't need to be told. It rubbed its head against Thea's hand one last time, turned, and stepped into the portal.
THWACK!
Just as the portal was closing, Scott's long, barbed tail whipped out and struck Leona square across the snout.
Leona's eyes went blood-red. She lunged, roaring with a fury that shook the grove, but she was too late. The portal snapped shut.
"ROOOOOOOOOAR!"
The sound echoed, sending birds scattering from the treetops.
Thea sighed. As a contractor, she was just now realizing that her partner wyvern was, in fact, a complete bastard. This was the first time she'd ever actually summoned it to fight.
High in the canopy, the quill touched the notebook one last time.
[Power: √√√]
[Summary: Highest potential of all candidates. Bloodline purity is optimal. Contracted partner is likely a Divine Red Dragon. Disposition: dangerously soft.]
Snap.
The notebook closed. The figure watched Isolde struggling to calm her furious Scalehide for a moment longer, then held up the book. A transparent ring of mana expanded, swallowing it whole.