Chương 65: Chapter 64

We are flying high above a canyon, the wind shrieking past my ears and waterfalls pouring into mist below. Felisia's weight presses against my arms, and each beat of my Infernal Wings of Ash draws more mana than the last. My heart still races from overtaking Adrienne, whose watery wings lag far behind now. Veyl is nowhere in sight. I check the horizon and see nothing but sky and stone. For a few seconds, I let myself believe we have left the competition behind for good. The moment shatters.

A shadow blots out the sun, and cold dread runs down my spine. A massive lizard swoops down from above, its wings slicing the air with terrifying force. The beast's body is short for something with a wingspan larger than a cottage, but every muscle along its back ripples with deadly potential. Its scales glimmer like bronze armor dipped in acid, and its talons flex as it banks in the sky. A System prompt flashes at the edge of my vision. [Flying Drake — Level 180] I swallow hard.

"Holy shit," I mutter. The Drake folds its wings and drops toward us, jaws yawning wide. I see the white-hot glow in its throat a split second before it unleashes a storm of fire. I dive, rolling my body and angling my wings, but Felisia's weight throws off my center of gravity. The edge of the blast catches us, heat searing the back of my legs, but I manage to keep hold of her and pull us into a narrow spiral. We tumble through the air.

Felisia's arms clamp tight around my neck, but I keep us upright, barely missing the frothing surface of the river below. My wings beat hard, trailing sparks and ash as we climb back toward the safety of a higher current. There is no chance we can face something like this now. My health and mana are better than before—Dark Lattice on Lord Aulus worked wonders—but I know my limits. The Flying Drake is not some oversized beast; it is a boss monster, the kind of threat that makes Silver Rankers run for cover.

I cannot beat it head-on, not when I am carrying Felisia, not with our reserves already taxed by the race. I backpedal, letting us drift farther from the Drake. The monster does not chase us. Instead, it hovers on the updraft, reptilian eyes narrowed to cruel yellow slits, watching every move I make. Its tail flicks from side to side, scattering chunks of stone as it settles onto a high outcropping. A streak of blue and silver flashes to my right. Adrienne finally reaches us, wings beating raggedly.

She pulls up short when she spots the Drake and glares at me as if this is somehow my fault. She does not bother with pleasantries. She looks at the monster, takes in its wingspan and its claws, and mutters, "Dammit." She surges forward, thinking she can power through, but her Water Wings stutter mid-beat. The Drake hisses, shifting its weight. Adrienne hesitates and drops altitude, forced to circle back. I notice that she is burning more mana than I am, and her breath comes in gasps.

Even with a Diamond Skill, she is not used to this kind of sustained output. I realize that, for the first time, I have an advantage. Felisia gives me a look of concern, but I shake my head. I am not interested in dying today. The Drake intercepts Adrienne without even trying. One lazy flap of its wings and it cuts her off, jaws opening for another blast. Adrienne curses and banks away. She drifts to a clearing below, and I follow her, gliding down through the trees.

We touch down together, Felisia sliding from my arms with a sigh of relief. The clearing is ringed by rocks, the air stifling from the last burst of dragonfire. Adrienne paces, muttering under her breath. Veyl appears moments later, emerging from the shadows, lightning still sparking at his feet.

"There are monsters that guard the passage," Adrienne says, trying to sound in control, but her voice is strained.

"We have to collaborate." Felisia looks at me, raising her eyebrows. I just shrug and drop cross-legged to the ground, closing my eyes. I start meditating, letting the world fall away. Adrienne stares, dumbfounded. Felisia knows what I am doing. I told her long ago that, if we ran into a situation where raw power could not solve the problem, my maxed-out Meditation Skill would come in handy. Nobody levels Meditation by accident.

It takes willpower, discipline, and desperation—three things that most nobles do not even know exist. Felisia sits beside me, copying my posture. Adrienne glares, still pacing.

"What are you doing? We need to plan!" Felisia answers her, calm and unwavering.

"He's meditating. You should too. You burned a lot of mana flying. Veyl, you too. We'll all need every advantage if we want to survive this fight." Adrienne stares, struggling with the idea that someone could tell her what to do. She wants to retort, but exhaustion drags at her limbs. She gives in and sits, her posture stiff and resentful. Veyl sits a short distance away, arms crossed, eyes closed but clearly alert. This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

The clearing goes quiet. I dive into Meditation, letting my thoughts fade. My body repairs itself. My mana pool fills, and I feel the tension in my chest loosen. I do not worry about giving the others time to recover. Someone here will heal faster than anyone else, and someone here has a Rainbow Skill that tips the scales in my favor. Two hours pass in silence. When I finally stand, my head feels clear, my veins thrumming with power. Felisia gets up next, eyes shining with renewed energy.

Adrienne rises, slower than before, the edges of her control fraying. Veyl is last, shaking out his arms. Veyl sneers as he sizes me up.

"I didn't know you could fly. What else have you been hiding, peasant?" He thinks he is clever, but he did not see my fight against the Ogre Warlord. I look him in the eye.

"I know I'm not as strong as you or Adrienne," I say, letting honesty carry my words.

"But I want to do my best. I'll contribute whatever I can, so we can have a fair race after." My admission throws both of them off. They look at each other, trying to read my motives. Adrienne's lips twitch in a half-smirk.

"We don't need help from you or my sister. You're just going to slow us down." Veyl grins, arms folded.

"Without us, you two would be drake's food. Don't think we don't see through you. You're just hoping we'll tire ourselves out on the Drake while you watch from the sidelines." Felisia bristles at the insult, but I just smile.

"Actually, I have a better plan. Felisia and I will keep the Drake busy up close. You and Adrienne focus on attacking it from range. If we all play our roles, we might make it through alive." That stuns them into silence. Adrienne blinks, mouth open. Veyl stares at me like I have grown a second head. * A short while later, Adrienne and Veyl walk a few paces away to talk. Their voices carry in the wind.

"He's insane," Adrienne mutters.

"He's giving us the kill. We'll finish the Drake, and he'll be left in the dust." Veyl laughs.

"Let him be stupid." * We gather at the edge of the Drake's territory. The monster circles above, scanning the clearing with predatory intent. My heart pounds, but I force myself to project calm. Felisia stands next to me, her hands shaking. She leans close and whispers, "Are you sure about this?" I nod.

"I'm sure." She shakes her head.

"Jacob, really. Are you sure?" I laugh, summoning Hell's Sword with a flick of my wrist. The weapon burns in my hand, casting rippling shadows on the ground. * High above us, the noble gallery watches the scene unfold. Voices clash and echo across the viewing platform.

"Why would Jacob face the Drake head-on?" a portly noble shouts.

"He's just throwing the fight away."

"He's giving Adrienne and Veyl the win," another agrees.

"Doesn't he realize how powerful that beast is?" One sharp-eyed spectator interrupts, "He hasn't used the Skill he killed the Ogre Warlord with. He must have something planned." Sir Renquell leans in, eyes glinting with interest.

"Watch closely," he says to Lord Clearwater, "look at the Drake's body. Pay attention to how it reacts to his approach." * The Drake descends, claws ripping into the earth as it lands with a crash. I step forward, keeping Hell's Sword low and ready. Felisia follows, eyes wide but determined. The monster lashes out. I barely move, waiting for the perfect moment, then parry one swipe with the flat of my blade. The impact knocks me back. I drop to one knee, pushing against the claw with every ounce of strength I have.

My muscles tremble, but I hold my ground, letting out a dramatic shout. Felisia falters, remembering my instructions, but fear gets the better of her. She stumbles away, cheeks blazing with shame. I give her a reassuring nod. Veyl and Adrienne watch in confusion. Their eyes dart between me, Felisia, and the Drake. Veyl shakes off his doubts first. He channels lightning into his hands, launching bolts at the Drake's exposed flank. Adrienne follows, gathering icy water around her and hurling frozen spears.

The attacks hit home, biting into the Drake's scales. The monster lets out a piercing shriek, spinning away from me to chase them.

"Hey!" I shout after the Drake, "I thought we agreed on the order! Come back and fight me like a real lizard!" Felisia groans.

"This is ridiculous, Jacob." I shrug.

"I can't help it if the monster's got no sense of fair play." The Drake charges after Adrienne and Veyl. It spits fire and swipes with its claws, forcing them to leap and dodge for their lives. The sky lights up with flashes of lightning and clouds of steam. Whenever the Drake pauses, I slip in close and touch its side with Dark Lattice, draining mana and health with careful, hidden channels.

The Grimoire flashes a page: Flying Drake — Physical body weak (Silver Rank threat) / Ranged attacks near-Platinum danger / Approach in melee: risk drops. Main threat: fire and air. I grin. The Drake's claws and teeth are nothing compared to its breath and ranged spells. As long as I stay close and keep its focus off Felisia, we are safe. I let Adrienne and Veyl do most of the damage, pretending to chase the beast, but never outpacing them. Felisia tries to follow my lead but cannot match my calm.

She ducks under the monster's wing, slicing with her blade, but every time the Drake snaps at her, she backs off, breath coming in short, panicked bursts. Veyl lands another bolt, and the Drake shrieks. It spins, tail smashing into a tree. Adrienne sends a wave of ice crashing into its snout. The monster staggers, flames leaking from its nostrils. It turns all its rage on the two of them, forgetting about Felisia and me. I slip in again, using Dark Lattice to top up my reserves.

The Grimoire's page flickers in my mind, showing the weaknesses in the Drake's defenses. I carve shallow cuts along its side, never risking too much. Adrienne and Veyl pour on the pressure, sweat pouring down their faces as their mana drops. Felisia glances at me, panting.

"How are you so calm?"

"Trade secret," I say, winking. The Drake howls and launches a final, desperate attack. Adrienne and Veyl unleash everything they have left. Lightning crackles and ice explodes against the beast's hide. The Drake crashes to the ground, wings splayed and tail twitching. Veyl staggers, gasping for air. Adrienne sinks to one knee, arms shaking. I brush the dust from my sleeves and help Felisia up.

"Ready to go?" I ask, grinning.