I Only Tame Dragons

"Here they come," Lydia warned, her voice tense. She readied her arrows, magic already pooling at her fingertips in preparation for a counterattack.

Von raised his hand, signaling for them to stay calm. "Remember the plan. I'll hold them off. You support from the back. Don't engage directly unless absolutely necessary."

The ground trembled slightly as the enemy team charged forward, their weapons gleaming under the pale light.

Von's fists clenched as he took a step forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Silphie and Lydia. His presence commanding as dark energy flickered around him, casting an ominous aura that made even the bravest hesitate.

The battle started, the clash of steel and magic echoed through the battlefield, creating a chaotic symphony of power and resistance. Blades clashed against Von's mace, spells erupted in radiant bursts of energy, and yet, no matter how relentless the Kingdom of Stars' assault became, Von parried each and every strike with uncanny precision.

Aeloria launched another barrage of enchanted projectiles, her fingers weaving intricate patterns of mana in the air. Behind her, Liora conjured blazing spheres of flame while Theron swung his twin staff as he weaved illusion magic.

But despite the sheer ferocity of their assault, Von held his ground. He didn't falter. He didn't counterattack. He didn't even seem phased by the onslaught.

"He's toying with us," Liora spat, frustration clear in her voice. Sweat dripped down her brow as she prepared another spell. "Why isn't he attacking? He could've taken us down by now!"

"Maybe it's the curse," Theron said, panting heavily. "He's probably afraid of losing control. He doesn't want to risk using his full power."

"Or . . ." Trisha, who had been observing closely, hesitated. "Maybe it's something else entirely."

Aeloria's brow furrowed. Something was wrong. Von's behavior didn't match the usual strategy of someone trying to suppress a dangerous power. He wasn't fighting recklessly to end things quickly, nor was he simply stalling out of fear. Every movement he made was deliberate, calculated. And then, it clicked.

Aeloria's eyes darted to the staff in her hands. She noticed faint cracks beginning to spiderweb along its surface. The weapon was wearing down—but not just his. She glanced at Theron's staff, chipped and dull after repeated parries. Even Liora's enchanted wand was showing signs of strain.

"He's waiting for our weapons to break!" Aeloria announced, realization dawning on her like a cold splash of water. "That's why he's only parrying! He's targeting the durability of our gear, not us."

Von's eyes gleamed with a faint crimson glow, his expression calm and amused. He chuckled softly, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "What took you so long to figure that out?"

Aeloria gritted her teeth, frustration boiling within her. She hated being outplayed, and Von had done exactly that—he had turned their greatest strength, their offensive power, into a liability.

The Kingdom of Stars had come prepared for an intense fight, but they hadn't anticipated being drawn into a battle of attrition where their weapons would become their downfall.

Behind her, Theron cursed under his breath. "We didn't bring grinding stones because of the limited slots . . . What do we do now?"

"We have extra weapons," Liora added, glancing at their inventory. "But if we can't break through his defense, those will just wear down too."

Aeloria's mind raced. They needed a solution—fast. Frigid, who had been recovering on the sidelines, was almost back to full strength. Once he rejoined the fight, Von's strategy would gain even more traction. With Frigid's added defense and support, it would become nearly impossible for them to break through.

"We can't let him keep stalling," Aeloria said, her voice tense but steady. "We have to end this before Frigid is back in play, or we'll lose any chance of getting their flag."

"But how?" Theron asked, frustration evident in his tone. "None of our attacks are getting through."

Aeloria hesitated, knowing that there was only one option left. It wasn't something they had wanted to use so early, especially not before the finals, but they were out of choices. Either they used it now, or they wouldn't make it to the finals at all.

"It's time to use that," Aeloria said solemnly.

Liora's eyes widened in shock. "You mean the artifact? But we were saving it for the last round!"

"I know," Aeloria admitted, her voice hardening with resolve. "But if we don't use it now, there won't be a last round for us."

The artifact in question was a very rare item that the Queen had personally given them. It was powerful—dangerously so—but it came with a cost. Using it would drain a significant portion of their mana and stamina, leaving them vulnerable afterward. However, if they could break through Von's defense, it might be worth the risk.

Theron and Liora exchanged uneasy glances before nodding in agreement. "Alright," Theron said, gripping his staff tightly. "Let's do it."

Aeloria opened her inventory, her fingers trembling slightly as she selected the artifact. A shimmering, crystalline orb appeared in her hands, pulsing with raw, untamed energy. The air around them grew heavy, crackling with power as the orb reacted to her touch.

Von's eyes narrowed as he observed the change. He could feel the shift in the atmosphere, the sudden surge of energy that wasn't there before. "An artifact, huh?" he muttered to himself. "Looks like they're getting serious."
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Despite his outward calm, Von knew he couldn't afford to take this lightly. Artifacts were rare, powerful items that could tip the scales of any battle. Depending on its effect, it could potentially break through his strategy—or worse, force him to unleash the full extent of his vampiric power, something he had been desperately trying to avoid.

The orb in Aeloria's hands began to glow brighter, radiating waves of light that spread across the battlefield. The Kingdom of Stars' team members stood close, channeling their remaining mana into the artifact to activate its full potential.

"This is it," Aeloria said, her voice steady despite the strain she felt. "On my signal, we hit him with everything we've got."