Ruling as the Next Dragon Sage!

Imitate my destruction. Prove you can be feared just like I am. Earn the myth by committing atrocities. Because deep down…that's what it grants you the title and power?

That's what you think makes a Sovereign?

Cloudjumper…you would just be digging a far deeper hole than I ever was. Because, at least you have control over your image.

I never did. And I couldn't.

Is this arrogance? Cloudjumper by now should know I'm holding back…I could go entirely 100% and in the back of her mind, she knows she probably wouldn't live any attack I give. But she's still going to go.

No…I can't. I have to hold back. Whether I like it or not. It's going to be extremely hard to do regarding all of the mana bubbling up within me now. One slip up, and I feel like I could take down several mountains at once.

Mana Control…don't fail me now.

[Dragon's Authority] proc'd right on time, and she visibly disappeared from my vision. She was so fast, such blinding speed. If I didn't turn around on instinct, whatever attack she would've landed on me would be lethal, no doubt.

I threw a punch, but shielded it with her left wing. It bounced off, and she was poised for the counterattack. Quickly, my tail wrapped around her right wrist, to hold it back. Dare I say that was one of the times I visibly struggled against someone's strength.

With my left hand free I threw a punch, just enough to slow it down and for her to keep up. She threw her clenched fist and it connected. Creating a massive shockwave, that blew both of us back some.

I stabilized myself, my hands instinctively clenched, but Cloudjumper wasted no time. Already setting off for the kill. Her gauntlet hand outstretched, best play here wouldn't be to just intercept it. She's like a raging bull.

So, I dodged.

Fell backwards as she narrowly missed my head, but she recoiled and turned again. With the same speed, almost a second or two later.

Didn't want to have to do this, but now I have to try. Maybe render her useless? I have the perfect spell for that.

Upside down, I weaved my arms and fingers along with mana tracing along it. Silver aura then became pitch-black as Cloudjumper got near me, then, I whispered the incantation.

"Inferno Bind."

Black constructs of flame magically appear around Cloudjumper's hands and feet, alongside her wings, binding them together. She slowly falls out of the sky before I dive down and grab her by the spines of her armour.

Flying away, and away from the fire inferno of the estate, I make my point clear. I'm not here to hurt her. She's only going to hurt and endanger herself if she continues. Surely she could've sensed the intent behind that magic spell, right?

If I wanted her gone, she would've been dead by the moment we met. I'm peaceful for a reason, because I'm capable of great violence, not because I'm harmless.

But the snarls were there, animalistic growling more like. Before I knew it, I released my grip on her and let her drop entirely towards the ground with a heavy thud. Smoke kicking up, I dropped down immediately and pinned her before she could even have a moment of thought.

With my hand on her head, her eyes seeped through the gaps of my finger. But her eye was glowing, unnautrally so. [Dragon's Authority] proc'd again…but it didn't tell me to look out for a certain direction.

Told me to get the hell out of the area.

I jumped back before massive flames were conjured from her, so much, it shot into the sky like a beacon. When it was all calmed down, she slowly stood up. The Infernal binds no longer attached to her.

[Infernal] Magic is supposed to be the most excellent form of [Fire] Magic. Supposed to trump it in all aspects…so that leads me to believe one thing and one thing only.

That wasn't just [Fire] magic. But I can't use my nose, or sense it right now. I'm on the cusps of a fight.

"Cloudjumper, I would give you as many fights as you want in the future! But right now isn't the time! Can't you see? You are worse than Sultan, you say you aren't blinded by them but are being confused by the same thing!" She just shakes her head viciously again.

"Huh? Maybe you're right! Yes…exactly! You're so right!"

She squared, and set off for me again. I sidestepped to the side before holding out my hand.

"Fine, then deal with this! Touch of Lightning!'

No, shit! I didn't mean to cast that! There wasn't many spells I had which included the notion of holding out my hand. I just thought of the first thing I came up with! So much for restraint!

She's not fast enough to react to lightning!

Cloudjumper didn't even notice it, but the sound of thunder arrived. That's the opening window, but it doesn't matter, the spell tracks her position the moment I casted it! She has to be faster than lightning before it strikes!

But she wasn't.

I backed up as lightning cracked three times at the same spot. Maybe watch in horror, and complete shock.

Did I…

"No…" The word left my mouth. I covered my mouth, maybe holding back something vicious just in case. Smoke settled, and it emitted from her body alone. She stood, completely still.

There was cracks in her armour now, forming. Dents. Bruises along her skin. I couldn't see her eyes, no. They weren't glowing, but maybe because she kept her head down.

But then, she cackled.

And then right after, I gave out a sigh of relief.

"I-is…is that all you got you Sovereign?" She looked up, blood trailing from the side of her head, covering her eye. Even forcing her eyes to keep open. Her vision was probably obscured. As much as I remember, [Touch of Lightning] does give a vision debuff when accurately hit three times.

She survived it…and still thinks she's winning.

It wouldn't last for long, not to mention debuffs don't last long on Crimson Dragonkins anyways, but I was more relieved to see that she survived that.

I…just if. If I accidentally killed her, I don't think I could've forgiven myself. Regardless if she's evil or not, she needs to be reformed, and I won't give up.

But the longer her gaze stays on me, the more I realize too.

She won't give up either.