Ruling as the Next Dragon Sage!

Jagged bones erupted from the ground in a radius, encamping everyone. It grew to such monstrous heights. Keeping Sultan, Koga, and I trapped.

As well as Vaniti.

I called out to her, because even I couldn't believe what I was saying. One moment she went from dancing with the bosses. The next moment she was being…

"Vaniti!" My eyes widened, and I called out again. Blood dripped onto the floor as she stood in awkward position, mid dodge, even she anticipated it too—

But she was just a fraction late.

The bone impaled her side, impaling her armour entirely. Lodged into her side, and the way the bone rose from the ground came at an angle where Vaniti's feet was no longer on the ground. She was in an awkward angle trying to get herself out of this situation.

"Vaniti! Don't move! Not a single muscle!" She stopped immediately, and didn't. The bones that impaled her, though, were different. Not ivory-colored.

"You move, and you are done for." I get out, and she seemed to understand that pretty much.

King Skeleton had a second phase, where upon activation, he would trap the party member who was dealing the highest damage, which meant that if that party member was your ace, you would have to go through halfway of the second phase without them.

Void-black bones impaled Vaniti as I speak right now. She's not hurt, gracefully, but she would be if she moves. Any movement will tick away at her passively like a poision. Not to mention these bones she was stabbed with are also anti-magic as well.

The sword in her hand began to fade away, and it must be a weird feeling the sensation of being impaled, but not directly hurt.

Back to the details of King Skeleton's second phase, however, it was to check and make sure internally that the fight would be harder, knowing that you would be down a member.

King Skeleton doesn't do this solo, though. I mean, if he did, you would just be stuck—no doubt about it.

But Vaniti was the only one fighting him, so how did he get access and permission to do that? That's not…possible. Or is it now? Because it doesn't matter what game rules think?

The game was already unfair, solo or not…but since this is actual reality…it can do whatever move it pleases. It triggered that move as if a full party existed.

And in that next moment…even not seeing a full party

It will kill Vaniti.

It's four blades were raised, ready to slice down at Vaniti's helpless figure. I flew in as fast as I could and let my horns take the brunt of the attack.

My body was sent down towards the ground as King Skeleton's entire body reeled back. With a sudden dust, and a little bit of a crater, I emerged. My hand went for my head and my horns…a blessing that I have the strongest material of horns within the game.

And now…even I'm starting to doubt when the world will test that as well.

I turn towards Vaniti quickly, I can't see much of her facial expression, but she's not scared, not shocked, but moreso worried.

"Ryuuzen, I—" She cut herself off, feeling even a tinging and bothering of sense of pain from her side.

"I'm sorry…I wanted you to trust me…and as a result, I got myself into this situation. I can no longer be your Consort if I fail to even—"

I outstretch my arms, "Don't worry, please. You did well, Vaniti. This isn't on you. You didn't fail," I tell her.

"You were punished for being too good."

Beneath the blindfold, I could see it. The slight, and gradual widen of her eyes. Shock, even her lips are parted. Vaniti did great. It's not like she was caught off guard by it entirely.

She reacted just as well as anyone else did.

But she was just a fraction late.

"You did well. Fought an enemy larger than you across all scales, and still put up a hell of a fight. Where I come from, we only fought this guy in parties of 6, and he would usually pull out this move to derail the best fighter,"

"You did good, Vaniti. Better than I ever thought you could. You exceeded my expectations, but let me handle it from here. I will get you out of this, you have my word."

Because now, she bought me time. Enough time to come back from the debuffs of my last spell.

She seemed to smile, or maybe did. It was mustered up slowly, and weakly. She nodded her head knowing that each movement within her muscles triggered immense pain, that's when I knew this had to be it.

My mana signature spiked suddenly, once and yet again creating wind gusts that blew everyone back, keeping Vaniti by my side.

King Skeleton eye'd me, scraping it's scimatars against each other as if to say he was sharpening knives. Then, within multiple sparks, white magic formed around it like a barrier.

Incantation, and I know exactly how it's getting it done.

It's using Vaniti as a battery.

I mentioned this once, that King Skeleton will attempt to jail the best fighter, but also sap them of their strength and utilize their magic. That's why Vaniti responded weakly, then. She felt her [Spirit Magic] being used against her will.

And in a fight like this, statistically [Spirit Magic] is the worst thing King Skeleton should and would have.

But I'm back to a measurable point, now. I'm no longer debuffed. I'll finish what Vaniti has gave me with. And even I have been meaning to expand my power even greater. Because still, I could feel it.

Raw power that has to be used. No matter how much I try to hold back.

King Skeleton performed three quick slashes, but I dodged all three by flying and dodging mid-air, reacting quickly with a counterspell, my favorite.

I zip in the air, turning sharply and spinning forward landing a kick overhead. Once for the stun on the skull, even if it negates physical damage, I know what it truly can't.

Magic.

And it's true weakness.

[Lightning]

"Lightspark," I cast.

Blue lightning emits from my hands as it strikes the boss continuously, pushing him across monuments and deep into the ground. I could care less about Koga or Sultan right now.

My first priority is making sure this thing dies.

I'll scorch it with pure lightning if I have to.