The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Meanwhile, amidst the chaos of the battlefield, Desmond wasted no time as he arrived at the peculiar dome. Swift and lethal, he dispatched all the assassins within its confines, leaving no trace of their existence. The entire endeavor lasted a mere ten minutes, but the relentless clash between the dragon and the humans persisted.

They fought valiantly, their bodies nimble in evading the onslaught of incoming arrows.

The clash of the dragon-like creature's claws with the swords of the mercenary leaders reverberated through the air, punctuated by subtle vibrations that rippled across the entire battlefield. The force of their collisions was relentless, each strike echoing with a raw intensity that permeated the atmosphere.

The spectacle unfolded before the eyes of Ray and Veronica, who gasped for breath, their chests heaving with exertion as they deflected the creature's claws and evaded its thrashing tail. Despite being a fabricated dragon, its formidable power could not be underestimated, as evidenced by the strain etched upon Ray and Veronica's faces, drenched in sweat.

The battle would have been even more arduous if not for the chain that shackled the creature's neck, providing a slight advantage to their cause.

"Protect the witches!" bellowed the captain, his voice cutting through the chaos, rallying the sixteen soldiers who raised their shields in unison, shielding the two members of the Steel Legion mercenaries from the relentless barrage of arrows.

The two witches did not remain idle amidst the mayhem. Intricate magic circles adorned with ancient texts materialized around their outstretched hands, poised to strike at the dragon-like creature. Their faces paled, beads of sweat cascading down their foreheads. Their gazes fixated on the chain that dangled from a massive magic circle, suspended in mid-air.

Filled with concern, they stole glances at each other, still reeling from the loss of their fallen comrade. Grief lingered within their hearts, yet they fought with unwavering resolve against this mythical behemoth, staking their lives on the line.

"Sister, may you find strength," they whispered simultaneously, their foreheads creasing with worry, lips trembling. Their leader remained their sole beacon of hope in this unforgiving world.

Meanwhile, Raina stood steadfast by their side, her hands engaged in a constant ballet of blocking and slashing, deftly intercepting the deadly arrows aimed at their vulnerable formation.

*Clatter.*

The sound of the chains resonated, and the two witches' expressions shifted in response. Immediately, the dragon-like creature unleashed a deafening roar that reverberated throughout the battlefield, its slitted yellow eyes fixated upon the two humans standing defiantly at its feet.

With a gaping maw filled with razor-sharp teeth, it exhaled a putrid stench, its foul breath wafting toward them as its mouth lunged, aiming to devour them along with chunks of earth from the ground.

*Growl.*

Given its colossal size, the creature's attack lacked swiftness, affording the humans a fraction of a moment to escape. Seizing the opportunity, they exchanged a determined glance, acknowledging their shared plan. In unison, they leaped into the air, landing deftly upon the creature's snout.

The dragon-like creature, its immense body elongated and massive, was forced to bend forward, its neck constrained by the hovering magic chain.

"Find a way to blind its eyes!" Veronica's urgent command rang out in a commanding tone, her body firmly planted on the creature's snout. Her countenance grew solemn as she channeled her strength, driving her longsword deep into its flesh with a firm grip, her bulging veins pulsating with effort.

Her vibrant, curly pink hair fluttered through the air as Veronica unleashed a battle cry, her sword successfully piercing the scales of the dragon-like creature's nose. A flush of crimson spread across her face, intensified by the jingling of her armor, drawing the eyes of onlookers to admire her commanding presence and alluring figure.

Meanwhile, Ray, ever proactive, wasted no time. Even before Veronica's command and the sword's contact with its target, he stomped forward, driving his blade into one of the creature's eyes with swift precision.

With the magic chain firmly bound around its neck and the sharp objects penetrating its eyes and nose, the dragon-like creature roared in agony. Its massive body writhed and convulsed, attempting to dislodge the determined humans clinging to its head.

The creature's tail shot into the sky, threatening to strike its own vulnerable head, while its outstretched wings sought to intimidate and take flight, creating a powerful gust of wind that pressed against both the humans and their adversary.

Simultaneously, its forearms pounded the ground, causing tremors that rippled across the battlefield. The stomping reverberated with a resounding crack, fracturing the earth and creating a spiderweb-like pattern that disrupted the witches' chants and threw the soldiers' formation into disarray.

As a consequence of these relentless tremors, the towering stones that concealed the valley trembled, dislodging loose pebbles and causing stacked boulders to shift forward, revealing a glimpse of Helmfirth city. Observing this unexpected turn of events, the assassins, positioned behind the dragon-like creature, cursed its existence and ceased their attacks.

They swiftly retreated to a safer area, seeking refuge from the aftermath and the cascading rocks.

Due to the disruptive nature of the earthquakes, the witches struggled to maintain focus, causing the magic circle behind the chain that restrained the dragon-like creature to flicker and dim. The spell appeared weakened, and the chain itself slowly faded into thin air, leaving only a shadow that danced beneath the sunlight.

Meanwhile, seizing the opportunity after inflicting their initial injuries, Veronica and Ray wasted no time. With agile footwork, they swiftly maneuvered to the creature's wings. Raising their swords in unison, they angled the blades, honing the edges to a sharp point. With a swift, coordinated strike, they slashed at the lower bones tethering the creature's wings.

*Crack.*

Their attack proved successful as fragments of bones splintered from the wings, accompanied by a satisfying cracking sound. The dragon-like creature, relieved to have weakened its restraints, instinctively sought to release its neck from the pain. However, it was abruptly silenced by a renewed wave of agony as pain surged through its damaged wings, causing it to roar in frustration.

In the midst of these events, as the rocks tumbled forward, a silhouette emerged atop them—a man clad in tattered clothes, clutching a short sword in his right hand. It was Vesta, his eyes ablaze with rage and his heart gripped by anxiety. His gaze swiftly scanned the area, discovering the missing roof of his carriage.

Filled with fury, Vesta propelled himself forward, his focus unwavering, momentarily disregarding the dragon-like creature. When he encountered an assassin blocking his path, he sliced through the obstacle without hesitation, ending the assailant's life. The assassin's body froze, split apart, a look of shock etched upon his face. He had narrowly escaped one danger, only to meet his final demise.