“Escorts! Fight!” Elliot roared while holding the shield array intact. However, the escorts cultivation level was lower than the Flame Dragon’s. They did not dare to fight.
“Damn it! This thing is way above our pay grade!” An escort turned to run. “I prefer my life more than money. I quit!”
Then, the other escorts followed. They did not want to risk their lives for Earthfire Pavilion.
Facing the invincible Flame Dragon, escape was the best option. Vermilion Demon Lord glanced at Jared and asked, “Shall we run as well?”
Jared’s gaze locked on the Flame Dragon, then to the Earthfire Pavilion disciples. He saw Elliot was guarding Lindsay.
“Get to safety first,” Jared said, voice calm. “Wait for me.”
Vermilion Demon Lord’s brow furrowed. “You want to save them? The Flame Dragon is at Top Level Heavenly Immortal Realm Level Nine! Even if you give it your all, you wouldn’t defeat it!”
“I know.” Jared’s tone softened, yet remained firm. “But I promised to protect her.”
By her meant Lindsay.
After studying Jared for several seconds, Vermilion Demon Lord sighed. “Fine… Just stay alive. If it gets hopeless, run.”
He turned to leave since the Earthfire Pavilion was none of his concern. Down in the basin, the shield array was weakening.
Crack!
A fissure appeared on the shield.
“Elder, the shield’s giving way!” a disciple cried. Blood sprayed from his lips as collapsed.
Clenching his teeth, Ferdinand crushed a Crimson Jade Talisman between his palms. The talisman flared, spreading afresh red film over the broken shield, but It would last only moments.
“Elliot, take Lindsay and go! I’ll handle the rest!” Ferdinand shouted.
“Elder…” Elliot hesitated, his voice tight.
“Leave now!” Ferdinand spat a mouthful of essence blood onto the ruby set atop his staff. The gem blazed, hungry for power.
The ruby exploded in a burst of blinding light. From that radiance uncoiled a python forged entirely of living flame, rushing toward the Flame Dragon.
Elliot clenched his teeth. He caught Lindsay’s wrist and yanked close. “Lindsay, we have to move now!”
“But what about the elder…” She twisted, trying to look back toward the battlefield.
“If you hesitate, we’re both dead!” Elliot hauled toward the basin’s entrance.
The flame dragon’s golden eyes flicked away and pinned the fleeing pair. Or rather, it fixed on Lindsay. Her pristine, concentrated fire spirit aura attracted the Flame Dragon.
Roar!
One molten talon shredded the fiery python. In the same breath, the dragon’s tail swept sideways and hurled Ferdinand against a wall.
The dragon turned over. Its golden eyes narrowed on Lindsay, and its jaws opened wide to disgorge a second plume of golden fire.
This blast was denser, hotter, pure annihilation. Wherever it passed, the ground bubbled and slumped into fresh magma.
Elliot’s face went ghost-white. Fingers slipping free of Lindsay’s, dove sideways. He abandoned before the oncoming inferno.
“Elliot!” Shock froze where stood.
The tidal wave of fire barreled closer, heat stripping the moisture from the air. Then a blue silhouette shot from the sky and planted itself between Lindsay and the incoming flames.
It was Jared!
Jared reached out his arms while releasing the chaotic celestial energy, turning it into a grey swirl. The golden fire slammed into the spiral and vanished, as though it had plunged into the ocean’s deepest trench.
The dragon’s flame still punched through. Jared staggered back three steps, a thin ribbon of blood tracing the corner of his mouth before planted his heel and steadied.
“Jared!” Relief and terror tangled in Lindsay’s cry.
“Stand behind me!” His tone left no room for debate. He wiped the blood away, eyes locked on the hovering Flame Dragon, shoulders tight with coiled resolve.
The power at Top Level Heavenly Immortal Realm Level Nine was indeed terrifying. He had poured every drop of power into that last defense and still got hurt.
Furious that its flames had failed, the Flame Dragon rose fully from the lava lake, wings blotting out the meager sky. Its gaze swept over Jared. Confusion flashed for a heartbeat that so small a creature had defied its breath.
Confusion curdled into rage. Dragon’s power flooded the basin. The temperature spiked until distant rocks sweated sparks.
“Jared, run!” Lindsay’s voice trembled. “You can’t win. Get out while you can!”
Jared said nothing.
Facing the Flame Dragon head on was not a wise decision. Although the chaotic celestial energy was powerful, his cultivation level was lower than the dragon. If dragged on, they would die.
There was only one way remained. Jared thought of his Golden Dragon Bloodline.
Among the Draconians, lineage ruled all. The Flame Dragon did not have a noble bloodline, while Jared’s bloodline was the Golden Dragon. If activated his Golden Dragon Bloodline, could suppress the Flame Dragon to escape. However, his identity would be revealed.
If someone knew his Golden Dragon Bloodline, it would invite trouble.
Hls gaze flicked to Lindsay, pale and trembling behind him, then to Ferdinand, crumpled in the distance. Farther off, Elliot hovered at the rim of the basin, looking back.
He breathed through clenched teeth and muttered, “No time to second-guess…”
He drew a deep breath and made the decision. His fingers wove an ancient seal. Blood surged, roaring through his arteries until every heartbeat sounded like a drum of war.
A guttural bellow tore from the sky, raw, hungry, kilometers deep. The Flame Dragon dove down toward Jared. Before its claws reached him, the pressure cracked the ground and rocks.
Lindsay shut eyes. Death, however, remained a step short. She opened eyes and witnessed a sight that would follow to the grave.
Jared stood and lifted his head to roar. It was a dragon’s roar, majestic and powerful. After the roar, gold light burst from him.
