Damien braced himself. A foot came down toward him. He watched Tiamat's kick...but it wasn't just a kick. Her entire foot was covered in red aura, shaped like a massive dragon's claw. He raised his blades and blocked it. The impact was heavy. Strong. Out of the ordinary.
"Ho?" Tiamat grinned.
Damien raised his head—and a massive beam of green light shot toward him. He crossed his blades to block it. The heat of the beam seeped through the metal, but he held. The light scattered around him, carving trenches into the stone floor.
Qinglong adjusted his glasses. "He is indeed as special as we thought he would be."
He raised his hands for another attack—then looked up. A massive blade descended where he stood. He dodged. Ottar landed in the space he had vacated. Finn and Ais dropped down beside him.
"We will handle this one," Finn said, his spear already spinning. "You handle that one, Damien."
Damien nodded. "Good. I will send some support your way."
He turned to Tiamat.
"Arise."
Shadows flooded the arena. His army rose from the ground. Most formed a protective circle around the stands, helping Riveria and the others evacuate the crowd. Igris, Diana, Adonis, and Baal emerged at his side.
Diana stayed with him. The others joined the fight against Qinglong.
Damien faced Tiamat. Alone. Save for Diana.
"Two for me?" Tiamat's grin widened. "Are you underestimating me, boy? You will pay for that."
She rushed him.
Damien blocked her first strike. Her second. Her third. Each punch, each kick came wrapped in red aura—the shape of a dragon's limb. Claws. Wings. A tail that whipped through the air. She moved like a dragon, fought like a dragon.
She was far stronger than he was.
He ducked under her strikes. Diana circled behind Tiamat and slashed at her back. Tiamat caught the blade with her bare hand, spun, and kicked Diana away. The shadow soldier flew across the arena.
The opening let Damien close the distance. His blade aimed for her side.
It never connected.
A thin red aura protected her skin—like scales, but made of pure force.
"Nice trick," Tiamat said.
She turned and grabbed him by the neck. Red wings of aura erupted from her back. She launched into the air, dragging him with her. Higher. Higher. Then she reversed course and smashed him into the ground.
The impact cratered the stone. Damien gasped. He tried to resist, but she was far stronger than he had expected.
"Erymanthian Boar CHARGE!"
A voice cut through the chaos. Something massive slammed into Tiamat—a figure wreathed in the aura of a great boar. The impact sent all three of them flying. They crashed through the outer wall of the arena, tumbling across the ground outside the city.
Tiamat stood first. She shook off the dirt and looked at what had hit her.
A red-haired girl rose to her feet. Her massive sword was in her hand. A boar's aura surrounded her, fierce and proud.
"I AM HERACLES!" the girl shouted. "SLAYER OF BEASTS! DAUGHTER OF ZEUS! THE DEMIGOD OF STRENGTH!" She leveled her blade at Tiamat. "Identify yourself, warrior!"
Damien stood beside her, brushing dust from his shoulders. Diana emerged from the shadow behind him.
"Thanks," he said. "Needed that."
Heracles glanced at him, then back at Tiamat.
Tiamat's grin returned. "Daughter of Zeus... a god..." Her voice dripped with venom. "I hate gods."
She flexed her arms. Red aura exploded from her body. Scales sprouted across her skin. Her hands twisted into draconic claws. Her face elongated. Her entire form began to shift, the aura around her solidifying into the shape of a fully grown western red dragon.
"Much better."
....
"Three of you?" He looked at Ottar, Finn, Ais
Qinglong adjusted his glasses and sighed. "And Some Shadows..."
Ottar struck first. His massive blade descended like a falling star. Qinglong raised one hand and caught it. The impact cracked the ground beneath his feet, but he did not move. He simply held the blade there, his green aura flaring around his palm.
"You are strong," Qinglong admitted. "For a mortal."
He pushed. Ottar skidded backward, his boots carving trenches in the stone.
Finn was already moving. His spear thrust toward Qinglong's throat. fast, precise, lethal. Qinglong tilted his head. The spear passed within a hair's breadth of his neck. He reached up and grabbed the shaft.
"Fast," Qinglong said. "Yet predictable."
He twisted. Finn's grip nearly broke. He released the spear and leaped back, retrieving it from the air.
Ais came from the left. Her wind howled around her blade, Desperate singing through the air. Qinglong's eyes followed her. He raised his free hand and caught her sword too.
Ais's eyes widened.
"You are all very talented," Qinglong said, holding both Ottar's blade and Ais's sword in his hands. "But talent only carries you so far."
He released them and raised his arms. Green light exploded from his body, sending all three flying backward. They landed in crouches, unharmed but shaken.
Igris attacked from the shadows. His greatsword carved toward Qinglong's back. He didn't even turn. His aura flared, and Igris's blade stopped inches from his spine, as if held by an invisible hand.
"A shadow soldier," Qinglong observed. "Fascinating creations. as Always"
He flicked his wrist. Igris flew across the arena, crashing into a pillar.
Adonis came next, his fists and feet a blur of motion. Qinglong blocked each strike with his forearms, his green aura absorbing the impact. He didn't even look at the shadow martial artist.
"Impressive form," Qinglong said. "But ultimately meaningless."
He caught Adonis's fist and threw him into Igris, who had been circling for an attack. Both shadows tumbled across the ground.
Baal's eye glowed. A massive beam of red energy shot toward Qinglong.
Qinglong moved. He sidestepped....casually, almost bored...and the beam passed where he had been standing. It struck the far wall and exploded.
Qinglong adjusted his glasses. "That was closer. But still not close enough."
Royland stepped forward, flames gathering in his hands. Akizuki drew his katana, eastern magic flickering along the blade. Chloe, Lunoire, and Anya spread out, surrounding Qinglong from three directions. Daphne and Cassandra took positions behind rubble, bows and daggers ready.
"So many of you," Qinglong said, looking around at the gathered fighters. "All gathered for me."
He smiled.
"It is almost flattering. But I am afraid I do not actually have time for all of you."
He raised his hand. Green light gathered at his palm.
"You see, my true interest lies elsewhere." His gaze drifted past them, toward the hole in the arena wall where Damien and Tiamat had crashed through. "The Shadow Monarch is the real prize. Killing him is why we came."
His smile sharpened.
"But... do not let that discourage you. Fight well. Struggle hard. It amuses me."
He lowered his hand. The green light faded.
"Besides..." He glanced at the fighters surrounding him. "Tiamat will probably kill him anyways. So I might as well enjoy myself here."
His body erupted in green aura....not just a coating, but a manifestation. The energy swirled around him, taking shape. Scales. Limbs. A serpentine body that coiled through the air.
An eastern dragon.
Qinglong stood at its center, still smiling.
"Now then," he said. "Who wants to die first?
/*\
If you Like this story! Check out my other story ! Sukuna in DC!
AND
If you wish to read more or simply support me just because ? than check out my patréon at
"https://www.patréon.com/Riadooo"
You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want !