Power was coiling behind me.
I stopped and called over my shoulder in warning, “You don’t want to do this.”
Tiberia scoffed. “You’re nowhere near full strength.”
There was a difference between not being at maximum power and being completely powerless. Especially for me.
“Stand down, baby necromancer,” Matteo ordered.
Instead, I took a step further down the corridor.
I felt their power surge.
As it flew my way, I snapped my palms up, my amber power flaming.
I spun and fired both streams, one cutting through both their blasts and decimating them, and the other slamming into them. With them standing so close, I only needed a single hit. And with the power behind it, it sent them flying down the other end of thecorridor, crashing through the solid stone wall, and out into the open realm.
They landed in two unconscious heaps.
I shook my head to myself, snuffed my power out, then turned on my heel and headed for the Fuel Core.
There would be no conquering for that madman today.
11
~Evira~
We rematerialized in Magnor City.
It was the main city of the Dracoryn Realm, which was situated at the center of all four Quadrants—Ice, Fire, Water, and Wind. It was neutral ground for all dragon houses.
At the center was a four-pointed star and from it, four grand avenues speared outward in the direction of each Quadrant.
Around that centerpoint was a circular ring of buildings—embassies, markets, museums, stores, entertainment facilities. There were influences from all Quadrants throughout the city and it all came together in a cool eclectic mishmash.
Glacial sculptures and white granite buildings with a faint frost haze from the Ice Dragon aspect, plus sweeping arches that were a tribute to Vortimer Palace.
From the fire-influenced side, there were black and vibrant-red spires upon buildings, some twisting magical trees melding with that look. The most prominent aspect was in Ember Gate—two twin onyx arches carved with flame etchings. They served as the entrance to one of the picturesque parks that was a hell of a thing with charcoal mountains and snowy ones too, wind funnels to play in, swirling pools.
The Water Dragon aspect came through in the buildings made of sea-glass tiles and stone patterned like wave ripples. And, of course, the many spectacular decorative waterfalls positioned all around, along with the Lavadon Reflective Pool.
The Wind Dragon features were chimes and banners, along with hollow flutes singing when the wind hit them, and also the stunning sky bridges, some connecting certain buildings.
It was usually such a wonderful place to visit.
But it was all being tainted right now with what was taking place at the focal point of the city in the circular plaza.
To my left, Torvek tensed.
I heard a shocked curse from Zayn to my right.
Five hundred members of the Dracoryn Army had been mobilized and they filled out the spacious area, warriors standing arranged in four units—one for each Quadrant.
And they were facing off against… nightmares come to life.
Nightmares that kept being… created.
Midnight-blue humanoid forms of solidified magic that kept bursting onto the scene in eruptions of smoke and coming down the mountains on the outskirts of the area, headed straight for Magnor City. Their faces were just oval blurs of nothingness.
