Chapter 324: Dragon Riders

Rhyana flew high into the sky, her gaze locked on the rapidly approaching flight of dragons. In particular at the two dragons that were leading the charge.

One was a murky yellow with green highlights, it flew on the left side of the formation. On the other side flew the second leading dragon, this one with silvery grey scales.

They made for an imposing sight, 50 dragons with riders flying towards them at rapid speeds.

Rhyana steeled her heart for the upcoming violence, she never wished to be forced into harming others of her kin. Yet here she was about to face off against such numbers and given the current situation, she likely would not be able to be merciful in how she dealt with them lest irreparable damage be done to Syan.

She took a deep stedying breath to center herself, Susan’s calming words coming through their bond.

"Everything will be alright Rhy, these dragons cannot be saved, only released from their suffering. I am right here with you so don’t hold back. We must win here today!"

"I know, but, thank you. I know I can not be kind here and now. I just wish that this wasn’t the case, if only I was stronger, maybe this wouldn’t have happened or I could change how things turn out. Sigh, but I know that is just my irrational thoughts." Rhyana replied with solemnity.

Susan did not respond verbally, simply wrapping her arms as far around Rhyana’s neck and squeezing tight against her companion in reassurance.

Around Rhyana Vithrax and the other airborn defenders of the city gathered, they flew high above the city, looking down at the dragons that rapidly rose in altitude to charge straight towards their group.

Once close enough it was Vithrax that spoke up, his telepathy allowing him to speak to them all at once. "I will take the yellow, his acid will be a bad match up against the rest of you. Rhyana take the silver one. The rest of you, hold out as long as possible for us to be done with our fights."

He paused for a prolonged moment, then spoke once more, a hint of excitement on his tone now. "Let’s go!"

And like that Vithrax led the charge forward, Olivia on his back with her shield raised whilst Rhyana, Susan and the flying beastkin raced behind.

The approaching dragons let loose loud roars as their various magics began to coalesce around them.

From elemental shells made to protect, to more offensive bolts and spears. Their was a distinct preference towards defensive magics however, instead to magic being left primarily to the riders atop their dragons backs.

These were the true elites of the human army, handpicked as the best of the best. As such they were all powerful mages and warriors alike.

Each one wielding their magics with precision and power.

A vast array of magical attacks formed before the riders, before being launched forwards with pinpoint precision.

Yet the defenders were not idle as they too charged.

Vithrax formed a massive ball of fire that hovered above his head. He did not launch the ball of flames, instead he made it spin at ever increasing speeds. Only once it was spinning rapidly did the secondary effect take place.

Multiple condensed beams of flame shot out from the flame ball, each one targeting either a rider or one of the multitude of spells heading their way.

Rhyana only activated her electrical shell, lightning running along her body as her speed and reactions sped up. Susan similarly didn’t launch any offensive magics, sticking to her tried and true defensive specialisation.

Bubbles of water formed in front of and behind Rhyana, along with barriers of water springing up to redirect several spells aimed directly at her companion.

Behind them the beastkin also unleashed their magics, mostly taking the wind element, although some others used lightning or fire.

The attacks soon collided in the air to a calamatous explosion of elemental fury. The shockwave of the various skills and spells colliding caused the approaching dragons to falter in their flight momentarily.

But that shockwave was not enough to deter the currently 40 meter long red dragon known as Vithrax.

His massive form emerged through the last ripples of the explosion, flames erupting from his maw as he charged headlong at the yellow dragon and its rider.

The rider on the yellows back reacted quickly despite his obvious shock at the sudden appearance of Vithrax. An ice spear forming before him and shooting towards Olivia.

Yet that small attack was not enough to faze the defence focused warrior, she simply raised her shield and expertly deflected the oncoming attack, at the same time emerald seeds erupted from the front of her shield and shot towards the rider in retaliation.

The yellow dragon, seeing the approaching red and the attack aimed at its rider tucked its left wing and dove into a spinning decent to avoid both threats. Whilst it was successful to avoid the magical attack, it was not enough to loose the mountain of scale and muscle coated in flames.

Vithrax dove down with terrifying speed, his maw opened wide as flames danced along his body, his razor sharp teeth better resembled a row of swords with his current size.

His head shot forward as his jaw snapped shut scant inches away from the rapidly retreating form of the yellow. A wall of roiling acid forming in Vithrax’s path, which the red dragon simply ignored, the acid wall unable to even slow down the ancient beast, the acid evaporating under the heat of his flames.

5 dragons and their riders diverted their own course to try and intervene, yet they were rapidly set upon by the flying beastkin who worked furiously to ensure that no one could interrupt their strongest combatants battles.

Rhyana had in turn set her focus on the silver scaled dragon. The lightning racing along her body pulsed with power as she flapped, her body shooting forward with renewed speed.

The silver instantly noticed that he was Rhyana’s target, he flaired his wings, slowing his momentum and bracing for the inevitable clash.

Something that Rhyana had no intention of providing.

Her body turned into a massive bolt of lightning as she and Susan rocketed forwards, slamming into and then through the braced body of the silver dragon.

The rider atop his mounts back let out a pained scream as his body was wracked with intense pain, smoke rose from both dragon and riders bodies as they began to fall from the sky.

Yet they did not fall for long as the silver soon regained control over his spasming muscles and flapped his large wings. His head he hipped about in search of Rhyana, quickly spotting her as she circled around him whilst Susan summoned forth a veritable flood of bubbles.

In next to no time the combatants were encircled in a complete circle of bubbles, they may look like simple bubbles of water, yet when one of the other dragons tried to dive in to interrupt their battle all of the Eldor riders quickly found out that it was not a smart idea to try and physically push through.

The unfortunate dragon that tried that was set reeling when half a dozen of the bubbles closest to it exploded with a sharp POP! That was swiftly joined by a sickening snap as one of the beasts wings was instantly broken, the beast and its rider plummeting to the ground far below to the distant cheers of the Syan defenders.

Back in the dome of bubbles Rhyana and the silver were playing a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Rhyana with her enhanced speed was racing around the battlefield, darting in and out to launch attacks at the mostly stationary silver dragon. All the while the ice mage on the beasts back launched a volley of attacks her way.

Susan, after creating the bubble down focused her attention of defense, leaving attacking entirely to Rhyana. He water shields and rapidly forming bubbles able to deflect and defend against the magical attacks.

Rhyana was rapidly able to create wound after wound on the silvers hide, shallow wounds yes, yet the damage was rapidly accumulating.

Whenever the silver tried to retaliate it found itself shocked by the powerful electrical currents dancing along Rhyana’s body. Not to say that Rhyana was not hurt by the beasts retaliations, just that the silver suffered for every attack it launched.

Meanwhile on the outside the beating flyers were not doing as well as the two dragons. They were outnumbered and outmatched, yet they fought bravely, they refused to back down against their foes, desperately working together with impeccable teamwork to hold back the dragon flight for as long as possible.

Saddly, even when they worked so well together, they simply could not overcome the inate power of a dragon flight. It took less than a handful of minutes before the first of the beastkin was caught out.

A reaction a second too slow and half his body was bitten off by one of the dragons, a strangled cry was all he got out before his dead body began to fall to the ground below.

In not more than 10 minutes since the aerial battle started both one dragon and one beastkin were already put down. The battle had only just started.