Chapter 159: White Dragonbone Armor – "Lionheart"

Words : 1293 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

A crimson mist hung in the air. In less than a second, a dozen lizardmen dropped where they stood, their bodies sinking into the marshy ground. Blood pooled around them, turning the wetland into a crimson quagmire. Above hovered a figure of divine brilliance. Clad in radiant armor, wings of light outstretched, the Principality appeared to be the embodiment of celestial justice. Yet to the surviving lizardmen below, it looked more like a vengeful specter called down from the heavens. Terror surged through their ranks. The suffocating spiritual pressure radiating from the angel sapped the will from even their bravest. Shields wavered, hands trembled, eyes widened in dread. [Level 28 – 4th-Tier Principality] Abilities: Smite Evil, Resist Evil, Holy Ray, Mass Calm Lyle hovered nearby, calm and cold, eyes glinting behind his spectacles. He hadn't needed to study a manual. The moment he summoned the Principality, its abilities imprinted directly into his mind. It functioned similarly to the Observation Angel he'd used previously, though this one leaned more aggressively into offense. Still, a layer of support utility lingered beneath its divine glow. "Go," Lyle ordered. The angel's wings flared. With a sharp snap of light and sound, it rocketed across the battlefield toward the shackled Flame Archangel. He had no intention of summoning a third celestial. Revealing that he could only summon two was a calculated move, and he wasn't about to spoil that illusion by overplaying his hand. "Don't let it through!" Shasuryu Shasha rose from the bloodied swamp, his breath ragged and wet with blood. One of his arms hung uselessly at his side, but his voice roared across the battlefield. "A second angel will destroy our morale! Block it now!" Just regaining their footing, the lizardmen looked ready to flee again. Desperation flared. Several priests ran forward with glowing hands, casting spells in the Principality's path, while archers shifted their targets skyward. From another part of the battlefield, Crusch Lulu sprinted over, cloak dragging straw and swamp muck behind her. Her wide eyes fell on Shasuryu's broken form, and her voice rang out with urgency. "Major Restoration!" She cast again. "Major Restoration!" Soothing light wrapped around him, knitting torn muscle and splintered bone. Shasuryu inhaled sharply as feeling returned to his arm. He seized his fallen greatsword. "Wait! Your injuries--" "There's no time!" he snapped. "That human won't wait for us to be ready." He surged forward. Crusch followed without hesitation, her crimson eyes blazing beneath her hood. Time was running out. Meanwhile, on the front lines-- A thunder of feet tore across the mud. Kyuku Zuzu, warlord of the Razor-Tail Tribe, led the charge, encased in gleaming, rune-inscribed White Dragonbone Armor. Dozens of warriors followed him, their howls echoing through the swamp. Kyuku's eyes burned with hatred. "You made your biggest mistake leaving your summon's side, human!" he shouted. "Earthbind!" One of Lyle's allied lizardman priests raised a staff. The ground convulsed, turning soft and greedy like a bog. Mud surged up, dragging down the legs of Kyuku and his warriors. Lyle turned to face them, his expression flat. "I disagree." Kyuku's gaze shifted. The priest casting the spell was one of their own. The realization hit like a slap. "You... you traitor! May your ancestors spit on your name!" Kyuku's usual stutter was gone. Rage had stripped him down to raw fury. "Magic Arrow." Lyle calmly raised a hand. Three bolts of energy spiraled into existence and launched forward. The first arrow hit Kyuku square in the chest. His enchanted armor flared blue, absorbing the blow. The next two found softer targets. Two of the warriors behind him dropped instantly, twitching in the mud. "Huh. Magic resistance, too?" Lyle murmured. "Let's try harder." He extended his hand again. This time, ten arrows blinked into existence with a crackle of mana. Ordinarily, Magic Arrow only produced three bolts. But by channeling additional energy, Lyle could summon up to ten. "Fire." The air tore with screeches as the barrage surged past Kyuku and hammered into the ranks behind him. A chorus of screams followed. In a single volley, the lizardmen's rear line was obliterated. Kyuku howled. "You bastard!" He slammed his double-headed spear into the ground. The resulting shockwave cracked the earthen restraints around his legs. In one motion, he launched into the air and flipped forward, landing squarely in front of Lyle with a muddy splash. His blades flashed. Wind parted under the weight of his swing, but-- "All-Race Charm." Lyle's words were soft, almost bored. Kyuku froze. His weapon halted mid-swing. His eyes turned glassy. He stood motionless. A nearby priest, stunned by the sudden halt, gasped. "What... what did he do?" Kyuku's still-raised spear suddenly jerked, right into the priest's chest. Blood fountained. The priest collapsed, twitching. "Well, that solves one of your problems," Lyle said with a wry smile. "Now why not join me instead?" "You're a monster!" A cry rang out. Crusch Lulu burst into view with Shasuryu at her side, both sprinting at full tilt. "Lionheart!" Crusch thrust out her hand. A sphere of golden light shot from her palm and struck Kyuku in the chest. His eyes cleared. He stumbled back, panting hard. So, it worked. It actually removed the charm. Lyle narrowed his gaze. Lionheart. A third-tier spell. Cleansed mental effects. Not as annoying as Undying Will, but still troublesome. "Magic Arrow." Lyle's hand lifted again. A bolt whistled toward Crusch. "Kyuku!" Shasuryu shouted. He leapt in front of her and brought up his greatsword, deflecting the blast with a metallic clang. The sound seemed to rattle Kyuku out of his daze entirely. He roared, charged again, and struck. But something else struck faster. A black, spectral hound hurled itself between Lyle and Kyuku. Chains of bone flared as it swung one toward the incoming weapon. Clang! Steel met spectral bone. Sparks flew. Kyuku staggered back and glared. "So the mutt finally bites." He twisted his legs and spun, tail slicing through the air. "Tail Whip!" "All-Race Charm." Kyuku froze mid-motion, once again under Lyle's control. Crusch's eyes widened in horror. "Not again!" "What happened this time?" Shasuryu asked between huffs. "Lionheart should've lasted longer... He overpowered it," she muttered. Crusch had seen it now. Lyle's magical strength dwarfed hers. The effect didn't fail naturally. It was torn apart. To break the control again, she would have to recast Lionheart. But her mana reserves were dangerously low. "You really want to duel me in mana, lizard?" Lyle asked. "Because I've got plenty to spare." Crusch flinched. Her hands trembled under her cloak. She couldn't win this. "Take off your armor," Lyle commanded. Kyuku didn't hesitate. With slow, mechanical movements, he began removing the White Dragonbone Armor piece by piece, exposing vulnerable flesh beneath. "No!" Crusch's scream echoed too late. "Magic Arrow." Three glowing bolts tore through the air and buried themselves in Kyuku's skull. With a sickening crunch, his head burst open like a split fruit. Brain matter and blood sprayed into the mud. The warlord of the Razor-Tail Tribe was dead. A silence fell over the battlefield. "Stand your ground!" Shasuryu bellowed. "We can't afford to lose another step!" The lizardmen around him let out howling cries of despair and rage. "RAAAHHHH!" They charged, eyes blazing with a deathwish. "Awwoooo!" Lyle's ghost hound howled and leapt into their path, colliding with Shasuryu in a flurry of claws and steel. Clang! Clang! The greatsword and spectral chains clashed over and over. Surrounded once again by enemy warriors, Lyle simply smiled. "Looks like you're out of options."

Chapter 159: White Dragonbone Armor – "Lionheart"

Comments (0)