Chapter 256: I can't protect you!

Words : 1657 Updated : Oct 12th, 2025

Johamma stood beside Jolthar, and Cleora was standing behind Jolthar. They were all now looking at the man. "Well, well," Lodawg called down, his voice carrying an aristocratic drawl. "What a fortuitous gathering. The Lady Johamma, her dear grandson, and Baroness Cleora." His eyes fixed on Jolthar, narrowing slightly. Jolthar was staring at him with a distant look. He could tell that man and the black dragon; they were both dangerous, and judging by the way he talked, he must have come here to meet them, and the earlier smoke must have been a signal for him. But why would a member of the clan help Naemarys, who had now become the enemy of the Kaezhlar? If they wanted Johamma, they would have had her while she was coming to the barony, but they revealed their intentions right after meeting Jolthar. It was clear to him that they had come for him. The two people who held the knives were now struggling on the ground, still suppressed by Jolthar. There was a menacing growl next to Jolthar. Maelruth, Jolthar's drake, her scaled body tensed for conflict. Though smaller than the dragon by far, the drake's loyalty was absolute. Her eyes were fixed on the intruder, body lowered in preparation to defend his master. Maelruth was growling louder as she glared at the dragon. Even she could tell that the dragon was dangerous. Jolthar patted the drake, "Easy there." Lodawg's grin widened at the sight of the drake. "Ah, and the little lizard thinks to challenge my Ravager. How quaint." "But such a rare drake – to see it loyal to you. You are indeed a worthy opponent to kill, Jolthar boy," Lodawg was grinning as he fixed his eyes on Jolthar. The black dragon swung its massive head toward Maelruth, smoke curling from between teeth as long as daggers. The drake did not back down, hissing his defiance. Jolthar raised his hand, in turn making those two people float in the air. He used his telekinesis to bring them to the front, right before Lodawg. The moment Jolthar's fist clenched, the air itself seemed to tighten—a crushing force, unseen yet absolute. The two figures barely had a moment to scream before their bodies imploded under the sheer weight of his will. Their bones cracked like dry twigs, their flesh burst apart, and in a grotesque instant, what had once been living, breathing beings was reduced to nothing more than a viscous rain of blood and gore, splattering across the dirt like a grotesque painting. A sickening silence followed. Chunks of flesh and torn fabric fluttered to the ground, the crimson-stained mist still hanging in the air, dissipating slowly. The metallic scent of blood was suffocating, soaking into the earth beneath them. Jolthar did not flinch. His expression remained impassive, his golden eyes locked onto the dragon before him. The dragon and the man atop; they simply watched, and more than that, Lodawg was grinning, amused by what he had done. Cleora and Johamma stared in disbelief that Jolthar killed them without a second thought, and he killed them like they were some bugs. Green energy coalesced around Jolthar's hands once more, joined now by threads of silver voidwrath that spiralled up his arms. The blue aura of his swordsmanship flickered into existence. Jolthar knew one thing: he had to use everything against this man, otherwise he would die here. Three powers, unified within him. The green of the Beast King, the silver of his voidwrath, and the blue of his hard-won martial skill. "Lodawg Naemarys," Johamma spoke, her voice steady despite the tension crackling through the air. "You're a long way from your brother's lands. What are you doing here?" Even though she knew the reason, she still chose to ask. Judging by what transpired, someone from the clan had made the maidservant and that man follow her to make her lead to Jolthar. She looked at Jolthar, then towards Lodawg. They were after Jolthar. She understood. But she wasn't aware of who in the clan had sent the information to Naemarys. Only Bella was aware of her departure to Barony, though she was never suspicious of her granddaughter or not. She shook her head. Right now, they need to get out of here. That black dragon along with that man, they are both dangerous. Lodawg was a tier 9 mage and was one of the strongest men in the Naemarys clan. He himself was a force to deal with and he has the dragon now. Lodawg laughed, the sound echoing across the water. "Lady Johamma, always so concerned with the old proprieties." He patted the dragon's neck affectionately. "Don't worry, Lady. You will have your answers, but not here." "What do you want?" Jolthar demanded, his patience wearing thin. The energies around his hands pulsed in response to his mood. Lodawg's expression shifted to one of mock hurt. "So direct! No pleasantries? No recognition of the effort it took to track you to this remote lake?" "Do you know how long I have been waiting to meet you?" He sighed dramatically. "The younger generation has no appreciation for the niceties." His smile returned, sharper now. "Jolthar Kaezhlar, you have become such an item among the clan lately; do you know that?" Jolthar spat, "Don't fucking call me Kaezhlar!" Lodawg's eyes gleamed with amusement at Jolthar's outburst. "Touchy, touchy," he taunted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Jolthar clenched his fists, the energies crackling around him ominously. The black dragon shifted beneath him, its claws digging furrows into the earth. Its massive head swung toward Jolthar, nostrils flaring as it scented him. Something like recognition flickered in its ancient eyes. It knew what he was. The black dragon could recognise the beast king's power. Maelruth growled again, slinking closer to Jolthar's side. The drake was outmatched, but her courage never wavered. The atmosphere was turning dense and thick with tension as the auras of several beings began to clash. The three energies surrounding him intensified—green pulsing, silver twisting, and blue shimmering. The very air seemed to bend around him as power accumulated. Lodawg's smile faltered for just a moment. He could see the distinct energies around Jolthar and feel the aura radiating from him. Indeed, he isn't a normal kid. "Well, I would love to chat with you for a while longer," Lodawg called down from atop the massive black dragon, his voice carrying a casual cruelty, "but I have orders that I have to kill both of you as soon as possible." The dragon shifted beneath him, its obsidian scales gleaming with deadly purpose as smoke curled from between its dagger-like teeth. Its ancient eyes—wells of primordial hatred—fixed on Jolthar. "Orders?" Johamma paled, the implication clear. They planned this. Jolthar's jaw tightened. Green energy swirled around his fingertips as he assessed their dire situation. Lodawg and his dragon are before them. Just the presence of them would make anyone tremble in fear. Death approaches from all sides. His gaze fell on Cleora. She was skilled, but this was beyond any normal combat. She would die if she remained. With a decisive movement, Jolthar approached Maelruth, placing a hand on the drake's scaled neck. The beast rumbled with concern, amber eyes flicking between Jolthar and the massive dragon that dwarfed him. "Take Cleora away," Jolthar commanded, his voice firm despite the chaos unfolding around them. "Quickly." Maelruth huffed reluctantly, clearly torn between obedience and her instinct to protect her master. The drake's scaled body tensed, tail lashing with indecision. "Now!!" Jolthar insisted, green energy flaring briefly around his hand where it touched the drake's scales. His authority could not be denied. He turned to Johamma, the silver energy of his voidwrath beginning to twist up his arms, joining the green aura. "Johamma. You should go as well." Johamma straightened, her eyes flashing with that familiar pride and stubbornness. "I will stay," she said. Cleora approached Maelruth with practiced efficiency, though uncertainty lined her face. "Jolthar," she began, but Jolthar cut her off with a sharp gesture. "It will worry me if you stay here," he said bluntly. "Go." She nodded once, understanding the harsh truth of his words, and mounted the drake with fluid grace. Maelruth tensed, then launched forward with startling speed, darting between the trees and disappearing into the forest within seconds. Lodawg's laughter echoed across the clearing. "Oh, you sent her away. Not that she matters – as long as you are dead, everything will be fine." His smile was all teeth and malice. "My brother will be pleased." Jolthar's hand moved to Knashii's hilt, drawing the blade in one smooth motion. Sunlight gleamed along its edge as the blue aura of his swordsmanship enveloped the weapon, extending its reach with spectral energy. The three powers within him now manifested simultaneously: the green Beast King's energy swirling around his body, the silver threads of voidwrath coiling along his arms, and the blue aura of countless brutal training sessions converting his sword into something more than mere steel. This fight would test everything he had; Jolthar was sure of that. Just by looking at the dragon, he could tell the man atop was a mage of tier 9. Not a simple foe stands before him. That's why he intends to go all out from the start itself. "I don't think I can protect you while fighting him," Jolthar warned Johamma, eyes never leaving the dragon. His grandmother chuckled darkly, turning to look at him. "You brat," she said, but there was something like fondness beneath the steel in her voice. Is he worrying about me? "Who do you think I am?" She shifted her stance, prepared for battle despite her years. "I can handle just fine."

Chapter 256: I can't protect you!

Comments (0)