The Dragon Lord's Aide Wants to Quit [BL] Chapter 456: Before the King

Right.

Okay.

Maybe this was still an illusion.

Considering everything that had already happened, Riley could probably convince himself that he’d wandered into some particularly aggressive form of mental magic. Maybe all he needed to do was follow some ridiculous mortal superstition, take off his shirt, wear it backward, retrace his steps, and hopefully go on his merry way.

Yes.

That sounded much better than whatever the alternative was.

Unfortunately for the black dragon, even denial wasn’t on his side.

Because before Riley could even begin figuring out how one was supposed to take off a shirt while being stared down by a pair of gigantic disembodied eyes, a voice rolled through the darkness.

Ancient.

Deep.

And chilling enough that Riley immediately knew he definitely hadn’t asked to hear it.

"You’ve finally come."

Riley remained completely still.

The enormous eyes continued staring at him.

And after everything he’d already gone through that day, the black dragon discovered that he really only had one appropriate response left.

"Fuck."

__

Forgive him for the lack of formality, but what the flying frick was supposed to be the appropriate response to something like that?

Good for anyone who claimed they’d be able to keep their wits about them in such a situation, but Riley was at least self-aware enough not to lie to himself. His heart had lurched so violently with dread that he’d nearly passed out right then and there.

Of course he’d thought about confronting the Wyvern King eventually. Hell, seeing that bastard was one of the main reasons they’d come all the way to Wyrmfall in the first place.

But if the black dragon were being completely honest, he hadn’t exactly expected to be greeted by the awakened version.

More importantly, the ex-mortal had thought about this confrontation several times over, and none of the scenarios he’d imagined had looked anything like this.

In his head, he’d always imagined facing this guy in his full draconic form, wielding every bit of magic he’d painstakingly prepared specifically to take him down.

He’d pictured himself tearing through the earth with absolute gravity manipulation, forcing the ground to shake violently beneath them while blood magic turned the sky pitch black. Then, if that still wasn’t enough, thick crimson tendrils would surge from the depths, wrapping around the ancient dragon’s massive body and binding him long enough for Riley to actually do some damage.

was the kind of confrontation he’d prepared himself for.

Not this.

Never standing there feeling impossibly small beneath a pair of ancient eyes, suddenly understanding with horrifying clarity why the Great War hadn’t been able to end properly in the first place.

Because if Riley, someone who literally possessed two and a half of the Primordial Dragon’s gifts, was barely managing to remain standing in this guy’s presence, then what the hell had everyone else been expected to do?

But he couldn’t afford to waver now.

Not here.

Allowing himself to become distracted in front of something like this could very easily turn him into a dead dragon, and while that normally wasn’t the greatest concern for their kind, standing before the Primordial Dragon’s body made immortality amount to little more than amortality.

Sure, he wasn’t going to die from old age or illness anytime soon.

But get his head torn off by this ancient monstrosity?

Yeah, apparently that could still do it.

And Riley had no intention of testing that particular technicality today.

Realizing that, the black dragon forced himself to resist the pressure bearing down on him, desperately trying to think of anything he could do to get himself out of his current situation.

Veins bulged beneath the skin of his neck and arms as he strained against the invisible weight. His knees were knocking together despite every effort to steady them, and his legs quivered so violently that attempting to pull himself upright was starting to feel like an actual accomplishment.

Still, Riley tried to move.

One foot.

One hand.

Anything.

But before he could even properly lift a limb, that same voice surrounded him from every direction.

"Is this how you plan to fight me?"

Riley’s pupils dilated.

If there’d been any part of him still hoping that the massive being before him didn’t actually know why he was there, that tiny bit of optimism had just been crushed along with the rest of his confidence.

Sure, it had already been impossible not to wonder whether he’d bitten off more than he could chew. But until now, that had only been a nagging thought lingering at the back of his mind.

Now?

It felt more like a certainty.

His entire body trembled as the pressure surrounding him seemed to grow heavier, bearing down on his shoulders until even drawing breath became a conscious effort.

"Haaah—!"

Was he really supposed to go down like this?

Maybe the Riley from years ago would’ve already checked out.

That version of him might’ve taken one look at the ridiculous difference in power, logically concluded that he’d done everything he reasonably could, and accepted that there wasn’t much point struggling against something so far beyond him.

But he wasn’t that person anymore when literally attached to his heart was a mate who would undoubtedly crumble if he disappeared from this world.

Moreover, Riley had already promised Kael that they were going home together.

And he’d never been one to go back on his own promises.

The trapped dragon grew increasingly desperate as he practically screeched a sarcastic response, biting down hard on the inside of his cheek until he drew blood.

"Not exactly, but I gotta make do...!"

Oddly enough, the metallic taste was almost comforting despite his current predicament.

And as though that tiny taste of blood had triggered something buried deep inside him, Riley’s entire body suddenly thumped with a violent surge of power.

His emerald-green eyes sharpened into draconic slits.

Finally, he managed to look straight back at the behemoth before him.

He was still fighting for control with everything he had, every muscle straining until his trembling fingers finally began to curl. Even that tiny movement took an enormous amount of effort, but Riley kept pushing, clawing back control of his own body one agonizing inch at a time.

Unfortunately, that blasted thief seemed hell-bent on keeping him there. The already struggling black dragon suddenly felt his throat being constricted, as if an invisible hand was strangling him, even though nothing was physically touching his neck.

However, Riley was relentless, maybe even a little too bold considering he might actually die from this. But he had to at least get a word in.

"A-at least a wound in return for all the effort...!" Riley practically choked the words out.

But his threats weren’t as empty as one would imagine because, at the very least, he managed to draw upon what he’d long prepared: pre-cast runic spells that might just be able to break him out of the illusory prison holding him back from truly moving.

The runes activated all at once.

Blood surged from his palm and rapidly condensed into a massive blade, its dark surface gleaming as the enormous sword lengthened with terrifying speed.

With every bit of control he’d managed to claw back, he thrust both hands forward.

The blood sword shot straight toward those looming eyes.

"Now do me a favor and stand still!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.

A fracture suddenly tore across the darkness.

His eyes widened.

Another followed.

Then another.

The vast black space surrounding him began splintering like an enormous pane of glass, fissures racing across the void until even those colossal eyes staring down at him broke apart along with it.

Yes!

Relief surged through him so quickly that he almost laughed.

The entire illusion shattered.

Pieces of that shadowy world broke away around him, revealing reality beyond as light and color abruptly flooded back into his vision.

Riley stumbled when the crushing pressure disappeared, but he didn’t allow himself more than a second to recover. His lungs burned and his body trembled from the sheer effort it’d taken to break free, yet his hands were already tightening around the blood weapon he’d formed.

He quickly readjusted his stance, fully prepared to follow through with another attack as his vision cleared and an entirely different location came into focus.

Then that same chilling voice spoke from directly in front of him.

"Finally. I thought you’d never ask."

Riley stopped dead mid-lunge.

Just what on Eryndra had he just heard?!