Esmeria

“Shit!” Richard dashed forward, pushing Milli away just as a [wood spear] aimed for her found its mark in his own abdomen.

“Ugh,” Richard moaned in pain as the spear pierced through him.

Milli quickly sprang to her feet and ran toward Richard, casting [Minor Recovery] to stabilize him.

“Save your mana. Healing magic consumes a huge amount of it. Focus on dealing with this dragon,” Richard panted, his voice strained but urgent.

He tore a part of his cloak and used it as a bandage, wrapping it tightly around his waist to staunch the bleeding.

"Resistance is futile, humans!" Blossomwing declared.

Blossomwing reared back, its massive form towering above the field of flowers. With a roar that echoed through the forest, it channeled its power, summoning a spell of immense strength. The ground trembled as green energy pulsed outward from the dragon, causing the earth to crack and roots to burst forth. Blossoming flowers sprouted rapidly, their vibrant colors turning ominous.

"[Wood Zone]!" Blossomwing bellowed, the words resonating with arcane force. The air around it shimmered with a verdant glow as the energy spread. Trees and plants within the newly formed zone grew denser and more animated, their movements synchronized with Blossomwing's will. The power of all wood magics within this enchanted area surged, enhancing their destructive capabilities. The battlefield was now a living, breathing extension of Blossomwing itself, making every plant and branch a potential weapon.

As the [Wood Zone] settled into place, Blossomwing's eyes glowed with a darker, more malevolent light. It raised its claws, summoning another potent spell.

"[Wood Domination]!" the dragon roared. Instantly, the surrounding flowers shimmered and transformed, their delicate petals hardening into razor-sharp blades. The once-beautiful blooms now mirrored the deadly scales of the dragon, turning the entire field into a lethal trap for anyone who dared to step within. The petals swirled and danced in the air, ready to slice through flesh and bone at Blossomwing's command.

Richard glanced around at the transformed battlefield, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the dire situation. The deadly petals and the enhanced flora were a testament to Blossomwing's overwhelming power.

"Of course, an adult dragon would be able to cast seventh-tier magic," he muttered to himself, grimacing as he wrapped his cloak around his injured waist. "And coupled with their exclusive [Domination] magic, it makes Blossomwing much stronger."

He watched as the once beautiful flower field turned into a menacing array of lethal blades and living, hostile plants. Richard knew they were up against a formidable foe, one that could manipulate the very environment to its advantage, turning the natural world into a deadly weapon.

Blossomwing smirked, launching [Wood Spears] toward Richard and Milli. The [Wood Spears], now larger and sharper due to the boost from [Wood Zone], were far more dangerous.

They each leaped to one side, narrowly avoiding the deadly projectiles. The [Wood Spears] embedded themselves into the ground, forming a massive, impassable wall that effectively separated Richard and Milli.

"Baltimore is severely injured; I can’t summon him to chop away the branches now…" Milli thought, her mind racing for another solution.

To her dismay, the newly formed wooden walls began to sprout flowers due to [Wood Domination].

"Not good!" Richard and Milli both thought simultaneously, instinctively moving further away from each other.

The newly sprouted flowers burst apart, scattering their petals in a wide area. Richard and Milli were caught in the burst, suffering numerous cuts. Thanks to their quick reflexes, however, they managed to avoid any fatal wounds.

"How can such a beautiful scene be so dangerous?!" Zafir muttered, watching the numerous colorful petals dancing in the air.

He stood in front of Regina, shielding her from the stray petals that floated near them. He managed to slash away some of the petals but sustained several cuts in the process.

"Summon me," a voice whispered into Milli’s mind.

“The opponent is an adult dragon!” Milli replied back in her thoughts.

“I can buy you some time,” the voice assured.

Milli hesitated for a moment before taking out a card from her pouch. She let it hover in the air and touched it with her staff. “Confine them, Belphegor!” she chanted.

A shadow emerged from the card, coalescing into a tall, elegant humanoid figure with horns and a tail.

“A demon this time?” Blossomwing mused.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Belphegor,” the demon bowed courteously.

Blossomwing examined Belphegor closely. “Oh? A high-ranking demon too?” it remarked with intrigue.

“Summoner, I will leave you half-dead and present you to Lord Shinal,” Blossomwing added menacingly.

More flower buds grew around Milli, their delicate petals ready to unfurl and release a storm of sharp edges, but Belphegor intervened with a wave of his hand. Using [Idle], he halted the flowers' deadly bloom before it could fully manifest.

"As long as it's a living being, I can slow them down," Belphegor declared confidently.

"An annoying ability!" Blossomwing growled in irritation, casting [Wood Spear] with intent to strike Belphegor down.

With another wave of his hand, using [Idle], Belphegor effortlessly dodged the incoming attacks.

"I can't believe you'd be a good match against Blossomwing!" Milli exclaimed.

"Although I can't slow him down, I can hinder the surrounding plants and trees he uses for attacks," Belphegor replied calmly.

The battlefield erupted into chaos as Blossomwing, the majestic dragon, unleashed its onslaught of nature-infused attacks upon Richard, Milli, and Belphegor.

Blossomwing's [Petal Dance] filled the air with a whirlwind of sharp, swirling petals, each gleaming dangerously in the sunlight. Milli, quick to react, summoned Laspi Versillio, the Slime King, whose gelatinous form absorbed the lethal petals with a sizzle and a hiss. Knowing Laspi could only endure for so long against the relentless assault, Milli swiftly unsummoned it, the creature dissipating back into the air with a shimmer.

Meanwhile, Richard faced the onslaught of Blossomwing's [Wood Spears], massive javelins of hardened wood hurtling towards him with deadly accuracy. Reacting with lightning reflexes, Richard fired his Ice Bullet, the frozen projectile colliding with the incoming branches, encasing them in icy sheaths and halting their deadly advance. With the threat momentarily neutralized, he pivoted, firing his Lightning Bullet directly at Blossomwing, the crackling electricity finding purchase against the dragon's scales.

As Richard and Milli fought to hold their ground, Blossomwing's onslaught continued unabated. With a roar, the dragon summoned Wood Crusher, thick branches launching in a sweeping arc towards them, threatening to crush everything in their path. Belphegor, using his [Idle] technique, exerted his influence over the surrounding vegetation, slowing the branches' descent to a manageable pace. The air around them shimmered with Belphegor's power, a visible manifestation of his slowing magic as the branches groaned under the strain.

The battlefield echoed with the clash of elemental forces—ice meeting wood, lightning crackling against dragonhide, and the ethereal presence of Belphegor's arcane abilities shaping the course of battle. Amidst the chaos, Richard and Milli remained steadfast, their teamwork and strategic prowess their only defense against the overwhelming might of Blossomwing's natural fury.

As the battle reached its critical juncture, Blossomwing, with its majestic and deadly grace, unleashed a devastating series of attacks upon Richard, Milli, Belphegor, and even their allies on the periphery.

Blossomwing's [Petal Dance] was a whirlwind of razor-sharp petals, aimed directly at Belphegor, whose resilience was beginning to wane. Recognizing the imminent danger, Richard reacted swiftly, releasing his Wind Bullet with precision timing. The gust of wind surged between Belphegor and the petals, dispersing them harmlessly away from the demon of Sloth, sparing him from the lethal barrage.

Undeterred, Blossomwing then invoked Wood Blast, a ferocious display of elemental power. From all sides, thick branches erupted from the ground, converging towards Richard, Milli, and Belphegor with the dragon at its epicenter. Belphegor strained to slow the onslaught with his weakening [Idle] ability, managing to reduce the speed of the branches' advance, but not without taking a direct hit from the relentless assault. The impact left him reeling, his strength drained almost to its limits.

With a roar that shook the forest around them, Blossomwing unleashed its ultimate attack: Wood Burst. This enhanced version of its previous magic was a cataclysmic surge of power, branches lashing out in a wider arc, overwhelming Richard, Milli, and Belphegor. The sheer force and range of the attack incapacitated them, leaving them vulnerable amidst the onslaught of wooden fury.

In a desperate bid to save her allies, Milli summoned all her remaining strength to unsummon Belphegor, returning him to the safety of his card. The exertion left her gasping for breath, her vision swimming as she struggled to maintain her composure amidst the chaos.

But the devastation didn't end there. The sweeping branches of [Wood Burst] reached beyond their intended targets, striking Zafir and Regina who were at the edge of Blossomwing's wooden barrier. Their cries echoed through the air, a grim reminder of the dragon's overwhelming power and the dire stakes of their battle against the forces of nature itself.

As silence fell over the battlefield, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the groaning of wounded allies, Richard, Milli, and the remnants of their team faced the harsh reality of their defeat. Blossomwing, looming above them with primal majesty, surveyed the aftermath with a mixture of triumph and merciless resolve, its emerald eyes gleaming in the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy above.

As Blossomwing prepared to deal the finishing blow to Richard using [Wood Spears], a sudden shadow swept in, creating a violent gust of wind that shattered the deadly spears into fragments.

Blossomwing roared in surprise and fury. "You...!" The dragon's eyes widened as it recognized the new figure standing protectively in front of Richard.

A massive wolf, standing two meters tall, its fur shimmering with a translucent green glow marked by strange red patterns, stood before the dragon. The air around it crackled with raw power, and its eyes blazed with fierce determination.

"So this is how it is!" Blossomwing snarled, turning its gaze toward Milli. "Did you summon this wolf too?!" The dragon's voice was filled with both anger and grudging respect.

"I must capture you alive!" the dragon roared.

"Does it think the wolf was summoned by me?" Milli wondered, her mind racing as she stayed silent.

Blossomwing launched [Petal Dance] toward them, but with a use of [Wind Crusher], the wolf easily blew away all the petals.

Blossomwing roared and used [Wood Crusher] in response, but the wolf countered with [Wind Blast]. The powerful wind not only deflected the attack but also swept away all the surrounding flowers, leaving the area barren where the wolf stood.

The wolf quickly grabbed Richard with its mouth and tossed him onto its back, then seized Milli and leaped away with powerful strides.

"You will not escape!" Blossomwing roared, unleashing [Wood Blast]. Branches erupted from the ground, aiming at the fleeing wolf. However, the agile creature used the attacking branches as footholds, deftly dodging each one.

With a mighty [Wind Blast], the wolf created a hole in Blossomwing's [Wood Barrier] and darted through it before the branches could regrow, carrying Richard and Milli to safety.

"ROOOAAAARRRGHHH!" Blossomwing bellowed in rage at its failure to capture Milli, its roar reverberating through the battlefield as branches violently erupted from the ground.

As the wolf sprinted a safe distance away, it gently released Milli and Richard. Regina lay there, unconscious in Zafir's arms, her breathing shallow.

“Ugh…” Richard grunted as he struggled to sit up, leaning against a nearby tree. “I messed that up.”

Milli, overwhelmed by the strain of expending too much mana, fainted.

“Little God, how will you protect us when you can’t even win against that dragon?” the wolf inquired, its voice carrying a hint of challenge.

“I was just caught off guard. I will defeat that damned dragon…I will,” Richard declared, his breath coming in heavy gasps.

“God…?! This guy is a god?!” Zafir thought, incredulous.

“Words are empty, little god,” the wolf said solemnly.

“Just you watch. After I have recovered, I will defeat that dragon!” Richard declared.

“I won’t be able to stay. I have used the last of my strength to save you guardians,” the wolf replied weakly. “After this, it will all be up to you.” The wolf began to fade away.

“I promise you, I will protect her even at the cost of my life!” Richard vowed.

They stared at each other for a fleeting moment before the wolf vanished completely.