I Only Tame Dragons

Chapter 167 Shadows Tested, Stars Ascend

von tightened his grip on his mace, his jaw tightening as the gravity of the situation began to weigh on him. the atmosphere around him seemed to grow colder, charged with tension and the latent power radiating from the artifact in aeloria's hands.

he wasn't sure if his defenses could hold against the combined strength of the kingdom of stars and their artifact. it wasn't just the raw power they now wielded—von could sense their renewed determination, the kind that turned desperation into something dangerous. they weren't holding anything back this time.

von had been playing the long game, relying on his strategy to wear down their weapons before they realized his plan. but now, with the artifact in play, that strategy was quickly unraveling. his calculations were falling apart, and for the first time since the battle began, a sliver of doubt crept into his mind.

the artifact's energy surged, its light casting sharp shadows across the battlefield. von knew what was coming. a concentrated, devastating attack designed to overwhelm him completely.

his eyes flickered to lydia, who stood at the ready behind him, her bow lowered but her gaze fixed on their enemies. without hesitation, von reached into his inventory and pulled out a small, unassuming vial, the liquid inside glowing faintly. he turned and tossed it to her in one smooth motion.

lydia caught it, her brow furrowing as she studied the object in her hand. "what is this?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion and concern.

"it's a medicine," von replied, his voice low and steady. "if things go south, use it. no questions, no hesitation. just trust me."

lydia's frown deepened, but she nodded, pocketing the vial without further argument. she could see the seriousness in von's eyes, the weight of his words. whatever the elixir was, it wasn't something to take lightly.

before she could press him further, the battlefield erupted.

the kingdom of stars made their move.

a massive wave of energy burst forth, surging toward von like a tidal wave of raw magic. it was a combined attack—an overwhelming force designed to break through any defense, no matter how strong.

von's eyes glowed brighter, the crimson hue intensifying as he raised his staff. dark tendrils of energy coiled around him, forming a shield of shadow against the oncoming attack. he knew this was the moment of truth—either his shield would hold, or he would be forced to unleash the darkness within him.

=== ===

meanwhile, on another part of the battlefield, horizon and cedrick had already locked into their own intense clash.

the massive dracolich under horizon's control was locked in a brutal struggle with the conjured copy summoned by cedrick's artifact.

each swipe of their skeletal claws sent shockwaves through the ground, and their piercing roars filled the air like the prelude to an apocalyptic storm.

despite their identical stats, horizon's dracolich was holding its own, skillfully countering the mimic's relentless attacks. still, it was clear the battle between the two titanic creatures was far from over.

horizon darted and weaved, narrowly avoiding the explosive spells cedrick hurled at him. fireballs the size of boulders scorched the ground, and jagged shards of ice rained down like spears. each spell was powerful, and cedrick's aim wasn't sloppy—far from it. yet horizon's agility and sharp instincts kept him one step ahead.

but he wasn't retaliating. not yet. he was biding his time, waiting for the artifact powering cedrick's mimic to lose its effect. the duplicate dracolich was a headache to deal with on its own—an exact replica of his own, with identical stats and abilities. to engage recklessly would be to risk unnecessary damage, or worse, outright failure.

no, horizon thought. better to let time work in my favor. once the artifact's energy runs dry, the tide of battle will shift.

above the chaos, cedrick stood atop a rocky outcrop, a smug grin plastered across his face as he rained spells down with reckless glee. his voice grated on horizon's nerves, sharp and high-pitched, taunting like nails scraping across metal.