I Only Tame Dragons

Chapter 174 Horizon vs. Cedrick 2

The battlefield crackled with energy as Cedrick's sentinels advanced. Each step of their massive black-armored frames shook the ground, their weapons glowing faintly with an ominous power.

The three engaged the Dracolich, while two others blocked Horizon's path to Cedrick, their swords raised in perfect unison.

Cedrick smirked as he raised his hand, channeling his mana into a complex spell. "You're wasting your time! Those sentinels are only the beginning." With a flick of his wrist, a barrage of flaming projectiles spiraled toward Horizon, their heat distorting the air around them.

Horizon barely flinched. In one fluid motion, he rolled to the side, deflecting a stray projectile with his blade. As he rose, a sentinel lunged, its massive sword cleaving through the air where he had just been standing. Horizon's speed was dazzling, his movements leaving faint afterimages as he danced around the lumbering foe.

"You're really throwing everything you've got, huh?" Horizon quipped, sidestepping another blow. The sentinel's blade slammed into the earth, carving a deep trench. Before it could recover, Horizon vaulted onto its arm, using the momentum to propel himself toward Cedrick.

But Cedrick was ready. A storm of energy erupted around him, forcing Horizon to retreat mid-air. He landed with a graceful flip, just as another sentinel swung at him. This time, he parried the blow, sparks flying as his blade clashed against enchanted steel.

"You'll need more than that to get past me," Cedrick taunted, his hands weaving another spell.

Horizon didn't respond. He knew Cedrick was stalling, forcing him to burn through his energy while conserving his own. Even with the Dracolich holding its ground against three sentinels, the odds weren't in his favor. He needed backup, and he needed it fast.

With a deep breath, Horizon summoned another of his pets.

Cedrick's eyes narrowed. "Calling for reinforcements? Desperate already?"

Horizon smirked. "Desperate? I'm just leveling the playing field."

"Blessing? If anything, he looked like a god of battle out there! Did you see the way he moved? Those sentinels couldn't even catch him, and Cedrick—Cedrick looked lame! Relying everything on his artifacts."

"Lame? Cedrick was outmatched from the start. Horizon didn't just beat him—he toyed with him."

The Dragon Hawk wasted no time, targeting the sentinels. Its razor-sharp talons clashed against their armor, creating an ear-splitting screech. One sentinel turned to strike, but the Hawk was too fast, darting around its attack and slamming into its side with enough force to send it toppling.

The Dracolich, emboldened by the arrival of reinforcements, unleashed a torrent of necrotic energy, enveloping the three sentinels it faced. The dark magic corroded their armor, exposing weak points beneath. Seeing the opportunity, the Dracolich lunged, its massive claws raking through one sentinel's chest, sending shards of metal flying.

Meanwhile, Horizon engaged the remaining sentinel guarding Cedrick. They moved in unison, their massive weapons sweeping toward him with deadly precision. Horizon ducked under one swing and flipped over another, his blade flashing as he struck at their exposed joints. Though his attacks didn't penetrate their armor fully, they slowed the sentinels, forcing them to reposition.

Above, the Dragon Hawk circled, scanning the battlefield. With a sharp cry, it dove, targeting Cedrick directly. The mage barely had time to react, raising a shimmering barrier just as the Hawk's talons crashed into it. The impact shattered the ground around Cedrick, and cracks spider-webbed across his barrier.

"You annoying bird!" Cedrick snarled, casting a spell that sent a cascade of lightning toward the Hawk. The creature dodged with a graceful twist, its feathers glinting in the light.

Horizon seized the distraction, closing the distance between himself and Cedrick. One of the sentinels lunged to intercept him, but Horizon was ready. He sidestepped its attack and leapt onto its shoulder, using it as a springboard to launch himself at Cedrick.

Cedrick's eyes widened as Horizon's blade came within inches of his throat. At the last moment, a surge of mana flung Horizon backward, sending him skidding across the ground.

"You're persistent, I'll give you that," Cedrick growled, sweat beading on his brow. "But persistence won't save you."

He activated another artifact, and a torrent of flames erupted around him, forcing Horizon to retreat. The flames formed into fiery constructs, humanoid in shape but blazing with an unnatural intensity. They advanced on Horizon, their heat scorching the earth beneath them.