Journey to Become the Zenith

Chapter 272: The Dragon of Death

The Dragon of Death

"What are you guys doing run!" Hearing Videl’s shout the others were jolted awake as they started running for their lives.

The desperate cry cut through the chaos like a blade.

For a brief moment, everyone had been frozen by exhaustion. Their bodies were battered, their mana nearly depleted, and their minds strained from the endless pursuit through the cursed forest.

But Videl’s voice snapped them back to reality.

"Move!" Natalia shouted.

"We can rest after we’re alive!" Ruby added while helping one of the holy maidens maintain her footing.

The group immediately broke into a sprint.

Behind them, the endless sounds of undead filled the forest.

Clattering bones.

Growling monsters.

The shrill screams of corrupted beasts.

It sounded as though death itself had awakened and was marching after them.

Videl clenched her teeth as she forced her tired legs forward.

Just a little farther.

They had already escaped the main body of the undead army.

According to their calculations, now Fantom City—was only a few miles away.

If they could reach the city walls, they would finally have a chance to breathe.

"We’re almost there!" Videl encouraged everyone.

Eon carried the unconscious Lane on his back while struggling to keep pace.

Sweat rolled down his forehead.

"She’s heavier than she looks."

"Shut up and run," Videl snapped.

"I am running!"

Even in such a dangerous situation, the exchange managed to ease some of the tension.

But only for a moment.

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

A cold shadow passed over them.

Everyone instinctively slowed.

The sunlight disappeared.

The forest darkened.

Something enormous flew overhead.

Videl’s heart skipped a beat.

"What was that?"

Before anyone could answer, a massive figure descended from the sky.

BOOOOOOM!

The ground exploded beneath its landing.

Shockwaves spread in all directions.

Trees bent violently.

Dust and debris filled the air.

Everyone staggered backward.

Then they saw it.

And their faces instantly turned pale.

A gigantic skeletal creature stood before them.

Twenty meters tall.

Massive wings stretched outward like dark clouds.

Ancient bones gleamed under the pale sunlight.

Empty eye sockets burned with eerie green flames.

The pressure radiating from it felt suffocating.

Apex predator.

Ancient king.

The ruler of the skies.

A Dragon.

Silence fell over the battlefield.

Nobody spoke.

Nobody moved.

For a moment, everyone simply stared.

Videl’s eyes widened.

"A dragon...?"

Her voice sounded almost disbelieving.

Beside her, Clara’s face had completely lost its color.

"A real dragon?"

Her hands trembled slightly.

Like most people of their generation, dragons existed only in legends.

Stories.

Ancient myths.

Creatures that had supposedly vanished countless ages ago.

The strongest race to ever exist.

Beings that once challenged gods themselves.

And now one stood before them.

Even if it was only a skeleton.

Even if it was undead.

The sight alone was enough to shake their hearts.

"This... this can’t be possible..." Clara muttered.

Ruby’s golden eyes remained fixed on the creature.

"No."

Everyone turned toward her.

Ruby spoke quietly.

"You’re right. Dragons disappeared long ago."

Videl swallowed.

"Then how is this thing standing here?"

Ruby’s expression darkened.

"The dragons vanished. But their remains didn’t."

The group listened carefully.

"Many ancient battlefields still contain dragon skeletons. Some are buried beneath mountains. Some rest inside ancient ruins. Others were lost within forgotten lands."

Her gaze remained locked onto the undead dragon.

"Necromancers love such remains."

The implication made everyone’s stomach turn.

Natalia suddenly spoke.

"I’ve heard something similar."

The others looked at her.

"My family records mention that dragons aren’t completely extinct."

"What?"

Videl almost thought she had heard wrong.

Natalia nodded.

"There are rumors that deep within the Ancient Continent, beyond regions ordinary cultivators can reach, living dragons still exist."

The group became even more stunned.

"Living dragons?" Eon repeated.

Natalia nodded.

"That’s what the records claimed."

Ruby slowly exhaled.

"It’s possible."

The answer shocked Videl even further.

"You mean it’s true?"

Ruby shrugged slightly.

"Nobody knows for certain. But if any race could survive hidden from the world for millions of years..."

Her eyes narrowed.

"It would be dragons."

Clara looked completely overwhelmed.

Her understanding of cultivation history was far less than the others.

First undead armies.

Then ancient necromancers.

Now dragons.

Her head felt dizzy.

"Can we discuss ancient history later?" Eon suddenly complained.

Everyone immediately snapped back to reality.

The dragon was still standing there.

And it was staring directly at them.

The green flames within its eyes burned brighter.

The pressure intensified.

Videl clicked her tongue.

Her mana reserves were almost completely empty.

After everything they had endured inside the forest, she barely had enough strength to maintain basic combat readiness.

The situation looked grim.

Lane remained unconscious on Eon’s back.

She showed no signs of waking.

Natalia was exhausted.

Ruby’s condition wasn’t much better.

The only people still capable of fighting properly were the holy maidens and Clara.

Videl glanced toward Clara.

Honestly...

She wasn’t particularly confident.

Although Clara had surprised everyone several times before, fighting an undead dragon was an entirely different matter.

This wasn’t some ordinary monster.

This was a legendary creature.

Even in death, its power remained terrifying.

The dragon lowered its head.

Its massive jaw slowly opened.

Then—

ROOOOOAAAAARRRRR!!

The world shook.

The roar exploded across the forest.

Visible waves of mana spread outward.

Trees shattered.

Leaves were blown away.

Birds hiding miles away instantly fled.

Videl felt her blood freeze.

The pressure crashed into her like a mountain.

Her knees nearly buckled.

Natalia’s face became pale.

Eon gritted his teeth.

Even Ruby narrowed her eyes.

This wasn’t merely sound.

It was domination.

An instinctive pressure engraved into the bloodlines of weaker creatures.

The authority of a dragon.

The authority of a ancient ruler.

Even as an undead skeleton, that authority remained.

"What terrifying pressure..." Natalia whispered.

The two holy maidens immediately stepped forward.

Protective divine light emerged around their bodies.

One of them raised her shield.

The other gripped her weapon tightly.

Behind them, Clara quietly took position.

Unlike Ruby’s fearless expression, Clara appeared much more cautious.

She understood her own limitations.

An undead dragon was far beyond anything she normally fought.

But retreat wasn’t possible.

Not anymore.

The creature completely blocked the road leading toward Fantom City.

If they wanted to survive, they would have to break through.

The dragon took a step forward.

BOOM!