I Ascend Alone-Chapter 125: The Birth of National Level Part IV

The crowd behind the barrier was growing larger by the second, the gasps and murmurs rising in volume as more media crews and spectators arrived. Cameras were flashing, their lenses trained on the distant confrontation, while reporters shouted over the noise, trying to capture every detail.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I instinctively pulled it out. It was a notification that the live feed of the battle had gone worldwide, streaming the events as they unfolded. A few seconds later, the phone rang, the screen showing the stream was now being broadcasted to millions.

The weight of the situation settled in as I watched the battle unfold, now with the whole world watching.

The five S-Ranks were already in action, and the battlefield was quickly becoming a dance of destruction.

Leon was the first to act, charging forward, his signature Nightblade materializing in his hand as he closed the gap with Pyraethrax. The dragon's molten eyes locked onto him, its massive wings flaring as it gave an earth-shattering roar that shook the very ground beneath their feet.

Leon didn't flinch as he was used to being in the thick of things, the Nightblade glowing a faint, dark blue as it sliced through the air. He ducked low as Pyraethrax snapped at him with its molten jaws, the dragon's teeth glowing white-hot with heat.

Leon's movements were fluid and fast, a blur of motion as he dodged the attack and retaliated with a thrust of his sword aimed at the dragon's underbelly.

The blade made contact—but it was only a glancing blow. The dragon's scales were tougher than even the hardest of metals, and the strike barely left a scratch. Leon didn't let up. He spun out of the way of the dragon's tail as it whipped toward him, sending a gust of burning wind in his direction.

With a curse, Leon activated Quick Step, disappearing into the shadows only to reappear behind the dragon's hind legs, delivering another slash to its flank. This time, the blade left a deeper mark, but Pyraethrax retaliated with a roar that rattled the very air around them, flapping its wings so violently that a shockwave of fire and debris followed in its wake.

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Celestine Ardent was already casting a powerful spell, her staff raised high as she chanted in an ancient tongue. The air around her crackled with energy, and then the sky above darkened as a storm of arcane lightning began to gather.

With a sharp flick of her wrist, she unleashed the storm, bolts of crackling energy shooting out like a hail of spears, each one aimed at Pyraethrax's head. The dragon hissed in pain as the lightning struck, but the ancient beast was far from helpless

It twisted its head, roaring defiantly as it lashed out with one of its massive claws, swiping at Celestine's storm.

The lightning bolt collided with the claw, and for a moment, it looked like the dragon might falter. But it only paused, letting out a low, guttural laugh as it absorbed the energy, its molten body glowing even hotter.

The dragon retaliated by releasing a torrent of fire from its mouth, an inferno that blazed across the battlefield, forcing Celestine to raise a protective barrier. The fire slammed into the shield, causing it to ripple and bend, but Celestine stood firm, her focus never wavering as she used every ounce of her magical energy to hold the line.

Cain Voss, the assassin, moved like a shadow on the battlefield. He darted in and out of the fray with incredible speed, his twin daggers flashing as he aimed for weak points in Pyraethrax's molten hide.

His attacks were precise, surgical even, each strike aiming for the soft spots between the dragon's scales. However, the dragon was smarter than he had anticipated.

Pyraethrax twisted its body mid-movement, its molten form flowing like liquid metal, and Cain found himself forced to leap backward to avoid a searing swipe of the dragon's tail. The heat of the fire left him with only a few inches of space between him and the flames.

"Damn it," Cain muttered, his voice sharp, but there was no panic in it. Only determination. He vanished again, blending into the shadows, awaiting another opening.

Mirae, standing just behind Leon, was focusing her magic, her spear glowing with blue energy as she prepared a devastating spell. She had learned long ago that dragons were as much about their magic as their physical strength.

Pyraethrax's fire was terrifying, but its control over molten rock and earth was even more dangerous. With a focused chant, Mirae summoned a massive barrier of force that shielded the group from the dragon's next blast of fire. She followed it up with a Winds of Elysium, a vortex of intense wind that whipped around Pyraethrax, trying to destabilize the dragon by lifting it off the ground, if only for a few moments.

Pyraethrax hissed, its wings flapping harder, sending torrents of heat through the air as it fought against Mirae's wind magic. The dragon's body wobbled for a split second, giving the S-Ranks just enough time to regroup.

"Push it back!" Leon shouted, urging the team forward. The battle was still far from won, but every attack they landed seemed to make the dragon more agitated. The team was closing in on the ancient beast from all angles, each member bringing their A-game.

The media behind the barrier was in a frenzy, their cameras frantically capturing every moment. Live feeds were being broadcast around the world, showing the raw intensity of the battle.

People were watching from all over the globe, some in awe, others in fear. The tension was thick, as everyone understood the consequences of a failed attempt at taking down such a powerful creature.

From where I stood behind the barrier, the heat of the battle almost reached me, even through the protective shield. I watched as each S-Rank pushed themselves harder and harder, their combined efforts taking a toll on the dragon. But Pyraethrax was no slouch. The battle was just beginning, and the world was waiting to see who would come out victorious.