I Only Tame Dragons

Horizon's teeth clenched.

Of course.

The Elven Elders had provided Brotherhood Legion with the same kind of artifact they had given Scarlet Blood Moon.

Grimm's stats had doubled.

Horizon exhaled sharply.

No time to curse the unfairness of it all.

If Grimm had this boost, then it was likely that the others did too.

Von and Frigid could handle themselves—he wasn't worried about them. But Lydia and Silphie?

They were in serious danger.

This wasn't Wingless Valkyrie, who had fought with honor, only aiming to knock them out.

This was Brotherhood Legion. They would do anything to win. Even if it meant killing.

Horizon didn't have a choice.

With a sharp whistle, the sky trembled as his Dracolich and Giant Hawk descended onto the battlefield.

The Dracolich's skeletal frame glowed with eerie blue flames, necrotic energy pulsing from its core. Its massive wings stirred the canyon winds, sending waves of dust and debris scattering across the ground.

Above, the Giant Hawk circled, its metallic feathers crackling with arcs of lightning, eyes locked onto Grimm like a predator watching its prey.

Grimm grinned, rolling his shoulders. "Finally."

He had been waiting for this.

From the moment he first laid eyes on Horizon's summons, he had been studying them.

He had prepared for them.

He had the necessary skills, the stats, and even a hidden artifact designed specifically to counter them.

"You should've summoned them sooner," Grimm said, gripping his greatsword tighter. "I've been dying to test myself against them."

But against all odds—

The two summons didn't attack.

Instead, they soared into the sky, rising high above the battlefield.

Grimm's grin wavered. What?

His eyes flickered between the Dracolich and the Giant Hawk, watching as they climbed higher and higher, not engaging him at all.

"What are you doing?" Grimm scoffed, tilting his head. "Aren't you going to use them to kill me?"

Horizon didn't answer immediately. Instead, he slowly raised his sword, his grip firm.

A dangerous aura rolled off him like an unseen storm, his very presence shifting the atmosphere. The wind grew heavier. The air thick with pressure.

Then, finally—he spoke.

"To deal with you?" His voice was calm. Horizon's blade glowed, the energy around him growing sharper, more refined. "My sword is enough."

Grimm's smirk vanished.

For the first time, he felt it—

The overwhelming, suffocating killing intent radiating from Horizon.

=== ===

Across the arena, the battles continued.

Von's duel with Elias raged on, their bullets clashing mid-air in an endless firefight.

Frigid, despite being at a massive disadvantage, had begun freezing the lava, slowly turning the battlefield in his favor.

Lydia and Lucas had disappeared into the maze, their battle now a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Lydia's breath came fast and sharp as she darted through the shadowed labyrinth, her every step silent but calculated.

Lucas was relentless. He moved like a ghost, the wind guiding his every strike, his twin blades glinting in the eerie mist that curled around them.

Lydia twisted, barely dodging as one of his blades slashed past her shoulder, the fabric of her cloak ripping from the near miss.

"You can't run forever, thief," Lucas taunted, his voice barely a whisper against the wind. "This maze belongs to me."

"I'm a relic hunter!" Lydia answered.

She was fast, but Lucas wasn't just fast—he was enhanced by the wind itself. No matter how quickly she moved, he was always a step ahead.

And the worst part? She had no idea where Silphie was.

The shifting walls of the labyrinth had cut them off early in the fight, forcing them into separate battles.

And that meant Silphie was alone.

=== ===

Silphie barely had time to react before a massive greatsword came crashing down toward her.

She threw herself to the side, just in time for the blade to shatter the ground where she had stood. The sheer force of the attack sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, kicking up dust and debris.

A deep, familiar voice rumbled from above.

"A healer? Alone?"

Silphie whipped her head up to see Travis, the warrior of Brotherhood Legion, towering over her.

His massive battle-scarred armor gleamed under the battlefield's light, and his grip on his greatsword was steady, unwavering. He was built like an unmovable wall—a true warrior.

"This is a waste of time," Travis muttered, rolling his shoulders. "You're a support. You shouldn't even be here."

Silphie exhaled slowly, steadying her staff.

"And yet, here I am," she replied.

Travis snorted. "Brave. But it won't save you."

He charged.

Silphie barely had time to brace before the ground shook beneath his approach, his greatsword cleaving through the air in a brutal arc.

She raised a divine barrier, the golden glow flaring just in time to intercept the attack.

But the impact was monstrous.

The force sent her skidding backward, her boots scraping against the stone.

Travis wasted no time. He followed up immediately, swinging his blade in another devastating strike.

Silphie's mind raced. She couldn't win in a direct fight.

But she didn't need to.

She needed to stall.

Needed to survive, until Horizon and the others came to her.

She channeled divine energy, her staff pulsing with power.

But just as she prepared to counter, the wind shifted.

A shadow loomed overhead.

And then—a deafening screech tore through the battlefield.

Travis's eyes widened.

A massive shadow descended upon them—the Giant Hawk.

Its metallic wings flared, lightning crackling along its form, and in an instant, it dove toward Travis, talons outstretched.

Travis barely had time to raise his sword before the full force of the hawk's attack crashed into him.

The warrior was sent flying, his body slamming into the ground.

Silphie exhaled, her grip tightening around her staff as she sighed in relief at the sight of Horizon's Giant Hawk. She secretly gave thanks to Horizon for she knew that he had sent the Hawk to help her.

A warm feeling flooded her and her resolved strengthened.

"I'm not alone," she murmured.

The battle had just shifted in her favor.