A Journey That Changed The World.

Chapter 1685: Orderʼs Over

Archer clapped his hands together, readying his mana for the next attack. The three strands collided and combined. Light exploded outward, forcing Sera, who was standing beside him, to shield her eyes. When it cleared, several spells hovered in front of him: missile-shaped mana projectiles, each one made up of a different element, bound by a lattice of raw will.

The Terravian God sensed the threat. Its shield, already spider-webbed and bleeding divine light, flared with desperate brilliance. Stone golems along the perimeter lurched to life, but he didnʼt spare them a glance as they would be destroyed soon, and the spell charged up even more, absorbing mana from his body.

ʼʼNow,ʼʼ he muttered.

Archer thrust his hand forward, forcing the projectiles to carve a screaming trail of chaos toward the shield. The barrier met it with a shriek as the strange mana flared, but it was useless. For a heartbeat, the spells hung suspended, elements warring against the enemy godʼs will.

Moments later, several explosions echoed out. A ring of violet fire erupted first, devouring the shieldʼs outer layer. Lightning followed, lancing through every fracture in a web of blinding white. Finally, it bloomed, black petals unfurling in perfect silence, eating light, sound, and power alike.

The shield didnʼt break. It unraveled, threads of divine energy torn loose and scattered like ash on the wind. The Terravian God bellowed, a sound of rage and pain that shook the earth. Its form flickered, edges fraying as the loss of its barrier carved wounds into its soul. Archer staggered, knees buckling.

Sera caught him before he hit the ground, her arms surprisingly strong for her petite size. ʼʼEasy,ʼʼ she murmured, pressing two fingers to his throat.

Mana pulsed from her touch, cool and steadying; it brought him back to reality as she gave him some of her energy. He coughed, tasting copper. ʼʼDid we get it?ʼʼ

The redhead looked up with her big ruby red eyes, scanning the results of Archerʼs attack. Where the shield had been, nothing remained, as the surrounding land was burning. Beyond it, the godʼs aura loomed, weaker but unbroken. ʼʼNot yet,ʼʼ she said, smile sharp. ʼʼBut itʼs bleeding.ʼʼ

Archer pushed himself upright, wiping blood from his lip. ʼʼGood. Bleeding things can die.ʼʼ

Without waiting, he summoned the Swarms, ordering them to attack the fortress. ʼʼKill everything inside! Leave the leaders to us!ʼʼ

Just then, the Broodmaw Hunters burst forward, sprinting at the last Terravian bastion in their once thriving realm. When the monsters got close, explosions erupted as the defenders fought back, but it was useless. Venomwings swooped down, taking out many on the ramparts as the other creatures joined the battle.

Sera watched this with excitement, her head snapped in his direction. ʼʼCan I join?ʼʼ she asked.

ʼʼGo for it, but be careful,ʼʼ he replied.

Following that, Sera summoned her wings, taking off, leaving behind a sonic boom as she rushed toward the fortress. Some of the Terravian Mages tried to attack the Dragoness, but Archer extended his Anti-Magic to her, causing the spells to fizzle out and vanish before they even touched her.

She slammed into the gate in full Dragon form, a crimson meteor of scale and fury. Iron buckled like parchment; the enemy vanguard vanished beneath her impact, pulped into the flagstones. Spells flared against her hide, bouncing off ruby scales, until a lance of violet-white force punched through, carving a smoking furrow along her flank.

Archer listened to Sera roar, tail the size of a siege tower whipping in a single arc. Stone cracked, bodies flew, and the gateʼs archway collapsed in a storm of dust and screams. His Swarm entered the breach, slaughtering any Terravian that came near. He slowly walked toward the destruction, excitement exploding thanks to the incoming fight.

While doing that, an aura exploded outward, sending his monsters flying, but it rushed in his direction and tried to punch him. Archer caught the Terravian Godʼs fist, smirking as he sensed the enemy was even weaker than he expected. Without warning, he lunged forward, biting down on the foeʼs shoulders.

Fangs sank into the humanoidʼs shoulder. He wrenched his head sideways and tore. The arm came free in a spray of blood. The enemyʼs scream echoed out, pure agony. Moments later, Archerʼs tail lashed against the beingʼs body, and a thunder-crack echoed out. It caught the deity across the chest and hurled it.

The God flew backward, trailing ichor, and punched through the fortress wall like a cannonball through parchment. Stone erupted in a blooming cloud; half the bastion was wiped out of existence. From above, Seraʼs laughter rang, bright as breaking glass. ʼʼSave some for me, love.ʼʼ

Archer spat divine blood, wiped his mouth with the back of one clawed hand. ʼʼPlenty left. Itʼs still breathing.ʼʼ

Following that, the god dragged itself from the rubble, one-armed, granite skin sloughing like wet clay. Gold ichor hissed where it touched the ground, eating craters into stone. Its remaining eye, a dying star, fixed on him. ʼʼYou dare,ʼʼ the Terravian God rasped, voice cracked.

Archer rolled his neck. ʼʼDareʼs a strong word. Iʼm finishing.ʼʼ

Behind him, Sera landed in a gust of wind, folding wings tight. Scales smoked where the lance had kissed her; the wound already knit, ruby edges glowing. She flicked her tail, scattering Swarm like startled crows. ʼʼLeft me the fun part,ʼʼ she said, amused. ʼʼHow generous.ʼʼ

The Enemy God raised its stump. Light condensed, a second arm trying to regrow, slow, stuttering, the color of old blood. Archer didnʼt wait and decided to act. He stepped in and put a stop to it as he murmured. ʼʼDragonfire.ʼʼ

Violet petals bloomed from his body. He pressed them to the enemyʼs chest. They sank into the humanoidʼs body. The Terrvian convulsed, trying to pull away as the pain intensified thanks to his mana seeping into the beingʼs chest, causing it to grit its teeth; Archer held fast, fingers buried to the wrist in divine flesh.

Sera circled high above. ʼʼMy turn to show you what I can do.ʼʼ

She exhaled and seconds later, a lance of pure dragon-roar, shaped like a spear. It punched through the enemyʼs knee. The joint exploded outward in a spray of stone and light. The deity toppled, crashing to one knee, shaking the earth. Archer leaned in, mouth to the godʼs ear. ʼʼYou kept slaves. Burned cities. Called it an order.ʼʼ

His voice dropped to a whisper. ʼʼOrderʼs over and the rise of the White Dragon continues.ʼʼ

He twisted the pure mana. The orbs spread, racing up the Godʼs torso, across its face. Where they touched, divinity unraveled into nothingness, but his body pulled in the energy, boosting his power to new heights. The enemyʼs scream became a whimper. Its shrank, until what knelt before them was barely man-sized: cracked stone over a flickering core of light.

Seraʼs claw settled on its shoulder, gently. ʼʼAny last words?ʼʼ

The core pulsed once as it answered. ʼʼMercy.ʼʼ

Archerʼs laugh was soft. ʼʼWrong story.ʼʼ

He closed his fist. The dragonfire contracted, causing the Terravian to implode, folding inward until only a fist-sized shard of starlight remained, hovering, trembling. Sera plucked it from the air. It dimmed between her fingers ʼʼSouvenir?ʼʼ she asked.

Archer wiped his hands on his coat. ʼʼTrophy. Mount it above the throne back in the palace.ʼʼ

Around them, the fortress burned. Swarm feasted. The sky, for the first time in centuries, belonged to no god. Sera bumped his shoulder. ʼʼDrinks?ʼʼ

He grinned, fangs still gold-flecked. ʼʼFirst roundʼs on the corpse.ʼʼ

Following that, the Terravian Realm began to fall apart, allowing them to escape after he summoned the Swarms back to the Domain alongside the bodies, leaving nothing behind as they reappeared on the floating island. The Dragoness glanced around, seeing mounds of monster bodies piling up all around them.

Archer grew curious and sent out a pulse of mana only to realize that these were the last enemy creatures left in the real world. Sera sighed in relie, grabbed his arm, and dragged him toward their mansion. The Draconians rushed outside to loot the bodies after Elara gave the command.

After ten minutes, the duo arrived at the mansion, where the others were waiting for them after their hard-fought battle. When stepping inside, Brooke collided with him, wrapping her arms around his shoulder before giving him a passionate kiss. After she was finished, the older woman backed away, green eyes full of love.

ʼʼWell done, handsome,ʼʼ she praised. ʼʼWe felt the Terravianʼs power vanish from here. Thanks for coming to help.ʼʼ

ʼʼYouʼre welcome, Brooke,ʼʼ Archer replied, returning the hug. ʼʼBut Iʼll rest here for a while, need a break from the fighting.ʼʼ

ʼʼCome on in!ʼʼ Nefertiti exclaimed, a bright smile lighting up her face. ʼʼWeʼve just baked some delicious food that you can try for us.ʼʼ

Archer noticed the other women nod in agreement, who dragged him toward the nearby lounge as Alexa and Nala went to grab the food. He slumped down in a comfortable chair and clased his eyes, relaxing as his stomach rumbled thanks to the aroma drifting through the air.