Re-Awakened :I Ascend as an SSS-Ranked Dragon Summoner - Chapter 414

Chapter 414: Queen’s mandate 2

Storm’s Blizzard Legion activated, manifesting twenty-seven ice constructs that swarmed the Phantasm Hydra from all directions. Each construct possessed its own tactical intelligence, forcing the creature to divide its attention between multiple threats while Storm continued his lightning-fast hit-and-run attacks. But the Hydra’s Phase-Slip Reflex allowed it to avoid several potentially fatal strikes, its bioelectric fields partially ghosting it through Storm’s electrical attacks.

Nyx had begun systematically dismantling the Cinderheart Behemoth’s defenses through sheer persistence. Each exchange of thermal attacks raised both creatures’ core temperatures, but Nyx’s draconic physiology gave him the advantage in sustained high-heat combat. His Volcanic Roar shattered the Behemoth’s concentration and stunned it repeatedly, preventing it from achieving the focus necessary for its most devastating attacks.

But it was Ivy who demonstrated the most tactical creativity. Her Razor Vine Whips had emerged from the root network she’d established, creating a three-dimensional web of cutting edges that turned the battlefield into a maze of botanical death.

The Abyssal Basilisk’s attempts to use its Subterranean Ambush attacks were consistently foiled by the underground root system, while its Neuromuscular Lock Gaze proved ineffective against a opponent who could attack from dozens of angles simultaneously.

The battle reached its climax when the three Category 5 beasts attempted to coordinate their attacks. The Phantasm Hydra’s sonic pressure waves disrupted Storm’s ice constructs just as the Cinderheart Behemoth released another Heat Burst, while the Abyssal Basilisk’s corrosive breath created a gap in Ivy’s vine network.

For a moment, it seemed like the beasts might gain the upper hand through superior coordination.

Then Noah felt his dragons’ intentions shift through their bonds.

Storm and Ivy switched targets.

Storm’s Arctic Shroud wrapped around him as he dove toward the Cinderheart Behemoth, his Glacial Domination ability activating to create a localized ice age that began rapidly cooling the creature’s superheated core. The thermal shock was devastating—the Behemoth’s internal temperature dropped so rapidly that stress fractures began appearing across its armored hide.

Ivy redirected her attention to the Phantasm Hydra, her Thorn Barrage activating. A cobra-like hood around her neck flared open. Hundreds of razor-sharp spines launched toward the multi-headed creature with enough force to punch through military-grade armor. But more than that, each spine carried concentrated botanical toxins that began shutting down the Hydra’s nervous system on contact.

This left Nyx free to focus entirely on the Abyssal Basilisk. His Red Mist Cloak activated, wrapping him in superheated vapor that turned his entire body into a weapon. When he collided with the serpentine creature, the impact was like a controlled volcanic eruption. The Basilisk’s obsidian-like armor, designed to withstand most forms of physical and chemical attack, began to crack and melt under the sustained thermal assault.

The end came quickly.

Storm’s combination of thermal shock and electrical overload caused the Cinderheart Behemoth’s core to destabilize catastrophically. The creature collapsed in on itself, its internal heat turning its own mass into slag.

Storm dove down immediately, his claws tearing through the cooling remains until he found the creature’s core—a crystal formation the size of human’s torso that pulsed with thermal energy.

The Hollow Blizzard Monarch crushed the core between his jaws and devoured it hungrily, the energy absorption causing his scales to glow with renewed vitality. His post-hibernation hunger partially satisfied, he spread his wings and turned toward Nyx’s battlefield, electricity arcing around his wing membranes as he spread them out like a proud peacock while advancing towards Nyx steadily but carefully.

For anyone watching, it felt like Nyx was being stalked by Storm.

Nyx had finished dismantling the Abyssal Basilisk through sustained application of overwhelming force. The serpent’s head lay separated from its body, both parts cooling rapidly as Nyx’s molten core ability gradually deactivated. He extracted the creature’s core with his mouth, but when Storm approached with obvious predatory intent, Nyx simply snorted smoke from his nostrils and stepped aside.

The gesture was small but significant—big brother allowing little brother to eat, but making it clear that the gift was voluntary rather than surrendered to aggression.

Storm devoured the second core with obvious satisfaction, then immediately turned toward where Ivy was delivering the finishing blow to the Phantasm Hydra.

Ivy’s Spore Cloud had completely overwhelmed the multi-headed creature’s respiratory systems. Each head had succumbed to different botanical toxins, creating a cascade failure that left the Hydra unable to coordinate any defense. Her final attack—a massive Root Bind that emerged from directly beneath the creature—had crushed its central nervous system, ending the fight brutally.

But when Storm approached Ivy’s kill with the same dominance display he’d shown at Nyx’s battlefield, wings spread and lightning crackling around his form, the dynamic changed completely.

Nyx intervened immediately, placing his larger bulk between Storm and Ivy with a low growl that made the ground vibrate. His message was clear: Storm could have his core, but he would not be allowed to bully the newest member of their pack.

The confrontation lasted only moments, but Noah felt the emotional currents through all three bonds—Storm’s hunger-driven aggression, Nyx’s protective authority, and Ivy’s cautious assessment of the pack dynamics playing out around her.

The resolution came from Ivy herself. Using her snout, she pushed the Phantasm Hydra’s multi-faceted core toward Storm, the gesture carrying none of the submission Noah might have expected. Instead, it felt like a queen offering a gift to a valued but overeager subject.

Storm accepted the core immediately, Storm tore into the Hydra’s core without another word, but his eyes stayed locked on Ivy’s until the last shard of crystal dissolved between his jaws. She held his gaze, unblinking.

With all three cores consumed, his post-hibernation hunger was finally satisfied, and his behavior began returning to something closer to normal.

The three dragons took flight together, their different flight patterns creating a complex aerial dance as they returned to Noah’s position. Storm’s lightning-fast maneuvers, Nyx’s powerful wing beats, and Ivy’s graceful gliding formed a display that spoke of pack unity despite their individual differences.

As they landed around Noah, he felt a surge of pride and affection through all three bonds. His dragons had not only defeated three Category 5 beasts, they had begun establishing the social dynamics that would define their cooperation in future battles.

“Holy shit,” Kelvin whispered, staring at the three massive forms settling around Noah like they were oversized guard dogs. “Noah… what the hell did we just watch?”

Sophie couldn’t take her eyes off Ivy. “That’s not the same dragon we saw in the cage. She’s… God, she’s terrifying.”

“Terrifying?” Kelvin’s voice cracked. “Sophie, they just deleted three Category 5 beasts like they were swatting flies! That flower thing Ivy did? I thought we were all about to die just from being near it!”

“The way they moved together,” Lucy said, shaking her head in disbelief. “They actually listen to you. I’ve seen military units with worse coordination.”

Uncle Dom was nodding enthusiastically. “Pack dynamics! Beautiful pack dynamics! Did you see how the big one protected the female from the hungry one?”

“Uncle Dom, please,” Lucas muttered, but he was staring at the dragons too. “Noah, I knew they were powerful, but this…”

“This was like watching natural disasters fight other natural disasters,” Kelvin interrupted, his cybernetic arms twitching. “And somehow your natural disasters won! Easily!”

Kaia was backing away slowly. “The reports about her abilities… they didn’t mention anything about that level of destruction.”

“That’s because she was broken,” Noah said quietly, running his hand along Ivy’s snout. “Now she’s whole.”

“Whole and absolutely lethal,” Diana added. “The precision, the way she turned the entire battlefield into a weapon… that’s not just power, that’s intelligence.”

“Exactly!” Kelvin threw his hands up. “They’re not just strong, they’re smart! Smart enough to switch targets mid-fight, smart enough to coordinate attacks, smart enough to—” He stopped, staring at Storm who was still crackling with residual electricity. “Storm’s still looking at me like he’s deciding whether I’m worth eating.”

“He’s not going to eat you,” Noah said with amusement.

“He’s thinking about it though,” Kelvin replied, not taking his eyes off the dragon. “I can see it in his eyes. There’s actual thought happening in there.”

The Queen stepped forward hesitantly. “In all our legends, dragons were forces of nature. Seeing them follow your commands… it’s like watching someone give orders to the wind.”

“They don’t follow my commands,” Noah corrected. “They choose to work with me.”

Lucy laughed, but it sounded slightly hysterical. “Work with you? Noah, they just demonstrated enough firepower to level a city, and they did it because you asked nicely?”

“The bond runs deeper than commands,” Uncle Dom said, suddenly serious. “Family protects family.”

“Family that can melt mountains,” Kelvin added helpfully. “Noah, do you realize you’re basically walking around with your own personal army of mythical death machines?”

Sophie was still staring at Ivy in wonder. “She’s beautiful. Deadly as hell, but beautiful.”

“Beautiful?” Kelvin squeaked. “She turned the ground into a nightmare garden that tried to eat everything! Those petals were cutting through solid rock!”

“And now she’s just sitting there like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth,” Diana observed, watching as Ivy preened under the attention.

But their victory celebration was short-lived.

The ground beneath their feet began shaking with an intensity that dwarfed the previous tremors. This wasn’t the rhythmic pulse of something awakening—this was the violent thrashing of something genuinely angry.

Trees began toppling as the earth heaved and buckled. In the distance, Noah could see entire sections of forest sliding into newly formed chasms as Lilivil’s fury manifested in geological chaos.

“Noah!” Lucas called out from the facility entrance. “Whatever you’re going to do about this place, do it now! The whole planet’s coming apart!”

Noah looked back at the facility where his team was still working to evacuate the remaining creatures and elven prisoners. The building was structurally sound, but it wouldn’t survive much more of this seismic activity.

[Void storage activated]

Making a decision that would drain virtually all of his remaining void energy, Noah activated his Domain Storage ability on a scale he’d never attempted before. Purple energy enveloped the entire facility, and with a sound like reality tearing apart, the building and everything in it vanished into his personal dimension.

The effort left him staggering, his void energy reserves completely depleted, but they had successfully removed the source of Lilivil’s agitation.

Unfortunately, the planet-beast didn’t seem inclined to calm down immediately.

The shaking intensified, and Noah realized they had awakened something that had been sleeping for millennia. Whatever came next would make their battle with the Category 5 beasts look like a warm-up exercise.

Around him, his dragons took defensive positions, ready for whatever Lilivil might throw at them next. But Noah couldn’t shake the feeling that they were about to face something far beyond anything they had prepared for.

The ground cracked open beneath their feet with a sound like the world ending, and something vast and ancient began to stir in the depths below.