Black & White, Dragons ( Flames and Lightning)

The next day.

In the morning I already communicated to Alex my plan.

It's afternoon now, today the number of beasts was even less than tomorrow.

We have confirmed something is definitely wrong with the forest but for finding the anomaly we have to move further inside the Forest.

I glimpsed around. Everyone was tired but not as exhausted as yesterday.

... What a pity, I told Alex to challenge James during the break as he will be most weak at the moment.

But today we didn't meet many beasts, unfortunately.

Sigh, ...the boy will maybe die today, James is still full of strength.

Doesn't matter, if he survives I can think of a way to use him. If he dies, it will just be another episode in my life.

... It's his faith, I don't want weakling anyway.

I and Ellen were currently at a small distance away from the party.

For what?... I was dozing off in her lap.

Haha, Maybe we are the first person in this world to do this in the middle of Cursed forest.

Life is perfect like this...

"Hey, Leon will we finally face the pseudo-god level beast tomorrow," Ellen spoke with an anxious tone.

I stared at her briefly then chuckled softly. "Isn't it just a monster, I will kill it alone."

Ellen rolled her eyes at me, obviously not believing me.

I shrugged. It's up to her believe me or not.

After personally experiencing few days inside, all her bravery is shattered by the harsh reality.

It's not only her everyone is the same in the team, everyone's fighting spirit is broken by facing countless tides of monsters...

And tomorrow we are going to step into the middle layer of the forest where much fiercer beasts live.

Maybe many will die, personally, I am not going to protect anyone other than Ellen.

... Many may disagree with my approach, but I was never a justice hero.

Every adventurer knows that it may be his last day when he steps into a mission, but he still does.

Adventures are one, who doesn't want to get bound by rules, live freely, every one of them will prefer to die smashing monster skulls rather than dying from old age.

"Time sure flies... ." I murmured

"Eh?"

"Let's go, the show should be starting." I stood up and walked in the direction of the rest of the team.

"What show!?"

I didn't answer her and continued walking. Ellen followed after me.

With our speed, we arrived at the place immediately. I scanned the situation, seems like they were ready to get on the move again.

"Arrived in time..."

"What do you mean," Ellen arrived near me and asked me in confusion.

"Just wait and watch." I answered her briefly.

We walked in front of the remaining team members, except Alex, everyone was present now.

"Where is Alex?..." Lux asked me.

"Why will I know?" I stared at Lux with a weird expression. After yesterday's incident, he is assumed Alex to be my friend.

"Isn't he your friend?"

Even others are looking at me strangely now, thanks, you Lux.

"He isn't my friend, not even in the slightest manner."

"Speak of the devil." Noir pointed in the direction where Alex was coming from.

Alex walked straight towards James direction, indifferent to the curious gazes he was getting from everyone.

I can understand their curiosity, after all, he maintained a distance from everyone in the team during the mission till now.

Alex stopped in front of James. And finally, spoke in an ice-cold voice.

"I want to challenge you for duel."

""What??""

Everyone showed different reactions towards him.

Lux and Noir shivered at his voice again which was completely chilly, devoid of any emotion.

"Are you kidding kid?" Edger laugher him off, not taking him seriously.

Arthur was observing Alex without speaking.

"He can speak!?" Ellen got the most usual reaction out of all.

James didn't care about anyone, he was staring at Alex. From the time the exhibition started, he was most interested in this boy, his instincts were always screaming as if there is any connection between them.

Finally, he got a chance to how can he miss it.

"What are conditions"

Alex spoke. "Single match, 1vs1, match till death."

"Okay let's do it." James nodded instantly.

...hey, ...hello, dude didn't you listened match till death part.

"Wait, ... you guys aren't serious right." Edger asked with a bewildered expression.

Both Alex and James nodded.

"No way, I will not allow this, Arthur stop them."

Arthur was still silent, observing Alex and James. Nobody was moving except Edger.

"Are you guys nuts, we are in the middle of The Cursed Forest, we can't lose anyone before confronting the evolved beast."

Nobody responded to him. Ellen wanted to say something but I motioned her to stop.

This guy, ... I never thought he will be the most troublesome among us

... In reality, he is the most rationally thinking. But reality is often disappointing.

I shook my head tired and sighed. "Okay both of you take places, I will act as the referee for the duel, as agreed earlier it's going to be 1vs1, deathmatch, no one is allowed to interfere."

Both Alex and James nodded without any objections and walked to an empty square.

Edger muttered. "This is wrong, ... I can't allow it...I will stop this.".

Fuck, he started mobilizing his mana.

"Shhhh... It's his fight, only and only his...No one is going to...INTERFERE." I screamed as I surged my aura directly to a near-God level making him freeze in his track.

Ignoring everyone surprised gazes I slowly closed my eyes as I felt the magic power swirling within. My magic power formed a vortex that blew away the air around as it grew into a pillar that reached for the high heavens.

Soon, the area was suffused with magic power. Strong winds blew up dust and pebbles, it felt like a jet was taking off, everything got swept up in this magical storm.

"Th-this power..." A girl who was watching everything from afar spoke.

This is beyond the limits of mortals.

She has seen this kind of magic power before. It is precisely because she recognized this pattern that she couldn't believe her eyes.

Natsuki watched as I continued emitting more magic power. While gasping, she mumbled in a stunned manner.

"He is indeed the same person..."

Previously, she just guessed he was the same person she was searching for, but now it's confirmed.

"Near-God level...." Ellen gnashed her teeth before she looked at the man in front of him in shock.

"And I thought I was the strongest all along," Arthur murmured.

"So, Pseudo-God level is real, I thought it was just myth." Nori sighed in admiration.

Bam!!

Without a warning, the space imploded as a shockwave blew everyone outwards.

Natsuki had to use her magic power to stabilize herself, her hair bellowed in the ensuing winds. She continued staring at the silhouette in front of her with an astounding look.

"What terrifying magic control, it has already surpassed even us, the Gods."

She disappeared from the space and appeared beside the man, which aroused her interest. After thousands of year's there is something which can intrigue her, how can she miss it.

I sensed her presence near me, but she wasn't a threat so I ignored her for the time being.

Soon, Two streams of light flew out from me, and mana started materialising around me.

It's my favourite magic of Time and Space. I can materialise it in any form. But dragons still look coolest.

*Boom!*

White flames and black lightning exploded outwards from my body.

The white flames gently floated around, everything it touched, air or ground, got incinerated into nothingness. It was like the burned object never existed, as a supernatural force sent them back to their origins.

Meanwhile, the black lightning came crashing down like a meteor Everything it licked, barrier or space, got torn to bits like a shattered mirror. It's not a collapse of space, the black lightning just broke everything it touched.

The anomalous flames and lightning rampaged.

"I have never seen flames or lightning like that before!"

Natsuki's eyes flashed with excitement. She mumbled with a grim look. She tried hard to suppress the inner excitement rising within her.

Ellen inhaled, accidentally swallowing a mouthful of magic power as she clenched down hard on her to maintain herself. [it is the same magic which I saw that day, lightning is different but it is much more intimidating. ]

Then, She saw it...

Inside the white flames, inside the black lightning. Two draconian lifeforms stood as they slowly materialized.

The white dragon had flames covering it like a fancy coat of flames. Its torso is white and its eyes are blue. It sported white whiskers that fluttered like elegant ribbons. Looking rather regal, the creature had a pair of webbed wings, talons could be seen near its webbed arm.

Its tail is long and made up of white flames. It flailed its tail around like a cannon ready to fire anytime at its woeful foes. Every time it thrashed its tail, white embers would rain down, reducing the air level by returning them to nothingness.

Elegance and regality.

The black dragon was arcing with black lightning. Its Torso is largely black, some parts were so dark one would hardly see it against the night sky. Its blood-red eyes complemented its brutal crown well. Its limbs had thorny extensions while its arm had metallic wing protrusions that looked like cool vambraces. Its wings are covered in a protective coating, it looked like a fan adorned with thorns near its ends.

With tough-looking baseball mitts for hands, the black dragon had three-digit nasty-looking claws. Behind it, its meaty tail looked like a battering ram that shook the space whenever it flailed its tail. One wouldn't be comfortable anywhere near this tail that looked like it could destroy anything with a single whip.

The black and white dragons stood side by side, their flames and lightning fell upon the summoning platform. They were like two different kings, one sagely and divine, the other, cruel and domineering.

"Now, nobody is going to disturb us."