Chapter 147: First encounter

The sounds of explosions carried over, as the overwhelming aura prevailed. The shield that suddenly sprang up to protect our floating mountain was still intact, yet as the meteors continued to bombard it, I wasn't sure for how long it would remain.

Nonetheless, it did give us time to breathe. Essie nervously glanced at father and them back at me, her big eyes seemingly asking me what to do. Ynos was barely restraining killing intent as he tried to make out what was happening beyond the clouds, while Immy and Sidus stood side by side for the first time in a long time with neither of them picking a fight.

Ayona, my newest tiny fairy servant was floating next to me with an uneasy expression on her face. For a while, we all simply stood there as giant obsidian rocks constantly crashed from the sky, red streaks of lightning occasionally flashing by followed by an ear-deafening thunderclap.

The scene was akin to that of an apocalypse. Sidus suddenly glanced at me and asked, "What should we do brother?" all eyes then turned to me as everyone waited for my reply, I was the strongest and the eldest, hence the leader by default.

"Should we leave the mountain?" Asked Ynos hesitantly to which I shook my head.

"No that's not going to work, firstly look at the meteors, we are safe here with the shield protecting us, but once we go out there..." I motioned with my head towards the ruined forest below as countless craters, smoke, and fire erupted.

Everyone had a solemn expression faced with that scene of destruction. "Besides, we still have father with us. I'm not sure how far the aura extends to, but with it, it's going to be hard carrying him away even if all of us help," I added to which Immy and Sidus nodded in understanding, Ynos gritted his teeth and turned to glare at the sky while Essie was eerily quiet as she watched the clouds.

"What is it, Essie?" I carefully asked.

"There is something there, big brother," She replied while gesturing to the clouds.

"The wind tells me it's dangerous," She added softly.

"Can you see what It is?" Asked Sidus with a frown.

Shaking her head, she answered, "I can't see it directly, but I can sense it, there is more than one..."

"What else can you sense?" Anxiously asked Immy.

"A lot of Dragons are fighting against something bad," Saying that she suddenly turned to me and snuggled at my side, and whispered.

"Big brother, I'm scared,"

Seeing that, I lowered my wing to cover her and brought her closer to me as I tried to calm her nerves. Sidus, Immy, and Ynos turned towards me with Sidus speaking first.

"So it's battle?"

"That would make sense given father's injuries," Solemnly replied Immy.

"Essie said other Dragons are fighting against something bad, could it be?" Added Ynos with a serious expression.

I slowly nodded with a frown, "The Shades,"

"Did they breach the plane?" Asked Sidus as dark mana began to gather around him.

"I don't think they have yet, seeing as we are still okay for now, though if anything things don't look too good," I responded.

"What about grandmother, didn't you say she was strong, brother?" Asked Immy.

"She is, and I'm sure she would know what is going on, and though it's still too dangerous to leave the shield," I shook my head.

"So now what?" Impatiently asked Ynos.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down before I replied, "Now, I guess we wait..."

"Then let's get father back into the cave," Said Sidus to which I nodded.

"Leave it to me," Said Ynos, he then stepped up to father's head and bit him by the horn before he proceeded to drag him inside purely using his physical strength only.

I raised my eye at his display of strength before we all quickly followed him inside. The sound of thunder was a bit muffled inside, yet the various openings in the ceiling kept us updated with what was going on outside.

"Essie, I'm going to need you to stay next to father and help us take care of him, okay?" I gently said as I encouragingly moved her next to him.

She hesitated at first before finally nodding, "En, I'll protect father, don't worry big brother," She said to which a smile made its way to my face as I gently patted her head.

Turning my attention to Ayona, I spoke, "Help me keep an eye on both of them,"

"Yes, master!" She said with a bow. Nodding I motioned towards Sidus, Immy, and Ynos as we moved towards the entrance.

"Things aren't looking too good brother," Immy was the first to speak as we glanced at the sky.

"I know, the shield is holding on, for now, but if it fails,"

"I'm not that concerned about the shield, as I am about whatever the other Dragons are fighting," Said Sidus.

"Hmph, whatever it is, and whoever they are, we just need to crush them! Teach them that we are not to be messed with! How dare they do that to father!" He growled.

"I know how you feel Ynos, trust me, but we have to be smart and careful on this we still-" I wasn't able to finish speaking before Immy gasped as she pointed upwards.

"It's here!"

Turning my attention to the sky, an imposing dark humanoid figure, twice my size came crashing downwards. It was completely obsidian, with sharp claws for hands, and hooves for feet, its head was a blop of darkness that constantly changed shapes, from it extended two large goat horns with complicated patterns carved into them.

On its back were four large bat-like wings that carried a red tint to them. My body tensed up as the Shade crashed against the shield causing a loud boom to follow.

"It was stopped?" Muttered Sidus.

The Shade was indeed unable to bypass the shield, It appeared enraged as it let out a piercing cry before it began to pummel it with its claws and hooves, attempting to break in.

"Shit! If it keeps on doing that, it might just break it!" Said Immy.

"Brother! Let's destroy the ugly bastard! We can't afford to lose the shield!" Urged Ynos as he turned to me.

'Ynos' got a point if the shield breaks we are fucked, especially with all the random meteors,' Glancing at the world outside of the mountain, the number of the small meteors seemed to be lower than before, 'Maybe this is our chance?'

"Destroy it how? With the pressure, we can't afford to move recklessly, we still can't use mana properly!" Argued Immy, to which Sidus in a rare instance agreed with a solemn nod.

"As much as I'm with you Ynos, they have a point, our overall strength is lowered with the pressure weighing us down," I replied with a frown.

Taking a deep breath he shook his head and answered, "I'm still better off than you guys, my main weapon is my body, not mana, I'll drive the bastard away!" He said.

"Absolutely not!" I instantly rejected his reckless proposal.

"I'm sorry brother, but It was not a request," He said before shooting towards the sky like an arrow.

"Damn it Ynos!"