Epic of Ice Dragon: Reborn As An Ice Dragon With A System

Chapter 2417: Clash Of Venerables II [53]

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"You will suffer."

A crushing gravitational force slammed everyone into the ground, pinning them so completely that not a single muscle could twitch. Azure lifted his head and saw dozens upon dozens of the same white void moons they had barely survived before, forming endlessly above them.

And falling.

"Are you kidding me?! She can go this far?! I should have expected it… hah…"

Azure smiled faintly. His aura surged, and his entire body began turning semi-transparent.

It was time.

He had been created for one purpose: to ensure their safety.

If that meant sacrificing himself, he would do it without hesitation.

"D-Damn it! We can't move!" Triton growled.

"Ugh! Nothing works! My Archetype is being crushed right along with me!" Amethyst cried.

"Ouch! It hurts so much! Aaaagh!" Alma wailed.

"I-I can't teleport anyone… my powers aren't responding here!" Hermes said, frustration clear in his voice.

"E-Everyone!" Root shouted, staring helplessly at Héluna and what she had become. "Héluna…! Why…?! You were such a kind girl once… That bastard of a brother—what did he do to your heart?!"

"Brother…" Hrimvaldr laughed bitterly, watching the sphere of white void descend. "I'm the only one without an Archetype… Haha, I guess that's fair. We only just became real brothers."

"No, this isn't over yet," Azure's voice rang out, calm and resolute. "With the last of my energy, I will fulfill my purpose. You still have power deep inside you—don't falter. Let it all out. I know you can do this. I trust you."

His words echoed through every soul present. Azure began to fade, dissolving into rivers of rainbow-colored spiritual and divine energy.

Each river flowed into the dragons, pouring into their souls and reigniting the spark they had nearly exhausted. It overflowed, bursting with brilliant colors.

Their scales shifted to gold once more, then grew crystalline, shimmering with rainbow light that reflected countless hues at once.

"A-Azure?!" Surtr cried as the Split Soul vanished, his final words still ringing in their minds. "Wait! You don't have to die!"

"If my death means you live, then I will gladly give it," Azure replied gently. "Be strong, dragons. You are the Dragon King's chosen. Stand up. Roar. Break through your limits. Your family is right here with you."

Surtr, Emerald, Amethyst, Triton, Hydra, Celene, Root, and Hrimvaldr heard him clearly. Something deep inside them blazed with draconic fury.

"…You're right."

Surtr rose first, staring into the distance as his aura exploded with power.

His scales turned golden, then crystalline, then rainbow—iridescent and radiant.

Emerald followed, colorful winds spiraling around his body.

Amethyst stood next, her transformation making her shine even brighter than before.

Triton rose, his Soul Body overflowing with power that leaked out like colorful clouds of divine light.

Hydra looked skyward and stood, helping Celene to her feet. Both brimmed with Azure's final gift.

Root's wood spread everywhere, forming a vast forest around them.

Hrimvaldr rose last, frustration burning in his eyes that his brother's Split Soul had sacrificed himself.

"You guys…"

"Ah? I can move again?"

Even Alma and Hermes felt the pressure lift, protected within the dragons' surging auras.

Héluna smirked. It didn't matter to her. Her attack was coming regardless.

Dozens of massive white void spheres continued forming, falling relentlessly.

She always preferred long-range devastation.

"Let's go—one last time!"

Surtr roared, leading the charge as they thrust their hands skyward and soared upward.

The spheres plummeted. Héluna smiled, certain of their deaths.

And yet…

"{Soul Unification}: {Primordial Dragon King's Fist}!"

With every last drop of energy, they drove their fists forward. Their combined aura formed the upper torso of a colossal spiritual dragon, overflowing with their fused souls and power.

"RAAAAAAHHHH!"

The dragon bellowed. Its enormous, scaled fists smashed through the void spheres one after another.

BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!

"What…?!"

Héluna's face twisted in horror and disbelief as each attack shattered under the relentless punches. A massive, clawed fist kept pushing forward.

Without slowing down.

"Stop…! Don't come any closer! Don't you dare!"

BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!

She frantically conjured more spheres and bombarded them with star showers for good measure.

Yet…

"HAAAAAHHHH!"

Surtr, Emerald, Amethyst, Triton, Hydra, Celene, Root, and Hrimvaldr roared together, their power unified.

But they weren't alone.

"Take everything I have! I want to meet that woman face-to-face!"

Alma poured every ounce of her Endless Mana into them, pushing them far beyond their limits despite her own exhaustion.

"And this!"

Hermes teleported them upward again and again, helping them evade attacks so the Soul Unification wouldn't collapse too quickly.

BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!

Héluna's spells shattered one after another. She gritted her teeth, hands trembling.

"Oberon! My Lord! I won't lose here! Not to a bunch of lizards! These filthy lizards dare threaten our dream?!"

Screaming, she folded part of her Dominion into her hands, shaping it into a long katana-like blade that mirrored Knife's true form.

"Knife! Now!"

Alma seized Knife and channeled the overflowing power of the Soul Unification into him. He began to awaken, growing longer and more majestic.

She unleashed the only technique she had left—the one she saved for when there was no other choice.

"{Void Cross}!!!"

Knife's blade expanded to tremendous size, slashing through the final wall of rotating moons while the dragons' unified construct punched the rest aside.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

RUMBLE!

Tremors, explosions, and relentless slashes carried the group higher into the night sky, where Héluna met them with her Dominion fully weaponized.

"{Celestial White Moon Void Blade: Tsukuyomi}!"

"That's my true name! I finally remember it! Hahah! Your technique is nothing but a cheap imitation, Héluna!"

"Traitor! Don't you dare speak my name!"

Knife laughed mockingly as Héluna's devastating attack tore through her own Dominion and the surrounding Heavenly Realm, crashing against the dragons.

"Surtr! Everyone! Grab Knife with the Dragon Fist!"

Alma's shout rang out. All the dragons nodded. The giant fist seized Knife tightly, flooding him with even more power and briefly restoring his full original form.

"UUOOOHHH! I can feel it! HÉLUNA! HERE WE COME!"

Knife roared with laughter as the dragons, Alma, and Hermes swung the massive fist, wielding Knife up, down, left, and right.

CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!

RUMBLE!

The Heavenly Realm shuddered. Cracks spread everywhere, revealing the swirling Chaotic Vortex of Yggdrasil beyond.

Silhouettes of countless dragons surged through their auras as the Draconic Records answered their champions' cries. Both living and fallen dragons lent their strength.

Roars echoed across the heavens as the assault intensified. Knife's metallic blade gained draconic ornaments, scales, and claws.

FLUOSH!

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