BXBX NOVEL Chapter 184: Draven...
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[A few moments later]
The forest, once a lush tapestry of green, was now a charred wasteland. The remnants of the lizardmen faction lay scattered across the ground, their bodies twisted, skewed, gaping and burned, a testament to the destructive power unleashed by Draven and his forces.
At the heart of the carnage stood Draven, his figure bathed in the ethereal glow of blue flames. His eyes, cold and calculating, scanned the desolate landscape. The initial wave of lizardmen had been a mere appetizer, a test of his faction\'s strength. Now, the main course awaited.
As he turned to address his forces, a sudden explosion rocked the shadows. A figure, cloaked in shadow, emerged from the smoke, their body covered in wounds. It was a scout, a member of the enemy faction, and from the look in their eyes, they knew their position had been compromised.
With a desperate lunge, the scout activated a self-destruct mechanism. A blinding flash of light erupted, consuming the scout and leaving behind a crater in the forest floor. It was a desperate gamble, a final act of defiance.
Draven watched the explosion with a cold detachment. The scout\'s sacrifice was a testament to the enemy\'s determination, but it was also a warning. The enemy was closer than they thought, and they were willing to die to protect their secrets.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Draven turned to his forces. "They know," he said, his voice carrying a note of grim determination. "They know we\'re here. They\'ll be coming for us."
The realization of their compromised position sent a wave of disappointed through the ranks, but it was tempered by a steely resolve, they wanted to lay low for a while but now they had no choice but a direct attack.
As the embers grew, casting long shadows over the ravaged forest, the survivors gathered around Draven, their faces etched with a mixture of fear and determination. They knew that the real battle was yet to come. The enemy was out there, watching, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. But they were ready.
The aftermath of the encounter was a sobering reality check. The self-destruction of the enemy scout had confirmed Draven\'s suspicions. They were dealing with a formidable opponent, a faction with resources and capabilities beyond their imagination. The presence of dragons in their ranks was a game-changer, a revelation that sent shockwaves through the Draven faction, that was Axl\'s faction.
Yet, instead of fear or despair, Draven\'s face contorted into a smirk, a rare display of emotion that caught his followers off guard. They had never seen their leader show such a blatant disregard for danger, such an open display of confidence.
"Dragons, huh?" Draven mused, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Interesting."
His followers exchanged puzzled glances. They knew their leader was a formidable warrior, but this nonchalance in the face of such a formidable enemy was unexpected.
Draven turned to his second in command, his eyes gleaming with a predatory intensity. "Gather intelligence on this," he ordered.
"We need to know everything about them, their strengths, these lizardmem must be connected to them, meaning their army must be huge, I want the tamers to deal with our monsters to form a cannon fodder army of our own. Scouts search for a swamp nearby."
A sinister glint appeared in his eyes. "Inform the others at base about their presence. We don\'t attack noe but we consolidate our position."
The faction members nodded and moved quickly to their positions.
As his subordinates left to carry out his orders, Draven stood alone, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
" I should greet my brother properly..." He thought.
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Neveah disguised as a leader of the mercenaries, did not remain idle as his subordinates carried out his orders. Instead, he ventured out into the heart of the sub-dimension, a place of raw power and untamed beauty. His goal was to gain a firsthand understanding of the terrain, to identify potential threats and opportunities.
As he traveled, he stumbled upon a scene of chaos. A young dragon, its body scorched and scarred, lay lifeless on the ground. The surrounding area was littered with the bodies of lizardmem, their armor broken, their spirits extinguished. It was a grim testament to the brutality of the sub-dimension.
But it was the identity of the fallen dragon that caught Neveah\'s attention. The creature bore the unmistakable mark of the Axl\'s faction. The realization hit him like a cold wave.
Then he saw him, Draven, the enigmatic prince, was here, and he was already making his move.
Neveah watched as Draven emerged from the shadows, his figure imposing and commanding. He was surrounded by his followers, a formidable group of warriors, their faces etched with determination. Draven, with a cold efficiency, was organizing his forces, preparing for the inevitable conflict.
A strange sense of camaraderie, a twisted form of respect, grew within Neveah as he observed the new dragon prince.
Without revealing his presence, Neveah began to support Draven\'s efforts. Using his magic, he created distractions, weakening the enemy forces who were the remnants of the beta squad. It was a subtle form of interference, a silent acknowledgment of a potential ally
Neveah, continued to observe Draven and his faction. Time passed as he watched the Draven faction grow as they gathered resources and weaponry. What struck Neveah most was the efficiency with which the faction operated. There was a clear and absolute hierarchy, with Draven at the apex with a couple of other 7 commanders, and each member seemed to know their role perfectly.
Unlike other factions, which often displayed favoritism towards purebloods or members of their race as leaders, Draven\'s faction was a diverse club of different races. Halfbloods, hybrids, some who were not even considered a sub species of dragons, like a dark half- elf served under his banner as leaders.There was no discrimination, no prejudice.
Instead, there was a sense of unity, a shared purpose that bound them together.
Draven himself was a study in contrasts. He was a warrior, a leader, but he was also a strategist, a man who could see the big picture. His ability to inspire loyalty and dedication in his followers was unmatched. And yet, there was a darkness to him, a cold ruthlessness that hinted at a complex and troubled past.
Neveah was particularly intrigued by Draven\'s power level and his mentality. The man was a force to be reckoned with, his abilities far surpassing those of most seven-star mages.
In fact, his power level seemed to be on par with the Blessed, a feat that was almost unheard of, considering he was even a dragon and that he should have been limited by the longevity factor, but there he was a strong upper 7 star.
" What is his lineage?" Thought Neveah.
To test the true extent of Draven\'s abilities, Neveah decided to watch how his confrontation with a top faction would go. His actions could be considered a waste of time, but it was necessary to gather more information. If Draven could handle a direct assault from a strong factions, then he was a force to be reckoned with, an ally worth having, or maybe a pawn, it depends on the young prince.
As the confrontation was about to unfold, Neveah watched from afar, his eyes fixed on the battlefield. He didn\'t know it yet, but his actions today would change his life, but he was too busy preparing to attack or defend from Axl.
" Died?" Asked Axl as he looked at Aqua.
" Yes, one self destructed and the others were killed, but some disappeared without a trace." She explained.
" If he self destructee, it means we know their location right?" Axl asked.
" Yes..." She answered.
" Prepare a second wave of lizardmem as well as the army." Axl ordered