Tbou: Hopebreaker

Chapter Ten

Taste of Battle

The world was in utter chaos. Hearthglen, once a city of peace and prosperity, was now turning into a battleground—creatures of the Blight, horrifying beings that fell from the sky and emerged from the earth. The Titan, known as Orderbreaker, was wreaking havoc as the otherworldly presence of the status magic known as The System came into view for everyone.

The dragon riders, fearless and determined, took to the sky. They unleashed all forms of dragon magic at the horrifying beings that descended from the sky as the two forces collided. Even the Blight riders and their blighted dragons dived at the riders, letting loose gut-wrenching roars. The black sky was a spectacle of light as some of the riders transformed into Dragon Knights, their forms a testament to their bravery.

Yet, amidst the chaos, many of the soldiers and riders found themselves in a state of bewildered shock. The elite guard, known as Wardens, usually a beacon of strength, stood frozen in disbelief with their dragons under the mountain, perched onto the spiral pillars.

"What the hell is going on?!?"

"What are we supposed to do? We can't fight a titan!"

"You saying we leave the people?"

The soldiers and riders were engulfed in a maelstrom of confusion and doubt, their hearts and minds flooded with fear. Even their dragons raised their voices alongside their riders in an outcry of dissent. Each snapped violently at each other, making their riders more restless and scared. The situation was dire, and the air was thick with tension and uncertainty.

The disoriented riders morphed into deafening clamors of protest. The air soon filled with death and dread from the unorganized resistance fought back at the rampant wave of undead monsters. Many riders even took the battle to the ground, swinging their weapons at each abomination as their dragons had their backs, chomping, stomping, or flinging their corpses away.

But all in all, no one knew what to do.

"WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING!?"

Every dragon rider immediately turned their heads as the loud, irritated voice echoed throughout the mountain. There, they saw Lord Guimar, his face etched with annoyance. His arrival sparked a wave of renewed determination in the eyes of the riders gathered near, a flicker of hope amidst the chaos.

Guimar's arrival sparked a wave of renewed hope in the eyes of the riders gathered nearby. He furrowed his brows, and his nose scrunched up as his anger radiated outward in a palpable aura. Flecks of fire rained down from the sky, bouncing harmlessly off his face, the heat brushed aside by his inherent immunity. His once-crimson cloak now draped regally over sleek, brick-red-scaled armor that hugged his formidable frame, gleaming and burnished like a mythical warrior's.

His angular chest plate and bracers had a commanding presence, their wicked points complemented by a massive draconic pauldron crafting dramatic shadows. Scale-patterned greaves encased powerful legs, while ornate knee and shin guards added an aura of regal protection. As Guimar moved, the intricate detailing and burnished accents seemed to crackle with life, his presence evoking the majesty of an age-old champion.

"Lord Guimar, sir!" The Wardens, the other Dragon Knights, Lances, and many more high-ranking members shouted out in surprise.

"We all have our duties! Protect the people of Hearthglen!" Lord Guimar's voice boomed, filled with aggression but also unwavering determination. "Have all the Dragon Knights and riders evacuate everyone to the south gate immediately! Lances, Wardens, and Lords will take to the sky and hold back that Titan." His words were a beacon of hope, instilling a sense of purpose and courage in the hearts of his followers.