Let's Train Heroine

[Read Author's Thoughts]

Iris appeared beside Lilith in a flash of golden light, grabbing hold of the shattered dark fairy just as the Dragon King swung a massive clawed hand at her. With a burst of speed, she pulled Lilith out of the way, dodging the attack by a hair's breadth. The Dragon King's strike slammed into the ground, sending cracks racing through the earth and shaking the entire grove.

"You're making it worse!" Lilith growled, pain lacing her voice as she dangled helplessly in Iris's grasp. "I don't have arms or legs, and that's still less painful than being dragged like this!"

Ignoring Lilith's complaints, Iris continued to move, twisting and spinning through the air as she narrowly evaded another deadly blow from the Dragon King. Her face was tense, her lips pressed into a thin line as she considered their situation. She glanced briefly at the Dragon King, and a flicker of unease crossed her features.

"He's… stronger than I expected," she murmured under her breath. The power radiating from the Dragon King was overwhelming. She could feel the immense pressure bearing down on her, making it difficult to even breathe.

Even Nyx might not be able to defeat him in his current state, Iris realized, her heart pounding. The sheer weight of the Dragon King's power was suffocating. He stood before them as the embodiment of strength and fury, a force of nature that seemed unstoppable.

But there was no time to dwell on that thought. The Dragon King was already on the move again, his massive form a blur as he lunged at them with terrifying speed. "Stop daydreaming, Phoenix!"

Lilith snapped, her voice a strained hiss as Iris yanked her out of the Dragon King's path once more. "I'm going to fall apart at this rate!"

With a grim expression, Iris raised her hand, casting a powerful healing spell that enveloped Lilith's mangled form in a soft, golden glow. In a matter of moments, Lilith's severed limbs began to regrow, bone and muscle knitting together at an astonishing rate. Her arms and legs were restored, but the gaping hole in her stomach remained, blood still dripping from the wound.

"Better?" Iris asked, releasing Lilith and stepping back.

Lilith wiggled her fingers and stretched her legs, testing her newly regenerated limbs. She glanced down at the hole in her torso, frowning slightly. "Not really. You missed a spot."

"I can't close that wound yet," Iris admitted, her voice tight with urgency. "The Dragon King's attacks are laced with a unique energy that disrupts my healing magic. I need more time to neutralize it."

Lilith's eyes narrowed. "How much time?"

"Five minutes," Iris said, her gaze shifting back to the Dragon King, who was watching them with simmering rage. "If you can keep him busy for five minutes, the energy in his attacks will dissipate, and I'll be able to heal you fully."

"Five minutes?" Lilith repeated, an amused smile tugging at her lips. "You're asking a lot, Phoenix. I'm not exactly in peak condition, you know."

"You don't have a choice," Iris shot back, her tone as sharp as a blade. "If that wound isn't closed in ten minutes, you'll die."

Lilith laughed softly, the sound low and throaty. "Fair enough. Guess I'd better put on a good show, then." Her gaze shifted to the Dragon King, and her smile widened, a manic gleam in her eyes. "Ready for round four, big guy?"

The Dragon King's lips curled back in a snarl, his eyes blazing with fury. "You mock me even as you stand on the brink of death, fairy," he growled, his voice rumbling like thunder. "I will tear you apart piece by piece until there is nothing left of you."

"Oh, promises, promises," Lilith cooed, her tone dripping with mockery. She glanced at Iris, who was already moving into position beside her. "Let's see if you can back them up."

With a roar, the Dragon King charged forward, his body blurring with speed. He swung a massive fist at Lilith, but she ducked under the blow, her movements fluid and precise. Iris darted in from the side, her hands glowing with magic as she aimed a series of rapid strikes at the Dragon King's ribs.

The Dragon King twisted, blocking Iris's blows with his forearm. His tail whipped around, aiming to crush her, but Iris leapt back, avoiding the strike by a hair's breadth. She retaliated with a powerful blast of light magic, but the Dragon King merely snarled, deflecting the attack with a sweep of his wing.

Lilith moved in a blur of dark energy, launching herself at the Dragon King's back. She swung her fist at the base of his skull, but he spun around with frightening speed, catching her wrist in his massive hand. With a savage twist, he wrenched her arm out of its socket, the sound of breaking bone echoing through the grove.

"Argh—!" Lilith bit back a cry of pain, her smile faltering for a split second. But then her eyes lit up with wild excitement. "Yes, that's it! Show me more!"

The Dragon King's eyes blazed with hatred. He flung Lilith to the ground, raising his foot to crush her. But Iris was already there, her body shimmering with light as she grabbed Lilith and dragged her out of the way. The Dragon King's foot came down with a deafening crash, shattering the earth where Lilith had been moments before.

"Keep moving!" Iris shouted, her voice strained as she cast another healing spell, forcing Lilith's broken arm to mend itself. Explore more at empire

The Dragon King lunged at them again, his claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. Iris spun around, deflecting the blow with a barrier of light. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, and she staggered back, struggling to maintain her footing.

"Enough of this!" the Dragon King roared, his voice shaking the very air around them. He swung his arm in a wide arc, his claws glowing with a fierce, golden light. The sheer force of the attack sent both Iris and Lilith tumbling through the air.

Iris flipped midair, landing lightly on her feet. She dashed forward, her fists glowing with magic as she unleashed a flurry of blows on the Dragon King. He blocked each strike effortlessly, his expression one of cold disdain. He lashed out with a powerful kick, aiming for her ribs, but Iris twisted, barely avoiding the attack.

Lilith appeared behind him, her body a blur of shadow. She drove her fist into his side, the impact sending a ripple through his scales. The Dragon King grunted, his tail whipping around to swat her away, but Lilith ducked, spinning low and sweeping her leg at his knees.

The Dragon King leapt back, his wings flaring wide. He landed a short distance away, his gaze flicking between the two women with a mixture of rage and grudging respect.

"You're resilient, I'll give you that," he growled, his voice a low rumble. "But it's pointless. You can't defeat me."

"Is that so?" Lilith taunted, her grin wide and taunting despite the blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. "Then why haven't you killed us yet, Your Majesty? Having trouble keeping up?"

"Enough!" the Dragon King roared, lunging forward. He drove his fist at Lilith's face, but Iris intercepted him, catching his arm with both hands. The force of the blow sent cracks spider-webbing through the ground beneath her feet, but she held on, her face contorted with effort.

"Lilith, now!" Iris shouted.

Lilith sprang forward, her fist glowing with dark energy. She drove it into the Dragon King's chest, the impact sending him stumbling back. But before she could press the advantage, he lashed out, his claws raking across her torso and tearing through her armor.

Lilith cried out, blood spraying from the wound. She staggered back, her eyes wide with excitement and pain. The Dragon King's tail whipped around, catching her in the side and sending her crashing into the ground. She struggled to rise, but her arm hung limp at her side, shattered beyond repair.

Iris dashed forward, her movements a blur as she aimed a high kick at the Dragon King's head. He caught her foot, twisting it sharply. There was a sickening crack as her bones snapped, and Iris gasped, pain flashing across her face. But she didn't back down. She swung her other leg around, catching him in the jaw with a fierce kick.

The Dragon King grunted, releasing her foot. Iris landed unsteadily, her broken arm hanging uselessly at her side. She glanced at Lilith, who was slowly pushing herself to her feet.

"Five minutes," Iris murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips. "We did it."

The Dragon King's eyes widened in confusion, but before he could react, Lilith's body began to glow with a fierce, dark light.

"Time's up," Lilith whispered, her voice a low, deadly murmur. She raised her remaining hand, dark energy swirling around her fingertips. "This is the end for you, Your Majesty."