Master Sun, the current leader of the Adventurers' Alliance, like the other Masters, also made his attack on the Immortal Dragon, using his unique ability as a Shadow Master, a giant hand with only 4 fingers and long claws made of shadows, flew towards the dragon and cut one of the thorns that were on the dragon's back, the same claw grabbed and brought the thorn to his tower, showing a certain autonomy and self-awareness.
Seeing that the dragon was already preparing to leave, Master Sun finally let his guard down, thinking no one else would attack him. But at that moment, the Val brothers moved. Using his many apprentices, a ritual began at the top of his Tower, and several chained living humans floated towards the sky. The 100 humans were not only chained by the neck, marking them as slaves, but they were also chained to each other.
Most of the slaves had neutral faces, as if they had already accepted their fate, but at least a third of them still screamed for help to anyone who could hear.
Iahssa, who was leaving, soon noticed the slaves in the sky, turned around, and flew towards the city's center. It was at this moment that many new apprentices and Masters of Asshai witnessed the effects of Iahssa's so-called Reverse Breath. With a long breath, a transparent light came out of the dragon's mouth, covering the 100 humans. Immediately after the light passed through them, their bodies went limp, and their souls were all drawn into the fanged mouth.
After consuming the 100 souls, Iahssa became more energetic again. Ready to resume his attempted attacks, but the dragon was interrupted again, the eldest brother of the Val, the necromancer, flew out of the barrier of his tower, casting a single spell/ritual in the direction of the dragon. When it hit the dragon, it seemed to have no effect, but then Iahssa became lethargic again and walked aimlessly, her shadow cloak trying to cover her entire body, healing parts that were constantly rotting.
It was quite obvious to everyone that a curse capable of affecting such a large dragon was not so simple to carry out, there was something nefarious impregnated in the souls of those humans offered as a banquet to the dragon... All the Masters began to observe the new development with interest. Scales began to fall from the dragon's body that was constantly rotting, and they were quickly collected by a group of apprentices from the brothers' tower.
Old Shalam and Old Kenji, who now had young appearances, watched the apprentices collecting the scales and saw the same arrogant and hateful young apprentice who had inflated the prices of his fruits at the Sage Store. They knew that this was the most talented apprentice in the Val brothers' tower. With two Masters as support, it was normal for the boy to be arrogant when provoking them...
But at that moment, when everyone thought that collecting scales was the brothers' only trick, something happened. Valder the Necromancer cast another spell on the still-cursed Dragon and took control of it for just a few seconds. Those few seconds were enough to change the trajectory of the enormous dragon, making it fly and crash into Master Sun's tower shield. The impact was so strong that the tower shield broke along with Iahssa's left wing.
Even with its bent and broken wing, the dragon ignored it and continued flying, showing that its method of flight was almost entirely based on magic. Furthermore, it had reached its limit after its last injuries and began to move away from Asshai.
At the same time that Iahssa was leaving, several shields on many towers opened, and many powerful apprentices flew on their animals, trying to take advantage of the escape to attack and collect any material they could at the moment when the powerful dragon was no longer fighting back. The Masters completely ignored the fleeing dragon, since attacking it now would make them lose face, and paid attention to the tower of the leader of the Adventurers' Alliance.
Valmir, the youngest brother and also the Bloodmage, took advantage of the fact that the shield was broken, invading the area of Master Sun's tower and launching a fierce attack against the Shadowmancer. Soon, a rain of spells, shields, and counterspells began between the two men, while Valmir tried to get closer and closer. Master Sun summoned his sentient "claw" again and sent it to attack Valmir, but Valmir summoned a terrifying flying chimera that began its bloody fight against Sun's Claw.
In this moment of stalemate, Master Valder approached, cursing Master Sun and summoning a Lich that constantly spat black flames at the leader of the Adventurers' Alliance. Soon, everyone watching saw the end of Master Sun, who was grabbed by Valmir and torn apart by claws that extended from his hands. With no means of survival, Master Sun fell dead without even having the chance to use his powerful, advanced spell that earned him his nickname as Master "Sunburst".
The brothers, who now had an arrogant air around them, shouted together in a loud voice:
"FROM TODAY, THE ADVENTURERS' ALLIANCE BELONGS TO THE VAL BROTHERS!"
As the declaration spread and many Masters talked to each other, exchanging secret messages, a voice rang out at the same time, shocking many of the observers:
"ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?"
****
Special thanks to the Patreons:
Sage's Supporter: Jan, Vinnie, frimorigo, Leery Falcon, Parsa, Scott Robertson, and Pato Senalima!
Magical Apprentice: Axel Bour, Gabriele Sulpizio, Takatchi, mandeep singh, Austin, and Kobe Robertson!
Senior Magic Apprentice: Cole Bromley!