Empress of the Skies: The Dragon Emperor is Obsessed with Me

"V?" Nero howled, his voice shaking as if cracking glass, holding back his rage. His hands shivered at the flood of blood seeping from V's body. "V, answer me! Wake up!"

V didn't answer, her face ashen blue with her eyes closed and her whole body ice-cold. Nero never imagined this horrible nightmare would happen. He failed to protect V. Someone so precious to him. Nero's eyes heated up, and many times his sense refuted Valeska's death. 

Nero shook Valeska's stiff hand. He could not feel V's heartbeat. Nero was chocked as if his bones felt crushed; he couldn't accept Valeska's death. "Don't leave me, V."

Half of his life seemed to be gone. Not this way! No one could take Valeska away from him. Nero was shaken to the point of losing his sanity.

"What are you doing, Hadeon?! She's already dead! I came here to r*a*p*e her, not to kill her, damn it! You're insane!"

"Shut the hell up!" Hadeon growled furiously; even he did not expect Valeska to act crazy, choosing to die and sacrificing herself to protect the damned boy. "I'll kill them all!"

This is all your fault... You let this happen. That lady died tragically just to defend you, weakling! You failed to protect her! You are pathetic! You don't deserve to have this great power. Avenge her death; a life must be paid with a life. Prove that you are a true emperor. Kill them all!!

"How dare you kill her?" Nero ranted, tears of blood streaming down his face. His pupils turned a predatory, vibrant, bloody red, showing the dark side of his insanity face. "I should have killed you all that night." 

His blood-stained hands clenched into fists. Nero let his outburst power rise. The rumble of lightning rapidly tore through the night sky. The rain intensified. Thick black smoke, turning into bursts of tongues of flame. A red light flashed and absorbed the power of the lightning in the sky that spread, scorching the land. Blowing off the roof of the abandoned warehouse. The wind blew fiercely. 

Wrath of hellfire, God.

"What the?!"

When the rage consumed Nero completely, he floated in the air as the power of his black flames smoldered and grew massive—forming a tornado vortex that destroyed everything. A blaze of vengeance for Valeska's death. Nero vowed to give them hell. A great earthquake shook the entire land.

[Ferocious Nuclearkinesis Blast!]

A massive wave of blast power shattered and flung everything, making Hadeon and his four companions blown away. A pair of juggernaut wings emerged from the black-fire tornado vortex that was enveloped in the fury of lightning. A snarling gigantic dragon rose up, the black fire tornado forming its body. Predatore eyes as red as burning blood, jaws lined with sharp serrations, a spiky tail that shattered the valley.

Four sturdy horns, scaly skin as sharp as steel, a breath of rage, and black flames that enveloped its monster body—melting anything. 

"What the hell is that thing?!"

"It's scorch! Argh! My hands are melting!"

Hadeon glared in horror, seeing his four comrades who were screaming in ache from their melted hands. The screams of his comrades caught the attention of the monstrous dragon, fueling its rage. Its wings spread wide, absorbing all the power of nature. The dragon grunted under a rainstorm. Its roar shook the heavens and the earth.

The dragon opened its jaws wide, formed a fireball of energy, and shot out a burst of energy fireballs as if laser beams.

[A burst of fire destroys the entire land.]

A powerful blast struck the valley. Hadeon watched as the bodies of his two comrades crumbled into flaming dust in an instant. While his other two comrades ran in fright, as if cornered rats, scattering into the darkness of the forest. Running for their lives.

The black fire dragon chased after them; every stomp of its feet destroyed the ground. No one escaped its predatory eyes. Its jaws full of sharp teeth mutilated its victims without mercy. 

Hadeon crawled into the bushes, just enough to witness how horrific the massacre was. He staggered away, trying not to make a sound. Hadeon hid behind an old pine tree, hearing one of his last comrades howl in agony, his body brutally ripped apart, the sound of flesh being torn wet, and the vengeful growl of the dragon. Hadeon tried to muffle the sound of his fear; he began to cry, hoping there was still a chance for him to survive.

"Shit..." Hadeon cursed in his mind, feeling as if he was losing his sanity. That damned boy turned into a dragon?!

Silence, leaving only the rumbling sound of lightning and a rainstorm that slashed as if hundreds of needles. Hadeon was breathing hard; he had no idea where the dragon was. The forest was dark. He ventured to check the situation.

"Sonov! Camouflage?!" Hadeon shrilled as the dragon's smoldering predatory eyes opened wide before him.

Finding Hadeon's hiding place, the black fire dragon went on a hateful rampage. It wagged its tail that split the pine tree as if it were shredding paper. Hadeon's body was thrown in the air; he shrieked. Pulling out his gun again, he shot the dragon brutally.

The dragon groaned in bewilderment as the bullet shot its armor.

"Oh, shit! I'm out of bullets!" Hadeon choked, unable to move or escape as his legs felt weak. Then he cursed indignantly. "Fuck you!"

It bellowed with rage, spewing black flames with vengeance, leaving only a scream of horror that crushed along with Hadeon's body into fire dust.

Seeing Valeska's corpse lying stiffly under his feet, the dragon's fiery expression slackened. His head lowered gloomily, sniffing around V's corpse that did not give off the scent of lily musk during her lifetime.

Under the rainstorm, the dragon howled bitterly, too heartbroken to lose the lady that he loved so much. 

*

"Your Majesty. Forgive me for being late! I detected your power today. I wish I had known you had travelled all the way to the mortal world." Arthur Saint, Ares' trusted right-hand man, kneeled down regretfully.

A group of elite Draximus knights emerged from the portal of Asteria's magic circle, emitting a dazzling blue light. The Draximus were dressed in peculiar armor with black robes bearing the pride of Alverton's imperial flag. They kneeled down respectfully before the charming man who held Valeska's corpse on his lap.

Arthur's eyes wandered around, a look of dismay and fright, watching the valley of the mortal mountains in ruins, so many traces of black flames burning in several places. No wonder Arthur detected his majesty's great power in the Netherworld. What was astonishing was how Ares could subdue the fury of his extraordinary power that often went out of control until he did not remember killing others. What the hell happened? Were there humans who became his victims too?

"Our hail to the great sun of the Alverton Empire." They called out, kneeling obediently, giving Ares the highest honour.

Ares' face was deeply downcast, expressionless. He didn't know how to react. The arrival of Arthur and the recognition of the honour of Draximus' throne. His mind raging, Ares knew well his world was crumbling, falling to pieces under his feet right now. He gently stroked V's head. "Rise up, what happened?"

Arthur choked, as if a giant thorn had pierced his tongue. But he had to deliver this miserable news from Alverton, as it was his duty. Arthur felt so guilty, as he could not keep his promise to Ares. Arthur uttered with a trembling voice, and his eyes still heated. His soul was shattered by deep sorrow. "His Majesty Raziel and Empress Viridian's—your parents—died in a fatal accident."

Ares' heart was bleeding; his breathing seemed to stop. In a matter of days, he had lost so much. He had a fight with his father, and Ares left ignoring the Queen Mother's howls. Ares realized that losing people who meant so much to him was excruciating.

I have killed many innocent people. Is this my punishment, Drakonis?

"You must return. The blanks on the throne will be minefield for you. His highness Prince Cassius is even gathering the votes of the nobles so that he can ascend the throne. Alverton needs you urgently, your majesty. The empire's internals are chaotic right now. The council of Scarfox gave me two days to bring you home before they actually decide and appoint Prince Cassius as the next emperor." Arthur explained through an agitated tone, as if he were emphasizing his words—no matter what happened, he would bring Ares back safely. "You know I won't let that happen. The throne is yours."

"The Council of Scarfox will not be able to do anything before Aravell casts their vote." Ares commented deadpanned.

Arthur threw himself down, kneeling to beg for forgiveness. "I am guilty, unable to fulfill the great duty you have given me. Please punish me, your majesty. I deserve it."

No, you can take anything from me, Drakonis. But not Valeska Steel. Until death, I will not let anyone take her from me.

"Arthur, open the portal of the Forbidden Grimoire." Ares commanded, absolutely.

Arthur gasped. "But what did I do that for?"

Ares looked up, his blood-red pupils flashing. "I will take this lady across to the Netherworld."

"Impossible; there has never been a mortal creature entering the Netherworld. It can't be. That would be a violation of fate! Heavy compensation will occur; you could be dead. I beg you, do not risk your life for a human."

"I said open the goddamn portal, Arthur!" Ares snapped with a sharp commander's voice that could not be denied. He grabbed a dagger from one of Draximus's troops, slicing his hand until blood seeped out—demonstrating the seriousness of his words. "Since when do you contradict me?"

Arthur bowed his head uncomprehendingly. He uttered with a stammer. "She's just a human being, your majesty."

"V has a celestial soullife!" Ares rebuked in stern voice; give Arthur a hardened look. "She's my fated mate! I'm imprinting her! If she's dead, I'll be dead, too!"

***