I Only Tame Dragons

Chapter 171 Into the Heart of Darkness

Aeloria took a hesitant step forward, her instincts screaming at her to run, but she refused for some reason. "You have to fight it, or you might never come back!"

Von's snarl cut through her words, his fangs bared and his claws flexing as the darkness completely engulfed him. "I said, go!" he growled, his voice distorted, no longer entirely his own. His sanity was slipping, the shadows clouding his mind and threatening to consume him entirely.

Aeloria flinched as the wave of darkness swept toward her, but she held her ground, summoning what little mana she had left to form a protective barrier. The impact was like a battering ram, nearly knocking her off her feet, but she didn't falter.

The shadows coiled tighter around Von, forming jagged, spiked armor across his body. His voice echoed, a mix of his own and something far darker. "If you stay, you'll die. Leave. Now."

Trisha and the others quickly grabbed Aeloria and pulled her away, ignoring her protests as they retreated.

"What are you doing?!" Aeloria exclaimed, her voice rising in shock and anger.

"The darkness is consuming him!" Theron replied, urgency etched into his face as he dragged her farther from the chaos.

"We can't do anything for him now!" Liora added, her tone sharp with practicality.

"Let's regroup and come up with a plan to get their flag!" Trisha seconded, her voice steady but focused on their mission.

Aeloria stared at Trisha, disbelief flashing across her face. "Are you serious right now?" she snapped. Von had just saved her life, and all Trisha could think about was the flag?

The darkness tore at her skin, leaving deep, stinging gashes across her arms and legs. Blood trickled down her body, staining her clothes as the vortex howled around her. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her lungs burning as she forced herself to push through the storm.

The closer she got to Von, the stronger the pull of the darkness became. It was like wading through a hurricane, the energy tearing at her with an almost sentient malice. Her vision blurred from the pain, but she refused to stop.

"Von!" she screamed, though her voice was drowned out by the roar of the vortex.

At the center of the storm, Von's body was barely recognizable. His crimson eyes glowed like molten embers, and his form was twisted, claws elongating and fangs bared as he teetered on the edge of complete transformation. The darkness surged around him, feeding off his pain and anger.

Lydia grit her teeth, her resolve hardening as she reached the eye of the storm. Her body was covered in wounds, blood streaming down her face and arms, but she ignored the pain. With one final burst of energy, she dove into the swirling shadows, her hand clutching the vial tightly.

The world around her was chaos—roaring winds, searing darkness, and a suffocating weight that pressed against her chest. She reached Von, her trembling hand finding his arm as she drove the needle into his skin and injected the vial's contents.

For a moment, nothing happened. Von's growl turned into a roar, his body convulsing as the darkness around him flared in a final, desperate surge. Lydia's strength gave out, and she collapsed at his feet, her vision fading as she whispered, "Come back to us you idiot . . ."

Then, the vortex began to dissipate. The howling winds quieted, and the suffocating weight lifted as the darkness receded, retreating into Von's body like a shadow returning to its source. Von fell to his knees, his eyes rolling back as he collapsed, unconscious.

Silphie emerged from Frigid's protective cocoon just as the chaos subsided. She rushed to Lydia and Von, her hands glowing with healing energy. "Hold on," she murmured, her voice steady as she worked to close their wounds.

Frigid crouched over them, his massive frame forming a protective barrier as he surveyed the battlefield. "We need to move," he said gruffly. "The Kingdom of Star might return, and we can't risk losing the flag."

He carefully encased Lydia, Von, and Silphie within his giant, icy form, ensuring their safety as he prepared to retreat.