Kael neared the dragon and didn't slow down.
The heat alone should have forced him back, but he pushed through it, boots slamming against the cracked stone as flames still licked the ground around him. His grip tightened on his sword as he closed the final distance.
"Crimson Breaker!"
He swung.
The blade carved a heavy arc toward the dragon's foreleg, the impact ringing out like metal striking stone.
A spark.
Then, resistance.
"…Tch—"
The strike landed, but it didn't cut deep. The scales held, only a shallow mark left behind.
The dragon moved instantly.
Its head snapped toward him, jaws opening wide.
"Kael!" Liora shouted.
"Barrier—Sanctuary Veil!"
A translucent field formed around him just as the dragon's claws slammed down. The impact shattered the outer layer, cracks spreading across the barrier like glass.
Kael slid back several steps, boots scraping hard against the ground.
"…That's tougher than I thought," he muttered.
