Dragon 3 Chapter 27 (Patreon)

The pilot came into the back cabin hours later. As part of our plan to make it more convincing that we were not going after Tyrande, we’d gone all the way to Spain before circling back towards Austria.

It also served the purpose of buying the Highaen time to move their forces.

“Let me clip in.” The pilot went to the emergency exit and put on a harness, belting himself tightly inside the cabin so that he wouldn’t fly out when he opened the door. “Everyone ready for this?”

My mates had changed out their clothes, covering their skin as best as they could. They stood to the side, holding onto the seatbelts nearby.

“I’ll go first.” I stated. Handing my spatial artifact to Jadelyn, I stood naked before the exit door.

Even knowing that I could fly, jumping out of a plane still filled me with nerves.

The pilot must not have sensed my apprehension though, because he moved forward, tugging open the emergency exit.

Powerful wind filled the cabin, and I squinted, trying to peer through it and take in the clouds below us. It all seemed so peaceful, but the harsh wind rushing into the cabin was a sharp reminder that we were going to have anything but a peaceful trip.

“Let’s go.” I shouted over the wind, unsure if anyone had been able to hear me. But not wanting to waste time, I jumped out of the plane.

As I cleared the plane, I shifted, packing on well over a dozen tons of mass. Gold scales covered me as my wing spread wide, working to control my fall.

My mates jumped out of the plane in such quick succession after me that I had to wonder if one of them had pushed the others out.

All four of them tumbled into the air, and I swooped back towards them, angling myself to cruise right under them.

Jadelyn shouted excitedly as she fell. Whooping into the air.

I snatched her out of the air first; of all of them, I was worried about her ability to catch onto my back.

Two thumps announced that Morgana and Scarlett had landed, catching my back and planting themselves on me.

Kelly missed me on the first try, her fingers not finding purchase on my wings as she slid off the side.

I waited to make sure the others had found good grips on me before I angled and dove, working to beat Kelly to the ground.

Jadelyn clutched to me, but she cheered as we flew. I wondered if she’d ever ridden a roller coaster, or if theme parks were too hard when you’re famous.

Dipping down just a bit lower, I was able to snag Kelly out of the air.

Taking a deep breath now that my mates were safely with me, I growled, trying to project over the wind. “Scarlett, you are up.”

“On it!”

Magic gathered around me, and an illusion to make me blend in with the cloudy sky wrapped around me.

“Done. It’s taking both my tails, but I can hold this for a while.”

“Stealth bomber dragon is a go!” Kelly laughed from my clutches.

Lifting Kelly up to my neck, I let the others help her get situated on my back.

I flew in the compound's direction, seeing it become visible in the distance.

It was hard to make out too much, but there was definitely some sort of force approaching and surrounding it.

I leveled out my flight, changing to a slow cruise in the air. I didn’t want to make any noticeable noise that would draw attention to us.

As we got closer, I slowly descending upon the compound.

Highaen forces were already pouring out of their trucks, forming a massive wall of elven mages. Meanwhile, the templars still appeared to be scrambling to get their defenses together.

There had to be ten thousand among the Highaen.

The templars only seemed to have half of that, and that was being generous.

But they had the advantage. This was their stronghold. They’d have weapons and defenses to stop the attack that was coming.

And while the Highaen were likely skilled fighters, the celestials had some powerful fighters among them as well. I hoped at least some of the Highaen could fight on Morgana’s level.

“It’s starting.” I told my mates.

Bright flashes of magic rained out of the Highaen forces, smashing into the buildings around the edge of the compound. Simultaneously, muzzle flashes came from the church’s forces as they defended.

Knowing that the ground forces were now busy and less likely to spot me, especially within the illusion, I sped up my descent.

While I wanted to smash forward, brute force wasn’t really an option. We couldn’t risk harming Morgana’s tree, and if the portal came down, we would have no way to get to Tyrande if they’d taken her through it already.

But the Highaen forces provided the perfect distraction, allowing us more cover on our stealth mission.

We were hoping to swoop in and extract Tyrande before the fight came to the point of possibly damaging the tree or portal. And while great for the distraction, the enormity of their forces meant that we had less time than we’d originally anticipated.

They would breach and destroy as they went. We needed to finish our mission quickly.

“Morgana, is your tree still in the same building?” I rumbled, looking down at the buildings below and spotting the short circular building.

“Yep, that’s the one. Dead ahead.”

I nodded, but I didn’t dive. Instead, I angled my glide lower, circling down quickly to the building with Morgana’s tree.

“Kelly, Morgana, ready?” We were only about a twenty feet above the building. I felt them moving along my spine, getting into the right position behind my wings.

“Ready.” They said in unison. Kelly was once again serious, staring at the targeted building.

I swooped down as close to the building as I dared, seeing Morgana’s tree now that I was closer. The white willow swayed in the breeze, peaceful and protected amid the attack.

Kelly and Morgana jumped from my back, landing neatly on the building as I swept up and away.

Before I could land, I needed to wait for the rest of the templar forces to commit to the fight with the Highaen forces.

Up in the sky, Scarlett’s illusions were able to hide us, but I knew on the ground she’d have more trouble. There were too many new textures and patterns to alter, and I was a rather large dragon.

I looped lazily around the compound, watching as Morgana and Kelly went in through the roof. I started getting antsy, having them out of my line of sight.

“You know, I could have joined them.” Jadelyn said.

“Sirens don’t heal if you land wrong from a fall.” I grumbled.

Morgana and Kelly were far more durable. While I’d swooped down, there had still been a good bit to fall.

I pivoted back to take in the fight at the perimeter.

The templar continued upping its forces in the fight. I waited as another wave of soldiers moved from the central building out towards the battle before I swooped down, deciding it was time to land..

“Remove your illusion and hide yourselves.” I said as my weight settled.

Ever since I’d marked Morgana or the other women, I could sense where they were, my instincts driving me towards them.

But I fought those instincts, moving slowly down the hall on the opposite side of the building. I needed them both out of the way for what I was about to do, and the plan was for Kelly to stick with Morgana.

Taking a deep breath, I let loose a jet of flame. It was the first one I’d tried since I’d grown significantly.

As I’d hoped, the brick building turned red hot. The mortar gave, and stones started to fall while wood went up in flames instantly. I reduced much of the newer construction material to ashes from my breath.

I smiled, successfully opening up the building. I reached forward with my massive claws, ripping a hole in the building for myself to enter.

As I strode into the courtyard, Helena stood in front of the portal. I’d had a feeling she’d stay behind to guard their most important treasure.

She was alone. But it made sense; they’d be less concerned about an army breaching into the celestial plane. There were seven archangels within, and it was the perfect bottleneck. They could easily defend from the other side.

“You seem bigger.” She eyed me. “I assume the silver died?”

“Set free from your horrors.” I growled, angry she would even mention the dragon.

Helena twirled her spear and leveled it at my face.

I moved to the side, shifting her attention the furthest I could from Morgana and Kelly, who were waiting for me to distract her so they could do their part.

I waited for Helena to make the first move.

After studying me for a moment, she charged forward, using her spear like a beam of light as she tried to pierce me through the chest.

Rather than move myself, I beat my wings hard enough to toss her back, breathing a narrow spray of fire at her. I had to keep my blasts limited, making sure I didn’t catch Morgana’s tree on fire. When we’d discussed even using my fire near the tree, Morgana had lost it.

Helena dodged back, and I felt Scarlett knock on my back and whisper. “We’re off to do our part.”

I didn’t react as I felt Scarlett and Jadelyn slide off my back. Other than smile, as I was now able to maneuver without fear Jadelyn would fall off.

Morgana and Kelly were slowly moving behind Helena, creeping toward the portal to the celestial plane.

I did my best not to look and call attention to them.

“You’ll need to do better than that to take me down.” I taunted Helena, trying to make sure I kept her attention and helped cover any noise as the girls moved.

“Pervert.” She came again, but this time my front claw surprised her with its force and speed, coming up at the last second to bat her to the side.

The nephilim took the full brunt of my claw, which would have been comparable to getting hit by truck-kun, sending you to another world.

But she bounced and skidded through the rubble of the building. Still, she popped back to her feet. Her clothing was torn, but her body was otherwise fine.

I stared, trying to figure out how she was so durable.

She looked down at her torn clothing and her exposed panties; her face darkening dangerously. “Now you’ve done it.” Helena wiped at her mouth before the white light coalesced around her, wrapping her in silver armor. “I’m going to roast you over a spit.”

I chuckled nervously. I’d planned to distract her more than anything, but I would have felt more comfortable if my hit had done more to her.

She blurred forward, moving far faster than before. I hadn’t expected her spear to go for the soft spot under my jaw. In my surprise, I didn’t have enough time to move my enormous body out of the way.

Thinking quickly, I worked to collapse myself, shifting into a winged dragon knight to avoid the hit.

“Careful, you could poke someone’s eye out.” I taunted her, flapping my wings and leading her away from the portal.

Helena screamed, throwing herself into the air after me.

I ducked, dove and sprayed fire to keep enough distance between us. Without a weapon, I had no intention of testing my hands against that spear.

Using the tactics I had, I focused on my breath and my magic to harass the nephilim. But once again, she came out of each attack with nothing more than soot on her silver armor.

“Envokus!” I yelled, hurling a fireball at her reckless charge.

The fireball exploded, sending her flying backward in an arc. As her body flew backward, she once again spread her wings, flapping them to stabilize her body.

As we fought in the sky, I knew we would have been spotted. And my gold scales and fire would no doubt give away my identity.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before a green dragon rose into the air to join me. “Zach.” Yev sounded surprised.

“Not now, Yev. Kind of busy.”

Helena had stalled in the air, staring at the two of us as she weighed her next actions.

Down below, the Highaen forces were pushing in. The first of the templars’ outer buildings had collapsed under the barrage of magic fire.

It was a good sign for their ability to take down the templars, but not so great for Morgana’s tree staying sheltered.

Looking back, I saw Helena calculating her next move as well.

“Zach.” Yev wanted to get my attention, but I needed to act before Helena either retreated to the portal or joined the fight against the Highaen.

Using Helena’s moment of distraction, I caught the shaft of her spear and threw my weight into her, pulling us both out of the sky.

As we angled towards the tallest building, the mounted guns on top pivoted and shot at us.

Helena’s armor sparked as bullets pinged off of her, and I used her as a shield.

“Let go of me, monster.” She struggled in my grip, but I could overpower her now. Even my strength had increased with my size, regardless of which form I was in.

Snorting, I tried to reason with her once again. “Like I said before, you may want to look in the mirror. Your side is kidnapping, torturing, and enslaving. I saw how you were butchering other paranormals in that building. I’m not perfect, but I’m a hell of a lot better than that.”

We hit the side of the building, collapsing the wall. I plowed Helena into the floor.

She shouted. “We are angels.”

“White wings don’t make you inherently good.” I punched her in the chest, shattering the floor and sending her down to the next level.

Helena rolled out from under me and twirled up to her feet. “Angels represent the virtues —”

“Does this look virtuous?” I roared. “What the hell did they put in that head of yours?” I gestured to the people dying outside. “You tortured and enslaved the last of the silver dragons, using him as a weapon to kidnap Tyrande. In what sick way can you justify this?”

Helena whirled her spear, but she wasn’t pointing it at me. A small frown marred her otherwise pristine face.

Our battle was at a standstill. Neither of us had the force to overpower the other at the moment.

As she paused, I wondered if she might finally be breaking free of whatever misguided principles she’d been operating under.

But then she shook her head again, leveling her spear at me. “We are angels, above mortals. We are virtuous. Impervious to the weaknesses that pull mortals down.” She said it with a conviction that dumbfounded me.

“You aren’t even an angel.” I spat. “I’d bet the real angels only see you as a mutt on a leash. Something to chase pests away.”

She flinched, and I could tell I’d hit a soft spot.

Sure enough, she attacked, swinging her spear and an arc of light that tore through the floor below me.

The building groaned dangerously, and creaks echoed through the building.

Helena ran, bursting out a window as the building came toppling down on me.

“Envokus.” I threw my anger from talking to Helena at the wall behind me, blowing it out and diving as the ceiling came crashing down.

The collapse displaced enough air that my wings caught, and I tumbled through the air before barely stabilizing myself.

I landed on the ground amid men braced up against a movable concrete barrier.

Realizing they were templar forces, I shifted into a dragon just as they recovered from the surprise and turned their guns on me.

As I shifted, I crushed dozens of them. Any that remained were quickly washed with a bright flame as I incinerated them.

Scrambling, I got out from the enemy lines, taking to the air once again, realizing there were now small holes filling the webbing of my wings.

Luckily, they didn’t do too much but annoy me as I regained altitude to determine my next move.

The Highaen forces saw the hole I’d made crashing into the templar line and were using it, rushing in to wedge themselves between the templar forces and get access further in.

I continued scanning, wanting to find Helena. But I came up short, unable to figure out where she had gone.

My instincts called to me, so I ducked low, shifting back to my dragon knight form just as Helena came hurling down like a meteor.

I moved to the side, but she continued her dive, moving straight into the Highaen forces.

She landed amid them, sending dozens flying.

Yev was there in her green dragon form, trying to stop Helena, but she was having the same problem I’d had. Helena was too durable, and her weapon was too effective at slicing into us.

I paused, watching them fight and realizing I could help even their odds while Helena was distracted.

Diving at the fighting nephilim, I swooped low just as she was trying to hit Yev so that I could snag her spear, jerking it up and out of her grasp. My claws tingled painfully as I clutched the spear and the magic faded out of it.

“Yev, focus on the templars.” I shouted as I flapped hard, escaping with Helena’s spear.

The spear started to dissolve into light, but I clenched it tightly and forced it to stay in my hand.

“Give that back.” Helena ignored everything else and flew up after me, wanting her weapon back.

I beat my wings hard, working my way around the compound and back towards Morgana’s tree and the portal.

I hoped my distraction had been long enough. I was fairly sure it was, but in the heat of battle, time moves a bit differently.

And the next part was what I’d been nervous about.

I needed a sign that everything was done.

As I moved toward the tree, Morgana raced out of the portal, followed by a big werewolf. I expected they’d be hurrying, but they looked like they were running for their lives. My heart rate picked up as I beat my wings just a little harder.

I saw a body over Kelly’s shoulder, and I hoped they’d gotten to her soon enough.

It was time for the next part of the plan, but before it could happen, the ground outside the portal rippled.

Something was forcing its way into our world.

A man with six wings pulled himself out of the portal, the ground shaking with his first step. Behind him, angels poured out of the portal in his wake.

Helena gasped behind me. “No.” She screamed. “You can’t come through. The celestial plane!”

The archangel looked up at Helena with a snort. “Some sacrifices must be made.” His voice rang out through the whole compound. “Kill the intruders and capture our target.”

The angels that had followed him out fanned out in every direction.

I realized some angels had four wings, different from the normal two I’d seen so far.

Morgana and Kelly could handle themselves. I had bigger fish to fry.

A roar of flames exploded from my maw as I passed over the newly arrived angels. More than a few of them baked under my fire, but there were dozens still racing to join the fight against the Highaen forces.

The archangel turned, looking up and meeting my eyes. I felt a chill wash over me as he rose into the sky with a flap of his wings. It was like he’d teleported. He moved so seamlessly.

“I thought we’d killed the golds long ago. Seems some of you roaches survived.”

Slowly circling the archangel, I clutched Helena’s spear tightly in my hand.

Helena flew over, hovering before him submissively. “Raguel.” She dipped her head.

I snorted. “The archangel of justice, come to commit atrocities? How fitting.” Talking to buy myself and my women time. He wasn’t part of the plan.