Rise of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 40 (Missing?) (Patreon)

Apparently this chapter is missing (can't find on Patreon... which is weird). Reposting for all those who are looking for it.

Kaen felt the fear and concern through their bond before Pammon said a word.

Focus on where I am and tell me if you see him.

Dread and anger billowed up from Pammon, and Kaen closed his eyes, letting his lifestone burn, shifting his vision to Pammons.

Is that–

It is. That is Stioks and Juthom. What do we do?

Flying to the west over the forests were Stioks and Juthom. Kaen and Pammon could not believe they had stumbled across those two. 

Kaen and Pammon had been flying for over two days now, headed back toward Ebonmount, and based on the direction, it looked like Stioks and Juthom were headed toward Roccnari.

They haven’t seen us yet. The clouds and our altitude have us hidden.

Kaen felt his heart racing. His hands shook from fear and rage at the man and dragon beneath them. Part of it was coming from Pammon, and the other part of it was all his own.

What should we do? If we engage, what chance do we have?

Pammon had stopped beating his wings as often, allowing himself to glide as much as possible to minimize all movement that might catch Juthom’s eyes. He was taking in everything he could.

I’m not sure what would happen if we attacked. We might get a few shots in before they turned on us. We never really got to practice much against Tharnok, and we both know that Stioks favors close combat with Juthom and his breath. 

So many possible ideas ran through Kaen’s head. If they could strike a blow, cause significant damage, or somehow win, they could end all of this right now. Yet Kaen wasn’t foolish enough to believe he could take down a dragon that large after hearing Elies share how bad it had been for both dragons. 

He had seen the scars on Tharnok’s body, scales that had taken time to heal from where Juthom had ripped them off with his talons. Both dragons had resisted most of the damage from their breath attacks, but Stioks and his spells, combined with Juthom’s breath, brought the end to Elies two years ago.

You’re scared, and so am I. Pammon spoke while Kaen felt his mind wandering. We have the advantage of height. We can stay above the clouds longer than Stioks, using the altitude to shoot at them if they follow. That doesn’t mean they have to give up chasing us. They can stay back, waiting for when we begin to descend. If we did that, it would be two or three days until we made it to Ebonmount, and I am not sure if they would turn back.

But we would have defenses, help to fight against them if they came.

Pammon shook his head no but made no other sound. He wanted to laugh but didn’t risk it even though the two were miles away from them.

We need to decide. Soon, it would be hard to catch them if we wanted to try. They are flying away from us. 

Kaen couldn’t shake the fear in his heart.

He would attack Juthom’s wings if they engaged, using every spell and skill he had to unleash holy hell upon them, but he had no idea if they would make a dent in him. 

Can I injure his wings?

Kaen felt Pammon considering the question. It would have been the attack he would have recommended if they chose to attack. Knowing the power of his arrows, he felt it would work or at least scare Juthom into having to land or fly away. The damage they could do from a distance was their strongest attack, and if they struck first, it would put them in a position of power.

If we can sneak up from above and you get a few powered shots on his wings, you could control the battle. However, if you miss or cannot damage them enough, we would need to turn tail and run.

All the advice Hess had ever given him echoed in his ears. ‘Grow stronger, live longer.’ It was hard not to acknowledge how much Pammon had grown in the last two years or how strong he had become.

Kaen knew that this chance may never come again. The lesson with the griffons had taught him this. Those who considered themselves the strongest often needed to remember to be on the lookout for an attack from where they least expected it.

Let’s do this. How long till we are close enough to engage?

As Pammon turned, angling toward where Stioks and Juthom seemed to be lazily flying miles beneath them, Kaen could feel the growing rage from his friend.

It will be a few minutes, but you will know, I have no doubt.

Resisting the urge to grin, Kaen cleared his mind from every stray thought but one.

If we do this right, we can possibly end this war before it starts.

Pammon didn’t respond, yet his rage began to boil inside, the base of his scales turning warm as the fire inside him grew.

Either we end this or let them know we will not be easy prey.

[Multishot Activated ]

Arrows that burned with power flew from his bow as Pammon dove down from above.

Once the descent had started, they had gotten so close, almost to the point of not being seen, yet somehow Juthom had noticed less than ten seconds before they were in the perfect position.

His arrows flew, two striking the back of the black dragon’s massive right wing, tearing holes in it and causing him to veer to the right. 

I cannot catch him! Keep shooting!

A white-hot fire burned in his chest as he saw Stioks turn for a moment, a dangerous gaze staring at him as he held his hand out toward them.

Juthom’s direction suddenly shifted, his wings flaring hard as he filled them with the air he was rushing against, slowing down momentarily.

A green lance of something shot out from Stioks’s hand, burning toward them as Pammon dove to the left, dodging the attack, channeling his speed from the descent into a corkscrew maneuver.

Kaen tightened his core muscles, leaning back against Pammon and scanning the sky, watching Juthom twist to the left, flapping his massive wings to turn and come in the direction they were.

Turn right! Now!

Even before he had finished giving those commands, Pammon could read his mind and thoughts, banking quickly to the right, sending unbelievable pressure on them as another green bolt of power came for where he had been heading.

Climbing, hold on!

His eyes were watering as he felt the rapid change in direction, his body pressed against Pammon’s back as his dragon rose toward the sky, now turned away from where Juthom was, trying to come toward them.

Leaning backward, pressed like that, Kaen’s lifestone filled him with rage, anger, and hatred. Even though he didn’t want to let it overcome him, to distract him, knowing the man and dragon behind them were the reason his father had died sent emotions he had not dealt with in years straight to his heart.

How many people have lost fathers, mothers, and children because of this man’s greed?

His lifestone’s burning fire made him grab his chest, losing an arrow as Pammon twisted again, dodging another attack from Stioks, who was leaning around Juthom’s massive neck as they pressed toward them from behind.

Clenching his jaw, Kaen spun on his saddle as he drew another arrow.

It burned white, then blue, a deep blue he had not seen before. A moment later, it was black, almost as dark as Juthom’s scales.

The arrow sped across the sky, striking Juthom’s shoulder, drawing a roar from the black dragon as his mouth flung open.

You hurt him!

Pammon felt joy and pride as he shouted that thought, doing everything he could to keep his lead on the massive black dragon easily a third bigger than him. Even with Juthom’s wing being injured, it was a struggle to keep their distance as each time the black dragon beat its wings, massive amounts of air were moved, propelling him at a blazingly fast pace.

They are gaining! 

Keep shooting!

It took three seconds for each shot to reach that same dark color, and Kaen let another one go, catching the dragon as he tried to dodge in one of his front talons, sending a spray of scales into the air.

Juthom roared again as he could barely dodge the next shot Kaen sent toward him. His black wings paused for half a beat, leaving him slightly out of position, and Kaen took that moment to attack.

[Twinshot Activated]

Two arrows glowed, each of them blue when he let them fly. There wasn’t enough time to risk this moment in hopes of getting them charged completely, but Kaen didn’t care as one of them struck the same wing that he had hit earlier, this time on the bone near the mesh, sending a shower of flesh toward the ground.

[ Archery Skill Increased ]

Kaen wanted to enjoy that moment. It felt like ages since his skill had increased. Unfortunately, now was not the time for that.

A massive ball of green light hovered above Juthom's head, and Kaen let his mouth hang open as it grew. It was easily five feet wide now, and it was growing.

We need to go!

Pammon dove down immediately, adjusting his angle, and Kaen knew what was coming the moment he changed directions.

Spinning as quickly as he could, Kaen grabbed a strap with his free hand and clenched his legs around Pammon’s neck.

[ Flight Burst Activated ]

The world shifted momentarily as Pammon poured every ounce of strength he had from his body and the power that came from Kaen’s raging lifestone.

The speed they reached was faster than the time they had saved Hess, the treeline below them coming at them at an alarming rate before Pammon adjusted the angle enough to no longer be in danger of crashing into them.

A roar and a cry came from behind, and as Kaen leaned back, squinting his eyes to see what they had left behind, a ball of green magical energy flew behind them on a direct course with the ground.

We dodged it! Can we turn back and engage?

Pammon couldn't respond, and Kaen realized why. The pressure of what they were doing was overwhelming him.

Slow down! They aren’t pursuing us!

[ Flight Burst Expired ]

Almost slamming into the back of Pammon’s neck as the speed decreased that much, Kaen felt Pammon shudder for a moment.

That was faster than I had thought it would be. 

A hint of exhaustion came across their bond as Pammon turned back and glanced toward where Stioks and Juthom hovered in the air.

I’m going to climb back into the sky, but it looks like they will not pursue us.

Hairy dwarf balls… look under you at the forest.

Pammon shifted his head and saw the sight that Kaen was looking at behind them.

The area where Stioks’s attack had hit was burning and rotting with a green power like neither had ever seen before. Trees were falling over at an alarming rate. A circle of at least fifty meters was already gone up in green flames.

Is that what Elies was hit with?

I have no idea, but if so, it is a testament that he survived, if even a tiny portion of that hit him.

A minute passed as Pammon flew higher into the sky, constantly checking behind him.

Any change?

It appears they are leaving. They turned back to the west but were flying much higher now. I think they realize there are threats to them.

A smug satisfaction came from Pammon as he said that. 

Did we really accomplish anything with that attack?

Yes! exclaimed Pammon. Kaen, you injured a dragon of Juthom's status enough that both the rider and the dragon are unwilling to pursue us even though we are almost two hundred years younger than him. Can you imagine hurting Tharnok enough that he would prefer not to fight?

Mulling over that truth, Kaen turned back, staring at where they had just fought, unable to see the black speck that had been Juthom any longer as they flew away.

We may have bought ourselves some time. I’m not sure we could have won that fight as we are now. I only have about thirty arrows left. Then what?

Then, it would come down to me.

Kaen could feel Pammon's concern, knowing that if they had no arrows, he was somehow supposed to overcome the size and strength difference between him and Juthom. That dragon’s head was twice his size, and one bite would most likely crush him.

Let’s not worry about that right now. We survived and know they took more damage than either could have expected. Head home, and we can plan on how to win next time.

Pammon snorted, angling toward Ebonmount as he rose higher into the sky. He would not risk them suffering the same attack they had just done. For now on, they would push the limits of how high he could fly.