Infernal Ascendancy
Chapter 46: Azreal Vs Dragos

Chapter 46: Azreal Vs Dragos

The wind twisted into the shape of a dragon, roaring as it lunged toward Azreal. Its spiraling form cut through the air, teeth bared and ready to devour him whole. But Azreal didn’t flinch. His eyes glowed—a deep, haunting crimson.

Boom.

He caught it.

With both hands outstretched, he stopped the wind dragon mid-charge. The beast writhed in his grip, but its body began to tremble. Flames curled from Azreal’s fingers, slithering like serpents over the wind dragon’s body. In mere seconds, it was no longer a dragon of wind—but a blaze made real.

Azreal smirked. "Return to your master."

He hurled the flaming construct at Dragos.

Dragos’ eyes widened. He barely leapt aside as the inferno shot past him, scorching the ground behind into molten ruin.

BOOM!!

The earth quaked from the impact. Dust flew everywhere. But Dragos didn’t stop. Flames surged in his palms, dancing wildly, twisting into a whip. He slashed it toward Azreal.

SWISH!!

Azreal moved like smoke in the wind, sidestepping the strike. But Dragos wasn’t done. He lashed the whip again, and again—each time faster, harder. Every missed strike shattered the ground, sending square chunks of rock into the air like broken glass.

Azreal ducked. Rolled. Backflipped. Sparks danced around him as Dragos whipped again from above. Azreal jumped skyward to avoid the next strike, but Dragos grinned. He raised his hands to the sky.

"Flaming Armory!"

Swords—dozens of them, forged from pure flame—manifested above like burning stars. He sent them crashing down.

Azreal sprinted, dodging, weaving between each sword as they stabbed the earth. One spun toward him from behind—he leapt back. Two more came—he twisted sideways mid-air. But Dragos was ready.

"You can’t dodge this."

He flung his flame whip with deadly precision.

The moment it was about to strike—

Orange feathers of fire rained from the sky.

Azreal vanished.

CRASH!

The whip slammed into the earth and cracked it open.

A second later—

Azreal reappeared behind Dragos.

Dragos barely turned.

Azreal whispered, "Blue."

A tiny orb of sapphire flame flickered in his fingers. He flicked it forward like dust.

Tink.

It touched Dragos’ chest—

BOOOOM!!!

A blue explosion roared outward, clearing the field in a blinding flash. Dragos was hurled through debris, skidding into the ruins, smoke curling around him. Azreal descended slowly, calm like a god who knew he’d already won.

He stepped over the rubble.

"Get up," he said coldly. "I know you’re still alive."

The smoke parted.

Dragos rose, half his clothes burned to ash, shoulders heaving. He rolled his arms with a grunt.

"You used your scale magic," Azreal noted.

Dragos chuckled, wiping blood from his lip. How does he always appear behind me? One second he’s there, the next... gone. He growled. "Of course I’ll continue."

Flames spiraled around him as dragon scales formed all over his body. He raised a hand, scales firing like golden blades.

Azreal dodged effortlessly—sidestep, lean, duck. But one—larger than the rest—swerved toward him. He twisted—but the blade grew mid-air.

Slice.

A thin red line appeared on Azreal’s arm.

He looked at the cut, unfazed. "You enlarged it just before contact. Clever."

Dragos smirked. "How do you like that?"

Azreal replied, "It’s impressive. But..."

His expression darkened.

"...what will you do about this?"

CRACK!!

The ground beneath Dragos split open, bubbling into molten lava. He leapt upward—but Azreal met him mid-air with a devastating kick, slamming him back into the scorched earth.

Dragos groaned, but stood.

Azreal pointed behind him.

Dozens of fiery spears hovered in the air.

"Let’s finish this."

They rained down like a divine punishment. Dragos crossed his arms—his scales expanded into a thick shield overhead.

THUD. THUD. THUD.

The spears vanished on impact—but they didn’t stop.

Dragos grunted under the pressure—until Azreal appeared beside him, mid-spearstorm, and kicked him in the gut.

Dragos flew backward. He rolled and growled, flames bursting beneath his feet as he skidded to a stop. His claws gleamed, and the ground cracked beneath him.

"Soul Weapon—Roar: Tigre!!"

Golden energy surged as dragon claws formed around his fists. He clapped his hands and blasted forward with roaring momentum.

Azreal’s eyes glowed again.

"Blue."

The flames formed a long, piercing blue spear in his grip. He dashed to meet Dragos head-on.

CLASH!!

Dragos punched like a beast. Azreal spun his spear like a dance, deflecting every blow with perfect precision. Dragos leapt high, hands together.

"RAHHH!!"

He came down with a monstrous punch.

CLANG!!!

Azreal blocked with his spear—but the force cracked the ground beneath him like shattered glass. Tremors pulsed with every second they stayed locked.

Suddenly—

SNAP!

Azreal’s spear broke.

Dragos’ eyes lit up. "One more!"

He pulled back his fist and punched—

SLASH!!

Blood sprayed.

Dragos gasped.

He looked down.

Two daggers embedded in his sides.

He looked up.

Azreal stood, breathing hard, holding the hilts.

Dragos staggered back. Azreal ripped the blades out—blood gushed.

Hulk, watching from afar, blinked. "I-is it over?"

Suddenly—

CRACK!

Azreal’s daggers shattered in his hands. His eyes widened.

Dragos stood tall, blood running down, but golden scales grew over his wounds, then across his entire body. He raised his head, eyes glowing like suns.

"Scaled Warrior..."

A golden aura exploded from his body, shaking the land.

Azreal smirked. "So that’s your real form."

Red energy poured from his body. His eyes burned crimson. They walked toward each other, slow, steady.

Their auras collided—CRACK!!

The entire landscape warped under the pressure.

Then—

BOOM!!

They punched.

A giant sphere of flames engulfed them as their fists collided. The air screamed. Neither backed down.

Then—BLAST!!

They flew apart—then launched forward again, vanishing from sight. Only gold and red clashed across the land like meteors.

Even Hulk couldn’t keep up. "This... This fight’s insane. I can’t see a thing!"

The sky split as they circled higher, then came crashing down—

Azreal formed dual daggers mid-air. He slashed.

Dragos dodged, then opened his mouth—

BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!!

Fireballs exploded everywhere, tearing up mountains, lighting the entire region in fire.

Then—

Silence.

Steam hissed.

Azreal walked forward through the flames, eyes glowing, daggers in hand—not a single scratch on him.

"You’re hiding something," he said. "What are you so afraid to show me?"

Dragos, breathing hard, shouted, "Just what are you—?!"

Azreal vanished.

SLASH!!

Blood exploded from Dragos’ back. His scales cracked. His knees hit the dirt.

He turned, trembling. "H-how?!"

Azreal stood behind him, lowering his blades as they faded into mana.

"I pierced it. Even your precious scales."

Dragos collapsed.

From the distance, Hulk walked toward Azreal, arms folded behind his head. "Whew... That was refreshing. I needed that. My body was stiff."

He looked at Dragos, unconscious and broken.

Azreal nodded. "He’s fine. He’ll heal. Just get him to the Fifth Gate."

He raised a hand.

A small portal opened behind him. "I’m tired."

He stepped through. The gate vanished.

Hulk stood in the ruins, fire still dancing in the air. The battlefield was broken beyond recognition—cracked earth, flames still burning, the smell of smoke thick in the air.

He walked over and picked up Dragos, throwing the dragon warrior’s arm around his shoulder.

"Come on, hothead. Let’s get you fixed."

Flames surrounded them—and they disappeared.

---

Third Gate of Hell — Gate of Blighted Chains

The heat was suffocating.

Aria trudged forward, breathing heavily. Sweat dripped down her brow.

"Are we there yet?" she groaned.

Arian floated beside her, rolling his eyes. "You’ve asked that five times. Give it a rest already."

"That’s easy for you to say. You’re floating."

Ahead, a giant gate rose from the mist. A crimson light bled through the cracks. Aria’s eyes widened.

"There it is!" she said and started running.

"Wait! Don’t just rush in—!" Arian vanished in smoke.

Guards at the gate spun their spears toward her. Aria halted, raising her hands.

"I mean no harm! I’m Aria. I was sent by Lord Azreal!"

The guards paused. One entered through the gate. Seconds later, he returned and gave a nod.

They stepped aside.

CREEAAAAK—!!

The gate opened slowly. Blinding light spilled out.

Aria shielded her eyes.

A grin tugged at her lips.

"I wonder... what kind of adventure awaits me in this gate?"

She stepped forward—into the unknown.