SPELLBOUND

Vera had screamed out, feeling the shock and slight pain that travelled through her mind link with her dragon. Looking closer, Vera noticed that the tentacle was tightening itself around Azure, as though trying to strangle him on top of already pulling him towards the black core. He was straining as he fought to pull back and resisted the smoky cords that seemed hellbent on dragging him away.r

"Azure..!!"r

It was not an exaggeration to say that the skyscape on Vera's corner of the world was in complete chaos. Countless dark tentacles crisscrossed the sky, each had its end twisted and coiled around a body part of a dragon. Some tentacles even extended their reach to those on the ground. All these smoky cords had shot out from the same dark core both army divisions were aiming for. r

Everyone around were trying their best to cut through these tentacles that were slithering yet confounding. With every vicious strike across it, the tentacle would waver and dissipate as though it was mere smoke. But the very moment the attacking blade or dagger moved past it, the tentacle would immediately solidify and increase its punishing hold on its victim.r

And this was what Vera and Queen Beatrice were trying to deal with at the moment. The tentacles seemed to have a grudge on Azure and now, more than one had coiled around him – one around his left hindleg, one more just behind his jaws around the upper neck and another one midway around his tail. Azure was truly struggling to free himself but to no avail.r

"Vera!! We aren't making any progress. I've been cutting and slicing away at these tentacles but..." Queen Beatrice was huffing and panting as she was out of breath from continuously slashing at the cords to free Azure and at the same time protect Vera.r

Queen Beatrice had realized the tentacles weren't just aiming for Azure but Vera too.r

"... these things just can't seem to be cut!!" Due to the critical nature of how Azure is being pulled as though magnetically to that black core, Beatrice had lost her composure and steady breathing. r

"I... I don't know what else to do!" Vera half shouted, not bothering to turn back to look at Beatrice as her attention was all on that largest tentacle that was still wrapped around Azure's neck and tightening ever so slightly. She wanted to free the dragon. It was getting strangled. She didn't even realize the wetness in her eyes as she frantically slashed on the tentacles. At that moment, she was truly panicking. r

Azure screeched and roared as he trashed around, trying his best to dislodge the annoying tentacles keeping him restrained. Thankfully, Azure was a huge and mighty beast and that gave him an advantage in fighting back against the pull of so many dark tentacles dragging him forward. And Queen Beatrice was like a blur and might as well be some goddess of the shadows. She moved as fast as the shadows that no tentacle had managed to even go past her. r

Vera knew that without the queen, she didn't know if she was still even here riding on top of Azure. The tentacles must have long taken her to that core!r

Her red eyes were like gleaming bloody jewel in the dark as she relentlessly went against all these tentacles by herself. She looked so invincible. But how long will she be able to keep this up? She's been at it for a long while now. r

Gritting her teeth, Vera clenched her fists tight. She can't just sit here like this. She must think of something before the queen gets too exhausted. But what was it that she could do? r

Suddenly, Vera felt her mind being 'nudged' by Azure and an idea took shape in her mind. He was telling her to try using this method to fight back against these tentacles!r

"Your Majesty! Get ready to chop off the tentacles! Azure wants to try this method!" Vera turned around only to shout out this statement before turning her attention back to attack. r

"Got it!" Queen Beatrice did not know the specifics, but she had enough combat experience to know that in the next few seconds, any change that happens would most likely be Azure's move and she was poised to attack at will.r

Azure threw his massive head back and spread open his jaws before letting out a thunderous roar that could shake the heavens. Vera and Queen Beatrice immediately saw the slight shimmer around Azure's before the whole surface of his body was coated with a thin but freezing layer of bluish white ice. r

Little ice crystal patterns formed on the tentacles that were around his body and immediately spread outwards, causing the smoky cords to remain solidified. Understanding sparked in both the ladies' eyes and Queen Beatrice slashed down swiftly on the tentacled closest to Azure's body.r

"Yes! It's working!!" Beatrice shouted with joy.r

Vera placed her hand on the one coiled around Azure's upper neck and the tentacles melted like water.r

Queen Beatrice also worked fast and slashed and sliced through the two tentacles coiled around his hindleg and tail. r

But just as Azure turned his head around, another three new dark tentacles shot over and coiled around the same places that had been vacated by the destroyed ones. It was as though the dark core was mocking them, sending the exact same numbers of tentacles to replace their predecessors.r

Over and over, Azure called forth his freezing spell. Over and over, Vera and Beatrice slashed and melted them. However, every time one was disposed of, a new one quickly took its place. Vera, who was not trained nor experienced, crumpled in a heap as she sat unmoving on Azure's back. Her eyes shone with a helplessness that Beatrice could not do anything about.r

"Vera! Take a break and I'll take over. Just watch out for yourself!" Beatrice could only pick up the slack as she knew Vera must have exhausted herself.

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