Chapter 310: Reverse Scale

Ash had no choice, he was trapped between a rock and a hard place, weighing two options that might end up with detrimental effects.

But in the end it had to choose the path with the most likelihood of survival, and though it was reluctant it convinced itself there was no other way!

Its golden eyes burned dark as its dark slits slowly expanded, swallowing the sea of gold around it whole. The dragon’s jaw clenched tight as it initiated action immediately channeling its essence flow through the one path that was forbidden among all beasts of the draconic heritage.​

The Reverse Scale!

A hidden switch located in the body of every dragon, a meridian point if you will, hiding beneath a slight deformity that recurred within all dragons, a specific area where a singular scale grew in an inverted direction.

Channeling a flow through this forbidden pathway activates a dormant gene of the dragons, something dark and sinister, that eats their mind whole but elevates their prowess to an all-new realm.

And for a dragon as powerful as Ash, it would make its might even more catastrophic, though it would trade intelligence for this power, for a chance of ridding itself of the danger of its foe, it was worth it.

Pouring its essence wholly through the forbidden node, the dragon felt the instant change: its energy flow ran cold, its enormous heart slowed in its beat, and its mind was slowly overwhelmed by a sea of red, eating at the edges of its sanity and swallowing its intelligence whole.

The dragon’s maws slacked, its drool pooling and dripping in slow, thick viscosity, its darkened eyes slowly glowing with a tint of red all while its frame began to crack and deform.

"Brother, I will trust in your words, I hope to see you in the time of glory!" Atherion whispered its last words of sanity.

A voice echoed back from the void, "Don’t worry, brother, rest easy, your sacrifice will never be forgotten," Atherion consoled. Only, his brother was no more; he couldn’t hear these words, all that was left was madness and fury overriding them.

Its frame twisting and writhing as its vision was completely swallowed whole by the veil of red, the consciousness called Ash drowning in the madness as its reverse side surfaced, the side carrying nothing but hunger for destruction and death.

A resounding crazed roar quaked through the horizon, tearing through the wind, and causing the cracks running across the earth to rumble and widen all while the dragon’s mass swelled to an even more exaggerated degree.

Its broken wings snapping back into place as its head swayed from left to right, acidic drool splashing across the land, sizzling through the blackened earthen surface.

The ground beneath its feet sinking and groaning all while its mass ballooned, a sea of dark essence welling from its frame as its energy turned wild, right now the dragon had truly embodied its beastly side.

Becoming a force of destruction, born to destroy a machine fashioned to kill, with raw instincts and no intelligence, it embodied true chaos!

Another roar quaked calmer, more contained, as the dragon finished transitioning, its frame darker than night, the overwhelming feel of contained madness flourishing around its body.

Arriving right then, Seth hovered above looking down on his foe, but felt something was different... too much so.

The puffs of dark smoke steamed from its nostrils, its head craning upwards, fixing both crimson eyes upon Seth.

"..."

The silence held for a few seconds, hulking over the plain like a calm before the storm.

Seth stood at an estimated 16 feet tall, hulking but still quite tiny in comparison to the dragon.

Seth stared back at the dragon, realizing as he stared into the depths of the beast’s eyes that he could find no light of intelligence.

Only an overwhelming tide of chaos raging at its depths, quaking with madness.

This beast... had it gone berserk?

Seth wondered, as he examined it, feeling the beast’s might seemed to be beyond what he could recall.

His grip over his spear tightened, the trusted weapon growing to fit his size and match his balance.

An auto-size adaptation feature that all items above the Noble grade have...

Looking down on the monster, Seth sneered, feeling even more disdain.

Was the dragon thinking just this much power would allow it to stand against him?

Right now, Seth could be considered a step above the awakened grade — a massive power boost that would come at a cost for sure, but until the backlash hit, it was impossible for Seth to face defeat unless his foe was a step above the awakened rank.

And though not quite sure Seth had reason to believe that he wouldn’t find any dragon of that power level here.

If there was they would have made a move by now, the fact that they sent this beast for action instead of someone stronger hinted at their limits.

He didn’t know why and he didn’t care; it only expressed the fact that this mission would be easier.

Sensing a prying presence, Seth broke eye contact with the dark dragon below, staring up into the void.

In the far distance, Atherion’s heart shook, feeling the sight of Seth settle on him.

"Get Lost!" Seth’s voice commanded.

Tearing through the void, echoing with ripples of annihilation, striking straight into the dragon’s eyes before the beast could react, destroying its ability to pry through space temporarily.

Leaving the dragon wailing in pain, Seth’s sight turned back to his now restless prey.

His spear flipped, he raised his arm towards the dragon curving his fingers in a taunting gesture, "Come and meet your death!"

Unknown if the maddened creature understood or not, it suddenly let out another quaking roar of rage.

Its energy swelling from its frame as its wings rose, its hind legs coiling like a spring ready to pounce.

Drool flowed like a thick viscous stream, dripping down its smoking maws, its crazed eyes sizing Seth up as its energy finally settled.

The flame currents and the dark currents reached a dangerous equilibrium, it was finally ready to unleash chaos!

Boom!!!

The earth shook as the beast lunged for action...

Seth’s lips curving, the beast had enjoyed preying on both him and his men, it was only natural he returned the favour...