Chapter 311: Clash of the Lion and Dragon
General Valen stood tall, his body tense and unwavering, his eyes cold and focused as they locked onto Roxana. The weight of the battle before him was not lost, and the air around him grew heavy with anticipation. He knew exactly what he was up against—and the consequences of failure.
Without hesitation, Valen let out a fierce, guttural roar, his voice echoing like thunder across the battlefield. "Lion's Roar!"
The power of the sacred lion surged through him, infusing his muscles with strength and enhancing his focus, while simultaneously aiming to sap his opponent's power. The ground beneath his feet trembled, the air crackling with raw energy as the lion's aura roared to life.
Roxana, however, didn't even blink.
Her expression was one of amusement, her eyes gleaming with a playful yet dangerous edge. "That's it?" she mocked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. She raised an eyebrow as if humoring him. "I expected more from the so-called strongest general of the Lionhart family."
Her smirk widened, and she stood still, seemingly unbothered by the powerful debuff that Valen had unleashed. It rolled off her like water, having no effect on her whatsoever. "You're going to need something stronger if you want to make me break a sweat."
Valen's jaw tightened as he watched her, realizing that his attack had done nothing. His steely expression didn't waver, but there was a flicker of frustration in his eyes. "Impressive," he muttered under his breath, his voice low and calculating. "But this is far from over."
Roxana's response was a low chuckle, her eyes narrowing slightly as the molten energy within her body surged to life. "You're right," she said, her voice shifting into something more serious, more dangerous. "Let's make this a little more interesting."
Without warning, her hands began to glow with a fiery intensity, transforming into Volcanic Dragon Claws. Dark red scales covered her fingers, their edges sharp enough to tear through anything. The air around her shimmered with heat as she prepared her next move.
In a flash, she lunged forward, her claws aimed straight for Valen's chest, moving with the precision of a predator about to claim its prey.
Valen's reaction was swift. With a grunt of effort, he slammed his massive greatsword into the ground, summoning the Lion's Shield—a glowing, ethereal shield shaped like the head of a roaring lion. The sacred energy formed a barrier in front of him just in time to meet Roxana's attack.
The impact was deafening. Roxana's claws clashed violently with the lion-shaped shield, sending sparks flying in every direction. The force of the collision reverberated across the battlefield, the raw energy between them crackling as neither side gave way.
Valen's face remained calm and unreadable, though his knuckles whitened as he gripped the hilt of his sword.
He could feel the sheer weight of Roxana's power pressing against the shield, her strength far greater than he had anticipated. His teeth ground together as he forced the shield to hold.
Roxana tilted her head slightly, her smirk never fading. "Not bad," she purred, her tone dripping with playful condescension. "But let's see how long that shield of yours can hold up."
Valen's eyes narrowed, his voice sharp. "You're strong," he admitted, his voice steady despite the tension in his muscles. "But strength alone isn't enough to defeat me."
After successfully deflecting Roxana's attack, Valen wasted no time. His expression hardened as he gripped his greatsword tightly, his knuckles turning white.
He activated Sacred Lion Weapon Imbuement, and the blade began to glow with a fierce golden light, pulsing with the sacred energy of the lion. The sword's edge shimmered, becoming sharper, more dangerous, as Valen swung it in a deadly arc toward Roxana.
"You're finished!" Valen snarled, his voice filled with grim determination, the blade humming with raw power.
But Roxana only laughed—a dark, mocking sound that filled the battlefield. Her eyes gleamed with wicked amusement as she effortlessly dodged his strike.
"Is that really your best, General?" she taunted, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I expected more from the Lionhart family's strongest warrior."
Her smirk deepened as she raised her hand, her fingers crackling with energy. With a flick of her wrist, she opened her mouth, unleashing a torrent of molten lava.
"Volcanic Dragon Breath," she purred, her voice low and deadly as the fiery magma surged toward Valen. The heat was so intense that the ground beneath it began to bubble and melt, the air around them shimmering from the sheer temperature.
Valen's eyes widened as the molten stream rushed toward him. Gritting his teeth, he raised his greatsword to block the oncoming magma, the blade glowing even brighter as it absorbed the heat. The sacred energy of the lion pushed against the molten assault, but even Valen could feel the sheer intensity of Roxana's power.
The heat pressed against him, forcing him to dig his feet into the ground, but he held his ground, refusing to give in. "You think… this will stop me?" Valen growled, his voice strained but defiant.
Roxana tilted her head, watching with amusement as the general struggled against her molten attack. "You're still standing?" she mused, her voice laced with mock surprise. "Impressive."
But Valen didn't have time to respond. Roxana's eyes flashed with intent, and in the blink of an eye, she disappeared from her spot, moving with blinding speed. She appeared behind Valen, her Volcanic Dragon Claws raised, her expression filled with glee.
"Too slow," she whispered into his ear, her voice dripping with malicious delight as she slashed her claws down, aiming for his back with devastating precision.
Valen's instincts screamed at him, and in a split second, he reacted. "Lion's Shield!" he shouted, summoning the sacred lion's barrier once more.
The shield materialized just in time, blocking Roxana's claws, but the sheer force of her strike sent shockwaves through the shield, and Valen felt the impact reverberate through his body.
Even with the shield protecting him, the force of Roxana's attack was overwhelming. Valen was sent flying across the battlefield, his body crashing into the ground with a heavy thud, skidding to a halt several meters away.
He groaned as he pushed himself up, breathing heavily, his muscles straining from the effort. His greatsword trembled in his hand as he regained his footing, his eyes locking onto Roxana.
There was a flicker of shock in his gaze—he had underestimated her power—but his resolve remained unbroken. Determination burned in his eyes as he prepared for the next round.
Roxana stood tall, her smile never faltering as she watched him struggle. She crossed her arms, her stance relaxed but predatory. "You're strong," she remarked, her tone light and playful, though there was an unmistakable menace in her voice. "But let's see how long you can keep up."
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