Chapter 542: The Dragons Attack. Harley’s Power

It came without warning. No tremor. No omen.

Just impact.

The sky behind Anbord split apart as a spiraling vortex of wind tore open the clouds, dragging the atmosphere into a violent, howling cyclone. At the same time, the ground beneath the Kael’Dri Estate groaned, a deep, metallic resonance echoing upward as if something vast and unyielding was forcing its way through the world itself.

Then...

BOOOOOOOOM!!!

A blade of compressed wind descended from the heavens, slicing through the outer defensive layers like they were nothing more than mist. The barrier didn’t shatter immediately, but it screamed, rippling violently as fractures spread across its surface.

And from below...

CRAAAAAANG!!!

A colossal spear of metallic force erupted upward, colliding with the weakened barrier from beneath.

The two attacks met, and the barrier broke. Shards of golden light scattered across the sky like falling stars, dissolving before they could touch the ground.

The Kael’Dri Estate, once a place of laughter and chaos, was suddenly exposed.

The children. The family. Everything was now within reach.

The wind roared louder. The ground split further, and they appeared.

Vaelrith descended first.

A massive dragon of pale silver-green scales, wings spanning wide enough to blot out the sky. Each flap of those wings didn’t just move air; it commanded it. Currents twisted unnaturally around him, forming spirals and blades, storms and vacuums all at once.

His eyes glowed with sharp, cutting intent.

Beside him, Drakar rose, not from the sky, but from the earth itself.

A dragon forged in living metal, his body layered with interlocking plates of dark steel and molten silver veins. Each movement produced a deep, resonant clang, like a living war machine awakening.

His claws dug into the ground, and the land obeyed.

Metal surged upward from beneath the soil, forming jagged spires and massive constructs that twisted toward the estate like grasping hands.

"Destroy it," Vaelrith’s voice cut through the storm.

"Leave nothing."

Drakar didn’t respond.

He didn’t need to. The attack began instantly.

Wind compressed into blades sharper than any forged weapon, raining down in relentless waves.

Metal rose in response, defensive walls, offensive spikes, crushing pillars, all directed with ruthless precision.

The estate shook, buildings cracked, the ground tore apart, and then...

"Enough."

The voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly and unyieldingly. The next wave of wind stopped.

Vaelrith’s eyes narrowed. Drakar’s head shifted slightly.

And then, she appeared.

Harley.

She stood atop a fractured section of the estate’s outer grounds, her long hair flowing wildly despite the chaotic winds. Her presence wasn’t explosive.

It was... anchored. Grounded. Her eyes glowed.

A deep, piercing gold that seemed to pierce through everything.

"You picked the wrong place," she said calmly.

Vaelrith didn’t hesitate.

He moved. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

The wind around him condensed instantly into a single, devastating spear that tore through space as it shot toward her.

Harley didn’t dodge. Didn’t block.

She simply looked. The wind spear twisted mid-flight, faltered, and turned It veered off course violently, slamming into a distant section of land and carving a massive trench that stretched for miles.

Vaelrith’s expression sharpened.

"Gorgon."

Drakar moved next. His claw slammed into the ground, and the earth beneath Harley transformed instantly. Metal surged upward, attempting to trap, crush, and impale her all at once. Harley raised her hand.

Green light spread outward, soft, warm, and gentle, and utterly opposed to everything around it.

The metal stopped. Its movement slowed. Then reversed.

The jagged spikes softened, reshaping, dissolving back into harmless material as her magic washed over them.

Healing, not destruction or force, but restoration so absolute, it overwrote harm.

Drakar’s eyes flickered.

"Interesting."

Harley stepped forward.

The ground beneath her stabilized instantly, cracks sealing, damage reversing as her presence spread outward like a calm tide pushing back a storm.

"You’re not stepping another inch forward," she said.

Vaelrith laughed softly.

Then, the storm intensified.

"Try and stop us."

The sky collapsed.

Winds surged from every direction, forming massive spirals that tore downward like divine punishment. The sheer pressure alone was enough to flatten entire regions.

At the same time, Drakar raised both claws. The ground answered. A massive construct of metal erupted upward, a towering titan forged from compressed earth and steel, its limbs massive enough to crush entire cities.

And it swung.

Harley inhaled slowly.

Then, her eyes flared, bright and terrifying. The winds twisted. Not redirected, but distorted. They lost cohesion, spinning wildly out of control as her gaze disrupted their very structure.

The metal titan paused. Its movement slowed, then it cracked. Fine lines spread across its body as her power seeped into it, not destroying it, but undoing it. Drakar growled, pushing more power into it. The cracks sealed. The titan swung again.

Harley moved this time. Fast. Faster than before. She slipped between the attack, her form blurring as she closed the distance instantly. Her hand pressed against the titan’s leg. Green light pulsed, and the entire structure collapsed.

The metal lost its shape, its form dissolving back into raw material that fell harmlessly to the ground. Vaelrith descended faster and sharper. His claws wrapped in compressed wind that screamed with lethal intent.

He struck. Harley met it with her arm raised.

CLASH!!!

The impact split the air. Wind and energy exploded outward, carving deep scars into the surrounding land. She slid back, but held.

Her eyes locked onto his.

"You’re strong," Vaelrith admitted.

Harley smirked slightly.

"So are you."

Drakar joined in. His fist slammed down from above, metal compressing into a devastating strike. Harley twisted, barely avoiding it. The ground where she stood disappeared entirely under the force. She landed lightly, then struck back. Her palm glowed, and she slammed it into Drakar’s arm.

Green energy surged, and for the first time, he felt it. His metal form destabilized, portions of his arm softening unnaturally, losing structure. He pulled back instantly. Vaelrith attacked again. She countered. Drakar followed. She adapted.

The battle escalated. Faster, stronger, and more destructive, but one thing became clear. Neither side was winning. Vaelrith’s storms couldn’t fully overwhelm her control. Drakar’s constructs couldn’t withstand her restoration, and Harley couldn’t fully pin them down either.

The three stood amidst devastation, power clashing in waves that tore apart the land behind Anbord.

Balanced.

Equal.

Unyielding.

Harley exhaled slowly, her gaze steady.

"Two rulers, huh..."

Vaelrith smirked.

Drakar said nothing.

Then, they attacked again, and the war continued.