Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 224: The Fight Against The Queen, Part I

Chapter 224: The Fight Against The Queen, Part I

Aideen stood her ground, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and determination as she faced Queen Fleur. The queen’s presence loomed over her like a dark shadow, her eyes glinting with a malevolent light that sent shivers down the princess’ spine.

"I accept your challenge," Aideen declared, her voice steady despite the uncertainty swirling within her. She glanced at Taru, who hid behind her, his thick claws clinging to the flowing black cape with the giant dragon embroidered in white.

’Taru,’ she commanded mentally, ’transform.’

With a surge of radiant energy, Taru’s diminutive form began to shimmer and glow, his scales emitting a soft, iridescent blue light that danced across the air. As the light intensified, his body elongated and expanded, his wings unfurling with a mighty flourish.

With each beat of his newly formed wings, a gust of wind swept through the air, carrying the echoes of his transformation far and wide. Finally, with a triumphant roar that shook the very earth beneath him, Taru emerged in his majestic grown form, towering over the landscape with an aura of power and strength that was truly awe-inspiring.

Now, the two of them for truly ready. Together, they would face whatever trials lay ahead.

"A beautiful creature indeed," the queen remarked as her emerald eyes scanned Taru’s new appearance. "It is truly a shame to rid this world of the last living dragon."

With a flick of her wrist, Queen Fleur unleashed a torrent of dark energy, the air crackling with power as the magic surged toward Aideen and Taru.

’If I use my ability right, I might be able to dodge her attacks just in time.’

The princess called upon her dragon vision, the world slowing to a crawl as she anticipated each mana attack with razor-sharp clarity.

The dragon roared defiantly, his blue flames erupting from his jaws as he lunged forward to meet the queen’s onslaught. But the queen was a formidable opponent, her powers weaving through the air like tendrils of darkness, deflecting Taru’s flames with ease.

"This goes to show that he is still nothing but a weak magic beast. It was truly foolish of you to bring him here just to watch him struggle like this and die."

Fleur’s laughter shook the air once more, a mere snap of her fingers sent Taru to the side as if he was nothing more but a mere insect.

Aideen gritted her teeth, her mind racing as she sought out weaknesses in the queen’s defenses. With a swift motion, she unleashed a barrage of magic, her mana crackling through the air like blue lightning. But the queen was relentless, her attacks coming faster and fiercer with each passing moment.

’She is too strong...’ The princess wiped the beads of sweat that had already formed on her forehead and let out a long exhale. ’No matter how hard I try, my magic does not reach her at all.’

Aideen still did not know the full potency of her powers so the only spells she could use were those Ahspid had taught her in the past. Clearly, that was not enough when fighting someone as strong as a supreme witch whose powers were mixed with additional magic, alchemy, and Lunar Eclipse Ritual.

As the battle raged on, Aideen felt her strength waning, her limbs heavy with exhaustion. She glanced at Taru, who fought valiantly at her side, his claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. But even he seemed to struggle against the queen’s overwhelming power.

"It is way too obvious that you still can’t control your powers. How pathetic... To challenge me in such a weak state. You have no one to blame but yourself now." Fleur laughed, her mana glowing as she struck again.

With a surge of determination, Aideen summoned all of her remaining energy, her senses ablaze with the intensity of the fight. She reached deep within herself, tapping into the ancient power of her dragon lineage, her eyes glowing with an otherworldly light as she unleashed a devastating wave of magic.

"Nice try! Weak, but I praise your assertiveness."

Regardless, the queen was ready, her own powers swirling around her like a tempest, deflecting Aideen’s attack with a casual flick of her wrist. The princess’ heart sank as she realized the gravity of their situation. She was outmatched, facing an opponent whose powers far surpassed her own.

"This is getting boring," the queen narrowed her eyes in irritation, her aura turning darker and more menacing, "I think it’s time I put an end to this useless waste of energy."

With a sinister glint in her eyes, Fleur gathered her mana, weaving it into a devastating spell of destruction targeting already exhausted Lady Valentine. With a precise turn of her hands, she unleashed the lethal barrage of energy towards Aideen, a swirling vortex of dark power aimed to end the princess’s life once and for all.

Aideen gasped, her vision failed to capture such a formidable flow of mana. She watched it coming for her like a bizarre ghost and despite her instincts screaming at her to move and run away, she found herself frozen; she could not move a single muscle.

’This is it... I lost...’

In a desperate bid to protect his master, Taru threw himself in front of Aideen, his massive body absorbing the full force of the queen’s devastating attack. As she finally realized what had happened, Aideen cried out in horror as she watched the dragon fall, his once majestic form crumbling to the ground in a heap.

"Taru!"

With tears streaming down her cheeks, the princess rushed to Taru’s side, cradling him in her arms as she tried to rouse him from his unconscious state. But it was no use; Taru lay still, his breathing shallow and labored.

"No... No, you can’t die! No!"

As she looked up at the queen, her vision blurred with tears and rage. With her arms still wrapped around the dragon’s massive neck, she pressed her face against his scaly blue skin and groaned like a wounded animal, her voice expressing all the pain she felt at that moment.