The Black Dragon's claw descended toward Derek.
But at the last moment—
BAM!
Jim shoved Derek aside, taking the blow instead.
The impact sent Jim flying, and he crashed hard onto the ground, coughing up blood.
"Jim!" Derek rushed to him, panic flashing in his eyes.
Jim, face twisted in pain, grinned weakly. "Ugh… don't just stand there, genius. Finish this damn thing already…"
Derek gritted his teeth, then hoisted Jim up onto his back.
With straining steps, he ran toward safety as Karoth taunted the dragon's attention.
The Black Dragon, furious and wounded, went on a rampage.
Soldiers screamed as they were torn apart, crushed under its massive body or burned by its breath.
Karoth, trying to rally his troops, leaped at the dragon—only for its tail to whip around and send him flying.
He crashed into the dirt, coughing. "Damn it…!"
The battle was turning into a massacre.
Derek set Jim down behind some cover, breathing heavily.
His hands clenched into fists.
This… was bad.
The dragon turned back to him—locking eyes.
Its enormous body lurched forward, claws poised to end him.
Derek's mind screamed for him to move, but his body refused.
Then—
He felt it.
A faint hum.
A pulse of energy—not from himself, but from… his broken sword from Sword Graveyard.
The shattered weapon hanging at his belt suddenly began to shine.
A deep, resonant hum filled the battlefield.
Then, with a burst of light and wind, the broken sword vanished—
—only to reappear in Derek's hands, transformed.
A colossal greatsword, black as night, with its blade glowing faintly in dark blue aura.
A sudden shockwave erupted, sending dust and debris flying.
Everyone on the battlefield froze—watching in stunned silence.
Even the Black Dragon hesitated, its reptilian eyes narrowing at the weapon.
Derek stared at it in disbelief.
The sword felt… right.
Like it had always been meant for him.
He gripped it tightly.
And moved.
The dragon, sensing danger, lunged.
Derek, now faster than ever, charged forward to meet it.
Both struck at the same time.
BOOM!
A massive explosion of force shook the battlefield.
Derek and the dragon were both blasted away—crashing into the ground with earth-shattering impact.
A deep gash now marred the dragon's scales, dark blood dripping onto the dirt.
It snarled, backing away.
Derek, body aching, rose to his feet, gripping his new weapon.
The dragon, realizing its injuries were too severe, spread its wings—
And took to the sky.
Derek roared, swinging his sword again, sending a crescent wave of dark blue energy after it.
The attack clipped the dragon's wing, making it stagger in the air—but it still managed to escape.
As it vanished into the clouds, silence fell over the battlefield.
Then—
The soldiers erupted into cheers.
"WE WON!"
"THE BLACK DRAGON RETREATS!"
Derek, still catching his breath, looked down at his sword—feeling its power pulsating in his hands.
He had no idea what he had just awakened.