Chapter 149: Taragon, Lion King
The citadel loomed above the battlefield, its black stone walls scarred by the firestorm but still standing tall. The roars of battle outside faded to a distant echo as Lucian crossed the shattered courtyard. His cloak dragged over blood and ash, his steps unhurried, his gaze fixed forward. Behind him, flames licked across the ruins, the last remnants of the wards collapsing into smoke.
The great gates of the citadel were split open, their steel frames bent by the impact of the Sanctum’s bombardment. Lucian walked through them like he was stepping into a hall long abandoned.
Inside, the air was thick. Hot. Heavy with power. Torches burned blue along the walls, their light casting shadows that stretched far across the vaulted chamber. The stone floor bore claw marks, scars from training battles or executions—it didn’t matter which. At the far end, the throne waited.
And on it, the Lion King.
He rose as Lucian entered, towering over the hall. His mane burned with gold light, each strand of hair like a living flame. Muscles rolled beneath his striped hide, every movement heavy with power. His eyes burned amber, sharp and unblinking. Even at rest, his presence pressed down on the chamber like a storm waiting to break.
"Finally," he said, his voice a growl that echoed across the stone. "So this is the one who rains fire from the heavens." His fangs glinted as his lips pulled back into a grin. "You are one of those humans from that backwater world we invaded, aren’t you? You’ve grown bold. Bold enough to strike back."
Lucian’s eyes flicked up at him, his steps steady as he crossed the chamber. A quiet chuckle slipped past his lips. "Sucks to be at the receiving end, doesn’t it?" He stopped in the center of the hall, his eyes glowing faintly in the torchlight. "Don’t worry. When I’m done with you, I’ll offer your head to the Dragon King."
The Lion King barked a laugh, deep and mocking, his voice booming like thunder. "Big words for a puny human." His aura swelled, golden fire rushing outward, the stone beneath his claws glowing with the heat. "Do you even understand what stands before you? I am Taragon, Lion King of this realm. My roar has split mountains. My claws have drunk the blood of gods. And you—" He leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "—you are nothing but prey."
Lucian tilted his head slightly, the faintest smirk on his lips. "Prey doesn’t walk into the predator’s den."
Taragon’s grin faltered, replaced with a snarl. His roar shook the chamber, dust falling from the ceiling as cracks split the stone. The sheer force of it would have shattered weaker beings where they stood. But Lucian didn’t flinch. He stood as if the sound were nothing more than wind against his cloak.
Taragon’s eyes narrowed further. "Interesting. You don’t break."
Lucian raised his hand, and space bent faintly around his fingers. The torches along the walls flickered, their light twisting as though the hall itself had bent under his will. "You’ll find I don’t bend either."
The Lion King’s claws flexed, carving lines into the stone throne. "Then prove yourself, human. Show me these tricks that let you burn my wards. Show me how you kill a king."
Lucian chuckled again, low and sharp. "Gladly."
The floor trembled as Taragon leapt down from his throne, his massive frame crashing into the ground like a meteor. The impact cracked the chamber floor, shards of stone flying outward. He straightened, his aura burning higher, golden fire wrapping his body in a cloak of fury.
Lucian rolled his neck once, his golden eyes never leaving the beast before him. His cloak swayed with the growing wind as he spread his hands, space warping faintly around him like ripples on water.
The two stood across from each other in silence for a breath. Predator and predator.
Then Taragon moved.
The Lion King roared, his claws flashing with blinding speed as he lunged. His strike tore the air itself apart, flames trailing his movement like a comet. The chamber shook under the weight of his power.
Lucian stepped once. Space folded. The claws tore through nothing but air as he reappeared at Taragon’s flank, his hand pressing forward. Reality warped, collapsing into a razor-thin line.
Taragon twisted, his instincts sharp, but the edge of space sliced across his shoulder. Blood sprayed, hissing as it hit the ground. The king snarled, spinning with his tail, flames bursting outward in a wave.
Lucian blurred again, the fire bending away from him, space itself curving to shield his body. He reappeared behind Taragon, his eyes glowing brighter. "Slow."
The king roared again, the sound rattling the chamber, his claws hammering into the floor. Pillars of golden fire erupted around him, the chamber filling with light. "Arrogant human!"
Lucian stood in the storm, his cloak snapping against the waves of fire, his smirk never fading.
This wasn’t prey meeting predator.
It was predator against predator.
And one of them was about to fall.
The chamber split with sound and fury.
Taragon’s roar boomed through the stone hall, the force alone making cracks crawl across the ceiling. Golden fire burst from his mane, his claws blazing as he came down on Lucian with the weight of a mountain.
Lucian’s foot slid half an inch back, space bending beneath him. The claws tore down, splitting the floor into molten trenches, but the strike passed through empty air. Lucian reappeared at Taragon’s side, his hand already cutting forward. Space folded into a razor line, aiming straight for the Lion King’s ribs.
Taragon twisted with inhuman speed, catching Lucian’s wrist with one burning claw. The golden flames lashed into Lucian’s skin, sizzling the flesh beneath his sleeve. The king’s grin widened. "Too slow, human."
Lucian’s lips curved faintly. His body blurred—gone. Taragon’s claws gripped nothing. A crack of air sounded behind him, and Lucian’s palm drove into his spine. Space folded, crushing inward like a collapsing star. The shockwave blasted chunks of stone from the walls, dust exploding outward.
But Taragon only staggered half a step. He roared and swung his elbow back. Lucian folded again, flickering away just as the strike shattered the flagstones into craters.
The Lion King wheeled, his mane blazing brighter. "You scratch, you dodge. But you do not kill." His voice thundered with contempt. "That’s why you are prey!"
He spread his arms wide, aura exploding outward. Golden fire rolled through the chamber in a wave, melting stone into rivers of glowing magma. The sheer pressure bent Lucian’s knees, heat clawing at his skin.
Lucian’s eyes narrowed. Space around him bent violently, curving the inferno away, splitting the wave like water around a stone. He flicked his hand upward. The warped edges of reality snapped together into spears of compressed space, dozens of them, and they rained down on Taragon in an instant.
The king roared, lifting both arms. His claws swept upward, and each spear of space shattered against the golden fire coating his body. Sparks of warped reality burst like dying stars, raining across the floor. Taragon slammed his fist forward, the shockwave of fire following.
Lucian blinked out, reappearing in the air above. His body twisted, his palm slicing downward. Space fractured, creating a vertical blade of nothingness that split the very air. The slash carved toward Taragon’s head.
The Lion King tilted his chin up and roared. The sound alone blasted the strike apart. Space rippled violently, collapsing under the weight of his Kingly Authority. The roar echoed so hard Lucian’s eardrums throbbed, blood trickling faint from his nose.
Lucian hit the ground in a crouch, his cloak fluttering. He rose slowly, smirking through the blood. "So this is a king’s roar."
Taragon bared his fangs, golden fire licking across his chest. "You should kneel before it."
He moved again, his body a blur despite its size. His claw slashed down in a glowing arc. Lucian folded sideways, the strike cutting through a distorted afterimage. Taragon spun, his tail whipping around like a burning pillar. This time Lucian folded forward, reappearing under his guard, fist cocked back.
He slammed it into Taragon’s ribs. Space folded with the strike, compressing all force into a single point. Bone cracked, fire flared, and Taragon’s chest heaved as the impact drove him half a step back.
Lucian’s eyes glowed sharper. He folded again, this time above Taragon’s head, both hands together. He brought them down, collapsing the space around the Lion King’s skull. The air thundered like an implosion, shockwaves cracking the throne itself.
Taragon roared in fury, flames bursting from every pore. His aura flared so violently that Lucian was hurled backward, his space folds unraveling under the sheer pressure. He smashed through a pillar, stone collapsing over him.
The Lion King strode forward, claws dragging fire across the ground. His voice rumbled deep. "You bend space. You dodge death. But you cannot outrun a king’s authority."
Lucian stood from the rubble, coughing blood, his cloak torn. Yet his smirk remained. "Authority? Then let’s see if it can cage me."
He snapped his fingers. The chamber warped violently. Time stuttered—the flames slowed, Taragon’s stride dragging as if caught in molasses. Lucian blurred forward, his body splitting into afterimages. His fists struck again and again, folding space into knuckles of compressed force. Each blow cracked ribs, scorched flesh, bent armor of fire.
But Taragon’s aura roared. His Kingly Authority pressed outward, and time snapped back. The Lion King moved like lightning, his claw catching Lucian’s side mid-strike. The blow tore through his cloak, ripping flesh open. Blood sprayed.
Lucian folded out instantly, reappearing across the chamber, one hand clutching his side. His breath was heavy now, his body trembling faintly. The wound smoked, golden fire still eating at it.
Taragon licked the blood from his claws, his eyes burning with savage delight. "You bleed. Good. I will savor this hunt."
Lucian’s smirk returned, faint and sharp. "You’ll savor nothing when your head is gone."
He spread his arms wide. Space cracked around him, lines of distorted reality spreading across the chamber like shattered glass. Time warped, slowing and twisting in patches, the flames stuttering midair. His eyes burned golden as he whispered, "Spacetime Dominion."
The chamber bent. Gravity pulled in twisted directions. Flames hung motionless in the air. The throne tilted as reality itself warped into his control.
Lucian vanished and reappeared in front of Taragon, his fist already folding space inward. The strike connected with the Lion King’s chest, space collapsing in a singular burst. The explosion shook the citadel, walls splitting, ceiling cracking. Taragon staggered, blood spraying from his mouth.
But his roar came again, louder, angrier. The sheer sound shattered Lucian’s Dominion, space unraveling like torn cloth. Flames surged back, roaring to life, golden and wild. Taragon slammed both claws into the ground, the explosion tearing the chamber into a crater.
Lucian flew back, his body smashing into the far wall. His chest heaved, blood dripping down his chin. He slid to his feet, cloak shredded, golden eyes still locked on the king.
Taragon straightened, his mane blazing like a sun, his aura towering high. His voice was thunder. "This is the difference between a king and prey."
Lucian coughed blood, then chuckled low. "Prey doesn’t smile when the lion roars."
He stepped forward again, space cracking at his feet. His hands glowed with warped lines of time and gravity, each breath sharp, each movement heavier.
The fight wasn’t even close. Taragon was stronger. Faster. His Kingly Authority crushed every trick. But Lucian’s eyes still burned, his smirk refusing to fade.
Because even against a king, he refused to kneel.
And as the two clashed again—flame and space tearing the chamber apart—the citadel shook under the storm of predator against predator.
One far stronger, one far weaker.
But both unrelenting.
Both unwilling to fall.