[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-104":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Ember Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1162270,1504,"Chapter 104: Aerial Clash","ember-dragon-chapter-104",104,"\u003Cp>After several Eagle Guards were mercilessly shot down by the players, they finally closed in to a suitable range and began to counterattack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, their accuracy in high-speed flight was poor, and even when they did hit, the feeble arrows couldn’t penetrate the tough scales of the dragons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, the players fought fiercely, picking off eagles at close range with precision. Some players who specialized in throwing weapons hurled spears that pierced both rider and eagle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hell yeah, this is amazing!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The player with the ID \"Big Sword\" cheered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a strength score of 17, he was the group’s powerhouse, even specializing in the 【Tavern Brawl】 skill for the thrill of high-altitude throws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the dragons, the eagles had only soft feathers for flight and no hard scales for protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nelly bit her lip, her gaze heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She watched as her Eagle Guards fell one by one, having lost ten without making a dent in the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even she had narrowly dodged an arrow in a daring side-roll, barely avoiding the attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This can’t go on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She made a quick decision, raising her sword and shouting, \"Northwind Eagle Guard, listen up! Close in and form a circle formation!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sharp eagle cries echoed across the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eagle Guards ceased their futile archery and accelerated toward the enemy, aiming to form a tight circle of three or four around each Crimson Scaled Conqueror, using agility and numbers to take them down one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a textbook maneuver from the Eagle Guard’s tactical training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they had come up against their former commander—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Alger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the close-quarters battle approached, Alger noticed the Eagle Guards grouping to encircle him, led by none other than Nelly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Looks like she learned well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nelly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recognized the familiar tactics immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But from his time with the players, he had learned much, including the \"energy maneuver\" tactics—turning kinetic and potential energy into effective aerial combat responses, maximizing combat efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eagles, smaller and faster than the dragon-blooded eagles, had superior agility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five Eagle Guards circled Alger, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Igor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alger remained calm, urging his dragon-blooded eagle to ascend, converting kinetic energy to potential energy, executing a powerful aerial turn to slip out of the encirclement with ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nelly glared at the half-dragon knight, her brow furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Keep surrounding him! Don’t give him any chance to counter!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eagles weaved, banked, and rolled through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recognizing the half-dragon knight as the leader, Nelly led five Eagle Guards to confront him directly, yet they were toyed with in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, she found his movements eerily familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why is that…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alger reached the highest point of his ascent, flipping over and diving back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Danger!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nelly shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon-blooded eagle dove in a graceful arc, charging one of the Eagle Guards in the circle with unstoppable speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eagle Guard didn’t even realize the danger until it was too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Swish—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the terrifying speed of the dive, Alger’s flaming greatsword cleanly decapitated the eagle, sending its rider screaming down to his death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alger ascended once more, moving slowly as he prepared for the next devastating strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn you, dragon’s minion!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nelly gritted her teeth, wishing she could slash that dragon’s face to pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she forced herself to stay calm, ordering, \"Attack while he’s ascending! Watch for his next dive!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eagle Guards quickly drew their bows, firing arrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alger, however, performed fluid flips, turns, and sidesteps, gliding through the sky with the grace of a waltz, effortlessly dodging the arrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Igor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alger whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon-blooded eagle understood and dove down again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feathers flew, blood sprayed, and another Eagle Guard fell, life taken with ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Against the half-dragon knight on his dragon-blooded eagle, the Eagle Guards seemed like mere playthings in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nelly remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone, fall back. I’ll handle him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won’t lose again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Determination flickered in her deep brown eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This rare female Eagle Guard had endured grueling training and relentless drills, carrying the will of her fallen comrades after that harrowing battle, eventually becoming the first female captain in a century.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would never allow what happened five years ago to repeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it cost her life!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Turner.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She whispered her eagle’s name, her voice steeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This time, I won’t—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"—flee in haste again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clenching her legs, she spurred her eagle forward, lifting her silver sword, charging directly at her formidable foe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Die, dragon’s minion!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alger watched Nelly’s head-on charge, murmuring to himself,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this a challenge?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then bring it on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alger’s gaze sharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaning forward, he gripped his Everflame Greatsword, guiding his dragon-blooded eagle into a diving charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two closed the hundred-meter distance between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At flight speed, they would clash in mere moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nelly’s heart pounded as she watched her opponent’s charge, sweat dripping from her grip on the sword, close enough now to see every scale on the enemy’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The half-dragon knight dove, brandishing his flaming sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that split second,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nelly hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The motions—the dive, the slash, even his posture—felt so familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A horrifying possibility flashed in her mind: this half-dragon monstrosity might be the commander she once admired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, it couldn’t be!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, I’m still in battle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaking off the thought, Nelly gripped her silver sword tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in that moment of hesitation, she had lost her final chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Swish—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flames filled her vision as the sharp blade sliced mercilessly across her vulnerable neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As her head fell from the sky, her beautiful and resolute face remained etched with a look of confusion and disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A big thank you to [John Doe] for joining my Patreon! 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