The Crown's Fire - Chapter 271

Chapter 271: The Channel
Marla’s search for the green dragon egg led her deep into the shadowy corners of the magical realm. She had interrogated several lesser witches and used her dark magic to track Lazo, the witch who no longer contacted her after getting a hold of the precious egg.

Lazo had been clever, using a series of decoys and misdirections to obscure his location. But Marla was relentless. She had used a combination of scrying and dark spells, tracking Lazo’s magical signature through the ether. Her efforts culminated in the discovery of his lair, a secluded, ancient grotto shrouded in enchantments and protected by powerful wards.

As Marla approached the grotto, she could sense the energy of the dragon egg emanating from within. Inside, Lazo stood at the center of the chamber, a protective barrier of shimmering magic encircling him and the green dragon egg.

Marla’s voice cut through the silence. “Lazo, hand over the green dragon egg. It’s not yours to keep.”

Lazo turned, his eyes narrowing with defiance. “Marla, how unexpected. Do you think you can simply waltz in here and take what you want?”

Marla’s eyes flashed with anger. “You’re a traitor to Lord Devon! The egg was meant to complete our ritual, to ensure his return. How dare you withhold it!”

Lazo sneered, his voice dripping with scorn. “Lord Devon’s return is a foolish fantasy. He is gone and will not come back. Keeping this dragon egg for ourselves will grant us power beyond our wildest dreams. Why should we revive a master who is no longer relevant?”

Marla’s face hardened. “Lord Devon’s return is not a mere fantasy. He is our rightful master, and his power will be ours once more. Your betrayal will be your undoing.”

As Lazo attempted to coax Marla into abandoning her mission, offering her power and control in exchange for her loyalty, she remained unmoved. His words were empty to her, overshadowed by her unwavering dedication to Lord Devon. She knew that any promise Lazo made was a deceitful ploy to keep the egg for himself.

Without hesitation, Marla unleashed a torrent of dark magic, her spellwork precise and deadly. The cavern erupted into chaos as their battle began. Lazo fought back fiercely, summoning powerful barriers and casting destructive spells. But Marla’s loyalty to Devon fueled her strength.

The fight was intense, each combatant pushing their limits. But Marla’s determination proved stronger. She dismantled Lazo’s defenses and overwhelmed him with a final, crushing blow. Lazo fell to the ground, defeated and gasping for breath. Marla approached him, her expression cold.

“You were a fool to challenge me,” she said, her voice icy. “The egg belongs to Lord Devon!”

With one final, decisive blow, Marla unleashed the serpent imprinted on her body.

Lazo’s eyes widened in horror as he saw the black serpent emerge. “That… You!”

“Yes, I am the channel to Lord Devon’s bloodthread,” Marla taunted with a maniacal grin. “And this is the last piece of his life essence. Now, serve your purpose!”

A dark and writhing shadow of a serpent emerging from Marla’s body lunged at Lazo, consuming every last bit of his remaining energy. His screams filled the chamber as the serpent drained him completely, leaving him to cry out his final breath.

As soon as Marla secured the green dragon egg, she swiftly returned to her hideout and placed the egg in a secure location. Time was of the essence, so she wasted no time in starting a ritual designed to enhance her Lord Devon’s power.

The serpent imprinted on her body, which held Devon’s life essence, had not disappeared because it was key to transferring energy to his remaining remnant, thus making him stronger.

She looked at the copper dragon at the center of her ritual circle and began chanting once more. The copper baby dragon wailed in pain, its cries echoing through the cave. Marla was siphoning its energy, channeling it into the serpent mark on her body. This was the critical step to ensuring that Devon could fully possess the body of Merlot and be revived.

Thanks to Katelina’s journal, Marla had found the perfect host for the remaining bloodthread. The journal, which contained visions of the future, had revealed to Marla how to decipher one of Katelina’s blurry premonitions.

‘I saw a man wearing a mask and an ominous cloak… his voice sounded like Devon’s, taunting me. I’m not sure if it was Devon or simply my hallucination…’ Those were the words written in Katelina’s journal, providing her with a crucial hint. Initially, Marla planned to implant the bloodthread into Soka, but after reading that passage, she immediately realized that Soka was not the intended host for Devon’s bloodthread.

A smirk formed on Marla’s lips as she felt the copper dragon’s energy coursing through her, the serpent on her skin glowing and writhing as it absorbed the life force.

“Feed well, my Lord, and come back to me soon!” she hummed excitedly, feeling the serpent’s power surge.

It was a delicate and dangerous task, requiring precision and control to ensure that Devon received a substantial amount of energy from the copper dragon and had it transferred into his bloodthread. Marla’s eyes glinted with determination and madness as she continued the ritual, her body trembling with the effort and the dark thrill of what was to come.

The cave around her seemed to pulse with malevolent energy, a tangible sign of the dark forces at work. Marla’s chanting grew louder, more fervent, as she felt the transfer nearing completion. The serpent mark pulsed violently, and she could feel Devon’s essence becoming stronger within her.

Finally, with a triumphant cry, Marla completed the ritual. The copper dragon collapsed, drained of its life force, and the serpent mark on her body glowed brightly before settling into a steady, ominous pulse.

“It’s almost time,” she whispered to herself, a twisted smile spreading across her face.

“Soon, my Lord Devon will rise again, more powerful than ever.” She looked at the green dragon egg, now vibrating with energy. “And with you, my beautiful green dragon, by my side, our reign of terror will be unstoppable.”

Her body slumped on the ground, spent but Marla’s laughter echoed through the cave, a chilling promise of the darkness that was soon to be unleashed.