Reborn as the Last van Ambrose-Chapter 119: Return of the Jiaolong

The rain had not stopped for two days. What began as a light shower soon became a relentless downpour that transformed the countryside into a vast, muddy swamp. Their progress slowed to a crawl as horses struggled through the deepening water.

"This isn’t natural," Huangyan said, wiping water from her eyes. "The seasonal storms shouldn’t have started yet."

Grim nodded, scanning the flooded landscape. Something about the rain felt wrong. Each droplet seemed charged with energy, carrying more water mana than it should.

[A water dragon approaches. It’s a Jiaolong.]

The voice in Grim’s mind spoke.

"What did you say?" Grim muttered under his breath, scanning the flooded landscape.

"We need to find higher ground," she called out over the pounding rain. "The road ahead will be impassable soon."

Lianna urged her horse alongside his, her hair plastered to her face despite the hood of her cloak. Unlike the others, she seemed almost energized by the harsh conditions.

"There’s a village marked on the maps," she said. "Southridge. About an hour’s ride to the west, built on a hillside."

Grim nodded. "Southridge it is."

The Obsidian Knights had already moved their horses to flank the princess’s carriage, which struggled through the mud. Liona peered out from the window, her face concerned but composed.

"Is everything alright?" she called to Grim.

"A change of course," he replied. "We’re heading for Southridge village to wait out the worst of the flooding."

As they began to leave, Grim felt the water rising around his horse’s legs. The animal snorted nervously, sensing something that human senses couldn’t detect.

Grim’s hand moved instinctively to his sword. "Keep alert," he told Huangyan quietly. "There’s something in these waters."

Huangyan nodded. "I sense it too."

They saw what remained of Southridge village. Houses lay in ruins, debris scattered across the hillside. The lower buildings were completely submerged.

"Gods above," Lianna breathed. "What happened here?"

Before anyone could answer, a survivor spotted them. A man waved frantically from the highest building still standing, then disappeared inside, emerging moments later with several others.

As they approached the village, villagers rushed down to meet them, fear evident in their eyes.

"Please help us!" a middle-aged man called out, clearly the village elder. "It took six more people last night!"

"What took them?" Grim asked, dismounting.

"A monster," a woman sobbed. "Like a dragon but in the water. Silver-blue scales that shine even in the darkness."

Grim exchanged glances with Huangyan. "Get everyone to higher ground," he ordered the Obsidian Knights. "Princess, stay with them."

For once, Liona didn’t protest. The terror in the villagers’ eyes made the danger clear enough.

"I’ll go with you," Lianna said, her hands began to turn red.

"As will I," Huangyan added.

They made their way toward the flooded section of the village. The rain continued to pound down, visibility reduced to mere yards.

"There," Huangyan pointed suddenly. "Something moved beneath the surface."

Grim saw it too—a massive shape sliding through the murky waters. As they watched, the surface began to churn.

"Ready yourselves," Grim said quietly, drawing his sword.

The water exploded upward as a creature burst forth. It was enormous—half serpent, half fish—with scales that shifted between blue and silver. Its massive head swung toward them, mouth filled with dagger-like teeth.

"A Jiaolong," Huangyan whispered. "Water dragon of the deep seas."

The creature rose higher, water swirling around it like a personal storm.

[WHO DARES DISTURB THE SON OF THE DRAGON KING?]

The telepathic voice boomed in their minds, powerful enough to make Lianna wince.

Grim stepped forward. "I am Lord Ambrose, Imperial Defender of these shores. You have killed imperial citizens and destroyed their homes. Withdraw immediately."

The Jiaolong’s massive head tilted, studying Grim with new interest.

[AMBROSE... THE SCENT OF YOUR BLOODLINE IS FAMILIAR. YOUR FATHER ONCE STOOD BEFORE ME.]

Grim’s grip tightened on his sword. "You knew my father?"

[ROWAN VAN AMBROSE. HE CARVED SEVEN WOUNDS INTO MY FLESH. WOUNDS THAT NEVER FULLY HEALED.]

The creature’s tail lashed the water, sending a wave toward them. Huangyan stepped forward, her hands forming a complex pattern. "Fire Heart: Phoenix’s Cage!"

A barrier of heat materialized before them, instantly evaporating the water as it struck.

The Jiaolong’s eyes narrowed.

[FIRE AND WATER.]

Without warning, the dragon fish dove beneath the surface. The floodwaters went still.

"Where did it go?" Lianna asked, hands wreathed in flames despite the rain.

[Behind you.]

The voice in Grim’s mind gave him just enough warning. "Down!" he shouted.

They dropped as the Jiaolong burst from the water behind them, its massive jaws snapping where they had stood a moment before.

"Fire Heart: Dancing Embers!" Huangyan called out.

Dozens of small flame orbs materialized around her, then shot toward the creature. They detonated against its scales, causing it to roar in pain.

Lianna didn’t waste the opening. "Blaze Javelin!" she shouted, hurling a spear of concentrated fire at the dragon fish’s eye.

The Jiaolong twisted its body avoiding a direct hit. The javelin grazed its cheek, leaving a scorched mark across the gleaming scales.

[YOUR FIRE IS NOTHING IN MY DOMAIN!]

The rain intensified, now coming down so hard it was difficult to see. The Jiaolong’s control over water was turning the very sky into a weapon.

"We need to end this quickly," Grim called to the others. "It’s drawing more water mana with every moment."

His blade began to glow with a soft blue light as he channeled water mana through it.

"Celestial Mist: Ethereal Mist," he whispered.

Fog exploded outward from his sword, enveloping the battlefield.

The dragon fish thrashed in confusion, suddenly unable to see its opponents.

"Now!" Grim called.

Huangyan and Lianna attacked simultaneously from different directions.

"Fire Heart: Eternal Pyre!" Huangyan’s voice rang out.

"Inferno Strike!" Lianna called in the same moment. freёnovelkiss.com

Two massive streams of fire cut through the mist, converging on the Jiaolong from different angles. The beast roared as flames seared its scales, steam rising from its body.

But the Jiaolong was far from defeated. It dove beneath the surface, then erupted upward with such force that the mist temporarily cleared. Water surged in all directions, forming into spear-like projectiles that shot toward them.

"Celestial Mist: Cross-Cut!" Grim’s sword flashed twice, forming a cross in the air. The water spears broke apart from the sword strike.

The Jiaolong’s telepathic voice boomed in their minds again.

[YOU FIGHT WELL, SON OF ROWAN. BUT THE WATERS ARE MINE TO COMMAND.]

The creature began to circle, moving with incredible speed for something so large. The flooding around them deepened as it drew more water to the battlefield.

Huangyan narrowed her eyes. "It’s preparing something big."

"We need to combine our attacks," Grim said. "Huangyan, can you create an opening?"

The veteran warrior nodded. "Fire Heart: Phoenix Wings!"

Her body became wreathed in flames shaped like a great bird. The phoenix apparition spread its wings and soared toward the Jiaolong, leaving a trail of fire across the flooded ground.

The dragon fish reared back, momentarily distracted by the blazing phoenix bearing down on it.

"Lianna, now!" Grim called.

"With pleasure, Water Boy," she replied, a fierce grin on her face. "Volcanic Pillar!"

She slammed her palm into the ground. The earth beneath the Jiaolong’s body suddenly erupted in a column of superheated steam and fire, catching it from below.

The creature screamed in pain, its concentration broken. The rain faltered momentarily.

"Celestial Mist: Seven Sword Strike," he whispered.

Time seemed to slow around him. His blade, now glowing bright blue with concentrated water mana, as Grim strikes seven times in the matter if a second.

The Jiaolong froze, its massive body suddenly rigid with shock. Seven glowing lines appeared across its body, each marking where Grim’s blade had found a gap between scales.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the seven lines connected, forming a single glowing pattern.

The dragon fish’s eyes widened in recognition and, strangely, respect.

[YOU ARE INDEED YOUR FATHER’S SON, AMBROSE. BUT THIS IS NOT OUR FINAL MEETING.]

Blood began to pour from the wounds. The Jiaolong’s body started to sink back into the flooded waters.

With those cryptic words, the creature disappeared beneath the surface. Moments later, the unnatural rain began to slacken, the dark clouds overhead starting to break apart.

Grim stood at the edge of the floodwaters, watching as the creature’s blood dispersed in the murky depths.

Huangyan approached. "It’s not dead," she said simply.

"It retreated to heal." Grim said.

Lianna joined them, looking surprisingly energized despite the battle. "That was no ordinary beast."

"And it recognized your father," Huangyan added, giving Grim a searching look.

"We should check on the princess and the villagers," Grim said, turning away from the water.