The Sorcerer Who Loved Magic But Hated Reading

Alaric continued to lead the way through the bandit camp, Elyas and Claire trailing behind him. They picked their way through the darkness, stepping over fallen bandits lying across their path. Alaric's eyes scanned the area, alert and focused. Finally, he spotted what he was looking for—the bandit master, a hulking figure cloaked in shadows. The figure, known as the Dragon, stood at the entrance to the bandits' lair, his gaze fixed on Alaric.

"So, you're the one behind all this," Alaric said, his voice low and steady. "The one who destroyed the village, took everything."

The Dragon sneered, his eyes narrowing. "Yes, and who are you?" he demanded. "Full of mysteries."

Before Alaric could reply, the Dragon moved with blinding speed. He threw a punch aimed at Alaric's stomach. Alaric barely managed to erect a barrier in time, but it wasn't enough to completely shield him. The impact sent him flying backward, He crashed into the rock wall inside the cave. Pain shot through his side, but he struggled to his feet, gritting his teeth against the hurt.

"He's fast," Alaric thought to himself. "And stronger than I expected."

The Dragon stepped forward, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Not much of a talker, huh?" he sneered. "Let's see how you do with your magic."

Alaric steadied himself, taking a deep breath. He knew he needed to be quick, to use every ounce of power he had. With a flick of his wrist, he cast a spell—a barrier of light—to protect himself from the next attack. The Dragon charged again, faster this time, throwing punches and kicks that crackled with dark energy.

Alaric grunted as he blocked each blow, his arms growing tired under the onslaught. "I need to think of something quick," he told himself. "I can't keep this up much longer."

Alaric tried to cast his magic again, aiming Doom's Cascade at the Dragon. But the bandit master easily blocked it with a sneer. "What powerful magic," he said, but his voice held a note of confidence. He didn't seem intimidated, just curious about Alaric's strength.

After Alaric was taken aback by how easily the Dragon blocked his spell, the bandit master summoned a Dragonflare Eruption that flew toward Alaric. The dark, serpentine form exploded near Alaric's enemies, causing a blast of energy that sent pain shooting through his side. "What is that?" Alaric grunted, wincing from the injury.

After smirking, the Dragon explained, "The Dragonflare Eruption is more than just an attack; it's a force of destruction. When it lands, it creates a devastating explosion that engulfs everything in its vicinity. 

Alaric staggered, trying to avoid each Dragonflare Eruption as it moved closer. The blasts were powerful, forcing him to keep moving. Despite the pain, he gritted his teeth and cast another spell. He needed to keep attacking, to find a way through the Dragon.

Every move Alaric made was a struggle against the pain and fatigue. He was determined not to back down, but the Dragon's magic made it difficult to get close. Alaric could feel the exhaustion settling in, but he couldn't afford to hesitate. If he wanted to defeat the bandit master, he had to keep pushing himself.

After Elyas and Claire finally reached Alaric, they were shocked by the state he was in. The Dragon was closing in, clearly aiming to finish him off. Just then, Elyas leaped forward, his weapon ready to strike. But the Dragon easily dodged his attack with a sneer.

"Who's this?" the Dragon taunted, looking at Elyas. "A comrade of yours? Let's see what you can do."

Claire was already kneeling beside Alaric, tending to his wounds. "Hold still, Alaric," she said softly, focusing on her healing magic. Elyas moved to protect them, his eyes darting back and forth between Alaric and the Dragon.

"Dodge it, Elyas!" Alaric shouted through gritted teeth. "That Dragonflare Eruption is too powerful!"

Elyas managed to sidestep the next blast, watching as the shadowy dragon collided with a nearby tree, causing it to explode in a burst of dark energy. He couldn't believe the power behind the Dragon's magic.

"Stay close, Elyas," Claire urged, casting a protective barrier around them. "We can't let him get to Alaric."

Elyas was still locked in battle with the Dragonflare Eruption, the Bandit Master. He swung his blade with all his might, struggling to keep the beast's attacks at bay while protecting his comrades. His body ached, but he refused to give up.

"Keep it up," Elyas muttered to himself, forcing a smile to push through the pain. He needed to buy more time.

Behind him, Claire worked frantically to heal Alaric, who was still gravely wounded. Alaric gasped for air, his breaths shallow and strained, but his eyes never left Elyas. He watched as his friend fought valiantly, determined to hold the line.

Then it happened—a Dragonflare Eruption strike from the dragon collided with Elyas, its force erupting into a powerful explosion that hurled him backward through the air. He landed hard, the impact driving the breath from his lungs.

"Elyas!" Claire shouted, her voice filled with fear.

As the dragon loomed closer, poised to unleash an explosive attack, Alaric finally stood, his wounds fully healed.

He balled his fists tightly, stepped in front of Elyas, and cast a spell, creating a shimmering barrier that reflected the explosion back toward the dragon.

"Thanks for buying time," Alaric said, his voice steady and resolute. "Now let me handle this."

Claire rushed to Elyas's side, her hands glowing with healing magic. "Hold on, Elyas. I've got you," she said softly, pouring her energy into mending his injuries.

With renewed strength, Alaric faced the Dragonflare Eruption, his stance firm and his determination unshaken. The clash began anew, this time with Alaric leading the charge.

After that, Alaric quickly ran toward the dragon, and they clashed once more. The dragon sneered and said, "So, you're back again. How do you plan to defeat me?".