Extermination (4)

The moment the Nightmare confronted the tall, thin Dark Knight, the air itself seemed to freeze.

Just as the Nightmare let out a low growl and prepared to pounce, the Dark Knight suddenly leaped up and landed steadily on its back, his movements decisive and without hesitation.

The Nightmare suddenly roared, threw back its head with a shriek, spread its wings wide, and took to the air almost instantly.

It clearly refused to accept this unexpected "rider." Its entire body twisted and rolled as it charged madly through the magma cave, performing a series of nearly impossible aerial maneuvers. It skimmed past the scorching magma, plunged into narrow rocky corridors, then dove sharply toward the lake before forcefully pulling up at the instant the lava surged.

The blazing firelight illuminated the Dark Knight's face. He remained expressionless, his arms locked tightly around the Nightmare's thick neck, his legs clamped firmly against its abdomen.

Though the scorching Hellfire was close at hand, and though the Nightmare nearly flung him off again and again, he remained completely still, fused with the Nightmare like a piece of iron.

Alessandro Borgia stood at the edge of the array, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Not bad," he said softly.

More than ten minutes later, the Nightmare finally stopped in midair as if exhausted, then landed heavily on the rocky platform. Its wings flapped twice in defiance before slowly folding away.

It let out a low, labored breath, its snorting filled with resentment, but it made no further move to attack.

"Begin." Alessandro stepped forward and opened the contract scroll. As he chanted, a contract magic array slowly rose up, enveloping both the Nightmare and the Dark Knight.

The Nightmare let out an enraged shriek and repeatedly rammed its head into