A gentle breeze blew, rustling the dense canopy of leaves overhead. The branches swayed with a soft rustling sound, and the patches of sunlight filtering through the gaps trembled lightly, casting dappled golden fragments on the leaf-strewn ground.
It felt like a moment of perfect sunlight and tranquil air.
However...
It was hard for Gabriel, who was lying flat on the ground, to think that way.
The gold dragon was no longer the confident, commanding figure who had been pontificating with his peers moments ago. His body was covered in wounds, as if torn by sharp blades, his flesh split open. His eyes were glazed, and his chest heaved violently.
Facing him was the red-iron dragon, who didn't even have a speck of dust on him.
His scales were polished and gleaming, reflecting the dappled sunlight, as if the earlier “instruction” had been as effortless for him as a casual stroll.
And Garoth's instruction had always started from practical combat.
He used his Transformation ability to shrink his size to one even smaller than the gold dragon's, while strictly limiting the strength he exerted to below the legendary level.
Then, he had thoroughly “instructed” the gold dragon.
This rebellious son, right in front of all his metallic dragon peers, had enthusiastically discussed his private life, embellishing the story and making it sound vivid.
Absolutely unforgivable!
“No, I'm not that petty. It has nothing to do with that,” Garoth thought to himself. “It's just that Gabriel asked me for guidance, and I handled the matter with a responsible and serious attitude.”
He was never a petty dragon and was magnanimous about his offspring's disrespect.
And this generosity of his had earned the respect of all his children.
The relationship between them could absolutely be described as “fatherly love and filial piety.” For example, his most unruly eldest son, the red dragon, always showed respect and behaved properly in his presence, without the slightest trace of rebelliousness.
“F-father.”
“Did you... overhear something earlier?”
The gold dragon, grimacing in pain, propped himself up halfway from the ground, his movements cautious.
“No.”
Garoth said, his expression unchanged.
He looked seriously at the gold dragon, his gaze falling on his claws.
Among Garoth's offspring, two had inherited his Spell-Extinguishing Claws.
Among them, Gabriel was a Gold-Red positive hybrid with exceptional talent, ranking among the top, and he also had ambition.
“Your front claws lack precision, your reverse claws lack power.”
The red-iron dragon said, “Gabriel, your application of the Spell-Extinguishing Claws is far from the proficient level. Get up. I will continue to guide you in real combat until you gain some understanding.”
The gold dragon's face fell, looking completely devoid of fighting spirit.
But the moment Garoth finished speaking, he suddenly flipped over and lunged.
A sharp claw, covered in golden scales, tore through the air, aimed directly at his dragon father's face with a whooshing sound. The attack came without warning, was angled cunningly, and was at least thirty percent faster than any of his previous attacks.
A righteous ambush!
Seeing this, a look of approval appeared in Garoth's eyes.
Normal gold dragons, claiming to have noble and honorable natures, disliked tactics like ambushes in battle. They preferred knight-like duels, defeating their opponents honorably and openly.
This kind of character was commendable in peacetime, but on a real battlefield, it often became a fatal weakness.
Because real combat was about using every means available.
It was a matter of life and death; there were no rules.
The nobility that normal gold dragons pursued only put them at a disadvantage when facing a powerful enemy.
Seeing the gold dragon launch a surprise attack on him, Garoth was gratified.
But gratification aside, he still had to be serious about his instruction.
The red-iron dragon's body floated lightly to the left. The movement appeared slow but was as fast as lightning. The gold dragon's extended claw brushed past the base of his wing, not even touching a single scale.
At the same time, Garoth raised his right wing and slammed it down like a giant shield.
Bang!
The wing, as solid as an iron plate, slammed heavily into the gold dragon's side with a dull, booming sound. Gabriel's balance was instantly shattered, and his entire body was sent flying sideways, tumbling across the ground, plowing a long furrow as mud and grass clippings sprayed into the air.
Garoth shook his wings and pursued.
“The timing of your ambush wasn't bad,” he commented as he closed in, “but your movements were too obvious. Your body leans forward slightly before you exert force; an experienced opponent can see through it at a glance.”
Gabriel struggled to get up from the splintered wood and fallen leaves. “I... I'll pay attention to that, Father.”
“Paying attention isn't enough!”
Garoth was already in front of him.
“It needs to become instinct. In battle, anything you have to pay attention to will distract you. Make the correct response an instinct, so you can focus your energy on what truly needs to be thought about.”
“Again. Use the method I taught you.”
The gold dragon took a deep breath, forcing himself to concentrate.
He lowered his center of gravity, his claws slightly spread, but this time, he didn't attack immediately. Instead, he slowly circled his father, looking for an opening.
“Good.”
Garoth nodded slightly.
“Patience is a hunter's virtue, but remember, patience is not hesitation. When you see an opportunity, you must strike without any hesitation.”
As he spoke, the red-iron dragon's attack came like a surging tide.
Claw strikes, wing slashes, tail whips.
The gold dragon struggled to hold on under the relentless assault, new wounds constantly appearing on his body. But he could feel that, under his father's guidance, his control over the Spell-Extinguishing Claws was becoming more and more proficient.
“In a real battle, the enemy won't give you the chance to slowly learn.”
“They'll crush you while you're still half-understanding.”
The red-iron dragon spoke while striking ruthlessly.
Unfortunately, this pleasurable time was always short.
After more than half an hour, even with the formidable constitution of a Gold-Red hybrid, Gabriel was now lying on the ground, completely unconscious, unable to get up again. He lay on his back, his limbs splayed, his tongue even lolling out of the corner of his mouth, looking utterly pathetic.
“Let's stop here for now.”
Garoth patted his claws, looking satisfied.
He deactivated his Transformation, and his body gradually returned to its normal state, reverting to his massive and imposing red-iron dragon form.
At the same time, the gold dragon secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He didn't speak to agree, just closed his eyes and continued to pretend to be unconscious.
But Gabriel felt that his father wasn't simply instructing him.
Although he had learned a lot of combat experience from him, his father's strikes were far too vicious. There were several claw strikes where he could have pulled back, but he delivered them with full force.
A strong gust of wind blew in, making the canopy sway violently as leaves flew everywhere.
Garoth looked up and saw the figure of the old gold dragon, Ovis, rapidly approaching. The old gold dragon circled briefly before landing in front of him, kicking up a cloud of dust.
“What happened to Gabriel?”
Ovis asked, seeing his grandson's state.
“I just guided him on some combat techniques through a practical session,” Garoth said lightly. “It's nothing serious. Let him sleep it off here for a while.”
He paused, then added, “When he wakes up, we'll continue.”
Hearing this, the eyelids of the “unconscious” gold dragon twitched again.
Ovis examined the gold dragon, who was covered in injuries on the ground, then looked at the red-iron dragon, whose scales weren't even out of place. A look of understanding flashed in his eyes.
Then, he nodded and also cast a glance at Gabriel without saying anything more.
He knew his grandson too well. He was exceptionally talented, but sometimes too overconfident. Being knocked down a peg or two wasn't a bad thing.
Ovis turned his gaze to the red-iron dragon and changed the subject. “You've recovered quite a bit now. Are you planning to stay in the Vophal Dragon Domain for a while longer? Here, you don't have to worry about outside troubles; you can relax and unwind.”
Garoth shook his head slightly, his dragon wings spreading and folding.
“The tree desires stillness, but the wind will not cease. I haven't reached the point where I can stop moving yet.”
The gold dragon shook his head and said seriously, “There is no end to the path of pursuing power. When will you ever stop? You're already at the crown-level. Across all of Bernardo, the number of beings who can surpass you can be counted on one hand.”
“Can't you give yourself a moment to catch your breath?”
Garoth didn't answer.
He gazed at the distant mountain range, his eyes piercing through the layered canopy as if seeing far beyond.
After a moment of silence, the red-iron dragon changed the subject. “I've been here long enough. I'll go say goodbye to the Silver Dragon King and then prepare to leave the dragon domains and return to the mainland.”
Ovis knew his personality and didn't try to persuade him again, simply nodding.
“Mm. The Dragon King rarely shows himself, but he's been more active because of your arrival. If you ever run into trouble, you might still be able to come to the Vophal Dragon Domain for shelter.”
Having said that, Ovis added another sentence.
“Of course, don't go overboard.”
His tone became serious.
“It's one thing to be at the crown-level and provoke a demigod. Now you need to be careful.”
“You've definitely already appeared on the radars of other demigods and immortals, and you're a key focus of attention. What you did on Arotala this time has probably been heard by all the powerful beings on the planet.”
“The dragon domains are currently focused on self-preservation and won't actively participate in the conflicts of the mainland.”
“If you play too big a game, the dragon domains won't be able to protect you. At most, they can give you some support or offer a little help if you're injured.”
He said seriously.
Garoth nodded gently. “Don't worry. You know me. I rarely provoke troubles I can't solve. This time, there were some unforeseen circumstances.”
Ovis knew him and nodded.
Indeed, from his understanding of Garoth, although this red-iron dragon was warlike, he was never reckless. Every battle had its own calculations.
Then, as if thinking of something.
Ovis suddenly said, “Regarding the conflict between the Helmod Dragonflight and the Raging Tides Dragon Domain, you previously sent your Mandate of Heaven-level subordinates to intervene.”
“This could...”
Before he finished, Ovis stopped.
He waved a claw and sighed. “Forget it, forget it. This isn't something I should be meddling in anymore. Garoth, you've already reached heights I can never attain. I can't give you any advice or warnings.”
“But as Nasha's father and Gabriel's grandfather, I have to remind you of one thing.”
He stared straight into the red-iron dragon's eyes. “Remember, you are never alone.”
The red-iron dragon was silent.
Ovis's character wasn't traditionally gold dragon-like, but he was still a pure-blooded gold dragon at heart.
When he acted, he focused heavily on his blood relatives. This was both a tradition of the gold dragons and his own choice. And when it came to blood relatives, Garoth knew he wasn't alone.
He had many partners, siblings, and offspring.
These beings formed his family, his kingdom, his foundation.
But—
He also knew.
On the path of pursuing power and seeking a sense of peace and calm, there was only him.
No one could truly accompany him. No one could truly understand the driving force within his heart. And this solitude, which appeared so desolate in the eyes of metallic dragons, he savored.
The red-iron dragon collected his thoughts and asked, “Where is the Silver Dragon King usually?”
Ovis thought for a moment and said, “Go to the Cold Sacred Lake. If the Dragon King wants to see you, she will appear. She doesn't like being actively sought out. But if you stay at the Sacred Lake and she deems it necessary to meet you, she will naturally show herself.”
The red-iron dragon nodded.
Then, he spread his wings and vanished from his spot in a blur.
His movement was so fast that even Ovis, a legendary gold dragon, found it hard to trace his departure trajectory, only seeing a blurred red shadow streak across the sky.
Ovis retracted his gaze and looked at the gold dragon still lying on the ground.
“Alright, get up. Stop playing dead.” He walked closer and nudged him with a claw. “Why do you have to be just like Alberto? That guy was the same when he was young, playing dead the moment he was knocked down.”
Gabriel secretly opened his eyes and carefully looked at the sky.
Only after confirming that his father had indeed left did he let out a long sigh.
“That's exactly what Alberto taught me,” he said, his tone laced with a hint of pride. “Before I came of age, he used to hang out with me a lot when he was in the Vophal Dragon Domain.”
“I learned a lot of valuable knowledge from him, including this trick.”
Hearing this, Ovis nearly saw stars.
“Alberto... Next time I see him, I'm going to skin him alive.”
He gritted out the name, his teeth grinding.
The gold dragon took a few deep breaths to calm his irritated emotions.
Gabriel chuckled but didn't respond.
He got up from the ground, shook off the dirt and grass clippings from his body, and checked his wounds. They looked serious, but none had injured his bones or internal organs.
With the constitution of his Gold-Red hybrid bloodline, he would recover in no time.
Gabriel looked in the direction the red-iron dragon had vanished and asked, “Is Father leaving?”
Ovis said, “Mm. He won't stay long in the dragon domains. A dragon like your father has far too many things waiting for him.”
Gabriel breathed a sigh of relief, as if a weight had been lifted.
Normally, he looked forward to his father visiting the dragon domains.
After all, his father was the King of Atlan, a powerhouse who dared to challenge even demigods. Having such a father naturally gave him confidence among his peers.
But when his father actually came...
Due to the vast gap between them, he inevitably felt some tension and pressure.
Especially when he had done something wrong and felt a bit guilty.
The pressure was even more pronounced.
“Ah, what a shame.”
“I really wish Father could guide me more. Today's gains were truly significant. I feel like my understanding of the Spell-Extinguishing Claws has deepened a lot.”
Gabriel shook his head, a joyful expression on his face as he lamented.
His expression and tone were completely mismatched. Seeing this, Ovis seemed to guess what he was thinking.
“Don't regret it too soon.”
He said slowly, a hint of schadenfreude in his tone.
“Knowing your father as I do, now that he's experienced the effects of the Vophal Dragon Domain's Sacred Spring, his visits will definitely become more frequent. The Sacred Spring benefits all legendary-level beings. He won't give up on this resource.”
Ovis paused, looking at his grandson meaningfully.
“Then, you can continue to ask him for guidance.”
Gabriel's expression froze slightly. He opened his mouth, but was left speechless.
Meanwhile.
On the other side, Garoth had already arrived back at the Cold Sacred Lake. The lake was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the white sky. The air around was crisp and pure.
The Silver Dragon King did not appear.
Garoth wasn't in a hurry.
He immersed himself in the lake water again, leaving only his head above the surface. The lake water covered his body, soaking every single one of his scales.
He closed his eyes, enjoying the life essence nourishing his body.
Without realizing it, the red-iron dragon fell asleep.
His consciousness drifted through layers of mist and entered a dream.
White clouds drifted lazily, and the sun shone brightly.
Vibrant flowers bloomed across the hillsides, a riot of purple and red, dreamlike and illusory. The petals swayed gently in the breeze, and occasionally, a few were caught by the wind, spinning and drifting into the distance.
The air was filled with a faint fragrance of flowers. Not strong, but calming.
Garoth stood in the midst of the sea of flowers, looking down at his claws.
His claws pressed down on the petals, crushing the delicate blooms into the soil. His dragon scales glistened under the sunlight, a stark contrast to the surrounding sea of colors, like a raging fire that had intruded into an exquisite oil painting.
“You're here.”
A voice came from behind, soft and familiar.
Garoth turned around and saw Cerora approaching from the other side of the flower field.
She was in her human form, wearing only a light green dress, her bare feet stepping on the petals. But her steps were light; the flowers she passed only swayed slightly, not crushed underfoot.
Garoth watched her approach.
“How are you now?” Cerora walked up to him, looking him up and down. “That battle earlier... I saw your aura starting to destabilize when you left. I was worried you might run into trouble on the way.”
“I'm fine now.”
Garoth stretched the scales on his neck.
“I made a trip to the Vophal Dragon Domain. Their sacred grounds are remarkable. The lake water of the Sacred Spring has an incredible healing effect. I've fully recovered.”
“The Vophal Dragon Domain...”
Cerora blinked, a look of surprise on her face.
“I really don't know how you managed to get on good terms with the metallic dragons. If I went to the Vophal Dragon Domain, the best outcome would be getting chased out. Those metallic dragons see me like I'm their mortal enemy.”
As she spoke, she walked over and sat down beside the red-iron dragon, resting her hands on her knees, her bare feet gently swinging through the flowers.
“Metallic dragons have always been xenophobic, especially towards chromatic dragons like us.”
“How did you do it?”
Cerora asked.
The red-iron dragon coiled down beside her, his tail naturally curling around his body.
“Profit, and strength.”
“Although metallic dragons claim to be noble, they also understand how to weigh pros and cons. When the value I showed them exceeded their prejudice against my bloodline, the doors naturally opened.”
“Was it that simple?”
“Yes, that simple,” Garoth said.
Cerora nodded thoughtfully, then changed the subject.
“Your performance on the battlefield has already spread throughout the entire Arotala.”
“That fast?”
“Incredibly fast.” Cerora chuckled and shook her head.
“You had barely left, and the news started spreading.”
“The soldiers on the battlefield saw it with their own eyes—Elven messengers, Orc stragglers... there were too many witnesses to stop the rumors. With a battle of that level, there was no way to keep it quiet.”
She paused, imitating a certain tone.
“'Mere grains of sand, not a fraction of me.'”
“This line you used to provoke the Orc demigod is now known by almost every intelligent being. Your fame on Arotala is now comparable to your fame on Atlan.”
Garoth's tail swayed slightly, sweeping a bare patch through the flowers.
“Normal. I am the center of attention wherever I go.”
“Like a flame, I always attract moths and illuminate the darkness.”
He said it matter-of-factly, without surprise.
Cerora looked at him, as if about to say something, but in the end, she just shook her head without refuting.
The red-iron dragon stood up and paced a few steps through the flower field, his iron claws crushing the petals underfoot, ruining the flowers. After a few steps, he stopped and turned his head to ask, “After I left, what were the reactions of the Giants and the Elves?”
Cerora's expression became a bit more serious, shedding her previous casualness.
“The Giants are grieving and enraged over their king's death.”
“Haldurn unified the scattered Giant tribes, established a kingdom, and gave them hope of regaining their former glory. In the eyes of the Giants, he wasn't just a king, but the savior of their entire race. Now that he's dead, the Giants feel like the sky is falling.”
“Some Giants even broke down on the spot, kneeling and weeping, refusing to believe it.”
The Giant King's prestige was indeed extremely high.
Before Garoth's arrival, Haldurn's fame on Arotala was nearly on par with his own on Atlan.
Many intelligent beings had thought that one day, an Orc or an Elf might feel threatened by him and kill him.
That was exactly what Haldurn feared the most.
That was why he desperately wanted to shorten his slumber period and reach a higher level as soon as possible.
But no one expected.
It wasn't an Orc or an Elf who killed him, but the Red Iron Dragon Emperor from the Atlantis Continent.
Garoth paid it no mind.
He had seen too many so-called kings fall; Haldurn was just one of them.
“Any concrete actions from the Giants? They can't just be wallowing in grief and anger.”
Garoth said.
“They're demanding an explanation from Nausil, asking Nausil to uphold justice.”
A hint of sarcasm crept into Cerora's tone. “They think they're the Elven Empire's allies. Their king died on the Elven battlefield, so the Elves should give them an explanation. As if Nausil owes them a life.”
“How did Nausil respond?”
“They evaded the responsibility, using the excuse that the empire doesn't interfere in disputes between kingdoms.”
Cerora said. “They told the Giants to handle the matter themselves, saying that the Giant King had initiated the duel himself and must bear the consequences. It was a sanctimonious way of saying they don't want to offend a more powerful potential ally over a dead one.”
Garoth let out a low, rumbling laugh through his snout.
“A very standard imperial answer.”
“Profit first, relationships later.”
As far as he knew, while the Giant King was alive, he had solved no small number of problems for Nausil.
“Yeah,” Cerora nodded. “But Nausil also sent people to contact me, simultaneously expressing their wish that my Greenwild Kingdom wouldn't target the remaining Giants.”
“They said this is a critical moment, and all forces should unite to fight against the Orcs and the calamity.”
“The subtext is: spare the Giants, don't push things too far.”
Garoth looked at her and asked, “Are you going to listen to them and not go after the Giants?”
“Of course not.”
Cerora said with a chuckle, her smile laced with a hint of coldness.
“The Giants have no king now. The rest are just lambs waiting to be slaughtered. When Haldurn was alive, they could band together. Now that he's dead, the Giant tribes will start infighting immediately.”
“How could I possibly miss this opportunity?”
“I'll just give the Elves some face and do it more discreetly.”
She raised a finger and explained slowly, “I won't openly send an army to wipe them out. That would offend the Elves too much. But I can support opposition factions within the Giant tribes, divide them, and make them fight among themselves. Once they've worn each other out, I'll step in under the guise of mediation and reap the benefits.”
“That way, even if the Elves know I'm behind it, it'll still save face.”
Haldurn's kingdom was, in essence, similar to Aola.
His retinue of Giants were united around him as their king. Haldurn had enough prestige and power to bind those unruly Giant tribes together.
Once the Giant King was gone, his kingdom would immediately fall apart.
Garoth nodded but offered no further comment on the green dragon's plan.
“What is Nausil's attitude towards me now?”
He asked the question he was truly concerned about.
He still needed to go to the Arotala Continent. It contained the meteorite he required. But if both the Orcs and the Elves were hostile towards him, given the enormous risk, he would have to suppress that idea and find another way.
After all, a pursuit by demigods was not something he could easily handle at his current level.
Cerora thought for a moment, organizing her words.
“It's complicated.”
“You killed Haldurn, and Haldurn was Nausil's ally, fighting alongside the Elves against the Orcs and the calamity. From that perspective, you weakened Nausil's power on Arotala. Nausil is certainly displeased.”
She paused, then changed her tone.
“But you also killed an Orc Mandate of Heaven-level being, a crown-level, and several legendaries.”
“Everyone on the battlefield saw it. You were clearly on the Elven side. And you even directly provoked an Orc demigod. To the Elves' ears, that's equivalent to a public declaration of support for them and a stance of irreconcilable enmity with the Orcs.”
Garoth nodded slightly.
At the time, he had done that partly to avenge the Orc attack and vent his emotions, and partly because he had killed the Giant King and needed to give Nausil some face to show he wasn't an enemy of the Elves.
Otherwise, he might not have been able to go to Arotala for a long time.
Now, it seemed this strategy had been correct.
“The most important thing is that you are stronger than the Giant King.”
Cerora pointed out incisively.
“You survived, and the dead are worthless.”
“No matter how important Haldurn was in life, once he's dead, he's nothing. But you are alive and have shown strength surpassing the Giant King. Nausil's attitude towards you will definitely lean more towards winning you over, perhaps even valuing you more than before. You've tangibly demonstrated your power for them to see with their own eyes, not just through hearsay.”
Garoth mused for a moment. “That's good.”
“I am willing to cooperate with the Elves, but the terms remain the same. I still need the meteorite.”
The accumulation of mutation value took time.
If he went step by step, Garoth estimated it would take a long time to unlock a new mutation form. But if he could get another meteorite, there would be no such problem.
The power within the meteorite could directly push him to complete the mutation.
“The Elves are probably considering the matter very seriously right now.”
Cerora said. “After all, the terms you set weren't excessive, just asking for the meteorite.”
She paused and asked, “Garoth, when will you return to Arotala?”
The red-iron dragon didn't answer immediately.
He looked up at the sky of the dream world. White clouds drifted slowly by, the sunlight was warm, and everything was peaceful and serene.
After a few seconds of thought, he said, “Not now.”
“I need to lie low for a while now to avoid being hunted by an Orc demigod. That guy I humiliated publicly won't let it go easily.”
“Once Nausil confirms their willingness to cooperate, or when the Orcs are too busy to bother with me, I'll consider going back.”
“Until then, I won't set foot in Arotala rashly.”
“Besides, I have things to take care of on the Atlantis Continent.”
“Although I rarely manage the affairs of the kingdom, I can't completely abandon it to my blood relatives. There are some major directions I need to steer, and some matters require my personal decision.”
He was now hailed as the King of Atlan.
But, not to mention the Halden Empire that rules the skies, there was still one region on the surface of Atlan that didn't belong to him.
Unifying the entire continent was a goal he would eventually accomplish.
Cerora nodded.
“Then I'll keep an eye on the changing attitudes of the Orcs and the Elves. I'll let you know immediately if anything happens.”
“As for the Orcs, after suffering such a loss, they might make a move in the short term. But their main force is still locked in a standoff with the Elves. They can't spare much power to specifically target you. They're powerless to do anything about you.”
“As for the Elves, you'll have to wait. Their councils are notoriously tedious; you'll need some patience.”
“Alright,” Garoth responded.
He took a few more steps through the flower field, crushing more petals underfoot.
Suddenly, he stopped and turned to look at Cerora.
“The trigger for my battle with Haldurn was his designs on you. Now that I've taken care of that problem for you, have you thought about how you're going to thank me?”
The red-iron dragon took a few steps towards Cerora.
His gaze was intense, and his sharp-edged, imposing frame loomed over the green dragon. At the same time, he extended his massive claw, gently lifting Cerora's fair and delicate chin.
The sharp tip of his claw pressed against her soft skin, applying slight pressure to force her head up.
Cerora raised her chin and looked up at the red-iron dragon.
She noticed that Garoth seemed to have changed slightly compared to before. It was subtle, but definitely there.
Meeting his aggressive gaze, Cerora blinked and feigned confusion. “What do you want? Gems, gold coins, or other treasures? Just say the word, and I can give them to you.”
“My Treasure Vault has quite a few good things. They should be worthy of your notice.”
Garoth didn't answer immediately.
His dragon claw still held Cerora's chin, not letting go. His slit pupils looked down at her from above.
“Not enough.”
The red-iron dragon said, leaving no room for refusal. “I want all of you.”
Cerora didn't avoid his gaze.
She just looked up like that, her light green dress spread out across the sea of flowers, her bare, delicate feet buried in the petals, her pale neck curving in an elegant arc.
“I remember.”
She said slowly, “A certain dragon used to be cold and distant towards me, ignoring me, speaking harshly, as if I were some kind of monster. And now, he's asking me to offer everything. Quite a big change.”
“Truly overbearing and arbitrary, fickle and capricious.”
The moment she finished speaking, the dragon's huge claw grasped her entire form, and a scorching hot breath washed over her.
Cerora didn't resist, allowing herself to be pulled into that fiery embrace.
Immediately after, the sea of flowers swayed and moaned in the wind, petals falling, layer upon layer, landing on the two of them, as if burying them.
