As Aurelia blankly stared at the spot that used to be occupied by Albion who kidnapped Layland, the criminal in question appeared in a secret room near the hall with the frozen Layland in her embrace. The room heavily resembled a home theatre with the screen and comfortable couch one could find in it.
The screen was showing Aurelia who was standing silently in the middle of the hall. Rather than a theatre, the room was a monitoring room given its function. Albion immediately got comfortable and sat on the couch. Even as she noticed a faint movement on her side, she remained unfazed.
"I wasn't sure at first, but now I can confidently say living for a long time does weird things to your head."
"You recover quickly."
"I don't need your insincere praise."
Tearing her eyes away from the screen, Albion took a look at Layland. The hole in his chest had closed and the ice covering himself was rapidly melting. She surely didn't mean her attack, yet it didn't mean she was playing around. Other than fooling Aurelia, she also did what she did to test Layland. The result was remarkable.
She couldn't tell if Layland was too harsh on himself or if he was not aware of how amazing he was already and she didn't want to tell him about it either. The current mindset that he had was suitable for this world. His thinking of everyone was stronger than he was until they exchanged blows would always make him do extra.
Complacence led to an unpleasant doom. As long as he remained doing extra, he would survive whatever hurdles this ridiculous world threw at him.
"So, any reason why you did that?" Layland asked, already sitting on the couch.
"I wasn't joking when I said I wanted to break her Seal," Albion answered sincerely. "Of course, it is an unnecessary action since the Seal has been broken. I am doing this to remind her of her identity. She has been living as a pathetic Wyvern for too long. She has forgotten how a Dragon should act."
"To be more territorial?"
"Possessive," Albion corrected. "What she needs to do to regain her power is not to realize that she has fallen in love. She needs to remember her old self."
"What was she like?"
"She used to do whatever she liked and take whatever she fancied. She was a vengeful soul who only thought about herself—a loose cannon. She became slightly tame when the Great Reset occurred and Dragons retreated into Ne Okozmo. She was no longer a loose cannon yet still a rebellious soul. She wanted to explore the outside world and the rest is history."
Looking at Layland from the corner of her eyes, a small smirk crept up Albion's face. "The millennium she spent out there had changed drastically, therefore, she is weak. I just need to rile her up until her old self awakens. You need to be prepared for that day. She will ravage you and you might be scarred for life."
It was not a secret that Dragons preferred hibernating to moving their bodies. The reason why they rarely had any descendants was their laziness to procreate. However, Layland began to doubt that claim. His encounter with the Dragons so far had proven otherwise. They were very eager to procreate and not ashamed to show it.
Of course, it was but a funny thought to amuse himself. He could somehow deduce why the Dragons (females) he had encountered so far were like animals in heat. The Dragon's urgency to procreate appeared when Great Reset occurred. The enormous death they suffered triggered a survival reaction which prompted them to procreate.
While the majority of Dragons no longer felt the need to procreate, it was not the case for certain Dragons. These Dragons didn't look for a mate when Dragon's population hit an all-time low. They had various reasons but to summarize, they weren't interested in procreating then. Years passed and they finally experienced it: the urge that every Dragon felt back then.
Layland had no proof to support that assumption but he was sure it was the case, which wasn't wrong. Albion was one of those Dragons and he was slightly afraid when he wondered just how long she had been holding back her carnal desire.
Pat.
"Do you want to do something fun?"
Layland's gaze became wary when Albion's hand landed on his thigh. It was tenderly rubbing his thigh while slowly inching closer toward his crotch. He didn't mind Valeria or Millonia doing that to him—he knew them well as they did him—but he wasn't comfortable letting her do that.
Layland put his hand on top of Albion's, putting her action to a stop. He gently removed her hand and calmly faced her heated gaze. Her gaze made him feel like a delicacy ready to be devoured. Most men would puff their chests in pride and strip if they were in his position, but he was different. He was irritated by the gaze.
"After having suffered years of domination, I hate being dominated, you know? I am a gentleman but I get harsh when someone is trying to control me," Layland said with utter seriousness that slightly baffled Albion.
An intoxicated smile appeared on Albion's face as her eyes became cloudy. "You make me want you more. You are unlike that guy who is trying too hard to act tough."
"That guy?"
"Albion! I have come to challenge you!"
Layland was interrupted by the thunderous roar coming from outside the castle. Albion immediately lost her heated gaze and an annoyed look appeared on her face. Layland wondered what kind of Dragon managed to frustrate Albion. It was fulfilling seeing her annoyed look, so he wanted to know who this Dragon was.
"Let's meet 'that guy.' I have thought up a good idea of what to do about him."
Albion stormed off without waiting for Layland. He followed her wordlessly as she took him to the castle's backyard. There was not much to see aside from a vast land covered in snow and ice plants and a small cave covered in snow. The cave was nothing more than an appearance. It functioned as a gate to the other world.
As Layland and Albion entered the cave, they immediately appeared before the mountain where Albion's hidden world was hidden. A red Dragon as big as Albion was hovering in the sky. The fire that lit up its head flared as it glared at the two of them. It was as if it was born solely to become Albion's nemesis.
"As lively as always, aren't you, Ddraig?"
"The loser must abide by the winner's words. I challenge you to a fight."
"You have lost seven times to me. How come you haven't abided by my words?"
"You asked me to stay away from you until you woke up from your hibernation. That is what I have been doing."
Albion clicked her tongue and her face contorted in annoyance, much to Layland's amusement. "I should have told him to kill himself, damn it!" she cursed under her breath. Clearing her throat, she declared, "I know what you are trying to do, Ddraig! Unfortunately, I am already taken. This man has taken my heart. My heart no longer has a place for you."
"What!?"
As the fire in Ddraig's eyes burned even brighter and the fire covering his head danced even wilder, Layland's gaze turned solemn. He didn't like being played and involved in someone's problem. Albion hadn't even done her part of the deal. She didn't even have the right to ask for his help, yet she had done something like this. He wasn't amused in the slightest.
"Isn't that right, Darling?" Albion leaned on Layland and winked mischievously as she met his cold gaze. "You can punish this bad Albion later. Though, I am sure you will thank me later."
"Little Demon, I challenge you to a fight. The stake is your spot in Albion's heart!" Ddraig exclaimed vigorously, burned with jealousy.
"Oh my…please, don't lose to him, Darling. I don't want to bear his children."
"Hey, Demon! Quick—accept my challenge!"
Layland rarely felt angry nowadays because he had always been in control of the happenings around him. This situation was not within his control and everyone was getting on his nerves. He was usually driven by his thirst for blood when he fought. This time, his annoyance drove him. He felt a strong urge to torture a Dragon.
"I am a well-known Wyvern tamer in the entire Ilschevar. I know Dragons are incomparable to Wyverns but I am sure you behave the same—a fist will turn you good," he muttered as a sinister aura was oozing out of his body.
"You are a Dragon too, you know?" Albion retorted.
Her cheeky smile immediately disappeared when she met Layland's predatory gaze. She was as frightened as she was aroused. Fortunately, she was smart enough to hide the fact that she was aroused. She could tell Layland was not messing around. She would only get pain instead of pleasure should she push him more.
She wisely retreated after muttering good luck to Layland. Layland paid no attention to her as he extended his hand and summoned Rexorem. His Dragon Blood and Demonic Essence mixed before coursing through his body. A scale armour materialized and adorned his otherworldly physique. Blue veins decorated his horn and two black marks rand down his cheeks.
At this point, Layland's Mana Pressure was enough to melt the ice covering the mountain behind him which greatly shocked Albion and Ddraig. Expecting it was the extent of his power, the two Dragons were dumbfounded when his Mana Pressure shot up again.
Rexorem shone brightly, emitting an aura that made Dragons naturally fear it. A sinister mask covered Layland's face, further amplifying his intimidation. When the Dragons thought things wouldn't get any more absurd, Layland expanded his Dragon wings. His Mana Pressure rose yet again, making Albion and Ddraig question their choice.
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