Chu Xin felt chills spread throughout her spine, as she stared at the gigantic red dragon before her. This dragon was something that she always heard about from the bastards that kept her for years. She knew just how dangerous and perilous the situation can be.
Although, she already experienced metamorphosis that literally born her anew, she was still nothing but a beginner at the cultivation world. She still needed to experience far more precarious situations to attain the calmness that she should possess.
"Humans…"
The Scarlet Dragon is the overlord of the whole Scarlet Dragon Mountain Range, and its strength is something that never would everyone question. That said dragon obviously noticed the cave's entrance, when Tatsuya used his innate ability Decomposition, on the water droplets.
It didn't know how Tatsuya did that trick, but it didn't care. Because of his confidence over his own strength that towers amongst everything. It hasn't experienced a single thing that made it feel fear, or any nervousness.
"Big brother Tatsuya…"
Chu Xin felt the fear sprouting within her heart, intensifying. She kept tugging Tatsuya's clothes, as she stared at the dragon with her fearful eyes. Despite her scared and pitiful expression, she still retained her heavenly beauty that brings almost any women to shame.
(Sigh, in the end, she's still nothing but a child…)
Tatsuya sighed inwardly, as he felt the shivering of Chu Xin from his position. When Chu Xin undergoes the legendary metamorphosis, Tatsuya's sliver thread of awareness was watching everything. Right now, he only had a few hints about the girl's origin.
If he was using his Elemental Sight on Chu Xin when she was undergoing metamorphosis, he might have traced her origins down to its roots. Unfortunately, he was fully focusing on the recreation of his innate ability Baryon Lance.
(Maybe in her place of origins, there would be more godly profound veins… Sigh, too bad that I didn't got the chance to inspect that pentagon mark.)
Tatsuya indifferently stared at the dragon, as he was busy thinking about his regret. He suddenly felt Chu Xin's body release an aura of fear, as he quickly turned his gaze on Chu Xin.
"Chu Xin... trust me."
"…"
"Don't worry, just like how I promised you that I will protect you till the New Moon City. That promise still stands. Or maybe, you don't believe me?"
Chu Xin's body stopped shivering, as she stared at Tatsuya with her pitiful eyes. The latter suddenly grasped Chu Xin's pale hand, as the girl felt a thread of security flowing into her body. The fear that she previously felt was slowly vanishing, as a strengthened trust took root within her heart.
"Mm. I believe in you, big brother. Sorry for being a scaredy cat."
"I understand… After all, you are still a child."
Tatsuya comforted Chu Xin with his kind gaze, as the girl's face returned to its normal state. Not a thread of fear or anything could be seen on her peerless face, as she nodded her head towards Tatsuya.
"You both are amusing to actually ignore this king."
The dragon who stayed quiet till now, suddenly spoke with amusement on its tone. Fire that could easily burn metal, surrounded its humongous body. The scarlet dragon let out a deep breath, as it produced a terrifying sound.
Chu Xin can't help but took a step back, as she still held into Tatsuya's hand. Meanwhile, Tatsuya slowly turned his head at the dragon. Indifference and lack of emotion could be seen on his face.
"For what reasons that the dragon king have graced us with his presence?"
Tatsuya suddenly cupped his fists, as he bowed slightly at the dragon. Despite the greetings, not a thread of respect or reverence could be detected. It was only a gesture out of his understanding towards the cultivators of this world.
"Human… surely you must know why I personally came here to meet you…"
"Forgive this junior, but I'm clueless about your business."
"Well then, allow this king to enlighten your mind."
The Scarlet Dragon's mouth changed slightly, as if forming a smirk or sneer. A formidable aura that covered the entirety of the Scarlet Dragon Mountain Range suddenly appeared and permeated the air. The dragon's eyes shone in glint and fiery, as it gazed down at the figure of Tatsuya.
"This king is here to kill both of you."
"Why do you desire to kill this average youth, senior?"
Tatsuya quietly asked, as he indifferently stared at the Scarlet Dragon. Chu Xin just stayed quietly while increasing the grip of her hand at Tatsuya's clothes.
"Because, you both, possess something that I need."
"I see. Is there really no other way?"
"Hm. You don't want to get eaten by this king? Unfortunately, there's no-"
The Scarlet Dragon smugly declared its dissatisfaction over Tatsuya's desire to not eaten by itself. It tried to continue its statement, but suddenly.
*Swoosh*
A lance appeared out of nowhere and grazed the side of the dragon's head. It was so fast, to the point that the dragon can't react to it. Coincidentally, the mountain top of the Scarlet Dragon Mountain Range stood behind the dragon. And now, the lance filled with translucent light flew towards the mountain without any stop.
*Boom!*
An ear-piercing sound resounded across the entire mountain range. The dragon widened its eyes out of shock and slight thread of fear. However, the sounds didn't stopped there, as different explosive sound spontaneously appeared.
*Kaboom!*
Debris flew everywhere, as a grey smoke rise up in the air. The smoke hid the mountain top, as the sound of landslide entered the dragon's ears. The Scarlet Dragon slowly turned its head towards the mountain top, as its aura completely dissipated into thin air.
"W-what in the world?"
It uttered its extreme shock, as evident fear was traced on its tone. It used its widened eyes to stare at the mountain top. The mountain top completely got erased and disappeared from existence. Cracks filled the body of the mountain, threatening to collapse any moment now.
"Baryon Lance is actually stronger now, eh."
While the Scarlet Dragon was filled with shock and fear, it heard the surprised Tatsuya. The dragon suddenly felt his scales vibrate in fear, as it realized its impending doom.
"D-don't tell me…"
"That's right. I'm the one who fired that lance, Scarlet Dragon. I was hoping to resolve this peacefully, but looks like I really need to show my strength… for you to listen to me."
Tatsuya indifferently stared at the dragon, as Chu Xin stared at the former with shock and adoration. The Scarlet Dragon stared at Tatsuya with its fearful eyes, as it didn't dare to slightly move, afraid to incur Tatsuya's wrath.
Now that the Scarlet Dragon knew that its life was in Tatsuya's hand, it can't help but feel anxiety and terror. Since the dragon was born, it was proud of its own intelligence that allowed itself to reach its current strength.
However, now that it had encountered Tatsuya, for the first time of its life did it feel despair and absolute terror. The dragon knew from Tatsuya's attack that it wouldn't be able to dodge or withstand that lance.
"I assume that you are now ready to listen to me, dragon."
"Y-yes. Forgive this lowly lifeform for having eyes but have failed to see Mt. Tai. Please spare me, senior."
The Scarlet Dragon bowed its large head, while kneeling in a dragonic position. The whole mountain range rumbled and quaked, as the dragon's mass disturbed the peacefulness of the land.
"I'm not really planning to kill you, till I deem that you are no longer useful."
(Well, I hope to avoid any trouble…)
Although, Tatsuya clearly threatened the dragon, he doesn't have any plans to slain this dragon before him. Despite being threatened previously, Tatsuya knew that slaying this dragon would only lead to further troubles, such as getting traced by someone.
"P-please, state your wishes, senior."
"I want to ask you a question. Once I detect any lies from your statement, I will erase your head from this planet's surface."
Tatsuya masterfully controlled his expression, making his current face extremely terrifying. The bloodlust that he released filled the air, but he controlled it in a way that Chu Xin won't feel it. Meanwhile, the girl could only stare at the kneeling dragon with shock, while stealing glances at Tatsuya's direction.
"Please do ask this lowly lifeform."
(What a shameless dragon, it actually immediately surrendered without any fight. Does it have any pride or none?)
"I just want to know whether there's a large amount of Fire Spirit Grass on your lair."
"There is indeed a large amount of Fire Spirit Grass on my lair."
"Mm…"
Tatsuya nodded his head, as he stared at the dragon with his eyes. He already knew that a large amount of Fire Spirit Grass exists within the Scarlet Dragon's lair, but he just had to ask.
(Well, the Evil God's Fire Seed doesn't really matter to me. It only has a tremendous amount of fire energy that could allow the possessor of the Evil God's Profound Veins to attain the absolute immunity from fire.)
Tatsuya knew that the Evil God's Profound Veins has a secret, and it actually lies on its structure. The Evil God's Seeds doesn't really have any special ability, aside from the fire divinity that hides within the seeds. The fire divinity will incite the Evil God's Profound Veins, thus allowing the possessor to attain the absolute immunity from that specific element.
(But still, it might come handy sometimes.)
"Then, I order you to bring us towards your lair. I want to inform you that I could erase your whole existence in an instant, so don't you dare lay your fangs towards us."
"Y-yes…"
The dragon felt its fear intensifying, as it detected no trace of lies from Tatsuya's statement. It immediately concluded that Tatsuya must be some divine being that could erase billions of lives in an instant.
Actually, the dragon wasn't wrong about that fact. But as of now, Tatsuya could only simultaneously use his innate ability Decomposition on 68 different targets. Maybe, sometime in the future, Tatsuya would achieve that feat…
"Chu Xin, let's ride the dragon…"
"Wow…"
Tatsuya grasped Chu Xin's pale hand, as they both jumped towards the dragon's back. The previous fear and anxiety that Chu Xin held, had turned into excitement and anticipation. Meanwhile, the dragon could only seriously treat everything, as it knew that any mistakes might lead to its death.
"Go now."
"Y-yes…"
Thus, the Scarlet Dragon flapped its wing, and exerted enough force to jump into the air. Its enormous strength made the ground rumble, as it swiftly flew towards its own lair. The cultivators that are wandering throughout the mountain range saw the dragon, as they hid in different locations, afraid of getting killed…