Chapter 21: The Red Dragon

A day after

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The swirling chaos of the Dimensional Gap greeted Alex as he floated amidst its ever-changing, turbulent energy. This realm of endless, raw power was home to the mighty Great Red, the feared Dragon of Apocalypse. Only beings of immense strength could even survive here, and yet Alex stood, unfazed and completely at ease. The overwhelming pull of the chaotic forces surrounding him felt like a gentle breeze to his power.

He had been summoned.

A deep, thunderous roar echoed through the void, a primal sound that shook the very fabric of the dimension. Great Red was approaching.

"Well, here we go," Alex muttered to himself, his expression calm but laced with intrigue. Despite the overwhelming presence of the Apocalypse Dragon bearing down on him, Alex was more curious than concerned.

Through the swirling energies of the Gap, a colossal shadow emerged, followed by the glowing crimson eyes of the mighty dragon. The massive form of Great Red appeared, its wings stretching wide as it filled the entire space. Covered in scales that shimmered like molten fire, Great Red radiated sheer destructive energy.

"You, human, possess power unlike any I have sensed in this realm," Great Red's voice boomed, the air crackling with intensity. "Why have you come here? What do you seek?"

Alex smirked slightly, his arms crossed casually over his chest. "You called me here, remember? I didn't come to fight. But since you're curious about my strength, I figured I'd indulge you."

Great Red's eyes narrowed, and its massive tail whipped through the air, creating shockwaves that echoed through the void. "You mock me? No mortal has ever dared to stand against me, much less speak with such arrogance!"

With a roar that shook the Dimensional Gap, Great Red lunged forward with lightning speed, its immense body moving faster than what seemed possible for a creature of its size. Its massive claws, crackling with destructive energy, slashed toward Alex with the intent to tear him apart.

But Alex remained calm. He didn't even flinch.

At the last second, Alex raised his hand, and an invisible barrier formed around him, stopping the colossal claws mere inches from his body. The impact created a shockwave so powerful that it sent ripples through the very chaos of the Dimensional Gap, yet Alex stood firm, completely unaffected.

"Is that it?" Alex asked, his voice filled with amusement. "I expected more from the Great Red."

Great Red recoiled slightly, its eyes filled with a mix of surprise and rage. It let out another deafening roar, this time summoning even greater power. The dragon's form seemed to glow with an intense, fiery aura as it charged up for its next attack.

"You dare mock me, human?" Great Red growled, its voice reverberating through the dimension. "I will show you the true power of the Apocalypse Dragon!"

With a powerful beat of its wings, Great Red unleashed a wave of destructive energy, a blast so powerful it could annihilate entire realms. The chaotic energy tore through the space between them, bending and warping reality itself as it surged toward Alex.

But once again, Alex simply raised his hand. The massive blast of energy slammed into an invisible forcefield around him, dissipating harmlessly as if it were nothing more than a gentle breeze. The dimensional chaos around him barely shifted.

Alex's eyes gleamed with amusement as he watched Great Red's growing frustration. "I'm not impressed."

Great Red roared in fury, charging toward Alex again, this time with even greater force. Its claws slashed, its wings created massive gusts of destructive wind, and its tail whipped through the air with incredible speed, each attack powerful enough to shatter entire dimensions.

But no matter how fast or strong the attacks were, Alex dodged or blocked them effortlessly. Every strike was met with a counter, every wave of destructive energy was redirected. It was becoming clear that Alex was playing with the Apocalypse Dragon, not even using a fraction of his true power.

Great Red, the feared dragon of legend, was struggling.

Great Red snarled as it recoiled from yet another failed attack. Its massive form heaved as it hovered in the chaotic void, glaring at Alex with something that resembled both fury and disbelief. For all its immense power, for all its destructive might, the Apocalypse Dragon couldn't even touch him.

"You're toying with me," Great Red growled, its deep voice reverberating through the dimension.

Alex smirked. "I thought that was obvious by now."

Without warning, Great Red unleashed a barrage of energy blasts, each one more powerful than the last. The blasts tore through the Dimensional Gap, their destructive force warping space around them as they zeroed in on Alex.

Alex, unfazed, raised both hands and created an energy shield that absorbed the incoming blasts. The chaotic explosions dissipated into harmless particles, barely disturbing the environment around them. He watched the dragon's relentless attack with mild curiosity, as though observing a child throwing a tantrum.

Great Red's frustration grew. The dragon had never faced an opponent like this—someone who could withstand its full power without breaking a sweat. And it was becoming clear that Alex had yet to show the true extent of his abilities.

"You fight like you're already defeated," Alex said casually, lowering his hands after deflecting the last barrage. "You're not pushing yourself."

With a roar that shook the very core of the Dimensional Gap, Great Red lunged at Alex once more, its massive jaws wide open as it tried to swallow him whole. But before it could get close, Alex vanished in a blur of speed, reappearing behind the dragon in an instant.

"Too slow," Alex said, tapping Great Red's enormous tail with his foot.

The dragon flinched, its body recoiling at the casual touch. It whirled around to face him, eyes blazing with fury.

"You dare mock me, mortal?" Great Red bellowed, its voice filled with wrath. "I am the Apocalypse Dragon! I will not be humiliated by you!"

With a furious roar, Great Red released a massive surge of power, transforming the surrounding chaos into pure destructive energy. The entire Dimensional Gap shook violently as the dragon's power reached its peak. This was no ordinary attack—this was the full might of the Apocalypse Dragon, capable of obliterating entire dimensions.

But Alex remained unimpressed.

"Finally," he muttered. "You're starting to take this seriously."

As the overwhelming wave of destructive energy rushed toward him, Alex's body shimmered with a brilliant aura. With a single step, he vanished, moving so fast that even Great Red's heightened senses couldn't track him. In an instant, Alex was directly in front of the dragon, his hand glowing with a faint energy.

Before Great Red could react, Alex thrust his hand forward, pressing it against the dragon's snout. The force of the impact was so powerful that it sent the massive beast hurtling backward, crashing through the chaotic energies of the Dimensional Gap. The entire realm trembled under the force of the blow.

Great Red struggled to regain control, flapping its enormous wings to steady itself. For the first time in centuries, the Apocalypse Dragon felt something it hadn't experienced in a long time—fear.

The dragon hovered in place, panting heavily, its crimson eyes locked onto Alex. "You... you're not human, are you?"

Alex chuckled softly. "I thought you'd figured that out by now."

Great Red snarled, but it no longer charged forward. It seemed to hesitate, its massive form trembling slightly.

"You've already lost," Alex said, his tone calm but firm. "I'm far beyond your strength."

Great Red growled, its body still radiating immense power, but there was a shift in its posture—one of resignation. The dragon's massive form began to glow as it shrank, its colossal size diminishing. As the light faded, what remained was not the fearsome dragon of destruction, but a tall, humanoid figure.

Alex blinked in mild surprise as the figure stepped forward—a woman, her long crimson hair flowing down her back, her body clad in sleek, armor-like attire. Her eyes, still burning with the same intense crimson glow, stared directly into Alex's.

"So, this is your true form," Alex muttered, his curiosity piqued.

The woman—Great Red—smiled faintly, her voice now softer but no less powerful. "You've bested me. I've never met someone like you. I had to see for myself... and now I understand."

"Understand what?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow.

She stepped closer, her fiery gaze never wavering. "You're the only one worthy of standing by my side. You are strong enough to be my equal—my mate."

Alex froze, momentarily caught off guard. "Wait.

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what?"

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(A/N Next week I will begin releasing chapters for my Kryptonian Book then I will release a vote that will choose which story I will focus on. But don't worry what ever book looses the vote will still be updated just now as often.)