Chapter 31: Shadows of the Dragon Under the Moonlight

  After a month had passed, Clare went out for a walk.

  She noticed her former race. At that moment, ten fully armed soldiers rode their horses in tight formation, while the commander held a torch in his hand. About fifty to sixty meters away, another small group of soldiers moved slowly.

  It was the first time she had seen humans in this world, yet she couldn’t understand why a human cavalry army was in the forest. Had they come for the Poison Emperor’s tomb, or were they searching for something else?

  She decided to watch them from a distance. Now that she was a dragon, interacting with them directly wasn’t a wise idea. After a short while, she turned and returned to the cave where Mia was.

  Under the moonlight, several figures entered the forest after Clare had moved away.

  Among them was a knight wearing black armor and carrying a blue spear, kneeling before the prince. The knight said, “Your Majesty, Prince Jing, one of the soldiers discovered a red dragon in the forest. What are your orders?”

  The prince replied in surprise, “A red dragon? Weren’t these creatures extinct since ancient times? Are you sure this information is accurate?”

  The knight answered firmly, “My lord, the information is correct. The red dragon is currently in a cave at the southern edge of the forest.”

  The prince laughed mockingly and said, “Hahaha, it seems this prince is lucky! This dragon will become his pet! Very well, inform everyone to head to the Red Dragon’s cave. This prince will tame it to become his mount.”

  Twenty minutes later, the knights stood in formation before the Red Dragon’s cave, surrounded by dense green trees.

  Prince Jing asked, “Are you certain the red dragon is in this cave?”

  The knight replied confidently, “Yes, Your Highness.”

  Before the knight could finish, they heard the echo of footsteps from inside the cave. Rumble! Thud! Thud! The ground shook, and dust flew into the air.

  Under the pale moonlight, a massive figure the size of an elephant slowly advanced toward the soldiers. Its huge wings gradually spread, and its shining crimson eyes, like split rubies, pierced through them.

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  None of the soldiers could comprehend the majestic beauty of the creature before them. What stood there wasn’t just any beast—it was a legendary being, one that had only appeared in ancient texts!

  One of the soldiers shouted in astonishment, “It’s… a dragon!”

  Another muttered in shock, “The dragon… it’s really here!”

  Meanwhile, a third soldier screamed in terror and despair, “Damn it! Move, body… move!”

  Yet, despite their frantic cries, none of them could move a single muscle. Fear had completely paralyzed them.

  But what caught my attention more than anything else was the luxurious carriage positioned at the center of the army.

  Under the pale moonlight, I watched these humans silently as they approached my cave. Their heavy footsteps and the clanging of their metal weapons were enough to awaken the deep fury within me.

  I heard their conversation clearly, especially that arrogant one sitting inside the carriage, thinking himself the master of the world. He wants to tame me? As a pet?

  I sensed their presence from afar — dozens of trembling souls, a mixture of fear and audacity. Yet among them was someone different. A lavish, ornate carriage radiating a powerful aura. At the very least, he seemed to be in the Foundation Establishment stage, which meant my chances of overcoming them were extremely high.

  “Very well, let’s make this night an unforgettable lesson.”

  I took my first step out of the cave.

  Rumble! Thud! Thud!

  The ground trembled under my weight, and dust scattered into the air.

  Their screams echoed around me: “It’s a dragon!”

  Some soldiers shouted in panic, “The dragon… it’s really here!”

  But I paid no mind to their words. Humans never change. They are always prisoners of their own illusions of control and greed.

  As I drew closer, I noticed the soldiers trembling, their bodies frozen in place.

  But my eyes were fixed on the luxurious carriage, on the person staring at me—not with fear, but with ambition.

  I set the area ablaze with my fiery breath, then soared into the sky, intent on surveying the land and anticipating any traps they might have laid.

  The wind tore through the clouds as I flew, observing from above. I had been right.

  There, on the edge of a cliff overlooking my cave, stood a man on horseback. He was watching me, waiting for me to strike the soldiers, hoping to ambush me by thrusting his spear toward my back.

  My wings spread like majestic shadows covering the ground below, and the heat radiating from my chest cleared a path for the blaze of my anger ready to erupt.

  On the rocky edge stood the knight—small and frail—but his courage, or perhaps his arrogance, drove him to raise his spear toward me.

  His horse trembled beneath him, yet in his eyes I saw the same familiar arrogance I had long observed in humans.

  I rose into a sky filled with dark clouds, cold winds lashing my wings, the air thick with the scent of smoke and ash.

  Below me, the barren land was strewn with jagged rocks, while tongues of fire still danced along the forest’s edges.

  And on the cliff’s edge, the knight remained on his horse.

  I descended toward him, my roar breaking the silence as the sky ignited with the flames I exhaled.

  Yet he did not flee.

  Instead, he charged at me, his spear reflecting the fiery glow.

  We clashed amid the storm. My wings sliced through the air around us, sparks scattering, igniting the ground beneath.

  The world around us became a field of destruction, the sky a silent witness to our final battle.

  But it didn’t last long… he was weak, and he was defeated.

  I finally spoke, my deep voice like thunder shattering the stillness of the night:

  “You greedy humans… you have come seeking your own deaths. Who among you dares to challenge me again?”

  At that moment, I decided to test the cold flame.

  Icy winds began to swirl around me, frost spreading beneath my claws. No one moved—not even that arrogant one inside the carriage, who froze for a moment despite his pride.

  “I thought you had courage… but it seems all you brought with you is fear.”

  I spread my wings wide and lifted my head toward the silver moon hanging in the sky.

  I felt the ancient power of ice surge within me, coursing through my wings, filling the air with a deadly chill. Beneath the moonlight, my crimson scales shimmered, reflecting a brilliance like burning stars.

  A brief silence fell over the land…

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