Chapter 15: Master of Monsters
Finally, Fire ceased.
Whether by intent or sheer exhaustion, the flames subsided.
Yet the Red Dragon remained aloft, unmoving, its crimson gaze fixed coldly upon the Two-Headed Dragon below.
The once-mighty wyvern now lay scorched and broken, its body blackened and ravaged, utterly unrecognizable from the proud beast that had ruled the skies moments before.
Yet pride and fury—its innate recklessness—kept it from fleeing.
Instead, wounded and enraged, it let out a feral, mindless roar.
"ROOOOAAARRR!"
With a violent sweep of its massive wings, the Two-Headed Dragon launched itself skyward, aiming to strike the Red Dragon midair.
Its thick tail arched like a bow, muscles coiled tight—its barbed tip poised to pierce, to inject lethal Dragon Venom the instant it made contact.
Just as it lunged—just as its claws grazed the Red Dragon’s scales—
"Thunder Wave (Dragon Tongue)"
"BANG!"
A thunderclap split the sky.
From Kai Xiusu’s body, a shockwave of pure sonic force erupted outward—invisible, yet devastating.
The unsuspecting Two-Headed Dragon was thrown backward with brutal force, its wings flailing wildly, losing balance in an instant.
It plummeted like a falling boulder, crashing toward the earth below.
Below, the watching Goblins clapped their hands over their ears. Some, trembling with fear, ducked behind rocks, too terrified to even look up.
As the Two-Headed Dragon smashed into the ground, Kai Xiusu continued refining his spell.
"Arcane Bolt."
A jagged spear of crackling blue energy erupted from the Red Dragon’s maw, streaking across the sky like lightning.
The wounded wyvern had no chance to dodge.
The bolt struck home.
Sparks erupted along its scorched scales. The surge of electric magic tore through its already shattered frame, sending agonizing jolts through its body.
But the punishment wasn’t over.
Where the spell struck, a persistent arc of lightning flared—connecting the Red Dragon to the fallen wyvern like a living current.
Electricity danced across the air, wrapping the wyvern’s body in a faint, glowing halo of energy.
"BANG!"
The impact shook the earth.
The Two-Headed Dragon rolled violently, smoke curling from its blackened flesh, its limbs twitching weakly.
“It’s going to fall on us!”
“Help! Someone help!”
“Run! Run now!”
Panic erupted among the Goblins. They scattered in all directions—some escaping, others crushed under the wyvern’s colossal corpse.
Kai Xiusu didn’t care.
He descended gracefully, landing with the calm of a god.
Step by step, he walked toward the fallen beast.
Dozens of Two-Headed Dragons, once bold and defiant, now stood trembling in submission.
This wyvern was not essential—merely a lesson. A warning.
"Grrr…"
The creature strained to lift its head, letting out a weak, broken cry—a final, pitiful plea for mercy.
But the Red Dragon did not relent.
With a single, crushing motion, it extended its massive claw and pressed it down on the wyvern’s slender neck.
"CRACK!"
A sharp, final snap.
The wyvern’s eyes remained wide with terror—frozen in the moment of death.
Its body went still.
The rest of the pack, witnessing the execution, flinched in unison.
In fear and awe, they spread their wings and darted toward the Red Dragon, circling close like protectors around their sovereign.
They bent their long necks low, heads drooping, jaws trembling.
From deep within their throats came low, rumbling growls—pure, instinctive submission, the natural response of all dragons to true dominance.
"Kai Xiusu Claudew Noirikexius… your master."
(Dragon Tongue)
The Red Dragon stood atop the corpse, then lifted its head to the heavens and roared—deep, thunderous, echoing across the valley.
The Two-Headed Dragons followed, raising their own voices in a chaotic, guttural chorus—like a funeral dirge, or perhaps a coronation hymn.
A celebration of the new king’s ascension.
After a long silence, the Red Dragon stepped down from the body, its claws leaving deep marks in the earth.
"Take it to the Cave on the Valley Cliff. Make your home there."
"Cut off its head—hang it on the wall."
"Extract the venom from its tail—turn it into arrows."
The commands fell like fate.
"Yes, my mighty lord! Your power is unmatched!"
The large Goblin, eager to please, offered flattery with a grin—then immediately barked orders to his underlings.
But the Goblins hesitated.
They shuffled nervously, afraid to approach the corpse.
"Useless fools!"
"What good are you if you can’t even face a dead beast?!"
Dolo’s face turned crimson with rage. He raised his whip, cracking it through the air.
The lash landed hard.
The screams, the whips, the fear—forced them forward.
One by one, they stepped up, trembling, to do the task.
Deep within the cavern, the Chimera watched from the shadows, its eyes wide with dread.
Even it felt the weight of the moment.
Lanpu stared at the lifeless wyvern, awestruck.
He whispered, breathless with admiration:
"Our master… will conquer the world."
Beside him, the Ogre Daitou leaned in, whispering:
"Boss… that lizard’s got so much meat. Can we eat some?"
"OW!"
Another blow from the staff.
The lesson had taken root.
Though the "chicken" had been far too large to be just a simple warning.
A translucent blue HUD—long absent—flickered into view before the Red Dragon.
> [Achievement Unlocked: Armor Class Achievement — Master of Monsters]
>
> 【Master of Monsters】
> "You’ll never believe what I saw. I sneaked into its nest—no treasure, no gold, just broken skeletons everywhere. This is the Graveyard of Adventurers… but a paradise for monsters."
> —From the final journal of an unknown adventurer
>
> Passive Ability Acquired: 【Beast Lord】
> Charisma +2
> Leadership Proficiency +8
>
> Acquired: 【Exalted Aura】
> Your presence compels monsters to submit.
>
> Acquired: 【Bloodline Gift】
> You may influence all life within your territory.
> You may create Bloodline Kin.
A surge of power flooded Kai Xiusu’s body.
His Charisma—not the shallow charm of looks or speech, but the influence of a true leader—rose.
In this world of magic, where Intelligence shaped logic and memory, and Wisdom absorbed divine insight and external truth, Charisma was the force that projected power—whether through words, presence, or the raw will to bend reality.
And Kai Xiusu, as a Sorcerer, channeled magic through Charisma, drawing from his bond with the Weave of Magic, shaping the world with sheer will.
Now, the Red Dragon felt it—its connection to the elemental energies around it grew deeper.
Reality itself seemed to respond to its every breath.
A faint, invisible thread linked it to its kin—each movement, each command, now felt like an extension of destiny.
With a triumphant cry, it spread its wings and soared back into the Giant’s Maw Cavern.
Below, its followers watched.
The Ogre, mid-lift, suddenly felt a surge of inspiration.
He roared, raising his log high in the air, cheering wildly.
The panicked Goblins froze, staring upward.
To them, the Red Dragon was no longer a beast—it was a god.
Even the Chimera, hidden in the darkness, lowered its head.
It felt the weight of that presence—the undeniable authority.
It wanted to kneel.
This was the true power of Master of Monsters.
And far beyond, in the depths of the underground mines, the Goblinoids paused mid-dig.
Without thought, they turned—drawn toward a distant point in the earth.
The Lizardfolk, gathered around a flickering fire in their dark camp, began to dance—primitive, rhythmic, their chants rising like prayers.
And deep in the cave’s heart, something ancient stirred.
A creature too terrible to name slithered across the ground, its body low and sinuous—watching. Waiting.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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