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Chapter 554: Steel Dragon
Chapter 554: Steel Dragon
"Roar!!!"
A deep, resonant roar echoed from beneath the ground!
A massive, spiky dragon head emerged from a crack. Just from the size of its head, it was clear that this dragon was roughly the same size as the black dragon Metheus.
The steel dragon's dark brown eyes first swept over the equally massive black dragon Metheus, then fixed on the metal sphere created by Rayne. Anyone could tell that the steel dragon was far more interested in the metal sphere than in the black dragon.
Rayne nodded slightly, pleased. He had deliberately mixed a large amount of rare metals into the sphere, and it seemed to have had the desired effect.
"Ah, so it’s a weak Chromatic Dragon and a somewhat interesting wizard. You have disturbed the great Dorik’s slumber." The steel dragon spoke in Draconic, his voice deep and resonant. The dragon seemed to hold the Chromatic Dragon in low regard.
"You—"
Hearing the scorn in the steel dragon’s voice, Metheus couldn’t help but exhale two massive breaths, clearly agitated. However, Rayne waved his hand to calm him down.
"Wizard, this is the delicacy you created. Now, as compensation for disturbing my slumber, offer your delicacy to me with respect." The steel dragon said, his voice still in Draconic.
Rayne couldn’t help but chuckle at the dragon’s words, but this was all part of the plan.
With a flick of his fingers, the millstone-sized metal sphere flew into the steel dragon’s mouth, which it swallowed in one gulp.
"Good, wizard, you have the potential to become my chef", the steel dragon said, licking his lips with evident satisfaction. "However, as compensation for disturbing me, one is not enough. I need three!"
Hearing this, Metheus was far more furious than Rayne. This was a severe insult to his master!
"Master, let me teach it a lesson. Otherwise, even if we subdue it, it won’t truly obey."
"Tsk tsk, a weak Chromatic Dragon challenging the great Dorik? Black dragon, join your master. Perhaps, we can make a bet. If you lose, you will become Dorik’s servants. Do you dare accept?" The steel dragon’s eyes gleamed with cunning.
"And if you lose?" Rayne countered.
"Lose? I will not lose."
"This is not a fair bet. If you lose, you must sign a contract with me. If you agree, we can start." Rayne shook his head.
In ancient texts, even those of the empire, records of metal dragons were sparse and often unreliable. For example, the temper of this dragon was nothing like the descriptions, which portrayed them as brutally violent. Instead, this one seemed rather cunning.
Rayne wasn’t sure if this was an exception or if the records were simply wrong.
"Fine, it seems your black dragon has given you too much confidence."
"However, challenging the great Dorik is still a grave overestimation of your abilities." Seeing Rayne’s determination, the steel dragon Dorik nodded, unperturbed.
As Dorik emerged fully from the crack, Rayne couldn’t help but scrutinize the dragon’s form. While it resembled a typical dragon, there were significant differences.
A row of sharp spines ran along its back, and the end of its thick tail also had a spiky tip. It looked like a long, spiky warhammer. These spines were similar to the sharp thorns Rayne could create with his Steel Forest ability, appearing incredibly sharp.
Most notably, its wings were unlike those of a Chromatic Dragon. They were more like blades.
Though thin like wings, they had a sharp, blade-like quality, indicating that they had evolved into something extremely special.
However, every advantage has a downside. The transformation of its wings into these blade-like structures likely compromised its flying ability.
Especially for a metal dragon, Rayne had never heard of any that could manipulate wind energy particles.
"Let’s begin!"
"Screech!"
When Metheus’s massive Dragon Claw sliced across Dorik’s body, which shimmered with a Dark Silver sheen, it produced a grating, metallic sound.
Metheus’s eyes widened in shock as he felt a tremendous resistance, even a painful sensation in his claws. The steel dragon’s defenses were truly astonishing.
In return, Dorik’s blade-like metal wings, moving at high speed, instantly cut a long gash in Metheus’s scales, which were hardened by protective wizardry. Blood gushed out from the wound.
A glancing blow?
Moreover, from the opponent's relaxed demeanor, it seemed they hadn't even used their full strength.
This made Rayne's eyes narrow slightly.
It appeared that the steel dragon's combat prowess, or rather, its close-quarters combat ability, far exceeded that of the chromatic dragons. After all, among the chromatic dragons, the black dragon was already the most skilled in close combat.
"Metheus, to the skies!" Rayne quickly reminded.
Metheus immediately understood Rayne's intent and swiftly took flight.
However, the steel dragon Dorik's reaction was faster than Metheus had anticipated. A massive black whip-like shadow flashed, and Metheus grunted in pain, feeling a sharp ache in his chest and abdomen. He was then sent flying backward at an incredible speed.
With a loud boom, he crashed into the ground over a hundred meters away, sending up a cloud of dust!
The attack had come from the sharp, hammer-like tip of the steel dragon's tail.
This made Metheus quite angry; taking two heavy hits right at the start was incredibly embarrassing.
However, after suffering this blow, it wasn't all bad. At least, Metheus finally managed to take to the skies.
"Hmm? You can still fly?" Steel dragon Dorik couldn't help but look at the black dragon, who had continued to soar into the air, with some surprise.
After all, the opponent should have lost most of their combat ability from that strike.
Metheus opened his mouth and suddenly unleashed a breath attack at the steel dragon below!
"Shadow Breath!"
A conical black blaze rapidly expanded, covering part of the steel dragon's body as it dodged.
"Hisss!"
A special corrosive force stripped the metallic luster from a large area of the steel dragon's back, as if it had been rusted. This was one of the effects of Metheus's Shadow Breath.
The Shadow Breath contained a large amount of negative energy particles.
"Damn it!"
"Black dragon, you've angered me!"
"Atomic Breath!" The steel dragon Dorik spat out a bright, silvery beam of light!
"Shadow Breath!"
Suddenly, the two breath attacks collided.
What?
Atomic Breath?
A flash of realization struck Rayne. He immediately noticed the faint glow on the steel dragon's surface, which was actually radiation. This, combined with the steel dragon's long slumber in the obsidian steel ore, gave him an idea.
However, he needed to stop the fight first.
"Roar!!!"
Rayne quickly transformed, and a massive dark silver dragon appeared in the sky.
"Particle Breath!"
Rayne's breath attack deflected the two clashing energy beams.
The three powerful energy blasts struck the ground, sending shockwaves that rippled out in all directions. Even from over a hundred kilometers away, the Beverly Mountains could clearly sense the disturbance.
A colorful light orb suddenly rose from somewhere in the mountains, moving with incredible speed.
The light orb ascended to the sky and then abruptly stopped, as if trying to pinpoint the exact location of the energy fluctuation.
If someone could observe closely at that moment, they would see that the colorful light orb contained a woman with a fair and beautiful face, a curvaceous figure, and a vibrant feathered robe and headpiece that added a touch of exotic charm.
However, her deep, piercing eyes and regal demeanor made her seem unapproachable.
"It's over there."
As her clear voice rang out, the air beside her suddenly tore apart, and a white wave of energy spread out. The colorful light orb sped toward the location of Rayne's battle.
Several seconds later, a sharp, thunderous sound echoed through the air, indicating that her speed had surpassed the speed of sound.
Meanwhile.
Seeing Rayne transform, the steel dragon Dorik's expression changed.
"Stop!"
"Human wizard, we have no grudge against each other. Let's end this fight here."
"Furthermore, the great Dorik will not hold you accountable for the disturbance."
A steel dragon? More like a 'gentle dragon,' Rayne thought, momentarily speechless.
"Is that all? What about the wager?"
"The great Dorik would never submit to humans like the weak chromatic dragons." With that, the steel dragon Dorik began to burrow underground.
"Wait, Dorik. I think I know how to help you enhance your strength even further, and it will be more efficient than consuming obsidian steel ore and absorbing the energy within."
Rayne spoke quickly.
"What! You're not lying?" Dorik's burrowing speed visibly slowed, and a few seconds later, he turned back, looking at Rayne in surprise.
"Of course."
After a moment's thought, Rayne reached out again, and as the Dark Silver metal ripples spread, a metallic sphere quickly formed in front of his palm.
"Sign a contract with me, and I'll tell you the other method. I'll give you three of these every day."
Dorik, the steel dragon, stared at the metallic sphere for a few moments, then sighed after a brief hesitation.
"At least five, no, ten metal spheres a day, and I'll agree."
"Three."
"Eight! At least eight!"
"Three."
"Fine! I'll sign the contract, human wizard!" the steel dragon Dorik said, somewhat dejectedly.
In the end, Rayne and the steel dragon Dorik reached an agreement, and the System Prompt sounded:
[Ding! Host has contracted a steel dragon. Current contracted pets: (4/4)]
With the system contract in place, Dorik's gaze toward Rayne changed, becoming as respectful as that of the black dragon Metheus, devoid of any defiance or arrogance.
"Master!"
Rayne nodded.
However, he immediately thought of a tricky issue. In the Dragon Empire, Dragon Knights had one-to-one contracts with dragons, and there had never been a case of a Dragon Knight contracting two dragons.
In other words, if he were to fly to the Imperial Capital with Dorik, it would be too conspicuous. But if he didn't bring Dorik, that would be a problem.
"Dorik, do you know of another continent?"
Rayne thought for a moment, then waved his fingers in the air, quickly forming a simple map using wizardry aura.
"Of course, Master. What do you need me to do?"
"Can we meet here in three days?" Rayne pointed to the approximate location of Zetaya on the other continent.
"Yes, Master. I've been to that continent before, so two days will be enough", Dorik nodded.
"Great, we'll meet in Zetaya then." Rayne smiled and nodded.
"As you wish, Master."
By the time the Wind Roc Queen Trist arrived, the battle was already over, and all she could see was the massive silhouette of the black dragon flying away.
Seemingly sensing Trist's presence behind him, Rayne turned and smiled at her, then patted Metheus's back. "Let's go, Metheus."
"Master, don't you want to say hello to the bird?" Metheus's deep voice came.
"Huh? Metheus, you've dealt with the Wind Roc Queen Trist before?"
"Yes, we fought once, centuries ago. Neither of us could defeat the other", Metheus said, somewhat proudly.
"I see."
"However, let's leave it for another time. The timing isn't right this time, but there will be an opportunity", Rayne patted the black dragon's broad back and smiled.
The moment Trist saw Rayne's face, her slender body stiffened. She couldn't forget that young face, the one who had defeated her loyal servant and taken the Divine Power Crystal of the Goddess of the Depths, delaying her path to demigod status.
"How could his strength have increased so quickly!"
"And that black dragon just now, if I'm not mistaken, it's a Jiulao Dragon-level black dragon. Even the Dragun royal family has only a few. No, that's Metheus!"
"Yes, the 'Mad Wing' Metheus!"
"But how could such a young person have contracted it?" Trist's fine, long eyebrows furrowed, unable to understand.
"A Jiulao Dragon, even a high-ranking wizard from Late Dawn might not be able to gain its approval, let alone the 'Mad Wing' Metheus!"
"Unbelievable!"
However, when Trist looked at the ground, her beautiful eyes narrowed sharply.
"Is that a steel dragon?"
She saw the steel dragon Dorik slowly burrowing into the ground and disappearing.
"Fortunately, it seems he failed to defeat this steel dragon." Thinking this, Trist felt a bit better, her tense expression relaxing into a slight smile.
"However, I need to speed up. The situation is getting more chaotic."
"Also, I can't let this young man surpass me."
With the faith of hundreds of thousands of wind roc followers, Trist could already attempt to form a Lesser Divine Spark, but the process was risky, so she had never taken the final step.
(End of Chapter)
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