No Mercy for the Dragon
Sybel shouted without hiding his rage.
“No matter how you hid inside a human body, you demons can never rule the Middle World! Disintegrate……”
The strongest single-target magic among the Eight Circles.
He was about to summon a beam of light from the sky when Jin Chen opened his mouth again.
“Eyes wide open. Look carefully.”
Whoosh!
Blue light surged from Jin Chen’s body.
Sybel’s whole body trembled at the clear energy that felt like deep malice.
Yet Jin Chen’s aura changed exactly as Sybel had expected.
Swooosh!
It turned crimson like fresh blood.
Then it morphed into pure, eerie white light.
Completely different from ordinary light.
Mysterious energy that was neither good nor evil.
–What the hell…
“Still think I’m like those demons?”
–You used demonic energy!
“Ah! What’s this?”
The white light instantly turned pitch black.
–As expected, you…
“Not surprised, are you?”
Sybel clamped his mouth shut.
He hadn’t noticed during the fight, but something felt completely different now.
Demons’ demonic energy was wicked and malevolent.
But the aura in front of him now was brutal, savage, and destructive.
Similar yet vastly different. Sybel’s expression grew confused.
Jin Chen withdrew his energy and said, “Shrink your size, turn human, or whatever. I can’t stand looking up at anyone.”
Sybel stared at him in silence, then spoke quietly.
–Polymorph!
Whoosh!
Light burst from his giant body and vanished.
When the light faded, the ruler of Cologne stood there.
A middle-aged man with long golden hair, a short beard, and a sharp face.
Sybel stood still and looked down at Jin Chen.
“What is your real identity?”
“Sit. I’m not eating you yet.”
“Tell me your identity first!”
“You brat, I spared your life and now you’re talking so much.”
“Speak clearly. What is that energy and how do you use it?”
Jin Chen tossed the meat he was eating onto the ground in response to Sybel’s threat.
He looked at Sybel with icy eyes and said, “I don’t say things twice. Sit.”
Sybel felt goosebumps crawl all over his body from that low voice and the pressure.
One sentence and aura alone overwhelming a dragon?
Even a Demon King? Impossible.
Sybel decided in an instant and plopped down by the campfire.
Jin Chen tore off a piece of meat and offered it to Sybel.
“Eat first. Looks weird but tastes decent.”
“I don’t need it. Tell me who you are first…”
“Eat if you’re hungry, kid.”
Jin Chen shoved the meat straight into Sybel’s mouth.
Mana and stamina were gone, and he had wounds.
No time to block anything.
Sybel ended up biting into meat out of nowhere.
As rage filled him, Jin Chen tore the meat and said, “Ever heard of Komodo dragon?”
“…I don’t know that lizard?”
“Why? It’s tasty?”
“It lives in the Demon Realm too.”
“Really? You’re not a demon!”
“Then what the hell are you?”
Jin Chen suddenly looked serious.
Sybel tensed.
Jin Chen opened his mouth slowly.
“No liquor, so it’s nothing special.”
“What?”
“Why are you so dense? I told you to fetch some liquor.”
“You’re serious right now?!”
“Why not? Just use that magic and go get it quick.”
Sybel gritted his teeth at the ridiculous request.
“Give me liquor and I’ll tell you who I am?”
“Bring me the strong stuff.”
Sybel glared at Jin Chen, then opened his spatial pocket and pulled out one bottle of liquor.
“Here. Tell me who you are!”
“Amazing. That’s magic too?”
“Are you really asking because you don’t know, or are you mocking me?!”
“Why are you so worked up? I asked because I didn’t know.”
Jin Chen took the bottle and downed it in one gulp.
“Whoa! I thought this world only had trash liquor, but there’s decent stuff?”
“I gave you what you wanted. Now answer. Who are you?”
“I already told you.”
“What did I say… you’re not—”
“You finally understand what I’m saying.”
Sybel asked in disbelief, “You really came from another dimension? Not the Demon Realm?”
“No, you brat, you really can’t understand human speech.”
“How is that possible? Dimension travel is the domain of gods?”
“It’s no big deal. I was shocked at first too.”
Jin Chen tore the meat while sipping.
Sybel watched him quietly.
An unfamiliar language, an impossible level of strength, and completely different energy just moments ago.
It really wasn’t possible for him to be a demon.
“Tell me. What world did you come from?”
“Before that, let’s see your face, you so-called god.”
“What?”
“You said only gods can do it. I want to know if you brought me here because of your will or by pure chance.”
“Are you seriously asking while I hold the answer?”
“What? Impossible? You said you’re the god’s agents, right?”
Jin Chen’s confused expression.
Sybel let out a small sigh and opened his spatial pocket again, pulling out an expensive bottle of liquor.
“Gods can’t be met by just anyone. Not even a couple.”
“You’ve never met one?”
“Gods are everywhere. We just do our duty.”
“You make it sound like you’ve never met them at all.”
Sybel’s body shook.
“I’m not fully believing you yet. Tell me which world you came from.”
“I don’t like being questioned like a criminal, but… since I promised, I’ll tell you.”
Jin Chen tore the Komodo dragon meat and gave a short answer to the question.
The Central Plains, how to use demonic energy, everything.
Sybel couldn’t hide his shock.
“A group that worships demonic energy itself and can use it without connecting to the Demon Realm or demons. I can’t believe it.”
“Me neither. Monsters I’ve never heard of popped up in the middle of nowhere. Dragons even charged at me to kill me.”
“Well… if what you say is true, I apologize.”
“Get down and receive the punishment.”
“There’s still one thing I can’t fully—”
“That’s not it? Out of the ones who tried to kill me, only a few are still alive and well.”
If it didn’t suit him, he’d rip someone’s throat out.
Sybel quickly shut his mouth after hearing that.
Jin Chen spoke again.
“Now tell me your story.”
“First, this world is……”
“I already heard that from the other guy, so skip it……”
Jin Chen poked the campfire and said slowly, “Why did you drag me into this? You used that ridiculous Kogirash as an excuse.”
“I was curious why nothing felt familiar.”
“I’m the opposite. I felt it clearly. That energy in my heart.”
“The result was already decided from our first encounter.”
“We could’ve ended it in Cologne. Why drag me here and beat me like this? It was worth it.”
Sybel took a rough sip of liquor instead of answering.
His pride was taking a beating.
Jin Chen smirked. “Is this what you do for fun when you’re stuck with humans?”
“Half and half.”
“Half?”
“Do you know about the Dragon-Demon War from a thousand years ago?”
“Just heard the rumors.”
“Then I’ll have to explain.”
Sybel stayed silent for a moment, then continued.
“It’s been eight hundred years. I built Cologne and have kept it safe until now.”
“You’ve lived a long time.”
“It’s not short for dragons either.”
“Why have you stayed in Cologne for so long?”
“Until my family returns.”
“What?”
Sybel looked at Jin Chen in silence.
Jin Chen brought the liquor bottle to his lips and said, “Enough. Don’t talk. I hate long-winded stories.”
“Now you want to keep talking?”
“Did you hit too hard? Why do you look so out of it?”
“You’re not easy either. Planning to deny it?”
“Why deny? We’re both crazy; we understand each other better.”
Both men smiled at the corners of their mouths.
“Anyway, stop talking. I just want to enjoy my bandit life.”
“Bandit life?”
Sybel asked in surprise.
Jin Chen answered casually, “I told you, I was a bandit in the Central Plains.”
“Why force yourself to be a bandit with that kind of power…”
“Then why are you sitting here as a dragon?”
“It’s different for me. I have to protect my family until my kin return from the Demon Realm…”
Jin Chen cut him off. “Stop dropping hints so subtly.”
“I’m being direct.”
“Why do you keep getting more brazen? At first you were acting serious.”
“Beating someone up and then acting serious is funny.”
“Are you weird? Do all dragons do this?”
“Just eight hundred years with humans.”
That was basically ironclad.
“But you really have no other greed? Humans get greedier the stronger they become, don’t they?”
“That’s only for those who are vaguely strong. They hoard gold in their warehouses and crush weaker ones with it. That’s embarrassing.”
Sybel coughed.
He remembered his own treasure-filled lair and how he received worship from foreign races who brought it.
“I think the same.”
“Hmm? According to what I heard, the dragons’ lairs have enormous treasures……”
“Just some dragons collecting random stuff out of boredom and the rumors got exaggerated.”
“Really? Too bad. I was thinking of settling in the mountain range and robbing your lairs when I had time.”
“You’re settling in the Dragon Mountain Range?”
“Yes. So handle the noise quietly. I’ll only spare you.”