Chapter Twenty-Two: The Fires of Ice and the Spark of Arrogance: Humans and Dignity Under the Moon Part One

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Fires of Ice and the Spark of Arrogance: Humans and Dignity Under the Moon Part One

( From the first-person perspective {from Arthur's perspective})

I just went out for a walk.

To be honest, I saw my former race.

At this moment, there were ten fully armed soldiers riding horses, advancing in an orderly manner, while the leading soldier held a torch in his hand.

And about 50 to 60 meters away from this group, there was another small group of soldiers moving.

This is the first time I have seen humans in this world, but what is a human cavalry army doing here in the forest?

Did they come for the Tomb of the Poison Emperor? Or are they after something else?

Well, I'll observe from a distance and see what's going on. I'm a dragon now, and it wouldn't be wise to interact with them at the moment.

I didn't stay long watching them. I turned around and went back to the cave, where Mia was.

(From the third-person perspective)

At this moment, under the moonlight, several figures had entered the forest.

Among them was a knight clad in black armor, kneeling while holding a blue spear in his hand.

The knight said, "Your Majesty, Prince Jing, one of the soldiers has discovered the presence of a red dragon in the forest. What are your orders?"

Prince Jing responded in surprise, "A red dragon? Haven't these creatures been extinct since ancient times? Are you sure this information is accurate?"

The knight firmly replied, "Sir, this information is correct. The red dragon is currently in a cave on the southern border of the forest."

Prince Jing laughed mockingly and said, "Hahaha, it seems this prince is lucky! That dragon will become my pet! Very well, tell everyone to head to the red dragon's cave. This prince will personally tame it to be my mount."

20 minutes later, in front of the red dragon's cave…

The knights stood in formation, gazing at the cave entrance, which was covered with green trees.

Prince Jing asked, "Are you sure there's a red dragon in this cave?"

The knight confidently replied, "Yes, I am certain, Your Highness."

Before the knight could finish his words, the sound of footsteps echoed from within the cave.

Thud!

Thud! Thud!

The ground trembled, and dust scattered into the air.

Under the faint moonlight, a massive figure the size of an elephant slowly emerged before the soldiers.

Its enormous wings gradually spread, while its crimson eyes, shining like rubies, were slit as they gazed at them.

However, none of the soldiers could appreciate the majestic beauty of this creature, for what stood before them was nothing less than a mythical being that had only existed in ancient books!

One soldier shouted, "It's… a dragon!"

Another muttered in shock, "The dragon has really appeared!"

Meanwhile, a terrified soldier screamed in despair, "Damn it! Move, body… move!"

Yet, despite their frantic cries, none of them could move a single muscle due to the overwhelming fear.

But what caught the dragon's attention more than anything else was the presence of an extremely luxurious carriage in the middle of the army.

(From the first-person perspective) (From Arthur's perspective)

Under the faint moonlight, I silently watched these humans as they approached my cave.

Their heavy footsteps and the clatter of their metallic weapons were enough to awaken the deep-seated anger 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 boldness.

But among them, there was someone different.

A luxurious, ornate carriage emanating a strong aura.

At the very least, he is at the Foundation Establishment stage, which means my chances of victory against them are extremely high.

"Very well, let's make this night an unforgettable lesson."

I took my first step out of the cave.

Thud!

Thud! Thud!

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

Their screams echoed around me: "It's a dragon!"

Some of the soldiers cried out in panic: "The dragon has really appeared!"

But I paid no attention to their words.

Humans never change.

They have always been prisoners of their own illusions of control and greed.

As I approached them, I noticed the soldiers trembling, their bodies frozen in place.

But my eyes were locked onto the luxurious carriage—onto that one person staring at me, not with fear, but with ambition.

I set the surroundings ablaze with my fiery breath, then took to the skies, wanting to scout the area and anticipate any traps they might have set for me.

The winds tore through the clouds around me as I soared, watching from above.

I was right.

There was a man standing on the back of a horse, at the edge of a cliff overlooking my cave.

He was watching me, waiting for me to attack the soldiers so he could ambush me by driving his spear into my back.

My wings spread like majestic shadows covering the ground beneath me, and the heat radiating from my chest was paving the way for the flames of my wrath, which were on the verge of erupting.

There, on the rocky edge, stood the knight—small, fragile—but his courage, or perhaps his arrogance, pushed him to raise his spear toward me.

His horse trembled beneath him, yet I saw in his eyes that same familiar arrogance.

I soared above a sky laden with dark clouds, the cold winds slapping my wings, and the air thick with the scent of smoke and ash.

Beneath us, the barren land had become covered with jagged rocks, while tongues of fire still danced at the forest's edges.

On the cliff's edge, the knight remained on his horse.

I charged toward him, my roar piercing the silence as the sky ignited with the light of the flames I breathed.

But he did not flee.

Instead, he rushed toward me, his spear in hand reflecting the glow of my fire.

We clashed amidst the storm.

My wings lashed the air around us, and embers scattered, setting the ground ablaze.

The backdrop was a field of devastation, and the sky was a silent witness to our final battle.

And yet, he did not last long… and he was defeated.

I finally spoke, my deep voice like thunder breaking the silence:

"You greedy humans came seeking your death. Who among you dares to challenge me again?"

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

Icy winds began to gather around me, and frost started forming beneath my feet. But they did not move. Even that arrogant one inside the carriage, despite his pride, froze for a moment.

"I thought you had courage, but it seems all you brought with you is fear."

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

I felt the ancient power of ice flowing within me, spreading through my wings, filling the air with a deadly chill. Under the moonlight, my shimmering red scales reflected a brilliance akin to burning stars.

A brief moment of silence…

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To my dear readers,

I would like to offer my sincerest apologies for the delay in posting the recent chapters. I am a high school student, and right now we are in exam season, which makes it difficult for me to write.

(Number of words in this chapter: 1,194 words)

I know that writing is tiring and difficult, but reading is easy and enjoyable. Your support through ratings and comments will ignite my passion for writing, and I will work harder to entertain you even more.

I truly appreciate your continuous patience, and I promise that I will return stronger soon. Thank you for your understanding and loyalty. Your support means a lot to me, and I hope you will continue to stay with me on this literary journey, encouraging me to keep writing.

Best regards,

[Ss1000101]