Chapter 37: The Awakening of the Dark Dragon

In a forgotten part of the wilderness, far beyond the reach of civilization, a hidden cave lay concealed beneath layers of vines, roots, and moss. This place, lost to time, had long been abandoned by all living creatures. Deep within its core, in the darkest recesses, an ancient being slumbered—a dragon with scales as black as night, whose power had not been felt for centuries.

Its breath was slow and even, an ancient rhythm that had remained undisturbed for generations. The dragon's colossal form was curled tightly in the chamber, its body wrapped in an aura of oppressive power that seeped into the very earth around it. No animal or monster dared venture near, instinctively sensing the ominous presence of the creature.

Outside, escapee soldiers from the warzone stumbled through the dense forest. They were battered, their armor damaged, and their faces pale with fear and exhaustion. The sounds of battle had faded into the distance, but their desperation to escape led them deeper into uncharted territory. Unaware of the danger lurking beneath the ground, they rushed through the undergrowth, their minds too clouded with panic to recognize the signs of imminent doom.

"We have to keep moving!" one of the soldiers gasped, clutching his side as they pushed through the thick foliage. "They'll find us if we stop!"

In their frantic dash for safety, one of the soldiers tripped over an exposed root ,Which was not there a moment ago it seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. As he fell, his mana bomb—strapped to his waist—dislodged, tumbling to the ground. Before any of them could react, the bomb detonated, sending a shockwave of magical energy rippling through the air.

The blast wasn't large enough to cause widespread destruction, but its effects reached deep underground, reverberating through the cavern where the dragon lay. The ancient creature's eyelids flickered, disturbed for the first time in centuries by the unexpected surge of mana. Its slow breathing quickened as its senses awakened to the world once more.

Inside the cave, glowing crimson eyes opened, illuminating the dark cavern with an eerie light. The dragon's massive form shifted slightly, its scales scraping against the stone floor as it lifted its head. A deep, guttural growl echoed in the chamber, resonating with the fury of a creature disturbed from its long rest.

Outside, the soldiers struggled to their feet, oblivious to the disaster they had just triggered.

"Did you hear that?" one of them whispered, his eyes wide with fear.

Before anyone could respond, the earth beneath them trembled, and a sudden, overpowering pressure filled the air. The soldiers froze, their instincts screaming at them to run, but they had no idea what they were dealing with.

Suddenly, the hidden cave mouth opened as if by some unseen force, revealing the silhouette of the dragon within. The soldiers, paralyzed by the oppressive aura, could only stare in terror at the creature slowly emerging into the night. The dragon's eyes glowed with malice, its massive form towering over the forest. It exhaled softly, a sound that sent shivers down their spines.

Without moving more than an inch, the dragon's voice echoed in their minds, ancient and filled with contempt.

"Stupid, weak humans... disturbing my peaceful sleep," it growled, its tone dark and venomous.

The soldiers barely had time to scream before the dragon unleashed its devastating ability. With barely a flicker of thought, the dragon's eyes gleamed brighter, and the very air around the soldiers seemed to freeze. A pulse of dark energy rippled out from the dragon, invisible but lethal. This was the power of Soul Shatter, an ancient magic that bypassed flesh and bone, targeting the very essence of life.

In an instant, the soldiers collapsed, their bodies limp and lifeless. Their souls, torn from their bodies by the dragon's immense power, dissipated into the air, leaving nothing but empty shells behind. They hadn't even had the chance to fight back.

The dragon didn't move, its massive form still half-hidden in the shadows of the cave. It gazed at the fallen soldiers with disinterest, their weak lives insignificant in its eyes. Their deaths were nothing more than an inconvenience, a minor annoyance in the grand scheme of its existence.

With a snort of contempt, the dragon turned its gaze toward the forest, feeling the stirrings of the world around it. The centuries of peace had come to an end. The dragon's long slumber had been interrupted, and now it was awake once more.

The dark clouds above began to swirl as the dragon's presence seeped into the atmosphere. The very air grew colder, and an ominous feeling settled over the land. The world would soon know that an ancient power had returned, and nothing would be the same.

As the dragon lay back down, preparing to settle into a lighter, more watchful rest, it suddenly felt something… a gaze, a presence lingering around it. The dragon's eyes narrowed, its mind instantly sensing the intrusion. With a deep growl of annoyance, the dragon invoked a powerful defense, casting an impenetrable shield around itself. The shield shimmered in the air, radiating an intense aura that canceled all forms of privacy breaches, rendering any attempts to spy on it utterly useless.

Far away, nearly a hundred kilometers from the dragon's cave, a green-haired, hooded figure stood hidden within the trees. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his face paled as he felt the sudden backlash of his unique vision skill being forcefully canceled. The terrifying pressure of the dragon's gaze had reached even this far, momentarily freezing his movements.

The man smirked, though his body trembled slightly from the lingering effects. "As expected, it's not going to be easy to use this monster for my plans," he muttered to himself, the words tinged with a mixture of awe and frustration.

Despite the fear still lingering in his chest, the green-haired figure's smirk widened. His hand twitched slightly as a gust of wind began to swirl around him, pulling at his cloak. Within seconds, his body dissolved into green wisps, carried away on the wind as he vanished into the night, leaving no trace of his presence behind.