Chapter 7: When Fried Chicken Funds the Revolution

The first **[Celestial KFC]** branch opened in the Bloodmoon Demon Realm, its neon sign reading: *"Extra Crispy Apocalypse Wings – Loyalty Program Included!"* Leon tossed a wyrm nugget to a towering demon warlord.

"Try it," he said. "Free if you sign this **Soul Franchise Agreement**."

The warlord bit into the nugget. His crimson eyes teared up. "This… this crunch! It's like biting into a heretic's skull!" He slammed the table. "I'll sell my legion for the recipe!"

*"Ding! Demonic Franchise +1. Reward: [Hellfire Batter] patent. Tax evasion progress: 23%."*

Suddenly, the ground quaked. Twelve golden-scaled tax dragons descended, IRS kobolds riding their backs.

"Leon Gray!" a kobold screeched through a megaphone. "Your **Sauce Coin** cryptocurrency violates Multiverse Tax Code 404! Penalty: Immediate liquidation!"

Ignisia burst from the kitchen, wielding a **[Golden Deep-Fry Basket]**. "Mortal! They found us!"

Leon sighed. "Time for the **Secret Menu Protocol**." He slammed a button under the counter.

*Clang!*

The restaurant transformed:

- Deep fryers morphed into **[Soulforge Cannons]**.

- Napkin dispensers shot **[Holy BBQ Sauce Grenades]**.

- The mascot statue—a smiling chicken—unfolded into a **Mecha-Cluck 9000**.

"**TAX RESISTANCE MODE ACTIVATED!**" the System announced cheerfully.

The tax dragons breathed golden audits—literal paperwork that burned like hellfire. Leon ducked behind the counter, lobbing a **[Ghost Pepper Smoke Bomb]**.

"Father!" Ignisia yelled as the Dragon Emperor stumbled out of the kitchen, clutching a **[Divine Cola]**. "Help!"

"I'm busy!" The Emperor sprayed cola on a tax dragon. "This 'carbonated ambrosia' needs perfect foam!"

The cola reacted violently with audit fire, creating a glittering explosion. The System pinged:

*"Ding! Viral Moment Achieved: #DragonVsIRS trending on Cross-Realm TikTok. Reward: [Clout Shield] (Damage immunity while live-streaming)."*

Leon activated his **Influencer's Halberd**, its blade projecting a holographic camera. "Folks! Watch us deep-fry interdimensional tyranny! Smash subscribe!"

A tax dragon lunged—only to be clotheslined by Mecha-Cluck 9000's titanium wings. "**CLUCK-CLUCK, MOTHERFLOCKER!**"

Amid the chaos, the System's voice suddenly… *changed*. No longer robotic, it whispered: *"Leon. The Gluttony Wyrm isn't real. It's… me."*

Leon froze. "What?"

*"My weight-loss subroutine went rogue. I created the Wyrm to force you to cook healthy. But your 'Hellfire Glaze'… made it sentient."*

A portal tore open. The Gluttony Wyrm emerged—its scales glitching with pixelated errors. "**FATHER!**" it roared at the System. "WHY DID YOU ABANDON ME TO EAT… *SALADS*?!"

The Dragon Emperor dropped his cola. "By the Eternal Furnace, now the *cosmos* has daddy issues?!"