Chapter 77: Taming An Ancient Beast

Suspended in midair, Shajin's figure shimmered like an illusion, each of his movements elegant and unhurried.

With a subtle motion, his fingers slid inside his inner coat. From a hidden pocket, he drew out a Mora—once the symbol of "freedom."

Now, in his hand, it seemed utterly insignificant.

He gazed at it, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

That Mora had already been broken into three fragments by Shajin, crumbling like withered petals—fragile and powerless.

He chuckled softly, then closed his fingers around the pieces. With a gentle squeeze, the Mora shattered into countless dust-like fragments.

Like petals scattered by the wind, the golden dust slipped through his fingers, drifting away in the air before vanishing into nothingness.

As light as a bird, he slowly descended from the sky.

At his waist, the peacock-blue Vision shone even more brilliantly than before, crystalline and radiant like the brightest star in the night sky.

Upon landing, Shajin swept his gaze across the battlefield.

Only Baqiu remained, shivering at the edge of its prison above the sea, eyes brimming with fear and despair.

A teasing smile curled Shajin's lips, like a cat toying with a trapped mouse.

He strode toward Baqiu, each step exuding an irresistible pressure.

"Overlord of the Abyss—Baqiu. I'm giving you two options."

His voice was as calm as a still lake, devoid of any emotion, yet laced with a bone-chilling authority.

His gaze burned like twin torches, piercing through Baqiu's monstrous exterior, as though seeking the truth hidden within.

Baqiu trembled like a leaf in the wind, lowering its head and not daring to meet Shajin's eyes.

The sheer force radiating from this human crushed any will it had to resist.

It knew—this man had absolute power. If he wished, he could erase it from existence with a flick of his hand.

"First option: I send you to reunite with the other two."

He casually tossed a glowing Mora in his hand, like a noble idly playing with a trinket.

His tone was light, but the implied threat was undeniable.

Baqiu's eyes widened in terror, fully aware that it no longer had the power to resist.

Its fate now lay entirely in this man's hands.

But it wasn't willing to die—not yet. Not like this.

It was a magical beast with strength rivaling a god. How could it accept such an end?

Lifting its head, it looked at Shajin with pleading eyes, desperate for a sliver of hope.

"The other option…"

Shajin paused, an inscrutable smile forming on his face.

The sight of it made Baqiu's scales crawl. That smile glinted like a blade in the dark—it didn't know what was coming, but it could sense danger.

"Baqiu. Submit to me."

The second choice was finally spoken.

His voice was low and magnetic, infused with a commanding aura that pulled at Baqiu's will like gravity.

Baqiu stared in disbelief.

It had never imagined that someone would dare to say such words to it.

His tone was mild, but the weight behind it was like a towering mountain—one it could never climb.

Its scales paled. It hadn't expected this.

"I just so happen to need a mount~"

Shajin's words struck Baqiu like a hammer to the heart.

It froze, crushed by a sudden weight of humiliation and disbelief.

As the Overlord of the Abyss, it had always lived freely, without restraint. No one had ever dared to command it.

But now, threatened with death, it had to reconsider.

If it refused, it would die.

If it submitted, it would lose its freedom—but live.

There was no real choice to make.

After a fierce internal struggle, Baqiu finally made its decision.

It clenched its jaws, lowered its head, and yielded.

"…I accept."

Its voice was tinged with bitterness and resignation, as if surrendering to fate.

Shajin nodded, pleased. A faint smirk curved his lips.

"Good. From now on, you're my mount."

He reached out and gently stroked Baqiu's head, as if soothing a docile pet.

But from his fingertips, golden light rippled forth like little serpents, slithering down into Baqiu's body.

A glint of smugness flickered in Baqiu's eyes.

What a joke.

There's an old saying—"A wise man submits to fate."

Live today, fight tomorrow.

I'll pretend to submit… and escape later.

The more Baqiu thought about it, the prouder it became of its "clever" plan.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Baqiu felt something like flowing water enter its body—a force that spread everywhere, penetrating every corner.

It was like countless tiny worms crawling through its flesh.

What is this?!

Panic surged within it as it tried to resist, but the force clung to it like bone-deep rot—impossible to shake off.

"Don't move~"

Shajin's voice whispered coldly into its ear.

"Or I might just… accidentally kill you~"

Terror flashed in Baqiu's eyes. It knew—it was now completely under Shajin's control. Resistance was pointless.

Then Shajin's voice turned ice-cold.

"Don't think I can't guess what you're plotting. If you so much as twitch the wrong way, you'll regret it."

Baqiu froze. Its earlier thoughts—it now realized—had been seen through completely. It was like glass before Shajin's eyes.

The golden light continued to wind through its body. A sense of binding it had never felt before locked around it, like invisible chains coiling ever tighter.

After a while, Shajin clapped his hands, clearly satisfied.

"All done. Now, with a single thought, I can make you explode on the spot."

"You're no god, after all. Saves me the trouble of cleansing divine resentment~"

Baqiu lowered its head in silent acceptance of its fate.

_

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