CHAPTER 137: CHAPTER 137: THE COLLAPSE OF WILSON

"You two are truly pathetic. Without this Lesser Dragon, you wouldn’t be anything at all," Ashu said bluntly as he landed directly on the dragon’s back, facing them. "Fortunately, I know to capture the king first. You two are dead, so this dragon belongs to me."

Their life force strength had already been exposed through the Reaper’s Eye surveillance.

Though the two old men were also "King" level, they had only recently entered the rank, just like Ashu. Their expertise was clearly in beast control and taming, while Ashu’s specialty was killing their lives.

"You..."

The direct damage from the scythe and the persistent corrosion from the black aura caused the two old men to collapse on the dragon’s back, unwillingly exhaling their last breath.

Only a desperate scream was left behind, echoing in the air for a long time without fading.

At the same time,

The Lesser Dragon beneath felt its rune shackles break—the chains controlling it shattered in an instant, granting it freedom to see the sky once more.

It roared thunderously with anger and relief mixed in its voice.

Ashu then leapt into the air, hovering before the dragon’s head.

The Lesser Dragon’s pupils contracted. It sensed the power Ashu contained, and its race’s wisdom allowed it to discern friend from foe.

Those two old men, who used tricks, runic collars, and harmed its body while stabbing its soul—were pure evil.

Ashu, on the other hand, had saved it.

"Roar—"

The Lesser Dragon exhaled slowly, lowering its head and crawling before him.

This was a sign of submission.

Its massive body seemed gentle before Ashu, lightly rubbing his arm while emitting low, mournful whines, as if pledging loyalty to its new master.

...

Outside Rose Valley town, at the camp,

Countless soldiers widened their eyes, staring at the huge Lesser Dragon’s figure. One by one, their throats tightened; no one could speak.

They couldn’t believe it—the already strong Demon faction had now tamed a Lesser Dragon!

And this Lesser Dragon flew all the way from the Imperial Capital—obviously a secret weapon from someone there.

But... why did it end up like this? Why did it become a divine pet delivered to the enemy?

This has got to be a hidden traitor, right?

Why did the controller of the Lesser Dragon suddenly die?

...

Inside the Imperial Capital.

"This... this is impossible!" Wilson pounded wildly on the magic mirror. The glass shattered on impact, shards cutting his palm, blood dripping onto the floor.

He collapsed to the ground, his face filled with despair and regret, muttering to himself, "It’s over, it’s all over..."

His eyes were hollow, devoid of their usual spirit.

This was his last resort plan, but not only did it fail to kill the Demons, the Lesser Dragon was even taken by the Demon side!

"Didn’t they say the Lesser Dragon was supposed to counter the Demons..." Wilson murmured in a daze.

"Your Highness, well, may I remind you that at least you can still bring back Imperial Princess Isabella. It’s not a complete failure yet," said a servant.

"She..."

...

On the battlefield.

The air was filled with a mixture of the Lesser Dragon’s scent and the earthy smell of rock element.

Ashu rode atop the Lesser Dragon, black aura swirling around him like solid matter. Every wisp of black mist carried a biting coldness, freezing the air into tiny ice crystals wherever it passed.

His current strength had been tested—at this power level, even if he were ganged up on at the Imperial Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony, he could still escape without dying or being captured.

At last, he didn’t have to die.

He felt relieved.

But he was not content. He shouldn’t have had to suffer so much, nor repeatedly risk his life, all because of some conspiracy that dragged him in.

He would make those responsible pay.

Suddenly, a sharp voice shouted from afar.

"Damn you, heretical scum! What dirty tricks did you use to control this Lesser Dragon?!"

Isabella was furious.

She was angry at the useless teammate—if the frontline fighting dragged on, she could keep leveling up with double rewards daily and eventually surpass the Demons.

But that useless teammate somehow found two worthless old men and ended up gifting a Lesser Dragon to the Demons!

To know, the combat power of one Lesser Dragon rivals that of a "King"-level cultivator!

She was furious at the Lesser Dragon itself—dragons are precious, just like the Royal Family. Even a Lesser Dragon should obey a noble Bloodline. But how could it bow and submit to heretical scum?

"Roar—"

The Lesser Dragon seemed to sense the hostility rushing toward it. Its massive body immediately bristled, subtly shielding Ashu.

It turned its head to glance at the small figure of Isabella. Its dragon eyes were full of warning.

Hot breath billowed from its nostrils, condensing into white mist in the cold air.

It could tell Isabella was different, but that was all—it wouldn’t tolerate hostility toward its savior from anyone today.

Unfortunately,

Isabella ignored the Lesser Dragon’s warning and continued advancing—a clear provocation to fight.

"Roar—!"

The Lesser Dragon let out a mighty roar, the sound waves shaking distant mountain peaks and causing countless rocks to tumble down, while the dark clouds in the sky began to scatter and dissipate.

From its mouth, it suddenly unleashed a scorching dragon’s breath, glowing with a molten lava-like orange-red hue. The breath carried an intense heat capable of incinerating everything, instantly melting the ruins before it into a glass-like substance.

Isabella leapt into the air, her golden battle boots crushing the dust midair as she dashed forward like a streak of golden lightning.

Her eyes burned with fighting spirit.

"You beast, kneel before me!" Isabella commanded sharply, channeling all her strength into her war spear. The golden light clashed violently with the Lesser Dragon’s fiery breath, creating an explosive energy wave in the air. The wave swept across the ground, hurling stones skyward and carving out a massive crater of rubble.

After the strike, Isabella transformed into a golden streak of light, moving at lightning-fast speed and leaving behind a trail of golden afterimages in the air.

She climbed along the dragon’s scales, aiming straight for the Lesser Dragon’s throat—the weakest spot in its armored scales.

The Lesser Dragon hurriedly swung its sharp claws to block. The collision between the hard dragon claws and Isabella’s fist rang out like clashing metal, sparks flying like fireworks.

Even standing atop the dragon’s back, Ashu could feel the force behind Isabella’s punch, as if a car had exploded beneath him.

So he had no choice but to intervene. He knew Isabella’s strength well—if his new pet got injured, that would be a big problem.

The moment his Reaper’s power touched Isabella’s golden light, a system notification suddenly flooded his mind:

[Isabella·Atras gained: Strength +2]

[Critical Return! Vessel gained: Strength +22!]

"Hm? Strength +2 only applies against Demons... So they’re treating me like I’m on the Demon faction?" Ashu thought to himself.

But that was fine by him. Fighting Isabella while earning higher system returns was a win-win.

He wasn’t just fighting—he was farming experience packs, as if each attack exploded experience points.

"Rock Howl, fall back." Ashu raised his hand and waved lightly, his voice filled with undeniable authority.

Since he could handle it alone, there was no need for the Lesser Dragon to interfere.

If the Lesser Dragon tired Isabella out, the efficiency would drop significantly.

The Lesser Dragon let out a reluctant roar, its dragon eyes flickering with struggle, but it unwillingly retreated a hundred meters. Its massive body stirred up a cloud of dust.

Isabella clenched her teeth tight at the sight.

She had willingly taken on a two-on-one fight—that was her confidence and her pride.

But Ashu driving away the Lesser Dragon was an insult, a provocation to her!

"You... damn heretic! How dare you be so... so arrogant!"

Suddenly, dazzling white light burst from behind her.

Her entire body slowly floated into the air, and a gigantic angelic silhouette appeared behind her once again.

This time, however, the angelic apparition wielded a longsword burning with holy fire, its wings spread wide to cover the entire sky over Rose Valley, turning the area as bright as a summer midday.

A vast and overwhelming divine pressure descended upon the land, causing even the distant Lesser Dragon to lower its head.

"Oh my God! Please grant me the mighty power to judge and condemn evil!"

Isabella’s golden hair began to turn snow-white, and strange feather-like patterns appeared on her cheeks—clearly, the price of using forbidden magic had begun.

Countless golden feathered blades of light swirled around her body, each blade carrying an immensely terrifying power.

"Judgment! Execution!"

At her command, the blades fell like a torrential rain, scorching the very air and twisting it into ripples. Ashu quickly dodged as countless bottomless chasms suddenly tore open in the ground.

Ashu’s pupils constricted sharply as he sensed the situation slipping out of control.

Isabella’s power was already formidable, but now, fueled by desperation and forbidden magic, honestly, she was completely stronger than Ashu.

If it came to a death match, Ashu felt he had no chance of winning.

He swung his massive scythe, unleashing a tide of pitch-black Death energy that formed a hundred-meter-high dark barrier in front of him.

He intended to use this barrier to temporarily block Isabella, giving him a chance to escape and change his disguise.

The golden blades clashed against the dark barrier with a deafening roar, rippling across its surface like a lake buffeted by wild winds.

Ashu exploded with all his strength to retreat, the ground beneath his feet cracking into a web of fractures.

"Don’t—think—you—can—escape!"

From behind the black barrier came a voice heavy with suppression and pain.

"Not good! She’s burning her life force!"

Through Reaper’s Eye, Ashu saw Isabella’s condition.

As her life force drained, her power surged once more in a brief explosion. The black barrier shattered with a snap, and her figure, glowing golden, instantly closed the distance.

He watched in horror as the golden fist, radiating brilliant light, was about to strike his head.