Chapter 337

Chapter 337
## Chapter 337

Dragon and Dragon (1)

An oasis of peace and refinement, tucked away in a quiet garden.

Underneath the roof of a small pavilion, two women were seated across from one another, a table filled with sweet delicacies and freshly brewed tea resting between them.

“…Red Dragon, was this your handiwork?”

The speaker, a woman whose long, blue tresses were meticulously pinned and styled, placed her porcelain cup back onto its saucer and let out a soft, weary breath.

“Whatever do you mean by that?”

“Let us not play these foolish games. Are you truly expecting me to believe it is a mere twist of fate that Dool happens to be in that exact location right now?”

“How am I supposed to comprehend the erratic whims of that mindless brute?”

“Red Dragon.”

The other woman, distinguished by her cropped scarlet hair, knitted her brows and let out a sharp click of her tongue, clearly irritated by the steady, unblinking accusation.

Observing that her companion had all but confessed through her reaction, the blue-haired woman could only shake her head with another heavy sigh.

“What compelled you to orchestrate this? You are well aware that this matter stretches far beyond the jurisdiction of our Golden Island Sect; the fate of the entire world hangs in the balance. He represents a vital instrument for the execution of our master plan.”

“Exactly. And that is precisely why I refuse to offer him my uncritical devotion. This ordeal is an indispensable trial.”

“A trial…? This path was dictated by the Dragon God himself. You are compromising…”

Shatter!

The remainder of her sentence was abruptly swallowed by the violent splintering of the table separating them.

An instantaneous, heavy stillness descended upon the pavilion.

Brushing away the fractured wood and scattered porcelain with an eerie composure, Red Dragon spoke, her delivery completely devoid of warmth or inflection.

“The Dragon God… Ah, yes, the glorious Dragon God. Where was his divine benevolence when our kin were bleeding out in droves, all to uphold the fragile equilibrium of this realm? Yet now, out of nowhere, he condescends to grant us a divine mandate, a holy revelation?”

“…The scope of his actions goes beyond a mere message. The Dragon God has continuously bestowed upon us the ‘Dragon’s Children’…”

“Ha! The Dragon’s Children? What a pathetic farce. They are nothing more than livestock meant for slaughter. Or perhaps our revered Dragon God harbors a… ravenous appetite for the flesh of his own lineage? Truly… a majestic deity.”

“Sarin!”

“Cease that at once. Avoid uttering that name in my presence. To you, I am Red Dragon. Just as you are known as Azure Dragon.”

Faced with this uncompromising reprimand, Azure Dragon, the woman with the blue hair, gently shut her eyes.

Those designations were symbols of sovereignty over their respective bloodlines.

Such titles were reserved strictly for the ultimate leaders of the clans.

Following the demise of their predecessors, the heavy mantle of those names had fallen onto their shoulders.

“…Very well, Red Dragon. Regardless of your grievances, I cannot simply stand by and watch this hostility unfold. I have already dispatched a mediator to quell the violence.”

“Do as you please. It matters little to me, so long as the conclusion is swift. I must admit, Dool possesses formidable strength, so the fact that he is managing to hold his ground against that… foreign entity… is reasonably commendable.”

Red Dragon’s voice trailed off, her words dissolving into an abrupt silence.

Detecting the unnatural break in the conversation, Azure Dragon opened her eyes to inspect her companion.

“Red Dragon?”

“…”

Receiving no verbal answer, she followed the red-haired woman’s gaze, which was fixed intently on a distant point, her features twisted into a mask of deep agitation.

Discerning the trajectory of her partner’s focus, Azure Dragon expanded her sensory awareness, casting her perception far beyond the garden.

Her mind traveled to the threshold of the concealed territory, where the tumultuous uproar was taking place.

The exact spot where the newcomer and Dool were locked in a fierce… collision.

‘…What am I looking at?’

The initial sight that greeted her consciousness was a colossal back, defined by shifting, mountain-like muscles that rippled with immense power.

Assuming that her sensory projection was experiencing some sort of technical distortion, she instinctively attempted to recalibrate her spiritual vision…

…only to realize that the fault did not lie within her own senses.

The surrounding environment and architecture maintained their normal proportions.

It was solely the possessor of that gargantuan back, a solitary warrior, who stood out as… monstrously, impossibly massive.

“What under the heavens…?”

The stunned whisper of Red Dragon echoed nearby, but Azure Dragon found herself utterly incapable of offering a reply.

She was completely paralyzed by shock, her thoughts spinning frantically as she processed the bizarre spectacle playing out before her.

To be precise, it was not merely one individual who defied standard dimensions.

Dool, who stood directly in his path of destruction, was likewise an exceptionally large being.

However, the actual dynamic of the battlefield… veered completely away from anything she had envisioned.

Rumble—!

Before her eyes…

…a towering, muscular titan was systematically and mercilessly battering a drastically smaller, beast-like opponent.

‘…Granted, it is not a completely passive beating.’

Yet the sheer disparity in their physical scales rendered Dool’s frantic counterattacks look… completely pathetic.

It was an unadulterated exhibition of savage, uncontested dominance.

Staring blankly at the unfolding carnage, Azure Dragon murmured under her breath without even realizing it,

“…We must deploy additional forces immediately.”

“Agreed…”

For once, their opinions were in perfect alignment.

—

“Aaaagh—! I will rip you to pieces!”

“Hold your positions! Cease this madness!”

“Fall back! Pin him down!”

“Deploy the protective wards!”

The escalating brawl was rapidly suppressed, owing to the sudden arrival of a massive wave of peacekeepers.

Amidst the swirling vortex of dust and shouting, as the frenzied Dool was dragged back by multiple hands, Harley smoothly stepped away from the fray, his towering frame gradually compressing back down to its standard human dimensions.

‘Hmph, it is rather peculiar that the authorities took this long to step in.’

This realm belonged to them, and he had arrived under the status of an invited guest.

A violent altercation should have been prevented before it even began.

‘They were either incredibly incompetent at anticipating Dool’s volatile temper… or else… ’

…The leadership of this place had intentionally turned a blind eye to see how things would play out.

Regardless of whatever hidden agenda they possessed, Harley found no reason to complain.

After all, their little instigation had provided a wonderful opportunity—.

Crunch— Gulp!

…He had just treated himself to a highly gratifying ‘refreshment’.

‘Altering my physical mass was definitely the correct tactical move.’

Rubbing his midsection with a thoroughly content expression, his physique completed its return to its ordinary frame.

That particular action was undoubtedly the catalyst for Dool’s enduring rage.

The immense scale difference had allowed Harley to take a massive bite that nearly severed Dool’s entire arm from his shoulder.

Through the activation of his 「Voracity」 ability, Harley consumed not just physical flesh, but also the rich reservoirs of concentrated spiritual energy bound within it.

Reversing that kind of damage must have pushed Dool’s regenerative capabilities to their absolute limit.

‘Not my concern. It is perfectly natural for predators to tear into one another when a fight breaks out.’

If anything, he had exercised a great deal of self-control.

The absolute most rewarding path would have involved ripping out the creature’s internal core—the equivalent of a high-grade mana crystal—but since the timing wasn’t right for an execution, he contentedly settled for the fresh genetic codes he had just harvested.

Caressing his stomach while basking in the comforting sensation of satiety, he began evaluating the internal modifications taking place within his 「Ultimate Evolved Lifeform」 status.

‘Fascinating. The supernatural entities native to Ganghwange represent an entirely distinct biological branch. They share traits with beast-kin and monsters… yet they possess a uniquely… ethereal quality.’

In contrast to conventional monsters, whose anatomies evolved strictly to maximize raw vitality and muscular force, these beings directed their internal energy through precise pathways, highly reminiscent of human spiritual meridians.

This intricate network was undoubtedly the cornerstone of their unique martial arts disciplines.

‘This acquisition will significantly accelerate my mastery over the Mad Control Heart Technique.’

A dark grin spread across his face as he sensed his cellular structure reconfiguring, tuning itself to optimize this new method of energy circulation.

Just as he always believed, the assimilation of diverse cultural styles and foreign biologies remained the absolute fastest shortcut to ultimate evolution!

As he test-flexed his fingers, a deeply satisfied smirk playing on his lips,

“Um… Esteemed Mad Demon-nim? Are you unharmed?”

…Qingguan, who had carefully maintained a safe distance throughout the entirety of the clash, took a hesitant step forward to address him.

“Naturally! A minor bit of physical exertion always leaves me feeling completely refreshed! Hahaha!”

“Sigh, that brings me immense relief. In that case…”

Letting out a breath of genuine reassurance, the guide quickly pivoted to his primary objective.

He harbored absolutely no desire to spend a single unnecessary second in the company of this… volatile, chaotic entity.

“If it pleases you, I can escort you directly to the presence of the Azure Dragon now. She wishes to formally present her regrets regarding this unfortunate… disturbance.”

It provided the ultimate pretext—a flawless opportunity to fulfill his duties and distance himself from this walking… natural disaster.

—

The hidden domain existed as an isolated pocket of reality, entirely severed from the mortal world.

The Golden Island Sect served as a sanctuary for an incredible array of supernatural entities.

‘…In this particular world, ‘Demon’ simply functions as a blanket term for any sapient, non-human species.’

The classification spanned from legendary entities like the multi-tailed foxes and mischievous sprites to sacred protectors such as the kirin and the guardian haetae.

And reigning supreme at the absolute apex of this supernatural hierarchy… were the true dragons.

“…This presence is deeply unsettling.”

The red-haired matriarch, who was currently studying Harley with narrowed, calculating eyes, belonged to that elite sovereign race.

Red Dragon, positioning herself alongside Azure Dragon—who had just finished offering her polite apologies for the earlier chaos—scrutinized Harley without blinking, her slitted, predatory eyes radiating a chilly, antagonistic aura.

It was as though her gaze possessed the ability to peel back his layers.

And then—.

“…You carry the taint of a dragon slayer.”

Her expression, which had previously manifested a blend of intense curiosity and deep skepticism since their introduction, instantly hardened into overt malice.

Coupled with… a profound sense of letdown.

“…Red Dragon.”

“Save your breath, Azure Dragon. This changes the situation entirely.”

“But his presence…”

“His raw capability is beyond question, but that is the extent of his value. He does not even possess the true nature of a dragon; he would be utterly incapable of crossing the threshold into the Dragon God’s sanctuary. What use is he to us? He lacks the most fundamental criteria.”

“Haa…”

“This entire affair is preposterous. I genuinely harbored a faint hope… that the Dragon God still possessed a shred of empathy for us! Yet the savior delivered to us… is a parasite who slaughters dragons to usurp their essence? Is this some twisted cosmic jest?”

Azure Dragon, the blue-haired sovereign, pinched her eyes shut as a weary lament escaped her lips, while Red Dragon continued her furious tirade, her tone dripping with unbridled anger and betrayal.

She behaved exactly like someone who had been deeply deceived.

The atmosphere within the pavilion began to hum with volatile pressure, the ambient energy rippling erratically under her emotional weight.

‘What are they rambling about?’

Harley remained completely unbothered by her outburst.

The underlying politics seemed mildly convoluted, but he possessed zero interest in acting as an audience for their internal melodramas. He had his own objectives to prioritize.

“Pfft!”

Crossing his arms over his chest with an expression of pure boredom, he canted his head to the side, silently daring them to keep wasting his time.

“Look, women, you can finish your little sewing circle gossip at a later date. You sent for me, so let us stop beating around the bush and get down to business.”

“What did you say…?”

Her features contorting with fresh fury, Red Dragon snapped her attention back to him… but Harley merely offered a casual shrug and drove his point home.

“I didn’t trek across dimensions just to loiter around. Let us conclude whatever business we have and move on.”

“Ha!”

Both Red Dragon and Azure Dragon gaped at him, their expressions completely blank with utter shock.

From where did this creature derive such absurd arrogance?

Yet Harley, who was never one to shy away from a violent confrontation, simply locked eyes with them, his posture radiating unyielding confidence.

“…I believe our formal negotiations must conclude here. Since you traveled all this way on our summons, we shall permit you to remain within our borders for a brief period. You may observe the local landmarks and take your departure. We shall even provide a respectable token upon your exit. But nothing more.”

Red Dragon delivered the verdict, her voice cooling down to a rigid stiffness.

Azure Dragon, looking visibly defeated, gave a quiet nod of concurrence.

It appeared that firsthand exposure to his persona had forced her to align with her counterpart’s perspective.

“Tsk.”

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Harley rubbed the nape of his neck as he analyzed their sudden shift in attitude.

‘So, the core issue is that I hunted a dragon and integrated its genetic traits?’

The spiritual leader back in Auterica had picked up on that exact detail immediately as well.

He had experienced no friction passing himself off as a Dragonborn up until this point, but it appeared the rules of engagement were vastly different in this environment.

‘Come to think of it, I never actually crossed paths with an active, living dragon back in Auterica.’

The solitary dragon he possessed any familiarity with, Shri Hartgen, had remained firmly sequestered inside his subterranean sanctuary, monitoring external events exclusively through remote clairvoyance.

The remaining members of that dying race were likely adopting similar survival strategies.

It was somewhat fascinating that such a conceptual trait carried over so seamlessly, given that these worlds existed in entirely separate dimensional planes.

Were the dragons of this realm and the dragons of his previous world… truly considered the same biological classification?

‘Then again, look at humans. Countless dimensions feature practically identical variations of mankind.’

It seemed the creators of these worlds utilized a standardized template when populating their domains. There were bound to be… unoriginal overlaps.

It wasn’t entirely outside the realm of logic for a fundamental link to exist between different draconic species.

‘…Should I just reduce this entire sector to rubble?’

A wave of irritation began to well up inside him.

He couldn’t care less about their grand designs. His presence here was strictly motivated by a need for intelligence.

He had humored their protocols in the hope of securing direct answers, but he could easily pivot to wholesale slaughter if cooperation failed. Might makes right, after all.

‘I am dedicating a massive amount of personal energy toward stabilizing Ganghwange; I do not have the patience to play the diplomat indefinitely.’

Just as his impulses began to lean heavily toward initiating a bloody purge,

A sudden spark of inspiration flashed through his mind, halting his aggression.

‘Hold on, if the primary roadblock is simply that Harley is a dragon-devouring entity…’

They desperately required a specific missing piece.

And his current biological profile failed to satisfy their criteria.

In that case, what would happen if someone who actually met their standards… no, an individual who perfectly embodied everything they were praying for, suddenly took his place?

‘There is no downside to testing the waters. One final attempt.’

Without a single moment of hesitation, he initiated the summoning.

—

“Huh?”

Red Dragon’s mouth fell wide open.

“Ah…”

Azure Dragon was rendered completely breathless by the sight.

Standing right before them,

Harley, keeping his arms folded, offered a smug, thoroughly pleased nod.

And positioned right in front of him,

“Hehehe…”

…A pint-sized, golden-haired youngster was shifting his feet nervously under their intense scrutiny, bashfully twirling a lock of his own hair around his finger while projecting an utterly harmless, innocent smile.

““A Golden… Dragon?””

Horus, the juvenile Gold Dragon hailing from the world of Auterica, had officially set foot within the lands of Ganghwange.