Roooooar~
A soul-stirring, deep dragon's roar thundered beneath the sky.
"A dragon?"
Looking at the creature emerging from the underwater whirlpool, Sora's heart couldn't help but jump in shock.
The next second.
Mountain-like tremendous force transmitted through the steel fishing rod, dragging Sora's form into a stumble.
Just as he was about to fall off the cliff, Sora took a deep breath, stepped heavily, and steadied himself again.
No time to be shocked by the true identity of this big catch—right now, the only thing Sora needed to do was reel in this 'big fish.'
As a qualified fishing enthusiast, Sora was naturally most familiar with playing fish.
Not to mention, during the past month, he had caught several fishing skills.
"Eighteen Dragon Subduing Fishing Methods—Grandma Drilling Into Bed!!!"
Sora's eyes focused as he transformed like an electric venom dragon drill, pulling his body back dozens of meters from the cliff's edge.
However...
The next moment, even more surging tremendous force came rushing forth.
Splurt!
The tiger's mouth of Sora's hands gripping the fishing rod burst open, blood instantly flowing.
Cough!
The exhaustion from the power struggle made him involuntarily cough up blood.
Even so, Sora still had no intention of giving up.
Absolutely refusing to let go.
"Tai Chi Fishing Method!!!"
Mysteriously, it was as if a Yin-Yang Tai Chi diagram appeared behind Sora.
This was a fishing skill that fused the power of Chinese ancient martial arts Tai Chi heritage.
It followed the principle of using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds, borrowing force to counter force.
When playing big catches, this move had outstanding effects.
Splash splash~
Rocks pierced the air.
Startling waves crashed against the shore.
The clear sky was shrouded by endless dark clouds.
Thick lightning serpents swam through the depths of the clouds.
Time passed bit by bit.
Two hours went by.
At the cliff's edge, the game between Sora and the giant creature entered a white-hot stalemate.
Another two hours.
The giant creature still hadn't 'exhausted its strength,' while Sora's body and mind had almost reached their limits, now being pulled back step by step.
But...
Even though his body and mind were exhausted to the extreme, Sora's eyes remained clear, even growing brighter.
"About time!!!"
For the eighteenth time, Sora stood firm at the cliff's edge, his back to the sea, right hand single-handedly gripping the fishing rod.
Crack!
Thick thunder crashed down from the depths of the black clouds, illuminating the dim world.
It also illuminated Sora's eyes, brilliant as starlight.
All power gathered in his right hand.
Along with it gathered mysterious white light and shadow.
"Eighteen Dragon Subduing Fishing Methods—Sixteenth Method—One Cast... Opens Heaven's Gate!!!"
Haaaah!!!
Sora's right arm muscles bulged as he firmly and resolutely lifted the rod.
Splurt!
His arm muscles tore, blood gushing forth.
To this, Sora remained oblivious, the fishing rod slowly but steadily rising.
The sea seemed to freeze at this moment.
Rumble!
Not the sound of thunder.
But the sea collapsing.
The space beneath the sea was collapsing.
As if the gates of heaven were opening.
Finally.
The massive creature underwater revealed its true form.
Delicate small dragon horns.
Wise white dragon eyes.
And that emerald-colored massive dragon body.
Splash splash~
The green giant dragon, weighing who knows how many tons, broke free from the sea surface, being forcibly pulled ashore by Sora.
Thud!
Completely exhausted, Sora fell backward to the ground.
Looking at the super big catch that flew up, the corners of his mouth curved into a satisfied arc.
However...
The next second.
The smile on his face disappeared.
The shadow brought by the green giant dragon covered the entire cliff.
Good heavens.
If he got hit, it would be no different from being run over by a heavy tank.
Even if he didn't die, he'd lose a layer of skin and break two hundred bones.
Sora struggled to get up, but his body felt heavy as if filled with lead—he couldn't move at all.
"I thought dying from not wearing a helmet while fishing was ridiculous enough, but I never expected there'd be dying from being crushed by a flying big catch... But thinking about it carefully, this way of dying is truly unprecedented!"
Sora pondered to himself. Since he couldn't move anyway, he simply stopped struggling and closed his eyes with resignation.
However...
The imagined excruciating pain of being crushed by a tank never came.
Instead, what came was... soft fragrance and warm jade.
Wild, ethereal fragrance rushed into Sora's nostrils.
Along with it came an indescribable sensation.
Sora unconsciously squeezed.
One hand couldn't completely grasp it.
Hmm?
What was this irresistible sensation?
Sora squeezed again.
"Eek~"
A girl's soft moan awakened Sora from his pleasant sensations.
He slowly opened his eyes, and what entered his vision were the girl's eyes brilliant as a galaxy, and... a flawless beautiful face like the red clouds at the horizon, though this face somehow felt subtly familiar.
The more he looked, the more familiar it seemed.
Staring at the naked girl in his arms for quite a while.
"Holy shit!!!"
Sora suddenly widened his eyes, his face filled with shock, disbelief, and excitement.
Because he had recognized the identity of the girl in his arms.
"Master, I'm not called Holy Shit. My name is Tohru, please treat me well!"
Dragon Maid Tohru smiled with curved eyes, her face full of happiness.
[Ding dong]
[Great fortune strikes! Congratulations, host, for catching SSS-rank Dragon Maid Tohru, favorability 100%!!!]
[P.S. Dragon Maid Tohru can handle the parlor, work the kitchen, and warm the bed—truly the perfect choice for home and travel!!!]