The land of great evil lay silent, drenched beneath the moonlight.
At its heart, a black dragon stretched endlessly, its colossal form spanning miles across the abyss. Each breath was a gale, each claw casually scraping stone into dust. Around its monstrous body shimmered a barrier of draconic power, a field no beast dared step within.
Even the fiercest ten-thousand-year soul beasts steered far clear. Only silence reigned here, broken only by the steady thunder of the dragon's breathing.
Then—a shadow fell.
Boom.
The Titan Giant Ape plummeted from the sky, its ten-meter body landing with a quake that rattled the forest floor. It dragged itself up, knuckles dragging, blood still streaking its fur.
"Roaarh!!"
It beat its chest fiercely, then bellowed at the mountain-sized dragon before it. "Emperor Tian! Wake up!!"
The dragon's eyelid twitched. Its tail lashed once, swatting the air with hurricane force that shattered ancient trees like twigs. But its body remained heavy, still tethered to slumber.
The ape grunted. That would not do.
It fumbled for its last bottle of precious liquor, downing the entire thing in one gulp. Heat flushed its veins, ferocity renewed by the mysterious human brew. Strength far beyond its normal threshold shook through its body. It slammed its fists together, eyes bright red.
"ROAR!!"
Then it did the unthinkable—its massive fists hammered Emperor Tian's head directly.
Boom. Boom.
The blows shook the dragon's skull, forcing its enormous maw into the dirt. "Wake up, you lazy beast! The King is in danger!"
At the edge of the Star Lake, the Azure Bull Python coiled anxiously. "Er Ming, stop! You'll kill yourself!" But when the ape bellowed again and struck the dragon's brow, the Python quivered and sank deeper into the waters. Best not to be associated with this madness.
But the commotion prevailed.
With a thunderous growl, the black dragon's golden eyes snapped open. In one sweep, its tail lashed.
BOOM!
The Titan Ape became a blur flung into the sky, spinning like a comet, its howls echoing over the treetops.
"Who dares disturb the Beast God's slumber?!"
Di Tian's voice, heavy with divine malice, rolled across the heavens.
Land quaked. The air thickened. Every beast within hundreds of miles flattened itself into trembling submission.
His gaze locked first on Tianqing, lurking guiltily atop the waves. "You dared wake me?"
The Python shook its massive head violently. "No, Lord Beast God. It was Er Ming. He insists he has something urgent to report."
The Titan Ape, battered and bruised, dragged its body up from the crater its landing had carved, blood still dripping from its ears. It stumbled forward and roared hoarsely, mind-voice transmitting in panic:
Emperor Tian! Save the King! The King has been captured by humans!
At those words, Di Tian paused. His massive eyes narrowed with suspicion. "The King? Did the child not leave long ago…? How could he return? And even if he did, how has he not been devoured by the beasts of the mixed circle?"
The Python coiled uncertainly, voice echoing like a sigh. "According to Er Ming, the King has been taken by a man in black—Tang Hao—beyond our strength to stop. That is why he begged to awaken you."
Di Tian exhaled, smoke curling from his nostrils. Then—he laughed.
"So be it. If humans choose to drag him away, then it saves us chaos. Better that he stays from the Fierce Land and does not stir the Lord again. Live or die, it does not matter—he is human. Different from us. Remember that."
Azure Bull Python hesitated. "But… he was chosen by the Lord. The Lord once declared when the King matured, she would awaken. If he dies… would that not—?"
"Fool." Di Tian's growl silenced the lake. "The Lord sleeps for centuries without stirring. Injured as she is, she will not awaken for a boy's stumble. Such words were only indulgence. The bond between beast and human is illusion. Forget it."
The Python lowered its head reluctantly, unease twisting in its heart.
At that moment, emerald radiance lifted from the Ice Spring. Brigitte's slender green form alighted gracefully on the shore.
"What madness is this? Di Tian, do you want to wake the Lord with your tantrum?" Her soft voice carried chiding power, cooling even the storm of dragon wrath.
"Tch." Di Tian turned away irritably, but the rebuke held.
Behind Brigitte, though, Er Ming staggered forward again, eyes still flushed red, liquor still frothing in his breath.
"Save the King!" it roared, chest hammering like thunder. "The King is the Lord's chosen! You cannot sit idly by!"
Its breath stank of fermented wine. Di Tian recoiled, frowning. "What is that stench?"
The Python glanced away, shame heavy. "…Er Ming lately discovered a strange human liquid. When drunk, his strength briefly surges—but he becomes reckless, almost berserk. This time, he is worse than ever."
The dragon's face darkened. "Magical liquid? Hah. He insults me with drunken fists and dares hammer the Beast God's skull?! He owes a beating."
With a snarl, Di Tian swept his claw and pressed the Titan Ape's head into the dirt.
"Special beastling! You dare pound my head when I dream? Who emboldened you?!"
BANG!
"Special beastling!" slam! "Next time—!" slam! "Do you think the Beast God will not split your skull?!"
Each blow whacked the Titan until bloated knobs and bloody swellings littered his body. Er Ming's roars grew into pitiful yelps.
The Azure Bull Python coiled further back. Brother… forgive me. I cannot share your fate this time.
Finally Brigitte lifted her hands, emerald light flowing like dawn. "Enough, Di Tian. The Lord will scold you if you break his bones entirely. Leave him."
Reluctantly, the dragon jerked back. "Tch. Foolish drunkard."
Brigitte's healing energy spilled into the ape's body. Black bruises faded, wounds sealed, and strength returned to his battered frame. She frowned, placing her palm on his forehead.
"…Er Ming. There are toxins in your blood. You have not only fought humans. You've been tainted by them."
The Titan Ape winced. But in its heart, only one cry repeated still:
The King. Save the King.
--
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