The S-Rank hero, Dragon, who breathed fire, leapt from the helicopter and smashed into the ground before Malavika. The earth cracked beneath his landing, dust exploding outward.
His arms and neck were lined with strange reptilian scales. A dragon in its human form.
Jake froze, torn between relief and disbelief.
A... a professional hero! I'm saved!
The man didn't waste the chance, he sprinted into the trees, hiding behind a thick trunk before Malavika noticed.
She growled, her teeth clenched, furious that Jake slipped away, but she had bigger problems to face, the flame user standing in her path.
S-RANK HERO – DRAGON
Rank: 15 – City-Level
Dragon smirked, fist tightening, sharp fangs flashing. "For a second, I thought we'd be hunting you for a month or longer. Turns out you're too easy." he said, his tone cocky, eyes burning with determination. "You're strong, sure, you beat Arcflare. But after seeing for myself that Queen Slave fold you? You're nothing."
Malavika crossed her arms, boredom crossing her mind. "This man talks too much."
Dragon's smug look faltered. He couldn't hear what the demoness was saying, but he could read her lips just fine.
"You really tend to underestimate me," he said. "Tell you what, I'll cut a deal with you. I'll give you three free attacks. But you must promise me that you will go all out."
Shut up already… she thought.
Dragon spread his arms. "Come on now, don't be shy! This is a once in a lifetime..."
Malavika vanished immediately, her entire body a blur.
Then a crack as she drove her knee straight into his crotch.
"Will you.. Shut your mouth already!"
Dragon's eyes bulged, cheeks inflated with hot air from his breath. The entire world paused in disbelief.
For once, even the news reporter went silent.
Jake blinked with disbelief. "What the fuck just happened? Did she just... kick him in the?"
She's that petty!?
Dragon dropped to one knee, trembling, hands clutching himself in agony. Tears gathered. Sweat rolled down his face.
Malavika casually stepped back, amused.
Dragon forced a shaky laugh through clenched teeth. "You're strong… just as I expected. When I heard only Queen Slave injured you, I knew you had potential…" he groaned through the pain. "But—"
He pushed himself up.
"I'm nowhere near done. Let me show you what I can really do!"
Malavika rolled her eyes. Still talking.
Dragon stood tall and roared, arms spread wide. "Almighty King of Dragons—lend me your faith!"
Malavika's eyes narrowed.
A massive golden fireball formed high in the sky. Flames churned. Then a golden beam shot down, bathing Dragon in molten light . The winds turned scorching. The temperature spiked.
Jake shielded his face behind the tree.
The reporter staggered back.
『What is this?! Even the air is igniting! Is this a new move from Dragon?!』
When the smoke cleared, Dragon stepped out transformed.
Taller. Ripped. Demon-like. Golden flaming horns. Red scales. A walking inferno.
"I'm done. Let's go," he roared. "Let's continue!"
Malavika sighed. "You're stupid than I anticipated. Fine. You entertained me. I'll fight you."
The reporter exploded with hype.
『IT BEGINS! FIRE vs FIRE—WHO WILL FALL?!』
Dragon charged, fire bursting from his throat. He lunged for a powerful and lethal strike, but Malavika only smirked.
She tilted her head, teasing, and Dragon faltered for half a second.
Fatal mistake.
She gripped his fiery hair, then swung and slammed him into the ground so hard the earth cratered round him.
"Focus. I only smiled at you and you're already distracted."
Shock roared through the spectators.
The news reporter practically lost her mind.
『Holy shit, Dragon got dunked into the earth!!』
Dragon rose, shaken or rather, terrified by this.
She's still just standing there… why is she staring at me like that?
Malavika grinned. "Still hopeful? You should kneel. Submit to me. Maybe I'll keep you as a pleasure slave."
Slave!? This bitch is insane! Her aura alone is demonic—better retreat and call planetary heroes—no! I'm Dragon! Strongest flame user alive!
"I will never falter!" he roared. "NEVER!"
He launched a burst of flame—she dodged, barely burned.
Pathetic, she thought.
Dragon spread his hand. Red lightning crawling through his flames. The sky turned crimson, the ground rumbling.
"Now, witness my ultimate skill!"
Then—a powerful boom.
A golden beam of pure fire screamed from his palm, splitting the air. The blast devoured the forest. The ground exploded. Trees and branches were vaporized.
Malavika vanished in the inferno.
Dragon panted, body shaking, power fading.
"I… I did it… I defeated her…"
His transformation faded. He collapsed to his knees, now completely nude and utterly drained of his stamina.
Smoke rolled across the battlefield.
Then Jake froze. In the haze, two red eyes glowed.
A monstrous, slow exhale. Then a laughter echoed.
Dragon's heart stopped. "No… no No! That's impossible!"
The reporter whispered, horrified, "Huh?…What's happening?"
Malavika walked out of the flames, a blade in her hand.
Barely burned. Barely bothered. More terrifying than before, her curled horns restored.
"You are strong, child," she said in her true demonic tone. "But I am far beyond you. I thought to make you a slave… perhaps a soldier. But you disappoint me."
Dragon staggered back, powerless. Malavika towered over him, clothes in smouldering tatters, leaving her scantily clad.
"Don't make this harder. Bow. Live."
Dragon trembled, fear etched on his face as he had lost.
He dropped his head. "I… I'm sorry. Please… spare me…"
Malavika wanted to attack, but she stopped. She could remember something just from seeing the man bowing to her. She turned and walked away.
The sword dissolved in her grasp.
She spared him? Jake thought, stunned.
『How breaking!! For the first time in sixteen years—S-rank hero, Dragon has lost!! And he was... spared!!』
Later that night.
The battle had finally come to an end. The reporters were gone. Dragon was rushed to the hospital, his wound rendering him unconscious and unfit for hero work.
Malavika sat alone in the ruin, beside the lake that had been evaporated, only a simple sheet covering her body.
--
Jake who had been hiding since, finally stepped out from his hiding spot, walking through the half-destroyed forest. Smoke curled behind him, trees torn apart, the ground scorched from Dragon's attack.
Malavika noticed him instantly, almost like she sensed him. Her eyes slid to him lazily. "Here to threaten me with another torch?" she asked, "I wonder how that escalated the last time we spoke"
She… looks calm? Jake thought.
"Oh... uh, sorry," he said, nervous. "Y-you saved me from that villain, so I... wanted to repay you with something."
Malavika went silent. Then she dropped a bomb with a straight face. "Are you here to ask for my hand in marriage so that you and I may rule together?"
What the fuck is she saying?
Jake choked. "Ah—no—not at all."
"I see," she said calmly. "I believe you human males have a keen eye and do not find my being attractive."
Jake stood frozen, stunned.
Is she serious.. or just messing with me? What kind of demon is unhappy about being rejected and takes it likely?
He forced a weak smile. "Well.. actually," he said, reaching into his pocket, "I got you this as a thank you. I figured you'd be hungry, if... you can."
He fumbled with the wrapper in his pocket, making an annoying rustling sound. Malavika's eyebrow twitched. Slowly—dangerously—she turned.
Jake was standing right before her, a chocolate bar held inches from her face with a shaky smile. "Here"
Malavika's rage subsided, now her attention was on the snack, "What is this?" she asked, scanning it.
"It's… uh… a chocolate bar."
"Chocolate… bar," she repeated slowly, struggling with the strange Earth word. She yanked it from his hand and stared at it like some mysterious artifact of power.
Jake watched nervously. Maybe—just maybe—this was progress. A connection. She was hated by the world, yet she saved him earlier. Maybe she wasn't fully evil.
Hope.
Then she ruined everything by eating the chocolate with the wrapper still on—just biting into the whole thing like a beast.
"W-Wait—no—hold on—!" Jake shouted too late.
The demoness had already started munching, finding it hard to chew, she pulled out the wrapper which was hot from her saliva. The snack melted in her mouth forcing her to freeze. Her golden eyes shimmered—then shifted into a swirling rainbow glow. "Exquisite," she whispered darkly. "I need more of this… bar of yours."
"Oh… uh… that was the only one I had, sorry," Jake laughed awkwardly.
Malavika snapped. "What?! Nonsense! There must be a source!" she demanded, stepping close. "Find me this chocolate, and I will make you my personal meal maker when I conquer this world!"
Jake stared at her. He was now trapped in a ridiculous argument with a demon goddess addicted to chocolate.
And there was no escape. The fight continued—but the author was too lazy to stretch the argument, because women are difficult and this scene had gone on long enough.
End of Chapter 3…