[Location: Dragon Lake Villa, Master Bedroom (Chen Qing's Room).] [Time: 08:00 PM.]
The news of the Ye Family's destruction had spread across Star City like wildfire. The underworld was trembling. Everyone knew a new "King" had arrived. But the "King" was currently busy sweating in his bathroom.
[System Notification:] [Reward Distribution: Dragon Bloodline (10%).] [Process: Painful but worth it.]
"Argh..." Chen Qing gritted his teeth as golden fire surged through his veins. It felt like lava was replacing his blood. His muscles tore and rebuilt themselves instantly, becoming denser and harder than steel. Scales—faint, golden dragon scales—appeared on his arms for a second before fading into his skin.
[Constitution: +50.] [Strength: +50.] [Charisma: +100 (Dragon Pheromones).]
Chen Qing looked in the mirror. His abs were more defined, his eyes sharper, and he radiated a dangerous, primal magnetism.
Click. The bathroom door opened. Sun Mengjia stood there, holding a rubber duck. She stared at his shirtless upper body. Her red eyes widened. Gulp.
"Get out, Mengjia," Chen Qing threw a towel at her. "I'm naked."
"You smell... delicious," She walked in like a zombie, ignoring the towel. She poked his new abs. "Harder than before. Can I bite?"
"No biting," Chen Qing pushed her face away. "Go play with Fluffles."
"The dog is boring. He's glowing blue and trying to eat the TV remote," Mengjia pouted, clinging to his arm. "Hubby, are you a dragon now? Does that mean you can breathe fire in bed?"
Chen Qing's face turned red. "Out! Now!"
...
[Meanwhile: The Black Dragon Syndicate HQ, Top Floor.]
The atmosphere here was the opposite of the villa's comedy. It was pure terror. The room was dark, lit only by a massive hologram of the burning Ye Family compound.
A man sat on a throne made of black obsidian. He was huge, over two meters tall, wearing a suit that struggled to contain his muscles. This was The Black Dragon King (S-Rank). The ruler of the underworld.
"Trash," The King's voice rumbled like an earthquake. "The Ye Family... wiped out by a single man and a dog?"
"S-Sir," a trembling subordinate knelt on the floor. "The target, Chen Qing... he is suspected to be an S-Class Agent. And his dog... it ate the Guardian Array."
"A dog that eats energy?" The King's eyes narrowed. They were reptilian, with vertical slits. "Interesting. It must be an ancient beast."
He stood up. The obsidian throne cracked under his pressure. "I need that beast. Its core will help me break through to the God Realm."
"Send the Shadow Guards," The King ordered. "And activate Subject Zero."
The subordinate gasped. "Subject Zero? But sir, he is uncontrollable! He's a biological weapon made from a Titan's corpse!"
"I don't care if he destroys half the city," The King turned around, looking out the window at the distant Dragon Lake Villa. "Bring me the dog. And bring me Chen Qing's head."
[System Warning:] [New Threat Detected: S-Rank Enemy Mobilizing.] [Quest Updated: Survive the Wrath of the Dragon King.]
Back at the villa, General Fluffles sneezed. Achoo! A small bolt of lightning shot out of his nose and fried the 100-inch TV.
"My TV!!" Sun Mengjia screamed. "Bad dog! Tonight we are having hotpot!"
"Woof?" (Is hotpot tasty?)
The calm before the storm was over. The real war was about to begin.