Chapter 33: New Mounts!

The pressure lingering over the island from Jax’s aura slowly began to ease as he finished that statement. All of the Dragons immediately acknowledged that, and as he finished, the Dragons he had defeated began to stir.

A low, pained rumble rolled across the island as the Black Dragon twitched, obsidian scales scraping against broken earth. Its massive head lifted with effort, red eyes unfocused at first, then sharpening as memory returned of what happened.

The moment it fully registered who stood at the center of the devastation, its body went still.

“…So this,” the Black Dragon rumbled hoarsely, pushing itself upright despite the cracks running through its armor-like scales, “is the difference.”

It lowered its head in acknowledgement of Jax asl well, a gesture Dragons only did to others they saw as undeniably superior to themselves.

“I concede,” it said, “Demon King, you truly are worthy of leading us to a better tomorrow,”

Soon, all the Dragons woke up.

The Crimson Dragon groaned as flames sputtered weakly from between its jaws before dying out completely. It forced itself to roll onto its chest, wings folding in tightly as it bowed its horned head.

The Sapphire Dragoness, half-embedded in the mountain where Jax had thrown her, tore herself free with a hiss of pain and pride. She landed heavily, frost dissipating from her wings as she stared at Jax—then snorted sharply and lowered her head as well.

The White Storm Dragoness woke up last. Blackened lightning scars crawled across her ivory scales as she dragged herself from the rubble, wings trembling. For a moment, her eyes burned with lingering defiance.

Then she exhaled slowly.

“…I see,” she murmured, voice crackling faintly with residual thunder. She bowed deeply, horns nearly touching the ground, “There is no sky beyond yours.”

The island fell into absolute silence before the Dragons began to shift into their Humanoid Forms.

The Black Dragon became a towering, broad-shouldered man with dark skin like polished obsidian, crimson eyes sharp with respect rather than hostility.

The Crimson Dragon took the form of a muscular, flame-haired warrior, heat still rolling off his skin.

The Sapphire Dragoness emerged as a tall, icy-blue-haired woman with piercing eyes and an athletic, statuesque frame.

Then came the Emerald Dragoness, who had a slower transformation compared to the others. Green light spilled outward, forming the shape of a woman with flowing emerald hair and luminous jade eyes.

Her figure was elegant and undeniably beautiful, but the air around her shimmered faintly, the grass beneath her feet wilting and dissolving as toxic mana continuously leaked from her skin.

She noticed immediately, acting nervously as she clasped her arms tightly around herself and took a step back.

“I… I apologize,” she said quickly, voice soft and tense, “I can’t fully suppress it. My body constantly releases poison and corrosive mana. Please don’t come closer.”

Beside her, the White Storm Dragoness completed her transformation.

She was tall and striking, alabaster skin faintly veined with flickers of lightning, long silver-white hair drifting as if caught in a perpetual breeze. Her eyes glowed a stormy violet as she straightened and looked directly at Jax.

Jax watched them all calmly, smiling as he finally conquered this plan.

“With that finished, onto the next plan. I need mounts, partners who I will ride to battle. All of you showed your bravery by challenging me, so I want to know which of you will be willing to accept that role,” Jax said.

The island held its breath as all of the gazes immediately went to the group of Dragons standing before Jax in their Humanoid Forms, wondering which of them would take him up on his offer.

The Storm Dragoness was the first to answer, taking multiple steps forward with a smile, lightning crackling across her fingers.

“After that display?” she said, “You could ask me to fly into the Holy Capital and I wouldn’t question you, My King!”

She dropped to one knee, fist to her chest.

“I accept, Demon King. Let the skies know your name through me.”

Jax nodded once in approval.

Then his attention shifted to the Emerald Dragoness as he noticed she was looking at him very nervously.

Her hands trembled as green mist leaked faintly from her skin, burning tiny holes into the stone where it touched. She clenched her jaw, eyes shining with worry.

“What about you?” He asked.

“I… I want to,” she said quietly in response, “But I’m dangerous, to all of our allies, to the cities you want to build, and to you…”

She bowed deeply, almost folding in on herself, “I don’t want to harm my King.”

For the first time since arriving on the island, Jax’s expression softened, curious about this Dragoness.

He stepped closer to her, but the Emerald Dragon took a step back out of fear.

Sighing, Jax appeared next to her in the blink of an eye, before she could react, and the poison that emitted from her body touched his aura, and burned to dust, not affecting him at all.

The Emerald Dragoness froze as she saw that, and Jax looked down at her calmly, still noticing how nervous she was.

“That won’t be a problem. Do you think as the Demon King I don’t have a way to help my subordinates?” he said, “I’ll speak to you later. In private. We’ll fix this problem you have, so don’t worry about it,”

The Dragoness’ breath hitched as she heard that.

“…You can?” she whispered.

“I wouldn’t offer if I couldn’t,” he replied simply.

Slowly, hesitantly, she knelt.

“I accept, I have no issues being your mount, My King!” she said, voice trembling with relief and reverence.

Orianna, who had been watching silently the entire time, finally moved. She walked to Jax’s side, pride blazing openly in her eyes.

“It’s settled, then,” she said. “Come. I prepared a place for you.”

She gestured toward the inner mountains.

Jax turned, the Dragon Clan now fully bowed behind him as he followed Orianna across the island to whatever place she prepared for him.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep