Chapter 96: Arlya, proud and arrogant

Being sized up by that strange gaze from head to toe was genuinely embarrassing. Whenever other nobles looked at her, they were always impeccably respectful.

“You…”

Arlya was anxious to slay the dragon; she had no time to fuss over such things. If they delayed any longer, this perfect opportunity would be wasted.

“I surrender. I’ll behave. Let’s team up.”

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, yet exceptionally pleasant to the ear—especially that aggrieved, pleading tone. Paired with her look of disdain, the contrast was striking.

Why did she seem even easier to tame than expected? She clearly had the proud demeanor of an icy beauty. Phield was almost thrown off by it.

So this was what people meant by contrast? It seemed increasingly likely he could obtain a third Divine Chosen.

Still, judging by Arlya’s tone, it almost sounded as though she were teasing a kitten or puppy. Perhaps it was just his imagination.

“A-alright.”

After releasing Arlya, Phield immediately began taking off his robe.

“H-hey! What are you doing?” Arlya crossed her arms in front of herself. “I don’t want to hurt humans, but if you go too far, I will fight back.”

“We’re going underwater to slay a dragon. How can I not take off my clothes? What were you thinking?”

Arlya rubbed her temples. “Black dragons can live underwater, but they usually nest in swamps. Stay close to me.”

With that, she took a deep breath.

“Dragon Roar—Spatial Dislocation.”

An ancient, terrifying dragon’s might poured from her mouth, slowly enveloping the surface of the lake.

Above the once-calm waters, space twisted, forming a region like an aurora over the Arctic.

Arlya tossed the iron sword in her hand downward, then used divine power to pull it back up. Seeing the blade intact, she nodded. “The space is stable. My plan is sound. Move quickly.”

With that, she grabbed Phield and leapt down.

Space warped violently. Phield felt as though he were plummeting from a great height. Just as the dreadful sensation of weightlessness emerged, he felt solid ground beneath his feet. Opening his eyes, he found himself in a stifling swamp.

“Roar~”

Three juvenile black dragons, each the size of a saber-toothed tiger, spotted the intruders as if they were food delivered to their doorstep and rose excitedly into the air. The largest among them was also the strongest. They were no longer helpless hatchlings; a young dragon’s combat power already surpassed nearly all low-tier magical beasts.

Like all dragons, they craved battle, and their dragon souls carried innate inheritances—making their combat prowess extraordinary.

“They’re treating us as food.”

Pressure surged over Phield like a tide. Being locked onto by apex predators made his heart pound inexplicably, cold sweat trickling down his back.

“Terrifying. Even juvenile dragons have this level of oppression—and they can already fly. This won’t be easy.”

One black dragon dove, corrosive dragon breath churning and fully charged.

“No need to worry.”

Arlya waved her hand nonchalantly.

“Dragon Roar—Dragon Shatter!”

A storm-like, overwhelming pressure swept from her mouth like a tornado. The three black dragons in the sky trembled violently, as if struck by lightning. Their wings lost control, and they plummeted straight down.

Boom!

Three massive bodies crashed into the ground one after another, splashing mud in every direction.

“Damn!”

The previously ferocious black dragons struggled out of the swamp in disarray. Dense fear filled their eyes. The being before them was, in the truest sense, a monster that “devoured dragons.”

From a human perspective, it was like three children suddenly facing a child-eating impostor while their mother was away—an intruder who knew human habits inside out. Anyone would be terrified.

All things in the world have their natural counters.

Even legendary dragons have beings that restrain them.

It made sense. Even Divine Chosen could be countered by other Divine Chosen.

Perhaps only those elusive gods were truly perfect.

“Dragon Shatter lasts only twenty minutes. All their skills are disabled, and their attributes are cut by more than half. Kill them quickly!”

Arlya’s eyes burned with excitement and battle intent. A dragon soul of interwoven purple and silver slowly emerged from her body.

“First-Tier Divine Skill—True Dragon Projection!”

“That’s way too many skills. No wonder she’s marked in gold.”

Phield was stunned. Other first-tier Divine Chosen only had a single skill. She had magic, dragon roars, and even divine skills.

The next moment, Arlya casually threw a punch. Behind her, the ferocious projection of a colossal dragon mirrored her movement, slamming down with a massive claw. Surging energy burst forth like a breached dam, suppressing a black dragon in a single strike. Even space itself trembled.

“Incredible.” Phield exhaled softly, gripping the Greatsword of Gluttony. “But we’re not weak either. The warhorse’s death must be repaid in blood.”

Chains slithered around him. Threads of stench and corruption faintly surfaced. Rosalia’s corrupt divine power made the air itself grow sinister.

With Rosalia’s assistance, Phield flashed to a black dragon’s side. His greatsword slashed wildly into its body. The newly formed scales shattered instantly. Corrupt divine power seeped through the wound, invading its body and wreaking havoc.

A shrill scream erupted from the dragon.

It tried to retaliate, but Dragon Shatter had sealed most of its strength. Even its powerful tail and razor-sharp claws were feeble now.

Phield showed no mercy, swinging his greatsword to the extreme.

Though he had always liked dragons and once imagined capturing one as a mount, the chromatic dragons were pure evil—sinister, cunning, and cruel. Without overwhelming strength, raising one would be like keeping a ticking bomb.

In less than five minutes, the young dragon was cut down until it could no longer resist.

Killing intent surged. Countless chains bound its limbs. Phield raised his blade and delivered a decisive execution strike to its head.

“First-Tier Divine Skill—Endless Severance.”

At the same time, Rosalia cooperated flawlessly, activating her divine skill as well.

Sword energy that crushed the void surged forth, cleaving through the dragon’s head without the slightest resistance. Blood sprayed everywhere.

The slain juvenile dragon writhed twice before going still.

“My dear warhorse, rest in peace.” Phield rested the greatsword on his shoulder, looking at the corpse.

“Sigh. Invincible. Killing a boss at level one—who else can do that?”

He felt as though he had unlocked a new life achievement.

Granted, it was only a juvenile dragon, most of the damage had come from Rosalia, and Arlya had done the weakening.

Rosalia smiled. “Dragon flesh tastes exquisite! I can feel my life force surging. Phield, following you is the wisest choice I’ve ever made.”

“Of course.” Phield puffed up proudly, hands on his hips. “Our combo wipes everything.”

The two of them, increasingly in sync, let out villainous laughter. “Heh heh heh.”

“So you’re even faster than me… That sword technique just now was unbelievable.” Arlya watched in disbelief. Did that man truly possess strength equal to hers? Curiosity stirred within her, but she was still in battle. She raised her hand. “Dragon Soul Extraction!”

A hazy dragon soul surged from the slain dragon’s corpse, filled with unwillingness and pain, and was absorbed by Arlya.

With the new dragon soul, her projection grew more solid, her combat power rising.

The True Dragon Projection seized the remaining two juvenile dragons and crushed them to death, absorbing their souls.

“What a pity.”

If only dragons could be recruited into the army—it would be invincible.

Phield longed to become a dragon rider, but his current strength was insufficient to control a true dragon.

Still, becoming a dragon-blooded knight might be possible.

“I’m just a little short of advancing to second tier. Thank you for your help.”

After absorbing the dragon souls, Arlya looked delighted. A gentle smile lingered at the corners of her lips.

“Miss Arlya, be my mount—uh, I mean, be my Divine Chosen.” Phield stopped and spoke solemnly. Any Divine Chosen who could be recruited must not be missed.

“No!”

Arlya rejected him without hesitation. The smile vanished, replaced by her former icy expression.

“You insult me.” She lifted her chin arrogantly, flicked her flowing hair, and turned her face aside. “Even if I am now a free citizen, my soul is that of a deified dragon. How could I submit beneath you? Cooperation in battle is acceptable, but a contract? Impossible!”

She had just been bullied and calling him “father,” yet now she was this arrogant.

Was it all an act? Wicked woman. That stung.

Or perhaps absorbing the dragon soul had boosted her confidence.

Phield narrowed his eyes. “Refuse if you want. But how is becoming my Divine Chosen an insult? And what have humans ever done to you? Humans can slay dragons too!”

“Hmph. Even if the Nibelungen family sought me out, offering their clan’s dragon as a gift, I wouldn’t spare it a glance. Many other great nobles have visited me countless times. You? You are no different from a kitten, a puppy, or an insect. I saved you purely out of kindness.”

She wasn’t lying. She possessed three divine artifacts gifted by nobles. But as a dragon-blooded reincarnation of a deified dragon, her way of thinking was different. She regarded gifts merely as offerings, accepting them without the slightest affection.

As a dragon scion bearing the natural mission to protect living beings, she wore a sacred mantle from birth. No human noble dared disrespect her; instead, they went out of their way to accommodate her.

From the moment she awakened, visitors had nearly trampled her doorstep flat.

She was gentle to everyone only because none of them caught her interest.

It was how humans treated cute puppies and kittens—able to crush them at will, yet indulging them out of affection. That didn’t mean the puppy became the master.

Dragons were even prouder.

That was how Arlya viewed all people—mere pets, including the Empress of the Empire.

“You may have some ability, but you are ultimately an ant, unworthy of my noble dragon soul. Abandon that foolish thought.”

Damn it. I hate it when people show off in front of me—especially with that condescending look.

Phield’s face turned green. “Fine, fine. Even if you begged now, I wouldn’t contract you. But I’d like to see just how impressive your dragon soul is—to call me an ant.”

“You challenge me? Good. Foolish.” Arlya released her True Dragon Projection. “This time, I’ll be serious.”

“Thank you for saving my life. I’ll repay you in the future.” Phield raised the Greatsword of Gluttony. “But for now—fight me! If you lose, prepare to be bullied by me.”

“Heh, this is the lord I serve.” Rosalia’s cold laughter rang out. “Corruption fears no living being. As long as it lives, even a god can be slain for you!”

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