Chapter 49 – Hundred Year Contract

Seeing that the black dragon had ceased its roaring, Han Wu seized the opportunity to negotiate.

“I have a goal,” he began. “I wish to kill one of Doron City’s Heroes, but I’m currently too weak to face them. I need your help.”

The black dragon let out a huff, its voice carrying a note of sorrow. “I, the great Defier black dragon Alpheus, have been sealed here for centuries. I am unable to leave, so how could I possibly assist you?”

Han Wu turned his attention to the thirteen obsidian chains binding the black dragon. He swung his dagger and attempted to slash the chains, but the dagger shattered upon impact instead.

Not willing to give up, Han Wu took out a different God weapon, infused it with 10,000 Divine Points, and swung at the chains. However, the attack, which had been powerful enough to cut through Alpheus’s scales, left no marks on the chains. It was as if the black chains were truly indestructible.

The black dragon sighed and explained, “It’s futile. The Adventurer’s Guild created these chains specifically to seal me. These chains are a unique type of God equipment that even my darkness cannot erode. Don’t waste your time trying to destroy them with your insignificant weapons.”

“Wait, this is a God equipment?”

“That’s what I said, yes. I, the great Defier black dragon Alpheus, do not lie.”

“In that case, I have a method to destroy it.”

Han Wu took out a golden sphere, his God weapon Ravenous Wolf. He placed the sphere onto one of the obsidian chains, and it transformed into a golden liquid which completely enveloped the chain. The sound of crunching reverberated through the cave as Ravenous Wolf began its work, and almost an hour later, the chain finally shattered.

The sight of the shattered chain on the ground left Alpheus in disbelief. One of the supposedly indestructible chains that had been holding him captive for so long had been broken!

Overwhelmed with joy and happiness, it exclaimed, “Quickly, break the other chains! The great Defier black dragon Alpheus commands you!”

Han Wu abruptly withdrew Ravenous Wolf and stood motionless, silently staring at the black dragon. The black dragon’s anxiety intensified, its longing for freedom, after centuries of confinement, becoming overwhelming. Its chance to escape was within reach.

“Quickly, unchain me! The great Defier black dragon Alpheus commands you!”

Han Wu replied with a measured tone, “Great Defier black dragon Alpheus, I’ve just broken one of your supposedly indestructible chains as a sign of goodwill. But instead of showing gratitude, you’re ordering me about? Is this your way of requesting assistance?”

The black dragon, driven by its desire for freedom, became increasingly anxious, desperately pleading, “What do you want me, the great Defier black dragon Alpheus, to do for you? Kill a Hero? Very well, I will, so just unchain me!”

Seeing the dragon’s panic, Han Wu replied, “I’ve changed my mind. A century of service. One hundred years of obedience to atone for addressing your savior like a common servant. That, oh great Defier black dragon Alpheus, is the price of your freedom.”

“You worthless creature! You are wasting your efforts! I am the great Defier black dragon Alpheus!”

The cave shook violently as the dragon’s strength gradually returned, now that one of the chains had been broken.

Han Wu didn’t waver. “I have the power to save you, but I can also end you. Understand this clearly, Alpheus. If you refuse my request, you will simply become a stepping stone for me to grow stronger. Your value to me exists only in two forms—either as a being bound in service or as raw materials for weapons. After all, the corpse of any Great Dragon is a treasure horde. I wonder how many powerful weapons I could forge from your corpse.”

The black dragon found itself once more threatened by Han Wu. Despite regaining some strength from the weakened seal, it was still vulnerable, and he had also proven that he possessed the power to carry out his threat.

Faced with the choice between death and slavery, the black dragon ultimately chose to compromise. “I, the great Defier black dragon Alpheus, will serve you for a hundred years. Now, release these chains that have imprisoned me for centuries. I will not endure being sealed for even a moment longer!”

“Don’t be hasty. Let’s make a contract.”

Han Wu was skeptical of the black dragon’s spoken agreement, suspecting it might shamelessly retract its word the moment it was freed.

He chose to spend 100,000 Divine Points to create a binding contract, dictating the black dragon’s service for a century. The contract not only outlined the dragon’s duties and responsibilities but also included an extremely stringent restriction. The penalty for breaking the contract was so severe that it could be fatal even for a Great Dragon.

Han Wu passed the contract to the black dragon. “This is the contract. Sign it, and I will release you.”

The black dragon felt utterly humiliated upon reading the contract, particularly by the clause that demanded it obey Han Wu’s orders without question for a hundred years. It viewed this as blatant enslavement! The great Defier black dragon Alpheus would rather die than be reduced to such a state!

Just as the black dragon was about to tear up the contract and fight Han Wu to the death, Han Wu pulled out a small black stone. The stone was crystal clear and contained pure, dark energy, which somehow appeared easily absorbable. The dragon began to drool, its hunger gnawing after hundreds of years of starvation.

“I know you are weakened. Sign the contract, and you get the Dark Stone as a treat.”

He knew that monsters found such pure stones irresistible, much like the Bone Stone had been to the Skeleton Lord. He was sure the black dragon, after being starved for so long, would find it tempting.

As Han Wu had anticipated, the black dragon succumbed to the allure of the Dark Stone and signed the contract. Once completed, the contract transformed into a golden light and merged into both of their foreheads.

Breaking the contract would result in harsh consequences. Pleased with the outcome, Han Wu tossed the Dark Stone into the black dragon’s mouth, and it happily savored the taste, feeling invigorated.

Han Wu then retrieved Ravenous Wolf and began working on the remaining twelve chains. Ravenous Wolf eagerly obeyed, delighted to finally be able to consume God weapons. The golden sphere pulsed rhythmically as it feasted on and consumed chain after chain, its liquid form seeping into every crevice of the enchanted bindings. For ten relentless hours, the cave echoed with the sounds of crumbling obsidian links, until the twelfth and final chain shattered.

The black dragon’s strength surged rapidly as it absorbed the energy from the surrounding air. The great Defier black dragon Alpheus was free once more! It unleashed a triumphant roar, obliterating the cave with a black beam of light that erupted from its body. Every monster within a hundred-kilometer radius trembled in fear, and even the adventurers in Doron City felt the dragon’s terrifying presence.

The five Heroes, gathered in the Adventurer’s Guild meeting hall, sensed the black dragon’s release. They had been stationed there with one specific purpose—to guard the dragon and ensure it remained imprisoned. It was supposed to be a simple, retirement-level task, but the black dragon had somehow unexpectedly broken free from its seal.

The Martial Saint was the first to speak. “The black dragon has just been released. It should be weakened at the moment, so we should join forces and destroy it immediately!”

The Briar Saintess responded, “The black dragon will likely seek a safe haven to recover its strength after escaping. The wilderness is too large to search on our own. We have to enlist the aid of Doron City’s adventurers to find it.”

The Twin Elemental Sword Saint nodded. “The dark energy radiating from the black dragon will empower the monsters in the forest. We need to locate it before the monsters become a serious threat.”

However, the Wind Sage, the youngest of the Heroes, thought they were being overly cautious. “It’s merely a black dragon, recently released from its imprisonment. There’s no need to be so worried, isn’t that right, Dragon Slayer?”

The Dragon Slayer, the most powerful of the five, arrogantly declared, “It’s just a Great Dragon. There’s no reason for fear. I’ve personally slain a Green Dragon that used wind attacks. It was challenging, but not enough to pose a threat to Doron City.”

The Martial Saint cautioned the Dragon Slayer, “This black dragon is not like the others. Ancient texts refer to it as the Defier of the Great Dragons!”

However, the Dragon Slayer misinterpreted the Martial Saint’s caution as a sign of disrespect, believing he was being underestimated.

“Everyone, please trust in my abilities. I chose the Fourth Class Dragon Slayer specifically to eliminate dragons. I will personally deal with the black dragon. You just need to protect Doron City in the meantime.”

“Dragon Slayer, you…”

The Wind Sage chimed in, “Dragon Slayer, I’m with you. Could I have the privilege of watching you kill the dragon? I’ll take care of any monsters that might interfere with your hunt.”

“Fine.”

“Thank you, Dragon Slayer. I will immediately put up a request for the adventurers to locate the black dragon.”

The Wind Sage then vanished like a gust of wind to fulfill his task, and the Dragon Slayer left the meeting hall shortly after.

The three remaining Heroes sighed in resignation, understanding they were powerless to intervene. The Dragon Slayer was, after all, the strongest among them.

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