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Wagner's eyes transformed into black corridors lined with jagged teeth, his gaze a deep abyss that seemed to draw souls into endless despair.

It was the same spell that had instantly subdued Born Battle Maniac before.

【Captivating Gaze】

Mantou recognized the spell and, fearing a repeat incident, urgently shouted:

"Avoid eye contact! Don’t look at him directly!"

The three players split off in different directions, evading Wagner’s line of sight and disrupting his spellcasting.

"Oh? So you’ve met my fragment before," Wagner mused, tapping the dragon cult emblem on his chest absentmindedly.

At the touch of his knuckle, the emblem emitted rippling dark light that spread rapidly, leaving nowhere to hide.

The glowing ripples formed a massive sigil on the ground, resembling an unblinking eye that enveloped the entire area.

【Mark of Fear】

Another six-circle spell!

Caught in the spell’s range, all three players froze, paralyzed by sheer terror, as if witnessing their deepest nightmares. Their trembling bodies refused to obey, leaving them vulnerable.

"Come forth, my loyal hounds. Bring these intruders to me."

"I can already smell the dragon’s blood on them."

Wagner snapped his fingers.

Nearby cages burst open, unleashing a cacophony of guttural barks mingled with dragon-like roars.

Massive, six-meter-long draconic hound-fiends emerged from the shadows, their saliva dripping in thick strands, jagged teeth glinting ominously.

Their bodies were muscular, their sparse scales stained with blood, and their stench was nauseating. Their glowing eyes radiated feral aggression and unrestrained power.

"My lovely pets haven’t eaten in so long," Wagner said with a smirk.

"But I’ll let them play with you first. I’ll save what’s left for study—such valuable specimens shouldn’t go to waste."

Wagner, unfazed by the beasts’ dripping slime, affectionately stroked one and whispered in fluent Draconic:

"Capture them alive."

"Woof—Roar!"

The draconic hounds barked with excitement, their enthusiasm palpable as they lunged at the players who had just broken free from their terror.

"Ensure they stay alive," Wagner called after them, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Missing a limb or two is acceptable."

Spurred on by his words, the hounds howled and pounced with even greater fervor, jaws snapping as they closed in on the players.

Mantou ran as fast as his legs could carry him, but against the four-legged hounds, he didn’t stand a chance. One leapt fifty meters to land squarely on his back, pinning him to the ground. Its foul breath and saliva drenched his face, making his skin crawl.

"What the hell is this thing?!"

Meanwhile, Singo dodged left and right, narrowly evading lunges from multiple hounds.

But soon, two more closed in, leaving him no room to escape. Resigned, he froze in place, trying to avoid provoking the creatures into ripping him apart.

"Hraah!"

Born Battle Maniac roared, prying apart a hound’s massive claws with sheer brute strength.

Yet the beast merely snorted, flexing its enormous muscles to pin him down completely. Its overwhelming weight and strength left the barbarian helpless.

Dragging their prey, the hounds returned triumphantly to Wagner, their snarling faces twisted into grotesque grins.

Wagner examined the captured players, his eyes gleaming with manic delight.

"Excellent. Absolutely marvelous."

"My fragment wasn’t mistaken—this one bears the bloodline of the red dragon. It truly is exceptional!"

He leaned in close to Mantou, his voice low and deliberate:

"Tell me, what happened to my fragment before it perished?"

Mantou clamped his eyes shut, refusing to meet Wagner’s gaze.

"Now!"

From a distance, Singo shouted, pulling the pin on a shock grenade.

The explosion emitted a dazzling flash and deafening sound, momentarily disorienting the hounds and giving Singo a chance to act.

He hurled a syringe filled with dragon’s true blood directly at Mantou.

"Swoosh—"

The needle pierced Mantou’s skin, injecting the potent fluid into his veins.

The red dragon’s blood reacted violently with the new infusion, unleashing a surge of primal energy.

"Rooaaar!"

Mantou roared as the magical essence within his body surged to a new apex.

Perhaps due to the players’ digitalized physiology, or the unique traits of the red dragon’s lineage, the normally incompatible bloodlines of red and white dragons blended harmoniously, catalyzing an extraordinary transformation.

Messages flashed across Mantou’s interface.

[You have absorbed the unique item: 【Diluted Ancestral Dragon Blood】.]

[Your 【Dragon’s Bloodline】 has been enhanced.]

[You have achieved Bloodline Ascension.]

[You have acquired the special ability: 【Dragonform. 】]

[You may transform into a 【Young Dragon Form【】 for three minutes at the cost of your life energy.]

[Upon revival, you will revert to your original form and must expend life energy to regain this state.]

Mantou’s body underwent rapid transformation as the dragon’s power reshaped him.

He fell to all fours as a long tail sprouted from his spine. Wings emerged from his back, tearing through flesh to reveal bloodied membranes.

Burning his life energy, Mantou’s ascension turned him into a true young dragon.

Mantou released a high-pitched roar, marveling at his newfound power.

"Hell yeah! I’m invincible!"

The young dragon shook off the hounds’ grasp, its newfound strength leaving them stunned.

"Raaaah!"

"I’m a dragon now!"

"You’re dead, you daughter-experimenting psycho!"

Mantou, in his juvenile dragon form, awkwardly flapped his wings before clumsily lunging at Wagner with claws extended.

Wagner merely tilted his head, gazing at Mantou as if he were a priceless artifact.

"At last..."

"The perfect masterpiece..."

"I must have it."

He stood motionless, his voice trembling with obsession and fervor, eyes locked on Mantou.

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