Page 8

The red dragon soared freely across the sky, while in the distance, steep cliffs jutted high into the clouds—the Storm Cliffs.

This was the northern Akard Mountain Pass, a place where storms gathered and hurricanes raged.

Southward, a vast expanse of rugged slopes filled with scattered rocks, scrub trees, and tundra spread out, all known as Storm High Cliffs.

In his previous life, Storm High Cliffs had a rather grim nickname—“The Newbie Mass Grave.”

Due to intense elemental activity, the area was sparsely populated, allowing countless creatures to thrive wildly.

Hill giants, gnolls, ogres, goblins, and even wyverns roamed these lands. One misstep could land an adventurer surrounded by hostile creatures.

But for Cassius, an evil dragon, this place was a sanctuary for leveling up and gathering minions.

With winter nearing, the storms on the High Cliffs had picked up fragments of snow, while the ground was covered in dry, withered grass and patches of thin snow.

Even in the air, the red dragon felt a chill, exhaling a breath of sulfuric heat that turned the drifting snowflakes into vapor.

“I need to find a warm enough lair.”

The red dragon pondered.

The Cloud Peak had been decent—it was in the northwestern region of the Anzeta Wilderness, known as “The Land Without Spring,” but the caves had plenty of geothermal warmth, with magma flows deep inside, suiting a red dragon’s need for fire and heat.

Unfortunately, after his mother’s demise, that place was no longer safe. The Kingdom might have stationed guards there to prevent an evil dragon from returning.

Cassius tried to recall his memories of Storm High Cliffs and suddenly thought of a suitable location.

“Perfect—maybe I can recruit some minions, or… farm some experience.”

The dragon, invigorated by the thought, spread his wings wide and glided across the land.

Giant’s Maw Cave.

Who came up with that name was unknown, maybe a bored bard.

Perhaps it was because the uneven rocks at the entrance resembled a giant’s rotten teeth, or because the open cave mouth looked like a gaping maw. But somewhere along the way, the name had stuck.

Nearby ogres and goblins also called it that, which matched their limited imaginations.

The cave’s occupant had changed many times, and currently, it was home to a chimera.

The chimera, a creature from myth, was said to have been created by the demon lord Demogorgon. It bore the hind legs of a goat, the forelegs of a lion, a pair of dragon wings, and three heads—each from those creatures.

It combined the worst traits of its components: the dragon head drove it to attack, plunder, and hoard treasures; the lion’s nature roused a desire to hunt any powerful creatures within its territory; while the goat’s head made it vicious and stubborn, fighting to the end.

At the moment, this cave’s master lay dozing near the entrance, licking its wounds.

The massive seven-meter-long beast sprawled lazily on the rocks, basking in the lingering warmth.

It was the most fearsome predator for miles around, sitting at the top of the food chain, with bones piled in its lair to prove it.

Among them were remnants of humans—armor, swords—testifying that more than a few adventurers had fallen prey to this greedy creature.

But the sound of wingbeats outside interrupted its rest.

The chimera roared in fury, rising to face the intruder, ready to shred it to pieces, only to see a powerful red dragon land heavily outside.

“Submit to me, or choose death.”

The red dragon spoke in Draconic.

The chimera, possessing dragon blood, could understand Draconic, even if it seldom spoke.

It assessed the creature before it. This red dragon was clearly still young, slightly smaller in size but noticeably stronger.

A formidable opponent, yet not an insurmountable one.

The lion’s head growled low, its instinct to hunt strong creatures ignited, and the juvenile red dragon before it seemed a worthy foe.

Hearing the chimera’s growl, Cassius sighed regretfully, thinking to himself that his size wasn’t intimidating enough. Everything was harder when he couldn’t rely on sheer presence.

If he were a fully grown, twenty-meter-long red dragon blocking the entrance with his wings, would he really need to worry about a chimera’s defiance?

He needed to find a way to grow stronger quickly.

He, too, scrutinized the terrifying beast before him.

[Based on your level, you can observe the following information]

【Chimera】

Category: Large Beast, Chaotic Evil

AC: 14 (Natural Armor)

Attributes:

Strength — 19

Dexterity — 11

Constitution — 19

Intelligence — 7

Wisdom — 14

Charisma — 10

Skills: Perception +4, Scouting +3, Hunting +5

Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 18 ft.

Language: Draconic

Actions: Multiattack, Bite, Gore, Claw, Fire Breath

Traits: Contradictory Creature, Evil Servant

Challenge Rating: 6 (2,300 XP)

Evaluation: “The chimera is a creature as brutal as a demon, preferring ambush tactics. It dives from high altitudes, breathing fire before landing to continue its attack.

It seeks entertainment in hunting, relishing the fear and pain of its prey, often toying with it or leaving it gravely injured, only to return later and finish the kill.”

This was likely the strongest opponent Cassius had faced since his rebirth—a genuine chimera.

“If you refuse, then let’s settle this with brute force.”

Cassius grew serious, his golden eyes narrowing with a hint of fervor, the kind a red dragon displayed when encountering a worthy opponent.

His powerful muscles tensed, ready to spring into action.

The chimera let out a howl and launched itself into the sky.

Following its familiar routine, it dove from above, its dragon head unleashing a fiery breath.

But using fire against a fire-immune red dragon was hardly a smart move.

This beast clearly lacked knowledge and strategic thinking.

The red dragon on the ground simply tensed his muscles, holding his ground.

“True Strike.”

Cassius muttered in Draconic, a faint purple glow flickering around his eyes.

This handy cantrip allowed him to foresee his enemy’s next move, setting him up for a lethal counterattack, potentially decisive in critical moments.

The chimera’s fire-spewing dive brought it within mere meters of the red dragon.

Cassius’ glowing, slitted eyes coldly tracked its trajectory, pinpointing its movements.

His tensed muscles unleashed a surge of energy.

With wings outstretched, the seven-meter-long dragon sprang into the air, cutting through the fiery breath to position himself beside the airborne chimera.

The chimera tried to veer mid-air, flapping its wings to change direction—but it was too late.