Fairy Tale: With Sin Of Pride

A demigod dragon tasked with guarding something of unparalleled importance—what could it be?

Rhodes' curiosity grew sharper, his gaze fixed on the massive creature before him.

"You pitiful human! I'll devour you whole!"

The ice dragon's scales, as hard as crystal and cold as the void, began to crack under the relentless assault of the sun's fire. Roaring in agony, it thrashed against the pain.

In its ancient memory, long before the gods had sealed it here, humans were nothing more than frail prey—pathetic creatures who reproduced like weeds, ensuring their survival no matter how often they were hunted.

But this human... This man shattered its ingrained perception.

For the first time, the dragon felt something foreign yet undeniable emanating from the figure standing before it: the looming shadow of death.

What nonsense is this?!

Its mind, hardened by eons of pride, refused to believe the reality it faced. How could a human—a mere speck of dust—make a creature of its caliber feel threatened?

Even the gods would have paid a steep price to subdue it. How then could this... mortal dare?

Rhodes, noticing the dragon's trembling resolve, tilted his head slightly. A faint, mocking smile curved his lips.

"Eat me? Really?"

His calm, condescending tone sliced through the dragon's bravado. Its massive frame shivered despite itself.

For a fleeting moment, the beast saw not a man but a demon.

"What's wrong? Have you decided how you'd like to die?" Rhodes asked nonchalantly, his voice laced with a quiet menace.

The dragon's prideful heart burned with rage at the humiliation of its own fear. This puny human—it would tear him limb from limb!

"Damn you!"

With a deafening roar, the ice dragon unleashed its trump card—a blast of freezing flames that extinguished the sunfire in an instant, surging toward Rhodes with terrifying force.

But the man was faster.

In the blink of an eye, he vanished, only to reappear above the dragon. A casual kick sent the colossal beast crashing to the ground.

Boom!

The impact left the dragon reeling, its massive jaw shattering against the stone floor.

"Little lizard," Rhodes said, his voice cold and sharp, "even the Dragon God of your kind wouldn't dare speak to me like that."

His gaze bore into the dragon's soul as if reminding it of its insignificance.

The dragon God—Nine-faced Dragon God, the progenitor of its race—was a deity of middling power, despite being the first and mightiest of dragons. Though its followers boasted unparalleled physical might, their divine patron was nothing compared to the true apex gods.

"I may not know the secrets behind the door you guard," Rhodes continued, raising the divine axe in his hand, "but cutting you down should suffice."

The axe gleamed ominously as he prepared to strike. This weapon, once a crutch in Rhodes' journey to power, had long since been abandoned. But today, it would taste blood once more.

Shhk!

The dragon let out an anguished wail as the axe cleaved through its massive form, splitting it nearly in two.

How... how is this possible?!

It lay there, struggling to comprehend what had happened. A demigod, struck down in a single blow—a feat even gods would find daunting.

"Demigod dragons..." Rhodes murmured, his voice distant. "It's been a while."

Looking at the dying creature, his eyes glinted with nostalgia, as if recalling countless similar conquests. His gaze shifted, noticing something embedded within the beast's heart—a key.

"So, the prize lies here," he said, reaching out with a flick of his hand.

The magic key vanished from the dragon's heart and appeared in his palm.

Rhodes glanced back at the broken creature. Though killing it outright would have been satisfying, a different idea crossed his mind.

"Hm. You'd make an excellent mount," he said with a devilish grin.

The dragon trembled under his gaze, its instincts screaming danger.

"Be my mount, and I'll heal you. Refuse, and I'll finish what I started," Rhodes offered casually. His smile, though seemingly benign, chilled the beast to its very core.

"I... I submit," the dragon stammered, lowering its head in utter defeat.

Dragons, despite their arrogance, followed the law of the strong. Survival was paramount.

Satisfied with its answer, Rhodes chuckled. "Good. I like obedient dragons."

He stretched out his hand, letting his blood drip onto the dragon's wounds. Though primitive compared to his vast array of healing magic, his blood—imbued with the legendary Spring of Life—was unparalleled.

The dragon's body began to regenerate at an astonishing rate. Its shattered scales reformed, tougher than before, while a surge of new power coursed through its veins.

"I didn't expect this..." Rhodes muttered, sensing the transformation. The dragon had not only been healed but had also awakened three latent powers: Infinite Magic, Critical Breakthrough, and Grace of the Sea.

As the dragon roared, its rejuvenated form was nearly unrecognizable—its size doubled, its aura now fierce and oppressive. The once-proud beast was stronger than ever.

But as its newfound strength coursed through it, rebellion stirred in the dragon's heart. With this power, why should it serve a human?

"Little lizard," Rhodes said suddenly, pressing a hand to the dragon's head.

The overwhelming force of his magic crushed the dragon's defiance instantly.

"Don't misunderstand," Rhodes said softly, his tone oddly conversational. "I trust no one. Least of all, a beast with ambition."

His fingers wove a spell of enslavement, etching it deep into the dragon's soul.

"Repeat after me," Rhodes commanded, his voice unyielding. "I willingly offer my body and soul to serve my master."

The dragon hesitated but, under Rhodes' icy gaze, repeated the oath with trembling reluctance.

By the end, Rhodes stood back, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. "An obedient dragon is a good dragon."

For the first time in its long life, the dragon found itself utterly subdued.

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