Chapter 48: Pursued by an Ancient Monster

The layers of magic shields shattered, black blood splattered across the ice, and then everything was swallowed whole by the black hole. Even the screaming was crushed, leaving no trace behind.

"Whoosh!"

The black hole closed.

The lake surface returned to silence.

Kei stood dazed on the black dragon’s back, unable to tear his gaze away from the spot where Azel had just vanished, or more precisely, where he had been devoured whole by a massive creature.

A demon general as powerful as an SS-rank mage had been swallowed in just a few seconds. Not defeated, but devoured.

Kei suddenly recalled the rumors he had heard about Mist Forest. People said that deep within this forest existed ancient monsters that had lived for thousands of years. They belonged to no known race, and were subject to neither the Demon King nor humanity.

Immortal monsters. Creatures possessing enough power to destroy the entire world.

"Little dragon... Come here, come here!"

Kei called the dragon softly.

But just as his voice rang out, a low sound drifted up from beneath the lake surface, like the grinding of teeth from some colossal being.

Every pore on Kei’s body tensed up. He realized that beneath this lake was likely a terrifying monster.

Thump...

The ice beneath their feet swelled, as if something massive was turning over in the earth’s depths. Black cracks spread in every direction. From the void where the black hole had vanished, a stream of cold air reeking of blood crept slowly toward them.

The black dragon immediately turned its head.

It didn’t need Kei to give orders. Instinct told it that this place was no longer safe. The dragon rushed to Kei’s side, lowered its body, and used its wings to shield him.

Kei tried to stand firm, but his legs had no strength left. He slid down along the scales, nearly falling off the dragon’s back. The black dragon hurriedly caught him with its claws, then dipped its head close to the ice surface.

"Let’s go. We need to get out of here as fast as we can!"

The black dragon let out a low growl.

Kei had no other choice. He grabbed the scales on its neck and struggled to climb up. The moment Kei was seated firmly, the black dragon immediately beat its wings and flew in the opposite direction, heading back toward the dragon nest at the forest’s edge.

But the feeling of being watched didn’t disappear. On the contrary, it grew stronger and stronger. That ancient monster was certainly not going to let go of two delicious prey like them.

Kei turned his head to look down. Beneath the ancient trees, countless dark shadows were moving. They had no concrete form, just patches of darkness slithering across the ground, trailing their flight path. Occasionally, a twisted mouth would open in the middle of the forest, then vanish just as quickly.

The monster that had devoured Azel had not left. It was merely stalking them, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Kei bit his lip until it bled, his hands trembling. The black dragon was already too badly wounded; its flight speed was much slower than before. And he had completely run out of magic energy, he couldn’t even cast a simple magic shield.

If the monster attacked now, both of them would die an even worse death than Azel.

Kei leaned forward, wrapping his arms around the little dragon’s neck. The scales beneath his cheek were ice-cold, but its breath was still hot and trembling. It was afraid, it was just still trying to fly for Kei’s sake, because this little black dragon wasn’t ready for both of them to die here.

That feeling made Kei’s chest ache. He could only think of one way out.

"Little dragon..."

Kei said softly, trying to force a smile.

"Maybe only one of us can make it out of here."

The black dragon immediately roared in protest.

It turned its head back, its golden eyes filled with panic. Its wings wobbled from loss of focus, nearly crashing into a massive tree trunk.

"Don’t look back."

Kei tightened his arms around its neck, whispering reluctantly.

"Just leave me here and fly out."

The black dragon shook its head violently, letting out hoarse growls. It didn’t fully understand everything Kei said, but it seemed to grasp his intention.

"Without me..."

Kei pressed his forehead against its icy scales.

"...the little dragon will definitely make it out. But if you carry me along, we’ll both die."

Below, the ground suddenly exploded.A massive mouth emerged from the middle of the forest, lunging straight toward the two of them. Ancient tree trunks were crushed between pale white teeth, and shadows stretched like giant arms reaching into the sky.

The black dragon roared, beating its wings fiercely, frantically climbing higher.

Kei was thrown backward. He still tried to cling tightly to its neck, but his hands were gradually slipping from its scales.

The massive mouth snapped shut just below, only a short distance from Kei’s feet. A deadly chill swept past him.

Kei looked down at the darkness chasing them, then at the black dragon risking everything to carry him out of the forest. He suddenly understood that the little dragon would never abandon him.

Even if they had to die together, it would not flee alone.

Kei let out a soft sigh.

"What a stubborn child..."

In the distance, beyond the dense canopy, a faint glimmer of light finally appeared.

Perhaps that was the exit of Mist Forest.

But right behind them, the entire forest began to tremble. Black mouths opened one after another on the ground, on tree trunks, even in midair. They were chasing the black dragon and Kei, slowly closing off every escape route.

Kei looked at the glimmer of light ahead, his gaze gradually growing resolute.

If only one of them could truly survive... He would find a way to make sure it was the little dragon.