The one on the ground was the Divine Dragon King. If Nolan killed him now, it would be a waste. I’m thinking about building a nation... and I will need strength. His power is as great as Lyra’s, even in this weakened form. But in his true form, he is far too powerful. Still—useful.
He kept his thoughts silent, his eyes fixed on the fallen dragon, whose faded skin and broken wings made him look as though death itself had already claid him.
"I could erase you from ti itself," Nolan finally said aloud, his voice low, sharp. "It would be as though you never existed. Your na, your history—gone. Or... you can surrender to ."
The Divine Dragon King’s pride trembled in his words. "I have been humiliated today. My pride, which is my everything, has been broken. So even if I surrender, it is aningless. But still—I choose to surrender."
Nolan walked closer. The dragon’s massive body lay weak and bleeding, the weight of centuries pressing down on it. He raised his hand and touched the creature’s face.
"Then be tad," Nolan whispered.
A vast crimson circle flared beneath the dragon, a radiant star-crest burning upon its head. The light swallowed him whole. Chains of glowing energy shot into place, binding dragon to master. The crest flashed once more—then vanished, reappearing as a mark glowing faintly in Nolan’s palm.
"The contract is sealed," Nolan declared.
The Divine Dragon King’s colossal form dissolved in light. What remained on the ground was no beast but a man—tall, striking, long-haired, and bare of clothes. He lowered himself onto one knee before Nolan.
"Yes, Master," he said, his voice stripped of arrogance, filled instead with quiet resolve. "I am ready to serve you. I acknowledge you fully as my master."
"I hope you wouldn’t dare to disobey ," Nolan said, his voice low and dangerous. "Even if you tried, there are chains in this very country that would drag you down. The mont you think of betraying —killing —is the mont you die."
"Very well, Master. I understand," the Dragon King replied quietly, lifting his gaze to Nolan’s face.
Nolan took a step back, eyes narrowing. Wait... he’s a man now. But why is he this good-looking? No... no. Why is he this good-looking? The thought unsettled him. I can never possibly take him as a team base, or even a companion. Never. He has the look of a playboy... just like Alaric.
"Master? Is anything wrong?" the Dragon King asked.
"Yes. A lot of things are wrong." Nolan’s frown deepened. "You’re a dragon... but why are you this good-looking now that you’ve taken human form?"
The Dragon King smiled faintly, brushing his long hair back with one hand. "Well, as you can see, even as a dragon I was one of the finest—not just powerful, but one of the most admired of my kind. Before I even earned the title Dragon King, I was already considered one of the most striking."
Nolan’s jaw tightened, his fist clenching at his side.
"So, Master..." The Divine Dragon King smirked, tilting his head slightly. "It looks like you’re jealous of my looks."
Nolan’s eyes flashed. "How dare you speak to that way. You’re not even as good-looking as I am."
The Dragon King chuckled softly. "Well, from where I’m standing, you’re not that good-looking either."
Nolan stepped forward, his voice cold. "Careful with your words."
"Sorry, Master," the Divine Dragon King said at last, bowing his head. His voice was quieter now, stripped of the arrogance it had carried before. "I know I took it too far... I spoke out of turn. I’m truly thankful you didn’t end my life. You gave back what I’d lost... you even reduced my age. For that, I’m grateful. Thank you... for sparing ."
Nolan’s eyes narrowed, but his tone remained calm. "Then tell —why did you want to end the world?"
The Dragon King’s expression shifted, guilt flickering across his features. "Once again, I apologize for what I’ve done," he said, lowering his gaze. "There was no single reason. For centuries I’ve been chained, trapped inside a volcano. My divine power was sealed away. I wanted... to feel again. To relive the chaos of the wars, when archangels and other deities still walked this world. I longed for that ti, and in my rage, I lost myself."
"Well, it’s good you finally understand what you did was wrong," Nolan said, his voice firm but no longer hostile. He eyed the figure before him. "But tell —are you planning to walk around like that? Shouldn’t you at least wear a cloak or sothing?"
The Divine Dragon King tilted his head. "A cloak? I don’t have one." A faint grin tugged at his lips. "But I can make one."
Before Nolan could respond, bones—skeletal fragnts conjured from nothing—began to knit together in the air. They wove themselves into a dark, fabric-like form, and within monts, a long cloak draped over the Dragon King’s shoulders. At first glance, it looked like a perfectly ordinary cloak, simple and human-made. But when Nolan brushed his fingers against it, he realized it was impossibly dense and heavy, thick enough to withstand blades and fire.
"...Impressive," Nolan muttered.
Without another word, he raised his hand and pressed it lightly against the Dragon King’s forehead. At once, the void around them began to unravel, the frozen stillness of ti-space breaking apart. In a flash of light, the two of them returned to the real world, high above the skies where the battle had begun.
"Master!" Lyra’s voice rang out, strained but full of relief. She was on her knees, tears still glistening in her eyes. As she looked up, she froze. Standing beside Nolan was a man she didn’t recognize at first—tall, long-haired, cloaked. Then her eyes widened.
The Dragon King.
She could feel it. His mana was diminished, his presence sealed and compressed, just as hers had once been. The contract had transford him, binding his essence and forcing him into a human form.
Lyra’s lips trembled as she rose to her feet. "...You tad him," she whispered.
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