After such a devastating strike, even the legendary Iceflower Evil God Dragon would likely be on its last legs.

The air temperature soared to terrifying heights. Most couldn’t endure the heat and retreated early—the battle’s outcome was now beyond their control. Those who remained couldn’t approach the epicenter, forced to watch from twenty miles away.

Dust slowly cleared. First visible was the Black Emperor Demon Dragon. The ultra-forbidden spell had drained it, yet flames burned fiercer in its eyes. Its labored, vacuum-like gasps echoed through the sky.

Then the ground-level dust settled.

Present were high-level mercenary captains, Saori of the Radiant Ten Stars, and her maid Xier. Crimson Mercenary Corps’ captain stayed too—his subordinates had vanished.

Every face wore identical expressions.

The kind only born from bone-deep terror.

Shock. Despair. Dread. Every negative emotion laid bare.

What remained couldn’t be called "ground" anymore.

Dragon Fang Mountain’s entire plain had turned to ash, replaced by a bottomless abyss.

Viewed from above, the mountain resembled a starving dragon’s maw—a black hole ready to devour heaven and earth.

Countless black ashes floated in the air. The colossal Iceflower Evil God Dragon had vanished without a trace.

Though twenty miles away, its fifteen-story-tall form should’ve been visible. Yet only the panting Black Emperor Demon Dragon remained in sight.

*Where’s the Iceflower Evil God Dragon? Reno Continent’s strongest boss… gone just like that?*

Normally, this would be a day for nationwide celebration. The North’s greatest threat eliminated—what wasn’t there to rejoice over?

But not a single person could muster even a flicker of a smile.

*If even the Iceflower Evil God Dragon fell… and their Demon King hasn’t even moved… what’s the point of fighting? Better surrender and seek new paths.*

A deathly silence spread among the humans.

"I don’t believe it," Saori said flatly, trembling uncontrollably. Whether she denied humanity’s defeat or the dragon’s fall was unclear.

"Miss…" Xier worriedly watched the frail girl beside her. Her red cloak had burned to ashes in the blast, revealing form-fitting armor beneath. Her graceful figure was fully exposed.

No one had the heart to notice.

"Humanity is finished! Even the Iceflower Evil God Dragon—the terror of mankind—turned to dust! Surrender! It’s the only sensible choice!"

Saori whipped her head around, glaring at the speaker: Crimson Mercenary Corps’ captain. Only his past bravery in Dragon Valley spared his head from rolling.

"A beast that massive can’t vanish without a trace! Wait! Wait until the fog fully clears before deciding!"

"Governor Saori, I understand your reluctance, but if we don’t retreat now—"

"I hereby revoke Crimson Mercenary Corps’ SSS-rank nomination under Istan City’s Guild authority!"

"You! You greenhorn brat! Do you think—"

"Someone’s there!" Xier cut in sharply. Her pupils narrowed to hawk-like yellow slits.

*Eagle Eye magic.* Sometimes the simplest spells mattered most in critical moments.

Saori dropped the argument. She rushed forward, regret stabbing her chest. She knew Eagle Eye too—but her mastery was shallow. *If only I’d practiced basic magic instead of rushing to advance…*

"I can’t see! Xier, are you certain?"

"Yes, Miss! Too hazy to identify him—too much debris in the air—but someone’s definitely there! The ground around him is the only patch untouched by the abyss. It must be the Iceflower Evil God Dragon!"

"Impossible! Dragons and humans are utterly different species! Only a god could do this!"

"Miss, hehe, I haven’t finished! The ground beneath him is completely frozen! From here, it looks like an ice pillar jutting from the abyss—with him standing at the very top! Who else in this world could do that besides Lord Iceflower Evil God Dragon!"

Xier pumped a tiny fist, as if the dreaded dragon had suddenly become humanity’s guardian.

"Enough chatter! Can you see his face?"

"No! Too blurry. Only silver hair… and a man’s build."

Both froze, seeing identical shock in each other’s eyes. Then both shook their heads simultaneously, thinking in unison:

*It can’t be him. That useless man couldn’t even protect the woman he loved—he needed her protection! If he’s the Iceflower Evil God Dragon, then I’m the creator of this world!*

The Black Emperor Demon Dragon had long sensed the "human’s" presence.

Yet it couldn’t—*dared not*—move. This "ant" radiated such overwhelming aura that the dragon felt like an insect before him.

The silver-haired man slowly lifted his head, revealing a little girl cradled in his arms. A horrifying spear pierced her chest.

"Where… am I?"

"Who are you?"

The man gently closed his eyes. Blue light blazed so fiercely it pierced through his eyelids.

"I see. You died saving ‘another me.’"

*Sigh.* He exhaled slowly. "This air… too polluted. Even the land vanished. Demons… thousands of years gone, still pulling the same stupid stunts."

He snapped his fingers. Visible blue light rippled outward from his body. Ice spread like a spiderweb across the abyss, refreezing the twenty-mile-wide crater into solid ground within breaths.

Rubbing his temples, he sighed in exasperation.

"After endless eons, I finally cultivated a human consciousness—ready to merge with my origin and ascend to godhood. Then another overpowering consciousness barged in, mutated the fusion, and plunged me into deep slumber. Only its weakening from danger let me wake. Damn it… how did this guy cram so many messy memories into me in just days?"

"Worst part? His consciousness is now fused with mine—and far stronger than my newborn one. Perfect fusion will need his power. What a mess… Fine. I’ll do one last thing for humanity."

He lazily lifted his head, gazing at the paralyzed Black Emperor Demon Dragon.

The dragon choked under suffocating pressure, roaring in madness—

"Quiet."

As the words fell, blue light flashed across the dragon’s muzzle. Instantly, seamless ice sealed its massive jaws shut.

Furious, the dragon spat fire and spells midair—but the ice regenerated the moment it cracked, endless and unbreakable. Within moments, the beast slumped like an exhausted man, utterly broken.

It surrendered completely. From scales to soul.

"Why does being human feel so exhausting?"

The silver-haired man sighed, slowly rising while holding the pale girl.

This movement startled someone hidden in the shadows.

"Venerable elder! Spare him!"

A violet-haired man appeared before him—this time, without rose petals drifting by.

"I am Satan, son of Demon King Lucifer. I beg the Iceflower Evil God Dragon to spare my mount’s life."

The man casually dug his ear, then yanked his hand back in disgust.

*Gods… why did I do something so undignified? Must be that ‘other me’s’ influence!*

*This kid’s overreacting. I just stood up because my legs went numb from sitting too long.*

"Oh! Lucifer’s son! You’ve grown so big since I last saw you!"

He flashed an innocent smile, ruffling the violet-haired man’s hair.

"Five hundred years ago, I told Lucifer: ‘Humans are useful to me. I need them to cultivate my human consciousness—it’s essential for my godhood ascension.’ Why attack them now? Give me a reasonable explanation… *junior*."

He stressed the last word heavily. Satan’s clothes soaked through with cold sweat. He stammered, unable to form a coherent reason.

*Could he admit his father got bored? That he ordered them to ‘practice on humans,’ ‘experience mortal life,’ ‘snatch pretty girls for his harem,’ and ‘conquer Reno Continent while we’re at it—demons need population control anyway’?*

"This… um… that…"

"Stop." The man waved a hand. Satan snapped his mouth shut.

"Here’s the deal."

What followed became a demand the Demon Kind would resent humanity for centuries:

"Lend me that dragon whelp to ride for five hundred years. Then tell your old man: Stop being bored out of his skull. If he’s restless, go birdwatching. Leave humans alone until *I* ascend to godhood. That’s all. You may go."

Satan stood frozen for ten full seconds. Finally, he forced a gentleman’s smile.

"The Evil God’s decree is law. I shall relay it. But I have one humble request…"

"Speak."

"My… niece. Ahem. Demon King Lucifer also has a daughter. Her true name is Sashi. Her human alias is Alice. I trust the venerable elder remembers her."

Satan hesitated, then continued: "I hope you’ll look after her. I swear—within two days, not a single demon will remain on Reno Continent. Consider the dragon… a gift for our first meeting! Alpha! Get down here!"

His shout made the Black Emperor Demon Dragon obediently spiral down like an airplane, skidding to a halt on the ice.

Satan patted the massive nostril, forcing a smile despite his agony.

"From now on, the Evil God Dragon is your master. Serve him well. We’ll meet again… in five hundred years."

The dragon’s eyes widened in disbelief. Its pupils shrank to pinpricks.

*Two tiny humans chatted for minutes… and I got sold off like scrap metal?! What the hell is this?!*

"Your request is granted. Leave."

The man waved dismissively. Satan bowed deeply. Roses swirled around him—and vanished.

The silver-haired man called after the empty air:

"Satan won’t exist on Reno Continent anymore. But our gentleman Dilu can stay. Also—" He slipped a bracelet off the pale girl’s wrist. Roses swept it away. "—give this to your father. Top-tier human craftsmanship. Let him tinker with it. Keeps him busy so he doesn’t get ‘restless’ again."

A booming laugh echoed from the sky, thick with delight.

"Thank you, Venerable Elder!"

The silver-haired man waved nonchalantly. He then slowly strode to the Black Emperor Demon Dragon lying prostrate on the ground. Calmly, he said,

"Alpha, is it?"

The Black Emperor Demon Dragon let out a low growl—take it as a response.

"You haven’t yet cultivated a human personality to take human form, right? Bringing you along will cause trouble for ‘my other self.’ Well, I might as well sacrifice a bit more personality power."

The silver-haired man gently placed his hand on Alpha’s dragon head. A dazzling blue light enveloped Alpha. In the next moment, a cute, charming little girl in black clothes materialized out of thin air!

Satisfied, he nodded. His expression turned grave as he looked at Fan Qiandai in his arms. Slowly, his pale hand grasped the long spear embedded in her chest.

"Ice is but water."

The spear, forged from unknown material, first froze into ice. Then it gradually melted into water, vanishing completely.

"Though her body is dead, her personality remains. She can still be saved. I’ll leave motivation for ‘my other self’ to strive hard later, lest he gives up. Seal!"

In an instant, the little girl in his arms transformed into a breathtakingly beautiful ice sculpture—just like the Third Prince once was.

The silver-haired man smiled faintly. He wrapped one arm around the black-clad little girl.

"My personality power is nearly depleted. ‘My other self’ is about to wake. Let’s go home first. Feels like ages since I’ve been back, huh."

Amidst casual chatter, the man, the little girl, and the ice sculpture vanished in the blink of an eye from the icy wilderness...