A black spear pierced the crimson-haired dragon maiden’s chest.
A deafening explosion followed. Dust clouds trembled and swept across the land.
The spear shot back from the smoke.
Monet—hailed as humanity’s strongest Chosen Hero—caught the spinning lance and gazed calmly into the rolling smoke.
*Only a few moves… and the evil dragon was utterly helpless. Of course I’m the strongest.*
His triumph lasted mere seconds.
“ROAR!!!”
A razor-sharp dragon’s cry tore through the twilight. Mighty crimson wings beat the smoke away.
Before Monet stood a classic Western dragon. Deep crimson scales shimmered in the sunset glow. Fiery eyes, blazing like molten lava, burned with boundless fury.
Jaws gaped wide, revealing dagger-like fangs.
Monet tightened his grip on the lance, ready to strike again.
“Heh. A second phase? Dragon Quest doesn’t lie. Time to step it up!”
The dragon’s claw was larger than Monet’s entire body. No time for quips—it swiped down.
Monet dodged nimbly, spun fluidly, and thrust the lance toward its arm.
【Annihilation!】
A soul-piercing voice slammed into his mind. An eerie crimson glow pulsed across the dragon’s hide.
The moment the lance touched the light—it crumbled to dust.
*W-what power is this?!*
*It shattered a world-class treasure!*
A flicker of panic flashed in Monet’s eyes. Without his weapon, his strength would plummet. Victory? Impossible.
“Hurry! Leo—teleportation array!” he yelled.
*We’ve got backup. If we can’t win… we run.*
This ambush on the Dragon Sovereign was only a test. Never meant to slay her outright.
Forcing out her second life? Already a win.
Silence.
No glowing runes beneath his feet.
Nothing.
Monet whipped his head around, horror dawning.
*Where’s my teammate?! Where did he go?!*
“CRASH!”
A split-second lapse—and the claw pinned him to the earth.
An ordinary man would be paste. But Monet strained upward, muscles screaming, fighting to roll free.
The crimson dragon lowered its head. Vertical slit pupils dripped with contempt for the squirming human.
No mouth moved. Her resonant voice echoed straight into his skull:
“Foolish human. Selfish to the core. Your comrade abandoned you long ago.”
*What—?!*
Chest crushed, breath stolen. No words escaped.
*How…?*
Leo—another transmigrator. Shared the same Dragon Quest dream.
Monet trusted him completely. The steadfast support. The one who pulled him from death’s edge time and again.
*He proposed this ambush on the Dragon Queen… So why run? Why leave me?*
Doubt flooded his mind.
*Am I… the protagonist… dying here?*
【Critical danger detected. Initiating full-power escape protocol…】
The cold mechanical voice eased Monet’s panic.
*Thank goodness. The System’s got me.*
*Transmigrated with a System. Got the world-class Holy Lance “Lancer” in the newbie pack. Classic protagonist template. No way I die here.*
【Suppression detected… Escape blocked. Teleportation failed. Countermeasures… failing…】
The dragon felt the surge beneath her claw. *Huh. Still fighting?*
Amused, she watched. *How far will this speck push back?*
【Escape route analysis… 90%… 95%… 97%… 99%…】
“Hey! A progress bar?! SYSTEM, HURRY! I’M ABOUT TO BE PASTE!”
【Analysis failed. No viable escape route.】
“No way… Am I really…?”
“SYSTEM! Think of something! Call Leo back—he knows teleportation!”
【Host suppressed. Only world-class treasure “Mercury” can break control.】
“What do we do?! Can’t you roll a gacha NOW?!”
【Self-destruct sequence initiated…】
“Self-destruct?! SYSTEM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”
*Is the Dragon Queen this strong? Even the System’s helpless?!*
【Host… This is the System’s final ripple… Please… live…】
Power surged from the void. Strange energy flooded Monet’s veins. Rebirth.
The claw lifted—just slightly.
The dragon pressed down harder.
“BOOM!!!”
The tiny human beneath exploded like a coiled spring unleashed.
A shockwave hurled the claw back. The dragon stumbled, wings flaring for balance.
Blinding white light erupted—cosmic, overwhelming—turning twilight into noon.
A transcendent treasure, the 【System】, sacrificed itself. Its final light forged evolution.
As the radiance faded, the crimson dragon squinted.
There lay a dragonkin woman.
Silver hair spilled like a blooming lotus. Nude. Pale skin gleamed like polished jade. Her ample bosom swayed gently. A white dragon tail rested across her back. Horns, unmistakably Dragonkin, crowned her head.
The crimson dragon nudged her cautiously.
*Pale. Swaying.*
*This… was the force that pushed me back?*
Confirming no threat, she reverted to humanoid form—the first stage.
A 170cm crimson-haired maiden in a dark red gothic lolita dress. The Holy Lance wound on her chest fully healed. Elegant black silk gloves sheathed her arms.
She crouched beside the silver dragon woman, tracing the flawless porcelain skin with awe.
*What happened? A human… evolved into Dragonkin?*
*Take her back. Study her later.*
