"Mumble, mumble... oh, this texture's actually pretty good." Belial, apparently forgetting whatever he think just a chapter ago, was now happily feasting on the carcass of a colossal elephant, one that towered over 20 meters tall.
Its fur was so thick, not even regular swords or anti-tank shells could get through. Its muscles were stronger than cranes, and that massive trunk could flatten the earth with a single swing, smashing through everything in its path without even trying. Its bones were so dense they made steel look fragile, supporting a body built for pure power.
Even Belial found it tougher to chew than most beasts, a rare enough thing that it actually made him willing to go after it personally amidst the beast horde. "Man, I really lucked out this time. The quality's top notch."
The monsters showing up lately were way stronger than usual, some even survived his usual breath attacks and fought back. He had to admit, it was impressive.
Not that it was his fault or anything. He'd just been flying around, barely keeping his drool in check when some clueless flying beast literally flew into his mouth.
And then there were the bold ones, firing off spells at him mid-air like they actually had a chance. Such hospitality. How could he possibly say no?
As a show of appreciation, he made sure to eat even more.
Now, Belial stood tall above a field of corpses, stacked high like mountains, ripping into them with savage glee and devouring them down to the bone.
Blood had pooled beneath his claws, but the freezing air had turned it dark and solid. Hundreds, maybe thousands, had already frozen in place, shattered like broken glass.
The wind howled through what was left of the battlefield, sweeping through the open plains and echoing through shattered remains like a mournful song.
Farther off, in the snowy distance, a figure crouched in the cold, trembling as he looked at his fallen companion. Ice had already started forming on the body, thin cracks appearing across its skin like spiderwebs.
The poor soul had barely brushed the edge of the attack while retreating, not even in the center of it. Just a little too slow.
Even though he wasn't the emotional type, the scene gave him pause. The master may have called this a test, but wiping everything out with one breath? That didn't feel like something a normal dragon could do.
He wasn't just a soldier, he was a loyal servant, granted power through a mark deep in his soul. It kept him tethered to the master, allowing him to share what he saw and felt.
To him, the master was the shepherd leading the faithful from their cage, always one step ahead, always watching the end unfold. There was no doubt the master had foreseen this.
So, he kept whispering prayers under his breath, passing on his thoughts and images.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Strange. Normally, the master would've responded by now with a new revelation. A word of guidance. Something.
"...This was expected."
Ah. There it was. The voice of the master, ringing through his soul like a calm breeze before a storm. He dropped to his knees and listened carefully.
"If the dragon truly thinks this can stop what's coming... then it's already lost. Its mind has been dulled by divine punishment, nothing more than a beast drunk on destruction."
Even now, hearing that voice made him feel blessed, like a warm hand pressing against his heart, renewing his devotion all over again.
"Besides," the master continued, "a dragon can't keep up that level of power for long. The energy it takes to burn everything with magic and breath, it'll wear down soon enough."
He nodded slowly... but then hesitated. "My lord, it only used its breath once."
There was silence. Then, after a pause, the voice returned, gentler now, but still firm.
"Don't worry. This dragon is just feeding the fire for something far greater. Everything it's doing now is just chipping away at its own life. And you, my most trusted one...
I want you to follow it. Watch where it goes. Because one day, everything we lost will return, and our god will rise to the skies once more."
"Yes... one day, our god will rise to the skies," he repeated quietly, pressing an octagram over his chest, still kneeling in the snow.
With a cautious breath, he touches the eight-sided amulet tucked in his pocket, only moving once he's sure the ancient white dragon has vanished into the swirling snow.
Far from the frozen battlefield, another blizzard howls through a northern town.
Inside a cozy eatery, two girls, one with jet-black hair, the other with pale blue that matched the falling snow, sat across from each other. They looked about fifteen or sixteen, their cheeks slightly red from the cold outside.
The table between them was packed with fresh ingredients: neatly sliced meat, rare vegetables that were hard to find in the north, sausages, fish fillets, poultry, and mushrooms. A copper hot pot bubbled warmly at the center, steam rising like soft clouds.
Elara, the black-haired girl, stabbed a juicy piece of monster meat with her chopsticks and dipped it into the pot.
After letting it cook just right, she swirled it in sauce and took a big bite. "Mmm... it tastes a little different, but it's really good~"
The flavor was rich, and the texture just right. She felt all the effort she'd spent hunting down spices pay off the moment it hit her tongue.
"Mmm..."
"Okay, okay, stop looking at me like that! I was just testing the flavor, alright? I was gonna share, promise!"
Elara quickly cooked up a small bowl's worth and offered it to the other girl, who had been silently watching her, expressionless, yet oddly expectant.
"Bryella, you really going with a fork again? I'm not judging, but it's kinda tough to use that for hot pot, you know?"
Crunch.
Bryella had clearly had enough of trying to handle chopsticks. She couldn't figure out why people from this region used such awkward utensils.
Calmly, she conjured a fork made of ice and got back to eating. "Dip it in this sauce. It tastes better that way."
"Mmm..."
With a single bite, Bryella's eyes lit up. Her brows lifted, and she made a tiny pleased sound as she began to eat faster, stuffing her cheeks like a little hamster.
She'd taken a liking to something called chili. Instead of its heat bothering her, she enjoyed the sensation, it was a nice change from the usual cold. If Elara didn't ration it, she'd probably dunk her whole face in the sauce.
"Told you you'd love it! Sooo... as we agreed... maybe...?" Elara leaned forward, hands clasped like she was praying. "If you help me out, we'll have money. And with money, we can eat this every single day!"