The red dragon soared freely through the sky. In the distance, sheer, towering cliffs thrust straight into the clouds—the Hurricane Cliff.
This was the mountain pass of the northern Akkad Mountains, a gathering place for storms where fierce gales frequently raged.
Stretching south from here across an expanse of a thousand li lay a vast swathe of rolling slopes littered with jagged rocks, tangled scrub, and tundra, known collectively as the Storm Heights.
In his past life, the Storm Heights had also borne another name: the "Newbie Mass Grave."
Owing to active and violent elemental reactions, the region was sparsely populated by humans, leaving countless creatures to run wild. Hill giants, gnolls, ogres, goblins, and even wyverns lived alongside one another in chaotic disarray. A single misstep could easily leave a traveler surrounded by evil monsters.
Yet for an evil dragon like Cassius, this place was a paradise for grinding levels and recruiting thralls.
With winter drawing near, the gales sweeping across the Storm Heights carried flurries of fine snow. The scrub on the ground was withered and dry, blanketed by broad patches of thin snow.
High in the air, the red dragon felt the chill as well. He could not resist snorting a blast of sulfurous, scalding breath, vaporizing the falling snowflakes into wisps of steam.
*I need to find a warm enough lair,*
the red dragon thought.
Cloud Peak had been fine before. Although situated in the Great Anzetta Waste—known across the northwest continent as the "Land of No Spring"—its caverns possessed abundant geothermal heat, with molten lava even flowing through its depths, perfectly matching a red dragon's craving for fire and heat.
Unfortunately, after his cheap mother had been slain, the place was no longer safe. Kingdom guards might even be stationed at the entrance to prevent the wicked dragon from returning.
Cassius searched his memories of the Storm Heights from his past life, and a suitable destination suddenly came to mind.
*Just the right time to see if I can recruit a minion, or... grind a little experience.*
His spirits lifted despite the biting wind. Spreading his wings, the red dragon glided swiftly across the rugged landscape.
***
Giant's Mouth Cave.
No one knew who had coined such a terrible name—perhaps some bored bard.
Perhaps it was because the jagged rocks along the cavern's rim resembled the rotted teeth of a giant, or perhaps because the gaping entrance looked like an open maw, but at some point, the name had stuck.
The nearby ogres and goblins had followed suit. At the very least, the name suited their meager imaginations.
The master of the cave had changed hands many times, and at present, it belonged to a chimera.
Legend held that the chimera was created by the demon prince Demogorgon when summoned to the mortal world. It possessed the hindquarters of a goat, the forelegs of a lion, a pair of dragon wings, and the heads of all three beasts.
It embodied the worst traits of each component: its dragon head drove it to raid, plunder, and hoard treasure; its lion nature provoked a relentless urge to hunt and eliminate powerful threats in its territory; and its goat head made it vicious and stubborn, fighting to the bitter end.
At that moment, the master of the cave was dozing leisurely near the entrance, licking its wounds.
Its massive body, stretching over seven meters long, sprawled lazily across the stone, soaking up what little heat remained.
It was the most terrifying monster within a hundred li, perched at the very pinnacle of the food chain, needing only to roam about, slaughtering and pillaging. The mounds of bones accumulated within the cavern bore ample witness to this fact.
Among them were even numerous remnants of human gear—suits of armor, sharp swords, and the like—all kept as trophies by the covetous beast. Clearly, more than a few human adventurers had ended up in its belly.
Yet the whoosh of beating wings outside abruptly shattered the peace.
The chimera let out a furious roar and rose to glare toward the cave entrance, preparing to tear the ignorant trespasser to shreds—only to see a muscular red dragon land with a resounding crash.
"Submit to me, or choose death," the red dragon commanded in Draconic.
Carrying draconic blood, the chimera rarely spoke the language, but it understood it well enough.
It appraised the creature before it. The red dragon was clearly not yet fully grown, standing slightly smaller than itself, though built far more powerfully.
While a formidable opponent, it hardly looked invincible.
The lion's head let out a low growl. Its predatory nature stirred an intense craving to hunt a mighty beast, and the half-grown red dragon before it was undoubtedly a prize worthy of battle.
Hearing the chimera's growl, Cassius shook his head with mild regret. He lamented that without an imposing frame, getting anything done was always a hassle.
If a twenty-meter-long adult red dragon were coiled here, wings eclipsing the entire cavern entrance, would he have to worry about a chimera refusing to bend the knee?
He truly needed to find a way to grow rapidly.
Even as these thoughts crossed his mind, he was scrutinizing the monstrous beast before him.
[Based on your level, you can observe the following information]
Chimera
Type: Large monstrosity, chaotic evil
AC: 14 (Natural Armor)
Attributes:
Strength: 19
Dexterity: 11
Constitution: 19
Intelligence: 7
Wisdom: 14
Charisma: 10
Proficiencies: Listen +4, Spot +3, Hunting +5
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 18
Languages: Draconic
Actions: Multiattack, Bite, Gore, Claws, Fire Breath
Traits: Contradictory Creature, Evil Minion
Challenge Rating: 6 (2,300 XP)
Description: "The chimera is a demonic, savage beast fond of launching sudden ambushes upon its prey. It swoops down from high above while spewing a breath of flame, then lands to press the assault. It hunts purely for its own amusement, reveling in the terror and agony of its quarry. It often toys with its prey or leaves a wounded victim clinging to its last breath, only returning to finish the kill once the creature has endured the utmost agony and despair."
This was likely the strongest opponent Cassius had faced since his rebirth—a genuine chimera.
"If you won't yield, then let's have a brawl."
Cassius grew solemn. His golden slit pupils narrowed slightly, gleaming with the ferocious zeal of a red dragon confronting a worthy adversary.
His well-developed muscles corded tight, poised and eager for the clash.
With a piercing shriek, the chimera beat its wings and launched itself into the sky.
It fell back on its most practiced tactic, diving from high above while its draconic head on the left spewed a terrifying jet of fiery breath.
Yet using fire against a red dragon virtually immune to flames was clearly a terrible idea.
One could only say this beast lacked knowledge, as well as combat wisdom.
On the ground, the red dragon merely tensed his muscles and held his ground.
"True Strike,"
Cassius murmured in Draconic, a faint violet magical gleam flickering across his eyes.
It was a practical cantrip that granted him foresight into his enemy's movements before his next attack, allowing him to deliver a deadly strike—a boon that could prove decisive in pivotal moments.
The chimera plunged downward, spewing torrents of flame until it was only a few meters away.
The red dragon's glowing slit pupils regarded it coldly, reading every nuance of its flight path.
In the next instant, his coiled muscles exploded with immense power.
His wings snapped wide. His seven-meter-long dragon frame surged into the air like a released spring, pushing straight through the ferocious blast of fire breath to reach the chimera's flank in midair.
The chimera frantically flapped its wings, desperate to veer away—but it was already too late.
Chapter 8