Abyss Rift (1)
——A scalding heat woke up the insect-like monster. The scorching temperature below the insect was so hot that even its carapace produced a sizzling noise.
“Aaaaaahhhhhh! I am going to dieeee!” The insect screamed in horror, uncontrollably kicking up its six legs in the air.
“You’re so noisy,” an impatient young man’s voice said from nearby. His words made the insect feel like a terrifying pressure appeared and seized its throat.
The insect froze in mid-air, staring blankly at the young man. The dangerous fire was close enough to burn the insect, but it was just leaping around and radiating scorching heat. I am no……not roasted?
Seeing the monster stop screaming, Shi An extinguished his dragon fire. His appearance had returned to normal, except for his pupils. Dark red light shimmered within the deep recesses of the pupils, like hot charcoals, showing signs of otherworldly characteristics.
That made the insect recall the memories from before it fainted——eyes, scales, fire…… Dragon.
“——But, but all dragons are already dead!” The insect shrieked hysterically, its voice shaky. “This continent does not have fantastical species anymore!”
Shi An tilted his head in confusion. “But I am still alive.”
“……” How do I continue this conversation!!!
Twenty minutes later, Shi An finally understood the current state of this era. He went silent for a long while.
“So, there are no elves now?” Shi An asked in disbelief.
“Nope.”
“Mermaids? Lich——”
“They are all gone.”
Shi An’s eyes widened in shock. He had not expected that only the weakest species had survived. “How did this happen?!”
“I-I don’t know,” the insect answered cautiously. It believed Shi An was a dragon from ancient times. “None of us had lived that long.”
“So……you-you are really a dragon?” The insect asked with trepidation.
Shi An glanced at the insect in displeasure.
The insect’s whole body shuddered and it immediately rephrased its question, “No-no, I didn’t mean to question your identity. Just that……why did you……become like this?”
Shi An was hundred percent human from the inside out, from his blood and bones to his skin—this disguise was too real, even for a powerful fantastical species.
The insect’s question reminded Shi An of the reason he captured the insect.
“Earlier in the banquet room, I smelled a type of……scent.” Shi An tightened his grip on the panicky insect who was trying to escape. He pinched the insect between two fingers and examined it from top to bottom. Then he frowned and added puzzledly: “……but not anymore.”
Scent? That surprised the insect, and it stopped struggling. “Is-is it this?”
A familiar dark miasma slowly diffused into the air.
“Yes!” Shi An’s eyes lit up. “What is this?”
“……Poison-poisonous air,” the insect answered dully.
The poisonous gas spread into the bottom of the Abyss, which made creatures living in it more aggressive and ferocious. Therefore, all creatures that crawled out of the abyss would habitually change the air to enhance themselves when they attacked.
However, that poisonous gas was deadly for creatures living on the surface of the continent. By logic, poisonous gas should also be deadly for the dragon species.
Maybe……this is a chance to kill him! With that in mind, the insect rejoiced inside and fluttered its wings to change the surrounding air even more.
The young man loosened his grip on the insect for a moment, but in the next instant, he tightened his grip again. Shi An stared at the insect in front of him with bright eyes and shook it mercilessly. “Continue.”
That command confused the insect, and the shaking made it dizzy.
Suddenly, an ominous realization struck the insect. “Tha…That……” the insect cautiously began, “Can I ask……what dragon species you are?”
Fire dragon? Agile, slender with fiery flames. Or is it Black Dragon? Majestic, enormous with incredible strength……
Shi An grinned. “Abyss dragon.”
——Fierce, ruthless and fickle.
The Abyss dragon species is the strongest and most formidable of all dragon species, even during ancient times. Most importantly, these Abyss dragons were born in the Abyss and lived in the Abyss. No matter where they were on the continent, they were the overlords in the area.
“……” Shit. Sorry to disturb you.
*
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