A Red Dragon soared freely in the sky, and in the distance, towering, steep cliffs pierced the clouds; that was Hurricane Crag.
This was the Acadian Mountain Pass in the north, a place where storms gathered, often ravaged by hurricanes.
And from there, a large area of undulating slopes extending a hundred miles to the south, filled with rocks, sparse trees, and even tundra, was all called Stormwind Highlands.
In his previous life, Stormwind Highlands also had another name—the “Newbie Graveyard.”
Due to active and strong elemental reactions, this place was sparsely populated, and countless creatures grew wild here.
Hill Giants, Zhainglang Ren, Ogres, Goblins, and even Wyverns—all kinds of monsters lived here, and one could easily fall into an encirclement of evil creatures if not careful.
But for Ke Xiu Si, as an Evil Dragon, this was a holy land for leveling up and recruiting dependents.
As winter approached, the hurricanes in Stormwind Highlands also carried Crushed snow, and the ground’s weeds were withered and shriveled, covered by large patches of thin snow.
The Red Dragon felt a chill in the air as well and couldn't help but exhale a breath of sulfur-scented hot air, sublimating the snowflakes in the air into water vapor.
“I need to find a warm enough dwelling,” the Red Dragon thought.
The previous Cloud Peak was not bad; although it was located in the Anzeta Great Wilderness in the northwest of the continent, known as the “Land Without Spring,” the cave had ample geothermal heat, and deep within, there was even magma, which perfectly matched the Red Dragon’s pursuit of fire and heat.
But unfortunately, after his cheap mother was slain, that place was no longer safe; perhaps the cave entrance was already guarded by kingdom guards to prevent the Evil Dragon from returning.
Ke Xiu Si tried his best to recall his memories of Stormwind Highlands from his previous life and suddenly thought of a good place.
“It’s a good time to see if I can recruit a subordinate, or… farm some experience.”
The Red Dragon, troubled by the cold wind, instantly perked up, spread his wings, and glided, sweeping across the land.
The Giant Mouth Cave.
Who knows who came up with that terrible name, perhaps some bored bard.
Maybe it was because the uneven rocks at the cave entrance resembled a giant’s rotten teeth, or perhaps the wide-open entrance looked like a mouth, but from a certain point on, it was called by that name.
The nearby Ogres and Goblins also followed suit, at least the name suited their barren imagination.
The owner of the cave had changed many times, and now it was a Chimera.
The Chimera, said to have been created by the Demon Lord Demogorgon, summoned to the human world, possessed the hind legs of a goat, the forelegs of a lion, a pair of dragon wings, and the heads of these three creatures.
It combined the worst aspects of each part of itself: the dragon’s head drove it to attack, plunder, and hoard treasures; the lion’s nature incited its desire to hunt powerful creatures that threatened its territory; and its goat’s head made it vicious and stubborn, fighting to the death.
At this moment, the owner of this cave was leisurely sleeping near the entrance, licking his wounds.
His massive body, over seven meters long, lay lazily on the rocks, feeling the residual heat emanating from them.
He was the most terrifying monster within a hundred miles, at the top of the food chain, only needing to plunder and kill everywhere, as evidenced by the piles of bones accumulated in the cave.
Among them were even many human relics, such as armor and swords, all treated as collections by this greedy creature, indicating that many human adventurers had also been devoured by him.
However, the whooshing of wings outside the cave interrupted everything.
The Chimera roared furiously, rose, and looked outside the cave, preparing to tear this ignorant intruder to pieces, only to see a strong Red Dragon land with a thud.
“Submit to me, or choose death,” the Red Dragon said in dragon language.
The Chimera had dragon blood, and although he rarely spoke it, he could understand dragon language.
He observed the creature before him; this Red Dragon was clearly still immature, slightly smaller than him, but his body was stronger.
Although he was a formidable opponent, he didn't seem invincible.
The lion’s head let out a low growl, the lion's nature igniting his strong desire to hunt powerful creatures, and the half-grown Red Dragon before him was undoubtedly a worthy opponent.
Hearing the Chimera’s low growl, Ke Xiu Si shook his head with regret, sighing inwardly that his size was indeed not intimidating enough, making everything troublesome.
If a twenty-meter-long adult Red Dragon were coiled there, covering the cave entrance with his dragon wings, would he still worry about a Chimera not submitting?
He still needed to find a way to grow quickly.
And he was also observing the terrifying monster before him.
【Based on your level, you can observe the following information】
【Chimera】
Category: Large Monster, Chaotic Evil
AC: 14 (Natural Armor)
Attributes:
Strength—19
Agility—11
Constitution—19
Intelligence—7
Perception—14
Charisma—10
Proficiencies: Proficient in: Listening +4, Scouting +3, Hunting +5
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, Passive Perception 18 feet
Language: dragon language
Actions: Multiattack, Bite, Horn Gore, Claw Attack, Fire Breath
Traits: Contradictory Creature, Evil Minion
Challenge Rating: 6 (2,300 XP)
Evaluation: “Chimeras are demonically brutal creatures. They like to ambush prey, swooping down from high altitudes while breathing fire, then landing to continue their attack.
He will purely seek self-amusement in the hunting process; he enjoys the fear and pain of his prey, often toying with them, or leaving injured prey with a breath, only to return and kill them after they have suffered enough pain and fear.”
This was possibly the strongest opponent Ke Xiu Si had encountered since his rebirth, a genuine Chimera.
“Since you’re not convinced, then let’s have a close-quarters battle.”
Ke Xiu Si gradually became serious, his golden vertical pupils slightly narrowing, revealing a hint of the Red Dragon’s fanaticism when facing a formidable enemy.
His well-developed muscles also gradually tensed, appearing eager for battle, ready to fight at any moment.
And the Chimera let out a long roar, flapping his wings and flying into the sky.
He still used his most familiar tactic, diving down from high altitude, and his left dragon head spewed terrifying Fire Breath.
However, using fire against a Red Dragon, who was almost immune to flames, was clearly not a good idea.
One could only say that this beast lacked knowledge and combat wisdom.
The Red Dragon on the ground merely tensed his muscles, holding his ground.
“Seize the Initiative.”
Ke Xiu Si whispered in dragon language, a faint purple magical glow flickering in his eyes.
This was a very practical cantrip that allowed him to foresee the enemy's movements before his next attack, delivering a fatal blow, which would play a decisive role at critical moments.
The Chimera rapidly dove towards the Red Dragon, breathing fire, stopping a few meters in front of him.
The Red Dragon’s glowing vertical pupils coldly watched him, discerning his flight direction.
Immediately after, his tensed muscles instantly erupted with powerful energy.
He spread his wings, and his more than seven-meter-long dragon body sprang into the air like a coiled spring, forcefully enduring the fierce Fire Breath as he flew to the side of the Chimera in mid-air.
The Chimera hurriedly flapped his wings, wanting to change direction—but it was already too late.