"Impossible!"
The dragon-blooded professor stared at the black dragon below him in disbelief. "You... stole my wind!"
"Nothing is impossible."
Muria opened his maw, where the gentle yet volatile wind began to coalesce. A small sphere the size of a fist appeared, crackling with arcs of blue lightning.
Boom!
Before the professor had time to react, the dragon's wind-and-lightning-infused breath erupted forth. Though swift, the attack missed its target as the professor deftly evaded.
"Your bloodline is impressive, but do you think such attacks can hit me? How laughable!"
The professor sneered as he looked back at the black dragon. Yet before he could savor his success, Muria's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Are you sure you're not forgetting something behind you?"
"What?"
Before he could even glance over his shoulder, the redirected dragon breath struck his back. The powerful blast sent him hurtling from the sky, crashing into the rocky ground below.
"But I dodged that!"
The violent breath had shredded the protective layers on his body and left him battered, his flesh scorched and exposed. Gasping, the professor lay sprawled on the ground, bewildered and humiliated.
"Never seen a homing dragon breath before?" Muria stepped closer, looming over the professor, his voice dripping with disdain.
"You may have defeated me, but don't get complacent, dragon!" the professor snarled through the pain. "Even if you manage to kill us, more powerful humans will come, wielding even deadlier weapons to hunt you down!"
"Perhaps they would," Muria remarked, studying the professor's equipment. "But unfortunately for you, that won't happen anytime soon."
The professor squinted at Muria, the gears in his mind turning. "What... what do you mean by that?"
"Communication relies on certain mediums. And as of now, this entire area is sealed. No signal can escape, nor will any reinforcements arrive."
"A domain?"
The professor's eyes widened with realization. Fear overtook his expression as he gazed at the seemingly battered young dragon before him. "You... You're not a young ancient dragon. You're an elder dragon! An ancient being reborn through a dragon egg!"
"You're quite clever," Muria admitted, his tone mockingly approving. "But I'm afraid your deduction is only partially correct."
"That's more than enough!" The professor straightened slightly, as if accepting his impending death. "So, what do you plan to do with us, Your Excellency, the Elder Dragon?"
"I'll start by questioning you," Muria replied coolly, surveying the scattered and defeated dragon hunters.
"You're not going to kill us? You're clearly wounded—you'll need food to recover."
"I'll make that decision after I gather the information I need. If consuming you turns out to be my best option, I assure you, I will." Muria's golden eyes glimmered with predatory amusement.
"You..."
"Silence."
Muria invoked his authority with a single word. The professor's attempts to respond were abruptly cut off as an invisible force sealed his voice, rendering him mute.
"Experienced hunters are hard to break, but young ones..." Muria's gaze fell on the novice dragon hunters writhing on the ground, "are far more pliable."
Muria extended a claw and picked up one of the younger hunters. Using his brute strength and precision, he pried off her helmet, revealing a golden-haired girl's defiant expression.
"Ancient dragon, no matter what you ask, I will not answer!" the girl declared boldly, trying to mask her trembling voice.
"I admire your... courage." Muria tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as he continued, "But let me ask you something. Do you think shutting your eyes and shaking like a leaf makes you look heroic?"
"Ah!"
The girl's eyes snapped open, startled by Muria's pointed mockery.
"Let me make this simple. Answer my questions, and you'll be returned to your family and friends unharmed," Muria offered, his tone measured. "Doubt me if you will, but I always keep my word."
The girl hesitated, glancing around at her subdued comrades. Her gaze settled on the professor, who was frantically shaking his head and gesturing for her to stay silent. Yet, stripped of his voice, his frantic antics appeared almost comical.
Finally, her eyes drifted to another fallen comrade, a blond-haired boy named Owen—lifeless and crumpled from Muria's earlier attack.
As she hesitated, Muria's voice cut through her thoughts like a blade. "Think carefully. Are you truly willing to throw away your life over trivial, widely known information?"
Her mouth opened, then closed again. It was as if the dragon could see straight into her mind.
"Why don't you hear what I'm asking first before deciding whether to be a martyr?"
"...Fine."
"Your name?"
"Paphria Harmakova," she answered after a pause.
"Age? Are you an adult yet?"
"Seventeen. Not yet an adult."
"Ah, a minor." Muria nodded thoughtfully. "When did you begin your training as a dragon hunter? As a child?"
"I—"
"Paphria, are you planning to betray humanity?"
Another hunter's voice cut through her response, righteous and accusing.
Paphria froze, torn between loyalty and self-preservation. Before she could make a decision, Muria placed her down and plucked up the outspoken hunter instead. With a flick of his claw, he removed the boy's helmet, revealing a face barely older than her own.
"If you're so determined to speak, then you'll answer my questions instead," Muria said, his voice icy. "When did you start your training?"
"You won't get any answers from me, beast!"
"Brave words. Let's see how long that lasts."
Muria extended a claw, brushing it lightly against the boy's forehead. Blue-white arcs of electricity danced across his body, igniting every nerve with searing pain.
"Ahhh!"
The hunter's screams filled the air, raw and agonized.
"Now," Muria murmured as the electricity faded, "are you ready to answer?"
Between ragged breaths, the boy finally relented. "Seven years ago... I was chosen... to join Kassel Academy..."
Piece by piece, Muria extracted the information he needed. Most of the young hunters, though initially resistant, caved under the dragon's relentless questioning. Even the boldest of them could not endure the pain Muria inflicted.
Satisfied with the information he had gathered, Muria turned his attention back to the professor. With a wave of his claw, he released the binding silence.
"An elder dragon stooping to take human form? Laughable." The professor sneered, though his expression betrayed a flicker of unease.
"A new form offers new perspectives. What's so funny about that?"
Muria smiled, his form shifting further. Scales gave way to skin, claws to slender fingers. Before long, he stood as a young, handsome human boy.
The professor's eyes widened as Muria's face transformed into a disturbingly familiar visage.
Muria gave a slight bow, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Good afternoon, Professor Hafiz Ibrahim."
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