Chapter 9: Battle at the Giant's Maw
The red dragon opened his maw wide, biting down hard on the dragon head's neck.
His razor-sharp teeth pierced through the chimera's scales and tough skin, embedding deep into the flesh.
Blood splattered, and the head jerked back, letting out a desperate howl, the fierce stream of fire halting abruptly.
"Awooo—"
The chimera's dragon-like wings flapped wildly as it tried to ascend, while the sharp, muscular lion claws swiped at the red dragon, aiming for a counterattack to escape its predicament.
Cassius released his grip, nimbly dodging the swipe, and flapped his wings, veering above the chimera.
The tables had turned, and with a triumphant roar, the red dragon swooped down toward the chimera's back.
"Roar—"
In mid-air, the chimera's mismatched body was no match for the streamlined form of the red dragon.
The chimera couldn't dodge; it flailed its wings, turning its heads back to watch helplessly as the red dragon drew closer.
"Got you."
Cassius spread his wings wide, grabbing hold of the chimera's wings with his powerful claws.
The chimera, panicked, lost its balance, flailing its wings wildly as all three heads twisted back, snapping at the dragon clinging to its back.
"Bull's Strength!"
The red dragon roared, channeling the spell's power through his heart, pumping strength into every muscle. His already-massive limbs bulged, emitting steam.
Cassius felt a surge of strength.
His claws tightened around the chimera's wings, nearly crushing bone and flesh.
"Where did you get the audacity—"
"To fly before a true dragon?"
"Get down!"
Cassius spat out.
He folded his wings, channeling his full weight and strength downward—the red dragon demanded a decisive victory.
The chimera, once struggling defiantly, was utterly powerless under Cassius's absolute might.
It could only await its fate, defeated.
"Owooo—"
The chimera's desperate struggles weakened as the red dragon's weight forced it from ten meters above to crash into the ground.
"Boom!"
The earth rumbled.
Dust rose, stones scattered, and the ground cracked, leaving a shallow crater.
Inside lay the chimera, battered and bruised, its wings almost torn apart.
"Now, let me show you true fire."
The red dragon pressed down on the half-dead chimera, jaws slightly parted as scorching heat gathered in his throat—the air visibly distorting with the fire's intensity.
"Submit."
"Or die."
Cassius fixed his gaze on the terrified, submissive eyes of the lion head and spoke, emphasizing each word.
The chimera, though fierce, still clung to life. Moreover, its dragon heritage compelled it to yield to a stronger dragon, to become a servant to evil.
Faced with death, it quickly made its choice, all three heads lowering in submission, baring their vulnerable necks and letting out a low whimper.
"Awooo..."
In the face of power, all were equal—such was the brutal law of the wild.
"Submit... Master..."
The chimera managed to utter a few words in crude Draconic, though brokenly.
Only then did Cassius release his hold, directing his stored fire breath mere inches from the chimera's side.
In an instant, the intense flames scorched the ground, splintering rocks.
The chimera, still trembling, looked at Cassius with newfound reverence, realizing it would not have survived a direct hit from those flames.
The chimera crawled out of the crater, wings folded and body covered in wounds, lowering its heads, not daring to meet the red dragon's eyes.
Cassius perched atop the towering rock outside the cave, looking down and roaring in Draconic:
"From this day forth, this shall be—
"Cassius's lair."
His voice echoed far and wide, reaching creatures within miles.
Be it feasting gnolls, thieving ogres, or slumbering bear goblins...
Perhaps they didn't yet realize that the territory had changed hands, but Cassius was confident they would soon learn by any means necessary.
He then leaped down from the rock, shifting his gaze to the chimera awaiting orders, and said casually:
"Remember my name from now on and never defy me. Lead the way."
"Yes..."
The chimera bowed slightly, leading Cassius deeper into the Giant's Maw Cave.
Inside, it was warm, likely due to abundant fire elements within the mountain, making it comfortable for the red dragon.
As they ventured through the winding passage, Cassius noted bones scattered throughout: a giant's skull, wyvern wing bones, and even humanoid skulls with horns.
"A cambion?"
"No, probably a tiefling."
Cassius thought.
Following the chimera, they moved deeper through the narrow passage, entering a wide space easily big enough for a fully grown red dragon.
Remnants of past meals lay everywhere, with various tunnels leading off in different directions.
As they passed a particular pile of bones, the chimera hesitated for a moment but quickly resumed walking as if nothing had happened.
It was deliberately steering Cassius inward.
Sensing this anomaly, Cassius called out to the chimera, his tone icy:
"What are you hiding? What's in there?"
"N-No..."
"Nothing..."
The chimera turned, whimpering, its heads lowered in a gesture of surrender.
Cassius clawed through the pile of bones, revealing a hidden passage. Glancing down, he saw hundreds of gleaming gold coins, faintly shining in the cave's shadows.
The chimera, inheriting a dragon's greed, had amassed quite the treasure. Gathering such a wealth of coins was a rare feat.
"By dragon custom, I'll take half."
"But if you ever hide anything from me again..."
"There won't be a next time."
"Yes… Master."
The beast bowed all three heads low.
Cassius glanced at it before entering the hidden chamber under the chimera's anguished gaze.
With a single bite, he devoured hundreds of coins—
—the bulk of the wealth the chimera had amassed through years of plunder and bloodshed.