Su Nian rushed back to the capital of the Holy Aulist Kingdom under the scorching sun.
He hadn't brought Anna with him for this attack on the Third Fortress.
At first, Anna was reluctant to stay behind.
But as soon as he mentioned that he needed to make some preparations for the treatment, the adorable half-elf girl immediately complied.
She could only look at him with pitiful, tear-filled eyes.
Reluctantly, she returned to her room, obediently waiting.
"Everything is ready now."
Su Nian entered the great hall, his gaze falling upon the Moonlight Priestess and Celestine.
"But before we proceed, you and I need to sign a master-servant contract."
He got straight to the point.
There was no need for small talk with the Moonlight Priestess.
The Moonlight Priestess seemed to have anticipated this situation. A brief struggle flashed in her eyes before they became completely calm.
Accepting a giant dragon as her master wouldn't shake her faith in her deity.
Of course, if one day her faith conflicted with her master's will, that would be the day she should die.
"As you wish."
The Moonlight Priestess lowered her head and eyes, approaching Su Nian. She knelt before him, her face expressionless, but her every word and gesture showed utmost respect.
Su Nian nodded slightly, gently placing his dragon claw on the Moonlight Priestess's smooth forehead.
A drop of blood from his heart melted into her.
The Moonlight Priestess opened her mind, allowing her entire body to be transformed by the dragon blood, gradually taking on aspects of the black dragon before her.
"Rustle..."
Fine black scales grew on the back of the Moonlight Priestess's neck.
They encircled her fair neck, looking like a collar from a distance.
The Moonlight Priestess's rose-red eyes transformed into vertical pupils like those of a dragon.
The contract was complete.
Even though her loyalty wasn't particularly high,
She could no longer harbor any thoughts of harming the dragon before her.
The security arrangements were also completed. The entire capital of Holy Aulist Kingdom had been placed under martial law by Celestine's orders.
Especially outside the room where the ritual would take place.
Princess Knight, Alicia Alucutorus, had already led her troops to surround the area, ensuring that not even a fly could get in.
"Brother..."
In the room, on the velvet bed, Anna lay with a pale face, appearing somewhat nervous.
Her adorable big eyes were filled with anticipation and unease.
"Be good~ Take a nap, and when you wake up, you'll be cured. I promise."
Su Nian extended his soft dragon wing to pat Anna's head, his eyes full of affection and tenderness.
"Anna has a small wish—to see brother's face first when she wakes up. Is that possible?"
Anna's voice carried obvious pleading.
A soft little hand also clung reluctantly to one of Su Nian's dragon claws.
"Of course, no problem."
Su Nian readily agreed. It's not like he would run away.
"Hehe, okay, brother."
"Anna will be a good girl."
Anna nodded, her brow gradually relaxing under the soothing touch of the dragon wing, her lips curving into a sweet smile.
It was time.
Su Nian gave a meaningful look to the Moonlight Priestess beside him.
The Moonlight Priestess nodded and immediately raised her hand, gently moving it toward Anna's face.
A soft milky-white light appeared.
Anna, who had already relaxed her mind, fell into a deep sleep.
Su Nian sighed.
Silently apologizing.
What would happen next couldn't be seen by her. Knowing Anna as Su Nian did, she would certainly fight desperately against it.
"System, use system points to modify my heart."
Su Nian summoned the system.
He began to act according to plan, step by step.
[Ding! Modification initiated. This modification will be accompanied by slight pain. Please prepare yourself, host.]
Prepare my ass.
Su Nian couldn't even be bothered to complain anymore.
The next moment.
His chest violently shuddered, as if struck by a giant hammer.
Pain, excruciating pain.
His mind was buzzing.
His heartbeat grew faster and faster, his heart seemingly being gradually squeezed by a giant hand.
Su Nian's eyes grew unfocused as he felt suffocated.
If he could see inside his own chest cavity,
He would discover that his heart was rapidly shrinking and contracting, and the structure of his heart was changing toward that of a humanoid species.
Blood vessels were torn, muscle tissues completely shattered.
But some force of rules was protecting them, forming ribbon-like structures that temporarily replaced the broken parts, maintaining the normal function of the dragon body.
Half an incense stick's time later, the modification was complete.
Su Nian lay weakly on the ground.
Although he was still a fourth-tier creature,
His strength had significantly decreased.
On land, he might even struggle in a physical fight against a fourth-tier warrior like Gus.
"I'm ready now."
The black dragon's voice was deep, like muffled thunder.
His eyelids drooped.
He exhaled a long breath.
The Moonlight Priestess walked to the black dragon's side, gently placing her soft hand on the black dragon's chest. She closed her eyes and sensed for a moment, inwardly shocked.
This black dragon who had become her master had truly transformed his heart into a form suitable for humanoid species.
Not just in size but also in structure.
Even the dimensions perfectly matched those of the half-elf girl lying on the bed.
It was as if this heart had always belonged to that half-elf girl.
Truly befitting a legendary creature.
His abilities were simply too incredible.
The Moonlight Priestess opened her rose-red eyes, filled with awe and admiration.
"Then, please wait a moment. I will begin the ritual now."
The Moonlight Priestess went to Anna's side, reaching out to carefully lift the sleeping half-elf girl.
From the corner of her eye, she briefly examined this wife of the giant dragon.
Her pink lips were slightly pouted, her smooth and soft face was rosy white, making one want to take a bite.
Her fluffy fox ears occasionally twitched.
The fox tail behind her also swayed gently.
Even in sleep, her face was so adorably charming.
No wonder her master had fallen for her.
Even though the Moonlight Priestess was a woman herself,
She couldn't help but like this delicately beautiful half-elf girl.
However, the Moonlight Priestess didn't know.
Su Nian's fondness for Anna wasn't merely because Anna was cute.
It was also because he and Anna had gone through life and death together, lived together, and formed a bond.
The first person Su Nian saw when he came to this strange world was Anna. The system had also bound Anna's fate to his. And for Anna, her originally doomed fate had taken a turn for the better after being captured by the black dragon.
It was a gradual accumulation.
Though the time was short, they had become inseparable.
This wasn't the modern world, after all.
Liking someone was a simple matter.
It didn't need to withstand the tests of time and material things.
Nor did it accept any suspicion or hesitation.
It only required two sincere hearts.
The Moonlight Priestess gently placed Anna beside the black dragon, then turned around and took a red ribbon from the ritual table.
This red ribbon had already been imbued with the power of the ritual and would serve as a medium and bond during the heart exchange process.
"Master, are you certain you want to do this?"
"I still want to confirm with you once more."
"Since an elf's heart is not suitable for you, after the exchange, you may face two outcomes: either immediate death or falling into a long slumber."
The Moonlight Priestess approached the black dragon with the ribbon, her red lips parting slightly.
Her tone carried gravity and reluctance.
"I'm certain. Let's begin."
Su Nian didn't even bother to lift his head.
He also didn't bother explaining to the Moonlight Priestess about system-related bugs.
Die? Impossible.
"Very well."
The Moonlight Priestess nodded.
"However, I will still do my best to save you. After all, if you die, both the princess and I will die too."
With these words, the Moonlight Priestess hesitated no more. She placed the two ends of the red ribbon on the chests of the half-elf girl and the black dragon respectively.
Then, she stepped back, closed her eyes, and opened her hands with palms facing upward.
Ancient and profound power began to circulate throughout her body.
The ritual had begun. """
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