"Tsk tsk, what exactly is inside that little belly of yours? How can you eat so much?" Rayder muttered with a mix of helplessness and amusement, his tone tinged with affection.
Kidora flinched at his poking, all three of its small heads swiveling simultaneously to glare at him in synchronized annoyance.
Rayder chuckled and didn't stop; instead, he began to knead gently, his fingers tracing the warm, golden-scaled surface.
Perhaps it had already grown used to his scent and touch, because Kidora's resistance lasted only a few seconds. Then, without warning, each of its three tiny heads found a target: one bit his finger, another clamped lightly on his wrist, and the third nibbled the back of his hand.
Startled, Rayder instinctively tried to withdraw his hand, but Kidora's bite wasn't painful—more playful than aggressive. Its teeth applied only the gentlest pressure, like a child sulking or teasing.
It wasn't an attack; it was a display of attachment, a wordless complaint, or perhaps just a sign of familiarity.
Rayder laughed softly. "Alright, alright, I know you're hungry."
He let his hand rest in its mouths, allowing it to gnaw playfully. Kidora seemed delighted, releasing a series of rumbling purrs from deep in its throat.
Rather than putting it down, Rayder carefully lifted the little creature in his palm. Kidora squirmed slightly but didn't resist. It seemed to enjoy being held.
He gazed at its gleaming golden body—its three elegant heads, delicate necks, and translucent wings shimmering under the soft glow of the cave light. The creature looked almost ethereal.
Some of the anxiety he'd felt earlier about their dwindling food reserves faded away, softened by the sight of Kidora's adorable behavior.
He released it into the air.
But instead of flying off, Kidora flapped its oversized wings just enough to land squarely on top of Rayder's head. It didn't even hesitate.
It settled there like a majestic, if absurdly adorable, hat—folding its wings and dropping its three heads down across his forehead like a warm, golden curtain.
Rayder blinked. He could feel the extra weight on his head—surprisingly heavy for such a small creature—but it wasn't unbearable. The golden wings only partially blocked his vision.
The warmth of the three heads resting on him was oddly soothing.
Kidora adjusted its position slightly, snuggled in, and began to snore softly.
Rayder sighed, half-laughing. "Guess I'm your nest now."
He didn't try to remove it. Instead, he simply stood still, careful not to knock Kidora off or hit any low parts of the ceiling.
The sense of peace the little creature brought was strange—but welcome.
With each quiet snore above him, Rayder's earlier tension faded more and more.
His thoughts wandered.
His mind drifted back to the ancient dragon in the valley—the old, cursed creature with its eyes full of wisdom and sorrow. Despite being bound by the same curse that once plagued Im, it had survived, somehow holding on.
A bold thought began to take shape in Rayder's mind: Could he help that dragon too?
If his blood had healed Im, perhaps it could lift the old dragon's curse as well.
And if—just if—he could earn its trust or even subdue it...
That would be a tremendous boost to their strength.
His heart thudded faster at the possibility.
Subduing that ancient dragon? It sounded absurd, almost laughable.
Especially since last time, he hadn't even been able to see any stats or system information on it—it was clearly too powerful, possibly even beyond his level.
Still, the idea refused to leave him.
He glanced up instinctively, though all he could see was golden wings and the softly snoring heads.
Then he looked toward the resting Im, now healthy and majestic again, no longer plagued by fleshy tumors or the black curse.
And finally, his mind returned to the pressing issue—the food.
Only two days' worth left.
He sighed quietly.
The old dragon might be the only path forward. If he succeeded, they would gain an invaluable ally. If he failed… well, at least he wouldn't die wondering.
"I need to try," he whispered to himself.
Tomorrow, he would go.
He would plan everything—from how to approach, how much blood to offer, and how to do it all without triggering hostility.
If it worked, it might be the turning point.
As he stood there, his gaze was drawn to the mouth of the lair. The sun was setting, casting orange-red and purple hues across the horizon. Light poured into the lair, painting the stone floor with shifting golden patterns.
Only an hour or so of daylight remained.
Rayder made a quick decision—rather than sit and worry through the night, he would use this time to test his new strength.
Since merging with Kidora's essence, something in him had changed.
Though his frame was still that of a teenager—slim and lean—his body felt vastly different. Every breath he took now seemed deeper, more filling. His muscles responded faster, his blood felt hotter, and his entire body seemed to hum with energy.
He walked to a nearby corner and picked up a shield he had once used in training. It was nearly as tall as he was and made from dense, hardened alloy. In the past, lifting it with both hands had been a chore.
Now, he grabbed it with one hand and lifted it easily.
There was weight, yes—but it no longer felt cumbersome. In fact, the shield moved like an extension of his arm.
He rotated his wrist, shifting the shield effortlessly into a block, then a parry, then a sweeping deflection. The crisp "clang" echoed sharply in the lair.
He was stunned.
It was like the shield had lost half its mass—or he'd gained twice the strength.
He reached for his old practice longsword. This blade had been with him even longer than the shield. He remembered how his hand used to sting after a few swings, and how his arms would tremble with exhaustion after just ten minutes of sparring.
Now?
The sword felt light.
He executed a rapid flourish, spinning the blade through a smooth arc. A faint breeze followed the swing.
He struck again, this time harder, and the gust created a sharp whooshing sound—something he'd never managed before.
"I didn't expect Kidora's power to be this effective," he murmured.
It had only been recently hatched, but already the symbiosis was granting him enhancements that rivaled most warriors.
He looked up—or tried to—and Kidora's wings flopped down slightly over his brow.
He chuckled. "No wonder they say this creature can one day rule the monster world. A true King of Monsters."
Then, another wild idea popped into his head.
If I fully adapt to Kidora's power… and one day access its adult form's abilities…
Wouldn't that make him a monster in his own right? Not just a beast tamer or rider—but someone capable of standing against the strongest beings on the continent.
Maybe even…
He hesitated.
Could I rival Superman?
It was a ridiculous comparison—but not without merit. After all, Superman was the gold standard of power in legends and comics.
But here he was, holding a sword with ease, deflecting strikes like nothing, and feeling his body brimming with potential.
He smirked.
"Guess we won't know unless they fight."
A surge of confidence coursed through him—not arrogance, but an understanding of his potential. Kidora might still be small, but its future was limitless.
And with Im recovered, the trio—man, dragon, and monster—was finally taking shape...
Rayder felt a spark of hope light up in his chest.
Tomorrow would bring challenges, no doubt.
But tonight?
He would sleep with strength in his arms, a golden crown on his head, and the future wide open before him.
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