The deeper they pressed into Star Dou Great Forest, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The canopy thickened, branches twisting like iron bars, blotting out much of the sky. Strange shapes moved in the mist—sometimes the glimmer of scales, sometimes the flick of a tail that vanished before Oscar could pin it down.
Yet his stride never faltered. Cloak torn at the shoulder from his earlier battle, hair messy, golden eyes sharp—he still walked as though the forest was a stage built for him alone.
"Mother," he said cheerfully, "I've been thinking. If I die here, you'll tell the world I went out in glorious combat, right? Not that I tripped on a root and got eaten?"
Bibi Dong didn't look at him. "Stop talking about death."
"I'm just saying. History has a bad habit of making things dramatic. Imagine: Oscar the Great, slain by a rebellious tree stump."
Her lips twitched despite the weight in her gaze. "If you die to a tree, I will never admit you were my son."
He grinned, satisfied. That was the warmth he wanted from her—not the cold mask of the Supreme Pontiff, but the quiet humor of a mother.
But even his jokes couldn't banish the truth of where they were heading. Each step forward, the air thickened, heavy with spirit energy that made his skin prickle. Even the birdsong had fallen silent.
They were close.
It appeared suddenly—silent, a shadow slipping between the trees. Then, with a flash of crimson lightning, it stood revealed.
A panther, sleek as oil, fur black as midnight streaked with crimson lines that pulsed like veins of fire. Its eyes glowed blood-red, crackling with arcs of lightning. When it moved, the air itself screamed, the mist tearing apart in its wake.
Oscar whistled low. "Well. That's not terrifying at all. He looks like he wants to fry me extra-crispy."
Bibi Dong's voice was calm, but her gaze never left the beast. "Scarlet Lightning Panther. Estimated age: nearly nine thousand years. Extremely fast. Aggressive by nature. Its ring would grant you speed. Perfect."
Oscar tilted his head. "Perfect? That thing looks like death in cat form."
"Do not underestimate it," she said quietly. "Speed is the hardest to counter. This will test you more than the ape."
He cracked his knuckles, golden scales already shimmering into place along his arms. His grin was sharp, but his eyes burned with pride. "Good. I wouldn't want my second ring to come easy."
The panther growled low, crimson sparks dancing across its fur. Then, in the blink of an eye, it vanished.
"Oscar!"
Bibi Dong's warning was drowned out by thunder. The panther reappeared behind him, claws crackling with lightning.
Instinct screamed. His body blurred sideways, draconic aura flaring, but not fast enough—the claws grazed his ribs, tearing cloth and flesh. Pain seared, and he hit the ground rolling.
He coughed blood and laughed. "Sneaky bastard. Fine. Let's play tag."
He slammed his clawed hands into the dirt, aura erupting. The Dragon God's pressure rolled outward, bending the grass, rattling the trees. For a heartbeat, the panther slowed, instincts rebelling against the ancient might pressing on it.
Oscar shot forward, dragon scales gleaming, claws slashing. He caught its flank, sparks flying as golden scales tore fur and skin. The beast howled, blood spraying.
But then it was gone again—blur, thunder, pain. Its tail lashed across his back, hurling him into a tree. Bark shattered, breath left his lungs.
He groaned, forcing himself up. "Alright, alright. You're faster than me. I get it. No need to brag."
The panther snarled, arcs of lightning lashing the ground.
Oscar spat blood, then grinned. "But speed isn't everything, my furry friend. Let's see how you like pressure."
He drew deeper on the Dragon God spirit. His golden eyes blazed, aura flaring brighter. This time, it wasn't just intimidation—it was control. He pushed it outward, a tidal wave of dominance that warped the air, slowed the panther's instincts, made its body hesitate even mid-charge.
It still struck like lightning, but he saw the flicker—just enough. He twisted aside, claws lashing, scoring across its chest. Blood hissed on the ground.
The panther roared, bolts raining from its body, scorching trees to ash. One struck Oscar square in the shoulder. Agony ripped through him, his muscles spasming. He collapsed to one knee, smoke rising from his cloak.
Bibi Dong stepped forward, spirit energy ready. But Oscar lifted a trembling hand.
"No," he rasped, teeth bared in a grin. "This one's mine."
The battle dragged on, brutal, relentless. The panther darted, lightning flashing, Oscar stumbling, bleeding—but never falling. His aura pressed, claws slashed, roars of dragon and beast shaking the forest.
Every injury fueled his pride. Every drop of blood made his grin sharper.
"Come on," he taunted through split lips. "You're supposed to be lightning. Why do you feel so slow?"
The panther shrieked, enraged, and lunged recklessly. That was the opening he wanted.
He braced, aura flaring, golden light blazing from every scale. With a roar, he met its charge head-on, claws glowing. The impact thundered like a storm.
When the dust cleared, Oscar stood bloodied, panting, one claw buried deep in the panther's chest. Its eyes went wide, lightning faltering, before it collapsed at his feet.
Oscar staggered but didn't fall. He smirked down at the corpse. "Fast food, anyone?"
The crimson ring rose, spinning above the beast's corpse. Power radiated, fierce and violent.
Oscar sat cross-legged, hands steady despite the blood soaking his cloak. He inhaled, drew the ring in.
Pain exploded. Lightning tore through his veins, his muscles spasming violently. His vision flashed white. It felt like his body was being shredded from within.
But he didn't scream. He ground his teeth, pride burning brighter than the agony. "You… won't break me."
The Dragon God's shadow coiled behind him, golden aura wrapping his body, tempering the storm. Slowly, agonizingly, the lightning bent, fused, merged into his being.
At last, the glow faded. Oscar's eyes snapped open, golden irises crackling faintly with crimson sparks. He raised his hand—and a sausage appeared, glowing with electric light.
"Speed Boost Sausage," he muttered, a grin tugging at his lips. "Now we're cooking."
But then—something unexpected.
The panther's body shimmered, collapsing inward. Crimson light condensed, coiling, until with a burst, it shot into Oscar's back.
He gasped as wings of crackling crimson lightning unfurled, translucent yet powerful, extending from his shoulder blades. They pulsed with raw speed, humming with energy.
An external spirit bone.
Bibi Dong's eyes widened. "Impossible…"
Oscar laughed breathlessly, flexing the wings as they sparked. "Hah! Even the cat couldn't resist giving me a gift. See, Mother? I told you—I'm irresistible."
She shook her head slowly, torn between disbelief and pride. "You… are rewriting history."
He wobbled to his feet, wings buzzing, and smirked. "Rewriting history? No. I'm just… seasoning it."
Far away, in the depths of the forest, Di Tian rose to his full terrifying height, golden eyes blazing.
"He awakens further."
In the Lake of Life, Gu Yuena's voice was calm but trembling with anticipation.
"It is not just his aura. The forest itself accepts him. The Dragon God… truly returns."
The beasts stirred, a ripple of instinctive submission spreading through the land.
Oscar, oblivious, flexed his new wings and grinned at his mother.
"Next stop," he said proudly, "the third course."