Yellow sand filled the air. The entire Scorched Badlands looked as if Jiang Yan had smashed it down by an entire layer—
a massive crater opened at its center.
Inside the crater, Apep lay like a dragon of blood, its body twisted unnaturally as it coughed out mouthfuls of blood.
Hovering in the sky, Jiang Yan quietly stared at Apep.
After a long moment, he spoke:
"Apep. Do you submit, or not?"
"N–Not… submit!"
Apep roared. As one of the ancient Seven Sovereigns, even if defeated, it would never bow.
"Oh?"
"Still that tough?"
Jiang Yan dropped down. Even he hadn't expected that Apep, beaten into this state, still refused to submit.
He suddenly grabbed Apep's head and lifted it.
BANG!
With a thunderous crash, Jiang Yan smashed Apep's head into the ground.
Compared to reason, Jiang Yan preferred using force to break someone's will.
"Submit?"
"No!"
BANG!
"Submit now?"
"N–Not… submitting!"
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!!!
Every time Jiang Yan asked, if Apep answered "not submitting," Jiang Yan grabbed its head and slammed it into the ground again.
No one knew how many times he did this before Apep finally erupted.
"You go too far!!!"
Apep twisted violently, trying to raise its head.
Only to have Jiang Yan grab it again and smash it straight back into the ground.
"Still quite the temper."
Jiang Yan snickered and sat cross-legged.
"Hey, Apep—how about following me?"
"Impossible!"
Apep glared at him. This human had shown up out of nowhere, beaten it senseless, and now asked if it wanted to "follow him."
Did he think Apep had no pride?
(If Jiang Yan had heard that thought, he would've stood up and punched it again.
I help you and you complain?!)
"I mean, don't refuse so quickly."
Jiang Yan tapped Apep's head—producing clear thunk thunk thunk sounds.
"You're just a broken remnant now, eking out an existence in this wasteland."
"Are you really planning to keep withering away forever?"
Jiang Yan smiled as he spoke.
"What does that have to do with you?"
Apep stopped struggling. Jiang Yan's words pierced straight into its heart like a blade.
Ever since the Nail of Cold Sky fell and turned everything here into a desert, Apep had understood:
The era of the Seven Sovereigns was long gone.
And so it had gone dormant—
Until now.
"But what if I said… I have a way to restore you to your peak state?"
Jiang Yan looked at it with a cheerful squint.
"Impossible!"
"You've seen my peak?"
Apep stared at Jiang Yan. It didn't believe a single word.
If a method existed, it would have used it long ago.
But after all these years—nothing.
"Tsk. Why doesn't anyone believe the truth these days?"
Jiang Yan laughed.
"Think about it—would I have any reason to lie to you?"
Apep paused. Indeed, there was none.
This man had flattened it in only a few exchanges. Why would he bother lying?
"Then why help me?"
Apep truly didn't understand.
He beat it first thing upon arrival, then suddenly said he wanted to heal it.
What kind of deranged creature was this?
(If Jiang Yan knew Apep was calling him deranged, Apep would definitely get another beating.)
"Didn't I say it? I want you as my mount!"
Jiang Yan replied self-righteously.
"..."
Sincerity is the ultimate finishing move.
A perfect line.
Jiang Yan's sheer sincerity stunned Apep into silence.
It had never thought this boy would be so blunt.
"…If you can truly return me to my peak,"
"what harm is there in becoming your mount?"
Apep's voice was low.
After all, it had no other options. Trusting this human cost it nothing.
"You should've said that earlier. You'd be fully restored by now."
Jiang Yan chuckled.
"You're not afraid… that once I recover, I won't keep my promise?"
Apep studied him, puzzled.
"Please. If I dare restore you, it means I can defeat you even at full power."
Jiang Yan smiled faintly and pulled out a Senzu Bean.
"Here. Eat it."
He tossed it upward, letting it fall into Apep's enormous mouth.
"This is…?"
Because their sizes differed too much, Apep didn't even react before the bean slid into its stomach.
Warm currents surged through its body. A moment later—
A brilliant green radiance burst outward.
A colossal jade dragon unfurled before Jiang Yan.
"ROOOOAAAR!!!"
Apep's roar shook heaven and earth.
The skies changed color, the winds surged wildly—
As if the world itself were celebrating the Dendro Dragon King's full restoration.
Jiang Yan simply watched the roaring, excited Apep with calm eyes.
In the distance, the Great Lord Rukkhadevata—who had been observing—turned pale.
Damn it! What is Jiang Yan thinking?!
He actually restored Apep to full power?!
"小子!Well done!"
Apep lowered its massive head, eyes full of approval.
"From now on, follow me! I'll protect you!"
Hearing Apep's words, Jiang Yan suddenly smiled.
As if he had been expecting that line.
"System."
[?]
"Get to work."
Jiang Yan said casually.
[Tch. You really love giving me jobs, huh.]
The system's voice echoed in his mind.
"What can I say? You're lucky to have such a caring host."
Jiang Yan snickered.
The system fell silent.
A faint ripple rose around Jiang Yan—
And Apep suddenly felt a crushing power descend from the sky, pinning it in place.
Terrified, it discovered it couldn't even access its elemental power.
Something—something had been planted inside its soul.
"Brat! What did you do to me?!"
Apep's expression shifted drastically.
Jiang Yan simply smiled and raised his left hand.
A faint glowing mark appeared on the back of it.
"From today onward—you're my mount."
He declared pleasantly.
"Hah! Foolish child!"
Apep decided to flee. This human was far too strange.
But the moment Jiang Yan clenched his left hand—
Apep collapsed to the ground, screaming in agony.
Its soul felt like it was being torn apart.
Terror flooded its mind.
No!
I just regained my full strength!!!
I don't want this!!!
Apep struggled desperately—
Until Jiang Yan's calm voice sounded beside its ear:
"Now then… behaving yourself yet?"
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