บท 166: The Dragon's Den and the Reckoning

Raja stood at the precipice of a daunting task, his mind razor-sharp and focused. The battle between the Flame Dragon and the Burning Heaven Clan raged on in the distance, creating a chaotic spectacle of fire and destruction. To avoid detection, he cautiously moved toward the cave, choosing a wide arc that kept him far from the combat zone. The air around him was scorching, the heat from the battle palpable even a kilometer away.

As Raja advanced, the land itself seemed alive with hostility. The heat radiated upward in waves, the air shimmering as the flames licked the horizon. Occasionally, residual battle shockwaves swept through the area, But Raja with his Divine Body walked like it is nothing. Every step forward was a test of his new body arts, but Raja pressed on, undeterred. He was acutely aware that the Flame Dragon was concealing its true power, making his objective both perilous and vital.

When Raja was just 33 meters from the cave entrance, disaster struck. A sudden cascade of embers rained from the sky, remnants of a powerful explosion. One ember ignited his clothing, rendering his Star Concealing Pellet useless. Quickly, he extinguished the flames and dove behind a nearby boulder, waiting for the intensity of the battle to subside. Moments later, a massive burst of dragon fire created a blinding explosion, giving him the perfect distraction to make a dash for the cave entrance. With a burst of speed, he sprinted into the cave just as the flare dissipated, narrowly avoiding detection.

The interior of the cave was like a furnace, the walls radiating heat that made Raja sweat profusely. As he ventured deeper, the suffocating heat gave way to a mesmerizing sight—a patch of Fire Spirit Grass glowing with an otherworldly red luminescence. Raja immediately recognized its value; this rare herb took decades to mature and was highly sought after for its fire-resistance and enhancement properties.

Using the Sky Poison Pearl, Raja carefully harvested over fifty mature strains of Fire Spirit Grass. He couldn't help but smile, knowing the immense profit and utility the herbs would provide.

As he prepared to look for what he came for, a peculiar sensation tugged at him, urging him to delve deeper into the cave. His instincts, honed through countless dangerous encounters, told him that something extraordinary lay ahead. Following the pull, he arrived at the Flame Dragon's den. Surprisingly, the area was devoid of treasure, its cleanliness unsettling. However, his attention was drawn to a corner where an unassuming scarlet-red bead rested, glowing faintly.

Ignoring Jasmine's belated warning, Raja reached for the bead. The moment his fingers closed around it, a surge of red light erupted, enveloping him in its energy. The bead resonated with his profound veins, causing a searing sensation as if his blood was boiling. Jasmine scolded him for his recklessness, but Raja remained composed, feeling an inexplicable connection to the artifact.

Outside, the Flame Dragon unleashed its true power, turning the tide against the Burning Heaven Clan. Roars of fury echoed through the cave as the dragon's dominance became absolute, forcing the clan to retreat in disarray. Sensing an intruder in its den, the dragon returned, its wrath palpable.

Raja stood his ground as the massive Flame Dragon loomed before him, its scales glowing with molten energy. "You dare steal my treasure, human?" it roared, its voice shaking the cavern.

Raja smirked. "You found it first, but now I found it here. So, it's mine."

Jasmine groaned from within the Sky Poison Pearl. "Why are you playing word games with a dragon? Just finish it and move on!"

Raja chuckled. "It looks majestic. I think I'll make it my pet."

The dragon roared, its pride wounded. "I will devour you, insolent thief!"

Raja's demeanor shifted to one of seriousness. His aura exploded outward as he released his Supreme King's Haki. The dragon trembled, its immense body crashing to the ground under the weight of Raja's will. Struggling to rise, the dragon snarled in defiance.

Jasmine's voice quivered with awe. "This pressure… it feels like a throne's domain, but even stronger. What is this power?"

Raja smiled faintly. "It's called Supreme King's Haki. It allows me to assert my will over others, dominating them. The weak lose consciousness, while even the strong falter."

The dragon, mustering its pride, forced itself upright. "Impressive, human. You're the first to make me use my true dragon blood. But why do you conceal your cultivation? You seem only at the Tenth Level of the True Profound Realm."

Raja shrugged. "I'm not hiding anything. That's truly my level. It would be disrespectful to deceive an opponent."

The dragon snorted. "Impossible! No one at your level can release such a domain."

"It's not a domain," Raja said calmly. "It's the manifestation of my will. Your survival proves your own strength."

The dragon's eyes narrowed. "Enough talk. What do you want?"

Raja grinned. "A duel. If you win, I'll leave you all the gold I have. If I win, you'll become mine. I won't use profound energy—just my body."

Jasmine's exasperated voice cut in. "Raja, don't be reckless!"

The dragon's greed flickered. "How much gold are we talking?"

With a snap of his fingers, Raja released the gold from his inventory. The den glowed with golden light, the dragon's eyes widening in astonishment. "Very well, human. You have my word. Let's fight."

The dragon struck first, releasing a torrent of flames that turned the cavern into an inferno. Raja remained unfazed, activating Almighty View to predict the dragon's movements. He dodged with precision, his movements fluid and calculated.

Closing the distance, Raja launched his first attack: Thunderstrike Palm. His hand crackled with lightning as it slammed into the dragon's side, creating a shockwave that caused the beast to stagger. The dragon retaliated with a swipe of its massive claws, but Raja countered with Tornado Fist, generating a vortex that deflected the attack.

Switching tactics, Raja leapt into the air, executing a powerful Hurricane Heel that landed squarely on the dragon's snout. The force created a whirlwind that disoriented the beast. Taking advantage, Raja followed up with Tempest Breaker, a punch that struck the dragon's chest with the force of a storm, cracking its scales.

The dragon roared in fury, summoning its true strength. It lunged, its jaws snapping with deadly precision. Raja, relying on Armament Haki, hardened his fists to an impenetrable level and caught the dragon's snout mid-bite. With a Herculean effort, he pushed the beast back.

"You're strong," the dragon admitted, its breaths ragged. "But I won't yield!"

Raja smirked, unleashing Storm Surge Kick, a tidal-wave-like attack that sent the dragon crashing into the cavern wall. Before the dragon could recover, Raja activated his Conqueror's Haki and coated his fist and give the Dragon, Tempest Breaker Fist overwhelming the beast's will and Body. The dragon collapsed, unable to resist the immense pressure and Strength.

The Flame Dragon struggled to rise, but its pride prevented further defiance. "You have bested me fairly," it said begrudgingly. "I will honor our pact."

Raja approached, placing a hand on the dragon's snout. "Good. Together, we'll achieve greatness."

The dragon bowed its head, its aura shifting from hostility to loyalty. Jasmine sighed. "Only you could turn a deadly encounter into a recruitment mission."

Raja smiled, his thoughts already on the adventures ahead and created a beast seal and send the Dragon to his Dimension were gold lies , potential man started take care of the wounded Dragon.