The Dragon vs. the Squid Girl
"Are we really heading out for a buffet?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Who has ever heard of enjoying a buffet at home?"
"Is this some kind of life-or-death situation?"
"How brazen must one be to stir up trouble in the heart of the dragon's realm? Aren't you terrified of the dragon's wrath?"
"Observe how furious the dragon is; she's so enraged that she's temporarily foregoing the earnings from her stall, delegating its management to Joanna. Meanwhile, Louis continues to oversee the liquid medicine booth, where he's managed to sell nearly a hundred bottles."
"Each small bottle costs a nuojin, accumulating close to a hundred gold coins under Louis's temporary stewardship for the dragon."
"Joanna should have at least thirty nuojins by now, and to think that she would leave with more than a hundred gold coins, only highlights how someone has deeply angered the dragon."
"The young dragon, not wanting to delay further, passed the apron to Joanna, preparing to return to the island with the dragon."
"Joanna, the esteemed daughter of the city lord, donned the apron gracefully, assumed charge of the young dragon's duties with zeal, pulled out octopus balls from beneath the stall, and began preparing them enthusiastically."
"Rest assured, I'll handle everything here. Should you need to depart, do so. I'll convert today's earnings into nuojins by tonight. You can collect them from me at the City Lord's Mansion tomorrow."
"Old man, leave the finances to me. I'll safeguard the earnings from the medicine. When you visit tomorrow, I'll ensure every coin is accounted for."
"Much appreciated for your diligence. Expect a raise tomorrow as a token of gratitude."
The young dragon cast a glance at Joanna. It was clear the malicious dragon didn't regard human status or background with any concern. It was rare for anyone, let alone the dragon, to entrust the city lord's daughter with a stall to augment his earnings.
Indeed, it hardly seemed out of place for the city lord's daughter to manage a stall.
Wasn't she, the princess of the Farolan Empire, also managing a stall to appease the ruthless dragon?
Moreover, if the city lord's daughter could do it, why would it be surprising if even a kingdom's princess did the same for the dragon?
The wicked dragon led her through the bustling commercial street to a secluded alley. Without uttering a single spell, an ancient bronze door materialized out of the void before them.
The portal.
This must be the same portal the dragon had mentioned back on the island. Once its coordinates were set, it connected directly to the island.
With a push from the island side, they were positioned exactly there.
How had the impoverished dragon acquired such legendary magical artifacts?
"Let's head home."
The dragon nudged the door open, the young dragon leading the way, with him following closely behind.
Should any issue arise with the portal, he was ready to protect the young dragon instantly.
However, the likelihood of the portal malfunctioning was minimal. This portal was his treasured possession, consistently maintained and repaired. As long as the coordinates were accurate, the portal could pinpoint any location.
Time seemed to blend, both fleeting and eternal, as they stepped through the portal.
The young dragon emerged from the portal, still dazzled by the mesmerizing aurora that lingered in his vision and thoughts.
It was only when the dragon's massive claw gently tapped her smooth scalp that she snapped out of her reverie.
"Hey? Are we back?"
"The dragon's lair."
Indeed, the dragon had set the portal's coordinates straight to his lair. What would have taken several days of flight in the human world was accomplished in mere moments, transitioning swiftly back to the realm of dragons. With a flick of his claw, the dragon stowed the ancient, verdant bronze portal.
Restoring his true draconic form felt relieving.
"Ah, much better," he murmured. In human guise, he felt awkward, and his flashy attire didn't help.
"Who came to our abode for the buffet?"
"It was Squid Lady."
"Ah? Did she also devour the dog and the turtle?"
"Beyond the dog and the turtle, she's eaten practically everything else edible on the island."
With this information, Lance, the young dragon, strode out of the lair, unfurled his wings, and soared across the island, seeking any sign of the elusive Squid Lady.
Not on the island, had she fled? Lance circled over the orchard, relieved to find the fruit trees still standing, although the harvest was halved.
The vegetable patch too bore the signs of her feast, even a large white radish, were all was uprooted.
"He planned to save it for the colder months," she thought, "Eating white radish in autumn and winter rivals the benefits of kipping cold away."
"A buffet? This was a full-on raid!"
Lance, the irate dragon, felt deceived. He had expected a mere visit, not a plunder.
"Dog, when did that tentacled mermaid escape?"
"Woof woof woof!"
"Just now?"
Without a moment's delay, Lance surged towards the ocean, folded his mighty wings, and dove into the abyss.
Did they really think he, a black dragon, was confined to the skies?
Feared the deep sea?
Lacked prowess underwater?
"Tonight," he growled, "that tentacled mermaid will learn what it means when a dragon returns to the sea."
"The reign of the deep sea dragon king begins now."
Meanwhile, the young dragon fluttered to the turtle's back, watching the fearsome dragon plunge into the deep blue. The deep sea was the mermaid's domain, a realm where appearances deceive; beneath her adorable exterior, Squid Lady was known for her ferocity and violence.
"Turtle, do you think the evil dragon can outmatch Squid Lady in her own underwater kingdom?"
"I'm not sure about other leviathans, but our own evil dragon, Lance, he's always had grand ambitions for the deep sea. Centuries ago, he proclaimed his intent to erect a Dragon Palace beneath the waves, appointing himself as the Dragon King. He even promised me the role of Turtle Prime Minister and designated to patrol the waters as the Sea king."
With Lance absent from the island, Turtle ceased his pretense and conversed fluently in human tongue with the young dragon perched atop his shell.
"A Dragon Palace, you say?"
"Indeed, does Lance truly aspire to establish a dominion in the deep sea, to reign as its king?"
"And those formidable, fearsome sea monsters, could he actually subdue them? I've heard whispers of even more daunting creatures lurking in the abyss."
"Is Lance powerful enough to conquer such formidable beings?"
Above them, the sea roiled violently. Resting on Turtle's back, the young dragon watched as numerous serpentine tentacles breached the ocean's surface, thrashing wildly before retracting back into the depths.
A whirlpool churned menacingly, its potent energy palpable even from their distant vantage point, whipping up the wind and waves into a tempestuous frenzy.
"It appears a fierce battle unfolds below. Lance is engaged in combat with that monstrous tentacled beast."
"Do you think Lance can vanquish such a creature?"
"It's difficult to say. Tentacle monsters are notoriously tough to kill. But injuring it severely? That might be within his capabilities."
"And yet, why does the storm persist? Turtle, observe the heavens above that stretch of sea, lightning forks and thunder crashes relentlessly into the waters. Can Lance truly overpower such a fearsome foe?"
"Worry not, it's manageable. If Lance were outmatched, our island would have already been swallowed by the sea."
From their position, the young dragon gazed towards the tumultuous sea where waves towered over a hundred meters high, and black tentacles intermittently lashed out, snatching the lightning from the sky.
It seemed as though the very sea itself might turn inside out.
This apocalyptic spectacle continued for nearly half an hour before tranquility resumed. The sea calmed, the ominous clouds dispersed, and the thunder ceased.
Who had triumphed?
"Let's hope Lance was victorious."
About ten minutes later, a gargantuan figure burst from the sea, soaring towards the island.
With keen eyes, the young dragon discerned that Lance's claws clutched a figure, the Squid Lady, her upper body resembling a human girl, while tentacles writhed below.
Had Lance prevailed?
And subdued the Squid Lady into submission?
As the dragon released his hold, the Squid Lady plummeted from the sky, crashing onto the nearby beach.
"Hey? Why does the Squid Lady have so many bumps on her head?"
"And why does her face appear swollen?"
It was unmistakable, she had indeed been on the receiving end of Lance's draconic fury.
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