Although the Black Dragon was putting on quite a show, the Red Dragon’s patience had reached its limit.
“Even Buddha has his moments of rage!”
Shijietang didn’t hold back anymore. With Spiral Stomp Step, she charged low through the air, her Rocket Fist smashing fiercely into Old Mo’s chest.
“Bang! Bang!”
This time, even though Dragon Scale Armor covered her whole body, Kurosaki was blasted back dozens of steps, shocked all the way to the front of the club building—right back where she started.
Shijietang flicked her hand to sweep away the dust, standing tall and imposing.
Though her face was filled with displeasure, and she’d taken a small hit at the start, she still exuded a dominating presence.
Those two punches—she’d only used seventy percent of her strength.
“Huff huff~ huff huff~ huff huff~”
Blackie froze at the steps in front of the main entrance, her Dragon Scale Armor emitting danger signals.
The fine scales trembled nonstop, smoke billowing from her body as she desperately tried to dissipate the force of the Dragon Breath.
She couldn’t move for the moment; if she dared, she might suffer backlash from the Dragon Breath and explode on the spot.
At this point, victory or defeat was already decided. It was as if she’d been hit by a crucial Control Skill—basically finished.
In fact, that earlier Self-Destruct Dragon Breath was a Control Skill. Once Self-Destruct Dragon Breath struck Kurosaki, she stood there like a fool, taking two Rocket Fists head-on and getting pummeled into a sitting duck.
At that moment, her Dragon Scale Armor was frantically neutralizing the Dragon Breath, making it nearly impossible for her to move.
Just earlier, Blackie had shown off a slew of new abilities: Magic Reflection, Dragon Elbow Blade—bragging up a storm.
But it wasn’t just bluster; if not for the Dragon Scale Armor’s special abilities, she’d have been blasted to bits and reduced to ashes by the Dragon Breath already.
That was truly overwhelming strength crushing every trick—back to basics, no matter how flashy your skills, the Red Dragon came in with two pounding fists and brought everyone back to reality.
After all, darkness was still less than half a year old—a baby dragon. Thinking of defeating the main character now was too naive. Forcing Shijietang to get serious was already a win.
But in our world of monsters, we don’t care about victory or defeat—only life and death.
Dragon hatchlings dying young was the norm; only the lucky ones survived.
“Half-breed! Prepare to die!”
Shijietang roared, raising her hand to gather strength again. Ferocious Dragon Breath swirled around her fists, her palm turning into a concentrated sphere of flames—brewing destruction.
Seeing this, White Feather Dove · Rose prepared to draw her sword, while Feini was about to rush out to block the blow.
Fortunately, at such a critical moment, her only skill finally activated. Otherwise, who could have stopped the Red Dragon’s rampage?
Time froze. Shijietang’s Explosive Flame Dragon Palm was poised in midair.
Option 1: Smash your daughter’s dragon head! Go completely mad!
Option 2: Intentionally miss.
Option 3: Pull back, Dragon, the place outside is crawling with maggots.
For the first time, Feini felt her Concept Skill actually had some use. All the previous options had been pretty much worthless.
Pulling back completely seemed a bit forced and out of character for Shijietang. The proper choice was option two.
Time resumed!
Shijietang floated in front of Kurosaki with a single hand behind her back, looking like a murderous fairy, and slammed down with a lethal palm.
But halfway through the strike, she suddenly shifted its trajectory to the side. It still looked a bit contrived.
“Clang!”
Just then, a beam of dazzling Dragon Breath shot out from inside the Martial Arts Club building.
Shijietang’s swinging palm blocked that Dragon Breath beam right in time, which actually looked rather reasonable.
“Bang!”
Dragon Breath clashed with Dragon Breath, creating another earth-shaking explosion.
But this time, both sides held back, or the blast would’ve blown apart the club’s front doors.
Soon after, a dazzling, elegant figure appeared at the front of the Martial Arts Club. Brilliant flames pierced through the haze.
“Hmph, you finally decided to show yourself?” Shijietang waved her hand again, dispersing the lingering shockwaves.
Standing before her was the Tea Party’s leader, Orange Sea Dream.
She had been hiding inside the Martial Arts Club, watching the show.
Seeing little Kurosaki about to be beaten to death, she had no choice but to step in. Only she could block Shijietang’s attack.
Feini quietly held White Feather Dove · Rose back—looks like they wouldn’t need to interfere for now.
Blackie would be safe under the protection of the Tea Party Club President.
“Simon, oh Simon, you really give me a headache.” Orange Sea Dream walked to the front of the darkness, hands behind her back, shaking her head in resignation.
“Didn’t think a lowly Dragon Servant would force you, old turtle, to show your face.” Shijietang’s words brimmed with arrogance, as if victory was already in hand.
“So what is it you want?” Orange Sea Dream asked.
“You already know what I want. We need to resolve the conflict between our clubs once and for all, so things like today don’t happen again,” Shijietang said coldly.
“Who doesn’t know you’ve assembled an Adventurer Squad? You want to settle the future of our clubs with a team battle. Fine, I accept. But what will you do if you lose?” Orange Sea Dream asked with a laugh.
“If I lose, I’ll withdraw from the Tea Party Club and Tea Ceremony Society,” Shijietang replied. “If I win, you’ll give up your president’s seat.”
“Heh, what kind of empty punishment is that? How about this—whoever loses drops out of the God and Demon Academy, forever leaving the academy. Do you dare wager that?” Orange Sea Dream looked on with utter disdain.
That question hit Shijietang hard. She froze, falling deep into thought.
The God and Demon Academy was the foundation of her grand ambitions.
If she left, all her connections and honors here would vanish, and she’d be forced to return to the Northern Demon King Army to be a Demon King again.
Here, a so-called Demon King was really just a warlord within the Demon Domain—nothing like the powerful Demon Kings in other fantasy tales.
At best, you’d lead some brainless, bloodthirsty monsters in endless carnage and darkness, with no sun or civilization.
But if Orange Sea Dream dropped out, she could return to the Red Dragon Clan.
She had her own kin, even a human faction that admired her—the Dragon Servants were bred and raised there.
If she dropped out, she’d have nothing left. The Red Dragon would still have a backup plan, but she’d lose everything—a terrible deal for her.
“No problem. I accept.”
But retreating wasn’t her style. She had no way out now, and had to go all in, sweeping away all obstacles before her.
This time, the smile slowly faded from Orange Sea Dream’s face, and she looked Shijietang in the eyes.
“Set the time. My team has six members,” Shijietang said.
“Three days from now, at the Tea Party’s magic training gymnasium—we’ll decide victory or defeat then,” Orange Sea Dream replied.
“Heh, just wash up and wait for me.” With that, Shijietang turned and left.
The Tea Ceremony Society members who came with her also withdrew in a grand procession.