Legendary Beast Master: Starting with Contracting SSS Rank Dragon-Chapter 29: A Pathetic Thing

Kael was impressed by the human's plan. He had somehow hidden himself inside the Flameclaw Lion and waited for the perfect opportunity.

Even if the lion had failed to defeat Kiona, he would have still managed to get her and fulfill his main goal.

It was a brilliant plan, from start to finish. Sadly, he met Kael as his opponent.

Kael had more questions to ask him, but something on the man's wrist caught his eye, and his mood soured instantly.

The human had a tattoo of a half sun burning brightly in crimson flames, the symbol of the Dawnfire Goddess.

Kael cracked his knuckles and said, "Go to your brothers when you've caught your breath. This one's mine."

In the next moment, the human smiled and raised both of his hands in the air, causing the entire ground around them to shake as if an earthquake had struck.

Webs of cracks began to form all around Kael, and arms made of rotten flesh emerged from those same cracks.

"What's your name again?" Kael asked casually, watching the grotesque monsters crawl out of the broken earth.

There were at least a dozen of them, with twisted shapes that resembled nothing he had ever seen. They looked like a crude amalgamation of flesh from various beasts, stitched together by madness.

"Wouldn't it be poetic if you knew the name of the man who ends you?" the human sneered.

"Nah. I just like knowing the names of corpses," Kael replied with a smile and activated [Lightning Mantle].

Then, he opened his mouth as if to say more, but what came out was a deep, powerful roar that shook both body and soul.

[Tempest Roar (Epic)] – A roar that disrupts enemy mana and weakens nearby beasts.

Instantly, the flesh monsters began to wobble as their mana control broke down under the roar's effect. Seizing the opportunity, Kael hurled a silver ball of lightning into their midst.

The orb expanded in the air, crackling violently before releasing a storm of silver lightning bolts that tore through the monsters, blasting chunks of rotten meat across the battlefield.

Without missing a beat, Kael dashed forward, using his overwhelming speed and [Draconic Claws] to shred the remaining monsters into pieces.

It all happened in just over a second. And by the time the human managed to shake off the effects of [Tempest Roar], none of his summoned creatures remained.

He was stunned by the sight, his entire assault crushed effortlessly and immediately reached for another trump card.

But Kael wouldn't give him the chance.

In a blink, Kael reappeared behind the man, aiming to punch a hole through his back. Yet just before impact, an illusory sphere shimmered into existence around Stephen and deflected the blow.

Kael felt his arm tremble from the rebound force, though he didn't show it on his face. Instead, he studied the shimmering barrier in silence.

Stephen exhaled in relief, glad to see his shield had held up. He'd been confident in its strength, but Kael had proven unnaturally strong and he feared even his defense might fail.

He turned to the silent Kael and smirked. "You're stronger than I thought but it doesn't matter. The name's Stephen. Etch it in your skull."

Without waiting for a response, he turned to face Kiona, a greedy glint lighting up his eyes. He completely ignored Kael now, assuming the shield would keep him safe.

"I've been waiting for you for so long," he said, stepping forward toward her. "Five months. I spent five whole months to get you."

Kael didn't move. He watched Stephen approach, letting him speak more, waiting for further information. But Stephen stopped talking and suddenly dashed toward the weakened Kiona.

Before he could reach her, a figure blurred in front of him and snatched Kiona out of his grasp.

Stephen's face twisted in confusion and frustration as he raised his head to see Kael holding her.

"Hand her over now or suffer consequences you can't even imagine. I'm being generous. Don't make me regret it."

"Are you slow, or just delusional?" Kael looked at him with genuine confusion. "You seriously have no advantage here. I can just run away with her. You've seen my speed. What exactly can you do?"

He scoffed and added, "I'll wait. Your little bubble won't last forever. Then I'll beat the truth out of you."

"You asked for this," Stephen hissed. His eyes turned blood-red as he spoke in a commanding voice, "Kill him!"

Kael frowned, feeling a strange prickle at the back of his neck. He looked down and froze.

Kiona's hand had transformed into claws, poised to strike at his heart.

But she didn't move.

She simply stared at her arm as though it didn't belong to her. Then, with a grimace of disgust, she burned the entire limb, though that seemed to have only burnt the strange effect rather her arm.

"Atta girl," Kael smiled and turned his gaze back to Stephen who was staring with wide eyes filled with disbelief.

"Y-You... how did you resist my command?" Stephen shrieked. "Obey me! I said kill him! I said—!"

His words had no effect.

Kiona just looked at him like he was the most pathetic thing she'd ever seen.

"Don't bother," Kael said calmly. "She's my partner. Someone like you can't control my people."

He gently put Kiona down and whispered, "Just wait here for a minute. I'll bring him to you so you can get all your answers."

She nodded gently in return, trusting him.

Kael raised his head but the spot where Stephen had been standing was now empty.

He smirked, amused by how quickly the man had gone from arrogant to evasive.

"You're not getting away from me," Kael said, pressing his foot against the ground and shooting forward like a silver bolt.

His [Beast Sense] had already locked onto Stephen's location. As long as the man stayed within range, Kael would find him.

'The problem is still that shield,' he thought. 'How do I break it? Wait... I might be able to try that.'

He quickly caught up with the human in bubble, who was running through the maze of green trees.

Kael used the branches to soar high in the sky and used the skill he had gotten when he became the Legendary Dragon. A skill that was common among the Dragons.

"[Dragon Breath]"