A magnificent red dragon, its wingspan stretching a full forty meters, soared across the expanse above the Fiendish Abyss Rift.

  The air was replete with an overwhelmingly powerful downward - pulling force. Had this dragon not boasted sufficient might, it would likely have plummeted into the infernal depths below.

  Its golden, vertically - slit pupils ceaselessly scanned the area beneath, as if in eager pursuit and anticipation of something.

  At long last, it espied its target beside a black stone on the very edge of the rift.

  The colossal form of the dragon hurtled downward in a swift dive.

  Accompanied by a thunderous boom, the red dragon alighted beside the black stone.

  From behind the stone emerged a demon, swathed in tattered black robes.

  It stooped, leaning upon a cane of distinct demonic design.

  "I knew you would come," the demon unexpectedly uttered in the draconic tongue.

  The dragon snorted disdainfully. "So, you creatures are capable of some semblance of thought?"

  The demon, unperturbed, got straight to the point. "Heed me. Let us discuss our accord. You shall aid us in reclaiming the Blazing Fang, and in return, we shall bestow upon you the blood of a Demon Lord."

  The dragon did not respond immediately. Instead, it extended its lengthy neck, encircling the demon, and from behind, intoned in a menacing tone,

  "I deem a mere draught of demon blood insufficient to justify my bearing the ignominy of betraying my forebears..."

  The demon's form was diminutive in comparison to the red dragon, akin to an ant. Yet, it remained unflustered in the face of this sudden display of dominance, instead sneering,

  "By now, the entire dragon race is aware of your lack of scruples. I doubt you would be overly concerned about shouldering this additional opprobrium, correct?"

  These words seemed to incense the red dragon, and an overpowering draconic aura descended upon the demon.

  The demon stood resolute.

  "Have you been addled by that accursed Redwit, the fire - breathing dragon? You are well - aware that such tactics hold no sway over me."

  This statement truly seemed to enrage the red dragon. It raised its massive claws and, with a violent strike, shattered the ground beside the demon, creating a yawning chasm. "Cease uttering that name in my presence!"

  "Then desist from wasting time. Sign the pact forthwith. The Lord of the Blazing Tribe is not known for his patience."

  The demon refrained from further goading the red dragon.

  "Pact?" The red dragon's eyes widened in consternation. "Your missive to me made no mention of a pact. Who can fathom what machinations you demons might be planning!"

  "Given your past conduct, it is difficult for us to repose trust in your integrity. This is a necessary precaution." The demon spoke as if stating an incontrovertible fact.

  "Heh, a demon presuming to critique my character? By the Creator! This must surely be the most preposterous jest in all the world! If you seek to ensnare me, speak plainly!"

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  The red dragon's eyes were filled with incredulity and scorn.

  "We demons are the paragons of commitment in this world. Otherwise, why would the denizens of the continent think of us when contracts are mentioned?"

  "Indeed, the instances of corruption you have wrought are innumerable. None who have entered into a demon's pact have met with a favorable end!"

  The dragon and the demon thus engaged in an intractable dispute.

  Finally, as if at the end of its tether, the demon exclaimed, "Enough! Since you are so averse to signing a pact, we shall make a concession. You must relinquish your most resilient dragon scales as collateral!"

  The dragon raised its noble head, deliberated for a moment, then nodded. "Agreed. However, you, too, must offer me something of value. I, too, harbor doubts about your trustworthiness!"

  "You dragons are insatiable creatures indeed." The demon grumbled, yet its hand reached towards its chest.

  It retrieved a dark - green, rhomboid gemstone. "This is a high - grade magic stone hailing from the Netherworld's Frenetic Domain. Consume it, and the potency of your draconic breath shall be doubled!"

  From the moment the demon produced the green gemstone, the dragon's eyes remained fixed upon it, unblinking. In its inherited lore, there were accounts of such a gemstone, capable of doubling the individual combat prowess of a dragon.

  Without pondering the demon's motives for offering such a precious item, the dragon instinctively accepted it in its maw and then swallowed it.

  A vast and potent force infiltrated the dragon's internal "breath reactor," precipitating irreversible changes.

  Several resplendent, glowing green patterns materialized upon the dragon's crimson neck, extending all the way to the region of its heart on its chest.

  "I can feel it! The inferno within me stirs! It yearns to burst forth from my form and raze all in its path!"

  At this moment, the red dragon was in a state of extreme exuberance, eager to engage in combat with any worthy adversary.

  The demon on the ground looked up at the frenzied dragon, as if it were intoxicated. The flickering soul - fire in its eye sockets betrayed a malevolent intent.

  The stronger it becomes, the better. Thus, our tribe shall have another Blazing Fang... it thought with a malevolent smirk.

  The dragon unleashed a thick, pure - green column of flame skyward, piercing through the clouds.

  After expending the excess energy coursing through its body, the dragon finally regained its composure.

  It lowered its head and regarded the demon once more. "I am given to understand that the Blazing Fang has fallen into the hands of a Level - 7 werewolf. Have you not sought retribution from those werewolves?"

  At this query, the demon's ire flared. "That so - called Wolf King is but a Level - 5 creature. We have converted countless werewolves, yet through their souls, we have gleaned no knowledge of a Level - 7 werewolf."

  "Let us be clear. I shall merely locate the Blazing Fang. As for dealing with the Level - 7 werewolf, that is your responsibility. My current strength is but Level - 6. I shall not risk my life on your behalf!"

  The dragon intoned these rather craven words with the utmost hauteur.

  As one of the continent's preeminent races, an ordinary pure - blooded dragon, even without dedicated training, attains the strength of a peak Level - 4 Extraordinary upon reaching maturity.

  Those who can attain Level - 5 through training are considered prodigies within the tribe.

  The red dragon standing before the demon was one of the "youthful luminaries" of the past millennium.

  The demon scoffed inwardly but replied, "Of course. This is only equitable."

  ...

  The Cadeino Forest serves as the abode of the Tachia tribe of forest elves.

  At this moment, within the wooden dwelling of the High Priest in the tribe, a female elf, garbed in priestly vestments, lay upon a colossal plant resembling a lotus.

  All around her were forest elves, their countenances etched with concern for her well - being.

  A comely elf, attired in the green robes symbolizing an elven priest, was casting a healing spell upon the unconscious High Priest.

  This had been ongoing for some time.

  "Could the High Priest...?"

  "Hold your tongue! The High Priest will surely recover!"

  "Those wretched humans are to blame! They slew Gotaya, and that is why the High Priest has acted so rashly..."

  Observing the elven priest's furrowed brow, some elves could not contain their whispered expressions of concern.

  When the high - ranking elves of the diplomatic mission appeared outside the tribe, and her daughter was nowhere to be seen, the High Priest seemed to intuit something amiss.

  She paid no heed to the substantial compensation demanded by the high - ranking elves. None of that was as precious as her daughter.

  Alone in the chamber, she deliberated for a long while. She could not bring herself to believe that her daughter was no more. If it were true, she should have sensed it. This was a safeguard she, as the High Priest, had long ago placed upon her daughter.

  Thus, she resolved to utilize her authority to commune with the all - knowing God of Truth.

  This was an exceedingly perilous endeavor, for with her power, the cost of beseeching the Gates of Truth was exorbitant.