In the clearing below, the Scorpion-tailed Lionâs roar was filled with wildness and defiance, completely lacking the fear a typical Magical Beast would show when facing a Giant Dragon.
Not only did it not flee, but it pawed at the ground with its hind legs, taking an offensive stance. It seemed to regard the circling Giant Dragon and Griffin in the sky as enemies invading its territory.
"An interesting little bug."
Sunâs draconic roar echoed through the sky, carrying a hint of indignant anger.
"A common Tier Four Magical Beast should have tucked its tail and fled at the mere scent of me, yet this one actually dares to provoke me."
"The fiercer its temperament, the more reliable a fighting force it will be once tamed."
Raylo soothed the slightly agitated Baofeng beneath him.
"But donât get careless. The Scorpion-tailed Lionâs stinger is incredibly venomous. Even with your Dragon Scale, it would be big trouble if you were pierced. Its bat-like wings may be tattered, but its short-range burst speed is very fast. Watch out for a sneak attack."
"Understood. Iâll rip off its tail and use it as a toothpick."
Sunâs enormous golden eyes locked onto the target below, its fighting spirit surging.
Raylo said no more, lightly patting Baofengâs neck.
"Baofeng, flank and distract it!"
Baofeng let out a shrill cry, and with a flap of its wings, dove in from the side like a streak of yellowish-brown Lightning.
As it circled, it opened its great beak. A fierce wind gathered before it, forming incredibly sharp Wind Blades that howled as they slashed toward the Scorpion-tailed Lion.
"ROAR!"
The Scorpion-tailed Lion sensed the attack and let out an angry roar. It didnât take the hit head-on, but instead displayed an agility that defied its massive size, leaping violently to the side.
The Wind Blades sliced into the ground, leaving several grim gashes half a meter deep. Dirt and grass flew everywhere.
The moment it dodged, a massive shadow fell over it.
Sun had arrived.
The Golden Dragon didnât use any flashy Magic; it chose the most direct and savage method.
Its colossal body descended from the sky like a true golden mountain collapsing, crashing down with an unstoppable, crushing pressure.
The Scorpion-tailed Lion sensed the mortal threat. Its tattered, bat-like wings shot open as it tried to take to the air and escape.
However, in the face of a true sovereign of the skies, its flying ability seemed clumsy and pathetic.
"Get down!"
Sunâs roar was deafening. A giant claw covered in golden scales descended like divine punishment, striking the Scorpion-tailed Lion precisely on its back.
BOOM!
With a tremendous crash, the ground shook violently, and dust shot into the sky.
Raylo circled in the air on Baofeng. Moonlight stood on Baofengâs Back, its fur fluttering in the wind, a pair of pale golden eyes curiously watching the battle below.
Meanwhile, Coal Ball poked its small head out from Rayloâs collar, its beady black eyes filled with the excitement of watching the show.
The dust slowly settled, and the outcome of the battle was clear.
Sunâs massive dragon claw was pressed firmly on the Scorpion-tailed Lionâs spine, pinning it down completely.
Its other claw, like an iron pincer, had a firm lock on the struggling, thrashing scorpion tail, neutralizing the threat of the dark green stinger that glinted with a sinister light.
The entire process, from Baofengâs attack to Sunâs subjugation of the beast, took no more than two minutes.
The Scorpion-tailed Lion struggled frantically under the dragon claw, letting out unwilling roars, but the dual suppression of tier and bloodline rendered all its resistance futile.
"Well done, Sun."
Raylo guided Baofeng to land slowly in a nearby clearing.
"A piece of cake."
Sunâs voice was filled with the arrogance of a victor.
"What now? Should I pull out its stinger?"
"No."
Raylo shook his head and vaulted off Baofengâs back.
"Itâll be a decent fighter. I need you to tame it. It can be a long-term source of Venom."
Moonlight is still in its Growth Stage, so its Dragon Mighty isnât enough to cow a strong-willed Tier Four Magical Beast. But Sun is different.
As a Giant Dragon, it naturally possesses a bloodline suppression over most Magical Beasts. Having it do the taming couldnât be more fitting.
"Tame it?"
Sun glanced at the Scorpion-tailed Lion under its claw, a little reluctant.
"A stubborn, foul-tempered creature like this is too much trouble to tame."
"The more Magical Beasts, the better, of course,"
Raylo said.
"Get to it."
Sun said no more and released its Dragon Mighty without reservation.
A majestic, ocean-like pressure instantly enveloped the entire area. The air seemed to freeze, and all the birds and beasts in the forest fled.
This was a pressure from the apex of life, enough to make any creature with a weak will instantly collapse and bow in submission.
However, although the Scorpion-tailed Lion under its claw trembled all over, its muscles tensed to their limit and a pained whimper escaping its throat, its bloodshot eyes showed not a hint of submission. Instead, they burned with an even fiercer Flame.
It was actually resisting the Golden Dragonâs Dragon Mighty.
"Heh, itâs a stubborn one!"
Sun was also surprised. It increased the output of its Dragon Mighty.
The Scorpion-tailed Lionâs bones emitted an overburdened CREAK, and blood trickled from the corner of its mouth. But it continued to glare fiercely at Sun, the ferocity in its eyes only intensifying.
Raylo watched quietly from the side, not interfering.
He knew that to tame such a ferocious beast, its will must be completely broken.
"You court death!"
Sunâs patience ran out. It was enraged.
It abruptly released its dragon claw, letting the battered and bruised Scorpion-tailed Lion go.
The moment it was freed, without even a chance to catch its breath, the Scorpion-tailed Lion dragged its injured body forward and roared as it lunged once more at the mountain-like Golden Dragon.
It opened its cavernous, bloody maw, trying to bite Sunâs leg.
"Youâre asking to die!"
Sunâs massive Dragon Tail swept out with devastating Power.
THUD!
Like a pebble being swatted away, the Scorpion-tailed Lion flew dozens of meters with a wretched scream. It crashed through seven or eight massive trees before it finally stopped, slamming heavily onto the ground. It twitched a few times and didnât get up for a long while.
This time, it was even more grievously injured. It had multiple broken bones, and its aura was much weaker.
Sun strode before it with heavy steps, its enormous head lowered. Its golden, slitted pupils, like two burning suns, looked down upon this challenger who didnât know its own limits.
"Submit, or die."
The cold, draconic voice boomed in the Scorpion-tailed Lionâs mind.
The Scorpion-tailed Lion struggled to lift its head, blood dripping continuously from the corner of its mouth.
It looked at the behemoth before it. Though the ferocity in its eyes had faded somewhat, it was replaced by an almost obsessive stubbornness.
It swayed unsteadily, trying to stand up again, a low growl rumbling in its throat, signaling its defiance.
"Good! Very good!"
Sun was utterly enraged.
It felt that its dignity as a noble Golden Dragon had been repeatedly challenged by a tiny bug.
What followed was a one-sided beating.
Sun no longer used its Dragon Mighty, nor its Dragon Tail. Instead, it used its iron-hard dragon claws to slap the Scorpion-tailed Lion back to the ground again and again, each time it struggled to its feet.
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
Dull thuds echoed through the forest, each one accompanied by the Scorpion-tailed Lionâs pained grunts and a violent tremor in the ground.
Watching from the side, Rayloâs eye twitched.
He wanted a usable fighter and a living, long-term source of Venom, not a pile of meat paste.
Moonlight walked over to Rayloâs feet and rubbed its head against his trouser leg. It then looked up at the miserable scene, and a trace of... schadenfreude?... flickered in its pale golden eyes.
âTaming Magical Beasts is still a job for me!â
Moonlight didnât hide its little thoughts at all; they were plain for all to see.