Chapter Twenty-Two: A Rainy Night—One Man and a Cat

Amidst the storm and torrential rain, the ancient dragon with a body gleaming like metal descended gracefully, wind entwining its form, as if born from the heart of the tempest itself.

Su Yi raised his head, gazing at the steel dragon less than ten meters away. The air currents whipped the rain against his face, and the sheer pressure made his legs tingle with numbness.

The steel dragon noticed the lamb that had failed to flee the storm in time. Its blue, amber-like eyes quietly observed Su Yi.

No matter the creature, when facing a hunter—regardless of strength or weakness—emotions like fear, panic, vigilance, curiosity, or anger inevitably surface.

Yet this ancient dragon showed none of these. They stand at the apex of the ecosystem, utterly indifferent to beings beneath their own status. Only when provoked do they unleash thunderous wrath.

Fortunately, the steel dragon belonged to those ancient dragons who would not attack irrelevant beings on their own accord; otherwise, Su Yi’s only option would have been a desperate escape.

Still, simply being watched by the steel dragon, guarded by the storm, left Su Yi feeling panic and suffocation.

It was as if the steel dragon was telling him: Reverence for the storm!

Su Yi seemed to understand why those who truly dared to face ancient dragons, to challenge them and survive the furious calamity, were worthy of the ultimate hero’s honor. That immense courage alone was beyond ordinary men.

Gripping Dewgrass’s paw, Su Yi pulled him behind, shielding him. He could sense the drenched feline trembling, and Su Yi himself was no less overwhelmed by fear.

At this moment, only the flash bomb in his backpack granted him a sliver of courage.

If the steel dragon did not attack first, he would not use the flash bomb lightly.

For if he did, the steel dragon might pursue Su Yi relentlessly, never forgiving the insult.

“We’re leaving, aibo!” Su Yi forced himself to calm down, pulling the dazed Dewgrass away under the steel dragon’s gaze.

When the figures of man and cat finally vanished into the pouring rain, the steel dragon turned its head, then slowly lay down, gazing quietly in one direction.

......

The seaside woodland was built among the trees, which shielded the tents from the howling wind. Su Yi and Dewgrass stumbled inside, bedraggled.

They hadn’t expected it, but the adventure gear bought at the Armored Island post, just in case, immediately proved useful.

Charcoal, solid alcohol, a lighter, kettle, dry towels...

Su Yi quickly lit the stove, boiled a pot of hot water, and as he warmed himself by the fire, he first dried off the soaked Dewgrass.

“Are you alright, aibo?” Su Yi asked with concern. This must have been Dewgrass’s first time facing an ancient dragon directly.

The feline’s paw trembled in his grasp, whether from fear or from the cold and wind stealing his warmth.

“I’m... I’m okay now, meow. Was that really an ancient dragon? It was terrifying, meow! Like the very embodiment of the storm!” Dewgrass said, still shaken.

“That’s the world’s supreme power—summoning wind and rain, shrouded in mystery,” Su Yi admitted, awe filling his heart at such might.

Man and cat, staring into the eyes of an ancient dragon amid the storm—few hunters ever have such an opportunity in their lifetime.

But indeed, an encounter with an ancient dragon might also mark a hunter’s end.

“I wonder how long the steel dragon will stay in the Ancient Tree Forest. Prepare for a long stay in the tent.”

Luckily, they had enough food and supplies stored.

“Rest now, don’t catch a cold.”

......

At midnight, the howling wind and the drum of rain kept Su Yi awake. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw those cold, mysterious blue-amber dragon eyes.

Only when facing an ancient dragon in person could one feel its terror—no game effect could ever evoke such awe.

“Su Yi? Can’t sleep, meow?” Su Yi’s movements woke Dewgrass, who was sleeping lightly.

“Did I disturb you, aibo?” Su Yi apologized.

The feline sat up and shook his head. “No, meow. I can’t sleep either, meow.”

“Aibo, at the moment you faced the steel dragon, were you... afraid, or... did you regret it?” Su Yi asked carefully.

“Of course I was afraid, meow! My heart nearly stopped—much worse than facing a swift dragon, meow,” Dewgrass replied, still uneasy.

“But, I have no regrets, meow! If I regretted it, I wouldn’t have chosen to adventure in the first place, meow.” Dewgrass smiled, as if regaining his spirit.

Su Yi let out a long breath, smiling bitterly. “I’m afraid of bringing you into danger, afraid you’ll fear adventure from now on and leave me…”

“How could I, meow? With Su Yi by my side, I’ll never fear or shrink from adventure, meow! I’m happy to adventure with you, Su Yi—it’s you who brought me to such interesting places, meow.”

“I think, meow, staying in one place for a lifetime, not even knowing what kind of flowers bloom in spring—that’s what really scares me, meow.” Dewgrass rarely spoke so much.

“And if we face ancient dragons again in the future…”

“Then we’ll go together, meow! I believe Su Yi will become stronger and stronger, and someday challenge them without fear, meow!” Dewgrass replied, waving his paw.

“Thank you, aibo. Let’s keep looking out for each other.”

“Meow!”

Su Yi and Dewgrass reached out and gave each other a high five.

......

The torrential rain did not last long. In the latter half of the night, the rain diminished, and by morning, only the wind remained.

Su Yi stepped out of the tent, shivered in the cold wind, quickly cleared the stone stove outside, and began making breakfast.

Clearly, the influence of the ancient dragon was imprinted in their DNA. When Su Yi released the Great Jagras and Kulu-Ya-Ku, they instantly became restless and uneasy. He quickly fed them and sent them back to their balls to rest.

Leaving the campsite, Su Yi looked through the trees toward the waterlogged coastal plain. The steel dragon still lay quietly, its head turned toward the sea.

“Why did the steel dragon appear in the Ancient Tree Forest? At this point in time, the Nergigante shouldn’t be causing chaos in the Elder’s Recess yet—at least not until after Zorah Magdaros crosses…”

As he spoke, a flash of insight struck him.

“Could it be… Zorah Magdaros has already begun the crossing, and is approaching the New World?”

The more Su Yi thought, the more plausible it seemed.

Ancient dragons possess extraordinary perception. It was possible the steel dragon just happened to stroll through the Ancient Tree Forest—for their true intentions are inscrutable—but Su Yi preferred to believe that the steel dragon sensed a greater life energy approaching across the sea, and thus appeared at the seaside of the forest.

After all, the timing seemed right.

“The future Sapphire Star…” Su Yi felt the epic was about to begin, yet he himself was still unprepared.

“From now on, let’s prepare more. And right now—isn’t this the perfect opportunity?” Su Yi rallied himself, grinning as he thought of something.