Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 304 - 304 303 Not Anymore

Chapter 304: Chapter 303 Not Anymore Chapter 304: Chapter 303 Not Anymore After passing through the Cloud Marsh Province, they entered another commercial road on the snowfield, the Populus Gobi Road, which was the only route to and from the Volcanic Oasis through the Populus Gobi.

The walls of ice and snow stretched endlessly.

They soon arrived at a Cold Spring Point, and set up camp there for the night. Naturally, Russell was not responsible for the trivial matter of setting up camp.

As he stroked the head of the Red-eyed Rat King, Jerry, he watched Katie busily preparing dinner and asked out of boredom, “Katie, have you and Jerry gotten used to each other yet? Why haven’t you tried to form a contract?”

“Sir, I’m still preparing,” Katie replied seriously.

“Preparing what?”

“Preparing to open my heart to accept Jerry,” Katie said. “Sir, I know it might sound foolish, but I must be fully prepared both mentally and emotionally. Only then can I increase the likelihood of successfully contracting with Jerry, and even the efficiency of future training.”

“Hmm, it seems you’ve thought this through thoroughly,” Russell nodded, agreeing with Katie’s approach, without forcing her.

His contract with Unicorn Polly was of mutual pursuit, which facilitated rapid progress during training.

But Jerry acknowledged him as master, not Katie, so after Katie formed a contract with Jerry, there would naturally be a barrier. Therefore, only by making adequate preparations would the contract with Jerry yield better outcomes.

“Jerry, do you like Katie?” Russell asked Jerry.

The Red-eyed Rat King blinked his little red eyes and chirped twice towards Katie’s busy figure, indicating his affection.

“From now on, take her as your master.”

“Chirp chirp?”

“I hope that after you contract with Katie, you’ll have greater prospects for development, instead of being bound by the notion of ‘acknowledging me as master,’ and thus missing the opportunity to advance to higher levels,” Russell said softly.

If he were to remain a mere noble lord, he naturally wouldn’t want to relinquish his sovereignty over Jerry and would keep Jerry firmly under control.

But he was destined to become a Flying Dragon Knight, and be promoted to a baron, so there was no need to forcibly tie Jerry down.

“Chirp chirp.” Jerry seemed reluctant.

Although Jerry was indeed a large rat, he was also a clever Fantasy Beast that knew who the real master was between Russell and Katie, and who to follow for maximized benefits. But since Russell had made his stance clear, all Jerry could do was obey.

After gently nudging Russell’s hand, Jerry rushed to Katie’s side, then settled down and motioned for Katie to pet him.

Katie was surprised, “Sir?”

“Strive hard in forming the contract, and in your training. Show me your limits, Katie,” Russell waved his hand nonchalantly.

But this gesture almost made Katie bite her lip, tears threatening to fall, “Yes, Sir!”

“What’s all this? You almost made a valiant Great Knight cry,” said Roland as he approached, not knowing when he had come over, holding a long sword inlaid with several gems. “That’s hardly gentlemanly behavior.”

“Lord Roland.” Katie held back her tears and curtsied.

Russell then asked, “Big brother, is something the matter?”

“Can’t I disturb you if there’s nothing important?” Roland winked at Russell, “Sadly, at Cold Spring Point it’s hard to avoid disturbing you — there are so few of us.”

“If you have something to say, just say it, big brother!”

“Alright, alright.” Roland spoke leisurely, “Look at you, Russell, still can’t shake that impatience.”

He cleared his throat.

Roland looked at Russell, his eyes gradually sharpening, and his otherwise ordinary features became more defined, “It’s time for you to realize that your big brother is still your big brother. Draw your sword, Russell, and let us have a grand battle on the snowfield!”

Russell’s eyes lit up, “Big brother, have you recovered?”

“Cough cough, I’ve been better a long time ago!” Roland scolded, “Enough talk, draw your sword quickly and join me for a battle on the snowfield!”

“Alright!” With a clang, Russell drew his Green Ceramic Sword.

One in front and one behind, they left Cold Spring Point. The Great Knight brought by Roland, along with Katie who was with Russell, followed closely. The three Fantasy Beasts, Nightmare Specter Horse Nemo, Unicorn Polly, and Red-eyed Rat King Jerry also tagged along.

Hoo hoo!

Outside Cold Spring Point, a snowstorm was blowing. The Great Knight, Katie, and the Phantom Beast Knights all charged up the ice and snow ramparts to take positions to watch the battle.

Meanwhile, Russell and Roland stepped into the vast snowfield.

“Russell,” Roland began with his habitual bluster, “I know you’re watched by the Shadowflame Dragon, and your future accomplishments are boundless, but now, you must understand that the solid cultivation I’ve achieved on my own can’t be replaced by relying on the gifts of a dragon!”

The wind howled.

Russell quietly waited for Roland to finish speaking before he smiled faintly and replied, “Big brother, are you done speaking?”

Seeing Russell’s response, neither soft nor overbearing, Roland’s anger ignited, channeling all the frustration he had accumulated over time into his sword.

He thrust his sword out while loudly berating, “Hmph! Such arrogance!”

Boom!

Roland had indeed refined his martial skills over many years, his battle Qi techniques were adept, and his attack, erupting so suddenly, was like a tidal wave in its relentless assault. It was almost as if he was going all out right from the start, striving to take down Russell in the shortest time possible.

Russell didn’t counterattack; instead, he focused on defense, wanting to see the limit of big brother Roland’s abilities.

This gave Roland a glimmer of illusion that Russell’s combat strength was just mediocre, the same as it had always been, just like when he had faced Rolin before and could only resort to the Tortoise Strategy.

“Is that all, is that all!” Roland grew more courageous as the battle went on, his heart swelling with boundless pride.

His sword moved in large, sweeping arcs, his Prime Breath rolling in like a tide, wanting to use the most ferocious stance to crush Russell, to vent all the pent-up resentment in his heart.

He roared, “Your big brother is still your big brother!”

Sword light burst forth, and the snow-covered earth was scarred with one sword mark after another, even the ice beneath their feet cracked from the strikes.

This violent scene had the Great Knight on the ice and snow rampart exclaiming in admiration, “Mr. Roland truly is a Knight prodigy. Having just made a pact with a Fantasy Beast, he has demonstrated such powerful combat prowess… Mr. Russell is in danger.”

Hearing this comment, Katie scoffed, “Sir is merely observing Lord Roland’s fighting style, that’s all.”

“What do you mean, Miss Katie?” asked the Great Knight.

“Sir’s strength is unrivaled at his level; just keep watching and you’ll understand,” she said.

“Unrivaled at his level?” The Great Knight wanted to laugh after hearing this and didn’t say much, but he thought to himself, “Another ‘second-generation Knight’ spoiled by his subordinates, ‘undefeated’ in his own territory…”

However, before the Great Knight could finish his internal mockery,

He saw on the battlefield that the tides turned dramatically—it was Russell, in the midst of Roland’s overwhelming onslaught, suddenly thrusting out with his sword.

That single thrust dissipated Roland’s tidal wave-like offensive as if puncturing a balloon.

“Big brother, times have changed. Now… how about I take the role of big brother for a change?” Russell said with a faint smile.

Immediately, his exceedingly refined swordsmanship shone through, his sword light crisscrossing everywhere. With just one sword, he produced the effect of the Three Swords Style, completely reversing the situation. His own sword light surged like an unstoppable tide, shattering Roland’s defenses.

Whizz!

One sword sweeping westward, and the ice shattered.

A gash suddenly appeared on Roland’s armor, and he fell heavily onto the snow, gazing in shock at Russell, who looked as if a god had descended.

“This…”

He wasn’t injured; Russell had held back his last strike—after all, he couldn’t leave his brother maimed. How would that look to his future sister-in-law?

“Big brother.” Russell sheathed his Green Ceramic Sword and then walked over to Roland, extending his hand to help him up while flashing a charming smile, he delivered a rather melodramatic line, “I am standing right before you, how much do I resemble the me of the past?”