The Dragon Emperor was exhausted, a weariness beyond words. He longed for this ordeal to end quickly.
Since ancient times, no matter the war, the Dragon race had always been at the pinnacle. The side they supported invariably triumphed. The Dragon Emperor himself had participated in the war a thousand years ago, a war they ultimately won, elevating the Dragon race to the highest position.
No race dared to provoke them. Even the dreaded Demon race was reluctant to clash with the Dragons.
Now, however, the Dragon Emperor was unsure what the human before him would do next. This was the most miserable the Dragon race had ever been…no, this situation was unprecedented.
"Oh, right, there's one more crucial matter to discuss." Lin Fan remembered his primary purpose for coming here, a matter of great importance concerning Ke Lan.
The Dragon Emperor's expression turned grave. "Please speak."
Lin Fan stated, "Your Dragon race's power is excessively high. Therefore, I require that without my permission, no dragon leaves this island. No matter the reason." His tone was serious.
Ke Lan's strength was indeed considerable, but compared to the Dragon race, the gap remained significant. This disparity couldn't be bridged quickly; it required gradual development. Therefore, he needed to restrict the world's high-end power, a power that Ke Lan couldn't currently contend with.
Upon hearing this, the Dragon Emperor's expression shifted. This demand was excessive. The Dragon race, the world's most powerful, confined to Dragon Island, forbidden to leave? This was an outrageous request.
Seeing the Dragon Emperor's silence, Lin Fan inquired, "What's wrong? Is my request too much?" He asked sincerely. If it was excessive, they could negotiate. He, Lin Fan, wasn't one to force others against their will.
Of course, he still hoped they would stay put. His primary reason was the fear of his daughter pestering him for more of that dragon meat. He was a soft-hearted father, and once she started acting cute, he wouldn't be able to refuse. Therefore, the Dragons remaining on the island was the safest option.
The Dragon Emperor spoke earnestly, "Human expert, may I ask how strong you are?" This question was loaded, revealing the Dragon Emperor's unwillingness to submit, his desire to fight back. If, and he stressed if, the human's strength offered a glimmer of hope, he would stand tall, radiating dominance. The Dragon race would never bow their heads, never.
"Is that your request?" Lin Fan pondered, then continued, "Your strength is too weak. I'm afraid that if I attack, you'll die. Although I can control my power, there's always a chance of an accident. Tell you what, I've recently gained some insights into magic. Let's see if you can withstand this."
The Dragon Emperor felt insulted. The human clearly didn't take him seriously. This was a humiliation, a disgrace.
But soon… something terrifying happened.
Lin Fan raised a single finger. It seemed innocuous, but a horrifying scene unfolded. Magical elements from all around surged towards his fingertip, converging in a vibrant display. Black, red, blue, white, gold… countless colors swirling together, forming an ever-growing sphere. A destructive force pressed down on every dragon's heart.
"Impossible! The Anti-Magic Domain has no effect on him!" The Dragon Emperor was stunned, unable to believe his eyes. The Dragons' Anti-Magic Domain affected all other races, including humans. Yet, this human could gather magical elements right in front of him, proving the domain useless.
Moreover, he could sense that the growing sphere of magic could annihilate everything. No dragon could withstand it, not even those immune to magic. It was a power beyond comprehension.
The calm sea churned into monstrous waves as the sphere expanded. Cracks appeared on Dragon Island, as if it might shatter at any moment.
"Enough!" the Dragon Emperor cried out, fearing the complete destruction of their home.
Lin Fan waved his hand, dispersing the magical sphere back into its constituent elements. Others cast magic using specific spells, declaring their intent. For Lin Fan, it was a hodgepodge. He simply combined various magical elements without considering the resulting power.
The Dragon Emperor, all resistance gone, said slowly, "I agree to your terms. The Dragon race won't leave this island without your permission. But I have one question, if you would answer it."
"Ask." Lin Fan, seeing the Dragon Emperor's cooperation, readily agreed. After consuming so much dragon meat, and with the Dragon Emperor showing no resentment, he couldn't refuse.
The Dragon Emperor asked, "A few months ago, the Elf race was annihilated by the Demon race, their queen killed. But she was later resurrected by a mysterious expert. Was that you?"
Unexpectedly, he would ask this.
"Can you keep a secret?" Lin Fan inquired.
"I guarantee it," the Dragon Emperor replied.
"It was me."
Hearing this confirmation, the Dragon Emperor stared in astonishment. Resurrection? Such a formidable magic! Even the Dragons had never known of resurrection magic. This human's mastery of magic was truly terrifying.
Then, the Dragon Emperor bowed to Lin Fan, pleading, "Could you help us resurrect our lost dragon eggs? Our race has always been powerful, but our survival rate is tragically low. So many newborn dragon eggs lose their vitality and fail to hatch. My daughter… she was one of them. Please, help us."
He finished, unsure if the human would agree. Resurrection magic must come at a great cost. Perhaps this human would have to pay a heavy price.
As the Dragon Emperor was about to speak again, Lin Fan smiled. "You have a daughter, I have one too. I understand your feelings. Of course, I can help. Bring out the dragon eggs."
"After all, you're a really decent dragon. I ate so much of your kin, and you haven't blamed me, even speaking to me politely. I really appreciate that."
The Dragon Emperor felt his mind reeling. The human's words, seemingly gentle, were barbed, each one a subtle jab. If Lin Fan weren't so powerful, those words would have provoked a furious, desperate attack from the entire Dragon race. Such arrogance!
As Lin Fan spoke, the dragons stirred. Every family had lost dragon eggs, their children, and their hearts ached. Initially, they had glared at Lin Fan with anger and resentment. This human who enjoyed eating dragons was their enemy. But now, hearing his words, they found this terrifying human demon… quite agreeable, even friendly.
Soon, dragons began carrying dragon eggs, dozens in total.
Seeing the eggs, Lin Fan was reminded of chicken eggs. He imagined cracking them on the side of a pan, the sizzling oil, the fragrant aroma… The image was so vivid, he almost drooled.
"Are these all of them?" Lin Fan asked.
"Yes, all of them," the Dragon Emperor confirmed.
Lin Fan smiled. "Good. I understand."
He raised his hand, bathing the dragon eggs in golden light.
The Dragon Emperor watched in awe. What kind of magic was this? He could only see the golden glow, unable to discern the magical elements at play.
"Resurrect!" Lin Fan whispered.
As he cast the spell, a dark passage opened in the void. Things that defied the natural order were not permitted to exist. Even if the Will didn't intervene, other forces would.
"That aura…" The Dragon Emperor's heart trembled as he saw the dark passage. It reeked of the Land of the Dead, filled with the power of decay, a place only the deceased could go.
A figure emerged: Death, cloaked in its tattered black robe, wielding its scythe. But this time, behind Death, a pair of emotionless, lychee-like eyes appeared, unnervingly white, instilling fear in every dragon present.
The Dragon Emperor murmured, "The Land of the Dead, ruled by the God of Souls… Unauthorized resurrection will incur the wrath of the Death God…"
The Dragon Emperor's knowledge came from ancient texts. It was a realm no one could enter, not even necromancers, despite their mastery of death magic.
Lin Fan looked at the passage, smiling. "Death's got a nice look. Didn't expect the extra eyes. I'm doing this for the dragons, resurrecting some eggs. If you're involved, please understand. The Dragon Emperor is a good guy, I like him. Can you give me some face?"
He hadn't eaten the Face-Face Fruit after all.
Death swung its scythe, the lychee eyes behind it glowing ominously.
"Sigh…" Lin Fan, resigned, punched towards the dark passage.
BOOM!
Death vanished. The lychee eyes shattered. The aura of the Land of the Dead surged back into the passage and disappeared. The world returned to normal.
The dragons gasped, the oppressive aura having made death feel imminent. It was an experience only those present could truly understand.
Terrifying… truly terrifying.
They stared at Lin Fan in awe… How could a human be so powerful?
Even the Dragon Emperor was speechless. Perhaps the wisest decision he'd ever made was to avoid conflict with this human. Otherwise, the consequences… were too frightening to contemplate.