Dragon Beast

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Dragon Beast
Alias(es)	Fazan; Ruler of Black Mountain; Sovereign of Black Mountain World 246 269
Species/Race	Magical beast; an evolved Lizard Dragon 214 218
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Black Mountain World; commands loyal magical-beast subordinates on the surface 205 211 218
Occupation/Role	Ruler of Black Mountain World; source-material plunderer attempting to reach the Eighth Stage 81 172
Status	Deceased — killed by Linsey's Glorious Bullet after being restrained by the Ancient Frostflow Elemental 271 277
First Appearance	Mentioned in Chapter 24; physically appears in Chapter 172 24 172

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Fourth Stage	218	An Eyeless Person elder describes it as a lone Fourth Stage Lizard Dragon before its encounter with Crystal Valley.
Fifth Stage	218	Its power suddenly surged after encountering something unknown in Crystal Valley; it subsequently continued growing stronger.
Seventh Stage	91 229	It reached the Seventh Stage after leaving the Underground World and establishing itself on Black Mountain. Its power could alter a world's temperature and source-essence rhythms.
Attempted Eighth Stage	81 229 271	It plundered Black Mountain World's source material rather than following ordinary magical-beast advancement. The attempt was interrupted by Black Mountain's collapse and its death.

Background / History

Accounts of the Dragon Beast's early history conflict. The Black Eagle King described it as a solitary Underground World beast that had become a Fifth Stage magical beast more than three hundred years earlier, while an Eyeless Person elder recalled it as a Fourth Stage lone Lizard Dragon only several decades before its sudden rise in Crystal Valley. Both accounts identify the Thousand Mountains Stone Forest as its birthplace. 204 218

As a lone wanderer, it entered the forbidden Crystal Valley and obtained power far beyond that of an ordinary Fifth Stage magical beast. This rapid growth eventually carried it to the Seventh Stage. The power it gained there was later revealed to originate from Red, whose stolen strength had been incorporated into the Dragon Beast as part of Dark Abyss's long-term scheme. 229 243

After ascending to Black Mountain, the Dragon Beast became the dominant power of the Black Mountain World. It drove the Glacier Elementals from their homeland without destroying the glaciers, promising they could return after two hundred years. It also imposed its source-essence influence over much of the surface world while deliberately leaving the barren Underground World outside its direct control. 164 218

Rather than advancing through the normal accumulation and refinement of source material, it forcibly merged with and plundered the world's source material to pursue the Eighth Stage. The resulting changes spread through Black Mountain World as unstable temperatures, altered magical-beast behavior, and organized beast hordes. 79 81 117

Appearance

The Dragon Beast's true form combines the physique of a Lizard Dragon with traits associated with a classic evil dragon. Its golden-red body is protected by exceptionally durable scales and source-essence airflow, while blazing red and icy blue radiance appear across its body in battle. 271

• Enormous yellow, serpentine eyes with two layers of eyelids. 172 270
• Thick dragon scales capable of withstanding catastrophic force before being pierced by specialized attacks. 271
• A pair of immense bat-like wings lined with thick spines. 271
• A massive lizard-like body, reflecting its origin among the Lizard Dragon Clan. 214 271
• Golden-red coloration when its true body is exposed. 271

Personality

Despite ruling Black Mountain World through fear and overwhelming force, the Dragon Beast is deeply anxious about human intruders. It awakened early during its advancement after sensing humans entering from the west, then concealed its concern from its subordinate. 172

It is proud, possessive, and convinced that its power makes it the world's rightful ruler. It rejected Dark Abyss's advice to investigate Crystal Valley, insisting that its Eighth Stage breakthrough took priority and declaring that no one could take its power away. 229 246

The Dragon Beast is also calculating rather than purely destructive. It spared the Eyeless Person elder to preserve a balance in the Underground World, avoided destroying glaciers that were important to its advancement, and attempted to negotiate with Linsey after being weakened. 164 218 270

Abilities & Skills

Airflow and Thermal Manipulation

The Dragon Beast evolved the Lizard Dragon Clan's innate airflow manipulation into a Seventh Stage power capable of producing extreme heat and cold. 262 271

• Creates alternating hot and cold currents that can melt rock, freeze living creatures, and tear apart the battlefield. 172 271
• Uses airflow as a defensive barrier strong enough to endure collapsing mountains before the Glorious Bullet destroyed it. 271
• Can generate destructive flame attacks, including broad fire pillars and tightly concentrated beams. 269 735
• Its thermal influence affects Black Mountain World's weather and the behavior of magical beasts across the world. 79 81

Source-Essence Domination

The Dragon Beast's advancement depended on plundering world source material and binding much of Black Mountain World's surface life to its influence. 81 205

• Influenced or controlled many surface magical beasts, including loyal subordinates and organized beast hordes. 117 205
• Could kill or punish subordinates through its source-essence influence when they exposed information it wished to hide. 205
• Forced magical beasts attempting to flee toward the Hidden Borderlands to freeze beneath the world's cold winds. 205
• Its death severed its connection to Black Mountain World and swept the battlefield's Black Mist away. 271

Physical Strength and Dragon Physiology

As a Seventh Stage Dragon Beast, its body had surpassed ordinary magical beasts in durability and destructive power. 271 735

• Its scales normally disregarded power below the Seventh Stage. 737
• Its wings allowed sustained aerial combat against Dark Abyss and attacks on distant targets. 269 271
• Its biological vital points remained its brain and heart. 735
• Its physiology retained a vulnerability to cold despite its control of hot and cold airflow. 190 271

Limitations

• Sensitive to sudden temperature changes; cold remained a weakness even at the Seventh Stage. 190 271
• The Ancient Frostflow Elemental could exploit this cold vulnerability to restrain it briefly. 271
• Dark Abyss had planted a hidden Dark Will in its heart before its Seventh Stage advancement; this safeguard could immobilize it. 270
• Its Eighth Stage breakthrough depended on continued source-material accumulation and was disrupted by the battle with Dark Abyss and Black Mountain's collapse. 271

Relationships

• Dark Abyss — Former guide and manipulator. Dark Abyss cultivated the Dragon Beast's growth, planted a Dark Will within it, and intended for Red to devour it once it reached the Eighth Stage. Their alliance collapsed into open combat. 243 269 270
• Red — The Dragon Beast possessed power stolen from Red and intended to fully control it after reaching the Eighth Stage. Red regarded it as a direct threat and sought to reclaim what it had taken. 237 243 246
• Linsey — Enemy and eventual slayer. Linsey investigated its origins, joined Black Mountain World's resistance, and killed it with the Glorious Bullet. 145 271
• Black Scale Lizard Dragon — Loyal Fifth Stage subordinate entrusted with guarding the displaced Glacier Elementals. 184 211
• Glacier Elementals — Displaced from Black Mountain's glaciers by the Dragon Beast, which avoided destroying the glaciers because of their importance to its advancement. 164
• Eyeless People — Underground inhabitants harmed by the Dragon Beast's rise and conflict with the Lizard Dragon Clan; the Dragon Beast left their elder alive to maintain an underground balance. 218
• Lizard Dragon Clan — Its kin by origin. The clan feared its power while coveting the strength that had elevated the former lone wanderer above them. 214 232

Story Role / Major Arcs

Black Mountain's Growing Threat

The Dragon Beast is initially known as the overwhelmingly powerful ruler beyond the Hidden Borderlands. Its advancement toward the Eighth Stage turns Black Mountain World into an escalating threat, causing abnormal weather and the mobilization of magical beasts against Border Town. 24 81 117

Investigation of Its Origins

Linsey's journey through Black Mountain World reveals that the Dragon Beast originated in the Thousand Mountains Stone Forest as a lone Lizard Dragon. Evidence from the Black Eagle King, the Eyeless People, and Crystal Valley links its rise to a hidden source of power. 204 216 218 229

Conflict with Dark Abyss

The Dragon Beast's relationship with Dark Abyss deteriorates when it realizes its supposed ally has been using it as a vessel for Red's stolen power. Their battle devastates Icebound City, melts its protective glacier, and destabilizes Black Mountain itself. 243 269 270

Fall of Black Mountain

After its battle with Dark Abyss leaves it weakened, the Dragon Beast faces a united retaliation from Linsey, a raven, the Ancient Frostflow Elemental, and other beings oppressed by its rule. The Elemental restrains it through its cold weakness, allowing Linsey to fire the Glorious Bullet into its body and kill it. 271

Aftermath

The Dragon Beast's death ends its source-essence connection to Black Mountain World and disperses the Black Mist. Its remains yield a Seventh Stage Dragon Heart, while its death destabilizes the world's balance of power and draws attention from outside factions. 271 274 277

Notable Quotes

“I am the ruler of Black Mountain, the sovereign of this world.” 246

“Everything here today must die!” 271

Trivia

• In Awakened terminology, magical beasts with draconic traits are called Dragon Beasts once they reach the Seventh Stage. 734
• The Dragon Beast's death counted as a Legendary Behemoth Kill Achievement, separate from ordinary prey classifications. 274
• Linsey obtained Dragon Mead as a reward for killing the Black Mountain Dragon Beast; the drink has an unusually powerful intoxicating effect on dragon-type creatures. 274 737