"Prince Rhine..."
Usually, Hela didn't like mortals touching her.
But this time, Hela didn't resist.
She was even a little surprised...
The whole way here, Rhine had been flirting with the puppets.
Now, at last... he was paying attention to Hela, too...
Ahem!
Hela snapped out of her daydream. After giving it some serious thought, she decided to accept Rhine's proposal...
Truthfully, Hela had always ignored Rhine. She couldn't see anything remarkable about the prince, so she'd never bothered to pay him much attention.
Of course,
Hela thought every mortal was dull and unremarkable.
Yet lately... Prince Rhine had gradually begun to catch her attention.
His Highness had become completely different from before, like another person.
His bearing, his poise, his eyes, and that handsome face she couldn't forget no matter what...
Hela fell silent for a moment.
"I understand, Your Highness."
She nodded.
This time, she would trust the mortal prince.
"Good."
Rhine smiled and leaned closer, gazing into Hela's eyes as he asked, "By the way, how about I give you a kiss too once we've won?"
"N-no, that's not necessary..."
Hela hurriedly refused, shifting her gaze away. She didn't dare look Rhine in the eye.
Hela had to agree with one thing those dumb puppets said.
Prince Rhine's eyes... really were beautiful.
Even though Hela already knew that the Evil Dragon had blessed Rhine with those eyes,
beautiful was beautiful.
All right, let's go!
Putting those idle thoughts aside, Hela looked down into the bottomless abyss and tightened her grip on Rhine's hand. "Your Highness, get ready."
Then,
Hela leaped down with Rhine,
and they plunged into the abyss, their bodies plummeting through the frigid air with a whistle.
Just as they were about to reach the bottom and be smashed to pieces, Hela cast a spell.
Clusters of silvery-white crystals appeared around them.
As the crystals shattered,
Hain's exclusive demigod crystal spell took effect.
Their falling speed dropped to zero in an instant, and Hela and Rhine drifted gently to the ground, completely unharmed.
The two had entered the ancient dragon's domain.
Unlike the cold outside,
the bottom of this abyss was warm, the air clear, and the surroundings comfortable.
There, the two saw a magnificent palace gleaming with gold.
It was the ancient dragon's palace.
Mortals liked to call ancient dragons' dwellings "lairs,"
but those creatures who lived in crude caves and piled their collections into mountains of gold and silver...
were merely ordinary dragons.
The ancient dragons were an intelligent species with a highly developed civilization.
The homes they built for themselves
were even more magnificent than the wonders of the mortal nations.
And before Hela and Rhine stood just such a splendid palace!
A tower built of golden bricks shimmered with a luxurious glow, nearly blinding Hela.
It was all dazzlingly golden...
Hela's eyes lit up. "Is all this... real gold?!"
Rhine remained calm. "Relax. It's gold-plated."
Hela: "Oh..."
The smile vanished from Hela's face. She hadn't expected ancient dragons to like showing off their poverty, too.
Still,
although the tower was gold-plated, Hela could see countless treasures of every kind displayed inside through its windows.
Hela's eyes lit up again.
Oh, right...
Where was the ancient dragon?
Where was Dragon Princess Obadiah?
Just then, a deep, gruff voice rang out from inside the gold-plated tower.
"Foolish demigod! You've come here to die again!"
The voice was full of anger.
And at the same time,
it brimmed with masculine swagger and strength!
That had to be...
A real man!!
Bang—!!!
A burly creature like an iron mountain slammed into the ground, sending shards of stone flying!
A towering humanoid silhouette appeared!
He was a man three meters tall.
His muscles bulged like forged steel, his bronze skin was rough as sandpaper, and though he had no hair on his head, his chin sported a thick beard as bristly as steel needles!
He was human, yet the ancient dragon's aura clung to him—and it was incredibly strong! Overwhelmingly so!!
Hela stared at the sudden newcomer.
The corner of her mouth twitched. She sucked in a breath, but couldn't get a word out!
Buh-buh-buh?!
Hela stared in shock at the man who'd dropped from the sky, then looked at Rhine.
Hela: "Your Highness, th-this is..."
Rhine's expression was grave. "Candidate Dragon Princess Obadiah—Hela, a formidable foe has appeared!"
This was the Dragon Princess?!
Hela was stunned.
No wonder Olivia wanted to kill him!
This candidate Dragon Princess looked so bizarre!!!
Dragon Princess Obadiah's gaze was icy. In his gruff voice, he said, "You picked this moment to show up, Olivia... So it really was you scheming against me!"
"But no matter!"
Obadiah sneered. He wasn't nervous at all—in fact, he was brimming with confidence.
He looked down at Hela arrogantly and threatened her. "Demigod, I'll give you one last chance. Leave my sight while you still can!"
I don't want an eyesore like you in my sight either, you know!!!
Hela cursed inwardly.
Just then,
a hand settled firmly on Hela's shoulder.
It was Rhine.
Hela: "Your Highness?"
Rhine had known the truth about Obadiah all along.
But he hadn't said a word.
He'd simply wanted to see Hela's amusing reaction.
Now that Rhine had enjoyed the show, he stepped forward and gently reassured her. "Steady yourself, Lady Hela. What kind of conduct is this, making such a fuss? See that Dragon Princess with chest hair as wide as a palm and muscles bulging everywhere?"
Hela: "Ha..."
Rhine patted Hela on the shoulder. "Go give him a couple of slaps!"
### 4. Hela, Pay Attention—This Is How You Use a Puppet
The ancient dragon Obadiah,
was currently shedding his skin, so for the time being, he could only use a human avatar to fight.
Without a doubt,
shedding their skin was the most vulnerable time in an ancient dragon's life.
Of course,
that was part of Rhine's plan.
To fight Obadiah, they would first strip away his immortality, then strike at the precise moment while he was shedding his skin.
Rhine had secured the greatest possible advantage for Hela!
Now it was up to Hela.
Obadiah had entered his battle stance.
The three-meter-tall muscleman's muscles quivered as his body temperature rose. His iron fists had heated to a bright red from his own body heat.
Seeing this, Hela brought out her treasured collection from over the years. Countless gold-quality items floated into the air, and blessings of every color layered over her, steadily increasing her power.
Just then,
Obadiah suddenly opened his eyes. "Come to think of it, demigod, you seem to have a problem with my gender?"
Hela replied coolly, "Not at all, Your Highness the Dragon Princess."
Obadiah sneered.
"Demigod, I want you to listen carefully to something."
"Our dragons' family affairs..."
"Are none of your damn business!!!"
Before you continue