The Terror of Dragon Garden, You Madman

"Heh."

"If we keep competing."

"The result will only be mutual destruction."

Longyuan sneered, his tone laced with mockery.

Yet, even so.

He still hadn't considered admitting defeat.

Instead, he wanted to use this to persuade Prince Ganlongdao to concede.

However.

What he received in return was a stunned expression and a scrutinizing gaze from Prince Ganlongdao, causing Longyuan to frown and ask:

"What are you looking at me for?"

"Ha... hahahaha..."

Prince Ganlongdao covered his forehead and let out a bizarre laugh.

The laughter made Longyuan's skin crawl.

After a long moment.

Prince Ganlongdao stood up and walked over to Longyuan, his hands turning inward as he suddenly gripped Longyuan's temples.

His pupils, deep as an abyss.

He stared straight into Longyuan's eyes as if examining a work of art.

He spoke, seemingly struggling to suppress the delight in his voice.

"Longyuan, so... you're afraid of mutual destruction too?"

"..."

At these words.

Longyuan's snake-like pupils contracted violently.

It was as if his secret had been laid bare.

However.

Longyuan shook his head abruptly, breaking free from Prince Ganlongdao's grip, and said with disdain:

"Don't misunderstand. I was merely analyzing the situation and clarifying the pros and cons for your foolish head. No matter how long you want to compete, I can keep you company until the end."

"And so?"

Prince Ganlongdao did not press the issue.

He braced his hands on his knees, leaned his body forward until he was right in front of Longyuan, and flashed an appreciative smile.

"Clarifying the pros and cons—is that really so important?"

"..."

Longyuan's heart hammered against his ribs.

It felt as if the more he spoke, the more flaws he revealed.

Yet, he still said coldly:

"By giving the other classes a head start of several months, you don't actually think you still have a chance to reach Class A, do you?"

"That..."

Snap!

Prince Ganlongdao once again brought his hands together, gripping Longyuan's temples, his abyssal pupils staring straight into his eyes as if trying to see through to Longyuan's soul.

He grinned and said:

"Reaching Class A—is that important?"

"..."

Longyuan's pupils contracted sharply.

Only at this moment.

Did he realize the truth.

Prince Ganlongdao wasn't competing with him at all.

He was just playing with him!

It was as if he were treating him like a toy, savoring the process of toying with him.

In the eyes of Prince Ganlongdao.

What classes, what companions, what reaching Class A—

There was simply nothing that could hold Prince Ganlongdao's interest.

He was simply enjoying the process of toying with others.

However.

On the other hand.

Ryuen asked himself.

Did he actually care about being promoted to Class A?

The answer was.

He didn't care at all!

Even if he couldn't graduate from Class A, even if he were to be expelled this very instant.

Ryuen was confident he could still get ahead in life.

One could call him arrogant.

But this was Ryuen's true sentiment.

However.

Upon hearing the words of Prince Ganlongdao.

What exactly was this palpitating feeling in his heart?

Ryuen did not know.

But.

There was only one thing he knew right now.

For some reason, seeing Prince Ganlongdao like this only made Ryuen feel a surge of irritation; he just wanted the guy in front of him to disappear as quickly as possible.

"Get lost."

Ryuen swung his arm violently, shaking off Prince Ganlongdao's hands.

He said coldly:

"You lunatic!"

"Heh heh."

Prince Ganlongdao didn't mind at all; instead, he stroked his chin and scrutinized Ryuen.

Suddenly, he revealed a strange smile.

"Ryuen, you are afraid, aren't you."

"What?"

Ryuen frowned, feeling somewhat bewildered.

From childhood to the present.

Ryuen had never experienced the emotion of fear, and it was precisely because of this that he could be fearless.

But that did not mean Ryuen did not understand the emotion of fear.

The expressions, emotions, and various fearful mental states of his victims—Ryuen's understanding of fear was deeper than anyone else's.

Precisely because of this.

Ryuen did not think his current emotion was fear at all, nor was he afraid of a mutually destructive outcome.

However.

Prince Ganlongdao seemed to see through his thoughts and laughed:

"Let me guess what it is you are actually afraid of."

"..."

Ryuen's snake-like pupils met Prince Ganlongdao's gaze.

As if to emphasize that he was fearless.

Until Prince Ganlongdao walked up to him once more, his abyss-like pupils drawing close to his serpentine eyes.

"What you are afraid of... is indeed not something like a mutually destructive outcome."

"..."

Ryuen's gaze was cold and sharp.

He maintained absolute confidence in this point.

Who would care about classmates they hadn't even known for two days, or a class they hadn't even stayed in for two days?

Afraid of mutual destruction?

Don't make me laugh.

However.

The next second.

Prince Ganlongdao sent a massive shock through his heart.

"What you fear is a boring and meaningless life, isn't it?"

"..."

For an instant.

Ryuen's mind went completely blank.

He saw Prince Ganlongdao stand up, his expression indifferent as he looked down at Ryuen from above.

"Ryuen, the outcome has been decided."

"What?"

"You aren't the only one who has the patent to unilaterally declare a match over."

Prince Ganlongdao grabbed Ryuen by the hair and hoisted him up, his expression cold as he said:

"Whether it's to me or to the class, you aren't essential. If I hadn't been slightly interested in you before, you would have been kicked to the curb by me long ago."

"Either you continue to be stubborn and hold on here, waiting until the day you are expelled by everyone in Class C and end this meaningless school life."

"Or you follow me and experience a more interesting life."

"Choose for yourself."

"Hah."

Ryuen endured the tearing sensation on his scalp, staring coldly at the man before him.

His breathing, however, could not help but become rapid.

He didn't even know what he was thinking himself.

Perhaps it was anger at Prince Ganlongdao's self-righteous arrogance—why did he think following him would be more interesting? Or perhaps it was the shame and anger of having his inner thoughts poked at?

In any case.

Even though nothing had actually happened yet.

Ryuen already felt a wave of exhaustion.

This was a victory of the spirit!

He felt like a peeled hard-boiled egg being toyed with at will by Prince Ganlongdao; everything about him had been seen through by the man in front of him.

"Get lost."

Ryuen lashed out with a side kick, trying to regain some face.

However, Prince Ganlongdao had already let go, stepping back to watch the scene with indifference.

"I never agreed to end this."

Ryuen glared at Prince Ganlongdao, breathing heavily as he said:

"No matter how long we go, the one who wins in the end will definitely be me. Ganlongdao, you're the one who's scared, aren't you? Trying to run away using this method?"

"Suit yourself."

Prince Ganlongdao shrugged indifferently and turned to leave the room.

Until the sound of the door closing echoed.

"Damn it."

Ryuen kicked over a bento box on the floor, turned, and walked into the bathroom to turn on the faucet.

He buried his head in the sink.

He forced himself to calm down.

Ryuen could unilaterally declare the outcome of a match, and naturally, Prince Ganlongdao could too.

Although Ryuen Kakeru was indeed a rare, versatile talent in Class C, he wasn't indispensable; Prince Ganlongdao had already lost interest in him!

That wasn't even the important part.

The key was.

"Swish..."

Ryuen lifted his head.

His wet hair draped over his shoulders, making him look exceptionally terrifying.

Ryuen covered his forehead with his right hand, pushing his bangs upward as he stared at his own sharp gaze in the mirror.

Was he truly afraid...

Afraid of a boring and meaningless school life?

Ryuen didn't know.

But he knew that Prince Ganlongdao would no longer play along with him.

All that remained was a deep sense of unwillingness in his heart...

"Damn it."

Ryuen said coldly:

"Who gave you permission to run away on your own... Ganlongdao!"