Do Not Be Lost, Child

Black Death Dragon chuckled softly, his laughter like mountains collapsing in primordial times, rumbling through the void. It was ancient and weighty, without the slightest malice, yet carrying a trace of compassion.

The laughter did not fade into the darkness. Instead, it turned into layer upon layer of invisible ripples, gently brushing across Zhong Shenxiu's awareness.

Zhong Shenxiu's taut mind relaxed slightly in response to that laughter, but he still did not let down his guard. His awareness condensed in the darkness, like a young beast curled inside its shell, cautiously studying the outside.

Black Death Dragon's deep blue dragon eyes shifted slightly, his gaze falling upon the place where Zhong Shenxiu's awareness resided. His voice rang out again, low and slow, as if guiding a lost child.

"When you first entered this darkness, you were afraid of me, weren't you?"

Zhong Shenxiu's breath caught slightly. He did not answer, but Black Death Dragon clearly did not need one.

"My strength, my position, my power made you afraid. You feared that I would attack you as I had in the Dream Trial. You feared that I still stood against you. You feared that this darkness would swallow you completely."

There was no mockery or reproach in Black Death Dragon's voice, only a calm statement of fact.

Zhong Shenxiu remained silent. He had indeed considered this question, but he had never found an answer. Countless times, he had died beneath Black Death Dragon's power, and countless times, he had been reborn in the darkness.

Those memories were branded deep into his soul. Even after becoming the Lord of the Dragon Fighting Plane, he could not completely let go of his vigilance toward Black Death Dragon.

Black Death Dragon did not wait for his reply. His voice rose again, this time with