Suddenly, the dark goblin beside Manu was already trembling as if sifting chaff.
Manu turned back in displeasure and saw the dark goblin shakily pointing ahead, saying in a quavering voice, "M-Master, are you... talking about this lord?"
Manu shuddered all over. Only then did he realize that every slave and caravan member on the ground had gone weak in the knees.
In the sky, some colossal thing seemed to be casting an enormous shadow over the ground.
Trembling from head to toe, Manu slowly raised his head.
Hovering in midair before him was a massive dark-red dragon.
The dragon lightly flapped its wings and slowly descended, finally stopping not far in front of Manu.
Manu could even smell the bloody stench and sulfurous odor wafting from the huge red dragon's body.
Manu began trembling even harder. He bowed with his shaking body, his legs gave way, and he dropped to his knees atop the snail beast of burden's head.
Quivering, he said, "M-My lord, I am a Yugoloth. I am Manu. Is there anything I can do for you, my lord?"
Manu cowered so badly that his head was nearly pressed against the snail beast of burden's brow, cold sweat streaming from his body.
The entire caravan was silent as death. Not only did the caravan members not dare make a sound, even the slaves in the cages—who had been clamoring nonstop along the way—were now as silent as cicadas in winter, each one behaving with absolute obedience.
A scorching gust blew down. It was the dragon's breath.
"Manu, raise your head," Huo Ling said.
Hearing that calm voice from above, Manu nearly died of fright.
Manu trembled as he raised his head, forcing out what he thought was a smile.
Seeing the constipated-looking smile on his face, Huo