Chương 15: Give Me a Song's Time

What happened?

That red dragon actually learned shapeshifting!

This... fucking!

We have no choice but to fight to the death!

After a brief moment of panic, Richard regained his fighting spirit.

I'm so close to success, and now you want me to face death? Are you kidding me!

Death cannot catch the bard!

Richard didn't speak to Zoya. He suddenly stood up and unleashed a burst of laughter!

Using his expertise in battlefield spellcasting, he reached out his free hand halfway through the spell, grabbed a dwarven short axe beside him—which he had found in the blacksmith's shop—and swung it forcefully, hurling it at Zoya's head!

Richard felt that his two-hit combo was already incredibly swift.

But reality soon slapped him in the face.

The Maniacal Laughter Technique had no effect on Zoya, just like a drop of water falling into a pan of oil.

And that dwarf short axe...

Well, Zoya simply smiled and extended two fingers, pinching the axe blade and bringing it to a stop right in front of her.

Richard's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

Is the difference really that big?

Come to think of it, although a dragon's strength will decrease after it transforms into human form, it still has no problem going toe-to-toe with a high-level warrior.

This is something he absolutely cannot defeat head-on right now.

Having clearly realized this, Richard became too lazy to continue testing him with harsh words and charm.

He casually threw the stone slab he was using as a plate at Zoya, then took off running and dashed out of the blacksmith shop through the back door.

Zoya tilted her head slightly, dodging the stone slab, a cruel smile appearing on her lips.

To be honest, this human's mentality is really good.

Unfortunately, your struggles are futile.

An insect will only ever be an insect!

The insect's fate was already sealed!

Instead of going through the back door to chase after Richard, Zoya waited in place for about ten seconds before turning around and gently raising her pink fist.

Then, boom!

He punched right through the wall!

Then she emerged from the hole in the wall, took a shortcut, and came up behind Richard.

Richard:?

You evil dragon, you're destroying cultural relics, aren't you!

On behalf of the dwarves, I condemn you!

He immediately changed direction and ran into a narrower, more winding alley.

There are so many walls along this road that if you smash them all, even a giant dragon would be exhausted.

"Tch, all they know is such petty cleverness."

Zoya snorted, withdrew her small fist, quickened her pace, and caught up with Richard.

Not far away.

Richard pulled out the Soul Stone as he ran.

"Friend, do you have any other ideas?"

"Hmm... you probably can't find anywhere to sleep again, right?"

"Strictly speaking, it's not that they can't be found, it's just that once they fall asleep, there's a high probability they won't wake up again!"

Okay, okay, I got it. Let me think... Hey, I actually came up with an idea!

"Please speak!"

[Actually, after two lessons, you already have a basic understanding of the Requiem. All you need to do is practice it a little more. This process can take place in your dreams, or I can implant it directly into your subconscious.] However, this will take some time...

"How long will it take?"

One hour?

"Then I'd better think about what to write for the epitaph first. I've got it! Which do you think is better, 'Please enter text' or 'Oh my god, it's so dark down there... hehe, just kidding, I have dark vision'?"

"Okay, then half an hour, no less. Try to finish in half an hour, and then you'll be able to learn the Requiem!"

Half an hour...

Richard frowned.

Well, anyway, at least we have a goal to strive for.

How exactly can this be achieved?

From what I can see, the red dragon Zoya is clearly toying with me, like a well-fed cat playing with a mouse.

This is certainly infuriating.

But perhaps I can use this to my advantage...

Richard pondered for a moment, then turned around and ran straight towards the center of the underground city.

Zoya followed behind at a leisurely pace, raising her eyebrows slightly.

What is that human thinking?

Could it be that they only thought of running out through the front gate at this point?

Ha, what wishful thinking...

Okay, let's follow it and see what other tricks this little bug can pull.

And so, the dragon and the man, one chasing and one fleeing, soon arrived at the center of the underground city.

Richard saw the collapsed temple again, and inside, the treasures piled up like small mountains, still shining brightly even in the dim light.

How magnificent, how beautiful, yet how sinful!

Everything started because of them.

Their own fate was also changed because of them.

cut……

Faced with the treasure, Richard disdainfully raised his middle finger, and then the tension in his heart gradually subsided, as if he was no longer being chased by a red dragon, but by a snotty little girl riding a bicycle.

He calmly walked to the steps of the temple, sat down cross-legged, raised his head, and faced Zoya who had followed him.

This expression, however, piqued Zoya's curiosity.

She raised an eyebrow and asked, "Have you decided to accept your fate?"

Richard shrugged.

"I personally don't care, but if everything that happened here were a story from a book, then ending it here would definitely be criticized by readers as a bad ending."

"A glib and slippery insect."

Zoya approached slowly with a sinister grin.

I hate the look on your face right now.

"You don't actually think you can die peacefully, do you?"

"Ha, dream on. I'll torture you horribly, starting with breaking your legs..."

Richard suddenly interrupted, asking, "Which leg? The left, the right, or the middle one?"

Zoya:?

What do you mean? Are you saying you have a third leg hidden in between?

Are you born with a deformity?

This is the first time I've heard of something like this. Interesting. Looks like I'll have to pull down my pants and take a look later...

Richard, having successfully interrupted, smirked and regained control of the conversation.

"Alright, Zoya, great Zoya, I can tell you genuinely want to cause me pain, but honestly, don't you think it's shallow?"

"Superficial?" Zoya raised her voice slightly.

"Ha, I think you're just scared!"

"Oh, maybe."

Richard did not deny this, but then added:

"But the screams born of fear are not rhythmic."

"As a poet, I may lack power, but I absolutely understand music and stories."

"In the tavern, the highest and most applauded victories are not those that merely torture the enemy, but those that utterly destroy them—not just physically, but also mentally and spiritually."

To paraphrase a foreign sage, it's like killing someone by destroying their spirit.

"So Zoya, if your only goal is to torture me and then kill me, then your victory is shallow, low-class, and will not garner applause or respect."

Zoya pursed her lips.

The highest level of victory, the one that will draw the most applause? Destroying someone's spirit? Tsk, this is indeed a novel perspective she's never heard of before.

But it seems quite interesting.

But how do we do that...?

"Actually, you can do this very easily."

Richard seemed to have guessed Zoya's thoughts and continued to steer the conversation:

"To be honest, at this moment, after seeing your power and your treasures, my heart has been completely captivated by you."

"I am not begging for mercy. I know I am going to die, but as a poet, I am romantic by nature and love to express my feelings. So no matter what, I want to sing one more poem before I die to express my admiration."

"And this also means that you have completely destroyed my heart and beliefs, and seized the highest victory, just like those legendary emperors who created great achievements and made their enemies praise them."

Let your enemies praise you...

Oh.

Zoya raised her eyebrows.

She still felt that the humans in front of her were just trying to beg for mercy in a roundabout way.

But she admits that the idea really hit a nerve.

Since that's the case, giving it a try isn't out of the question.

If this human is truly impressed by her, then she will take the opportunity to enjoy this ultimate victory.

If this human just wants to beg for mercy...

Then, at the end of the psalm, just when the human thought his song had worked and he had a glimmer of hope, she cruelly inflicted torture, making him experience the pain of going from hope to despair!

Ha, as expected of the great evil dragon Zoya, she actually came up with such an wicked idea!

Zoya, hands on her hips and head held high, said to Richard with an air of haughtiness:

"Go ahead and sing, I give you permission~"