The Dragon Lord System
DLS - 168

Rufus just resignedly closed his eyes, he was ready to receive a fist from the guard which of course hit his face to become an evelyn shield.

However, when a few seconds passed and the punch never came, Rufus felt confused.

His eyes were still closed, but when he felt no pain, he opened them slowly.

To his bewilderment, the guard man who was originally ready to attack now looked transfixed and pale, as if he saw something terrible behind the rufus' body.

As Rufus closed his eyes, the panicked sounds of the two guards continued to echo in the dark prison cell.

They cried out trembling, terrified of the figure that had appeared near Rufus.

"Ma-creature a-what..i-that?" said one of the guards tremblingly as they looked at the terrifyingly large tall figure, his eyes sparkling red like blood, giving off an aura of death.

The large wings that loomed on his back added to the creepy impression.

"DEVIL?!!!" The other guard was frightened. Meanwhile, Rufus opened his eyes and saw that the two guards were fixated and unable to move when he saw the mysterious figure behind him.

Then, quickly and mercilessly, Calliga activated the [Death] skill.

This mysterious figure, who was originally like a demon, launched a terrifying magical attack.

The bodies of the two guards suddenly fell lifelessly, while their heart ruptured exploding due to the deadly effects of Calliga's [Death] skill.

They were killed on the spot, leaving behind a prison cell full of tension and death.

Calliga decided firmly to end the lives of the two guard men, furious at their depraved behavior.

As he used the [Reality Phasing] skill to infiltrate the underground, he witnessed clearly the ruthless actions of the two guards who were trying to injure the pregnant woman, Evelyn.

For Calliga, their actions do not deserve to be left.

However, when Rufus saw the condition of the two guards who were lifeless, he was confused and could not understand what was happening.

As if, they had fallen and lost consciousness. His eyes looked at the bodies of those lying on the floor with astonished faces.

"What happened to those two?" murmured Rufus, frowning. "Did they drink mostly intoxicated?" he thought, trying to find a logical explanation for this strange situation.

There were no sounds or signs of life from the two guards.

They simply lie on the floor, dead, becoming silent witnesses of a sinister entity that has taken their lives.

Rufus turned to approach Evelyn who was still suffering, but his gaze was inescapable from Calliga's sinister figure.

In his panic, he shouted the word "Devil!" trembling and prostratingly pray to the goddess Artemis, hoping that she will drive away this monstrous entity.

However, her prayers were not working, and Calliga was still standing before her. Frightened and too struck by fear, Rufus felt his heart pounding hard.

A deep fear of Calliga's presence overcame all her prayers. Eventually, Rufus collapsed and fell unconscious to the floor, his body suffocated by an overwhelming fear.

Inside the dreary dungeon cell, the only thing there was was silence, except for the groans of suffering still heard from Evelyn.

Rufus lay unconscious, while the agonizing groans from Evelyn continued to echo inside the dark cell.

Calliga, though fearsome in her appearance and reputation, is concerned about the plight of the large pregnant woman.

"Why did he suddenly faint? Oh, well what matters is that he's fine" muttered Calliga as he watched the still unconscious Rufus.

However, her priority was Evelyn who was still suffering from excruciating pain. Calliga stepped closer to the woman.

The screams of pain still filled the cells. Evelyn, in pain, could not see Calliga's frightening figure. Calliga crouched down beside him and said magic words.

"[Divine Heal]," muttered Calliga, activating his healing powers. Gently, he touched Evelyn's body that was shaking from the pain.

A golden radiance emerged from her palm as she took care of the woman, trying to ease the pain that had engulfed Evelyn.

Evelyn, who was struggling with unbearable pain, suddenly felt that there was a big hand holding her.

However, she knew it was not Rufus' hand; her skin was rough and hard, unlike her husband's soft hand. Evelyn felt confused, too weak to open her eyes and understand what was going on.

Although unable to understand the meaning of the voice, Evelyn felt that the touch of the big hand was relieving the pain that haunted her entire body. For Evelyn, the pain disappeared instantly, and she felt her body become so light and healthy.

When Evelyn's eyes finally opened, she stared back at the dark cell that was already like home to her, but the pain had gone.

He immediately looked for Rufus, but he was surprised by the sight at his side. Calliga, in an appearance so sinister like a demon, crouched down nearby.

His burning eyes with a bright red color, and a large and strong body, further added to the terrifying impression, like a demon.

Evelyn could only look at Calliga questioningly and fearfully, not knowing what was going on and who exactly the creepy figure was.

"Are you okay?" calliga asked Evelyn, but her voice sounded so heavy it was scary, making Evelyn's heart beat and break out in a cold sweat.

This mysterious figure felt like a demon ready to snatch away his soul. Too afraid to respond, Evelyn fainted like Rufus, unable to face her fears anymore.

"Why do they look like ghosts when they see me?" calliga murmured, questioning the strange reaction of the two prisoners he had just rescued.

As it turns out, Calliga has yet to realize how terrifying her appearance as a demon is, which causes horror in Evelyn and Rufus.

Calliga, who was increasingly confused to see the two humans he saved actually felt fear when he saw it, finally realized something.

He patted his rough eel that touched the long horns that adorned his head.

**Cloth!**

"This fool of me! I just remembered I'm no longer human but a creepy figure to humans!" calliga murmured with disappointment towards himself.

"Rubber, it's appropriate that they all get scared and faint when they see me. This figure of mine must be frightening to humans, now I am just a terrible monster," he added in a deep tone of sadness.

Calliga who was once a human has forgotten herself along with her evolution into a dragon for the past three years.

He was no longer a weak man, but a strong dragon who was honored as a god by his subordinates.

However, this incident reminded him of the fear and rejection he might generate among the races he lived long ago.

"3 Years have passed since I lived as a dragon no longer human," muttered Calliga in a quiet room, where four humans lay unconscious on the floor.

Calliga stared at her hard hands and fingers, complete with colorful scales. He pondered inwardly, "I'm no longer human now. Should I forget my old self as a weak man, Stevan Harlow?"

This question kept bothering him, how was his human part still so attached to him in this powerful dragon form.

However, Calliga is aware that he has committed himself to becoming a powerful ruler, and that requires great sacrifice and change in him.

"I would rather give up my old human identity. I am no longer a weak man named Stevan Harlow, I am Calliga, a ruler," Calliga decided with a strong determination in him.

"Yes! Go, Calliga!" he said excitedly while slapping his own cheek.

His decision has been taken, and he will not be lulled by old memories.

With renewed determination, Calliga returns to his lair underground, bringing along Ruffus and Evelyn who are still unconscious.

He knew that they would need treatment, and underground that was the best place for them.

Before leaving her hiding place, Calliga raised her hand to the dark ceiling like an iron bars tunnel flanking them.

Using his destructive skill, he created a huge hole towards the surface.

Duars!

Duars!

A violent explosion rang out as the creation of a huge hole that emitted a bright light, illuminating the basement.

The day has entered a beautiful twilight. Calliga, while carefully holding Evelyn, who he was carrying, and Rufus who was held only through his priest clothes, spread out both pairs of wings.

Steadily, he jumped up and flew out through the giant hole he had created, bringing the two humans towards his world hidden within the dungeon.