A swarm of countless dragons danced in the sky like locusts, obscuring the sun and moon, numbering no less than five hundred. Even from a thousand meters away, the earth-shattering roars and bellows could be heard. Seeing this sight, Lin Luo and the others' faces immediately turned ashen, and almost instinctively, they quickened their pace, following closely behind Rin and Lily as they fled forward rapidly.

Among those present, Lily possessed the greatest speed; despite carrying two dragon eggs, her gait remained unchanged, keeping her at the very front. Second was the source of all evil, Rin Tohsaka; one couldn't tell what kind of sorcery she had cast upon herself, or perhaps driven by the allure of gems and life itself, she unleashed a wild, demonic instinct, managing to keep pace right behind Lily.

Not far behind them were Nero, Evangeline, and Mikoto, running together. Nero's speed was only slightly inferior to Lily's, and as a high-level Spirit-class powerhouse, Evangeline certainly couldn't be slow. As for Mikoto, if her speed had been slow before, now that she could elementalize, she could nearly match Lin Luo's teleportation. The only reason she couldn't utilize her full speed was because she had only just learned this power and hadn't achieved complete mastery and control; thus, she could only manage to keep pace with Nero and Evan shoulder-to-shoulder.

Bringing up the rear were Lin Luo and Silver Crow. Originally, with Lin Luo's abilities, even in his weakened state, if he had truly needed to run, he could have comfortably surpassed Lily. The issue was that among them were two who couldn't run effectively: Le* and Misaka.

One was a weapon-race girl who was only a gentle maiden when not integrated, and the other was a psychic with a physical combat rating of only 5. Asking the two of them to perform a physically demanding task like running was out of the question.

So, the moment he realized the situation, Lin Luo immediately opened the Fourth Dimension and, without a word, whisked the two inside, before quickly catching up to the main group's tracks.

As a side note, Silver Crow was also capable of high-speed instantaneous movement; the pair would disappear and reappear rhythmically.

"Rin, Lily, you two hooligans, look at the mess you've made!" Having just caught up to the group, Lin Luo couldn't help but scold the two girls running at the front.

"Truly indiscreet, these two fools actually provoked the Dragon Clan. Even I wouldn't dare do something like that casually," Nero commented, shaking her head as she ran, unsure whether it was commentary or something else.

Evangeline frowned and added, "The worst part is, they even stole dragon eggs! You know how low the Dragon Clan's fertility rate is; stealing their young is far more serious than taking their lives."

"This is just too much trouble. We haven't even had dinner yet. You two better give me a thorough explanation later," even Mikoto couldn't help but complain, her characteristic bili bili sound buzzing continuously.

"Two fools, causing so much trouble for Father," Silver Crow chimed in, kicking them while they were down.

For a moment, Rin and Lily became the targets of everyone's condemnation.

"..." Rin and Lily exchanged an awkward glance, seeming to realize they had indeed done wrong. They didn't offer any rebuttal, only running even faster.

Seeing this, Lin Luo couldn't help but feel frustrated. It seemed he had been too indulgent with them; he would definitely need to find time to properly discipline them later... provided they all survived this ordeal first.

Thinking this, Lin Luo couldn't help but glance backward again, feeling the chances of survival were slim... because the dragons pursuing them now were not the same four Evangeline had slain recently. If he remembered correctly, this should be the same group they saw on their very first day in this world.

Lin Luo took only a cursory glance before despair washed over him. Among the five hundred-plus giant dragons, at least fifty were Rule-level powerhouses, and almost half of those were high-level Spirit-class. That wasn't even counting the most despair-inducing fact: the closest few among them included a Dark Dragon, three Golden Dragons, a Four-Clawed White Dragon, a Void Shadow Dragon, and the Eastern Divine Dragon—the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon—which seemed like the supreme being of the Dragon Clan.

Any single one of these five was far superior to the other Rule-level dragons. Forget his current strength; even if his power returned to its peak, he wouldn't have a hundred percent chance of winning a one-on-one confrontation.

Especially the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, which only appeared in Eastern mythology; just a single look at it inspired an irresistible feeling in his heart. He estimated that even if he and Evangeline joined forces, they might not emerge victorious.

To be hunted by such a pack of dragons, surviving would truly be defying heaven.

And so, one group fled at the front while the other group of dragons pursued from behind. Both sides seemed to maintain a similar speed, and after over half an hour, the initial distance between them remained unchanged.

"There's a forest over there, run that way quickly!" Just then, Evangeline's voice cut through. She pointed toward a massive forest on the right, its trees reaching twenty meters high, and directed her words to Rin and Lily at the front. "The Dragon Clan's speed is slightly faster than ours, and their stamina far surpasses ours. On open ground, we absolutely cannot shake them off, but it's different in a forest. Their massive size, while an advantage, is also the only weakness we can exploit. By using the terrain of the forest to hinder them, we might be able to lose them."

Evangeline had dealt with dragons during her time in the magic world, making her the most knowledgeable about them in the group. Although the dragons of this world were certainly different beings from those in her former one, their habits should not differ significantly.

Thus, following her suggestion, the group immediately shifted course slightly toward the forest on the right.

However, less than half a minute after they ran into the woods, a world-shaking explosion erupted from behind them.

Everyone instinctively looked back. They saw the few giant dragons at the very front opening their massive maws, chanting strange, bizarre incantations. In an instant, the forest directly behind them was utterly annihilated... a collective barrage of Draconic Magic.

Seeing this, the group felt a chill run down their spines.

If they had held onto a sliver of hope before, now that hope was completely extinguished. Absolute terror needed no explanation. In terms of both individual and collective strength, the Dragon Clan far surpassed them; fighting was absolutely out of the question.

"Keep running. At this point, there's no other way," Lin Luo said gravely, observing the horrified expressions on the faces of those beside him.

Without needing Lin Luo’s reminder, everyone exerted every ounce of strength they possessed to sprint forward.

"Those dragons just want their eggs and treasure back, right? If we give them back, maybe they'll stop chasing us?" After a while, Mikoto's eyes suddenly lit up, and she said naively, "If we return them, perhaps they'll give up the pursuit?"

Indeed, the reason the Dragon Clan was hunting them was because Rin and Lily had stolen their treasure and dragon eggs. The treasure might have been secondary, but the eggs were something the dragons absolutely had to retrieve. Lin Luo had considered this, but...

"Impossible," Lin Luo shook his head and stated gravely. "Even if we respectfully return the dragon eggs and treasure right now, they won't stop hunting us."

"Why?" Mikoto couldn't help but ask.

"Mikoto, if someone broke into your home and stole your beloved Guria, and upon being discovered and chased, realizing escape was impossible, they decided to return it to you—what would you do?" Lin Luo countered with a question.

"Even if they gave it back, I'd still teach them a harsh lesson... ah," Mikoto quickly responded, but halfway through, she understood.

"There you have it. If even humans act this way, how much more so the proud Dragon Clan? In their eyes, they are the noblest race in this world; how could they let a thief who dared scheme against them go unpunished?" Evangeline picked up the explanation.

"Then we are completely helpless?" Silver Crow asked in a low voice. Facing the terrifying Dragon Clan, even she couldn't remain composed.

"Not entirely. At least the dragon eggs are still in our hands, which serves a certain purpose," Lin Luo shook his head, moving as he explained. "You all saw the power of that Draconic Magic just now. If they unleashed their full destructive power on us, we’d be dead or severely wounded, but they didn't. They only cut off our retreat path and haven't dared to press too closely, maintaining the same distance—all because they are cautious about the dragon eggs."

"They are afraid that harming us might cause us to destroy the eggs in mutual destruction, right? I didn't realize these giant reptiles were quite intelligent," Nero remarked.

Evangeline gave a cold laugh. "Don't assume the Dragon Clan is simple-minded just because they are physically robust. In fact, their intellect is no less than that of humans; it's just that..."

Her words paused, and Lin Luo interjected, "It's just that humans are too weak relative to the Dragon Clan, so they never needed to utilize their wisdom. It's like how we humans deal with ants—one stomp is enough... But this is troublesome. If we keep running like this, our stamina won't hold out."

Speaking of which, Lin Luo was worried. His strength hadn't recovered yet, and this half-hour run had already left him tired. Looking at the others, apart from the non-humans, Mikoto and Rin were already panting heavily, clearly unable to last much longer.

Seeing this, Evangeline stated gravely, "They probably intend to run us to exhaustion. By the time we lack the strength even to destroy the eggs, they can strike us down in one go."

"That is certainly a possibility..." Lin Luo frowned, then declared, "If that's the case, then we might as well stop."

"Stop?"

"Father?"

Hearing this, everyone was stunned. Mikoto and Silver Crow cried out in disbelief, staring at him.

"That's actually a good idea," Evangeline, however, smiled and nodded. "Since the Dragon Clan fears for the safety of the eggs and doesn't dare to attack rashly, it means whether we run or not makes little difference. Instead of wasting stamina pointlessly, we might as well rest and perhaps devise a better plan."

Upon hearing this, the others understood immediately. Following Lin Luo's signal, they stopped on a patch of relatively open grass.

Just as Lin Luo and Evangeline predicted, as soon as they halted, the pursuing dragon horde also stopped chasing. They didn't even surround the group, merely circling in the air about a thousand meters away.

"Indeed, these two dragon eggs are extraordinarily significant to them," Lin Luo said with a slight sense of relief upon seeing this.

"Human, have you given up on fleeing for your lives?" Just then, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, shimmering with golden light, pushed past the others and stopped in the air about five hundred meters away, looking down. Its voice resonated like a muffled clap of thunder.

It was a true Eastern Divine Dragon, about 150 meters long, wingless, possessing four limbs, each ending in five claws, coiled in the air. Compared to some of the Western dragons behind it, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon exuded greater majesty, reigning as a king over the world.

Facing such a supreme divine dragon for the first time, Lin Luo was admittedly excited, but their current opposing stances put immense pressure on him. What surprised him even more was that the creature could speak human language?

However, he quickly realized it wasn't that the dragon spoke human language, but that he could understand the Dragon language. Since being possessed by the Book of Contracts, one of the greatest benefits was his mastery of any language. Even if he himself couldn't speak it, or didn't even know that language existed, the moment he heard it, his mind would naturally translate it. When communicating back, the Chinese he spoke would be rendered into the language the other party could understand.

Though it seemed incredible, upon reflection, it was entirely logical. After all, as a Walker, one had to traverse different worlds, and the languages of most worlds differed. Even human societies within the same world had hundreds of languages. If basic communication wasn't possible, how could contracts be formed?

"Esteemed Dragon Brother, can we perhaps strike a bargain?" Since communication was possible, Lin Luo wouldn't waste the opportunity. He looked up at the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon nearby and said, "That... we will return the dragon eggs and all the treasure to you. I will also apologize on behalf of them. How about we call it even on past grievances?" Given the immense gap in power, Lin Luo adopted the lowest possible posture.

"Call it even? Hmph. Aren't you afraid I'll go back on my word later?" The Five-Clawed Golden Dragon let out a cold snort, its tone laced with mockery.

"I believe the Dragon Clan are noble beings, and I especially believe that your supreme Five-Clawed Golden Dragon will absolutely keep his word," Lin Luo said with a smile. He didn't truly believe it but used words to pressure the dragon. Since the Dragon Clan prided itself on arrogance, once such a promise was made, they generally wouldn't go back on it, as they weren't as cunning as humans.

Furthermore, as the supreme being of the Dragon Clan, the ultimate symbol of Eastern Divine Dragons, if the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon agreed to his request, Lin Luo felt he could place some measure of faith in it.

"Hmm, that's a very reasonable thing to say. You are much better than those two little human thieves," the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon slightly lowered its massive head. This remark made Rin and Lily blush deeply, especially Lily, who gritted her teeth in anger. She was the King of Perfection, yet she was being called a thief now. If she hadn't been in the wrong first, she would have rushed forward to slay the dragon.

Lin Luo's heart leaped with joy upon hearing the first part of its comment, but—

"However, I do not agree that those who desecrate my Dragon Clan should go unpunished, especially the thieves who stole my two children—they absolutely cannot be let go!" The thundering voice burst from the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon's mouth, filled with killing intent.

Tsk, they don't even deign to lie... Lin Luo felt a headache coming on. What mixed his joy and sorrow was the realization that the two dragon eggs actually belonged to the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon.

Since they were the offspring of the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, the Dragon Clan's extreme caution was understandable. With these two trump cards in hand, their immediate lives were safe, but precisely because these cards were so valuable, the Dragon Clan would never let them off the hook.

But thinking back, Rin and Lily, those troublemakers, actually managed to steal the princes or princesses of the Dragon Clan. You really are damn capable... Lin Luo couldn't help but feel a sliver of admiration. After all, not just anyone could pull that off.

"Then consider it a favor I owe the Dragon Clan. In the future, should your Clan have any need, I will exert every effort to assist," setting aside his internal musings, Lin Luo continued to try and persuade the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon.

"The noble Dragon Clan never needs the help of humans," but the other party clearly wasn't swayed and rejected him unceremoniously.

After that, no matter what Lin Luo said, the dragon refused to accept anything, only demanding that Lin Luo and the others quickly release the hostages and prepare their necks to await punishment... Of course, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon wouldn't use such modern phrasing, but the meaning was similar.

This left Lin Luo with no recourse. He turned back to consult with the girls, but after much discussion, continuing the stalemate seemed to be the only option.

During this period, Rin and Lily were very quiet, saying nothing, perhaps feeling ashamed for causing such trouble. Lin Luo and the others didn't press the blame further, as the situation was already past the point of no return.

About another half hour passed. Seeing that the sky was darkening, Lin Luo and his group prepared to move on. Just then, three shadows rapidly swept in from the distance. In just a few breaths, they arrived right in front of them.

"Lin Luo, what is all this..." Before the three newcomers could even finish speaking after stopping, they were paralyzed by the shocking scene before them, unable to utter a word as they stared at the dragon horde nearby.

"Mugino, SABER, and... Dead Master?" Lin Luo felt both surprise and joy, as two of them were Mugino Shizuri and Dark SABER. But when his gaze fell upon the third person, he froze. Undeniably, the twin-tailed girl holding a cannon in her left hand and a sword in her right was Dead Master, and the fact that she was with Mugino and the others meant...

"Ding. Identity verification complete. Current target: Dead Master, host of the thirty-fifth World Heart—The Earth Heart."

"Ding. Divine War objective complete. Phase one of the Divine War concludes. Victor: Lin Luo, owner of the Book of Contracts."

"Ding. World Core contact achieved. Victor Lin Luo is now the Master of the current world."

A string of notification sounds left Lin Luo too stunned to react.

At that very moment, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon in the distance suddenly let out another muffled sound. This time, however, the killing intent in its tone had lessened, replaced by surprise. "Human, are you the King of the World?"