Dark green blood splattered across the ground, even spraying onto the face of the struggling Ettercap pinned under the dragon's claw.
The creatures shuddered violently and dared not move.
"You have two choices: submit to my rule!"
"Or become a pile of minced flesh!"
The low, raspy voice, like rough paper being scraped, came from Su Nian's mouth in the draconic tongue. This higher language carried a certain universal resonance for magical beasts. Even if they couldn't fully understand the words, they could vaguely grasp the meaning.
Hearing Su Nian's words, the three Ettercaps immediately understood. They frantically nodded, clawing at the ground with such force that their sharp nails broke off.
"Master, I fear these Ettercaps won't truly submit. After all, they belong to the Neutral Evil alignment and may not follow your commands," Bolikri said, his gaze fixed on the Ettercaps lying on the ground like beaten dogs, their eyes still filled with malice.
"In that case, cut off their limbs and lock them in cages. Let them help us raise the giant spiders. Oh, and remove the organs that control the spiders—place them in their mandibles," Su Nian instructed. As he spoke, he lightly tapped Bolikri's canine head with his dragon claw, transmitting detailed information about Ettercap anatomy through their shared bloodline.
"Your greatness is as evident as the sun and moon!" Bolikri's eyes sparkled as he prostrated himself on the ground.
The stronger and more ruthless the black dragon, the deeper their reverence and awe.
At that moment, a grand will enveloped the entire world. Lines of golden text began to appear in Su Nian's mind. However, his kobold subordinates showed no reaction, clearly unable to see this information:
[The Game Begins]
[Note: All living beings in this world will be partially digitized.]
[Creatures in this world will gradually level up by hunting Chosen Ones.]
[Chosen Ones will be deployed in all novice villages across the Material Plane.]
[World quests generating... Novice villages generating... Countdown to the arrival of the Chosen Ones: 3 days.]
...
"Anna, did you see anything?" Su Nian pondered for a moment before turning to the obedient Anna perched on his back, testingly asking.
"Nope~ Mr. Dragon, did something happen?" Anna tilted her head, her large, watery peach blossom eyes curiously gazing at the black dragon. She reached out her soft little hands, attempting to hug the dragon's head, but her arms were too short and ultimately failed.
A golden light flashed across all living beings on the continent. Su Nian noticed that Anna now had something new visible to him—a familiar green health bar.
Five hundred HP, of which 450 were grayed out and entwined with crimson thorns. The remaining 50 HP was not full and was slowly ticking down, dropping by another point as he watched.
Although Anna's information had previously been displayed in a systematized manner, this was different.
The essence had fundamentally changed.
Before the digitization began, he hadn't thought much about it. But now, seeing Anna on his back and the kobolds around him with health bars over their heads, he couldn't suppress his anger and his deep pity for Anna.
Who was toying with life?!
Had this world truly been turned into a game?
But it was real.
Why?
Flames of anger smoldered in Su Nian's dragon eyes. His hostility toward the players and the entities behind them had reached its peak.
"Anna, you..."
"What's wrong, Mr. Dragon? You seem upset," Anna frowned slightly, climbing out of her seat. Her body was still weak, and even this small movement caused a fine layer of cold sweat to form on her forehead.
She gently hugged Su Nian's head, her expression full of concern and tenderness. Pressing her small face against his hard, scaly cheek, she comforted him:
"Mr. Dragon, please don't be upset. Anna will always stay by your side."
[Until the day Anna dies, she will...]
"..."
"Nothing. Thank you, Anna. I feel much better now."
"I just thought of something unpleasant."
Su Nian forced a smile, though it appeared more menacing than reassuring. However, Anna could sense his genuine emotions, so she wasn't afraid.
"Unpleasant? Whenever you feel like talking about it, Anna will always be here to listen."
Anna smiled softly, her dimples like cups of sweet wine, brewing an adorable charm that made Su Nian feel slightly intoxicated.
"My name is Su Nian. From now on, call me Su Nian. Su Nian... Su Nian Wotru Paturnach."
"Alright~ Hehe, though Anna may look small, she's actually an adult. But you must be older than Anna, so... so..."
Anna's face turned shy, her snow-white cheeks flushed with red, the blush extending down her slender neck. Her small ears twitched as she lowered her head, fidgeting with her fingers, and stammered:
"Can Anna call you Brother Su Nian? Or just... Brother?"
"Of course."
"Then... then... Brother Su Nian?"
Anna peeked up at Su Nian, her eyes sparkling with joy.
"Mm, I'm here."
"Hehe, Bro... Brother~"
"Brother~ Brother~ Brother~"
Anna's soft, sweet voice echoed joyfully in the spacious cave. She was delighted to have found a family member again.
But Bolikri and the other kobolds remained silent.
They didn't know why, but they felt a vague discomfort. They hadn't eaten anything before coming to the mine, yet they felt a bloated sensation in their stomachs.
"Hiss... hiss..."
The Ettercaps beneath Su Nian's claw continued to struggle weakly. They had no idea what was happening, but if the pressure continued, they wouldn't survive much longer.
...
The Ettercaps had no interest in the silver mine.
They had occupied this lair simply because it was spacious, comfortable, and well-furnished by the previous kobold tribe. The surrounding environment suited their needs, and kobolds were easy to bully—nothing more.
Thus, the silver mine remained intact, earning Su Nian over a thousand system points. This should have been a great harvest, but Su Nian was far from pleased. Instead, he was filled with tension and gravity.
The Chosen Ones, or so-called players, would arrive in three days.
Perhaps he was the only native in this world aware of this, the only one who realized the world had been partially digitized and turned into a game.
He suspected this was related to his system.
Summoned from Earth to this world, occupying the body of a black dragon, becoming such a unique existence—it must hold extraordinary significance.
There was no time to remain idle.
Seated on a high platform in the hall's depths—once a sacred site where the kobold chieftain worshipped their god, Kurtulmak—Su Nian had turned it into his temporary throne.
Fixing his gaze on Bolikri, the kobold chieftain, he spoke with a serious tone:
"Tell me everything you know about the surrounding magical creatures and factions. Create a simple map. I need to consolidate them all."