Re: In My Bloody Hit Novel - Chapter 623

Chapter 623: Dragon’s Sacred Ground
Manu’s side smile deepened, a glint of calculated intent shining in his eyes. He spoke with deliberate ease, his words slicing through the tense atmosphere like a blade.

“What I seek, Patriarch, is simple: ‘Draco Mortem.’ Specifically, the remains of those who succumbed to the Draco Venenum.”

The moment the words left his lips, the chamber erupted into chaos. Dragons perched on ledges surrounding the skull roared in outrage, their booming voices shaking the very ground beneath Manu’s feet.

“Blasphemy!” one bellowed, its golden scales gleaming with rage.

“This is sacrilege! He defiles our dead with his audacity!” another hissed, its massive wings unfurling in agitation.

“Take his head! He must pay for this insult!” a younger dragon screamed, its claws scraping against the rocky walls.

Manu remained still, his expression unchanged. He had expected this reaction. He understood their outrage—after all, the dragons’ dead held profound cultural and spiritual significance.

To dragons, death was not the end but a sacred transition. The remains of fallen dragons, whether slain in battle or passing naturally, were revered. Their bodies were consumed by the living, an act believed to transfer their fate, power, and essence to the next generation. Larger dragons, particularly those of immense strength, had their bones repurposed into homes, armor, or relics—eternal symbols of their legacy.

It was considered the greatest honor to die in a place where their family could find their body, ensuring that their essence lived on through their kin. Dragons prayed for such a death, believing it a mark of divine favor.

But those who fell to Draco Venenum had no such honor. The disease, a scourge that threatened future generations, rendered their remains unfit for consumption. To preserve the safety of the living, their bodies were quarantined in a graveyard, a desolate place filled with hopes that one day, when a cure was found, their essence could be reclaimed.

Manu’s request struck at the very core of these beliefs.

The Patriarch’s eyes, once half-closed and drowsy, snapped open. A guttural growl rumbled from deep within its throat, silencing the roaring crowd. The vibrations from the growl reverberated through the chamber, compelling the dragons to lower their heads in deference.

“Manu Madayaki,” the Patriarch intoned, its voice a low thunder. “You ask too much of us. What you seek is not just the remains of our fallen but a part of our soul, our legacy. You tread on sacred ground.”

Manu’s smirk grew sharper, his tone laced with derision. “And yet, you are dying. Each day, your numbers dwindle. The great dragons, once the apex of this world, now struggle to keep their heads above the tide of history. Refuse me if you must, but know this—your extinction is inevitable. When that day comes, I will come for your corpses anyway. It is only a matter of time.”

The Patriarch’s massive eyes narrowed, their golden light dimming briefly. The dragon’s lips curled slightly, revealing a hint of fangs, but it did not respond immediately. The weight of Manu’s words hung heavy in the air.

Finally, the Patriarch shook its head, the movement slow and deliberate. “Very well. You shall have what you seek.” Its voice was heavy with reluctant resignation.

The dragons complained at their patriarch’s decision, but his words were final, and a thundering growl shut them up.

Manu’s side smirk returned, satisfaction gleaming in his gaze. He had anticipated this outcome. The Patriarch had no choice, after all. Thousands of years of suffering under Draco Venenum had eroded even the proudest bloodlines.

Manu knew what the dragons would never admit: the disease was evolving, spreading its vile touch even to the royal bloodlines that once claimed immunity.

And rhe royals, desperate to maintain their facade of superiority, had concealed this truth. Hierarchy was the backbone of their society, and the revelation that even their so-called “divine lineage” was not immune would shatter their carefully maintained order.

“Wise choice, Patriarch,” Manu said coolly, turning to leave. “Your secrecy…” he gave a wink, “and survival depend on it.”

As he walked away, the Patriarch growled low once more, watching Manu’s retreating form with simmering frustration.

In the shadows of the great skull, the dragons whispered among themselves, their fury barely contained. But Manu paid no mind. He had won this round, and he knew it.

“My daughter, will take you to our lifeblood. If and only if you keep your side of the deal, we shall keep ours…”

Manu followed the violet-core dragon through the winding passageways beneath the massive skull. This dragon was unlike the others—her emerald-green scales shimmered like freshly polished leaves under a gentle sun, and vines grew lazily across her back, trailing down her sides and blooming with small, luminescent flowers that pulsed faintly in the dim light. Her massive body moved with a deliberate sway, but there was an air of irritation about her, as though this task was beneath her.

She grunted as she led the way, her voice low and sharp. “Of all the tasks to assign me, guiding you is by far the most tedious.” She glanced back at him, her glowing violet eyes narrowing, perhaps hoping to provoke a reaction.

Manu smirked but said nothing, his silence as much a weapon as his power. The dragon huffed, her tail flicking in annoyance. Though she grumbled and tried to goad him, she did not cross any lines—she could sense the immense strength emanating from him. In this world, power dictated respect, and Manu carried an aura that demanded it, no matter how begrudgingly given.

As they descended deeper into the nest, Manu noticed a surprising shift in the atmosphere. The further they went, the brighter and more vibrant the surroundings became. The slightly oppressive darkness of the upper levels gave way to a radiant glow, the walls now pulsating with a much brighter yet softer golden light, as if alive.

They soon emerged into a vast chamber unlike anything seen before. At the heart of this cavern was a colossal trunk, its bark iridescent and shimmering with every hue of green and gold imaginable. It rose from the ground like an ancient monolith and extended upward through the ceiling, connecting the deeper levels to those above. The trunk exuded an otherworldly warmth, a comforting hum that resonated deep in Manu’s chest.

“This, outsider, is the Mother Tree,” the dragon said, her tone losing some of its edge, replaced with a hint of reverence. “The lifeblood of all regular dragons. It connects every level of our nest, nurturing our kind from birth until death.”

The trunk branched out as they descended further, its roots spreading like veins across the floor and ceiling. At the lowest level, the chamber opened into a breathtaking expanse. Here, the trunk’s roots transformed into massive, transparent orbs, each as large as a house. They glowed faintly, casting soft, colorful lights across the chamber, illuminating every crevice with a serene brilliance.

Inside these orbs were dragons, still growing, their forms curled within the liquid-like substance that filled the spheres. Their translucent shells allowed Manu to see the details of their shimmering scales, their forming wings, and even the faint rise and fall of their chests. Some of the dragons were tiny, barely the size of a human hand, while others had already grown to the size of horses, their wings twitching as though they dreamed of flight.

“This is the Mother Womb,” the dragon guide explained, her voice quieter now, touched with pride. “Here, all regular dragons are born and nurtured. It is sacred to our kind—its evidence to the strength and unity of our race. Each orb is a vessel of life, a continuation of our legacy.”

The air in the chamber was warm and fragrant, filled with the scent of blooming flowers and a faint tang of mineral-rich earth. Manu could hear the faint hum of energy, a gentle pulse that seemed to synchronize with the light of the orbs. The space felt alive, ancient, and deeply magical.

Manu paused to take it all in. His gaze lingered on the orbs, and his smirk softened ever so slightly. “A beautiful sight, no doubt,” he said, his voice low, carrying both admiration and intrigue.

The violet-core dragon turned to him, her expression unreadable, though her glowing eyes betrayed a flicker of unease. She had sensed it—the calculating edge behind his words, the way his gaze seemed to measure the worth of what lay before him.

“Do not forget, outsider,” she said, her tone sharpening again. “This is sacred ground. Tread carefully.”

Manu gave a faint chuckle but said nothing more, allowing the chamber’s brilliance to speak for itself. After all, with all its beauty. He had already located its fault…

(Author’s note: the description for this place had to be very detailed, I really hope I did it justice. Because, the pride and glory of this race had to be shown in all its light. Besides, I wanted manu’s insult if their kind to be closely observed. After all, he is from a greater world.)