From Outcast to Overlord The Unyielding Heir (Leander Ashcroft) novel Chapter 445

"How dare you, you wretched human!" the black dragon bellowed, his sheer volume and rage causing the clouds to dissipate.

His reptilian gaze locked onto Leander, glaring at him furiously.

"How dare you covet my Dragon Core! Do you have a death wish?"

Honestly, it was expected of the dragon to get this angry. The Dragon Core was the source of his power. He had spent more than a century slowly refining it.

After all, he'd gone from a worm of a serpent to a massive Deepcoil Dragon that could split heaven and earth by refining that very core.

Any beast with dragon blood running in their veins was born with a Dragon Core. That same core was what fueled their strength. It was essentially their core. Still, it was important as it was also something that determined their place in the hierarchy.

To all beasts, their cores were akin to their lives. One might as well wait for death to claim them if they ever lost it.

Therefore, the fact that Leander was coveting his core was enough to trigger him.

Clara, who was standing behind Leander, looked lost and terrified.

She was fortunate to gain a black dragon's help once. However, all it took was for him to puff at her, and she was gone. This dragon was his sire! That meant that his cultivation was immense and far beyond her understanding.

She had no idea how strong this dragon was, but she knew that Leander might as well be spelling his doom by angering him.

Leander might have ended the Shadowrealm Sect and eliminated several Arbitration Office's Infernal Crown Transcendents, but this black dragon was a magical beast. That meant that Leander was sorely outmatched and outgunned when it came to physique and raw power.

After all, Leander was still human. His chances of winning against a beast like that were slim to none.

"Calm down," Leander said with a wave of his hand. He wasn't the least bit scared despite having the full force of the dragon's anger on him.

"I'm not saying that I want your Dragon Core. I just want something in it, specifically your Primordium."

"My Primordium?!" the black dragon snarled, his fury skyrocketing to greater heights.

"How's that any different from taking my Dragon Core?" he hissed.

Primordium was the one thing inside the Dragon Core that no beast would ever part with. If his Dragon Core was the battery, then Primordium was the energy fueling it. He needed Primordium to use his might. If he lost it, he would be losing his cultivation. He'd be back to square one.

"Of course, there's a difference!" Leander exclaimed.

Then, he enunciated each word carefully as he continued, "I just need to take 30 percent of your Primordium in order to forge my soul. Sure, you might not be as strong as you once were after losing a third of your Primordium, but you only need two decades to cultivate all of it back."

"Meanwhile, you'd also be gaining a Formshift Pill. You could transform into a human, leaving your beast form behind. Judging by your physique as a magical beast, you could easily achieve a cultivation beyond that of the Transcendent Realm."

"I'm sure you know what choice to make."

The black dragon fell silent upon hearing his proposal.

He couldn't deny that Leander's bargain was a good one.

Leander was right in saying that his cultivation might take a dip after losing a third of his Primordium, but that he'd be able to return to his prime after 20 years.

Deepcoil Dragons could live for more than two centuries. He was only in his first century, and in human terms, he was about middle-aged. To him, 20 years was but a blip.

Plus, he would be getting himself a Formshift Pill if he agreed to aid Leander. Once he had it, he'd be able to break through the Transcendent Realm. When he did, his lifespan would lengthen to more than just two centuries.

The condition Leander was offering was definitely tempting!

"Human, you do have a good point."

Leander raised his gaze to look at the dragon and said calmly, "So, do we have a deal?"

The black dragon went airborne as a flicker of cunning appeared in his eyes.

"Human, you were right on many accounts, and your deal sounds very tempting. However, you made a mistake."

"Is that so?" Leander asked, looking at the black dragon with one of his hands in his pocket.

The black dragon's eyes took on a murderous glint as his bloodlust encompassed the entire cave.

"I have another option aside from agreeing to your deal. I could kill you and take that Formshift Pill for myself!" he declared.

He'd already thought this through. Not only would he avoid losing his Primordium, but he'd also be gaining a Formshift Pill after killing Leander.

He was a beast, and he cared not for honor. All he knew was he wanted something, and he was going to get it. In their world, power meant everything. As the saying goes, "The strong eat, the weak are meat." The powerless were destined to be crushed.

Besides, those who had treasure would always have a target painted on their backs. Leander had a Formshift Pill, so that was enough for him to kill the human.

"Of course, you could also leave the Formshift Pill here. Who knows? I could be merciful enough to let you leave with your life."

However, his malicious eyes told a different story. He was already looking at Leander as though he were trapped prey.

Boom!

Trinity Strike Technique, Act Three—Earthshaker!

Boom!

The dragon fire split apart under Leander's technique before slamming back to the dragon.

Clang!

A metallic crash echoed in the air, followed by a dragon's tortured cries. Sure enough, the dragon had been launched into the mountain, causing the very earth to tremble.

The entire Aorinth Peaks' mountain range trembled under the black dragon's weight.

Two figures in black and red hovered in the air nearby. Those individuals were none other than Halia the Flame Goddess and Khaedor the God of Madness.

They were the fastest. Thus, they were also the first to arrive at the mountain range. Nevertheless, they had felt the presence of two terrifying forces clashing long before they got there.

Halia narrowed her eyes as she raised a hand and fired a beam into the stone wall, melting a huge tunnel straight into the heart of the mountain.

"Let's go!"

The two swiftly shot through. Soon, they arrived on the other side of the tunnel.

Yet, what greeted them made them freeze in their tracks.

A colossal black dragon was half-embedded in the mountain. There was a fist-shaped crater marking its flank.

"Is that… a Deepcoil Dragon?"

They were at a complete loss. That was because they were one of the cream of the crop in this world. Hence, they naturally knew what a Deepcoil Dragon was.

That was a magical beast that was capable of crushing an Infernal Crown Transcendent like a gnat. Yet, a beast like that had been smashed into the mountain with just a fist?

Their instincts screamed at them. They quickly snapped their heads upward, staring at the figure in astonishment.

They saw a white-clad young man with his black hair flowing freely in mid-air, his clothes fluttering.

Just then, he tilted his head and looked down right at them.