[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-9":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Ember Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1161825,1504,"Chapter 9: Battle at the Giant's Maw","ember-dragon-chapter-9",9,"\u003Cp>The red dragon opened his maw wide, biting down hard on the dragon head’s neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His razor-sharp teeth pierced through the chimera’s scales and tough skin, embedding deep into the flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood splattered, and the head jerked back, letting out a desperate howl, the fierce stream of fire halting abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Awooo—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chimera’s dragon-like wings flapped wildly as it tried to ascend, while the sharp, muscular lion claws swiped at the red dragon, aiming for a counterattack to escape its predicament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius released his grip, nimbly dodging the swipe, and flapped his wings, veering above the chimera.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tables had turned, and with a triumphant roar, the red dragon swooped down toward the chimera’s back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In mid-air, the chimera’s mismatched body was no match for the streamlined form of the red dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chimera couldn’t dodge; it flailed its wings, turning its heads back to watch helplessly as the red dragon drew closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius spread his wings wide, grabbing hold of the chimera’s wings with his powerful claws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chimera, panicked, lost its balance, flailing its wings wildly as all three heads twisted back, snapping at the dragon clinging to its back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bull’s Strength!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red dragon roared, channeling the spell’s power through his heart, pumping strength into every muscle. His already-massive limbs bulged, emitting steam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius felt a surge of strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His claws tightened around the chimera’s wings, nearly crushing bone and flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where did you get the audacity—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To fly before a true dragon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get down!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius spat out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He folded his wings, channeling his full weight and strength downward—the red dragon demanded a decisive victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chimera, once struggling defiantly, was utterly powerless under Cassius’s absolute might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could only await its fate, defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Owooo—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chimera’s desperate struggles weakened as the red dragon’s weight forced it from ten meters above to crash into the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The earth rumbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dust rose, stones scattered, and the ground cracked, leaving a shallow crater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside lay the chimera, battered and bruised, its wings almost torn apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, let me show you true fire.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red dragon pressed down on the half-dead chimera, jaws slightly parted as scorching heat gathered in his throat—the air visibly distorting with the fire’s intensity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Submit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Or die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius fixed his gaze on the terrified, submissive eyes of the lion head and spoke, emphasizing each word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chimera, though fierce, still clung to life. Moreover, its dragon heritage compelled it to yield to a stronger dragon, to become a servant to evil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with death, it quickly made its choice, all three heads lowering in submission, baring their vulnerable necks and letting out a low whimper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Awooo...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the face of power, all were equal—such was the brutal law of the wild.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Submit... Master...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chimera managed to utter a few words in crude Draconic, though brokenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Cassius release his hold, directing his stored fire breath mere inches from the chimera’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the intense flames scorched the ground, splintering rocks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chimera, still trembling, looked at Cassius with newfound reverence, realizing it would not have survived a direct hit from those flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chimera crawled out of the crater, wings folded and body covered in wounds, lowering its heads, not daring to meet the red dragon’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius perched atop the towering rock outside the cave, looking down and roaring in Draconic:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From this day forth, this shall be—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cassius’s lair.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice echoed far and wide, reaching creatures within miles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Be it feasting gnolls, thieving ogres, or slumbering bear goblins...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps they didn’t yet realize that the territory had changed hands, but Cassius was confident they would soon learn by any means necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then leaped down from the rock, shifting his gaze to the chimera awaiting orders, and said casually:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember my name from now on and never defy me. Lead the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chimera bowed slightly, leading Cassius deeper into the Giant’s Maw Cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, it was warm, likely due to abundant fire elements within the mountain, making it comfortable for the red dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they ventured through the winding passage, Cassius noted bones scattered throughout: a giant’s skull, wyvern wing bones, and even humanoid skulls with horns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A cambion?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, probably a tiefling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the chimera, they moved deeper through the narrow passage, entering a wide space easily big enough for a fully grown red dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remnants of past meals lay everywhere, with various tunnels leading off in different directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they passed a particular pile of bones, the chimera hesitated for a moment but quickly resumed walking as if nothing had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was deliberately steering Cassius inward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing this anomaly, Cassius called out to the chimera, his tone icy:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you hiding? What’s in there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“N-No...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chimera turned, whimpering, its heads lowered in a gesture of surrender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius clawed through the pile of bones, revealing a hidden passage. Glancing down, he saw hundreds of gleaming gold coins, faintly shining in the cave’s shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chimera, inheriting a dragon’s greed, had amassed quite the treasure. Gathering such a wealth of coins was a rare feat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By dragon custom, I’ll take half.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if you ever hide anything from me again...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There won’t be a next time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes… Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast bowed all three heads low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius glanced at it before entering the hidden chamber under the chimera’s anguished gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a single bite, he devoured hundreds of coins—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—the bulk of the wealth the chimera had amassed through years of plunder and bloodshed.\u003C\u002Fp>",928,"2026-06-03T12:47:02.671Z","2026-06-03T12:47:06.781Z",1,"novelbin.me","dbef9fae14602064979b3f59a3e55d1f6c6c543f592ddf3a6387e6c06668cc7e","ember-dragon-chapter-10","ember-dragon-chapter-8",603,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fember-dragon-cover.jpg"]