With Winnie firmly clasped in his talons, Saron soared through the skies at breakneck speed.

"Winnie, how much longer to your tribe?" Saron called out over the rushing wind.

"We're almost there!" Winnie replied, her eyes wide with both fear and wonder. This was her first time flying so high, and the experience was overwhelming—even if she was being carried rather unceremoniously. She understood, though, that true dragons, being as they are, wouldn't normally allow anyone on their backs. For all creatures, the back is a vulnerable area, easily exploited by enemies.

Saron suddenly paused mid-flight and alighted atop a high cliff.

"What's wrong, Lord Saron?" Winnie asked, puzzled.

"There are humans ahead," Saron explained.

His keen draconic senses had caught onto something that Winnie couldn't have possibly noticed. Within minutes, a human caravan came into view.

"Something's not right," Saron observed, eyeing the caravan below.

The caravan was laden with metallic cages containing various beastfolk with ears and tails akin to Winnie's.

"Meesha, and Lyla, and Orson... Lord Saron, they're from our tribe!" Winnie exclaimed in a panic.

"Stay calm, Winnie," Saron reassured her as he scrutinized the heavily guarded caravan below.

"It looks like a slaver convoy," Winnie said, her voice steadying.

"Lord Saron, I beg of you, help them!" she pleaded.

In days past, when their tribe was strong, humans dared only to harass them occasionally, never succeeding in their malicious ventures. However, now, with many of their warriors gone and Winnie absent, humans had seized the opportunity. In the cities of men, beastfolk like Winnie were highly sought after—rabbit and cat women, in particular, fetched a high price.

Damn it! Saron fumed internally. He considered the beastfolk his private property, and now these humans were capturing his precious beast-eared girls.

"Winnie, these humans are not weak. We need the right moment to strike," Saron said, his crimson eyes locked on the scene unfolding below.

"Ratos, with this haul of beastfolk, we're going to make a fortune!" a black-haired knight, cloaked in silver armor and bearing a greatsword, said cheerfully to a warrior beside him wielding a battle axe.

"You said it! And this time, we've got some real gems among them," the axe-wielding warrior replied, glancing back at the cages where several female beastfolk trembled in fear.

Saron's claws gripped Winnie tight as they whisked through the sky.

"Normally, you'd only see such prizes in the Orcish capital. Who would've thought in such a backwater place, there'd be so many gathered!" one of the human captors remarked.

"True, but we've lost quite a few men. These creatures put up quite the fight," another replied casually.

Meanwhile, a young beast-girl with raccoon ears clung fearfully to a rabbit-eared girl. "Meesha, I'm so scared, I don't want to be sold!" she whimpered, the heavy chains on their wrists and ankles clinking.

"Don't be afraid, Bella. Winnie will come to save us!" the rabbit-eared girl, with eyes like rubies, tried to reassure her, though a deep concern was hidden beneath her brave front.

"I'll strike from the front, you use your innate abilities to circle to the back and take care of the guards around the caravan. Can you do it?" Saron asked Winnie, gazing down at her from above.

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"No problem!" Winnie responded, her sharp claws revealing a readiness to do what was necessary.

Without further discussion, Saron dove down, stealthily moving through the cover of the dense forest canopy. These ancient trees, soaring over a hundred meters high, provided excellent camouflage.

Targeting the two leading warriors of the convoy, Saron knew they were likely the backbone of the escort. He unleashed his Burst ability. The ground erupted with spikes as the warriors leaped into the air to dodge—playing right into Saron's trap. A torrent of acidic breath rained down upon them. As they attempted to cover themselves with combat aura, a dragon's roar disrupted their focus, throwing their energies into disarray.

It was too late; the acid scorched through the greatsword warrior's body, half of him corroded almost beyond recognition. His superior physical strength only prolonged his agony.

The axe warrior managed to block the acid with the broad side of his blade. "It's a black dragon!!"

"Ratos, save me!!" the greatsword warrior, knowing his end was near, reached out in despair to his comrade.

But Saron allowed no reprieve. His jaws snapped shut, and the sword-bearing warrior's body was cleaved in two. Saron's teeth, with the enhancement of his armor-piercing ability, easily penetrated the expensive armor and hardened flesh. The world went dark for the warrior, and his last moments were mercifully short of pain.

Axe warrior Ratos, both horrified and enraged, couldn't believe the presence of a black dragon, and such a formidable one at that. An eighth-level warrior cut down in an instant!

"Come closer, attack together, spellcasters bind him!" he commanded, rallying the rest of the convoy's fighters to assault Saron.

But Saron remained unbothered by their attacks; their feeble attempts couldn't pierce his scales. This attack was unfolding more smoothly than he had anticipated. With one eighth-level warrior dead and the other’s courage shattered, the rest were merely fodder.

The convoy's magic users sprang into action, thick vines lashing out towards Saron—it was the work of a plant mage. Saron fixed his gaze upon a tall, thin man, the source of the magic. But just as he was about to neutralize this new threat, the air beside the mage rippled.

With a whooshing sound, the plant mage's neck sprouted three deadly claw marks—the work of Winnie's swift and silent approach.

"No, damn it!" Ratos hadn't expected an ambush, and the most crucial of his mages had been slain. It was Winnie, the catwoman, who had struck!

"Don't fear, everyone! He's just a young black dragon. With so many warriors, we can defeat him. Today we become legends; think about it—after today, we'll be known as Dragon Slayers!" Ratos shouted to bolster the morale of his troops.

The fighters regained their composure. Yes, this black dragon seemed small; they could take it down. They could all be Dragon Slayers!

As the warriors charged, Ratos threw his great axe at Saron and turned tail... It was a joke to even try. A mutated black dragon—with its formidable frame and blood-red eyes, not to mention how it had just cut down another eighth-level warrior—was beyond his abilities. He could only hope his men would buy him time.

Saron watched the fleeing man with a hint of amusement, having thought, for a moment, he'd encountered another fighter of the mercenary captain's caliber.

"The deputy leader ran away!"

"He abandoned us!"

Saron descended from the sky, landing firmly on the ground. He then unleashed another Burst. Countless earthen spikes shot up, impaling the warriors who lacked Ratos's reflexes and strength. Their screams filled the air as their bodies were skewered. Saron had no sympathy for them—this slaver gang was no different than bandits, preying on human and non-human alike, sometimes slaughtering entire villages for profit.

With his fearsome claws and fangs, Saron made quick work of the remaining fighters. Dragon's might radiated unchecked, crushing any lingering defiance in the already shattered hearts of the warriors. In no time, aside from the beast-people in cages and Winnie, no other living creature remained.

Saron set his sights on Ratos's escape route but spared a glance at Winnie before giving chase. He wouldn't let that man spread trouble further. He wouldn't escape!

...

With keys scavenged from the dead, Winnie unlocked the cages one by one. A white-haired girl with snow-white rabbit ears ran towards her with long, graceful strides.

"Sister Winnie!" she cried, her red eyes brimming with tears as she embraced Winnie.

"Meesha, you've suffered much," Winnie said, stroking the girl's long ears.

"Sister Winnie! Let's leave, please, that black dragon..."

The beast-people gathered nervously around Winnie just as Saron returned, dropping Ratos's mangled corpse to the ground. His wings caused gusts of wind as he landed.

He stepped forward, surveying the beautiful beasteared women around him. Particularly, the rabbit girl with her snow-white ears and hair and her enticing red eyes caught his attention. Saron mused how well they could be nurtured, perhaps trained to perform dances like the ones from the live-streaming platforms of old. They could be unbeatable!

"A dragon!"

"A black dragon!"

"He's back!"

Panic spread among the beast-people, their nerves taut with the memory of the dragon's recent rampage.

"Lord Saron, please forgive us!" Winnie bowed respectfully to Saron, who waved a dismissive claw, signifying his lenience toward the beast-eared women.

Winnie climbed atop a large tree stump and called out, "Listen, everyone!"

She calmed the crowd, "This is Lord Saron, a very powerful true dragon! I've decided to serve under him. If anyone wishes not to join me, I'll provide some wealth for them to leave the Rose Tribe," she announced loudly.

The crowd exchanged looks of uncertainty.

"We all know the predicament of the Rose Tribe. Without the protection of a powerful being, our existence in this forest is perpetually at risk!" Winnie stated gravely.

Saron watched her take charge and saw in her a leader's qualities.

"Sister Winnie is right; we have no other choice. Seeking the protection of a powerful being is the best course of action!" A half-beast woman with black hair and grey ears stepped forward, identified by Saron as a young wolf-girl.

"I, too, will follow Sister Winnie forever!" Meesha chimed in, casting a curious glance at Saron as others voiced their agreement.

Saron nodded silently, noting Winnie's high esteem among her people.

"Winnie, Shadar's forces will arrive soon. You can lead your people to the Sunset Forest for temporary refuge. Now, tell me the direction of that falling star," Saron commanded, for the moment ignoring the other half-beasts.

"Lord Saron, the area is treacherous; I should guide you," Winnie hesitated.

Before Saron could respond, the rabbit girl stepped in, "Sister Winnie, let me guide Lord Saron. The tribe needs you now."

"Meesha, it's dangerous there!"

"Don't forget, I'm the best healer of our tribe. I can take care of myself!" Meesha smiled sweetly, well aware of the dangers that awaited.

Winnie looked troubled but Meesha reassured her, "Don't worry, Sister Winnie. With Lord Saron, I'll be safe!" She smiled at Saron, her rabbit ears perking up playfully.

"Sister Winnie, go to your tribe," Saron said, deciding the matter.