''W-We're finally here!''

Finally.

After some grueling minutes of frantically digging up the mountain, we have found the wyverns' lair. Since none of us has any idea of where or what it looks like, and we have already killed off the horde coming our way, even the eldritch-y Blob can't do anything about it.

Still, with the help of Nova, who kindly pierces the snow with her own to map the whole mountain, we have located the place.

There is a giant cave with multiple entrances near the top of the mountain. Considering obvious traces like eggs or a whole bunch of juvenile wyvern specimens, it isn't hard to guess who lives here.

Now, that is pretty much settled, but something more intriguing has popped up—the interior.

''What do you think, my friend?''

''Oh, I hardly consider this spectacle those reptiles' workmanship, of course.''

''Indeed. They certainly don't possess the necessary intelligence and dexterity.''

Well... ignoring those old men for a bit, the chamber, lit with torches, itself isn't just spacious but almost perfectly dome-shaped, which is a stark contrast to the rocky, messy entrances connected to it. Moreover, some of the carvings around the walls and ceilings are too intricate for them to be a creation of this species.

They seem almost artistic, like some of those paintings inside churches and whatnot. If I had to guess, I would say they depict living beings worshipping... something? I can't figure out what kind of animal the one at the center of the ceiling is, but it looks alien.

Clearly, there's some fishy business going on here. But it's also intriguing.

''But where's the leader?''

Right when we are still engrossed in sightseeing, Ariel raises a valid question. So far, we have only encountered weak females, babies, eggs, and a few guard wyverns, which we will spare for now, but the supposed strongest are nowhere to be seen.

If possible, I kind of want to make it my subordinate—assuming that it is intelligent enough to understand the offer, that is.

''Hm... did it flee?'' I mutter. ''Nova, did you cover the whole mountain when we blocked off the ones running away earlier?''

I did. That much is nothing to me.

''Did it run before we came here, then? What kind of—who's there?''

In an instant, everyone's attention turns to the entrance through which we entered. Smiley, who's sniffing the eggs; Mister Slen, who's standing idly; the old men duo, Ariel, Blob, Nova, and I—we all feel the sudden presence.

An unordinary presence, even.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

''So it is not a bunch of nobody idiots who dared to intrude on our territory.''

From beyond the darkness, a lone, petite figure emerges. Standing half a head shorter than me, with a body like that of a teenage girl, the unidentified creature steps forward into the light, flaunting its flame-red hair and topaz-like eyes.

Slit eyes.

Moreover, this aura...

''A dragon?''

I'm asking this directly since its status screen isn't available. A rough gauge of its mana tells me that it should be somewhere close to the academy principle in terms of power.

Stopping a little far away from us, the creature smirks at my question, ''Indeed, a noble dragon. Some couldn't even recognize this majesty, can you believe it?''

''If you want to sell that you are a dragon, try getting your claws out,'' I reply.

''You're right, sure. But... how come you lot haven't kneeled yet?''

Within half a moment, the dragoness's playful expression turns into a mix of rage and disgust. To an ordinary soul, the surroundings must look noticeably dimmer, highlighting those glowing eyes, and there should be an invisible pressure forcing their knees to the ground.

It's [Domination], and unfortunately, this kind of power is nothing to me now.

My allies, although a bit disturbed, are fine, too. Well, let's not leave them uncomfortable like this.

''...!''

Just as predicted, the dragoness seems perplexed when I activate my own skill, but her stance hasn't yet changed. Since this will probably turn into something interesting to watch, I bring forth a gust of mana and blast out a wave of ice, one roughly taking the shape of a chair—a throne, if you will.

More and more, my opponent loses her confidence. Does she perhaps understand the level of mastery I have over ice magic? She should be.

Nevertheless, after making myself comfortable, I speak up,

''There is no need to bow before someone weaker.''

''...You talk big games, lowly beastkin.''

Oh? Her perception must be quite potent if she realizes that I'm a beastkin. But then again, she can assume that from the fact that I work with the giant owls.

The wyverns hiding back there must have called this one. It would make sense, too, if the dragons had made this chamber.

But dragons or not, I am interested in this one's power. It would be a great addition to our army if we had a dragon on our side... ah, I can feel the desire to conquer rising again.

So, I raise my hand and roughly point at the maiden,

''I could just banish your entire existence into nothingness within a moment... but I don't feel like it.''

''You insolent...!''

''Entertain me, dragon.''

Heeding my command, my subordinates step forward one by one, shielding the throne of ice whilst bursting the power in their veins into visible, tangible strands blazing in the air.

''This...''

Before long, the whole chamber has been covered by a redness of madness. A jungle of pulsating tentacles oozing black mist infests the whole interior, concealing whatever is left of the blinking light. At the feet level, a similar, if not even deadlier, fog resides, threatening to suck out the life of anything that dares to disturb itself.

In the absolute darkness, a few pairs of red and yellow-white eyes shine, and on the opposite side, two nervous ambers flicker.

''Tch... did you think I would give up?!''

Commendably, the opponent neither flees nor submits, instead blaring out her fangs and claws. Soon after, her body starts to swell. Her height grows exponentially higher, her muscles balloon up, a tail spurts out, and her bones themselves seem to be morphing into something different.

Soon enough, what stands before us is no longer a maiden but a colossal dragon clad in molten scales. It seems as though a single step of this creature can shake a whole city up, and a breath of it can seethe a town to crisps.

''Let this noble one show you a lesson of humbleness.''

With absolute arrogance in its eyes, the thing declares.

''...''

The temperature is rising.

That much is fine, but... I don't want to see it looking down on me.

Humbleness, it says? I hope that after this, it will realize that when the insolent claws dare not to kneel... there will be consequences.