She found the bathroom and began to shower. Her hands trembled violently as she tried to unbutton her shirt, unable to exert any strength. The blood on her back had stuck to her clothes, making it difficult to undress, and she began to break out in a cold sweat.
She turned on the shower, watching the clean water flow over her battered body. The solitude, helplessness, pain, exhaustion, and despair overwhelmed her, and she couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She started crying softly. She suddenly thought of her mother and how upset she must be at her sudden disappearance.
After a while, she dried her tears and returned to her bed. The exhaustion and the day's trauma had drained her completely, and she quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Alice dreamed. In her dream, she found herself in an urban forest. After a few steps, she saw the massive form of the dragon lying there, seemingly unaware of her presence as it slept.
Thunderous snores echoed around. A thick fog enveloped the dragon, making it appear hazy. The surrounding forest was filled with vibrant flowers, captivating in their beauty, creating an almost surreal landscape. Alice hurriedly took a few steps closer to the dragon.
Just then, several men in black, armed with submachine guns, approached from a distance, getting closer and closer. Fear gripped Alice, and she ran toward the dragon, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get any closer. She screamed desperately, but the dragon remained asleep. The men in black caught up with her.
The demonic instructor grabbed Alice, and she struggled and shouted. Suddenly, a sharp gunshot rang out. She looked down to see a gaping hole in her chest. She jolted awake. Outside, a piercing whistle blew, followed by the demon instructor's shout.
"Emergency assembly! You have five minutes. After five minutes, you won't need to get up! Remember that disgusting woman from yesterday!"
The words barely left his mouth before everyone jumped up. Alice dared not stay in bed any longer. She quickly dressed and rushed to the bathroom.
Five minutes later, everyone was assembled. Alice naturally stood at the back, being the shortest. The plump woman was nowhere to be seen. Fear and helplessness filled Alice's eyes, like a lamb awaiting slaughter. Perhaps the demon instructor had indeed killed her. The thought sent a chill through Alice's heart. If that woman hadn't fallen, it would have been Alice who died.
Alice looked at the demon instructor, her thoughts racing. Jack seemed to sense her gaze and glanced over, making Alice quickly lower her head.
Since returning from Snake Valley, Jack had separated from the others. Without a job, he had become obsessed with power. Since signing the contract with the dragon, his strength had grown exponentially. His muscles seemed to have gone through a second growth spurt, constantly expanding. He was now several times stronger than at his peak, able to lift 400 kilograms with ease—far beyond normal human limits.
Though he had been forced into the contract, he didn't regret it. He was deeply grateful to the dragon. Without the contract, he believed he would never have gained such immense power. The dragon was incredibly powerful and had granted him this strength. No one and no weapon could defeat the dragon, as evidenced by its two successful attacks on the United States and its safe departures. This was a truth Jack firmly believed.
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After resting at home for a while, he began traveling across the country, seeking ways to further enhance his strength. He sought out many renowned masters, but found them all to be nothing more than empty names; none could match him.
He continued to search in vain. Years passed, and his savings slowly dwindled. He began participating in underground fights to make a living. His immense strength and fierce nature soon earned him a reputation. Eventually, he caught the eye of a wealthy patron and joined this company.
He had been with the company for four years now and discovered it wasn't as simple as it seemed. Not only did it have immense financial power, but it also wielded significant influence. They appeared to be conducting secret research, as evidenced by the constant demand to capture live people who, once taken inside, never came out again.
However, he didn't concern himself with these matters. As long as the pay was good, he was willing to do anything, including killing.
Jack considered himself a devout follower of the dragon. He worshipped and respected the dragon, obeying any command from it without question. This was a feeling deep within him; the dragon was mighty and divine in his eyes.
The company's research seemed to have stalled. They no longer demanded the capture of live people and instead instructed him to rigorously train the remaining individuals. Either the company was developing its private army, or they required stronger humans for experiments.
Jack had once had a wife and a lovely daughter. A car accident had taken their lives when his daughter was only four years old, leaving him widowed for ten years. Seeing the little girl reminded him of his daughter, who would have grown up to be just as lovely and beautiful.
…
The Church's followers noticed that all the churches were being renovated. The doors were closed, workers came and went, and large containers were being delivered by trucks. The churches were bustling with activity. After half a month, the churches reopened, and the followers were shocked to see the changes.
Next to the original statue of Jesus, there now stood a massive statue of a dragon, resplendent in purple and gold, radiating majesty. The statue was so lifelike it seemed ready to come alive at any moment.
The surrounding murals, which originally depicted traditional religious scenes, now included images of the dragon. The dragon exhaled smoke from its nostrils, shone with a golden light, and flew through the sky, treading on rolling clouds. Angels and flowers surrounded it, while beasts bowed and birds flew low, adding to its sacred and majestic appearance.
The followers noticed that the dragon statue seemed even larger than that of the Son, and the murals depicted the dragon as more majestic than the holy figures. If they hadn't been sure they were in the right place, they might have thought they had entered a dragon worship temple.
As the crowd grew, whispers filled the air. Some people pointed at the dragon statue and the murals, finding it hard to accept. Devout followers felt their faith was being desecrated, believing their deity had been sullied. Others remained silent, lost in thought.
At that moment, a priest emerged from the front, holding a Bible in his left hand and a golden book in his right. The followers ignored the familiar Bible and focused on the golden book, which had a purple and gold dragon on the cover. Their suspicions were confirmed, and some devout followers began to wail loudly.
"You blasphemers! God will surely punish you. You are desecrating the sacred by placing the dragon next to the holy statues. The Church will face divine retribution," they cried, but were soon escorted out by some clerics.
The priest looked uneasy, worried about the extreme reactions of the followers. However, seeing that the majority remained, he felt relieved. In today's world, devout followers were becoming fewer, sometimes even outnumbered by those of the dragon worshippers.