I Don’t Want to Hurt Blake

As the city lord, Leonard, fell to the curse and became a Dragon-Corrupted, he personally slaughtered everyone in his own city-state.

Only his wife and daughter, who were traveling abroad at the time, were lucky enough to escape.

“That power was like a maggot clinging to my bones. I couldn’t control it at all.”

“I could only watch as I used these hands to tear apart everything I loved. Do you understand that kind of despair?”

Leonard’s voice trembled.

But Black’s expression did not waver in the slightest.

He would not let Kristine fall to that state.

No matter what, he wouldn’t.

Even if she really did become a Dragon-Corrupted, it was not a dead end.

Seeing this, Leonard sighed deeply.

“Young man, you are just like I was back then, underestimating the power of the Dragon Kings.”

“If I had chosen to retreat back then, and not defended to the death, that tragedy would not have happened.”

“No matter what your relationship with her is, whether you are friends or lovers, once she degenerates into a Dragon-Corrupted, she will kill you.”

“If you don’t believe me, I can let you briefly witness that state.”

As he spoke, he raised his hand.

A stream of dark red energy was injected into Kristine’s body, forcibly stimulating a sliver of the dormant Dragon King of Madness’s power within her.

“Argh!”

The unconscious Kristine let out a pained groan.

Immediately after, her body began to undergo dragon transformation.

Fine purple dragon scales appeared on her fair skin, and the nails on her fingers became as sharp as claws.

A pair of curved purple dragon horns grew from the corners of her forehead.

The degree of dragon transformation was not deep; she retained most of her human features.

“ROAR!”

Kristine’s eyes snapped open.

Her originally clear eyes were now a sea of bloodthirsty crimson!

She let out a roar full of ferocity, her gaze locked onto Black in front of her.

With pure killing intent, she pounced at him savagely!

Black frowned, holding the Demon-Cleaver in front of him.

He only blocked and dodged, not taking the initiative to attack.

Kristine’s sharp claws slammed heavily against the sword’s blade, sending sparks flying.

The immense impact force caused the stone slabs under Black’s feet to crack.

But he held his ground firmly, not retreating an inch.

“Kristine!”

He shouted in a low voice, trying to awaken her consciousness.

However, what answered him was only a ferocious growl.

Her pupils were scarlet, and the corners of her mouth were slightly twisted due to the dragon transformation, revealing sharp canine teeth.

She bit down at Black, but he dodged by turning his head.

She suddenly retracted her claws, her figure flashed, and she circled behind Black, her sharp claws swiping down again.

Black didn’t turn around. He inverted his sword, and the Demon-Cleaver blocked her claw strike.

The sound of metal on metal exploded. His arm muscles tensed, and he could feel her amplified strength.

“Do you see now?”

“This is a power that cannot be controlled.”

Leonard’s eyes were complex, as if he were seeing his past self.

However.

After exchanging a few blows with Kristine.

Black discovered that Kristine was not completely out of control.

In the gaps between her attacks, her body trembled violently, and in those blood-red eyes.

Sometimes they were crazed, and sometimes a trace of struggle flashed through them.

Large tears streamed from the corners of her eyes, mixing with the bloodstains on her face.

“Don’t… don’t… hurt Black…”

“I… I don’t want to… hurt Black…”

She was crying.

‘If that’s the case…’

Seeing Kristine like this, a thought stirred in Black’s heart.

He made a move that stunned Leonard.

Black threw the Demon-Cleaver in his hand to the ground!

Then, under Leonard’s utterly shocked gaze.

He opened his arms, not dodging or evading, and met Kristine head-on, pulling her into a tight embrace.

“You’re seeking death!”

Leonard cried out in alarm.

Just as he was about to intervene, Black shook his head at him.

Leonard was stunned. He didn’t know what Black was planning to do.

The embraced Kristine struggled violently.

Her hands and feet were held firmly by Black, so she lowered her head, opened her mouth, and bit down hard on Black’s neck!

“Hiss!”

A sharp pain shot through him, and Black couldn’t help but suck in a breath of cold air.

Warm blood flowed down his neck.

It really hurt.

But, he did not push Kristine away.

Instead, he slowly, gently, stroked Kristine’s hair.

His other hand patted her back lightly, as if comforting a frightened little animal.

His voice was extremely gentle, carrying a reassuring strength.

“Bite gently, Kristine. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I’ll stay here with you.”

Black was taking a gamble.

He was betting that Kristine could regain her sanity.

As it turned out, his gamble paid off.

Hearing his words, Kristine’s blood-red pupils trembled violently.

Her whole body was shaking.

The crimson in her eyes receded rapidly like a tide.

The madness and ferocity dissipated, replaced by a great fear.

She released her bite and looked at the clear bite marks and seeping blood on Black’s neck.

Tears streamed down her face, and she cried out incoherently.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry… Black… I… I…”

Black held her tightly in his arms.

His low voice soothed her.

“It’s okay. It was just a nightmare. Just sleep for a while, Kristine. Just sleep for a while and it’ll be fine.”

His embrace carried a reassuring, clean scent.

Under his gentle touch and comfort, the gradually recovering Kristine nestled in his arms like a small child, crying.

Crying and crying, she grew tired and fell into a deep sleep in his arms.

Black quietly watched the sleeping Kristine in his arms, complex emotions swirling in his eyes.

“Master, what about her now?”

Leonard asked softly.

“Continue to sleep.”

Black replied.

Leonard exclaimed, “Let her continue to sleep?”

He then formed a knife-hand and, with just the right amount of force, chopped at a spot on the back of her neck.

Kristine’s body went limp, and she once again fell into a coma.

Traces of tears remained on her face.

Leonard stared blankly at this scene and murmured to himself:

“To think that someone could actually regain their sanity through their own will while being eroded by the power of a Dragon King!”

“How… how is this possible…”

Black gently laid the unconscious Kristine on a clean patch of ground.

He stood up, looked at Leonard, and said.

“Kristine will never repeat your fate.”

Leonard was silent for a moment before he slowly said.

“I only stimulated a very small part of the power within her just now. She could still awaken through her own will.”

“If the Dragon King of Madness’s soul fully awakens, she will absolutely not be able to control it.”

“I told you, I won’t let that happen.”

Black’s tone was unquestionable.

“Even if it does happen, I can still bring her back to her senses.”

Seeing the young man’s determination.

Leonard hesitated.

He was both moved by this determination and deeply aware of how terrifying the Dragon Kings were.

He didn’t dare to gamble the countless lives of the outside world on a slim possibility.

Seeing this, Black spoke slowly.

“Leonard, do you want to know what happened to your wife and daughter after you died? Did they hate you?”

Leonard was struck as if by lightning, his voice trembling.

“How could you possibly know about something from thousands of years ago?!”

Black didn’t answer, just looked at him calmly and said, word by word.

“Your wife’s name was Del, right? And your daughter’s name was Gena, right?”

Hearing him accurately call out the names of his wife and daughter.

Leonard staggered back half a step, his expression flustered.