The Dragon’s First Roar

“An after-show?

A little dragon loli versus a tentacle monster?”

“Ohhhhhhh! Loli tentacle play?

I want to see! I want to see!”

“A spectacle like this is a once-in-a-millennium rarity!
Training a dragon loli with tentacles? Count me in!”

On the fourth day after Daisy followed Katie to Gran City, inside the dark and damp s*ave market warehouse beside the slums.

The noble buyers who had panicked earlier when Daisy suddenly escaped her cage during the auction, after hearing the hype-building shouts of the green-hatted s*ave trader Peter, gradually calmed down.

They quickly reverted to their usual arrogant, domineering expressions, gathering noisily around the massive pit dug specifically for such vulgar entertainment, eagerly waiting to watch the battle between Daisy—dragged into the pit—and the tentacle monster.

“Stay away, you gross thing!”

Worried about Katie’s situation, Daisy shouted as she pushed off the ground and charged forward.

Her small fist surged with force as she struck toward the alchemical creature at the bottom of the pit, its slimy tentacles writhing wildly.

Though Daisy was still a young dragon unable to fully utilize draconic strength, she possessed speed and power at least comparable to a beastman.

Against ordinary low-level monsters, she wasn’t entirely without a chance.

However…

Her powerful punch failed to land.

As she rushed forward, the tentacle creature had already woven its extended appendages into a net, trapping her mid-charge.

“Waaah!
It’s so sticky!”

It was Daisy’s first time being entangled by something so disgusting.

She cried out in panic.

The tentacle monster didn’t stop.

It wrapped her small body tightly with its limbs, lifted her up, and violently flung her away.

Daisy’s tiny body slammed against the earthen wall of the pit like a ball, dust scattering as she bounced off and rolled across the ground.

Meanwhile, the grotesque mass of flesh continued writhing its slimy tentacles, its blood-filled maw opening and closing as it slowly approached the fallen Daisy.

Seeing the tentacle monster gain the upper hand, the nobles surrounding the pit erupted in excited cheers, eagerly anticipating what would come next.

“Little Daisy!”

Outside the pit, Katie—holding a machete—heard Daisy’s scream and grew even more frantic.

She wildly swung her blade at the fast-sword wielder Gert blocking her path.

Clash after clash rang out, sparks flying as she pressed forward step by step.

Yet she couldn’t break through Gert’s defense.

“Move! I need to save Daisy!

Otherwise I’ll never forgive myself!”

“What nonsense are you spouting?

Unlucky Katie!

You really chose the wrong place to cause trouble today!”

Gert, a skilled member of the Mountain Eagle Guild, calmly blocked her chaotic attacks with his long sword.

Though stepping back, his eyes carried the ease of a cat playing with a mouse.

“Can’t get along with people in the guild.

Got your teammates killed during missions.

Poor as dirt at home.

What a miserable life.

Let my sword put an end to it!”

Though it looked like Gert was on the defensive, he simply hadn’t been serious.

After enduring Katie’s barrage, he suddenly counterattacked.

His blade turned into flashing streaks of light, striking rapidly and forcefully.

Katie, unable to retreat in time, could only block desperately.

But the sheer speed and power of each strike made her grip falter.

Gert’s attacks were far beyond what someone like Katie—a scout—could handle.

Amid the clanging of metal, her grip finally gave out.

With a sharp clang, her machete was knocked from her hand, and she fell to the ground unsteadily.

Meanwhile, inside the pit.

Daisy scrambled back to her feet, dodging the incoming tentacles with agility.

She dashed forward again, fists striking the creature’s flexible, slimy body.

But it was like hitting cotton.

The force dissipated completely.

No damage was dealt.

The tentacle monster, unfazed, let out a strange cry and lunged at her with its tooth-filled maw.

“……”

Daisy quickly retreated, narrowly avoiding the bite.

But anxiety surged within her.

Even if she could keep fighting, Katie wouldn’t last long above.

She had to end this quickly.

“Katie! I’ll be there soon! Katie!!!!!!!”

Up above, Gert—who could have killed Katie—paused upon hearing Daisy’s voice.

As if realizing something, he didn’t strike.

Instead, he grabbed Katie, twisting her arm and pinning her to the ground.

“I get it now! So that’s it?

You know that little dragon?

What do you mean you can’t forgive yourself?

Did you sell her?

Hahahaha!

What a joke!

Then why come save her?”

“No!
That’s not it!!!!!!!”

Katie screamed in anguish, struggling despite the pain in her twisted arm.

But she couldn’t break free.

Gert dragged her to the edge of the pit.

“Good morning, miss.”

At the edge, Peter looked at her with surprise.

“I didn’t expect you to regret it now.

But unfortunately, the deal is done.

The price won’t be returned.

Anything you say or do now is too late.”

“Look! Unlucky Katie!

This is the fate of the little dragon you sold!”

Gert shoved her forward, forcing her to watch.

Below, Daisy continued fighting.

She dodged, closed in again, and struck multiple times.

Still no effect.

The tentacles wrapped around her once more.

“Little Daisy!”

Katie cried out helplessly.

“Katie!”

Daisy struggled, looking up.

Suddenly—

Pain.

Her arm was bitten.

The creature’s jagged teeth clamped down on her limb.

Even with dragon resilience, it hurt.

“Uwaaaaaaaah!”

“Little Daisy!!!!!!!”

Katie broke down in tears.

“I’m sorry!

I’m so sorry!

It’s all my fault!”

Daisy, pinned and in pain, still lifted her gaze gently.

“It’s not your fault…Katie is my friend…You came to save me, didn’t you?”

“Dragons are a proud race.

Even a young one is dangerous.”

Peter calmly explained to the nobles.

“For easier handling after the auction…
Let’s remove one of her arms first.”

The alchemist raised his glowing hand.

The tentacle monster anchored itself—

Then rolled violently.

Like a crocodile tearing prey apart.

“Don’t—!”

Katie screamed.

But Daisy…

Was calm.

“It’s okay, Katie.”

CRACK—

Blood splattered.

A scream echoed—

But not Daisy’s.

The tentacle monster shrieked.

Everyone froze.

Its jaw had been torn apart.

Daisy stood there, blood-stained.

Her arm—

Now covered in crimson scales.

A small dragon claw.

Holding the torn jaw.

She inhaled deeply.

Then roared.

A deafening dragon’s cry echoed through the warehouse.

“ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR—!”

The sound carried grief and defiance.

A protest against the ugliness of humanity.

A meaningless cry into a chaotic world.

Beautiful—

And cruel.

Yet—

She did not regret coming here.

The roar shook the entire space.

Nobles screamed, clutching their ears, fleeing in panic.

The alchemist, panicked, forced the wounded monster to attack again.

“……”

Daisy dropped the torn flesh.

Then charged.

Fearless.

Tentacles lunged—

She sliced them apart mid-air.

Blood sprayed.

The monster grew more frenzied.

It bound her limbs—

Dragging her toward its maw.

This time—

Her head.

But Daisy remained calm.

Her scaled arm—

Suddenly bristled.

Each scale sharpened like blades.

She twisted—

Cutting free.

Then struck.

“Go away!!!!!!!!!”

Her blade-like fist tore through the creature.

Blood exploded outward.

The monster shrieked and fled.

Because dragon power—

Was destruction itself.

Even a kind young dragon held catastrophic force.

Enough to burn Gran City to ashes.

But Daisy chose—

Not revenge.

She walked toward Katie.

Smiling.

“Let’s go home, okay? Katie… let’s go together.”

She chose to believe.

Even if it was naïve.

That’s what it meant—

To be a dragon.

Katie sobbed uncontrollably.

Unable to speak.

She nodded.

“Don’t move!
Little dragon!”

Gert pressed a sword to Katie’s neck.

“You don’t want her dead—then obey!”

BOOM—

The ceiling collapsed.

Sunlight poured in.

Chaos erupted.

Gert staggered back.

And then—

A figure descended.

Black hair.

Silver-grey eyes.

A tall, commanding presence in a flowing black dress.

Viola.

“Daisy… I thought you’d come running back in tears.”

She looked down.

Half helpless.

Half gentle.

“You’ve grown, my Daisy.”