Tiiknair took a step back at Jade's words. His already thin pupils shrunk to slits and he glared at the woman in front of him.

 

"Insolent child," He growled. "You are only twenty years old. I am several millennia old. You have no right to speak to me with such insolence. No step aside and let me eliminate the creature."

 

"Don't call her a creature!" Jade shouted angrily. "And you're older, so what!?" A massive aura spread from her body, feeling like it was pressing down on me. I saw that it was also affecting Tiiknair as his legs bent slightly and his muscles tensed.

 

Then Jade looked back at me and smiled. The pressure stopped for me but not Tiiknair. He growled.

 

"What is this?" He asked. "How do you have such power?"

 

"Simple," Jade said. With a wave of her hand, status windows appeared before Tikknair and me. From the expressions of those around us, only we could see it.

 

[The Goddess of Dragons has revealed her presence]

[Bow down or Fight back?]

[Bow] [Fight]

 

Tiiknair's window suggested he select [Bow], showing that the system itself was endorsing Jade. For me, however, the window was different. The two options weren't [Bow] and [Fight].

 

[The Goddess of Dragons has revealed her presence]

[Kiss her or Hug her?]

[Kiss] [Hug]

 

I selected the one that the system suggested and leaned forward to kiss Jade's cheek. She smiled at me before turning to Tiiknair, who was looking at the status window with an undecipherable expression.

 

"Forgive me," He said at last, lowering his head to Jade. "I did not realize you were the [Monarch]."

 

This caused quite a commotion. Everyone looked at Jade with awe because she had made one of the strongest dragons alive admit his inferiority.

 

"Good," Jade said. The strange, power-filled quality of her voice disappeared and she hugged me.

 

"Thank you," I whispered.

 

Then Jade looked up sharply, toward the city. I followed her gaze and saw a small blue dragon shooting toward us.

 

"That is Naydin," Tiiknair said. "He is a youngster who is quite powerful. He has not lost a fight before."

 

"Why is he coming this way?" Jade asked.

 

"He is a feisty dragon," Tiiknair answered. "He saw that system message and is undoubtedly coming this way to challenge you."

 

"What?" I asked.

 

"Dragon law mandates that a dragon can challenge another," Tiiknair said. "If the challenger wins, they take the place of the loser."

 

"So he wants to become the [God of Dragons]?" Jade asked. "Hmmph. He's not taking my spot."

 

"You have to win the challenge," Tiiknair said. "And you must accept. To not is seen as the biggest disgrace."

 

"Well, I'll win," Jade said. "I'm not only the [Goddess of Dragons]."

 

"You aren't?" Tiiknair asked, surprised.

 

"Nope!" Jade said. "I'm also the [Goddess of Lightning] and [Goddess of Blood]."

 

By this point, Naydin had reached us. He crashed into the ground and then hastily stood up. He jumped up to the top of the wall, leaping over the adventurers and soldiers underneath him. He stopped in front of Jade.

 

"I initiate a [Dragon Challenge]!" He shouted.

 

"Fine," Jade said.

 

"If you are to battle, do not do it here," Tiiknair said. "You shall fight outside the city."

 

"Alright!" Naydin said. He leaped up and glided down to the area. Jade followed him.

 

When they were both standing about a hundred feet apart, Tiiknair said, "Begin the duel!"

 

Naydin shot forward, energy swirling around his body. Jade simply raised one hand.

 

Naydin's nose slammed into Jade's hand, pushing her back a few feet. All the energy that was around Naydin's body flowed from him to her and she smiled as electricity crackled around her.

 

"Ha," I said. "He used lightning against her."

 

"That was nice of you," Jade said. Naydin tried to leap back but Jade grabbed onto his front right claw. Then she pulled her other arm back and punched the blue dragon in the face. He was sent flying backward.

 

Then, following up on her previous attack, Jade followed after Naydin and leaped onto his back. He scrabbled at his scales, trying to get her off. She deftly avoided the sharp claws and climbed up his neck before slashing at the underside.

 

All other sounds seemed to quiet down as Jade magically withdrew some of Naydin's blood from his body. It made a soft whistling sound that sent shivers down everyone's spines.

 

"[Blood Shock]," Jade said. There was a sizzling sound as an electric current ran through all of Naydin's blood, permeating his body. He thudded to the ground, unconscious. Then Jade flew back to me.

 

"Wow," I said, hugging her.

 

"I know," Jade said. "I'm so cool."

 

"Well, I shall be a testament to this duel," Tiiknair said. "Naydin was being foolish. I hope you have not permanently injured him."

 

"No, he'll just be sore for a while," Jade said. "Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to go and rest." The two of us left the stunned crowd and went back into the city.