"Finally, it's done!"
Shi Feng let out a soft breath of relief as the magic cage in the sky gradually shattered.
He had underestimated these core magic arrays. Even with the fourth-tier limit destructive power of the magic spirit continuously attacking, they had still managed to hold on for more than a day — sturdier than Zero Wing City's own defensive magic array.
If it hadn't fallen now, the magic crystals in his bag would have been completely emptied.
The very instant the magic cage shattered, the Holy Dragon of White Silver that had been slumbering inside suddenly opened its eyes. A heaven-shaking dragon roar erupted forth, so powerful that it echoed across the entire deserted island, causing the ground to tremble.
Then the Holy Dragon of White Silver spread its wings, and in an instant a violent storm was kicked up, scattering the crumbling magic cage completely. The terrifying force even forced Shi Feng back several steps despite being over five hundred yards away — there was simply no withstanding the gale generated by those wing beats.
"So this is what a true Holy Dragon looks like?" Shi Feng gazed up at the creature in the sky — over fifty meters tall, its entire body wreathed in a silver-white radiance — and his heart was filled with indescribable awe.
Holy Dragon of White Silver (Albreck), Dragon, Legendary Rank, Level: ???, HP: ??????
Although the level of the Holy Dragon was hidden, the displayed stats were unmistakably fourth-tier Legendary.
And as a fourth-tier Legendary monster, its mere presence made it feel as though heaven and earth were under the Holy Dragon's dominion. Compared to the Holy Dragon Albreck, the high-tier magic spirit Ulunem that he had encountered before seemed laughably weak.
Against Ulunem, he had at least felt he could put up some semblance of a fight. But facing the Holy Dragon Albreck, the thought of resistance never even crossed his mind.
Just standing before the Holy Dragon, his entire body had become difficult to move, let alone engage in combat.
If the Holy Dragon so much as directed a thought his way, it could kill him in an instant — it wouldn't even give him the chance to summon a fourth-tier hero.
"Tiny human — was it you who freed me from my cage?" After breaking free from the magic cage, the Holy Dragon Albreck landed directly before Shi Feng and asked in a calm voice.
Though Albreck's words were delivered in a quiet, even tone, simply standing there gave off an indescribable sense of oppression. That single question felt as though heaven and earth themselves were demanding an answer, making it utterly impossible to even conceive of lying or deception.
"Yes, Honored Holy Dragon — I destroyed the cage's core magic array, which broke the magic prison that confined you." Shi Feng endured the overwhelming pressure that came from the disparity in their very lifeforms and looked the Holy Dragon of White Silver Albreck straight in the eye, speaking with measured dignity.
Dragons were creatures born with immense pride. They were existences that stood at the very peak of the Divine Realm from the moment of their birth, and they simply did not regard other beings as worthy of attention.
At the same time, the dragon race held power in the highest reverence. Anyone with sufficient strength could earn their acknowledgment.
And Holy Dragons were all the more so.
If one did not carry themselves with a forceful bearing, they would easily be looked down upon — and even rewards that were already within reach could be diminished due to poor performance.
"You truly surprise me. I didn't expect such a tiny creature as you to break through a cage set by a goddess." The Holy Dragon Albreck's gaze upon Shi Feng was full of astonishment and curiosity — as though an ant had just lifted an elephant. "However, within my Eye of Holy Light, you are indeed not lying."
"According to the ancient covenant, since you have freed me, I can form a contract with you and become your companion. However, as a Holy Dragon, I cannot accept a weak contractor as my partner. You must therefore pass my trial. Only if you pass my trial will I truly acknowledge you as my companion. I will give you four natural months."
"During those four natural months, I will serve as your companion and fight alongside you. Of course, if you fail the test I set within those four months, our contract will be dissolved."
"And during those four months, I will give you three chances to challenge the trial. If all three fail, our contract will be dissolved after the four months are up."
System: Congratulations, player! You have completed the first stage of the epic quest "Void Cage" — rescued the Holy Dragon Albreck. Reward: 10 Free Legacy Skill Points. You have become the Holy Dragon's contractor.
System: Player has triggered the second stage of the epic quest "Void Cage." Find a way to pass the Holy Dragon's trial within four natural months. Reward: Unknown.
"Sure enough, it's not that simple." Shi Feng looked at the system notification without any hint of surprise. "Looks like I need to improve my strength as much as possible over these four months."
In his previous life, the superpowers that had summoned fifth-tier creatures through the Summoning Tower had paid an enormous price — they had even killed a fifth-tier NPC in the process — just to bind the fifth-tier summoned creature permanently to their fortress as its true guardian.
Now he had summoned the Holy Dragon Albreck. Though Albreck was only fourth-tier Legendary, as a Holy Dragon, ordinary fifth-tier monsters were no match for him.
It would be strange if there were no trials attached to this.
But fortunately, four months was more than enough time in Shi Feng's estimation.
As long as he could unlock the Mana Body, break through past the 100% threshold, and obtain the remaining three shards of Solomon's Sword, passing the Holy Dragon's trial should not be a problem.
After the Holy Dragon Albreck finished speaking, he suddenly began chanting an incantation.
In an instant, a fourfold magic array appeared spiraling around Shi Feng, slowly contracting until it formed a single silver-white divine rune. The rune branded itself directly onto Shi Feng's arm, then vanished.
A system notification chimed in Shi Feng's ear.
System: You have received the Mark of the Contractor. You are now the contractor of the Holy Dragon Albreck.