novelraw Chapter 6 – Basic Devour
Chapter 6 – Basic Devour
Anna's consciousness didn't remain clouded for long.
Perhaps it was because Scutellaria Root, a herb never seen in this otherworldly realm, had a unique effect here.
Or maybe it was because Anna's constitution was rather special.
In any case, the herb Su Nian fed her worked surprisingly fast. In no time, her fever subsided.
Her body temperature gradually returned to normal. Although she was still weak, at least her consciousness had returned to her body.
Her limbs could move again.
Anna opened her eyes, somewhat bewildered.
Her head still ached a bit, but the burning sensation throughout her body had vanished, replaced by a comforting warmth.
Was something shielding her?
Her sluggish brain finally began processing the visual information her eyes were sending.
It was Mr. Dragon...
Anna's eyes widened in surprise, realizing she was tightly wrapped under the wings of the Black Dragon, and the comforting warmth came from the dragon's body heat.
[Anna Hathaway's Affection increased by 20, current Affection -10 (Incredulous)]
There was a bitter taste in her mouth, the taste of herbs.
Scattered around were some berries, the sweet taste she had experienced earlier must have come from them.
The Black Dragon's snout lay near her legs, and she could faintly smell herbs near it as well. Upon closer inspection, there were remnants of herbs and berry pulp at the corners of the dragon's mouth.
Was it Mr. Dragon who fed her the herbs and berries?
Anna didn't feel embarrassed or disgusted, just a strange feeling in her heart.
After all, it was a dragon feeding her herbs, not a person.
Rather than feeling shy, she felt more surprised and grateful.
[Anna Hathaway's Affection increased by 20, current Affection 10 (Friendly)]
[Ding! Affection has reached the first stage requirement. Congratulations to the host for acquiring the ability Basic Devour, and earning 2000 System Points.]
[Basic Devour: Eating can quickly restore physical strength and provide a certain regeneration ability, but the appetite will increase accordingly.]
[Ding! Skill has been solidified.]
The system notifications chimed incessantly, but unfortunately, Su Nian was currently unconscious and unaware of anything.
"Mr. Dragon?"
Anna struggled to extend a soft little hand to gently touch Su Nian, but found the dragon before her motionless, as if it were already dead.
"Mr. Dragon, wake up?"
Anna called out again, louder this time, but the Black Dragon still showed no response.
She panicked, carefully observing the Black Dragon's condition, and noticed the large wounds covering its body, feeling a pang of sadness.
When the Black Dragon abducted her, it had protected her well from the attacks of human mages.
Was it because the injuries were too severe to bear?
Could the Black Dragon really be dead?
It was fine just a moment ago, how could...
Anna's expression was filled with worry. She lay on the ground, moving closer to the Black Dragon, gently pressing her ear against its chest to listen intently.
"Thump" "Thump"
The heartbeat was very faint.
Though she didn't understand dragons, she knew how to compare.
When the Black Dragon was active before, its powerful heartbeat could be heard throughout the nest once it quieted down.
This meant that the Black Dragon was indeed in a coma for some unknown reason, and she could feel its body gradually growing colder.
If she didn't do something, it might really die.
On the other hand, now was also the perfect opportunity for her to escape from the dragon's nest.
Anna dismissed this thought without hesitation.
Not to mention that the Black Dragon had saved her, but with her current malady, shackled limbs, where could she escape to?
It was better to try and help the Black Dragon in front of her, to help it through this life-and-death crisis.
That way, even if she couldn't live much longer, at least she would have done something meaningful before dying.
She struggled to sit up.
Her body temperature had almost returned to normal, and Anna felt a bit of strength returning. Although the shackles on her hands and feet were very heavy, she could barely move.
She couldn't go outside to find food, she couldn't walk, and she would die shortly after going out.
Anna could only pick up the scattered berries on the ground one by one, then lift the Black Dragon's large mouth with all her might, crushing the berries with all her strength, and feeding the sweet juice into the Black Dragon's mouth.
After doing all this, Anna was already exhausted.
A layer of cold sweat broke out all over her body, and her mind began to feel a bit dizzy again.
"Mr. Dragon, I'm sorry, Anna can only do this much."
"Your body is so cold, is it because you're cold too?"
Anna muttered softly, feeling sad about her own helplessness.
She gently cradled the Black Dragon's head in her arms. Compared to her petite body, the Black Dragon was over four meters long, with a wingspan of seven or eight meters, and holding its head was already her limit.
She hoped this would let the Black Dragon feel a little warmth.
"Cough, cough..."
The malady Anna had contracted flared up again.
She began to cough violently, drops of alarming blood staining her princess dress, her small body trembling in pain, curling up into a ball, with a stabbing pain coming from her internal organs.
After a bout of struggle, Anna's lips turned blue, and her face was ashen.
She looked wearily at the Black Dragon in her arms, her soft little hand gently touching the two sharp dragon horns, with a hint of prayer in her heart, as her vision went black and her consciousness gradually slipped away.
This poor girl, having just regained consciousness, fainted once again.
She was too weak, and just feeding Su Nian the berries had already drained her strength, triggering the symptoms of her malady.
Under normal circumstances, both Su Nian and Anna would have died in this cave, as the few berries Anna fed him wouldn't have made any difference.
Su Nian's caution saved him.
Of course, the key was the special ability Anna provided.
Fortunately, he chose to fill his stomach first, giving the new ability a chance to work.
[Basic Devour] was rapidly digesting the food in his stomach, and his body had already begun to heal.
Before long...
"Thump thump..."
The slow, weak heartbeat became strong again, and the wounds on his body began to scab over and grow new flesh, but then it suddenly stopped.
The food had been completely devoured, and the regeneration ability ceased at that moment.
However, Su Nian's injuries had mostly healed.
Dragons naturally have a certain regeneration ability, and with his current injuries, he was no longer hindered in movement or combat.
A surge of hunger washed over his awakening consciousness like a flood, jolting him awake with a start.
"Damn, I'm so hungry! Didn't I just eat?"
Su Nian felt as if he hadn't eaten in three days, his stomach growling thunderously, and every cell in his body urging him to eat.
And there was delicious food right in front of him.
A tender, delectable elf girl.
Shouldn't he at least taste it?
The dragon's appetite and bloodthirsty will, driven by hunger, tempted Su Nian's will, but he quickly suppressed it.
Poor Anna was still clutching his head tightly, and her Affection had reached 12.
No matter what, he couldn't eat his own SSS.
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan