In the next moment, the dragon opened its eyes.
Then, it keenly detected the source of that strange sensation, the Golden Fleece was moving away from it, away from this sacred grove.
But how could that be?
The dragon lifted its head to gaze at the oak tree's canopy.
Then, it was shocked to discover that the divine light emitted by the Golden Fleece had vanished.
In the brief time it had been asleep, the Golden Fleece had been stolen.
Upon realizing that the Golden Fleece it had guarded for years had actually been taken, the dragon first widened its eyes in stunned disbelief, then tilted its head back and unleashed a earth-shaking roar of fury.
"Roar, "
The dragon's bellow carried an unmatched Dragon's Might, echoing across dozens of miles around.
Its power was so immense that whether it was the citizens in the city of Aia, the mages in the nearby Mystra Academy and Heart of Incantations, or even King Aeetes and his wife, all were startled by the fire-breathing dragon's enraged howl.
Soon after, King Aeetes immediately understood: the Golden Fleece must have been stolen, which was why the dragon let out such a furious roar.
"It seems those damned outsiders have finally made their move." King Aeetes showed no sign of panic, instead, he wore a mocking smile, as if he had long anticipated this.
"What should we do?" Beside him, his queen's face was filled with alarm.
"If they really take the Golden Fleece, then you... you would... Right, we need to send people after them quickly, block their ship, otherwise you would..."
The queen didn't finish, but everyone knew what she meant.
"You're underestimating the dragon, and underestimating the Mystra Academy," Aeetes replied with a confident air.
"They won't escape at all. You have no idea how terrifying that dragon is... or what kind of monster those mages have turned it into."
At this point, King Aeetes revealed an expression tinged with lingering fear.
"Roar, "
In the sacred grove, the dragon's furious roars continued.
And Medea's song had long since ceased.
Seeing that the dragon had discovered the theft of the Golden Fleece, Medea knew her task was complete.
She hopped down from the unicorn's back, hugged Lurue's neck, and bid it farewell.
Immediately after, with a flash of magical light, Medea vanished from the spot.
Lurue, ignoring the enraged dragon, turned and headed back into the depths of the sacred grove.
On the other side, the dragon, which had been lazily sprawled beneath the tree, suddenly stood up and began flapping its massive wings.
The enormous dragon wings stirred up a storm in the forest, toppling countless grasses and shrubs.
Soon, the dragon took to the air, its nearly hundred-meter-long colossal body sweeping over the sacred grove like a dark cloud, casting a terrifying shadow below.
Having guarded the Golden Fleece for so many years, the dragon was more familiar with its aura than anything else.
Following that scent, it surged fiercely in one direction.
That was the path the Argonauts had taken.
...
The dragon's furious roar not only alerted King Aeetes but naturally also startled the fleeing Argonauts.
Hearing that dreadful sound, laced with overwhelming pressure, how could they not understand what had happened?
"Damn it, that dragon has discovered us after all!" The flustered Jason quickened his pace even more.
"We need to get out of this forest fast, don't let the dragon catch up to us."
The group's escape speed accelerated.
But soon, the dragon's roars and the beating of its wings echoed like a death knell, growing ever closer.
"The dragon is right behind us," beside Jason, Telamon glanced back. "It's about to catch up."
"Damn, damn, how is it so fast!" Jason exclaimed in disbelief. "How did it find us? How does it know we stole the Golden Fleece?"
"Captain, haven't you felt it?"
On Jason's other side, Meleager said with a bitter smile.
"The Golden Fleece has the ability to make anyone near it feel at ease. With that, the dragon obviously knows where it is."
Jason wasn't foolish, as soon as Meleager mentioned it, he immediately realized the truth.
Then, he suddenly felt the Golden Fleece tucked in his bosom like a scorching hot potato.
But having come this far, could he really abandon it?
Just as he was about to say something...
"Roar, "
The dragon's furious cry thundered overhead like heavenly lightning.
Immediately after, a massive shadow blotting out the sky passed over them.
They realized at once.
The dragon had caught up to them.
With no other choice, everyone halted their steps.
Soon, they felt a chaotic storm brewing ahead, blocking their path forward...
It was the airflow stirred by the dragon's wings.
With a wingspan of dozens of meters for its hundred-meter-long body, the flapping created what felt like a miniature tempest.
At that moment, the whipping winds kicked up sand and stones, forcing them to shield their eyes with their arms.
Then, the dragon slowly descended before them.
Gazing at the towering dark green dragon, its sharp claws, and its beautiful yet ferocious draconic head, all the Argonauts drew in a sharp breath.
This time, the terrifying Dragon's Might enveloped them fully from the dragon right in front of them.
The dreadful pressure stirred chaos nearby, the heroes could see birds and beasts in the surrounding woods fleeing in panic, scrambling desperately away from the dragon.
The Argonauts didn't run, but they still raised their weapons warily, aiming defensively at the dragon.
Meanwhile, Jason quietly retreated.
He, who had been leading the escape, slipped unnoticed into the midst of his companions.
In an instant, it seemed like a standoff had formed between the two sides.
But from behind his companions, Jason was still deeply panicked.
Because he noticed that the dragon paid no attention to anyone else, its gaze had been fixed solely on him since it landed, or perhaps even before.
Even as he stealthily backed away, the dragon kept staring at him.
As an ordinary human, what about him could possibly warrant the dragon's attention?
Then, Jason immediately understood.
The dragon had long since detected that the Golden Fleece was on him.
Thinking of this, Jason felt a chill run through his body, his legs trembling, nearly wetting himself in fear.
Being targeted by such a dragon, would his fate be to become dragon dung?
Several times, he almost offered up the Golden Fleece in his arms to beg for his life.
But in the end, he mustered his last shred of courage and banished the thought.
Because he knew that at this moment, the Golden Fleece didn't belong to him alone, it was the fruit of all the Argonauts' combined efforts. He had no right to abandon it unilaterally.
Then, he would fight this dragon to the death.
Just as he embraced this resolve, the dragon opened its maw.
What emerged wasn't a dragon's roar, but a cold female voice.
"Shameless thief, hand over the Golden Fleece now!"
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