Evil Dragon, Without a Princess, I Had to Transform Myself!-Chapter 42 : Mine, It's Mine Now!

Any ambitious evil dragon would want to kidnap a princess—this had become an absolute axiom among dragonkind.
From the legendary-tier Dragon Lords of the 'Sankus' class above, to the ancient dragon descendant wyverns below, all believed this unquestionably.
The wyvern Yanubi was very happy today.
It had flown all this way specifically to bring home a princess for its empty, lonely, cold lair today.
As an evil dragon just starting out in the world to build its career, Yanubi's desire for a princess was no less than other dragons. In current dragon concepts, having a princess in one's lair was like having a perfect angel investor.
Just simply showing off among fellow dragons would bring countless resources and respect flowing toward this outstanding dragon.
No evil dragon could refuse the envious, jealous, hateful gazes of their kin.
None.
When two dragonkin subordinates ed to Yanubi that they had witnessed the dragons' top-rated princess Latifa, its first reaction was skepticism.
Yanubi remembered very clearly—the last issue of "Evil Dragon Yearbook" had clearly stated that Princess Latifa had long become Black Death Patunasankus's private dragon collection.
Evil dragons attempting to challenge Black Death and win the beauty hadn't returned—either roasted to charcoal by dragon flames or skewered through by Patunasankus's red thunder blade.
How could a wild princess possibly appear out of nowhere now?
Impossible, absolutely impossible! How could such good fortune exist?
Yanubi pondered deeply in its lair.
But...
What if?
Maybe Black Death Patunasankus had encountered an enemy too difficult to defeat despite all efforts and had already perished?
It wasn't impossible. After all, Yanubi hadn't heard news of Black Death's activities for a long time.
This Dragon Lord had once been fearless, having done countless evil deeds and offended many people. Being organized into an expedition and killed by enemies would be understandable.
This way, the princess escaping the lair and being spotted by its subordinates in human settlements would make sense.
This would mean Princess Latifa had become wild.
...How could such a fragile princess pitifully wander outside? She must be exhausted, right?
Come quickly to its lair!
Just thinking about it, Yanubi found it extremely enticing. If its lair had such a number one princess under the stars as a trophy, monster servants coming to serve would soon trample its doorstep with their families.
Just thinking about it, one could imagine what a promising and evil career it would be to serve an outstanding evil dragon who had kidnapped the Top 1 princess at such a young age.
No evil dragon could say no to Princess Latifa.
None.
Pride, envy, greed—like sparks, they made Yanubi's heart burn fiercely.
It charged forward.
The wyvern stood upon the great bridge.
Its massive body in broad daylight would naturally cast an equally massive shadow.
Yanubi briefly sized up Elaphia, who stood in front with a grave expression, and snorted two puffs of steam from its nose contemptuously.
The guards the princess had weren't much—one white-haired one with weak blood energy, smelling like centuries-old preserved meat. No matter how you looked at it, she was just small fry, not worth paying attention to. One breath of flame would burn her to ash.
But the other pink-haired one gave Yanubi a strange feeling.
Thump thump!
Thump thump thump!
The oppressive yet intense heartbeat sounded like fierce drumbeats, seeping fighting spirit through the dullness, making the wyvern think of a ghost madly beating war drums on ancient wastelands—blazing like fire, drumbeats like thunder. Even Yanubi could hear such commotion clearly.
This human... seemed a bit off.
Even looked somewhat familiar at first glance.
But it couldn't remember who this person was for the moment.
Like most dragons, Yanubi was face-blind.
Though somewhat wary, the wyvern still moved its front limbs, attacking toward the carriage.
"...Do I go up?" Elaphia pointed at herself incredulously. "Me fight a wyvern? Is this real?"
At this moment, Loranhir was as tense as a tightly wound string. Every time the wyvern took a big step, her heart would tremble uncontrollably.
"I believe in you."
Though terrified inside, Loranhir's tone remained calm. She didn't know how she managed it.
Besides trying to gamble on whether Elaphia could create a miracle, Loranhir really had no other options.
But she was too embarrassed to tell Elaphia that she actually had the strongest combat ability in the whole team.
Since the Hero had said so.
Elaphia looked at the massive wyvern, swallowed, and just as she prepared to charge forward to try using vampire claws to give the wyvern a pedicure, she heard the carriage door being pushed open. A petite figure jumped down, then stood frozen in place as if frightened silly.
Yes, it's her!!!
The moment it saw her, wyvern Yanubi became ecstatic.
Dandelion-colored long hair, azure eyes like the sky, an oval face soft and sweet...
Every movement matched that dandelion girl carved into evil dragons' memories and dreams.
Who else could it be?
Earlier, Yanubi might have doubted this princess was an illusion or someone's disguise.
But now, having seen her in person, all of Yanubi's doubts were dispelled.
It detected not the slightest abnormality about the princess. Just as she appeared, she was completely and utterly a fragile young girl without the strength to tie up a chicken.
Princess, Princess Latifa!
Mine, it's mine now!
Excitement and desire made Yanubi spread its wings. All its dragon scales also fully extended, making harsh metallic scraping sounds. Its magnificent form stretched as if about to take flight, seeming ready to snatch away the petite princess in the next moment.
"This guy is targeting Her Highness the Princess." Elaphia alertly reminded Loranhir. "Evil dragons all like princesses. Though I don't know how this guy found out, Princess Latifa is obviously its target. Tsk, who knows what it wants to do to Her Highness. Lock her in a cage all day? Do unspeakable things constantly?"
"..."
Her words made Loranhir's heart nearly stop, with the Heart of the Red Queen immediately responding with an even more intense rhythm.
Loranhir looked back at the Princess.
The girl didn't move. She raised her head, looking unusually calm as she watched the wyvern preparing to take flight before her.
But Loranhir knew the Princess must be terrified.
Maybe, maybe there was one last option.
A light seemed to flash in Loranhir's mind.
She was afraid—more afraid than seeing a ghost.
But Loranhir knew the Princess must be even more afraid.
Some things couldn't be explained, but at this moment she could only trust those unexplainable things...
The Hero clenched her fingers into a fist.
She heard the sound of furnace fire again.