I wanted to get up, but my body couldn’t muster any strength. My limps shook continuously. 

The bony old man came from behind me. He stomped his rubber boot on my head. He sounded angry. “Little boy, so many people stronger than you have come here. They are all gone, you know? Did you think you were better than them?” 

“I… I just want to find something… I’m sorry if I’ve offended you…” Since I was still shivering hard, my voice was intermittent. 

I tried my best to prove that I didn’t mean harm. At the same time, I wanted to seize more time. I wanted to know why the people in Dragon King Village were so xenophobic. 

“Find something?” The old man pressed his boot harder against my head. I thought my head would burst soon. I felt like I was suffocating. 

After a moment, he removed his foot and turned to pick up the Holy Mother Scepter. He stroked the scepter and smiled. “What a good treasure. It’s a waste in your hands!” 

Then, he shouted and raised the Holy Mother Scepter high in the...