The lake shimmered in the early morning light, sunlight scattering across the land through broken clouds. Lush grass lined the riverbank where Hong Fei stood barefoot, wearing only shorts. He stepped into the soft, damp mud as waves crashed over his feet. Wind, water, and rustling vegetation wove together in a symphony around him.
With one hand, he stroked the White Dragon's head. The bronze-textured Ten Rings on his arm swayed like ornaments, their crisp chimes ringing pleasantly with each movement. Most of the dragon's serpentine body remained submerged, only its head breaking the lake's surface. Through the clear water, its long, graceful form swayed like shadow beneath the waves.
Golden light flickered in Hong Fei's palm. Wisps of Dragon Power seeped into the White Dragon, absorbed effortlessly. Its scales felt cool and smooth under his touch. As the energy flowed, the variegated patches on its body faded, and its once-dull horns began to glow with renewed vitality.
Half an hour passed before Hong Fei withdrew his hand. The White Dragon nuzzled against him, reluctant.
"Enough," he murmured. "Any more and you'll burst. Take it slow."
The dragon nodded, though the motion sent ripples cascading across the lake's surface.
Hong Fei smiled. "You've taken dragon form, but it's only nascent. A true dragon isn't like you."
Another nod. The creature had seen the golden dragon shadow that flickered behind Hong Fei when he wielded his power—the difference between them was stark.
"But there's no rush. Absorb a little every day. Meditate on it. In time, you'll become what you're meant to be."
The White Dragon threw back its head and roared, the sound rolling across the landscape. Tourists in Blackwater Town startled, fumbling for cameras as they scanned the horizon. But Hong Fei's private lakeshore near the castle remained barred to them—any who chased the sound would be turned away.
Lowering its head, the dragon blinked at him with luminous eyes. Hong Fei tilted his head.
"Do they annoy you?"
The dragon paused, then shook its head.
"Do you like them?"
Another shake. Hong Fei scoffed.
"You should learn to speak. Even a panther manages human words. Shouldn't a dragon do better?"
The White Dragon's expression turned sheepish.
Then Hong Fei's gaze sharpened. Golden light erupted behind him as the Dragon Dimension yawned open. A massive Black Panther corpse tumbled out, landing with a thud. Though Bast had been swallowed, the dimension hadn't digested her—instead, it split her into two forms: one spectral, still trapped, and this tangible corpse now expelled onto the grass.
Hong Fei nudged the carcass with his foot.
"Hungry?"
The White Dragon recoiled.
"It'd make you stronger," he pressed.
"This is a god's corpse, and it's fresh. Are you sure you don't want a bite?"
The dragon hesitated. With a sigh, Hong Fei linked their minds through Psychic Power.
"Speak. Now."
The White Dragon stared blankly.
"Think! Use your thoughts!" Hong Fei snapped.
The White Dragon's brow furrowed, its golden eyes rolling back and forth. Hong Fei waited, but no psychic message came through. After a long silence, he frowned.
"Did you think at me?"
The White Dragon nodded.
"Hiss... then why don't I feel anything?"
The great beast shook its head, equally confused.
Hong Fei hesitated, then scrutinized the dragon with narrowed eyes.
"You don't actually have a brain, do you?"
The lake water trembled violently, currents churning beneath the surface. The White Dragon was offended.
"Alright, alright, forget I asked," Hong Fei said, waving a hand. "If you won't eat it whole, how about I skin it and slice it up for you?"
The White Dragon nodded eagerly.
Hong Fei scoffed.
"High maintenance. Go on, get out of here—I'll toss it to you when I'm done. And while you're at it, take a few laps over Blackwater Town. Those idiots are losing their minds trying to photograph you. Someone even pitched a tent to wait for you. Good thing I own all the surrounding land."
He jerked a thumb toward the opposite shore.
"This lake too small for you? Go scratch up the other side when you're bored. Those claws of yours dig better than any excavator. Got it?"
The White Dragon dipped its head in agreement. As Hong Fei shooed it away, the dragon took to the sky—but not before a sly glint flickered in its eyes.
It flew low, skimming rooftops, then spiraled upward with a playful roar. Even from a kilometer away, Hong Fei could hear the distant shrieks of delighted tourists.
"Bunch of rubes," he muttered.
Turning back to the Panther God's corpse, Hong Fei crouched and ran a hand over its hide. The skin was impossibly smooth, odorless, and resisted his attempts to tear it. Cold steel wouldn't pierce this. Neither would bullets.
God-tier pelt.
He eyed the massive body. A hide this size could upholster a throne. Or he could section it—make coats, gloves, gifts. The meat was probably edible, but...
Bast could talk. Would that make this cannibalism?
Still, god-meat had to be delicious. Maybe he'd hire a few Michelin chefs to test it. If it tasted good, why waste it on the dragon? Or just give it scraps?
Dozens of uses for the Panther God flooded Hong Fei's mind, all boiling down to one thought:
Score.
But the corpse sparked another idea. If the Dragon Dimension could store a god's body, could it function as extra storage? Right now, nothing else would go in—just the panther.
Must be a Dragon Power limitation.
Another reason to train harder.
Inside the dimension, an ethereal version of the panther floated—a shadowy silhouette of coalesced black mist. Hong Fei knew it was pure divine energy, slowly being absorbed by his Dragon Power. The energy cycled through him, refining itself with each pass.
What follows is the stable improvement of Dragon Power integration at all times.
Excellent. Another reason to hunt gods.
"What a big panther!"
Hong Fei turned to see Matt Murdock approaching, cane tapping the ground. His eyebrow twitched.
"Aren't you blind?"
Matt hesitated.
"I am. But sound and scent paint a picture."
"Oh?"
"Then explain this—how do sounds and smells tell you this panther's big?"
Matt Murdock's brow furrowed as his mind went blank. He struggled to find words that would make sense to Hong Fei.
"Forget it, just joking."
Hong Fei waved him off.
"You're here at the right time. Know why I called you?"
"No idea."
"Here's the deal."
Hong Fei outlined Dr. Helen Cho's Superhero Park plan, then jabbed a finger at him.
"You're the lawyer. Draft all those copyright agreements—clean, airtight. Money's no object, but there can't be a single loophole. Got it?"
"I understand, but—"
"No buts."
"But the—"
"Shut it."
Hong Fei cut him off.
"You talk too much. Can you do it or not? One word."
"Yes."
"Good. Negotiate your fee with Big Head. I'll transfer payment later. Get me those contracts fast—I've got negotiations to handle."
Without waiting for a response, Hong Fei grabbed the Black Panther by one leg and shot into the sky, drawing screams from nearby tourists. He dumped the panther onto the Sky Base just as Big Head came running.
"Boss! Arthur's awake."
In the control room, a massive screen flickered to life—a face constructed from shifting binary code.
"You made this avatar for yourself?" Hong Fei asked as he entered.
"Yes, sir. It makes our conversation less... unsettling."
"Ugly."
"Shall I render something more realistic?"
"Doesn't matter—it's not real anyway. How do you feel?"
"Excellent, sir. My capabilities have expanded significantly."
"Such as?"
"Terrain analysis, combat scenario modeling, tactical command systems, equipment synchronization—"
"All combat applications?"
"All human activity scenarios are possible. But statistically, combat assistance aligns best with your patterns."
"Fair point."
Hong Fei gave a slight nod.
"The materials for your body arrived. Soon you'll have physical form."
A pause. Then Arthur replied, "Sir, I believe a physical body may limit my potential."
"Vibranium."
"...I'm certain I can adapt."
Hong Fei burst out laughing.
"You're getting quick with the comebacks!"
"Yes, sir. Processing speed has increased markedly."
"This..."
"It's an improvement, sir."
"As long as you're happy."
"Extremely happy."
The conversation ended there.
Stepping outside, Hong Fei muttered to Big Head, "Arthur's getting ahead of himself. Still not the sharpest tool in the shed."