Riser Phenex isn't a villain

Chapter 294: Infinite Dragon

As Riser had said before, he was familiar with some of the plots due to his experience of watching this story from his previous life. Naturally, he didn't know until the end, and only some of them, but it greatly helped him with many of his actions.

As for the Great Red?

Riser was unfamiliar with it, and it was also due to this that he underestimated its power.

However, Ophis was different.

While Riser wasn't sure how strong Ophis was, this infinite dragon should be weaker than the Great Red. After all, if Ophis was stronger than the Great Red, she shouldn't be pushed out and left the Dimensional Gap. It was because she was weaker that she became the leader of the Khaos Brigade and wished to defeat the Great Red.

However, the Great Red had been defeated by him.

If Ophis wished to return to the Dimensional Gap, then why should she come to visit him?

Nevertheless, the appearance of Ophis really surprised him. While he had the memory of his previous life, watching how the little girl with long black hair that reached her hips and black eyes in front of him was supposed to be the infinite dragon and the leader of the terrorist organization made him unsure of how to react. Moreover, he didn't feel the hostility that came from her. Instead, all he could see was just curiosity.

Still, there was one big problem.

"Did you plan to destroy my town?"

"Um." Ophis nodded.

"...why?"

"I want to meet you, but the barrier is so annoying."

Did you want to destroy my town because you wanted to meet me?

Riser had an intense headache, and his head was throbbing. "Next time, don't do this. If you want to meet me, then just call me directly. I will give you a way to communicate with me later."

"Um." Ophis nodded obediently.

"..."

Still, watching how obediently and well-behaved this dragon was, Riser suddenly became curious.

Was this really the leader of the terrorist organization?

Somehow, watching how innocent this dragon was, he could imagine that Ophis was being used by everyone on the Khaos Brigade instead of being the real leader behind this terrorist organization.

"So, why did you come here?"

"I wanted to ask you if you had defeated the Great Red?" Ophis asked again with her usual blank expression.

Yes, he had defeated the Great Red, but somehow, he didn't want to tell it directly.

"As the infinite dragon, you should be able to tell, right?"

Hearing his question, Ophis kept staring at him and said, "I smell the scent of the Great Red on you. Did you eat it?"

"Oh? Can you tell?"

"Um."

"Aren't you scared? I might eat you, you know?" Riser decided to tease this little dragon.

However, Ophis shook her head. "No, I don't feel scared."

"Do you think you can defeat me?" Riser raised his brows, wondering why she made such a statement.

Ophis was about to nod, but then she shook her head. "I can't defeat you."

"How honest." Riser thought that Ophis would be stubborn, believing that she could defeat him, but that didn't seem to be the case. Frankly, he knew how stubborn and proud the race known as a dragon was. Being born with an almighty power that could destroy everything as it pleased made their nature arrogant.

Even the Great Red was like that.

However, Ophis was different. She was blank, zero. It was like she was a blank white canvas, pure like a child or even a baby.

Was this a dragon that had been living for so long?

Why was it like he faced children?

"By the way, is that what you want to ask?"

"Um."

"So, what are you doing after this?"

"I will go back."

"Where?"

"The Khaos Brigade."

"Why?"

"Because I can't defeat you."

Riser was dumbfounded and asked, "You want to defeat me?"

"Yes." Ophis nodded.

"Why?" Riser was confused.

"Because I want to return to the Dimensional Gap. If you are there, I can't return," Ophis answered naturally.

"Why do you want to return to the Dimensional Gap?"

"That's my home," Ophis answered. "If you are there, I can't return to my home."

"Why, if I am there, that you can't return?"

"Because you don't allow me to return to the Dimensional Gap."

"No, if you want to go back to the Dimensional Gap, then go for it. I don't forbid you to go back."

Facing such a pure dragon, Riser knew that he needed to ask more questions to understand what she felt and thought within her mind and heart. Fortunately, he was patient and understood everything, so the misunderstanding between them didn't happen.

Still, Riser understood why Ophis wished to fight the Great Red since that overgrown red lizard occupied Ophis' home.

If Riser was in Ophis' place, he would naturally get angry, but in front of the overwhelming power, what could one do?

However, the Great Red had been defeated, and Riser didn't forbid Ophis to go back, so if she wanted to go back, then she should just do it.

"....."

Ophis fell into silence and kept staring at Riser.

"You don't want the Dimensional Gap?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because... that's a place, not my home."

"...."

Ophis fell in silence again, but then she said, "But as long as you are here, that place can't become mine."

"So, you have to defeat me to get to that place?"

"Yes." Ophis nodded.

Riser thought for a moment and suddenly remembered the "Kibi Kibi no Mi," which he had just eaten. This Devil Fruit gave him the ability to create a dango that could be used to tame animals and anyone that had a trait of animal within them.

If he had to say, this ability was similar to "Peto Peto no Mi," but if the "Peto Peto no Mi" was like slavery, the "Kibi Kibi no Mi" was like an instant absolute loyalty.

So, watching Ophis, who stared at him with a pure gaze, Riser was going to tell him about the cruelty of the world. He directly created a dango with his new power and caused Ophis' nose to twitch. She kept staring at the dango and didn't hide her interest in it.

"Do you want to eat it?"

"Um." Ophis nodded.

"Open your mouth."

"Ahh." Ophis opened her mouth and let Riser feed him without knowing that he was under the control of this bad guy.

"Is it delicious?"

"Um." Even if her answer was the same as before, still blank as ever, her eyes showed excitement as the taste of the danger was so delicious.

Riser also tried the dango and had to say it tasted delicious, but it didn't seem that it affected him.

"Do you want to follow me?"

"Follow you?"

"If you follow me, you can eat the dango like before."

"Okay."

Ophis nodded without hesitation.

"Then, let's go and visit my house."

Riser held Ophis's small hand and led him into his city.

What about the Dimensional Gap?

What about the thought of defeating him?

In front of the deliciousness of this dango, Ophis forgot everything.

Still, if there was something that made Ophis curious except for the dango that she had just eaten, it was Riser's hand. She stared at the hand that held her hand gently and thought that it was so warm.