《Dragon Genesis: I Can Create Dragons》 Chapter 1 A Dream. "Aaaaahhh!!" A young man shouted as he sat up on the bed with a jerk, his icy blue eyes were wide open, showing intense emotions like shock, anger and... fear. "Haah¡­ Haahh¡­ Haahh¡­" His skin was covered with sweat, damp strands of hair clinged to his forehead. His chest rose and fell rapidly, each breathing, uneven. Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump His own heartbeat echoed in his ears, the remnants of the dream still ran in his head. "Haaaaahhh¡­" Taking a deep breath, he rubbed his hands over his face, trying to calm himself down and steady his breathing. The room around him, though ordinary, seemed alien for a moment. The walls were a dull beige, the faint scent of cheap air freshener lingered in the air. A small desk sat against one wall, cluttered with textbooks, papers, and an empty coffee cup. The bed he lay in was unkempt, the sheets twisted around his legs in a haphazard mess. A small window above the desk allowed some sunlight in, signaling that the sun had risen. To his left, a small kitchen nook was visible, with a tiny fridge and a worn-out stove. The bathroom door was half-open, the faint sound of dripping water could be heard from within. "Kael¡­?" Suddenly, the young man, Kael, heard a muffled, unclear voice. It was his roommate, Mark, who had been sleeping next to him. Mark''s hair was a mess, his eyes half-open and his voice carried slight hints of annoyance. "Same dream again¡­?" Kael didn''t respond right away. His breath was still ragged, his hands shaking slightly as he ran them through his black hair again, trying to clear his mind. "Yeah," he finally muttered, his voice hoarse. "Same o-" Before he could complete the sentence, a pillow was thrown right at his face. "You fucker! I told you to stop watching anime for a while! It''s affecting you, and now it''s affecting my sleep as well!" Mark shouted, and in an instant, Kael, whose head was still hazy, woke up. "Fuck you! What has that got to do with this!?" He shouted back, throwing the pillow back at him. "Oh yeah!? Magic Gates all over the sky! Monsters pouring out of those Gates! Some Half-Dragon Half-Human looking dude fighting against those monsters together with his army of Dragons! A woman smirking disdainfully as that Dragon Man is killed by the monsters! Out of all of this, what does NOT have a relation with anime or all those comics and novels you read!? Haah!?" Mark snapped. He, however, wasn''t done yet. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I only introduced the Weeb World to you because I wanted you to chill the fuck out and stop being so try-hard! How in the hell have you fallen so deep into it that you are now dreaming about it!? And to think you are dreaming about Demi-Humans already! Fuck it, even if you are dreaming, why are you dreaming of a Dragon Man!? Why not a strong and sexy Dragon Woman!? Or better, a Foxkin with fluffy ears and tails! A Catwoman would be great as well! Why are you dreaming of a fucking man!? Who in the hell likes men!?!" Mark spoke with absolute disgust. Then, suddenly, his expression changed as he remembered something. "Wait¡­ Are those girls actually right!? Are you gay or something?" At this revelation, Mark crawled away from Kael, looking at him with fear evident in his eyes. Soon, however, as if not wanting to get canceled, he slowly approached Kael and said, "Look, dude¡­ Even if that is the case, I, uhh, will accept you as you are. We live in an independent country, you can like anyone you wish, that is completely normal and I will support your decision¡­ ¡­from a distance." Mark spoke, and Kael, who heard his words, felt his mouth twitching. "I see you no longer wish to pass your final semester exams." Kael spoke, and in an instant, Mark''s expression changed as he rushed towards Kael and grabbed his arm with a pitiful look on his face. "C''mon man, you know I''m joking, don''t you? You won''t do something so petty for a simple joke, now will you? Hahaha~" Mark laughed. "¡­" Kael, however, continued to stare at Mark, not saying anything. "Kael! You cannot do this to me! You are the only one I have!" For someone who wanted to support Kael''s decision ''from a distance,'' Mark''s words were¡­ quite suspicious. However, no matter what Mark said, Kael stayed silent, continuing to observe him. Then, a wicked smile appeared on his face, and, "You know what to do, no?" "You¡­" Mark widened his eyes in disbelief. Kael''s smile widened even further. "You! I can''t do it! Anything but this!" "Oh well, if it''s ''anything but this,'' I guess you will be saving some money this time, after all, you won''t need to buy the next semester''s books, not that you buy any anyways." Kael shrugged, and Mark''s face paled. "Dude, my mother will kill me! You know how she is!" "I gave you the option, my friend." Kael shrugged, turning away. Mark gritted his teeth and, "Please help me, father!" He shouted, his eyes closed because of how humiliated he felt. Kael''s smile widened, "Of course I will, my dear son." Mark clenched his fists in frustration, and Kael just laughed, "Alright, sleep for 30 more minutes if you want, I''ll go get freshened up." Kael spoke as he stood up and walked into the bathroom. ¡­ An hour later, Kael and Mark were walking to the University. It was only a kilometer away from their room, so they usually chose to walk. On their way, Kael was unusually silent, and Mark, who noticed that, turned to him. "Thinking about that dream again?" He questioned, this time, his face showed concern. "This is the fourth time this week," Kael replied, turning towards him. "It used to be a blurry, hazy vision that I''d dream about once every couple of months, But now¡­ now it''s so vivid. I can see every face, remember every detail. It doesn''t even feel like a dream anymore. It feels so¡­ real." Chapter 2 Just get a girlfriend. "It used to be a blurry, hazy vision that I''d dream about once every couple of months, But now¡­ now it''s so vivid. I can see every face, remember every detail. It doesn''t even feel like a dream anymore. It feels so¡­ real." "Dude, you are literally dreaming about Dragons and shit." Mark stared at his roommate with a deadpan look on his face. No matter how much he tried, he just couldn''t take his problem seriously. "It is just a dream, it feels more ''vivid'' because that is all you think about these days." "But do you not find it weird at all¡­? Dreams are influenced by emotions, daily experiences, and subconscious thoughts, often times, they reflect memories, or unresolved issues. It is the sleep quality that shapes a dream''s vividness, but in my case, no matter what ''quality of sleep'' I have, it doesn''t affect it in the slightest. External stimuli, diet, mental health, or even sleep posture seem to have no effect on my dream either. The people or¡­ the monsters I see in my dreams, I have never seen anything like them before, then how is my brain picturing them? Not to mention it is picturing them to the point I remember them clearly, every single detail of every single monster, I remember it all. Do you not find any of this strange at all? I¡­ I just feel like this is¡­ not just a dream, but something deeply connected to me." Kael voiced out his thoughts and Mark, who was looking at him from the start, nodded with a serious look on his face as well. "Now that you say it, It does feel strange¡­" "Right?" "Mhm. I think I understand what all of this means." Suddenly, Mark spoke up as he glanced at Kael. "What?" Kael questioned. "You must be the main character who will be summoned to another world that is being threatened by foreign monsters. As Hero, you will be tasked to save that world, the dream you see must be how the previous Hero, the Dragon Man, lost against the foreign monsters and now all the responsibility is on you, the new and brave hero. It is up to you to defeat the monsters, create a harem of beautiful women, and then live a happy life as the strongest existence in the world. It all makes sense now. You were destined to take this responsibility, the one man tied to strings of fate, the Hero, the lone warrior, the avenger, the Iron Man, Captain America, Tho- Acckkk!!" "Shut the fuck up, you bastard!" Kael shouted as he put Mark in a chokehold. "Acckkk!!" Mark struggled to get away but couldn''t. "Aren''t you speaking a little too much these days, my dear son?" Kael questioned. "I-I¡­" Mark wanted to say something but couldn''t, it was even difficult for him to breathe, let alone say something. Seeing that, Kael loosened his grip, allowing him to speak. Mark, however, used this chance to push him aside and create a distance between the two. "Fuck you, you bastard! Isn''t that what you wanted to listen to anyway!? ''My dream feels like it is deeply connected to me.'' Bullshit! Do you not hear how fucking dumb that sounds!? I can''t believe a dumbfuck like you is a top-ranking student of the University with the highest GPA, my University''s future is doomed!" Mark spoke, his hands grabbing his head as he prepared for his impending doom. "Yeah? Don''t forget to think through the fact that you are relying on this dumbfuck to pass this semester! Before the University''s, worry about your future!" "I am not a bookworm like you, I am street smart. I learn from experience." Mark snorted. "Street smart? Dude, you fell into a gutter when you were coming back to the room after being wasted, if it wasn''t for me who picked you up and brought you back, people would have thought you were some street dog instead of street smart." Kael''s reply was harsh. "A-As I said, I l-learned from that e-experience so I won''t make the same mistake again. T-This is how you grow in life." Mark replied, avoiding Kael''s eyes. "¡­" Kael was speechless. ''What the hell were you learning with your face inside the gutter?'' He had many questions but decided to stay silent. Mark turned silent as well. The two roommates continued to silently walk to their University and after a few minutes, "I am telling you, Stop watching anime for a while. Believe it or not, it is affecting you." Mark spoke. "Yes, yes." Kael nodded in a dismissive tone. Mark, who knew this bastard wouldn''t listen, continued, "Just get a girlfriend, that will solve everything. You are 22 already, for god''s sake!" "I am trying, okay? It''s hard out there!" Kael complained. "You fucking bastard!!" Mark directly pushed Kael away in frustration. "Hard? Hard!? For you!? Saying that with a face like yours, do you want to die or something!? You don''t even do anything and the girls throw themselves at you! It is you who moves away and don''t catch them, you bastard!! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I literally brought a girl to our room just because I told her you were my roommate, just imagining how easy you would have it but you not making use of it wants me to kill you!!" Mark was indeed frustrated. "You know I am looking for something substantial. I do not want something that ends within a week. I need a partner I can spend my lif-" "Fuck you!!" Mark shouted. "I want something substantial." He mimicked Kael''s words in a comical way. "It is 2026, wake the fuck up, the love you read in those novels ain''t real. Something ''substantial'' doesn''t exist. You will die a virgin if you keep thinking this way." "So be it." Kael shrugged. "Tsk, you are hopeless." Mark snorted as the two continued their walk. ¡­ Just as the two reached the gates and were about to greet the guard, [Heroes, please awaken the potential hidden inside you and save the world.] They heard a voice. "Huh? What did you say?" Mark turned towards Kael with a frown on his face. Kael frowned as well. "Huh? What the hell is this?" Both of them heard the voice. It came from the guard, who was staring at a white circle with complex patterns, that had suddenly appeared beneath him. Mark and Kael realized they had similar circles under their feet. Looking around, they noticed other students had them as well. "Is this some gimmick? A universe function we weren''t told about?" Mark frowned. "But a projector shouldn''t be able to do this on such a large scale¡­ especially when we can''t even see anything around¡­ And that voice as well¡­" Kael was just as confused. Whoosh However, before he could say or think anything else, the circle beneath his feet shined brightly, blinding him momentarily, and the next thing he heard was, "He has arrived!!" Chapter 3 I am a Hero? "He has arrived!" An old man in white robes exclaimed, his eyes full of reverence, his voice quivering with a mix of awe and joy. "The Hero is here!" "We succeeded!" "Oh Feraos! Thank you for blessing us!" "Lord Feraos!" "O'' Noble Hero!" "Nerathis will be saved! We will be saved!!" That man wasn''t alone; all the people around him exclaimed just like him. Their eyes were full of awe and reverence as well. ''Huh¡­?'' Kael frowned in confusion. He remembered seeing that strange circle that had appeared beneath him, he thought that it was some University gimmick, but then suddenly, the Circle started shining brightly, blinding his eyes. He covered his eyes with his arms and the next thing he knew¡­ He was hearing these voices. Slowly, Kael opened his eyes and the moment he did, he froze. "W-Where is this place¡­?" He questioned out loud, his eyes displaying his shock. He¡­ He was in a completely different place! ''I didn''t feel anything¡­'' He frowned. He was in front of his University Gates a few seconds ago, how in the hell did he appear in a completely different place that he didn''t even know about? It was as if he was teleported here. ''Wait¡­ I teleported here¡­?'' Kael blinked in surprise. However, before he could think too much, "O'' Noble Hero!" A zealous voice attracted his attention. His eyes finally fell on the scene in front of him and¡­ ''What in the hell are these guys doing¡­?'' Around twenty dudes in white robes were kneeling before him, their foreheads pressed to the ground. Kael was questioning everything he was seeing. First, he was teleported to some random place he had never been to before, and now he was being greeted by¡­ these folks? Had ''normal'' divorced him or something? First, it was the dreams and the- ''Wait¡­'' Kael suddenly realized something. ''These dreams are getting too fucking real.'' He cursed in his head, but then, he sighed. ''At least it is a bit different this time.'' As he calmed down, Kael looked around, knowing that all of this was his own imagination, he couldn''t help but be impressed. He was in a grand, circular hall, its walls were made of polished white marble. At the center, there was a massive translucent crystal. The air here was very different from the impure, polluted air back where he came from. Above the domed ceiling were some paintings depicting different beasts roaming freely alongside four ethereal figures. Those four figures were painted with painstaking detail. Kael also noticed that he was standing at the very heart of this hall. It was a circular platform made of white marble, engraved with what looked like some... magic runes? The runes were glowing faintly, it indeed left a magical impression. Around the Hall, there were four towering statues, A Dragon. A Lion. A Serpent. And a Phoenix. ''Quite detailed.'' Kael praised in his head. "The Hero of the Prophecy!" Suddenly, a voice called out, attracting Kael''s attention. The man raised his head and Kael was finally able to see him, an old man with white hair and a beard, just like other people around, he was wearing white robes that had a badge on the chest. The badge depicted two hands that were joined together, praying to a God. One look was enough for Kael to know who these people were, Priests. "I understand your confusion and disbelief. You have every right to feel this way, being summoned to this sacred place without warning. But I ask that you place your trust in the Divine Order. Allow me to offer clarity and reveal the purpose behind this summon." The Priest spoke. ''Oh?'' Kael turned towards the Priest, looking forward to whatever the dude had to say. "I am Pope Altheran of the Church of Feraos." The Priest started by introducing himself. "We, the faithful of this church, devote ourselves to the worship of Lord Feraos. It is through His divine blessing that we were able to summon you, the Hero, to this sacred place." Pope Altheran continued, Kael listened carefully. To think his imagination would extend this far, he even got that old way of speaking correctly. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Before you arrived here, you must have heard a voice. That was Lord Feraos, our Primal God¡ªthe eternal guide who watches over all. It is by His Divine Will that you have been chosen to bear the sacred burden of becoming the Hero, the protector of our world, Nerathis. I understand that such revelations must weigh heavily upon you, especially as one who does not hail from our lands. Yet, O blessed and noble Hero, I humbly beseech you..." The Pope suddenly knelt, pressing his forehead to the floor again. His voice trembled with strong emotions as he pleaded, "Please, save Nerathis." Other priests present followed, copying the Pope''s actions. "O Great Hero, please save Nerathis!" They spoke in unison, once again, their foreheads pressed on the floor. Kael was taken aback as he witnessed this scene, in his mind, he couldn''t help but question. ''Is it just me or do these people really love their floors? Actually, who cleans this place anyway? That guy needs a raise.'' Soon, however, he shook his head as he got the answer. ''No one cleans this place, it is a dream, it is supposed to stay clean.'' "¡­" "¡­" As Kael thought of that, silence fell over the Hall. While the Pope and the Priest continued to show their admiration for the marble floor, Kael was frowning. ''When is this going to end?'' Most of his dreams only lasted for a minute or two at most, but this one¡­ It seems like this is an exception. ''Am I supposed to do something to wake up?'' He did try opening his eyes and waking up, but that didn''t work and while he did think of slapping his face, that just sounded outright stupid. ''Fuck it, Mark will wake me up soon anyways, let''s just see how far this plays out.'' "I am a Hero?" He questioned as he raised his eyebrow. "Chosen by the Great Feraos himself." The Pope answered confidently. Chapter 4 What… what was that? "I am a Hero?" Kael questioned as he raised his eyebrow. "Chosen by the Great Feraos himself." The Pope answered confidently. "Great Feraos, huh? Who was he again?" "Great Feraos is our Primal God, the eternal gui¡ª" "Right, scratch that. Too much info dump." Kael quickly waved his hand, stopping the Pope. "I''ll wake up soon, so instead of the lore, continue with action. What am I supposed to do now that I am Hero? Kill the Demon Lord?" He questioned. The Pope blinked in surprise. For a moment, he was wondering if the Hero had something wrong with his head. Soon, however, he shook his head. He cannot doubt the Will of Great Feraos, that is blasphemy. The Pope then stood up and glanced at Kael. "Please follow me, Noble Hero." Kael nodded and followed the Pope. The two started walking towards the massive crystal Kael saw before. "This is the Orb of Resonance. One of the Ancient Relics that belongs to our Kingdom, a Gift given to us by our Lord Feraos. It reveals the potential of those who touch it. It is said that if you are able to make the Orb react to you, even if it is a small vibration, you are destined for greatness as long as you reach your full potential. Please place your hands on it. This will confirm your destiny as the Hero and ease all your doubts." "Mhm, typical isekai stuff." Kael nodded to himself. "I guess Mark was correct. I need to stop watching that stuff." Then, he started thinking. "A girlfriend, huh¡­" He thought about Mark''s suggestion, and at the same time, he moved his hand and placed it on the Orb of whatever. The Pope and the rest of the priests observed this scene with fervent eyes. Kael then felt something entering his body. It was a feeling he had never experienced before, but before he could express his shock or move away, Bzzzzz The Orb of Resonance blazed with brilliant light that blinded all who were present. Bzzzzz Bzzzzz Bzzzzz The sound of it vibrating as if it would soon break into pieces echoed throughout the Hall, and, "What¡ªWhat is this?! I can''t see! It''s too bright!" A priest shouted. "Is this the potential of the Hero?" Another priest gasped. "Nerathis is saved! Nerathis is saved!!" "O Noble Hero!" "O Great Feraos! Thank you for blessing us!" The Pope and the priests fell to their knees again, their voices thick with awe. This time, their eyes showed even stronger reverence and devotion. If before, their belief came from the prophecy, now, they were seeing it with their own eyes! In their entire life, they had never seen anyone who made the Orb glow as brightly as Kael did, and this was a big deal since these people had seen even the strongest Tamers test their potential using the Orb. Even the current Grand Marshal of the Drakthar Kingdom, one of the strongest warriors in the entirety of Nerathis, was only able to make the Orb glow faintly, and even that surprised all of Drakthar. After all, the Orb barely reacted to anyone. If it did, it would only vibrate lightly. Glowing was a rare case. The number of times the priests had seen it glow, even faintly, could be counted on the fingers of one hand. As for this¡­ The glow so bright that it blinded them all¡­ This was something they had never even dreamed about! This man¡­ he was indeed someone chosen by the Great Feraos! The man who would save Nerathis! ''W-What the hell? Who blinded me!?'' While the priests had pretty much lost their minds, Kael felt a strange energy coursing through his entire body. His eyes were blinded by the bright light the Orb emitted, then suddenly, [Ding!] He heard a sound. [Talent Awakened.] [Talent Name: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] ''H-Huh¡­?'' Kael frowned, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. But then, His vision blurred, and suddenly, his surroundings shifted, showing him an entirely different scene. He was no longer standing in the Hall with the Pope and the priests. He was in a completely different place, his body no longer his own. It was as if he was pulled into someone else''s world, seeing through his eyes, feeling his emotions as though they were his own. The vision was vivid and terrifying. The air was thick with the scent of blood and decay, and the distant sounds of battle echoed in the background. Kael could feel ''his body'' pressed to the cold ground, held down by monstrous hands. He struggled to move, but the grip was too strong. His chest was crushed beneath the weight of these creatures, their claws digging into his skin. A monstrous hand was holding his head up, and while another kept his eyelids open, forcing him to watch the ongoing slaughter. His body trembled, his breath was shallow, his heart wrenched in pain. The monsters with grotesque appearances tore through helpless humans with savage ferocity. "AAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!" "HELP ME!!!" "SPARE M¡ªNO!!" Screams filled the air as humans were slaughtered without mercy. ''!!!'' Kael felt a chill crawl up his spine as he realized something¡­ T-These monsters¡­ They were the same monsters from his dream¡­ The monsters he vividly remembered¡­ Step Step Step Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. An aged woman, with long, white hair and silver eyes that gleamed with a chilling, malevolent light. She walked towards Kael¡ªor the man pinned on the ground¡ªwith a cruel smile on her lips. "Like what you see?" her voice was hoarse, clearly belonging to an aged person who didn''t have long to live. "I told you, didn''t I? Since you refuse to submit to my Lord, I will make you die in despair." The man''s eyes widened, and Kael could feel his heart burning with endless rage as the woman''s words sunk in. The monsters around them continued their bloody work, but the woman seemed unfazed. She knelt down before him, her gaze never leaving his eyes. "How was it?" she continued, her tone full of mockery and cruelty. "Watching the destruction of the world you so desperately tried to protect? Seeing everything you cherished being annihilated in front of you and being completely helpless to do anything? O Brave and Strong Dragon Lord¡­ Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Strongest of Humanity¡­ Did you enjoy it?" Kael felt the man''s chest tighten, his emotions boiling over as the woman''s words cut through him like a knife. His entire body shook with rage, despair, helplessness, and regret. Soon, however, his rage took over all other emotions as he glared at the woman and screamed. "NERISSAAAAAA!!!" "Hahahaha~" The woman, Nerissa, however, wasn''t affected by his rage in the slightest. Her laughter echoed in Kael''s ears, a sound so cold that it sent a shiver through his entire being. Before Kael could process anything anymore, the vision took a final, brutal turn. He watched in horror as the woman raised a sword, its blade shining with a deadly cold light. Slash With one swift motion, she brought it down, and the man''s head was severed from his body. Blood sprayed the ground, and the vision shattered into darkness. "Haahhhh!!!" Kael woke up. "Haahh¡­ Haahhh¡­ Haahh¡­" Gasping for air, his heart racing, his body drenched in a cold sweat and trembling without stopping. He looked around and¡­ He wasn''t in his room¡­ He was still in that big Hall, the priests still kneeling in front of him in reverence and he... He couldn''t be more confused. ''What¡­ what was that?'' Chapter 5 Dragon Genesis ''What¡­ what was that?'' His mind was in a messy state. This time, the ''vision'' he saw was much different than anything he had seen before. The emotions he felt, the despair, the helplessness, and¡­ the rage¡­ All of that felt¡­ too real. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael''s legs trembled, his stomach churned. He felt like if he didn''t control himself, he might vomit his guts out. All those screams still rang in his ears, visions of humans being massacred by those monsters were clear in his head. The anguish, the anger¡­ The pain he felt as the monsters'' claws pierced his skin as they grabbed him, or how they made him watch everything by force, he could vividly remember every single thing¡­ Even the vision before his head was severed¡­ Kael''s body trembled again. He stepped back, his legs staggering. "Hero¡­?" Suddenly, the Pope, who noticed Kael''s odd behavior, called him out with a worried look on his face. "Is everything alright?" He questioned. "Huh¡­?" His words pulled Kael out of his reverie. Once again, his eyes fell on the place he was in. The same Hall, in front of the same Pope and these Priests who were looking at him with the same reverence¡­ He¡­ He still hadn''t woken up from his dream¡­ ''I-Is this really a dream¡­?'' Kael began having second thoughts. That vision had messed up his mind, he couldn''t think. "Hero?" The Pope called out again. "Y-Yes." Kael replied. It was an unconscious response. "Did you awaken your talent?" "T-Talent¡­?" Kael frowned. However, the moment he said those words, a screen appeared in front of him along with a sound. [Ding!] [Talent Awakened.] [Talent Name: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] Kael froze, his breathing became unnatural. ''W-What¡­?'' The glowing screen hovering in front of him was surprising enough, but what truly sent a chill down his spine was the name of his talent. Dragon Genesis¡­ The word "Dragon" struck him like a thunderclap. It wasn''t the talent''s grandeur or the mythical nature of dragons; it was the vision he just saw¡­ Amongst the countless corpses he saw¡­ Quite a few of them were of Dragons¡­ The endless field of dragon corpses. He also recalled the gut-wrenching emotions ''he'' felt every time his eyes fell on the dragon''s corpse. Kael wasn''t a fool. That woman also referred to that man as ''Dragon Lord.'' These two hints were more than enough for him to understand that that man and those Dragons were closely related. From the start, what Kael hated the most was how his consciousness was tied to that man''s body. If it was just a normal vision where he saw everything from a third person''s point of view, like a movie, it wouldn''t shake him to this extent. Sure, those visions were disturbing, but he would simply close his eyes and not think about them¡­ What made everything so difficult for him was the fact that he was seeing through someone else''s eyes, unable to even close his eyes when he wanted to. And feeling all those emotions that being felt. To feel everything he felt so clearly¡­ It was almost as if¡­ The two of them were the same person. It was a thought Kael had buried deep in his mind... But now¡­ As he saw his talent, a talent that was related to the Dragons¡­ That thought resurfaced again. And just thinking about how that man''s life ended¡­ Kael''s entire body shivered. ''No, no, I am thinking too much. All of this is just a dream anyways, a nightmare, and I will wake up from this nightmare soon enough.'' Kael tried to stick to his last hope. "Hero¡­ Did you not awaken your talent¡­?" Seeing the Hero acting strangely, the Pope questioned with an unsure look on his face. Kael, wanting to distract himself from his thoughts, decided it was best to converse with another person, even if that said person was born from his imagination. "I did." "You did?" The Pope''s face instantly brightened up. "What talent did you awaken?" He questioned with a curious look on his face. At his question, Kael decided to start reading the rest of the details as well. [Talent Name: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] [Dragon Genesis] [Description:] [Power to turn any beast with even the slightest trace of Dragon Blood in them into a full-grown Dragon.] [Innate Talent Skills:] [Draconic Awakening] [Description:] [The foundational power of Dragon Genesis. Awaken the latent dragon bloodline in any beast, turning it into a full-fledged dragon. The awakened dragon retains its original traits while gaining the superior strength, intelligence, and magic inherent to all dragons.] [Draconic Sense] [Description:] [Detects beasts or eggs with even the faintest traces of Dragon Bloodline within a 500-meter range, automatically activates to guide you toward the target.] [Dragon''s Eye] [Description:] [An ability that allows you to peek into other beings'' secrets. Their strengths, their weaknesses, everything will be clear to you with one look. The stronger the opponent, the more difficult it is to see through them.] [Draconic Vitality] [Description:] [Your body is enhanced by the essence of dragons, granting you immense endurance, faster recovery, and immunity to basic poisons and diseases.] [Blood Pact] [Description:] [An ability that allows you to form a sacred bond with Dragons.] [Dragon Whisperer] [Description:] [Your connection with dragons transcends speech. You can naturally understand, influence, and calm all dragon-like creatures, even those not awakened by you. Hostile dragons are less likely to attack, and friendly dragons will gravitate toward you.] [Shared Growth] [Description:] [You and your Dragons grow together. This synergy ensures that you all become a unified force capable of overwhelming any foe.] [Aura of the Dragon Monarch] [Description:] [Because of the dragons under your command, the Aura you radiate carries the Essence of Dragons, allowing you to suppress weaker foes and boost your allies'' morale with your presence alone.] ¡­ ''W-What...?'' Kael, who finished reading the entire thing, couldn''t believe what he what he was seeing. ''I Can Create Dragons¡­?'' Chapter 6 A Perfect Plan. ''I can create Dragons¡­?'' Kael couldn''t believe what he was seeing. A talent to create Dragons¡­ Dragon Lord¡­ Even a fool could put two and two together¡­ ''I am fucked, aren''t I?'' Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A weak smile appeared on Kael''s face; he could feel goosebumps all over his body. There were too many questions in his head. Was he correct? Was the man in the vision actually the future him? Or was it his predecessor who had the same ability as his? But then how was he able to feel his emotions so clearly? ''Fuck, I need to calm down. I won''t be getting answers to any of my questions right now.'' The vision was just messing with his head, so he stopped thinking about it altogether. "Hero, what talent did you awaken?" The Pope repeated his question, once again pulling Kael out of his reverie. Kael glanced at the Pope again. This time, he was sure¡­ This wasn''t a dream. He wasn''t going to wake up. That Circle that appeared beneath him, it must be some sort of magic that has now summoned him to this world as a Hero. ''How fucking clich¨¦¡­'' Kael cursed in his head. If it had happened before, he might have been excited, but after the vision he saw¡­ that was simply impossible. What good is being summoned to a fantasy world when he might have to face those terrifying monsters in the future¡­? ''Wait, don''t all protagonists face such monsters?'' He realized it. ''Ugghh¡­ I would have come to terms with reality on my own. Why show me that horrifying vision?'' Kael complained. ''Shouldn''t you show me the good side and rope me in first? Why would you demotivate me from the very sta¡ª'' Suddenly, Kael froze as he recalled something. ''You must be the main character who will be summoned to another world that is being threatened by foreign monsters. As the Hero, you will be tasked to save that world. The dream you see must be how the previous Hero, the Dragon Man, lost against the foreign monsters, and now all the responsibility is on you, the new and brave hero. It is up to you to defeat the monsters, create a harem of beautiful women, and then live a happy life as the strongest existence in the world.'' He recalled the words Mark said to him before they came here. Yes, that bitch was being sarcastic, but¡­ Everything he said came true! ''Was that fucker a prophet sent to alert me?'' Kael couldn''t help but wonder. Soon, however, he shook his head. ''Prophets don''t go around sinking their heads into the gutter.'' Kael had too many embarrassing memories of Mark in his head to take that guy seriously. "Hero?" Once again, the Pope called out, this time, somewhat tired. He had no clue why this Hero was so absent-minded. Or¡­ was his assumption previously correct and the hero''s brain is actually absent? ''No! No, Altheran! This is blasphemy!'' He scolded himself in his head and glanced at Kael, waiting for him to respond. "Oh, right, My talent. You want to know what Talent I awakened, correct?" The Hero questioned. "Yes." The Pope nodded, and once again, Kael turned silent. There were still too many questions in his head, too many things he was unsure about. However, if there was one thing he knew, It was that the vision he saw was a Warning. Someone¡­ or something was trying to warn him¡­ Kael''s brain, that had spent three years exploring the culture, started working, analyzing everything he knew related to this hero and being summoned to another world stuff, and after a not-so-thorough analysis, he made a decision. "Am I supposed to know what talent I awakened¡­?" He questioned with a frown on his face. "Huh?" The Pope frowned. "Is there a problem?" Kael tilted his head, feigning confusion. "Well, anyone that awakens a talent through the Orb usually knows what talent they awaken¡­" The Pope answered. "What about the Hero? Did the previous Hero know what talent he awakened as well?" Kael questioned. The Pope, however, was unsure. "I do not know¡­ There are no records of any other Hero being summoned to this world¡­ There are ancient legends, but that is all we have. There are no clear records." The Pope replied, and the moment he heard those words, Kael inwardly smiled. ''So that means you know jackshit. I can say whatever the hell I want, and you have no choice but to believe it.'' "I do not know about others. I did feel some energy enter my body, but I do not know what it did¡­ Maybe I am not the Hero you are actually looking for¡­?" Kael spoke with uncertainty, trying to get out of this situation. "No. That cannot be. The Will of Great Feraos is never wrong." The Pope replied with certainty. "You must have awakened your talent; you just do not realize what it is. Worry not, Hero. We still have time on our hands. As you grow, your talent will bloom, and it will bloom so wonderfully that even a child would be able to recognize it." "I understand¡­" Kael nodded weakly. ''Che.'' He snorted. He thought he could get away but it didn''t work. Then, he just shook his head. At the very least, he was able to hide his talent. Why did he do that? Because normally, in this situation, if he didn''t see the vision, he would have revealed all the details of his talent to this person next to him¡­ Kael''s thought process was simple. If the Vision wanted to warn him, then it must have wanted him to do things in a different manner than he normally would. So if he normally would have revealed all the details¡­ Right now, he decided to hide it. Now he had no clue if he had interpreted this the right way. He also knew just how annoying it was to read every time the strong main character decided to hide his powers. Right now, however, he wasn''t a reader and this wasn''t a novel. Kael wanted to survive, no matter what it took. ''The number of Dragons I saw in the vision was too little. It is one thing to have a low number since Dragons are supposed to be rare¡­ But if you had the power to create Dragons¡­ Then how come I only saw 30-something Dragons¡­?'' Kael couldn''t understand. His plan forward, however, was clear. If 30 didn''t work¡­ He would create more¡­ 100¡­ 1000¡­ Or even 10,000 Dragons! He would create so many Dragons that the enemies would piss in fear the moment they saw his Dragon Army! Then he would accept their surrender since he is scared of fighting. He would win without having to fight. A perfect plan. Chapter 7 Yes, Your Majesty. A few minutes later, Kael stood in front of a massive gilded door that led to the royal throne hall. Yes, he was about to meet the King of this Kingdom. The Pope had dragged him here, saying how the King wanted to meet him and how the King and the Hero were supposed to be on the same page and whatnot. Since it was the King, the Head of this place, Kael couldn''t deny it either. Staring at the Grand Gates, Kael was overwhelmed. The Pope, wearing his golden white robes, placed a hand on Kael''s shoulder. "Be at ease." He spoke. "The King has awaited this moment for years. He sees you not only as our savior but as the hope of all Nerathis." Hearing his words, Kael nodded, and a determined look appeared on his face as he mentally prepared himself to meet the King. The doors opened up, revealing a grand throne hall that seemed like it was designed to make others awe at its majesty. Massive columns carved with intertwining dragons spiraled toward the ceiling. The shimmering tiles caught the sunlight streaming in through tall stained glass windows. At the far end of the room, seated on a crimson and gold throne, was the King, Alden Dragonborn. The King rose as Kael entered, his purple eyes shining brightly with excitement. His purple hair gleamed under the golden light, and his imposing figure radiated both authority and warmth. He descended the podium with practiced grace, his crimson cloak flowing behind him. "Hero," Alden''s voice resonated throughout the hall. "I welcome you to the heart of Drakthar. Your arrival is a blessing, a fulfillment of prophecy, and the dawn of a new era for our Kingdom." ''Who talks like that? Has he memorized all this¡­? '' Kael couldn''t help but wonder. However, seeing that the King continued to stare at him, he realized that he was supposed to say something here. "Y-Yes, Your Majesty." That was the only thing he could think of. His response made the nobles present in the throne room frown. The King, however, laughed out loud. "Hahaha~ You don''t need to be so nervous." Then, he placed his hand over Kael''s shoulder and said, "You can calm down. Let us start with our introductions. I am Alden Dragonborn, the King of the Great Drakthar Kingdom. What about you?" "I am Kael Carter." S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael answered. "Hero Kael." The King nodded as he stared at Kael. Kael, once again, had no clue what he was supposed to say here, so he just repeated what he had done before. "Yes, Your Majesty." His response seemed correct, as the King continued, "I know you must be confused, being summoned to a world completely different from what you are familiar with. It must be quite overwhelming." ''No shit.'' "Be at ease, Brave Hero. Let me give you a brief description to help you familiarize yourself with this world." "Yes, Your Majesty." Kael repeated. The King then started, "The World of Nerathis is a land blessed by Lord Feraos, the Primal Beastlord, the Origin and Guardian of all Bonded Creatures. It was through His Divine Will that the first Sacred Bonds between humans and the beasts of this world were formed. These Bonds are the foundation of everything we hold dear." The King stared at Kael and continued, "In this world, we do not fight, live, or grow alone. We rise or fall together with the Bonded Creatures that Lord Feraos has gifted us. These beings are not mere companions¡ªthey are our equals. Our partners. Together, we build strength, wisdom, and prosperity. Together, we plow fields, construct cities, and even wage war." ''In the end, I couldn''t skip the Lore, huh¡­'' Kael sighed inwardly. Of course, now that he knew he was going to stay in this world, he listened attentively. The King leaned forward, his voice steady but passionate. "Everything in Nerathis depends on these Bonds. Our progress, our culture, our very survival¡ªeverything hinges on these Bonds. The stronger the beast you bond with, the higher you rise in this world. Nobles are revered for the strength and rarity of their bonded creatures, while Marshals lead armies of beast-bound warriors. Even our most sacred rites are carried out alongside our loyal companions. In battle, a warrior who has forged a Bond with a mighty beast will always be unmatched. Even if that warrior fights without their Bonded Companion at their side, the strength of their Bond makes him far superior to someone without a beast or with a weaker Bond." ''So a World of Beast Tamers...'' Kael noted in his head. "It is said that the stronger the Bond, the closer we come to Lord Feraos'' divine essence. Those who walk this path, nurturing their Bonds, become unparalleled. As our Hero, you too, will walk on the same path. You will form bonds with strong creatures, strengthen those bonds with time, and face your enemies together with your trusted bonds. Of course, in this journey, we, the Drakthar Kingdom, will always be your allies and have your back. Your Talent is still unknown, but that isn''t a problem, with time¡­" The King continued. Kael, however, could already summarize what he needed to know. ''So like Pok¨¦mon¡­ but here, the Pok¨¦mon trainer grows stronger together with the Pok¨¦mon, Got it.'' He nodded inwardly. "Hero, I understand I am overwhelming you by divulging all of this to you the instant you arrived, but there is one final matter that I must share with you." The King spoke after a solemn pause. He straightened his back, his expression shifting from the warm enthusiasm of earlier to something heavier, more serious. "It is regarding the true reason for your summoning." The King spoke as he stared at Kael, and this time, Kael looked at him, mirroring the same solemnity. Of course, he didn''t forget one last thing, "Yes, Your Majesty." The words ''Yes, Your Majesty,'' seemed to act like the ''Enter Button'' in the games Kael had played before. Every time he pressed this button, the King continued. Honestly, Kael was tempted to try and spam this button to see if the King would skip the Lore, but just thinking about how foolish he would look if he continued to shout ''Yes, Your Majesty,'' again and again, he dropped the thought. And who knew? The King might think that he was trying to dishonor him and throw him out, or worse, execute him. Kael wasn''t daring enough to try it out. Chapter 8 [Fire Dragon Bloodline Detected] "Our world, Nerathis, has always been blessed by the benevolence of Lord Feraos. The Magic Beasts that dwell within this land have always lived in harmony with humans. Even the untamed beasts of the Wilderness, though wild and free, have never interfered with human settlements. It has been an unspoken law¡ªone rooted in Lord Feraos'' divine order." The King continued, his tone becoming graver. "But something has changed. The beasts of the Wilderness have turned feral, attacking our cities and killing our people. Entire towns have been destroyed. Countless lives have been lost." Alden lowered his voice; one could see that he was deeply affected by it. The helplessness and worry in his voice couldn''t be hidden. Kael frowned. This didn''t make any sense. "Attacking humans? Didn''t you just say the beasts are meant to coexist with you? Why would the beasts attack humans?" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He questioned. "Precisely. Their attacks defy every principle we hold sacred. It is as if something has corrupted them, twisted their very essence. The beasts we once revered as our allies and protectors have become our greatest threat." Alden''s voice grew more solemn; his unease could be felt very clearly. "And what''s worse is that this isn''t an issue only we, the Drakthar Kingdom, are facing. Reports have come from other kingdoms across Nerathis. The beasts in the Wilderness have become frenzy throughout Nerathis. It is a sign, A sign that something has gone terribly wrong. A catastrophe of unimaginable scale looms over us." "A C-Catastrophe?" Kael stuttered. Once again, the vision of thousands of monsters tearing humans apart played out in his head. "What is this catastrophe?" Kael questioned, wanting to know more about this. The King, however, shook his head. "We do not know. The magic beasts are known to be creatures closest to Lord Feraos. If these beasts have been corrupted, then this is anything but a good sign. Something is wrong, we just do not know what it is yet. All we know is that this madness began months ago, gradually getting worse. Towns that once thrived are now no more than ruins. People live in fear, unsure whether they would live to see the next day or not." Alden then stared right into Kael''s eyes and, "According to the ancient prophecies, it was foretold that when such a calamity strikes, when the beasts turn against humanity and humanity stands on the brink of extinction, A Hero will be summoned. One chosen by Lord Feraos himself, to lead us out of the darkness. That is why you are here, Kael. You are our Hero. The Hero of all Nerathis." Suddenly, as if his grand status meant nothing to him, the Old King bowed, his form almost parallel to the ground. "King!" "Oh King!" The nobles and servants present in the hall exclaimed in surprise as they witnessed this scene. The King, however, ignored them all and, "You carry the hopes of all Nerathis on your shoulders, Kael. I request you, O Hero, please do not let us down." Kael quickly grabbed the King. "P-Please do not bow your head, Your Majesty." He stuttered. No matter how much he wanted to joke around in this situation, seeing a King, the Head of this place, bowing his head in front of someone who didn''t even belong to this world was not funny. ''If the leaders back in my world were half as responsible as him, our conditions would have been much different.'' Kael thought inwardly. At the same time, he couldn''t help but respect the King who stood in front of him. "Someone of your status shouldn''t bow your head like this." Kael spoke, his face full of respect and worry. Alden, held by Kael, stared at him and, "Me and my people are all relying on you, Brave Hero." He spoke, his eyes showing the desperation and helplessness. "I¡­ I will do my best¡­ and protect everyone¡­" Kael nodded. These words meant more to him since he saw that ''vision.'' After all, he had seen the possible ''end'' of this world and¡­ his own... The King smiled, his expression a mix of pride and hope. "You have my gratitude, Hero Kael." He spoke as he stood straight. Then, to lighten up the mood, he continued, "I have already said everything I wanted to say. There are matters that need our urgent attention, but today, we must celebrate your awakening. Lord Feraos himself has smiled upon us and blessed us to be able to see his chosen one standing in this hall." The King then gestured, and a servant brought forth a tray holding a goblet of gold. "Drink, Hero. A toast to the bond between you and Drakthar." Kael glanced at the King for a moment. Then, he accepted the goblet, the liquid inside shimmering faintly. He raised it to his lips, taking a sip. The taste was sweet, and the moment it went down his throat, Kael could sense a foreign energy coursing through his body. This was one of the most expensive drinks in the entirety of Nerathis. A luxury not many could taste. It was Drakthar''s pride. A drink only used for grand occasions. "Now," suddenly, the King called out, his voice softening, "Since we are expecting so much from you, it is only right that we give you something in return, no?" Alden spoke with a big smile on his face. Then, at his gesture, a servant nodded and left the place. A few seconds later, Kael saw five attendants walking into the Hall, each carrying a pedestal covered in silk. The servants quickly arranged themselves in a semi-circle before the King, and with a nod, they pulled back the silk cloths, revealing five glimmering giant eggs. "These are the finest beast eggs from the royal collection," Alden explained, pride evident in his tone. "Each holds a creature of immense power and potential. They are rare, unique, and worthy of a hero such as yourself. You may choose any, and it shall be yours to bond with and tame." Kael was taken aback. To think he would get to bond with a Magic Beast so quickly, but after thinking about it, it made sense. In a world where everything is connected to one''s bonds, how could the ''Hero'' start his journey without one? "What are you waiting for? Go on, walk towards the one that calls you out most. One way to see if you have an affinity with a beast is to place your hand on its egg. You would feel a sense of connection with the egg if the affinity between you two exists." The King spoke, wanting him to choose the egg he had the strongest affinity with. Kael, however, didn''t need to touch the eggs to get the answer. He already knew what he was going to choose. His skill, , had already activated the moment he walked into the Royal Hall. He just held back, not wanting to attract any attention. Now, however, when he was presented with the meal right in front of him, he had no reason to hold back. Of course, he was still careful and didn''t directly jump at the Egg he wanted. Kael walked towards a white egg, his fingers brushing its frost-covered surface. "You have a keen sense," the King said, impressed. "It is the Frost Leon. Its mastery over frost could turn the tide in any battle." Kael, however, slowly shook his head and moved towards a rainbow-colored egg. "A Sylvan Treantbeast. It is said to bring life even to barren lands." The King introduced. Kael then walked towards a black egg. "A Shadefeather Gryphon," The King murmured. "Fast, stealthy, lethal in the right hands." The fourth one was a purple egg. "A Thunderclaw Seraph. Powerful and commanding." The King nodded. "It is said to summon storms with a single cry. Truly a beast of legends." Kael smiled. Then, he finally walked towards a crimson egg, its heat pulsing faintly against his hand. "A Firefang Wyvern. A powerful ally, fierce and unyielding." The King introduced, and Kael''s smile widened, not because of his words, but because of what he was seeing. [Ding!] [Fire Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] Chapter 9 [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Ding!] [Fire Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] Kael''s smile widened as he saw this message. "I want this one." He had made his decision. Well, it was pretty obvious. After all, out of all five Eggs presented to him, only this one had faint traces of Dragon Bloodline. Honestly, Kael knew that if he had revealed his talent, he would have had an easier time finding beasts with Dragon Bloodlines. For now, however, he decided not to be greedy. His life was much more important right now, not to mention he could always change his decision once he learned more about this world. ''Huh¡­? I¡­ finally know what my Talent is¡­ How did that happen¡­?'' How hard could saying these words be? He didn''t have to come up with an excuse, he just needed to act surprised, and these people¡ªthey would automatically find a believable excuse for him. He had nothing to worry about. "A Firefang Wyvern, eh? It represents boldness and courage, worthy of being your first ally." The King praised. He nodded at the rest of the servants, and they walked away, leaving only the one carrying the Firefang Wyvern''s Egg. The King gestured again, and another servant, this time carrying a book on a pedestal, walked towards Kael. "In Nerathis, the ones who form Bonds and grow together with their Beasts are called Beast Tamers. This book contains all the information you need to know about Beast Taming and the steps required to embark on this journey. Of course, I have also arranged multiple tutors who would teach you everything else you, as the Hero need to know, but it would do you well if you go through this book once." "I understand, Your Majesty." Kael nodded. He extended his hands, wanting to take a look at the book, but then, "Hahaha~ Look how diligent you are already." The King chuckled out loud. "Hero Kael, this is your first day here in this world. You must be overwhelmed by this sudden change. So instead of burying your head in that book, join the celebration we''ve prepared in your honor. Meet the people of this land, savor its joys, and allow yourself a moment of respite. Tomorrow, your training begins¡ªand I assure you, it will not be easy." The King smiled as he stared at Kael. "So enjoy whatever peaceful time you are left with. Hahahah~" Then, he laughed. "I-I understand." Kael chuckled awkwardly. The King raised his goblet high. "To the Hero!" he declared with commanding pride. "To the Hero!" the gathered nobles followed in unison, their voices reverberating through the hall. The celebration began in earnest. Tables laden with delicacies were brought in, goblets overflowed with rich wine, and the air filled with music and laughter. Nobles used this chance to come and speak to Kael, but sensing his unease, the King stayed close, shielding him from the ambitious crowd. As the evening wore on, the two dined together, sharing quiet words amidst the boisterous festivities. The more they conversed, the more Kael got to know about the King, and the more he realized just how different he was from the two-faced, selfish politicians back in his world. Kael''s respect for the King grew even further. Soon, dancers took the floor, their movements enthralling. The hall pulsed with warmth. For a few hours, Kael allowed himself to relax¡ªor at least that''s what he wanted to. But in the end, he was currently sitting with one of the most powerful men in this world, not to mention the nobles had been observing him from the very start. Kael knew that if it weren''t for Alden, those nobles would have swarmed him. Behind the veil of warmth, the atmosphere was nothing short of tiring. ¡­ "Haaahh!!" After five hours, the celebration finally ended, and Kael was taken to his own room. The first thing he did the moment the doors were shut was to jump on the bed that was at the center of the room. In that moment, he realized something. The mattress was soft¡ªtoo soft. It was almost as if he was lying on a cloud. The luxurious silk sheets felt cool against his skin, engulfing him in comfort. "Aahh~" He let out a long, weary sigh, his body sinking into the bed. For a moment, he closed his eyes, but then the sheer size and grandeur of the room attracted his attention. Turning his head, Kael surveyed the place that had been prepared for the Hero of Nerathis. The room was enormous, larger than any room he had ever seen or known. The ceiling was painted with stunning murals depicting Dragons, Gryphons, and Phoenixes. Everything was so detailed that it seemed alive. The walls were lined with wooden panels, each depicting scenes of Drakthar''s history. On one side, there was a large fireplace, casting a warm glow across the room. Near the bed was a massive window that opened onto a balcony. The moonlight fell into the room, illuminating the marble floor. It was a room too grand, especially for an orphan like him. "Fuck, I really became a Hero in another World, didn''t I?" Suddenly, the realization sank in. "I told that bastard that something felt wrong, but he just laughed at me. Who turned out right now, huh?" Kael swore, then, "Oh, the troubles of having an incompetent son~" He sighed dramatically. But suddenly, his thoughts froze. He wasn''t the only one who had that white circle beneath him, was he? Mark was the same, no, even the security guard and other students had one under their feet as well. ''Does that mean they were all summoned here?'' Kael wondered. ''Are they summoned to other Kingdoms?'' It was very much possible. Thinking about how he might meet his ''dear son'' soon made Kael smile. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I wonder what talent he awakened." He couldn''t help but think out loud, and the moment he said these words, his eyes fell on something familiar. On a polished desk, he saw the Firefang Wyvern Egg that he had selected. He had completely forgotten about it because of how exhausted he was. Now, however, as he looked at it again, he impatiently walked towards it. Badump Badump Badump For some reason, his heartbeat quickened. As he reached the Egg, he gently placed his palm on its warm surface, and, [Ding!] [Fire Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] Once again, he saw a familiar screen, and this time, he didn''t stop. ''Yes.'' Chapter 10 This thing is a Dragon? [Ding!] [Fire Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] Once again, he saw a familiar screen, and this time, he didn''t stop. ''Yes.'' The moment he willed it, allowing the System to use the Skill, he felt a rush of power surge through him, pooling in his hand. A faint golden light began to emit from his palm, tendrils of energy snaking their way across the egg''s surface. Bzzz The egg reacted instantly. Its red surface brightened, as if absorbing the golden energy Kael poured into it. Crimson streaks of light flared up, resembling veins of molten lava moving across its surface, forming complex patterns. The air in the room grew heavier, and the temperature rose. The egg''s red hue deepened; it was as if it was getting rid of all the impurities it had before. The glowing veins intensified, their light pulsating with a rhythm that felt alive. Kael could feel more of his energy being drawn in, the heat radiating from the egg''s surface growing increasingly intense. It was so scorching that it should have burned his hand, yet¡­ It didn''t. Instead, Kael felt a comforting sensation that brought a light smile to his face. Ba-dump Kael then heard a heartbeat. It wasn''t his; it belonged to the egg. Bzzz Suddenly, a bright, blinding light spread all over his room, and, In front of Kael, lay an egg that didn''t resemble what he had selected before. [Ding!] [Draconic Awakening completed] The System informed. The egg no longer belonged to a Firefang Wyvern; it was now a Fire Dragon''s Egg. [Ding!] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the target?] [Y/N] Suddenly, another screen appeared in front of him, and Kael nodded again, ''Yes.'' [To activate the Skill , drop your blood on the egg.] ''Huh? My blood?'' Kael frowned. Soon, however, he nodded in understanding. ''I guess it makes sense; it wouldn''t be a Blood Pact if there was no blood.'' But then another question appeared in his head. ''Am I supposed to bite my finger and let the blood drop?'' ''Fuck no.'' The moment that thought appeared, it was rejected. What sane man would bite his finger to the point it starts bleeding? Kael looked around, wanting to find an alternate method, and soon, his eyes fell on a wooden table with a bowl of fresh fruits on it. Right next to the fruit bowl, there was a knife. ''I guess I have to¡­'' Kael picked the knife and returned in front of the egg. Hesitation was clear in his eyes. Sure, he had gotten hurt and even bled quite a few times in his life, but he wasn''t a fan of self-harm. ''I have no clue how those protagonists do it without thinking¡­'' He thought inwardly. Soon, however, he steeled his mind, and with an awkward movement, he lightly cut his finger and let the blood drop on the crimson egg. His blood was instantly absorbed. Bzzz The egg hummed, reacting to Kael''s blood. [Ding!] [Blood Pact Formed Successfully.] The System informed again. Crack And as if reacting to the System''s message, a crack appeared on the egg. Crack Crack Kael''s breathing halted as the crack on the egg widened, its small fragments began falling away, each glowing with residual heat, and finally, a small snout peeked through. "Guu!" Then, with a tiny, triumphant squeak, the little creature within pushed against the shell, breaking it apart piece by piece. Kael leaned closer, for some reason, his heart started racing. When the last fragment of the egg fell and the little creature inside was finally visible, Kael''s jaw dropped, and his eyes widened. "Guu!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The little dragon that emerged from the egg was nothing short of enchanting. His scales glistened in hues of fiery orange and deep crimson, casting a warm glow in the dim room. The spines along its back were darker than its scales. Dragons were known for their ferociousness and strength, but the little dragon radiated an aura of playful innocence that melted Kael''s heart. His oversized, expressive ember eyes blinked up at Kael, full of curiosity and trust. They sparkled like gems, holding an intelligence and warmth that felt almost human. His small, rounded snout curled into what Kael could only describe as a grin, revealing tiny, sharp teeth that were far more adorable than intimidating. The dragon wobbled slightly as it took its first steps out of the egg, its short, sturdy limbs ending in tiny claws. It stumbled forward on unsteady legs, but before it fell, Kael picked it up. "Nyuu~" The little dragon laughed. The sight was so adorable that Kael couldn''t stop himself from chuckling softly. "This thing is a dragon?" He questioned out loud. "Are they supposed to be this cute?" He couldn''t help but be surprised. The dragon let out a soft, high-pitched "Guu~" before tilting his head, his ember eyes locked on Kael. "You''re warm," Kael murmured, his voice extremely soft and gentle. The baby dragon snuggled against him, its plush belly pressing against Kael''s chest. A soft purr-like sound escaped the dragon as Kael''s hand reached its soft belly. "You like this, huh?" Kael chuckled as he gently rubbed its belly. The dragon''s purring intensified, and he let out a delighted "Nyuu~," squirming in Kael''s arms. "Ah~ Why are you so adorable~" Kael questioned. With every passing second, his heart was taking damage. Kael always thought that, unlike others, he wasn''t a sucker for cute things, but only now did he realize how wrong he was. ''Fuck, I am a sucker¡­'' He had no choice but to admit, the little thing staring at him with his big ember eyes was simply too adorable for him to not fall on his knees. "Kyuu!" Suddenly, the dragon let out a playful "Kyuu" and licked Kael''s cheek with its small, warm tongue. Kael froze. It was a critical hit! Instinctively, he placed his forehead on the dragon''s forehead, the two closed their eyes, embracing each other. Then suddenly, Growl Kael heard a growl that came from the little dragon''s stomach. "Wuu¡­" He was hungry. *Picture* Chapter 11 I-Is this the difference between a Human and a Dragon…? Growl Suddenly, Kael heard a growl that came from the little Dragon''s stomach. "Wuu¡­" He was hungry. "Ughh¡­ what are Dragons supposed to eat now¡­?" Kael had no clue. Growl The little Dragon''s stomach growled even more loudly. "How are you so hungry when you just hatched? Your tummy is already so big, are you trying to make it even bigger?" Kael spoke as he rubbed the Dragon''s soft belly again. "Kyahah~" The little Dragon acted playfully, licking Kael''s face in response. Growl But his stomach growled again. Kael frowned. ''Would fruits work?'' He wondered in his head as his eyes fell on the bowl of fruits. ''What the hell am I thinking? He is a fucking Dragon, he wouldn''t like fruits.'' He quickly shook his head. "Guu!" Then suddenly, Kael saw the little Dragon pointing at something with his small paws. "Huh?" He frowned. "Your Eggshell?" "Guu!" The Dragon, as if understanding Kael, nodded. "You want to eat that?" The Dragon nodded again. ''Is that thing edible?'' With the Dragon in his one hand, Kael picked the broken Eggshell with his other. ''How is he going to eat this?'' Kael was confused. The Eggshell was still warm, and it was extremely hard. Kael felt like he was holding some solid metal. He tried breaking it with his fingers, but no matter how much strength he used, he couldn''t even scratch it, let alone break it. ''The hell? Didn''t he break it when he came out?'' He placed the little Dragon on the bed and used both his hands to try and break the Eggshell, but again, it didn''t work. "What is this thing?" He questioned out loud, his breathing uneven. Yes, Kael wasn''t the fittest of the bunch. "Kyaha~" The baby Dragon, who was watching everything with an excited look on his face, laughed as it fell on the bed, unable to balance his body. That, however, didn''t stop him from laughing more. "You¡­ Are you making fun of me¡­?" Kael questioned, his ego was somewhat hurt. "Kyu~" sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Dragon extended his cute paws toward him, his eyes shining brightly as he glanced at the Eggshell in Kael''s hand. "You cannot eat it, it is too hard, you will hurt yourself." Kael shook his head. For some reason, despite spending only a few minutes with this little thing, Kael found himself getting attached to him. Just the thought of him getting hurt squeezed his heart. "Kyuu!" The Dragon, however, continued to extend his paws, wanting the Eggshell. Kael was silent for a while, then he thought of a method. "Alright, but I''ll be the one feeding you, okay?" He spoke. "Guu!" The Dragon''s eyes brightened. Kael then sat next to him and placed him on his lap. Then, he carefully placed the Eggshell in front of his mouth, making sure it wouldn''t hurt him in any way. "Now eat, and start slowly." He warned. The Dragon, however, completely ignored his words and, Bite His small teeth bit the hard Eggshell. Kael could feel his heart clench. He feared that this little thing''s teeth would get hurt because he bit a little too hard, but then, Crack The Eggshell, that Kael couldn''t even crack, broke in an instant. Crunch Crunch Crunch Gulp And as if that wasn''t enough, the little Dragon started chewing it before he gulped the entire thing down and took another bite excitedly. Rather than a hard Eggshell, it looked like he was eating a biscuit. ''W-What¡­? How¡­?'' Kael couldn''t believe it. Then, a thought appeared in his mind as he recalled one of his skills he read before. [Dragon''s Eye] A skill that allows him to peek into other being''s secrets. He wanted to use it back in the Royal Hall, but he decided not to. Who knows? Someone in there might be able to sense him using this skill? Kael had read a decent number of novels where people didn''t take it well when the protagonists used such abilities. Those people then later made trouble for him, Kael wanted to avoid all that hotch-potch and cliche plots. ''How am I supposed to activate this skill again?'' He wondered, and soon, he came up with an answer. ''I was able to use other skills when I thought about it, this must be the same as well.'' As he concluded that, he thought about activating the skill. ''Dragon''s Eye.'' Instantly, a surge of energy coursed through him, starting from his abdomen and flowing up to his head. His blue eyes turned a brilliant shade of gold, glowing brightly. His pupils that were round had elongated into sharp, vertical slits, mirroring the gaze of a Dragon. "Kyu!" The little Dragon didn''t care what was happening around him; he was busy nibbling on his meal. Yes, he had long snatched the Eggshell from Kael, who wasn''t focusing on feeding him. He was a proud Dragon! If he wanted anything, he would snatch it! ''Holy shit¡­'' While the little one was busy eating, Kael''s jaw dropped in disbelief. [Name: Unnamed] [Race: Fire Dragon] [Rank: Mythical] [Age: 0 Days] [Level: 1] [Strength: 15] [Agility: 10] [Speed: 12] [Stamina: 18] [Defense: 14] [Mana: 20] [Intelligence: 7] [Charisma: 8] [Strengths: Immense Physical Resilience, Rapid Mana Recovery, Early Combat Potential] [Weaknesses: Inexperience, Underdeveloped Wings, Energy Dependency] ¡­ Kael blinked and then blinked again. "T-That''s Level one¡­?" He stuttered, staring at the little Dragon who was still busy eating. Kael then recalled his pitiful stat that he saw before. [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 1] [CE: 0/100] [Talent: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] [Strength: 3] [Agility: 4] [Speed: 5] [Stamina: 4] [Defense: 3] [Mana: 2] [Intelligence: 6] [Charisma: 6] ¡­ The sheer difference in their stats was staggering. His own strength was a meager 3 compared to the Dragon''s 15. No wonder he was munching on that Eggshell that Kael couldn''t even scratch. Even his agility and speed, which he''d thought were decent, paled in comparison to this thing. And what''s worse? This little thing was just born a few minutes ago! His Age was Zero Days! Zero Days!!! And he was 22 years old!! ''Aaaaaggggghhh!!!!'' Kael screamed in his head. He was having an existential crisis. ''I-Is this the difference between a Human and a Dragon¡­?'' Chapter 12 Igni. "This can''t be real," Kael muttered, still in shock. His eyes fell on the little Dragon, and he couldn''t help but sigh. "You''re stronger than me in every way, and let''s not even talk about your mana¡­ Actually, how does a newborn have more intelligence than me?" Kael couldn''t help but question out loud, it was honestly embarrassing at this point. "I was my University''s top-grade student, you know? Is my University''s future really doomed¡­?" Kael couldn''t help but recall Mark''s words. "Kyu~" The little Dragon, who was finally done eating, chirped happily and then, Flutter He puffed out a tiny, harmless flame from his snout. "¡­are you flexing?" Kael blinked, half in amazement, half in exasperation. "Why the hell am I even needed here¡­? Wouldn''t you be able to take all the future enemies alone if you are that strong?" Was he useless even in this world? Kael couldn''t help but think inwardly. The little Dragon tilted his head, unable to understand Kael''s words. With his small legs, he barely managed to move towards Kael, then climbed up his chest and nuzzled against his cheek, purring loudly. "Kyuu~" "Fuck, you are too cute." Kael cursed as he hugged the little creature. "Guu!" Kael closed his eyes, enjoying his new partner''s embrace, then suddenly, as if he remembered something, he opened his eyes and glanced at the Dragon again. "I should name you, shouldn''t I?" "Guu!" The Dragon nodded. "Hmmm, it should be something that represents your strength... Ugghh... But you are also cute, I cannot miss that. A powerful yet cute name... Ahhhhh!!" Kael started thinking, then suddenly, a name popped into his head. "Igni. I will call you Igni from now on." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Kyuu!!" Igni''s eyes brightened up. "You like that?" Kael questioned, and in answer, Igni started licking his face again. "Hahaha~ That tickles~" Kael laughed out loud. His eyes then fell on the remaining eggshells, and he glanced at Igni. "Do you want to eat more?" "Guu~" Igni shook his head. "I guess I''ll save it for the future then." "Guu!!" Igni continued to lick his face. "Hey! Stop! Hahahaha~" Kael laughed as he fell on the bed with Igni on top of him. The two played for a while, and in a few minutes, little Igni had used up all his energy, and his eyes turned heavy. He wanted to play more, but feeling the soft bed, he lay down and closed his eyes, entering dreamland. "Gruuu~" The little thing even started snoring. ''Look at him.'' Kael chuckled, gently rubbing Igni''s belly. Then, his eyes fell on the book the King gave him. He stood up, picked it up, and returned to his bed. He still didn''t know anything about this world, and it was high time that he started learning. Especially now that he had Igni next to him. Kael didn''t know why, but every time he glanced at Igni, he felt a sense of responsibility. This little Dragon, despite him being a few times stronger than him, Kael wanted to do everything he could to keep him safe and protected. ''Fuck, why do I sound like a father? I am only 22.'' Kael cursed inwardly. Soon, however, he shook his head and started reading. Two hours later, his fatigue caught up to him as well. "Grruuu¡­" Igni''s steady and peaceful snoring didn''t help him either. The little Dragon was nestled close to him, his small body radiating warmth and comfort Kael had never felt before. Igni''s quiet purring filled the room, a comforting rhythm that pulled Kael into a deep sleep. ¡­ ''H-Huh¡­?'' Kael frowned, his vision blurring as the world around him twisted and shifted. It was a feeling he was familiar with. ''No, no Fuck no!'' He cried, but just as he expected, he was no longer in his room. He was somewhere else, somewhere terrifying but familiar. The air reeked of blood and decay. Screams of agony echoed in the background, his body felt foreign, and Kael''s heart pounded as he realized that once again, he was in that man''s body. That vision¡­ He was seeing it again¡­ His body was pressed against cold, hard ground. Monstrous hands pinned him down, their claws digging into his flesh. He struggled to free himself but couldn''t. "HELP ME!!!" "SPARE ME¡ªNO!!!" The anguished cries of humans filled the air. Kael''s eyes were forced open by a grotesque claw, forcing him to watch the carnage. Monstrous creatures with hideous forms tore through people with savage glee. Step Step Step And then, that woman appeared again. The old woman with long white hair, silver eyes that glinted with cruel malice, and a sinister grin on her lips. "Like what you see?" she spoke, kneeling before him. Everything was exactly the same. The woman continued to speak, the man then screamed the woman''s name, his rage clear. But just like before, everything he did was useless. Nerissa only laughed. Her cruel laughter echoed through the terrifying scene. Despite this being his second time seeing the same vision, the fear Kael felt wasn''t any different. The vision was still as horrifying as before, but suddenly, Kael''s eyes were drawn to something in the distance. Something he didn''t pay much attention to when he saw the vision for the first time. A lifeless body of Giant Red Dragon lying amidst the chaos¡­ Broken, bloodied, and pierced through by more than ten different weapons. It was a sight that sent a shockwave of emotion through him. That Dragon¡­ Kael didn''t know how he could tell it but¡­ It was Igni. That Giant Red Dragon was his Igni!! ''No!!'' The realization hit Kael like a hammer. He could feel the man''s heart shatter at the sight, even he mourned at the Dragon''s death. The pain in his heart was even stronger than what Kael currently experienced, and the man was feeling the same emotions not just for Igni but for all the Dragons present on the battlefield. All of them had met a similar or a much more gruesome end. However, the man wasn''t given much time to mourn. Nerissa raised her blade, and with one swift motion, the blade descended, severing Kael''s head. "IGNI!!" Kael shot up in bed, drenched in sweat, his chest heaving. "Mrr¡­?" At his shout, the small Fire Dragon shook, his eyes opening sleepily. "Igni¡­" Kael called out, grabbing the little Dragon, his eyes moist, his heart racing. The vivid vision of Igni''s lifeless form haunted him. "Igni..." Kael''s body trembled as he hugged the little dragon as tightly as he could. "Mruu¡­?" Little Igni frowned in confusion. Kael, however, didn''t say anything and just tightened his hug even further. The little Igni reciprocated as he started licking his face. Kael''s racing heart started to calm down as he felt the warmth little Dragon radiated. His blue eyes stared into the distance¡­ If he had any doubts before, now, it was clear¡­ That man in the vision¡­ The defeated Dragon Lord¡­ It was him. Chapter 13 Almoner of Services "Haaahh¡­ Haahh¡­ Haah¡­" Kael covered his face with his hands, his breathing was ragged and uneven. The screams, the blood, the chaos¡­ everything was still vivid in his mind. Despite seeing this vision the second time, it affected him as much as it did before. No, this time, it affected him more. The Giant Red Dragon lying lifelessly in the middle of chaos, his body bloodied and broken¡­ It was his Igni¡­ And the man¡­ When Kael saw this vision for the first time, a question appeared in his mind. Sharing a vision was one thing, but how could he feel someone else''s emotions so clearly? Now, however, the answer was clear. He felt those emotions as if they were his own because they were. "That was me¡­" He whispered, his words barely audible. The man in the vision, the one forced to watch the annihilation of everything he loved, was him. The monstrous hands pinning him down. The grotesque monsters tearing through humanity. The cruel, mocking laughter of that woman as she drove her sword into his chest. It wasn''t just a vision. It was the future. He failed. The Hero who was supposed to protect this world failed. His dragons¡­ his Igni¡­ all of them died¡­ Everything he loved¡­ was destroyed¡­ Nerissa''s cold, mocking words rang in his head. The cruel scene replayed itself countless times, breaking Kael into pieces. He panicked, scared of what the future held for him, his breathing growing even more uneven. He clutched his chest as if trying to hold himself together, but it all felt useless. "Why... why did this happen? How could I let this happen? It is my fault. I failed because I was incompetent. I was never supposed to be a Hero in the first place. I am just a student who just studies and watches anime. I was never fit for this. I wa-" Kael couldn''t stop, his voice desperate, tears rolling out of his eyes. The more times the vision played out in his head, the deeper the loop of despair and depression he fell into. But then suddenly, "Mew¡­" Kael heard a voice. He opened his eyes, and his eyes fell on his little partner, who he was holding tightly, as if afraid of losing him. Igni stared at Kael as he tilted his little head, his big eyes gleaming with worry. The sight of the little dragon, alive and well, momentarily broke through Kael''s storm of emotions. His heart calmed down as he felt Igni''s warmth. "I won''t let anything happen to you¡­" He spoke in a hoarse voice, his eyes moist but filled with conviction even he didn''t know he was capable of showing. "Guuu!" Igni didn''t know what happened to Kael, but to the little Dragon, it didn''t matter. He just snuggled into Kael''s embrace and closed his eyes, entering the dream world again, completely abandoning the soft bed provided to him and using Kael''s body as his bed. Kael didn''t complain. Quite the opposite, having Igni in his arms gave him a sense of reassurance. Igni''s presence alone strengthened his resolve. He looked out of the window. The moon was still up; the night was still long, but he couldn''t sleep. He was scared that he would see that vision again. He picked up the book provided by the King again and started reading from the beginning. This time, instead of skimming through its contents, he read slowly and carefully, not wanting to miss even the smallest detail. And just like that, The night went by, and the first light of dawn entered Kael''s room. The entire night, he hadn''t slept. He was busy reading the book, and even now, it seemed like he wouldn''t stop, but¡­ Knock Knock A knock at the door attracted his attention. "Come in," Kael called, his voice hoarse. The door opened, and a beautiful woman walked in. She wore a deep crimson gown, her dark hair was neatly tied, and her posture was upright, like a soldier standing at attention. Her brown eyes, calm and observant, fell on Kael, who was still on his bed. "Good morning, Lord Kael," she greeted him with a soft voice. "I hope you had a peaceful rest." "I did." Kael nodded, then, he tilted his head in confusion. "Who are you?" He questioned. "I am Althea Darnielle," The woman answered, bowing her head respectfully. "I''ve been appointed as your Almoner of Services, responsible for ensuring your comfort and meeting any needs you may have during your stay here." "Almoner of Services?" Kael raised his eyebrow. This was the first time he had heard of such a title despite having read thousands of medieval fantasy novels. ''I guess every world does their own thing.'' S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He shrugged inwardly. "Any form of service you require, I will handle it," Althea answered smoothly. "Is that so¡­" Kael muttered, a little lost. "I come bearing information about the King''s plans for your training." Althea mentioned. "Training?" Kael straightened his back, his expression changing in an instant. After all, the thing he wanted the most right now was to get stronger. "The King has devised a regimen tailored specifically for you," Althea explained. "It''s a comprehensive program to ensure that you are ready to face the challenges ahead." ''Challenges, huh¡­'' Kael muttered in his head. The vision he saw last night played itself in his mind again, making his fist tremble. "When do we start?" Kael questioned. "I would suggest Lord Kael take some time to freshen up. I will be waiting outside your chambers, and once you are ready, signal me, and I will take you to the training hall." "I understand." Kael nodded. "Then please excuse me." Althea bowed and then walked out. Kael stood up, stretched his body, and walked into the bathroom to freshen up. 30 minutes later, "Come in." Kael called her in. Althea walked in and bowed her head again. "Please follow me, Lord Kael." "Alright." Kael nodded, his eyes full of determination and resolve. Chapter 14 MOVE IT! As Kael and Althea made their way to the Training Hall, Althea reported. "Lord Kael''s physical conditioning will be the first step. You''ll undergo daily exercises to build strength, speed, agility, and stamina. This will include lifting weights, running, and more. Your trainer will be General Deren Ironclad. He is already waiting for you." She pointed toward the doors of the Training Hall, signaling Kael to enter. Kael nodded and stepped inside. The moment he entered, his eyes were drawn to a towering figure. With a broad, muscular frame that spoke of years of rigorous training, the 190 cm tall man looked like a mountain of raw power. His skin was weathered and tanned, and his steel-gray hair was cropped short. There was a menacing scar on his left cheek, a clear testament to his time on the frontlines. His piercing blue eyes locked onto Kael, carrying an intensity that could unnerve even the most exceptional warriors. Kael, who was 6 feet tall, was used to being taller than most people around him, but in the presence of this giant, he felt small¡ªalmost like a scrawny, malnourished child. "You are the Hero?" Deren''s voice was low, commanding, and unwavering. "Y-Yes, sir!" Kael stuttered, a little intimidated by the man''s presence. Deren narrowed his eyes at that answer, then he noticed something else. "You didn''t sleep last night." "I¡­" Kael started, but his mind went blank. He had no clue how this man found out. In the end, he couldn''t come up with an excuse fast enough, and¡ª "I''ll excuse you today, since it''s your first day. But from now on, keep this in mind: I value discipline above everything else. It doesn''t matter if you''re the Hero or not¡ªwhen you train under me, you will follow my rules. I want you here by 5 in the morning and back to your bed by 9. Is that clear?" "Yes, sir." Kael nodded, his voice steady despite being overwhelmed by the general. It was as if the General''s presence was making his body act on its own. Deren studied him for a moment, then the General shook his head. "Your body''s a mess. You''re thin, you don''t have enough muscle, and your balance is off. There''s a lot to work on. But for now, we''ll start with the most important thing first: Endurance." Without waiting for a response, he pointed to the far end of the hall. "Ten rounds of this hall. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now." "Yes, sir." Kael nodded, his eyes then fell on the Training Hall, and he couldn''t help but marvel at its sheer size. The hall was vast, with a high ceiling that reached at least twenty feet above. Massive stone pillars supported the ceiling. The stone floor beneath Kael''s feet was smooth but had a few cracks and craters all over the place. Kael wondered why that was the case but didn''t think too much about it. The entire hall was divided into different sections, each designed for specific types of training. To the left, there were large wooden dummies, some of them had cuts from arrows or blades. Next to them was a set of iron targets embedded into the walls, some dented, others scorched. A few weapon racks were scattered around, holding a variety of blades, staffs, and spears. The center of the hall was marked by a series of training mats, some were rolled up along the walls. It was like those functional fitness gyms back in his world. There were heavy ropes for climbing, rings for swinging, and thick wooden beams for balance training. There were even some weights lying around for weight training. Usually, this Training Hall was never empty, as most soldiers spent their time here, pushing themselves to the limit to better themselves. Right now, however, the hall was emptied out so that Kael could train in peace. "What are you wasting time for? Start running!" General Deren''s voice thundered through Kael''s ears, jolting him awake. "Y-Yes, sir." He nodded as he started jogging. And that was his first mistake. "If I wanted a turtle, I''d have gone to a Beast Store! MOVE IT!" Deren shouted, his voice so overwhelming that Kael''s body acted on its own, and he sped up. "Y-YES!!" His body was stiff and uncoordinated. After all, he had stayed up all night, not to mention he was bad at sports from the beginning. To Deren, however, all of that didn''t matter. "Is that the best you can do!? Run before I start running after you!" He shouted. "YES!!" Closing his eyes, Kael sped up even further. His breathing began to quicken, but before he could settle into the rhythm, Whoosh BOOM Something whistled through the air behind him. A sudden surge of heat and force made Kael stumble forward. Involuntarily, he turned around and saw the stone floor a few feet behind him had shattered. ''What in the hell¡­?'' At the center of the destruction, was a massive spear. Its steel tip had pierced deep into the ground, steam rising from the raw impact. "RUN AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT! BECAUSE IT NOW DOES!!!" Kael then heard a loud scream that almost tore his eardrum. He raised his head and saw General Deren standing at the starting line. In his hand was another spear. Without a word, Deren raised it above his shoulder. The cold gleam of the weapon haunted Kael. ''T-This old man''s crazy!!'' He widened his eyes in disbelief. He wondered why the floor here was so damaged, didn''t he? Well, now he had the answer! It was this crazy old man!! Kael, however, wasn''t given time to think through much as he saw the crazy man throw the second spear. This time, the spear was aimed at him. "!!!" Kael''s body moved, running at a speed he didn''t even know was possible. His legs pumped with every ounce of strength he could muster. His breath came in frantic gasps, and his heart pounded like a war drum. He didn''t care about form, rhythm, or balance¡ªhe only cared about one thing: getting as far away from that spear as possible. Whoosh BOOM Another whoosh cut through the air, followed by an explosive sound as a second spear struck the ground just a few feet to his right. The impact sent small shards of stone flying all over the place, some even grazing Kael''s arms and legs. "Fuckk!!" Kael cursed and pushed himself harder, his body screaming in protest, but in a life-and-death situation, it didn''t matter. "That''s right!" Deren nodded. "Keep running like this. Remember, ten rounds, and if you slow down even once, be ready for the spear." ''T-Ten rounds!?'' Kael had completely forgotten about it. He looked ahead. Not even half the track was completed, and he was already out of breath. How was he supposed to do this ten more times at his current speed!? This simply wasn''t possible! Who said it? The science says so! There were too many factors that limited humans from sprinting at their highest speed for more than a few seconds: energy systems, muscle fibers, oxygen supply, lactic acid build-up, and many more! What Deren was demanding wasn''t physically possible! Whoosh BOOM "WHY DO I SEE YOU SLOWING DOWN ALREADY!? MOVE IT!" Of course, the crazy old man didn''t care about it at all. Chapter 15 If you can outrun death here, you can outrun it anywhere. BOOM "MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!!" Deren screamed as he threw another spear at Kael. "Haaahh¡­ Haaahhh¡­ Haahhh¡­" Kael gasped for air. Every nerve in his body was focused on running, his muscles ached, and his lungs felt as if they were on fire. This wasn''t training, this was survival. ''W-When is this going to end¡­?'' He thought inwardly. He had only completed two out of ten rounds, and his body was already at its limit. He had barely avoided stumbling and falling on the ground more than a few times, and he felt like if he continued, he really would die, even if that death didn''t come from the spear. It was then, [Ding!] Kael heard a voice. [Stamina: +1] A screen popped in front of him, a stream of energy entering his tired body, slightly alleviating the pain he was feeling. ''W-What¡­?'' Kael was surprised. ''That works?'' He thought that he could only get stronger as he leveled up, but seeing how his stamina increased without any change in his level took him aback. Kael wasn''t a fool. He had read enough novels to understand how valuable stats gained without leveling up were. In an instant, his eyes lit up, his mind motivated, and his tired body ready to push past its limits. He sped up again, regaining some of his balance as his muscles were somewhat healed. It wasn''t a big change, however, someone as experienced as Deren noticed it in an instant and narrowed his eyes. ''He improved¡­? Already?'' Deren was surprised. ''Is this what it means to be a hero?'' He couldn''t help but think inwardly. ''This might be related to his talent¡­'' Deren, however, didn''t say anything. Since Kael improved, he saw this as a chance to push him even further, and his hand reached out to another spear. BOOOM "Don''t let me see you slow down!!" He bellowed. Kael sped up again, this time, not because he was intimidated, but, [Ding!] [Speed: +1] His eyes shined brightly as he noticed the changes in his body. Stronger... He was getting stronger. Soon, Kael''s desire to get stronger consumed him. The game continued. Deren continued to push Kael to his limits, and motivated by the System messages and the foreign energy that continued to alleviate all the pain and fatigue he felt, Kael continued to run. [Stamina: +1] [Speed: +1] [Stamina: +1] [Strength: +1] [Stamina: +1] [Agility: +1] ¡­ ¡­ "Enough!" Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Deren''s voice rang out again. Kael had succeeded. He ran ten laps, pushing his body to its limit multiple times in a single day. "Haaaahh¡­ Haaahhh¡­ Haaahhh¡­" Kael stopped, his chest heaving as he bent over, hands on his knees. Sweat poured down his face, and his legs trembled like his muscles would give out any second now. He momentarily turned back and saw Deren casually retrieving the spears from the floor, his movements steady and calm, as if he hadn''t just nearly skewered Kael alive. ''Crazy geezer¡­'' He cursed in his head. "You may be cursing me right now." Suddenly, Deren spoke, and Kael''s face turned pale. ''Can he hear my thoughts?'' "But you will thank me one day," Deren continued, making Kael sigh in relief. "If you can outrun death here, you can outrun it anywhere. That''s the first lesson. Now, are you ready for the next?" "N-Next¡­?" Kael stuttered. "You didn''t think this was the end, did you?" Deren questioned back. ''It should end here! Do you not see what state I am in!?'' He screamed inwardly. "The Battlefield won''t care how tired you are. It will just take advantage of your condition and try to overwhelm you." Deren''s voice echoed through Kael''s ears and suddenly, the vision of dead Igni, while him being held down by those monsters appeared in his mind. "What''s next?" He questioned, his expression completely different than before. Deren was momentarily taken aback by the sudden change. Soon, however, a satisfied smile appeared on his strict face. "That''s a good look." The General then walked to the middle of the Hall. In front of him was a rack stacked with thick iron weights. "Now that I have tested your lungs, it''s time to test your muscles." Kael walked forward, trying to pick up the iron weights. "The hell are you doing?" Deren stopped him. "Hm?" Kael tilted his head in confusion. "Pick one of those." Deren pointed at the series of sandbags, some small and others larger than Kael himself. "Which one?" Kael questioned. "Any of them," Deren said with a shrug. Kael walked over and reached for a mid-sized sandbag, thinking it would be a manageable start. He hoisted it off the ground, only for his arms to nearly give out under its unexpected weight. "What is in this thing?" Kael couldn''t help but question. "Sand. And rocks, nothing special." "Are they supposed to be this heavy?" Kael was surprised. "Have you ever lifted them before?" "¡­" Kael turned silent. He hadn''t. "Now carry it." Deren ordered. "Carry it where?" "Across the hall. And back. Twenty times." "Twenty?!" "Would you prefer thirty?" Deren raised an eyebrow. "I won''t mind," Kael answered bravely, showing some form of resistance in front of this giant. Deren raised his eyebrow. Then, he just shrugged, "Thirty it is then. Don''t give up." The General smiled menacingly. Kael didn''t react. He just grabbed the sandbag and tried to put it behind his back. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Ugghh!" And he failed miserably. The bag was too heavy for him to lift it up. Kael''s eyes fell on the smaller sandbags, but, "Don''t even think about it." Before he could do anything, he heard a warning. ''Fuck¡­'' Cursing inwardly, he gave up on lifting the sandbag and decided to drag it. Something that, in theory, should be easier than lifting it up, but when it came to repeating the same action, it was even more nightmarish. "Ugghhh¡­" Each step he took was like a battle. His shoulders and arms screamed in pain, his legs were already trembling because of the torture they went through before, but Deren was merciless. "Keep moving!" Deren shouted from behind. "A slow soldier is a dead soldier." As he said those words, the blade of the spear that was in his hands shimmered. Kael''s body trembled. He gritted his teeth and continued, every muscle in his body begging him to stop. The first lap was finally complete, but Deren didn''t allow any rest. Kael was forced to push his body even further, and a few minutes later, he was finally rewarded for his efforts. [Ding!] [Strength: +1] Seeing the message, a light smile appeared on Kael''s face which was drenched in sweat. With his motivation sky-high and under Deren''s heartless eyes, he continued and a foreign, mystical energy began to change his body. [Ding!] [Strength: +1] [Strength: +1] [Stamina: +1] [Defense: +1] [Stamina: +1] [Defense: +1] ¡­ ... Chapter 16 Arlan Stormhold. Thud In the end, even after the System''s constant help, Kael''s body couldn''t take any more abuse, and the moment he completed the twentieth lap, he collapsed on the stone floor with a thud. "Haaahh... Haahh... Haah..." His vision blurred with sweat. He couldn''t feel his legs anymore, his arms felt like they might tear from their sockets, his chest heaved, trying to gather as much oxygen as it could get. It was his body''s way of protecting itself. Kael honestly felt like his body was giving up. Even breathing felt like a chore right now. Seeing his state, Deren walked over and crouched beside him, his piercing blue eyes meeting Kael''s. "You are weaker than I thought." He spoke, not very impressed. Kael just stared at the giant in front of him, he didn''t even have enough strength to rebut him, not even in his thoughts. "We need to put in a lot of work." Deren shook his head as he spoke like a disappointed father, then, with cold eyes, he declared, "Tomorrow, we double the distance." Hearing those words, Kael just closed his eyes, wanting nothing more than to sleep. His exhaustion was finally catching up. "Well, well, well. Would you look at that?" Suddenly, a loud voice full of mockery was heard. "The Great Hero of Nerathis, already tasting the sweet embrace of the floor, eh? Should I bring a pillow, or is the stone comfy enough for ya?" Kael frowned. Normally, he would have completely ignored whoever it was because of how exhausted he was. His instincts, however, told him that he wasn''t going to like what was coming next. And the worst part? His instincts were usually correct. He barely lifted his head and his eyes caught sight of another towering figure approaching him. The man was broad-shouldered and wore a brownish tank top that didn''t hide his muscles. His blonde hair was tied back in a loose braid, and his bright green eyes sparkled with energy. There was a wide grin on his face, making him seem¡­ unhinged¡­ "Arlan Stormhold." Seeing the man, who looked in his early 30s, Deren spoke in a low voice. "General Deren!" Arlan stood upright, his previous casual attitude disappearing in an instant. Clearly, the man respected Deren from the bottom of his heart. "Be at ease." Deren nodded. "Don''t go easy on that child." He spoke as he momentarily glanced at Kael. "Oh¡­?" Arlan was taken aback. He wasn''t expecting General Deren to show such a reaction. However, noticing that the General was staring at him, Arlan nodded, not wanting the General to wait. "As you command, General Deren!" Deren nodded back as he then walked out of the training hall. Kael, who heard their conversation, felt his body tremble. He realized that his instincts were right¡­ yet again¡­ And as if confirming his thoughts, "Commander Arlan Stormhold," Althea, who had appeared next to Kael, informed, "He has been appointed to oversee your hand-to-hand combat and weapons training." "Wait¡­ You mean there''s more?" Kael''s body shook. He felt like his world had turned upside down. Arlan, who heard those words, laughed out loud. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Of course, there''s more! A Hero isn''t forged in one day, lad! Strength, endurance, and now skill. I''m here to make sure you can handle yourself when you don''t have your Bond to bail you out. Get ready for some fun!" Kael groaned. As much as the feeling of that foreign energy strengthening his body was addictive, and as much as Kael wanted to get stronger at an ever-faster rate, right now, he was in no condition to train anymore. Heck, let alone train, he couldn''t even move right now. In the end, the child inside him that he had been hiding all this while came out and, "I¡­ I can''t. I can''t even move. Look, my arms are noodles, my legs are jelly¡ªm-my entire existence is food-based right now. I''m in no condition to¡ª" Before he could finish, Althea knelt beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Her palm glowed with a soothing, golden light and suddenly, warmth surged through Kael''s body. In an instant, all the pain and fatigue he felt before disappeared as if it were a dream. His energy returned as if he''d woken up from the best sleep of his life, his muscles felt rejuvenated, stronger even. Stunned, Kael stared at his ''Almoner of Services'' and, "You¡­ you could do that this whole time!?" "As I mentioned before, Any form of service you require, I will handle it. Healing is one of them." Althea answered without any change in her expression. It was as if what she had was no big deal. "Why didn''t you use it before!?" Kael practically shouted. "I''m not allowed to heal you during training. General Deren''s orders." Althea answered. "But aren''t you my Almoner of Services?" Kael questioned again, sounding like a child whose mother took his friend''s side instead of his. "I can go against his orders if you want me to, but that would only make your training even harder. I do not advise it." Althea answered and this time, Kael turned silent. "So why heal me now?" He questioned, curious. "General Deren''s training session is over. Commander Arlan''s training session is about to begin." "You can''t be serious¡­" "Oh, but I am!" Arlan chimed in, flexing his arms dramatically. "Now get up, lad. The day''s still young, and you''ve got a long way to go if you want to survive out there. We will start with the basics today, Throwing a proper punch!" In the end, Kael stopped complaining and stood up, his body, which was now full of strength, was now ready to take whatever Arlan prepared for him. ...or so he thought. Yes, he was severely overestimating himself and underestimating the man standing in front of him. The grin on Arlan''s face only widened as he clapped Kael on the back, nearly sending him stumbling forward. "Uggh¡­" Kael groaned in pain. Arlan, however, completely ignored him and walked forward. "Alright, lad! Follow me." Kael''s hand-to-hand combat training was about to begin. Chapter 17 Now dodge. As Arlan led Kael to the center of the Training Hall, the commander rolled up his sleeves, his grin widening. "Alright, lad. I may have said before that you are going to learn how to throw a punch, but hand-to-hand combat isn''t just about throwing punches. It''s about discipline, control, and instinct. I will make you learn how to read your opponent, anticipate their moves, and strike with precision." Kael nodded, a little taken aback by Arlan''s boundless enthusiasm. For some reason, his instincts told him that the words ''I will make you learn,'' were dangerous, very dangerous. "Now," Arlan began, cracking his knuckles, "Show me your fighting stance." Kael nodded, awkwardly raising his fists and standing with one foot slightly forward. Seeing his ''stance,'' Arlan squinted at him. "No, no, when I say fighting stance, I am talking about the one you use in a real fight, not the one you use to fight with your 8-year-old niece." "Uhh..." "You have never fought before, have you?" Arlan raised his brow. "I... Uh, no. Not really." Kael was embarrassed. "Figured" The commander nodded. "I''ve seen scarecrows with better balance." "I''m trying, alright?" Kael winced. "Trying to lose a fight? You will succeed in that, I see the potential." Arlan laughed. Then, with a serious look on his face, he started. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Here, let me show you." In one swift motion, Arlan dropped into a fighting stance similar to Kael''s, but his was much more balanced and had next to no opening. His body was perfectly aligned, fists up, feet firmly planted yet nimble. "See this? This is a stance. Stability, power, readiness. Copy it." Kael nodded as he mimicked the position. Or he tried to. Arlan circled him, shaking his head. "Your knees are locked¡ªbend them. Arms too high¡ªlower them. Your back... Lord Feraos, Kael, you''re leaning like an old man with a bad back. Straighten up!" Kael adjusted, changing his stance as Arlan instructed. Once satisfied, Arlan finally clapped his hands. "That''s good enough. You will learn the rest as you proceed. Now, let''s test it." "Test it?" Kael blinked, barely finishing the question before Arlan''s hand shot out, aiming for his face. Kael''s body shook, involuntarily, he covered his face with his hands and closed his eyes. Arlan used this chance to punch his abdomen, which was wide open. "Agghh." Kael groaned in pain. "Failed," Arlan declared as he shook his head. Then, he grinned, "If I were an 8-year-old girl, maybe you''d survive." Kael groaned, rubbing his abdomen. "Are all your lessons like this?" He questioned. Arlan, however, didn''t answer. He just observed Kael in silence. "The first thing you do when you are attacked is close your eyes¡­ This won''t do¡­" He shook his head. "Alright, we will do it this way." As if he found an answer to an unanswered question, Arlan''s eyes brightened, he stared at Kael and, "Take your stance again, not the girly one, but the one I taught you." "¡­" Kael stared at Arlan, cursing the man in his head, but he got into the stance the commander taught him without making any major mistakes as if he had memorized it perfectly. Seeing that, Arlan was momentarily taken aback, his expression, however, quickly returned to normal. It was quite surprising to see that an outspoken man like Arlan had such good control over his expressions. But the only one who noticed that inside the training hall was Althea, the Almoner of Services, who... didn''t react to it. Kael, on the other hand, was busy thinking about what was coming next. "Now, throw a punch." Arlan stood in front of Kael and ordered. Kael threw what he thought was a decent punch, but Arlan caught his wrist mid-swing. "Too slow. If you punch like that in a fight, your opponent will have enough time to write a letter before dodging. Again!" Kael tried again. And again. And... again. Each time, Arlan pointed out a flaw¡ªhis footing, his angle, his power. Kael felt like a toddler learning to walk. He was making too many mistakes. It felt like no matter what he did, Arlan was never satisfied. Of course, ''the Hero'' had no clue how wrong he was. Arlan was taken aback; the longer he observed, the harder it became to hide his growing surprise. ''Is this why General Deren told me to not go easy on him?'' He questioned inwardly, his eyes were literally sparkling as he observed Kael. His progress was too fast, every mistake he made, he didn''t make it the second time. Arlan was simply planning to check the Hero''s condition and teach him a proper stance today but... If it is this little freak, then he might as well go all out, no? ''A Hero, huh¡­'' Arlan''s grin widened. "Alright, little man, again!" He instructed. ... After an hour of drilling basic punches, Kael''s arms trembled; even raising them felt like an impossible chore. "Hmm, that''s somewhat acceptable." Arlan nodded, finally approving Kael''s last punch. This, however, wasn''t the end. "Now let''s add some footwork." "Footwork?" Kael frowned. Arlan didn''t reply. Instead, a wooden staff appeared in his hand, and he swung it at Kael without warning. Kael stumbled back, narrowly avoiding the blow. "Wha-" "Move your feet, lad!" Arlan laughed. "It will be painful if you don''t." ''Where the hell did that even come from!?'' Kael complained in his head. He, however, wasn''t given time to think as Arlan continued to advance forward, the staff continuously targeting Kael''s legs. Kael dodged the first few, but Arlan''s speed continued to increase. In the end, Kael, who saw the staff coming at his left leg, wanted to sidestep, but his legs refused to cooperate, and, "Aggghh!!" He screamed in pain as the staff hit his shin. In an instant, he lost his balance and fell. "Get up!" Arlan ordered. Kael wanted to use this moment to rest, however, Arlan raised the staff in the air. ''Son of a¡­'' Kael''s eyes widened as he barely rolled over and dodged the incoming attack. But Arlan didn''t stop and continued to attack. "At least give me time to get up!" Kael screamed. "I gave you three seconds." Arlan answered with a grin as he swung the staff. ''Fuck! Is something wrong with these people''s heads!? Why is every single one of them trying to kill the Hero before he can even make a debut!?'' Kael cursed in his head as he continued to roll over and over again, barely dodging the attacks. "We''re in a battle, not a circus! Save the somersaults for later!" Arlan shouted. Kael, however, didn''t listen and continued to shamelessly roll on the ground. Seeing that, Arlan''s mouth twitched. "Sure, just keep rolling, a good strategy, maybe the enemy will die of laughter." He teased, thinking that would work but, "But I won''t." Kael replied shamelessly. And as he said those words, Arlan, with his mouth now twitching uncontrollably, raised his staff again. This time, he decided to stop playing around. His staff descended on the ground and, BOOOM The floor cracked as Kael saw the blunt staff piercing through the stone floor, just a few inches away from his head. "If you don''t stand up, the next one will come at you." Arlan threatened. ''Thug! This bastard''s no a commander, he is a thug!'' Kael complained, but he didn''t dare say anything out loud and stood up. "Take your stance again!" Arlan ordered, his previous playfulness now gone. Kael did as he was told. "Now dodge." Once again, Arlan started swinging his staff. For the next two hours, Arlan continued to mindlessly swing his staff, and Kael was forced to dodge. Each failure was met with a sharp crack of the staff against his legs. Thud In the end, Kael collapsed again. This time, he could no longer stand up. His legs were in no condition to move; there were swellings and bruises all over the place. "Aggghhh¡­" Kael groaned in pain, this had become a common sight in these past few hours. [Ding!] [Defense: +1] [Agility: +1] [Agility: +1] [Defense: +1] [Speed: +1] [Defense: +1] ¡­ ... The system worked to its full potential, but this time, the messages it displayed brought Kael no joy. The pain he was in was enough to overwhelm any excitement a few messages could bring. Or at least¡­ that''s what Kael thought... But then, [Ding!] [Skill acquired: Hand-to-Hand Combat (Incomplete)] ... A/N: Pending character illustrations (clearer in discord) Future Kael (the one in the dream and vision) Kael Igni Chapter 18 What? Dont tell me you are intimidated. [Ding!] [Skill acquired: Basic Hand to Hand combat (Incomplete)] In an instant, Kael''s expression changed. ''What?'' This was something new. ''A skill¡­?'' [Basic Hand-to-hand combat (Incomplete)] [Mastery: Very Low] [Description:] [A foundational skill encompassing basic techniques of unarmed fighting, including strikes, blocks, and grapples. Effective for self-defense and close-range encounters.] [Incomplete:] [Basic Hand to Hand Combat consists of three components: footwork, strikes, and counters. Currently, the host has only mastered the first component ¡ª footwork. With precise and agile movement, the user can navigate the battlefield effortlessly and evade attacks.] [The remaining components: strikes and counters] ¡­ ''Basic Hand to Hand combat¡­? That''s a skill?'' Soon, however, Kael realized another thing. ''He wasn''t just attacking me randomly, He was instilling the footwork into my body.'' Yes, it was a cruel method, but he learned one of three components of an essential skill within a few hours, not to mention his stats had increased quite a bit as well. Kael couldn''t think of a method as efficient as this. And as if that wasn''t enough. His eyes fell on another thing, [CE: 35/100] The CE or whatever it was, it finally rose up. Now, till now, Kael hadn''t explored his system much, so he didn''t know what CE was; however, he did know one thing: he, who had been constantly checking his Status ever since the training started, knew that before Arlan appeared, his CE was 0. So the change was probably due to Arlan''s training. If Kael was right and his CE was connected to him leveling up¡­ Then training with Arlan was what would help him level up. The moment Kael concluded that, his eyes brightened up. With a grunt, he stood up, completely ignoring the pain in his legs. He glanced at Arlan, and a wide grin appeared on his face. "We aren''t done here, are we?" "Huh?" This time, the one who was taken aback was Arlan. "Oi, brat." He called out. "I didn''t even hit your head; how did you lose your mind?" He questioned, seeing the crazed look on the Hero''s face; even the commander panicked a little. He then glanced at Althea standing in the corner and, "Come here and see what''s wrong with him." He ordered. The last thing he wanted was for the Hero to lose his mind under his training. Who knew what awaited him if that happened? And Arlan had zero interest in finding it out. He had a beautiful wife and 2 daughters; he loved his life very much. Althea, however, poured cold water on his head, "My ability does not work on mental conditions." Even the Almoner of Services wasn''t almighty. "It doesn''t matter; come heal him anyway. The mind and body are somewhat connected." Arlan ordered, and Althea nodded, walking towards Kael without any change in her expression. "¡­" Kael, on the other hand, observed this exchange in silence, his mouth twitching without stopping. He, however, didn''t say anything for now; despite being motivated, his legs still hurt like hell. It would be good if Althea healed him. He would continue his training after that. Althea approached him and placed her hand on his shoulder; once again, Kael felt a warm energy entering his body, healing all his pain and fatigue. "Are you alright now?" Arlan questioned. "Yes." Kael nodded as he took his stance again, "Let''s continue." Arlan, however, didn''t move and turned towards Althea instead, "Your ability didn''t work." "I already said it doesn''t work on mental conditions." Althea answered. "¡­" Kael''s mouth twitched again. "Are you going to train me or not?" He questioned with a frown, then, as if he thought of an idea, he smirked, "What? Don''t tell me you are intimidated." It was Kael''s second mistake. Arlan''s expression changed. "Alright, fuck it." He cursed out loud, and with his staff in his hands, he started targeting Kael''s legs again. This time, however, as Arlan advanced, Kael dodged all his attacks. His movements weren''t perfect; but he still dodged everything Arlan threw at him, surprising Arlan. ''As I thought¡­ Now that I have learned the skill, moving my legs is easier.'' Kael noted down as he smirked. ''I can do this all day.'' And as if knowing what he was thinking, Arlan suddenly increased his speed. Kael widened his eyes, unable to even see the staff, let alone react to it. "Aaaagghhh!!" He screamed in pain as he fell down. "Hmm, I guess this is enough for now." Arlan completely ignored Kael''s screams. From his tone, however, he seemed quite satisfied for some reason. "Heal him again." He ordered as he glanced at Althea. Althea nodded and did what she was told. Once again, Kael was healed back to full health. "Stand up." Arlan ordered, and as Kael stood up, "Your overall balance seems somewhat manageable now." Arlan observed. "Maybe you can fight a 12-year-old girl now." He laughed. "I only see progress." Kael shrugged. He was getting used to the gorilla man''s antics. Arlan chuckled, "Alright, let''s continue. Now that you have the footwork down, we need to combine it with the punches you learned before. Before, you were using your footwork to dodge my attacks; now you will follow the same footwork and approach me. Try to gather strength from your legs and release it through your punches. Do you understand?" Kael nodded with a determined look on his face, doing what he was told. "No, not like this; your punches are too weak. Put more force into them. What? Did you take it seriously when I said you could fight a 12-year-old girl now? Was that your goal all along?" "¡­" Kael''s mouth twitched as he put more force into his punch. "More power!" "Hey! Don''t lose your balance! Did you forget what I said!? Gather strength from your legs and release it through your punch. It is the basics of basics! How do you not get it!?" "¡­" Kael, who had already learned to ignore the guy, simply continued to strike; the more he moved according to Arlan''s instructions, the more in sync his body felt. He could feel it; with time, his punch was getting stronger and stronger. Kael fell into a trance; with every move, he improved. [Ding!] [Strength: +1] [Agility: +1] The system showed message after message, but Kael didn''t notice them; he continued to move. Arlan, who was dodging his attacks, was finding it more and more difficult. The progress was visible to even an untrained naked eye. The pace at which Kael was improving was simply unbelievable. It was then, [Ding!] [Basic Hand-to-hand combat (Incomplete)] [Mastery: Very Low] [Description:] [A foundational skill encompassing basic techniques of unarmed fighting, including strikes, blocks, and grapples. Effective for self-defense and close-range encounters.] [Incomplete:] [Basic Hand to Hand Combat consists of three components: footwork, strikes, and counters. The host has now mastered the first two components ¡ª footwork and strikes. With precise and agile movement, the user can maneuver around the battlefield effortlessly, while delivering powerful and accurate strikes.] [The remaining component: counters] [CE: 72/100] S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 19 Elira Stormhold Thud "Uggghhh!!" Kael groaned in pain. He tried to dodge Arlan''s kick which was too fast for him to counter; however, he had underestimated his body''s injuries. Because of his sluggish movements, he couldn''t react in time, and Arlan''s kick connected. The impact sent Kael flying. "Khwwaakk!!" He coughed, pain radiating through his ribs. His entire body screamed in protest. He tried to stand again, but his arms gave out, and he collapsed back onto the ground. "Haaahh¡­ Haahh¡­ Haahh¡­" he gasped for air. His body had bruises and swelling all over the place. He couldn''t lift his limbs anymore, and even breathing was a struggle. The cool air of the hall felt like knives against his battered skin. His vision blurred with sweat, stinging his eyes. He didn''t even have enough power to clear the sweat out of his eyes. He tried to move, even just a hand, but his body had given up. "Still breathing down there?" Arlan questioned with a wide grin on his face. To Kael, he felt like a beast looking at his fallen prey. He wanted to respond, but even moving his mouth was a chore, so he just closed his eyes, not wanting to see the man''s ugly face anymore. Seeing his actions, Arlan laughed. He then crouched, inspecting Kael''s body. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "No wonder you only fought little girls till now. Man, you are bad at this." "¡­" Kael just ignored this man, and seeing that he wasn''t reacting at all, the commander lost interest. "Althea!" Arlan called. "The guy''s dead. Revive him." Althea walked towards them, once again, her face devoid of emotions. Without saying anything, the Almoner of Services healed her master, and feeling the familiar warm energy surging into his body, Kael finally sighed in relief and slowly opened his eyes. "Oh, he''s back." Arlan exclaimed with a big grin. Kael stared at him, and Arlan''s grin widened even further. "Would you like to continue?" He questioned, his sadism flickering through his eyes. However, the answer he received was not what he was expecting. "Why not? I was actually wondering if that''s the best you can do." Kael grinned, not backing down. Yup, he had lost his mind as well. Arlan directly glanced at Althea and, "He''s not healed properly. His mental state is still the same." He complained. "I told you before, my ability doesn''t work on mental condition." Althea''s response was the same. Kael, however, ignored both of them. After all, in the entire hall, only he could see the screen in front of him. [Ding!] [Basic Hand-to-Hand Combat] [Mastery: Very Low] [Description:] [A foundational skill encompassing basic techniques of unarmed fighting, including strikes, blocks, and grapples. Effective for self-defense and close-range encounters.] Yes, he had finally learned Basic Hand-to-Hand Combat. Sure, his mastery level was still low, but that didn''t matter. The skill was now complete, and he did all that in one single day. Of course, this wasn''t the only thing Kael was so happy about. Rather, it was one of the minor joys. The main thing that attracted his attention was the second screen that had popped up in front of him. [Ding!] [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 1 ¡ú 2] [CE: 9/200] [Talent: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] [Strength: 3 ¡ú 10] [Agility: 4 ¡ú 8] [Speed: 5 ¡ú 9] [Stamina: 4 ¡ú 12] [Defense: 3 ¡ú 11] [Mana: 2 ¡ú 3] [Intelligence: 6 ¡ú 7] [Charisma: 6 ¡ú 7] ¡­ Yes, he leveled up. Not just that, his stats were now at least bearable to look at. Even though he still wasn''t as powerful as Igni, it was somewhat comparable now. Not to mention it was only his first day. What''s even better? This wasn''t over. He still had room to grow! "What? Are you not going to train me further?" Kael turned towards Arlan, his eyes shining brightly. "Or are you only good at training little girls?" This was so wrong if taken out of context. But it didn''t matter since Kael''s words worked, and Arlan''s mouth twitched. "Alright, you bra¡ª" However, before the commander could complete his sentence, the doors of the Hall creaked open, and an extremely beautiful woman who seemed to be in her late 20s walked in. Her long blonde hair fell down to her waist. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled with sharp intelligence, and her flawless skin radiated a healthy glow. She wore a long, elegant crimson robe, which didn''t hide her hourglass figure. The woman was beautiful, and she knew it. "Ah, Arlan, I knew it was you." The moment she walked in, her eyes fell on Commander Arlan, and she smirked. "Still as brutish as ever, eh? I could hear you shouting across the hall." "Huh? What''s a bookworm like you doing here? Shouldn''t you be in your little room conjuring some sparks or playing with your books instead of interrupting real training?" Arlan shot back. "Oh? Did you forget? You ran across the garden shouting, ''My ass is on fire!'' when those ''sparks'' latched themselves on your pants." "So you''re going to conveniently ignore the fact that the one I was running after was you? I still remember your ugly face covered with tears and snot while you screamed for help." Arlan laughed out loud. "What else was a 10-year-old girl supposed to do when a giant monster who was screaming like a lunatic ran after her with a greatsword in his hand?" Elira chuckled as she covered her mouth with her hand. "At least I wasn''t crying like a little bitch." "You sure were shouting like one." "Crying is still worse." "Says the one who started crying when Mother punished him." "Mother was playing favorites! You started it!" Arlan pointed his finger at the woman in front of him. "Couldn''t you take a little heat for your cute little sister''s sake?" Elira tilted her head with a playful look on her face. "Cute my ass!" Arlan snorted. "As I would expect from a brute like you, saying such filthy words without thinking." "At least I don''t keep up a false gentle image while my heart inside is rotten." Their banter continued, growing louder and more absurd with each exchange. Kael, caught in the middle, stared at them with a dumbfounded look on his face. That was when the ever-so-responsible Althea leaned in, ignoring the squabble entirely. "That''s Court Mage Elira Stormhold," She informed quietly. "And, in case you hadn''t pieced it together already, she''s his sister." "Siblings?" Kael blinked. "Yes," Althea sighed. She looked tired for some reason. The siblings were too much, even for her. Chapter 20 Lord Feraoss Gift "And, in case you hadn''t pieced it together, she''s his sister." "Siblings?" Kael blinked. "Yes." "The two don''t seem to like each other very much," Kael commented, noticing how both their mouths were twitching without stopping as they confronted each other. Althea just stared at him and shook her head. "You are mistaken," She spoke. "Despite how they look, the two of them would give their life away for the other. A man once chased after Court Mage Elira and created trouble for her. The moment Commander Arlan found out, the man disappeared." "D-Disappeared¡­?" "Commander Arlan is much more dangerous than he looks," Althea replied emotionlessly. "He is overprotective," She commented. Soon, however, she shrugged. "I guess that''s the same for both of them." "Both of them?" Kael tilted his head in confusion. "It is said that Lord Alden''s wife had to spend 15 months convincing Court Mage Elira before she finally accepted her. Before her, the Court Mage had rejected more than thirty women." "T-Thirty¡­?" Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael stuttered. "As I said, the two are too overprotective." Althea then stared at Kael and, "So be careful." "Huh? What do you mean?" Kael frowned. "I saw Lord Kael staring at her when she entered; you looked infatuated." "Huh? What do yo¡ª" Kael tried to deny, but Althea didn''t care and continued. "While other women wouldn''t mind being subjected to the Hero''s depraved and sinful lust, and might look forward to it instead. You should keep your hands off Court Mage Elira, or you might disappear as well. Hero or not, Commander Arlan won''t care when it comes to his sister he deeply cares for." "¡­" Kael turned silent. He had no clue why he was suddenly being portrayed as some sort of deviant monster. By now, however, he had become somewhat used to Althea''s antics. "Anyways, such matters are of less concern right now. What you need to know is Court Mage Elira is one of the most powerful mages in the kingdom, known for her mastery over elements. Her intellect is second to none. Despite her young age, only a few can rival her knowledge of magic." Kael stared at Elira, who was now smirking triumphantly as Arlan crossed his arms, clearly trying to come up with a rebuttal. Suddenly, "Enough of this nonsense. You can leave now. I need to start the Hero''s training," Elira said, dismissing Arlan with a wave of her hand. "I''ll stay," Arlan replied, staring daggers at Kael. He seemed to have heard what Althea said before. Kael gulped. However, before he could say anything, "Just go away. Don''t you have things to do? Or does the King not trust brutes like you with too much work?" Arlan, however, completely ignored his sister''s taunt and walked towards the corner of the hall, making it clear that he wasn''t leaving. Already used to it, Elira just sighed. Then she turned towards Kael and smiled, "It''s time for proper training. While your physical conditioning is important, without mastery of magic, you''ll never realize your full potential. Now, Hero Kael," She said with a light smirk on her face. "It''s time we see what kind of magic talent you possess. Sit." Kael obeyed, sitting on a chair in the center of the hall as Elira reached into her crimson robe and retrieved a small, polished crystal ball. It looked similar to the Orb of Resonance, just¡­ a lot smaller. "This is an Affinity Crystal," Elira explained. "It detects which elements resonate with your mana. Every mage has one or sometimes more than one element. The degree of affinity varies from person to person as well. The Affinity Crystal will reveal yours." Kael nodded in understanding, a little tense. He had no clue if he would have an affinity with any element or how high his affinity would be. After all, his talent was related to Dragons, not Magic. "It is similar to how the Orb of Resonance tests your potential. Just place your hand on the crystal, and it will do the rest," Elira instructed. Kael nodded, placing his hand on the Crystal. Its surface was cool, almost soothing. Kael took a deep breath and closed his eyes. For a moment, nothing happened. But then, the crystal began to glow. It started as a faint reddish flicker of light within the sphere. "Fire¡­" Elira noted. Soon, however, her expression changed. Bzzz The Affinity Crystal started trembling, and the flame inside the crystal grew stronger and much more vibrant. Its light spread all over the hall, blinding everyone present. The ball looked like it contained a miniature sun. And then, BOOM It exploded. Its particles, which should have dispersed all over the place, hurting everyone present, turned to ash because of excessive heat. Yes, the heat was that strong. Other than Kael, both Elira and Althea needed to use magic to be able to bear the heat. Kael, on the other hand, only felt a comforting warmth washing over his body, healing the fatigue that even Althea''s magic couldn''t. To Kael, it was like he was embraced by the most comforting entity in the entire world. A feeling he had never experienced before. "W-What is this¡­?" Elira''s eyes widened in horror. "That''s¡­ not normal." Arlan narrowed his eyes, even the normally expressionless Althea was dumbfounded. "Is his affinity with fire that strong¡­?" The Almoner of Services questioned out loud, which was quite out of character for her. Since the start, she had never once spoken or interrupted Kael''s training. "I-It must be related to his Talent! It is Lord Feraos''s gift! There is no other explanation! A Human cannot have such a high affinity with any element, even she didn''t¡ª" Elira, overwhelmed by her emotions, couldn''t stop herself. But suddenly, "Ahem." Althea coughed. For a slight second, Elira''s face showed a series of complex emotions before she turned towards Kael again and praised excitedly. "Your fire affinity is too high! It has to be related to Lord Feraos!" Of course, Kael didn''t fail to notice the brief exchange between the Court Mage and the Almoner of Services. He, however, decided not to react to it. It was his first day here, so his goal for now was to just observe and take mental notes. Not to mention that right now, his focus was on an entirely different thing. ''My Magic Affinity is that high¡­?'' He was confused. ''But my talent is Dragon Genesis¡­'' Lord Feraos''s ''gift'' for him wasn''t a high affinity with fire but his connection with Dragons in¡ª ''Wait¡­'' Suddenly, Kael realized something. ''Is it because of Igni?'' Chapter 21 She is his sister, alright. ''Wait¡­'' Suddenly, Kael realized something. ''Is it because of Igni? Did my affinity with fire increase because of my connection with Igni?'' It was definitely a possibility. ''There was that one innate skill¡­'' [Shared Growth] [Description:] [You and your Dragons grow together. This synergy ensures that you all become a unified force capable of overwhelming any foe.] The moment Kael thought about it, the skill appeared in front of him, and reading it again, he narrowed his eyes. ''It doesn''t say anything about sharing affinity.'' Soon, however, Kael admitted. ''It doesn''t say anything against sharing affinity either. Meh, it doesn''t matter, as long as it''s something that makes me stronger, I''ll take it.'' He shrugged. "Alright." Suddenly, Elira clapped. The Court Mage stared at Kael, her eyes flickering with unhidden excitement. "Fireball. That''s your first spell. Now cast it." She ordered. "H-Huh?" Kael was taken aback. He had no clue what this woman was talking about. Cast his first spell? Hello? He didn''t even know what casting meant. He didn''t know the basics, the foundations, the principles¡ªhe didn''t know anything. Was he just supposed to shout "Fireball" and it would pop out? Kael highly doubted it. "Lady Elira." Kael, however, had nothing to fear, as the Almoner of Services was here. "It has only been a day since Lord Kael was summoned to this world. He is still getting used to all this. Please don''t make it even more difficult for him." Kael was now looking at his Almoner of Services in a new light. To think this woman finally took his side. "Right¡­ You are just a brute who doesn''t know anything yet, huh¡­" ''What was I even expecting¡­? Kael thought inwardly as he stared at the woman with a deadpan look on his face. It all made sense actually, After all, ''She''s his sister.'' Kael muttered inwardly as he stared at Arlan. For some reason, Elira didn''t like that look on his face. However, as a generous court mage, she decided to overlook it and continued, "Before we begin, you need to understand something fundamental." Kael nodded, listening attentively. "Magic is not just about affinity¡ªit''s an Art, a complex Art." Kael nodded again. "Let''s start with the basics of spellcasting, The Spell Matrix. Or a Magic Circle, as many call it. A Spell Matrix is a framework you must create to give your mana Form and Function. Without it, mana is just raw energy¡ªunusable and dangerous." Kael obviously had no clue what this woman was talking about, but he wisely decided not to interrupt her. His past experiences had taught him quite a lot. He had no intention of getting on the bad side of a woman who set Arlan''s ass on fire and lived to tell the tale. Seeing that he was listening, Elira nodded with a satisfied look on her face and continued, "Think of a Spell Matrix as a magical blueprint. It has three main parts: The Containment Circle, The Runes, and the Directional Lines. Together, these define how the mana behaves and what the spell does. Let''s start with the first part: the Containment Circle." As she said those words, a red circle appeared in front of her palm. "This is the ''container'' for your mana. Without this circle, the mana will disperse or explode uncontrollably. The circle ensures that your mana stays stable and concentrated while you shape it. Your first task as a mage is to create this circle, and since it is also the default step required while casting all spells, the faster you make it, the better." "So¡­ it''s like building a fence to keep the mana from escaping?" "That''s correct." Elira nodded. "The Containment Circle is your first layer of control. As you use more complex spells, you will need more of these circles. They are called multi-circled spells, but for now, we will focus on the basics. Anyways, after the Containment Circle, comes Runes. You need to add Runes inside the Containment Circle. These are symbols or patterns that tell the mana what to do. For example, in a fire spell, the runes determine ignition, heat, and intensity." She flicked her fingers, and glowing symbols appeared inside the circle she created. These symbols pulsed faintly, each one radiating a fiery aura. "In the case of a Fireball, the key runes are the ignition rune, which starts the fire, and the stabilization rune, which ensures the flame doesn''t collapse or burst prematurely." Kael stared at the glowing symbols, trying to memorize them. "How do I know which runes to use?" He questioned. "For now, I''ll tell you everything you need to know," Elira replied. "But as you grow, you''ll learn to customize and even create your own runes. Every mage has their own style." Kael nodded in understanding, and Elira continued. "Finally, we have Directional Lines. These lines connect the runes and define the movement or flow of the spell. They''re like the pathways that mana follows once it''s shaped. In a Fireball, these lines determine the direction the flame will travel, its speed, and how far it will go. Without them, your spell will just fizzle out¡ªor worse, backfire." Elira then stared at her own circle and traced glowing lines between the runes, creating a structured network within the circle. The moment she connected all the Runes with the Directional Lines, the Magic Circle or the Spell Matrix in front of her palm started glowing even more brightly and then, Flicker A Fireball was formed. *A Sample Spell Matrix''s Picture* "Woahh¡­" Kael widened his eyes as he saw this scene unfold in front of him. Real Magic¡­ This woman actually created fire out of nothing. ''Holy shit¡­'' Kael couldn''t help but curse in amazement. Elira smiled when she saw his reaction. Then, suddenly, the Fireball and the Spell Matrix she had created disappeared, and she glanced at Kael. "Now you do it." She ordered. "Me¡­?" Kael pointed at himself dubiously. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Do you see anyone else here?" Elira questioned, and Kael glanced at Althea. "¡­" Elira''s mouth twitched. Althea, like usual, didn''t show any reaction. "Don''t make me burn you, you brat." Since words didn''t seem to work, Elira decided to use threats. ''She is his sister, alright.'' Kael nodded in his head. Chapter 22 Magics sure is convenient~ "Don''t make me burn you, you brat." Since words didn''t seem to work, Elira decided to use threats. ''She is his sister alright.'' Kael nodded in his head. "So how do I create that circle?" He questioned. "I know what it and the other two components do, but how do I create them in thin air? Is there a Magic Pen of sorts?" "You use your Mana," Elira answered. "And how do I do that?" "Tsk, I need to tell you every little thing, don''t I?" Elira clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Try solving a Complex Calculus problem when I give you the required formulas but leave out how to use them. If you manage that, we will talk." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael shot back. "What did you say? Complex Calcu-what?" "Leave it, you won''t understand." Kael waved his hand. "Why don''t you try me?" Elira was up for the challenge. "Teach me Magic first. Weren''t you sent by the King to do that? I thought you were the better one of the two siblings, but by now, Arlan had already taught me quite a lot." "You¡­ You are a daring one, aren''t you?" Elira questioned with a wide grin on her face. "I just wish to learn more." Kael replied calmly. "Alright then." Elira nodded as suddenly, Kael felt a force pushing him onto a chair. As he sat down, Elira appeared behind him. "I''ll show you the difference between me and that idiot brother of mine." She placed her hand on Kael''s back and, "Remember the feeling of Mana flowing in your body." As she said those words, Kael felt a warm energy entering his body. However, unlike how Althea''s energy enters and heals his body, Elira''s energy was different. Elira''s energy was moving inside his body in a fixed path. "Remember this Path." Elira''s voice echoed in Kael''s head. "This is the most optimal way to move Mana inside one''s body. The Mana, when moved through this path is the easiest to control, making it easier to draw Runes and improve the casting time. We call this Path a Mana Circuit." "A Mana Circuit¡­" Kael muttered as he remembered the ''path''. It mimicked the blood circulatory system in the human body, branching out to every single part of his body, spine, arms, and legs. However, unlike blood, that returns to the heart after being pumped to every part of the human body, Mana was different. It moved towards Kael''s abdomen. Kael continued to focus, wanting to know where it would end, but suddenly, Elira''s Mana disappeared, just above his navel. Kael frowned and then, he heard Elira''s voice. "This is where your Mana Core is located." "But I¡­" "Yes, you cannot locate it right now. I would have helped you locate it using my Mana, but I cannot inject my Mana into your Mana Core without hurting you. You need to locate and activate your Mana Core on your own." Elira explained. What Kael didn''t know was that the entire time Elira''s Mana was inside his Mana Circuit, he was completely at her mercy. At any moment, Elira could completely destroy his Mana Circuit, making it impossible for him to cast magic, regardless of how high his affinity was. Actually, the very fact that Elira was able to move her Mana in someone else''s Mana Circuit without hurting him was a proof of how excellent of a Mage she was. This required a ridiculous amount of control, control that even the advanced mages didn''t have. "Mana Circuit starts from your Mana Core, then it moves all around your body in a path that I showed you, eventually connecting to the fingertips, palms, and sometimes the feet, depending on the spell being cast. The unused or residual Mana returns back to the Mana Core using the same Path. For now, your first mission is to locate your Mana Core. Once you do that, you need to activate it and move whatever little Mana you have inside it to the path I showed you. You will then use that Mana to form the Containment Circle, the Runes, and the Directional Lines I showed you. Is that clear?" Elira questioned as she appeared in front of Kael, bringing her face dangerously close to his. Kael couldn''t help but notice a light smirk on her face, a smirk that, for some reason, he didn''t like. Right now, however, the only thing he could do was nod in understanding. Elira then passed a paper to him and her smirk widened. "These are the Runes required to cast Fireball. I have shown all of these to you before, so, Cast the Spell." Elira ordered. As she said those words, Elira walked away from Kael and continued, "You compared me with my brother before, I magnanimously ignored that and continued to teach you without any bias. I told you everything you need to know, and if you still cannot cast a simple spell like Fireball by the day''s end, it only shows your lack of comprehension ability." Yes, the woman hadn''t forgotten. Althea, who was watching everything play out, couldn''t help but sigh inwardly. After all, as a Mage herself, she knew how absurd Elira''s words were. Casting a Spell in one day? Let alone Kael, who knew next to nothing about Nerathis and Magic, even apprentice mages who had been learning about magic from their childhood and knew all the theory required to cast a spell, could only successfully cast their first spell after months of practice. Even Elira herself needed a week before she could cast her first spell. Casting a Spell within a day? Other than ''that person'', no one else did in all of Nerathis''s history. Expecting something like this from a man who didn''t even know that something like Magic existed a day ago was simply absurd. Court Mage Elira was clearly letting her personal feelings take the better of her. Of course, despite thinking that, Althea didn''t say anything. She had no right to interrupt the Hero''s training. She was here only to observe and assist the Hero when he needed it. Her gaze, however, seemed to have made Elira conscious of her actions, prompting her to continue. "Of course, even if you do lack some comprehension, fret not. I will be here to aid you no matter what. If you have any questions or want me to repeat anything, feel free to as-" Flicker "So this is it, huh? I can save money on gas now, Magic''s sure is convenient~" Chapter 23 I need a raise. "So this is it, huh? I can save money on gas now, Magic''s sure is convenient~" Kael spoke as he materialized a small fireball above his palm. Then, a frown appeared on his face. "So what do I do now? How do I shoot it?" However, as he recalled Elira''s words, he got the answer. "It must be the Runes, huh? The Runes I used only allow me to create the Fireball, not shoot it. I would probably need another Rune to be able to shoot it, right? So what do I do with this thing? And why doesn''t it feel ho¡ª" "You! What the hell did you do!?" While Kael continued to observe the fireball above his palm, Elira shouted, unable to believe what she was seeing. "I-I cast a spell¡­?" Kael couldn''t be more confused and because he was taken aback by Elira''s surprise, his Mana Flow was disrupted and the fireball he had created flickered out of existence. "Oh, come on!" Kael complained. However, the Court Mage couldn''t be blamed for her actions, even someone like Althea had a surprised look on her face as she stared at the Hero. "Cast a Spell!? Cast a Spell!!!??? You think one can ''cast a spell'' just like that!?" "Yes...? I mean, I just did that...? Also, weren''t you the one who told me to cast ''just like that'' in the first place...?" "Yo-You¡­ You!!" Elira couldn''t come up with a reply, she just stood still, with her trembling finger pointed at Kael. Arlan observed the situation with a frown on his face. He didn''t know much about Magic, but even he knew what this man did was absurd. ''Is this what it means to be a Hero¡­?'' He wondered in his head, once again. Kael, on the other hand, was confused. "Did I do something wrong? I did exactly what you told me to though¡­" He frowned as he then raised his palm and formed the Containment Circle. "I created the Containment Circle, added the Runes, and connected everything with Directional Lines." Flicker Once again, a fireball was formed above Kael''s Palm. "And this is how you shoot it, correct?" Whoosh Boom As he said those words, the fireball above his hand rushed towards the target at the very end of the hall, however, before it could hit, Flicker It scattered. "Hmm? Why did that happen¡­?" Kael frowned as he suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. His head started aching, his mind, however, didn''t stop talking. "I used up all my Mana, didn''t I?" Kael was a man who had just created fire out of nowhere. He was living every man''s dream. No matter how exhausted he was, he was never going to stop at this moment. He would be a failure as a man if he did so. So to test this theory, Kael tried to draw out his Mana again. His thoughts were simple: if he couldn''t form another fireball, it would mean his theory was correct and he actually did run out of mana, and if he did succeed, then well¡­ it would mean he was wrong. Kael closed his eyes to draw out his Mana again. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Stop stop stop! What are you doing!?" However, Elira suddenly appeared in front of him, placed her hands on his shoulders, and shook him violently. "What? What!?" Kael snapped. Elira, however, completely ignored his outburst and, "How did you shoot the fireball!? I didn''t teach you that!" "I just tried a different Rune. This one." Kael spoke as he pointed at one of the Runes Elira had drawn on the paper she gave to him. "How did you know you were supposed to use this one?" Elira questioned. "It looked similar to the one used before. I thought that it might be the one?" Kael answered, and Elira was horrified. She mechanically turned her head towards Althea and, "I-I am supposed to teach this freak¡­?" "Oi." Kael was offended. Elira, however, clearly didn''t care. "¡­" What hurt Kael even more was the fact that even Althea didn''t defend him and just nodded at Elira''s words. "Please bear with it, Lady Elira." ''Bear with it!? I am the one bearing with her! Why is no one on my side here!? I am the Hero damn it!'' Kael complained in his head. He, however, was a little too close to this woman to say those words out loud. Who knew what she would do if she lost her mind? "Ahhhhh!" Hearing Althea''s words, Elira screamed out loud. Kael, who was sitting right in front of her, could only close his ears as he stared at the ill-mannered freak with a frustrated look on his face. Suddenly, Elira glared at Kael. ''C-Can she read my thoughts as well¡­?'' Kael''s body flinched, but then, "I need a raise. I don''t get paid enough to deal with the likes of you!" ''What do you mean the likes of me!?'' Kael retorted in anger. Again, he didn''t dare to say anything out loud. "I will forward your request to the appropriate department, Lady Elira." Althea nodded, and Kael nearly lost his mind. ''You are supposed to be on my side!'' Althea''s words, however, seemed to calm Elira as she took a few deep breaths and then glanced at Kael, her eyes much less intense than before. "You were trying to cast another fireball, weren''t you?" She questioned calmly. "I was." "Don''t do that." Elira shook her head. "Why?" "Casting spells without having the required Mana is dangerous. In the best case, the spell won''t work. In worse cases, the spell might use your Life Force instead of Mana. In some cases, it could even kill you." "I¡­ I understand." Kael nodded. Elira nodded and continued, "You usually feel a wave of exhaustion whenever your Mana Pool is depleted. It is best to stop when that happens and regenerate your Mana." "How do I regenerate my Mana? Or does it happen on its own?" "It usually happens on its own, but you can hasten the process using meditation." "What about the Mana Pool? There has to be a way I can use to increase my Mana Pool, right?" Kael questioned. His Mana ran out after casting just two basic spells. There is no way his current Mana reserve would be enough to cast more complicated spells. "Yes, there are. I was going to teach you that later, but I guess we need to make some changes, huh?" Elira nodded as she then instructed Kael to, "Close your eyes." Chapter 24 I feel full. "Close your eyes," Elira instructed. Kael did as he was told, and soon, darkness enveloped him. "What do you see?" Elira asked, her tone gentle. "You told me to close my eyes. What am I supposed to see?" Elira''s lips twitched. Soon, however, she just sighed and continued. "Do you remember how you found your Mana Core and learned to control your Mana?" "Yes," Kael nodded. "Good. Do the same thing, but this time, try to find the Mana outside your body." "Outside my body? How would my Mana even be outside m¡ª" "Just do it, you brat," Elira snapped, cutting him off. Kael instantly turned silent. Recalling the sensation of drawing Mana within himself, he let his focus drift outward. At first, he could see nothing but darkness, which made sense since his eyes were closed, but then... Faint sparks flickered into existence¡ªtiny pinpricks of red light, like embers floating in a sea of darkness. The more he concentrated, the more they appeared. Soon, thousands of red sparks illuminated the darkness, so bright and numerous that it was almost blinding. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What do you see?" Elira repeated her question. "Some red sparks¡­ they are glowing and uhh¡­" "What you''re seeing are fire elements," Elira explained. "Their presence depends on your affinity. The higher your affinity, the more of them you would see. Seeing ten in your first attempt is considered exceptional." ''Ten?'' Kael was confused. He could spot ten of these ''elements'' at any random corner. How was this ''exceptional''? ''So this is what it means to have high affinity, huh¡­?'' He understood. Soon, he couldn''t help but question. ''I wonder how many of these Igni sees.'' Oblivious to his thoughts, Elira continued. "Your task is to take control of these elements and pull them into your body. Once inside, circulate them through your Mana Circuit and store them in your Mana Core. This will expand your Mana pool and allow you to cast higher-level spells." Kael nodded slowly. "Start with the closest ones," Elira instructed. "They''ll be easier to control." Kael nodded and focused on a spark hovering a few inches away from him. He willed it to move. The element trembled, almost like it was resisting. With effort, Kael managed to nudge it toward him, but just as it came close, it slipped from his control and drifted away, returning to its position. "It will be hard at first, but continue trying and you will eventually get used to it." Elira''s voice was heard again. It was almost as if she could tell what Kael was feeling. Kael nodded, he tried again, but he failed. Then again, and again. The spark or the element was like a slippery eel that got away no matter what he did to catch it. On the fifth attempt, however, he succeeded. As the element entered his body, Kael felt a faint warmth spread through his body. As he circulated the element through his Mana Circuit and stored it, the warm feeling became stronger. It was unlike anything he had felt before. He felt more active, more refreshed. But the feeling was faint, much fainter than when Althea used her magic, not to mention it was very short-lived. "Now repeat the process." He heard Elira''s voice again and repeated the process. This time, he was able to control the element in just three attempts. On the next try, he only needed two attempts, and after a couple more tries, Kael could do it in just a single attempt. ''This is fun~'' Kael''s smile widened. The process felt exhilarating. Each element he absorbed filled him with warmth and power. He lost track of time, focusing solely on the glowing fire elements. But soon, an unfamiliar feeling interrupted his rhythm¡ªfullness. For now, Kael decided to ignore it. He was too focused on the fire elements to think of something else. He couldn''t let something break his rhythm. However, something changed. Just like before, he was able to control the element, circulate it through his Mana Circuit, but when he tried to store it in his Mana Core, it didn''t work. ''That''s strange.'' Kael frowned. He attempted again and again, but no matter how much effort he poured in, the result was the same. It was as if his Mana Core had reached its limit. ''Is my body resisting because my Mana Core is full?'' It seemed logical. But if that was the case... ''How am I supposed to expand my Mana Pool if I can''t store more Mana? Wasn''t that the whole point of this training?'' Kael mulled over the possibilities, but unable to solve the problem on his own, he decided to turn to Elira. Opening his eyes, Kael glanced toward the Court Mage and there she was, lounging on her chair, that came out of god knows where, attempting to read a book titled "Supreme Harem God System". The key word being "attempting," as Arlan stood beside her, persistently trying to cover her eyes with his hands. "Arlan, stop that or I''ll burn your butt again," Elira threatened without even looking up. Naturally, Arlan ignored her, only to let out a yelp as she bit his hand. "..." Kael''s mouth twitched at the scene as he questioned every life choice that had led him to this moment. How did he end up with a mage who read novels mid-training and an overly cheerful knight who couldn''t take a hint? Also, what was that novel''s title!? What the hell was she reading!? He turned towards Althea, but the Almoner of Services remained expressionless. In the end, Kael decided it was better to ignore everything he was seeing and, "Teacher Elira, I can''t store the elements inside my Mana Core." He stated the problem. Elira, who was currently holding Arlan''s hand, paused and turned toward him. "Well, duh." She acted as if that was obvious. "You have just been learning for what? An hour? Of course, you can''t do it yet. You think Magic''s that easy? It takes weeks or even months to master the art of medita¡ª" "I am saying that I could do it before, but I cannot do it any longer. I feel full...? I do not know if that is the way to describe it. It is as if my Mana Core cannot store any more Mana." Kael explained, and this time, both Elira and Arlan stared at him with their mouths opened wide. "You what¡­?" Chapter 25 I am telling you Ill burn you, you brat!! "You what¡­?" Elira questioned as the book she was ''reading'' fell out of her hands. "Did you say you feel full?" Elira questioned, and Kael nodded. Elira narrowed her eyes and pointed at one of the targets Kael aimed at before. "Shoot at it," she ordered. "Alright." Kael nodded as he then recalled the three steps to cast a spell. He formed the circle, runes, and connected the direction lines and, Flicker Whoosh The fireball he created rushed towards the target. This time it didn''t fade away like it did the last time. Kael, however, missed the target by a few inches, and, Boom The fireball shot at the walls of the training hall and exploded. "Oh? That must have happened because of the Explosion Rune, correct?" Kael questioned with a curious look on his face. Soon, however, his expression changed as he heard a voice. [Ding!] [Fireball] [Mastery: Very Low] [Description:] [A basic offensive spell that gathers fire elements to create a condensed ball of flames. Upon impact, it unleashes explosive damage in a small radius. Effective for ranged combat and area attacks.] [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 2] [CE: 159/200] [Talent: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] [Strength: 10] [Agility: 8] [Speed: 9] [Stamina: 12] [Defence: 11] [Mana: 3] [Intelligence: 7] [Charisma: 7] ¡­ ''My CE increased again.'' Kael''s smile widened, but then, a question appeared in his head. ''Why didn''t I receive this notification before? Is it because I couldn''t fire it at full efficiency before?'' Before Kael could think more, Elira''s voice interrupted him. "You actually did it¡­" Kael turned towards her and noticed the shock on her face. "You meditated and filled your Mana Core... In your first attempt and... that too... In an hour?" "Was I not supposed to do it?" Kael questioned as he tilted his head in confusion. "You do it on purpose, don''t you?" Elira questioned directly as she stared at Kael with a deadpan look on her face. "What do you mean?" Kael tilted his head in confusion, the wide grin on his face, however, gave it away. "I knew it!! Acting all oblivious and confused whenever you do something absurd¡ªit''s all on purpose, isn''t it!?" Elira shouted and Kael had no words to defend himself. Of course, he knew how absurd his talent was! All those novels he had read weren''t just for decoration, even a child could tell what the broken affinity crystal meant! Heck, Kael was even expecting to see it not react at all because it was unable to measure his talent because of how high it was. Yes, he knew all the troupes. He was connected to a fucking Dragon for Lord''s sake! Of course, he will be talented as fuck! Those numerous fire elements he saw, how easy it was to control them, and how quickly he learned how to cast his first spell, all that pointed to how good he was. So why act confused? It was to get back at this woman, of course. Kael couldn''t describe how amusing her expressions were everytime he did something crazy, how could he miss such pure entertainment? And now that he was caught, he decided to raise his hands in surrender and, "Guilty as charged." He surrendered, the amused look on his face, however, didn''t vanish. After all, he could see the Court Mage''s body twitching nonstop, he wanted to see what she would do next. But... He might have gone a little too far this time. "Alright, that''s it! I''ll roast you alive, you little show-off!" Elira shouted as suddenly, around seven big Containment Circles formed right in front of her. Kael widened his eyes in horror. ''W-What is that¡­?'' Seeing the sheer size of the Containment Circles, which were about five times bigger than his, shocked Kael to his core. ''And to think there''s seven of them¡­'' It didn''t take long for Kael to realize it. The Court Mage¡­ She was actually trying to kill him! "Oi, Oi, calm down!" Arlan, however, quickly grabbed his sister from behind, saving the Nerathis Hero. "Let me go! I''ll scorch this brat up!" Elira shrieked, kicking wildly. Arlan, however, already used to her antics, lifted his sister in the air as if she were a sack of potatoes and turned towards Althea. "I''ll be taking her away. Magic Training''s over for the day." Althea nodded as she appeared next to Kael. Arlan took Elira away. However, even as she neared the doors of the training hall, she continued to resist her gorilla of a brother and glared at Kael. "Don''t let me see you tomorrow! I am telling you I''ll burn you, you brat!! I mean it!!" At the same time, she also bit her brother''s shoulder and, "I left my book in there! At least let me get that!" "Don''t you have like 100 copies of that darned book in your room? Shut up and come with me in silence!" "I can''t let others read that masterpiece! I am gatekeeping it! Bring me my book, you brute!" Elira shouted, biting Arlan''s shoulder again. The Commander, however, completely ignored her words and took her away out of the training hall. "I''ll burn you together with him! I''ll tell Mother!" "Yes, yes, go for it." "¡­" "¡­" Kael and Althea stood in awkward silence, the distant commotion was still faintly audible. "So¡­ um¡­" Kael cleared his throat. "About my Mana Core? Why can''t I store more mana inside it? Am I not going to get an answer to that question?" Althea turned towards the hero with her expressionless face. "The feeling of ''fullness'' you''re experiencing means your Mana Core has reached its capacity. Forcing more mana into it would cause it to shatter. To prevent that, your body instinctively resists it." Kael nodded slowly, though a question was already forming on his lips. "But if¡ª" Before he could question, Althea cut him off. It was as if she already knew what he was going to ask. "Growing your Mana Pool is a gradual process. You can''t just absorb fire elements endlessly and expect to grow stronger overnight. If that were possible, anyone could become a Master Mage in a few years." Kael raised an eyebrow but remained silent as she continued. "A Mage''s path is slow and demands hard work and patience. You must exhaust your mana reserves by casting spells, then meditate to replenish them. Each cycle strengthens your Mana Core, expanding its capacity and increasing your Mana Pool. This is how you advance as a Mage." Althea''s answers were clear. "Uhh¡­" Kael stared at her for a moment and then, "Why did I need her again? You already know everything. Why can''t you teach me? I think that would be much more efficient." "Please do not doubt the King''s decision, Lord Kael. Lady Elira may act like this, but she is an excellent Mage and a Teacher. Countless Mages, even the ones stronger than me, would kill for the opportunity to be taught by her." "I highly doubt I would make it alive if I learn under her¡­" Kael commented. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You are a Hero. You will survive." Althea nodded reassuringly. To Kael, however, those words were anything but reassuring. "Anyways, does Lord Kael need me to heal your fatigue again?" "Hmm? Sure." Kael shrugged. Althea''s magic felt good. Her next words, however, did not. "You will need it for your next training." "What¡­?" Kael couldn''t believe what he was hearing. Chapter 26 Therian Flameheart. "You will need it for your next training." "What¡­?" Kael couldn''t believe what he was hearing. "There''s more?" "Yes." Althea nodded expressionlessly, and before Kael could say or react, the doors of the Training Hall opened again, revealing a tall, imposing figure. "Marshal Therian Flameheart." Althea started responsibly. "One of the most respected beings in the Kingdom of Drakthar, known for his achievements in countless Wars. His Tactics and Leadership Skills are unmatched. Even the Grand Marshal of the Drakthar Army respects him and values all his opinions. It wouldn''t be wrong to say he is one of the key pillars of the Drakthar Kingdom. He will be teaching you about Leadership and Strategy." The Almoner of Services explained. Marshal Therian Flameheart strode into the training hall with measured steps, his presence alone radiating authority and confidence. Dressed in a regal red and gold coat, adorned with polished silver pauldrons, he carried an air of command that demanded respect from the people around him. A long crimson cape flowed behind him, brushing the stone floor. As he walked in, Therian''s piercing amber eyes scanned the training hall. His square jawline, together with a well-groomed beard, added a rugged charm to his otherwise refined demeanor. "Kael, I presume?" Therian spoke as he glanced at Kael. His voice was deep and resonant. The Marshal extended a gloved hand to the young Hero. Kael nodded and grabbed the Marshal''s hand with both his own, a clumsy movement, but Kael couldn''t help it. The man in front of him was much more intimidating than anyone he had met, even more than the King, if Kael had to compare. "I-It''s an honor to meet you, Marshal." Kael stuttered. He didn''t know why he said it, he didn''t even know the man a few seconds ago, but... he couldn''t help it. "The honor is mine. I get to be part of the Hero''s journey. How many Marshals could boast that?" The Marshal smiled faintly. Kael laughed awkwardly. "I presume you are already exhausted after all the previous training you have been through, so I will not exhaust you any further with all these formalities. Let''s keep things simple and quick, alright?" "Y-Yes, Marshal." Kael nodded. The Marshal nodded back and continued, "A Hero''s journey is filled with many battles, but not all are fought with swords and spells. I am here to prepare you for such battles, the battle that tests your mind and heart." Kael nodded, listening attentively. Therian turned, his cape swishing behind him. "Leadership is not a gift you are born with, nor is it something you can acquire overnight. It is forged through trials, sharpened by decisions, and tempered by the weight of responsibility. Many warriors can wield a blade, but few can command the hearts and minds of those who follow them." Therian then walked over to a large wooden table on the southern side of the hall and spread a map across it. It was a detailed map of the surrounding regions, marked with symbols denoting armies, strongholds, and supply lines. He gestured for Kael to join him. Kael nodded and rushed towards him, not wanting the Marshal to wait. "Before we begin, let me tell you the essence of leadership," Therian began. "A leader is not just someone who gives orders. A leader inspires trust, earns respect, and shoulders the burdens of their people. You must think not only for yourself but for everyone under your command. Every decision you make has consequences," Therian''s tone became solemn as he continued, "Sometimes fatal ones." Kael''s expression hardened as well. "I understand," He nodded. "Do you? We shall see." Therian smiled faintly. "Leadership is not just about understanding in theory but applying it under pressure." He placed a finger on the map, pointing to a small, fortified town near the border of the Drakthar Kingdom. "This will be your first test, but not today. This week, we lay the foundation." Kael blinked in surprise. A test¡­? In a week...? He didn''t know if he would be ready for it by then¡­ The Marshal, on the other hand, straightened and began pacing slowly around the hall. "The basics of leading start with understanding your team. You must know their strengths and weaknesses, their fears and motivations. A good leader does not treat everyone the same. Instead, they bring out the best in each individual, molding them into a cohesive unit." "And how do I do that?" Kael questioned. "Observation and communication," Therian replied. "Watch how they move, how they react under stress. Speak to them, not as their superior but as their comrade. Learn what drives them." He paused by the map again, his finger tracing a line from the fortified town to a nearby forest. "Next, you must understand the battlefield. Geography, resources, weather¡ªthese are your allies and enemies. A brilliant strategy can crumble if you fail to account for a sudden storm or an impassable valley. Study everything." S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That''s a lot to keep track of." Kael furrowed his brows. "It is." Therian chuckled. "Which is why delegation is key. You cannot do everything yourself. Trust your advisors and your team to handle the details while you focus on the bigger picture." For the next hour, Therian outlined the principles of leadership and strategy. He talked about the importance of morale, the balance between caution and aggression, and the necessity of adapting to unforeseen challenges. Kael took mental notes, listening as attentively as he could. "That will be enough for today. We will continue the rest tomorrow. This was supposed to be an introductory session, but I kept going." Therian laughed. "I guess I got excited at the thought of teaching the Hero." Kael smiled back. "See you tomorrow, Hero Kael." Therian nodded. "Yes, Marshal." Kael nodded back and then bowed his head. The Marshal''s presence commanded respect on its own, and Kael was completely captured by the flow. The Marshal turned and left the chamber, his crimson cape trailing behind him. Kael stood alone for a moment, staring at the map. Soon, Althea appeared next to him and, "Does Lord Kael need me to relieve your fatigue again?" She questioned in a diligent tone. Kael stared at her, raising his eyebrow at the phrasing. Soon, however, his expression shifted, "Wait, if you are offering to heal me, then¡­" "The next lecture is also the most important, Beast Taming." Chapter 27 Sanctuary. "The next lecture is also the most important one, Beast Taming." The instant Kael heard those words, instead of his usual bickering and complaining that he does every time Althea talks about the next training, he turned silent. The Almoner of Services didn''t miss that. For now, however, she didn''t show any reaction and continued her job. "Lyric Ashwind." She mentioned a name. "She is one of the best beast tamers alive. They say she once calmed an entire herd of rampaging thunderstags with just her voice. Her affinity with magical beasts is unmatched. She doesn''t just tame them, she understands them. To her, Beast Taming isn''t about dominance or control, it''s about connection and trust. She will be your Beast Taming Teacher." Kael nodded. Honestly, all his teachers till now have been exceptional, so he was getting used to it. Not to mention that right now, he was thinking about an entirely different thing, so he wasn''t really paying attention to Althea''s words. Soon, Lyric walked into the training hall. She was in her mid-thirties with an air of calm and grace around her. She had soft, shoulder-length auburn hair. Her almond-shaped eyes were a striking shade of green. When her eyes fell on Kael and Althea, a gentle smile appeared on her face as she walked towards them. "You must be Hero Kael." Kael nodded. "My name is Lyric Ashwind. I will be teaching you about Beasts and how to strengthen your Bond with them. I hope we get along." Lyric spoke with a gentle smile. Kael smiled back, in his mind, however, he was cursing his luck. ''One somewhat normal teacher, and I cannot learn from her.'' "Are you ready to begin?" Oblivious to his thoughts, Lyric questioned. "Uhhh¡­ Teacher Lyric¡­" Kael called out with an awkward look on his face. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What is it?" Lyric tilted her head in confusion. "My Firefang Wyvern won''t come out of the Sanctuary." Kael shared his problem. "What¡­?" Lyric frowned in confusion. "I tried to call him out before, but ever since Althea appeared, he never left it. It is as if he is afraid of anyone other than me." "A Firefang Wyvern is afraid of people? That isn''t right." Lyric furrowed her brows. Firefang Wyverns were Beasts known for being aggressive and highly active. Lyric found it hard to believe that a Firefang Wyvern out of all beasts isn''t coming out of the sanctuary. Actually, the very fact that someone like Kael was able to open the Sanctuary surprised Lyric to her core. Sanctuary was a unique Beast Storage Dimension that every Beast Tamer possesses. A magical pocket space bound to them. A dimension that served as a haven for the Tamer''s tamed beasts, ensuring they remained safe and undisturbed during periods of rest or travel. It was a ''Gift'' given by Lord Feraos to all the Beast Tamers in Nerathis. A magical dimension that automatically adapts to the preferred environment of the beasts stored inside. An essential that makes it possible for the Tamer to always be close to the beasts they love and be battle-ready even when caught unprepared. Usually, a Tamer is only able to access the Sanctuary after some guidance, but for Kael to already be able to access it when he just came to this world yesterday¡­ It showed his talent. ''Is this what it means to be a Hero¡­?'' Lyric wondered the same thing other instructors did when they saw Kael''s growth. What Lyric didn''t know was that Kael had absolutely no hand in opening the Sanctuary. He was just reading about the Sanctuary in the book the King had given to him. He tried to open it, but just like any other Beast Tamer, he failed. It was normal since he didn''t know anything about it. However, just as he was about to give up, Igni climbed on top of him, placed his head on Kael''s forehead, and... disappeared. Yes, the Dragon opened the Sanctuary by himself, and it was only after Igni opened it first that Kael was able to access it. As for Igni not wanting to come out of the Sanctuary? The little guy was actually raring to come out and show his power to the people around. It was Kael who wanted to hide him. He had turned what was supposed to be a Wyvern into a freaking Dragon. Who knows what sort of reaction these people would have if they learned about it? If Kael''s theory about the Vision being a Warning was correct, then the last thing he wanted was to reveal his trump card to everyone. Yes, despite liking all the people he had met so far, Kael couldn''t bring himself to trust any of them. Maybe the vision of him and his Igni dying had made him paranoid, but unless he was absolutely sure that his Igni was safe, he wouldn''t reveal his existence to anyone. Honestly, he was glad that something like a Sanctuary existed. Since it was a personal dimension that only he and his bonds could access, no one would find out about Igni''s existence if he didn''t want them to. Before this, he was actually planning on revealing Igni''s existence while feigning ignorance as to how a Wyvern turned into a Dragon. According to the book he read, it wasn''t uncommon for some Beast Eggs to retract their bloodline and be born stronger than their parents. Kael was sure these people would think of it as ''Feraos''s Blessing'' or the ''Hero''s Luck'' or whatever and stop thinking about it. Now, however, he had an even better excuse that made it possible for him to hide Igni''s existence. As to why a Firefang Wyvern, a beast that is usually active, wasn''t coming out of the Sanctuary? That wasn''t something he had to figure out, was it? He just said it and as for the reason, it was these people''s task to find something. Something he would later use as an excuse. A perfect plan. Lyric, however, was prepared to make things hard for Kael. "Can I see him? I am sure I can do something about it." Chapter 28 An Angel "Can I see him? I think I can help." Lyric declared confidently. Kael, however, shook his head. "He doesn''t want to come out." A Tamer and their Bonds could sense each other''s emotions when the Bonds were inside the Sanctuary. It was a way they could communicate with each other even when they were in two separate dimensions. So, when Kael said that his Bond didn''t want to come out, Lyric had no choice but to take his word for it and drop the matter. Or at least, that is what Kael expected would happen, but, "I have a way." Lyric smiled. "What is it?" Kael had no choice but to ask this question. "The two of us would leave, leaving just you in the Hall. You will call him out, and once he comes out, I will come in. Once I meet him, I assure you that I will be able to understand the problem and help you out." "So you want me to lie to him?" Kael narrowed his eyes. "That is not what I¡ª" "That is exactly what you said." Before Lyric could explain herself, Kael interrupted. "You want me to reassure him that no one is around and that he can come out, only to later betray him." "You are not betraying him, it would be me who returned to the Hall. You didn''t know anyth¡ª" "But I did." Kael interrupted. Even when Lyric tried to explain herself, he refused. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I will not lie to my Bond." Kael declared as he then stared right into Lyric''s eyes and, "No matter who tells me to." Althea, who was observing in silence, didn''t show any expression as usual. Inwardly, however, she was taken aback. She had never seen Kael so adamant about anything. "You seem to love your Bond." Lyric smiled gently. "I do, and this is why I do not wish to betray him." "You do realize I am doing this for his own good, correct? A Firefang Wyvern not leaving the Sanctuary is not normal. I''m only worried for his well-being. If there''s even a small chance something is wrong, wouldn''t you want to know?" "So just because my Wyvern is a little shy, he is sick?" "Magic Beasts are complex creatures, Kael." "I know my Wyvern is perfectly alright, I can sense it. If he doesn''t want to come out, I will not force him." "So what are you going to do? How are you going to train him? How are you going to make him stronger? You aren''t planning on keeping him inside your Sanctuary for the rest of his life, are you?" "If I have to, I will." Kael replied, his icy blue eyes shining intensely as if he was prepared to face the entire world for his Bond''s sake. Eyes that Lyric appreciated. For now, however, she needed Kael to understand her. "You know that a Sanctuary has limited space, don''t you? At your level, it can only store one Beast, and if you use that space on a Bond that doesn''t come out, you will wast¡ª" "Give him some time. I am sure he will come out eventually. I trust him." "How much time?" "As long as it takes for him to feel safe." "And what are you going to do till then? How are you going to train him?" "Either you tell me a few ways to train him, and I will do it on my own, or I will not train him and continue to get stronger, for both of us." Kael answered with a determined look on his face, and in the end, Lyric had no choice but to sigh in defeat. She didn''t expect her first day to be so difficult. "Alright, we will do as you said. I will tell you about some basic drills that you can perform together with your Bond and you can train your Bond whenever he decides to come out. Will that be okay?" Lyric questioned. "Yes, thank you for understanding." Kael nodded, tears nearly welling up at the edge of his eyes. ''She is so understanding¡­ An angel amongst the group of demons.'' Kael couldn''t be happier. "Before that, however, let''s start with a few basic things that you, as a Beast Tamer, should know." Lyric spoke, and Kael nodded with a determined look on his face, eager to learn. Seeing his attitude, Lyric smiled. Then, the Master Tamer started, "In Nerathis, every being grows stronger as their Magic Beasts do. A Tamer and a Beast share what is called a ''Bond.'' A ''Bond'' is not just a name for their relationship. It is the means of shared growth, a connection between the Beast and the Tamer. A connection through which a Beast shares their strength with their Tamer. A connection using which a Tamer grows stronger as their Beast does." Lyric paused, giving Kael a moment to absorb everything she said. Kael nodded in understanding, signaling Lyric to continue. "You must have already attended your other classes, one that trains you to become a Warrior and one that trains you to become a Mage, correct?" Kael nodded. "What did you learn in those lectures?" Lyric questioned, and this time, Kael turned silent. Just recalling those lectures seemed like a nightmare. "Uhh¡­ General Deren made me do all these physical exercises that ''strengthened'' me, Commander Arlan beat me up, Court Mage Elira taught me fireball spell, and Marshal Therian told me some basics of leadership and strategy." Kael summarized, and hearing those words, Lyric blinked in surprise. "Other than Marshal Therian, did none of them discuss the basics of their course¡­?" ''Yes! Exactly!'' Seeing the woman''s dumbfounded face, Kael couldn''t believe how happy he was. Finally! A person who understood him! This was supposed to be his first day! It was supposed to be an introductory day! A day where they briefed him about everything, told him how the world works! A day where they were supposed to take it slow! But no! They all just started doing their own things! Kael was so glad he had finally found someone who understood his feelings! He stared at Lyric as his eyes turned moist. ''She really is an angel.'' The look on his face was enough for Lyric to get the answer to her question. When she realized it, she facepalmed with a sigh. "I can''t believe it¡­" ''Right!?'' Kael shouted inwardly. Lyric then shook her head. Then once again, she glanced at Kael and smiled. "Let me do it in their stead." Kael nodded, ready to attend his first actual lecture, from an actual teacher. "In the World of Nerathis, there are two major paths the humans walk on¡­" Chapter 29 Nerathiss Power System. "In the World of Nerathis, there are two major paths the humans walk on, A Warrior and a Mage." Hearing those words, Kael furrowed his brows. ''What about Beast Tamers?'' He thought inwardly. "Yes, about the Beast Tamers you are wondering about, I will get to that." Lyric smiled as she glanced at Kael and his expression changed. ''I am sure of it, these people have the power to read other''s minds.'' Kael stared at Lyric intently, trying not to think about anything. "Hahaha~" Lyric laughed out loud when she saw his face. "I cannot read your mind, Kael." ''Those words aren''t helping your case!'' "Your expressions are just too obvious." Lyric then stared at Kael and, "You will need to work on that in the future. It is not good if everyone knows what the Hero is thinking, okay?" "I understand." Kael nodded. Lyric nodded back, then she continued, "So as I was saying, there are two major paths the humans walk on, A Path of a Warrior, And a Path of a Mage. Both of these Paths have their own ranking system. For a Warrior, it starts with, First Stage Warrior, Second Stage Warrior, Third Stage Warrior, Fourth Stage Warrior, Fifth Stage Warrior, Sixth Stage Warrior, Seventh Stage Warrior, Eighth Stage Warrior, And Ninth Stage Warrior. As you climb the ladder, you get stronger. A Ninth Stage Warrior is strong enough to shatter mountains with a single punch, create massive fissures and level the ground. They are Powerhouses, capable of changing the very landscape with their might alone." Lyric praised, her eyes sparkling with awe as she talked about it. Kael, on the other hand, nodded continuously, ''Right, shattering mountain, an obvious display of strength. Typical isekai.'' He wasn''t very impressed. How could he be? He had read about a caped bald man who once jumped to the moon and returned, destroying the moon in the process. Now THAT is strength. Oblivious to his thoughts, Lyric continued, "Just like the warriors, there is a different but similar ranking system for the mages, It starts with, First Circle Mage, Second Circle Mage, Third Circle Mage, Fourth Circle Mage, Fifth Circle Mage, Sixth Circle Mage, Seventh Circle Mage, Eighth Circle Mage, Ninth Circle Mage. Again, the higher your rank, the stronger you are. While a Ninth Stage Warrior is called a Powerhouse, a Ninth Circle Mage is no different than a Natural Calamity. Some of their spells could even cover an entire city. It is quite fascinating." Lyric smiled and once again, Kael nodded. Seeing the similarity, a thought appeared in his head, ''Why does all this seem so familiar? Were the authors of all those books also summoned to this world? Does this mean that before becoming Authors, they were all Heroes? Do I have to become an Author as well?'' It was definitely a possibility. Right now, however, Kael didn''t have the time to think this through since Lyric wasn''t done yet. "Now," Lyric spoke, grabbing Kael''s attention, "As much different as Warriors and Mages are, they have one thing in common." Kael raised his eyebrow, his interest was piqued. "Before being Warriors and Mages, they are all Beast Tamers." "Oh?" Kael was surprised. Lyric nodded and then she continued, "As I mentioned before, every human in this World relies on Magic Beasts they have bonded with. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Nobles ensure that their children are bonded with a High Ranked Magic Beast at birth. It wasn''t just a matter of status, It was a necessity. This is because of the ''Bond'' the Tamer and the Beasts shared. This Bond allows the Tamer to grow stronger together with their Beasts. It develops a Tamer''s body, helping them break past the limits of a normal human. As the Tamer''s Body develops further, they would then choose their path, A Warrior or a Mage. For a warrior, while learning different martial techniques and pushing himself to the limit was essential, a normal human had his limits. A Tamer''s body, however, continued to get stronger as their Beasts grew, making it possible for them to perform advanced techniques that a normal human body couldn''t possibly hope to perform. The Mages are the same. Sure, they have a system that allows them to form a Mana Core, harness Mana, and cast Spells, they can even meditate to refill their Mana reserves and slowly increase their Mana Capacity. However, without bonding with the Magic Beasts, almost no Mage could ever hope to go above the Second Circle. After all, meditating and growing one''s mana reserve was essentially no different than training muscles and making them stronger. The method had its limits, and to increase those limits, forming Bonds with Magic Beasts was essential. Over time, one''s strength became synonymous with their Magic Beasts'' strength. So while both mage and warriors had their own ranking system, The main system they followed was the Beast Tamer''s system which starts with, Novice Tamer, Apprentice Tamer, Advance Tamer, Adept Tamer, Expert Tamer, Master Tamer, Grandmaster Tamer, Legendary Tamer, And Mythical Tamer." Lyric finally stopped, letting Kael absorb everything she said. Kael noted everything and made some mental notes. After thinking about it for a while, he asked a question, "So in summary, a stronger Tamer means a stronger Mage or a Warrior, correct?" "That is correct." Lyric nodded. "Usually, these stages are aligned with each other, A Novice Tamer is usually a First Stage Warrior or a First Circle Mage, while a Ninth Stage Warrior or a Ninth Circle Mage is usually a Mythical Tamer." "I understand." Kael nodded in understanding. So basically, in this world, the beasts were the source of these people''s strength. Unlike the novels he had read, this world didn''t have a concept of cultivation where one gradually becomes stronger. These people make their beasts stronger and use their ''Bond'' with those Beasts to increase their body''s ''limit'' and get stronger. It was like going to the gym but never hitting a saturation point, allowing them to grow endlessly. ''Hmm, quite logical.'' Kael nodded in his head. Soon, however, another question appeared in his mind, "Then aren''t the humans a little too dependent on the magic beasts?" Chapter 30 You are secretly a demon, arent you? "Then aren''t the humans a little too dependent on the magic beasts?" Kael couldn''t help but question. After all, if everything depends on the Beasts, the rich would continue to buy beasts with higher potential, and the gap between them and the poor would continue to rise to the point where the poor would have no choice but to remain suppressed. The rich could even make it so the poor can never buy a beast, setting them up to live a mediocre life and never rise. Hearing his question, Lyric smiled gently, "Of course, while we heavily rely on beasts, this doesn''t mean humans themselves are completely helpless." Lyric then thought for a while and then, "Even now, it isn''t known which side is correct, Some people say it was Lord Feraos''s blessing, While others theorized that because the humans continued to form Bonds with Magic Beasts, increase the natural limit of their bodies, and gave birth to stronger children for generations, A newer, stronger generation of humans was born and ''they'' started appearing, Humans with ''Talents,'' The Humans the Orb of Resonance reacted to." Lyric spoke as she glanced at Kael. Kael listened intently; after all, the Orb reacted to him as well, and quite strongly at that. Seeing his expression, Lyric chuckled and continued, "These humans were born with special abilities of their own and could develop their abilities and grow on their own, just like the Magic Beasts. Of course, this didn''t mean these humans stopped bonding with Magic Beasts. To them, their talent was just another way to get stronger. These humans walked on two paths: one of their own and the other that the rest of the world walked on. They grew faster than others around them and tended to be stronger than people who were at their level." Lyric then glanced at Kael and, "You are one such human, Kael. No, you are the best of all such humans. You are the Hero, A man blessed by Lord Feraos himself, A man destined for greatness." Lyric praised. "This is also the reason you are being trained so intensely. The King wants to find out what your talent is so he can help you grow in the most optimal way possible." The Master Tamer revealed, and Kael nodded, "I am grateful for everything he is doing." Lyric chuckled at those words, "It is us who are grateful for everything you are doing, Kael. It shouldn''t be the other way around. Really, thank you, Hero Kael. We are eternally grateful." Lyric slightly bowed her head. "Teacher, please." Kael, however, stopped her. "I am your student; it wouldn''t sit well with me if my teacher bowed her head in front of me." He spoke. Lyric was one of the only two sane teachers he had, so Kael was respectful. Lyric smiled. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You have a way with your words, Hero." She praised. Kael smiled. "Anyways, now that we are done with the basic summary, shall we focus more on our lecture?" Lyric questioned, changing the flow of the conversation. "Please." Kael nodded. "Then let us start with Beast Classifications now. First, we will begin with Beast Ranks." "Yes." Kael nodded in affirmation, and the Master Tamer started, "Magic Beasts in Nerathis are categorized into five major ranks based on their innate potential. Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary, And Mythical." Lyric stared at Kael and informed, "Your Firefang Wyvern is an Epic Ranked Magic Beast. Like all other Epic Ranked Beasts, your Firefang Wyvern has an extremely high potential and grows at a much faster rate than others." Lyric praised. Kael, however, asked what he was curious about the most. "What about the Legendary and Mythical Rank Beasts?" He was supposed to be the Hero, wasn''t he? Why would the King only give him an Epic Rank Beast? Not that it mattered since his Talent turned Igni into a Mythical Rank Dragon, but the King didn''t know about his Talent. Isn''t it common sense to arm the Hero with the strongest resources? Lyric, who saw Kael''s expression, smiled knowingly and then, "Legendary Rank Level Beasts are not easy to find, not to mention these Beasts, even as babies, have excessive pride and are usually hard to control for new Tamers. It is an unsaid rule to not give a new Tamer a Beast higher ranked than Epic. As for Mythical Ranked Beasts¡­" A wry smile appeared on Lyric''s face as she continued, "Well, let''s just say they are called ''Myths'' for a reason. While it is confirmed that these Beasts exist, they are highly protective of their kin, and it is almost impossible to find their Eggs." Lyric answered, and Kael nodded with a solemn look on his face. He didn''t pay much attention to Igni''s Mythical Rank before since, well, according to him, a Dragon was supposed to be a Mythical Creature¡­ But to think its value was so high. Kael was glad that he had decided to hide Igni. "Hero Kael? Is something bothering you?" Seeing him zone out, Lyric questioned. "No, I am fine. Please continue, Instructor Lyric." Kael smiled politely, and Lyric nodded. "After the Beast Ranks, let''s talk about their Types. This one is fairly simpler; there are, Fire Type Beasts, Water Type Beasts, Earth Type Beasts, Air Type Beasts. These are the four most basic types most beasts fall into. However, the Magic Beasts are Lord Feraos''s Gift to our World. How could the Lord''s Gift be so easy to understand? Even now, there are countless Beasts that we still cannot understand. Some of these beasts are somewhat simple; They have elemental powers of Lightning, Ice, or Cloud. We call them Special Elemental Type Beasts. Then, however, comes an even stranger type: the Beasts with abilities we have a hard time categorizing. These are the Beasts with Powers over Shadow, Time, Space, or Gravity. We call them Mystic Beasts. Of course, such Beasts are extremely rare, and their powers are difficult to understand, but then again, This is what we, as the Beast Tamers, are supposed to do, no?" Lyric smiled, and Kael smiled back. "Now let us talk about¡­" The lecture continued. Kael listened attentively until the two were done. After Lyric left, Kael turned towards Althea and stared at her with a fearful look on his face. He even stepped back as Althea walked towards him. Seeing that, Althea, who understood what he was thinking, spoke with an expressionless look on her face. "Please do not worry, Lord Kael. Your training for today is over." "Oh, thank God!" Hearing her words, Kael sighed in relief as he collapsed on the ground, exhausted. Seeing him lying on the ground, Althea walked towards him and, "It would be more comfortable for Lord Kael to rest in his room than on the stone floor." Hearing those toneless words, Kael glanced at the woman standing above him and, "You are secretly a demon, aren''t you? You must be the hidden boss of this world. I am sure of this." He was confident. "I assure you, Lord Kael, my sole purpose is to assist you in your growth." Althea shook her head. "¡­" Kael stared at her in silence. He was actually wondering if this woman was a robot. ''Is she an extremely advanced AI? It''s magic and stuff; everything is possible here. After all, I literally have a dragon who sees me as his father.'' With a defeated sigh, Kael closed his eyes, deciding it was best not to argue with her any further. Althea remained silent as well, not bothering Kael after giving her input. Her sharp gaze, however, lingered on him, ensuring there were no injuries that she somehow missed before. Yes, the Almoner of Services was extremely thorough in her work. Chapter 31 Thank you, Igni. Thirty minutes later, Kael returned to his room and jumped onto his bed. "Haaaahhhh!!!" His body sank into the soft mattress, a wave of comfort washing over him. He knew that if he closed his eyes, he would sleep instantly. He, however, sat up and suddenly, His blue, human-like eyes turned Draconic Golden. He scanned his room and when his eyes fell on the doors, a translucent screen appeared in front of him. [Name: Raza Stone] [Race: Human] [Age: 34] [Level: 26] [Strength: 48] [Agility: 40] [Speed: 42] [Stamina: 50] [Defense: 45] [Mana: 12] [Intelligence: 18] [Charisma: 20] [Strengths: Experienced Combatant, Resilient Body, Strong Leadership Skills] [Weaknesses: Limited Mana Reserves, Predictable Fighting Style, Overreliance on Physical Armor] Seeing the system screen, Kael nodded, satisfaction evident on his face. This was his trusted method of ensuring no one was spying on him. His skill, Dragon''s Eye, functioned even without the target being in a direct line of sight. As long as a target was within range and he focused in their direction, the skill would reveal their information. Obstacles like walls were powerless against it. Kael''s logic was simple. If it could detect individuals on the other side of the wall, then what chance would any being who was hiding have? Was the logic flawed? It might be. This was a world where Magic existed. Kael wasn''t arrogant enough to believe that he knew everything. However, other than his Skill, there was nothing else he could trust. At the very least, the skill gave him some sort of assurance. Satisfied that no one else was nearby except for the guard stationed outside his room since yesterday, Kael let out a quiet sigh. Closing his eyes, a light smile appeared on his face as he called out in a soft voice, "Igni." In an instant, Kael''s face was buried in a large belly as his Igni appeared on top of his face as if he had been waiting for it all this while. Kael lost his balance and fell on his bed with Igni sitting on his face. "Kyu~" Igni let out a cheerful laugh as he started licking Kael''s face. "Igni stop! Hahaha~" sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael laughed out loud, trying to move Igni away from him. The Dragon dodged, continuing to lick Kael''s face with his warm tongue until finally, Kael picked him up and lifted him in the air. "You little¡­" He wanted to call out, but seeing Igni''s excited face, he couldn''t help but smile. Then, he brought the dragon near his chest and hugged him like he was the most precious thing in the world. "I missed you as well." He spoke in a gentle tone. Growl Suddenly, a loud growl was heard. This time, however, the one who couldn''t control his stomach from making these embarrassing noises wasn''t little Igni. It was Kael. And it wasn''t his fault either. These people had been training him since morning, and he was only able to return to his room in the late afternoon. He hadn''t even had the first meal of his day. Obviously, he would be hungry. ''Training on an empty stomach. Truly the mark of a great hero,'' Kael grumbled sarcastically. He then sat up with Igni on his lap. "Hungry?" He questioned. "Kyu!" Igni nodded. Although he had eaten some of his eggshell that Kael had stored inside the Sanctum yesterday, that was his breakfast. Igni now wanted lunch. "Let''s eat something." Kael spoke as he carried Igni over to the small table where Althea had left their meal. One of the many conveniences of this world was its magical equipment. The plates were enchanted with runes to keep the food fresh and warm, protected by a barrier that shielded it from dust or decay. "At least the food makes up for the hellish training," Kael muttered, taking a large bite. As they ate, he couldn''t help but appreciate the magic''s practicality. Igni, on the other hand, devoured his share with gusto, letting out happy chirps after every bite. "You ate it all¡­?" Kael blinked in surprise as his eyes fell on Igni''s clean plate. "Guu~!" Igni nodded, his belly visibly rounder now. "¡­do you want more?" Kael questioned, ready to give up his own food. Igni, however, shook his head and patted his full belly with his small paws. Kael couldn''t help but laugh out loud at that sight. "Wait for me then, I''ll be done soon." "Kyu~" Igni nodded and sat on the table patiently like a good boy he was. Once Kael was done, he picked Igni up and returned to his bed. He leaned against the headrest of his bed, exhaustion weighing heavily on his body. Every muscle in his body ached from the relentless training he had endured all day. Sure, Althea''s magic had healed his injuries and even his fatigue, but that magic wasn''t absolute. According to what Althea said, her magic didn''t erase his fatigue, it just delayed it. And now, Kael was dealing with all that accumulated fatigue that he had forcefully delayed by abusing Althea''s Magic. He was sleepy, his eyelids felt extremely heavy, and he wanted to close them. However, the soft, hopeful chirps from Igni sitting on his lap tugged at his heart. The little dragon''s tail swayed eagerly, and his eyes sparkled with mischief. Kael knew what the little thing wanted. He wanted to play. Kael smiled faintly, brushing a hand over Igni''s smooth scales. "You never get tired, do you?" "Kyu!" Igni chirped, licking Kael''s fingers. "Well, makes sense since you haven''t done anything since morning." Kael chuckled softly. "Alright, alright. We will do what you want." He didn''t want to let Igni down. The little dragon was alone all day. The least he could do was stay awake a little longer. But before Kael could muster the energy to move, Igni placed his snout on his chest, as if stopping him from moving. "What happened?" Kael frowned. Igni, however, closed his eyes, as if he was sleepy. Kael''s frown deepened. The little thing was raring to move around just now. What happened? His thoughts ran wild. For an instant, he felt that something was mixed in the food. But soon, Kael''s thoughts froze as he realized something. "A day-old little thing is being mindful of his father''s situation, eh? Damn." Kael was surprised. To think little Igni would act sleepy because he wanted him to sleep. ''Even if he can read my emotions and is much more intelligent than normal¡­ this is still too mature. Is this because he is a Dragon?'' Kael questioned inwardly. For now, however, he didn''t think too much¡ªor more like, he was in no condition to think further. "Thank you, Igni." He just showed his gratitude as he grabbed Igni in his arms and leaned back, letting the soft mattress devour him. "Remember to go back to the sanctuary if you sense someone comes in." Those were the last words he spoke before he slept. Chapter 32 Meeting The Meeting Hall of the Royal Palace was an imposing chamber, designed to inspire awe and command attention. While Kael was sleeping peacefully in his room, this place was busier than usual. At the far end of the hall, King Alden sat on a grand throne, his expression unreadable. A massive rectangular table stretched the length of the hall. Seated around the table were 5 beings, two women, and three men. People Kael would recognize in an instant. Yes, they were Kael''s instructors. The King stared at all these people and then, he leaned forward. "So? What''s your assessment?" He questioned, his tone solemn. "A Genius." The first one to speak was Elira. "Not only that, his temperament is much better than most students I have taught." It was a big statement, especially since it came from someone like Elira. Even though the number of students she had taught wasn''t high, every single one of her students was now an exceptional mage the Kingdom could rely on. This was the reason she was chosen to be Kael''s instructor despite being so young. "I tried to make things difficult for him to see how he would react and I couldn''t be more satisfied. He is calm, calculative, and listens well, but he is not a mere follower either, provoke him and he will retaliate, quite bravely at that." Elira smiled. "Lord Feraos''s chosen one, huh? I was skeptical at first, but I see that now." The Court Mage had nothing but praise for her new student. What surprised the King was the fact that none of the other instructors went against the Court Mage''s words, to think the Hero was able to impress all these individuals in just one day... King Alden was impressed. "What about his Talent? Did any of you manage to find out what it is?" The meeting today had one simple goal, it was to find out Kael''s Talent. To the Drakthar Kingdom, not knowing their Hero''s Talent was a big issue, so the King assigned some of his best men to train the Hero and find where his talent lies. "His talent is definitely related to his physical abilities." It was now General Deren''s turn. "I witnessed it with my own eyes, I observed that boy''s body change as I trained him. He was adapting faster than anyone else I have seen in my entire life, his growth was endless. Every time I thought he reached his limit, somehow, he continued. It felt as though, given sufficient time, that child would have surpassed me. When the training ended, I couldn''t help but feel pity that I had such little time with him. Your Majesty, I assure you that if you allow me to continue training him, I will polish that gem and make the strongest warrior out of him within a matter of a few years." The General declared confidently. The King raised his eyebrow when he heard such high praise coming from a man like Deren, however, before he could say anything, Arlan shook his head. "As much as I respect you, General Deren, right now, you are mistaken." He stared at the General and continued, "While I agree that his talent is related to his physical abilities, it is not entirely accurate. His talent is related to Martial Arts. The rate at which the child learns martial arts is ridiculous. When I saw him today, he was a brat who had never once practised martial arts before, and by the end of our training, he was already on the level of a trainee warrior. Do you realise what this means? He reached a level others take months of training to reach, within a few hours." Arlan then turned towards the King and, "My King, please allow me to train him. I''ll make him an undefeatable knight that will always remain standing against even the mightiest of the opponents." Just like Deren, Arlan''s eyes glimmered with absolute confidence, but then, a voice full of mockery was heard. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "As one would expect from a brute with all brawn and no brains. To think you would not realize it even after witnessing it with your own eyes." Elira snorted. She then stared at the King and, "Your Majesty, that man was born to be a Mage. His affinity with Fire Element is unlike anything I have seen before. He learned his First Spell in a matter of minutes. I was still in the middle of teaching him the theory when the brat formed a Fireball above his palm." Elira revealed and everyone in the room blinked in surprise. The Court Mage then turned towards her brother and smirked disdainfully, "At the level of a trainee soldier? After a few hours? How does that even compare to his Magic Talent? He is already a First Circle Mage and this is a man who didn''t even know Magic existed a day before." Arlan''s mouth twitched as he heard his sister''s words, he wanted to call her out, however, Elira, wanting to prove her point even further, said something none of the people present expected, "I dare say the Hero''s Magic Talent is even higher than ''hers''. If that is not Lord Feraos'' blessing, I do not know what it is." Everyone in the meeting hall flinched. A Taboo. It was a Taboo to mention ''her'' and for Elira to do so like thi- "Haah? Do you even hear yourself?" However, before the weight of her words could even sink in, Arlan took this chance to get back at his sister. "Magic Talent higher than hers? I saw it with my own eyes. Sure, his fire affinity was strong, but she had an affinity with every element that existed, even the ones that could not be detected by the affinity crystal. Kael might become an exceptional mage, but his magic talent is nothing when compared to his talent in martial arts!" Arlan exclaimed. Mentioning ''her'' again without a care for the world. Seeing how Elira''s face was twitching nonstop, unable to come up with a retort, the Commander smiled gleefully, satisfied. Already used to the siblings'' antics, the rest of the instructors present in the hall facepalmed, they already knew what was coming next. And just as they expected, Elira burst out. "So what if she had an affinity with all the elements!? As much of a blessing as it is, it is also a curse! While Kael only needs to focus on one element, she has to focus on all! Does a Brute like you even understand how demanding that is!? Not to mention that his fire affinity was so strong that it broke the Affinity Crystal, something that has never happened before in the history of the Drakthar Kingdom, not even the Princes-" "Silence." Elira''s voice was cut off by the King''s solemn tone. The King glared at the Court Mage and with one look, the angry Elira whimpered like a cat caught making a mistake and lowered her head. Alden then stared at Arlan, the Commander, just like his sister, lowered his head and sank back to his seat. In an instant, the chaotic meeting hall turned silent and returned to the King''s control. Alden''s gaze lingered on the siblings for a while longer before he turned and glanced at Marshal Therian. "What about you, Marshal? What is your opinion of the child?" "He has what it takes to be the Hero." The Marshal nodded, his voice much calmer than Arlan and Elira. "I do not know if his talent lies in Leadership and Strategy since I have not tested him yet, but his eyes show determination to learn, and for me, that is enough." The King nodded and then his eyes fell on Master Tamer Lyric. Lyric nodded and then continued, "I apologize, Your Majesty, but unlike others, I do not have anything substantial to report. It seems that Hero Kael''s Bond is facing some issues and refuses to leave the Sanctuary in the presence of other people." Lyric reported, but then, a gentle smile appeared on her face and, "What I can say, however, is that Hero Kael definitely has the right mindset to become an excellent Tamer. He loves his Bond despite only meeting him yesterday. I even felt like he was prepared to face the entire world for its sake. It was quite refreshing to see." The Master Tamer answered. The King, however, frowned at her words. "The Bond refuses to leave the Sanctuary?" "Wasn''t it said that he chose a Firefang Wyvern as his first bond? Why is a Firefang Wyvern acting like that?" General Deren questioned with a frown. "I do not know." Lyric shook her head. "Hero Kael says his Bond is shy." "Shy¡­? A Firefang Wyvern¡­?" Chapter 33 Heroes who will not fall, no matter what. "Hero Kael says his Bond is Shy." "Shy¡­? A Firefang Wyvern¡­?" General Deren couldn''t believe what he was hearing. Everyone here was a Beast Tamer who had formed multiple Bonds with multiple Magic Beasts, they all could tell how absurd this sounded. "That is what he says." Lyric, however, just shrugged. "And you agreed? That boy is quite bratty. Sometimes, you need to hit him to set him straight." Arlan spoke in a strict tone. "He says if his Bond doesn''t wish to come out, he will never force him out, no matter what, and he was quite adamant about it too. It was quite charming, even if I do say so myself." Lyric answered with a light smile on her face. "So what? Does he plan to keep hiding him forever?" Arlan questioned with a frown on his face. "That''s what he says." Lyric chuckled. "Bullshit!" Arlan clicked his tongue. "I''ll talk to him." He declared. "Sure, if you can convince him." Lyric just giggled. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "¡­" Arlan paused for a moment. He still remembered how Kael stubbornly resisted him and didn''t give in till the end. Convincing that brat... It... might not be that easy... "As I said, he is extremely protective of his Bond. No matter what you do, unless his Bond wants to, he would never bring him out. So unless you wish to antagonize the Hero, I suggest you not do anything rash." Lyric spoke in a calm tone. "So what do you suggest we do, Tamer Lyric?" The King questioned as he stared at Lyric. "We can only do what the Hero wants and wait till his Bond is ready to come out on his own. Till then, I''ll continue to provide him with basic knowledge related to Beast Taming and the Firefang Wyvern." Lyric answered, and the King turned silent. The rest of the instructors didn''t say anything either, waiting for the King''s judgment. Every instructor here had seen the Hero''s potential, and they wanted to explore it even further. They all wanted to teach Kael and were staring at their King with intense eyes as if begging for the opportunity. The King, however, was in a dilemma. "So General Deren says he is a genius whose talent is related to Physical Abilities, Commander Arlan says he has a talent related to Martial Arts, and Court Mage Elira says he is born to be a Mage." The King stared at the instructors and, "So you are telling me that the Hero has managed to impress every single one of you and that his talent makes him the best in all the fields¡­?" "That does seem to be the case, Your Majesty." Marshal Therian nodded with a light smile on his face. "The Hero is indeed quite special." Lyric chuckled and Deren nodded silently. "That brat is somewhat special." Arlan laughed. "He is a bit annoying though." Elira didn''t hold back either. The King, staring at what could only be described as the best of his subjects fawning over a child summoned just a day ago, felt an unusual weight settle on his shoulders. Their expectant gazes pierced through him, silently demanding a decisive ruling. He let out a soft sigh, tapping his fingers on the armrest of his throne. After a moment of silence, his voice rang out. "Hero Kael will train under each of you for the next two weeks," The King declared, his eyes sweeping across the room. "You are to offer him your utmost guidance and ensure he is given the opportunity to explore his potential in every field. At the end of this period, we will reconvene to evaluate his progress and determine how to hone his talents moving forward." A ripple of nods followed his words, the instructors exchanging glances with each other, their gazes ranging from determination to reluctant acceptance. Now, it had turned into a competition between the instructors. They wanted to spend more time with the Hero and shape him into the prodigy they envisioned? Then they needed to show results. And in this competition, none of the instructors were planning on holding back. With that, the meeting was adjourned. The next two weeks would decide not only Kael''s path but the fate of Nerathis itself. ¡­ While the King and his subjects were having a meeting, another man in his late twenties was sitting on a plush armchair, inside an extremely lavish room, looking out of the window with a light smile on his handsome face. The man had long, silky purple hair, his purple eyes seemed to hold the wisdom of ages, and he had sharp, angular features that were nothing short of perfection. He wore a tailored black coat with silver embroidery. The Drakthar crest was embroidered over his chest in vivid gold, it was a sign that he belonged to the Drakthar Royal Family. He was Edric Dragonborn, the Crown Prince of the Drakthar Kingdom. "So a man whose talents surpass all others in every single field, eh?" Edric muttered, his voice extremely soft and gentle. "That was the assessment of every instructor who trained him today, Your Highness." A neutral voice was heard. Hearing the voice, Edric finally stopped looking outside his window and turned towards the woman who was kneeling in front of him. "And what about you? What do you think about him, Althea?" Edric questioned, and Althea answered. "I think the same. The Hero is extremely talented in all fields." "Is he more talented than her?" The Crown Prince asked directly. Normally, if anyone else would have mentioned ''her,'' Althea would have tried to stop them. In front of this man, however, she didn''t say anything and answered like a loyal subject would. "Yes, I believe so." "Heh." Edric chuckled. "So another child with more talents than he can handle, huh?" "Your Highness, Hero Kael is not lik¡ª" "Don''t be foolish, Althea." The Crown Prince interrupted. "This is how humans tend to act. When one is born with Gifts, oftentimes than not, they fail to understand the value of those Gifts they have received and not earned. These people tend to grow arrogant, thinking everyone is beneath them. Thinking they are all there is, thinking that the world should bend to their whims and they should get anything they desire, but once they encounter failure," Edric''s face turned solemn and he continued, "Instead of rising to the challenge, They fall. That is how ''she'' fell. And that is how the Hero will fall." Edric''s words echoed throughout the room. Althea remained silent, not refuting anything. The Crown Prince then shook his head and sighed, "These people do not understand, He is not the Hero we or the Drakthar need. No ''Hero'' will come to deliver salvation. That is just a children''s fantasy. We need to pick our weapons and prepare for what is about to come." Edric clenched the hilt of his sword and "We need to create our own Heroes, Heroes who will not fall, no matter what." He spoke in a heavy tone. Althea kept her head down, listening to all his words carefully. "Continue keeping an eye on him. If you find anything out of the ordinary, report to me." Edric ordered. "As you command, Your Highness." Chapter 34 A man with self-control. Kael''s eyes twitched. He lazily tightened his hug around the warm pillow that he was holding. Soon, however, his brows furrowed. The pillow¡­ It was too warm¡­ Did Mark piss on it? That was the first thing he thought. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That drunkard could definitely do it as a prank, and the moment this thought got stronger, Kael''s eyes sprung open. "Mark, you bi¡ª" Kael was ready for a fight. However, when his gaze landed on the ''pillow'' he was holding, he froze. He looked around, and seeing the lavish room around him, he ran his hand through his hair and sighed. ''Right, anime shit happened with me.'' Gently patting Igni''s belly that moved up and down as he breathed, Kael stood up from his bed and walked towards his window. The sun had set, and the calm of night had taken over. ''Calm of night, huh¡­'' Kael smiled at those words. This night indeed felt a lot more calming than usual. Kael wondered why that was the case, and soon, he got the answer. ''I¡­ didn''t see that vision today¡­'' He muttered in his head. ''Was it because I was too exhausted?'' It was definitely one possible theory. Kael then turned around and looked at the time. It was one in the morning. According to General Deren''s words, he needed to be at the training hall at five, and since Kael had no plans on getting on that crazy old man''s nerves, he decided it was better not to sleep. After all, if his theory was correct, then if he slept now when he was not exhausted, he might see that vision again, something he didn''t want to. Kael''s blue eyes turned golden as he then scanned the room. This time, he noticed that the guard guarding his room had changed. ''He must be here for the night shift.'' Kael thought inwardly, and after confirming that there was no one else, he canceled his ability and then walked towards the doors. As he opened the doors, he peeked his head out from the slight gap he created, not wanting to open the door completely and reveal Igni''s presence. Could he not hide him in the Sanctuary? He could, but Igni was sleeping too peacefully. He didn''t want to disturb the little thing. "Ack¡ª!" The guard who saw him jumped back in shock, and then, "Sir Hero!" He saluted. Kael was taken aback, clearly not used to such things. He smiled awkwardly as he nodded at the guard and, "Can I get some food right now¡­?" He questioned. "It is completely fine if that is not possible, I overslept, it was my faul¡ª" "Sir Hero, you do not have to worry about such things. Your dinner was already prepared and is stored in enchanted plates. It is still fresh. Would you like me to bring it for you? I can even wake up the cook if you do not want stored dishes." "No, please, don''t bother the cook. Since the food is fresh, please bring it. Thank you." Kael answered politely. "It is my pleasure to serve you, Sir Hero! Please return to your room. I will bring the food." The guard saluted enthusiastically before he rushed away. Kael did as he was told and returned to his room. A few minutes later, Kael heard a knock. By now, he had already hidden Igni under the bedsheet. Still, not wanting to take any unnecessary risks, Kael rushed towards the door and, "I''ll take it from here." He brought the food inside. Igni''s portion was included in the table the guard had brought. Kael smiled, kept Igni''s portion aside, and ate his fill. Then, since he didn''t want to sleep, he decided to meditate, just like Elira taught him to. Meditation kept his mind fresh. If he meditated, he would still be fresh when he met the old man Deren in the morning. "Alright, before I meditate, I need to use up my Mana¡­" Kael muttered to himself. Then, he recalled the Runes he had learned today. This time, he decided not to look at the paper Elira had given him. He wanted to test his memory, something he had been proud of for a long time now, even back when he was in his world. Kael closed his eyes and moved his Mana in his Mana Circuit. Then, he formed a Containment Circle, the Runes, and then the Directional Lines. Soon, the Spell Matrix was complete, and, Flicker A Fireball was formed. Kael opened his eyes, and a smile appeared on his face as he realized that he had succeeded. "I guess I shouldn''t shoot it. It would wake Igni up." Kael muttered. Because of this, the directional lines he had drawn were different from what Elira had taught him, and just as he expected, The Fireball started circling around him. "This is fun~" Kael chuckled. Soon, however, he noticed a problem. "Am I supposed to wait like this till my Mana runs out¡­?" To cast another fireball, he would need another Spell Matrix, and a First Circle Mage like him could only create one Spell Matrix at a time. So unless his spell finished, he wouldn''t be able to cast another one. In this case, the spell would only finish once he ran out of mana. Till then, he could only wait. Of course, constantly casting fireballs and letting them explode was definitely a faster way, but that would wake Igni up and also alert the guard outside, so Kael decided to avoid that. He was a patient man. A man with self-control. To not waste his time, however, he picked up the Beast Taming book the King had prepared for him and started reading. Five minutes later, the fireball circling around him started fluttering, and Kael felt his head aching. The Fireball then extinguished, and Kael felt weak, signaling that he had used up all his Mana. Without wasting any time, he closed his eyes. As he focused, once again, his vision was lightened up with Fire Elements. Picking the closest one, he pulled it towards him and started filling his Mana Core again. This continued for a while, and soon, his hard work showed its result. [Ding!] [Mana: +1] Of course, Kael didn''t stop at one message. After all, he knew this was just the beginning. [Ding!] [Mana: +1] [Intelligence: +1] [Mana: +1] [Mana: +1] [Mana: +1] [Intelligence: +1] ¡­ ... Chapter 35 What in the… Kael continued to practice, filling and emptying out his Mana reserves repeatedly. As he was reading the Beast Taming book while the Fireball he created circled around him, Kael heard a voice. "Kyu¡­" His eyes fell on Igni, who was now sitting on the bed, rubbing his big, ember eyes as he stared at Kael, confused as to what this man was doing. Kael smiled, "Impressed?" He questioned with a somewhat proud look on his face. He had literally created fire out of nothing. Of course, he would be proud and would show it off to the little one. "Don''t worry, this book says that after some training, Bonds can cast some special spells as well. If you try, you might be able to learn it as well." Kael spoke in an assuring tone. "No, there is no ''might'' here. You are a Fire Dragon; of course, you will be able to do it. Of course, you are still just a child now, so it might be a bit difficult at first, but I guess we should start early, shouldn''t we? This way, you will grow faster than othe¡ª" Before Kael could complete his words, he froze as he stared at the sight in front of him, his mouth agape. Flicker With his focus completely gone, his Fireball flickered out of existence. He, however, didn''t care; he just stared at his bond and, "I-Igni¡­? H-How are you d-doing that¡­?" He stuttered as he saw a fireball circling around Igni while the little Dragon just stared at him with a tilted head. ''Were you being proud of this?'' That was what the look on his face said. And as if to rub it in Kael''s face, Flicker Flicker Flicker Five more fireballs appeared around Igni, circling around him in a single line. And Kael¡­ He could only stare at the little Dragon, who was barely a day old, and didn''t dare to say anything. ''Wait¡­'' Suddenly, Kael narrowed his eyes. ''I don''t see any Spell Matrix. How did he cast a spell?'' Kael couldn''t understand. ''Is it not a spell? Is it an ability he is born with? Fire Manipulation? It would make sense, he is a Fire Dragon, after all.'' Kael thought inwardly. ''Does this mean he is not limited to Fireball?'' To test his theory, Kael walked towards Igni and, "Can you create something other than a Fireball?" He questioned. The baby Dragon stared at him and suddenly, Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh The six Fireballs circling around Igni all combined, creating a bigger Fireball. Then, the big Fireball turned into a piece of lamb similar to the one that Igni ate today. Soon, Igni''s eyes fell on the real food that was placed on the table, and his eyes brightened up as the lamb he created out of fire extinguished. Seeing the look on his face, Kael couldn''t help but laugh out loud. "Are you hungry?" He questioned. Igni nodded, and Kael picked the little guy up and placed him on top of the table, letting him eat his portion. Igni started gobbling everything up with his tiny paws. Kael, who saw that, smiled. At the same time, his mind was filled with countless thoughts. ''To think he would learn how to summon Fire before learning to walk. Dragons are really a cheat-like existence, aren''t they?'' Honestly, after seeing his instructors'' reactions today and the rate at which he was growing, he thought he was special. A prodigy. But¡­ ''To think I''ll be humbled by a 1-day-old baby¡­'' At the same time, Kael couldn''t help but think, ''If he can already do this on day one, what would he become in a year? Or ten years?'' A shiver ran down Kael''s spine as he thought of the image of a fully grown Igni unleashing his might. He couldn''t help but be excited at that thought. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If his Igni is so strong, who would possibly be able to stand against him? The moment Kael thought about it, another memory surfaced¡ªone that made his chest tighten. The Vision. His smile faded as the horrifying image reappeared in his head¡ªIgni''s cracked and marred scale, his body riddled with weapons¡ªspears, swords, and arrows lodged deep into his flesh, wounds that no creature would survive... "Haah¡­ Haah¡­ Haah¡­" Kael''s breathing quickened. His fists clenched, nails digging into his palms. No matter how hard he tried to push the vision away, it only grew sharper, more vivid. Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump His heart pounded, and he gasped for air. His hands started trembling as he started losing his strength. Unable to bear it, Kael stepped forward and gently picked Igni up, cradling the little dragon in his lap. Igni paused mid-bite, tilting his head as if sensing Kael''s distress. "Kyu~" The little dragon let out a soft, cheerful sound as he licked Kael''s hands. It was as if the little guy was trying to reassure Kael in his own way. Feeling his warm body, Kael''s racing heart began to slow down. He gently stroked Igni''s smooth scales while the little guy returned to his meal. ''I cannot rest.'' A determined look appeared on Kael''s face. He needed to get stronger. He needed to surpass his past self no matter what. Once again, he formed a Spell Matrix and summoned a Fireball. Igni, who saw that, copied his actions and summoned a Fireball of his own. Two Fireballs¡ªone his own and the other created by Igni¡ªorbited around Kael. Kael chuckled at the Dragon''s actions as he continued to train, and it didn''t take long for Kael to realize how outclassed he actually was. His Mana ran out, and while he struggled to keep his Fireball for a bit longer, Igni''s Fireball was as stable as it was at the start, all while the little guy continued to eat his meal, not even caring about the Fireball he had created before. Seeing that, Kael just sighed in defeat. The Fireball he created flickered out of existence, and he closed his eyes, ready to start his meditation, but then, ''What in the¡­'' Chapter 36 For him. For his Igni. ''What in the¡­'' Kael''s jaw dropped in surprise as he noticed something strange. The Fire elements were usually spread all around the room, right now however, some of them were concentrated around him and orbiting around him, just like Igni''s Fireball. ''No wonder he didn''t get tired or ran out of Mana¡­'' Kael realized it. ''He wasn''t using his Mana to begin with, he was directly controlling the Fire Elements in the air. I would have never won even if my Mana reserves were 100 times larger than what I currently have.'' Kael laughed inwardly before he opened his eyes and glanced at the little Dragon still munching on his meal, then, a question appeared in his head. ''Can I do it as well?'' What Igni was doing was controlling the Fire Elements, concentrating them at one point, and somehow creating a fireball through it. It didn''t sound very difficult. After all, even Kael could control these Fire Elements and from what he deduced from Elira''s reactions, his control over these Elements was much stronger than most people. So instead of gathering them in his Mana Core, why not gather them in front of him and try to create a fireball using Igni''s method? It was definitely worth a try. Kael closed his eyes and started controlling the Fire Elements. Soon, however, he faced a problem. Right now, he could only control ten of them at the same time, so while he was able to bring ten elements together without any problem, when he tried to focus on other elements, those ten he had gathered spread out. It was as if these elements themselves did not wish to be too close to each other. ''How is he doing it?'' Kael wondered in his head. In the Fireball Igni had created, Kael could sense that there were tens of thousands of Fire Elements all bound together, and unlike in his case, these Fire Elements didn''t seem to be trying to get away. ''¡­Is he controlling all those Fire Elements at the same time?'' Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael thought of an absurd possibility. Was that even possible? If Kael could control such a ridiculous number of Elements at the same time, it would only take him one cycle of meditation to refill his Mana Core to the brim! It would mean that he would essentially never run out of Mana! Even now, after practising like a madman for hours, he was barely able to control ten of them. Sure, Kael believed that this number would increase as he continued to practice, but... to reach the level of being able to control tens of thousands of Fire Elements might need years. And Igni was a baby! Sure, he was a Fire Dragon, he was supposed to be good at this stuff, but he was a baby!! A one-day-old baby! ''No¡­ This must be something else¡­ I need to look into it.'' Kael thought inwardly as he shook his head. He still had too little knowledge about this world to be thinking about such theories. Instead of wasting time like this, he should focus on his training. Thinking about it, Kael closed his eyes again and, completely ignoring what little Igni was doing, he started meditating again. Once again, the cycle of filling up his Mana reserves before expending it all started. Igni, who stayed on Kael''s lap, continued to copy his actions. He closed his eyes when Kael did and summoned a fireball when he did. It was a game little Igni was enjoying. "Kyu~" With Igni''s company keeping him reassured and warm, Kael continued to grow stronger. [Ding!] [Mana: +1] [Intelligence: +1] [Intelligence: +1] ¡­ ¡­ Hours passed by. Soon, Althea was back. Kael stopped meditating and went to the bathroom. After freshening up and keeping Igni inside the Sanctuary, he went together with Althea to start today''s training. For some reason, all his instructors looked even more enthusiastic today. General Deren''s training intensity had shot through the roof. The old man was heavily relying on Althea''s healing magic. He was treating Kael like a muscle¡ªbreaking him up, letting him heal, and breaking him again. It was hell. However, as torturous as it was, Kael could see the effectiveness of this method, so he pushed through. However, this hell didn''t end with General Deren. After the General, it was Commander Arlan''s turn, and today¡­ Arlan had brought an active soldier for him to spar with. Yes, the gorilla-like man wanted him, who had just started his training yesterday, to spar with a soldier who had years of experience. At first, Kael was still a little positive. After all, he had learned Basic Hand-To-Hand Combat last time, so how bad could it be? Very. It didn''t take Kael long to realize what ''very low'' mastery meant. Sparring with the soldier was nothing more than a beatdown session where the gorilla Arlan mocked him every time he was down and needed Althea to heal him. After Arlan, it was his sister. The woman had tried to kill him yesterday. Today, however, she seemed to have come up with a better way than just to kill him. It was torture. She raised the temperature around him to the point where even his sweat evaporated before falling on the ground, and in that harsh condition, where his throat was parched, his body trembled as it battled with the extreme heat, and his vision was blurry¡­ She made him cast Fireball and wanted him to aim correctly when he could barely see the targets ahead of him. And what was worse? Every time he missed the target, she raised the temperature around him even further. It had gotten to the point where he passed out from heat more than once, and Althea needed to use her magic to heal and bring him back to normal condition before the torture restarted. All this while, Elira herself sat on what seemed like a beach chair, reading that ''Supreme Harem God System'' book of hers and drinking what seemed to be a cold drink, with sunglasses covering her eyes. The Court Mage definitely knew how to enjoy herself. After the Court Mage, it was Marshal Therian''s turn. Kael was glad that the Marshal was much more sane than the others around him. The session was similar to yesterday, where the Marshal taught him the theory. One thing to note was that the Marshal had postponed his ''test'' from a week to two weeks from now. Kael asked why that was the case, fearing that his progress was slower than what the Marshal expected. The Marshal, however, reassured him that it wasn''t the case and that he had his own reasons. Kael didn''t bother asking any more questions either. Then, Master Tamer Lyric appeared. Kael, however, shook his head when she asked whether his Bond was ready to come out yet. In the end, the woman could only teach him the theory. And honestly, after hours of Spartan-like training that pushed him to death every single second, hours of learning theory was another form of mental torture. Kael''s body ached despite him just sitting on a chair, listening to Lyric''s words. Sure, Althea''s magic healed him, but the memory of all that pain still lingered. Even focusing was a challenge for him. And this torture continued for days¡­ No, actually, it got increasingly worse with every passing day. Kael, however, pushed through no matter how difficult it got. What he saw in the vision¡ªhe was going to avoid that ending, no matter what sort of hell he had to go through in order to do that. For him. For his Igni. Chapter 37 They will not be enough. A week passed by just like that. In the past week, Kael was put through a hell where even Althea''s healing felt traumatizing. After all, every time she healed him, it meant that the torture would continue. His instructors didn''t see him as a patient who was just healed, they saw him as a man who had recovered and could now take more. Kael could swear the instructors were competing to see who could make his life more miserable, and honestly, Kael couldn''t tell who was winning! Every contender''s performance was nothing but masterful! And Kael hated every single moment of these masterful performances. ''Tsk, if only it wasn''t effective, I would have¡­'' Kael clenched his fists in frustration, hating how effective this method of torturing him was. Let alone others, even he was scared of his own growth. [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 2 ¡ú 10] [CE: 129/1200] [Talent: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] [Strength: 10 ¡ú 32] [Agility: 8 ¡ú 35] [Speed: 9 ¡ú 34] [Stamina: 12 ¡ú 37] [Defense: 11 ¡ú 38] [Mana: 3 ¡ú 41] [Intelligence: 7 ¡ú 33] [Charisma: 7 ¡ú 32] ¡­ Yes, he had just become level 10 yesterday. His stats were almost ten times higher than when he first came here, and all of this happened in just a week. Seeing this progress, Kael clenched his fists with a determined look on his face, prepared to have his ass handed to him again. ''He is late.'' He thought inwardly as he tapped his foot on the stone floor. It was strange because General Deren had never been late before. Actually, all this time, Kael had never seen that man enter through the door. Every morning when he came here, the General was always here, waiting for him. ''Wait, is he on leave today?'' Kael''s eyes brightened up. Deep inside, he was still a boy full of innocence and hope. Soon, however, his hope was crushed as General Deren walked in. And today, the man wasn''t alone. Arlan was walking with him as well, and the instant Kael saw the gorilla man, he snorted. "Why are you here? You are scheduled to meet the Hero in a few hours. The Hero cannot meet you currently since he has other commitments, so go away, shoo shoo~" Kael spoke, moving his hand dismissively. What surprised him, however, was the fact that Arlan remained silent even when he said all this. Normally, the man would lash out, ready with a retort. Kael found it strange, and soon, he found the reason. "Is this the way you talk to your instructor? Here I thought it was common understanding to respect those who impart knowledge to you. Do I have to arrange mannerism classes for you as well?" General Deren spoke in a cold voice, and Kael felt a shiver down his spine. "I-I¡­" He stuttered, unable to form words in front of the General. Arlan, who stood behind the General, smirked at him, and Kael could only glare at him with a wronged look on his face. "Apologize." Deren ordered. Kael stared at Arlan and, "I am sorry." He gave in, not without glaring at the gorilla man, of course. "Be respectful." Deren, however, wasn''t satisfied. Heck, the General was already holding a spear in his hand. Seeing the familiar spear, Kael''s body trembled. He then glanced at Arlan and bowed his head the very instant. "I apologize for my mistake, Instructor Arlan." "Worry not, since you have apologized so sincerely, as a magnanimous and forgiving man, I forgive you." Arlan grinned widely. Kael''s face twitched continuously. He, however, didn''t dare to say anything. "From today onwards, I and Commander Arlan will be training you together." General Deren shared the news. "Together¡­?" Kael flinched. Two torturers working together? Just thinking about what awaited him made him weak. "Your separate training sessions will now be combined. Together, we will explore the gift Lord Feraos has given to you and turn you into one of the strongest warriors in Nerathis. Prepare yourself, the real training begins now." Deren''s cold words echoed throughout the training hall, and Kael could see it. This was where his journey ended. Soon, the doors of the training hall opened again, and three soldiers walked in. Two of them seemed excited, while the one in the middle, who also looked older than the other two, had a solemn look on his face. "These will be the soldiers you are going to face today." As they entered, Deren informed. Kael stared at the soldiers who were walking in. He recognized the one in the middle since he was the one he sparred with under Arlan''s supervision. As for the other two, they were new faces. Seeing that his training was about to start, Kael dropped his casual attitude, and the look on his face shifted. His eyes turned draconic, and the next instant, a translucent screen appeared in front of him, providing him the information about the three soldiers. [Name: Varik Ironhand] [Race: Human] [Age: 30] [Level: 22] [Strength: 52] [Agility: 34] [Speed: 36] [Stamina: 48] [Defense: 50] [Mana: 8] [Intelligence: 15] [Charisma: 12] [Strengths: Unparalleled Physical Strength, High Durability, Exceptional Close Combat Skills] [Weaknesses: Lacks Speed, Limited Tactical Awareness, Poor Adaptability in Magical Combat] ¡­ [Name: Sarah Swiftwind] [Race: Human] [Age: 27] [Level: 21] [Strength: 36] [Agility: 55] [Speed: 50] [Stamina: 40] [Defense: 30] [Mana: 10] [Intelligence: 18] [Charisma: 22] [Strengths: Exceptional Agility, Evasive Maneuvers, Skilled Archer and Tracker] [Weaknesses: Low Physical Defense, Relatively Low Stamina, Weak in Prolonged Melee Combat] ¡­ [Name: Kaiden Blackthorn] [Race: Human] [Age: 42] [Level: 24] [Strength: 40] [Agility: 38] [Speed: 44] [Stamina: 46] [Defense: 40] [Mana: 20] [Intelligence: 22] [Charisma: 16] [Strengths: Balanced Fighter, Proficient in Sword and Shield Techniques, Adept at Countering Magic] [Weaknesses: Jack-of-All-Trades but Master of None, Average Charisma, Weak Against Highly Specialized Foes] ¡­ Yes, he had started using Dragon''s Eye in front of others now. It was just one of the many abilities he ''randomly awakened'' on a certain day, and just as he expected, Arlan didn''t doubt a thing. He even found it natural. After using it in front of Arlan, it became normal for him to use this ability in front of others as well. "They will not be enough." As he read the soldiers'' information, Kael turned towards Deren and shook his head. Deren raised his eyebrow at his words. After all, he knew Kael''s limits since he trained him himself. Arlan, however, smiled at those words and at Deren''s reaction. After all, unlike Deren, he had seen this monster fight. The Commander then stepped forward and stared at the Hero with a wide grin on his face. "Who said you will be facing just one of them?" Kael stared at Arlan and, "Are you saying¡­?" "Exactly. You will be facing all three of them at the same time." Arlan nodded. "Still confident?" The Commander questioned, already knowing the brat''s answer. "Wouldn''t hurt to try." Kael shrugged, making Arlan''s smile wider. This was the reason he liked him in the first place. However, in contrast to Arlan, the two new soldiers, Varik and Sarah, didn''t like Kael''s attitude. "The Hero seems quite full of himself." Sarah stepped forward. "To think he would be confident in facing three Drakthar Soldiers after just a week of training. How brave. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just like how one would expect the Hero to be." She commented. Her words were full of praises, Kael, however, could sense the sarcasm in her voice. She sounded bitter, and honestly, Kael didn''t blame her. He knew the soldiers of this nation trained for years to reach this level. It was obvious that they would not take it well when someone who had barely trained for a week came along and said they were ''not enough.'' It was a common reaction, and instead of snapping back at her, he just smiled. "You overpraise me. I am only doing my best so I can stand up to your and everyone else''s expectations." "I-Is that so¡­?" And in an instant, all the sarcasm and bitterness flushed out of Sarah''s face. She thought that the Hero would be as arrogant as all those talented men were, but¡­ He seemed quite nice? And¡­ he was handsome too. Chapter 38 [Skill: Draconic Strike] "I-Is that so¡­?" Sarah stuttered and seeing her reaction, Varik laughed out loud. "The Hero is quite the talker, eh? Look at mighty Sarah blushing like a girl in her teens. Hahaha~" Sarah glared at Varik. If looks could kill, the poor man would have died by now, but as if he was oblivious to all this, he just continued to laugh and, "I didn''t know you preferred younger men, no wonder you rejected all the men who appr¡ª alright, alright, I apologize and I will remain silent for the rest of the day." Before he could complete, Varik raised both his hands as a gesture to surrender when he saw a sharp arrowhead right in front of his eye. Sarah didn''t say anything and placed her arrow back in her quiver. All this while, Kaiden didn''t say anything. "Alright, enough chit-chat." General Deren spoke up, and in an instant, the three soldiers and Kael straightened their backs, waiting for his commands. Deren then glanced at Kael and, "Are you sure you wish to face three of them together? A Hero needs to choose his battles carefully. Acting rashly under someone else''s influence might lead to a fatal outcome." "I am confident." Kael nodded. Seeing the confident look on his face, even Arlan was taken aback. He knew Kael was strong since he saw him win against Kaiden before, but that was a very close battle. He highly doubted Kael would be able to face two more soldiers who were just as capable as Kaiden in his current state. Occupied in his thoughts, the commander stared at the Hero, only to see the latter looking at him with a provocative smirk on his face. Arlan''s mouth twitched. ''Go and die.'' He cursed in his head while the General nodded, acting obvlious to the two''s exchange. "As you wish. You three, go stand 100 meters to the north." Deren ordered. The soldiers nodded and did as they were told. The next moment, Kael stared at the three soldiers with a wide grin on his face. The Commander then stepped in the middle. "Use of magic is prohibited. The battle ends when one side gives up or is unable to continue anymore." He laid out the rules and then, "Begin." Varik rushed towards Kael that very instant. Varik was a nearly 2-meter-tall towering warrior. His massive frame was enough to tell anyone that he relied on his strength. As this giant ran towards Kael, his hands were clenched into fists, ready to deliver a crushing blow. Behind him stood Sarah, who moved to the left with her bow in her hand. Her sharp eyes scanned the battlefield, waiting for an opening or an opportunity. Kaiden followed Sarah with a shield and sword in his hands. For now, he had decided to protect the archer and observe Kael''s movements. "Be careful, he is not weak." Kaiden warned with a grim look on his face. "Yes, I know! He is the Hero!" Varik laughed as he appeared next to Kael. Clearly, he didn''t take Kaiden''s warning seriously. After all, there was no way Kael, who had just been here for a week, was stronger than him. And he was correct¡ªif they compared their strength, Kael was not his match. But¡­ "Confronting him directly, huh? That''s a mistake." Arlan smiled. "Indeed. We need to work on his judgment and instincts. Varik is stronger than him; direct confrontation is foolish." Deren nodded with a solemn look on his face. Arlan, however, shook his head and laughed out loud. "It was not Kael who made the mistake." "Hm? What do you mea¡ª" Deren wanted to question, but then, his eyes noticed something. Kael''s right arm was covered with shimmering red scales as his Aura burst out with a fierce yet unknown energy. With a grin on his face, the Hero punched forward. Varik, who saw that, laughed out loud, taking the attack head-on. "Let''s do it!!" Varik roared with excitement. His large fist collided with Kael''s scale-covered fist, and¡ª BOOM sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shockwaves spread throughout the battlefield, and the sheer force sent Varik flying. Crack "AAAggGGGGGhhHHHhHHH!!!" Varik shrieked in pain as his fist, arm, and shoulder bones cracked, rendering his right arm completely useless. "AAaagghhh!!!" The soldier continued to scream in pain, doing whatever he could to subdue the pain, but nothing worked. Kael stared at him for a while as his arm returned to normal. [Skill: Draconic Strike] [Description:] [Covers the Host''s Arms with Draconic Scales, allowing him to enhance his strength for a short duration.] [Effect:] [Envelops the host''s arms in draconic scales.] [Temporarily amplifies physical strength by converting mana into brute force.] [Duration: 5 seconds.] [Cooldown: 1 minute.] This was the first talent-related skill he got when he reached level 5¡ªa skill that enhanced his strength for five seconds. And it was no normal amplification either¡ªit relied on his Mana. Since his Mana was 41, the skill increased his strength, which was 32, by 41, temporarily making it 73. Even a giant like Varik only had 52 strength. In a direct confrontation, he never stood a chance. What''s even scarier? This Skill actually didn''t use Mana, Kael could still cast spells if he wanted to. It was as if the Skill was using an entirely different source of energy that Kael didn''t know about. "I told him to be careful." Kaiden shook his head. Then, he glanced at Sarah and¡ª "Don''t lose focus. Aim at him. This isn''t over." "Y-Yes!" Sarah came out of her reverie and quickly fired a series of arrows toward the Hero. Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh The arrows whistled through the air, aimed directly at Kael''s torso. He spun to the side, barely dodging the first volley. However, a second set of arrows followed quickly, and this time, one grazed his left shoulder. "Tss." He clicked his tongue in pain. ''I need to close the distance.'' There were still 50 seconds left before he could activate Draconic Strike again. However, he couldn''t just wait till then. Kael lunged forward. Even if Sarah was stronger than him, she was an archer. If he closed the distance, it might become easier for him. However, before he could close the distance, Kaiden Blackthorn stepped in to intercept him. Kaiden was a difficult opponent. Be it strength, stamina, or speed, he was better than Kael in every possible way. The only advantage Kael had over him was his Mana. However, since he couldn''t use magic in this battle, that was meaningless. ''Tsk, he did it on purpose.'' Kael cursed in his head as he stared at Arlan, who was smirking at him. "Losing focus on the battlefield can be fatal." Kaiden''s calm voice was heard. "Fuck!" Kael cursed out loud as he barely dodged Kaiden''s sword. Chapter 39 I am the Hero here. "Losing focus on the battlefield can be fatal." Kaiden spoke in a calm tone. "Fuck!" sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael cursed out loud as he barely dodged his sword. Kaiden, however, wasn''t the only opponent he was facing. Whoosh The whistle of Sarah''s arrow from behind made Kael twist mid-motion. The arrow sliced past his shoulder, grazing his skin. "Too slow," Kaiden commented, moving close to Kael and bashing him with his shield. The force slammed into Kael, sending him backwards. The man had barely stopped himself from falling but once again, Whoosh Sarah''s arrow came in, forcing him to move again. Kael tumbled awkwardly, but this time, he avoided a direct hit. It didn''t take him long to realize it¡ªhe couldn''t afford to stay in one spot. He was making it too easy for Sarah. He tried to circle around Kaiden. The experienced soldier, however, wasn''t going to let him dictate the flow of the fight. He advanced with precise footwork, aiming quick thrusts and swipes designed to pressure Kael and leave no opening for counterattacks. Kael parried clumsily, sweat dripping down his brow. His stamina was good, but Kaiden was too strong! Every clash with his sword and shield drained him further. "You will lose if you keep this up, Hero Kael." Kaiden commented calmly, feinting a low swing before snapping his shield forward. Kael raised his arms to block, but the impact shook his body, sending him staggering. "Agghh!" He groaned in pain, his arms shaking. And the Archer didn''t give him time to rest. Whoosh Another arrow flew toward him. Kael barely ducked at the last second. This time, however, he didn''t come out unharmed. While the arrow passed him, Kaiden''s blade slashed across his thigh. "Argh!" Kael clenched his teeth. Seeing the wide cut and blood coming out of his thigh, he knew this wasn''t going to be easy. Even standing straight had become difficult. Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh Another set of arrows was aimed at Kael. He crawled forward, dodging the attack. The arrows, however, were never aimed to hit him. Sarah''s aim was to move Kael closer to Kaiden, and that was exactly what happened. The moment Kael stood up, Kaiden charged at him with his shield. The attack was so well-timed that Kael was completely helpless. The impact sent him sprawling to the ground. "Is this it? You did well, considering you were facing three of us at the same time." Kaiden muttered with a calm look on his face. Inwardly, however, he was surprised. He had sparred with the Hero just yesterday, but¡­ It seemed like, in just one day, the Hero had gotten stronger again. Unlike the usual cases, where his growth was steady, this time, his overall strength had suddenly jumped to another level. ''What a monster.'' Kaiden shook his head. Now, however, it was time to end this. The old soldier raised his sword, ready to end the battle. Kael, however, rolled to his side just as Kaiden''s sword came down, dodging the attack. "You should stop resisting pointlessly. You cannot win." Kaiden commented. Kael, however, rolled back and scrambled to his feet, creating distance between him and Kaiden. "It is pointless." Kaiden shook his head, not moving. And then, Whoosh Sarah''s next arrow found its mark, lodging into Kael''s shoulder. "Gah!" Kael hissed, pain coursing throughout his body as he pulled out the arrow covered in his blood. By then, Kaiden lunged forward again, his shield up, not giving Kael any opening. Kael could only sidestep, trying to evade, but his movements had gotten much more sluggish. Bam The shield charged into him. Once again, Kael tumbled backwards. "Haaah¡­ Haaahh¡­ Haaahh¡­" His breathing became heavy but Kaiden didn''t give him time to rest and bashed into him with his shield and once again, Kael tumbled backwards. This time, however, instead of groaning in pain, Kael smirked. A bloodied smirk that would have sent shivers down Kaiden''s spine if he had seen something like this just a week ago. Kaiden frowned, unable to understand why Kael was acting this way. Then, suddenly, Kael started running towards Sarah. All this while, while facing Kaiden, Kael had been constantly getting closer to Sarah. This was also the reason why it was becoming harder and harder for him to avoid Sarah''s arrows and why Kaiden and Sarah didn''t react to it despite knowing what he was doing. After all, even if he closed the distance, as long as there was some distance between them, Sarah was confident in not getting caught by him. The Archer trusted her speed and agility even more than her bow. Not to mention, she had also observed Kael''s speed all this while and was confident that there was no way he could catch up to her. So when Kael rushed towards Sarah, completely abandoning Kaiden, the latter shook his head in disappointment. "You became impatient, huh." Kaiden muttered as he followed Kael, easily closing the distance between them despite Kael having a head start. "There are still five seconds left before you can activate your ability again. You should have waited. Unless, of course, you thought I couldn''t catch you within these five seconds. And if that is the case, I would be disappointed. You are underestimating me, Hero Kael." Kaiden spoke as he appeared behind Kael, ready to slam him with his shield again, confident that he would win since there were still three seconds before Kael could use his skill again. Yes, he had been counting it all this while. This was also the reason he let Varik do anything he wanted during the battle. From the start, the battle was going exactly as he planned. Or so he thought¡­ But, "I am the Hero here. According to the script, I am supposed to be underestimated here before I pull out my plot armor." Kael chuckled. "A scri-" Before Kaiden could understand his words. The Hero''s face contorted, his eyes turned draconic golden, red veins pulsed beneath his skin, and his now jagged teeth gleamed. Then, "RRROOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!!!" He roared. Chapter 40 [Skill: Roar of Dominion] "RRROOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!!!" Kael roared, his voice sounding draconic. A shockwave of golden-red light erupted, and suddenly, Kaiden felt all his strength leaving his body. "Grrr!" The Soldier felt a chill run down his spine as Kael, with his golden eyes and red veins all over his face, turned towards him. Kaiden felt like he was being stared at by some Primordial Being who could kill him with his thoughts alone. His entire body gave in, and suddenly, he realized Kael had grabbed his head with his now scaly hand. Yes, the cooldown was over. Kael had activated Draconic Strike again. Then, with his enhanced strength, he lifted Kaiden''s body and threw him towards Sarah, who stood on the floor, frozen, while her legs trembled continuously. Bam Kaiden''s flying body clashed with Sarah''s. Both fell on the floor as Kael appeared next to them, placing his scaly arm on their chest, marking the end of the battle. "I guess I win, eh?" He chuckled, his voice, face, and arm returning to normal. Both Kaiden and Sarah snapped out of their reverie and, "W-What was that?" Kaiden questioned, his body still trembling as he recalled what he saw. "I-I couldn''t move¡­ my thoughts froze... It felt like some higher power took away my ability to think¡­" Sarah stuttered, her voice still shaky. Kael just patted her shoulder and, "It was just my skill. Don''t think too much about it. You did great." "T-That was just a skill¡­?" Sarah questioned, her out-of-control heartbeat slowing down as she felt Kael''s calming presence near her. "Mhm." Kael nodded with a light smile on his face as he then extended his hand, "Need help?" He questioned. "Ah? O-Oh, okay." Sarah nodded with a flustered look on her face as she held Kael''s hand. Kael pulled her up, and once he was sure she was alright, he turned towards Kaiden and picked him up as well. "What was that, you brat?" By this time, Arlan and Deren had appeared next to them as well, and Arlan questioned impatiently. Kael turned towards the gorilla man and smiled, "It was the new skill I learned yesterday. Pretty neat, eh?" "Neat?" Arlan raised his eyebrow as he then stared at two soldiers who still seemed shaken. "If you call terrifying your allies ''neat,'' I guess?" "Come on, it wasn''t that bad." Kael shook his hand, and the instant he said those words, both Kaiden and Sarah stared at him, and in that instant, Kael decided it was better to not look back. So he stared at the screen in front of him instead. [Skill: Roar of Dominion] [Description:] S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Allows the Host to let out a Draconic Roar imbued with the Authority of Dragons. The roar weakens and terrifies enemies in its range, reducing their combat abilities.] [Effect:] [Emits a powerful Draconic roar that affects all enemies within a 20-meter radius.] [Weakens enemy combat abilities, reducing their attack power, speed, and defense by 50%.] [The roar instills fear, causing enemies to hesitate and reducing their accuracy and evasion by 30%.] [Chances of paralyzing the enemy are 10%.] [The effects depend on the strength and the will of the enemies.] [Does not affect allies.] [Duration: 6 seconds.] [Cooldown: 1 minute.] ... It was a skill Arlan and the others didn''t know about since he got it yesterday when he became level 10. This was also the reason why Kael was confident in facing three soldiers at the same time. An ability that covers an area of more than 1200 square meters¡ªit was simply absurd. Not to mention, the effects of this ability were quite strong as well. Even someone as experienced as Kaiden was frozen for a second. "But to think you learned another skill. That''s the third one in a week." "What can I do? Lord Feraos must really love me." Kael answered smugly, and Arlan''s face twitched in annoyance. "I have no clue what he sees in someone like you." "It is okay. I never thought of you as the thinker type anyway. But I still accept you despite your faults because that is what Heroes do." "You little¡­" Arlan''s mouth twitched. Then suddenly, "Silence." Deren ordered, and both Arlan and Kael straightened their backs, not saying anything. Deren then turned towards Kael and nodded. "You did well. You fought bravely, you hid your trump card till the final moment, and used it to get all your opponents at the same time. Despite your opponents being stronger than you, you rose to the challenge and came out victorious. You were calm throughout the battle and were constantly on the lookout for a way to turn your disadvantage into an advantage before finally defeating your opponents. It was a good display of your bravery, determination, tactics, and quick thinking." "Thank you for your praise, Instructor Deren." Kael bowed respectfully. Deren, however, wasn''t done there. "But you should know you would have lost if it was a real battle because, in a real battle, instead of the shield, you will be hit with a sword. And knowing your status as the Hero, the enemies will not underestimate you." "I understand, and I will continue to improve." Kael nodded. He knew what the General said was the truth. Yes, Kaiden did use a shield even in a real battle, but he had more than a few opportunities to attack him with his sword. Kael wasn''t arrogant enough to not know that the soldier held back. The General nodded back with a satisfied look on his face. "We will now analyze your fight and see what you could have done better, before that, Althea, heal him." "Yes." Althea nodded as she walked towards Kael. The training continued. Since Deren and Arlan had now combined their sessions, the training continued for hours, where Kael was made to fight the soldiers again and again. Every time, these soldiers pushed him to his limits. Once the soldiers were tired, General Deren took over and worked on Kael''s physical conditioning, making him do exercises Kael didn''t even know a human could do. Time passed, and soon, it was time for Kael''s Magic Training. Elira made her entrance with her novel in her hand, and the moment her eyes fell on Kael, her smile widened. "How''s it going, little show-off?" Seeing her, Kael smiled as well. Actually, Elira was the person he wanted to meet the most right now. After all, he wanted to see what face she would make when, "Well, I do have something to ''show off,'' Instructor." "Hmm? What is i¡ª" Elira wanted to question but froze midway, as her eyes fell on Kael, who stood in front of her, forming a Spell Matrix. Not just one, but two. Yes, Kael was now a Second Circle Mage. Chapter 41 A Wager "Y-Y-You became a Second Circle Mage!?" Elira questioned as her finger that was pointing at Kael trembled without stopping. Kael, who already expected such a reaction, grinned. He even went a step ahead, formed two Fireballs that orbited around him, and Elira could feel her life being ruined right in front of her eyes. Kael continued to smile like a demon whose plans had succeeded and then, in a jovial tone, he questioned, "You haven''t forgotten the bet, have you?" Elira''s body jerked at the question. Kael''s grin widened as he approached Elira, recalling what happened four days ago. ¡­ "Why can I not form my second Circle?" Kael questioned with a frown on his face as he glanced at Elira. By now, he had been here for three days, and in these three days, he had met quite a lot of people. Some of them were also Second Circle Mages, and almost all the new Second Circle Mages he met had 20-21 Mana, while Kael, who had 22, still couldn''t form his Second Circle. "I am sure I have enough Mana to form the Second Circle, so why can''t I do it? Is there something I am missing?" "Haah? You think it is that easy to become a Second Circle Mage and study Magic?" Elira, who was busy reading her book, snapped at his question. The man was already learning his third First Circle Spell on the third day of his training, and he still wanted more!? A show-off through and through! "Mana Quantity and Mana Density are two different concepts. You might have enough Mana to form the Second Circle, but your Mana Density isn''t there yet. Once it is, you will naturally be able to form the Second Circle." Elira answered, trying to calm herself down and continue their lecture, but then, "How do I raise my Mana Density?" "You didn''t read the book I gave you, did you?" "I did not get the time." Kael''s answer was simple, and against that, Elira couldn''t say anything. Even she knew how packed Kael''s schedule was. Not to mention she was here to teach him anyway, he needed no book. "You meditate." Elira answered. "I am meditating, every night." Kael replied, and a vein popped out on Elira''s head. Still, she kept her calm and replied. "You meditate, patiently." "Yes, I meditate pa-" "You meditate, patiently, for years!" "Years...? But that''s to-" Elira finally lost it. "A Mage is a noble profession that requires years of practice, study, and patience! Some people need years to reach the level of a Second Circle Mage, while some talented ones can do it within a year. Even the most talented mage needed a month before her Mana was dense enough to become a Second Circle Mage, And you say you are being patient when you have just started learning magic theories for three days!? You call this patience!? Even someone like you would at least need two weeks before you can become a Second Circle Mage." "Two weeks¡­?" Kael raised his eyebrow. "What? You think you can do it faster than that?" "Hm? I don''t thin-" "Then how about we make a wager?" Elira proposed, her eyes shimmering slyly. "A wager¡­? As in a bet?" "That is what the word means, dumbass." "What are the conditions?" Kael questioned, and hearing that question, Elira smiled like a sinister demon. "If you are unable to form your Second Circle within two weeks, you shall become my personal maid for an entire day. You will stay with me all day, dress as a maid, do whatever a maid does, and," The Mage smirked mischievously and continued, "Every time you speak, you need to make sure you praise me in a sentence or two, no matter who or how many people are around us." Kael stared at this crazy woman in silence. Elira, who saw the look on his face, grinned. "What? Scared?" Kael''s mouth twitched. He, however, didn''t lose his control. He remembered Instructor Tharian''s lectures, ''always keep your calm and try to find your advantage in any situation. Then crush the crazy woman in front of you!'' Yes, he added the last part on his own. "And what if I win?" Kael questioned. "Heh, you won''t." Elira waved her hand confidently. Kael, however, smirked and then, "Let''s keep it the same. If I win, you will become my maid, who will follow me around for an entire day. And of course, every time you speak, make sure only praises about me come from your mouth, okay? I am quite excited to see you praise me in front of your brother." Kael smiled. His smirk was even more demonic than Elira''s. Elira was taken aback for a moment. Soon, however, she found her confidence, and then she laughed out loud. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "As if you are going to win, Hahahahaha!" ¡­ "Hahaha¡­ Haha¡­ ha¡­" Elira laughed awkwardly. ''H-He actually did it¡­ That makes no sense! Even she needed an entire month to break through!'' Elira''s world was falling apart. Right now, however, she had another, much more important thing to worry about. "K-Kael, m-my most t-talented student, there is no need to take things t-this far, is there? You know your instructor only did it so she could push you to your fullest potential, right?" "Hmmmm? Is the Royal Court Mage Elira going back on her word?" Kael leaned forward and questioned. "T-That''s not it. I am simply saying it is unnecessary." "How can that be? How can the Royal Court Mage Elira''s words be unnecessary? Do you realize how many people, including me, idealize you?" "No, y-you don''t understand. I am the Court Mage, I cannot stay with you for an entire day, I have duties that I need to fulfill-" "You still haven''t used this month''s leave, so you do not have to worry about that." Kael smiled lightly, and Elira widened her eyes in disbelief. "How did you know that?" Kael stared at Althea, who stood a few meters away, and smiled. "I have my ways." Elira, who understood what he meant, turned towards Althea with a shocked look on her face. "Althea, how could you¡­?" "¡­" The Almoner of Services didn''t reply. She had no intention of becoming part of the banter between the two fools. "Althea¡­" Seeing how she blatantly ignored her, Elira was even more shocked. Then, she slowly turned towards Kael and, "You aren''t going to back down, are you?" "Not a chance." Kael answered with a smile, and Elira clenched her fists, her face twitching nonstop. "I''ll make you regret it, show-off." "Mind your manners, Maid." Chapter 42 Death. After the Magic Training, where Kael finally learned a Second Circle Spell, raising his CE even further, it was time for the Leadership and Strategy Classes. Marshal Therian walked in, on time as usual. "Marshal Therian." Kael bowed and greeted respectfully. "Have you been well?" Therian questioned with a light nod. Kael nodded back. Therian''s eyes then fell on the woman standing next to Kael and he frowned. "Court Mage Elira?" "Marshal Therian!" Elira saluted, placing her fist on her chest. Therian nodded at her and then questioned. "Are you perhaps not done with today''s training and require more time? We can arrange something if it is important." "No, t-that''s not it¡­" Elira stuttered, not knowing how she should say this. But then, "Instructor Therian." Kael stepped in. "My Almoner of Services was unwell, so Instructor Elira took her place for the day. I tried to deny, saying that I would be fine without Althea looking out for me, but she wouldn''t listen. Thinking it would be rude to deny her any further, I gave in, leading to this situation." "So she is here as your Almoner of Services?" Therian blinked, clearly surprised. "That is correct." Kael nodded with a light smile on his face. Therian, on the other hand, glanced at Elira and, "I didn''t know Court Mage Elira and Hero Kael were so close." Hearing those words, Kael''s smile widened as he replied, "We are indeed." He looked at Elira with a look that said, ''Don''t go back on your words,'' and Elira, who saw that and understood exactly what it meant, forced herself to smile and, "W-We are. H-Hero Kael is such a wonderful student, it is difficult not to be impressed by his performance." To praise Kael every time she said something for the next 24 hours¡­ Elira knew these 24 hours would be nothing short of hell. "R-Right, Hero Kael is indeed impressive." Even the Marshal was taken aback by Elira''s odd behavior. He, however, had learned to ignore strange things and focus on his work, so not paying any mind to Elira''s presence, he called out. "Kael." "Yes, Instructor." "Today we will discuss an integral part of Leadership. Something all Leaders have to become accustomed to, Especially you." Kael nodded, listening to Therian''s words attentively. "Death." Therian''s words echoed throughout the hall. Kael''s and even Elira''s expressions changed when they heard those words. "When you lead, you must learn to live with the deaths of those who follow you. Sometime, someday, your decision, right or wrong, will cost lives. It could be a mistake in your judgment, leading to a wrong call, or something that was completely out of your control. Sometimes, you would even need to willingly sacrifice your men." Kael''s expression changed when he heard those words. Sacrifice his men...? Order them to rush to their deaths...? Kael wasn''t sure if he could do it. "A few must fall for many to rise. Such is the balance of life." Therian spoke with a solemn look on his face. "As the Hero, you need to get accustomed to death, Even the deaths of your most trusted aides." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The moment Therian said those words, those images, along with all those emotions he felt back then, returned, ready to haunt Kael again. Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump Once again, his chest tightened, his heartbeat rose, and his breathing became uneven. "Haaahh¡­ Haahh¡­" "Kae¡ª" Elira, who saw that, was about to rush towards Kael in worry. She could feel it, she could see how Kael''s body was trembling even when he did his best to try and hide it. This was the first time she had seen Kael in such a state. Yes, the Marshal''s words were heavy, but to think they would have such an impact on Kael¡­ This didn''t make sense. Something was wrong, and Elira needed to find out what it was and treat him. She couldn''t let anything happen to Kael. The Court Mage was prepared to call every single Healer inside the Royal Castle to come and treat him, but suddenly, Therian raised his hand, stopping her as he stared at Kael. Elira frowned, confused as to what the Marshal wanted to do. Therian, however, just continued, completely ignoring Kael''s state. "A Hero must be strong, not just in body, but also in mind and spirit. You must learn to endure pain that would break lesser men. You must carry the weight of decisions that cost lives. To lead is to bear that burden." Therian''s voice echoed inside Kael''s head, trying to overpower his thoughts. Kael clenched his fists, doing everything in his power to throw these visions out of his mind, but the visions were too strong and deeply ingrained in his mind for him to forget. "A Hero must be prepared for anything. He must know how to win in any situation and¡­ he must know how to lose. Such is the life of the Hero. Such is the mantle you bear." Therian''s voice rang out again, Elira continued to observe Kael intensely, she was prepared to go against the Marshal''s orders the moment she noticed something was wrong. "Of course, as you follow this, you must not forget the value of the lives you have sacrificed. You must remember each and every one of them. Keep in mind that sacrificing your men is the last option. Keep your eyes and ears open, scan for every opportunity, use everything you have in your arsenal, push yourself to the limits, fight and continue to fight till your body gives out. Win, and win without any sacrifices. Because a victory that comes with sacrifices is a loss. And Heroes aren''t born to lose." Therian slowly walked towards Kael and placed his hand on his shoulders. "So, Kael Carter," He leaned forward, bringing his face close to Kael''s, and, "Win." Kael heard those words, and suddenly, his hazy mind started clearing up. Yes. Win. He just needed to win. He just needed to win in a way where he would never need to sacrifice his allies¡ªespecially his Igni. He wouldn''t let anyone, anything, touch him. Kael''s eyes flared up again as his body started returning to normal. Elira continued to observe the look on Kael''s face... It was a side she had never seen before. Countless thoughts ran wild in her head. Therian, on the other hand, smiled as he stared at Kael. "Good." He praised. "There are things you cannot change, But there are things you¡ªyour mere presence¡ªcertainly can. Focus on that and, Don''t let me down, Hero Kael." Kael nodded with a determined look on his face. Therian nodded back. The lecture continued. Therian talked about the burdens of a Leader¡ªburdens that scared Kael¡ªbut for himself and for Igni, he was ready to bear them. Chapter 43 Annoying little rat. "Today''s lecture was an essential and burdensome one, So I shall free you a few minutes prior to your schedule so you can calm your occupied mind." Therian spoke in a calm voice. "Thank you, Instructor Therian." Kael nodded, not refusing the Marshal''s favor. Therian nodded back as he stood up. "Be well, Hero Kael." "Yes, you too, Marshal." Kael answered respectfully, and the Marshal turned around, leaving the training hall 30 minutes early. The moment he left, Kael sat on the chair and closed his eyes. Instantly, his focus shifted to the Sanctuary, where Igni was sleeping inside the Molten Lava, a perfect environment for him. "Kyu~" The moment Igni sensed his presence, he opened his eyes and called out, his eyes shining with pure and innocent joy. And that one voice was enough to put a smile on Kael''s face. He didn''t know why or how it happened, but within a week, Igni seemed to have become his entire life. Kael was an orphan. He was always forced to fend for himself, and since he knew he needed to study to continue getting the scholarship, that is what he did. All his life, he never actually got close to anyone. Yes, he had friends, but maybe it was because he had developed a habit since childhood¡ªhe never relied on anyone or got too close to them. Igni, however, was an exception to this. The instant that little baby was born and looked at Kael with his big amber eyes, something within Kael stirred. He didn''t know what it was, but his love and affection for the little dragon only continued to rise even further. In an unknown world where he didn''t know anyone, Igni became his only support, someone he could hug tightly and sleep, someone who eased his heart, someone whose presence alone filled him with¡­ joy¡­ S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was also the reason why that vision has such a strong effect on him every time he sees or recalls it. Yes, Kael had attachment issues, his love for Igni was growing stronger and stronger, and seeing the Dragon''s death with his own eyes had become traumatizing. It filled him with a fear he had never known before, putting him in a state he had never experienced. Of course, the little Dragon wasn''t just the problem, he was the solution as well. While the vision did indeed horrify him, looking at Igni eased his heart. "Kyu~" Igni called out again. Since he was inside the Sanctuary, the connection between him and Kael was stronger, making it easier for Kael to understand what he was trying to say. "Not now, little guy. There are still people here." "Kyu¡­" Igni lowered his giant head, disappointed. "I promise I will make it up to you. I have also prepared a new game for us to play. I am sure it will be fun." "Kyu!" Igni nodded, and Kael chuckled. He interacted with Igni for a little longer, then he opened his eyes and saw Elira staring at him from a distance. "What is it?" Kael questioned directly. "Nothing. I was just wondering if you were alright." Elira answered, and hearing those words, Kael smirked, "You forgot to praise me." "You¡­" Elira''s mouth twitched in frustration. "If you still remember that, then I guess I was worried for nothing." The Court Mage snorted. "Annoying little rat." She muttered inaudibly. Kael, however, didn''t say anything and continued to stare at her, as if waiting for something. Elira, who realized what he wanted, felt her frustration rising beyond limits. Right now, the Court Mage wanted nothing more than to burn this brat to cinders. For now, however, she held herself back and, "I-I guess I should have known, y-you are the greatest and strongest Hero who will protect our world. What could possibly worry you?" Kael''s smile widened as he heard those words. This felt much better than he thought it would. "Hmm, now that I think about it." Suddenly, another idea popped into his head and he stared at Elira. The Court Mage, however, stayed silent. Since she was supposed to praise Kael every time she spoke, she decided not to speak until the wager ended. Kael chuckled and continued without her response, "Don''t you think the bet is somewhat incomplete? You are supposed to praise me every time you say something, but¡­ What if you go back on your word? I mean, it won''t be fun if I need to keep reminding you again and again, now would it? It would feel like I am begging you to praise me when it should sound natural." Kael shook his head without pause. Elira frowned, confused as to what this sly brat was trying to get to. "How about this?" Kael leaned forward, his smirk widening. "Every time you forget to praise me, your time as my maid will increase by an hour. What do you think?" Kael questioned, and in an instant, Elira snapped. "Haah!? Now that you have won by luck, you are adding conditions to the bet!? Do you not know how a bet works!? ''How about it!?'' How about it what!? Nothing''s changing! You should have thought of it before you made the bet!" At her retort, Kael just smiled, "See? You forgot to praise me again." Elira''s expression changed, and she clenched her fists in frustration. To think she would need to praise this hateful brat again. "How about this? If you agree to my condition, you will not have to praise me this time." Elira turned towards Kael, clearly interested. After all, this new condition wouldn''t mean anything as long as she didn''t mess up. Not to mention, she wasn''t planning to say anything for the rest of the day anyway, so the chances that she would mess up were non-existent. Once she had thought this through, Elira nodded. "So you agree?" Kael questioned with a playful smirk. Elira, however, just glared at him in anger, making him raise his hand as he gave in. "Alright, alright. So I take it you agree." Elira nodded, and the bet''s new condition was added. A condition that the Court Mage might regret soon. Kael chuckled, staring at the door, and on cue, the doors opened up, and Master Tamer Lyric walked in. The Instructor, however, wasn''t alone¡ªshe had come together with a little girl who looked no older than 15. Elira narrowed her eyes when she saw the girl. Kael, on the other hand, grinned wickedly as he stared at his Magic Instructor, then at the Court Mage. For some reason, he felt like he was going to enjoy today''s class. Chapter 44 Seraphina Ashvein "Instructor Lyric, good afternoon." Kael bowed his head and greeted politely. Elira, who saw that, narrowed her eyes. ''Why does this brat greet everyone so politely but treats me like some random street performer?'' She still remembered how he greeted her with a ''Yo!'' yesterday while he was lying on the floor, being healed by Althea. The difference in tone felt like an insult to her dignity. "Hero Kael." While the Court Mage was busy with her thoughts, Lyric nodded back. Then, she pointed at the little girl next to her and, "She is Seraphina Ashvein. You can call her Sera. She just turned twelve two weeks ago and received her Second Bond. I have been helping her grow her new Bond quickly in her personal chamber but from now on," Lyric glanced at Kael and, "You two will train together." Kael nodded. Elira, on the other hand, had a different reaction. "Did you say Ashvein?" The Court Mage then glanced at Kael, and before he could say anything, "And yes, in case you are wondering, Hero Kael''s Almoner of Services is unwell, and since our dear Hero is such a hardworking and charismatic individual, I decided to assist him in her stead." Elira ''praised'' the Hero, avoiding the penalty. "O-Oh." Lyric was momentarily stunned, not knowing what to say. Elira, however, ignored her reaction and stared at the little girl before turning back towards Lyric with a questioning look on her face. Since she decided to willingly praise him in order to inquire about her, Kael guessed that it was something important. And he was correct. "Yes, Sera is Grand Marshal Varyon''s youngest daughter." Lyric confirmed, and this time, even Kael''s expression changed as he stared at the girl in front of him. She had a round face, and soft, wavy auburn hair. Her bright, amethyst eyes sparkled with curiosity and mischief, while her rosy cheeks and delicate features gave her a doll-like appearance. ''This adorable little thing is the daughter of the strongest man in the Kingdom?'' Kael was taken aback. Sera caught him staring and pointed at him with her small finger. "You are the Hero who can''t bring his Bond out of the Sanctuary!" She exclaimed. "Pfft!" Elira laughed out loud. Kael momentarily blinked before he turned towards Lyric. The Master Tamer just smiled. There was no point in hiding this from the little one. She would have found out eventually. "I decided to train you two together because I thought that having a companion to learn with might make your Fire Wyvern come out. It would also help you get a practical demonstration of what I say, and well," Lyric then patted Sera''s head and, "She also wanted to meet the Hero." Lyric then glanced at Elira and chuckled lightly, "Who knew she would also get to see the Court Mage? She has quite the luck." Sera stared at Elira for a good few seconds before she cutely tilted her head. "You are the Court Mage? You are so beautiful, just like my mother." Elira smiled at those words. Right now, however, the Court Mage was in a dilemma. She wanted to talk to the girl and answer her back, however, the moment she said something, she would need to praise that brat, and just the thought of that annoyed her. Her big amethyst eyes that were staring at her curiously didn''t help either. In the end, Elira could only give in to the cuteness. She crouched next to Sera and patted her head, "Come now, I have seen Lady Elyndra." She said with a soft smile. "I am nowhere close to her when it comes to beauty. Isn''t she the most beautiful woman in the world? And I see you have inherited her lovely eyes too, eh?" And of course, before Kael could jump in, Elira continued, "Even the Hero here is quite good-looking, don''t you think?" Yes, her mouth was constantly twitching as she said those words. Sera tilted her head in confusion. She was happy when she was compared to her mother, but more than that, her eyes shifted to Kael, who was barely able to control his laughter. Then, she glanced at Elira, after a while, her eyes shimmered with an intelligent glint and she pointed at Elira. "You like the Hero!" She exclaimed with an innocent look on her face. Elira blinked in surprise, unable to believe what she heard. "Pfft!" Kael laughed out loud, unable to hold himself back. He, however, wasn''t planning to end this just yet, so he crouched next to Sera as well and, "Why do you say that?" He questioned. If looks could kill, Kael would have died a thousand times with how Elira was glaring at him. He ignored the Mage, of course. "Because she only talks about you!" Sera answered excitedly as if she had uncovered a big secret. Then, she covered her mouth with her small hands and laughed. "Hehe~ The Hero already found his princess." "N-No, that''s not it, you are mistaken!" Elira jumped in. Kael stared at the Mage. This time, however, she didn''t praise him. She was ready to take the penalty. "I am mistaken?" Sera tilted her head in confusion. Elira nodded. She didn''t wish to speak where she didn''t have to. "Does it mean you do not like the Hero?" Elira nodded her head, confirming Sera''s words. Sera, however, misinterpreted her nod. "So you do like him!" Elira shook her head again, and this time, Sera just frowned, "What are you trying to say?" "I do not like him." Elira had to give up and have her penalty increased again. Within just a few minutes, she was regretting falling for Kael''s tricks. "Then why did you call him hardworking and good-looking before? The Hero is exactly like the Heroes in the stories my mother reads to me, and they are all good. If you don''t like him, does this mean you are a bad woman?" In the end, Elira could only glance at Lyric, her eyes literally pleading for help. Lyric frowned. She did think that Elira had been acting strangely ever since she saw her, but since this was nothing new, she decided to ignore it. Now, however, it all felt a little too strange, even for Elira. ''Does she actually have feelings for Hero Kael?'' S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lyric thought inwardly as she stared at the two crouching together with Sera, and after thinking about it for a while, Lyric nodded in her head. ''It is about time.'' Elira was at the age where she would act like this. No, actually, she was already past that age. The Magic Genius had spent her entire life learning magic and fighting her brother, so she had no romantic interest in anyone, her brother''s protectiveness didn''t help in the matter either. It was about time she found someone, and even if the one she found was younger than her, Lyric was open-minded. Since both of them were old enough to think for themselves, she decided not to comment about the age difference and accept their choice. So while Elira stared at Lyric, waiting for the Beast Tamer''s help, Lyric raised her thumb, giving her approval with a bright smile on her face. "..." And Elira had no clue what this woman was thinking. Chapter 45 Drills. "Sera, bring out Luna." After sorting out all the mess, Lyric started her lecture as she stood in front of Kael and Sera. "Yes!" Sera nodded excitedly, and as she closed her eyes, a spatial crack appeared in front of her. A fox with violet eyes and white fur jumped out, quickly landing on Sera''s head. "Luna!" Sera hugged her bond with a bright smile on her face. Her bond, Luna, seemed excited to see her as well and accepted her hug. Kael, Elira, and Lyric smiled at the adorable sight. Kael''s eyes turned golden as he stared at Luna, and a translucent screen appeared in front of him. [Name: Luna] [Race: Moonlight Fox] [Rank: Epic] [Age: 15 days] [Level: 2] [Strength: 5] [Agility: 10] [Speed: 12] [Stamina: 7] [Defense: 5] [Mana: 11] [Intelligence: 6] [Charisma: 7] [Strengths: Agile and Graceful, Natural Affinity for Illusions, Moonlight Empowerment.] [Weaknesses: Fragile Build, Low Stamina, Lack of Offensive Power, Moonlight Dependency] ¡­ ''Hmm, this is the difference between an Epic and a Mythical Rank Beast, huh¡­ Even at Level 2, she was no match for Igni when he was Level 1.'' Kael muttered to himself, and while he was at it, he also stared at Sera. [Name: Seraphina Ashvein] [Race: Human] [Age: 12] [Level: 11] [Strength: 12] [Agility: 16] [Speed: 17] [Stamina: 14] [Defense: 11] [Mana: 25] [Intelligence: 19] [Charisma: 18] [Strengths: Moderate Mana Pool, Quick Reflexes, Clever and Persuasive] [Weaknesses: Low Strength, Weak Defense, Inexperience] ¡­ ''A Second Circle Mage, huh¡­'' Kael raised his eyebrow. ''As expected from the daughter of the strongest man in the Kingdom.'' He noted. Even a little girl in this world wasn''t a harmless stranger. As Kael observed Sera and her bond, Lyric called out. "Alright, Sera, shouldn''t you introduce Luna to the Hero and the Court Mage?" The Master Tamer spoke kindly. "She is Luna, my bond!" Sera nodded and started excitedly. "Luna is a Moonlight Fox. She is an Epic Rank Beast who will become one of the strongest bonds in the future!" Sera declared proudly. "Kyu~" Luna seemed to nod at her words, making Sera even prouder. "Good." Lyric praised. The Master Tamer then turned towards Kael and, "Do you remember all the basic training drills I taught you this past week? Are you following through with those drills with Igni?" "O-Of course, I am. Why would I not? Hahaha~" Kael nodded as he laughed awkwardly. Lyric stared at him for a while. Then, she nodded. "Alright, since I cannot see your Fire Wyvern''s performance myself, I will take your word for it. But today, for ease of my mind, let''s start with Sera''s Mystic Fox doing all those drills. You can watch how she performs and compare her progress with Igni. How does that sound?" "Yes, that sounds very helpful." Kael nodded. Lyric''s gaze lingered on him for a little longer before she nodded back. "Sera." She called out. "You know what to do, correct?" "Yes!" Sera nodded excitedly as she rushed towards the props that were placed a few meters away from them. Then, she started doing the drills with Luna. The first few drills were nothing too complicated: Repeatedly calling the bond by her name to build trust and familiarity, rubbing her fur to build affection. Running together with your bond to build a sense of camaraderie. Most bonds also see this as playing; it keeps them cheerful. There are also scent and sound drills where one introduces various scents and sounds to improve the bond''s sensory awareness. Obstacle navigation, where the bond is required to pass through a simple obstacle course. This mostly involves either jumping or crouching through the wooden obstacles. There is also a drill that requires the bond to pull a heavy object through a rope or push it to build her strength. Training that involves the bond dodging harmless projectiles that are thrown at them to increase agility and prepare them for combat. This also involves biting and clawing practice. Then comes ''special ability'' training. For instance, Luna''s special ability is Moonlight Beam. This drill involves making Luna use her ability and constantly get better at it. And honestly, Luna performed all these drills masterfully. So much so that Lyric leaned towards Kael and whispered gently, "If Igni still cannot do some of these, or if his performance is not comparable to Luna''s, don''t be too tough on him or yourself. Moonlight Foxes are known for their intelligence, so such drills are easier for them. Not to mention that even among other Moonlight Foxes, Luna seems a bit special. She is much more intelligent than beasts her age. She is also a week older than Igni, so do not worry too much. Let Igni do things at his own pace." Hearing those words, Kael smiled awkwardly. "Yes, Instructor Lyric. I will be patient with Igni." He answered. "I am saying this because I noticed that every time I bring up the topic of these drills, you start acting differently. Give Igni some time, alright?" Lyric spoke gently. Kael smiled at those words, not knowing what to say. He glanced at Sera and Luna, who were completing one drill after another and¡­ His mind started recalling his time with Igni... ¡­ "Alright, Igni, we will now play some games. Are you ready?" "Kyu!" Igni nodded excitedly, his amber eyes shining in excitement. This was Kael''s third day here, and he wanted to try all these drills together with Igni. Calling him by his name was simple enough; that is what he normally did anyway. As for rubbing his scales, he did that very often as well. If there was one thing Kael was confident of, it was his love for Igni and Igni''s love for him. There was no need to ''build'' affection between them. Next was the running drill. Igni''s legs were still not completely developed, so while he was able to run a little, he often slipped and fell. But the little dragon stood right back up with an excited ''Kyu!'' as he followed Kael again with a big, wide smile on his face. Everything went well till then. The problem, however, started with the sensory awareness drills. Kael didn''t know if it was because Igni was a dragon or if there was some other reason, but Igni''s senses were extremely strong. He noticed things even Kael could not. Sometimes, while they played, Igni automatically jumped into his Sanctuary, and a few minutes later, Kael heard a knock on his door. Yes, he sensed a foreign presence and their intention from a distance. A drill that trained his senses? Honestly, Igni should be the one teaching Kael that. And this did not end there. No, this was just the beginning. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 46 Ignis Performance. This was just the beginning. Kael, who already knew it was pointless to do sensory drills, took half an hour to create an obstacle course for Igni to cross using the wooden obstacles Lyric gave him. Then, he stood at the opposite end of the course and, "Alright, Igni, come to me. Let''s see how fast you can do it, okay?" He spoke with a big smile on his face. "Kyu!" Igni nodded excitedly as he started running towards him as fast as his little legs allowed him to. Kael chuckled, finding him extremely adorable. He was looking forward to how Igni would jump or crawl through the obstacles. What he forgot, however... was the fact that this little thing was a Dragon. Jump or crawl...? S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Heh. Flicker Fiery red flames appeared in front of Kael, and within a second, all the ''obstacles'' were turned into ash. And Igni... "Kyu!" He rushed towards Kael with his small legs, stepping over the ''obstacles'' he destroyed. The only true obstacle between the little Dragon and Kael was his small legs that couldn''t seem to balance the weight of his body, making him slip a few times before he stood up and ran again. "Kyu!" Igni cheered loudly as he hugged Kael''s knees. Yes, just like that, the Obstacle navigation drill was over. And what did Kael do? "Great job, Igni~ You are the best!" He picked Igni up, whose eyes were staring at him with pure affection, and hugged the little thing as tightly as he could. "Kyahaha!" Igni laughed heartily, a laugh that melted Kael''s heart. Igni was too adorable; he couldn''t find faults in him. "Do you want to play more?" Kael questioned. "Kyuu!" Igni nodded. The little dragon was never tired. Kael placed him on the floor. Then, he distanced himself from him and took out the projectiles Lyric had given him. They were made of a soft material, making sure that they wouldn''t hurt baby beasts during the drills. "I will throw these at you, and you need to not get hurt by them, okay?" Yes, it was the agility drill. But... To a dragon, it was meaningless. Why move when you can just... burn the projectiles? Flicker And this is exactly what the dragon did. It didn''t matter how many projectiles Kael threw at him¡ªone, ten, or hundred¡ªit was all the same. He turned them all to ashes. Yes, Fire was indeed the answer to everything. "..." Kael stared at the little dragon in silence. "Kyu!" Igni cheered, looking at him with eyes that shined with expectation. "Great job, Igni!" Kael clapped; he couldn''t resist when the little thing stared at him like that. The training continued. The biting and clawing drills? The little dragon was stronger than Kael himself; he could crush every prop Lyric had given to Kael with ease. The drill to push or pull heavy objects? The little guy could thwart away most of the ''heavy objects'' these baby beasts were supposed to pull as if they were made of paper. As for the ''special ability'' training? As a Fire Dragon, Igni''s special ability was Fire Magic, and the two-day-old baby was better than Kael in every possible way. Flames literally appeared and disappeared on his whims. If Kael showed him a Fire Ball, he would fill the entire room with similar Fireballs, and he would do it with such precision that there would be no damage. Practicing Fire Magic with someone like Igni was nothing more than a humbling experience for the Hero. ... "Yes, Instructor Lyric, I will give Igni all the time he needs..." Kael nodded with a weak smile on his face. Don''t be too hard on him if he still cannot do what Luna could? That little thing doesn''t do anything! He just fires his way through everything! The Hero had his own troubles. "Hero Kael, I am here to help you. If there is something that is bothering you, you should ask. If you think it is too much for Igni right now, don''t hesitate to say anything. I''ll help you find some easier drills that Igni can complete to raise his confidence." Lyric spoke gently and Kael could only smile and nod at her. He couldn''t really say that what he needed wasn''t something easier, but drills used to train fully grown beasts, now could he? After all, a Fire Wyvern would never reach that level within a week. No normal Beast could. ''I need to figure something out...'' Kael muttered inwardly. This couldn''t go on like this. Igni was too strong. He needed a way to train him and make him learn how to use that strength. Of course, he knew that this was the consequence of his decision, but even then, Kael felt like he did well by hiding Igni''s existence. As to how he would deal with this matter, it was for the Future Kael to solve. The lecture continued. Soon, it ended, freeing Kael from today''s training. He lazily stretched his body, his then, his eyes fell on Elira, who was about to leave. "Do not be late tomorrow, maid. I do not like people who do not know how to value their time, is that clear?" Elira, who was just about to walk past the doors, froze, her body trembling in anger. She swore in her heart she would make this brat pay. Kael laughed out loud, enjoying every second of this interaction. He then returned to his room, and after scanning his surroundings, he brought out Igni. It was time to eat and play with Igni while also meditating and reviewing what he had learned today. These days, Kael has also taken an interest in Nerathis''s history. After all, it was a world with magic. He wanted to know more about it, especially now that it was evident that he would be staying here for a long time. He continued this for a few more hours, and finally, his exhaustion caught up to him. Making sure that he was extremely tired, Kael went to bed, ready to sleep. He had noticed that if he pushed his body to the limit, he didn''t see that Vision again. So that is what he had been doing all this time. Kael slept like a log, and the next day when he woke up, he was greeted by the feeling of cold steel biting into his wrists and neck. Rattle Rattle Suddenly, his surroundings shook. ''What in the hell is happening...?'' Kael frowned in confusion as he realized where he was. It was an iron cage that seemed to be covered by a cloth, hindering his vision. The smell of rust and damp earth filled his nostrils. He tried to move, but the chain tied to his collar held him down. ''W-Wha-'' Before the panic could even set in, the cloth covering his cage was removed. The bright light almost blinded him, forcing him to close his eyes. "Come out." A giant, muscular man opened the cage and pulled him out using the chain without mercy. Caught unprepared, Kael couldn''t balance himself and fell on the ground, scratching his knee. The giant man got angry. "What are you lying there for!? Stand up!" He yelled as he pulled the chain again, forcing Kael to stand. Chapter 47 Gasta Slave Market "What are you lying there for!? Stand up!" The man shouted as he pulled the chain, forcing Kael to stand. Kael glanced at the man, his eyes were still blinded by the brightness since they were used to the cage''s darkness. The man, however, didn''t take kindly to his gaze and, "Haah!? Who do you think you are staring at!? You wanna die!?" The man shouted. Kael wanted to retort or fight back. His body, however, jerked in fear as he quickly glanced away, not daring to look at the man in front of him anymore. This was when Kael realized¡­ This was not real¡­ He was seeing another vision today. ''So I am captured now?'' He raised his eyebrows. ''What sort of insane fetishes did the Future me go through?'' He was pitying his Future Self. Then, he just sighed in relief. ''Whatever, at least it is different than before.'' Just the thought of ''that'' vision still haunted him to his core. Kael knew that watching it again would give him another panic attack. "Yes, that is it. Learn to keep your gaze down from now on. You are no Hero anymore. You are a lowly Slave, and this will be your new home till you are sold." The man grinned. ''A slave¡­?'' Kael frowned. His eyes then fell on a building. Strangely enough, the language used in this world was extremely similar to English, so Kael never had difficulty understanding it. Even now, he didn''t have a difficult time reading the name of the building. {Gasta Slave Market: Explore, Engage, Enslave~} ''It even has a tagline¡­ How progressive.'' Kael couldn''t help but comment in his head. Suddenly, the giant man pulled him towards the building. Once again, Kael lost his balance and was about to fall, but as if fearing the man''s wrath, his body quickly regained its balance and obediently followed behind him. The moment he entered the building, Kael could feel the heavy air, thick with despair and hopelessness. Cages lined the walls, packed with men, women, and even children. Some were scrawny and malnourished, while others looked stronger. The women were barely covered with rags, their bodies were exposed for all to see. Kael thought he would be thrown into one of these overcrowded cages, but the giant man bypassed them all, dragging him toward the back of the building. Soon, they reached the end of the corridor, where barely anyone could see them. Without saying a word, the man picked the fire lamp hanging on the wall, and the instant he did, Clank Clank Clank As if some mechanism were activated, the wall slid aside, revealing a staircase leading underground. The man descended. Kael followed. The air down here was more oppressive. It wasn''t just a slave market, it was a prison. It was as if the entire place was built to mentally break even the strongest of warriors. Unlike the cages above, the cells here were empty. Yes, no one was here. The silence was deafening. Only the sound of their footsteps echoing all over the place could be heard. Just imagining staying in this dark place for a few hours felt no different than torture. Kael was taken to the very end of the underground prison and his eyes fell on three cages that were positioned in a different location than others, isolating them even further in this haunted place. Two of them were empty, however, as he stared at the one in the middle... His eyes fell on her. A slave whose face was covered by her long purple hair. She was wearing a dark robe, there was an iron collar on her neck which was bound by 5 chains, making it impossible for her to move even a little. Her body trembled when she heard the sound of people walking in, it seemed like she was too used to the loneliness of this place. Slowly, she raised her head to see who had come here, and only then, was Kael able to have a clear look at her face. Her purple, hollow eyes seemed to have given up on everything. Her face, covered with dirt, was hauntingly beautiful. Even in this state, she was nothing short of perfection. A perfection from which Kael couldn''t look away. He had seen his fair share of beautiful women in his life. He had seen models and actresses who had captivated the hearts of millions, but never in his life had he seen a woman more beautiful than her. *Picture* S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael wanted nothing more than to continue to stare at this woman. Even when the giant man pulled him towards his cell, his eyes stayed locked on her, but just as the man threw him in his cage, The Vision ended, and Kael woke up. ''W-What¡­?'' Kael couldn''t help but question, his mind still in a state of confusion. He looked around and realized that he was back in his room. Little Igni, who had grown a little, was still sleeping beside him. Kael, however, felt strange. Even now, he was having a hard time understanding what happened at the end of the vision. The image of that woman didn''t leave his mind no matter how hard he tried. This was the first time he was truly captivated by someone. However, thinking about her condition and then his own, Kael''s mind was filled with countless questions. If his theory was correct and these ''visions'' were indeed trying to tell him something¡­ Then what did this vision mean¡­? What was this vision trying to tell him? How did he, a Hero who is surrounded by so many strong people, end up as a Slave? Was the Drakthar Kingdom attacked by some other force? Did the Kingdom somehow fall, and he was captured? That was one possibility. However, what made Kael uneasy was something else. He had seen the reflection of his own face in the Iron Bars of the Cage he was in. Unlike in the first vision, where his face had mutated and looked much older than right now, his face in this vision seemed... a lot like his face now. Even his body¡ªunlike the body that felt foreign, filled with much more strength even when it was pushed to that state¡ªin this vision, his body felt very similar to his own. Yes, it still felt stronger, but Kael believed it was a level he could reach within a few months. All of this suggested that the timeline of this vision was very close. Did it mean that the Drakthar Kingdom would fall soon? But... Drakthar was the Strongest Kingdom in Nerathis. How could the strongest Force fall so soon...? Or¡­ Was he getting it all wrong and something entirely different happened...? Was he... betrayed¡­? Kael''s face turned grim when he thought of that possibility. Of course, it could be possible that he was overthinking it, or the Slave Market might be metaphorical, having some other hidden message. But the question still remained, What did this Vision mean? And¡­ who was that woman he saw before¡­? Chapter 48 I promise my room doesnt smell bad. Knock Knock "Coming." Hearing the knock on his door, Kael quickly opened it. His eyes then fell on Elira, who was standing on the other side. *Elira''s Picture* "Please come in." Kael nodded. He had already put Igni back in the Sanctuary, so he wasn''t worried. Elira, however, was confused. She was fully expecting Kael to tease her the moment he saw her, but for some reason, today, Kael seemed¡­ different. This was the first time she had seen him acting like thi- No. This wasn''t the first time. Elira still remembered how Kael reacted yesterday to Marshal Therian''s words. Even after his breathing stabilized, Kael needed a few minutes to return to normal, and all that while, he remained silent. It was similar to how Kael was acting right now. "Is there a problem? I promise my room doesn''t smell bad." Seeing that she hadn''t come in, Kael tried to joke. Elira, however, could tell that he was trying too hard. Something was definitely wrong with him. She walked into the room and continued to observe Kael, trying to figure out what the problem was and somehow find a way to help him. After all, as much as they bantered with each other, at the end of the day, for Elira, Kael was a man who was summoned to their world as its Hero, and she had seen how hard he had been working to not let down people who put their trust on him. She had seen how hard he had been working for the sake of people he didn''t even know a few days ago. All of this was more than enough for Elira to know everything she needed to know about him. Kael was a man with a pure heart, a man who pushes himself to his limit for the sake of the people around him, and when this man seemed down and worried about something, Elira wanted to help him in any way she could. "Why aren''t you saying anything?" Noticing that she was just staring at him, Kael questioned with a frown on his face. Then, a smile appeared on his face as he realized it. "Ah, the bet." With a chuckle, he shook his head and, "Let''s end it, shall we? Dealing with a silent you is much more difficult than I thought." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael offered, and now, Elira was sure. This man, there was definitely something wrong with him. There was no way he wouldn''t try to find ways to make her speak just so he could force her to praise him. To end the bet just like that¡ªhe must be sick. "What? You don''t trust me? Do I need to swear an oath or something like that?" Kael laughed, but then, "What happened?" Elira questioned directly. "Hm?" Kael tilted his head in confusion. "You look worried, what is it?" Elira questioned, and this time, Kael was the one staring at her, wondering if he should share his doubts or not. Honestly, in these seven days he had been here, the person he thought he could trust the most out of all he had met so far was Elira. This was also the reason he was much more open with her than with others. But¡­ Did he trust her enough to say anything¡­? Kael wasn''t sure. Therefore, he decided to take it slow. "Purple hair and purple eyes¡­ This is the sign of the Drakthar Royal Family, correct?" He questioned, and at this question, Elira frowned. "Why are you suddenly asking that?" "Just answer the question." Elira stared at Kael for a while. Then, she nodded. "That is correct. Purple hair and purple eyes are the sign of Drakthar Royalty. It is recognized worldwide." "What are the chances of meeting another person with similar features without him being a part of the Royal Family?" "Chances of them having both purple hair and eyes?" Elira started thinking. "Well, certainly not very high. Every person I saw with those features was part of the Royal Family." "Does this mean if a person has purple eyes and hair, it is highly likely they are a part of the Drakthar Royal Family?" Kael questioned, and Elira couldn''t help but frown. "What are you trying to get at?" "Nothing, I am just curious. The purple hair and eyes look very¡­" Kael answered, staring at a wall while his mind recalled the vision again. "Attractive." He completed his words. "You are asking about that because it looks attractive?" Elira questioned, her mouth twitching without stop. Kael, however, ignored that and suddenly asked another question, "Elira, how many members are there in the Drakthar Royal Family? Are there any members that are not currently present here?" The moment he asked this question, Elira''s expression changed momentarily, something that Kael didn''t miss. "What are you talking about? Why would members of the Royal Family not be in the Royal Castle?" The mage answered defensively. "It''s only natural to assume some members might leave for political or personal reasons, no? Surely they don''t all stay cooped up in the castle, do they? Gosh, that would be a nightmare. Imagine having a bunch of NEETs leading the country." Kael chuckled. "What?" Elira furrowed her brows. "They do leave the Kingdom for reasons, right?" "Yes, of course they do." Elira nodded. "They all have their own duties to perform outside the castle walls, for now however, all members of the Royal Family are currently in the Royal Castle because they were all called back since the Hero was about to be summoned. Now that you are here, they should leave soon." "I see." Kael nodded, staring at Elira without any changes in his expression. "Now that I think about it, I haven''t actually interacted with any other members of the Royal Family other than the King. Won''t they think I am rude?" "Of course not. They know how hard you are working for the sake of Nerathis. Do you think these pointless formalities matter when the fate of the world is at stake?" Elira answered instantly. "You are correct." Kael nodded with a smile. "I guess I will continue doing what I am doing and not think too much about it." "Mhm, you already have too much on your plate. You don''t need to burden yourself with these pointless formalities." Elira spoke, and Kael nodded again, not saying anything else. He then went into the bathroom, and after freshening up, he prepared for today''s training. Just like that, another week passed by, and today, it was time for Marshal Therian''s test. "Are you prepared?" The Marshal questioned. "I am." Kael nodded with a determined look on his face. Chapter 49 You dont have to take this test. "Are you prepared?" Early in the morning, the Marshal questioned. This was the time for Kael''s Physical Conditioning Training; however, from today onwards, till the time this test concludes, Kael will not follow the same training regime since the test required him to leave the Capital. "I am." Kael nodded with a determined look on his face. Right now, he wasn''t in the training hall but in a strategy room where Marshal Therian would be providing the details of his test. The Marshal stared at Kael, pleased to see his confidence. Then, after a satisfied nod, he turned towards the map of Drakthar that was placed on the big table and pointed at a certain town that was near the borders. "This is the site of your test, Kael." Therian informed. Kael walked forward, looking at the map, and read the name of the town the Marshal had pointed at. "Estwyn Town." He muttered. Therian nodded. "That is correct." Then, the Marshal brought out another map. This was the detailed map of Estwyn Town and its surroundings. Kael observed it calmly and the Marshal continued. "For a few months now, Estwyn and its people have constantly been harassed by wild beasts that once protected them." "Corrupted Beasts." Kael spoke in a solemn tone. Beasts who had lost all their reasoning and were attacking the humans they once protected and lived together with. Therian nodded grimly. "While at first, the town''s soldiers were able to take care of it, the scouts have reported that the beasts are now gathering and are estimated to launch a major attack on the town within three days¡ªan attack the town''s forces will be unable to resist. For this test, you will be sent to this town as the leader of their troops and lead them to victory against the beast tide. This test will measure your ability to lead, strategize, and adapt under pressure." The Marshal then handed over a stack of neatly organized papers and, "These are the details of the test. Everything you need to know is mentioned here. These also contain some sensitive information, so make sure others do not see it. Always be wary of the people around you." He said, his voice steady. Kael nodded with a solemn look on his face. "You''ll be departing in an hour together with your troops. By carriage pulled by our Magic Beasts, it will take around thirty hours to get there. I suggest you read all the details and come up with a plan of attack while you are in the carriage. When you get there and see the terrain yourself, tweak your plans, gain the townsfolks'' trust, and lead them to victory. Those 500 lives are in your hands." Therian spoke with a solemn look on his face, and Kael turned silent. The responsibility was too big for an orphan like him who had done nothing but fend for himself all his life. Yes, he knew what this meant when he was told to become a Hero. He knew saving the world was no laughing matter. But now, when the responsibility was finally upon him, he was nervous. Therian noticed that. The Marshal, however, decided not to say anything. After all, this was a test. He just gave one last warning to the Hero standing in front of him. "Keep this in mind. Other than the three soldiers sent with you, you will be getting no assistance from the Kingdom whatsoever. As much as we would like to pamper you and keep you protected, the Hero cannot be born in a shielded environment." The Marshal then stared right into Kael''s eyes and, "So if something does go wrong during the test or if your life is threatened, There will be no one there to protect you." The Marshal warned with a strict look on his face, and it was now that Kael realized it, all this while, when he had been calling all his instructors crazy while thanking god for getting one normal instructor in the form of the Marshal, he was wrong. The Marshal was the worst of them all! The others were only beating him up. This man was sending him straight to his death, and he was doing it so calmly as well! "I hope that is clear." The Marshal spoke, and while he could curse all he wanted in his heart, in the end, Kael could only nod. "Good. The meeting''s adjourned." Therian nodded, signaling Kael to leave. Kael turned around, and just as he was about to walk out of the room, "I wish you luck, Hero Kael." The Marshal spoke in a grim tone. "Thank you, Marshal Therian." Kael paused for a moment as he then walked away without turning around. ¡­ After Kael walked out of the strategy room and was going towards his room, two people appeared in front of him. They were the Stormhold siblings. "Kael¡­" Elira called out with a worried look on her face. Obviously, she knew about the test. Even Arlan seemed worried, something that was quite out of character for both of them. Kael chuckled as he stared at the siblings. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Don''t take it the wrong way, but I still get surprised every time I see you two together. I always wonder how you two haven''t killed each other yet." "Is it not clear? It''s because the difference between our strengths is too big for her to kill me." Arlan''s answer was quick. "Yes, I am way stronger, so I pity the fool." Elira snorted. "Heh, we all know you would be on the ground before you can even cast any of those spells you are so proud of." "You will be burned before you get close to me." "I am close to you now." "Oh yeah? Why don''t you try¡­" And... the bickering started. Kael couldn''t help but chuckle. It was so easy to trigger the two siblings that it had become a game for him now. Soon, however, as if recalling something, Elira shouted, "Shut it, you fool! We will settle this later. I came here to say something important." Arlan blinked as he heard those words. Then, he nodded and turned silent. Elira glanced at Kael and, "You don''t have to take this test." Chapter 50 I will not. "You don''t have to take this test." Elira started. "If you ask the King, I am sure he will cancel the test. You have only been here for two weeks, sending you to a border town to protect it from the Corrupted Beasts is ridiculous." "Or better yet, ask the King to send us with you. That will solve everything." Arlan suggested, and Elira''s face twitched. "Are you a fool? What would be the point of the test if we were sent? What''s next? Sending the Grand Marshal to help farmers plough the fields?" "¡­" This time, Arlan couldn''t even come up with a retort. Elira was correct. If they went together with Kael, there would be no test left, and Kael knew that as well. How could he not? These people in front of him were monsters through and through. They were, without a doubt, two of the strongest people he had met. [Name: Elira Stormhold] [Race: Human] [Age: 28] [Level: 67] [Strength: 40] [Agility: 50] [Speed: 60] [Stamina: 80] [Defense: 55] [Mana: 153] [Intelligence: 180] [Charisma: 85] [Strengths: Master of Fire Magic, Magic Knowledge, High Mana Reserves, Quick Reflexes, Charismatic] [Weaknesses: Weak Physical Combat, Overconfidence in Magic] ¡­ [Name: Arlan Stormhold] [Race: Human] [Age: 35] [Level: 75] [Strength: 150] [Agility: 145] [Speed: 140] [Stamina: 150] [Defense: 145] [Mana: 50] [Intelligence: 95] [Charisma: 120] [Strengths: Supreme Combat Prowess, Unyielding Resilience, Master of Battlefield, Tactical Genius, Commanding Aura] [Weaknesses: Low Mana, Overreliance on Physical Combat] ¡­ Just looking at the numbers on the screen made Kael smile wryly. Noticing his golden eyes, Elira narrowed hers. "You are using your ability again." "It''s a habit." Kael replied. "Yo¡ª" Elira wanted to say something. She, however, quickly shook her head and, "That''s not important. Go talk to the King." She suggested. Kael, however, shook his head. "I will not." "Why!?" "There is no point. I need to take this responsibility one day or another. Postponing it won''t help. I have been trained for this. Marshal Therian knows how capable I am, and he must have selected the test for me, keeping that in mind. I believe it would be better to rise to the opportunity now than later." Kael answered. He had given it quite a lot of thought. Honestly, he wanted nothing more than to run away and hide. He, however, was the Hero. Now, Kael didn''t have a Hero Complex or whatever. What he was, was a realist. He knew what him being the Hero meant to the people of this world. The only reason he had been able to live this lavish lifestyle was because he was the Hero. What if he decided to abandon this title? What if he stated that he wouldn''t be protecting the world anymore and wanted nothing to do with it? Kissing goodbye to this lavish lifestyle would be the least of his worries. Kael had been looking around. Ever since he saw that vision and that girl with features similar to the Drakthar Royalty, he had been trying to learn more about the Drakthar Royal Family. Yet, while he didn''t find anything concrete, he definitely noticed something strange. All the royal families Kael had heard or read about were known for their love of portraits. The Drakthar Royal Family wasn''t any different. There were paintings of past kings and queens displayed across the castle. Kael had even been to the Grand Hall of Kings, where portraits of past and present rulers were lined up. He had read books that documented their histories. One of the books Kael read documented all the Kings that had sat on the throne and their families. The book also had family portraits of these Kings, together with their Queens and heirs. All Kings except the current one. And it wasn''t just that book. Kael noticed that no matter how hard he looked, no matter how many books he read, he couldn''t find any family portraits where the King was together with the Queen and the Prince. And it wasn''t just the books. Kael remembered that last time, when he tried to talk to Elira, the Court Mage acted strangely. At first, Kael thought it was just a coincidence. Maybe the King didn''t like to show affection in public, or there were some issues within the family. Soon, however, he shook his head. While this was still a possibility, it didn''t sit well with Kael. He was the King¡ªa symbol of perfection, a role model to all. Personal matters, especially family troubles, were not supposed to leak into the public eye. At the very least, there should have been one family portrait of the King together with his wife and child, unless¡­ The King or the Royal Family was trying to hide something or... someone. And the moment he came to this conclusion, the image of that girl with purple hair and eyes strengthened in his mind. Something was definitely wrong here. Kael didn''t know what it was, and honestly, right now, he didn''t care. He just knew one thing. Unlike what he thought when he came here, the Drakthar Royalty wasn''t any different from any other family in power. There were secrets hidden beneath secrets, and he wouldn''t be surprised if the Royal Family turned against him and even went after him if he abandoned his title as the Hero. He was trapped, and he needed to act like the ideal Hero if he wanted to survive. Even if that meant accepting a ''test'' that might kill him. "But you just came here two weeks ago. Sending you to a border town¡­ S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It is too dangerous." Elira was still worried. Kael stared at the Court Mage and smiled. "You dare look down on me? I am the Hero, you know? I am also the one who won our wager, remember?" He teased. This time, however, Elira didn''t snap as usual. Rather, she stared at Kael, and with a solemn look on her face, she questioned¡ª "Are you sure about this?" "I am." Kael nodded, and in the end, Elira and Arlan gave in. "Alright. We wish you luck." "Thank you." "We have a meeting to attend, so we will take our leave now." Elira informed. "Oh? So you actually do work? I thoug¡ª" "Shut it, brat." "Okay." Kael turned silent as the siblings walked away. Chapter 51 The Meeting. Once again, the Meeting Hall of the Royal Palace became busy as the King and the Hero''s Five Instructors gathered again. "I expect a definite answer this time." The King spoke with a solemn look on his face as he stared at the Instructors. However, before anyone could start, Elira leaned forward and, "Your Majesty, something disturbs me, and before the meeting begins, I would like to express my troubles." Alden frowned when he heard her words. However, the determined look on Elira''s face told him that she wouldn''t back down, he could only give in and nod. "Speak your mind." "It is about Hero Kael being sent to Estwyn for his mission. Is it truly safe for a Hero, who hasn''t fully grown yet to be sent to a border town? What if something happens to him?" Yes, Kael had told her that he was fine. Elira, however, couldn''t stay calm and decided to talk with the King herself. "I am sure Marshal Therian has his reasons for doing what he is doing." The King answered calmly, but Elira didn''t back down. "I understand that, Your Majesty, but the Hero doesn''t understand the world ye¡ª" "And for what reason do you think I sent him there, Court Mage Elira?" Suddenly, Marshal Therian interjected. Elira turned towards him, and the Marshal continued, "You say the Hero hasn''t yet experienced the world. Then how do you think he is supposed to do that? By staying safe in the Royal Palace and learning magic? The Hero''s potential is high, I get that. You worry about him, I do too. He is the Hero summoned to protect my world; I''d be crazy if I were to actively try and harm him. But at the same time, I also know I cannot be too overprotective. The Hero needs to grow, and for that, he needs to face challenges." The Marshal spoke with a solemn look on his face. "In here, we can teach him to be a model warrior or a mage, but we can never teach him what experience can. That needs to be ingrained in one''s body, and it cannot be done within the safety of the Palace Walls." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Elira stared at the Marshal, unable to retort to his words. She, however, was not alone. "Marshal Therian, while I understand your point, do not forget that the world isn''t filled with good people. The Hero''s summoning has definitely drawn evil eyes towards him. I do not think it is wise to send him to a border town at this time. This isn''t about the test itself; what worries me are the other factors." Arlan spoke up, and this time, the rest of the instructors had solemn looks on their faces as well. Seeing his brother''s words had an effect, Elira chimed in as well. "Exactly! This was what I was worried about as well! I think we should give the Hero some time to adjust to this world. Then, as he is more used to his place and has more confidence in himself, you can test him as you would like." "So this was what you were worried about?" Therian raised his eyebrow. "That is correct." "That is an easy matter to solve. You should have said so from the beginning. I, one of the four Marshals of the Drakthar Kingdom, swear with my title on the line that nothing will happen to the Hero during his journey to Estwyn and return." The Marshal spoke solemnly, and in an instant, the hall turned silent. Therian then glanced at Elira and, "Does that ease your mind?" "S-So you are going to protect Kael if something happens?" Elira questioned. "Do not misinterpret my words. I said I would ensure nothing happens to the Hero during his journey to Estwyn. Once he is there, he is all on his own." The Marshal declared coldly. "But¡­" Elira wanted to counter, but she couldn''t come up with anything. She stared at her brother. Arlan, however, shook his head. He understood that what the Marshal said was correct; this was the only way for the Hero to grow. "Alright, we shall not discuss this topic any further." The King ordered. "Yes, Your Majesty." Marshal nodded. Arlan pulled Elira back, and the two nodded as well. "Now," The King started. "Report, how is the Hero''s progress?" He ordered. The five instructors nodded, and Deren started, "Your Majesty, as I mentioned before, the Hero''s Talent is related to physical combat. In these past two weeks, Commander Arlan and I have combined our training sessions, and we are now much more confident in our assessment. This time, we came with evidence to back our claims." "Evidence?" The King raised his eyebrow. "That is correct, Your Majesty." Deren nodded. "Continue." The King ordered. "It is related to the abilities the Hero has awakened." Deren started. "While the Hero himself remains unaware of the nature of his Talent, this doesn''t stop his talent from blooming and showing itself. The Hero, during his training, continues to awaken strange abilities that cannot be recreated through any magic that we know of. His first ability allows him to assess his enemy''s strength, making it an essential ability that would ensure the Hero would never under or overestimate his foes." "That hardly proves a talent in physical combat," Elira interjected. "This ability is valuable to any Mage, Warrior, Tamer, or Leader. It''s far too general to serve as ''evidence.'' I do not see what you are trying to get at here." The rest of the instructors nodded at her words, but then, instead of Deren, the one who answered was Arlan. "Yes, the Court Mage is correct, And this brings me to his second ability, An ability that covers his arm with scales and boosts his physical strength." Arlan then stared at Elira and, "Does Court Mage Elira now see how this ability is related to physical combat?" Elira''s face twitched at those words. Arlan, however, didn''t stop there. "This doesn''t end here, Your Majesty. His third ability emits a petrifying roar that weakens his enemies in the middle of the battle, tilting the odds of the battle in his favor. His fourth ability, the one he awakened two days ago, was an ability that allows him to surround himself in a sea of flames, making it almost impossible for the enemies to approach him. Those who do are severely weakened and harmed in the process." Arlan stared at the King, his eyes shining intensely, "In just two weeks, Your Majesty," Arlan pressed on, "In just two weeks, this young man, who didn''t even know how to throw a proper punch when he came to me, has grown enough to be able to defeat three Third Stage Warriors in under five minutes. And these aren''t just any soldiers, these soldiers know of his abilities inside out. They''ve trained together, they work in perfect coordination, and yet, they are now no match for him." Arlan stared at all the instructors before turning to the King again. "Your Majesty, considering the nature of his abilities and the rapid progress he''s made, I believe it''s undeniable that the Hero''s talent lies in physical combat, and we should focus his training in that direction." The Commander concluded with a confident note. Chapter 52 The Meeting 2 "Your Majesty, considering the nature of his abilities and the rapid progress he''s made, I believe it''s undeniable that the Hero''s talent lies in physical combat and we should focus his training in that direction." The Commander concluded with a confident note but then, "It amazes me to see how good you have become in moulding the facts and presenting them in such a manner, in front of His Highness no less." Once again, Elira spoke up, garnering the attention of the room. The Court Mage stared at the Commander and, "Just now, you mentioned an ability the Hero uses to surround himself with flames, In what world does this ability look physical combat-oriented to you? Because it forms a defensive layer that stops the enemies from getting close? By that logic, even casting a simple Fireball that would injure the enemy would become a combat-oriented skill, no? Having exceptional leadership abilities that would eventually corner the enemies, or having an ability to quickly bond with the Magic Beasts would help the Hero defeat his foes, are we supposed to consider all that physical combat-related skills and let you train all of us? Are you acting foolish on purpose or do you simply not understand the difference between Combat and Physical Combat?" Elira questioned and this time, Arlan had no answers. He just stared at his sister and his sister stared back, only Arlan could see that subtle but annoying smirk on her face as her eyes shined playfully. ''Take that, sucker!'' That''s what the look on Elira''s face was saying. "Yo-" Arlan tried to retort but then, "Silence." The King commanded. He then stared at the Court Mage and, "So you disagree with Commander Arlan''s claims." "Yes, Your Majesty." Elira nodded confidently. "What is your opinion then?" "My opinion remains the same, His Talent is definitely related to magic. He is already a Second Circle Mage, his Mana Reserves are much higher than any other Second Circle Mage I have seen, even surpassing most Third Circle Mages. His casting speed, mana regeneration speed, and understanding of magic, everything is far more developed than the mages who have studied magic for years. He requires one look to understand and cast a spell, the number of spells he has learned in these weeks cannot even be counted with two hands, oftentimes, he even alters the spell on his own, something a normal Second Circle Mage doesn''t even think of. Not to mention I believe he would soon be becoming a Third Circle Mage." Elira listed everything and just like her brother, she pressed on, "In two weeks, Your Majesty. The Hero achieved all these in two weeks, how can his talent possibly lie in any other field but Magic?" Elira questioned and once again, the King found himself in a difficult situation. This was just like the first meeting all over again. With a hopeful look on his face, the King faced Therian, the Marshal, however, shook his head again. "Again, Your Majesty, I apologize for disappointing you, but I still cannot be certain. I have sent the Hero to Estwyn Town today, once he returns, I will be able to give a much more definite assessment." The King nodded before he turned to the last instructor, but, "The Hero''s Wyvern still refuses to leave the Sanctuary. I suggested forming a bond with another Magic Beast, but he seems quite close to his Bond, I still remember how the Hero glared at me that day." Lyric chuckled, she didn''t seem offended by the Hero''s gaze, rather, she was happy. In a world where people often see beasts as tools to rise in ranks, The Hero loved his Bond more than himself and Lyric appreciated that. She didn''t care about everything the people in this room said, she didn''t care what these people thought of the Hero, In her heart, she knew that the Hero was going to become an excellent Beast Tamer. Seeing her smile, the rest of the instructors, especially Arlan and Elira, glared at her. ''Tsk.'' Elira snorted in her head. Arlan was the same. Here they were fighting for the right to train the Hero, but then there were these two, Marshal Therian and Master Tamer Lyric, completely unbothered just because they knew that, talented or not, in the end, the Hero would be trained under them. After all, the Hero wasn''t just meant to fight¡ªhe was destined to lead armies and defend Nerathis. Leadership and strategy lectures were non-negotiable. As for the Beast Taming? That wasn''t even up for debate. It didn''t matter whether he became a Warrior or a Mage, he would need to become a Beast Tamer anyways. That was simply how the World of Nerathis worked. Honestly, the purpose of this meeting was always to decide whether Kael would become a Warrior or a Mage, other lectures were always essential. This was also the reason Deren, Arlan, and Elira were the ones who were the most active during the discussion. "It has been two weeks, has he still not resolved this issue yet?" The King questioned with a grave look on his face. Choosing between the path of the Warrior or a Mage was one thing, but for the Hero to not be able to control his Bond and let it do what he wanted, This was indeed an issue. A much more pressing issue than a simple choice between the two paths. "His love for Bond is to-" "That isn''t an excuse. The battlefield doesn''t care about such matters. He is wasting precious time and I cannot allow that." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The King spoke with a strict look on his face. "The Hero should still be resting in his room, does Your Majesty wish to send someone and bring him?" The Marshal questioned, even he could see how this could become a big issue. Beast Taming lectures were the most important of all, after all, the Hero needed to learn how to fight together with Bonds. A Bond that does not leave the Sanctuary in others'' presence was a worthless resource. "Forget it." The King shook his hand. "The boy must have a lot on his mind right now, disturbing him at this moment would be unwise." His gaze then turned to Therian, his tone firm and resolute. "However, see to it that I am informed the moment he returns. I will meet with him without delay." "As you command, Your Majesty." Therian bowed his head. "Your Majesty¡­" Arlan called in a weak voice. Alden turned towards him and seeing the look on his Commander''s face, he quickly understood what he wanted. Alden then stared at Elira, who looked at him with a similar expression on her face, Clearly, the two of them were looking forward to his decision the most, he however, shook his head again. "Since it still cannot be decided whether the Hero is suited to be a Warrior or a Mage, I shall await the results of Marshal Therian''s assessment before making any judgment." Yes, he decided to postpone the matter again. Chapter 53 So thats the Hero? A few hours later, Kael was sitting inside a lavish carriage, reading the documents the Marshal had given to him. These were the details of his test, and after reading through them, Kael couldn''t help but feel anxious. "They are all fools¡­ To think they would send a student to protect an entire town¡­ What in the hell are they thinking¡­" He groaned. Just thinking about taking responsibility for over 500 lives made his head ache. Yes, he had been training hard and improved quite a lot, but¡­ Was he capable of leading soldiers and protecting so many lives¡­? Kael was doubtful. Then suddenly, his eyes fell on a bag of coins that were kept beside him and he couldn''t help but chuckle as recalled what happened before. ... ''Take it.'' Elira spoke as she threw the bag of gold coins at Kael. ''Huh? Marshal Therian gave me money to stay in i-'' ''Take it.'' Elira repeated herself. ''But why give so much?'' Kael frowned. He could tell there were about 100 Gold Coins in here, Marshal Therian barely gave him 200 Silver Coins, that was just 2 Gold Coins, and Kael, who had read quite a lot about the Kingdom, knew that it was more than enough. "So much? Boy, I just randomly grabbed whatever came into my hands. Now unlike you, I have things to do, so go away.'' Elira ordered, shooing Kael away. And Kael just stared at this woman and... ''You are the one who is in my room...'' The Mage''s face twitched as she quickly walked away and Kael could swear he saw her stumble. ... ''Heh.'' Kael chuckled, soon however, he shook his head. "No, I can''t lose focus here." To avoid the future he saw in his vision, he needed to do this. His past self must have shown weakness here. He needed to do better than that. "Alright, let''s begin." With his regained motivation, he started reading the details again. "So, a town surrounded by dense forests on the east and a river on the west." Kael muttered to himself as he recalled the town''s layout. He had already burned the picture into his mind. "Three main entrances: the north gate, the south gate, and bridges over the river on the western side. A population of 500 villagers, including 50 capable armed Tamers who can fight. Ten large, heavily armored corrupted beasts are reported to attack the north. The east will be attacked by a pack of swift and agile beasts moving through the forest. And then a pack of flying ones who will attack¡­ Well, who knows where." Kael sighed. "We are being attacked from all sides. How am I supposed to handle all the directions on my own¡­?" This is what he had been wondering for the past few hours. He had read the documents again and again, trying to think of something, a plan to protect everyone, but no matter how much he thought about it¡­ It seemed impossible. "The supplies and defenses are all basic too. Food, medical supplies, a small stockpile of oil barrels, and some barricades. I have no clue why they didn''t give me more." Kael sighed. He wasn''t being greedy or impractical here. In this world, because everyone had access to the Sanctuary, storage was never an issue. After all, people could always store their stuff in the Sanctuary, and while there was a risk of losing stuff forever if the said person was dead, it was still a perfect way to store supplies. ''He is just stingy.'' Kael snorted inwardly as he then turned to the next page and was somewhat relieved. "This is somewhat useful." He glanced at the picture of two cannons on the northern wall. Kael could tell they would be an extremely important defensive resource. Not just them, Kael looked out of his carriage and saw three Drakthar soldiers riding along with his carriage. "Two archers and a mage, huh¡­" Kael muttered as suddenly, his eyes turned golden and a translucent screen with their information appeared in front of him. [Name: Lyra Windshade] [Race: Human] [Age: 25] [Level: 22] [Strength: 38] [Agility: 58] [Speed: 52] [Stamina: 42] [Defense: 28] [Mana: 12] [Intelligence: 17] [Charisma: 20] [Strengths: Pinpoint Accuracy, High Mobility, Versatile Tracking Skills] [Weaknesses: Low Durability, Limited Stamina, Weak Melee Combatant] ¡­ [Name: Aria Starfall] [Race: Human] [Age: 26] [Level: 22] [Strength: 18] [Agility: 25] [Speed: 28] [Stamina: 30] [Defense: 20] [Mana: 55] [Intelligence: 42] [Charisma: 26] [Strengths: Large Mana Pool, Intelligent Strategist, Versatile Magic] [Weaknesses: Fragile Physique, Slow Recovery, Melee Weakness] ¡­ [Name: Sarah Swiftwind] [Race: Human] [Age: 27] [Level: 21] [Strength: 36] [Agility: 55] [Speed: 50] [Stamina: 40] [Defense: 30] [Mana: 10] [Intelligence: 18] [Charisma: 22] [Strengths: Exceptional Agility, Evasive Maneuvers, Skilled Archer and Tracker] [Weaknesses: Low Physical Defense, Relatively Low Stamina, Weak in Prolonged Melee Combat] ¡­ ''At least one of them is familiar.'' Kael thought inwardly as he glanced at Sarah, who was riding a magic beast that looked like a white horse. ''But to think he would send all long-range fighters¡­ Even the Marshal is worried about the flying ones, huh¡­'' Kael thought inwardly, trying to come up with a plan and simulating the situation in his mind again and again. Time passed just like that. The next day, at around 10 in the morning, Kael and his party finally reached Estwyn Town. Their carriage stopped just outside the gates of Estwyn. Two guards stood at the entrance. Their armor was battered, and the exhaustion in their eyes was impossible to miss. The two of them stiffened when they saw the carriage and gripped their spears more tightly. "Who goes there?" One of the two guards called, his voice steady but tired. At his question, Kael stepped out. While Sarah could deal with all these formalities, Kael wanted to get familiar with this place. After all, in his very first lecture, the Marshal couldn''t stop stressing how important it was to know your surroundings before taking any action or making any plans. Kael stepped forward and glanced at the guards. "My name is Kael Carter," He said firmly. "I''m here on orders from the King." "Let them through!" A shout was heard. The guards exchanged glances before they nodded to each other and opened the giant doors. Kael and his party entered the town. "So this is the Hero they''ve been talking about?" Once Kael and his party walked in, the guard questioned as he turned towards another guard with a frown on his face. "Isn''t he too young¡­?" The other guard had a similar expression. "I heard he was just summoned¡­" "And they already sent him to protect us? We asked for reinforcements, not a burden." The two guards sighed. Kael, with his senses now much more enhanced than before, could easily hear them talk. He, however, didn''t react to it for now and decided to observe. The gates of Estwyn were a grim sight. They were made of reinforced wood and iron. However, from the scars all over the place, Kael could easily tell their condition was anything but good. It wasn''t just the gates. Estwyn Town itself seemed on the edge of ruin. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The streets were eerily quiet, with only a few people moving about. Many of the buildings were damaged, their roofs caved in, and their walls patched with uneven planks. While Kael observed the town, the townsfolk observed him. They stopped whatever they were doing to watch him as he passed. Some stared openly, their expressions filled with suspicion. Others muttered to one another, shaking their heads. "So that''s the Hero?" "Doesn''t look like much, does he?" ... *Estwyn Town''s Picture* Chapter 54 Whaaat? Reallyyy? "So that''s the Hero?" "Doesn''t look like much, does he?" Just like the guards, the townsfolk were unsure of what the newly summoned hero could do. Kael kept walking without a change in his calm expression. Did their words hurt? Well, of course. But he understood their situation. Just seeing the town''s condition was enough to tell him how much these people had suffered. Anyone would be skeptical in this situation. As he reached the center of the town, a tall man who looked in his mid-fifties, wearing somewhat better clothes compared to what others were wearing, rushed toward him. "Lord Kael!" The man exclaimed. He extended his hand in front of Kael and said, "I''m Tobias Erwick, the head of this town. I was informed that you would be coming to our aid. I am glad you are here. Welcome, w-we were really looking forward to your arrival." "Town head Tobias. It''s good to meet you." Kael greeted as he shook the man''s hand. Tobias glanced over Kael''s shoulder and nodded at his party before returning his attention to Kael. "I''ve heard a lot about you," Tobias said. "Is that so?" Kael smiled. "The Hero chosen by Lord Feraos himself. We''re grateful that you came here." Tobias bowed his head. Kael glanced at the people around him, Those eyes filled with doubt, suspicion, frustration, helplessness, and¡­ hope. The weight of those stares was¡­ extremely heavy. Tobias, who noticed Kael''s silence, smiled wryly and said, "As you can see, Estwyn is... not what it once was. The corrupted beasts have taken their toll. Many of our people have fled, and those who remain are barely holding on. The last beast tide nearly broke through our defences. Please don''t mind their gazes, they are good people, they are just¡­ scared." The Townhead looked around and continued, "Most of them have lost family, friends, and even their bonds. The death toll has risen to a hundred, and only about thirty armed tamers capable of facing those beasts are left. Things are¡­ dire." Kael''s face turned grim. This was different from the information he had been given. According to the reports, there should have been 50 armed tamers here, but¡­ His forces were already reduced by about 50%. "I understand." Kael, however, nodded lightly and didn''t overreact. The reports were never supposed to be 100% accurate in the first place. ''It is okay. I prepared for this. I prepared for this.'' Kael continued to chant, trying to calm his mind. He needed to stay in control and think rationally, and while he was struggling to do that, Tobias suddenly held his hand, and the wrinkled man stared at him with eyes full of hope. "But I believe now that the Hero is here, we will finally be able to deal with the corrupted beasts, and everything will be fine." "¡­" Kael stared at the town leader in silence. The man''s gaze was overwhelming. It nearly gave him another panic attack, but in the end, he nodded in silence, not letting anyone see or know what he was going through. At his nod, Tobias smiled. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I would tell you about the current situation, but for now, I would request the Hero and his party to rest. Everything is still under control. Our scouts have not reported any unexpected situations. Please use this moment to relieve your fatigue from travel." "We are fi-" Kael wanted to reject and jump to work but, "Hero Kael, please. I insist." Tobias interrupted. "We need you at your best when the beasts are here." Tobias spoke, his eyes reflecting emotions so strong that Kael didn''t have the power to resist him. He nodded weakly. The town''s inn was destroyed during the last attack, so Tobias offered to take Kael and his party to his own house. The party nodded, and soon, the five of them appeared in front of the town head''s house, which didn''t seem very different from the rest of the houses Kael had seen here. "Please come to my humble abode." Tobias bowed his head as he walked forward, Kael and the others followed the middle-aged man, and as the door opened, "Grandpa¡­?" An adorable, soft voice broke through the tension, drawing everyone''s attention. Kael glanced at the small girl sitting perfectly still on a wooden chair near the side of the square. Her delicate frame was wrapped in a simple white dress that seemed too clean for the grim surroundings. Her hands were neatly folded on her lap like a noble, well-mannered lady. She had black hair tied in uneven twin tails, but what instantly attracted one''s attention were her eyes. Her milky white eyes stared blankly ahead, her face tilted in a manner that her ears were pointed towards her grandpa. Yes, she was blind. Tobias''s face softened instantly. "Selina? Didn''t I tell you not to leave your room until I return?" He spoke, kneeling in front of the chair and gently holding the girl''s small hands. Selina tilted her head toward the sound of his voice. "I heard the gates open. I knew it was you," She smiled. "You should have stayed where it''s safe. You know it''s dangerous out here." Tobias sighed heavily, his hand firmly holding Selina''s. Selina reached out hesitantly, her small hands searching until they found Tobias''s face. "You''re frowning again," She said, her fingers lightly tracing the lines of Tobias''s weathered forehead. "I told you not to frown so much. You''ll get more wrinkles." "Then stop doing things that make me frown." Tobias chuckled as he kissed the girl''s hands. Then suddenly, Selina tilted her head again. "Grandpa¡­" She called out with an uncertain look on her face. "Did someone else come here with you?" The girl questioned. "You noticed? I can never hide something from you, can I?" Tobias chuckled. "Remember I told you that I have a surprise for you?" "You said that more than a week ago. I am still waiting." Selina pouted. "Well, you don''t have to wait anymore." Tobias smiled, then he turned toward Kael, his eyes reflecting small emotions as he bowed his head, as if wanting to request something from him. "The Hero and his party are here to meet you, and they will be staying here with us for the next few days." "Whaaat? Reallyyy?" Selina''s mouth opened wide as she exclaimed in excitement. "Yes. I told you the Hero would come if you were a good girl, did I not?" Tobias chuckled, his eyes, however, continued to stare at Kael, almost begging him to fulfill his small request. "Is he really here!?" Selina questioned and then suddenly, "Of course I am." Kael spoke up. Chapter 55 Funnn~ "Is he really here!?" Selina questioned, and then suddenly, "Of course, I am." Kael spoke up. "You have been such a good girl. How can I not come and meet you?" Kael smiled as he knelt next to Selina as well. Tobias stared at Kael in silence. "Are you really the Hero?" Selina questioned as she reached her hand out, trying to place it on Kael''s face just like she did with her grandpa. Kael gently grabbed the girl''s hand and helped her. "I am." He answered. Selina touched his face as if trying to draw a picture in her mind. Then, she exclaimed in awe. "You are so beautiful." Hearing those words, Kael laughed. "You are very beautiful as well, Selina." "Thank you." Selina answered graciously. "Grandpa." Suddenly, the little girl called out. "Hmm?" "Can I stay with the Hero for a little while?" She requested properly. Tobias, however, shook his head and, "No, the Hero is tired right now since he has come from far away, so let him rest, okay?" "But¡­" Selina was unwilling. "Selina." Tobias''s tone became a little firm, and in the end, the little girl lowered her head. "Okay, please rest well, Hero." She spoke politely. "Good. Now, while the Hero''s resting, you should rest well, okay?" "Okay." "Now, let''s get you back to your room, shall we?" Tobias carefully picked her up like she was the most precious thing in the world. She rested her head against her grandpa''s shoulder, her blind eyes closing as she trusted him completely while he carried her to her room. Kael watched the scene in silence. When Tobias returned, there was a light smile on his face. "She''s the reason," He said quietly. "That little girl. She''s the reason I didn''t run away from this town." Tobias continued with a solemn look on his face. "When the beasts attacked, when people fled, I wanted to leave too. But I couldn''t. Not with her here. She''s all I have left. That little girl gives me the confidence to face anyone and anything." The Town Head then glanced at Kael and, "Most people who are left in the town are like that, Hero Kael. They are here because they wish to protect their loved ones. This is what drives them. They might not trust you, but I assure you, when the time comes, they will fight for you. I will fight for you." Tobias declared confidently. "Because we have no other choice." He completed, and once again, Kael found himself staring at the man in silence. The Town Head then smiled lightly and, "Now, please get some rest. That is your room." He spoke as he pointed at a room. Then, he spoke apologetically. "There are only two rooms in my house, and¡­ My granddaughter requires one of them. If you four can adjust in one room¡­" Tobias was hesitant, and seeing Kael frown, he panicked, "I-I mean, if it is that big of a deal, I can take Selina to my friend''s house! I know a party usually stays in one place, so we can empty this place for you." "No, Selina doesn''t have to leave. She must be used to this place. I understand." Kael nodded understandingly. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "If you could prepare another place for us with two rooms, it would be fine even if the rooms aren''t well furnished. We will adjust." He requested. After all, all the soldiers with him were women. He didn''t want to make them awkward. Tobias, however, had a hesitant look on his face. "Hero Kael, I¡­" "I-It is alright." Before he could complete, someone else spoke up. It was Sarah. Tobias turned towards her, and Sarah momentarily glanced at Kael before turning back towards the Town Head. "There is no need for any of us to leave. We four can adjust in a single room." "I agree. We can adjust." Before Kael could say anything, Aria, the party''s mage, added. Lyra nodded as well. Seeing that the girls had no problem with it, Kael didn''t push it any further either. After all, who in their right mind would push away such an offer? Kael could already imagine Mark calling him ''Gay!'' if he resisted any further. Kael chuckled inwardly as he thought about it. His eyes then stared at the three women standing in front of him. Sarah had a petite frame, striking blue eyes, and blonde hair. Her fair skin and natural grace exuded charm and an adventurous spirit. Aria was an elegant beauty with clean skin, an hourglass figure, shimmering silver hair, and piercing violet eyes. Her movements had a certain grace and playfulness in them. Lyra''s build was more on the athletic side. She had sharp green eyes, long auburn hair tied in a ponytail and skin blessed by the sun. She seemed somewhat indifferent, but that, combined with her tanned skin, gave her an honest charm. Yes, all three women in his party were beautiful. So much so that if they were in his university, most male students would be after them. What about them being older than most university students? Well, that only added to their charm, didn''t it? For now, however, Kael decided to act gentlemanly. So he coughed and, "Well then, since the three do not have any problem, we should stop wasting time." "Yes, thank you for understanding, Hero Kael." Tobias bowed his head. "I hope you have a good rest." He spoke, pointing at the room. Kael nodded as he walked towards his room. His party members followed behind, and when Kael wasn''t looking, Aria, the one who had spoken earlier, nudged Sarah with her shoulder, and once Sarah turned towards her¡­ Aria winked at her and pointed her thumb up. Her face had an expression saying, ''I gotcha back!'' and Sarah, who saw that, quickly turned her flushed head away. She had no idea what this woman was talking about! Really! ''Funnn~'' Aria''s eyes shimmered playfully when she saw Sarah''s expression. This mission might be much more fun than she expected~ Chapter 56 I gotchhu. As Kael and his party entered the room, they realized the room was much bigger than they were expecting. "He gave the biggest room to us." Sarah muttered as she looked around, her eyes darting towards Kael repeatedly. "Mhm, he seems like a good man." Kael nodded. "He was lying." A voice was heard. The party turned around and saw Lyra, who had already taken out a mattress, two pillows, and a blanket, set it up on the floor, and was about to get into it. "¡­" Kael stared at her with a dumbfounded look on his face. He completely ignored what the woman said since he had an entirely different question in his mind, "Where did all that even come from?" "I stored it in my Sanctuary." Lyra answered. "And food and other supplies?" Kael tilted his head. Yes, almost everyone in this world had their own Sanctuary that could not just store Beasts but also store objects, however, the available space inside the Sanctuary was limited. After all, the Sanctuary was a place where the Tamer''s Bonds were supposed to live and rest. While it is often used as Storage, most Tamers made sure not to overwhelm it with foreign objects since that would take the space away from their Bonds. To bring an¡­ entire mattress¡­ "I only brought enough to last till I get here. I am sure a Town would have some spare supplies for a girl who came to protect them and then send her away." "¡­" Kael was speechless. It was common knowledge to not consume supplies that could not be trusted during a mission. How could¡­ Seeing his expression, Aria chuckled. "Do not worry, Hero. We have brought enough supplies for her." Kael turned towards the elegant mage and, "You knew this would happen?" He questioned. "Yes, the Hero might find it surprising since you do not know her, but that woman loves her sleep¡­ to a surprising extent. You might catch her without an extra set of clothes, but that mattress? That has never left her side. Actually, you can even bribe her with a fluffy blanket, and it would work better than bribing her with gold." Aria laughed out loud as she stared at Lyra, who had already tucked herself in. "But don''t worry, I assure you she can carry her own weight when the situation asks for it. She is the best out of the three of us." Aria added. "You seem to know quite a lot about her." Kael commented as he glanced at Aria. "Hmm? Of course, I do. We three live together." The Mage revealed. "What?" Kael was taken aback. He turned towards Sarah, wanting to confirm if what Aria said was the truth, and Sarah nodded. Aria, who saw that, grinned mischievously and, "Hero Kael, does the thought of sharing a room with three single women who live together excite you, hmmm?" She questioned. "W-What are you talking about?" Kael stuttered. "Heeeh? Is the Hero blushing? Actually, does the Hero have a lover? I have a very suitable and beautiful candidate if you do not." Aria chuckled, and Kael could only see one way of getting out of this situation. "Lyra, what did you mean when you said he was lying?" He changed the topic. Kael wasn''t a fool. He could tell what Aria was trying to do, and honestly, it wasn''t the first time the girls had tried to make a move on him. Kael, however, had always avoided that simply because of how paranoid he had gotten when he saw the relationships around him. Couples fighting for no apparent reason, constantly disrespecting each other''s boundaries, things like one-night stands, situationships, open relationships¡ªthose people were now introducing new terms Kael didn''t even know the meaning of! Cheating on your partner had become commonplace, staying loyal was now a flex, and in this environment, Kael, who still foolishly hoped for the genuine love he found in novels, decided to stay away from all this and wait for his ''one.'' "When he said he was grateful that you came here, he was lying." Lyra answered, still not moving her head out of the blanket. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Well, that''s obvious, no? Who would choose to believe a young man summoned to this world two weeks ago when the people they love are at stake here? They were probably hoping for a General, a Commander, or someone much more capable than me to be sent here." Kael replied. "But you are capable!" Sarah was quick to answer. "You are strong enough to defeat all three of us even if we work together. You are much more qualified than any one of them. What gives them the right to look down on you when you came here to protect them!?" Hearing her words, Kael smiled. "Well, I guess I need to prove that to them by saving the families they love so much, no?" And once again, Sarah''s frustration flushed out. "I will be relying on you three for this mission. Please look out for me." Kael spoke in a light tone. "Y-Yes, I will do my best!" Sarah nodded, her eyes full of determination. "I didn''t know the Hero used seduction to make people do what you want. Doesn''t sound very heroic." Aria chuckled. "Where in the hell does it look like I am seducing you?" "That''s the trick. You never show when you try to seduce a woman and lure her into your trap. Only then would an innocent lady fall for it." "You¡ª" Snore As Kael tried to retort, but then, The three of them heard Lyra''s snores. Yes, the woman had entered the dreamland without a care in the world. "Okay, you two can sleep. I will keep an eye." Kael ordered. Aria, however, shook her head. "You are the strongest of us. You need to be well-rested and prepared for everything. You two sleep, I will keep an eye." Since her words were logical, Kael didn''t deny them. He turned towards Sarah and, "You can sleep on the bed." He spoke as he prepared to sleep on the floor, but then, "Hero Kael, this is not the time to act gentlemanly or care about such things. We are on a mission, our lives are at stake here. I am sure you know how essential a well-rested body is in the current situation. Please sleep on the bed, both of you." Aria spoke in a solemn tone, and once again, Kael couldn''t deny it. "Alright." He nodded as he walked towards the bed. As he turned around, Sarah glanced at Aria, and the Mage winked at her friend again. And once again, her face said the same thing, ''I gotchhu.'' Chapter 57 So you will bring laughter back? In the evening, after Kael had enough rest, he woke up, told Aria to get some sleep and walked out of the room to get some air. As he left, his eyes fell on the little girl sitting on her chair. The girl seemed to have noticed some movements as well and, "Hero Kael?" She questioned with an uncertain look on her face. "Selina." Kael smiled as he walked towards her and knelt next to her. "Did you rest well?" Selina questioned, her voice sounding much more mature than the 10-year-old girl she was. "Yes, I did." Kael smiled, then, he questioned. "Why are you sitting here alone? Didn''t your grandpa tell you not to leave your room on your own?" "I''m waiting for Grandpa," Selina replied calmly. "Do you always wait for your grandpa like this?" Kael questioned curiously. "Yes!" Selina answered with a big smile on her face. Clearly, she loved talking about her grandpa. "Doesn''t it get lonely, waiting here by yourself? Do you feel scared?" "Nope." Selina shook her head. "Grandpa says the house is safe. And it''s not scary if you don''t see it. I just think everything looks pretty." Kael''s chest tightened at her words, but he kept his smile. "That''s a smart way to think." He praised. "Grandpa says I''m smart." Selina nodded. Soon, however, she shook her head. "But not smart like grown-ups. I don''t wanna be that smart. They always look tired." At those words, Kael laughed softly. "You''re pretty wise for a ten-year-old." He commented. "Wise?" She scrunched up her nose. "What does that mean?" "It means you''re good at understanding things." "Hehe~ Grandpa says that too. He says I understand things better than most people because I listen more. I like listening to people." "Is that so¡­?" Kael smiled. Honestly, he didn''t know how to continue the conversation. He, however, didn''t have to worry about that. It seemed like little Selina had a lot to say. "You know," She spoke after a small pause, her voice soft, "My town wasn''t always like this. It used to be happy. Really, really happy. I always used to hear people laughing. Grandpa said they had shiny eyes when they smiled. I don''t know what shiny eyes look like, but I think it means they were really happy." Selina started, "Grandpa used to take me to the market. It smelled so good there¡ªthe bread and flowers and candy! People always said hi to me. They even gave me fruits and candies to eat!" "It sounds like a wonderful time." Kael answered, his eyes observing Selina''s expressions. "It was," Selina nodded. The girl, however, wasn''t done yet. She seemed to have a lot to talk about. "And during festivals, Grandpa would take me flying on his magic beast." "You flew on top of a flying beast?" Kael raised his eyebrow in surprise. "Yes! Grandpa''s Beast! Grandpa says he has beautiful purple feathers, and he also has the power to create clouds and lightning! And his lightning doesn''t hurt me because Grandpa says he loves me! I love him too!" "Do you not feel fear at all¡­?" Kael was taken aback by the girl''s braveness. "Not at all! Grandpa holds me tight when we fly, so I am not scared. It was so much fun! When we flew, Grandpa would also tell me about the lights and the dancing and the colors in the sky. I couldn''t see them, but I could feel how pretty they were." Seeing her enthusiasm, even Kael smiled, but then, Selina''s smile faded a little, and she lowered her head. "But now¡­ it''s different. I do not hear laughter anymore. Everything feels sad." Then suddenly, Selina reached out. Kael held her hand, and she called out. "Hero Kael, you are here to save us, right? Like in those stories my grandpa tells me, where the Hero defeats sadness and brings laughter everywhere, you are going to bring laughter back here as well, right?" At her questions, Kael''s throat tightened, he gently held Selina''s hands and, "I will. I will do everything I can to save your town." "So you will bring laughter back?" Selina questioned, her face brightening up instantly as if she had complete trust in the Hero. Kael smiled inwardly. To think the first person who would look at him with those trusting eyes was a blind 10-year-old child. This, however, only made the weight of the gaze even heavier. "I will. I promise." He nodded. "Yay!" Selina exclaimed in joy. Kael smiled. As Selina and Kael conversed for a little longer, Tobias returned. "Was she waiting for me again?" Tobias questioned after he and Kael tucked the little girl in her bed. "She loves you a lot." Kael answered with a smile, and hearing those words, a big hearty smile appeared on Tobias''s face. "She loves everyone. She is a child with a golden heart." "I can see that." Kael nodded. "Did you sleep well?" Tobias questioned, and Kael nodded. Then, Kael questioned directly. "I would like to hear about the current situation." "I understand." Tobias nodded. Then, he pointed at the chair and signaled Kael to sit. Kael nodded. The two sat on the chairs, and Tobias started. "Our walls are holding for now, but the northern gate is the weakest. We''ve patched it up as best we can, but it won''t withstand another large attack. We still have enough supplies to last a month, but before that, we need to survive the next attack." Kael nodded as he heard Tobias''s words with a solemn look on his face. "The people are on edge. Both the townfolks and the tamers are full of uncertainty and fear. The situation is¡­ bad." He continued, providing detailed reports about the situation. He answered every question Kael asked with clarity, showing just how deeply he understood the challenges his town faced. Kael listened intently, comparing the information Tobias provided with what he already knew. At the same time, he also noted how capable Tobias was. He was like a pillar holding the town together for months, refusing to give in no matter what. But now¡­ even he looked tired. Once Tobias was done reporting everything, Kael decided to discuss the plan he had come up with to save Estwyn with Tobias, to see if he had anything to add. Tobias, obviously, was glad to help. As the discussion started, Kael began, "Our main goal is to get rid of all the corrupted beasts no matter what. Yes, defending the town is possible, but we cannot be on the defensive forever. We need a permanent solution, a solution that would ease people''s hearts and push them to return to their daily lives. And, of course, we need to make sure we achieve all this with the minimum possible casualties. So what I was thinking was to¡­" Tobias observed as Kael revealed all his plans. The more the Hero spoke, the more Tobias felt something he hadn''t felt in a long time, Hope. With Kael''s every word, Tobias''s opinion about him changed. At first, he only thought of him as a young man playing hero, but now¡­ to Tobias, Kael looked no different than Lord Feraos himself. By the time Kael finished, Tobias''s gaze had completely changed. The tired look in his eyes had disappeared, replaced with a hopeful, almost fervent gaze. It was actually possible! S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His town¡­ his people¡­ With the Hero sent by Lord Feraos¡­ They all could be saved! ... AN: *Tobias* *Selina* Chapter 58 The Hero cursed. "Hero Kael." The next day, Sarah, who was the last one to be on watch duty yesterday, woke Kael up. "Hmm?" Kael responded groggily, his eyes half-opened and his vision hazy. "The scouts have reported that the beasts have moved. They will be here within a few hours." Sarah informed, and in an instant, Kael''s sleepiness disappeared. "What? Already?" "Yes." Sarah nodded. Kael looked around and saw all three soldiers staring at him. This made him frown. "Was I the last one to wake up?" "You sleep too much." Lyra nodded. Aria, however, just chuckled and, "I don''t think the one who doesn''t even perform night duty has the right to say this." "Are you on his side now? Did you fall for his seduction as well?" "W-What are yo¡ª" "That''s enough. Prepare yourself, we are leaving. You have 15 minutes." Before the flustered Aria could say anything, Kael ordered as he stood up. His tone was completely different from before. While this was his first time leading a mission, this didn''t mean he had no experience. Leadership didn''t come from theory alone. Therian, during his lectures, often made Kael order a group of soldiers to fight against another group of soldiers. The group under Kael''s command could only do what Kael ordered them to. Kael was tasked with leading this group to victory while he calculated everything going on in the battlefield. "Yes, Hero Kael." Hearing his words, the three women nodded as they quickly dispersed to prepare themselves. The sudden change in their attitude was quite surprising. Kael, on the other hand, walked out of the room and his eyes fell on Tobias and Selina. "Hero Kael, you are awake." Tobias bowed slightly. Unlike before, when he bowed his head just for the sake of it, this time, his actions seemed a lot more natural. Kael nodded, his eyes fell on Selina before he glanced at Tobias again. Understanding the meaning behind his gaze, Tobias nodded and answered, "I will leave Selina with a neighbor. The two of them will head towards the underground shelter while the townfolks who can fight will be drafted into the emergency unit." Kael nodded. Then suddenly, Selina called out. "Hero Kael¡­ is everything okay?" Her tone was full of worry and uncertainty. Kael walked towards the girl and ruffled her hair. "Didn''t I promise to bring back the town''s laughter yesterday? That is what I am going to do now. But for my magic to work, you and the others need to group up in a safe place since I will need your power to cast my magic. Can you help me?" S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Will Grandpa come with me as well¡­?" Hearing this question, Kael stared at Tobias, and his eyes turned draconic golden, surprising the Town Head. [Name: Tobias Erwick] [Race: Human] [Age: 57] [Level: 17] [Strength: 42] [Agility: 28] [Speed: 25] [Stamina: 35] [Defense: 40] [Mana: 8] [Intelligence: 20] [Charisma: 18] [Strengths: Experienced in battlefield tactics, Resilient and composed under pressure, Strong physical endurance despite age] [Weaknesses: Declining speed and reflexes due to age, Limited mana reserves] "He cannot. He needs to be with me to help me cast my magic." Kael answered as he stared at the system screen in front of him. Tobias was this town''s strongest Tamer, an experienced Second Stage Warrior. Kael needed someone like him by his side to deal with all the beasts. "Okay, then I will help you and Grandpa together with Aunt Reene." Selina smiled. Kael smiled as he then nodded at Tobias. The Town Head nodded back before he took Selina with him and rushed out of the house. There wasn''t much time left. The people of the town were panicking again¡ªhe needed to be there to calm them. Kael, who was left alone, closed his eyes. Then suddenly, ''Kyu~'' He heard a voice in his head. It was Igni, who had sensed his uneasiness and was there to calm him down. This put a smile on Kael''s face. He opened his eyes and decided to freshen up. In 15 minutes, the three soldiers were ready. Tobias had returned as well, this time, he was wearing a set of worn-out armor. Kael was wearing a set of new armor as well. It wasn''t a heavy one since that restricted his movement¡ªthis one only protected his vitals and more vulnerable areas. Kael nodded at Tobias, and the Town Head took him to the central plaza, where all the soldiers and the civilians who had become part of the emergency unit had gathered. Tobias took Kael and his party on the stage, and with a big smile on his face, "Brave soldiers of Estwyn Town!" He started. "Our long wait has finally borne fruitful returns! Most of you must already know who this man standing next to me is, but for those who do not, let me introduce him to you." Tobias spoke as he pointed at Kael. "This young man''s name is Kael Carter. He is the Hero chosen by none other than Lord Feraos himself! The Hero who will protect not just our town, but all of Nerathis! And today, the Hero himself will lead our tow¡ª" "Hmph!" Before Tobias could complete his words, a loud, dismissive snort was heard, and a 183 cm tall, giant man with a muscular frame stepped forward. "Town Head Tobias." The man called out. "I don''t care who that boy is or whatever fancy title he holds." The man stared at Kael and dangerously narrowed his eyes. "Hero or not, it doesn''t fucking matter. All I see is a lost little kid playing hero. While I would love to be a part of his little games, this will not be at the expense of my town." The giant man turned back to Tobias and, "I know you are banking on those three soldiers he has brought with him, but if getting their help means we would need to listen to this child''s commands, then I refuse to stay in the emergency unit. I will not sacrifice my life for some fool''s fantasy." The man snorted, ready to walk away, but then, "Heh." A laugh was heard. "Fucking coward." The Hero cursed. Chapter 59 I am not a coward! "Fucking coward." Just as the giant man was about to leave, The Hero cursed, and in an instant, the man froze, stopping in his tracks. He turned around, and with a dangerous expression on his face, he glanced at the Hero. "What did you say?" He questioned, his tone much more menacing. He was trying to intimidate Kael but¡­ "I called you a coward." Kael repeated. "Hah!? Do you want a beating!?" The man shouted as he walked towards Kael, but before he could do anything, a strong force grabbed his neck. "What did you say? I didn''t hear you." Kael''s chilling tone was heard. The soldiers around them quickly jumped back when they realized that Kael was currently standing amongst them. ''H-How¡­?'' ''When did he come here!?'' He was on the stage just now! How did he get here so quickly!? The muscular man widened his eyes in horror. He tried to resist, using both his hands to grab Kael''s arm and free himself, but no matter what he did, Kael didn''t even budge. "!!!" Then suddenly, the giant man''s expression changed as he realized that his legs were no longer on the ground. He looked down, and when he saw his body being lifted in the air through his neck as if he was some kind of ragdoll, his face paled in fright. "Acck- Let me go¡­" In a hoarse voice, he requested, his resistance slowly fading. He tried moving his legs, but he made sure not to be too frantic. After all, his life was in the Hero''s hands. "I didn''t hear you. Repeat what you said?" Kael repeated his question, his voice even colder than before. "I¡­ I am sorry¡­" The man replied, gasping for air. "Heh." Kael just laughed, and then, he let him go. The giant man fell on his butt, his chest moved up and down as he coughed loudly. Kael, on the other hand, returned to the stage, his cold blue eyes scanning the soldiers. "If there are any other cowards like him who would like to leave, feel free. I''d rather you leave right now than piss in fear and run away during the battle, endangering other lives." "I¡­ I am not a coward!" The giant man retorted, his body shook when Kael stared at him again. But he didn''t give in. This was his town. He wanted to protect it. He wanted to protect and fight for his family! But, "Is that not what you are?" Kael questioned and with a grin full of mockery, he continued, "Your sorry came out pretty quickly as well." "Y-You do not understand anything! I-I cannot die a worthless death! I have a 5-year-old boy and a wife waiting for me to return! Will you take responsibility for them if I die!? To you, the Hero, this is just a place where you show your powers and gain fame, but for me, this is a life-and-death situation! Mine and my family''s future rely on this battle! Will you ta¡ª" "Oh, shut it." The man wanted to continue, but Kael just snorted. Then, he glanced at the rest of the soldiers before turning back towards the man, "I do not understand anything. I am just a child ''playing hero,'' blah blah blah. What do you even understand? What makes you think you are better than me? Do you think we are gathered here to cry about our misfortunes? Oh yeah? Then how about this? I, who was safe back in my world, had planned my entire future and was working hard for it, was suddenly summoned to this damned world, told to become its Hero, and risk my life to protect it. You people live in this town. Most of you have spent your entire lives in this town. It is your duty to protect it. But what about me? I am not even from this world, and yet I was still ''chosen to be the hero.'' This town? This is my second day here. I didn''t even know this town existed before this, and yet here I am, risking my life to protect this place. Do you see me complaining?" Kael questioned, looking right into that man''s eyes. "Then what gives you the right to cry like a bitch!? ''I refuse to stay in the emergency unit!'' What gives you the right to say those words, huh!? You think you are doing me a favor by staying here? I am the one doing you a favor by being in this darned place, not the other way around. Get that in your head." Kael raised his voice. "¡­" The man lowered his head. "And I am saying these words not just to him. I am talking to all of you." Kael spoke, staring at all the soldiers. "Don''t think I do not know what you are thinking just because you hide it. I see everything. I see your distrust, doubts, suspicions, and¡­ I see your fear." Kael stepped forward. "I do not know whether I was blessed by Lord Feraos or not. Heck, I didn''t even know who Lord Feraos was a few days ago. What I do know, however, is that In just two weeks, I, who didn''t even know how to lift a sword, have become much stronger than any of you. I have reached a level most of you will probably never reach in your entire life. In just two weeks, I have surpassed all of you, who have trained to get stronger all their lives. This must mean something." Kael spoke, looking into the soldiers'' eyes. "Today, I stand together with you to protect your town, and trust me when I say this. I am the best chance you have¡ªno, let me rephrase that. I am the ONLY chance you have to protect your town and your family. I am willing to risk my life for your town, and in return, I only want one thing¡ª Your support." Kael ended, and after giving one last look to the 100 soldiers in front of him, he questioned. "So who is with me?" And the moment he asked this question, silence fell over the place. The soldiers exchanged glances, the Hero''s words still rang clearly in their heads, and the display of his strength couldn''t be more vivid. There was no doubt about it¡ªthis man was indeed blessed by Lord Feraos himself. The soldiers, however, were still¡­ fearful. They did not know what to do and stayed silent until¡ª "I am." A voice was heard. It was a surprise because the one who said those words was none other than the giant man who called out Kael before. The man stared at Kael and, "I leave my life in your hands. Tell me what I have to do." He spoke, his eyes burning with determination. "I will prove to you that I am not a coward." And at his words, one by one, the rest of the soldiers stepped forward as well, all of them submitting to the Hero. Using this chance, the Town Head Tobias stepped forward and¡ª "For the Hero!" He shouted as he raised his hand, and in an instant, the soldiers'' voices thundered, "FOR THE HERO!" "FOR ESTWYN!" "FOR THE HERO!" "FOR ESTWYN!" Their united roars echoed throughout the town, their eyes determined and fired up. Kael smiled when he saw that, The first step was complete. Then, as the soldiers calmed down, Kael started passing down the instructions. The soldiers were divided into different units and deployed to their positions. The faster soldiers followed Kael to the jungle where the Agile beasts would come from. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For the next few hours, the soldiers moved according to Kael''s instructions, until finally, the scout reported¡ª "The Beasts will be here in 10 minutes!" Chapter 60 Bang. "The Beasts will be here in 10 minutes!" A frantic scout rushed towards Kael and reported. Kael''s heartbeat quickened. They were finally here. His first battle was about to begin. "Haaahhh..." With a quick exhale, he suppressed his emotions and acted with calm. His eyes turned towards one of Sarah''s Bonds that she had left with him. It was an Echoing Luminark, a Rare Rank, Special Elemental Type Beast. A creature with a body as big as a large horse''s. It had shimmering, golden feathers that glistened under sunlight, an owl-like head, and luminous blue eyes. The lower half of its body resembled a sleek lion with silver fur, and the Runes on its massive wings glowed as it used its ability. *Picture* His name was Echo. As for the reason why Sarah left Echo with Kael? It was because of how important Echo was for the battle. Resonant Projection. Echo has the ability to "capture" sound by listening to a speaker, convert it into pure magical energy, and send it through the air, bypassing obstacles like walls or even mountains. An ability ideal for mass broadcasting, whether to communicate important messages, rally troops, or even deliver entertainment like music or stories. "They are here." Kael spoke, his voice was low. Echo, however, quickly projected his voice throughout Estwyn Town. "We''ve prepared for this moment. Stick to the plan, and remember, We aren''t here to drive them back. We are here to put an end to this once and for all." Kael''s voice echoed through the battlefield. "For Estwyn." He spoke calmly, at his words, however, the soldiers that were positioned in different locations, cheered in unison. "FOR ESTWYN!!! FOR THE HERO!!" Under the fervent chants, Kael turned his attention to the Northern Gate. The ground trembled. It was a faint vibration at first, but very quickly, it turned into a thunderous quake, and... they came into view. Ten towering, hulking monstrosities. Their skin was covered in thick, stone-like scales. Most of them were around 5 meters tall. Their beady eyes glowed menacingly. Their mouths, lined with jagged teeth, growled as they charged forward, smashing everything in their path. Kael also noticed a strange, dark mist surrounding these creatures, an energy that was known to be the source of ''corruption.'' The townsfolk called these armored beasts ''The Brutes.'' *Picture* The northern gate shuddered as the brutes approached. Clearly, the previous battles had weakened the gates quite a bit. Kael expected this. "Don''t falter." Once again, his words echoed. This time, only the soldiers positioned at the northern gate heard his voice. "Place your trust in me." Kael''s heart felt heavy as he said those words. For now, however, he suppressed everything he felt and took responsibility. His draconic golden eyes stared at the monstrosities that made their way towards them, and a bunch of screens appeared in front of him. He read through all the details. Another fascinating thing to note was that while most of the Brutes were ''unnamed,'' two of them had names¡ª''Joy'' and ''Coco.'' The two of them were once close to humans and were named by them, but now¡­ Because of that dark power corrupting them, it had led to... this. A weak smile appeared on Kael''s face as he realized it. Soon, however, he shook his head and read the information of the strongest brute. [Name: Unnamed] [Race: Shadowclaw Ravager] [Rank: Common] [Age: 35 years] [State: Corrupted] [Level: 16] [Strength: 51 (75)] [Agility: 35 (56)] [Stamina: 32 (55)] [Defense: 50 (72)] [Mana: 23 (35)] [Intelligence: 35 (2)] [Charisma: 42 (-)] [Strengths: Incredible Physical Strength, Stone-Like Scales, High Endurance] [Weaknesses: Low Intelligence] ... ''The ones in the bracket should be its current stats, and the other one should be what its stats used to be before corruption, correct?'' Kael thought inwardly, and when he realized the difference the corruption made, ''Come on, that''s just cheating at this point.'' He just complained in his head. ''No wonder these people were having such a difficult time dealing with these beasts. It''s like they are using drugs.'' If ''the Brutes'' were only as strong as they normally were, then even if they attacked, it wouldn''t have caused much problem since the town''s militia, together with their Bonds, would have been able to defend the town. But with these beasts strengthened by corruption¡­ it became much more difficult. Almost impossible, actually. Kael even wondered how these people survived up to this point. After all, the strongest tamer here was Tobias, whose average stats were around 30. ''I guess they outnumber them, huh¡­'' Kael reasoned in his head. At the same time, as he stared at another screen in front of him, he regained some of his confidence. [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 10 ¡ú 17] [CE: 675/2600] [Talent: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] [Strength: 32 ¡ú 45] [Agility: 35 ¡ú 46] [Speed: 34 ¡ú 43] [Stamina: 37 ¡ú 46] [Defence: 38 ¡ú 48] [Mana: 41 ¡ú 56] [Intelligence: 33 ¡ú 44] [Charisma: 32 ¡ú 43] ¡­ ''This is manageable.'' He muttered inwardly, his eyes shining brightly. Sure, he was still weaker compared to that Shadowclaw Ravager, but that was the strongest of all ten Brutes, and while there were three more Brutes who were stronger than Kael, the rest were somewhat equal in strength. ''Alright.'' With a determined look on his face, Kael stared at the scene in front of him. Then, once the Brutes were within range¡­ "Fire the Cannons!" Kael shouted. Boom With a deafening roar, the first cannon fired, spitting out a massive iron shell. The projectile screeched through the air before slamming into the lead Brute''s shoulder and¡­ BOOOM The iron shell exploded, sending a shockwave that made even the thick stone walls tremble. However, ''Tsk, they need to upgrade their weapons.'' Nothing happened. No, something did happen. "RROOOAAAARRRR!!!" The Brutes affected by the explosion roared. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They were enraged. "Again!" Kael ordered, and the second cannon was shot. BOOOM While the thick hide of the Brutes absorbed most of the damage, the blasts left scorch marks and shallow wounds, somewhat managing to slow the Brutes'' relentless advance. "Reload!" The man overseeing the cannon team ordered. The soldiers placed another shell into the barrels, and the cannons were fired again, and then again, then again. BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM If one didn''t make a difference, Kael would continue to fire till it did. The smell of gunpowder filled the air. The Brutes bled. This, however, didn''t stop their advance. As if they couldn''t feel any pain, they rampaged forward, getting closer to the gates. "They are near the gates!" A soldier shouted. The battlefield became more and more chaotic. The Brutes were now too close; the cannons couldn''t be used anymore. "ROOOAAAARRRRR!!!!" One particularly massive Brute, its hide scorched and torn, let out an ear-piercing bellow and charged the gate. Rumble The gate shook. And it didn''t stop there. After the first Brute, more and more Brutes rushed forward, pounding on the gates with their heavy bodies. "They are here already!! Get away!! Run! Run!!" The soldiers handling the cannons above the walls widened their eyes in horror as they ran away, abandoning their posts. Rumble The Northern Gate shuddered under the relentless pounding. Each strike shook its very foundation. And then finally¡­ Crack A large crack appeared. Yes, not even an entire minute had passed, but the gate had already cracked. Boom Boom Boom The Brutes continued to strike relentlessly. The crack continued to widen until finally, CRACK With a deafening crack, the gate broke into pieces. Dust erupted into the air, covering everything in a thick, choking cloud. "They broke through!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!" The soldiers screamed as they continued to run away. Don''t be mistaken; these soldiers weren''t running away from the Brutes. They had faced these monsters before, so while they were scared of them, they would never abandon their post in such a manner. The ones they were running away from were not the Brutes... It was Kael. The Hero had already placed himself 300 meters away from the gates, staring at the Brutes, who had just entered the gates, covered in dust and debris. What the Beasts failed to notice in time, however, were the four large oil barrels Kael had prepared to welcome them. Yes, Kael''s goal was never to stop the Beasts from coming in. He just wanted to fight under his conditions. And his condition? It was... Exploooosiionnn! Kael chuckled, thinking about a certain brown-haired loli from Crimson Magician School as he then formed a gun with his hand and pointed at the Brutes. Two magic circles appeared in front of his palm, and two sleek arrows of flames were formed. "Bang." The instant he said those words, the arrows whistled through the air, hit the oil barrels and before the Brutes could react. BOOOOOOOOOOM Chapter 61 Kill them all. "Bang." Two arrows whistled through the air and hit the oil barrels and before the Brutes could react, BOOOOOOOOOOM The barrels exploded, all at the same time. A fiery shockwave erupted, sending a wall of heat and force outward. Flames gushed into the sky, and the battlefield turned red and orange. The very ground trembled, and the air was filled with the sharp crackle of burning oil. The Brutes'' bodies flew back like ragdolls. Fire clung to their thick hides, and their roars of pain echoed across the battlefield. Their skin was scorched, with deep burn marks all over the place. The sight was extremely gory. Kael stood still. He thought he would have thrown up when he saw the scene, but for some reason¡­ he felt perfectly fine¡­ Maybe it was because he had seen literal humans being torn into two pieces and his own head being severed in the vision before, but all of this felt¡­ much tamer than he expected. Kael continued to observe the Brutes. These monsters had taken literal cannon shots and survived. So obviously, although the explosion caused a lot of damage, none of them had died yet. Slowly, the Brutes stood up. It was a scene that might have horrified any normal person. To survive despite everything that happened, these Monsters seemed unkillable. Kael, however, just grinned. "Marshmallow or Kebab?" He questioned. "RRROOOOAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!" The Brutes, however, didn''t seem to like his joke as they roared in rage. Their eyes glimmered menacingly as they charged toward Kael, targeting the one who had harmed them. This time, their speed was much faster than before, they had turned even crazier. Kael, who realized what was happening, blinked a few times. Then he¡­ Ran away. "What!? I thought everyone liked barbecue!?" He complained as he continued to run as if his life depended on it. "RRRAOOOOOOOAARRR!!!!" And it did. The soldiers had never seen Brutes look so enraged before. Kael continued to run. These Brutes were faster than him, so despite him having a 300-meter lead, they were slowly catching up. "I won''t make that joke again, I promise!" Kael cried as he continued to run, and the Brutes replied to his words with, "ROORRROAAAAARRRRRR!!" "Yes, I accept your surrender." Kael nodded. Of course, he didn''t stop running. "ROOAAAAARRRRR!!!" As the chase continued, Kael soon entered the narrow alleys. The Brutes, in a frenzy, followed without thinking, their massive bodies barely fitting through the tight streets. Kael continued to run through the streets. The Brutes, despite having to slow down, continued to follow him, but then¡ª "NOW!!" He screamed, and suddenly, the ground beneath Kael turned into a marsh as he jumped into the air. The Brutes tried to follow, but before they could jump, 20 Estwyn Tamers, who were hiding on the rooftops of the houses on either side of the narrow streets, jumped on top of the Brutes with their weapons in their hands. "Aim at their burnt hide!" Kael shouted as he himself climbed on top of Echo, who took him to the sky, away from the Brutes. "FOR ESTWYN!" "KILL!!!" The soldiers shouted, aiming at the Brutes'' weak points that Kael had created. They weren''t alone. Their Magic Beasts attacked the Brutes together with them. As for Kael... Well, he was having his own problems. "Aaaahhhhh!!!! I am flying! I am flying!!!" The Hero screamed like a little bitch, his hand tightly gripping Echo''s saddle straps as if his life depended on it. ''Just hold the reins, leave everything to Echo, and you will be just fine~'' This was what Sarah had told him before, but¡­ "I am not fine at all!!!!" Kael complained. Just looking at the ground beneath made his body tremble. "Kuuu!" Echo called out. "I do not understand you!!" Kael shouted, his voice nearly lost in the howling wind. "Kuuu!!" Echo screeched again as it moved even higher. "What are you doing!?" Kael shouted again as his heart shuddered. Echo was literally flying vertically to the ground, and Kael could see his death right in front of his eyes. "Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh!! Echo!! My Brother!! What did I do to you!?" Kael complained as he continued to shout. **"Aaaahhhh¡ª eh?"** But then, he noticed something. By now, he should have already fallen to the ground. Even if he was holding the reins, he highly doubted he was holding them tight enough to avoid the fall. Heck, he didn''t even feel like he was holding something. ''Is it because I am stronger now¡­?'' Kael thought inwardly. Soon, however, he shook his head. This made no sense. Something was wrong. "Kuuu!!" Echo screeched again, his voice joyful, as if he was trying to tell something. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael then remembered Sarah''s words again, ''Just hold the reins, leave everything to Echo, and you will be just fine~'' "You are telling me to¡­ trust you?" He questioned, and¡ª "Kuu!" Echo nodded as he raised his speed even further. This time, although Kael instinctively closed his eyes, he didn''t shout. And just as he expected¡­ He was fine¡­ "Kuuu!" Echo called out again as he shook his head. "Huh? What do you want?" "Kuu!" He shook his head again, this time even more aggressively, and Kael finally realized what he was trying to say. "You want me to¡­ Leave the reins?" "Kuu!" Echo nodded, and Kael just stared at him with a deadpan look on his face. "Do you see any wings coming out of my back by any chance?" Of course, he wouldn''t be leaving the reins! He would never leave them! "Kuu!!" Echo, however, screeched again as he changed the direction he was flying in. Now, he was parallel to the ground again. The only difference was¡­ That it was upside down¡­ "Ah! Sorry if I was rude!! Turn around!! Turn around!!" Kael shouted, but Echo didn''t listen. It was then that Kael realized it¡­ He¡­ He still hadn''t fallen. Slowly¡­ he decided to trust his friend. First, he let go with one hand. Feeling no pressure on the other hand, he steeled his heart and¡­ He let go. And again, Nothing changed. *What¡­? How is this possible¡­?'' He questioned inwardly, and Echo just screeched in joy. ''Leave everything on Echo~'' Sarah''s words echoed in his mind again, and he finally realized what she meant. He could not fall as long as he trusted Echo¡­ "Now that''s true magic!" Kael shouted out loud, then, "Echo! Faster!!" He ordered. "Kuuu!!!" Echo followed. "Hahahaha!" And Kael''s laughter echoed throughout the skies, and once he was comfortable enough, he passed the orders. "Echo, Down!" It was time to finish it. Echo descended, and soon, Kael saw the soldiers bravely attacking the Brutes. Aria''s Bond, a Swamp Drake, had turned the ground into a swamp and had started targeting the Brutes with vines that grew from the swamp. These vines grabbed the Brutes and pulled them in, hindering their movements even further. The soldiers also continuously targeted the burnt areas in the Brutes'' bodies, making their attacks even more lethal. "As they say, it is easier to cut the cooked chicken~" Kael commented with a smile on his face, then, as he prepared his heart, "Alright, fuck this, Let''s do it!" He jumped down. Yes, he had gotten braver. But not for long. "Aaaaahhhhhh!!!" He screamed. He was nearly 30 feet above; even if he was the Hero, he was still scared. "Noo!! Don''t fuck it!! I take my words back!!" Of course, no one was coming for help. "Agghh! Fuck!" Kael cursed again, and then, his face contorted, his eyes turned draconic golden, red veins pulsed beneath his skin, his jagged teeth gleamed, and, He roared. "RRROOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!!!" The Brutes looked above, their bodies enveloped by the most primordial sense of fear, petrifying them in an instant. Kael, however, wasn''t done yet. Shimmering red scales started appearing on his right arm, and Kael quickly directed himself toward the strongest Brute and the moment he appeared above him, He punched. BOOOOOOOOM Its entire body was blown into pieces. Blood and gore spread all over, covering everyone present, especially Kael. He controlled the urge to vomit and strengthened his mind¡ªhe only had 5 seconds. His golden eyes glared at all the Brutes, who were still frozen in fear, then he found the one nearest to him and punched again, And then again. Within five seconds, he unleashed two more punches, killing a total of three Brutes, all while the Brutes stood petrified by what they had just witnessed. "Focus on the ones on the left, swarm them." Kael ordered. All of this, from the start to right now, had already been predicted by Kael, and the soldiers had already positioned themselves to take on the Brutes on the left, while Kael himself rushed toward the three on the right. Then, once he had created enough distance between himself and the soldiers, he activated his third ability as he jumped toward the Brutes with a sword in his hand. [Skill: Ember Cloak] [Description:] [Allows the Host to surround himself with draconic flames. Enemies who attack him in melee range take significant fire damage, and the flames provide enhanced resistance to elemental attacks.] [Effect:] [Surrounds the Host with dragon-like flames that extend 1 meter around him.] [Enemies that are burned by flames take 20% of the Host''s magic power as fire damage.] [The affected suffer a burning effect that deals 5% of the Host''s magic power as fire damage per second for 5 seconds (Stackable).] [Provides a 25% resistance to elemental attacks, with a 50% resistance to fire-based attacks.] [Duration: 10 seconds.] [Cooldown: 1 minute.] It was supposed to be a defensive ability. Kael, however, used it aggressively as he moved closer to the enemies himself. He also made sure to use the stacking effect to its fullest extent. He would burn these things till they were roasted! "Kill them all." He ordered as he himself took on three Brutes. With three already dead, three busy with Kael, the twenty tamers and their Beasts now swarmed the four remaining ones. The Brutes, who were already heavily injured and with the swamp and the vines slowing them down, were overwhelmed very quickly, And with that, All ten Brutes perished. ... A/N: Sarah Aria Lyra Chapter 62 Archers, to the cliffs! While Kael was busy dealing with the Northern Gate, Tobias had a task of his own. It was the Eastern Gate. "I see movements, they are about 5 kilometres away from the desired position, be prepared." Tobias heard a voice and, in an instant, he signalled his men to move. Most of his men were already in position, all they needed to do was wait. Right now, Tobias wasn''t standing on the Eastern Walls, he was in the outpost created about one kilometre away from the Eastern Gate, deep in the forests. The Eastern Gate was too close to the Town Hall and the basement where everyone was hiding. Kael couldn''t risk it. So, unlike in the Northern Gate, where the plan was to let the Brutes in, limit their movements in the narrow streets and kill them, For the Eastern Gate, Kael made sure that these beasts never even got close to the gate, no matter what. "You know what to do, correct?" Tobias heard the woman''s voice again, this time, he glanced at her. It was one of the warriors who had come together with the Hero. Sarah. The archer had her eyes closed, and a strange rune was shining on her forehead. "Do not make a mistake." She spoke in a solemn tone, it was almost threatening honestly. This was the Hero''s first mission, and Sarah wanted to make sure nothing went wrong. Everything MUST be perfect. "Yes." Tobias nodded. Sarah nodded back, then, with her eyes still closed, she continued to ''see'' what she was seeing. Her vision connected with her second beast, Eye, an Ethereal Raptor, another Rare Rank, Special Elemental Beasts. Eye was a sleek and graceful bird. Her feathers shimmered with a metallic silver and deep azure hue. Her sharp, golden eyes radiated intelligence. *Picture* She had the ability to share her vision with Sarah, allowing her to see what normal people couldn''t. Even the Corrupted Beasts who moved through the forest, difficult to be spotted by the naked eye because their bodies blended into the forest. Their absurd speed doesn''t help either. To Sarah, however, this was never a problem, she could see them just fine. There were around fifty of them, all with smaller, agile bodies that moved towards the town at a surprising speed. It was as if the trees in the forest weren''t obstacles but a clear road. These beasts moved like shadows, swift and coordinated, their glowing eyes piercing through the dim light of the forest. They weren''t strong like the Brutes Kael was facing, but they were definitely quick. The people of the town called them ''Agiles''. *Picture* "Now." Sarah spoke in a calm voice and, in an instant, Tobias raised his hand. "Archers, take your positions!" He shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Shoot!" Tobias ordered again, and the archers shot a barrage of arrows. The Agiles were much weaker compared to the Brutes, so much that one soldier could even take two of them, in an ideal, one-on-one scenario, of course. The Agiles, however, never participated in a one-on-one battle. These beasts attacked together, in groups, and because of their high speed and numbers, they were a nightmare to deal with. Even right now, while the arrows could definitely pierce through the Agiles'' hides and hurt them¡­ The darn things were so fast that the arrows would never hit. However¡­ This time, the archers'' aim was never the Agiles, it was the towering pine trees above them, or more accurately, the ropes that kept these trees upright. Hours before the battlefield, Kael and the soldiers had cut these trees and tied them using ropes, making them look like there was nothing wrong with them. However, the instant these ropes were cut by the arrows, the massive trees fell, crashing down with deafening booms. Dust and debris filled the air as the beasts were forced to scatter, their formation broken. Now, the forest wasn''t the Agiles'' territory where they could move however they wanted. It was now a deathbed where they could only move in a direction Kael wanted them to. The Agiles, with the path ahead of them blocked, moved to the sides. However, every time they tried to move towards the town, the arrows followed, and the trees fell, forcefully redirecting them to another route. What''s worse? Every time any of the Agiles tried to slow down and climb up the bunch of large trees that had stopped their advance, another barrage of arrows flew towards it, piercing its body, killing it on the spot. The Agiles had no choice but to follow Kael''s path. A path that, unbeknownst to them, led them to their destruction. "Aaawwwooooo!!!" They howled, but the barrage of arrows didn''t stop. Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh Bam Bam Bam The trees continued to fall, and soon, the Agiles were led to a ravine Kael had discovered earlier. A ravine was a natural trap, a trap Marshal Therian had discussed in quite detail, A trap Kael would be a fool not to use. The Ravine had steep cliffs on either side and the other way out was around 10 kilometres away. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Honestly, Kael would have very much preferred if it was a ravine with no way out at the other end, but since it wasn''t something he could control, he had to make do with whatever he had. "They will reach the ravine in 10 minutes, we should go." Sarah spoke as she finally opened her eyes and nodded at Tobias. The town head nodded back, and the two of them left their outpost and rode Tobias''s bond, Swift Wolf, to rush towards the ravine. "Make sure every single one enters the ravine, we cannot leave any of them behind!!" One of the soldiers who was ordered to lead the operation shouted. The fallen pine trees continued to block the Agiles'' way, and in the end, they had no choice but to enter the ravine, just like Kael had planned. Of course, this didn''t stop them. The Agiles continued to run towards the other end of the ravine. Once they exited, they would make their way towards the town. There was nothing stopping them. But¡­ Right now, these Agiles weren''t in the forest where they could easily blend into the surroundings while the massive trees acted as their natural cover. They were out in the open, and the instant all the Agiles were deep into the ravine, "Archers, to the cliffs!" Chapter 63 W-We did it!!! "Archers, to the cliffs!" The order was given, and ten militia archers, who had been hiding near the cliffs all this while, stood up, and with the targets right in front of them, "Shoot!" They opened fire. Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh "AAAWWWWOOOOO!!!!" Arrows rained down like a deadly storm, striking the Agiles with precision. The creatures howled in pain and rage, but there was no escape. Every attempt to climb the walls of the ravine was met with another volley of arrows. It wasn''t just the arrows the Agiles had to worry about. The Bonds of all Tamers in the town, capable of attacking from a distance, were here as well, doing damage to these beasts, no matter how little or heavy it was. The Agiles, with weak defenses, fell quickly, their numbers dwindling rapidly. The narrow space of the ravine left them no room to maneuver. "AWWWOOOOOO!!!!" They howled again. Their minds, corrupted by the dark energy, couldn''t comprehend the notion of their kin dying. Their instincts, however, told them that they were in danger and needed to get away. Quickly, the Agiles split into two groups: a minority that rushed towards the other end and a majority that tried to return. And of course, Kael had considered that as well. "Light it up!" A soldier shouted. Near the entrance of the ravine, his soldiers had created a blockade using the pine tree woods that they had cut off beforehand. And it wasn''t just a normal blockade either¡ªit was an advanced one. A double blockade, where the first blockade was lit on fire, while the second one was strengthened by the Earth Beasts, making it a temporary gate. Behind this ''gate,'' there stood an emergency unit, whose only goal was to continuously push and pull the spears in and out of the holes created in the gates. Yes, Kael had made it such that the Agiles, who tried to return to the entrance, would not only need to avoid the barrage of attacks from the Tamers on the cliff, they would also need to cross through a sea of fire, then clash against the gates while trying to avoid the spears that constantly tried to pierce through them. And what if they somehow passed through all these obstacles? Well, to deal with that possibility, Sarah and Tobias, two of the strongest Tamers, had already made their entrance, taking over command of the entire operation on this end. "They are here!" An archer shouted. "Archers! Shoot!" Tobias ordered, and a barrage of arrows fell on the Agiles. "AAWWWOOOOOO!!!" The Agiles roared in pain. Their numbers had already fallen quite a bit by the time they got here. Still, seeing the massive sea of flames, these beasts paused. Despite their low intelligence, their instincts told them going further meant death. The problem was¡­ That standing still, trying to climb the cliff on either side, or going back wasn''t an option either. With the attacks continuously raining down on them, the Agiles were forced to make a decision. And once again, they split into two groups: the majority that turned around, this time towards the opposite end, and the minority that jumped into the sea of fire. "AAAWWWOOO!!!!" The minority howled in agony as their skin was scorched. "Keep attacking! Do not stop!" However, their howls didn''t stop the attacks that continued to rain down on them. By the time these beasts reached the second blockade, there were only five of them left. "Spearmen! Start attacking!" Tobias shouted. By now, Sarah had already killed five Agiles with her arrows. Yes, she was shooting her arrows from the other side of the blockade¡ªshe was that good. The Spearmen started attacking. Their constant attacks made it difficult for the Agiles to break through. By the time they were able to break the blockade, barely two of them were left standing, and even they were riddled with heavy injuries. They stood no chance against Tobias and Sarah, who easily took them down. On this end, all the Agiles were dead. Number of casualties or injuries? Zero. As for the other side¡­ "Will she be alright alone?" Tobias questioned with a worried look on his face, and hearing that question, Sarah laughed out loud. "She is the last person you should be worried about. Worry about the Agiles instead; they might return." "They might return¡­? From the other end¡­?" Tobias was with Kael when they found and studied the ravine. He knew the other end was 10 kilometers away. Sure, at their peak, the Agiles only needed about 4 to 5 minutes to go from one end to the other. However¡­ S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Agiles right now were in no condition to run that fast. Even if they did, there were archers and Bonds prepared to attack them throughout the ravine. Returning here was no different than death. Sarah understood his surprise. She, however, just shrugged. "Well, they aren''t getting out from that end, that''s for sure." The woman was confident. She then closed her eyes, her vision connected with her Bond, and very quickly, her eyes fell on the early minority that had decided to rush towards the other end in the first place. They had already died even before they could reach the other end. As for the group of Agiles running towards the other end now, they were doing better than expected, and ten of them, although injured and battered, had managed to reach the other end. In front of them, however, was a tanned woman, who had placed a mattress on the ground and had tucked herself inside a blanket. "Oh? You are here?" She muttered lazily. "What is Sarah doing?" She complained as she stood up, very unwillingly. The space around her cracked as suddenly, two massive Earth Rhinos¡ªone 12 meters big and the other 9 meters big, with dense stone-like, thick hides¡ªstepped out of the cracks. Lyra, with a lazy expression on her face, pointed at the Agile Beasts in front of her and, "Keep them busy." At her words, the Earth Rhinos rushed towards the Agile Beasts while the archer herself took out her bow, and then, She started shooting. Her precision and accuracy were so high that, with her two Bonds stopping the Agiles from advancing, she attacked their weak points, and within 5 minutes, The ten Agiles were down. The battle of the Eastern Gate was over with no casualties or injuries whatsoever. And the soldiers couldn''t believe it until finally, someone shouted, "W-We did it!!!" Chapter 64 Be prepared. "It''s done." Sarah, who saw Lyra getting rid of the rest of the Agiles through her Bond, muttered in a low voice. "¡­" "¡­" At first, silence fell over the place. No one could believe what they had heard. After all, these were the same beasts who had killed so many of their allies and had caused havoc and destruction all over the place. Last time, these beasts had nearly managed to destroy their entire town. The soldiers were even worried that they might reach the basement area and kill all the villagers. Agiles were nothing short of a nightmare, and now¡­ They had taken all of them¡­ without a single casualty on their side¡­ None of them could believe it. A soldier blinked, lowering his sword with trembling hands. Another glanced around, searching the faces of his comrades for confirmation that this was real. This continued until finally, A young man drafted into the emergency unit shouted. "W-We did it!!!" And as if all of the soldiers had come out of their reverie at the same time, "We did it!!! We did it!!" They exclaimed in joy. Sarah''s body shuddered at the sudden shout. She felt like her eardrum would burst. "Hey!" She shouted back in anger. "Stop shouting and extinguish the fir¡ª" She was about to give further orders, but then, "Hail the Hero!!!" A soldier cheered. "Hail the Hero!!!" "Hail the Hero!!!" One after another, more and more soldiers joined in, all chanting Kael''s name fervently, and Sarah stopped. "Well... This you can do for a while¡­" She muttered in a low voice. She had seen how worried Kael was the entire time he was here. In the carriage, he had been constantly studying the mission details, ramming his head while he tried to come up with a plan. Even when he was keeping watch at night while the rest of them were asleep, he seemed worried and lost in thought. And despite all that, these people had looked at him with distrust and doubt. Sarah hated it. Sarah absolutely hated how these townsfolk treated the Hero, even if the Hero himself didn''t seem very affected, even though the townsfolk''s reaction was understandable, she still hated it. And now, when Kael was finally being recognized for his efforts, she was happy. This was the reverence and love the Hero deserved. She nodded continuously, satisfied. But then suddenly, "The battle is not over yet. Regroup and return. Sarah, take command." Everyone heard Kael''s voice, and the instant the Hero mentioned her name, Sarah''s face brightened up. She quickly turned towards the soldiers and passed down her orders. "Put down the fire, Call the archers, Regroup, and remember, keep the movements to a minimum!" "Yes, Leader!" The soldiers saluted before they got to work. ¡­ Back to the northern side of the town, Kael, who had finally taken down the last Brute, stood in silence as he grabbed his shoulder. His right arm was trembling. Jumping from Echo and landing on that Brute with a punch wasn''t exactly a good idea. While it did allow him to deal with three Brutes within a few seconds, he was hurt. He felt like he was unable to move his right arm as he intended to. Of course, with the training Arlan had practically instilled into his body, the injury didn''t have a very deep impact on his fighting ability. He could still fight and¡­ It wasn''t all for nothing. [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 17 ¡ú 18] [CE: 1548/2800] [Talent: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] [Strength: 45 ¡ú 46] [Agility: 46 ¡ú 47] [Speed: 43 ¡ú 44] [Stamina: 46 ¡ú 47] [Defense: 48 ¡ú 49] [Mana: 56 ¡ú 57] [Intelligence: 44 ¡ú 45] [Charisma: 43 ¡ú 44] ¡­ Yes, he leveled up. ''To think I could level up just by killing six such beasts¡­ That''s around 600 CE from one beast.'' Kael thought inwardly, surprised by how easy it was to level up on the battlefield. After all, to get the same amount of CE, he needed to put in so much effort in either learning new skills or mastering his existing ones. ''Heh.'' A smile appeared on Kael''s face. This feeling of getting stronger¡­ it was addicting. For now, however, Kael suppressed his emotions. Just like he had said before, this wasn''t over yet. "Screechh!!" Kael looked up, and his eyes fell on the Beasts that worried him the most. The Estwyn people called them The Flying. These beasts were large and terrifying, each about 10 feet long. Their wings were torn and jagged. Their bodies were covered in dark, coarse feathers. Their faces looked monstrous, with sharp, hooked beaks and glowing eyes that seemed full of rage and malice. Long, razor-sharp talons extended from their feet, ready to tear into anything. They flew in an erratic, chaotic way, adding to their unsettling presence. *Picture* The Flying were the most difficult bunch to deal with, even for Kael. After all, unlike the Beasts on land that he could somewhat control, tactics usually failed when it came to airborne beasts. Or at least, he wasn''t taught anything that could be very useful yet. Not to mention, the information he had on The Flying was extremely limited. While he did read about the Skyscraper Beasts on his way here, these beasts were not the same. With their intelligence lowered, they were entirely different beasts with completely different habits. So what Kael knew was all that Tobias had told him. According to the Town Head, there were three things he needed to keep in mind: The Flying react to heat and movement. They only attacked the Town and its people. And they do not react to other corrupted Beasts. After months of being attacked by these things, this is what the Town Head had found, and all this while, this is what he had been using to keep the damage to a minimum. Tobias always ordered the civilians to light up bonfires above some of the town''s buildings. The Flying, who only reacted to movement and heat, usually had two options: One was to attack the moving troops, And the other was to attack the buildings. Tobias didn''t know why, but The Flying always chose the buildings. Usually, he would have concluded it was because they reacted to heat more aggressively. However, every time a group of troops moved around the town, The Flying changed their target and attacked them. In the end, Tobias made an observation. The Flying would continue to target the buildings as long as the troops were facing the other beasts. However, the instant a group of troops distanced themselves from the beasts and rushed to some other point for whatever reason, they would attract The Flying''s attention. This was also what Kael had used today. The bonfires were lit, attracting The Flying''s attention and allowing them to swiftly deal with the rest of the Beasts without aerial interruption. Now, however¡­ Things were different. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Brutes were gone. Now, they weren''t the troops that were ''facing the Brutes''¡ªthey were now open targets. And while it was still fine since they weren''t moving, the moment they moved, the Flying would attack. Not to mention the soldiers were hurt. They needed to be taken to Aria so she could heal them. And while Kael did think of bringing the Brutes'' bodies with them so it would look like they were still fighting, the Brutes'' bodies were simply too heavy. In the end, there was no other choice. They would need to face The Flying head-on. "Be prepared." Kael spoke with a grim look on his face. Chapter 65 WHICH SON OF A BITCH THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA!!?? "Be prepared." Kael spoke with a grim look on his face. The soldiers nodded. Despite their injuries, some with lethal ones, they quickly prepared themselves for the next phase of the battle. "Remember, Aria is about 10 kilometres away from this place. We will go to her. Once the Flying notice, it would take them a little over 2 minutes to reach us and we need about 8 minutes to reach Aria. In a fortunate scenario, the Flying would take 5 minutes to notice us. In an unfortunate one, they would notice us in an instant." Kael briefed the situation. The soldiers nodded, listening to his words intently. "We will consider the unfortunate scenario and be prepared for battle. The injured will stay in the middle, the ones who can fight will stay at the front and the back. I will lead the charge. Is that clear?" "Yes, Hero!" The soldiers saluted, their voices full of determination. "Make sure to protect your comrades." Kael nodded back as the soldiers positioned themselves according to his instructions and mounted their Bonds, ready to leave. Kael, who was currently on top of Aria''s Swamp Drake, lightly patted its head. Then, he raised his arm and, "Move." He ordered. The group moved. Nearly two minutes passed by, the Flying didn''t notice them, and they rushed in Aria''s direction. The narrow roads that were once their allies had now become their weakness, slowing them down, but they didn''t complain. These roads were the ones that allowed them to deal with the Brutes. Not to mention, the Hero was still with them. His presence alone filled the village troops with endless confidence. But then, "Screeechh!!!" One of the Flying, who was nearest to them, noticed them and flew toward them. At its speed, it would reach them soon, but, "Do not stop." Kael ordered, his eyes determined. Within a minute, the soldiers could hear it. Flap The sound of its massive wings flapping. "Screech!!" It screeched, prepared to rip all of them into pieces, but then, Kael, who was mounted on the Earth Swamp, extended his hand. Two circles formed in front of his palm and suddenly, three flaming chains materialized and grabbed the Flying with pinpoint accuracy. Chain of Flames. "SCREECHHH!!!" The beast screeched in pain and flapped its wings, trying to get away. Kael, however, pulled it close to him, took out his sword, and jumped toward it. Slash The Flying was beheaded. Their defenses were much weaker compared to the Brutes, making it easier for him to cut them down. [CE: +549] Kael saw a message. He, however, ignored it for now and continued to run together with his group. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Because of the first one, the rest of the Flying had noticed them as well. 16 of them were already here. And soon, his eyes fell on the strongest. [Name: Baal] [Race: Skyscapper] [Rank: Common] [Age: 42 Years] [State: Corrupted] [Level: 15] [Strength: 30 (50)] [Agility: 50 (70)] [Stamina: 35 (50)] [Defense: 30 (45)] [Mana: 38 (56)] [Intelligence: 38 (3)] [Charisma: 20 (-)] [Strengths: Exceptional Aerial Mobility, Decent Offensive Power, Tactical Versatility] [Weaknesses: Low Intelligence] ¡­ ''The corruption makes this so much harder.'' He complained in his heart. The good thing was that the roads they were on weren''t as narrow as before, giving the soldiers some room to maneuver. "Focus on defense, only attack when they come to you." Kael ordered. The Flying had two ways to attack: spit fire from a distance or attack using their sharp talons capable of tearing flesh like it was nothing. "Yes, Hero!" The soldiers nodded. "Echo." Kael turned toward Sarah''s Bond, who was flying in the air right above them. Echo nodded as he glanced at the beasts ahead of him, and then, KUUUUUU! He let out a sonic wave that instantly slowed down the incoming beasts. The weaker ones trembled, and some even froze up, unable to move any further. "Drak," Kael turned toward Aria''s Bond. "Protect the injured, okay?" "Grr!" Drak nodded. Kael, on the other hand, prepared his heart as he looked at the soldiers around him. These soldiers were in no condition to take on 16 Flying, too many of them would die if this continued. He needed to be the ''Hero'' and¡­ attract the aggro. ''Fuck it!'' In the end, he steeled himself, jumped in the air, and climbed on top of Echo again. "Go!" He ordered. Echo, as if being able to read Kael''s mind, moved forward. Now, it was an airborne battle. "Wooooaaahhhhh!!!" A battle Kael was having an extremely hard time getting used to. "I really came to another world, didn''t I!?" Sitting on top of a Magic Beast, flying at a speed no less than 250 km/h, Kael was having the time of his life. ''Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!'' ¡­Well, if you consider continuously cursing in his mind as his heart shuddered every time he stared at the ground beneath him ''having the time of his life.'' Too high! He was too high! Yes, he had gotten used to this before, but¡­ Whoosh Last time, there were no corrupted beasts following him, spitting fire, trying to roast him alive!! "Kuuuu!!!" Echo screeched as he moved, changing his direction almost instantly, successfully evading the attack. "Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!" Kael, however, felt like Echo''s turning was doing more damage to him than the enemies'' attacks ever could. His heart felt like it would come out in an instant. Yes, he knew he wouldn''t fall, but it was still too much for his heart. Echo, however, wasn''t done yet. Six Flyings were after them, and Echo wasn''t exactly faster than them. He was just more intelligent, and his senses were sharper because he reacted to sound much better than others, making his reaction speed faster than the beasts who just mindlessly followed him. This made it easier for him to move in random directions, take quick turns, and suddenly ascend or descend to avoid getting close to them. "Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!" Of course, for Kael, Echo''s tactics were no short of lethal. "WHICH SON OF A BITCH THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA!!??" It was his own idea. "I''ll vomit! I''ll vomit! I''ll vomit! I am telling you I''ll vomit, dammit!!" Whoosh Just then, another ball of fire, much stronger than the previous ones, streaked past him, narrowly missing his head. Kael could swear that some of his hair was burnt by it. They were everywhere. Three on his left, one on the right, and two right above him. "Alright, alright, I need to focus." Kael had barely calmed himself but then suddenly, Whoosh Another fireball moved right past him and he froze. "Fuck, I am dying today." He could see his death. Chapter 66 Battle in the Air. "Fuck, I am dying today." Kael could see his death. Even if he didn''t die under their flames, he would definitely die from a heart attack. ''Gru¡­'' As if sensing his feelings, Igni called out. It was as if the little dragon was saying, ''Should I come out¡­?'' And of course, the answer was, ''No.'' Yes, Kael knew his Igni wanted to get out but¡­ Kael couldn''t let it¡­ He could lose anyone, he could see countless deaths, he would bear the burden of them all, But not his Igni. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Igni was one thing he couldn''t lose. ''I promise I will let you go all out in the forest when all of this is over. I have asked around, there is a place where you can have all the fun you want. But for now, you are not to come out.'' He ordered. Kael could sense it, Igni was worried. If something happened, he would come out on his own. Yes, if the Bonds wanted, they could very well come out of the Sanctuary on their own, and the Tamer wouldn''t have any control over it. Kael wanted to avoid that, so, ''I am fine, Igni. Don''t worry.'' He spoke in a reassuring tone. Then, he looked ahead, his eyes much clearer than before. "Echo." "Kuuu!" Echo replied. "Let''s kill them." Kael spoke. When Igni was at stake, it was much easier to make Kael do things. "Kuuuu!" As if waiting for this, Echo screeched cheerfully as he changed direction again. This time, however, Kael didn''t react and suppressed all his fear. His eyes turned draconic golden, red veins appeared on his face and, "RRROOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!!!" [Skill: Roar of Dominion] He activated his skill, and just like the Brutes, the Flyings froze. Roar of Dominion was an extremely useful skill, especially against these cursed beasts. Maybe it was because of their low intelligence, but they had almost no resistance to this skill''s effect. Against them, the Roar of Dominion was no different than a full six-second freedom where Kael could do anything he wanted while his enemies were barely able to keep themselves in the air. "Kuuu!!" Echo understood what Kael wanted and dashed towards one of the beasts. Kael steadied himself, gripping his sword tightly. Slash Using Echo''s momentum, Kael severed the Flying''s head. Thud The creature''s lifeless body fell to the ground. [CE: +549] Kael saw the notification. Right now, however, he ignored it and focused. Echo had already turned in the direction of another beast. Kael also didn''t stay back either. His Magic Circle appeared above his palm, and flaming chains were formed, quickly rushing towards the third Flying. By now, Echo had reached the second Flying. Kael, in a similar manner, beheaded it, and just as he was done, his Flaming Chains brought the third Flying right in front of him. Slash Kael beheaded it as well. [CE: +578] [CE: +462] [Level: 18 -> 19] Kael leveled up. But he didn''t care, or rather, he didn''t have the time to care. Six seconds had passed. The three remaining Flyings quickly lunged at them, but Echo twisted in midair, dodging effortlessly. This time, instead of feeling scared, Kael, who had shifted his focus on offence, used the momentum to swing his sword, slashing across one of the Flying''s wings. "SCREEECHHH!!!!" It let out an ear-piercing screech as it spiralled out of control, crashing into a nearby building. Kael wanted to attack another one, but suddenly, Echo descended and twisted again, saving Kael, who was about to be attacked from behind. "I didn''t see that one." Kael admitted. "Kuu!" Echo cheered. It was as if he was saying, ''I got your back.'' Kael laughed, and the battle continued. Kael left his defense to Echo, while he focused on attacking. It had turned into a lethal combination. One had to know, Echo wasn''t weak. Rather, as Sarah''s first bond, he was the archer''s strongest bond and one of the strongest beasts present here. His powers didn''t fade out even when compared to these corrupted beasts. [Name: Echo] [Race: Echoing Luminark] [Rank: Rare] [Age: 27] [Level: 21] [Strength: 45] [Agility: 60] [Speed: 58] [Stamina: 50] [Defense: 40] [Mana: 75] [Intelligence: 50] [Charisma: 45] [Strengths: Sound Manipulation, Flight Mastery, Echoing Resonance, Enhanced Evasion] [Weaknesses: Energy Drain, Weak Physical Defense] ... Yes, Echo was strong, and when someone like him focused just on defense, it was extremely difficult to catch him off guard, especially when the only thing the enemy knew in the name of ''tactics'' was to ''chase till the opponent is dead.'' With Echo focused on defense and Kael on offense, the Flyings quickly realized that it was getting dangerous. Their instincts warned them to create distance, so that is what they did, but then, "Echo, go down, we will finish that one." Kael ordered. "Kuuu!!" Echo nodded as he descended. Kael only had one reason to do this. He would use this opportunity to reduce their numbers and buy time so he could use Roar of Dominion again. Only ten seconds were left. By the time they descended, killed the Flying that had crashed onto the building, and got back in the air, he would be able to use it again. Yes, he was planning to spam it against these beasts until every single one of them was dead. The skill was just that useful. He would be a fool if he didn''t use it. A stain to the cultured. "Kuuu!!" While Kael was lost in his thoughts, Echo''s call alerted him, they were about to descend, Kael quickly prepared and the moment he got close enough, Stab He stabbed his sword right through the Beast''s body, ending it in one swift move. [CE: +449] "SCREEECHHH!!!!" The rest of the Flying followed them, Echo, however, moved swiftly, ascending back in the air, and then, "ROOOAAAAAAARRRRR!!" Kael roared again. The Flying froze but then suddenly, "SCREEECCHHH!!" Kael saw four more Beast rushing towards them. "Fuck." He cursed out loud, then without wasting any time, "Echo, now!" He ordered, Echo dashed forward and just like before, Kael quickly beheaded the two beasts affected by his roar and prepared to face four more. Another round of aerial battle started. Yes, Kael and Echo''s duo had managed to gather almost all of the enemy Aggro, as for the Flyings that were focused on the soldiers, well they had another problem to deal with. Aria''s Bond, Drak, the Swamp Drake. [Name: Drak] [Race: Swamp Drake] [Rank: Rare] [Age: 26 Years] [Level: 22] [Strength: 60] [Agility: 40] [Speed: 35] [Stamina: 60] [Defense: 55] [Mana: 45] [Intelligence: 37] [Charisma: 25] [Strengths: Earth Mastery, Poisonous Breath, Melee Power] [Weaknesses: Slow Movement, Low Evasion] ¡­ Yes, none of the beasts on Kael''s side were weak, especially when they were together with Kael, whose strengthened their morale. But suddenly, something happened. "Kuuu!!" Echo, who was swiftly dodging the incoming attacks started descending. "Echo? What''s wron-" Kael wanted to question, finding his behaviour odd, but before he could even complete, Echo, who thought it was now safe enough, flipped over and this time, Kael fell. Yes, Echo threw Kael from his back and hurried away. "Echo!! What are you doin- Aaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!" "Kuuuu!!!" Instead of answering, however, Echo simply dashed away. Chapter 67 Hero Kael, we were attacked by seven Flyings, Sarah is hurt. "Echo!! What are you doin- Aaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!" Kael screamed before he quickly adjusted his body in the air and landed on a building''s rooftop in a superhero pose, But then, "Fuck! I knew this was impractical." He cursed out loud as he stood up, his knee limping painfully. He took a deep breath, getting used to the pain. He turned towards Echo to see where he was going but, he soon realized he had another much more important problem to deal with. "Screeech!!!" He was surrounded. "Fuck¡­" He cursed. Four Flyings were right in front of him, staring at him menacingly, ready to attack. Kael glanced back and saw the soldiers who were a little over 700 meters away from him. In the end, he made a decision. [Skill: Roar of Dominion] S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "RROOOOOOAAAAARRRRRRR!!!" He activated his skill, but this time, instead of attacking the frozen beasts, Kael used this moment to run away and regroup with the soldiers. ''Tsk.'' He snorted in his head. To use this Skill as a way to escape¡­ He now needed to wait for a minute to be able to use it again and in such battles¡­ a minute could be very decisive. ''What was he doing!?'' Kael was angry. But then, "Hero Kael, we were attacked by seven Flyings, Sarah is hurt." Kael heard Lyra''s voice. She was using Echo to transmit her voice from the Eastern Forest all the way to Kael. "What!?" Kael widened his eyes in surprise. Why? Tobias clearly told him that the Flying only attacked the humans who were inside the town. Many soldiers had saved themselves from getting attacked by the Flying just by being outside the town in the previous attacks. Heck, even the group of soldiers who ran away last time only dared to do it because they knew the Flying wouldn''t attack them. Then why¡­ And as if knowing what Kael was thinking, Lyra continued. "We still are not sure why it happened. The Town Head says that his assumption was wrong. He made a mistake. It isn''t that the Flying do not attack humans outside the town, they just never had a reason to do it before. All this time, the Flying always had closer targets inside the city, so they never bothered with humans outside the settlement, but today, since we killed all the Agiles here, we became an open target." Kael would have considered this theory. For now, however, he didn''t have time to think such things through. As if thinking the same, Lyra reported. "Since we were unable to regroup in time, we weren''t able to react in time. We have suffered five casualties¡ªtwo militia members, three from the emergency unit. Seven others are injured. The injured soldiers¡­ some of them won''t make it without immediate help. They''re bleeding out. One of them¡­" There was some hesitation in her voice before she continued, "He lost his arm to a talon strike. He''s barely hanging on." Kael felt a lump in his throat, his expression turned even grimmer, and Lyra continued. "The good news is that the situation is under control now. Because of Sarah, we were able to regroup. Sarah, however, is unconscious and requires urgent healing, so Echo will take her to Aria. The rest of us will still require an hour to get there. As for the Flyings here, please leave them to us." After those words, Lyra stopped speaking. "¡­" Kael turned silent. There were many things going on in his mind. ''When you lead, you must learn to live with the deaths of those who follow you.'' Marshal Therian''s words echoed in his head. His body trembled. For now, however, he continued to run and joined his soldiers who were facing five other Flyings. He stared at the Flying who had come down, trying to tear an injured soldier apart with its talon, and without wasting any time, his Magic Circles appeared in front of his palm and a 2-meter-long Flaming Spear was formed. Whoosh The Spear rushed forward, instantly piercing through the Flying''s body. "SCRREEEECHHH!!!" It screeched in pain, its body fell on the ground, and using this chance, the soldiers pounced on it and pierced its body with their swords. This time, since Kael wasn''t the one who got the last attack, he didn''t get any CE. He, however, didn''t care and rushed towards the rest of the Flying, targeting them all with his Flaming Spear. "Soldiers! Follow my lead! Finish them after I attack. We need to reduce their numbers!" He ordered as another Flaming Spear appeared above him. The Flaming Spear was one of the strongest Second Circle Spells Elira had taught him, an attack with piercing power that almost rivalled a Third Circle Spell. All this while, the only reason he wasn''t using this spell was because he wanted to save his Mana. But now¡­ He decided to change the plan. There were too many of them. He needed to get rid of them as soon as possible in order to avoid more deaths. Even if he ran out of Mana in the process. Whoosh "NOW!" Kael shouted as the Spear pierced through another Flying. Whoosh Then another. Whoosh And then another. Within the minute, Kael and the soldiers killed three more Flyings, out of which, Kael only got one kill. [CE: +449] Just as Kael was about to conjure another Flaming Spear, he felt a sharp headache. ''Fuck¡­'' He cursed. His Mana was depleted. Helpless, he could only get near Drak to shield himself from all the Aggro he had pulled while the rest of the soldiers continued their attacks. Of course, this didn''t mean Kael was done. He still had his Skill he could spam. "RROOOOOAAAAAARRRRR!!!" Once again, the Flying froze. "Move! Move!" Kael shouted. Again, he wasn''t using the Roar of Dominion as a means of attack. The soldiers were already injured, and these Flyings were too fast. Their ability to fly made it much more difficult to engage them directly. Almost none of the soldiers had the proper means to attack them mid-air. Engaging in the battle would only increase the number of casualties, so Kael was using the time he got from Roar of Dominion to continuously increase the distance between them and the Flyings. He couldn''t afford any more deaths. "Do not slow down! The Flying are far away! Focus on moving! Speed up!" Kael shouted, passing down the orders. "Lord Kael." Then, he heard a voice. It was Aria. "Sarah is with me, and she is safe." She delivered the good news. And this wasn''t the only good news she delivered. "Echo will now be returning to you." Chapter 68 A Bonds Love. "Sarah is with me and she is safe. Echo will now be returning to you." The instant Kael heard those words, a smile appeared on his face. As six seconds passed and the Beasts started moving again, Kael gave another order. "Focus on defense, Do not engage." There were only six Flying left, he just needed to wait a few more seconds and once Echo was here, taking on these six wouldn''t be a problem. "Yes, Hero Kael!" The soldiers nodded. Kael continued to run as he waited for Echo and then, "Kuuu!!" He heard a voice. Echo was here. His smile widened as he sped up and rushed towards Echo. The Bond descended and Kael jumped on top of him. "Kuu¡­" Echo let out a weak voice. He felt guilty. He abandoned Kael in the middle of the battle, putting him in danger. He didn''t know how to react but suddenly, Kael placed his head on Echo''s head and, "You did well." He spoke in an extremely gentle tone. "I am glad Sarah has someone like you protecting her." "Kuuu!!" Echo let out a loud voice. It was as if he was saying, ''I will always protect her!'' "Mhm, I know I can trust you." Kael nodded as he gently rubbed Echo''s fur. The Echoing Luminark purred. "Alright, now let''s get rid of them, shall we?" Kael questioned. "Kuuu!!" Echo cheered, roaring to get his revenge and then, "Now, run away!" Kael ordered. "Kuu¡­?" Echo looked back as he glanced at Kael with what seemed like a dubious look on his face. ''Are you fucking with me?'' That was what the Luminark was trying to say, or at least that''s how Kael interpreted that look. "Do what I say." Kael nodded reassuringly and Echo turned around, distancing them from the Flying. Four Flying followed them. ''Alright.'' Kael nodded inwardly. With this, the soldiers only had to worry about the two of them. It was a number they should be able to handle together with their bonds. Lyra said the situation was under control on the Eastern side. Kael decided to take her word for it and trust her. Now, he could move freely. "Move to the North, we need to separate them from the rest." Kael ordered and Echo did as he was told. Then, Kael suddenly leaned forward and, "I''ll be leaving my defense on you, Echo." "Kuuuuu!!!" Echo nodded confidently, and then, Kael closed his eyes. Darkness enveloped him but soon, his surroundings were filled with ember sparks that shimmered almost blindingly. Yes, this man was planning to meditate and refill his Mana Reserves while he was sitting on top of a Magic Beast who was flying at the speed of 250 km/h and had four corrupted beasts chasing him. If Elira heard what he was doing, the Court Mage would have lost her mind. For now, however, Kael didn''t have the time to think through such matters. His focus was on the Fire Elements that surrounded him. Because of his chaotic surroundings, these Fire Elements weren''t as calm as they normally were. It was much more difficult to control them. For the first few minutes, Kael couldn''t do it. There were too many factors that were making it difficult for him to focus. It wasn''t just his chaotic surroundings, The death of those soldiers, Sarah''s condition, the injured soldiers, and how he could have changed everything if he hadn''t acted selfishly¡­ All these thoughts made it difficult for him to focus. ''No¡­ I don''t have time.'' Soon, however, Kael shook his head. He could feel it. Echo was getting tired. Why would he not be? The poor thing had been on the move since the start. Once again, he suppressed his emotions and emptied his mind. His focus solely remained on the Fire Elements, and then¡­ It happened. Hundreds of Fire Elements rushed into his body at the same time, filling his Mana Core. Yes, it was difficult to control them at first, but as Kael continued to focus, the process became more and more smooth. He completely left his defenses to Echo, and the Bond did a spectacular job at it. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He wasn''t even in the position to use Roar of Dominion in the middle since he couldn''t keep track of the cooldown time. It was all Echo. The Bond used everything in its arsenal, the sound waves to slow down the enemy and maintain distance, his enhanced senses to evade their attacks before they could harm Kael, sharp turns to further make it difficult for the enemy to get close, until finally, around 15 minutes later, "You did well, Echo." Echo heard Kael''s voice. "Kuu!!" Echo nodded desperately, his breathing was heavy, his heart was pumping blood aggressively, he was extremely tired and Kael understood it. He needed to end this quickly. "Alright, Echo, the same tactic." "Kuu!" Echo turned around, looking at the Beasts following him, and then, "RRROOOOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!" Kael roared again and the Flying froze. Echo quickly dashed towards the strongest of all the Flying that had been following them for a long time now, and Kael, using Draconic Strike to increase his strength, tore the beast into pieces using his claw. He used the same tactic of using Flaming Chains to pull another beast towards him while he killed another Flying that Echo had gotten closer to. Then, he dealt with the beast the Flaming Chains had brought him. [CE: +532] [CE: +475] [CE: +488] Three Flyings fell down in six seconds. ''Tsk, just my luck.'' Kael snorted in his head as he stared at the screen in front of him. [CE: 2989/3000] ''To think it would fall short by 11 points.'' Kael complained in his head. "SCREEECCHHH!!!" At the same time, the last remaining Flying screeched as it stared at Kael and Echo. Then, it turned around and ran away. Well, it tried to, Kael, however, had already recovered his Mana. Pierce A Flaming Spear pierced through this Beast''s body and its body spiraled onto the ground. Echo descended and got close to it and Kael beheaded it. Slash [CE: +435] [Ding!] [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 19 -> 20] [CE: 412/3400] [Talent: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] [Strength: 46 -> 52] [Agility: 47 -> 53] [Speed: 44 -> 50] [Stamina: 47 -> 53] [Defence: 49 -> 55] [Mana: 57 -> 63] [Intelligence: 45 -> 51] [Charisma: 44 -> 50] ¡­ Kael levelled up. "Kuuu!!!" Echo screeched victoriously and Kael patted his head as he jumped down from his back. "Rest for a while." He spoke, worried about Echo, but, "Kuu!!" Echo shook his head as he signalled Kael to climb up. "Huh? Weren''t you tired?" Kael frowned. "Kuu!" Echo shook his head and soon, Kael realized what he wanted. "You want to be close to Sarah, huh?" "Kuu¡­" Echo nodded weakly, he knew he wasn''t supposed to go against Kael''s orders but¡­ He was worried. Kael smiled as he gently rubbed Echo''s fur. Then, he climbed up and, "No need to act like this, you were the bravest today. Let''s go see how Sarah is doing, shall we?" "Kuu!" Flap Echo nodded as he flapped his wing, soaring into the sky. Despite being extremely exhausted, despite his heart racing aggressively and muscles aching, the Luminark didn''t slow down, he wanted to get to his friend as soon as possible regardless of his own condition. That was simply how much he loved her. Chapter 69 [Skill: Draconic Surge] "Hero Kael! Echo!" Sarah exclaimed as Kael and Echo walked into the room she was in. "Kuuu!!" Echo instantly dashed towards her and rubbed his head with hers. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Echo!" Sarah called out again as she hugged her Bond. In an instant, her exhaustion faded away as the Luminark got closer. Echo wasn''t any different either. Now that he was next to his Sarah, he closed his eyes and quickly entered dreamland. Yes, he was that exhausted. And Sarah, who could sense that, gently pulled him into her embrace, making sure he was comfortable. "He missed you." Kael commented with a light smile on his face as he sat in the corner of the bed Sarah was resting on. "He didn''t create trouble for you, did he?" Sarah questioned as she glanced at Kael. Of course, she didn''t stop rubbing Echo''s fur¡ªshe knew Echo slept well whenever she did it. "Trouble? He is the reason I am alive." Kael smiled as he glanced at Echo. Sarah, who saw his smile, stared at Kael''s face for a little longer. Then, a beautiful smile appeared on her face and, "I am glad." She spoke. "Are you okay¡­?" Kael questioned with a guilty look on his face. "Hmm? Of course. Aria is an excellent Healer." Sarah answered with a bright smile on her face. "I am as good as new!" She exclaimed as she patted her bicep jokingly. "You wouldn''t be on the bed if you weren''t hurt." "Bah! That''s on Aria, she is too overprotective! She thinks she is my mother. I am the oldest amongst the three of us, you know?" "You are the first woman I know who willingly tells everyone how old she is." Kael chuckled. "T-That is not what I am saying!! I am not that old! I am still young, very young! Also, the difference between the three of us isn''t that big anyway! Just a few days." She quickly defended herself. Of course, despite being flustered, she kept her voice down since Echo was sleeping. "¡­" Kael stared at the woman in silence. ''¡­Should I tell her I can see her age?'' He wondered in his head. Soon, however, he shook his head, deciding against the idea. Misunderstanding Kael''s silence, Sarah overexplained with a flushed face. "W-What I am trying to say is that I am not that hurt. I am fine. It is Aria who is keeping me here by force." "She let the other soldiers go, though." Kael commented. Yes, he was teasing her. Her reactions were amusing. "Exactly! That''s what I am saying. She is still keeping me here! It is so unfair." Sarah complained. "Well, you are doing the most important thing from here." Kael smiled as he looked at the rune on Sarah''s forehead. Yes, even when she was injured, the archer was looking over the entire battlefield just to be sure that nothing unexpected happened. "This is what I am supposed to do¡­" Sarah answered as she lowered her eyes, secretly stealing a few glances at Kael. ''I am also doing this to make sure your first mission is a complete success.'' Of course, she didn''t say those words out loud. "What about them? Are they alright?" Kael questioned in a solemn tone. Sarah, knowing who Kael was talking about, nodded, and her tone deepened. "Yes. They have taken six down and have surrounded the last one. It should be over soon." "Any casualties?" "None after they regrouped. Lyra is with them. With her Bonds who specialize in defense, it is very difficult for the Flying to attack them, and since most of them are archers, they have an easier time attacking the flying beasts because of their weak defense. Since all the soldiers who were in critical condition here are healed, Aria is on her way to the forest. With a Healer there, things should be even simpler." "¡­" Kael nodded silently. Sarah, who saw his expression, called out, "Hero Kael." Kael turned towards her, and the archer continued, "It was not your fault." Sarah commented. She could see it¡ªKael was blaming himself for those deaths. And that was not acceptable. "You did not know. You came up with a plan. A plan that, if the information we had been given was accurate, we would be victorious without a single death. A plan that could have saved every life. And even now, when the information provided to us turned out to be wrong, your plan was so well put together that it still saved the town. Do you realize what that means?" Kael stared at Sarah, and she continued, "Hero Kael, you took a hopeless, doomed situation and turned it into a victory. You saved everyone. Yes, those deaths were tragic, and no words can ever fill the void they''ve left behind. But Hero Kael¡­" Sarah called out, her eyes still on Kael. "You didn''t fail." She spoke, her eyes shining with an intensity Kael had never seen before. "You fought for those people. You saved hundreds of lives. You saved families. You won." Those words echoed inside Kael''s mind, and he clenched his fists. Feeling how his strength had risen after he leveled up, countless thoughts he had been suppressing all this while rushed into his mind. "Yeah¡­ We won¡­" He muttered as he smiled at Sarah. Then, he glanced at the new skill he got after reaching level 20. [Skill: Draconic Surge] [Description:] [Harnessing the power of dragons, Kael temporarily gains incredible speed and agility, allowing him to outmaneuver enemies and strike with unmatched precision.] [Effect:] [Speed Boost: Increases movement speed by 70% and attack speed by 50%.] [Enhanced Reflexes: Improves reaction time and evasion, increasing dodge rate by 40%.] [Momentum Strike: While Draconic Surge is active, the first melee attack after moving at least 5 meters deals an additional 25% damage, knocking back weaker enemies.] [Duration: 8 seconds] [Cooldown: 1 minute] ¡­ "We did." Sarah smiled back. Kael nodded back. Then, he stood up and, "You should rest now. I will not bother you any more than I already have." He spoke in a gentle tone. "Okay¡­" Sarah nodded, and once Kael walked out, she lowered her head in a pout. "But you weren''t bothering me though¡­" Chapter 70 Woman, I am not dying today. Knock Knock While Kael was meditating in a room, a soft knock at the door grabbed his attention. "Hero Kael." It was Sarah. "Sarah? Please, come in." The door creaked open, and Sarah walked inside. "They''re here," She said as she glanced at Kael. "The soldiers have returned from the forest." "Then we should go meet them, shouldn''t we?" Kael stood up with a smile. "Yes. We should." Sarah smiled back as she nodded. She led him outside, and the moment they walked outside the house¡ª "HERO KAEL!!!" Kael flinched as he stepped into the sea of cheering townsfolk. The entire town had gathered, their faces lit with joy and relief. Women and children who had been hidden underground during the attack were now standing before him, tears streaming down their faces¡ªnot from sorrow, but from overwhelming gratitude. "ALL HAIL HERO KAEL!!!" "ALL HAIL HERO KAEL!!!" The cheers grew louder, reverberating throughout the town. Men pounded their chests in salute, children waved their tiny hands in excitement, and the elderly clasped their hands together, whispering blessings. The soldiers who had fought alongside him stood at the front, their expressions filled with respect, admiration, and¡­ fanaticism. "..." Kael froze, his mind unable to process the sheer weight of the moment. He had expected a quiet reunion, perhaps a debriefing about the battle. But¡­ this. Suddenly, Sarah stepped in front of him with a victorious grin on her face. "You didn''t believe me when I said you saved them, did you?" She chuckled. "I¡­" Kael opened his mouth, but no words came out. "Hero Kael!" Then suddenly, An adorable girl rushed towards him, and before he could react, she hugged his leg. It was Selina. Behind her stood her grandfather, who had guided the girl to him. "Hero Kael! I can hear it again! I can hear the laughter! Your magic worked!" Little Selina exclaimed, the girl, however, wasn''t done there. "I told everyone that you would do it! They didn''t believe me, but I made everyone pray diligently because you said you needed our help for the magic to work. Did I do well?" "Yes, you did an amazing job, Selina." Kael knelt down and hugged the girl. His heart felt a strange sense of ease when he did that. "Yay! I helped the Hero!" Selina exclaimed as she hugged him as tightly as she could. Tobias had a complex smile on his face when he saw the sight in front of him, his face reflecting countless emotions at the same time. Kael stood up with Selina in his arms. He glanced at Sarah, who was watching him with knowing eyes, and he smiled back. ''Thank you.'' He mouthed the words, and Sarah''s face brightened. Then, Kael turned towards the rest of the people, "People of Estwyn." He called out, and the cheers slowly died down. Everyone wanted to listen to the Hero. "The victory today was not mine alone. It was our victory. Every soldier who fought, every person wh¡ª" "Hero Kael." Before Kael could continue, Sarah interrupted, her tone solemn. "Sarah?" When Kael turned towards her, Sarah closed her eyes, connecting her vision with Eye''s, who had warned her. "Something is approaching." Sarah spoke. "What?" Kael walked towards Sarah and questioned. Sarah kept her eyes closed, watching the vision through her Bond''s eyes. "It¡­ seems to be flying¡­ But it''s different. It''s fast¡­ much faster than anything we saw here¡­" Sarah then opened her eyes and stared at Kael. "Hero Kael¡­" She called out, her body trembling. "Eye¡­ she is¡­ Scared¡­ That thing is much more powerful than anything we have faced, and it is coming right at us." "Okay, cal¡ª" Kael tried to calm Sarah down, but suddenly, ''Guuu.'' He heard a voice in his head, and his expression changed. "Call Echo." He ordered with a solemn look on his face. "O-Okay." Sarah was taken aback by his sudden change. She, however, didn''t make Kael wait, and the space around her cracked. "Connect with Eye. If she notices any changes, you tell me, is that clear?" "Yes." Sarah nodded with a determined look on her face. In an instant, the atmosphere in the area changed as everyone turned silent. "Alright, come with me." "Huh? O-Okay, where are we goi¡ª" Before Sarah could ask any questions, Kael grabbed her, lifted her like a princess, and then, [Skill: Draconic Surge] With Sarah in his arms, Kael dashed forward at a ridiculous pace. "Aaaahhhhhhh!!" Sarah screamed, taken aback by the sudden movement, but then, "Calm down." She heard Kael''s voice. Only then did she realize that she was in the Hero''s arms and¡­ extremely close to his well-built chest... And¡­ the Hero also smelled good¡­ "Tell me what you see." Sarah was brought out of her reverie when Kael asked a question. "W-Wait a minute." She stuttered as she quickly connected with Eye, and suddenly, her expression changed. "I-its direction changed¡­" "¡­" Kael didn''t say anything. He continued to run. "Is it still changing?" He questioned. "Y-Yes." Sarah nodded, and Kael paused. "What about now?" He questioned, and Sarah''s tone changed¡­ "It''s¡­ not changing anymore¡­" The archer then opened her eyes. She knew what this meant. With a worried look on her face, she stared at Kael, and, "Hero Kae¡ª" "Sarah, listen to me." Before the archer could complete, Kael put her down. "Hero Kael! If we all fight togeth¡ª" Sarah didn''t listen and continued, but, "Sarah." Kael raised his voice. Then, he looked right into the archer''s eyes and, "I will be fine." He spoke in a convincing tone. Then, he passed down the orders, "You are to take all the villagers through the Western Bridge, now." "But Her¡ª" "Sarah, that is an order." Kael spoke, his tone leaving no space for defiance. "Y-Yes." Sarah bit her lip. "Go back, now. Use Echo to alert everyone and keep giving me updates on that Beast''s movements till you can, is that clear?" "Yes¡­" "And do not let Eye get close to me, it might attract the Beast''s attention and make it difficult for me." "I-I understand¡­" Kael nodded, and then, he ran away and Sarah noticed the Monster''s direction changing again. "Hero Kael!" Sarah called out before Kael could leave her vision. He turned around, and in a weak voice, Sarah muttered, "Please return¡­" Kael, however, just laughed out loud. "Woman, I am not dying today." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 71 Oh boy, you will regret that. "You let him go ALONE?!" Aria shouted as she stormed towards Sarah, grabbing her shoulders in anger. "What were you thinking!? You knew that Beast was only targeting him, you knew how strong that thing was, and you STILL let him go?!" "I- He ordered me t-" "We were supposed to have his back! Even if that meant dying together with him, that was our mission! How dare you run back here while he''s out there risking his life?!" Sarah flinched at those words. But then, "Aria." Lyra called out, her tone strict. "Orders were given. As subordinates, we must follow orders, Whether those orders send us to our deaths or¡­ force us away from it. We follow." Lyra spoke, and hearing her words, Aria turned silent. "You should know she would want to fight by his side most out of all of us, but the Hero''s orders are absolute. I will not let anyone disrespect him by disobeying his orders, even if it is you." Lyra spoke as she looked into Aria''s eyes. Then, she glanced at the worried townsfolk and, "He wants us to protect the people, That is what we will do." Sarah and Aria stared at Lyra, the archer stared back. "Then, we pray for him to return safel-" "SCREEEEEEECCHHHHH!!!!" Before Lyra could complete her sentence, everyone heard a screech. A screech that shook their very beings. They turned around, and the Tamers'' enhanced vision could finally see it¡ªthat giant creature, with wings spread wide, coming from the south. The Tamers'' bodies shook as they saw it, especially Tobias''s. He tightened his hold around Selina who was in his arms. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? RUN!!!" Suddenly, Lyra shouted. "TO THE WESTERN BRIDGE!" She pointed, and Bonds were summoned. The townsfolk quickly rushed towards the western gate, distancing themselves from the Beast''s line of direction, while Sarah continued to update Kael through Echo. Within a minute, the giant creature, which was at the southern end of the town, closed the distance, flying right past them as if it didn''t care about them at all. It was only for a slight second, but the people saw it. A massive 2-meter-tall bird with a 6-meter wingspan. Dark purple, withered feathers with streaks of dark violet lightning crackling along its wings. Its eyes were piercing red, exuding wrath and power. WHOOOOSH A gust of wind ripped through the town, sending dust and debris flying. And then¡ª "SCREEEEEEECCHHHHH!!!!" THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER A deafening, monstrous screech filled the air. A sound so full of rage and malice that even the bravest of soldiers felt their blood run cold. "T-The H-Hero will¡­ face that¡­?" A soldier couldn''t help but question, as he saw its shadow streaking across the sky, his voice full of disbelief. Yes, the Hero was strong. Heck, he had fought the Brutes together with him. He, out of most people here, knew the Hero''s strength the best and¡­ He knew the Hero was no match for this monster. Then, a thought appeared in his mind, ''W-Will it come for us after it deals with the Hero¡­? Or would it return once it kills the Hero?'' His blood ran cold. In his heart, the soldier hoped it was the latter. "What are you stopping there for!? Continue running!" Suddenly, Lyra shouted. The townsfolk stared at her, and Lyra screamed in rage, full of annoyance and frustration, "What!? Do you want to be food for that thing!? Run or I''ll throw you all towards it myself!" The woman ordered, and the townsfolk ran with all their might. "Grandpa¡­" Selina, who was in Tobias''s arms, called out. Tobias, however, shook his head and spoke with a guilty look on his face. "Everything will be fine, Selina. Everything will be fine. Trust your grandpa, he will do everything to protect you." He hugged the girl tightly. Selina tightly held her grandpa''s shirt. She could hear his heightened heartbeat, but the little girl decided to stay silent. She really was too wise for her age. ¡­ On the other side, Kael, who had barely made it out of the town, stared at the Beast that was following him. "That thing is too fast." He complained as once again, [Dragon Surge] He activated his skill and dashed forward. This time, since he was in an open field, nothing stopped him. "SCREEEEEEECCHHHHH!!!!" Thirty seconds later, the Beast closed the distance. Now, it was flying right behind Kael, ready to rip him apart with its lightning. Kael''s face contorted, and then, "RRROOOOOAAAAAAAARRRR!!!" He roared. [Roar of Dominion] S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, this time, the Roar wasn''t as effective as it usually was against the corrupted beasts. "SCREEEEEEECCHHHHH!!!!" The Beast screeched as it slowed down, but it didn''t stop following him. Kael turned towards it for a moment, his eyes turned golden and its information appeared in front of him. [Name: Laughter] [Race: Stormveil Roc] [Rank: Common] [Age: 57] [State: Corrupted] [Level: 26] [Strength: 65 (90)] [Agility: 50 (80)] [Speed: 55 (85)] [Stamina: 60 (85)] [Defense: 58 (82)] [Mana: 60 (60)] [Intelligence: 50 (3)] [Charisma: 35 (-)] [Strengths: Aerial Dominance, Razor Claws, Corrupted Lightning] [Weaknesses: Fragile on the Ground, Low Intelligence, Vulnerable to Magic] ¡­ "What in the fucking hell is that thing!? No wonder Roar of Dominion isn''t working!" Kael cursed out loud as he continued to run. Its stats were nearly twice as high as his. It was so strong that even if Kael could use Dragon Surge endlessly, he still wouldn''t be able to outrun it. Of course, the Roar of Dominion had still slowed it down to some extent. Kael used this opportunity to sprint as quickly as he could. He tried to use trees to cover himself and gain some time. The Beast, however, continued to disintegrate all the trees that came in its way with its lightning. In the end, when Kael realized that he couldn''t run anymore, he jumped into an open field in front of him and stopped. "Haaahh¡­ Haaahh¡­ Haaahh¡­" His breathing was ragged, his chest tight. "SCREEEEEEECCHHHHH!!!!" The Beast screeched as it circled around the open field Kael stood in. ''Is it playing with its prey?'' Kael wondered. ''It certainly doesn''t have enough intelligence to do it. Or is it in its instincts¡­?'' "Alright¡­ haaa¡­ You got me¡­ I cannot run anymore¡­" Kael spoke, his voice full of breath as he placed his hands on his knees, as sweat rolled down his chin. His legs were in pain, trembling without stop, let alone running, even taking a step further seemed impossible, he had indeed pushed himself to the limit today. "Haaaahhh...." The Beast stared at him with its crimson eyes. Kael, who saw that, should have been scared, after all, he couldn''t run away anymore. But¡­ "You know¡­" Suddenly, Kael started, "People in the Royal Palace often wondered whether I am more suited to be a Warrior or a Mage¡­ But¡­ My talent was never related to any of those." Kael''s grin widened as the Beast descended right in front of him in an intimidating manner. "Oh boy, you will regret that." Kael chuckled, and suddenly, "Let me show you what my talent actually is, Igni." He called out, and the space around him trembled. ¡­ *Picture of the corrupted Beast* Chapter 72 Lets play around, shall we? "Oh boy, you would regret that." Kael laughed out loud, and then, "Igni." The space around him cracked. A red snout pushed through, and a majestic, now full-meter-tall creature flew out. "Kyu!" Igni laughed in delight as he quickly jumped on top of Kael. Kael tried to hold him. The little dragon, however, had now grown up and was much heavier than before. The Hero slipped, and Igni started licking Kael''s face, showing the same joy and love he showed when he first saw Kael. "Hahaha! Igni¡ªstop¡ª! That tickles¡ª!" Kael laughed out loud, trying to protect himself from Igni''s relentless attacks, but he couldn''t. Little Igni was very strong. "Igni-! The enemy- Stop! Hahaha!" The Hero warned, and at his warning, Igni stopped. The dragon''s large ember eyes finally landed on the terrifying creature that stood in front of him, staring at them with its menacing crimson eyes, lightning crackling violently around its deformed wings. "¡­" Igni blinked as he stared at the Beast in silence. Kael was silent as well, curious to see what Igni would do. But then, "Kyu!" The dragon completely ignored the ''thing'' in front of him and started licking Kael again. The ticklish feeling made Kael laugh again. "Hahahaha! Igni!" "¡­" The corrupted Roc stared at the scene in front of it in silence. No, it was not silent. It was frozen. These beasts had no intelligence. No emotions. No hesitation. In theory, they should not feel fear. But¡­ What if that fear was etched into the very core of their beings¡­? A Common Ranked Beast standing in the presence of a Mythical Rank Predator¡ªeven in its corrupted, mindless state¡ªits very instincts warned it to run as far as possible and never come back. The corrupted Roc, however, could not do that. As it stared at the Hero, a voice told it to tear him into pieces and endless rage took over its mind, suppressing even its fear. "Kyu!" Igni laughed as he continued to lick Kael, then suddenly, "SSCCRREEEEEEEEEEECCCHHHH!!!" THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER The beast screeched in rage and gathered dense thunder around it. The gathered thunder surged towards Kael, prepared to disintegrate him into nothingness, but before something could happen¡ª Flicker A wall of dense flame materialized in front of Kael and Igni. The lightning struck the wall, only to be swallowed whole. The wall of flames quickly enveloped the lightning, and then, it disappeared out of existence, together with the lightning. "¡­" "¡­" Silence fell over the field. Let alone the Roc, even Kael himself was taken aback. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER The Roc, unwilling to accept what happened, tried again. This time, the lightning it gathered was even denser than before, but, Flicker The flames materialized again, this time, however, they did not defend. They attacked. The fire wrapped around the Roc and the lightning it summoned like living chains, coiling up around its legs, its wings, its throat. "SCREEEEEC¡ª" The Roc screeched and thrashed. Trying to resist with all its might, it tried to fly in the air and generate powerful gusts of wind using its wings to deal with the flames, but¡­ The flames simply covered its entire body and¡­ Flicker Disappeared out of existence. Yes, the terrifying Stormveil Roc was no more. Just like that. There was no explosion. No ashes. No trace of what once stood there. And the one responsible for it¡­ "Kyu!" He was busy licking Kael''s face, not even bothering to see how it ended. ''Holy...'' Kael, on the other hand, could only stare at the little guy in front of him in utter disbelief. "Igni¡­ how¡­" The Stormveil Roc was strong, you know¡­? Yes, Kael knew Igni was strong, extremely strong. Heck, he had seen the little thing''s growth with his own eyes. Why do you think he was always humble despite his absurd growth? Because this little thing was right next to him, prepared to humble him every time he needed it. Kael and Igni''s relationship was different from others. Unlike how other humans in this world grew as their beast grew, Kael and Igni''s relationship seemed the opposite. Igni grew together with Kael. Every time Kael leveled up, so did Igni, and¡­ since little Igni was a Mythical Rank Beast, every time he leveled up, his stats rose at an absurd rate. Even now, while Kael was happy when he saw his stats rise, when he stared at Igni¡ª [Name: Igni] [Race: Fire Dragon] [Rank: Mythical] [Age: 17 Days] [Level: 20] [Strength: 84] [Agility: 72] [Speed: 77] [Stamina: 98] [Defense: 88] [Mana: 110] [Intelligence: 82] [Charisma: 115] [Strengths: Physical Power, Dragon Magic, Resilience, Early Flight Capability] [Weaknesses: Inexperience, Energy Dependency, Immature Flight Skills] ¡­ Kael couldn''t help but smile wryly. "I can never surpass you, can I?" "Kyu!" Igni laughed as he finally stopped licking Kael and backed away, waiting for Kael to stand up. Kael stood up with Igni in his arms. Even if the little guy had grown up, he still wouldn''t let Kael go. Igni would remain in Kael''s arms as long as it was physically possible. "Ahh, why are you growing up¡­" Kael muttered with a weak smile as he tightened his hug. The moment he did that, it seemed like everything that had been weighing him down all this while disappeared. Soldiers died? People were hurt? As long as Igni was safe, it didn''t matter. Yes, Kael''s selfish side was taking over. From the start, he had always been selfish. He never cared about anyone other than himself. After all, he grew up all alone, without anyone''s help. He got what he got because of his own hard work, so why should he care about others? Yes, he helped others, but it was never at the cost of himself. And now¡­ The lonely Kael, who never cared about anyone else, had found Igni. A creature who completely changed the way he saw the world. Yes, he was selfish, even now. His selfishness, however, was now directed at Igni and... It had now become even stronger. As long as Igni was safe¡­ Even if he had to risk everything he had for that, he would do it without question. Save the world? If it is to protect Igni, He would save it. He would NEVER let that vision turn into reality. Kael thought inwardly as the picture of dead Igni appeared in his mind, but it was quickly replaced by cheerful Igni, who was currently in his arms, and his smile widened. "We have quite a lot of time on our hands now." Kael commented as he looked around. Then, he turned towards Igni and¡ª "Let''s play around, shall we?" "Kyuuu!!!" Igni''s eyes brightened up. Chapter 73 Little Igni still needed attention. "I-I see him!! I see Hero Kael!!" Sarah shouted. "What!?" Aria stood up in surprise. Sarah opened her eyes, her striking blue eyes shimmering brightly. Yes, Kael had told her not to look for him in the forest, and she wasn''t. She would never go against the Hero''s orders. She was just looking around the perimeter. The townsfolk had formed a camp inside the forest on the other side of the bridge, the sun was about to set, so Sarah was simply keeping an eye on her surroundings to make sure they were safe. She never expected to see Kael. It was a pleasant surprise. "Where is he!?" Aria questioned, her violet eyes excited as well. It wasn''t just her, even Lyra, who would usually be sleeping in such a situation, was awake till now. She didn''t say anything, but the other two women could tell she was worried about the Hero, and with how her sharp green eyes darted towards Sarah when she said those words, their suspicions were confirmed. Yes, within just a few days, Kael had managed to win over all three of them. Sarah stared at the two women in front of her and, with an extremely serious look on her face, "I was the first, so I will be the first to be served, okay?" "What are yo¡ª" Before Lyra could say anything, "Fufufu~ Of course." Aria nodded with a playful smile on her face. Yes, the women had no qualms about sharing. They were like sisters, so wouldn''t it be fine for them to become sisters for real? "So? Where is he?" Aria brought back the more important topic. "He just crossed the bridge and is looking for the trails. It seems like he is trying to find us." Saying those words, Sarah stood up, and with a smile on her face, she continued, "I will go get him." "Oh ho? Look at you, already prepared to shoot your arrow, eh? A true archer indeed." Aria chuckled. Sarah didn''t say anything and, with a flushed face, she walked out of her tent, and Echo came out of her Sanctuary. "Lady Sarah?" The soldier who was on watch duty called out when he saw Sarah coming out. Sarah, however, climbed on top of Echo and, "I''ll be back." Without explaining anything, she flew in the air. "Echo, to the Hero!" "Kuuuuu!!!" Echo nodded as he raised his speed, rushing toward the direction Sarah had pointed at. Even the Luminark was excited to see the Hero again. ¡­ On the other side, Kael, who was tracking the traces left by the townsfolk as they moved, suddenly paused. "They are here?" ''Guu!'' Igni nodded. The Dragon could sense that little ''thing'' his father rode today. And yes, the Dragon was extremely dissatisfied. So much so that even though he was only a meter big, he told Kael to sit on him, and he would take him into the air instead. Kael, of course, denied it. But it took a lot of effort to please Igni after that, and even now, it didn''t look like little Igni was over it. Yes, Igni was a jealous Dragon. His father was only his. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hahaha~" Kael, who could sense Igni''s feelings, laughed out loud. "Yes, Igni, I am only yours." He affirmed those thoughts. Then, "Kuuuuuu!!!!" Kael heard Echo''s voice. He looked up, and he was finally able to spot it¡ªEcho, who was rushing towards him with Sarah on his back. "Hero Kael!!" Sarah waved her hand excitedly. Kael waved back. A few seconds later, Echo landed next to Kael and rubbed his head against Kael''s. Kael gently rubbed Echo''s feathers. In his mind, however, he was busy dealing with someone else. ''No, you cannot burn him, Igni.'' He sighed. The 17-day-old was too toxic. "Hero Kael!" Sarah rushed into Kael''s arms. He hugged her back. "You are back!" Sarah shouted. "I told you, didn''t I? I wasn''t planning on dying today." "What about the beast? What happened to it?" Sarah questioned. She knew Kael was nowhere near strong enough to kill it, even if he was the Hero. "I awakened an ability that helped me hide my presence. I used it to avoid it. I didn''t know where it went afterwards. I moved around for a few hours just to make sure it didn''t have a way to track me down. But it seems like that wasn''t the case since it didn''t come for me." Kael lied right through his teeth. Would his lie work? "I am so glad you awakened that ability!" Of course, it would. Again, he didn''t have to explain anything. He was the Hero. He could say anything, and because of how clueless these people were, they had no choice but to believe it. Kael smiled as he patted Sarah''s head before he distanced himself from her and Echo. He didn''t want the archer to get the wrong idea. Yes, Kael wasn''t dense. He could tell that Sarah had developed feelings for him, and he also knew that she was an amazing woman. Normally, Kael would have made the move. After all, this was exactly what he was looking for all this while. But now¡­ He had other things to worry about. It wasn''t just Igni, but his life as the Hero in general. Kael had too many doubts in his mind, especially after everything that transpired today. Kael''s head was filled with too many doubts, and¡­ the number of people he could trust was¡­ very limited. Yes, even trusting Sarah was difficult for him at this point. In the end, Kael shook his head and stopped thinking about it, it was something he would deal with later. "Shall we return to the camp?" Kael questioned with a smile. "Yes!" Sarah nodded as she quickly climbed on top of Echo, and the two stared at Kael, who climbed up as well. Sarah''s face flushed. She, however, didn''t let that come in her way and, "Echo, up!" She shouted, and, "Kuuuu!!" Echo flew in the air. He moved even faster than normal so that Kael and Sarah would sit close to each other. Sarah, who knew what he was doing, couldn''t help but be happy as she gently rubbed Echo''s feathers. She stole a glance at Kael from the corner of her eye, but the moment she met his gaze, her heart pounded, and she quickly looked away. Normally, Kael would show a reaction to this. Right now, however, Kael was very busy. ''Yes, yes, I know you can fly faster than him, Igni.'' Yes, little Igni still needed attention. Chapter 74 Please Leave. "Hero Kael is back!" Those words spread like wildfire. It had been an extremely long day for the townsfolk. First, their town was attacked by corrupted beasts. Then, an even stronger beast came after them and they were forced out of their town to move to a jungle and camp there. It was one thing after another. So all of them were extremely tired. But despite that, the instant they heard the news, they all rushed out to see the Hero who had saved their town. "Hero Kael!" Little Selina rushed towards Kael again, hugging his legs. Kael knelt down and hugged her back. "Selina." He patted the girl''s back as his eyes fell on her grandfather. "Town Head Tobias, I am back." He nodded at him. "I am glad you are, I really am." Tobias nodded with a big smile on his face. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael''s eyes glimmered as he saw that. He then lifted Selina up as he stood up, by then, the rest of the townsfolk surrounded him as well. "Hero Kael! You are back!" "How did you defeat such a terrifying beast!?" "Why is that even a question? He is the Hero! How can he be defeated by a mere beast that has lost its mind!? The Hero is the strongest!" "Exactly! The Hero is the strongest!!" The townsfolk cheered in excitement. Once again, the Hero had made the impossible possible. The camp erupted with joyful murmurs, but then suddenly, a veteran soldier who had fought for the town for decades stepped forward and glanced at Kael. "Hero Kael, did you really defeat that beast?" The normal townsfolk may not know much, but the veteran was different. He could sense the disparity of strength between Kael and that monster. With his strength, the Hero shouldn''t be able to take that beast down. Of course, despite knowing that, the veteran decided to ask with a hopeful look on his face. After all, the man in front of him was the Hero. The Hero was blessed by Lord Feraos himself. He was supposed to pull miracles like these out of nowhere. Kael, however, crushed the veteran''s hope. "I didn''t. I hid from it until it went away." "You¡­ hid from it¡­?" The veteran blinked. "I had no other option. As you know, it was too strong for me to face." Kael answered, but then¡­ "Then why did you come back¡­?" Kael raised his eyebrow at that question. He knew what the veteran was thinking, so just as he was about to explain, "I¡ª" "That thing was clearly after you!" The veteran shouted. He pointed his trembling fingers at the Hero and, "It flew right past us! Ignoring us like the worms we are! It clearly had no relation with us! It is you it was after! It was your problem to deal with! Then why did you come back!? Won''t the Beast follow you here!? Did you not think of that!? Why are you pulling us into your problem!?" At his sudden outburst, the entire camp turned silent. The initial joy faded away and turned into unease. The townsfolk stared at the Hero with complicated looks on their faces. Some even stared at him with apparent disapproval. Why was he here? Shouldn''t he have tackled the beast on his own since it came here for him? What sort of Hero puts the very people he is supposed to protect in danger? What did they do to be put in a spot like this? These sorts of whispers started all over the town, and Kael, with his enhanced senses, could hear them all loud and clear. "Hero Kael¡­" Selina, who had sensitive ears, heard them as well and turned towards Kael with a worried look on her face. However, before she could complete her words, "Selina, come here." Tobias took her in his arms. Then, the Town Head turned towards the Hero and, "Hero Kael, we will be eternally grateful for what you did today." The old man bowed his head, and at that scene, the people turned silent, looking forward to what the Town Head had to say. "But as you can see, the people are panicking." With a difficult look on his face, Tobias continued. "As shameful as it is, I ask you to leave." "¡­" Kael turned silent. "These people have already lost quite a lot and they are afraid to lose more, especially when the threat that had been haunting them for months is now finally dealt with." Tobias looked right into Kael''s eyes with moist, shameful eyes and, "Please, Hero Kael, for these people and their safety, leave. Return to the Capital." "You want us to travel at night?" Kael raised his eyebrow. After all, everyone knew how dangerous it was. "¡­You can rest in the town if you wish." Tobias pointed in the direction of Estwyn Town, which was about 50 kilometres away from this place. "But please leave first thing in the morning." Tobias requested, and then suddenly, Rumble Rumble Rumble Tobias''s tent, which was just behind them, fell as the ground beneath it shook, surprising not just the townsfolk, but even Kael. "So you are telling us¡­" Aria began as she stared right into Tobias''s eyes. Right now, there were no traces of her usual playfulness on her face. "That you are going to stay at the camp WE set up, while we travel through the jungle and go to a town that is 50 kilometres away from here?" "I¡ª" Before Tobias could answer, one man stepped forward and, "I set up my own tent for my family! You didn''t do anything!" "Is that so¡­?" Aria turned towards that man and tilted her head. Then, she raised her hand and, Rumble Rumble Rumble The earth shook. Drak, the Swamp Drake, had moved, turning the ground beneath into a swamp. Panic spread all over the place. "What are you doi¡ª" Before the townsfolk could continue, Lyra''s Bonds moved, forming earth spikes that destroyed all the camps that were formed. And as if that wasn''t enough, Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh Echo and Eye created a gust of wind with their wings, and all the canvases that formed the tents flew away, completely eradicating the camp. Aria then stared at the same man and her violet eyes glimmered intensely. "Why don''t you try setting up your tent again?" Chapter 75 This is how the world is. "Why don''t you try setting up your tent again?" Aria''s voice was filled with cold fury as her violet eyes glowed intensely. "Y-Y-You!!" The man who had spoken earlier stumbled back, his trembling finger pointing at her. "Are you looking for a fight!?" He shouted. "And what if we are?" Aria questioned back, and as if to support their friend, both Sarah and Lyra pulled the strings of their bows, their arrows pointing at the townsfolk they once protected. The soldiers grabbed the hilts of their swords, prepared to make a move the moment something went wrong. Their bonds, sensing the danger, had already come out from their Sanctuaries and growled at their potential enemies. The two sides stared at each other, both trying to come up with a strategy that would lead them to victory. The women were confident in their skill, while the soldiers were confident in their numbers. The tension in the air rose, then suddenly, "Haaahh..." Kael exhaled. Slowly, he raised his head and looked at the Estwyn people, his piercing blue eyes glimmering under the firelight. "I will say this once, so listen well." He spoke in a low, calm voice. And yet, everyone in the camp heard it. "If there comes a time when I must choose between the three people who stood with me through thick and thin¡­" His gaze swept through Aria, Sarah, and Lyra before landing on Tobias and the townsfolk. "¡­or the people who threw me away after using me¡­ I will not hesitate to make a decision." Kael then glanced at the soldiers and, "The moment you take out your weapons, I will consider you my enemy. And trust me when I say this, This will never end well for you." The air grew cold as Kael''s words echoed throughout the camp. One of the soldiers flinched. His sword, which was halfway drawn, slipped back into its sheath. No soldier dared to move. They had all seen what sort of monster this man was, how he took out most of the Brutes and the Flying all on his own. If this man moved¡­ They would never stand a chance. But¡­ "Hero Kael, should you really be doing this?" Tobias spoke up. In his arms was Selina, who seemed afraid, nervous, and confused. She couldn''t tell what had happened. The Hero she adored¡­ why did her grandpa tell him to leave¡­? Was the Hero now angry¡­? Would he not bring the town''s laughter back anymore¡­? Kael glanced at the child for a moment, then he turned towards her grandpa and, "You are mistaken if you think I am a Hero and bound by the responsibility of being one. I am not magnanimous enough to allow people to use me and let them walk over me." Kael glanced at Selina again and, "There are a few people here I care about, so I will allow you to leave, but do not test my limits." Then, Kael stared at the man who had confronted Aria before, and his eyes turned cold. "And don''t point your fingers at my allies. It won''t take me a second to chop it off." "Heeek!!" The man''s body jerked in terror as he fell to the ground. "Leave." "Hero Kael, please try to unde¡ª" "I will not say it again, Tobias. Leave." In the end, the Town Head lowered his head and with trembling body, he ordered the townsfolk to move. Within a few minutes, the people gathered their things and started leaving. Their gazes were full of frustration, anger, and¡­ fear. Kael, along with the three women, stared at them as they left, and Aria snorted. "They don''t even feel guilty! So much for being ''grateful'' to us." "This is how the world is, Aria." Kael spoke up. "People think of their well-being before anyone else''s. My presence here put them and their families in danger. It is not surprising that they would want me to leave." "But you protected them!" "And now I am the one putting them in danger. It makes no difference if I protect them in the day and put their lives at risk at night." Kael answered calmly. He wasn''t a fool. He could understand the situation, and he couldn''t exactly blame the townsfolk. After all, if he were in their position, he might have done the same. "You seem to know more about our world than we do." Aria spoke weakly, and at those words, Kael laughed out loud. "You think my world is free of such emotions? Mine is probably even worse than yours." A self-deprecating smile appeared on his face. The women stared at the Hero, then suddenly, "Then why did you side with us?" Sarah couldn''t help but question. She wanted to know what the Hero was thinking. "I said I understand them. It doesn''t mean I didn''t feel bad." Kael answered. Then, he stared at the three women, and a gentle smile appeared on his face. "Also, all three of you stood up for me. How could I not do the same?" "¡­" "¡­" Aria and Sarah''s breathing hitched as Kael''s face was illuminated by the firelight. The two turned silent, unable to say anything. Lyra, on the other hand, directly stared at Kael and, "Stop trying to seduce us. It won''t work on me." "Hahaha~" Kael laughed out loud. "Alright, I will stop." Then, he glanced at the camp, or whatever was left of it, and sighed. "Anyways, we should set up our tent. We will leave first thing in the morning." At those words, the women came out of their reverie and nodded. Sarah then stepped forward and, "Hero Kael, you must be tired after a long day. Please leave it to us." "I will be of help, I promise." Kael chuckled, and in front of his smile, Sarah couldn''t resist. The four worked together to set up the camp. The moment they were done, Lyra quickly brought out her mattress, pillows, and blanket, and made herself comfortable. "¡­" "¡­" "¡­" The three of them stared at her in silence. "She has no intention of keeping watch, does she?" Kael questioned with a wry smile on his face. "She never does." Sarah laughed. "Lord Kael, you and Sarah should rest now. I''ll keep watch." Aria made the arrangement, and knowing this was what they did yesterday, Kael nodded. He and Sarah rested. Two hours later, Kael woke up. "Lord Kael, you can sleep. There is ti¡ª" "I will be back soon." Kael spoke as he stood up, and at his sudden action, Aria frowned. "What are y¡ª" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "There is someone I wish to talk to, Alone." Chapter 76 I had no other choice. "Grandpa, are we bad people?" Once the Estwyn people returned to their town and settled into their homes, Selina, who was lying on her bed, questioned in an innocent tone. Tobias, who heard that question, stared at his granddaughter with a complicated look on his face. This entire time, Selina had been silent. Tobias knew that the little girl had a lot on her mind, but¡­ To think her innocent question would be so difficult to answer¡­ "The Hero helped us, but we sent him away¡­ Grandpa, are we bad people?" The little girl repeated her question. "Didn''t you say we should always welcome people with love and happy smiles?" "There are situations where we cannot do anything even if we want to, Selina. You will understand that when you grow up." Tobias tried to answer, but the girl didn''t back down. "The Hero said I was wise." "Hmm?" "It means I am good at understanding things. Did he lie to me?" Selina questioned. "No, you are wise. The Hero was correct. You just¡­ need to be even wiser to understand what I am saying¡­" "Does it mean you are wiser than the Hero?" "¡­" At that question, Tobias turned silent. His mind was filled with complicated thoughts, but in the end, he closed his eyes and answered, "Yes. I am wiser than the current Hero, but I am sure the Hero will get better and better." "Does it mean he will surpass you?" "Yes, he will definitely surpass me." Tobias smiled. Then, his smile turned heavy and, "He needs to surpass me¡­ surpass all of us¡­" Unable to face the little girl''s questions anymore, Tobias gently patted her cheeks and, "Now sleep, it is already late." "But¡­" "No more questions. Sleep." Tobias spoke, his tone sterner. "Okay¡­" In the end, the little girl closed her eyes, and once Tobias ensured that she was asleep, he stood up with a heavy sigh and walked towards his room. However, the instant he walked in, his body froze. "Your granddaughter once told me something very interesting, Tobias." The Hero, who was currently sitting on his bed started. "Hero Ka¡ª" Before Tobias could react or say anything, Kael continued, "She said when her town was happy, she used to ride a Magic Beast and fly in the sky. She also mentioned how the beast had beautiful purple feathers and how its lightning didn''t harm her because that Magic Beast loved her." "¡­" Tobias was silent. "Tobias, do you know what subject interested me the most when I first came to this world?" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael questioned with a light smile on his face. Then, without waiting for a response because he knew he wouldn''t get one, he answered. "Magic Beasts. They interested me the most. For personal reasons, I wanted to know everything about them, so I continued to read about them every time I got the chance and because I invested so much time, I learned quite a lot about them. I also learned that the total number of Common-Ranked Flying beasts that also have a special element like lightning is extremely limited." Kael''s eyes then fell on Tobias. "And Stormveil Roc is one such beast. Common Rank, ability to fly, control over lightning and wind. Ticks all the checks." "Why are you telling me this¡­?" Tobias questioned. "Where is your Stormveil Roc, Tobias? Why didn''t I see you use such a useful ally in the battle today? Why did you only use the Wind Wolf, which is clearly your second Bond and was much younger?" "He died." Tobias answered in a solemn tone. "He died¡­?" Kael raised an eyebrow. "Yes, he died a few months ago." "How did he die?" "I do not wish to recall it, it still pains my hea¡ª" "Is that the sob story you told the townsfolk? It is quite surprising that they bought it." Kael chuckled. Then, however, he shrugged. "But then again, not many would be able to recognize a corrupted Roc and accurately say that it was indeed a Roc they once knew, especially when their entire being is trembling in fear at just the sight of it." "W-What are you talking abo¡ª" "It is pointless, Tobias." Kael shook his head as he stared at the man in front of him. "Do not forget, my eyes are special." He pointed at his eyes, which had now turned golden. "Don''t force me to go around the town and ask if they know any Stormveil Roc named Laughter." Kael spoke, and hearing the name of the Bond he once cherished even more than his life, Tobias''s heart squelched in pain. "Because if I get an official confirmation, things will not end well, neither for you nor for¡­" Kael glanced in the direction of the room Selina was sleeping in and, "That little girl." Kael''s voice was tinged with worry. Yes, he really did care about Selina. Tobias was the same. The old man clenched his fists in frustration, but in the end¡­ he lowered his head and, "What do you want¡­?" He questioned directly. It was already over. The Hero already knew. He knew that the Roc that came after his life and put the entire town in danger was¡­ in fact, the Town Head''s Bond. "Why did you do it?" Kael questioned directly. Now, he wasn''t an expert at reading people, but Kael knew one thing¡ªTobias had nothing to gain from this. Could it be that he wanted to keep ''ruling'' the town? Ruling a border town that would be deserted soon didn''t sound like much fun. Not to mention that Tobias himself didn''t seem like the type who would do all this just to rule. The old man lived a simple life with his granddaughter. He knew every single nook and cranny of his town. He knew the conditions of the gates. He knew the total number of injured soldiers. He knew the men who could fight in emergency situations, and he himself had spent countless nights coming up with ways to save his people from the beasts. He seemed like an exhausted man who had pushed himself to the limit and was about to fall. Was he doing all this just to keep up the act? While it was possible, Kael still found it hard to believe, so he decided to directly confront the man, And Tobias decided to answer his question. "I had no other choice." Chapter 77 It was because of you. "Why did you do it? And more importantly, how did you do it?" Kael questioned directly. Tobias, who had given up, lowered his head and answered, "I had no other choice." "What does that mean?" Tobias then stared at Kael and, "Hero Kael, this world is much more dangerous than you think, and these dangers aren''t the Beasts, they are people." "¡­" Kael stayed silent, letting the Town Head continue. "People you think are your allies might turn into your enemies, while the enemies might become your friends. It is a complicated place that makes no sense." The old man laughed self-deprecatingly. "In this place, only one rule applies. Survival of the fittest. The strong survive, the weak perish. And that was my and my people''s sin. We were weak in a world where only those with power thrive." Tobias declared, then he stared at Kael and continued his story, "It started four months ago when suddenly, the beasts in the forest, who our children once played with, lost their minds and started attacking us. The first few attacks weren''t much, and we were able to take care of the situation ourselves. However, as time passed, more and more beasts started to fall under this corruption, and their threat grew stronger. The soldiers started to have a hard time, and soon, we were taking damage. Our soldiers were injured, walls were weakening after constant attacks, and the people were starting to panic. So, we decided to call for help. I sent letter after letter, requesting the aid of the Kingdom, but no one came. We were left with no choice but to defend our town on our own. However, the number of corrupted beasts kept increasing. We were facing new threats almost every other week now. The town was about to fall. The townsfolk who could run away ran, while the rest stayed because we had no other choice. But in our hearts, we knew it. If this continued, we would die. We were scared. I was scared." Tobias then glanced at the room Seline was sleeping in and, "That little life sleeping next door is everything I have. I couldn''t leave her alone in this world, nor could I let her die. I needed to do something. I was desperate. And as if sensing my desperation, One night, they knocked on my doors." "Who?" Kael raised his eyebrow. "I do not know. I didn''t see their faces. They wore cloaks that covered them, and honestly, at that point, I couldn''t care less. I was just too focused on the words they said to me. ''We have a way you can protect your town.'' My heart shook at those words. At a time when, let alone our Kingdom, even the people from our own town had abandoned us and left. When someone came to me and offered help, I couldn''t deny it. I was in no position to. Then, they showed me that power." Tobias paused for a moment, as if recalling it. Then, as his heartbeat became louder, he spoke his next words, "It was dark. It was ominous. It was the same energy that those corrupted beasts radiated. My heart shook. I was scared. I doubted the identity of the person next to me. But he just laughed and told me to¡­ Cover my Laughter with this energy. ''This energy would strengthen your Bond and make it strong enough to face those beasts.'' That is what they told me. I refused. Even in the situation I was in, I couldn''t do this to my Laughter. I had seen the state of those beasts. They were nothing like the beasts they were before. They were¡­ something entirely different. But¡­ Laughter came out on his own. I tried to stop him, but Laughter pointed at Selina, who was sleeping in her room." Tobias''s body shook as he recalled that moment. His eyes turned moist as he remembered how his most cherished Bond pointed at the human he cherished the most. Then, with a hoarse voice, he continued, "Laughter was a fool. He loved Selina even more than me. He always bothered me, telling me how he wanted to fly with Selina and how he loved it every time Selina hugged him¡­" Tobias felt a lump forming in his throat mid-sentence. His body continued to tremble and, "Then¡­ Laughter pointed at his own injury that he had sustained in his fight against those corrupted beasts¡­ He knew¡­ He knew he couldn''t protect Selina anymore¡­ So he begged me to let him do it, and before I could say anything or stop him, he consumed that energy, and just as those people told me, He got stronger¡­ And¡­ at the same time¡­ He lost control over himself¡­ Using whatever sanity he had left, he flew away. He knew he had now become a threat that could endanger me and Selina, so he left. However, every time we were attacked by the corrupted beasts and were in trouble, he appeared, and while his enraged attack did harm townsfolk as well, he did save us every single time." Tobias then stared at Kael and, "Hero Kael, You saw it with your own eyes, didn''t you? You saw how strong those corrupted beasts were and how weak our soldiers were. Did you not wonder how we managed to survive their attacks all this while? It was Laughter who protected us." "So¡­ he was trying to protect you¡­?" "Initially, yes." Tobias nodded. "What do you mean?" Kael frowned at that answer. "Initially, he was trying to protect us, but¡­ a week ago¡­ My connection with Laughter disappeared." "What¡­?" Kael couldn''t believe what he just heard. This was¡­ impossible. A Bond between a Tamer and his Bonds can never disappear unless¡­ one of them dies¡­ S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing Kael''s reaction, Tobias nodded. "I thought the same. I thought he had died, and as much as it hurt me, I was glad. After all, he could finally sleep peacefully. But then today¡­" "You saw him again¡­" "That thing was not my Laughter." Tobias answered back, his eyes much more intense than before. "Whatever it was, it just had my Laughter''s body. It was not my Laughter. And... it was much stronger¡­ bigger¡­ and¡­ filled with malice¡­ My Laughter, even when corrupted, was not like that." Tobias defended his best friend. "...do you perhaps know the reason why he changed?" Kael questioned after thinking for a while, and unexpectedly, Tobias nodded. "I do." "What?" Kael was taken aback. "What was it? Why did he change?" He questioned. Tobias then stared at Kael and, "It was because of you." Chapter 78 You are Nerathiss only hope. "It was because of you." Tobias answered as he stared at the Hero. "What¡­?" Kael frowned. How the hell was this related to him? He wondered in his head but then¡­ ''Wait¡­'' Seeing the change in his expression, Tobias nodded. "He changed once he knew the Hero was coming." Soon, however, Kael''s frown deepened. "But even I didn''t know I was coming to the Estwyn tow¡ª" Before Kael could complete, the Town Head continued. "You were always supposed to come to Estwyn Town. Actually, you were supposed to get here a week ago." "How do you know that?" Kael frowned. Tobias knowing that he was coming wasn''t surprising. The Kingdom would make sure to inform the Town Head that they sent help. After all, it was a matter related to their public ''image.'' But¡­ it would only pass the information once they were certain of it. His test wasn''t postponed at the last minute. Marshal Therian informed him about it on his second day¡ªthere was still plenty of time. The Kingdom would never pass the wrong information, only to later go back on their words, it would affect their image. Tobias shouldn''t be aware that his test was postponed. But then¡­ "Heh." Tobias just laughed. Then, he took out some documents from his Sanctuary and passed them to Kael. "This was the first aid that was supposed to come and help our town." Kael read the documents. It was ten soldiers who were of the same rank as Sarah and one at a higher rank, probably the leader of the party. Honestly, with their strength, as long as they came up with a somewhat decent plan, they should have been able to deal with all the Corrupted Beasts. Then... What happened to them¡­? "That was two months ago. The party was never dispatched. No reason given." Tobias spoke. Kael frowned. The Town Head, however, didn''t stop. He passed another set of documents. This time, it was a party with somewhat similar strength but with lower numbers. "Two weeks later, another party. Mission cancelled." Then, the Town Head continued to pass the documents and¡ª Another stack. "Cancelled." More documents followed, each one representing a mission that had never happened. "Cancelled. Cancelled." "This one''s yours. It wasn''t cancelled. Just postponed." Tobias spoke as he passed the documents toward Kael. Kael was supposed to come here together with ten soldiers like Sarah and lead them. The more he read, the deeper Kael''s frown got. Why did the Kingdom send all these documents to Tobias¡­? At this point, just don''t send anything if you are going to continue canceling all the missions. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What were they trying to do? Give them false hope so they continue to hold on? But if this is revealed¡­ It would do irreparable damage to the Kingdom''s reputation. And if there is one thing Kael knew about politics, it was that reputation was extremely important to these people. Then why would they¡­? "Oh, and this one''s your current mission." Tobias passed the document, and the moment Kael started reading it, his expression changed. Flip Flip Flip He continued to flip through the pages, his eyes widening in surprise the more he read. This¡­ This was the same document he received¡­ A document that contained all the information regarding the town, the supplies he would get, and other things¡­ Kael quickly checked the other documents and realized they were the same. They were far too detailed! Even if the Kingdom wanted to inform Estwyn Town about their arrival, they would have never given so much information. After all, it made no sense to provide them with information about the walls and the supplies. The Town Head would probably know more about it than them, not to mention these documents also contained some sensitive information that shouldn''t be given to just anyone. Even Sarah and the others hadn''t seen the documents. ''These are the details of the test, everything you need to know is in here. These also contain some sensitive information, so make sure others do not see it. Always be wary of the people around you.'' This was what Marshal Therian told him when he passed those documents to him. Then¡­ Why did the Kingdom send these documents to Tobias¡­? "Those people gave these documents to me." Tobias revealed. "It was their way of showing me just how helpless we were without their help, and¡­ They were correct. Our own Kingdom didn''t stand on our side when we needed it. To them, our town, our lives were¡­" Tobias stared into Kael''s eyes and¡ª "It was just a test for the Hero. A playground he could play around in and learn." Tobias spoke, and Kael''s body shook. Before, he could still blame Tobias¡­ When the Town Head said, ''I had no other choice,'' he snorted inwardly. After all, there was always another choice. But now¡­? Any sane man would give in if they were constantly shown the reality. The Kingdom wasn''t coming for them¡­ They needed to act on their own to protect themselves¡­ And how were they supposed to do it¡­? Of course, the only option was to rely on the people who stood in front of them, offering their help. "You are a good man, Hero Kael." While Kael was lost in his thoughts, Tobias called out. Kael turned toward him, and the Town Head continued. "Back at the camp, when you said you weren''t a Hero, you were wrong. I have seen you fight. I saw how your eyes shine. I saw your smile when the soldiers cheered in joy as you killed the Brutes together with them. You are a True Hero¡ªI now believe that. But¡­" Tobias looked into the Hero''s eyes and¡ª "Don''t trust everything they tell you without any proof. The people who had the power to corrupt the magic beasts and had put all of Nerathis in danger because of their actions came to me and gave me these documents that supposedly contained ''sensitive information'' like they were nothing. Then, when they realized that you were coming here, they strengthened Laughter, as if they already knew you were strong enough to deal with the other corrupted beasts. Hero Kael, Those people... They are around you¡­ Keeping an eye on everything you do." The Town Head then bowed and¡ª "Please be careful. You are Nerathis''s only hope." Chapter 79 Igni, take care of things here. "Please be careful, you are Nerathis''s only hope." The Town Head spoke as he bowed his head as a form of respect. "¡­" Kael stayed silent, not knowing what to say. His mind was filled with too many thoughts. Tobias, misunderstanding his silence, continued further. "I understand that my actions have consequences, and as a Hero, it is your duty to punish me for the wrongs I have done." The man then raised his head and, "I surrender." He declared, and before Kael could say anything, he continued, "But I will say one thing, I do not regret my actions. I did what had to be done. Hero Kael, I have lost everything. I lost my son, my daughter-in-law, and even my most precious Bond. Selina and my Wind Wolf are the only two things I cherish, and I will do everything in my power to protect them, no matter what. This is what any man in my place would and should do, Even if it means going against the Kingdom that doesn''t care about its people." Tobias declared confidently. He had surrendered, but his eyes were burning with conviction. "¡­" Kael was still silent. The two stared at each other, and then, "I never came here. This conversation never happened, is that clear?" Kael spoke up. "What¡­?" Tobias blinked in surprise. "I do not know what happened to your Laughter or where it went, but I promise you this, Tobias. The moment I am strong enough to face it, I will try to get to the end of the matter. Till then, take good care of the people you cherish. Now sleep." "He¡ª" Before Tobias could speak, Kael struck him at the back of the neck, causing the Town Head to collapse, unconscious. Kael glanced at the documents Tobias showed him one last time, memorizing them all, his memory had always been good, but now, with his intelligence raised, it had become even easier for him to learn some simple documents. Once done, Kael walked away with a heavy heart and a messy mind. ¡­ "Lord Kael¡­?" Aria, who had been waiting for Kael all this while, frowned when she saw his expression. "Is everything alright?" She questioned. "It is." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael nodded, not sharing anything. "You should go sleep. I wish to stay alone for a while." "You do not seem alright." Aria muttered. Kael, however, didn''t reply, hinting to Aria that he didn''t wish to talk. A hint that the Mage understood and stopped talking. In her mind, however, she was wondering another thing, ''Did he go meet another woman?'' Soon, however, she shook her head as she lay down next to Sarah. Time passed. A few hours later, Sarah woke up and offered to keep watch. Kael shook his head again and told her to sleep. His mind was still occupied with countless thoughts; he couldn''t sleep even if he wanted to. Just like Aria, Sarah tried to talk to him as well, but as much as Kael appreciated that, currently, he was doubting everyone around him, even the three of them, so he decided to remain silent. Another few hours later, the sun rose up, and Kael and the party decided to return. Was it safe to return to the Royal Palace? Kael didn''t know. Honestly, he was sure it was not. People who wanted him dead were inside the Palace, but¡­ Did he have any other choice? Kael knew he wasn''t strong enough to go out on his own. Even if he added Igni into the equation, his chances of survival were still low. Also¡­ Kael highly doubted everyone in the Royal Palace wanted him dead. If that were the case, wouldn''t he already be dead? Yes, the Royal Palace was dangerous, but inside that place, there were also people who would protect him with everything in their power because they wanted him to protect their world. ''Two sides, one wants me dead, one wishes to strengthen me¡­ And my life is hanging between the odd balance these two forces have formed¡­'' The Hero sighed. Information¡­ He needed more information. At the very least, he needed to know who was actually on his side and who was not. Kael sat inside the carriage. His mind continued to race for the next few hours, but then, he closed his eyes. His exhaustion had finally caught up to him. ¡­ "Kayden, what are¡ª" BOOOOOOM Kael was jolted awake from his thoughts as he heard the thunderous explosion. He looked around and quickly realized that he was seeing the Vision again. And this time, it was an entirely different vision. "KAYDEN!!!" The Future Kael screamed as he extended his hand towards an ally who jumped into a horde of corrupted beasts and self-destructed. Kael, who once again found himself in an unfamiliar body, noticed that both his arms were covered with dark scales and his strength was ridiculously overwhelming compared to what it was right now. ''I am very far into the future.'' Kael realized it, and as he stared at the scene around him, he was overwhelmed. Dark skies, blood, fire, and smoke all over the place, heavy air, and thousands of corrupted beasts, every single one of them seeming far stronger than the Roc he had just faced, dashing towards them as if prepared to rip them apart. Kael himself was sitting on top of a giant Dragon who was hovering in the air. ''Igni¡­'' Kael recognized his Igni in an instant. ''You are still alive¡­'' His eyes turned moist. Right now, however, he didn''t have the time to feel such emotions. Too many things were happening around him. Beside him, there was that purple-haired woman he saw in his previous vision, who was sitting on top of a Phoenix. Future Kael and the woman exchanged glances as they saw their ally sacrifice his life for their sake. "KAYDEN!!!" Another woman on the ground screamed, her voice full of agony. It was clear that she had a special relationship with Kayden. However, that woman wasn''t the only one who was hurt by his sacrifice. "AAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!" A Frostfang Wolf, an Epic Rank Magic Beast, and Kayden''s first Bond, roared in frenzy and lost his mind. His attacks became reckless, and if this continued, even someone as inexperienced as Kael could tell that he wouldn''t survive. "Igni, take care of things here." Future Kael spoke, and suddenly, Kael heard a voice in his head, [Yes, Father.] His eyes widened in surprise, but before he could react to Igni''s voice, the Future Kael jumped down and dived towards the Frostfang Wolf. "Frost, calm down." Future Kael spoke, his voice much heavier than current Kael''s. He placed his hand on top of the Wolf''s head, and suddenly, BOOOM His Aura burst out, crushing every single Corrupted Beast around him as if they were insects. "RROOOOOAAAAARRRRRRRR!!!" Sensing what their father wanted, four large Dragons appeared around Kael and Frost, protecting them from all the attacks. ''Please¡­ work out this time¡­'' The Future Kael desperately prayed in his head, his heart feeling heavy. Then, he gathered his energy, and Kael quickly noticed something. The way the Future Kael was using his energy¡­ it felt familiar. He was activating the . However, the moment Kael realized it, he frowned. ''He is using on a Wolf¡­?'' He couldn''t understand. But then, the Future Kael suddenly changed the energy flow. The energy continued to move around in his body like he directed it to, and once done, he injected the genesis energy into Frost''s body. "AAAUUUUUUUUUU!!!!" It was rough at first, and it required a lot more energy than normal since Frost wasn''t exactly in a friendly state and continued to resist Kael, he howled, he thrashed, he struggled as much as he could, even trying to overpower him, but the Future Kael held on. With his face covered in sweat, heart thumping loudly, he continued to inject his energy into the Wolf. And finally, something changed, Frost''s body began to change, his fur started becoming shinier and shinier, Kael could see it, he could tell that the Beast was transforming, but before he could observe too much. [Ding!] [Skill was succesfu@#!#!] [Awake#@$r! Frostfang Wolf la@#@ Bloodline.] [Ding!] [Congratulati#@$!##! Frostfang Wolf has tur$$%$## into Frostlord Fenrir.] [ERROR! ERROR! ERROR!] [System Error: Unexpected Transformation Outside Of Established Parameters.] [Processing.] [Adaptive Response Initiated.] [ERROR! ERROR! ERROR!] [Threshold Exceeded] [Attempting Recalculation.] [Response Blocked: System Limits Exceeded.] [Adaptive Response In Progress] [Error: Unable To Fully Process Extreme Transformation.] [Error! Unknown Anomaly Detected.] [An Impossible Feat Has Been Achieved!] [Rewards Are Being Calculated.] [Processing.] [Error: Host''s Time Has Run Out. Complete Reward Cannot Be Granted.] [Final Reward Selection Initiated.] [Ding!] [Title Awarded: "The One Who Broke The Limit."] [Title Effect: +25 To All Stats.] ¡­ Countless messages appeared in front of Kael, and as he tried to read or understand what they meant, The Vision ended. Chapter 80 Do you need my pillow as well? "Hah!" Kael''s eyes shot open as he woke up from the Vision. His breathing quickened as he processed what he saw. The Vision was¡­ overwhelming¡­ Too much information was given to him in a very limited time. Igni being able to speak, his allies, that woman who was right next to him, using on a Wolf, and finally¡­ All those strange messages he saw. All this time, every time Kael saw the System Screen, it was a simple, bluish translucent screen that showed him what he wanted but¡­ For the first time, he saw a red screen. Those countless messages¡ªhonestly, Kael could only read the word ''Error'' because of how overwhelmed he was. Something had happened. The Vision wanted to tell him something, something he missed¡­ ''I need to see that Vision again.'' Kael muttered inwardly. He looked outside, and seeing the sun''s position, he could tell that he had slept for a few hours even though the Vision he saw was much shorter. Right now, however, he couldn''t care less about how that worked. He looked at the woman who was riding a Magic Beast and called out, "Aria." The Mage turned around. "Lord Kael, is there something you need?" She questioned, and as Kael nodded, Aria came close to the carriage. "Do you know some magic that can put me to sleep?" "Are you having trouble sleeping?" Aria questioned with a frown on her face, and Kael nodded. "This isn''t good for your health. You didn''t sleep last night either. Do you want us to stop? We will pass through a big city in a few hours. The inns there would be much more comfortable than the carriage or the tents we set up. Do you want me to stop there?" "I would like to sleep right now." Kael answered, and a frown appeared on Aria''s face. "A magic to put you to sleep¡­" She muttered. Aria was only a Third Circle Mage. The number of spells she knew was limited, and while there were indeed some Third Circle Spells that could put someone to sleep, she didn''t bother learning them. Now, however, she felt regretful. The Hero asked her one thing, and she couldn''t help him with that¡­ She felt¡­ Useless¡­ But then, "I have a way." Lyra came to the rescue. She passed a dark brown pill to Kael and, "Eat this. You will sleep like a log in an instant. It lasts a few hours and it doesn''t have any side effects, so it is completely safe." She spoke. "¡­" "¡­" And both Kael and Aria looked at the archer with strange looks on their faces. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Why do you even have that¡­?" Kael couldn''t help but question. "I use it when I have trouble sleeping." Lyra answered. "You¡­ of all people have trouble sleeping?" Kael raised his eyebrow. He had seen how quickly the woman fell asleep. The archer just closes her eyes, and in a few seconds, she''s out. How is someone like her having trouble sleeping? Lyra, however, nodded at Kael''s words with a solemn look on her face. "Every time I sleep too much, I have trouble falling asleep again, so I use this." "¡­" "¡­" Once again, Kael and Aria turned silent. They exchanged glances, and this time, even the Mage shook her head. It was as if she was saying, ''Don''t look at me, I did not know that.'' Lyra stared at the two in silence, then, as if somewhat annoyed, she questioned, "Do you want it or not?" "I need it. Yes, I need it." Kael nodded as he grabbed the pill and, "Thank you." He showed his gratitude. "¡­do you need my pillow as well?" Lyra offered, and the moment she did, Aria raised her eyebrow in surprise. "Wow, to think you would offer him your pillow yourself. I remember how you didn''t give it to me even when I threatened to break our years of friendship. Those words you said that day still ring in my mind: ''Friends come and go, but a pillow is a human''s eternal partner.'' I was so hurt that d¡ªMmmhmmphh!" Before the Mage could complete, Lyra pulled her away, her hand grabbing her mouth. She stared at Kael with an emotionless look on her face and, "You had your chance. You didn''t claim it fast enough. Use your own pillow now." She spoke before she turned around, taking Aria away. "MMhjmmphh!" The Mage continued to resist, but compared to the Archer, her strength was much lower. "¡­" Kael saw the two women move away, and it placed a smile on his face. He still didn''t know if he could trust these women or not¡­ But in his heart, He really wanted to. ''Hah, I am hopeless.'' He sighed inwardly, then closed the window and took the pill Lyra had given him. What if it was poison? Well, for starters, basic poison didn''t work on him, and¡­ if Lyra and the others wanted to kill him, they had countless opportunities to do it. In the end, Kael decided it was best not to think too much about it and gulped it down. The moment the pill entered his body, it released an energy. It worked almost instantly as Kael felt his eyes get heavy. Honestly, he wasn''t even sure if he would see the Vision again or not. He just hoped he would. ''From doing everything in my power to try and avoid seeing these visions to wanting to see them again¡­ What a roller-coaster of a life¡­'' Kael laughed inwardly as he then closed his eyes, entering the dreamland again. "Kayden, what are¡ª" BOOOOOOM Once again, the Vision started. Kael sighed in relief, glad that it worked. ''Alright, I need to focus.'' With that thought in his mind, he decided to focus on what was important. He waited for Future Kael to move. He memorized how he changed the energy flow in his body, injected the energy into Frost, and finally, the system messages. This time, he read and memorized them all. Chapter 81 You are forcing yourself onto me without my consent. "Aria." Kael, who woke up a few hours later, called out. "Did you sleep well?" Aria questioned. "I did." Kael nodded. "The city you were talking about before, did we cross it?" He questioned. "No, we are still about 10 minutes away." "We will stop there for a day." Kael decided. "A day¡­?" Aria was taken aback. She would have understood if it was just for a few hours, but¡­ "The sun will set in a few more hours. We would be forced to set up a camp or spend the night in an inn anyway, so we might as well stay in the city, don''t you think?" Kael suggested. Then, a smile appeared on his face and, "Not to mention, we have worked quite hard these last few days. It is time we use this moment to relax and let ourselves go." "I understand." Aria nodded as a smile appeared on her face. 10 minutes later, Kael and the party entered the city, and Aria introduced it with an excited look on her face. "Lord Kael, this is Mistvale City, a magical city surrounded by mist. It is a hub for adventurers, scholars, and merchants. People from all over Nerathis come here because of the rare resources found in this place, and yes, when I say resources, I also include Beast Eggs. Beasts with special elements like Mist, Ice, Cloud, and more can be found here. We were in a hurry back when we passed through this city, but now that we have time, we can truly explore this city to our heart''s content." "You look quite excited." Kael questioned. He had come out of his carriage and then stored the carriage in the space provided by the city itself. The Magic Beasts Aria and the others were riding were also taken to a place created for them. It was a service provided by most big cities, and since Kael and the party had decided to stay in this town, they decided to use it. "Of course! It is one of the most beautiful cities in Drakthar! Every time I am on vacation, I come here." Aria, who was walking next to Kael, answered as she looked around like a child. "Oh?" Kael raised his eyebrow. He had to say, with how the mage was looking around, it didn''t look like she was a regular here. Aria, who could sense Kael''s thoughts, smiled. "Just look around and see how pretty it is. Wouldn''t you feel excited every time you come here?" She questioned. Hearing those words, Kael looked around as well, and he had to admit, the city was indeed beautiful. The massive archway, the soothing white mist that wrapped itself around him, pushing him into a heaven of comfort and coolness. Elegant spires and graceful domes, all the buildings here shined with a shimmering hue. Luscious green vines climbed the walls, and colorful flowers peeked through the cracks in the streets. The air felt rich, pure, and cool. It was as if the city was created using magic. He could hear the sounds of laughter and chatter. People here looked happy. It was¡­ Beautiful. A fantasy-like city. For a moment, Kael was mesmerized, forgetting everything that was weighing him down. Aria, who noticed that, smiled gleefully. "See? I told you, didn''t I? This is one of the most beautiful cities in the Drakthar Kingdom. Anyone would be mesmerized by it, even the Hero." "It is beautiful indeed." Sarah nodded. The mist around her felt comforting, her exhaustion was being washed away. It wasn''t just her; Lyra seemed quite satisfied as well. "It has a good environment to sleep in." She commented. Kael chuckled at those words. He, however, agreed with the three women. "It is beautiful inde¡ª" Suddenly, he froze. "Hero Kael?" Sarah called out, noticing the odd reaction. Kael, however, just grinned and, "As expected from a big city." He had just walked into the city and had moved a bit towards the market area, but¡­ His was already activated. Yes, there were beasts or beast eggs with Dragon Bloodline here. And what''s even better? There was not just one. Kael could already sense three of them. His grin widened even further and, "Let''s explore the market, shall we? Or do the three of you wish to rest first?" Of course, as excited as he was, he was still considerate. These women had been riding those magic horses for hours now. It was natural to be tired after such a long ride. "Yes, I would like to re¡ªmmhphh!" "No, why would we be tired? All three of us are Advance Tamers, Lord Kael. We won''t be tired just after a few hours of traveling. That would be embarrassing." Before Lyra could complete her words, Aria laughed. "E-Exactly! Why would we be tired!? Let''s explore the market instead!" Sarah, who was grabbing Lyra''s mouth, laughed as well. "¡­" Kael stared at the women in silence. For a moment, he wanted to be considerate of Lyra, worried if she was actually tired. But then, the moment he thought about how this sloth-like woman would choose sleep over literally anything else, he decided not to give her too much attention and nodded. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alright then, we will explore the market for a while before we eat and book an inn to spend the night. Is that good for you two?" Yes, he even stopped asking for the tanned archer''s consent. "Yes!" The other two women nodded with excited looks on their faces, and Kael and the party started exploring the market. "Just so it is clear, we are doing this against our will. Hero Kael, you are forcing yourself onto me without my consent." Lyra mumbled in a dissatisfied tone. "¡­" Kael''s mouth twitched when he heard those words. Just thinking about what awaited him if this woman said those words back in his world made him tremble in fear. For now, however, he shook his head. "Yes, yes, I like forcing myself onto women like you" He joked as he focussed on his Draconic Sense, which was being worked to death. He could already sense around five beasts with Dragon Blood in them. He, however, was facing a problem¡­ All the beasts he was sensing belonged to tamers. He couldn''t sense any eggs till now. But then, his eyes fell on something, and then, ''Finally.'' His smile widened. Chapter 82 It was all set in stone—the Grand Plan. ''Wooaaahhh! The Cliches were true!'' Kael thought inwardly as he stared at the scene unfolding in front of him. While he walked around the market, trying to find a suitable Egg, 30 minutes later, his reacted, not to those big Beast Stores that sold all different kinds of Beasts Eggs, but to a roadside stall. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No, even calling it a stall was overstating it. It was just an old man sitting cross-legged beside a worn-out cloth, displaying a few strange objects for sale. Of course, most of those objects were useless, and no one cared about the old man and whatever he sold. However¡­ Kael''s reacted to a certain object in the old man''s inventory. It was a strange, reddish-white, half-a-meter-big stone with a flower-like shape. *Image* Honestly, no matter how Kael looked at it, the thing didn''t resemble an Egg at all. If it weren''t for his ability, never in his wildest dreams would he be able to tell that this thing was a Beast Egg¡ªa Beast with Dragon Bloodline at that. ''All of it really is true¡­ Only the old man sitting on the roadside has the true treasures!'' Kael couldn''t help but feel overjoyed. After all, once again, it was proven that all the novels he read weren''t a waste. All the clich¨¦s he liked, they weren''t just there for the sake of it. They all had meaning. They were all preparing him for this exact moment. It was all set in stone¡ªthe Grand Plan. Those novels weren''t a waste of time but holy books that should be studied deeply. And the novels'' knowledge didn''t just end there. The moment Kael walked towards the old man, conversed with him, and was just about to pay, a sharp voice cut through the air. "Wait." Kael turned around, and his eyes fell on a young man walking toward them, dressed in an expensive-looking silk robe with golden embroidery. He had a fairly decent face, brown hair, blue eyes, and a mole on his cheek. A pair of guards walked behind him, their hands resting lightly on the hilts of their swords. Clearly, the young man was a noble. A Young Master. "Lord Darian¡­" The old man''s voice trembled as he bowed his head. He seemed to know who this young man was. The young man named Darian completely ignored his existence. His eyes fell on Kael and the three women behind him, and his expression gleamed in excitement. Then, he stared at the ''stone'' the old man was about to pass to Kael and¡ª "This looks interesting. I''ll take it." He grinned. Then, his eyes fell on Kael, and his grin widened even further. "You don''t mind me taking what you wanted, do you?" ''Seriously?'' Kael raised an eyebrow. Even a child could tell what this man wanted. He was trying to show off his ''power'' and ''status'' to try and impress the three royal soldiers. ''Holy fuck, all of it is real!'' Kael swore. He had read about this stuff as well! More than a few times! A Young Master! He was actually seeing the legendary Young Master! "My Lord, this customer was here first¡­" The old man spoke, his voice trembling constantly. "Haah?" Darian''s expression darkened as he turned toward the old man. "Say that again?" His tone was filled with contempt, and as if understanding what their master wanted, one of his guards took a deliberate step forward. "Heek!" The old man shrieked before he backed down. "That''s what I thought." Darian snorted condescendingly. "Now hand over that stone." He ordered, but before the old man could do what he was told to¡ª "I do." Kael spoke up. "¡­What?" Darian paused. Kael stared at the man in front of him and¡ª "The answer to the question you asked before¡ªI do mind you trying to take what I wanted." "Huh¡­?" Darian still couldn''t comprehend the situation, but then¡ª "Back off." Kael spoke in a heavy voice as suddenly, his piercing blue eyes turned golden. Screens showing Darian''s and his guards'' information appeared in front of him. Both guards were level 18, and while Darian was a level 16, his stats, however, were ridiculously weak for that level. It was clear that the only reason he was at this level was because of his Bond. He didn''t do any training by himself. ''Typical.'' Kael shrugged inwardly. Seeing his eyes suddenly change colors, Darian was taken aback. Soon, however, he snapped back. "Do you know who you are talking to?" "Huh...?" Kael frowned. "Do you have any idea who my father is!?" Darian raised his voice. "I don''t." Kael shook his head with a calm look on his face. "But I do know who might know that." "What¡­?" Darian blinked, not expecting such an answer. "Who¡­?" "Your mother." "Pfft." Unable to control herself, Aria laughed out loud. Sarah had a smile on her face as well. As for Darian¡­ His body trembled in rage. Clearly, he didn''t like Kael''s answer, and Kael wasn''t bothered by it. "I am not lying, friend. I am sure your mother knows the truth." Then, with a concerned look on his face, he continued¡ª "But honestly, if she doesn''t wish to tell you and you need to go around asking others who your father is, I''d say it is better to not know. Trust me, a mother knows best¡ª" "YOU BASTARD!!" Darian snapped as he extended his hand, trying to punch Kael. Kael grabbed his hand, pulled him towards him, stepped aside, and positioned his leg right in front of Darian''s. Thud Darian''s untrained body quickly lost its balance, and the man fell to the ground. Kael, who was still holding his arm, pulled it lightly as he placed his foot on top of Darian''s chest, making it impossible for him to stand up. "Aggghh!" Darian groaned in pain, and seeing that, Kael laughed. "Damn, it''s really hard to survive out here without a father, eh? Balance''s off, weight is undistributed, punch was weak, position was wrong, To think your body is such a big mess." Kael picked out the faults before he shrugged with a look of sympathy. "But I shouldn''t complain too much either. After all, there is a limit to what a mother can do alone." Then, Kael pulled Darian''s hand even harder, making him scream in even more pain and¡ª "Tell her she can come to me if she is having too much trouble. I come from another world; I am quite open-minded when it comes to things like that." "Y-Y-You!!" Chapter 83 My bad. "Tell her she can come to me if she is having too much trouble. I come from another world, I am quite open-minded when it comes to things like that." "Y-Y-You!!" Darian stuttered, unable to put together a word for a moment because of how angry he was. Humiliation. Absolute Humiliation. His face, now red in rage, turned towards his guards and, "WHAT ARE YOU STANDING THERE FOR!? ATTACK H- Aaaagghhhh!!" Before he could give commands, Kael pulled his arm and he screamed in pain. "Shut it." Kael threatened. His piercing blue eyes stared at the guards and, "Stay back." He ordered. His words were calm, but the guards'' bodies shook, and they stumbled back. It wasn''t for the sake of their ''young master,'' but because they felt intimidated by the man in front of them. Kael then extended his hand towards the old man and, "The stone." He ordered. With trembling hands, the old man passed the ''stone'' to him. Kael stored it inside his Sanctuary, took out a gold coin, and tossed it towards the old man. "Take it." The old man widened his eyes in disbelief as he desperately jumped at the coin. By now, the commotion had attracted quite a lot of attention, and Darian, who noticed that, laughed out loud. "Hahaha! Y-You! You have no clue what you have done, do you!? I am the Young Master of Mistvale City, the youngest son of the City Lord! Now that so many people have seen what you did, what do you think will happen once Father hears the word of it!? I am telling you! Let me go, and I''ll make sure your death will be¡­" Darian continued to rant. Kael, however, ignored the Young Master''s ramblings as his mind started racing. These ''ramblings'' weren''t exactly something he could ignore. It would have been fine if this one was the son of some random noble, but... if he was indeed the son of the City Lord, then Kael was in trouble. ''It just had to be the highest authority here. Just my luck.'' Kael sighed inwardly. "Sarah." He called out. "Prepare your things. We are leaving." "Huh?" Hearing his words, Sarah and the other women frowned in confusion. Going back? Why? "If what he is saying is true, then staying here is too risky. We cannot fight an entire city on our ow-" Kael, sensing their confusion, started explaining but, "Lord Kael¡­" Before he could even complete, Aria called out with a strange expression on her face. "What are you talking about?" She questioned, acting as if Kael was missing something obvious. "This is the Drakthar Kingdom. No one here would dare to make things difficult for you. A mere son of the City Lord? Even if the City Lord himself were here, he would bow his head and apologize for this fool''s mistake." She spoke. A City Lord? What value did he have in front of the Hero who even the King respects? There was no need for them to leave, actually, this was the perfect time to sit and watch the drama. It was also the reason Aria, who stood behind Kael, was tempting Darian with provocative smiles. Yes... She... might have been the reason why the poor man acted in such a manner all along. "You have no reason to leave." Aria spoke, not wanting Kael to change his plans because of her. Kael would have believed her words if¡­ he hadn''t seen what he did see. He knew the entire Kingdom wasn''t his ally. His enemies were hidden, and it wouldn''t be surprising if they were hidden here. It was a perfect opportunity to get rid of him by accident. He needed to get away. "No, we are leav-" However, before Kael could complete his words, "SCREEEEECCCHHHH!!!" A loud screech was heard. The people turned their heads towards the sky and saw a giant blue magic beast flying in their direction. "The City Lord''s here!" Someone shouted. How could the people not recognize the Bond the City Lord cherished? Kael''s expression changed. It was too late. He prepared himself for whatever was about to happen while his mind raced, trying to find a way out, even Igni was prepared to come out at any moment. Thud The majestic beast landed on the road, and quickly, a man wearing a silk robe descended on the ground. Kael saw the man''s features and his face turned solemn. ''Igni, be prepared.'' he spoke. The man was an older version of Darian. He was indeed that man''s father. And as if to confirm that, "Hahahaha!" Darian laughed out. "You! You are done for! I told you to listen to me, but you didn''t! Now you will pay for your mistakes!" The man then glanced at his father and, "Father! Look! I just wanted to buy what the people of our city were selling to help their business when suddenly, this man appeared in front of me and assaul-" Before Darian could even complete his words, the City Lord walked towards Kael and, "Hero Kael." He greeted, and then, with an apologetic smile on his face, he slightly bowed his head. "I am the City Lord of Mistvale City, Sylas Mistwood, and I apologize for my son''s foolish actions. Clearly, I have pampered him too much since he was my youngest. I have failed as a parent." "W-What¡­?" Darian couldn''t believe what he was seeing. "Father! He was the one who attacked me! He even said all those thin-" Suddenly, five white magic circles appeared around the City Lord''s hand, and Darian lost his voice. It was as if he had turned mute, and he seemed to have no realization of it since he still continued to move his mouth, just that no voice came out of it. "Again, I apologize from the bottom of my heart, Hero Kael. I hope you won''t let this incident get to you." Sylas bowed his head even further, and the people who had gathered here stared at the situation, their surprise evident on their faces. "Did the City Lord just call him¡­ Hero¡­?" "The Hero¡­? The one who is summoned in the Royal Capital?" "He¡­ is the Hero¡­?" "Then¡­ isn''t the youngest... Done for¡­?" Someone spoke, and suddenly, Darian, who realized what was happening, widened his eyes in horror. Only now did he realize why his father was acting like this! This man was THE Hero! No wonder the three women behind him were constantly grinning at him with that condescending look on their faces, they knew what was going to happen from the very beginning! Darian turned towards the three women, and just as he expected, the three of them were all grinning at him, especially the silver-haired one, she even dared to wink at him! ''That bit-'' Darian wanted to curse, right now, however, he had to calm down. After all, he knew they were in the position of Absolute Power, he couldn''t go against them and antagonize them any further. ''What the hell¡­?'' Darian, however, wasn''t the only one who was surprised, Kael was the same. While he did know his status as the Hero was important, to think even a City Lord of a Major City would bow his head in front of him like this¡­ As if understanding his confusion, Aria walked towards him and explained with a wide grin on her face, "Don''t be too surprised, Hero Kael. You are a man chosen by Lord Feraos himself, a man who is supposed to protect all of Nerathis. Your status, especially here in the Drakthar Kingdom, is no lower than the King''s." Aria then glanced at Darian with a disdainful look on her face and, "You have no reason to be intimidated by a fool who doesn''t know his place." Kael raised his eyebrow at those words. To think she would speak in such a manner, right in front of this man''s father to boot. But what surprised him even more was¡­ "That is correct, Hero Kael. Please do not foil your arrangements because of my foolish son''s mistakes." The City Lord nodded, glaring at his son. And Kael finally realized it. Sure, there might be enemies inside the Drakthar Kingdom, but¡­ There was a reason why those enemies were hidden in the shadows. Even if their influence was strong, it wasn''t strong enough to appear in the light. Even if Kael was surrounded by enemies, as long as he remained in the light, the enemies hidden in the darkness would not approach him. Even if the enemies were here in Mistvale City, as long as everyone knew that the Hero was in this city, they would never dare to harm him. And as if confirming his thoughts, the City Lord called out, "Hero Kael¡­ Now that your identity is revealed, things might become troublesome for you, so why don''t you spend the night in the City Manor instead? It would also give me a chance to make up for my son''s mistake." He offered, and Kael understood the underlying meaning. The City Lord was trying to protect him from anyone who might have malicious intentions. After all, the City Lord wouldn''t be able to deal with the consequences if something happened to the Hero in his city. Kael''s eyes shined in realization. He had finally started understanding a bit of politics. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Then I will trouble you." Kael nodded. He had no other choice in the matter anyway. "T-Thank you! I will make it so you and your allies have the most comfortable stay possible!" Sylas''s face brightened up, but then suddenly, as if he recalled something, an awkward look appeared on his face as he scratched the back of his head. "Also¡­ Could you leave my son now¡­?" Yes, Kael was still restraining Darian and had placed his foot on top of him. "Ah, right." When Kael realized what he was doing, he quickly stepped away. The dude was so weak that he didn''t even realize he was still restraining him. It just felt too natural. ''A natural stepping stone.'' Kael commented in his head, nodding his head with a satisfied look on his face. ''Fuck, I am still in public.'' He quickly shook his head as he coughed and then turned towards Sylas, "My bad." He apologized. "No worries, my son deserved it. I will make sure he gets punished for his actions." "Well, I am just glad he has a caring father like you." Kael replied, completely forgetting everything he said to this man''s wife before. Chapter 84 So? Why were you following me? "Did he agree?" A beautiful woman wearing a long, rich blue gown with white embroidery questioned, her eyes brimming with excitement. She was Elowen Mistwood, the City Lord''s first wife. "He didn''t." Sylas shook his head with a disappointed look on his face. "He didn''t¡­?" Elowen was taken aback. Sylas nodded again. "He must be tired. And¡­ Our children didn''t exactly make a good first impression." Elowen lowered her head. She couldn''t deny what Sylas said, but¡­ "We could have used this chance to get close to the Hero." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She muttered. "It is a pity¡­" Sylas lowered his head as well. The couple wanted the Hero and his Party to dine at the main Dining Hall, together with their family. Outwardly, it was a way for the Mistwood family to serve the Hero, but what they truly wanted was to introduce their children to the Hero, especially their daughters. And if any of them caught the Hero''s eye¡­ Yes, they were planning to tie the knot with the Hero. "What if I make Lenala meet him naturally? I am sure even the Hero would be attracted to her charms." Elowen suggested. Sylas, however, shook his head. "Let''s not do anything out of impatience. He is a man who preferred running away from the City rather than revealing his identity and silencing everyone around him. Clearly, he doesn''t like attention, and it is only natural if you think about it. He has only been in Nerathis for a few weeks. He needs time to adapt to the situation." Sylas analyzed. Yes, he was wrong. Kael didn''t choose to keep his identity a secret because he wanted to avoid attention. It was because he believed that if the fact that he was the Hero was revealed, he would be in even greater danger. Of course, for Kael, it all worked well since his decision made Sylas and Elowen avoid pulling him into a political mess. "Anyways, he barely agreed to dine with me out of courtesy. I shouldn''t keep him busy." Elowen nodded at those words, and the City Lord left with just one goal in his mind. To create a good image in the Hero''s head. ¡­ "Please enjoy the meal, Hero Kael." Sylas spoke as he glanced at Kael with a somewhat subservient smile. Kael smiled back. He found himself in an awkward position when the Lord of the City was acting like this in front of him. Soon, however, he shook his head and calmed his emotions. He needed to get his mind straight. After all, Sylas wasn''t the only one who came to this dining table with other intentions. Kael was the same. He wanted to confirm his doubts, and without wasting time, he started, "City Lord Sylas." "Yes?" "Would it be alright if I ask a question?" "Of course, ask me anything, and if I can, I will answer your question." "How did you know I was the Hero?" Kael questioned directly. "I am the City Lord of a Major City, Hero Kael. Of course, I recognized your face. Let alone me, even a normal Town Head would recognize you." "Even a Town Head?" Kael raised his eyebrow. "Well, the Towns at the Border of the Kingdom might be an exception since they have their own problems to deal with and aren''t involved in Kingdom politics, but any City or Town that is involved in politics¡ªtheir Leaders will definitely recognize you." Sylas answered, and Kael nodded in understanding. "I understand." "I am glad I was of help." Sylas smiled. He had his doubts before, but if the Hero liked to ask questions, he might be able to get what he came here for. All he needed to do was to give satisfactory answers and make the Hero feel like he could rely on him. Sylas looked forward to more questions the Hero might have, but then¡ª Kael, who was slowly eating his fill, glanced at Sylas again and, "So how did you know I was in the City?" "Huh?" Sylas frowned. "I was wondering how you knew I was in your City." "My guards informed me, of course." "Guards? The ones stationed at the Gate?" "Yes, that is correct." "But I hid my face when I entered. They shouldn''t have been able to recognize me." "It is because you hid your face that you attracted attention. The guards found it odd and sent people to tail you. Once you revealed your face, they recognized you and informed me." "Is that so¡­?" Kael muttered, his piercing blue eyes staring at Sylas. "That is correct." Sylas nodded. "How long did those people tail me for?" He questioned. "I do not have those details. If you want, I can order them to write a detailed report and have it sent to yo¡ª" "That is enough, Sylas." Suddenly, another voice was heard, and a being covered in a black cloak appeared in the dining room. Sylas''s expression changed when he saw him. "L-Lord, you didn''t have to come here. I had it unde¡ª" "He never hid his face at the entrance. He was lying." "What¡­?" Sylas''s expression changed as he stared at Kael. Kael, however, was looking at the man who had appeared out of nowhere, and a smile appeared on his face. "So you are the one who has been following me all this while." He muttered. "You knew¡­?" The being looked surprised. "I had an inkling." It was a lie. He had absolutely no clue. It was Igni who sensed him. Kael wanted Igni to come out when they set up camps but Igni refused¡ªsomething he would usually never do. He then told Kael that someone had been following them ever since they left the Kingdom. The being only left him alone a few times, and those were the times Igni used to come out and play with Kael. Igni also told him that the follower stopped following him and disappeared the instant Kael stepped into Estwyn Town. "You are sharper than I was told." "My intuition has become stronger than normal ever since I came to this world." "It must be Lord Feraos''s blessing." "Might be." Kael nodded, once again, his trick of letting others guess the reason for everything he does, worked. "You must be the one who informed the City Lord that his youngest was fighting the Hero. No wonder he came rushing." Kael chuckled. "So that''s how you knew¡­" The being realized his mistake. Kael had no clue what this man was talking about, but he went with the flow and¡ª "It was pretty obvious." He nodded. The being nodded as well. "I see it now. The City Lord didn''t greet you the moment you entered the city, so it was safe to assume that he or his people didn''t know you were here. But then, him rushing towards you the instant his son made trouble for you¡ªit couldn''t be more obvious that someone informed him what was happening. Someone who was not one of his men." The being made up the story, and Kael just nodded while he smiled inwardly. This is why he loved talking to people who like to believe they know everything. If they did not understand anything, they would make up a credible story for their own convenience¡ªa story he could use later to hide Igni''s existence. "So? Why were you following me?" Kael questioned, wanting to know more. Chapter 85 It really is an Egg! "So? Why were you following me?" Kael questioned, wanting to know more. "I was sent by the Kingdom to ensure your safety." "Oh?" Kael raised his eyebrow, and soon, a translucent screen appeared in front of him. [Name: Kieran Raza] [Race: Human] [Age: 66] [Level: 68] [Strength: 87] [Agility: 130] [Speed: 120] [Stamina: 100] [Defense: 90] [Mana: 35] [Intelligence: 85] [Charisma: 80] [Strengths: Exceptional Agility, Skilled Tracker] [Weaknesses: Low Physical Defense, Weak in Melee Combat] S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ ''An agility-based warrior, huh¡­'' Kael noted. A Level 68 meant that he was a Seventh Stage Warrior. ''An Assassin maybe?'' Kael wondered in his head. He could only make a guess considering the stats he was seeing. "Now that you have assessed me, do you think I am strong enough to protect you?" Kieran questioned, clearly, he didn''t like being assessed, it felt like he was being judged. "I apologize, it''s a force of habit." Kael replied as his eyes turned back to normal. Kieran nodded in understanding. "Does this mean I was never in actual danger?" Kael questioned with a curious look on his face. "Do not take Marshal Therian''s words for granted, Hero Kael." Kieran shook his head. "I was given strict orders to not get involved no matter what happens in Estwyn. We were told to ensure that you reach Estwyn safely and no external threats unrelated to Estwyn harm you. The rest was up to you. The moment you entered the town, I stopped following you and waited for the test to end." "I understand." Kael nodded. "What about now? What''s your mission now?" "I am to ensure that you reach the Royal Capital safely." "You talk as if there are people out there wanting to kill me." Kael chuckled casually, as if laughing at Kieran''s mission. "Hero Kael, you are Lord Feraos''s blessed one, the hope of all Nerathis." Kieran spoke in a solemn tone. He didn''t like Kael''s casual attitude. He had seen Estwyn''s condition after the Hero left, and from their faces, he could understand how exceptional the Hero''s performance was. He had already heard about the Hero''s talent, he knew how quickly he had grown, and after this test, he knew how good of a leader this man was. The Hero had what it took to save Nerathis. The Hero had what it took to¡­ be a Hero. Kieran could see how important the Hero was to Drakthar and to Nerathis. The last thing he wanted was for the Hero to fall because he became overconfident and took things too lightly. So he decided to voice his thoughts. "Do not forget, while there are people who love you, rely on you, and see you as the hope, there are also people who would do anything in their power to crush that hope. Hero Kael, you can never be too careful." Kieran warned. At his words, however, Kael smiled. "I was under the impression that the Kingdom ensured the test''s secrecy and that only the higher-ups, people who are absolutely loyal to the Kingdom, knew about it. I thought that was the logical assumption, but I guess that was not the case, huh¡­" Then, Kael looked into Kieran''s eyes and, "Or maybe there is something I am failing to consider¡­" "¡­" Kieran turned silent, unable to say anything. His mind, however, had started racing. "Anyways, thank you for the warning, I will be careful from now on." Kael smiled, acting like he didn''t notice the change in Kieran''s expression.. "Right..." Kieran nodded. "I will take my leave now, you two can continue your dinner." He turned towards Sylas and nodded. Sylas however, lowered his head with a guilty look on his face. After all, he couldn''t possibly impress the Hero now that it was established that he had lied to him. The Hero wouldn''t trust him no matter what he said now. He had failed. "Lord Sylas." Suddenly, Kael spoke up. "Y-Yes?" The City Lord turned towards the Hero. "Please do not feel down." Kael smiled. "I understand that you kept his secret because you were told to. I was glad to see how you didn''t break someone else''s trust even though it meant that this might strain your relationship with the Hero. Only people like you can be trusted as a true ally, not the ones who would jump sides the moment the other side offered more." Hearing those words, Sylas''s face brightened up. "R-Right! I am grateful for the Hero''s understanding!" Kael smiled at those words, "We should continue our dinner, I do not wish to keep my allies waiting." "I understand." Sylas nodded as the two continued the dinner, serving the Hero with an even bigger smile. Kieran, who saw how the mood shifted, didn''t fail to notice Kael''s ability to read the room. ''I underestimated him¡­'' He noted before he finally decided to disappear. The dinner continued, Kael and Sylas chatted a bit, Sylas continued to offer more and more delicacies, and Kael didn''t reject, he was tasting everything for his Igni so he could choose the best ones for him. Once the dinner was over, Kael shook hands with the City Lord and returned. Sarah and the others were given their own rooms, he went there and chatted with them for a while before he finally walked into the room that was allotted to him and heaved a big, tired sigh. It was a long day¡­ But it wasn''t over yet. ''Igni, is he around?'' He questioned. ''Kyu.'' Igni nodded. ''Is he observing us?'' Igni shook his head. ''Is anyone else noticing us?'' Igni shook his head again, and once Kael was sure about this, he took out the ''stone'' he had bought today. "I still have no clue how this thing is an egg." He muttered as he stared at the ''thing'' in front of him, and a screen appeared in front of him. [Ding!] [Cloud Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] ''Yes.'' Kael nodded and he then felt his energy moving inside his body in a specific flow. Then, a faint, golden light came out of his palm, enveloping the ''Egg.'' Bzzz The egg reacted instantly. The reddish-white hues of the stone trembled, its petal-like ridges curled inward, as if alive. Beautiful golden veins spread all over the egg''s surface and its glow strengthened. The white now overpowered the red tint, it was as if it had become¡­ much much purer. Slowly, the rigid, stone-like texture softened, the stone now looked like an actual flower. However, the transformation didn''t end there, no, this was just the beginning. Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz Golden Veins continued to pulse all over the surface, making it more and more soft to the point its very nature seemed to have changed. From solid, it turned into a fluid, And then, it turned into Mist. A White Mist with light red hues floating in the air. "What the hell¡­?" Kael, of course, had no idea what was happening. ''Did it fail¡­?'' He wondered, but then, [Ding!] [Draconic Awakening completed] The System informed. "This¡­ is an¡­ Egg¡­?" Kael wondered as he stared at the strange Mist in front of him. [Ding!] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the target?] [Y/N] ''It really is an Egg!'' Chapter 86 Cirri. "This¡­ is an¡­ Egg¡­?" Kael couldn''t even process what he was seeing before, [Ding!] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the target?] [Y/N] The System screen appeared in front of him. Ba-dump His heart skipped a beat when the realization finally dawned on him. He was¡­ about to get another Dragon¡­ Another Bond¡­ Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump His heartbeat quickened and a big smile appeared on his face. "Igni." He called out and as if he was waiting for this moment, Igni quickly appeared in front of him. This time, however, he didn''t jump on his face like he usually does. The little Dragon was intently staring at the Mist in front of him. It seemed like he understood what it was. Kael chuckled when he saw Igni''s reaction, then without wasting any time, he clicked on ''Yes'' again. [To activate the Skill , drop your blood on the Egg.] Kael did as he was told. He wondered if the blood would drop on the floor since he was basically dropping it on a Mist, but the moment his blood touched the Mist, it disappeared as if the Mist had absorbed it. Then suddenly, the Mist started becoming denser and denser, to the point it now resembled molten white glass with light red hues around it. It was then, Ba-dump Kael heard a heartbeat. Not his. It came from the ''Egg'' in front of him. It was reacting to Kael''s blood. [Ding!] [Blood Pact Formed Successfully.] The System informed and as if reacting to its message, the ''Egg'' in front of Kael, which now seemed to have turned into dense fluid, continued to change its shape. Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump Its heartbeat started becoming louder and louder. It was as if a life was being born right at this moment, and in a few seconds, Kael started to recognize the shape the ''Egg'' was taking. It was a Dragon. Yes, the Dragon wasn''t coming out of the Egg, the ''Egg'' itself was turning into a newborn Dragon. Kael stared at the process with intense eyes, not wanting to miss even a single moment. Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump His heartbeat started to resonate with the Egg-Dragon, and finally, the Egg-Dragon transformed into a complete Dragon and let out an extremely adorable voice. "Nyu~" The instant Kael heard this voice, his heart skipped a beat again. This time, he took damage for real. ''Fuck, they really need to tone down these Dragons'' cuteness¡­ Dragons aren''t supposed to be this cute!!'' He shouted in his head as his eyes fell on the tiny figure who was floating in front of him, blinking up at him with her wide, shimmering amber eyes. Maybe it was because her body was now fully formed, she couldn''t stay in the air anymore, but before she could fall, Kael quickly grabbed her in his arms, and as he did that, he couldn''t help but feel a wave of extreme comfort wash over him. Her body was impossibly soft. It was as if¡­ he was holding a cloud. Her skin was a blend of snowy white and a gentle, warm hue. Little wisps of fluff curled at the edges of her tiny body, giving her an almost weightless appearance, as if she belonged more to the heavens than the earth. Her soft reddish horns were elegantly curved, forming a small crown on her head. "Nyu¡­" ''Uggghhhh¡­'' Kael''s heart clenched as she let out a small, squeaky yawn. Her little paws stretched out. Her tiny claws were barely noticeable, and just like Igni, she had a round, fluffy belly that practically demanded to be patted. ''And I here thought I wouldn''t be a sucker for cute things now that I have Igni¡­'' Kael sighed helplessly. Yes, he was helpless. Helpless against the overwhelming, absolute cuteness of the tiny Dragon in his arms. *Picture* And it wasn''t just Kael who was affected. Igni was the same. He brought his paws next to the newborn Dragon as slowly and gently as he could. He was being very careful, as if he was afraid of hurting this adorable little thing. Touch The instant Igni''s paws touched her body, his ember eyes widened and, "Nyu¡­" As the little Dragon let out a voice, Igni froze. Even the mighty Igni had now taken damage. Kael, who realized that he wasn''t alone, nodded in his heart, then, acting like a responsible father, he glanced at Igni and, "She is your little sister, protect her with everything you have, okay?" "Kyu!" Igni nodded, his amber eyes burning with determination Kael had never seen before. Kael chuckled as he patted Igni''s head. Igni, however, continued to stare at his little sister. Kael did the same and turned towards her as well. Then, as if he recalled something, his eyes turned golden. [Name: Unnamed] [Race: Cloud Dragon] [Rank: Mythical] [Age: 0 Days] [Level: 1] [Strength: 10] [Agility: 16] [Speed: 18] [Stamina: 12] [Defense: 8] [Mana: 25] [Intelligence: 9] [Charisma: 12] [Strengths: Intangible Form, High Mobility, Density Control] [Weaknesses: Fragile in Solid Form, Energy Dependency, Vulnerable to Strong Winds] ¡­ ''She is faster than Igni¡­'' Kael noticed. Soon, however, another question appeared in his head. ''How is she going to get stronger?'' Normally, a human grew because of his Bonds. As the Bonds leveled up and got stronger, the Humans grew with them. In his case, however, things were different. It was him who got stronger as he trained and learned new things, and together with him, Igni grew. ''Does this mean the experience I gain from leveling up now will be divided between the two of them?'' Kael wondered in his head. Honestly, he wanted to test that theory right now, but to gain experience, he either needed to kill or learn something new, both of those options didn''t seem possible at this moment. Kael continued to think, but then, "Nyuu¡­" The Cloud Dragon called out as she looked into his eyes. It seemed like she wanted attention. And the moment Kael noticed the look on her face, all his thoughts cleared up, and the only thing he could think about was to pamper her. It was almost as if she had done some sort of magic on him. ''Fuck it, I''ll know as time passes.'' Kael gave in as he shook his head and stopped thinking about it. He also noticed that the Dragon didn''t have a name yet and in his mind, that instantly became the priority. "I should name you now." "Nyuu!" The Cloud Dragon seemed to like this idea as her face brightened up, Kael hugged her even more tightly and the instant he felt her unbearably soft , cloud-like body again, a word came to his mind. "Cloud¡­ Clouds high in the air, above all impurities, Cirrus." Then, he stared at the Cloud Dragon and, "I''ll call you Cirri from now on." Kael declared and her eyes brightened in joy. "Nyu!!" "You like it?" "Nyu!!" Kael laughed at her reaction, as if the newborn understood what he meant, she nodded and unable to hold back any further, Kael hugged her even more tightly, rubbing his face with hers. "Nyu~" As if enjoying it, Cirri let out an adorable cry, slowly, Igni came and started patting her head with her paws, the Fire Dragon was being extremely careful with his little sister. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Nyu..." Under the two''s care, Cirri''s eyes turned heavy, then, she drifted into sleep. Kael smiled as he felt her slow, rhythmic breathing. She was so light, almost weightless, Kael was worried he might hurt her if he wasn''t careful, so he was especially gentle with her. Beside him, Igni continued to watch his sister, his tail moving left and right without stop. He was... mesmerized. That little life sleeping in front of him, he wanted to protect it with everything he had, and for that, he needed to get stronger. Even stronger than what he was right now. "Should we sleep as well?" Kael questioned as he glanced at Igni. "Kyu..." Igni nodded, keeping his voice low, not wanting to disturb his sleeping sister. Kael quickly layed on the bed with Cirri in his arms, Igni followed behind and lied down next to Cirri. Kael moved his hand over to Igni, rubbing his soft belly. "Kyu¡­" The Fire Dragon purred adorably. The warmth of Igni and the coolness of Cirri pushed Kael into the sink of extreme comfort, his eyelids grew heavy and with one last glance at the two dragons curled up beside him, Kael let himself sink into sleep. Chapter 87 Genesis of the Ancients "Hnh!" Kael''s eyes shot open. It was the vision again. That battle, his friend''s sacrifice, the wolf that went out of control, and those numerous system messages that appeared in front of him, it was all the same. Slowly, Kael sat up, resting his back on the bed''s headrest. Cirri and Igni were still beside him, sleeping peacefully. Kael observed them with a light smile for a while, then, he looked out of the window and realized that the sun was about to rise. He still had a few hours before he left the city. Kael closed his eyes, recalling everything he saw in the vision again. Honestly, there were too many questions in his head, especially related to the system messages. Why was the System Screen red? There were also some words written in a language he couldn''t understand. What was that language? Also, what did ''Unexpected Transformation Outside Of Established Parameters'' mean? Was it because the Future Kael used his ability on a beast that did not have Dragon Blood? Were ''Dragons'' the ''Established Parameters?'' If yes, then who set these parameters? And¡­ how was Future Kael able to surpass those limits? S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Also, what did ''Host''s Time Has Run Out, Complete Reward Cannot Be Granted'' mean? Did the System know Future Kael was about to die? And what was the Complete Reward? The more he thought about it, the more questions appeared in his mind. ''Haaahh... I need to stop thinking about it.'' Kael shook his head and cleared his mind. There was no point in thinking about it, especially when he knew nothing of the matter. For now, his focus was on something else. Something he had been wanting to try for a while now, and Kael believed that this was the perfect time for it. ''He used on a Frostfang Wolf and turned him into a Frostlord Fenrir, a Mythical Rank Beast from the legends.'' He thought inwardly, and then, a question popped up in his head. ''Can I do it as well¡­?'' Honestly, if it was just the energy flow, then he felt like it might be possible. After all, he had already learned it. ''There is no harm in trying.'' He muttered inwardly and, keeping his eyes closed, he recalled the energy flow the Future Kael used. Then, he activated , and just like Future Kael, he changed the energy flow. Maybe it was because Kael was used to meditating and moving mana inside his body, directing the energy flow didn''t feel very difficult. He copied the energy path the Future Kael had used in the vision to the dot as he moved the energy all around his body, and soon, he could feel it. The Energy of Genesis was transforming. Kael didn''t know what it was changing into and honestly, he didn''t care. To him, as long it was changing into something similar to what he sensed in the Vision, he would be satisfied. And as if acknowledging his actions, [ERROR! ERROR! ERROR!] A screen similar to the one he saw in the vision appeared in front of him. [System Error: Unexpected Energy Flow Outside the Established Parameters Detected!] [Processing.] [Adaptive Resp##%#$@@!!] And once again, that weird language was used. ''Is it a bug¡­?'' Kael wondered in his head. He, however, wasn''t given time to think this through as more and more screens appeared in front of him. [ERROR! ERROR! ERROR!] [A Similar Feat Has Been Achieved Before.] ''What¡­?'' Kael''s expression changed. [Analyzing Past Data.] [Data Match Found:] [Host: Kael Dragonborn.] ''Kael¡­ Dragonborn¡­?'' Kael was dumbfounded. [Previous Achievement Identified.] [Analyzing Connection Between The Two Feats.] [The True Essence of Kael Dragonborn Resonates with Kael Carter.] ''True Essence of what now¡­?'' Kael had no clue what was happening. [Identity Confirmed: Same Entity Across Time.] [Feat Repeated.] [True Reward is Being Calculated.] [Ding!] [Analysis Complete.] [Your feat has breached the threshold set by the Celestials.] ''Celestials...'' Kael noted the term used. Not that he was given time to. [A path unknown has now opened to you.] [Warning:] [The path you now walk is uncharted, reserved for those who surpass the limits. This is the road of the Transcendents¡ªa journey with no maps, no clear destination.] [The System will now adapt to the unknown path ahead.] [Evolving Host''s Talent according to his Path.] ''Evolving...? My Talent...?'' Kael couldn''t believe it. His talent was already as absurd as it could get, what do you mean by evolving? How could you evolve what is already the best? But the System thought differently. [Ding!] [Talent Evolution Complete.] [Talent Evolution: Dragon Genesis -> Genesis of the Ancients.] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank -> EX Rank.] ''Genesis of the... Ancients?'' Kael frowned but... It wasn''t over yet. [Ding!] [Title Awarded: The One Who Broke The Limit.] [Title Effect: +25 to all attributes. The System acknowledges your ability to transcend established boundaries.] ''W-W-What¡­?'' Before Kael could even understand what had happened, he felt a sudden surge of energy in his body, instantly strengthening him to an absurd degree. His body felt rejuvenated and extremely strong. It was almost as if he was reborn and had shed all his impurities. Unable to hold back, Kael quickly brought up the System Screen, wanting to see his stats, and his eyes widened in astonishment. [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 20] [CE: 412/3400] [Talent: Dragon Genesis ¡ú Genesis of the Ancients] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank ¡ú EX Rank] [Strength: 52 ¡ú 77] [Agility: 53 ¡ú 78] [Speed: 50 ¡ú 75] [Stamina: 53 ¡ú 78] [Defense: 55 ¡ú 80] [Mana: 63 ¡ú 88] [Intelligence: 51 ¡ú 76] [Charisma: 50 ¡ú 75] ¡­ ''Holy shit¡­'' Kael couldn''t help but curse in his head. This¡­ this was broken! His overall strength had nearly risen by 50 percent! This was simply unprecedented! And what''s even better? He hadn''t even looked at the biggest change yet. SSS Rank Talent was already absurd in its own way; even a child knew that it was the highest of the highest ranks, the strongest there is. There was one rank that surpassed even the SSS Rank. A broken, special rank that exceeded the limits¡ª EX Rank. And now, Kael had an EX Ranked Talent. "So this was the Complete Reward, huh¡­" Kael got the answer to one of his questions. Then, a big smile appeared on his face and, "Let''s check it out, shall we?" He spoke as his eyes fell on his Talent''s Description. Chapter 88 Even stronger? "Let''s check it out, shall we?" Kael spoke with a big smile as his eyes fell on his Talent''s Description. [Talent Name: Genesis of the Ancients] [Talent Rank: EX Rank] [Description:] [An Exclusive Talent that grants the user the ability to awaken the Latent Bloodlines of any Beast, regardless of how faint or ancient these traces may be. Once awakened, the Beast traces back to its Strongest Ancestors and transforms into its True Form.] ¡­ [Talent Abilities:] [Ancient Awakening] [Description:] [The foundation of the Genesis of the Ancients. Awaken the ancient bloodlines of any beast, transforming it into its True Form with powers far beyond ordinary weakened beasts.] Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire [Primordial Sense] [Description:] [Detects beasts or eggs with latent bloodlines of any ancient lineage within a 2-kilometer range. Automatically activates to guide you toward the target.] [Eye of the Ancients] [Description:] [A powerful ability that allows you to peek into any being''s or object''s secrets.] [Blood Bond of the Ancients] [Description:] [A unique ability that forges an unbreakable bond with the ancient creatures you awaken.] [Dominion of the Ancients] [Description:] [Your presence now carries the weight of ancient, forgotten powers. With your mere aura, you can bend the will of the world around you, suppressing those weaker than you and strengthening your allies.] [Elemental Harmony] [Description:] [Elements love you. You and your allies near you will experience reduced mana consumption and increased effectiveness of their spells and abilities.] [Primordial Endurance] [Description:] [The ancient energy flowing through you fortifies your body and mind. You have resistance to fatigue, and your stamina regenerates at an accelerated rate. The more extreme conditions you are in, the faster your stamina regenerates.] [Immutable Presence] [Description:] [Your connection to ancient powers grants you an unshakable will. Allies in your presence show resistance to fear or manipulation.] [Cycle of Renewal] [Description:] [You and the Ancients you have awakened experience accelerated recovery from injuries and ailments.] Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ [EX Abilities:] [Ascendance of the Ancient] [Description:] [This powerful skill allows you to temporarily transform into an avatar of the Ancients you have awakened, gaining access to even their most powerful abilities.] [Ancient''s Call] [Description:] [An extraordinary ability that allows you to teleport to the Ancient Sanctum, a separate dimension where the Ancients once thrived. Within this realm, time flows differently, allowing you and your bonded beasts to train, battle, and grow stronger at an accelerated rate.] "¡­" Kael was overwhelmed. There were too many messages for him to read. However, before he could even read them all, one of his abilities activated. It was , and since the ability was similar to his , Kael quickly understood that it was pointing toward a Beast or an Egg around him. ''To think I went all around the market to find something useful, and now I can sense more than eight targets just from my room. It really helps when I don''t have to find Dragons, doesn''t it?'' Kael chuckled inwardly. However, the moment he glanced at the System Messages in front of him, his expression changed. [Ding!] [Primordial Fire Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] [Ding!] [Ancient Sky Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] "¡­" Kael froze. His ability¡­ the Beasts it was targeting were his own. "They¡­ can get stronger¡­?" Kael blinked, unable to believe what he was seeing. Igni and Cirri were already Mythical Rank Beasts, the strongest Rank there was. How could they get even stronger? Did it even make sense? ''Wait¡­'' Kael''s expression changed. ''Does it mean that a Rank above Mythical exists¡­?'' The moment Kael thought of this possibility, his thoughts froze as he glanced at his two adorable Dragons who were sleeping peacefully. But then, as if sensing his gaze and his messy state of mind, Igni''s eyelids trembled, and he woke up, staring at Kael with a groggy but worried look on his face. "Kyu¡­" He called out. Kael understood what he meant. "I am fine, Igni. You can go back to sleep." He smiled as he nodded toward the Dragon. The Dragon, however, nodded and then walked toward him with a sleepy look on his face. Understanding his thoughts and knowing what he wanted, Kael waited for him. The little thing, who was now a big brother, quickly walked toward him and fell on his lap, wanting a hug. Kael picked him up and hugged him like the most precious thing in the world. In an instant, his occupied mind calmed down, and he exhaled deeply. "Every time you sense my messy emotions, you come and hug me, instantly clearing my mind. Sometimes I think you do it on purpose so you can make sure I am actually fine." Kael chuckled. "Kyu¡­" Igni just purred lazily, not answering, and Kael laughed out loud. "It must be difficult to raise an incompetent father like me, eh?" "Kyu." Igni answered, and Kael, who understood him, laughed even more now. ''I can do it.'' That''s what the little Dragon was saying. "Yes, yes, you are doing a marvelous job." Kael nodded as he then rubbed Igni''s warm scales. Then suddenly, he asked a question, "Igni, do you wish to get even stronger?" The little Dragon glanced at Kael and tilted his head. He was confused. Even stronger? Him¡­? Did his father forget who he was? However, knowing that his father wouldn''t say this without thinking, Igni nodded. Yes, he wanted to get stronger. He wanted to get so strong that his father would never have to worry about anything anymore, and he could come out and play with his father as much as he wanted, no matter who was watching. Kael stared at Igni and nodded back. Then, he placed him on the bed and positioned his hand on top of his head. [Ding!] [Primordial Fire Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] The message appeared again, and Kael pressed ''Yes.'' Chapter 89 You got a lot stronger. [Ding!] [Primordial Fire Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] The message appeared again, and Kael pressed ''Yes.'' As he did, he felt an energy surging into his body. It didn''t take him long to understand what this energy was. It was the Energy of Genesis. This time, however, this energy felt much purer and stronger. The energy moved inside his body in a specific pattern. Kael tried to remember the pattern. His focus, however, was currently on Igni. He was a little worried that something might happen to him. For now, however, he decided to trust the system, and a golden light much purer and brighter than before came out of his palm and enveloped Igni. Igni closed his eyes. "Kyu¡­" He let out a low voice as his body trembled. "Igni, are you alright?" Kael questioned in a hurried tone. The little dragon nodded slowly, barely opening his eyes. His body continued to tremble. He was in pain. And Kael, who could sense it, felt his heart ache. He wanted to stop in the middle, but fearing what consequences it might have, he didn''t do it. He could only trust the system. At the same time, he couldn''t help but curse himself in his mind. ''I should have experimented on some other beast first.'' That was a terrifying thought. Kael, however, didn''t care. The world could burn to smithereens, and as long as his Igni and Cirri were fine, he wouldn''t care. While more and more dangerous thoughts filled up his head, he noticed something. Igni''s smooth, red scales were becoming even redder and much more¡­ purer. They were being... enhanced. Igni was... changing. As a Fire Dragon, he was already born with an extremely strong bloodline, but now... he was becoming something... more. Crack Suddenly, Kael noticed a few cracks appearing on Igni''s enhanced scales. His little body trembled as the cracks became wider and wider before finally¡­ The scales fell on the bed. It was as if even after being enhanced, his changing bloodline wasn''t satisfied by these scales, and, new, bright shimmering red scales replaced the older ones. What Kael didn''t know was that while Igni was going through such changes, the entirety of Nerathis noticed a rise in temperature. The usually cold dawn felt hotter than an afternoon. Humans and beasts alike noticed the strange phenomenon, and when they left their dwellings and looked above, their eyes widened in surprise as they noticed that the sky had turned fiery red. "W-What is happening¡­?" A swordsman who was practising his sword early in the morning stuttered, unable to comprehend this phenomenon. It wasn''t just him. The strongest tamers and beasts, even those hidden in the shadows, all over Nerathis noticed it, yet¡­ None could comprehend it. They could only stare at it in absolute awe until finally, a few minutes later, the sky and the temperature returned to normal. Yes, Igni''s transformation was over. [Ding!] [Ancient Awakening completed] The system informed. Kael stared at Igni. His eyes turned golden, and the instant he saw his stats, his eyes widened in horror. [Name: Igni] [Race: Fire Dragon -> Primordial Fire Dragon] [Rank: Mythical -> Eternal] [Age: 19 Days] [Level: 20] [Strength: 84 -> 123] [Agility: 72 -> 116] [Speed: 77 -> 121] [Stamina: 98 -> 155] [Defense: 88 -> 130] [Mana: 110 -> 164] [Intelligence: 82 -> 150] Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Charisma: 115 -> 183] [Strengths: Physical Power, Dragon Magic, Resilience, Early Flight Capability] [Weaknesses: Inexperience, Energy Dependency, Immature Flight Skills] ¡­ ''W-What¡­?'' Kael couldn''t believe his eyes. Igni¡­ He had completely surpassed Elira, a level 67 Court Mage, in every possible way. And he was only at level 20! This made no sense! "Father¡­" "Huh¡­?" Kael''s thoughts froze when he heard a voice. He looked around, the confusion on his face visible, but, "Father." Igni called out again, and the moment Kael realized it, a big smile appeared on his face. "Igni, you can speak now!" "Father." Igni called out again. "Yes, what is it?" Kael questioned excitedly. "Cirri is sleeping, Lower your voice." Igni spoke, his voice felt oddly mature, like an older brother''s. Kael turned silent, not knowing how to react. He was glad that Igni could speak now, but¡­ For some reason, he couldn''t look at Igni like he was the same, childish Dragon anymore. Kael tried to figure out the reason, but he couldn''t put his finger on it. Igni''s appearance hadn''t changed much, other than his scales now being much redder and smoother than before. He was still an extremely adorable baby, but¡­ Something about him felt¡­ distant. Something... Primordial. It was as if this little being understood the entire world. His very presence commanded respect. And Kael was right. Igni was now a Primordial Fire Dragon, the embodiment of the First Dragon created out of True Fire, a being who was destined to stand above the rest. A Being who didn''t just rule the Myths anymore, he was now a being who was supposed to become... Eternal. A being who commanded absolute authority. At least that was how it was for others, but for Kael? Well, Kael was an exception. "Father¡­" Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire Igni called out again, and just like before, he fell on his lap. "...?" Kael froze, unable to react. Frowning that he wasn''t picked up yet, Igni glanced at Kael, "Father?" Once again, his eyes shined with that adorable innocence Kael couldn''t resist and, "Ahhhh, you can speak now~" He picked Igni up and hugged him as tightly as he could. "Was it painful? Were you hurt? Do you feel any pain anywhere right now? Are you alright? Do you feel any sort of discomfort?" Kael asked a bunch of questions as he thoroughly examined Igni''s body. A presence that commanded respect or whatever, all that could come when Kael was done examining his child. Igni, who was now at the receiving end of his father''s worries, nodded with a satisfied look on his face. Yes, that is it. He was a big brother now, but this didn''t mean he didn''t have to be pampered. Igni would get all the pampering he could get, for the rest of his life. "Father, I am fi-" "Shut up." Before Igni could say anything, Kael silenced him, and only once the dragon''s father was satisfied did he stop and place Igni back on his lap, rubbing his belly. Igni purred, snuggling close to Kael. "You got a lot stronger." Kael spoke. "I will become even stronger." Igni replied confidently. Kael chuckled, then suddenly, he sensed movement around him and realized that after all the commotion, Cirri had woken up as well. Kael narrowed his eyes as he glanced at Cirri, and as if reading his mind, Igni shook his head, "Father, not her. She is a child." ''A 19-day-old shouldn''t be saying this, you know?'' Kael thought inwardly but didn''t say it out loud. "I don''t want her to get hurt." Igni spoke and sharing the same thought, Kael nodded. "Nyu¡­" Little Cirri finally opened her eyes and rubbed them with her small paws. Kael and Igni who saw that, couldn''t help but feel their hearts melt. "My Daughter is adorable." "My Sister is adorable." They spoke at the same time. As for Cirri, "Nyu?" She just tilted her head in confusion. Chapter 90 [Ancients Call] As Kael and Igni put the still-sleepy Cirri back to sleep, Kael turned towards Igni, placed him on his lap again and grinned. Igni could finally talk now. It was nothing short of a golden opportunity. There were so many things Kael wanted to ask and learn. Yes, most of the time, he could understand what Igni was trying to tell him because of their connection. That, however, had its limits. He couldn''t have an actual conversation with him. Now, however, it was different. "Are you sure you are okay?" He questioned once again, just to be sure. Yes, he was that annoying kind of parent who only knew how to worry about his child. Even if he had a lot of questions, his worry for Igni still overpowered everything else. "Yes, Father, I am more than fine. I feel¡­ different." Igni nodded, rubbing his head on Kael''s hand while Kael rubbed his bulging belly. "Different? Different how?" Kael questioned. "My connection with Flames is much stronger than before. Earlier, I used Dragon Magic to conjure flames, but¡­ Now, it feels as if Flames themselves would bow down to me." Igni answered, and Kael''s expression changed. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Too many things that he had no clue about were said. "Wait, wait, wait, I am lost. This was actually what I wanted to talk to you about. How did you cast magic before? What is this Dragon Magic you mentioned?" Kael questioned. He still hadn''t forgotten how Igni created Fireball for the very first time. That day, Kael figured out that the little Dragon directly influenced the Fire Elements and moved them as he wished. However, when he tried to copy it, he failed. Back then, Kael thought it was because the number of Fire Elements he could control was extremely limited. However, even now, when he could control a higher number of Elements, he couldn''t even form a little spark, let alone a Fireball. Something was missing. Kael just didn''t know what it was. "Dragon Magic is a Magic limited to us Dragons. It allows us to interact with Elementals with our thoughts alone, making it possible to conjure magic with minimal Mana." Igni answered intelligently. "So¡­ I cannot use it?" "A Human should not be able to." Igni shook his head. Kael sighed in disappointment. "What about now? You said you feel different now. What changed? What do you mean when you say the Flames bow down to you?" "It just became¡­ easier for me to control flames. While I still use Dragon Magic to conjure Flames, it has become much easier for me, as if the Flames themselves are waiting for me to command them." "So that means now you need even less Mana to cast stronger spells?" "That is correct." Kael was awed when he heard those words. "Igni, you are getting more and more broken." "Broken?" Igni tilted his head as he stared at his father. Kael just chuckled as he playfully rubbed Igni''s snout and smiled, "I am saying you are getting stronger and stronger. It is becoming difficult for me to catch up." "I will make sure you never catch up. I will become strong enough to protect Father." "Will you now?" Kael chuckled. "You know¡­" Then, his expression changed as he stared at the screen in front of him. [Ancient''s Call] "I might have a way to get stronger as well." One of his Talent Abilities he awakened today, or the ''EX Ability'' as the System calls it. Kael stared at the ability for a while, and its description became more detailed. [Ancient''s Call] [Description:] [An extraordinary ability that allows you to teleport to the Ancient Sanctum, a separate dimension where the Ancients once thrived. Within this realm, time flows differently, allowing you and your bonded beasts to train, battle, and grow stronger at an accelerated rate.] [Effect:] [Randomized Entry: Each time you activate this ability, you are teleported to a different domain within the Ancient Sanctum, influenced by the Ancients you have awakened.] [Trial of the Ancestors: You and your Bonds will engage in battles against echoes of powerful ancient creatures to hone your abilities and unlock deeper potential.] [Time Distortion: Time moves differently in the Ancient Sanctum. One hour inside the Sanctum equals only six minutes in Nerathis.] [Deathless Domain: Every time you leave the Sanctum, your injuries and those of your Bonds are healed. You and your Bonds cannot die inside the Sanctum.] [Cooldown: 24 Hours] ''Should I try it¡­?'' Kael thought inwardly. The ''Deathless Domain'' attracted his attention. It was a place where he could go all out without worrying about anything. A temptation Kael couldn''t ignore, So¡­ He decided to use this ability, and the moment he thought about it, Whoosh A crack appeared in front of him. Yes, a crack, in the very space in front of him. "Father...?" Igni frowned, even Kael was surprised. The crack was becoming wider and wider. It sparkled like a soap bubble, all rainbow colors and shifting light. It looked like a doorway made of gems, with emerald, blue, and gold swirling inside. It glowed softly, as if tempting Kael to walk in. ''Is this... a portal?'' Kael wondered. ''Am I supposed to walk through it?'' "Father, be careful." Igni muttered in a tone much more serious than before. The Little Dragon even freed himself from Kael''s embrace and stood in front of him, true to his words, he was protecting his Father. "Igni?" Kael called out with a frown, he wanted to know what the Dragon was thinking or... sensing. "Father, the energy coming from the other side¡­ It''s unfamiliar." "Unfamiliar?" "Yes, I have never sensed something like this¡­ It''s¡­ not from Nerathis." "You can tell that?" Kael was taken aback. Hearing a strange question, the Little Dragon turned around, somewhat understanding the situation. For this thing to appear just when his father talked about getting stronger... "Father, do you know what this is?" "I..." Kael thought about it for a moment. A Portal suddenly forming in front of him... all of this was still too new for him. But, if he thought about it, everything around here was new to him. He was talking to a literal Dragon for God''s sake! "I do." Kael nodded, then, a wide grin appeared on his face and, "It is our new playground." "A playground?" Igni tilted his head in confusion. "That is correct. A playground where you do not have to hide. A place where you can go all out, a place where we can face different challenges and grow stronger together." "Together with Father¡­?" "Exactly." Kael''s smile widened and, "Do you wish to try?" "I do." Igni nodded, his amber eyes shining brightly, unable to hide his curiosity and excitement. Igni, however, wasn''t the only one excited for it. "Nyu!!" Cirri, who had woken up again, cheered as well. She had absolutely no clue what was happening in front of her. However, seeing her father and brother smiling, she joined them as well. Whatever they were going to do, she was going to follow! Or at least¡­ that''s what she thought¡­ "No, not you." Kael quickly picked the little thing up and placed her back inside the Sanctuary. Then, he turned towards the Fire Dragon and, "Let''s go, Igni." "Yes, Father." Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire Chapter 91 [The Infernal Crucible] "Uggh¡­ My Head¡­" Kael groaned as he knelt on the ground in pain. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It is alright, Father. Spatial movement usually has such an effect on one''s body." Igni spoke in a comforting tone, approaching his father. Kael stared at the Dragon and, "How do you know that?" "I¡­ just do?" Igni tilted his head, unable to come up with a better answer. In the end, Kael ignored it. Igni knew things that the child shouldn''t. He shouldn''t look at him using human standards. ''I guess Dragons are just built different, huh?'' "What about you? Are you alright? You don''t feel any discomfort, do you?" "I am alright, Father." Igni nodded as he looked around. Kael did the same. The Portal behind them had already closed and in front of them, there was an entirely different world, one they had never seen before. Reddish-brown hard ground, with rivers of lava flowing all over the place, immense heat, eerie crimson sky, and volcanoes all over the place. It was hell. [Ding!] And suddenly, a Screen appeared in front of Kael. [The Infernal Crucible] [Mission: Reignite the Heart of Crucible] [Mission Description] [The balance of the Infernal Crucible is crumbling, and the beasts within are losing control, turning into mindless entities of destruction. Reignite the Heart of Crucible before it collapses into chaos.] [Time Limit: The Infernal Crucible is unstable. In 24 Hours, the entire realm will be swallowed by flames.] [Completion Reward: Baptism of Eternal Flames] "What the¡­" Kael was taken aback. He wasn''t expecting there to be a mission as soon as he came here. "What is Baptism of Eternal Flames?" Yes, there were many things related to the mission that he didn''t understand, but his first focus was on the reward. "Are they going to bathe me in flam¡ª Aaaahhh!!" However, before Kael could think too much about this, he was suddenly tossed away by Igni. "Uggghh." Kael groaned in pain as he fell on the hot ground a few meters away from where he stood. He then glanced at Igni, who was flying towards him. "Igni, what are y¡ª" Whoosh Before he could even complete his question, the ground he was standing on was consumed by flames and collapsed, joining the river of molten lava around it. "Holy¡­" Kael was dumbfounded. "Father, this realm is unstable. We cannot stay in one place, else we will be consumed by the flames." Igni informed as he landed right next to Kael. "T-Thank you." Kael nodded as he stood up and patted Igni''s head. The Dragon, however, was alert, as if worried that something might hurt his father. "What do we do?" Igni questioned. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire His father was the one who brought him to this place, so he must know something, correct? And Kael did. "That way." Kael pointed in the northeast direction, towards the largest volcano of this realm. "We need to go there." Kael spoke with a solemn look on his face. Yes, according to the system, that was the ''Heart of Crucible'' that he needed to reignite. Now, what the hell did that mean? He had absolutely no clue, but since they were already here, he might as well explore, no? With that line of thought, Kael prepared his mind. He and Igni rushed towards the Crucible. The plan was simple: go to the Crucible, understand what reigniting its heart meant, do that, get the rewards, and boom, get out of this place. But¡­ Things weren''t that easy¡­ "Grrr¡­" While Kael and Igni ran towards the Crucible, their eyes fell on them. A pack of wolves who seemed like they were forged of fire itself. Their charred, obsidian fur contained the molten lava that flowed under their skin. Their eyes were searing orange, filled with an unnatural intelligence. Their jagged teeth and sharp claws seemed to have the power to burn and tear anything effortlessly. Inside their bodies, Kael also noticed a core that shined brightly, as if it powered up their entire bodies. All in all, these beasts were scary. Even Kael, who had faced corrupted beasts before, seemed intimidated by them. But¡­ To a Dragon, it didn''t matter. Whoosh A sea of flames appeared around the pack of wolves, engulfing them without giving them a chance to resist whatsoever. "Let''s go, Father." Igni spoke as he continued to run. He would have preferred if Kael sat on top of him as they flew towards the Crucible, but he knew his body was still too small for that, so they just ran. Kael followed behind the Dragon, but then, "Igni, stop." Kael ordered as his eyes turned golden. He was staring at the sea of flames Igni had summoned, and a few system screens appeared right in front of him. Screens that shouldn''t be appearing, after all, the wolves should be dead, no? They weren''t. And Kael quickly understood the reason why. [Name: Unnamed] [Race: Eternal Flame Wolf] [Level: 32] [Strength: 92] [Agility: 95] [Speed: 100] [Stamina: 88] [Defense: 80] [Mana: 50] [Intelligence: 28] [Charisma: 18] [Strengths: Flame Aura, Ember Dash, Scorch Claws, Fire Immunity] [Weaknesses: Weak to Water, Core] ¡­ "Fire Immunity¡­? That is just absurd." Kael complained as suddenly, the pack of wolves walked out of the sea of flames without taking any damage whatsoever, surprising even Igni. Kael''s face turned solemn as well. These wolves were even stronger than the Roc he faced yesterday, and¡­ unlike the Roc, who was alone, there were tens of these wolves here. ''Why can''t I fight enemies whose stats are at least comparable to mine¡­?'' Kael groaned in his heart as he saw the staggering difference between his and the beasts'' strength. Whoosh Igni summoned another sea of flames, but just like before, it didn''t work. "Igni, flames won''t work on them." Kael warned. The Dragon, however, didn''t seem to like that some beings dared to resist him. So¡­ He dashed right into the pack and clashed with the wolf that stood at the very front. BOOM The wolf exploded into flames, perishing in an instant. "It doesn''t matter." Igni spoke, his voice seemed much colder and stronger than before. "¡­" Kael stared at the scene in front of him in silence. ''Why do I feel like I was only summoned to Nerathis to bring out this guy?'' Chapter 92 Fighting like a Pack Should. ''Why do I feel like I was only summoned to Nerathis to bring out this guy?'' Kael thought inwardly as he sat on the warm ground, staring at the scene in front of him without a change in his expression. BOOM BOOM BOOM "Hahaha~ Father! These things aren''t that strong after all!" Igni''s laughter echoed throughout the battlefield as the little Dragon continued to attack the wolves like there was no tomorrow. Kael''s mouth twitched at those words, any one of those wolves was stronger than him, but for the Dragon, they were nothing more than playthings. Igni was stronger and faster than them, so the little guy dashed at these wolves, headbutted them, and the impact from their collision would be so strong that the poor wolves would explode into flames. Yes, that was it. That was how the Dragon was completing the Mission, all on his own. Any one-on-one battle lasted mere seconds¡ªIgni was simply on another level. "Hahaha~ Father, this is fun!!" Igni laughed like a child. For him, this was truly like a playground, just like Kael said A playground where the Dragon doesn''t have to hide at all. "Hahaha~" Igni continued to laugh. Kael, who saw that, couldn''t help but smile. Seeing the Dragon fully expressing his emotions filled his heart with joy and comfort. Rumble Rumble He then felt the ground beneath him tremble, he quickly recalled Igni''s words and got away from the place. He also glanced at Igni, and seeing how the Dragon was continuously targeting enemies farther and farther away from him so as to not stay in one place, he couldn''t help but be even prouder. His child was much smarter than he was. Just as Kael got away, Whoosh The ground he was sitting on was engulfed in flames. Kael stared at the fountain of Lava that consumed the land and raised his eyebrow. "Still as scary as before." He commented as he turned back towards Igni, and suddenly, he realized that Igni had gotten too far from him. To the point where he could barely see him. What''s worse? Kael was alone. All the wolves, who should have attacked both him and Igni, were targeting Igni and¡­ The Dragon was surrounded. Igni was strong, yes, but he was still a 19-day-old child. He had next to no battle experience and was used to dealing with everything using his flames. However, now that the wolves he was facing were completely immune to his flames, for the first time, Igni was facing beings who could be considered to be a ''challenge.'' Of course, the Dragon was still stronger, even without his flames, but¡­ With tens of wolves surrounding him, combined with his small, undeveloped body that made it difficult for him to use all his strength, Igni had no clue how to deal with the situation. Kael also noticed that the Dragon wasn''t dashing at the wolves anymore. He was forced to stay in one place as the wolves surrounded him, not giving him the momentum he needed to kill them. "Igni! Come back!" Kael shouted. However, maybe because of the constant eruptions of flames all over the place, or the growls of wolves that surrounded Igni, the Dragon couldn''t hear him. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The little Dragon already had too much on his plate. Tens of wolves, thrice his size, were after him. "Igni!" Kael panicked. Without thinking, he activated and launched himself forward, wanting to close the distance and protect his child. In 8 seconds, he could finally see Igni with his now-enhanced vision, and what he saw made him widen his eyes in absolute horror. "F-Father¡­" Igni''s shimmering red scale that protected his neck had fallen to the ground. The skin beneath it was charred, and there was a deep cut on it. Within a few more attacks, his¡­ his head would fall. Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump "IGNIIIIII!!!" Kael screamed as he rushed towards his child, his heart shook to its core. Everything disappeared from his vision, and only Igni remained. His legs moved on their own, displaying speed that shouldn''t be possible with his current stats. Red veins appeared all over his face, his eyes turned draconic golden, and his face distorted, "RRROOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRRRRR!!!!" He roared. Roar of Dominion. But¡­ It had absolutely no effect on the wolves. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire These wolves were much stronger than those corrupted beasts with no willpower or intelligence. All this while, they weren''t just being easy targets for the Dragon to crush. They were acting like a pack should. They were luring the Dragon deep into their territory and were constantly targeting his neck to the point the scale protecting it couldn''t take it anymore and fell off. Once the last protection was gone, the wolves quickly surrounded the Dragon, and now¡­ The pack was prepared to feast on their prey. Yes, the wolves were intelligent. Everything went just as they planned. Even a Dragon was completely helpless in front of them, but¡­ "IGNIIIII!!!!" There was one being the wolves didn''t consider in their equation. A human they deemed too weak to even worry about barged into their pack. With his arm now covered with draconic scales, he grabbed their heads and crushed them before throwing them away. "IGNII!!!" Kael called desperately as he continued to rush towards Igni, completely ignoring his own burnt skin and torn flesh all over his body because of the wolves'' attacks. It was as if his mind couldn''t even register the pain his own body was going through. He only cared about one thing, and that was to get close to his child. By now, the wolves understood that Kael wasn''t someone they could ignore either, and more wolves rushed towards him. Kael continued to hurry his way through the pack of wolves, completely disregarding his injuries no matter how severe they were. His eyes burned with rage and desperation. But then¡­ His arm, which was covered in draconic scales, turned back to normal, and... He lost his strength. ''W-What...?'' At this moment, Kael was grabbing one of the wolves'' heads, trying to crush it. However, with his now meagre strength, that wasn''t possible. Rather, "AAAAAAUUUUUUUU!!" The wolf howled in anger and, Tore Kael''s arm off. "Huh¡­?" Kael''s widened his eyes when he realized what had happened, and soon¡­ "AAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!" The pain kicked in. Chapter 93 IGNIIIIIII—ROOAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR!!! "Huh¡­?" The world around Kael slowed down as he saw the wolf tearing his arm off, blood sprawled all over the place, and finally, The pain kicked in. "AAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!" He screamed in absolute agony as he lost his balance and fell on the ground. However, even when he fell, even when he was in pain so agonizing that he had never felt something like this before, his eyes were on his child, who was still surrounded. Because Kael had attracted the aggro, the pressure on Igni had reduced, allowing the little dragon to continue fighting. Even if he couldn''t tackle the enemies because of the lack of space, he still grabbed them by his jaw and cut them in half. It was a sight that made Kael smile despite going through the hellish pain of having his arm chopped off and having four flaming wolves stepping over him, prepared to feast on him. Soon, however, Kael''s face paled in horror as he noticed Igni, who had now turned towards him. "FATHER!" The dragon screamed, and that little loss of focus allowed one of the wolves to tackle the dragon. Igni lost his balance and fell, allowing the wolves to pounce on him while he was in no state to defend himself. "IGNIIIIIII¡ªROOAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR!!!" Kael screamed, his voice turning somewhat¡­ demonic? It was as if multiple voices screamed at the same time. The very air trembled, and suddenly, something happened. His remaining arm dug into the ground, and claws formed at his fingertips. His body convulsed, his flesh reformed. His missing arm regrew, but it wasn''t made of flesh, it was made of flames. His tattered clothes burned away, revealing shimmering red scales that pulsated with an unknown power¡­ something¡­ Primordial. Crack Crack And this wasn''t the end. The bones on his back deformed and suddenly, Flap Two massive, shimmering red, draconic wings came out of his shoulder blades. His eyes turned draconic golden as a part of his face was covered with scales similar to what had covered all his body. Intimidated by his aura, the wolves froze. Flap Kael flapped his wings and hovered in the air. Then, he dashed towards Igni, his speed so absurdly fast that let alone the wolves, even Igni couldn''t react to it. His massive wings cut all the wolves in front of him in half. Within a mere second, Kael had killed around fifteen wolves, and this was when killing these beasts wasn''t even his goal, He just wanted to get close to his child. "Igni¡­" He called out, his voice hoarse. His eyes, however, were filled with the same, gentle and overwhelming love for his child. "Igni¡­" He called out again as tears welled around the edges of his eyes, his heart racing quickly. "Grrr¡­" The wolves who once stood around Igni growled nervously, unsure whether they should attack this ''being'' in front of them. They could sense it. He was too strong. And what''s worse? They couldn''t sense any weaknesses they could take advantage of. Whoosh Then suddenly, as if he just noticed their presence now, Kael''s three-meter-long tail moved like a whip, slicing all these wolves in two. All this while, he never once looked away from his child. "Father¡­?" Igni called out, his weak voice was unable to hide his confusion. But then, [Time Remaining: 2 Seconds.] Kael saw a message and, Flap He flapped his wings and flew into the air at a speed he didn''t even think was possible. Two seconds, however, was not a very long time, and soon, his massive crimson wings flickered out of existence. Just like the wings, his scales and tail melted away into specks of glowing dust. The endless energy that had surged within his body a few moments ago now abandoned him, leaving behind nothing but exhaustion. Like a rocket that had lost its fuel, the momentum carried him forward, but¡­ he was falling. What''s worse? His earlier injuries resurged, and his muscles gave out, unwilling to move even a little. Even in this situation, however, Kael used all his remaining strength to roll mid-air, keeping Igni on his chest and curling inwardly, preparing for the fall. Then, Boom His back slammed against the ground. The sheer force of the landing sent him skidding across the terrain. The warm, crusty earth ripped his flesh apart, tearing open wounds across his back as sharp rocks and debris cut into him. Blood splattered behind him, painting the earth with crimson streaks. "Aaggghhhhhhh!!!" It was agonizing, but Kael didn''t let go. Even as his body was dragged, even as his muscles screamed for release, even as the sheer force of everything threatened to tear him apart, Kael tightened his grip around Igni. His only remaining arm, already weak and trembling, was wrapped around the small dragon like he was everything he had. His body screamed in protest, but Kael didn''t allow himself to rotate and let Igni be hurt. He would bear everything on his own. That was his final resolve, his final stubbornness. And finally, It ended. His broken body came to a halt. The world around him finally stopped moving, but¡­ Kael had nothing left. He lay on the ground, his chest rising and falling as he breathed heavily, his vision blurred. Every single part of his body was in pain, there was blood all around him, the flesh on his back was pretty much gone, his bones were visible, his nerves seared with unbearable agony, but even then¡­ There was a stubborn smile on his face. "Igni¡­" He called out. His voice was extremely weak, as if he was barely holding on. "Father¡­" The dragon wasn''t in any better condition either. He was crying, his voice was broken and his face was covered with tears. He was hurt as well, there were injuries all over his body. After all, he was surrounded by more than twenty wolves. The dragon, however, wasn''t crying because of his injuries. He was crying because of his father''s condition. He was blaming himself. "Father, I am sorry! I am so sorry! I was a fool! I shouldn''t hav¡ª" sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Igni¡­" Kael called out, making Igni stop. He then finally closed his heavy eyes and, "You did well¡­" Kael spoke as suddenly, Whoosh Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire Fountain of Lava erupted from the ground and consumed both of them. Chapter 94 [Ascendance of the Ancient] "AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!" Kael screeched in unbearable agony as flames consumed him. He tried his best to cover his Igni with his weak arm, but there was only so much he could do when there were flames all around him. It was unbearable. His nerves screamed, bones cracked under the heat, and his vision blurred. It was the worst kind of torture and he wanted nothing more than to die and let this end right this instant. But then¡­ Just as he wished. Everything stopped. It was unnatural. The pain didn''t fade away, or decrease, it simply... ceased to exist. Like something or someone had severed Kael''s very connection to reality itself. Confused, he tried opening his eyes and surprisingly¡­ he succeeded. Then, he saw it. A ceiling. A ceiling he recognized. Kael looked around and realized he was back in the room the City Lord had provided him. Very quickly he glanced at his arm that was ripped off and his expression changed, it was back. It wasn''t just his arm, all his injuries had healed, returning to how it was before, as if it never existed in the first place. "Father!" Igni shouted as he jumped towards him, snuggling into him as tightly as the little Dragon could. "Father, I am sorry! It was my fault! I promise I will never do that aga-" "Igni!" Kael raised his voice as he sat up. With his back resting on the headrest, he grabbed Igni and forced him to look at him. The Dragon was crying. It was the first time Kael had seen his moist eyes and face wet with his tears. His heart shuddered as he felt a strange pain in his throat. He quickly wiped those tears away and cleaned his face. "Igni, you did nothing wro-" However, before Kael could say much, "Nyuu!!" Another Dragon fell on top of him and, "Nyuuuu!!!" She started crying as well. Yes, Cirri had seen everything from the Sanctuary. She saw how her big brother and father got hurt. She wanted to come out and help them, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t leave the Sanctuary. She tried to run to them, but¡ª Bang She crashed into an invisible barrier, her small body bouncing backwards. She stumbled, then lunged forward again, her little claws scratching against the unseen wall, but nothing happened. No crack, no ripple, not even a shimmer. "Nyuuuu!!" She screamed, but it was as if no one heard her. Hot, frustrated tears blurred her vision as she curled up, trembling. And when she saw the flames engulfing her father and brother, "Nyuuu!!" She cried even louder as she continued to slam into the unknown wall, trying to leave. And finally, she succeeded. And when she did, she appeared next to her father and¡­ She started crying, much more loudly than before. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire "Cirri, everything''s alright. We are fine." Kael quickly grabbed his daughter and wiped her tears as well. The Dragon, however, didn''t stop, and Kael helplessly placed her on his chest. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Cirri, everything''s fine. We are all here. Nothing happened. Both me and your brother are fine, look." Kael continued. He had no idea that it was so difficult to take care of crying dragons, especially when there were two of them. But then, "Yes, Cirri¡­ We are fine." Igni spoke in a low voice as well, his paws gently patting Cirri''s head. The Fire Dragon stopped acting like a little child and became the big brother. Cirri stared at her brother with her big moist eyes. Igni continued to pat her head and nodded at her. "We are fine, Cirri." He spoke in an oddly mature and reassuring tone, even if his heart was heavy with guilt, in front of his little sister, he couldn''t cry. He was supposed to protect her. Kael started patting Cirri''s back as well, comforting her as much as he could until the Dragon closed her eyes and entered the dreamland, exhausted from all the crying. "She really likes to sleep, doesn''t she?" Kael chuckled lightly as he felt Cirri''s rhythmic breathing. The little Dragon still sniffed from time to time, but other than that, it was all okay. "Father¡­ I apologize." Igni spoke in a solemn tone, his eyes welled with tears again. "Igni, yo-" "No, Father. I was wrong. I became arrogant and fell right into their trap. It wouldn''t have happened if I had thought things through. You were then forced to use all your abilities and put yourself in danger in order to protect me. I should be the one protecting you, yet I-" "Heh." At those words, Kael laughed. "You are just 19 days old, my little Dragon. You are supposed to have fun. Leave all these things to me. Don''t underestimate your father, okay? I am a lot stronger than you think." Kael smiled reassuringly, and Igni finally recalled something. "Yes! Father, what did you do back then!? What happened to you!? It felt like you became¡­ me?" Igni wasn''t sure how to put his thoughts into words. At his reaction, Kael smiled. Then, his eyes fell on another one of his EX Abilities. [Ascendance of the Ancient] [Description:] [This powerful skill allows you to temporarily transform into an avatar of the Ancients you have awakened, gaining access to even their most powerful abilities.] [Effects:] [Partial Transformation: Your body partially takes on the traits of the awakened Ancient, your attacks gain a part of the Ancient''s unique abilities.] [Overwhelming Power Surge: All attributes (Strength, Agility, Speed, Stamina, Defense, Mana, Intelligence, Charisma) increase drastically, scaling based on the strength of the Ancient you are channeling.] [Unbreakable Dominance: Your aura exudes the raw majesty of the Ancients, suppressing enemies of lower rank and empowering your bonded beasts. Nearby allies gain a morale boost and slight resistance to elemental damage.] [Instinctive Combat Mastery: You temporarily inherit the combat instincts of the Ancient, allowing you to move, react, and fight with the expertise of an age-old being. Removes hesitation and enhances battle awareness.] [Duration: 10 seconds] [Cooldown: 24 Hours] ¡­ "Didn''t I tell you? Your father is a lot stronger than you think." "But I still killed more wolves than you." Igni pouted. "Oh? So you have started lying now, huh?" "I¡­" The Dragon lowered his head. "I-I would have killed more if I was a grown-up like you." "Is that so¡­?" Kael chuckled as he tightened his hug around the Fire Dragon. Feeling Kael''s comforting presence, Igni closed his eyes as well. Yes, even the ever-so-excited Dragon was now tired. He had been through a lot today. Kael, who now had two Dragons sleeping in his arms, heaved a sigh. Seeing them crying broke him. It was as if a foreign force was tearing him apart. It felt even worse than what happened before. ''Ah, fuck.'' He cursed in his head. ''I really am turning into a sucker, huh¡­ I hate seeing them cry more than my own death.'' He chuckled self-deprecatingly. He had just died. He had lost his arm, he had bite and burnt marks all over his body, he was consumed by flames and burned alive, an experience so painful that if it was before, he would still be trembling, unable to even function properly, But now¡­ Instead of shaking in fear and helplessness¡­ He was glad his Dragons were with him. ''Heh.'' Kael laughed, staring at his children who were sleeping on top of him comfortably and, ''They aren''t the only ones who calm down in my presence huh¡­?'' With that thought, Kael slowly closed his eyes and drifted into sleep. Chapter 95 Lavinia Dragonborn "Hero Kael, are you sure you will be leaving? I assure you, our city has a lot to offer. The people here will love it if yo¡ª" "No, Lord Sylas." Kael shook his head. "As much as we would like to stay, I need to return and continue my training. This test made me realize that I still have a lot to learn." He explained politely. Aria and the other two women who heard his words rolled their eyes. A lot to learn? He realized that from this test? How absurd. None of them could see any possible way anyone else could have done a better job in the test. Honestly, if it were up to them, they would evaluate Kael''s performance as absolute perfection. And the good part? It was indeed up to them. Yes, they weren''t supposed to say this, but together with being Kael''s allies in this test, they were also his evaluators. After the test, they were supposed to personally report to Marshal Therian and rate the Hero''s performance. The women had made up their minds to make sure everyone in the kingdom learned about how truly exceptional the Hero really was. The three of them were extremely excited to return, to the point where even Aria, who usually would never wish to leave this city¡ªespecially when the City Lord himself was catering to them¡ªwanted to leave. "Kieran." Suddenly, Kael called out, and a shadowy figure appeared in front of him. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "There is no point in hiding anymore. Join us." "Hero Kael, bu¡ª" "Join us." Kael ordered. "As you command." Kieran bowed his head. "I''ll prepare a mount for Lord Kieran." Sylas spoke as he ordered his servant to prepare everything. Kael nodded in gratitude, and 30 minutes later, after saying his goodbyes to the City Lord and his family, Kael finally left the city. From Mistvale City, the capital was only 13 hours away. Adding two stops, it took them 15 hours to reach the capital, and by 9 at night, Kael was in his room. "Haaahh¡­" He jumped on his bed, tired. It wasn''t the carriage ride that was tiring; it was all the needless formalities he had to go through when he returned. "Igni, Cirri." He called out, wanting to see his children, but, ''Father, someone''s coming.'' Igni informed. ''Huh?'' Kael frowned, and a minute later, he heard a knock. It was Elira. Kael opened the door, and seeing the Court Mage, he smiled. "Missed me so much that you couldn''t wait to see me?" "Just wanted to confirm if you were dead or not." The woman spoke as she walked into the room as if she owned the place. Kael didn''t mind it either and laughed as he closed the doors. Then, once he turned towards Elira, he noticed seven circles that had formed in front of her palm. She was activating a spell. His expression changed, and he quickly prepared himself for anything that was about to happen, then suddenly, he noticed a translucent, almost transparent barrier forming around them. "It is cute that you think you can do anything against me if I wanted to harm you." Elira laughed, her playful eyes staring at the Hero. "Don''t think too much. I am just making sure no one''s eavesdropping." She chuckled. Kael, on the other hand, didn''t seem to like the situation very much. He was already on edge after everything Tobias told him and what happened in the Infernal Crucible and the woman''s actions confused him even further. Then suddenly, Elira handed him a painting. Kael frowned, he had no clue what she was thinking, however, when his eyes fell on the painting, or the portrait Elira gave him, his expression changed. It was a portrait of a woman Kael recognized instantly. The woman he saw in the vision. In the portrait, the woman seemed much happier, wearing much better clothes and having a cleaner face compared to the dirt-covered one Kael saw in the vision, but even then, he recognized her almost unnatural beauty in an instant. "Lavinia Dragonborn." Elira mentioned a name. This, however, didn''t ease Kael''s confusion; it made it worse. "It is the name of the person you have been trying to look into." The Court Mage smiled. "What do you mean? I have no clue who she is." Kael narrowed his eyes. Elira, however, just chuckled. Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire "Let''s skip the formalities, Kael. You should know me enough by now to know that your tricks will not work on me." Elira chuckled, looking into Kael''s eyes. "I remember how you asked me about purple hair and purple eyes back then. The way you have been scouring through the library, reading books related to Drakthar royalty¡ªthat hasn''t gone unnoticed either. It is as if you are trying to find someone." The mage''s smile then widened. "And you only find those who aren''t here." Kael''s expression changed when he heard those words. Elira walked towards his bed and sat down. "For a long time, I thought I was overthinking it. After all, you were only summoned here two few weeks ago; you barely have time to fend for yourself. What would you possibly know about anything? But¡­ Your reaction to that painting today gave you away." Elira turned towards Kael again and, "You recognized her, didn''t you?" "I was just taken aback by how beautiful she is." Kael answered, and Elira nodded. "Makes sense. You won''t be the first one to think that. She was once known to be the most beautiful woman in all Nerathis. It is very natural to be attracted to her, but¡­ If that was the case, Why was your first reaction to my words ''I have no clue who she is'' instead of asking more about the beautiful woman you just saw? You were being quite defensive, almost as if you were trying to hide something." The mage smiled. Kael, however, just blankly stared at the mage and, "Woman, I have no clue what you are on about. Your words don''t even make sense." "They don''t?" Elira tilted her head, then suddenly, she just shrugged and patted the spot next to her. "Come sit here. I have a story I wish to tell you. A story you might find very interesting." Chapter 96 The Princesss Tale. "Come sit here, I have a story I wish to tell you. A story you might find very interesting." Elira spoke as she patted on the spot next to her. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire "I have no clue what you are thinking." Kael muttered. "Whaat? It''s nothing. I just want to tell you a story, why are you being so defensive? It looks suspicious, you know?" "¡­" Kael stared at the woman in silence. Then, he just sighed and sat next to her. Elira''s smile widened and then, she started. "So this is the story about a beautiful Princess, the Flower of her Kingdom, a girl loved by all. A girl who always answered with a smile, respected a noble and a servant alike, a girl who wasn''t just beautiful from outside, her heart was even more beautiful." "Sounds like a fantasy." Kael commented. "A fantasy indeed." Elira nodded with a smile before she continued her story. "The Princess was perfect in every way, she was cheerful, respectful, beautiful, and talented. So talented that every time the Princess revealed her strength, she was stronger. She was excellence incarnate, Perfect in everything she did, her magic was so wonderful that even the most experienced mages raised their hands in defeat when placed against her, and every single time, she smiled at her opponents and thanked them for going easy on her, instantly flushing out any frustration or resentment they might have had." Elira chuckled and, "Honestly, it wouldn''t be wrong to say that the Princess had everyone wrapped around her fingers." "Sounds too perfect to be true." Kael was sceptical. Especially now, when he was in a position where he doubted everything he saw or heard about. Elira nodded at his words again, "Indeed, just like you say, it was too perfect to be true. The Princess was too perfect to be true, so much that no one noticed her dark side." "Dark side¡­?" Kael narrowed his eyes. "She became Corrupted." "Corrupted?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael frowned at those words. He had no clue what it meant. "A Human becomes corrupted when he lets the Power Of Corruption consume their Bonds." Before Kael could ask or say anything, Elira explained. "It is a dark power that corrupts beasts. Usually, it is difficult to corrupt Bonded Beasts because of their connection with their Tamers, but if the Tamer allows it, it is possible." Elira stared at Kael and continued, "Why would a Tamer allow it, you wonder? To strengthen their Bonds. The Power of Corruption strengthens a Beast to a significant level. In some cases, it pretty much doubles the power of Beasts. Sounds pretty cool, doesn''t it? Then why is it seen in a negative light? It is because corruption lowers the Bond''s intelligence, turning it into a mindless wild beast that acts on its instincts." Elira explained, and in an instant, Kael connected this with what happened with Tobias and Laughter. Tobias allowed his Laughter to be consumed by the Power of Corruption. Meaning that he was a Corrupted Human. ''So it wasn''t just him¡­ those people are out there corrupting everyone¡­'' Kael started thinking about it. The Court Mage, however, wasn''t done yet. "But even then, keeping the Bond''s lowered intelligence aside, looking at things from a practical perspective, Isn''t it better to have stronger Bonds? Even if they have lower intelligence, as long as they follow orders, isn''t it better for humankind in general?" Kael didn''t like that line of thought. Elira, however, seemed oblivious to it and continued, "The answer is no. This isn''t good for humankind from a practical standpoint either. The Corruption weakens the Bond between the Tamer and their Bond. Because of this, even when the Bond grows stronger, the Tamer does not. It is gradually weakening the overall strength of Tamers, which is bad for humankind. There were also cases of Tamers losing control of their Corrupted Bonds and other environmental effects, but you will be taught all that in your future lectures. We aren''t here to discuss all that. We were discussing the story of the Princess." Elira smiled and, "The Princess who was loved by all was Corrupted, and when the King found out, he banished her out of the Kingdom and sold his own daughter as a slave." "What¡­?" Kael''s expression changed. Sold¡­? A Father selling his own daughter as a slave¡­? What ridiculous world was he summoned into? "Don''t be too surprised, it was already the King''s mercy that he didn''t order her execution. The only reason she survived even after it was revealed that she fell to corruption was because she was the King''s beloved daughter, someone he loved with all his heart. But before a Father, he was a King. And the Princess''s actions brought shame to the Kingdom. The King needed to deal with this situation as quickly as he could, and that is what he did. All the records related to the Princess were erased. It was made so that the Princess never existed in the first place. Even mentioning her became a taboo. The King wanted her to be out of everyone''s memories." Elira then stared at Kael and, "This is also the reason you couldn''t find anything related to her, no matter how hard you looked." "¡­" Kael turned silent. He wanted to deny Elira''s claims again, but¡­ He had more questions. "If it is taboo to mention her¡­ why are you telling me all this?" He questioned directly. It was a multi-layered question, and Elira''s answer here was extremely important for Kael. "You want to know about her, don''t you?" The mage smiled playfully. "I am just asking, you did go against the King''s order, after all." Kael answered with a light smile, still not admitting to anything. "It doesn''t feel right." Elira answered. "What?" "Princess Lavinia, I find it hard to believe that she was Corrupted." "Why?" "Even if I keep my emotional bias aside, from a practical standpoint, She had absolutely no reason to be Corrupted. The people who turn towards the Power of Corruption are usually people who are desperate for a way out, people who have reached their limits, people stuck at a lower level, unable to rise no matter what they do. The Princess wasn''t one of these people, far from that actually, Her Magic Talent was the best there is. Well, before a monster like you appeared, but I don''t count you in the equation." Elira shrugged. "Anyways, as I said, she was the most talented Mage there was, a Mage who had an affinity with every element one could think of. If she lacked anything, it wasn''t talent, I assure you that. She had no ''limit'', she could grow endlessly, even without a Bond. She wasn''t desperate, she had everything one would be envied for. Falling to Corruption only had demerits for someone like her." Elira then looked into Kael''s eyes and turned silent. Kael tilted his head, noticing her hesitation. He continued to observe the mage, urging her to continue. "And all of this is just a practical analysis. If I add my personal understanding of the Princess to it, I can never believe that someone like her was Corrupted." Elira spoke, her eyes looked so confident that even Kael was taken aback. Chapter 97 I suspect the Crown Prince. "And all of this is just a practical analysis. If I add my personal understanding of the princess to it, I can never believe that someone like her was Corrupted." Elira spoke, her eyes looked so confident that even Kael was taken aback. "You look quite certain of it." Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael couldn''t help but comment. "I am." "You seem close to her, the Princess, I mean." "I taught her Magic." Elira revealed, and Kael widened his eyes in surprise. "You did?" "What? You think I can''t?" Sensing the scepticism in his tone, Elira raised her eyebrow, ready to punch the brat''s face. "N-No, of course not. You are an excellent teacher.." "Exactly." Elira nodded in satisfaction. Soon, however, her expression turned solemn again. "I knew that girl, Kael. I have interacted with her. She had a Heart Of Gold, she loved everyone around her, to the point it was almost worrying. I always felt like people would take advantage of her. Think about it, Kael. A woman who was incapable of hate and loved even a random person she just saw, how much love would she shower on the Bonds who lived with her all her life?" Elira then looked into Kael''s eyes, and her tone got more and more confident. "Kael, I assure you, that girl would readily throw her life away for the sake of her Bonds. Do you think someone like her would let her Bonds fall to corruption? And for what? Meager Power? That is just not who Lavinia was. Kael, it is said that corrupting a Bond is similar to subjecting it to lifelong torture. Corrupted Beasts are in constant pain; however, since they are being controlled by the Power of Corruption, they can never convey it to their Tamers. As the Tamer continues to use this Power of Corruption, the Bonds suffer even further. It is a constant cycle of torture that weakens the connection between the Tamer and the Bond, and the Bond slowly loses their mind. Once they are strong enough, they break free from the control and go on a rampage, wanting to kill Tamers and the world that subjected them to such torture. Lavinia knew all that. Someone like her would never subject her Bonds to such torture, even if one threatened her life. It just¡­ I will never believe it." Elira opened her heart, not hiding anything. "If you are so sure, then why didn''t you oppose the King''s decision? With how you talk, I assume you and the Princess were friends. Why didn''t you stand up for your friend? Instead, you seem to be following the King''s orders to the dot till now." Kael questioned, and the answer he received was quite surprising. "I didn''t oppose because it was the King''s decision." "So because it was the King who said it, he must be right? Or were you just¡­" Kael didn''t complete his sentence, but he wasn''t disappointed. No, actually, he wasn''t disappointed either. He understood it as well¡ªgoing against the King was¡­ foolish. Even he wouldn''t have done it if he was in Elira''s position. After all, to him, other than Igni and Cirri, no one else mattered. He was in no place to blame Elira, and just as he was about to explain himself, "You don''t understand." Elira shook her head. "That man loved the Princess more than anything in this world." "What¡­?" "The King loved his daughter to the point where his health was related to the Princess. When the Princess falls ill, he falls ill with her. The Princess''s absence makes him lose his appetite and sleep. More than once, he had created policies for the Princess''s sake alone. It was a clear misuse of power that affected his status and power, yet he still went for it because it made his daughter happy. The King was crazy for his daughter. If anyone loved Princess Lavinia more than anything, It was the King. That man would willingly step down from his throne if it would put a smile on the Princess''s face. The King''s Advisors were often worried about how the King would react once the Princess married another man and left the Palace. The Princess pretty much held all the power in the Kingdom because it was said her father would turn the world for her." Elira stared at Kael and, "Trust me when I say it, Kael. If the King had even the slightest suspicion that his daughter was innocent, he would use all his resources to prove it and would keep the Princess with him till the investigation was over. The only reason the people even accepted the decision was because the King made it himself, and that man seemed twenty years older when he passed that decision. No one in the Hall, no matter how close they were to the Princess, had the gall to question that man''s decision because of how broken he looked that day." "So you trusted the King''s decision because of his love for his daughter?" Kael questioned. "That is correct." Elira nodded confidently. "So you trust both the King and the Princess when they stand on opposite sides?" "Yes." And once again, Elira nodded, her eyes brimming with determination no matter how foolish this sounded. "Something''s wrong." Elira spoke. "Explain." "As I mentioned, the King would do anything for his daughter''s sake. I wouldn''t have been surprised if he had used his authority to make sure the case regarding the Princess''s Corruption never came to light. The fact that it did and the King was forced to banish her from the Kingdom, as a Slave no less, is strange. I¡­" Elira hesitated again. After all, if she said this out loud once, there was no going back from here. Elira, however, stared at the Hero again and decided to trust her instincts. "I suspect there is a Third Force at play here." Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire "Third Force?" Kael raised his eyebrow. A Third Force, huh¡­ It definitely made sense. "Do you¡­ have any suspicions regarding who this Third Force could be?" Kael questioned after a slight hesitation. "I suspect the Crown Prince." Elira''s answer was almost instantaneous. Chapter 98 I let my fantasies get the better of me. "I suspect the Crown Prince." Elira''s answer was almost instantaneous. "The Crown Prince?" Kael tilted his head in confusion. With how quickly the woman answered, rather than a suspicion, it looked like she was certain that the person behind it all was the Crown Prince. "Edric Dragonborn." Elira took another name. "You must have heard about him already." Kael nodded. He was the only son of the King, which, apparently, was a lie. "Why do you think it is him?" Kael questioned. "Everything ended too well for him." "Hmm?" Elira paused for a moment, as if she was trying to think of what to say, and once she had brainstormed enough, she started, "Prince Edric was the firstborn, so naturally, he was expected to become the next King. However, when the Princess was born, things changed. While the King didn''t say anything, his love for his daughter wasn''t hidden. Find exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire Do you remember when I said that the advisers were worried about how the King would react when his daughter gets married?" Elira questioned, and Kael nodded. "Some advisers came up with a theory that the King would make the Princess the next ruler of the Kingdom. Of course, it was absurd to think about it. Not only was the Princess the second-born, but she was also a woman. However¡­ The more people thought about this theory, the more plausible it seemed. After all, this wouldn''t be the first time the King would change policies for the sake of his daughter. And it wasn''t just that. The Princess was extremely talented, gentle, and loved by all. If the King introduced a policy where the Princess could become the next ruler, everyone could tell it would be widely supported. It wouldn''t just be the nobles who would stand on her side but commoners too. Not to mention the rate at which the Princess''s strength grew. They also said she would eventually become the strongest being throughout Nerathis, even surpassing the Grand Marshal. Having a person like that sitting on Drakthar''s Throne was good for the Kingdom''s image and would only lead it to glory." Kael raised his eyebrow, somewhat agreeing with that. Elira however, wasn''t done yet. "And it wasn''t just about her strength either. Lavinia was an excellent diplomat, a strong leader, and had the ability to understand what was happening around her. She had the qualities to be a perfect King, A King who would have taken the Kingdom to a new path of glory. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The more people thought about it, the more they started to accept it. This theory became more and more prominent, many even started openly supporting the Princess, and all this happened when the King hadn''t even said anything." Elira explained as she then stared at Kael, "Who do you think would be most affected by it?" "Prince Edric." Kael answered. Even a child who understood nothing about politics would be able to answer that. "That is correct." Elira nodded at those words. "Prince Edric was born to be the next King, and mind you, he wasn''t an incompetent fool either. He was excellent. Ever since he was a child, he worked hard to get stronger, learned diplomacy and all other skills required to be the perfect King. He aimed for perfection and worked for it every single day without breaks. Everyone appreciated his efforts. This was the reason many supported him in his journey to be the next King. He was kind, strong, knowledgeable, and compassionate, but¡­" The Mage''s face turned solemn and, "He lived in a shadow." Kael narrowed his eyes when he heard those words. "Yes, Prince Edric was excellent. Because of his hard work, he was better than almost everyone around him, but¡­ There was a limit to how far hard work could take you. Even with everything he did, he could never outshine Lord Feraos'' favored child." "The Princess." Kael muttered, and Elira nodded. "Lavinia was better than Prince Edric in every possible way. It was almost pitiful. What''s worse? She was never arrogant about it and always greeted her brother with a gentle smile despite knowing he was jealous of her. ''It is natural to feel jealous when you work as hard as him. I don''t see it in a negative light. After all, this is what pushes my brother to always try and overcome his limits. This is the reason I like him. My brother never gives up, and I won''t either.'' This is what she said to me when I asked her about it." "Sounds¡­ na?ve." Kael spoke his mind. Elira just smiled at those words. "So what you are saying is the Prince was jealous of the Princess and arranged her fall. Is that it?" "I am saying it is one possible way to look at it." "You seem quite certain about it." "I¡­" Elira turned silent for a while and then, "I want to believe it." "You don''t seem to like Prince Edric very much." Kael noticed. Elira, however, shook her head. "That''s not it. He has always been kind to me, but¡­" "You just like Princess Lavinia." "She was¡­ my friend." Elira nodded in a weak voice. "And now I can''t even talk about her. I feel like¡­ I just want to blame someone." The Court Mage then shook her head and exhaled self-deprecatingly, realizing how foolish her words and suspicions sound. "Don''t take my words seriously. It was foolish of me to come here and say all this. I just¡­ When I realized you were trying to look into the Royal Family''s situation, I thought you might know something, but it doesn''t make sense. You just came here. I guess you were just curious and wanted to know more about the Royal Family. You probably didn''t even know Lavinia existed because there was no way for you to know. I was just¡­ too hopeful. I let my fantasies get the better of me." Elira then stared at Kael and, "Please act like this conversation never happened. I could¡­ get in trouble if someone finds out that I told you about Lavinia." "So if I tell on you, you will be executed?" Kael questioned with a playful smile on his face, and seeing that annoying smirk, Elira''s mouth twitched. "I am telling you, you brat. If you dare rat me out, I''ll burn you. I''ll take you down with me." "Then who will save Nerathis?" Kael questioned. "I''ll burn you after you save Nerathis!" Elira answered without thinking. "Won''t I be too strong to be defeated by you by th¡ª" "I will burn you in my next life!" "Hahaha~" Kael laughed out loud. He didn''t know why, but teasing the Court Mage was always so much fun~ Chapter 99 I am a big brother. "Look forward to your class the day after tomorrow," Elira spoke, her mouth twitching nonstop as she stared at the man in front of her. It was a threat. An open threat. Yes, once again, Kael had teased the Court Mage to the point where she had reached her breaking point, which arguably wasn''t the first time this had happened. Kael chuckled at that response. He had already gotten used to the Mage''s threats. He, however, noticed something strange. "The day after tomorrow? What about tomorrow?" "Ah, right, you didn''t know." Elira realized it. "They are throwing a party tomorrow. For the Hero''s safe return and how he bravely protected a town and its people." The Court Mage then snorted. "If only they saw the Hero''s real face, Who would want to throw a party for someone like you?" "What real face? This is my real face. I am as handsome as I look." "Handsome? Who gave you that confidence?" "Quite a few, actually. I am actually surprised you don''t have a crush on me yet, Or¡­" Kael then looked right into Elira''s eyes and, "Are you just good at hiding it?" "¡­" Elira turned silent. Kael patiently waited for her response, and then, Seven big circles appeared around the Court Mage. "That''s it. I am burning you." "Hahaha!" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael laughed out loud again. Spit "Crush on you, my foot. I wish to crush you into a mint paste instead." Elira acted like she had eaten some rotten food. "Come on, I am not that bad, am I?" Kael spoke as he glanced at the mirror. "I am positive that I am one of the more decent-looking guys." "But your heart is rotten." Elira snorted. "What did I even do for you to think that?" "Your existence itself disgusts me." "Now you are just acting like a tsundere." "Hah!? Have you lost your mind? A tsundere!? How can you compare me to something so annoying!?" Elira seemed offended. "I am surprised you know that term." Kael muttered. "I read it in a book." "Ah, that one with a weird title?" "I don''t expect someone like you to understand. It''s a masterpiece." "Sure¡­" Kael nodded, his tone full of sarcasm. "Tsk." Elira snorted again. Not wanting to stay with this man any longer, she stood up, ready to leave. "Are you not going to stayyy?" Kael questioned playfully. "Unlike you, I have a life." The woman, however, just snorted and, Bam After slamming the door, she walked away. Kael smiled as he saw the mage out. Once she left, his room turned silent again, and his expression turned serious again. "Prince Edric huh¡­" He muttered the name out loud. All this while, Kael had too many questions in his head. Why didn''t the Kingdom help Estwyn Town? Who were the people who approached Tobias? What is that dark power they used to strengthen Laughter? How did they get hold of all the documents Tobias showed him? Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire And... Elira''s words answered a few of his questions. That dark power Tobias mentioned, it was the Power of Corruption. As for who those people who approached Tobias were, Kael believed that he would get the answer to that question in the ''future lectures'' Elira had mentioned. For now, Kael simply referred to them as the ''Enemies.'' These, however, weren''t the only questions Elira gave him answers to. Her words answered another one of his questions. The Princess was highly favored. Even for the Crown Prince, it wouldn''t be easy to plan and execute her fall, especially when the King cherished her so much. The Crown Prince would need help. And what better help would he get than the world''s enemies themselves? Would the Crown Prince sell out his own Kingdom for the sake of power? Well, Kael wouldn''t be surprised. Power often made people show their worst side, falling to lows one couldn''t even think of. Not to mention the Prince reeked of insecurities. Even someone like Kael, who had heard his story just one time, could sense his insecurities. It wouldn''t be surprising if the enemies were the ones who approached him first. He was a perfect target. An insecure older brother who wanted to get rid of his little sister to get the throne. And Kael could also see how the talented princess would be a thorn in the enemies'' eyes. Someone like her coming to power would make things difficult for them. They had to get rid of her one way or another. Honestly, the Crown Prince and the Enemies had the same target for different reasons. Since their goals aligned, it wouldn''t be shocking if they worked together. And¡­ The Crown Prince would also have enough power to get hold of those ''secret documents'' Tobias showed him before. If he was working together with Enemies¡­ It would explain how they got them. "Her suspicions might be correct¡­" Kael muttered. He could sense that the Mage still had her doubts, and he also knew that if he shared what he knew with her, her doubts would turn to certainty. Then why didn''t he do it¡­? Well¡­ "I can''t fully trust her either¡­" Kael was extremely paranoid. Even if he trusted Elira more than others, he still wasn''t 100% certain. After all, her telling her this story to him right after he revealed his strength in Estwyn was quite suspicious as well. "Haaaahh¡­" Kael sighed. All these questions in his head affected his mood, so¡­ "Igni, Cirri." He called out his stress relievers. In an instant, two adorable dragons jumped into his arms. "Nyuu!!" Cirri seemed overly excited as she hugged Kael with her soft body. Igni, like a mature big brother, let her hoard father''s love until Kael himself grabbed the little fire dragon and pulled him close to him. "You are just a child." Kael snorted. "I am a big brother." Igni retorted. He was a proud big brother. "You are just a few days older, when you two grow up, the difference won''t even remain that big." "That statement is flawed. The difference will always remain the same." "I am talking about the relative difference." "You didn''t mention that." "¡­" Kael turned silent. "Heh." Igni on the other hand, grinned as he proudly patted Cirri''s head. "Tsk." Kael snorted again as he tightened his hug around the Fire Dragon. His son was just too cute. "We should sleep, Cirri must be tired." Igni spoke. And he was correct, he had been playing with little Cirri inside the Sanctuary. Just like Igni, Cirri had almost endless stamina when it came to playing, so the two Dragons played together for as long as their heart desired while Kael could only look at them with a jealous look on his face. He wanted to join them as well¡­ "Thank you." Kael smiled at Igni as he patted his head. The Fire Dragon made sure Cirri wasn''t alone, and Kael was glad about it. Igni nodded, his eyes gleaming. "Cirri, shall we sleep?" Kael questioned. "Nyu!!" The Cloud Dragon nodded. Kael quickly placed her on the bed, Igni crawled beside her, Kael slept on the other side and the three of them quickly drifted into sleep. ¡­ The next morning, Kael stood in a familiar place as he stared at the screen in front of him with a solemn look on his face. [The Infernal Crucible] [Mission: Reignite the Heart of Crucible] Yes, he was back where he had failed. Chapter 100 Lets begin. "Father¡­" The Fire Dragon muttered with a solemn look on his face. Just like before, Cirri was inside Sanctuary, unable to come out. Normally, a Bond could come out of Sanctuary on its own whenever the Tamer was in danger, but perhaps because Kael couldn''t die in this place, or maybe his control over the Sanctuary was strengthened whenever he was here. Cirri couldn''t leave unless Kael permitted her to. And right now, no matter how much the little Dragon cried, he didn''t let her out. "Get ready." Kael ordered. "Yes, Father." Igni nodded as he flapped his undeveloped wings and flew in the air. He didn''t fly very high, though, barely a meter above the ground. Why even do that? It was because Kael had ordered him to. Igni was strong, Kael knew that better than anyone else. However, the Dragon had one fatal weakness. He was only a few days old child. Yes, that was Igni''s weakness. His body was still underdeveloped. So even though he was extremely strong, his claws, his legs, and even his wings, they were all weaker than they should be, making it difficult for the Dragon to use his strength to its fullest extent. Now, normally, this wouldn''t have been an issue. After all, the Fire Dragon usually engulfs everything in flames and deals with the matter. In the Crucible, however, this method didn''t work. The Eternal Flame Wolves were completely immune to fire, even from the flames of a Primordial Fire Dragon. The little Dragon had no choice but to fight them head-on. When Kael thought about all this, he came to a conclusion. This Mission¡­ He was never the main focus of it. The Wolves here were simply too strong for him. This Mission, this entire place, S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was the Training Grounds for his Igni. A place where Igni could adapt, train, get stronger, and¡­ learn to fight together with Kael. Yes, it was a place where the Father and Son could fight together and strengthen their bond on the Battlefield. And Kael was going to use it just like that. His first focus? It was to develop Igni''s flying ability. "This feels¡­ strange¡­" Igni muttered. Having to continuously flap his wings felt like a waste of energy. Now, normally, the little Dragon would never complain, but he knew he would soon be facing enemies who had defeated him before¡­ Wasting his energy before the battle seemed¡­ inefficient. "You will get used to it." Kael spoke, his tone solemn, leaving no room for counters. "Okay, Father." In the end, Igni could only nod. "You remember how I told you to fight, correct?" Kael questioned. "Yes." Igni nodded. "Then let''s move." Kael nodded, and then, as he felt the ground beneath him tremble, he started running. Igni followed behind as he flapped his wings. Again, the Dragon felt uncomfortable, but this time, he didn''t complain. Whoosh The ground where the two of them stood was consumed by flames. Kael and Igni, however, didn''t turn back. They marched their way towards the largest Volcano, and just like before, "Grrr¡­" The wolves appeared. Kael counted and realized there were 14 of them. The rest of them weren''t here yet, or maybe they were waiting to ambush Igni after luring them away. This time, however, this wasn''t going to happen. Kael''s eyes turned golden as he stared at the screen in front of him. [Name: Unnamed] [Race: Eternal Flame Wolf] [Level: 32] [Strength: 92] [Agility: 95] [Speed: 100] [Stamina: 88] [Defense: 80] [Mana: 50] [Intelligence: 28] [Charisma: 18] [Strengths: Flame Aura, Ember Dash, Scorch Claws, Fire Immunity] [Weaknesses: Weak to Water, Core] Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire ¡­ ''Their strength is still the same¡­'' He thought inwardly and then, "Igni." He called out. "Yes, Father." Igni answered. He already knew what to do. The little Dragon continued to hover in the air. He understood it was time for his Training, and he was taking it very seriously. He couldn''t fail in Nerathis like he did here. He needed to get stronger to protect his father and little sister! Yes, he was a Dragon with a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. "Let''s begin." While Igni was thinking all this, Kael ordered and started running forward. Igni flew behind him. Even though he could fly faster than him, he controlled his speed and stayed close to his father. Then, [Draconic Surge] Kael activated his ability and dashed forward. This time, even when Igni followed him with everything he had, Kael was still faster. The Hero took out his sword as he ran right into the pack of wolves ahead of him and jumped in the air. With his increased speed, the wolves couldn''t react to him. "Aaaauuuuuu!!" They could only let out their battle cry, and Kael used his opportunity to pierce his sword right into their mouth. Crack He felt something cracking, and his smile widened. It was the Core that was inside their bodies. Fwoosh Just as Kael''s sword pierced through the Wolf''s Core, the Eternal Wolf turned into flames and perished. It was an instant process with no screams or resistance. Kael smiled. ''I was right.'' Just as the System informed him, their Core was their weakness. Even if their defense was absurdly strong, so much so that if he attacked normally, he would never be able to pierce through it, as long as he targeted their Cores, it was possible to kill them even for someone as weak as him. Fwoosh Kael''s grin widened as he stared at the extinguished flames, he, however, didn''t stop. He didn''t have much time, his ability could only last a few more seconds and he wanted to make the best of it. He jumped over the extinguishing flames and continued to run. The wolves followed him from behind but were unable to catch him. "Aaaauuuuuu!!" They let out an enraged howl, and once again, Kael used this opportunity to quickly jump back, his sword piercing through another Wolf''s mouth, breaking its Core in one go. Fwoosh The Wolf turned into flames as well. The rest of the wolves used this opportunity to pounce on the Hero, but¡­ ''Too late.'' He had already dipped and continued to run away! "AAAAUUUUUU!!!" The Wolves were enraged. They followed Kael with everything they had, but no matter how much they tried, Dragon Surge made Kael too fast for them. What''s worse? Since Kael had attracted all their aggro, they totally forgot about the being who was moving together with the Hero. A being they shouldn''t have forgotten about. BOOOOM Igni dashed forward, colliding with the Wolf closest to him, blasting its body in an instant. Unlike Kael, the Dragon didn''t need to attack their ''weakness.'' For him, every single part of their body was a weakness. As the Wolf exploded into flames, Igni pounced on the second Wolf. Yes, his legs weren''t strong enough to ''pounce,'' but¡­ Igni had wings. He could generate the force he needed from his wings. The Dragon landed on another Wolf and tore its body with his underdeveloped claws. Then, he jumped on another Wolf and bit off its head. Within a few seconds, the Dragon had dealt with three wolves, attracting the aggro to him, But, "Igni!" Chapter 101 Well… this might get a little complicated… The Dragon landed on another Wolf and tore its body with his underdeveloped claws. Then, he jumped on another wolf and bit off its head. Within a few seconds, the Dragon had dealt with three wolves, attracting the aggro to him. But, "Igni!" The Dragon wasn''t allowed to engage any further, and at Kael''s shout, he flew into the air, distancing himself from the wolves, making it impossible for the poor wolves to attack him. Yes, these wolves could spew flames, but¡­ Igni just flew even higher, making it difficult for even the flames to reach him. Then, the Dragon flew toward his father. By now, Kael''s Dragon Surge had run out for a while. The little distance he had created from the wolves had pretty much diminished, and the wolf closest to him pounced on him. Kael, however, didn''t stop running. Heck, he didn''t even turn around. Rather, Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. BOOOOM He relied on his son, who appeared right behind him, headbutted the wolf, and blasted its body into flames. "Father!" Igni cheered excitedly. He was able to help his father. It made him extremely happy! Kael smiled at how adorable he was and continued running. "Continue attacking them." He ordered. "Yes, Father." Igni nodded as the Dragon circled all the way behind the pack and, BOOOM He headbutted the wolf at the back before flying and attacking the next wolf that got close to Kael. Yes, the Dragon was circling around the pack and killing everything in his way. This, however, couldn''t continue for long. The pack had already caught up to Kael. Igni couldn''t defend him anymore. Not that he needed it. "RROOOOOAAAARRRRRRR!" Kael roared as he was then covered with flames. [Roar of Dominion] [Ember Cloak] Yes, both these skills had little to no effect on the wolves, but well, it wasn''t like the skills used mana or anything, so Kael used them. It would be a shame to not use the free skills he had. Of course, it wasn''t Kael''s main focus. That spot was reserved for his first skill. [Draconic Strike] His arm was quickly covered with red draconic scales, and with his strength now enhanced, overpowering even that of Igni''s for the next five seconds, Kael turned around and, BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM He unleashed a series of punches, killing three wolves in an instant. Out of fourteen wolves who were after them, ten had already perished. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire Kael stared at the wolves in front of him, and their bodies trembled. Clearly, they were intimidated. "Heh." Seeing that, Kael''s grin widened, resembling a demon''s. Then, he used this chance to¡­ Run away. His arms had returned to normal. He was no match for these wolves in this situation. "AAAUUUUU!!!" The wolves, who realized they were played like fools, howled in rage. However, just as they tried to chase after that shameless bastard, BOOOOM The Dragon appeared in front of them, killing the strongest of the four in an instant and staring at the other three with menacing eyes. Honestly, the little thing looked absolutely adorable even when he tried to look menacing. His aura, however, affected the wolves as they realized they were helpless against him. "Die!" Igni rushed toward the wolves. Now that there were only three of them left, it was impossible for them to surround the Dragon, who was far stronger than them. So, without having to worry about anything, Igni went all out, and within a few seconds, he tore through all of them. Once he was done, "Igni." Kael called out. Because he hadn''t activated his ability yet, Kael couldn''t go very far from them. The Dragon turned toward his father and realized that the rest of the wolves, who were waiting to ambush him, had sensed the danger and were all rushing toward Kael. "Well¡­ this might get a little complicated¡­" Kael muttered out loud as he stared at the 32 wolves rushing toward him, all ready to tear him apart. Whoosh As Kael stared at the incoming pack, Igni flew past him and, BOOOM He collided with the strongest wolf, killing him in an instant. ''He''s a monster.'' Kael chuckled in his head. He couldn''t help but feel proud. Just like how the Dragon did it the first time he came here, he continued to attack the wolves, not staying in one place. By now, he had already gotten comfortable flying. Of course, he still wasn''t perfect, but it was still much better than before. BOOOM BOOOM Igni continued to tear through the wolves, making it impossible for them to surround him. The moment they got too close like before, the Dragon flew into the air, out of their reach, before attacking from another corner of the pack. And¡­ This time, The Dragon wasn''t alone. His father was going to fight together with him. [Draconic Surge] [Roar of Dominion] [Ember Cloak] [Draconic Strike] Kael used all his skills at the same time as he appeared right in the middle of the pack and killed five wolves before his Draconic Strike went out of effect. Then, with the few seconds of Draconic Surge, he had left, He dashed toward the volcano, distancing himself from the wolves before his speed returned to normal as well. The wolves followed behind, ready to catch and kill him, but, BOOOM Igni was still here. The little Dragon continued to fly around the pack, acting like a harbinger of death that reaped lives as it moved. The Dragon was overpowering the wolves in every way possible, making it more and more difficult for them to chase after Kael. Kael continued to run, wanting to create as much distance as he could. At the same time, he also made sure the wolves continued to chase him. He needed to keep their attention while Igni dealt with all the damage. The instant their attention fell all on Igni, the Dragon simply flew into the air, distancing himself from the pack, forcing them to follow Kael again. The wolves were helpless. And what''s worse? A minute had already passed. Kael could use all his abilities again. "RRRROOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!" The Hero roared. Chapter 102 I hate this fucking place. "Die!" Pierce Kael screamed as he plunged his sword right through the Eternal Flame Wolf''s mouth, piercing its core. Flicker The Wolf turned into flames, and the moment it did, Kael, who couldn''t hold his weight any longer, collapsed on the ground. "We¡­ we did it¡­" He muttered, his voice sounding exhausted. They did it. He and Igni finally got rid of all the wolves. Yes, Igni did most of the work, and Kael was only truly useful when he used his skills, but considering that the enemies were technically stronger than him, It was a great feat. Not to mention, Igni improved a lot. The little dragon was getting more and more used to his body. Of course, his body was still underdeveloped, so he couldn''t use his full strength, but whatever he did, he did it magnificently. Even now, the little dragon was hovering in the air, flapping his wings effortlessly. "Father, you cannot sit here for long." Igni warned like the diligent dragon he was. "Agghh¡­ I hate this fucking place." Kael cursed as he forced himself to stand up, still exhausted. "I hate this¡­ fucking place too, Father." Igni nodded at his father''s words, and in an instant, Kael froze. "No, Igni. You aren''t supposed to say that word." He corrected his son. "What word?" Igni tilted his head. "Fucking." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "But you just said it." "I said it because I can." "I can say it as well. I can speak now, Father." Igni answered, as if reminding his foolish father that he was all grown up now. "No, you cannot say it. It is a bad word." "Why? Does it not mean intercourse between two beings? How is that bad?" "Well¡­ now that you say it like that¡­" Kael turned silent. "But a few days old child shouldn''t be saying these words." "By that logic, I shouldn''t even be talking, Father." "¡­" Once again, Kael turned silent. How was it so difficult to win against a 20-day-old child? Was it that difficult to raise children? Or was it just his Dragon that was too smart for his own good? Rumble Rumble Rumble While Kael was thinking this through, he realized the ground beneath him was trembling. This quickly brought him out of his reverie and he then started moving. "So should I say that word or not?" Igni, who flew beside him, questioned innocently. "You will not." Kael spoke with a determined look on his face. "But wh-" "No reason. I just want you to remain my adorable little son all the time." "Will I not be your son if I say this word¡­?" "Oh, come on! How are you so good at this!" Kael complained. It was almost as if he could never win against this little thing. In the end, he just grabbed Igni and decided to carry him in his arms. "You will always be my adorable son~ No matter what you say." The Hero spoke as he snuggled with the dragon in his arms. "Yes, Father." Igni answered cutely as the two walked forward. "So... can I say thi-" "Don''t push it." Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire "..." In the end, the Dragon turned silent, he decided to be satisfied by the belly rubs he was getting in exchange. Whoosh As the father and son walked forward the ground behind them erupted in flames. "This feels badass." Kael grinned, but then. "Badass¡­?" "¡­" Kael very quickly understood that he was the problem here. Therefore, he decided to change the topic. "Hmm, we are getting close." He muttered, bringing Igni''s attention back to the mission. As they got closer and closer to the largest volcano, the temperature around them increased. To Igni, this didn''t matter. The little dragon literally bathed in lava back in the Sanctuary; this heat had next to no effect on him. Kael, however, was having a difficult time. He felt weak, more exhausted, and dehydrated. Honestly, he was surprised that he hadn''t passed out yet. And he already had a theory as to why that was the case. [Primordial Endurance] [Description:] [The ancient energy flowing through you fortifies your body and mind. You have resistance to fatigue, and your stamina regenerates at an accelerated rate. The more extreme conditions you are in, the faster your stamina regenerates.] ¡­ As he read about one of his passive abilities with sweat all over his face, he couldn''t help but smile. ''This really is a cheat, huh¡­'' The more he realized it, the wider his grin became. He continued to push his body to the limit, and his body continued to adapt. Kael felt like his body was changing in real-time; the effects were better than any training he had been through before. For some reason, however, these changes weren''t reflected in his stats, which were still the same as before. Yes, even after killing so many wolves in this mission or the one before where he had used the Ascendant of the Ancients, he didn''t level up. He received no experience points for killing the wolves here. It was a bit of a letdown, but Kael didn''t complain. What was important was that his Igni was getting better and he seemed much happier now that they had won their first battle. "Now, we just need to get on top of that thing and find out whatever that Crucible is and how to reignite its heart." Kael spoke as he stared at the large volcano that was now right in front of him. The heat had become intolerable for any human, but maybe because of his ability or some other reason, Kael was still holding on. Barely, that is. Things were getting more and more difficult for him. And the land eruptions that had gotten more and more common, as if the entire place would fall any moment now, weren''t helping either. "So the next Trial must be climbing on top of this thing, huh¡­" Kael muttered. Just thinking about it made him exhausted. "Father, I can carry you to the top." Igni suggested. Even if Kael couldn''t sit on top of Igni yet, the dragon could definitely hold him with his mouth and pull him up. With the dragon''s strength, it was definitely possible. But¡­ "No." Kael shook his head. "I can feel my body changing the longer I stay here. I have a feeling that if I do it myself, the reward waiting for me at the end will be all worth it." Kael wasn''t a fool; he already knew the true goal of this mission. It was to make him and Igni stronger. Igni''s training was done with the wolves; now, it was his turn. This is exactly how it happens in all those novels he read before, and honestly, every time the main characters took the easy way out, not understanding the underlying meaning of the mission, it annoyed him. So many problems would have been solved if those guys just used their minds. But no, it was like those people were made to act dumb. At the very least, one could test things out when you know your life isn''t in danger. And this is exactly what Kael was going to do. He was going to choose the hard way, A way that would make him stronger. He would push past his limits and climb the volcano on his own. Chapter 103 What in the hell is that thing!? "Haahh¡­ Haah¡­ Haahh¡­" Kael breathed heavily as he placed his hand on the final stone and pulled himself up. Yes, he had climbed on top of the volcano, and it was¡­ Hell. He understood that this wasn''t going to be easy the moment he took his first step, but this was nothing short of a nightmare. The surface was unbearably hot. Each breath he took burned his lungs, and the air was thick with a harsh sulphur-like scent, making it difficult for him to focus. Sweat dripped from his brow, evaporating almost instantly as it hit the ground. The heat was merciless, sucking out all his strength, making his movements sluggish. But Kael continued. Honestly, let alone a mountain, Kael had never even climbed a tree before. The only reason he even dared to do something so foolish was because he knew he couldn''t die. He had lost his footing more than once, barely managing to catch himself before tumbling backwards. At one point, the surface he stepped on fell, sending him sliding down several feet as his hands scraped against the coarse volcanic stone. And this was just the beginning. The higher he went, the more the volcano seemed to fight against him. Fwoosh Sudden eruptions of steam hissed from the cracks in the rock, forcing him to dodge else the heat would burn him alive. More than once, he was forced to jump back¡ªthe only way to survive was to luckily find a surface he could grab before he fell. And that wasn''t it. Rivers of molten lava flowed dangerously close to him, radiating heat so intense that it made the very air tremble. More than once, the surface trembled violently as a sudden earthquake shook the volcano, sending boulders down the slope, forcing Kael to jump around and avoid them¡ªor sometimes even brace himself for the impact that pretty much crushed his body. Sometimes the surface became so impossibly smooth that he was forced to use his sword to create small crevices his fingers could hold onto to pull himself up. His muscles screamed in protest, his limbs felt like lead, his breathing was unstable, his heart rate uneven, and his vision blurred. He could tell he had more than one broken bone in his body. He was a mess¡ªa big mess. But he didn''t stop. To him, it was either death or reaching the top. There was no other option. And it wasn''t all bad. He could feel it¡ªthe higher he climbed, the more his body changed. [Primordial Endurance] The ability worked wonders. It allowed him to push himself to limits he never knew were possible¡ªhis fatigue dulled, his breathing steadied, and his senses sharpened. He was getting¡­ stronger. Even though it wasn''t being reflected in his system for some reason, he knew he was getting stronger. So much so that Kael went against his body and continued to climb, wanting to see what reward he would get the moment he reached the top. "!!!" And once he got there, moving himself up with one final, desperate pull, what he saw made his eyes widen. Not from the surprise or joy from the ''reward'' he received. No. It was from horror. Inside the volcano, instead of endless lava, there existed an entirely different world. Another world with its own volcanoes, molten lava that moved around like a river, and¡­ a horrifying monster that seemed to rule over this place like its god. A towering 300-meter-tall figure, bigger than any volcano present here, its molten body was a grotesque fusion of searing magma and jagged volcanic rock. It had a single burning eye filled with flames, something that seemed like a core was on its chest, its entire body pulsed with lava-like veins. Its massive arms ended in claws large enough to crush mountains, while its legs seemed to be¡­ anchored to a place, unable to move. But this didn''t make it any less monstrous¡ªno, it just added to its monstrosity. It was as if the very world itself was stopping this thing from being unleashed. Kael could sense it¡­ It was something that¡­ shouldn''t exist. *Picture* "Father¡­" And it wasn''t just him¡ªeven Igni, who was hovering next to him, muttered in a somewhat¡­ intimidated tone. Wait. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Intimidated? Igni? Kael''s heart shook as he turned towards Igni. Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire The little dragon was frozen. Yes, a Primordial Dragon, a being with endless pride and strength¡­ was frozen. He was intimidated by that monstrosity in front of them. "Igni¡­?" Kael couldn''t help but call out. "Father, that¡­" Igni didn''t know how to answer. The more the dragon reacted in such a manner, the heavier Kael''s heart became. "Igni, yo¡ª" "FATHER!" Before Kael could say anything, Igni reacted and quickly grabbed Kael''s clothes with his mouth, flying away in an instant. BOOOOOOOOM The place where Kael stood was destroyed by the beam of intense heat that the monstrosity had aimed at them. And it wasn''t over. BOOOOOOOOM Another beam was aimed at them, and Igni, who flew in the air with Kael barely hanging onto him, moved as fast as he could to avoid the attack that would burn both of them to cinders in an instant. "W-What in the hell is that¡­?" Kael stuttered, staring at the monstrosity in front of him. From the damage those ''beams'' did to their surroundings, only one word came to Kael''s mind. A Death Ray. That beam was no different from death itself. Honestly, with how Kael was currently hanging in the air, he would have screamed in terror. Right now, however, all his focus was on the monstrosity in front of him. Wanting to know how strong this entity actually was and see if they could somehow find a way to deal with it, He activated the Eye of the Ancient, and his eyes turned golden, showing him the information he so desperately wanted to see. [Name: Unnamed] [Race: Titan of the Crucible] [Age: 1,16,593] [Level: -] [Strength: 1000] [Agility: 30] [Speed: 0] [Stamina: 500] [Defense: 200] [Mana: 10,000] [Intelligence: -] [Charisma: -] [Strengths: Fire Immunity, Immortality, Instant Regeneration (Mana and Wounds)] [Weaknesses: Immobile, Lost Intelligence] ¡­ ''What in the hell is that thing!?'' Kael''s eyes widened in absolute horror. Chapter 104 Another Failure. ''What in the hell is that thing!?'' Kael''s eyes widened in horror. ''No wonder even Igni was intimidated.'' He muttered in his head. The absurd age, the strength, defense, and mana, he could ignore all but¡­ Fire Immunity, Immortality, and Instant Regeneration!? Does that even make sense!? What were they supposed to do against this monster!? There was no way for them to get rid of it! It was fucking immortal! KZZZZZZZZZT While Kael was still reading through the stats, Igni moved and barely dodged another one of those death rays that came out of the monster''s core. "Haaahhh¡­ Haaahhh¡­ Haaahh¡­" Kael''s breathing turned heavy. Seeing the death ray pass so close to him made his heart rate jump in fear. Soon, however, his attention was grabbed by something else. Another screen had popped in front of him as his eyes fell on the somewhat dull volcano that was behind the Titan. [Heart of Crucible] [State: Extinguished] [Description:] [The Heart of Crucible is the core of the Infernal Crucible, the very source of its balance and stability. However, the once raging inferno that fueled the realm''s existence now lies in a dormant, lifeless state. Without its flames, the Crucible''s structure is collapsing, and its inhabitants are devolving into mindless beasts of destruction.] [Effects of Extinguished State] [Realm Instability: The Infernal Crucible will collapse in 22 hours.] [Berserk Titan: The Titan who once protected the realm and was connected to it has gone berserk due to its instability and is attacking every movement it senses.] [Volcanic Activity: Earthquakes and magma eruptions have increased in frequency and will continue to increase until the entire realm collapses.] [Conditions to Reignite the Heart of Crucible] [Bathe the Heart of Crucible in Endless Flames for 20 seconds without interruption.] [Flames must originate from a Primordial Fire Source.] [Any disruption will reset the process.] ¡­ ''So that''s it¡­'' Kael finally realized it. ''So basically, the mission wants Igni to heat that volcano up for 20 seconds¡­'' Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire There was no other ''Primordial Fire Source'' here other than his Igni. The description couldn''t have been more obvious. ''Doesn''t sound very complicated.'' Kael thought inwardly, but just as he did, KZZZZZZZZZT His breath hitched the moment another death ray passed right by him, with Igni barely dodging the attack. ''Fuck that! How are we supposed to do it with that monstrosity standing right next to it!?'' Kael''s opinion changed very quickly. Igni, on the other hand, flapped its wings and moved down, taking cover behind the volcano and hiding from the Titan. The monster couldn''t move, and the dragon decided to use that fact to his advantage. In a few seconds, Igni landed on the ground with Kael. "Father! Are you hurt?" He questioned with a worried look on his face. "No, I am fine." Kael nodded as he patted Igni''s head, reassuring his son. But then, He noticed something. The volcano right behind them¡­ The volcano that was supposed to be a cover and a shield¡­ It was¡­ Cracking¡­? "!!!" Kael''s eyes widened in horror as the crack became wider and wider with every passing moment. "IGNI!!" Kael screamed as he saw the thick volcano wall collapse and the death ray piercing through it like it was made of paper. Quickly, Kael grabbed the little dragon in his arms and then, Wings came out of his back as he launched himself into the air, dodging the incoming attack. Kael''s golden eyes shined as shimmering red scales covered his entire body. His wings and a tail emerged, the air itself crackled, as if submitting to him¡ªeven when a monster such as the Titan stood right in front of him. "Father¡­?" Igni called out, once again sensing the same familiarity from his father as he did the last time. Yes, Kael had activated it again. [Ascendant of the Ancient] ''Status.'' He called out, and a screen showing his new stats appeared in front of him. [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 20] [CE: 412/3400] [Talent: Genesis of the Ancients] [Talent Rank: EX Rank] [Strength: 150] [Agility: 140] [Speed: 145] [Stamina: 170] [Defense: 155] [Mana: 200] [Intelligence: 135] [Charisma: 170] ¡­ KZZZZZZZZZT The Titan, however, didn''t seem to care about what Kael had become. It simply shot another one of its death rays while Kael was in the sky. This time, however, Kael didn''t panic. Rather, he simply flew towards the Titan, easily dodging the incoming beam without much problem. "Igni, balance yourself." "Father?¡ªAaaahhhhhh!!" Kael ordered, and before Igni could understand anything, he threw him into the air while he himself flew right toward the core of the Titan''s chest. KZZZZZZZZZT The monster attacked him again. Right now, however, it didn''t matter. The current Kael was even more monstrous than the monstrous entity. His claws elongated as he gathered his strength. Then, as if all of this wasn''t enough already, [Draconic Surge] [Draconic Strike] Kael activated his two skills, raising his power to an even more absurd level and, CRACK He pierced through the Titan''s core with his body and flew out the other end. And the Hero didn''t stop there. With his now enhanced speed that was above 260¡ªpretty much reaching the speed of sound itself¡ªhe moved towards its eye just in case it was a core instead of an eye and, CRACK He pierced through it as well. With the two possible cores now crushed into pieces, technically, the Titan should be down. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Or at least, that''s what Kael expected, but¡­ "Well¡­ Fuck." He cursed as he realized that the moment he stopped attacking, both the cores regenerated back to how they were before. His attack... Was entirely meaningless. "So the core wasn''t the weakness, huh¡­" The Hero realized it. Then, as he noticed that the monster had turned its head towards him, he quickly flew away, grabbed Igni¡ªwho was still free-falling in the air¡ªand went back to the ground again with his back facing the Titan. "Father¡­?" Igni was confused, soon, however, his eyes widened in horror. "FATHER! LOOK OU-" The Little Dragon shouted, but before it could say or do anything anymore, Kael simply tightened his Hug around him, making sure to cover the Dragon''s entire body with his own and, "It''s alright." He spoke lightly. [Time Remaining: 0 Seconds] His transformation was undone, and then, KZZZZZZZZZT BOOOOOOOOM The beam of extreme heat engulfed both the father-son duo and¡­ they perished. The mission ended. It was another failure. ... A/N: *Infernal Crucible* *Eternal Flame Wolves* *Tital of the Crucible* Chapter 105 I need to find her. "Nyuuu!!" "Cirri, we are fine. Nothing happened." "Nyuuuuuu!!!" Just like before, little Cirri cried in Kael''s arms again, and no matter what Kael said or did, the little Dragon didn''t stop. It was traumatizing. To the Dragon, Death didn''t mean much. As a Mythical Creature, despite being a child, she understood that Death was a part of Life. What hurt her the most was the fact that she wasn''t next to them. Just like before, she couldn''t leave the Sanctuary no matter how much she tried¡­ She felt¡­ Alone. "Cirri¡­" Kael called out, hugging his Daughter with extreme tenderness and love. He knew it would take a long time for her to calm down and¡­ She wasn''t the only one he had to worry about. "It is all my fault." The older brother, who was still just a few days older, was problematic in his own way. Yes, once again, the Fire Dragon was blaming himself. "Igni, you did nothing wrong. Rather, you were absolutely amazing in there. You have learned and grown so much." "If I was stronger, Cirri wouldn''t be crying." Igni answered in a solemn tone. The Dragon was standing a few steps away from Cirri, not even patting her head because he was blaming himself for it. He just stared at his little sister from a distance with guilty eyes, and Kael, who saw that, felt his mouth twitching. "Come here." He spoke as he grabbed the Dragon''s arm and pulled him. "What could you have done if you were stronger?" Kael questioned. "I would have burned that Titan." Igni answered instantly. "Flames couldn''t harm him." "Then I would have destroyed his body." "I pierced through its Core and Eye. It regenerated in an instant. It is an Immortal. No matter what you do, it will regenerate back to full health." "Then¡­ what are we supposed to do?" Igni questioned back with an uncertain look on his face. "Are we going to¡­ abandon the mission and never go there again¡­?" The Dragon''s Pride made it difficult for him to accept his defeat, and an even worse feeling was that he couldn''t come up with a way to crush that thing even if he imagined himself getting stronger. But, "Abandon the Mission? After everything we have been through? Of course not." Kael smiled. "What are we going to do¡­?" The Dragon was uncertain. Kael, however, just smiled as he patted Igni''s head and, "Well, that''s for the problem tomorrow''s us has to deal with, no?" "Hmm?" Igni clearly didn''t like that answer. "Don''t worry, Igni. Tomorrow, it will be our Victory." "How¡ª" "Just trust me." Kael answered confidently as he smiled. Igni stared at his father for a while, then, "Okay, Father." He nodded. Just as his father said, he would trust him. After all, his Father could never be wrong. The little Dragon finally got close to his sister and patted her head with his paws. Kael, who saw that, smiled weakly. What was he going to do tomorrow? He had no fucking clue. He just knew one thing, He needed to win. ''Haaaahh¡­'' For now, however, Kael sighed. There was a lot on his mind. The fact that all the changes his body went through returned to normal the moment he returned annoyed him. He thought he had gotten stronger, and he had. At the very least, his stats should have been raised a little. He understood his system enough to understand how that worked, but¡­ ''Is that why there weren''t any changes in my stats?'' Since everything, even his injuries, returned back to normal every time he exited that Realm, it was very possible the same was true for his strength as well. ''Or maybe¡­ it is a penalty for failing to complete the Mission¡­'' Kael theorized. ''So if I wish to win¡­ I need to get stronger.'' The moment the Hero came up with this theory, his eyes shined with determination. He wanted nothing more than to jump into the Crucible again, but he knew that wasn''t possible. Not to mention¡­ The Mission wasn''t the only thing he needed to worry about. Actually, the Mission was the last thing he had to worry about since he couldn''t die inside the Crucible. What he needed to worry about was the place where he could very much die for real. Yes, the place he was living in. The Royal Place. And that party that would be held today. A Party where the King and the most Influential Nobles of the Kingdom would arrive. Honestly, Kael was nervous. There were too many things in his head. He... knew too much and didn''t know much at the same time. He didn''t know how the nobles would react to him. If it was before, he wouldn''t have cared, but thinking about the enemies hidden in the shadows, he realized that what he needed the most right now were allies. Allies he could trust. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''Haaaahhh...'' Kael sighed. Being summoned to another world as a Hero and being responsible for protecting this world was already big enough, but now... He also needed to be involved in the politics. ''Just my life.'' He shook his head. ''He would be there as well.'' Another thought popped into his head as his expression turned grim. The Crown Prince, Edric Dragonborn. The Ally of the ''Enemies'' or¡­ ''He might even be the Leader of them all¡­ Or¡­ He might be completely innocent.'' Nothing was certain. After all, he couldn''t completely trust Elira, who had given him all the information he had either. Did she have any reason to lie? Who knows? He barely knew the woman for 2 weeks, he couldn''t trust her with his life within that timeframe. And he still found it strange that the Mage came to him after he returned from the Mission. After he returned alive from the trap the enemies had set for him. Killing a Beast that he wasn''t supposed to be strong enough to kill. It was almost as if... It was the enemies'' attempt to distract him since they couldn''t kill him. Did he think Elira was the enemy? Again, he wasn''t sure. It was a possibility he couldn''t ignore. And if he could not trust Elira, then¡­ Trusting Arlan became difficult as well. Just like that, the two people he trusted the most here came to his suspicion list. As for the others? Well, General Deren and Marshal Therian looked too loyal to the Kingdom, stupidly loyal even. As for Master Tamer Lyric¡­ Honestly, she felt too good to be true, so Kael was suspicious of her as well. And Althea? The Almoner of Services was suspicious from the very beginning. It felt as if she was sent to keep an eye on him. He never trusted her from the beginning. Tobias? The Town Head was too weak to help him anyway, not to mention... Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire Kael wasn''t even sure if the poor man was even alive or not. Kael wasn''t naive enough to not know the consequences of his actions, Tobias''s and even Selena''s life came into danger when he left Estwyn Town alive. After all, in one way or another, Tobias failed to kill him. Would the enemies lurking in shadows let him go when he knew so much? Kael wasn''t sure. So he left him there even when he knew he could die? What else was he supposed to do anyways? Kael himself wasn''t safe either, how was he supposed to save others? ''Haahh¡­'' In the end, he just sighed again, shifting his focus from Tobias to his own problem. A person he could trust. As he thought about it, a name came to his mind. ''Princess Lavinia.'' The woman from the Vision¡­ The woman he for sure knew was an ally. ''I need to find her.'' Chapter 106 Siblings Love. Knock Knock While Elira was lying on her bed, reading her favourite book, someone knocked on her door. However, instead of answering like a woman in power would, she rolled away, placing her face on the opposite side of the door. ''They will think I am not here and go away if I don''t say anything.'' She shrugged as she continued reading, but¡­ Knock Knock The person outside the door knocked again. Knock Knock Then again, Knock Knock And then again. Elira''s mouth twitched. "You brute, do you not understand what it means when someone doesn''t answer!?" The Court Mage snapped. Yes, just a few knocks were enough for her to know who the person was and just as she expected, the moment she shouted, the door was kicked open effortlessly and a giant man walked in. "Don''t you know that you are not supposed to barge into a lady''s room!?" Elira shouted. "Lady my ass. What lady reads that strange book?" Arlan snorted. "Don''t think I do not know that you stole one of my copies." "¡­" Arlan momentarily turned silent, wondering how this witch knew. Soon, however, he shook his head. He wasn''t here to fight or annoy her like usual. Rather, he stared at his sister with a solemn look on his face, and without him having to say it, Elira understood what her brother wanted and with a wave of her hand, she created a sound barrier around them. "What is it?" Elira questioned, instantly dropping her casual attitude. "You went to Kael''s room yesterday?" The Commander questioned directly. "How did you know?" "So you did¡­" Arlan muttered and Elira realized it. "Fuck! That one doesn''t count! I was half asleep!" She quickly defended herself. "Why did you go?" Arlan, however, wasn''t in the mood to joke around. "Why do you ask?" "Elira." Arlan''s tone changed. This, however, didn''t intimidate Elira. "How did you know I went to Kael?" "I didn''t. I just knew you had a talk with Kieran." "He ratted on me." Elira realized it. "Elira." Arlan raised his voice. "What? Did you not listen to Kieran''s story? Kael is much more perceptive than we give him credit for. He found out he was being tailed, he also settled the matter with City Lord Sylas like an experienced leader would, and his performance back in Estwyn Town was nothing but exemplary." Elira then looked into Arlan''s eyes and, Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire "He is ready, Arlan. Do not underestimate him." "So you told him about the Princess¡­" Arlan realized. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was almost as if the brother and sister could read each other''s minds. Elira didn''t seem surprised either, she just lowered her head and after a small pause, she nodded. "¡­he deserves to know." "Elira, Princess Lavinia i-" "You know she is innocent!" Elira glared at her brother. "Your bond with her was stronger than mine! You were the one who introduced her to me! You practically raised her! How are you not affected by everything that happened!?" "And what do you want me to do?" Arlan questioned back. "You think I love her more than the King? Or do you think the King isn''t trying to find a way to drop all those charges on his beloved daughter and bring her back?" "¡­" Elira turned silent. "Elira, I cannot go against the King. I do not have the authori-" "Oh yeah? And finding where she is right now isn''t going against the King''s authority?" "How did yo-" Soon, however, the Commander paused. "Now I am awake." Elira grinned victoriously. "So, where is she?" She questioned directly. "I will not say." Arlan shook his head. "Just know she is safe." "You have your men protecting her?" "I cannot move openly, but I know she is alive." "And well¡­?" Elira questioned in a low tone. "She is caged, Elira." Arlan didn''t say anything else. "¡­" Elira stayed silent as well. "So you want the Hero''s help to free the Princess?" Arlan questioned. He could pretty much understand his sister''s plan. "I think the King plans to do the same." Elira started. "What do you mean?" The Commander frowned. "What the King needs right now is authority. There are too many people against the Princess, it is unnatural. Even though it isn''t apparent, I am sure the Crown Prince is behind it and he will make sure everything stays the same. However, Once the Hero''s reputation rises, he will have a certain say in the Kingdom. If the Hero stands together with the King, with their combined influence, the Princess could be brought back. I am just¡­ moving these plans faster and independently. I am sure once the King realizes what I am trying to do, he will secretly support me and even help me hide my traces." "This will involve Kael in this mess." Arlan spoke with a grim look on his face. "He will be involved in this mess one way or another. He is looking for the Princess on his own." "He is?" Arlan frowned. "I confirmed it yesterday. He tried to hide it but he wasn''t doing a very good job at it." "Well, he still doesn''t know how to hide his emotions." Not for a single moment did he doubt his sister''s words. He knew it better than anyone else, Elira may act irresponsibly but she is extremely perceptive and good at reading people. One could trust her judgement blindly and she would never fail you. At least that is what Arlan''s more than 30 years of experience as her brother told him. Soon, however, a question formed in his mind. "How does he know about the Princess in the first place? He has only been here for two weeks." "I do not know how he found out, but he has been looking around for a while now. One way or another, he will be involved in this mess." "It will be unsafe." Arlan muttered. At those words, Elira just chuckled. "Let''s face it, Brother. Kael was never safe to begin with." The Commander couldn''t help but smile wryly at those words. "Now scram. I already hate that I had to see your face first thing in the morning." "Heh, unlike you, I have my lovely wife I wake up to." Arlan grinned. "Wife that I chose." "She was so perfect that you had no option but to choose her." Arlan just chuckled and at his words, Elira snapped, "Just you wait, I''ll find a man too." "Sure, try it." The Commander narrowed his eyes menacingly. "If you scare him away, I''ll burn you!" Elira warned. "If your man gets scared away by me, he never deserved to be your husband in the first place!" Arlan snapped. "Go away! I need to get dressed for the party!" "Huh? The Party''s in 4 hour-" "Ladies need their time to get dressed! I have no clue how Lyria hasn''t divorced a hard-headed fool like you! I was right, she really was too good for someone like you! I am at fault, I ruined that angel''s life!" "The only life you will be ruining will be of your future husband, I pity the gu-" "LEAVE!!" Elira raised her voice and started throwing pillows at her brother one after another. "Alright alright! I am going, you witch! And why do you have so many pillows anyway!? This is already the sixth one!" "I keep them for men who secretly come to my room at night! WHY DO YOU CARE!?" Chapter 107 I came to warn you. "Alright, she''s a level 4 now." Kael muttered as he stared at his daughter. [Name: Cirri] [Race: Cloud Dragon] [Rank: Mythical] [Age: 3 Days] [Level: 1 -> 4] [Strength: 10 -> 14] [Agility: 16 -> 22] [Speed: 18 -> 26] [Stamina: 12 -> 18] [Defense: 8 -> 12] [Mana: 25 -> 40] [Intelligence: 9 -> 13] [Charisma: 12 -> 17] [Strengths: Intangible Form, High Mobility, Density Control] [Weaknesses: Fragile in Solid Form, Energy Dependency, Vulnerable to Strong Winds] ¡­ "My sister is getting stronger." Igni nodded with a proud look on his face. "Nyu!" Cirri raised her hand excitedly before, Poof She turned into a cloud and covered Kael''s head. "Hahaha~" Kael laughed, feeling the cool sensation. Cirri returned to her original form, and Kael held her, hugging her as gently as he could. Since he had the entire day to himself because of the party preparations, he taught himself a Third Circle Spell, and the instant he learned it, Cirri leveled up. Kael also taught himself a few Second Circle Spells and brought her up to level 4. Of course, the experience he gained didn''t do much for his own or Igni''s level, so only Cirri enjoyed the benefits. "Nyu!!" The little dragon roared adorably; she liked the feeling of getting stronger. Knock Knock Suddenly, Kael heard a knock. "It''s her." Before he could even use his eyes to see who it was, Igni answered. Kael nodded towards Igni, and the two dragons entered the Sanctuary after hugging Kael one last time. Kael then straightened the cuffs of his finely tailored jacket as he stood up. Early in the morning, a servant had come in to deliver the news about the party and the clothes he would be wearing for the occasion. It was a bit tacky, but honestly, Kael could see the charm. He looked in the mirror one last time, and seeing his appearance, he couldn''t help but smile. ''A fantasy world indeed¡­'' He was wearing a deep navy-blue high-collared coat adorned with silver embroidery along the edges. Beneath it, he wore a fitted black tunic with silver clasps, complementing the coat''s design. His black trousers were tailored to perfection, tucked neatly into polished leather boots with silver accents. He looked like a noble. Knock Knock While Kael was lost looking at his reflection, the person outside knocked again. "Coming." Kael called out as he quickly rushed towards the door. It was Althea. "Hero Kael." The Almoner of Services greeted with her usual expressionless look on her face. "Althea, it has been a while." Kael greeted with a smile. "It has indeed." The Almoner of Services nodded. She then stared at Kael''s clothes and nodded, "You look good." "Charming?" Kael questioned, trying to get a reaction out of the robot. "Yes." "Did it charm you?" "Is the Hero trying to seduce me and use me as an outlet for his depraved, sinful lust?" "¡­How did you even get that idea?" "I now worry about the Kingdom Soldiers sent with you on the test." Althea spoke in her usual monotonous tone, and in the end, Kael just decided to stay silent. He was never able to deal with this woman anyway; it would be foolish to think he would be able to do so now. "Shall we leave?" He questioned, and Althea nodded. As they made their way towards the great hall, the air carried a faint scent of fine perfumes and the distant sound of music grew louder with every step. Kael''s eyes finally fell on the entrance to the party hall¡ªtall golden doors engraved with detailed designs of legendary beasts and their tamers. The guards, who saw the Hero, pulled the doors open with grace, and the instant Kael and Althea walked in, A wave of warmth, light, and music engulfed them. Overwhelmed, Kael looked around. He had now seen a fair share of grandeur to not be surprised by everything he saw; however, he was still taken aback by the hall. Its high vaulted ceiling was adorned with floating crystal chandeliers that cast a soft golden glow over the festivities. Lavish silk banners in Drakthar''s royal colors hung from the walls, while round tables draped in white and gold were spread across the hall, each hosting nobles, strong warriors, and high-ranking mages. Servants moved between guests, offering trays of delicacies and fine wine. For a brief moment, the chatter and laughter continued without stop, but then one by one, the gazes turned towards the entrance, and in an instant, Silence fell over the place. The Hero was here. Everyone observed Kael, judging him silently. Some talked about his refined appearance, some frowned at his lack of grace, and some just stared at him with curiosity, admiration, and even doubt. Of course, just as the people observed the Hero, he observed them back. Being the center of attention didn''t make him nervous; he seemed used to it now. After all, other than the lavish environment, there wasn''t much difference between this and Estwyn. Kael stepped forward, not worrying about the gazes that lingered on him, then suddenly, "Hero Kael." Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire A melodic voice called out from the crowd, and a figure gracefully made her way toward him. It was Elira. She wore a flowing emerald gown that shined under the candlelight. Her hourglass figure looked nothing short of majestic, her long blonde hair and emerald green eyes looked much different than normal. Yes, she looked breathtaking today. And of course, Kael didn''t forget to praise her. "It looks like you finally took a bath today. How many years has it been?" In an instant, Elira''s smile crumbled, and a vein popped on her forehead. Soon, however, she forced herself to smile and, "It has been a while." "It has indeed." Kael nodded, looking into Elira''s eyes with a playful glint. After all, no one was supposed to know that this woman visited him yesterday. Elira, knowing exactly what the brat was thinking, decided to ignore him. Then, she turned towards Althea and, "You may leave him to me now. I''ll take it from here." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I am supposed to introduce¡ª" Althea tried to reason, but the Court Mage cut her off. "Althea, I know what I am doing. Enjoy the evening." "¡­As you say, Court Mage Elira." The Almoner of Services bowed her head and disappeared into the crowd. Once she left, Kael leaned towards Elira and grinned. "I didn''t know you were the jealous type. To think you would be so oppressive to the women around me. I have to be honest, Elira. I cannot say I like that about you. This sometimes leads to a toxic relationship where the couple ends up having no friends, you know?" At those words, Elira mouth twitched, she then leaned towards Kael and then, "Look forward to your training tomorrow." Yes, it was a straight-up threat. A threat that didn''t work at all. "I will." After all, Kael was actually looking forward to the training tomorrow, he had a surprise prepared for her. "Anyways, this is not why I came to you." The Court Mage quickly shook her head as she took the Hero to a table, then, with a solemn look on her face, she continued, "I came to warn you." Chapter 108 Thats the Crown Prince, Edric Dragonborn. "I came to warn you." Elira spoke with a solemn look on her face, and at those words, Kael frowned. "What do you mean?" He questioned, lowering his voice to match Elira''s. "This all went out of proportion." "I do not understand. What happened?" Kael was confused. [Can you hear me?] Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire Suddenly, he heard a voice in his head. It didn''t come from any particular direction, it just¡­ rang in his head. It was as if he had high-quality headphones on and was talking to Elira on a call. Seeing Kael''s reaction, Elira got the answer to her question and then continued, [Do you remember when I told you that they are throwing a party for your safe return and mission''s success?] Kael nodded at those words. Even though he was still wondering how the Court Mage was doing that, for now, he decided to focus on what actually mattered. [I didn''t know every major force from Nerathis was coming today.] Kael''s expression changed. [This isn''t just a small gathering to celebrate your victory, it''s a gathering to show you off to the rest of Nerathis. You are being presented as the ray of hope. I was told that this was supposed to happen in a year. I do not know why this is happening so early.] "Supposed to happen in a year¡­?" Kael frowned. Elira momentarily turned silent, and then, [Drakthar is the strongest and the most balanced Kingdom in all of Nerathis. This was the reason you were summoned here instead of other Kingdoms. You were only supposed to stay in Drakthar for a year. In this year, we were going to assess your talent and help you grow accordingly. Once we had a good idea as to where your talents lie, you would have then been sent to a Kingdom specific to those talents and grow there. If your talents were related to Magic, then you would have been sent to the Magic Empire, Xenthalor, together with your Magic instructor, me.] Elira revealed. Actually, she seemed quite excited when she mentioned her going to Xenthalor. The relationship between Xenthalor and Drakthar was not the best, so usually, she could never visit the Magic Empire. However, if she were to go there as the Hero''s instructor, that changed everything. "So if they are here¡­" Kael muttered with a confused look on his face. Were they here to take him away? He had barely settled in here. Now he needed to settle in some other Kingdom? ''What am I? A fucking vagabond?'' He couldn''t help but curse in his head. Elira, however, shook her head. [Normally, that shouldn''t be the case.] Kael stared at the woman with a frown. [We never knew that you wouldn''t know what your talent would be. It was something we were supposed to find out the moment you were summoned. There was no need to ''assess'' it. Drakthar had no reason to keep you. Normally, we should have found out about your talent and sent you to the respective Kingdom.] "Then why am I¡­" [Status Symbol.] Elira answered, and Kael turned silent. It made sense. Politics was always the same no matter the place, even if the said place was a world that was supposedly facing a threat that could very well mean the end of it. What surprised Kael the most, however, was the fact that even when he was at the very center of politics, he didn''t feel nervous like he normally should. He was taking it very calmly. ''Even I changed, huh¡­'' It was a small moment of realization, which was soon interrupted by the Court Mage''s words. [The Drakthar Kingdom kept you here as a status symbol. To prove that we are the strongest and we have the resources to train you just as well as the so-called ''specialized'' Kingdoms. Giving you away when not even three weeks had passed would ruin the Kingdom''s image. It is highly unlikely that the Kingdom would allow it.] Elira informed. "Then why are they¡­" Kael spoke. He knew that, unlike Elira, others could hear him, so he was keeping his sentences as short as possible. [As I said, they are here for you. To see your progress, to evaluate you.] Elira''s tone then turned solemn, and, [Be careful, Kael. This will bring a lot of attention to you.] Kael''s face nodded at the Court Mage with a solemn look on his face. [I will sta-] Elira wanted to continue, but suddenly, Kael noticed another wave of hush fall over the hall. It was similar to how it happened when he came here. Instinctively, he turned towards the doors, and there, his eyes fell on an extremely handsome man who had just walked in and grabbed all the attention. The man had long purple hair and purple eyes, showing that he was from the Drakthar Royalty. He carried himself with a grace and nobility that surprised even Kael, who never cared about these things. He was wearing a deep crimson high-collared coat, adorned with beautiful gold embroidery of dragons and ancient runes. Beneath the coat was a pristine white silk tunic with gold buttons. With his presence alone, he radiated an aura of command and nobility¡ªan aura that, without him doing anything, was quite overpowering and made the other nobles around bow their heads. [That''s the Crown Prince, Edric Dragonborn.] Elira informed, and the Hero nodded. He knew that already. With how much he had read about the Royal Family, it would be surprising if he didn''t. And finally seeing the Crown Prince he had been hearing and thinking about all this while, Kael was on guard. After all, this man was a possible enemy. An enemy with power. Kael''s eyes turned golden, or so he intended to, but, [Don''t.] Elira warned him, knowing what he was going to do. [Assessing people''s abilities is frowned upon during such gatherings.] Kael nodded in understanding as he stopped himself. He saw as the Crown Prince walked in and was instantly swarmed by the nobles trying to impress him in one way or another. The Prince answered them with a gentle smile on his face. He looked charming. A few minutes later, once he had answered everyone who came to greet him, the Prince''s eyes fell on Kael. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael stared back. ''A person born to be the King, hard worker, never received his father''s love, overshadowed by his sister in every possible way, his position as the next King came into jeopardy because of his talented sister.'' He thought about everything he knew about the Prince and suddenly, ''I kind of feel bad for him now. I''d probably start my villain arc if I was in his place too.'' Kael thought sarcastically as he stared at the Prince coming towards him. Of course, even when he joked around, in his mind, this man was an enemy. An enemy who could one day hurt his Igni and Cirri. Thinking about it in such a way, Kael steeled his heart and prepared to meet the Prince. "Hero Kael." The Prince called out. "Prince Edric." Kael greeted, and in an instant, "It is Crown Prince Edric." Edric corrected. Yes, this was how the first meeting between the overshadowed Prince and the Hero started. Chapter 109 Crown Princes Charm. "Hero Kael." The Prince called out. "Prince Edric." Kael greeted, and in an instant¡ª "It is Crown Prince Edric." Edric corrected, and the Hero stared at him as if trying to read his expression. "Ah, I apologize. I am still new to all this, Crown Prince Edric." "Hahaha~" The Crown Prince laughed. "You have far grander things to worry about, Hero. A title is just a formality. You can call me anything you desire." He smiled as he stared at Kael. Kael raised his eyebrow before he quickly shook his head and continued his act. "No, I understand how important a title is and the work one puts in to earn it¡ªrespecting it is the least I can do." Edric paused for a moment, then, he shook his head. "I didn''t earn this title, Hero Kael. I was born into it." He answered in a low voice. "Now, I fight to live up to it. To not let my Kingdom down." The Prince then looked straight at the Hero. "And if we''re speaking of titles, yours bears far greater weight than mine. While I must protect my Kingdom, you carry the fate of all of Nerathis on your shoulders." A small smile appeared on Edric''s face and, "You need not concern yourself with trivial matters like respecting titles. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. You are above that, Hero Kael." He spoke. There was no mockery. No jealousy. Just a quiet confidence that¡­ unsettled Kael. Still, he nodded, returning the Prince''s smile. "I will be honest." Edric''s tone shifted, becoming more personal. "When you were first summoned, I doubted you. How could I not? You are a child. A stranger to our world. Leaving the fate of my world in your hands made me feel irresponsible, weak even." Kael''s expression changed at those words. The Prince, however, wasn''t done yet. "But then I heard what you did in Estwyn, and I realized how wrong I was." Edric''s expression softened. "You were strong, courageous, and a leader who led everyone who followed him to an overwhelming victory. And I highly doubt anyone else could have done better." Kael blinked. What...? "You are the Hero chosen by Lord Feraos, Kael. You saved Estwyn. And I am certain you will save Nerathis too." Then, with a slight incline of his head¡ª "I apologize for doubting you." Edric spoke, and¡ª Kael froze. His mind couldn''t process what just happened. ''The fuck is this?'' This wasn''t going according to the script he had in his mind at all! ''Where is the arrogant and prideful Young Master who is secretly jealous of the main character, who has attracted all the attention? Isn''t he supposed to taunt me or make some sarcastic remarks to put me down and feel good about himself?'' Kael studied Edric again. ''¡­Is he just good at hiding it?'' Then¡ª [Hero Kael.] Kael stopped as a voice rang in his mind. It wasn''t Elira. It was the Crown Prince. He was using the same method as Elira to make sure others did not hear him. [Be careful today.] Kael''s eyes narrowed. A threat? [Since you''re with Court Mage Elira, I assume she told you about today''s guests.] Edric paused briefly and continued after Kael''s careful nod. [More than a few of them will try to challenge you, wanting to test your strength. I won''t tell you to decline¡ªthat''s your choice. But know this: you will be watched. And not all the eyes on you today are friendly.] Kael remained silent. Elira had said the same thing. The Crown Prince¡­ He was... warning him? But... wasn''t he the enemy? Why would he warn him? Was this an act to gain his trust? Or was Edric actually looking out for him? There were too many questions in Kael''s head and no clear answers. [Of course, you need not worry.] Edric spoke again, his tone reassuring. [No matter what happens, the Drakthar Kingdom will protect you. You can rely on us. But¡ªit will be wise to keep some trump cards hidden, just in case.] Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire Despite the thousand thoughts racing through his head, Kael nodded, with a grateful look on his face. [We''ve been silent for too long. Speak.] Kael snapped out of his reverie and let out a chuckle. "Ah, no¡ªplease don''t apologize. I understand how you must have felt. If I were in your place, I would have doubted myself too." Edric shook his head at those words. "You have no reason to doubt yourself. I refuse to believe there could be a better Hero than you." "¡­I hope to live up to your expectations." "That puts my mind at ease, Hero Kael." Edric smiled. "This evening is for you. Enjoy it." Edric turned to Elira and smiled charmingly. "And with you by his side, Court Mage Elira, I am even more assured." Elira smiled back. "You think too highly of me, Crown Prince Edric." After a few more pleasantries, the Prince finally left. Silence settled over Kael and Elira''s table. Elira sipped her drink. "What''s wrong?" She questioned. "Nothing, I just have a lot on my mind." Kael answered, and at his words, Elira just smiled. "It is not unusual. This is how one feels when they talk to the Crown Prince. He has a certain¡­ charm." Kael stared at the Court Mage, and she shrugged. [I told you, didn''t I? He is not incompetent, nor is he easy to figure out. Even I, who have been in the Royal Palace all my life, haven''t figured him out yet. Why do you think I am unsure of whether he is actually behind Lavinia''s fall or not? At one point, he has every reason to do so, but when you talk to him, you feel like¡ªhow could he do it? It is a never-ending cycle of confusion.] "¡­" Kael stayed silent. He could very much relate to her words. Even he was doubting whether the Crown Prince was behind it all or not. Bam Bam Bam Suddenly, a voice brought Kael out of his reverie. Then¡ª "Guests from other Kingdoms are here." Elira informed, her expression solemn. ... A/N: *Edric Dragonborn* *Alden Dragonborn* Chapter 1 - 1: A Dream. "Aaaaahhh!!" A young man shouted as he sat up on the bed with a jerk, his icy blue eyes were wide open, showing intense emotions like shock, anger and... fear. "Haah¡­ Haahh¡­ Haahh¡­" His skin was covered with sweat, damp strands of hair clinged to his forehead. His chest rose and fell rapidly, each breathing, uneven. Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump His own heartbeat echoed in his ears, the remnants of the dream still ran in his head. "Haaaaahhh¡­" Taking a deep breath, he rubbed his hands over his face, trying to calm himself down and steady his breathing. The room around him, though ordinary, seemed alien for a moment. The walls were a dull beige, the faint scent of cheap air freshener lingered in the air. A small desk sat against one wall, cluttered with textbooks, papers, and an empty coffee cup. The bed he lay in was unkempt, the sheets twisted around his legs in a haphazard mess. A small window above the desk allowed some sunlight in, signaling that the sun had risen. To his left, a small kitchen nook was visible, with a tiny fridge and a worn-out stove. The bathroom door was half-open, the faint sound of dripping water could be heard from within. "Kael¡­?" Suddenly, the young man, Kael, heard a muffled, unclear voice. It was his roommate, Mark, who had been sleeping next to him. Mark''s hair was a mess, his eyes half-open and his voice carried slight hints of annoyance. "Same dream again¡­?" Kael didn''t respond right away. His breath was still ragged, his hands shaking slightly as he ran them through his black hair again, trying to clear his mind. "Yeah," he finally muttered, his voice hoarse. "Same o-" Before he could complete the sentence, a pillow was thrown right at his face. "You fucker! I told you to stop watching anime for a while! It''s affecting you, and now it''s affecting my sleep as well!" Mark shouted, and in an instant, Kael, whose head was still hazy, woke up. "Fuck you! What has that got to do with this!?" He shouted back, throwing the pillow back at him. "Oh yeah!? Magic Gates all over the sky! Monsters pouring out of those Gates! Some Half-Dragon Half-Human looking dude fighting against those monsters together with his army of Dragons! A woman smirking disdainfully as that Dragon Man is killed by the monsters! Out of all of this, what does NOT have a relation with anime or all those comics and novels you read!? Haah!?" Mark snapped. He, however, wasn''t done yet. "I only introduced the Weeb World to you because I wanted you to chill the fuck out and stop being so try-hard! How in the hell have you fallen so deep into it that you are now dreaming about it!? And to think you are dreaming about Demi-Humans already! Fuck it, even if you are dreaming, why are you dreaming of a Dragon Man!? Why not a strong and sexy Dragon Woman!? Or better, a Foxkin with fluffy ears and tails! A Catwoman would be great as well! Why are you dreaming of a fucking man!? Who in the hell likes men!?!" Mark spoke with absolute disgust. Then, suddenly, his expression changed as he remembered something. "Wait¡­ Are those girls actually right!? Are you gay or something?" At this revelation, Mark crawled away from Kael, looking at him with fear evident in his eyes. Soon, however, as if not wanting to get canceled, he slowly approached Kael and said, "Look, dude¡­ Even if that is the case, I, uhh, will accept you as you are. We live in an independent country, you can like anyone you wish, that is completely normal and I will support your decision¡­ ¡­from a distance." Mark spoke, and Kael, who heard his words, felt his mouth twitching. "I see you no longer wish to pass your final semester exams." Kael spoke, and in an instant, Mark''s expression changed as he rushed towards Kael and grabbed his arm with a pitiful look on his face. "C''mon man, you know I''m joking, don''t you? You won''t do something so petty for a simple joke, now will you? Hahaha~" Mark laughed. "¡­" Kael, however, continued to stare at Mark, not saying anything. "Kael! You cannot do this to me! You are the only one I have!" For someone who wanted to support Kael''s decision ''from a distance,'' Mark''s words were¡­ quite suspicious. However, no matter what Mark said, Kael stayed silent, continuing to observe him. Then, a wicked smile appeared on his face, and, "You know what to do, no?" "You¡­" Mark widened his eyes in disbelief. Kael''s smile widened even further. "You! I can''t do it! Anything but this!" "Oh well, if it''s ''anything but this,'' I guess you will be saving some money this time, after all, you won''t need to buy the next semester''s books, not that you buy any anyways." Kael shrugged, and Mark''s face paled. "Dude, my mother will kill me! You know how she is!" "I gave you the option, my friend." Kael shrugged, turning away. Mark gritted his teeth and, "Please help me, father!" He shouted, his eyes closed because of how humiliated he felt. Kael''s smile widened, "Of course I will, my dear son." Mark clenched his fists in frustration, and Kael just laughed, S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alright, sleep for 30 more minutes if you want, I''ll go get freshened up." Kael spoke as he stood up and walked into the bathroom. ¡­ An hour later, Kael and Mark were walking to the University. It was only a kilometer away from their room, so they usually chose to walk. On their way, Kael was unusually silent, and Mark, who noticed that, turned to him. "Thinking about that dream again?" He questioned, this time, his face showed concern. "This is the fourth time this week," Kael replied, turning towards him. "It used to be a blurry, hazy vision that I''d dream about once every couple of months, But now¡­ now it''s so vivid. I can see every face, remember every detail. It doesn''t even feel like a dream anymore. It feels so¡­ real." Chapter 2 - 2: Just get a girlfriend. "It used to be a blurry, hazy vision that I''d dream about once every couple of months, But now¡­ now it''s so vivid. I can see every face, remember every detail. It doesn''t even feel like a dream anymore. It feels so¡­ real." "Dude, you are literally dreaming about Dragons and shit." Mark stared at his roommate with a deadpan look on his face. No matter how much he tried, he just couldn''t take his problem seriously. "It is just a dream, it feels more ''vivid'' because that is all you think about these days." "But do you not find it weird at all¡­? Dreams are influenced by emotions, daily experiences, and subconscious thoughts, often times, they reflect memories, or unresolved issues. It is the sleep quality that shapes a dream''s vividness, but in my case, no matter what ''quality of sleep'' I have, it doesn''t affect it in the slightest. External stimuli, diet, mental health, or even sleep posture seem to have no effect on my dream either. The people or¡­ the monsters I see in my dreams, I have never seen anything like them before, then how is my brain picturing them? Not to mention it is picturing them to the point I remember them clearly, every single detail of every single monster, I remember it all. Do you not find any of this strange at all? I¡­ I just feel like this is¡­ not just a dream, but something deeply connected to me." Kael voiced out his thoughts and Mark, who was looking at him from the start, nodded with a serious look on his face as well. "Now that you say it, It does feel strange¡­" "Right?" "Mhm. I think I understand what all of this means." Suddenly, Mark spoke up as he glanced at Kael. "What?" Kael questioned. "You must be the main character who will be summoned to another world that is being threatened by foreign monsters. As Hero, you will be tasked to save that world, the dream you see must be how the previous Hero, the Dragon Man, lost against the foreign monsters and now all the responsibility is on you, the new and brave hero. It is up to you to defeat the monsters, create a harem of beautiful women, and then live a happy life as the strongest existence in the world. It all makes sense now. You were destined to take this responsibility, the one man tied to strings of fate, the Hero, the lone warrior, the avenger, the Iron Man, Captain America, Tho- Acckkk!!" "Shut the fuck up, you bastard!" Kael shouted as he put Mark in a chokehold. "Acckkk!!" Mark struggled to get away but couldn''t. "Aren''t you speaking a little too much these days, my dear son?" Kael questioned. "I-I¡­" Mark wanted to say something but couldn''t, it was even difficult for him to breathe, let alone say something. Seeing that, Kael loosened his grip, allowing him to speak. Mark, however, used this chance to push him aside and create a distance between the two. "Fuck you, you bastard! Isn''t that what you wanted to listen to anyway!? ''My dream feels like it is deeply connected to me.'' Bullshit! Do you not hear how fucking dumb that sounds!? I can''t believe a dumbfuck like you is a top-ranking student of the University with the highest GPA, my University''s future is doomed!" Mark spoke, his hands grabbing his head as he prepared for his impending doom. "Yeah? Don''t forget to think through the fact that you are relying on this dumbfuck to pass this semester! Before the University''s, worry about your future!" "I am not a bookworm like you, I am street smart. I learn from experience." Mark snorted. "Street smart? Dude, you fell into a gutter when you were coming back to the room after being wasted, if it wasn''t for me who picked you up and brought you back, people would have thought you were some street dog instead of street smart." Kael''s reply was harsh. "A-As I said, I l-learned from that e-experience so I won''t make the same mistake again. T-This is how you grow in life." Mark replied, avoiding Kael''s eyes. "¡­" Kael was speechless. ''What the hell were you learning with your face inside the gutter?'' He had many questions but decided to stay silent. Mark turned silent as well. The two roommates continued to silently walk to their University and after a few minutes, "I am telling you, Stop watching anime for a while. Believe it or not, it is affecting you." Mark spoke. "Yes, yes." Kael nodded in a dismissive tone. Mark, who knew this bastard wouldn''t listen, continued, "Just get a girlfriend, that will solve everything. You are 22 already, for god''s sake!" "I am trying, okay? It''s hard out there!" Kael complained. "You fucking bastard!!" Mark directly pushed Kael away in frustration. "Hard? Hard!? For you!? Saying that with a face like yours, do you want to die or something!? You don''t even do anything and the girls throw themselves at you! It is you who moves away and don''t catch them, you bastard!! I literally brought a girl to our room just because I told her you were my roommate, just imagining how easy you would have it but you not making use of it wants me to kill you!!" Mark was indeed frustrated. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You know I am looking for something substantial. I do not want something that ends within a week. I need a partner I can spend my lif-" "Fuck you!!" Mark shouted. "I want something substantial." He mimicked Kael''s words in a comical way. "It is 2026, wake the fuck up, the love you read in those novels ain''t real. Something ''substantial'' doesn''t exist. You will die a virgin if you keep thinking this way." "So be it." Kael shrugged. "Tsk, you are hopeless." Mark snorted as the two continued their walk. ¡­ Just as the two reached the gates and were about to greet the guard, [Heroes, please awaken the potential hidden inside you and save the world.] They heard a voice. "Huh? What did you say?" Mark turned towards Kael with a frown on his face. Kael frowned as well. "Huh? What the hell is this?" Both of them heard the voice. It came from the guard, who was staring at a white circle with complex patterns, that had suddenly appeared beneath him. Mark and Kael realized they had similar circles under their feet. Looking around, they noticed other students had them as well. "Is this some gimmick? A universe function we weren''t told about?" Mark frowned. "But a projector shouldn''t be able to do this on such a large scale¡­ especially when we can''t even see anything around¡­ And that voice as well¡­" Kael was just as confused. Whoosh However, before he could say or think anything else, the circle beneath his feet shined brightly, blinding him momentarily, and the next thing he heard was, "He has arrived!!" Chapter 3 - 3: I am a Hero? "He has arrived!" An old man in white robes exclaimed, his eyes full of reverence, his voice quivering with a mix of awe and joy. "The Hero is here!" "We succeeded!" "Oh Feraos! Thank you for blessing us!" "Lord Feraos!" "O'' Noble Hero!" "Nerathis will be saved! We will be saved!!" That man wasn''t alone; all the people around him exclaimed just like him. Their eyes were full of awe and reverence as well. ''Huh¡­?'' Kael frowned in confusion. He remembered seeing that strange circle that had appeared beneath him, he thought that it was some University gimmick, but then suddenly, the Circle started shining brightly, blinding his eyes. He covered his eyes with his arms and the next thing he knew¡­ He was hearing these voices. Slowly, Kael opened his eyes and the moment he did, he froze. "W-Where is this place¡­?" He questioned out loud, his eyes displaying his shock. He¡­ He was in a completely different place! ''I didn''t feel anything¡­'' He frowned. He was in front of his University Gates a few seconds ago, how in the hell did he appear in a completely different place that he didn''t even know about? It was as if he was teleported here. ''Wait¡­ I teleported here¡­?'' Kael blinked in surprise. However, before he could think too much, "O'' Noble Hero!" A zealous voice attracted his attention. His eyes finally fell on the scene in front of him and¡­ ''What in the hell are these guys doing¡­?'' Around twenty dudes in white robes were kneeling before him, their foreheads pressed to the ground. Kael was questioning everything he was seeing. First, he was teleported to some random place he had never been to before, and now he was being greeted by¡­ these folks? Had ''normal'' divorced him or something? First, it was the dreams and the- ''Wait¡­'' Kael suddenly realized something. ''These dreams are getting too fucking real.'' He cursed in his head, but then, he sighed. ''At least it is a bit different this time.'' As he calmed down, Kael looked around, knowing that all of this was his own imagination, he couldn''t help but be impressed. He was in a grand, circular hall, its walls were made of polished white marble. At the center, there was a massive translucent crystal. The air here was very different from the impure, polluted air back where he came from. Above the domed ceiling were some paintings depicting different beasts roaming freely alongside four ethereal figures. Those four figures were painted with painstaking detail. Kael also noticed that he was standing at the very heart of this hall. It was a circular platform made of white marble, engraved with what looked like some... magic runes? The runes were glowing faintly, it indeed left a magical impression. Around the Hall, there were four towering statues, A Dragon. A Lion. A Serpent. And a Phoenix. ''Quite detailed.'' Kael praised in his head. "The Hero of the Prophecy!" Suddenly, a voice called out, attracting Kael''s attention. The man raised his head and Kael was finally able to see him, an old man with white hair and a beard, just like other people around, he was wearing white robes that had a badge on the chest. The badge depicted two hands that were joined together, praying to a God. One look was enough for Kael to know who these people were, Priests. "I understand your confusion and disbelief. You have every right to feel this way, being summoned to this sacred place without warning. But I ask that you place your trust in the Divine Order. Allow me to offer clarity and reveal the purpose behind this summon." The Priest spoke. ''Oh?'' Kael turned towards the Priest, looking forward to whatever the dude had to say. "I am Pope Altheran of the Church of Feraos." The Priest started by introducing himself. "We, the faithful of this church, devote ourselves to the worship of Lord Feraos. It is through His divine blessing that we were able to summon you, the Hero, to this sacred place." Pope Altheran continued, Kael listened carefully. To think his imagination would extend this far, he even got that old way of speaking correctly. "Before you arrived here, you must have heard a voice. That was Lord Feraos, our Primal God¡ªthe eternal guide who watches over all. It is by His Divine Will that you have been chosen to bear the sacred burden of becoming the Hero, the protector of our world, Nerathis. I understand that such revelations must weigh heavily upon you, especially as one who does not hail from our lands. Yet, O blessed and noble Hero, I humbly beseech you..." The Pope suddenly knelt, pressing his forehead to the floor again. His voice trembled with strong emotions as he pleaded, "Please, save Nerathis." Other priests present followed, copying the Pope''s actions. "O Great Hero, please save Nerathis!" They spoke in unison, once again, their foreheads pressed on the floor. Kael was taken aback as he witnessed this scene, in his mind, he couldn''t help but question. ''Is it just me or do these people really love their floors? Actually, who cleans this place anyway? That guy needs a raise.'' Soon, however, he shook his head as he got the answer. ''No one cleans this place, it is a dream, it is supposed to stay clean.'' "¡­" "¡­" S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Kael thought of that, silence fell over the Hall. While the Pope and the Priest continued to show their admiration for the marble floor, Kael was frowning. ''When is this going to end?'' Most of his dreams only lasted for a minute or two at most, but this one¡­ It seems like this is an exception. ''Am I supposed to do something to wake up?'' He did try opening his eyes and waking up, but that didn''t work and while he did think of slapping his face, that just sounded outright stupid. ''Fuck it, Mark will wake me up soon anyways, let''s just see how far this plays out.'' "I am a Hero?" He questioned as he raised his eyebrow. "Chosen by the Great Feraos himself." The Pope answered confidently. Chapter 4 - 4: What… what was that? "I am a Hero?" Kael questioned as he raised his eyebrow. "Chosen by the Great Feraos himself." The Pope answered confidently. "Great Feraos, huh? Who was he again?" "Great Feraos is our Primal God, the eternal gui¡ª" "Right, scratch that. Too much info dump." Kael quickly waved his hand, stopping the Pope. "I''ll wake up soon, so instead of the lore, continue with action. What am I supposed to do now that I am Hero? Kill the Demon Lord?" He questioned. The Pope blinked in surprise. For a moment, he was wondering if the Hero had something wrong with his head. Soon, however, he shook his head. He cannot doubt the Will of Great Feraos, that is blasphemy. The Pope then stood up and glanced at Kael. "Please follow me, Noble Hero." Kael nodded and followed the Pope. The two started walking towards the massive crystal Kael saw before. "This is the Orb of Resonance. One of the Ancient Relics that belongs to our Kingdom, a Gift given to us by our Lord Feraos. It reveals the potential of those who touch it. It is said that if you are able to make the Orb react to you, even if it is a small vibration, you are destined for greatness as long as you reach your full potential. Please place your hands on it. This will confirm your destiny as the Hero and ease all your doubts." "Mhm, typical isekai stuff." Kael nodded to himself. "I guess Mark was correct. I need to stop watching that stuff." Then, he started thinking. "A girlfriend, huh¡­" He thought about Mark''s suggestion, and at the same time, he moved his hand and placed it on the Orb of whatever. The Pope and the rest of the priests observed this scene with fervent eyes. Kael then felt something entering his body. It was a feeling he had never experienced before, but before he could express his shock or move away, Bzzzzz The Orb of Resonance blazed with brilliant light that blinded all who were present. Bzzzzz Bzzzzz Bzzzzz The sound of it vibrating as if it would soon break into pieces echoed throughout the Hall, and, "What¡ªWhat is this?! I can''t see! It''s too bright!" A priest shouted. "Is this the potential of the Hero?" Another priest gasped. "Nerathis is saved! Nerathis is saved!!" "O Noble Hero!" "O Great Feraos! Thank you for blessing us!" The Pope and the priests fell to their knees again, their voices thick with awe. This time, their eyes showed even stronger reverence and devotion. If before, their belief came from the prophecy, now, they were seeing it with their own eyes! In their entire life, they had never seen anyone who made the Orb glow as brightly as Kael did, and this was a big deal since these people had seen even the strongest Tamers test their potential using the Orb. Even the current Grand Marshal of the Drakthar Kingdom, one of the strongest warriors in the entirety of Nerathis, was only able to make the Orb glow faintly, and even that surprised all of Drakthar. After all, the Orb barely reacted to anyone. If it did, it would only vibrate lightly. Glowing was a rare case. The number of times the priests had seen it glow, even faintly, could be counted on the fingers of one hand. As for this¡­ The glow so bright that it blinded them all¡­ This was something they had never even dreamed about! This man¡­ he was indeed someone chosen by the Great Feraos! The man who would save Nerathis! ''W-What the hell? Who blinded me!?'' While the priests had pretty much lost their minds, Kael felt a strange energy coursing through his entire body. His eyes were blinded by the bright light the Orb emitted, then suddenly, [Ding!] He heard a sound. [Talent Awakened.] [Talent Name: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] ''H-Huh¡­?'' Kael frowned, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But then, His vision blurred, and suddenly, his surroundings shifted, showing him an entirely different scene. He was no longer standing in the Hall with the Pope and the priests. He was in a completely different place, his body no longer his own. It was as if he was pulled into someone else''s world, seeing through his eyes, feeling his emotions as though they were his own. The vision was vivid and terrifying. The air was thick with the scent of blood and decay, and the distant sounds of battle echoed in the background. Kael could feel ''his body'' pressed to the cold ground, held down by monstrous hands. He struggled to move, but the grip was too strong. His chest was crushed beneath the weight of these creatures, their claws digging into his skin. A monstrous hand was holding his head up, and while another kept his eyelids open, forcing him to watch the ongoing slaughter. His body trembled, his breath was shallow, his heart wrenched in pain. The monsters with grotesque appearances tore through helpless humans with savage ferocity. "AAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!" "HELP ME!!!" "SPARE M¡ªNO!!" Screams filled the air as humans were slaughtered without mercy. ''!!!'' Kael felt a chill crawl up his spine as he realized something¡­ T-These monsters¡­ They were the same monsters from his dream¡­ The monsters he vividly remembered¡­ Step Step Step Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. An aged woman, with long, white hair and silver eyes that gleamed with a chilling, malevolent light. She walked towards Kael¡ªor the man pinned on the ground¡ªwith a cruel smile on her lips. "Like what you see?" her voice was hoarse, clearly belonging to an aged person who didn''t have long to live. "I told you, didn''t I? Since you refuse to submit to my Lord, I will make you die in despair." The man''s eyes widened, and Kael could feel his heart burning with endless rage as the woman''s words sunk in. The monsters around them continued their bloody work, but the woman seemed unfazed. She knelt down before him, her gaze never leaving his eyes. "How was it?" she continued, her tone full of mockery and cruelty. "Watching the destruction of the world you so desperately tried to protect? Seeing everything you cherished being annihilated in front of you and being completely helpless to do anything? O Brave and Strong Dragon Lord¡­ The Strongest of Humanity¡­ Did you enjoy it?" Kael felt the man''s chest tighten, his emotions boiling over as the woman''s words cut through him like a knife. His entire body shook with rage, despair, helplessness, and regret. Soon, however, his rage took over all other emotions as he glared at the woman and screamed. "NERISSAAAAAA!!!" "Hahahaha~" The woman, Nerissa, however, wasn''t affected by his rage in the slightest. Her laughter echoed in Kael''s ears, a sound so cold that it sent a shiver through his entire being. Before Kael could process anything anymore, the vision took a final, brutal turn. He watched in horror as the woman raised a sword, its blade shining with a deadly cold light. Slash With one swift motion, she brought it down, and the man''s head was severed from his body. Blood sprayed the ground, and the vision shattered into darkness. "Haahhhh!!!" Kael woke up. "Haahh¡­ Haahhh¡­ Haahh¡­" Gasping for air, his heart racing, his body drenched in a cold sweat and trembling without stopping. He looked around and¡­ He wasn''t in his room¡­ He was still in that big Hall, the priests still kneeling in front of him in reverence and he... He couldn''t be more confused. ''What¡­ what was that?'' Chapter 5 - 5: Dragon Genesis ''What¡­ what was that?'' His mind was in a messy state. This time, the ''vision'' he saw was much different than anything he had seen before. The emotions he felt, the despair, the helplessness, and¡­ the rage¡­ All of that felt¡­ too real. Kael''s legs trembled, his stomach churned. He felt like if he didn''t control himself, he might vomit his guts out. All those screams still rang in his ears, visions of humans being massacred by those monsters were clear in his head. The anguish, the anger¡­ The pain he felt as the monsters'' claws pierced his skin as they grabbed him, or how they made him watch everything by force, he could vividly remember every single thing¡­ Even the vision before his head was severed¡­ Kael''s body trembled again. He stepped back, his legs staggering. "Hero¡­?" Suddenly, the Pope, who noticed Kael''s odd behavior, called him out with a worried look on his face. "Is everything alright?" He questioned. "Huh¡­?" His words pulled Kael out of his reverie. Once again, his eyes fell on the place he was in. The same Hall, in front of the same Pope and these Priests who were looking at him with the same reverence¡­ He¡­ He still hadn''t woken up from his dream¡­ ''I-Is this really a dream¡­?'' Kael began having second thoughts. That vision had messed up his mind, he couldn''t think. "Hero?" The Pope called out again. "Y-Yes." Kael replied. It was an unconscious response. "Did you awaken your talent?" "T-Talent¡­?" Kael frowned. However, the moment he said those words, a screen appeared in front of him along with a sound. [Ding!] [Talent Awakened.] sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Talent Name: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] Kael froze, his breathing became unnatural. ''W-What¡­?'' The glowing screen hovering in front of him was surprising enough, but what truly sent a chill down his spine was the name of his talent. Dragon Genesis¡­ The word "Dragon" struck him like a thunderclap. It wasn''t the talent''s grandeur or the mythical nature of dragons; it was the vision he just saw¡­ Amongst the countless corpses he saw¡­ Quite a few of them were of Dragons¡­ The endless field of dragon corpses. He also recalled the gut-wrenching emotions ''he'' felt every time his eyes fell on the dragon''s corpse. Kael wasn''t a fool. That woman also referred to that man as ''Dragon Lord.'' These two hints were more than enough for him to understand that that man and those Dragons were closely related. From the start, what Kael hated the most was how his consciousness was tied to that man''s body. If it was just a normal vision where he saw everything from a third person''s point of view, like a movie, it wouldn''t shake him to this extent. Sure, those visions were disturbing, but he would simply close his eyes and not think about them¡­ What made everything so difficult for him was the fact that he was seeing through someone else''s eyes, unable to even close his eyes when he wanted to. And feeling all those emotions that being felt. To feel everything he felt so clearly¡­ It was almost as if¡­ The two of them were the same person. It was a thought Kael had buried deep in his mind... But now¡­ As he saw his talent, a talent that was related to the Dragons¡­ That thought resurfaced again. And just thinking about how that man''s life ended¡­ Kael''s entire body shivered. ''No, no, I am thinking too much. All of this is just a dream anyways, a nightmare, and I will wake up from this nightmare soon enough.'' Kael tried to stick to his last hope. "Hero¡­ Did you not awaken your talent¡­?" Seeing the Hero acting strangely, the Pope questioned with an unsure look on his face. Kael, wanting to distract himself from his thoughts, decided it was best to converse with another person, even if that said person was born from his imagination. "I did." "You did?" The Pope''s face instantly brightened up. "What talent did you awaken?" He questioned with a curious look on his face. At his question, Kael decided to start reading the rest of the details as well. [Talent Name: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] [Dragon Genesis] [Description:] [Power to turn any beast with even the slightest trace of Dragon Blood in them into a full-grown Dragon.] [Innate Talent Skills:] [Draconic Awakening] [Description:] [The foundational power of Dragon Genesis. Awaken the latent dragon bloodline in any beast, turning it into a full-fledged dragon. The awakened dragon retains its original traits while gaining the superior strength, intelligence, and magic inherent to all dragons.] [Draconic Sense] [Description:] [Detects beasts or eggs with even the faintest traces of Dragon Bloodline within a 500-meter range, automatically activates to guide you toward the target.] [Dragon''s Eye] [Description:] [An ability that allows you to peek into other beings'' secrets. Their strengths, their weaknesses, everything will be clear to you with one look. The stronger the opponent, the more difficult it is to see through them.] [Draconic Vitality] [Description:] [Your body is enhanced by the essence of dragons, granting you immense endurance, faster recovery, and immunity to basic poisons and diseases.] [Blood Pact] [Description:] [An ability that allows you to form a sacred bond with Dragons.] [Dragon Whisperer] [Description:] [Your connection with dragons transcends speech. You can naturally understand, influence, and calm all dragon-like creatures, even those not awakened by you. Hostile dragons are less likely to attack, and friendly dragons will gravitate toward you.] [Shared Growth] [Description:] [You and your Dragons grow together. This synergy ensures that you all become a unified force capable of overwhelming any foe.] [Aura of the Dragon Monarch] [Description:] [Because of the dragons under your command, the Aura you radiate carries the Essence of Dragons, allowing you to suppress weaker foes and boost your allies'' morale with your presence alone.] ¡­ ''W-What...?'' Kael, who finished reading the entire thing, couldn''t believe what he what he was seeing. ''I Can Create Dragons¡­?'' Chapter 6 - 6: A Perfect Plan. ''I can create Dragons¡­?'' Kael couldn''t believe what he was seeing. A talent to create Dragons¡­ Dragon Lord¡­ Even a fool could put two and two together¡­ ''I am fucked, aren''t I?'' A weak smile appeared on Kael''s face; he could feel goosebumps all over his body. There were too many questions in his head. Was he correct? Was the man in the vision actually the future him? Or was it his predecessor who had the same ability as his? But then how was he able to feel his emotions so clearly? ''Fuck, I need to calm down. I won''t be getting answers to any of my questions right now.'' The vision was just messing with his head, so he stopped thinking about it altogether. "Hero, what talent did you awaken?" The Pope repeated his question, once again pulling Kael out of his reverie. Kael glanced at the Pope again. This time, he was sure¡­ This wasn''t a dream. He wasn''t going to wake up. That Circle that appeared beneath him, it must be some sort of magic that has now summoned him to this world as a Hero. ''How fucking clich¨¦¡­'' Kael cursed in his head. If it had happened before, he might have been excited, but after the vision he saw¡­ that was simply impossible. What good is being summoned to a fantasy world when he might have to face those terrifying monsters in the future¡­? ''Wait, don''t all protagonists face such monsters?'' He realized it. ''Ugghh¡­ I would have come to terms with reality on my own. Why show me that horrifying vision?'' Kael complained. ''Shouldn''t you show me the good side and rope me in first? Why would you demotivate me from the very sta¡ª'' Suddenly, Kael froze as he recalled something. ''You must be the main character who will be summoned to another world that is being threatened by foreign monsters. As the Hero, you will be tasked to save that world. The dream you see must be how the previous Hero, the Dragon Man, lost against the foreign monsters, and now all the responsibility is on you, the new and brave hero. It is up to you to defeat the monsters, create a harem of beautiful women, and then live a happy life as the strongest existence in the world.'' He recalled the words Mark said to him before they came here. Yes, that bitch was being sarcastic, but¡­ Everything he said came true! ''Was that fucker a prophet sent to alert me?'' Kael couldn''t help but wonder. Soon, however, he shook his head. ''Prophets don''t go around sinking their heads into the gutter.'' Kael had too many embarrassing memories of Mark in his head to take that guy seriously. "Hero?" Once again, the Pope called out, this time, somewhat tired. He had no clue why this Hero was so absent-minded. Or¡­ was his assumption previously correct and the hero''s brain is actually absent? ''No! No, Altheran! This is blasphemy!'' He scolded himself in his head and glanced at Kael, waiting for him to respond. "Oh, right, My talent. You want to know what Talent I awakened, correct?" The Hero questioned. "Yes." The Pope nodded, and once again, Kael turned silent. There were still too many questions in his head, too many things he was unsure about. However, if there was one thing he knew, It was that the vision he saw was a Warning. Someone¡­ or something was trying to warn him¡­ Kael''s brain, that had spent three years exploring the culture, started working, analyzing everything he knew related to this hero and being summoned to another world stuff, and after a not-so-thorough analysis, he made a decision. "Am I supposed to know what talent I awakened¡­?" He questioned with a frown on his face. "Huh?" The Pope frowned. "Is there a problem?" Kael tilted his head, feigning confusion. "Well, anyone that awakens a talent through the Orb usually knows what talent they awaken¡­" The Pope answered. "What about the Hero? Did the previous Hero know what talent he awakened as well?" Kael questioned. The Pope, however, was unsure. "I do not know¡­ There are no records of any other Hero being summoned to this world¡­ There are ancient legends, but that is all we have. There are no clear records." The Pope replied, and the moment he heard those words, Kael inwardly smiled. ''So that means you know jackshit. I can say whatever the hell I want, and you have no choice but to believe it.'' "I do not know about others. I did feel some energy enter my body, but I do not know what it did¡­ Maybe I am not the Hero you are actually looking for¡­?" Kael spoke with uncertainty, trying to get out of this situation. "No. That cannot be. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Will of Great Feraos is never wrong." The Pope replied with certainty. "You must have awakened your talent; you just do not realize what it is. Worry not, Hero. We still have time on our hands. As you grow, your talent will bloom, and it will bloom so wonderfully that even a child would be able to recognize it." "I understand¡­" Kael nodded weakly. ''Che.'' He snorted. He thought he could get away but it didn''t work. Then, he just shook his head. At the very least, he was able to hide his talent. Why did he do that? Because normally, in this situation, if he didn''t see the vision, he would have revealed all the details of his talent to this person next to him¡­ Kael''s thought process was simple. If the Vision wanted to warn him, then it must have wanted him to do things in a different manner than he normally would. So if he normally would have revealed all the details¡­ Right now, he decided to hide it. Now he had no clue if he had interpreted this the right way. He also knew just how annoying it was to read every time the strong main character decided to hide his powers. Right now, however, he wasn''t a reader and this wasn''t a novel. Kael wanted to survive, no matter what it took. ''The number of Dragons I saw in the vision was too little. It is one thing to have a low number since Dragons are supposed to be rare¡­ But if you had the power to create Dragons¡­ Then how come I only saw 30-something Dragons¡­?'' Kael couldn''t understand. His plan forward, however, was clear. If 30 didn''t work¡­ He would create more¡­ 100¡­ 1000¡­ Or even 10,000 Dragons! He would create so many Dragons that the enemies would piss in fear the moment they saw his Dragon Army! Then he would accept their surrender since he is scared of fighting. He would win without having to fight. A perfect plan. Chapter 7 - 7: Yes, Your Majesty. A few minutes later, Kael stood in front of a massive gilded door that led to the royal throne hall. Yes, he was about to meet the King of this Kingdom. The Pope had dragged him here, saying how the King wanted to meet him and how the King and the Hero were supposed to be on the same page and whatnot. Since it was the King, the Head of this place, Kael couldn''t deny it either. Staring at the Grand Gates, Kael was overwhelmed. The Pope, wearing his golden white robes, placed a hand on Kael''s shoulder. "Be at ease." He spoke. "The King has awaited this moment for years. He sees you not only as our savior but as the hope of all Nerathis." Hearing his words, Kael nodded, and a determined look appeared on his face as he mentally prepared himself to meet the King. The doors opened up, revealing a grand throne hall that seemed like it was designed to make others awe at its majesty. Massive columns carved with intertwining dragons spiraled toward the ceiling. The shimmering tiles caught the sunlight streaming in through tall stained glass windows. At the far end of the room, seated on a crimson and gold throne, was the King, Alden Dragonborn. The King rose as Kael entered, his purple eyes shining brightly with excitement. His purple hair gleamed under the golden light, and his imposing figure radiated both authority and warmth. He descended the podium with practiced grace, his crimson cloak flowing behind him. "Hero," Alden''s voice resonated throughout the hall. "I welcome you to the heart of Drakthar. Your arrival is a blessing, a fulfillment of prophecy, and the dawn of a new era for our Kingdom." ''Who talks like that? Has he memorized all this¡­? '' Kael couldn''t help but wonder. However, seeing that the King continued to stare at him, he realized that he was supposed to say something here. "Y-Yes, Your Majesty." That was the only thing he could think of. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His response made the nobles present in the throne room frown. The King, however, laughed out loud. "Hahaha~ You don''t need to be so nervous." Then, he placed his hand over Kael''s shoulder and said, "You can calm down. Let us start with our introductions. I am Alden Dragonborn, the King of the Great Drakthar Kingdom. What about you?" "I am Kael Carter." Kael answered. "Hero Kael." The King nodded as he stared at Kael. Kael, once again, had no clue what he was supposed to say here, so he just repeated what he had done before. "Yes, Your Majesty." His response seemed correct, as the King continued, "I know you must be confused, being summoned to a world completely different from what you are familiar with. It must be quite overwhelming." ''No shit.'' "Be at ease, Brave Hero. Let me give you a brief description to help you familiarize yourself with this world." "Yes, Your Majesty." Kael repeated. The King then started, "The World of Nerathis is a land blessed by Lord Feraos, the Primal Beastlord, the Origin and Guardian of all Bonded Creatures. It was through His Divine Will that the first Sacred Bonds between humans and the beasts of this world were formed. These Bonds are the foundation of everything we hold dear." The King stared at Kael and continued, "In this world, we do not fight, live, or grow alone. We rise or fall together with the Bonded Creatures that Lord Feraos has gifted us. These beings are not mere companions¡ªthey are our equals. Our partners. Together, we build strength, wisdom, and prosperity. Together, we plow fields, construct cities, and even wage war." ''In the end, I couldn''t skip the Lore, huh¡­'' Kael sighed inwardly. Of course, now that he knew he was going to stay in this world, he listened attentively. The King leaned forward, his voice steady but passionate. "Everything in Nerathis depends on these Bonds. Our progress, our culture, our very survival¡ªeverything hinges on these Bonds. The stronger the beast you bond with, the higher you rise in this world. Nobles are revered for the strength and rarity of their bonded creatures, while Marshals lead armies of beast-bound warriors. Even our most sacred rites are carried out alongside our loyal companions. In battle, a warrior who has forged a Bond with a mighty beast will always be unmatched. Even if that warrior fights without their Bonded Companion at their side, the strength of their Bond makes him far superior to someone without a beast or with a weaker Bond." ''So a World of Beast Tamers...'' Kael noted in his head. "It is said that the stronger the Bond, the closer we come to Lord Feraos'' divine essence. Those who walk this path, nurturing their Bonds, become unparalleled. As our Hero, you too, will walk on the same path. You will form bonds with strong creatures, strengthen those bonds with time, and face your enemies together with your trusted bonds. Of course, in this journey, we, the Drakthar Kingdom, will always be your allies and have your back. Your Talent is still unknown, but that isn''t a problem, with time¡­" The King continued. Kael, however, could already summarize what he needed to know. ''So like Pok¨¦mon¡­ but here, the Pok¨¦mon trainer grows stronger together with the Pok¨¦mon, Got it.'' He nodded inwardly. "Hero, I understand I am overwhelming you by divulging all of this to you the instant you arrived, but there is one final matter that I must share with you." The King spoke after a solemn pause. He straightened his back, his expression shifting from the warm enthusiasm of earlier to something heavier, more serious. "It is regarding the true reason for your summoning." The King spoke as he stared at Kael, and this time, Kael looked at him, mirroring the same solemnity. Of course, he didn''t forget one last thing, "Yes, Your Majesty." The words ''Yes, Your Majesty,'' seemed to act like the ''Enter Button'' in the games Kael had played before. Every time he pressed this button, the King continued. Honestly, Kael was tempted to try and spam this button to see if the King would skip the Lore, but just thinking about how foolish he would look if he continued to shout ''Yes, Your Majesty,'' again and again, he dropped the thought. And who knew? The King might think that he was trying to dishonor him and throw him out, or worse, execute him. Kael wasn''t daring enough to try it out. Chapter 8 - 8: [Fire Dragon Bloodline Detected] "Our world, Nerathis, has always been blessed by the benevolence of Lord Feraos. The Magic Beasts that dwell within this land have always lived in harmony with humans. Even the untamed beasts of the Wilderness, though wild and free, have never interfered with human settlements. It has been an unspoken law¡ªone rooted in Lord Feraos'' divine order." The King continued, his tone becoming graver. "But something has changed. The beasts of the Wilderness have turned feral, attacking our cities and killing our people. Entire towns have been destroyed. Countless lives have been lost." Alden lowered his voice; one could see that he was deeply affected by it. The helplessness and worry in his voice couldn''t be hidden. Kael frowned. This didn''t make any sense. "Attacking humans? Didn''t you just say the beasts are meant to coexist with you? Why would the beasts attack humans?" He questioned. "Precisely. Their attacks defy every principle we hold sacred. It is as if something has corrupted them, twisted their very essence. The beasts we once revered as our allies and protectors have become our greatest threat." Alden''s voice grew more solemn; his unease could be felt very clearly. "And what''s worse is that this isn''t an issue only we, the Drakthar Kingdom, are facing. Reports have come from other kingdoms across Nerathis. The beasts in the Wilderness have become frenzy throughout Nerathis. It is a sign, A sign that something has gone terribly wrong. A catastrophe of unimaginable scale looms over us." "A C-Catastrophe?" Kael stuttered. Once again, the vision of thousands of monsters tearing humans apart played out in his head. "What is this catastrophe?" Kael questioned, wanting to know more about this. The King, however, shook his head. "We do not know. The magic beasts are known to be creatures closest to Lord Feraos. If these beasts have been corrupted, then this is anything but a good sign. Something is wrong, we just do not know what it is yet. All we know is that this madness began months ago, gradually getting worse. Towns that once thrived are now no more than ruins. People live in fear, unsure whether they would live to see the next day or not." Alden then stared right into Kael''s eyes and, "According to the ancient prophecies, it was foretold that when such a calamity strikes, when the beasts turn against humanity and humanity stands on the brink of extinction, A Hero will be summoned. One chosen by Lord Feraos himself, to lead us out of the darkness. That is why you are here, Kael. You are our Hero. The Hero of all Nerathis." Suddenly, as if his grand status meant nothing to him, the Old King bowed, his form almost parallel to the ground. "King!" "Oh King!" The nobles and servants present in the hall exclaimed in surprise as they witnessed this scene. The King, however, ignored them all and, "You carry the hopes of all Nerathis on your shoulders, Kael. I request you, O Hero, please do not let us down." Kael quickly grabbed the King. "P-Please do not bow your head, Your Majesty." He stuttered. No matter how much he wanted to joke around in this situation, seeing a King, the Head of this place, bowing his head in front of someone who didn''t even belong to this world was not funny. ''If the leaders back in my world were half as responsible as him, our conditions would have been much different.'' Kael thought inwardly. At the same time, he couldn''t help but respect the King who stood in front of him. "Someone of your status shouldn''t bow your head like this." Kael spoke, his face full of respect and worry. Alden, held by Kael, stared at him and, "Me and my people are all relying on you, Brave Hero." He spoke, his eyes showing the desperation and helplessness. "I¡­ I will do my best¡­ and protect everyone¡­" Kael nodded. These words meant more to him since he saw that ''vision.'' After all, he had seen the possible ''end'' of this world and¡­ his own... The King smiled, his expression a mix of pride and hope. "You have my gratitude, Hero Kael." He spoke as he stood straight. Then, to lighten up the mood, he continued, "I have already said everything I wanted to say. There are matters that need our urgent attention, but today, we must celebrate your awakening. Lord Feraos himself has smiled upon us and blessed us to be able to see his chosen one standing in this hall." The King then gestured, and a servant brought forth a tray holding a goblet of gold. "Drink, Hero. A toast to the bond between you and Drakthar." Kael glanced at the King for a moment. Then, he accepted the goblet, the liquid inside shimmering faintly. He raised it to his lips, taking a sip. The taste was sweet, and the moment it went down his throat, Kael could sense a foreign energy coursing through his body. This was one of the most expensive drinks in the entirety of Nerathis. A luxury not many could taste. It was Drakthar''s pride. A drink only used for grand occasions. "Now," suddenly, the King called out, his voice softening, "Since we are expecting so much from you, it is only right that we give you something in return, no?" Alden spoke with a big smile on his face. Then, at his gesture, a servant nodded and left the place. A few seconds later, Kael saw five attendants walking into the Hall, each carrying a pedestal covered in silk. The servants quickly arranged themselves in a semi-circle before the King, and with a nod, they pulled back the silk cloths, revealing five glimmering giant eggs. "These are the finest beast eggs from the royal collection," Alden explained, pride evident in his tone. "Each holds a creature of immense power and potential. They are rare, unique, and worthy of a hero such as yourself. You may choose any, and it shall be yours to bond with and tame." Kael was taken aback. To think he would get to bond with a Magic Beast so quickly, but after thinking about it, it made sense. In a world where everything is connected to one''s bonds, how could the ''Hero'' start his journey without one? "What are you waiting for? Go on, walk towards the one that calls you out most. One way to see if you have an affinity with a beast is to place your hand on its egg. You would feel a sense of connection with the egg if the affinity between you two exists." The King spoke, wanting him to choose the egg he had the strongest affinity with. Kael, however, didn''t need to touch the eggs to get the answer. He already knew what he was going to choose. His skill, , had already activated the moment he walked into the Royal Hall. He just held back, not wanting to attract any attention. Now, however, when he was presented with the meal right in front of him, he had no reason to hold back. Of course, he was still careful and didn''t directly jump at the Egg he wanted. Kael walked towards a white egg, his fingers brushing its frost-covered surface. "You have a keen sense," the King said, impressed. "It is the Frost Leon. Its mastery over frost could turn the tide in any battle." Kael, however, slowly shook his head and moved towards a rainbow-colored egg. "A Sylvan Treantbeast. It is said to bring life even to barren lands." S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The King introduced. Kael then walked towards a black egg. "A Shadefeather Gryphon," The King murmured. "Fast, stealthy, lethal in the right hands." The fourth one was a purple egg. "A Thunderclaw Seraph. Powerful and commanding." The King nodded. "It is said to summon storms with a single cry. Truly a beast of legends." Kael smiled. Then, he finally walked towards a crimson egg, its heat pulsing faintly against his hand. "A Firefang Wyvern. A powerful ally, fierce and unyielding." The King introduced, and Kael''s smile widened, not because of his words, but because of what he was seeing. [Ding!] [Fire Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] Chapter 9 - 9: [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Ding!] [Fire Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] Kael''s smile widened as he saw this message. "I want this one." He had made his decision. Well, it was pretty obvious. After all, out of all five Eggs presented to him, only this one had faint traces of Dragon Bloodline. Honestly, Kael knew that if he had revealed his talent, he would have had an easier time finding beasts with Dragon Bloodlines. For now, however, he decided not to be greedy. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His life was much more important right now, not to mention he could always change his decision once he learned more about this world. ''Huh¡­? I¡­ finally know what my Talent is¡­ How did that happen¡­?'' How hard could saying these words be? He didn''t have to come up with an excuse, he just needed to act surprised, and these people¡ªthey would automatically find a believable excuse for him. He had nothing to worry about. "A Firefang Wyvern, eh? It represents boldness and courage, worthy of being your first ally." The King praised. He nodded at the rest of the servants, and they walked away, leaving only the one carrying the Firefang Wyvern''s Egg. The King gestured again, and another servant, this time carrying a book on a pedestal, walked towards Kael. "In Nerathis, the ones who form Bonds and grow together with their Beasts are called Beast Tamers. This book contains all the information you need to know about Beast Taming and the steps required to embark on this journey. Of course, I have also arranged multiple tutors who would teach you everything else you, as the Hero need to know, but it would do you well if you go through this book once." "I understand, Your Majesty." Kael nodded. He extended his hands, wanting to take a look at the book, but then, "Hahaha~ Look how diligent you are already." The King chuckled out loud. "Hero Kael, this is your first day here in this world. You must be overwhelmed by this sudden change. So instead of burying your head in that book, join the celebration we''ve prepared in your honor. Meet the people of this land, savor its joys, and allow yourself a moment of respite. Tomorrow, your training begins¡ªand I assure you, it will not be easy." The King smiled as he stared at Kael. "So enjoy whatever peaceful time you are left with. Hahahah~" Then, he laughed. "I-I understand." Kael chuckled awkwardly. The King raised his goblet high. "To the Hero!" he declared with commanding pride. "To the Hero!" the gathered nobles followed in unison, their voices reverberating through the hall. The celebration began in earnest. Tables laden with delicacies were brought in, goblets overflowed with rich wine, and the air filled with music and laughter. Nobles used this chance to come and speak to Kael, but sensing his unease, the King stayed close, shielding him from the ambitious crowd. As the evening wore on, the two dined together, sharing quiet words amidst the boisterous festivities. The more they conversed, the more Kael got to know about the King, and the more he realized just how different he was from the two-faced, selfish politicians back in his world. Kael''s respect for the King grew even further. Soon, dancers took the floor, their movements enthralling. The hall pulsed with warmth. For a few hours, Kael allowed himself to relax¡ªor at least that''s what he wanted to. But in the end, he was currently sitting with one of the most powerful men in this world, not to mention the nobles had been observing him from the very start. Kael knew that if it weren''t for Alden, those nobles would have swarmed him. Behind the veil of warmth, the atmosphere was nothing short of tiring. ¡­ "Haaahh!!" After five hours, the celebration finally ended, and Kael was taken to his own room. The first thing he did the moment the doors were shut was to jump on the bed that was at the center of the room. In that moment, he realized something. The mattress was soft¡ªtoo soft. It was almost as if he was lying on a cloud. The luxurious silk sheets felt cool against his skin, engulfing him in comfort. "Aahh~" He let out a long, weary sigh, his body sinking into the bed. For a moment, he closed his eyes, but then the sheer size and grandeur of the room attracted his attention. Turning his head, Kael surveyed the place that had been prepared for the Hero of Nerathis. The room was enormous, larger than any room he had ever seen or known. The ceiling was painted with stunning murals depicting Dragons, Gryphons, and Phoenixes. Everything was so detailed that it seemed alive. The walls were lined with wooden panels, each depicting scenes of Drakthar''s history. On one side, there was a large fireplace, casting a warm glow across the room. Near the bed was a massive window that opened onto a balcony. The moonlight fell into the room, illuminating the marble floor. It was a room too grand, especially for an orphan like him. "Fuck, I really became a Hero in another World, didn''t I?" Suddenly, the realization sank in. "I told that bastard that something felt wrong, but he just laughed at me. Who turned out right now, huh?" Kael swore, then, "Oh, the troubles of having an incompetent son~" He sighed dramatically. But suddenly, his thoughts froze. He wasn''t the only one who had that white circle beneath him, was he? Mark was the same, no, even the security guard and other students had one under their feet as well. ''Does that mean they were all summoned here?'' Kael wondered. ''Are they summoned to other Kingdoms?'' It was very much possible. Thinking about how he might meet his ''dear son'' soon made Kael smile. "I wonder what talent he awakened." He couldn''t help but think out loud, and the moment he said these words, his eyes fell on something familiar. On a polished desk, he saw the Firefang Wyvern Egg that he had selected. He had completely forgotten about it because of how exhausted he was. Now, however, as he looked at it again, he impatiently walked towards it. Badump Badump Badump For some reason, his heartbeat quickened. As he reached the Egg, he gently placed his palm on its warm surface, and, [Ding!] [Fire Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] Once again, he saw a familiar screen, and this time, he didn''t stop. ''Yes.'' Chapter 10 - 10: This thing is a Dragon? [Ding!] [Fire Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] Once again, he saw a familiar screen, and this time, he didn''t stop. ''Yes.'' The moment he willed it, allowing the System to use the Skill, he felt a rush of power surge through him, pooling in his hand. A faint golden light began to emit from his palm, tendrils of energy snaking their way across the egg''s surface. Bzzz The egg reacted instantly. Its red surface brightened, as if absorbing the golden energy Kael poured into it. Crimson streaks of light flared up, resembling veins of molten lava moving across its surface, forming complex patterns. The air in the room grew heavier, and the temperature rose. The egg''s red hue deepened; it was as if it was getting rid of all the impurities it had before. The glowing veins intensified, their light pulsating with a rhythm that felt alive. Kael could feel more of his energy being drawn in, the heat radiating from the egg''s surface growing increasingly intense. It was so scorching that it should have burned his hand, yet¡­ It didn''t. Instead, Kael felt a comforting sensation that brought a light smile to his face. Ba-dump Kael then heard a heartbeat. It wasn''t his; it belonged to the egg. Bzzz Suddenly, a bright, blinding light spread all over his room, and, In front of Kael, lay an egg that didn''t resemble what he had selected before. [Ding!] [Draconic Awakening completed] The System informed. The egg no longer belonged to a Firefang Wyvern; it was now a Fire Dragon''s Egg. [Ding!] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the target?] [Y/N] Suddenly, another screen appeared in front of him, and Kael nodded again, ''Yes.'' [To activate the Skill , drop your blood on the egg.] ''Huh? My blood?'' Kael frowned. Soon, however, he nodded in understanding. ''I guess it makes sense; it wouldn''t be a Blood Pact if there was no blood.'' But then another question appeared in his head. ''Am I supposed to bite my finger and let the blood drop?'' ''Fuck no.'' The moment that thought appeared, it was rejected. What sane man would bite his finger to the point it starts bleeding? Kael looked around, wanting to find an alternate method, and soon, his eyes fell on a wooden table with a bowl of fresh fruits on it. Right next to the fruit bowl, there was a knife. ''I guess I have to¡­'' Kael picked the knife and returned in front of the egg. Hesitation was clear in his eyes. Sure, he had gotten hurt and even bled quite a few times in his life, but he wasn''t a fan of self-harm. ''I have no clue how those protagonists do it without thinking¡­'' He thought inwardly. Soon, however, he steeled his mind, and with an awkward movement, he lightly cut his finger and let the blood drop on the crimson egg. His blood was instantly absorbed. Bzzz The egg hummed, reacting to Kael''s blood. [Ding!] [Blood Pact Formed Successfully.] S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The System informed again. Crack And as if reacting to the System''s message, a crack appeared on the egg. Crack Crack Kael''s breathing halted as the crack on the egg widened, its small fragments began falling away, each glowing with residual heat, and finally, a small snout peeked through. "Guu!" Then, with a tiny, triumphant squeak, the little creature within pushed against the shell, breaking it apart piece by piece. Kael leaned closer, for some reason, his heart started racing. When the last fragment of the egg fell and the little creature inside was finally visible, Kael''s jaw dropped, and his eyes widened. "Guu!" The little dragon that emerged from the egg was nothing short of enchanting. His scales glistened in hues of fiery orange and deep crimson, casting a warm glow in the dim room. The spines along its back were darker than its scales. Dragons were known for their ferociousness and strength, but the little dragon radiated an aura of playful innocence that melted Kael''s heart. His oversized, expressive ember eyes blinked up at Kael, full of curiosity and trust. They sparkled like gems, holding an intelligence and warmth that felt almost human. His small, rounded snout curled into what Kael could only describe as a grin, revealing tiny, sharp teeth that were far more adorable than intimidating. The dragon wobbled slightly as it took its first steps out of the egg, its short, sturdy limbs ending in tiny claws. It stumbled forward on unsteady legs, but before it fell, Kael picked it up. "Nyuu~" The little dragon laughed. The sight was so adorable that Kael couldn''t stop himself from chuckling softly. "This thing is a dragon?" He questioned out loud. "Are they supposed to be this cute?" He couldn''t help but be surprised. The dragon let out a soft, high-pitched "Guu~" before tilting his head, his ember eyes locked on Kael. "You''re warm," Kael murmured, his voice extremely soft and gentle. The baby dragon snuggled against him, its plush belly pressing against Kael''s chest. A soft purr-like sound escaped the dragon as Kael''s hand reached its soft belly. "You like this, huh?" Kael chuckled as he gently rubbed its belly. The dragon''s purring intensified, and he let out a delighted "Nyuu~," squirming in Kael''s arms. "Ah~ Why are you so adorable~" Kael questioned. With every passing second, his heart was taking damage. Kael always thought that, unlike others, he wasn''t a sucker for cute things, but only now did he realize how wrong he was. ''Fuck, I am a sucker¡­'' He had no choice but to admit, the little thing staring at him with his big ember eyes was simply too adorable for him to not fall on his knees. "Kyuu!" Suddenly, the dragon let out a playful "Kyuu" and licked Kael''s cheek with its small, warm tongue. Kael froze. It was a critical hit! Instinctively, he placed his forehead on the dragon''s forehead, the two closed their eyes, embracing each other. Then suddenly, Growl Kael heard a growl that came from the little dragon''s stomach. "Wuu¡­" He was hungry. *Picture* Chapter 11 - 11: I-Is this the difference between a Human and a Dragon…? Growl Suddenly, Kael heard a growl that came from the little Dragon''s stomach. "Wuu¡­" He was hungry. "Ughh¡­ what are Dragons supposed to eat now¡­?" Kael had no clue. Growl The little Dragon''s stomach growled even more loudly. "How are you so hungry when you just hatched? Your tummy is already so big, are you trying to make it even bigger?" Kael spoke as he rubbed the Dragon''s soft belly again. "Kyahah~" The little Dragon acted playfully, licking Kael''s face in response. Growl But his stomach growled again. Kael frowned. ''Would fruits work?'' He wondered in his head as his eyes fell on the bowl of fruits. ''What the hell am I thinking? He is a fucking Dragon, he wouldn''t like fruits.'' He quickly shook his head. "Guu!" Then suddenly, Kael saw the little Dragon pointing at something with his small paws. "Huh?" He frowned. "Your Eggshell?" "Guu!" The Dragon, as if understanding Kael, nodded. "You want to eat that?" The Dragon nodded again. ''Is that thing edible?'' With the Dragon in his one hand, Kael picked the broken Eggshell with his other. ''How is he going to eat this?'' Kael was confused. The Eggshell was still warm, and it was extremely hard. Kael felt like he was holding some solid metal. He tried breaking it with his fingers, but no matter how much strength he used, he couldn''t even scratch it, let alone break it. ''The hell? Didn''t he break it when he came out?'' He placed the little Dragon on the bed and used both his hands to try and break the Eggshell, but again, it didn''t work. "What is this thing?" He questioned out loud, his breathing uneven. Yes, Kael wasn''t the fittest of the bunch. "Kyaha~" The baby Dragon, who was watching everything with an excited look on his face, laughed as it fell on the bed, unable to balance his body. That, however, didn''t stop him from laughing more. "You¡­ Are you making fun of me¡­?" Kael questioned, his ego was somewhat hurt. "Kyu~" The Dragon extended his cute paws toward him, his eyes shining brightly as he glanced at the Eggshell in Kael''s hand. "You cannot eat it, it is too hard, you will hurt yourself." Kael shook his head. For some reason, despite spending only a few minutes with this little thing, Kael found himself getting attached to him. Just the thought of him getting hurt squeezed his heart. "Kyuu!" The Dragon, however, continued to extend his paws, wanting the Eggshell. Kael was silent for a while, then he thought of a method. "Alright, but I''ll be the one feeding you, okay?" He spoke. "Guu!" The Dragon''s eyes brightened. Kael then sat next to him and placed him on his lap. Then, he carefully placed the Eggshell in front of his mouth, making sure it wouldn''t hurt him in any way. "Now eat, and start slowly." He warned. The Dragon, however, completely ignored his words and, Bite His small teeth bit the hard Eggshell. Kael could feel his heart clench. He feared that this little thing''s teeth would get hurt because he bit a little too hard, but then, Crack The Eggshell, that Kael couldn''t even crack, broke in an instant. Crunch Crunch Crunch Gulp And as if that wasn''t enough, the little Dragon started chewing it before he gulped the entire thing down and took another bite excitedly. Rather than a hard Eggshell, it looked like he was eating a biscuit. ''W-What¡­? How¡­?'' Kael couldn''t believe it. Then, a thought appeared in his mind as he recalled one of his skills he read before. [Dragon''s Eye] A skill that allows him to peek into other being''s secrets. He wanted to use it back in the Royal Hall, but he decided not to. Who knows? Someone in there might be able to sense him using this skill? Kael had read a decent number of novels where people didn''t take it well when the protagonists used such abilities. Those people then later made trouble for him, Kael wanted to avoid all that hotch-potch and cliche plots. ''How am I supposed to activate this skill again?'' He wondered, and soon, he came up with an answer. ''I was able to use other skills when I thought about it, this must be the same as well.'' As he concluded that, he thought about activating the skill. ''Dragon''s Eye.'' Instantly, a surge of energy coursed through him, starting from his abdomen and flowing up to his head. His blue eyes turned a brilliant shade of gold, glowing brightly. His pupils that were round had elongated into sharp, vertical slits, mirroring the gaze of a Dragon. "Kyu!" The little Dragon didn''t care what was happening around him; he was busy nibbling on his meal. Yes, he had long snatched the Eggshell from Kael, who wasn''t focusing on feeding him. He was a proud Dragon! If he wanted anything, he would snatch it! ''Holy shit¡­'' While the little one was busy eating, Kael''s jaw dropped in disbelief. [Name: Unnamed] [Race: Fire Dragon] [Rank: Mythical] [Age: 0 Days] [Level: 1] [Strength: 15] [Agility: 10] [Speed: 12] [Stamina: 18] [Defense: 14] [Mana: 20] [Intelligence: 7] [Charisma: 8] [Strengths: Immense Physical Resilience, Rapid Mana Recovery, Early Combat Potential] [Weaknesses: Inexperience, Underdeveloped Wings, Energy Dependency] ¡­ Kael blinked and then blinked again. "T-That''s Level one¡­?" He stuttered, staring at the little Dragon who was still busy eating. Kael then recalled his pitiful stat that he saw before. [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 1] [CE: 0/100] [Talent: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] [Strength: 3] [Agility: 4] S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Speed: 5] [Stamina: 4] [Defense: 3] [Mana: 2] [Intelligence: 6] [Charisma: 6] ¡­ The sheer difference in their stats was staggering. His own strength was a meager 3 compared to the Dragon''s 15. No wonder he was munching on that Eggshell that Kael couldn''t even scratch. Even his agility and speed, which he''d thought were decent, paled in comparison to this thing. And what''s worse? This little thing was just born a few minutes ago! His Age was Zero Days! Zero Days!!! And he was 22 years old!! ''Aaaaaggggghhh!!!!'' Kael screamed in his head. He was having an existential crisis. ''I-Is this the difference between a Human and a Dragon¡­?'' Chapter 12 - 12: Igni. "This can''t be real," Kael muttered, still in shock. His eyes fell on the little Dragon, and he couldn''t help but sigh. "You''re stronger than me in every way, and let''s not even talk about your mana¡­ Actually, how does a newborn have more intelligence than me?" Kael couldn''t help but question out loud, it was honestly embarrassing at this point. "I was my University''s top-grade student, you know? Is my University''s future really doomed¡­?" Kael couldn''t help but recall Mark''s words. "Kyu~" The little Dragon, who was finally done eating, chirped happily and then, Flutter He puffed out a tiny, harmless flame from his snout. "¡­are you flexing?" Kael blinked, half in amazement, half in exasperation. "Why the hell am I even needed here¡­? Wouldn''t you be able to take all the future enemies alone if you are that strong?" Was he useless even in this world? Kael couldn''t help but think inwardly. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The little Dragon tilted his head, unable to understand Kael''s words. With his small legs, he barely managed to move towards Kael, then climbed up his chest and nuzzled against his cheek, purring loudly. "Kyuu~" "Fuck, you are too cute." Kael cursed as he hugged the little creature. "Guu!" Kael closed his eyes, enjoying his new partner''s embrace, then suddenly, as if he remembered something, he opened his eyes and glanced at the Dragon again. "I should name you, shouldn''t I?" "Guu!" The Dragon nodded. "Hmmm, it should be something that represents your strength... Ugghh... But you are also cute, I cannot miss that. A powerful yet cute name... Ahhhhh!!" Kael started thinking, then suddenly, a name popped into his head. "Igni. I will call you Igni from now on." "Kyuu!!" Igni''s eyes brightened up. "You like that?" Kael questioned, and in answer, Igni started licking his face again. "Hahaha~ That tickles~" Kael laughed out loud. His eyes then fell on the remaining eggshells, and he glanced at Igni. "Do you want to eat more?" "Guu~" Igni shook his head. "I guess I''ll save it for the future then." "Guu!!" Igni continued to lick his face. "Hey! Stop! Hahahaha~" Kael laughed as he fell on the bed with Igni on top of him. The two played for a while, and in a few minutes, little Igni had used up all his energy, and his eyes turned heavy. He wanted to play more, but feeling the soft bed, he lay down and closed his eyes, entering dreamland. "Gruuu~" The little thing even started snoring. ''Look at him.'' Kael chuckled, gently rubbing Igni''s belly. Then, his eyes fell on the book the King gave him. He stood up, picked it up, and returned to his bed. He still didn''t know anything about this world, and it was high time that he started learning. Especially now that he had Igni next to him. Kael didn''t know why, but every time he glanced at Igni, he felt a sense of responsibility. This little Dragon, despite him being a few times stronger than him, Kael wanted to do everything he could to keep him safe and protected. ''Fuck, why do I sound like a father? I am only 22.'' Kael cursed inwardly. Soon, however, he shook his head and started reading. Two hours later, his fatigue caught up to him as well. "Grruuu¡­" Igni''s steady and peaceful snoring didn''t help him either. The little Dragon was nestled close to him, his small body radiating warmth and comfort Kael had never felt before. Igni''s quiet purring filled the room, a comforting rhythm that pulled Kael into a deep sleep. ¡­ ''H-Huh¡­?'' Kael frowned, his vision blurring as the world around him twisted and shifted. It was a feeling he was familiar with. ''No, no Fuck no!'' He cried, but just as he expected, he was no longer in his room. He was somewhere else, somewhere terrifying but familiar. The air reeked of blood and decay. Screams of agony echoed in the background, his body felt foreign, and Kael''s heart pounded as he realized that once again, he was in that man''s body. That vision¡­ He was seeing it again¡­ His body was pressed against cold, hard ground. Monstrous hands pinned him down, their claws digging into his flesh. He struggled to free himself but couldn''t. "HELP ME!!!" "SPARE ME¡ªNO!!!" The anguished cries of humans filled the air. Kael''s eyes were forced open by a grotesque claw, forcing him to watch the carnage. Monstrous creatures with hideous forms tore through people with savage glee. Step Step Step And then, that woman appeared again. The old woman with long white hair, silver eyes that glinted with cruel malice, and a sinister grin on her lips. "Like what you see?" she spoke, kneeling before him. Everything was exactly the same. The woman continued to speak, the man then screamed the woman''s name, his rage clear. But just like before, everything he did was useless. Nerissa only laughed. Her cruel laughter echoed through the terrifying scene. Despite this being his second time seeing the same vision, the fear Kael felt wasn''t any different. The vision was still as horrifying as before, but suddenly, Kael''s eyes were drawn to something in the distance. Something he didn''t pay much attention to when he saw the vision for the first time. A lifeless body of Giant Red Dragon lying amidst the chaos¡­ Broken, bloodied, and pierced through by more than ten different weapons. It was a sight that sent a shockwave of emotion through him. That Dragon¡­ Kael didn''t know how he could tell it but¡­ It was Igni. That Giant Red Dragon was his Igni!! ''No!!'' The realization hit Kael like a hammer. He could feel the man''s heart shatter at the sight, even he mourned at the Dragon''s death. The pain in his heart was even stronger than what Kael currently experienced, and the man was feeling the same emotions not just for Igni but for all the Dragons present on the battlefield. All of them had met a similar or a much more gruesome end. However, the man wasn''t given much time to mourn. Nerissa raised her blade, and with one swift motion, the blade descended, severing Kael''s head. "IGNI!!" Kael shot up in bed, drenched in sweat, his chest heaving. "Mrr¡­?" At his shout, the small Fire Dragon shook, his eyes opening sleepily. "Igni¡­" Kael called out, grabbing the little Dragon, his eyes moist, his heart racing. The vivid vision of Igni''s lifeless form haunted him. "Igni..." Kael''s body trembled as he hugged the little dragon as tightly as he could. "Mruu¡­?" Little Igni frowned in confusion. Kael, however, didn''t say anything and just tightened his hug even further. The little Igni reciprocated as he started licking his face. Kael''s racing heart started to calm down as he felt the warmth little Dragon radiated. His blue eyes stared into the distance¡­ If he had any doubts before, now, it was clear¡­ That man in the vision¡­ The defeated Dragon Lord¡­ It was him. Chapter 13 - 13: Almoner of Services "Haaahh¡­ Haahh¡­ Haah¡­" Kael covered his face with his hands, his breathing was ragged and uneven. The screams, the blood, the chaos¡­ everything was still vivid in his mind. Despite seeing this vision the second time, it affected him as much as it did before. No, this time, it affected him more. The Giant Red Dragon lying lifelessly in the middle of chaos, his body bloodied and broken¡­ It was his Igni¡­ And the man¡­ When Kael saw this vision for the first time, a question appeared in his mind. Sharing a vision was one thing, but how could he feel someone else''s emotions so clearly? Now, however, the answer was clear. He felt those emotions as if they were his own because they were. "That was me¡­" He whispered, his words barely audible. The man in the vision, the one forced to watch the annihilation of everything he loved, was him. The monstrous hands pinning him down. The grotesque monsters tearing through humanity. The cruel, mocking laughter of that woman as she drove her sword into his chest. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It wasn''t just a vision. It was the future. He failed. The Hero who was supposed to protect this world failed. His dragons¡­ his Igni¡­ all of them died¡­ Everything he loved¡­ was destroyed¡­ Nerissa''s cold, mocking words rang in his head. The cruel scene replayed itself countless times, breaking Kael into pieces. He panicked, scared of what the future held for him, his breathing growing even more uneven. He clutched his chest as if trying to hold himself together, but it all felt useless. "Why... why did this happen? How could I let this happen? It is my fault. I failed because I was incompetent. I was never supposed to be a Hero in the first place. I am just a student who just studies and watches anime. I was never fit for this. I wa-" Kael couldn''t stop, his voice desperate, tears rolling out of his eyes. The more times the vision played out in his head, the deeper the loop of despair and depression he fell into. But then suddenly, "Mew¡­" Kael heard a voice. He opened his eyes, and his eyes fell on his little partner, who he was holding tightly, as if afraid of losing him. Igni stared at Kael as he tilted his little head, his big eyes gleaming with worry. The sight of the little dragon, alive and well, momentarily broke through Kael''s storm of emotions. His heart calmed down as he felt Igni''s warmth. "I won''t let anything happen to you¡­" He spoke in a hoarse voice, his eyes moist but filled with conviction even he didn''t know he was capable of showing. "Guuu!" Igni didn''t know what happened to Kael, but to the little Dragon, it didn''t matter. He just snuggled into Kael''s embrace and closed his eyes, entering the dream world again, completely abandoning the soft bed provided to him and using Kael''s body as his bed. Kael didn''t complain. Quite the opposite, having Igni in his arms gave him a sense of reassurance. Igni''s presence alone strengthened his resolve. He looked out of the window. The moon was still up; the night was still long, but he couldn''t sleep. He was scared that he would see that vision again. He picked up the book provided by the King again and started reading from the beginning. This time, instead of skimming through its contents, he read slowly and carefully, not wanting to miss even the smallest detail. And just like that, The night went by, and the first light of dawn entered Kael''s room. The entire night, he hadn''t slept. He was busy reading the book, and even now, it seemed like he wouldn''t stop, but¡­ Knock Knock A knock at the door attracted his attention. "Come in," Kael called, his voice hoarse. The door opened, and a beautiful woman walked in. She wore a deep crimson gown, her dark hair was neatly tied, and her posture was upright, like a soldier standing at attention. Her brown eyes, calm and observant, fell on Kael, who was still on his bed. "Good morning, Lord Kael," she greeted him with a soft voice. "I hope you had a peaceful rest." "I did." Kael nodded, then, he tilted his head in confusion. "Who are you?" He questioned. "I am Althea Darnielle," The woman answered, bowing her head respectfully. "I''ve been appointed as your Almoner of Services, responsible for ensuring your comfort and meeting any needs you may have during your stay here." "Almoner of Services?" Kael raised his eyebrow. This was the first time he had heard of such a title despite having read thousands of medieval fantasy novels. ''I guess every world does their own thing.'' He shrugged inwardly. "Any form of service you require, I will handle it," Althea answered smoothly. "Is that so¡­" Kael muttered, a little lost. "I come bearing information about the King''s plans for your training." Althea mentioned. "Training?" Kael straightened his back, his expression changing in an instant. After all, the thing he wanted the most right now was to get stronger. "The King has devised a regimen tailored specifically for you," Althea explained. "It''s a comprehensive program to ensure that you are ready to face the challenges ahead." ''Challenges, huh¡­'' Kael muttered in his head. The vision he saw last night played itself in his mind again, making his fist tremble. "When do we start?" Kael questioned. "I would suggest Lord Kael take some time to freshen up. I will be waiting outside your chambers, and once you are ready, signal me, and I will take you to the training hall." "I understand." Kael nodded. "Then please excuse me." Althea bowed and then walked out. Kael stood up, stretched his body, and walked into the bathroom to freshen up. 30 minutes later, "Come in." Kael called her in. Althea walked in and bowed her head again. "Please follow me, Lord Kael." "Alright." Kael nodded, his eyes full of determination and resolve. Chapter 14 - 14: MOVE IT! As Kael and Althea made their way to the Training Hall, Althea reported. "Lord Kael''s physical conditioning will be the first step. You''ll undergo daily exercises to build strength, speed, agility, and stamina. This will include lifting weights, running, and more. Your trainer will be General Deren Ironclad. He is already waiting for you." She pointed toward the doors of the Training Hall, signaling Kael to enter. Kael nodded and stepped inside. The moment he entered, his eyes were drawn to a towering figure. With a broad, muscular frame that spoke of years of rigorous training, the 190 cm tall man looked like a mountain of raw power. His skin was weathered and tanned, and his steel-gray hair was cropped short. There was a menacing scar on his left cheek, a clear testament to his time on the frontlines. His piercing blue eyes locked onto Kael, carrying an intensity that could unnerve even the most exceptional warriors. Kael, who was 6 feet tall, was used to being taller than most people around him, but in the presence of this giant, he felt small¡ªalmost like a scrawny, malnourished child. "You are the Hero?" Deren''s voice was low, commanding, and unwavering. "Y-Yes, sir!" Kael stuttered, a little intimidated by the man''s presence. Deren narrowed his eyes at that answer, then he noticed something else. "You didn''t sleep last night." "I¡­" Kael started, but his mind went blank. He had no clue how this man found out. In the end, he couldn''t come up with an excuse fast enough, and¡ª "I''ll excuse you today, since it''s your first day. But from now on, keep this in mind: I value discipline above everything else. It doesn''t matter if you''re the Hero or not¡ªwhen you train under me, you will follow my rules. I want you here by 5 in the morning and back to your bed by 9. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Is that clear?" "Yes, sir." Kael nodded, his voice steady despite being overwhelmed by the general. It was as if the General''s presence was making his body act on its own. Deren studied him for a moment, then the General shook his head. "Your body''s a mess. You''re thin, you don''t have enough muscle, and your balance is off. There''s a lot to work on. But for now, we''ll start with the most important thing first: Endurance." Without waiting for a response, he pointed to the far end of the hall. "Ten rounds of this hall. Now." "Yes, sir." Kael nodded, his eyes then fell on the Training Hall, and he couldn''t help but marvel at its sheer size. The hall was vast, with a high ceiling that reached at least twenty feet above. Massive stone pillars supported the ceiling. The stone floor beneath Kael''s feet was smooth but had a few cracks and craters all over the place. Kael wondered why that was the case but didn''t think too much about it. The entire hall was divided into different sections, each designed for specific types of training. To the left, there were large wooden dummies, some of them had cuts from arrows or blades. Next to them was a set of iron targets embedded into the walls, some dented, others scorched. A few weapon racks were scattered around, holding a variety of blades, staffs, and spears. The center of the hall was marked by a series of training mats, some were rolled up along the walls. It was like those functional fitness gyms back in his world. There were heavy ropes for climbing, rings for swinging, and thick wooden beams for balance training. There were even some weights lying around for weight training. Usually, this Training Hall was never empty, as most soldiers spent their time here, pushing themselves to the limit to better themselves. Right now, however, the hall was emptied out so that Kael could train in peace. "What are you wasting time for? Start running!" General Deren''s voice thundered through Kael''s ears, jolting him awake. "Y-Yes, sir." He nodded as he started jogging. And that was his first mistake. "If I wanted a turtle, I''d have gone to a Beast Store! MOVE IT!" Deren shouted, his voice so overwhelming that Kael''s body acted on its own, and he sped up. "Y-YES!!" His body was stiff and uncoordinated. After all, he had stayed up all night, not to mention he was bad at sports from the beginning. To Deren, however, all of that didn''t matter. "Is that the best you can do!? Run before I start running after you!" He shouted. "YES!!" Closing his eyes, Kael sped up even further. His breathing began to quicken, but before he could settle into the rhythm, Whoosh BOOM Something whistled through the air behind him. A sudden surge of heat and force made Kael stumble forward. Involuntarily, he turned around and saw the stone floor a few feet behind him had shattered. ''What in the hell¡­?'' At the center of the destruction, was a massive spear. Its steel tip had pierced deep into the ground, steam rising from the raw impact. "RUN AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT! BECAUSE IT NOW DOES!!!" Kael then heard a loud scream that almost tore his eardrum. He raised his head and saw General Deren standing at the starting line. In his hand was another spear. Without a word, Deren raised it above his shoulder. The cold gleam of the weapon haunted Kael. ''T-This old man''s crazy!!'' He widened his eyes in disbelief. He wondered why the floor here was so damaged, didn''t he? Well, now he had the answer! It was this crazy old man!! Kael, however, wasn''t given time to think through much as he saw the crazy man throw the second spear. This time, the spear was aimed at him. "!!!" Kael''s body moved, running at a speed he didn''t even know was possible. His legs pumped with every ounce of strength he could muster. His breath came in frantic gasps, and his heart pounded like a war drum. He didn''t care about form, rhythm, or balance¡ªhe only cared about one thing: getting as far away from that spear as possible. Whoosh BOOM Another whoosh cut through the air, followed by an explosive sound as a second spear struck the ground just a few feet to his right. The impact sent small shards of stone flying all over the place, some even grazing Kael''s arms and legs. "Fuckk!!" Kael cursed and pushed himself harder, his body screaming in protest, but in a life-and-death situation, it didn''t matter. "That''s right!" Deren nodded. "Keep running like this. Remember, ten rounds, and if you slow down even once, be ready for the spear." ''T-Ten rounds!?'' Kael had completely forgotten about it. He looked ahead. Not even half the track was completed, and he was already out of breath. How was he supposed to do this ten more times at his current speed!? This simply wasn''t possible! Who said it? The science says so! There were too many factors that limited humans from sprinting at their highest speed for more than a few seconds: energy systems, muscle fibers, oxygen supply, lactic acid build-up, and many more! What Deren was demanding wasn''t physically possible! Whoosh BOOM "WHY DO I SEE YOU SLOWING DOWN ALREADY!? MOVE IT!" Of course, the crazy old man didn''t care about it at all. Chapter 15 - 15: If you can outrun death here, you can outrun it anywhere. BOOM "MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!!" Deren screamed as he threw another spear at Kael. "Haaahh¡­ Haaahhh¡­ Haahhh¡­" Kael gasped for air. Every nerve in his body was focused on running, his muscles ached, and his lungs felt as if they were on fire. This wasn''t training, this was survival. ''W-When is this going to end¡­?'' He thought inwardly. He had only completed two out of ten rounds, and his body was already at its limit. He had barely avoided stumbling and falling on the ground more than a few times, and he felt like if he continued, he really would die, even if that death didn''t come from the spear. It was then, [Ding!] Kael heard a voice. [Stamina: +1] A screen popped in front of him, a stream of energy entering his tired body, slightly alleviating the pain he was feeling. ''W-What¡­?'' Kael was surprised. ''That works?'' He thought that he could only get stronger as he leveled up, but seeing how his stamina increased without any change in his level took him aback. Kael wasn''t a fool. He had read enough novels to understand how valuable stats gained without leveling up were. In an instant, his eyes lit up, his mind motivated, and his tired body ready to push past its limits. He sped up again, regaining some of his balance as his muscles were somewhat healed. It wasn''t a big change, however, someone as experienced as Deren noticed it in an instant and narrowed his eyes. ''He improved¡­? Already?'' Deren was surprised. ''Is this what it means to be a hero?'' He couldn''t help but think inwardly. ''This might be related to his talent¡­'' Deren, however, didn''t say anything. Since Kael improved, he saw this as a chance to push him even further, and his hand reached out to another spear. BOOOM "Don''t let me see you slow down!!" He bellowed. Kael sped up again, this time, not because he was intimidated, but, [Ding!] [Speed: +1] His eyes shined brightly as he noticed the changes in his body. Stronger... He was getting stronger. Soon, Kael''s desire to get stronger consumed him. The game continued. Deren continued to push Kael to his limits, and motivated by the System messages and the foreign energy that continued to alleviate all the pain and fatigue he felt, Kael continued to run. [Stamina: +1] [Speed: +1] [Stamina: +1] [Strength: +1] [Stamina: +1] [Agility: +1] ¡­ ¡­ "Enough!" Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Deren''s voice rang out again. Kael had succeeded. He ran ten laps, pushing his body to its limit multiple times in a single day. "Haaaahh¡­ Haaahhh¡­ Haaahhh¡­" Kael stopped, his chest heaving as he bent over, hands on his knees. Sweat poured down his face, and his legs trembled like his muscles would give out any second now. He momentarily turned back and saw Deren casually retrieving the spears from the floor, his movements steady and calm, as if he hadn''t just nearly skewered Kael alive. ''Crazy geezer¡­'' He cursed in his head. "You may be cursing me right now." Suddenly, Deren spoke, and Kael''s face turned pale. ''Can he hear my thoughts?'' "But you will thank me one day," Deren continued, making Kael sigh in relief. "If you can outrun death here, you can outrun it anywhere. That''s the first lesson. Now, are you ready for the next?" "N-Next¡­?" Kael stuttered. "You didn''t think this was the end, did you?" Deren questioned back. ''It should end here! Do you not see what state I am in!?'' He screamed inwardly. "The Battlefield won''t care how tired you are. It will just take advantage of your condition and try to overwhelm you." Deren''s voice echoed through Kael''s ears and suddenly, the vision of dead Igni, while him being held down by those monsters appeared in his mind. "What''s next?" He questioned, his expression completely different than before. Deren was momentarily taken aback by the sudden change. Soon, however, a satisfied smile appeared on his strict face. "That''s a good look." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The General then walked to the middle of the Hall. In front of him was a rack stacked with thick iron weights. "Now that I have tested your lungs, it''s time to test your muscles." Kael walked forward, trying to pick up the iron weights. "The hell are you doing?" Deren stopped him. "Hm?" Kael tilted his head in confusion. "Pick one of those." Deren pointed at the series of sandbags, some small and others larger than Kael himself. "Which one?" Kael questioned. "Any of them," Deren said with a shrug. Kael walked over and reached for a mid-sized sandbag, thinking it would be a manageable start. He hoisted it off the ground, only for his arms to nearly give out under its unexpected weight. "What is in this thing?" Kael couldn''t help but question. "Sand. And rocks, nothing special." "Are they supposed to be this heavy?" Kael was surprised. "Have you ever lifted them before?" "¡­" Kael turned silent. He hadn''t. "Now carry it." Deren ordered. "Carry it where?" "Across the hall. And back. Twenty times." "Twenty?!" "Would you prefer thirty?" Deren raised an eyebrow. "I won''t mind," Kael answered bravely, showing some form of resistance in front of this giant. Deren raised his eyebrow. Then, he just shrugged, "Thirty it is then. Don''t give up." The General smiled menacingly. Kael didn''t react. He just grabbed the sandbag and tried to put it behind his back. "Ugghh!" And he failed miserably. The bag was too heavy for him to lift it up. Kael''s eyes fell on the smaller sandbags, but, "Don''t even think about it." Before he could do anything, he heard a warning. ''Fuck¡­'' Cursing inwardly, he gave up on lifting the sandbag and decided to drag it. Something that, in theory, should be easier than lifting it up, but when it came to repeating the same action, it was even more nightmarish. "Ugghhh¡­" Each step he took was like a battle. His shoulders and arms screamed in pain, his legs were already trembling because of the torture they went through before, but Deren was merciless. "Keep moving!" Deren shouted from behind. "A slow soldier is a dead soldier." As he said those words, the blade of the spear that was in his hands shimmered. Kael''s body trembled. He gritted his teeth and continued, every muscle in his body begging him to stop. The first lap was finally complete, but Deren didn''t allow any rest. Kael was forced to push his body even further, and a few minutes later, he was finally rewarded for his efforts. [Ding!] [Strength: +1] Seeing the message, a light smile appeared on Kael''s face which was drenched in sweat. With his motivation sky-high and under Deren''s heartless eyes, he continued and a foreign, mystical energy began to change his body. [Ding!] [Strength: +1] [Strength: +1] [Stamina: +1] [Defense: +1] [Stamina: +1] [Defense: +1] ¡­ ... Chapter 16 - 16: Arlan Stormhold. Thud In the end, even after the System''s constant help, Kael''s body couldn''t take any more abuse, and the moment he completed the twentieth lap, he collapsed on the stone floor with a thud. "Haaahh... Haahh... Haah..." His vision blurred with sweat. He couldn''t feel his legs anymore, his arms felt like they might tear from their sockets, his chest heaved, trying to gather as much oxygen as it could get. It was his body''s way of protecting itself. Kael honestly felt like his body was giving up. Even breathing felt like a chore right now. Seeing his state, Deren walked over and crouched beside him, his piercing blue eyes meeting Kael''s. "You are weaker than I thought." He spoke, not very impressed. Kael just stared at the giant in front of him, he didn''t even have enough strength to rebut him, not even in his thoughts. "We need to put in a lot of work." Deren shook his head as he spoke like a disappointed father, then, with cold eyes, he declared, "Tomorrow, we double the distance." Hearing those words, Kael just closed his eyes, wanting nothing more than to sleep. His exhaustion was finally catching up. "Well, well, well. Would you look at that?" Suddenly, a loud voice full of mockery was heard. "The Great Hero of Nerathis, already tasting the sweet embrace of the floor, eh? Should I bring a pillow, or is the stone comfy enough for ya?" Kael frowned. Normally, he would have completely ignored whoever it was because of how exhausted he was. His instincts, however, told him that he wasn''t going to like what was coming next. And the worst part? His instincts were usually correct. He barely lifted his head and his eyes caught sight of another towering figure approaching him. The man was broad-shouldered and wore a brownish tank top that didn''t hide his muscles. His blonde hair was tied back in a loose braid, and his bright green eyes sparkled with energy. There was a wide grin on his face, making him seem¡­ unhinged¡­ "Arlan Stormhold." Seeing the man, who looked in his early 30s, Deren spoke in a low voice. "General Deren!" Arlan stood upright, his previous casual attitude disappearing in an instant. Clearly, the man respected Deren from the bottom of his heart. "Be at ease." Deren nodded. "Don''t go easy on that child." He spoke as he momentarily glanced at Kael. "Oh¡­?" Arlan was taken aback. He wasn''t expecting General Deren to show such a reaction. However, noticing that the General was staring at him, Arlan nodded, not wanting the General to wait. "As you command, General Deren!" Deren nodded back as he then walked out of the training hall. Kael, who heard their conversation, felt his body tremble. He realized that his instincts were right¡­ yet again¡­ And as if confirming his thoughts, "Commander Arlan Stormhold," Althea, who had appeared next to Kael, informed, "He has been appointed to oversee your hand-to-hand combat and weapons training." "Wait¡­ You mean there''s more?" Kael''s body shook. He felt like his world had turned upside down. Arlan, who heard those words, laughed out loud. "Of course, there''s more! A Hero isn''t forged in one day, lad! Strength, endurance, and now skill. I''m here to make sure you can handle yourself when you don''t have your Bond to bail you out. Get ready for some fun!" S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael groaned. As much as the feeling of that foreign energy strengthening his body was addictive, and as much as Kael wanted to get stronger at an ever-faster rate, right now, he was in no condition to train anymore. Heck, let alone train, he couldn''t even move right now. In the end, the child inside him that he had been hiding all this while came out and, "I¡­ I can''t. I can''t even move. Look, my arms are noodles, my legs are jelly¡ªm-my entire existence is food-based right now. I''m in no condition to¡ª" Before he could finish, Althea knelt beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Her palm glowed with a soothing, golden light and suddenly, warmth surged through Kael''s body. In an instant, all the pain and fatigue he felt before disappeared as if it were a dream. His energy returned as if he''d woken up from the best sleep of his life, his muscles felt rejuvenated, stronger even. Stunned, Kael stared at his ''Almoner of Services'' and, "You¡­ you could do that this whole time!?" "As I mentioned before, Any form of service you require, I will handle it. Healing is one of them." Althea answered without any change in her expression. It was as if what she had was no big deal. "Why didn''t you use it before!?" Kael practically shouted. "I''m not allowed to heal you during training. General Deren''s orders." Althea answered. "But aren''t you my Almoner of Services?" Kael questioned again, sounding like a child whose mother took his friend''s side instead of his. "I can go against his orders if you want me to, but that would only make your training even harder. I do not advise it." Althea answered and this time, Kael turned silent. "So why heal me now?" He questioned, curious. "General Deren''s training session is over. Commander Arlan''s training session is about to begin." "You can''t be serious¡­" "Oh, but I am!" Arlan chimed in, flexing his arms dramatically. "Now get up, lad. The day''s still young, and you''ve got a long way to go if you want to survive out there. We will start with the basics today, Throwing a proper punch!" In the end, Kael stopped complaining and stood up, his body, which was now full of strength, was now ready to take whatever Arlan prepared for him. ...or so he thought. Yes, he was severely overestimating himself and underestimating the man standing in front of him. The grin on Arlan''s face only widened as he clapped Kael on the back, nearly sending him stumbling forward. "Uggh¡­" Kael groaned in pain. Arlan, however, completely ignored him and walked forward. "Alright, lad! Follow me." Kael''s hand-to-hand combat training was about to begin. Chapter 17 - 17: Now dodge. As Arlan led Kael to the center of the Training Hall, the commander rolled up his sleeves, his grin widening. "Alright, lad. I may have said before that you are going to learn how to throw a punch, but hand-to-hand combat isn''t just about throwing punches. It''s about discipline, control, and instinct. I will make you learn how to read your opponent, anticipate their moves, and strike with precision." Kael nodded, a little taken aback by Arlan''s boundless enthusiasm. For some reason, his instincts told him that the words ''I will make you learn,'' were dangerous, very dangerous. "Now," Arlan began, cracking his knuckles, "Show me your fighting stance." Kael nodded, awkwardly raising his fists and standing with one foot slightly forward. Seeing his ''stance,'' Arlan squinted at him. "No, no, when I say fighting stance, I am talking about the one you use in a real fight, not the one you use to fight with your 8-year-old niece." "Uhh..." "You have never fought before, have you?" Arlan raised his brow. "I... Uh, no. Not really." Kael was embarrassed. "Figured" The commander nodded. "I''ve seen scarecrows with better balance." "I''m trying, alright?" Kael winced. "Trying to lose a fight? You will succeed in that, I see the potential." Arlan laughed. Then, with a serious look on his face, he started. "Here, let me show you." In one swift motion, Arlan dropped into a fighting stance similar to Kael''s, but his was much more balanced and had next to no opening. His body was perfectly aligned, fists up, feet firmly planted yet nimble. "See this? This is a stance. Stability, power, readiness. Copy it." Kael nodded as he mimicked the position. Or he tried to. Arlan circled him, shaking his head. "Your knees are locked¡ªbend them. Arms too high¡ªlower them. Your back... Lord Feraos, Kael, you''re leaning like an old man with a bad back. Straighten up!" Kael adjusted, changing his stance as Arlan instructed. Once satisfied, Arlan finally clapped his hands. "That''s good enough. You will learn the rest as you proceed. Now, let''s test it." "Test it?" Kael blinked, barely finishing the question before Arlan''s hand shot out, aiming for his face. Kael''s body shook, involuntarily, he covered his face with his hands and closed his eyes. Arlan used this chance to punch his abdomen, which was wide open. "Agghh." Kael groaned in pain. "Failed," Arlan declared as he shook his head. Then, he grinned, "If I were an 8-year-old girl, maybe you''d survive." Kael groaned, rubbing his abdomen. "Are all your lessons like this?" He questioned. Arlan, however, didn''t answer. He just observed Kael in silence. "The first thing you do when you are attacked is close your eyes¡­ This won''t do¡­" He shook his head. "Alright, we will do it this way." As if he found an answer to an unanswered question, Arlan''s eyes brightened, he stared at Kael and, "Take your stance again, not the girly one, but the one I taught you." "¡­" Kael stared at Arlan, cursing the man in his head, but he got into the stance the commander taught him without making any major mistakes as if he had memorized it perfectly. Seeing that, Arlan was momentarily taken aback, his expression, however, quickly returned to normal. It was quite surprising to see that an outspoken man like Arlan had such good control over his expressions. But the only one who noticed that inside the training hall was Althea, the Almoner of Services, who... didn''t react to it. Kael, on the other hand, was busy thinking about what was coming next. "Now, throw a punch." Arlan stood in front of Kael and ordered. Kael threw what he thought was a decent punch, but Arlan caught his wrist mid-swing. "Too slow. If you punch like that in a fight, your opponent will have enough time to write a letter before dodging. Again!" Kael tried again. And again. And... again. Each time, Arlan pointed out a flaw¡ªhis footing, his angle, his power. Kael felt like a toddler learning to walk. He was making too many mistakes. It felt like no matter what he did, Arlan was never satisfied. Of course, ''the Hero'' had no clue how wrong he was. Arlan was taken aback; the longer he observed, the harder it became to hide his growing surprise. ''Is this why General Deren told me to not go easy on him?'' He questioned inwardly, his eyes were literally sparkling as he observed Kael. His progress was too fast, every mistake he made, he didn''t make it the second time. Arlan was simply planning to check the Hero''s condition and teach him a proper stance today but... If it is this little freak, then he might as well go all out, no? ''A Hero, huh¡­'' Arlan''s grin widened. "Alright, little man, again!" He instructed. ... After an hour of drilling basic punches, Kael''s arms trembled; even raising them felt like an impossible chore. "Hmm, that''s somewhat acceptable." Arlan nodded, finally approving Kael''s last punch. This, however, wasn''t the end. "Now let''s add some footwork." "Footwork?" Kael frowned. Arlan didn''t reply. Instead, a wooden staff appeared in his hand, and he swung it at Kael without warning. Kael stumbled back, narrowly avoiding the blow. "Wha-" "Move your feet, lad!" Arlan laughed. "It will be painful if you don''t." ''Where the hell did that even come from!?'' Kael complained in his head. He, however, wasn''t given time to think as Arlan continued to advance forward, the staff continuously targeting Kael''s legs. Kael dodged the first few, but Arlan''s speed continued to increase. In the end, Kael, who saw the staff coming at his left leg, wanted to sidestep, but his legs refused to cooperate, and, "Aggghh!!" He screamed in pain as the staff hit his shin. In an instant, he lost his balance and fell. "Get up!" Arlan ordered. Kael wanted to use this moment to rest, however, Arlan raised the staff in the air. ''Son of a¡­'' Kael''s eyes widened as he barely rolled over and dodged the incoming attack. But Arlan didn''t stop and continued to attack. "At least give me time to get up!" Kael screamed. "I gave you three seconds." Arlan answered with a grin as he swung the staff. ''Fuck! Is something wrong with these people''s heads!? Why is every single one of them trying to kill the Hero before he can even make a debut!?'' Kael cursed in his head as he continued to roll over and over again, barely dodging the attacks. "We''re in a battle, not a circus! Save the somersaults for later!" Arlan shouted. Kael, however, didn''t listen and continued to shamelessly roll on the ground. Seeing that, Arlan''s mouth twitched. "Sure, just keep rolling, a good strategy, maybe the enemy will die of laughter." He teased, thinking that would work but, "But I won''t." Kael replied shamelessly. And as he said those words, Arlan, with his mouth now twitching uncontrollably, raised his staff again. This time, he decided to stop playing around. His staff descended on the ground and, BOOOM The floor cracked as Kael saw the blunt staff piercing through the stone floor, just a few inches away from his head. "If you don''t stand up, the next one will come at you." Arlan threatened. ''Thug! This bastard''s no a commander, he is a thug!'' Kael complained, but he didn''t dare say anything out loud and stood up. "Take your stance again!" Arlan ordered, his previous playfulness now gone. Kael did as he was told. "Now dodge." Once again, Arlan started swinging his staff. For the next two hours, Arlan continued to mindlessly swing his staff, and Kael was forced to dodge. Each failure was met with a sharp crack of the staff against his legs. Thud In the end, Kael collapsed again. This time, he could no longer stand up. His legs were in no condition to move; there were swellings and bruises all over the place. "Aggghhh¡­" Kael groaned in pain, this had become a common sight in these past few hours. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Ding!] [Defense: +1] [Agility: +1] [Agility: +1] [Defense: +1] [Speed: +1] [Defense: +1] ¡­ ... The system worked to its full potential, but this time, the messages it displayed brought Kael no joy. The pain he was in was enough to overwhelm any excitement a few messages could bring. Or at least¡­ that''s what Kael thought... But then, [Ding!] [Skill acquired: Hand-to-Hand Combat (Incomplete)] ... A/N: Pending character illustrations (clearer in discord) Future Kael (the one in the dream and vision) Kael Igni Chapter 18 - 18: What? Don’t tell me you are intimidated. [Ding!] [Skill acquired: Basic Hand to Hand combat (Incomplete)] In an instant, Kael''s expression changed. ''What?'' This was something new. ''A skill¡­?'' [Basic Hand-to-hand combat (Incomplete)] [Mastery: Very Low] [Description:] [A foundational skill encompassing basic techniques of unarmed fighting, including strikes, blocks, and grapples. Effective for self-defense and close-range encounters.] [Incomplete:] [Basic Hand to Hand Combat consists of three components: footwork, strikes, and counters. Currently, the host has only mastered the first component ¡ª footwork. With precise and agile movement, the user can navigate the battlefield effortlessly and evade attacks.] [The remaining components: strikes and counters] ¡­ ''Basic Hand to Hand combat¡­? That''s a skill?'' Soon, however, Kael realized another thing. ''He wasn''t just attacking me randomly, He was instilling the footwork into my body.'' Yes, it was a cruel method, but he learned one of three components of an essential skill within a few hours, not to mention his stats had increased quite a bit as well. Kael couldn''t think of a method as efficient as this. And as if that wasn''t enough. His eyes fell on another thing, [CE: 35/100] The CE or whatever it was, it finally rose up. Now, till now, Kael hadn''t explored his system much, so he didn''t know what CE was; however, he did know one thing: he, who had been constantly checking his Status ever since the training started, knew that before Arlan appeared, his CE was 0. So the change was probably due to Arlan''s training. If Kael was right and his CE was connected to him leveling up¡­ Then training with Arlan was what would help him level up. The moment Kael concluded that, his eyes brightened up. With a grunt, he stood up, completely ignoring the pain in his legs. He glanced at Arlan, and a wide grin appeared on his face. "We aren''t done here, are we?" "Huh?" This time, the one who was taken aback was Arlan. "Oi, brat." He called out. "I didn''t even hit your head; how did you lose your mind?" He questioned, seeing the crazed look on the Hero''s face; even the commander panicked a little. He then glanced at Althea standing in the corner and, "Come here and see what''s wrong with him." He ordered. The last thing he wanted was for the Hero to lose his mind under his training. Who knew what awaited him if that happened? And Arlan had zero interest in finding it out. He had a beautiful wife and 2 daughters; he loved his life very much. Althea, however, poured cold water on his head, "My ability does not work on mental conditions." Even the Almoner of Services wasn''t almighty. "It doesn''t matter; come heal him anyway. The mind and body are somewhat connected." Arlan ordered, and Althea nodded, walking towards Kael without any change in her expression. "¡­" Kael, on the other hand, observed this exchange in silence, his mouth twitching without stopping. He, however, didn''t say anything for now; despite being motivated, his legs still hurt like hell. It would be good if Althea healed him. He would continue his training after that. Althea approached him and placed her hand on his shoulder; once again, Kael felt a warm energy entering his body, healing all his pain and fatigue. "Are you alright now?" Arlan questioned. "Yes." Kael nodded as he took his stance again, "Let''s continue." Arlan, however, didn''t move and turned towards Althea instead, "Your ability didn''t work." "I already said it doesn''t work on mental conditions." Althea answered. "¡­" Kael''s mouth twitched again. "Are you going to train me or not?" He questioned with a frown, then, as if he thought of an idea, he smirked, "What? Don''t tell me you are intimidated." It was Kael''s second mistake. Arlan''s expression changed. "Alright, fuck it." He cursed out loud, and with his staff in his hands, he started targeting Kael''s legs again. This time, however, as Arlan advanced, Kael dodged all his attacks. His movements weren''t perfect; but he still dodged everything Arlan threw at him, surprising Arlan. ''As I thought¡­ Now that I have learned the skill, moving my legs is easier.'' Kael noted down as he smirked. ''I can do this all day.'' And as if knowing what he was thinking, Arlan suddenly increased his speed. Kael widened his eyes, unable to even see the staff, let alone react to it. "Aaaagghhh!!" He screamed in pain as he fell down. "Hmm, I guess this is enough for now." Arlan completely ignored Kael''s screams. From his tone, however, he seemed quite satisfied for some reason. "Heal him again." He ordered as he glanced at Althea. Althea nodded and did what she was told. Once again, Kael was healed back to full health. "Stand up." Arlan ordered, and as Kael stood up, "Your overall balance seems somewhat manageable now." Arlan observed. "Maybe you can fight a 12-year-old girl now." He laughed. "I only see progress." Kael shrugged. He was getting used to the gorilla man''s antics. Arlan chuckled, "Alright, let''s continue. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now that you have the footwork down, we need to combine it with the punches you learned before. Before, you were using your footwork to dodge my attacks; now you will follow the same footwork and approach me. Try to gather strength from your legs and release it through your punches. Do you understand?" Kael nodded with a determined look on his face, doing what he was told. "No, not like this; your punches are too weak. Put more force into them. What? Did you take it seriously when I said you could fight a 12-year-old girl now? Was that your goal all along?" "¡­" Kael''s mouth twitched as he put more force into his punch. "More power!" "Hey! Don''t lose your balance! Did you forget what I said!? Gather strength from your legs and release it through your punch. It is the basics of basics! How do you not get it!?" "¡­" Kael, who had already learned to ignore the guy, simply continued to strike; the more he moved according to Arlan''s instructions, the more in sync his body felt. He could feel it; with time, his punch was getting stronger and stronger. Kael fell into a trance; with every move, he improved. [Ding!] [Strength: +1] [Agility: +1] The system showed message after message, but Kael didn''t notice them; he continued to move. Arlan, who was dodging his attacks, was finding it more and more difficult. The progress was visible to even an untrained naked eye. The pace at which Kael was improving was simply unbelievable. It was then, [Ding!] [Basic Hand-to-hand combat (Incomplete)] [Mastery: Very Low] [Description:] [A foundational skill encompassing basic techniques of unarmed fighting, including strikes, blocks, and grapples. Effective for self-defense and close-range encounters.] [Incomplete:] [Basic Hand to Hand Combat consists of three components: footwork, strikes, and counters. The host has now mastered the first two components ¡ª footwork and strikes. With precise and agile movement, the user can maneuver around the battlefield effortlessly, while delivering powerful and accurate strikes.] [The remaining component: counters] [CE: 72/100] Chapter 19 - 19: Elira Stormhold Thud "Uggghhh!!" Kael groaned in pain. He tried to dodge Arlan''s kick which was too fast for him to counter; however, he had underestimated his body''s injuries. Because of his sluggish movements, he couldn''t react in time, and Arlan''s kick connected. The impact sent Kael flying. "Khwwaakk!!" He coughed, pain radiating through his ribs. His entire body screamed in protest. He tried to stand again, but his arms gave out, and he collapsed back onto the ground. "Haaahh¡­ Haahh¡­ Haahh¡­" he gasped for air. His body had bruises and swelling all over the place. He couldn''t lift his limbs anymore, and even breathing was a struggle. The cool air of the hall felt like knives against his battered skin. His vision blurred with sweat, stinging his eyes. He didn''t even have enough power to clear the sweat out of his eyes. He tried to move, even just a hand, but his body had given up. "Still breathing down there?" Arlan questioned with a wide grin on his face. To Kael, he felt like a beast looking at his fallen prey. He wanted to respond, but even moving his mouth was a chore, so he just closed his eyes, not wanting to see the man''s ugly face anymore. Seeing his actions, Arlan laughed. He then crouched, inspecting Kael''s body. "No wonder you only fought little girls till now. Man, you are bad at this." "¡­" Kael just ignored this man, and seeing that he wasn''t reacting at all, the commander lost interest. "Althea!" Arlan called. "The guy''s dead. Revive him." Althea walked towards them, once again, her face devoid of emotions. Without saying anything, the Almoner of Services healed her master, and feeling the familiar warm energy surging into his body, Kael finally sighed in relief and slowly opened his eyes. "Oh, he''s back." Arlan exclaimed with a big grin. Kael stared at him, and Arlan''s grin widened even further. "Would you like to continue?" He questioned, his sadism flickering through his eyes. However, the answer he received was not what he was expecting. "Why not? I was actually wondering if that''s the best you can do." Kael grinned, not backing down. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yup, he had lost his mind as well. Arlan directly glanced at Althea and, "He''s not healed properly. His mental state is still the same." He complained. "I told you before, my ability doesn''t work on mental condition." Althea''s response was the same. Kael, however, ignored both of them. After all, in the entire hall, only he could see the screen in front of him. [Ding!] [Basic Hand-to-Hand Combat] [Mastery: Very Low] [Description:] [A foundational skill encompassing basic techniques of unarmed fighting, including strikes, blocks, and grapples. Effective for self-defense and close-range encounters.] Yes, he had finally learned Basic Hand-to-Hand Combat. Sure, his mastery level was still low, but that didn''t matter. The skill was now complete, and he did all that in one single day. Of course, this wasn''t the only thing Kael was so happy about. Rather, it was one of the minor joys. The main thing that attracted his attention was the second screen that had popped up in front of him. [Ding!] [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 1 ¡ú 2] [CE: 9/200] [Talent: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] [Strength: 3 ¡ú 10] [Agility: 4 ¡ú 8] [Speed: 5 ¡ú 9] [Stamina: 4 ¡ú 12] [Defense: 3 ¡ú 11] [Mana: 2 ¡ú 3] [Intelligence: 6 ¡ú 7] [Charisma: 6 ¡ú 7] ¡­ Yes, he leveled up. Not just that, his stats were now at least bearable to look at. Even though he still wasn''t as powerful as Igni, it was somewhat comparable now. Not to mention it was only his first day. What''s even better? This wasn''t over. He still had room to grow! "What? Are you not going to train me further?" Kael turned towards Arlan, his eyes shining brightly. "Or are you only good at training little girls?" This was so wrong if taken out of context. But it didn''t matter since Kael''s words worked, and Arlan''s mouth twitched. "Alright, you bra¡ª" However, before the commander could complete his sentence, the doors of the Hall creaked open, and an extremely beautiful woman who seemed to be in her late 20s walked in. Her long blonde hair fell down to her waist. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled with sharp intelligence, and her flawless skin radiated a healthy glow. She wore a long, elegant crimson robe, which didn''t hide her hourglass figure. The woman was beautiful, and she knew it. "Ah, Arlan, I knew it was you." The moment she walked in, her eyes fell on Commander Arlan, and she smirked. "Still as brutish as ever, eh? I could hear you shouting across the hall." "Huh? What''s a bookworm like you doing here? Shouldn''t you be in your little room conjuring some sparks or playing with your books instead of interrupting real training?" Arlan shot back. "Oh? Did you forget? You ran across the garden shouting, ''My ass is on fire!'' when those ''sparks'' latched themselves on your pants." "So you''re going to conveniently ignore the fact that the one I was running after was you? I still remember your ugly face covered with tears and snot while you screamed for help." Arlan laughed out loud. "What else was a 10-year-old girl supposed to do when a giant monster who was screaming like a lunatic ran after her with a greatsword in his hand?" Elira chuckled as she covered her mouth with her hand. "At least I wasn''t crying like a little bitch." "You sure were shouting like one." "Crying is still worse." "Says the one who started crying when Mother punished him." "Mother was playing favorites! You started it!" Arlan pointed his finger at the woman in front of him. "Couldn''t you take a little heat for your cute little sister''s sake?" Elira tilted her head with a playful look on her face. "Cute my ass!" Arlan snorted. "As I would expect from a brute like you, saying such filthy words without thinking." "At least I don''t keep up a false gentle image while my heart inside is rotten." Their banter continued, growing louder and more absurd with each exchange. Kael, caught in the middle, stared at them with a dumbfounded look on his face. That was when the ever-so-responsible Althea leaned in, ignoring the squabble entirely. "That''s Court Mage Elira Stormhold," She informed quietly. "And, in case you hadn''t pieced it together already, she''s his sister." "Siblings?" Kael blinked. "Yes," Althea sighed. She looked tired for some reason. The siblings were too much, even for her. Chapter 20 - 20: Lord Feraoss Gift "And, in case you hadn''t pieced it together, she''s his sister." "Siblings?" Kael blinked. "Yes." "The two don''t seem to like each other very much," Kael commented, noticing how both their mouths were twitching without stopping as they confronted each other. Althea just stared at him and shook her head. "You are mistaken," She spoke. "Despite how they look, the two of them would give their life away for the other. A man once chased after Court Mage Elira and created trouble for her. The moment Commander Arlan found out, the man disappeared." "D-Disappeared¡­?" "Commander Arlan is much more dangerous than he looks," Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Althea replied emotionlessly. "He is overprotective," She commented. Soon, however, she shrugged. "I guess that''s the same for both of them." "Both of them?" Kael tilted his head in confusion. "It is said that Lord Alden''s wife had to spend 15 months convincing Court Mage Elira before she finally accepted her. Before her, the Court Mage had rejected more than thirty women." "T-Thirty¡­?" Kael stuttered. "As I said, the two are too overprotective." Althea then stared at Kael and, "So be careful." "Huh? What do you mean?" Kael frowned. "I saw Lord Kael staring at her when she entered; you looked infatuated." "Huh? What do yo¡ª" Kael tried to deny, but Althea didn''t care and continued. "While other women wouldn''t mind being subjected to the Hero''s depraved and sinful lust, and might look forward to it instead. You should keep your hands off Court Mage Elira, or you might disappear as well. Hero or not, Commander Arlan won''t care when it comes to his sister he deeply cares for." "¡­" Kael turned silent. He had no clue why he was suddenly being portrayed as some sort of deviant monster. By now, however, he had become somewhat used to Althea''s antics. "Anyways, such matters are of less concern right now. What you need to know is Court Mage Elira is one of the most powerful mages in the kingdom, known for her mastery over elements. Her intellect is second to none. Despite her young age, only a few can rival her knowledge of magic." Kael stared at Elira, who was now smirking triumphantly as Arlan crossed his arms, clearly trying to come up with a rebuttal. Suddenly, "Enough of this nonsense. You can leave now. I need to start the Hero''s training," Elira said, dismissing Arlan with a wave of her hand. "I''ll stay," Arlan replied, staring daggers at Kael. He seemed to have heard what Althea said before. Kael gulped. However, before he could say anything, "Just go away. Don''t you have things to do? Or does the King not trust brutes like you with too much work?" Arlan, however, completely ignored his sister''s taunt and walked towards the corner of the hall, making it clear that he wasn''t leaving. Already used to it, Elira just sighed. Then she turned towards Kael and smiled, "It''s time for proper training. While your physical conditioning is important, without mastery of magic, you''ll never realize your full potential. Now, Hero Kael," She said with a light smirk on her face. "It''s time we see what kind of magic talent you possess. Sit." Kael obeyed, sitting on a chair in the center of the hall as Elira reached into her crimson robe and retrieved a small, polished crystal ball. It looked similar to the Orb of Resonance, just¡­ a lot smaller. "This is an Affinity Crystal," Elira explained. "It detects which elements resonate with your mana. Every mage has one or sometimes more than one element. The degree of affinity varies from person to person as well. The Affinity Crystal will reveal yours." Kael nodded in understanding, a little tense. He had no clue if he would have an affinity with any element or how high his affinity would be. After all, his talent was related to Dragons, not Magic. "It is similar to how the Orb of Resonance tests your potential. Just place your hand on the crystal, and it will do the rest," Elira instructed. Kael nodded, placing his hand on the Crystal. Its surface was cool, almost soothing. Kael took a deep breath and closed his eyes. For a moment, nothing happened. But then, the crystal began to glow. It started as a faint reddish flicker of light within the sphere. "Fire¡­" Elira noted. Soon, however, her expression changed. Bzzz The Affinity Crystal started trembling, and the flame inside the crystal grew stronger and much more vibrant. Its light spread all over the hall, blinding everyone present. The ball looked like it contained a miniature sun. And then, BOOM It exploded. Its particles, which should have dispersed all over the place, hurting everyone present, turned to ash because of excessive heat. Yes, the heat was that strong. Other than Kael, both Elira and Althea needed to use magic to be able to bear the heat. Kael, on the other hand, only felt a comforting warmth washing over his body, healing the fatigue that even Althea''s magic couldn''t. To Kael, it was like he was embraced by the most comforting entity in the entire world. A feeling he had never experienced before. "W-What is this¡­?" Elira''s eyes widened in horror. "That''s¡­ not normal." Arlan narrowed his eyes, even the normally expressionless Althea was dumbfounded. "Is his affinity with fire that strong¡­?" The Almoner of Services questioned out loud, which was quite out of character for her. Since the start, she had never once spoken or interrupted Kael''s training. "I-It must be related to his Talent! It is Lord Feraos''s gift! There is no other explanation! A Human cannot have such a high affinity with any element, even she didn''t¡ª" Elira, overwhelmed by her emotions, couldn''t stop herself. But suddenly, "Ahem." Althea coughed. For a slight second, Elira''s face showed a series of complex emotions before she turned towards Kael again and praised excitedly. "Your fire affinity is too high! It has to be related to Lord Feraos!" Of course, Kael didn''t fail to notice the brief exchange between the Court Mage and the Almoner of Services. He, however, decided not to react to it. It was his first day here, so his goal for now was to just observe and take mental notes. Not to mention that right now, his focus was on an entirely different thing. ''My Magic Affinity is that high¡­?'' He was confused. ''But my talent is Dragon Genesis¡­'' Lord Feraos''s ''gift'' for him wasn''t a high affinity with fire but his connection with Dragons in¡ª ''Wait¡­'' Suddenly, Kael realized something. ''Is it because of Igni?'' Chapter 21 - 21: She is his sister, alright. ''Wait¡­'' Suddenly, Kael realized something. ''Is it because of Igni? Did my affinity with fire increase because of my connection with Igni?'' It was definitely a possibility. ''There was that one innate skill¡­'' [Shared Growth] [Description:] [You and your Dragons grow together. This synergy ensures that you all become a unified force capable of overwhelming any foe.] The moment Kael thought about it, the skill appeared in front of him, and reading it again, he narrowed his eyes. ''It doesn''t say anything about sharing affinity.'' Soon, however, Kael admitted. ''It doesn''t say anything against sharing affinity either. Meh, it doesn''t matter, as long as it''s something that makes me stronger, I''ll take it.'' He shrugged. "Alright." Suddenly, Elira clapped. The Court Mage stared at Kael, her eyes flickering with unhidden excitement. "Fireball. That''s your first spell. Now cast it." She ordered. "H-Huh?" Kael was taken aback. He had no clue what this woman was talking about. Cast his first spell? Hello? He didn''t even know what casting meant. He didn''t know the basics, the foundations, the principles¡ªhe didn''t know anything. Was he just supposed to shout "Fireball" and it would pop out? Kael highly doubted it. "Lady Elira." Kael, however, had nothing to fear, as the Almoner of Services was here. "It has only been a day since Lord Kael was summoned to this world. He is still getting used to all this. Please don''t make it even more difficult for him." Kael was now looking at his Almoner of Services in a new light. To think this woman finally took his side. "Right¡­ You are just a brute who doesn''t know anything yet, huh¡­" ''What was I even expecting¡­? Kael thought inwardly as he stared at the woman with a deadpan look on his face. It all made sense actually, After all, ''She''s his sister.'' Kael muttered inwardly as he stared at Arlan. For some reason, Elira didn''t like that look on his face. However, as a generous court mage, she decided to overlook it and continued, "Before we begin, you need to understand something fundamental." Kael nodded, listening attentively. "Magic is not just about affinity¡ªit''s an Art, a complex Art." Kael nodded again. "Let''s start with the basics of spellcasting, The Spell Matrix. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Or a Magic Circle, as many call it. A Spell Matrix is a framework you must create to give your mana Form and Function. Without it, mana is just raw energy¡ªunusable and dangerous." Kael obviously had no clue what this woman was talking about, but he wisely decided not to interrupt her. His past experiences had taught him quite a lot. He had no intention of getting on the bad side of a woman who set Arlan''s ass on fire and lived to tell the tale. Seeing that he was listening, Elira nodded with a satisfied look on her face and continued, "Think of a Spell Matrix as a magical blueprint. It has three main parts: The Containment Circle, The Runes, and the Directional Lines. Together, these define how the mana behaves and what the spell does. Let''s start with the first part: the Containment Circle." As she said those words, a red circle appeared in front of her palm. "This is the ''container'' for your mana. Without this circle, the mana will disperse or explode uncontrollably. The circle ensures that your mana stays stable and concentrated while you shape it. Your first task as a mage is to create this circle, and since it is also the default step required while casting all spells, the faster you make it, the better." "So¡­ it''s like building a fence to keep the mana from escaping?" "That''s correct." Elira nodded. "The Containment Circle is your first layer of control. As you use more complex spells, you will need more of these circles. They are called multi-circled spells, but for now, we will focus on the basics. Anyways, after the Containment Circle, comes Runes. You need to add Runes inside the Containment Circle. These are symbols or patterns that tell the mana what to do. For example, in a fire spell, the runes determine ignition, heat, and intensity." She flicked her fingers, and glowing symbols appeared inside the circle she created. These symbols pulsed faintly, each one radiating a fiery aura. "In the case of a Fireball, the key runes are the ignition rune, which starts the fire, and the stabilization rune, which ensures the flame doesn''t collapse or burst prematurely." Kael stared at the glowing symbols, trying to memorize them. "How do I know which runes to use?" He questioned. "For now, I''ll tell you everything you need to know," Elira replied. "But as you grow, you''ll learn to customize and even create your own runes. Every mage has their own style." Kael nodded in understanding, and Elira continued. "Finally, we have Directional Lines. These lines connect the runes and define the movement or flow of the spell. They''re like the pathways that mana follows once it''s shaped. In a Fireball, these lines determine the direction the flame will travel, its speed, and how far it will go. Without them, your spell will just fizzle out¡ªor worse, backfire." Elira then stared at her own circle and traced glowing lines between the runes, creating a structured network within the circle. The moment she connected all the Runes with the Directional Lines, the Magic Circle or the Spell Matrix in front of her palm started glowing even more brightly and then, Flicker A Fireball was formed. *A Sample Spell Matrix''s Picture* "Woahh¡­" Kael widened his eyes as he saw this scene unfold in front of him. Real Magic¡­ This woman actually created fire out of nothing. ''Holy shit¡­'' Kael couldn''t help but curse in amazement. Elira smiled when she saw his reaction. Then, suddenly, the Fireball and the Spell Matrix she had created disappeared, and she glanced at Kael. "Now you do it." She ordered. "Me¡­?" Kael pointed at himself dubiously. "Do you see anyone else here?" Elira questioned, and Kael glanced at Althea. "¡­" Elira''s mouth twitched. Althea, like usual, didn''t show any reaction. "Don''t make me burn you, you brat." Since words didn''t seem to work, Elira decided to use threats. ''She is his sister, alright.'' Kael nodded in his head. Chapter 22 - 22: Magic’s sure is convenient~ "Don''t make me burn you, you brat." Since words didn''t seem to work, Elira decided to use threats. ''She is his sister alright.'' Kael nodded in his head. "So how do I create that circle?" He questioned. "I know what it and the other two components do, but how do I create them in thin air? Is there a Magic Pen of sorts?" "You use your Mana," Elira answered. "And how do I do that?" "Tsk, I need to tell you every little thing, don''t I?" Elira clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Try solving a Complex Calculus problem when I give you the required formulas but leave out how to use them. If you manage that, we will talk." Kael shot back. "What did you say? Complex Calcu-what?" "Leave it, you won''t understand." Kael waved his hand. "Why don''t you try me?" Elira was up for the challenge. "Teach me Magic first. Weren''t you sent by the King to do that? I thought you were the better one of the two siblings, but by now, Arlan had already taught me quite a lot." "You¡­ You are a daring one, aren''t you?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Elira questioned with a wide grin on her face. "I just wish to learn more." Kael replied calmly. "Alright then." Elira nodded as suddenly, Kael felt a force pushing him onto a chair. As he sat down, Elira appeared behind him. "I''ll show you the difference between me and that idiot brother of mine." She placed her hand on Kael''s back and, "Remember the feeling of Mana flowing in your body." As she said those words, Kael felt a warm energy entering his body. However, unlike how Althea''s energy enters and heals his body, Elira''s energy was different. Elira''s energy was moving inside his body in a fixed path. "Remember this Path." Elira''s voice echoed in Kael''s head. "This is the most optimal way to move Mana inside one''s body. The Mana, when moved through this path is the easiest to control, making it easier to draw Runes and improve the casting time. We call this Path a Mana Circuit." "A Mana Circuit¡­" Kael muttered as he remembered the ''path''. It mimicked the blood circulatory system in the human body, branching out to every single part of his body, spine, arms, and legs. However, unlike blood, that returns to the heart after being pumped to every part of the human body, Mana was different. It moved towards Kael''s abdomen. Kael continued to focus, wanting to know where it would end, but suddenly, Elira''s Mana disappeared, just above his navel. Kael frowned and then, he heard Elira''s voice. "This is where your Mana Core is located." "But I¡­" "Yes, you cannot locate it right now. I would have helped you locate it using my Mana, but I cannot inject my Mana into your Mana Core without hurting you. You need to locate and activate your Mana Core on your own." Elira explained. What Kael didn''t know was that the entire time Elira''s Mana was inside his Mana Circuit, he was completely at her mercy. At any moment, Elira could completely destroy his Mana Circuit, making it impossible for him to cast magic, regardless of how high his affinity was. Actually, the very fact that Elira was able to move her Mana in someone else''s Mana Circuit without hurting him was a proof of how excellent of a Mage she was. This required a ridiculous amount of control, control that even the advanced mages didn''t have. "Mana Circuit starts from your Mana Core, then it moves all around your body in a path that I showed you, eventually connecting to the fingertips, palms, and sometimes the feet, depending on the spell being cast. The unused or residual Mana returns back to the Mana Core using the same Path. For now, your first mission is to locate your Mana Core. Once you do that, you need to activate it and move whatever little Mana you have inside it to the path I showed you. You will then use that Mana to form the Containment Circle, the Runes, and the Directional Lines I showed you. Is that clear?" Elira questioned as she appeared in front of Kael, bringing her face dangerously close to his. Kael couldn''t help but notice a light smirk on her face, a smirk that, for some reason, he didn''t like. Right now, however, the only thing he could do was nod in understanding. Elira then passed a paper to him and her smirk widened. "These are the Runes required to cast Fireball. I have shown all of these to you before, so, Cast the Spell." Elira ordered. As she said those words, Elira walked away from Kael and continued, "You compared me with my brother before, I magnanimously ignored that and continued to teach you without any bias. I told you everything you need to know, and if you still cannot cast a simple spell like Fireball by the day''s end, it only shows your lack of comprehension ability." Yes, the woman hadn''t forgotten. Althea, who was watching everything play out, couldn''t help but sigh inwardly. After all, as a Mage herself, she knew how absurd Elira''s words were. Casting a Spell in one day? Let alone Kael, who knew next to nothing about Nerathis and Magic, even apprentice mages who had been learning about magic from their childhood and knew all the theory required to cast a spell, could only successfully cast their first spell after months of practice. Even Elira herself needed a week before she could cast her first spell. Casting a Spell within a day? Other than ''that person'', no one else did in all of Nerathis''s history. Expecting something like this from a man who didn''t even know that something like Magic existed a day ago was simply absurd. Court Mage Elira was clearly letting her personal feelings take the better of her. Of course, despite thinking that, Althea didn''t say anything. She had no right to interrupt the Hero''s training. She was here only to observe and assist the Hero when he needed it. Her gaze, however, seemed to have made Elira conscious of her actions, prompting her to continue. "Of course, even if you do lack some comprehension, fret not. I will be here to aid you no matter what. If you have any questions or want me to repeat anything, feel free to as-" Flicker "So this is it, huh? I can save money on gas now, Magic''s sure is convenient~" Chapter 23 - 23: I need a raise. "So this is it, huh? I can save money on gas now, Magic''s sure is convenient~" Kael spoke as he materialized a small fireball above his palm. Then, a frown appeared on his face. "So what do I do now? How do I shoot it?" However, as he recalled Elira''s words, he got the answer. "It must be the Runes, huh? The Runes I used only allow me to create the Fireball, not shoot it. I would probably need another Rune to be able to shoot it, right? So what do I do with this thing? And why doesn''t it feel ho¡ª" "You! What the hell did you do!?" While Kael continued to observe the fireball above his palm, Elira shouted, unable to believe what she was seeing. "I-I cast a spell¡­?" Kael couldn''t be more confused and because he was taken aback by Elira''s surprise, his Mana Flow was disrupted and the fireball he had created flickered out of existence. "Oh, come on!" Kael complained. However, the Court Mage couldn''t be blamed for her actions, even someone like Althea had a surprised look on her face as she stared at the Hero. "Cast a Spell!? Cast a Spell!!!??? You think one can ''cast a spell'' just like that!?" "Yes...? I mean, I just did that...? Also, weren''t you the one who told me to cast ''just like that'' in the first place...?" "Yo-You¡­ You!!" Elira couldn''t come up with a reply, she just stood still, with her trembling finger pointed at Kael. Arlan observed the situation with a frown on his face. He didn''t know much about Magic, but even he knew what this man did was absurd. ''Is this what it means to be a Hero¡­?'' He wondered in his head, once again. Kael, on the other hand, was confused. "Did I do something wrong? I did exactly what you told me to though¡­" He frowned as he then raised his palm and formed the Containment Circle. "I created the Containment Circle, added the Runes, and connected everything with Directional Lines." Flicker Once again, a fireball was formed above Kael''s Palm. "And this is how you shoot it, correct?" Whoosh Boom As he said those words, the fireball above his hand rushed towards the target at the very end of the hall, however, before it could hit, Flicker It scattered. "Hmm? Why did that happen¡­?" Kael frowned as he suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. His head started aching, his mind, however, didn''t stop talking. "I used up all my Mana, didn''t I?" Kael was a man who had just created fire out of nowhere. He was living every man''s dream. No matter how exhausted he was, he was never going to stop at this moment. He would be a failure as a man if he did so. So to test this theory, Kael tried to draw out his Mana again. His thoughts were simple: if he couldn''t form another fireball, it would mean his theory was correct and he actually did run out of mana, and if he did succeed, then well¡­ it would mean he was wrong. Kael closed his eyes to draw out his Mana again. "Stop stop stop! What are you doing!?" However, Elira suddenly appeared in front of him, placed her hands on his shoulders, and shook him violently. "What? What!?" Kael snapped. Elira, however, completely ignored his outburst and, "How did you shoot the fireball!? I didn''t teach you that!" "I just tried a different Rune. This one." Kael spoke as he pointed at one of the Runes Elira had drawn on the paper she gave to him. "How did you know you were supposed to use this one?" Elira questioned. "It looked similar to the one used before. I thought that it might be the one?" Kael answered, and Elira was horrified. She mechanically turned her head towards Althea and, "I-I am supposed to teach this freak¡­?" "Oi." Kael was offended. Elira, however, clearly didn''t care. "¡­" What hurt Kael even more was the fact that even Althea didn''t defend him and just nodded at Elira''s words. "Please bear with it, Lady Elira." ''Bear with it!? I am the one bearing with her! Why is no one on my side here!? I am the Hero damn it!'' Kael complained in his head. He, however, was a little too close to this woman to say those words out loud. Who knew what she would do if she lost her mind? "Ahhhhh!" Hearing Althea''s words, Elira screamed out loud. Kael, who was sitting right in front of her, could only close his ears as he stared at the ill-mannered freak with a frustrated look on his face. Suddenly, Elira glared at Kael. ''C-Can she read my thoughts as well¡­?'' Kael''s body flinched, but then, "I need a raise. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I don''t get paid enough to deal with the likes of you!" ''What do you mean the likes of me!?'' Kael retorted in anger. Again, he didn''t dare to say anything out loud. "I will forward your request to the appropriate department, Lady Elira." Althea nodded, and Kael nearly lost his mind. ''You are supposed to be on my side!'' Althea''s words, however, seemed to calm Elira as she took a few deep breaths and then glanced at Kael, her eyes much less intense than before. "You were trying to cast another fireball, weren''t you?" She questioned calmly. "I was." "Don''t do that." Elira shook her head. "Why?" "Casting spells without having the required Mana is dangerous. In the best case, the spell won''t work. In worse cases, the spell might use your Life Force instead of Mana. In some cases, it could even kill you." "I¡­ I understand." Kael nodded. Elira nodded and continued, "You usually feel a wave of exhaustion whenever your Mana Pool is depleted. It is best to stop when that happens and regenerate your Mana." "How do I regenerate my Mana? Or does it happen on its own?" "It usually happens on its own, but you can hasten the process using meditation." "What about the Mana Pool? There has to be a way I can use to increase my Mana Pool, right?" Kael questioned. His Mana ran out after casting just two basic spells. There is no way his current Mana reserve would be enough to cast more complicated spells. "Yes, there are. I was going to teach you that later, but I guess we need to make some changes, huh?" Elira nodded as she then instructed Kael to, "Close your eyes." Chapter 24 - 24: I feel full. "Close your eyes," Elira instructed. Kael did as he was told, and soon, darkness enveloped him. "What do you see?" Elira asked, her tone gentle. "You told me to close my eyes. What am I supposed to see?" Elira''s lips twitched. Soon, however, she just sighed and continued. "Do you remember how you found your Mana Core and learned to control your Mana?" "Yes," Kael nodded. "Good. Do the same thing, but this time, try to find the Mana outside your body." "Outside my body? How would my Mana even be outside m¡ª" "Just do it, you brat," Elira snapped, cutting him off. Kael instantly turned silent. Recalling the sensation of drawing Mana within himself, he let his focus drift outward. At first, he could see nothing but darkness, which made sense since his eyes were closed, but then... Faint sparks flickered into existence¡ªtiny pinpricks of red light, like embers floating in a sea of darkness. The more he concentrated, the more they appeared. Soon, thousands of red sparks illuminated the darkness, so bright and numerous that it was almost blinding. "What do you see?" Elira repeated her question. "Some red sparks¡­ they are glowing and uhh¡­" "What you''re seeing are fire elements," Elira explained. "Their presence depends on your affinity. The higher your affinity, the more of them you would see. Seeing ten in your first attempt is considered exceptional." ''Ten?'' Kael was confused. He could spot ten of these ''elements'' at any random corner. How was this ''exceptional''? ''So this is what it means to have high affinity, huh¡­?'' He understood. Soon, he couldn''t help but question. ''I wonder how many of these Igni sees.'' Oblivious to his thoughts, Elira continued. "Your task is to take control of these elements and pull them into your body. Once inside, circulate them through your Mana Circuit and store them in your Mana Core. This will expand your Mana pool and allow you to cast higher-level spells." Kael nodded slowly. "Start with the closest ones," Elira instructed. "They''ll be easier to control." Kael nodded and focused on a spark hovering a few inches away from him. He willed it to move. The element trembled, almost like it was resisting. With effort, Kael managed to nudge it toward him, but just as it came close, it slipped from his control and drifted away, returning to its position. "It will be hard at first, but continue trying and you will eventually get used to it." Elira''s voice was heard again. It was almost as if she could tell what Kael was feeling. Kael nodded, he tried again, but he failed. Then again, and again. The spark or the element was like a slippery eel that got away no matter what he did to catch it. On the fifth attempt, however, he succeeded. As the element entered his body, Kael felt a faint warmth spread through his body. As he circulated the element through his Mana Circuit and stored it, the warm feeling became stronger. It was unlike anything he had felt before. He felt more active, more refreshed. But the feeling was faint, much fainter than when Althea used her magic, not to mention it was very short-lived. "Now repeat the process." He heard Elira''s voice again and repeated the process. This time, he was able to control the element in just three attempts. On the next try, he only needed two attempts, and after a couple more tries, Kael could do it in just a single attempt. ''This is fun~'' Kael''s smile widened. The process felt exhilarating. Each element he absorbed filled him with warmth and power. He lost track of time, focusing solely on the glowing fire elements. But soon, an unfamiliar feeling interrupted his rhythm¡ªfullness. For now, Kael decided to ignore it. He was too focused on the fire elements to think of something else. He couldn''t let something break his rhythm. However, something changed. Just like before, he was able to control the element, circulate it through his Mana Circuit, but when he tried to store it in his Mana Core, it didn''t work. ''That''s strange.'' Kael frowned. He attempted again and again, but no matter how much effort he poured in, the result was the same. It was as if his Mana Core had reached its limit. ''Is my body resisting because my Mana Core is full?'' It seemed logical. But if that was the case... ''How am I supposed to expand my Mana Pool if I can''t store more Mana? Wasn''t that the whole point of this training?'' Kael mulled over the possibilities, but unable to solve the problem on his own, he decided to turn to Elira. Opening his eyes, Kael glanced toward the Court Mage and there she was, lounging on her chair, that came out of god knows where, attempting to read a book titled "Supreme Harem God System". The key word being "attempting," as Arlan stood beside her, persistently trying to cover her eyes with his hands. "Arlan, stop that or I''ll burn your butt again," Elira threatened without even looking up. Naturally, Arlan ignored her, only to let out a yelp as she bit his hand. "..." Kael''s mouth twitched at the scene as he questioned every life choice that had led him to this moment. How did he end up with a mage who read novels mid-training and an overly cheerful knight who couldn''t take a hint? Also, what was that novel''s title!? What the hell was she reading!? He turned towards Althea, but the Almoner of Services remained expressionless. In the end, Kael decided it was better to ignore everything he was seeing and, "Teacher Elira, I can''t store the elements inside my Mana Core." He stated the problem. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Elira, who was currently holding Arlan''s hand, paused and turned toward him. "Well, duh." She acted as if that was obvious. "You have just been learning for what? An hour? Of course, you can''t do it yet. You think Magic''s that easy? It takes weeks or even months to master the art of medita¡ª" "I am saying that I could do it before, but I cannot do it any longer. I feel full...? I do not know if that is the way to describe it. It is as if my Mana Core cannot store any more Mana." Kael explained, and this time, both Elira and Arlan stared at him with their mouths opened wide. "You what¡­?" Chapter 25 - 25: I am telling you I’ll burn you, you brat!! "You what¡­?" Elira questioned as the book she was ''reading'' fell out of her hands. "Did you say you feel full?" Elira questioned, and Kael nodded. Elira narrowed her eyes and pointed at one of the targets Kael aimed at before. "Shoot at it," she ordered. "Alright." Kael nodded as he then recalled the three steps to cast a spell. He formed the circle, runes, and connected the direction lines and, Flicker Whoosh The fireball he created rushed towards the target. This time it didn''t fade away like it did the last time. Kael, however, missed the target by a few inches, and, Boom The fireball shot at the walls of the training hall and exploded. "Oh? That must have happened because of the Explosion Rune, correct?" Kael questioned with a curious look on his face. Soon, however, his expression changed as he heard a voice. [Ding!] [Fireball] [Mastery: Very Low] [Description:] [A basic offensive spell that gathers fire elements to create a condensed ball of flames. Upon impact, it unleashes explosive damage in a small radius. Effective for ranged combat and area attacks.] [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 2] [CE: 159/200] [Talent: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] [Strength: 10] [Agility: 8] [Speed: 9] [Stamina: 12] [Defence: 11] [Mana: 3] [Intelligence: 7] [Charisma: 7] ¡­ ''My CE increased again.'' Kael''s smile widened, but then, a question appeared in his head. ''Why didn''t I receive this notification before? Is it because I couldn''t fire it at full efficiency before?'' Before Kael could think more, Elira''s voice interrupted him. "You actually did it¡­" Kael turned towards her and noticed the shock on her face. "You meditated and filled your Mana Core... In your first attempt and... that too... In an hour?" "Was I not supposed to do it?" Kael questioned as he tilted his head in confusion. "You do it on purpose, don''t you?" Elira questioned directly as she stared at Kael with a deadpan look on her face. "What do you mean?" Kael tilted his head in confusion, the wide grin on his face, however, gave it away. "I knew it!! Acting all oblivious and confused whenever you do something absurd¡ªit''s all on purpose, isn''t it!?" Elira shouted and Kael had no words to defend himself. Of course, he knew how absurd his talent was! All those novels he had read weren''t just for decoration, even a child could tell what the broken affinity crystal meant! Heck, Kael was even expecting to see it not react at all because it was unable to measure his talent because of how high it was. Yes, he knew all the troupes. He was connected to a fucking Dragon for Lord''s sake! Of course, he will be talented as fuck! Those numerous fire elements he saw, how easy it was to control them, and how quickly he learned how to cast his first spell, all that pointed to how good he was. So why act confused? It was to get back at this woman, of course. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael couldn''t describe how amusing her expressions were everytime he did something crazy, how could he miss such pure entertainment? And now that he was caught, he decided to raise his hands in surrender and, "Guilty as charged." He surrendered, the amused look on his face, however, didn''t vanish. After all, he could see the Court Mage''s body twitching nonstop, he wanted to see what she would do next. But... He might have gone a little too far this time. "Alright, that''s it! I''ll roast you alive, you little show-off!" Elira shouted as suddenly, around seven big Containment Circles formed right in front of her. Kael widened his eyes in horror. ''W-What is that¡­?'' Seeing the sheer size of the Containment Circles, which were about five times bigger than his, shocked Kael to his core. ''And to think there''s seven of them¡­'' It didn''t take long for Kael to realize it. The Court Mage¡­ She was actually trying to kill him! "Oi, Oi, calm down!" Arlan, however, quickly grabbed his sister from behind, saving the Nerathis Hero. "Let me go! I''ll scorch this brat up!" Elira shrieked, kicking wildly. Arlan, however, already used to her antics, lifted his sister in the air as if she were a sack of potatoes and turned towards Althea. "I''ll be taking her away. Magic Training''s over for the day." Althea nodded as she appeared next to Kael. Arlan took Elira away. However, even as she neared the doors of the training hall, she continued to resist her gorilla of a brother and glared at Kael. "Don''t let me see you tomorrow! I am telling you I''ll burn you, you brat!! I mean it!!" At the same time, she also bit her brother''s shoulder and, "I left my book in there! At least let me get that!" "Don''t you have like 100 copies of that darned book in your room? Shut up and come with me in silence!" "I can''t let others read that masterpiece! I am gatekeeping it! Bring me my book, you brute!" Elira shouted, biting Arlan''s shoulder again. The Commander, however, completely ignored her words and took her away out of the training hall. "I''ll burn you together with him! I''ll tell Mother!" "Yes, yes, go for it." "¡­" "¡­" Kael and Althea stood in awkward silence, the distant commotion was still faintly audible. "So¡­ um¡­" Kael cleared his throat. "About my Mana Core? Why can''t I store more mana inside it? Am I not going to get an answer to that question?" Althea turned towards the hero with her expressionless face. "The feeling of ''fullness'' you''re experiencing means your Mana Core has reached its capacity. Forcing more mana into it would cause it to shatter. To prevent that, your body instinctively resists it." Kael nodded slowly, though a question was already forming on his lips. "But if¡ª" Before he could question, Althea cut him off. It was as if she already knew what he was going to ask. "Growing your Mana Pool is a gradual process. You can''t just absorb fire elements endlessly and expect to grow stronger overnight. If that were possible, anyone could become a Master Mage in a few years." Kael raised an eyebrow but remained silent as she continued. "A Mage''s path is slow and demands hard work and patience. You must exhaust your mana reserves by casting spells, then meditate to replenish them. Each cycle strengthens your Mana Core, expanding its capacity and increasing your Mana Pool. This is how you advance as a Mage." Althea''s answers were clear. "Uhh¡­" Kael stared at her for a moment and then, "Why did I need her again? You already know everything. Why can''t you teach me? I think that would be much more efficient." "Please do not doubt the King''s decision, Lord Kael. Lady Elira may act like this, but she is an excellent Mage and a Teacher. Countless Mages, even the ones stronger than me, would kill for the opportunity to be taught by her." "I highly doubt I would make it alive if I learn under her¡­" Kael commented. "You are a Hero. You will survive." Althea nodded reassuringly. To Kael, however, those words were anything but reassuring. "Anyways, does Lord Kael need me to heal your fatigue again?" "Hmm? Sure." Kael shrugged. Althea''s magic felt good. Her next words, however, did not. "You will need it for your next training." "What¡­?" Kael couldn''t believe what he was hearing. Chapter 26 - 26: Therian Flameheart. "You will need it for your next training." "What¡­?" Kael couldn''t believe what he was hearing. "There''s more?" "Yes." Althea nodded expressionlessly, and before Kael could say or react, the doors of the Training Hall opened again, revealing a tall, imposing figure. "Marshal Therian Flameheart." Althea started responsibly. "One of the most respected beings in the Kingdom of Drakthar, known for his achievements in countless Wars. His Tactics and Leadership Skills are unmatched. Even the Grand Marshal of the Drakthar Army respects him and values all his opinions. It wouldn''t be wrong to say he is one of the key pillars of the Drakthar Kingdom. He will be teaching you about Leadership and Strategy." The Almoner of Services explained. Marshal Therian Flameheart strode into the training hall with measured steps, his presence alone radiating authority and confidence. Dressed in a regal red and gold coat, adorned with polished silver pauldrons, he carried an air of command that demanded respect from the people around him. A long crimson cape flowed behind him, brushing the stone floor. As he walked in, Therian''s piercing amber eyes scanned the training hall. His square jawline, together with a well-groomed beard, added a rugged charm to his otherwise refined demeanor. "Kael, I presume?" Therian spoke as he glanced at Kael. His voice was deep and resonant. The Marshal extended a gloved hand to the young Hero. Kael nodded and grabbed the Marshal''s hand with both his own, a clumsy movement, but Kael couldn''t help it. The man in front of him was much more intimidating than anyone he had met, even more than the King, if Kael had to compare. "I-It''s an honor to meet you, Marshal." Kael stuttered. He didn''t know why he said it, he didn''t even know the man a few seconds ago, but... he couldn''t help it. "The honor is mine. I get to be part of the Hero''s journey. How many Marshals could boast that?" The Marshal smiled faintly. Kael laughed awkwardly. "I presume you are already exhausted after all the previous training you have been through, so I will not exhaust you any further with all these formalities. Let''s keep things simple and quick, alright?" "Y-Yes, Marshal." Kael nodded. The Marshal nodded back and continued, "A Hero''s journey is filled with many battles, but not all are fought with swords and spells. I am here to prepare you for such battles, the battle that tests your mind and heart." Kael nodded, listening attentively. Therian turned, his cape swishing behind him. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Leadership is not a gift you are born with, nor is it something you can acquire overnight. It is forged through trials, sharpened by decisions, and tempered by the weight of responsibility. Many warriors can wield a blade, but few can command the hearts and minds of those who follow them." Therian then walked over to a large wooden table on the southern side of the hall and spread a map across it. It was a detailed map of the surrounding regions, marked with symbols denoting armies, strongholds, and supply lines. He gestured for Kael to join him. Kael nodded and rushed towards him, not wanting the Marshal to wait. "Before we begin, let me tell you the essence of leadership," Therian began. "A leader is not just someone who gives orders. A leader inspires trust, earns respect, and shoulders the burdens of their people. You must think not only for yourself but for everyone under your command. Every decision you make has consequences," Therian''s tone became solemn as he continued, "Sometimes fatal ones." Kael''s expression hardened as well. "I understand," He nodded. "Do you? We shall see." Therian smiled faintly. "Leadership is not just about understanding in theory but applying it under pressure." He placed a finger on the map, pointing to a small, fortified town near the border of the Drakthar Kingdom. "This will be your first test, but not today. This week, we lay the foundation." Kael blinked in surprise. A test¡­? In a week...? He didn''t know if he would be ready for it by then¡­ The Marshal, on the other hand, straightened and began pacing slowly around the hall. "The basics of leading start with understanding your team. You must know their strengths and weaknesses, their fears and motivations. A good leader does not treat everyone the same. Instead, they bring out the best in each individual, molding them into a cohesive unit." "And how do I do that?" Kael questioned. "Observation and communication," Therian replied. "Watch how they move, how they react under stress. Speak to them, not as their superior but as their comrade. Learn what drives them." He paused by the map again, his finger tracing a line from the fortified town to a nearby forest. "Next, you must understand the battlefield. Geography, resources, weather¡ªthese are your allies and enemies. A brilliant strategy can crumble if you fail to account for a sudden storm or an impassable valley. Study everything." "That''s a lot to keep track of." Kael furrowed his brows. "It is." Therian chuckled. "Which is why delegation is key. You cannot do everything yourself. Trust your advisors and your team to handle the details while you focus on the bigger picture." For the next hour, Therian outlined the principles of leadership and strategy. He talked about the importance of morale, the balance between caution and aggression, and the necessity of adapting to unforeseen challenges. Kael took mental notes, listening as attentively as he could. "That will be enough for today. We will continue the rest tomorrow. This was supposed to be an introductory session, but I kept going." Therian laughed. "I guess I got excited at the thought of teaching the Hero." Kael smiled back. "See you tomorrow, Hero Kael." Therian nodded. "Yes, Marshal." Kael nodded back and then bowed his head. The Marshal''s presence commanded respect on its own, and Kael was completely captured by the flow. The Marshal turned and left the chamber, his crimson cape trailing behind him. Kael stood alone for a moment, staring at the map. Soon, Althea appeared next to him and, "Does Lord Kael need me to relieve your fatigue again?" She questioned in a diligent tone. Kael stared at her, raising his eyebrow at the phrasing. Soon, however, his expression shifted, "Wait, if you are offering to heal me, then¡­" "The next lecture is also the most important, Beast Taming." Chapter 27 - 27: Sanctuary. "The next lecture is also the most important one, Beast Taming." The instant Kael heard those words, instead of his usual bickering and complaining that he does every time Althea talks about the next training, he turned silent. The Almoner of Services didn''t miss that. For now, however, she didn''t show any reaction and continued her job. "Lyric Ashwind." She mentioned a name. "She is one of the best beast tamers alive. They say she once calmed an entire herd of rampaging thunderstags with just her voice. Her affinity with magical beasts is unmatched. She doesn''t just tame them, she understands them. To her, Beast Taming isn''t about dominance or control, it''s about connection and trust. She will be your Beast Taming Teacher." Kael nodded. Honestly, all his teachers till now have been exceptional, so he was getting used to it. Not to mention that right now, he was thinking about an entirely different thing, so he wasn''t really paying attention to Althea''s words. Soon, Lyric walked into the training hall. She was in her mid-thirties with an air of calm and grace around her. She had soft, shoulder-length auburn hair. Her almond-shaped eyes were a striking shade of green. When her eyes fell on Kael and Althea, a gentle smile appeared on her face as she walked towards them. "You must be Hero Kael." Kael nodded. "My name is Lyric Ashwind. I will be teaching you about Beasts and how to strengthen your Bond with them. I hope we get along." Lyric spoke with a gentle smile. Kael smiled back, in his mind, however, he was cursing his luck. ''One somewhat normal teacher, and I cannot learn from her.'' "Are you ready to begin?" Oblivious to his thoughts, Lyric questioned. "Uhhh¡­ Teacher Lyric¡­" Kael called out with an awkward look on his face. "What is it?" Lyric tilted her head in confusion. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "My Firefang Wyvern won''t come out of the Sanctuary." Kael shared his problem. "What¡­?" Lyric frowned in confusion. "I tried to call him out before, but ever since Althea appeared, he never left it. It is as if he is afraid of anyone other than me." "A Firefang Wyvern is afraid of people? That isn''t right." Lyric furrowed her brows. Firefang Wyverns were Beasts known for being aggressive and highly active. Lyric found it hard to believe that a Firefang Wyvern out of all beasts isn''t coming out of the sanctuary. Actually, the very fact that someone like Kael was able to open the Sanctuary surprised Lyric to her core. Sanctuary was a unique Beast Storage Dimension that every Beast Tamer possesses. A magical pocket space bound to them. A dimension that served as a haven for the Tamer''s tamed beasts, ensuring they remained safe and undisturbed during periods of rest or travel. It was a ''Gift'' given by Lord Feraos to all the Beast Tamers in Nerathis. A magical dimension that automatically adapts to the preferred environment of the beasts stored inside. An essential that makes it possible for the Tamer to always be close to the beasts they love and be battle-ready even when caught unprepared. Usually, a Tamer is only able to access the Sanctuary after some guidance, but for Kael to already be able to access it when he just came to this world yesterday¡­ It showed his talent. ''Is this what it means to be a Hero¡­?'' Lyric wondered the same thing other instructors did when they saw Kael''s growth. What Lyric didn''t know was that Kael had absolutely no hand in opening the Sanctuary. He was just reading about the Sanctuary in the book the King had given to him. He tried to open it, but just like any other Beast Tamer, he failed. It was normal since he didn''t know anything about it. However, just as he was about to give up, Igni climbed on top of him, placed his head on Kael''s forehead, and... disappeared. Yes, the Dragon opened the Sanctuary by himself, and it was only after Igni opened it first that Kael was able to access it. As for Igni not wanting to come out of the Sanctuary? The little guy was actually raring to come out and show his power to the people around. It was Kael who wanted to hide him. He had turned what was supposed to be a Wyvern into a freaking Dragon. Who knows what sort of reaction these people would have if they learned about it? If Kael''s theory about the Vision being a Warning was correct, then the last thing he wanted was to reveal his trump card to everyone. Yes, despite liking all the people he had met so far, Kael couldn''t bring himself to trust any of them. Maybe the vision of him and his Igni dying had made him paranoid, but unless he was absolutely sure that his Igni was safe, he wouldn''t reveal his existence to anyone. Honestly, he was glad that something like a Sanctuary existed. Since it was a personal dimension that only he and his bonds could access, no one would find out about Igni''s existence if he didn''t want them to. Before this, he was actually planning on revealing Igni''s existence while feigning ignorance as to how a Wyvern turned into a Dragon. According to the book he read, it wasn''t uncommon for some Beast Eggs to retract their bloodline and be born stronger than their parents. Kael was sure these people would think of it as ''Feraos''s Blessing'' or the ''Hero''s Luck'' or whatever and stop thinking about it. Now, however, he had an even better excuse that made it possible for him to hide Igni''s existence. As to why a Firefang Wyvern, a beast that is usually active, wasn''t coming out of the Sanctuary? That wasn''t something he had to figure out, was it? He just said it and as for the reason, it was these people''s task to find something. Something he would later use as an excuse. A perfect plan. Lyric, however, was prepared to make things hard for Kael. "Can I see him? I am sure I can do something about it." Chapter 28 - 28: An Angel "Can I see him? I think I can help." Lyric declared confidently. Kael, however, shook his head. "He doesn''t want to come out." A Tamer and their Bonds could sense each other''s emotions when the Bonds were inside the Sanctuary. It was a way they could communicate with each other even when they were in two separate dimensions. So, when Kael said that his Bond didn''t want to come out, Lyric had no choice but to take his word for it and drop the matter. Or at least, that is what Kael expected would happen, but, "I have a way." Lyric smiled. "What is it?" Kael had no choice but to ask this question. "The two of us would leave, leaving just you in the Hall. You will call him out, and once he comes out, I will come in. Once I meet him, I assure you that I will be able to understand the problem and help you out." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "So you want me to lie to him?" Kael narrowed his eyes. "That is not what I¡ª" "That is exactly what you said." Before Lyric could explain herself, Kael interrupted. "You want me to reassure him that no one is around and that he can come out, only to later betray him." "You are not betraying him, it would be me who returned to the Hall. You didn''t know anyth¡ª" "But I did." Kael interrupted. Even when Lyric tried to explain herself, he refused. "I will not lie to my Bond." Kael declared as he then stared right into Lyric''s eyes and, "No matter who tells me to." Althea, who was observing in silence, didn''t show any expression as usual. Inwardly, however, she was taken aback. She had never seen Kael so adamant about anything. "You seem to love your Bond." Lyric smiled gently. "I do, and this is why I do not wish to betray him." "You do realize I am doing this for his own good, correct? A Firefang Wyvern not leaving the Sanctuary is not normal. I''m only worried for his well-being. If there''s even a small chance something is wrong, wouldn''t you want to know?" "So just because my Wyvern is a little shy, he is sick?" "Magic Beasts are complex creatures, Kael." "I know my Wyvern is perfectly alright, I can sense it. If he doesn''t want to come out, I will not force him." "So what are you going to do? How are you going to train him? How are you going to make him stronger? You aren''t planning on keeping him inside your Sanctuary for the rest of his life, are you?" "If I have to, I will." Kael replied, his icy blue eyes shining intensely as if he was prepared to face the entire world for his Bond''s sake. Eyes that Lyric appreciated. For now, however, she needed Kael to understand her. "You know that a Sanctuary has limited space, don''t you? At your level, it can only store one Beast, and if you use that space on a Bond that doesn''t come out, you will wast¡ª" "Give him some time. I am sure he will come out eventually. I trust him." "How much time?" "As long as it takes for him to feel safe." "And what are you going to do till then? How are you going to train him?" "Either you tell me a few ways to train him, and I will do it on my own, or I will not train him and continue to get stronger, for both of us." Kael answered with a determined look on his face, and in the end, Lyric had no choice but to sigh in defeat. She didn''t expect her first day to be so difficult. "Alright, we will do as you said. I will tell you about some basic drills that you can perform together with your Bond and you can train your Bond whenever he decides to come out. Will that be okay?" Lyric questioned. "Yes, thank you for understanding." Kael nodded, tears nearly welling up at the edge of his eyes. ''She is so understanding¡­ An angel amongst the group of demons.'' Kael couldn''t be happier. "Before that, however, let''s start with a few basic things that you, as a Beast Tamer, should know." Lyric spoke, and Kael nodded with a determined look on his face, eager to learn. Seeing his attitude, Lyric smiled. Then, the Master Tamer started, "In Nerathis, every being grows stronger as their Magic Beasts do. A Tamer and a Beast share what is called a ''Bond.'' A ''Bond'' is not just a name for their relationship. It is the means of shared growth, a connection between the Beast and the Tamer. A connection through which a Beast shares their strength with their Tamer. A connection using which a Tamer grows stronger as their Beast does." Lyric paused, giving Kael a moment to absorb everything she said. Kael nodded in understanding, signaling Lyric to continue. "You must have already attended your other classes, one that trains you to become a Warrior and one that trains you to become a Mage, correct?" Kael nodded. "What did you learn in those lectures?" Lyric questioned, and this time, Kael turned silent. Just recalling those lectures seemed like a nightmare. "Uhh¡­ General Deren made me do all these physical exercises that ''strengthened'' me, Commander Arlan beat me up, Court Mage Elira taught me fireball spell, and Marshal Therian told me some basics of leadership and strategy." Kael summarized, and hearing those words, Lyric blinked in surprise. "Other than Marshal Therian, did none of them discuss the basics of their course¡­?" ''Yes! Exactly!'' Seeing the woman''s dumbfounded face, Kael couldn''t believe how happy he was. Finally! A person who understood him! This was supposed to be his first day! It was supposed to be an introductory day! A day where they briefed him about everything, told him how the world works! A day where they were supposed to take it slow! But no! They all just started doing their own things! Kael was so glad he had finally found someone who understood his feelings! He stared at Lyric as his eyes turned moist. ''She really is an angel.'' The look on his face was enough for Lyric to get the answer to her question. When she realized it, she facepalmed with a sigh. "I can''t believe it¡­" ''Right!?'' Kael shouted inwardly. Lyric then shook her head. Then once again, she glanced at Kael and smiled. "Let me do it in their stead." Kael nodded, ready to attend his first actual lecture, from an actual teacher. "In the World of Nerathis, there are two major paths the humans walk on¡­" Chapter 29 - 29: Nerathiss Power System. "In the World of Nerathis, there are two major paths the humans walk on, A Warrior and a Mage." Hearing those words, Kael furrowed his brows. ''What about Beast Tamers?'' He thought inwardly. "Yes, about the Beast Tamers you are wondering about, I will get to that." Lyric smiled as she glanced at Kael and his expression changed. ''I am sure of it, these people have the power to read other''s minds.'' Kael stared at Lyric intently, trying not to think about anything. "Hahaha~" Lyric laughed out loud when she saw his face. "I cannot read your mind, Kael." ''Those words aren''t helping your case!'' "Your expressions are just too obvious." Lyric then stared at Kael and, "You will need to work on that in the future. It is not good if everyone knows what the Hero is thinking, okay?" "I understand." Kael nodded. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lyric nodded back, then she continued, "So as I was saying, there are two major paths the humans walk on, A Path of a Warrior, And a Path of a Mage. Both of these Paths have their own ranking system. For a Warrior, it starts with, First Stage Warrior, Second Stage Warrior, Third Stage Warrior, Fourth Stage Warrior, Fifth Stage Warrior, Sixth Stage Warrior, Seventh Stage Warrior, Eighth Stage Warrior, And Ninth Stage Warrior. As you climb the ladder, you get stronger. A Ninth Stage Warrior is strong enough to shatter mountains with a single punch, create massive fissures and level the ground. They are Powerhouses, capable of changing the very landscape with their might alone." Lyric praised, her eyes sparkling with awe as she talked about it. Kael, on the other hand, nodded continuously, ''Right, shattering mountain, an obvious display of strength. Typical isekai.'' He wasn''t very impressed. How could he be? He had read about a caped bald man who once jumped to the moon and returned, destroying the moon in the process. Now THAT is strength. Oblivious to his thoughts, Lyric continued, "Just like the warriors, there is a different but similar ranking system for the mages, It starts with, First Circle Mage, Second Circle Mage, Third Circle Mage, Fourth Circle Mage, Fifth Circle Mage, Sixth Circle Mage, Seventh Circle Mage, Eighth Circle Mage, Ninth Circle Mage. Again, the higher your rank, the stronger you are. While a Ninth Stage Warrior is called a Powerhouse, a Ninth Circle Mage is no different than a Natural Calamity. Some of their spells could even cover an entire city. It is quite fascinating." Lyric smiled and once again, Kael nodded. Seeing the similarity, a thought appeared in his head, ''Why does all this seem so familiar? Were the authors of all those books also summoned to this world? Does this mean that before becoming Authors, they were all Heroes? Do I have to become an Author as well?'' It was definitely a possibility. Right now, however, Kael didn''t have the time to think this through since Lyric wasn''t done yet. "Now," Lyric spoke, grabbing Kael''s attention, "As much different as Warriors and Mages are, they have one thing in common." Kael raised his eyebrow, his interest was piqued. "Before being Warriors and Mages, they are all Beast Tamers." "Oh?" Kael was surprised. Lyric nodded and then she continued, "As I mentioned before, every human in this World relies on Magic Beasts they have bonded with. The Nobles ensure that their children are bonded with a High Ranked Magic Beast at birth. It wasn''t just a matter of status, It was a necessity. This is because of the ''Bond'' the Tamer and the Beasts shared. This Bond allows the Tamer to grow stronger together with their Beasts. It develops a Tamer''s body, helping them break past the limits of a normal human. As the Tamer''s Body develops further, they would then choose their path, A Warrior or a Mage. For a warrior, while learning different martial techniques and pushing himself to the limit was essential, a normal human had his limits. A Tamer''s body, however, continued to get stronger as their Beasts grew, making it possible for them to perform advanced techniques that a normal human body couldn''t possibly hope to perform. The Mages are the same. Sure, they have a system that allows them to form a Mana Core, harness Mana, and cast Spells, they can even meditate to refill their Mana reserves and slowly increase their Mana Capacity. However, without bonding with the Magic Beasts, almost no Mage could ever hope to go above the Second Circle. After all, meditating and growing one''s mana reserve was essentially no different than training muscles and making them stronger. The method had its limits, and to increase those limits, forming Bonds with Magic Beasts was essential. Over time, one''s strength became synonymous with their Magic Beasts'' strength. So while both mage and warriors had their own ranking system, The main system they followed was the Beast Tamer''s system which starts with, Novice Tamer, Apprentice Tamer, Advance Tamer, Adept Tamer, Expert Tamer, Master Tamer, Grandmaster Tamer, Legendary Tamer, And Mythical Tamer." Lyric finally stopped, letting Kael absorb everything she said. Kael noted everything and made some mental notes. After thinking about it for a while, he asked a question, "So in summary, a stronger Tamer means a stronger Mage or a Warrior, correct?" "That is correct." Lyric nodded. "Usually, these stages are aligned with each other, A Novice Tamer is usually a First Stage Warrior or a First Circle Mage, while a Ninth Stage Warrior or a Ninth Circle Mage is usually a Mythical Tamer." "I understand." Kael nodded in understanding. So basically, in this world, the beasts were the source of these people''s strength. Unlike the novels he had read, this world didn''t have a concept of cultivation where one gradually becomes stronger. These people make their beasts stronger and use their ''Bond'' with those Beasts to increase their body''s ''limit'' and get stronger. It was like going to the gym but never hitting a saturation point, allowing them to grow endlessly. ''Hmm, quite logical.'' Kael nodded in his head. Soon, however, another question appeared in his mind, "Then aren''t the humans a little too dependent on the magic beasts?" Chapter 30 - 30: You are secretly a demon, aren’t you? "Then aren''t the humans a little too dependent on the magic beasts?" Kael couldn''t help but question. After all, if everything depends on the Beasts, the rich would continue to buy beasts with higher potential, and the gap between them and the poor would continue to rise to the point where the poor would have no choice but to remain suppressed. The rich could even make it so the poor can never buy a beast, setting them up to live a mediocre life and never rise. Hearing his question, Lyric smiled gently, "Of course, while we heavily rely on beasts, this doesn''t mean humans themselves are completely helpless." Lyric then thought for a while and then, "Even now, it isn''t known which side is correct, Some people say it was Lord Feraos''s blessing, While others theorized that because the humans continued to form Bonds with Magic Beasts, increase the natural limit of their bodies, and gave birth to stronger children for generations, A newer, stronger generation of humans was born and ''they'' started appearing, Humans with ''Talents,'' The Humans the Orb of Resonance reacted to." Lyric spoke as she glanced at Kael. Kael listened intently; after all, the Orb reacted to him as well, and quite strongly at that. Seeing his expression, Lyric chuckled and continued, "These humans were born with special abilities of their own and could develop their abilities and grow on their own, just like the Magic Beasts. Of course, this didn''t mean these humans stopped bonding with Magic Beasts. To them, their talent was just another way to get stronger. These humans walked on two paths: one of their own and the other that the rest of the world walked on. They grew faster than others around them and tended to be stronger than people who were at their level." Lyric then glanced at Kael and, "You are one such human, Kael. No, you are the best of all such humans. You are the Hero, A man blessed by Lord Feraos himself, A man destined for greatness." Lyric praised. "This is also the reason you are being trained so intensely. The King wants to find out what your talent is so he can help you grow in the most optimal way possible." The Master Tamer revealed, and Kael nodded, "I am grateful for everything he is doing." Lyric chuckled at those words, "It is us who are grateful for everything you are doing, Kael. It shouldn''t be the other way around. Really, thank you, Hero Kael. We are eternally grateful." Lyric slightly bowed her head. "Teacher, please." Kael, however, stopped her. "I am your student; it wouldn''t sit well with me if my teacher bowed her head in front of me." He spoke. Lyric was one of the only two sane teachers he had, so Kael was respectful. Lyric smiled. "You have a way with your words, Hero." She praised. Kael smiled. "Anyways, now that we are done with the basic summary, shall we focus more on our lecture?" Lyric questioned, changing the flow of the conversation. "Please." Kael nodded. "Then let us start with Beast Classifications now. First, we will begin with Beast Ranks." "Yes." Kael nodded in affirmation, and the Master Tamer started, "Magic Beasts in Nerathis are categorized into five major ranks based on their innate potential. Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary, And Mythical." Lyric stared at Kael and informed, "Your Firefang Wyvern is an Epic Ranked Magic Beast. Like all other Epic Ranked Beasts, your Firefang Wyvern has an extremely high potential and grows at a much faster rate than others." Lyric praised. Kael, however, asked what he was curious about the most. "What about the Legendary and Mythical Rank Beasts?" He was supposed to be the Hero, wasn''t he? sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Why would the King only give him an Epic Rank Beast? Not that it mattered since his Talent turned Igni into a Mythical Rank Dragon, but the King didn''t know about his Talent. Isn''t it common sense to arm the Hero with the strongest resources? Lyric, who saw Kael''s expression, smiled knowingly and then, "Legendary Rank Level Beasts are not easy to find, not to mention these Beasts, even as babies, have excessive pride and are usually hard to control for new Tamers. It is an unsaid rule to not give a new Tamer a Beast higher ranked than Epic. As for Mythical Ranked Beasts¡­" A wry smile appeared on Lyric''s face as she continued, "Well, let''s just say they are called ''Myths'' for a reason. While it is confirmed that these Beasts exist, they are highly protective of their kin, and it is almost impossible to find their Eggs." Lyric answered, and Kael nodded with a solemn look on his face. He didn''t pay much attention to Igni''s Mythical Rank before since, well, according to him, a Dragon was supposed to be a Mythical Creature¡­ But to think its value was so high. Kael was glad that he had decided to hide Igni. "Hero Kael? Is something bothering you?" Seeing him zone out, Lyric questioned. "No, I am fine. Please continue, Instructor Lyric." Kael smiled politely, and Lyric nodded. "After the Beast Ranks, let''s talk about their Types. This one is fairly simpler; there are, Fire Type Beasts, Water Type Beasts, Earth Type Beasts, Air Type Beasts. These are the four most basic types most beasts fall into. However, the Magic Beasts are Lord Feraos''s Gift to our World. How could the Lord''s Gift be so easy to understand? Even now, there are countless Beasts that we still cannot understand. Some of these beasts are somewhat simple; They have elemental powers of Lightning, Ice, or Cloud. We call them Special Elemental Type Beasts. Then, however, comes an even stranger type: the Beasts with abilities we have a hard time categorizing. These are the Beasts with Powers over Shadow, Time, Space, or Gravity. We call them Mystic Beasts. Of course, such Beasts are extremely rare, and their powers are difficult to understand, but then again, This is what we, as the Beast Tamers, are supposed to do, no?" Lyric smiled, and Kael smiled back. "Now let us talk about¡­" The lecture continued. Kael listened attentively until the two were done. After Lyric left, Kael turned towards Althea and stared at her with a fearful look on his face. He even stepped back as Althea walked towards him. Seeing that, Althea, who understood what he was thinking, spoke with an expressionless look on her face. "Please do not worry, Lord Kael. Your training for today is over." "Oh, thank God!" Hearing her words, Kael sighed in relief as he collapsed on the ground, exhausted. Seeing him lying on the ground, Althea walked towards him and, "It would be more comfortable for Lord Kael to rest in his room than on the stone floor." Hearing those toneless words, Kael glanced at the woman standing above him and, "You are secretly a demon, aren''t you? You must be the hidden boss of this world. I am sure of this." He was confident. "I assure you, Lord Kael, my sole purpose is to assist you in your growth." Althea shook her head. "¡­" Kael stared at her in silence. He was actually wondering if this woman was a robot. ''Is she an extremely advanced AI? It''s magic and stuff; everything is possible here. After all, I literally have a dragon who sees me as his father.'' With a defeated sigh, Kael closed his eyes, deciding it was best not to argue with her any further. Althea remained silent as well, not bothering Kael after giving her input. Her sharp gaze, however, lingered on him, ensuring there were no injuries that she somehow missed before. Yes, the Almoner of Services was extremely thorough in her work. Chapter 31 - 31: Thank you, Igni. Thirty minutes later, Kael returned to his room and jumped onto his bed. "Haaaahhhh!!!" His body sank into the soft mattress, a wave of comfort washing over him. He knew that if he closed his eyes, he would sleep instantly. He, however, sat up and suddenly, His blue, human-like eyes turned Draconic Golden. He scanned his room and when his eyes fell on the doors, a translucent screen appeared in front of him. [Name: Raza Stone] [Race: Human] [Age: 34] [Level: 26] [Strength: 48] [Agility: 40] [Speed: 42] [Stamina: 50] [Defense: 45] [Mana: 12] [Intelligence: 18] [Charisma: 20] [Strengths: Experienced Combatant, Resilient Body, Strong Leadership Skills] [Weaknesses: Limited Mana Reserves, Predictable Fighting Style, Overreliance on Physical Armor] Seeing the system screen, Kael nodded, satisfaction evident on his face. This was his trusted method of ensuring no one was spying on him. His skill, Dragon''s Eye, functioned even without the target being in a direct line of sight. As long as a target was within range and he focused in their direction, the skill would reveal their information. Obstacles like walls were powerless against it. Kael''s logic was simple. If it could detect individuals on the other side of the wall, then what chance would any being who was hiding have? Was the logic flawed? It might be. This was a world where Magic existed. Kael wasn''t arrogant enough to believe that he knew everything. However, other than his Skill, there was nothing else he could trust. At the very least, the skill gave him some sort of assurance. Satisfied that no one else was nearby except for the guard stationed outside his room since yesterday, Kael let out a quiet sigh. Closing his eyes, a light smile appeared on his face as he called out in a soft voice, "Igni." In an instant, Kael''s face was buried in a large belly as his Igni appeared on top of his face as if he had been waiting for it all this while. Kael lost his balance and fell on his bed with Igni sitting on his face. "Kyu~" Igni let out a cheerful laugh as he started licking Kael''s face. "Igni stop! Hahaha~" Kael laughed out loud, trying to move Igni away from him. The Dragon dodged, continuing to lick Kael''s face with his warm tongue until finally, Kael picked him up and lifted him in the air. "You little¡­" He wanted to call out, but seeing Igni''s excited face, he couldn''t help but smile. Then, he brought the dragon near his chest and hugged him like he was the most precious thing in the world. "I missed you as well." He spoke in a gentle tone. Growl Suddenly, a loud growl was heard. This time, however, the one who couldn''t control his stomach from making these embarrassing noises wasn''t little Igni. It was Kael. And it wasn''t his fault either. These people had been training him since morning, and he was only able to return to his room in the late afternoon. He hadn''t even had the first meal of his day. Obviously, he would be hungry. ''Training on an empty stomach. Truly the mark of a great hero,'' Kael grumbled sarcastically. He then sat up with Igni on his lap. "Hungry?" He questioned. "Kyu!" Igni nodded. Although he had eaten some of his eggshell that Kael had stored inside the Sanctum yesterday, that was his breakfast. Igni now wanted lunch. "Let''s eat something." Kael spoke as he carried Igni over to the small table where Althea had left their meal. One of the many conveniences of this world was its magical equipment. The plates were enchanted with runes to keep the food fresh and warm, protected by a barrier that shielded it from dust or decay. "At least the food makes up for the hellish training," Kael muttered, taking a large bite. As they ate, he couldn''t help but appreciate the magic''s practicality. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Igni, on the other hand, devoured his share with gusto, letting out happy chirps after every bite. "You ate it all¡­?" Kael blinked in surprise as his eyes fell on Igni''s clean plate. "Guu~!" Igni nodded, his belly visibly rounder now. "¡­do you want more?" Kael questioned, ready to give up his own food. Igni, however, shook his head and patted his full belly with his small paws. Kael couldn''t help but laugh out loud at that sight. "Wait for me then, I''ll be done soon." "Kyu~" Igni nodded and sat on the table patiently like a good boy he was. Once Kael was done, he picked Igni up and returned to his bed. He leaned against the headrest of his bed, exhaustion weighing heavily on his body. Every muscle in his body ached from the relentless training he had endured all day. Sure, Althea''s magic had healed his injuries and even his fatigue, but that magic wasn''t absolute. According to what Althea said, her magic didn''t erase his fatigue, it just delayed it. And now, Kael was dealing with all that accumulated fatigue that he had forcefully delayed by abusing Althea''s Magic. He was sleepy, his eyelids felt extremely heavy, and he wanted to close them. However, the soft, hopeful chirps from Igni sitting on his lap tugged at his heart. The little dragon''s tail swayed eagerly, and his eyes sparkled with mischief. Kael knew what the little thing wanted. He wanted to play. Kael smiled faintly, brushing a hand over Igni''s smooth scales. "You never get tired, do you?" "Kyu!" Igni chirped, licking Kael''s fingers. "Well, makes sense since you haven''t done anything since morning." Kael chuckled softly. "Alright, alright. We will do what you want." He didn''t want to let Igni down. The little dragon was alone all day. The least he could do was stay awake a little longer. But before Kael could muster the energy to move, Igni placed his snout on his chest, as if stopping him from moving. "What happened?" Kael frowned. Igni, however, closed his eyes, as if he was sleepy. Kael''s frown deepened. The little thing was raring to move around just now. What happened? His thoughts ran wild. For an instant, he felt that something was mixed in the food. But soon, Kael''s thoughts froze as he realized something. "A day-old little thing is being mindful of his father''s situation, eh? Damn." Kael was surprised. To think little Igni would act sleepy because he wanted him to sleep. ''Even if he can read my emotions and is much more intelligent than normal¡­ this is still too mature. Is this because he is a Dragon?'' Kael questioned inwardly. For now, however, he didn''t think too much¡ªor more like, he was in no condition to think further. "Thank you, Igni." He just showed his gratitude as he grabbed Igni in his arms and leaned back, letting the soft mattress devour him. "Remember to go back to the sanctuary if you sense someone comes in." Those were the last words he spoke before he slept. Chapter 32 - 32: Meeting The Meeting Hall of the Royal Palace was an imposing chamber, designed to inspire awe and command attention. While Kael was sleeping peacefully in his room, this place was busier than usual. At the far end of the hall, King Alden sat on a grand throne, his expression unreadable. A massive rectangular table stretched the length of the hall. Seated around the table were 5 beings, two women, and three men. People Kael would recognize in an instant. Yes, they were Kael''s instructors. The King stared at all these people and then, he leaned forward. "So? What''s your assessment?" He questioned, his tone solemn. "A Genius." The first one to speak was Elira. "Not only that, his temperament is much better than most students I have taught." It was a big statement, especially since it came from someone like Elira. Even though the number of students she had taught wasn''t high, every single one of her students was now an exceptional mage the Kingdom could rely on. This was the reason she was chosen to be Kael''s instructor despite being so young. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I tried to make things difficult for him to see how he would react and I couldn''t be more satisfied. He is calm, calculative, and listens well, but he is not a mere follower either, provoke him and he will retaliate, quite bravely at that." Elira smiled. "Lord Feraos''s chosen one, huh? I was skeptical at first, but I see that now." The Court Mage had nothing but praise for her new student. What surprised the King was the fact that none of the other instructors went against the Court Mage''s words, to think the Hero was able to impress all these individuals in just one day... King Alden was impressed. "What about his Talent? Did any of you manage to find out what it is?" The meeting today had one simple goal, it was to find out Kael''s Talent. To the Drakthar Kingdom, not knowing their Hero''s Talent was a big issue, so the King assigned some of his best men to train the Hero and find where his talent lies. "His talent is definitely related to his physical abilities." It was now General Deren''s turn. "I witnessed it with my own eyes, I observed that boy''s body change as I trained him. He was adapting faster than anyone else I have seen in my entire life, his growth was endless. Every time I thought he reached his limit, somehow, he continued. It felt as though, given sufficient time, that child would have surpassed me. When the training ended, I couldn''t help but feel pity that I had such little time with him. Your Majesty, I assure you that if you allow me to continue training him, I will polish that gem and make the strongest warrior out of him within a matter of a few years." The General declared confidently. The King raised his eyebrow when he heard such high praise coming from a man like Deren, however, before he could say anything, Arlan shook his head. "As much as I respect you, General Deren, right now, you are mistaken." He stared at the General and continued, "While I agree that his talent is related to his physical abilities, it is not entirely accurate. His talent is related to Martial Arts. The rate at which the child learns martial arts is ridiculous. When I saw him today, he was a brat who had never once practised martial arts before, and by the end of our training, he was already on the level of a trainee warrior. Do you realise what this means? He reached a level others take months of training to reach, within a few hours." Arlan then turned towards the King and, "My King, please allow me to train him. I''ll make him an undefeatable knight that will always remain standing against even the mightiest of the opponents." Just like Deren, Arlan''s eyes glimmered with absolute confidence, but then, a voice full of mockery was heard. "As one would expect from a brute with all brawn and no brains. To think you would not realize it even after witnessing it with your own eyes." Elira snorted. She then stared at the King and, "Your Majesty, that man was born to be a Mage. His affinity with Fire Element is unlike anything I have seen before. He learned his First Spell in a matter of minutes. I was still in the middle of teaching him the theory when the brat formed a Fireball above his palm." Elira revealed and everyone in the room blinked in surprise. The Court Mage then turned towards her brother and smirked disdainfully, "At the level of a trainee soldier? After a few hours? How does that even compare to his Magic Talent? He is already a First Circle Mage and this is a man who didn''t even know Magic existed a day before." Arlan''s mouth twitched as he heard his sister''s words, he wanted to call her out, however, Elira, wanting to prove her point even further, said something none of the people present expected, "I dare say the Hero''s Magic Talent is even higher than ''hers''. If that is not Lord Feraos'' blessing, I do not know what it is." Everyone in the meeting hall flinched. A Taboo. It was a Taboo to mention ''her'' and for Elira to do so like thi- "Haah? Do you even hear yourself?" However, before the weight of her words could even sink in, Arlan took this chance to get back at his sister. "Magic Talent higher than hers? I saw it with my own eyes. Sure, his fire affinity was strong, but she had an affinity with every element that existed, even the ones that could not be detected by the affinity crystal. Kael might become an exceptional mage, but his magic talent is nothing when compared to his talent in martial arts!" Arlan exclaimed. Mentioning ''her'' again without a care for the world. Seeing how Elira''s face was twitching nonstop, unable to come up with a retort, the Commander smiled gleefully, satisfied. Already used to the siblings'' antics, the rest of the instructors present in the hall facepalmed, they already knew what was coming next. And just as they expected, Elira burst out. "So what if she had an affinity with all the elements!? As much of a blessing as it is, it is also a curse! While Kael only needs to focus on one element, she has to focus on all! Does a Brute like you even understand how demanding that is!? Not to mention that his fire affinity was so strong that it broke the Affinity Crystal, something that has never happened before in the history of the Drakthar Kingdom, not even the Princes-" "Silence." Elira''s voice was cut off by the King''s solemn tone. The King glared at the Court Mage and with one look, the angry Elira whimpered like a cat caught making a mistake and lowered her head. Alden then stared at Arlan, the Commander, just like his sister, lowered his head and sank back to his seat. In an instant, the chaotic meeting hall turned silent and returned to the King''s control. Alden''s gaze lingered on the siblings for a while longer before he turned and glanced at Marshal Therian. "What about you, Marshal? What is your opinion of the child?" "He has what it takes to be the Hero." The Marshal nodded, his voice much calmer than Arlan and Elira. "I do not know if his talent lies in Leadership and Strategy since I have not tested him yet, but his eyes show determination to learn, and for me, that is enough." The King nodded and then his eyes fell on Master Tamer Lyric. Lyric nodded and then continued, "I apologize, Your Majesty, but unlike others, I do not have anything substantial to report. It seems that Hero Kael''s Bond is facing some issues and refuses to leave the Sanctuary in the presence of other people." Lyric reported, but then, a gentle smile appeared on her face and, "What I can say, however, is that Hero Kael definitely has the right mindset to become an excellent Tamer. He loves his Bond despite only meeting him yesterday. I even felt like he was prepared to face the entire world for its sake. It was quite refreshing to see." The Master Tamer answered. The King, however, frowned at her words. "The Bond refuses to leave the Sanctuary?" "Wasn''t it said that he chose a Firefang Wyvern as his first bond? Why is a Firefang Wyvern acting like that?" General Deren questioned with a frown. "I do not know." Lyric shook her head. "Hero Kael says his Bond is shy." "Shy¡­? A Firefang Wyvern¡­?" Chapter 33 - 33: Heroes who will not fall, no matter what. "Hero Kael says his Bond is Shy." "Shy¡­? A Firefang Wyvern¡­?" General Deren couldn''t believe what he was hearing. Everyone here was a Beast Tamer who had formed multiple Bonds with multiple Magic Beasts, they all could tell how absurd this sounded. "That is what he says." Lyric, however, just shrugged. "And you agreed? That boy is quite bratty. Sometimes, you need to hit him to set him straight." Arlan spoke in a strict tone. "He says if his Bond doesn''t wish to come out, he will never force him out, no matter what, and he was quite adamant about it too. It was quite charming, even if I do say so myself." Lyric answered with a light smile on her face. "So what? Does he plan to keep hiding him forever?" Arlan questioned with a frown on his face. "That''s what he says." Lyric chuckled. "Bullshit!" Arlan clicked his tongue. "I''ll talk to him." He declared. "Sure, if you can convince him." Lyric just giggled. "¡­" Arlan paused for a moment. He still remembered how Kael stubbornly resisted him and didn''t give in till the end. Convincing that brat... It... might not be that easy... "As I said, he is extremely protective of his Bond. No matter what you do, unless his Bond wants to, he would never bring him out. So unless you wish to antagonize the Hero, I suggest you not do anything rash." Lyric spoke in a calm tone. "So what do you suggest we do, Tamer Lyric?" The King questioned as he stared at Lyric. "We can only do what the Hero wants and wait till his Bond is ready to come out on his own. Till then, I''ll continue to provide him with basic knowledge related to Beast Taming and the Firefang Wyvern." Lyric answered, and the King turned silent. The rest of the instructors didn''t say anything either, waiting for the King''s judgment. Every instructor here had seen the Hero''s potential, and they wanted to explore it even further. They all wanted to teach Kael and were staring at their King with intense eyes as if begging for the opportunity. The King, however, was in a dilemma. "So General Deren says he is a genius whose talent is related to Physical Abilities, Commander Arlan says he has a talent related to Martial Arts, and Court Mage Elira says he is born to be a Mage." The King stared at the instructors and, "So you are telling me that the Hero has managed to impress every single one of you and that his talent makes him the best in all the fields¡­?" "That does seem to be the case, Your Majesty." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Marshal Therian nodded with a light smile on his face. "The Hero is indeed quite special." Lyric chuckled and Deren nodded silently. "That brat is somewhat special." Arlan laughed. "He is a bit annoying though." Elira didn''t hold back either. The King, staring at what could only be described as the best of his subjects fawning over a child summoned just a day ago, felt an unusual weight settle on his shoulders. Their expectant gazes pierced through him, silently demanding a decisive ruling. He let out a soft sigh, tapping his fingers on the armrest of his throne. After a moment of silence, his voice rang out. "Hero Kael will train under each of you for the next two weeks," The King declared, his eyes sweeping across the room. "You are to offer him your utmost guidance and ensure he is given the opportunity to explore his potential in every field. At the end of this period, we will reconvene to evaluate his progress and determine how to hone his talents moving forward." A ripple of nods followed his words, the instructors exchanging glances with each other, their gazes ranging from determination to reluctant acceptance. Now, it had turned into a competition between the instructors. They wanted to spend more time with the Hero and shape him into the prodigy they envisioned? Then they needed to show results. And in this competition, none of the instructors were planning on holding back. With that, the meeting was adjourned. The next two weeks would decide not only Kael''s path but the fate of Nerathis itself. ¡­ While the King and his subjects were having a meeting, another man in his late twenties was sitting on a plush armchair, inside an extremely lavish room, looking out of the window with a light smile on his handsome face. The man had long, silky purple hair, his purple eyes seemed to hold the wisdom of ages, and he had sharp, angular features that were nothing short of perfection. He wore a tailored black coat with silver embroidery. The Drakthar crest was embroidered over his chest in vivid gold, it was a sign that he belonged to the Drakthar Royal Family. He was Edric Dragonborn, the Crown Prince of the Drakthar Kingdom. "So a man whose talents surpass all others in every single field, eh?" Edric muttered, his voice extremely soft and gentle. "That was the assessment of every instructor who trained him today, Your Highness." A neutral voice was heard. Hearing the voice, Edric finally stopped looking outside his window and turned towards the woman who was kneeling in front of him. "And what about you? What do you think about him, Althea?" Edric questioned, and Althea answered. "I think the same. The Hero is extremely talented in all fields." "Is he more talented than her?" The Crown Prince asked directly. Normally, if anyone else would have mentioned ''her,'' Althea would have tried to stop them. In front of this man, however, she didn''t say anything and answered like a loyal subject would. "Yes, I believe so." "Heh." Edric chuckled. "So another child with more talents than he can handle, huh?" "Your Highness, Hero Kael is not lik¡ª" "Don''t be foolish, Althea." The Crown Prince interrupted. "This is how humans tend to act. When one is born with Gifts, oftentimes than not, they fail to understand the value of those Gifts they have received and not earned. These people tend to grow arrogant, thinking everyone is beneath them. Thinking they are all there is, thinking that the world should bend to their whims and they should get anything they desire, but once they encounter failure," Edric''s face turned solemn and he continued, "Instead of rising to the challenge, They fall. That is how ''she'' fell. And that is how the Hero will fall." Edric''s words echoed throughout the room. Althea remained silent, not refuting anything. The Crown Prince then shook his head and sighed, "These people do not understand, He is not the Hero we or the Drakthar need. No ''Hero'' will come to deliver salvation. That is just a children''s fantasy. We need to pick our weapons and prepare for what is about to come." Edric clenched the hilt of his sword and "We need to create our own Heroes, Heroes who will not fall, no matter what." He spoke in a heavy tone. Althea kept her head down, listening to all his words carefully. "Continue keeping an eye on him. If you find anything out of the ordinary, report to me." Edric ordered. "As you command, Your Highness." Chapter 34 - 34: A man with self-control. Kael''s eyes twitched. He lazily tightened his hug around the warm pillow that he was holding. Soon, however, his brows furrowed. The pillow¡­ It was too warm¡­ Did Mark piss on it? That was the first thing he thought. That drunkard could definitely do it as a prank, and the moment this thought got stronger, Kael''s eyes sprung open. "Mark, you bi¡ª" Kael was ready for a fight. However, when his gaze landed on the ''pillow'' he was holding, he froze. He looked around, and seeing the lavish room around him, he ran his hand through his hair and sighed. ''Right, anime shit happened with me.'' Gently patting Igni''s belly that moved up and down as he breathed, Kael stood up from his bed and walked towards his window. The sun had set, and the calm of night had taken over. ''Calm of night, huh¡­'' Kael smiled at those words. This night indeed felt a lot more calming than usual. Kael wondered why that was the case, and soon, he got the answer. ''I¡­ didn''t see that vision today¡­'' He muttered in his head. ''Was it because I was too exhausted?'' It was definitely one possible theory. Kael then turned around and looked at the time. It was one in the morning. According to General Deren''s words, he needed to be at the training hall at five, and since Kael had no plans on getting on that crazy old man''s nerves, he decided it was better not to sleep. After all, if his theory was correct, then if he slept now when he was not exhausted, he might see that vision again, something he didn''t want to. Kael''s blue eyes turned golden as he then scanned the room. This time, he noticed that the guard guarding his room had changed. ''He must be here for the night shift.'' Kael thought inwardly, and after confirming that there was no one else, he canceled his ability and then walked towards the doors. As he opened the doors, he peeked his head out from the slight gap he created, not wanting to open the door completely and reveal Igni''s presence. Could he not hide him in the Sanctuary? He could, but Igni was sleeping too peacefully. He didn''t want to disturb the little thing. "Ack¡ª!" The guard who saw him jumped back in shock, and then, "Sir Hero!" He saluted. Kael was taken aback, clearly not used to such things. He smiled awkwardly as he nodded at the guard and, "Can I get some food right now¡­?" He questioned. "It is completely fine if that is not possible, I overslept, it was my faul¡ª" "Sir Hero, you do not have to worry about such things. Your dinner was already prepared and is stored in enchanted plates. It is still fresh. Would you like me to bring it for you? I can even wake up the cook if you do not want stored dishes." "No, please, don''t bother the cook. Since the food is fresh, please bring it. Thank you." Kael answered politely. "It is my pleasure to serve you, Sir Hero! Please return to your room. I will bring the food." The guard saluted enthusiastically before he rushed away. Kael did as he was told and returned to his room. A few minutes later, Kael heard a knock. By now, he had already hidden Igni under the bedsheet. Still, not wanting to take any unnecessary risks, Kael rushed towards the door and, "I''ll take it from here." He brought the food inside. Igni''s portion was included in the table the guard had brought. Kael smiled, kept Igni''s portion aside, and ate his fill. Then, since he didn''t want to sleep, he decided to meditate, just like Elira taught him to. Meditation kept his mind fresh. If he meditated, he would still be fresh when he met the old man Deren in the morning. "Alright, before I meditate, I need to use up my Mana¡­" Kael muttered to himself. Then, he recalled the Runes he had learned today. This time, he decided not to look at the paper Elira had given him. He wanted to test his memory, something he had been proud of for a long time now, even back when he was in his world. Kael closed his eyes and moved his Mana in his Mana Circuit. Then, he formed a Containment Circle, the Runes, and then the Directional Lines. Soon, the Spell Matrix was complete, and, Flicker A Fireball was formed. Kael opened his eyes, and a smile appeared on his face as he realized that he had succeeded. "I guess I shouldn''t shoot it. It would wake Igni up." Kael muttered. Because of this, the directional lines he had drawn were different from what Elira had taught him, and just as he expected, The Fireball started circling around him. "This is fun~" Kael chuckled. Soon, however, he noticed a problem. "Am I supposed to wait like this till my Mana runs out¡­?" To cast another fireball, he would need another Spell Matrix, and a First Circle Mage like him could only create one Spell Matrix at a time. So unless his spell finished, he wouldn''t be able to cast another one. In this case, the spell would only finish once he ran out of mana. Till then, he could only wait. Of course, constantly casting fireballs and letting them explode was definitely a faster way, but that would wake Igni up and also alert the guard outside, so Kael decided to avoid that. He was a patient man. A man with self-control. To not waste his time, however, he picked up the Beast Taming book the King had prepared for him and started reading. Five minutes later, the fireball circling around him started fluttering, and Kael felt his head aching. The Fireball then extinguished, and Kael felt weak, signaling that he had used up all his Mana. Without wasting any time, he closed his eyes. As he focused, once again, his vision was lightened up with Fire Elements. Picking the closest one, he pulled it towards him and started filling his Mana Core again. This continued for a while, and soon, his hard work showed its result. [Ding!] [Mana: +1] Of course, Kael didn''t stop at one message. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, he knew this was just the beginning. [Ding!] [Mana: +1] [Intelligence: +1] [Mana: +1] [Mana: +1] [Mana: +1] [Intelligence: +1] ¡­ ... Chapter 35 - 35: What in the… Kael continued to practice, filling and emptying out his Mana reserves repeatedly. As he was reading the Beast Taming book while the Fireball he created circled around him, Kael heard a voice. "Kyu¡­" His eyes fell on Igni, who was now sitting on the bed, rubbing his big, ember eyes as he stared at Kael, confused as to what this man was doing. Kael smiled, "Impressed?" He questioned with a somewhat proud look on his face. He had literally created fire out of nothing. Of course, he would be proud and would show it off to the little one. "Don''t worry, this book says that after some training, Bonds can cast some special spells as well. If you try, you might be able to learn it as well." Kael spoke in an assuring tone. "No, there is no ''might'' here. You are a Fire Dragon; of course, you will be able to do it. Of course, you are still just a child now, so it might be a bit difficult at first, but I guess we should start early, shouldn''t we? This way, you will grow faster than othe¡ª" Before Kael could complete his words, he froze as he stared at the sight in front of him, his mouth agape. Flicker With his focus completely gone, his Fireball flickered out of existence. He, however, didn''t care; he just stared at his bond and, "I-Igni¡­? H-How are you d-doing that¡­?" He stuttered as he saw a fireball circling around Igni while the little Dragon just stared at him with a tilted head. ''Were you being proud of this?'' That was what the look on his face said. And as if to rub it in Kael''s face, Flicker Flicker Flicker Five more fireballs appeared around Igni, circling around him in a single line. And Kael¡­ He could only stare at the little Dragon, who was barely a day old, and didn''t dare to say anything. ''Wait¡­'' sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, Kael narrowed his eyes. ''I don''t see any Spell Matrix. How did he cast a spell?'' Kael couldn''t understand. ''Is it not a spell? Is it an ability he is born with? Fire Manipulation? It would make sense, he is a Fire Dragon, after all.'' Kael thought inwardly. ''Does this mean he is not limited to Fireball?'' To test his theory, Kael walked towards Igni and, "Can you create something other than a Fireball?" He questioned. The baby Dragon stared at him and suddenly, Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh The six Fireballs circling around Igni all combined, creating a bigger Fireball. Then, the big Fireball turned into a piece of lamb similar to the one that Igni ate today. Soon, Igni''s eyes fell on the real food that was placed on the table, and his eyes brightened up as the lamb he created out of fire extinguished. Seeing the look on his face, Kael couldn''t help but laugh out loud. "Are you hungry?" He questioned. Igni nodded, and Kael picked the little guy up and placed him on top of the table, letting him eat his portion. Igni started gobbling everything up with his tiny paws. Kael, who saw that, smiled. At the same time, his mind was filled with countless thoughts. ''To think he would learn how to summon Fire before learning to walk. Dragons are really a cheat-like existence, aren''t they?'' Honestly, after seeing his instructors'' reactions today and the rate at which he was growing, he thought he was special. A prodigy. But¡­ ''To think I''ll be humbled by a 1-day-old baby¡­'' At the same time, Kael couldn''t help but think, ''If he can already do this on day one, what would he become in a year? Or ten years?'' A shiver ran down Kael''s spine as he thought of the image of a fully grown Igni unleashing his might. He couldn''t help but be excited at that thought. If his Igni is so strong, who would possibly be able to stand against him? The moment Kael thought about it, another memory surfaced¡ªone that made his chest tighten. The Vision. His smile faded as the horrifying image reappeared in his head¡ªIgni''s cracked and marred scale, his body riddled with weapons¡ªspears, swords, and arrows lodged deep into his flesh, wounds that no creature would survive... "Haah¡­ Haah¡­ Haah¡­" Kael''s breathing quickened. His fists clenched, nails digging into his palms. No matter how hard he tried to push the vision away, it only grew sharper, more vivid. Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump His heart pounded, and he gasped for air. His hands started trembling as he started losing his strength. Unable to bear it, Kael stepped forward and gently picked Igni up, cradling the little dragon in his lap. Igni paused mid-bite, tilting his head as if sensing Kael''s distress. "Kyu~" The little dragon let out a soft, cheerful sound as he licked Kael''s hands. It was as if the little guy was trying to reassure Kael in his own way. Feeling his warm body, Kael''s racing heart began to slow down. He gently stroked Igni''s smooth scales while the little guy returned to his meal. ''I cannot rest.'' A determined look appeared on Kael''s face. He needed to get stronger. He needed to surpass his past self no matter what. Once again, he formed a Spell Matrix and summoned a Fireball. Igni, who saw that, copied his actions and summoned a Fireball of his own. Two Fireballs¡ªone his own and the other created by Igni¡ªorbited around Kael. Kael chuckled at the Dragon''s actions as he continued to train, and it didn''t take long for Kael to realize how outclassed he actually was. His Mana ran out, and while he struggled to keep his Fireball for a bit longer, Igni''s Fireball was as stable as it was at the start, all while the little guy continued to eat his meal, not even caring about the Fireball he had created before. Seeing that, Kael just sighed in defeat. The Fireball he created flickered out of existence, and he closed his eyes, ready to start his meditation, but then, ''What in the¡­'' Chapter 36 - 36: For him. For his Igni. ''What in the¡­'' Kael''s jaw dropped in surprise as he noticed something strange. The Fire elements were usually spread all around the room, right now however, some of them were concentrated around him and orbiting around him, just like Igni''s Fireball. ''No wonder he didn''t get tired or ran out of Mana¡­'' Kael realized it. ''He wasn''t using his Mana to begin with, he was directly controlling the Fire Elements in the air. I would have never won even if my Mana reserves were 100 times larger than what I currently have.'' Kael laughed inwardly before he opened his eyes and glanced at the little Dragon still munching on his meal, then, a question appeared in his head. ''Can I do it as well?'' What Igni was doing was controlling the Fire Elements, concentrating them at one point, and somehow creating a fireball through it. It didn''t sound very difficult. After all, even Kael could control these Fire Elements and from what he deduced from Elira''s reactions, his control over these Elements was much stronger than most people. So instead of gathering them in his Mana Core, why not gather them in front of him and try to create a fireball using Igni''s method? It was definitely worth a try. Kael closed his eyes and started controlling the Fire Elements. Soon, however, he faced a problem. Right now, he could only control ten of them at the same time, so while he was able to bring ten elements together without any problem, when he tried to focus on other elements, those ten he had gathered spread out. It was as if these elements themselves did not wish to be too close to each other. ''How is he doing it?'' Kael wondered in his head. In the Fireball Igni had created, Kael could sense that there were tens of thousands of Fire Elements all bound together, and unlike in his case, these Fire Elements didn''t seem to be trying to get away. ''¡­Is he controlling all those Fire Elements at the same time?'' Kael thought of an absurd possibility. Was that even possible? If Kael could control such a ridiculous number of Elements at the same time, it would only take him one cycle of meditation to refill his Mana Core to the brim! It would mean that he would essentially never run out of Mana! Even now, after practising like a madman for hours, he was barely able to control ten of them. Sure, Kael believed that this number would increase as he continued to practice, but... to reach the level of being able to control tens of thousands of Fire Elements might need years. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And Igni was a baby! Sure, he was a Fire Dragon, he was supposed to be good at this stuff, but he was a baby!! A one-day-old baby! ''No¡­ This must be something else¡­ I need to look into it.'' Kael thought inwardly as he shook his head. He still had too little knowledge about this world to be thinking about such theories. Instead of wasting time like this, he should focus on his training. Thinking about it, Kael closed his eyes again and, completely ignoring what little Igni was doing, he started meditating again. Once again, the cycle of filling up his Mana reserves before expending it all started. Igni, who stayed on Kael''s lap, continued to copy his actions. He closed his eyes when Kael did and summoned a fireball when he did. It was a game little Igni was enjoying. "Kyu~" With Igni''s company keeping him reassured and warm, Kael continued to grow stronger. [Ding!] [Mana: +1] [Intelligence: +1] [Intelligence: +1] ¡­ ¡­ Hours passed by. Soon, Althea was back. Kael stopped meditating and went to the bathroom. After freshening up and keeping Igni inside the Sanctuary, he went together with Althea to start today''s training. For some reason, all his instructors looked even more enthusiastic today. General Deren''s training intensity had shot through the roof. The old man was heavily relying on Althea''s healing magic. He was treating Kael like a muscle¡ªbreaking him up, letting him heal, and breaking him again. It was hell. However, as torturous as it was, Kael could see the effectiveness of this method, so he pushed through. However, this hell didn''t end with General Deren. After the General, it was Commander Arlan''s turn, and today¡­ Arlan had brought an active soldier for him to spar with. Yes, the gorilla-like man wanted him, who had just started his training yesterday, to spar with a soldier who had years of experience. At first, Kael was still a little positive. After all, he had learned Basic Hand-To-Hand Combat last time, so how bad could it be? Very. It didn''t take Kael long to realize what ''very low'' mastery meant. Sparring with the soldier was nothing more than a beatdown session where the gorilla Arlan mocked him every time he was down and needed Althea to heal him. After Arlan, it was his sister. The woman had tried to kill him yesterday. Today, however, she seemed to have come up with a better way than just to kill him. It was torture. She raised the temperature around him to the point where even his sweat evaporated before falling on the ground, and in that harsh condition, where his throat was parched, his body trembled as it battled with the extreme heat, and his vision was blurry¡­ She made him cast Fireball and wanted him to aim correctly when he could barely see the targets ahead of him. And what was worse? Every time he missed the target, she raised the temperature around him even further. It had gotten to the point where he passed out from heat more than once, and Althea needed to use her magic to heal and bring him back to normal condition before the torture restarted. All this while, Elira herself sat on what seemed like a beach chair, reading that ''Supreme Harem God System'' book of hers and drinking what seemed to be a cold drink, with sunglasses covering her eyes. The Court Mage definitely knew how to enjoy herself. After the Court Mage, it was Marshal Therian''s turn. Kael was glad that the Marshal was much more sane than the others around him. The session was similar to yesterday, where the Marshal taught him the theory. One thing to note was that the Marshal had postponed his ''test'' from a week to two weeks from now. Kael asked why that was the case, fearing that his progress was slower than what the Marshal expected. The Marshal, however, reassured him that it wasn''t the case and that he had his own reasons. Kael didn''t bother asking any more questions either. Then, Master Tamer Lyric appeared. Kael, however, shook his head when she asked whether his Bond was ready to come out yet. In the end, the woman could only teach him the theory. And honestly, after hours of Spartan-like training that pushed him to death every single second, hours of learning theory was another form of mental torture. Kael''s body ached despite him just sitting on a chair, listening to Lyric''s words. Sure, Althea''s magic healed him, but the memory of all that pain still lingered. Even focusing was a challenge for him. And this torture continued for days¡­ No, actually, it got increasingly worse with every passing day. Kael, however, pushed through no matter how difficult it got. What he saw in the vision¡ªhe was going to avoid that ending, no matter what sort of hell he had to go through in order to do that. For him. For his Igni. Chapter 37 - 37: They will not be enough. A week passed by just like that. In the past week, Kael was put through a hell where even Althea''s healing felt traumatizing. After all, every time she healed him, it meant that the torture would continue. His instructors didn''t see him as a patient who was just healed, they saw him as a man who had recovered and could now take more. Kael could swear the instructors were competing to see who could make his life more miserable, and honestly, Kael couldn''t tell who was winning! Every contender''s performance was nothing but masterful! And Kael hated every single moment of these masterful performances. ''Tsk, if only it wasn''t effective, I would have¡­'' Kael clenched his fists in frustration, hating how effective this method of torturing him was. Let alone others, even he was scared of his own growth. [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 2 ¡ú 10] [CE: 129/1200] [Talent: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] [Strength: 10 ¡ú 32] [Agility: 8 ¡ú 35] [Speed: 9 ¡ú 34] [Stamina: 12 ¡ú 37] [Defense: 11 ¡ú 38] [Mana: 3 ¡ú 41] [Intelligence: 7 ¡ú 33] [Charisma: 7 ¡ú 32] ¡­ Yes, he had just become level 10 yesterday. His stats were almost ten times higher than when he first came here, and all of this happened in just a week. Seeing this progress, Kael clenched his fists with a determined look on his face, prepared to have his ass handed to him again. ''He is late.'' He thought inwardly as he tapped his foot on the stone floor. It was strange because General Deren had never been late before. Actually, all this time, Kael had never seen that man enter through the door. Every morning when he came here, the General was always here, waiting for him. ''Wait, is he on leave today?'' Kael''s eyes brightened up. Deep inside, he was still a boy full of innocence and hope. Soon, however, his hope was crushed as General Deren walked in. And today, the man wasn''t alone. Arlan was walking with him as well, and the instant Kael saw the gorilla man, he snorted. "Why are you here? You are scheduled to meet the Hero in a few hours. The Hero cannot meet you currently since he has other commitments, so go away, shoo shoo~" Kael spoke, moving his hand dismissively. What surprised him, however, was the fact that Arlan remained silent even when he said all this. Normally, the man would lash out, ready with a retort. Kael found it strange, and soon, he found the reason. "Is this the way you talk to your instructor? Here I thought it was common understanding to respect those who impart knowledge to you. Do I have to arrange mannerism classes for you as well?" General Deren spoke in a cold voice, and Kael felt a shiver down his spine. "I-I¡­" He stuttered, unable to form words in front of the General. Arlan, who stood behind the General, smirked at him, and Kael could only glare at him with a wronged look on his face. "Apologize." Deren ordered. Kael stared at Arlan and, "I am sorry." He gave in, not without glaring at the gorilla man, of course. "Be respectful." Deren, however, wasn''t satisfied. Heck, the General was already holding a spear in his hand. Seeing the familiar spear, Kael''s body trembled. He then glanced at Arlan and bowed his head the very instant. "I apologize for my mistake, Instructor Arlan." "Worry not, since you have apologized so sincerely, as a magnanimous and forgiving man, I forgive you." Arlan grinned widely. Kael''s face twitched continuously. He, however, didn''t dare to say anything. "From today onwards, I and Commander Arlan will be training you together." General Deren shared the news. "Together¡­?" Kael flinched. Two torturers working together? Just thinking about what awaited him made him weak. "Your separate training sessions will now be combined. Together, we will explore the gift Lord Feraos has given to you and turn you into one of the strongest warriors in Nerathis. Prepare yourself, the real training begins now." Deren''s cold words echoed throughout the training hall, and Kael could see it. This was where his journey ended. Soon, the doors of the training hall opened again, and three soldiers walked in. Two of them seemed excited, while the one in the middle, who also looked older than the other two, had a solemn look on his face. "These will be the soldiers you are going to face today." As they entered, Deren informed. Kael stared at the soldiers who were walking in. He recognized the one in the middle since he was the one he sparred with under Arlan''s supervision. As for the other two, they were new faces. Seeing that his training was about to start, Kael dropped his casual attitude, and the look on his face shifted. His eyes turned draconic, and the next instant, a translucent screen appeared in front of him, providing him the information about the three soldiers. [Name: Varik Ironhand] [Race: Human] [Age: 30] [Level: 22] [Strength: 52] [Agility: 34] [Speed: 36] [Stamina: 48] [Defense: 50] [Mana: 8] [Intelligence: 15] [Charisma: 12] [Strengths: Unparalleled Physical Strength, High Durability, Exceptional Close Combat Skills] [Weaknesses: Lacks Speed, Limited Tactical Awareness, Poor Adaptability in Magical Combat] ¡­ [Name: Sarah Swiftwind] [Race: Human] [Age: 27] [Level: 21] [Strength: 36] [Agility: 55] [Speed: 50] [Stamina: 40] [Defense: 30] [Mana: 10] [Intelligence: 18] [Charisma: 22] [Strengths: Exceptional Agility, Evasive Maneuvers, Skilled Archer and Tracker] [Weaknesses: Low Physical Defense, Relatively Low Stamina, Weak in Prolonged Melee Combat] ¡­ [Name: Kaiden Blackthorn] [Race: Human] [Age: 42] [Level: 24] [Strength: 40] [Agility: 38] [Speed: 44] [Stamina: 46] [Defense: 40] [Mana: 20] [Intelligence: 22] [Charisma: 16] [Strengths: Balanced Fighter, Proficient in Sword and Shield Techniques, Adept at Countering Magic] [Weaknesses: Jack-of-All-Trades but Master of None, Average Charisma, Weak Against Highly Specialized Foes] ¡­ Yes, he had started using Dragon''s Eye in front of others now. It was just one of the many abilities he ''randomly awakened'' on a certain day, and just as he expected, Arlan didn''t doubt a thing. He even found it natural. After using it in front of Arlan, it became normal for him to use this ability in front of others as well. "They will not be enough." As he read the soldiers'' information, Kael turned towards Deren and shook his head. Deren raised his eyebrow at his words. After all, he knew Kael''s limits since he trained him himself. Arlan, however, smiled at those words and at Deren''s reaction. After all, unlike Deren, he had seen this monster fight. The Commander then stepped forward and stared at the Hero with a wide grin on his face. "Who said you will be facing just one of them?" Kael stared at Arlan and, "Are you saying¡­?" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Exactly. You will be facing all three of them at the same time." Arlan nodded. "Still confident?" The Commander questioned, already knowing the brat''s answer. "Wouldn''t hurt to try." Kael shrugged, making Arlan''s smile wider. This was the reason he liked him in the first place. However, in contrast to Arlan, the two new soldiers, Varik and Sarah, didn''t like Kael''s attitude. "The Hero seems quite full of himself." Sarah stepped forward. "To think he would be confident in facing three Drakthar Soldiers after just a week of training. How brave. Just like how one would expect the Hero to be." She commented. Her words were full of praises, Kael, however, could sense the sarcasm in her voice. She sounded bitter, and honestly, Kael didn''t blame her. He knew the soldiers of this nation trained for years to reach this level. It was obvious that they would not take it well when someone who had barely trained for a week came along and said they were ''not enough.'' It was a common reaction, and instead of snapping back at her, he just smiled. "You overpraise me. I am only doing my best so I can stand up to your and everyone else''s expectations." "I-Is that so¡­?" And in an instant, all the sarcasm and bitterness flushed out of Sarah''s face. She thought that the Hero would be as arrogant as all those talented men were, but¡­ He seemed quite nice? And¡­ he was handsome too. Chapter 38 - 38: [Skill: Draconic Strike] "I-Is that so¡­?" Sarah stuttered and seeing her reaction, Varik laughed out loud. "The Hero is quite the talker, eh? Look at mighty Sarah blushing like a girl in her teens. Hahaha~" Sarah glared at Varik. If looks could kill, the poor man would have died by now, but as if he was oblivious to all this, he just continued to laugh and, "I didn''t know you preferred younger men, no wonder you rejected all the men who appr¡ª alright, alright, I apologize and I will remain silent for the rest of the day." Before he could complete, Varik raised both his hands as a gesture to surrender when he saw a sharp arrowhead right in front of his eye. Sarah didn''t say anything and placed her arrow back in her quiver. All this while, Kaiden didn''t say anything. "Alright, enough chit-chat." General Deren spoke up, and in an instant, the three soldiers and Kael straightened their backs, waiting for his commands. Deren then glanced at Kael and, "Are you sure you wish to face three of them together? A Hero needs to choose his battles carefully. Acting rashly under someone else''s influence might lead to a fatal outcome." "I am confident." Kael nodded. Seeing the confident look on his face, even Arlan was taken aback. He knew Kael was strong since he saw him win against Kaiden before, but that was a very close battle. He highly doubted Kael would be able to face two more soldiers who were just as capable as Kaiden in his current state. Occupied in his thoughts, the commander stared at the Hero, only to see the latter looking at him with a provocative smirk on his face. Arlan''s mouth twitched. ''Go and die.'' He cursed in his head while the General nodded, acting obvlious to the two''s exchange. "As you wish. You three, go stand 100 meters to the north." Deren ordered. The soldiers nodded and did as they were told. The next moment, Kael stared at the three soldiers with a wide grin on his face. The Commander then stepped in the middle. "Use of magic is prohibited. The battle ends when one side gives up or is unable to continue anymore." He laid out the rules and then, "Begin." Varik rushed towards Kael that very instant. Varik was a nearly 2-meter-tall towering warrior. His massive frame was enough to tell anyone that he relied on his strength. As this giant ran towards Kael, his hands were clenched into fists, ready to deliver a crushing blow. Behind him stood Sarah, who moved to the left with her bow in her hand. Her sharp eyes scanned the battlefield, waiting for an opening or an opportunity. Kaiden followed Sarah with a shield and sword in his hands. For now, he had decided to protect the archer and observe Kael''s movements. "Be careful, he is not weak." Kaiden warned with a grim look on his face. "Yes, I know! He is the Hero!" Varik laughed as he appeared next to Kael. Clearly, he didn''t take Kaiden''s warning seriously. After all, there was no way Kael, who had just been here for a week, was stronger than him. And he was correct¡ªif they compared their strength, Kael was not his match. But¡­ "Confronting him directly, huh? That''s a mistake." Arlan smiled. "Indeed. We need to work on his judgment and instincts. Varik is stronger than him; direct confrontation is foolish." Deren nodded with a solemn look on his face. Arlan, however, shook his head and laughed out loud. "It was not Kael who made the mistake." "Hm? What do you mea¡ª" Deren wanted to question, but then, his eyes noticed something. Kael''s right arm was covered with shimmering red scales as his Aura burst out with a fierce yet unknown energy. With a grin on his face, the Hero punched forward. Varik, who saw that, laughed out loud, taking the attack head-on. "Let''s do it!!" Varik roared with excitement. His large fist collided with Kael''s scale-covered fist, and¡ª BOOM Shockwaves spread throughout the battlefield, and the sheer force sent Varik flying. Crack S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "AAAggGGGGGhhHHHhHHH!!!" Varik shrieked in pain as his fist, arm, and shoulder bones cracked, rendering his right arm completely useless. "AAaagghhh!!!" The soldier continued to scream in pain, doing whatever he could to subdue the pain, but nothing worked. Kael stared at him for a while as his arm returned to normal. [Skill: Draconic Strike] [Description:] [Covers the Host''s Arms with Draconic Scales, allowing him to enhance his strength for a short duration.] [Effect:] [Envelops the host''s arms in draconic scales.] [Temporarily amplifies physical strength by converting mana into brute force.] [Duration: 5 seconds.] [Cooldown: 1 minute.] This was the first talent-related skill he got when he reached level 5¡ªa skill that enhanced his strength for five seconds. And it was no normal amplification either¡ªit relied on his Mana. Since his Mana was 41, the skill increased his strength, which was 32, by 41, temporarily making it 73. Even a giant like Varik only had 52 strength. In a direct confrontation, he never stood a chance. What''s even scarier? This Skill actually didn''t use Mana, Kael could still cast spells if he wanted to. It was as if the Skill was using an entirely different source of energy that Kael didn''t know about. "I told him to be careful." Kaiden shook his head. Then, he glanced at Sarah and¡ª "Don''t lose focus. Aim at him. This isn''t over." "Y-Yes!" Sarah came out of her reverie and quickly fired a series of arrows toward the Hero. Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh The arrows whistled through the air, aimed directly at Kael''s torso. He spun to the side, barely dodging the first volley. However, a second set of arrows followed quickly, and this time, one grazed his left shoulder. "Tss." He clicked his tongue in pain. ''I need to close the distance.'' There were still 50 seconds left before he could activate Draconic Strike again. However, he couldn''t just wait till then. Kael lunged forward. Even if Sarah was stronger than him, she was an archer. If he closed the distance, it might become easier for him. However, before he could close the distance, Kaiden Blackthorn stepped in to intercept him. Kaiden was a difficult opponent. Be it strength, stamina, or speed, he was better than Kael in every possible way. The only advantage Kael had over him was his Mana. However, since he couldn''t use magic in this battle, that was meaningless. ''Tsk, he did it on purpose.'' Kael cursed in his head as he stared at Arlan, who was smirking at him. "Losing focus on the battlefield can be fatal." Kaiden''s calm voice was heard. "Fuck!" Kael cursed out loud as he barely dodged Kaiden''s sword. Chapter 39 - 39: I am the Hero here. "Losing focus on the battlefield can be fatal." Kaiden spoke in a calm tone. "Fuck!" Kael cursed out loud as he barely dodged his sword. Kaiden, however, wasn''t the only opponent he was facing. Whoosh The whistle of Sarah''s arrow from behind made Kael twist mid-motion. The arrow sliced past his shoulder, grazing his skin. "Too slow," Kaiden commented, moving close to Kael and bashing him with his shield. The force slammed into Kael, sending him backwards. The man had barely stopped himself from falling but once again, Whoosh Sarah''s arrow came in, forcing him to move again. Kael tumbled awkwardly, but this time, he avoided a direct hit. It didn''t take him long to realize it¡ªhe couldn''t afford to stay in one spot. He was making it too easy for Sarah. He tried to circle around Kaiden. The experienced soldier, however, wasn''t going to let him dictate the flow of the fight. He advanced with precise footwork, aiming quick thrusts and swipes designed to pressure Kael and leave no opening for counterattacks. Kael parried clumsily, sweat dripping down his brow. His stamina was good, but Kaiden was too strong! Every clash with his sword and shield drained him further. "You will lose if you keep this up, Hero Kael." Kaiden commented calmly, feinting a low swing before snapping his shield forward. Kael raised his arms to block, but the impact shook his body, sending him staggering. "Agghh!" He groaned in pain, his arms shaking. And the Archer didn''t give him time to rest. Whoosh Another arrow flew toward him. Kael barely ducked at the last second. This time, however, he didn''t come out unharmed. While the arrow passed him, Kaiden''s blade slashed across his thigh. "Argh!" Kael clenched his teeth. Seeing the wide cut and blood coming out of his thigh, he knew this wasn''t going to be easy. Even standing straight had become difficult. Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh Another set of arrows was aimed at Kael. He crawled forward, dodging the attack. The arrows, however, were never aimed to hit him. Sarah''s aim was to move Kael closer to Kaiden, and that was exactly what happened. The moment Kael stood up, Kaiden charged at him with his shield. The attack was so well-timed that Kael was completely helpless. The impact sent him sprawling to the ground. "Is this it? You did well, considering you were facing three of us at the same time." Kaiden muttered with a calm look on his face. Inwardly, however, he was surprised. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had sparred with the Hero just yesterday, but¡­ It seemed like, in just one day, the Hero had gotten stronger again. Unlike the usual cases, where his growth was steady, this time, his overall strength had suddenly jumped to another level. ''What a monster.'' Kaiden shook his head. Now, however, it was time to end this. The old soldier raised his sword, ready to end the battle. Kael, however, rolled to his side just as Kaiden''s sword came down, dodging the attack. "You should stop resisting pointlessly. You cannot win." Kaiden commented. Kael, however, rolled back and scrambled to his feet, creating distance between him and Kaiden. "It is pointless." Kaiden shook his head, not moving. And then, Whoosh Sarah''s next arrow found its mark, lodging into Kael''s shoulder. "Gah!" Kael hissed, pain coursing throughout his body as he pulled out the arrow covered in his blood. By then, Kaiden lunged forward again, his shield up, not giving Kael any opening. Kael could only sidestep, trying to evade, but his movements had gotten much more sluggish. Bam The shield charged into him. Once again, Kael tumbled backwards. "Haaah¡­ Haaahh¡­ Haaahh¡­" His breathing became heavy but Kaiden didn''t give him time to rest and bashed into him with his shield and once again, Kael tumbled backwards. This time, however, instead of groaning in pain, Kael smirked. A bloodied smirk that would have sent shivers down Kaiden''s spine if he had seen something like this just a week ago. Kaiden frowned, unable to understand why Kael was acting this way. Then, suddenly, Kael started running towards Sarah. All this while, while facing Kaiden, Kael had been constantly getting closer to Sarah. This was also the reason why it was becoming harder and harder for him to avoid Sarah''s arrows and why Kaiden and Sarah didn''t react to it despite knowing what he was doing. After all, even if he closed the distance, as long as there was some distance between them, Sarah was confident in not getting caught by him. The Archer trusted her speed and agility even more than her bow. Not to mention, she had also observed Kael''s speed all this while and was confident that there was no way he could catch up to her. So when Kael rushed towards Sarah, completely abandoning Kaiden, the latter shook his head in disappointment. "You became impatient, huh." Kaiden muttered as he followed Kael, easily closing the distance between them despite Kael having a head start. "There are still five seconds left before you can activate your ability again. You should have waited. Unless, of course, you thought I couldn''t catch you within these five seconds. And if that is the case, I would be disappointed. You are underestimating me, Hero Kael." Kaiden spoke as he appeared behind Kael, ready to slam him with his shield again, confident that he would win since there were still three seconds before Kael could use his skill again. Yes, he had been counting it all this while. This was also the reason he let Varik do anything he wanted during the battle. From the start, the battle was going exactly as he planned. Or so he thought¡­ But, "I am the Hero here. According to the script, I am supposed to be underestimated here before I pull out my plot armor." Kael chuckled. "A scri-" Before Kaiden could understand his words. The Hero''s face contorted, his eyes turned draconic golden, red veins pulsed beneath his skin, and his now jagged teeth gleamed. Then, "RRROOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!!!" He roared. Chapter 40 - 40: [Skill: Roar of Dominion] "RRROOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!!!" Kael roared, his voice sounding draconic. A shockwave of golden-red light erupted, and suddenly, Kaiden felt all his strength leaving his body. "Grrr!" The Soldier felt a chill run down his spine as Kael, with his golden eyes and red veins all over his face, turned towards him. Kaiden felt like he was being stared at by some Primordial Being who could kill him with his thoughts alone. His entire body gave in, and suddenly, he realized Kael had grabbed his head with his now scaly hand. Yes, the cooldown was over. Kael had activated Draconic Strike again. Then, with his enhanced strength, he lifted Kaiden''s body and threw him towards Sarah, who stood on the floor, frozen, while her legs trembled continuously. Bam Kaiden''s flying body clashed with Sarah''s. Both fell on the floor as Kael appeared next to them, placing his scaly arm on their chest, marking the end of the battle. "I guess I win, eh?" He chuckled, his voice, face, and arm returning to normal. Both Kaiden and Sarah snapped out of their reverie and, "W-What was that?" Kaiden questioned, his body still trembling as he recalled what he saw. "I-I couldn''t move¡­ my thoughts froze... It felt like some higher power took away my ability to think¡­" Sarah stuttered, her voice still shaky. Kael just patted her shoulder and, "It was just my skill. Don''t think too much about it. You did great." "T-That was just a skill¡­?" Sarah questioned, her out-of-control heartbeat slowing down as she felt Kael''s calming presence near her. "Mhm." Kael nodded with a light smile on his face as he then extended his hand, "Need help?" He questioned. "Ah? O-Oh, okay." Sarah nodded with a flustered look on her face as she held Kael''s hand. Kael pulled her up, and once he was sure she was alright, he turned towards Kaiden and picked him up as well. "What was that, you brat?" By this time, Arlan and Deren had appeared next to them as well, and Arlan questioned impatiently. Kael turned towards the gorilla man and smiled, "It was the new skill I learned yesterday. Pretty neat, eh?" "Neat?" Arlan raised his eyebrow as he then stared at two soldiers who still seemed shaken. "If you call terrifying your allies ''neat,'' I guess?" "Come on, it wasn''t that bad." Kael shook his hand, and the instant he said those words, both Kaiden and Sarah stared at him, and in that instant, Kael decided it was better to not look back. So he stared at the screen in front of him instead. [Skill: Roar of Dominion] [Description:] [Allows the Host to let out a Draconic Roar imbued with the Authority of Dragons. The roar weakens and terrifies enemies in its range, reducing their combat abilities.] [Effect:] [Emits a powerful Draconic roar that affects all enemies within a 20-meter radius.] [Weakens enemy combat abilities, reducing their attack power, speed, and defense by 50%.] [The roar instills fear, causing enemies to hesitate and reducing their accuracy and evasion by 30%.] [Chances of paralyzing the enemy are 10%.] [The effects depend on the strength and the will of the enemies.] Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Does not affect allies.] [Duration: 6 seconds.] [Cooldown: 1 minute.] ... It was a skill Arlan and the others didn''t know about since he got it yesterday when he became level 10. This was also the reason why Kael was confident in facing three soldiers at the same time. An ability that covers an area of more than 1200 square meters¡ªit was simply absurd. Not to mention, the effects of this ability were quite strong as well. Even someone as experienced as Kaiden was frozen for a second. "But to think you learned another skill. That''s the third one in a week." "What can I do? Lord Feraos must really love me." Kael answered smugly, and Arlan''s face twitched in annoyance. "I have no clue what he sees in someone like you." "It is okay. I never thought of you as the thinker type anyway. But I still accept you despite your faults because that is what Heroes do." "You little¡­" Arlan''s mouth twitched. Then suddenly, "Silence." Deren ordered, and both Arlan and Kael straightened their backs, not saying anything. Deren then turned towards Kael and nodded. "You did well. You fought bravely, you hid your trump card till the final moment, and used it to get all your opponents at the same time. Despite your opponents being stronger than you, you rose to the challenge and came out victorious. You were calm throughout the battle and were constantly on the lookout for a way to turn your disadvantage into an advantage before finally defeating your opponents. It was a good display of your bravery, determination, tactics, and quick thinking." "Thank you for your praise, Instructor Deren." Kael bowed respectfully. Deren, however, wasn''t done there. "But you should know you would have lost if it was a real battle because, in a real battle, instead of the shield, you will be hit with a sword. And knowing your status as the Hero, the enemies will not underestimate you." "I understand, and I will continue to improve." Kael nodded. He knew what the General said was the truth. Yes, Kaiden did use a shield even in a real battle, but he had more than a few opportunities to attack him with his sword. Kael wasn''t arrogant enough to not know that the soldier held back. The General nodded back with a satisfied look on his face. "We will now analyze your fight and see what you could have done better, before that, Althea, heal him." "Yes." Althea nodded as she walked towards Kael. The training continued. Since Deren and Arlan had now combined their sessions, the training continued for hours, where Kael was made to fight the soldiers again and again. Every time, these soldiers pushed him to his limits. Once the soldiers were tired, General Deren took over and worked on Kael''s physical conditioning, making him do exercises Kael didn''t even know a human could do. Time passed, and soon, it was time for Kael''s Magic Training. Elira made her entrance with her novel in her hand, and the moment her eyes fell on Kael, her smile widened. "How''s it going, little show-off?" Seeing her, Kael smiled as well. Actually, Elira was the person he wanted to meet the most right now. After all, he wanted to see what face she would make when, "Well, I do have something to ''show off,'' Instructor." "Hmm? What is i¡ª" Elira wanted to question but froze midway, as her eyes fell on Kael, who stood in front of her, forming a Spell Matrix. Not just one, but two. Yes, Kael was now a Second Circle Mage. Chapter 41 - 41: A Wager "Y-Y-You became a Second Circle Mage!?" Elira questioned as her finger that was pointing at Kael trembled without stopping. Kael, who already expected such a reaction, grinned. He even went a step ahead, formed two Fireballs that orbited around him, and Elira could feel her life being ruined right in front of her eyes. Kael continued to smile like a demon whose plans had succeeded and then, in a jovial tone, he questioned, "You haven''t forgotten the bet, have you?" Elira''s body jerked at the question. Kael''s grin widened as he approached Elira, recalling what happened four days ago. ¡­ "Why can I not form my second Circle?" Kael questioned with a frown on his face as he glanced at Elira. By now, he had been here for three days, and in these three days, he had met quite a lot of people. Some of them were also Second Circle Mages, and almost all the new Second Circle Mages he met had 20-21 Mana, while Kael, who had 22, still couldn''t form his Second Circle. "I am sure I have enough Mana to form the Second Circle, so why can''t I do it? Is there something I am missing?" "Haah? You think it is that easy to become a Second Circle Mage and study Magic?" Elira, who was busy reading her book, snapped at his question. The man was already learning his third First Circle Spell on the third day of his training, and he still wanted more!? A show-off through and through! "Mana Quantity and Mana Density are two different concepts. You might have enough Mana to form the Second Circle, but your Mana Density isn''t there yet. Once it is, you will naturally be able to form the Second Circle." Elira answered, trying to calm herself down and continue their lecture, but then, "How do I raise my Mana Density?" "You didn''t read the book I gave you, did you?" "I did not get the time." Kael''s answer was simple, and against that, Elira couldn''t say anything. Even she knew how packed Kael''s schedule was. Not to mention she was here to teach him anyway, he needed no book. "You meditate." Elira answered. "I am meditating, every night." Kael replied, and a vein popped out on Elira''s head. Still, she kept her calm and replied. "You meditate, patiently." "Yes, I meditate pa-" "You meditate, patiently, for years!" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Years...? But that''s to-" Elira finally lost it. "A Mage is a noble profession that requires years of practice, study, and patience! Some people need years to reach the level of a Second Circle Mage, while some talented ones can do it within a year. Even the most talented mage needed a month before her Mana was dense enough to become a Second Circle Mage, And you say you are being patient when you have just started learning magic theories for three days!? You call this patience!? Even someone like you would at least need two weeks before you can become a Second Circle Mage." "Two weeks¡­?" Kael raised his eyebrow. "What? You think you can do it faster than that?" "Hm? I don''t thin-" "Then how about we make a wager?" Elira proposed, her eyes shimmering slyly. "A wager¡­? As in a bet?" "That is what the word means, dumbass." "What are the conditions?" Kael questioned, and hearing that question, Elira smiled like a sinister demon. "If you are unable to form your Second Circle within two weeks, you shall become my personal maid for an entire day. You will stay with me all day, dress as a maid, do whatever a maid does, and," The Mage smirked mischievously and continued, "Every time you speak, you need to make sure you praise me in a sentence or two, no matter who or how many people are around us." Kael stared at this crazy woman in silence. Elira, who saw the look on his face, grinned. "What? Scared?" Kael''s mouth twitched. He, however, didn''t lose his control. He remembered Instructor Tharian''s lectures, ''always keep your calm and try to find your advantage in any situation. Then crush the crazy woman in front of you!'' Yes, he added the last part on his own. "And what if I win?" Kael questioned. "Heh, you won''t." Elira waved her hand confidently. Kael, however, smirked and then, "Let''s keep it the same. If I win, you will become my maid, who will follow me around for an entire day. And of course, every time you speak, make sure only praises about me come from your mouth, okay? I am quite excited to see you praise me in front of your brother." Kael smiled. His smirk was even more demonic than Elira''s. Elira was taken aback for a moment. Soon, however, she found her confidence, and then she laughed out loud. "As if you are going to win, Hahahahaha!" ¡­ "Hahaha¡­ Haha¡­ ha¡­" Elira laughed awkwardly. ''H-He actually did it¡­ That makes no sense! Even she needed an entire month to break through!'' Elira''s world was falling apart. Right now, however, she had another, much more important thing to worry about. "K-Kael, m-my most t-talented student, there is no need to take things t-this far, is there? You know your instructor only did it so she could push you to your fullest potential, right?" "Hmmmm? Is the Royal Court Mage Elira going back on her word?" Kael leaned forward and questioned. "T-That''s not it. I am simply saying it is unnecessary." "How can that be? How can the Royal Court Mage Elira''s words be unnecessary? Do you realize how many people, including me, idealize you?" "No, y-you don''t understand. I am the Court Mage, I cannot stay with you for an entire day, I have duties that I need to fulfill-" "You still haven''t used this month''s leave, so you do not have to worry about that." Kael smiled lightly, and Elira widened her eyes in disbelief. "How did you know that?" Kael stared at Althea, who stood a few meters away, and smiled. "I have my ways." Elira, who understood what he meant, turned towards Althea with a shocked look on her face. "Althea, how could you¡­?" "¡­" The Almoner of Services didn''t reply. She had no intention of becoming part of the banter between the two fools. "Althea¡­" Seeing how she blatantly ignored her, Elira was even more shocked. Then, she slowly turned towards Kael and, "You aren''t going to back down, are you?" "Not a chance." Kael answered with a smile, and Elira clenched her fists, her face twitching nonstop. "I''ll make you regret it, show-off." "Mind your manners, Maid." Chapter 42 - 42: Death. After the Magic Training, where Kael finally learned a Second Circle Spell, raising his CE even further, it was time for the Leadership and Strategy Classes. Marshal Therian walked in, on time as usual. "Marshal Therian." Kael bowed and greeted respectfully. "Have you been well?" Therian questioned with a light nod. Kael nodded back. Therian''s eyes then fell on the woman standing next to Kael and he frowned. "Court Mage Elira?" "Marshal Therian!" Elira saluted, placing her fist on her chest. Therian nodded at her and then questioned. "Are you perhaps not done with today''s training and require more time? We can arrange something if it is important." "No, t-that''s not it¡­" Elira stuttered, not knowing how she should say this. But then, "Instructor Therian." Kael stepped in. "My Almoner of Services was unwell, so Instructor Elira took her place for the day. I tried to deny, saying that I would be fine without Althea looking out for me, but she wouldn''t listen. Thinking it would be rude to deny her any further, I gave in, leading to this situation." "So she is here as your Almoner of Services?" Therian blinked, clearly surprised. "That is correct." Kael nodded with a light smile on his face. Therian, on the other hand, glanced at Elira and, "I didn''t know Court Mage Elira and Hero Kael were so close." Hearing those words, Kael''s smile widened as he replied, "We are indeed." He looked at Elira with a look that said, ''Don''t go back on your words,'' and Elira, who saw that and understood exactly what it meant, forced herself to smile and, "W-We are. H-Hero Kael is such a wonderful student, it is difficult not to be impressed by his performance." To praise Kael every time she said something for the next 24 hours¡­ Elira knew these 24 hours would be nothing short of hell. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "R-Right, Hero Kael is indeed impressive." Even the Marshal was taken aback by Elira''s odd behavior. He, however, had learned to ignore strange things and focus on his work, so not paying any mind to Elira''s presence, he called out. "Kael." "Yes, Instructor." "Today we will discuss an integral part of Leadership. Something all Leaders have to become accustomed to, Especially you." Kael nodded, listening to Therian''s words attentively. "Death." Therian''s words echoed throughout the hall. Kael''s and even Elira''s expressions changed when they heard those words. "When you lead, you must learn to live with the deaths of those who follow you. Sometime, someday, your decision, right or wrong, will cost lives. It could be a mistake in your judgment, leading to a wrong call, or something that was completely out of your control. Sometimes, you would even need to willingly sacrifice your men." Kael''s expression changed when he heard those words. Sacrifice his men...? Order them to rush to their deaths...? Kael wasn''t sure if he could do it. "A few must fall for many to rise. Such is the balance of life." Therian spoke with a solemn look on his face. "As the Hero, you need to get accustomed to death, Even the deaths of your most trusted aides." The moment Therian said those words, those images, along with all those emotions he felt back then, returned, ready to haunt Kael again. Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump Once again, his chest tightened, his heartbeat rose, and his breathing became uneven. "Haaahh¡­ Haahh¡­" "Kae¡ª" Elira, who saw that, was about to rush towards Kael in worry. She could feel it, she could see how Kael''s body was trembling even when he did his best to try and hide it. This was the first time she had seen Kael in such a state. Yes, the Marshal''s words were heavy, but to think they would have such an impact on Kael¡­ This didn''t make sense. Something was wrong, and Elira needed to find out what it was and treat him. She couldn''t let anything happen to Kael. The Court Mage was prepared to call every single Healer inside the Royal Castle to come and treat him, but suddenly, Therian raised his hand, stopping her as he stared at Kael. Elira frowned, confused as to what the Marshal wanted to do. Therian, however, just continued, completely ignoring Kael''s state. "A Hero must be strong, not just in body, but also in mind and spirit. You must learn to endure pain that would break lesser men. You must carry the weight of decisions that cost lives. To lead is to bear that burden." Therian''s voice echoed inside Kael''s head, trying to overpower his thoughts. Kael clenched his fists, doing everything in his power to throw these visions out of his mind, but the visions were too strong and deeply ingrained in his mind for him to forget. "A Hero must be prepared for anything. He must know how to win in any situation and¡­ he must know how to lose. Such is the life of the Hero. Such is the mantle you bear." Therian''s voice rang out again, Elira continued to observe Kael intensely, she was prepared to go against the Marshal''s orders the moment she noticed something was wrong. "Of course, as you follow this, you must not forget the value of the lives you have sacrificed. You must remember each and every one of them. Keep in mind that sacrificing your men is the last option. Keep your eyes and ears open, scan for every opportunity, use everything you have in your arsenal, push yourself to the limits, fight and continue to fight till your body gives out. Win, and win without any sacrifices. Because a victory that comes with sacrifices is a loss. And Heroes aren''t born to lose." Therian slowly walked towards Kael and placed his hand on his shoulders. "So, Kael Carter," He leaned forward, bringing his face close to Kael''s, and, "Win." Kael heard those words, and suddenly, his hazy mind started clearing up. Yes. Win. He just needed to win. He just needed to win in a way where he would never need to sacrifice his allies¡ªespecially his Igni. He wouldn''t let anyone, anything, touch him. Kael''s eyes flared up again as his body started returning to normal. Elira continued to observe the look on Kael''s face... It was a side she had never seen before. Countless thoughts ran wild in her head. Therian, on the other hand, smiled as he stared at Kael. "Good." He praised. "There are things you cannot change, But there are things you¡ªyour mere presence¡ªcertainly can. Focus on that and, Don''t let me down, Hero Kael." Kael nodded with a determined look on his face. Therian nodded back. The lecture continued. Therian talked about the burdens of a Leader¡ªburdens that scared Kael¡ªbut for himself and for Igni, he was ready to bear them. Chapter 43 - 43: Annoying little rat. "Today''s lecture was an essential and burdensome one, So I shall free you a few minutes prior to your schedule so you can calm your occupied mind." Therian spoke in a calm voice. "Thank you, Instructor Therian." Kael nodded, not refusing the Marshal''s favor. Therian nodded back as he stood up. "Be well, Hero Kael." "Yes, you too, Marshal." Kael answered respectfully, and the Marshal turned around, leaving the training hall 30 minutes early. The moment he left, Kael sat on the chair and closed his eyes. Instantly, his focus shifted to the Sanctuary, where Igni was sleeping inside the Molten Lava, a perfect environment for him. "Kyu~" The moment Igni sensed his presence, he opened his eyes and called out, his eyes shining with pure and innocent joy. And that one voice was enough to put a smile on Kael''s face. He didn''t know why or how it happened, but within a week, Igni seemed to have become his entire life. Kael was an orphan. He was always forced to fend for himself, and since he knew he needed to study to continue getting the scholarship, that is what he did. All his life, he never actually got close to anyone. Yes, he had friends, but maybe it was because he had developed a habit since childhood¡ªhe never relied on anyone or got too close to them. Igni, however, was an exception to this. The instant that little baby was born and looked at Kael with his big amber eyes, something within Kael stirred. He didn''t know what it was, but his love and affection for the little dragon only continued to rise even further. In an unknown world where he didn''t know anyone, Igni became his only support, someone he could hug tightly and sleep, someone who eased his heart, someone whose presence alone filled him with¡­ joy¡­ This was also the reason why that vision has such a strong effect on him every time he sees or recalls it. Yes, Kael had attachment issues, his love for Igni was growing stronger and stronger, and seeing the Dragon''s death with his own eyes had become traumatizing. It filled him with a fear he had never known before, putting him in a state he had never experienced. Of course, the little Dragon wasn''t just the problem, he was the solution as well. While the vision did indeed horrify him, looking at Igni eased his heart. "Kyu~" Igni called out again. Since he was inside the Sanctuary, the connection between him and Kael was stronger, making it easier for Kael to understand what he was trying to say. "Not now, little guy. There are still people here." "Kyu¡­" Igni lowered his giant head, disappointed. "I promise I will make it up to you. I have also prepared a new game for us to play. I am sure it will be fun." "Kyu!" Igni nodded, and Kael chuckled. He interacted with Igni for a little longer, then he opened his eyes and saw Elira staring at him from a distance. "What is it?" Kael questioned directly. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Nothing. I was just wondering if you were alright." Elira answered, and hearing those words, Kael smirked, "You forgot to praise me." "You¡­" Elira''s mouth twitched in frustration. "If you still remember that, then I guess I was worried for nothing." The Court Mage snorted. "Annoying little rat." She muttered inaudibly. Kael, however, didn''t say anything and continued to stare at her, as if waiting for something. Elira, who realized what he wanted, felt her frustration rising beyond limits. Right now, the Court Mage wanted nothing more than to burn this brat to cinders. For now, however, she held herself back and, "I-I guess I should have known, y-you are the greatest and strongest Hero who will protect our world. What could possibly worry you?" Kael''s smile widened as he heard those words. This felt much better than he thought it would. "Hmm, now that I think about it." Suddenly, another idea popped into his head and he stared at Elira. The Court Mage, however, stayed silent. Since she was supposed to praise Kael every time she spoke, she decided not to speak until the wager ended. Kael chuckled and continued without her response, "Don''t you think the bet is somewhat incomplete? You are supposed to praise me every time you say something, but¡­ What if you go back on your word? I mean, it won''t be fun if I need to keep reminding you again and again, now would it? It would feel like I am begging you to praise me when it should sound natural." Kael shook his head without pause. Elira frowned, confused as to what this sly brat was trying to get to. "How about this?" Kael leaned forward, his smirk widening. "Every time you forget to praise me, your time as my maid will increase by an hour. What do you think?" Kael questioned, and in an instant, Elira snapped. "Haah!? Now that you have won by luck, you are adding conditions to the bet!? Do you not know how a bet works!? ''How about it!?'' How about it what!? Nothing''s changing! You should have thought of it before you made the bet!" At her retort, Kael just smiled, "See? You forgot to praise me again." Elira''s expression changed, and she clenched her fists in frustration. To think she would need to praise this hateful brat again. "How about this? If you agree to my condition, you will not have to praise me this time." Elira turned towards Kael, clearly interested. After all, this new condition wouldn''t mean anything as long as she didn''t mess up. Not to mention, she wasn''t planning to say anything for the rest of the day anyway, so the chances that she would mess up were non-existent. Once she had thought this through, Elira nodded. "So you agree?" Kael questioned with a playful smirk. Elira, however, just glared at him in anger, making him raise his hand as he gave in. "Alright, alright. So I take it you agree." Elira nodded, and the bet''s new condition was added. A condition that the Court Mage might regret soon. Kael chuckled, staring at the door, and on cue, the doors opened up, and Master Tamer Lyric walked in. The Instructor, however, wasn''t alone¡ªshe had come together with a little girl who looked no older than 15. Elira narrowed her eyes when she saw the girl. Kael, on the other hand, grinned wickedly as he stared at his Magic Instructor, then at the Court Mage. For some reason, he felt like he was going to enjoy today''s class. Chapter 44 - 44: Seraphina Ashvein "Instructor Lyric, good afternoon." Kael bowed his head and greeted politely. Elira, who saw that, narrowed her eyes. ''Why does this brat greet everyone so politely but treats me like some random street performer?'' She still remembered how he greeted her with a ''Yo!'' yesterday while he was lying on the floor, being healed by Althea. The difference in tone felt like an insult to her dignity. "Hero Kael." While the Court Mage was busy with her thoughts, Lyric nodded back. Then, she pointed at the little girl next to her and, "She is Seraphina Ashvein. You can call her Sera. She just turned twelve two weeks ago and received her Second Bond. I have been helping her grow her new Bond quickly in her personal chamber but from now on," Lyric glanced at Kael and, "You two will train together." Kael nodded. Elira, on the other hand, had a different reaction. "Did you say Ashvein?" The Court Mage then glanced at Kael, and before he could say anything, "And yes, in case you are wondering, Hero Kael''s Almoner of Services is unwell, and since our dear Hero is such a hardworking and charismatic individual, I decided to assist him in her stead." Elira ''praised'' the Hero, avoiding the penalty. "O-Oh." Lyric was momentarily stunned, not knowing what to say. Elira, however, ignored her reaction and stared at the little girl before turning back towards Lyric with a questioning look on her face. Since she decided to willingly praise him in order to inquire about her, Kael guessed that it was something important. And he was correct. "Yes, Sera is Grand Marshal Varyon''s youngest daughter." Lyric confirmed, and this time, even Kael''s expression changed as he stared at the girl in front of him. She had a round face, and soft, wavy auburn hair. Her bright, amethyst eyes sparkled with curiosity and mischief, while her rosy cheeks and delicate features gave her a doll-like appearance. ''This adorable little thing is the daughter of the strongest man in the Kingdom?'' Kael was taken aback. Sera caught him staring and pointed at him with her small finger. "You are the Hero who can''t bring his Bond out of the Sanctuary!" She exclaimed. "Pfft!" Elira laughed out loud. Kael momentarily blinked before he turned towards Lyric. The Master Tamer just smiled. There was no point in hiding this from the little one. She would have found out eventually. "I decided to train you two together because I thought that having a companion to learn with might make your Fire Wyvern come out. It would also help you get a practical demonstration of what I say, and well," Lyric then patted Sera''s head and, "She also wanted to meet the Hero." Lyric then glanced at Elira and chuckled lightly, "Who knew she would also get to see the Court Mage? She has quite the luck." Sera stared at Elira for a good few seconds before she cutely tilted her head. "You are the Court Mage? You are so beautiful, just like my mother." Elira smiled at those words. Right now, however, the Court Mage was in a dilemma. She wanted to talk to the girl and answer her back, however, the moment she said something, she would need to praise that brat, and just the thought of that annoyed her. Her big amethyst eyes that were staring at her curiously didn''t help either. In the end, Elira could only give in to the cuteness. She crouched next to Sera and patted her head, "Come now, I have seen Lady Elyndra." She said with a soft smile. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I am nowhere close to her when it comes to beauty. Isn''t she the most beautiful woman in the world? And I see you have inherited her lovely eyes too, eh?" And of course, before Kael could jump in, Elira continued, "Even the Hero here is quite good-looking, don''t you think?" Yes, her mouth was constantly twitching as she said those words. Sera tilted her head in confusion. She was happy when she was compared to her mother, but more than that, her eyes shifted to Kael, who was barely able to control his laughter. Then, she glanced at Elira, after a while, her eyes shimmered with an intelligent glint and she pointed at Elira. "You like the Hero!" She exclaimed with an innocent look on her face. Elira blinked in surprise, unable to believe what she heard. "Pfft!" Kael laughed out loud, unable to hold himself back. He, however, wasn''t planning to end this just yet, so he crouched next to Sera as well and, "Why do you say that?" He questioned. If looks could kill, Kael would have died a thousand times with how Elira was glaring at him. He ignored the Mage, of course. "Because she only talks about you!" Sera answered excitedly as if she had uncovered a big secret. Then, she covered her mouth with her small hands and laughed. "Hehe~ The Hero already found his princess." "N-No, that''s not it, you are mistaken!" Elira jumped in. Kael stared at the Mage. This time, however, she didn''t praise him. She was ready to take the penalty. "I am mistaken?" Sera tilted her head in confusion. Elira nodded. She didn''t wish to speak where she didn''t have to. "Does it mean you do not like the Hero?" Elira nodded her head, confirming Sera''s words. Sera, however, misinterpreted her nod. "So you do like him!" Elira shook her head again, and this time, Sera just frowned, "What are you trying to say?" "I do not like him." Elira had to give up and have her penalty increased again. Within just a few minutes, she was regretting falling for Kael''s tricks. "Then why did you call him hardworking and good-looking before? The Hero is exactly like the Heroes in the stories my mother reads to me, and they are all good. If you don''t like him, does this mean you are a bad woman?" In the end, Elira could only glance at Lyric, her eyes literally pleading for help. Lyric frowned. She did think that Elira had been acting strangely ever since she saw her, but since this was nothing new, she decided to ignore it. Now, however, it all felt a little too strange, even for Elira. ''Does she actually have feelings for Hero Kael?'' Lyric thought inwardly as she stared at the two crouching together with Sera, and after thinking about it for a while, Lyric nodded in her head. ''It is about time.'' Elira was at the age where she would act like this. No, actually, she was already past that age. The Magic Genius had spent her entire life learning magic and fighting her brother, so she had no romantic interest in anyone, her brother''s protectiveness didn''t help in the matter either. It was about time she found someone, and even if the one she found was younger than her, Lyric was open-minded. Since both of them were old enough to think for themselves, she decided not to comment about the age difference and accept their choice. So while Elira stared at Lyric, waiting for the Beast Tamer''s help, Lyric raised her thumb, giving her approval with a bright smile on her face. "..." And Elira had no clue what this woman was thinking. Chapter 45 - 45: Drills. "Sera, bring out Luna." After sorting out all the mess, Lyric started her lecture as she stood in front of Kael and Sera. "Yes!" Sera nodded excitedly, and as she closed her eyes, a spatial crack appeared in front of her. A fox with violet eyes and white fur jumped out, quickly landing on Sera''s head. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Luna!" Sera hugged her bond with a bright smile on her face. Her bond, Luna, seemed excited to see her as well and accepted her hug. Kael, Elira, and Lyric smiled at the adorable sight. Kael''s eyes turned golden as he stared at Luna, and a translucent screen appeared in front of him. [Name: Luna] [Race: Moonlight Fox] [Rank: Epic] [Age: 15 days] [Level: 2] [Strength: 5] [Agility: 10] [Speed: 12] [Stamina: 7] [Defense: 5] [Mana: 11] [Intelligence: 6] [Charisma: 7] [Strengths: Agile and Graceful, Natural Affinity for Illusions, Moonlight Empowerment.] [Weaknesses: Fragile Build, Low Stamina, Lack of Offensive Power, Moonlight Dependency] ¡­ ''Hmm, this is the difference between an Epic and a Mythical Rank Beast, huh¡­ Even at Level 2, she was no match for Igni when he was Level 1.'' Kael muttered to himself, and while he was at it, he also stared at Sera. [Name: Seraphina Ashvein] [Race: Human] [Age: 12] [Level: 11] [Strength: 12] [Agility: 16] [Speed: 17] [Stamina: 14] [Defense: 11] [Mana: 25] [Intelligence: 19] [Charisma: 18] [Strengths: Moderate Mana Pool, Quick Reflexes, Clever and Persuasive] [Weaknesses: Low Strength, Weak Defense, Inexperience] ¡­ ''A Second Circle Mage, huh¡­'' Kael raised his eyebrow. ''As expected from the daughter of the strongest man in the Kingdom.'' He noted. Even a little girl in this world wasn''t a harmless stranger. As Kael observed Sera and her bond, Lyric called out. "Alright, Sera, shouldn''t you introduce Luna to the Hero and the Court Mage?" The Master Tamer spoke kindly. "She is Luna, my bond!" Sera nodded and started excitedly. "Luna is a Moonlight Fox. She is an Epic Rank Beast who will become one of the strongest bonds in the future!" Sera declared proudly. "Kyu~" Luna seemed to nod at her words, making Sera even prouder. "Good." Lyric praised. The Master Tamer then turned towards Kael and, "Do you remember all the basic training drills I taught you this past week? Are you following through with those drills with Igni?" "O-Of course, I am. Why would I not? Hahaha~" Kael nodded as he laughed awkwardly. Lyric stared at him for a while. Then, she nodded. "Alright, since I cannot see your Fire Wyvern''s performance myself, I will take your word for it. But today, for ease of my mind, let''s start with Sera''s Mystic Fox doing all those drills. You can watch how she performs and compare her progress with Igni. How does that sound?" "Yes, that sounds very helpful." Kael nodded. Lyric''s gaze lingered on him for a little longer before she nodded back. "Sera." She called out. "You know what to do, correct?" "Yes!" Sera nodded excitedly as she rushed towards the props that were placed a few meters away from them. Then, she started doing the drills with Luna. The first few drills were nothing too complicated: Repeatedly calling the bond by her name to build trust and familiarity, rubbing her fur to build affection. Running together with your bond to build a sense of camaraderie. Most bonds also see this as playing; it keeps them cheerful. There are also scent and sound drills where one introduces various scents and sounds to improve the bond''s sensory awareness. Obstacle navigation, where the bond is required to pass through a simple obstacle course. This mostly involves either jumping or crouching through the wooden obstacles. There is also a drill that requires the bond to pull a heavy object through a rope or push it to build her strength. Training that involves the bond dodging harmless projectiles that are thrown at them to increase agility and prepare them for combat. This also involves biting and clawing practice. Then comes ''special ability'' training. For instance, Luna''s special ability is Moonlight Beam. This drill involves making Luna use her ability and constantly get better at it. And honestly, Luna performed all these drills masterfully. So much so that Lyric leaned towards Kael and whispered gently, "If Igni still cannot do some of these, or if his performance is not comparable to Luna''s, don''t be too tough on him or yourself. Moonlight Foxes are known for their intelligence, so such drills are easier for them. Not to mention that even among other Moonlight Foxes, Luna seems a bit special. She is much more intelligent than beasts her age. She is also a week older than Igni, so do not worry too much. Let Igni do things at his own pace." Hearing those words, Kael smiled awkwardly. "Yes, Instructor Lyric. I will be patient with Igni." He answered. "I am saying this because I noticed that every time I bring up the topic of these drills, you start acting differently. Give Igni some time, alright?" Lyric spoke gently. Kael smiled at those words, not knowing what to say. He glanced at Sera and Luna, who were completing one drill after another and¡­ His mind started recalling his time with Igni... ¡­ "Alright, Igni, we will now play some games. Are you ready?" "Kyu!" Igni nodded excitedly, his amber eyes shining in excitement. This was Kael''s third day here, and he wanted to try all these drills together with Igni. Calling him by his name was simple enough; that is what he normally did anyway. As for rubbing his scales, he did that very often as well. If there was one thing Kael was confident of, it was his love for Igni and Igni''s love for him. There was no need to ''build'' affection between them. Next was the running drill. Igni''s legs were still not completely developed, so while he was able to run a little, he often slipped and fell. But the little dragon stood right back up with an excited ''Kyu!'' as he followed Kael again with a big, wide smile on his face. Everything went well till then. The problem, however, started with the sensory awareness drills. Kael didn''t know if it was because Igni was a dragon or if there was some other reason, but Igni''s senses were extremely strong. He noticed things even Kael could not. Sometimes, while they played, Igni automatically jumped into his Sanctuary, and a few minutes later, Kael heard a knock on his door. Yes, he sensed a foreign presence and their intention from a distance. A drill that trained his senses? Honestly, Igni should be the one teaching Kael that. And this did not end there. No, this was just the beginning. Chapter 46 - 46: Ignis Performance. This was just the beginning. Kael, who already knew it was pointless to do sensory drills, took half an hour to create an obstacle course for Igni to cross using the wooden obstacles Lyric gave him. Then, he stood at the opposite end of the course and, "Alright, Igni, come to me. Let''s see how fast you can do it, okay?" He spoke with a big smile on his face. "Kyu!" Igni nodded excitedly as he started running towards him as fast as his little legs allowed him to. Kael chuckled, finding him extremely adorable. He was looking forward to how Igni would jump or crawl through the obstacles. What he forgot, however... was the fact that this little thing was a Dragon. Jump or crawl...? Heh. Flicker Fiery red flames appeared in front of Kael, and within a second, all the ''obstacles'' were turned into ash. And Igni... "Kyu!" He rushed towards Kael with his small legs, stepping over the ''obstacles'' he destroyed. The only true obstacle between the little Dragon and Kael was his small legs that couldn''t seem to balance the weight of his body, making him slip a few times before he stood up and ran again. "Kyu!" Igni cheered loudly as he hugged Kael''s knees. Yes, just like that, the Obstacle navigation drill was over. And what did Kael do? "Great job, Igni~ You are the best!" He picked Igni up, whose eyes were staring at him with pure affection, and hugged the little thing as tightly as he could. "Kyahaha!" Igni laughed heartily, a laugh that melted Kael''s heart. Igni was too adorable; he couldn''t find faults in him. "Do you want to play more?" Kael questioned. "Kyuu!" Igni nodded. The little dragon was never tired. Kael placed him on the floor. Then, he distanced himself from him and took out the projectiles Lyric had given him. They were made of a soft material, making sure that they wouldn''t hurt baby beasts during the drills. "I will throw these at you, and you need to not get hurt by them, okay?" Yes, it was the agility drill. But... S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To a dragon, it was meaningless. Why move when you can just... burn the projectiles? Flicker And this is exactly what the dragon did. It didn''t matter how many projectiles Kael threw at him¡ªone, ten, or hundred¡ªit was all the same. He turned them all to ashes. Yes, Fire was indeed the answer to everything. "..." Kael stared at the little dragon in silence. "Kyu!" Igni cheered, looking at him with eyes that shined with expectation. "Great job, Igni!" Kael clapped; he couldn''t resist when the little thing stared at him like that. The training continued. The biting and clawing drills? The little dragon was stronger than Kael himself; he could crush every prop Lyric had given to Kael with ease. The drill to push or pull heavy objects? The little guy could thwart away most of the ''heavy objects'' these baby beasts were supposed to pull as if they were made of paper. As for the ''special ability'' training? As a Fire Dragon, Igni''s special ability was Fire Magic, and the two-day-old baby was better than Kael in every possible way. Flames literally appeared and disappeared on his whims. If Kael showed him a Fire Ball, he would fill the entire room with similar Fireballs, and he would do it with such precision that there would be no damage. Practicing Fire Magic with someone like Igni was nothing more than a humbling experience for the Hero. ... "Yes, Instructor Lyric, I will give Igni all the time he needs..." Kael nodded with a weak smile on his face. Don''t be too hard on him if he still cannot do what Luna could? That little thing doesn''t do anything! He just fires his way through everything! The Hero had his own troubles. "Hero Kael, I am here to help you. If there is something that is bothering you, you should ask. If you think it is too much for Igni right now, don''t hesitate to say anything. I''ll help you find some easier drills that Igni can complete to raise his confidence." Lyric spoke gently and Kael could only smile and nod at her. He couldn''t really say that what he needed wasn''t something easier, but drills used to train fully grown beasts, now could he? After all, a Fire Wyvern would never reach that level within a week. No normal Beast could. ''I need to figure something out...'' Kael muttered inwardly. This couldn''t go on like this. Igni was too strong. He needed a way to train him and make him learn how to use that strength. Of course, he knew that this was the consequence of his decision, but even then, Kael felt like he did well by hiding Igni''s existence. As to how he would deal with this matter, it was for the Future Kael to solve. The lecture continued. Soon, it ended, freeing Kael from today''s training. He lazily stretched his body, his then, his eyes fell on Elira, who was about to leave. "Do not be late tomorrow, maid. I do not like people who do not know how to value their time, is that clear?" Elira, who was just about to walk past the doors, froze, her body trembling in anger. She swore in her heart she would make this brat pay. Kael laughed out loud, enjoying every second of this interaction. He then returned to his room, and after scanning his surroundings, he brought out Igni. It was time to eat and play with Igni while also meditating and reviewing what he had learned today. These days, Kael has also taken an interest in Nerathis''s history. After all, it was a world with magic. He wanted to know more about it, especially now that it was evident that he would be staying here for a long time. He continued this for a few more hours, and finally, his exhaustion caught up to him. Making sure that he was extremely tired, Kael went to bed, ready to sleep. He had noticed that if he pushed his body to the limit, he didn''t see that Vision again. So that is what he had been doing all this time. Kael slept like a log, and the next day when he woke up, he was greeted by the feeling of cold steel biting into his wrists and neck. Rattle Rattle Suddenly, his surroundings shook. ''What in the hell is happening...?'' Kael frowned in confusion as he realized where he was. It was an iron cage that seemed to be covered by a cloth, hindering his vision. The smell of rust and damp earth filled his nostrils. He tried to move, but the chain tied to his collar held him down. ''W-Wha-'' Before the panic could even set in, the cloth covering his cage was removed. The bright light almost blinded him, forcing him to close his eyes. "Come out." A giant, muscular man opened the cage and pulled him out using the chain without mercy. Caught unprepared, Kael couldn''t balance himself and fell on the ground, scratching his knee. The giant man got angry. "What are you lying there for!? Stand up!" He yelled as he pulled the chain again, forcing Kael to stand. Chapter 47 - 47: Gasta Slave Market "What are you lying there for!? Stand up!" The man shouted as he pulled the chain, forcing Kael to stand. Kael glanced at the man, his eyes were still blinded by the brightness since they were used to the cage''s darkness. The man, however, didn''t take kindly to his gaze and, "Haah!? Who do you think you are staring at!? You wanna die!?" The man shouted. Kael wanted to retort or fight back. His body, however, jerked in fear as he quickly glanced away, not daring to look at the man in front of him anymore. This was when Kael realized¡­ This was not real¡­ He was seeing another vision today. ''So I am captured now?'' He raised his eyebrows. ''What sort of insane fetishes did the Future me go through?'' He was pitying his Future Self. Then, he just sighed in relief. ''Whatever, at least it is different than before.'' Just the thought of ''that'' vision still haunted him to his core. Kael knew that watching it again would give him another panic attack. "Yes, that is it. Learn to keep your gaze down from now on. You are no Hero anymore. You are a lowly Slave, and this will be your new home till you are sold." The man grinned. ''A slave¡­?'' Kael frowned. His eyes then fell on a building. Strangely enough, the language used in this world was extremely similar to English, so Kael never had difficulty understanding it. Even now, he didn''t have a difficult time reading the name of the building. {Gasta Slave Market: Explore, Engage, Enslave~} ''It even has a tagline¡­ How progressive.'' Kael couldn''t help but comment in his head. Suddenly, the giant man pulled him towards the building. Once again, Kael lost his balance and was about to fall, but as if fearing the man''s wrath, his body quickly regained its balance and obediently followed behind him. The moment he entered the building, Kael could feel the heavy air, thick with despair and hopelessness. Cages lined the walls, packed with men, women, and even children. Some were scrawny and malnourished, while others looked stronger. The women were barely covered with rags, their bodies were exposed for all to see. Kael thought he would be thrown into one of these overcrowded cages, but the giant man bypassed them all, dragging him toward the back of the building. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, they reached the end of the corridor, where barely anyone could see them. Without saying a word, the man picked the fire lamp hanging on the wall, and the instant he did, Clank Clank Clank As if some mechanism were activated, the wall slid aside, revealing a staircase leading underground. The man descended. Kael followed. The air down here was more oppressive. It wasn''t just a slave market, it was a prison. It was as if the entire place was built to mentally break even the strongest of warriors. Unlike the cages above, the cells here were empty. Yes, no one was here. The silence was deafening. Only the sound of their footsteps echoing all over the place could be heard. Just imagining staying in this dark place for a few hours felt no different than torture. Kael was taken to the very end of the underground prison and his eyes fell on three cages that were positioned in a different location than others, isolating them even further in this haunted place. Two of them were empty, however, as he stared at the one in the middle... His eyes fell on her. A slave whose face was covered by her long purple hair. She was wearing a dark robe, there was an iron collar on her neck which was bound by 5 chains, making it impossible for her to move even a little. Her body trembled when she heard the sound of people walking in, it seemed like she was too used to the loneliness of this place. Slowly, she raised her head to see who had come here, and only then, was Kael able to have a clear look at her face. Her purple, hollow eyes seemed to have given up on everything. Her face, covered with dirt, was hauntingly beautiful. Even in this state, she was nothing short of perfection. A perfection from which Kael couldn''t look away. He had seen his fair share of beautiful women in his life. He had seen models and actresses who had captivated the hearts of millions, but never in his life had he seen a woman more beautiful than her. *Picture* Kael wanted nothing more than to continue to stare at this woman. Even when the giant man pulled him towards his cell, his eyes stayed locked on her, but just as the man threw him in his cage, The Vision ended, and Kael woke up. ''W-What¡­?'' Kael couldn''t help but question, his mind still in a state of confusion. He looked around and realized that he was back in his room. Little Igni, who had grown a little, was still sleeping beside him. Kael, however, felt strange. Even now, he was having a hard time understanding what happened at the end of the vision. The image of that woman didn''t leave his mind no matter how hard he tried. This was the first time he was truly captivated by someone. However, thinking about her condition and then his own, Kael''s mind was filled with countless questions. If his theory was correct and these ''visions'' were indeed trying to tell him something¡­ Then what did this vision mean¡­? What was this vision trying to tell him? How did he, a Hero who is surrounded by so many strong people, end up as a Slave? Was the Drakthar Kingdom attacked by some other force? Did the Kingdom somehow fall, and he was captured? That was one possibility. However, what made Kael uneasy was something else. He had seen the reflection of his own face in the Iron Bars of the Cage he was in. Unlike in the first vision, where his face had mutated and looked much older than right now, his face in this vision seemed... a lot like his face now. Even his body¡ªunlike the body that felt foreign, filled with much more strength even when it was pushed to that state¡ªin this vision, his body felt very similar to his own. Yes, it still felt stronger, but Kael believed it was a level he could reach within a few months. All of this suggested that the timeline of this vision was very close. Did it mean that the Drakthar Kingdom would fall soon? But... Drakthar was the Strongest Kingdom in Nerathis. How could the strongest Force fall so soon...? Or¡­ Was he getting it all wrong and something entirely different happened...? Was he... betrayed¡­? Kael''s face turned grim when he thought of that possibility. Of course, it could be possible that he was overthinking it, or the Slave Market might be metaphorical, having some other hidden message. But the question still remained, What did this Vision mean? And¡­ who was that woman he saw before¡­? Chapter 48 - 48: I promise my room doesn’t smell bad. Knock Knock "Coming." Hearing the knock on his door, Kael quickly opened it. His eyes then fell on Elira, who was standing on the other side. *Elira''s Picture* "Please come in." Kael nodded. He had already put Igni back in the Sanctuary, so he wasn''t worried. Elira, however, was confused. She was fully expecting Kael to tease her the moment he saw her, but for some reason, today, Kael seemed¡­ different. This was the first time she had seen him acting like thi- No. This wasn''t the first time. Elira still remembered how Kael reacted yesterday to Marshal Therian''s words. Even after his breathing stabilized, Kael needed a few minutes to return to normal, and all that while, he remained silent. It was similar to how Kael was acting right now. "Is there a problem? I promise my room doesn''t smell bad." Seeing that she hadn''t come in, Kael tried to joke. Elira, however, could tell that he was trying too hard. Something was definitely wrong with him. She walked into the room and continued to observe Kael, trying to figure out what the problem was and somehow find a way to help him. After all, as much as they bantered with each other, at the end of the day, for Elira, Kael was a man who was summoned to their world as its Hero, and she had seen how hard he had been working to not let down people who put their trust on him. She had seen how hard he had been working for the sake of people he didn''t even know a few days ago. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. All of this was more than enough for Elira to know everything she needed to know about him. Kael was a man with a pure heart, a man who pushes himself to his limit for the sake of the people around him, and when this man seemed down and worried about something, Elira wanted to help him in any way she could. "Why aren''t you saying anything?" Noticing that she was just staring at him, Kael questioned with a frown on his face. Then, a smile appeared on his face as he realized it. "Ah, the bet." With a chuckle, he shook his head and, "Let''s end it, shall we? Dealing with a silent you is much more difficult than I thought." Kael offered, and now, Elira was sure. This man, there was definitely something wrong with him. There was no way he wouldn''t try to find ways to make her speak just so he could force her to praise him. To end the bet just like that¡ªhe must be sick. "What? You don''t trust me? Do I need to swear an oath or something like that?" Kael laughed, but then, "What happened?" Elira questioned directly. "Hm?" Kael tilted his head in confusion. "You look worried, what is it?" Elira questioned, and this time, Kael was the one staring at her, wondering if he should share his doubts or not. Honestly, in these seven days he had been here, the person he thought he could trust the most out of all he had met so far was Elira. This was also the reason he was much more open with her than with others. But¡­ Did he trust her enough to say anything¡­? Kael wasn''t sure. Therefore, he decided to take it slow. "Purple hair and purple eyes¡­ This is the sign of the Drakthar Royal Family, correct?" He questioned, and at this question, Elira frowned. "Why are you suddenly asking that?" "Just answer the question." Elira stared at Kael for a while. Then, she nodded. "That is correct. Purple hair and purple eyes are the sign of Drakthar Royalty. It is recognized worldwide." "What are the chances of meeting another person with similar features without him being a part of the Royal Family?" "Chances of them having both purple hair and eyes?" Elira started thinking. "Well, certainly not very high. Every person I saw with those features was part of the Royal Family." "Does this mean if a person has purple eyes and hair, it is highly likely they are a part of the Drakthar Royal Family?" Kael questioned, and Elira couldn''t help but frown. "What are you trying to get at?" "Nothing, I am just curious. The purple hair and eyes look very¡­" Kael answered, staring at a wall while his mind recalled the vision again. "Attractive." He completed his words. "You are asking about that because it looks attractive?" Elira questioned, her mouth twitching without stop. Kael, however, ignored that and suddenly asked another question, "Elira, how many members are there in the Drakthar Royal Family? Are there any members that are not currently present here?" The moment he asked this question, Elira''s expression changed momentarily, something that Kael didn''t miss. "What are you talking about? Why would members of the Royal Family not be in the Royal Castle?" The mage answered defensively. "It''s only natural to assume some members might leave for political or personal reasons, no? Surely they don''t all stay cooped up in the castle, do they? Gosh, that would be a nightmare. Imagine having a bunch of NEETs leading the country." Kael chuckled. "What?" Elira furrowed her brows. "They do leave the Kingdom for reasons, right?" "Yes, of course they do." Elira nodded. "They all have their own duties to perform outside the castle walls, for now however, all members of the Royal Family are currently in the Royal Castle because they were all called back since the Hero was about to be summoned. Now that you are here, they should leave soon." "I see." Kael nodded, staring at Elira without any changes in his expression. "Now that I think about it, I haven''t actually interacted with any other members of the Royal Family other than the King. Won''t they think I am rude?" "Of course not. They know how hard you are working for the sake of Nerathis. Do you think these pointless formalities matter when the fate of the world is at stake?" Elira answered instantly. "You are correct." Kael nodded with a smile. "I guess I will continue doing what I am doing and not think too much about it." "Mhm, you already have too much on your plate. You don''t need to burden yourself with these pointless formalities." Elira spoke, and Kael nodded again, not saying anything else. He then went into the bathroom, and after freshening up, he prepared for today''s training. Just like that, another week passed by, and today, it was time for Marshal Therian''s test. "Are you prepared?" The Marshal questioned. "I am." Kael nodded with a determined look on his face. Chapter 49 - 49: You don’t have to take this test. "Are you prepared?" Early in the morning, the Marshal questioned. This was the time for Kael''s Physical Conditioning Training; however, from today onwards, till the time this test concludes, Kael will not follow the same training regime since the test required him to leave the Capital. "I am." Kael nodded with a determined look on his face. Right now, he wasn''t in the training hall but in a strategy room where Marshal Therian would be providing the details of his test. The Marshal stared at Kael, pleased to see his confidence. Then, after a satisfied nod, he turned towards the map of Drakthar that was placed on the big table and pointed at a certain town that was near the borders. "This is the site of your test, Kael." Therian informed. Kael walked forward, looking at the map, and read the name of the town the Marshal had pointed at. "Estwyn Town." He muttered. Therian nodded. "That is correct." Then, the Marshal brought out another map. This was the detailed map of Estwyn Town and its surroundings. Kael observed it calmly and the Marshal continued. "For a few months now, Estwyn and its people have constantly been harassed by wild beasts that once protected them." "Corrupted Beasts." Kael spoke in a solemn tone. Beasts who had lost all their reasoning and were attacking the humans they once protected and lived together with. Therian nodded grimly. "While at first, the town''s soldiers were able to take care of it, the scouts have reported that the beasts are now gathering and are estimated to launch a major attack on the town within three days¡ªan attack the town''s forces will be unable to resist. For this test, you will be sent to this town as the leader of their troops and lead them to victory against the beast tide. This test will measure your ability to lead, strategize, and adapt under pressure." The Marshal then handed over a stack of neatly organized papers and, "These are the details of the test. Everything you need to know is mentioned here. These also contain some sensitive information, so make sure others do not see it. Always be wary of the people around you." He said, his voice steady. Kael nodded with a solemn look on his face. "You''ll be departing in an hour together with your troops. By carriage pulled by our Magic Beasts, it will take around thirty hours to get there. I suggest you read all the details and come up with a plan of attack while you are in the carriage. When you get there and see the terrain yourself, tweak your plans, gain the townsfolks'' trust, and lead them to victory. Those 500 lives are in your hands." Therian spoke with a solemn look on his face, and Kael turned silent. The responsibility was too big for an orphan like him who had done nothing but fend for himself all his life. Yes, he knew what this meant when he was told to become a Hero. He knew saving the world was no laughing matter. But now, when the responsibility was finally upon him, he was nervous. Therian noticed that. The Marshal, however, decided not to say anything. After all, this was a test. He just gave one last warning to the Hero standing in front of him. "Keep this in mind. Other than the three soldiers sent with you, you will be getting no assistance from the Kingdom whatsoever. As much as we would like to pamper you and keep you protected, the Hero cannot be born in a shielded environment." The Marshal then stared right into Kael''s eyes and, "So if something does go wrong during the test or if your life is threatened, There will be no one there to protect you." The Marshal warned with a strict look on his face, and it was now that Kael realized it, all this while, when he had been calling all his instructors crazy while thanking god for getting one normal instructor in the form of the Marshal, he was wrong. The Marshal was the worst of them all! The others were only beating him up. This man was sending him straight to his death, and he was doing it so calmly as well! "I hope that is clear." The Marshal spoke, and while he could curse all he wanted in his heart, in the end, Kael could only nod. "Good. The meeting''s adjourned." Therian nodded, signaling Kael to leave. Kael turned around, and just as he was about to walk out of the room, "I wish you luck, Hero Kael." The Marshal spoke in a grim tone. "Thank you, Marshal Therian." Kael paused for a moment as he then walked away without turning around. ¡­ After Kael walked out of the strategy room and was going towards his room, two people appeared in front of him. They were the Stormhold siblings. "Kael¡­" Elira called out with a worried look on her face. Obviously, she knew about the test. Even Arlan seemed worried, something that was quite out of character for both of them. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael chuckled as he stared at the siblings. "Don''t take it the wrong way, but I still get surprised every time I see you two together. I always wonder how you two haven''t killed each other yet." "Is it not clear? It''s because the difference between our strengths is too big for her to kill me." Arlan''s answer was quick. "Yes, I am way stronger, so I pity the fool." Elira snorted. "Heh, we all know you would be on the ground before you can even cast any of those spells you are so proud of." "You will be burned before you get close to me." "I am close to you now." "Oh yeah? Why don''t you try¡­" And... the bickering started. Kael couldn''t help but chuckle. It was so easy to trigger the two siblings that it had become a game for him now. Soon, however, as if recalling something, Elira shouted, "Shut it, you fool! We will settle this later. I came here to say something important." Arlan blinked as he heard those words. Then, he nodded and turned silent. Elira glanced at Kael and, "You don''t have to take this test." Chapter 50 - 50: I will not. "You don''t have to take this test." Elira started. "If you ask the King, I am sure he will cancel the test. You have only been here for two weeks, sending you to a border town to protect it from the Corrupted Beasts is ridiculous." "Or better yet, ask the King to send us with you. That will solve everything." Arlan suggested, and Elira''s face twitched. "Are you a fool? What would be the point of the test if we were sent? What''s next? Sending the Grand Marshal to help farmers plough the fields?" "¡­" This time, Arlan couldn''t even come up with a retort. Elira was correct. If they went together with Kael, there would be no test left, and Kael knew that as well. How could he not? These people in front of him were monsters through and through. They were, without a doubt, two of the strongest people he had met. [Name: Elira Stormhold] [Race: Human] [Age: 28] [Level: 67] [Strength: 40] [Agility: 50] [Speed: 60] [Stamina: 80] [Defense: 55] [Mana: 153] [Intelligence: 180] [Charisma: 85] [Strengths: Master of Fire Magic, Magic Knowledge, High Mana Reserves, Quick Reflexes, Charismatic] [Weaknesses: Weak Physical Combat, Overconfidence in Magic] ¡­ [Name: Arlan Stormhold] [Race: Human] [Age: 35] [Level: 75] [Strength: 150] [Agility: 145] [Speed: 140] [Stamina: 150] [Defense: 145] [Mana: 50] [Intelligence: 95] [Charisma: 120] [Strengths: Supreme Combat Prowess, Unyielding Resilience, Master of Battlefield, Tactical Genius, Commanding Aura] [Weaknesses: Low Mana, Overreliance on Physical Combat] ¡­ Just looking at the numbers on the screen made Kael smile wryly. Noticing his golden eyes, Elira narrowed hers. "You are using your ability again." "It''s a habit." Kael replied. "Yo¡ª" Elira wanted to say something. She, however, quickly shook her head and, "That''s not important. Go talk to the King." She suggested. Kael, however, shook his head. "I will not." "Why!?" "There is no point. I need to take this responsibility one day or another. Postponing it won''t help. I have been trained for this. Marshal Therian knows how capable I am, and he must have selected the test for me, keeping that in mind. I believe it would be better to rise to the opportunity now than later." Kael answered. He had given it quite a lot of thought. Honestly, he wanted nothing more than to run away and hide. He, however, was the Hero. Now, Kael didn''t have a Hero Complex or whatever. What he was, was a realist. He knew what him being the Hero meant to the people of this world. The only reason he had been able to live this lavish lifestyle was because he was the Hero. What if he decided to abandon this title? What if he stated that he wouldn''t be protecting the world anymore and wanted nothing to do with it? Kissing goodbye to this lavish lifestyle would be the least of his worries. Kael had been looking around. Ever since he saw that vision and that girl with features similar to the Drakthar Royalty, he had been trying to learn more about the Drakthar Royal Family. Yet, while he didn''t find anything concrete, he definitely noticed something strange. All the royal families Kael had heard or read about were known for their love of portraits. The Drakthar Royal Family wasn''t any different. There were paintings of past kings and queens displayed across the castle. Kael had even been to the Grand Hall of Kings, where portraits of past and present rulers were lined up. He had read books that documented their histories. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One of the books Kael read documented all the Kings that had sat on the throne and their families. The book also had family portraits of these Kings, together with their Queens and heirs. All Kings except the current one. And it wasn''t just that book. Kael noticed that no matter how hard he looked, no matter how many books he read, he couldn''t find any family portraits where the King was together with the Queen and the Prince. And it wasn''t just the books. Kael remembered that last time, when he tried to talk to Elira, the Court Mage acted strangely. At first, Kael thought it was just a coincidence. Maybe the King didn''t like to show affection in public, or there were some issues within the family. Soon, however, he shook his head. While this was still a possibility, it didn''t sit well with Kael. He was the King¡ªa symbol of perfection, a role model to all. Personal matters, especially family troubles, were not supposed to leak into the public eye. At the very least, there should have been one family portrait of the King together with his wife and child, unless¡­ The King or the Royal Family was trying to hide something or... someone. And the moment he came to this conclusion, the image of that girl with purple hair and eyes strengthened in his mind. Something was definitely wrong here. Kael didn''t know what it was, and honestly, right now, he didn''t care. He just knew one thing. Unlike what he thought when he came here, the Drakthar Royalty wasn''t any different from any other family in power. There were secrets hidden beneath secrets, and he wouldn''t be surprised if the Royal Family turned against him and even went after him if he abandoned his title as the Hero. He was trapped, and he needed to act like the ideal Hero if he wanted to survive. Even if that meant accepting a ''test'' that might kill him. "But you just came here two weeks ago. Sending you to a border town¡­ It is too dangerous." Elira was still worried. Kael stared at the Court Mage and smiled. "You dare look down on me? I am the Hero, you know? I am also the one who won our wager, remember?" He teased. This time, however, Elira didn''t snap as usual. Rather, she stared at Kael, and with a solemn look on her face, she questioned¡ª "Are you sure about this?" "I am." Kael nodded, and in the end, Elira and Arlan gave in. "Alright. We wish you luck." "Thank you." "We have a meeting to attend, so we will take our leave now." Elira informed. "Oh? So you actually do work? I thoug¡ª" "Shut it, brat." "Okay." Kael turned silent as the siblings walked away. Chapter 51 - 51: The Meeting. Once again, the Meeting Hall of the Royal Palace became busy as the King and the Hero''s Five Instructors gathered again. "I expect a definite answer this time." The King spoke with a solemn look on his face as he stared at the Instructors. However, before anyone could start, Elira leaned forward and, "Your Majesty, something disturbs me, and before the meeting begins, I would like to express my troubles." Alden frowned when he heard her words. However, the determined look on Elira''s face told him that she wouldn''t back down, he could only give in and nod. "Speak your mind." "It is about Hero Kael being sent to Estwyn for his mission. Is it truly safe for a Hero, who hasn''t fully grown yet to be sent to a border town? What if something happens to him?" Yes, Kael had told her that he was fine. Elira, however, couldn''t stay calm and decided to talk with the King herself. "I am sure Marshal Therian has his reasons for doing what he is doing." The King answered calmly, but Elira didn''t back down. "I understand that, Your Majesty, but the Hero doesn''t understand the world ye¡ª" "And for what reason do you think I sent him there, Court Mage Elira?" Suddenly, Marshal Therian interjected. Elira turned towards him, and the Marshal continued, "You say the Hero hasn''t yet experienced the world. Then how do you think he is supposed to do that? By staying safe in the Royal Palace and learning magic? The Hero''s potential is high, I get that. You worry about him, I do too. He is the Hero summoned to protect my world; I''d be crazy if I were to actively try and harm him. But at the same time, I also know I cannot be too overprotective. The Hero needs to grow, and for that, he needs to face challenges." The Marshal spoke with a solemn look on his face. "In here, we can teach him to be a model warrior or a mage, but we can never teach him what experience can. That needs to be ingrained in one''s body, and it cannot be done within the safety of the Palace Walls." Elira stared at the Marshal, unable to retort to his words. She, however, was not alone. "Marshal Therian, while I understand your point, do not forget that the world isn''t filled with good people. The Hero''s summoning has definitely drawn evil eyes towards him. I do not think it is wise to send him to a border town at this time. This isn''t about the test itself; what worries me are the other factors." Arlan spoke up, and this time, the rest of the instructors had solemn looks on their faces as well. Seeing his brother''s words had an effect, Elira chimed in as well. "Exactly! This was what I was worried about as well! I think we should give the Hero some time to adjust to this world. Then, as he is more used to his place and has more confidence in himself, you can test him as you would like." "So this was what you were worried about?" Therian raised his eyebrow. "That is correct." "That is an easy matter to solve. You should have said so from the beginning. I, one of the four Marshals of the Drakthar Kingdom, swear with my title on the line that nothing will happen to the Hero during his journey to Estwyn and return." The Marshal spoke solemnly, and in an instant, the hall turned silent. Therian then glanced at Elira and, "Does that ease your mind?" "S-So you are going to protect Kael if something happens?" Elira questioned. "Do not misinterpret my words. I said I would ensure nothing happens to the Hero during his journey to Estwyn. Once he is there, he is all on his own." The Marshal declared coldly. "But¡­" Elira wanted to counter, but she couldn''t come up with anything. She stared at her brother. Arlan, however, shook his head. He understood that what the Marshal said was correct; this was the only way for the Hero to grow. "Alright, we shall not discuss this topic any further." The King ordered. "Yes, Your Majesty." Marshal nodded. Arlan pulled Elira back, and the two nodded as well. "Now," The King started. "Report, how is the Hero''s progress?" He ordered. The five instructors nodded, and Deren started, "Your Majesty, as I mentioned before, the Hero''s Talent is related to physical combat. In these past two weeks, Commander Arlan and I have combined our training sessions, and we are now much more confident in our assessment. This time, we came with evidence to back our claims." "Evidence?" The King raised his eyebrow. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That is correct, Your Majesty." Deren nodded. "Continue." The King ordered. "It is related to the abilities the Hero has awakened." Deren started. "While the Hero himself remains unaware of the nature of his Talent, this doesn''t stop his talent from blooming and showing itself. The Hero, during his training, continues to awaken strange abilities that cannot be recreated through any magic that we know of. His first ability allows him to assess his enemy''s strength, making it an essential ability that would ensure the Hero would never under or overestimate his foes." "That hardly proves a talent in physical combat," Elira interjected. "This ability is valuable to any Mage, Warrior, Tamer, or Leader. It''s far too general to serve as ''evidence.'' I do not see what you are trying to get at here." The rest of the instructors nodded at her words, but then, instead of Deren, the one who answered was Arlan. "Yes, the Court Mage is correct, And this brings me to his second ability, An ability that covers his arm with scales and boosts his physical strength." Arlan then stared at Elira and, "Does Court Mage Elira now see how this ability is related to physical combat?" Elira''s face twitched at those words. Arlan, however, didn''t stop there. "This doesn''t end here, Your Majesty. His third ability emits a petrifying roar that weakens his enemies in the middle of the battle, tilting the odds of the battle in his favor. His fourth ability, the one he awakened two days ago, was an ability that allows him to surround himself in a sea of flames, making it almost impossible for the enemies to approach him. Those who do are severely weakened and harmed in the process." Arlan stared at the King, his eyes shining intensely, "In just two weeks, Your Majesty," Arlan pressed on, "In just two weeks, this young man, who didn''t even know how to throw a proper punch when he came to me, has grown enough to be able to defeat three Third Stage Warriors in under five minutes. And these aren''t just any soldiers, these soldiers know of his abilities inside out. They''ve trained together, they work in perfect coordination, and yet, they are now no match for him." Arlan stared at all the instructors before turning to the King again. "Your Majesty, considering the nature of his abilities and the rapid progress he''s made, I believe it''s undeniable that the Hero''s talent lies in physical combat, and we should focus his training in that direction." The Commander concluded with a confident note. Chapter 52 - 52: The Meeting 2 "Your Majesty, considering the nature of his abilities and the rapid progress he''s made, I believe it''s undeniable that the Hero''s talent lies in physical combat and we should focus his training in that direction." The Commander concluded with a confident note but then, "It amazes me to see how good you have become in moulding the facts and presenting them in such a manner, in front of His Highness no less." Once again, Elira spoke up, garnering the attention of the room. The Court Mage stared at the Commander and, "Just now, you mentioned an ability the Hero uses to surround himself with flames, In what world does this ability look physical combat-oriented to you? Because it forms a defensive layer that stops the enemies from getting close? By that logic, even casting a simple Fireball that would injure the enemy would become a combat-oriented skill, no? Having exceptional leadership abilities that would eventually corner the enemies, or having an ability to quickly bond with the Magic Beasts would help the Hero defeat his foes, are we supposed to consider all that physical combat-related skills and let you train all of us? Are you acting foolish on purpose or do you simply not understand the difference between Combat and Physical Combat?" Elira questioned and this time, Arlan had no answers. He just stared at his sister and his sister stared back, only Arlan could see that subtle but annoying smirk on her face as her eyes shined playfully. ''Take that, sucker!'' That''s what the look on Elira''s face was saying. "Yo-" Arlan tried to retort but then, "Silence." The King commanded. He then stared at the Court Mage and, "So you disagree with Commander Arlan''s claims." "Yes, Your Majesty." Elira nodded confidently. "What is your opinion then?" "My opinion remains the same, His Talent is definitely related to magic. He is already a Second Circle Mage, his Mana Reserves are much higher than any other Second Circle Mage I have seen, even surpassing most Third Circle Mages. His casting speed, mana regeneration speed, and understanding of magic, everything is far more developed than the mages who have studied magic for years. He requires one look to understand and cast a spell, the number of spells he has learned in these weeks cannot even be counted with two hands, oftentimes, he even alters the spell on his own, something a normal Second Circle Mage doesn''t even think of. Not to mention I believe he would soon be becoming a Third Circle Mage." Elira listed everything and just like her brother, she pressed on, "In two weeks, Your Majesty. The Hero achieved all these in two weeks, how can his talent possibly lie in any other field but Magic?" Elira questioned and once again, the King found himself in a difficult situation. This was just like the first meeting all over again. With a hopeful look on his face, the King faced Therian, the Marshal, however, shook his head again. "Again, Your Majesty, I apologize for disappointing you, but I still cannot be certain. I have sent the Hero to Estwyn Town today, once he returns, I will be able to give a much more definite assessment." The King nodded before he turned to the last instructor, but, "The Hero''s Wyvern still refuses to leave the Sanctuary. I suggested forming a bond with another Magic Beast, but he seems quite close to his Bond, I still remember how the Hero glared at me that day." Lyric chuckled, she didn''t seem offended by the Hero''s gaze, rather, she was happy. In a world where people often see beasts as tools to rise in ranks, The Hero loved his Bond more than himself and Lyric appreciated that. She didn''t care about everything the people in this room said, she didn''t care what these people thought of the Hero, In her heart, she knew that the Hero was going to become an excellent Beast Tamer. Seeing her smile, the rest of the instructors, especially Arlan and Elira, glared at her. ''Tsk.'' Elira snorted in her head. Arlan was the same. Here they were fighting for the right to train the Hero, but then there were these two, Marshal Therian and Master Tamer Lyric, completely unbothered just because they knew that, talented or not, in the end, the Hero would be trained under them. After all, the Hero wasn''t just meant to fight¡ªhe was destined to lead armies and defend Nerathis. Leadership and strategy lectures were non-negotiable. As for the Beast Taming? That wasn''t even up for debate. It didn''t matter whether he became a Warrior or a Mage, he would need to become a Beast Tamer anyways. That was simply how the World of Nerathis worked. Honestly, the purpose of this meeting was always to decide whether Kael would become a Warrior or a Mage, other lectures were always essential. This was also the reason Deren, Arlan, and Elira were the ones who were the most active during the discussion. "It has been two weeks, has he still not resolved this issue yet?" The King questioned with a grave look on his face. Choosing between the path of the Warrior or a Mage was one thing, but for the Hero to not be able to control his Bond and let it do what he wanted, This was indeed an issue. A much more pressing issue than a simple choice between the two paths. "His love for Bond is to-" "That isn''t an excuse. The battlefield doesn''t care about such matters. He is wasting precious time and I cannot allow that." The King spoke with a strict look on his face. "The Hero should still be resting in his room, does Your Majesty wish to send someone and bring him?" The Marshal questioned, even he could see how this could become a big issue. Beast Taming lectures were the most important of all, after all, the Hero needed to learn how to fight together with Bonds. A Bond that does not leave the Sanctuary in others'' presence was a worthless resource. "Forget it." The King shook his hand. "The boy must have a lot on his mind right now, disturbing him at this moment would be unwise." His gaze then turned to Therian, his tone firm and resolute. "However, see to it that I am informed the moment he returns. I will meet with him without delay." "As you command, Your Majesty." Therian bowed his head. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Your Majesty¡­" Arlan called in a weak voice. Alden turned towards him and seeing the look on his Commander''s face, he quickly understood what he wanted. Alden then stared at Elira, who looked at him with a similar expression on her face, Clearly, the two of them were looking forward to his decision the most, he however, shook his head again. "Since it still cannot be decided whether the Hero is suited to be a Warrior or a Mage, I shall await the results of Marshal Therian''s assessment before making any judgment." Yes, he decided to postpone the matter again. Chapter 53 - 53: So that’s the Hero? A few hours later, Kael was sitting inside a lavish carriage, reading the documents the Marshal had given to him. These were the details of his test, and after reading through them, Kael couldn''t help but feel anxious. "They are all fools¡­ To think they would send a student to protect an entire town¡­ What in the hell are they thinking¡­" He groaned. Just thinking about taking responsibility for over 500 lives made his head ache. Yes, he had been training hard and improved quite a lot, but¡­ Was he capable of leading soldiers and protecting so many lives¡­? Kael was doubtful. Then suddenly, his eyes fell on a bag of coins that were kept beside him and he couldn''t help but chuckle as recalled what happened before. ... ''Take it.'' Elira spoke as she threw the bag of gold coins at Kael. ''Huh? Marshal Therian gave me money to stay in i-'' ''Take it.'' Elira repeated herself. ''But why give so much?'' Kael frowned. He could tell there were about 100 Gold Coins in here, Marshal Therian barely gave him 200 Silver Coins, that was just 2 Gold Coins, and Kael, who had read quite a lot about the Kingdom, knew that it was more than enough. "So much? Boy, I just randomly grabbed whatever came into my hands. Now unlike you, I have things to do, so go away.'' Elira ordered, shooing Kael away. And Kael just stared at this woman and... ''You are the one who is in my room...'' The Mage''s face twitched as she quickly walked away and Kael could swear he saw her stumble. ... ''Heh.'' Kael chuckled, soon however, he shook his head. "No, I can''t lose focus here." To avoid the future he saw in his vision, he needed to do this. His past self must have shown weakness here. He needed to do better than that. "Alright, let''s begin." With his regained motivation, he started reading the details again. "So, a town surrounded by dense forests on the east and a river on the west." Kael muttered to himself as he recalled the town''s layout. He had already burned the picture into his mind. "Three main entrances: the north gate, the south gate, and bridges over the river on the western side. A population of 500 villagers, including 50 capable armed Tamers who can fight. Ten large, heavily armored corrupted beasts are reported to attack the north. The east will be attacked by a pack of swift and agile beasts moving through the forest. And then a pack of flying ones who will attack¡­ Well, who knows where." Kael sighed. "We are being attacked from all sides. How am I supposed to handle all the directions on my own¡­?" This is what he had been wondering for the past few hours. He had read the documents again and again, trying to think of something, a plan to protect everyone, but no matter how much he thought about it¡­ It seemed impossible. "The supplies and defenses are all basic too. Food, medical supplies, a small stockpile of oil barrels, and some barricades. I have no clue why they didn''t give me more." Kael sighed. He wasn''t being greedy or impractical here. In this world, because everyone had access to the Sanctuary, storage was never an issue. After all, people could always store their stuff in the Sanctuary, and while there was a risk of losing stuff forever if the said person was dead, it was still a perfect way to store supplies. ''He is just stingy.'' Kael snorted inwardly as he then turned to the next page and was somewhat relieved. "This is somewhat useful." He glanced at the picture of two cannons on the northern wall. Kael could tell they would be an extremely important defensive resource. Not just them, Kael looked out of his carriage and saw three Drakthar soldiers riding along with his carriage. "Two archers and a mage, huh¡­" Kael muttered as suddenly, his eyes turned golden and a translucent screen with their information appeared in front of him. [Name: Lyra Windshade] [Race: Human] [Age: 25] [Level: 22] [Strength: 38] [Agility: 58] [Speed: 52] [Stamina: 42] [Defense: 28] [Mana: 12] [Intelligence: 17] [Charisma: 20] [Strengths: Pinpoint Accuracy, High Mobility, Versatile Tracking Skills] [Weaknesses: Low Durability, Limited Stamina, Weak Melee Combatant] ¡­ [Name: Aria Starfall] [Race: Human] [Age: 26] [Level: 22] [Strength: 18] [Agility: 25] [Speed: 28] [Stamina: 30] [Defense: 20] [Mana: 55] [Intelligence: 42] [Charisma: 26] [Strengths: Large Mana Pool, Intelligent Strategist, Versatile Magic] [Weaknesses: Fragile Physique, Slow Recovery, Melee Weakness] ¡­ [Name: Sarah Swiftwind] [Race: Human] [Age: 27] [Level: 21] [Strength: 36] [Agility: 55] [Speed: 50] [Stamina: 40] [Defense: 30] [Mana: 10] [Intelligence: 18] [Charisma: 22] [Strengths: Exceptional Agility, Evasive Maneuvers, Skilled Archer and Tracker] [Weaknesses: Low Physical Defense, Relatively Low Stamina, Weak in Prolonged Melee Combat] ¡­ ''At least one of them is familiar.'' Kael thought inwardly as he glanced at Sarah, who was riding a magic beast that looked like a white horse. ''But to think he would send all long-range fighters¡­ Even the Marshal is worried about the flying ones, huh¡­'' Kael thought inwardly, trying to come up with a plan and simulating the situation in his mind again and again. Time passed just like that. The next day, at around 10 in the morning, Kael and his party finally reached Estwyn Town. Their carriage stopped just outside the gates of Estwyn. Two guards stood at the entrance. Their armor was battered, and the exhaustion in their eyes was impossible to miss. The two of them stiffened when they saw the carriage and gripped their spears more tightly. "Who goes there?" One of the two guards called, his voice steady but tired. At his question, Kael stepped out. While Sarah could deal with all these formalities, Kael wanted to get familiar with this place. After all, in his very first lecture, the Marshal couldn''t stop stressing how important it was to know your surroundings before taking any action or making any plans. Kael stepped forward and glanced at the guards. "My name is Kael Carter," S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He said firmly. "I''m here on orders from the King." "Let them through!" A shout was heard. The guards exchanged glances before they nodded to each other and opened the giant doors. Kael and his party entered the town. "So this is the Hero they''ve been talking about?" Once Kael and his party walked in, the guard questioned as he turned towards another guard with a frown on his face. "Isn''t he too young¡­?" The other guard had a similar expression. "I heard he was just summoned¡­" "And they already sent him to protect us? We asked for reinforcements, not a burden." The two guards sighed. Kael, with his senses now much more enhanced than before, could easily hear them talk. He, however, didn''t react to it for now and decided to observe. The gates of Estwyn were a grim sight. They were made of reinforced wood and iron. However, from the scars all over the place, Kael could easily tell their condition was anything but good. It wasn''t just the gates. Estwyn Town itself seemed on the edge of ruin. The streets were eerily quiet, with only a few people moving about. Many of the buildings were damaged, their roofs caved in, and their walls patched with uneven planks. While Kael observed the town, the townsfolk observed him. They stopped whatever they were doing to watch him as he passed. Some stared openly, their expressions filled with suspicion. Others muttered to one another, shaking their heads. "So that''s the Hero?" "Doesn''t look like much, does he?" ... *Estwyn Town''s Picture* Chapter 54 - 54: Whaaat? Reallyyy? "So that''s the Hero?" "Doesn''t look like much, does he?" Just like the guards, the townsfolk were unsure of what the newly summoned hero could do. Kael kept walking without a change in his calm expression. Did their words hurt? Well, of course. But he understood their situation. Just seeing the town''s condition was enough to tell him how much these people had suffered. Anyone would be skeptical in this situation. As he reached the center of the town, a tall man who looked in his mid-fifties, wearing somewhat better clothes compared to what others were wearing, rushed toward him. "Lord Kael!" The man exclaimed. He extended his hand in front of Kael and said, "I''m Tobias Erwick, the head of this town. I was informed that you would be coming to our aid. I am glad you are here. Welcome, w-we were really looking forward to your arrival." "Town head Tobias. It''s good to meet you." Kael greeted as he shook the man''s hand. Tobias glanced over Kael''s shoulder and nodded at his party before returning his attention to Kael. "I''ve heard a lot about you," Tobias said. "Is that so?" Kael smiled. "The Hero chosen by Lord Feraos himself. We''re grateful that you came here." Tobias bowed his head. Kael glanced at the people around him, Those eyes filled with doubt, suspicion, frustration, helplessness, and¡­ hope. The weight of those stares was¡­ extremely heavy. Tobias, who noticed Kael''s silence, smiled wryly and said, "As you can see, Estwyn is... not what it once was. The corrupted beasts have taken their toll. Many of our people have fled, and those who remain are barely holding on. The last beast tide nearly broke through our defences. Please don''t mind their gazes, they are good people, they are just¡­ scared." The Townhead looked around and continued, "Most of them have lost family, friends, and even their bonds. The death toll has risen to a hundred, and only about thirty armed tamers capable of facing those beasts are left. Things are¡­ dire." Kael''s face turned grim. This was different from the information he had been given. According to the reports, there should have been 50 armed tamers here, but¡­ His forces were already reduced by about 50%. "I understand." Kael, however, nodded lightly and didn''t overreact. The reports were never supposed to be 100% accurate in the first place. ''It is okay. I prepared for this. I prepared for this.'' Kael continued to chant, trying to calm his mind. He needed to stay in control and think rationally, and while he was struggling to do that, Tobias suddenly held his hand, and the wrinkled man stared at him with eyes full of hope. "But I believe now that the Hero is here, we will finally be able to deal with the corrupted beasts, and everything will be fine." "¡­" Kael stared at the town leader in silence. The man''s gaze was overwhelming. It nearly gave him another panic attack, but in the end, he nodded in silence, not letting anyone see or know what he was going through. At his nod, Tobias smiled. "I would tell you about the current situation, but for now, I would request the Hero and his party to rest. Everything is still under control. Our scouts have not reported any unexpected situations. Please use this moment to relieve your fatigue from travel." "We are fi-" Kael wanted to reject and jump to work but, "Hero Kael, please. I insist." Tobias interrupted. "We need you at your best when the beasts are here." Tobias spoke, his eyes reflecting emotions so strong that Kael didn''t have the power to resist him. He nodded weakly. The town''s inn was destroyed during the last attack, so Tobias offered to take Kael and his party to his own house. The party nodded, and soon, the five of them appeared in front of the town head''s house, which didn''t seem very different from the rest of the houses Kael had seen here. "Please come to my humble abode." Tobias bowed his head as he walked forward, Kael and the others followed the middle-aged man, and as the door opened, "Grandpa¡­?" An adorable, soft voice broke through the tension, drawing everyone''s attention. Kael glanced at the small girl sitting perfectly still on a wooden chair near the side of the square. Her delicate frame was wrapped in a simple white dress that seemed too clean for the grim surroundings. Her hands were neatly folded on her lap like a noble, well-mannered lady. She had black hair tied in uneven twin tails, but what instantly attracted one''s attention were her eyes. Her milky white eyes stared blankly ahead, her face tilted in a manner that her ears were pointed towards her grandpa. Yes, she was blind. Tobias''s face softened instantly. "Selina? Didn''t I tell you not to leave your room until I return?" He spoke, kneeling in front of the chair and gently holding the girl''s small hands. Selina tilted her head toward the sound of his voice. "I heard the gates open. I knew it was you," She smiled. "You should have stayed where it''s safe. You know it''s dangerous out here." Tobias sighed heavily, his hand firmly holding Selina''s. Selina reached out hesitantly, her small hands searching until they found Tobias''s face. "You''re frowning again," She said, her fingers lightly tracing the lines of Tobias''s weathered forehead. "I told you not to frown so much. You''ll get more wrinkles." "Then stop doing things that make me frown." Tobias chuckled as he kissed the girl''s hands. Then suddenly, Selina tilted her head again. "Grandpa¡­" She called out with an uncertain look on her face. "Did someone else come here with you?" S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The girl questioned. "You noticed? I can never hide something from you, can I?" Tobias chuckled. "Remember I told you that I have a surprise for you?" "You said that more than a week ago. I am still waiting." Selina pouted. "Well, you don''t have to wait anymore." Tobias smiled, then he turned toward Kael, his eyes reflecting small emotions as he bowed his head, as if wanting to request something from him. "The Hero and his party are here to meet you, and they will be staying here with us for the next few days." "Whaaat? Reallyyy?" Selina''s mouth opened wide as she exclaimed in excitement. "Yes. I told you the Hero would come if you were a good girl, did I not?" Tobias chuckled, his eyes, however, continued to stare at Kael, almost begging him to fulfill his small request. "Is he really here!?" Selina questioned and then suddenly, "Of course I am." Kael spoke up. Chapter 55 - 55: Funnn~ "Is he really here!?" Selina questioned, and then suddenly, "Of course, I am." Kael spoke up. "You have been such a good girl. How can I not come and meet you?" Kael smiled as he knelt next to Selina as well. Tobias stared at Kael in silence. "Are you really the Hero?" Selina questioned as she reached her hand out, trying to place it on Kael''s face just like she did with her grandpa. Kael gently grabbed the girl''s hand and helped her. "I am." He answered. Selina touched his face as if trying to draw a picture in her mind. Then, she exclaimed in awe. "You are so beautiful." Hearing those words, Kael laughed. "You are very beautiful as well, Selina." "Thank you." Selina answered graciously. "Grandpa." Suddenly, the little girl called out. "Hmm?" "Can I stay with the Hero for a little while?" She requested properly. Tobias, however, shook his head and, "No, the Hero is tired right now since he has come from far away, so let him rest, okay?" "But¡­" Selina was unwilling. "Selina." Tobias''s tone became a little firm, and in the end, the little girl lowered her head. "Okay, please rest well, Hero." She spoke politely. "Good. Now, while the Hero''s resting, you should rest well, okay?" "Okay." "Now, let''s get you back to your room, shall we?" Tobias carefully picked her up like she was the most precious thing in the world. She rested her head against her grandpa''s shoulder, her blind eyes closing as she trusted him completely while he carried her to her room. Kael watched the scene in silence. When Tobias returned, there was a light smile on his face. "She''s the reason," He said quietly. "That little girl. She''s the reason I didn''t run away from this town." Tobias continued with a solemn look on his face. "When the beasts attacked, when people fled, I wanted to leave too. But I couldn''t. Not with her here. She''s all I have left. That little girl gives me the confidence to face anyone and anything." The Town Head then glanced at Kael and, "Most people who are left in the town are like that, Hero Kael. They are here because they wish to protect their loved ones. This is what drives them. They might not trust you, but I assure you, when the time comes, they will fight for you. I will fight for you." Tobias declared confidently. "Because we have no other choice." He completed, and once again, Kael found himself staring at the man in silence. The Town Head then smiled lightly and, "Now, please get some rest. That is your room." He spoke as he pointed at a room. Then, he spoke apologetically. "There are only two rooms in my house, and¡­ My granddaughter requires one of them. If you four can adjust in one room¡­" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tobias was hesitant, and seeing Kael frown, he panicked, "I-I mean, if it is that big of a deal, I can take Selina to my friend''s house! I know a party usually stays in one place, so we can empty this place for you." "No, Selina doesn''t have to leave. She must be used to this place. I understand." Kael nodded understandingly. "If you could prepare another place for us with two rooms, it would be fine even if the rooms aren''t well furnished. We will adjust." He requested. After all, all the soldiers with him were women. He didn''t want to make them awkward. Tobias, however, had a hesitant look on his face. "Hero Kael, I¡­" "I-It is alright." Before he could complete, someone else spoke up. It was Sarah. Tobias turned towards her, and Sarah momentarily glanced at Kael before turning back towards the Town Head. "There is no need for any of us to leave. We four can adjust in a single room." "I agree. We can adjust." Before Kael could say anything, Aria, the party''s mage, added. Lyra nodded as well. Seeing that the girls had no problem with it, Kael didn''t push it any further either. After all, who in their right mind would push away such an offer? Kael could already imagine Mark calling him ''Gay!'' if he resisted any further. Kael chuckled inwardly as he thought about it. His eyes then stared at the three women standing in front of him. Sarah had a petite frame, striking blue eyes, and blonde hair. Her fair skin and natural grace exuded charm and an adventurous spirit. Aria was an elegant beauty with clean skin, an hourglass figure, shimmering silver hair, and piercing violet eyes. Her movements had a certain grace and playfulness in them. Lyra''s build was more on the athletic side. She had sharp green eyes, long auburn hair tied in a ponytail and skin blessed by the sun. She seemed somewhat indifferent, but that, combined with her tanned skin, gave her an honest charm. Yes, all three women in his party were beautiful. So much so that if they were in his university, most male students would be after them. What about them being older than most university students? Well, that only added to their charm, didn''t it? For now, however, Kael decided to act gentlemanly. So he coughed and, "Well then, since the three do not have any problem, we should stop wasting time." "Yes, thank you for understanding, Hero Kael." Tobias bowed his head. "I hope you have a good rest." He spoke, pointing at the room. Kael nodded as he walked towards his room. His party members followed behind, and when Kael wasn''t looking, Aria, the one who had spoken earlier, nudged Sarah with her shoulder, and once Sarah turned towards her¡­ Aria winked at her and pointed her thumb up. Her face had an expression saying, ''I gotcha back!'' and Sarah, who saw that, quickly turned her flushed head away. She had no idea what this woman was talking about! Really! ''Funnn~'' Aria''s eyes shimmered playfully when she saw Sarah''s expression. This mission might be much more fun than she expected~ Chapter 56 - 56: I gotchhu. As Kael and his party entered the room, they realized the room was much bigger than they were expecting. "He gave the biggest room to us." Sarah muttered as she looked around, her eyes darting towards Kael repeatedly. "Mhm, he seems like a good man." Kael nodded. "He was lying." A voice was heard. The party turned around and saw Lyra, who had already taken out a mattress, two pillows, and a blanket, set it up on the floor, and was about to get into it. "¡­" Kael stared at her with a dumbfounded look on his face. He completely ignored what the woman said since he had an entirely different question in his mind, "Where did all that even come from?" "I stored it in my Sanctuary." Lyra answered. "And food and other supplies?" Kael tilted his head. Yes, almost everyone in this world had their own Sanctuary that could not just store Beasts but also store objects, however, the available space inside the Sanctuary was limited. After all, the Sanctuary was a place where the Tamer''s Bonds were supposed to live and rest. While it is often used as Storage, most Tamers made sure not to overwhelm it with foreign objects since that would take the space away from their Bonds. To bring an¡­ entire mattress¡­ sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I only brought enough to last till I get here. I am sure a Town would have some spare supplies for a girl who came to protect them and then send her away." "¡­" Kael was speechless. It was common knowledge to not consume supplies that could not be trusted during a mission. How could¡­ Seeing his expression, Aria chuckled. "Do not worry, Hero. We have brought enough supplies for her." Kael turned towards the elegant mage and, "You knew this would happen?" He questioned. "Yes, the Hero might find it surprising since you do not know her, but that woman loves her sleep¡­ to a surprising extent. You might catch her without an extra set of clothes, but that mattress? That has never left her side. Actually, you can even bribe her with a fluffy blanket, and it would work better than bribing her with gold." Aria laughed out loud as she stared at Lyra, who had already tucked herself in. "But don''t worry, I assure you she can carry her own weight when the situation asks for it. She is the best out of the three of us." Aria added. "You seem to know quite a lot about her." Kael commented as he glanced at Aria. "Hmm? Of course, I do. We three live together." The Mage revealed. "What?" Kael was taken aback. He turned towards Sarah, wanting to confirm if what Aria said was the truth, and Sarah nodded. Aria, who saw that, grinned mischievously and, "Hero Kael, does the thought of sharing a room with three single women who live together excite you, hmmm?" She questioned. "W-What are you talking about?" Kael stuttered. "Heeeh? Is the Hero blushing? Actually, does the Hero have a lover? I have a very suitable and beautiful candidate if you do not." Aria chuckled, and Kael could only see one way of getting out of this situation. "Lyra, what did you mean when you said he was lying?" He changed the topic. Kael wasn''t a fool. He could tell what Aria was trying to do, and honestly, it wasn''t the first time the girls had tried to make a move on him. Kael, however, had always avoided that simply because of how paranoid he had gotten when he saw the relationships around him. Couples fighting for no apparent reason, constantly disrespecting each other''s boundaries, things like one-night stands, situationships, open relationships¡ªthose people were now introducing new terms Kael didn''t even know the meaning of! Cheating on your partner had become commonplace, staying loyal was now a flex, and in this environment, Kael, who still foolishly hoped for the genuine love he found in novels, decided to stay away from all this and wait for his ''one.'' "When he said he was grateful that you came here, he was lying." Lyra answered, still not moving her head out of the blanket. "Well, that''s obvious, no? Who would choose to believe a young man summoned to this world two weeks ago when the people they love are at stake here? They were probably hoping for a General, a Commander, or someone much more capable than me to be sent here." Kael replied. "But you are capable!" Sarah was quick to answer. "You are strong enough to defeat all three of us even if we work together. You are much more qualified than any one of them. What gives them the right to look down on you when you came here to protect them!?" Hearing her words, Kael smiled. "Well, I guess I need to prove that to them by saving the families they love so much, no?" And once again, Sarah''s frustration flushed out. "I will be relying on you three for this mission. Please look out for me." Kael spoke in a light tone. "Y-Yes, I will do my best!" Sarah nodded, her eyes full of determination. "I didn''t know the Hero used seduction to make people do what you want. Doesn''t sound very heroic." Aria chuckled. "Where in the hell does it look like I am seducing you?" "That''s the trick. You never show when you try to seduce a woman and lure her into your trap. Only then would an innocent lady fall for it." "You¡ª" Snore As Kael tried to retort, but then, The three of them heard Lyra''s snores. Yes, the woman had entered the dreamland without a care in the world. "Okay, you two can sleep. I will keep an eye." Kael ordered. Aria, however, shook her head. "You are the strongest of us. You need to be well-rested and prepared for everything. You two sleep, I will keep an eye." Since her words were logical, Kael didn''t deny them. He turned towards Sarah and, "You can sleep on the bed." He spoke as he prepared to sleep on the floor, but then, "Hero Kael, this is not the time to act gentlemanly or care about such things. We are on a mission, our lives are at stake here. I am sure you know how essential a well-rested body is in the current situation. Please sleep on the bed, both of you." Aria spoke in a solemn tone, and once again, Kael couldn''t deny it. "Alright." He nodded as he walked towards the bed. As he turned around, Sarah glanced at Aria, and the Mage winked at her friend again. And once again, her face said the same thing, ''I gotchhu.'' Chapter 57 - 57: So you will bring laughter back? In the evening, after Kael had enough rest, he woke up, told Aria to get some sleep and walked out of the room to get some air. As he left, his eyes fell on the little girl sitting on her chair. The girl seemed to have noticed some movements as well and, "Hero Kael?" She questioned with an uncertain look on her face. "Selina." Kael smiled as he walked towards her and knelt next to her. "Did you rest well?" Selina questioned, her voice sounding much more mature than the 10-year-old girl she was. "Yes, I did." Kael smiled, then, he questioned. "Why are you sitting here alone? Didn''t your grandpa tell you not to leave your room on your own?" "I''m waiting for Grandpa," Selina replied calmly. "Do you always wait for your grandpa like this?" Kael questioned curiously. "Yes!" Selina answered with a big smile on her face. Clearly, she loved talking about her grandpa. "Doesn''t it get lonely, waiting here by yourself? Do you feel scared?" "Nope." Selina shook her head. "Grandpa says the house is safe. And it''s not scary if you don''t see it. I just think everything looks pretty." Kael''s chest tightened at her words, but he kept his smile. "That''s a smart way to think." He praised. "Grandpa says I''m smart." Selina nodded. Soon, however, she shook her head. "But not smart like grown-ups. I don''t wanna be that smart. They always look tired." At those words, Kael laughed softly. "You''re pretty wise for a ten-year-old." He commented. "Wise?" sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She scrunched up her nose. "What does that mean?" "It means you''re good at understanding things." "Hehe~ Grandpa says that too. He says I understand things better than most people because I listen more. I like listening to people." "Is that so¡­?" Kael smiled. Honestly, he didn''t know how to continue the conversation. He, however, didn''t have to worry about that. It seemed like little Selina had a lot to say. "You know," She spoke after a small pause, her voice soft, "My town wasn''t always like this. It used to be happy. Really, really happy. I always used to hear people laughing. Grandpa said they had shiny eyes when they smiled. I don''t know what shiny eyes look like, but I think it means they were really happy." Selina started, "Grandpa used to take me to the market. It smelled so good there¡ªthe bread and flowers and candy! People always said hi to me. They even gave me fruits and candies to eat!" "It sounds like a wonderful time." Kael answered, his eyes observing Selina''s expressions. "It was," Selina nodded. The girl, however, wasn''t done yet. She seemed to have a lot to talk about. "And during festivals, Grandpa would take me flying on his magic beast." "You flew on top of a flying beast?" Kael raised his eyebrow in surprise. "Yes! Grandpa''s Beast! Grandpa says he has beautiful purple feathers, and he also has the power to create clouds and lightning! And his lightning doesn''t hurt me because Grandpa says he loves me! I love him too!" "Do you not feel fear at all¡­?" Kael was taken aback by the girl''s braveness. "Not at all! Grandpa holds me tight when we fly, so I am not scared. It was so much fun! When we flew, Grandpa would also tell me about the lights and the dancing and the colors in the sky. I couldn''t see them, but I could feel how pretty they were." Seeing her enthusiasm, even Kael smiled, but then, Selina''s smile faded a little, and she lowered her head. "But now¡­ it''s different. I do not hear laughter anymore. Everything feels sad." Then suddenly, Selina reached out. Kael held her hand, and she called out. "Hero Kael, you are here to save us, right? Like in those stories my grandpa tells me, where the Hero defeats sadness and brings laughter everywhere, you are going to bring laughter back here as well, right?" At her questions, Kael''s throat tightened, he gently held Selina''s hands and, "I will. I will do everything I can to save your town." "So you will bring laughter back?" Selina questioned, her face brightening up instantly as if she had complete trust in the Hero. Kael smiled inwardly. To think the first person who would look at him with those trusting eyes was a blind 10-year-old child. This, however, only made the weight of the gaze even heavier. "I will. I promise." He nodded. "Yay!" Selina exclaimed in joy. Kael smiled. As Selina and Kael conversed for a little longer, Tobias returned. "Was she waiting for me again?" Tobias questioned after he and Kael tucked the little girl in her bed. "She loves you a lot." Kael answered with a smile, and hearing those words, a big hearty smile appeared on Tobias''s face. "She loves everyone. She is a child with a golden heart." "I can see that." Kael nodded. "Did you sleep well?" Tobias questioned, and Kael nodded. Then, Kael questioned directly. "I would like to hear about the current situation." "I understand." Tobias nodded. Then, he pointed at the chair and signaled Kael to sit. Kael nodded. The two sat on the chairs, and Tobias started. "Our walls are holding for now, but the northern gate is the weakest. We''ve patched it up as best we can, but it won''t withstand another large attack. We still have enough supplies to last a month, but before that, we need to survive the next attack." Kael nodded as he heard Tobias''s words with a solemn look on his face. "The people are on edge. Both the townfolks and the tamers are full of uncertainty and fear. The situation is¡­ bad." He continued, providing detailed reports about the situation. He answered every question Kael asked with clarity, showing just how deeply he understood the challenges his town faced. Kael listened intently, comparing the information Tobias provided with what he already knew. At the same time, he also noted how capable Tobias was. He was like a pillar holding the town together for months, refusing to give in no matter what. But now¡­ even he looked tired. Once Tobias was done reporting everything, Kael decided to discuss the plan he had come up with to save Estwyn with Tobias, to see if he had anything to add. Tobias, obviously, was glad to help. As the discussion started, Kael began, "Our main goal is to get rid of all the corrupted beasts no matter what. Yes, defending the town is possible, but we cannot be on the defensive forever. We need a permanent solution, a solution that would ease people''s hearts and push them to return to their daily lives. And, of course, we need to make sure we achieve all this with the minimum possible casualties. So what I was thinking was to¡­" Tobias observed as Kael revealed all his plans. The more the Hero spoke, the more Tobias felt something he hadn''t felt in a long time, Hope. With Kael''s every word, Tobias''s opinion about him changed. At first, he only thought of him as a young man playing hero, but now¡­ to Tobias, Kael looked no different than Lord Feraos himself. By the time Kael finished, Tobias''s gaze had completely changed. The tired look in his eyes had disappeared, replaced with a hopeful, almost fervent gaze. It was actually possible! His town¡­ his people¡­ With the Hero sent by Lord Feraos¡­ They all could be saved! ... AN: *Tobias* *Selina* Chapter 58 - 58: The Hero cursed. "Hero Kael." The next day, Sarah, who was the last one to be on watch duty yesterday, woke Kael up. "Hmm?" Kael responded groggily, his eyes half-opened and his vision hazy. "The scouts have reported that the beasts have moved. They will be here within a few hours." Sarah informed, and in an instant, Kael''s sleepiness disappeared. "What? Already?" "Yes." Sarah nodded. Kael looked around and saw all three soldiers staring at him. This made him frown. "Was I the last one to wake up?" "You sleep too much." Lyra nodded. Aria, however, just chuckled and, "I don''t think the one who doesn''t even perform night duty has the right to say this." "Are you on his side now? Did you fall for his seduction as well?" "W-What are yo¡ª" "That''s enough. Prepare yourself, we are leaving. You have 15 minutes." Before the flustered Aria could say anything, Kael ordered as he stood up. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His tone was completely different from before. While this was his first time leading a mission, this didn''t mean he had no experience. Leadership didn''t come from theory alone. Therian, during his lectures, often made Kael order a group of soldiers to fight against another group of soldiers. The group under Kael''s command could only do what Kael ordered them to. Kael was tasked with leading this group to victory while he calculated everything going on in the battlefield. "Yes, Hero Kael." Hearing his words, the three women nodded as they quickly dispersed to prepare themselves. The sudden change in their attitude was quite surprising. Kael, on the other hand, walked out of the room and his eyes fell on Tobias and Selina. "Hero Kael, you are awake." Tobias bowed slightly. Unlike before, when he bowed his head just for the sake of it, this time, his actions seemed a lot more natural. Kael nodded, his eyes fell on Selina before he glanced at Tobias again. Understanding the meaning behind his gaze, Tobias nodded and answered, "I will leave Selina with a neighbor. The two of them will head towards the underground shelter while the townfolks who can fight will be drafted into the emergency unit." Kael nodded. Then suddenly, Selina called out. "Hero Kael¡­ is everything okay?" Her tone was full of worry and uncertainty. Kael walked towards the girl and ruffled her hair. "Didn''t I promise to bring back the town''s laughter yesterday? That is what I am going to do now. But for my magic to work, you and the others need to group up in a safe place since I will need your power to cast my magic. Can you help me?" "Will Grandpa come with me as well¡­?" Hearing this question, Kael stared at Tobias, and his eyes turned draconic golden, surprising the Town Head. [Name: Tobias Erwick] [Race: Human] [Age: 57] [Level: 17] [Strength: 42] [Agility: 28] [Speed: 25] [Stamina: 35] [Defense: 40] [Mana: 8] [Intelligence: 20] [Charisma: 18] [Strengths: Experienced in battlefield tactics, Resilient and composed under pressure, Strong physical endurance despite age] [Weaknesses: Declining speed and reflexes due to age, Limited mana reserves] "He cannot. He needs to be with me to help me cast my magic." Kael answered as he stared at the system screen in front of him. Tobias was this town''s strongest Tamer, an experienced Second Stage Warrior. Kael needed someone like him by his side to deal with all the beasts. "Okay, then I will help you and Grandpa together with Aunt Reene." Selina smiled. Kael smiled as he then nodded at Tobias. The Town Head nodded back before he took Selina with him and rushed out of the house. There wasn''t much time left. The people of the town were panicking again¡ªhe needed to be there to calm them. Kael, who was left alone, closed his eyes. Then suddenly, ''Kyu~'' He heard a voice in his head. It was Igni, who had sensed his uneasiness and was there to calm him down. This put a smile on Kael''s face. He opened his eyes and decided to freshen up. In 15 minutes, the three soldiers were ready. Tobias had returned as well, this time, he was wearing a set of worn-out armor. Kael was wearing a set of new armor as well. It wasn''t a heavy one since that restricted his movement¡ªthis one only protected his vitals and more vulnerable areas. Kael nodded at Tobias, and the Town Head took him to the central plaza, where all the soldiers and the civilians who had become part of the emergency unit had gathered. Tobias took Kael and his party on the stage, and with a big smile on his face, "Brave soldiers of Estwyn Town!" He started. "Our long wait has finally borne fruitful returns! Most of you must already know who this man standing next to me is, but for those who do not, let me introduce him to you." Tobias spoke as he pointed at Kael. "This young man''s name is Kael Carter. He is the Hero chosen by none other than Lord Feraos himself! The Hero who will protect not just our town, but all of Nerathis! And today, the Hero himself will lead our tow¡ª" "Hmph!" Before Tobias could complete his words, a loud, dismissive snort was heard, and a 183 cm tall, giant man with a muscular frame stepped forward. "Town Head Tobias." The man called out. "I don''t care who that boy is or whatever fancy title he holds." The man stared at Kael and dangerously narrowed his eyes. "Hero or not, it doesn''t fucking matter. All I see is a lost little kid playing hero. While I would love to be a part of his little games, this will not be at the expense of my town." The giant man turned back to Tobias and, "I know you are banking on those three soldiers he has brought with him, but if getting their help means we would need to listen to this child''s commands, then I refuse to stay in the emergency unit. I will not sacrifice my life for some fool''s fantasy." The man snorted, ready to walk away, but then, "Heh." A laugh was heard. "Fucking coward." The Hero cursed. Chapter 59 - 59: I am not a coward! "Fucking coward." Just as the giant man was about to leave, The Hero cursed, and in an instant, the man froze, stopping in his tracks. He turned around, and with a dangerous expression on his face, he glanced at the Hero. "What did you say?" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He questioned, his tone much more menacing. He was trying to intimidate Kael but¡­ "I called you a coward." Kael repeated. "Hah!? Do you want a beating!?" The man shouted as he walked towards Kael, but before he could do anything, a strong force grabbed his neck. "What did you say? I didn''t hear you." Kael''s chilling tone was heard. The soldiers around them quickly jumped back when they realized that Kael was currently standing amongst them. ''H-How¡­?'' ''When did he come here!?'' He was on the stage just now! How did he get here so quickly!? The muscular man widened his eyes in horror. He tried to resist, using both his hands to grab Kael''s arm and free himself, but no matter what he did, Kael didn''t even budge. "!!!" Then suddenly, the giant man''s expression changed as he realized that his legs were no longer on the ground. He looked down, and when he saw his body being lifted in the air through his neck as if he was some kind of ragdoll, his face paled in fright. "Acck- Let me go¡­" In a hoarse voice, he requested, his resistance slowly fading. He tried moving his legs, but he made sure not to be too frantic. After all, his life was in the Hero''s hands. "I didn''t hear you. Repeat what you said?" Kael repeated his question, his voice even colder than before. "I¡­ I am sorry¡­" The man replied, gasping for air. "Heh." Kael just laughed, and then, he let him go. The giant man fell on his butt, his chest moved up and down as he coughed loudly. Kael, on the other hand, returned to the stage, his cold blue eyes scanning the soldiers. "If there are any other cowards like him who would like to leave, feel free. I''d rather you leave right now than piss in fear and run away during the battle, endangering other lives." "I¡­ I am not a coward!" The giant man retorted, his body shook when Kael stared at him again. But he didn''t give in. This was his town. He wanted to protect it. He wanted to protect and fight for his family! But, "Is that not what you are?" Kael questioned and with a grin full of mockery, he continued, "Your sorry came out pretty quickly as well." "Y-You do not understand anything! I-I cannot die a worthless death! I have a 5-year-old boy and a wife waiting for me to return! Will you take responsibility for them if I die!? To you, the Hero, this is just a place where you show your powers and gain fame, but for me, this is a life-and-death situation! Mine and my family''s future rely on this battle! Will you ta¡ª" "Oh, shut it." The man wanted to continue, but Kael just snorted. Then, he glanced at the rest of the soldiers before turning back towards the man, "I do not understand anything. I am just a child ''playing hero,'' blah blah blah. What do you even understand? What makes you think you are better than me? Do you think we are gathered here to cry about our misfortunes? Oh yeah? Then how about this? I, who was safe back in my world, had planned my entire future and was working hard for it, was suddenly summoned to this damned world, told to become its Hero, and risk my life to protect it. You people live in this town. Most of you have spent your entire lives in this town. It is your duty to protect it. But what about me? I am not even from this world, and yet I was still ''chosen to be the hero.'' This town? This is my second day here. I didn''t even know this town existed before this, and yet here I am, risking my life to protect this place. Do you see me complaining?" Kael questioned, looking right into that man''s eyes. "Then what gives you the right to cry like a bitch!? ''I refuse to stay in the emergency unit!'' What gives you the right to say those words, huh!? You think you are doing me a favor by staying here? I am the one doing you a favor by being in this darned place, not the other way around. Get that in your head." Kael raised his voice. "¡­" The man lowered his head. "And I am saying these words not just to him. I am talking to all of you." Kael spoke, staring at all the soldiers. "Don''t think I do not know what you are thinking just because you hide it. I see everything. I see your distrust, doubts, suspicions, and¡­ I see your fear." Kael stepped forward. "I do not know whether I was blessed by Lord Feraos or not. Heck, I didn''t even know who Lord Feraos was a few days ago. What I do know, however, is that In just two weeks, I, who didn''t even know how to lift a sword, have become much stronger than any of you. I have reached a level most of you will probably never reach in your entire life. In just two weeks, I have surpassed all of you, who have trained to get stronger all their lives. This must mean something." Kael spoke, looking into the soldiers'' eyes. "Today, I stand together with you to protect your town, and trust me when I say this. I am the best chance you have¡ªno, let me rephrase that. I am the ONLY chance you have to protect your town and your family. I am willing to risk my life for your town, and in return, I only want one thing¡ª Your support." Kael ended, and after giving one last look to the 100 soldiers in front of him, he questioned. "So who is with me?" And the moment he asked this question, silence fell over the place. The soldiers exchanged glances, the Hero''s words still rang clearly in their heads, and the display of his strength couldn''t be more vivid. There was no doubt about it¡ªthis man was indeed blessed by Lord Feraos himself. The soldiers, however, were still¡­ fearful. They did not know what to do and stayed silent until¡ª "I am." A voice was heard. It was a surprise because the one who said those words was none other than the giant man who called out Kael before. The man stared at Kael and, "I leave my life in your hands. Tell me what I have to do." He spoke, his eyes burning with determination. "I will prove to you that I am not a coward." And at his words, one by one, the rest of the soldiers stepped forward as well, all of them submitting to the Hero. Using this chance, the Town Head Tobias stepped forward and¡ª "For the Hero!" He shouted as he raised his hand, and in an instant, the soldiers'' voices thundered, "FOR THE HERO!" "FOR ESTWYN!" "FOR THE HERO!" "FOR ESTWYN!" Their united roars echoed throughout the town, their eyes determined and fired up. Kael smiled when he saw that, The first step was complete. Then, as the soldiers calmed down, Kael started passing down the instructions. The soldiers were divided into different units and deployed to their positions. The faster soldiers followed Kael to the jungle where the Agile beasts would come from. For the next few hours, the soldiers moved according to Kael''s instructions, until finally, the scout reported¡ª "The Beasts will be here in 10 minutes!" Chapter 60 - 60: Bang. "The Beasts will be here in 10 minutes!" A frantic scout rushed towards Kael and reported. Kael''s heartbeat quickened. They were finally here. His first battle was about to begin. "Haaahhh..." With a quick exhale, he suppressed his emotions and acted with calm. His eyes turned towards one of Sarah''s Bonds that she had left with him. It was an Echoing Luminark, a Rare Rank, Special Elemental Type Beast. A creature with a body as big as a large horse''s. It had shimmering, golden feathers that glistened under sunlight, an owl-like head, and luminous blue eyes. The lower half of its body resembled a sleek lion with silver fur, and the Runes on its massive wings glowed as it used its ability. *Picture* His name was Echo. As for the reason why Sarah left Echo with Kael? It was because of how important Echo was for the battle. Resonant Projection. Echo has the ability to "capture" sound by listening to a speaker, convert it into pure magical energy, and send it through the air, bypassing obstacles like walls or even mountains. An ability ideal for mass broadcasting, whether to communicate important messages, rally troops, or even deliver entertainment like music or stories. "They are here." Kael spoke, his voice was low. Echo, however, quickly projected his voice throughout Estwyn Town. "We''ve prepared for this moment. Stick to the plan, and remember, We aren''t here to drive them back. We are here to put an end to this once and for all." Kael''s voice echoed through the battlefield. "For Estwyn." He spoke calmly, at his words, however, the soldiers that were positioned in different locations, cheered in unison. "FOR ESTWYN!!! FOR THE HERO!!" Under the fervent chants, Kael turned his attention to the Northern Gate. The ground trembled. It was a faint vibration at first, but very quickly, it turned into a thunderous quake, and... they came into view. Ten towering, hulking monstrosities. Their skin was covered in thick, stone-like scales. Most of them were around 5 meters tall. Their beady eyes glowed menacingly. Their mouths, lined with jagged teeth, growled as they charged forward, smashing everything in their path. Kael also noticed a strange, dark mist surrounding these creatures, an energy that was known to be the source of ''corruption.'' The townsfolk called these armored beasts ''The Brutes.'' *Picture* The northern gate shuddered as the brutes approached. Clearly, the previous battles had weakened the gates quite a bit. Kael expected this. "Don''t falter." Once again, his words echoed. This time, only the soldiers positioned at the northern gate heard his voice. "Place your trust in me." Kael''s heart felt heavy as he said those words. For now, however, he suppressed everything he felt and took responsibility. His draconic golden eyes stared at the monstrosities that made their way towards them, and a bunch of screens appeared in front of him. He read through all the details. Another fascinating thing to note was that while most of the Brutes were ''unnamed,'' two of them had names¡ª''Joy'' and ''Coco.'' The two of them were once close to humans and were named by them, but now¡­ Because of that dark power corrupting them, it had led to... this. A weak smile appeared on Kael''s face as he realized it. Soon, however, he shook his head and read the information of the strongest brute. [Name: Unnamed] [Race: Shadowclaw Ravager] [Rank: Common] [Age: 35 years] [State: Corrupted] [Level: 16] [Strength: 51 (75)] [Agility: 35 (56)] [Stamina: 32 (55)] [Defense: 50 (72)] [Mana: 23 (35)] [Intelligence: 35 (2)] [Charisma: 42 (-)] [Strengths: Incredible Physical Strength, Stone-Like Scales, High Endurance] [Weaknesses: Low Intelligence] ... ''The ones in the bracket should be its current stats, and the other one should be what its stats used to be before corruption, correct?'' Kael thought inwardly, and when he realized the difference the corruption made, ''Come on, that''s just cheating at this point.'' He just complained in his head. ''No wonder these people were having such a difficult time dealing with these beasts. It''s like they are using drugs.'' If ''the Brutes'' were only as strong as they normally were, then even if they attacked, it wouldn''t have caused much problem since the town''s militia, together with their Bonds, would have been able to defend the town. But with these beasts strengthened by corruption¡­ it became much more difficult. Almost impossible, actually. Kael even wondered how these people survived up to this point. After all, the strongest tamer here was Tobias, whose average stats were around 30. ''I guess they outnumber them, huh¡­'' Kael reasoned in his head. At the same time, as he stared at another screen in front of him, he regained some of his confidence. [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 10 ¡ú 17] [CE: 675/2600] [Talent: Dragon Genesis] Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] [Strength: 32 ¡ú 45] [Agility: 35 ¡ú 46] [Speed: 34 ¡ú 43] [Stamina: 37 ¡ú 46] [Defence: 38 ¡ú 48] [Mana: 41 ¡ú 56] [Intelligence: 33 ¡ú 44] [Charisma: 32 ¡ú 43] ¡­ ''This is manageable.'' He muttered inwardly, his eyes shining brightly. Sure, he was still weaker compared to that Shadowclaw Ravager, but that was the strongest of all ten Brutes, and while there were three more Brutes who were stronger than Kael, the rest were somewhat equal in strength. ''Alright.'' With a determined look on his face, Kael stared at the scene in front of him. Then, once the Brutes were within range¡­ "Fire the Cannons!" Kael shouted. Boom With a deafening roar, the first cannon fired, spitting out a massive iron shell. The projectile screeched through the air before slamming into the lead Brute''s shoulder and¡­ BOOOM The iron shell exploded, sending a shockwave that made even the thick stone walls tremble. However, ''Tsk, they need to upgrade their weapons.'' Nothing happened. No, something did happen. "RROOOAAAARRRR!!!" The Brutes affected by the explosion roared. They were enraged. "Again!" Kael ordered, and the second cannon was shot. BOOOM While the thick hide of the Brutes absorbed most of the damage, the blasts left scorch marks and shallow wounds, somewhat managing to slow the Brutes'' relentless advance. "Reload!" The man overseeing the cannon team ordered. The soldiers placed another shell into the barrels, and the cannons were fired again, and then again, then again. BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM If one didn''t make a difference, Kael would continue to fire till it did. The smell of gunpowder filled the air. The Brutes bled. This, however, didn''t stop their advance. As if they couldn''t feel any pain, they rampaged forward, getting closer to the gates. "They are near the gates!" A soldier shouted. The battlefield became more and more chaotic. The Brutes were now too close; the cannons couldn''t be used anymore. "ROOOAAAARRRRR!!!!" One particularly massive Brute, its hide scorched and torn, let out an ear-piercing bellow and charged the gate. Rumble The gate shook. And it didn''t stop there. After the first Brute, more and more Brutes rushed forward, pounding on the gates with their heavy bodies. "They are here already!! Get away!! Run! Run!!" The soldiers handling the cannons above the walls widened their eyes in horror as they ran away, abandoning their posts. Rumble The Northern Gate shuddered under the relentless pounding. Each strike shook its very foundation. And then finally¡­ Crack A large crack appeared. Yes, not even an entire minute had passed, but the gate had already cracked. Boom Boom Boom The Brutes continued to strike relentlessly. The crack continued to widen until finally, CRACK With a deafening crack, the gate broke into pieces. Dust erupted into the air, covering everything in a thick, choking cloud. "They broke through!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!" The soldiers screamed as they continued to run away. Don''t be mistaken; these soldiers weren''t running away from the Brutes. They had faced these monsters before, so while they were scared of them, they would never abandon their post in such a manner. The ones they were running away from were not the Brutes... It was Kael. The Hero had already placed himself 300 meters away from the gates, staring at the Brutes, who had just entered the gates, covered in dust and debris. What the Beasts failed to notice in time, however, were the four large oil barrels Kael had prepared to welcome them. Yes, Kael''s goal was never to stop the Beasts from coming in. He just wanted to fight under his conditions. And his condition? It was... Exploooosiionnn! Kael chuckled, thinking about a certain brown-haired loli from Crimson Magician School as he then formed a gun with his hand and pointed at the Brutes. Two magic circles appeared in front of his palm, and two sleek arrows of flames were formed. "Bang." The instant he said those words, the arrows whistled through the air, hit the oil barrels and before the Brutes could react. BOOOOOOOOOOM Chapter 61 - 61: Kill them all. "Bang." Two arrows whistled through the air and hit the oil barrels and before the Brutes could react, BOOOOOOOOOOM The barrels exploded, all at the same time. A fiery shockwave erupted, sending a wall of heat and force outward. Flames gushed into the sky, and the battlefield turned red and orange. The very ground trembled, and the air was filled with the sharp crackle of burning oil. The Brutes'' bodies flew back like ragdolls. Fire clung to their thick hides, and their roars of pain echoed across the battlefield. Their skin was scorched, with deep burn marks all over the place. The sight was extremely gory. Kael stood still. He thought he would have thrown up when he saw the scene, but for some reason¡­ he felt perfectly fine¡­ Maybe it was because he had seen literal humans being torn into two pieces and his own head being severed in the vision before, but all of this felt¡­ much tamer than he expected. Kael continued to observe the Brutes. These monsters had taken literal cannon shots and survived. So obviously, although the explosion caused a lot of damage, none of them had died yet. Slowly, the Brutes stood up. It was a scene that might have horrified any normal person. To survive despite everything that happened, these Monsters seemed unkillable. Kael, however, just grinned. "Marshmallow or Kebab?" He questioned. "RRROOOOAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!" The Brutes, however, didn''t seem to like his joke as they roared in rage. Their eyes glimmered menacingly as they charged toward Kael, targeting the one who had harmed them. This time, their speed was much faster than before, they had turned even crazier. Kael, who realized what was happening, blinked a few times. Then he¡­ Ran away. "What!? I thought everyone liked barbecue!?" He complained as he continued to run as if his life depended on it. "RRRAOOOOOOOAARRR!!!!" And it did. The soldiers had never seen Brutes look so enraged before. Kael continued to run. These Brutes were faster than him, so despite him having a 300-meter lead, they were slowly catching up. "I won''t make that joke again, I promise!" Kael cried as he continued to run, and the Brutes replied to his words with, "ROORRROAAAAARRRRRR!!" "Yes, I accept your surrender." Kael nodded. Of course, he didn''t stop running. "ROOAAAAARRRRR!!!" As the chase continued, Kael soon entered the narrow alleys. The Brutes, in a frenzy, followed without thinking, their massive bodies barely fitting through the tight streets. Kael continued to run through the streets. The Brutes, despite having to slow down, continued to follow him, but then¡ª "NOW!!" He screamed, and suddenly, the ground beneath Kael turned into a marsh as he jumped into the air. The Brutes tried to follow, but before they could jump, 20 Estwyn Tamers, who were hiding on the rooftops of the houses on either side of the narrow streets, jumped on top of the Brutes with their weapons in their hands. "Aim at their burnt hide!" Kael shouted as he himself climbed on top of Echo, who took him to the sky, away from the Brutes. "FOR ESTWYN!" "KILL!!!" The soldiers shouted, aiming at the Brutes'' weak points that Kael had created. They weren''t alone. Their Magic Beasts attacked the Brutes together with them. As for Kael... Well, he was having his own problems. "Aaaahhhhh!!!! I am flying! I am flying!!!" The Hero screamed like a little bitch, his hand tightly gripping Echo''s saddle straps as if his life depended on it. ''Just hold the reins, leave everything to Echo, and you will be just fine~'' This was what Sarah had told him before, but¡­ "I am not fine at all!!!!" Kael complained. Just looking at the ground beneath made his body tremble. "Kuuu!" Echo called out. "I do not understand you!!" Kael shouted, his voice nearly lost in the howling wind. "Kuuu!!" Echo screeched again as it moved even higher. "What are you doing!?" Kael shouted again as his heart shuddered. Echo was literally flying vertically to the ground, and Kael could see his death right in front of his eyes. "Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh!! Echo!! My Brother!! What did I do to you!?" Kael complained as he continued to shout. **"Aaaahhhh¡ª eh?"** But then, he noticed something. By now, he should have already fallen to the ground. Even if he was holding the reins, he highly doubted he was holding them tight enough to avoid the fall. Heck, he didn''t even feel like he was holding something. ''Is it because I am stronger now¡­?'' Kael thought inwardly. Soon, however, he shook his head. This made no sense. Something was wrong. "Kuuu!!" Echo screeched again, his voice joyful, as if he was trying to tell something. Kael then remembered Sarah''s words again, ''Just hold the reins, leave everything to Echo, and you will be just fine~'' "You are telling me to¡­ trust you?" He questioned, and¡ª "Kuu!" Echo nodded as he raised his speed even further. This time, although Kael instinctively closed his eyes, he didn''t shout. And just as he expected¡­ He was fine¡­ "Kuuu!" Echo called out again as he shook his head. "Huh? What do you want?" "Kuu!" He shook his head again, this time even more aggressively, and Kael finally realized what he was trying to say. "You want me to¡­ Leave the reins?" "Kuu!" Echo nodded, and Kael just stared at him with a deadpan look on his face. "Do you see any wings coming out of my back by any chance?" Of course, he wouldn''t be leaving the reins! He would never leave them! "Kuu!!" Echo, however, screeched again as he changed the direction he was flying in. Now, he was parallel to the ground again. The only difference was¡­ That it was upside down¡­ "Ah! Sorry if I was rude!! Turn around!! Turn around!!" Kael shouted, but Echo didn''t listen. It was then that Kael realized it¡­ He¡­ He still hadn''t fallen. Slowly¡­ he decided to trust his friend. First, he let go with one hand. Feeling no pressure on the other hand, he steeled his heart and¡­ He let go. And again, Nothing changed. *What¡­? How is this possible¡­?'' He questioned inwardly, and Echo just screeched in joy. ''Leave everything on Echo~'' Sarah''s words echoed in his mind again, and he finally realized what she meant. He could not fall as long as he trusted Echo¡­ "Now that''s true magic!" Kael shouted out loud, then, "Echo! Faster!!" He ordered. "Kuuu!!!" Echo followed. "Hahahaha!" And Kael''s laughter echoed throughout the skies, and once he was comfortable enough, he passed the orders. "Echo, Down!" It was time to finish it. Echo descended, and soon, Kael saw the soldiers bravely attacking the Brutes. Aria''s Bond, a Swamp Drake, had turned the ground into a swamp and had started targeting the Brutes with vines that grew from the swamp. These vines grabbed the Brutes and pulled them in, hindering their movements even further. The soldiers also continuously targeted the burnt areas in the Brutes'' bodies, making their attacks even more lethal. "As they say, it is easier to cut the cooked chicken~" Kael commented with a smile on his face, then, as he prepared his heart, "Alright, fuck this, Let''s do it!" He jumped down. Yes, he had gotten braver. But not for long. "Aaaaahhhhhh!!!" He screamed. He was nearly 30 feet above; even if he was the Hero, he was still scared. "Noo!! Don''t fuck it!! I take my words back!!" Of course, no one was coming for help. "Agghh! Fuck!" Kael cursed again, and then, his face contorted, his eyes turned draconic golden, red veins pulsed beneath his skin, his jagged teeth gleamed, and, He roared. "RRROOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!!!" The Brutes looked above, their bodies enveloped by the most primordial sense of fear, petrifying them in an instant. Kael, however, wasn''t done yet. Shimmering red scales started appearing on his right arm, and Kael quickly directed himself toward the strongest Brute and the moment he appeared above him, S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He punched. BOOOOOOOOM Its entire body was blown into pieces. Blood and gore spread all over, covering everyone present, especially Kael. He controlled the urge to vomit and strengthened his mind¡ªhe only had 5 seconds. His golden eyes glared at all the Brutes, who were still frozen in fear, then he found the one nearest to him and punched again, And then again. Within five seconds, he unleashed two more punches, killing a total of three Brutes, all while the Brutes stood petrified by what they had just witnessed. "Focus on the ones on the left, swarm them." Kael ordered. All of this, from the start to right now, had already been predicted by Kael, and the soldiers had already positioned themselves to take on the Brutes on the left, while Kael himself rushed toward the three on the right. Then, once he had created enough distance between himself and the soldiers, he activated his third ability as he jumped toward the Brutes with a sword in his hand. [Skill: Ember Cloak] [Description:] [Allows the Host to surround himself with draconic flames. Enemies who attack him in melee range take significant fire damage, and the flames provide enhanced resistance to elemental attacks.] [Effect:] [Surrounds the Host with dragon-like flames that extend 1 meter around him.] [Enemies that are burned by flames take 20% of the Host''s magic power as fire damage.] [The affected suffer a burning effect that deals 5% of the Host''s magic power as fire damage per second for 5 seconds (Stackable).] [Provides a 25% resistance to elemental attacks, with a 50% resistance to fire-based attacks.] [Duration: 10 seconds.] [Cooldown: 1 minute.] It was supposed to be a defensive ability. Kael, however, used it aggressively as he moved closer to the enemies himself. He also made sure to use the stacking effect to its fullest extent. He would burn these things till they were roasted! "Kill them all." He ordered as he himself took on three Brutes. With three already dead, three busy with Kael, the twenty tamers and their Beasts now swarmed the four remaining ones. The Brutes, who were already heavily injured and with the swamp and the vines slowing them down, were overwhelmed very quickly, And with that, All ten Brutes perished. ... A/N: Sarah Aria Lyra Chapter 62 - 62: Archers, to the cliffs! While Kael was busy dealing with the Northern Gate, Tobias had a task of his own. It was the Eastern Gate. "I see movements, they are about 5 kilometres away from the desired position, be prepared." S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tobias heard a voice and, in an instant, he signalled his men to move. Most of his men were already in position, all they needed to do was wait. Right now, Tobias wasn''t standing on the Eastern Walls, he was in the outpost created about one kilometre away from the Eastern Gate, deep in the forests. The Eastern Gate was too close to the Town Hall and the basement where everyone was hiding. Kael couldn''t risk it. So, unlike in the Northern Gate, where the plan was to let the Brutes in, limit their movements in the narrow streets and kill them, For the Eastern Gate, Kael made sure that these beasts never even got close to the gate, no matter what. "You know what to do, correct?" Tobias heard the woman''s voice again, this time, he glanced at her. It was one of the warriors who had come together with the Hero. Sarah. The archer had her eyes closed, and a strange rune was shining on her forehead. "Do not make a mistake." She spoke in a solemn tone, it was almost threatening honestly. This was the Hero''s first mission, and Sarah wanted to make sure nothing went wrong. Everything MUST be perfect. "Yes." Tobias nodded. Sarah nodded back, then, with her eyes still closed, she continued to ''see'' what she was seeing. Her vision connected with her second beast, Eye, an Ethereal Raptor, another Rare Rank, Special Elemental Beasts. Eye was a sleek and graceful bird. Her feathers shimmered with a metallic silver and deep azure hue. Her sharp, golden eyes radiated intelligence. *Picture* She had the ability to share her vision with Sarah, allowing her to see what normal people couldn''t. Even the Corrupted Beasts who moved through the forest, difficult to be spotted by the naked eye because their bodies blended into the forest. Their absurd speed doesn''t help either. To Sarah, however, this was never a problem, she could see them just fine. There were around fifty of them, all with smaller, agile bodies that moved towards the town at a surprising speed. It was as if the trees in the forest weren''t obstacles but a clear road. These beasts moved like shadows, swift and coordinated, their glowing eyes piercing through the dim light of the forest. They weren''t strong like the Brutes Kael was facing, but they were definitely quick. The people of the town called them ''Agiles''. *Picture* "Now." Sarah spoke in a calm voice and, in an instant, Tobias raised his hand. "Archers, take your positions!" He shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Shoot!" Tobias ordered again, and the archers shot a barrage of arrows. The Agiles were much weaker compared to the Brutes, so much that one soldier could even take two of them, in an ideal, one-on-one scenario, of course. The Agiles, however, never participated in a one-on-one battle. These beasts attacked together, in groups, and because of their high speed and numbers, they were a nightmare to deal with. Even right now, while the arrows could definitely pierce through the Agiles'' hides and hurt them¡­ The darn things were so fast that the arrows would never hit. However¡­ This time, the archers'' aim was never the Agiles, it was the towering pine trees above them, or more accurately, the ropes that kept these trees upright. Hours before the battlefield, Kael and the soldiers had cut these trees and tied them using ropes, making them look like there was nothing wrong with them. However, the instant these ropes were cut by the arrows, the massive trees fell, crashing down with deafening booms. Dust and debris filled the air as the beasts were forced to scatter, their formation broken. Now, the forest wasn''t the Agiles'' territory where they could move however they wanted. It was now a deathbed where they could only move in a direction Kael wanted them to. The Agiles, with the path ahead of them blocked, moved to the sides. However, every time they tried to move towards the town, the arrows followed, and the trees fell, forcefully redirecting them to another route. What''s worse? Every time any of the Agiles tried to slow down and climb up the bunch of large trees that had stopped their advance, another barrage of arrows flew towards it, piercing its body, killing it on the spot. The Agiles had no choice but to follow Kael''s path. A path that, unbeknownst to them, led them to their destruction. "Aaawwwooooo!!!" They howled, but the barrage of arrows didn''t stop. Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh Bam Bam Bam The trees continued to fall, and soon, the Agiles were led to a ravine Kael had discovered earlier. A ravine was a natural trap, a trap Marshal Therian had discussed in quite detail, A trap Kael would be a fool not to use. The Ravine had steep cliffs on either side and the other way out was around 10 kilometres away. Honestly, Kael would have very much preferred if it was a ravine with no way out at the other end, but since it wasn''t something he could control, he had to make do with whatever he had. "They will reach the ravine in 10 minutes, we should go." Sarah spoke as she finally opened her eyes and nodded at Tobias. The town head nodded back, and the two of them left their outpost and rode Tobias''s bond, Swift Wolf, to rush towards the ravine. "Make sure every single one enters the ravine, we cannot leave any of them behind!!" One of the soldiers who was ordered to lead the operation shouted. The fallen pine trees continued to block the Agiles'' way, and in the end, they had no choice but to enter the ravine, just like Kael had planned. Of course, this didn''t stop them. The Agiles continued to run towards the other end of the ravine. Once they exited, they would make their way towards the town. There was nothing stopping them. But¡­ Right now, these Agiles weren''t in the forest where they could easily blend into the surroundings while the massive trees acted as their natural cover. They were out in the open, and the instant all the Agiles were deep into the ravine, "Archers, to the cliffs!" Chapter 63 - 63: W-We did it!!! "Archers, to the cliffs!" The order was given, and ten militia archers, who had been hiding near the cliffs all this while, stood up, and with the targets right in front of them, "Shoot!" They opened fire. Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh "AAAWWWWOOOOO!!!!" Arrows rained down like a deadly storm, striking the Agiles with precision. The creatures howled in pain and rage, but there was no escape. Every attempt to climb the walls of the ravine was met with another volley of arrows. It wasn''t just the arrows the Agiles had to worry about. The Bonds of all Tamers in the town, capable of attacking from a distance, were here as well, doing damage to these beasts, no matter how little or heavy it was. The Agiles, with weak defenses, fell quickly, their numbers dwindling rapidly. The narrow space of the ravine left them no room to maneuver. "AWWWOOOOOO!!!!" They howled again. Their minds, corrupted by the dark energy, couldn''t comprehend the notion of their kin dying. Their instincts, however, told them that they were in danger and needed to get away. Quickly, the Agiles split into two groups: a minority that rushed towards the other end and a majority that tried to return. And of course, Kael had considered that as well. "Light it up!" A soldier shouted. Near the entrance of the ravine, his soldiers had created a blockade using the pine tree woods that they had cut off beforehand. And it wasn''t just a normal blockade either¡ªit was an advanced one. A double blockade, where the first blockade was lit on fire, while the second one was strengthened by the Earth Beasts, making it a temporary gate. Behind this ''gate,'' there stood an emergency unit, whose only goal was to continuously push and pull the spears in and out of the holes created in the gates. Yes, Kael had made it such that the Agiles, who tried to return to the entrance, would not only need to avoid the barrage of attacks from the Tamers on the cliff, they would also need to cross through a sea of fire, then clash against the gates while trying to avoid the spears that constantly tried to pierce through them. And what if they somehow passed through all these obstacles? Well, to deal with that possibility, Sarah and Tobias, two of the strongest Tamers, had already made their entrance, taking over command of the entire operation on this end. "They are here!" An archer shouted. "Archers! Shoot!" Tobias ordered, and a barrage of arrows fell on the Agiles. "AAWWWOOOOOO!!!" The Agiles roared in pain. Their numbers had already fallen quite a bit by the time they got here. Still, seeing the massive sea of flames, these beasts paused. Despite their low intelligence, their instincts told them going further meant death. The problem was¡­ That standing still, trying to climb the cliff on either side, or going back wasn''t an option either. With the attacks continuously raining down on them, the Agiles were forced to make a decision. And once again, they split into two groups: the majority that turned around, this time towards the opposite end, and the minority that jumped into the sea of fire. "AAAWWWOOO!!!!" The minority howled in agony as their skin was scorched. "Keep attacking! Do not stop!" However, their howls didn''t stop the attacks that continued to rain down on them. By the time these beasts reached the second blockade, there were only five of them left. "Spearmen! Start attacking!" Tobias shouted. By now, Sarah had already killed five Agiles with her arrows. Yes, she was shooting her arrows from the other side of the blockade¡ªshe was that good. The Spearmen started attacking. Their constant attacks made it difficult for the Agiles to break through. By the time they were able to break the blockade, barely two of them were left standing, and even they were riddled with heavy injuries. They stood no chance against Tobias and Sarah, who easily took them down. On this end, all the Agiles were dead. Number of casualties or injuries? Zero. As for the other side¡­ "Will she be alright alone?" Tobias questioned with a worried look on his face, and hearing that question, Sarah laughed out loud. "She is the last person you should be worried about. Worry about the Agiles instead; they might return." "They might return¡­? From the other end¡­?" S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tobias was with Kael when they found and studied the ravine. He knew the other end was 10 kilometers away. Sure, at their peak, the Agiles only needed about 4 to 5 minutes to go from one end to the other. However¡­ The Agiles right now were in no condition to run that fast. Even if they did, there were archers and Bonds prepared to attack them throughout the ravine. Returning here was no different than death. Sarah understood his surprise. She, however, just shrugged. "Well, they aren''t getting out from that end, that''s for sure." The woman was confident. She then closed her eyes, her vision connected with her Bond, and very quickly, her eyes fell on the early minority that had decided to rush towards the other end in the first place. They had already died even before they could reach the other end. As for the group of Agiles running towards the other end now, they were doing better than expected, and ten of them, although injured and battered, had managed to reach the other end. In front of them, however, was a tanned woman, who had placed a mattress on the ground and had tucked herself inside a blanket. "Oh? You are here?" She muttered lazily. "What is Sarah doing?" She complained as she stood up, very unwillingly. The space around her cracked as suddenly, two massive Earth Rhinos¡ªone 12 meters big and the other 9 meters big, with dense stone-like, thick hides¡ªstepped out of the cracks. Lyra, with a lazy expression on her face, pointed at the Agile Beasts in front of her and, "Keep them busy." At her words, the Earth Rhinos rushed towards the Agile Beasts while the archer herself took out her bow, and then, She started shooting. Her precision and accuracy were so high that, with her two Bonds stopping the Agiles from advancing, she attacked their weak points, and within 5 minutes, The ten Agiles were down. The battle of the Eastern Gate was over with no casualties or injuries whatsoever. And the soldiers couldn''t believe it until finally, someone shouted, "W-We did it!!!" Chapter 64 - 64: Be prepared. "It''s done." Sarah, who saw Lyra getting rid of the rest of the Agiles through her Bond, muttered in a low voice. "¡­" "¡­" At first, silence fell over the place. No one could believe what they had heard. After all, these were the same beasts who had killed so many of their allies and had caused havoc and destruction all over the place. Last time, these beasts had nearly managed to destroy their entire town. The soldiers were even worried that they might reach the basement area and kill all the villagers. Agiles were nothing short of a nightmare, and now¡­ They had taken all of them¡­ without a single casualty on their side¡­ None of them could believe it. A soldier blinked, lowering his sword with trembling hands. Another glanced around, searching the faces of his comrades for confirmation that this was real. This continued until finally, A young man drafted into the emergency unit shouted. "W-We did it!!!" And as if all of the soldiers had come out of their reverie at the same time, "We did it!!! We did it!!" They exclaimed in joy. Sarah''s body shuddered at the sudden shout. She felt like her eardrum would burst. "Hey!" She shouted back in anger. "Stop shouting and extinguish the fir¡ª" She was about to give further orders, but then, "Hail the Hero!!!" A soldier cheered. "Hail the Hero!!!" "Hail the Hero!!!" One after another, more and more soldiers joined in, all chanting Kael''s name fervently, and Sarah stopped. "Well... This you can do for a while¡­" She muttered in a low voice. She had seen how worried Kael was the entire time he was here. In the carriage, he had been constantly studying the mission details, ramming his head while he tried to come up with a plan. Even when he was keeping watch at night while the rest of them were asleep, he seemed worried and lost in thought. And despite all that, these people had looked at him with distrust and doubt. Sarah hated it. Sarah absolutely hated how these townsfolk treated the Hero, even if the Hero himself didn''t seem very affected, even though the townsfolk''s reaction was understandable, she still hated it. And now, when Kael was finally being recognized for his efforts, she was happy. This was the reverence and love the Hero deserved. She nodded continuously, satisfied. But then suddenly, "The battle is not over yet. Regroup and return. Sarah, take command." Everyone heard Kael''s voice, and the instant the Hero mentioned her name, Sarah''s face brightened up. She quickly turned towards the soldiers and passed down her orders. "Put down the fire, Call the archers, Regroup, and remember, keep the movements to a minimum!" "Yes, Leader!" The soldiers saluted before they got to work. ¡­ Back to the northern side of the town, Kael, who had finally taken down the last Brute, stood in silence as he grabbed his shoulder. His right arm was trembling. Jumping from Echo and landing on that Brute with a punch wasn''t exactly a good idea. While it did allow him to deal with three Brutes within a few seconds, he was hurt. He felt like he was unable to move his right arm as he intended to. Of course, with the training Arlan had practically instilled into his body, the injury didn''t have a very deep impact on his fighting ability. He could still fight and¡­ It wasn''t all for nothing. [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 17 ¡ú 18] [CE: 1548/2800] [Talent: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] [Strength: 45 ¡ú 46] [Agility: 46 ¡ú 47] [Speed: 43 ¡ú 44] [Stamina: 46 ¡ú 47] [Defense: 48 ¡ú 49] [Mana: 56 ¡ú 57] [Intelligence: 44 ¡ú 45] [Charisma: 43 ¡ú 44] ¡­ Yes, he leveled up. ''To think I could level up just by killing six such beasts¡­ That''s around 600 CE from one beast.'' Kael thought inwardly, surprised by how easy it was to level up on the battlefield. After all, to get the same amount of CE, he needed to put in so much effort in either learning new skills or mastering his existing ones. ''Heh.'' A smile appeared on Kael''s face. This feeling of getting stronger¡­ it was addicting. For now, however, Kael suppressed his emotions. Just like he had said before, this wasn''t over yet. "Screechh!!" Kael looked up, and his eyes fell on the Beasts that worried him the most. The Estwyn people called them The Flying. These beasts were large and terrifying, each about 10 feet long. Their wings were torn and jagged. Their bodies were covered in dark, coarse feathers. Their faces looked monstrous, with sharp, hooked beaks and glowing eyes that seemed full of rage and malice. Long, razor-sharp talons extended from their feet, ready to tear into anything. They flew in an erratic, chaotic way, adding to their unsettling presence. *Picture* The Flying were the most difficult bunch to deal with, even for Kael. After all, unlike the Beasts on land that he could somewhat control, tactics usually failed when it came to airborne beasts. Or at least, he wasn''t taught anything that could be very useful yet. Not to mention, the information he had on The Flying was extremely limited. While he did read about the Skyscraper Beasts on his way here, these beasts were not the same. With their intelligence lowered, they were entirely different beasts with completely different habits. So what Kael knew was all that Tobias had told him. According to the Town Head, there were three things he needed to keep in mind: The Flying react to heat and movement. They only attacked the Town and its people. And they do not react to other corrupted Beasts. After months of being attacked by these things, this is what the Town Head had found, and all this while, this is what he had been using to keep the damage to a minimum. Tobias always ordered the civilians to light up bonfires above some of the town''s buildings. The Flying, who only reacted to movement and heat, usually had two options: One was to attack the moving troops, And the other was to attack the buildings. Tobias didn''t know why, but The Flying always chose the buildings. Usually, he would have concluded it was because they reacted to heat more aggressively. However, every time a group of troops moved around the town, The Flying changed their target and attacked them. In the end, Tobias made an observation. The Flying would continue to target the buildings as long as the troops were facing the other beasts. However, the instant a group of troops distanced themselves from the beasts and rushed to some other point for whatever reason, they would attract The Flying''s attention. This was also what Kael had used today. The bonfires were lit, attracting The Flying''s attention and allowing them to swiftly deal with the rest of the Beasts without aerial interruption. Now, however¡­ Things were different. The Brutes were gone. Now, they weren''t the troops that were ''facing the Brutes''¡ªthey were now open targets. And while it was still fine since they weren''t moving, the moment they moved, the Flying would attack. Not to mention the soldiers were hurt. They needed to be taken to Aria so she could heal them. And while Kael did think of bringing the Brutes'' bodies with them so it would look like they were still fighting, the Brutes'' bodies were simply too heavy. In the end, there was no other choice. They would need to face The Flying head-on. "Be prepared." Kael spoke with a grim look on his face. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 65 - 65: WHICH SON OF A BITCH THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA!!?? "Be prepared." Kael spoke with a grim look on his face. The soldiers nodded. Despite their injuries, some with lethal ones, they quickly prepared themselves for the next phase of the battle. "Remember, Aria is about 10 kilometres away from this place. We will go to her. Once the Flying notice, it would take them a little over 2 minutes to reach us and we need about 8 minutes to reach Aria. In a fortunate scenario, the Flying would take 5 minutes to notice us. In an unfortunate one, they would notice us in an instant." Kael briefed the situation. The soldiers nodded, listening to his words intently. "We will consider the unfortunate scenario and be prepared for battle. The injured will stay in the middle, the ones who can fight will stay at the front and the back. I will lead the charge. Is that clear?" "Yes, Hero!" The soldiers saluted, their voices full of determination. "Make sure to protect your comrades." Kael nodded back as the soldiers positioned themselves according to his instructions and mounted their Bonds, ready to leave. Kael, who was currently on top of Aria''s Swamp Drake, lightly patted its head. Then, he raised his arm and, "Move." He ordered. The group moved. Nearly two minutes passed by, the Flying didn''t notice them, and they rushed in Aria''s direction. The narrow roads that were once their allies had now become their weakness, slowing them down, but they didn''t complain. These roads were the ones that allowed them to deal with the Brutes. Not to mention, the Hero was still with them. His presence alone filled the village troops with endless confidence. But then, "Screeechh!!!" One of the Flying, who was nearest to them, noticed them and flew toward them. At its speed, it would reach them soon, but, "Do not stop." Kael ordered, his eyes determined. Within a minute, the soldiers could hear it. Flap The sound of its massive wings flapping. "Screech!!" It screeched, prepared to rip all of them into pieces, but then, Kael, who was mounted on the Earth Swamp, extended his hand. Two circles formed in front of his palm and suddenly, three flaming chains materialized and grabbed the Flying with pinpoint accuracy. Chain of Flames. "SCREECHHH!!!" The beast screeched in pain and flapped its wings, trying to get away. Kael, however, pulled it close to him, took out his sword, and jumped toward it. Slash The Flying was beheaded. Their defenses were much weaker compared to the Brutes, making it easier for him to cut them down. [CE: +549] Kael saw a message. He, however, ignored it for now and continued to run together with his group. Because of the first one, the rest of the Flying had noticed them as well. 16 of them were already here. And soon, his eyes fell on the strongest. [Name: Baal] [Race: Skyscapper] [Rank: Common] [Age: 42 Years] [State: Corrupted] [Level: 15] [Strength: 30 (50)] [Agility: 50 (70)] [Stamina: 35 (50)] [Defense: 30 (45)] [Mana: 38 (56)] [Intelligence: 38 (3)] [Charisma: 20 (-)] [Strengths: Exceptional Aerial Mobility, Decent Offensive Power, Tactical Versatility] [Weaknesses: Low Intelligence] ¡­ ''The corruption makes this so much harder.'' He complained in his heart. The good thing was that the roads they were on weren''t as narrow as before, giving the soldiers some room to maneuver. "Focus on defense, only attack when they come to you." Kael ordered. The Flying had two ways to attack: spit fire from a distance or attack using their sharp talons capable of tearing flesh like it was nothing. "Yes, Hero!" The soldiers nodded. "Echo." Kael turned toward Sarah''s Bond, who was flying in the air right above them. Echo nodded as he glanced at the beasts ahead of him, and then, KUUUUUU! He let out a sonic wave that instantly slowed down the incoming beasts. The weaker ones trembled, and some even froze up, unable to move any further. "Drak," Kael turned toward Aria''s Bond. "Protect the injured, okay?" "Grr!" Drak nodded. Kael, on the other hand, prepared his heart as he looked at the soldiers around him. These soldiers were in no condition to take on 16 Flying, too many of them would die if this continued. He needed to be the ''Hero'' and¡­ attract the aggro. ''Fuck it!'' In the end, he steeled himself, jumped in the air, and climbed on top of Echo again. "Go!" He ordered. Echo, as if being able to read Kael''s mind, moved forward. Now, it was an airborne battle. "Wooooaaahhhhh!!!" A battle Kael was having an extremely hard time getting used to. "I really came to another world, didn''t I!?" Sitting on top of a Magic Beast, flying at a speed no less than 250 km/h, Kael was having the time of his life. ''Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!'' ¡­Well, if you consider continuously cursing in his mind as his heart shuddered every time he stared at the ground beneath him ''having the time of his life.'' Too high! He was too high! Yes, he had gotten used to this before, but¡­ Whoosh Last time, there were no corrupted beasts following him, spitting fire, trying to roast him alive!! "Kuuuu!!!" Echo screeched as he moved, changing his direction almost instantly, successfully evading the attack. "Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!" Kael, however, felt like Echo''s turning was doing more damage to him than the enemies'' attacks ever could. His heart felt like it would come out in an instant. Yes, he knew he wouldn''t fall, but it was still too much for his heart. Echo, however, wasn''t done yet. Six Flyings were after them, and Echo wasn''t exactly faster than them. He was just more intelligent, and his senses were sharper because he reacted to sound much better than others, making his reaction speed faster than the beasts who just mindlessly followed him. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This made it easier for him to move in random directions, take quick turns, and suddenly ascend or descend to avoid getting close to them. "Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!" Of course, for Kael, Echo''s tactics were no short of lethal. "WHICH SON OF A BITCH THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA!!??" It was his own idea. "I''ll vomit! I''ll vomit! I''ll vomit! I am telling you I''ll vomit, dammit!!" Whoosh Just then, another ball of fire, much stronger than the previous ones, streaked past him, narrowly missing his head. Kael could swear that some of his hair was burnt by it. They were everywhere. Three on his left, one on the right, and two right above him. "Alright, alright, I need to focus." Kael had barely calmed himself but then suddenly, Whoosh Another fireball moved right past him and he froze. "Fuck, I am dying today." He could see his death. Chapter 66 - 66: Battle in the Air. "Fuck, I am dying today." Kael could see his death. Even if he didn''t die under their flames, he would definitely die from a heart attack. ''Gru¡­'' As if sensing his feelings, Igni called out. It was as if the little dragon was saying, ''Should I come out¡­?'' And of course, the answer was, ''No.'' Yes, Kael knew his Igni wanted to get out but¡­ Kael couldn''t let it¡­ He could lose anyone, he could see countless deaths, he would bear the burden of them all, But not his Igni. Igni was one thing he couldn''t lose. ''I promise I will let you go all out in the forest when all of this is over. I have asked around, there is a place where you can have all the fun you want. But for now, you are not to come out.'' He ordered. Kael could sense it, Igni was worried. If something happened, he would come out on his own. Yes, if the Bonds wanted, they could very well come out of the Sanctuary on their own, and the Tamer wouldn''t have any control over it. Kael wanted to avoid that, so, ''I am fine, Igni. Don''t worry.'' He spoke in a reassuring tone. Then, he looked ahead, his eyes much clearer than before. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Echo." "Kuuu!" Echo replied. "Let''s kill them." Kael spoke. When Igni was at stake, it was much easier to make Kael do things. "Kuuuu!" As if waiting for this, Echo screeched cheerfully as he changed direction again. This time, however, Kael didn''t react and suppressed all his fear. His eyes turned draconic golden, red veins appeared on his face and, "RRROOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!!!" [Skill: Roar of Dominion] He activated his skill, and just like the Brutes, the Flyings froze. Roar of Dominion was an extremely useful skill, especially against these cursed beasts. Maybe it was because of their low intelligence, but they had almost no resistance to this skill''s effect. Against them, the Roar of Dominion was no different than a full six-second freedom where Kael could do anything he wanted while his enemies were barely able to keep themselves in the air. "Kuuu!!" Echo understood what Kael wanted and dashed towards one of the beasts. Kael steadied himself, gripping his sword tightly. Slash Using Echo''s momentum, Kael severed the Flying''s head. Thud The creature''s lifeless body fell to the ground. [CE: +549] Kael saw the notification. Right now, however, he ignored it and focused. Echo had already turned in the direction of another beast. Kael also didn''t stay back either. His Magic Circle appeared above his palm, and flaming chains were formed, quickly rushing towards the third Flying. By now, Echo had reached the second Flying. Kael, in a similar manner, beheaded it, and just as he was done, his Flaming Chains brought the third Flying right in front of him. Slash Kael beheaded it as well. [CE: +578] [CE: +462] [Level: 18 -> 19] Kael leveled up. But he didn''t care, or rather, he didn''t have the time to care. Six seconds had passed. The three remaining Flyings quickly lunged at them, but Echo twisted in midair, dodging effortlessly. This time, instead of feeling scared, Kael, who had shifted his focus on offence, used the momentum to swing his sword, slashing across one of the Flying''s wings. "SCREEECHHH!!!!" It let out an ear-piercing screech as it spiralled out of control, crashing into a nearby building. Kael wanted to attack another one, but suddenly, Echo descended and twisted again, saving Kael, who was about to be attacked from behind. "I didn''t see that one." Kael admitted. "Kuu!" Echo cheered. It was as if he was saying, ''I got your back.'' Kael laughed, and the battle continued. Kael left his defense to Echo, while he focused on attacking. It had turned into a lethal combination. One had to know, Echo wasn''t weak. Rather, as Sarah''s first bond, he was the archer''s strongest bond and one of the strongest beasts present here. His powers didn''t fade out even when compared to these corrupted beasts. [Name: Echo] [Race: Echoing Luminark] [Rank: Rare] [Age: 27] [Level: 21] [Strength: 45] [Agility: 60] [Speed: 58] [Stamina: 50] [Defense: 40] [Mana: 75] [Intelligence: 50] [Charisma: 45] [Strengths: Sound Manipulation, Flight Mastery, Echoing Resonance, Enhanced Evasion] [Weaknesses: Energy Drain, Weak Physical Defense] ... Yes, Echo was strong, and when someone like him focused just on defense, it was extremely difficult to catch him off guard, especially when the only thing the enemy knew in the name of ''tactics'' was to ''chase till the opponent is dead.'' With Echo focused on defense and Kael on offense, the Flyings quickly realized that it was getting dangerous. Their instincts warned them to create distance, so that is what they did, but then, "Echo, go down, we will finish that one." Kael ordered. "Kuuu!!" Echo nodded as he descended. Kael only had one reason to do this. He would use this opportunity to reduce their numbers and buy time so he could use Roar of Dominion again. Only ten seconds were left. By the time they descended, killed the Flying that had crashed onto the building, and got back in the air, he would be able to use it again. Yes, he was planning to spam it against these beasts until every single one of them was dead. The skill was just that useful. He would be a fool if he didn''t use it. A stain to the cultured. "Kuuu!!" While Kael was lost in his thoughts, Echo''s call alerted him, they were about to descend, Kael quickly prepared and the moment he got close enough, Stab He stabbed his sword right through the Beast''s body, ending it in one swift move. [CE: +449] "SCREEECHHH!!!!" The rest of the Flying followed them, Echo, however, moved swiftly, ascending back in the air, and then, "ROOOAAAAAAARRRRR!!" Kael roared again. The Flying froze but then suddenly, "SCREEECCHHH!!" Kael saw four more Beast rushing towards them. "Fuck." He cursed out loud, then without wasting any time, "Echo, now!" He ordered, Echo dashed forward and just like before, Kael quickly beheaded the two beasts affected by his roar and prepared to face four more. Another round of aerial battle started. Yes, Kael and Echo''s duo had managed to gather almost all of the enemy Aggro, as for the Flyings that were focused on the soldiers, well they had another problem to deal with. Aria''s Bond, Drak, the Swamp Drake. [Name: Drak] [Race: Swamp Drake] [Rank: Rare] [Age: 26 Years] [Level: 22] [Strength: 60] [Agility: 40] [Speed: 35] [Stamina: 60] [Defense: 55] [Mana: 45] [Intelligence: 37] [Charisma: 25] [Strengths: Earth Mastery, Poisonous Breath, Melee Power] [Weaknesses: Slow Movement, Low Evasion] ¡­ Yes, none of the beasts on Kael''s side were weak, especially when they were together with Kael, whose strengthened their morale. But suddenly, something happened. "Kuuu!!" Echo, who was swiftly dodging the incoming attacks started descending. "Echo? What''s wron-" Kael wanted to question, finding his behaviour odd, but before he could even complete, Echo, who thought it was now safe enough, flipped over and this time, Kael fell. Yes, Echo threw Kael from his back and hurried away. "Echo!! What are you doin- Aaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!" "Kuuuu!!!" Instead of answering, however, Echo simply dashed away. Chapter 67 - 67: Hero Kael, we were attacked by seven Flyings, Sarah is hurt. "Echo!! What are you doin- Aaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!" Kael screamed before he quickly adjusted his body in the air and landed on a building''s rooftop in a superhero pose, But then, "Fuck! I knew this was impractical." He cursed out loud as he stood up, his knee limping painfully. He took a deep breath, getting used to the pain. He turned towards Echo to see where he was going but, he soon realized he had another much more important problem to deal with. "Screeech!!!" He was surrounded. "Fuck¡­" He cursed. Four Flyings were right in front of him, staring at him menacingly, ready to attack. Kael glanced back and saw the soldiers who were a little over 700 meters away from him. In the end, he made a decision. [Skill: Roar of Dominion] "RROOOOOOAAAAARRRRRRR!!!" He activated his skill, but this time, instead of attacking the frozen beasts, Kael used this moment to run away and regroup with the soldiers. ''Tsk.'' He snorted in his head. To use this Skill as a way to escape¡­ He now needed to wait for a minute to be able to use it again and in such battles¡­ a minute could be very decisive. ''What was he doing!?'' Kael was angry. But then, "Hero Kael, we were attacked by seven Flyings, Sarah is hurt." Kael heard Lyra''s voice. She was using Echo to transmit her voice from the Eastern Forest all the way to Kael. "What!?" Kael widened his eyes in surprise. Why? Tobias clearly told him that the Flying only attacked the humans who were inside the town. Many soldiers had saved themselves from getting attacked by the Flying just by being outside the town in the previous attacks. Heck, even the group of soldiers who ran away last time only dared to do it because they knew the Flying wouldn''t attack them. Then why¡­ And as if knowing what Kael was thinking, Lyra continued. "We still are not sure why it happened. The Town Head says that his assumption was wrong. He made a mistake. It isn''t that the Flying do not attack humans outside the town, they just never had a reason to do it before. All this time, the Flying always had closer targets inside the city, so they never bothered with humans outside the settlement, but today, since we killed all the Agiles here, we became an open target." Kael would have considered this theory. For now, however, he didn''t have time to think such things through. As if thinking the same, Lyra reported. "Since we were unable to regroup in time, we weren''t able to react in time. We have suffered five casualties¡ªtwo militia members, three from the emergency unit. Seven others are injured. The injured soldiers¡­ some of them won''t make it without immediate help. They''re bleeding out. One of them¡­" There was some hesitation in her voice before she continued, "He lost his arm to a talon strike. He''s barely hanging on." Kael felt a lump in his throat, his expression turned even grimmer, and Lyra continued. "The good news is that the situation is under control now. Because of Sarah, we were able to regroup. Sarah, however, is unconscious and requires urgent healing, so Echo will take her to Aria. The rest of us will still require an hour to get there. As for the Flyings here, please leave them to us." After those words, Lyra stopped speaking. "¡­" Kael turned silent. There were many things going on in his mind. ''When you lead, you must learn to live with the deaths of those who follow you.'' Marshal Therian''s words echoed in his head. His body trembled. For now, however, he continued to run and joined his soldiers who were facing five other Flyings. He stared at the Flying who had come down, trying to tear an injured soldier apart with its talon, and without wasting any time, his Magic Circles appeared in front of his palm and a 2-meter-long Flaming Spear was formed. Whoosh The Spear rushed forward, instantly piercing through the Flying''s body. "SCRREEEECHHH!!!" It screeched in pain, its body fell on the ground, and using this chance, the soldiers pounced on it and pierced its body with their swords. This time, since Kael wasn''t the one who got the last attack, he didn''t get any CE. He, however, didn''t care and rushed towards the rest of the Flying, targeting them all with his Flaming Spear. "Soldiers! Follow my lead! Finish them after I attack. We need to reduce their numbers!" He ordered as another Flaming Spear appeared above him. The Flaming Spear was one of the strongest Second Circle Spells Elira had taught him, an attack with piercing power that almost rivalled a Third Circle Spell. All this while, the only reason he wasn''t using this spell was because he wanted to save his Mana. But now¡­ He decided to change the plan. There were too many of them. He needed to get rid of them as soon as possible in order to avoid more deaths. Even if he ran out of Mana in the process. Whoosh "NOW!" Kael shouted as the Spear pierced through another Flying. Whoosh Then another. Whoosh And then another. Within the minute, Kael and the soldiers killed three more Flyings, out of which, Kael only got one kill. [CE: +449] Just as Kael was about to conjure another Flaming Spear, he felt a sharp headache. ''Fuck¡­'' He cursed. His Mana was depleted. Helpless, he could only get near Drak to shield himself from all the Aggro he had pulled while the rest of the soldiers continued their attacks. Of course, this didn''t mean Kael was done. He still had his Skill he could spam. "RROOOOOAAAAAARRRRR!!!" Once again, the Flying froze. "Move! Move!" Kael shouted. Again, he wasn''t using the Roar of Dominion as a means of attack. The soldiers were already injured, and these Flyings were too fast. Their ability to fly made it much more difficult to engage them directly. Almost none of the soldiers had the proper means to attack them mid-air. Engaging in the battle would only increase the number of casualties, so Kael was using the time he got from Roar of Dominion to continuously increase the distance between them and the Flyings. He couldn''t afford any more deaths. "Do not slow down! The Flying are far away! Focus on moving! Speed up!" Kael shouted, passing down the orders. "Lord Kael." Then, he heard a voice. It was Aria. "Sarah is with me, and she is safe." She delivered the good news. And this wasn''t the only good news she delivered. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Echo will now be returning to you." Chapter 68 - 68: A Bonds Love. "Sarah is with me and she is safe. Echo will now be returning to you." The instant Kael heard those words, a smile appeared on his face. As six seconds passed and the Beasts started moving again, Kael gave another order. "Focus on defense, Do not engage." There were only six Flying left, he just needed to wait a few more seconds and once Echo was here, taking on these six wouldn''t be a problem. "Yes, Hero Kael!" The soldiers nodded. Kael continued to run as he waited for Echo and then, "Kuuu!!" He heard a voice. Echo was here. His smile widened as he sped up and rushed towards Echo. The Bond descended and Kael jumped on top of him. "Kuu¡­" Echo let out a weak voice. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He felt guilty. He abandoned Kael in the middle of the battle, putting him in danger. He didn''t know how to react but suddenly, Kael placed his head on Echo''s head and, "You did well." He spoke in an extremely gentle tone. "I am glad Sarah has someone like you protecting her." "Kuuu!!" Echo let out a loud voice. It was as if he was saying, ''I will always protect her!'' "Mhm, I know I can trust you." Kael nodded as he gently rubbed Echo''s fur. The Echoing Luminark purred. "Alright, now let''s get rid of them, shall we?" Kael questioned. "Kuuu!!" Echo cheered, roaring to get his revenge and then, "Now, run away!" Kael ordered. "Kuu¡­?" Echo looked back as he glanced at Kael with what seemed like a dubious look on his face. ''Are you fucking with me?'' That was what the Luminark was trying to say, or at least that''s how Kael interpreted that look. "Do what I say." Kael nodded reassuringly and Echo turned around, distancing them from the Flying. Four Flying followed them. ''Alright.'' Kael nodded inwardly. With this, the soldiers only had to worry about the two of them. It was a number they should be able to handle together with their bonds. Lyra said the situation was under control on the Eastern side. Kael decided to take her word for it and trust her. Now, he could move freely. "Move to the North, we need to separate them from the rest." Kael ordered and Echo did as he was told. Then, Kael suddenly leaned forward and, "I''ll be leaving my defense on you, Echo." "Kuuuuu!!!" Echo nodded confidently, and then, Kael closed his eyes. Darkness enveloped him but soon, his surroundings were filled with ember sparks that shimmered almost blindingly. Yes, this man was planning to meditate and refill his Mana Reserves while he was sitting on top of a Magic Beast who was flying at the speed of 250 km/h and had four corrupted beasts chasing him. If Elira heard what he was doing, the Court Mage would have lost her mind. For now, however, Kael didn''t have the time to think through such matters. His focus was on the Fire Elements that surrounded him. Because of his chaotic surroundings, these Fire Elements weren''t as calm as they normally were. It was much more difficult to control them. For the first few minutes, Kael couldn''t do it. There were too many factors that were making it difficult for him to focus. It wasn''t just his chaotic surroundings, The death of those soldiers, Sarah''s condition, the injured soldiers, and how he could have changed everything if he hadn''t acted selfishly¡­ All these thoughts made it difficult for him to focus. ''No¡­ I don''t have time.'' Soon, however, Kael shook his head. He could feel it. Echo was getting tired. Why would he not be? The poor thing had been on the move since the start. Once again, he suppressed his emotions and emptied his mind. His focus solely remained on the Fire Elements, and then¡­ It happened. Hundreds of Fire Elements rushed into his body at the same time, filling his Mana Core. Yes, it was difficult to control them at first, but as Kael continued to focus, the process became more and more smooth. He completely left his defenses to Echo, and the Bond did a spectacular job at it. He wasn''t even in the position to use Roar of Dominion in the middle since he couldn''t keep track of the cooldown time. It was all Echo. The Bond used everything in its arsenal, the sound waves to slow down the enemy and maintain distance, his enhanced senses to evade their attacks before they could harm Kael, sharp turns to further make it difficult for the enemy to get close, until finally, around 15 minutes later, "You did well, Echo." Echo heard Kael''s voice. "Kuu!!" Echo nodded desperately, his breathing was heavy, his heart was pumping blood aggressively, he was extremely tired and Kael understood it. He needed to end this quickly. "Alright, Echo, the same tactic." "Kuu!" Echo turned around, looking at the Beasts following him, and then, "RRROOOOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!" Kael roared again and the Flying froze. Echo quickly dashed towards the strongest of all the Flying that had been following them for a long time now, and Kael, using Draconic Strike to increase his strength, tore the beast into pieces using his claw. He used the same tactic of using Flaming Chains to pull another beast towards him while he killed another Flying that Echo had gotten closer to. Then, he dealt with the beast the Flaming Chains had brought him. [CE: +532] [CE: +475] [CE: +488] Three Flyings fell down in six seconds. ''Tsk, just my luck.'' Kael snorted in his head as he stared at the screen in front of him. [CE: 2989/3000] ''To think it would fall short by 11 points.'' Kael complained in his head. "SCREEECCHHH!!!" At the same time, the last remaining Flying screeched as it stared at Kael and Echo. Then, it turned around and ran away. Well, it tried to, Kael, however, had already recovered his Mana. Pierce A Flaming Spear pierced through this Beast''s body and its body spiraled onto the ground. Echo descended and got close to it and Kael beheaded it. Slash [CE: +435] [Ding!] [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 19 -> 20] [CE: 412/3400] [Talent: Dragon Genesis] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank] [Strength: 46 -> 52] [Agility: 47 -> 53] [Speed: 44 -> 50] [Stamina: 47 -> 53] [Defence: 49 -> 55] [Mana: 57 -> 63] [Intelligence: 45 -> 51] [Charisma: 44 -> 50] ¡­ Kael levelled up. "Kuuu!!!" Echo screeched victoriously and Kael patted his head as he jumped down from his back. "Rest for a while." He spoke, worried about Echo, but, "Kuu!!" Echo shook his head as he signalled Kael to climb up. "Huh? Weren''t you tired?" Kael frowned. "Kuu!" Echo shook his head and soon, Kael realized what he wanted. "You want to be close to Sarah, huh?" "Kuu¡­" Echo nodded weakly, he knew he wasn''t supposed to go against Kael''s orders but¡­ He was worried. Kael smiled as he gently rubbed Echo''s fur. Then, he climbed up and, "No need to act like this, you were the bravest today. Let''s go see how Sarah is doing, shall we?" "Kuu!" Flap Echo nodded as he flapped his wing, soaring into the sky. Despite being extremely exhausted, despite his heart racing aggressively and muscles aching, the Luminark didn''t slow down, he wanted to get to his friend as soon as possible regardless of his own condition. That was simply how much he loved her. Chapter 69 - 69: [Skill: Draconic Surge] "Hero Kael! Echo!" Sarah exclaimed as Kael and Echo walked into the room she was in. "Kuuu!!" Echo instantly dashed towards her and rubbed his head with hers. "Echo!" Sarah called out again as she hugged her Bond. In an instant, her exhaustion faded away as the Luminark got closer. Echo wasn''t any different either. Now that he was next to his Sarah, he closed his eyes and quickly entered dreamland. Yes, he was that exhausted. And Sarah, who could sense that, gently pulled him into her embrace, making sure he was comfortable. "He missed you." Kael commented with a light smile on his face as he sat in the corner of the bed Sarah was resting on. "He didn''t create trouble for you, did he?" Sarah questioned as she glanced at Kael. Of course, she didn''t stop rubbing Echo''s fur¡ªshe knew Echo slept well whenever she did it. "Trouble? He is the reason I am alive." Kael smiled as he glanced at Echo. Sarah, who saw his smile, stared at Kael''s face for a little longer. Then, a beautiful smile appeared on her face and, "I am glad." She spoke. "Are you okay¡­?" Kael questioned with a guilty look on his face. "Hmm? Of course. Aria is an excellent Healer." Sarah answered with a bright smile on her face. "I am as good as new!" She exclaimed as she patted her bicep jokingly. "You wouldn''t be on the bed if you weren''t hurt." "Bah! That''s on Aria, she is too overprotective! She thinks she is my mother. I am the oldest amongst the three of us, you know?" "You are the first woman I know who willingly tells everyone how old she is." Kael chuckled. "T-That is not what I am saying!! I am not that old! I am still young, very young! Also, the difference between the three of us isn''t that big anyway! Just a few days." She quickly defended herself. Of course, despite being flustered, she kept her voice down since Echo was sleeping. "¡­" Kael stared at the woman in silence. ''¡­Should I tell her I can see her age?'' He wondered in his head. Soon, however, he shook his head, deciding against the idea. Misunderstanding Kael''s silence, Sarah overexplained with a flushed face. "W-What I am trying to say is that I am not that hurt. I am fine. It is Aria who is keeping me here by force." "She let the other soldiers go, though." Kael commented. Yes, he was teasing her. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her reactions were amusing. "Exactly! That''s what I am saying. She is still keeping me here! It is so unfair." Sarah complained. "Well, you are doing the most important thing from here." Kael smiled as he looked at the rune on Sarah''s forehead. Yes, even when she was injured, the archer was looking over the entire battlefield just to be sure that nothing unexpected happened. "This is what I am supposed to do¡­" Sarah answered as she lowered her eyes, secretly stealing a few glances at Kael. ''I am also doing this to make sure your first mission is a complete success.'' Of course, she didn''t say those words out loud. "What about them? Are they alright?" Kael questioned in a solemn tone. Sarah, knowing who Kael was talking about, nodded, and her tone deepened. "Yes. They have taken six down and have surrounded the last one. It should be over soon." "Any casualties?" "None after they regrouped. Lyra is with them. With her Bonds who specialize in defense, it is very difficult for the Flying to attack them, and since most of them are archers, they have an easier time attacking the flying beasts because of their weak defense. Since all the soldiers who were in critical condition here are healed, Aria is on her way to the forest. With a Healer there, things should be even simpler." "¡­" Kael nodded silently. Sarah, who saw his expression, called out, "Hero Kael." Kael turned towards her, and the archer continued, "It was not your fault." Sarah commented. She could see it¡ªKael was blaming himself for those deaths. And that was not acceptable. "You did not know. You came up with a plan. A plan that, if the information we had been given was accurate, we would be victorious without a single death. A plan that could have saved every life. And even now, when the information provided to us turned out to be wrong, your plan was so well put together that it still saved the town. Do you realize what that means?" Kael stared at Sarah, and she continued, "Hero Kael, you took a hopeless, doomed situation and turned it into a victory. You saved everyone. Yes, those deaths were tragic, and no words can ever fill the void they''ve left behind. But Hero Kael¡­" Sarah called out, her eyes still on Kael. "You didn''t fail." She spoke, her eyes shining with an intensity Kael had never seen before. "You fought for those people. You saved hundreds of lives. You saved families. You won." Those words echoed inside Kael''s mind, and he clenched his fists. Feeling how his strength had risen after he leveled up, countless thoughts he had been suppressing all this while rushed into his mind. "Yeah¡­ We won¡­" He muttered as he smiled at Sarah. Then, he glanced at the new skill he got after reaching level 20. [Skill: Draconic Surge] [Description:] [Harnessing the power of dragons, Kael temporarily gains incredible speed and agility, allowing him to outmaneuver enemies and strike with unmatched precision.] [Effect:] [Speed Boost: Increases movement speed by 70% and attack speed by 50%.] [Enhanced Reflexes: Improves reaction time and evasion, increasing dodge rate by 40%.] [Momentum Strike: While Draconic Surge is active, the first melee attack after moving at least 5 meters deals an additional 25% damage, knocking back weaker enemies.] [Duration: 8 seconds] [Cooldown: 1 minute] ¡­ "We did." Sarah smiled back. Kael nodded back. Then, he stood up and, "You should rest now. I will not bother you any more than I already have." He spoke in a gentle tone. "Okay¡­" Sarah nodded, and once Kael walked out, she lowered her head in a pout. "But you weren''t bothering me though¡­" Chapter 70 - 70: Woman, I am not dying today. Knock Knock While Kael was meditating in a room, a soft knock at the door grabbed his attention. "Hero Kael." It was Sarah. "Sarah? Please, come in." The door creaked open, and Sarah walked inside. "They''re here," She said as she glanced at Kael. "The soldiers have returned from the forest." "Then we should go meet them, shouldn''t we?" Kael stood up with a smile. "Yes. We should." Sarah smiled back as she nodded. She led him outside, and the moment they walked outside the house¡ª "HERO KAEL!!!" Kael flinched as he stepped into the sea of cheering townsfolk. The entire town had gathered, their faces lit with joy and relief. Women and children who had been hidden underground during the attack were now standing before him, tears streaming down their faces¡ªnot from sorrow, but from overwhelming gratitude. "ALL HAIL HERO KAEL!!!" "ALL HAIL HERO KAEL!!!" The cheers grew louder, reverberating throughout the town. Men pounded their chests in salute, children waved their tiny hands in excitement, and the elderly clasped their hands together, whispering blessings. The soldiers who had fought alongside him stood at the front, their expressions filled with respect, admiration, and¡­ fanaticism. "..." Kael froze, his mind unable to process the sheer weight of the moment. He had expected a quiet reunion, perhaps a debriefing about the battle. But¡­ this. Suddenly, Sarah stepped in front of him with a victorious grin on her face. "You didn''t believe me when I said you saved them, did you?" She chuckled. "I¡­" Kael opened his mouth, but no words came out. "Hero Kael!" Then suddenly, An adorable girl rushed towards him, and before he could react, she hugged his leg. It was Selina. Behind her stood her grandfather, who had guided the girl to him. "Hero Kael! I can hear it again! I can hear the laughter! Your magic worked!" Little Selina exclaimed, the girl, however, wasn''t done there. "I told everyone that you would do it! They didn''t believe me, but I made everyone pray diligently because you said you needed our help for the magic to work. Did I do well?" "Yes, you did an amazing job, Selina." Kael knelt down and hugged the girl. His heart felt a strange sense of ease when he did that. "Yay! I helped the Hero!" Selina exclaimed as she hugged him as tightly as she could. Tobias had a complex smile on his face when he saw the sight in front of him, his face reflecting countless emotions at the same time. Kael stood up with Selina in his arms. He glanced at Sarah, who was watching him with knowing eyes, and he smiled back. ''Thank you.'' He mouthed the words, and Sarah''s face brightened. Then, Kael turned towards the rest of the people, "People of Estwyn." He called out, and the cheers slowly died down. Everyone wanted to listen to the Hero. "The victory today was not mine alone. It was our victory. Every soldier who fought, every person wh¡ª" "Hero Kael." sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before Kael could continue, Sarah interrupted, her tone solemn. "Sarah?" When Kael turned towards her, Sarah closed her eyes, connecting her vision with Eye''s, who had warned her. "Something is approaching." Sarah spoke. "What?" Kael walked towards Sarah and questioned. Sarah kept her eyes closed, watching the vision through her Bond''s eyes. "It¡­ seems to be flying¡­ But it''s different. It''s fast¡­ much faster than anything we saw here¡­" Sarah then opened her eyes and stared at Kael. "Hero Kael¡­" She called out, her body trembling. "Eye¡­ she is¡­ Scared¡­ That thing is much more powerful than anything we have faced, and it is coming right at us." "Okay, cal¡ª" Kael tried to calm Sarah down, but suddenly, ''Guuu.'' He heard a voice in his head, and his expression changed. "Call Echo." He ordered with a solemn look on his face. "O-Okay." Sarah was taken aback by his sudden change. She, however, didn''t make Kael wait, and the space around her cracked. "Connect with Eye. If she notices any changes, you tell me, is that clear?" "Yes." Sarah nodded with a determined look on her face. In an instant, the atmosphere in the area changed as everyone turned silent. "Alright, come with me." "Huh? O-Okay, where are we goi¡ª" Before Sarah could ask any questions, Kael grabbed her, lifted her like a princess, and then, [Skill: Draconic Surge] With Sarah in his arms, Kael dashed forward at a ridiculous pace. "Aaaahhhhhhh!!" Sarah screamed, taken aback by the sudden movement, but then, "Calm down." She heard Kael''s voice. Only then did she realize that she was in the Hero''s arms and¡­ extremely close to his well-built chest... And¡­ the Hero also smelled good¡­ "Tell me what you see." Sarah was brought out of her reverie when Kael asked a question. "W-Wait a minute." She stuttered as she quickly connected with Eye, and suddenly, her expression changed. "I-its direction changed¡­" "¡­" Kael didn''t say anything. He continued to run. "Is it still changing?" He questioned. "Y-Yes." Sarah nodded, and Kael paused. "What about now?" He questioned, and Sarah''s tone changed¡­ "It''s¡­ not changing anymore¡­" The archer then opened her eyes. She knew what this meant. With a worried look on her face, she stared at Kael, and, "Hero Kae¡ª" "Sarah, listen to me." Before the archer could complete, Kael put her down. "Hero Kael! If we all fight togeth¡ª" Sarah didn''t listen and continued, but, "Sarah." Kael raised his voice. Then, he looked right into the archer''s eyes and, "I will be fine." He spoke in a convincing tone. Then, he passed down the orders, "You are to take all the villagers through the Western Bridge, now." "But Her¡ª" "Sarah, that is an order." Kael spoke, his tone leaving no space for defiance. "Y-Yes." Sarah bit her lip. "Go back, now. Use Echo to alert everyone and keep giving me updates on that Beast''s movements till you can, is that clear?" "Yes¡­" "And do not let Eye get close to me, it might attract the Beast''s attention and make it difficult for me." "I-I understand¡­" Kael nodded, and then, he ran away and Sarah noticed the Monster''s direction changing again. "Hero Kael!" Sarah called out before Kael could leave her vision. He turned around, and in a weak voice, Sarah muttered, "Please return¡­" Kael, however, just laughed out loud. "Woman, I am not dying today." Chapter 71 - 71: Oh boy, you will regret that. "You let him go ALONE?!" Aria shouted as she stormed towards Sarah, grabbing her shoulders in anger. "What were you thinking!? You knew that Beast was only targeting him, you knew how strong that thing was, and you STILL let him go?!" "I- He ordered me t-" "We were supposed to have his back! Even if that meant dying together with him, that was our mission! How dare you run back here while he''s out there risking his life?!" Sarah flinched at those words. But then, S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Aria." Lyra called out, her tone strict. "Orders were given. As subordinates, we must follow orders, Whether those orders send us to our deaths or¡­ force us away from it. We follow." Lyra spoke, and hearing her words, Aria turned silent. "You should know she would want to fight by his side most out of all of us, but the Hero''s orders are absolute. I will not let anyone disrespect him by disobeying his orders, even if it is you." Lyra spoke as she looked into Aria''s eyes. Then, she glanced at the worried townsfolk and, "He wants us to protect the people, That is what we will do." Sarah and Aria stared at Lyra, the archer stared back. "Then, we pray for him to return safel-" "SCREEEEEEECCHHHHH!!!!" Before Lyra could complete her sentence, everyone heard a screech. A screech that shook their very beings. They turned around, and the Tamers'' enhanced vision could finally see it¡ªthat giant creature, with wings spread wide, coming from the south. The Tamers'' bodies shook as they saw it, especially Tobias''s. He tightened his hold around Selina who was in his arms. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? RUN!!!" Suddenly, Lyra shouted. "TO THE WESTERN BRIDGE!" She pointed, and Bonds were summoned. The townsfolk quickly rushed towards the western gate, distancing themselves from the Beast''s line of direction, while Sarah continued to update Kael through Echo. Within a minute, the giant creature, which was at the southern end of the town, closed the distance, flying right past them as if it didn''t care about them at all. It was only for a slight second, but the people saw it. A massive 2-meter-tall bird with a 6-meter wingspan. Dark purple, withered feathers with streaks of dark violet lightning crackling along its wings. Its eyes were piercing red, exuding wrath and power. WHOOOOSH A gust of wind ripped through the town, sending dust and debris flying. And then¡ª "SCREEEEEEECCHHHHH!!!!" THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER A deafening, monstrous screech filled the air. A sound so full of rage and malice that even the bravest of soldiers felt their blood run cold. "T-The H-Hero will¡­ face that¡­?" A soldier couldn''t help but question, as he saw its shadow streaking across the sky, his voice full of disbelief. Yes, the Hero was strong. Heck, he had fought the Brutes together with him. He, out of most people here, knew the Hero''s strength the best and¡­ He knew the Hero was no match for this monster. Then, a thought appeared in his mind, ''W-Will it come for us after it deals with the Hero¡­? Or would it return once it kills the Hero?'' His blood ran cold. In his heart, the soldier hoped it was the latter. "What are you stopping there for!? Continue running!" Suddenly, Lyra shouted. The townsfolk stared at her, and Lyra screamed in rage, full of annoyance and frustration, "What!? Do you want to be food for that thing!? Run or I''ll throw you all towards it myself!" The woman ordered, and the townsfolk ran with all their might. "Grandpa¡­" Selina, who was in Tobias''s arms, called out. Tobias, however, shook his head and spoke with a guilty look on his face. "Everything will be fine, Selina. Everything will be fine. Trust your grandpa, he will do everything to protect you." He hugged the girl tightly. Selina tightly held her grandpa''s shirt. She could hear his heightened heartbeat, but the little girl decided to stay silent. She really was too wise for her age. ¡­ On the other side, Kael, who had barely made it out of the town, stared at the Beast that was following him. "That thing is too fast." He complained as once again, [Dragon Surge] He activated his skill and dashed forward. This time, since he was in an open field, nothing stopped him. "SCREEEEEEECCHHHHH!!!!" Thirty seconds later, the Beast closed the distance. Now, it was flying right behind Kael, ready to rip him apart with its lightning. Kael''s face contorted, and then, "RRROOOOOAAAAAAAARRRR!!!" He roared. [Roar of Dominion] However, this time, the Roar wasn''t as effective as it usually was against the corrupted beasts. "SCREEEEEEECCHHHHH!!!!" The Beast screeched as it slowed down, but it didn''t stop following him. Kael turned towards it for a moment, his eyes turned golden and its information appeared in front of him. [Name: Laughter] [Race: Stormveil Roc] [Rank: Common] [Age: 57] [State: Corrupted] [Level: 26] [Strength: 65 (90)] [Agility: 50 (80)] [Speed: 55 (85)] [Stamina: 60 (85)] [Defense: 58 (82)] [Mana: 60 (60)] [Intelligence: 50 (3)] [Charisma: 35 (-)] [Strengths: Aerial Dominance, Razor Claws, Corrupted Lightning] [Weaknesses: Fragile on the Ground, Low Intelligence, Vulnerable to Magic] ¡­ "What in the fucking hell is that thing!? No wonder Roar of Dominion isn''t working!" Kael cursed out loud as he continued to run. Its stats were nearly twice as high as his. It was so strong that even if Kael could use Dragon Surge endlessly, he still wouldn''t be able to outrun it. Of course, the Roar of Dominion had still slowed it down to some extent. Kael used this opportunity to sprint as quickly as he could. He tried to use trees to cover himself and gain some time. The Beast, however, continued to disintegrate all the trees that came in its way with its lightning. In the end, when Kael realized that he couldn''t run anymore, he jumped into an open field in front of him and stopped. "Haaahh¡­ Haaahh¡­ Haaahh¡­" His breathing was ragged, his chest tight. "SCREEEEEEECCHHHHH!!!!" The Beast screeched as it circled around the open field Kael stood in. ''Is it playing with its prey?'' Kael wondered. ''It certainly doesn''t have enough intelligence to do it. Or is it in its instincts¡­?'' "Alright¡­ haaa¡­ You got me¡­ I cannot run anymore¡­" Kael spoke, his voice full of breath as he placed his hands on his knees, as sweat rolled down his chin. His legs were in pain, trembling without stop, let alone running, even taking a step further seemed impossible, he had indeed pushed himself to the limit today. "Haaaahhh...." The Beast stared at him with its crimson eyes. Kael, who saw that, should have been scared, after all, he couldn''t run away anymore. But¡­ "You know¡­" Suddenly, Kael started, "People in the Royal Palace often wondered whether I am more suited to be a Warrior or a Mage¡­ But¡­ My talent was never related to any of those." Kael''s grin widened as the Beast descended right in front of him in an intimidating manner. "Oh boy, you will regret that." Kael chuckled, and suddenly, "Let me show you what my talent actually is, Igni." He called out, and the space around him trembled. ¡­ *Picture of the corrupted Beast* Chapter 72 - 72: Let’s play around, shall we? "Oh boy, you would regret that." Kael laughed out loud, and then, "Igni." The space around him cracked. A red snout pushed through, and a majestic, now full-meter-tall creature flew out. "Kyu!" Igni laughed in delight as he quickly jumped on top of Kael. Kael tried to hold him. The little dragon, however, had now grown up and was much heavier than before. The Hero slipped, and Igni started licking Kael''s face, showing the same joy and love he showed when he first saw Kael. "Hahaha! Igni¡ªstop¡ª! That tickles¡ª!" Kael laughed out loud, trying to protect himself from Igni''s relentless attacks, but he couldn''t. Little Igni was very strong. "Igni-! The enemy- Stop! Hahaha!" The Hero warned, and at his warning, Igni stopped. The dragon''s large ember eyes finally landed on the terrifying creature that stood in front of him, staring at them with its menacing crimson eyes, lightning crackling violently around its deformed wings. "¡­" Igni blinked as he stared at the Beast in silence. Kael was silent as well, curious to see what Igni would do. But then, "Kyu!" The dragon completely ignored the ''thing'' in front of him and started licking Kael again. The ticklish feeling made Kael laugh again. "Hahahaha! Igni!" "¡­" The corrupted Roc stared at the scene in front of it in silence. No, it was not silent. It was frozen. These beasts had no intelligence. No emotions. No hesitation. In theory, they should not feel fear. But¡­ What if that fear was etched into the very core of their beings¡­? S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A Common Ranked Beast standing in the presence of a Mythical Rank Predator¡ªeven in its corrupted, mindless state¡ªits very instincts warned it to run as far as possible and never come back. The corrupted Roc, however, could not do that. As it stared at the Hero, a voice told it to tear him into pieces and endless rage took over its mind, suppressing even its fear. "Kyu!" Igni laughed as he continued to lick Kael, then suddenly, "SSCCRREEEEEEEEEEECCCHHHH!!!" THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER The beast screeched in rage and gathered dense thunder around it. The gathered thunder surged towards Kael, prepared to disintegrate him into nothingness, but before something could happen¡ª Flicker A wall of dense flame materialized in front of Kael and Igni. The lightning struck the wall, only to be swallowed whole. The wall of flames quickly enveloped the lightning, and then, it disappeared out of existence, together with the lightning. "¡­" "¡­" Silence fell over the field. Let alone the Roc, even Kael himself was taken aback. THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER The Roc, unwilling to accept what happened, tried again. This time, the lightning it gathered was even denser than before, but, Flicker The flames materialized again, this time, however, they did not defend. They attacked. The fire wrapped around the Roc and the lightning it summoned like living chains, coiling up around its legs, its wings, its throat. "SCREEEEEC¡ª" The Roc screeched and thrashed. Trying to resist with all its might, it tried to fly in the air and generate powerful gusts of wind using its wings to deal with the flames, but¡­ The flames simply covered its entire body and¡­ Flicker Disappeared out of existence. Yes, the terrifying Stormveil Roc was no more. Just like that. There was no explosion. No ashes. No trace of what once stood there. And the one responsible for it¡­ "Kyu!" He was busy licking Kael''s face, not even bothering to see how it ended. ''Holy...'' Kael, on the other hand, could only stare at the little guy in front of him in utter disbelief. "Igni¡­ how¡­" The Stormveil Roc was strong, you know¡­? Yes, Kael knew Igni was strong, extremely strong. Heck, he had seen the little thing''s growth with his own eyes. Why do you think he was always humble despite his absurd growth? Because this little thing was right next to him, prepared to humble him every time he needed it. Kael and Igni''s relationship was different from others. Unlike how other humans in this world grew as their beast grew, Kael and Igni''s relationship seemed the opposite. Igni grew together with Kael. Every time Kael leveled up, so did Igni, and¡­ since little Igni was a Mythical Rank Beast, every time he leveled up, his stats rose at an absurd rate. Even now, while Kael was happy when he saw his stats rise, when he stared at Igni¡ª [Name: Igni] [Race: Fire Dragon] [Rank: Mythical] [Age: 17 Days] [Level: 20] [Strength: 84] [Agility: 72] [Speed: 77] [Stamina: 98] [Defense: 88] [Mana: 110] [Intelligence: 82] [Charisma: 115] [Strengths: Physical Power, Dragon Magic, Resilience, Early Flight Capability] [Weaknesses: Inexperience, Energy Dependency, Immature Flight Skills] ¡­ Kael couldn''t help but smile wryly. "I can never surpass you, can I?" "Kyu!" Igni laughed as he finally stopped licking Kael and backed away, waiting for Kael to stand up. Kael stood up with Igni in his arms. Even if the little guy had grown up, he still wouldn''t let Kael go. Igni would remain in Kael''s arms as long as it was physically possible. "Ahh, why are you growing up¡­" Kael muttered with a weak smile as he tightened his hug. The moment he did that, it seemed like everything that had been weighing him down all this while disappeared. Soldiers died? People were hurt? As long as Igni was safe, it didn''t matter. Yes, Kael''s selfish side was taking over. From the start, he had always been selfish. He never cared about anyone other than himself. After all, he grew up all alone, without anyone''s help. He got what he got because of his own hard work, so why should he care about others? Yes, he helped others, but it was never at the cost of himself. And now¡­ The lonely Kael, who never cared about anyone else, had found Igni. A creature who completely changed the way he saw the world. Yes, he was selfish, even now. His selfishness, however, was now directed at Igni and... It had now become even stronger. As long as Igni was safe¡­ Even if he had to risk everything he had for that, he would do it without question. Save the world? If it is to protect Igni, He would save it. He would NEVER let that vision turn into reality. Kael thought inwardly as the picture of dead Igni appeared in his mind, but it was quickly replaced by cheerful Igni, who was currently in his arms, and his smile widened. "We have quite a lot of time on our hands now." Kael commented as he looked around. Then, he turned towards Igni and¡ª "Let''s play around, shall we?" "Kyuuu!!!" Igni''s eyes brightened up. Chapter 73 - 73: Little Igni still needed attention. "I-I see him!! I see Hero Kael!!" Sarah shouted. "What!?" Aria stood up in surprise. Sarah opened her eyes, her striking blue eyes shimmering brightly. Yes, Kael had told her not to look for him in the forest, and she wasn''t. She would never go against the Hero''s orders. She was just looking around the perimeter. The townsfolk had formed a camp inside the forest on the other side of the bridge, the sun was about to set, so Sarah was simply keeping an eye on her surroundings to make sure they were safe. She never expected to see Kael. It was a pleasant surprise. "Where is he!?" Aria questioned, her violet eyes excited as well. It wasn''t just her, even Lyra, who would usually be sleeping in such a situation, was awake till now. She didn''t say anything, but the other two women could tell she was worried about the Hero, and with how her sharp green eyes darted towards Sarah when she said those words, their suspicions were confirmed. Yes, within just a few days, Kael had managed to win over all three of them. Sarah stared at the two women in front of her and, with an extremely serious look on her face, "I was the first, so I will be the first to be served, okay?" "What are yo¡ª" Before Lyra could say anything, "Fufufu~ Of course." Aria nodded with a playful smile on her face. Yes, the women had no qualms about sharing. They were like sisters, so wouldn''t it be fine for them to become sisters for real? "So? Where is he?" Aria brought back the more important topic. "He just crossed the bridge and is looking for the trails. It seems like he is trying to find us." Saying those words, Sarah stood up, and with a smile on her face, she continued, "I will go get him." "Oh ho? Look at you, already prepared to shoot your arrow, eh? A true archer indeed." Aria chuckled. Sarah didn''t say anything and, with a flushed face, she walked out of her tent, and Echo came out of her Sanctuary. "Lady Sarah?" The soldier who was on watch duty called out when he saw Sarah coming out. Sarah, however, climbed on top of Echo and, "I''ll be back." Without explaining anything, she flew in the air. "Echo, to the Hero!" "Kuuuuu!!!" Echo nodded as he raised his speed, rushing toward the direction Sarah had pointed at. Even the Luminark was excited to see the Hero again. ¡­ On the other side, Kael, who was tracking the traces left by the townsfolk as they moved, suddenly paused. "They are here?" ''Guu!'' Igni nodded. The Dragon could sense that little ''thing'' his father rode today. And yes, the Dragon was extremely dissatisfied. So much so that even though he was only a meter big, he told Kael to sit on him, and he would take him into the air instead. Kael, of course, denied it. But it took a lot of effort to please Igni after that, and even now, it didn''t look like little Igni was over it. Yes, Igni was a jealous Dragon. His father was only his. "Hahaha~" Kael, who could sense Igni''s feelings, laughed out loud. "Yes, Igni, I am only yours." He affirmed those thoughts. Then, "Kuuuuuu!!!!" Kael heard Echo''s voice. He looked up, and he was finally able to spot it¡ªEcho, who was rushing towards him with Sarah on his back. "Hero Kael!!" Sarah waved her hand excitedly. Kael waved back. A few seconds later, Echo landed next to Kael and rubbed his head against Kael''s. Kael gently rubbed Echo''s feathers. In his mind, however, he was busy dealing with someone else. ''No, you cannot burn him, Igni.'' S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He sighed. The 17-day-old was too toxic. "Hero Kael!" Sarah rushed into Kael''s arms. He hugged her back. "You are back!" Sarah shouted. "I told you, didn''t I? I wasn''t planning on dying today." "What about the beast? What happened to it?" Sarah questioned. She knew Kael was nowhere near strong enough to kill it, even if he was the Hero. "I awakened an ability that helped me hide my presence. I used it to avoid it. I didn''t know where it went afterwards. I moved around for a few hours just to make sure it didn''t have a way to track me down. But it seems like that wasn''t the case since it didn''t come for me." Kael lied right through his teeth. Would his lie work? "I am so glad you awakened that ability!" Of course, it would. Again, he didn''t have to explain anything. He was the Hero. He could say anything, and because of how clueless these people were, they had no choice but to believe it. Kael smiled as he patted Sarah''s head before he distanced himself from her and Echo. He didn''t want the archer to get the wrong idea. Yes, Kael wasn''t dense. He could tell that Sarah had developed feelings for him, and he also knew that she was an amazing woman. Normally, Kael would have made the move. After all, this was exactly what he was looking for all this while. But now¡­ He had other things to worry about. It wasn''t just Igni, but his life as the Hero in general. Kael had too many doubts in his mind, especially after everything that transpired today. Kael''s head was filled with too many doubts, and¡­ the number of people he could trust was¡­ very limited. Yes, even trusting Sarah was difficult for him at this point. In the end, Kael shook his head and stopped thinking about it, it was something he would deal with later. "Shall we return to the camp?" Kael questioned with a smile. "Yes!" Sarah nodded as she quickly climbed on top of Echo, and the two stared at Kael, who climbed up as well. Sarah''s face flushed. She, however, didn''t let that come in her way and, "Echo, up!" She shouted, and, "Kuuuu!!" Echo flew in the air. He moved even faster than normal so that Kael and Sarah would sit close to each other. Sarah, who knew what he was doing, couldn''t help but be happy as she gently rubbed Echo''s feathers. She stole a glance at Kael from the corner of her eye, but the moment she met his gaze, her heart pounded, and she quickly looked away. Normally, Kael would show a reaction to this. Right now, however, Kael was very busy. ''Yes, yes, I know you can fly faster than him, Igni.'' Yes, little Igni still needed attention. Chapter 74 - 74: Please Leave. "Hero Kael is back!" Those words spread like wildfire. It had been an extremely long day for the townsfolk. First, their town was attacked by corrupted beasts. Then, an even stronger beast came after them and they were forced out of their town to move to a jungle and camp there. It was one thing after another. So all of them were extremely tired. But despite that, the instant they heard the news, they all rushed out to see the Hero who had saved their town. "Hero Kael!" Little Selina rushed towards Kael again, hugging his legs. Kael knelt down and hugged her back. "Selina." He patted the girl''s back as his eyes fell on her grandfather. "Town Head Tobias, I am back." He nodded at him. "I am glad you are, I really am." Tobias nodded with a big smile on his face. Kael''s eyes glimmered as he saw that. He then lifted Selina up as he stood up, by then, the rest of the townsfolk surrounded him as well. "Hero Kael! You are back!" "How did you defeat such a terrifying beast!?" "Why is that even a question? He is the Hero! How can he be defeated by a mere beast that has lost its mind!? The Hero is the strongest!" "Exactly! The Hero is the strongest!!" The townsfolk cheered in excitement. Once again, the Hero had made the impossible possible. The camp erupted with joyful murmurs, but then suddenly, a veteran soldier who had fought for the town for decades stepped forward and glanced at Kael. "Hero Kael, did you really defeat that beast?" The normal townsfolk may not know much, but the veteran was different. He could sense the disparity of strength between Kael and that monster. With his strength, the Hero shouldn''t be able to take that beast down. Of course, despite knowing that, the veteran decided to ask with a hopeful look on his face. After all, the man in front of him was the Hero. The Hero was blessed by Lord Feraos himself. He was supposed to pull miracles like these out of nowhere. Kael, however, crushed the veteran''s hope. "I didn''t. I hid from it until it went away." "You¡­ hid from it¡­?" The veteran blinked. "I had no other option. As you know, it was too strong for me to face." Kael answered, but then¡­ "Then why did you come back¡­?" Kael raised his eyebrow at that question. He knew what the veteran was thinking, so just as he was about to explain, "I¡ª" "That thing was clearly after you!" The veteran shouted. He pointed his trembling fingers at the Hero and, "It flew right past us! Ignoring us like the worms we are! It clearly had no relation with us! It is you it was after! It was your problem to deal with! Then why did you come back!? Won''t the Beast follow you here!? Did you not think of that!? Why are you pulling us into your problem!?" At his sudden outburst, the entire camp turned silent. The initial joy faded away and turned into unease. The townsfolk stared at the Hero with complicated looks on their faces. Some even stared at him with apparent disapproval. Why was he here? Shouldn''t he have tackled the beast on his own since it came here for him? What sort of Hero puts the very people he is supposed to protect in danger? What did they do to be put in a spot like this? These sorts of whispers started all over the town, and Kael, with his enhanced senses, could hear them all loud and clear. "Hero Kael¡­" Selina, who had sensitive ears, heard them as well and turned towards Kael with a worried look on her face. However, before she could complete her words, "Selina, come here." Tobias took her in his arms. Then, the Town Head turned towards the Hero and, "Hero Kael, we will be eternally grateful for what you did today." The old man bowed his head, and at that scene, the people turned silent, looking forward to what the Town Head had to say. "But as you can see, the people are panicking." With a difficult look on his face, Tobias continued. "As shameful as it is, I ask you to leave." "¡­" Kael turned silent. "These people have already lost quite a lot and they are afraid to lose more, especially when the threat that had been haunting them for months is now finally dealt with." Tobias looked right into Kael''s eyes with moist, shameful eyes and, "Please, Hero Kael, for these people and their safety, leave. Return to the Capital." "You want us to travel at night?" Kael raised his eyebrow. After all, everyone knew how dangerous it was. "¡­You can rest in the town if you wish." Tobias pointed in the direction of Estwyn Town, which was about 50 kilometres away from this place. "But please leave first thing in the morning." Tobias requested, and then suddenly, Rumble Rumble Rumble Tobias''s tent, which was just behind them, fell as the ground beneath it shook, surprising not just the townsfolk, but even Kael. "So you are telling us¡­" Aria began as she stared right into Tobias''s eyes. Right now, there were no traces of her usual playfulness on her face. "That you are going to stay at the camp WE set up, while we travel through the jungle and go to a town that is 50 kilometres away from here?" "I¡ª" Before Tobias could answer, one man stepped forward and, "I set up my own tent for my family! You didn''t do anything!" "Is that so¡­?" Aria turned towards that man and tilted her head. Then, she raised her hand and, S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rumble Rumble Rumble The earth shook. Drak, the Swamp Drake, had moved, turning the ground beneath into a swamp. Panic spread all over the place. "What are you doi¡ª" Before the townsfolk could continue, Lyra''s Bonds moved, forming earth spikes that destroyed all the camps that were formed. And as if that wasn''t enough, Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh Echo and Eye created a gust of wind with their wings, and all the canvases that formed the tents flew away, completely eradicating the camp. Aria then stared at the same man and her violet eyes glimmered intensely. "Why don''t you try setting up your tent again?" Chapter 75 - 75: This is how the world is. "Why don''t you try setting up your tent again?" Aria''s voice was filled with cold fury as her violet eyes glowed intensely. "Y-Y-You!!" The man who had spoken earlier stumbled back, his trembling finger pointing at her. "Are you looking for a fight!?" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He shouted. "And what if we are?" Aria questioned back, and as if to support their friend, both Sarah and Lyra pulled the strings of their bows, their arrows pointing at the townsfolk they once protected. The soldiers grabbed the hilts of their swords, prepared to make a move the moment something went wrong. Their bonds, sensing the danger, had already come out from their Sanctuaries and growled at their potential enemies. The two sides stared at each other, both trying to come up with a strategy that would lead them to victory. The women were confident in their skill, while the soldiers were confident in their numbers. The tension in the air rose, then suddenly, "Haaahh..." Kael exhaled. Slowly, he raised his head and looked at the Estwyn people, his piercing blue eyes glimmering under the firelight. "I will say this once, so listen well." He spoke in a low, calm voice. And yet, everyone in the camp heard it. "If there comes a time when I must choose between the three people who stood with me through thick and thin¡­" His gaze swept through Aria, Sarah, and Lyra before landing on Tobias and the townsfolk. "¡­or the people who threw me away after using me¡­ I will not hesitate to make a decision." Kael then glanced at the soldiers and, "The moment you take out your weapons, I will consider you my enemy. And trust me when I say this, This will never end well for you." The air grew cold as Kael''s words echoed throughout the camp. One of the soldiers flinched. His sword, which was halfway drawn, slipped back into its sheath. No soldier dared to move. They had all seen what sort of monster this man was, how he took out most of the Brutes and the Flying all on his own. If this man moved¡­ They would never stand a chance. But¡­ "Hero Kael, should you really be doing this?" Tobias spoke up. In his arms was Selina, who seemed afraid, nervous, and confused. She couldn''t tell what had happened. The Hero she adored¡­ why did her grandpa tell him to leave¡­? Was the Hero now angry¡­? Would he not bring the town''s laughter back anymore¡­? Kael glanced at the child for a moment, then he turned towards her grandpa and, "You are mistaken if you think I am a Hero and bound by the responsibility of being one. I am not magnanimous enough to allow people to use me and let them walk over me." Kael glanced at Selina again and, "There are a few people here I care about, so I will allow you to leave, but do not test my limits." Then, Kael stared at the man who had confronted Aria before, and his eyes turned cold. "And don''t point your fingers at my allies. It won''t take me a second to chop it off." "Heeek!!" The man''s body jerked in terror as he fell to the ground. "Leave." "Hero Kael, please try to unde¡ª" "I will not say it again, Tobias. Leave." In the end, the Town Head lowered his head and with trembling body, he ordered the townsfolk to move. Within a few minutes, the people gathered their things and started leaving. Their gazes were full of frustration, anger, and¡­ fear. Kael, along with the three women, stared at them as they left, and Aria snorted. "They don''t even feel guilty! So much for being ''grateful'' to us." "This is how the world is, Aria." Kael spoke up. "People think of their well-being before anyone else''s. My presence here put them and their families in danger. It is not surprising that they would want me to leave." "But you protected them!" "And now I am the one putting them in danger. It makes no difference if I protect them in the day and put their lives at risk at night." Kael answered calmly. He wasn''t a fool. He could understand the situation, and he couldn''t exactly blame the townsfolk. After all, if he were in their position, he might have done the same. "You seem to know more about our world than we do." Aria spoke weakly, and at those words, Kael laughed out loud. "You think my world is free of such emotions? Mine is probably even worse than yours." A self-deprecating smile appeared on his face. The women stared at the Hero, then suddenly, "Then why did you side with us?" Sarah couldn''t help but question. She wanted to know what the Hero was thinking. "I said I understand them. It doesn''t mean I didn''t feel bad." Kael answered. Then, he stared at the three women, and a gentle smile appeared on his face. "Also, all three of you stood up for me. How could I not do the same?" "¡­" "¡­" Aria and Sarah''s breathing hitched as Kael''s face was illuminated by the firelight. The two turned silent, unable to say anything. Lyra, on the other hand, directly stared at Kael and, "Stop trying to seduce us. It won''t work on me." "Hahaha~" Kael laughed out loud. "Alright, I will stop." Then, he glanced at the camp, or whatever was left of it, and sighed. "Anyways, we should set up our tent. We will leave first thing in the morning." At those words, the women came out of their reverie and nodded. Sarah then stepped forward and, "Hero Kael, you must be tired after a long day. Please leave it to us." "I will be of help, I promise." Kael chuckled, and in front of his smile, Sarah couldn''t resist. The four worked together to set up the camp. The moment they were done, Lyra quickly brought out her mattress, pillows, and blanket, and made herself comfortable. "¡­" "¡­" "¡­" The three of them stared at her in silence. "She has no intention of keeping watch, does she?" Kael questioned with a wry smile on his face. "She never does." Sarah laughed. "Lord Kael, you and Sarah should rest now. I''ll keep watch." Aria made the arrangement, and knowing this was what they did yesterday, Kael nodded. He and Sarah rested. Two hours later, Kael woke up. "Lord Kael, you can sleep. There is ti¡ª" "I will be back soon." Kael spoke as he stood up, and at his sudden action, Aria frowned. "What are y¡ª" "There is someone I wish to talk to, Alone." Chapter 76 - 76: I had no other choice. "Grandpa, are we bad people?" Once the Estwyn people returned to their town and settled into their homes, Selina, who was lying on her bed, questioned in an innocent tone. Tobias, who heard that question, stared at his granddaughter with a complicated look on his face. This entire time, Selina had been silent. Tobias knew that the little girl had a lot on her mind, but¡­ To think her innocent question would be so difficult to answer¡­ "The Hero helped us, but we sent him away¡­ Grandpa, are we bad people?" The little girl repeated her question. "Didn''t you say we should always welcome people with love and happy smiles?" "There are situations where we cannot do anything even if we want to, Selina. You will understand that when you grow up." Tobias tried to answer, but the girl didn''t back down. "The Hero said I was wise." "Hmm?" "It means I am good at understanding things. Did he lie to me?" Selina questioned. "No, you are wise. The Hero was correct. You just¡­ need to be even wiser to understand what I am saying¡­" "Does it mean you are wiser than the Hero?" "¡­" At that question, Tobias turned silent. His mind was filled with complicated thoughts, but in the end, he closed his eyes and answered, "Yes. I am wiser than the current Hero, but I am sure the Hero will get better and better." "Does it mean he will surpass you?" "Yes, he will definitely surpass me." Tobias smiled. Then, his smile turned heavy and, "He needs to surpass me¡­ surpass all of us¡­" Unable to face the little girl''s questions anymore, Tobias gently patted her cheeks and, "Now sleep, it is already late." "But¡­" "No more questions. Sleep." Tobias spoke, his tone sterner. "Okay¡­" In the end, the little girl closed her eyes, and once Tobias ensured that she was asleep, he stood up with a heavy sigh and walked towards his room. However, the instant he walked in, his body froze. "Your granddaughter once told me something very interesting, Tobias." The Hero, who was currently sitting on his bed started. "Hero Ka¡ª" Before Tobias could react or say anything, Kael continued, "She said when her town was happy, she used to ride a Magic Beast and fly in the sky. She also mentioned how the beast had beautiful purple feathers and how its lightning didn''t harm her because that Magic Beast loved her." "¡­" Tobias was silent. "Tobias, do you know what subject interested me the most when I first came to this world?" Kael questioned with a light smile on his face. Then, without waiting for a response because he knew he wouldn''t get one, he answered. "Magic Beasts. They interested me the most. For personal reasons, I wanted to know everything about them, so I continued to read about them every time I got the chance and because I invested so much time, I learned quite a lot about them. I also learned that the total number of Common-Ranked Flying beasts that also have a special element like lightning is extremely limited." Kael''s eyes then fell on Tobias. "And Stormveil Roc is one such beast. Common Rank, ability to fly, control over lightning and wind. Ticks all the checks." "Why are you telling me this¡­?" Tobias questioned. "Where is your Stormveil Roc, Tobias? Why didn''t I see you use such a useful ally in the battle today? Why did you only use the Wind Wolf, which is clearly your second Bond and was much younger?" "He died." Tobias answered in a solemn tone. "He died¡­?" Kael raised an eyebrow. "Yes, he died a few months ago." "How did he die?" "I do not wish to recall it, it still pains my hea¡ª" "Is that the sob story you told the townsfolk? It is quite surprising that they bought it." Kael chuckled. Then, however, he shrugged. "But then again, not many would be able to recognize a corrupted Roc and accurately say that it was indeed a Roc they once knew, especially when their entire being is trembling in fear at just the sight of it." Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "W-What are you talking abo¡ª" "It is pointless, Tobias." Kael shook his head as he stared at the man in front of him. "Do not forget, my eyes are special." He pointed at his eyes, which had now turned golden. "Don''t force me to go around the town and ask if they know any Stormveil Roc named Laughter." Kael spoke, and hearing the name of the Bond he once cherished even more than his life, Tobias''s heart squelched in pain. "Because if I get an official confirmation, things will not end well, neither for you nor for¡­" Kael glanced in the direction of the room Selina was sleeping in and, "That little girl." Kael''s voice was tinged with worry. Yes, he really did care about Selina. Tobias was the same. The old man clenched his fists in frustration, but in the end¡­ he lowered his head and, "What do you want¡­?" He questioned directly. It was already over. The Hero already knew. He knew that the Roc that came after his life and put the entire town in danger was¡­ in fact, the Town Head''s Bond. "Why did you do it?" Kael questioned directly. Now, he wasn''t an expert at reading people, but Kael knew one thing¡ªTobias had nothing to gain from this. Could it be that he wanted to keep ''ruling'' the town? Ruling a border town that would be deserted soon didn''t sound like much fun. Not to mention that Tobias himself didn''t seem like the type who would do all this just to rule. The old man lived a simple life with his granddaughter. He knew every single nook and cranny of his town. He knew the conditions of the gates. He knew the total number of injured soldiers. He knew the men who could fight in emergency situations, and he himself had spent countless nights coming up with ways to save his people from the beasts. He seemed like an exhausted man who had pushed himself to the limit and was about to fall. Was he doing all this just to keep up the act? While it was possible, Kael still found it hard to believe, so he decided to directly confront the man, And Tobias decided to answer his question. "I had no other choice." Chapter 77 - 77: It was because of you. "Why did you do it? And more importantly, how did you do it?" Kael questioned directly. Tobias, who had given up, lowered his head and answered, "I had no other choice." "What does that mean?" Tobias then stared at Kael and, "Hero Kael, this world is much more dangerous than you think, and these dangers aren''t the Beasts, they are people." "¡­" Kael stayed silent, letting the Town Head continue. "People you think are your allies might turn into your enemies, while the enemies might become your friends. It is a complicated place that makes no sense." The old man laughed self-deprecatingly. "In this place, only one rule applies. Survival of the fittest. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The strong survive, the weak perish. And that was my and my people''s sin. We were weak in a world where only those with power thrive." Tobias declared, then he stared at Kael and continued his story, "It started four months ago when suddenly, the beasts in the forest, who our children once played with, lost their minds and started attacking us. The first few attacks weren''t much, and we were able to take care of the situation ourselves. However, as time passed, more and more beasts started to fall under this corruption, and their threat grew stronger. The soldiers started to have a hard time, and soon, we were taking damage. Our soldiers were injured, walls were weakening after constant attacks, and the people were starting to panic. So, we decided to call for help. I sent letter after letter, requesting the aid of the Kingdom, but no one came. We were left with no choice but to defend our town on our own. However, the number of corrupted beasts kept increasing. We were facing new threats almost every other week now. The town was about to fall. The townsfolk who could run away ran, while the rest stayed because we had no other choice. But in our hearts, we knew it. If this continued, we would die. We were scared. I was scared." Tobias then glanced at the room Seline was sleeping in and, "That little life sleeping next door is everything I have. I couldn''t leave her alone in this world, nor could I let her die. I needed to do something. I was desperate. And as if sensing my desperation, One night, they knocked on my doors." "Who?" Kael raised his eyebrow. "I do not know. I didn''t see their faces. They wore cloaks that covered them, and honestly, at that point, I couldn''t care less. I was just too focused on the words they said to me. ''We have a way you can protect your town.'' My heart shook at those words. At a time when, let alone our Kingdom, even the people from our own town had abandoned us and left. When someone came to me and offered help, I couldn''t deny it. I was in no position to. Then, they showed me that power." Tobias paused for a moment, as if recalling it. Then, as his heartbeat became louder, he spoke his next words, "It was dark. It was ominous. It was the same energy that those corrupted beasts radiated. My heart shook. I was scared. I doubted the identity of the person next to me. But he just laughed and told me to¡­ Cover my Laughter with this energy. ''This energy would strengthen your Bond and make it strong enough to face those beasts.'' That is what they told me. I refused. Even in the situation I was in, I couldn''t do this to my Laughter. I had seen the state of those beasts. They were nothing like the beasts they were before. They were¡­ something entirely different. But¡­ Laughter came out on his own. I tried to stop him, but Laughter pointed at Selina, who was sleeping in her room." Tobias''s body shook as he recalled that moment. His eyes turned moist as he remembered how his most cherished Bond pointed at the human he cherished the most. Then, with a hoarse voice, he continued, "Laughter was a fool. He loved Selina even more than me. He always bothered me, telling me how he wanted to fly with Selina and how he loved it every time Selina hugged him¡­" Tobias felt a lump forming in his throat mid-sentence. His body continued to tremble and, "Then¡­ Laughter pointed at his own injury that he had sustained in his fight against those corrupted beasts¡­ He knew¡­ He knew he couldn''t protect Selina anymore¡­ So he begged me to let him do it, and before I could say anything or stop him, he consumed that energy, and just as those people told me, He got stronger¡­ And¡­ at the same time¡­ He lost control over himself¡­ Using whatever sanity he had left, he flew away. He knew he had now become a threat that could endanger me and Selina, so he left. However, every time we were attacked by the corrupted beasts and were in trouble, he appeared, and while his enraged attack did harm townsfolk as well, he did save us every single time." Tobias then stared at Kael and, "Hero Kael, You saw it with your own eyes, didn''t you? You saw how strong those corrupted beasts were and how weak our soldiers were. Did you not wonder how we managed to survive their attacks all this while? It was Laughter who protected us." "So¡­ he was trying to protect you¡­?" "Initially, yes." Tobias nodded. "What do you mean?" Kael frowned at that answer. "Initially, he was trying to protect us, but¡­ a week ago¡­ My connection with Laughter disappeared." "What¡­?" Kael couldn''t believe what he just heard. This was¡­ impossible. A Bond between a Tamer and his Bonds can never disappear unless¡­ one of them dies¡­ Seeing Kael''s reaction, Tobias nodded. "I thought the same. I thought he had died, and as much as it hurt me, I was glad. After all, he could finally sleep peacefully. But then today¡­" "You saw him again¡­" "That thing was not my Laughter." Tobias answered back, his eyes much more intense than before. "Whatever it was, it just had my Laughter''s body. It was not my Laughter. And... it was much stronger¡­ bigger¡­ and¡­ filled with malice¡­ My Laughter, even when corrupted, was not like that." Tobias defended his best friend. "...do you perhaps know the reason why he changed?" Kael questioned after thinking for a while, and unexpectedly, Tobias nodded. "I do." "What?" Kael was taken aback. "What was it? Why did he change?" He questioned. Tobias then stared at Kael and, "It was because of you." Chapter 78 - 78: You are Nerathis’s only hope. "It was because of you." Tobias answered as he stared at the Hero. "What¡­?" Kael frowned. How the hell was this related to him? He wondered in his head but then¡­ ''Wait¡­'' Seeing the change in his expression, Tobias nodded. "He changed once he knew the Hero was coming." Soon, however, Kael''s frown deepened. "But even I didn''t know I was coming to the Estwyn tow¡ª" Before Kael could complete, the Town Head continued. "You were always supposed to come to Estwyn Town. Actually, you were supposed to get here a week ago." "How do you know that?" Kael frowned. Tobias knowing that he was coming wasn''t surprising. The Kingdom would make sure to inform the Town Head that they sent help. After all, it was a matter related to their public ''image.'' But¡­ it would only pass the information once they were certain of it. His test wasn''t postponed at the last minute. Marshal Therian informed him about it on his second day¡ªthere was still plenty of time. The Kingdom would never pass the wrong information, only to later go back on their words, it would affect their image. Tobias shouldn''t be aware that his test was postponed. But then¡­ "Heh." Tobias just laughed. Then, he took out some documents from his Sanctuary and passed them to Kael. "This was the first aid that was supposed to come and help our town." Kael read the documents. It was ten soldiers who were of the same rank as Sarah and one at a higher rank, probably the leader of the party. Honestly, with their strength, as long as they came up with a somewhat decent plan, they should have been able to deal with all the Corrupted Beasts. Then... What happened to them¡­? "That was two months ago. The party was never dispatched. No reason given." Tobias spoke. Kael frowned. The Town Head, however, didn''t stop. He passed another set of documents. This time, it was a party with somewhat similar strength but with lower numbers. "Two weeks later, another party. Mission cancelled." Then, the Town Head continued to pass the documents and¡ª Another stack. "Cancelled." More documents followed, each one representing a mission that had never happened. "Cancelled. Cancelled." "This one''s yours. It wasn''t cancelled. Just postponed." Tobias spoke as he passed the documents toward Kael. Kael was supposed to come here together with ten soldiers like Sarah and lead them. The more he read, the deeper Kael''s frown got. Why did the Kingdom send all these documents to Tobias¡­? At this point, just don''t send anything if you are going to continue canceling all the missions. What were they trying to do? Give them false hope so they continue to hold on? But if this is revealed¡­ It would do irreparable damage to the Kingdom''s reputation. And if there is one thing Kael knew about politics, it was that reputation was extremely important to these people. Then why would they¡­? "Oh, and this one''s your current mission." Tobias passed the document, and the moment Kael started reading it, his expression changed. Flip Flip Flip He continued to flip through the pages, his eyes widening in surprise the more he read. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This¡­ This was the same document he received¡­ A document that contained all the information regarding the town, the supplies he would get, and other things¡­ Kael quickly checked the other documents and realized they were the same. They were far too detailed! Even if the Kingdom wanted to inform Estwyn Town about their arrival, they would have never given so much information. After all, it made no sense to provide them with information about the walls and the supplies. The Town Head would probably know more about it than them, not to mention these documents also contained some sensitive information that shouldn''t be given to just anyone. Even Sarah and the others hadn''t seen the documents. ''These are the details of the test, everything you need to know is in here. These also contain some sensitive information, so make sure others do not see it. Always be wary of the people around you.'' This was what Marshal Therian told him when he passed those documents to him. Then¡­ Why did the Kingdom send these documents to Tobias¡­? "Those people gave these documents to me." Tobias revealed. "It was their way of showing me just how helpless we were without their help, and¡­ They were correct. Our own Kingdom didn''t stand on our side when we needed it. To them, our town, our lives were¡­" Tobias stared into Kael''s eyes and¡ª "It was just a test for the Hero. A playground he could play around in and learn." Tobias spoke, and Kael''s body shook. Before, he could still blame Tobias¡­ When the Town Head said, ''I had no other choice,'' he snorted inwardly. After all, there was always another choice. But now¡­? Any sane man would give in if they were constantly shown the reality. The Kingdom wasn''t coming for them¡­ They needed to act on their own to protect themselves¡­ And how were they supposed to do it¡­? Of course, the only option was to rely on the people who stood in front of them, offering their help. "You are a good man, Hero Kael." While Kael was lost in his thoughts, Tobias called out. Kael turned toward him, and the Town Head continued. "Back at the camp, when you said you weren''t a Hero, you were wrong. I have seen you fight. I saw how your eyes shine. I saw your smile when the soldiers cheered in joy as you killed the Brutes together with them. You are a True Hero¡ªI now believe that. But¡­" Tobias looked into the Hero''s eyes and¡ª "Don''t trust everything they tell you without any proof. The people who had the power to corrupt the magic beasts and had put all of Nerathis in danger because of their actions came to me and gave me these documents that supposedly contained ''sensitive information'' like they were nothing. Then, when they realized that you were coming here, they strengthened Laughter, as if they already knew you were strong enough to deal with the other corrupted beasts. Hero Kael, Those people... They are around you¡­ Keeping an eye on everything you do." The Town Head then bowed and¡ª "Please be careful. You are Nerathis''s only hope." Chapter 79 - 79: Igni, take care of things here. "Please be careful, you are Nerathis''s only hope." The Town Head spoke as he bowed his head as a form of respect. "¡­" Kael stayed silent, not knowing what to say. His mind was filled with too many thoughts. Tobias, misunderstanding his silence, continued further. "I understand that my actions have consequences, and as a Hero, it is your duty to punish me for the wrongs I have done." The man then raised his head and, "I surrender." He declared, and before Kael could say anything, he continued, "But I will say one thing, I do not regret my actions. I did what had to be done. Hero Kael, I have lost everything. I lost my son, my daughter-in-law, and even my most precious Bond. Selina and my Wind Wolf are the only two things I cherish, and I will do everything in my power to protect them, no matter what. This is what any man in my place would and should do, Even if it means going against the Kingdom that doesn''t care about its people." Tobias declared confidently. He had surrendered, but his eyes were burning with conviction. "¡­" Kael was still silent. The two stared at each other, and then, "I never came here. This conversation never happened, is that clear?" S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael spoke up. "What¡­?" Tobias blinked in surprise. "I do not know what happened to your Laughter or where it went, but I promise you this, Tobias. The moment I am strong enough to face it, I will try to get to the end of the matter. Till then, take good care of the people you cherish. Now sleep." "He¡ª" Before Tobias could speak, Kael struck him at the back of the neck, causing the Town Head to collapse, unconscious. Kael glanced at the documents Tobias showed him one last time, memorizing them all, his memory had always been good, but now, with his intelligence raised, it had become even easier for him to learn some simple documents. Once done, Kael walked away with a heavy heart and a messy mind. ¡­ "Lord Kael¡­?" Aria, who had been waiting for Kael all this while, frowned when she saw his expression. "Is everything alright?" She questioned. "It is." Kael nodded, not sharing anything. "You should go sleep. I wish to stay alone for a while." "You do not seem alright." Aria muttered. Kael, however, didn''t reply, hinting to Aria that he didn''t wish to talk. A hint that the Mage understood and stopped talking. In her mind, however, she was wondering another thing, ''Did he go meet another woman?'' Soon, however, she shook her head as she lay down next to Sarah. Time passed. A few hours later, Sarah woke up and offered to keep watch. Kael shook his head again and told her to sleep. His mind was still occupied with countless thoughts; he couldn''t sleep even if he wanted to. Just like Aria, Sarah tried to talk to him as well, but as much as Kael appreciated that, currently, he was doubting everyone around him, even the three of them, so he decided to remain silent. Another few hours later, the sun rose up, and Kael and the party decided to return. Was it safe to return to the Royal Palace? Kael didn''t know. Honestly, he was sure it was not. People who wanted him dead were inside the Palace, but¡­ Did he have any other choice? Kael knew he wasn''t strong enough to go out on his own. Even if he added Igni into the equation, his chances of survival were still low. Also¡­ Kael highly doubted everyone in the Royal Palace wanted him dead. If that were the case, wouldn''t he already be dead? Yes, the Royal Palace was dangerous, but inside that place, there were also people who would protect him with everything in their power because they wanted him to protect their world. ''Two sides, one wants me dead, one wishes to strengthen me¡­ And my life is hanging between the odd balance these two forces have formed¡­'' The Hero sighed. Information¡­ He needed more information. At the very least, he needed to know who was actually on his side and who was not. Kael sat inside the carriage. His mind continued to race for the next few hours, but then, he closed his eyes. His exhaustion had finally caught up to him. ¡­ "Kayden, what are¡ª" BOOOOOOM Kael was jolted awake from his thoughts as he heard the thunderous explosion. He looked around and quickly realized that he was seeing the Vision again. And this time, it was an entirely different vision. "KAYDEN!!!" The Future Kael screamed as he extended his hand towards an ally who jumped into a horde of corrupted beasts and self-destructed. Kael, who once again found himself in an unfamiliar body, noticed that both his arms were covered with dark scales and his strength was ridiculously overwhelming compared to what it was right now. ''I am very far into the future.'' Kael realized it, and as he stared at the scene around him, he was overwhelmed. Dark skies, blood, fire, and smoke all over the place, heavy air, and thousands of corrupted beasts, every single one of them seeming far stronger than the Roc he had just faced, dashing towards them as if prepared to rip them apart. Kael himself was sitting on top of a giant Dragon who was hovering in the air. ''Igni¡­'' Kael recognized his Igni in an instant. ''You are still alive¡­'' His eyes turned moist. Right now, however, he didn''t have the time to feel such emotions. Too many things were happening around him. Beside him, there was that purple-haired woman he saw in his previous vision, who was sitting on top of a Phoenix. Future Kael and the woman exchanged glances as they saw their ally sacrifice his life for their sake. "KAYDEN!!!" Another woman on the ground screamed, her voice full of agony. It was clear that she had a special relationship with Kayden. However, that woman wasn''t the only one who was hurt by his sacrifice. "AAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!" A Frostfang Wolf, an Epic Rank Magic Beast, and Kayden''s first Bond, roared in frenzy and lost his mind. His attacks became reckless, and if this continued, even someone as inexperienced as Kael could tell that he wouldn''t survive. "Igni, take care of things here." Future Kael spoke, and suddenly, Kael heard a voice in his head, [Yes, Father.] His eyes widened in surprise, but before he could react to Igni''s voice, the Future Kael jumped down and dived towards the Frostfang Wolf. "Frost, calm down." Future Kael spoke, his voice much heavier than current Kael''s. He placed his hand on top of the Wolf''s head, and suddenly, BOOOM His Aura burst out, crushing every single Corrupted Beast around him as if they were insects. "RROOOOOAAAAARRRRRRRR!!!" Sensing what their father wanted, four large Dragons appeared around Kael and Frost, protecting them from all the attacks. ''Please¡­ work out this time¡­'' The Future Kael desperately prayed in his head, his heart feeling heavy. Then, he gathered his energy, and Kael quickly noticed something. The way the Future Kael was using his energy¡­ it felt familiar. He was activating the . However, the moment Kael realized it, he frowned. ''He is using on a Wolf¡­?'' He couldn''t understand. But then, the Future Kael suddenly changed the energy flow. The energy continued to move around in his body like he directed it to, and once done, he injected the genesis energy into Frost''s body. "AAAUUUUUUUUUU!!!!" It was rough at first, and it required a lot more energy than normal since Frost wasn''t exactly in a friendly state and continued to resist Kael, he howled, he thrashed, he struggled as much as he could, even trying to overpower him, but the Future Kael held on. With his face covered in sweat, heart thumping loudly, he continued to inject his energy into the Wolf. And finally, something changed, Frost''s body began to change, his fur started becoming shinier and shinier, Kael could see it, he could tell that the Beast was transforming, but before he could observe too much. [Ding!] [Skill was succesfu@#!#!] [Awake#@$r! Frostfang Wolf la@#@ Bloodline.] [Ding!] [Congratulati#@$!##! Frostfang Wolf has tur$$%$## into Frostlord Fenrir.] [ERROR! ERROR! ERROR!] [System Error: Unexpected Transformation Outside Of Established Parameters.] [Processing.] [Adaptive Response Initiated.] [ERROR! ERROR! ERROR!] [Threshold Exceeded] [Attempting Recalculation.] [Response Blocked: System Limits Exceeded.] [Adaptive Response In Progress] [Error: Unable To Fully Process Extreme Transformation.] [Error! Unknown Anomaly Detected.] [An Impossible Feat Has Been Achieved!] [Rewards Are Being Calculated.] [Processing.] [Error: Host''s Time Has Run Out. Complete Reward Cannot Be Granted.] [Final Reward Selection Initiated.] [Ding!] [Title Awarded: "The One Who Broke The Limit."] [Title Effect: +25 To All Stats.] ¡­ Countless messages appeared in front of Kael, and as he tried to read or understand what they meant, The Vision ended. Chapter 80 - 80: Do you need my pillow as well? "Hah!" Kael''s eyes shot open as he woke up from the Vision. His breathing quickened as he processed what he saw. The Vision was¡­ overwhelming¡­ Too much information was given to him in a very limited time. Igni being able to speak, his allies, that woman who was right next to him, using on a Wolf, and finally¡­ All those strange messages he saw. All this time, every time Kael saw the System Screen, it was a simple, bluish translucent screen that showed him what he wanted but¡­ For the first time, he saw a red screen. Those countless messages¡ªhonestly, Kael could only read the word ''Error'' because of how overwhelmed he was. Something had happened. The Vision wanted to tell him something, something he missed¡­ ''I need to see that Vision again.'' Kael muttered inwardly. He looked outside, and seeing the sun''s position, he could tell that he had slept for a few hours even though the Vision he saw was much shorter. Right now, however, he couldn''t care less about how that worked. He looked at the woman who was riding a Magic Beast and called out, "Aria." The Mage turned around. "Lord Kael, is there something you need?" She questioned, and as Kael nodded, Aria came close to the carriage. "Do you know some magic that can put me to sleep?" "Are you having trouble sleeping?" Aria questioned with a frown on her face, and Kael nodded. "This isn''t good for your health. You didn''t sleep last night either. Do you want us to stop? We will pass through a big city in a few hours. The inns there would be much more comfortable than the carriage or the tents we set up. Do you want me to stop there?" "I would like to sleep right now." Kael answered, and a frown appeared on Aria''s face. "A magic to put you to sleep¡­" She muttered. Aria was only a Third Circle Mage. The number of spells she knew was limited, and while there were indeed some Third Circle Spells that could put someone to sleep, she didn''t bother learning them. Now, however, she felt regretful. The Hero asked her one thing, and she couldn''t help him with that¡­ She felt¡­ Useless¡­ But then, "I have a way." Lyra came to the rescue. She passed a dark brown pill to Kael and, "Eat this. You will sleep like a log in an instant. It lasts a few hours and it doesn''t have any side effects, so it is completely safe." She spoke. "¡­" "¡­" And both Kael and Aria looked at the archer with strange looks on their faces. "Why do you even have that¡­?" Kael couldn''t help but question. "I use it when I have trouble sleeping." Lyra answered. "You¡­ of all people have trouble sleeping?" Kael raised his eyebrow. He had seen how quickly the woman fell asleep. The archer just closes her eyes, and in a few seconds, she''s out. How is someone like her having trouble sleeping? Lyra, however, nodded at Kael''s words with a solemn look on her face. "Every time I sleep too much, I have trouble falling asleep again, so I use this." "¡­" "¡­" Once again, Kael and Aria turned silent. They exchanged glances, and this time, even the Mage shook her head. It was as if she was saying, ''Don''t look at me, I did not know that.'' Lyra stared at the two in silence, then, as if somewhat annoyed, she questioned, "Do you want it or not?" "I need it. Yes, I need it." Kael nodded as he grabbed the pill and, "Thank you." S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He showed his gratitude. "¡­do you need my pillow as well?" Lyra offered, and the moment she did, Aria raised her eyebrow in surprise. "Wow, to think you would offer him your pillow yourself. I remember how you didn''t give it to me even when I threatened to break our years of friendship. Those words you said that day still ring in my mind: ''Friends come and go, but a pillow is a human''s eternal partner.'' I was so hurt that d¡ªMmmhmmphh!" Before the Mage could complete, Lyra pulled her away, her hand grabbing her mouth. She stared at Kael with an emotionless look on her face and, "You had your chance. You didn''t claim it fast enough. Use your own pillow now." She spoke before she turned around, taking Aria away. "MMhjmmphh!" The Mage continued to resist, but compared to the Archer, her strength was much lower. "¡­" Kael saw the two women move away, and it placed a smile on his face. He still didn''t know if he could trust these women or not¡­ But in his heart, He really wanted to. ''Hah, I am hopeless.'' He sighed inwardly, then closed the window and took the pill Lyra had given him. What if it was poison? Well, for starters, basic poison didn''t work on him, and¡­ if Lyra and the others wanted to kill him, they had countless opportunities to do it. In the end, Kael decided it was best not to think too much about it and gulped it down. The moment the pill entered his body, it released an energy. It worked almost instantly as Kael felt his eyes get heavy. Honestly, he wasn''t even sure if he would see the Vision again or not. He just hoped he would. ''From doing everything in my power to try and avoid seeing these visions to wanting to see them again¡­ What a roller-coaster of a life¡­'' Kael laughed inwardly as he then closed his eyes, entering the dreamland again. "Kayden, what are¡ª" BOOOOOOM Once again, the Vision started. Kael sighed in relief, glad that it worked. ''Alright, I need to focus.'' With that thought in his mind, he decided to focus on what was important. He waited for Future Kael to move. He memorized how he changed the energy flow in his body, injected the energy into Frost, and finally, the system messages. This time, he read and memorized them all. Chapter 81 - 81: You are forcing yourself onto me without my consent. "Aria." Kael, who woke up a few hours later, called out. "Did you sleep well?" Aria questioned. "I did." Kael nodded. "The city you were talking about before, did we cross it?" He questioned. "No, we are still about 10 minutes away." "We will stop there for a day." Kael decided. "A day¡­?" Aria was taken aback. She would have understood if it was just for a few hours, but¡­ "The sun will set in a few more hours. We would be forced to set up a camp or spend the night in an inn anyway, so we might as well stay in the city, don''t you think?" Kael suggested. Then, a smile appeared on his face and, "Not to mention, we have worked quite hard these last few days. It is time we use this moment to relax and let ourselves go." "I understand." Aria nodded as a smile appeared on her face. 10 minutes later, Kael and the party entered the city, and Aria introduced it with an excited look on her face. "Lord Kael, this is Mistvale City, a magical city surrounded by mist. It is a hub for adventurers, scholars, and merchants. People from all over Nerathis come here because of the rare resources found in this place, and yes, when I say resources, I also include Beast Eggs. Beasts with special elements like Mist, Ice, Cloud, and more can be found here. We were in a hurry back when we passed through this city, but now that we have time, we can truly explore this city to our heart''s content." "You look quite excited." Kael questioned. He had come out of his carriage and then stored the carriage in the space provided by the city itself. The Magic Beasts Aria and the others were riding were also taken to a place created for them. It was a service provided by most big cities, and since Kael and the party had decided to stay in this town, they decided to use it. "Of course! It is one of the most beautiful cities in Drakthar! Every time I am on vacation, I come here." Aria, who was walking next to Kael, answered as she looked around like a child. "Oh?" Kael raised his eyebrow. He had to say, with how the mage was looking around, it didn''t look like she was a regular here. Aria, who could sense Kael''s thoughts, smiled. "Just look around and see how pretty it is. Wouldn''t you feel excited every time you come here?" She questioned. Hearing those words, Kael looked around as well, and he had to admit, the city was indeed beautiful. The massive archway, the soothing white mist that wrapped itself around him, pushing him into a heaven of comfort and coolness. Elegant spires and graceful domes, all the buildings here shined with a shimmering hue. Luscious green vines climbed the walls, and colorful flowers peeked through the cracks in the streets. The air felt rich, pure, and cool. It was as if the city was created using magic. He could hear the sounds of laughter and chatter. People here looked happy. It was¡­ Beautiful. A fantasy-like city. For a moment, Kael was mesmerized, forgetting everything that was weighing him down. Aria, who noticed that, smiled gleefully. "See? I told you, didn''t I? This is one of the most beautiful cities in the Drakthar Kingdom. Anyone would be mesmerized by it, even the Hero." "It is beautiful indeed." Sarah nodded. The mist around her felt comforting, her exhaustion was being washed away. It wasn''t just her; Lyra seemed quite satisfied as well. "It has a good environment to sleep in." She commented. Kael chuckled at those words. He, however, agreed with the three women. "It is beautiful inde¡ª" Suddenly, he froze. "Hero Kael?" Sarah called out, noticing the odd reaction. Kael, however, just grinned and, "As expected from a big city." He had just walked into the city and had moved a bit towards the market area, but¡­ His was already activated. Yes, there were beasts or beast eggs with Dragon Bloodline here. And what''s even better? There was not just one. Kael could already sense three of them. His grin widened even further and, "Let''s explore the market, shall we? Or do the three of you wish to rest first?" Of course, as excited as he was, he was still considerate. These women had been riding those magic horses for hours now. It was natural to be tired after such a long ride. "Yes, I would like to re¡ªmmhphh!" "No, why would we be tired? All three of us are Advance Tamers, Lord Kael. We won''t be tired just after a few hours of traveling. That would be embarrassing." Before Lyra could complete her words, Aria laughed. "E-Exactly! Why would we be tired!? Let''s explore the market instead!" Sarah, who was grabbing Lyra''s mouth, laughed as well. "¡­" Kael stared at the women in silence. For a moment, he wanted to be considerate of Lyra, worried if she was actually tired. But then, the moment he thought about how this sloth-like woman would choose sleep over literally anything else, he decided not to give her too much attention and nodded. "Alright then, we will explore the market for a while before we eat and book an inn to spend the night. Is that good for you two?" Yes, he even stopped asking for the tanned archer''s consent. "Yes!" The other two women nodded with excited looks on their faces, and Kael and the party started exploring the market. "Just so it is clear, we are doing this against our will. Hero Kael, you are forcing yourself onto me without my consent." Lyra mumbled in a dissatisfied tone. "¡­" Kael''s mouth twitched when he heard those words. Just thinking about what awaited him if this woman said those words back in his world made him tremble in fear. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For now, however, he shook his head. "Yes, yes, I like forcing myself onto women like you" He joked as he focussed on his Draconic Sense, which was being worked to death. He could already sense around five beasts with Dragon Blood in them. He, however, was facing a problem¡­ All the beasts he was sensing belonged to tamers. He couldn''t sense any eggs till now. But then, his eyes fell on something, and then, ''Finally.'' His smile widened. Chapter 82 - 82: It was all set in stone—the Grand Plan. ''Wooaaahhh! The Cliches were true!'' Kael thought inwardly as he stared at the scene unfolding in front of him. While he walked around the market, trying to find a suitable Egg, 30 minutes later, his reacted, not to those big Beast Stores that sold all different kinds of Beasts Eggs, but to a roadside stall. No, even calling it a stall was overstating it. It was just an old man sitting cross-legged beside a worn-out cloth, displaying a few strange objects for sale. Of course, most of those objects were useless, and no one cared about the old man and whatever he sold. However¡­ Kael''s reacted to a certain object in the old man''s inventory. It was a strange, reddish-white, half-a-meter-big stone with a flower-like shape. *Image* Honestly, no matter how Kael looked at it, the thing didn''t resemble an Egg at all. If it weren''t for his ability, never in his wildest dreams would he be able to tell that this thing was a Beast Egg¡ªa Beast with Dragon Bloodline at that. ''All of it really is true¡­ Only the old man sitting on the roadside has the true treasures!'' Kael couldn''t help but feel overjoyed. After all, once again, it was proven that all the novels he read weren''t a waste. All the clich¨¦s he liked, they weren''t just there for the sake of it. They all had meaning. They were all preparing him for this exact moment. It was all set in stone¡ªthe Grand Plan. Those novels weren''t a waste of time but holy books that should be studied deeply. And the novels'' knowledge didn''t just end there. The moment Kael walked towards the old man, conversed with him, and was just about to pay, a sharp voice cut through the air. "Wait." Kael turned around, and his eyes fell on a young man walking toward them, dressed in an expensive-looking silk robe with golden embroidery. He had a fairly decent face, brown hair, blue eyes, and a mole on his cheek. A pair of guards walked behind him, their hands resting lightly on the hilts of their swords. Clearly, the young man was a noble. A Young Master. "Lord Darian¡­" The old man''s voice trembled as he bowed his head. He seemed to know who this young man was. The young man named Darian completely ignored his existence. His eyes fell on Kael and the three women behind him, and his expression gleamed in excitement. Then, he stared at the ''stone'' the old man was about to pass to Kael and¡ª "This looks interesting. I''ll take it." He grinned. Then, his eyes fell on Kael, and his grin widened even further. "You don''t mind me taking what you wanted, do you?" ''Seriously?'' Kael raised an eyebrow. Even a child could tell what this man wanted. He was trying to show off his ''power'' and ''status'' to try and impress the three royal soldiers. ''Holy fuck, all of it is real!'' Kael swore. He had read about this stuff as well! More than a few times! A Young Master! He was actually seeing the legendary Young Master! "My Lord, this customer was here first¡­" The old man spoke, his voice trembling constantly. "Haah?" Darian''s expression darkened as he turned toward the old man. "Say that again?" His tone was filled with contempt, and as if understanding what their master wanted, one of his guards took a deliberate step forward. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Heek!" The old man shrieked before he backed down. "That''s what I thought." Darian snorted condescendingly. "Now hand over that stone." He ordered, but before the old man could do what he was told to¡ª "I do." Kael spoke up. "¡­What?" Darian paused. Kael stared at the man in front of him and¡ª "The answer to the question you asked before¡ªI do mind you trying to take what I wanted." "Huh¡­?" Darian still couldn''t comprehend the situation, but then¡ª "Back off." Kael spoke in a heavy voice as suddenly, his piercing blue eyes turned golden. Screens showing Darian''s and his guards'' information appeared in front of him. Both guards were level 18, and while Darian was a level 16, his stats, however, were ridiculously weak for that level. It was clear that the only reason he was at this level was because of his Bond. He didn''t do any training by himself. ''Typical.'' Kael shrugged inwardly. Seeing his eyes suddenly change colors, Darian was taken aback. Soon, however, he snapped back. "Do you know who you are talking to?" "Huh...?" Kael frowned. "Do you have any idea who my father is!?" Darian raised his voice. "I don''t." Kael shook his head with a calm look on his face. "But I do know who might know that." "What¡­?" Darian blinked, not expecting such an answer. "Who¡­?" "Your mother." "Pfft." Unable to control herself, Aria laughed out loud. Sarah had a smile on her face as well. As for Darian¡­ His body trembled in rage. Clearly, he didn''t like Kael''s answer, and Kael wasn''t bothered by it. "I am not lying, friend. I am sure your mother knows the truth." Then, with a concerned look on his face, he continued¡ª "But honestly, if she doesn''t wish to tell you and you need to go around asking others who your father is, I''d say it is better to not know. Trust me, a mother knows best¡ª" "YOU BASTARD!!" Darian snapped as he extended his hand, trying to punch Kael. Kael grabbed his hand, pulled him towards him, stepped aside, and positioned his leg right in front of Darian''s. Thud Darian''s untrained body quickly lost its balance, and the man fell to the ground. Kael, who was still holding his arm, pulled it lightly as he placed his foot on top of Darian''s chest, making it impossible for him to stand up. "Aggghh!" Darian groaned in pain, and seeing that, Kael laughed. "Damn, it''s really hard to survive out here without a father, eh? Balance''s off, weight is undistributed, punch was weak, position was wrong, To think your body is such a big mess." Kael picked out the faults before he shrugged with a look of sympathy. "But I shouldn''t complain too much either. After all, there is a limit to what a mother can do alone." Then, Kael pulled Darian''s hand even harder, making him scream in even more pain and¡ª "Tell her she can come to me if she is having too much trouble. I come from another world; I am quite open-minded when it comes to things like that." "Y-Y-You!!" Chapter 83 - 83: My bad. "Tell her she can come to me if she is having too much trouble. I come from another world, I am quite open-minded when it comes to things like that." "Y-Y-You!!" Darian stuttered, unable to put together a word for a moment because of how angry he was. Humiliation. Absolute Humiliation. His face, now red in rage, turned towards his guards and, "WHAT ARE YOU STANDING THERE FOR!? ATTACK H- Aaaagghhhh!!" Before he could give commands, Kael pulled his arm and he screamed in pain. "Shut it." Kael threatened. His piercing blue eyes stared at the guards and, "Stay back." He ordered. His words were calm, but the guards'' bodies shook, and they stumbled back. It wasn''t for the sake of their ''young master,'' but because they felt intimidated by the man in front of them. Kael then extended his hand towards the old man and, "The stone." He ordered. With trembling hands, the old man passed the ''stone'' to him. Kael stored it inside his Sanctuary, took out a gold coin, and tossed it towards the old man. "Take it." The old man widened his eyes in disbelief as he desperately jumped at the coin. By now, the commotion had attracted quite a lot of attention, and Darian, who noticed that, laughed out loud. "Hahaha! Y-You! You have no clue what you have done, do you!? I am the Young Master of Mistvale City, the youngest son of the City Lord! Now that so many people have seen what you did, what do you think will happen once Father hears the word of it!? I am telling you! Let me go, and I''ll make sure your death will be¡­" Darian continued to rant. Kael, however, ignored the Young Master''s ramblings as his mind started racing. These ''ramblings'' weren''t exactly something he could ignore. It would have been fine if this one was the son of some random noble, but... if he was indeed the son of the City Lord, then Kael was in trouble. ''It just had to be the highest authority here. Just my luck.'' Kael sighed inwardly. "Sarah." He called out. "Prepare your things. We are leaving." "Huh?" Hearing his words, Sarah and the other women frowned in confusion. Going back? Why? "If what he is saying is true, then staying here is too risky. We cannot fight an entire city on our ow-" Kael, sensing their confusion, started explaining but, "Lord Kael¡­" Before he could even complete, Aria called out with a strange expression on her face. "What are you talking about?" She questioned, acting as if Kael was missing something obvious. "This is the Drakthar Kingdom. No one here would dare to make things difficult for you. A mere son of the City Lord? Even if the City Lord himself were here, he would bow his head and apologize for this fool''s mistake." She spoke. A City Lord? What value did he have in front of the Hero who even the King respects? There was no need for them to leave, actually, this was the perfect time to sit and watch the drama. It was also the reason Aria, who stood behind Kael, was tempting Darian with provocative smiles. Yes... She... might have been the reason why the poor man acted in such a manner all along. "You have no reason to leave." Aria spoke, not wanting Kael to change his plans because of her. Kael would have believed her words if¡­ he hadn''t seen what he did see. He knew the entire Kingdom wasn''t his ally. His enemies were hidden, and it wouldn''t be surprising if they were hidden here. It was a perfect opportunity to get rid of him by accident. He needed to get away. "No, we are leav-" However, before Kael could complete his words, "SCREEEEECCCHHHH!!!" A loud screech was heard. The people turned their heads towards the sky and saw a giant blue magic beast flying in their direction. "The City Lord''s here!" Someone shouted. How could the people not recognize the Bond the City Lord cherished? Kael''s expression changed. It was too late. He prepared himself for whatever was about to happen while his mind raced, trying to find a way out, even Igni was prepared to come out at any moment. Thud The majestic beast landed on the road, and quickly, a man wearing a silk robe descended on the ground. Kael saw the man''s features and his face turned solemn. ''Igni, be prepared.'' he spoke. The man was an older version of Darian. He was indeed that man''s father. And as if to confirm that, "Hahahaha!" Darian laughed out. "You! You are done for! I told you to listen to me, but you didn''t! Now you will pay for your mistakes!" The man then glanced at his father and, "Father! Look! I just wanted to buy what the people of our city were selling to help their business when suddenly, this man appeared in front of me and assaul-" Before Darian could even complete his words, the City Lord walked towards Kael and, "Hero Kael." He greeted, and then, with an apologetic smile on his face, he slightly bowed his head. "I am the City Lord of Mistvale City, Sylas Mistwood, and I apologize for my son''s foolish actions. Clearly, I have pampered him too much since he was my youngest. I have failed as a parent." "W-What¡­?" Darian couldn''t believe what he was seeing. "Father! He was the one who attacked me! He even said all those thin-" Suddenly, five white magic circles appeared around the City Lord''s hand, and Darian lost his voice. It was as if he had turned mute, and he seemed to have no realization of it since he still continued to move his mouth, just that no voice came out of it. "Again, I apologize from the bottom of my heart, Hero Kael. I hope you won''t let this incident get to you." Sylas bowed his head even further, and the people who had gathered here stared at the situation, their surprise evident on their faces. "Did the City Lord just call him¡­ Hero¡­?" "The Hero¡­? The one who is summoned in the Royal Capital?" "He¡­ is the Hero¡­?" "Then¡­ isn''t the youngest... Done for¡­?" Someone spoke, and suddenly, Darian, who realized what was happening, widened his eyes in horror. Only now did he realize why his father was acting like this! This man was THE Hero! No wonder the three women behind him were constantly grinning at him with that condescending look on their faces, they knew what was going to happen from the very beginning! Darian turned towards the three women, and just as he expected, the three of them were all grinning at him, especially the silver-haired one, she even dared to wink at him! ''That bit-'' Darian wanted to curse, right now, however, he had to calm down. After all, he knew they were in the position of Absolute Power, he couldn''t go against them and antagonize them any further. ''What the hell¡­?'' Darian, however, wasn''t the only one who was surprised, Kael was the same. While he did know his status as the Hero was important, to think even a City Lord of a Major City would bow his head in front of him like this¡­ As if understanding his confusion, Aria walked towards him and explained with a wide grin on her face, "Don''t be too surprised, Hero Kael. You are a man chosen by Lord Feraos himself, a man who is supposed to protect all of Nerathis. Your status, especially here in the Drakthar Kingdom, is no lower than the King''s." Aria then glanced at Darian with a disdainful look on her face and, "You have no reason to be intimidated by a fool who doesn''t know his place." Kael raised his eyebrow at those words. To think she would speak in such a manner, right in front of this man''s father to boot. But what surprised him even more was¡­ "That is correct, Hero Kael. Please do not foil your arrangements because of my foolish son''s mistakes." The City Lord nodded, glaring at his son. And Kael finally realized it. Sure, there might be enemies inside the Drakthar Kingdom, but¡­ There was a reason why those enemies were hidden in the shadows. Even if their influence was strong, it wasn''t strong enough to appear in the light. Even if Kael was surrounded by enemies, as long as he remained in the light, the enemies hidden in the darkness would not approach him. Even if the enemies were here in Mistvale City, as long as everyone knew that the Hero was in this city, they would never dare to harm him. And as if confirming his thoughts, the City Lord called out, "Hero Kael¡­ Now that your identity is revealed, things might become troublesome for you, so why don''t you spend the night in the City Manor instead? It would also give me a chance to make up for my son''s mistake." He offered, and Kael understood the underlying meaning. The City Lord was trying to protect him from anyone who might have malicious intentions. After all, the City Lord wouldn''t be able to deal with the consequences if something happened to the Hero in his city. Kael''s eyes shined in realization. He had finally started understanding a bit of politics. "Then I will trouble you." Kael nodded. He had no other choice in the matter anyway. "T-Thank you! I will make it so you and your allies have the most comfortable stay possible!" Sylas''s face brightened up, but then suddenly, as if he recalled something, an awkward look appeared on his face as he scratched the back of his head. "Also¡­ Could you leave my son now¡­?" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yes, Kael was still restraining Darian and had placed his foot on top of him. "Ah, right." When Kael realized what he was doing, he quickly stepped away. The dude was so weak that he didn''t even realize he was still restraining him. It just felt too natural. ''A natural stepping stone.'' Kael commented in his head, nodding his head with a satisfied look on his face. ''Fuck, I am still in public.'' He quickly shook his head as he coughed and then turned towards Sylas, "My bad." He apologized. "No worries, my son deserved it. I will make sure he gets punished for his actions." "Well, I am just glad he has a caring father like you." Kael replied, completely forgetting everything he said to this man''s wife before. Chapter 84 - 84: So? Why were you following me? "Did he agree?" A beautiful woman wearing a long, rich blue gown with white embroidery questioned, her eyes brimming with excitement. She was Elowen Mistwood, the City Lord''s first wife. "He didn''t." Sylas shook his head with a disappointed look on his face. "He didn''t¡­?" Elowen was taken aback. Sylas nodded again. "He must be tired. And¡­ Our children didn''t exactly make a good first impression." Elowen lowered her head. She couldn''t deny what Sylas said, but¡­ "We could have used this chance to get close to the Hero." She muttered. "It is a pity¡­" Sylas lowered his head as well. The couple wanted the Hero and his Party to dine at the main Dining Hall, together with their family. Outwardly, it was a way for the Mistwood family to serve the Hero, but what they truly wanted was to introduce their children to the Hero, especially their daughters. And if any of them caught the Hero''s eye¡­ Yes, they were planning to tie the knot with the Hero. "What if I make Lenala meet him naturally? I am sure even the Hero would be attracted to her charms." Elowen suggested. Sylas, however, shook his head. "Let''s not do anything out of impatience. He is a man who preferred running away from the City rather than revealing his identity and silencing everyone around him. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, he doesn''t like attention, and it is only natural if you think about it. He has only been in Nerathis for a few weeks. He needs time to adapt to the situation." Sylas analyzed. Yes, he was wrong. Kael didn''t choose to keep his identity a secret because he wanted to avoid attention. It was because he believed that if the fact that he was the Hero was revealed, he would be in even greater danger. Of course, for Kael, it all worked well since his decision made Sylas and Elowen avoid pulling him into a political mess. "Anyways, he barely agreed to dine with me out of courtesy. I shouldn''t keep him busy." Elowen nodded at those words, and the City Lord left with just one goal in his mind. To create a good image in the Hero''s head. ¡­ "Please enjoy the meal, Hero Kael." Sylas spoke as he glanced at Kael with a somewhat subservient smile. Kael smiled back. He found himself in an awkward position when the Lord of the City was acting like this in front of him. Soon, however, he shook his head and calmed his emotions. He needed to get his mind straight. After all, Sylas wasn''t the only one who came to this dining table with other intentions. Kael was the same. He wanted to confirm his doubts, and without wasting time, he started, "City Lord Sylas." "Yes?" "Would it be alright if I ask a question?" "Of course, ask me anything, and if I can, I will answer your question." "How did you know I was the Hero?" Kael questioned directly. "I am the City Lord of a Major City, Hero Kael. Of course, I recognized your face. Let alone me, even a normal Town Head would recognize you." "Even a Town Head?" Kael raised his eyebrow. "Well, the Towns at the Border of the Kingdom might be an exception since they have their own problems to deal with and aren''t involved in Kingdom politics, but any City or Town that is involved in politics¡ªtheir Leaders will definitely recognize you." Sylas answered, and Kael nodded in understanding. "I understand." "I am glad I was of help." Sylas smiled. He had his doubts before, but if the Hero liked to ask questions, he might be able to get what he came here for. All he needed to do was to give satisfactory answers and make the Hero feel like he could rely on him. Sylas looked forward to more questions the Hero might have, but then¡ª Kael, who was slowly eating his fill, glanced at Sylas again and, "So how did you know I was in the City?" "Huh?" Sylas frowned. "I was wondering how you knew I was in your City." "My guards informed me, of course." "Guards? The ones stationed at the Gate?" "Yes, that is correct." "But I hid my face when I entered. They shouldn''t have been able to recognize me." "It is because you hid your face that you attracted attention. The guards found it odd and sent people to tail you. Once you revealed your face, they recognized you and informed me." "Is that so¡­?" Kael muttered, his piercing blue eyes staring at Sylas. "That is correct." Sylas nodded. "How long did those people tail me for?" He questioned. "I do not have those details. If you want, I can order them to write a detailed report and have it sent to yo¡ª" "That is enough, Sylas." Suddenly, another voice was heard, and a being covered in a black cloak appeared in the dining room. Sylas''s expression changed when he saw him. "L-Lord, you didn''t have to come here. I had it unde¡ª" "He never hid his face at the entrance. He was lying." "What¡­?" Sylas''s expression changed as he stared at Kael. Kael, however, was looking at the man who had appeared out of nowhere, and a smile appeared on his face. "So you are the one who has been following me all this while." He muttered. "You knew¡­?" The being looked surprised. "I had an inkling." It was a lie. He had absolutely no clue. It was Igni who sensed him. Kael wanted Igni to come out when they set up camps but Igni refused¡ªsomething he would usually never do. He then told Kael that someone had been following them ever since they left the Kingdom. The being only left him alone a few times, and those were the times Igni used to come out and play with Kael. Igni also told him that the follower stopped following him and disappeared the instant Kael stepped into Estwyn Town. "You are sharper than I was told." "My intuition has become stronger than normal ever since I came to this world." "It must be Lord Feraos''s blessing." "Might be." Kael nodded, once again, his trick of letting others guess the reason for everything he does, worked. "You must be the one who informed the City Lord that his youngest was fighting the Hero. No wonder he came rushing." Kael chuckled. "So that''s how you knew¡­" The being realized his mistake. Kael had no clue what this man was talking about, but he went with the flow and¡ª "It was pretty obvious." He nodded. The being nodded as well. "I see it now. The City Lord didn''t greet you the moment you entered the city, so it was safe to assume that he or his people didn''t know you were here. But then, him rushing towards you the instant his son made trouble for you¡ªit couldn''t be more obvious that someone informed him what was happening. Someone who was not one of his men." The being made up the story, and Kael just nodded while he smiled inwardly. This is why he loved talking to people who like to believe they know everything. If they did not understand anything, they would make up a credible story for their own convenience¡ªa story he could use later to hide Igni''s existence. "So? Why were you following me?" Kael questioned, wanting to know more. Chapter 85 - 85: It really is an Egg! "So? Why were you following me?" Kael questioned, wanting to know more. "I was sent by the Kingdom to ensure your safety." "Oh?" Kael raised his eyebrow, and soon, a translucent screen appeared in front of him. [Name: Kieran Raza] [Race: Human] [Age: 66] [Level: 68] [Strength: 87] [Agility: 130] [Speed: 120] [Stamina: 100] [Defense: 90] [Mana: 35] [Intelligence: 85] [Charisma: 80] [Strengths: Exceptional Agility, Skilled Tracker] [Weaknesses: Low Physical Defense, Weak in Melee Combat] ¡­ ''An agility-based warrior, huh¡­'' Kael noted. A Level 68 meant that he was a Seventh Stage Warrior. ''An Assassin maybe?'' Kael wondered in his head. He could only make a guess considering the stats he was seeing. "Now that you have assessed me, do you think I am strong enough to protect you?" Kieran questioned, clearly, he didn''t like being assessed, it felt like he was being judged. "I apologize, it''s a force of habit." Kael replied as his eyes turned back to normal. Kieran nodded in understanding. "Does this mean I was never in actual danger?" Kael questioned with a curious look on his face. "Do not take Marshal Therian''s words for granted, Hero Kael." Kieran shook his head. "I was given strict orders to not get involved no matter what happens in Estwyn. We were told to ensure that you reach Estwyn safely and no external threats unrelated to Estwyn harm you. The rest was up to you. The moment you entered the town, I stopped following you and waited for the test to end." "I understand." Kael nodded. "What about now? What''s your mission now?" "I am to ensure that you reach the Royal Capital safely." "You talk as if there are people out there wanting to kill me." Kael chuckled casually, as if laughing at Kieran''s mission. "Hero Kael, you are Lord Feraos''s blessed one, the hope of all Nerathis." Kieran spoke in a solemn tone. He didn''t like Kael''s casual attitude. He had seen Estwyn''s condition after the Hero left, and from their faces, he could understand how exceptional the Hero''s performance was. He had already heard about the Hero''s talent, he knew how quickly he had grown, and after this test, he knew how good of a leader this man was. The Hero had what it took to save Nerathis. The Hero had what it took to¡­ be a Hero. Kieran could see how important the Hero was to Drakthar and to Nerathis. The last thing he wanted was for the Hero to fall because he became overconfident and took things too lightly. So he decided to voice his thoughts. "Do not forget, while there are people who love you, rely on you, and see you as the hope, there are also people who would do anything in their power to crush that hope. Hero Kael, you can never be too careful." Kieran warned. At his words, however, Kael smiled. "I was under the impression that the Kingdom ensured the test''s secrecy and that only the higher-ups, people who are absolutely loyal to the Kingdom, knew about it. I thought that was the logical assumption, but I guess that was not the case, huh¡­" Then, Kael looked into Kieran''s eyes and, "Or maybe there is something I am failing to consider¡­" "¡­" Kieran turned silent, unable to say anything. His mind, however, had started racing. "Anyways, thank you for the warning, I will be careful from now on." Kael smiled, acting like he didn''t notice the change in Kieran''s expression.. "Right..." Kieran nodded. "I will take my leave now, you two can continue your dinner." He turned towards Sylas and nodded. Sylas however, lowered his head with a guilty look on his face. After all, he couldn''t possibly impress the Hero now that it was established that he had lied to him. The Hero wouldn''t trust him no matter what he said now. He had failed. "Lord Sylas." Suddenly, Kael spoke up. "Y-Yes?" The City Lord turned towards the Hero. "Please do not feel down." Kael smiled. "I understand that you kept his secret because you were told to. I was glad to see how you didn''t break someone else''s trust even though it meant that this might strain your relationship with the Hero. Only people like you can be trusted as a true ally, not the ones who would jump sides the moment the other side offered more." Hearing those words, Sylas''s face brightened up. "R-Right! I am grateful for the Hero''s understanding!" Kael smiled at those words, "We should continue our dinner, I do not wish to keep my allies waiting." "I understand." Sylas nodded as the two continued the dinner, serving the Hero with an even bigger smile. Kieran, who saw how the mood shifted, didn''t fail to notice Kael''s ability to read the room. ''I underestimated him¡­'' He noted before he finally decided to disappear. The dinner continued, Kael and Sylas chatted a bit, Sylas continued to offer more and more delicacies, and Kael didn''t reject, he was tasting everything for his Igni so he could choose the best ones for him. Once the dinner was over, Kael shook hands with the City Lord and returned. Sarah and the others were given their own rooms, he went there and chatted with them for a while before he finally walked into the room that was allotted to him and heaved a big, tired sigh. It was a long day¡­ But it wasn''t over yet. ''Igni, is he around?'' He questioned. ''Kyu.'' Igni nodded. ''Is he observing us?'' Igni shook his head. ''Is anyone else noticing us?'' Igni shook his head again, and once Kael was sure about this, he took out the ''stone'' he had bought today. "I still have no clue how this thing is an egg." He muttered as he stared at the ''thing'' in front of him, and a screen appeared in front of him. [Ding!] [Cloud Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] ''Yes.'' Kael nodded and he then felt his energy moving inside his body in a specific flow. Then, a faint, golden light came out of his palm, enveloping the ''Egg.'' Bzzz The egg reacted instantly. The reddish-white hues of the stone trembled, its petal-like ridges curled inward, as if alive. Beautiful golden veins spread all over the egg''s surface and its glow strengthened. The white now overpowered the red tint, it was as if it had become¡­ much much purer. Slowly, the rigid, stone-like texture softened, the stone now looked like an actual flower. However, the transformation didn''t end there, no, this was just the beginning. Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz Golden Veins continued to pulse all over the surface, making it more and more soft to the point its very nature seemed to have changed. From solid, it turned into a fluid, And then, it turned into Mist. A White Mist with light red hues floating in the air. "What the hell¡­?" Kael, of course, had no idea what was happening. ''Did it fail¡­?'' He wondered, but then, Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Ding!] [Draconic Awakening completed] The System informed. "This¡­ is an¡­ Egg¡­?" Kael wondered as he stared at the strange Mist in front of him. [Ding!] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the target?] [Y/N] ''It really is an Egg!'' Chapter 86 - 86: Cirri. "This¡­ is an¡­ Egg¡­?" Kael couldn''t even process what he was seeing before, [Ding!] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the target?] [Y/N] The System screen appeared in front of him. Ba-dump His heart skipped a beat when the realization finally dawned on him. He was¡­ about to get another Dragon¡­ Another Bond¡­ Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump His heartbeat quickened and a big smile appeared on his face. "Igni." He called out and as if he was waiting for this moment, Igni quickly appeared in front of him. This time, however, he didn''t jump on his face like he usually does. The little Dragon was intently staring at the Mist in front of him. It seemed like he understood what it was. Kael chuckled when he saw Igni''s reaction, then without wasting any time, he clicked on ''Yes'' again. [To activate the Skill , drop your blood on the Egg.] Kael did as he was told. He wondered if the blood would drop on the floor since he was basically dropping it on a Mist, but the moment his blood touched the Mist, it disappeared as if the Mist had absorbed it. Then suddenly, the Mist started becoming denser and denser, to the point it now resembled molten white glass with light red hues around it. It was then, Ba-dump Kael heard a heartbeat. Not his. It came from the ''Egg'' in front of him. It was reacting to Kael''s blood. [Ding!] [Blood Pact Formed Successfully.] The System informed and as if reacting to its message, the ''Egg'' in front of Kael, which now seemed to have turned into dense fluid, continued to change its shape. Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump Its heartbeat started becoming louder and louder. It was as if a life was being born right at this moment, and in a few seconds, Kael started to recognize the shape the ''Egg'' was taking. It was a Dragon. Yes, the Dragon wasn''t coming out of the Egg, the ''Egg'' itself was turning into a newborn Dragon. Kael stared at the process with intense eyes, not wanting to miss even a single moment. Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump His heartbeat started to resonate with the Egg-Dragon, and finally, the Egg-Dragon transformed into a complete Dragon and let out an extremely adorable voice. "Nyu~" The instant Kael heard this voice, his heart skipped a beat again. This time, he took damage for real. ''Fuck, they really need to tone down these Dragons'' cuteness¡­ Dragons aren''t supposed to be this cute!!'' He shouted in his head as his eyes fell on the tiny figure who was floating in front of him, blinking up at him with her wide, shimmering amber eyes. Maybe it was because her body was now fully formed, she couldn''t stay in the air anymore, but before she could fall, Kael quickly grabbed her in his arms, and as he did that, he couldn''t help but feel a wave of extreme comfort wash over him. Her body was impossibly soft. It was as if¡­ he was holding a cloud. Her skin was a blend of snowy white and a gentle, warm hue. Little wisps of fluff curled at the edges of her tiny body, giving her an almost weightless appearance, as if she belonged more to the heavens than the earth. Her soft reddish horns were elegantly curved, forming a small crown on her head. "Nyu¡­" ''Uggghhhh¡­'' Kael''s heart clenched as she let out a small, squeaky yawn. Her little paws stretched out. Her tiny claws were barely noticeable, and just like Igni, she had a round, fluffy belly that practically demanded to be patted. ''And I here thought I wouldn''t be a sucker for cute things now that I have Igni¡­'' Kael sighed helplessly. Yes, he was helpless. Helpless against the overwhelming, absolute cuteness of the tiny Dragon in his arms. *Picture* And it wasn''t just Kael who was affected. Igni was the same. He brought his paws next to the newborn Dragon as slowly and gently as he could. He was being very careful, as if he was afraid of hurting this adorable little thing. Touch The instant Igni''s paws touched her body, his ember eyes widened and, "Nyu¡­" As the little Dragon let out a voice, Igni froze. Even the mighty Igni had now taken damage. Kael, who realized that he wasn''t alone, nodded in his heart, then, acting like a responsible father, he glanced at Igni and, "She is your little sister, protect her with everything you have, okay?" "Kyu!" Igni nodded, his amber eyes burning with determination Kael had never seen before. Kael chuckled as he patted Igni''s head. Igni, however, continued to stare at his little sister. Kael did the same and turned towards her as well. Then, as if he recalled something, his eyes turned golden. [Name: Unnamed] [Race: Cloud Dragon] [Rank: Mythical] [Age: 0 Days] [Level: 1] [Strength: 10] [Agility: 16] [Speed: 18] [Stamina: 12] [Defense: 8] [Mana: 25] [Intelligence: 9] [Charisma: 12] [Strengths: Intangible Form, High Mobility, Density Control] [Weaknesses: Fragile in Solid Form, Energy Dependency, Vulnerable to Strong Winds] ¡­ ''She is faster than Igni¡­'' Kael noticed. Soon, however, another question appeared in his head. ''How is she going to get stronger?'' Normally, a human grew because of his Bonds. As the Bonds leveled up and got stronger, the Humans grew with them. In his case, however, things were different. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was him who got stronger as he trained and learned new things, and together with him, Igni grew. ''Does this mean the experience I gain from leveling up now will be divided between the two of them?'' Kael wondered in his head. Honestly, he wanted to test that theory right now, but to gain experience, he either needed to kill or learn something new, both of those options didn''t seem possible at this moment. Kael continued to think, but then, "Nyuu¡­" The Cloud Dragon called out as she looked into his eyes. It seemed like she wanted attention. And the moment Kael noticed the look on her face, all his thoughts cleared up, and the only thing he could think about was to pamper her. It was almost as if she had done some sort of magic on him. ''Fuck it, I''ll know as time passes.'' Kael gave in as he shook his head and stopped thinking about it. He also noticed that the Dragon didn''t have a name yet and in his mind, that instantly became the priority. "I should name you now." "Nyuu!" The Cloud Dragon seemed to like this idea as her face brightened up, Kael hugged her even more tightly and the instant he felt her unbearably soft , cloud-like body again, a word came to his mind. "Cloud¡­ Clouds high in the air, above all impurities, Cirrus." Then, he stared at the Cloud Dragon and, "I''ll call you Cirri from now on." Kael declared and her eyes brightened in joy. "Nyu!!" "You like it?" "Nyu!!" Kael laughed at her reaction, as if the newborn understood what he meant, she nodded and unable to hold back any further, Kael hugged her even more tightly, rubbing his face with hers. "Nyu~" As if enjoying it, Cirri let out an adorable cry, slowly, Igni came and started patting her head with her paws, the Fire Dragon was being extremely careful with his little sister. "Nyu..." Under the two''s care, Cirri''s eyes turned heavy, then, she drifted into sleep. Kael smiled as he felt her slow, rhythmic breathing. She was so light, almost weightless, Kael was worried he might hurt her if he wasn''t careful, so he was especially gentle with her. Beside him, Igni continued to watch his sister, his tail moving left and right without stop. He was... mesmerized. That little life sleeping in front of him, he wanted to protect it with everything he had, and for that, he needed to get stronger. Even stronger than what he was right now. "Should we sleep as well?" Kael questioned as he glanced at Igni. "Kyu..." Igni nodded, keeping his voice low, not wanting to disturb his sleeping sister. Kael quickly layed on the bed with Cirri in his arms, Igni followed behind and lied down next to Cirri. Kael moved his hand over to Igni, rubbing his soft belly. "Kyu¡­" The Fire Dragon purred adorably. The warmth of Igni and the coolness of Cirri pushed Kael into the sink of extreme comfort, his eyelids grew heavy and with one last glance at the two dragons curled up beside him, Kael let himself sink into sleep. Chapter 87 - 87: Genesis of the Ancients "Hnh!" Kael''s eyes shot open. It was the vision again. That battle, his friend''s sacrifice, the wolf that went out of control, and those numerous system messages that appeared in front of him, it was all the same. Slowly, Kael sat up, resting his back on the bed''s headrest. Cirri and Igni were still beside him, sleeping peacefully. Kael observed them with a light smile for a while, then, he looked out of the window and realized that the sun was about to rise. He still had a few hours before he left the city. Kael closed his eyes, recalling everything he saw in the vision again. Honestly, there were too many questions in his head, especially related to the system messages. Why was the System Screen red? There were also some words written in a language he couldn''t understand. What was that language? Also, what did ''Unexpected Transformation Outside Of Established Parameters'' mean? Was it because the Future Kael used his ability on a beast that did not have Dragon Blood? Were ''Dragons'' the ''Established Parameters?'' If yes, then who set these parameters? And¡­ how was Future Kael able to surpass those limits? Also, what did ''Host''s Time Has Run Out, Complete Reward Cannot Be Granted'' mean? Did the System know Future Kael was about to die? And what was the Complete Reward? The more he thought about it, the more questions appeared in his mind. ''Haaahh... I need to stop thinking about it.'' Kael shook his head and cleared his mind. There was no point in thinking about it, especially when he knew nothing of the matter. For now, his focus was on something else. Something he had been wanting to try for a while now, and Kael believed that this was the perfect time for it. ''He used on a Frostfang Wolf and turned him into a Frostlord Fenrir, a Mythical Rank Beast from the legends.'' He thought inwardly, and then, a question popped up in his head. ''Can I do it as well¡­?'' Honestly, if it was just the energy flow, then he felt like it might be possible. After all, he had already learned it. ''There is no harm in trying.'' He muttered inwardly and, keeping his eyes closed, he recalled the energy flow the Future Kael used. Then, he activated , and just like Future Kael, he changed the energy flow. Maybe it was because Kael was used to meditating and moving mana inside his body, directing the energy flow didn''t feel very difficult. He copied the energy path the Future Kael had used in the vision to the dot as he moved the energy all around his body, and soon, he could feel it. The Energy of Genesis was transforming. Kael didn''t know what it was changing into and honestly, he didn''t care. To him, as long it was changing into something similar to what he sensed in the Vision, he would be satisfied. And as if acknowledging his actions, [ERROR! ERROR! ERROR!] A screen similar to the one he saw in the vision appeared in front of him. [System Error: Unexpected Energy Flow Outside the Established Parameters Detected!] [Processing.] [Adaptive Resp##%#$@@!!] And once again, that weird language was used. ''Is it a bug¡­?'' Kael wondered in his head. He, however, wasn''t given time to think this through as more and more screens appeared in front of him. [ERROR! ERROR! ERROR!] [A Similar Feat Has Been Achieved Before.] ''What¡­?'' Kael''s expression changed. [Analyzing Past Data.] [Data Match Found:] [Host: Kael Dragonborn.] ''Kael¡­ Dragonborn¡­?'' Kael was dumbfounded. [Previous Achievement Identified.] [Analyzing Connection Between The Two Feats.] [The True Essence of Kael Dragonborn Resonates with Kael Carter.] ''True Essence of what now¡­?'' Kael had no clue what was happening. [Identity Confirmed: Same Entity Across Time.] [Feat Repeated.] [True Reward is Being Calculated.] [Ding!] [Analysis Complete.] [Your feat has breached the threshold set by the Celestials.] ''Celestials...'' Kael noted the term used. Not that he was given time to. [A path unknown has now opened to you.] [Warning:] [The path you now walk is uncharted, reserved for those who surpass the limits. This is the road of the Transcendents¡ªa journey with no maps, no clear destination.] [The System will now adapt to the unknown path ahead.] [Evolving Host''s Talent according to his Path.] ''Evolving...? My Talent...?'' Kael couldn''t believe it. His talent was already as absurd as it could get, what do you mean by evolving? How could you evolve what is already the best? But the System thought differently. [Ding!] sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Talent Evolution Complete.] [Talent Evolution: Dragon Genesis -> Genesis of the Ancients.] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank -> EX Rank.] ''Genesis of the... Ancients?'' Kael frowned but... It wasn''t over yet. [Ding!] [Title Awarded: The One Who Broke The Limit.] [Title Effect: +25 to all attributes. The System acknowledges your ability to transcend established boundaries.] ''W-W-What¡­?'' Before Kael could even understand what had happened, he felt a sudden surge of energy in his body, instantly strengthening him to an absurd degree. His body felt rejuvenated and extremely strong. It was almost as if he was reborn and had shed all his impurities. Unable to hold back, Kael quickly brought up the System Screen, wanting to see his stats, and his eyes widened in astonishment. [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 20] [CE: 412/3400] [Talent: Dragon Genesis ¡ú Genesis of the Ancients] [Talent Rank: SSS Rank ¡ú EX Rank] [Strength: 52 ¡ú 77] [Agility: 53 ¡ú 78] [Speed: 50 ¡ú 75] [Stamina: 53 ¡ú 78] [Defense: 55 ¡ú 80] [Mana: 63 ¡ú 88] [Intelligence: 51 ¡ú 76] [Charisma: 50 ¡ú 75] ¡­ ''Holy shit¡­'' Kael couldn''t help but curse in his head. This¡­ this was broken! His overall strength had nearly risen by 50 percent! This was simply unprecedented! And what''s even better? He hadn''t even looked at the biggest change yet. SSS Rank Talent was already absurd in its own way; even a child knew that it was the highest of the highest ranks, the strongest there is. There was one rank that surpassed even the SSS Rank. A broken, special rank that exceeded the limits¡ª EX Rank. And now, Kael had an EX Ranked Talent. "So this was the Complete Reward, huh¡­" Kael got the answer to one of his questions. Then, a big smile appeared on his face and, "Let''s check it out, shall we?" He spoke as his eyes fell on his Talent''s Description. Chapter 88 - 88: Even stronger? "Let''s check it out, shall we?" Kael spoke with a big smile as his eyes fell on his Talent''s Description. [Talent Name: Genesis of the Ancients] [Talent Rank: EX Rank] [Description:] [An Exclusive Talent that grants the user the ability to awaken the Latent Bloodlines of any Beast, regardless of how faint or ancient these traces may be. Once awakened, the Beast traces back to its Strongest Ancestors and transforms into its True Form.] ¡­ [Talent Abilities:] [Ancient Awakening] [Description:] [The foundation of the Genesis of the Ancients. Awaken the ancient bloodlines of any beast, transforming it into its True Form with powers far beyond ordinary weakened beasts.] [Primordial Sense] [Description:] [Detects beasts or eggs with latent bloodlines of any ancient lineage within a 2-kilometer range. Automatically activates to guide you toward the target.] [Eye of the Ancients] [Description:] [A powerful ability that allows you to peek into any being''s or object''s secrets.] [Blood Bond of the Ancients] [Description:] [A unique ability that forges an unbreakable bond with the ancient creatures you awaken.] [Dominion of the Ancients] [Description:] [Your presence now carries the weight of ancient, forgotten powers. With your mere aura, you can bend the will of the world around you, suppressing those weaker than you and strengthening your allies.] [Elemental Harmony] [Description:] [Elements love you. You and your allies near you will experience reduced mana consumption and increased effectiveness of their spells and abilities.] [Primordial Endurance] [Description:] [The ancient energy flowing through you fortifies your body and mind. You have resistance to fatigue, and your stamina regenerates at an accelerated rate. The more extreme conditions you are in, the faster your stamina regenerates.] S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Immutable Presence] [Description:] [Your connection to ancient powers grants you an unshakable will. Allies in your presence show resistance to fear or manipulation.] [Cycle of Renewal] [Description:] [You and the Ancients you have awakened experience accelerated recovery from injuries and ailments.] ¡­ [EX Abilities:] [Ascendance of the Ancient] [Description:] [This powerful skill allows you to temporarily transform into an avatar of the Ancients you have awakened, gaining access to even their most powerful abilities.] [Ancient''s Call] [Description:] [An extraordinary ability that allows you to teleport to the Ancient Sanctum, a separate dimension where the Ancients once thrived. Within this realm, time flows differently, allowing you and your bonded beasts to train, battle, and grow stronger at an accelerated rate.] "¡­" Kael was overwhelmed. There were too many messages for him to read. However, before he could even read them all, one of his abilities activated. It was , and since the ability was similar to his , Kael quickly understood that it was pointing toward a Beast or an Egg around him. ''To think I went all around the market to find something useful, and now I can sense more than eight targets just from my room. It really helps when I don''t have to find Dragons, doesn''t it?'' Kael chuckled inwardly. However, the moment he glanced at the System Messages in front of him, his expression changed. [Ding!] [Primordial Fire Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] [Ding!] [Ancient Sky Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] "¡­" Kael froze. His ability¡­ the Beasts it was targeting were his own. "They¡­ can get stronger¡­?" Kael blinked, unable to believe what he was seeing. Igni and Cirri were already Mythical Rank Beasts, the strongest Rank there was. How could they get even stronger? Did it even make sense? ''Wait¡­'' Kael''s expression changed. ''Does it mean that a Rank above Mythical exists¡­?'' The moment Kael thought of this possibility, his thoughts froze as he glanced at his two adorable Dragons who were sleeping peacefully. But then, as if sensing his gaze and his messy state of mind, Igni''s eyelids trembled, and he woke up, staring at Kael with a groggy but worried look on his face. "Kyu¡­" He called out. Kael understood what he meant. "I am fine, Igni. You can go back to sleep." He smiled as he nodded toward the Dragon. The Dragon, however, nodded and then walked toward him with a sleepy look on his face. Understanding his thoughts and knowing what he wanted, Kael waited for him. The little thing, who was now a big brother, quickly walked toward him and fell on his lap, wanting a hug. Kael picked him up and hugged him like the most precious thing in the world. In an instant, his occupied mind calmed down, and he exhaled deeply. "Every time you sense my messy emotions, you come and hug me, instantly clearing my mind. Sometimes I think you do it on purpose so you can make sure I am actually fine." Kael chuckled. "Kyu¡­" Igni just purred lazily, not answering, and Kael laughed out loud. "It must be difficult to raise an incompetent father like me, eh?" "Kyu." Igni answered, and Kael, who understood him, laughed even more now. ''I can do it.'' That''s what the little Dragon was saying. "Yes, yes, you are doing a marvelous job." Kael nodded as he then rubbed Igni''s warm scales. Then suddenly, he asked a question, "Igni, do you wish to get even stronger?" The little Dragon glanced at Kael and tilted his head. He was confused. Even stronger? Him¡­? Did his father forget who he was? However, knowing that his father wouldn''t say this without thinking, Igni nodded. Yes, he wanted to get stronger. He wanted to get so strong that his father would never have to worry about anything anymore, and he could come out and play with his father as much as he wanted, no matter who was watching. Kael stared at Igni and nodded back. Then, he placed him on the bed and positioned his hand on top of his head. [Ding!] [Primordial Fire Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] The message appeared again, and Kael pressed ''Yes.'' Chapter 89 - 89: You got a lot stronger. [Ding!] [Primordial Fire Dragon Bloodline Detected] [Skill can be used.] [Would you like to use on the selected target?] [Y/N] The message appeared again, and Kael pressed ''Yes.'' As he did, he felt an energy surging into his body. It didn''t take him long to understand what this energy was. It was the Energy of Genesis. This time, however, this energy felt much purer and stronger. The energy moved inside his body in a specific pattern. Kael tried to remember the pattern. His focus, however, was currently on Igni. He was a little worried that something might happen to him. For now, however, he decided to trust the system, and a golden light much purer and brighter than before came out of his palm and enveloped Igni. Igni closed his eyes. "Kyu¡­" He let out a low voice as his body trembled. "Igni, are you alright?" Kael questioned in a hurried tone. The little dragon nodded slowly, barely opening his eyes. His body continued to tremble. He was in pain. And Kael, who could sense it, felt his heart ache. He wanted to stop in the middle, but fearing what consequences it might have, he didn''t do it. He could only trust the system. At the same time, he couldn''t help but curse himself in his mind. ''I should have experimented on some other beast first.'' That was a terrifying thought. Kael, however, didn''t care. The world could burn to smithereens, and as long as his Igni and Cirri were fine, he wouldn''t care. While more and more dangerous thoughts filled up his head, he noticed something. Igni''s smooth, red scales were becoming even redder and much more¡­ purer. They were being... enhanced. Igni was... changing. As a Fire Dragon, he was already born with an extremely strong bloodline, but now... he was becoming something... more. Crack Suddenly, Kael noticed a few cracks appearing on Igni''s enhanced scales. His little body trembled as the cracks became wider and wider before finally¡­ The scales fell on the bed. It was as if even after being enhanced, his changing bloodline wasn''t satisfied by these scales, and, new, bright shimmering red scales replaced the older ones. What Kael didn''t know was that while Igni was going through such changes, the entirety of Nerathis noticed a rise in temperature. The usually cold dawn felt hotter than an afternoon. Humans and beasts alike noticed the strange phenomenon, and when they left their dwellings and looked above, their eyes widened in surprise as they noticed that the sky had turned fiery red. "W-What is happening¡­?" A swordsman who was practising his sword early in the morning stuttered, unable to comprehend this phenomenon. It wasn''t just him. The strongest tamers and beasts, even those hidden in the shadows, all over Nerathis noticed it, yet¡­ None could comprehend it. They could only stare at it in absolute awe until finally, a few minutes later, the sky and the temperature returned to normal. Yes, Igni''s transformation was over. [Ding!] [Ancient Awakening completed] The system informed. Kael stared at Igni. His eyes turned golden, and the instant he saw his stats, his eyes widened in horror. [Name: Igni] [Race: Fire Dragon -> Primordial Fire Dragon] [Rank: Mythical -> Eternal] [Age: 19 Days] [Level: 20] [Strength: 84 -> 123] [Agility: 72 -> 116] [Speed: 77 -> 121] [Stamina: 98 -> 155] [Defense: 88 -> 130] [Mana: 110 -> 164] [Intelligence: 82 -> 150] [Charisma: 115 -> 183] [Strengths: Physical Power, Dragon Magic, Resilience, Early Flight Capability] [Weaknesses: Inexperience, Energy Dependency, Immature Flight Skills] ¡­ ''W-What¡­?'' Kael couldn''t believe his eyes. Igni¡­ He had completely surpassed Elira, a level 67 Court Mage, in every possible way. And he was only at level 20! This made no sense! "Father¡­" "Huh¡­?" Kael''s thoughts froze when he heard a voice. He looked around, the confusion on his face visible, but, "Father." Igni called out again, and the moment Kael realized it, a big smile appeared on his face. "Igni, you can speak now!" "Father." Igni called out again. "Yes, what is it?" Kael questioned excitedly. "Cirri is sleeping, Lower your voice." Igni spoke, his voice felt oddly mature, like an older brother''s. Kael turned silent, not knowing how to react. He was glad that Igni could speak now, but¡­ For some reason, he couldn''t look at Igni like he was the same, childish Dragon anymore. Kael tried to figure out the reason, but he couldn''t put his finger on it. Igni''s appearance hadn''t changed much, other than his scales now being much redder and smoother than before. He was still an extremely adorable baby, but¡­ Something about him felt¡­ distant. Something... Primordial. It was as if this little being understood the entire world. His very presence commanded respect. And Kael was right. Igni was now a Primordial Fire Dragon, the embodiment of the First Dragon created out of True Fire, a being who was destined to stand above the rest. A Being who didn''t just rule the Myths anymore, he was now a being who was supposed to become... Eternal. A being who commanded absolute authority. At least that was how it was for others, but for Kael? Well, Kael was an exception. "Father¡­" Igni called out again, and just like before, he fell on his lap. "...?" Kael froze, unable to react. Frowning that he wasn''t picked up yet, Igni glanced at Kael, "Father?" Once again, his eyes shined with that adorable innocence Kael couldn''t resist and, "Ahhhh, you can speak now~" He picked Igni up and hugged him as tightly as he could. "Was it painful? Were you hurt? Do you feel any pain anywhere right now? Are you alright? Do you feel any sort of discomfort?" Kael asked a bunch of questions as he thoroughly examined Igni''s body. A presence that commanded respect or whatever, all that could come when Kael was done examining his child. Igni, who was now at the receiving end of his father''s worries, nodded with a satisfied look on his face. Yes, that is it. He was a big brother now, but this didn''t mean he didn''t have to be pampered. Igni would get all the pampering he could get, for the rest of his life. "Father, I am fi-" "Shut up." Before Igni could say anything, Kael silenced him, and only once the dragon''s father was satisfied did he stop and place Igni back on his lap, rubbing his belly. Igni purred, snuggling close to Kael. "You got a lot stronger." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael spoke. "I will become even stronger." Igni replied confidently. Kael chuckled, then suddenly, he sensed movement around him and realized that after all the commotion, Cirri had woken up as well. Kael narrowed his eyes as he glanced at Cirri, and as if reading his mind, Igni shook his head, "Father, not her. She is a child." ''A 19-day-old shouldn''t be saying this, you know?'' Kael thought inwardly but didn''t say it out loud. "I don''t want her to get hurt." Igni spoke and sharing the same thought, Kael nodded. "Nyu¡­" Little Cirri finally opened her eyes and rubbed them with her small paws. Kael and Igni who saw that, couldn''t help but feel their hearts melt. "My Daughter is adorable." "My Sister is adorable." They spoke at the same time. As for Cirri, "Nyu?" She just tilted her head in confusion. Chapter 90 - 90: [Ancient’s Call] As Kael and Igni put the still-sleepy Cirri back to sleep, Kael turned towards Igni, placed him on his lap again and grinned. Igni could finally talk now. It was nothing short of a golden opportunity. There were so many things Kael wanted to ask and learn. Yes, most of the time, he could understand what Igni was trying to tell him because of their connection. That, however, had its limits. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He couldn''t have an actual conversation with him. Now, however, it was different. "Are you sure you are okay?" He questioned once again, just to be sure. Yes, he was that annoying kind of parent who only knew how to worry about his child. Even if he had a lot of questions, his worry for Igni still overpowered everything else. "Yes, Father, I am more than fine. I feel¡­ different." Igni nodded, rubbing his head on Kael''s hand while Kael rubbed his bulging belly. "Different? Different how?" Kael questioned. "My connection with Flames is much stronger than before. Earlier, I used Dragon Magic to conjure flames, but¡­ Now, it feels as if Flames themselves would bow down to me." Igni answered, and Kael''s expression changed. Too many things that he had no clue about were said. "Wait, wait, wait, I am lost. This was actually what I wanted to talk to you about. How did you cast magic before? What is this Dragon Magic you mentioned?" Kael questioned. He still hadn''t forgotten how Igni created Fireball for the very first time. That day, Kael figured out that the little Dragon directly influenced the Fire Elements and moved them as he wished. However, when he tried to copy it, he failed. Back then, Kael thought it was because the number of Fire Elements he could control was extremely limited. However, even now, when he could control a higher number of Elements, he couldn''t even form a little spark, let alone a Fireball. Something was missing. Kael just didn''t know what it was. "Dragon Magic is a Magic limited to us Dragons. It allows us to interact with Elementals with our thoughts alone, making it possible to conjure magic with minimal Mana." Igni answered intelligently. "So¡­ I cannot use it?" "A Human should not be able to." Igni shook his head. Kael sighed in disappointment. "What about now? You said you feel different now. What changed? What do you mean when you say the Flames bow down to you?" "It just became¡­ easier for me to control flames. While I still use Dragon Magic to conjure Flames, it has become much easier for me, as if the Flames themselves are waiting for me to command them." "So that means now you need even less Mana to cast stronger spells?" "That is correct." Kael was awed when he heard those words. "Igni, you are getting more and more broken." "Broken?" Igni tilted his head as he stared at his father. Kael just chuckled as he playfully rubbed Igni''s snout and smiled, "I am saying you are getting stronger and stronger. It is becoming difficult for me to catch up." "I will make sure you never catch up. I will become strong enough to protect Father." "Will you now?" Kael chuckled. "You know¡­" Then, his expression changed as he stared at the screen in front of him. [Ancient''s Call] "I might have a way to get stronger as well." One of his Talent Abilities he awakened today, or the ''EX Ability'' as the System calls it. Kael stared at the ability for a while, and its description became more detailed. [Ancient''s Call] [Description:] [An extraordinary ability that allows you to teleport to the Ancient Sanctum, a separate dimension where the Ancients once thrived. Within this realm, time flows differently, allowing you and your bonded beasts to train, battle, and grow stronger at an accelerated rate.] [Effect:] [Randomized Entry: Each time you activate this ability, you are teleported to a different domain within the Ancient Sanctum, influenced by the Ancients you have awakened.] [Trial of the Ancestors: You and your Bonds will engage in battles against echoes of powerful ancient creatures to hone your abilities and unlock deeper potential.] [Time Distortion: Time moves differently in the Ancient Sanctum. One hour inside the Sanctum equals only six minutes in Nerathis.] [Deathless Domain: Every time you leave the Sanctum, your injuries and those of your Bonds are healed. You and your Bonds cannot die inside the Sanctum.] [Cooldown: 24 Hours] ''Should I try it¡­?'' Kael thought inwardly. The ''Deathless Domain'' attracted his attention. It was a place where he could go all out without worrying about anything. A temptation Kael couldn''t ignore, So¡­ He decided to use this ability, and the moment he thought about it, Whoosh A crack appeared in front of him. Yes, a crack, in the very space in front of him. "Father...?" Igni frowned, even Kael was surprised. The crack was becoming wider and wider. It sparkled like a soap bubble, all rainbow colors and shifting light. It looked like a doorway made of gems, with emerald, blue, and gold swirling inside. It glowed softly, as if tempting Kael to walk in. ''Is this... a portal?'' Kael wondered. ''Am I supposed to walk through it?'' "Father, be careful." Igni muttered in a tone much more serious than before. The Little Dragon even freed himself from Kael''s embrace and stood in front of him, true to his words, he was protecting his Father. "Igni?" Kael called out with a frown, he wanted to know what the Dragon was thinking or... sensing. "Father, the energy coming from the other side¡­ It''s unfamiliar." "Unfamiliar?" "Yes, I have never sensed something like this¡­ It''s¡­ not from Nerathis." "You can tell that?" Kael was taken aback. Hearing a strange question, the Little Dragon turned around, somewhat understanding the situation. For this thing to appear just when his father talked about getting stronger... "Father, do you know what this is?" "I..." Kael thought about it for a moment. A Portal suddenly forming in front of him... all of this was still too new for him. But, if he thought about it, everything around here was new to him. He was talking to a literal Dragon for God''s sake! "I do." Kael nodded, then, a wide grin appeared on his face and, "It is our new playground." "A playground?" Igni tilted his head in confusion. "That is correct. A playground where you do not have to hide. A place where you can go all out, a place where we can face different challenges and grow stronger together." "Together with Father¡­?" "Exactly." Kael''s smile widened and, "Do you wish to try?" "I do." Igni nodded, his amber eyes shining brightly, unable to hide his curiosity and excitement. Igni, however, wasn''t the only one excited for it. "Nyu!!" Cirri, who had woken up again, cheered as well. She had absolutely no clue what was happening in front of her. However, seeing her father and brother smiling, she joined them as well. Whatever they were going to do, she was going to follow! Or at least¡­ that''s what she thought¡­ "No, not you." Kael quickly picked the little thing up and placed her back inside the Sanctuary. Then, he turned towards the Fire Dragon and, "Let''s go, Igni." "Yes, Father." Chapter 91 - 91: [The Infernal Crucible] "Uggh¡­ My Head¡­" Kael groaned as he knelt on the ground in pain. "It is alright, Father. Spatial movement usually has such an effect on one''s body." Igni spoke in a comforting tone, approaching his father. Kael stared at the Dragon and, "How do you know that?" "I¡­ just do?" Igni tilted his head, unable to come up with a better answer. In the end, Kael ignored it. Igni knew things that the child shouldn''t. He shouldn''t look at him using human standards. ''I guess Dragons are just built different, huh?'' "What about you? Are you alright? You don''t feel any discomfort, do you?" "I am alright, Father." Igni nodded as he looked around. Kael did the same. The Portal behind them had already closed and in front of them, there was an entirely different world, one they had never seen before. Reddish-brown hard ground, with rivers of lava flowing all over the place, immense heat, eerie crimson sky, and volcanoes all over the place. It was hell. [Ding!] And suddenly, a Screen appeared in front of Kael. [The Infernal Crucible] [Mission: Reignite the Heart of Crucible] [Mission Description] [The balance of the Infernal Crucible is crumbling, and the beasts within are losing control, turning into mindless entities of destruction. Reignite the Heart of Crucible before it collapses into chaos.] [Time Limit: The Infernal Crucible is unstable. In 24 Hours, the entire realm will be swallowed by flames.] [Completion Reward: Baptism of Eternal Flames] "What the¡­" Kael was taken aback. He wasn''t expecting there to be a mission as soon as he came here. "What is Baptism of Eternal Flames?" Yes, there were many things related to the mission that he didn''t understand, but his first focus was on the reward. "Are they going to bathe me in flam¡ª Aaaahhh!!" However, before Kael could think too much about this, he was suddenly tossed away by Igni. "Uggghh." Kael groaned in pain as he fell on the hot ground a few meters away from where he stood. He then glanced at Igni, who was flying towards him. "Igni, what are y¡ª" Whoosh Before he could even complete his question, the ground he was standing on was consumed by flames and collapsed, joining the river of molten lava around it. "Holy¡­" Kael was dumbfounded. "Father, this realm is unstable. We cannot stay in one place, else we will be consumed by the flames." Igni informed as he landed right next to Kael. "T-Thank you." Kael nodded as he stood up and patted Igni''s head. The Dragon, however, was alert, as if worried that something might hurt his father. "What do we do?" Igni questioned. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His father was the one who brought him to this place, so he must know something, correct? And Kael did. "That way." Kael pointed in the northeast direction, towards the largest volcano of this realm. "We need to go there." Kael spoke with a solemn look on his face. Yes, according to the system, that was the ''Heart of Crucible'' that he needed to reignite. Now, what the hell did that mean? He had absolutely no clue, but since they were already here, he might as well explore, no? With that line of thought, Kael prepared his mind. He and Igni rushed towards the Crucible. The plan was simple: go to the Crucible, understand what reigniting its heart meant, do that, get the rewards, and boom, get out of this place. But¡­ Things weren''t that easy¡­ "Grrr¡­" While Kael and Igni ran towards the Crucible, their eyes fell on them. A pack of wolves who seemed like they were forged of fire itself. Their charred, obsidian fur contained the molten lava that flowed under their skin. Their eyes were searing orange, filled with an unnatural intelligence. Their jagged teeth and sharp claws seemed to have the power to burn and tear anything effortlessly. Inside their bodies, Kael also noticed a core that shined brightly, as if it powered up their entire bodies. All in all, these beasts were scary. Even Kael, who had faced corrupted beasts before, seemed intimidated by them. But¡­ To a Dragon, it didn''t matter. Whoosh A sea of flames appeared around the pack of wolves, engulfing them without giving them a chance to resist whatsoever. "Let''s go, Father." Igni spoke as he continued to run. He would have preferred if Kael sat on top of him as they flew towards the Crucible, but he knew his body was still too small for that, so they just ran. Kael followed behind the Dragon, but then, "Igni, stop." Kael ordered as his eyes turned golden. He was staring at the sea of flames Igni had summoned, and a few system screens appeared right in front of him. Screens that shouldn''t be appearing, after all, the wolves should be dead, no? They weren''t. And Kael quickly understood the reason why. [Name: Unnamed] [Race: Eternal Flame Wolf] [Level: 32] [Strength: 92] [Agility: 95] [Speed: 100] [Stamina: 88] [Defense: 80] [Mana: 50] [Intelligence: 28] [Charisma: 18] [Strengths: Flame Aura, Ember Dash, Scorch Claws, Fire Immunity] [Weaknesses: Weak to Water, Core] ¡­ "Fire Immunity¡­? That is just absurd." Kael complained as suddenly, the pack of wolves walked out of the sea of flames without taking any damage whatsoever, surprising even Igni. Kael''s face turned solemn as well. These wolves were even stronger than the Roc he faced yesterday, and¡­ unlike the Roc, who was alone, there were tens of these wolves here. ''Why can''t I fight enemies whose stats are at least comparable to mine¡­?'' Kael groaned in his heart as he saw the staggering difference between his and the beasts'' strength. Whoosh Igni summoned another sea of flames, but just like before, it didn''t work. "Igni, flames won''t work on them." Kael warned. The Dragon, however, didn''t seem to like that some beings dared to resist him. So¡­ He dashed right into the pack and clashed with the wolf that stood at the very front. BOOM The wolf exploded into flames, perishing in an instant. "It doesn''t matter." Igni spoke, his voice seemed much colder and stronger than before. "¡­" Kael stared at the scene in front of him in silence. ''Why do I feel like I was only summoned to Nerathis to bring out this guy?'' Chapter 92 - 92: Fighting like a Pack Should. ''Why do I feel like I was only summoned to Nerathis to bring out this guy?'' Kael thought inwardly as he sat on the warm ground, staring at the scene in front of him without a change in his expression. BOOM BOOM BOOM "Hahaha~ Father! These things aren''t that strong after all!" Igni''s laughter echoed throughout the battlefield as the little Dragon continued to attack the wolves like there was no tomorrow. Kael''s mouth twitched at those words, any one of those wolves was stronger than him, but for the Dragon, they were nothing more than playthings. Igni was stronger and faster than them, so the little guy dashed at these wolves, headbutted them, and the impact from their collision would be so strong that the poor wolves would explode into flames. Yes, that was it. That was how the Dragon was completing the Mission, all on his own. Any one-on-one battle lasted mere seconds¡ªIgni was simply on another level. "Hahaha~ Father, this is fun!!" Igni laughed like a child. For him, this was truly like a playground, just like Kael said A playground where the Dragon doesn''t have to hide at all. "Hahaha~" Igni continued to laugh. Kael, who saw that, couldn''t help but smile. Seeing the Dragon fully expressing his emotions filled his heart with joy and comfort. Rumble Rumble He then felt the ground beneath him tremble, he quickly recalled Igni''s words and got away from the place. He also glanced at Igni, and seeing how the Dragon was continuously targeting enemies farther and farther away from him so as to not stay in one place, he couldn''t help but be even prouder. His child was much smarter than he was. Just as Kael got away, Whoosh The ground he was sitting on was engulfed in flames. Kael stared at the fountain of Lava that consumed the land and raised his eyebrow. "Still as scary as before." He commented as he turned back towards Igni, and suddenly, he realized that Igni had gotten too far from him. To the point where he could barely see him. What''s worse? Kael was alone. All the wolves, who should have attacked both him and Igni, were targeting Igni and¡­ The Dragon was surrounded. Igni was strong, yes, but he was still a 19-day-old child. He had next to no battle experience and was used to dealing with everything using his flames. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, now that the wolves he was facing were completely immune to his flames, for the first time, Igni was facing beings who could be considered to be a ''challenge.'' Of course, the Dragon was still stronger, even without his flames, but¡­ With tens of wolves surrounding him, combined with his small, undeveloped body that made it difficult for him to use all his strength, Igni had no clue how to deal with the situation. Kael also noticed that the Dragon wasn''t dashing at the wolves anymore. He was forced to stay in one place as the wolves surrounded him, not giving him the momentum he needed to kill them. "Igni! Come back!" Kael shouted. However, maybe because of the constant eruptions of flames all over the place, or the growls of wolves that surrounded Igni, the Dragon couldn''t hear him. The little Dragon already had too much on his plate. Tens of wolves, thrice his size, were after him. "Igni!" Kael panicked. Without thinking, he activated and launched himself forward, wanting to close the distance and protect his child. In 8 seconds, he could finally see Igni with his now-enhanced vision, and what he saw made him widen his eyes in absolute horror. "F-Father¡­" Igni''s shimmering red scale that protected his neck had fallen to the ground. The skin beneath it was charred, and there was a deep cut on it. Within a few more attacks, his¡­ his head would fall. Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump "IGNIIIIII!!!" Kael screamed as he rushed towards his child, his heart shook to its core. Everything disappeared from his vision, and only Igni remained. His legs moved on their own, displaying speed that shouldn''t be possible with his current stats. Red veins appeared all over his face, his eyes turned draconic golden, and his face distorted, "RRROOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRRRRR!!!!" He roared. Roar of Dominion. But¡­ It had absolutely no effect on the wolves. These wolves were much stronger than those corrupted beasts with no willpower or intelligence. All this while, they weren''t just being easy targets for the Dragon to crush. They were acting like a pack should. They were luring the Dragon deep into their territory and were constantly targeting his neck to the point the scale protecting it couldn''t take it anymore and fell off. Once the last protection was gone, the wolves quickly surrounded the Dragon, and now¡­ The pack was prepared to feast on their prey. Yes, the wolves were intelligent. Everything went just as they planned. Even a Dragon was completely helpless in front of them, but¡­ "IGNIIIII!!!!" There was one being the wolves didn''t consider in their equation. A human they deemed too weak to even worry about barged into their pack. With his arm now covered with draconic scales, he grabbed their heads and crushed them before throwing them away. "IGNII!!!" Kael called desperately as he continued to rush towards Igni, completely ignoring his own burnt skin and torn flesh all over his body because of the wolves'' attacks. It was as if his mind couldn''t even register the pain his own body was going through. He only cared about one thing, and that was to get close to his child. By now, the wolves understood that Kael wasn''t someone they could ignore either, and more wolves rushed towards him. Kael continued to hurry his way through the pack of wolves, completely disregarding his injuries no matter how severe they were. His eyes burned with rage and desperation. But then¡­ His arm, which was covered in draconic scales, turned back to normal, and... He lost his strength. ''W-What...?'' At this moment, Kael was grabbing one of the wolves'' heads, trying to crush it. However, with his now meagre strength, that wasn''t possible. Rather, "AAAAAAUUUUUUUU!!" The wolf howled in anger and, Tore Kael''s arm off. "Huh¡­?" Kael''s widened his eyes when he realized what had happened, and soon¡­ "AAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!" The pain kicked in. Chapter 93 - 93: IGNIIIIIII—ROOAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR!!! "Huh¡­?" The world around Kael slowed down as he saw the wolf tearing his arm off, blood sprawled all over the place, and finally, The pain kicked in. "AAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!" He screamed in absolute agony as he lost his balance and fell on the ground. However, even when he fell, even when he was in pain so agonizing that he had never felt something like this before, his eyes were on his child, who was still surrounded. Because Kael had attracted the aggro, the pressure on Igni had reduced, allowing the little dragon to continue fighting. Even if he couldn''t tackle the enemies because of the lack of space, he still grabbed them by his jaw and cut them in half. It was a sight that made Kael smile despite going through the hellish pain of having his arm chopped off and having four flaming wolves stepping over him, prepared to feast on him. Soon, however, Kael''s face paled in horror as he noticed Igni, who had now turned towards him. "FATHER!" The dragon screamed, and that little loss of focus allowed one of the wolves to tackle the dragon. Igni lost his balance and fell, allowing the wolves to pounce on him while he was in no state to defend himself. "IGNIIIIIII¡ªROOAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR!!!" Kael screamed, his voice turning somewhat¡­ demonic? It was as if multiple voices screamed at the same time. The very air trembled, and suddenly, something happened. His remaining arm dug into the ground, and claws formed at his fingertips. His body convulsed, his flesh reformed. His missing arm regrew, but it wasn''t made of flesh, it was made of flames. His tattered clothes burned away, revealing shimmering red scales that pulsated with an unknown power¡­ something¡­ Primordial. Crack Crack And this wasn''t the end. The bones on his back deformed and suddenly, Flap Two massive, shimmering red, draconic wings came out of his shoulder blades. His eyes turned draconic golden as a part of his face was covered with scales similar to what had covered all his body. Intimidated by his aura, the wolves froze. Flap Kael flapped his wings and hovered in the air. Then, he dashed towards Igni, his speed so absurdly fast that let alone the wolves, even Igni couldn''t react to it. His massive wings cut all the wolves in front of him in half. Within a mere second, Kael had killed around fifteen wolves, and this was when killing these beasts wasn''t even his goal, He just wanted to get close to his child. "Igni¡­" He called out, his voice hoarse. His eyes, however, were filled with the same, gentle and overwhelming love for his child. "Igni¡­" He called out again as tears welled around the edges of his eyes, his heart racing quickly. "Grrr¡­" The wolves who once stood around Igni growled nervously, unsure whether they should attack this ''being'' in front of them. They could sense it. He was too strong. And what''s worse? They couldn''t sense any weaknesses they could take advantage of. Whoosh Then suddenly, as if he just noticed their presence now, Kael''s three-meter-long tail moved like a whip, slicing all these wolves in two. All this while, he never once looked away from his child. "Father¡­?" Igni called out, his weak voice was unable to hide his confusion. But then, [Time Remaining: 2 Seconds.] Kael saw a message and, Flap He flapped his wings and flew into the air at a speed he didn''t even think was possible. Two seconds, however, was not a very long time, and soon, his massive crimson wings flickered out of existence. Just like the wings, his scales and tail melted away into specks of glowing dust. The endless energy that had surged within his body a few moments ago now abandoned him, leaving behind nothing but exhaustion. Like a rocket that had lost its fuel, the momentum carried him forward, but¡­ he was falling. What''s worse? His earlier injuries resurged, and his muscles gave out, unwilling to move even a little. Even in this situation, however, Kael used all his remaining strength to roll mid-air, keeping Igni on his chest and curling inwardly, preparing for the fall. Then, Boom His back slammed against the ground. The sheer force of the landing sent him skidding across the terrain. The warm, crusty earth ripped his flesh apart, tearing open wounds across his back as sharp rocks and debris cut into him. Blood splattered behind him, painting the earth with crimson streaks. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Aaggghhhhhhh!!!" It was agonizing, but Kael didn''t let go. Even as his body was dragged, even as his muscles screamed for release, even as the sheer force of everything threatened to tear him apart, Kael tightened his grip around Igni. His only remaining arm, already weak and trembling, was wrapped around the small dragon like he was everything he had. His body screamed in protest, but Kael didn''t allow himself to rotate and let Igni be hurt. He would bear everything on his own. That was his final resolve, his final stubbornness. And finally, It ended. His broken body came to a halt. The world around him finally stopped moving, but¡­ Kael had nothing left. He lay on the ground, his chest rising and falling as he breathed heavily, his vision blurred. Every single part of his body was in pain, there was blood all around him, the flesh on his back was pretty much gone, his bones were visible, his nerves seared with unbearable agony, but even then¡­ There was a stubborn smile on his face. "Igni¡­" He called out. His voice was extremely weak, as if he was barely holding on. "Father¡­" The dragon wasn''t in any better condition either. He was crying, his voice was broken and his face was covered with tears. He was hurt as well, there were injuries all over his body. After all, he was surrounded by more than twenty wolves. The dragon, however, wasn''t crying because of his injuries. He was crying because of his father''s condition. He was blaming himself. "Father, I am sorry! I am so sorry! I was a fool! I shouldn''t hav¡ª" "Igni¡­" Kael called out, making Igni stop. He then finally closed his heavy eyes and, "You did well¡­" Kael spoke as suddenly, Whoosh Fountain of Lava erupted from the ground and consumed both of them. Chapter 94 - 94: [Ascendance of the Ancient] "AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!" Kael screeched in unbearable agony as flames consumed him. He tried his best to cover his Igni with his weak arm, but there was only so much he could do when there were flames all around him. It was unbearable. His nerves screamed, bones cracked under the heat, and his vision blurred. It was the worst kind of torture and he wanted nothing more than to die and let this end right this instant. But then¡­ Just as he wished. Everything stopped. It was unnatural. The pain didn''t fade away, or decrease, it simply... ceased to exist. Like something or someone had severed Kael''s very connection to reality itself. Confused, he tried opening his eyes and surprisingly¡­ he succeeded. Then, he saw it. A ceiling. A ceiling he recognized. Kael looked around and realized he was back in the room the City Lord had provided him. Very quickly he glanced at his arm that was ripped off and his expression changed, it was back. It wasn''t just his arm, all his injuries had healed, returning to how it was before, as if it never existed in the first place. "Father!" Igni shouted as he jumped towards him, snuggling into him as tightly as the little Dragon could. "Father, I am sorry! It was my fault! I promise I will never do that aga-" "Igni!" Kael raised his voice as he sat up. With his back resting on the headrest, he grabbed Igni and forced him to look at him. The Dragon was crying. It was the first time Kael had seen his moist eyes and face wet with his tears. His heart shuddered as he felt a strange pain in his throat. He quickly wiped those tears away and cleaned his face. "Igni, you did nothing wro-" However, before Kael could say much, Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Nyuu!!" Another Dragon fell on top of him and, "Nyuuuu!!!" She started crying as well. Yes, Cirri had seen everything from the Sanctuary. She saw how her big brother and father got hurt. She wanted to come out and help them, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t leave the Sanctuary. She tried to run to them, but¡ª Bang She crashed into an invisible barrier, her small body bouncing backwards. She stumbled, then lunged forward again, her little claws scratching against the unseen wall, but nothing happened. No crack, no ripple, not even a shimmer. "Nyuuuu!!" She screamed, but it was as if no one heard her. Hot, frustrated tears blurred her vision as she curled up, trembling. And when she saw the flames engulfing her father and brother, "Nyuuu!!" She cried even louder as she continued to slam into the unknown wall, trying to leave. And finally, she succeeded. And when she did, she appeared next to her father and¡­ She started crying, much more loudly than before. "Cirri, everything''s alright. We are fine." Kael quickly grabbed his daughter and wiped her tears as well. The Dragon, however, didn''t stop, and Kael helplessly placed her on his chest. "Cirri, everything''s fine. We are all here. Nothing happened. Both me and your brother are fine, look." Kael continued. He had no idea that it was so difficult to take care of crying dragons, especially when there were two of them. But then, "Yes, Cirri¡­ We are fine." Igni spoke in a low voice as well, his paws gently patting Cirri''s head. The Fire Dragon stopped acting like a little child and became the big brother. Cirri stared at her brother with her big moist eyes. Igni continued to pat her head and nodded at her. "We are fine, Cirri." He spoke in an oddly mature and reassuring tone, even if his heart was heavy with guilt, in front of his little sister, he couldn''t cry. He was supposed to protect her. Kael started patting Cirri''s back as well, comforting her as much as he could until the Dragon closed her eyes and entered the dreamland, exhausted from all the crying. "She really likes to sleep, doesn''t she?" Kael chuckled lightly as he felt Cirri''s rhythmic breathing. The little Dragon still sniffed from time to time, but other than that, it was all okay. "Father¡­ I apologize." Igni spoke in a solemn tone, his eyes welled with tears again. "Igni, yo-" "No, Father. I was wrong. I became arrogant and fell right into their trap. It wouldn''t have happened if I had thought things through. You were then forced to use all your abilities and put yourself in danger in order to protect me. I should be the one protecting you, yet I-" "Heh." At those words, Kael laughed. "You are just 19 days old, my little Dragon. You are supposed to have fun. Leave all these things to me. Don''t underestimate your father, okay? I am a lot stronger than you think." Kael smiled reassuringly, and Igni finally recalled something. "Yes! Father, what did you do back then!? What happened to you!? It felt like you became¡­ me?" Igni wasn''t sure how to put his thoughts into words. At his reaction, Kael smiled. Then, his eyes fell on another one of his EX Abilities. [Ascendance of the Ancient] [Description:] [This powerful skill allows you to temporarily transform into an avatar of the Ancients you have awakened, gaining access to even their most powerful abilities.] [Effects:] [Partial Transformation: Your body partially takes on the traits of the awakened Ancient, your attacks gain a part of the Ancient''s unique abilities.] [Overwhelming Power Surge: All attributes (Strength, Agility, Speed, Stamina, Defense, Mana, Intelligence, Charisma) increase drastically, scaling based on the strength of the Ancient you are channeling.] [Unbreakable Dominance: Your aura exudes the raw majesty of the Ancients, suppressing enemies of lower rank and empowering your bonded beasts. Nearby allies gain a morale boost and slight resistance to elemental damage.] [Instinctive Combat Mastery: You temporarily inherit the combat instincts of the Ancient, allowing you to move, react, and fight with the expertise of an age-old being. Removes hesitation and enhances battle awareness.] [Duration: 10 seconds] [Cooldown: 24 Hours] ¡­ "Didn''t I tell you? Your father is a lot stronger than you think." "But I still killed more wolves than you." Igni pouted. "Oh? So you have started lying now, huh?" "I¡­" The Dragon lowered his head. "I-I would have killed more if I was a grown-up like you." "Is that so¡­?" Kael chuckled as he tightened his hug around the Fire Dragon. Feeling Kael''s comforting presence, Igni closed his eyes as well. Yes, even the ever-so-excited Dragon was now tired. He had been through a lot today. Kael, who now had two Dragons sleeping in his arms, heaved a sigh. Seeing them crying broke him. It was as if a foreign force was tearing him apart. It felt even worse than what happened before. ''Ah, fuck.'' He cursed in his head. ''I really am turning into a sucker, huh¡­ I hate seeing them cry more than my own death.'' He chuckled self-deprecatingly. He had just died. He had lost his arm, he had bite and burnt marks all over his body, he was consumed by flames and burned alive, an experience so painful that if it was before, he would still be trembling, unable to even function properly, But now¡­ Instead of shaking in fear and helplessness¡­ He was glad his Dragons were with him. ''Heh.'' Kael laughed, staring at his children who were sleeping on top of him comfortably and, ''They aren''t the only ones who calm down in my presence huh¡­?'' With that thought, Kael slowly closed his eyes and drifted into sleep. Chapter 95 - 95: Lavinia Dragonborn "Hero Kael, are you sure you will be leaving? I assure you, our city has a lot to offer. The people here will love it if yo¡ª" "No, Lord Sylas." S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael shook his head. "As much as we would like to stay, I need to return and continue my training. This test made me realize that I still have a lot to learn." He explained politely. Aria and the other two women who heard his words rolled their eyes. A lot to learn? He realized that from this test? How absurd. None of them could see any possible way anyone else could have done a better job in the test. Honestly, if it were up to them, they would evaluate Kael''s performance as absolute perfection. And the good part? It was indeed up to them. Yes, they weren''t supposed to say this, but together with being Kael''s allies in this test, they were also his evaluators. After the test, they were supposed to personally report to Marshal Therian and rate the Hero''s performance. The women had made up their minds to make sure everyone in the kingdom learned about how truly exceptional the Hero really was. The three of them were extremely excited to return, to the point where even Aria, who usually would never wish to leave this city¡ªespecially when the City Lord himself was catering to them¡ªwanted to leave. "Kieran." Suddenly, Kael called out, and a shadowy figure appeared in front of him. "There is no point in hiding anymore. Join us." "Hero Kael, bu¡ª" "Join us." Kael ordered. "As you command." Kieran bowed his head. "I''ll prepare a mount for Lord Kieran." Sylas spoke as he ordered his servant to prepare everything. Kael nodded in gratitude, and 30 minutes later, after saying his goodbyes to the City Lord and his family, Kael finally left the city. From Mistvale City, the capital was only 13 hours away. Adding two stops, it took them 15 hours to reach the capital, and by 9 at night, Kael was in his room. "Haaahh¡­" He jumped on his bed, tired. It wasn''t the carriage ride that was tiring; it was all the needless formalities he had to go through when he returned. "Igni, Cirri." He called out, wanting to see his children, but, ''Father, someone''s coming.'' Igni informed. ''Huh?'' Kael frowned, and a minute later, he heard a knock. It was Elira. Kael opened the door, and seeing the Court Mage, he smiled. "Missed me so much that you couldn''t wait to see me?" "Just wanted to confirm if you were dead or not." The woman spoke as she walked into the room as if she owned the place. Kael didn''t mind it either and laughed as he closed the doors. Then, once he turned towards Elira, he noticed seven circles that had formed in front of her palm. She was activating a spell. His expression changed, and he quickly prepared himself for anything that was about to happen, then suddenly, he noticed a translucent, almost transparent barrier forming around them. "It is cute that you think you can do anything against me if I wanted to harm you." Elira laughed, her playful eyes staring at the Hero. "Don''t think too much. I am just making sure no one''s eavesdropping." She chuckled. Kael, on the other hand, didn''t seem to like the situation very much. He was already on edge after everything Tobias told him and what happened in the Infernal Crucible and the woman''s actions confused him even further. Then suddenly, Elira handed him a painting. Kael frowned, he had no clue what she was thinking, however, when his eyes fell on the painting, or the portrait Elira gave him, his expression changed. It was a portrait of a woman Kael recognized instantly. The woman he saw in the vision. In the portrait, the woman seemed much happier, wearing much better clothes and having a cleaner face compared to the dirt-covered one Kael saw in the vision, but even then, he recognized her almost unnatural beauty in an instant. "Lavinia Dragonborn." Elira mentioned a name. This, however, didn''t ease Kael''s confusion; it made it worse. "It is the name of the person you have been trying to look into." The Court Mage smiled. "What do you mean? I have no clue who she is." Kael narrowed his eyes. Elira, however, just chuckled. "Let''s skip the formalities, Kael. You should know me enough by now to know that your tricks will not work on me." Elira chuckled, looking into Kael''s eyes. "I remember how you asked me about purple hair and purple eyes back then. The way you have been scouring through the library, reading books related to Drakthar royalty¡ªthat hasn''t gone unnoticed either. It is as if you are trying to find someone." The mage''s smile then widened. "And you only find those who aren''t here." Kael''s expression changed when he heard those words. Elira walked towards his bed and sat down. "For a long time, I thought I was overthinking it. After all, you were only summoned here two few weeks ago; you barely have time to fend for yourself. What would you possibly know about anything? But¡­ Your reaction to that painting today gave you away." Elira turned towards Kael again and, "You recognized her, didn''t you?" "I was just taken aback by how beautiful she is." Kael answered, and Elira nodded. "Makes sense. You won''t be the first one to think that. She was once known to be the most beautiful woman in all Nerathis. It is very natural to be attracted to her, but¡­ If that was the case, Why was your first reaction to my words ''I have no clue who she is'' instead of asking more about the beautiful woman you just saw? You were being quite defensive, almost as if you were trying to hide something." The mage smiled. Kael, however, just blankly stared at the mage and, "Woman, I have no clue what you are on about. Your words don''t even make sense." "They don''t?" Elira tilted her head, then suddenly, she just shrugged and patted the spot next to her. "Come sit here. I have a story I wish to tell you. A story you might find very interesting." Chapter 96 - 96: The Princesss Tale. "Come sit here, I have a story I wish to tell you. A story you might find very interesting." Elira spoke as she patted on the spot next to her. "I have no clue what you are thinking." Kael muttered. "Whaat? It''s nothing. I just want to tell you a story, why are you being so defensive? It looks suspicious, you know?" "¡­" Kael stared at the woman in silence. Then, he just sighed and sat next to her. Elira''s smile widened and then, she started. "So this is the story about a beautiful Princess, the Flower of her Kingdom, a girl loved by all. A girl who always answered with a smile, respected a noble and a servant alike, a girl who wasn''t just beautiful from outside, her heart was even more beautiful." "Sounds like a fantasy." Kael commented. "A fantasy indeed." Elira nodded with a smile before she continued her story. "The Princess was perfect in every way, she was cheerful, respectful, beautiful, and talented. So talented that every time the Princess revealed her strength, she was stronger. She was excellence incarnate, Perfect in everything she did, her magic was so wonderful that even the most experienced mages raised their hands in defeat when placed against her, and every single time, she smiled at her opponents and thanked them for going easy on her, instantly flushing out any frustration or resentment they might have had." Elira chuckled and, "Honestly, it wouldn''t be wrong to say that the Princess had everyone wrapped around her fingers." "Sounds too perfect to be true." Kael was sceptical. Especially now, when he was in a position where he doubted everything he saw or heard about. Elira nodded at his words again, "Indeed, just like you say, it was too perfect to be true. The Princess was too perfect to be true, so much that no one noticed her dark side." "Dark side¡­?" Kael narrowed his eyes. "She became Corrupted." "Corrupted?" Kael frowned at those words. He had no clue what it meant. "A Human becomes corrupted when he lets the Power Of Corruption consume their Bonds." Before Kael could ask or say anything, Elira explained. "It is a dark power that corrupts beasts. Usually, it is difficult to corrupt Bonded Beasts because of their connection with their Tamers, but if the Tamer allows it, it is possible." Elira stared at Kael and continued, "Why would a Tamer allow it, you wonder? To strengthen their Bonds. The Power of Corruption strengthens a Beast to a significant level. In some cases, it pretty much doubles the power of Beasts. Sounds pretty cool, doesn''t it? Then why is it seen in a negative light? It is because corruption lowers the Bond''s intelligence, turning it into a mindless wild beast that acts on its instincts." Elira explained, and in an instant, Kael connected this with what happened with Tobias and Laughter. Tobias allowed his Laughter to be consumed by the Power of Corruption. Meaning that he was a Corrupted Human. ''So it wasn''t just him¡­ those people are out there corrupting everyone¡­'' Kael started thinking about it. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Court Mage, however, wasn''t done yet. "But even then, keeping the Bond''s lowered intelligence aside, looking at things from a practical perspective, Isn''t it better to have stronger Bonds? Even if they have lower intelligence, as long as they follow orders, isn''t it better for humankind in general?" Kael didn''t like that line of thought. Elira, however, seemed oblivious to it and continued, "The answer is no. This isn''t good for humankind from a practical standpoint either. The Corruption weakens the Bond between the Tamer and their Bond. Because of this, even when the Bond grows stronger, the Tamer does not. It is gradually weakening the overall strength of Tamers, which is bad for humankind. There were also cases of Tamers losing control of their Corrupted Bonds and other environmental effects, but you will be taught all that in your future lectures. We aren''t here to discuss all that. We were discussing the story of the Princess." Elira smiled and, "The Princess who was loved by all was Corrupted, and when the King found out, he banished her out of the Kingdom and sold his own daughter as a slave." "What¡­?" Kael''s expression changed. Sold¡­? A Father selling his own daughter as a slave¡­? What ridiculous world was he summoned into? "Don''t be too surprised, it was already the King''s mercy that he didn''t order her execution. The only reason she survived even after it was revealed that she fell to corruption was because she was the King''s beloved daughter, someone he loved with all his heart. But before a Father, he was a King. And the Princess''s actions brought shame to the Kingdom. The King needed to deal with this situation as quickly as he could, and that is what he did. All the records related to the Princess were erased. It was made so that the Princess never existed in the first place. Even mentioning her became a taboo. The King wanted her to be out of everyone''s memories." Elira then stared at Kael and, "This is also the reason you couldn''t find anything related to her, no matter how hard you looked." "¡­" Kael turned silent. He wanted to deny Elira''s claims again, but¡­ He had more questions. "If it is taboo to mention her¡­ why are you telling me all this?" He questioned directly. It was a multi-layered question, and Elira''s answer here was extremely important for Kael. "You want to know about her, don''t you?" The mage smiled playfully. "I am just asking, you did go against the King''s order, after all." Kael answered with a light smile, still not admitting to anything. "It doesn''t feel right." Elira answered. "What?" "Princess Lavinia, I find it hard to believe that she was Corrupted." "Why?" "Even if I keep my emotional bias aside, from a practical standpoint, She had absolutely no reason to be Corrupted. The people who turn towards the Power of Corruption are usually people who are desperate for a way out, people who have reached their limits, people stuck at a lower level, unable to rise no matter what they do. The Princess wasn''t one of these people, far from that actually, Her Magic Talent was the best there is. Well, before a monster like you appeared, but I don''t count you in the equation." Elira shrugged. "Anyways, as I said, she was the most talented Mage there was, a Mage who had an affinity with every element one could think of. If she lacked anything, it wasn''t talent, I assure you that. She had no ''limit'', she could grow endlessly, even without a Bond. She wasn''t desperate, she had everything one would be envied for. Falling to Corruption only had demerits for someone like her." Elira then looked into Kael''s eyes and turned silent. Kael tilted his head, noticing her hesitation. He continued to observe the mage, urging her to continue. "And all of this is just a practical analysis. If I add my personal understanding of the Princess to it, I can never believe that someone like her was Corrupted." Elira spoke, her eyes looked so confident that even Kael was taken aback. Chapter 97 - 97: I suspect the Crown Prince. "And all of this is just a practical analysis. If I add my personal understanding of the princess to it, I can never believe that someone like her was Corrupted." Elira spoke, her eyes looked so confident that even Kael was taken aback. "You look quite certain of it." Kael couldn''t help but comment. "I am." "You seem close to her, the Princess, I mean." "I taught her Magic." Elira revealed, and Kael widened his eyes in surprise. "You did?" "What? You think I can''t?" Sensing the scepticism in his tone, Elira raised her eyebrow, ready to punch the brat''s face. "N-No, of course not. You are an excellent teacher.." "Exactly." Elira nodded in satisfaction. Soon, however, her expression turned solemn again. "I knew that girl, Kael. I have interacted with her. She had a Heart Of Gold, she loved everyone around her, to the point it was almost worrying. I always felt like people would take advantage of her. Think about it, Kael. A woman who was incapable of hate and loved even a random person she just saw, how much love would she shower on the Bonds who lived with her all her life?" Elira then looked into Kael''s eyes, and her tone got more and more confident. "Kael, I assure you, that girl would readily throw her life away for the sake of her Bonds. Do you think someone like her would let her Bonds fall to corruption? And for what? Meager Power? That is just not who Lavinia was. Kael, it is said that corrupting a Bond is similar to subjecting it to lifelong torture. Corrupted Beasts are in constant pain; however, since they are being controlled by the Power of Corruption, they can never convey it to their Tamers. As the Tamer continues to use this Power of Corruption, the Bonds suffer even further. It is a constant cycle of torture that weakens the connection between the Tamer and the Bond, and the Bond slowly loses their mind. Once they are strong enough, they break free from the control and go on a rampage, wanting to kill Tamers and the world that subjected them to such torture. Lavinia knew all that. Someone like her would never subject her Bonds to such torture, even if one threatened her life. It just¡­ I will never believe it." Elira opened her heart, not hiding anything. "If you are so sure, then why didn''t you oppose the King''s decision? With how you talk, I assume you and the Princess were friends. Why didn''t you stand up for your friend? Instead, you seem to be following the King''s orders to the dot till now." Kael questioned, and the answer he received was quite surprising. "I didn''t oppose because it was the King''s decision." "So because it was the King who said it, he must be right? Or were you just¡­" Kael didn''t complete his sentence, but he wasn''t disappointed. No, actually, he wasn''t disappointed either. He understood it as well¡ªgoing against the King was¡­ foolish. Even he wouldn''t have done it if he was in Elira''s position. After all, to him, other than Igni and Cirri, no one else mattered. He was in no place to blame Elira, and just as he was about to explain himself, "You don''t understand." Elira shook her head. "That man loved the Princess more than anything in this world." "What¡­?" "The King loved his daughter to the point where his health was related to the Princess. When the Princess falls ill, he falls ill with her. The Princess''s absence makes him lose his appetite and sleep. More than once, he had created policies for the Princess''s sake alone. It was a clear misuse of power that affected his status and power, yet he still went for it because it made his daughter happy. The King was crazy for his daughter. If anyone loved Princess Lavinia more than anything, It was the King. That man would willingly step down from his throne if it would put a smile on the Princess''s face. The King''s Advisors were often worried about how the King would react once the Princess married another man and left the Palace. The Princess pretty much held all the power in the Kingdom because it was said her father would turn the world for her." Elira stared at Kael and, "Trust me when I say it, Kael. If the King had even the slightest suspicion that his daughter was innocent, he would use all his resources to prove it and would keep the Princess with him till the investigation was over. The only reason the people even accepted the decision was because the King made it himself, and that man seemed twenty years older when he passed that decision. No one in the Hall, no matter how close they were to the Princess, had the gall to question that man''s decision because of how broken he looked that day." "So you trusted the King''s decision because of his love for his daughter?" Kael questioned. "That is correct." Elira nodded confidently. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "So you trust both the King and the Princess when they stand on opposite sides?" "Yes." And once again, Elira nodded, her eyes brimming with determination no matter how foolish this sounded. "Something''s wrong." Elira spoke. "Explain." "As I mentioned, the King would do anything for his daughter''s sake. I wouldn''t have been surprised if he had used his authority to make sure the case regarding the Princess''s Corruption never came to light. The fact that it did and the King was forced to banish her from the Kingdom, as a Slave no less, is strange. I¡­" Elira hesitated again. After all, if she said this out loud once, there was no going back from here. Elira, however, stared at the Hero again and decided to trust her instincts. "I suspect there is a Third Force at play here." "Third Force?" Kael raised his eyebrow. A Third Force, huh¡­ It definitely made sense. "Do you¡­ have any suspicions regarding who this Third Force could be?" Kael questioned after a slight hesitation. "I suspect the Crown Prince." Elira''s answer was almost instantaneous. Chapter 98 - 98: I let my fantasies get the better of me. "I suspect the Crown Prince." Elira''s answer was almost instantaneous. "The Crown Prince?" Kael tilted his head in confusion. With how quickly the woman answered, rather than a suspicion, it looked like she was certain that the person behind it all was the Crown Prince. "Edric Dragonborn." Elira took another name. "You must have heard about him already." Kael nodded. He was the only son of the King, which, apparently, was a lie. "Why do you think it is him?" Kael questioned. "Everything ended too well for him." "Hmm?" Elira paused for a moment, as if she was trying to think of what to say, and once she had brainstormed enough, she started, "Prince Edric was the firstborn, so naturally, he was expected to become the next King. However, when the Princess was born, things changed. While the King didn''t say anything, his love for his daughter wasn''t hidden. Do you remember when I said that the advisers were worried about how the King would react when his daughter gets married?" Elira questioned, and Kael nodded. "Some advisers came up with a theory that the King would make the Princess the next ruler of the Kingdom. Of course, it was absurd to think about it. Not only was the Princess the second-born, but she was also a woman. However¡­ The more people thought about this theory, the more plausible it seemed. After all, this wouldn''t be the first time the King would change policies for the sake of his daughter. And it wasn''t just that. The Princess was extremely talented, gentle, and loved by all. If the King introduced a policy where the Princess could become the next ruler, everyone could tell it would be widely supported. It wouldn''t just be the nobles who would stand on her side but commoners too. Not to mention the rate at which the Princess''s strength grew. They also said she would eventually become the strongest being throughout Nerathis, even surpassing the Grand Marshal. Having a person like that sitting on Drakthar''s Throne was good for the Kingdom''s image and would only lead it to glory." Kael raised his eyebrow, somewhat agreeing with that. Elira however, wasn''t done yet. "And it wasn''t just about her strength either. Lavinia was an excellent diplomat, a strong leader, and had the ability to understand what was happening around her. She had the qualities to be a perfect King, A King who would have taken the Kingdom to a new path of glory. The more people thought about it, the more they started to accept it. This theory became more and more prominent, many even started openly supporting the Princess, and all this happened when the King hadn''t even said anything." Elira explained as she then stared at Kael, "Who do you think would be most affected by it?" "Prince Edric." Kael answered. Even a child who understood nothing about politics would be able to answer that. "That is correct." Elira nodded at those words. "Prince Edric was born to be the next King, and mind you, he wasn''t an incompetent fool either. He was excellent. Ever since he was a child, he worked hard to get stronger, learned diplomacy and all other skills required to be the perfect King. He aimed for perfection and worked for it every single day without breaks. Everyone appreciated his efforts. This was the reason many supported him in his journey to be the next King. He was kind, strong, knowledgeable, and compassionate, but¡­" The Mage''s face turned solemn and, "He lived in a shadow." Kael narrowed his eyes when he heard those words. "Yes, Prince Edric was excellent. Because of his hard work, he was better than almost everyone around him, but¡­ There was a limit to how far hard work could take you. Even with everything he did, he could never outshine Lord Feraos'' favored child." "The Princess." Kael muttered, and Elira nodded. "Lavinia was better than Prince Edric in every possible way. It was almost pitiful. What''s worse? She was never arrogant about it and always greeted her brother with a gentle smile despite knowing he was jealous of her. ''It is natural to feel jealous when you work as hard as him. I don''t see it in a negative light. After all, this is what pushes my brother to always try and overcome his limits. This is the reason I like him. My brother never gives up, and I won''t either.'' This is what she said to me when I asked her about it." "Sounds¡­ na?ve." Kael spoke his mind. Elira just smiled at those words. "So what you are saying is the Prince was jealous of the Princess and arranged her fall. Is that it?" "I am saying it is one possible way to look at it." "You seem quite certain about it." "I¡­" Elira turned silent for a while and then, "I want to believe it." "You don''t seem to like Prince Edric very much." Kael noticed. Elira, however, shook her head. "That''s not it. He has always been kind to me, but¡­" "You just like Princess Lavinia." "She was¡­ my friend." Elira nodded in a weak voice. "And now I can''t even talk about her. I feel like¡­ I just want to blame someone." The Court Mage then shook her head and exhaled self-deprecatingly, realizing how foolish her words and suspicions sound. "Don''t take my words seriously. It was foolish of me to come here and say all this. I just¡­ When I realized you were trying to look into the Royal Family''s situation, I thought you might know something, but it doesn''t make sense. You just came here. I guess you were just curious and wanted to know more about the Royal Family. You probably didn''t even know Lavinia existed because there was no way for you to know. I was just¡­ too hopeful. I let my fantasies get the better of me." Elira then stared at Kael and, "Please act like this conversation never happened. I could¡­ get in trouble if someone finds out that I told you about Lavinia." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "So if I tell on you, you will be executed?" Kael questioned with a playful smile on his face, and seeing that annoying smirk, Elira''s mouth twitched. "I am telling you, you brat. If you dare rat me out, I''ll burn you. I''ll take you down with me." "Then who will save Nerathis?" Kael questioned. "I''ll burn you after you save Nerathis!" Elira answered without thinking. "Won''t I be too strong to be defeated by you by th¡ª" "I will burn you in my next life!" "Hahaha~" Kael laughed out loud. He didn''t know why, but teasing the Court Mage was always so much fun~ Chapter 99 - 99: I am a big brother. "Look forward to your class the day after tomorrow," Elira spoke, her mouth twitching nonstop as she stared at the man in front of her. It was a threat. An open threat. Yes, once again, Kael had teased the Court Mage to the point where she had reached her breaking point, which arguably wasn''t the first time this had happened. Kael chuckled at that response. He had already gotten used to the Mage''s threats. He, however, noticed something strange. "The day after tomorrow? What about tomorrow?" "Ah, right, you didn''t know." Elira realized it. "They are throwing a party tomorrow. For the Hero''s safe return and how he bravely protected a town and its people." The Court Mage then snorted. "If only they saw the Hero''s real face, Who would want to throw a party for someone like you?" "What real face? This is my real face. I am as handsome as I look." "Handsome? Who gave you that confidence?" "Quite a few, actually. I am actually surprised you don''t have a crush on me yet, Or¡­" Kael then looked right into Elira''s eyes and, "Are you just good at hiding it?" "¡­" Elira turned silent. Kael patiently waited for her response, and then, Seven big circles appeared around the Court Mage. "That''s it. I am burning you." "Hahaha!" Kael laughed out loud again. Spit "Crush on you, my foot. I wish to crush you into a mint paste instead." Elira acted like she had eaten some rotten food. "Come on, I am not that bad, am I?" Kael spoke as he glanced at the mirror. "I am positive that I am one of the more decent-looking guys." "But your heart is rotten." Elira snorted. "What did I even do for you to think that?" "Your existence itself disgusts me." "Now you are just acting like a tsundere." "Hah!? Have you lost your mind? A tsundere!? How can you compare me to something so annoying!?" Elira seemed offended. "I am surprised you know that term." Kael muttered. "I read it in a book." "Ah, that one with a weird title?" "I don''t expect someone like you to understand. It''s a masterpiece." "Sure¡­" Kael nodded, his tone full of sarcasm. "Tsk." Elira snorted again. Not wanting to stay with this man any longer, she stood up, ready to leave. "Are you not going to stayyy?" Kael questioned playfully. "Unlike you, I have a life." The woman, however, just snorted and, Bam After slamming the door, she walked away. Kael smiled as he saw the mage out. Once she left, his room turned silent again, and his expression turned serious again. "Prince Edric huh¡­" He muttered the name out loud. All this while, Kael had too many questions in his head. Why didn''t the Kingdom help Estwyn Town? Who were the people who approached Tobias? What is that dark power they used to strengthen Laughter? How did they get hold of all the documents Tobias showed him? And... Elira''s words answered a few of his questions. That dark power Tobias mentioned, it was the Power of Corruption. As for who those people who approached Tobias were, Kael believed that he would get the answer to that question in the ''future lectures'' Elira had mentioned. For now, Kael simply referred to them as the ''Enemies.'' These, however, weren''t the only questions Elira gave him answers to. Her words answered another one of his questions. The Princess was highly favored. Even for the Crown Prince, it wouldn''t be easy to plan and execute her fall, especially when the King cherished her so much. The Crown Prince would need help. And what better help would he get than the world''s enemies themselves? Would the Crown Prince sell out his own Kingdom for the sake of power? Well, Kael wouldn''t be surprised. Power often made people show their worst side, falling to lows one couldn''t even think of. Not to mention the Prince reeked of insecurities. Even someone like Kael, who had heard his story just one time, could sense his insecurities. It wouldn''t be surprising if the enemies were the ones who approached him first. He was a perfect target. An insecure older brother who wanted to get rid of his little sister to get the throne. And Kael could also see how the talented princess would be a thorn in the enemies'' eyes. Someone like her coming to power would make things difficult for them. They had to get rid of her one way or another. Honestly, the Crown Prince and the Enemies had the same target for different reasons. Since their goals aligned, it wouldn''t be shocking if they worked together. And¡­ The Crown Prince would also have enough power to get hold of those ''secret documents'' Tobias showed him before. If he was working together with Enemies¡­ It would explain how they got them. "Her suspicions might be correct¡­" Kael muttered. He could sense that the Mage still had her doubts, and he also knew that if he shared what he knew with her, her doubts would turn to certainty. Then why didn''t he do it¡­? Well¡­ "I can''t fully trust her either¡­" Kael was extremely paranoid. Even if he trusted Elira more than others, he still wasn''t 100% certain. After all, her telling her this story to him right after he revealed his strength in Estwyn was quite suspicious as well. "Haaaahh¡­" Kael sighed. All these questions in his head affected his mood, so¡­ "Igni, Cirri." He called out his stress relievers. In an instant, two adorable dragons jumped into his arms. "Nyuu!!" Cirri seemed overly excited as she hugged Kael with her soft body. Igni, like a mature big brother, let her hoard father''s love until Kael himself grabbed the little fire dragon and pulled him close to him. "You are just a child." Kael snorted. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I am a big brother." Igni retorted. He was a proud big brother. "You are just a few days older, when you two grow up, the difference won''t even remain that big." "That statement is flawed. The difference will always remain the same." "I am talking about the relative difference." "You didn''t mention that." "¡­" Kael turned silent. "Heh." Igni on the other hand, grinned as he proudly patted Cirri''s head. "Tsk." Kael snorted again as he tightened his hug around the Fire Dragon. His son was just too cute. "We should sleep, Cirri must be tired." Igni spoke. And he was correct, he had been playing with little Cirri inside the Sanctuary. Just like Igni, Cirri had almost endless stamina when it came to playing, so the two Dragons played together for as long as their heart desired while Kael could only look at them with a jealous look on his face. He wanted to join them as well¡­ "Thank you." Kael smiled at Igni as he patted his head. The Fire Dragon made sure Cirri wasn''t alone, and Kael was glad about it. Igni nodded, his eyes gleaming. "Cirri, shall we sleep?" Kael questioned. "Nyu!!" The Cloud Dragon nodded. Kael quickly placed her on the bed, Igni crawled beside her, Kael slept on the other side and the three of them quickly drifted into sleep. ¡­ The next morning, Kael stood in a familiar place as he stared at the screen in front of him with a solemn look on his face. [The Infernal Crucible] [Mission: Reignite the Heart of Crucible] Yes, he was back where he had failed. Chapter 100 - 100: Let’s begin. "Father¡­" The Fire Dragon muttered with a solemn look on his face. Just like before, Cirri was inside Sanctuary, unable to come out. Normally, a Bond could come out of Sanctuary on its own whenever the Tamer was in danger, but perhaps because Kael couldn''t die in this place, or maybe his control over the Sanctuary was strengthened whenever he was here. Cirri couldn''t leave unless Kael permitted her to. And right now, no matter how much the little Dragon cried, he didn''t let her out. "Get ready." Kael ordered. "Yes, Father." Igni nodded as he flapped his undeveloped wings and flew in the air. He didn''t fly very high, though, barely a meter above the ground. Why even do that? It was because Kael had ordered him to. Igni was strong, Kael knew that better than anyone else. However, the Dragon had one fatal weakness. He was only a few days old child. Yes, that was Igni''s weakness. His body was still underdeveloped. So even though he was extremely strong, his claws, his legs, and even his wings, they were all weaker than they should be, making it difficult for the Dragon to use his strength to its fullest extent. Now, normally, this wouldn''t have been an issue. After all, the Fire Dragon usually engulfs everything in flames and deals with the matter. In the Crucible, however, this method didn''t work. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Eternal Flame Wolves were completely immune to fire, even from the flames of a Primordial Fire Dragon. The little Dragon had no choice but to fight them head-on. When Kael thought about all this, he came to a conclusion. This Mission¡­ He was never the main focus of it. The Wolves here were simply too strong for him. This Mission, this entire place, It was the Training Grounds for his Igni. A place where Igni could adapt, train, get stronger, and¡­ learn to fight together with Kael. Yes, it was a place where the Father and Son could fight together and strengthen their bond on the Battlefield. And Kael was going to use it just like that. His first focus? It was to develop Igni''s flying ability. "This feels¡­ strange¡­" Igni muttered. Having to continuously flap his wings felt like a waste of energy. Now, normally, the little Dragon would never complain, but he knew he would soon be facing enemies who had defeated him before¡­ Wasting his energy before the battle seemed¡­ inefficient. "You will get used to it." Kael spoke, his tone solemn, leaving no room for counters. "Okay, Father." In the end, Igni could only nod. "You remember how I told you to fight, correct?" Kael questioned. "Yes." Igni nodded. "Then let''s move." Kael nodded, and then, as he felt the ground beneath him tremble, he started running. Igni followed behind as he flapped his wings. Again, the Dragon felt uncomfortable, but this time, he didn''t complain. Whoosh The ground where the two of them stood was consumed by flames. Kael and Igni, however, didn''t turn back. They marched their way towards the largest Volcano, and just like before, "Grrr¡­" The wolves appeared. Kael counted and realized there were 14 of them. The rest of them weren''t here yet, or maybe they were waiting to ambush Igni after luring them away. This time, however, this wasn''t going to happen. Kael''s eyes turned golden as he stared at the screen in front of him. [Name: Unnamed] [Race: Eternal Flame Wolf] [Level: 32] [Strength: 92] [Agility: 95] [Speed: 100] [Stamina: 88] [Defense: 80] [Mana: 50] [Intelligence: 28] [Charisma: 18] [Strengths: Flame Aura, Ember Dash, Scorch Claws, Fire Immunity] [Weaknesses: Weak to Water, Core] ¡­ ''Their strength is still the same¡­'' He thought inwardly and then, "Igni." He called out. "Yes, Father." Igni answered. He already knew what to do. The little Dragon continued to hover in the air. He understood it was time for his Training, and he was taking it very seriously. He couldn''t fail in Nerathis like he did here. He needed to get stronger to protect his father and little sister! Yes, he was a Dragon with a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. "Let''s begin." While Igni was thinking all this, Kael ordered and started running forward. Igni flew behind him. Even though he could fly faster than him, he controlled his speed and stayed close to his father. Then, [Draconic Surge] Kael activated his ability and dashed forward. This time, even when Igni followed him with everything he had, Kael was still faster. The Hero took out his sword as he ran right into the pack of wolves ahead of him and jumped in the air. With his increased speed, the wolves couldn''t react to him. "Aaaauuuuuu!!" They could only let out their battle cry, and Kael used his opportunity to pierce his sword right into their mouth. Crack He felt something cracking, and his smile widened. It was the Core that was inside their bodies. Fwoosh Just as Kael''s sword pierced through the Wolf''s Core, the Eternal Wolf turned into flames and perished. It was an instant process with no screams or resistance. Kael smiled. ''I was right.'' Just as the System informed him, their Core was their weakness. Even if their defense was absurdly strong, so much so that if he attacked normally, he would never be able to pierce through it, as long as he targeted their Cores, it was possible to kill them even for someone as weak as him. Fwoosh Kael''s grin widened as he stared at the extinguished flames, he, however, didn''t stop. He didn''t have much time, his ability could only last a few more seconds and he wanted to make the best of it. He jumped over the extinguishing flames and continued to run. The wolves followed him from behind but were unable to catch him. "Aaaauuuuuu!!" They let out an enraged howl, and once again, Kael used this opportunity to quickly jump back, his sword piercing through another Wolf''s mouth, breaking its Core in one go. Fwoosh The Wolf turned into flames as well. The rest of the wolves used this opportunity to pounce on the Hero, but¡­ ''Too late.'' He had already dipped and continued to run away! "AAAAUUUUUU!!!" The Wolves were enraged. They followed Kael with everything they had, but no matter how much they tried, Dragon Surge made Kael too fast for them. What''s worse? Since Kael had attracted all their aggro, they totally forgot about the being who was moving together with the Hero. A being they shouldn''t have forgotten about. BOOOOM Igni dashed forward, colliding with the Wolf closest to him, blasting its body in an instant. Unlike Kael, the Dragon didn''t need to attack their ''weakness.'' For him, every single part of their body was a weakness. As the Wolf exploded into flames, Igni pounced on the second Wolf. Yes, his legs weren''t strong enough to ''pounce,'' but¡­ Igni had wings. He could generate the force he needed from his wings. The Dragon landed on another Wolf and tore its body with his underdeveloped claws. Then, he jumped on another Wolf and bit off its head. Within a few seconds, the Dragon had dealt with three wolves, attracting the aggro to him, But, "Igni!" Chapter 101 - 101: Well… this might get a little complicated… The Dragon landed on another Wolf and tore its body with his underdeveloped claws. Then, he jumped on another wolf and bit off its head. Within a few seconds, the Dragon had dealt with three wolves, attracting the aggro to him. But, "Igni!" The Dragon wasn''t allowed to engage any further, and at Kael''s shout, he flew into the air, distancing himself from the wolves, making it impossible for the poor wolves to attack him. Yes, these wolves could spew flames, but¡­ Igni just flew even higher, making it difficult for even the flames to reach him. Then, the Dragon flew toward his father. By now, Kael''s Dragon Surge had run out for a while. The little distance he had created from the wolves had pretty much diminished, and the wolf closest to him pounced on him. Kael, however, didn''t stop running. Heck, he didn''t even turn around. Rather, BOOOOM He relied on his son, who appeared right behind him, headbutted the wolf, and blasted its body into flames. "Father!" Igni cheered excitedly. He was able to help his father. It made him extremely happy! Kael smiled at how adorable he was and continued running. "Continue attacking them." He ordered. "Yes, Father." Igni nodded as the Dragon circled all the way behind the pack and, BOOOM He headbutted the wolf at the back before flying and attacking the next wolf that got close to Kael. Yes, the Dragon was circling around the pack and killing everything in his way. This, however, couldn''t continue for long. The pack had already caught up to Kael. Igni couldn''t defend him anymore. Not that he needed it. "RROOOOOAAAARRRRRRR!" Kael roared as he was then covered with flames. [Roar of Dominion] [Ember Cloak] Yes, both these skills had little to no effect on the wolves, but well, it wasn''t like the skills used mana or anything, so Kael used them. It would be a shame to not use the free skills he had. Of course, it wasn''t Kael''s main focus. That spot was reserved for his first skill. [Draconic Strike] His arm was quickly covered with red draconic scales, and with his strength now enhanced, overpowering even that of Igni''s for the next five seconds, Kael turned around and, BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM He unleashed a series of punches, killing three wolves in an instant. Out of fourteen wolves who were after them, ten had already perished. Kael stared at the wolves in front of him, and their bodies trembled. Clearly, they were intimidated. "Heh." Seeing that, Kael''s grin widened, resembling a demon''s. Then, he used this chance to¡­ Run away. His arms had returned to normal. He was no match for these wolves in this situation. "AAAUUUUU!!!" The wolves, who realized they were played like fools, howled in rage. However, just as they tried to chase after that shameless bastard, BOOOOM The Dragon appeared in front of them, killing the strongest of the four in an instant and staring at the other three with menacing eyes. Honestly, the little thing looked absolutely adorable even when he tried to look menacing. His aura, however, affected the wolves as they realized they were helpless against him. "Die!" Igni rushed toward the wolves. Now that there were only three of them left, it was impossible for them to surround the Dragon, who was far stronger than them. So, without having to worry about anything, Igni went all out, and within a few seconds, he tore through all of them. Once he was done, "Igni." Kael called out. Because he hadn''t activated his ability yet, Kael couldn''t go very far from them. The Dragon turned toward his father and realized that the rest of the wolves, who were waiting to ambush him, had sensed the danger and were all rushing toward Kael. "Well¡­ this might get a little complicated¡­" Kael muttered out loud as he stared at the 32 wolves rushing toward him, all ready to tear him apart. Whoosh S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Kael stared at the incoming pack, Igni flew past him and, BOOOM He collided with the strongest wolf, killing him in an instant. ''He''s a monster.'' Kael chuckled in his head. He couldn''t help but feel proud. Just like how the Dragon did it the first time he came here, he continued to attack the wolves, not staying in one place. By now, he had already gotten comfortable flying. Of course, he still wasn''t perfect, but it was still much better than before. BOOOM BOOOM Igni continued to tear through the wolves, making it impossible for them to surround him. The moment they got too close like before, the Dragon flew into the air, out of their reach, before attacking from another corner of the pack. And¡­ This time, The Dragon wasn''t alone. His father was going to fight together with him. [Draconic Surge] [Roar of Dominion] [Ember Cloak] [Draconic Strike] Kael used all his skills at the same time as he appeared right in the middle of the pack and killed five wolves before his Draconic Strike went out of effect. Then, with the few seconds of Draconic Surge, he had left, He dashed toward the volcano, distancing himself from the wolves before his speed returned to normal as well. The wolves followed behind, ready to catch and kill him, but, BOOOM Igni was still here. The little Dragon continued to fly around the pack, acting like a harbinger of death that reaped lives as it moved. The Dragon was overpowering the wolves in every way possible, making it more and more difficult for them to chase after Kael. Kael continued to run, wanting to create as much distance as he could. At the same time, he also made sure the wolves continued to chase him. He needed to keep their attention while Igni dealt with all the damage. The instant their attention fell all on Igni, the Dragon simply flew into the air, distancing himself from the pack, forcing them to follow Kael again. The wolves were helpless. And what''s worse? A minute had already passed. Kael could use all his abilities again. "RRRROOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!" The Hero roared. Chapter 102 - 102: I hate this fucking place. "Die!" Pierce Kael screamed as he plunged his sword right through the Eternal Flame Wolf''s mouth, piercing its core. Flicker The Wolf turned into flames, and the moment it did, Kael, who couldn''t hold his weight any longer, collapsed on the ground. "We¡­ we did it¡­" He muttered, his voice sounding exhausted. They did it. He and Igni finally got rid of all the wolves. Yes, Igni did most of the work, and Kael was only truly useful when he used his skills, but considering that the enemies were technically stronger than him, It was a great feat. Not to mention, Igni improved a lot. The little dragon was getting more and more used to his body. Of course, his body was still underdeveloped, so he couldn''t use his full strength, but whatever he did, he did it magnificently. Even now, the little dragon was hovering in the air, flapping his wings effortlessly. "Father, you cannot sit here for long." Igni warned like the diligent dragon he was. "Agghh¡­ I hate this fucking place." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kael cursed as he forced himself to stand up, still exhausted. "I hate this¡­ fucking place too, Father." Igni nodded at his father''s words, and in an instant, Kael froze. "No, Igni. You aren''t supposed to say that word." He corrected his son. "What word?" Igni tilted his head. "Fucking." "But you just said it." "I said it because I can." "I can say it as well. I can speak now, Father." Igni answered, as if reminding his foolish father that he was all grown up now. "No, you cannot say it. It is a bad word." "Why? Does it not mean intercourse between two beings? How is that bad?" "Well¡­ now that you say it like that¡­" Kael turned silent. "But a few days old child shouldn''t be saying these words." "By that logic, I shouldn''t even be talking, Father." "¡­" Once again, Kael turned silent. How was it so difficult to win against a 20-day-old child? Was it that difficult to raise children? Or was it just his Dragon that was too smart for his own good? Rumble Rumble Rumble While Kael was thinking this through, he realized the ground beneath him was trembling. This quickly brought him out of his reverie and he then started moving. "So should I say that word or not?" Igni, who flew beside him, questioned innocently. "You will not." Kael spoke with a determined look on his face. "But wh-" "No reason. I just want you to remain my adorable little son all the time." "Will I not be your son if I say this word¡­?" "Oh, come on! How are you so good at this!" Kael complained. It was almost as if he could never win against this little thing. In the end, he just grabbed Igni and decided to carry him in his arms. "You will always be my adorable son~ No matter what you say." The Hero spoke as he snuggled with the dragon in his arms. "Yes, Father." Igni answered cutely as the two walked forward. "So... can I say thi-" "Don''t push it." "..." In the end, the Dragon turned silent, he decided to be satisfied by the belly rubs he was getting in exchange. Whoosh As the father and son walked forward the ground behind them erupted in flames. "This feels badass." Kael grinned, but then. "Badass¡­?" "¡­" Kael very quickly understood that he was the problem here. Therefore, he decided to change the topic. "Hmm, we are getting close." He muttered, bringing Igni''s attention back to the mission. As they got closer and closer to the largest volcano, the temperature around them increased. To Igni, this didn''t matter. The little dragon literally bathed in lava back in the Sanctuary; this heat had next to no effect on him. Kael, however, was having a difficult time. He felt weak, more exhausted, and dehydrated. Honestly, he was surprised that he hadn''t passed out yet. And he already had a theory as to why that was the case. [Primordial Endurance] [Description:] [The ancient energy flowing through you fortifies your body and mind. You have resistance to fatigue, and your stamina regenerates at an accelerated rate. The more extreme conditions you are in, the faster your stamina regenerates.] ¡­ As he read about one of his passive abilities with sweat all over his face, he couldn''t help but smile. ''This really is a cheat, huh¡­'' The more he realized it, the wider his grin became. He continued to push his body to the limit, and his body continued to adapt. Kael felt like his body was changing in real-time; the effects were better than any training he had been through before. For some reason, however, these changes weren''t reflected in his stats, which were still the same as before. Yes, even after killing so many wolves in this mission or the one before where he had used the Ascendant of the Ancients, he didn''t level up. He received no experience points for killing the wolves here. It was a bit of a letdown, but Kael didn''t complain. What was important was that his Igni was getting better and he seemed much happier now that they had won their first battle. "Now, we just need to get on top of that thing and find out whatever that Crucible is and how to reignite its heart." Kael spoke as he stared at the large volcano that was now right in front of him. The heat had become intolerable for any human, but maybe because of his ability or some other reason, Kael was still holding on. Barely, that is. Things were getting more and more difficult for him. And the land eruptions that had gotten more and more common, as if the entire place would fall any moment now, weren''t helping either. "So the next Trial must be climbing on top of this thing, huh¡­" Kael muttered. Just thinking about it made him exhausted. "Father, I can carry you to the top." Igni suggested. Even if Kael couldn''t sit on top of Igni yet, the dragon could definitely hold him with his mouth and pull him up. With the dragon''s strength, it was definitely possible. But¡­ "No." Kael shook his head. "I can feel my body changing the longer I stay here. I have a feeling that if I do it myself, the reward waiting for me at the end will be all worth it." Kael wasn''t a fool; he already knew the true goal of this mission. It was to make him and Igni stronger. Igni''s training was done with the wolves; now, it was his turn. This is exactly how it happens in all those novels he read before, and honestly, every time the main characters took the easy way out, not understanding the underlying meaning of the mission, it annoyed him. So many problems would have been solved if those guys just used their minds. But no, it was like those people were made to act dumb. At the very least, one could test things out when you know your life isn''t in danger. And this is exactly what Kael was going to do. He was going to choose the hard way, A way that would make him stronger. He would push past his limits and climb the volcano on his own. Chapter 103 - 103: What in the hell is that thing!? "Haahh¡­ Haah¡­ Haahh¡­" Kael breathed heavily as he placed his hand on the final stone and pulled himself up. Yes, he had climbed on top of the volcano, and it was¡­ Hell. He understood that this wasn''t going to be easy the moment he took his first step, but this was nothing short of a nightmare. The surface was unbearably hot. Each breath he took burned his lungs, and the air was thick with a harsh sulphur-like scent, making it difficult for him to focus. Sweat dripped from his brow, evaporating almost instantly as it hit the ground. The heat was merciless, sucking out all his strength, making his movements sluggish. But Kael continued. Honestly, let alone a mountain, Kael had never even climbed a tree before. The only reason he even dared to do something so foolish was because he knew he couldn''t die. He had lost his footing more than once, barely managing to catch himself before tumbling backwards. At one point, the surface he stepped on fell, sending him sliding down several feet as his hands scraped against the coarse volcanic stone. And this was just the beginning. The higher he went, the more the volcano seemed to fight against him. Fwoosh Sudden eruptions of steam hissed from the cracks in the rock, forcing him to dodge else the heat would burn him alive. More than once, he was forced to jump back¡ªthe only way to survive was to luckily find a surface he could grab before he fell. And that wasn''t it. Rivers of molten lava flowed dangerously close to him, radiating heat so intense that it made the very air tremble. More than once, the surface trembled violently as a sudden earthquake shook the volcano, sending boulders down the slope, forcing Kael to jump around and avoid them¡ªor sometimes even brace himself for the impact that pretty much crushed his body. Sometimes the surface became so impossibly smooth that he was forced to use his sword to create small crevices his fingers could hold onto to pull himself up. His muscles screamed in protest, his limbs felt like lead, his breathing was unstable, his heart rate uneven, and his vision blurred. He could tell he had more than one broken bone in his body. He was a mess¡ªa big mess. But he didn''t stop. To him, it was either death or reaching the top. There was no other option. And it wasn''t all bad. He could feel it¡ªthe higher he climbed, the more his body changed. [Primordial Endurance] The ability worked wonders. It allowed him to push himself to limits he never knew were possible¡ªhis fatigue dulled, his breathing steadied, and his senses sharpened. He was getting¡­ stronger. Even though it wasn''t being reflected in his system for some reason, he knew he was getting stronger. So much so that Kael went against his body and continued to climb, wanting to see what reward he would get the moment he reached the top. "!!!" And once he got there, moving himself up with one final, desperate pull, what he saw made his eyes widen. Not from the surprise or joy from the ''reward'' he received. No. It was from horror. Inside the volcano, instead of endless lava, there existed an entirely different world. Another world with its own volcanoes, molten lava that moved around like a river, and¡­ a horrifying monster that seemed to rule over this place like its god. A towering 300-meter-tall figure, bigger than any volcano present here, its molten body was a grotesque fusion of searing magma and jagged volcanic rock. It had a single burning eye filled with flames, something that seemed like a core was on its chest, its entire body pulsed with lava-like veins. Its massive arms ended in claws large enough to crush mountains, while its legs seemed to be¡­ anchored to a place, unable to move. But this didn''t make it any less monstrous¡ªno, it just added to its monstrosity. It was as if the very world itself was stopping this thing from being unleashed. Kael could sense it¡­ It was something that¡­ shouldn''t exist. *Picture* "Father¡­" And it wasn''t just him¡ªeven Igni, who was hovering next to him, muttered in a somewhat¡­ intimidated tone. Wait. Intimidated? Igni? Kael''s heart shook as he turned towards Igni. The little dragon was frozen. Yes, a Primordial Dragon, a being with endless pride and strength¡­ was frozen. He was intimidated by that monstrosity in front of them. "Igni¡­?" Kael couldn''t help but call out. "Father, that¡­" Igni didn''t know how to answer. The more the dragon reacted in such a manner, the heavier Kael''s heart became. "Igni, yo¡ª" "FATHER!" Before Kael could say anything, Igni reacted and quickly grabbed Kael''s clothes with his mouth, flying away in an instant. BOOOOOOOOM The place where Kael stood was destroyed by the beam of intense heat that the monstrosity had aimed at them. And it wasn''t over. BOOOOOOOOM Another beam was aimed at them, and Igni, who flew in the air with Kael barely hanging onto him, moved as fast as he could to avoid the attack that would burn both of them to cinders in an instant. "W-What in the hell is that¡­?" Kael stuttered, staring at the monstrosity in front of him. From the damage those ''beams'' did to their surroundings, only one word came to Kael''s mind. A Death Ray. That beam was no different from death itself. Honestly, with how Kael was currently hanging in the air, he would have screamed in terror. Right now, however, all his focus was on the monstrosity in front of him. Wanting to know how strong this entity actually was and see if they could somehow find a way to deal with it, He activated the Eye of the Ancient, and his eyes turned golden, showing him the information he so desperately wanted to see. [Name: Unnamed] [Race: Titan of the Crucible] [Age: 1,16,593] [Level: -] [Strength: 1000] [Agility: 30] [Speed: 0] S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Stamina: 500] [Defense: 200] [Mana: 10,000] [Intelligence: -] [Charisma: -] [Strengths: Fire Immunity, Immortality, Instant Regeneration (Mana and Wounds)] [Weaknesses: Immobile, Lost Intelligence] ¡­ ''What in the hell is that thing!?'' Kael''s eyes widened in absolute horror. Chapter 104 - 104: Another Failure. ''What in the hell is that thing!?'' Kael''s eyes widened in horror. ''No wonder even Igni was intimidated.'' He muttered in his head. The absurd age, the strength, defense, and mana, he could ignore all but¡­ Fire Immunity, Immortality, and Instant Regeneration!? Does that even make sense!? What were they supposed to do against this monster!? There was no way for them to get rid of it! It was fucking immortal! KZZZZZZZZZT While Kael was still reading through the stats, Igni moved and barely dodged another one of those death rays that came out of the monster''s core. "Haaahhh¡­ Haaahhh¡­ Haaahh¡­" Kael''s breathing turned heavy. Seeing the death ray pass so close to him made his heart rate jump in fear. Soon, however, his attention was grabbed by something else. Another screen had popped in front of him as his eyes fell on the somewhat dull volcano that was behind the Titan. [Heart of Crucible] [State: Extinguished] [Description:] [The Heart of Crucible is the core of the Infernal Crucible, the very source of its balance and stability. However, the once raging inferno that fueled the realm''s existence now lies in a dormant, lifeless state. Without its flames, the Crucible''s structure is collapsing, and its inhabitants are devolving into mindless beasts of destruction.] [Effects of Extinguished State] [Realm Instability: The Infernal Crucible will collapse in 22 hours.] [Berserk Titan: The Titan who once protected the realm and was connected to it has gone berserk due to its instability and is attacking every movement it senses.] [Volcanic Activity: Earthquakes and magma eruptions have increased in frequency and will continue to increase until the entire realm collapses.] [Conditions to Reignite the Heart of Crucible] [Bathe the Heart of Crucible in Endless Flames for 20 seconds without interruption.] [Flames must originate from a Primordial Fire Source.] [Any disruption will reset the process.] ¡­ ''So that''s it¡­'' Kael finally realized it. ''So basically, the mission wants Igni to heat that volcano up for 20 seconds¡­'' There was no other ''Primordial Fire Source'' here other than his Igni. The description couldn''t have been more obvious. ''Doesn''t sound very complicated.'' Kael thought inwardly, but just as he did, KZZZZZZZZZT His breath hitched the moment another death ray passed right by him, with Igni barely dodging the attack. ''Fuck that! How are we supposed to do it with that monstrosity standing right next to it!?'' Kael''s opinion changed very quickly. Igni, on the other hand, flapped its wings and moved down, taking cover behind the volcano and hiding from the Titan. The monster couldn''t move, and the dragon decided to use that fact to his advantage. In a few seconds, Igni landed on the ground with Kael. "Father! Are you hurt?" He questioned with a worried look on his face. "No, I am fine." Kael nodded as he patted Igni''s head, reassuring his son. But then, He noticed something. The volcano right behind them¡­ The volcano that was supposed to be a cover and a shield¡­ It was¡­ Cracking¡­? "!!!" Kael''s eyes widened in horror as the crack became wider and wider with every passing moment. "IGNI!!" Kael screamed as he saw the thick volcano wall collapse and the death ray piercing through it like it was made of paper. Quickly, Kael grabbed the little dragon in his arms and then, Wings came out of his back as he launched himself into the air, dodging the incoming attack. Kael''s golden eyes shined as shimmering red scales covered his entire body. His wings and a tail emerged, the air itself crackled, as if submitting to him¡ªeven when a monster such as the Titan stood right in front of him. "Father¡­?" Igni called out, once again sensing the same familiarity from his father as he did the last time. Yes, Kael had activated it again. [Ascendant of the Ancient] ''Status.'' He called out, and a screen showing his new stats appeared in front of him. [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 20] [CE: 412/3400] [Talent: Genesis of the Ancients] [Talent Rank: EX Rank] [Strength: 150] [Agility: 140] [Speed: 145] [Stamina: 170] [Defense: 155] [Mana: 200] [Intelligence: 135] [Charisma: 170] ¡­ KZZZZZZZZZT The Titan, however, didn''t seem to care about what Kael had become. It simply shot another one of its death rays while Kael was in the sky. This time, however, Kael didn''t panic. Rather, he simply flew towards the Titan, easily dodging the incoming beam without much problem. "Igni, balance yourself." "Father?¡ªAaaahhhhhh!!" Kael ordered, and before Igni could understand anything, he threw him into the air while he himself flew right toward the core of the Titan''s chest. KZZZZZZZZZT The monster attacked him again. Right now, however, it didn''t matter. The current Kael was even more monstrous than the monstrous entity. His claws elongated as he gathered his strength. Then, as if all of this wasn''t enough already, [Draconic Surge] [Draconic Strike] Kael activated his two skills, raising his power to an even more absurd level and, sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. CRACK He pierced through the Titan''s core with his body and flew out the other end. And the Hero didn''t stop there. With his now enhanced speed that was above 260¡ªpretty much reaching the speed of sound itself¡ªhe moved towards its eye just in case it was a core instead of an eye and, CRACK He pierced through it as well. With the two possible cores now crushed into pieces, technically, the Titan should be down. Or at least, that''s what Kael expected, but¡­ "Well¡­ Fuck." He cursed as he realized that the moment he stopped attacking, both the cores regenerated back to how they were before. His attack... Was entirely meaningless. "So the core wasn''t the weakness, huh¡­" The Hero realized it. Then, as he noticed that the monster had turned its head towards him, he quickly flew away, grabbed Igni¡ªwho was still free-falling in the air¡ªand went back to the ground again with his back facing the Titan. "Father¡­?" Igni was confused, soon, however, his eyes widened in horror. "FATHER! LOOK OU-" The Little Dragon shouted, but before it could say or do anything anymore, Kael simply tightened his Hug around him, making sure to cover the Dragon''s entire body with his own and, "It''s alright." He spoke lightly. [Time Remaining: 0 Seconds] His transformation was undone, and then, KZZZZZZZZZT BOOOOOOOOM The beam of extreme heat engulfed both the father-son duo and¡­ they perished. The mission ended. It was another failure. ... A/N: *Infernal Crucible* *Eternal Flame Wolves* *Tital of the Crucible* Chapter 105 - 105: I need to find her. "Nyuuu!!" "Cirri, we are fine. Nothing happened." "Nyuuuuuu!!!" Just like before, little Cirri cried in Kael''s arms again, and no matter what Kael said or did, the little Dragon didn''t stop. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was traumatizing. To the Dragon, Death didn''t mean much. As a Mythical Creature, despite being a child, she understood that Death was a part of Life. What hurt her the most was the fact that she wasn''t next to them. Just like before, she couldn''t leave the Sanctuary no matter how much she tried¡­ She felt¡­ Alone. "Cirri¡­" Kael called out, hugging his Daughter with extreme tenderness and love. He knew it would take a long time for her to calm down and¡­ She wasn''t the only one he had to worry about. "It is all my fault." The older brother, who was still just a few days older, was problematic in his own way. Yes, once again, the Fire Dragon was blaming himself. "Igni, you did nothing wrong. Rather, you were absolutely amazing in there. You have learned and grown so much." "If I was stronger, Cirri wouldn''t be crying." Igni answered in a solemn tone. The Dragon was standing a few steps away from Cirri, not even patting her head because he was blaming himself for it. He just stared at his little sister from a distance with guilty eyes, and Kael, who saw that, felt his mouth twitching. "Come here." He spoke as he grabbed the Dragon''s arm and pulled him. "What could you have done if you were stronger?" Kael questioned. "I would have burned that Titan." Igni answered instantly. "Flames couldn''t harm him." "Then I would have destroyed his body." "I pierced through its Core and Eye. It regenerated in an instant. It is an Immortal. No matter what you do, it will regenerate back to full health." "Then¡­ what are we supposed to do?" Igni questioned back with an uncertain look on his face. "Are we going to¡­ abandon the mission and never go there again¡­?" The Dragon''s Pride made it difficult for him to accept his defeat, and an even worse feeling was that he couldn''t come up with a way to crush that thing even if he imagined himself getting stronger. But, "Abandon the Mission? After everything we have been through? Of course not." Kael smiled. "What are we going to do¡­?" The Dragon was uncertain. Kael, however, just smiled as he patted Igni''s head and, "Well, that''s for the problem tomorrow''s us has to deal with, no?" "Hmm?" Igni clearly didn''t like that answer. "Don''t worry, Igni. Tomorrow, it will be our Victory." "How¡ª" "Just trust me." Kael answered confidently as he smiled. Igni stared at his father for a while, then, "Okay, Father." He nodded. Just as his father said, he would trust him. After all, his Father could never be wrong. The little Dragon finally got close to his sister and patted her head with his paws. Kael, who saw that, smiled weakly. What was he going to do tomorrow? He had no fucking clue. He just knew one thing, He needed to win. ''Haaaahh¡­'' For now, however, Kael sighed. There was a lot on his mind. The fact that all the changes his body went through returned to normal the moment he returned annoyed him. He thought he had gotten stronger, and he had. At the very least, his stats should have been raised a little. He understood his system enough to understand how that worked, but¡­ ''Is that why there weren''t any changes in my stats?'' Since everything, even his injuries, returned back to normal every time he exited that Realm, it was very possible the same was true for his strength as well. ''Or maybe¡­ it is a penalty for failing to complete the Mission¡­'' Kael theorized. ''So if I wish to win¡­ I need to get stronger.'' The moment the Hero came up with this theory, his eyes shined with determination. He wanted nothing more than to jump into the Crucible again, but he knew that wasn''t possible. Not to mention¡­ The Mission wasn''t the only thing he needed to worry about. Actually, the Mission was the last thing he had to worry about since he couldn''t die inside the Crucible. What he needed to worry about was the place where he could very much die for real. Yes, the place he was living in. The Royal Place. And that party that would be held today. A Party where the King and the most Influential Nobles of the Kingdom would arrive. Honestly, Kael was nervous. There were too many things in his head. He... knew too much and didn''t know much at the same time. He didn''t know how the nobles would react to him. If it was before, he wouldn''t have cared, but thinking about the enemies hidden in the shadows, he realized that what he needed the most right now were allies. Allies he could trust. ''Haaaahhh...'' Kael sighed. Being summoned to another world as a Hero and being responsible for protecting this world was already big enough, but now... He also needed to be involved in the politics. ''Just my life.'' He shook his head. ''He would be there as well.'' Another thought popped into his head as his expression turned grim. The Crown Prince, Edric Dragonborn. The Ally of the ''Enemies'' or¡­ ''He might even be the Leader of them all¡­ Or¡­ He might be completely innocent.'' Nothing was certain. After all, he couldn''t completely trust Elira, who had given him all the information he had either. Did she have any reason to lie? Who knows? He barely knew the woman for 2 weeks, he couldn''t trust her with his life within that timeframe. And he still found it strange that the Mage came to him after he returned from the Mission. After he returned alive from the trap the enemies had set for him. Killing a Beast that he wasn''t supposed to be strong enough to kill. It was almost as if... It was the enemies'' attempt to distract him since they couldn''t kill him. Did he think Elira was the enemy? Again, he wasn''t sure. It was a possibility he couldn''t ignore. And if he could not trust Elira, then¡­ Trusting Arlan became difficult as well. Just like that, the two people he trusted the most here came to his suspicion list. As for the others? Well, General Deren and Marshal Therian looked too loyal to the Kingdom, stupidly loyal even. As for Master Tamer Lyric¡­ Honestly, she felt too good to be true, so Kael was suspicious of her as well. And Althea? The Almoner of Services was suspicious from the very beginning. It felt as if she was sent to keep an eye on him. He never trusted her from the beginning. Tobias? The Town Head was too weak to help him anyway, not to mention... Kael wasn''t even sure if the poor man was even alive or not. Kael wasn''t naive enough to not know the consequences of his actions, Tobias''s and even Selena''s life came into danger when he left Estwyn Town alive. After all, in one way or another, Tobias failed to kill him. Would the enemies lurking in shadows let him go when he knew so much? Kael wasn''t sure. So he left him there even when he knew he could die? What else was he supposed to do anyways? Kael himself wasn''t safe either, how was he supposed to save others? ''Haahh¡­'' In the end, he just sighed again, shifting his focus from Tobias to his own problem. A person he could trust. As he thought about it, a name came to his mind. ''Princess Lavinia.'' The woman from the Vision¡­ The woman he for sure knew was an ally. ''I need to find her.'' Chapter 106 - 106: Siblings Love. Knock Knock While Elira was lying on her bed, reading her favourite book, someone knocked on her door. However, instead of answering like a woman in power would, she rolled away, placing her face on the opposite side of the door. ''They will think I am not here and go away if I don''t say anything.'' She shrugged as she continued reading, but¡­ Knock Knock The person outside the door knocked again. Knock Knock Then again, Knock Knock And then again. Elira''s mouth twitched. "You brute, do you not understand what it means when someone doesn''t answer!?" The Court Mage snapped. Yes, just a few knocks were enough for her to know who the person was and just as she expected, the moment she shouted, the door was kicked open effortlessly and a giant man walked in. "Don''t you know that you are not supposed to barge into a lady''s room!?" Elira shouted. "Lady my ass. What lady reads that strange book?" Arlan snorted. "Don''t think I do not know that you stole one of my copies." "¡­" Arlan momentarily turned silent, wondering how this witch knew. Soon, however, he shook his head. He wasn''t here to fight or annoy her like usual. Rather, he stared at his sister with a solemn look on his face, and without him having to say it, Elira understood what her brother wanted and with a wave of her hand, she created a sound barrier around them. "What is it?" Elira questioned, instantly dropping her casual attitude. "You went to Kael''s room yesterday?" The Commander questioned directly. "How did you know?" "So you did¡­" Arlan muttered and Elira realized it. "Fuck! That one doesn''t count! I was half asleep!" She quickly defended herself. "Why did you go?" Arlan, however, wasn''t in the mood to joke around. "Why do you ask?" "Elira." Arlan''s tone changed. This, however, didn''t intimidate Elira. "How did you know I went to Kael?" "I didn''t. I just knew you had a talk with Kieran." "He ratted on me." Elira realized it. "Elira." Arlan raised his voice. "What? Did you not listen to Kieran''s story? Kael is much more perceptive than we give him credit for. He found out he was being tailed, he also settled the matter with City Lord Sylas like an experienced leader would, and his performance back in Estwyn Town was nothing but exemplary." Elira then looked into Arlan''s eyes and, "He is ready, Arlan. Do not underestimate him." "So you told him about the Princess¡­" Arlan realized. It was almost as if the brother and sister could read each other''s minds. Elira didn''t seem surprised either, she just lowered her head and after a small pause, she nodded. "¡­he deserves to know." "Elira, Princess Lavinia i-" "You know she is innocent!" Elira glared at her brother. "Your bond with her was stronger than mine! You were the one who introduced her to me! You practically raised her! How are you not affected by everything that happened!?" "And what do you want me to do?" Arlan questioned back. "You think I love her more than the King? Or do you think the King isn''t trying to find a way to drop all those charges on his beloved daughter and bring her back?" "¡­" Elira turned silent. "Elira, I cannot go against the King. I do not have the authori-" "Oh yeah? And finding where she is right now isn''t going against the King''s authority?" "How did yo-" Soon, however, the Commander paused. "Now I am awake." Elira grinned victoriously. "So, where is she?" She questioned directly. "I will not say." Arlan shook his head. "Just know she is safe." "You have your men protecting her?" "I cannot move openly, but I know she is alive." "And well¡­?" Elira questioned in a low tone. "She is caged, Elira." Arlan didn''t say anything else. "¡­" Elira stayed silent as well. "So you want the Hero''s help to free the Princess?" Arlan questioned. He could pretty much understand his sister''s plan. "I think the King plans to do the same." Elira started. "What do you mean?" The Commander frowned. "What the King needs right now is authority. There are too many people against the Princess, it is unnatural. Even though it isn''t apparent, I am sure the Crown Prince is behind it and he will make sure everything stays the same. However, Once the Hero''s reputation rises, he will have a certain say in the Kingdom. If the Hero stands together with the King, with their combined influence, the Princess could be brought back. I am just¡­ moving these plans faster and independently. I am sure once the King realizes what I am trying to do, he will secretly support me and even help me hide my traces." "This will involve Kael in this mess." Arlan spoke with a grim look on his face. "He will be involved in this mess one way or another. He is looking for the Princess on his own." "He is?" Arlan frowned. "I confirmed it yesterday. He tried to hide it but he wasn''t doing a very good job at it." "Well, he still doesn''t know how to hide his emotions." Not for a single moment did he doubt his sister''s words. He knew it better than anyone else, Elira may act irresponsibly but she is extremely perceptive and good at reading people. One could trust her judgement blindly and she would never fail you. At least that is what Arlan''s more than 30 years of experience as her brother told him. Soon, however, a question formed in his mind. "How does he know about the Princess in the first place? He has only been here for two weeks." "I do not know how he found out, but he has been looking around for a while now. One way or another, he will be involved in this mess." "It will be unsafe." Arlan muttered. At those words, Elira just chuckled. "Let''s face it, Brother. Kael was never safe to begin with." The Commander couldn''t help but smile wryly at those words. "Now scram. I already hate that I had to see your face first thing in the morning." "Heh, unlike you, I have my lovely wife I wake up to." Arlan grinned. "Wife that I chose." "She was so perfect that you had no option but to choose her." Arlan just chuckled and at his words, Elira snapped, S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Just you wait, I''ll find a man too." "Sure, try it." The Commander narrowed his eyes menacingly. "If you scare him away, I''ll burn you!" Elira warned. "If your man gets scared away by me, he never deserved to be your husband in the first place!" Arlan snapped. "Go away! I need to get dressed for the party!" "Huh? The Party''s in 4 hour-" "Ladies need their time to get dressed! I have no clue how Lyria hasn''t divorced a hard-headed fool like you! I was right, she really was too good for someone like you! I am at fault, I ruined that angel''s life!" "The only life you will be ruining will be of your future husband, I pity the gu-" "LEAVE!!" Elira raised her voice and started throwing pillows at her brother one after another. "Alright alright! I am going, you witch! And why do you have so many pillows anyway!? This is already the sixth one!" "I keep them for men who secretly come to my room at night! WHY DO YOU CARE!?" Chapter 107 - 107: I came to warn you. "Alright, she''s a level 4 now." Kael muttered as he stared at his daughter. [Name: Cirri] [Race: Cloud Dragon] [Rank: Mythical] [Age: 3 Days] [Level: 1 -> 4] [Strength: 10 -> 14] [Agility: 16 -> 22] [Speed: 18 -> 26] [Stamina: 12 -> 18] [Defense: 8 -> 12] [Mana: 25 -> 40] [Intelligence: 9 -> 13] [Charisma: 12 -> 17] [Strengths: Intangible Form, High Mobility, Density Control] [Weaknesses: Fragile in Solid Form, Energy Dependency, Vulnerable to Strong Winds] S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ "My sister is getting stronger." Igni nodded with a proud look on his face. "Nyu!" Cirri raised her hand excitedly before, Poof She turned into a cloud and covered Kael''s head. "Hahaha~" Kael laughed, feeling the cool sensation. Cirri returned to her original form, and Kael held her, hugging her as gently as he could. Since he had the entire day to himself because of the party preparations, he taught himself a Third Circle Spell, and the instant he learned it, Cirri leveled up. Kael also taught himself a few Second Circle Spells and brought her up to level 4. Of course, the experience he gained didn''t do much for his own or Igni''s level, so only Cirri enjoyed the benefits. "Nyu!!" The little dragon roared adorably; she liked the feeling of getting stronger. Knock Knock Suddenly, Kael heard a knock. "It''s her." Before he could even use his eyes to see who it was, Igni answered. Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire Kael nodded towards Igni, and the two dragons entered the Sanctuary after hugging Kael one last time. Kael then straightened the cuffs of his finely tailored jacket as he stood up. Early in the morning, a servant had come in to deliver the news about the party and the clothes he would be wearing for the occasion. It was a bit tacky, but honestly, Kael could see the charm. He looked in the mirror one last time, and seeing his appearance, he couldn''t help but smile. ''A fantasy world indeed¡­'' He was wearing a deep navy-blue high-collared coat adorned with silver embroidery along the edges. Beneath it, he wore a fitted black tunic with silver clasps, complementing the coat''s design. His black trousers were tailored to perfection, tucked neatly into polished leather boots with silver accents. He looked like a noble. Knock Knock While Kael was lost looking at his reflection, the person outside knocked again. "Coming." Kael called out as he quickly rushed towards the door. It was Althea. "Hero Kael." The Almoner of Services greeted with her usual expressionless look on her face. "Althea, it has been a while." Kael greeted with a smile. "It has indeed." The Almoner of Services nodded. She then stared at Kael''s clothes and nodded, "You look good." "Charming?" Kael questioned, trying to get a reaction out of the robot. "Yes." "Did it charm you?" "Is the Hero trying to seduce me and use me as an outlet for his depraved, sinful lust?" "¡­How did you even get that idea?" "I now worry about the Kingdom Soldiers sent with you on the test." Althea spoke in her usual monotonous tone, and in the end, Kael just decided to stay silent. He was never able to deal with this woman anyway; it would be foolish to think he would be able to do so now. "Shall we leave?" He questioned, and Althea nodded. As they made their way towards the great hall, the air carried a faint scent of fine perfumes and the distant sound of music grew louder with every step. Kael''s eyes finally fell on the entrance to the party hall¡ªtall golden doors engraved with detailed designs of legendary beasts and their tamers. The guards, who saw the Hero, pulled the doors open with grace, and the instant Kael and Althea walked in, A wave of warmth, light, and music engulfed them. Overwhelmed, Kael looked around. He had now seen a fair share of grandeur to not be surprised by everything he saw; however, he was still taken aback by the hall. Its high vaulted ceiling was adorned with floating crystal chandeliers that cast a soft golden glow over the festivities. Lavish silk banners in Drakthar''s royal colors hung from the walls, while round tables draped in white and gold were spread across the hall, each hosting nobles, strong warriors, and high-ranking mages. Servants moved between guests, offering trays of delicacies and fine wine. For a brief moment, the chatter and laughter continued without stop, but then one by one, the gazes turned towards the entrance, and in an instant, Silence fell over the place. The Hero was here. Everyone observed Kael, judging him silently. Some talked about his refined appearance, some frowned at his lack of grace, and some just stared at him with curiosity, admiration, and even doubt. Of course, just as the people observed the Hero, he observed them back. Being the center of attention didn''t make him nervous; he seemed used to it now. After all, other than the lavish environment, there wasn''t much difference between this and Estwyn. Kael stepped forward, not worrying about the gazes that lingered on him, then suddenly, "Hero Kael." A melodic voice called out from the crowd, and a figure gracefully made her way toward him. It was Elira. She wore a flowing emerald gown that shined under the candlelight. Her hourglass figure looked nothing short of majestic, her long blonde hair and emerald green eyes looked much different than normal. Yes, she looked breathtaking today. And of course, Kael didn''t forget to praise her. "It looks like you finally took a bath today. How many years has it been?" In an instant, Elira''s smile crumbled, and a vein popped on her forehead. Soon, however, she forced herself to smile and, "It has been a while." "It has indeed." Kael nodded, looking into Elira''s eyes with a playful glint. After all, no one was supposed to know that this woman visited him yesterday. Elira, knowing exactly what the brat was thinking, decided to ignore him. Then, she turned towards Althea and, "You may leave him to me now. I''ll take it from here." "I am supposed to introduce¡ª" Althea tried to reason, but the Court Mage cut her off. "Althea, I know what I am doing. Enjoy the evening." "¡­As you say, Court Mage Elira." The Almoner of Services bowed her head and disappeared into the crowd. Once she left, Kael leaned towards Elira and grinned. "I didn''t know you were the jealous type. To think you would be so oppressive to the women around me. I have to be honest, Elira. I cannot say I like that about you. This sometimes leads to a toxic relationship where the couple ends up having no friends, you know?" At those words, Elira mouth twitched, she then leaned towards Kael and then, "Look forward to your training tomorrow." Yes, it was a straight-up threat. A threat that didn''t work at all. "I will." After all, Kael was actually looking forward to the training tomorrow, he had a surprise prepared for her. "Anyways, this is not why I came to you." The Court Mage quickly shook her head as she took the Hero to a table, then, with a solemn look on her face, she continued, "I came to warn you." Chapter 108 - 108: That’s the Crown Prince, Edric Dragonborn. "I came to warn you." Elira spoke with a solemn look on her face, and at those words, Kael frowned. "What do you mean?" He questioned, lowering his voice to match Elira''s. "This all went out of proportion." "I do not understand. What happened?" Kael was confused. [Can you hear me?] Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire Suddenly, he heard a voice in his head. It didn''t come from any particular direction, it just¡­ rang in his head. It was as if he had high-quality headphones on and was talking to Elira on a call. Seeing Kael''s reaction, Elira got the answer to her question and then continued, [Do you remember when I told you that they are throwing a party for your safe return and mission''s success?] Kael nodded at those words. Even though he was still wondering how the Court Mage was doing that, for now, he decided to focus on what actually mattered. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [I didn''t know every major force from Nerathis was coming today.] Kael''s expression changed. [This isn''t just a small gathering to celebrate your victory, it''s a gathering to show you off to the rest of Nerathis. You are being presented as the ray of hope. I was told that this was supposed to happen in a year. I do not know why this is happening so early.] "Supposed to happen in a year¡­?" Kael frowned. Elira momentarily turned silent, and then, [Drakthar is the strongest and the most balanced Kingdom in all of Nerathis. This was the reason you were summoned here instead of other Kingdoms. You were only supposed to stay in Drakthar for a year. In this year, we were going to assess your talent and help you grow accordingly. Once we had a good idea as to where your talents lie, you would have then been sent to a Kingdom specific to those talents and grow there. If your talents were related to Magic, then you would have been sent to the Magic Empire, Xenthalor, together with your Magic instructor, me.] Elira revealed. Actually, she seemed quite excited when she mentioned her going to Xenthalor. The relationship between Xenthalor and Drakthar was not the best, so usually, she could never visit the Magic Empire. However, if she were to go there as the Hero''s instructor, that changed everything. "So if they are here¡­" Kael muttered with a confused look on his face. Were they here to take him away? He had barely settled in here. Now he needed to settle in some other Kingdom? ''What am I? A fucking vagabond?'' He couldn''t help but curse in his head. Elira, however, shook her head. [Normally, that shouldn''t be the case.] Kael stared at the woman with a frown. [We never knew that you wouldn''t know what your talent would be. It was something we were supposed to find out the moment you were summoned. There was no need to ''assess'' it. Drakthar had no reason to keep you. Normally, we should have found out about your talent and sent you to the respective Kingdom.] "Then why am I¡­" [Status Symbol.] Elira answered, and Kael turned silent. It made sense. Politics was always the same no matter the place, even if the said place was a world that was supposedly facing a threat that could very well mean the end of it. What surprised Kael the most, however, was the fact that even when he was at the very center of politics, he didn''t feel nervous like he normally should. He was taking it very calmly. ''Even I changed, huh¡­'' It was a small moment of realization, which was soon interrupted by the Court Mage''s words. [The Drakthar Kingdom kept you here as a status symbol. To prove that we are the strongest and we have the resources to train you just as well as the so-called ''specialized'' Kingdoms. Giving you away when not even three weeks had passed would ruin the Kingdom''s image. It is highly unlikely that the Kingdom would allow it.] Elira informed. "Then why are they¡­" Kael spoke. He knew that, unlike Elira, others could hear him, so he was keeping his sentences as short as possible. [As I said, they are here for you. To see your progress, to evaluate you.] Elira''s tone then turned solemn, and, [Be careful, Kael. This will bring a lot of attention to you.] Kael''s face nodded at the Court Mage with a solemn look on his face. [I will sta-] Elira wanted to continue, but suddenly, Kael noticed another wave of hush fall over the hall. It was similar to how it happened when he came here. Instinctively, he turned towards the doors, and there, his eyes fell on an extremely handsome man who had just walked in and grabbed all the attention. The man had long purple hair and purple eyes, showing that he was from the Drakthar Royalty. He carried himself with a grace and nobility that surprised even Kael, who never cared about these things. He was wearing a deep crimson high-collared coat, adorned with beautiful gold embroidery of dragons and ancient runes. Beneath the coat was a pristine white silk tunic with gold buttons. With his presence alone, he radiated an aura of command and nobility¡ªan aura that, without him doing anything, was quite overpowering and made the other nobles around bow their heads. [That''s the Crown Prince, Edric Dragonborn.] Elira informed, and the Hero nodded. He knew that already. With how much he had read about the Royal Family, it would be surprising if he didn''t. And finally seeing the Crown Prince he had been hearing and thinking about all this while, Kael was on guard. After all, this man was a possible enemy. An enemy with power. Kael''s eyes turned golden, or so he intended to, but, [Don''t.] Elira warned him, knowing what he was going to do. [Assessing people''s abilities is frowned upon during such gatherings.] Kael nodded in understanding as he stopped himself. He saw as the Crown Prince walked in and was instantly swarmed by the nobles trying to impress him in one way or another. The Prince answered them with a gentle smile on his face. He looked charming. A few minutes later, once he had answered everyone who came to greet him, the Prince''s eyes fell on Kael. Kael stared back. ''A person born to be the King, hard worker, never received his father''s love, overshadowed by his sister in every possible way, his position as the next King came into jeopardy because of his talented sister.'' He thought about everything he knew about the Prince and suddenly, ''I kind of feel bad for him now. I''d probably start my villain arc if I was in his place too.'' Kael thought sarcastically as he stared at the Prince coming towards him. Of course, even when he joked around, in his mind, this man was an enemy. An enemy who could one day hurt his Igni and Cirri. Thinking about it in such a way, Kael steeled his heart and prepared to meet the Prince. "Hero Kael." The Prince called out. "Prince Edric." Kael greeted, and in an instant, "It is Crown Prince Edric." Edric corrected. Yes, this was how the first meeting between the overshadowed Prince and the Hero started. Chapter 109 - 109: Crown Princes Charm. "Hero Kael." The Prince called out. "Prince Edric." Kael greeted, and in an instant¡ª "It is Crown Prince Edric." Edric corrected, and the Hero stared at him as if trying to read his expression. "Ah, I apologize. I am still new to all this, Crown Prince Edric." "Hahaha~" The Crown Prince laughed. "You have far grander things to worry about, Hero. A title is just a formality. You can call me anything you desire." He smiled as he stared at Kael. Kael raised his eyebrow before he quickly shook his head and continued his act. "No, I understand how important a title is and the work one puts in to earn it¡ªrespecting it is the least I can do." Edric paused for a moment, then, he shook his head. "I didn''t earn this title, Hero Kael. I was born into it." He answered in a low voice. "Now, I fight to live up to it. To not let my Kingdom down." The Prince then looked straight at the Hero. "And if we''re speaking of titles, yours bears far greater weight than mine. While I must protect my Kingdom, you carry the fate of all of Nerathis on your shoulders." A small smile appeared on Edric''s face and, "You need not concern yourself with trivial matters like respecting titles. You are above that, Hero Kael." He spoke. There was no mockery. No jealousy. Just a quiet confidence that¡­ unsettled Kael. Still, he nodded, returning the Prince''s smile. "I will be honest." Edric''s tone shifted, becoming more personal. "When you were first summoned, I doubted you. How could I not? You are a child. A stranger to our world. Leaving the fate of my world in your hands made me feel irresponsible, weak even." Kael''s expression changed at those words. The Prince, however, wasn''t done yet. "But then I heard what you did in Estwyn, and I realized how wrong I was." Edric''s expression softened. "You were strong, courageous, and a leader who led everyone who followed him to an overwhelming victory. And I highly doubt anyone else could have done better." Kael blinked. What...? "You are the Hero chosen by Lord Feraos, Kael. You saved Estwyn. And I am certain you will save Nerathis too." Then, with a slight incline of his head¡ª "I apologize for doubting you." Edric spoke, and¡ª Kael froze. His mind couldn''t process what just happened. ''The fuck is this?'' This wasn''t going according to the script he had in his mind at all! ''Where is the arrogant and prideful Young Master who is secretly jealous of the main character, who has attracted all the attention? Isn''t he supposed to taunt me or make some sarcastic remarks to put me down and feel good about himself?'' Kael studied Edric again. ''¡­Is he just good at hiding it?'' Then¡ª [Hero Kael.] Kael stopped as a voice rang in his mind. It wasn''t Elira. It was the Crown Prince. He was using the same method as Elira to make sure others did not hear him. [Be careful today.] Kael''s eyes narrowed. A threat? [Since you''re with Court Mage Elira, I assume she told you about today''s guests.] Edric paused briefly and continued after Kael''s careful nod. [More than a few of them will try to challenge you, wanting to test your strength. I won''t tell you to decline¡ªthat''s your choice. But know this: you will be watched. And not all the eyes on you today are friendly.] Kael remained silent. Elira had said the same thing. The Crown Prince¡­ He was... warning him? But... wasn''t he the enemy? Why would he warn him? Was this an act to gain his trust? Or was Edric actually looking out for him? There were too many questions in Kael''s head and no clear answers. [Of course, you need not worry.] Edric spoke again, his tone reassuring. [No matter what happens, the Drakthar Kingdom will protect you. You can rely on us. But¡ªit will be wise to keep some trump cards hidden, just in case.] Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire Despite the thousand thoughts racing through his head, Kael nodded, with a grateful look on his face. [We''ve been silent for too long. Speak.] Kael snapped out of his reverie and let out a chuckle. "Ah, no¡ªplease don''t apologize. I understand how you must have felt. If I were in your place, I would have doubted myself too." Edric shook his head at those words. "You have no reason to doubt yourself. I refuse to believe there could be a better Hero than you." "¡­I hope to live up to your expectations." "That puts my mind at ease, Hero Kael." Edric smiled. "This evening is for you. Enjoy it." Edric turned to Elira and smiled charmingly. "And with you by his side, Court Mage Elira, I am even more assured." Elira smiled back. "You think too highly of me, Crown Prince Edric." After a few more pleasantries, the Prince finally left. Silence settled over Kael and Elira''s table. Elira sipped her drink. "What''s wrong?" She questioned. "Nothing, I just have a lot on my mind." Kael answered, and at his words, Elira just smiled. "It is not unusual. This is how one feels when they talk to the Crown Prince. He has a certain¡­ charm." Kael stared at the Court Mage, and she shrugged. [I told you, didn''t I? He is not incompetent, nor is he easy to figure out. Even I, who have been in the Royal Palace all my life, haven''t figured him out yet. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Why do you think I am unsure of whether he is actually behind Lavinia''s fall or not? At one point, he has every reason to do so, but when you talk to him, you feel like¡ªhow could he do it? It is a never-ending cycle of confusion.] "¡­" Kael stayed silent. He could very much relate to her words. Even he was doubting whether the Crown Prince was behind it all or not. Bam Bam Bam Suddenly, a voice brought Kael out of his reverie. Then¡ª "Guests from other Kingdoms are here." Elira informed, her expression solemn. ... A/N: *Edric Dragonborn* *Alden Dragonborn* Chapter 110 - 110: The Guests. "Guests from other Kingdoms are here." Elira informed as the Grand Doors of the Hall swung open, and the Herald''s voice echoed throughout the chamber. "Representing the Kingdom of Warriors, Eryndor, The Commander of the Silver Bastion, Lord Cedric Vaelmont." A towering man in full ceremonial armor stepped into the hall. "¡­" Kael observed the man, speechless. ''Who in the hell comes into the party wearing¡­ that?'' He looked around and noticed no one else seemed surprised by the attire. Heck, he could see Arlan, who was sitting at the table next to him, looking at the man with shining eyes. ''What the hell? He''s acting like a little girl seeing her idol. Wait... Is this why he likes little girls so much? Is it some sort of self-reflection?'' Kael chuckled inwardly. Then suddenly, he heard a voice. [You know about Eryndor Kingdom, correct?] Elira questioned. Kael nodded lightly. He had been reading about this world for a while now, so he had a rough idea regarding the major powers here. Eryndor Kingdom was one of those powers and Drakthar''s ally. A Kingdom of Warriors, they are located southwest of Drakthar. As apparent from their name, the kingdom is known for the strength of its warriors. Yes, almost everyone born in this Kingdom is blessed with a strong physique suitable to become a Warrior, and they are extremely proud of it too. Eryndor emphasizes chivalry, honor, and discipline. Unlike Drakthar, mages are not valued here. They only focus on cultivating strong warriors and consider mages to be cowards who only hide behind their Bonds. "I would choose to face death alongside my Bonds in battle rather than hide behind them, casting spells as they bear the brunt of the battle. Our strength lies in unity, and I refuse to let my children face danger alone." It was one of the few most popular quotes said by the Founder of Eryndor, Lord Varian Eryndor. [Well then, let me brief you about Cedric Vaelmont. He is known for his sternness, discipline, and unyieldingness. He is also one of the strongest warriors in all of Nerathis, a Ninth Stage Warrior. Treat him with respect when you talk to him.] ''When I talk to him?'' Kael frowned at those words, but then he noticed Cedric and the three knights following him heading towards him. The Hero turned towards Elira and blinked in surprise. ''I-I am supposed to talk to all of them?'' Elira just smiled and nodded. "Hero Kael." Cedric called out. Kael quickly stood up and gave a courteous bow. "Lord Cedric." Cedric''s presence was overwhelming, even more than Marshal Therian''s. "I heard how you protected the people in Estwyn Town. You did well." Cedric praised, and Kael smiled back. "It was something I was supposed to do." "It was indeed. It is the duty of a Warrior to protect those around him." "Right¡­" Kael smiled. "I look forward to your performance today." ''Performance?'' Kael frowned. ''Some will challenge you, testing your strength.'' He then recalled Edric''s words, and his expression turned solemn. ''He talks as if I have no choice but to accept the challenges.'' Kael then glanced at the Warriors following Cedric. Two of them looked quite young. ''Are they here to challenge me?'' He wondered in his head. Honestly, he was tempted to use the Eye of the Ancient, but since Elira told him not to, he decided to trust the Mage and hold back. "Thank you, Lord Cedric." Kael just smiled. Cedric nodded. He glanced at Elira and nodded respectfully. Yes, the Eryndor Warriors looked down on mages, but Drakthar was an ally, they wouldn''t act rude in front of them. The mage nodded back and Cedric left. He stopped and exchanged a few pleasantries with the Crown Prince before he finally moved towards his seat, where the Eryndor delegation awaited him and the others. Bam Bam Bam The moment Cedric settled down, the drums echoed again, and the Herald introduced, "Representing the Dreamland of all Merchants, the Grand Council of Gold. One of the Councilmen, Merchant Dorian Voss." A man in an exquisite black-and-gold coat entered next. His fingers were filled with rings of sapphire and ruby. His black eyes gleamed with intelligence, and a playful, very-merchanty smirk on his face showed Kael how cunning this man was. Unlike Cedric, he didn''t bring any other companions, only his servants, who followed and protected him. Clearly, the man wasn''t here to pick a fight. Kael sighed in relief, however, he was still surprised. ''One of the Councilmen, eh? Didn''t think they would send someone like him here.'' Unlike the rest of the Kingdoms, with nobles, royal families, and whatnot, the Grand Council of Gold had a different structure of power. Located at the very centre of Nerathis and to the east of Drakthar, the Council of Gold thrived on trade, banking, and diplomacy. Unlike other kingdoms, its power lay in gold, commerce, and political maneuvering rather than military strength. It didn''t matter where the wealth came from; if it gave them gold, the merchants there would make a deal even with the vilest beings in Nerathis. It was an attitude generally looked down upon by the rest of Nerathis, but since they held almost all the power over the economy, no other power could do anything against them without a strong reason. "Hero Kael, the rising star of Nerathis." Merchant Dorian greeted with a wide grin on his face. "What a pleasure to finally meet the man everyone is praising¡­ or fearing." Kael raised an eyebrow at those words. "Fearing?" He questioned out loud. "Nothing, nothing." Dorian chuckled. "Just think of it as some old man''s blabbering." "You do not look old to me." "Hahaha~ You are good with words. An important quality one needs to be a merchant. How about it? Would you like to give it a shot?" "And who do you think is going to protect you once the Hero becomes a Merchant? Or are you going to bribe your way out of death?" Elira snorted. "Court Mage Elira~" Dorian smiled like he was meeting an old friend. "As witty as always, I see." "This is my first time meeting you." "Well, I come from the Grand Council of Gold, Court Mage Elira. We never meet someone for the first time." Dorian smiled with a meaningful look on his face. "As for bribing my way out of death, I might try that when the time comes. Thank you for the idea." "That''s bold." Kael commented. "What can I say? Merchants like us need to be bold, else we won''t make it in this harsh world." Dorian smiled as he then nodded at Kael. "Well, they told me I cannot take more of your time, so I will be taking my leave now. I will say this one thing, though. If ever you find yourself in need of¡­ resources, let''s just say, our coffers are always open to lucrative investments." The merchant winked as he made his way towards the merchant delegation, and as he settled down, Bam Bam Bam Drums rolled again. It was time for another guest to make an appearance, and Kael¡­ He just sighed with a tired look on his face. ''I swear to God, this is the last party I am going to attend.'' Yes, the party hadn''t even started yet, and the Hero was already exhausted. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 111 - 111: The Guests. 2 "Representing the Sky Kingdom, Zephyria, The Sky Serpent General, Lady Aurelia Stormborn." The herald introduced, and a beautiful woman walked in. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just like Cedric, she came in wearing silver armor. Her armor, however, seemed lighter than Cedric''s, as if it was made for swift and fluid battles. ''These people are a little too comfortable in their armors, aren''t they? It is almost as if a war might break out here.'' The moment he thought of those words, Kael shook his head. It was a fucking magic world. Anything he said might come true. There was no need to raise foolish flags. He wasn''t one of those protagonists. ''Anyways, the Sky Kingdom.'' Kael quickly changed his line of thought and focused on the kingdom that attracted his attention the most. Yes, he was in a fantasy world. Tamers, warriors, and mages, all of this was something he had heard of before. Of course, all of those had their own charm, but¡­ The Kingdom that floated in the air definitely charmed him the most. Yes, Zephyria was that kingdom, a mysterious Kingdom based on floating islands and sky cities that dominated the landscape. Zephyria relied on wind magic, flying beasts, and aerial combat. They remained neutral in most conflicts, but they weren''t a force to be messed with. Their airborne units were a nightmare to deal with. Thinking about that, Kael turned towards Elira, wanting some information. He could still deal with Dorian without much information, but the Sky Serpent General seemed to hold an important title. He felt like he couldn''t ignore this woman. [She is one of the strongest Generals in Nerathis, and it goes without saying that she is a Ninth Stage Warrior. She is better than Lord Cedric, who is known for his sternness. She is free-spirited. Of course, don''t offend her. Together with free-spiritedness, she is also deadly. She can push someone like you to death with a flick of her finger.] Kael''s mouth twitched at those words. He, however, wasn''t given enough time to react. "Hero Kael." Aurelia called out, and then, she grinned. "I heard you flew on top of a Luminark in Estwyn and killed quite a few flying beasts." "I was lucky." Kael replied courteously, but¡ª "Oh, come on~" Aurelia laughed as she grabbed the boy like he was her longtime buddy and pulled him close to her chest, something Kael would have enjoyed a lot more if she wasn''t wearing metal armor. "That''s no luck! For a Bond that wasn''t even your own to allow you to sit on it, it must have liked you quite a lot! You know, flying beasts'' instincts are much sharper than normal beasts. It is said that if one is liked by the flying beasts, he can be trusted. I''ll look forward to your growth and the day we fly together, Hero Kael. Nerathis needs you." It was a form of approval. The Sky Serpent General approved of Kael, something that even Elira found surprising. How could a Ninth Stage Warrior place her trust in someone based on stories she had only heard? The Court Mage had no clue. "I-I will try and stand up to your expectations." Kael answered with a stutter. Courtesy was the least of his problems right now. He could barely breathe because of how strongly the woman was grabbing him from the other side of the table. The scene was almost comical. As if noticing that he was uncomfortable, the General finally let him go. Kael rubbed his neck in pain. The General, however, wasn''t done yet. "Also, these children of mine would like to challenge you to a duel." "Y-Your children?" Kael blinked in surprise as he stared at the woman in front of him. She had a clean face and long sky-blue hair. Yes, she had the charm of an older woman, but she still looked in her early thirties. The so-called ''children'' she pointed at looked the same age as her. "Oh, come now, don''t be foolish. They are part of my squadron." Knowing what he was thinking, Aurelia quickly clarified. "Do I look old enough to have children?" She raised her eyebrow, and Kael''s face twitched. How is everyone he meets so fucking shameless? "Of course not. This is why I was so surprised. You looked younger than me. I thought I missed a major part of my life." Of course, Kael was even more shameless. And at his words, Aurelia grinned. "I like you, Hero Kael." "I like you too." Kael bowed courteously. "I will tell my children to go easy on you." "Please don''t say it like that. It makes it difficult for me to process your words." "Hahaha~ Alright, alright." With a hearty laugh, the Sky Serpent General turned and strode toward the Zephyrian seats after nodding at the Crown Prince. Kael sighed inwardly, but then suddenly, [Be prepared.] He heard Elira''s solemn voice. Then, the herald announced, "Representing the Magic Empire, Xenthalor, Tower Head of the Fire Tower, Selene Valcroft." The instant those words echoed throughout the hall, silence fell over. Kael could see the tension building up as a beautiful woman, clad in dark violet robes embroidered with golden runes, walked in with grace and pride. She had long black hair and violet eyes that seemed to shimmer with energy. The moment the Tower Head''s eyes fell on Kael, he felt Elira grabbing his hand firmly. And he wasn''t surprised by that action. The relationship between Xenthalor and Drakthar wasn''t the best. Xenthalor was a kingdom ruled by mages, a kingdom where magic was everything. They were the complete opposite of Eryndor and thought of warriors as inferior brutes who only knew how to swing their weapons. What''s worse? Their hate for warriors was much stronger than Eryndor''s hate for mages, so much so that Xenthalor had a complicated relationship with both Drakthar and Eryndor because the two kingdoms had warriors in their ranks. [Selene Valcroft, Ninth Circle Mage, arrogant and prideful. She i-] Before Elira could finish, Selene raised a hand and, with a snap of her fingers, the Court Mage''s voice was abruptly cut off. "Hero Kael, it is rude to talk to your Lady Companion while you greet people." Selene spoke with a light smile on her face. Chapter 112 - 112: Selene Valcroft [Selene Valcroft, Ninth Circle Mage, arrogant and prideful. She i-] Before Elira could finish, Selene raised a hand and, with a snap of her fingers, the Court Mage''s voice was abruptly cut off, "Hero Kael, it is rude to talk to your Lady Companion while you greet people." Selene spoke as she looked into Kael''s eyes. The Hero narrowed his eyes at her words. He momentarily glanced at Elira, and the Court Mage shook her head. Kael was on his own. "I apologize if I offended you in any way, Tower Head Selene. It is just that you are so important that I cannot afford to make any mistakes here. I didn''t wish to offend you, so Instructor Elira was telling me about your achievements to make sure I showed proper respect to you." A condescending smirk appeared on Selene''s face when she heard those words, "Did you just call her Instructor? A Seventh Circle Mage?" Selene then looked around, as if gathering everyone''s attention, and, "So the Hope of Nerathis is now learning from a mere Seventh Circle Mage? And here I thought the Drakthar Kingdom would make sure the Hero is learning under the very best, or¡­ Is this the best the Strongest Kingdom can do?" Selene spoke, and a heavy silence fell over the place. It was just like everyone expected, the moment the Tower Head walked in, things stirred up. Elira lowered her head, her hands trembling. There was a lot she wanted to say, but she couldn''t. After all, the person in front of her was the Tower Head of the Fire Tower. In the Xenthalor Kingdom, where the Magic reigned supreme and the Four Towers had power right below the Emperor himself, Selene''s status was no different than a Duke''s. If Elira offended her at a party the Drakthar Kingdom was hosting, it might very well lead to a war between the two forces. Something that Elira could never take responsibility for, especially right now, when Nerathis is in such a critical situation. Even Arlan, who would usually jump at whoever talked to his sister like this, was sitting at his table with a trembling body as his subordinates held him back. But¡­ Kael had no such reservations. "Actually," The Hero stared at the Tower Head in front of him, his eyes had long turned golden. "I would rather have Instructor Elira teach me Magic than anyone else. I have an easier time looking up to her because she is someone my age. I mean, just think about it, There are countless high-level Mages in their 80s. What''s so special about them even if they are strong? They are old; they are supposed to be strong, no? They had all the time in the world to reach that level. But then there''s Instructor Elira, so young, yet already strong enough that even higher-level mages feel threatened by her and feel the need to belittle her. How inspiring is that?" Kael turned towards Elira. The Court Mage stared back at him in disbelief, and he just smiled and, "If I choose to become a Mage, I would rather be like Instructor Elira than¡­ Anyone else." By the end of his sentence, his eyes were back on Selene. Yes, he was sending a very clear message. A message that made a lot of sense, especially to those who knew a bit about the Tower Head. [Name: Selene Valcroft] [Race: Human] [Age: 83] [Level: 84] [Strength: 70] [Agility: 72] [Speed: 80] [Stamina: 125] [Defense: 85] [Mana: 250] [Intelligence: 230] [Charisma: 120] [Strengths: Supreme mastery of fire magic, near-limitless mana, strong presence on the battlefield] [Weaknesses: -] ¡­ "¡­" Silence. Absolute silence fell over the place. Every single person turned towards Kael''s table. Arlan and Elira were frozen still in their place, As for Selene¡­ "Did you just¡­ use an ability to gauge me?" The Tower Head questioned, her voice threateningly low. At her words, Kael raised his eyebrows in shock as he touched his eye, as if he just realized what he had done. "Ah, I apologize. It is a force of habit. I do that when I get too excited. I still haven''t learned much about table manners, you see? I spend most of my time trying to get stronger, so these abilities are somewhat ingrained into me. Quite surprising, considering I have only been in this world for less than three weeks. I guess we can say my instructors are doing a great job." Kael chuckled. "You spend most of your time getting stronger, huh?" Selene spoke as her piercing violet eyes stared at the Hero. "Doesn''t sound like it when you praise your Instructor''s young age rather than their Magic Capabilities. It almost sounds like, rather than training, you focus more on spending time with women your age." "Did it really sound like that?" Kael smiled. "The Tower Head Selene must be as exceptional of a Magic Instructor as she is a mage, huh?" "I do not deny that." "Mhm, I look forward to meeting one of your students¡ªstudents who became Second Circle Mages within 2 weeks of your tutoring." Kael grinned, and Elira couldn''t contain her smile anymore. The more he spoke, the more Elira''s expressions changed. For the first time, she was liking this brat''s foul mouth. She stared at Selene and, ''Take that, you bitch! This is the mouth I had to deal with for the last few weeks every single day!'' Yes, even the Mage''s thoughts were very misleading. Elira, however, didn''t care about what her thoughts would sound like. She just stared at Kael, and a beautiful smile appeared on her face. To think this brat would stand up for her. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''I guess he is someone like that, huh¡­'' The more she thought about it, the more she realized it wasn''t out of the brat''s character. After all, this is the same man who is working hard day and night, trying to protect people he doesn''t even know. Elira''s beautiful smile widened as she thought about it. Tower Head Selene, however, wasn''t as amused as the Court Mage. "So this is what it is about, isn''t it? She would think she is better than others just because she received a few of the most talented mages as her students, but¡­" Selene glanced at Kael and, "Do you know what happened to her previous student?" Kael frowned when he heard that question. Previous student? What? He knew Elira had quite a lot of students, but¡­ Who was she talking about? "That child was quite bright as well. They used to call her the Future of Magic." Selene chuckled. "And where do you think she is right now? Oh wait, You wouldn''t know. You wouldn''t even know who I am referring to because these people erased her existence." Elira''s body trembled as she heard those words, clearly, these words had more effect on her than whatever foolish remarks Selene made before. Her reaction, however, only made Selene''s grin even wider, and, "What did your instructor do when her prized student ended up that way? Why did she not protect her? How can one call herself an Instructor when she couldn''t even protect their own student?" Chapter 113 - 113: I think you have said more than enough, Tower Head Selene. "What did your instructor do when her prized student ended up that way? Why did she not protect her? sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. How could one call herself an Instructor when they couldn''t even protect her own Student?" Selene spoke with a wide grin on her face, and Kael¡­ He could only stare at her with utter confusion. After all, he didn''t know anything about the student she was talking about. Yes, even now, he had to keep the act, or else Elira would be in even more trouble. "You have no clue what I am talking about, do you?" Seeing his reaction, Selene grinned even more. It was finally her turn to get back at the disrespectful brat. Petty? Yes, she was. Heck, the boy was lucky this wasn''t Xenthalor. Hero or not, he''d be long dead if he had talked to her that way in the Empire. "Guess you cannot just focus on strength alone, can you?" Then, the Tower Head assumed a noble, benevolent pose and, "Take it as a lesson, Hero. Strength alone will not help you. Try to dig things around you, doubt your friends and enemies alike, notice their behavior, perceive the changes, and learn to adapt and react accordingly. Only then would you be able to survive. You are in a Royal Palace, Hero. While it may look stable and safe from the outside, there are a lot of secrets buried here. Secrets that sho-" "I think you have said more than enough, Tower Head Selene." Before Selene could complete, a voice was heard. It was the Crown Prince. Honestly, he wanted to stand up and stop the woman before, but she was a guest, and if he acted prematurely, Drakthar''s reputation might have been affected, especially since most of the major powers of the world were here. However, while the Crown Prince was hesitant to act, this didn''t mean he was scared. He was being respectful, but since the other person was continuously testing his boundaries, he had to act. If he didn''t, the Kingdom would appear weak, and he could not allow that. "Please take your seat." Edric walked towards Selene and stood right in front of her. "Oh? I expected this from the Hero since he is new to this world, but for even the Crown Prince to act so disrespectfully, do they not teach you how to act in front of your betters in the Drakthar Kingdom?" Selene narrowed her eyes threateningly, trying to intimidate Edric, but, The Crown Prince was used to this. "We show adequate respect to all our guests, but that is till the guests respect the boundaries of being one. If they cross it." Edric looked right into Selene''s eyes and, "We are not afraid to cross the boundaries that shouldn''t be crossed." Heavy pressure descended onto the hall. This was supposed to be a joyful gathering¡­ But¡­ Why did it look like two of the strongest forces would declare war on each other? "Can you take responsibility for your words, Crown Prince? Your position isn''t exactly stable yet." Tower Head Selene questioned, and at those words, Edric just chuckled, "I very well can. After all, we weren''t in the wrong here, and we have all the witnesses we need to prove that. Actually, I''ll ask the same question to you, Tower Head Selene. Can you take responsibility for what is going to happen because of your arrogance?" "¡­" Selene turned silent at those words. She could feel it too; she had gone too far. The Hero''s words had affected her more than she thought... Edric smiled at her silence, "I suggest you go to your seat, Tower Head Selene. You have already spent more time than what was allotted to you. Pope Altheran must be waiting." Selene stayed silent for a moment, and then¡­ She walked away. "And Lady Selene." Edric called out again. Selene paused, turned towards him, and the prince continued, "We are the Drakthar Kingdom. We have no betters." He declared with a confidence so strong that it was almost palpable. "Is that so?" At those words, Selene just chuckled, her disdain couldn''t be hidden, something that made Edric frown. The Tower Head, however, didn''t say anything else and walked away, settling on the seats assigned to her and her people. Edric stared at her for a while. Then, he turned towards Kael and Elira and nodded at them. The two nodded back, but their reactions were much more solemn than Edric had expected, especially the Hero''s. Edric narrowed his eyes. This¡­ wasn''t good. Selene had brought up the topic she shouldn''t have... He... He didn''t know how the Hero would act now... Right now, however, Edric had not choice but to continue the banquet. He turned towards the herald and nodded. Drums rolled again, and, "Representing the Church of Feraos, Pope Altheran." The party continued, but Kael''s table was oddly silent, with both Kael and Elira lost in their thoughts. It was difficult to read Elira''s face. Kael, however, was¡­ glad. It was a much more eventful day than he had expected. Yes, too many things happened, and Elira seemed a bit down, but¡­ It wasn''t all bad. Selene made it easier for the Hero to learn about Princess Lavinia, and her actions also made the Crown Prince slip up. All this while, the Crown Prince''s true face had been a mystery to him but now... That man didn''t make a move when Elira was being ridiculed, but the instant Selene started the topic of the Princess, he stopped her. It was almost as if he didn''t want the Hero to know about the Princess. As if¡­ he was trying to hide something. An action one would expect from the perpetrator. Kael had his doubts before. His first interaction with the Crown Prince had confused him, but now, things were becoming much more¡­ apparent. The Crown Prince was looking a lot more like the hidden enemy he had been trying to find. At the same time, his trust in Elira was rising. Friends and Enemies¡ªhis choices were becoming clearer and clearer now. And that wasn''t it. The most valuable thing Kael saw today was¡­ the world''s true strength. A Ninth Circle Mage, a Powerhouse capable of creating calamities. He saw her stats, and Selene wasn''t the only one he now had information on. When he was turning towards Elira, his gaze lingered on three other guests, and he used that opportunity to look at their status. [Name: Cedric Vaelmont] [Race: Human] [Age: 75] [Level: 88] [Strength: 210] [Agility: 165] [Speed: 170] [Stamina: 180] [Defense: 195] [Mana: 80] [Intelligence: 145] [Charisma: 180] [Strengths: Supreme Combat Prowess, Unyielding Resilience, Overwhelming Power, Master of Battlefield, Tactical Genius, Commanding Aura] [Weaknesses: -] ¡­ [Name: Aurelia Stormborn] [Race: Human] [Age: 56] [Level: 82] [Strength: 135] [Agility: 200] [Speed: 190] [Stamina: 170] [Defense: 140] [Mana: 75] [Intelligence: 140] [Charisma: 170] [Strengths: Supreme Combat Prowess, Untouchable, Precise Killer, Master of Battlefield, Tactical Genius, Commanding Aura] [Weaknesses: -] ¡­ [Name: Dorian Voss] [Race: Human] [Age: 52] [Level: 45] [Strength: 35] [Agility: 40] [Speed: 38] [Stamina: 50] [Defense: 40] [Mana: 120] [Intelligence: 140] [Charisma: 150] [Strengths: Supreme Silver Tongued, Strong Magic, Master Negotiator] [Weaknesses: Physically Weak, No Combat Ability] ¡­ Yes, he now had information on beings the people of this world call the strongest¡ªa goal for him to follow and¡­ Surpass. "That is a good look to have, Hero Kael." While Kael was lost in his thoughts, another man appeared in front of him¡ªsomeone he knew. "Pope Altheran." It was the first man he had met when he was summoned to this world. Chapter 114 - 114: Another Hero. "That is a good look to have, Hero Kael." "Pope Altheran, it is good to see you again." Kael smiled at the man. "Likewise." The Pope smiled. "I am sure you are already tired by everything that happened, so I will not take more of your time." "Haha~ That is not true. This is still within my expectations." Kael laughed, and seeing him act like that, the Pope''s smile widened. "It is like you are a different man than you were when I first saw you. You were so¡­ confused back then. Using strange words like ''Info Dump'', ''Isekai''. It looked like you still believed that you were in a dream." "Hahaha~ I did think I was dreaming. After all, this isn''t something that happens to you every day." "Indeed." The Pope nodded. "But you are handling yourself quite well, much better than anyone had ever expected. To think you have already grown enough to save an entire town within a few weeks. As expected of the Hero chosen by Lord Feraos." Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire "You overpraise me." Kael smiled politely. "No, Hero. I do not. I have heard about how hard you have pushed yourself. Your growth isn''t related to your talent alone. It is the combination of your talent and the blood, sweat, hard work, and determination you have shown. To do all this for a world and people you do not know¡ªall of this doesn''t just deserve simple praise, what you are doing for us has far surpassed whatever we could do for you in return. Thank you, Hero." The Pope then bowed his head and, "Thank you for being the Hero Nerathis needs." Another wave of hush fell over the hall. Only that this time, it wasn''t tense. It was filled with awe, surprise, and¡­ respect. Kael quickly held the Pope, stopping him midway. "Pope Altheran, please. I am doing what I am supposed to do. You do not have to do this." He smiled. Then, as if he recalled something, he questioned, "Though I do have one question that I would like an answer to." "Please ask." "When I was summoned here¡­ I wasn''t the only one who had that magic circle beneath me. My friend was the same. I assumed that he was also summoned here, but no matter how much I tried to look for him, I was unable to find or hear any news of him. Do you know something about this?" Kael questioned, and hearing his question, the Pope frowned. "Another Hero?" Kael nodded. The Pope, however, shook his head. "That shouldn''t be¡­ There can be only one Hero, and that Hero is you." Kael''s expression changed when he heard those words. He momentarily turned towards Elira, and the Mage nodded, understanding what he wanted. In an instant, a sound barrier was created around them, and the Hero questioned directly. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Is it possible that some other force summoned a Hero as well? If that is the case, I might be able to get in contact with that Hero, and if the two of us work together, things would become much simpler." "That¡­ shouldn''t be possible." The Pope shook his head again. "The resources required to summon a Hero are exorbitant. Not to mention, one requires Lord Feraos''s blessing to even try summoning a Hero. If some other force somehow got Lord Feraos''s blessing, the Church of Feraos should know about it." "Is it possible for any other force to get Lord Feraos''s blessing?" "As I said, if they somehow did, we would know about it." "So it is possible." Kael spoke, and it didn''t take long for the Pope to understand Kael''s line of thought. He, however, wasn''t offended. He just smiled and, "It is good that you think that way, Hero Kael. And yes, it might be possible for another force to get Lord Feraos''s blessing. After all, the Church only serves Lord Feraos. We were never able to understand his actions. However, if there is one thing we are certain about, it is that Lord Feraos will do what is right for Nerathis. So if there is another Hero out there, it is good for us." The Pope assured. "Has it happened before? Lord Feraos blessing another force?" Kael questioned. "Lord Feraos loves us. He blesses humans all the time, but blessing an entire force with enough energy to summon a Hero? That has never happened before. And you should already know this, Hero Kael, you are the first Hero we have proper records of, so I am as much in the dark about the matter as you are." "I understand." Kael nodded and smiled inwardly as he confirmed his thoughts. Hero summoning sounded like a pretty big deal¡ªlots of resources, Feraos''s blessing, and whatnot. Sure, some other force might be able to get all this, but¡­ There was never a possibility of there being just one other Hero. Kael still remembered it clearly. Excluding Mark and the Security Guard, he saw tens of people¡ªstudents and teachers alike¡ªall having that circle beneath them. If all of them were summoned to Nerathis, this matter could never be hidden. He had also talked about this with Elira, and the Court Mage shook her head as well. There was no news of there being another Hero, and Kael believed it. Then why ask the question? Well, he just wanted to divert the attention that he had been receiving. The possibility of there being another Hero¡­ there is no way these nosy nobles, who were eavesdropping on every conversation, would miss such a detail. Kael even had Elira create the barrier to attract even more attention. And seeing the looks on the nobles'' faces as they looked at them, Kael''s inward grin widened even further. Yes, they tried to hide it¡ªlooking around, continuing their conversation as if they respected the Hero''s decision to have a private talk with the Pope¡ªbut Kael knew it. It worked. At the very least, he would get some breathing space with this. With his goal accomplished, Kael turned towards Elira and nodded again. The Court Mage removed the barrier, and he smiled at the Pope, "Thank you for answering my questions, Pope Altheran." Chapter 115 - 115: Today is a grand day... "Thank you for answering my questions, Pope Altheran." Kael smiled, and the Pope smiled back. "This is the least I could do for you, Hero Kael. Please take care and..." The Pope''s expression then changed as he momentarily glanced at Selene before turning back. "Don''t take everyone''s words seriously." Saying those words, the Pope left, and Kael raised his eyebrow. This was... Odd. From what he knew, the Church of Feraos was a neutral faction. Yes, it had its own base at the very north, quite a large one at that, but as the sole religion of Nerathis, it remained neutral in conflicts. The Pope... shouldn''t be showing such apparent antagonism towards Selene. Was he dissatisfied by the scene she caused? No, as mentioned, the Church of Feraos was a neutral faction, and this possibly couldn''t be the first time Selene had done something like this. Everyone here expected something like this to some extent. Then... Was the Pope standing up for him? That was one possibility. To get another perspective, he turned towards Elira. Once again, the Court Mage realized what he was thinking and nodded lightly. [On paper, the relationship between the Church of Feraos and Xenthalor is neutral since the people of Xenthalor are all Tamers and believe in Lord Feraos. But... Xenthalor is ruled by Mages. Almost every person in power there is a Mage, and by nature, Mages are curious beings who thrive on doubt, possibilities, and stubbornness. Can this be done this way? Why can''t it be done this way? I can make it happen this way. This is how Mages grow, by doubting and challenging everything. And since they doubt everything... Lord Feraos isn''t an exception.] Kael turned towards Elira and raised his eyebrow. The Court Mage, however, wasn''t done yet. [Does Lord Feraos actually exist? Yes, he blesses humans with talent, relics, and other gifts, but... who is to know if the one doing all this is Lord Feraos or something entirely different? Is Lord Feraos conscious? Is Lord Feraos truly on humanity''s side? If he is, then why does evil exist? Why doesn''t he purge all the evil? Why is it the good that suffers and the evil that thrives? Why doesn''t Lord Feraos intervene with wars, genocides, and other natural disasters where countless lives are lost? Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. All these questions are often asked, especially by the curious Mages. And while there are some counterarguments and things that cannot be explained without believing in the existence of Lord Feraos, looking at it from the Mages'' point of view, believing in an entity that has never once revealed itself is... foolishness. For the Empire that is run by Mages, it is not difficult to assume the its stance on the Church of Feraos and Lord Feraos.] Elira explained, and Kael turned silent. This... made some sense. Actually, it was similar to how things were back in his own world. The existence of God is doubted even in a fantasy world. ''How amusing.'' Kael muttered inwardly, then suddenly, another question popped into his head. "What about you? What do you think?" He questioned as he glanced at Elira. The Court Mage paused for a moment and then, [I understand their line of thought. In fact, most Mages in the Drakthar Kingdom do.] Kael frowned at those words. The relationship between the Church of Feraos and Drakthar was quite close, so he didn''t expect it. [But unlike Xenthalor, our Kingdom isn''t run by Mages alone. Opposite to Mages, most Warriors believe in the existence of Feraos. They like to believe there is a force above, a being stronger than anyone, a being... they would like to surpass one day. Quite a brutish thought, but in one way or another, it is their way of showing their faith in the Lord. Because of this, Drakthar Kingdom is more on the neutral side. Well, maybe we are more inclined towards believing in his existence than doubting it. After all, at the end of the day, we are all Tamers.] Elira smiled, and Kael nodded in understanding. He glanced at Cedric, the Commander from the Kingdom of Warriors, and Elira nodded. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire [Yes, this is also the reason Eryndor, the Kingdom of Warriors, is considered closest to the Church.] Kael nodded in understanding. As for the Grand Council of Gold, he didn''t even have to think about their stance. They wouldn''t care. As long as Lord Feraos''s name made them money, they would believe in him. If not, they would not. ''Heh, why do I like those money-grubbing bastards the most out of everyone here?'' Kael laughed inwardly, then a meaningful look appeared on his face. ''Maybe because they are the only ones I can somewhat trust, huh... After all, me being a Hero is great business for them.'' Kael glanced at Dorian, and the merchant, who sensed his gaze, smiled flatteringly, doing everything he could to get in his good books. "Heh." Kael just smiled back. Bam Bam Bam Then suddenly, the drums rolled again, this time, much louder than before, and in an instant, Kael''s expression changed. He, together with all the others, stood up, showing their respect for the final figure that was about to arrive. "His Majesty, The King of Drakthar, Alden Dragonborn!" The Herald announced, and silence fell all over the place. Not a single being dared to interrupt the entrance of the King. And then, a tall, broad-shouldered man walked in. He wore a regal black-and-red tunic lined with golden embroidery, a deep crimson cape flowing behind him. His presence alone radiated absolute authority. The King stared at Kael. The Hero straightened up. Even now, the King''s Aura intimidated him. Alden, however, just smiled gently and nodded at him. Unlike others, he didn''t stop to greet him. He strode forward with powerful yet measured steps. The air became heavier as the King reached his seat at the head of the banquet hall. Then, he picked the goblet of wine presented to him. "Today is a grand day..." And the long speech started. Kael held his urge to yawn. His resolve becoming even stronger. This was definitely the last time he was attending a party. Chapter 116 - 116: Am I… lonely? "Let the feast begin." The King announced as he sipped on the wine he had in his hand. The others followed and held their goblets. The grand banquet officially began. The music resumed, and servants moved gracefully between the guests, offering trays of exotic dishes, golden goblets filled with rich wine, and delicacies from all over Nerathis. The delicious scent of roasted meats and spiced fruits filled the air. ''How do these people enjoy things like these?'' Kael wondered in his head. Seeing every guest smiling and chatting with each other made him feel out of place. Sitting there with those light songs, eating and drinking in all that elegant and poised manner, thinking twice before talking, treading carefully so as to not reveal too much, all while still keeping a smile on your face. How is any of this fun? This... is supposed to be a party? Where is the loud music? Where is that vile laughter as people played pranks on each other, dissed one another, and danced together? Where are those embarrassing drunk moments one would never forget in their lives? Dudes dancing on top of the tables, people burying their heads into toilets and vomiting their guts out, loud confessions of undying love, and even brutal rejection that would churn one''s heart. Where''s all that? Where''s the True Fun? ''Or maybe¡­'' Then suddenly, Kael thought of something¡­ ''I am just a crude bitch who can''t have fun in an elegant manner?'' The instant he thought about it, Kael felt offended. ''Am I what these people call a savage barbarian? Am I a peasant?'' Kael very quickly shook his head when he thought about it. No, he wasn''t a peasant. He was a refined and elegant man, and he would act like that. With that thought in his mind, Kael continued to eat, this time, much more elegantly than before. He had straightened his back and had deliberately slowed his movements. He had even closed his eyes, a sign of true elegance. All he needed was a pair of glasses. He would bring those the next time. "¡­" Soon, however, Kael realized something else. ''Am I¡­ lonely?'' He looked around. Arlan was together with his subordinates, and since the introductions were done and Kael knew almost everything he needed to know, Elira had gone to other mages too. His other instructors were the same, busy with their own subordinates. Sarah, Aria, and Lyra weren''t invited to this party because of political reasons. ''I AM lonely.'' The realization dawned on him, and in an instant, a song popped up in his head. ''Looonely, I am Mr. Looonely I have nooobody for my ow-'' But before Kael could even complete the song, ''Nyu~'' ''Father? Is everything alright? Do you need us to come out?'' He heard two voices that couldn''t be more adorable, and a light smile appeared on his face. ''No you two, everything is fine.'' He replied, and in an instant, his thoughts changed. ''Fuck it, I''d rather be a peasant. At least I don''t have to be fake, and I have my children who I truly love.'' Kael dropped all the elegant nonsense and continued eating, waiting for this party to end so that he could go to his room and play with his children. But¡­ Luck wasn''t on his side today. "¡­" "¡­" Kael waited and waited, but the party continued in the same fucking manner. Slow music, careful chatters, and dancers who did their own thing while no one watched. Those who did watch had already planned to call them to their room tonight. ''When does this thing end...?'' He groaned in his head. With bored eyes, Kael observed everything. Arlan and Elira came to check up on him more than once, but he sent them away. He just wanted to get this over with and leave. But then, "Quite boring, isn''t it?" He heard a voice. He turned around and saw a man he recognized, ''He''s one was following Commander Cedric.'' The man smiled and, "This will continue for hours, with no difference whatsoever." "What are you trying to say?" Kael questioned directly. He had already used up all his tactical and noble-dealing powers today. "I am suggesting that we lighten this place up." "Huh¡­?" "Aren''t you going to ask me how we will do it?" The man spoke, his grin wide. "So are you the one who is going to fight me?" Kael questioned, and the man was taken aback. "You are quite direct." "Just get it over with. I was really bored anyway." Kael shrugged. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The man stepped in front of the Hero and threw a handkerchief at Kael''s face. In an instant, silence fell over the hall. The music stopped as all the attention now fell on Kael and the man standing in front of it. "I, Marcus Vala, the Sergeant of the Silver Bastion, challenge the Hero to a friendly duel." The man, Marcus, spoke out loud, and the murmurs started. After all, this wasn''t something that should be done during such banquets. It was considered disrespectful to the host, and considering that the one doing this hailed from Eryndor, an allied nation, this could¡­ imply many things. ''That''s so dramatic.'' While the nobles were considering the possible implications of this action, Kael, who caught the handkerchief in his hand, raised his eyebrow. His eyes, however, were shining. This was the drama he had been missing all this while. ''Am I an attention freak?'' He wondered in his head, and on the other hand, "What do you think you are doing?" Edric, not liking how a mere Sergeant was challenging the authority of Drakthar, stood up from his seat and questioned. But just as he was about to continue, "This is good." A voice was heard. It was Cedric. "A friendly duel would be interesting to watch." He spoke with a light smile on his face. "Lord Cedri-" Edric wanted to retort, but, "I agree." Another voice stopped him. It was General Aurelia. "It would lighten up the party." She commented. "It is indeed something I look forward to as well. If he hadn''t suggested it, I would have done it myself." Tower Head Selene smiled as well. When she got the attention, the woman shrugged, "Let''s be honest, we all saw how bored the Hero looked, didn''t we? Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire It was supposed to be a gathering for his honor. How can the light of the banquet enjoy it the least? This will be a matter of shame for all of Nerathis." Tower Head Selene smiled, expertly directing all the blame to Kael to get what she wanted. Kael understood what she was doing, but he didn''t care. After all, the woman was right. He was bored as fuck. So he just stood up and stared at the King, waiting for his decision, just like the others. Chapter 117 - 117: Oh, my poor boy~ Was it hard out there alone? "¡­" The King observed everything in silence. Even the Prince had stopped speaking now that all the guests seemed interested in the proposal. Yes, the Kingdom''s image must remain unsullied, but the King represented that very Kingdom. A Prince standing up to the King was detrimental and undesirable. The King''s gaze fell over all the guests, lingering a little longer on the guests from Eryndor, Zephyria, and Xenthalor. Alden wasn''t surprised by this development. He had already expected something like this. After all, he would have done the same thing if he were in their shoes. It was a perfect opportunity to not only observe the Hero''s strength and abilities with their own eyes but also a chance to flaunt their own abilities. If the challengers lost, they would lose to the Hero. It was nothing to be ashamed of, after all, the Hero was supposed to become the strongest Tamer in the entirety of Nerathis. And if they won, they would win against the Hero. It would not only bring them glory but also allow them to question Drakthar''s way of training the Hero and pressure them into giving away the rights to continue the Hero''s training any further. The reward for victory was high, and the repercussions for a loss were¡­ none. They would be fools to not take this chance. What''s worse? King Alden and the Drakthar Kingdom couldn''t say no, especially when the Hero himself was standing and waiting for his decision. "If this is what would lighten the Hero''s heart and make him truly enjoy today''s gathering, then I have no reason to decline." The King smiled as he stared at Commander Arlan and General Deren. Both warriors nodded their heads confidently. When it came to a one-on-one battle, they were extremely confident in the Hero''s ability. The two instructors couldn''t stop telling what a monster the child was and it was time Alden finally saw it with his own eyes. "Thank you for agreeing, Your Majesty!" The Sergeant who had challenged Kael knelt on one knee and saluted to the King as a sign of respect. It was his way of showing that the people of Eryndor respected Drakthar''s King and that the two nations'' alliance would not be affected by this. Alden nodded at the Sergeant and only then did the man stand up and turn towards Kael. "Are we going to fight here?" Kael questioned as he looked around. He didn''t wish to break all the decorations here as he slammed him around. Yes, he was that confident. After all¡­ [Name: Marcus Vala] [Race: Human] [Age: 38] [Level: 32] [Strength: 66] [Agility: 47] [Speed: 58] [Stamina: 61] [Defense: 63] [Mana: 18] [Intelligence: 24] [Charisma: 23] [Strengths: Physical Strength, High Durability, Close Combat Skills] [Weaknesses: Lacks Speed, Poor Adaptability in Magical Combat] ¡­ Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire Yes, the poor man stood no chance. He was a Fourth Stage Warrior, a perfect opponent for Kael if¡­ he was like how he was during the test. A Level 17 Kael with SSS Rank Talent, whose average stats were around 40, an opponent like Marcus would be quite a challenge for that Kael. Even if he used all the abilities he had, it would have been difficult to say whether he would have won or not. But¡­ Against a Level 20 Kael with EX Rank Talent? The poor fellow was facing a battle he could never win in any way. [Name: Kael Carter] [Race: Human] [Age: 22] [Level: 20] [CE: 412/3400] [Talent: Genesis of the Ancients] [Talent Rank: EX Rank] [Strength: 77] [Agility: 78] [Speed: 75] [Stamina: 78] [Defense: 80] [Mana: 88] [Intelligence: 76] [Charisma: 75] ¡­ "Haha~ You sound so eager for a good battle that would push you to your limits. I can already sense the spirit of a Warrior forming within you." Marcus laughed. He wasn''t intimidated by the Hero''s golden eyes. After all, he had seen him use this ability before. He just grinned widely and commented, "Hero Kael, I hope you give it your all." ''Trust me, you do not.'' Kael muttered inwardly. "Ummm." Suddenly, a voice was heard. It was Dorian, who had a big smile on his face as he attracted the crowd''s attention. "If we are going through with this, then if I may be so bold, Your Majesty, may I suggest we turn this into a little wager?" Dorian''s eyes glimmered in excitement as he stared at the crowd. "We wager on the warrior who would win. The winners get rewarded, the losers lose. It will become a fun little way through which everyone can participate in the event, and with the stakes higher, the event itself would become much larger than it is." Dorian suggested, expecting a big nod of approval from the crowd, while he himself dreamt of making money from this event. To think he would get an opportunity to make up for the money he lost while he travelled here¡ªit seems that Lord Feraos was looking out for him. The Merchant''s eyes shimmered with delight. Soon, however, he noticed the room''s mood. While some nobles looked interested, the King just stared at him with an expressionless look on his face and, "So you wish to wager on the Hero like he is some sort of entertainer?" "N-No, that is not what I¡­" He tried to defend himself, but seeing the unamused crowd, he bowed his head with a disappointed sigh. "I apologize for not thinking it through, Your Majesty. I was simple-minded." "This shall not happen again." "It will not." Dorian nodded as he sat back with another sigh. ''Tough crowd.'' "Promise me, Hero." After the Merchant, it was the Sergeant''s turn again. "Even if you think you stand no chance, Even if you think the opponent is stronger than you in every possible way, Promise me that you will not give in. Prove yourself today as you battle against me. Defeat me because that is how a Hero is supposed to be. Stand against the odds. Win even when no one believes in you. Do¡­" ''The fuck is he on about?'' Kael wondered in his head as he heard the man''s speech. ''Why does no one in this world shut up?'' Yes, Kael was getting annoyed. And seeing how the Sergeant was still going on and on, Kael sighed in defeat. No. He couldn''t take it anymore. In the end, he stared at Arlan with pitiful expression, begging him to do something. The Commander, who saw his expression, grinned widely, understanding what he wanted. Kael, who saw his grin, knew this would cost him a lot. He, however, couldn''t take it anymore and just nodded, the Commander''s grin widened even further and, He stepped forward. "Your Majesty, should we take them to the Training Hall?" He questioned, interrupting the Sergeant''s speech. The Sergeant frowned at that action. However, seeing who it was, he quickly turned silent, not daring to oppose that monster. Yes, he wasn''t a very loyal follower of his own speech. "The Training Hall is too cramped. The guests wouldn''t be able to enjoy the battle. Take them to the Arena instead. Commander Arlan, you will be in charge of the battle." The King ordered, and Arlan bowed his head. "As you command, Your Majesty." The Commander then quickly walked towards the Hero and took him with him. The rest of the servants guided other guests to the Royal Arena. "Thank you." Kael, who was now alone with Arlan, expressed his gratitude. "I saw your expression when you looked at me. How could I ignore it when you act like such a good little boy~" Arlan laughed out loud as he placed his hand over Kael''s shoulder. Kael''s face twitched as he heard the man''s words. He could already imagine the gorilla man using this against him in the future. ''Just my luck.'' He cursed in his head. "Oh, my poor boy~ Was it hard out there alone?" Arlan continued with his antics, and Kael was already regretting turning towards him for help. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But then, Kael noticed something. Arlan¡­ He was moving too quickly, so much so that the two of them were now separated from the rest of the crowd. It was almost as if he had done it on purpose. And as if proving Kael''s suspicions right, Arlan stopped and turned towards Kael. This time, there was no trace of his previous playfulness on his face. Chapter 118 - 118: The only people I can trust. Arlan suddenly stopped and turned towards Kael. This time, there was no trace of his previous playfulness on his face. He stared into Kael''s eyes, with both his hands on top of Kael''s shoulders as he leaned forward. Gulp Kael, who was stuck in this situation, gulped as he then looked into Arlan''s eyes and, "I do not swing that way. It is not you, it is me." He answered in a tone as respectful as possible. "What¡­?" Arlan''s mouth twitched as he strengthened his hold on Kael''s shoulder in anger. "Using force will not change my mind, nor my sexuality, Arlan. But don''t worry, your secret is safe with me. That was very brave of you." Again, the Commander''s mouth twitched in annoyance. "You little brat, if you hadn''t done what you did today, I would have punched you right in the face." "It wouldn''t have been the first time you would have done that." Kael shrugged. "Also, you punch like a little girl, so that isn''t exactly a threat." "¡­" Arlan just stared at Kael in silence. This time, he didn''t feel annoyed or frustrated, rather, "Learn to receive someone''s gratitude, you brat. Stop trying to change the topic with your stupid jokes. You are the Hero. This won''t be the first time someone will thank you." "¡­" Kael turned silent. He didn''t think the Gorilla Man would catch on. "Really, thank you for standing up for Elira today. You did that when even I didn''t have the guts to stand up for my sister. I am ashamed, and at the same time, I am proud. I am proud to have someone like you as my student." Arlan spoke, then a light smile appeared on his face and, "And I am proud to have someone like you as a friend. Again, thank you." "Dude, that''s so gay." Kael muttered as he stepped away from him and continued to walk, leaving Arlan behind. "What are you thanking me for? I just did what I was supposed to do." "Oh, come on! How hard is it to receive gratitude!? Why do you act like an inexpressive old man!?" Arlan snapped as he followed behind him and then, "I didn''t do it for your gratitude, you know." Kael muttered, his voice lower than usual. "I did it because I didn''t like how she was being belittled." Arlan paused. "You are not the only one who thinks of me as a friend, you know? I am the same. I consider the two of you as my friends, my closest friends, and¡­ Probably the only people I can trust." Saying those words, Kael walked away, not waiting for Arlan. The commander stood there in silence. For some reason, the brat''s words felt¡­ heavier than normal. It didn''t take long for Arlan to realize it. ''Something happened during the test.'' Kael sounded¡­ vulnerable. And alone. Something that worried Arlan. "Oi! Wait, you brat!" For now, however, Arlan decided to rush towards him. He quickly caught up to his friend, and a few seconds later, "What''s with the sneaking out? Are you two planning to elope or something?" Elira appeared behind them. She then stared at her brother and, "I am telling you, if you decide to betray Sister Lyria, I''ll be on her side." "You would pick a stone if the choice was between me and that stone. Your words don''t matter." Arlan''s response was quick. "Of course. Who in her right mind would pick you?" Elira answered in disgust as her eyes fell on Kael, who quickly stepped away from the man. "What were you two doing anyways?" "I invited Kael to our house for dinner tomorrow." S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Arlan spoke. Kael turned towards him and raised his eyebrow. Arlan, however, completely ignored him and stared at his sister. "Oh, sure. We have a lot of food. I don''t mind if we share some with the needy." Elira nodded as she grinned at Kael. "Oh, you should definitely share some food from your portion." Kael nodded as he stared at the Court Mage''s waist and, "Clearly, you have been eating a lot." "Pfftt!" Arlan laughed out loud. "What did you say!?" Elira, on the other hand, snapped. "Oh? Was I not supposed to say it?" Kael questioned as he glanced at Arlan. "I have tried giving her hints, but she ignores them all. I think she does it purposefully. She doesn''t exercise, nor does she move more than she has to. She eats all day, and that book of hers, she reads that thing all day as if it is some sort of holy grail. She has practically memorized every line of it. It is obvious that would have an effect on her body." Arlan sighed like a tired older brother who was exhausted by his little sister''s antics. "She will get better eventually." Kael nodded like a true friend. "I do not see that happening." "Well, I was also just saying it for the sake of saying it. She''s beyond redemption." The two continued to converse, and Elira, who heard them talk, had clenched her fists in anger and was prepared to burn the two of them alive. However, before she could do so, she heard some footsteps. The rest of the people were here as well. The three of them nodded at each other and moved towards the Arena. Elira, who was now walking with Kael, suddenly spoke with a solemn look on her face. "You don''t have to do this, you know? It would have been fine if the opponent was someone at your level, but that Sergeant is a Fourth Stage Warrior. They clearly know how strong you are and brought someone strong enough to defeat you. You are the Hero. You have no need to take part in these political games. If you say the word, I''ll stop the ba¡ª" "You know I can see how strong the people who challenge me are, correct?" Before the Court Mage could complete, Kael questioned with a light smile on his face. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire Elira turned towards him with a frown, and he continued, "I was the one who accepted the challenge. You think I would choose a battle I would lose?" "Are you sayi¡ª" "Look forward to it." Kael just smiled as he walked forward, and the siblings stared at each other with shocked looks on their faces. ''Did this monster get¡­ even stronger?'' Chapter 119 - 119: Is this what they call the Protagonists Aura? A few minutes later, Kael separated from Elira and Arlan, stood in the middle of the Battle Arena, and looked around. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire All the nobles and guests at the party had arrived, while the normal seats were all empty since normal people weren''t allowed to watch. The VIP section was packed with nobles whispering amongst themselves, eager to see what the Hero was truly capable of. After all, this would be the first time they would see the Hero fight. Then finally, Alden walked in, a Throne that gave him the best possible view of the battle was prepared for him. The nobles turned silent at his arrival and stood up from their seats. Only once the King sat down did the others follow. Alden nodded at a few nobles before his eyes fell on Arlan, who was supposed to act as the arbiter. The Commander nodded as he stepped on the stage with the two fighters. "Alright, let''s keep this clean¡ª" "A moment, Commander!" Marcus raised a hand, stepping forward. Kael sighed internally. Marcus turned to the audience. "Before we begin, allow me to say a few words." Kael''s eye twitched, already knowing where this was going. "Many have come here today to witness this battle. They wish to know whether the so-called Hero, chosen by Lord Feraos himself, is truly worthy of the title bestowed upon him or not. They wonder¡ªdoes he possess the strength, the discipline, and the experience required to stand alongside true warriors?" Once again, Kael turned towards Arlan for help, and seeing his pitiful expression, the Commander grinned. "This battle, however, is not merely about power. It is about proving one''s worth, about the honor of the battlefield, about¡ª" Marcus, completely oblivious to his surroundings, continued as he lifted a hand dramatically, but then, "Begin." Arlan announced as he jumped back, signaling the start of the fight. "Huh? But I¡ª" Marcus frowned. He still had a lot to say, but suddenly, his expression changed as his eyes fell on Kael, who had already rushed towards him. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He thought of reacting, but it was then that he realized it. Kael¡­ He was too fast! Marcus couldn''t react to his speed at all. He couldn''t even take his fighting stance, and the Hero was already right in front of him. "Wai¡ª" He tried to say something, maybe in an attempt to buy time, but Kael wasn''t having any of it. He had waited long enough for this, and now, He was going to go all out. Boom A fist right on the Sergeant''s nose, crushing it in an instant. The Sergeant''s eyes widened in horror, his body failed to react, and before the pain could even kick in, Fwoosh He was sent flying out of the stage, he collapsed on the floor outside and passed out. The impact was too much for his brain to bear, and it reacted by shutting down the Sergeant''s body functions. Yes, the battle was over. "¡­" Silence. Absolute silence fell over the Arena until finally, "Winner, Kael Carter." Arlan announced with a shrug, and the medic team rushed towards the fallen fighter. A few seconds. That was all it took to end the battle. The Warriors of the Eryndor felt humiliated, until finally, "The Hero cheated!" One of them shouted, unable to control himself. This began a chain reaction as the rest of the warriors affiliated with Eryndor pointed their fingers at Kael as well. "He attacked before the opponent was prepared! That''s not how a warrior is supposed to fight!" "It was a mixed venture! The arbiter cut off Marcus in the middle of his words and started the battle, and the Hero took this opportunity to end the battle! It was shameful to watch!" "Yes! It was cowardly!" "How could the Drakthar Kingdom allow this!?" "I request a rematch, and this time, with a different arbiter overseeing the duel!" Clearly, the representatives of Eryndor were enraged. And Kael, who was the target of that rage, shrugged with a smirk as he walked back to where he stood, prepared for another battle. After all, he knew this wasn''t the end. Heck, with all the political strains he sensed, he would be disappointed if this thing ended so quickly. Even right now, as the Eryndor warriors bashed him, he could sense how the rest of the nobles were reacting to it. Especially Edric''s reaction. The Crown Prince was silent, which the clueless would find surprising. After all, the Prince would stand up every time someone dared to sully the Kingdom''s image. These soldiers pointing fingers at Drakthar were definitely something that would annoy him. The Prince, however, just smirked. After all, he knew what was going to happen. "I apologize on my people''s behalf, Your Majesty." Cedric bowed his head as he glanced at Alden, and in an instant, silence fell over the place, especially the cabinet of Eryndor Warriors. The raging warriors froze as they realized their Commander had lowered his head. This was¡­ bad. No, these soldiers didn''t care about Eryndor''s or the Commander''s image. That was their least priority, especially right now when¡­ "It seems that I have allowed my subordinates to become comfortable enough to blame their defeat on other foolish factors." Cedric then momentarily glanced at his men, and, "I assure you, King Alden, I will look into this matter and make sure these warriors never disappoint you or me again." The warriors'' bodies trembled at those words. They all knew what it meant. A punishment. They would soon be punished for their ''mistakes.'' "But Commander Cedric!" Suddenly, one of the warriors raised his head with a determined look on his face. Since it was already decided that they would be punished, he decided to keep his point before going down. "Isn''t it true that the Hero used cowardly methods to defeat Sergeant Marcus? While we were wrong for losing our control, shouldn''t the Hero be a bit braver and prideful than that? He is supposed to protect Nerathis. These cowardly methods might have awarded him with a victory here, but what if the opponent doesn''t fall for his trickery? What if Sergeant Marcus hadn''t lost focus and fought back? Wouldn''t the result be different? Wasn''t the Hero''s victory reliant on luck?" "Luck?" Cedric raised his eyebrow. "Marcus was knocked down with one punch. Do you think it is possible to knock out an Eryndor Warrior in one punch without being strong enough?" The Commander questioned, and the warrior''s expression changed. "Are you saying¡­" "The Hero was much stronger than Marcus. It was a battle Marcus could have never won. If anything, this was probably the Hero''s attempt to save Eryndor''s reputation, which you, with your actions, spoiled even further." "I..." The Warrior stuttered, unable to believe what he heard. ''What in the hell...?'' Let alone him, even Kael himself was taken aback by those words. ''Is this what they call the Protagonist''s Aura?'' He wondered in his head and suddenly, Cedric glanced at him and nodded with a smile on his face, Kael smiled back. Obviously, if he was being given free credit, he would take it. "What was I even expecting from a bunch of fools who know nothing but to recklessly swing their swords?" Then suddenly, a long sigh was heard. "It was embarrassing enough to see how he was taken down by such a simple trick, but to think his brutish companions would cause a scene as well, As expected of Eryndor I guess?" It was Selene. The Tower Head obviously wouldn''t give up on the chance to mock her rivals. Chapter 120 - 120: I just thought you had higher standards. "It was embarrassing enough to see how he was taken down by such a simple trick, but to think his brutish companions would cause a scene as well. As expected of Eryndor, I guess?" The Tower Head grinned. Cedric frowned at those words. "There was no trick, Tower Head Selene. Hero Kael won because he was stronger than my warrior expected." "Of course, that is how it usually ends when you mindlessly swing your sword without knowing the strength of your enemy." "That is called being brave. Of course, your mages who run away the instant things get difficult wouldn''t understand it." Cedric retorted. He was usually calm and didn''t get involved in mindless scuffles. However, he couldn''t just let this woman continuously target his homeland and say nothing. His pride would not allow it. "I also suggest Tower Head Selene to calm down. Perhaps you are too excited to realize it, but you have already offended more than a few people here. Minding your words would do you well." The Commander threatened politely. Selene, however, wasn''t intimidated. "Is that a threat?" She questioned with a playful smirk. "It is not. I am just pointing out that you are setting a bad example in front of the Hero. This is not how a High-Ranking Member of one of the Major forces in Nerathis should act." Again, Cedric was calm. It was a sort of calmness that came from having absolute confidence in one''s own skill. The problem, however, was that Cedric wasn''t the only one confident in his skill. Selene was the same. "I am not setting a bad example. I am simply showing the Hero the Truth. Your warrior lost because he was weak, and that Seventh Circle Mage is only considered a good instructor because she was blessed with talented students. Students she couldn''t take care of." Once again, the tension rose. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This time, it was even more palpable than before. After all, this time, King Alden was here. "Mind your words, Selene." And just as everyone expected, the King reacted. To mention his daughter in front of him was a sure way to get on his bad side. The nobles of Drakthar knew this better than anyone else. "I am merely pointing out the tru¡ª" "I will not repeat myself again." Before Selene could retort, the King interrupted, his tone much heavier than before. "Yes, Your Majesty. I apologize for overstepping my boundaries." Tower Head Selene lowered her head as she held herself back. Not now¡­ Not right now¡­ She hadn''t achieved what she wanted yet. She needed to wait before acting out. Seeing her reaction, Prince Edric narrowed his eyes. Something felt wrong. The Xenthalor Mages were acting a little too boldly. Yes, they were known for being brazen, and the contempt they had for others, especially warriors wasn''t a secret but normally, they wouldn''t act out in front of the King. After all, their current actions would give Drakthar and Alden all the reason to act against them. Imprisonment or even execution for disrespecting the royal authority wouldn''t be considered too over the top, and the Mages should know it. Then why¡­ Why were they acting like this? And why¡­ Why was King Alden''s reaction tamer than normal? The Prince couldn''t understand, and it wasn''t just him. The nobles and even the guests from other forces felt strange too. "Alright, since the Eryndor Kingdom failed, how about we have a magic duel between the Hero and one of my Mages?" Selene suggested. This time, her tone was a bit tamer compared to before. "Is the Mage you are talking about one of your students?" Kael questioned with a smirk. "No, the Hero is currently not strong enough to face any of my students." Selene shook her head. This time, she wouldn''t let this brat get into her head. Yes, the Tower Head was severely underestimating the lad who had someone like Mark as his roommate. "Right, that would make sense. After all, considering Tower Head''s age, most of her students would be even older than my grandfather. It would be strange if they were only at my level even after having someone like the Tower Head guiding them. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire That would only prove the Tower Head''s incompetence, no?" Kael smiled politely. Selene''s face twitched. She, however, didn''t lose her control and smiled. "Tower Head, should I go?" A Mage stood up and, [Crush him.] Selene gave her orders. "As you command." The Mage bowed as he stared at Kael and stepped down. A few minutes later, the mage walked into the Arena Stage and stood about 100 meters away from Kael, a perfect distance for a Mage to end the battle the moment it began. Kael stared at the Mage and smiled, his eyes turning golden. [Name: Albert Bannerman] [Race: Human] [Age: 38] [Level: 36] [Strength: 25] [Agility: 38] [Speed: 31] [Stamina: 32] [Defense: 29] [Mana: 79] [Intelligence: 72] [Charisma: 56] [Strengths: Large Mana Pool, Strategist, Experienced Mage] [Weaknesses: Fragile Physique, Close Combat] ¡­ "Hmm?" Kael frowned. "What happened, Hero Kael? You aren''t scared, are you? I haven''t even introduced myself yet." Albert smirked. He knew the relationship between the Hero and the Tower Head wasn''t the best. The Tower Head even told him to crush this man before he came here. If he played it right, he might get into the Tower Head''s good books. And that was exactly what Albert was planning to do. First, he would humiliate the Hero. Then, he would defeat him and humiliate Drakthar''s training method. It was a perfect opportunity for someone like him to shine. ''Heh.'' Albert smiled inwardly as he thought about how his life would change after this. But¡­ "Tower Head Selene." Suddenly, the Hero called out as he turned towards the Tower Head. Selene frowned, not knowing what the brat was planning now. "Are you sure you sent the right person?" "Hmm? Why is that? If the Hero feels intimidated, I can send someone weaker. I wouldn''t mi¡ª" "That''s not it." Kael didn''t allow her to speak. He just stared at Albert for a while before turning towards Selene again. "I just thought you had higher standards, considering you seemed to look down on my Magic Instructor, and now I am just confused." Kael frowned. Chapter 121 - 121: I really taught him well. "I just thought you had higher standards, considering you seemed to look down on my Magic Instructor, and now I am just confused." Kael frowned as he pointed at Elira, who was sitting in the viewing area. "My instructor is 10 years younger than him, and I can assure you she can roast ten of him alive without even looking at them. Does someone like him really represent the standard of Xenthalor Mages? And if that really is the case, then does the Tower Head really have the right to look down on my Instructor, who is clearly better than him in every possible way? I was told the Xenthalor Empire was the home to the greatest Mage in all of Nerathis, but¡­ My instructor just seems better?" Kael tilted his head in confusion, and Arlan, who heard those words, grinned proudly. At the same time, he was also somewhat pitying Tower Head Selene for being targeted by a shameless bastard like Kael. After all, both he and Kael knew what sort of person Elira was. She was one of the most talented mages of Drakthar, someone who managed to become a Court Mage¡ªa position reserved for Eighth Circle Mages or above¡ªdespite only being a Seventh Circle Mage. Yes, she was so exceptional that the King decided to change the rules for her sake, and no other mages complained about the favorable treatment because everyone knew Elira deserved it. She was a genius. Her magic knowledge was so vast that she had solved magic theories and created formulas that even the mages above her level had a difficult time understanding. More than once, she had helped Eighth or even Ninth Circle Mages solve problems they couldn''t. Almost all the Ninth Circle Mages in Drakthar knew her personally and would often come chat with her. She was one of Drakthar''s Prodigies, loved and respected by almost all the mages here. Of course, Xenthalor had such mages too, in greater numbers at that. Some of their mages were even more talented than Elira, but none of them were here. All of them were Xenthalor''s pride. They would never attend a banquet without certain preparations, especially not when they were invited just two days before the banquet was scheduled. It wasn''t just Xenthalor; other forces didn''t send any noteworthy youngsters either, and Kael used that to his advantage. Comparing Elira to a normal mage¡­ It was a nonsensical thought. She was one of Drakthar''s best and should only be compared to Xenthalor''s best. Using her to shame the Magic Empire was outright shameless, but¡­ Kael didn''t care. He didn''t have to care. After all, he was still just a clueless hero who came to this world a few weeks ago. He was only innocently pointing out what he was observing. ''Cheeky brat.'' Arlan''s grin widened as he glanced at Kael. "You think that because you have yet to see Xenthalor''s true might," Selene answered. "Well, I sure hope that''s the case. Because if this was the best you people could offer, I would have a difficult time protecting your people. So much for acting all arrogant, eh?" "Kael, manners." Elira called out. "Ah, I didn''t intend to say the last words out loud. I apologize if unknowingly I offended you, Tower Head Selene." Kael slightly bowed his head, and Elira''s grin widened. ''I really taught him well.'' She nodded to herself, satisfied. It wasn''t just her. Her brother and the rest of Drakthar''s nobles had light smiles on their faces as well. Almost all of them were barely holding back their urge to laugh out loud, and Albert, who could sense it all and noticed how Tower Head Selene was glaring at him, shouted out loud, "You sure are an arrogant one! Has the Drakthar Kingdom not taught you any manners!?" "I thought I was summoned to fight? Should I learn how to eat first instead? Is that what you did for the first 30 years of your life? If that''s the case, that explains your current progress. Motivational indeed." Kael praised. The bashing skills he had learned from Mark weren''t a waste. "Fight, is it? That''s what you so desperately want, don''t you?" Albert''s smile turned menacing. "Then that is what you will get." He declared coldly, prepared to crush the so-called Hero in every way possible. "Let our magic do the talking!" He declared as four magic circles appeared around him. Kael did the same and summoned two magic circles. Clearly, he was outmatched, but he didn''t seem to care. Arlan''s face turned serious as well. "Begin." He announced, and the moment he did, Albert cast his first spell. The very air trembled as suddenly, Kael heard a whisper. "Be prepared." "Huh?" Kael frowned as he glanced in the direction where the voice came from, but he couldn''t see anyone. This, however, was only the start. "This is the end." "You are done for." "You made a mistake." "Surrender." "Give up." Tens, hundreds of different whispers came from different directions, dulling Kael''s senses and making it difficult for him to understand what was going on. Fwoosh Then suddenly, dense mist surrounded the battlefield, hindering his vision. Albert''s figure became a simple blur. ''A Wind Mage, huh¡­'' Kael realized it. ''Poor guy.'' S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He, however, just shrugged as his eyes turned golden and, once again, [Name: Albert Bannerman] The mage''s information appeared in front of him, showing him where he was. Yes, all the whispering was annoying, but Kael knew it would stop once he dealt with the mage. Therefore, he dashed forward, or he tried to, Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire But then, ''Father, be careful.'' Igni warned. ''The wind ahead has been weaved into sharp threads, it would slice you if run past them.'' ''What¡­?'' Kael''s expression changed. ''I do not see anything.'' ''They are difficult to see with human eyes, and the whispering is distracting your mind, making it impossible to see them.'' Kael''s face turned grim. ''A Fourth Circle Mage, huh¡­ He made sure I cannot close distance.'' He realized it. Albert might not be the most talented mage, but he was definitely an experienced one. ''What would you have done if you were in my position?'' Kael questioned, wanting another perspective. ''Burn it down.'' ''¡­right.'' Kael very quickly realized his mistake. Asking the Fire Dragon was outright foolish. He had to come up with something on his own. Chapter 122 - 122: What in the hell is happening!? ''What would you have done if you were in my position?'' ''Burn it down.'' ''...right.'' Kael realized his mistake. Asking the Fire Dragon was outright foolish; he had to come up with something on his own. Clearly, Albert was doing everything in his power to stop him from closing the distance. Kael had once read about what he was doing. It was a Domain Type Magic. A magic that affected one''s surroundings and altered it to the caster''s wishes. It was strong and extremely effective in both group and individual battles, But¡­ It had a fatal flaw. Mana Reserves. Domain Type Magic drained Mana faster than any other magic because it required the caster to not only cast more than a few spells at the same time but also to maintain those spells using their own Mana. For mages, especially for Lower Level Mages, keeping up a domain for more than a few minutes was impossible. So¡­ If Albert wanted to keep Kael from closing the distance so desperately, that was what Kael would do. He would stay still until Albert''s Mana ran out and he makes a mistake in desperation. "¡­" "¡­" S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Silence fell over the Stage. Kael didn''t move, and Albert, who had created this domain thinking Kael would run into the danger on his own, frowned in confusion. ''What is he doing?'' He wondered in his head. Unlike Kael, whose vision was hindered by the Mist, Albert could sense everything clearly because the Wind itself told him what he wanted. This was also possible because of one of the spells he had used to create his domain. After all, it would become pointless if he lost sight of his opponent while casting his spells. Because of this, Albert knew what Kael was doing¡­ He was¡­ Yawning. ''Has he lost his mind!? Why isn''t he moving!?'' Albert snapped. He had prepared more than a few traps for Kael to fall into the moment he came running toward him, which was what every mindless warrior does. Some of these traps were so lethal that the Hero could even die. Of course, he wasn''t exactly planning to kill the Hero. Tower Head Selene was here; she would move the instant the Hero was in danger and protect his life. It would not only make the Hero rely on her, but it would also help her create an image as the strongest and the most perceptive person here. It would show the Hero what true power actually looked like and the difference between Xenthalor and other forces. Yes, he would face backlash for using such dangerous spells, but in the end, Albert knew that Tower Head Selene would secretly support him. This was his way of climbing the ladder. This was his ultimate plan, a plan where he sacrificed himself to get a Ninth Circle Mage''s support and soar to heights he never normally could. But¡­ ''Why isn''t he moving!?'' It looked like the Hero was prepared to sully his plans¡ªnot that he would let him do that. He would make him move. Albert decided to add another spell into his Domain. Yes, it would drain his Mana, especially since this would be his sixth spell, and the more spells he used simultaneously, the more taxing it became, but it didn''t matter. It wasn''t the battle of attrition like the Hero was making it out to be. It was a one-on-one battle where one mistake was more than enough to lose. And this was exactly what the Hero had done. He had made a mistake. Staying still when his vision was compromised? That was foolish. After all, even though he had created a domain, it didn''t mean he couldn''t use attack spells in his domain. Quite the contrary, inside a mage''s domain, attack spells became even more lethal than normal. This was the advantage of using spells that required more Mana than usual. Even a simple wind blade, a First Circle Spell, could become as lethal as a Third Circle Spell, and at the same time, It could come at you from any direction. Inside the domain, the caster had control over his surroundings. He could form a Wind Blade from any direction and aim at the target, making it pretty much impossible for the target to avoid the attack. ''You didn''t want to move, did you? Then I''ll take away your ability to move.'' With that thought in his mind, a Wind Blade formed behind Kael and aimed for his right leg, prepared to leave a deep wound that would need instant treatment from the Healers. Albert grinned, imagining how foolish the Hero would look. He had already thought about how he would represent this scenario after he won. ''The Hero was frozen in fear the instant I created my Domain. Clearly, he wasn''t prepared to face an expert of such a level. What were his instructors thinking?'' This was how he was going to start¡ªor at least, that was his dream¡­ But¡­ The moment the Wind Blade was about to hit, the Hero jumped in the air, dodging it. ''What¡­?'' Albert''s expression changed. ''He dodged¡­? But how? He didn''t even turn around? Does he have an ability to sense his surroundings? Is that the reason why he didn''t move in the first place? Because he sensed all the traps? But I was told he only had five abilities. Where did this one come from!?'' In an instant, his panic surged as all these questions filled his head. He had already used six spells in his domain. His Mana was being consumed at a horrifying rate. He had to end the battle in the next ten seconds, or he would run out of Mana. Time was short. Albert had no other way out! Unable to think it through, he blamed it all on luck. ''Yes! That is what it must be! He got lucky!'' As his thoughts strengthened, he cast another Wind Blade. Yes, another spell, a spell that would chip away half a second from the time he had. Adding the time it took to cast the spell itself, one Wind Blade took an entire second of his time, but without thinking, Whoosh Albert shot the blade again, this time targeting Kael''s right arm, but suddenly, Kael lazily stretched his right arm, repositioning it and accidentally avoiding another Wind Blade. ''That bastard''s too lucky!'' Albert cursed inwardly and attacked again, then again, then again, but every single time, Kael accidentally dodged his attacks and he failed. ''What in the hell is happening!?'' Chapter 123 - 123: Oh my~ That won’t do, now would it? ''Move to the left.'' ''Now right.'' ''Jump.'' ''Crouch.'' ''Move back.'' ''Forward.'' One by one, Kael followed the instructions that were given to him by Igni. The little Dragon could even sense scouts who had trained to hide themselves from even the most perceptive beings like it was nothing. What could a few wind blades that came from different directions do? Even when he wasn''t exactly there, the little Dragon could sense them very clearly, and instructed Kael to move accordingly. The only thing Kael had to do was to close his eyes and trust his Bond, something he could do without a second thought. Yes, the whispers in his head were still annoying, but his mind had already adapted to them and only reacted to Igni''s voice. It had honestly turned into a game. A game where Kael moved like Igni wanted him to. More than once, Igni made Kael do things like crouch and roll without him actually needing to, The Dragon just wanted to see his Father do that. ''Nyaha~'' And since Cirri was enjoying this game so much, this fanned even more air to Igni''s fire. The big brother wanted to see his little sister laugh even more. Kael, who had now become the puppet of the two Dragons'' whims, just sighed helplessly, but hearing Cirri''s laugh filled his heart with joy so pure that he couldn''t even complain. In the end, the helpless Hero played along with the Dragons'' antics, until¡­ ''Father.'' Igni called out. ''Hmm?'' ''The Wind Threads ahead are flickering out of existence. He ran out of Mana.'' The Dragon spoke, and just as he did, the mist blocking Kael''s vision started clearing up, and finally, Kael saw Albert again. The Mage was holding his head and was clearly in pain; he had used up more Mana than he had planned to. Seeing that, Kael just grinned. Then, with an innocent look on his face, "It''s over?" He questioned. "I was still waiting for you to attack, you know? I even stretched my body. What happened? Why did you stop?" "Y-You¡­" Albert''s voice trembled in rage, his eyes glaring at Kael. The Hero, however, still acted innocently, "Me what? What did I do?" "Pfft." Someone in the audience couldn''t control his laughter anymore and laughed out loud. An Eryndor warrior went a step ahead, "At least our Warrior had to be punched before he passed out, but this one looks like he is already on his knees, and the Hero hasn''t even done anything." "Hahahaha! That''s right!" "As one would expect from a Xenthalor Mage! To be finished before they could even start. Oh, I pity Xenthalor women." "No wonder they all become so snotty and boorish as they get old! They must be frustrated!" "Exactly! Hahahaha!" All the warriors laughed out loud, even the guests from Zephyria and the Council of Gold had smiles on their faces. Some were even laughing out loud. And to further add salt to the wounds, Arlan stepped forward, "Mage Albert, do you give up?" He questioned, louder than usual. When a mage runs out of Mana, it is usually assumed that he lost. There was no need to ask it out loud; obviously, Arlan was doing it on purpose. And the Eryndor Warriors didn''t lose this chance either. "Of course he does! That is what the Xenthalor Mages are best at, isn''t it!?" "Hahaha! Exactly! Run away like you always do!" "Hahaha~ Why not call out your Bond to fight for you again~" Albert''s body trembled as the crowd laughed at him. He glanced at Tower Head Selene, and seeing the frosty, almost emotionless look on her face as she stared at him, he knew he was done for. His rage, however, was redirected at the Hero and, "HAAAAAHHH!!!" He ran towards Kael with all his might, ready to take down the Hero using close combat! Of course, his adrenaline rush quickly calmed down when Kael created two Magic Circles and summoned a Fire Arrow, ready to shoot any time he wanted. Albert stopped, then, he glanced at Arlan and, "I-I give up." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He spoke and once again, "Hahahaha!" The crowd laughed out loud. "Come on, guys, don''t laugh! At least he didn''t give up the moment he ran out of Mana! He did that cute little jog first. Baby steps~" "Hahaha! Indeed indeed." "¡­" Albert''s body trembled in rage as he walked out of the stage. For a moment, he thought it would have been better if he had ended up like Marcus; at the very least, he wouldn''t have had to go through this walk of shame¡­ It was something he would never forget for the rest of his life. Once again, he glared at the Hero, swearing in his mind that he would get his revenge. After the poor Mage walked out, the laughter finally died, the Xenthalor guests were silent, and the rest stared at Zephyria. It was now the Sky Kingdom''s turn. But then, "We concede." The Serpent General spoke up, and a wave of shock and gasps was heard all over the arena. Even Aurelia''s own subordinates couldn''t believe what they heard. "The Serpent General¡­ gave up?" "What¡­?" "Did she not come prepared for this¡­?" "That''s the Serpent General. You think she would go anywhere not prepared for an all-out battle?" "Maybe Hero Kael is stronger than we expected¡­?" "Is there something we missed?" As she attracted all the attention, even the King''s, Aurelia smiled. "Zephyrian soldiers only fight together with our Bonds, and since we know Hero Kael''s predicament, we concede for now." She then stared at the Hero and smiled, "We will fight when your Bond grows and decides to show his majesty to everyone out there." Kael smiled at those words, "I will wait for that moment, General Aurelia, but more than that, I look forward to the time we fight our enemies together." "Hahaha~ I look forward to that time too." Aurelia laughed out loud, concluding the battles. Or¡­ that is what she calculated in her head. Eryndor and Xenthalor, however, had a different line of thought. After all, they knew what Aurelia was thinking. The woman had already figured out how strong the Hero was, and his powers exceeded all her expectations in every way possible. Both Cedric and Selene knew Aurelia hadn''t brought any warrior or mage who could face Kael in a respectful battle. She was just trying to save face and didn''t wish to end up like the two of them. Something they couldn''t allow, "Oh my~ That won''t do, now would it?" Selene spoke up, and this time, the one who backed her up was Commander Cedric. "Indeed." Yes, the two rival nations had now come into a momentary alliance. Chapter 124 - 124: A Show for the Hero. "Oh my~ That won''t do, now would it?" Selene spoke up, and this time, the one who backed her up was Commander Cedric. "Indeed." Yes, the two rival nations had now come into a momentary alliance. Cedric then stared at Aurelia and, "You aren''t telling me your warriors are incapable of fighting without their Bonds, are you? What are they going to do if their Bond perishes in battle, hold back their allies?" "I am stating that my warriors are at their strongest when they are together with their Bonds, and I only want my warriors to fight with the Hero at their strongest. This is the least amount of respect both my warriors and the Hero deserve, don''t you think?" Aurelia answered, and against those words, Cedric couldn''t retort. He, out of all people, understood warriors'' pride the most. He couldn''t go against it, that would go against everything he represented. In the end, Cedric closed his eyes, accepting his defeat. However¡­ Selene was different. "Come on now." She spoke, attracting everyone''s attention. "Both the Eryndor Kingdom and Xenthalor Empire have embarrassed ourselves in front of the Hero, so I was expecting Zephyria''s Sky Warriors to take a stand and show him that Nerathis isn''t just a house to weaklings. He may not show it, but I can sense the Hero''s disappointment in the so-called major forces of Nerathis, and I know you can sense it too." "It is a pity indeed, but I guess we will need to disappoint the Hero. As I said, my Sky Warriors can only show their might when they are in the Sky." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aurelia replied, still not changing her stance. "Mhm, I understand." The Tower Head nodded, agreeing with the General, which surprised others. Was it over? Of course not. Tower Head Selene''s smile then widened and, "Since the Hero himself cannot participate in a battle, how about the four Major Forces come together for a demonstration of Power, See it as a way to show off Nerathis''s might to the Hero. Wouldn''t that be an interesting end to the event?" "What¡­?" Aurelia''s expression changed, and it wasn''t just her¡ªCedric and even Alden reacted to those words. Selene''s grin widened even further and, "Yes, a Four-Way Battle where the participants will fight until they cannot anymore. The losers will be eliminated, and the last one standing will be crowned as the Winner." The Tower Head laid out the rules. "¡­" Kael raised his eyebrow when he heard those words. This¡­ Well, this just became much more interesting, didn''t it? A small smile appeared on his face, something that Selene didn''t miss. She quickly turned towards the King and, "What do you say, Your Majesty? It would be a little show to make things interesting for the Hero." Alden narrowed his eyes at those words. Everything that happened till now was still within his expectations, so he didn''t react, but this¡­ This wasn''t right. It was too unexpected, and knowing someone like Selene, Alden was sure she didn''t just say it on a whim¡ªthe woman planned it all. It wouldn''t be surprising if she had planned it all from the very beginning. This would also explain her bolder-than-usual attitude. Just what did¡­ Xenthalor Empire have in their minds? Alden couldn''t understand, and Selene didn''t give him time to understand either. "We are the people of Nerathis, followers of Lord Feraos, beings who fight together with our Bonds. Is it really just the Zephyrian Warriors? Aren''t the rest of us the same? Incomplete without our Bonds? How can our duels conclude without the Bonds we treasure so much making an appearance?" The King frowned. "It is time we show the Hero that we aren''t some dead weights waiting for him to protect us. We are important allies who can help him in his journey, Allies he can rely on." Selene spoke excitedly, her words awakening emotions in the crowd present. Then, as the Mage noticed the impact of her words, her eyes momentarily fell on Elira and, "And since we are doing this to show off our strength, Let''s not hold back and send out Grandmaster-Level Tamers, making the show even grander." ''Grandmaster-Level Tamers¡­?'' Kael frowned at those words. For the Battle to be between Grandmaster Tamers¡­ While usually, he would be glad since this would expand his worldview and give him an idea as to what to expect in the future, right now, he was worried. After all, he noticed how Selene glanced at Elira, who was a Grandmaster Tamer herself. This was no coincidence. That woman was targeting Elira, and this worried Kael. It wasn''t just him. Nobles from Drakthar and others reacted to those words as well and started whispering amongst themselves. Unlike Kael, they weren''t worried. They looked¡­ Excited. After all, it wasn''t every day that you see a battle between Grandmaster Tamers¡ªthat too, Grandmaster Tamers representing their respective Nations in a Four-Way Battle. It would be a show that, let alone the Hero, even they would never forget. "¡­" Alden, who sensed their excitement, knew he couldn''t back down, and knowing his situation, Selene stared at the King and, "What do you say, Your Majesty?" She questioned again. "The Drakthar Kingdom will participate." Alden nodded. He still didn''t like how everything was going exactly as that woman had planned, but there was nothing he could do now. With the Drakthar Kingdom agreeing, the pressure was now on the other two Kingdoms¡ªa pressure they couldn''t resist. "The Zephyria Kingdom will participate as well." "So will Eryndor." The other two nodded, and Selene''s grin widened. "Then let''s choose our Tamers who will represent our Kingdoms. Also, since we do not want things to be too chaotic, let''s make it so the Tamers use only two of their Bonds. I am sure General Sky Serpent won''t have a problem with this restriction, correct?" Selene spoke. Aurelia nodded at Selene''s words. Two Bonds were more than enough. Honestly, the General still couldn''t understand what Selene was planning, but since it had come to this, She would make sure Zephyria came out on top. Arlan had also left the stage and had rushed towards his sister and the King. Kael followed him. All nations were busy choosing the Tamers who would represent them. Xenthalor, however, was different. Their Mage was already prepared. Clearly, they had come prepared for this. Chapter 125 - 125: Please stop living in your delusions. "I''ll join." Elira declared with a determined look on her face. "No, you won''t." Arlan, however, stepped forward, not allowing anyone, even the King, to say anything. He could see that the Tower Head was planning something, and he wouldn''t let his baby sister become a part of it. But¡­ "Hah? Since when do you have authority over my decisions?" Elira retorted. "It is my turn to show her what a mere Seventh Circle Mage can do. Whatever she is planning, I''ll burn it all down!" Elira declared confidently, and seeing her act out, Kael smiled inwardly. ''She acts like Igni.'' "No, I will not allow it." Arlan shook his head. "You cannot not allow it. I have already made the decision!" Elira snapped, and the siblings started going at each other again. "¡­" "¡­" The rest of the Drakthar nobles stared at the two in silence, already used to their antics. Even the King was no different. He stared at the two with a tired look on his face. ''They aren''t even considering my opinion.'' He sighed inwardly. Honestly, if someone else had acted like this in front of the King, they would have been punished, but¡­ These two¡­ The King couldn''t punish these two. Yes, he was playing favourites. And he had all the reason to do so. Not only were the siblings close to his daughter and deeply cared for her, but their talent itself wasn''t something he could ignore. Yes, while Elira represented Drakthar Mages, Arlan, her older brother represented Drakthar Warriors. A 35-year-old Eighth Stage Warrior¡ªeven the Warriors of Eryndor respected this man. Yes, the two siblings were pretty much the face of Drakthar, and the family they came from wasn''t simple either. The Stormhold family was one of the three families who stood together with the founding King and helped in the formation of the Drakthar Kingdom from the very start. A family the Dragonborns had trusted for generations. A family that had produced prodigies generation after generation. Even their mother, the Head of the Stormhold Family, Scarlet Stormhold, was a prodigy during her younger days and is currently one of the strongest warriors in the Kingdom, often compared to Varyon Ashviel, the Grand Marshal. Yes, she is strong enough to be compared with the Kingdom''s strongest. The woman, however, had retired from her duties because she wanted to take care of her grandchildren. "I''ll tell Mother! I am telling you! I''ll tell Mother!" Elira threatened. "That I am trying to protect you? Sure, tell her! What''s the worst she can do anyway!? Beat me up!? I''ll take a few hits if it means you aren''t going to fight!" "I¡­ I will also tell her about how you didn''t send Elara to her because you wanted to play with her instead!" "Y-You! You said you would keep it a secret! I just wanted to play with my youngest! She always has her anyway, doesn''t she!?" "You stay back, or I am¡ª" "Alright, that is enough." Unable to take it anymore, the King raised his voice, his mouth twitching nonstop as he saw the two siblings ready to tear each other apart. ''How does Scarlet deal with them?'' He thought inwardly as he looked around. All the Drakthar nobles had lowered their heads and were nervously looking around. After all, they just heard a secret they weren''t supposed to hear. Normally, this wouldn''t have been a big deal, but¡­ With Arlan staring at them as if he was remembering their faces, they knew the Commander would come for them the instant something went wrong. "Elira, you are smart enough to know that Xenthalor is planning something." "Yes, Your Majesty. This is why I wish to participate. I assure you, whatever it is, I will not let them succeed. I will show them the might of Drakthar that they seem to have forgotten." "Then you will be representing the Drakthar Kingdom." "Yes, Your Majesty!" Elira''s eyes brightened up. "But Your Maj¡ª" "You will be the arbiter again, Arlan. The moment you notice something odd, you are free to intervene." It was the only compromise the King could offer, and Arlan, who knew that, controlled himself and bowed his head. "Yes, Your Majesty." "You are only allowed to intervene when you know something is wrong, not because you had a hunch, is that clear?" The King warned, and Arlan nodded, his head still down. "Now keep your voice low. I do not wish to see another foolish squabble between you two today." The King ordered, taking back control over the place and showing his authority. "As you command, Your Majesty." Elira and Arlan nodded as they bowed. The siblings still glared at each other, but since the King had already passed his orders, they decided to fight it out after everything was done. With the King''s intervention, things calmed down. The nobles were finally able to heave a sigh of relief. Other nations seemed to have chosen their warriors as well. Seeing that, Arlan and Elira walked towards the Arena Stage. "Don''t lose." Arlan spoke. Even though he was against her taking part in the battle, he still stood behind his sister. "Do you seriously believe that is even possible?" "I don''t, but I just don''t trust the Mages." Arlan replied, staring at Selene, who seemed to be passing down some instructions to the Mage she had selected. "Oi, I am a Mage too." Elira retorted. "I am sorry, Did you have a wrong idea that I trusted you?" "¡­" S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Elira''s mouth twitched. Kael, who saw the two of them, laughed again. Then he walked towards them and, "Be careful." He spoke as he glanced at Elira. At those words, Elira just grinned. "You just sit back, little brat. You have no idea what''s coming. Rejoice, you will finally see your favourite instructor''s might today." "Please stop living in your delusions." Kael spoke as he scrunched his nose up. It was as if the very idea of Elira being his favourite instructor disgusted him. Chapter 126 - 126: A Tamers Greatest Weapons. "You seem worried, Hero Kael." King Alden smiled as he stared at the Hero, who was now sitting beside him. "I am just¡­ nervous." Kael answered carefully. "You didn''t seem very nervous when you were the one fighting there." "I knew I would win." Kael answered without thinking. Honestly, he wasn''t mentally prepared to talk with the King. He already had a lot in mind and was worried about Elira too. He couldn''t handle another political conversation where he had to be mindful of his words, especially with the King. Oblivious to his thoughts, the King continued, "I like that confidence." "Thank you, Your Majesty." Kael smiled, wanting this to end. Then suddenly, the King''s tone became lighter. "Trust your Instructor, She isn''t weak." Hearing those words, Kael turned towards the King. Honestly, he wanted to trust the King too. Everything he had heard about the King and all his interactions with him so far¡­ Not once did he see him as a two-faced politician chasing profit. Instead, he looked like a weary old man, doing everything in his power to protect those around him. He had the same look on his face that Tobias did, a man in need of help, but unlike Tobias, Alden wasn''t weak. He was very much capable of helping himself and was an ally the Hero didn''t wish to lose. Did he trust him? Honestly, Kael didn''t know. But¡­ He wanted to, And Elira and Arlan seemed to trust the King quite a lot too. So maybe he could trust him a little¡­? As he thought of that, Kael smiled at the King. "I will believe your words, Your Majesty." Alden smiled back, "You can, I will not let you down." The two nodded at each other as their focus shifted back to the Arena. The little moment between the King and the Hero wasn''t missed by the Crown Prince. He clenched his fists as his back arched up. However, before anyone could notice his odd reaction, his expression returned to normal, and with his poker face back on, he continued to observe the battle in silence. Arlan, the Arbiter, stepped forward and repeated the rules. "Anyone who gives up or is in no condition to fight anymore will be eliminated. The last one standing will be victorious. Tamers can only use two Bonds in the battle. Anyone who breaks the rules will be eliminated in an instant. Are the rules clear?" He questioned. "Clear." "Yes." The Tamers nodded as they stood at the four ends of the Arena. "You can call out your Bonds now." Arlan announced, and suddenly, the Space around the Tamers trembled. "Hero Kael." Suddenly, the King called out. "Watch it carefully. This will be the first time you will see the strength of Nerathis''s Tamers. This will be the day you will realize that while being a Mage or a Warrior is important, what matters the most is how strong one''s Bonds are. No matter how hard humans train, how well they equip themselves, or how strong they get, in the end, their strongest fighting force will always be their Bonds, And this reliance only increases as they grow stronger. Even the strongest humans are no match for Magic Beasts on the same level." The King explained as he pointed at the Bonds the Tamers had brought out. Kael''s eyes turned golden, and the moment he glanced at Elira''s two Bonds, his expression changed. [Name: Emberaile] [Race: Infernal Skyrazor] [Rank: Epic] [Age: 28] [Level: 58] [Strength: 98] [Agility: 197] [Speed: 190] [Stamina: 130] [Defense: 75] [Mana: 210] [Intelligence: 140] [Charisma: 120] [Strengths: Master of Fire Magic, Highly Evasive, Quick Reflexes, Tactical Intelligence.] [Weaknesses: Fragile Build, Low Stamina, Low Ground Combat Ability] ¡­ [Name: Magma] [Race: Flaming Behemoth] [Rank: Legendary] [Age: 20] [Level: 46] S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Strength: 185] [Agility: 110] [Speed: 123] [Stamina: 85] [Defense: 175] [Mana: 120] [Intelligence: 90] [Charisma: 96] [Strengths: Heat Manipulation, Strong Force, and Defense.] [Weaknesses: Slow, Ice, and Water Magic.] ¡­ ''W-What in the hell?'' Kael blinked. Those numbers¡­ They were absolutely absurd. Only now did he realize what the King was trying to say. ''A World of Tamers¡­'' All this while, he had been comparing his progress with Elira and Arlan''s stats. After all, both siblings were considered fairly strong in this world. Honestly, when Kael realized that his Igni had gotten stronger than Elira, he had become somewhat relaxed. After all, his Bond was now as strong as a Seventh Circle Mage. Even if that wasn''t the strongest level, it still ensured Kael''s safety during most of his confrontations. Not to mention he also had Ascendent of the Ancient that gave him an absurd power-up, momentarily making him stronger than Arlan, an Eighth Stage Warrior. Kael naively believed that he had reached a level where he could hold his own and survive in this world even if things went bad but¡­ Today, he realized how wrong he was. He had forgotten that this was the World of Tamers. He had been ignoring a Tamer''s greatest weapon, Their Bonds. Bonds that were much stronger than these Tamers. Compared to her Bond''s stats, Elira''s stats almost looked laughable. [Name: Elira Stormhold] [Race: Human] [Age: 28] [Level: 67] [Strength: 40] [Agility: 50] [Speed: 60] [Stamina: 80] [Defense: 55] [Mana: 153] [Intelligence: 180] [Charisma: 85] [Strengths: Master of Fire Magic, Magic Knowledge, High Mana Reserves, Quick Reflexes, Charismatic] [Weaknesses: Weak Physical Combat, Overconfidence in Magic] ¡­ And what''s worse? Higher Level Tamers didn''t have just one or two such Bonds. They had many. ''I am still too weak¡­'' Kael realized it but then, ''Don''t worry, Father. I will protect you.'' He heard a confident voice. ''Nyu!'' Another voice nodded with an excited cheer. ''Yes, Yes, I am relying on you two.'' Kael chuckled as he calmed down. After Elira, he observed other representatives and their bonds, and suddenly, a frown appeared on his face as he noticed something odd. "I do not understand." He frowned. "Infernal Skyrazor is her first Bond yet it is quite a few levels below her, why is that? Isn''t a Bond''s Growth connected with the Tamer?" Chapter 127 - 127: Are the Talented in this world actually… Talentless? "I do not understand. Infernal Skyrazor is her first Bond, yet it is quite a few levels below her. Why is that? Isn''t a Bond''s Growth connected with the Tamer?" Kael questioned with a frown on his face. From what he had seen all this while, the first Bond and its Tamer were always on the same level, whether that was Sarah, Aria, Lyra, the Tamers in Estwyn, or even Tobias, whose Laughter was corrupted but was on a similar level as him. The second Bond is usually a few levels behind the Tamer, the third is a few levels behind the second, and so on. This was the usual pattern. It was the same for Elira too. Magma, her second Bond, was a few levels below Emberaile, but Emberaile and Elira''s levels were different. Elira''s level was higher, Something that didn''t make sense. Or at least that''s what Kael thought, but, "Why is that strange? Were you not told about Humans with Talent? Or did you think you were the only one with Talent?" The King questioned with a smile, and Kael finally remembered it. ''Humans who could grow on their own without needing to Bond with Magic Beasts.'' S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tamer Lyric had taught him that, but he had been just so occupied that this information had skipped his mind, and the fact that he had never once seen this before didn''t help either. Soon, however, another question appeared in Kael''s head. "But this is just the case for Elira out of the four of them. Does this mean the others do not have a Talent?" Honestly, this didn''t make sense either. After all, these Tamers were representing their Nations. Would those Nations choose talentless Tamers when their reputation was at stake? The King, understanding the Hero''s line of thought, smiled. He was glad that the Hero was reading between the lines and trying to understand the bigger picture. "They do. They all possess their own Talent, but all of them have an Epic Rank Beast as their First Bond, so their Talent is overshadowed by their Bonds. Humans with Talent strong enough to surpass their Bonds, especially Epic Rank Bonds, are extremely rare. Your Instructor is one of them." Alden answered. Then, a light smile appeared on his face, and he continued, "And in Battles, such Talent is what puts a Human in a disadvantageous position." He said something that normally should not have made sense. Kael, however, understood it. After all, he was seeing the problem with his own eyes. While Elira''s own level was higher than her opponents, her Bonds were weaker and considering that a Tamer''s biggest weapon was her Bonds, Elira was at a major disadvantage in this battle. "Then¡­ having Talent is a¡­ bad thing? Are the Talented in this world actually¡­ Talentless?" Kael questioned, and at those words, the King chuckled. "Talented are Talentless, huh¡­ That is an interesting way to put it." Soon, however, he shook his head. "If you look at it from a limited perspective, that may seem true, but as a Hero, you need to broaden your horizons. Learn to think from different perspectives, Hero Kael. Take this situation, for example, Yes, in the battle, Court Mage Elira is at a disadvantage, but you also need to understand that the opponents that girl is facing are all well in their late 40s and above. They are nearly twice her age. Think about this. What if Court Mage Elira was given that much time to grow? Do you think those Tamers would stand a chance against her then? Do you think most Tamers her age would ever stand a chance against her?" "So for the Kingdom, she is an important force, and she is only at a disadvantage because she is fighting older opponents. It is like how genius students who excel in their field are far better than those around them, so they are moved up in classes to compete with older students. And even when they score less than those older students, it doesn''t take away their credit or talent." "Indeed." The King nodded with a smile, and Kael nodded back, his eyes shining in understanding. Honestly, he was enjoying this conversation far more than their first one. Back then, he had nothing to say and could only reply with a ''Yes, Your Majesty.'' Right now, the King felt more¡­ human. And while the Crown Prince''s constant gaze did bother him a little, he didn''t let it get to him. He still had a lot to talk about. The very King was answering his questions. It would be rude not to ask and learn more, wouldn''t it? Not to mention, it would help him form an opinion regarding the King. "Is this the reason why other Nations sent those Tamers and not someone like Elira?" He questioned. "That is one reason, yes. It would be easier to win." The King nodded. "But more importantly, none of those Nations brought their Prodigies with them." "Why is that?" Kael frowned. Wouldn''t they want to show off their Prodigies in front of the Hero? After all, all this charade was happening because these four Nations wished to show him their might. A bunch of old Tamers defeating a young Tamer half their age wouldn''t exactly give them the reputation they were hoping for. "As I said, Prodigies like Elira are rare. Nations protect them with everything they have. After all, who in their right mind would put the Future Pillars of their Nation in any form of danger?" The King''s tone turned heavy by the end of that sentence. Kael even noticed his hands trembling before he clenched them into fists, and very quickly, he understood this wasn''t about Elira anymore. It was about Lavinia, the King''s Daughter, and¡­ the most exceptional Mage that Nerathis had ever seen. A Mage even more talented than Elira and¡­ A daughter this man loved but was forced to send away as a mere slave. Kael, with his heightened senses, could feel the King''s heartbeat quicken. It wasn''t just him, ''He is¡­ in pain.'' Igni noted it as well. Alden''s eyes were reflecting emotions Kael had never seen on his face before. The King''s poker face had cracked. ... A/N: Pictures of Bonds who are about to participate in the battle to create a better image in mind. Elira''s Bonds: *Emberaile* *Magna* Arthur''s Bonds: *Titan* *Maw* Silas''s Bonds: *Storm* *Thunder* Rowan''s Bond: *Leon* Chapter 128 - 128: Watch and Learn. The King''s poker face had cracked. For just a single moment, of course. Very quickly, the King returned to normal, even his heartbeat had returned to normal as if he had perfect control over it. "Most of the Prodigies usually train under their Nations'' security because losing even one of them to an unfortunate accident or an enemy''s attack is considered a big loss. So usually, the Nations do not move those Prodigies unless the matter is of extreme importance." Alden answered, acting as if nothing had happened, and honestly, if it were Kael from before, he wouldn''t have noticed anything either. It all happened in a second. The previous him would have simply thought of it as a simple pause and ignored it. ''Have I gotten better at reading people?'' Kael wondered in his head. ''Your senses have gotten sharper, Father.'' Igni, once again, answered his question. Kael nodded in his head as he then turned towards the King, who was looking at him, expecting another question with an elderly smile. Again, there was no trace of his momentary breakdown on his face; it felt as if everything was Kael''s delusion. ''A King, huh¡­'' Kael muttered in his head, but as he noticed his constant gaze, he knew he had to say something. "Then why did you send Elira? Wouldn''t she lose?" He questioned. From whatever politics he understood, Drakthar, as the Strongest Kingdom, had a reputation to maintain. If their Prodigy lost, one wouldn''t look at it and say, ''Oh, she was young and was at a disadvantage.'' They would see it as Drakthar''s loss, even when they sent their best. It would affect the Kingdom''s image negatively, so why would the King do it¡­? At that question, the King''s smile widened. "I did this because of you." "What?" "I noticed that you tend to rely on your eyes a little too much. These Levels you talk about, you think of them as Absolute and judge others according to what you see. I want to show you that there is more to a Tamer than these levels. I want to show you that exceptional mages like Elira aren''t easy to defeat, even if her opponents are stronger than her. Underestimate them once, and it will prove lethal. So watch the battle, Hero Kael, enjoy and¡­ Learn." The King smiled, and at those words, Kael once again glanced at the Arena. The battle had begun. Elira had already sat up on Emberaile and had soared into the air, looking more like a Mage from the Sky Kingdom than Drakthar. Just like her, the Warrior from Zephyria, Silas Crowhaven, had soared into the air on top of his Bond as well, and unlike Elira, whose Magna was left on the ground, both of Silas''s Bonds were in the air with him. The Warrior from Eryndor, Arthur Graylock, was completely different; both his Bonds stood tall on the ground, marking his territory. As for the Mage from the Magic Empire, Rowan Ashworth, his actions raised many eyebrows since, unlike the others, he only brought out a single Bond, pretty much cutting his strength in half. The Four-Way Battle had turned into Two Separate Battles, where Elira faced Silas and Arthur stood in front of Rowan. "Are you sure you do not wish to take out your Second Bond? I can give you the time you need to bring him out if you wish." Arthur spoke like a proud and noble warrior. He wanted to defeat his opponent when he was at his best. At his words, however, Rowan just smiled. "I won''t be needing it. My Leon is more than enough for you three." "If that is the case, then I will not be holding back." Arthur declared as he rushed forward with his two trusted Bonds. At the same time, in the air, Silas stared at Elira and smiled confidently. "Facing a Zephyria Warrior in the air¡­ I do not know whether to call you brave or foolish." "You will find out soon enough. Though I have to say, the battlefield is quite interesting, especially the choice of Beasts that were made by each participant, don''t you think?" Elira chuckled playfully, her eyes darting around as if she was trying to say something¡ªsomething Silas didn''t fail to notice. Kael, obviously, was focused more on Elira''s battle. He stared at her armored opponent and his eyes turned golden. [Name: Silas Crowhaven] [Race: Human] [Age: 53] [Level: 64] [Strength: 110] [Agility: 135] [Speed: 115] [Stamina: 125] [Defense: 119] [Mana: 42] [Intelligence: 75] [Charisma: 95] [Strengths: Agile, Master of Battlefield, Tactical Genius] [Weaknesses: Low Mana, Overreliance on Physical Combat] Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ Of course, with his newfound knowledge, Kael didn''t care much about the man himself; his focus was on his Bonds. [Name: Storm] [Race: Storm Sovereign Roc] [Rank: Epic] [Age: 53] [Level: 64] [Strength: 110] [Agility: 215] [Speed: 217] [Stamina: 145] [Defense: 88] [Mana: 238] [Intelligence: 148] [Charisma: 134] [Strengths: Aerial Dominance, High Speed, Storm Manipulation, Tactical Intelligence] [Weaknesses: Fragile Build, Low Stamina, Low Ground Combat Ability] ¡­ [Name: Thunder] [Race: Thunder Wyvern] [Rank: Epic] [Age: 41] [Level: 55] [Strength: 130] [Agility: 170] [Speed: 175] [Stamina: 130] [Defense: 140] [Mana: 150] [Intelligence: 110] [Charisma: 100] [Strengths: Lightning Absorption, Electrified Scales, Balanced] [Weaknesses: Weaker in Distant Combat, Low Ground Combat Ability] ¡­ ''Those numbers are just absurd.'' Kael shook his head. These numbers were much higher than Elira''s Bonds. Honestly, Kael didn''t know how Elira was planning to win this thing. After all, unlike him, who had his System Skills to rely on when fighting opponents stronger than him, Elira didn''t have any such thing. ''Or does she¡­?'' Kael thought inwardly as suddenly¡ª "SCREEEEEECCCHHH" "SCREEEEEECCCHHH" Elira, who was on top of Emberaile, and Silas, on top of Storm, rushed at each other at a speed much faster than the Beasts below. And just as they were about to collide with each other¡ª Whoosh Whoosh The two moved past each other, and¡ª Emberaile''s sleek red body covered itself in ever-burning flames without harming Elira as his fiery golden eyes stared at the target, and¡ª BOOOOOOM He shot a beam of fire right at the Eryndor Warrior, Arthur Graylock, taking him by surprise. Chapter 129 - 129: I’ll show you what a true nightmare looks like. Emberaile''s sleek red body covered itself in ever-burning flames without harming Elira as his fiery golden eyes stared at the target, and¡ª BOOOOOOM He shot a beam of fire right at the Eryndor Warrior, Arthur Graylock, taking him by surprise. Silas did the same, his Storm, a grey eagle with glowing blue streaks running along his feathered wings, moved right above the Xenthalor Mage and, Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh He activated his ability, Tempest Vortex, trapping Rowan inside a hurricane. THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER Storm then rained down lightning on top of the trapped Mage, not even giving him a chance to resist. ''W-What¡­?'' Kael blinked, surprised by what happened. ''When did they team up?'' It wasn''t just him, the rest of the guests were shocked and confused too. At one moment, it felt like Elira and Silas would be going at each other, but the next moment, they changed their targets, eliminating the other two contestants. Or at least¡­ that was what Kael and the guests were expecting, but¡­ As the dust surrounding Arthur cleared up, the Warrior stepped forward with a cold look on his face. In front of him lied one of his Bonds, a Frostfang Mauler, a Beast known for its ferocity. Right now, however, this ferocious Beast was lying on the ground, whimpering. His frost-covered fur was burned, even his skin hidden underneath was scorched. He had blocked Emberaile''s attack and protected his Master, but now, he was in no condition to fight anymore. With a cold look on his face, Arthur pulled him back into his Sanctuary, where one of his other Bonds would help him heal. Just like that, one of Arthur''s Bonds was eliminated. "You will pay for that." Arthur spoke as he stared at Elira, his voice much colder than before. "You should have taken that attack on your own if it bothers you that much." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Elira laughed and, BOOOOOOM Emberaile attacked again. ''Exactly! That''s my Instructor! Shameless to her core!'' Kael grinned at that. At the same time, he read through Arthur''s and his Bonds'' information. [Name: Arthur Graylock] [Race: Human] [Age: 59] [Level: 66] [Strength: 135] [Agility: 100] [Speed: 105] [Stamina: 125] [Defense: 130] [Mana: 45] [Intelligence: 70] [Charisma: 100] [Strengths: High Strength and Defense, Master of Battlefield.] [Weaknesses: Low Mana, Overreliance on Physical Combat, Slower than Warriors his Level.] ¡­ [Name: Titan] [Race: Titanback Behemoth] [Rank: Epic] [Age: 59] [Level: 66] [Strength: 220] [Agility: 90] [Speed: 100] [Stamina: 150] [Defense: 230] [Mana: 130] [Intelligence: 130] [Charisma: 100] [Strengths: Strong defense, immense physical power, ground-shaking attacks.] [Weaknesses: Slow movement, low mana, struggles against aerial enemies.] ¡­ [Name: Maw] [Race: Frostfang Mauler] [Rank: Epic] [Age: 55] [Level: 58] [Strength: 120] [Agility: 145] [Speed: 150] [Stamina: 100] [Defense: 110] [Mana: 150] [Intelligence: 150] [Charisma: 110] [Strengths: Agile and deadly in close combat, freezing attacks weaken enemies, can manipulate ice.] [Weaknesses: Lower defense than most melee beasts, fire-based attacks are highly effective.] ¡­ ''Holy fuck, she is a genius.'' Kael finally realized what Elira was doing. Maw, the Frostfang Mauler, was Arthur''s only Bond who could go against an aerial enemy. He was also the only Beast fast enough to react in time when Arthur was attacked. Taking Arthur by surprise forced Maw to take action and get eliminated. Now, Arthur was left with Titan, the Titanback Behemoth, who struggles against aerial attacks because he has no way to attack back. With just one attack, Elira had reduced the Eryndor Warrior into an open target who could do nothing but defend. And¡­ She did all that without having Kael''s System Screen to understand her enemies'' weaknesses. ''Did she plan all that from the beginning, or was it just a coincidence?'' For some reason, Kael knew it was the former. But if that was truly the case, the same question bothered him again. ''How did she convince Silas to work with her? No, when did she do it?'' With a frown, Kael turned towards the battle between Silas and Rowan. "RROOOOOAAAAAARRRRR!!" A loud roar was heard, and Rowan, who was supposedly trapped in the middle of a hurricane, was seen sitting on top of his Stormfang Monarch¡ªa majestic lion covered in sleek, storm-grey fur with golden lightning streaks running across his body¡ªflying in the air. The Beast seemed to have the ability to run on top of the wind currents, so all the supposedly death-like hurricane could do was¡­ Pave a way for the Stormfang Monarch and his Rowan to run in the air. Yes, Rowan, sitting on top of his Bond, was riding the deadly wind currents like it was the most comfortable roadway in the world. ''The hell¡­?'' Kael blinked. ''Just how many absurd things am I going to see today?'' He questioned inwardly as his eyes turned golden again. [Name: Rowan Ashworth] [Race: Human] [Age: 55] [Level: 66] [Strength: 44] [Agility: 48] [Speed: 55] [Stamina: 90] [Defense: 65] [Mana: 140] [Intelligence: 150] [Charisma: 70] [Strengths: Master of Wind Magic, Magic Knowledge, High Mana Reserves.] [Weaknesses: Weak Physical Combat.] ¡­ [Name: Leon] [Race: Stormfang Monarch] [Rank: Epic] [Age: 55] [Level: 66] [Strength: 110] [Agility: 220] [Speed: 224] [Stamina: 154] [Defense: 98] [Mana: 250] [Intelligence: 158] [Charisma: 133] [Strengths: Movement Speed, Airborne Battles, Manipulate Wind.] [Weaknesses: Large Energy Consumption, Mana Dependence.] ¡­ ''Airborne battles are his strength? A Beast that cannot even fly?'' Kael frowned, his focus now completely on Rowan and his Leon, who were now in the air, still riding the wind currents, avoiding Silas''s Storm''s attacks like it was nothing. "Sending a Mage with a Stormfang Monarch into a battle where a Zephyrian Warrior is participating¡­ is this Xenthalord''s way of taunting us?" Silas, who was sitting on top of Storm, questioned as he raised his eyebrows. At his words, Rowan just chuckled. "Taunt you? What are you talking about? Isn''t a Stormfang Monarch a perfect Bond to face one of the self-called Rulers of the Sky?" "A Beast who needs wind currents to even stay in the air wishes to face actual flying Beasts? How foolish." Silas snorted. He didn''t seem to like the Stormfang Monarch very much, and Rowan, who seemed to know that, just grinned. "This Beast who needs wind currents to even stay in the air has killed more actual flying Beasts than he has the normal ones. There is a reason these Beasts are called the Nightmare of Flying Beasts." "Oh, trust me, I''ll show you what a true nightmare looks like." Silas answered as the tension between the two Tamers rose. Tension that¡­ didn''t seem to be regarding this particular battle alone. Chapter 130 - 130: The Four-way Battle "They aren''t called a nightmare of Flying Beasts without a reason." "Oh, I''ll show you what a true nightmare looks like." Silas and Rowan went at each other and the tension between them rose. Tension that¡­ didn''t seem to be regarding this particular battle alone. And Kael, who caught that detail, finally understood how Elira pulled it off. It was Rowan''s Bond. The Stormfang Monarch. Rowan called it the Nightmare of Flying Beasts, and he wasn''t just talking about his own Bond alone when he mentioned that title. He was referring to the entire Stormfang Monarch Race. A Bond who had the ability to ride the Wind Current and perform exceptionally well in airborne battles. Obviously, in Zephyria, a Kingdom where Tamers value Flying Beasts more than anything, a Beast who was called Nightmare of Flying Beasts wouldn''t exactly be the most loved. And Xenthalor sending a Mage whose Primary Bond was a Stormfang Monarch, especially considering that they were the ones who seemed to have planned it all out, was no different than sending a message. They were provoking Zephyria. A provocation Silas didn''t like one bit, and Elira, who predicted the possible tensions between the two Tamers, used this opportunity to form a small alliance with Silas and used it to her advantage. ''Fuck, she''s good!'' Kael was surprised. ''Then why does she usually act like some dumb mage who only reads that perverted book? Does she have a split personality?'' He wondered as he looked back at Elira, who¡ª "HAHAHAHA! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! This is so fun!" ¡ªwho was riding on top of her Emberaile with seven Magic Circles around her, bombarding poor Arthur with destructive Fire Spells as she laughed like a gremlin who was finally let loose. "¡­" Kael turned silent. Instantly losing all his newfound respect for his instructor. He looked around and noticed the rest of the Drakthar Kingdom wasn''t even looking at her battle anymore, almost acting like they had no relationship with this woman. Even the King was the same. He stared at the battle between Silas and Rowan like his life depended on it. And Kael¡­ He decided to do the same, focusing his attention back on the two Tamers. "SCREEEEEEECCHHH!!!" Storm roared as he rushed towards Rowan and Leon. "RRROOAAAAAAAARRR!!" Leon roared as well. The Stormfang Monarch wanted to face Storm Sovereign Roc in a direct confrontation. However, Leon knew that Rowan was a Mage. If he got too close, the enemy would use that chance and turn it into a close-ranged battle, which would put them at a disadvantage. He needed to get away and create distance, and this was what he did. Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh He controlled the wind currents and descended. Yes, admittedly, in an aerial battle against a Storm, Leon was at a disadvantage, because unlike Storm, who could move however he wanted, Leon first needed to manipulate the Wind Currents and move according to them. This also made his movements predictable, which could be used against him. However, this didn''t mean Leon was weak. There was a reason his appearance alone agitated Silas so much, a reason why Stormfang Monarchs are called the Nightmares of Flying Beasts. The biggest advantage a Stormfang Monarch had was that he wasn''t just good at aerial battles. He could also fight battles on the ground, something Storm Sovereign Roc couldn''t do. This was also what made him such a great Bond for a Mage. He was an all-rounder. He could return to the ground, creating distance from normal Flying Beasts, giving all the advantage to the Mage. At the same time, he could also rise in the air and take down the weakened opponent, not falling into a predicament similar to Arthur''s. Usually, this is what Leon would have done too¡ªgo to the ground, create distance, and win¡­ But¡­ He wasn''t facing just one Flying Beast. He was facing two. THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER Silas''s Thunder, who, unlike Storm, just hovered in the air, predicted Leon''s movement and sent a bolt of lightning toward him. "LEON!" Rowan screamed loudly as seven Magic Circles appeared around him and formed a transparent shield. "ROOOOAAAARRRR!" Leon jumped in the air, away from the Wind Currents that carried him. Thunder had attacked him, predicting his air currents. If he didn''t follow them, he wouldn''t get hit. Yes, he would lose his footing, but that was the only way out. Boom The shield Rowan had created at the last second burst apart the instant it collided with Thunder''s lightning. The impact generated would have sent him and Leon flying if Leon hadn''t jumped away. Very quickly, the Stormfang Monarch formed new wind currents to move on, preventing them from falling but¡­ "SCREEEEEECCCHH!!" Storm and Rowan were now right next to them. "So much for the Nightmare of all Flying Beasts, eh?" Silas mocked as he jumped towards Rowan, prepared to end the battle in one go. But then, Rowan smiled. "How predictable, just what I would expect from a Warrior." And suddenly, FWOOOOSHHHH Rowan''s Magic Circles shined, and suddenly a terrifying hurricane formed with the airborne Silas at the very center of it. "AAAHHHHH¡ª" Silas''s body shot right up, high into the air, this time, without his Storm with him. One couldn''t even hear his screams, which were muffled by all the wind currents and chaos. "Did he really think a Seventh Circle Mage would create a shield that weak?" Rowan chuckled as he relaxed a little. He assumed Storm would go protect his Tamer, giving him the distance and time he and Leon needed to stabilize, But... "SCREEEEECCCHHHH!!!" Storm screeched, WHOOOSH Sending another, even stronger hurricane¡ªstrong enough to rip Rowan''s weak body into pieces¡ªtowards him. "Wha- LEON NO!!!!" Rowan widened his eyes in horror as suddenly, "ROOOAAAAAAARRRR!!!" Leon, who had barely stabilized and had no time to stop the incoming attack, rolled in the air, throwing Rowan from his back as he took on the attack that was aimed at his Tamer. BOOOOM The collision sent Leon flying. "ROOOOOOAAAAAARRRRR!!" The Stormfang Monarch roared in pain. Like other quick Beasts, he didn''t have a strong body either. That attack was more than enough to be lethal. "LEON!!!" Rowan, who created a wind current to cushion his fall, quickly turned around as he stared at Leon, who was sent flying. He looked in the air, confused as to why that stupid Roc didn''t go protect his Tamer, and very quickly, he realized the reason. Silas''s second Bond, was already there to catch the Warrior''s injured body. And what''s worse? "SCREEEEEEEEECCCHHH!!!" Storm, who had taken down Leon, was now coming at him. ... A/N: Pictures of Bonds to create a better image in mind. Elira''s Bonds: *Emberaile* *Magna* Arthur''s Bonds: *Titan* *Maw* Silas''s Bonds: sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. *Storm* *Thunder* Rowan''s Bond: *Leon* PS: This will also be pasted before the fight starts, I forgot about it before, my bad. Chapter 131 - 131: The battle was indeed over. "SCRREEEEEEEEECCCHHH!!!" Storm, who had taken down Leon, was now coming directly at Rowan. "Fuck!" Rowan cursed, his heart pounded when he saw the fearsome Bond coming at him with enraged eyes. "You are angry because I hit your Master!?" Rowan shouted as he stood up. Then, he grinned and, "What a coincidence! I wish to avenge my Leon as well! COME AT ME!!!" He screamed. "SCREEEEEEECCHHHH!" Storm increased his speed, as if he had accepted his challenge. He descended at a speed even faster than before, then suddenly, just as Storm was about to reach him, the Seven Circles around Rowan shined again and, Boom The air around him exploded, sending him flying and away from Storm, who was still descending towards the hard ground a little too fast. Yes, he was about to hit the ground head-first. Was this Rowan''s plan all along? From the smirk on his face even when he was in the air, that indeed seemed to be the case. But then, Storm¡­ Smirked? Flap He flapped his giant wings and his descent slowed down. Storm was a Master of Aerial Combat. How could he fall on the ground face-first? That would not just be embarrassing for Silas, but even for Storm himself. Flap The Roc flapped his wings again, changing his direction as he turned towards Rowan again. This time, the Mage had no way out. "SCREEEEECCCHHH!!" With a screech, Storm flapped his wings and rushed towards Rowan, but then, "SSSSCCCREEEEEEEEEEECCCCHHHHH!!" The Roc screeched in agony as suddenly, his body tumbled. Half of his right wing was cut open, and he tumbled into the ground with blood spilling all over the space. Rowan, whose body had fallen on the floor, sat up and smirked as he stared at the fallen Roc. "Like Master, like Beast, eh? Again, why do you think a Mage like me would need to spend effort creating a simple air explosion like that? I was obviously planning for¡­ This!" He announced with a wide grin, sensing more than 50 invisible Wind Threads that he had weaved around the fallen Storm, ready to cut him the instant he tried to move. Storm''s body trembled in agony and rage, his piercing blue eyes stared at the hateful man in front of him. Then suddenly, his expression changed as Rowan walked towards him. "What? Scared?" Rowan''s grin widened. "Well, why wouldn''t you be? You are here on the ground, your injured Master is in the air, on that slow thing that would need a few seconds to come here, more than enough time for me to get rid of you. But don''t worry, I do not plan to kil¡ª" Rumble Rowan froze as he sensed something. The ground beneath him was shaking. Then, he noticed something. His back seemed¡­ warm? Recalling the look on Storm''s face, he realized something and slowly turned around. "!!!" And there it was. A towering beast with a molten rock exterior, glowing lava veins underneath his skin. His spiked shell radiated intense heat, and his massive horn looked lethal. Every step the gigantic creature took shook the battle ground. It was Magma. Elira''s Second Beast. The Flaming Behemoth, who was coming at Rowan at a speed that would turn the poor Xenthalor Mage into bloodpaste if they collided. Yes, all this while, Magma had been positioning himself according to Elira''s instructions, and now that he finally had the chance to show off his might, the Behemoth was in no mood to hold back, and this was exactly what Elira wanted from him. The reason why she targeted Arthur instead of Silas, allowing Silas to face Rowan, was all because she had Magma. A Ground Beast. Elira knew Rowan would do anything in his power to move the battle near the ground. After all, this was how Stormfang Monarchs fought. To Elira, the result of their battle didn''t matter. She just wanted Magma to attack the winner. It was over. Arthur was already done, even his Titanback Behemoth, a Beast known for its strong defense, couldn''t hold off against Emberaile''s and Elira''s constant bombardment. Silas was injured, his Storm was out, and his Thunder was too slow to make a difference. Rowan''s Leon was out of the picture too, and while she didn''t understand why the Xenthalor Mage didn''t use both his Bonds from the beginning and was somewhat worried about his second Bond, she soon realized it didn''t matter. It didn''t matter what Rowan''s second Bond was. The battle was over. After all, Magma was already close to Rowan. There was no way a Mage could even resist a Behemoth like Magma at this distance. In a battle between a Beast and a Human, a Human would never come out on top. The only thing Rowan could do right now was to bring out his Second Bond, and even that wouldn''t make much of a difference because Elira had already calculated it all. According to the strength Leon had shown today, she knew he was Rowan''s Primary Bond. In Kael''s words, Leon''s and Rowan''s ''levels'' were similar. So whoever Rowan''s Second Bond was, it would be weaker, especially when compared to Magma, who was the only Legendary Beast in this battle. Could Rowan''s Second Bond be a Legendary Beast? Unlikely. Legendary Beast Eggs were monopolized by the strongest families. This was the same for all the Nations. Only Prodigies or the Heirs of the most influential families got to Bond with Legendary Beasts. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Was Rowan one such heir? No. Elira had read about all the influential families and forces throughout Nerathis. There was no family with Ashworth as the last name. Could Rowan be one of the few lucky ones who accidentally found a Legendary Beast Egg? Well, even if that was the case, Elira could always defeat the Mage with numbers. After all, she was up by one Bond in this battle. The only way Rowan could defeat her would be if his Second Bond turned out to be a Mythical Ranked Beast. ''Heh.'' The moment she thought about it, Elira laughed at that possibility, dismissing it in an instant. The battle was indeed over. Chapter 132 - 132: [Do it.] The only way Rowan could defeat her would be if his Second Bond turned out to be a Mythical Ranked Beast. ''Heh.'' The moment she thought about it, Elira laughed at that possibility. The Battle was indeed over. But¡­ [Do it.] Rowan, who was panicking as he saw Magma rushing towards him, suddenly heard a voice in his head. He turned towards Tower Head Selene, and the instant the woman nodded, the Xenthalor Mage grinned. "You brought this upon yourself, Drakthar Bitch." He cursed as suddenly, the Space around him cracked, and a purple-black maw came out, instantly attracting all the attention. Rowan, on the other hand, grinned like his victory was already assured. "Allow me to show you my Trump Card, A Mythical Ranked Beast, Eclipsing Devourer. Hahahaha!" S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The mage laughed like a maniac as a 3-meter-tall beast, covered in obsidian-black carapace with shimmering purple cracks, appeared beside him. The Beast''s jagged maw seemed to distort reality itself, and his six glowing eyes were like gateways to the void, radiating an overwhelming sense of dread. It was a nightmarish creature. *Maul* "That''s¡­ an Eclipsing Devourer¡­?" The audience frowned. Mythical Ranked Beasts were extremely rare; the majority of Mythical Ranked Beasts were just that, myths. No one had actually seen them. An Eclipsing Behemoth was a nightmarish creature of myths, a Beast that is known to cause havoc, destruction, and dread. It is said to be the embodiment of endless night, sleeping in the deepest abyss, rising only to consume entire armies in darkness. Its shadowy form coils through battlefields, devouring light itself, leaving only silence and fear in its wake. That was all the people knew about the Eclipsing Devourer; no one had actually seen it before, heck, many didn''t even believe it to be real. But now¡­ That nightmarish creature was standing right in front of them. "A Mythical Ranked Beast¡­" People couldn''t believe it. "How did we not know about Xenthalor Empire getting their hands on a Mythical Ranked Beast¡­?" "And to think they gave such a Beast to a mage like Rowan¡­ Why would they do that?" "Was he the one who found it?" "But where? Did he go to the Forest of End?" "And came back alive? Don''t be foolish." Questions arose. The more they thought about it, the stranger it became. Even Alden narrowed his eyes, doubting if this truly was a Mythical Beast, but then, "KKKRRREEEEKKKKK!!!" The Beast let out a creepy, soul-shattering roar that sent shivers down everyone''s spine, and then, suddenly, BOOOOM An endless amount of dark energy exploded from its body, engulfing the entire battlefield in darkness. And the moment it did, It didn''t matter who it was, whether it was Silas and Thunder high in the air, Elira and Emberaile attacking Arthur and his Titan, or even Storm and Magma, who were right next to Rowan, every single one of them was devoured by this darkness. But then, "ARLAN!!! STOP THE BATTLE!" Kael screamed at the top of his lungs. He himself had already rushed out, forming a Flaming Chain that moved right into the dome of darkness, pulling Elira and Emberaile out. "Huh?" Arlan, however, frowned at the Hero''s sudden actions. Why was Kael getting involved in the battle? Does he not understand what he did? By pulling Elira out of the Dome, he eliminated her from the battle without giving her a fighting chance. Was he scared because a Mythical Ranked Beast appeared? But Kael didn''t seem like one to lash out like that without reason. ''Whatever.'' In the end, Arlan shook his head and decided to act. If Kael was wrong, he would take the blame for him later; for now, he decided to trust the Hero. But it was already too late. "ROOAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!" "SCCRREEEEEEEEECCCCH!!!" "AAAAAAGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!" Agonizing roars, screeches, and screams came from the dome of darkness, which was created in the middle of the battlefield, horrifying everyone present there. Kael, who saw that, widened his eyes in horror. He quickly turned towards Alden and screamed again, "STOP THE BATTLE! THAT''S A CORRUPTED BEAST!!" "WHAT!?" Crown Prince Edric stood up, his eyes wide in shock. Kael nodded, his eyes once again turned golden. "I saw it with my own eyes." He spoke as he pointed at his eyes. [Name: Maul] [Race: Abyssal Dreadmaw] [Rank: Epic] [Age: 40] [State: Corrupted] [Level: 52] [Strength: 135 (145)] [Agility: 75 (85)] [Speed: 69 (76)] [Stamina: 180 (195)] [Defense: 150 (160)] [Mana: 250 (430)] [Intelligence: 140 (82)] [Charisma: 95 (55)] [Strengths: High Mana, Excellent in Group Battles, Can attack multiple enemies at once.] [Weaknesses: Slow Movement Speed, High Mana Dependence, Close Combat, Low Intelligence, Corrupted.] ¡­ "That is not an Eclipsing Devourer or whatever you people are thinking. It''s a Corrupted Abyssal Dreadmaw." Kael revealed the truth with shocked Elira in his arms. "Hero Kael, what are you talking about?" Someone questioned. It was Rowan. Kael turned towards the Mage and saw that the Dome of Darkness had disappeared and other than Rowan and his Bond, everyone else on the battlefield had passed out. "You should know about it better than I do, no?" Kael narrowed his eyes, staring at the Mage in front of him. "No, I don''t. Please explain." Rowan, however, did not back down. "You accused me of being corrupted. Do you know what that implies?" "Accused? You aren''t foolish any¡ª" "Hero Kael, do you even know what Corrupted Beasts are?" Rowan interrupted and asked a question. "Yes, I do." Kael snapped. "I saw them with my own eyes when I was in Estwyn." "And you are comparing those brutish, mindless monsters with my Maul? Do you sense that filthy energy that you sensed from those monsters from him? Does my Maul look like a Mindless Monster to you? Does it look like my Maul has no sense of control? Because if that was the case, no one here, including your precious instructor, would be alive. The only reason you were able to bring her out of Maul''s Dome of Dread was because Maul allowed you, not wanting to hurt you. Do you think a Corrupted Beast is capable of such thoughts? Or any thoughts for that matter?" Rowan questioned as he then looked into the Hero''s eyes and, "Hero Kael, please do tell, In what way does my Maul look like a Corrupted Beast to you?" Chapter 133 - 133: [Are you absolutely sure you aren’t mistaken?] "Hero Kael, please do tell, In what way does my Maul look like a Corrupted Beast to you?" Rowan questioned out loud, and Kael turned silent. Once again, he stared at Maul''s Stats and realized something. This Beast¡­ Unlike the corrupted beasts he had seen in Estwyn, this one hadn''t lost all his intelligence. Yes, there was a significant drop in his intelligence and charisma, but it wasn''t close to zero. Not only that, Kael also noticed that other than Mana, the rest of his stats didn''t change much either. It was almost as if¡­ The Beast was carefully experimented on instead of being outright corrupted. When he thought about that possibility, Kael''s expression changed. He, however, wasn''t given the time to think of such matters, as suddenly, Tower Head Selene, representing the Xenthalor Empire, appeared next to Rowan and stared at the King. "King Alden, what is the meaning of this?" At that question, Alden narrowed his eyes. "Hero Kael only came to this world two weeks ago. He doesn''t even understand what corrupted beasts are, yet he still claims that a Xenthalor Mage is Corrupted? Do you truly want us to believe that the Hero came to this conclusion on his own? Or was he perhaps manipulated into thinking that Xenthalor was the enemy all along?" "The Hero said that he saw it with his own eyes." Edric spoke up. As a prince, he couldn''t allow someone to slander the King. "You should know by now, the Hero has special eyes." "Those special eyes are clearly wrong here. Or are you also implying that my Empire''s Mage is corrupted?" Selene questioned, and this time, Edric turned silent. Even a child could see that it was not a Corrupted Beast. Corrupted Beasts are known for their violent nature and their craving for death and destruction. And Maul stopped the moment his enemies were incapacitated¡ªsomething no Corrupted Beast could possibly do, especially when he stood right in front of an unconscious beast and had all the power and opportunity to get rid of it right this instant. Not to mention he couldn''t sense the Power of Corruption that one usually senses from Corrupted Beasts. Let alone him, even Pope Altheran, who was sensitive to that energy because of his connection to Lord Feraos, didn''t seem to have noticed anything. Edric knew that Beast wasn''t corrupted. Then why was Hero Kael acting like this? He didn''t know, and right now, it didn''t matter. "I am not implying anything. As you mentioned, the Hero just came here. He is still na?ve. His ability must not be working correctly, or maybe it is incapable of correctly assessing Mythical Ranked Beasts. I request Lady Selene to drop this matter." Edric spoke calmly, defending both his Kingdom and Kael. Kael, who heard his words, lowered his head. Was his system truly wrong? Even he was having second thoughts. After all, that beast truly didn''t look corrupted. But then, ''Father, that thing is corrupted. You are not wrong.'' Igni declared confidently. ''I sense the same energy from them as I did from the Beasts we fought before, just that that energy is hidden deep within it, making it impossible for humans to sense it.'' Kael narrowed his eyes at those words. ''Do you think¡­ they corrupted him that way on purpose?'' He questioned carefully. If this was true, then his previous theory about this beast being a result of an experiment would also be true. This would mean that Rowan experimented with the Power of Corruption. Something that¡­ he shouldn''t even be having access to. ''That is a possibility.'' Igni nodded, and Kael''s expression turned solemn. This was bad¡­ He felt like he was unraveling something he shouldn''t have. Rowan was one of the corrupted, one of the enemies. While this in itself wasn''t a big deal since Kael knew there were traitors in Drakthar too, He didn''t like how aggressively Selene was defending him¡­ It was almost as if¡­ the entire Xenthalor Empire was involved in this. ''I need to find out.'' Kael thought inwardly. ''But how¡­'' He clenched his fists in frustration. He knew next to nothing about Corruption and Corrupted Beasts. Neither did he seem to have any more power here since Edric and Selene were involved. He was helpless. But then, [Are you sure he is Corrupted?] Suddenly, Kael heard a voice in his head. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was Elira, who had finally returned to her senses. It happened a little too quickly for her to react. A few moments ago, she was grinning at how she would win while attacking Arthur. Then suddenly, darkness enveloped her, blocking all her senses. Then, some strange visions started appearing in her mind, but before she could even understand what they were, everything returned to normal, and she realized she and her bond were pulled by a Flaming Chain. She turned towards Kael, wanting to question him, but then, she heard those agonizing screams coming out of the Dome she was just pulled out of. Kael¡­ he saved her. She wanted to express her gratitude but then she realized that her Magma was in there. She turned around, wanting to jump in and protect her Bond but then the Dome disappeared, and her eyes fell on Magma, who had just passed out, without any injuries. Rowan then countered Kael''s accusations and defended himself. Even Selene joined in and directly placed the blame on the Drakthar Kingdom, making the Crown Prince take a stand, and before she knew it, Everyone somewhat dismissed Kael''s words as the discussions continued. Well, everyone but her. Elira still trusted Kael. [Are you absolutely sure you aren''t mistaken?] She questioned, and Kael, who looked at his instructor, nodded with a solemn look on his face. Yes, he was. Even if he didn''t trust his system, he blindly trusted his Igni. And the instant Elira saw his confidence, "Wait a minute." She stood up. "I felt something odd when I was inside that domain too. I have reasons to believe that Beast is Corrupted." The Court Mage lied. Wanting to stand by her student''s side. Chapter 134 - 134: Why not use the Verdant Omen? [Are you absolutely sure you aren''t mistaken?] At that question, Kael nodded with a solemn look on his face. And the instant Elira saw his confidence, "Wait a minute." She stood up. "I felt something odd when I was inside that domain too. I have reasons to believe that Beast is Corrupted." She announced, pointing towards Rowan''s Maw. "What¡­?" Selene narrowed her eyes. It wasn''t just her; the rest of the people were the same, even the ones at the Drakthar Camp. Prince Edric narrowed his eyes, his expression grim. Kael''s matter, he could still settle, considering he was a foreigner with next to no understanding of worldly matters. Yes, they would need to pay some compensation, but it wouldn''t be too big. If the Xenthalor Empire pushed too much, it would ruin their image instead. This was also the reason Tower Head Selene wasn''t reacting very strongly. But¡­ If someone like Elira, who was the face of Drakthar, says the same thing, he wouldn''t be able to defend them anymore, and it would give Selene all the reason to act out the way she wanted. And that was exactly what the woman did. "Crown Prince Edric, first, you tell me to drop this matter, and now your Court Mage blames my mage again? Hero Kael, I could understand. He is na?ve and wouldn''t possibly mean harm, but with Court Mage Elira joining him as well, It makes me think that this is Drakthar''s ploy to ruin my Empire''s reputation. And if that is indeed the case, do know that Xenthalor will retaliate." Selene narrowed her eyes, even going as far as threatening the entire Drakthar Kingdom, something that would have normally enraged the Crown Prince, but considering the situation, he knew he couldn''t act out. But unlike the Crown Prince, Elira didn''t care about these things¡ªnot right now, when she knew her student was right. "A Ploy? A Ploy is based on a lie, Tower Head Selene. Not on truth." She spoke up. "Are you saying my Xenthalor Mage is Corrupted?" Selene narrowed her eyes. "Did you not hear me before? Is it because of your age?" Elira smirked. But this time, her provocation didn''t work. Rather, the Tower Head just grinned, her sharp gaze flickering between Elira and Edric. "A strange turn of events indeed," She commented, her voice filled with amusement. "First, the Hero acts out, making my Mage''s victory practically meaningless in everyone''s eyes. Then, the Crown Prince defends the Hero, only for the Court Mage to say the same thing. And now, you are even resorting to petty provocation. The coordination almost seems¡­ Practiced." Selene spoke as she turned towards Alden, as if trying to imply something. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Something that the guests very quickly understood. "Did the Drakthar Kingdom plan all this?" "Why would they do it?" "Didn''t you see? The limelight was taken away from the Xenthalor Mage when he should have been basking in it. Not only that, but now everyone is discussing whether a Xenthalor Mage is corrupted or not. Don''t you think the transition was too quick¡­?" "Now that you say it¡­" "But still, this is the Drakthar Kingdom¡­" "And? This wouldn''t be the first time one Nation tried to put down another. And hasn''t the Empire gotten much stronger and more influential lately? This might be¡­" Murmurs were heard. The guests were now doubting whether this was indeed Drakthar''s Ploy or if Selene was manipulating them. Of course, as the discussions continued, Selene''s words held more and more weight, and the Tower Head recognized it. "You came up with a good Ploy, Drakta-" She wanted to continue, but then, "A Ploy?" Elira chuckled, her eyes, however, were cold. "Tower Head Selene, as i said before, a ploy requires deception. A lie. But what I say is the truth. If you believe this is Drakthar''s ploy, why don''t you ruin it?" The Court Mage then pointed at Pope Altheran and, "Why not use the Verdant Omen? If Rowan''s Bond is free of corruption, then the Verdant Omen will prove it. Xenthalor''s honor remains intact, and I will bear full responsibility for my wo-" "ELIRA!" Before Elira could complete, Edric screamed in anger, unable to control himself any longer. This was too much! The Verdant Omen was one of the Ancient Relics capable of detecting even the slightest traces of the Power of Corruption and identifying its Source. However, unlike other detection tools, it was not primarily used to sense corruption¡ªafter all, the Power of Corruption was something that even ordinary people could recognize because of its vile, unnatural aura. Instead, the Verdant Omen was used for a far graver purpose: The execution of the Corrupted. When the Power of Corruption infects a Bond, it finds an anchor point within the creature, an organ that becomes a vassal for the Corruption. This could be the brain, where thoughts were poisoned; the heart, where emotions were consumed; or any other organ vital to life. It is said that as the Bond falls to corruption, so does its Tamer. Because of this, the Verdant Omen is used. Once it identifies the Source of Corruption within a Bonded Beast, the same organ within the Tamer has to be destroyed. It is done so that the Tamer feels the pain his Bond once felt, a way to punish the Tamer for subjecting the Bond¡ªwho only showered him with Love¡ªto such torture. To even suggest using Verdant Omen¡ªwhich was used to punish the lowliest criminals¡ªon a Xenthalor Mage was extremely disrespectful, to not Rowan, the Mage, but the entire Xenthalor Empire. Even Pope Altheran himself had a strange look on his face, and with how others reacted to those words, Prince Edric could tell how Elira''s words supported Selene''s claims even further. If they only had doubts before, now, it indeed looked like Drakthar''s Ploy. "You''re a bold one, Court Mage." Selene''s smirk widened, but she looked anything but amused. "You say you will bear full responsibility for your words, but can someone like you taking responsibility even justify an insult of this magnitude?" "That is enough." She raised her voice, ensuring everyone heard her words. She turned to the Crown Prince and, "Your Highness, if this is how Drakthar wishes to treat us after inviting us as guests, then so be it. I, Selene Valcroft, Tower Head of the Fire Tower and representative of the Xenthalor Empire, announce that as of this moment, Xenthalor formally ceases all trade and diplomatic relations with Drakthar until a formal, public apology is issued." "!!!" Gasp Gasps of shock rippled through the Arena. Drakthar Nobles stiffened. Merchants from the Grand Council of Gold, on the other hand, grinned, their eyes shining brightly. After all, if direct trade between Drakthar and Xenthalor stops, their black markets would soon have a high influx of new customers. They could also use this chance to raise their prices even further to generate more profit. Heck, Dorian was practically drooling at the scene. His mind had already come up with more than a few ways to maximize profit. Yes, that was how vital trade between Drakthar and Xenthalor was. The Magic Artifacts that Xenthalor Mages created were used throughout Drakthar. Of course, Drakthar Mages could create artifacts of their own, but compared to the Magic Empire''s products, Drakthar''s Artifacts were¡­ lacking. Drakthar needed Xenthalor Artifacts no matter what, even if¡­ they had to make deals with the Grand Council of Gold''s Black Market and make do with their outrageous prices. Selene''s decision would have a major effect on Drakthar''s economy. Of course, Tower Head Selene couldn''t care less. She had all the reason and power to pass this decision. "We will not endure this insult a second longer. Xenthalor will not be mocked, and we will not stand among those who question our honor." Saying those words, she turned around, prepared to leave. "Where do you think you are goi¡ª?!" Elira tried to retort back, but she soon noticed that her voice cut off mid-sentence. Her expression changed. She turned around, only to see a Ninth Circle Mage lowering his hand. He had used Silence Magic on her. ''I am not lying! That Beast is corrupted!'' She screamed in anger, but no words came out of her mouth. Then suddenly, A voice echoed in her head. [Do not make this any worse than you already have, Court Mage Elira. We will be having a separate talk regarding this matter in the Drakthar Court Room.] It was the Crown Prince, who was staring at her with a cold look on his face. Chapter 135 - 135: What do we have here? [Do not make this any worse than you already have, Court Mage Elira. We will be having a separate talk regarding this matter in the Drakthar Court Room.] The Crown Prince spoke, his voice much colder than his usual, gentle voice¡ªso much so that Elira momentarily blinked. This was the first time she had seen this man show so much anger. And it wasn''t Edric''s fault either. He had been walking a razor-thin line all this while. Carefully managing the fallout of Kael''s actions, ensuring that this dispute didn''t escalate into something irreversible. He was even willing to take responsibility¡ªto compensate Xenthalor if needed and smooth things over with diplomacy. But now? By suggesting the use of Verdant Omen, Elira shattered all hopes of a peaceful resolution. Did she not see how she had played right into Selene''s hands? The Crown Prince clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palm. He had spent years negotiating delicate matters of state, forging alliances, ensuring Drakthar remained strong in an increasingly hostile world. Yet now, thanks to Elira''s reckless actions, things had gone too far. And¡­ he had no idea how to stop it. Kael, who saw how the situation turned out, had a grim look on his face as well. The relationship between Drakthar and Xenthalor was already bad, but if this incident made things even worse, then Elira would face major consequences. And¡­ it would all be because she stood up for him¡­ Kael couldn''t allow this, but¡­ He couldn''t do anything here. Because of Selene and Edric''s words, his words held no weight in this scenario. The only way to protect Elira was to somehow prove that Rowan was corrupted, that the Verdant Omen, or whatever it was, needed to be used. But¡­ He had no clue how to pull that off. Things had already escalated beyond his scope of power. [Hero Kael.] Suddenly, Kael heard another voice in his head. It was Edric. [Are you absolutely certain that beast is corrupt?] He questioned and before Kael could react, he continued, [This should not be a hunch or a feeling. I need absolute certainty. This could very well decide your instructor''s fate.] The stakes rose. Now¡­ Elira''s life depended on Kael''s words. ''Igni.'' Kael called out, and¡ª ''I am certain.'' The Primordial Dragon didn''t back down. So Kael didn''t either. He nodded at the Prince, and the Crown Prince closed his eyes as if thinking his next action through one last time. Then, S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Wait." He called out. Selene, who was about to walk away, paused. Edric used this as a chance and¡ª "You said Court Mage Elira taking responsibility for this insult wouldn''t justify it, correct?" He questioned. "Then what about me?" In an instant, the air became heavy with tension. Tower Head Selene then turned around and¡ª "I apologize for being blunt, Prince Edric, but even yo¡ª" "If Rowan is proven innocent, and his Bond is not corrupted as Hero Kael and Court Mage Elira claim, as a public apology, I will execute Court Mage Elira and¡ª" Edric took a brief pause and, "Myself." "!!!" The Crown Prince announced, and the crowd widened their eyes in shock. Even Selene''s expression changed. "Surely the lives of the Crown Prince and one of Drakthar''s Prodigies will be enough of an apology to wash away Xenthalor''s shame, won''t it? Please have it in your heart to spare Hero Kael since we need him to protect Nerathis." Kael''s expression changed when he heard those words. He did think something like this would happen when Edric said his instructor''s fate depended on him, but to think he would put even his own life on the line together with Elira¡­ ''Is he really an enemy?'' If Kael had some opinions in his mind before, now, he was completely clueless. What enemy risks his own life when he has absolutely no reason to? ''Is¡­ this a plan¡­?'' Kael thought of that possibility, but honestly¡­ If it was¡­ Kael would be extremely impressed. On the other hand, Selene''s eyes darkened. "The Xenthalor Empire does not believe in using lives as apologies, Prince Edric. We consider ourselves to be above such brutish methods. You have already humiliated us enough. Please stop whatever you are pl¡ª" She tried to walk away, a show of momentary weakness and that was all Edric needed. "Heh." He started with a laugh that mistakenly slipped out of his mouth, he quickly covered his mouth and¡ª "I apologize for my slip-up, Tower Head Selene. It is just that¡­ I mistakenly thought you were defending a Corrupted Human, and since you here represent the Xenthalor Empi¡ª" "I am defending my Empire''s Mage, Crown Prince Edric. And mind your words. My Empire''s Mage is not corrupted." Selene retorted sharply, but Edric just smiled. "Me and the Court Mage are even willing to put our lives on the line here. Surely, you don''t think both of us are doing it for the sake of humiliating your Empire, do you? Do you not, for even a single second, doubt that we might actually be correct if we are willing to go this far? After all, traitors can be found everywhere. It wouldn''t be surprising if that Mage was one of them as well. Honestly, if someone with a position of power claimed that one of my mages was corrupted and even put his life on the line to support his claim, I wouldn''t hesitate to test the truth and shut him up. I''d also get his head as a bonus, and if, in any case, I am wrong, I''d be getting rid of a traitor. I see it as a win-win. Unless, of course, that corrupted mage isn''t exactly a traitor." Edric lowered his voice as he said his last words. Of course, everyone here with their enhanced senses heard him loud and clear. "What are you implying, Crown Prince?" Selene narrowed her eyes. "Whatever I am implying would all be for nought if you just agree to use the Verdant Omen." "My Mage is not a criminal." Selene didn''t back down, and seeing that, Edric just grinned. After all, discussions had already started. "¡­Isn''t the Tower Head defending her Mage a little too much?" "Were the Xenthalor usually this protective of their Mages?" "I do not remember it being that way¡­" "Yes, I do not remember them being this defensive. The way Tower Head Selene lashed out at Elira and then the Crown Prince, and to think she is not even doubting her own mage when the Crown Prince is willing to bet his own life¡­ Something feels wrong." "It is almost as if¡­ they are trying to hide something¡­" More and more people became doubtful, and then suddenly¡ª "The Verdant Omen is reacting! There is a Corrupted Beast here!" One of the Crown Prince''s men¡ªwho was now standing together with the Pope¡ªannounced as he raised a crystalline green orb, roughly the size of a human heart, encased in twisting golden vines that were trembling without stopping as if they were about to wither away. Yes, it was the Verdant Omen. And it was reacting to the Power of Corruption, meaning one or more Beasts present here, within a distance of 500 meters from the Omen, were Corrupted. "Oh my." And seeing that sight, the Crown Prince''s grin widened. "What do we have here?" Chapter 136 - 136: Power of Corruption. "The Verdant Omen is reacting! There is a Corrupted Beast here!" One of the Crown Prince''s men, who was now standing together with the Pope, announced as the Verdant Omen in his hands vibrated without stop, sensing the Power of Corruption near it. "Oh my." And seeing that sight, the Crown Prince''s grin widened. "What do we have here, Tower Head Selene?" "You used the Verdant Omen¡­ You dare disrespect the Magic Empi-" "I think we are already past that, aren''t we?" Edric interrupted. "Yes, I ordered my subordinate to activate the Verdant Omen without your permission, and I will apologize for disrespecting you like that. But¡­ We have bigger problems to deal with, don''t you think?" The Crown Prince tilted his head, his grin still stuck on his face. "The Verdant Omen is reacting. We have to find what Beast it is reacting to, don''t we? After all, this could very well be a safety concern." "¡­" Selene''s face darkened at those words, and the Crown Prince didn''t stop. "Conveniently, there are only a few Beasts out here, so it shouldn''t take a long time to catch the Corrupted, right? Why don''t we hold off on our discussions till then? Who knows? The very Dynamics might change within the next few minutes." Edric then glanced at his subordinate and, "Jasper, bring the Verdant Omen to the Stage and start inspecting all the Beasts one by one." "As you command, Your Highnes-" "Wait." Just as Edric''s subordinate, Jasper, was about to move, Tower Head Selene spoke up. "What is it, Tower Head Selene? Is it something so important that you are interrupting the search for all of Nerathis''s common enemy?" "That is enough, Crown Prince." Selene spoke, her tone much heavier than before. "Whatever do you me-" "We all know what you are implying." Edric smiled at those words. It wasn''t just him; the rest of the Drakthar Camp understood what it meant as well. The Hero was right. Rowan was a corrupted human. This, however, wasn''t the reason why the Drakthar camp was so happy. This had long gone past the matter of a single Xenthalor Mage being corrupted or not. With how desperately Tower Head Selene had defended the Mage, the implications were heavy. The entirety of the Xenthalor Empire was under question now. Were they¡­ working together with the enemies? Everyone present here now had doubts in their head. This had not only improved Drakthar''s image because Elira, a Drakthar Prodigy, was the one to stand up, supporting the Hero, but it had also ruined Xenthalor''s reputation. Even if they were proven innocent, the very fact that even someone like a Tower Head was desperately trying to defend a corrupted human would always raise questions. So much that she might even lose her position as the Tower Head. Yes, she was in big trouble. This was also the reason all the nobles and the foreign guests wanted to hear what the woman wanted to say for herself. With all eyes now on her, Selene paused for a moment and then turned towards Pope Altheran. "Pope Altheran, I would like to understand how the Power of Corruption harms our Nerathis and why it is seen in such a negative light." The people frowned at that question. Was it not common knowledge? Why was she asking something like that? Was she¡­ trying to buy time¡­? Even the Pope himself had similar doubts in his head, so he turned towards Alden, wanting to seek the King''s permission. Alden nodded. His men had already surrounded the Arena. Nothing would happen even if the Tower Head tried to buy some time. The Pope nodded back as he then turned towards Tower Head Selene and started, "The Power of Corruption puts a Bond in constant pain, so much that the once intelligent Beasts lose their minds and become no different than mindless Beasts who only seek destruction and death. It destroys the relationship between a Tamer and a Bond, making the Bonds, who were once filled with nothing but love and innocence, lose their minds to constant pain and hate the Tamers they once cherished more than their own lives. Because of this weakened connection between the two, even when the Bond grows stronger, the Tamer does not. Which gradually weakens the overall strength of Tamers of Nerathis. Corrupted Beasts cause havoc wherever they go. They have already destroyed more than a few Villages and Towns and have taken hundreds of thousands of lives. And that''s not it. These Beasts are as much dangerous dead as they are alive. Magic Beings are creatures blessed by Lord Feraos himself. When they die, their energy returns to nature, keeping the balance of Nerathis stable and its environment fresh. However, when a Beast is influenced by this vile power, its energy is contaminated. And when this contaminated energy is released into the environment, it ruins the environment instead. More than once, the death of a strong Corrupted Beast has released so much contaminated energy that the area around it became uninhabitable. The land turned barren, water contaminated, and the air became poisonous. Even to this day, those areas haven''t recovered to their natural state, and the life that once flourished there was forced to settle somewhere else." The Pope could go on and on about this topic. He, however, quickly summarized the key points, and Kael listened to those words very carefully. After all, he was the only one here who didn''t know about this. For others, this was common knowledge. Even for the one asking this question. "Your explanation was enlightening, Pope Altheran." Selene smiled at the Pope''s words. Soon, however, she tilted her head in confusion and, "However, I wonder¡ªdoes the Power of Corruption always lead to destruction? Is there truly no exception?" She questioned. "Are you asking this because you do not know?" Altheran narrowed his eyes. Even he seemed frustrated, almost offended by Selene''s question. The Tower Head, however, just chuckled at his response and, "I apologize if I offended you, Pope Altheran. It is just that¡­ As a Mage, I tend to look at things differently than others do." The people present, especially the mages, narrowed their eyes at those words, And this was exactly what Selene wanted¡ªattention. "You say Corrupted Beasts are mindless, filled with hatred, and incapable of rational thought. And I cannot help but think¡­ Is that really true? Take Maul, for example," Selene then pointed at Rowan and his Bond and, "Does Maul look like he is suffering? Does he look like a mindless creature driven by rage?" As if on cue, Rowan''s Maul rubbed his head together with Rowan''s, showing his love. Rowan smiled at that and played with his obsidian exoskeleton like he was the most precious thing in the world. "Do not forget, Maul spared the lives of his opponents because he knew it was merely a duel, not a life-and-death battle. Can a mindless beast stop itself from killing when the opportunity is right in front of it?" Selene asked a series of questions, and this time, the Pope''s tone became uncertain. "Are you saying that Maul isn''t affected by the Power of Corruption?" The Pope questioned directly. Selene, however, shook her head. "There is no point in hiding this anymore. The Power of Corruption was indeed used to strengthen Maul. The Hero was correct. Maul is not the Mythical Ranked Beast Eclipsing Devourer as my Mage claimed; he is an Epic Ranked Beast, Abyssal Dreadmaw." Selene admitted, shocking everyone present here. The Tower Head, however, wasn''t done yet. "The Power of Corruption is just a filthy name we gave to this energy because we didn''t understand it. In truth, it is nothing more than one of the countless energies that exist in Nerathis. If it was as harmful as we think, Lord Feraos would have never created it in the first place." "¡­" The Pope turned silent the instant Lord Feraos''s name was mentioned, and Selene pressed even further. "Think about this. If the Power of Corruption truly weakens the bond between a Beast and its Tamer, then why does Rowan''s Maul stand proudly beside him? Why does he display intelligence, restraint, and loyalty, instead of madness and destruction that the corrupted beasts are known for?" Selene raised questions, and the mages present here instantly became curious. Why was Maul different? Was it because it was one of the Dark Elemental Beasts? Or was there any other reason? Discussions started again, but this time, they weren''t against Selene. People, especially mages, needed answers¡ªanswers Selene had already prepared. "It is not the Power of Corruption that is harmful. As I mentioned, it is just one of the many energies that Lord Feraos created. An energy that strengthens our strongest and most trusted allies by a huge margin. Can we really ignore an energy like this just because we are scared of the harm it does?" Selene''s tone then shifted and, "Or do we try to find a way to properly use this energy?" She smiled, instantly attracting everyone''s attention. "Yes. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. We, the Xenthalor Empire, have found a way to use this energy correctly." The woman then pointed at Maul and with a grand gesture, "And this right here is the demonstration of our Xenthalor Empire. The True effects of this energy we didn''t understand before¡ªeffects that do not have the downsides you worry about. An Epic Ranked Beast whose powers were on the level of a Mythical Ranked Beast. A Beast who alone defeated all his opponents in a single move. A Beast far stronger than any Beast at his level. And a Beast¡­ who hasn''t lost his mind to the energy we could not understand. This is the product of the Xenthalor Empire, who learned to use the Power of Corruption in a way Lord Feraos intended his children to." Chapter 137 - 137: A New Era is about to begin. An Epic Ranked Beast whose powers were on the level of a Mythical Ranked Beast. A Beast who alone defeated all his opponents in a single move. A Beast far stronger than any Beast at his level. And a Beast¡­ who hasn''t lost his mind to the energy we could not understand. This is the product of the Xenthalor Empire, who learned to use the Power of Corruption in a way Lord Feraos intended his children to." Selene announced, and silence fell over the Arena. The guests glanced at each other, their expressions varied. Some seemed angry or had looks of dismissal on their faces, clearly viewing Selene''s words in a negative light. The woman had just admitted to using the Power of Corruption. It was a taboo in Nerathis. But¡­ Some were different. They were curious, they were¡­ tempted. They had seen Maw''s strength with their own eyes. He took out everyone around him without any effort whatsoever. His powers clearly far surpassed all others, and¡­ he looked fine, didn''t he? If¡­ If they could strengthen their Bonds like this as well¡­ Of course, even if this had taken root in their minds, they didn''t say anything out loud. After all, the Power of Corruption was still seen in a negative light, and as strong as Selene''s argument was, it wasn''t entirely convincing. "So you''re saying¡­ the Xenthalor Kingdom used the Power of Corruption on that Beast?" Edric questioned. "We used the Power of Corruption correctly. And we do not use harsh and boorish terms like ''Power of Corruption.'' We call this the Energy of Dawn. The Energy that will be the gateway to a new Era. An Era of Tamers with much stronger Bonds." "Just because you were able to hide that vile aura doesn''t mean you were able to use it correctly. There is no correct way to use a vile power." Cedric spoke up. Clearly, he didn''t like the idea very much. "As one would expect from a Warrior. Hard-headed as always, huh?" Selene chuckled, mocking the Commander. "You lied, Selene Valcroft. You tried to hide the use of the Power of Corruption and even went as far as blaming the Hero and the Drakthar Kingdom for falsely accusing you when they were right all along. If you were right and had nothing to hide, you wouldn''t have reacted in such a manner." Cedric answered calmly, his words earning nods of approval from the crowd. "This was a gathering where we celebrated the Hero''s achievements. I wasn''t supposed to reveal any of this today. My aim today was to introduce Maul as a Mythical Ranked Beast with no one being able to tell the difference. It was supposed to be an experiment, which would have succeeded if it weren''t for the Hero using his special eyes." Selene revealed as she glanced at Kael. "Yes, I apologize for acting out. I let my emotions get the best of me. The Hero wasn''t at fault here. He was worried about his instructor and trusted his ability¡ªit is something I respect. What angered me was the Court Mage Elira, who lied about sensing the Power of Corruption, and Prince Edric, who implied that my Empire was an enemy of Nerathis." "Isn''t that what you are, though?" Aurelia, the Sky Serpent General, spoke up as well. "You used an Energy that harms the Bonds people of Nerathis cherish. Doesn''t that make you the enemy of Nerathis?" She questioned. "We found a way to use the Energy of Dawn without harming the Bonds." Selene repeated. Aurelia, however, just narrowed her eyes. "The very fact that you had access to this energy means that you colluded with the Twilight." She stated. "We did not collude with the Twilight." Selene retorted the instant that word was mentioned. Her reaction this time was much stronger than before. "Then where did you get that Power from?" "As I said, the Energy of Dawn is just one of the many energies in our Nerathis. Just because Twilight was the first to use it doesn''t mean they own it. We found our own way to use this energy¡ªa way much better than theirs." Selene answered proudly, and Aurelia snorted at those words. "Of course you did." "Yo-" Knowing she didn''t believe her, Selene tried to say something, but then, "Don''t act like you''re innocent, Mage. Do you truly want us to believe that you haven''t harmed more than one Beast as you found the correct way to use the Power of Corruption? Do not think we do not know how you mages usually do things." Cedric spoke up, and together with him, the rest of the warriors stared at Selene with apparent disgust. "I shiver at the thought of the number of Beasts that have suffered for your little experiment to succeed. And who knows if it is even a success now? It might just be one of your ploys to fool everyone." The Commander snorted, dismissing Selene, and once again, the warriors present in the Arena nodded. "Haaahh¡­" Selene exhaled deeply. "I have neither the time nor the energy to debate with a hard-headed fool like you who refuses to look at things from a different perspective." She then turned toward the rest of the people gathered in the Arena and said, "I know more than a few people are tempted by what we have discovered. If you wish to learn more about it and use the Energy of Dawn to strengthen your Bonds without having to worry about any possible side effects, you are welcome to the Xenthalor Empire, where we do not restrict ourselves to traditional standards set by others." She then momentarily stared at Cedric and Aurelia and snorted, "If we had listened to people who resist change, we would still be living in caves, using weapons made out of stone, and relying on Beasts for every little thing. People, times are changing. The Twilight is getting stronger. The Hero alone will not be enough. Instead of waiting for him to grow and protect us from our enemies, we need to become strong allies he can rely on. Rise up. Nerathis needs you. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A New Era is about to begin." The Tower Head stared at Cedric and Aurelia and, "An Era where the Old Timers will be left to rot in the dust." Saying those words, Selene and the rest of the Xenthalor Mages, even the Xenthalor delegation that usually stayed in Drakthar, brought out a translucent crystal and, Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh They disappeared into thin air. Chapter 138 - 138: She Planned It All. "Rise up. Nerathis needs you, A New Era is about to begin. An Era where the Old Timers would be left to rot in dust." Saying those words, Selene and the other Mages affiliated with Xenthalor disappeared, surprising everyone present. "D-Did they use Teleportation Crystals¡­? All of them¡­?" "That''s the Xenthalor Empire for you. Using one-time-use artifacts just to make a dramatic exit¡­" They muttered in shock. Kael blinked in surprise as well. He had absolutely no clue what had just happened. [It is a Teleportation Crystal, one of the Artifacts created by the Xenthalor Empire that allows you to teleport to a previously marked point.] Kael nodded in understanding. Elira then patted a little gem near her gown and said, [And this is the Whisperstone, the Artifact I have been using to talk to you all this while, also created by the Xenthalor Empire.] "Just how many things have they created?" Kael wondered out loud, and Elira just smiled at those words. [Why do you think their threat of ceasing trades with Drakthar had such a big impact? I would have been in big trouble if Prince Edric hadn''t stepped in.] Kael''s expression turned grim at those words. He had too many questions in his head, but for now, he decided to stay silent and observe. Too many things had happened in a short amount of time; he couldn''t even keep track of them all. He needed time to sort his thoughts. "They came prepared." On the other side, Cedric, who had now come to Alden''s side and saw how the Xenthalor Mages disappeared, spoke with a solemn look on his face. Alden nodded. The King had the same expression on his face as he stared at his nobles. Unlike them, who still thought that the Teleportation Crystals were used for a dramatic exit, Alden, Cedric, and Aurelia¡ªwho was here as well, knew the true reason behind it. It was a way for them to disappear without having to answer questions they didn''t want to answer. The very fact that even the Xenthalor Delegation was gone made it clear that they had no intentions of answering any questions in the future either. Selene knew her words had tempted the audience. Even if they didn''t show it on their faces, more than a few people were affected by her words, and Alden understood that. After all, who would not be tempted by power? And those words about the New Era and how those who do not keep up would fade away¡­ It was obvious that those words would have an impact, especially after their dominating performance that defeated all three representatives of other nations like it was nothing. The use of Teleportation Crystals with such extravagance just strengthened that impact even further. It also ensured that the mages would return alive in case anyone decided to act against them. It wasn''t a rash decision taken in the spur of the moment; it was a carefully orchestrated and well-thought-out move. "That woman planned it all. This is how she wanted all this to play out to begin with. We were outsmarted." Aurelia spoke with a grim look on her face, and once again, Alden nodded. He realized this as well. This gathering¡­ It was nothing but a stage for Xenthalor to display their might. Even the Hero''s powers were overshadowed by them. "Xenthalor''s connection with Twilight is worrying." sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Cedric commented with a grim look on his face. Not for a single moment did any of them believe Selene when she said they had no relation with Twilight. "Using Twilight''s Energy to stand against them, what a foolish notion." Aurelia snorted. "Who would even believe them?" She questioned out loud, but then, "This isn''t good¡­" Edric spoke up, staring at the rest of the nobles, who were oddly silent. Everyone could tell that they were using Whisperstones to converse with each other. As for what they were talking about¡­ Even a child could guess that. "We need to do something." Edric muttered with a grim look on his face. Cedric and Aurelia nodded at those words. Then suddenly, "That was quite the display, huh? It was surprising indeed." Another person walked into the King''s viewing area. It was Dorian Voss, the Merchant representing the Grand Council of Gold. The man walked in with a smile on his face, but soon, he frowned. "Hmm? Why the grim atmosphere? Is it because of the loss? Well, there was nothing you could do about it, could you? None of us were expecting Xenthalor to pull off something like this. Who knew that we have been looking at the Energy of Dawn from the wrong perspective all this while?" "It is called the Power of Corruption, Merchant." Cedric narrowed his eyes at Dorian''s words. "Right. Of course." Dorian nodded, quickly understanding what Cedric was trying to say. He then smiled as he lightly slapped his head, "What was I thinking? I guess I was tempted by Tower Head Selene''s words. How could I even think of using the Power of Corruption to strengthen my Bonds? I would never subject the Bonds I love to such torture. Even if it was not clear from its physical display, that Beast was obviously in pain. Those Mages must have come up with a way to hide its pain, just like they hid that vile Power of Corruption. Do you thin-" "Silence." Before Dorian could say anything further, Cedric ordered as he narrowed his eyes. Clearly, he didn''t like Dorian, and considering how Aurelia and Alden didn''t stop him, it was apparent that the two didn''t like the Merchant either. After all, anyone who knew even a little about these Merchants knew that the first thing Dorian would do after leaving the Kingdom would be to go to Xenthalor and strike some sort of deal, becoming their biggest sponsor. Heck, it wouldn''t be surprising if they already had some sort of deal. "We will end the banquet now." The King spoke in a low voice. He then stared at the two warriors standing next to him and said, "Once you return, report everything that happened here in detail." The two warriors nodded with solemn looks on their faces. They knew how important this was. This might very well change Nerathis''s power balance as they knew it. "I will do as you said and inform the other Councilmen, Your Majesty." Dorian bowed his head and was ignored once again. Of course, the merchant couldn''t care less. He just smiled as he imagined the future and the money he would be making. Chapter 139 - 139: Ahhh~ I am so glad I have you two with me~ After the Xenthalor Empire''s dramatic exit, the vibrancy of the gathering died down, and murmurs and whispers filled the stands. The demonstration of power, the bold declaration of a new era¡ªSelene''s words echoed in the minds of everyone present. Alden sensed that, and therefore, he rose from his seat, gathering everyone''s attention. The entire Arena turned silent, their gazes now on the King. Alden''s gaze swept across the people gathered. His expression remained unreadable, but the tension in his stance couldn''t be hidden. "We will be returning to the Banquet Hall." He announced. The declaration left no room for argument. There were no grand closing words, no attempts to stir morale¡ªjust a simple, decisive end. The nobles exchanged uneasy glances, yet they were obedient. One by one, they began leaving the Arena, their minds, however, still hadn''t forgotten everything that had transpired. Kael was the same, his mind was filled with countless questions. For now, however, he went towards Elira and Arlan, the only two people he somewhat trusted, and stayed silent. Unlike their usual antics, the two didn''t disturb him either. Clearly, they had a lot on their minds as well. As everyone returned to the banquet hall, the atmosphere was completely different from before. The energy, the laughter, the liveliness¡ªit was all gone, replaced by uncertainty and contemplation. Food remained untouched, drinks forgotten. Conversations were few and subdued, most of them done through Whisperstones. It was clear. The banquet was over. About an hour later, King Alden rose again, looking over the people seated in the banquet. "This night has given us much to consider," He began, his voice low but full of authority. "Right or wrong, the weight of what transpired here can not be decided in a single moment. A meeting will soon be held to carefully discuss this matter. The future of Drakthar and Nerathis must not be shaped by impulse, but by wisdom." He paused briefly and, "Tonight was meant to celebrate the Hero''s achievements in Estwyn Town." The King then turned to Kael, and his heavy expression softened. "Hero Kael, everyone here knows what you did at Estwyn, so I will not bore you with my words. Just know that for everything you have done, are doing, and will do for the sake of Nerathis, you have my gratitude." Kael smiled at those words and lightly bowed his head. The King nodded and continued. "Tonight was supposed to help you ease your mind and rest, but it turned heavier than any of us expected. You have already endured much, and I will not ask more of you, at least for tomorrow. You will not train¡ªI want you to rest. But be ready, as we will meet tomorrow afternoon. There are matters I must discuss with you, and I am sure you have questions of your own." Kael nodded back, his expression serious. The King was right. He indeed had too many questions in his head, and seeing how the prince was looking at him, Kael could tell that the father and son had already had a conversation regarding it. It was highly likely that Prince Edric would be there for the meeting tomorrow as well. Oblivious to Kael''s thoughts, Alden shifted his gaze toward Cedric, Aurelia, and Dorian. "As for our honored guests, it is late, and the weight of this night is not one that should be carried on the road. I extend the hospitality of Drakthar to you all¡ªstay the night." Of course, none of the three could go against this request, not that they had any reason to. With those final words, the King gave a solemn nod to the rest and walked away. Once he finally left the guests and the nobles followed, leaving the hall in an orderly manner. The banquet was officially over. ¡­ "Party my ass." Kael heaved a big sigh of relief as he finally returned to his room. Honestly, he was missing the days when he simply trained without having to think of anything. Ever since he had returned to Estwyn and tried to uncover the hidden truths, things had become¡­ much more exhausting. The days had become much longer. Just this party, for example¡ªwho would believe that all of what happened occurred in just a few hours? In the end, Kael just shook his head as he sat on his bed. ''Igni?'' He questioned, and just as he did, Two little Dragons jumped out of the Sanctuary and fell on top of him. "Haaaaahh¡­" Kael, buried under his two absurdly adorable Dragons, heaved another big sigh. This one, however, was much more¡­ comfortable. His little children had the power to fill him with endless energy whenever they appeared. As he lay down on the bed, Kael slowly opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling, but then, the two adorable Dragons appeared in his vision and, "Nyuu~~" "Father." They called out. "Ahhh~ I am so glad I have you two with me~" "Nyuu~~" Cirri nodded, patting Kael''s head with her little paws. It is something her older brother does to her and it feels good, so she was doing the same with her Father. Igni, who saw that, puffed his little chest in pride. Kael could even see little flames flickering near his nostrils. The Hero chuckled. He allowed Cirri, who for some reason found it fun to play with his cheeks with her little paws, to do whatever she pleased while Igni watched. Was it because he was a good big brother who allowed his little sister to play with his father without being jealous? Well¡­ S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He may have¡­ played with Cirri enough to make sure she falls asleep soon¡­ Yes, Igni loved his little sister, but¡­ Father was still his father first, so he should get to play with him the most! Igni waited patiently for Cirri to fall silent, but suddenly, his expression changed. "Father." He called out. "Hmm?" "There are people." He warned. Kael sat up, and his expression changed. "Who is it now?" He wondered. "It is the mage and warrior siblings." "Huh?" Kael frowned, wondering why they were here. Igni, on the other hand, took Cirri and disappeared. This was good. He would use this chance to play with Cirri even more, make sure the little thing is asleep, and once the siblings go away, he would have his father all to himself. Hehe~ Chapter 140 - 140: Do you… really think the Crown Prince is the enemy…? Knock Knock Just as Igni mentioned, Kael heard a knock on his door. "Coming." Kael opened the door, and the moment his eyes fell on the Stormhold siblings, he was surprised. "Hmm? Why are you two here?" However, instead of answering his question, the siblings just walked into the room and made themselves comfortable on Kael''s bed. "Do I owe you some debt or something?" Kael questioned as he closed the door. "Oh, come on, stop acting like a stranger~ You defended me so bravely in front of that old hag today. You even protected me from that beast''s attack. Why are you acting like a tsundere now? I already know you have a crush on me~" Elira smiled brightly. "You overestimate yourself, woman." Kael quickly waved his hand, dismissing the absurd notion. "Did you forget I can see people''s age? I just called you young for the sake of it. In truth, you should know you are ancient. 28 is already nearing dea-" Flicker "It is not wise to speak more than required, Dear Hero~" Elira''s smile brightened even further, her eyes, however, weren''t smiling one bit. "¡­" Kael, very intelligently, closed his mouth. "Alright, stop joking around. We do not have time." Arlan spoke with a solemn look on his face, something that made Kael frown. "The hell happened to him?" He questioned as he glanced at Elira. "It''s about what happened today." S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Elira spoke. The mage had already formed a sound barrier around them. "What do you mean?" Kael narrowed his eyes. "The reason why the guest list was changed at the last minute¡ªwe think someone did it on purpose, and we¡­ might know who that someone is." Elira answered, and Kael stared at the woman. "Who is it?" "The King." Elira revealed and Kael frowned in confusion. "Didn''t you say the King was an ally?" "He is." Elira nodded. "I just think there''s a reason he invited everyone to the party so suddenly." "What are you trying to say?" "Usually, in such gatherings, a formal invitation is sent to the guests at least a month before. The guests then answer back with a list of guests who will appear, and only once the host accepts the guest list does the invitation finally get accepted and the guests join the gathering. It''s something done to ensure that there are no odd elements in the gathering that disrupt its flow. And in cases where the invitations are sent urgently¡­ This is nothing more than inviting trouble since the guests could send anyone they want as guests." "Basically, Tower Head Selene is known for her behavior and usually isn''t invited to such gatherings. However, the King sending the invitation last minute allowed Xenthalor to send her without appearing rude." Elira tried completing her brother''s words. However, the instant she saw Kael''s lost expression, she quickly shook her hand and said, "Just know that that old hag is known for her sharp tongue that creates trouble everywhere she goes. Someone like that isn''t usually appreciated in gatherings, but this time¡­ The King might have sent the last-minute invitation on purpose because he wanted someone like her to be here." The Court Mage simplified. "Why would he do that?" Kael questioned with a frown, even more confused. "Why do you think?" Elira questioned back, and Kael started thinking. What good came out of Selene coming to the part- Kael''s expression changed. "Is it¡­ the Princess?" He spoke, and Elira''s smile widened. "Exactly." She nodded. "He wanted a blabbermouth like her here so he could somehow bring the Princess''s matter to light and let the Hero know about it. This is probably also the reason why he arranged a meeting with you tomorrow. The King is finally making his move in order to protect his daughter." Elira spoke excitedly. Clearly, this was very important for her. "Are you saying the King already knew what was going to happen today?" Kael questioned. Honestly, throughout the event, it felt like they were following Selene''s whims. Everything went perfectly for her. She not only sowed seeds of doubt in the Hero''s mind, but she also showed Xenthalor''s might and confused the entire world about what was right and what was wrong. If¡­ the King really predicted all that, then¡­ Arlan, however, shook his head. "That''s not the case. The gathering today was indeed Xenthalor''s victory. They came prepared, and they got what they wanted. There''s no denying it. That is an entirely different matter that will be discussed at another time. Our focus is currently on what little victory we achieved." "Lavinia¡­" Kael muttered, and the Commander nodded. "The King was just expecting someone to mention the taboo. It didn''t matter who, and the fact that it was Selene doesn''t change anything." "That is correct." Elira nodded, she then stared at Kael and said, "You need to make sure you ask about her when you meet him tomorrow. If possible, try to get Lavinia''s name out of his mouth." The Mage then took out a bundle of papers from her sanctuary and passed it to Kael. "I''ve written down a few ways you can get that name out of his mouth. These are all the things you should know without raising any suspicions. I''ve also written down a few probable ways as to how the conversation would go. If the King really wishes for you to know about the Princess, he should say something along the lines of what I''ve written down. It is highly likely that the Crown Prince will be there too, so you need to be careful." Kael took the bundle Elira passed to him, somewhat overwhelmed by her preparation. But the moment the Crown Prince''s name came out of her mouth, his expression changed. "Do you¡­ really think the Crown Prince is the enemy¡­?" He questioned after a slight hesitation, and it wasn''t just him. Even Arlan and Elira''s reaction to that question was stronger than what Kael expected. After all, the siblings didn''t miss what the Crown Prince did today. He practically saved Elira by putting his life on the line. Was that man really an enemy¡­? Honestly, the siblings weren''t sure either. For now, however, "We just need to focus on getting Lavinia''s name out of the King''s mouth. Whoever the enemy is, we will find him soon enough. But our priority right now is to save the Princess." Elira answered, and Kael nodded in understanding. There was indeed no other way out. There were simply too many questions and too few answers to say anything for certain. Chapter 141 - 141: Ah, they are so adorable~ "¡­" "¡­" Silence fell over Kael''s room. All three of them had countless questions in their minds when it came to the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince was indeed the enemy, then he was doing a damn good job of hiding it. And if he was not, then the enemy was doing a damn good job of hiding. Honestly, both scenarios were bad for them. "Anyways." Unable to take the silence anymore, Elira spoke up, wanting to talk about something. She glanced at Kael and said, "You read that thoroughly and try to-" "Try to make the King bring up her name, yes, I get it. You don''t have to repeat yourself." Elira''s mouth twitched at those words. "You brat, I am only doing this to make sure a fool like you doesn''t forget about it." "Forget about it? Isn''t it something that comes with ag-" Once again, Kael intelligently turned silent when he saw Elira''s eyes and very quickly decided to change the topic yet again. "I actually needed your help with something." He spoke. "What is it?" Elira questioned, instantly forgetting about the matter. No, it wasn''t because of her age. The Court Mage felt indebted to Kael. What he did today was something she would probably never forget in her life, so the moment she heard the words I needed your help, her first instinct was to do whatever he wanted her to. "I was thinking of doing it tomorrow, but since we won''t be able to train tomorrow either, I need you to give me a few Third Circle Spells that I can learn." "What¡­?" Elira widened her eyes when she heard those words, making Kael frown at her strange reaction. "Oh¡­" Soon, however, he realized that he hadn''t revealed the big surprise he had planned for his dear instructor and sighed in disappointment. ''Ah fuck, I wanted to do another wager. I miss my Maid.'' Because he had so much on his mind, he completely forgot about it and just sighed again. "Here." He spoke nonchalantly as three circles appeared above his palm. "!!!" His nonchalant attitude, however, made it even worse for the Court Mage, who widened her eyes in absolute horror. "Y-Y-You¡­ You already?" Kael blinked, momentarily frowning at what just happened. Soon, however, he realized he had broken the Court Mage again and couldn''t help but grin. "Of course I did. Were you expecting me to slow down just because I had a town to save?" "¡­" Elira stared at the man in front of her with a look of absolute absurdity. Honestly, she was almost annoyed by that grin on his face. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hmmm, I did think you had gotten much stronger when I saw your duel today. The speed at which you closed the distance in your battle against that Eryndor Warrior was comparable to that of a Late Fourth Stage Warrior or an Early Fifth Stage one." Arlan analyzed as he stared at Kael in awe. "Just what in the hell did you do to get this strong so fast?" He questioned, and Kael... "Well, I am the Hero." He just shrugged. "¡­" "¡­" The siblings stared at him with deadpan looks on their faces. Kael, realizing that his excuse might not work here, quickly turned towards Elira and said, "Anyways, can you teach me a few spells?" "Why are you in such a hurry anyways? With how you usually complained during training, I thought you''d be happier having a day''s rest." Elira couldn''t understand. "I need to get stronger. Just teach me a few things, will you?" "Alright..." Elira nodded as she took out a book from her Sanctuary and started reading, finding suitable Third Circle Spells. Arlan, on the other hand, frowned a little. "Why didn''t you ask me to teach you something?" He questioned. Seeing how the man was trying to poach her student right in front of her, Elira''s mouth twitched. "Isn''t it obvious? Because what you teach him is useless. His test was enough for him to realize that being a Mage is a much better choice than becoming a Warrior. Now go away, we need some time alone." Arlan''s expression changed at those words. "Kael, is that the truth?" He questioned, somewhat desperate. He had already thought about how he would continue Kael''s training in the future and turn him into one of the greatest warriors throughout Nerathis. He couldn''t have the brat bailing out on him at the last second. "Of course it is, now go!" Elira spoke, prepared to push Arlan away. The commander, however, quickly grabbed his sister like he was used to it and covered her mouth. But then, Bite "Aaaahhhh!!" Arlan screamed as Elira bit his finger as powerfully as she could. "Unhwand me, you brwute!" She screamed, still chewing on his fingers. "What are you!? A Dog!?" Arlan shouted as he wrestled with his sister like she was an angry cat. He tried saving his fingers, but Elira refused to let go, growling as she clenched her teeth. "Ywou are a dwog!" "¡­" Kael stared at the scene in front of him in silence. Honestly, he was already used to this at this point. He just had one wish: ''Igni, Cirri, never be like them, okay?'' He spoke, not wanting any bad influence on his children. The concerned father quickly peeked into the Sanctuary to see what the little ones were doing and saw Igni sitting on the ground while his little sister, who had turned into a cloud, had covered her brother''s face and was using light static charges to tickle him. Feeling his gaze, Igni quickly wiped some of the clouds in front of his face, showing his face to his father and said, ''Of course, Father.'' Cirri, the Cloud, turned towards him as well and, ''Nyuu~'' She nodded before covering her brother''s face again and, Zap Zap Used lightning to tickle him again as the Fire Dragon obediently sat on the ground, letting his sister do anything she wanted. ''Ah, they are so adorable~'' Kael smiled, his heart feeling the warmth he never felt before. What he didn''t know was that his eldest was only doing this so he could tire his sister out to make sure he got to spend time with him alone. Yep Yep, Igni''s plan was coming together perfectly~ Hehe~ Chapter 142 - 142: What if I teach you Sword Aura? "Aaaahhhh!! I am telling you to let go! Or I''ll throw you away!" "Ywou Lwet go!" Elira snorted, still clenching her teeth. "You little-" "Alright, that''s enough." Kael had enough and ordered them to stop. Of course, he underestimated the siblings'' pettiness. There was a reason they were well known throughout the Kingdom, other than their talent, of course. "Did I hit you too hard when you were young!? I told Mother you have a problem in your head, but she didn''t list- AAaaaAhhhh!! How is your bite stronger than your punch!?" "I''ll pwunch your bwalls!" Yep, the siblings ignored Kael as if he didn''t exist. In the end, the Hero had to give in, "No, Arlan, I am not giving up on being a warrior. Elira is wrong." He answered, and in an instant, he grabbed Arlan''s attention. "What? Really? Does this mean you are giving up on Magic instea-AaaAAAHhHHH!!" "You brat! If you dare give up on magic, I will burn you aliv-mmmhhff!!" "Oh, will you two please stop!" Kael shouted. "I am not giving up on anything. I just need to learn Magic Spells so that I get stronger. What else can I even learn inside my room?" "O-Oh, so you only want to learn magic because it is convenient." Arlan smiled, leaving his sister. Elira stopped biting his fingers as well and stared at Kael. "Well, I guess it makes sense. With your control, you can learn magic in your room, but Sword Techniques still require some space to move, and it is better to do that in the training hall." Arlan nodded to himself, sighing in relief. Kael nodded back, "Exactly. Also, learning sword techniques takes time. Spells, on the other hand, are easier. I can cast them after a few tries, so I can learn a bunch of spells in a single night, helping me grow." "R-Right¡­" Arlan nodded with a slight stutter. And Elira¡­ The Court Mage just stared at the Hero with her mouth twitching nonstop. As a Mage who spent her entire life studying Magic, the way he just described learning spells as something he could do without putting much effort offended her. What''s worse? She knew he wasn''t lying or trying to brag. He¡­ he could actually learn a bunch of spells in a single night. In the end, Arlan just patted Elira''s back, trying to calm his sister and show her that he was there for her. No, he wasn''t gloating. After all, he faced the same problem. When Kael says learning sword techniques takes time, he doesn''t mean years like it normally does¡­ it''s days¡­ The brat was like a sponge who learned everything at a rate so absurd that it made no sense at all. ''Actually¡­'' The moment he thought about it, Arlan''s expression changed. ''Maybe if it is him...'' The more he thought about it, the wider the commander''s grin got. Then suddenly, "Kael." He called out. "What?" "What if I teach you Sword Aura?" "Huh?" Kael raised his eyebrow, and it wasn''t just him. Elira was the same. Of course, the reason behind their reaction was different. Kael was only surprised because it was a term he had only read about in animes and novels. Elira, on the other hand, just didn''t think Kael was at that level yet. "Have you lost your mind?" The Court Mage questioned. "I know what I am doing, Elira." Arlan spoke with a solemn look on his face. "What''s a Sword Aura?" Kael questioned. After all, he couldn''t possibly rely on what he knew from animes. "It''s an advanced technique only Seventh Stage Warriors or above can use, though I have reasons to believe you can learn it as well." "I can¡­?" "We can always try, can''t we?" "What does Sword Aura actually do?" "That Skill of yours, the one that covers your arm with scales and raises your strength, Sword Aura is somewhat similar. Sword Aura is a technique where you cover your Sword with your Mana, making it an Absolute Weapon that can cut anything like you are cutting butter. Only another Sword or Weapon with its own Aura could block such blades. It''s an essential technique that differentiates Seventh Circle Warriors and above from normal Warriors. It also allows Humans to stand against Magic Beasts, who often overpower us." "That sounds powerful." Kael nodded, impressed. Arlan nodded, "Do you wish to-" "Why didn''t those Warriors today use something so useful?" The Hero questioned, and Arlan''s expression changed. "W-Well, as I said, it is used to Cut through anything, so you only use this technique to kill¡­ it was just a simple duel, so why would you use such letha-" "Bullshit!" Of course, the Court Mage quickly called out. She then turned towards Kael and grinned, "Did you forget how the battle unfolded? No matter how great a technique a warrior uses, in the end, he still needs to get close to the target to use it. Didn''t you see how I pretty much turned that poor man into an open target? Heh, he never stood a chance." Elira answered proudly, and this time, Arlan couldn''t retort. After all, he was proud of how his sister fought today, not that he was going to say it out loud. What sort of big brother praises his sister out loud? A brother that''s on his deathbed, that''s who! "Anyways, do you wish to learn the technique or not?" He questioned directly, changing the topic. "Sure, that sounds like something I can use." Kael nodded. Just imagining how much CE he would get if he learned that put a grin on his face. Soon, however, his expression changed. "But how are we going to learn here?" He questioned. "Don''t worry. You can stay with us tonight. We will take you to the Training Hall back in our House and bring you back tomorrow morning." "You can do that?" Kael blinked in surprise. To take away the Hero from the Royal Palace at the spur of the moment without any permissions¡­ He didn''t think that was possible, even if the two were the Kingdom''s Prodigies. "Well, we can''t, but there is someone who can." Arlan shrugged, and Elira''s expression changed. "Don''t tell me you plan on calling mother?" "I am sure she would want to meet the Hero too." Kael''s expression changed when he heard those words. The siblings'' mother¡­ Obviously, he knew Scarlet Stormhold, one of the Strongest Warriors in the Kingdom¡­ If it was her, then getting the permission shouldn''t be difficult. Kael''s smile widened. To think he would get to see what the strongest looked like, he couldn''t help but be excited. But then, ''Father¡­'' Igni called out. ''Are the siblings not going to leave?'' The Fire Dragon questioned. He had been working hard to keep Cirri busy, and the little ball of energy was finally asleep. He had been working hard to spend some time with his father, but¡­ Was his father really going to leave with the siblings¡­? ''Ah¡­'' Kael, who looked inside the Sanctuary and saw Cirri sleeping adorably, finally realized what Igni had been trying to do all this while. A small smile then appeared on his face, and he stared at Arlan and Elira. "Just give me the Spells for now. And I am supposed to visit you two for dinner tomorrow anyways, don''t I? Why don''t we train after that? I would also like to meet Lady Scarlet if possible." Yes, training and getting stronger was important, but Kael didn''t forget why he was doing all this in the first place. It was for his children. And if he didn''t give them attention when his children wanted it just because he wanted to protect them, what kind of father would he be? If Igni wanted to play, they would play. There was no other option. Arlan blinked in surprise. Honestly, he didn''t think Kael would turn him down. After all, he had seen how the brat loses his mind every time he talks about new techniques. Half of the reason he even brought up Sword Aura was to tempt him into learning the Sword instead of spells. Elira, on the other hand, just grinned at that and said, "Yes, yes, here are the spells you can learn." She quickly handed over the spells to Kael. "Learn them well. I''ll see your progress tomorrow." "Are you sure you don''t want t-" "Alright, we have been here for long. We should go now." Before Arlan could even complete his words, his sister pulled him away. This time, the victory was hers, and she wouldn''t have it any other way. As the siblings left, Kael finally sat on his bed and sighed. Then, Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''Igni.'' He called out, and in an instant, An adorable Fire Dragon jumped on top of him, burying Kael''s face under his bulging belly before he started licking his face, just like he used to do before Cirri came. And Kael¡­ "Hahaha~" He just laughed as he grabbed his first child and hugged him as tightly as he could, showering him with all the love he had.