《One Dragon Slayer's Path to Power》
Chapter 1: The Birth and Awakening of Vengeance
In a faraway land once home to many races and kingdoms, I lived among a variety of personalities in a place that could only exist in one¡¯s imagination. It was called Valdoria, a land where, outside the human kingdoms, the dragon race held sway. The dragons were ancient, powerful beings with ten shrines, each governed by twelve elite members of tremendous power. These elites served the will of the great Dragon God, who commanded the elite disciples¡ªone for each shrine. Though dragons had two known weaknesses¡ªmagic and a rare metal called Incite¡ªthey had been peaceful. Until one day, the Dragon God made a decision: the human race had to be eradicated.
The attack on Eldoria, the human kingdom, came without warning. The dragons, with their mythical strength, overwhelmed the unprepared humans. Even the kingdom¡¯s two elite defenders fell quickly. So, a war broke out, with humans, beast folk, elves, and dwarves forming an alliance against the dragons and their demon allies.
Six years before the attack on Eldoria, my father, Sir Rangio von Ashford, lived in our mansion with my mother, Lady Seraphina von Ashford, and my sister, Silf. We eagerly awaited the birth of a new member of the family. But that night, as they prepared for bed, my mother suddenly cried out in pain.
"Ahhhhh! Ahhhhhh!" she gasped, clutching her stomach.
My father rushed to her side. "Seraphina! What¡¯s wrong? Are you okay?"
Silf, only four years old at the time, looked up in concern. "Mama, what¡¯s wrong? What¡¯s wrong, Papa?"
"Your mother¡¯s water has broken!" he said, his face pale with fear.
With our guards away celebrating Bombs Giving, my father had to seek help himself. He sprinted out, bursting into the closed clinic to track down the nurses, who were enjoying their Bombs Giving party.
"Help me! My water slides just broke¡ªI mean my wife!" he shouted, catching their attention.
Startled, the nurses quickly followed him back to our home. But by the time they arrived, my mother had lost consciousness. My father carried her back to the clinic, with Silf following close behind. The nurses took over, and after what felt like an eternity, a newborn¡¯s cry filled the room.
"Your son, my lord," said the head nurse, handing him the child. "He¡¯s strong and healthy, but¡ Lady Seraphina¡"
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My father looked down to find my mother, her breathing shallow. She opened her eyes briefly and smiled faintly.
"Rangio¡ our son¡ Take care of them," she whispered. She then entered a coma.
Silf watched, confused, too young to understand fully but old enough to know something terrible had happened.
On a night meant to be joyful, sorrow enveloped our family, altering our fates forever. The dragons still rested, unaware of the future calamity their actions would soon unleash. The boy born that night, my brother, would one day be the key to ending their reign of terror, though the path to that destiny was fraught with pain.
Six months passed, and we were hit with a good store of luck: my mother, Lady Seraphina, had awoken from her deep slumber and met me for the first time.
"Rangio, he¡¯s beautiful!" she exclaimed.
"My dear, I am so happy you finally woke up and can meet our¡ lesbion¡ªI mean baby!" my father stammered, realizing his mistake.
"I mean baby!" he cried.
"Rangio!" my mother corrected him.
"I¡¯m sorry," he replied.
"I think we should name him after my brave husband, Rangio. How about Rion?" she suggested.
Six years later, my father and mother discovered we both possessed extraordinary talent.
"We don¡¯t have the budget for both of you to attend the academy," he explained. "One of you must stay home and be tutored, while the other goes to the prestigious magic academy."
"Father, I love magic, but I believe Silf should go," Rion, my younger brother, offered. "She loves it even more than I do."
Touched, I replied, "Are you sure, Rion?"
"Yes, sister. I love you," he answered with a smile.
"So it is decided," my father said. "Silf, you¡¯ll leave in ten days."
Little did we know, this was the last time we¡¯d all be together before chaos engulfed our lives.
Ten days later, as Silf prepared to depart, the ground trembled violently. Flames erupted, and the sky darkened as dragons filled the air.
My father drew his sword. "I¡¯m going to join the battle!" he shouted.
"Father, take us with you!" Silf and I pleaded.
"No! Seraphina, take the children and escape!" he commanded.
With a final glance, he rushed toward the battlefront, and that was the last time I saw him. We fled for ten days, surviving on rations, until dragons attacked again.
"No! Run!" my mother screamed, trying to shield us. But the dragons descended, snatching both her and Silf. I watched, horrified and powerless, as they took them away.
He tried to run and attack the dragon, but one of them swiped its tail, and he was on the ground. They wanted him right now; he smelled like a dragon, and they were hungry for humans.
In his dreams, he met a 90-year-old version of himself.
"They died that day," the older Rion said. "I lost everything and was taken prisoner. But then, one day, amidst a betrayal among the dragons, I escaped. I fought relentlessly and became something new. I lost countless times, but eventually, everyone I knew was killed. I always survived, but after so many battles, my blade and I merged. Over the course of five years, I was fully merged with the blade, emanating a unique energy that was the dragon''s weakness, merging my magic with Incite, creating the Infernal Indicate Battle Arts. But for what? All this power, and the ones I wanted to protect were already dead. I had the power to slay dragon shrine leaders, but for what reason? Why couldn''t I have had this power before? Then maybe I could have changed my fate." Tears began to flow as he told me his unholy tale of sorrow.
"Then give it to me!" I shouted. "Let me destroy their race! Let me protect them!" I cried.
Chapter 2 Infernal Wrath Unleashed!
Power comes with a price," he warned. But I said I didn¡¯t care. He stabbed me, transferring his abilities. I felt pain, and then I awoke in a fury. I felt the surge of power within me, my aura alone shocking the continent.
After I awoke, I shot a blast of Incite at the first dragon. The energy beam tore through the air with such force that the dragon didn''t even have time to react before it was incinerated. The second dragon breathed fire at me, but I simply pushed it away like a breeze, the flames parting around me harmlessly. Enraged, it lunged at me with its massive claws. I ducked underneath its swipe, my body moving with newfound agility. With a mighty leap, I brought my fist crashing into its jaw, sending it flying into the sky. I chased after it, leaping into the air and delivering a powerful kick that sent it plummeting back to the ground, creating a massive crater upon impact.
The third dragon, sensing the danger, tried to fly away. I wasn''t about to let it escape. Summoning my Incite swords, now glowing with a deadly aura, I hurled them at the fleeing beast. Upon contact, they exploded, the force of the blast comparable to a miniature atomic bomb. The dragon was obliterated in an instant, its remains scattering in the wind.
That day, I unleashed an onslaught on the dragons. My rage turned them to cinders, and my condensed magic obliterated those who tried to fight back. The dragons came at me from all sides, their roars filling the sky. I met them head-on, my movements a blur of deadly precision. One dragon attempted to flank me, but I spun around, my Incite sword slicing through its thick scales with ease. Another dragon tried to bite me, but I caught its jaws with my hands and twisted, snapping its neck with a sickening crunch.
The sky was filled with dragons, each one more ferocious than the last. But I was unstoppable. With every swing of my sword, another dragon fell. They tried to overwhelm me with their numbers, but I countered their every move, my body moving with a grace and speed that was almost supernatural. The ground was littered with the bodies of the fallen, the air thick with the scent of burning flesh.
As the battle raged on, the dragons grew more desperate. They attacked in waves, their numbers seemingly endless. But I was undeterred. I channeled my rage into my attacks, my magic surging through me like a torrent. With every strike, I felt my power growing, my aura expanding until it enveloped the entire battlefield. The dragons recoiled in fear, their once confident roars now replaced with cries of terror.
Despite the onslaught, I remained standing, my body battered but unyielding. I could feel the strain of the battle taking its toll, but I pushed through the pain, my determination unwavering. The last dragon, a massive beast with scales like steel, towered over me. It lunged, its jaws snapping shut inches from my face. I leaped back, narrowly avoiding its attack, and then charged, my Incite sword glowing with a fierce light. With a final, mighty swing, I brought the sword down on the dragon''s neck, severing its head in a single, clean strike.
As the headless body of the dragon crumpled to the ground, I stood victorious, my chest heaving with exertion. My aura flickered around me, the power within me finally reaching its peak. But as the adrenaline began to fade, I felt the immense strain of the battle catch up to me. My vision blurred, and my legs buckled. I had pushed myself to the limit, and now my body demanded rest. Darkness closed in, and I blacked out, collapsing among the ashes of my foes.
only to awaken bound in chains with a magic jammer blocking my powers.
Realizing I¡¯d been captured by slave traders, I endured months of hardship and was then bought and forced to serve as a tool for a cruel marquis¡¯ son. Despite my shackles, I maintained hope. My spirit remained unbroken, the spark of vengeance burning ever brighter, as I waited for the day I could wield my power once again. I assumed my mother and sister had been captured by the slave traders, though I hoped they were still safe. For now, I would earn as much money as I could, all while learning new techniques. My path would lead me to the same magic academy as the marquis'' son, where I would serve as his bodyguard. I had to protect him and aid him, and in doing so, I would also have the opportunity to learn.
Before the first semester, there was a debut party in the royal capital, and the academy was also in the royal capital, so I would have to stay for a while. On my way there, in the marquis'' carriage, I sensed dragons up ahead. I made up an excuse that I needed to use the restroom and that I would go into the bushes. At first, they got angry, but I convinced them.
"Sir, I need to use the restroom badly! Can I go into the bushes?" I asked.
"Are you serious?" Rimuru replied.
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"Sir, please," I begged.
"Uh, fine. Go, you disgusting filth."
"Thank you, sir!" I said gratefully.
"Get out of my extravagant chariot, filth! You dirty it!" he spat.
I then gave him a bow of respect, rushed into the bushes, used the plants as cover, and rushed to find the nearby dragons. As I arrived, I saw another boy flying to fight them.
We reached and saw a chariot surrounded by injured knights. We both noticed each other but did not care; We rushed into battle.
Rion shouted, "Infernal Incite Battle Arts!"
The sudden blast of power that seemed to come out of nowhere surprised everyone. I rushed at the first dragon; it clawed at me, but I dodged to the side, kicked it, and it went through ninety trees, crushing them. Then I formed Incite swords charged with aura and shot them at another. The blades cut through the air, glowing with deadly energy, and struck the dragon, causing it to explode in a burst of flames and smoke.
Meanwhile, the boy flew through the air, his movements swift and precise. He drew his sword, engulfed it in flames, and with a powerful swing, sliced through two dragons in one stroke. The heat from his blade seared the air, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. The remaining fifteen dragons, sensing the danger, tried to fly away.
"You will never get away, you beasts! I am going to hunt you all!" Rion yelled. "Infernal Bomb!"
I charged up a blast of energy in my hand, the power crackling around my fingers. With a swift motion, I shot the blast at the fleeing dragons, the energy ball expanding and obliterating each and every one in a massive explosion. The sky lit up with the fiery blast, the shockwave shaking the ground below.
But reinforcements came¡ªanother fleet of dragons, more ferocious than the first. I fought on, determined to take them down. I jumped into the air as three dragons attacked me from the front. One clawed at me, but I grabbed its claw mid-air and, with a powerful throw, sent the dragon crashing to the ground, creating a huge crater. Another dragon came at me from the side; I dodged its attack, but a third dragon sneaked up behind me and tried to bite me. Thanks to my aura, its face burned upon contact, causing it to roar in pain. However, in the struggle, it managed to claw at my back, leaving a deep cut. I gritted my teeth and endured the pain, gathering energy for another attack.
With fierce determination, I created two more Infernal Bombs, charging them with my aura and firing them at the incoming dragons. The explosions were immense, tearing through the dragon ranks and sending debris flying in all directions. For the remaining dragons, as they charged at me, I summoned three more Incite swords. I shot two of them, taking out two dragons with precise strikes. The third sword I held onto, ready for close combat.
Six more dragons came at me from every direction. I burned the ones behind me with a burst of aura, their scales turning to ash. I used my sword to slice through another dragon, the blade cutting cleanly through its thick hide. One dragon lunged at me, and I caught its claw, engaging in a brutal exchange of blows with the remaining three. I coated my blade in Incite, the energy burning their claws to ash with each strike.
The battle raged on, the pressure of the air from our movements blowing away the leaves and debris around us. The onlookers were in awe of the sheer destructive power on display. With a huge blast, I sent a shockwave through the battlefield, knocking the dragons back. They regrouped and came at me once more, their roars echoing through the air.
I leaped into the sky, charging my aura to its fullest. "Infernal Incite Battle Arts: Ultimate Strike!" I shouted, bringing my sword down with unparalleled force. The ground shook as my blade struck the earth, the impact creating a massive shockwave that radiated outwards, engulfing the remaining dragons. The explosion was blinding, a final, devastating blow that turned the battlefield into a scene of utter destruction.
As the dust settled, I stood amidst the ruins, my body battered but unyielding. The last of the dragons had been defeated, their bodies lying scattered around me. The power within me still surged, my aura flickering with residual energy. The battle had taken its toll, but I had emerged victorious.
With a deep breath, I lowered my sword, the adrenaline beginning to fade. The pain from my wounds finally caught up to me, and my vision blurred. I had pushed myself beyond my limits, and now my body demanded rest. Darkness closed in, and I blacked out, collapsing among the ashes of my foes. Everyone was in awe of the sheer destructive power.
Then the boy''s father arrived. It turned out he was Kain von Voss. With him was Rimuru, who was astonished to see me there. Before he could confront me, two figures stepped out. Everyone started to bow and addressed them as the prince and the duke¡¯s daughter¡ªPrincess Celestia and Miss Rose.
"Are you unharmed?" Rion, Rimuru, and Kain asked.
Both replied, "Yes. We were frightened and scared, but Sir Kain and the almighty Sir Rion defeated the dragons and saved us. Our father will reward you when we arrive at the royal capital."
"But he is a mere servant who made fools out of me to get Princess Celestia and Miss Rose. How could you let him meet the king?" Rimuru protested.
Miss Rose retorted, "Do you think you could have defeated seventeen dragons, including their fleet leader? Rion wiped them out almost single-handedly. He deserves it!"
"But¡ª" Rimuru began.
"No buts, Rimuru," Princess Celestia interjected. "And you know what? I don''t trust you at all. You should have someone with this much power under you. Kain and Rion will travel in one of our carriages to the Royal Capital of Valdoria, also known as Solara."
Chapter 3: Echoes of a Forgotten Love
The nurse bandaged my back up and We sat in the carriage and had a discussion.
Kain: "How did you acquire your level of power?"
Rion: "It''s a long story."
Kain: "Well, why do you serve that Rimuru? He does not deserve¡ª"
Rion: "I can''t help it. I am his slave; he bought me. I can''t take this collar off, and if I don''t obey, I get shocked really badly, and I pass out."
Kain: "What?! That is illegal and disgusting. How could he? I will talk about this with the king."
Rion: "No need. It''s fine this way. I can earn money and get a quality education."
Kain: "For what you did today, they will reward you. You can still earn and get a quality education."
Rion: "But this way, I have a higher chance of finding them."
Kain: "Who?"
Rion: "No, I can''t tell you. It''s too personal," he said through tears.
Kain: "You still can."
Rion: "Then fine."
Realizing how serious this situation was, Kain did not ask any further questions.
I then passed out from exhaustion.
The others got worried, so they called their medic. We found out that my body couldn''t handle my powers; the strain on my body was too great, and it needed time to heal and accept the Infernal Indicite Battle Arts.
They then arrived at a quick stop before the capital in the morning. We went shopping as a group, needing to go undercover because it would be too dangerous for Princess Celestia and Miss Rose to be seen. We escorted them and the knights to the tailor''s shop.
Inside, we had a tough time picking clothes for Princess Celestia and Miss Rose.
Celestia: "Which one, the blue or the red?"
Rose: "You can have the blue; I look better in the red anyway."
Celestia: "How dare you, Rose!"
Rose: "I only stated the truth. I¡¯m prettier, right, Rion?"
Rion: "Umm, umm, yes! You look as beautiful and extravagant as a goddess."
Celestia: "Oh, come on, Rion! You know I look better, and Kain knows it!"
Kain: "Yes, Princess, you look fabulous! If I didn''t know you were the princess, I would have mistaken you for a goddess."
Celestia: "Ha! I win!"
Rose: "No, you don''t! It''s one-to-one. Let''s ask the tailor."
Tailor: "Both of you look fabulous, misses. How about you get the red ones?"
Celestia: "Fine."
Rose: "Uh, fine, but if he had to pick one, I would have won."
Celestia: "No, you wouldn''t have!"
All but Celestia and Silk: "Please, we can''t spend all day here!"
Both: "Fine, but Rion, you need something too. Your clothes are ripping because of your battle."
Rion: "I don''t need any."
Rose: "Just try these on!"
I then put on the clothes she selected.
Rose: "Oh my! That looks so extravagant! The white, red, and black go so well with your skin and hair. It¡¯s perfect!"
Celestia: "Wow, that looks amazing! Now that I see your face with it, I love it!"
Kain: "True, it really looks good."
Rion: "Thanks, but you don''t need to buy it. It''s okay."
All: "No, just get it!"
Rion: "Okay, okay..."
Celestia and Rose: "By the way, drop the ''Princess'' and ''Miss.'' It''s fine; you can call us Rose and Celus."
After we got our clothes, we changed the code names for the city. I became Ranga, Celestia became Jane, Rose became Silk, and Kain became Grim.
Then it was three o''clock¡ªtime to have fun!
Rose: "Let¡¯s go to the food district! I wonder what they have!"
Celus: "No, let¡¯s go to the market."
Rose: "But I want to go to the food district!"
Kain: "How about we split up?"
Rion: "But who goes with who?"
Celus: "Let¡¯s do rock-paper-scissors. The winner gets to pick who goes with them."
Both: "Rock, paper, scissors!"
Rose: "Rock."
Celus: "Scissors."
Rose: "Then I get to pick! Umm¡ Rion, you¡¯re with me. Kain, you¡¯re with her."
Rion: "Okay, see you, Celus and Kain!"
Rose: "Yeah, see you guys! Bye!"
Celus and Kain: "Okay, see you! Let¡¯s meet back here in an hour."
Rose and I then headed off toward the food district.
Rose: "We''re finally here! OMG, look at those skewers! I¡¯m never allowed to have them. Let¡¯s go get some!"
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Rion: "What¡¯s a skewer?"
Rose: "Are you serious? It¡¯s the best thing in the world! Come on, let¡¯s go!"
Shopkeeper: "Hello, madam and sir! You''re a fine couple."
Both shyly: "No, we¡¯re just friends."
Shopkeeper: "My bad!"
Rion: "It¡¯s okay."
Rose: "Two skewers, please."
Shopkeeper: "And on the house for my mistake!"
Rion: "Are you sure?"
Shopkeeper: "Yeah, have at ''em!"
Rose and Rion: "Thank you!"
Rose and Rion: "Mmm, so good, huh? Hahaha!"
Rose: "You know, I just met you, but I¡¯ve already taken a liking to you. Might I ask something? Since we¡¯re friends, I wanted to know more about you."
We sat down.
Rion: "Ask away, but I might not answer some things that are too personal."
Rose: "Okay, well, how old are you for example?"
Rion: "Oh, I forgot! Today¡¯s my birthday. I turned 14."
Rose: "What? You don¡¯t want to celebrate?"
Rion: "I stopped celebrating a long time ago."
Rose: "Why?"
Rion: sighs "Well, I stopped after I lost my family."
Rose: "Are they dead?"
Rion: "I don¡¯t know."
Rose: "What happened?"
Rion: "I am the son of Viscount Ranjio van Ashford from Eldoria."
Rose: "The kingdom that got attacked by dragons and wiped out?"
Rion: "Yes, that one."
Rose: "You can tell me; I won¡¯t tell anyone."
Rion: "Well, my elder sister, Silf, was departing for the academy when the dragons attacked. My father went into battle. I begged him to let me help, but he told my mother, Lady Seraphina, to take us and run. Then he rushed into battle. As we escaped, dragons attacked us, threw me to the side, and took my sister and mother. That¡¯s when I saw my older self. He told me my life story, full of sorrow and..."
loss he gave me his power and i started to hate them they took everything from me (i started to cry)
She hugged me tight, letting me cry on her shoulder. We both turned bright red.
Then we spent the next thirty minutes getting more types of food.
Rose: "Ooh, is that ice cream? Rion, let¡¯s go get some!"
Rion: "Ooh, I don¡¯t know what that is, but it looks good! Let¡¯s get some!"
Rose: "I call it vanilla!"
Rion: "Me too, I guess."
Shopkeeper: "Coming right up!"
Rose: "This is the best! It¡¯s going to blow your mind away!"
Shopkeeper: "Here you go. That will be 12 silver."
Rion: "It''s my turn to repay you. Here."
Rose: "No need!"
Rion: "Nope, I won¡¯t hear it. There, I paid."
Shopkeeper: "Thank you! Enjoy!"
Rose: "You didn¡¯t have to. You know what? You¡¯re upgraded¡ªyou¡¯re one of my best friends now!"
Rion: "Okay, thank you! Oh, and it¡¯s time we get going. It¡¯s been an hour."
We started walking back.
Rose grabbed my hand, and we both turned pink.
Rion: "Hey, why are you¡ª"
Rose: "So we don¡¯t lose each other! Big crowd, and best friends do that. It¡¯s fine!"
Celus: "Hey, guys!"
Kain: "What?! Why are you¡"
Celus: "Holding hands?"
Both: "Uhhh¡"
We quickly let go of each other¡¯s hands, both fully blushing as we realized what had just happened.
Rose: "Wait a minute¡"
Rion: "Holding hands like you¡¯re married?"
Kain immediately released her hand in a rush. We then went to check into our rooms at the Moonlight Inn.
Innkeeper: "Hey, how many rooms do you need?"
Kain thought we needed to be discreet; if someone out of nowhere bought two of the most expensive rooms, it would be suspicious.
Kain: "One double bed and two futons. We can¡¯t afford more."
Rose and Celus: "What? Why?"
Rion:ok
Kain:to avoid suspicion he whispered into their ears
Both:uhh fine
We then headed up to the room
Both : ok we get the double you on floor futons and don''t you think about coming close while were asleep or we will make you regret it
Kain and Rion :yes misses
Then 3 o''clock at night i wake to turn around to kain side
Rion: since when were you so soft
Then i opened my eyes and i jumped up
Rion: rose why are you here
Then i saw she fell of the bed and kain is sleep walking i got up and moved my futon a bit further and slept that what i realized subconsciously she was still holding my hand so i quietly slept there until she woke up
Rose: why are you here and holding my hand well
Rion:you fell bed he was sleep and were holding my hand if got up you would woken up and killed me
We then got to the carriage well i had not slept all night but rose decided we all have to be in the same carriage
That''s when we were attacked by a fleet of dragons with bandits riding them. Kain and I jumped out of the carriage and shouted.
"Infernal Indicite Battle Arts!" My aura told the bandits they stood no chance, but the leader was overconfident and thought it meant nothing. Three dragons came from every side. I jumped into the air and shot a blast of concentrated incite at them, creating a crater at least three feet deep. I landed on the ground, formed a sword, and shot two blades at the dragon-riding bandits. Meanwhile, Kain took out the ones attacking Celus and Rose, who stood back and shot magic. Kain used both sword and magic, slaying them left and right. I abandoned any worry, but that¡¯s when the bandit leader''s dragons caught me off guard. They flew in the air and breathed fire. Rion: "Indicite Battle Arts, full power!" My aura destroyed all the dragons but blew Kain a bit further away. When he got up, a dragon was about to take Rose''s life. In that moment, I remembered her; she and I were in a relationship. That¡¯s when I felt something surge through me, and I rushed there so fast I broke the sound barrier. I kicked the dragon into the air and shot a super blast I called¡ªRion: "Bombarded!" But then I fell out of the air and passed out.
Rion: "Infernal Indicite Battle Arts!"
The bandits froze as my aura flared up, a powerful energy that seemed to promise their doom. But their leader, overconfident and dismissive, thought nothing of it. Three dragons charged at me from every side, their massive wings stirring up a whirlwind. I leapt into the air, spinning to avoid their attacks, and shot a blast of concentrated Incite at them. The explosion created a crater at least three feet deep, scattering debris everywhere. I landed gracefully on the ground, my sword materializing in my hand. With a swift motion, I shot two blades at the dragon-riding bandits, the energy slicing through their ranks.
Meanwhile, Kain was a whirlwind of steel and magic. He took out the dragons attacking Celestia and Rose, who stood back and cast powerful spells to support us. Kain wielded his sword with deadly precision, slaying bandits left and right, his movements a blur of speed and skill. His magic added to the chaos, with fire and lightning striking down any enemy who dared approach.
With Kain handling the immediate threats, I allowed myself a moment to focus on the bigger picture. That''s when the bandit leader''s dragons caught me off guard. They flew into the air and breathed fire, the flames roaring towards me like a tidal wave.
Rion: "Incite Battle Arts, full power!"
My aura flared with even greater intensity, the sheer force of it obliterating the dragons in a single, devastating blast. The shockwave blew Kain a bit further away, and he struggled to get up. Just then, a dragon charged at Rose, its jaws wide open and ready to devour her. In that moment, everything seemed to slow down. I remembered the bond between Rose and me, our relationship giving me strength. A surge of power coursed through my veins, and I moved with such speed that I broke the sound barrier.
I appeared in front of Rose, my foot connecting with the dragon''s jaw. The force of the kick sent it hurtling into the air. Not wasting a moment, I gathered all my energy into a supercharged blast.
Rion: "Bombarded!"
The beam of energy shot from my hands, striking the airborne dragon. The resulting explosion was blinding, the shockwave shaking the ground beneath us. The dragon was obliterated, leaving nothing but ashes drifting in the wind. But the exertion was too much. I felt my strength waning, my vision darkening. I fought to stay conscious, but the strain of the battle had taken its toll.
I fell from the sky, landing hard on the ground. My body refused to move, the exhaustion overwhelming me. As I lay there, I could hear the distant sounds of the battle continuing, Kain and the others still fighting to protect what we held dear. Then, everything went black.
chapter 4: Rions Transformation: Flames of Might
When I woke up, I was in Rose''s lap. I asked, "What are you doing?"
Rose turned pink and squealed, "You saved my life! I will upgrade you to be my boyfriend!"
All: "What?!"
Rion: "Okay, I accept, but I think it was my older self talking through me."
I stayed like that for the rest of the ride, despite Celus and Kain telling me and Rose to stop.
Finally, we arrived in the capital.
First things first, Kain and I had an audience with King George.
King George: "Kain and Rion, you two have saved my daughter from two dragon attacks. I am very thankful."
Kain: "My lord, thank you."
Rion: "For praising us with your kind words."
King George: "For this, I grant both of you a perigee, the title of Dragon Slayer, and permission to join the Dragon Slayers Guild as G-rank Dragon Slayers."
Kain thought to himself, *Oh no, I just want to learn magic in peace. Why?*
Other nobles: "No chance! You''re granting these children a perigee and funds?"
Rion: "I humbly accept."
(A perigee is when the king appoints someone a noble title of baron and funds them.)
King George: "These boys single-handedly defeated two dragon fleets and their leaders. Do you think any of you can do that?"
Kain, with a frown on his face, shrieked: "I accept, my lord!"
King George: "And come to the parlor later; I want to chat about something personal."
Both surprised, we told him: "Okay."
Then we left and headed to the parlor.
King George: "I want to thank you, not as a king but as a father."
Both: "It''s no problem, my lord, really. We just happened to be there."
Then the Duke popped up.
Duke Helem: "I thank you for saving my daughter."
Both: "It''s no problem, really."
Duke and King: "Then we would like to ask that Kain get engaged to Celestia, and that Rose get engaged to Rion."
Both: "What?!"
King: "Well, are you saying our daughters are not good enough for you?"
Rion: "No, my lord, but¡ª"
Kain: "We¡¯re too young!"
Duke: "It¡¯s fine; it will not be official until you¡¯re old enough."
Rion: "Well, I am already in a relationship with her, so I accept."
Kain: "How could you¡ªso¡"
King: "Oh, so she isn¡¯t good enough for you? I see Rion is the only one who is humble and understanding. Is that it?"
Kain: "No, my lord, I accept," he whispered.
Celestia was shy at first, but Rose had already accepted.
Well, since Kain and I were barons, we had our own mansion. We thought we would check it out, but when we first saw it, it was falling apart¡ªcracked pillars, super dusty, and spiders everywhere. My magic was mostly for attacking, but Kain knew how to use his magic for cleaning and remodeling, so it worked out. We decided that I would sleep in the master bedroom on the top floor and he would be on the bottom floor.
The next day, Kain had gone to visit, so I headed to the guild to redeem my adventurer''s card and find a dragon-killing quest.
Rion: "Wow, so this is the guild?"
Guild worker: "Hi there! I¡¯m Roxy. This is the Tiger Guild. Want to sign up? How old are you?"
Rion: "Hi, I¡¯m Rion. I¡¯m 14, but the king gave me this letter and told me to sign up."
Roxy: "Oh, I find that hard to believe. Maybe show me the letter?"
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
I handed it to her.
Roxy: "Oh wow, you must be really powerful. You can sign up, but you will start from G rank. The highest is S rank, but only those who take out elite dragons and shrine monarchs get that rank. Only one person has ever done that."
¡ªthough that was the founder of this nation, Valdom, who was Grim Valdom.
Rion: "Okay, thanks for this information. But even if I¡¯m low rank, can I take dragon extermination quests?"
Roxy: "Since you¡¯ve been appointed, your rank will be decided by which quest you pick from the board there."
Rion: "At the moment, what is the most challenging quest?"
Roxy: "Well, there¡¯s a fleet of mid-level dragons with a superior ice dragon. You would be upgraded to C rank for that. For B rank, you have to take down ten higher dragons, and for A rank, an elite dragon. For S rank, you need to face a dragon monarch, but those aren¡¯t available right now. The first rank quest is available, but I wouldn¡¯t recommend it for your age. You could get killed."
Rion: "I will take it. I¡¯ll bring back their horns as proof."
Roxy: "Are you sure?"
Rion: "Yes."
Roxy: "At least get some equipment first."
Rion: "Okay, then I want one of your best incite swords."
Roxy: "You¡¯ll need more than that."
Rion: "Just give it to me."
Roxy: "Okay, but it¡¯s your grave. That will be 1 gold."
Rion: "Here."
Then I left for the Forest of Fall where they were spotted. I arrived, but there was no sign of dragons. Then I heard a scream. I rushed there and found that a traveling merchant was being attacked by the dragons.
Merchant: "Help!"
Rion: "Infernal Incite Battle Arts!"
I leaped into battle and landed on the head of the dragon and popped his blood everywhere. I then saw why Roxy did not want to go there; there were 50 dragons, and the ice dragon was currently asleep. Twenty-five came, and the other 25 remained asleep with the ice dragon.
They rushed at me. I drew my sword. I rushed at them. One clawed at me. I leaped in the air. Then 3 flew up, breathing fire at me from every direction. That''s when my hatred reawaked.
I first grabbed the neck and bashed them to gather and throw them down, then the 3rd thought he could surprise me. I caught it with one hand, ripped his wings, threw it down, and shot a contracted bolt of energy, wiping them out 20 more. I used my sword to put everything into one slice, cutting through 2 the other 18 shots, and fired a concentrated blast of fire.
Rion: Infernal incite battle arts full of power, he shouted.
My aura burst out. I had been suppressing it, but now that I could realize it, I sliced through their blast and
Rion shouted: Slayers cutter!
The sheer power of my incite broke the sword; it didn''t matter; I defeated them, but with that, the ice dragon woke up, and the 25 dragons guarding it and sleeping attacked. The ice dragon lay not taking it seriously, thinking the fleet could defeat me. I was enraged even more. I babared them with all my power and shot my swords. It was blood.
I fought through the freezing air, but the ice remained, and I could feel myself reaching my limit. Just as the ice dragon prepared to finish me off, something within me awakened. My aura shifted from red to a blazing orange¡ªI had taken a crucial step closer to my future self''s power.
The ice dragon surged forward, unleashing its mighty breath of frost. I dodged to the side, leaped into the air, and activated my Slayer Flash¡ªthe evolved version of Slayer Cutter. With a swift strike, I severed one of its arms, but it continued to fly, retaliating with a magical claw strike known as Dragon Talon. I tanked the blow; it injured me, but I refused to give up.
Leaping high into the sky, I shouted, ¡°Rion: Dragonic Slayer!¡±
A colossal blast erupted from me, wiping the ice dragon from the face of the earth. All that remained was a shattered piece of its heart. I cut off its horns, collecting my trophies as I stood drenched in dragon blood.
As I approached the city gate, the guards recognized me. I walked into the guild, a bag filled with fifty dragon horns and one heart piece from the ice dragon slung over my shoulder.
¡°Oh my god!¡± Roxy exclaimed.
¡°Who is that guy? Are those horns? He¡¯s just a kid!¡± murmured the adventurers.
¡°Rion here. I completed the quest. I want my reward and a rank up to C,¡± I announced, my voice steady despite my exhaustion.
As the world faded around me, I suddenly passed out. When I came to, I found myself in an isolation room, and there was Rose, sitting beside my bed.
She rushed to me and hugged me tightly. I wrapped my arms around her in return, feeling a rush of warmth amidst the exhaustion.
Rose: "Don''t ever scare me like that again."
Rion: "Okay, okay."
She gave me a kiss on the cheek, and I turned red.
Rion: "Rose, you''re moving too fast."
Rose: "Well, I want to, so let me handle this."
Rion: "Okay, okay... Oh, and where am I?"
Rose: "You''re in the guild. You''ve been upgraded to C-rank, and you need a bath. You smell like a dragon, even though they wiped the blood off you. Oh, and did I tell you? I''m sleeping over at your mansion tonight and taking care of you with the maids until you recover. Got it?"
I stood up and then fell back down.
Rose: "The doctor said the strain on your body is too much. You''ve ripped your shoulder tendon and fractured your hip. Let me support you."
Rion: "So, how long until I heal?"
Rose: "Full recovery will take at least three months."
Rion: "I''ll be up and running in a week. I''ll be fine."
Rose: "You can¡¯t keep doing this."
Rion: "I just unlocked Infernal Incite Battle Arts V2."
Rose: "But no, you can¡¯t! You''ll die."
Rion: "I have to. I need to exterminate them to protect you and everyone I care about."
Rose: "Then get stronger¡ªso strong that you won¡¯t get hurt or die. Promise me you will."
I hugged her, and she started to cry.
Rose: "I was so worried."
Rion: "It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll never leave you, I promise."
That''s when Rimuru saw us.
Rimuru: "Unhand Miss Rose this instant, you weak and pathetic filth!"
Rose: "That''s enough out of your mouth. He is no longer your servant. If I see you again, I''ll have Father strip your title and send you to prison. Got it?"
Rimuru: "But¡ª"
Rose: "No buts! Now, get out of my sight."
Chapter 5: The Duel at Barbour Academy
Before heading home, we stopped at the bathhouse.
Rion: "We''re here."Rose: "Wait, how are you going to wash yourself?"Rion: "I''ll manage."Kain: "Hey, guys!"Celestia: "What are you doing here?"Kain: "What happened to you? You''re covered in bandages and need Miss Rose''s support to walk."Celestia: "Are you okay?"Rose: "He took a quest to slay 50 medial dragons and a higher ice dragon."Kain: "Are you crazy? That many medial dragons?"Celestia: "And a superior ice dragon?"Kain: "Did you win the fight?"Rion: "Yes."Kain: "Man, I need to step up my game if I want to beat you! What rank are you now?"Rion: "Rank C."Kain: "First, you do a quest without me, then you reach Rank C? Come on, you''re not playing fair!"Rion: "Okay, okay, I''ll stop."Kain: "You know what? I''ll rank up alone while you''re recovering. Then you can catch up."Rion: "I''ll look forward to it¡ªand you bet I''ll duel you too."Kain: "Oh, you''re on!"Kain: "How will you bathe? Want me to help?"Rion: "Yes, please."Rose: "When I asked, you said no. Why?"Rion: "Rose, we¡¯re 14 years old. We''re nowhere near old enough to bathe together. Did you think of that?"Celestia: "Yeah, he''s right, Rose."Kain: "Let''s go; it''s getting late. It''s already past 7:30."All but Kain: "Okay, let¡¯s go."
We went inside, and Kain helped me remove my bandages and get into the hot water. The burns on my wounds stung, but it was nothing compared to the pain of tanking a shot from the ice dragon. Once we finished bathing, Kain and Celestia offered to walk us home.
Kain: "So, Rose, did you tell Celestia you''re staying with Rion to take care of him?"Celestia: "Wait, Rose, why am I only hearing about this now?"Rose: "Oh, I just hate guys like you, always butting into others'' business."Celestia: "If you''re staying, I''m staying too."Rose and Kain: "WHAT? No, that''s not happening!"Celestia: "I''m not listening to anyone."Rion: "I don¡¯t mind."Celestia: "Okay, then it''s decided."
We headed home.
Rose: "I¡¯m staying in the same room as you, Rion."Rion: "No, you''re not. We''re going to have separate rooms for boys and girls. Good night, no arguments."Rose: "But¡ª"Kain: "No buts! You''re too young."Celestia: "Then I guess we''re sharing a room again, Rose."Rose: "In that case, why can¡¯t I sleep in Celestia¡¯s room?"All but Rose and Celestia: "You¡¯re practically sisters."
Before going to bed, I locked the doors¡ªknowing Rose all too well.
By morning, my wounds were completely healed thanks to my magic ability, which allows me to recover faster than regular humans. I spent two days resting and fully recovered just as the entrance exams for the Royal Magic Academy of Barbardor approached.
Rion: "Let¡¯s go train."Rose: "It¡¯s 5 a.m.! Let me sleep."Celestia: "Yeah, I¡¯ll train later. Sleep now."Rion: "Okay, keep sleeping. Hey, King George and Duke!"They bolted upright in panic.Both: "Father? Wait, he¡¯s not here¡ªyou tricked us!"Rion: "Well, the entrance exams are in two days. No time to sleep¡ªlet''s train!"Both: "Ugh, fine. We¡¯ll get changed."
Rion: "To start, let¡¯s do a 1000 km run."Both: "Are you crazy?! We¡¯re not superhumans! 10 km is a lot, 1000 is impossible!"Rion: "Fine, do 100 while I do 1000."Rose: "No, we can¡¯t do more than one!"Rion: "Final offer¡ª10."Celestia: "Fine."
We ran, and it took me minutes to finish, though they struggled. Afterward, we worked on strength and magic.
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Rion: "Let¡¯s spar. No magic for me, but you can use it."Rose: "Can I go first?"Celestia: "Okay, I¡¯ll take a break and watch."
Rose¡¯s attacks were relentless, starting with ice spears and fireballs. I evaded with ease until she enhanced herself and threw punches. One hit landed, her raw strength surprising me.
Rion: "You¡¯ve got great strength. I¡¯d recommend fighting with gauntlets."Rose: "Really?"Rion: "Yep. Celestia, your turn."
Celestia used her speed enhancement, running circles around me while firing light waves, fireballs, and air bullets. I evaded, striking back with precision. The sparring ended with me winning.
Rion: "Your strength is your mobility. Use it to your advantage."Celestia: "Got it."
After days of training, the exams began. The written test was brutal¡ªI barely passed, but I wasn¡¯t there for academics. The next challenge was a mock battle against instructors.
Rion: "I want to challenge the head swordmaster, Zander Jackson."Zander: "That would be me."
Gasps erupted from the students.
Others: "Is he crazy? No one¡¯s ever beaten Zander! He¡¯s the Chief Knight!" Rose: "Come on, Rion, you can do this!"Celestia: "Yeah, show them who¡¯s boss!"Kain: "Don¡¯t lose yet¡ªI still need to beat you!"
As soon as the battle commenced, I rushed at him with blinding speed, so fast that the onlookers could barely register my movement. He barely managed to block my initial strike, his eyes widening in surprise. With a swift counter, he aimed a blow at me, but I parried it with equal force. Our blades clashed, ringing out like thunder in the arena.
He then slashed with ferocity, and I leapt over his blade, delivering a powerful kick to his side. He stumbled but quickly regained his balance, his stance as solid as a mountain. He slashed at me again; I blocked and retaliated with a kick, but he twisted, catching me off guard and landing a clean punch to my jaw. I was barely standing¡ªthis guy was strong.
He rushed at me, swinging his sword in a deadly arc. I jumped, using the wall to build up momentum, leaping from one pillar to another. He started mimicking my movements, our battle now a blur of speed and power. He slashed; I blocked and countered. We moved so fast that the spectators could barely keep up with our motions.
I leapt into the air, executing a spinning kick aimed at his head. He ducked just in time and swung his sword upward. I twisted in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the blade, and landed behind him, aiming a punch at his back. He spun around, our fists colliding with a force that sent shockwaves through the arena.
We exchanged blow after blow, neither of us giving an inch. He was relentless, and so was I. I could feel the strain in my muscles, but the adrenaline kept me going. He swung his sword in a wide arc, and I slid under it, kicking his legs out from beneath him. He fell, but quickly rolled to his feet, launching himself at me with renewed fury.
Using the pillars as springboards, we continued our high-speed dance, our movements fluid and deadly. Each strike, block, and counter was perfectly timed, a symphony of combat that left the audience breathless. I could feel my energy waning, but I couldn''t afford to show weakness. Not now.
He charged at me, his sword glowing with an inner light. I knew this was it¡ªthe decisive moment. I gathered all my strength, my aura flaring to life as I readied myself for his attack. He swung his sword with all his might, and I met it head-on, our powers clashing in a brilliant explosion of light and sound.
As the dust settled, we stood facing each other, breathing heavily. I could see the respect in his eyes, a mutual acknowledgment of our skills. The battle was fierce, but it wasn''t over yet. With a final burst of energy, we launched ourselves at each other, ready to see who would emerge victorious.
Despite his strength, I matched him, leaping from pillars and countering his strikes. The fight reached its peak when his sword glowed with power. I met his attack head-on, our auras clashing in an explosion of light.
As the dust settled, Zander stepped back, lowering his sword.
Zander: "I admit defeat. You¡¯re small but mighty."Rion: "Thank you, sir. It was an honor."
Celestia, Kain, and Rose: "You really never run out of surprises, do you?"Rion: "Thanks!"
The arena erupted in applause, and I stood tall, ready for the next challenge.
Chapter 6: The Forest of Dragons
Other students: "What? No chance, he just lost!"
Zander: "I admit my defeat. You''re small but quite mighty."
Rion: "Thank you, sir. It was a fine duel. You''re not bad at all."
Celestia, Kain, and Rose: "Good one! You really never run out of surprises, do you?"
Rion: "Thanks."
Then it was Kain''s duel. He also won easily, and Rose and Celestia did as well, so we all passed the second test and moved on to the third of four tests. We had to show our most powerful magical attack. Kain engulfed his sword in flames and unleashed a devastating shockwave with his strike. Everyone was taken aback, and I now knew what he had been training for.
It was my turn.
Rion: "Incite Battle Arts!"
All my aura burst out. I concentrated it, and my aura turned from orange to red¡ªthe next form. I charged up and shot a beam of aura. I called it:
Rion: "Draconic Arrow!"
I accidentally destroyed the school''s field.
Instructor: "Are you crazy? Why would you use such a spell on school grounds?"
Rion: "I am sorry, madam."
For the fourth test, we were to get through the forest of dragons. We would be in teams of five. We had four members: me, Rose, Kain, and Celestia.
Rion: "We have to find a fifth member."
Kain: "I am backline because my strong suit is magic. Rion is our most powerful player; he is the front line. Rose and Celestia will protect from the sides. We need a healer in the middle."
Rose: "True."
Spencer: "You filthy rat, take this!"
He was punching a girl dressed in a white cross.
Liora: "Stop, leave me alone!"
Spencer: "Why even take the test, you weakling? It''s pathetic, healing magic. You know what? I''ll give you the honor of being in my team. We''ll have some fun, hehee."
Celestia: "Stop, leave her alone or else."
Rion: "You are the one who is pathetic and weak."
Kain: "Too weak to pick on someone your own size."
Rose: "How disgusting, picking on the weak."
Spencer: "Oh please, just because of your titles, you''re all high and mighty. And hey, Rion the commoner, piss off. I don''t need a commoner challenging me."
Rion: "Oh yeah? Then take me in a duel if you''re not scared, that is."
Rose: "Are you sure? He is one of the most promising mages there is."
Rion: "Oh yeah, time for some action."
Spencer: "Let''s then, pretty boy. Ready to die?"
Rion: "Enough trash talk, let''s get this party on the road."
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He started by shooting magic at me¡ªflares, ice bullets, and light strikes. I evaded them all with ease, my movements fluid and precise. Each attack missed by a wide margin, leaving Spencer frustrated and off-balance.
Rion: "Time to end this. You really disappointed me. For all that bark, there''s no bite to back it up."
Spencer: "OH, THEN THIS!"
He unleashed every ounce of magic he had, a desperate attempt to overwhelm me with sheer volume. Fire, ice, and light converged in a chaotic barrage. I stood still for a moment, yawning theatrically before bursting into action.
Rion: "Infernal Incite Battle Arts!"
My aura flared with intense energy, surrounding me in a blinding light. In an instant, I moved with blinding speed, darting around Spencer and leaving afterimages in my wake. He struggled to keep up, his eyes wide with panic as he tried to track my movements. His attacks grew more frantic and desperate, but I was always one step ahead. I casually sidestepped another flurry of flares, making it look effortless. I could see the frustration building in Spencer''s eyes as he realized how outmatched he was.
With a smirk, I leaped into the air, effortlessly avoiding his ice bullets and landing a powerful kick on his jaw, sending him skyward. I ascended to meet him, time seeming to slow as I delivered a series of rapid strikes to his midsection. Each blow sent shockwaves through his body, and I could see the pain etched on his face. I grabbed his arm, spun him around, and threw him back to the ground with immense force. The impact created a crater, dust and debris flying up from the collision. Hovering above him, I watched as he struggled to get up, his movements slow and pained. I floated back down, landing gracefully beside him.
Spencer pushed himself to his feet, determination in his eyes. He raised his hands, gathering his remaining strength for one final attack.
Spencer: "I''ll show you! Take this!"
He unleashed a torrent of magic, a chaotic mix of fire, ice, and light. I stood my ground, my aura flaring even brighter as I prepared to counter.
Rion: "Infernal Incite Battle Arts!"
I burst forward, my speed and power overwhelming. I weaved through his attacks effortlessly, leaving afterimages that made it impossible for him to track me. I closed the distance in an instant, my fist connecting with his chest and sending him flying backward. Before he could recover, I was on him again, striking him with a series of rapid punches and kicks. He tried to defend himself, but my attacks were too fast and too powerful. With a final, powerful kick, I sent him crashing into the ground once more. As he lay there, dazed and defeated, I hovered above him, my aura still blazing.
The onlookers gasped in awe at the display of power and skill. I floated down, standing over Spencer with a look of pity and disappointment.
Rion: "Next time, try to put up a real fight."
Spencer lay there, defeated and humiliated, as Liora rushed over to heal him. I turned away, my aura slowly fading as I walked back to my friends, ready to face the next challenge.
Liora: "Thank you, you saved me back there. Oh, how rude of me, I didn''t even introduce myself. I am Liora von Ashford."
Rion: "Wait, Ashford? So you''re related to me. I am Rion von Ashford, son of Rangio."
Liora: "Wait, Uncle Rangio? I was told that he met me when I was a toddler. How is he?"
Rion: "I have never seen him after the attack. I was forced to flee, and he fought and held his ground. I am ashamed I didn''t help him."
Liora: "Oh, I am so sorry."
Rion: "It''s alright. I wanted to invite you to join our party."
Liora: "Are you sure? I can only heal."
Rion: "You''re perfect. We needed a healer anyway, so join us!"
Liora: "Thank you, elder cousin Rion, for giving me this chance. I promise not to disappoint."
Rose: "You better not."
We then headed inside the forest in the morning. As we walked, we were attacked by many ogres and smaller monsters. We overcame all of them and defeated them swiftly. Before we knew it, it was afternoon, and the sunset signaled that we needed to sleep. We had to set up camp. The goal of this test was to survive in the forest of monsters for 31 days and see which team could get the most monster kills. We found a river that runs through the forest. It was our best option because it provided a source of water and there was fruit growing nearby. So we set up camp. The only equipment we were allowed to bring was sleeping bags. We didn''t have much time; in about 30 minutes, it would be night, and we wanted to avoid roaming in the dark.
Rion: "Let''s split up."
Kain: "Are you sure?"
Rose: "He is right; it''s our only option."
Liora: "Then it is decided."
Kain: "I will use my earth magic to build a wall and 5 huts."
Celestia, Rose, and Liora: "We will collect fresh water and prepare dinner."
Rion: "Alright, I will collect firewood and help all of you out. If you get attacked, continue what you''re doing; I will handle it."
So we headed out. Everything went smoothly. The camp was attacked by a few ogres, but we made short work of them and everything was prepared. However, we were all exhausted and needed to sleep in shifts in case we were attacked during the night. Even though we had walls, we could never be too sure. If any dragon appeared, they could use a simple fire breath to kill us all in our sleep.
Chapter 7: Rion vs. Tempustus: Clash of Titans
It was Liora and Kain''s turn to watch while I was sound asleep. Suddenly, we were jolted awake by an explosion and screams coming from the north. Startled, we prepared ourselves for battle. Out of nowhere, a bolt of lightning struck the ground, and a man with dragon characteristics and wings appeared before us.
Rion gasped: "You!"
Man: "Do I know you? Perhaps it doesn''t matter; your life has come to an end."
Man: "Hello, fellow weaklings. I am Elite Lightning Dragon Tempustus, and your end is here. Be happy; you have the honor of being slain by an elite."
Rion, panicking: "Not good, not good. Even in my past life, I couldn''t defeat him in this form. I don''t stand a chance. I am not powerful enough."
An older voice echoed in Rion''s mind: "Have you forgotten? Do you think you can have a happy life? I gave you power because I knew the hatred inside you. Kill them, slay them all!"
I went on a rampage, attacking Tempestus in my Indicate Red form. I swung at him, attacking him with everything I had, but he quickly overpowered me. He then turned his attention to my party, standing in a defensive formation.
Tempestus: "Not bad, not bad at all. I never thought a human could be this powerful. But you never stood a chance against an Elite Dragon. Even in my weakest form, dragons will always dominate humans. Now, it''s your turn to die."
Kain stood his ground to protect everyone.
Kain: "Stay back, beast!"
He raised his sword, but Tempustus caught it, broke it, and then, with a swift motion, pulled Kain''s head off his shoulders. Kain screamed in agony and died.
Clesustia broke into tears: "No, no! Why? Why did this wretched world take him away? Damn it, I''m too weak!" She rushed at Tempestus, but he caught and broke her easily.
Rose and Liora: "How could you? You''re not a royal dragon; you''re just a brutal beast who goes around killing for no reason."
Rose: "Liora, heal Kain!"
Liora: "He''s already dead, so I''ll have to use my greatest healing magic, but I doubt it will work. I''ve never been able to pull it off before."
Rose: "Just try!"
Liora: "Okay..."
Tempustus: "I guess you want to go first."
Rion: "No, no, no! Not again, not everything again! No, no, no! You killed him. How could you? I will get my revenge. I will slaughter you all! AHHHHHH!"
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Rion''s form shifted from orange to red, then to blue as he screamed.
Rion: "Infernal Blue, I call it!"
Rose: "Another one, a new form!"
Tempustus threw Clesustia onto a rock.
Tempestus: "I''ll deal with you later."
Celustia: "Yes, murder him. Inflict the pain Kain felt a thousand times over!" she said and passed out from the loss of blood.
Rion: "Die!"
Tempestus: "A new form? No matter, you can''t beat me." He rushed at me with incredible speed. His punch came fast, but I blocked it just in time. As he tried to follow up with another punch, I ducked and kicked out at his legs, forcing him to stumble. I side-stepped his next attack and countered with a powerful kick that sent him crashing to the floor.
But Tempustus was not easily defeated. He rose from the ground with a growl, his body beginning to transform. His skin darkened and hardened into scales, fangs sprouted from his jaws, and his muscles bulged with newfound strength. He had turned into a terrifying dragonoid.
Tempestus: "I congratulate you. You''re the first human to ever push me this far. But your time has unfortunately come."
He lunged at me with his new dragon-like form, and I braced for the onslaught. As his clawed hand swung towards me, I kicked out, aiming for his midsection. Our limbs collided with a resounding impact.
His strength was overwhelming, but I refused to back down. He threw a powerful punch that I barely managed to dodge, feeling the rush of wind as it passed my face. I retaliated with a roundhouse kick that connected with his jaw, but he barely flinched.
Tempustus roared, his breath hot and fetid, then he lunged forward, wrapping his claws around my arm. I twisted my body, using his momentum against him, and flipped him over my shoulder. He landed hard but rolled back to his feet almost instantly.
I was barely keeping up with his relentless assault. He swiped at me with his claws, and I dodged, responding with quick jabs and kicks. Each move was precise, driven by pure survival instinct.
Tempustus: "Is that all you''ve got? I expected more from you."
I gritted my teeth and doubled down, striking out with a series of rapid punches. Tempustus blocked each one but was forced to take a step back. Seizing the opportunity, I leapt into the air and delivered a powerful flying kick to his chest. He staggered, coughing, but still, he wouldn''t fall.
His eyes burned with fury. With a bellow, he unleashed a flurry of attacks. I parried and blocked, feeling each blow reverberate through my bones. My muscles ached, and sweat dripped down my face, but I couldn''t give up.
I needed to find his weakness. Summoning all my strength, I focused on his movements, searching for an opening. Tempustus struck again, and I sidestepped, grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back. He roared in pain, but I didn''t let go. With a swift motion, I delivered a sharp elbow strike to his spine.
He fell to his knees, gasping for breath. But just as I thought I had the upper hand, his tail whipped around, knocking me off my feet. I hit the ground hard, the air knocked out of my lungs.
Tempustus stood over me, eyes gleaming with triumph. But I wasn''t done yet. Using the last of my strength, I rolled to the side, avoiding his crushing stomp.
Pushing myself up, I gathered my remaining energy for one final attack. As he advanced, I launched myself at him, striking with everything I had. My fists and feet flew in a blur of motion, each hit aimed at critical points on his body.
He tried to retaliate, but my relentless barrage was too much. Finally, with a mighty kick to his chest, I sent him sprawling to the ground. He lay there, dazed and unable to get up.
Me: "It''s over, Tempustus. You underestimated me."
With that, I turned and walked away, leaving the defeated dragonoid behind. The battle was won, but I knew this was just one of many challenges ahead. But I would face them all with the same determination and strength.
Chapter 8
Kain gasped.
Liora: "It worked! It worked! Thank the heavens¡ªhe is breathing!"
Rion collapsed from exhaustion and immense strain on his body. He had torn through the tendons in his leg and shoulder.
Then, we were found by knights who had seen the chaos spread by the elite dragon, Tempus. He lay there and died as morning came, engulfed in flames.
Liora passed out from expending all her mana.
Six hours later, Celestia, Kain, and Rion were found by knights who had spotted the dragon from the city. They were still breathing but in critical condition, barely clinging to life, thanks to Liora''s healing. She was found unconscious, completely drained of mana.
The school was shut down for two months for an inspection, and the forest was forbidden to all by the king.
Two Weeks Later
I woke up in a hurry.
Rion: "Huh? Where am I?"
Liora: "You''re in the hospital. It''s been two weeks."
Liora explained everything that had happened. Kain had surgery but survived. He was no longer in critical condition and had woken up two days ago, now healing. Celestia had a stroke but was recovering, and the doctors said she would fully heal in six months. I had woken up a day after Rose.
Unfortunately, Rose had entered a deep coma. The doctors said she might wake up in ten days¡ or ten months¡ or ten years¡ or even decades. They didn¡¯t know. They estimated around a year.
I was shocked at their condition. Every day, I talked to Rose and recorded everything in a diary for her and everyone else when they woke up.
Rion: "Hey, Rose¡ Everyone is recovering. We¡¯re all fine¡ªjust waiting for you now. Anytime¡ promise me you''ll wake up. Let us see you again. Your parents came the other day. They''re really worried about you¡"
I broke down.
Rion: "I miss you. I¡ I now realize I need you. I¡ I love you. Please come back to me as soon as you can. Please, Rose¡ for me¡ for your parents¡ for your friends¡"
I started to leave, but then¡ª
Her eyes opened slightly. I immediately alerted the doctors, and another week later, she woke up.
Rion: "Hey, Rose¡ You didn''t happen to hear what I said, right?"
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Rose: "What are you talking about?"
Rion: "N-Nothing! Nothing! Haha¡ Umm¡"
The Tournament Announcement
The school reopened, and on the first day, we received an announcement.
Teacher: "Students, starting tomorrow, a great tournament will be held¡ªthe Dragonbane Clash. The winner will be awarded the legendary Dragonbane, an enchanted blade of immense power¡ªthe greatest beast-slaying blade ever created. The winner will also earn the Rank S Dragon Slayer title, aiding the king and knights in battles against elite dragons.
There are only two ways to achieve Rank S:
- Kill three Dragon Monarchs.
Here¡¯s how it will work: Each team will have five members. In the qualifiers, you will face off against other teams in three battles¡ªa 1v1, a 2v2, and another 2v2.
After the qualifiers, the strongest team in the school will face off against the top team from rival academies.
The tournament begins in two days. Good luck!"
Tournament Preparations
I rested for two days, and then it started.
That morning, we arrived at the academy, prepared to fight.
Teacher: "Are you all ready? Here¡¯s how it works:
- Form teams of five members.
- You will be placed in qualifier blocks.
- The team that defeats everyone in their block will move on to the main tournament.
- There will be four block winners who will then face off in the semifinals.
- The final two teams will clash in the championship match!
Now, get into your teams of six."
Rose: "We have five people, but we need one more¡ªsomeone powerful who matches our team''s strength and can coordinate well with us."
Celestia: "Uhhh, come on¡"
Rion: "What? Do you know somebody?"
Celestia: "In elementary school, there was this super annoying kid who talked too much. He even stalked me for a bit."
Kain: "He what?! I will kill him!"
Rose: "I thought he was nice. You hated him only because he once beat you in an exam. True, he can be annoying, but he could sync up with Rion, and he''s in our class. He was trying to give you your homework, not stalk you! So do NOT kill him!"
Kain: "Who is this person?"
Rose: "He comes from Nuristan, the Islamic continent in the east. It''s a really amazing place. He has a weird last name, and he moved here a while back."
Rion: "What''s his name?"
Celestia: "Yassin Abo-Naem."
Rose: "He''s a big talker¡ªyaps too much."
Rion: "If you''re this fond of him, then we should have him join our party."
Kain: "Where is this dude?"
Yassin: "DID YOU SPEAK MY NAME?!!!"
Rion: "Ahhh! Incite Battle Arts¡ªBURN!!!"
Yassin: "Ahahahahaha!"
Liora: "Heal!"
Yassin: "What are we calling ourselves?"
Rion: "Dragon Slayers! Team Dragon Slayers!"
The Tournament Begins
A couple of days passed, and the tournament¡¯s first round began.
Teacher: "First will be 3-on-3 matches. Team Dragon Slayers will face Team Blaze. The winner will fight the winner of the match between Team Dragon and Team Diamond."
Rion: "Me, Yassin, and Kain will deploy."
Rose: "Not a chance! We won¡¯t showcase all our most powerful members'' abilities in the first round, dummies."
Celestia: "She¡¯s right. Me, Celestia, and Kain will deploy¡ªjust in case they turn out to be too strong."
The first fight was over quickly. They were dominated in minutes, thanks to Celestia and Rose¡¯s strength and speed.
We moved on to the semifinals, where it was finally my turn. I would go with Yassin and Rose.
Chapter 9
he academy buzzed with excitement as the long-awaited Dragonbane Clash tournament commenced. Students gathered in the Grand Coliseum, a massive arena built to withstand the power of incite users and dragon-born warriors alike. Banners of the competing academies lined the stone walls, and the roars of eager spectators filled the air. This was no ordinary competition¡ªit was a test of skill, strength, and strategy.
The prize? The legendary weapon Dragonbane, a mythical incite blade wielded by only the strongest dragon slayers in history. Along with it came the prestigious S-Class Dragon Slayer title¡ªan honor that few had ever achieved. Rion and his team knew the stakes were high.
As they stood at the edge of the battlefield, waiting for their turn, Rion clenched his fists. He could feel the energy in the air, the tension between teams, and the pressure of the competition.
¡°Nervous?¡± Rose asked, standing beside him.
Rion scoffed. ¡°Not a chance. I¡¯m just ready to crush whoever stands in our way.¡±
Yassin smirked. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit! But let¡¯s not get cocky¡ªwe¡¯re up against some powerful fighters.¡±
Liora placed a hand on Rion¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s take this one battle at a time. We don¡¯t need to rush in blindly.¡±
Celestia grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s just make sure we make it to the finals. I want that blade.¡±
With the team fully prepared, they turned their attention to the battlefield as the announcer¡¯s voice echoed through the coliseum.
¡°First Round! TEAM DRAGON SLAYERS versus TEAM BLAZE!¡±
The massive crowd exploded into cheers, and magical screens projected the matchups across the coliseum. The rules were simple:
- The battle would be a best-of-three format
- The first round would be a 1v1
- The second and third rounds would be 2v2 matches
- The first team to win two battles would move on to the semifinals
Rion cracked his knuckles. This was it¡ªthe start of their journey to victory.
First Match: 1v1 - Celestia vs. Roland
¡°First Match: 1v1!¡± the announcer roared. ¡°Celestia versus Roland from Team Blaze!¡±
Celestia stepped forward, her golden aura flickering like a flame around her. She looked completely calm and confident. Across from her, Roland, a towering warrior, smirked as he slammed his fists together, generating bursts of heat. The air around him shimmered from the intensity of his fire-based incite magic.
¡°You¡¯re fast, huh?¡± Roland said, his voice rough. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you can outrun fire.¡±
Celestia smirked. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡±
The battle began with an explosion of energy. Roland charged first, unleashing a massive wave of fire that surged toward Celestia like a burning tsunami. The crowd gasped as the heat rippled through the arena.
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But Celestia was faster.
She disappeared in a flash, dodging the flames with incredible speed. With a swift spinning kick, she struck Roland¡¯s ribs, sending him skidding backward.
Roland growled in frustration, planting his feet into the ground. He raised his hands, summoning a firestorm that engulfed the entire arena in a whirlwind of flames.
The heat was unbearable, but Celestia remained unfazed. With a deep breath, she unleashed her energy, her golden aura flaring like a blazing sun.
With one swift motion, she slashed through the firestorm, dispersing it with a devastating energy wave. The attack shattered Roland¡¯s defenses, and before he could react, Celestia was already in front of him.
BAM!
A powerful palm strike to the chest sent Roland flying out of the ring.
¡°Winner: Celestia!¡±
The crowd erupted into cheers as Celestia stepped back with a satisfied smile. Team Dragon Slayers had secured the first victory.
Second Match: 2v2 - Rose & Kain vs. Sylvia & Greg
The second battle was about synergy and strategy.
Rose and Kain stepped into the ring, facing Sylvia and Greg.
- Sylvia specialized in illusion-based incite magic, capable of creating afterimages and phantom attacks.
- Greg was a brute-force fighter, a powerhouse with enhanced physical strength and a near-unbreakable defense.
As soon as the match began, Sylvia disappeared in a blur, her illusions scattering across the battlefield. Greg charged like a raging bull, aiming straight for Kain.
¡°Watch out!¡± Rose shouted.
Kain braced himself, catching Greg¡¯s massive punch with both arms. The force sent him sliding backward, his boots digging into the stone floor.
Meanwhile, Sylvia¡¯s illusions surrounded Rose, attacking from all directions. Rose tried to counter, but every time she struck, her sword passed through air.
¡°Damn it, she¡¯s tricky!¡± Rose muttered.
Greg threw another punch, but this time, Kain dodged, countering with a brutal uppercut that lifted Greg off his feet. Greg crashed into the ground, groaning in pain.
Sylvia smirked. ¡°You¡¯re strong, but you won¡¯t hit what you can¡¯t see.¡±
Kain growled. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just take you both down at once!¡±
With a roar, he slammed his fists together, creating a shockwave that dispersed Sylvia¡¯s illusions.
Rose seized the opportunity. With a precise, lightning-fast strike, she cut through Sylvia¡¯s guard and landed a direct hit, sending her sprawling to the ground.
Greg rose to his feet, preparing to charge again, but Kain was already behind him.
¡°This is over.¡±
Kain launched a devastating punch, sending Greg flying out of the ring.
¡°Winners: Team Dragon Slayers!¡±
The stadium erupted into deafening cheers. Team Dragon Slayers had won both matches, officially advancing to the semifinals.
Next Opponent: Team Dragon
As the team stepped off the battlefield, Rion exhaled, feeling the weight of the tournament settle on his shoulders.
¡°That was too easy,¡± Yassin said, crossing his arms. ¡°I expected more of a challenge.¡±
Rose shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky. The next match won¡¯t be as simple.¡±
Kain smirked. ¡°Who are we facing next?¡±
Celestia turned to the tournament brackets. ¡°Team Dragon.¡±
The group fell silent.
Rion¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°So¡ we¡¯re facing the strongest rival team in the academy.¡±
Liora nodded. ¡°And their captain is one of the most dangerous fighters in the tournament.¡±
Yassin¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Now things are getting interesting.¡±
As the team prepared for the semifinals, the tension grew heavier. The true battles were about to begin.
Little did we know what was ahead of us, the test of sorrow and emotion The real test¡ was just ahead.
Chapter 10
The tension in the Grand Coliseum was suffocating. The crowd, which had been cheering moments ago, had gone eerily silent. A different kind of energy filled the battlefield¡ªone of fear and uncertainty.
Rion and his team stood ready, but something was deeply wrong.
Opposite them stood Team Dragon¡ªone of the tournament¡¯s most powerful contenders. Yet Rion barely registered the other members. His focus was locked on their leader.
Silf.
The long-lost sister he had believed dead.
Her silver hair fluttered in the cold wind, but her eyes¡ªonce warm and kind¡ªwere empty. Dark energy pulsed around her, crackling with the force of an unnatural power. It twisted and coiled around her body like living shadows, suffocating the air around her.
This wasn¡¯t the Silf he had known.
A terrible realization struck him like a dagger to the chest.
¡°She¡¯s been¡ infused,¡± Celestia whispered, horrified.
Dragon-emotion infusion. A forbidden technique used by the Shrine of Lightning¡ªa group known for their ruthless experiments on dragon-blooded warriors. It overloaded the mind, consuming the user¡¯s emotions, leaving behind nothing but raw power and control.
Rion¡¯s fists clenched.
Was this fate¡¯s cruelty? To find his sister again¡ only to be forced to fight her?
The announcer¡¯s voice shattered the silence.
¡°First Match: 1v1! Rion versus Silf!¡±
The words slammed into him.
A fight to the death? Against his own sister?
His legs felt like stone. His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
But he had no choice.
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With heavy steps, he walked forward.
Silf did not react. She simply stood still, her gaze locked onto him¡ªempty, unfeeling.
And then¡
The battle began.
Rion vs. Silf ¨C The Clash of Flames and Lightning
Rion¡¯s body exploded with motion.
In a heartbeat, he unleashed his Infernal Incite Arts, his body surrounded by swirling black and red flames¡ªheat waves distorting the air around him.
He rushed forward, fists igniting like twin meteors.
¡°If you can hear me, Silf¡ªwake up!¡± Rion roared, throwing a devastating flame-coated punch at her.
And then¡
His flames vanished.
Rion¡¯s eyes widened in shock. The infernal energy he had gathered¡ªgone, erased as if it had never existed.
Silf hadn¡¯t moved.
She had simply willed his power away.
¡°What¡?¡± Rion gasped.
A sudden wave of suffocating pressure crushed him, forcing him to his knees. It was then he realized¡ªSilf¡¯s ability wasn¡¯t just powerful¡ it was absolute.
She could cancel incite arts entirely.
Rion was powerless.
The battlefield blurred. His vision spun. His heart pounded.
Panic surged through his body.
The helplessness, the fear¡ªit wrapped around his throat like a noose. He couldn¡¯t breathe. He couldn¡¯t move.
Memories of the past flooded in.
The nights spent searching for her.
The pain of believing she was gone.
The hope that one day he¡¯d find her.
And now?
She stood before him, but not as his sister.
As his executioner.
Silf moved in an instant.
Before Rion could react, her hand struck his chest with the force of a thunderstorm. His entire body convulsed as arcs of black lightning tore through him. Pain erupted from every nerve.
The last thing he saw was her cold, emotionless stare.
Then¡ªdarkness.
¡°Winner: Silf!¡±
The Grand Coliseum was silent.
Rion had lost.
Despair and Determination
Rion woke to the dim glow of lanterns. His body ached, his breathing was ragged, and his mind felt shattered.
He was in the infirmary.
Weak. Defeated.
His fists clenched against the sheets.
¡°I lost¡¡±
The words felt like poison on his tongue.
His sister had crushed him like he was nothing.
No¡ªnot just him. The next battle had been even worse.
Celestia and Rose had fought bravely, but Team Dragon¡¯s overwhelming strength had crushed them, too.
They lost the match.
The reality hit like a hammer.
They were out of the tournament.
Unless¡
Rion¡¯s eyes snapped open.
The elimination rounds.
It was their last chance.
And this time¡ªhe would not fail.
Chapter 11: Awakening of the Infernal Sage
The Road to Redemption
For two days, Team Dragon Slayers fought their way through the elimination rounds.
Each battle pushed them to their limits.
Each victory burned away the weakness in Rion¡¯s heart.
He fought with a relentless fury, battling through wave after wave of opponents, his strikes becoming faster, stronger, sharper.
But it wasn¡¯t enough.
No matter how much he trained, Silf¡¯s power was absolute.
His Incite Arts would never work against her.
If he wanted to win¡ he needed something more.
Something that could surpass incite magic itself.
Rion trained without rest, searching for an answer. The final battle against Team Dragon loomed closer.
And when the day arrived¡ª
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He stood at the center of the Grand Coliseum once more.
The crowd roared as the finalists were announced.
And there she was.
Silf.
Waiting for him.
This was his chance.
To win. To save her. To reclaim his fate.
And he would not fail again.
¡°Final Round: Team Dragon Slayers vs. Team Dragon!¡±
Silf stepped forward again, but this time, Rion was ready. He had unlocked a new ability¡ªthe power to cancel out her negation effect. The battle was fierce, but Rion¡¯s sheer willpower allowed him to break through. Just as he was about to free Silf from the Shrine¡¯s control, a dark force surged.
The arena trembled as multiple Elite Dragons¡ª10th, 9th, 7th, 6th, and 5th-ranked¡ªdescended from the skies, their roars shaking the city.
Chaos erupted as the Elite Dragons attacked. Students and knights fought valiantly, managing to defeat the 10th and 7th-ranked dragons, but the others overwhelmed them. Rion faced off against all five remaining elites, pushing himself beyond his limits.
As he was battered and bleeding, something inside him awakened.
A surge of power erupted from his core, his aura shifting into a Deep Red, darker than before, tinged with flickers of blue. A transformation unlike any other¡ªThe Infernal Sage Form.
Rion roared as his power skyrocketed, his new form allowing him to take on all five Elite Dragons at once. Flames and lightning crackled around him as he annihilated them one by one, ending the battle in a blaze of destruction.
But the danger wasn¡¯t over. The Shrine of Lightning was preparing its next move.
Chapter 12: The Truth of the Ashford Lineage
The world wasn''t kind to those who defied fate.
The name Ashford had once been legendary, spoken in awe and reverence. They had been a family of dragon pact-bearers, warriors who once stood alongside dragons, bound by unbreakable oaths.
But history was cruel.
When the Ashfords refused to serve the dragons in their war, they were condemned.
The lineage that had once held power rivaling kings was branded as traitors, hunted, and slaughtered.
Rion never knew.
He had never questioned the whispers of his family¡¯s downfall, never understood why he had no home to return to¡ªwhy his mother vanished and his father was nothing more than a ghost in his memories.
Until now.
Until the truth shattered everything.
The Horror Uncovered
It had started with a single message, hidden within an ancient ruin deep in the lands of the Ashen Vale. A shrinekeeper¡ªone of the last loyal to the old ways¡ªhad risked everything to leave a warning behind.
And when Rion and his team finally found it, their blood ran cold.
His mother¡ was alive.
But she had been taken¡ªby another dragon shrine.
Not the Shrine of Lightning that had stolen his sister.
No¡ªthis was something far worse.
The Shrine of Eternal Fire.
A faction even the gods feared, known for their brutal experiments in fusing humans and dragons into mindless monsters.
And the worst of it all¡ª
Rion¡¯s father¡ had already suffered that fate.
The words felt like blades carving into his soul.
His father had become a dragon.
Not by choice.
Not by will.
But through the unholy rituals of the shrine¡ªa transformation forced upon him until he lost his mind, his memories, his very identity.
A man who had once held Rion in his arms, who had fought to protect his family, was now nothing more than a beast of war.
The pain was unbearable.
A silence fell over the team as Rion clenched his fists, his entire body trembling. Flames flickered around him¡ªunstable, chaotic.
Everything he had fought for, everything he had believed¡ªhad it all been a lie?
Why had his family suffered?
Why had fate cursed them so?
His breaths came sharp and uneven, his rage building. For the first time, he wanted to destroy something.
Not for survival. Not for justice.
For revenge.
The Ashen Blade ¨C A Weapon of Ancestral Might
¡°There is one last hope,¡± the shrine keeper had said.
A weapon.
Forged from the very essence of his family¡¯s power.
Hidden deep within the ruins of the Ashford Sanctuary, buried beneath the ashes of those who had died defending it.
The Ashen Blade.
A sword of legend.
It was said that this weapon held incite energy far beyond mortal comprehension. A relic of the past, a forgotten gift from the first dragons themselves.
But Rion didn¡¯t care for the myths.
He didn¡¯t care for history.
If it could give him the strength to burn the Shrine of Eternal Fire to the ground, then he would claim it¡ªno matter the cost.
The Trial of the Ashen Blade
The ruins of the Ashford Sanctuary were untouched by time.
Stone pillars, cracked and weathered, stood like tombstones, marking the graves of those who had once called this place home. The wind howled through the broken halls, whispering forgotten names.
At the very heart of it lay the Blade.
It rested on a stone pedestal, encased in flames that did not burn. The sword was like a dying ember, its black steel traced with glowing veins of crimson.
But as Rion stepped forward, a voice echoed through the chamber.
¡°You who bear the name Ashford¡
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Are you worthy?¡±
The ground trembled.
A figure emerged¡ªa warrior of flame and shadow, an ancient guardian of his own bloodline.
Rion didn¡¯t hesitate.
The battle began.
The guardian moved with inhuman speed, its blade clashing against Rion¡¯s in a storm of embers. Every strike sent shockwaves through the ruins, dust and stone crumbling beneath their feet.
But Rion fought with fury unlike ever before.
His Infernal Incite Arts roared to life, his flames consuming the air itself. He met the guardian blow for blow, his rage fueling his every move.
Until finally¡ªhe struck.
A devastating arc of fire tore through the guardian¡¯s chest.
The figure staggered¡ªthen vanished into flames.
The trial was over.
The Ashen Blade pulsed.
And then¡ªpower surged through Rion like an explosion.
His incite energy¡ªamplified tenfold.
He had never felt strength like this before.
The war against the shrines had begun.
A Brother¡¯s Betrayal
As Rion emerged from the ruins, the Ashen Blade still burning in his grasp, his mind was set.
He would not wait for the shrines to make their next move.
He would strike first.
He would end them before they could take anyone else from him.
But fate had one last twist.
As he and his team reached the outskirts of the Vale¡ª
A figure stood in their path.
A man cloaked in black, his golden eyes filled with a cold, familiar fire.
Rion¡¯s breath caught in his throat.
It was him.
The brother he had thought dead.
The last heir of the Ashford lineage.
And he wasn¡¯t here as an ally.
He was the next enemy.
The battle for his family¡¯s fate had begun.
And there was no turning back.
Chapter 13: A Kiss of Life and the Rise of a Legend
The Final Stand
Amidst the chaos, Rose lay critically wounded, her breath shallow, her pulse fading. Rion sat beside her, gripping her cold hands in a desperate plea.
"I need you, Rose¡ I love you."
He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. The faintest glow flickered around her, and for a moment, it seemed as though she would return to him. But then, just as quickly, her body stiffened, and she passed away.
In agony, Rion felt his heart break, his entire world shattering. But even in the darkest moment, hope flickered¡ªjust not for long. Liora, knowing the severity of the situation, slipped a small vial into Rion¡¯s hand. "The drug. It¡¯s the only chance."
With no time to waste, Rion placed the vial to Rose''s lips, and in a flash, her body began to glow once more. Her eyes fluttered open, breathing deeply, as the drug revived her, pulling her from the edge of death. But Rose wasn¡¯t the same. She was now bound to something darker, her connection to the drug taking hold.
Rose, now revived but distant, weakly opened her eyes and reached for Rion, but she was no longer entirely herself. The drug had done its job, but it came with a heavy price.
Rion, in his rage and pain, felt his heart break again¡ªbut now, his fury knew no bounds.
The 2nd and 3rd Monarchs, the dragon brothers, the most powerful beings of the shrine, were not dead yet.
In an instant, Rion launched himself into the skies, his aura burning with a mix of Lightning Blue, Purple, Deep Red, and Fiery Orange. He was now the Sage of Flames and Storms, his power amplified beyond anything he could have imagined.
The battle with the 2nd and 3rd Monarchs took place in the cold, desolate vacuum of space. Rion''s body was drained, fighting only in his base form, with a sword in hand, his every strike infused with Incite Aura, a symbol of his pain and fury.
The fight was fierce¡ªan earth-shaking clash between Rion and the dragon brothers. The sky rumbled as their powers collided, a brutal dance of fire, lightning, and raw strength. The brothers, relentless in their attacks, matched Rion''s fury strike for strike. The battle stretched on for what seemed like eternity, pushing both Rion and the dragons to their limits.
Rion, exhausted and near collapse, managed to defeat the 2nd Monarch. With one final slash, he cut through the dragon''s defenses, sending its shattered body floating in the abyss of space. But the victory came at a cost. He was barely standing.
The 3rd Monarch, filled with rage at his fallen brother, attacked with everything he had left. The battle was close, but Rion¡¯s resilience and fury led him to victory. With an overwhelming blow, Rion finally defeated the last of the brothers, sending their lifeless bodies drifting into the void.
But Rion was left drained, standing on the brink of collapse.
Meanwhile, back at the shrine, the remaining allies¡ªCelustia, Keim, Liora, Principal Henelna, and the others¡ªfought the 4th Monarch. Their combined strength had the Shrine on its last legs, the final remnants of its power crumbling. With each attack, the 4th Monarch became weaker and weaker, until finally, the last blow was struck. Verois Peril, in a moment of quiet rage, killed the 4th Monarch, avenging the loss of the Shrine''s members and the destruction of the place that had been their home.
As the final battle ended, the news of the Shrine¡¯s fall spread quickly. The last remnants of the Monarchs and their shrine were gone. The meeting of leaders of the remaining shrines was called immediately.
They knew this wasn¡¯t over. As they discussed their next steps, a dark decision was made. They would destroy all humans in their path. A new battle for supremacy was brewing, and this time, the dark shrine, where Rion¡¯s mother resided, would be the epicenter. The battle was only beginning.
Final Scene
Back in the hospital, Rion sat at Rose¡¯s side once more, his exhaustion showing. His body ached from the battles he had just fought, but his mind was focused on the next phase of the war.
His mother, once a powerful dragon, had become part of the Dragon God¡¯s twisted scheme. She had been brainwashed and turned into one of the Dragon Monarchs. The time for action was nearing, and Rion knew he would have to face the worst of his enemies¡ªthe Dragon God¡ªand end the torment once and for all.
As Rion held Rose¡¯s hand, his resolve solidified. He would not rest until his parents were freed, and the dark shrine was destroyed.
With a final kiss to Rose¡¯s forehead, Rion prepared for what would come next. But he knew that the battles ahead would not be easy. This was just the beginning
THE END
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