The very thought made Rayder's lips curl into a grin. A rush of excitement surged through his chest, leaving him lightheaded with anticipation.
He shook his head sharply, as if trying to cast away those unrealistic fantasies. With a small sigh, he set his shield and longsword back in place. Now wasn't the time to entertain grand illusions. The system had assigned him a task—to become a king. And that was no laughing matter.
To become a true king, strength was the most fundamental foundation. Without sufficient power, ambition was just empty talk.
Rayder drew a deep breath, eyes sharpening with resolve. He examined his body once more—an appearance still slender and youthful, seemingly ordinary. But inside, immense potential surged, born from the mysterious bond he now shared with Kidora.
Adapt, master, strengthen. That had to be his mantra.
He needed to master this newfound power as quickly as possible, to push his limits and expand them further. He had no time for complacency. Once ready, he would leave this place and begin his true journey—a path of conquest.
---
The morning sun peeked through scattered clouds, casting a soft golden hue across the rugged land. Rayder had woken early, driven by determination. He gathered his gear with practiced efficiency and strode to where Black Dragon Im lay resting.
Im, after yesterday's treatment, already looked better. While it still showed signs of weakness, its spirit had returned. The great dragon's form shimmered in the morning light, vast and majestic.
"Let's go, Im," Rayder called out, patting the beast's neck.
With a deep, rumbling roar, Im obeyed. Its wings beat with renewed strength, stirring up dust and leaves before launching into the sky. Rayder gripped its scales tightly as the wind howled past his ears. Below, the world stretched out in sweeping vistas—rivers and mountains painting a vast, magnificent canvas.
As they soared, Rayder sensed something—an ominous, predatory aura.
Following the trace, they came upon a Sandworm, half-submerged in a desolate patch of land, shrouded in black mist. It was a formidable creature—tough-skinned, brutal, and dangerous. But against them now, it was little more than target practice.
Im let out a battle cry, unleashing a precise stream of Dragon Flame. The fire struck the Sandworm head-on, incinerating it in a blaze of light and heat.
Rayder dismounted, landing deftly beside the scorched corpse. He drew his blade and carefully sliced away the largest, juiciest chunk of meat, wrapping it up and storing it inside the system space.
"Hey, old buddy," he murmured to Im, "this'll be a welcome gift for that elder. Let's hope it appreciates the gesture."
He couldn't help the excitement bubbling inside. If this trip succeeded, if he truly managed to subdue the Red Dragon, he would have not one, not two—but three dragons at his side.
Three dragons!
It was like something from legend. Just thinking about it made his blood boil.
Of course, that was the best-case scenario. The Red Dragon might not be willing to cooperate. There were still too many unknowns.
---
Soon, the familiar jagged silhouette of Fire Peak loomed ahead. The air grew hotter, heavier, reeking of sulfur. Rayder held his breath as Im descended, landing steadily at the edge of the valley.
His heart pounded in his chest. It was time.
He inhaled deeply, about to announce their arrival, when Im acted first. Whether out of irritation or a natural show of dominance, the dragon flared its wings and let out a roar.
Then, without warning, it opened its massive jaws, and a dense, pitch-black Dragon Flame erupted. The fire shot straight into the entrance of the mountainside cave where the Red Dragon lay.
It was an aggressive move, and Rayder instinctively tensed. But sure enough, the provocation stirred a reaction.
From within the depths of the cave came a crimson blaze—a counterattack. The Red Dragon's fire burst outward, clashing with Im's black flame mid-air.
Boom!
The explosion thundered across the valley. Black and red flames collided violently, spinning into a twisting vortex of heat and pressure. The very air rippled as temperatures soared. Even the ground seemed to shudder.
Rayder gripped Im's back tightly as the heat wave washed over them. He let out a breathless laugh.
"My goodness… dragons really have a fiery way of saying hello."
Perched atop Rayder's head, Kidora poked out from his hair, startled but curious. Its three little heads all tilted upward, gazing wide-eyed at the blazing spectacle above.
Then, with surprising boldness, all three heads opened their mouths simultaneously, shooting out tiny golden arcs of lightning. The flickers were faint—more sparks than strikes—but they danced with excitement, as if eager to join the fiery brawl.
The flames raged for several seconds more. Then, as abruptly as it began, the contest ended.
Black Dragon Im gave a dismissive snort, halting its fire. The crimson stream from the cave ceased moments later, leaving behind a sky full of heat, smoke, and shimmering air.
All was quiet once more.
Rayder knew this was his moment.
He pulled up the system interface and tapped quickly. A faint ripple of spatial magic shimmered through the air.
With a soft whoosh, the massive Sandworm carcass appeared at the cave's entrance, dropping with a heavy thud. Its bulk nearly blocked the passage entirely, releasing a pungent aroma into the air.
"Having a system space is just too convenient," Rayder muttered. "No more dragging meat like a delivery mule."
A heavy, rhythmic thudding echoed from within the lair—each step like a war drum.
Then it emerged.
---
The Red Dragon.
It was a fearsome sight, even in its weakened state. Huge patches of its once-glorious red scales had fallen off, revealing withered, cracked skin beneath. Tumors bulged across its frame, some ruptured and oozing, one massive growth blocking its left eye entirely.
Yet, despite its ruined appearance, the creature exuded a grim majesty. It was the embodiment of something ancient and stubborn—a beast that had endured long past its prime.
The Red Dragon barely acknowledged Rayder. Its attention was fixed on the Sandworm carcass.
With a low growl, it lunged forward and bit deep into the worm's abdomen. Flesh tore with a wet crunch as a huge slab of meat and organs was ripped free.
Black Dragon Im didn't hesitate to join in, stepping closer to claim its share of the prize. Though smaller, Im was no less eager, and quickly began gnawing on another portion.
Then, in a flash of golden scales, Kidora leapt down from Rayder's head. Its three tiny heads buzzed with excitement, eyes spinning like radar dishes as it scouted the scene.
Rayder's heart nearly stopped.
He tensed instinctively, worried that the Red Dragon would see this strange little hatchling as a threat—or worse, prey.
But something unexpected happened.
The Red Dragon paused. Its one visible eye tracked Kidora's descent. For a moment, it simply watched. There was no hostility, no aggression.
Only... curiosity.
Ancient, weary curiosity.
Then, as if deciding the hatchling posed no concern, the Red Dragon turned its attention back to the meal, continuing to tear flesh from bone.
Rayder exhaled slowly, the tension melting from his shoulders.
He watched as the three dragons—Im, the Red Dragon, and little Kidora—feasted together in peace.
This was a rare sight. A miracle, almost.
Could this really work?
Could these three creatures—so different in size, age, and temperament—coexist under his banner?
Rayder didn't know yet. But the seed of hope had been planted.
And as the sun rose higher over Fire Peak, casting golden rays through the sulfuric air, Rayder allowed himself to dream again.
A king with three dragons.
Not just a dream.
A destiny waiting to be claimed.
Ãdvåñçé çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn (Gk31)