Rayder's heart pounded with anticipation.
The curse was gone. The old Red Dragon—ancient, wounded, but still terrifying—was free at last.
And now, facing this awe-inspiring being, Rayder could feel the weight of what was to come pressing down on his young shoulders.
This was no ordinary beast. Its strength, though dulled by time and scars, still radiated from its massive form. Now that it was no longer bound by the curse, it might be even more powerful than Rayder could imagine.
Could he truly tame it?
Or perhaps... earn its respect?
He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the storm of emotions swirling within him—excitement, fear, determination.
The old dragon lay before him, its massive form casting a shadow over the sun-drenched clearing. Its crimson scales glimmered with a faint sheen, and its molten eyes stared back at him, ancient and sharp, as if measuring his worth down to the last heartbeat.
Rayder stepped forward, slowly and deliberately. Each footfall crunched against gravel and bone, a quiet but steady beat in the tension-filled air.
Stopping just in front of the massive snout, Rayder raised his right hand and, with the utmost care, placed it gently on the dragon's nose. The scales were hard and warm beneath his palm, pulsing faintly with the heat of the dragon's breath.
Their eyes locked.
The dragon's molten gaze was steady, intense, and filled with stories Rayder would never fully understand. A lifetime of fire, flight, and war lived behind those eyes.
He swallowed, then spoke clearly and sincerely.
> "Are you willing to become my companion?"
The words were simple. No elaborate speech, no grand promises—just sincerity and quiet respect.
Rayder didn't know if the old dragon understood the exact phrasing, but he believed that tone, emotion, and intent could transcend words.
The dragon remained still, its gaze unwavering. Then, slowly, its mouth opened.
Rays of sunlight glinted off long, jagged teeth. A low, thunderous growl began to build from deep within its chest—resonating through the ground, through Rayder's legs, into his bones.
Then—
ROAR!
The dragon let out a deep, guttural roar that shook the very air. The sound hit Rayder like a wall, bursting in his ears and rattling his skull. The sheer force of it was staggering. He stumbled backward, his face and robes drenched by the dragon's hot, foul-smelling spittle.
Behind him, another roar erupted—this one from Im. The black dragon's protective instincts surged to the surface as he spread his wings wide, his own thunderous cry reverberating in response.
Im was furious.
The two dragons stood facing each other, separated only by Rayder, who was now soaked, disoriented, and half-deafened.
For a terrifying moment, he feared a battle would erupt between them, with him caught right in the middle.
"Really?!" he thought, exasperated, wiping dragon slobber off his face. "Did you two forget I'm standing right here?"
But then—everything changed.
The Red Dragon's gaze shifted. The ancient fire in his eyes softened—just slightly—and what replaced it wasn't hostility. It was something else.
Recognition.
Rayder froze.
Had he imagined it?
That subtle shift in expression, that glimmer of something deeper—a memory? A connection? A bond?
Im stopped growling too, his massive head leaning protectively toward Rayder, watching the Red Dragon with caution.
Silence returned.
The wind rustled through the trees. The tension dissipated.
Rayder looked back up at the old dragon, breathless, the realization slowly washing over him:
It accepted him.
His heart thudded wildly. His fingers trembled as he quickly opened the system panel in his mind.
The glowing interface appeared before him, and under the "Pet Panel," three names now appeared:
Kidora (Companion)
Black Dragon Im (Companion)
Red Dragon Egon (Companion)
His eyes locked on the newest entry.
> Name: Red Dragon Egon
Age: 211 years (0–220)
Length: 150 meters
Wingspan: 430 meters
Status: Aged
There it was. Confirmation.
The "+" symbol next to Egon's name signified a successful bond—a sealed pact. A new companion.
Rayder almost cried out in triumph. He did it. He really did it.
But then, his gaze fell on the status: Aged.
That single word hit him harder than the roar had.
He froze. The celebration in his chest turned cold.
He quickly opened the detailed companion status. A stream of data flowed across his mind:
> "The lifespan of a dragon is approximately 220 years.
Egon has entered the final stage of his life.
Expected remaining lifespan: < 9 years."
It all made sense now.
Why the dragon had stayed hidden in this lair, why it tolerated a curse for so long—it was dying. Time itself had nearly claimed it. That once-mighty creature had simply been waiting for its end, alone and forgotten.
Rayder stood silently, staring at the numbers.
Nine years. Maybe less.
He had gained a powerful ally—but one already nearing the end of its journey.
He clenched his fists, refusing to accept it. Not yet.
There had to be a way.
A thought suddenly struck him like lightning.
> What if evolution points could extend a dragon's life?
If attributes could be raised… could lifespan be stretched as well?
Rayder's eyes lit up. He immediately opened comparative data on all three of his bonded dragons—Im, Kidora, and Egon.
Information flew across the screen—age, stats, power ratings, abilities, combat history. He searched desperately for a pattern, for any hint that improving a dragon's base attributes might also slow or reverse aging.
He cross-referenced energy levels, vitality indexes, and battle endurance with corresponding evolution points.
The results were inconclusive—but promising.
There was a slight correlation between vitality boosts and cellular regeneration.
Not enough to guarantee extended life—but perhaps enough to hope.
Rayder's mind raced.
He then brought up his personal panel:
> Name: Rayder
Gender: Male
Age: 12
Evolution Points: 2
Storage Space: 100 cubic meters
Bloodlines:
– Ancient Valyrian Dragon King Bloodline
– Dragon Rider Bloodline
– Titan King Bloodline
Abilities:
– King's Might
– Gravity Beam
– Storm Control
– Electrical Manipulation
– Accelerated Regeneration
Status: Good
His current status was excellent. The power surging through his bloodlines was growing every day. And now, with two evolution points in his possession, he stood at a crossroads.
He could use them on himself—or on Egon.
He turned back to the Red Dragon's panel and hovered over the "Evolve" option.
The system buzzed with a warning:
> "Warning: Dragon has entered Aged Status.
Evolution may partially restore vitality and slow the decline of functions,
but cannot guarantee reversal of biological aging."
Rayder's eyes narrowed.
"May."
That was all he needed. A possibility.
He wasn't going to sit back and watch Egon fade into history—not after everything they'd been through, not after the bond had been formed.
He looked up at the dragon again, who watched him with patient, burning eyes—ancient yet awake in a new way, no longer dulled by pain.
"You've fought for over two centuries, haven't you?" Rayder whispered. "You don't deserve to just waste away. Not when there's still fire in you."
Im stepped up beside him, gently brushing Rayder's shoulder with his snout, as if to agree..
Rayder smiled faintly and made a silent vow.
> He would find a way.
He would make Egon fly again, not as a dying relic—but as a king among dragons.
The battle for the skies had only just begun.
And now, with three dragons at his side, the real war could begin.
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