Chapter 80

In the golden age of the Dragon Knights, the Dragon Valley was only open to the most powerful warriors of Alagaria. During that time, one could often see mighty Dragon Knights riding their flying dragons soaring across the sky. The leaders of the five most powerful dragon species—Gem Dragons, Crystal Dragons, Metal Dragons, Nature Dragons, and Earth Dragons—formed a blood alliance, signing a pact with the five strongest humans and elves to establish the Dragon Knights Council and swear to eternally protect the land.

But human hearts are fickle. Even the mightiest warriors can be softened by wine and beauty. When the first signs of Frost Giants appeared in the south, the arrogant Dragon Knights Council merely sent three newly appointed Dragon Knights to investigate.

Only one of them returned.

The young Dragon Knight who escaped back to the council described the dangers of the Frost Giants and requested that more powerful Dragon Knights be sent to eliminate them. However, the council rejected his proposal multiple times. The young Dragon Knight, now seen as a disgraceful deserter, finally decided to rebel against the council. Some say he used dark magic to lure the first defector, Mozan, and had him help steal dragon eggs. Others claim he coerced and tempted twelve Dragon Knights to become defectors, but this was laughable.

What kind of magic could penetrate the protection of dragon power and corrupt Dragon Knights? Unless those Dragon Knights were not strong to begin with, but was that possible? If they were weak, how could thirteen defectors defeat a council with nearly a hundred dragons?

The truth was harsh and cruel. These thirteen Dragon Knights were the youngest, strongest, and most idealistic of all the Dragon Knights. They saw the danger in the south and believed in the young Dragon Knight's ideals, so they disregarded their reputations and submitted to a leader younger than themselves. Mozan was the strongest among his peers, even Brom was no match for him. The other twelve Dragon Knights were also exceptional, each with unique skills.

This young Dragon Knight was Gabotris.

It was a war without deceit, fought openly. The thirteen defectors followed their leader, sweeping through the land, invincible.

This man faced five dragon leaders alone, his ultimate black dragon striking fear into all dragons. It was the first time dragons had seen such a powerful Dragon Knight who could enhance his dragon, completely changing its attributes.

The leader of the Gem Dragons trembled in fear, for the ultimate black dragon was once a Gem Dragon.

The battle ended with this man ascending to the throne, killing over a hundred dragons that refused to submit. From then on, dragons would never again supply dragon eggs to increase his power.

But this man did not care, nor did he think of exterminating the dragons. Leading the thirteen Dragon Knights, he began a long journey to fight the Frost Giants.

Thirty years ago, the last of Mozan's followers was assassinated, leaving this man alone, facing increasingly powerful attacks from the Frost Giants. But he was a true hero, finding a way to obtain dragon eggs.

A beautiful encounter led him to a wild and free-spirited beauty, like a wild horse in the mountains, untamed and free. Only a powerful man could conquer her. Was he such a man? Of course, he was the one who could tame even dragons. The sweet story was incomplete, but it was surely a passionate and joyful encounter, worthy of eight thousand six hundred asterisks.

Eragon, true to his father's legacy, was recognized by a Gem Dragon and became a new Dragon Knight.

But ...

"Is this worth it?" Chuci looked at the old man before him, his admiration genuine.

"Why do you ask?" Even in his old age, the man, paralyzed on his throne, still exuded the aura of a mighty warrior who had slain giants, making Chuci look up to him.

"That's not the real you," Chuci answered solemnly. If the man chose this path, his achievements would be buried in history, and Alagaria's bards would only sing of Eragon, the bringer of freedom, while ignoring this man.

"I am the king. My sword is power, and my feet are conquest," the man's eyes were as sharp and strong as ever. "A king's past does not need acknowledgment, and a king's future does not need judgment. As a king, I am revered by the people, I protect their well-being, I follow my heart, and I ignore their opinions. This is the way of the king."

"Is this your way of the king?" Chuci had never heard such a domineering declaration. This was not about the hearts of the people or the will of the masses. The man chose to walk alone, allowing no one to interfere with his progress.

Just like that day ...

Surykan let out a painful howl. This was not soft rock but hard, solid iron ore. A grotesque dent appeared on the dragon's belly, and one could imagine the bones inside being shattered.

Chuci's face also changed. The unarmed giant chief, no matter how strong, was no match for a flying Dragon Knight. But now, with a hard weapon, it was Gabotris who needed to seriously consider whether to flee.

Everyone knew that at this moment, even a slight advantage could tip the scales and lead to complete defeat.

On the surrounding hills, four Frost Giants over a hundred meters tall had already appeared. They wielded massive bronze maces, each over ten meters long, ready to join the battle, tear apart Surykan's body, and devour the ultimate black dragon's flesh.

"Vila, let's go." Ordinary magic wolf riders could not participate in such a high-level battle, so Chuci immediately ordered Vila to charge into the battlefield.

"Sharp, break, decay, poison." Four spells in quick succession, a technique found in Dessa's notes. The four dragon-kin spells were cast on the dragon spear Chuci had obtained from Eragon. Chuci's lips curled into a bitter smile; he never thought his first dragon knight melee would be in such a perilous situation.

The dragon spear glowed with four colors, the brilliance of the four spells. With Chuci's full effort, it was hurled at the first hundred-meter giant. Meanwhile, Vila turned her head, unleashing a full-force ice crystal spray at the second giant. As her head moved, she gave Chuci a clear line of sight. His alchemy, enhanced by Vila, allowed him to create an alchemy array in the air, turning the ground under the third giant into a swamp.

With all his might, Chuci could only stop three of the hundred-meter giants. The last one charged forward, thundering toward Surykan, and brought down his bronze mace with a resounding crash.

Surykan let out an even more intense howl. His fragile left wing hung limply on his body.

"Damn it!" Gabotris roared, his dragon tooth spear turning into a meteor. Beta, caught off guard, was instantly blinded in one eye and staggered back, clutching his injured eye. In the next moment, Gabotris did something that shocked Chuci.

He jumped off Surykan, his powerful strength giving him speed that was hard to see with the naked eye. In a few swift movements, he reached the hundred-meter giant, grabbed his ankle, and twisted with all his might. The nearly thousand-ton giant was thrown to the ground, and the immense dragon power firmly pinned him down. With each punch from Gabotris, Chuci heard a loud cracking sound. In less than ten seconds, Gabotris delivered over a hundred punches, the sounds like continuous thunder. The final punch landed on the giant's forehead, exploding the head of the one who had injured his beloved dragon.

White brain matter splattered Gabotris's face, making him look like a demon from hell.

While Gabotris was killing the hundred-meter giant, Surykan suffered a retaliatory strike from Beta to protect the man. His already weakened left wing collapsed completely.

"Damn it!" Gabotris knew this time it was either Beta or him. He returned to the dragon's back, stroking the spines on Surykan's back.

"Shuck," Gabotris called Surykan's nickname softly.

"My king," Surykan seemed to understand something, his pain seemingly lessened, and he replied calmly to Gabotris.

"Young Dragon Knights have appeared. I believe they will inherit our will, so please forgive me." If Gabotris had feelings for only three people in his long life, one of them was surely his old companion, Surykan.

"The new dawn will cover Alagaria, my king. I am tired," Surykan comforted his Dragon Knight, unafraid of death.

"Then let's go," Gabotris said.

The attribute of Gem Dragons is spirit. The stronger the Dragon Knight, the stronger the dragon. Years ago, Gabotris could transform a Gem Dragon into an ultimate black dragon through sheer willpower. After a hundred years, he could certainly leave behind even greater power.

"Roar~~~~~~~~~~~" The clouds dispersed, the wind stopped, and the sunlight seemed to envelop the towering dragon's shadow. Surykan let out the most passionate and powerful roar of his life, more exhilarating than his battle against the five dragon leaders.

Blood-red patterns covered Surykan's body, his sharp claws and restored wings gleamed, and Surykan himself had transformed into a dragon over five hundred meters long.

"This is the ultimate black dragon," Chuci, unable to engage the three hundred-meter giants, looked up at the sky, stunned.

...

Page flip AD starts

Page flip AD ends