Among the shattered ice and burning embers, Dong's gaze fell upon something glimmering within the ruins a massive dragon egg, glowing faint blue and etched with an ancient dragon symbol.
"It's… huge," Dong whispered, stepping closer. The egg pulsed faintly, as if breathing.
Without hesitation, Dong raised his hand. "Infinite Storage."
A flash of light enveloped the egg, and it vanished into his dimensional space.
But as soon as he stored it, his vision blurred. His legs gave way.
Darkness swallowed him whole.
---
When Dong opened his eyes, the world had changed. The chill of the mountains was gone replaced by warm golden light streaming through the curtains of a royal chamber.
He bolted upright, breathing heavily.
"Where… am I?"
The door opened, and a young maid hurried inside.
"Young master, please lie down!" she said anxiously. "Your injuries from the dragon battle haven't fully healed!"
Dong frowned. "How am I here?"
The maid bowed. "After your battle with the Ice Dragon, you were found unconscious. You've been asleep for one month."
Dong exhaled slowly. "One month… I see. Then summon the king. I wish to speak with him."
The maid nodded quickly and left.
A few minutes later, the heavy doors opened. The King tall, broad-shouldered, and wearing a crown of gold and sapphire stepped inside with a booming laugh.
"Hahaha! My son! I still can't believe you actually defeated the Ice Dragon!" He wrapped his arms around Dong in a rare embrace. "And look at the coincidence today is your birthday!"
Dong's expression didn't change. "I don't want to waste time. Where is the scroll? And what about the dragon's corpse? It's valuable did you preserve it?"
The King chuckled. "Don't worry, my son. Everything has been handled. As for the scroll, I'll present it tonight during the royal gathering. It will be my gift to you."
Dong nodded lightly. "Fine. You can go now."
The King smiled, slightly awkward, then said, "Take care of yourself, Dong." He turned and left the room.
When the doors closed, Dong's calm eyes darkened.
(In my previous life… this bastard never even acknowledged me as his son. And now, he calls me 'son' with a smile? What a lunatic.)
A soft knock echoed through Dong's chamber door.
"Come in," Dong said.
The door opened, and Kira stepped inside with his usual bright grin.
"I knew you could do it," he said proudly. "You've already surpassed me, brother. Meanwhile, I'm still stuck at SS-rank."
Dong chuckled faintly. "No problem, brother. Strength comes with time I believe you'll grow even stronger."
Kira's smile widened. "Oh, right today's your birthday. Happy birthday, Dong."
Dong's expression softened. "Thanks, Kira."
Kira reached into his pocket and pulled out a finely crafted bracelet, shimmering with faint golden light. He held it out with both hands.
"This is your gift," he said. "It increases mental power by ten percent in any situation and helps your body recover faster from injuries. It should come in handy."
Dong examined it carefully, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "It looks amazing and expensive. What's its price?"
Kira scratched the back of his head, laughing awkwardly. "I didn't want to say… but since you asked about 3.4 million gold coins."
Dong's eyes widened slightly. "That's… extremely expensive. How did you manage to get that much money?"
Kira smirked. "From my savings, of course. I've been preparing this for a while."
Dong smiled. "Then on your next birthday, I'll make sure to gift you something just as precious."
Kira laughed. "Heh, I'll be waiting to see that next year."
The brothers laughed together, the sound echoing softly through the grand chamber. For a brief moment, the weight of power, politics, and destiny faded replaced by simple, genuine warmth.
After the laughter faded, Dong leaned back and asked casually, "So, tell me what are Mira and the First Prince doing?"
Kira grinned. "They're hiding from you in the royal garden. Probably scared you'll mock them for not helping during the dragon hunt."
Dong smirked. "Pathetic."
Kira chuckled. "Still the same old you."
The sound of music and laughter echoed through the grand royal hall as nobles, generals, and mages from across the kingdom gathered under the glittering chandeliers. Servants moved gracefully between tables, carrying golden trays filled with rare wine and delicacies.
Suddenly, a maid entered Dong's room and bowed deeply.
"Master Dong, His Majesty is summoning you."
Kira stood up from his chair with a smile.
"I think it's time," he said.
Dong nodded calmly. "Yeah."
Kira supported him as they walked through the marble corridor, the echo of their footsteps mixing with distant applause. When they arrived, the massive double doors of the ballroom opened and the lively chatter fell into silence.
All eyes turned toward the young man entering the hall.
Dong walked slowly toward the stage, his black and purple robes glinting under the light. Even after his battle injuries, his aura felt sharp calm, yet impossibly powerful.
Whispers spread through the crowd like wind across fire.
> "That's him… the boy who killed the Ice Dragon."
"He's only fourteen…"
"More powerful than most royal mages already!"
Over five hundred guests nobles, scholars, and warriors watched in awe as Dong stood before the throne.
The King rose from his seat, smiling proudly for all to see.
"Today," he declared, his voice booming across the hall, "we celebrate the fourteenth birthday of my son Dong, the hero who defeated the Chinese Ice Dragon!"
Thunderous applause erupted, echoing through the marble walls.
The King raised a scroll wrapped in silver chains, its seal pulsing faintly with golden light. Even the air around it seemed to vibrate.
"For my son's birthday gift," the King continued, "I shall present him with this scroll an artifact so ancient that even my ancestors feared to open it."
The crowd murmured in awe as the King's tone grew solemn.
"Within this scroll lies a forbidden skill one so powerful… and so terrifying, that even the bravest warriors dared not touch it."
The hall fell silent. The chains around the scroll shimmered faintly, as if alive.
The King looked down at Dong with pride and perhaps, a hint of unease.
"This, my son, is your reward."
The King slowly descended from his throne, each step echoing through the silent hall. The golden chains around the scroll clinked softly, releasing a faint glow that shimmered like liquid fire.
Every noble, every soldier even the musicians stopped breathing as the King reached Dong.
He extended the scroll with both hands, his voice low but powerful.
"Dong, my son. You've earned this with your strength and courage. Today, I pass down to you the Scroll of the Unknown Flame a relic my ancestors feared to touch."
Dong's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the scroll. Even from this distance, he could feel it an ancient, chaotic energy pulsing beneath the seals.
He reached out and took it carefully. The moment his fingers touched the surface, a surge of energy rippled through the hall, dimming every candle and shaking the crystal chandeliers.
Guests gasped. Some instinctively took a step back.
"Such power…" one of the nobles whispered.
"That scroll it's alive!"
Dong held it firmly, his expression calm, almost emotionless.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," he said quietly.
The King smiled proudly, raising his arms to the crowd.
"Let it be known that this day marks a new era! The era of Dong the Dragon Slayer!"
The hall exploded in cheers and applause.
Kira smiled from the side, clapping proudly for his brother. But amidst the thunderous celebration, Dong's gaze remained fixed on the scroll in his hands his instincts whispering that what lay sealed inside was far more dangerous than anyone here could imagine.
(A forbidden power… my ancestors feared it. Let's see if it dares to fear me.)