The storm winds blew in the distance as I slowly opened my eyes, "Argh...Damn, It was a really good sleep"
I rolled out of my massive bed. Perks of being a prince, You get a Large chamber....
Today marks two months since I became a dragon. Two months since thunder started running through my veins.
It's almost December now, and I finally submitted my transfer application to Kuoh Academy.
Technically, without Issei in the picture, there should be an empty spot in the 2nd year…Hopefully.
Knock, knock~
"Come in," I said while pulling on my pants.
A Beastman bowed. "My Prince, the Elder, requests your presence. He says it is of great importance."
'Great importance? Last time he said that, I ended up in a death duel… what now?'
"Well… lead the way."
No point overthinking. Whatever it is, I'll deal with it.
We reached the Sanctum, a huge stone cathedral with ancient dragon symbols carved everywhere.
Even symbols of the Greater Will on the walls. Beastmen were kneeling, chanting, doing their rituals.
I am not a highly religious guy, but this sure invokes something in me...
I took a seat, choosing not to disturb them.
An hour passed before the prayers finished and the Beastmen returned to their work.
"Elder," I said as he packed up.
"Ah, Prince Grey. I didn't expect you this soon," he smiled, leaning on his cane. I helped steady him as we walked.
"I heard you wanted to see me. What's wrong?"
The Elder sighed deeply. "It's about our Lord. Last night, one of his priestesses came and delivered this letter…"
His face dimmed as he handed me a sealed parchment.
'Priestess? Dragon Communion? I mean, there could be other types to be fair....'
I sat on a stone bench in the garden, broke the seal, and opened the letter.
---------------------------------------
My Son, Grey,
If you are reading this, then you have walked far enough on the path I set before you.
First, I offer you my congratulations.
You have fully realized the Ancient Red Lightning.
This step alone separates hatchlings from dragons, and dragons from the Ancient Ones.
This achievement makes me proud....proud enough to call you my son, not just my successor.
Do not grow Lazy and never slow your training.
Strength is a river that dries the moment you stop feeding it.
I write this because my time is short.
The storms that hold my body together have grown weak.
To recover my power, I must enter Eternal Sleep.
It may be years… decades… or longer before I wake.
Or perhaps I never will.
Before I sleep, I leave everything I have ever learned in your hands:
All my techniques.
All my arts.
Even the Secret Ancient Dragon Arts that only the direct bloodline of the Dragon God may wield.
You are now of that bloodline.
As my final gift, I have left you a vial ,
A single drop of the Dragon God's pure and concentrated blood.
...
This blood was gifted to me by my own god.
Now it will flow in your veins as well.
Drink it when you are ready.
Let it bind your Heart, your Will, and your Body into one.
Become more than mortal, more than Dragon.
Become complete.
Now, my son… before I sleep, I ask three things of you:
One:
Take your responsibilities seriously.
Farum Azula and its people now belong to you.
Protect them. Guide them. Do not fail them.
Two:
Remember our fallen.
Avenge the Ancient Dragons.
Burn the Erdtree.
Slay the traitor Bayle, the coward who betrayed his own kind.
Three, and most important:
Live well. Have fun.
Take many wives and father many children.
Do not spend eternity alone.....
...
The life of an immortal dragon is cold without Warmth of Loving Women beside him.
I speak from experience…..
Grey, from this moment on,
You are Dragon King of the Ancient Dragons.
Farum Azula is yours to rule, protect, or reshape as you desire.
Remember this, and remember it well,
The fate of our people,
Their Glory or Their Ruin,
Depends on the Path you choose from here.
With pride and Love,
Placidusax
---------------------------------------
I lowered the letter slowly.
Drip~ Drip~
'Tears?...' as my eyes went blurry,
When was the last time I cried....
As I recalled my mom.
"Damn it, Old man… you really dropped this on me now, huh…"
My chest tightened,
Responsibility.
Duty.
Pride.
These are some really scary words for someone whose best achievement in previous life was winning a 100,000 Lottery without TAX.....
I sighed as I kept the letter in the system inventory.
"So What now, My King?"
"Elder, I want you to Figure out the Locations of All the Drakes...
Ill Kill them Myself" I said as I stood up, Lightning crackling at my fingers.
"Well Said!! To Kill the Traitor spawns yourself....
What greater honor do they have!
Truely Worthy" He said laughing as his bloodlust spiked a little.
"Oh, Before you go, where is the Priestess that delivered this Letter?" I asked, hoping I could figure out more about the current Lands between.
"She is Long gone, my king. She said fate will make your paths cross.....Do you want me to find her?" The elder hesitated.
"..."
"Leave it....we will meet again, definitely" I dismissed him.
Later, in the king's chamber, I sat cross-legged and pushed lightning qi through my body.
Two months in and I still hadn't broken through properly.
'I should focus on my cultivation'
I pulled the vial from my pocket, the Dragon God's blood.
It looked like normal blood: thick and red. I set doubts aside and downed it in one go.
BDUMP~ BDUMP~~~
!!!!
'What the Hell??!!'
Heat exploded through my veins. My blood boiled. Sweat poured down my face. Pain like molten metal creeped through my chest.
I didn't weaver my concentration, as I tried to push my Qi to guide it....
I could feel my dantian sucking in more Qi...
Forming a vortex!
Sensing the surge, I pulled in the Spirit of the Crucible Knight to feed the process. The spirit hovered.....
A single eyed black triangle with hungry jaws appeared over my head and swallowed that ghost like it was a snack.
...
....
...
Rumble~ rumble~ boom~
[BREAKTHROUGH!!]
[CONGRATULATIONS HOST! YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ENTERED NEXT REALM]
[CULTIVATION: QI REFINING(LATE) ]
I breathed out slowly as I opened my eyes, "Oh~ I directly reached Late stage?
I knew absorbing the spirit is a good move"
"I should kill more, to get some high level spirits" I grinned through the aftershock.
~Grey....~
Then Ddraig's voice cut my smugness.
"Huh? what is it Ddraig, is there something wrong??" I panicked as Ddraig sounded serious.
~I have a crazy idea. No, worse. Seeing your unusual track record....It might actually work.~
"??...what is running in your mind" I asked, its not everyday you find Ddraig giving me dangerous suggestions.
Fuck, He is More concerned of my Life than Me, So its really interesting for him to speak of 'Crazy'
~Well, Since you have Blood of Dragon God inside you and with your Devouring Arts....I know a Certain Ritual that can help you directly Skip A Major Realm~
"A-A Major Realm??!" I got my balls tickled hearing this.
~Well, Its not meant to skip realms but rather will be a after effect If you Do it at this point,
As your Qi did not consolidate yet~
"...."
~come on, You can handle it right, hehehe~
This is really a good chance, To directly skip Foundation Establishment realm in one go.
Especially when the Start of Plot is just around the corner, I need to gain power very fast.
I don't plan on waiting till April to meet Rias.
Besides I still have to get My shadow soldiers....It is currently locked.
[SHADOW EXTRACTION - LOCKED ( LVL REQ NOT MET )]
"I am in. What's the Ritual?"
~Its called Fire Dragon Ritual, Ill be honest this is not my technique. It was taught to me by my old friend.~
~Don't Worry about it, Just absorb A Flame Ill handle the rest~
....get a flame? Where can I find one. It has to be a good one for this 'Ritual' to have greater success.
Hmm.....hm...wait aren't Drakes in Elden ring Elemental?? Hehehe....
.....
Training room,
Zhap!! Boom!!
"2mins, I can maintain my Dragonforce for 2 whole minutes" I exhaled with heavy breathing as lightning around me slowly died down.
~That's long,~ Ddraig said. ~Most won't survive that burst.~
"fair fair"
I put on my shirt as I closed the Dragon Lord Arts manual,
'Cant wait to test this in the battle!!'
I became giddy thinking of power mode.
Door creak~
"My King, It is done. Here is your list", Elder entered the room as he handed me the scroll.
I quickly opened it as I look at the map of Lands between marked.....
[FLYING DRAGON AGHEEL - DRAGON-BURNT RUINS, LIMGRAVE]
I grinned, "There you are...."