The High King strolled leisurely back toward the city, basking in the tranquil, moonlit night. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of blooming nightflowers.
"Those cursed dragons…" The old guild master muttered, walking just behind him, his voice tinged with both frustration and awe.
"Quite troublesome indeed," the High King chuckled softly, a grin tugging at his lips.
Lynus cast a curious glance at his master. "What exactly are cursed dragons?"
The High King looked up at the darkened sky, stars shimmering above. "Dragons exiled by the Supreme Overlord in ancient times," he replied, voice steady. "They ignited a devastating war that nearly shattered more than half of the myriad realms."
The old guild master nodded solemnly. "History recounts that even mythical deities and celestial beings perished in that great conflict. Many of our human sages sacrificed everything to ensure the survival of our race."
The High King then explained, "Because of the furious wrath of the Supreme Overlord, their bloodlines were branded—marked as cursed. The Dragon Kings were tasked with hunting them down, a relentless pursuit that has persisted through countless eras and generations."
He paused, eyes distant. "Most of the cursed dragons have hidden away in the shadows. Until a remarkable individual from the seventh era—possessing a unique cursed bloodline—began to retaliate. He took it upon himself to hunt down the dragons, rallying many cursed ones to his cause. A supreme cursed dragon cult, the Void Wing, was born from that rebellion."
Lynus's eyes widened with curiosity. "What happened to them? I heard the giant said they were defeated by your father. Is that true?"
The High King's face broke into a broad, boisterous laugh. "Indeed! Hahaha! They definitely messed up big time. My old man? He's a goofy guy—kind-hearted, but once provoked, even the lords of the celestials and deities scatter like leaves in a storm."
"Really?!" Lynus's voice was filled with reverence.
The High King nodded proudly. "He's the strongest man alive. Grand Fist, they call him—a True Saint of the Martial Way."
The old guild master remarked. "Even the Dragon Sage himself acknowledged him as the greatest warrior in all human history."
Lynus's excitement grew. "What did his cult do that so angered your father?"
The High King's grin widened. "They dared to attack the Golden Sky Palace—and in the process, destroyed the heart statue my father created and gifted to my mother."
The old guild master and Lynus exchanged curious glances.
The High King chuckled softly. "My mother said she never liked that statue anyway. She even used it as a makeshift shield once—that's why it ended up shattered."
He paused, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. "When my father found out, he, along with his companions, launched a swift attack, wiping out the clan's citadel in a fury."
He burst into laughter again. "Their stupid cult was really unlucky, huh?!"
The old guild master looked on in surprise. This was his first time hearing the full story, but he nodded in agreement. The legendary Master Grand Fist was indeed an eccentric man.
Historical records say that the legendary master moved to prevent the cursed dragon cult from igniting a new great war—a mission many scholars and sages believe he took on out of duty.
Lynus's voice was eager. "Now that their cult is back, are you going to fight them?"
The High King's expression turned playful. "My old man made dozens of heart statues for my mother after that event. I could just toss all of them into the cult's base and tell him they were destroyed by the cursed dragons instead."
Lynus hesitated, unsure whether to laugh or be worried at his master's mischievous grin.
The old guild master simply smiled, knowing well how unpredictable the High King could be.
Suddenly, a loud, worried voice echoed from the darkness ahead. "Master! Where are the enemies?!"
They turned to see Jarius, accompanied by a group of adventurers, rushing toward them with determined expressions.
"Gone," the High King replied casually, a knowing smile on his face.
"Your Highness!" Jarius bowed deeply, raising his broad sword in salute.
The other adventurers followed suit, their voices eager. "Your Highness!"
"Remain vigilant," the old guild master ordered. "Send a report to the Guild Association. I'll head to the City Lord's mansion tomorrow morning."
"Leave it to us, guild master!" the adventurers responded in unison.
Over the next three days, the city's officials and adventurers bustled tirelessly, preparing for what was to come.
On the fourth day, they received word that they could now enter the legendary ancient battlefield—a place shrouded in mystery and legend.
They journeyed together to the adventurer's guild headquarters, where the old guild master and Jarius awaited them.
"Your Highness!" both of them saluted once more.
The High King nodded and offered a slight smile, waving a hand dismissively.
Lynus's eyes widened in awe as they stepped into what appeared to be a separate realm—not an arena, but an expansive, otherworldly space. Ruined structures, shattered monuments, and vast craters stretched as far as the eye could see.
The High King explained, "Ancient battlefields are actually artificial realm treasures—created by renowned mage clans. They're designed to resemble the most iconic ruins of past civilizations. Their magic suppresses the martial and magical auras of those inside, allowing us to fight without endangering the city or the kingdom."
He gestured at the battlefield. "This one's not that powerful, so it can only hold four combatants at a time."
"Let's begin. Show me what you've got," the High King said with a confident smile.
Jarius stepped back, using a force field to ensure their safety. The old guild master closed his eyes, a dark runic symbol appearing on his forehead. An immense surge of magic erupted—lightning crackled, wind howled, and an electric glow enveloped him.
Suddenly, the magic condensed and took form—a titanic black dragon, made entirely of shimmering magic energy, roared deafeningly.
"It worked!" the High King laughed gleefully.
This was a technique of dragon soul summoning—calling forth a living dragon without draining most of one's magic. Proper focus and preparation were all that was needed.
Jarius's eyes widened in shock. "I didn't know the guild master had a dragon soul!"
Without warning, the dragon lunged at the High King, unleashing a fiery breath. The High King waved his hand, summoning a rotating force field that absorbed and deflected the attack.
He responded with a flick of his wrist, forming a magic spear from the spinning force field, which pierced toward the dragon. The titanic beast swatted it aside with a massive claw.
With incredible speed, the dragon swooped in, roaring furiously. The High King's eyes ignited with a fiery light, and he conjured a blazing sphere—an imitation of the sun—that shot forward with unstoppable force.
The sphere collided with the dragon, unleashing a shockwave that shattered nearby craters and razed the surrounding ruins.
The High King dashed forward, transforming into a towering, five-meter-tall giant. Golden scales shimmered across his body, and his black hair ignited into flames of gold and crimson.
"Dragon Knight Form!" the old guild master exclaimed.
Lynus and Jarius stared, awe-struck. The High King moved with ferocious agility—delivering powerful kicks and punches, demonstrating his raw physical prowess.
The titanic dragon endured at first, fighting back with relentless fury. But after a sustained exchange, it faltered.
The High King reverted to his human form, catching his breath. "Impressive. Quite formidable," he said with a satisfied smile.
He turned to the old guild master. "Your dragon spirit fought like a wild beast. But with more study and unlocked abilities, it could become even more deadly."
"Thank you, Your Highness," the old guild master bowed humbly.
The High King then looked at Jarius, smiling warmly. He tossed a black orb of pure magic into the apprentice's hands.
Jarius caught it instinctively, eyes wide with astonishment. "Is this…?"
"Go, thank the High King," the old guild master said with a teasing grin. "You're unworthy, but got lucky this time."
Jarius looked from his master to the High King, then kneeled, gratitude evident in his expression.
The High King nodded. "Train with him, exchange pointers, and show me that technique again in the future. I've expedited the process by giving him a dragon soul."
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Jarius replied, bowing deeply.
The High King smiled and added, "Now, go practice. We'll be leaving tomorrow morning."
As they exited the ancient battlefield, the old guild master instructed his servants to prepare a banquet—celebrating the High King's visit and marking the start of new adventures.