Ryle soared through the sky, the wind rushing past his ears as his wings carried him high above the kingdom.
He should have felt free.
Instead, an uneasy feeling gnawed at the back of his mind.
Something was wrong.
As he neared the Velbrath Times office, he slowed his descent, his sharp eyes scanning the city below.
Everything looked normal—too normal.
The streets were filled with people, merchants calling out their wares, knights patrolling the roads.
But his instincts told him otherwise.
Something is coming.
Shaking off the thought, Ryle landed on the rooftop and folded his wings, stepping into the office.
But the unease in his chest remained.
Three Months Later
The world had changed.
In just three months, Ryo Takahashi, the Hero, had completed his training.
Now, he was stronger than ever—wielding the legendary Hero's Sword with ease.
And, as expected, his party was entirely made up of women.
A princess knight, a battle priestess, a fox-eared mage, an elf archer—
Every one of them was a beauty, handpicked by the nobles to accompany him.
And Ryo?
He seemed perfectly fine with the arrangement.
Ryle scribbled down his notes, watching the young hero give a speech to the crowd.
"I will defeat the Demon King and bring peace to this world!" Ryo declared, raising his sword high.
The people cheered.
Ryle closed his notebook.
It was the same story as always.
But he didn't have time to think about the Hero.
Because something far more dangerous was on the horizon.
The Dragon Hunting Ceremony.
In the heart of Dracarys, inside the grand ducal palace, Dravenith sat across from Duke Xander Dracarys.
A fireplace crackled in the background, casting long shadows across the stone walls.
The room was quiet—too quiet.
Xander sat comfortably in his chair, swirling a glass of wine in his hand.
His lips curled into a friendly smile.
"Dravenith," he began, voice smooth as silk. "It's always an honor to meet a dragon of your stature."
Dravenith said nothing.
He didn't trust that tone.
Xander set his glass down, leaning forward. "I'll be direct. The Dragon Hunting Ceremony is next month."
Dravenith's claws curled into fists. "I know."
Xander's smile widened. "Good. Then you also know why I called you here."
Dravenith's golden eyes narrowed. "I won't allow the slaughter of my kind."
Xander chuckled. "Relax, relax. We're not talking about all dragons."
He leaned back, tapping his fingers against the table. "I simply believe… that wyverns aren't enough this time."
Dravenith's tail lashed. "What?"
Xander took another sip of wine. "The world has changed, my friend. We have a new Hero now—stronger than ever."
His eyes gleamed. "Don't you think he deserves a true challenge?"
Dravenith's scales bristled. "You're saying—"
Xander smiled. "We need stronger dragons. Not just mindless wyverns."
The room fell silent.
Dravenith's claws dug into the table. "You expect me to hand over my own kind?"
Xander tilted his head. "Hand over? No, no. Think of it as… a trade."
Dravenith's teeth clenched. "There is no trade. There is no deal. I refuse."
For the first time, Xander's smile faltered.
Then, he sighed, shaking his head. "That's disappointing, Dravenith."
He leaned forward, his voice lowering. "Do you have any idea what we've done for Dragon Mountain?"
Dravenith didn't reply.
Xander's fingers drummed against the table. "We've kept other dragon hunters away for years. Kept your precious home safe. And this is how you repay us?"
Dravenith's tail whipped against the floor. "You expect me to thank you for treating dragons like cattle?"
Xander's grin returned.
"Oh, I don't expect gratitude. I expect payback."
Dravenith's golden eyes flared.
His claws began to glow—turning deep purple.
The air in the room grew heavy.
For a brief moment, the temperature dropped, and Xander's guards stiffened.
But before Dravenith could lash out—
The guards stepped in.
Swords unsheathed, forming a barrier between them.
Xander sighed theatrically. "Tsk. Such a temper."
Then, his smirk returned. "Is that your brother's influence?"
Dravenith froze.
His breath caught in his throat.
Xander's eyes gleamed.
"Don't hide behind your big brother, Dravenith."
Dravenith's blood ran cold.
How did he know?
How did he know about Ryle?