Inside the training hall, the sound of clashing steel echoed. Veyron was practicing with intense focus. His sword sliced through the air with precision, his movements sharp and calculated. Sweat drenched his entire body, yet his eyes remained fixed ahead—cold, determined, unwavering.
From a distance, Hari watched silently, unable to take his eyes off Veyron. Every swing of the sword seemed to draw him in deeper, mesmerized by the prince's strength… and undeniable charm.
"Why is Veyron so handsome?" Hari muttered under his breath.
As if sensing the weight of someone's gaze, Veyron suddenly turned and spotted Hari. A small, knowing smile curved on his lips as he lifted his hand in a casual wave.
"Are you spying on me, Hari?" he asked, amused.
"N-no! I just wanted to train…" Hari stammered, quickly looking away.
"I see," Veyron replied simply before turning back to his training.
---
Once he finished, Veyron wiped the sweat from his brow and exited the training hall. He had another purpose that day—one that weighed heavily on his mind. He needed to speak with his father, to ask for permission to train in the wild without the escort of knights.
Standing outside his father's chamber, he knocked firmly.
"Father? Are you inside?"
"Yes. Come in," came the deep voice from within.
Not far away, Hari paused, curious. Why is Veyron looking for his father? he wondered silently.
Inside the room, Veyron didn't waste time.
"Father, may I go out and train in the wild—alone, without knights?"
His father stared at him, stern but calm. "Veyron, did you forget? You asked for this yourself. If you want to grow stronger, then do so. But know this: you must be strong enough to carry the name of the Aldrecht family."
Though his father had given him permission, Veyron remained silent, the weight of those words echoing in his mind as he returned to his room to prepare.
"Why must I be strong simply because I carry the Aldrecht name? Why is that name feared so much? I need to understand why the Ironvale Continent doesn't dare go to war with Elarion..."
He opened a drawer, pulling out ancient records and scrolls.
"History says the Aldrecht family is the strongest lineage. Even after taking the throne, every member of the family possessed great power. Nine branches of the Aldrecht bloodline exist—but all have been hidden by our ancestors. That's why Ironvale doesn't dare to provoke Elarion. Because the Aldrecht family resides there, and they are feared across the world."
"So, our family didn't just rule kingdoms… Aldrecht ruled the world. A monster in the shape of a dynasty."
After absorbing the information, Veyron dressed himself in the formal garments of a prince and secured Gabriel, his legendary sword, at his side.
"Alright, system. Let's hunt monsters in the forest," he said as he opened his door and stepped into the hallway.
---
As Veyron approached the palace's front gate, he noticed a familiar presence.
Hari.
From an upper window, Hari was staring at him again. His gaze was unreadable—a mix of curiosity, admiration, and confusion.
"Why does Hari always look at me like that?" Veyron wondered but chose to ignore it. Without a word, he pushed open the gate and stepped into the outside world, heading straight for the monster-infested forest.
Hari remained at the window, unmoving. His mind spun with questions and emotions.
"Why do I keep thinking about him? When he trains, when he's all sweaty… damn, he's so good-looking. But he also once attacked a woman. Still… he's my fiancé. I'm lucky, right?" His thoughts were tangled with annoyance and awe.
He closed the curtain abruptly and threw himself onto the bed, hugging a pillow tightly.
"They call Veyron ugly? Which part of him is ugly? Maybe I'm the only one who can see how handsome he truly is," he murmured to himself.
---
Somewhere deep in the forest…
Veyron had already arrived in the dangerous woodland. But something felt off—as if someone had been talking about him behind his back. He chose to ignore it and dashed forward, scanning every path, but no monster appeared.
"Where are the monsters? I've searched every corner and still found none. Why did Father allow Hari to stay for a whole year anyway?"
Just as frustration began to set in, Veyron sensed a powerful aura emanating from a narrow cave nearby. He paused, eyes narrowing.
"There's something terrifying in that cave. A strong monster perhaps? Heh… sounds interesting. Let's take a look."
Rather than rushing in recklessly, he sat cross-legged near the entrance, thinking up a strategy. He knew better than to charge in without a plan.
Suddenly, a monstrous roar echoed. A bear-like creature, the one the villagers had feared for years, emerged from the darkness.
"Hey! Don't cheat, monster. Attacking me in secret like that, how cowardly," Veyron shouted.
With one swift motion, he leapt into the air and slashed his sword toward the beast.
But as the force of the monster pushed back harder than expected, doubt flickered in Veyron's mind.
"I'm still too weak… What should I do? Do I go in… or create a better plan?"
Veyron immediately grasped how to confront the powerful monster ahead. Without hesitation, he stepped into the cave that radiated a terrifying and oppressive aura from deep within.
"This is insane... My chest feels tight from this pressure," he muttered through labored breaths. "But I won't turn back."
With unwavering resolve, Veyron wrapped his entire body in his own aura, forging a shield of energy to withstand the oppressive force. He moved deeper into the cave, step by step, toward the source of the overwhelming power.
"Is that another chamber... or the final room?"
As he advanced, he finally entered a vast cavern—and froze in astonishment.
At the center of the room lay a massive dragon, its body coiled in slumber. Even in its sleep, the dragon's aura poured out like a storm, filling the space with suffocating pressure.
"What the hell... a dragon?! And its aura… It's terrifying. It must be over level 1,000!" he whispered in shock. "I need to get out of here—now."
But just as he turned to flee, the dragon stirred. The faint sound of his footsteps had roused it. In an instant, the beast's eyes snapped open, and an even more dreadful wave of power swept through the cave.
"Human… Who dares enter this place?" the dragon growled, its voice echoing like thunder. "Yet… I sense Aldrecht blood. Are you one of them?"
"Y-yes, Lord Dragon," Veyron replied, dropping to one knee instinctively. "My name is Veyron Aldrecht. I am the ninth son… My mother was a commoner, my father the king. Forgive me for disturbing your slumber."
The dragon's gaze scanned him from foot to head. When its eyes landed on the sword at Veyron's waist, recognition dawned—and a smile curved its fearsome mouth.
"That sword… You must be here hunting monsters, aren't you? If you're looking for a summon beast, why not form a contract with me?"
Veyron blinked, stunned. "Form a contract with you? But what would I gain from binding myself to a dragon lord? What if I gain nothing?"
"You will gain power far beyond your understanding. Surely you've heard the voice—the one no ordinary being can hear—the voice that speaks of a coming calamity?"
Veyron's eyes widened. "How do you know that? Could it be… you're a dragon who has reached the Demigod realm?"
The dragon laughed, its deep rumble vibrating through the ground. "So, you noticed. Yes, I've long ascended into the Demigod realm. Let me introduce myself."
"I am Zephyron, the Lightning Dragon. I have surpassed mortality and now dwell in the realm of Demigods. I was commanded long ago to watch over the Aldrecht family. It is a pleasure to meet you, Veyron Aldrecht."
Just the mention of his name caused an even heavier wave of divine aura to descend upon Veyron, nearly bringing him to his knees again.
"You're serious about forming a contract with me?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yes. I am certain. Bonding with you is the best choice. So, Veyron—will you accept?"
Without hesitation, Veyron drew a dagger and made a shallow cut across his palm, letting the blood drip onto the ground. At the same time, Zephyron clawed his own scale, letting his divine blood fall to meet Veyron's. A glowing contract circle materialized between them, swirling with runes of ancient power.
"Zephyron, do you accept me as your master? If so, say it now."
"I accept."
In that moment, identical contract sigils appeared on both their bodies. The pact was sealed. But Veyron didn't yet realize that forming a bond with Zephyron—the Lightning Demigod—would shake the entire continent.
Chapter 5 Completed