The wind from the northern cliffs was sharp, carrying dust and the faint scent of snow. Weeks had passed since my name returned to the imperial records, branded as a low-level soldier. On the surface, I was just another exile helping rebuild the border fortress.
But under that disguise, something far greater was taking shape.
Every day, while the mortal soldiers trained on the open grounds, my real work continued in the valley behind the canyon—a place I called Shadow Gorge.
Mo Han's Hellfire Legion guarded the entrance, their burning eyes scanning for intruders. Yue Zhilan had erased its presence from the heavens with her lunar energy. Anyone flying over the area would see nothing but empty wasteland.
Inside that hidden valley, sparks from forging and shouts from drills broke the silence. Mortal blacksmiths worked alongside demon craftsmen, reforging stolen weapons and mending rusted armor. Some of the prisoners, once despairing men, now moved with purpose under Mo Han's command.
"Who would have thought," Yue Zhilan said one morning as she watched the soldiers march in rank, "that a condemned prince could turn beggars and beasts into an army."
I smiled faintly. "Necessity teaches faster than royal tutors."
The Myth System had given me a new quest—Rise of the Hidden Commander. Every mythic summon I brought under my banner, every mortal trained under my command, added to an unseen measure called "Dominion." Once it reached a certain threshold, the system promised a territory upgrade.
But before that, I had to use the reward I'd been keeping in my storage ring—the Intermediate Summon Token.
That night, under a starless sky, I walked alone to the center of the valley. The token lay in my hand—a black stone engraved with swirling patterns that pulsed faintly like heartbeats.
"System," I said, "use the token."
"Ding! Intermediate Summon Token activated. Random category: Beast / Guardian class."
A circle of golden light burned on the ground. The valley shook, and the soldiers panicked, sensing the immense energy gathering overhead. Mo Han shouted orders, forcing his men into formation to guard the perimeter, while Yue Zhilan floated into the air, her spear humming with energy.
"Calm down," I called out. "This is mine!"
The golden circle fragmented, and a roar rolled through the mountains—deep, ancient, and powerful enough to make even Mo Han take half a step back.
From within the blinding light, a massive shadow emerged—a beast covered in silver scales, wings like black blades stretching far across the sky. Its eyes glowed like molten gold, ancient and wild.
When the light faded, it lowered its massive head, exhaling fog that turned the ground white with frost.
"Summon complete."
"Entity identified: Mythic Beast – Silver Thunder Drake."
"Cultivation: Late Saint Realm."
"Loyalty: 45."
"Innate Ability: Thunderstorm Dominion / Flight across Realms."
The creature's voice rumbled like thunder. "Who summons me from my five-hundred-year slumber?"
Yue Zhilan lowered her weapon but stayed wary. "Another creature from the upper realms," she murmured.
"I summoned you," I said, stepping forward. The drake's golden eyes fixed on me, measuring. For a heartbeat, I thought it might attack.
Then the system's glow pulsed from my chest, wrapping me in faint light.
The beast lowered its head slightly. "That aura… the same one from the man who once saved me from lightning tribulation at the edge of the Divine Sky."
I blinked. "You mean—"
"Yes." The drake's rumbling voice softened. "It seems that man and you share a soul. I owe him my life. Thus, I will serve."
He bowed low, his horns touching the ground.
The soldiers nearby gaped in silence. Some dropped to their knees, trembling. "A god-beast," one whispered. "Our commander can summon god-beasts!"
Mo Han laughed, the sound like rolling fire. "Our enemies will tremble when they learn."
"Let them tremble later," I said calmly. "For now, we keep him hidden. He'll guard Shadow Gorge and patrol the skies when no one's watching."
The system chimed.
"Ding! Summon completed. Myth Roster updated. Loyal Units: Yue Zhilan, Mo Han (Hellfire Legion × 500), Silver Thunder Drake. Dominion Score + 350."
"Reward unlocked: Blueprint – Mythic Stronghold (Core Phase)."
A glowing map appeared before my eyes, showing the layout of an underground fortress. Tunnels, watchtowers, spiritual energy nodes—all embedded into the valley we now controlled.
"This system never stops surprising me," I muttered. "It's building me a kingdom piece by piece."
Later that night, beneath the glow of campfires, I stood with Mo Han and Yue Zhilan to discuss our next move.
"The drake's speed can carry scouts across the borders within hours," Mo Han said, stabbing his halberd into the dirt. "We can use him to map the terrain and watch for court spies."
"Good," I said. "Start small patrol routes. No fighting unless it's necessary. We can't expose ourselves yet."
Yue Zhilan leaned on her spear, her silver hair fluttering in the wind. "You hide, plot, and gather power quietly. Still, one day, you will have to face the court again. What will you do then?"
I looked at the soldiers—the mortals now training with demons at their sides, the sparks flying from the forges, and the great drake perched on the cliff like a living mountain.
"What I'll do?" I said slowly, smiling. "By then, I won't be a forgotten prince. I'll be a commander whose name even heaven will remember."
The system's voice whispered softly, almost like it shared my ambition:
"Ding! Temporary Title granted — Hidden Commander of Gods and Demons."
A faint golden symbol formed above my wrist, the mark of the mythic pact glowing softly before fading.
For now, I let it vanish beneath my sleeve. The world wasn't ready yet to see what kind of power was growing in these forsaken lands.
Up above, lightning flashed as the Silver Thunder Drake spread its wings and roared into the clouds, its cry echoing through the borderlands like a declaration of destiny.
Down below, I turned back to my soldiers.
"Begin construction on the stronghold," I ordered. "This valley will be our first sanctuary—and the birthplace of an army the Empire will never see coming."
And as the first sparks of building flame lit up Shadow Gorge, I felt the shift of fate itself. The exiled prince had fallen from the throne, but a myth was rising from the dust.