Reincarnated As A Dragon With A Godly Inheritance
Chapter 35: Threats

Chapter 35: Threats

"And why should you?" Kaedros raised a brow. "Why should you see me lift a weapon?

The White steel team had ignored them for most of the journey so far, and Kaedros preferred it that way. Having them walking behind made him uneasy.

He trusted none of them.

To be honest, he trusted no one.

"Aren’t you here to advance?" the bulky warrior pushed. He was a tall man with dense muscles, a thick beard, and an axe strapped across his back. "Shouldn’t you be out killing monsters too?"

Kaedros narrowed his eyes. "You’re part of this raid as well. Why don’t you focus on advancing instead of shiting your mouth?"

The group had stopped. All eyes turned to the two of them. Even Thandor paused, stroking his long white beard, clearly interested.

Han chuckled and flexed his arms. "You call this cultivatinga? My level’s too high for these weaklings. I hunt real monsters, high-level ones. Not some insignificant, lowly creatures."

That word, lowly, sent molten fury through Kaedros. It was a slur. One of the worst used against him back in the Dragon City.

His jaw clenched.

Now isn’t the time, he reminded himself.

He had to keep control. Blowing his cover would ruin everything.

Still, the anger flared deep in his glowing blue eyes, even as he managed a strained smile. "Well then, this is the wilderness. You’re free to do as you like—go find your precious high-level monsters. Just keep your nose out of me and my partner’s business."

Han’s face darkened with a retort on his tongue, but Thandor cleared his throat.

"We’re following a safe path," the Refiner explained. "Or as safe as the wilderness allows. There’s a very high-level monster whose territory runs through this region. That’s why the stronger beasts avoid it."

"So... shouldn’t we be worried, then?" Taria asked, her voice tight.

"Perhaps." Thandor’s smile was thin. "But the creature’s never been seen. Some scholars believe monsters that reach a certain level begin to gain intelligence... like fully grown humans."

"Has that ever been proven?" Rauk asked, his tone carefully neutral.

"The highest-rank monster ever slain showed the intelligence of a teenager," Thandor replied. Then, he looked at Rauk, and the nobleman stiffened slightly.

Kaedros caught the exchange and understood immediately.

A warning. A subtle dig.

Eldric was likening Rauk to a monster, perhaps one clever enough to rise, but still fated to fall.

Interesting.

They continued walking at a more cautious pace, their path weaving through sun-dappled trees and stretches of dim underbrush. The monsters they encountered were low grade, most fleeing at the presence of their group.

Those that didn’t, Taria dispatched easily.

At midday, they broke for lunch in a shaded clearing beneath the thick canopy.

During the brief rest, Kaedros picked up bits of conversation and observation. He learned the names of the other White steel.

Han, of course, was the warrior. , the assassin, moved quietly and with purpose, clearly skilled in avoiding detection. Marr was their healer, silent and calm, always positioned in the center of their formation. And then there was Jonna, the mage, who kept glancing Kaedros’s way a little too often.

They moved like a veteran team.

With fluid movement and coordinated losse formation.

They protected their healer without needing orders. They avoided every branch, every root, every patch of brittle leaves that might give away a position.

They were too good.

Too well-trained to be on a raid like this, especially under the protection of someone like Knight Vexa.

Which meant only one thing, they weren’t here for the raid.

They were here for someone.

Likely Vexa. Maybe even Thandor. And by extension, Rauk.

Should I warn him? Kaedros thought. It wasn’t his or Taria’s problem... yet. But if the White steel turned their blades after killing the young lord, it would be.

’..they’d better kill them after the raid..’ Kaedros thought. ’..this might be my chance to cultivate properly..’

He glanced toward Vexa.

She knows. Her hand hadn’t left her weapon since they entered the woods. Her eyes were never off Rauk. Every step she took screamed of readiness for action.

"You’re awfully quiet," Taria said beside him.

Kaedros looked at her.

She’d changed over the last few weeks. Her once-thin frame had gained muscle. Her stance had shifted, more grounded, more controlled. Her curves were sharper, her body now shaped by the demands of a warrior path.

It pleased him that his weapon was rising.

"Just thinking about how this’ll go," he replied.

He made no effort to lower his voice. Ascendants could hear even whispered words if they wanted to. Let them.

"It’s going great already!" Taria beamed. "One or two more monsters and I’ll hit stage three. I know it."

Kaedros allowed himself a brief smile. She was growing stronger. But strength alone wouldn’t save them, not with the tension simmering beneath the surface on the mission.

Eventually, as twilight darkened into full night, Thandor called a halt.

They found a clearing surrounded by tall trees, natural barriers against wind and weather, and began setting up camp.

Rauk raised a hand and whispered a few words. His ring glowed white and items tumbled out of the air, tents, packed food, barrels of water.

All summoned effortlessly from the spatial ring.

"Wow! This is amazing," Taria said, wrestling with a bundle of tent canvas. "You had all this in one little ring? I need one."

"Of course," Kaedros said from a tree stump, his voice dry. "Once you reach rank three and above, you’ll have more than enough coin to afford it. Maybe even buy a few castles along the way."

Taria snorted. "That’s, like...how many years. I’ll be dead before I even hit rank two for sure. And why are you just sitting there? Help me with this stupid thing!"

Kaedros smirked faintly.

Humans. So short-lived.

"Sorry. You’re the warrior," he said. "Heavy lifting’s your job."

She grumbled but didn’t argue.

Dinner came shortly after, and once everyone had eaten and watches were assigned, the group slowly retired to their tents.

But Kaedros didn’t sleep immediately.

His mind was too busy counting threats.

And making plans.