The Kingmaker System
Chapter 348 - 347. Dragons’ Chosen (3)

Chapter 348: 347. Dragons’ Chosen (3)

"Take care of this, Nox." I murmured, handing him the bag of snacks.

He let out a soft hoot in response, his bright blue eyes watching me with understanding.

"Stay here. Don’t you dare follow me." My voice carried a quiet finality. "I’ll get you once everything is done. Do you understand?"

Another hoot—acknowledging, yet tinged with reluctance.

I ran my fingers through his feathers, a brief moment of warmth before I turned my attention back to the clearing.

A storm churned within me.

I rose from the branch in a single fluid motion.

Davian’s gaze snapped toward me immediately, sharp and assessing. But before he could react, I inhaled deeply, summoning the force that lay dormant in my blood.

And let my Dragon’s Presence surge.

Power rippled through my veins, a pulse that resonated with the very air around me. My skin shimmered before shifting into gleaming azure scales, the transformation crawling up my arms, shaping them into those of a dragon. The hood of my cloak and the mask covering the lower half of my face concealed my identity, but my presence—undeniable and absolute—spread across the battlefield like an encroaching tide.

I unfurled my invisible wings and launched into the storm-laden sky.

Thunder roared in answer, a deafening crack that split the heavens as I ascended. The wind howled, charged with electricity, bending to the force of my will. Then—without hesitation—I dove.

The moment my body cut through the clouds, the two Princes below reacted. Their instincts screamed before their minds could comprehend, and they barely managed to hurl themselves out of the way.

Then I landed.

The impact shattered the ground beneath me, a violent shockwave tearing through the clearing. Dust and debris exploded outward, throwing bystanders off their feet, their cries lost to the force of my descent. A crater spread beneath me, jagged and deep.

I rose slowly.

Every knight, every noble, even the Princes themselves remained pinned to the ground, overwhelmed by the full weight of my Dragon’s Presence. It pressed down on them with merciless intensity, an invisible force wrapping around their throats, their chests, suffocating, relentless.

Davian, who was beside my brother, grimaced as he too was on his knees. He struggled, his eyes trying their best to stay on me—but his body betrayed him as his head couldn’t be raised because of the force that my Dragon’s Presence had put on them all. His shoulders shook with the effort to remain upright, yet he couldn’t raise his head fully beneath the crushing force of my existence.

Arian fared no better. His grip tightened on his sword, the weight of his determination battling against the overwhelming might before him. He fought to counter my Presence, to push back against the force pressing him down.

But it was useless.

His Dragon sword, mighty as it was, could not match me.

He needed to see this.

He needed to understand.

If he did not, his obsession with fighting me would consume him. He would destroy himself. And Eric.

This—this was a warning.

For both of them.

I let my presence ease a bit more, retracting it just enough to allow the others to breathe again. The air lost some of its oppressive weight, and the knights gasped, their bodies sagging as the invisible chains holding them down were lifted.

The weight of my Dragon’s Presence still lingered in the air, thick and suffocating, as I turned my gaze upon the gathered knights. Their wide eyes flickered between me and their commanders, uncertain whether to raise their swords or keep their heads down.

Then, I turned to the two young men before me—Arian, who was still trembling from the force he had just endured, and Eric, who had lowered his head, his expression unreadable.

I reduced the intensity of my Dragon’s Presence even more making it easier for the others to get up and breath easily before I turned and walked towards Eric and Arian.

The tension crackled between them like an unspent storm, but they were no longer locked in the reckless battle that had nearly spiraled out of control.

Whispers erupted around me.

"What... What was that pressure?!"

"A-A monster...!"

"Those... Those are scales...!"

The fear and awe in their voices didn’t faze me. I would have to grow accustomed to such reactions from hence on. I paid them no mind and strode forward, each step deliberate as I approached the two Princes.

Eric kept his head lowered, his fists clenched at his sides. Arian, however, forced himself to his feet, his breathing ragged, his bloodshot eyes burning with unspoken frustration.

Even now, he refused to yield.

I reached out, my clawed hands settling atop their heads, and let the Supreme Healing spell flow through them.

Cool blue light pulsed from my fingertips, spreading over their bodies like a tide. Their wounds mended before their eyes—cuts sealed shut, bruises faded into nothingness, and the exhaustion that weighed them down evaporated.

Arian’s breath hitched. He didn’t move, his body rigid under my touch. Eric flinched slightly, his gaze slowly lifting.

When the spell was complete, I stepped back.

The two young men stared at their now-healed bodies in stunned silence.

Eric’s eyes lingered on my hands, the gleaming blue scales covering my skin, the dark claws extending from my fingertips. There was no fear in his gaze, only quiet contemplation.

Arian, on the other hand, seemed to tremble with something he couldn’t put into words. His sword vibrated as if thanking me and I reached out letting my mana touch its, the warm glow of the stone responded and I smiled.

I took another step back, my presence shifting once more.

Then, water surged around me.

A deep rumble echoed through the clearing as an enormous water dragon erupted into existence, coiling around me like a living force of nature. Its translucent body shimmered under the fading sunlight, massive wings beating against the air, sending a fine mist across the stunned crowd.

Gasps and shouts filled the clearing.

"Is that a D-D-Dragon—?!"

"I can’t believe this!"

"A Dragon...! A real Dragon?!"

The water dragon unfurled its wings, rising high into the sky. I activated my invisibility brooch, vanishing from sight just as the dragon ascended.

Just before I disappeared I heard the distinct voice of Davian.

"Wait!"

I didn’t stop. The knights though burst out into the exclamations of shock as they noticed that the fight had stopped now and the Princes were healed.

"The Dragon blessed the Princes!"

"Am I dreaming?!"

"The real Dragon!"

"He blessed our Prince!"

All eyes remained fixed on the colossal beast, their minds too overwhelmed to process my disappearance.

As the water dragon flew in powerful arcs over Rune and Davian, I used the moment of distraction to silently take my leave, soaring into the sky.

The dragon continued its flight for a few more moments before dispersing into a cascade of water, dissolving into nothingness.

Far above, hidden from sight, I whistled—a sharp, familiar sound that only Nox would recognize.

A second later, he emerged from the clouds, his sleek form gliding toward me with effortless grace. He let out a quiet hoot as he reached my side, and together, we made our way back to Damon’s estate, where Lyall was waiting.

I had told him to stay behind.

The flight was swift, the wind cool against my skin as I focused on the path ahead.

Soon, the estate came into view.

I landed soundlessly on the balcony of my room, pushing open the windows and stepping inside. The space was empty, undisturbed.

Without wasting time, I shifted back into Ace’s appearance. The scales retracted, my claws vanished, and the familiar guise of the cold, calculating merchant took its place.

Adjusting my coat, I stepped out of my room and made my way toward the garden.

As I neared, the quiet clink of porcelain and the faint murmur of conversation reached my ears.

Lyall sat at the garden table, sipping tea with Anastasia. She looked at him with bright, animated eyes, her expression cheerful.

Lyall, for his part, appeared calm—gentle, even.

I paused, observing them for a moment.

Anastasia’s expression held a certain warmth, an ease that was rare for someone in her position. And Lyall...

Lyall had always been a man of unreadable depth. But right now, there was something soft in his demeanor. Well, she was the same age as his daughter.

Perhaps, in Anastasia, he saw a glimpse of Kate.

Perhaps that was why he treated her with such quiet kindness.

I exhaled softly before stepping forward, my presence drawing their attention.

"Good noon, My Lady." I greeted Anastasia and she smiled.

"Good noon, Lord Ace."

Lyall got to his feet and bowed as he politely greeted me, "Good noon, Master."

"Good noon, Lyall." I smiled at him.

"Do you mind if I join you?" I asked Anastasia.

"Oh, no! Please have a seat, Lord Ace." She beamed as she welcomed me.

I walked over and took a seat beside Lyall who also sat back down.

Anastasia poured me some tea and I inhaled noticing the familiar fragrant scent from the warm red fluid.

"The fragrance of this tea is quite gentle and nice." I spoke before taking a sip.

"Yes, this tea is currently very popular within the kingdom. It’s from far West." She informed me and I hummed as I took another sip.

Anastasia talked about a lot of things and about the current fashion trend along with the popular gossip topics and I listened intently, smiling as I absorbed the knowledge.

My work around here was almost done except for one last thing and once that was done, we could return home.