Chapter 345: The First Dragon Riders

The battle continued its relentless pace.

Kayden circled around Orion with very sharp movements sharp despite the exhaustion weighing down his limbs.

His lightning crackled and flared with each motion, illuminating the scorched platform in bursts of white light.

He struck again, this time aiming a straight punch at Orion’s jaw.

The Archon tilted his head slightly to the side, letting the blow sail past. Kayden followed up immediately with a sweeping kick coated in lightning.

Orion raised his forearm and deflected the strike with minimal effort. The impact sent sparks scattering across the platform, but the Archon didn’t budge.

“A thousand days!,” Orion said, with his voice cutting through the sound of crackling energy. “And you still can’t make me take one single step back? I’m disappointed, Kayden.”

Kayden was breathing hard as sweat dripped down his face. But those taunting words from the Archon struck him deep.

He gritted his teeth, then threw his head back and yelled.

White lightning erupted around him in a violent surge as he lunged forward again. Kayden came at Orion from the right, with a fist wreathed in white lightning.

Orion deflected it with a casual motion of his hand. Kayden vanished and reappeared on the left, launching a kick aimed at the Archon’s ribs. Orion’s palm shot out and intercepted the strike, redirecting it away.

Again. Kayden attacked from above, descending with both fists raised. Orion raised one hand over his head and took the full brunt of the attack.

The young prince didn’t stop. He came from below, from behind, from every conceivable angle. Each attack was faster than the last, and each one more desperate.

Lightning bolts shot out in every direction and physical strikes blurred together into an endless barrage.

But Orion met every single one. His hands moved with impossible speed, deflecting lightning blasts, redirecting punches, brushing aside kicks.

And all of these happened without any sort of counterattacks.

“Is this all the power you can muster?” Orion taunted.

Kayden roared and intensified his assault. His attacks became wilder, more aggressive.

Orion held a lightning-charged punch and said, “A demon lord would kill you easily.”

Kayden’s jaw clenched, but he kept attacking.

There was another deflection that followed with another taunt. “You call yourself a warrior? You’re barely an inconvenience.”

Kayden’s breathing grew thiner but he pushed forth regardless.

Then Orion spoke again, “Is this how you’re going to protect… what’s her name again? Innis?”

Something inside Kayden snapped.

His white lightning began to change slowly as its color went from white to yellow

Pure, brilliant yellow energy erupted around him, in waves of energy than anything he’d summoned before.

Orion’s eyes widened, then his grin returned. “That’s more like it, young Kayden!”

At the entrance to Orion’s temple, Thera had just arrived. She’d come to speak with the Archon about something unrelated, but as she stepped closer, she saw what was happening on the platform.

Her eyes widened at the sight of Kayden’s yellow lightning. Then she smiled and decided to watch.

Kayden blitzed forward and the platform cracked beneath his feet as he launched himself at Orion with blinding speed.

He cocked his fist back and yellow lightning condensing around it into a sphere of concentrated energy.

Then he drove it forward with everything he had. Orion raised his hand to meet the attack and the two forces collided.

An explosion of light erupted from the point of contact, so bright it washed out the entire temple in blinding radiance.

A shockwave burst outward, shaking the pillars and sending cracks racing across the floor.

When the light finally cleared, Orion stood with his hand still raised and an expression of genuine satisfaction.

He had taken one step back.

Kayden grinned ass his body trembled from the effort snd exhaustion that followed after. Then his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.

Orion caught him before he hit the ground, lowering the unconscious prince gently onto the platform.

“Well done, young Kayden,” the Archon said quietly. “You’ve earned this victory.”

Thera stepped onto the platform, with her smile still in place. “I didn’t think anyone was worthy of carrying your blessings.”

Orion laughed a rumbling sound. “Well, this one’s got grit.”

He glanced down at Kayden, then back at Thera. “He’ll go far. Farther than he realizes.”

——

A few days later, back at the castle, Innis, Piers, and Katherine stepped out into an open space behind the massive structure.

They walked behind Rin, Aeris, and the Dragon King’s wives, Laela and Arianna.

Both mothers had their babies strapped securely to their sides. Tristan was half asleep, his tiny head resting against Laela’s chest.

Andrea cooed softly while her red eyes blinked up at the sky.

Piers glanced around at the vast expanse of open ground before them, then asked, “Why did you bring us out here today?

Laela tilted her head slightly with a small smile on her lips. “If you’re going to stay in a castle surrounded by dragons, the least you can do is learn how to ride one.”

The three behind them froze mid-step as their expressions shifted into surprise.

Rin, Aeris, and Arianna all chuckled at their reactions.

Laela raised her palm slightly upward and called out in a language none of them recogned. The words rolled off her tongue in a melodic yet powerful cadence:

“Va’ritīs naeziz, Vhagar.”

(Come to me, Vhagar)

“What did she just say?” Katherine murmured to Piers.

Piers shrugged and shook his head. He had no idea.

There were lots of dragons hovering the skies but suddenly, the ground trembled and shadow fell over them as something massive descended from the sky.

A dragon landed in front of them with a heavy thud that shook the earth beneath their feet. It was enormous, easily 130 feet long from snout to tail. Its scales were a dark, deep green.

The creature lowered its massive head toward Laela, who reached out and touched its snout, rubbing gently.

“Good girl, Vhagar,” Laela said.

Innis stared up at the dragon with wide eyes. “What was that you just said?”

Laela glanced back at her. “It’s Dragon Tongue. A language Aiden communicates with the dragons in. According to him, it was the original language the seven dragons spoke before they adopted the common tongue we all use now.”

The others seemed amazed as their gazes moved between Laela and the massive creature she so casually petted.

Arianna stepped forward and raised her own hand. She spoke in the same flowing language:

“Va’ritīs naeziz, Belserion.”

Another dragon descended from above. This one was darkish orange. It was nearly the same size as Vhagar and landed beside her with equal grace.

Arianna moved to its side, running her hand along its scaled neck.

Aeris stepped forward next and called out:

“Va’ritīs naeziz, Slyrak.”

A third dragon appeared, smaller than the first two but still impressive. It was around 85 feet long, with reddish scales.

Slyrak landed with a soft rumble and lowered its head toward Aeris, who scratched under its jaw affectionately.

Piers turned to Rin with wide eyes. “No… you too?”

Rin laughed and nodded. She raised her head toward the sky and called:

“Va’ritīs naeziz, Silverwing.”

A fourth dragon descended. This one was smaller still, around 65 feet long, with shimmering silver scales that thd reflected light.

Silverwing landed gracefully beside the others and chirped softly at Rin, who patted its side.

Arianna turned back toward Piers, Katherine, and Innis. “To call a dragon of your own, you’d need to know the tongue. We can teach you in time if you’re interested.”

She paused, then raised her voice slightly and spoke again in Dragon Tongue:

“Skorī hen ao jaelagon naejot jemēle issa?”

(Which one of you great beasts would like to carry our guests?)

The sound of her voice, though not exactly loud, was enough to still reach the ears of the hovering dragons.

Two more dragons that had been circling above suddenly descended. They were smaller than Vhagar and Belserion but still large enough to carry riders comfortably.

One had bronze scales and the other had deep blue scales with hints of purple along its wings.

Laela gestured toward the two newcomers with an encouraging smile. “Come on, you three. Give it a try. Don’t worry—they won’t let you fall.”

Piers, Katherine, and Innis exchanged glances.

Katherine was the first to move forward. She approached the bronze dragon, which lowered one of its massive clawed hands to serve as a stepping stone. Piers followed close behind her.

Together, they climbed onto the dragon’s back and settled into position between its shoulder blades where the scales were smoother.

Innis hesitated for a moment longer before walking toward the blue dragon. She was nervous and her hands trembled slightly as she reached out to touch its side but the dragon rumbled softly in what seemed like reassurance.

She climbed onto its back with some difficulty, gripping tightly once she was seated.

Laela called out from atop Vhagar: “The first time comes with a little turbulence, but you’ll get the hang of it quickly! So sit tight, new dragon riders!”

She leaned forward and spoke in Dragon Tongue once more:

“Sōvegon, riña.”

(Go girl)

She rubbed Vhagar’s side affectionately and the massive green dragon spread its wings wide and launched into the air with a powerful beat that sent gusts of wind rippling outward.

The other dragons followed suit. Belserion ascended next, then Slyrak, then Silverwing.

Finally, the two carrying Piers, Katherine, and Innis lifted off as well.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep