NOVEL NEXT Chapter 71: Too much potential!
"Not only that," Draeven's voice rumbled low, like distant thunder, heavy with both pride and fury, "he has twenty-four Reverse Scales. Not the weak points that common dragons shamefully carry…
No, what he bears are Sovereign Apex Scales — the essence scales of our most ancient draconic belief; That reversal… is not weakness, but supreme strength. These scales are proof. With this great number of Sovereign Apex Scales, our son stands on the threshold… he has a chance to awaken the Dragon Heart of the legends!"
His claws clenched tight, scraping against the ancient stones beneath him. His golden eyes gleamed, sharp as blades. "The only one to ever achieve such a feat was the Supreme Dragon God himself. And he… he only formed twelve such scales, and that was after stepping into godhood! The world still whispers that each of his Sovereign Apex Scales represented an elemental or cosmic law — he, wields seven elements and commanded the dominion of flames itself, there must be a connection."
Draeven's voice deepened, laced with dangerous pride. "But look at our son… Kaeryx! From this aspect alone, even the great Dragon God pales before the future my son is destined for! For this calamity to befall us proves even more that our son is destined for even more than we can imagine."
His fangs bared in a savage grin, but it quickly faded, twisted by bitterness. "It's a pity… such sacred news, meant to be guarded, was leaked. By someone. Maybe one of the midwives who attended your birth, Aephyra." His tone sharpened like a blade.
"And with that leak… Heaven's wrath descended. Tribulations have targeted this Labyrinth unnaturally, unnervingly swift. Our enemies are gathering like carrion beasts. They feel threatened by one who has not even breathed his first full day!"
His growl deepened, trembling with rage.
"And to be betrayed… by our own kind." His claws cracked the stone beneath him.
"As for the Dragon King… I am immensely disappointed. I never thought I'd see the day when a king, with his so-called strength and so-called wisdom, would stoop so low. To collude with foreign races, breaking the pride of our kind, and raising arms against one of his own blood!"
Draeven's voice was pure scorn now, dripping venom. "He is no king… He is truly shameless, and has discarded the pride we dragons are meant to hold above all else!"
His heart seethed, dark and violent. Unlike the other dragons, who whispered that Draeven had overreached and betrayed the Dragon race — that this calamity was retribution for his hunger for too much power — he knew the truth. He had seen through the Dragon King's cunning nature long ago. A shrewd, jealous creature, threatened by a child… a child barely one day old... He framed the father to get to the child.
As one who took pride in his blood and heritage, Draeven was revolted by this cowardice. This wasn't the way of true dragons. This was the act of petty tyrants.
His chest rose and fell heavily as he exhaled again, long and deep, like a volcano barely restrained. Such a shame… such a bitter shame. With this heaven-defying talent, with such boundless potential, his son, Kaeryx, was being robbed of the one thing he needed most — the simple gift of time. Time to grow. Time to awaken. Time to become what destiny demanded of him.
But fate had other plans. Now, his Labyrinth — his home — was surrounded by heavenly fury and mortal treachery.
Dragons, once proud, had turned against him. Other supreme races, always watching for weakness, now circled like wolves scenting blood.
And Draeven knew. He and Aephyra both knew.
The enemies they faced were not to be underestimated. They had countless ancient powerhouses — some whose names they knew, and others hidden in shadow, with strange and terrible methods that no preparation could fully guard against.
They weren't omniscient gods. They couldn't predict every strike, every scheme.
And deep in their hearts, both Draeven and Aephyra knew… the chance of them returning from this alive was close to nil, if not truly nil.
It was this bitter truth that made Aephyra cling so tightly to her son, wanting to hold him a little longer, to carve a memory deep into her soul before she faced death.
Draeven understood. More than anyone, he understood her pain. That was why he endured her tears. Why he tolerated her disobeying his commands, even as it gnawed at his pride.
Yes… even a dragon as prideful as he — Draeven, Supreme Devourer of Flames — had no choice but to compromise in this. Because while dragons are creatures of pride, even greater is the pride they take in their own blood.
His golden eyes softened, though his chest still burned with fury. He turned his gaze upon his son, that large head of the dragon cradled against Aephyra's breast. His voice, low but firm, rumbled out:
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"Even prideful dragons must bow… before their own legacy."
Aephyra's breath hitched as Draeven's words echoed through the chamber, but he didn't pause. His eyes, sharp and golden like molten suns, blazed hotter as he continued.
"If this is what it is, then so be it," he rumbled, his voice now low but filled with that indomitable draconic pride. "I can die with my head high, knowing I have tried everything—everything—to save my son. If he can survive this calamity, if he can withstand the storm Heaven has thrown at him, then he will rise… not just as a dragon, but as the greatest being to ever walk the realms. With the greatest bloodline to ever exist. I'll give it my all… I'll throw every ounce of my strength, my flame, my soul into this. And if even that fails—if every method fails—" his teeth bared in a snarl, "then I will know… that Heaven itself is simply against his very existence!"
His words hung thick in the air, charged with defiance. At this point, it felt like Draeven wasn't even speaking to Aephyra anymore. His voice was turned skyward, as though he challenged the very skies that had cursed their child.