NOVEL NEXT Chapter 91: Valeron Cross...
Riding on Kaeryx's back, Ethan had an easy time reaching Valeron Cross. With each beat of the dragon's wings, the world blurred beneath them. Kaeryx's speed was nothing short of astounding—but for Ethan, it was expected. After all, Kaeryx was no ordinary creature.
From the air, Ethan's sharp gaze had already locked onto the city ahead. Valeron Cross. Just like Ben had described it—it stood as a fortress carved into the mountainside, enveloped in a majestic formation that pulsed faintly with runes and arcane power. A protective dome, shielding the sprawling city beneath. It was more than impressive. It was intimidating.
As they closed the distance, Kaeryx adjusted his altitude, descending gracefully toward the massive gates facing the Outlands. Stone walls towered around them like titans, bristling with mounted weapons and mana-infused towers.
Two guards stood at attention below—burly men in reinforced gear, trained eyes already locked on the incoming presence. They had spotted Kaeryx from afar and had immediately gone on high alert.
But as Kaeryx drew nearer, their initial tension shifted to something else entirely.
Shock.
They had seen Drakes. They had seen Wyrms—wild, aggressive beasts barely restrained by instinct. But this… this creature descending with regal poise and restrained might wasn't anything like those. No violent thrashing, no snarling rage. Just a calm, commanding pressure.
A dragon.
There was no mistaking it. The majesty in its movements, the intelligence in its eyes, the sheer reverence its presence demanded—it was a dragon, and one far removed from the savage kind found in the wild.
Their weapons lowered slightly. Their backs straightened.
And their gazes turned to the one riding it.
Dragons didn't obey.
They commanded.
And yet, this one willingly bore a rider.
Ethan may not have been the first in history to tame a dragon—but he was among the rare few. And that alone earned him more respect than a title ever could.
The guards exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. This one wasn't just any traveler. He descended from a dragon's back like it was a mere horse. They would treat this one carefully—with utmost respect.
Ethan stepped down from Kaeryx, carrying Mia gently in his arms. Her body was light against his, too light. The fight with the drakes had drained her completely, both mana and stamina. Her wounds, especially the deep internal ones, were worrisome. She needed treatment—urgent and likely expensive.
With a thought, Kaeryx disappeared into his soul subspace, and Ethan approached the gate.
One of the guards stepped forward, posture straight, tone respectful. "How may we address you, sir?"
"Leon Grimveil," Ethan replied, voice cold and distant as he handed over a sleek black card.
The guard accepted it with both hands. His eyes scanned the information—clearly authentic. It bore the seal of the Valeron Cross Central Authority. Gareth had arranged it all in advance. What he hadn't accounted for, however, was Mia's presence. She wasn't registered.
The second guard stepped closer. "And the lady, sir? Is she under your guardianship?"
"Someone I saved," Ethan replied bluntly.
There was a pause. A subtle glance between the two guards, though neither pushed further.
"Her name?"
"Mia."
He'd considered making up a name, but decided against it. For now, it was better to keep her identity intact.
"Very well. We'll need to register her as an injured dependent under your care. In addition, a standard verification is required for entry into Valeron Cross—especially with beast activity on the rise. Do you consent to blood testing for verification of identity and corruption markers?"
Ethan gave a faint nod. "Go ahead."
The guard pulled out a thin crystalline needle from a small box, the kind used to test for contamination, beast-blood interference, or curse residue. "Just a prick on the fingertip. It'll sting a little."
Ethan extended his hand. A quick poke, and a single drop of blood fell onto a rune-inscribed slab.
The slab pulsed.
Clean.
No abnormalities. No curse. No corruption.
The first guard relaxed slightly. "Thank you, Sir Grimveil. You've passed the screening."
He glanced down at Mia, unconscious in Ethan's arms. "We'll arrange for a stretcher to take her to the central medica in District Five. There's the House of living light. But be advised, treatment costs vary by severity—especially when it involves internal healing specialists. You'll want to prepare funds."
"How much?" Ethan asked.
The guard hesitated. "For someone with that degree of mana depletion and possible internal ruptures… it could run into mid-to-high platinum tiers. Possibly more, if magical organ regeneration is needed."
Ethan's eyes darkened slightly.
'That much, huh...'
He glanced toward the towering walls of Valeron Cross, its magic barrier gleaming in the air like sunlight on glass. This was just the beginning.
*"""
Certainly! Here's your chapter written in your signature style, with naturally flowing narration, vivid but grounded description, character emotion, and an undercurrent of pressure and ambition:
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Chapter Start – Valeron Cross
Ethan carried Mia in his arms as he walked the steep paths of Valeron Cross, heading straight for one of the most prestigious, and notorious, healer guilds in all of Nexa—the House of Living Light.
Renowned for curing injuries most deemed incurable. Feared for the price it demanded in return.
But Ethan couldn't care less about that.
He moved through the outer district, observing everything.
Valeron Cross was a fortress-city built directly into the side of a mountain ridge, layered and complex, like a hive of mana-fueled machinery and iron ambition. Steam-powered lifts moved heavy goods along rail tracks; glowing mana lanterns illuminated cobblestone streets; merchant stalls jostled for space with patrol routes lined by heavily-armored guards. Adventurers laughed, shouted, and argued in corners. The scent of oil, dust, and monster blood filled the air.
It was advanced.
But not that advanced.
Compared to Gareth's Labyrinth? No. Not even close.
In Gareth's domain, magic and technology were intertwined with perfection. There were floating walkways, nanite-repair glyphs, even energy-conversion fields. It was an entire city protected from Nexa's chaos, a place where danger didn't exist and time could be spent on pushing boundaries.
This… This was a battlefield.
A stronghold on the edge of hell.
A place where survival, not progress, took priority.
Ethan felt the difference instantly.
He could've taken the transport lines. They had manalines with speed platforms for long-distance movement.
But he didn't.
He wanted to test something.
This body.
This strength.
Ever since the evolution, he hadn't had a proper chance to feel what he had become. But now that Mia was stable in his arms, his heart calm, his breathing level…
It hit him.
The raw power.
'Incredible…'
He could feel it in every breath he took, every step he made. His skin tingled. His muscles thrummed like coiled springs. His senses had sharpened to frightening levels.
'I feel powerful… way more than I ever have.'
It wasn't just energy. It was something deeper, he felt like he had broken free from some restriction on him before it felt really good. He shifted slightly, taking a step. And instantly stopped.
'No. One step at a time.'
He didn't trust his control. Not yet. That kind of strength, unchecked, could kill someone just by moving past them.
He moved again—slowly, deliberately. Each step was measured.
'I feel so light…'
Unknowingly, he was already accelerating. To him, it was barely more than a quick stride. To everyone else?
He was a blur.
Mia stirred faintly in his arms, her eyes fluttering open just in time to feel the pressure of wind rushing past.
Her mouth opened slightly in shock.
To her, it was like being strapped to a missile. Except, that missile had biceps and walked like a ghost.
And she wasn't going to lie—not even to herself.
It actually felt… good.
Not that she'd ever admit it.
Still half-dazed, she blinked up at Ethan, lips parted, but didn't speak. She wasn't even sure he knew she was awake.
He didn't.
Ethan had already moved to a narrow hallway at the base of a tall tower. He put her down briefly—carefully—then turned to face the corridor.
Time to test it.
He planted himself.
Took a breath.
Then… moved.
He blurred forward, every motion slicing air apart as he ran from one end to the other.
He slipped once.
Stumbled again.
But then his body began adjusting—learning. The new strength found rhythm. The evolved instincts caught up.
His body was syncing with itself.
And within a few seconds, he shot forward like a streak of black lightning, weaving side to side, faster than he'd ever dreamed possible. Dust swirled in his wake. His coat fluttered wildly behind him.
He stopped, breath level, pulse steady.
Grinning.
He hadn't even broken a sweat.
This… this was strength.
This was freedom.
He scooped Mia back up and continued on, checking his map as he went. The House of Living Light wasn't far.
It didn't take long.
Soon, he stood before the tall, multi-tiered building etched in glowing gold glyphs, with clear quartz windows and an eerie, white radiance hovering around its entrance.