Supreme Bloodline Evolution System

He did not rush as recklessly as he had when Agnia needed him, but he still maintained a steady and deceptively fast pace, forcing himself to appear controlled while crossing the distance as efficiently as possible.

There was no desperate tearing through the sky this time, no uncontrolled power spilling from his body, yet every beat of his wings carried him farther toward Frankindia without wasting even a moment.

Max did not want to arouse suspicion among his people by suddenly fleeing the kingdom in a panic.

They had only just gained a permanent home after everything they had endured, and he refused to let them believe that it would soon be swallowed by flames because of yet another enemy gathering beyond their borders.

They deserved at least a little peace, a chance to sleep without fearing that someone would come for them in the middle of the night, forcing them to keep a knife beneath their pillows even within the walls of the kingdom they were finally supposed to call home.

The great citadel gradually disappeared behind him, its multicolored crystal towers shrinking until they became little more than glimmering spikes rising from the distant horizon.

Max kept his gaze ahead. To reach Frankindia, he first needed to cross the entire dragon region and enter the Britana Kingdom from the western border.

Under normal circumstances, he could have flown high above its border and continued without anyone ever knowing he had entered their territory, but doing so now would create unnecessary problems.

Britana was his ally.

If its soldiers spotted an unknown dragon flying above their fortifications and attacked him, Max would either have to endure their weapons or defend himself. The first option would be pointless, while the second could leave dozens of allied soldiers dead before either side understood what had happened.

Their alliance would look like a joke if the ruler of Voidstar barged through Britana’s skies and slaughtered its border guards simply because he could not spare enough time to announce himself properly.

He hated wasting time, especially when Clotilde might already be in danger, but a king could not always move like a warrior chasing the nearest enemy. Every action he took now carried the weight of his kingdom behind it, and a moment of impatience could undo agreements that had required far more effort to create.

Max crossed the dragon region without stopping, flying above the vast volcanic mountain range that covered the former lands of the Fire Dragons. From high above, countless dark peaks stretched across the horizon, some still releasing thin trails of smoke while rivers of molten rock glowed between the mountains like fiery veins running through the earth.

The land was not untouched. Several mountains remained cracked or partially collapsed from Max’s battle with the Arbiter, their slopes torn open and enormous fragments of black stone scattered across the valleys below. Deep scars cut through the range wherever their attacks had struck, leaving behind wounds in the landscape that even time had not yet begun to erase.

Between those damaged mountains spread the dense jungle Max had once created by pouring his mana into the barren volcanic land.

Looking down at the forest brought back memories of the brief time when he had believed the Dragons could finally begin rebuilding their lives without another enemy appearing at their borders. That peace had barely begun before the Imperial Court’s arrogant prince marched into their lands, murdered Light, and forced Max into yet another war.

The sight only strengthened his resolve.

He refused to let the same thing happen again. Henry had already taken enough from him, and the Imperial Court Empire had chosen its path when it decided to avenge Aurelius rather than question why its prince had died. If Clotilde was now in danger because of their thirst for vengeance, Max would reach her before they had the opportunity to take anyone else from him.

Hours passed before the volcanic mountains began to recede behind him, and the lands beneath his wings gradually changed.

The wild jungle and blackened stone gave way to cultivated fields divided into long, even sections, while proper stone roads connected villages protected by wooden walls. Watchtowers stood at regular distances, each flying the same white banner marked by the golden symbol of Britana.

Farther ahead, an enormous defensive wall stretched across the border.

It was not tall enough to stop a determined dragon, but it had clearly been designed to slow invading armies. White stone towers rose above the fortification at measured intervals, their upper platforms fitted with massive mounted crossbows capable of firing bolts nearly as large as trees.

Soldiers in polished white armor patrolled the walls, their armor bright enough to reflect the afternoon sun and make them visible from high above.

Max slowed down.

He landed several hundred meters away from the border, striking the ground hard enough to send a shallow tremor through the earth but remaining far enough from the fortifications that no one could mistake his arrival for an attack.

The moment his feet touched the ground, he pulled his wings back into his body. The dark scales covering his skin gradually disappeared, his claws shortened into human fingers, and the power surrounding him faded until he once again resembled an eighteen-year-old man wearing an expensive dark coat.

Several warning horns sounded from the wall.

Dozens of soldiers rushed toward the nearest tower, while the mounted crossbows turned in his direction. Their heavy mechanisms groaned as thick bolts were loaded into place, each pointed directly at his chest.

Max looked at the weapons without concern and began walking toward the border gate.

"Halt!"

A soldier’s voice thundered from above.

Max stopped several dozen meters from the entrance and lifted his head.

A group of men stood along the wall, all wearing the same polished white armor. Some held bows, while others rested their hands upon the swords hanging from their belts. The man standing in the center wore a white cape over his armor and possessed a golden stripe across his breastplate, marking him as someone of higher rank.

"State your name, origin, and reason for approaching the border of the Britana Kingdom," the officer demanded.

"My name is Maximus, ruler of the Voidstar Kingdom," Max replied. "I am traveling to Frankindia on an urgent personal matter and request permission to cross your territory."

For several seconds, the soldiers stared down at him.

Then one of them laughed.

The sound spread quickly along the wall, followed by several quiet snickers from the men standing around him.

Max’s expression remained unchanged.

The officer looked him over from head to toe, his eyes lingering on Max’s youthful face before a mocking smile appeared beneath his pale mustache.

"You expect us to believe that?"

"I do not particularly care what you believe," Max answered. "I announced myself and stated my reason for entering. Now inform your superior that King Maximus of Voidstar is waiting at the border."

The laughter became louder.

One soldier leaned over the edge of the wall to see him more clearly.

"King Maximus?" he repeated. "The dragon king who defeated entire armies and conquered half the region?"

"That would be me."

The soldier slapped the stone beneath his hand as he laughed.

"He is barely old enough to shave!"

Another man looked down at Max and shook his head.

"At least find yourself a crown before pretending to be a king, boy. Perhaps then someone might believe you."

Max released a slow breath through his nose.

Every passing moment was another moment Clotilde remained exposed, yet these men were wasting his time because he did not match whatever monstrous image they had created of him through rumors.

They had seen enough when he landed to know that he was no ordinary human, but being a dragon and being the ruler of Voidstar were two entirely different claims.

"I do not wear a crown," Max said. "It would only get in the way."

That answer only amused them further.

The officer folded his arms across his chest.

"Let us pretend for a moment that you are telling the truth. Where is your escort? Where are your banners, your royal carriage, and the documents carrying Britana’s official seal? Do kings from Voidstar wander between kingdoms alone now?"

"When necessary."

"How convenient."

"I do not have time for this," Max said, his patience thinning. "Send someone to your commander, your capital, or anyone with enough authority to confirm my identity. I will wait here, but I will not wait for long."

The officer’s smile disappeared at the quiet warning in his voice.

"Was that a threat?"

"It was me explaining the situation before your stupidity turns it into something worse."

The soldiers along the wall stopped laughing.

Several bows were raised, and the enormous mounted crossbows shifted slightly as their operators corrected their aim.

The officer placed one hand on the sword at his waist.

"You arrive without documents, claim to be the ruler of a kingdom most of us had never heard of until a few weeks ago, and then insult soldiers of Britana while standing before our border. Give me one reason why I should not have you arrested."

Max looked at the dozens of weapons aimed at him before returning his gaze to the officer.

"Because your kingdom has an alliance with mine, and dragging its king into a cell would be a difficult mistake to explain afterward."

The officer barked out another laugh, though it carried less amusement than before.

"Enough of this nonsense. If you truly are this great dragon king, prove it."

Max’s eyes narrowed as black mist began crawling over his fingers. He had come to this border determined not to spill the blood of his allies, yet the fools standing above him seemed eager to discover how far that determination reached.