I Alone Breed Dragons

The room held its breath from the confrontation. Richard didn’t waver as the wind around his fist swirled more violently. "Richard, I wouldn’t recommend that," Stephanie tried to stop him, but he refused. "No, this man was already sentenced to death. I’ll grant his judgment right." He’ll kill him. The determination in his eyes was certain but foolish compared to the ability I wielded. I didn’t flare my mana yet, kept my calm, held my gaze on his eyes with no words. "What, you aren’t going to speak?"

I tilted my head. Why aren’t you moving? I looked down at his fist, still curled, but he hadn’t attacked or moved a step after declaring to deliver judgment. "Why are you hesitating, Richard? Are you scared?"

"I’m not scared of you!" He swung his fist. Explosive wind. His fist shot toward me. I didn’t move to evade the attack; I stood still, hands folded behind my back. The wind exploded around my face, flapping my hair in the wind.

He held his hand still. The room stood up from their seats as the wind settled. Richard’s fist rested on my jaw — not an inch had I moved.

"Impossible. The force of that is enough to blow a human skull to bits." A noble gaped at the sight. Richard’s eyes widened. "How’s that—" He swallowed, backing up cautiously, sweat trailing down his forehead.

[Absorb: Wind Magic (B Rank)]

[100%]

B rank? Hmm, you have to be the strongest noble in this council. Most of the nobles I’ve eaten the magic of are C rank, based on how the dragon queen transfers her magic. I trailed him as he backed up. I continued following him down with calm steps. Let me show you what I’m truly capable of. I flared my mana, engulfing the entire room in light. The air became oppressive; the council all dropped to their knees as the air vibrated.

"This can’t be magic granted by the dragon queen."

"No, it can’t be," Stephanie spoke through her teeth as my mana pressure weighed on her. "This isn’t magic granted by the queen — this is something else... a god!"

I didn’t bother to listen to their praise; my eyes were still locked on my target.

My motion blurred. Richard blinked, and in a split second I was steps away; the next instant, directly in front of him, piercing my gaze at him as I looked down on him, crumpled on his knees.

I pointed a finger at his head; he froze, unable to move. "This is a gift from me to you — for some reason I haven’t been able to use adaptive learning to master it."

The room was then drowned in confusion.

"Oh, my bad — in speaking terms you don’t understand, now it’s my turn to attack."

"Release: Soul Freeze..."

Mana clogged at my fingertip, dark blue, swirling, sucking the light around it...

"Wait, wait, wait! Please!" Richard trembled, his legs weakened, unable to run.

Swift, it shot from my finger, piercing into his skull. Veins swelled around his head; instantly his eyes turned white, his knees buckled, his body tilted and crashed into the ground.

I had expected it to take a little longer, but it happened in an instant — well, it was SSS rank, implanted in a human body with borrowed magic. Hmm.

"Ri... chard," the words escaped Stephanie’s lips like a prayer, disbelief that he was dead.

I looked down at his motionless body, eyes white, his fingers curled and stiffened.

There’s no hope for him. I placed my palm on his chest; his skin was cold as ice. I clenched my hand. Absorb. I recovered the Soul Freeze to continue trying to master the technique. "So, who still wants to object?" I turned to the council and walked back to the table.

The council shrank; everyone remained silent.

"If you really fear dragons will take over your land, then have no fear, because I’ll protect humanity... but if you decide to make me your enemy, then you’ll be at a great disadvantage."

So... I went down on one knee to Stephanie’s eye level, as she was seated on the ground. The look in her eyes had changed; the authoritative, sharp look in her eyes was replaced by admiration mixed with fear. "You’ll give me my title as village chief and a seat at the council. No negotiation."

She nodded briefly.

"That’s good to hear." I stood up, grabbed my hat from the table, and wore it. "Have a good day." I walked out, stopped at the threshold, where Quinette was positioned. She had watched everything. I offered a hand for us to take our leave; she didn’t move, hesitant.

"You killed your kind," Quinette said. I traced her eyes to Richard’s cold body on the ground.

"That wasn’t my intent, but it served a purpose. Shall we?"

Quinette then accepted my hand as we walked out of the council room. What we had come here for was successful. It’s high time I head back to the dragon kingdom and use the border pass to build my militia — moving onward to seize what belongs to my family, what had been snatched from us. The next day, my coronation was quick, as the villagers were all present, along with the elders. As I was made village chief, the youngest ever in Farm Hill, it was successful, but with some opposers of course — though it was only shown on their faces, no words to object. The sun rose the next day.

The day was young as I prepared to leave the village. I was dressed and ready to take off. I stood before the carriage, while Quinette was already seated, wide-eyed, waiting. My mom walked out of the house; she stood at the balcony, held a smile. I drew closer. "I’ll be leaving now, but I’ll be back."

"I know you’ll return — the question is if sooner."

"Definitely not sooner, but—"

"Walter! Walter!" A voice called me from behind. I saw Randall running to the house while waving.

He reached me and pulled me into a hug. "Uh, man... I’m going to miss you." I didn’t resist, until it dragged on for much longer than it was supposed to. "Okay, that’s enough." I pushed him off. "I can’t believe you were planning on leaving without saying goodbye."

"Well, I told Madel to tell you I’m leaving — didn’t you get the message? She’s staying behind to continue your training."

"I know, she told me, but—"

"Walter, don’t forget you promised." She walked past me, holding her mini basket, then paused, pointing at me. "You said you’ll take me to the mansion you’re staying in. Don’t forget." She pouted, walking away.

After giving our farewells, I climbed into the carriage as we rode to the dragon kingdom.