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Chapter 621
🕑 Added 2026-01-15 04:05:30 +0000 UTCAs Ajax and Aurexion flew off at high speed Khalysstra smiled to herself. “Just how many secrets do you have, young human, that Aurexion is in such a rush to talk to you alone about them?”
Turning around she looked towards Ruinflare. “Thank you for your hospitality.” Her eyes flashed as she used her Legendary Skill [Mana Cycling] the Mana in her body moving, wasting none of it but all of it at the tips of her claws. “I hope you’ll keep quiet about my son’s surprising attraction to a certain Mana type.”
“Oh course, Lady Khalysstra.” Ruinflare bowed. “I won’t return any earlier than planned and will only send word back about the return of the humans. But when I do return to our high peaks I will be reporting everything to the high matriarch."
If there was one thing the elemental hawks could claim to be displeased about with how the Reaper helped them it was that he helped raise up three males and two females. This alone changed the mating habits of the elemental hawks over the centuries as males showered the females with gifts for their potential offspring and resulted in a fierce fight for resources. It made the previous unbreakable unit of their race built on survival shatter as fights broke out. The end result did end up with stronger and stronger offspring as the strongest males and females fed plenty of resources into their few offspring.
“Thank you for that.” Khalysstra let go of her skill, she knew the matriarch wouldn’t be all that interested for a while yet. She was the strongest current elemental hawk with the death of her father only two centuries prior and she just made the choice to forge rebirth four centuries ago to take her palace as protector instead of protected. With two males still in contention for her affections it was them she couldn’t allow to find out about her son’s affinity and the treasure Ajax had so kindly gifted him.
With that Khalysstra took her son and flew off after the sidhe, catching up with them quickly. “I see you chose to stay, despite me telling you to leave.” She could feel the fear radiating off the young female sidhe as well as the more controlled and calculated fear smothered by the older two. The youngest one however seemed emboldened by arrogance and held back by his mother with a solid grip. “We need to rectify that.”
“What will you have us do?” The strongest of the sidhe asked.
“I would make a deal with you.” Khalysstra said and took great pleasure as she watched the hope build in their eyes. “You can even choose the wording, but you’re not to speak a word about anything you might have found out from the moment I sent you away to the moment our conversation ends.”
“You would trust us to select the wording?” The youngest sidhe, Veyra if she remembered well Ajax mentioned her name offhand before, asked.
“Of course, as great as we dragons think we are, I don't presume to be able to outsmart a sidhe when it comes to a deal.” Khalysstra admitted and she could see the wheels turning behind the mask of the two oldest sidhe. “We dragons however don’t care so much about the letter of the deal so long as its spirit is upheld.”
“Our magic doesn’t uphold the spirit of an agreement, Lady Khalysstra.” The older sidhe female said as she tightened her grip over her son. “How do you propose to enforce it?”
“Oh the deal is not for my benefit, it is for yours.” Khalysstra's smile showed all of her sharp teeth as she pulled the Death affinity stone out and into her claw. “This little prize is mine. The deal is to give yourself plausible deniability when questioned. If I feel like you broke the agreement… well I suppose I must mention to your king that you targeted a human… unprovoked.”
Khalysstra took great pleasure in watching the abject terror break out over the two sidhe who had previously contained their fear. While the sidhe began planning the exact wording of their agreement she couldn’t help but admire the great mind of the Grim Reaper. He had known the other races wouldn’t keep the sidhe from moving so he made a deal with their king instead. It was him who was bound by the Deal to deal with any who even threatened humanoids unprovoked.
The genius part of the deal however took advantage of the true power of the sidhe. To maintain their power their kings and queens gifted as much of their power to their successors before they died ensuring that each ruler that followed had the whole might of their people behind them. Some rulers were stronger than others based on personal talent and Skills but they all passed down their powers. The deal the Grim Reaper made forced them to also pass along the responsibility of their deal along with their powers to their successor.
Once the deals were struck Khalysstra took off once more, waiting some time before finally putting the Death gem into the claws of her son who curled around it. “Easy now, you’re not close to strong enough to even attempt to draw any of that power, little one.” The little dragon didn’t seem to mind as the proximity is all it was looking for before it quickly fell asleep basking in the Death being radiated by the gem.
Eleven days later in the Republic’s council chamber.
“Our reinforcements are on their way.” Archduke Goldenmouth offered. “Gryndor, Brightstone and Sylvanthal are all sending a few of their elite troops and some champions.”
“That will certainly help but it doesn’t excuse our own lack of foresight.” Councilor Deepforge breathed out. “This plan must have been in the works for more than a century, even before the last war ended. The coup must have happened right as that war was ending, that's why they put all those clauses in the treaty instead of asking for land or resources.”
Shadow had to agree yet he remained silent. He knew just how hard the border was being pushed back right now but he couldn’t afford to make a move just yet. The beastkin had the right amount of regular troops, the only difference was that they were younger, more inexperienced.
The issues came when looking at the elites and the champions. The number of elites they could field was staggering, easily three times what the two nations should have been able to. When looking at the number of champions the issue only grew. Most of their champions were on the weaker side, some to the point that Shadow was confident in actually winning a two versus one and not being laid up for months of recovery. The issue was that much like their elites their champions were outnumbered more than three to one, they were mostly stronger than their counterparts and they had yet to lose one but it was only a matter of time.
“These younger champions must have been the backbone of the coup that took place.” Shadow provided. “They are inexperienced in dealing with other champions. When the transfer of power happened all the old champions must have seen the writing on the wall and made agreements with the new rulers.”
There had already been one enemy champion casualty when they recklessly charged in pursuit and that had done more to slow the enemy advance than the thousands of deaths among the regular soldiers both countries had suffered.
“Before the reinforcing champions arrive we need to get a lockdown on any spies.” Shadow said. “Once all our allies are here we need to use them as a surprise attack to lower the number of enemy champions considerably or even with their help it might not be enough.”
Gryndor royal palace at the same time
“That was a good idea brother.” The crown prince said. “But I doubt the Empire is going to try anything; they are more focused on expansion following the latest news.”
“Our champions are more than fast enough to make the trip a month faster than even the elite soldiers. They’d all rather enjoy a month here in the palace before leaving rather than a slow slog on the road.” The eldest prince offered. “What about the court, are they still pushing for House Hearthbound to provide people?”
“Yes.” The crown prince let out a heavy sigh. “Their little trade blockade threat might have given us leverage over the Empire but it also threatened a lot of Houses that make a lot of profits from those same routes. They are all pushing for House Hearthbound to send a champion or a sizable force as expected of the other landed Ducal Houses.”
“They know they have no army to send.” King Gryndor growled. “They want to get rid of Lancel so they can pressure House Hearthbound while Ajax is away.”
“You already sent the message for him to return, haven't you father?” The eldest prince asked.
The king didn’t get a chance to answer as an intricate knock on the door pounded loudly, a moment of silence was all they had before they opened. “What is the emergency?” The king asked, he knew the knock used and the only reason why the guards at the door would allow entry before a response was a big emergency.
“Your Highness, a dragon was spotted at the border.” The messenger sucked in lungfuls of air despite his Skills and level showing how much he pushed himself to get here as fast as possible. “It's headed towards the center of the kingdom.”
A/N : this marks the end of book 7, chapter 1 of book 8 will be on Friday.
Comments
Oraclekilla_2
So when you say chapter release Friday…. You mean like on 1/16, or like 1/23… just asking for a friend… You how those friends could be.. 👀👀. Well you know I love the chapter and all too. Again just a little lost on that release date, umm my friend, my friend is lost on that release date.
Aizen Weeks
An idea, with the speed of flight, Ajax and Aure could get to and dive in most dungeons without resistance. Beast nation will have to worry about a dungeon break now.
Arrogant Savant
Do keep in mind that everyone has an affinity determined by their talent towards certain skills (with a trait also affecting that leaning). Though when it comes to mythic affinities I wouldn't be surprised if for the most part it is the exclusive domain of ascended
userunfriendly
HOLD YOUR HORSES!!! We’ve been assuming Ajax has lost the chance to learn or possibly teach Death affinity to Lexi, who’s closest to being Ascended, because it’s almost certain that only an Ascended can learn Mythic skills. That’s NOT true! Remember that little trick in Refuel?! He can Siphon a bit of unknown magic types and isolate it for further study. He probably has a sample of that Epic or Legendary type from that giant mole, we KNOW he has a sample of Sidhe contract magic, because he’s used Siphon to try weakening it, and he most likely has a sample of Death. So, all bets are off. Lady Lexi Hearthbound, the Mistress of Darkness, may yet appear on the battlefield…or Ajax Hearthbound, MageBane and Lord of Darkness and Life…😎🫡
userunfriendly
🐉🐲⚔️😎
Captain Greenhat
Congratulations on finishing another book!
Arrogant Savant
It was mentioned in the first chapter he appeared he has red and black scales
Robse
I very much like the way Khalysstra deals with the sidhe. That was a great idea from Keleros.
Wen L.
Ajax riding Aurexion to the battlefield: "I've wanted to do this like forever...Drakaris!" Aurexion: "...Huh!" Ajax looking embarassed: "Just breath fire, so I can look cool!"
Jessica
Good cliffhanger ending! This was fantastic! Thank you so much for continuing to share your work!
Caiban
While i agree to some point i think the scare and uncertanty the enemys will have if they dont know about it before is the better thing for the war
Caiban
Well here is the champion + 1 Dragon they want his House to send out xD
Szpoi
I might have missed, but how does Aurexion looks like? Can we get a little description? What color is his scales? Does he have horns (one pair, two pairs?), are they curve foward or backward? ect.
Silver Beard
He should get Aurexion to bank occasionally... so watchers can he him on his back. That'll put a fire in the spy network...everywhere.
