The Monster King's Legacy

Chapter 74 A Path to Strength

'It just doesn't make any sense...' Lance said to himself in his head stealing a glance at the dragon, Aelyndra. 'So similar to what a politician might cook up.' He thought back to the dragon's words and the encounter they just had.

He spoke to Lia, and not surprisingly, she knew of dragons, but they were legendary creatures that existed in lore, at least that was how he understood it. If it was so, why would such a creature be lingering around these wild lands to protect monster races? It just didn't make much sense at all.

What appeared most suspicious to him was the dragon hunting down the demons... just to prove its point that ultimately led to them offering their loyalty... Lance thought it just wasn't as natural as it appeared, then again, he didn't see any other path forward. Not that it was bad either, as longas they weren't being kept as future snacks, it was alright.

Luckily, the tribe had prepared a larger stock of food than normal following the threat of battle that may last, so they had enough to feed a dragon, at least they thought so.

As the night settled in, the goblins responsible for preparing food dug into their craft, roasting the best meat and cooking up the best soups they could manage. Even then, it was more than a mystery how they would satisfy such a huge creature. Aelyndra was at least the size of a medium sized plane, maybe even a bit bigger.

Despite their worries, the meals they prepared turned out to be enough somehow, Aelyndra was not a glutton it seemed.

Once the feast was done, the dragon left flying away.

The rest of the night was blissful and filled with different stories, speculations, and a calming energy that resonated with each goblin.

...

Two weeks or so later, while the midday sun beat down on the goblin camp as Lance sat near the edge of the clearing, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon where Aelyndra had last disappeared. The dragon's immense power, despite its gentleness, was undeniable—something far beyond anything Lance could imagine wielding himself.

Now though, the dragon had visited them twice after the initial visit, and it had planned to come by that day.

As he thought back to the battles they'd fought, the lingering threat of the demons, and potentially even bigger problems to come, a single truth weighed heavily on his mind.

Lance's brows furrowed as he absorbed the dragon's words. "You're saying I need to train to the point of near death?"

"Precisely," Aelyndra said. "It is not an easy path, and it carries risks. But if you are willing to embrace this pain, you will surpass your limits." Aelyndra spoke. 'Or something like that... I'm sure that is what mother always says.' The dragon thought to itself. Aelyndra seemed to have blurted out something she had heard from her mother's mouth several times without much thought, but it seemed relevant.

'Well, there is no guarantee it will work, especially because its my mother's words, her ways are not normal... but, its worth the try.' Aelyndra thought.

"I see... Thank you very much for your guidance, Aelyndra..." Lance said, a small smile on his face.

"It is nothing."

"Uhm..."

"What is it, Lance?" Aelyndra asked in a deep but soft voice.

"You don't happen to have a blessing you can bestow upon me, do you?"

"Eh... I don't have one, Lance."

"Heh, I understand. Well, welcome! We've started preparations."

Listening to Lance, Aelyndra raised its head slowly, its eyes deep but with a satisfied look in them. "Very well."

Lance considered the dragon's advice as he stepped back into the camp, his mind racing with possibilities. This was something he had thought of and even practicalized, but perhaps, not to the point of near death, that appeared to be the key word in Aelyndra's words.

That evening, without waiting, he began his first trial.