All Chapters of The Dragon Ascendant : Chapter 31
- Chapter 40
89 chapters
Forged In Fire
Chapter 31: Forged in Fire The clearing at the base of the Forbidden Mountains was bathed in the golden light of early morning. The air pulsed with electricity, a blend of old power and the sheer presence of Draco Maximus. The dragon’s huge body loomed over Raiden, his golden eyes glinting with both approval and challenge. “You’re improving,” Draco muttered, his voice a deep resonance that vibrated through the ground. “But ‘improving’ won’t be enough. If you face Morgana or Giovanni unprepared, you’ll fall. And I don’t carry weaklings.” Raiden smirked softly, his palm tightening around the hilt of his blade. “Then it’s a good thing I’m not weak.” Draco snorted, expelling a puff of smoke. “Prove it.” Without unexpectedly, the dragon’s tail lashed at Raiden, a swirl of obsidian scales cutting through the air. Raiden barely had time to react, his augmented sword gleaming slightly as he raised it to parry the hit. The hit sent a tremor through his arms, driving him back seve
Forging Fire And Steel
Chapter 32: Forging Fire and Steel The training ground at the base of the Forbidden Mountains was alive with tension. The air buzzed with unsaid energy as Raiden adjusted the straps on his gloves, his blade laying against the ground at his side. The tie between him and Draco Maximus had developed over the last weeks, each session stretching the limits of their connection. But this morning, there was something unusual in Draco’s stance—a quiet intensity that placed Raiden on edge. “You’re not ready,” Draco snarled, his golden gaze riveted on Raiden. Raiden glanced up immediately, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. “You’ve been saying that for days.” “Because it’s true,” Draco responded, his tone adamant. He extended his enormous wings gently, the movement disturbing the air. “You think you’ve mastered the bond, but all you’ve done is scratch the surface. If you fight Morgana or Giovanni now, you’ll lose.” Raiden picked up his sword, its blade slightly pulsating with
The Duel Of Shadows
Chapter 33: The Duel of Shadows The great courtyard of the Elthorn mansion was alive with anxiety. The event had collected most of the clan’s influential members, all gathered beneath the wide banners of their house. The crisp morning air carried murmurs of intrigue as Raiden moved through the gathering, his strides smooth and methodical. Clad in his traveling cloak, his sword sheathed at his side, he felt every eye on him. Raiden’s participation at the clan assembly had not been announced—it was a calculated risk. He needed to reveal himself, to let the clan realize he wasn’t the rogue Morgana painted him to be. Yet, when he studied the faces of the assembled, his instincts remained sharp. He could feel the undertone of discomfort, the whispers of doubt that persisted after his warnings to the council. “Raiden!” The voice pierced through the talk like a dagger, harsh and filled with hatred. Raiden turned slowly, his gaze resting on Lucan. The Elthorn lieutenant stood at t
The Magus's Plan
Chapter 34: The Magus’s Plan The ancient cavern smelled of earth and time, the air heavy with an eerie silence. Raiden followed the margins of the glyphs engraved into the stone walls, their faint glimmer throbbing like a heartbeat. It was the kind of area where secrets remained, waiting to be found. And here, deep beneath the Forbidden Mountains, he had unearthed another legacy of the Magus. “Do you feel it?” Draco Maximus rumbled, his huge figure squatted at the entrance to the cavern. His golden eyes reflected the faint illumination of the runes, their sharpness unflinching. Raiden nodded, his palm brushing across a decrepit pedestal at the chamber’s center. On it lay a sealed scroll, its edges tied with silver thread that shimmered softly in the dim light. “I feel it. This spot... it’s like it was waiting for me.” Draco huffed gently, his voice a low growl. “Perhaps it was. Your ancestor had a penchant for leaving breadcrumbs.” Raiden untied the silver thread carefu
Purpose Reforged
Chapter 35: Purpose Reforged The fire blazed softly in the silence of the night, its golden light casting flickering shadows against the steep walls of the mountain pass. Raiden sat near the fire, the Magus’s scroll spread open on his lap. The lines engraved on the ancient paper echoed continuously in his thoughts, each line a weight weighing down on him. His reincarnation was no accident. It wasn’t a twist of fate, a modest chance for vengeance against Morgana. It was deliberate—a plan ages in the making. The Magus had seen the upheaval coming, the breaking of the balance, and had placed his hopes, his power, in Raiden. “You’ve been staring at that thing for hours,” Draco Maximus rumbled from nearby, his golden eyes sparkling in the firelight. The dragon’s huge body was coiled protectively, but his gaze was piercing, observing Raiden with a mix of wonder and concern. Raiden didn’t glance up. “It’s a lot to take in.” Draco snorted gently, a jet of smoke spiraling into the
The Beast Unleashed
Chapter 36: The Beast Unleashed The evening sun cast long shadows across the Elthorn estate as the day’s business came to a conclusion. The courtyard bustled with activity, warriors sparring, servants carrying supplies, and the council elders whispering amongst themselves. But behind the surface, a calm anxiety had taken root. Raiden’s remarks had begun to spread like whispers in the wind, and doubt was seeping into the hearts of even the most devoted. Morgana stood in her private quarters, her expression colder than the steel of the sword laying on the surrounding table. The reports of disagreement among the clan had reached her ears, and she knew who to blame. “Raiden,” she hissed under her breath, her nails pressing into the edge of the desk. Beside her, Giovanni lounged against the wall, his sharp features highlighted by the flickering light of the torches. “You expected him to stay silent after you branded him a rogue?” he continued, his tone dripping with scorn. Morgan
A Pyrrhic Triumph
Chapter 37: A Pyrrhic Triumph The morning following the war dawned with the faint scent of ash still lingering in the air. The once-proud courtyard of the Elthorn estate was now a landscape of debris and burnt earth. Shattered stone walls and the shards of shattered weaponry were scattered, clear reminders of the destruction unleashed by Morgana’s dark beast. Raiden stood at the middle of the wreckage, his glowing sword planted in the earth beside him. His limbs hurt from the combat, his thoughts still racing with the echoes of the beast’s cry. But his resolve remained unshaken. Around him, the wounded were cared to by clan healers, their movements quick and tense. Draco Maximus sat nearby, his golden eyes inspecting the rubble. The dragon’s huge body cast lengthy shadows over the courtyard, his presence both reassuring and imposing. “They’re afraid of you,” Draco muttered, his voice low enough that only Raiden could hear. “They’re afraid of us,” Raiden clarified, his gaze
Mounting The Storm
Chapter 38: Mounting the stormThe wind whispered through the trees as Raiden stood at the edge of a rocky plateau viewing the valley below. From this vantage point, he could see the meandering routes that wound through the mountains, littered with figures—travelers, soldiers, wanderers. They came in tiny groups, their presence constant and focused. Word of the struggle with the beast, of Raiden’s growing might and his defiance of Morgana, had begun to spread. “They’re coming for you,” Draco Maximus snarled from behind him. The dragon lay curled on a large outcrop, his golden eyes fixated on the approaching men. “Drawn by your strength—or their desperation.” Raiden’s lips curved into a small smile, though his expression remained contemplative. “Both, most likely. People always look for something to believe in when everything else falls apart.” Draco snorted. “And they think you’re it? You, the rogue branded a traitor by your own clan?” Raiden gazed back at him, his gaze u
The Foundation Of Defiance
Chapter 39: The Foundation of Defiance The sun hung low in the sky, giving a warm amber glow over the plateau. The impromptu camp pulsed with activity, a patchwork of tents and smoking flames dotting the clearing. Raiden marched through the camp with Draco Maximus at his side, the dragon’s enormous shadow spanning far and wide. Despite the lingering tension of strangers joined under one cause, there was an evident undercurrent of hope. “Every great movement starts with a foundation,” Draco murmured, his golden gaze surveying the camp. “You’ve gathered the lost and the broken. Now comes the hard part—turning them into a force.” Raiden nodded, his gaze fixed ahead. “They have potential. They only need a reason to fight, something to believe in beyond their anger.” “And they look to you for that reason,” Draco continued, his voice stern. “Don’t falter.” “I won’t,” Raiden responded, his voice firm, though he could feel the weight of the dragon’s words weighing down on him. R
Shadows Closing In
Chapter 40: Shadows Closing In The tension in the air was obvious as Raiden stood at the edge of the plateau, surveying the camp below. Fires flickered in the early evening light, their warm glow illuminating the faces of his gathering followers. These were people who had risked everything to join him, who had left behind their tribes, their homes, and their safety for a chance to stand against Morgana’s tyranny. But Raiden knew the war had only just begun. Morgana wasn’t the sort to let a threat grow unchecked. “She’ll make a move soon,” Draco Maximus rumbled from behind him, the dragon’s golden eyes locked on the horizon. “You’ve gained too much attention. She’ll want to remind everyone who owns the ultimate power.” Raiden nodded, his gaze unflinching. “I know. She’ll come for my allies first, the ones who give this resistance its strength. It’s how she operates—divide, weaken, and destroy.” Draco snorted, expelling a puff of smoke. “Then you’d better be ready.” By mi