Chapter 35 - The Ancient Curse (2)

Leo followed the guild master to his office, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. The guild master walked behind his desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a scroll. He handed it to Leo with a grave expression.

Leo took the scroll, his eyes flicking to the guild master's somber face before he unrolled it. It was a quest—an extermination quest. Specifically, it was Amanda's request for the extermination of the Orc Dominion. His brow furrowed as he read through it.

"What's the problem? The Orc Lord's already defeated, right?" This makes Leo's question more natural and conversational.

The guild master nodded slowly. "You're correct. That person came here to claim his reward." Leo's confusion deepened. "Then what's the problem?"

The guild master gestured to the scroll. "Read the reward section."

Leo's eyes scanned the text until he reached the reward section. His heart stopped.

Reward: Amanda.

The words hit him like a punch to the gut. Shocked, he dropped the scroll onto the master's table, his hands trembling. "Who claimed to have defeated the Orc Lord?" he demanded, his voice barely a whisper.

The guild master's face tightened. "The Dragon Lord."

A cold shiver ran down Leo's spine. It was just as Ranna had warned him; the Dragon Lord, a system user, was infamous for his power and ruthlessness.

The guild master's gaze lingered on Leo, his unease growing as he caught the subtle but unmistakable change in the young man's demeanor. Leo's shoulders squared with a rigid determination, his jaw set tight, and his eyes burned with a fierce resolve that left no room for doubt. The guild master recognized that look instantly—he'd seen it too many times before. It was the look of someone ready to cast aside caution, ready to risk everything for a single, unwavering goal.

"You mustn't do anything reckless," he said, his voice firm but edged with urgency. His fingers curled around the desk's edge, gripping it tightly as if preparing for the storm he knew was coming. "He's a system user with an empire forged in blood and fire. Facing him is not just dangerous—it's madness."

Leo's mind raced, emotions swirling in a chaotic storm. He felt a surge of anger and helplessness. The thought of Amanda being handed over to someone like the Dragon Lord was unbearable.

"This can't happen," Leo muttered, his fists clenching so tightly his knuckles.

Memories of Amanda's smile flashed through his mind, followed by the chilling image of her trapped with the Dragon Lord. His breath quickened, and anger flared in his chest, burning away the hesitation.

He straightened, his voice steady. "I'll save her. No matter what."

The guild master sighed deeply.

He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice as if to ensure his words reached the part of Leo that might still listen. "I've seen men like you before. They act on impulse, and when the dust settles, they're left with nothing but regret. Don't let that be you."

He thanked the guild master, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "I'll be fine," he said as he turned towards the door. Just before stepping out, he paused and looked back, his eyes hardening with resolve. Leo hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of his words.

"Because," Leo said, his voice steady as he locked eyes with the guild master, "I was the one who defeated the Orc Lord."

The guild master's eyes widened in shock. His secret, one he'd kept even from Amanda, was now out. There was no turning back.

He quickly followed, his steps hurried and anxious.

Leo descended the stairs, his boots striking the wooden steps with purpose. The muffled chatter of adventurers filled the guild hall, but he ignored it, his focus narrowing on Ai, who stood behind the front desk with her usual air of calm readiness.

The guild master was close behind, trying to process what Leo had just revealed.

"Ai," he said, his voice firm, "can you teleport me to the Dragon Lord's place?"

Ai nodded, her demeanor confident and unflinching. She gestured in front of her, as if scrolling through an invisible screen.

She navigated the map with expert precision, each gesture methodical as the tension in the air thickened. The moment she tapped the location, the ground beneath them began to hum with energy. A magic circle appeared, its glow growing brighter as power surged through it. Leo's pulse quickened—there was no turning back now.

In an instant, it moved upwards, engulfing them in a bright light.

Inside the guild center, people stared in amazement and shock. The master and others were left speechless, their eyes wide as they tried to comprehend what had just happened. The sudden disappearance of Leo and Ai left a ripple of murmurs and gasps among the adventurers and clerks.

They were teleported instantaneously, finding themselves standing before the imposing gates of the Dragon Lord's mansion.

The mansion's gate and walls loomed as tall as the fortified barriers of the capital, their surfaces etched with intricate engravings of writhing dragons, each figure seeming to move under the play of light and shadow. The air around the gate felt charged, as if imbued with a silent warning to all who dared approach.

Even the faintest breeze carried a sense of foreboding.

The gate itself was designed like a grill, allowing a view of the opulent property within. The center of the gate bore a menacing dragon head, a clear symbol of the Dragon Lord's dominion.

Two guards stationed outside the gate immediately stepped forward. "Go back," one of them commanded. "The Dragon Lord is busy today."

Leo's eyes narrowed, his determination unwavering. He took a step forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "I have urgent business with him," he declared, his voice carrying a weight of authority that made the guards hesitate. "And I won't be leaving until I've spoken to him."

Inside the Dragon Lord's chamber, he unfastened his armor piece by piece, each clink reverberating through the room like a death knell. The cold air kissed his exposed skin, but his smug expression remained unchanged.

He looked at his servant and said. "Go outside and let no one disturb this room," he commanded.

His servant bowed deeply, her eyes briefly flickering to Amanda, who was sitting on the bed, her posture tense and her eyes downcast. The servant hesitated for a moment, her gaze filled with pity before she turned to leave.

"I knew you would honor your word," the Dragon Lord said, his voice dripping with condescension. He approached Amanda, a twisted smile on his lips. "I will take care of you as one of my concubines."

Amanda's eyes filled with tears, her body trembling as the Dragon Lord's words sank in.

Her thoughts churned desperately, searching for an escape, but the oppressive weight of despair rooted her in place, smothering the fire that once fueled her resolve.

She had always been strong, a fighter who refused to yield—but now, she felt powerless, ensnared by the clutches of a monster she had no hope of defeating. Each unbidden sob escaped like a crack in her defenses, splintering her resolve piece by piece.

He lowered himself beside her, his sheer presence looming and stifling. Slowly, he reached out, his fingers threading through her hair as he smelled its scent, the act dripping with a twisted sense of possession.

Amanda recoiled, trying to pull away from him.

With a cruel laugh, he grabbed the front of her dress and ripped it open. She gasped, fear and despair mingling in her eyes. Just as he was about to touch her, A thunderous crash shattered the tense silence outside the room, followed by the muffled shouts of guards and the unmistakable destruction.

The Dragon Lord's head snapped up, irritation flashing across his face. "What's happening out there?" he shouted.

His servant, who had been standing guard outside, started to respond, but before she could utter a word, they all felt it—a powerful, threatening aura that seemed to fill the entire mansion. The air grew heavy, and the temperature dropped noticeably. The Dragon Lord's eyes widened in shock and anger as he recognized the intensity of the presence approaching.

Amanda's sobs turned into hopeful breaths as she sensed the change.

The Dragon Lord immediately stood up, his face contorted with anger. His body was enveloped in a soft red light, which pulsed and shimmered as he moved forward. Some of the light remained suspended in the air, glowing ominously. As he advanced, the light began to solidify, transforming into a fearsome dragon armor.

The armor was a stunning display of power, its crimson scales shimmering like molten rock, each piece fused seamlessly as if forged by ancient system magic. It clung to him like a second skin, radiating a palpable aura of dominance. The scales glistened menacingly under the dim light of the room, creating an intimidating presence. A long, sinuous tail extended from the base of his spine, twitching with barely restrained fury.

His helmet was designed to look like a dragon's head, complete with horns and sharp ridges. The opening of the helmet was the dragon's mouth, revealing only his eyes, which burned with a fiery rage.

He took a step forward, the ground beneath him trembling slightly from the weight and power of his armor. His aura radiated outwards, causing the very air to hum with tension.