Chapter 14. The Egg.

Ignis now had the chance to go to the Dragoon, as the Hellflame Phalanx had been granted jurisdiction over Meldara.

Asmodeus addressed the soldiers of Nethralis, "There is one more thing I need to announce. Lord Luciferal and I have decided to organize a game—or rather, a competition—here in Nethralis. This will be a tournament for all demon, elite, and normal-ranked soldiers of our devil army, to determine who is currently the strongest soldier among us.

"The winner of this tournament will be promoted to the rank of Vice-Commander of the Hellflame Phalanx. The tournament will take place in one month, and the rules will only be revealed on the day of the event. Until then, all demon, elite, and soldier ranks, train yourselves to your limit. And remember—this will not be a team-versus-team event; it is an individual competition."

The news sent shockwaves through the ranks. Nethralis had never hosted such a tournament before. It was unprecedented.

Suddenly, numerous portals opened in the skies of Nethralis—the same kind of portals that had appeared over Meldara. Through these portals descended an army of dragons.

The soldiers immediately prepared for battle, but Asmodeus raised his voice, commanding them to stand down. "Lower your weapons! These beings are not our enemies. They are special guests invited by Lord Luciferal."

Princess Alina, accompanied by Supreme Commander Kael and their dragon army, landed on the scorched lands of Nethralis. Upon arrival, the princess approached Ignis directly, greeting him with a smile. "We meet again. Was it fate?"

Ignis, surprisingly asked, "Why are you here?"

Before Alina could reply, Kael stepped forward and grabbed Ignis by the neck, his voice filled with fury. "How dare you speak to the princess in such a tone?"

Alina panicked and immediately ordered Kael to release him. "Let go of him, Kael! He is my friend now, and he can talk to me however he wants. You have no right to interfere!"

For a tense moment, the devil soldiers eyed the dragons with suspicion, but the tension eased when Alina turned to Ignis and apologized sincerely.

She explained, "We were invited by Lord Luciferal. He sent a message to us saying that Nethralis was hosting its first-ever tournament among the devil soldiers. As thanks for sparing your already-wounded army during the battle in Meldara, my mother, the queen, myself, Supreme Commander Kael, and the royal guards were invited as honored guests.

"My mother couldn't join us, though, as she's busy attending to other matters."

Ashkaris then stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Your Highness, Commander Kael, it is an honor to meet you both. We are deeply grateful for your mercy in not attacking us at Meldara. Truly, we owe you much."

Kael replied, "Don't worry about it, Sir Ashkaris. I must say, by your demeanor, you're the only devil commander I've met who I can respect."

Ashkaris humbly responded, "Thank you for the compliment, Commander. Please make yourselves at home here."

Kael nodded. "Of course, we will."

Asmodeus approached, greeting both Alina and Kael warmly. Kael, however, requested to meet Luciferal.

Asmodeus refused, making an excuse. "Lord Luciferal is not in good health. After the last war, his condition hasn't improved."

Kael expressed sympathy but couldn't help feeling suspicious. Ignis was confused. To his knowledge, Luciferal hadn't participated in the recent war. What war could Lord Asmodeus be referring to?

Asmodeus then invited Alina, Kael, and the royal guards to the palace, Hell's Dominion, but Alina refused.

"I want Sir Kael to train Ignis for the upcoming tournament," she said firmly. "And if you remember, Asmodeus, that was the condition I proposed when we accepted your invitation to Nethralis."

Asmodeus responded carefully, "Yes, that was the condition, but I believe there's been a misunderstanding. I agreed to Sir Kael training Ignis, but only after the tournament is over. Now, let's not waste time. You all must be tired, and the royal feast is about to begin. Let's head to the palace."

Kael agreed with Asmodeus and escorted Alina to the palace, leaving Ignis behind.

Kharos approached Ignis. "One month. That's all the time we have. Let's push ourselves to the limit."

Nyxara sighed. "What's the point? Ignis and Indraksha are competing too. I don't stand a chance against those two monsters."

Lilithra scolded her. "What did you just say? Didn't you trained your ass of during those two months before the battle of Meldara?"

Nyxara hesitated. "Yeah, I did....but I still don't want to face them."

Kharos interjected, "Why are you so sure you'll even face them? What if someone else defeats you first?"

Nyxara punched Kharos, cutting him off, and everyone burst into laughter.

Two Weeks Later

Everyone was deep in training.

Alina found Ignis mid-training and smiled. "You're working hard for the tournament."

Ignis turned, surprised. "I didn't know you were here."

Alina dismissed it. "Don't worry about the small details." She asked about his rank, and when Ignis revealed he was still a demon-ranked soldier, she was shocked.

She asked about his devil companion, and Ignis explained he had one but that it was still in the form of an egg.

Curious, Alina requested to see it. When Ignis summoned the egg, a dark aura radiated from it.

Alina explained, "If this egg has been in your inventory, it would never have hatched."

Ignis, confused, asked, "What's an inventory?"

Alina was surprised. "You can use an inventory but don't even know what it is?" She explained that the place where he stored his Hellfire sword was an inventory.

When she asked what kind of beast he wanted from the egg, Ignis answered, "A dragon."

Alina, intrigued, surprisingly asked why.

"When I saw your army at Meldara, it was my first time seeing dragons. I was in awe. That's when I decided I wanted a dragon," Ignis explained.

Alina smiled and formed a screen using her element, which projected different types of dragons.

Ignis, unfamiliar with such magic, was astonished.

"What's this?" he asked, staring at the glowing screen.

Alina smiled. "This is called a visualization screen. It allows me to show you the different types of dragon."

Ignis marveled at the screen, his curiosity piqued. "Are there different types of dragons?"

Alina nodded, her expression softening. "Yes, there are many kinds of dragons, each tied to a unique element or domain. For instance, there are Fire Dragons, like Volkarr, the Supreme Commander of the dragons. He controls the primal essence of fire.

"There are Water Dragons, who dwell deep in the oceans and command the tides.

Earth Dragons are connected to the land and can control mountains and tectonic forces.

Sky Dragons, or Wind Dragons, soar through the heavens and manipulate storms.

Then there are Celestial Dragons, tied to the stars and the cosmos, and Shadow Dragons, which are rare and embody the pure essence of darkness.

"There are even Dragons of Light, who are sacred beings blessed with divine energy. The variety is vast, and each type has its unique strengths and personalities."

Ignis listened intently, absorbing every word. "I had no idea dragons could be so diverse. It's incredible."

Alina smiled warmly. "They are more than just creatures; they are guardians of their respective elements.

Your dragon, when it hatches, will be one of a kind. But remember, it won't be easy to control its power. Dragons are born with an untamed spirit."

Ignis, after learning about all the types of dragons, said to Alina, ''This is the type of dragon I want.''

Alina replied, ''Oh, the Black Dragon, Hei Long. Very well, as you wish.'"

She granted his wish by touching the egg and embedding it with the core of Hei Long, the Black Dragon.

She then told Ignis that it was very hard to tame and train a dragon.

Ignis glanced at the egg again, determination shining in his eyes. "I'll train it. No matter how hard it is."

Alina placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I believe you will. But remember—you must not use the dragon in the tournament. It won't be fully bonded with you, and its aggression could be uncontrollable."

Ignis nodded, understanding the weight of her words.

As they spoke, Ignis instinctively summoned his Hellfire. The flames roared to life, their intensity catching Alina's attention. Her eyes widened slightly as she whispered under her breath, "This fire... it's the same as the one I've read about in the ancient legends."

Ignis turned to her. "Did you say something?"

Startled, Alina quickly shook her head. "No, it's nothing."

But deep down, her thoughts raced. Could this be the Hellfire of legend? If so... Ignis is far more important than anyone realizes.

After their conversation, Alina returned to the palace, leaving Ignis more motivated than ever.

Two Weeks Later

The day of the tournament arrived. The stage was set, and excitement filled the air.

An announcement echoed through Valkaris:

"The first round is going to be between..."