Chapter 7 The Great Rebellion

When Noah walked out of the Dragon Nest, he immediately saw a tall, imposing man standing in the flowerbed, quietly admiring the exotic flowers and grasses swaying in the mountain breeze.

As a member of the Dragon Species, even as a hatchling only a few years old, Noah could easily crush any human being with his sheer size.

But looking at this human who was smaller than him, Noah felt a bizarre sensation of looking up at a towering mountain.

This was not an illusion; the aura emitted by this man was overwhelmingly grand, comparable to the endless mountain range, and this was even when he reined it in.

Because of this, aside from his title, Noah had no objections to his foster father himself, as he was indeed extraordinary. Many times, including now, Noah couldn't help but question the human lineage of his foster father.

Is he really human?

Noah couldn't help but feel puzzled, then reassessed his foster father.

Sunlight cascaded from the sky, coating the man standing in front of the Dragon Cave with a golden radiance, making him look like a hero stepped out of ancient legends.

His sharply defined features seemed carved by knife and axe; resolute and decisive, his thick black hair fell slightly disheveled over his shoulders, the strands lifting lightly in the wind, adding a wild and untamed aura.

He wore a cloak made of thick beast hide, with sharp metal fittings embedded along the edges, glinting coldly in the sunlight. Beneath the cloak was a form-fitting light armor, faintly revealing the taut muscle lines underneath, showcasing extraordinary power.

Hanging at his waist was a broad longsword, its scabbard engraved with intricate patterns, even in sunlight, a faint glow could be seen swirling along it.

Outside the flowerbed, a Knight Order with armor stained with dried bloodstains awaited. These knights were vastly different from the Patrol Knights brought by Tidel a few days ago.

Not only because they wore heavier war armor, with frightening claw marks and remnants of flesh and blood on it, but more importantly, the ferocious aura they exuded, as if they had returned from the Abyss Battlefield.

Their presence disrupted the harmonious and peaceful air in the flowerbed, filling it with an oppressive and lethal atmosphere.

To the uninformed, they might think this was some legendary human hero, leading his followers, preparing for a grand dragon-slaying mission.

However, contrary to this, when Noah, emerging from the Dragon Nest, saw the man before him, his eyes lit up and he shouted affectionately,

"Uncle Casius, you're back from hunting!"

"I'm back."

Seeing the hatchling Golden Dragon emerge from the Dragon Nest, the man turned his head to look, then a gentle smile appeared on his still youthful and brave face.

However, the bloodthirsty aura on him was so thick, that even when he smiled, it gave little sense of goodwill, instead inducing a spine-chilling feeling.

But Noah didn't seem to mind, as he was long accustomed to it. Ignoring the aura similar to Dragon Power, capable of mentally oppressing people, he approached Casius, his face full of expectation.

"What treasure did you bring me from this hunt?"

"I brought back quite a few prey and trophies on this trip, you can pick something you like."

Watching Noah's expression and little actions, Casius's smile widened, with a gentle wave of his hand, one terrifying giant beast carcass after another appeared before Noah.

Scorpion-tailed lions, Winged Snake Dragons, Hundred-Eyed Demon Elders, Rakshasa Stone Beasts, Mountain Giant Demon King

Looking at these powerful monsters, even in death radiating an intimidating aura, Noah's previous anticipation was momentarily replaced by a daze, his gaze shifting back and forth between the monster corpses and Casius.

Each of these powerful monsters capable of reigning over the wilderness appeared before Noah now, in corpse form. From the relatively intact states of these remains, it was evident that whoever slew them held an absolute advantage in strength.

"What is it?"

Noticing Noah's odd expression, Casius inquired.

"Have you made another breakthrough?"

Noah couldn't hold back; even though he was young and had never been outside the Dragon Nest, the bloodline inheritance assured him a basic level of insight. He could recognize all these monsters.

From the state of these monsters' deaths alone, he could deduce that his foster father's strength must have significantly advanced.

"Indeed, a small breakthrough."

Casius spoke lightly, but to Noah's ears, his mood became unsettled, and his gaze towards his foster father took on a new intensity.

Because his not-so-responsible Golden Dragon father had once mentioned in his presence that Casius was already on the verge of Legendary status.

But that was an assessment from two years ago. What does his foster father's mention of a small breakthrough now mean?

"Have you become a Legend?"

"Becoming a Legend is not so easily achieved."

Upon hearing Noah's inquiry, Casius couldn't help but chuckle,

"I'm still a bit short!"

"How much longer before you can become a Legend?"

Noah quickly asked.

With unreliable biological parents, his greatest reliance now was the foster father before him. The greater his foster father's power, the better his own life would be, like now, leading a knight order into the wilderness and thinking first of him upon return.

"I can't give you an exact time for that; maybe tomorrow I'll be a Legend, maybe ten years later, or maybe there's no way in my lifetime to break the barrier. No one can confidently say they'll certainly become a Legend, except you Dragons."

Casius's tone was calm, his demeanor gentle, truly like a loving father.

"I see."

Noah sighed in slight disappointment, but his spirits quickly lifted again,

"But even if you're not a Legend yet, the Earl's title doesn't match you. With your achievements and battle results, a report to the Capital should compel that old fool on the throne to elevate your rank a bit."

Noah had no reverence for the human Monarch, for even as a monarch, only those with good conduct were qualified to serve the Golden Dragon, and only that.

To earn the equal regard of Dragon Species and gain recognition from a Golden Dragon, one must display exceptional talent and ability, enough to leave a mark in history books.

However, Noah's disdain for the King drew no reaction from Casius. After all, as a border noble unlikely to receive aid from the Kingdom, respecting the King they nominally swore allegiance to was hard to come by.

"That would only be a Marquis, not a Duke, not meeting your expectations."

Hearing Noah's suggestion, Casius couldn't help but tease, fully aware of the reasons behind the young dragon's discontent.

"Even so, a Marquis is better than an Earl."

"To elevate the title, a new investiture is needed, I'd have to make a trip to the Capital, and that's too much of a time drain."