CHAPTER 31: DRAGONMAN

While staying at the Red Crescent Palace as a guest, the fourteen-day timer he had been given was slowly approaching its end.

His Mana Core had returned back to its sealed state the next day after his evolution was completed.

With each day counting, he knew it would be today but he didn’t just know what time.

It may even be in a few hours or even now that...

Caden’s Mana Core will be unsealed, and he will be free to return to Morningstar.

If there’s even an assassination attempt. With his Mana Core unsealed, he could defend himself.

But as he was preparing, he was invited to a raid expedition hosted by House Stark.

With the numbers ranging from hundreds to thousands of stone trolls migrating into the Red Crescent Kingdom.

To prevent any beast tide from occurring.

House Stark had mobilized a raid expedition team, which included all three princes.

Prince Hetu, Prince Kaid, and Prince Viktor.

They were all equipped in their battle gears. Thanks to their training, each prince had advanced to the next stage.

Each having the Sword Level cultivation of an initial stage Sword Knight.

But they weren’t alone as dozens of Sword Level, Sword Elites, and Knights of the Red Crescent Kingdom gathered in the raid expedition team.

Many princes who remained in the Inner-Sector were invited to witness this expedition.

Caden was amongst those specially invited by the princes. He chose to honor their invitations.

The expedition team wound its way slowly up the mountain path, a colorful and formidable procession.

Knights and soldiers, clad in shining armor and bearing banners, rode magnificent horses that picked their way carefully over the treacherous terrain.

The knights, with their surcoats emblazoned with family crests and symbols of honor, rode at the forefront of the group.

Their eyes were scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. The soldiers armed with swords and shields, formed a protective ring around the rear and flanks of the column.

Their faces with determination.

The Princes stayed at the center even though they were meant to lead the expedition.

A few successors accepted their invitations and amongst them was Caden Ryder.

He was given battle gear by House Stark to protect himself. Alyssa wasn’t allowed to be present in the raid expedition.

Aside from the knights and soldiers of House Stark.

Only the successors are meant to clear this invasive stone trolls who hid themselves within the mountains.

Prince Hetu softly exhaled, his eyes fixed on the map he held "Based on the report we received, the stone trolls should be around here"

Prince Kaid nodded, "This is the western area of the mountain, right?" Prince Kaid asked.

"That’s correct..... should we spread out or should we hunt together?" Prince Viktor asked.

"I believe we should walk together and clear the expedition" A super Kingdom’s successor spoke.

Both princes glanced at the successor, even though they were higher than him in terms of power.

They didn’t rebuke him, Prince Kaid nodded "That’s good but if we stay together, we will only be fighting in one direction"

"We won’t be able to properly cover the mountain, and some stone trolls might be ignored," Prince Kaid said.

He was right, it was better to spread out across the mountain and slay any stone troll they set their eyes on.

While the three princes were debating on what they should do. Caden, who was quiet the entire time, moved his horse.

His action drew the attention of every knight, soldier, and successor present in the scene.

"Prince Caden, what are you doing?" Prince Hetu asked. He could see Caden leaving the protection of the circle.

"You princes can continue debating what you should do next, but I’m off to take out some stone trolls." After answering, Caden charged forward.

If it were in his past life. He wouldn’t have dared act this way, but he wanted to test his strength.

His horse charged forward, entering the depths of the mountains, Caden’s eyes flickered.

[B-Ranked Skill: Dragon’s Vision is active]

Using his draconic vision. He could see the heat signatures of every stone troll who stayed hidden.

His lips curled into a faint smile. "Here we go," he said. He jumped out of his horse’s back, quickly making his landing.

Seeing this, the Stone Trolls who had hid themselves charged forward, hoping to using their numbers against this human.

Although Caden was far away from the expedition team but it wasn’t too far away that they couldn’t see what was going to happen.

Everyone stayed still as they observed, the three princes were excited to witness Caden in action.

Although Stone Trolls are variant humans. They still have ways to use their brains, they had encircled Caden.

Trapping him, the bold trolls attacked with their clubs. If it were others, they would be shivering at that.

But instead, Caden’s white teeth shone as he welcomed the first attack.

A stone troll leapt into the air, descending down as it swung its wooden club with great intensity.

[B-Ranked Skill: Draconic Scales is active]

Caden’s draconic scales were like an impregnable wall and his B-Ranked Skill: Draconic Scales controls when it appears or not.

Caden raised his arm to block the attack, a collision occured, sending shockwaves into the air.

Instead of Caden being pushed back, it was the stone troll that fell back.

Caden’s arms were enveloped in purple draconic scales. The troll’s club was repelled by his draconic scales.

He softly exhaled, "Now let’s try out my strength," He said.

Caden vanished without a single trace, unseen by the naked eye. He appeared behind the troll.

And before the troll could even react to him, a punch landed across its chest. Sending it crashing into a mountain.

[You’ve slain your first Stone Troll]

[You’ve received 5exp]

Creating miniature shockwaves and other trolls attacked, but this time in unison.

They had encircled Caden, cornering him. They were determined to make use of their advantage.

Seeing this, Caden giggled softly, "So you think you’ve cornered me, huh?" Caden’s eyes flickered.

He knew he was being watched, he had to limit what he was showing others. He needed to retain some trump cards.

"Just my current speed and strength should be enough right?" Caden vanished into thin air.

Three stone trolls were ripped apart.

[You’ve slain a Stone Troll]

[You’ve slain a Stone Troll]

[You’ve slain a Stone Troll]

[You’ve received 2exp]

[You’ve received 2exp]

[You’ve received 2exp]

The messages kept pouring in as more stone trolls were getting ripped apart. Caden’s eyes gleamed.

He chuckled softly, running through the stone trolls. Stone trolls were sent flying into the air.

Everyone watching this were all frozen in shock. Unable to comprehend what they just saw.

Even though Caden possesses a Mana Aptitude of 10% and has awakened an S-Ranked Innate Skill.

They expected him to suffer damages against Stone Trolls.

Trolls were different from Goblins; they were twice as strong as any Goblin species.

But Caden was sending them flying like they were nothing. A stone troll behind him swung its club.

Hitting Caden’s head, the club shattered into pieces. Caden, who held a troll by the throat, immediately ripped the troll apart.

In an instant, the troll behind him was also crushed. It’s green blood splashed intensely on the ground.

Caden raised his head to see more stone trolls coming, even though they could see their kind being massacred.

It didn’t demoralize them. It even brought them into a battle frenzy.

A lopsided grin appeared on Caden’s lips as he watched "Should I check out the SSS-Ranked Swordmanship Skill: Dragon-Resonance?"

He immediately shook his head "No, these things are just too weak for me to truly use them"

"If it’s against a Red assassin, I’ll surely make use of it," He sped. Four trolls were beheaded in an instant.

Prince Hetu gulped, swallowing his saliva "I thought he was just too strong when we had our battle spar" He paused, "But to think he was holding back against me"

"If he had fought like this.....I would have died" Prince Hetu mumbled, seeing this, Prince Kaid tried to console his brother "Don’t look down on yourself brother"

"You’re not weak... It’s just that Prince Caden is just too strong," Prince Kaid stated.

"Isn’t this a raid expedition? Aren’t we meant to fight this thing?" A successor interuppted, "Why is Prince Caden the only one handling them?"

"He’s stealing my kills for goodness sake, let’s go" the successor screamed out as he brought out from the circle.

Riding his horse towards the battle scene, many brave successors followed, unsheathed their blades.

The three Stark boys waited behind "My princes, won’t you follow them?" A knight calmly asked.

Prince Hetu shook his head. "There will be no need for that, it’s already over," Prince Hetu answered.

"Huh? The Knight’s brows curled up as he returned his gaze to the field, his eyes widened in shock.

That area had been overwhelmed by intense blizzard, the space itself was frozen with all lifeforms within crushed.

It truly was already over.

Prince Caden had activated his S-Ranked Innate Skill: Frost Life.

All the stone trolls who had attacked him were slaughtered, their corpses scattered across the scene.

[You’ve slain 500 Stone Trolls]

[You’ve received 1000exp]

[Converting Exp to Leveling Points]

[You’ve received 50 Leveling Points]

[Leveling Point: 50/1000]