Ares lay peacefully on the ground, still knocked out, while Tharros stood over him, arms crossed and face contemplative. That peace didn't last long.
"You went overboard again!" Valmyra's sharp voice rang out across the field as she stormed toward her husband. Her long, silver-scaled tail twitched in agitation behind her, and her eyes—bright as emerald fire—narrowed dangerously.
Vel followed close behind, arms also crossed, echoing the frustration on her mother's face.
"You knew he couldn't take that last move, Father! That was Wrath of the World Tree!
He's not a dragon!" Tharros rubbed the back of his neck and sighed deeply. "I held back…"
Valmyra scoffed.
"Held back? He was bleeding out of his ears! You charred his arm, knocked him unconscious, and wrecked half the valley!"
"He's fine now," Tharros muttered, glancing at the peacefully sleeping Ares.
"He's healed. You both worry too much."
Vel jabbed a finger at him. "He's my friend! And this is the first time you
actually injured him in a spar! That's saying something!"
Tharros paused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "...You're right. After five spars, this is the first time he's left the field like that.
" He looked down at Ares again, eyes narrowing in mild respect. "He's getting stronger.
Still a nuisance… but impressive."
Valmyra rolled her eyes, tail swishing. "Hmph.
You dragon kings and your pride…"
Tharros shrugged. "Hey, I only used about ten percent of my strength."
"Still sounds like an excuse to me," Vel huffed, crossing her arms again.
"But I'll give him this," Tharros continued, gazing out over the shattered sparring ground.
"The human race… they're something else. Weakest of all races in physical strength, lifespan, aura affinity—and yet… they're the most relentless, most annoying, and most adaptable."
Vel tilted her head. "You really think that?"
"My father did," Tharros replied with a heavy voice. "Your grandfather—one of the strongest dragons ever born—warned me when I was young.
He said, 'Be mindful of humans. Their true strength isn't in what they are, but in what they become.'"
"Grandpa said that?" Vel asked in awe.
"Yeah," Tharros nodded. "Back in his day, there was a time when humans hunted dragons.
Not just any humans, either—elite ones. They killed our kind in the hundreds."
Valmyra's eyes narrowed with a trace of bitterness. "The Dragon Purge era…"
"Exactly," Tharros said grimly. "One human in particular was infamous. My father personally hunted him down and destroyed the sword he used to slay dragons.
It took everything he had… and even then, he didn't come out unscathed."
"What happened?" Vel asked quietly.
"He lost his eye. His arm. His legs.
He passed the crown to me shortly after, knowing he wouldn't survive long. At least he got to see my son's face before he passed on." Tharros exhaled slowly.
"The sword's name… damn, I forgot. But I'll never forget the price he paid to protect our kin."
There was a quiet pause between them.
"Anyway," Tharros said with a grunt, turning toward Ares, "Let's move him to a chamber with a bed. Valmyra, I'm going to nap. Wake me when the nuisance wakes up."
Valmyra rolled her eyes again. "Yes, dear."
An hour later…
Ares stirred awake, eyes fluttering open to a ceiling carved from polished stone and etched with glowing runes. He winced, then blinked. No pain.
He sat up slowly and realized his injuries were gone. His body was fully healed. Tharros must've used his god of nature power to fix him up.
Across the room, Vel sat curled in a chair, reading a thick book on sword stances. She looked up, smiled, and set the book down.
"You're up."
"Yeah… guess I survived," Ares chuckled, rotating his arm. "I actually injured him this time."
Vel's eyes lit up with pride. "You did! That's the first time I've seen him react like that during a spar."
Ares smirked. "He destroyed my Kenkon easily, though. Still… I'm excited for next time."
Valmyra stepped into the room at that moment, arms folded. "You never get tired of losing, do you?"
"Never," Ares said with a grin. "It's all experience. Every defeat teaches me something new."
Valmyra sighed. "You humans are stubborn."
Vel stood up suddenly. "Since you're awake, can you help me out with my sword training? I've been trying to improve my follow-through, but my posture's still off."
Ares nodded. "Alright, show me your stance."
Vel stepped into position, gripping her sword with both hands. She held a wide, low stance—knees bent, feet grounded.
"Stop," Ares said immediately. "You're planting your back heel too flat. Shift it—angle it slightly. That'll let you pivot without losing balance."
Vel adjusted.
"Good. Now shoulders—relax them. You're too tense. If your shoulders are stiff, your swing gets sluggish."
She tried again. "Better. When you raise the blade, breathe in. When you strike, exhale. Don't swing with your arms—swing from your core."
Vel gave a test swing. The air hummed slightly with the motion.
"There it is," Ares smiled. "Clean and sharp. Again."
For the next half hour, Ares guided her movements with precision, correcting the minute angles of her wrists, the flow of her footwork, and even the rhythm of her breathing.
When they finally paused, Vel was panting and smiling. "Thanks, Ares. That felt amazing."
"You've got potential," Ares said. "More than potential, really."
Later that day, Ares made his way to Tharros' throne room.
The Dragon King sat on his massive throne carved from molten obsidian and rooted wood, his green forest eyes half-lidded.
"So… you're alive," Tharros said without opening his eyes. "Persistent nuisance."
Ares chuckled. "Good to see you too, my friend."
Tharros cracked one eye open. "What do you want?"
"I came to tell you something. Charles—the proxy of the God of Technology—called for a proxy meeting."
Tharros's expression grew serious. "Charles? What for?"
"I don't know," Ares said. "But knowing him, it's something important."
Tharros leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. "Keep me updated. The last time the proxies met, a continent sank."
"I'll be careful," Ares smirked. "Until next time. I'll be back for another spar."
Tharros grunted. "Don't come back."
All that followed was the sound of Ares' laughter echoing through the halls.
morning sun spilled through the wooden shutters of the inn.
Kai stretched, yawning, while Zac finished the last of his breakfast. Sophia sat across from them, sipping her tea.
"You two ready?" she asked with a smile.
"Yup," Zac said, grabbing his bag.
Kai nodded.
"Let's go sign up for the Adventurer's Guild."
They stepped out into the bustling city streets, cobbled roads filled with merchants, knights, and mages.
After a short walk, they reached a massive building at the end of the avenue.
The Adventurer's Guild stood like a monument—three stories tall, with a facade of polished stone and banners fluttering from the towers. A golden emblem of a sword and quill crossing over a shield hung above the entrance.
Inside, it was even more impressive. A large tavern-like hall spread out with long wooden tables, a bar to the right, and a massive quest board covered in parchments.
Several adventurers were laughing, drinking, and comparing trophies.
Behind a reception desk stood a cheerful young woman with twin braids and a badge pinned to her cloak. "Welcome! Can I help you?"
Zac stepped forward. "We'd like to register as adventurers."
She nodded. "Perfect. I'll need your names and ages first."
As they filled out the forms, she explained the system.
Adventurer Guild Ranks:
F-Rank: Beginners, basic herb-gathering or escort jobs
E to B-Rank: Intermediate tiers, involving monster hunting and regional missions
A-Rank: Elite adventurers capable of soloing dungeons
S-Rank: Legendary adventurers, often royal or nationally recognized
SSS-Rank: Reserved for the strongest beings—heroes, dragon slayers, and proxy-level threats
"Your cards will track your quests, stats, and points. Gain enough points, and you'll rank up."
Once their cards were printed, she handed them over. "Good luck!"
Kai grinned. "Let's start small."
Zac grabbed a parchment. "Herb gathering quest outside the city?"
"Classic," Kai laughed.
Together, they stepped outside, off to complete their first official mission as adventurers.