"Hmph, get lost! Scum, sneaking around in the dark to spy on others… Watch out or I'll gouge your eyes out!"
In mid-air,
Ethan Drake soared freely on the wind, overlooking the familiar yet strange land below.
It was enormous!
Much larger than the previous world he knew, stretching endlessly beyond sight.
The world of swords and magic, though lacking the advanced technology of his past world's steel and concrete, was rich in the unique simplicity, nature, and mystery of this place.
This was, in fact, the first time he was exploring the world that birthed his current body since arriving here.
However, it wasn't long before he sensed something.
A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and a terrifying aura radiated outward from him.
He could feel it! He was being watched!
It wasn't a pleasant feeling!
Who would want to be followed around?
His rare good mood was instantly shattered.
He growled in a deep voice, the roar of the Dragon King causing space to shatter.
The deep, ancient magical power surged,
The space seemed to ripple, and the air seemed to solidify.
Everything around him seemed to come to a standstill.
He issued a warning to the one spying on him.
...
"Fate has been disturbed!"
In the resplendent hall, filled with bright and peaceful holy light,
An elderly man in white robes stood silently before a grand statue.
Surrounding magical formations flickered with gentle light, his long beard and hair flowing as if untouched by the wind, giving him an otherworldly appearance.
He was praying with his eyes closed.
But suddenly, he furrowed his brow and slowly opened his eyes.
His sharp gaze was fixed on the statue before him, which now bore a look of shock.
He murmured with some trepidation: "Prophecy? This…"
"My master… Please guide me on the path…"
Suddenly,
"Crack, crack, crack!"
The sound of grinding stones echoed.
The statue before him, under his horrified gaze, was slowly covered with web-like cracks.
...
In the Hiss Empire,
The largest human empire on the Divine Continent, situated in the heart of the continent, occupying the most fertile land. To the north were the orc tribes, to the east the vast ocean and endless forests of the elves, to the south the dwarf kingdoms, and to the west, the dangerous monster forests.
Scattered around were a few small nations or other factions.
In this world, though races were divided, humanity undoubtedly held the dominant position.
The Hiss Empire boasted the most powerful military and political-economic strength on the continent.
Naturally, it was home to many strong individuals,
At this moment, in the imperial capital,
"Flaer, what's wrong with you?"
On a high platform,
A sturdy, resolute knight spoke with concern.
Before this seemingly ordinary middle-aged man stood a massive figure.
A red, powerful body, with hard, neatly arranged scales, emanated the powerful aura unique to dragons.
A dragon!
It was indeed a giant dragon!
A fully red dragon.
However,
This proud and powerful dragon had a saddle for riding strapped to its broad back.
It had been tamed!
Thus, the identity of the man before him was clear!
The strongest knight of the Hiss Empire, a legendary warrior who had touched the 100-level domain, and recognized by the dragon as the empire's guardian.
The only Dragon Knight, Alfred!
He and his dragon companion were the empire's strongest shield, and countless knights and warriors regarded him as their lifelong idol.
He enjoyed a tremendous reputation throughout the continent.
As long as he was alive and in the empire,
The capital was the safest place!
However, at this moment, he frowned deeply, intently watching his partner.
Recently, his most important partner, the dragon Flaer, had been acting strangely—constantly trembling, its once sharp eyes appearing distant, often gazing nervously toward the north, shrinking back and hesitant, as if trying to investigate but too afraid to do so, displaying a restless demeanor and ignoring his messages.
It looked nothing like the terrifyingly powerful dragon it was supposed to be.
Instead, it seemed like a timid, powerless lamb.
They had worked together for a long time, and Alfred knew his dragon partner well. Given its proud nature and immense power, it was impossible for it to display such a demeanor!
He had never seen Flaer so out of sorts before.
"It's true… It's true… The one has arrived! He has come!"
"It's over!"
"It's over! Alfred, we're finished!"
"I can't stay! I'm sorry, my dear partner, I can't take care of you anymore, and I don't want the treasures! I'm going back to Dragon Island to sleep until I die!"
He thought this inquiry would be ignored as usual.
But this time, Flaer looked at him with vacant eyes, trembling all over as if seeing a nightmare, speaking with a palpable fear and despair in its voice.