Conquering the underworld with my beautiful dragon wives-Chapter 51: Morning Plans—Closed Gates

The sun was just rising behind the hills. The cool morning breeze carried the smell of wet dirt and grass across the fields. Birds were singing — the calm before a stormy day.

Ethan was sitting by last night’s half-burned fire. His cloak wrapped tight around him, eyes locked on the horizon. Alice sat next to him, holding a cup of warm water.

Alice smiled and said,

"Good morning, Key Master."

Ethan grinned,

"Morning to you too. Ready for a day full of trouble?"

Alice laughed,

"I’m always ready for trouble."

Fayra, in her human form, brushed her long red hair off her shoulders and stood by Ethan.

"If everyone’s awake, let’s move."

Selena, looking half-asleep, walked out from behind a tree,

"I’m still sleepy... but yeah, I’ll come for you."

Luna was wrestling with Azarakhsh and Sho’le, laughing.

"I’m ready! Let’s go see what kind of people this Valdor tribe is."

Ethan stood up and threw his cloak over his shoulders.

"Alright, listen up. Valdor is the strongest tribe in this region. If we can have them with us, half the map’s in our hands."

Alice, curious,

"And if they say no?"

Ethan smiled,

"Then... we’ll do what we did with Gravenfield."

Luna laughed,

"Love it! My kinda plan."

A few hours later, the dragons were flying high in the sky. Azarakhsh led the way with a loud roar. Fayra, Selena, and Luna kept watch from above.

Ethan, Alice, and the three young dragons — Azarakhsh, Sho’le, and Sama — walked through the gates of Valdor tribe.

The gate was big, made of wood and iron, covered in tribal marks and old flags. Two armed guards stood in front.

The first guard asked,

"Who are you? What do you want?"

Ethan stepped forward,

"I’m Ethan. The Key Master. I’m here for an alliance."

The second guard smirked,

"An alliance? With what? These flying lizards?"

The crowd laughed.

Fayra, in dragon form, growled from above.

But they didn’t seem scared at all.

One of the old men from the tribe stepped forward. White beard, thick leather clothes.

With a rough voice,

"Kid... Valdor never bows. Especially not to some cocky young boy."

Ethan said firmly,

"I’m not here to beg. Not here to threaten. I came to show what standing by me means."

The man sneered,

"Stand by you? You’ve got a bunch of flying lizards. We’re dragon-slayers. We’ll wipe out your lizard pets right here."

The tribe laughed. Some whistled, some threw pebbles.

Alice, pissed,

"They’re just as stupid as I thought."

Selena, angry,

"Ethan... let’s show ’em."

Luna added,

"I’m getting fired up."

Ethan raised his hand.

"No... not yet."

The guards closed the gates, and the old man shouted,

"Go home, kid. There’s no place for you here."

Silence.

Ethan stood still.

Then slowly, smiled.

"Alright... you chose this."

He raised his hand. Fayra, Selena, and Luna swooped down. Azarakhsh, Sho’le, and Sama lined up.

Ethan shouted,

"Guys... show ’em who’s boss."

The sky darkened. The dragons’ roars shook the wooden walls. Fayra, flying, spat a wave of fire, catching the gates of Valdor.

Luna laughed,

"Well? What now?!"

Azarakhsh struck down, cracking the ground in front of the guards.

Sho’le and Sama both blew fire.

Ethan grinned,

"Burn ’em down."

The flames rushed in like a tidal wave, eating the houses.

The villagers screamed. Alarm bells rang.

The old man, now shaking, fell to the ground.

"No... please... we... we..."

Ethan calmly walked over,

"Too late. This... is a lesson for the others."

Selena,

"You don’t call a dragon a lizard."

Fayra roared, her fire turning the town square into a burning pit.

Luna laughed,

"Look at that burn!"

Alice walked up to Ethan,

"It’s done."

Ethan stared at the flames lighting up the sky,

"No... it’s just getting started."

Fayra landed in human form,

"Ethan... this tribe’s ours now."

Ethan grinned,

"Yeah... my first fire army."

Everyone gathered. The dragons lined up next to the ruins, roaring.

Selena asked,

"So boss... where to next?"

Ethan gave a sly smile,

"You’ll see... when it’s time."

The sky was full of smoke and fire. And Ethan, the Key Master, stood in the middle — stronger than ever.

The hot wind that blew through the ruins of the city carried the bitter smell of smoke and ash in the air. The crackling sound of burnt wood was like the dying moans of a city that no longer existed. The sky was still full of soot, and leftover flames danced here and there on the wreckage, like hell’s fire licking the rubble.

Ethan walked slowly through the ruins. His cloak was torn and blackened, his face covered in dust. His gaze was heavy, emotionless... but inside, it was chaos.

Alice stood next to him, speaking softly.

"They’re done. The city’s gone."

But then, a weak cry came from the corner of the square. A woman, her face smudged with soot, knelt beside the body of a man — maybe her husband — and choked out with anger,

"Damn lizards... wish you never showed up!"

The word stabbed Ethan’s heart like a knife. He held his breath.

Under his breath, he repeated,

"Lizard...?"

Another man, limping through the smoke, came out and shouted at Ethan,

"You the master? The lizard master? That’s your pride? A bunch of dragons? Pathetic — you can’t even hold a sword... you just hide behind those creatures!"

Ethan froze. His hands clenched into fists. His voice shook but he spoke firmly,

"Shut up..."

But the man just burst out laughing.

"You didn’t even have the guts to face us... without your lizards... you’re nothing!"

Selena took a step forward, growling with anger,

"Say one more word, and I’ll—"

Ethan raised his hand.

"No, Selena... let it go."

Fayra looked worried, asking,

"E... Ethan, you okay?"

Without looking at her, Ethan quietly mumbled,

"Lizard...? I... I hid behind my dragons...?"

Alice came closer, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Don’t listen... they’re scared... they lost. That’s why."

But it was too late. Those words... like poison... had sunk deep inside Ethan.

A few hours later —

A camp deep in the forest.

Ethan sat by a river. His glowing sword lay at his feet. Fayra, Selena, and Luna watched him from a distance.

Alice came up and sat beside him.

"What are you doing?"

Without lifting his head, still staring at the water, Ethan said,

"I wanna learn."

Alice looked confused.

"Learn what?"

Ethan picked up the sword, turning its dull edge in the sunlight.

"I got the strongest sword in this world... and if I’m gonna be king... if I’m gonna take this world... I gotta be able to fight too. I don’t wanna just hide behind Fayra, Selena, and Luna... I... I need to get stronger."

He took a deep breath and stood up.

From then on, Ethan woke up early every morning. His body ached, but he grabbed that sword anyway. He asked Luna to teach him hand-to-hand combat. Luna laughed,

"Well, finally! Told you you’d get there one day!"

Selena stood with a proud smile.

"First lesson — if you wanna swing a sword... feel it. Don’t just look at it like a piece of metal."

Fayra, sitting up on a rock, shouted with excitement,

"Go Ethan! Harder!"

Sweating, Ethan raised the sword and swung it again and again.

Alice, offering him water, smiled.

"You’re doing great..." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Ethan, out of breath, replied,

"No... still not enough..."

At night —

Ethan would sit alone by the fire.

His sword beside him. His hands blistered, his arms sore.

He’d quietly whisper to himself,

"Lizard...? Just wait... one day... I’ll make you all kneel. And then... these hands... this sword... will speak for me."

Selena came and sat next to him.

"Hey... you’re killing yourself."

Ethan stared into the fire.

"I gotta do this, Selena. If I’m really gonna take the world... I gotta be the guy who can win... even without dragons."

Selena smiled softly and whispered,

"I’m always with you. You’re stronger than you think."

Now Ethan was good with a sword. Pro level.

In the camp, Alice laughed,

"If those people who mocked you saw you now... they wouldn’t dare say a word."

Ethan raised his sword up to the clouds.

"This... is just the beginning."

And on the last night, Ethan sat with his dragons. He ran his hand over Azarakhsh’s thick scales and said,

"I promise you... this time... no lizard, no dragon master... this time, me... the key bearer... I’ll be the one who shakes this world."

Fayra smiled,

"I’m proud of you."

The firelight danced across Ethan’s face.

He softly said,

"Soon..."