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Sign In To The Body Of Chaos At The Start-Chapter 70: Arriving at the Dragon Clan!
Chapter 70: Arriving at the Dragon Clan!
The swirling vortex of light and energy surrounded Damon, Artemis, and Astralene as they passed through the portal, the Fields of Eternia fading into the distance as the trio teleported.
For a brief moment, Damon felt weightless, as if he were floating between dimensions, untethered from the physical world. The disorienting rush of movement, the sense of being everywhere and nowhere at once, made it difficult to grasp onto reality.
Then, with a sudden lurch, the trio was expelled from the vortex, landing on solid ground at the entrance of the Dragon Clan’s territory.
Damon steadied himself, his senses adjusting to the new environment. The sky above was a deep shade of crimson, streaked with golden clouds that glowed with an otherworldly light.
The air was thick with the scent of burning incense and the faint tang of metal. Towering spires of obsidian rose from the ground, their surfaces etched with ancient runes that pulsed with a faint blue light.
The landscape was harsh yet majestic, a reflection of the power and pride of the Dragon Clan.
Artemis looked around, her eyes wide with awe and caution. The grandeur of the place was overwhelming, and she could feel the weight of centuries of tradition and power pressing down on her. "This place... it’s incredible," she whispered, her voice filled with a mix of wonder and apprehension.
This was her first time visiting the Dragon Clan, as it very rarely welcomed visitors, and when the Dragon’s did, she was always busy training to visit herself. Thus, this was an incredible experience to her.
Astralene stepped forward, her gaze sweeping across the landscape with an air of familiarity. "The Dragon Clan is one of the oldest and most powerful clans in existence, even back then they were one of the supreme races," she said, her voice tinged with respect. "Their territory is a testament to their strength and their connection to the ancient forces of the world."
Damon nodded, his expression serious. He had heard stories of the Dragon Clan’s might from his mother. This was a clan based on Strength more than anything. The strongest got the most resources, the strong had the most influence in every generation, and the strong were the most respected.
Without strength, although the Clan wouldn’t abandon you, but you would be essentially ignored in the grand scheme of things.
Weaklings were to be encouraged to improve, not coddled in their insignificance - That was a motto of the clan. freёwebnoѵel.com
Damon’s mother Sapphire told him many stories about the Clan, specifically about his Father. From what she said, his Father was a unique person. To his enemies, his Father, Malik Flandre, was a man of few words.
Instead of discussion, he spoke with his actions, brutally decimating anyone and everyone who dared to severely disrespect him or his family.
However, to his family, he was a joker, a trickster, a man with many antics that Damon would have to be wary of.
After what felt like an eternity of walking, they reached the gates of the Dragon Clan’s stronghold. The gates were massive, made of dark iron and adorned with intricate carvings of dragons in flight.
Two guards stood at attention, their armor gleaming in the crimson light. Their expressions were stoic, but their eyes held a hint of curiosity as they regarded the newcomers.
"Halt," one of the guards commanded, his voice echoing through the still air. "State your business."
Damon stepped forward, his posture confident yet respectful. "I am Damon," he declared, his voice steady. "Son of Malik, nephew of the Clan Head. I have come for personal business."
The guards exchanged a glance, their expressions momentarily betraying their surprise. They had not expected the son of Malik, a figure of great importance within the clan, to arrive unannounced.
After a brief hesitation, the guard who had spoken nodded. "Very well," he said, his tone more respectful. "We shall bring you to the Clan Head to inform him of your arrival. Please, follow us."
"No need, I’m here to meet with my father, just let me in and alert him afterwards." Damon spoke, looking directly into the eyes of the guard, his overbearing aura of death flooding the guard who eventually nodded.
The gates creaked open, revealing a long corridor that led into the heart of the stronghold. Damon, Artemis, and Astralene followed one of the guards, who would guide him to his father’s abode.
Their footsteps echoing on the stone floor. The walls were lined with tapestries depicting scenes of battle and conquest, the history of the Dragon Clan woven into every thread.
As the group rounded a corner, Damon found himself face-to-face with Antares, Varus’s son and Damon’s cousin.
Antares stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widening in shock as he took in Damon’s presence, and then gazed towards Artemis and Astralene, his eyes looking lustfully at the latter.
For a moment, the usually composed and arrogant young man was speechless. The air between them crackled with tension, thick with unspoken history and lingering resentment.
"Damon," Antares finally said, his voice a mixture of disbelief and irritation. "I... didn’t expect to see you here." His initial surprise quickly gave way to a cold, sneering expression.
Damon met his cousin’s gaze with an unflinching stare, his expression unreadable. "Antares," he replied, his voice calm and measured. "Oh really? Well I teleported but ran into some trouble, I hope you didn’t assume anything."
Antares’s lips curled into a narcissistic smile as he shook off his initial shock. He stepped closer, his demeanor shifting to one of feigned warmth. "You’ve certainly taken your time coming to the clan, cousin," He remarked, his tone dripping with condescension.
"Tell me, how was your journey? The road must have been treacherous, especially for someone... less accustomed to our ways."
Damon kept his expression neutral, refusing to rise to the bait. "The journey was... illuminating," he replied, his voice betraying nothing. "It reminded me of the dangers that lurk not only on the roads but also in places where one should feel safe."
Antares’s eyes narrowed slightly, the subtle jab not lost on him. He forced a laugh, though it lacked any real humor. "Ah, yes. The world is indeed a dangerous place," he said, his tone casual, but the underlying threat was clear. "It’s good that you’ve made it here in one piece. After all, we wouldn’t want anything unfortunate to happen to you."
Damon’s eyes hardened, another reason he was here was to investigate if Antares and Varus were indeed the ones who tried to steal his talent. This was purely due to how they looked at him on that Awakening Stage all those years ago, and his experiences only made that idea more firm in his mind.
He took a step closer to Antares, his voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. "I appreciate the concern, Antares. But rest assured, I’m well aware of the risks—both on the road and within these walls."
Antares’s smile faltered, a flicker of uncertainty passing through his eyes. Damon’s words were laced with a clear message: he knew more than he was letting on. For a moment, the two men stood in silence, the tension between them almost palpable.
Finally, Antares forced another smile, though this one was tighter, more strained. "Well, Damon, it’s good to see you’re... still as resilient as ever," he said, his voice tinged with bitterness. "But do take care of yourself while you’re here. The Dragon Clan can be... unforgiving."
Damon tilted his head slightly, his expression calm but his eyes gleaming with a sharp edge. "I’ll keep that in mind, cousin," he replied coolly. "And you should too. After all, the unforgiving nature of this place might just surprise you."
Without waiting for a response, Damon turned and continued down the corridor alongside the guard and his group, his footsteps steady and unhurried. Antares watched him go, his face contorting with barely concealed anger.
Damon’s calm defiance had struck a nerve, and the realization that his cousin was not as easily intimidated as he had hoped only fueled his rage.
As Damon disappeared from view, Antares clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. His eyes burned with fury, and his thoughts raced with a mix of anger and frustration. With a final, venomous glare in the direction Damon had gone, Antares turned sharply on his heel and strode toward his father’s chamber.
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