SSS Rank Dragon Tamer: Unleashed-Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Wings Over Stonejaw

The stone tower crackled with soft dawn light. Thin beams slipped through broken roof slats, tracing golden ladders across dusty air. Zephyr woke first. His breath steamed in the cold, but warmth pulsed from the blanket‑nest beside him where Star slept curled around the blue‑green beast core. Each soft exhale sent sparks dancing across the dragonling's scales.

Zephyr eased to his knees. He reached out, brushing one finger along Star's neck. A quiet hum buzzed in his chest: the bond alive, strong. Bloodline power, newly awakened, sang under his skin like sunlight under ice.

Fenna stirred on the other side of the firepit, blinking sleep from hazel eyes. "Morning," she whispered.

Zephyr smiled. "Morning." He gestured at Star and the crystal. "Think he's ready to absorb a shard?"

Fenna sat up, rolling her shoulders. "Let's find out. I measured his wings after you dozed—forty‑two centimeters. He's growing fast."

Zephyr's eyes widened. "Already? That's nearly half meter span."

Star yawned, revealing small fangs, and chirped as if proud. He nudged the core with a fore‑claw, then looked at Zephyr expectantly.

Zephyr knelt. "Okay, little scout. This is different from pellets." He pulled a slim iron chisel from his pack, slid the core onto a folded cloth, and tapped gently. A chip the size of a fingernail snapped free, glowing softly.

Star's pupils widened. Zephyr held up the shard, checking with the System:

Core Fragment: B‑Rank

Size: Safe for Juvenile absorption.

Expected benefit: +1 Strength, +1 Fire, +1 Wing Power.

Risk: 2 % surge.

"Ready?" Zephyr asked.

Star opened his mouth. Zephyr placed the fragment on the dragon's tongue. Star closed his jaws and swallowed. For a moment nothing happened. Then his scales rippled, violet shine deepening. A low flame hissed from his nostrils, singeing straw. He shook, wings fluttering.

Zephyr channeled Command Calm. "Steady..." The bond thrummed; heat smoothed out. Star settled, silver eyes bright.

System:

• Fragment absorbed.

• Star Stats +1 Strength / +1 Fire / +1 Wing Power.

• Surge avoided.

Zephyr exhaled, relief filling his lungs. Fenna clapped softly. "No backlash. Perfect."

Star trilled and launched into the air, zooming once around the tower interior before landing on the rafters, claws clicking on wood. He looked stronger already.

A golden screen brightened before Zephyr:

Stage 4 unlocked: Rise of the Juvenile

Objectives:

Raise Star's core grade to B+.

Expand Host bloodline purity to 35 %.

Claim regional sky territory—complete a five‑kilometre flight circuit.

Time: 60 days.

Reward: Dragon Sovereign Bond—Command Aura Tier 2 (area roar).

Zephyr read it aloud. Fenna chewed her lower lip. "That sky circuit means true flight. He'll need strong thermals and no Guild patrols."

Zephyr nodded. "First, we raise his core to B+. More fragments, maybe another beast core." He gazed out the open window at snow‑dusted ridges. "Stonejaw has plenty."

After a breakfast of fish broth and hard bread, Zephyr spread parchment on the floor. He marked their tower with a charcoal X. Fenna added surrounding features: the raptor plateau, the mine, a goat trail leading farther south.

"We must chart the valley," she said. "Find hunting grounds, water sources, and safe roost cliffs."

Star hopped down, tail tracing circles over the map. Zephyr chuckled. "You want to scout too?"

Dragon Sense pulsed. Zephyr felt Star's eagerness—an image flashed in his mind: wide sky, sun on wings, rushing wind. He felt it as if it were his own memory.

"Soon," he promised.

They left the tower at midday. Zephyr carried a small pack of supplies; Fenna slung her herb satchel and bronze short blade. Star rode Zephyr's shoulder until the ridge path opened, then glided ahead, scouting.

The valley unfolded in tiers: pine clusters, bare granite shelves, trickling creeks half‑frozen. Animal tracks criss‑crossed snow—hare, goat, tiny claw marks of rock mice. Dragon Sense picked up distant mana flickers: D‑Rank frost boars to the west; a C‑Rank stone cougar south.

No Guild signatures. Good.

They followed a creek upstream until they reached a narrow cliff ledge overlooking a miniature canyon. Icicles hung like teeth from the rim. Across the gap, slate nests perched on pillars of stone. Feather scales glittered inside: Cliff Basilisk fledglings—rumored to hold rare crystals in gizzards.

Zephyr eyed them. "High risk. Better when Star can hover longer."

Fenna agreed. They mapped the canyon on parchment.

While descending, Zephyr's Dragon Sense tingled—two humanoid auras behind boulders ahead. He gestured quiet. Fenna drew her blade.

They rounded a bend and found a small camp: a boy and a girl, both perhaps sixteen, dressed in tattered merchant coats. The boy leveled a short spear shakily.

"Back off!" he shouted, voice cracking.

Zephyr raised open palms. "We're not robbers."

The girl clutched a bandaged arm, eyes wide with fever. Star peered from Zephyr's collar, curious.

The boy's gaze fixed on Star. "Is that... a wyrm?"

"Hollowback," Zephyr lied smoothly. "We travel."

Fenna stepped forward. "She's hurt. Let me see." Her healer aura calmed them. They hesitated, then allowed her.

A quick exam revealed a deep claw wound, half‑infected. Fenna cleaned it with moonleaf water and wrapped fresh bandages.

"What happened?" Zephyr asked, kneeling.

"Stoneclad raptors attacked our caravan," the boy said. "We escaped with little Mira when the guards fell. We've been hiding two days."

Zephyr and Fenna exchanged looks—raptors again. The valley was dangerous for travelers. Zephyr's heart tightened: low‑rankers caught in crossfire of beasts and Guild.

"Your camp is near our tower," Zephyr said. "We can shelter you tonight."

Suspicion lingered, but need outweighed doubt. They accepted.

Back in the tower, Fenna brewed broth and herb tea. The siblings—Luke and Mira—ate gratefully. Star circled overhead, occasionally landing to sniff Mira's wound but otherwise staying polite.

As night settled, Luke spoke quietly. "We were carrying healer crystals for a village to the east. All lost now. Guild patrols will blame us for the shipment."

Zephyr frowned. "Guild scouts roam these peaks?"

Luke nodded. "We saw banners three ridges away."

Zephyr's fist tightened. So the Guild had extended search range.

Fenna looked at Zephyr meaningfully. Our hideout may not stay secret.

Zephyr breathed deep. "You can rest here two nights. Then we guide you to safer lowlands."

Gratitude shone in Luke's tired eyes.

At dawn, Fenna checked Mira's fever—lower, thanks to frost petal tonic. Zephyr took Star outside for flight drills. Wind gusts rattled pine tops; the dragonling leapt from a boulder, gliding a full thirty meters before landing smoothly.

System: Wing Power +1. New wingspan 46 cm.

Zephyr beamed. Command Aura pulsed, sending encouragement that filled Star with confidence.

A rustle behind. Luke approached, spear lowered, eyes wary but fascinated. "He listens to you like a hound."

Zephyr smiled. "Bond training."

Luke stared at Star's violet‑hazed wings. "Never seen a support beast so... majestic."

Zephyr shrugged. "Hollowbacks are rarer than folk know."

Luke hesitated, then said, "If you need caravan news—our route map marks many beast dens. Might help." He offered a rolled parchment. Zephyr accepted gracefully. Bonds of small trust, forged in survival.

That afternoon, Dragon Sense jolted Zephyr from herb grinding. Three strong mana signatures approached the valley rim—different pattern from beasts. He scrambled up the ladder to the roof gap.

On the far ridge stood three figures in slate armor. Spyglasses glinted. Guild scouts. One raised a flare wand; red smoke spiralled heavenward.

Zephyr slid down, heart pounding. "Guild watchers—here."

Fenna's face drained. Luke cursed softly.

Zephyr's mind raced. "They'll track any odd resonance. The Veil Stone still masks Star, but if they storm this tower, we risk direct sight."

"Should we run?" Fenna asked.

Star hissed, flames crackling.

Zephyr studied Luke's caravan map. A narrow ravine path wound east to a hidden hot‑spring cave—steam rising could hide heat.

"We move now," he decided. "Night cover. No torches." freёnovelkiss.com

They packed quickly. Mira rested on a makeshift sled pulled by Luke and Zephyr. Fenna carried Star's nest bag; Star rode Zephyr's shoulder, eyes sharp.

Snow began to fall, thick flakes muffling sound. They left the tower, footprints disappearing behind.

On the ridge, red flare faded—but other flares answered farther south. Guild net tightened.

Snow fell harder, swirling white curtains. They trudged single file. Dragon Sense guided Zephyr around predator burrows. Twice Star growled low, sensing hidden eyes only he could see; Zephyr unleashed a hush wave of Command Aura that deterred a prowling frost boar pack.

Mira slept in the sled, fever still low. Luke's breath rasped in the cold but he marched.

Hours passed. Night swallowed the valley. Only the hiss of wind and crunch of snow underfoot.

Then warmth—steam—drifted through falling flakes. They reached the hot‑spring cave mouth, rock rim glowing with faint red mineral light. Inside, water pooled, radiating gentle heat that melted snow into vapor curtains.

Safe.

They guided Mira to a dry ledge. Fenna unpacked blankets.

Star shook snow from wings and circled the cave, chirping at rising steam. Zephyr collapsed beside a warm rock, exhaustion crashing over him.

Steam veiled the cave walls, dripping with luminous lichen. Luke sat near a shallow pool, staring at Star. "Thank you," he said quietly. "You have no reason to help."

Zephyr shook his head. "No one survives alone."

Luke offered a leather pouch. "I salvaged a few healer crystals." Inside, three thumb‑sized shards glowed green. "Take one—for your Hollowback."

Zephyr accepted with gratitude. The shard felt cool, steady. He knew crystals tasted like star‑fire to beasts—Star would benefit.

Fenna sat beside Zephyr. "The Guild is probing deeper. We need longer‑term camouflage—another Veil Stone or stronger blood control."

Zephyr nodded. He opened the System menu: Stage 4 objectives—core B+, 35 % bloodline, five‑kilometre flight.

"We'll feed Star more core fragments, raise purity, and finish the flight circuit soon. After that, we look for an ancient ruin rumored beyond Stonejaw. Maybe relics there hide dragon heritage."

Fenna's eyes shone with daring. "Then let's get stronger fast."

Zephyr chipped a sliver off the healer crystal and fed it to Star. Light washed over scales. The little dragon stretched, wings nearly half a meter now, and let out a tiny yet sharp roar that echoed off cave walls.

System: Crystal absorbed—Life Attribute +1.

Host Vitality +1.

Zephyr felt the surge, like spring sap rising.

Outside, snowstorm howled. But inside, warmth and resolve blossomed.

Zephyr stood, gazing at the swirling steam. "Tomorrow we train flight in the geothermal updrafts. Star will ride the thermals, and we'll begin his five‑kilometre circuit."

Fenna gripped his arm. "And I'll brew stronger tonics. We'll be ready—before the Guild finds us again."

Zephyr looked at Star—the small dragon flaring wings in warm mist. Hope swelled. The path ahead twisted with dangers, but each step made them bolder.

Fire burned in young dragon lungs, blood of Sovereigns stirred in Zephyr's veins, and two loyal friends watched the dawn of legend.

Outside, a snow‑laden wind yowled across the valley, carrying distant horn calls of Guild pursuers. But in the steam‑lit cave, a promise grew wings—ready soon to blaze across the sky.