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Villain Awakening: Rising to the Strongest Dragon God-Chapter 43: Wrym Threshold
Three days on the road and Castor’s face still lingered. The hollow look in his eyes. The Second Sword of the empire reduced to nothing with words alone.
Auryn hadn’t expected the image to follow him this far from Uruk, but it did.
Every time the silence stretched too long between hoofbeats, there it was—Castor standing in that council chamber, shoulders collapsing, voice barely above a whisper. "I accept."
Not triumph. Just weight. The weight of a defeated man.
A soft golden shimmer appeared without warning eagerly in front of Auryn.
The familiar light across his vision.
[QUEST COMPLETED: TERRITORIAL EXPANSION]
[ REWARD: RANK PROGRESSION: 42% → 50%]
[WYRM THRESHOLD REACHED]
[REWARD: DRACONIC AURA ENHANCED]
Effect: Presence intensified. Hostile intent can be easily deterred. Lesser-willed beings experience instinctive fear in your presence.
[ HIDDEN REWARDS: LOCKED]
The system seemed to go through some Re-calibration before continuing.
[ HOST HAS UNLOCKED EXTRA REWARDS]
[INHERITANCE UNLOCKED: DOMINION MARK]
- Tier 1 Unlocked
- Capacity: 1/10 marks available
- Select System skills for further understanding.
"A ruler without subjects is a throne without weight. Mark what is yours, and let none forget."
[NOTIFICATION]
[HOARDLINK UPDATED]
Northern District Claimed:
- Monthly Income increased : 2,400 → 7000 gold
- Population: +12,000
- Resources: Lumber, Iron Mining, [UNKNOWN x2]
The screens continued with little to no breathing space.
[NEW QUEST AVAILABLE: EXCAVATE NORTHERN DISTRICT]
- Rewards: [HIDDEN]
- Time frame: None
- Priority: Medium
Auryn dismissed the screens after reading. His eyes narrowed, face disturbed. He still didn’t get the hidden rewards and he didn’t understand why.
Borin glanced over. "You alright, lad?"
"I’m fine." Auryn adjusted his grip on the reins.
"Just thinking." He lied.
"Your dangerous habit." Borin snarled.
Auryn smiled softly. "I’ve noticed."
They rode in silence after that. Ash falling in gray drifts around them. Mountains cutting the distant horizon. The climate around the capital stretched for miles.
Auryn’s thoughts drifted to the Northern District. Not the income. Not the population it added to his hoard. The actual reason he chose that district out of everything the Eastern province offered.
The novel mentioned it once in Chapter 140. Dragon bones buried beneath Ashen Grove.
Bones that possessed anti-magic properties. Within a wasteland considered cursed by everyone. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚
A place where most entered and never returned. The Hero avoided it completely because it was buried draconic history.
But Auryn knew better, his hands squeezed at the reins.
That’s why I wanted it. Chapter 47 is approaching. I need an advantage not just against dragons but Nika
He sighed...
Small satisfaction settled in his chest. The System wouldn’t trigger a new quest if there was nothing worth finding there.
Hidden reward meant something valuable. Something the original story might never had explored because the Hero had been too cautious to dig.
It was a gamble but Auryn was aware life whether in the real world or here was all about those risky margins.
With him claiming the lands. Nika would never have the opportunity to explore it ever again even if things changed. Well, unless he dies like the original story.
----
The light of dusk and subsequent darkness carried with it the smell of woodsmoke and livestock as a town appeared ahead. A small town maybe with three hundred people.
It was merely out of range from Uruk and in Draelor’s territory. Stone buildings clustered around a central square with narrow cobblestone streets branching outward like veins.
They rode through the outer edge first. Auryn kept his hood up but his eyes open yet hidden with the shadows of his cloak.
The streets were mixed. Humans mostly, but elves were visible too. They worked side by side at a blacksmith’s forge, haggling over vegetables at a market stall that was closing for the night.
A beastkin woman with fox ears carried water buckets past without anyone giving her a second glance. Auryn noticed the isolation in her eyes.
It was hard to be picky about neighbors when demons breach the border regularly. This people had to be a community under the empire’s protection. He thought.
The further into the town he went. He noticed posters covered every available wall space. Parchment nailed to wood, ink faded from rain and sun.
*WANTED: Michael "Black sheep" Varn - Armed Robbery - 200 Gold Reward*
*IMPERIAL TAX NOTICE: New Levy effective Immediately - 15% Increase on Grain, Livestock, Merchant Goods*
*RECRUITMENT: Eastern Border Garrison Seeks Able-Bodied Warriors - Demon threat escalating - Report to Lord Castor’s command*
Auryn’s eyes lingered on the last one. Castor’s name. His command.
Soon that’ll change. Northern District first. Then the rest.
Voices drifted with the wind from a cluster of men outside what looked like a general store. Dusty laborers. Day workers finishing up from their farms and mines.
"Taxes increased again. Third time this year."
"Dragon nobles don’t care. Take and take. Give us nothing." Another spoke.
"I heard Duke Castor attacked a prince. What an Idiot."
"Which prince?"
"Third one. Auryn something."
"Good. Maybe the prince will lower taxes."
Bitter laughter spread across the men. A coping mechanism to the pain.
"Nobles don’t lower taxes. They just take it differently."
Auryn rode past without reacting. But the words settled.
They’re unsettled but protection comes at a price. It is just too steep for now. I intend to change that or better still use it.
His thoughts stirred.
They entered another street. And yet the conversations continued.
This time it was women at a well drawing water for the evening.
"Demon breach widened last month. Avery’s cousin’s village got evacuated."
"Where’s the Second Sword? Isn’t he supposed to handle it."
"Busy attacking princes apparently." One of the women replied.
"My brother’s on the eastern garrison. Says they’re stretched thin. Not enough men. Not enough supplies."
"Dragon Empire. Strongest in the world."
"Yet can’t even keep demons out of farmlands," the sarcasm was palpable
Auryn scoffed at the remark. It was still funny to him how they complained and still yet chose to stay.
His priorities weren’t necessarily about demons yet. He had to play his cards right from now on. After survival then he could really take everything.
The central square opened ahead. Tavern / lodging on the far side. Sign swinging in the wind: The lasting Stag.
They dismounted outside the stable attached to the building. The stable boy’s eyes widened immediately.
He recognized the dragon-crested saddles, enchanted bridles worth more than his family would see in years.
Auryn pulled a silver coin from his pocket and tossed it to him. He knew how the minds of these people worked. They ran exclusively on survival instincts.
The boy caught it on reflex even in the encroaching darkness. Staring at him.
"M-My lord—"
"Extra watch tonight." Auryn’s tone left no room for argument.
"Yes, my lord. Absolutely." The boy clutched the coin like it might dissolve in thin air.
They stepped away from the stables. Borin headed toward the tavern entrance. He honestly couldn’t wait to enter.
"I’ll get us rooms. Are you coming?"
"In a moment."
Borin waved in acknowledgment and disappeared inside.
Auryn turned back to the stable. He’d felt eyes on them since they made the turn towards the tavern.
Night had settled properly now. The stable was dark except for a single lantern hanging near the entrance, flame guttering in the breeze.
Voices reached him before he saw movement.
Their tones were low and careful. Coming from deeper in where their horses were tied.
Auryn stopped and listened.
"Dragon crest saddles." The voice had a rough accent. "Fifty gold each if we’re smart."
"Take the horses too." Another voice came. Younger and eager. The sort that came with a female. "We sell next town, nobody asks questions."
Three figures moved in the dim light. Knives drawn, approaching Auryn’s horse as if they had done this a hundred times.
Auryn stepped out, hidden in the shadow beyond the light . He made his presence known just by existing there.
The first thief turned. Eyes squinted in the darkness. He saw nothing at first.
Then—a pair of eyes appeared.
One crimson, the other gold. Glowing faintly like embers.
The thief froze. Something primal screamed in his chest. Instinct older than thought.
FEAR
Auryn’s aura radiated outward. Enhanced now. Heavier than ever before. Oppressive weight pressing against everything living within range.
The thieves couldn’t move. They felt pinned. Breathing turned shallow. Hearts slamming against ribs.
Auryn’s voice came from the darkness. His voice cold, calm and predatory.
"Looking for something?"
The silence was filled with ragged breathing and the creak of old wood.
His eyes brightened. Pupils slitting. He allowed the tension to simmer.
"I can help you find a grave."







