Villain Awakening: Rising to the Strongest Dragon God-Chapter 72: The Seal He Broke

Nika tore through the streets of Greenspire with rage radiating from him like heat from a furnace.

People moved out of his way instinctively. Even adventurers lounging outside taverns immediately focused when he passed, some hands drifting toward weapons before recognizing him.

He pushed through the guild’s entrance and the noise in the main hall immediately receded into murmurs.

Eyes followed Nika as he walked straight toward the stairs leading to the private wing he saw those men earlier.

"Sir, you can’t..." A junior administrator stepped into his path, hands raised. Doing his best to intercept.

But—

Nika didn’t slow down. Didn’t touch him nor threatened him, just kept walking like he wasn’t even there. The administrator stumbled backward and let him pass.

Garran followed, Lyssa trailing behind with uncharacteristic silence. They’d noticed Nika immediately he entered the guild and could tell he was fuming.

Two guards stood outside the private lounge. They were better trained than the junior administrator, with hands already on their sword hilts.

"Thraxx," Nika said, his voice flat and venomous.

"Where is he?"

The guards exchanged glances before the older one spoke carefully.

"Adventurer Thraxx is unavailable,"

Nika eyes squinted as he looked at the man for three long seconds.

"You’re lying."

The man’s face expression shifted as his eyes became even calmer.

"Why would I lie?" he spoke while he cleared a path for Nika to check for himself.

"You may see for yourself but he has already departed on an assignment."

Behind Nika, Garran placed a hand on his shoulder. His voice carried a warmth that was detached from his cold demeanor.

"Nika," he said simply.

The tension bled from Nika’s shoulders, but it didn’t actually leave. Just receded, banking like coals that would re-ignite the moment fuel became available again.

"He’s dead," Nika said without turning, even as his shoulders trembled.

"He was tortured and left in an alley like trash."

Something shifted behind Garran’s eyes. His hand massaged Nika’s shoulders lightly. Shared grief for another innocent crushed by a system that was never to their advantage.

"So what are we doing?" Garran asked quietly.

"We have a contract to fulfill," Nika fist loosened as he turned away from the guards. His shoulders were now stable, Eyes narrowed and focused.

"The castle investigation. We complete that first. Then we wait for Thraxx."

This was Nika, even when rage demanded immediate action. He’d given his word and signed the contract. This was a commitment that he was bound to fulfill no matter what.

He knew Thraxx would return eventually. And when he did, He would be waiting.

---

Meanwhile in Aurelia, Auryn strode through the castle corridors without batting an eye. His presence made servants press themselves against walls.

The territorial awareness ability still pulsed in his chest like a note played off-key. Something at Ashen Grove had broken open, and every instinct told him waiting would only make it worse.

He found Borin in the armory, inspecting weapon stocks. The old dwarf looked up and read his expression immediately. He set down the spear he’d been examining.

"How bad?" He asked.

"Don’t know yet but that’s the problem,"

Auryn moved to a combat gear hung by the side.

"Something’s wrong at Ashen Grove. Could be a breach or could be something worse," he spoke while he weighed the armor.

"You’re going to scout it?" Borin asked calmly as he picked up an axe that laid on a nearby wall.

"Yes, but I’ll be taking Ser Saul with me," Auryn checked straps and buckles as he geared up.

"If it’s manageable, we handle it. If it’s worse, Saul rides back to mobilize forces."

"And you?" Borin frowned.

"I’ll keep going and buy time if I can, contain it if I can’t." Auryn met Borin’s eyes as he clicked his tongue.

"You stay here. If Saul comes back without me, you know what that means."

Borin frown deepened. He didn’t like the idea as his lips parted.

"You die in some demon-infested forest, and I’m the one who has to tell Lady Lyra?" he asked with a brow raised.

"She’ll kill me before the demons get a chance just let me join you," he insisted.

Despite the tension, Auryn chuckled slightly. "Then I’ll try not to die. For your sake."

"Generous of you." Borin handed him a water flask. "What we found there, that’s what’s causing this, isn’t it?"

Auryn nodded slowly. "Crixus’s lingering magic must’ve been holding something back," he took the water flask.

"I took that power for myself, and now there’s nothing stopping whatever wants to come through.I think."

"Then we fix it," Borin said simply, still weighing the axe in his hand. One hand on the head, the other on its hilt.

"That’s the plan." Auryn secured the last buckle.

"Ser Saul should be ready," he spoke.

Afterall , he had sent someone to get him immediately he left Claudia and came to where he sensed Borin.

Borin finally allowed his axe to rest. He didn’t say another word, just following him out of the armory.

---

While Auryn prepared, Lyra appeared like a ghost through the doorway of their chambers.

She sensed through their heightened bond that something was wrong.

"You’re leaving." She spoke and it was definitely not a question.

He turned like he was surprised. His face warming slightly in her presence.

"There is something wrong at Ashen grove. I’ve to check it out. It’s just scouting," he tried downplaying the situation.

"Can I come?" she asked while she came close and caressed his back.

"No," he said flatly as he turned to face her fully.

"I will not put you in danger when I don’t even know what we’re facing."

She pouted stubbornly. "I can help you. You know I can..."

"I said no." Auryn took her hands. The bond blared between them.

"If something goes wrong, I need you here. I need you safe," He struggled for words.

"You’re the reason I care whether I survive this. Do you understand?"

Her eyes shimmered, but she didn’t let tears fall. "You’re coming back," she exclaimed.

"I’m coming back." He kissed her forehead, pulling her close for a hug.

She clung to him briefly, then stepped back, composing herself with visible effort.

"Then go. The faster you leave, the faster you return," she tried her best to smile.

Auryn held her gaze for one more second with a warm smile.

"As you wish, your Highness."

He turned to the door and stepped out, disappearing into the corridors.

—---

Several Hours Later...

Moonlight fell like silvery rain, as the duo arrived at Ashen grove having ridden hard through the evening until full darkness settled over the Northern District.

They barely walked a few feet into the area after leaving the horses at the border, when the smell of blood and rot hit them.

The wind carried it eerily seemingly tainted with something that made Auryn’s dragon blood recoil.

Then they saw the bodies.

Scattered across the path leading into Ashen Grove. Men, women and a child that Auryn forced himself not to look at too closely.

Travelers caught in the wrong place when the breach opened. Blood trails showed they’d tried to escape before whatever came through hunted them down.

The people had been torn apart with something approaching curiosity, their bodies displaying damage that suggested the demons were learning human anatomy through experimentation.

Auryn dismounted. Ser Saul followed, hand already on his sword hilt, scanning the treeline where shadows moved unnaturally. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"The bones," Auryn said quietly.

"An Elder Dragon died here. Its magic saturated the ground, creating a natural deterrent. When I excavated the skeleton,"

He gestured at the carnage. "I removed the seal and this is the result," he concluded like someone who just completed his hypothesis.

Saul’s expression remained neutral while his eyes moved with caution.

"Can you reseal it?"

"I don’t know," Auryn spoke truthfully. "But–"

He couldn’t finish his statement when shadows stretched from beyond the darkness.

The demons emerged with humanoid forms that were totally twisted. Their joints kept clicking maliciously even as their faces split open to accommodate mouths filled with hundreds of razor-like teeth.

They came from different directions to encircle them in a pincher formation.

’There is definitely something else in work here’ Auryn thought

Auryn drew his sword as crimson-gold scripts danced through the spine of the sword. Saul mirrored him, falling into combat stances.

More demons emerged from somewhere deep in the woods.

Some flying with wings too many to count while some crawling masses emerged with disturbing bodies that looked like multiple corpses fused together.

The emerged with the grace of predators unaware they were the prey.

The duo was surrounded. Outnumbered and standing in the carnage of Auryn’s own making but suddenly he smirked even as his body straightened up.

He pointed the consecrated blade at no one in particular but everyone felt the surge of energy.

"Hello, My name is Prince Auryn, Leave immediately Or--" he paused with a devious smirk on his face and fire burning in his eyes.

"I’ll deport you."