378 A New Leaf in the Ranks
Silvyr hesitated, his tail curling slightly as if reflecting his unease. After a moment, he lowered his head further and spoke.
“I saw it in your eyes, my Lord. The resolve, the strength, the unyielding will of a true Overlord. There is no mistaking it. I would be a fool to deny what is so clear before me.”
Alister’s gaze softened slightly, his lips curving into a faint smirk. “Very well, Silvyr. If you recognize my authority so readily, then I welcome you to my ranks.”
The green dragon visibly relaxed, his wings folding neatly against his sides. “Thank you, my Lord. I shall serve you faithfully.”
⫷『Congratulations, Player. You have successfully tamed the SSS-Ranked Dragon: Silvyr Von Nata-Void.』⫸
The system’s message echoed in Alister’s mind as Silvyr’s massive form began to shimmer.
His draconic body glowed with a green light as his massive figure began shrinking, the light shifting and swirling around him.
Moments later, the dragon had transformed into a humanoid being.
Standing before them was a young man with dark green hair that had some flowers on it and piercing yellow eyes. He wore green armor with patterns of leaves and bark, the metallic sheen blending seamlessly with natural textures…. He looked like a little tree.
In his hands, he held a wooden staff with twisted vines, pulsing faintly with his mana.
The Summoning Gate behind him flickered before dissolving into motes of light, leaving the area as it had been before.
Silvyr, now in his humanoid combat form, stood uncertainly, glancing at Alister and the other generals with a touch of awe and unease.
The other generals exchanged glances, their reactions ranging from acceptance to mild curiosity.
Alister turned to his generals. “Silvyr Nata-Void is now one of us. Treat him with the same respect you afford one another.”
Alzuring huffed softly but inclined his head, while Mar’Garet grinned mischievously. “Oh, this will be fun,” she muttered.
Alister then said, “We’ve achieved what we came for. You all should return. I have other matters to attend to.”
The dragon generals immediately bowed. Silvyr, however, hesitated, fidgeting awkwardly.
His eyes darted between the generals and Alister before he quickly lowered himself into a bow as well.
“U-Understood, my Lord,” he stammered nervously.
Alister gave a small nod of approval before vanishing from sight in an instant, his Ether only a faint ripple in the air.
As soon as Alister was gone, Silvyr straightened, only to realize that all the other dragon generals were now staring directly at him.
Their gazes varied—some curious, some indifferent, others assessing his worth.
The weight of their attention made his shoulders tense, and he swallowed hard.
“I-I’m glad to meet all of you,” he said, forcing himself to stand tall despite the growing sense of unease.
“I shall do my best to serve our Lord as well.”
Cinder tilted her head, a smirk appearing on her lips. Her eyes glinted with amusement as she spoke.
“You seem a bit… jittery, Silvyr. Tell me, how old are you… You look young.”
Silvyr froze at the question, his pupils narrowing. He blinked rapidly, his grip tightening on his wooden staff.
His body stiffened, and a visible shiver ran through him.
“Do… do I have to answer that?” he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Mar’Garet let out a low chuckle, leaning in as she observed the interaction.
“What’s wrong, little tree? Afraid you’ll embarrass yourself?”
Silvyr’s face flushed slightly, though whether it was from embarrassment or frustration was not clear.
“It’s… not that,” he mumbled, his voice growing softer.
Alzuring stepped forward, his expression stern but not cold. “If you’re going to serve our Lord, Silvyr, you must carry yourself with pride. There’s no need to hide your age—or anything else. We are all bound by the same purpose.”
Silvyr nodded hesitantly, though the tension in his posture didn’t entirely fade. “I’ll… keep that in mind,” he said softly.
Cinder patted Silvyr’s head with a warm expression as she said, “You’ll be fine, little tree. Don’t overthink it.”
Silvyr immediately blushed, stepping back as his words stumbled out. “W-What are you doing?! Don’t pat my head like I’m some kid! I’ll have you know I was one of the strongest in my era!”
Cinder blinked, looking genuinely confused. “I was encouraging you. Isn’t that what you needed?”
Silvyr crossed his arms, his cheeks still red. “Encouraging? You were clearly treating me like a child! I’ll have you know I’m 400 years old!”
Mar’Garet let out a sharp laugh, her crimson eyes sparkling with amusement. “Four hundred? Oh, so you are a kid!”
Silvyr’s face darkened with embarrassment, and he glared at Mar’Garet. “If I’m a kid, then how old are you?”
Mar’Garet grinned mischievously, leaning in closer as if to emphasize her next words. “Over two million. Honestly, I’ve lost count.”
Silvyr stared at her, dumbfounded. “T-Two million? That’s impossible!”
Mar’Garet shrugged nonchalantly. “You don’t have to feel intimidated, little tree. I’m the oldest one here. It’s not a competition.”
Before Silvyr could process her words, Alzuring stepped forward. “I’d have to disagree with that statement.”
Mar’Garet raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And what makes you think you’re older than me?”
Mar’Garet gave a mock gasp, clutching her chest theatrically. “Nine million, Alzuring? I had no idea you were such a grandpa! How many grandchildren did you have?”
Alzuring’s gaze hardened slightly, though he remained as stoic as ever. “I never said I was a grandfather.”
Mar’Garet’s teasing grin widened. “Wait… you’re not? Are you saying you’ve never had children?”
Alzuring’s usual confidence dissappeaed, and he looked away, his expression unusually somber.
“This is… a delicate matter. I believe it’s best we end this discussion here.”
Mar’Garet’s eyes lit up with surprise and delight as she leaned toward him. “No way… Are you telling me you’re single, Alzu?!”
Alzuring’s head turned sharply toward her, his forehead twitching in irritation. “Mar’Garet, I fail to see how this is any of your concern.”
Cinder, who had been quietly observing, suddenly burst into laughter. “Oh, this is priceless! The mighty Alzuring, single after nine million years! That’s got to be some kind of record!”
Silvyr, still recovering from the shocking revelation, hesitated before mumbling, “I… I don’t know if I should feel better or worse about myself after hearing all this.”
Mar’Garet smirked, crossing her arms. “Don’t worry, little tree. You’ve got plenty of time to catch up. Who knows, maybe you’ll find someone before Alzu does.”
Alzuring’s piercing gaze shifted to Mar’Garet, and his voice dropped to a low, warning tone. “Mar’Garet, if you continue down this path, I may have to remind you why I am the Sky Dragon of Resolve.”
Mar’Garet laughed, clearly unbothered by his threat. “Oh, lighten up, Alzu. We’re just having fun, aren’t we?”
Silvyr looked between the two, still trying to wrap his head around their banter. “How are you all so… casual about being this old? Don’t you feel… tired?”
Mar’Garet chuckled, flicking his forehead lightly. “Tired? Silvyr, you’ll learn soon enough that age is just a number for beings like us. You’ll get used to it.”
Silvyr rubbed his forehead, his expression thoughtful. “I guess… but I still don’t understand how you all lived so long. Nine million years… I can’t even imagine what that’s like.”
Mar’Garet grinned, stepping closer to him. “Well, stick around long enough, little tree, and you might get to hear some of our stories. Who knows? Maybe you’ll have a few of your own to tell one day.”
Silvyr hesitated, but then nodded slowly. “I’ll do my best. For our Lord… and to prove myself to all of you.”
Cinder smiled, patting his shoulder this time. “That’s the spirit, Silvyr. You’ll fit in just fine.”
Mar’Garet chuckled, her grin mischievous. “And if not, well… we’ll just have to whip you into shape, won’t we?”
Draven who had not included himself in the entire conversation suddenly sighed, shaking his head. “Enough of this. We have duties to fulfill. Let’s not forget our purpose here.”
The playful atmosphere shifted slightly, and the group nodded in agreement.
Silvyr shifted uneasily, his gaze turning toward Mar’Garet as curiosity stirred within him.
“Mar’Garet.”
“Who is the black dragon?”
Mar’Garet tilted her head thoughtfully before answering with a nonchalant shrug. “His name is Draven, I don’t really know much about him,” she admitted. “He doesn’t talk much—only speaks when necessary. He’s enigmatic, to say the least.”
Before Silvyr could ask further, Draven interrupted. He turned slowly, his piercing purple eyes locking onto Mar’Garet.
“That’s a lie, and you know it,” he said.
“Mar’Garet don’t fill the child’s head with nonsense.”
Mar’Garet gave a playful smirk, clearly unbothered by his stern words.
“Oh, do tell me what I should or shouldn’t do,” she retorted with a mischievous glint in her eyes. She ignored Draven entirely as they continued toward the city. Without warning, they all suddenly vanished into thin air.
…
Moments later, Alister appeared within what seemed to be an expansive, cavernous room—most likely the Overlord’s chambers.
The space was vast, almost like a strange cave, suited for a massive, ancient dragon.
Alister stood in the center, his expression somber yet reflective. “It brings back memories,” he murmured, his voice almost a whisper.
He then called to the system. “System, it’s time. Proceed with my next awakening.”
⫷『Processing…』⫸
Suddenky Alister’s vision faded to black, his body suddenly encased in a shell like caccon.
