Corona
1 week later
Men moved briskly along the dock, the air thick with salt, sweat, and anticipation. Preparations were complete.
Ten thousand dragons—tamed, trained, and ready for war. Thirty thousand troops stood armed in formation. Twenty battleships waited in the harbor, each capable of carrying a thousand soldiers and beasts. Alongside them, a hundred longships, nimble and swift, could each hold a hundred. Every piece was in place.
I had seven generals, each selected for a specific role—discipline, tactics, morale, reconnaissance, logistics. But for this campaign, I would only bring three.
Alvin the Outcast, cunning and unpredictable.
Viggo the Dragon Hunter, ruthless and efficient.
Nala, Defender of the Wing—loyal, brave, and respected by all.
The others would remain behind to keep order in my growing territory. With war on the horizon, stability at home was just as critical as victory abroad.
"Sail," I commanded.
The word rang out like thunder. Without delay, the sails unfurled and caught the wind, while rowers dipped their oars in perfect rhythm. The fleet began to move.
I leapt onto my Skrill and took to the skies, the wind rushing past me as we soared above the ships. From above, the formation looked sharp, disciplined. As it should be.
Mid-flight, I brought up my system interface.
I had stopped using gacha. It serves no purpose now. What good was raw power if I didn't have the time to level it up? New skills meant nothing if they remained undeveloped. Better to strengthen what I had. My current summons were ideal for defending my territory while I was away—reliable, stationed, and upgradeable.
Still, I'd need more tickets soon. Upgrades required tickets, and the best way to get tickets was through conquest. The war ahead would be a guaranteed victory, there is no possibility of me losing.
I closed the interface and looked ahead.
The ocean stretched far, hiding enemies and fate alike beneath its waves. But I was not afraid. I had my army, my dragons, my power.
And I would not be stopped.
Two weeks later
It had taken far longer than expected. Storms raged without mercy, and unforeseen obstacles turned what should've been a straightforward journey into a gauntlet. Still, my fleet endured.
"Tch. At least we finally made it," I muttered, eyes fixed on the distant silhouette of an island tethered to the mainland by a long, narrow bridge. Even from here, the banners of Corona fluttered against the wind.
From the shore, a lone ship detached and sailed straight toward us. I did not command my fleet to intercept. Only one man stood aboard the vessel. Clad in gleaming golden armor, his helmet bore the insignia of the Kingdom of Corona.
"Interesting," I muttered.
I urged the Skrill forward. As we neared, I watched the soldier stiffen—not with fear, but with discipline. He stood tall, unwavering, his gaze sharp and assessing.
"Who are you," he called out, "and what are you doing in the territory of the Kingdom of Corona?"
I smirked. "Well, soldier, my name is Erik Horrendous Haddock. This fleet belongs to me. But before I tell you why I've come... give me your name."
The man hesitated only a moment before nodding. "Leon Herbert, Captain of the Royal Guards."
"Well, Captain Herbert," I said with a nod of respect, "since you've answered my question, I'll return the courtesy. I'm here for only one thing."
I let the silence build. The ocean breeze carried the tension to every man present.
"Leon Herbert, tell your king I command 30,000 abled warriors, 10,000 dragons bred for battle, and over a hundred warships. He has one hour to surrender his kingdom... or I will take it by force."
Leon tensed, his jaw clenched, but he nodded slowly. I gestured with one hand, and beneath the waves, the Bewilderbeast rumbled. With barely a sound, it pushed Leon's small ship gently back to shore.
Thirty minutes later, a messenger arrived, panting. "Lord Erik, please... follow me."
I nodded, issuing swift commands to my fleet. Only the generals would accompany me; the rest were to remain at the docks. As we landed, the civilians watched from behind shuttered windows and narrow alleys, fear etched on every face. My reputation had reached them before I did.
We advanced through the streets, and then—a small child dashed out from a side path and tripped, falling at my feet.
The street fell silent.
Civilians froze. My generals tensed.
The girl sat up, trembling, eyes filled with tears. I stepped forward, knelt, and gently moved a hand over her, checking for wounds.
"Don't cry, little one. Tell me what's wrong, and I'll make it better," I said softly.
"M-my cupcake... it's all ruined," she sobbed, showing me the squashed remains.
I smiled. Slowly, I lifted my hand, drawing mana into it, swirling and visible to the naked eye. With a flick, I materialized a perfectly decorated cake from my inventory.
"This is for you," I said, offering it gently.
Her eyes widened in awe. "W-wow... amazing!"
She took the cake with both hands and skipped away, beaming.
The atmosphere shifted. The air lightened, and the fear that had gripped the people around us dulled, replaced with curiosity. Respect. Maybe even hope.
We continued.
Ten minutes later, we arrived at the castle gates. They opened slowly, revealing the throne room. King Frederic and Queen Arianna sat upon their thrones. Their expressions were grim—hers tear-streaked and puffy, his full of weight and resignation.
"So," I said, materializing an imposing black throne with sharp silver accents beside theirs and sitting down, "have you decided?"
The king exhaled. "Yes. I will surrender my kingdom to you."
But before I could reply, he raised a hand.
"I only ask one thing... please spare the civilians. And my wife. If you—"
"You misunderstand," I interrupted, my voice calm but firm. "There will be no bloodshed. You've surrendered. That makes you—and your people—mine. I do not harm my own."
Gasps echoed around the room. Whispers. Eyes widened.
"Thank you for your mercy, my lord," the king said quietly.
Clank... clank... clank.
Footsteps echoed from behind the chamber doors.
A knock.
"Enter," King Frederic called.
A guard rushed in, panting. "Your Majesty... Flynn Rider has escaped. He's fled across the bridge to the mainland!"
The king shot to his feet. "What?!" he shouted, turning as the queen broke into sobs again. He rushed to her side, comforting her.
My generals and I exchanged glances. I leaned forward.
"Tell me, King Frederic—who is this Flynn Rider? And what has he done?"
The king hesitated, then said with effort, "Flynn Rider is a thief. Just six hours ago, he stole something precious—something that belonged to our daughter... our lost daughter. When she was just a baby, she was taken by a witch."
His voice cracked.
I closed my eyes for a moment, considering.
"I see. Then there may still be a trail."
I stood. "I will aid you. Take me to the room where the item was stolen."
The king blinked. "You'll help...?"
"I will," I said simply. With a thought, I called to one of my dragons.
As we followed the king and queen through the halls, a Rumblehorn landed silently beside me. Neither monarch noticed until we entered the room. The queen turned and gasped, recoiling.
"Calm yourselves," I said gently. "This is a Rumblehorn. Known for its tracking abilities. With its nose, we will find your thief."
Slowly, they nodded, eyes wide but hopeful. I knelt beside the dragon and whispered a command. It sniffed the air, then snorted and began walking.
The hunt had begun.