"You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist."

― Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

"Ahhhh!" Ven leaned back, hands on his swollen belly. For the first time since his rebirth, he couldn't eat another bite. "Thanks for the meal, it was amazing."

"No problem," The King belched. "It's been too long since I truly feasted like a dragon!" He eyed Ven. "What are you exactly? You ate even more than me..."

"Someone once called me 'The Son of the Titan,' but I don't really know." Ven draped an arm over his face as he rubbed his swollen stomach. "I woke up alone."

"Titan..." The King's face became thoughtful.

"Mhmmm," Ven nodded, half asleep in a food-induced coma. "That's what that avatar guy... Verander, said." His body oozed into his chair, decorum forgotten as he settled in for a nap. "But he's gone now, banished for a thousand years or something."

The king tapped his hand on the table, a rhythm that lulled Ven further into the hands of sleep.

"Isn't the Titan a forbidden being?" Jun leaned forward, face confused. "He's the reason we can cultivate. The tribulation was created to destroy his kind." His head tilted to one side as he looked at Ven. "We all saw you absorb the tribulation, so you can't be a titan, right?"

"Maybe..." Ven said nothing else. His system was a secret, one he would keep at all costs. It was a trump card, of sorts, and it held tremendous power.

"Enough, Jun," The King waved his hand. "Tend to your sister and leave us to talk."

Jun sighed, but nodded. He rose and grabbed Huan's snoring form. He sent Ven a final glance, then disappeared from the hall.

"He's a good lad," The King raised his hand after his son. "He's weak, weaker than most for his age, but he's got a just heart."

"Weakness is subjective." Ven opened his eyes. "Strength of the body is great, but useless without a powerful heart." He faced the king with a serious face. "He can train his body, his heart is already where it needs to be."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"Hmmm..." The King held Ven's gaze. "Perhaps, but what the kingdom needs is the power to defend itself." He shook his head. "Heart isn't enough."

"All kingdoms fall..." Ven squinted up at the grizzled king. "Even if you break through and rule for a million years, one day you'll die." Ven pointed to the hole in the king's shoulder. "One lucky shot and everything you've built will fall."

"Then what do you suggest?" The King scowled. "My strength has always been enough, once I find a successor..."

"What successor would be good enough?" Ven raised his hand and pointed after Jun. "He's not a candidate, despite having the heart of a king." He shrugged and rose from his seat. "You're enemies grow with you, Dragon King. No successor will ever catch up fast enough to take all of the burden."

Ven walked to the doorway, hands on his swollen waist. He'd had enough of Royals for today. He needed a good rest and the company of some less dramatic friends.

"If you raise dozens of good men, like Jun, you could die without fear," Ven said over his shoulder. "Together, ants can move mountains."

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Rafe leaned against a tree, just outside the castle. He gazed at the gate, where Ven had just exited, a massive load of stone in hand. The halfling sighed. This guy likes to test fate... The Dragon King was known for his murderous temper, yet Ven chiseled out his floor without care.

Rafe followed the masked idiot to the guild, where he'd taken up residence. Ven vanished through the doors and Rafe relaxed. Aangor would notify him if Ven left, so he could take a real break from babysitting. He lept over the rooftops, feet light as air.

In a race with himself, Rafe darted across the city, unnoticed despite his speed. It's been too long since I took a job... Ooulin had forced a promise out of him, but it stung him to keep it. He dealt with death, not management and training. The daggers at his waist thirsted for blood, yet he was trapped.

"I've got to kill something..."

His trajectory shifted until he found himself in front of the labyrinth gates. The huge doorway beckoned him. His hands opened the way as his feet drove him into the shadows beyond.

"Stay asleep, Ven, I need a good, long, break."

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"Come on Ooulin, play dress-up with me!"

Kalina's voice rang out in the turtle's ears. Ooulin scuttled, full speed, until he was hidden beneath a small table. He'd fled into the depths of the guild hours ago, an attempt to escape Kalina's clutches. The imp in question darted past, a flurry of bubbly energy.

"We can go hunting, or fly a kite!" Kalina's voice sang as she vanished around the bend. "I can get some paint and decorate your little shell!!!"

Ooulin shuddered. He'd forgotten how... carefree his mother had been as a child. The turtle rose from his hiding place and scooted away from her call. He would spend time with her later, right now he needed a nap.

Purpose in his heart, Ooulin made his way into the depths of the guild, until a shadow passed over his tiny form.

"Hello there, Ooulin, are you lost?" Ven scooped the turtle up and rested him on one palm. "I think I heard Kalina calling you?"

Ooulin's dragged his head back and forth, an exaggerated movement that caused Ven to laugh.

"Well, you can come with me, if you like?" He raised Ooulin, to eye level. "I'm about to sleep off a food binge."

Ooulin smiled and crooned out in joy, sleep was all he wanted, but Kalina never rested. He waved his legs and nodded his head, an attempt to urge Ven to move faster.

"Alright, alright!" Ven laughed. "We're almost there, then you can sleep all you like."

Ooulin closed his eyes and withdrew into his shell. Ven would guard against danger. Now he could sleep, sweet blissful sleep.