The Northern King

  News arrived that the Northern enemy forces were advancing once again. Great General Vuong Bach Tien, the General Guarding the North, and his son, Vice Commander Vuong Khac Dich, immediately prepared their troops to rescue Tan Thanh. However, due to the long and arduous mountain paths, they could not set out instantly. Thus, he dispatched Aeris and the flying cavalry ahead, accompanied by disciples of the Mac family, to reinforce and support the defenses of Tan Thanh.

  The Great General was a man of advanced years who believed deeply in destiny. Upon seeing the Long M? (Dragon Horse) completely submit to the Doanh Th??ng Hi?n (Prince Hien) as its true master, he felt certain: the Prince Hien was the future of the North, the one who would bring long-lasting peace to this land. Therefore, he commanded his son, Vuong Khac Dich, to devote himself entirely to protecting the Prince Hien’s life. He assigned 200,000 soldiers as support, retaining only 50,000 at the Northern Command Headquarters. Subsequently, he called upon the forces from surrounding cities to reinforce the Headquarters, planning to gather another 200,000 troops and supply wagons within one to two months to launch a counter-offensive against the Northern enemies.

  At this time, the Northern enemy forces had already anticipated the situation. The assault on Tan Thanh was merely a feint to draw attention; their primary objective was the Northern Command Headquarters. After their 200,000 troops made a show around Tan Thanh, they left behind a small group to intentionally kick up dust and light numerous campfires, creating the illusion that the full army was still stationed there. The main force, consisting entirely of high-speed cavalry, disguised themselves as hunters and scattered throughout the mountains. By hunting for their own food, they remained self-sufficient and were not slowed down by supply trains. This allowed them to swiftly cross forests and streams, closing in on the Headquarters.

  The commander of the Northern forces, named A-ly-Khat, along with his elite personal guard—the finest warriors of the Northern Enemy—chose a secret path deep into the desolate mountains. There, they discovered a dragon’s cave thanks to an ability to converse with all creatures, particularly birds. A-ly-Khat said, "Excellent. Let us hunt this dragon; we shall use its blood and meat to feast the army. Our military strength will surely surge."

  Two scouts went to investigate upon his orders and returned to report, "Leader, this is an adult dragon (equivalent to the Golden Core stage - A). Hunting it would be unwise; it will cost many of our brothers' lives. It can speak and is extremely vigilant. According to the manuals, we should not hunt it."

  The second scout countered, "Commander, my companion is right that it is an adult dragon, but I have a different view. We should hunt it. Its high vigilance is because it is a female dragon that has just birthed three dragon eggs. Her strength is waning; this is a perfect opportunity."

  A-ly-Khat nodded and said, "Good, good. This is a gift from the heavens. We have never eaten the meat of an adult dragon before, and there are eggs as well. I believe it will be incredibly nourishing. Very well, the whole army shall camp here for a few days. Send more scouts to observe the dragon, find its strengths and weaknesses, then we will discuss the plan to slay it."

  A dragon-hunting squad was formed. The most agile men entered the cave, intentionally making noise to provoke the dragon and force it out. Upon seeing the attackers, it opened its mouth and let out a roar, unleashing its Dragon Might. Those who had previously consumed dragon blood were suppressed by the low-level dragon bloodline (becoming "dragon slaves") and collapsed, unable to lift their heads. Only the strongest stood firm. It opened its maw to breathe fire to incinerate the group, but the moment it did, an arrow flew into its mouth and exploded simultaneously with the flames, wounding the dragon. It tried to breathe fire again, but another arrow flew precisely into its mouth, dazing it. This time, it kept its mouth shut, took to the air, and attacked with its claws and powerful tail. The hunting party retreated, as ordinary arrows could not pierce the dragon's scales.

  Meanwhile, another team had entered the cave, stolen the eggs, and detonated the cave ceiling. The massive noise caused the female dragon to panic and rush back. At that moment, the best hunters were waiting; they aimed for the dragon’s eyes, blinding one of them. Furious, it roared and gave chase for a time before remembering its young. It retreated into the cave but could not find the eggs, as they had been hidden in dragon dung and urine. It roared and ran back out to seek revenge. A moment later, it rushed back inside upon hearing the sound of eggs cracking and dragonlings crying for help. Eventually, the hatchlings died. It ran out again, more eggs broke, and it rushed back. Finally, exhausted and broken, it lay gasping on the verge of death.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Dragons are vengeful creatures. This was an adult dragon with fully awakened intelligence, tortured severely both mentally and emotionally. With all three of her young dead, she placed a curse upon those who had tormented her. Unlike young dragons, an adult dragon possesses a Dragon Pearl, which holds half of its power and spirit. After laying the curse, she spat out the Dragon Pearl, letting it drift down the river. Then, she closed her eyes and lay there waiting for death.

  A-ly-Khat killed the dragon, butchered it, and flayed its hide. They used detoxification methods, seasoned the meat, and shared it among everyone—a true dragon barbecue feast. Later, they rendezvoused with other commanders and distributed the dragon meat over the following days. Due to the effects of the dragon flesh, the entire army became ferocious, ten times stronger than normal. Taking advantage of the night, they launched a surprise raid on the camp of General Vuong Bach Tien. The camp was razed, and the Great General went missing. The news spread quickly. When the King of Chau Ngoc Kingdom heard this, he was shocked; despite his age, the Great General possessed immense strength—taking on a thousand foes alone was no issue for him.

  The Prince Hien heard that the Great General had been ambushed and was heavily wounded at a city about a day's journey from Tan Thanh. The Great General requested an immediate meeting with the Prince Hien. Leaving Tan Thanh's defense to Aeris and the Mac family, he and Silver Beard immediately mounted their horses and rode day and night. While passing a riverbank, the system suddenly activated, announcing in its dry, monotonous voice:

  "Dragon Pearl detected in the stream. The system suggests you pick it up."

  The Prince Hien wondered, "How could such a rare item be in this small river?"

  The system said, "Dragon Pearl is 300m away... 200m... 100m..."

  The Prince Hien stopped and went down to the river to check. He found a Dragon Pearl, brilliant and pristine. The Prince Hien said to Silver Beard, "I found this Dragon Pearl. Teacher, please take a look."

  Silver Beard took the pearl and examined it. "Truly? How can there be such a rare thing? Only adult dragons possess a Dragon Pearl; it is like half of their life force. Extremely rare and strange indeed."

  The Mask Dharma Treasure also spoke up: "This is very suitable. Try attaching it to your Long Spear."

  The Prince Hien asked, "Why?"

  The Mask said, "I designed the Long Spear using extraterrestrial technology, capable of firing energy beams (lasers) at your command. But it lacks a crucial power source to activate. I do not have the technology to create a power source. I have checked and found that this Dragon Pearl has a very compatible energy wavelength. Try attaching it."

  The Prince Hien attached it and tested it; a white beam of energy shot straight out from the spearhead. The Prince Hien casually named it the "White Light Dragon Spear." Immediately, a powerful reaction surged from his hand to his head—a fragment of memory from the mother dragon before her death and the pain of losing her children flowed into his mind.

  The system announced: "Congratulations on your new Dharma Treasure. The naming process has activated the dormant Dragon Soul within the Dragon Pearl. From now on, you and the Long Spear are connected. Power will manifest depending on the harmony between both parties. To increase harmony: avenge the mother dragon. Killing those marked by the mother dragon's curse will make the Long Spear stronger."

  The Prince Hien asked, "Does naming it awaken the treasure or make it stronger?"

  The system replied, "Correct. Naming requires a large amount of Yin Karmic Merit, much like a father naming his child; it is a soulful father-child relationship. The mother dragon's soul was so desperate for revenge that she immediately accepted the name you gave to gain strength."

  The Prince Hien said, "I see. We will deal with that later. Let us go meet the Great General."

  When the Prince Hien arrived, he found the Great General gasping for breath on his bed. He dismissed everyone, leaving only the Prince Hien by his side. The Great General said, "I am dying. Can you fulfill one wish for me?"

  The Prince Hien bowed his head. "Do not say that. You have been like a father to me. I also view you as my father. I will do my utmost to fulfill your final wish."

  The General said, "Good. Then you shall inherit my title as the General Guarding the North. Lead the army against the Northern enemies."

  The Prince Hien said, "I cannot. There is still Vice Commander Vuong Khac Dich; he is your biological son. How could I dare accept that title?"

  The General sighed. "My son is hot-tempered and overconfident. He hates the Northern enemies intensely. If he becomes the Great General, he will surely create endless war. And in war, it is always the common people who suffer. As for you, you were chosen by the ancestors and blessed by the Divine Beast. You are the hope to bring peace to both kingdoms."

  The Prince Hien said, "But..."

  The General said, "I have decided. Go outside; I need to speak with the other officers."

  The Prince Hien waited outside for a while as news continued to pour in. The Northern enemy forces had increased from 200,000 to 400,000. Over forty tribes had gathered upon hearing that the Great General was dead; they were arraying their forces at the border, preparing to attack. This news spread through the ranks, causing anxiety and fear among the soldiers. If 200,000 had caused the Great General's death, how could they withstand 400,000? Soon after, it was announced that the Prince Hien had become the New Northern Guarding, which only added to the soldiers' confusion and fear, unsure of what their future would hold.