A door to the next floor appeared at the center of the platform. It opened wide and the bright light coming from the other side could be seen again.

Luke moved his feet and passed through the doors, moving on to the next trial. After coming out of the other side he found himself standing on a hard stone floor. the ceiling was lost in shadow, but an oval eye shaped structure was present, suspended between two pillars.

FINAL TRIAL: TRIAL OF WORTHINESS

DO NOT BEND IN FRONT OF AN UNIMAGINABLE POWER

STAND FIRM AND PROVE YOUR WORTHINESS

Luke was confused, his brows creased up. He couldn't understand what was this trial about. Defeating another dragon warrior couldn't be a proof of his worthiness, if that was the case, then he had already done that.

Scaling the mountain without an ounce of prana was proof of his will enough. What could test his worthiness. He couldn't think of anything. Just then, his confusion was cleared when the oval eye shaped structure opened up to reveal a huge eye with red iris and a vertically slit pupil.

An eye of a true dragon appeared.

Intense pressure assaulted him. The air in the surrounding got concentrated, giving a murky look to it. Luke groaned and his face contorted in pain.

05:58

05:57

05:56

The flame strands morphed into a timer and ticked away. Luke realized he had to endure this pressure for six minutes. The pressure falling on him was so huge that his bones were making creaking sounds from the pressure. His legs were screaming to bend, but he endured.

He recalled the dragon eye he saw while floating in the vast cosmos. He felt like he would burst and die in that moment. This pressure was nothing in comparison. He gritted his teeth and sat down on the floor in a lotus position. The tattoo behind his back glowed and the amber circle came out on his back.

Luke had activated his limit break.

The pressure was a perfect opportunity to test his limits and train his limit break, so that he can maintain the form longer. He closed his eyes and straightened his back, staying firm in his resolve.

05:01

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04:20

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03:15

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02:01

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00:30

00:29

Time went on and only thirty seconds remained on the timer. Luke had endured the whole time. blood had flowed out of his nose and lips. He gritted his teeth so hard that they were almost about to break. But he kept on going. His skin felt like shattering and bones crumbling into dust. Still, he sat motionless, the limiter ring slowly spinning behind his back.

With only ten seconds left, Luke was at his limit. He was about to faint any moment. Just then he felt a ferrous taste in his mouth, and immediately vomited out blood. A splash of blood fell on the floor in front of him and his body leaned forward, he felt light and was about to faint.

Just at that moment, the pressure increased and Luke was jolted awake. He supported himself from falling with his hands and pulled himself up. The limiter ring was shaking vigorously, but he bit his lips and endured the last few seconds with resolve burning in his eyes.

00:04

00:03

00:02

00:01

00:00

The pressure vanished immediately and the eye closed. The limiter ring behind Luke moved back inside his engraved tattoo and his eyes rolled back, loosing consciousness as his body started falling down.

Before his body could hit the floor, a hard, scales covered hand with sharp and pointy nails caught him. tracing back his hand, an old man with grey hair and wrinkled skin could be seen. He was wearing a white robe with golden patterns on it. His long and straight hair cascaded down his back and two long dagger like horns jutted out of his temples.

Mana poured out of his hand and covered Luke whole. His body started floating up and the golden mana formed a sphere around him, slowly seeping inside his body from the sphere.

"What a tenacious young man." the dragon man smiled looking at the unconscious Luke floating inside his healing sphere.

****

In one of the guest rooms in the palace of King Edgar. William and Hayden were sitting in discussion with a glass of wine in their hands.

"Did the prime minister send any words father?" Hayden asked.

"Nothing till now. he said the king is not in the condition to discuss any political agenda." William said with a scorn.

"Do you think we'll be able to take this deal? Wouldn't the king want to monopolize it himself?"

"He won't. he's too obsessed with obtaining his young back and fucking those prostitutes. He'd be happy as long as he gets the potion."

Hayden nodded at his father's words. he down the wine down his throat and put the glass back on the table.

"What about the Ranatosh? Did Hela say anything?" William asked, changing the topic.

"Nothing. After Duke Argon's disciple lost to Luke. She has been silent. I heard from Florina that Leo also lost to Luke in a duel and now has build up a trauma. He can't even pick his sword up and refuses to train."

"That pimp. Hela has spoiled him too much. That duke Argon swallowed that dragon stone down his throat without even yielding any results. He's shameless enough to not even send a message after taking the dragon stone from us." William scoffed.

"What should we do about Leo? If things go on like this, either that Luke or the eldest daughter may even rise to take the seat. Our years of preparation will all go to waste." Hayden said with his brows creased in worry.

"Ask Hela to send Leo to the Gandolf dukedom. He'll be training under us until the academy entrance tests."

"I understand father." Hayden said with a nod.

"Who's there!?" William abruptly stood up from his seat as intense bloodlust released from him towards the dark shadow beside the window curtain.

"I mean no harm duke William. On the other hand, I'm here with a proposal that may profit you immensely." Jekyll came out of the shadow in a black robe and covering him whole, as he spoke up with a smirk on his face.

Hayden unsheathed his sword and stood in front of his father immediately. Pointing his sword at Jekyll.

"Who are you?" William asked in a cold voice, not removing his bloodlust at all.

"You can think of me as just a merchant duke William. I fulfill a task for my customer and take a small payment in return." Jekyll said.

"I've heard a bird from the Gandolf duchy speak about your worry regarding the Ranatosh. I think I'll be able to help you in that regard."

William squinted his eyes and observed Jekyll. He couldn't sense anything dark from him. instead he couldn't even sense anything from him.

"What do you know about the worry that I have?" He removed his pressure and asked Jekyll, still cautious.

"You wish for your grandson to become the heir. So that the Ranatosh duchy can be annexed under the Gandolf's. but duke Danver is being adamant and has still not declared his successor. And the chances are high that he may choose his first son or the eldest daughter in place of your grandson." Jekyll said with a smirk.

"Sheath your sword son." William said as Hayden was a bit surprised. But he did as ordered and moved back, putting the sword back in the sheath.

"Come. Take a seat." William moved back to his seat and called for Jekyll to sit.

Jekyll moved further inside and sat opposite to him. Hayden stood behind his father and with cautious eyes, kept watch on Jekyll. Not relaxing in the slightest.

"There's nothing free in this world. Tell me. What is it that you want in payment?" William asked.

"Haha! Straight to the point. I like that thing about you Duke William. Only business and no useless talks." Jekyll said with a laugh.

"You speak as if you know me."

"Who doesn't know how the great treasure bearer Duke William works."

"Speak then, what is that you want?"

"Nothing much. I just want a small chunk from the mana stone of the ice phoenix in your possession. I think you'll not be uncomfortable to share it, since you parted with the dragon stone with duke Argon too." Jekyll said with a wide grin.

William went silent. his eyes opened wide for a moment as he was shocked at his words, but immediately hid it and collected his calm back. Hayden gripped the hilt of his sword tight. fury rising inside him seeing Jekyll's attitude.

"How do you know about the Ice pheonix stone?" William asked.

"We have eyes and ears everywhere duke William. You see...our birds have nests everywhere." Jekyll smirked.

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