Two surprises awaited the soldiers who foolishly challenged the Winter Drakes’ nest today.

The first one was when all the drakes rushed out of their nest angrily. They had severely underestimated a beast’s ferociousness, but thanks to Tommy, they did not wipe out on their first independent mission.

The second one was even worse. It wasn’t a nest of three hundred odd drakes but over five hundred.

Even Tommy did not discover the remaining hundred fifty drakes.

And that is because the brood do not all live in one place. The stronger ones stayed further underground and escaped his detection.

Fortunately, they decided to recruit the drakes instead of killing them, because last hundred fifty drakes that suddenly sprung up were all S ranked creatures.

One must know that the other matured drakes are between A and B ranks.

These creatures are heavily dependant on their bloodline. The closer they are to the true dragons, the higher their potential. Without saying, the last hundred fifty drakes that have S ranking are much closer to their True Dragon ancestors.

Rare cultivation resources or high-grade spirit fruits and herbs will certainly increase this potential, but wild beasts that cannot cultivate their own spirit plantation hardly gather enough resources. This made the offer to join the Snowdrifts even more enticing.

The final clash between them was tremendous. Several times Tommy almost wanted to call for a retreat. Fortunately, with a thousand soldiers and over three hundred drakes, they managed to suppress the S ranked drakes.

At the very end, the leader of the brood stood out. It is a pure white drake with two budding horns on its head and a pair of shrivelled flightless wings on its back. Its rank is already at Peak S rank and could cross into the next major stage at any moment. Such a beast, it is already on its way turning into an actual dragon.

*RUUUUUUUUUUAH*

A terrifying roar forced all the drakes to bow their heads down. The Winter Drake King. The purity of the draconic race in its blood suppressed those lesser than it, such are dragons.

The Soul Slips that were collected before started trembling. Threatening to light up at any time when the drakes rebel against the Snowdrifts.

“Shut the hell up!” Tommy barked.

All at once, he unleashed his full power, imbuing himself fully with the Origin Energy.

His ranking shot up, a minor stage per breath, and in five steps he reached the Peak Triple S stage of a Paramount Cultivator.

A tremendous fighting spirit rose from him, and for a moment, all could see the image of a terrible white tiger towering above staring down at them all. Its blue eyes dug straight into the very depths of their souls.

*Wuuu wuuuuu*

The poor drake cried.

The superior draconic blood could suppress lesser drakes, but reversely, it will be suppressed when facing a far stronger dragon. Although Tommy is no dragon and the image he unleashed is that of the Byakko from his Secret Art, the crushing pressure completely annihilated any resistance.

The suffocating oppression dissipated once the leader of the brood submitted.

Tommy with his lips curved in a grin looked up at the housekeeper who is watching everything from his vintage point.

“Old man, I didn’t break the rules, did I? All I did was to ask this worm to quit making a din.”

“Y… you certainly followed the regulations,” the housekeeper said.

Tommy had not lifted a finger to attack and cannot be said to have directly interfered.

Of course, the housekeeper can also claim that Tommy had directly stopped the brood leader and failed the test, but black or white, the matter is up to interpretation.

Tommy knows this will be the case but did not hesitate. Even if he had his future on the line, he cannot use another person’s life to achieve his goals. To walk upright is a matter of his Dao Heart. It will be impossible to attain the highest rank if he has a guilty conscious.

Fortunately, the housekeeper seemed agreeable.

…..

In the castle of the Pendragon, the servants had all heard about the princess’ tests by now and are in busy discussion over it during their free time.

“I’ve heard about this Tommy fellow. Son of Sir Sidd Styrkur, and one of the leaders of the new and upcoming guild called Snowdrifts. Too bad he is an ugly boy.”

The maids around giggled. If the lad was good looking, surely the princess need not test him.

“Oh, I’ve seen a portrait of him,” someone proudly said.

“Quickly, tell us, does he look as bad as rumoured?”

Pleased by their attention on her, the maiden exclaimed melodramatically how unsightly Tommy is.

Very soon, the maids of the castle has the image of a hairless runt pup wearing oversized cloak running around playing swords with the grown-ups.

“Say, you girls think they will return safely from their drake hunt?” one of them said worriedly. Her man is one of the unlucky ones picked to join Tommy’s test.

Another in the group laughed spitefully, “Of course not. Don’t you know, they are sent to die?”

The servant has a long-crooked nose with thin cheeks and an arrogant manner. Because of her pride as one of the few employed to tend the castle, she had often dismissed others as her lesser.

Of course, when facing those of superior stations, her demeanour will take a one-eighty and behave like a loyal and faithful steward.

Obviously, her stern character pushes men away, and her looks did not make things better.

Over time, she developed a nasty attitude towards the younger maids who have partners.

The girl who worried over her man did not know that it was her unintended admission to having a partner that got him suggested for this test.

Hearing that they were sent to die, her face paled with fear.

The crooked nose laughed openly at her.

The rest of that day, she went about asking everyone she could about the test. Even when serving the ladies of the castle, when she was given the chance to talk, she would pretend to be curious about the princess’ test.

Hearing that they are on a monster extermination quest set her blood cold. When she was told that the target is a medium brood of Winter Drakes, she fell hard to the ground paralysed with worry.

Bruised from the fall, she used her injury and took leave, spending the day sitting at the edge of Avalon waiting for their return. This wait turned out to be three days long.

During this time, the entire valley had heard about the impossible mission given to the Snowdrifts.

The most common thing to hear recently is, “Have you heard, the princess’ test?”

The correct answer is, “Who haven’t heard that by now?”

“But did you hear the reason for it?”

“There is a hidden reason?”

“Shhh! Not so loud.”

“Stop beating about the bush.”

“Fine, fine. But quieten down if you want to hear.”

“The Snowdrifts wants to cement their relationship with us with a marriage, but this marriage proposal…”

The speaker paused until his listeners are about to beat the crap out of him, then said, “They want our princess to share the title of first lady with another woman.”

“WHAT?”

Furious outcry rambled throughout the streets.

This is definitely an insult to their kingdom.

Not many asked who the other woman is, and what is she to Tommy. In their minds, no one could match a princess of the Logres Kingdom.

Despite the person asking others to stay quiet, the topic quickly became an uproar. This, of course, is a planned move given greenlight from above. The words exchanged between Tommy and the King is behind closed doors, so it is impossible for rumours to spread this easily without approval.

Conscientiously, every political move should have a purpose and a goal, but here in Logres – as most crooked governance would – their moves are fuelled by their ego or used to fill their pleasure. Oftentimes, both.

Disregarding consequences of aggravating a possible ally, they preferred to stroke their egos. As expected, the people felt insulted that their beloved princess must share the title of first lady with another.

Their king is pleased with the people’s changed attitude towards the Snowdrifts. The Snowdrifts guild must know that a Logres princess must not be slighted. No one can, and no one will.

Although the people here are stuck in Avalon, they are not starved of news. Especially regarding the raise of the Snowdrifts, a new powerhouse on Gaia.

Still, they did not think the princess’ test could be completed. Two weeks of training is far too short, and the target are winter drakes – the ruler of the frozen wilds.

Coupled with their unhappiness towards the recent news, their words became expectedly harsh.

“I can’t wait to see how they return defeated.”

“It’s the result of making such mindless request to our princess.”

“That’s right, young chaps like him shouldn’t be too arrogant.”

“Well, what can you expect from a fatherless motherless wild child returned?”

“Good lord, your tongue sure is sharp.”

“I’ll let them have it when they come back.”

“That is if they could return,” someone said, and everyone laughed.

“I can hardly wait to see how many can come home.”

“No need to keep your hopes up. They are drake food.”

“Naw man, that’s just what I’m hoping for. Can you imagine the boy’s face if he comes back alone?”

The maid who sat upon the city walls paled when she heard them. Is there no one who cares for their lives? These are our soldiers!

The maiden on the city wall endured the three torturous days this way but on the next morn she saw tiny, dotted figures on the horizon and burst into delight.

“They came back! They are safe!”

She squinted her eyes from the glaring snow, and muttered, “Can’t tell how many returned…”

Worry flushed through her body, what if only a few came back?

But as the group neared Avalon, worry turned to panic.

The silhouettes look wrong…

The guards noticed a moment later and alarm rang throughout the city.

“DRAKES! THERE ARE DRAKES COMING!”

Panic shot through the streets. People fumbled and fell over each other.

This is a valley with few places to escape.

“What the heck? What did those fools do to lure the drakes here?”

“Damn the Snowdrifts! That fool boy has gotten us all killed!”

News quickly reached the king. Hearing that a monster horde full of drakes are coming, he cursed under his breath.

“Send out the knights now.”

This is Logres’ last stronghold, and they are not about to lose it to some monsters.

A knight in shining armour knelt before his king and banged his fist to his chest.

“As you wish, your majesty.”

He stood up then left the court. With Sidd absent in the Snowdrifts’ encampment, it is his duty to protect Avalon. He will prove that he is more suitable to become the Knight of the Lake by killing those drakes. Just thinking about it made a smile curve on his lips.

“Ready the dragon horses. We shall crush those puny lizards!”