I Only Tame Dragons

"Trisha," Cedrick's voice snapped her out of her thoughts, laced with irritation. "What are you doing? Stop gawking at him and focus."

"I . . . ," Trisha stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just . . . He feels . . . familiar."

Cedrick's expression darkened, his irritation boiling over into anger. "Familiar? Don't be ridiculous. He's nothing but a stranger trying to disrupt our plans. Or do you know him? Is there something you're not telling me?"

But Trisha wasn't so sure. Her eyes returned to Horizon, searching for answers that eluded her. Was it possible that this man, so different yet so eerily alike, could somehow be Cloud? And if it was him, why was he here?

How had he managed to enter this place and survive the second round? Cloud was merely a tamer, with limited prospects of evolving into something greater. Someone like him shouldn't have made it this far.

Horizon, noticing her gaze, offered a faint, enigmatic smile. It was almost as if he knew what she was thinking—as if he were daring her to connect the dots. The subtle gesture sent a shiver down her spine.

"Is something wrong?" Horizon's voice cut through the tension, smooth and calm but laced with a hint of challenge.

She hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. "You . . . You remind me of someone I used to know," she admitted quietly, almost as if speaking to herself.

Horizon tilted his head slightly, the faintest flicker of amusement crossing his features. "Do I? Perhaps you're mistaken."

The ambiguous response only deepened her unease. Trisha clenched her fists, trying to steady her racing thoughts. Was he toying with her? Or was there something deeper, something she couldn't yet grasp?

Cedrick, oblivious to the undercurrent between them, scoffed loudly. "Enough of this nonsense. He's nobody important, Trisha. Stop wasting our time, and let's get on with it before the beasts appear."

But as much as Trisha wanted to believe Cedrick, the pit in her stomach refused to subside. Horizon's presence felt like a ghost from her past, one that refused to be ignored.

And Horizon, standing tall and confident, seemed perfectly content to let her wrestle with her uncertainty. His silence spoke volumes, a quiet assurance that he held all the answers she sought. All she had to do was piece them together.

"Get ready," Cedrick snapped, his tone impatient. "Whatever his grudge is, it doesn't matter. He's just another obstacle to be removed."

Horizon's stance shifted, his aura growing more imposing. The casual air he carried moments ago was gone, replaced by something far more dangerous. "If you think I'm just an obstacle, you're greatly mistaken."

The tension was palpable, the air so thick with unease that every breath felt labored. Everyone tightened their grip on their weapons, eyes darting between allies and foes. The jungle around them seemed to hold its breath, a witness to the impending clash.

"Six against five. We're at a disadvantage here, Cedrick," Aeloria warned, her voice firm but edged with caution.

Cedrick responded with a smirk that oozed confidence. "For someone with the highest stats among us, you're surprisingly timid, Aeloria. What's the matter? Afraid?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Her eyes narrowed, and her tone grew sharper. "Don't mistake caution for idiocy, Cedrick."

Cedrick's expression darkened, his smirk vanishing. "Are you calling me an idiot?" he growled, stepping closer. "Be careful with your words, Aeloria. I'm still your prince."

Aeloria bit her tongue, unwilling to escalate further. She knew Cedrick was insufferable when his pride was bruised. It wasn't worth arguing with him now. She could only hope he had something up his sleeve—perhaps a life-saving item bestowed by the Queen herself. Surely, he wouldn't be so brazen without a trump card.

Still, he wasn't entirely wrong. Eliminating the Wingless Valkyrie here would tip the scales significantly, leaving only the Brotherhood Legion to deal with. Victory would be much closer, and failure was not an option.

Cedrick pointed his staff at Horizon. "You," he barked, "I'll give you one chance to walk away. You're not part of Wingless Valkyrie. We don't care about you."

Horizon raised an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "How about this? You surrender now, and I'll consider sparing your lives."

Cedrick's face flushed with anger, a vein visibly throbbing at his temple. "Looks like you don't know who you're dealing with," he spat. "Fine. Suit yourself. I'll kill you too." He brandished his massive staff, its jeweled tip glinting ominously in the sunlight. "What are you, anyway? Judging by your gear, you look like a swordsman."

Horizon shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm a tamer."

The reaction was immediate. Trisha's face paled, and her heart sank. Her mind raced, connecting dots she didn't want to acknowledge. Cloud was a tamer too, and she knew what had become of him. Could this man be connected? No, it had to be a coincidence.

And yet, the fear gnawed at her. She had made countless enemies on behalf of the Kingdom of Stars, hunting and subjugating guilds under their orders. It wouldn't be far-fetched for someone like him to seek revenge. He might be one of those guys who wanted revenge in behalf of their guilds or love ones.

They were just simply numerous of them that she couldn't dismissed the possibility.

Cedrick and the others burst into laughter, their voices echoing through the jungle.

"A tamer?" Cedrick scoffed. "I don't see any beasts around. What do you tame? Squirrels? Bunnies?"

The rest of the Kingdom of Stars joined in the mockery, their laughter ringing hollow in the ears of the Wingless Valkyrie.

But the Valkyrie remained silent, their faces betraying none of the amusement. They had fought beside Horizon long enough to know better. And while they had yet to see the full extent of his power, his calm demeanor in the face of such mockery was unsettling.

They had assumed Horizon to be a summoner, or perhaps even a necromancer. None of them had ever caught more than fleeting glimpses of his contracted beasts—if they existed at all. His true capabilities remained shrouded in mystery, leaving them uncertain whether his bold claims were genuine or a bluff.

One thing, however, was undeniable: Horizon was not someone to be underestimated. He had proven himself beyond measure, the key reason why they had survived the harrowing first challenge. His tactical prowess and unshakable composure had earned the Wingless Valkyrie's unwavering respect.

Horizon's smile widened, his voice calm but laced with an undercurrent of menace. "I tame dragons."

The laughter died abruptly, replaced by stunned silence.

From behind Horizon, the shadows seemed to ripple and twist, and a low, guttural growl filled the air. A massive, skeletal dragon with glowing blue eyes stepped into the clearing, its bony wings spreading wide.

Cedrick and his companions gaped, their bravado evaporating in an instant. The beasts before them weren't mere pets—they were fifty dungeon boss-level threats, each one capable of leveling entire parties.

Cedrick took an involuntary step back, his staff trembling in his grip. His voice faltered. "Th-this can't be real . . ."

"They're real . . ." Trisha gasped, "dragons . . ."

Horizon stepped forward, his gaze piercing. "So," he said, his voice low and steady as he pointed his sword at them, "are you going to surrender, or are we doing this the hard way?"

The dragon growled, its piercing eyes locked onto the Kingdom of Stars. The sound sharp and deafening, causing several of Cedrick's allies to flinch.

Trisha's heart pounded in her chest. She hadn't just underestimated Horizon—she had entirely misjudged him. If he wanted, he could obliterate them here and now.

The members of Wingless Valkyrie stood frozen in awe. Horizon had already shattered their expectations when he revealed his ability to raise the dead, even turning a 500-stat player into one of his loyal minions. But this . . . this was something else entirely.

Taming dragons as his pets wasn't just remarkable—it was unprecedented. This weren't ordinary dragons either; it radiated power and majesty, one capable of leveling entire armies. To witness it standing under Horizon's command was nothing short of breathtaking.

Cedrick gritted his teeth, his pride warring with his survival instincts. He glanced at his team, who were now visibly shaken, their weapons trembling in their hands. Though it was only one dragon, but this dragon was so menacing, putrid, and definitely not the typical dragon around in Eternia.

"I'll give you one last chance," Horizon continued, his voice like steel. "Choose wisely."

Cedrick hesitated, his mind racing. He wasn't ready to die, not here, not like this. But pride was a stubborn thing, and Cedrick was drowning in it.

He raised his staff, pointing it at Horizon. "Do your worst," he snarled, though his voice betrayed his fear.

Horizon sighed, shaking his head. "So be it."