Dragon King: Throne of Demons and Gods-Chapter 12: A Dance of Masks

Dusteria returned to her friends, a rare and contented smile softening her usually composed face. Crest immediately noticed her unusual expression and approached with gentle curiosity.

"Is everything alright, Dusteria?" he asked softly.

"Absolutely," she responded brightly, her eyes shimmering with newfound ease.

"Who was that just now?" Sienna asked nervously, glancing toward the direction Dusteria had come from.

Dusteria hesitated slightly, carefully selecting her words.

"That was...the new knight my father appointed to our household, replacing our previous one."

"Him? A knight?" Crest questioned skeptically, brows furrowing. "I've never seen him at any noble gatherings. Who exactly is he?"

Uncomfortable revealing Bel's true nature, Dusteria shook her head lightly, quickly dispelling their concerns.

"He's no one important," she declared firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Let's focus instead on tonight, it will be so exciting."

Meanwhile, alone in the garden, Bel couldn't suppress a triumphant smile. Unknowingly, Dusteria had given him something dangerous, a seed of freedom.

He glanced at the glowing system hovering before him.

"Well," he whispered with an eager grin, "let's put this new training to the test."

As night enveloped the Duke's estate, the grand ballroom burst to life with vibrant celebration, honoring the Duke's son's return from the royal academy.

Chandeliers sparkled overhead, bathing the lavish room in golden light. Nobles in extravagant attire filled the space, their silk gowns and finely embroidered coats shimmering with elegance.

At the center, Crest and Dusteria were laughing and mingling effortlessly among their peers, displaying charm and confidence. Crest's charismatic smile drew constant admiration, while Dusteria, poised and radiant at his side, had cast aside any lingering worries.

Nearby, the Baron watched them with quiet satisfaction, his gaze warmly fixed on the closeness between Crest and Dusteria, delighted by their apparent intimacy.

Across the room, however, the Duke's eyes narrowed subtly. Unlike the Baron, he saw something unsettling, something that clearly displeased him in this relationship.

Outside, the knights had gathered informally, their voices lively and cheerful as they clinked tankards of ale, recounting exaggerated tales of heroism and bravery.

Aldric was immersed in their boisterous camaraderie, his earlier anxiety forgotten amidst the lively atmosphere. Nearby, Will and Sienna joined the celebrations enthusiastically, both laughing freely as they danced to the rhythmic music, their spirits lifted by the warmth and excitement of the festivities.

Away from the celebrations, hidden in a quiet stable lit only by the soft glow of candles, Bel trained intensely. He performed rigorous sets of bodyweight exercises, push-ups, sit-ups, squats...

Bareback, his sweat glistened under the candlelight, highlighting the firm definition of his growing muscles. Steam rose gently from his body, reflecting his unwavering determination to surpass his limits.

Bel's training was brutal, each repetition sending searing waves of pain through his body.

Initially, he could only push forward by relying heavily on his recovery ability, regaining vitality right after an intense burn. However, exhaustion began to weigh heavily on him, and the more he trained, the more frequently he used his recovery, reducing the amount of effort per minute.

But then, in a moment of inspiration, he swiftly accessed the glowing system interface before him, allocating his ten available stat points into stamina.

Immediately, he felt a profound shift within his body. His breathing became deeper, lungs expanding effortlessly, while his heartbeat steadied and strengthened, delivering a powerful surge of oxygen-rich blood throughout his limbs.

The relentless burning sensation in his muscles eased noticeably, replaced by a controlled, vibrant warmth. Fatigue ebbed away, replaced by a rush of clarity and vigor, allowing him to push onward with a renewed and focused intensity.

His breathing steadied, his heartbeat strengthened, and a new, fierce determination burned within him.

Empowered by this boost, Bel pressed onward with renewed intensity, his sweat now dripping relentlessly onto the stable floor.

The rest of the night passed in relentless, punishing training, with Bel pushing himself to previously unimaginable limits. By the time the first rays of dawn broke through the cracks of the stable doors, his body had been pushed far beyond ordinary exhaustion.

As morning arrived, stable workers from the Duke's estate entered casually, chatting about lingering headaches from the previous night's festivities.

"Ugh, my head feels like it's splitting," one complained.

"Too much wine last night," another chuckled, rubbing his temples.

Suddenly, one of them sniffed the air, making a face.

"What's that smell? Did one of the animals go into heat overnight?" he joked, playfully elbowing his companion. "Maybe it's you, Myrne, you're looking rather handsome today."

Their laughter ceased abruptly as they stepped deeper into the stable, eyes widening in shock. There, barely managing to complete a shaky push-up, was Bel, his skin pale and dry, his body trembling violently from sheer exhaustion.

Stunned, the workers rushed forward, alarmed.

Later that day, Bel was out on the training grounds, running steadily despite the blistering sun overhead.

Sweat poured down his face, and his breathing grew increasingly labored. The knights gathered nearby, observing him with a mix of intrigue and skepticism.

"Has he been running like that since this morning?" one knight muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.

"The maids said he barely slept last night," another commented with amusement. "Maybe he's trying to impress someone, or prove something?"

"Or just fooling himself," a third knight joked, prompting laughter among his comrades.

Nearby, Sienna watched Bel with mild curiosity, silently wondering about his relentless effort.

Under the oppressive heat, Bel's body felt close to collapse. He slowed to a stop, gasping deeply, his throat painfully dry. He bent over slightly, bracing himself as he tried to catch his breath.

"Why did you stop, boy? Did you lose a coin?" mocked one of the knights loudly, triggering another round of laughter.

Sienna shot them an irritated glance before her gaze moved sympathetically to Bel. However, Bel himself hardly seemed to notice or care about their words.

Instead, with a faint smirk of satisfaction, he brought up his system interface, quickly checking the results of his brutal training.

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[Draconic Evolution System]

Name: Belzerion

Title: None

Race: Dragon

Class: Lesser Wyrmling

Level: 7

EXP: 33/700

--------------------------------------------

Core Stats:

HP: 130/130 (+20)

MP: 60/60

Strength: 34 (+4)

Toughness: 35 (+5)

Intelligence: 20

Speed: 29 (+1)

Agility: 31 (+3)

Stamina: 44 (+10)

Pressure: 1

Unassigned Stat Points: 0

--------------------------------------------

Draconic Core: 1%

--------------------------------------------

Unlocked Traits:

Wyrm's Resilience: Enhanced endurance and recovery.

Bel chuckled softly, though his throat was too parched to make any sound. Despite the exhaustion, his excitation surged. He could hardly wait to venture into the forest and test his newly enhanced abilities.

Sienna watched Bel from afar, her expression softening with empathy as she saw his relentless effort, each step labored yet filled with determination.

She felt a little bit of compassion as she quietly admired his resolve, wondering what motivated him to push himself so hard.

After a moment, she shook herself from her thoughts and rejoined her friends, who were already cheerfully planning their excursion into town.

Crest was adjusting his sleeves, a calm smile on his face as he casually asked.

"So, what's first on our list today?"

"Definitely the market! I've heard there's a new bakery," Will replied eagerly, his eyes bright with excitement. "I'm starving already."

Dusteria suppressed an irritated sigh, her lips pursing in mild annoyance. She had been hoping for some quiet, exclusive time with Crest, away from the noisy enthusiasm of their friends.

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"Do we have to rush?" she asked, subtly rolling her eyes. "Maybe it would be better if we split up?"

Crest, seemingly oblivious to Dusteria's underlying motive, offered her an encouraging smile instead.

"We might miss something interesting if we separate," he suggested gently. "Let's just enjoy the day together."

Sienna noticed the faint tension radiating from Dusteria and hesitated momentarily before speaking.

"Um, since we're both Crest's knights, wouldn't it be fair to invite Dusteria's knight along too?"

There was a brief pause, the silence hanging in the air as the others processed Sienna's suggestion, exchanging quick, uncertain glances.

Dusteria flinched at the suggestion, clearly annoyed by the idea. Quickly regaining her composure, she attempted to dismiss the notion casually.

"Oh, that's really not necessary," she said lightly, feigning indifference. "I'm sure he's busy, anyway. Besides, he's hardly exciting company."

Will tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. Oblivious to Dusteria's discomfort, he pressed forward.

"But we've barely even met him. Wouldn't it be good to get to know who's serving our group? He seems pretty interesting from what little I've heard."

Crest paused thoughtfully, nodding in agreement with Will.

"Exactly. And, honestly, I've yet to officially approve of his role so close to you, Dusteria. This might be the perfect chance to see what kind of person he really is."

Dusteria's cheeks flushed slightly at the implication, both embarrassed and annoyed at the situation slipping out of her control. Realizing she had no way out, she released a heavy sigh of resignation.

"Fine," she finally conceded. "I suppose there's no choice."

Crest, unaware of the full extent of her frustration, smiled warmly, pleased by the resolution.

"Great! Let's go invite him, then."