The Sword Emperor Transmigrates-Chapter 230

The headquarters of the Golden Dragon Orders, known as the Dragon’s Head, was a small plot of land, similar to an island. It was also the area closest to the family head’s estate, a place accessible only to the Golden Dragon Knights themselves and the commanders.

The reason for that was simple—that was where the fragmented soul of Ancestor Cardenas rested. In a world where the Divine Throne lay vacant, the Ancestor alone possessed the power that could match the threat of a True God. So naturally, this area was highly secretive.

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The Golden Dragon Knights, byproducts of a failed ritual, were treated as strategic resources, which meant the organization had to operate behind closed doors. Most members of the family were oblivious, simply idolizing the Golden Dragon Knights, awestruck by their supposed status as the strongest among the Seven Great Orders and the fact that they reported directly to the family head.

Yet the truth behind this mystique was cruel, bordering on inhumane.

“Hey, Tress.”

The Golden Dragon knight, the one who had escorted Leonard to the Ancestor’s quarters, turned his head at the sound of his name.

“Ah, Lady Una,” Tress greeted. You’re here.”

As a high-ranking knight who stood out even within the Golden Dragon Order, Una was renowned for her skill, enough to command respect and reverence within the order. In the absence of the nominal commander, the Ancestor herself, Una managed the knight order on her behalf, essentially holding as much authority as the vice-commanders of the other orders.

Una, a Transcendence Tier Dragonian who prevailed over everyone else in the Golden Dragon Order, allowed herself a wry smile.

“I suppose the young lord has already gone inside?” she murmured as she removed her helmet, half-joking. Her golden hair spilled out like gold dust, and her golden eyes reflected light with a brilliance that stood out.

Golden hair and golden eyes—even though they weren’t of the direct bloodline, those who had survived the ritual took on a similar appearance. Unlike those whose bloodline had grown distant from the original through centuries of generational change, these knights, born as subjects of the ritual to recreate the Ancestor Cardenas, possessed features that echoed her own. Even as failed creations, they were closer to Gold Dragons than to humans.

“Please watch your words. Now that he has reached the Demigod Tier, one cannot speak lightly of him,” Tress cautioned sternly.

“Oh, come on! I know that already. It’s not like I’ll grumble about it right to his face, so don’t worry too much about it,” she retorted lightly. “Can’t we speak more freely among ourselves?”

“Just don’t drag me into it,” Tress complained, stepping back a few paces. Having encountered Leonard, he had gained a real sense of their difference in power, and thus had no intention of entertaining Una as he usually did.

Recognizing the shift in his attitude, Una narrowed her eyes. “Hoooh...? So the young lord is that formidable? Enough to make you, of all people, uneasy?”

Tress nodded without hesitation. “Yes. He’s basically the same as the commanders.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“You know how keen our senses are. The gap I instinctively sensed was significant. Frankly, the only two I’d confidently say are superior to Sir Leonard would be the Red Dragon Commander and the Black Dragon Commander.”

In the Ancestor’s own words, as Dragonians—beings no longer considered human—the Golden Dragon Knights possessed an instinctive ability to sense whether an entity was stronger than themselves. While they couldn’t precisely gauge another’s strength or rank, they could perceive the overall difference in power.

Una’s expression grew serious at Tress’ unwavering tone. “He only recently broke through to the Demigod Tier, and he’s already that powerful...? Does that mean the rumors about him being the family’s next head and the second coming of the Ancestor were all true?”

The gap between a newly-ascended Transcendence Tier knight and one at the peak of the same tier was profound—and so too was the difference between Demigods.

Leonard, who had yet to reach the age of twenty, shouldn’t even compare to the decades—or even centuries—of training and battle experience of the commanders. And yet, only the commanders of the Red Dragon and Black Dragon Orders stood above him?

From his rapid growth to his immense potential and even his fortune, everything about Leonard seemed out of this world, as though he was the protagonist of some heroic tale, blessed by the winds of fate.

“Hah, I’m jealous,” Una muttered.

Every member of the Golden Dragon Order harbored deep-seated feelings of inferiority and envy. As the price for transcending into something that surpassed the current Cardenas bloodline, they were essentially stuck between the Transcendence and Demigod Tiers, stagnating in a state of half-realized potential, unable to grow.

Even though they had grown stronger, the Golden Dragon Knights were essentially little more than expendable meat shields against true Demigods, doomed one day to be consumed as vessels for the Ancestor’s soul to descend. That hollow resignation only deepened the frustration.

And now, seeing that young brat—the one who had even refused to join the Order of the Golden Dragon—break through a threshold they could never cross and become the family’s beacon of honor, the Golden Dragon Knights couldn’t help but feel their guts roil.

I, too, wanted to reach that point... Una thought to herself bitterly.

If she could turn back time, she wouldn’t have accepted the Order of the Golden Dragon’s invitation. Even if she could never reach the Demigod Tier, she would have preferred to live life on the edge and die on her own terms rather than become a byproduct of a failed experiment.

Indeed, regret had festered in her heart, and her sigh of resignation only worsened that pain. In fact, all the knights of the Golden Dragon Order were haunted by their choices, and that regret was still eating away at them.

“Ugh...”

Even with their resilient Dragonian bodies, the mental strain sometimes caused headaches. For such abnormally strong physiques, the pain was limited to this. But if their bodies had been merely at the normal level of the Transcendence Tier, they would likely have suffered energy deviation, hemorrhage, and perhaps even partial necrosis of their brain.

Still, if the damage continued to accumulate, their bodies would eventually give out. Though not fully aware of this, they could all sense their inevitable demise. Unable to defy their fate, the Golden Dragon Knights accepted it with resignation.

“What?!”

“Huh?”

Almost simultaneously, Tress and Una turned in one direction.

The presence of the Ancestor’s fragmented soul, something only the Golden Dragon Knights could sense, had vanished entirely. Whether or not the ritual was activated didn’t matter; they could feel it—the very constraints that bound them as part of the Ancestor’s vessel were fading, filling them with a rare and terrifying sensation of panic.

“Could it be?! Did something happen to the Ancestor?”

Tress’ shocked cry sent Una sprinting forward. Of course, she was heading to the Ancestor’s quarters, the underground chamber. Moving at a speed fitting the strongest of the Golden Dragon knights, she reached the speed of sound with just two strides, her sheer momentum shattering parts of the buildings, sending debris scattering.

“...”

There, she saw Leonard standing alone in the empty underground chamber.

“...Sir Leonard?” Una eventually called out.

“No.”

In response to her call, Leonard shook his head and opened his eyes. His golden gaze pierced through the flickering darkness of the torch-lit room, overwhelming her. Even if the Golden Dragon Knights were considered the strongest, this difference in status was absolute.

“You address me as Commander,” he ordered.

Now, holding the title passed down from the Ancestor, Leonard was the undisputed superior over the Golden Dragon Knights. Una knelt on one knee before him, her head bowed low. Even instinctively, she recognized him as her superior.

Leonard addressed her directly, “I have inherited full command of the Golden Dragon Knights from the Ancestor. Now, tell me. What is your name and rank?”

“I am Una. The Golden Dragon Knights do not have formal ranks, but I am treated as the vice commander. Since the Ancestor remains mostly dormant, I’ve managed nearly all operational tasks within the knight order.”

“I see.” Leonard nodded. “Summon all the Golden Dragon Knights. I have an announcement that concerns all of you. I will not tolerate any exceptions.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Despite the abruptness of the situation, Una swiftly obeyed, rushing outside even faster than when she had come. Though she likely wasn’t aware of it, Leonard knew why she acted with such urgency. It was one of the uses derived from the Draconic Words, one of the powers the Ancestor had bestowed on him.

After spending almost a month within his inner world, Leonard placed his hand on his chest and let out a quiet sigh. Fortunately, his gamble had been a success.

Can you hear me?

A familiar voice echoed in response.

—Yes, I can hear you clearly.

The Ancestor had exhausted all her strength teaching Leonard. Now, her fragmented soul resided within Leonard’s inner world, nestled within his very being. Fully externalizing her soul would lead to her swift demise, but by remaining within him, she could avoid that for a considerable amount of time.

In this state, the Ancestor could even tap into Leonard’s body to unleash a single, final blow before she truly perished, meaning she had inadvertently become a True God trump card up Leonard’s sleeve.

—It seems your Mindscape is suited for a Gold Dragon. That’s why it was successful. A Yellow Dragon, huh... Could it be that one of my kin still exists in the world you came from?

The dragons there differ from the dragons here in many ways. I’ll explain everything in due time.

—Very well.

Meanwhile, unaware of the conversation between Leonard and the Ancestor, who had merged into one body, the Order of the Golden Dragon scrambled to action, the entire island turning hectic under an unexpected assembly call.

Thanks to Una’s speed and determination, all members gathered before Leonard in record time. It only took three minutes. Some bore fresh bruises on their faces, signs that perhaps a few stragglers had needed some persuasion.

“Is everyone here?” Leonard asked.

“All thirty-six members, no exceptions, are present,” Una confirmed promptly.

Leonard narrowed his eyes, contemplating the number.

Thirty-six knights... Is that a lot or a little?

Though each Golden Dragon Knight possessed astonishing power, they were small in numbers. It was clear that survival rates for the ritual were low.

According to the information conveyed by his Dragon Eyes, the Dragonians had lifespans rivaling or even exceeding those of Demigod Tier beings. Even Una, who had grown exceptionally respectful toward him under the influence of the Draconic Words, seemed nearly the same age as Wade and Audrey. If the Golden Dragon Knights had been assembled over the span of centuries, there was only one conclusion he could reach.

The Ancestor’s voice confirmed his thoughts.

—Some died when I descended in their bodies, but even with those counted, they would not have exceeded fifty.

Processing that fact, Leonard swept his gaze over the assembled knights. A mix of confusion, shock, fear, doubs, and panic lay on their faces. For a select few, there was even a spark of relief, perhaps anticipation, as if realizing that with the Ancestor’s disappearance, they might finally cease to be mere disposable pawns.

“You must’ve heard from Una, so let’s get straight to the point,” Leonard began.

With the subtle influence of the Draconic Words, no one could possibly ignore him. If Leonard were to let out a loud shout, it might even be enough to trigger a panic attack in the room. It seemed unlikely that anyone would object, question his authority, or even demand to know why he was in command.

“As of today, by the Ancestor’s decree, the Order of the Golden Dragon will come under my command. The sacrifices end here, and you will no longer be kept here, hidden away from the world, as disposable resources.”

With each word, Leonard saw the empty expressions of the Golden Dragon Knights brighten, as if a spark had reignited their hollow selves.

It wasn’t just their stagnation that had broken their spirits. Many things had been weighing down on them—isolation from open battle, being unable to disclose their faces or names freely, and having to live in confinement on this remote island. The frustration had piled up over time, eroding their spirits.

However, Leonard had just begun dismantling each of those chains.

“And one more thing.”

Decades, perhaps centuries—that was how long they had yearned for the light, and the knights held their breath as Leonard dealt his final blow.

“The Ancestor has assured me that there is a way for you to grow stronger. While breakthroughs will prove challenging, the possibility is not zero. Once we stabilize the order, I will pass on this training method.”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“...Huh?”

Silence fell, and each knight was frozen in astonishment. Some attempted to form words, but most were struck speechless, struggling to process what they had just heard.

There was no reason for Leonard to deceive them by mentioning the Ancestor. Above all, Leonard’s use of Draconic Words had conveyed his sincerity beyond any doubt. They sensed that the Ancestor’s assurance, the promise of new training methods—all of it was true. Each knight felt as though a flame, long dead, had reignited within them.

“Today you cease being expendable tools,” Leonard continued. “Each of you will return as true knights of Cardenas, wielding your swords and strength to protect the world. Follow me, and I promise you tales of valor unlike any others.”

The pride, honor, and duty long suppressed by despair surged anew within them, the glow of golden light flickering to life in their eyes.

Leonard realized he had said enough.

“Pack up your gear and personal effects that are at the Dragon’s Head. I will speak with the family head and return soon.”

Turning away, Leonard sensed the once-cold air of the island grow warm and fierce.

The ultimate weapon of the Cardenas family, the peak and strongest of the Seven Great Orders—the Order of the Golden Dragon was reborn in a truer, more complete sense than ever before.