Lord of Caldera

Chapter 180

'Damn it, how did things end up this way?' The Marquis stared at Sylas, feeling an unsettling awe. Sylas was young—barely an adult. His body was lean, and his experience limited. And yet, why did he feel so... vast?

'It's not just physical strength,' he realized. 'It's something deeper... something innate.'

It seemed foolish now to have thought he could control this young man, who was clearly beyond his grasp.

'It's too late for regrets.'

The Marquis looked down, lost in his thoughts, when Ragnar's thunderous voice rang out, jolting him back to the present.

"Very well! Let the second trial commence here and now! Candidates, prove your bravery to all of the North by hunting a dragon!"

"Waaahhh!" Cheers erupted from the tribesmen gathered around, and even the onlookers from neighboring territories couldn't help but join in, swept up by the fervor. The nobles, usually so concerned with politics and personal gain, felt their blood stir. The sight of a successful dragon hunt would ignite a flame of pride, reminding them of the strength of the North.

'If someone completes this trial, I too may need to bow my head in respect,' the Marquis thought quietly, his eyes shut in resignation.

The announcement of the second trial was met with enthusiasm, but the candidates weren't expected to charge off to slay dragons immediately. Instead, they were given some much-needed preparation time.

"Though traditionally, candidates would set out immediately, I suppose some time to prepare is in order," Ragnar allowed.

"That's obvious," muttered one of the candidates.

After all, this wasn't just any hunt—it was a solo dragon hunt. To attempt it without preparation would be a death sentence.

"You all have three days to get ready," Ragnar continued. "Use this time wisely and bring whatever equipment you deem necessary. Tradition doesn't restrict personal belongings for this trial."

The candidates sighed in relief. That meant they could gather specialized weapons, artifacts, or any resources they could get their hands on.

With this announcement, the candidates dispersed, though the camp buzzed with conversation. The attention of all Northern folk was fixed on them now, and gossip spread rapidly.

"A wristband?" Bjorn tilted his head. "It's rare to see one that color—orange."

"Wait... that's...!" Toby's eyes widened in realization. Of course! He had nearly forgotten. It was one of the relics used by the famed Dragonslayer, Leonik—a runic band imbued with magic to withstand intense heat and flames. Even dragon fire couldn't burn through it.

"With this, I won't be melted to a crisp by a dragon's breath."

"But, my lord, dragon fire is only one of many dangers," Toby argued. "Their claws, scales, and sheer size..."

"That's true, but with a salamander, things are different."

"A... salamander?" Toby echoed, blinking.

The salamander was a unique sub-species of dragon. It lacked the sharp claws and impenetrable scales of other dragons, but it constantly radiated extreme heat, making it nearly impossible to approach. When angered, its body could reach temperatures high enough to melt armor and weapons. Though it lacked wings and scales, it was one of the more formidable creatures due to its intense heat.

"With this relic, I could handle a salamander easily."

"That... might work."

"But what if there isn't a salamander?" Toby questioned, still uneasy.

"There will be. I'm sure of it," Sylas replied confidently. In the past, Ragnar had gained support in the North by performing extraordinary feats, including conquering dungeons, discovering ancient tombs, and slaying dragons. He had even displayed three dragon corpses—one of them a salamander—to solidify his authority.

'The salamander's body was there too,' Sylas thought. Considering Ragnar's knowledge of the region, he likely knew where each dragon subspecies lived and would ensure everyone was aware of them before the trial began. That way, no one could claim unfairness later.

"This... this could work!" Toby said, finally convinced.

"Yes, with this band, Bjorn, you should be able to handle a salamander."

"...What?" Bjorn asked, caught off guard.

"Here, take it." Sylas removed the band and tossed it to Bjorn, who instinctively caught it.