"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The voices rang out in unison as everyone returned to their seats.
Only the group of youths remained standing.
The previously restless hall fell into absolute silence. No one dared speak. All eyes turned toward the throne.
King Midas Drake calmly surveyed the courtroom.
His gaze first swept across the ministers and nobles seated below. His expression remained cold and unreadable—like a blade resting in its sheath.
Then his eyes shifted to the youths.
For the first time, warmth appeared in his gaze.
Pride.
Expectation.
Hope.
His eyes passed from one child to the next—until they reached William Drake.
The warmth faded.
What replaced it was something far more complicated.
Gloom.
Regret.
Helplessness.
William felt the gaze upon him and instinctively looked up.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment, the world seemed to narrow to just the two of them.
So this is my father…
William clearly saw the conflict in the king's eyes—and felt it just as clearly.
"Seventh Brother," Silver Drake whispered urgently, tugging lightly at his sleeve. "Don't look at Father directly. He can peer into minds and memories."
William wasn't worried.
The memories within him were chaotic and fragmented—even he struggled to sort them out.
Instead, he noticed something else.
The king looked… surprised.
Only then did William lower his gaze.
King Midas frowned slightly.
Strange…
He didn't avert his eyes immediately like before.
Something has changed.
But the next thought weighed heavily on him.
Unfortunately… his cultivation foundation is still crippled.
And I have no way to help him.
The king sighed inwardly.
His expression returned to its usual cold indifference.
"Everyone," he said calmly, his voice echoing through the hall, "thank you for answering my summons. I know you are all busy, so I will be brief."
He paused.
"I bring good news."
The hall stirred.
"Our armies in the northwest have achieved a decisive breakthrough," the king continued. "The Peacock Kingdom has been defeated, and Sunshine Valley is now under our control."
For a split second—silence.
Then the hall erupted.
Cheers.
Applause.
Excited murmurs.
"With Sunshine Valley in our possession," the king added evenly, "our cultivation resources will increase fourfold."
The excitement grew even louder.
After allowing it to settle, the king continued.
"Now, to the second matter."
He glanced toward the youths.
"We are here today to oversee the Bloodline Awakening Ceremony."
He raised his voice slightly.
"I have invited Elder Poko of the Blood Awakening Tower."
"Elder Poko, step forward."
A hunched old man slowly entered the hall.
He wore a simple martial silk robe. His long, gray goatee reached his chest, and each step was accompanied by the steady tap of his walking stick.
The moment he appeared, the atmosphere subtly changed.
Many ministers straightened unconsciously.
Several powerful figures narrowed their eyes, their expressions cautious.
William watched closely.
The old man's presence reminded him of someone.
…Darren.
Not in appearance—but in essence.
An expert, William realized.
And a dangerous one.
Elder Poko clasped his hands and bowed slightly.
"It is an honor to serve, Your Majesty."
The king nodded.
Poko turned and approached the youths.
"Alright," he said calmly. "You will come to me one at a time."
He reached into his robe and took out a leather pouch, placing it on the table. When he opened it, rows of needles of varying lengths and thickness were revealed.
William's eyes flickered.
Acupuncture needles?
His interest was instantly piqued.
The nearest boy stepped forward with firm resolve. Clearly familiar with the procedure, he raised his right arm and rolled up his sleeve.
Elder Poko selected several needles and calmly pierced them into specific points across the boy's palm.
One by one.
Soon, the boy's hand resembled a porcupine.
Poko stopped.
He flicked the needles lightly.
"AAAH—!"
The boy screamed as pain surged through his body.
"Release," Poko commanded calmly.
"Release everything."
The boy cried out again, his voice hoarse as a colorful aura erupted from his lower abdomen.
The needles suddenly snapped free.
They hovered in the air, spinning slowly.
From the bloodstained tips, a beast-shaped aura condensed—forming the image of a small, reddish reptilian creature with wings.
A dragon.
William watched intently.
So that's the Dragon Bloodline everyone talks about.
At that moment, fragmented memories flooded his mind.
Scenes of previous Blood Awakening Ceremonies.
Mockery.
Sneers.
Laughter.
The former William standing helplessly as others jeered at his miserable results.
His body trembled.
Not from fear—
But from fury.
Muscle memory stirred, urging him forward.
He examined those memories carefully.
His blood began to boil.
What is this feeling…?
He glanced at the surrounding crowd.
Disgust.
Resentment.
Cold hatred.
So that's it, he realized.
You hated every single one of them.
William's expression hardened.
Don't worry.
I'll make them repay everything they did to you.
Every single one.
For a fleeting moment, even the king flashed through his thoughts.
His racing emotions gradually settled.
Now he understood.
I must awaken my bloodline today.
Applause erupted, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Elder Poko announced, "Fire Dragon Bloodline—Grade Two out of Ten. A Red Dragon."
He glanced at the boy. "Congratulations. State your name."
Pride shone on the boy's face. "Alex, of the Fifth Drake."
"Next," Poko called out. "State your name and step forward."
Another boy strode out confidently.
"Arya of the Second Drake!"
The same procedure followed.
This time, the manifested dragon aura was yellowish, more refined, more stable.
Poko nodded approvingly.
"Fire Dragon Bloodline—Grade Four."
The Second Drake branch erupted into cheers.
Even the king spoke.
"Arya," King Midas said evenly, "you are a good lad."
William observed silently as praise and flattery flooded toward the boy.
Then he leaned slightly toward Silver.
"Is Grade Four really that impressive?" he asked quietly.
Silver nodded eagerly. "Yes! That means he'll have a very bright future—if he doesn't go astray."
William frowned. "But it's only Grade Four out of Ten."
Silver shook her head. "Seventh Brother, most royals only awaken Grade One. We're dragon bloodlines—so even low grades are superior to high-grade bloodlines of other clans."
She lowered her voice.
"Grade Two is rare. Grade Three is extremely rare."
"And Grade Four… almost unheard of."
She hesitated, then added softly,
"Even Father only awakened a Dragon Bloodline of Grade Three."
William's eyes narrowed and lowered his head. A faint heat stirred deep within his chest.