Reborn as a Dragon:Rise of The Draconic King-Chapter 73 - 69: Shadows in the Guild
The hunters had barely disappeared into the forest when the wind shifted.
John hovered above the burned clearing for a few moments, wings outstretched, eyes scanning the treetops. Smoke curled lazily from the charred remains of trees and scorched underbrush, drifting in the morning light. The clearing was a ruin—but it was also a message.
He didn't need to chase the hunters. They had seen him, felt his power firsthand, and that was enough. He could already anticipate their next moves.
---
Roderic led the group back through the forest, their armor scratched, weapons dented, and expressions grim.
"Report," one of the younger hunters panted, dodging a hanging branch.
"They're…" Roderic stopped mid-step, shaking his head. "…bigger than we thought." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
The mage murmured, "Not just bigger… smarter. And fast. Too fast."
"Exactly," Roderic said. "He isn't just a beast. He thinks like a predator. He's calculating."
Another hunter, a chain specialist, wiped soot off his hands. "And he *enjoyed it*. Looked like he was playing with us."
Roderic scowled. "We didn't get close enough to learn anything useful. But one thing is certain: we report this accurately to the guild—or someone else will make the mistake of sending another group here."
---
Meanwhile, deep in the city of Eldrasil, the headquarters of the Adventurer's Guild was a hive of activity.
Massive banners displaying the guild insignia hung from the ceilings. The floors echoed with the clatter of boots and the low murmur of hundreds of voices. Guild clerks moved briskly, delivering messages, while runners darted across the polished halls.
In a private chamber, high-ranking guild officers had gathered. Their faces were tense.
"Roderic's report," the chief officer barked, slamming a palm on the table. "He says the dragon isn't attacking villages, but…" He gestured at the map of Greenwood Forest. "…we still lost half a hunting party's effectiveness in minutes. Tell me—how is this acceptable?"
One officer, a woman with sharp eyes and a silver streak in her hair, spoke cautiously. "Sir, with all due respect, this isn't just any dragon. The scouts confirmed the mana levels are unprecedented. He's… something else entirely."
The chief officer slammed his fist again. "Then why weren't we informed earlier? Why did the guild send a hunting party with standard protocols?"
A young clerk hesitated. "There were… rumors. But nothing concrete. The initial reports came from hunters in the western forests. They claimed a massive black dragon was hunting monsters near the river valley."
"Rumors?" the chief spat. "Rumors cost us resources, and nearly cost lives!"
A quiet voice from the corner finally spoke. It was the guild's strategist, a tall, lean man with a calculating gaze. "Perhaps… this was intentional."
"Intentional?" the chief asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Yes," the strategist continued. "The guild network itself was used to exaggerate sightings. Someone wanted the hunters to find the dragon, to provoke an encounter. It's unlikely this is mere coincidence."
A collective murmur filled the room.
"Then who?" the officer with silver-streaked hair asked. "Who would do this?"
The strategist leaned forward, fingers steepled. "Someone who wants the world to know he exists. And someone powerful enough to manipulate reports, networks… guild channels."
The chief sat back, his jaw tight. "Do you think this is a test?"
"Not a test," the strategist replied. "A signal."
---
Back in Greenwood Forest, John had returned to the treetops, far above the clearing.
From his vantage point, he could see the hunters retreating along the winding river paths. His wings moved slowly, slicing through the mist, each beat deliberate and calm. He wasn't angry. Not yet.
Someone had orchestrated this encounter. Someone with influence and knowledge.
His golden eyes gleamed as he considered the possibilities.
"…Interesting," he muttered to himself.
He had heard rumors of guild factions that sought dragons for profit, prestige, or power. But this… this was different. Someone wanted him *seen*.
---
Far below, a faint glimmer of movement caught his attention. Not the hunters—they had melted into the forest—but something else.
Small figures, cloaked, moving silently among the shadows. They weren't part of Roderic's group.
John narrowed his eyes.
"Spies," he said softly. "Or worse."
They watched from the treeline, careful to remain hidden. A faint hum of mana betrayed their presence.
John flexed his wings. The shadows tensed.
"…Hello," he called out, voice rolling like thunder through the valley.
The figures froze.
"Do you want to come closer?"
One of them moved forward slightly, bow in hand, but the others restrained him.
John exhaled slowly. Smoke drifted from his nostrils. "Good. Caution is wise. But you might want to tell whoever sent you… that I can see everything."
The shadows melted deeper into the forest. They weren't ready. Not yet.
John spread his wings and rose again. The wind carried the faint scent of approaching rain, the river below sparkling as the clouds overhead shifted.
Somewhere, someone was orchestrating all of this. And he intended to find them.
---
Back at Greenwood Village, Lythriel, Sylvara, and Aerion watched John's flight from the observation platforms.
"Did they make it out okay?" Sylvara asked, concern evident in her tone.
"Barely," Aerion replied. "Roderic is cautious enough to survive. But the younger hunters… they were completely unprepared."
Lythriel frowned. "Do you think… someone intentionally sent them?"
Aerion's jaw tightened. "Yes. And if they've done this once…" He shook his head. "They'll do it again."
Sylvara's eyes narrowed. "Then we need to warn John."
"He already knows," Lythriel said softly. "The way he moved… he already noticed someone was watching."
Aerion sighed. "Then it's only a matter of time before the orchestrator reveals themselves."
---
Far to the north, in a shadowed citadel, someone sat in silence. A hooded figure, draped in dark robes, studied a glowing crystal orb. Inside, the chaos of Greenwood Forest unfolded in miniature—the clearing, the burned trees, the retreating hunters.
A voice, distorted and cold, echoed from the orb. "And he survived."
The figure smiled beneath the hood. "Yes. And now the world knows. Phase one is complete."
The voice continued, "Are you certain he is ready?"
The figure's hands rested on the crystal. "He is… stronger than we anticipated. But curiosity will make him act. And we will be watching."
"Very well," the voice said. "Phase two will proceed."
The hooded figure leaned back, eyes closed. A faint hum of magic filled the room. Outside, the wind howled. Somewhere, in the distance, the first raindrops of a storm began to fall.
---
Back in Greenwood Forest, John had landed in a dense part of the treetops. His wings folded neatly, and his head tilted as he listened to the forest around him.
Mana traces lingered in the air. The hunters had left them scattered along the river trail. Subtle, but visible to someone like him.
He flexed his claws on the branch. "Roderic Valen…" he murmured. "…strong, capable, careful. The others? Not so much."
He could already anticipate their next encounter. The guild would send more hunters, bigger groups, better prepared. And whoever orchestrated this? They would escalate things further.
John's golden eyes gleamed. "They want me discovered. They want me tested. And they want me curious."
The dragon exhaled a plume of smoke and rose into the mist once more. His mind was already working ahead, analyzing possibilities.
One thing was certain: the forest was no longer safe. Not from humans. Not from guild politics. Not from the hidden hands pulling the strings.
And John intended to find out who was responsible.
---
In the village, Sylvara turned to Lythriel and Aerion.
"They're going to send more," she said. "We saw it happen today. That was just the first encounter."
Aerion nodded slowly. "Yes. And if John goes after the source, it will lead him straight into the heart of the kingdom's intrigues."
Lythriel crossed her arms. "Do we tell him? Or let him discover it himself?"
Sylvara hesitated. "Knowing him… he'll discover it anyway. And when he does, the hunters will no longer be the problem. Whoever sent them will be."
Aerion stared toward the eastern horizon, where the river wound through the trees like a silver ribbon. "Then we prepare. The dragon may be strong—but the game is only beginning."
Lythriel's gaze hardened. "And so is the danger."
---
High above the forest, John soared through the mist.
The first raindrops fell against his scales, rolling off like liquid mercury. He tilted his wings to glide through the cooling air, eyes narrowing as he sensed the subtle changes in the forest's mana.
Someone was watching. Not the hunters. Not scouts. Someone smarter. Someone patient.
His claws dug slightly into the branches of a massive oak. "Curiosity…" he murmured. "…always gets the better of me."
The dragon flexed his wings again. The forest trembled beneath him—not in fear, but in anticipation.
The storm was coming. And John intended to meet it head-on.
---
Far away, the hooded figure in the citadel watched as a new report flickered across the orb: the hunters had returned, battered and alive.
A soft chuckle escaped the figure. "Good. Phase one complete. Phase two… begins soon."
The room darkened as a storm gathered outside, lightning flickering across the horizon. Somewhere, deep in the world, strings were being pulled.
And in Greenwood Forest, the dragon's golden eyes shone with quiet anticipation.
He had survived. He had seen the hunters. And now, the real game would begin.
The difference between hunter and prey was about to become very clear.
---
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