Dragon King: Throne of Demons and Gods-Chapter 158: Loyalty and Distance

Now that Novaria’s promotion was complete, Bel could focus on something new stirring within his system, a fresh directive.

[Assign Soldiers to a Demon General?]

He narrowed his eyes.

The system continued to evolve, no longer tracking just his personal growth, but expanding as an extension of his Authority.

It wasn’t the same as leveling up or boosting stats. The Authority of Destruction responded to how he wielded power, how he governed it.

This was about his role as a Lord, not a warrior. When his demons grew stronger, when they embodied his concept of ruin, the Authority responded.

He glanced at Novaria, still kneeling.

"Twenty," he said aloud. "You’ll take twenty."

Every drake, every wyvern. He kept the four weakest, still uncertain, still too fragile. He didn’t say it aloud, but the reason was simple: his soldiers could die, and even though he wanted to believe in Novaria, the only thing he was sure was his own strength.

The rest, now bound to Novaria, could be better trained under her guidance and would serve as a shield if needed. It was the safest, smartest share.

[20 Soldiers Assigned to Demon General: Novaria]

A new interface emerged in front of him.

[Destruction Army Disposition]

Main Force: 4 / 25

Novaria: 20 / 25

He blinked.

Then, another message:

[General Assigned. Army Capacity Expanded.]

[New Capacity: 50 Soldiers]

[Current: 24 / 50]

[Main Force: 4 / 25]

[Novaria: 20 / 25]

Bel stared. For a moment, he didn’t move.

"...You’re kidding," he whispered.

This wasn’t a surprise, but a joke.

He had unlocked more room to grow, like this, out of a simple option, his army had doubled.

The secret to improving the army was this: designating more generals.

If each general gave him more space, then the army could scale far beyond his current limit. One general, and the military doubled. Two generals, and who knew?

His gaze flicked toward Vauldron. The wyvern, wings tucked, silent and waiting.

[Bond Level insufficient. General promotion locked.]

Bel frowned.

"Still only Bond Level 1," he muttered. "Damn."

He should have made more connections before to bond easily with a soldier.

Maybe even turning someone close into a dragon. Now he was short. He thought of Lyraen, then Selith. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Lyraen and Selith came to mind, but he didn’t want to mess with the elves. Maybe Lena? She was a possibility, but it would take time to build the bond.

His eyes drifted toward the ruined corpse of the dungeon boss.

What a waste. Still, there was at least one good thing. He opened his inventory and looked at the shining item inside:

[Item: Category B Dungeon Key]

He still had a path forward, and plenty of room to grow.

Bel turned to Novaria, his voice calm but firm.

"Your next mission is simple," he said. "Go beyond this region. Raid dungeons outside our territory. If needed, blend into human society. Become an adventurer if it gets you closer to dungeon access."

He paused, then added.

"You’re free to use my blood, but use the Mark only if it’s worth the cost. Don’t waste it."

Novaria gave a sharp nod, her expression serious.

"Understood."

Next, Bel called Vauldron forward. The massive wyvern stepped closer, bowing its head slightly.

Bel raised a hand.

[Skill Granted: Terra Genesis]

Perfect for Vauldron’s elemental affinity.

A soft light passed through the air. Vauldron’s body absorbed the gift silently.

He bowed deeply, wings folding inward, the ground beneath him trembling gently in response.

As they left the dungeon, the morning light hit their faces. At the ridge overlooking the open terrain, Bel and Novaria stood side by side for the last time in a while.

"Avoid walking into cities with the dragons," Bel advised. "Use the summoning skill, you can teleport them to your side whenever needed. It should help you stay hidden. I believe there’s another skill linked to it, something deeper. But I’ll need more time to unlock it."

Novaria nodded again, this time slower. The wind picked up, brushing strands of hair from her face.

They didn’t say much else.

Between them, no ceremony. Just words that didn’t need to be dressed up: trust and loyalty.

And then she turned. Her squad fell into formation behind her, and they disappeared into the hills, fading into the morning.

Bel stayed behind.

He stood there for a few moments, eyes closed, breathing in the silence.

Then, softly, he spoke.

"Vezalia."

The wind stirred, rustling his cloak and hair. There was no answer.

He opened his eyes, looking ahead.

"No Pentacle this time?" he asked the air.

The lindworms around him shifted, letting out low groans. The wind picked up again.

A familiar voice floated behind him.

"I only put on a show for desirable guests."

Vezalia had arrived.

A dense forest stretched across the horizon. Some rays of golden light broke through the leaves, revealing a quiet convoy slowly making its way along the dirt path.

The travel to Castella had begun.

At the front rode a column of knights, banners fluttering with each trot of their warhorses. Behind them followed five carriages, each guarded on all sides by mounted escorts.

The lead carriage, sturdier than the rest, bore the crest of the Hero’s line.

Inside that carriage, Aurus sat face to face with Astros and Regulus. The air inside was calm, but Regulus’s thoughts weren’t.

He looked between the two older men, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his robe. The past few days had unsettled him more than he let on.

"Wouldn’t it have been better if Lady Sylphera came instead of you?" Regulus asked suddenly, breaking the silence. "You said yourself that your strength was fading... But she... She made two Demon Lords run away."

Aurus didn’t seem offended. He simply smiled.

"What’s the most important place in the world?"

Regulus blinked.

"... The royal castle, I guess."

Aurus nodded once.

"Then Sylphera guards the heart. I go where her shadow can’t reach."

Regulus fell quiet, glancing out the window. The forest passed slowly by, heavy with silence and purpose.

In another carriage, Crest sat across from Airi and Lyraen.

Lyraen was the first to speak, and her mood was light.

"If Sylphera’s messengers reached my people, we should see reinforcements soon. I can’t wait to see everyone again."

Airi, uncharacteristically quiet, finally said.

"You should’ve stayed in the capital. This war, it’s not yours."

Her tone was sharp but lacked its usual edge. For once, there was no mocking undertone.

Crest noticed it. Something had shifted in Airi. Not just her, all the Sacreds seemed less bright, their fire tempered.

Maybe after seeing Bel, they understood just how dangerous the Demon Lords really were.

Lyraen, who had expected Airi to mock her, looked surprised. But Airi wasn’t insulting anyone. Not today.

"Bel isn’t a threat to us," Lyraen said. "He even saved Sienna."

Airi shook her head.

"He’s a Demon Lord. That means he’ll aim for the throne one way or another."

Crest leaned forward.

"Now, at least, we finally know what he is."

He paused, choosing his words carefully.

"I don’t hate him. But I can’t accept what he’s done either."

Lyraen bristled.

"Crest, he saved her."

"And took her freedom," Crest shot back. "There’s no difference between Sienna and a pawn now."

Lyraen faltered. She remembered what Bel had said about Arkel owing him his life. It hadn’t felt wrong then, but now...

She looked down, uncertain.

Bel was a miracle in perspective... But there was a problem too obvious to ignore: he never took position.

Against the Demon Lords, but what’s about the humans? Would he aim for the throne?

Crest turned back to Airi.

"You said we should’ve stayed behind. But would you, a Sacred, run away from duty?"

Airi narrowed her eyes.

"Of course not, I’m built different."

"Then neither will we," Crest said simply. "Even if we’re not strong, we have a role to play."

He tried to sound calm, even noble.

"You fought bravely that night, Airi. I think I’ve misjudged you. I want to stay and improve, and next time, when I’ll be strong enough, I want to fight beside you."

Lyraen groaned, burying her face in her hand.

"This is to corny for a fossil like me..."

Airi narrowed her eyes, offended, but not by Crest’s words.

"You think someone weak like you can just stand next to me? You really don’t get it. You and I are like the sun and a drop of water on a plate, at noon! You’re never getting close to me!"

Lyraen smiled faintly to herself, thinking how Airi still had no clue about Crest’s feelings. It was probably for the best.

Outside the carriage, birds flew from the trees as the convoy rolled forward.

Above, spiders and other beasts watched from the shadows as they moved closer to the capital of chaos.

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