Dragon King: Throne of Demons and Gods-Chapter 40: Hero or Demon?

The forest stretched endlessly, its trees stretching high above.

Their bark was dark, almost black, with veins of glowing green moss creeping along their surfaces. Thick roots curled and twisted over each other, making the ground uneven.

The air smelled damp, filled with the scent of wet earth and something faintly metallic, blood, perhaps.

Further beyond, a murky lake stretched out, its surface barely reflecting the moonlight above. The water was still, unnaturally so. And, beyond it, they were there.

Trolls.

Massive, grotesque creatures, their skin a patchwork of moss and stone. They were gathered in a loose circle, tearing into the remains of a large beast, something unrecognizable now, just shredded flesh and splintered bones.

Their deep groans echoed through the swamp as they fed, their claws digging greedily into the meat, pulling it apart with ease.

Perched on the thick branch of a nearby tree, Bel watched them attentively. He had read enough books to know what he was dealing with.

Trolls were infamous for their absurdly high regeneration. Wounds that would be fatal for most creatures would barely slow them down. The only ways to permanently kill them were freezing them solid or...

He raised a finger, a small flame sparking above his fingertip.

His new signature move.

Bel smirked under his mask. It was convenient. Fire was his specialty, and if that was all it took, then this would be a good test for his abilities.

He opened his system screen, his eyes scanning his stats.

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[Draconic Evolution System]

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Name: Belzerion

Title: Lindworm of the Scorching Abyss

Race: Dragon

Class: Lindworm

Level: 31

EXP: 3,600/20,000

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Core Stats:

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HP: 700/700

MP: 250/250

Strength: 130

Toughness: 115

Intelligence: 85

Speed: 110

Agility: 113

Stamina: 122

Pressure: 30

Unassigned Stat Points: 10

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Draconic Core: 35%

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Unlocked Traits:

Final Wyrm: Grants extreme endurance, rapid recovery, heightened battlefield awareness. Bloodlust further amplifies physical attributes.

Goblinbane: 20% increased damage against goblins.

Fire Mastery: Fire-based attacks are more effective, resistant to heat damage, and capable of absorbing ambient flames to replenish stamina.

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Bel frowned slightly.

His MP was full, but this would be the first real test of his fire abilities. Intelligence was his only stat still under 100. That would have to change.

"Magic is going to be a problem if I don't fix this soon," he murmured, flexing his fingers. "From now on, I'll focus on that first."

He readjusted his gloves, exhaling. He hoped it would be easy to level up fastly.

With that decision made, he pushed forward, stepping off the branch.

The fall was effortless. The moment his feet touched the damp ground, something shifted in the air. His presence reached the trolls before he could even take another step.

The creatures froze.

Groaning, sniffing, they lifted their heads, their meal forgotten. Yellowed eyes scanned the darkness, searching.

Their bodies tensed, muscles flexing beneath their moss-covered hides. The swamp fell silent, save for the heavy breathing of the beasts.

Bel moved like a shadow, weaving through the thick foliage.

The trolls groaned, shifting uneasily. They could feel it, a predator was there, but they couldn't see it. Their dull minds struggled to pinpoint the threat, but unlike them, Bel knew exactly where they were.

A spark of light flickered in the dark.

One of the trolls turned its massive head just as a thin beam of fire shot through the air. It curved, bending toward its target before igniting its flesh on contact.

The beast roared, its deep growl turning into a scream as flames consumed it. It thrashed, rolling on the ground in desperation, but the fire clung to its body, devouring it mercilessly.

The others turned toward the disturbance, confused. Then another beam of fire sliced through the air, striking a second troll. It burst into flames instantly. The fire bent unnaturally, weaving through the swamp, finding its targets with precision.

One by one, trolls ignited, their groans turning into cries of agony.

From his vantage point, Bel watched, his hand flicking lazily as he directed the flames.

"Wonderful."

The fire did all the work. He didn't even have to move much. His enemies burned before they could get close to him. It was efficient. Clean. Almost amusing.

A few trolls, realizing the horror of their situation, turned and started running. Bel narrowed his eyes.

"Tsk. Where do you think you're going with my experience?"

He raised his hand, gathering flames into his palm. Heat crackled around his fingers, the air around him distorting from the sheer intensity of the energy. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a massive torrent of fire.

The fleeing trolls were swallowed whole by the blaze.

The flames spread, consuming the ground beneath them and the trees around, lighting up the swamp like a funeral pyre.

It was a true spectacle.

The swamp had become a furnace, a raging sea of orange and red. The air wavered from the unbearable heat, thick with smoke and the stench of burning flesh.

The fire cracked and roared, licking hungrily at the trees, casting long shadows that danced like specters in the chaos.

In the center of it, standing before his masterpiece, was Bel, bathing in the glow of his own destruction

His silhouette was dark against the burning swamp, his crimson eyes visible through the slits of his mask.

His lips curled into a small smile.

This was fire. Unstoppable. Destructive. Absolute.

He was sure of the result, and yet... it was taking too long.

He moved to finish the job, gathering the flames in his hand... or so he thought.

He blinked, what was this strange sensation?

[MP: 8/250]

"...Huh?"

His mana had almost completely drained. It was vanishing too fast. He frowned.

This is a problem... However...

His eyes flicked to his unassigned stat points.

Unassigned Stat Points: 10

Without hesitation, he dumped all of them into Intelligence. Instantly, his MP increased.

[MP: 68/300]

Better.

Bel exhaled, flexing his fingers. His hand moved into a snapping position, and with a sharp snap, a small spark of fire flickered to life at his fingertips, and the blazer resumed.

Days had passed since Crest and Bel had set out on their own paths. Inside the grand halls of the palais, the Duke stood near a tall window, gazing out over the city.

Across from him, Elysia sat comfortably in an elegant chair, swirling a glass of wine in her hand.

Their conversation drifted to the two young men who had started their own adventure.

"Crest is adjusting well," Elysia began with a small smile. "He's made a name for himself already. Joined a promising group of adventurers, and they're stirring up quite the reputation among the newcomers."

The Duke's gaze remained fixed outside, but he listened attentively.

"Tell me about them."

"A fiery young warrior, full of energy. A wizard girl, already quite famous for her abilities despite her age. Several others with solid potential," she listed. "Crest has settled in as a swordsman. He's adapting well."

The Duke exhaled, his fingers tapping against the window frame.

"He's making good progress. Maybe he will rise to become the hero of the new generation. I can return to my domain and leave him here."

Turning to Elysia, his eyes sharpened.

"I leave him under your care. I want you to remain in his shadow until he can stand in the light by himself."

She chuckled lightly, swirling her glass again.

"You need to trust him more. Crest is full of surprises, and he's already copper rank. You'll see."

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A silence stretched between them, comfortable yet pensive. Then the Duke shifted, his voice lowering slightly.

"And the other matter?"

Elysia's expression changed, her amusement fading. The Duke noticed immediately.

"Bel," she murmured. "He's... an enigma."

The Duke turned to face her fully.

"He's strong. Much stronger than before. His pattern is consistent: he takes quests roughly once a week. Always multiple at a time. And always extermination quests."

The Duke raised an eyebrow.

"Always extermination?"

She nodded.

"If there are no extermination quests, he leaves. Only to return once there's work that involves killing. He completes them all, one after the other, then disappears again. It's been going on for so long that he's well known in the guild now."

The Duke rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"He's copper rank, isn't he?"

"Yes. But it's obvious he'll be iron rank soon. Probably much sooner than Crest."

Another pause.

"Do you think he's controllable?" the Duke finally asked.

Elysia studied him for a moment before shaking her head.

"If you wanted to control him, you made a bad decision making him an adventurer."

The Duke's jaw tensed slightly.

"I did that because you warned me about him. You're the one who insisted we give him his freedom."

Elysia sighed and moved to the side of the room, stopping in front of a grand painting hanging on the wall. It depicted a noble warrior, sword in hand, standing before a looming shadowy figure, a tribute to the previous hero who had slain the Demon King.

Her gaze lingered on it before she spoke again, voice softer this time.

"Duke, I told you that because I've been in this field long enough to recognize a certain type of aura. That boy... Bel... he has the mind of a human, but the presence of a demon."

The Duke's fingers curled slightly against his palm. He said nothing, but his expression darkened.

Elysia's gaze remained fixed on the painting, her brows furrowing.

"I don't know what secret the baron is hiding about that young man," she mused. "But I think I'm starting to understand why he didn't want to get rid of him."

In the meantime, Bel stepped up to the guild counter, handing over his last completed quest report. The woman behind the desk, a guild clerk with tired eyes and an experienced air, gave him a polite nod as she checked his papers.

"No extermination quests for now in your current level," she said, flipping through a few documents. "You wiped out most of what was posted."

Bel exhaled lightly, adjusting his gloves.

"Is that so?" he murmured, barely sounding surprised. "Alright. Thanks."

He turned on his heel, ready to leave and wait for the next batch of extermination requests. But just as he took a step away, the clerk's voice stopped him.

"Wait."

Bel paused, glancing back. The woman hesitated for a second before continuing, her expression shifting slightly.

"There might be something else," she said. "Something fitting your... particular results."

Bel raised an eyebrow beneath his mask.

"Go on."

She folded her arms, looking him over as if trying to gauge his reaction.

"You're confident in your strength, right?"

More and more confused, Bel nodded.

"If I wasn't, I wouldn't be here."

The woman nodded slowly, as if expecting that answer.

"Then, if you're interested, there's a request looking for additional adventurers."

Bel's eyes narrowed.

"Another escort mission? Not interested."

"Not an escort," the woman corrected. "A dungeon."

Bel stilled for a second. His fingers flexed slightly.

"...A dungeon?"

She smirked, as if she'd finally caught his interest.

"Yes. A dungeon that needs clearing. And they need extra hands."

Bel tapped his fingers against the counter, considering.

A dungeon? At his level? He was supposed to stick to the weak group of monsters available for his little copper rank, but a true dungeon... That meant strong monsters. Strong monsters meant more experience. More experience meant faster growth.

"Tell me more."