Just as the room had begun to settle, a loud clatter echoed through the halls. The doors burst open and a soldier, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath, came running in.
"King Darius—pant… pant—the enemy… they're marching straight towards the capital with all their forces! Twenty thousand soldiers, including a full mage division!"
The hall went quiet. Tension wrapped around the room like a vice. The nobles in the corner stiffened, the guards glanced at one another with pale faces, and even Reinhart clenched his jaw. Twenty thousand... that was an army meant to crush kingdoms.
But I, Velsun, simply leaned back and cracked my neck.
"Wow, twenty thousand huh? That's huge," I muttered with a casual smirk. "If I was human, I'd be bolting out of here with my tail tucked between my legs."
I stood up slowly, stretching my arms like I'd just woken up from a nap, then looked over the horizon through the castle's worn-out window.
"But lucky for us," I said, eyes flashing with quiet confidence, "I'm not human."
I could feel my aura shifting, the ancient power of a True Dragon coiling beneath my skin like a storm waiting to be unleashed. My very presence alone could flatten weaker armies—hell, even without trying, my aura had made people faint.
"Running?" I said with a grin. "That's not in my dictionary."
Karlos stood behind me, nodding like a devout priest. "Of course, my lord. The very idea of retreating is blasphemy in your presence."
Zalario folded his arms, looking amused. "Well, this might be interesting after all. Let's see what kind of chaos this so-called army brings."
King Darius, who had gone stiff at the initial news, now looked at me with something between awe and gratitude.
"Lord Velsun... if you are with us, then perhaps there is still hope for Bermud."
We soon made our way to the crumbling outer walls of Bermud. The land beyond was dry and cracked, smoke on the horizon betraying the slow, ominous approach of a force that could crush cities.
I stood atop the battered rampart, arms crossed, eyes gleaming as I watched the dark clouds of war gather. My mind, however, wasn't on the enemy… it was on their souls.
"With that many people… no, souls," I muttered, "I could evolve Karlos into a full-fledged Demon Lord before even Guy Crimson had the chance. Heh…"
But then I frowned, rubbing the back of my neck.
"Wait... how the hell do I even store that many souls? I don't have any absorption or containment-type skill for that..."
Just as the thought formed, Mimir's smooth, knowing voice echoed in my mind.
(Lad… if it's souls ye want, then let Karlos do what he was born to do. Have him form a contract with King Darius using his Ultimate Skill, Mephistopheles – The Devil's Contractor. The contract will state that every enemy soul slain in this war shall be offered to you, Lord Velsun. You can use them however you please.)
A wicked grin slowly stretched across my face.
"Damn Mimir, you genius old relic."
I turned to Karlos, who immediately stepped forward with his usual grace and dark elegance.
"Karlos," I said, voice calm but firm,
"Prepare a contract with the king. Every soul that falls from the enemy side belongs to me. Make it official through your skill."
Karlos's eyes lit up, a dangerous gleam dancing in them.
"As you command, my lord. This contract shall be forged in truth and blood. By the time this war is over… your power will be unimaginable."
He bowed deeply, then turned to King Darius, who blinked in confusion.
"King Darius," Karlos said smoothly, pulling out a parchment glowing faintly with ominous black and crimson sigils. "Shall we make a deal…?"
Karlos stood tall, parchment in hand, his aura subtly shifting as Mephistopheles – The Devil's Contractor activated. A dark, ancient magic began swirling around him, runes forming in the air like whispers etched into reality.
He turned toward King Darius, his voice calm but carrying a weight that could bend kingdoms.
"Before the contract is signed, I must explain the full terms in detail," Karlos said, eyes gleaming crimson. "My power demands it. Any omitted detail may become a weakness, so allow me to be clear."
The king nodded solemnly, eyes narrowing in focus.
Karlos took a breath and began:
"This is a soul pact contract between King Darius of Bermud and myself, Karlos—a daemon lord in service of the True Dragon Velsun. The contents of the agreement are as follows:"
He raised a single clawed finger.
"1. Upon the conclusion of the upcoming battle between the Kingdom of Bermud and the invading forces of Glora, all souls of the slain enemies—be they soldiers, mages, or monsters—will be transferred to my lord, Velsun."
"2. The method of transfer shall be soul-channeling through the pact sigils embedded in the contract itself. Once death occurs, the soul shall bypass natural reincarnation and ownership will be directly granted to Lord Velsun."
"3. In exchange for this, Lord Velsun shall assist in the defense of Bermud for the duration of this war."
He narrowed his eyes.
"4. This contract is valid only for this campaign. Future conflicts are not included unless additional contracts are made."
"5. Should Bermud win the war with Lord Velsun's help, the king shall not hinder his movements nor oppose any actions taken by Lord Velsun or his vassals within Bermud territory, unless those actions threaten the direct safety of the royal family."
He closed the scroll, the glowing runes now solidifying into binding seals.
"That is the complete and unaltered contract. King Darius, do you accept these terms?"
The king looked from Karlos to me. Sweat beaded on his brow, but his voice was strong.
"For the survival of my kingdom… I accept."
As soon as he spoke, the contract burst into black and crimson flames, then reformed into a sealed sigil branded on Karlos's hand—and a smaller one pulsed on mine.
"It is done," Karlos said, bowing. "Now, let the hunt for souls begin."
I gave a toothy grin.
"Let's turn this kingdom's despair into my rise."
I turned toward Zalario, who was floating just a little off the ground, arms crossed, radiating that calm, divine pressure only a primordial angel could emit.
"Zalario, will you take part here?" I asked, tilting my head. "I mean, you're a primordial angel, not some foot soldier. I'm not gonna force you into this mess. Karlos and I can handle it just fine."
Zalario's glowing blue eyes scanned the horizon where the massive enemy army stirred like a tidal wave. His wings didn't even flutter, just glowing faintly behind him.
He raised an eyebrow.
"You're offering me an out?"
Then, he smiled faintly. "How amusing, Velsun. But I'm not here for the war."
Karlos stiffened slightly but kept silent.
"I'm here... for you. To observe what kind of being the 'True Dragon Velsun' is becoming. If your path requires blood, then so be it. But I won't interfere unless you fall."
He gave a soft chuckle.
"Besides, watching you two rampage across a battlefield might be entertaining."
Karlos exhaled like a man relieved he didn't have to fight both the army and a primordial being.
I smirked. "Fair enough. I'll put on a good show then."
Karlos grinned as well, muttering under his breath, "What a terrifying circle I've walked into..."
And with that, the winds of war howled louder.
What do you guys think will velsun be able to defend the kingdom of Bermud? Or will Bermud will fall even with Velsun's protection or some unknown entity will be brought into the battlefield.
Find out on next chapter dragon bal- Tensura:True dragon of sun.
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