Chapter 266: Killing intent of the Primordial Dragon

'His first thought after learning that he is being targeted by such a dangerous organisation is the safety of his family,' Aldric murmured, his brows rising slightly.

Vlad was about to storm out of the office when Aldric called out to him.

"Wait, you don't need to worry about your parents," Aldric stated in a calm tone. "The academy has sent a Crusader Knight and a Five-Ring mage to Grimwood Village. They will keep their distance from your family and protect them from the shadows."

Vlad froze in his tracks, his eyes widening. A Crusader Knight and a Five-Ring mage possessed enough power to level a mountain. The academy had sent such superhumans to protect his family. He was grateful, yes, but also worried.

"What does the academy need from me?" Vlad asked, looking back at Aldric over his shoulder.

The academy had given him the Genesis Artifact, a priceless treasure, for half its value, and had even mobilized such powerful Awakeners to protect his family. Such generosity must come with a price.

Aldric raised an eyebrow. He slowly closed his eyes before opening them again with a sigh.

"Follow me."

He rose from his chair and moved towards a door along the side wall of the office.

As he opened it, only a bright white light could be seen on the other side. He stepped inside. Vlad took a deep breath and followed him.

The scenery beyond the room completely changed. They had arrived in a vast open grassland, its terrain shaped like gentle waves.

Even though winter was nearing its peak, the weather here was cozy, with grass swaying in the gentle breeze.

But there was something that grabbed Vlad's attention more than the beautiful scenery itself.

It was the sight of Lucas.

He didn't look anything like the elegant noble Vlad was used to seeing.

His long crimson hair was untied, swaying with every movement as he walked with a thick rope tied around his waist, its other end connected to a giant boulder reaching over twelve feet tall.

His breathing was ragged, his bare upper body damp with sweat. Vlad's eyes naturally moved to the scar across his chest.

Three wide, parallel lines stretched across his torso. It didn't seem like an injury caused by a sword or spear. It looked more like the claw marks of a wild animal.

'Was this the life-threatening injury that Uncle Lucas suffered during the War of Dragons—'

Thump!

Thump!

Thump!

Vlad's thoughts stopped mid-sentence as his heartbeat suddenly accelerated the moment he looked at the scar. Cold sweat broke out across his body, and his hand instinctively moved to his chest.

The entire scenery before him changed.

The sky turned dark, and the ground beneath him split open, with boiling amber lava emerging from the cracks.

"ROARRRR!!!!"

A booming, monstrous roar echoed through the surroundings, the sheer force of the voice slamming Vlad to the ground.

'Wh-what in the world is going on...' Vlad muttered.

Veins bulged across his forearms as he pushed himself onto his knees despite the bone-crushing pressure bearing down on him.

The moment his eyes fell upon the source of the roar, a heavy gasp escaped his lips, his crimson eyes widening in shock.

Before him stood a gigantic creature with pulsating amber skin. Its outstretched wings were wide enough to cover the entire sky behind it. The surface of the beast's skin shimmered in the glow of the lava like scales as it moved towards Vlad, revealing its jagged teeth.

Its crimson eyes, each with a vertical slit, remained fixed on Vlad as it hurled its massive claws towards him.

Vlad couldn't move, no matter how desperately he tried. It was as if his body had completely lost the strength and ability to function.

Just as the claws were about to strike him, a deep voice echoed from behind Vlad.

"GET LOST."

The claw hurled at Vlad was turned to ash along with the crimson dragon.

"Huff... Huff... Huff..."

Vlad's chest rose and fell rapidly, strands of hair clinging to his damp skin as he lay on the ground.

He could see the faces of Aldric and Lucas above him, with the blue sky behind them.

"The fuck just happened?" he murmured, still trying to process what he had just experienced.

The worried expressions on Lucas and Aldric's faces changed as their brows rose and their lips parted in shock.

Lucas extended his hand towards him. Once Vlad grabbed it, he pulled him to his feet.

In the very next moment, Lucas gave him a deep, guilt-filled bow.

"I sincerely apologize for endangering your life."

Vlad blinked. He was even more confused now.

"Pl-please don't do that, Uncle," Vlad said, shaking both his hands, obviously flustered by seeing an Archmage bowing before him. "Could you tell me what just happened?"

"What you just experienced was the killing intent left by the Primordial Pyro Dragon on Lord Lucas's body," Aldric explained, pressing the bridge of his glasses out of old habit.

"Killing intent..." Vlad murmured, swallowing hard.

'Just a single glance at that scar almost cost me my life. And Uncle Lucas faced that strike head-on. How powerful are the Primordial Dragons truly?'

"How do you feel, Vlad?" Lucas's worried voice pulled him out of his thoughts as he grabbed Vlad by the shoulders.

"A bit tired," Vlad answered. He felt as if he had just finished an intense training session.

Lucas's eyebrows rose for a moment before he released a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness," he said, retreating his hands. "Normally, the sight of that scar could render anyone below the level of a Bulwark Knight unconscious for at least a month. It could also lead to permanent damage to the soul. But surprisingly, you woke up in just a couple of seconds."

His sharp glare turned to Aldric as he muttered, "Professional Aldric, how could you just barge in without informing me beforehand? What would I say to my daughter if anything happened to Vlad?"

"But I did inform you that I would be bringing Sir Vlad to discuss the matter of Excidus," Aldric replied in his usual calm tone.

"But still... you should have knocked before coming in... tch, forget it."

Lucas shook his head, his eyes shifting back to Vlad.

"As long as he is safe."

'I heard the voice of the dragon senior when that Pyro Dragon was about to attack me,' Vlad murmured inwardly. 'Thank you for saving my life again, Senior.'

Naturally, no response came from the other side.