CHAPTER 151: DISIPLINE A DRAGON.

"Come, Ciel."

In the blink of an eye, a loud whooshing sound echoed, along with a gust of wind.

And then right there, Ciel hovered right in front of her master, her head slightly bowed in respect with one of her hands close to her chest.

"My lord, you summoned me," she spoke, her voice calm and unyielding.

Upon seeing Ciel, the dragon frowned for a while, trying to understand the sudden fear that was creeping inside him. She looked like a normal girl, but the mana she emitted was enough to rival a dragon, unless...

The dragon’s eyes widened.

"This is... a True Dragon."

Ciel slightly opened her eyes, and with her head still bowed, she gave Exlor the side-eye, wondering why a lowly dragon kin was interrupting a conversation about to happen between her and her master.

But she didn’t bother to speak; instead, she turned her gaze back to Dorian, who then proceeded to ask her a question.

"You once told me Dragons are capable of learning some things based on instinct, right?"

Ciel slightly raised her head. "That is correct. Is there a reason as to why you are asking this?"

"You can say that. You see that dragon behind you, his name is Exlor, and he has a grudge against the Dragon Monarch—apparently, me. Do you know who he is?"

Ciel stared at Dorian, then slowly moved her gaze to the dragon.

"My lord, I mean no disrespect when I say this, but why is the opinion of a measly dragon kin of any importance? Their kind served us, the True Dragons. If anything, this spoiled brat here needs to be taught a lesson," she pointed.

Grck!

The dragon flinched. "How dare you? Do you have any idea who I am, young one? Just because you’re a True Dragon doesn’t mean you have gathered the years of experience I have. I served under the Ragnor family as one of the ten strongest dragons. Who are you to-"

"My lord, as I said, this dragon needs to be disciplined. May I?"

’Sigh. And here I thought with another dragon around, we would have a meaningful conversation rather than fighting it out.’ He scratched the back of his head.

"Sure, just make sure not to kill it. I still have a few questions to ask, okay?"

"As you wish." Ciel bowed her head, more than glad that Dorian actually gave her the opportunity to do so.

Slowly, she hovered forward, no bigger than an ant when compared to the massive dragon in front of her. Yet, there was not even a single hint of fear.

"A True Dragon. I find it hard to believe one actually exists. Don’t tell me, this is the Dragon Monarch’s doing?"

"Good, now we are starting to use our brains," Ciel responded immediately. "Earlier, you mentioned the House of Ragnor. Good, I can see why my master wants to ask questions of you. I’ll be sure to discipline you for your arrogance, and I don’t need my dragon form to do that."

"Don’t underestimate me, True Dragon!" Exlor opened its mouth, sending a rush of flames pouring and speeding towards Ciel.

Ciel stood her ground, stretching a single hand forward, not showing any signs of fear whatsoever.

As the flames made impact with her body, she began absorbing them into her hand, the large flames dripping to the ground and causing the soldiers underneath to run in fear.

After a while, Exlor stopped, realizing all his attacks had just been absorbed as though they were nothing. "No, it can’t be."

Ciel closed her fist, the last trail of flames disappearing into her hand. "Are you done?" she asked, then opened her palm once more. "Let me show you what true flames burn like."

She redirected all the flames she had absorbed and tripled the output before sending it speeding towards Exlor.

The firestorm engulfed the massive dragon, who roared in agony as the intensified flames seared his scales.

Exlor thrashed, trying to escape the inferno that was once his own power, now turned against him with devastating force. The ground beneath him cracked and melted, and the air shimmered with immense heat.

Ciel watched impassively, her hand still outstretched, controlling the inferno with effortless grace. Her eyes, usually calm, held a glint of steel.

The soldiers who had scattered now watched from a distance, awestruck and terrified by the display of power.

Finally, with a pained bellow, Exlor collapsed, the flames dying down to reveal his charred and smoking form.

He lay motionless for a moment, then slowly, with great effort, lifted his head, his eyes narrowed in disbelief and grudging respect.

"Un...unbelievable," he croaked, his voice raspy from the heat and the exertion. "To wield my own power... and amplify it."

Ciel slowly lowered her hand, the last wisps of smoke dissipating into the air.

"As I said, a lesson in discipline," she stated, her voice as calm as ever, despite the cataclysmic display of power she had just unleashed. She stretched her hand forward once again, ready to send another attack.

"I didn’t introduce myself," she started. "My name is Ciel, the one True Dragon, child of Ragnor and servant of the Dragon Monarch. Remember that name as you burn in the hell you walked into. Allow me to escort you to the afterlife."

A large fireball suddenly formed in front of her palm, hovering right above the massive form of the dragon.

The dragon knew he could not survive another attack, so instead, he lowered his head to the ground and closed his eyes in defeat.

Seeing this, Ciel clicked her tongue in disgust, finding his act cowardly and weak, though she had no intention of halting her attack. However, just when she was about to drop the flames...

"Hold it, Ciel. I thought I told you not to kill it."

Ciel paused, a bead of sweat appearing on the side of her face as she slowly turned around to face him, the flames disbursing into the air. "M-my apologies. I got carried away."

Dorian gave her a deadpan look. "Looked like you were having fun."

"I am a dragon, my lord. It’s been a while since I had a real battle."

Dorian slowly descended to the ground, refusing to give her an actual response, since he already knew there was a chance she would then ask him to spar with her.

As he neared the ground, Lili transformed into her humanoid form and stood at the side, acting as a bodyguard.

"Heh, look how big this lizard is. I really hate dragons," she uttered with her arms folded, watching from the side as Dorian moved closer to Exlor.

Then, the very next moment, Dorian placed his palm on the dragon’s head.

"Why did you stop the True Dragon from killing me? I intended to kill you. Foolish as it may sound, I truly wanted to do so."

"If you were that convicted, despite knowing you would lose, then your anger must have been valid, which is exactly why you can’t die. Not until I have gotten all the answers I need from you."

"You make it sound like you have my best interest at heart. But if I refuse this?"

Dorian pointed at Ciel, still in the sky. "Then you answer to her. I already told her not to kill you, so you can bet she will torture you as best as she can. Do you want that?"

Exlor hesitated, catching a glimpse of Ciel smiling at him with an evil look on her face. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Dorian had the same look as well, only his was closer and more clinical.

"I concede. I will tell you whatever it is you need to know."

"Perfect. See, was that so hard?" Dorian pet the head of the dragon while chuckling. "Now that I have you settled, how do I deal with this situation exactly?"

Dorian soon realized that he had been surrounded by the Lumberg soldiers. All the knights and guards had their weapons drawn at him as though he was some kind of national criminal.

’All the commotion finally drew their attention. What to do here? Not like I can just run; they have the entire place surrounded. If only I had-’

"Stand down."

Dorian’s eyes widened a bit after hearing that familiar voice. At the very front, he could see Alex walking down the stairs, dressed in his usual attire.

"This man is Her Highness’s guest. Lower your blades."

The soldiers were hesitant, but soon they lowered their weapons. Dorian remained standing there, waiting until Alex was right in front of him.

Alex looked at the exhausted Exlor, whom he recognized to be the ancestral dragon of the Lumberg kingdom.

And yet, it was beaten to a pulp on the ground.

Alex then looked at Ciel, hovering right above all of them, her aura sharp and similar to that of a dragon.

Seeing this, one could see the look of exhaustion play on the poor man’s face. "Lord Dorian, please let’s go inside. We... we can discuss this once we are away from peering eyes."

"Sounds good to me. Tell your men to do something about Exlor; he needs to be treated." Dorian slammed Alex’s shoulder before walking away, his summons following right behind him like a convoy.

Alex sighed, his eyes bubbling up as though on the verge of tearing up.

....

[A/n]

A True Dragon’s power is absolute. Ciel arrives and delivers a brutal, one-sided lesson in hierarchy to the ancient Exlor. With the dragon defeated and the palace guards in disarray, Dorian’s "trap" has worked perfectly. Now, the real negotiations can begin... on his terms.