The Third Prince Of Darkness

I climbed up the gray marble stairs once again. We were still in the arena, and the award ceremony was to be held there for me. The doors of the arena opened for me, but this time not for fighting, but to receive my award. In the center of the arena stood a massive stage, with stairs leading up to it on all four sides. Also, the audience area was still packed with spectators.

Above the stage were the Dragon Queen and her daughter.

After checking my outfit one last time, I walked toward the arena. It would be inaccurate to call this a fighting arena now; it resembled more the stages where the most popular artists performed. I walked up the sleek black marble stairs leading to the stage area. As the crowd applauded, my eyes were on the dragon princess, who seemed to be watching me intently.

In the center of the stage stood the queen, majestic in her presence. Her white hair cascaded gracefully down her shoulders, shimmering like smooth silver. The long black horns between her white hair stretched backwards. Her eyes held a sharp, authoritative expression; it was easy to tell that this woman possessed great power the moment I saw her.

Her attire was simple, yet adorned with elegant details, showcasing her nobility and the fact that she was the queen of the dragon folk with all her splendor.

Standing beside her, the dragon princess exuded a more youthful aura. Her hair was turquoise, illuminated by a bright, deep blue shimmer that surrounded her. The turquoise locks cascaded gently over her shoulders, giving her an air of mystery but also allure. She had black horns like her mother, and although they were a little smaller, they added enough elegance to her beauty.

The princess's eyes were turned toward me, filled with deep attention and interest. As she watched me, the combination of curiosity and coolness in her gaze was infused with the confidence that came from being a dragon princess.

As I moved closer to the stage, I sensed that the princess's gaze remained focused on me; there was not only curiosity in that look but also a measure of evaluation. All eyes were on us, and in that moment, I found myself in the midst of something far more significant than a mere ceremony for a rewarded warrior.

When I reached the queen, I could clearly see her confident and authoritative eyes looking at me. Without much hesitation, I bowed respectfully in front of her without being overly dramatic. After a while, the queen placed her hand on my shoulder and gestured for me to rise. I stood up and waited motionlessly in my place.

"Today, we have witnessed the power of many warriors! Some were too weak to be considered, while others were strong enough to deserve first place. But in the end, there can only be one at the top! Only the strongest deserves the award, nothing more!" said the queen in her deep, authoritative voice.

Her voice was strong enough to fill the entire arena.

As the queen's voice echoed through the arena, the crowd suddenly erupted in enthusiasm, as if her words had empowered them. All eyes were on me; I could feel once again that this award was reserved only for the strongest. The Dragon Queen continued and explained the significance of the award.

"You are witnessing a historic moment tonight. The award we will present following my meeting with my only daughter will be our most precious reward." The queen raised her hand. "The Dragon Essence.

This essence is a source of power so valuable that even the greatest chosen ones cannot attain it; even if one does not have dragon blood in their veins, anyone who consumes this essence will strengthen their soul, and their body will be filled with unique might."

As the crowd cheered once again, a serious expression remained on the queen's face. Receiving the Dragon Essence was a dream for many warriors, but it was also fraught with danger. Only the strong could withstand the power of this essence; the weak could not endure it... Okay, that's all well and good, but why the fucking that reward?! What kind of coincidence is this?

Damn it, why do I have to accept the most unwanted reward?! Or is it possible? Has the someone's dragon spirit already reacted to me? But which one, the queen's or the princess's?

I glanced at both of them carefully, but I couldn't discern much. Besides, I didn't know how, where, in what situation, or when the dragon spirit would react to a man; in fact, no one knew. What should I do? If I run away now, what will happen to my loved ones? Hah... Stay calm, Ethan.

This must just be a coincidence. Even if it's not, I can find a way out somehow, just as I always do.

The queen took another step forward and turned her gaze toward the crowd.

"Furthermore, in two months, this warrior will lead the first group for the great dungeon hunt that will begin," she continued, extending her hand toward me. "This task requires not only courage and strength. It requires intellect and strategy to gain the trust of the group he will lead and to keep them alive in the depths of the dungeon."

The queen elegantly raised her hand and called one of the attendants to the stage. They brought a small, ornate glass bottle resting on a black velvet tray. The bottle sparkled under the arena lights, as if surrounded by a living fire, throwing off sparks. The Dragon Essence inside appeared as a blood-red liquid, gently vibrating at the slightest movement.

The intensity of its power seemed to radiate from the bottle.

The attendant approached with heavy steps to present the Dragon Essence to me. They carefully extended the tray toward the queen, who held the bottle between her hands while directing her gaze back to me. Her face bore an authoritative yet mysterious expression. She extended the bottle to me and spoke in a grave voice,

"Receiving this award means bearing great responsibility. Obtaining the Dragon Essence means being accepted as a chosen one. But carrying the price of this power requires courage. Do you accept?"

I paused for a moment, my eyes drifting to the shimmering liquid in the bottle. I felt a fear within me; accepting the Dragon Essence would grant me extraordinary power, but it was equally dangerous. I sensed the crowd around me holding their breath. They were all waiting for my decision. Seconds felt like minutes to me. Despite the worries swirling in my mind, I gathered myself and nodded calmly.

"Yes, Your Majesty," I said reluctantly. After all, what kind of fool would dare refuse the Dragon Queen?!

The queen offered me the bottle with a pleased smile. I gently wrapped my fingers around the bottle and lifted it slightly. As I held the bottle, I felt the gaze of the dragon princess on me; her eyes were still on me, observing me with a calm yet deep interest.

Turning to the crowd, the queen raised her voice once more: "Behold, the one who deserves the Dragon Essence, The strongest in the tournament!"

The crowd erupted in excitement again, and amid the applause and cheers, the stage seemed to tremble. I had accepted the Dragon Essence, but I couldn't help but wonder what a series of problems this would bring in the future. Ultimately, I had no choice but to accept my fate.

I decided to drink the Dragon Essence, calmly bringing the bottle closer to my mouth. The red liquid inside was writhing as if it were alive. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and took a sip of the essence.

Immediately, a burning sensation spread through my body; it was much more than a simple pain. As the essence coursed through my veins, I felt it penetrating every cell of my being. Waves of power enveloped my entire body, and my legs trembled; I could barely stand. My mind began to cloud, but I quickly regained my composure as the noise of the crowd echoed in my ears, and I opened my eyes.

A silence enveloped me, and I felt everyone's attention on me. Even the Dragon Queen and the princess did not take their eyes off me. The princess adjusted her hair, caught on her horns and then smiled at me. Fortunately, she quickly broke the awkward tension with her words.

"I heard that you wanted to share something with us, didn't you? The floor is yours," said the princess.

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Since I had already told the official responsible for me that I wanted to make an explanation, it wasn't surprising that the princess knew this. With all eyes on me in the center of the arena, I took a deep breath and gathered my voice. The crowd's interest intensified once again with the princess's invitation. In the hushed silence of the arena, under the princess's attentive gaze, I began to speak.

"I would like to clarify something while everyone is here," I said in a loud voice. When I was sure my voice filled the entire arena, I continued, "My reason for joining this academy was to gain strength and develop myself.... And to achieve this ideal, I wanted to conceal my true identity. So, my name is not Arthur Connan. My hair is not golden.

I apologize to some close friends watching me here for hiding my true identity, but I am sure that if they listen carefully, they will understand why I changed my identity. I am the third prince of the Asina Kingdom, and I am also, Ethan Asina Lenistark, the next heir to the throne of the Asina Kingdom."

As my words echoed in the arena, the crowd's reaction was astonishing. Most looked at each other in shock, while some stared at me in admiration. Especially the dragon princess. In her gaze, there was not only curiosity but also a deeper attention and perhaps admiration.

However, amidst the crowd, I could distinctly make out someone looking at me with wide-open eyes, but those eyes were not open in shock.

No. They were more like the cautious gaze of a large predator watching its prey. It was as if those eyes were pondering how to hunt me and how to devour me at the same time. They were the eyes of someone calculating countless possibilities for the future and considering which would require the least damage and energy to achieve victory.

Those eyes belonged to the Emperor of the South Alpshar, or as he was now referred to, the Magnificent Alpshar.

Our gaze locked for a few seconds, but it felt like a lot had happened in that brief moment. I snapped back to reality when I heard a cough from behind, and I turned to look at the princess, the source of the sound.