Chapter 11: A King

A few months passed and the new dragons adapted completely to their bodies. Though they were still working to master the new magic system they used.

Cleria was having a better time with it though. Because devil magic is like a watered down version of primordial magic.

The kids continued going to Kuoh and played with Irina and Ise. The usual in their dragon household.

"I was lucky, but I need to find more Longinus users." Mordred was brooding on the table.

"Actually, finding two of them is already incredibly lucky..." Tiamat sighed, thinking he had lady luck's favor. Maybe it was his reward for sealing evil dragons that would wreak untold havoc?

"You are right, there are 7 billion humans on earth. Not counting the millions more hybrids that can get sacred gears. Not to mention that the Longinus ones are only 13." He frowned.

"Well, you're still young. There's plenty of time to find them Mordred." Tiamat ruffled his hair so he would lighten up.

"Mom, every faction is trying to get them. I have no time for leisure actually. They can't get their filthy hands on them. They'll just exploit them." Mordred sighed.

"Then what are you going to do?" Tiamat waited for him to come to an answer first.

"I'm too high profile to be moving around incognito. And my dragon aura is increasing exponentially when Apophis started to assimilate with my soul. Vali is too young and weak to protect herself." Mordred weighed his options.

He also did not want to rely on Tiamat to search for his kin. His pride won't allow it, they are his hoard. Not Tiamat's or anyone else's.

"Kuroka and Shirone aren't ready for that endeavor too even if they are suited for infiltration and spying. Ahhh." He plopped his fist on his palm.

"Got any bright ideas in your head?" Tiamat hummed and Mordred nodded.

"My goons, they can do it. Even if they're your pieces, they are actually my goons still." Mordred looked at Masaomi and Cleria who were lazing around after getting ragged with training.

"A good idea, how are you implementing it?" Tiamat smiled and thought that was true.

Kuroka and Shirone's rescue were due to Tiamat's help, she was the MVP. But with the couple, he was the one who did the most of it.

"I'll send them to areas around the world where there are supernatural activities. Europe seems to be a good start. Masaomi is also an exorcist, Cleria was taught how to fight them too." Mordred nodded sagely.

Masaomi knows his way in Europe, the majority of missions being there. While Cleria knows how to deal with them. They're a strong duo too, with Cleria's support due to worthlessness.

And Cleria's glaring weakness to holy weapons is now null. Masaomi is now ultimate class as well.

"Masaomi please come here with Cleria." Mordred called for them.

"Already heard you boss, so Europe huh? We can think of this as our honeymoon?" Masaomi chuckled and Cleria hit his shoulder lightly.

"Ahhh, that too. You can't mate here as much huh?" Mordred had an apologetic expression.

"Now it's just sad that Mordred is worried about that aspect of our life..." Cleria didn't know if she should cry or not.

"Ahem, I've got a good lead already actually. There's been some civil strife near Italy. Some vampires fought over their supply of humans. I checked it out in Deviltube." Masaomi scowled.

"Hmmm, start there Masaomi. Cleria, you try and sense if there are Longinus users. Your sense of magic is better." Mordred advised and they nodded.

"Then we bid you adieu boss. Don't give up on your search too alright?" Masaomi gave words of encouragement.

"Of course." Mordred nodded and they waved them goodbye as the two disappeared in a magic circle.

"Huh... What could I do though?" Mordred returned to brooding like a certain boy with a duck's butt as hair.

"Don't get too hung up on it Mordred, it won't be easy. You already knew that." Tiamat shrugged.

"Yes, but there must be some way. I won't calm down otherwise, idleness leads to stagnation. I refuse to do nothing." Mordred announced with pride.

"Look at you, you're already shaping up to be a true dragon." Tiamat hugged him and he grunted, still thinking of a way to find Longinus users.

"Maybe I should check Deviltube too. Masaomi did find something there." Mordred began checking the site and other news of devils.

He got side-tracked though, the information of devils interested him.

"Huh, devils make pacts with mages?" Mordred read it and something clicked inside of his mind.

"Mom, are there any mage associations that I can choose? You're more knowledgeable about this." Mordred pointed at his computer and Tiamat nodded.

"Grauzauberer is in Germany, the Golden Dawn is in England, your homeland, and Rosenkreuzer is a rival of the first one. Pick your poison." She laid down the choices.

"Hmmm, the Golden Dawn interests me due to it being in my place of birth. But I can't interact with the Pendragon family there. They're a disgrace to my legacy as the king of knights." Mordred sneered.

The Pendragon family doesn't even possess the fragments of Excalibur. Something that is rightfully theirs.

The current Pendragon family is a failure in his eyes. Losing the favor of Viviane. She forged Caliburn and Excalibur for them. But what do they do?

They couldn't even prevent the church from kidnapping fae in order to try and reforge Excalibur.

And due to them lacking skill, they only managed to create the seven fragments. With the strongest one missing.

Which is the Excalibur ruler, a blade that can mind control people after cutting the enemy.

Then, the church killed the kidnapped fae to keep it secret. Leading to Viviane and the fae hiding in their realm ever since.

"Now that I think about it, the church truly is disgusting. I will burn it to the ground later with holy fire." Mordred growled.

For being a supposed holy organization. They are the ones with the most nefarious sins. Filled with so much corruption and debauchery that it made him sick.

Not to mention that due to holy sword wielders being rare. They did the holy sword project. Leading to the kids used in it getting slaughtered.

And the bishop who was responsible for the project got excommunicated. Where execution is supposed to be the correct judgement.

"Heaven is lax, just like their god. It seems that god really abandoned humanity if these events can transpire." Mordred sneered.

"Hah, you're right about that. But what can we do, let's get to that when you're strong enough." Tiamat ruffled his hair.

"So I'll just pick the first option." He shrugged and checked out that association.

"Hmm, according to the internet here in the underworld. It's also being managed by a devil, the original founder's contracted one; Mephisto Pheles." Mordred was pleased.

"Ahhh, Tannin's master. You know the previous dragon king? He's actually that guy's queen." Tiamat thought that Mordred could easily get a pact there.

"Okay, can we contact Mephisto Pheles mom?" Mordred requested with a smile and she couldn't resist.

"Ugh, of course honey. I'll call Tannin and set up a meeting." Tiamat created a magic circle and she talked with the previous dragon king.

"We'll go to the dragon mountains Mordred, pack up kids. We'll talk to dragons!" Tiamat considered it a field trip.

They were curious and Mordred also wanted to see the dragons.

After they prepared, Tiamat teleported them to Tannin's territory. The dragon mountains were actually the reason he agreed to being Mephisto's queen.

Because dragon apples grew there. Which was vital for low class dragons. As beings of mana, low class dragons don't produce enough of it and they actually have a shorter lifespan of a millennium due to it.

They're like candles that burn brightly and then die faster. The dragon apples act as a buffer for it. Stabilizing their mana by turning into a mana core that is small, yet does the job after consumption.

Mephisto owned the land and Tannin made a deal with him in order to continue the prosperity of the dragon race. Dragon apples grow there due to a leyline that provides a lot of mana for the trees.

Mordred immediately respected the previous dragon king for it. He was a true king to his people.

They arrived at a mountainous area and the kids looked around.

"Ta-dah! Looks like a mountainous area as expected." Tiamat remembered it as it was.

After a few minutes, a dragon with forward facing horns and purple scales appeared. He was the blaze meteor dragon.

He is also a bipedal, similar to Grendel. "Tiamat... I didn't expect you to contact me old friend. And for a meeting with Mephisto no less." Tannin nodded at her.

"Hi, I'm Morded. Master actually wanted me to have a pact, so I asked her for a meeting with the chairman of his mage association." Mordred greeted.

"Hoh? You have your own protege?" Tannin was actually surprised. Tiamat prefers to be alone.

"Yes, he's actually really amazing you know? Just a hatchling and he can already give you a run for your money." Tiamat nodded in pride.

The other kids nodded and Tannin was interested. "Then, I'll let you meet with Mephisto and I promise I'll waive anything that he would want if we spar?" Tannin proposed.

"Sure thing, I am curious to test myself against other dragons. Not just my master." Mordred began to stretch.

"He's a feisty one Tiamat, no fear. Is your protege overconfident, or is he a machine?" Tannin looked at his expression that was apathetic.

"He's not one much for expressions. But he really loves me! He only shows his emotions to me." Tiamat had a smug look on her face.

"Is that so? Then let us travel to a place where we can fight." Tannin flew to the skies and they also flapped their wings.

Arriving in a desolated place, Mordred started drawing his strength.

"Just a youngling, but with such strength already." Tannin could feel his overbearing aura.

"Thank you, I try hard." Mordred grinned. He wasn't much of a battle maniac nowadays. Getting used to Grendel's killer instinct.

But it still makes him excited for a great battle. And fighting a previous dragon king was one.

"Start!" Tiamat shouted and Mordred breathed in deeply.

Releasing a breath attack, a black beam escaped from his mouth and Tannin blocked it with a shield

The beam got deflected and multiple smaller ones wrecked the area. Rubble flying everywhere due to the shockwaves and explosions.

"A good breath child, how about this." Tannin released a torrent of flames at him and Mordred coated his scales with mana.

Grendel's thick scales and insane durability powered through, with only some scorch marks here and there as damage.

"Woah, that was insane." Vali's blood was boiling. Tannin bathed the whole battlefield in fire, but Mordred tanked it.

"Such strong scales as well, how about your physical strength?" Tannin flapped his wings and aimed a punch at him.

Mordred maneuvered himself out of the way, using his smaller size. He then released a kick at Tannin's chin.

The purple dragon didn't even flinch and Mordred clicked his tongue.

"You're strong, let's fight!" Mordred was drawing more of Grendel's strength.

"Yeah! Kick that guy's ass! Tannin, this should be a good fight! I didn't battle him. But he will suffice!" Grendel shouted in glee.

Mordred's strength shot to ultimate class and he slugged Tannin on the face.

A shockwave exploded upon impact and Tannin actually felt pain from it, surprising him.

"What an interesting child." Tannin kicked him away and Mordred flew like a bullet.

But with his immense durability, he stood up like it was nothing.

"That's it!" Mordred grinned and cracked his neck. Running towards Tannin who flew to him in a beeline. They were fast approaching each other.

The ground cratered at his every step and tremors reached the peanut gallery.

Tiamat watched cautiously, intending to let Mordred limit test himself.

The two dragons, one was pint sized. While Tannin was 15 meters tall; clashed at the middle of the battlefield with their fists.

A shockwave exploded and rocks got pulverized by their violent blows. Vali, Kuroka, and Shirone even had to shield their eyes from all the rocks flying.

Mordred anchored himself to the ground as he got pushed back. Tannin's posture wasn't affected though and he stomped on him.

Tannin felt his foot get lifted up and Mordred pushed against it with a roar.

Right after, a thicker breath attack hit his chest and Tannin was sent flying. He righted himself in the air and he smiled.

"Go Mordred! Kick his ass!" Tiamat cheered and Mordred was starting to release a bloodcurdling aura.

"Grendel?" Tannin blinked and he missed him while he was distracted. He suddenly felt a small fist strike his chest.

And due to the surface area being concentrated, Tannin felt shooting pain from his sternum.

"Kyahahaha! Come on! Come on!" Mordred began to grow. Now two meters tall. His scales were getting thicker. The horns on his head, longer.

"Yes! Yes! Give in to the heat of battle! Kill him! Bathe in his blood and feed on his flesh!" Grendel struggled violently from his chains and broke the ones on his arms.

Mordred starting to fuse with his soul even deeper. Resulting in Grendel having more control of the young dragon.

And speaking of Mordred, his silver eyes turned bloodshot. A bloodthirsty grin on his face.

"Mordred, remember your training!" Tiamat changed her tone and was starting to feel anxious.

"So Grendel is inside of him huh?" Tannin started to get more serious.

Mordred started taking more blows, but his martial arts were still at top form.

It was a brawl, Tannin gave a soccer kick and Mordred was sent away. Getting embedded in a mountain.

"That hurt! Good!" Mordred appeared again and he released a breath attack that was much more destructive.

Tannin countered with his own and the energies combined midair. Like a bomb, it released the stored energy and Tiamat had to protect the kids with a barrier.

The two fighters met in midair, slugging each other. Mordred's attacks were like surgical blades due to his size.

While Tannin's every blow made him fly like a rock. Receiving more general damage throughout his body.

An uppercut made Tannin reel back. And he countered with a hammer fist that buried Mordred on the ground.

He then followed it up with a breath attack. A purple beam made the rocks swell for a quick moment before it lighted up and exploded.

The mountain they were on turned into rubble. Molten rocks flowing as lava.

"T-their battle is getting scary nya." Kuroka was nervous. "Tiamat-sama, are they going to be okay?" Shirone was concerned.

"Their power is devastating." Vali gritted her teeth and thought that she still has a long way to go.

After the dust settled, Mordred's scales were red hot. He had some burns on his body, but he had a toothy grin on his face.

"Yes! Fight! Give it your all!" Mordred laughed in joy and Tannin frowned. That was a breath attack that he fired with intent to incapacitate him.

Mordred's strength was quickly approaching Satan class. It was unreal. "Kyahahaha! Yes! We will start our slaughter!" Grendel roared and he broke all of his chains.

An explosion of his mana and aura cratered the ground. Tannin and Tiamat then went wide eyed.

"He's forming his dragon heart in the heat of battle, no way." Tiamat blinked and Tannin also released his strength.

He might have turned into a devil, but he was still a proud dragon that continued to strengthen himself in order to protect his people.

"Come then!" A streak of black coming from the ground flew and a streak of purple descended from above.

They met in the sky with a thunderclap. Purple mana was leaking from Tannin while a black haze covered Morded.

Earth shattering blows were being exchanged and Tiamat was thinking of intervening.

Mordred found himself in his mindscape, right in front of Grendel.

"Hey twerp, I hope you enjoyed Tiamat's tits. Because I'm going to beat you to hell and back." Grendel gave a grin.

"Come then. I knew it, I would have to fight you for dominance." Mordred prepared himself.

This was his domain, his soul. And Grendel will receive the beating he wants.

Flapping his dragon wings, Mordred appeared right in front of Grendel and he slugged him on the snout.

Grendel reeled, but he grinned. "I didn't even feel that."

Mordred frowned, his mind started racing in how to defeat Grendel.

The black dragon started laughing while trying to swat him. "Stop dodging you little shit! Get punched like a good kid!"

Mordred gave counters however he could. But Grendel was just accepting it like a punching bag.

He suddenly got caught by Grendel's tail, forgetting about it due to his preference of using punches and kicks.

Like being hit by a thick log, Mordred coughed up blood after the devastating hit.

"Heh, how do you like that you little shit?" Grendel snorted.

Moving as much as possible, Mordred went to the same routine.

But due to his injury, he was slowing down and he got clipped by Grendel's kick.

"I thought you'd put up a fight!?" Grendel roared and released a breath.

Mordred also used his magic and countered it. But he was getting overwhelmed.

He got enveloped by Grendel's breath, but fortunately; it weakened.

Mordred was a bloody mess, with burns all over his body.

"Hah, hah, a king does not yield. Have at thee dragon. I am the king of knights and will be the king of dragons!" Mordred's soul blazed.

If he couldn't take down even Grendel, then he would have no chance against the stronger gods of the other pantheons.

Not to mention the Hindu pantheon that was filled with monsters due to the amount of people worshipping them.

His body glowed with runes and his enchantments as a dragon slayer came to life.

Mordred charged and released a hook right at Grendel's cheek. His blood also spattering on him.

Grendel screamed at the attack that was eating at his very soul.

"Damn you!" Grendel roared and backhanded him. Mordred smirked at the black dragon, seeing his blood take effect on him.

"My resolve is far greater than yours, Grendel. Now, stay dead!" Mordred formed a blade made of light that burned with holy fire.

Coating his blade with his spilled blood, Mordred enhanced the muscles on his small body to the maximum with a burst of mana.

"Yesss! Come and try to kill me Pendragon! This is what I live for!" Grendel cackled like a maniac through the soul searing pain of dragonslaying blood.

Mordred's sword crashed onto Grendel's incoming fist and the dragon howled. But he had a face splitting grin.

The tide of battle changed and Mordred went in and out for guerilla tactics. Using his lithe body to cut Grendel. Littering his body with dozens of cuts that did not heal even though he has regeneration.

And playing it smartly, Mordred's wounds instead began to heal. Their positions changed and Grendel was now the one thrashing around to try and get a hit in.

"Stop being an annoying fly you little shit! Let me squash you like a bug!" Grendel growled and he was starting to pant.

"Where's your motivation Grendel? You are looking tired!" Morded huffed and puffed, his fortifications on his muscles and bones were taking a lot out of him.

"Heh, you are too! Come on! Fight until all the bones on your body breaks!" Grendel released a breath and Mordred won't dodge it in time.

The little dragon threw his sword towards the breath, slicing his arm to give it more blood. Acting as a buffer, it cut through the beam of pure mana before disintegrating.

"This ends here!" Mordred rolled to the side immediately after buying some time, he saw an opening and capitalized on it as Grendel stumbled after he tried to run.

With the tendons on his legs cut, Grendel forgot that he didn't heal. Ignoring his burning wounds. Mordred flew right to the side of Grendel's head, not wasting any time.

He punched the dragon's eye and made it explode like a watermelon. Mordred then cut himself with magic and flooded Grendel's eyesocket with his blood.

Grendel struggled and rampaged like a worm that was salted. His dragon slaying attribute; destroyed Grendel's brain as the blood spread around.

Huffing, and puffing, Mordred almost dropped from exhaustion. But he walked towards the fallen Grendel with great difficulty. He limped towards him and squinted his eyes.

"Your power is mine, I am the ruler of this domain. No foul dragon will be able to bring me to my knees." He absorbed Grendel's soul.

"Heh, you won. You motherfucker... Must be because of Tiamat's tits and milk." Grendel scoffed and Mordred nodded.

"It gave me strength, I am the person I am today due to her." Mordred started to absorb his soul and make Grendel's power his own.

"That... Was what a fight's supposed to be, Yahweh. You fucking pigeon fucker." Grendel disappeared into flashes of light and Mordred absorbed it fully.

Inside his body, his dragon heart stabilized and formed fully.

Mordred formed a sword of light and stabbed it into the ground. Putting his hands on it, celebrating his first major victory.

Returning to the real world, he roared and shook his head. The bloodcurdling aura coming from him disappearing.

"Honey?" Tiamat looked at him expectantly. "I did it mom." He smiled and his body reverted back to normal, falling from the sky due to exhaustion.

Mentally and physically. "Ohhh, my Mordred..." Tiamat caught him and hugged him tightly.

Tannin was also banged up. "Your little protege is going to be insane Tiamat." He sighed, relaxing now that it's over.

"Of course, this is my Mordred." Tiamat huffed and she healed him.

Vali gritted her teeth, now she knew what Mordred was fighting against inside of him.

"You'll get stronger partner. Don't worry, all in due time." Albion assured her.

"What's the next step Albion?" Vali desired power and Albion went quiet for a second.

"Reach your balance breaker, you'll actually be able to keep up if you have that." Albion answered.

"But it won't be a match huh?" Vali got frustrated. "No, that's impossible. The Pendragon has already surpassed his father. Grendel fought Ddraig and walked out of it alive Vali. The evil dragons are begrudgingly strong." Albion frankly explained.

"I'll call Mephisto when he recovers. Hah, that's why you're being secretive huh?" Tannin sighed.

"Yeah, so you should be quiet or I'll kill you." Tiamat warned and Tannin raised his arms.

"Of course, of course. I won't do that." He smiled wryly. They then returned to Tannin's home so they could rest.

"Please train me too. I need all the training I can get." Vali bowed at Tannin and he smiled. "Albion, your user is quite humble."

"Of course she is, unlike Ddraig. We are more elegant." Albion scoffed.

"Alright young one, training Albion's wielder should be interesting." Tannin agreed to it.

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Thanks for reading everyone, Grendel is very straightforward. Apophis will be very different. All the others would. Especially because Grendel can be considered the weakest among them, alongside Ladon. Anyways, ciao