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The Twelve Rings of Truth

In a world where the ancient power of twelve great rings holds the key to ultimate wisdom and unimaginable might, a young man named Art finds himself thrust into a harrowing quest that will forever alter the course of his life. Art's peaceful existence is shattered when his best friend, falls victim to a nefarious plot orchestrated by a malevolent force seeking control of the rings. Devastated by the loss of his friend, Art is consumed by grief and anger. Vowing to uncover the truth behind his friend's untimely demise and the secrets hidden within the enigmatic Tower of Ascendancy, he embarks on an arduous journey to the tower's peak—the rumored repository of all knowledge and the origin of the twelve rings. As Art climbs the perilous tower, he encounters a captivating array of challenges, cunning adversaries, and enigmatic guardians, each more formidable than the last. Along the way, he forms a motley crew of allies, each with their own reasons for seeking the truth and the power of the rings. Among them is Maximus Silverbane, a fierce and mysterious warrior whose connection to the rings remains shrouded in mystery, and Zephyr, a wise sage with boundless knowledge of ancient lore.

Icon_NanVij · แฟนตาซี
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14 Chs

Demon Dragon Vritra

"I was supposed to give this pendant to my brother-in-law. I hope that I found him. Promise me... uh... to protect my sister in my place, "Edward says to Art while coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Suddenly, Art wakes up from sleep.

"Hah!.. Hah!... Edward is dead." Art's hand shivers while looking at the black pendant.

"I need to talk to Mom!" Art mumbles to himself.

"Kid, you woke up. It's been five days. " The dragon talks with him through the subconscious.

Art was surprised that he had been asleep for five days.

"Hide the black pendant. Don't reveal it to anyone even to your dear ones about it!"

"Why?" Art was confused by Dragon's words and was curious about what the black pendant was.

"I was thinking about it while you were sleeping. I thought it was a legend but now that I see it, I am also confused. I hope it is not what I thought it is!"

Art was surprised. He knew Dragon was a minimum of 10,000 years old with vast knowledge, but he also said it's a legend. Then what is this thing to make Dragon so scared?

Vivian enters the room and sits near Art.

"Mom, I have two requests if you want to know about my power at that time!" "Art he says in a serious tone.

"Now, you also started to talk to me as someone stranger... Huh!, firstly talk about your request then you will tell me about that power. I am your mother, I will know when you want to hide something from me." Vivian replies in a high tone and was very serious about the situation.

"Kid, you can't fool her. She is a sharp one and is your mom. You will repeat what I say." Dragon tells Art.

"Art, you better be telling the truth. I still feel that power from you. It is like an ancient one. " Vivian said in a serious tone.

"It is something I can't tell you now. I can tell you that someone helped me at that time." Art answers her in a low voice while bowing his head down.

"I will trust your judgment and the Demon Dragon, you better not play any tricks on Art or you will not be able to face the consequences, even if you are one of the eleven supreme, right below the ancient level! " Vivian warns the dragon and looks at Art.

Art was surprised, and the dragon was shocked after hearing about Vivian.

"Tell me about your requests?"

"The first one is that I need you to help me make a marriage contract with Anne Noor and take her mother's organization and property until she graduates from university."

"You really are a playboy. I pity those innocent girls who will fall victim to your innocent face." Vivian starts teasing Art as usual.

"It was a promise made by me to an important friend of mine. I can't go back on that!" Art replies in a serious tone.

"I have taken care of that. I have taken her as my second disciple, so don't worry about it. Do you think anyone would dare to touch her? "

"I am your son and was on the verge of assassination by Falaguerra... leave it. Why have you taken her as your second disciple? " Art was curious about what would make his mom take her as a disciple when she is very picky about taking in students in her academy.

"She is technically a disciple of mine and your second stepmom. She is special and her talents are on par or surpassing those of the Ice Princess, but I like her as she looks like a child of her age, unlike certain someone. "

Art was shocked after hearing Vivian's answer.

'At least one of them is normal, but at least she is not as fearsome as others.' Art thought to himself.

"Second one, I want to leave the tower and experience the outside world."

Vivian's aura changed around her.

"Elric and Agnar also asked Grandma for permission to leave the house. They left home to start climbing the tower, so it was not a problem. But in your case, you are not even eighteen to start climbing a tower by yourself and you want to leave the tower. You know that if you leave the tower right now, you can't enter the tower for four years. "

"Big Brother Elric and Agnar also left. Due to my blunders, Edward is dead now. I can't make mistakes anymore. In Falaguerra, they were looking for something in Noor's family house. I think it would be better for me to contact people my age and get information about the tower. So, I will be going to earth. " Art replied to Vivian in a serious tone.

"Earth... huh, then you need to accept my three conditions."

"What are those?" Art asks in a nervous voice.

"First, you will stay with me for a whole year."

After hearing the first condition, Art was happy that he would stay with his mom for a long time, and at the same time, he thought, "If only I had asked earlier to leave the house. Well, Grandma would be lonely if I also left the house. "

"Second, Amelia and Catherine would be joining you to leave the tower after one year"

"Third, you will meet me every year on your birthday at the HQ of the Milky Way galaxy.."

Art immediately nods his head. Vivian kisses him on the head and leaves the room.

At the door, there was a woman who had fair skin and black hair. She was a beauty with mature features who looked like a woman in her mid-30s.

"Mother-in-law, should we remove the dragon or let it live with Art?" Vivian asks the woman.

"Let it be. It helped him during the attack. I will also be leaving the house with Art. In my absence, Althea will be in charge of house affairs. I can't bear to see my grandchild, who I have loved so much, leave me. I will be protecting him from the shadows. Anyway, Dragon's true body is in that stone that Art bought from an auction. I am curious. I was not able to sense for one year, while you, my disciple, took a half-year more, and Art was able to sense within a few minutes that it was special. How did he do that?. Huh... Inform everyone Mrs Dragon will be holding a meeting on how to take care of Falaguerra. "Mrs Dragon leaves with Vivian to prepare for the meeting.

"Kid, your family knows more about history than me, but they lack knowledge of power. They don't know the potential of realm power. They have good knowledge of spirits and origin energy. " The Dragon informs Art.

"You are wrong again. Mom likes to tease and keep secrets from me, like where Grandpa, Father, and Uncle Steve are. They also know about this black pendant. I can feel another power, same as the black pendant but somewhat different, like there is no life in it, in this house. " Art replies in a calm voice.

"Well, then what would you do to me? ... I guess I will be left alone again. "

"Will you be my contract beast, and in return, I will make you an ancient dragon?"

The dragon laughs at Art.

"Where does this confidence come from? Are you not worried that I am a demon dragon? "

"I am willing to do my end of the bargain. As for you being a demon dragon, what problem is there? Being a demon does not mean you are evil! "

The image overlaps with someone in the dragon's eyes after hearing these words.

"When was the last time I heard those same words? It was from a girl with silver moon hair whose beauty was not less than Art's mother who saved me when I was a child. How many years? 30000 years ago, when the tower was released from its seal and descended on our universe. " Dragon thought about it.

Suddenly, Dragon starts feeling something familiar.

"I thought she was dead 30000 years ago after her presence disappeared from the universe." The dragon was happy and surprised after feeling this presence.

"I need to refuse your offer. Remember your promise; you will satisfy my one condition after giving you power in return. " The Dragon replied to Art after a long time.

"Yes, I remember!" Art was saddened after hearing this.

"Help me heal myself. Although it was nice being with you. I would have agreed if I had not felt that presence in this universe. I have already considered someone else as my contract master. So, I would have to refuse your offer."

"Ok, but remember, you will be my friend if you are in a problem, you can ask me for help anytime."

"Friend?! huh, I will remember that and this is my knowledge about energy. This is my gift to my friend who I had for six years."

"I will ask my stepmom to help out to heal you, as they already know about you."

"Kid! Always remember don't reveal about black pendant to anyone!"

"I will." Art replies with a smile on his face.

-

-

Art goes to meet a gorgeous woman who is in her mid-20s. She had blonde hair and golden eyes. She had a mature body. Art describes her to the dragon along the way.

Art informs the person outside that he is here to meet Lady Althea.

Art enters the room with no one there to see. From behind, Althea comes in and closes his eyes with her hands.

"Mom, I am not six years old anymore." Art replies in an annoyed voice.

"For me, you are still a child. Look at how cute you are. " Althea starts pinching his cheeks.

Art tries to control his anger and takes a deep breath.

"Are all the ladies in your house trying to tease you? Well, I gotta hand it to you for being too handsome and cute. I doubt anyone would be your match of all the men I have seen throughout my life. " The Dragon says to Art.

"Mom, I need your help."

"Need relationship advice or how to ask a mature girl to come to your bed, but you are not allowed to do it?" Althea teases Art by rubbing his hair.

After hearing this, Art's face becomes annoyed and he again takes a deep breath.

"Well, what would you think? She is much tougher than your mom. I think you will be able to handle any girl in the future. " The Dragon says to Art through the subconscious:

"Not so fast, they are just kids in front of my fiances. You have no experience with female dragons that's why you don't know how dangerous they can be, my friend." Art replies to Dragon in a teasing manner through his subconscious.

"Mom, I am serious!" "Art he says in a high tone to Althea.

"Ok, tell me." Althea becomes serious and sits down.

"I need you to heal a demon dragon."

"Oh, you are going to release that dragon from the stone and let it go."

"Yes!"

"Okay, you asked me this. That's why I am doing this. In return, you need to accompany me to the shopping. "

After hearing this, Art's face becomes sorrowful, and he agrees to her request.

Althea takes Art to various places in the tower. After two days, the shopping was completed.

Althea asks Art, "Do you know about Anne?"

"Yes, first I saw her on my eighth birthday and felt something attracting me. Why?"

"No, nothing. Do you know her real name?"

"Real name?" Art exclaimed, "I only know that her full name is Emma Anne Noor."

"Right, like you, she also uses her mother's name in her name."

"Why did you ask me that?"

"Nah, I was just asking you concerning my disciple. If you had answered wrongly, I would have broken your bones. I had already known from the first day that you would get her into your harem. "

Art throws up the coffee that he was drinking.

"Cough.. cough... you are making it sound like I am on a journey to get girls to marry me."

"Am I wrong? How many fiances do you have? Nine as of now. You better pray your father does not make any promises to any other one. Your big brothers will not help in this matter, as your sister-in-law will kill you if you force them. "

Art suddenly thinks of the terror of his sister-in-law and immediately snaps out of it.

"Well, who would agree to marry me if I already have nine wives?" Art says in a confident voice.

"Well, if I were not married, then I would definitely go for it and the same reply would come from other ladies in our house, " Althea replies in a nonchalant voice with absolute confidence.

Art was stoned after hearing it.

"Don't worry, we will take care of your father this time if he makes promises to other parties." An evil smile is visible on Althea's face.

Art and Dragon suddenly sweat after seeing that evil smile.

"In your grandfather and grandma's cases, I cannot help you."

"I am confident that they will not make such a hasty decision regarding me." Art tries to cheer himself up.

"I don't think so. They will think that you will be able to handle it."

After hearing it, Art had no hope of recovery in this argument.

"You are telling me that they are just kids in front of your fiances!" The Dragon says to Art.

"I take back my words; they are on the same level." Art replies to Dragon.

"Ok, enough with chit-chat. Tomorrow we will heal the dragon. It will take thirty minutes to heal him, "Althea tells Art.

"Oh! Thanks for giving power to art. As my thanks to my kids, I will give a blessing that will help you in the future. " Althea bows down towards Art and sincerely thanks the Dragon.

"And Art, don't ever say we are kids in front of your fiancé." After finishing the sentence, Althea winks towards Art.

"Art, you are really lucky to be born into this family!" The Dragon says to Art.

"I know."

"Women are truly as terrifying as you say. She was able to hear our spirit conversation. Oh my god, just what is your family? "

"I know. I forgot about my second stepmom having special attributes in spirit energy, which is the highest attainment in the family after grandma. " Art replies to Dragon with an embarrassed face.

"Thank you, Art, if you were not to ask for help from Dragon. I would have been devastated after losing you three. " Althea continues after taking a sip from the cup.

"Agnar is my big brother. It is natural for brothers to help out. If I had failed to protect him, I would have been cursed by my sister-in-law to death. " Art replies with a smile.

Althea stands up and pats Art's head and says, "For three of us, you are equal and our son. If Agnar was in place of Edward, I would not blame you as you are also my cute son. If you were in place of Edward, and Edward in yours, you would not hesitate to protect him from the attack. So, don't blame yourself and let revenge blind you from your original goal. Let's go home".

After hearing this, the uneasiness and guilt in his heart go away. He makes a promise to himself to become strong so that he can protect the people he cares about.

-

-

Althea starts the healing process in a desolate land. A dragon comes out of the subconscious and goes to green stone.

Art watches the scene as the dragon comes out of the stone. Huge magic power radiates from the stone. Even Althea was surprised after seeing the dragon, which was 2500 meters long with hard green scales and a blue flair in the middle of his head.

Although he has seen the dragon many times in his tiny form, it seems he saw a completely different dragon.

Althea starts using her magic power and starts healing him. An incredible amount of magic was gathered around her with the assistance of ten diamond-level healer mages. Althea was instructing them about the process.

After thirty minutes, Althea starts giving her strong blessing to the Dragon, which can be done only once a year.

"It looks like I underestimated his family again. My first friend in my life is not an ordinary being in any way. " The Dragon thought to itself.

After the process was done, the dragon's full form is now visible, which had green scales in most of the parts, but black on its legs and hands. It was flying in the sky, showing its majesty.

"So, this is supreme-level existence!" Althea thought to herself.

The dragon had red eyes in one eye and silver in the other. It looks at Art. He goes towards Art and says, "It is a blessing which can only be given by the Royal Family of the demon dragon. I hope it will help you on your journey, my friend Art. "

Art starts tearing up and says, "I will meet you someday. I will make you regret not choosing me and be glad that you made me your friend. What is your name? "

The Dragon smiles at him and says, "My name is Vritra. I will meet you someday".

The Dragon has tears in his eyes.

"When was the last time I cried? I am tearing up after knowing him for only six years. On top of that, he is only fourteen years old now. Art Vivian Dragon, interesting. " The dragon thought to itself and started remembering the time with him.

The Dragon turns back and looks at Art and says, "Goodbye, brat!" starts leaving after teasing Art.

Art replies loudly, "Bye, for now. I will meet you someday and become stronger than you. Don't forget our promise. "