Karl and Prince Lukas were just about to grab a drink between training sessions when a wall guard ran in, panting with exertion.
"Highness, we have incoming dragons. Twenty Royal Guard, on their wings. Flying fully armoured in battle formation." He gasped.
Prince Lukas visibly paled, so Karl patted him on the shoulder.
"Relax, breathe. If they’re here for a fight, we will give them a fight. But I suspect that they’re here for something else. If it was really about fighting us, there would be a red and a black dragon with them." He explained.
The Crown Prince frowned. "How does that logic even work?"
From behind them, Cara laughed. "Because if someone seriously tried to kill someone under Karl’s protection, the fallout of the battle would draw the attention of the war and death gods. The amount of damage that would occur in a battle between ten Royal Guards and an Avatar of the World Dragon would level half the mountain range."
Karl shrugged. She wasn’t wrong.
Lukas let out a slow breath. "You’re certain that if those are the Queen’s Guard, we’re not going to lose the battle?"
Karl nodded. "One on one, they would have a hard time even defeating the Elven Kings. They’re a Mythic Dungeon Boss, and I’m a harder target than they are.
Plus, I could summon an entire force of soldiers, or set an Illusionary Domain with all the combat bunnies buffed by [Warbeast]. There is a reason that I’m here to help Rue grow. We’re not in any real danger."
But Karl still went outside to meet the incoming wing of dragons, and transformed into [Avatar] Form before buffing himself with [Warbeast] upcast to Immortal Rank using the amulet.
The golden armour on his body was glorious, and even Cara had to stop to do a double take.
It was so shiny. She wanted it.
Lukas came out behind them, and transformed into his natural dragon form, while Cara chased everyone back inside to protect Rue. They were mostly Mythic Dragons, and while they were not combat specialists, it was more important that they build that bond of trust with Rue than that they put up a strong front today.
Lukas flew up to meet the incoming dragons with Karl right behind him, and the flight slowed, shifting into a defensive position at the sight of the massive world dragon.
Compared to a fully buffed Karl, even a Mythic Shadow Dragon looked like a half grown whelp.
{Lord Lukas, we bring news. The King has ascended. By the divine laws of Gathuzan, you are required to report to Nar Palace within twenty-four hours.} The leader of the flight announced.
But they didn’t ask any questions as they led the procession back toward Nar Palace.
That wasn’t their job, they were just here to escort the Crown Prince and named Successor back to the Palace for the formal ceremonies. Protocol said that they didn’t answer any questions at all, not even from Crown Prince Lukas, until they were back at the Palace.
However, they couldn’t help but think that the whole formation looked more like an escort for the World Dragon Avatar. He was so much larger than a normal dragon that he dominated the middle of the formation, and halfway through, he had collected Princess Rue, letting her adolescent dragon rest on his back as he casually soared among the others.
{What’s up with your aura? If I didn’t know better, I would say that you were an Immortal.} Lukas asked as they approached the city.
{It’s the transformation spell. I wasn’t sure if we were fighting, so I cast it at full power. Don’t worry about it, I will feel normal once I transform back.} Karl explained. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
Lukas shook his head, and then tilted his chin toward the swarm of black bodies above the city.
{That won’t be for some time. Every Royal and Noble will be in dragon form until the formal proclamation is made. Father was near the bottleneck when we left. So, I suspect that they mean he reached Immortal Rank, and not that he was killed.
Immortals can’t be King here, it’s against our rules as it prevents succession. If he did advance, they will crown me today, and that is going to cause a whole set of outcomes that will come fast. If he somehow died, we will mourn today, and I will seize the crown tomorrow in a challenge. That will be a whole other issue, but we can talk about it later.}

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