Don't Mess with That Dragon-Chapter 640 - 029: Old Grudges (First Update)

This is a relatively old story.

Eighteen years ago,

A brave, kind-hearted, freedom-loving boy named Edward left the doors of his family home to explore the vast unknown world.

During this time, he discovered many interesting things, experienced some intriguing events, and made some fascinating friends.

On one of his journeys, he came across the existence of an archaeological organization that had once been hidden in the shadows of humanity. This organization had been wiped out by an unknown enemy, leaving only traces behind, which Edward discovered during a relic exploration.

Amidst what the archaeological organization left behind, Edward learned of a corner of great and terrifying secrets buried deep within human history.

"Perhaps the ancient history known to us humans has never been the true occurrences... Those ancient heroes who sacrificed everything for the rise of the human race are facing unjust treatment from us..."

There wasn't much description, only fragmented remnants.

But this piqued the adventurous spirit of young Edward.

Through some reasonable deductions, young Edward felt that he had uncovered a shocking secret hidden in the long river of human history.

Based on the information preserved at the relic he explored, it was likely that the archaeological organization was erased from existence because they were investigating the truth behind this secret!

The boy did not perceive the danger within; instead, he was eager to unveil the truth behind this astonishingly hidden secret.

He wandered far and wide,

exploring leftover relics,

winding his way until he found some relevant clues within an experiment lab left behind by a Gold Level Great Mage from hundreds of years ago.

This Gold Level Great Mage was once a member of that archaeological organization and had discovered some extremely important clues in the Kawa Great Forest.

Eventually, through those clues and ten years of research by the organization's members, they unveiled the shocking secret.

This led to the previous statement.

However, the joy couldn't last long,

on the day that great secret was discovered, the entire archaeological organization suffered a catastrophic blow, eradicated by unknown forces, not a single soul survived, leaving only remnants of their research behind to tell the world what had occurred.

Whatever happened in truth, except for those involved who now lay buried, turned to bones in the soil, no one knows what transpired.

Edward certainly did not know.

He only acquired so much information through a series of coincidences, discovering that archaeological organization's legacy wealth.

And with the eradication of the archaeological organization came a break in Edward's investigation, as history seemed to sink into obscurity.

To seek the ultimate truth, Edward decided to head to the extreme southern end of Seta Continent, beyond the civilized world, into the intensely barbaric zone, tracing the footsteps of the Gold Level Great Mage from hundreds of years ago, exploring the location mentioned in the notes for the truth.

For personal security, Edward also hired a renowned mercenary corps active around the Border Great Wall, through a friend's introduction, to guard his safety.

This mercenary corps was none other than the Black Fox Mercenary Corps led by Captain Valen and Vice-Captain Gory.

The expedition to the Kawa Great Forest,

marked a turning point in Edward's fate.

That year, Austin was still struggling to develop in the Kawa Great Forest, gathering Beastmen, creating Beastman forces, arduously working to build Beastman power under his command, planting crops, nurturing seeds, cultivating land, constructing houses, training armies... Establishing a small Beastman civilization force in the Barbaric Zone.

Edward, upon entering the Kawa Great Forest, discovered the Dragon Nest Tribe and Austin, who was secretly expanding his forces deep within the forest.

From the tightly-knit Beastman organization of the Dragon Nest Tribe, Edward saw a great threat looming in the future. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

To strangle this Beastman force in its cradle and for the coveted title of Dragon Hunter renowned across the continent, Edward incited an attack on the Dragon Nest Tribe.

And then,

there was no further "and then".

Coincidentally, Austin, having gained great power, crushed all incoming enemies effortlessly after emerging from seclusion, annihilating the entire Black Fox Mercenary Corps, capturing or killing all except Edward, who barely escaped under the Goddess of Destiny's favor.

Prior to this, Edward's life had been smooth sailing, rarely encountering setbacks, even in adventuring he managed to overcome dangers with his wisdom and courage.

That day was Edward's most tragic defeat in his life.

It was his decisions that led his friends of the Black Fox Mercenary Corps into dire straits.

If only he had considered the strength of that Blue Young Dragon, if only he had planned more thoroughly, if only he had avoided that Dragon Nest Beastman force...

Too many "ifs," but there's no remedy for regret in this world.

The painful defeat filled his heart with guilt, wriggling like a venomous snake within his veins.

From that moment on,

Edward swore that one day he would return and repay that damned Blue Dragon a hundredfold, a thousandfold.

Fate is indeed mysterious,

unbeknownst to Austin, he forged a mortal enmity with a young boy.

Later,

Edward escaped back to the Border Great Wall during a Beastman Tribe attack, where he discerned the intricacies, infiltrating the core tents of the Beastman Tribe, learning from several Beastman Tribe chiefs why they were attacking the Border Great Wall at any cost.

Bringing the information back to human forces, Edward leveraged it to successfully defuse the Beastman attack threat, prompting human and Beastman Tribe forces to ally, forming a coalition to counterattack the living undead troops in the Kawa Great Forest.

During this period, Edward also used his influence to relay information about the Dragon Nest Beastman Tribe's situation, but most nobles did not take it seriously, dismissing it as unimportant.

Furthermore, the Dragon Nest Tribe was located too far, deep in the dense mountains and forests, separated by hundreds to thousands of miles of Barbaric Forest Land, making military expeditions through the Forest Land difficult due to impassable roads, challenging even logistical operations.

Edward was intent on revenge but had no means to act.