Chapter 38: The Fifty Black Dragons

The morning after the trials...

Blackwood Manor had never been busier.

Nearly eighteen hundred recruits filled the massive courtyard.

Some had already packed their belongings.

Others stood silently, staring at the manor.

No one knew what would happen next.

Only one thing was certain.

Not everyone would stay.

Above the courtyard...

The newly forged Black Dragon Banner fluttered proudly in the morning breeze.

Its silver dragon wrapped around an imperial crown seemed to watch over everyone below.

Even those who weren't selected would remember that banner.

Years later...

Many would say—

"I was there the day it first flew."

Inside the manor...

Kael stood before a long table.

Dozens of reports covered its surface.

Every evaluation.

Every observation.

Every recommendation.

Every hidden note from the system.

Darius stood beside him.

"So..."

The old general crossed his arms.

"Have you made your decision?"

Kael nodded.

"I have."

Walter picked up one of the reports.

"You really aren't choosing the strongest."

Kael looked at him.

"No."

"I'm choosing the people who'll still be standing beside me twenty years from now."

Silence filled the room.

Even Grom smiled.

The System

A familiar blue screen appeared before Kael.

"Main Quest Complete"

The Black Dragon Banner

Objective:

Recruit fifty worthy followers.

Completed

Reward:

✔ Imperial Authority increased

✔ 50,000 Imperial Points

✔ New Building Unlocked

✔ New Skill Available

✔ Hidden Feature Unlocked

Another screen appeared.

Skill Unlocked: Emperor's Presence

Rank:

Epic

Description:

The dignity of a true emperor bends the hearts of those before him.

Effects:

• Greatly increases natural charisma.

• Weak-willed enemies may kneel involuntarily.

• Allies gain increased morale while fighting beside the host.

• Fear resistance increased.

Warning:

Current mastery is extremely low.

Kael slowly closed the screen.

"So this is what the system meant..."

The Ceremony

Outside...

A massive wooden stage had been constructed overnight.

The entire population of Blackwood had gathered.

Farmers.

Merchants.

Children.

Craftsmen.

Former soldiers.

Even neighboring villages had sent representatives.

Word had spread.

The forgotten prince was creating his own army.

A bronze bell rang once.

BOOOOOOOONG!

Every conversation stopped.

Kael walked onto the stage.

Behind him...

Darius.

Walter.

Edwin.

Lily.

Bram.

Roland.

Grom.

The sight of the elderly goblin immediately caused whispers.

"That's him..."

"The goblin..."

"Why is he standing with the prince?"

"I heard he protected everyone."

"I heard he killed ten men."

"No..."

"I heard he ended the battle without killing anyone."

Rumors had already begun spreading.

Kael raised one hand.

The courtyard became silent.

"You have all completed something few people ever could."

"You endured hardship."

"You learned discipline."

"You learned teamwork."

"You learned leadership."

He looked across the crowd.

"But..."

"Not everyone standing here..."

"...is ready."

No one argued.

They already knew.

"This decision..."

"...was the hardest I've made."

"Because many of you deserve a chance."

"But today..."

"I can only choose fifty."

A heavy silence settled over the courtyard.

Edwin stepped forward holding the official ledger.

"The first name..."

He paused dramatically.

"...Elias Thorn."

The farmer froze.

"...Me?"

Walter laughed.

"Yes, you."

The crowd applauded.

Elias slowly walked onto the stage.

Still looking confused.

"The second..."

"...Leon Ashford."

The young swordsman closed his eyes.

For years...

He had been ignored because he belonged to a branch family.

Today...

Someone finally believed in him.

"The third..."

"...Marcus Wintermere."

Marcus stared blankly.

Then looked toward Kael.

The prince simply nodded.

That was enough.

"Iris Hollow."

"Hugo Stone."

"Damien Ravenmoor."

"Osric Hale."

One by one...

Names echoed across the courtyard.

Some cried.

Some laughed.

Some simply stood frozen.

Others...

Walked away quietly.

Dreams ended.

New ones began.

Grom's Choice

Finally...

Edwin reached the last page.

"The fiftieth..."

He looked toward Kael.

"...is not an applicant."

Confused murmurs spread.

Kael stepped forward himself.

"I choose..."

He looked toward the old goblin.

"...Grom Ironfang."

The courtyard exploded.

"A goblin?!"

"Impossible!"

"What is he doing?!"

"Has the prince gone mad?"

Several recruits instinctively reached for their weapons.

Others stepped away from Grom.

Princesses weren't here.

Princes weren't here.

The capital wasn't here.

But prejudice...

Already was.

Kael walked down from the stage.

He stopped beside Grom.

Then...

Without hesitation...

He took the old goblin's arm and raised it high into the air.

"I don't care what race he was born into."

The crowd slowly quieted.

"I care about the choices he makes."

"He protected human lives."

"He stopped bloodshed."

"He defended this land..."

"...before many of you even decided whether to fight."

Kael's voice became firm.

"If anyone believes Grom doesn't deserve this place..."

He looked across the crowd.

"...then challenge my decision."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

No one stepped forward.

Not even Victor Ravenshade.

Grom looked at Kael for several seconds.

Then I spoke quietly.

"In seventy years..."

"...this is the first time..."

"...a human has called me worthy."

The old goblin slowly knelt.

Not because Kael forced him.

Because he chose to.

"I..."

"Grom Ironfang..."

"...swear my spear..."

"...my life..."

"...and my honor..."

"...to Lord Kael of Blackwood."

The courtyard fell silent once more.

Even those who hated the sight...

Could feel the weight of the moment.

History had just changed.

The Oath of the Black Dragons

Kael turned toward the fifty chosen recruits.

"Step forward."

All fifty stood shoulder to shoulder.

Walter and Bram carried a large chest onto the stage.

Inside...

We were fifty black cloaks.

Each is embroidered with the silver dragon.

No two were exactly alike.

Every cloak had been hand-stitched by the people of Blackwood.

Not as uniforms.

But as a symbol.

Kael looked at his new soldiers.

"Repeat after me."

Every voice became still.

"I swear..."

The recruits repeated.

"I swear..."

"To protect those who cannot protect themselves."

"...To protect those who cannot protect themselves."

"To never abandon my brothers or sisters in battle."

"...To never abandon my brothers or sisters in battle."

"To place duty above pride."

"...To place duty above pride."

"To seek strength..."

"...not to rule the weak..."

"...but to defend them."

Every word echoed across the courtyard.

Some villagers had tears in their eyes.

Even Darius stood a little straighter.

When the oath ended...

The Black Dragon Banner was lowered.

Each of the fifty stepped forward.

One by one...

They touched the banner.

Not as servants.

But as the founding members of something that, one day, would become legendary across the continent.

Far away, inside the Imperial Capital...

An exhausted messenger galloped through the palace gates.

"The Tenth Prince..."

He shouted while dismounting.

"...has officially established a private army!"

"And..."

He hesitated, almost afraid to say the next words.

"...one of its founding officers..."

"...is a goblin."

The guards stared in disbelief.

Within the hour...

The report reached the Imperial Court.

The storm Kael had unknowingly created...

Was about to reach the throne itself