Reawakening: Primordial Dragon with Limitless Mana

Taylor sat in his office.

All alone.

Just as he had expected, the men he sent to ambush the capital had been caught. The report from his spy had just arrived.

Those men weren't ordinary soldiers. They were experts, handpicked and personally trained under the name of House Silverthorn. But right now, the Capital was on its highest alert.

One wrong move against the foreign ministers could spark a war. And while the nations were forced to stay united under humanity's shared disadvantage, none of them would allow harm to fall on their rulers.

Taylor knew from the start his men wouldn't last.

Yet, he wasn't troubled.

If things went as planned, then during the summit the report of a certain human working with the elves would surface.

And when that happened, the King would have no choice but to mark Hades as the greatest threat of all.

'Never thought I'd have to push this far… but in the end, the only obstacle standing in my way—'

"You seem rather pleased with yourself."

The voice cut through his thoughts.

A familiar one.

Taylor hadn't noticed anyone step into the room.

He didn't move in haste. Instead, he said calmly, "You killed my men."

There was a hint of disbelief in his tone. Those men were elites of the highest order—yet not once had he heard the clash of steel or even a whisper of battle.

It could only mean one thing.

A one-sided slaughter.

"You've grown stronger yet again," Taylor said at last, turning to face what could very well be his death. "My dear friend… Hades."

The redhead sat casually on the window ledge, looking down at him. His eyes held no warmth, no trace of conversation—only judgment.

Taylor understood. Resistance was pointless. Calling for guards would be laughable. The man before him had long surpassed the reach of any chains or prison.

Perhaps the Headmaster might be strong enough to suppress Hades? But no—that man's bias ran too deep. At best, he would simply watch from the shadows, unwilling to raise a hand.

"Just one question," Hades spoke, arms folded, his posture relaxed, as though Taylor were already dismissed. "Why?"

There was no urgency in his tone. No fear. Taylor wasn't Cedric, after all. He wouldn't throw himself forward in some rash, useless attack.

Instead, Taylor leaned against the table, his voice steady. "You know my story. I was the bastard son of the family. My mother, treated like filth by the other wives. And me? My life was worth less than a servant's. No matter how hard I worked, no matter how much I bled, recognition never came."

"But you became part of the Team," Hades reminded him.

Taylor gave a small nod. "Only because of your kindness. I may have entered with my wits, but let's be honest—we both know I wasn't worthy."

Hades said nothing. Silence itself became his answer.

And in that silence, Taylor's words rang true.

He had been the team's supporter—the backbone who bridged offense and defense, the one who made their victories possible. His tactics, his sharp mind, his proactiveness—they were invaluable.

But when it came to raw power, when it came to strength alone… Taylor was never meant to stand among Team Alpha.

"Your kindness felt like a knife in my chest," Taylor said, his tone steady but laced with venom. "Every time you helped me, it was as if the world was reminding me how far beneath you I really was. I thought leaving my family behind and joining the Academy would change that. But even here… I was still worthless."

"So your answer was to eliminate every member of Team Alpha?"

Luna and Hades had left the team. Cedric was gone. Graham, dead. Only Taylor remained.

Taylor let out a dry chuckle. "I may be emotional, but I'm no fool. I never wanted to destroy the team for the sake of it. I wanted to use them—to crush everything my father spent his life building."

Hades's eyes narrowed, a memory flashing across his mind. An article from the newspaper only days ago.

The mansion of the famed merchant, Hardy Silverthorn, had been reduced to ashes. It was Hardy's birthday. His entire bloodline had gathered under that roof. Not one of them survived the dragons' rampage—or so what everyone believed to be the cause.

Hades growled, his voice sharp with fury. "Even your mother was there."

Taylor only shrugged. "A small sacrifice. At last, I put an end to the flame of vengeance."

For Taylor, revenge had always been a chain dragging him back. Something he needed to resolve to step forward.

Yes, a part of him grieved his mother's death in that fire. But in the end, only one thing mattered.

That he still lived.

Hades rose from the window and stepped down, his gaze fixed on Taylor. "You like to pretend you're looking far ahead, chasing something great. But the truth is, Taylor… you're nothing but a coward. And cowards never achieve anything."

"Not everyone is born with strength like you, Hades," Taylor replied, stepping forward, his eyes steady and unflinching. "So you'll never understand how someone like me—how a coward—survives in this world."

Now they stood face to face.

Taylor clasped his hands behind his back, his voice calm. "Can I ask you something… honestly?"

Hades said nothing, giving him space to continue.

"How does it feel?" Taylor asked, his tone sharp, almost accusing. "To always be the one who wins?"

Hades exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "I've faced more losses than you could ever imagine, just to earn those few victories you envy." His eyes bore into Taylor's. "Maybe on another day, I'd have told you what I once was… and what it took for me to become what I am."

"But today—"

*SQUELCH.*

Taylor's breathe died in his throat as his body jolted. A hot, searing pain tore through his stomach.

Hades leaned in close, his breath brushing against Taylor's ear.

"It's time to say goodbye, my friend."

…

While Hades was inside the school building, Luna was watching things from outside.

She was wearing a shroud to hide her hair, and was standing by a tall bush to not get caught by someone passing by.

She dealt with those who were guarding Taylor's office but Hades told her to let him handle Taylor.

Luna didn't insist. She knew how hurt he was. Despite how much he tried to hide things, Luna could see it, during the journey, that he was shaky…tense.

And even now, through their bond, she could feel his sorrow.

Just then—

"Rinne?" A voice called out.

Luna froze as she glanced at the person

Kayla.

°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading