A old man in Draconia''s military uniform emerged from the darkness,ughing raspily. "Hehehe..." "What..." Frank struggled to get up despite the agony of his broken ribs, as he recognized the geezer right then.


    He was Frank''s father, worshiped and admired across Draconia, and the bane of Talnam—the Lord of the Southern Woods! "What are you doing here?!" Damon was actually panicking, even fearful as he stared at the rows of military medals adorning Godwin Lawrence''s jacket.


    It was certainly unusual for a peak Ascendant rank to react like that, especially when he was so nonchnt when he first showed up.


    And he was a man whose power was above question, too! "Hehe. I''m just taking a stroll before I kick the bucket," Godwin said calmly, a slight smile showing on his lips as if recounting the good old days with a friend.


    Damon kept backing away until he felt his back reach a wall.


    "Don''t you remember the agreement you signed three years ago?!" Damon snapped, but he was ring warily at Godwin, on the verge of appearing terrified just then.


    "Oh, the agreement?" Godwin smacked himself on the forehead, chuckling. "Ah, I''m really getting forgetful now that I''m old, but I can remember them againter... Oh, wait, which agreement are we talking about again?" Damon was left gritting his teeth. "You''d better think about this. If you attackhere—" "And?" Godwin narrowed his eyes, still smiling.


    "The agreement will be null!" Damon bellowed. "You know what happens then-you won''t be able to protect your son!" Godwin''s smile faded at Damon''s threat, and his eyes widened.


    However, instead of continuing his argument with Damon, he lowered his gaze at his son instead.


    "Heh." He chuckled. "Not giving up yet, boy?" Frank had changed considerably over the years, but his sharp re that never warmed around his father remained.


    "Haha..." Godwin suddenlyughed and nodded, as if approving of his son. "I heard you massacred sTalnamese intruders. But that''s my son for you."  Frank remained impassive, but he also felt something... strange.


    After all, his father had always been the epitof coldness and apathy, let alone showed any sort of approval! Damon''s eyes widened. "What are you..." "All you have is decades worth of training more than my boy. But bullying young''uns? Do you even feel shame?" Godwin''s words were quiet and gentle, but it was a death sentence to Damon''s ears.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    He gritted his teeth and leapt forward, intent on seizing a shot of survival.


    Even as he bellowed, a scarlet silhouette of a lion shrouded himself, a projection of pure vigor but somehow roaring thunderously. "It''s been years, Damon Lionheart... but you''ve never improved!" Even as the scarlet lion streaked toward Godwin, his cape fluttered as he raised a shriveled hand into the air.


    Frank struggled to look up just as the scarlet lion shot past him, his pupils dting when he saw what happened.