Birth of the Demonic Sword Chapter 2 - 02. Dragon

Five months had elapsed since Noah's rebirth into this world.

Spring seemed to blanket the land, based on the outdoor vista Noah glimpsed. The mansion he called home mirrored a rural villa from his prior life, but its vastness rivaled a castle, constructed chiefly of wood and encircled by a sturdy rock wall.

Right then, he nestled in his new mother's arms, curiously peering about as she wandered the mansion halls, conversing with him. She had no inkling that Noah grasped nearly all her words.

'This world's language isn't overly challenging, particularly with its numerous parallels to English from my old world. Lily's constant companionship, always chattering to me, deserves much credit too.'

These five months, Noah largely passed cradled in his mother's hold while they roamed Balvan mansion, Lily sharing sundry trivia with him. Through this, he gained a solid grasp of his family status and the estate's layout.

The mansion split into outer and inner rings. A four-story edifice formed the inner ring, home to the primary family; the outer ring housed two two-story structures and a three-story one, dwelling guards, servants, and visitors in turn.

They currently occupied the first floor of the guests' building, granted due to Noah's main family bloodline and Lily's status as Rhys's favored concubine.

Noah's sire, Rhys, ranked as the third and final son of Thomas, the aged Balvan patriarch. Consequently, barred from the inner ring, they still savored a plush life in the outer.

"You must grow strong, little dear, the people in the inner ring will see you as a bastard and will spare no effort to abuse and bully you, especially the legitimate grandsons and granddaughters of the patriarch"

Those words weighed heavily on Noah's spirit.

'My past life lacked purpose, mired in endless compromises. Reborn now, must I tolerate bullying over status just to serve as the main family's pawn? Another meaningless existence looms.'

Lily prattled on, yet Noah's thoughts wandered, scheming the ideal path for this existence.

'Remaining here promises ample perks, given the Balvan family's evident riches. But my ignorance of lands beyond the mansion leaves external prospects unclear.'

Noah mulled escaping the family. He cherished this new mother's tenderness and toil, though it paled against genuine parental bonds.

'My former family fared poorly. This round, no need for trials to know myself—I can select what best fits. If bastardy alone renders inner life intolerable, I'll forsake the mansion without regret. Besides, my 25 years of foreknowledge and advanced world's wisdom open vast opportunities.'

People's garb, architectural styles, and furnishings revealed a realm devoid of electricity, technologically eons behind his previous one.

'However, this could prove a hindrance; my routines hail from industrialized society, my outlook from a 21st-century man. Locals' responses to novel concepts remain unknown. Prudence demands care.'

Alternating between future musings and maternal words, day faded into encroaching night. Lily stepped onto a balcony to behold stars dotting the inky sky. Noah scanned the mansion's environs. Past the defensive wall, sheep grazed meadows; a broad stone path launched from the main gate, vanishing afar while cleaving verdant fields asunder. Corn-like crops flourished rightward, a remote forest hazily outlined leftward.

A breathtaking panorama, alien to Noah, now defined his fresh world. Skyward his gaze turned, darkness overtaking sunset-flushed clouds. A distant speck at first, it swelled approaching. Realization dawned: no mere nightfall, but a form slithering amid clouds cast the shadow.

Swiftly it hurtled nearer.

Suddenly, a bone-shaking roar tore the serene countryside, issuing from the heavenly shape.

A ebony-winged form plummeted diagonally from clouds, racing the sheep cluster beyond the wall.

Spanning 7-8 meters with massive black-scaled wings—scales armoring its whole frame.

Such velocity blurred its cloud departure from ground proximity over the flock for Noah.

Abruptly, purple radiance lit the wall, runes etching its face. A persistent loud hum resounded as violet glow surged countryside-ward toward the sheep.

Descent disrupted, the beast fanned wings midair to brake.

Velocity overwhelmed; it slammed the advancing purple field's ground, gouging a colossal crater.

Purple halo meeting dragon birthed smoke from the pit, a agonized roar piercing dusk.

Dragon vaulted skyward frantically, eyes blazing hatred at the mansion. Belly smoke streamed like raw gash. Evidently, the halo wounded it gravely.

Rage-fueled, dragon sucked air, belching crimson flame-tongue at the mansion, lancing toward outer ring.

Lily froze terrified, fire-spear inbound, Noah too awestruck to sense peril.

Yet ere flames kissed outer wall, an airborne figure interposed.

Right hand upraised, he muttered; flame-lance struck an air-wall.

Flames clashed shield briefly ere snuffing, exposing the floater anew.

An elder, waist-long straight white beard, unbound locks whipping windward. Wide-sleeved Chinese robe donned, right sleeve scorched, baring sinewy lean arm.

Eyes met: elder to dragon, dragon back.

Stare-down endured ten seconds till dragon roared afresh, wheeling skyward forest-bound at speed.

Elder hovered wall-top, tracking dragon's flight. Beast fled confirmed, he sighed, vanished.

Fear-paralyzed Lily gripped Noah's fragile form overhard, oblivious.

Pain yanked Noah present; faint groan stirred mother from stupor.

Lily refocused, easing hold, words forming when deep aged timbre intruded.

"So, this is my latest grandson, am I right?"