The Legendary Knight: Rise of the Primordial Dragon

Chapter 103: Chloe’s Beast

"A-am I seeing what you’re seeing?" a boy from the group of students gathered around the entrance through which they had entered the deeper part of the forest asked, his voice completely bewildered.

"Y-yes, she actually made that beast her companion," the one beside him added, equally stunned. "The S+ Rankers are really on a level of their own. Compared to her, our beasts look like babies."

He glanced at his own medicorn standing behind him, trembling from the sheer, oppressive presence emanating from the creature before them.

Every student present there was mumbling and whispering in utter disbelief and exasperation, their eyes locked onto the entrance where a colossal bird with fuchsia-coloured fur and a beak as large as a human torso rested peacefully beside Professor Bjorn. It was a Roc, the undisputed apex predator of the skies, said to be every bit as powerful, if not stronger, than even the fearsome wyverns.

On its broad, plush back, Chloe was sleeping soundly with her face turned towards the sky, her limbs spread out lazily across the soft, downy fur of the monstrous bird.

Not a single soul dared to approach her, because everyone knew about Rocs. These beasts were notoriously ferocious by nature and were not even meant to be tamed at all. If someone actually managed to make a Roc their beast companion, they were automatically considered to have passed the first semester of Beast Taming without needing any practicals or exams.

Even Bjorn’s jaw had dropped earlier when the Roc suddenly appeared in the sky, its massive wings alone uprooting trees from the surrounding area as it descended with earth-shaking force. For a moment, he had genuinely thought the beast was attacking them, until he spotted Chloe riding it with casual ease.

"What are the kids these days actually eatin’? Last year, it was Lady Cendral, bondin’ with a Qilin, and now this girl actually bonds with a Roc?" Bjorn shook his head in disbelief, casting another glance at the bird resting beside him.

He had only slightly raised his hand towards the beast when the Roc suddenly snapped open its fuchsia eye, fixing him with a predatory glare.

"Re-relax, Ay’m not tryin’ to pat ya. I’m just scratchin’ my back," Bjorn blurted out hastily, immediately moving his hand to his back where he began scratching furiously at his skin.

He turned his gaze towards the front, where all the students had already assembled, those who had successfully found their beast companions and those who had failed as well. A mix of triumph and dejection painted their faces, but the general atmosphere was one of restless anticipation.

"The Crownbearer kid is still not here," he muttered under his breath, his brows furrowing with concern.

"Hey, that commoner is missing," a boy whispered with a sly grin spreading across his face. "He must have failed to find a beast for himself."

"Haha, he definitely failed," another chimed in, his tone dripping with smug satisfaction. "I saw him once in the forest. The beasts ran away from him as soon as he approached them. They absolutely hated his presence."

The others joined in the conversation, murmuring among themselves with wry smiles and barely suppressed laughter. The news of Vlad suffering from mana deviation and being publicly challenged by Lorenzo was still fresh in everyone’s minds. How much inner peace it would bring them if he also failed to secure a beast companion, the thought alone made them giggle with gleeful anticipation.

Vlad’s depressed face of failure had only appeared in their minds when suddenly a trail of dark energy streaked past them, swift and silent like a shadow given form.

The Roc snapped open its eyes, its head that had been resting lazily slowly rising from the intriguing presence it had sensed.

Moving effortlessly through the clustered group of around a hundred students and their beasts, a dark unicorn emerged with elegant, graceful strides, its silky fur swaying gently with each deliberate step. On top of the unicorn, Vlad was mounted proudly, carrying a wide, confident grin across his face.

"A-a Unicorn!?" A ripple of gasps surged through the students, their eyes fixated on the bright, spiralling horn at the forehead of Shadow, which shimmered brilliantly even in the dim, dappled darkness of the forest.

Shadow slowly halted to a stop, coming to rest directly before the Roc and fixing the massive creature with its deep, luminous blue eyes. The two apex beings regarded each other in a tense, silent standoff.

As soon as Vlad dismounted the unicorn, Max burst out, "Bro! Is that really a unicorn!?"

"His name is Shadow," Vlad said, gently patting the unicorn’s neck before turning his gaze towards the small beast sitting snugly at Max’s shoulder. It was a mole with rich auburn fur and diamond-like gleaming sharp claws that seemed as though they could effortlessly dig through solid steel.

"What’s this cutie’s name?" Vlad asked, moving his finger towards the mole. It instantly hid behind Max’s back, refusing the gesture with a timid squeak.

"Haha, she’s a little shy," Max chuckled, scratching the back of his head. He was obviously shocked when he saw Vlad arriving with a unicorn of such unusual colour, but knowing Vlad, he thought it was only natural that he pulled off something like this. "Her name is Treasie," he revealed with a proud grin.

"Because she can find treasure underground?" Vlad asked, looking at Max with a flat, thoroughly disappointed expression.

"Exactly! And don’t look at me like that," Max snapped, his face flushing with embarrassment. He pointed at the giant bird behind Vlad and quickly changed the subject. "Look what your girl brought with her."

Vlad had already spotted the Roc as soon as he arrived at the forest clearing. It was difficult not to notice, given its gigantic size that towered over everything around it. Yet he was not surprised. He expected nothing less from Chloe.

What looked far more amusing, however, was the face of Professor Bjorn. His jaw was hanging wide open, his eyes bulging like saucers as he stared at the beast Vlad had brought with him, completely speechless for a long, heavy moment.

"A-a-a-a Dark Unicorn!!" Bjorn finally managed to speak, or more accurately, he exclaimed so loudly that it even jolted the heavy sleeper Chloe awake from her peaceful slumber on the Roc’s back. She blinked groggily, rubbing her eyes as she tried to figure out what all the commotion was about.