Prologue

Section 1: Snow on the Mountain Top

The prolonged war between the Texi Empire and the Silan Empire has already turned the newly conscripted soldiers—who were just driven onto the battlefield—into true warriors, numb to life and death, in just a few days. These rookies, who once went weak at the sight of bloody, mangled limbs, have become utterly desensitized.

Here, the term "veteran" refers only to those soldiers who have survived for three months without dying. Soldiers conscripted from all the major provinces of the empire are continuously gathering at the central mountains of Hailar, charging forward one after another into this land interwoven with blades, shadows, and death.

Those who entered the battlefield months ago and have survived until now have become true human killing machines. Without exception, their eyes gleam with cold, ruthless light. After retreating from the front lines where they repelled the last enemy, they collapse and fall asleep before even reaching the barracks. Upon waking, they eat; after eating their fill, they wait for the bugle to sound, then rush out to fight again. Even before dying, they try to take an enemy down with them. Yet, many veterans, lost in the frenzy of battle, forget everything and fail to retreat safely, falling forever on the battlefield.

The high-ranking commanders of both nations have long grown weary of this war, which has dragged on for five or six years without a decisive outcome. Countless battles, endless tactics and strategies, and rotating legions have all ultimately devolved into the most direct and simple war of attrition. Offense and defense have lost all order. The command centers issue attack orders mechanically every day. Without the need for enforcement squads wielding bloodstained swords, the soldiers reflexively line up and charge the enemy, screaming themselves hoarse. In these meat-grinder formations, pain and death can no longer make one feel alive—only being killed by the enemy brings final release.

The mages, whose status is equivalent to nobility, have also lost their former elegance and superiority. Covered in dust and dirt, they desperately cast spells and meditate. Once-precious magic crystals and cores are now delivered from the rear in a steady stream, only to be extravagantly consumed. There’s no time to admire their beautiful, mysterious forms or marvel at their surging magical power—they are drained of energy and reduced to worthless powder. The entire rear of the battlefield is filled with the special scent of magical incense that increases spellcasting success rates. Even without sprinkling these expensive incenses, the very air aids concentration and stability, allowing spells to be cast successfully with mechanical chanting alone.

The skies above the battlefield are even more perilous. As the highest-level force of both empires, the supreme rulers of the air—the rarely seen dragon riders—have become a common sight here.

To become a dragon rider, one must not only pass various trials and tests, but also possess strength, perseverance, and, above all, luck. Only those who meet all the requirements can resonate with a dragon’s soul before the Dragon God’s contract, gaining the chance to obtain a dragon companion and sign an equal partnership contract to share glory. Sometimes, even the strongest warriors, after passing all the tests, cannot become dragon riders if they fail to achieve soul resonance.

In the end, at most one or two out of every hundred thousand people are lucky enough to become dragon riders. Such harsh selection keeps their numbers low. Once someone becomes a dragon rider, their battle aura cultivation advances by leaps and bounds thanks to the resonance with their dragon partner.

There are also those who, relying on their own strength, defeat a dragon and forcibly make it their mount. But they must consider the wrath and endless pursuit of the dragon race that will follow. So far, almost no one has dared to commit such a grave offense, and even if they did, they would be quickly eliminated. Forced dragon mounts bring no benefit to battle aura cultivation—this is the greatest advantage of true dragon riders. Given time to grow, a knight with a dragon will soon become the most powerful existence.

For ordinary people, catching a glimpse of a dragon is enough to boast about for a lifetime. But now, the central mountains of Hailar have become a dueling ground for the sky knights of both nations. Just a glance upward reveals ferocious, massive dragons roaring across the sky, unleashing fierce dragon breath attacks from above, carving out swathes of screams on the ground, or clashing violently with enemy dragons or other aerial forces. Huge magical shockwaves erupt in the sky, causing visible ripples in the air.