pjbooks Chapter 90 - 85:Trials Beneath the Canopy
Chapter 90 - 85:Trials Beneath the Canopy
The atmosphere inside the **Greenwood Archives** remained heavy even after Commander Aerion carefully rolled the ancient scroll closed.
For several moments, no one spoke.
The prophecy lingered in the air like an echo in a forgotten temple.
*When shadow takes wing and devours the flame...*
*When the tenth threshold trembles...*
*The path beyond the summit shall open.*
Lythriel finally broke the silence with a long sigh.
"Well," she said, stretching her arms behind her head, "that wasn’t ominous at all."
Sylvara shook her head with a soft smile.
"You always react like that to ancient prophecies."
"Because they’re always dramatic," Lythriel replied. "Why can’t a prophecy ever say something simple like *’good things will happen’*?"
John shifted his massive body slightly, his obsidian scales scraping softly across the stone floor of the archive chamber.
"You’re all assuming the prophecy is about me."
Lythriel gave him a flat stare.
"You’re a shadow dragon."
"Yes."
"You’re close to something called the *tenth threshold*."
"...Also yes."
She pointed toward the scroll.
"And the prophecy literally talks about a shadow dragon reaching the tenth threshold."
John shrugged.
"Still circumstantial."
Sylvara laughed quietly.
Aerion, however, remained thoughtful.
"The prophecy may or may not refer to you," he said calmly. "But your growth is undeniable."
His sharp eyes studied the dragon carefully.
"You are evolving far faster than any creature we have recorded."
John chuckled.
"I’ll take that as a compliment."
Aerion shook his head.
"It is not entirely a compliment."
Lythriel frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Aerion spoke quietly.
"Rapid growth often attracts attention."
The room became quiet again.
Sylvara folded her hands together.
"Attention from... what?"
Aerion looked toward John.
"From beings who monitor power."
John said nothing.
Inside his mind, the system remained silent.
Lythriel clapped her hands suddenly.
"Alright. Enough doom and gloom."
She stood up energetically.
"Dragon training time."
John blinked.
"That’s a sudden shift in topic."
"Not really."
She pointed toward the door.
"If you’re going to reach Tier Ten someday, you’d better start getting used to fighting stronger opponents."
John stood slowly.
His wings unfolded slightly as he stretched.
"...Fair enough."
Sylvara smiled warmly.
"I believe the training grounds are available."
Aerion nodded.
"Let us see how far the young dragon has truly progressed."
---
# Greenwood Training Grounds
The training grounds lay in a wide clearing deep within Greenwood Forest.
Tall ancient trees formed a natural wall around the open space. Sunlight filtered down through thousands of leaves, creating shifting patterns across the ground.
Dozens of elven warriors trained there daily.
Sword forms.
Archery drills.
Sparring matches.
But when John entered the clearing...
Everything stopped.
The massive black dragon was impossible to ignore.
Whispers spread among the elves.
"Is that him?"
"The dragon from the western valley?"
"He’s bigger than I expected..."
Lythriel walked confidently into the center of the clearing.
"Alright everyone!"
The warriors straightened immediately.
"We’re doing something special today."
She pointed toward John.
"We’re sparring with him."
Excited murmurs rippled across the clearing.
One young warrior raised a hand.
"...Are we allowed to die?"
Lythriel laughed.
"Relax. He’s not allowed to eat you."
John tilted his head.
"I don’t remember agreeing to that."
Several warriors suddenly looked nervous.
Sylvara sighed.
"He’s joking."
John grinned.
"...Mostly."
Aerion stepped forward.
"The purpose of this exercise is to test the dragon’s combat adaptability."
He looked at the gathered warriors.
"Treat this as a serious engagement."
Lythriel raised her spear.
"First challenger!"
---
# Duel One – Kael the Swift
A tall elf stepped forward.
He carried two curved blades.
His stance was relaxed but focused.
"My name is Kael," he said. "Vanguard scout."
John lowered his massive head slightly.
"Nice to meet you."
Lythriel raised her hand.
"Begin!"
Kael vanished instantly.
His speed was incredible.
Leaves scattered as he dashed forward.
In a blink—
*CLANG!*
His blades struck John’s foreleg.
Sparks flew.
The blades bounced off harmlessly.
Kael slid backward across the ground.
"...Not encouraging."
John smiled.
"You hit pretty hard though."
Kael grinned.
"Good."
Wind mana gathered around his legs.
His speed doubled.
He dashed again.
This time he leapt into the air.
His blades spun downward toward John’s neck.
*CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG.*
Rapid strikes rained against the dragon’s scales.
The elves watching nearby cheered.
"Look at that speed!"
"Kael’s going all out!"
John finally moved.
His massive tail swung.
*BOOM.*
Kael barely dodged, rolling across the ground.
He came back instantly.
Again and again he attacked.
Each strike precise.
Each movement faster than the last.
But John still hadn’t used any real power.
Finally he lifted one claw.
And gently pressed down.
*THUD.*
Kael froze.
Both swords were pinned to the ground beneath the dragon’s claw.
The scout blinked slowly.
"...Well."
John leaned closer.
"You’re fast."
Kael sighed.
"But not fast enough."
The surrounding elves laughed.
Lythriel clapped.
"Good fight!"
---
# Duel Two – Eryndra the Wind Archer
A female elf stepped forward next.
Her silver hair flowed softly behind her.
She carried a beautifully crafted bow.
John tilted his head.
"Archer?"
She nodded.
"I prefer distance."
Lythriel grinned.
"Begin!"
Eryndra fired instantly.
*THWOOOSH.*
The arrow flew like lightning.
John tilted his head.
The arrow scraped across his cheek.
A faint spark appeared.
Gasps erupted among the elves.
Eryndra fired again.
And again.
Five arrows shot forward in rapid succession.
John lifted his wing.
*CRACK CRACK CRACK.*
The arrows shattered against his scales.
Eryndra narrowed her eyes.
She drew a glowing green arrow.
Nature mana gathered around the tip.
Sylvara whispered softly,
"That’s her special technique."
Eryndra released the arrow.
Mid-air...
It split into ten.
They curved through the air like guided missiles.
John blinked.
"...Interesting."
*BOOM.*
All ten arrows struck his chest.
Leaves exploded outward.
Dust filled the clearing.
When the dust settled...
John stood there.
Completely unharmed.
But impressed.
"That was clever."
Eryndra lowered her bow.
"And you’re ridiculous."
The elves laughed again.
---
# System Quest
Suddenly the familiar voice echoed in John’s mind.
**[New Quest Available]**
A glowing blue screen appeared.
---
**Quest: Dragon’s Discipline**
Master the following abilities:
• Shadow Flame Control
• Aerial Combat Mastery
• Draconic Aura Projection
Reward:
+8% Evolution Progress
Bonus Skill Unlock
---
John’s eyes gleamed.
*Eight percent.*
That was a huge boost.
He smiled slowly.
*Time to train seriously.*
---
# Aerial Combat Training
John spread his wings.
The wind exploded outward.
Leaves and dust spiraled across the clearing.
Lythriel grinned widely.
"Oh this I want to see."
John crouched.
Then—
*BOOOOM.*
He launched into the sky.
The ground cracked beneath the force.
His wings beat once.
Twice.
The massive dragon soared above the forest canopy.
The open sky stretched endlessly around him.
The system activated.
**[Aerial Combat Simulation Initiated]**
Three glowing dragon-shaped constructs appeared.
John laughed.
"Perfect."
The first construct dove toward him.
John twisted mid-air.
His tail slammed into it.
*BOOM.*
The construct shattered.
The second fired energy bolts.
John folded his wings.
He dropped rapidly.
The bolts missed.
He opened his wings again.
Then blasted upward.
*CRASH.*
Second construct destroyed.
The third fired a beam.
John inhaled deeply.
"Shadow Flame!"
Dark violet fire erupted from his mouth.
The beam collided with the construct.
*BOOOOM.*
The final construct vanished.
The system chimed.
**[Aerial Combat Mastery: 47%]**
John smiled.
"Not bad."
---
# The Troll Invasion
When John landed back in the clearing...
Aerion suddenly raised his hand.
"Silence."
The forest trembled.
A deep roar echoed through the trees.
Then another.
And another.
Sylvara’s eyes widened.
"...Forest trolls."
Trees shook violently.
A massive figure burst through the forest line.
A **Forest Troll**.
Eight meters tall.
Skin like cracked stone.
Tusks protruding from its jaw.
Behind it...
More shapes emerged.
Ten.
Then fifteen.
Then twenty.
Lythriel grinned fiercely.
"Oh finally."
She spun her spear.
"Real training."
Aerion raised his sword.
"Battle formation!"
Elven warriors moved instantly.
Archers climbed trees.
Spearmen formed lines.
Sylvara raised her staff.
Healing magic began flowing through the battlefield.
John spread his wings.
Shadow flames flickered between his teeth.
"Well..."
He stepped forward.
"...round three."
---
# The Battle Begins
The first troll charged.
Its footsteps shook the ground.
It swung a massive stone club.
John moved first.
His tail whipped forward.
*BOOOOM.*
The troll flew sideways into a tree.
The trunk splintered under the impact.
But the troll stood again.
Roaring.
Three more charged.
Arrows rained from above.
*THUNK THUNK THUNK.*
Several arrows embedded in the trolls’ eyes and joints.
One troll collapsed.
But the others kept coming.
Lythriel dashed forward.
Her spear glowed with mana.
She leapt into the air.
*SLASH.*
Her spear carved a deep cut across a troll’s throat.
Green blood sprayed across the ground.
The troll roared.
John stepped in.
His claws slammed downward.
*CRASH.*
The troll collapsed.
Meanwhile—
Kael and several scouts darted through the battlefield.
Their blades flashed.
They targeted weak points.
Behind them—
Sylvara’s healing light moved like a flowing river.
Every injured elf recovered quickly.
The trolls roared again.
Two grabbed massive tree trunks.
They swung them like clubs.
John inhaled.
Shadow flames erupted.
*FWOOSH.*
Dark fire engulfed one troll.
But the flames weren’t devastating.
Only scorching.
Maintaining the proper tier scale.
The troll stumbled.
Lythriel finished it.
*THRUST.*
Her spear pierced its heart.
More trolls advanced.
The ground shook with their steps.
John’s wings beat violently.
He launched forward.
His body crashed into two trolls.
*BOOOOM.*
Both monsters fell.
One grabbed his wing.
It roared triumphantly.
John snarled.
His draconic aura exploded outward.
*ROOOOOOAR.*
The shockwave blasted the troll backward.
Trees bent under the pressure.
But none broke completely.
Controlled destruction.
Aerion cut down another troll with precise strikes.
His sword glowed with silver mana.
Meanwhile the archers maintained constant fire.
Arrow after arrow.
Weakening the enemy.
Still...
The trolls kept coming.
Lythriel laughed wildly.
"Now THIS is a fight!"
John grinned.
"Yes it is."
He raised his head.
Shadow flames gathered again.
But this time...
He focused.
Carefully.
Precisely.
A narrow beam of shadow fire shot forward.
It struck a troll’s chest.
The creature staggered.
Aerion finished it instantly.
The battle continued for several intense minutes.
Clashes.
Roars.
Arrows.
Magic.
Finally...
The last troll collapsed.
Silence slowly returned to the forest.
Heavy breathing filled the clearing.
Lythriel leaned on her spear.
"...That was fun."
John chuckled.
"You have a strange definition of fun."
The system chimed.
**[Quest Progress Updated]**
Shadow Flame Control: 72%
Aerial Combat Mastery: 47%
Draconic Aura Projection: 41%
John smiled.
*Good progress.*
But far away...
Deep within Greenwood Forest...
Something had heard the battle.
Something older.
Something stronger.
And it was slowly beginning to move.
---
100 ps = 1 extra Chapter
200 ps = 2 Extra Chapter
30 Golden ticket = 3 Extra Chapter