Starting My Journey as a Dragon Rider from the Deepwater Realm

While Clobber basked in the admiration that came with his breakthrough as a full knight, trouble was brewing far away in the Deepwater Territory, where Baron Klarl faced a mounting crisis.

"The Golden Rose caravan hasn't arrived yet? Didn't they say it'd be here by now?" Klarl growled, his fingers tapping impatiently on the table. His labored breathing and furrowed brow betrayed his rising frustration.

The problem had begun days ago, shattering Klarl's usual routine of leisurely naps in the comfort of his castle. The news came suddenly: Baron Ertipis, lord of the neighboring territory, had broken through to the rank of Grand Knight.

For most, the Grand Knight rank wouldn't be enough to secure a jump to viscount, but within the circle of barons, it conferred unparalleled authority. At forty years old, Ertipis had a lifespan extending up to 200 or even 300 years, leaving him plenty of time to ascend to the rank of Earth Knight, accumulate military merits, and claim the title of viscount.

Unfortunately for Klarl, his relationship with Ertipis was anything but amicable—it was outright hostile. The reason was simple: a long-standing conflict of interest.

Deepwater Territory, Klarl's domain, was among the weakest in the duchy, with some well-established knightly manors surpassing its power. In the past, Klarl's father—the former baron and Clobber's grandfather—had been a formidable full knight, known for his boldness and strength. His death marked a rapid decline in Deepwater's power.

Weakness in strength meant a diminished status, and Klarl, grasping at straws, often flaunted his wife's noble lineage from the prestigious Golden Rose family.

The Golden Rose name carried weight. A family boasting numerous Earth Knights as its backbone, the Golden Rose family was a formidable force, dwarfing baronial houses that could muster at most a few Grand Knights.

The Hierarchy of Power

To understand Klarl's predicament, one must grasp the rigid power structure:

Apprentice KnightFull KnightGrand KnightEarth KnightSky KnightTitled Knight (Beast Knight equivalent)Dragon Knight

A full knight's strength was sufficient to establish a family. Weak ones might receive the title of knight with a fief of a single manor or village. Stronger full knights, or families with several full knights, could rise to baronial rank through military merits, securing substantial fiefs.

Grand Knights, however, were in a league of their own. Any Grand Knight willing to pledge loyalty to a liege could start as a baron, with the potential for territorial expansion based on battlefield contributions.

Earth Knights typically led viscount houses, with only the most established families, boasting five or more Earth Knights, ascending to earldoms.

For marquises, the requirement was straightforward: a Sky Knight in residence.

As for Titled Knights, they too often served marquis houses, with the rare Dragon Knights forming the cornerstone of ducal families.

Ertipis, now a Grand Knight, had reached the zenith of baronial power. His personal strength, combined with the loyalty of at least three full knights under his command, placed his house far above Deepwater's.

In the duchy, barons with Grand Knights could expand their territories through military achievements. With Klarl's territory neighboring Ertipis's and their history of bad blood, the threat was painfully real. If Ertipis launched a campaign and claimed enough merits to annex a portion of Deepwater, Klarl would be powerless to resist. He'd have no choice but to cede the land.

The rules of the duchy were clear: barons could conquer and annex one another's territories as long as the total land under their control didn't exceed the upper limit for a baron. Klarl's Deepwater Territory was small, while Ertipis's fief, though larger, still had room for expansion before hitting that cap.

If Ertipis succeeded, Klarl stood to lose a quarter of his already meager land.

Now, Klarl's only hope was to escalate the situation enough to attract the attention of his liege lord. Perhaps, with some luck and a nod to the legacy of his late father, the old baron, he could secure some form of intervention.

But even that hope felt tenuous. The Golden Rose family had been slow to respond, and Klarl's patience was running thin.

As for the Golden Rose Family?

To them, neither Klarl nor the entire Deepwater Territory held as much value as Clobber, who had just achieved his breakthrough.

Moonlight Castle Hall

The hall was alive with celebration—a new full knight had risen. Among the guests, most were members of baronial families, where even having a single Grand Knight was considered exceptional. A full knight represented the ceiling of what these people could hope to achieve.

Barons like Adam and Frank were simply happy for Clobber.

Meanwhile, Clobber, newly elevated, was all smiles. Though he maintained a degree of composure, he accepted more toasts than he declined, savoring the moment without overindulgence.

The banquet stretched late into the evening, with most attendees stumbling back to their rooms in a drunken haze. Clobber, tipsy but steady, was about to leave for his chamber when Baron Adam stopped him.

A servant brought over a bowl of sobering soup, and after sitting to clear his head, Clobber followed Adam to a luxurious private room.

As soon as they sat, Adam wasted no time.

"Congratulations on becoming a full knight, Clobber," Adam began. "But I'm sure you've heard enough of that today. Instead, I'd like to discuss something else."

With that, Adam handed Clobber a signed agreement.

Clobber couldn't help but chuckle.

"Uncle Adam, don't worry. Since the agreement is signed, I won't break my word. Tomorrow, I'll accompany you to Deepwater for the ceremony, and then we'll return to the family together."

Adam exhaled in relief. He had feared that Clobber, intoxicated by his breakthrough, might let success go to his head and renege on the agreement. Such an act wouldn't just result in family punishment but would also ruin Clobber's reputation among the noble circles of the Golden Duchy.

Fortunately, Clobber had not lost himself to the joy of his accomplishment.

"Good. If there's no issue, you should rest early. I'll send someone to call for you before we depart tomorrow," Adam said.

Clobber nodded and rose to leave. But as he reached the door, Adam called out again.

"Wait. Since you've achieved knighthood, it's only right for me, as your uncle, to give you a gift. Frank mentioned you were lacking a proper set of armor, so I had one prepared. It's already in your room—try it on and see if it fits."

Clobber froze for a moment, unused to such gestures. After a brief pause, he nodded.

"Thank you, Uncle Adam."

He turned and left, leaving Adam alone in the room. Watching Clobber's retreating figure, Adam's gaze softened, and a hint of melancholy flickered in his eyes.

"Lilith… my dearest sister… Clobber is a remarkable young man. It seems I won't need to fulfill the promise you made me swear."

A thin sheen of moisture clouded Adam's vision. Among all the duchy's nobles, it was no secret that Adam and Lilith had been especially close, their ages nearly the same, their bond inseparable.

When Lilith died, and Klarl swiftly married again, Adam had been consumed with rage, ready to march his forces to Deepwater to kill Klarl on the spot.

Fortunately, he was intercepted by none other than Daniel of the Golden Rose—Clobber's grandfather. Daniel, a seasoned earl, had weathered many storms and remained composed even in tragedy. Though Lilith's death grieved him deeply, he knew he couldn't act rashly. The Moonlight Mushroom family would never tolerate such recklessness, and Clobber, Daniel's grandson, might suffer cruelly for it.

After a family discussion, they arrived at a compromise: a monthly supply caravan to support Clobber's growth. Adam, driven by his love for his late sister, personally volunteered to oversee these shipments.

Clobber's Room

As Clobber entered, his gaze fell on the armor laid across his bed.

It was a set of intricately patterned leather armor crafted from the hide of a magical beast. He ran his hand across it, marveling at the suppleness and durability—far superior to any low-grade materials he had encountered.

"This… this is made from the hide of a mid-tier magical beast!" Clobber exclaimed.

Mid-tier magical beasts were on par with Grand Knights in strength. Their hides were not only tougher and more flexible but also excellent at channeling battle energy. This armor would remain useful even after Clobber reached the rank of Grand Knight.

Clutching the armor, Clobber felt a surge of ambition rise within him.

Weapons, armor, warhorse—his external preparations were complete. Now, as a full knight, it was time to prove himself on the battlefield, to earn military merit, and to claim a title of his own—even if it was just the lowest rank of knight.

Fueled by dreams of the future, Clobber drifted into a deep, contented sleep.

Nearby, Sir Foster, standing guard, caught sight of Clobber's peaceful expression and allowed himself a small smile.

A New Dawn

The next morning, Clobber woke on his own. The past few days of breakthroughs and banquets had thrown off his routine, but today, he resolved to return to his training.

His focus for the day was battle energy techniques—skills exclusive to full knights.

Known as "battle skills," these techniques allowed knights to harness their energy with specific frequencies and pathways, combining it with precise coordination of bones and muscles to unleash devastating abilities.

Battle skills came in three types: defensive, offensive, and auxiliary.

Defensive skills greatly enhanced durability, with some capable of blocking attacks from opponents a rank higher.Offensive skills amplified attack power, often delivering strikes beyond the user's rank and serving as a knight's trump card in combat.Auxiliary skills improved other physical attributes, such as Eagle Eye, which enhanced vision—a favorite among archer knights.

For Clobber's first battle skill, he had chosen an offensive technique: Radiant Gold Blade.