"Mom, I don't want to die… I miss Dad. Can you tell me who Dad is? Will he come to see me? I'm not a bastard… I’m not…"

Alicia Grace’s face was streaked with tears as she gripped the bloodied little hand of Bryony Marlow tightly on the hospital bed, crying, "Dad will come. Be good, Bryony…"

In her frantic desperation, Alicia pulled out her phone and dialed that number she hadn’t touched in five years.

"Ethan Blake! It’s Alicia Grace! Bryony was in a car accident. Our daughter is dying. Please, I beg you, can you come and see her? She’s always wanted to meet you… Please…Where are you? Please, Ethan…"

Her body collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably, trembling all over.

"Alicia… Grace?"

At the other end of the line, far away at Tai Mountain Seal Ceremony, Ethan Blake stood rigid in his Azure Dragon uniform.

The entire Tai Mountain area was sealed off today, with ten thousand soldiers in formation, banners fluttering like a sea beneath the sky.

Today marked the once-in-a-decade General Ceremony for the Dragon Nation. Ethan Blake, who had led thirty thousand Broken Dragon troops against an eight-nation coalition army of a million soldiers, bringing peace to the border disputes, had risen to become the commander of the Beiliang Military District, one of the five major army districts.

Today was the day of his General Title Ceremony! At this moment, Ethan Blake suddenly received a call that had been unreachable for five years.

He dialed back immediately, but no one answered.

Without a second thought, Ethan rushed out of the grand ceremony in full view of the officers and soldiers.

Everyone was stunned—it was the inauguration of a general, the pinnacle of glory! Yet Ethan abandoned it without hesitation. Where was he going?

Boom!

A chilling force erupted from Ethan as he stormed toward a military jeep, his aura cold and unrelenting. A few loyal subordinates, who had fought alongside him on countless battlefields, followed closely behind, their steps hurried and unwavering.

"Get us to Suhang right now! Fast! Find her as quickly as possible!"

His roar shook the air, each word filled with desperation and urgency. The battlefield's cutting edge he’d carried for five years was now woven with raw helplessness.

Tears streamed relentlessly down Ethan's face, his eyes red and swollen, as if every fiber of his being was falling apart.

Inside the jeep, the soldiers couldn’t hide their shock at his trembling voice and tearful anguish; awe and fear simultaneously gripped them.

No time for hesitation—the driver stomped the accelerator, and the vehicle shot forward like a streak of lightning. Another soldier wasted no time and began pinpointing the number's exact location in Suhang via satellite. At the same time, three military jeeps sped closely behind the lead vehicle carrying Ethan Blake.

Inside the car, Ethan was trembling uncontrollably, emotions surging like a storm. His hands gripped the seat tightly, and his wide eyes shimmered with tears that refused to hold back anymore.

"Alicia Grace..."

"Bryony Marlow..."

"Our daughter..."

The names were like a mantra escaping his lips repeatedly. He gritted his teeth, his chest heaving before letting out a guttural roar.

“I... I have a daughter. Five years! Five whole years, and I never knew!” His voice cracked, the mixture of shock and guilt stabbing through him.

Ethan's breathing quickened as he clenched his fists tightly. "Faster! I need to see them, I need to be there!" His shout was sharp and desperate, each word carrying the weight of his self-reproach.

Hearing the anguish in his commander's tone, the soldier in the front seat didn’t dare to hesitate. His foot slammed on the gas pedal, and the humvee roared forward, its speed needle climbing to 200 km/h as it tore through the road.

Above them, heavy clouds rolled across the sky like a divine dragon weaving its way ominously, mirroring their relentless pursuit.

Ethan closed his tear-filled eyes, his voice a broken whisper as he continued murmuring, “Alicia... Bryony...”

Five years ago, Ethan had been heir to the prestigious Blake family of Suhang. On the day of his arranged marriage to Katherine Noble of the renowned Noble family, tragedy struck. What should have been a day of bliss turned into disaster when the Nobles, plotting alongside Suhang's four major families, framed him. That night, instead of a wedding, darkness came to Alicia Grace’s life.Afterward, the Ning family joined forces with the four great families, and the entire Blake family crumbled overnight. Ethan Blake's parents sacrificed themselves by jumping into a lake to preserve his life.

But the Ning family broke their word, sending assassins to hunt Ethan down. Utterly disillusioned, Ethan wandered through four cities seeking refuge with his brothers, only to be betrayed and chased relentlessly.

Those months marked the darkest period of Ethan's life. Betrayed by his childhood fiancée, sold out by close brothers, and hunted like prey—he was utterly shattered. With no hope left, he chose suicide.

As he plunged into the icy waters, Alicia Grace appeared. The girl he had wronged that night had tracked him down, diving into the freezing river to pull him out and nurse him back to health.

Ethan had once asked Alicia why she saved him, pointing out that he had hurt her and wasn’t worth the effort. She didn’t answer. Three days later, she left. Before leaving, she told him if he wanted revenge, if he wanted to survive, he needed to keep moving forward.

Burning with the need to avenge his family, Ethan headed south, eventually joining the military. Over five years of brutal battles and relentless growth, he transformed into the commanding officer of Dragon Kingdom's Northern Garrison, leading thirty thousand troops from the Broken Dragon Army and the elite Dragon Shrine forces.

When the Broken Dragon Army emerges, nations tremble. The Dragon Shrine commands respect across the globe. Ethan’s thirty thousand troops are feared not only within Dragon Kingdom but worldwide. Under the Shendian Temple, which belonged to the Po Long Army, were four Dragon Lords, eight Dragon Generals, and three renowned healers.

Ethan Blake, who had now reached a position of immense power, originally planned to settle scores with all his old enemies after the sealing ceremony before heading back to Suhang.

But, what he didn’t anticipate was receiving *her* call.

Thinking back to her words over the phone just moments ago, Ethan couldn’t stop his body from trembling uncontrollably. Tears streamed down his face like a broken dam.

Five years. Five years of silence, and now he finds out she had given him a daughter.

"Back then, I hurt you. But you gave me the reason to keep going,” Ethan murmured to himself, staring out the window with complex emotions brewing within him.

Five years she’d been alone, raising their child. Ethan didn’t even need to imagine the criticisms and judgment she must’ve endured during those years.

Alicia Grace—memories of that girl, barely in her twenties, vibrant, kind-hearted, and full of life—the girl he had only spent days with. Yet she’d gone as far as bringing his child into this world.

And now, he learns that his daughter, Bryony Marlow, had been in a car accident…and might not survive.

“Alicia...it’s me,” her voice had cracked on the phone.

“Bryony had an accident—our daughter…she’s dying. Please, Ethan. Can you come, can you see her just once? She’s been waiting…waiting just to meet you. Please…”

Ethan’s heart shattered into pieces, his tears falling freely, overwhelming him.Five years. He had a daughter. But the news he just got? She’s dying…

“No! No way! She won’t die! Hurry up! Get me to Suhang now! Contact the three top doctors immediately! I want them in Suhang at the fastest speed possible! Spare no expense! No matter the cost!”

Ethan Blake was screaming desperately, his emotions all over the place.

Bryony Marlow was only four years old. His very own daughter—he, Ethan Blake, Dragon Commander—had never even met her. Four years old, and she hadn’t yet seen the beauty of this world, hadn’t had the chance to truly live. He hadn’t even held her in his arms. And now, she might leave forever?

No way, absolutely not!

“Bryony, hold on! Dad’s coming for you! Alicia Grace, wait for me too!”

Ethan’s voice thundered through the air, as if shattering the dark clouds above.

A military Jeep had already sped to a nearby military airfield. Without hesitation, Ethan charged onto the aircraft, taking the pilot’s seat himself. He fired up the engine, ready to fly straight to Suhang.