Chapter 240: Awakening (Part 1)
"Finally escaped."
Tinia shook her frost-white wings, stretching her long neck and raising her head to let out a triumphant, exhilarated roar.
"Awooo~"
Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, her vertical pupils flickered. Her expression twisted into one of irritation, and between her sharp, gleaming teeth, icy tendrils of Freezing Cold seeped out.
"Hmph. Those wretched Humans made me learn etiquette. One day—one day—I’ll freeze them all solid and eat them all, one by one."
She tilted her head, glancing instinctively toward the distant Royal Palace.
"But Master would be furious if I did that…"
"If it were just beating them, maybe… but if Master locked me back in that 'Cage' again…"
Tinia shuddered violently, her entire body trembling with fear. The thought vanished instantly.
In truth, over the past three years, this White Dragon with Extremely Diluted Ancestral Bloodline had not caused trouble. On the contrary, she’d been obedient—studying spells, etiquette, even languages.
Unlike the common, degenerate White Dragons, Tinia’s intelligence was on par with that of an ordinary Human, though she was still rather dim-witted in certain aspects.
Her learning speed had even surprised Ogre-level mages. All it took was a simple tease from Lanpu—a hint of "Master’s favor toward cultured companions"—and the dragon had become wildly enthusiastic, as if injected with adrenaline.
Now, Tinia could speak basic Common Tongue, master the fundamentals of Royal Etiquette, and even cast Polymorph. Among her species, known for their general lack of intellect, she was unquestionably a high-level intellectual.
"When will Master finally awaken?"
Thinking of the unprecedented, mighty Red Dragon—her true master—Tinia’s cheeks flushed faintly.
With stealthy grace, the White Dragon crept forward, pressing her body tightly against the outer wall of the Royal Palace.
Due to the lingering effects of the Red Dragon’s Deep Sleep, the Metal Walls were scorching hot—glowing red, capable of roasting raw meat. Even the Tiefling Guards stationed nearby dared not touch them.
As a creature who loved cold, Tinia only consumed frozen food. Her heat resistance was poor.
The moment she touched the wall, a sizzling hiss echoed, and her pure-white scales began to char.
"Awooo~"
She cried out in pain but refused to back down, rubbing her side along the wall with stubborn persistence.
She felt the heat radiating through the metal—like the overwhelming, powerful, and blazing body of her Master, the surge of frenzied, boundless strength.
"Master…"
At the thought, a thin thread of Dragon Saliva dripped from her lips. Even her thick scales couldn’t hide the dazed, ecstatic expression spreading across her face.
The Tiefling Guards had been about to investigate the disturbance—capturing an intruder meant a handsome reward. But when they spotted the culprit, their faces fell. They quickly retreated, as if fleeing a curse. This had happened too many times already.
In a way, this White Dragon was beyond saving.
Suddenly, a powerful Hot Wind erupted from the center of the palace, and the earth trembled violently, cracking open with jagged fissures.
Crack… crack…
Boom!
A thunderous explosion tore through the air, snapping Tinia from her daydream.
She flinched, beating her wings wildly and leaping into the air—wobbling unsteadily, her panicked howl echoing through the sky.
"Awooo~"
The Tiefling Guards stationed near the Royal Palace were equally terrified. They scrambled to retreat and evacuate, fearing they’d meet the same fate as the unfortunate Tieflings who had died there before.
"Gulp… gulp…"
From the cracks in the earth, molten Magma began to surge upward, transforming the surrounding ground into a deep, black Molten Lava.
"No! Run! Now!"
"We must leave at once!"
Captain Aikemong, in charge of the palace’s recent defense, paled instantly.
The ground split open, Magma erupted, smoke and ash filled the air—everything mirrored the catastrophe from a year ago. He had been there then, had witnessed Purgatory swallow the helpless Tieflings inside the palace, powerless to stop it.
Now, that disaster seemed to be descending upon him.
To Kai Xiusu, this was merely a faint trickle of Strength unintentionally released during his Deep Sleep—trivial, insignificant.
But to mortals, even a speck of such power was enough to become a devastating, life-ending catastrophe.
"Run! Run! Cough… cough!"
Aikemong shouted, but fine ash particles had already entered his mouth and nose, choking him.
He quickly followed training protocols—covering his mouth and nose with his cloak, crouching low, and forcing himself forward, desperate to escape this Purgatory-like hellscape. The Tieflings followed close behind.
But then—crack!—the ground split again, revealing deep chasms, from which molten Magma surged.
"Cough… cough…"
"No… I don’t want to die…"
Staring at the thick, choking Ash blanketing the sky, Aikemong’s face twisted with despair.
"Am I really going to die under the King’s Morning Wrath? How ironic."
The ash choked half the sky, blocking out the sun entirely. Molten rivers flowed across the ground, the earth split wide—cutting off every escape route. The area around the Royal Palace looked like the end of the world.
Tinia fought through the volcanic ash storm, flying desperately. Her body was coated in ash, turning her nearly black—almost a Black Dragon.
But being a White Dragon, she could fly, and her life force far surpassed that of ordinary mortals. Though battered and disheveled, she managed to flee—unharmed, though barely.
The Tieflings weren’t so lucky. They faced an absolute, hopeless trap.
Just as Aikemong sank into utter despair—
"Roar—!"
A thunderous, ancient Dragon Roar rang out, echoing from the depths of time itself.
With the roar came an invisible Domain Pulse, spreading at incredible speed across the sky.
As the wave passed, all chaotic magical phenomena ceased instantly.
—The choking ash clouds visibly dissipated.
—The flowing Magma sank back into the earth or cooled into solid Molten Lava.
—The searing heat faded.
—The scorching ground cooled.
In just a few breaths, the scene—once a Purgatory Cataclysm—had returned to normal.
"I… I’m still alive?"
"Whew… whew…"
Aikemong clutched his chest, gasping for breath, trying to calm his racing heart after surviving the impossible.
He turned, eyes fixed on the majestic Palace within the city wall.
"Your Majesty… He’s awake."
(End of Chapter)
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