Chapter 608: Debate and Audience
Krasus rubbed his Gill Whiskers, his expression once again etched with weary resignation. He had seen many rigid, dogmatic Kin—those who lived like monks, bound by every vow of the Golden Dragon Clan, repeating the same rituals day after day. — But this new addition to their ranks? He suspected this was precisely the case. The man was suffering from a condition all too common among the Golden Dragon Clan: a Mental Purity Complex.
Must Krasus tell him this was the will of King Bahamut himself?
After a long silence, the Primordial Golden Dragon spoke, his voice low and deliberate:
"Titus… though we uphold Justice, the world is not so black and white. Sometimes, compromise and sacrifice are necessary. Consider the Red Dragon—our aim is not to destroy him, but to guide him, to steer him toward the path of righteousness. To make him a bulwark against the Five-Colored Dragon Queen. We must transform more souls, turning them into followers of Justice. We must act with patience and subtlety, intervening wherever needed—but always striving to cause as little harm as possible. This, too, is part of Bahamut’s teachings."
Kai Xiusu stood firm, his stance unyielding. Even unconsciously, he spread his Wings wide, delivering a fiery speech:
"This is no time for retreat or concession! Krasus, I beg you—trust me. You think you’re appeasing that Red Dragon? You’re only emboldening him. He will grow bolder, more ruthless—until he becomes a monster even more evil than the Five-Colored Dragon Queen! Only Justice’s Iron Fist can teach the lost their true path!"
Kai Xiusu rose to his full height, claws flexing, his voice urgent and impassioned. The assembled Gold Dragons stirred, nodding in silent agreement, their support unmistakable. Even the younger ones—like the eager Anher—rose to their feet, ecstatic, cheering in unison, clearly already won over.
"Titus is right! We must not stand idly by!"
"Indeed! He is our benefactor!"
"In the name of Bahamut—no matter how powerful the enemy, we shall never surrender!"
Clearly, compared to Krasus’s cold, pragmatic “Appeasement Policy,” these morally rigid Gold Dragons—each plagued by their own Mental Purity Complex—found far greater resonance in Titus’s words. And with Kai Xiusu’s natural [Charmer] Traits amplifying his charisma, his words carried far more weight than the ancient dragon’s dry, defensive logic.
Had he stood in a Munich beerhall of the early 20th century, Kai Xiusu would have effortlessly swayed some future artist’s soul with a single speech.
"Children… they don’t understand the weight of a Third-Generation Ancestral Dragon—what he means to the clan, to the entire dragonkind."
Krasus sighed deeply, shaking his head. He knew he could no longer change this Kin’s mind. Ancient Gold Dragons were the pinnacle of their race—resilient, unyielding, and fiercely stubborn. Once set, they rarely turned back.
As Chief Regent of the Feanso Golden Dragon Council, all Krasus could do now was minimize the damage.
With a heavy, solemn tone, the Primordial Golden Dragon declared:
"Titus, your request is granted. You may go to aid Walter. But the younger ones—no. It is far too dangerous."
Kai Xiusu nodded, calm and resolute.
"Of course. I would never risk these young Golden Dragons. They are not yet ready for such a burden."
"Titus-sama!"
"Grandfather Krasus! I wish to go to the Northern Aether!"
Ignoring their desperate pleas, Krasus gave a quiet but sharp rebuke:
"Ridiculous."
A wave of overwhelming, Primordial Dragon power surged through the hall. The eager young dragons froze in terror, their heads slammed to the table, their Wings unable to unfurl.
"By your strength, you think you can join a battle of this magnitude? You’d only hinder Titus!"
Having quelled the overzealous youth, Krasus turned back to Titus, his gaze tinged with sorrow—and a hint of envy.
He understood. As a Gold Dragon, he could feel the fire in this Ancient one’s heart. He, too, had once been like this—thousands of years ago, when he had burned with righteous fury, charging alone into the Five-Colored Dragon’s stronghold, shattering the Destruction Dragon Queen’s conspiracy.
But now, as Regent of the Golden Dragons, he bore the weight of World Order, Deity Faith, and the Future of the Race. Under such pressure, he could no longer follow his heart blindly. He had to weigh, negotiate, and carefully balance the fragile equilibrium.
Krasus looked at Titus once more and said:
"Titus… I must warn you. This is a war with near-zero chance of victory. Even with your strength, you cannot defeat the Red Dragon. Even with the Messenger from Heaven’s Mountain, success remains uncertain. Your mission is clear: protect Walter at all costs."
"I know, Krasus-sama," Kai Xiusu replied, meeting the ancient dragon’s gaze. A faint, bitter smile touched his lips.
"But how can we know if we never try? No one is invincible. And if I, a sinner beyond forgiveness, can burn like a candle—giving even a flicker of light to the world… then I shall be content."
"Titus前辈…"
The young Gold Dragons were moved. They admired the Ancient’s willingness to sacrifice his life force for Justice. Even the elder Ancients murmured in quiet awe—surprised that one of their own, so close in age, could still hold such unwavering resolve.
Krasus stepped forward, then reached into a gap between his Scales and withdrew a Necklace adorned with a glowing Gemstone Pendant.
"Titus," he said solemnly, "may the Lord of the Northern Wind, Bahamut, protect you."
Under the watchful eyes of a hundred Gold Dragons, Titus—Kai Xiusu—bowed his head, allowing the Primordial Dragon to place the Necklace around his neck.
"I shall not disappoint your trust," Kai Xiusu vowed, each word ringing clear and firm in the vast, silent Hall of Justice.
> [White Platinum Heart]
> Grants the wearer Bahamut’s protection, capable of deflecting fatal blows in moments of crisis.
Yet, beneath his noble demeanor, Kai Xiusu smirked inwardly:
Good. Just as I suspected—these Gold Dragons are filthy rich. And I just swindled a Legendary-tier artifact out of them.
But the dragons in the Hall knew nothing of his hidden amusement. They clapped their claws in reverence, their faces alight with awe.
---
Northern Aether Plain, Collins City
Autumn air crisp and clear, the Northern Wind howling across the plains.
"Your Grace, please wait inside. We’ll inform you the moment there’s news."
"No need. I am a Divine Offspring. This wind is nothing to me."
Walter Graham dismissed the Captain of the Guards with a wave. Standing atop the City Tower, he paced anxiously, his hands clenched. The arrival of the Golden Dragon Relief Forces was due today—and he was counting on them.
That journey to Heaven’s Mountain had left a lasting impression. Even Krasus, the Primordial Golden Dragon, had flinched at the name Kai Xiusu. He had even shown signs of unease, almost… fleeing.
And that had only deepened Walter’s certainty:
No one man can stop the Empire of Ashen’s southern advance. Not alone. Not against the Red Dragon.
In just days, he had scoured the entire Feiansuo Continent—and even reached into the Multiverse—mobilizing every contact, every alliance he could muster. But few answered. In a world torn by war and intrigue, few cared to fight for abstract ideals like "Justice."
So far, his allies were the Arcane Hermitage’s Mage, the Lutehand Alliance’s Ranger, and the mysterious “Messenger” Barachiel.
He had gathered strength—yet still, the arrival of the Golden Dragon relief force was paramount. After all, Metal Dragons were the only ones truly capable of countering the Five-Colored Dragon.
Suddenly, a cry from the soldiers snapped him from his thoughts.
"Look! Look at that!"
"What… is that?!"
"By Amanata, I’ve never seen a dragon so vast!"
Walter looked up, heart pounding. There, high in the sky, came the long-awaited sight—his salvation.
A colossal golden dragon, stretching over thirty meters from snout to tail. His scales, forged of pure gold, gleamed like armor under the sun, etched with intricate, ancient carvings. Sunlight danced around him, casting a halo of golden light—radiant, divine.
For a moment, every soldier felt the warmth of dawn, the promise of hope. Their defenses lowered, their hearts lifted.
"ROOOOOOAR!"
The Gold Dragon let out a long, echoing roar. Then, with a fluid, wave-like flight, he descended gracefully, landing on the City Wall. The impact shook the fortress, though his movements were surprisingly light.
Kai Xiusu stood before the Human, his posture stern, his voice calm and deliberate:
"Good morning, Lord Walter. I am Ancient Gold Dragon Titus. I come by order of the Golden Dragon Council, in the name of King Bahamut, to aid you in repelling the Red Dragon’s invasion."
"By Amanata, thank you!" Walter stepped forward, his voice trembling with excitement. His wings fluttered involuntarily. A true Ancient Gold Dragon—rare, powerful, legendary—was here. A god among beasts.
So Krasus had kept his word. Though he claimed not to support the mission, he had still sent help.
"Titus…" Walter repeated the name, eyes widening.
"You… you’re the Dawn Dragon, Wings of Dawn? The one who helped the Dwarves repel the Ogre invasion?"
"Merely mortal exaggeration," Kai Xiusu replied coolly—though the faintest nod confirmed his identity.
"Perfect… perfect!" Walter whispered, overwhelmed. The situation was better than he’d dared dream. Krasus had sent a dragon who had already defeated a Divinely Chosen One.
He looked again at the dragon’s chest emblem—glowing, unmistakable. No doubt: this was a true member of the Golden Dragon Council.
"Walter," Kai Xiusu called softly.
Walter snapped to attention. He had no time to process. The Red Dragon to the north was already poised—ready to strike at any moment.
"Titus, please—follow me. We’ve prepared everything. You… you’re the final piece."
He led Kai Xiusu through the city, into the war council chamber. There, the Divine-Blooded noble laid bare every secret: the defenses of Northern Aether, the allies gathered from across the world—including the “Messenger” Barachiel.
"Even if the Red Dragon is powerful," Walter declared, his voice rising with fervor, "we can drive him back. We can make him flee. Or even… bury him here."
His words were filled with hope—too much hope.
But he didn’t know that every word he spoke was being memorized by Kai Xiusu, who listened in silence, his eyes narrowing slightly.
> Lord of Luciath… Barachiel, the Messenger… another being of Celestial-level power.
> Hmph. I look forward to testing their true worth.
---
Empire of Ashen, Dragonblood Mountain
The Red Dragon lounged upon his throne, his mountain-sized form shifting slowly. Fifty meters from snout to tail, his body rippled like a living cliff. His massive, blood-filled maw exhaled thick, sulfur-white smoke.
This was the Emperor of the Ashen Empire—the supreme ruler of Anzeta, Kai Xiusu Claudew Noirikexius.
Flames erupted from cracks in the ground, licking upward like living trees, consuming the earth.
"BOOM!"
A thunderous roar split the sky. A wave of overwhelming, terrifying aura descended—scorching winds swept across the mountain, magma bubbled up from the earth.
The Master was awakening.
"SWISH—"
The Red Dragon’s eyes snapped open. In his pale golden vertical pupils, flames flickered like dying stars. Battle intensity radiated from him, chilling the air.
A cruel smile curled across Kai Xiusu’s crimson face.
He raised one massive claw, its tip piercing the air, pointing at a single location on the map.
"Since they’re so eager… then let them have their wish. Begin with Northern Aether."
"The time has come… to let the world witness my strength."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
