Chapter 618: The Descent of the Dragon
“All people worship together, the great red dragon in the heavens——”
A sudden Thermal Surge ripped across the Earth.
As the sun rose, high above the sky, a distant sound echoed from afar—melodic like a hymn, grand like an opera, carrying an aura of profound Dignity.
Slowly, Soldiers turned their gazes toward the northern horizon. Their breaths caught in their throats, sweat trickling down their foreheads.
“Amanata above,” Duke Walter muttered in quiet panic, whispering a prayer in his heart.
Strange. This atmosphere was too strange. The pressure descending wasn’t that of a brutal Evil Dragon’s arrival—it felt more like the imminent Descend of a Divine Being into the mortal realm.
Above the clouds, warriors from the celestial realm stood solemn, even the silver-haired Lord of Heaven furrowed his brow. For the first time, the perfectly composed, emotionless face betrayed a flicker of unease.
“Boom—”
The ground trembled. Gray smoke surged across the land. Countless Iron Beasts roared to life upon the Earth, stretching across the horizon like an endless tide.
Thousands of Wyverns, Flame Wyverns, Chimera, and even a White Dragon burst from the sky. Wings flapped violently, darkening the heavens like a dense storm cloud, casting chaotic shadows across the battlefield.
Behind the Steam Tank Force, Armored Tanks dragged hundreds of Heavy Cannons onto the field, their muzzle barrels gaping like hungry mouths—intimidating, terrifying.
Then came the Imperial Infantry, marching in perfect formation, steel-clad and disciplined.
And behind them, a sea of Players surged forward from all directions, fighting independently, overwhelming the city of Collins in numbers that threatened to swallow it whole.
Witnessing such a colossal spectacle, the Allied Forces trembled. Soldiers whispered nervously among themselves.
“They… are our enemy?”
“Gods above… the barren Northern Regions birthed an army like this? It’s beyond belief.”
“Just look at these homeboys—they destroyed the City of Saint Theo!”
High above the Allied military formation, Duke Walter stood, gazing at the vast Empire of Ashen Army spreading across sky and earth. His grip tightened on his Longsword. In his pale golden eyes, a flicker of light burned.
One glance was enough. He sensed powerful Life Force fluctuations—dozens of Legendary-level beings, not to mention weapons of terrifying might.
“I underestimated them,” Walter murmured. “No wonder they shattered the Atherian Defensive Line in just nineteen days. Reminds me of the old Fadalan.”
He sighed softly, yet his resolve remained unshaken.
No matter how powerful the enemy, retreat was no longer an option. He would face it head-on—bravely, without fear.
The booming of Steam Engines, the rhythmic stomping of boots, the flapping of Two-Headed Dragon wings—these sounds wove together into a thunderous drumbeat.
“Regardless of how the world changes, Your Dignity remains unshaken—”
Beneath this true War Drum, the chant swelled in intensity, its melody rising to a fever pitch. The Energetic War Chant roared toward its climax.
“Kai Xiusu of the Multitudes! With endless reverence and gratitude, we offer you our eternal loyalty!”
At that moment, the Two-Headed Dragon in the sky and the Chimera warriors alike raised their heads and let out a long, unified Roar—its echoes shaking Heaven and Earth.
“Boom—”
The Earth groaned under the force of the wind pressure. Every Soldier on the ground struggled to lift their heads.
“Amanata!”
“Gods above!”
People gasped, mouths agape, eyes wide with fear, staring upward in disbelief.
There, silhouetted against the light, a massive figure descended from the heavens. Sunlight carved out his sharp, clear outline—broad wings spanning the sky like nightfall, casting a shadow over the Earth.
The head alone—four-horned, radiating Dignity—measured a hundred meters. Its wingspan stretched nearly a kilometer. Its tail, coiled like a mountain range.
This colossal Red Dragon hovered in the sky, wings flaring, unleashing an overwhelming, suffocating Pressure upon all below—like a mythic sky crushing the Earth.
What kind of Dragon was this?
How could such a Monster exist in this world?
In that instant, every Soldier—Walter included—felt the same desperate question echo in their hearts.
Even the seasoned Divine Offspring Duke stood frozen, lips trembling.
“This… is just a Phantom Image. An exceptionally advanced Spell.”
Beside him, the Gold Dragon spread his wings, voice calm and firm.
“It’s a Phantom Image crafted entirely from pure Fire Element—almost tangible, of extremely high quality. One must admit, this Evil Dragon’s mastery over Elemental Energy is truly exquisite. Even high-level mages would struggle to see through it.”
“Ah, I see. Thank you for the clarification, Lord Titus.”
Walter glanced at the Gold Dragon, his trust in this ally deepening.
He realized he’d been too tense—too shaken—failing to notice the obvious illogicalities within the illusion.
After all, this was the Third Era. Even the ancient Dragon Gods who had survived since time immemorial couldn’t grow to a kilometer-scale size. And their True Forms were never meant to descend into the Material Realm.
If a Dragon thousands of meters long truly stepped into the world, it would be instantly expelled by the World Laws—possibly triggering the Disintegration and Collapse of space itself.
With that thought, Walter raised his Longsword, and it blazed with radiant light.
“Soldiers! Do not fear! That is but a False Illusion! A Despicable act of intimidation by the Evil Dragon!”
Hearing that voice—strong, unwavering—the Allied Forces slowly regained composure, summoning courage once more.
“Of course! How could such a Dragon exist?”
“Exactly—just another Enemy conspiracy.”
“The Fadalan people will not be cowed!”
Though the Dragon looked terrifyingly real—so lifelike it seemed ready to crush them—Walter’s prestige still carried weight. The soldiers believed him.
Walter raised his sword, its glowing tip pointing toward the distant Dragon.
“Soldiers! I have marched alongside King Aragon across the Multiverse, spreading the Radiance of Amanata. I have faced enemies far more powerful than this—Stellar Behemoths, Hellish Demons, Deep Abyss Beasts. And not once did we tremble. Why?
Because we are the proud Fadalan people!
Remember this battle is not merely for survival. It is for Dignity. For the blood and sweat of our ancestors. For our children to one day soar beneath the peaceful skies of Fadalan.”
“How laughable—”
A booming voice cut through his speech from afar.
The Red Dragon slowly opened its maw. On its massive face, a terrifying smile spread.
The Phantom Dragon shook its head, sighing.
“Fadalan is indeed a noble Empire. But alas… it has long been dead. Truly, utterly, irrevocably dead.”
“Silence, you contemptible Evil Dragon!” Walter roared, fury blazing in his golden eyes. “You shall not insult the sacred Fadalan! You shall not seize our lands! We are the Children of the Sun God! As long as the sun never sets, as long as Amanata’s Radiance remains, the Fadalan Empire shall endure!”
“Sun God?” Kai Xiusu scoffed, voice dripping with sarcasm. “You have the nerve to speak of Him? Don’t you know? Your King Aragon—‘Son of the Sun’—committed a Heinous Crime of Desecrating the Divine. And as for you? You are but sinners abandoned by the gods. Like greedy wild dogs, you gnaw on the remnants of a dead empire, yet call yourselves Fadalan’s heirs. How utterly ridiculous.”
His voice echoed across the Northern Aether Plain, reaching every Soldier’s ears.
For some reason, they couldn’t help but feel… it made sense. The words were chillingly persuasive.
Walter’s fury exploded.
His eyes blazed like fire. Flames seemed to erupt from his very soul.
“Wretched lies! Damned Evil Dragon! How dare you Defame King Aragon!”
His voice trembled. His body shook violently. Where before, his hostility had been that of a Duke confronting a foe, now it was pure, unrelenting Aggression.
This Dragon had insulted Aragon I—the sacred Emperor of Faldran! It was attacking the very foundation of Fadalan! Denying the Empire’s legal authority and legitimacy!
Walter clenched his teeth, fire blazing in his eyes.
“Red Dragon, you should be grateful. Had this happened twenty years ago, your head would have been severed by His Majesty’s Divine Descendant Army!”
“Long live King Aragon!”
“Evil Dragon! You will not Defame the Emperor!”
The soldiers roared back, waving their weapons in defiance.
“Cursed Humans! They’re insulting Emperor Kai Xiusu!”
“Kill them!”
“I’ll flatten this city! I’ll crush the Emperor of Fadalan into ash beneath my feet!”
The Empire’s soldiers stirred with rage, screaming through megaphones, launching a furious verbal war.
Yet the Red Dragon showed no anger. It simply stated, coldly, “Your Emperor has already been Reduced to Ash in the Sun’s Wrath Flame. And now, I—Emperor Kai Xiusu of the Ember Empire—stand before you. I am the Master of the Northern Aether.
A century ago, the Faldran Empire conquered the land by force, destroying the Atherian Kingdom. Now, we do the same. This is the natural progression of World Development.
In that sense, the Empire of Ashen is far more worthy to inherit Fadalan’s spiritual legacy.
You should feel honored, not angry. At last, Fadalan has a true, qualified successor.”
“Never!” Walter raised his sword again, voice unwavering. “The Fadalan people will never be your slaves! Conquer the North only after you’ve stepped over our corpses!”
“Cruel Five-Colored Monster Dragon!” The Gold Dragon Titus lifted his head and let out a long, noble Roar. “Your Aggressive Invasion will be etched onto the Pillar of Historical Shame!”
“Red Dragon,” Barachiel stepped forward, Lightning Blade blazing. “I will make you understand the importance of Order and Justice—in the Name of Heaven!”
Kai Xiusu stared down from above with his pale golden eyes. His gaze swept over the Divine Offspring, the Gold Dragon, and the Angel.
Then, calmly, he said:
“You may agree or not—I care not. I do not wish to know. I only come to inform you: From this day forward, the Northern Aether belongs solely to the Empire of Ashen. Anyone who dares oppose this will be utterly Destroyed.
In other words—your destruction is not your concern.”
The Red Dragon’s voice grew louder, finally erupting into a thunderous roar. The Phantom Image expanded violently, turning half the sky crimson, transforming it into a Sea of Flames.
A wave of unprecedented Thermal Surge exploded outward, scorching the land. Grass ignited. Embers flew, smoke choked the air.
Then, the chant reached its peak.
The Army of Ashen let out a deafening Roar—Battle Cries, war cries, screams—shattering the crackling sound of fire.
“Conquest—”
“Full Charge!”
“For the Ember Empire! For Emperor Kai Xiusu!”
In an instant, the Heavy Cannons standing on the ground fired in unison. Shells arced through the sky like a net of fire, raining down upon the outskirts of Collins City.
“Boom!”
The Iron Beasts roared, charging across the smooth, open plains—unstoppable, like a storm—crashing through the land, shaking the Earth, making it groan.
The dragons in the sky spread their wings and dove toward Collins City, their roars a cacophony of fury.
On the ground, Skeleton Serpents slithered forward, while Zombie Lords and skeletons marched beneath the cover of a Black Cloud. The scent of death drifted on the northern wind, creeping toward the city.
And behind them, an army of Flame Wyverns, Fire Lizards, Fire Dwarves, and Fire Giants advanced with the spreading wildfire and thick smoke—surging toward the Allied Forces.
At the rear of the Empire’s formation, Kai Xiusu opened his淡金色 eyes, using his powerful limbs to lift his fifty-meter-long body. He unfurled his wings behind him.
The Red Dragon raised its head, gazing at the intensifying war. It exhaled—a regiment of sulfur-scented white smoke, sneering.
“Arrogant fool. This war shall end quickly.”
Beside him, the silver-haired girl, holding her documents, hesitated for a moment before stepping forward.
“Kai Xiusu… your actions just now… they’re nearly identical to those of the infamous Monster Dragons in my memory. Exactly like the legends say. Are you… still seeking Justice and Order?”
Kai Xiusu smiled faintly, then sighed.
“Of course I am, Olivia. My初心 has never changed. But these Homeboys stand in the way of my pursuit of a New Order. They’ve become enemies. Obstacles to progress. So I must reluctantly, necessarily, eliminate them.”
Olivia fell silent. She knew his mind was made up—irreversible.
After a pause, she whispered, pleading:
“There’s still one Kin among the Allies… that Just-Hearted Gold Dragon. He didn’t mean to stand in your way. Kai Xiusu… can you spare him?”
“Of course,” the Red Dragon replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “After all, I’ve always been the most Merciful to Kin.”
In the vertical golden pupils of his eyes, a strange light flickered.
(End of Chapter)
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