Chapter 750: Discord on the Lake
“Hurry! Make haste!”
The Empire’s Construction Crew arrived in a rush, hauling a massive magical crane. They began salvaging the frozen corpse of the Red Dragon—now encased in a solid shell of ice, frosted with white frost and radiating a bone-chilling cold—as it was slowly hoisted from the lakebed.
The sight sent shivers down the spines of every female dragon present.
“By Tiamat above,” one whispered.
“Is she… still alive? Could this White Dragon have dared to murder a Deathkin in broad daylight?”
“Does she not fear the Dragon Queen’s wrath?”
Tinia stood tall, her overwhelming height making her nearly nose-in-the-air, her gaze practically sneering down at the gathered females. “You’ve all arrived. Behold the consequence of arrogance—of defying Emperor Willpower!”
The White Dragon snorted coldly. “A creature like this? A weakling? To even dream of claiming Master’s noble bloodline? Such a delusion. She doesn’t even merit the title of pet.”
“The Master once told me: only a dragon who can defeat me is worthy of audience with him.”
She paused, surveying the crowd with a sharp, mocking glance. “But frankly… I see no strength among you. Return to your nests. The Empire does not welcome your kind.”
With those words, a surge of triumph flooded Tinia’s heart—exhilarating, intoxicating. This was what the human tales called “showing off and crushing the arrogant.”
How magnificent it felt.
The Dragon Flock erupted into chaos.
That was Volkanis—the Prime Red Dragon, a titan of power. And even she had been bested with ease by this strange White Dragon. What hope remained?
Many black, brown, and yellow dragons quietly considered retreat. Their strength was weak, they had no kin support, and victory had never been a real possibility. They’d come hoping for luck—now, with the price of failure so brutally clear, they saw no reason to risk their life force.
The color dragons had come on chance, and now, with nothing to lose, they could leave without shame.
But amidst the green dragons, Vesuvira stood low, her expression stormy, teeth clenched.
The Dragon Queen’s Divine Favor is not easily won.
This White Dragon is too strong. We cannot defeat her head-on. We must use the others—those useless pawns—to our advantage.
With that thought, she stepped forward, emerging from the horde.
“Duke Tinia,” she said, voice smooth, “how exactly is one supposed to defeat you?”
Tinia frowned. This green dragon was even more foolish than her own kin. How could she not grasp the simplest rule?
“Of course,” Vesuvira continued, smiling, “your strength is so overwhelming. Surely you wouldn’t mind facing multiple dragons at once?”
Instantly, every female dragon turned toward Tinia, eyes flickering with a mix of curiosity, greed, and malice. Several red dragons narrowed their eyes, claws flexing, eager to strike.
This White Dragon was now the towering wall blocking their path to Kai Xiusu’s presence—the final obstacle.
If all fifty of them attacked at once, even she couldn’t block them all.
Vesuvira’s green kin murmured low, guttural growls echoing through the horde.
“We came by the Dragon Queen’s command. This White Dragon stands in our way—defying divine will! We must unite, strike together, and eliminate her!”
Tinia, though not the sharpest, could still feel the treachery in those words. A cold smirk curled her lips.
Master was right. These Five-Colored Dragons are all hypocrites—utterly shameless. If I don’t display supreme majesty, they’ll never be cowed.
—She had completely forgotten she was one of them.
Tinia spread her wings and spoke, voice icy.
“The Master said: since this is the Dragon Queen’s Divine Oracle, we must follow the traditions of dragonkind. Only one may pass. Only the victor of a duel may audience the Emperor.”
She paused, her eyes darkening.
“Otherwise…” Her pupils flared with a terrifying, glacial light.
“That is an open declaration of war against the Ashen Flame Empire.”
With a thunderous roar, hundreds of wyverns burst from the forest behind her. Imperial soldiers surged forward, weapons drawn, eyes sharp and alert.
And then Tinia revealed a brand-new scroll—a teleportation rune to Kai Xiusu’s private chambers.
Under the weight of that military display, the female dragons held their ground, but their gazes remained greedy, fixed on that scroll.
Vesuvira turned to the horde. “Then let us challenge in rotation.”
“She might be bluffing. Perhaps she used some magical device to defeat Volkanis. Now? She may not be able to repeat it.”
Just then, Christina stepped forward, smiling. “Vesuvira, since you’ve discovered her bluffing… why not take the first shot? Such a rare opportunity shouldn’t be wasted.”
“You—” Vesuvira ground her teeth, her face flushing with fury.
“Silence, Christina. A failure like you has no right to speak.”
The air thickened. The dragons whispered, argued, even shoved one another—no one dared step forward.
This was the fatal flaw of the Five-Colored Dragons: despite their numbers, despite their strength—some were even red or blue dragons of great power—they were always divided.
Internal conflict was written into their bones.
They could never unite as the Metal Dragons did—never form a disciplined, just order. And so, across the multiverse, they were forever overshadowed.
Finally, Vesuvira used her words like a dagger, goading an adult red dragon into fury.
“You, lowly White Dragon! How dare you scorn our noble Red Dragon lineage!”
The red dragon roared and charged.
But Tinia didn’t flinch. She didn’t dodge. Instead, she spun and lashed her tail with a force that sent the red dragon flying backward—cracking against the air like a whip.
“Roar!” The red dragon coughed up blood, struggling midair.
Tinia raised her head. From her throat, a torrent of frost-white breath poured out—
Cold air exploded across the sky, freezing the air itself.
In an instant, the red dragon was encased in ice—solid, unyielding—and crushed into the ground.
Silence. Utter silence.
Vesuvira offered a gold bounty, tempting others with reward.
After long hesitation, a greedy adult black dragon took flight, trembling as she approached. One clash—she was knocked unconscious before she could even scream.
Then came Vesuvira’s subordinates—young green dragons, a brown dragon from the South Thick Forest, a blue dragon from the desert.
Dozens tried. None lasted three rounds.
Each was crushed, humiliated, defeated in seconds.
Under the overwhelming pressure of the White Dragon’s presence, the color dragons fled one by one. One red dragon even surrendered, fleeing in terror.
Tinia’s confidence swelled.
What are these pathetic creatures?
How dare they compete for the Master’s favor?
They don’t even deserve to be called dragons.
Only now did she truly understand her own strength—the Ashen Flame Family Affinity—the power of her bloodline.
If measured by Kai Xiusu’s system, combined with the strength of “Father of Frost” Matalotok, this Ancestral White Dragon had a Challenge Rating of 22, surpassing even the Primordial White Dragons.
Ordinary dragons—no matter how strong, even the mightiest Red Dragon among the Five-Colored—were nothing but useless trash in her presence.
Only the ancient, the elder, the truly ancient red dragons could stand a chance.
“This White Dragon… she’s too powerful.”
“No wonder she’s called the Dragon Prince’s heir. Even her servant is this strong. I have no hope left.”
“The Dragon Queen doesn’t grant Divine Favor lightly. Only legendary prodigies could ever defeat her.”
“Then we must find another path. Let’s go.”
Soon, only thirty dragons remained—half of them green or blue, led by Christina and Vesuvira.
“This one’s no adult White Dragon,” Vesuvira hissed in fury. “That size, that breath, that aura—she’s an Ancient Dragon, nearing the end of her life!”
Christina, meanwhile, remained calm. She was the only dragon in the flock who had spoken directly with the “Dragon Prince.” She knew this quest was far more complex than it seemed.
The Faria family maintained close ties with the Imperial Elite. If Christina wanted audience, she could simply invoke her family name, use her status, and bypass the trials entirely.
She had come not to win—but to disrupt.
To prevent other color dragons—especially Vesuvira—from claiming Kai Xiusu’s bloodline, ascending to divinity, gaining the Dragon Queen’s favor.
And now? Her goal was achieved.
She loved watching the others fail.
She surveyed the scene, seeing only a few dragons left willing to fight. Then she turned to Vesuvira, cold and clear:
“Now it’s your turn, Christina. We must fulfill the Dragon Queen’s Divine Oracle together.”
“Your Blue Dragons claim to be second only to the Red Dragon. Yet you lack the courage to even engage in battle?”
Christina only smiled. “How pitiful. You may never even see Kai Xiusu’s face.”
She turned, spreading her wings. “Unfortunately, the Faria family has urgent matters awaiting me. I don’t have time to witness your defeat.”
With that, she let out a long, echoing roar—then turned and flew off, her blue dragons trailing behind her toward the Rosar Desert.
“Damn coward!” Vesuvira screamed, her voice laced with venom. “Worse than a dwarf!”
Watching them go, Tinia’s expression brightened.
Good. The annoying Blue Dragons are gone.
Now, if she dealt with the clever green dragon, she could return to the Master with her report.
Her heart thrummed with anticipation.
Vesuvira bowed her head, her face clouded with storm.
No… I cannot give up. This is my chance. The Dragon Queen’s favor!
If I miss it, I may have to wait centuries…
With grim resolve, she cast a Mind Link Spell on her green kin.
“Forget tradition! We are fulfilling the Dragon Queen’s will! Her command is above all! When the moment comes—ambush her from behind! Strike without warning!”
The green dragons exchanged silent glances.
“Yes, Lady Vesuvira.”
Then Vesuvira rose into the air.
She was seventeen or eighteen meters long, her body deep green, spines bristling along her back. A sharp horn jutted from her nasal bone. Her gaze—profound, piercing—glinted with cruel malice.
Though smaller than the White Dragon—barely half her size—she was no ordinary Five-Colored Dragon. Vesuvira was a Dragon Mage. Her father had been an ancient green dragon, living for centuries in the Divine Realm, blessed by Tiamat himself. And she, riding on his legacy, had enjoyed immense wealth and status—rising to become the finest of the Forest Green Dragons.
She flapped her wings, her body adorned with a dazzling array of magical gear—glowing with radiant light.
Energy Defense. Magical Focus. Divine Guidance. Emerald Light.
Spells shimmered across her form, their auras dancing in harmony.
In her hand, she held a golden scepter. A false smile curled her dragon face.
“Duke Tinia… if you insist on blocking my path, defying the Dragon Queen’s will… then I have no choice but to act.”
“I, Vesuvira—Follower of Tiamat, Daughter of Agrisia—challenge you in sacred duel…”
As she spoke, a soft chime echoed. The light around her grew brighter, swirling like fire.
“Enough talk!” Tinia snapped, roaring. She unleashed a crisp, white frost breath—a wave of freezing cold, sharp as blades, aimed straight at the green dragon.
But as the breath struck—the green dragon vanished.
It was a vision—a decoy.
The real Vesuvira had already shifted position, leaving only a phantom behind.
The frost breath struck the lake, sending a wave of icy terror across the surface. Half the lake froze instantly, cracking with frost.
That breath…
A distant green dragon gasped, her heart racing. Too dangerous…
“Troublesome filth…” Tinia scanned the air, then whirled—just in time to see the real Vesuvira behind her, scepter raised, chanting in the ancient dragon tongue.
“Dragon Flame Spell!”
From the scepter, a furious, roaring fire dragon erupted—screaming through the air, heat radiating like a furnace, claws outstretched, aiming to devour the White Dragon from behind.
“ROAR!”
Tinia bellowed, channeling the power of Matalotok deep within her.
Frost snow surged from her body—dozens of icy blue beams lancing out, forming a frozen domain around her.
Two elemental forces clashed—fire and ice—colliding in a storm of raw power.
A violent elemental turbulence tore through the air, white mist swirling into the sky, churning endlessly.
(End of Chapter)
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