"And with this peaceful interlude, we both have ample ti to slowly investigate the Elves until we find the Starlight Dragon Frenzy Shackles..." This was the safest and most conservative plan.
But Tiamat cut in, her expression indicating she had seen this coming. "And also enough ti for you to ignite the divine spark and ascend to the position of the Platinum Dragon God, right? Do you think... I would easily allow you to freely grow into a major threat to ?"
David also laughed. Tiamat was indeed more difficult to deal with and more cautious than he had imagined. Her concern was not without reason: with his terrifying talent in this world, amplified by the power of Authority, it might only take a short twenty-five years for him to achieve godhood—an unprecedented, young Dragon God. And once he succeeded in achieving godhood, to Tiamat, he would represent so kind of ’Bahamut’.
David did not object, because he now understood that this Tiamat, who had yet to be tested by fate in this world, would not compromise so easily. If Tiamat were that ’obedient,’ she would not be the Tiamat he knew.
David imdiately took a deep breath and asked, "Then what does Your Majesty suggest?"
The confident Tiamat did not hesitate. "This way: I’ll let you leave the Evil Scale Fortress. Once you return, on behalf of the Dragon Royal Court, gather all the Elves, restrict their freedom, reclaim the privileges granted to them, and then, utterly expel them from Toriel, from our world."
David was stunned speechless halfway through listening. Her Majesty the Dragon Queen must not have been rejected by any music academies before she crossed over... or perhaps she was once charged two hundred thousand Gold Coins for a piece of Dragon Food by so damned Elf...? It was a close call that she didn’t suggest sending the Elves to the Green Dragon’s poisonous gas nesting pools.
Tiamat clearly harbored doubts about the threat posed by the Elves, yet she adhered to the principle of ’better to kill in error than to miss one.’ So what need was there for any evidence? Unsaid and undeniable, this was indeed Tiamat’s style. So ruthless to both enemies and allies. So ruthless, leaving no room for leniency.
David could only sigh at this. "But doing so will surely provoke the full retaliation of the Elves and even the Elven gods. When faced with despair, it is very likely that they will hasten the rise of The Slaying King Star or, alternatively, open that clamorous gate to Ferodiel."
Tiamat drew her red dragon head close, looking at David. "But what if I insist on doing so?"
Seeing the unyielding Tiamat, David took a deep breath. "Then, as you wish, Your Majesty."
If all else fails, I’ll have to activate the alternative plan.
"Go, but rember, the next ti we et, we will be enemies." Tiamat closed her peerless eyes, feigning sleep as she flicked her tail.
David, however, smiled nonchalantly and, swaying his tail, turned around, demanding without looking back, "But I can’t just be sent back like this. Such a stain would affect my prestige in the Royal Court and will make my actions against the Elves subject to the dragons’ scrutiny. Your Majesty, you wouldn’t want that..."
Tiamat, who seed to have anticipated this, tapped the floor impatiently with her tail. "You just escape; no Chromatic Dragon can stop you. As you wish, you shall return to the mountains as a hero, little one."
"Thank you. So, as you said, the next ti we et, we will be enemies, Tiamat, miss, hahahahaha."
Arrogance
David burst into laughter as he spread his wings and flew into the sky under Tiamat’s suddenly fierce glare.
Could it really be that it’s not Marduk? Tiamat stared after David’s departing figure, plunging into deep doubt. After all, the Marduk in my mory wouldn’t have the guts to provoke like this.
And even though it was the first ti she felt a burning rage because of the title ’Miss Tiamat,’ the words had been said, and their pact was sealed. Tiamat had no choice but to suppress the urge to smash David into the ground; she even had to secretly help David escape the Evil Scale Fortress, teeming with the strong.
This made the young Dragon Queen feel inexplicably agitated.
With Tiamat’s divine assistance, David, like a War God blessed with imnse luck, burst through the encirclent and pursuit of the Chromatic Dragons for a ti.
When David, covered in wounds, returned to the front lines—pursued by Chromatic Dragons, flying through a sky that seed to press down like dark clouds, all under the watchful eyes of the vast tal Dragon army—the tal Dragons of the mountain ranges wore expressions of dazed shock.
According to frontline reports, their prince was very likely captured and taken to the Evil Scale Fortress. How could he possibly have escaped? And now that Prince Ximor had indeed escaped... would they still fight this battle?
Under the collusion with Tiamat, this Battle of Dragonfall naturally could not proceed. At least not for the ti being.
And David, having successfully followed the tal Dragon army back to the mountain Royal Court, also faced a troubleso issue. How should I implent Tiamat’s plan, one that mirrored the strategy of a certain small-mustached individual from years past?
In the absence of any evidence proving that the Elves would rebel or even overthrow dragon civilization, such an almost insane act was bound to face more questioning and obstruction within tal Dragon society. When a race is prosperous and prides itself on civilization, "virtue signaling" inevitably becos prevalent; even euthanizing a dog that has bitten a person would provoke their vehent protest.
But this was no difficulty for David. Since it’s tal Dragon society, and since "virtue signaling" is so prevalent, then I shall fulfill your virtuous hearts.
「The next day」
David attended the Dragon Royal Court council eting. Having already secured the support of the Elders Council, Landis, his face beaming with pride, sought David’s opinion. "So, Ximor, my child, as a reward for successfully negotiating peace, is there anything you desire?"
As a matter of course, David, being a prince, should have modestly declined, only to be appointed by Landis, the North Wind Dragon King, to so key departnt in the na of gaining experience—perhaps as a squad leader of so renowned legion. This would not only highlight David’s impeccable character but also endear him to the dragons’ hearts. After all, as the legitimate eldest son, David lacked no material reward. What he needed was rely so ti to grow.
But in the next mont, David raised his head to look at the just Dragon King and then surveyed the dragons in the Royal Court.
"I’m sorry, I have withheld sothing from all of you.
"The reason I was able to return safely from the Evil Scale Fortress is, actually, I had the secret assistance of the Elves.
"Therefore, I would like to earnestly request my father to liberate all the Elf slaves and to build a city at the foot of the mountains.
"A city where the Elves can enjoy freedom."
A city to enclose them.
Upon these words, the entire Dragon Royal Court first fell silent, then erupted into turmoil. This had touched the interests of all the tal Dragons. After all, in this era, which dragon’s lair didn’t have a few Elf servants? Even many of the upper tal Dragon clans took pride in keeping Elf slaves, particularly pure-blooded Elves—beautiful to look at and useful to boot. For instance, the one serving David was none other than the daughter of Corellon, the main god of the Elves. What is favored above is emulated below.
Observing the Dragon Court, now thrown into disarray, a determined smile appeared on David’s lips.
Thus, when Tiamat begins her extensive arrests of the Elves, there will be a reasonable explanation. And on the tal Dragon Royal Court’s side, the Elves will be increasingly eager to enter this encircling city. Below the city walls, are the Elves truly free, or are they not? This has beco a philosophical question. By that ti, if the Elven gods make any further rebellious moves, for the tal Dragons, it will be an utter case of... returning kindness with enmity!
The wrath of the tal Dragons would then utterly drown their enemies.
Reviews
All reviews (0)