Chapter 984: They are our neighbors
The black dragon Monjebel was calm. As long as the protective ward held and the Dragon Nest was not destroyed, the foundation of the Dragonkin remained intact. And as long as that was true, they still had a future in the Erald Dream Realm.
“In a way, this is for the best,” said the other victorious dragon demigod, its mind unclouded by the sight of the ruins below. “This battle has saved us a great deal of future trouble.”
“The elder is right,” the bronze dragon Latychrenber agreed. “Sooner or later, we would have had to prove our strength to the other factions of this world. This invasion, while costly, was not without its benefits. After this, no one will dare to make a move on Dragonfla Island for decades.”
“As for the sacrificed dragon beasts and thralls,” Monjebel added, his gaze sweeping over the devastation, “as long as the Dragonkin survive, we can always breed more.”
He looked down at the island, and honestly, he found the sight of the ruins more pleasing than what had been there before. Sotis, destruction was not death, but a prelude to rebirth and reconstruction. Monjebel was certain that the new Dragonfla Island they built from these ashes would be far stronger and more fortified than the last.
“My lord, what are our next steps?” Latychrenber asked. Though they had broken the enemy’s formation, they all knew that only demigod phantoms had been destroyed on both sides. After a period of recovery, once their faith energy was restored, those phantoms could be re-ford.
Previously, the Dragonkin had believed only two demigods were stationed on the Dusk Continent, and that they could overwhelm them with superior numbers. They had been proven disastrously wrong. The faction from the Dusk Continent was their equal in every way.
“What is there to decide?” Monjebel said flatly. “An enemy is still an enemy. They butchered our people. Now and forever, they’ll remain our enemy. Still, even mortal foes sotis lay down their arms.”
Latychrenber and the other demigod imdiately understood the implication. The Champions Alliance had stolen their World Dragons from the Uynting Realm; they were unquestionably sworn foes.
But this foe was a behemoth, one that had to be treated with caution. An all-out war was not an option. The attack by the Alliance’s six demigods was a show of force, but it was also a signal: we are your equals, so let us coexist.
Of course, avoiding total war did not an a true ceasefire. In the future, the western seas would beco a hotbed of constant skirmishes and border conflicts between the Dragonkin and the Champions Alliance.
“And what of the Great Dragon King of Light?” Latychrenber asked. “How do we deal with him? My lord, I can sense that even without his dragon form, he is still a third-stage being. He cannot be underestimated.”
With their strategy toward the Champions Alliance settled, their other major problem was Mondusath. Their feelings toward him were a mix of love and hate. Love, because he had carved out this new territory for them. Hate, because he was ruthless enough to betray his own people.
“Hmph. He did not appear when Dragonfla Island was attacked. That is his answer to us,” Monjebel stated coldly. “His attitude determines ours. After he made such a powerful enemy for our race, I hardly think he is fit to lead us to greater heights.”
Monjebel was wary. When Mondusath failed to provide aid, he understood everything. In Mondusath’s eyes, the Dragonkin were rely pawns. That included Monjebel himself. Perhaps Mondusath had hoped they would all be grievously wounded or forced into slumber, giving him an opportunity to seize control of the race once more.
“Both of you be vigilant when you return,” Monjebel commanded. “The great ancestor still has so descendants living among us. They may try to stir up trouble. With a great enemy at our doorstep, we cannot afford chaos from within.”
With that, the black dragon descended, passing through the shimring, now-faltering protective ward around the Dragon Nest.
Dusk Continent, the Western Sea.
Orion, the Kraken, Makareth, and Isabella all tore their gazes away from the horizon. A new figure had appeared, lounging casually in Orion’s deck chair and sipping from a goblet. It was Arthas.
Orion had a fleeting, curious thought. As a skeleton king, where does the wine go? Does it just leak out through the gaps in his bones?
“Bro,” Orion said, breaking the stunned silence. “Try this, it’s a new brew.”
Of those present, only Orion was close enough to Arthas to be so casual. The others were visibly tense, their postures rigid and respectful.
The ghostfire in Arthas’s eye sockets flickered toward Orion. He held out his empty goblet, and Orion filled it with the new wine. After draining three cups in quick succession, Arthas set the goblet down and swept his gaze over the group.
“The Deputy Commander and Alexander have both chosen to enter slumber to recover their divine power,” he announced, his voice a dry rasp. “My will projection will guard the Dusk Continent for the ti being.”
“Full command of the war in the western seas and all related affairs on the continent are hereby transferred to Hulk. Any issues you have, you take them to him.”
No one spoke. They waited silently for the demigod’s pronouncent to continue.
“While I will not be entering slumber, I will be entering seclusion to recover my own divine power. Unless a demigod attacks, do not disturb .”
He paused. “In the battle between demigods, the final score was three to four. We lost.”
The news was a gut punch. A sense of helplessness washed over them. Even with the incredible power of the Champions Alliance, they had failed to completely crush the Dragonkin.
“You have seen the strength of the dragons to the west,” Arthas continued. “From now on, they are our neighbors. The war in the west will not stop. It will likely beco a naval conflict, defined by constant skirmishes.” He turned his burning gaze to the Kraken. “You’ll need to be vigilant.”
In the Alliance, only the Kraken was a true creature of the deep sea. As long as it was in the ocean, no arch lord could touch it. While Orion was now in overall command, the war in the water would fall to the Kraken.
“Don’t worry, big boss. I’ll keep an eye on them,” the Kraken said.
“Good.” Arthas nodded, then looked at Makareth and Isabella. “You two need to step up. If you cannot reach the Deputy Commander or Alexander, you can seek
out in my graveyard.”
With that, Arthas’s form dissipated, the Skeleton King returning to his seclusion.
It took a long ti—perhaps half an hour—for the oppressive aura of his presence to fully fade. Only then did the Kraken, Makareth, and Isabella finally relax.
“Well, that’s that,” Makareth said with a sigh. “I can finally go back to the abyss and get my house in order. All the Gargoyles I brought with
were wiped out. I’ll need to capture a new batch.”
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