Chapter 119 In The Shadow Of The Dragon God
Chapter 119 In The Shadow Of The Dragon God
Some of his dark red scales emerged on his skin, adding to his imposing presence. This was General Vaelor Von Ember-Void, a larval dragon known for his intense aggression in battle.
"Enough..." he said, directing his words at Neli'raj.
"...you disgust me, filth."
Neli'raj's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with a sadistic look. He straightened up, his posture shifting to a bow, a fake display of respect.
"I'm glad I was able to get to you, Vaelor. It's been too quiet around here lately."
Vaelor's eyes narrowed as the floor beneath them began to heat up, and he stepped closer to Neli'raj.
"Care to repeat that? You filth?"
Before things could escalate further, another general intervened. She moved gracefully, with silver hair, yellow eyes, and a pair of elegant white horns curving back from her head. This was General Elzora Von Seraph-Void, a celestial dragon.
"Enough, both of you," Elzora said.
She positioned herself between the two, her gaze steady as she looked from Vaelor to Neli'raj.
"Do you not feel ashamed, bickering like children in our lord's throne room? We are supposed to be the pillars of his strength, not petty squabblers."
Neli'raj's grin faded slightly, though he still held onto his mocking demeanor.
Vaelor, on the other hand, took a step back, his expression still hardened, but he respected Elzora enough to refrain from pressing the issue further.
Elzora's gaze softened just a fraction as she spoke.
"Our lord has greater concerns than our petty squabbles. We face a darkness that threatens to consume us all. We must focus on that, not on our differences."
Neli'raj crossed his arms, still grinning but less openly hostile.
"You were always the voice of reason, Elzora. But some of us cope with the inevitable in different ways."
Vaelor gave a low, frustrated growl but kept his distance, his eyes still locked on Neli'raj.
"Watch your tongue, Neli'raj. You may serve our lord in your twisted way, but your methods disgust me, and they always will." Nôv(el)B\\jnn
Elzora sighed, sensing that while they had calmed down, there was still tension between them.
"Let us focus on our duties. Our lord needs us united, not divided. The darkness will not wait for us to settle our differences."
The air in the room remained tense, each general lost in their own thoughts about the uncertain future that lay ahead. Elzora turned her gaze back to the closed doors of the throne room, silently hoping that Hazerion would indeed prove himself before it was too late.
...
As Hazerion and Kaelan walked through the silent corridors of the castle, the flickering torches cast long shadows on the walls. Hazerion led Kaelan to a part of the castle that few had ever seen. They approached a large set of golden doors adorned with carvings of dragons, their scales gleaming in the dim light.
Without a word, Hazerion raised his hand, and the doors slowly opened, revealing a passageway.
The walls of the passage were lined with golden runes, glowing faintly as if recognizing Hazerion's presence. Kaelan, sharp-minded, felt a sense of awe as they continued deeper into the secured passage.
Finally, they arrived at another set of doors, even grander than the first. Hazerion paused for a moment before pushing them open, revealing a massive chamber beyond. Inside, the chamber was filled with countless treasures—golden coins, priceless artifacts, ancient weapons, and shimmering jewels of every color imaginable. The air was thick with the scent of old magic, and the atmosphere felt almost sacred.
Hazerion walked slowly through the treasury, glancing at the treasures as if they were insignificant compared to the true prize hidden within. Kaelan followed closely behind, his eyes wide as he took in the vast wealth surrounding them.
'This is something else... It's leagues ahead of what I saw at the White Comets... I mean, could anyone even use all this in their entire lifetime?' Alister wondered as he gazed upon the mountains of treasure in this space.
As they reached the center of the chamber, Hazerion stopped and turned to Kaelan.
"Kaelan..."
"...do you know the legends of †Restria†?"
Kaelan shook his head slowly. "No, my lord. I have only ever heard that it is a sacred treasure to all dragonkind."
Hazerion nodded, as if expecting the answer. "A tale is passed down about its story, one that few outside the royal bloodline know."
He paused, his gaze drifting to a large, intricately carved pedestal at the far end of the chamber. "It is said that the dragon god, our first ancestor, was born from a will—a will of a being even he could not comprehend."
Kaelan listened intently as Hazerion continued, "This being had a single wish for his creation. He said, 'I want you to be the one who brings about my downfall. Let me experience death for what it is.'"
Kaelan's eyes widened slightly at Hazerion's words. He had never heard such a tale before. The idea that the dragon god, the most powerful of all beings, was created with the purpose of eventually destroying his creator was both unsettling and somwhat awe-inspiring.
"Following his creator's wish, the dragon god had to become unimaginably strong to achieve that goal—so strong that it seemed impossible. And so, his creator gave him a gift, one that would allow him to grow stronger without limit."
"It was †Restria†."
Hazerion's gaze returned to Kaelan, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Do you know what happened next, Kaelan?"
Kaelan shook his head once more. "No, my lord."
Hazerion's smile widened slightly, a look of nostalgia in his eyes. "The dragon god wreaked havoc in the cosmos, all for the sake of acquiring strength. For a long time, many did not know what to call this nameless creature. He brought forth not only destruction and agony but also a sense of ongoing inevitability, as if his deeds would continue for eternity."
"And many wanted him gone, to be erased from existence. And thus, he was called a 'Dr-agon-on-gon,' which meant 'Destruction, agony, all wish, would not go on for an eternity.'"
Hazerion's eyes gleamed as he smiled and then said, "But many said it was far too long, and thus he was called, a 'Dragon.'"
"This history is etched in our nature, and it is why our aura is so intimidating to lesser creatures, why dragons always strive for strength despite how powerful we already may be."
Alister, hearing all this in Kaelan's mind, couldn't help but wonder, 'Is this what the system wanted to teach me? If so, why do I have to die?'
For the first time in a while, the system responded, [The player needs to understand what happens to those who follow a weak Overlord.]