Ashen Dragon

After a long silence, the Empire's soldiers erupted in fervent cheers, while the soldiers stationed at Esengard felt a ringing in their ears, terrified.

"Oh god..."

"By Amanata, how, how is this possible?"

"Count Hain was eaten? He, he was favored by the Sun God, how could this happen!"

"Is that evil dragon— the Ashen Emperor? God, I've seen that image, it's really him!"

They looked up at the giant dragon that blotted out the sun, watching the sky suddenly darken, feeling an unprecedented despair.

Though the Ashen Empire's army was overwhelmingly strong, it was still one that mortals could defeat, as long as they had enough courage and made enough sacrifices.

But what about the giant dragon in the sky?

It swallowed Count Hain, who had received Amanata's blessing, swallowed their common sun, and devoured their last hope!

Great despair and fear engulfed the soldiers' hearts, a feeling akin to the arrival of natural disasters like tsunamis and earthquakes, with no solution except to flee.

Under tens of thousands of gazes, the Red Dragon high in the sky nonchalantly spat out the body of an Angel Divine Descendant, even leisurely licking its lips.

—After all, Kai Xu did not like eating humanoid creatures, he only wanted to devour the Divine Power Core that was about to explode.

Hain was violently crashed into the ground, deeply embedded several feet deep, his chest showing a massive hollow, his entire body dim and cracked, like a shattered stone sculpture.

Though long dead, his face still retained a look of terror and disbelief.

—This Divine Descendant Count had never anticipated that his attempt to perish together with the Imperial people would result in being swallowed by a sudden bloodthirsty maw.

In the sky, the Red Dragon flapped its wings, its deep golden vertical pupils gazing down at the Cast Iron Wall spanning the valley, slowly opening its mouth, speaking in a calm tone.

There was no trace of threat, as if merely stating an insignificant fact.

"Nice to meet you, remnants of Fadlan, Retainers of the Sun God.

You might have heard of my name, I am the master of Anzeta, the Emperor of the Ashen Empire, Cassius.

The Ashen Empire will completely save you from the harsh exploitation and terrifying rule of the Thrace Kingdom, granting you true redemption."

A thunderous voice appeared above Esengard, echoing throughout the grand city, making people feel extremely terrified, yet also particularly confused and puzzled.

In their eyes, the Red Dragon was an extremely cruel tyrant, his sole purpose for occupying Esengard was to plunder wealth, to enslave its people, and his Monster Legion even treated human souls as delicacies.

Yet when he really appeared above the city, this evil dragon seriously discussed so-called "redemption," rendering the scene truly bizarre.

"What does he want to do?"

"What is he saying?"

"What is the true purpose of the Ashen Empire? They're actually saying they're here to save us?"

Cassius's voice continued, becoming more and more resonant: "The King of Thrace, Wilhelm, colluded with the Hell Demon, attempting to steal the power of the sun by sacrificing the people's lives, and thus was abandoned by the Divine.

You should recognize his true face, and see one thing clearly—the Ashen Empire is the true successor of Holy Fadlan! It is the real sun!"

In the people's astonished gaze, the Red Dragon spread its wings, the Dragon Crystal on its chest suddenly lit up, dazzling and resplendent like the fiery sun, bursting forth with brilliant light.

[Fiery Sun Illusion]

Under the combined influence of the Fire Element Authority, Heaven Origin, and Sun God Power, the light released by the Red Dragon was far more dazzling than Hain's, and even more sacred, exuding a solemn and majestic sense.

Under such light, rivers evaporated, and the air within a hundred-mile radius became dry and scorching, as if it was the heated noon of a hot summer.

"How is this possible?"

"But this is indeed the power of His Majesty Amanata..."

"This familiar light, could it be... is he telling the truth? Did His Majesty Wilhelm really betray the Divine?"

People whispered among themselves, feeling as if the worldview they had held for so long was about to collapse, could it be that all they have fought to protect was just a demonic illusion?

Clearly, they had already begun to waver.

Seeing the intense reaction of the Esengard people, Cassius continued to fan the flames: "Many of you must have participated in the Holy War, right? It was a cruel war, where compatriots fought each other..."

Upon hearing this, many soldiers below deeply agreed, nodding in unison.

"But those high and mighty kings never adhered to the Church's commandments, never truly treated you as their people, merely using you as cheap expendables!

To seize power and profit, they did not hesitate to sign contracts with demons, even Devils, to sell your souls! They have no qualification to be Holy Fadlan's successors! Even those so-called Divine Descendants... are nothing more than thieves of power!"

The ability of [Smooth Talker] activated, the Red Dragon's reality-bending charisma easily twisted people's thoughts, making them irresistibly want to believe.

"Evil Dragon! You're speaking nonsense!"

"Don't think you can beguile our warriors with your glib tongue!"

Angry roars came from the walls of Esengard.

Only to see several remaining Angel Divine Descendants flapping their wings, appearing above the Cast Iron Wall, glaring at the Red Dragon with anger, and raising their Silver Swords in unison, the sword tips emitting golden light.