Ashen Dragon

Before Christina could respond, the Blue Dragon flew to the side of the Brass Dragon and used its sharp claws to pierce its chest, pulling out the blood-drenched heart, causing a piercing wail to echo through the desert.

"I didn't expect the situation to escalate this far..."

Christina looked at the dead Brass Dragon and sighed, saying nothing more.

She was not lamenting the death of her enemy, but worrying about the future of the clan and the lives of its members.

Before the "Dragon Disaster" swept through Seleucis, although the Blue Dragons of the Faria Family often had disputes with the Metal Dragons, it was mostly pure competition for interests, staying within a small scope, and rarely led to mutual slaughter.

There is an unwritten rule among dragonkin: True Dragons should not kill each other, not even the opposing camps like the five-colored dragons and Metal Dragons would drive each other to extinction.

But three years ago, the Dragon Worship Church launched an attack on Seleucis. The "Thunder Tyrant" Goraz Dera killed seven adult Gold Dragons within three days, inciting the wrath of Bahamut and igniting the fury of the entire Metal Dragon Clan.

A month later, the revenge of the Metal Dragons arrived, and a legion composed of five Gold Dragons, seven Silver Dragons, and twelve Brass Dragons attacked the Faria Clan's Western Nest, resulting in the death of six Blue Dragons and heavy losses among the clan's retainers.

Since then, the "gentlemen's agreement" among True Dragons over tens of thousands of years was completely broken, and mutual slaughter between the five-colored and Metal Dragons reemerged in the world.

Both sides attacked viciously without mercy, as if returning to the era of the First Epoch's "Dragon Fall War," extending that war which caused the fall of countless giant dragons.

Christina knew that if they killed all these Brass Dragons, the Faria Family would surely face even more intense revenge from the Metal Dragons—particularly the Brass Dragons, leading to the deaths of more Blue Dragon members.

Thinking of this, as the Blue Dragon was about to kill the second unconscious Brass Dragon on the ground, Christina stopped him: "Enough, there's no need to continue killing."

The Blue Dragon turned around, eyes filled with confusion, suppressing its anger: "Why? Haven't these hypocritical Metal Dragons killed enough of our kin?"

Christina scolded harshly: "Fool! If you kill more, it will only lead to greater losses for us. Killing these yellow-skinned crawlers gives us no benefit, only worsening revenge from the Metal Dragons!"

"Clear away the damned dragon corpses, and we'll go straight back to the Western Dragon Nest. I have to see my father!" Her tone was resolute, like a firm order, with sparks from her eyes.

"Yes..."

The Blue Dragon sneered, but dared not defy Christina's command. He lowered his head and flapped his wings towards the direction of the dragon nest.

Blue Dragons do not prefer tall dwellings; they tend to dig nests underground, burrowing under sand dunes, or using magic to carve rocks into complex spaces and tunnels to accommodate its expanding clan.

As the largest Blue Dragon Clan in the South—and even the entire Fianso—the Faria Family has several dragon nests.

The Western Dragon Nest is located over an ancient city ruin swallowed by sand dunes. Its entrance is an open cave chamber, with the city's carved stone pillars and part of the walls merged together, decorated with blue and purple crystal stones.

Around the dragon nest, magical sandstorms blow constantly, and numerous deadly traps lay waiting, often patrolled by monsters like flying lion beasts, lion dragons, desert scorpion dragons.

But upon seeing Christina, the dragon nest's mistress, return, all the monsters bowed down in submission, and even the sandstorm opened a massive gap for passage.

Christina entered the underground dragon nest, navigating through tunnels as complex as a maze, and went directly to the deepest area, where her father, Clan Leader of the Faria Family—Ancient Blue Dragon Keldom resides.

Inside the cave, Christina rushed forward, with an urgent and angry tone: "Father, we can't go on like this anymore! This war is completely consuming the clan's strength!"

"Before this war began, there were ninety-seven members in the family, but in two years, we have lost twenty-one adult Blue Dragons!"

The enormous Ancient Blue Dragon stood up, producing a thunderous sound: "But... it's worth it. When His Majesty Tiamat returns to earth, our Faria Clan will be his benefactor, receiving endless glory..."

"Damn the glory!"

Christina angrily interrupted the Ancient Blue Dragon, gritting her teeth and swearing: "Can honor resurrect our family members?"

"The war in the Western Talilo Desert grows fiercer, with Gold Dragons, Silver Dragons, Brass Dragons, Bronze Dragons, and even Red Copper Dragons getting involved. We are using the clan's strength to fight against the entire Fianso Metal Dragon Clan!"

Keldom was at a loss for words but argued: "Just hold on for this period, and it'll be fine. Our Faria Clan has occupied the West of the Kingdom. As long as Elder Goraz Dera completes her mission..."

"Did we occupy the West of the Kingdom? Clearly, it's Elder Goraz Dera with her sect occupying it. We are nothing more than expendable under her command." Christina sneered.

She looked at the Ancient Blue Dragon, continuing to persuade: "After occupying the Kingdom, what benefits did we gain? The enemy increases, those vile Blue Dragonborn bastards multiply, yet our Faria Clan members dwindled."

"Father, stop! We shouldn't risk our lives for Goraz Dera. She's no longer our kin, she's already been... you know what I mean."

Keldom chuckled bitterly: "Christina, you're back just in time. I was about to call you over. We don't need to handle the western line of defense anymore; it will be guarded by those so-called 'Blue Dragon Descendant Godslayers.'"

"What? That's really..."

Christina was initially delighted, but noticing the Ancient Blue Dragon's expression seemed off, she asked, puzzled: "Wait, did something happen with the Dragon Worship Church?"

Keldom's face turned bitter as he solemnly explained: "The Ashen Empire marched south, capturing Lin Ying City, destroying the Green Dragon Sect, and occupying Northern Seleucid."

"That Ashen Emperor even took action personally, killed Erebos, seized his Divine Body, and enraged Her Majesty the Dragon Queen, causing dragons in the Divine Realm to fall, commanding them to assassinate Cassius."

Christina's expression changed drastically, becoming heavily clouded as if enveloped by a thick thundercloud: "Then we..."

Keldom sighed again: "Exactly, our new mission is to go to the eastern and northern Talilo, to resist the Ashen Empire's invasion and give everything to kill that Ashen Emperor."

"What a joke!"

Christina slammed her claws onto the ground fiercely, splattering countless sand grains, causing electric currents on the ground to buzz and hum.

"Father, that's sending us to die! I've been to the Ashen Empire multiple times, I know their military strength, and know how powerful that Ashen Emperor really is!"

"Damn it, Goraz Dera's already gone mad! She doesn't care about the clan's interests at all, immersed in that dream of becoming a god!"

Keldom spoke softly: "But it's Her Majesty the Dragon Queen's Divine Oracle, it can't be defied."

It was clear this Ancient Blue Dragon was already uncertain.

Christina said coldly: "Father, our Faria Family fought in battles for the five-colored dragons, for that majesty, sacrificing over twenty members in warfare, already reaching the utmost limit without reproach.

The Dragon Fall War tens of thousands of years ago proved one thing—in conflicts among giant dragons, those who suffer losses are never the Dragon Gods, but us."

Keldom was in heavy contemplation and finally, with a firm tone said: "Christina, you're right, we've already lost too much in the war.

The Faria Clan must not get involved this time, even if it means defying the Divine Oracle... it's worth it!"