Chapter 328: Red and Silver (Part One)
A series of sonic booms echoed, and a thunderous roar resounded through the skies.
"Foolish Northlanders!"
"Since you dared to recklessly start this war—"
Cassius spread his broad wings and dove from the sky. The dragon crystal on his chest surged with searing energy, radiating dazzling light.
"Then I shall grant you utter destruction!"
"Boom!"
As his words fell, the air shattered with a resounding crack, and a blazing white column of fire erupted from his gaping maw.
The unbreakable ice barrier first showed spiderweb-like cracks, then emitted thick smoke, before shattering completely with a crisp, resounding crash.
"Long live the Ember King!"
"Glory to the great red dragon!"
"This is the divine power of our master!"
"No, our master has surpassed the gods! He is a far greater being!"
"Your Majesty! We are invincible!"
The soldiers of the Ember Kingdom erupted in excitement. Tieflings, goblins, and ogres alike raised their weapons and let out exuberant cheers, as though witnessing the descent of their deity.
The exhilarated ogre artillery crews even fired celebratory rounds, sending massive shells exploding like fireworks over the desolate plains.
Yet, the officers of the ogre artillery corps did not reprimand them, as they too were caught up in the fervor. The massive ogre waved his military banner excitedly, causing the ground beneath him to strain under his weight.
"Roar—"
The red dragon slowly flapped his wings in the air, letting out a deafening roar that echoed across Anzeta.
He said nothing more.
He merely looked down upon everything on the ground with disdain.
With each roar and wingbeat, the weather around him transformed dramatically.
The temperature soared, the air grew restless, and fiery orange clouds spread rapidly across the horizon, painting most of the sky a brilliant red.
Steam rose from the river's surface, and the ice chunks within the turbulent waters melted instantly.
[Weather Manipulation]
This was the red dragon's domain.
Wherever he appeared, the surroundings became a fiery inferno.
Under the crushing pressure of his terrifying dragon aura, countless frightened eyes turned upward toward the majestic dragon.
Though the Northlands had seen many rampaging dragons throughout history, most were white dragons. A dragon of this size had never been seen—in any realm, such massive dragons were exceedingly rare.
Despite having witnessed him through magical projections, facing this terrifying dragon in person still filled them with unparalleled awe and dread.
The Northland nobles couldn't muster even a thought of opposing him.
This red dragon seemed more like a force of nature, akin to earthquakes, avalanches, or hurricanes—an unstoppable calamity, beyond human power to resist.
"By Tempus, how can such a being exist?"
"How could this happen?"
"He… he's grown even stronger."
Viscount Luton muttered in disbelief, his silk trousers soaked. Yet under the crushing pressure, no one noticed such details.
"No…"
Even Grand Duke Leo stood like a statue, his hand trembling as it rested on his sword.
There was no need to draw the [Honor of the Lion Sword]—it would serve no purpose.
Against a dragon that had reached the limits of the Material Plane, any being below legendary rank was akin to an ant, destined to be crushed.
Now, his only hope rested on that one presence… and a slim reliance on his contingency plans.
Grand Duke Leo raised his head nervously.
"Roar—"
Another dragon's roar echoed, but this time it came from the alliance.
"I come by the will of the North Wind's Lord. I am the defender of draconic order."
"I am the guardian of world balance."
"The observer of mortal existence."
A voice brimming with magical power rippled across the vast plains.
Above the alliance's army.
Beneath the azure sky, a massive ancient silver dragon slowly spread his wings, parting the rolling clouds to reveal his full form—it was "Silver Wing" Oszedro.
His immense body spanned thirty meters, his proud dragon head held high. His deep, luminous eyes seemed to pierce through all existence.
Even the air seemed to resonate with his aura, and the magical weave rippled around him, exuding solemnity and grandeur.
A tremendous aura no less formidable than the red dragon's enveloped the battlefield. Yet it radiated order and reverence rather than fear.
Dragons, inherently magical beings, emitted powerful magical waves through their draconic presence. Ancient dragons like Oszedro, steeped in centuries of spellcasting, had a draconic aura so potent it felt almost tangible, evoking awe akin to the presence of Mystra's chosen.
Under the gaze of countless onlookers, the silver dragon's body gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight, resembling a silver mountain atop the white clouds.
Every movement of the ancient silver dragon exuded both power and grace.
As he soared, icy winds howled, carrying snowflakes and a white mist that turned half the sky into a frosty expanse. The soldiers beneath shivered as they were enveloped by this icy domain.
It was still [Weather Manipulation].
This innate silver dragon spell could be wielded by any silver dragon of sufficient age, let alone Oszedro.
For a moment, the entire battlefield was split into starkly contrasting halves.
One half was a blazing, tumultuous red inferno, filled with fiery clouds; the other half was an icy, bone-chilling white expanse of snow and frost.
The battle between the red and silver dragons had yet to begin and remained in the probing stage. Yet their overwhelming presence had already transformed the environment so drastically that it would take years to recover.
"Gods above—
"Is this the Second Age again? Such a battle."
Viscount Luton shivered uncontrollably as the icy winds pierced him, freezing his soaked trousers stiff.
Grand Duke Leo's face darkened as he looked up at the sky.
"Such monsters…"
His lips quivered as he murmured to himself.
Indeed, before such power, all earthly authority and noble status seemed utterly meaningless. His schemes, efforts, and struggles all felt like pitiful jokes.
These two dragons could effortlessly destroy his country and annihilate the Bosk family's millennia-old legacy.
Most ironically, as the one most affected by this war's outcome, the leader who had staked his family and nation on this battle…
Grand Duke Leo's survival in this "Red Dragon Calamity" hinged not on himself, but on whether the disdainful silver dragon could emerge victorious.
"If…"
"If not for this red dragon, the Northland's rule could endure for another thousand years!"
"How can such a monster exist in this world?"
Without realizing it, Grand Duke Leo's expression twisted further, his eyes filled with suppressed hatred.
He recalled the silver dragon's dismissive words and his own groveling posture.
At this moment, Grand Duke Leo wished for all transcendent beings that threatened his rule, all those who posed a danger to him, to vanish from this world—including the dignified, radiant silver dragon.