Chapter 329: Red and Silver (Part Two)
Intense spatial fluctuations emerged as several spatial portals appeared within the clouds behind Oszedro.
"Elder, is that him?"
"Is that the dragon wreaking havoc in the Northlands?"
"We shall protect peace here! In the name of Melward!"
Silver dragons emerged one after another from the swirling mist, hovering behind the ancient silver dragon. They let out synchronized, majestic roars to bolster their revered elder.
Pairs of silver wings flapped, casting shimmering reflections in the air.
Cloud giants and storm giants stood upon the clouds, wielding their immense spell-like abilities to control the weather and maintain the howling wind domain, preventing the red dragon's fiery influence from encroaching.
"Your Highness, 'Prince of Dragons,' we of the Faria clan are here to assist you!"
"Roar! Shameless metallic dragons!"
"Master, that silver-scaled dragon is so arrogant! Let's teach him a lesson!"
Behind the red dragon, led by Kristina, thirteen fierce blue dragons of the Faria clan followed closely. Additionally, the ancient white dragon Tinia, whose size rivaled that of ancient white dragons, ascended into the sky.
These chromatic dragons raised their heads, bared their fangs, and unleashed ferocious roars, their momentum matching that of the opposing silver dragons.
Behind these chromatic dragons were hundreds and thousands of wyverns, flapping their wings chaotically and letting out hoarse, discordant screeches.
The red dragon and the silver dragon faced off from a distance, each flanked by their respective vassals and domains.
This was no longer merely a war between the Ember Kingdom and the Northern United Kingdom; it was more like a miniature version of the "Dragonfall War" between metallic and chromatic dragons.
The two apex dragons of the Material Plane stared at each other across the skies, their eyes fixed solely on one another. Everything else, at this level of battle, was insignificant—mere embellishments and accessories.
"So this is Oszedro," Cassius mused.
"He hasn't disappointed me. A troublesome enemy indeed."
Cassius flapped his wings, his pale golden slitted eyes fixed intently on the massive silver dragon.
[Silver Wing – Oszedro]
Challenge Level: 25 (75,000 XP)
This was the most powerful opponent Cassius had faced head-on to date.
The ancient silver dragon, over thirty meters long, had nearly reached the pinnacle of the silver dragon species. Even in melee combat, a red dragon's forte, Cassius might not hold much advantage—let alone in magical prowess.
Upon closer inspection, every single scale of the silver dragon bore intricate magical runes, forming hundreds of spells across its body.
These were the result of Oszedro's millennia-long efforts as a "spell hoarder," a practice considered a mental affliction among ordinary dragons but relished by this ancient silver dragon.
His claws were adorned with magical rings, and his wrists were fitted with orichalcum and mithril bracelets.
His silver back and the gaps between his belly scales were studded with sparkling gemstones, protecting vital areas from lethal damage.
Most striking was the silver dragon's chest.
A metallic disc, secured by ribbons wrapped around his forelimbs, was fixed to his chest. Twelve differently colored magical stones were embedded along the disc's edges, and its center bore patterns of stars and nebulae—the holy symbol of "Bahamut, Lord of the North Wind."
The phrase "armed to the teeth" described this ancient silver dragon perfectly.
He had achieved it in every sense.
A complex metallic device known as the "Dragon's Maw" was fitted in the silver dragon's mouth. Several silver teeth, imbued with the "Razor Fang" enchantment, protruded outward, their tips gleaming with magic capable of piercing protective spells.
Faced with this heavily armed, aura-exuding ancient silver dragon, even Cassius, who prided himself on his wealth, felt a pang of inferiority. He realized the paltry number of legendary items he possessed.
Above the clouds, Oszedro's sleek, gleaming face was equally grave.
"Cassius, 'Prince of Dragons,'" he uttered.
The silver dragon scrutinized the distant red dragon, his quicksilver-like eyes glinting with intricate magical patterns. Despite himself, a flicker of admiration for the red dragon's power arose.
—Even as a silver dragon, the red dragon's mortal enemy, he had to admit that across his thousand-year lifespan, this red dragon was exceptional.
The opponent's gargantuan frame, rivaling that of an ancient red dragon, was nearly on par with his own. In fact, the red dragon's muscular build seemed even more robust.
The red dragon radiated unimaginable vitality. Its spiraling, menacing horns reached skyward, and the dragon crystal on its chest housed terrifying energy. Its bloodline aura hinted at an ancestry rivaling that of the progenitor dragons.
Yet, as a younger dragon, the red dragon bore only a few legendary-grade items, giving Oszedro a strange sense of superiority. The dragon's innate comparison of wealth brought him satisfaction.
"He's somewhat impoverished," Oszedro thought.
But that wasn't the crux of the matter.
Oszedro could scarcely believe that this was a dragon still in its youth—or perhaps even younger. Yet the truth lay before him, evident in the searing heat of the red dragon's breath.
"Bahamut's oracle was correct. This is a deviant dragon with boundless potential."
"He must not fall into Tiamat's grasp!"
"If he does… it would be a catastrophe for all metallic dragons and all creatures of goodness and order on the Material Plane!"
These thoughts steeled Oszedro's resolve. His quicksilver eyes churned with waves of determination.
His commanding voice thundered like lightning, silencing everyone present.
"Savage and barbaric red dragon!"
"Fate granted you immense power, yet you squander it."
"For your selfish ambition, you shattered the millennia-old order between humans and dragons, disrupted the Material Plane's balance, and endangered the peace and stability of all Erezaghe."
"Thus, in the name of the North Wind's Lord—"
A crisp clapping sound interrupted his impassioned speech, followed by a calm voice.
"Well said."
"As expected of the illustrious 'Silver Wing' Oszedro. Your hypocrisy exceeds my imagination."
Cassius slightly curled his lips into a fearsome smile.
"Now then—may I ask, who started this war?"
His tone grew more fervent as his [Silver Tongue] ability amplified his supernaturally charismatic presence.
"Who despicably attacked the kingdom's trade caravans? Who sent tens of thousands of troops to roam within the kingdom's borders, calling it a 'first line of defense'?"
"Who exploited the people's wealth, conscripted their labor, and formed military alliances to launch this grand war?"
"You."
Under his relentless questioning, even Oszedro was momentarily at a loss for words. The humans on the ground began doubting the legitimacy of this war.
Cassius exhaled a sulfurous breath and continued:
"Oszedro, since you won't answer directly, allow me to. I'm referring to the Northern United Kingdom you support, more precisely—the Northland nobles led by the Bosk family."
Oszedro let out a cold laugh and retorted disdainfully:
"Sophistry! Would your monstrous nation cease its expansion without Northern provocation? Were the weapons you forged, which defile nature, meant purely for defense?"
As an ancient silver dragon, Oszedro's wit and resilience matched his age. His thick-skinned retort was unshaken.
Cassius chuckled. In this regard, this sanctimonious silver dragon was surprisingly similar to himself:
"Hahaha, of course not. After all, the Northland is filled with people cruelly oppressed by nobles. They await the kingdom's arrival, dreaming of freedom and a new, brighter world."
"A 'new world'?"
"Lies! Your so-called 'new world' is one of endless smoke, fields of corpses, and bloody wars!"
The silver dragon roared, his magically infused voice summoning vivid images of the Ember Kingdom's destruction, crushed armies, and scarred landscapes in everyone's minds.
"No, you're mistaken."
Cassius shook his head gently, his pale golden pupils flickering like flames.
"That is the price of establishing a new order."