When Grim and Gongfu returned to the amphitheater, they found the other Dragon Kings arranged in a formal semicircle around the central platform. The atmosphere had shifted during their absence.
"Ah, you return," Ao Guang observed, his eyes moving between his son and Grim with obvious curiosity. "I trust your private discussion was... illuminating?"
"It was," Grim replied, taking his place at the center of the formation. He could feel the weight of Gongfu's revelations still settling in his mind, but now wasn't the time to process them fully. The Dragon Kings were clearly prepared to proceed with their offerings.
"Before we continue," the Dragon Emperor's voice resonated through the chamber, though he himself remained in his deeper sanctum, "I want to ensure that young Grim understands the significance of what is being offered."
