The title of 'Emperor' felt… heavy. It settled on Nox's shoulders with a weight that was more real than any physical crown. He stood in the dragon's lair, the third Royal Flag now a part of his own banner, and felt the shift in the world's Scripture. He was no longer just a player in the game; he was a game mechanic.
The dragon, whose name was Ignis, seemed to sense the change. "The world now recognizes your authority, little Emperor," its voice rumbled. "The other gods will feel it, a new weight on the scales of power. They will not be pleased."
"Let them be mad," Nox said. He turned to his companions. "We're leaving. Ignis, you're with us."
The dragon let out a sound like grinding continents. "I do not 'go' anywhere, mortal. I am a mountain. This is my domain."
"Not anymore," Nox said. "Your domain is now wherever I tell you it is. You swore an alliance."
