Chapter 454: !~Ding~!
Pyra Fulgur Empire…
An empire of sky-high, jagged mountains and deep, dark valleys, its vast lands teeming with dragons…. or, more precisely, a variety of dragon-like species…. Among them were Wyverns, Drakes, Lung Dragons, Lindwurms, and countless others.
But these were considered inferior, low-born creatures—a mixed or impure bloodline, at least according to the dragons themselves, who took pride in being the self-proclaimed holders of the “Pure Bloodline.”
Dragons stood unchallenged at the top of the hierarchy.
They dictated everything, from the laws to the fate of entire species!!
To the Dragon Emperor, everyone else was nothing more than a pawn… a toy to be bent and manipulated to serve the empire’s whims.
Since ancient times, only dragons had ruled over the empire. No other race had ever come close to reaching their level.
Any being who dared to ascend the summit, to even consider claiming the throne, was swiftly eliminated by the dragons, who would tolerate no threats to their supremacy.
The empire had a strict, unwritten rule…. none outside the dragon bloodline could ever be permitted to rule.
Even if someone managed to rise in status, they were still under the direct control of the Dragon Emperor’s Horns… Those Horns held the entire empire together, controlling every creature bearing dragon blood.
“I see…” Aether’s voice was calm as he absorbed the details Celestia had gathered during her mission in the Pyra Empire.
She was seated comfortably on his lap, her head resting against his chest as she listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, “I’ve told you everything I was able to gather,” she said softly, her tone tinged with a slight disappointment, “I wish I could’ve found more.”
Aether glanced down at her, noticing the hint of frustration in her expression, “You did well, Celestia. Don’t worry,” he said gently, running his hand through her hair as he spoke, “You were being watched the whole time, right? It’s no surprise you couldn’t dig up more in a place like that.”
She sighed, “Yes… The Dragon Emperor’s guards were everywhere. Every corner I turned, there they were, watching me with their slit eyes. And the people… they barely spoke to outsiders. It was as if they were terrified even to look at me. I couldn’t get close enough to anyone who might have known more.”
Aether gave her a warm smile and nodded, “You still managed to bring back valuable information. You did your best.” His fingers trailed soothingly through her hair before he asked, “Did you hear anything at all about the Origin Emperor?”
Celestia pursed her lips, thinking back, “There wasn’t a single clue about that person. They really shut their mouth tightly!!” she said, shaking her head in frustration.
“Tsk.” Aether clicked his tongue, his brow furrowing. His expression darkened as irritation crept into his voice, “Without any leads on her, I am stuck… I can’t move forward unless I know more.”
Celestia looked up at him, “Is it really that difficult to get her?”
Aether let out a deep breath, his shoulders tense, “Yeah… No matter what I try, her affection won’t rise above 100. It’s like hitting a wall,” he said, shaking his head.
Then something clicked in his mind. His brow furrowed further, “Lung Dragons…?”
He paused, a memory flashing before him, ‘Before Raven’s death… I remember seeing something strange. Two different eye colours’ he thought before asking, “Do Lung Dragons have heterochromatic eyes?”
Celestia blinked, taken aback by the sudden question. She thought for a moment, then shook her head slowly, “From what I’ve seen, no. I’ve never come across a Lung Dragon with mismatched eyes. Why do you ask?”
Aether’s frown deepened, “It could be a clue…. she always wears those sunglasses. Always. I’ve never seen her take them off.”
Celestia tilted her head, intrigued, “Even if you’re right, what makes you think she’ll let you see her eyes? If she’s been hiding them, she likely has a good reason for it.”
Aether sighed, his frustration mounting. “Tsk, she really is the toughest one to crack… ah,” he muttered, running his hand through his hair.
Celestia suddenly pouted, crossing her arms over her chest, “Huh? So what does that make me, then? Am I easy?”
Aether couldn’t help but chuckle, his amusement softening, “Of course not, Celestia. You’re just as tough… probably even tougher. You know that.” He squeezed her ass playfully, eliciting a grin from her.
She leaned forward, brushing her lips against his before asking in a soft, teasing tone, “Do you think this time will be even harder than before?”
Aether didn’t respond right away, and the silence spoke everything. Celestia’s grin slowly faded as concern crept into her features.
She could sense it… something was weighing heavily on his mind. This time, something was different.
After a moment, she asked quietly, “Are you sure you’re okay with giving up your ring? What if it’s something important?”
Aether gave her a reassuring smile, shrugging nonchalantly, “It’s just a ring. Nothing more. I don’t think it’s that important” he said, though there was a trace of uncertainty in his voice.
Celestia nodded, her brows knitting together in thought, “You said she wanted revenge on the Dragon Emperor, right?”
“Yeah… That’s the only thing I know for certain about her,” Aether replied, his voice trailing off.
Celestia’s eyes lit up with an idea. “Then why don’t we focus on the Dragon Emperor? If she wants revenge on him, maybe we can gather information about him and work backwards! Don’t you think that could help us understand her better?”
Aether blinked, momentarily taken aback by her suggestion. A smile spread across his lips as he looked at her, impressed. “You’re a genius, you know that?”
Celestia puffed out her chest, a smug smile playing on her lips. “Of course I am! I’ve always been the brains of this operation.”
Yet,
“…And an idiot,” Aether added, chuckling softly.
“H-Huh?” Celestia stammered, her smug expression crumbling into confusion.
“Do you really think I haven’t already considered that?” he asked, raising an eyebrow in amusement, “Do you honestly believe there’s anyone out there who knows anything substantial about the Dragon Emperor and would actually be willing to share that information with us?”
Celestia blinked as the realization hit her, ‘Yeah… not even the Dragon Emperor’s son would dare open his mouth…,’ she thought to herself.
But then, a mischievous grin tugged at her lips. She glanced at Aether, her eyes gleaming with sudden clarity. “You’re forgetting someone…”
Aether, momentarily confused, tilted his head. “Hmm? Who could I be forgetting? I’m not sure what you—”
Celestia leaned in closer, her tone playful as she said, “Someone who always breaks your bones.”
Aether’s frown deepened, “Breaks my bones? Who the hell would… break my…” His eyes suddenly widened as the realization dawned. “Oh fuck! I completely forgot about her! That GILF!!”
“Thank you, Celestia!!” he exclaimed, his face lighting up with gratitude as he leaned forward, ready to plant a kiss on her lips when—
“Who the hell are you calling a GILF, brat?”
An icy, emotionless voice echoed across the room, cutting through the air like a blade.
Both Celestia and Aether flinched as their heads jerked in the direction of the voice, almost as if they were moving in unison. They turned robotically, wide-eyed, and there she was…
The Principal stood by the door, her expression calm, her blank gaze fixed directly on Aether. She wore a gentle smile, but both Celestia and Aether knew better…. That smile was anything but gentle.
Before Aether could even utter a word in his defense—
Crack!
“FFUUUUCCCKKKK!!!” Aether screamed as the sound of bone snapping echoed throughout the room. His arm twisted unnaturally as pain shot through him, his face contorted in agony.
Celestia, in true survival instinct, had already vanished from the scene, leaving Aether behind to face the wrath of the Principal alone.
“Traito—ARRGGHH!!” Aether cried out again as another sharp pain surged through him. He barely had time to curse Celestia under his breath for abandoning him.
Meanwhile, in the Pyra Fulgur Empire…
“Your Majesty.” Kim knelt before the throne, his hands trembling as he held up a golden ring.
The Dragon Emperor made a subtle motion with his hand, and the ring floated gently towards him, hovering in mid-air.
The Emperor’s piercing gaze remained fixed on it, his eyes narrowing as the ring-spun slowly before him.
It was a golden ring, once resplendent but now dulled by age, its surface etched with ancient markings.
A muted purple stone sat embedded in its centre, and delicate lines of deep purple energy swirled around it, faint but unmistakable.
“Finally…” The Dragon Emperor’s voice was barely above a whisper as he stared at the ring. “After all this time…”
He motioned silently for Kim to leave, and without hesitation, Kim bowed and hurried out of the room, leaving the Emperor alone with the ring.
Now, with only the cold silence of the castle surrounding him, the Dragon Emperor’s attention was fully on the ring. His lips curled into a dangerous smile as he muttered, “The Origin Emperor…” The very walls of the castle seemed to tremble at the utterance of that name.
He clenched his hand into a fist, his eyes narrowing, “What my father couldn’t achieve… What my forefathers failed to do… Even what my ancestors never accomplished… Finally, it is within my grasp…” His voice, filled with triumph, resonated through the throne room as he broke into a low, dark chuckle.
His slit, icy-blue eyes fell on the base of his black throne, where the grand sculpture of a coiled dragon was etched into the stone. Every detail of the dragon had been crafted with painstaking precision… each scale, each curve perfect in its intricacy.
Except for one small detail…. One scale on the dragon’s body was missing. Or rather, there was a deliberate gap where a scale should have been.
The Dragon Emperor’s grin widened as he watched the ring float towards the gap, almost as if it were being pulled there by an unseen force. Slowly, with a faint,
Ting!
The ring slotted perfectly into place.
SSssssnnnnnnngggggg!
A radiant golden light began to pulse from the ring, spreading like veins across the once-black throne.
The light snaked through the intricate patterns carved into the stone, illuminating the room with an eerie glow. The veins of light crept along the floor, crawling up the Emperor’s legs until they finally entered his body.
SSnnnngggg!
The Dragon Emperor’s blue horns flared brightly, glowing with pulsating energy as he gritted his teeth, his entire body trembling under the pressure of the ancient power that was now surging through him.
“AHHHMM!!” he groaned, his voice strained as he fought to contain the overwhelming force that coursed through his veins. His entire body vibrated with intensity, muscles tightening, energy pouring into every fibre of his being.
!~Ding~!
A strange sound echoed in his mind, like the chime of a bell. His eyes widened as a black screen suddenly appeared before him, materializing out of thin air.
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