A Dragon Idol's Reincarnation Tale

It was a peaceful day in the capital of Ankor-Nazta. Inkoran-Tazul was as active as always, and after the Event Quest incident with Maagneil, the grand dwarven was in the process of rebuilding one of the dwarven mountain statues Fargryneill had accidentally destroyed during her first usage of [Battle Frenzy (Major)].

As shown by Hikari’s usage of [Battle Frenzy (Major)], the Kargryxmor-unique bloodline ability could substantially empower the Kargryxmor dragon’s stats and abilities, turning already devastating attacks into catastrophic city destroyers. Even a mere rank B could be elevated into a threat similar to a middle-level rank A with the 45% base stat increase alone.

Fortunately, Hikari used her chance to use the stat increase in a desolate area, while Fargryneill, in her overeagerness, used it close to the dwarven hold’s lands. The destroyed statue was quickly cleaned away from the mountain pass that connected the dwarven capital to Loatryxian lands, but its destruction still led to the bellowing roar for war in the hearts of the dwarves.

Even after a year and nearly a half had passed, that spark of volatile emotions still hadn’t disappeared. To the dwarven race, who held onto grudges until it was repaid, the casus belli to attack Bole’Taria was still fresh in the minds of the bellicose. The hold kings and clans still remembered the declaration their High King had made, and the latter hadn’t forgotten about it even once for the last year and a half.

Yet, the war engine working to produce weapons and manatech machinery was simply another day in the dwarven capital. It was “peaceful,” even if the preparations were made to go to war. The same applied to the other Shakaie-Narn Alliance members, with all still awaiting a signal for it to happen.

And as the gears of the city continued turning, a certain pair of runes suddenly began glowing inside a newly built room. The room wasn’t well decorated, leaving it conspicuously spacious as it was only dedicated to acting as a waiting room for those who wished to enter Hestia’s subspace. This room was reserved for politicians attending any subspace meeting between the Shakaie-Narn Alliance.

As such, the room was quite well fortified with runes to protect from any intruders willing to steal the rune pair. However, the runes only activated to protect from people wishing to enter the room, not to exit it. There was no opening for line-of-sight spells, and the mana barrier protected against any mana link ones. Therefore, the only people who could enter the room from the inside were those who could access the subspace, and that required the permission of the absolute ruler of the subspace—Hestia.

Expectantly, the subspace rooms activated and formed a tear in the air, revealing the head of a crimson dragon peering into the room from an opening outside of the subspace. She glanced around the room, huffing in confusion before a black-haired demonkin explained the situation to her.

Once she understood the situation, the demonkin and everybody around the dragoness ran away as the latter activated [Aerokinesis]. Controlling herself, the crimson dragon roared with [Tyrant’s Voice], shaking the entire room without destroying it. The moment she noticed signals approaching the room, she stopped herself as multiple heavily armored dwarves—Earthshakers—rushed into the room with runic shields, creating a mana wall at the entrance.

[“I am Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor, third princess of the Empire of Kargryx, and the figurehead of the Shakaie-Narn Alliance! I have called upon the High King of Ankor-Nazta to once again fulfill his duty as a member of the alliance!”] the dragon announced through [Telepathy], causing the dwarves to shudder as they heard the declaration in their heads. [“Hear me, citizens of Ankor-Nazta! I, Princess Hestia, request an audience with the dwarven king inside my subspace!”]

When those words were relayed to the Ankoran High King and Queen, both rushed out of their respective offices. It has been nearly two years since they last saw the young dragoness. While the word of her awakening had reached them through the Kargryxmor and Nordor clan living inside Loatryx, they hadn’t been able to greet her once since her coma.

Of course, they had sent her a letter with the railroad guild representatives when they established the digital media guild on Frozen Nest. Jadhund and the other artificers had kept their king and the railroad guild informed about what was happening in the digital media guild, which included Hestia’s contribution and ideas that were being turned into real technology.

And now, they would finally be able to meet her face-to-face. Although her entrance was quite raucous, far too informal for a foreign dignitary, the dwarves weren’t fazed by this. To meet a friend and ally after so long, even a massive feast wouldn’t be enough to greet them. Formalities were mere suggestions to the dwarves as long as both sides had a good relationship.

“Princess Hestia! Gahaah, it is good to see you again!” High King Fugnarus almost wanted to jump into the subspace to greet the young dragoness with a pat on the back, but held himself back as he knew her restrictions imposed on her by her father. “Ha, I had expected to meet you—”

[“Not enough time, High King! High Queen!”] Hestia interrupted him. Now this was a bit too rude for even the dwarves. [“Frozen Nest currently has issues with an elemental emperor. Two in fact, so I’m here to request aid!”]

Elemental emperor? What, another one is still alive?

Though even with this flabbergasting news, both Fugnarus and his queen, Tragaya, were plenty accustomed to sudden information. They understood what was going on, even with minimal information. Oaths being important to dwarves made them appreciate any dragonkin who worshipped and took Kargryxmor’s tenets seriously, and as such, were fully willing to come to Hestia’s request, even against a rank A.

They had soldiers ready to send who needed a chance to fight to cool their war-hungry mindsets. Though they did worry about Hestia’s restriction on using the subspace, they believed Hestia must have found a way to solve such a problem if she had come to ask them.

Though the solution was slightly outside their expectations.

[“I don’t need your Earthshakers and samurai!”] Hestia stopped them when the dwarven pair spoke of their intentions. [“Teleporting all those people onto my side will only kill my mana reserves. I need to be efficient here since we don’t have time, which is why I am not asking for soldiers, I am asking for a couple of artificers and boatload of mana cannons! You must have made a vault-full of them for the impending war, right? Then send them over and have some of them face the stress of war!”]

Huh? The High King and High Queen both froze in place at Hestia’s lack of explanation.

[“Oh, and one more thing. I want the Earth Elemental Emperor, as well. Send them over!”]

Without a doubt, this wasn’t what the royal pair had expected from meeting Hestia after so long.