Chapter 153: Political Tension
The victory celebration in the capital city of Dragonia was a riot of color and sound that lasted for three days and three nights. On every street corner, dragons of different lineages, who had once fought each other for territory, now shared barrels of enchanted ale and roasted meats.
"I never thought I would see the day, a Sky Serpent Palace, floating right above our own spires! It is a trophy the size of a mountain!" an elderly Earth Dragon said, slapping a younger Fire Dragon on the back. "
"And did you see the King?" the Fire Dragon replied, his eyes wide with excitement. "They say he grew into a Chaos Dragon so large he bit the sun! He swallowed the Serpent King’s pride in a single gulp!"
Nearby, a group of Wind Dragons hovered in the air, performing acrobatic loops.
One of them shouted to the crowds below:
"To think we were worried about the south," "With King Adonis, the south is just another garden for us to play in! All hail the King of Chaos!"
While the commoners cheered, the inner sanctum of the Palace was filled with the rhythmic clinking of crystal glasses. Millia, Valentina, and the other commanders sat around a grand table, the atmosphere thick with a rare, relaxed joy.
"You look far too smug, Rai," Valentina noted, sipping a deep red wine that looked suspiciously like blood.
Rai grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Why shouldn’t I be? We just took down an ancient clan that has been a thorn in the side of this world since the era of the gods. I am officially the commander of a victorious legion. My name will be in the history books."
"The books will mention you as a footnote next to the King," Millia teased, though her smile was warm. "But you fought well, Rai. We all did."
"Ahem, I should say the King is the one who did the heavy lifting," Queen Sapphira added, entering the room with a regal stride. She looked at the empty seat at the head of the table.
"He is currently reviewing the records found in the Sky Palace. Even in victory, he does not rest."
"Husband needs to rest, Sister Sapphira," Queen Mariana said. "The burden of his special Physique is not light. He spent maximum amout of strength in a single hour. His bones must be feel numb by now."
"I know, Maria. But he will rest when he is satisfied that we are safe," Sapphira replied. "And looking at the reports coming in from our spies, safety is a relative term."
The mood in the room shifted instantly. The joy of the celebration remained outside the walls, but inside the reality of politics began.
"The neighbors are twitching, aren’t they?" Rai asked, his smile fading.
"Twitching is an understatement," Sapphira said, unrolling a map on the table. "The human kingdoms are in a state of absolute panic."
---
In the Human Kingdom of Halveth, King Frederick stood by his balcony, watching the distant glow of the Dragonia celebrations on the horizon. His advisors stood behind him, whispering in hushed, terrified tones.
"Sire, the reports are confirmed: The Sky Serpent Clan is no more. Their Palace has been moved. It now sits over the Dragon Capital," the High Mage stated.
"How is that possible?" Frederick demanded, turning around with a pale face. "The Sky Serpents were our buffer! They kept the dragons occupied for centuries! If they are gone, what stops those gluttonous dragons from turning theur eyes toward our grain fields?"
"Nothing, Sire," the General of the Halveth Army admitted. "Our scouts say his army has grown by nearly 15,000 in a single night due to the surrenders. We can match those numbers, but not quality. Not even with the Holy Knights."
In the Kingdom of Serath, the reaction was even more extreme. The churches were filled with people praying for deliverance from the "Demon Dragon."
The King of Serath had already sent messengers to the neighboring Kingdom of Carthas, pleading for a Triple Alliance.
"We must strike before he stabilizes his new territory!" the Serathian envoy shouted in the halls of Carthas.
"Strike?" the King of Carthas replied with a bitter laugh. "Are you mad? He leveled a level 80 powerhouse while he is barely an adult. If we strike him now, we are simply providing him with more land to conquer. No, we must send gifts. We must send gold. We must pray he finds us too insignificant to bother with."
While the humans bickered in fear, the Beastfolk Kingdom to the east took a far more pragmatic approach.
Deep within the Iron-Claw Citadel, the Beast King, a massive man with the features of a Lion, sat on his throne of bone. His daughter, Princess Leona, stood before him, her golden eyes sharp and full of spirit.
"Father, the scouts say the Dragon King is handsome beyond measure," Leona said, her tail flicking with curiosity.
"Is that all you care about, girl?" the Beast King growled, though there was a twinkle of pride in his eyes. "Yes, he is powerful. Buy also dangerous. He has united the most of the dragons of this world under a single banner. That makes him the most valuable ally or the most terrifying enemy we could ever face."
"So, what is the plan?" she asked.
"The humans will try to hide behind their walls or send assassins. But the Beastfolk know that when a new Alpha rises, you do not bark from a distance. You meet him face to face."
"You want to go to Dragonia?" Leona asked, her heart racing.
"Yes. We are going," the King confirmed. "I will bring the ancestral treasures. And I will bring you. A political marriage is the strongest bridge. If we can tie the Beast Kingdom to the Chaos Order, we will never have to fear a human crusade ever again."
"Uhm, do you think he will accept me?" Leona asked, checking the edge of her battle-axe.
The Beast King laughed, a sound that shook the rafters. "If he has the eyes of a King, he will see your worth. If he doesn’t, then he isn’t the man the legends say he is. Prepare the caravan! We are leaving at dawn!"
Back in Dragonia, Adonis finally stepped out onto his own balcony. He could hear the music from the city below and see the massive silhouette of the Sky Palace anchored above. He checked his system interface, seeing the notifications of his rising fame and the shifting diplomatic tides.
"The world is getting loud," he muttered to himself.
"It is the sound of a new world being born, Adonis," the voice came from his back, sudden and affectionate.
He turned to see Claudia standing there, with an unusual, hot appearance.