Behind Lothar, Kuokochu saw a massive black dragon silhouette. It was not a tangible entity visible to the naked eye, but something akin to the Son of Heaven's Dragon Qi of the Eastern dynasties.
Once this black dragon silhouette appeared, it swiftly occupied the entire sky.
"You too bear the mandate of fate."
A flicker of surprise crossed Kuokochu's face before he frowned. "I should have realized it long ago. Without fate's favor, how could an insignificant nobody like you rise to kingship in such a short time?"
His voice soon became composed. "Since we each have our own destiny, then let us see whose fate will prevail in the end."
From that moment onward, Kuokochu finally regarded Lothar as a great enemy with whom he had to settle matters of life and death.
This was a contest of destiny. In Eastern terms, it was a "struggle for the Dao." Kuokochu, who styled himself the executor of the will of the Eternal Blue Sky, would never allow the "destiny of the Tatars" he represented to break before Lothar.
Previously, Kuokochu had actually intended to let Lothar wear down more of Jochi's forces, perhaps even drag his rival, Usun the Shaman, down with him.
Once Jochi had no one left to rely upon, Kuokochu would emerge and sweep aside every obstacle.
That way, if Jochi wanted to establish his own Ulus, he would have no choice but to rely on Kuokochu alone. Kuokochu's vision of founding his own Shamanic divine kingdom, with Divine Authority placed above royal authority, would then become reality.
Sensing the chilling killing intent radiating from Kuokochu, Lothar's expression did not change in the slightest.
Not to mention that he still had many trump cards unrevealed, even if Kuokochu truly had the ability to slay him on the