Dragon Awakens

The demon attack in Istaria caused quite a stir, but fortunately the demon was dealt with in a very short time and did not cause too much damage to the square.

The Coronation Day celebrations continue, with people jubilant in the streets, enjoying this rare day of revelry.

"Long live His Your Majesty Keosius!"

"Long live the Great Red Dragon!"

"March south to Thrace and conquer Fadlan!"

"Southerners are all sons of bitches and cowards! They don't deserve such good land!"

Drunkards waved imperial flags in the streets, walking arm in arm, swaying and cheering enthusiastically.

They even turned the slogan "Conquer the South" into a catchy little tune, which they sang in different parts of the song.

These people, referred to by domestic scholars as "Conquest Party," were beneficiaries of the empire's expansion, most of whom held high positions domestically, and many came from the military.

The Conquest Party ' ideology was to conquer the South, plunder resources, dump goods, and complete the Red Dragon Emperor's Great Blueprint for world domination. This was also the prevailing thought in the empire.

Confidence, martial spirit, and arrogance are their characteristics.

However, these guys were more extreme than ordinary people. Some proposed turning all the southerners into slaves of the empire and making them serve the noble Imperial Citizen.

Some even suggested slaughtering all the southerners, so that only Imperial Citizen would be entitled to enjoy this sacred and bountiful land.

However, precisely because of this, they were subjected to harsh criticism from domestic scholars and were even publicly criticized by Ms. Olivia of the Lower House at the Imperial Congress, with rather strong words.

Ms. Olivia publicly stated that these Conquest Party were "the remnants of the Northern Nobles" and "the cancer of the empire."

There were even organized attacks by extremists against the congresswoman Olivia.

However, for some reason, despite the fact that the other party appeared to be just a weak and frail woman, their attacks all ended in failure.

On the streets, the Conquest Party were still singing loudly, their high-spirited songs unable to be drowned out even by the roar of Steam Engine Car.

"We must give that filthy Southerner a good thrashing."

"We will peel off the filthy skin from that cunning little fellow and present it to His Majesty."

"We will burn their houses, seize their land, and let the imperial flag fly over the ruins."

In the frenzied crowd, a Hobgoblin Baron suddenly seemed to remember something, his eyes turned red, and he began to curse, spitting out saliva mixed with wine into the air.

"And those vermin-like demons, how dare they attack the capital! Who gave them the guts!"

"Yes, that tavern was destroyed by the devil! I used to hang out there."

"How dare they provoke the people of the Great Red Dragon!"

The people around them echoed their sentiments, recounting the devil's deeds and angrily condemning the "weakness" of the imperial authorities.

Suddenly, a Bugbear roared, "Prime Minister Lang Pu has been tainted by human weakness, not only ignoring the South but also tolerating this kind of thing. This is an insult to His Your Majesty Keosius!"

Dolo is the leader everyone deserves. He is exceptionally assertive in foreign affairs, repeatedly threatening to break treaties and deploy troops south. He is a true follower of the Great Blueprint! If you ask me, the Empire should lead its army into the Abyss and utterly destroy the demons!

He climbed onto the high platform next to the square, raised his arms and shouted, and the Conquest Party around him echoed him one after another, stirring up waves of fanatical cheers.

"Conquer the Abyss!"

"Strip those damned demons of their flesh and blood!"

"Destroy the demons, annihilate the Abyss! Sacrifice His Majesty with blood!"

Thousands of Imperial Citizen raised their arms, roaring and venting their hatred for the demons.

The scene looked quite lively, making the onlookers feel excited, but for the Istaria City, which has a population of 500,000 and covers an area of over 100 square kilometers, it was just a tiny speck.

"When--"

As the noon bells rang, the stirring melody of the "Keosius Anthem" echoed.

Whether they were humans, Hobgoblin, Tiefling, Lizardmen, or Ogre, they all seemed to have agreed to look up at the Istaria Great Altar, which was held high in the air.

These diverse Imperial Citizen, some with their hands clasped together, some kneeling on the ground, and some holding Gold Coin, were all praying.

They might be praying for their husbands, who have been sent to the Fire Elemental Plane, to return safely; or for their factories to receive more orders; or for the caravans to arrive safely. Perhaps some are not so devout, but through the empire's pervasive and subtle propaganda, this has become a habit.

"When--"

"When--"

As the third bell rang, the entire city, and indeed the entire empire, erupted in jubilation.

Just a few years ago, at the same time, His Your Majesty Keosius personally crowned himself and established this vast, multi-faceted empire.

On the outskirts of North Wind Fortress, Iron Dragon Wing Palace.

Outside the magnificent palace, the towering mountain had become peculiar, with large areas of black rock exposed and lava slowly flowing in the valley.

Now, it looks more like a volcano.

The air on the mountain became exceptionally hot and dry, with ash and Mars appearing in the air. Gusts of north wind blew, occasionally forming scorching Fire Storm.

The once lush forest is now just a thick layer of ash and charcoal, with charred tree stumps protruding outwards, and the forest creatures such as deer, birds, and wild boars have long since fled.

Instead, Steam Demon Bat, firebirds, Fire Child, and Lava Monster from the Fire Elemental Plane occasionally appear here.

A year ago, His Your Majesty Keosius fell into a deep sleep. This time, no natural disaster occurred, but the environment on a larger scale was gradually changed.

At first, the guards at the gate did not notice anything unusual, but they soon realized that the environment was gradually changing!

Three months later, the temperature near the palace had reached a level that was unbearable for ordinary people, and the Tiefling Guard stationed at the palace gate had been replaced by Half-Red Dragon.

Even now, those who possess a high concentration of dragon blood are feeling unbearably hot.

But for the sake of their beliefs, they still fulfilled their duties and stood at their posts—for example, Udo Deco.

He was once a slave in the Sweno Duchy, and also a gladiator used by the nobles for their amusement.

After the Embers of the Burned Kingdom liberated him, Udo Deco resolutely joined the army and swore to serve His Majesty Your Majesty Keosius.

During that Northern Lands War, he was like a raging beast, single-handedly tearing a noble knight in two, for which he was rewarded by Dolo.

He exchanged his battle merits for the Dragon Blood Potion, drank it without hesitation, endured the excruciating pain, and became Half-Red Dragon.

Now, he has finally been able to come to the Iron Dragon Wing Palace and guard the area around the Red Dragon, which is a great honor for him.

"Have you heard? A demon attacked the capital! And on the Coronation Day, no less!"

"That's outrageous!"

Has the cabinet not made any statement?

At the entrance to the Iron Dragon Wing Palace, numerous Half-Red Dragon guards stood indignant.

But Udo remained standing there, gun in hand, his expression cold and serious, like a statue guarding the entrance.

He said calmly, "Those demons are nothing but flies from the Abyss. When Your Majesty awakens, they will be completely wiped out."

Those ridiculous actions, like moths to a flame, are not worth mentioning.

Another Half-Red Dragon guard sighed and said, "But His Majesty has been asleep for a year."

You know dragons have long lifespans, let alone someone like Your Majesty. They could potentially sleep for hundreds of years. That's what I'm afraid of."

Udo snorted coldly, saying disdainfully, "So what? As long as His Majesty remains unconscious, I will stand here. Sark, you're not enough."

"Boom!"

The earth trembled, and the mountains shook.

Ash and Mars danced wildly in the air, forming billowing smoke, and the ground suddenly cracked, revealing several huge, menacing fissures that shone through.

The Half-Red Dragon guards lost their footing and became somewhat panicked.

"What happens?"

"Run!"

"A natural disaster! A natural disaster is about to occur! I heard from the former Tiefling Guard that it is the aftershock of the power of the Great Red Dragon."

But for us mortals, it was a devastating catastrophe!

"The Half-Red Dragon captain cried out in terror."

"It's His Majesty! His Majesty is waking up!"

Only Udo Deco gazed towards the place where the Red Dragon slumbered, his dragon-transformed face radiating surprise and fervor.

In the blink of an eye, the thick smoke had swept across the land, obscuring the sky and filling the surroundings with the smell of Gunsmoke and sulfur.

Even North Wind Fortress, dozens of miles away, was affected, and the residents of the city looked south in alarm.

"Whoosh—"

Each fiery meteor, trailing a dazzling tail of flame, streaked across the sky, as if tearing open the gray-black canopy.

Thick smoke billowed from the mountain, Mars and flames danced wildly within it, and a scorching hurricane surged, eventually forming a tornado of fire and smoke that connected heaven and earth.

Everything around it, whether it was rubble, ash, or charred trees, was swept up and turned into fuel for the tornado.

"The Burning Dragon"

Udo raised his head, staring blankly at the magnificent sight that swept across the sky and earth, his throat trembling as he uttered that famous nickname.

The nickname given to it by the Northern Nobles out of fear is quite apt—a dragon that can burn even ashes.

"Udo, let's go!"

"Don't stand still, you'll die!"

Another guard urged him anxiously, but Udo seemed not to hear him and continued to look up at the sky with excitement.

How magnificent!

This is the power of that emperor, enough to destroy all mortal things and burn away all enemies that stand in his way.

Years ago, he witnessed the Red Dragon destroy the seemingly invincible the North Alliance, and his former nightmare—the Earl Angus who treated him like a beast and chained him up—was also reduced to ashes.

From that time on, the Red Dragon became his only faith.

"Roar--"

Just then, a long, distant roar came from the mountain, echoing throughout the heavens and the earth.

Immediately afterwards, an invisible force spread rapidly from the mountain, filling an area of hundreds of miles around and stirring up a ring of dust.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty."

Instantly, all the Half-Red Dragon stopped, feeling the pressure emanating from the depths of their bloodlines, and knelt down in that direction.

"Boom!"

A massive black shadow violently smashed through the rock layers, flew out from the mountaintop, and plunged into the tornado of fire and smoke.

At that moment, he seemed to be the center of the world.

Instantly, thick smoke from the sky swept towards him, and the meteor about to fall to the ground transformed into flowing flames, rushing towards that figure.

All the ashes, Mars, flames, and smoke were gathering toward him, forming a complex vortex.

Finally, the thick smoke dissipated, and the sky returned to its pristine state.

The earth was bare, riddled with holes.

But soon, the ground rumbled and shifted, the fissures flowing with magma closed again, and the crater created by the meteorite was filled in.

Under that all-encompassing power, the surrounding landscape gradually returned to normal, as if the disaster had never happened.

The enormous Red Dragon flapped its wings high in the sky, looking down at all living beings with its golden vertical pupils, its scales shimmering in the sunlight.

Udo ignored the dust and pressed his forehead to the ground before raising his head and gazing up at the majestic figure of the Red Dragon with utmost reverence.

"His Majesty."

Udo couldn't help but call out softly, his body trembling, an overwhelming joy welling up inside him.

He knew what this meant; it meant that His Your Majesty Keosius, the invincible ruler, would once again lead them to victory and burn all enemies that stood in the way of the Empire.

Finally, His Your Majesty Keosius awoke.

His Your Majesty Keosius, the sole ruler of the Anzeta Great Wasteland, the Breaker of Silver Wings, the Destroyer of Frost Giants, the Enemy of Abyssal Devils, the Soul-Devouring Dragon, the Master of Guns and Cannons, the supreme Embers of the Burned Emperor, has awakened!

At the summit of Dragon Mountain.

"Call--"

Keosius slowly flapped his wings and landed with a thud on the mountaintop. He exhaled a breath of Sulfur Scent smoke and observed his current appearance.

"Finally awake. That familiar feeling. Dragons are truly wondrous creatures; I always feel full of energy when I wake up."

"However, I seem to feel a repulsive force."

Keosius tilted his head with a strange expression, snorted, and exhaled hot white steam.

That is the repulsive force of the Material Plane.

For the world to exist, such terrifying monsters should appear outside the Material Plane: the Astral Plane, the Ethereal Plane, the Outer Plane, the Inner Plane...

After a year of slumber, Keosius's body had grown several sizes larger, and his muscles were even more taut, exuding unparalleled power. The Red Dragon was now about forty-five meters long from head to tail—completely surpassing the racial limits of an ordinary Red Dragon.

Due to the gradual dilution of dragon blood and the limitations of the rules of the Prime Material Plane, even those Great Wyrm Red Dragon that have lived for over 1,200 years and have gone through countless years are unlikely to have a body length of more than 40 meters, while Keosius has already exceeded that by a large margin.

Of the four spiraling horns of the Red Dragon, two have become exceptionally thick and large, resembling a majestic crown.

Keosius's chin also became thicker and more protruding. Although it didn't reach the level of Deathwing's iron chin in his previous life, it still made his face extremely ferocious.

On that mountain-like dragon body, not only were there the usual spikes of Red Dragon on its spine, but also shimmering fire crystals.

"This energy..."

While asleep, Keosius, like a dragon-shaped black hole, greedily and even frantically sucked up the surrounding energy, and then exhaled it—as can be seen from the changes in the surrounding environment.

In this exchange and transformation of energy, more and more pure Fire Elemental was stored in Keosius's body.

Moreover, not only the natural energy in the environment, but also the elemental ores that Keosius obtained from the negotiating table of the Fire Giant Empire —enough energy to supply an entire kingdom—were all consumed by him.

The dragon crystal on its chest still flickered with fire, and flames occasionally shot out from the gaps in the surrounding scales.

At this moment, Keosius's body contained terrifying energy, almost equivalent to a moving, living volcano, or even more terrifying.