The War Begins

Argland Council State.

Situated at the farthest northwest corner of the continent, amid countless surrounding mountain ranges, it was a city-state built primarily by demi-humans.

Its imperial capital welcomed a new guest today.

The visitor was fairly tall by human standards. Dressed in a black-and-gold magical robe, with white hair and golden eyes carrying a lofty arrogance, he strode toward the city gates with his head held high.

Higashino Makoto was no bloodthirsty Demon King, and he especially detested meaningless slaughter.

Given the destructive power of his magic, if a battle broke out directly within this city, ninety-nine percent of its living inhabitants would die.

Of course, if the Platinum Dragon Lord insisted on fighting here, Higashino Makoto was not the sort of bleeding heart who would hold back.

His kindness existed only so long as neither he nor Novas Aetir was threatened.

Higashino Makoto did not make things difficult for the lizardman guards at the gate. After paying the fee, he entered the city.

As he headed toward the palace at the very center, Higashino Makoto saw lizardmen, sea lizardmen, goblins, ogres, fishmen, humans, and members of many other races gathered within one nation.

"Interesting..."

Higashino Makoto murmured softly.

Leaving everything else aside, could ogres and humans truly coexist peacefully within the same country?

He recalled the Sorcerer Kingdom of Ainz Ooal Gown from the anime, which also seemed to have different races living together in peace.

Supported by overwhelming military might, bound by harsh laws, and equipped with vast numbers of tireless undead as laborers, even two races that could be considered natural enemies were able to live harmoniously in the Sorcerer Kingdom.

But would it not be a better choice to separate humans, demi-humans, and heteromorphic races?

Higashino Makoto let out a breath and tugged helplessly at the corner of his mouth.

He had actually started thinking about how he would rule the world in the future.

As he passed around a corner, Higashino Makoto used "Perfect Unknowable" to turn invisible, then flew toward his destination.

Before long, Higashino Makoto arrived at his destination.

A white giant dragon lay in the center of the palace. A faint white glow cloaked its body, light flowing across its lustrous form with elegance and grace.

It was so beautiful that it seemed like a work of art.

The instant Higashino Makoto stepped into the palace, the Platinum Dragon Lord sensed the unusual presence as well.

Higashino Makoto had not dispelled "Perfect Unknowable," but the Platinum Dragon Lord's vertical pupils had already precisely locked onto his position.

"Magic—and exceptionally sophisticated concealment magic at that."

The Platinum Dragon Lord's voice was deep and resonant, carrying the unique reverberation of dragonkind as it echoed through the empty palace.

"Since you have come, why not show yourself?"

Higashino Makoto raised an eyebrow slightly.

He had expected this, but despite not using any magic, the dragon had detected him with such sharp precision.

Was there a special magic array in the room, or was this a unique talent of dragonkind?

He cast "Dimensional Lock" to prevent the Platinum Dragon Lord from escaping.

Then he dispelled his invisibility magic, and his black-and-gold figure appeared in the hall.

"Platinum Dragon Lord."

"Human... no, your aura is wrong."

The Platinum Dragon Lord tilted its draconic head slightly, its golden vertical pupils colliding with Higashino Makoto's gaze in midair.

"What are you?"

Higashino Makoto tugged at the corner of his mouth. The Platinum Dragon Lord had stripped him of his human status upon their very first meeting?

"Higashino Makoto. A traveler passing by."

Higashino Makoto's tone was calm, but the arrogance in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

"I heard this city-state was ruled by a Dragon Lord, so I was curious."

"Also, there is something I need an answer to from you. If you are willing to cooperate, I can spare your life."

The Platinum Dragon Lord slowly rose from its prone position.

In that instant, the entire palace trembled.

The dragon measured over twenty meters in length. Every scale resembled carefully polished platinum armor, reflecting a cold sheen beneath the magical light.

It spread its wings, whose span nearly filled the entire view beneath the palace dome.

"Curious? Spare my life?"

A hint of amusement entered the Platinum Dragon Lord's voice.

"You dare barge into my palace and speak such insolence to me based on that alone. Either you are ignorant, or—"

It did not finish.

A golden magical arrow had already flown before its eyes.

The Platinum Dragon Lord did not even bother to dodge. A semi-transparent shield of draconic power unfolded before him. The magic arrows struck it with piercing shrieks before finally dissipating into nothing.

"This kind of probing is meaningless."

The Platinum Dragon Lord's vertical pupils narrowed slightly.

"If this is all you have, then you are not even qualified to make me take you seriously."

Higashino Makoto smiled.

It was a smile that unsettled the Platinum Dragon Lord—not arrogance, not provocation, but the interest of someone who had spotted an amusing toy.

"Fine."

Higashino Makoto said only that one word.

The next instant, the temperature inside the palace rose sharply.

The Platinum Dragon Lord's pupils suddenly contracted.

He had lived for centuries and witnessed countless powerful beings. He had even taken part in the campaign against the Eight Greed Kings.

Yet he had never felt magic power of this caliber.

"Your magic power—"

Higashino Makoto raised his right hand.

A golden sphere appeared at his fingertips. It was only the size of a billiard ball, yet the energy contained within made the Platinum Dragon Lord's scales instinctively bristle.

"Don't be nervous."

Higashino Makoto's tone was as casual as if they were discussing the weather.

"This is only for saying 'hello.'"

Light of Annihilation

He flicked his finger lightly.

The golden sphere shot toward the Platinum Dragon Lord at an inconceivable speed.

The Platinum Dragon Lord did not take it head-on again.

With a fierce beat of his wings, his enormous body rose into the air with agility that did not suit its size. The golden sphere struck the palace floor—

There was no explosion.

No deafening boom.

A perfect circular hole appeared in the floor, half a meter across, its edges smooth as a mirror and its depths unfathomable. The material it struck had simply vanished—not shattered, not vaporized, but utterly annihilated.

The Platinum Dragon Lord hovered in midair, staring down at the circular hole. At last, his gaze turned grave.

He had assumed this was some fool who did not know his own limits, someone who had mistaken the dragons' long absence for proof that he was strong enough.

But an attack of this level, combined with the gap of a hundred years, left only one possibility!

A player!

"—Filth of the Dragon Emperor!"

The Platinum Dragon Lord let out a terrifying roar.

"Since you have come, do not think of leaving! World-Separating Barrier!"

"Don't get so worked up. To be honest, I do not really want to fight you."

Higashino Makoto looked up at the dragon in the air, his golden eyes faintly gleaming in the darkness.

"As long as you tell me exactly how the Dragon Emperor summoned us into this world, I can turn around and leave. And I guarantee that I will not take the initiative to attack your dragonkind. You should know..."

Before he could finish, the Platinum Dragon Lord's breath had already poured down.

It was not ordinary flame, but a torrent of pure white energy carrying both holy and destructive properties, so hot that even the air was burning.

This was one of the Platinum Dragon Lord's proudest killing moves. A single breath had once wiped out an entire army.