Ember Dragon

Chapter 750: Dispute on the Lake

"Quick! Hurry up!"The Empire’s construction crew arrived in a rush, riding heavy magitech cranes, and began retrieving the red dragon, now frozen into an ice sculpture and sunk to the lake bottom.

As the massive, frost-covered dragon body soaked in icy water and emitting chilling air was slowly lifted, the female dragons present all felt a shiver run down their spines.

"Tiamat above."

"Is she... is she still alive? Did that white dragon actually dare to kill one of her own in public?"

"Is she not afraid of Her Majesty the Dragon Queen’s wrath?"

But Tinia stood proud, chin practically pointed at the sky, looking down at the female dragons as if through her nostrils.

"Have you all arrived? This is what happens when you’re arrogant and disrespect the Emperor’s will!"

The white dragon snorted coldly: "A weakling like that actually thought she could covet the bloodline of our Master’s great disciple? Ridiculous. She doesn’t even qualify to be a pet!"

"My Master once told me: Only a dragon that can defeat me is worthy of an audience with him!

"But..." Tinia glanced around, paused for effect, then mercilessly mocked: "None of you here have that kind of strength. Leave. The Empire does not welcome you."

After speaking those words, Tinia felt pure satisfaction. Her blood surged. So this was what humans called a "face-slapping moment"?

Absolutely exquisite!

The dragon crowd was in uproar.

That was Volcanis!

A powerful mature red dragon—if even she was defeated so easily by this strange white dragon, what hope did the others have?

Seeing this, many black, brown, and yellow dragons began to reconsider. They were weaker and lacked support from their kin—victory was impossible.

These chromatic dragons had come on a gamble anyway. Leaving now cost nothing. Risking their lives wasn’t worth it. Volcanis’s fate was warning enough.

In the middle of her green dragon entourage, Vesuvela lowered her head, her face stormy, teeth clenched.

"So Her Majesty the Dragon Queen’s divine blessing really isn’t that easy to earn."

"With this white dragon’s strength, we can’t beat her. We’ll need to borrow the power of those useless fools."

With that thought, Vesuvela stepped forward, emerging from the crowd: "Duchess Tinia, may I ask, what counts as defeating you?"

Tinia frowned. Was this green dragon dumber than her own white kin? She didn’t understand even this?

"Of course it’s—"

But Vesuvela continued with a smile: "You’re so strong. Surely you won’t mind facing several dragons at once?"

Immediately, nearly all the female dragons turned their eyes to Tinia. Some red dragons even showed killing intent, ready to pounce.

Now, this white dragon was the biggest obstacle between them and His Highness Cassius—like a towering wall.

If the dozens of dragons present attacked all at once, surely even a white dragon couldn’t stop them?

Among the group, green dragons whispered hoarsely.

"We came under Her Majesty’s divine command. This white dragon blocks our path—that’s defying divine will! We must unite and eliminate her!"

Even a fool could sense the green dragon’s sinister scheme—Tinia sneered inwardly.

Her Master had been right—these chromatic dragons were utterly shameless. Without overwhelming power, they couldn’t be controlled.

—Though Tinia had completely forgotten that she herself was also a chromatic dragon.

Tinia flapped her wings and coldly declared: "My Master said, since this is Her Majesty’s divine will, it must follow draconic tradition. Only one spot exists. Only the victor of a duel may be granted audience."

"Otherwise..." the white dragon’s expression darkened, her pupils flashing with chilling ice light, "You are declaring war on the Ember Empire!"

With a thunderous roar, over a hundred wyverns burst from the forests behind, and waves of imperial soldiers rushed in, ready for battle.

Tinia then unfurled a brand-new scroll—a teleport scroll that led directly to Cassius’s bedchamber.

Intimidated by the army, the female dragons dared not act rashly, though they all stared greedily at the scroll.

Vesuvela whispered to the dragons: "Then let’s fight in rotation."

"That white dragon’s probably bluffing. She must’ve used some magic item to beat Volcanis earlier. She might not have it now."

Just then, Kristina stepped forward with a smile: "Vesuvela, if you’ve seen through Duchess Tinia’s bluff, why don’t you go first? Such a good opportunity shouldn’t be wasted."

"You—"

Vesuvela gritted her teeth, face contorted, but sneered, "Kristina, you useless loser, shut your mouth."

The tension spiked. The chromatic dragons argued and scuffled, unable to pick a first challenger.

This was the weakness of chromatic dragons. Though they far outnumbered metallic dragons, even with powerful species like reds and blues—

They were fractured and infighting, never united.

Internal strife was carved into the chromatic dragon’s very bones.

They would never form a fair and strict order like the metallic dragons. Thus, chromatics always trailed behind across the multiverse.

Eventually, Vesuvela goaded a mature red dragon into attacking first through provocation.

"Despicable white dragon! How dare you insult our mighty red dragon race!" the red roared and lunged.

But Tinia didn’t flinch. As the red dragon charged, she simply spun and whipped her massive tail, knocking the red dragon clean into the air.

"ROAR—"

The red dragon shrieked and spat blood.

Tinia raised her head and unleashed a frost-white breath from her throat.

Cold surged into the sky, freezing the red dragon into a solid sculpture midair, slamming it to the ground.

The entire group went dead silent.

Vesuvela offered a bounty, using gold coins to lure challengers.

Finally, a greedy black dragon tried her luck—but she was knocked out in one blow, no resistance.

Then came Vesuvela’s young green dragons, a brown from the southern forest, and a blue from the desert.

More than ten dragons tried—and none lasted more than three rounds. It was total domination.

Crushed under the white dragon’s immense pressure, the chromatics began to flee. One red even surrendered outright and fled in panic.

Seeing this, Tinia’s confidence soared.

What a bunch of bottom-feeders.

With strength like that, they thought they could compete for her Master’s favor?

Pathetic.

Only now did Tinia fully realize the power she possessed as a favored vassal of the Ember Emperor.

Using Cassius’s system and with Matalotok’s Frostfather power, this throwback white dragon had reached challenge rating 22—beyond even primeval whites.

Even the strongest red dragons were nothing but chickens before her—utterly powerless.

Only ancient or elder reds could truly face her.

"That white dragon’s too strong..."

"No wonder they call him ’Dragon Prince’. Even his servant is this powerful. I’ve got no chance."

"As expected, Her Majesty won’t easily grant divine favor. Only famous prodigies can defeat her."

"We need a different approach. Let’s go."

Soon, only thirty dragons remained at Lake Twarl, half of them green and blue, led by Kristina and Vesuvela.

"Damn it, there’s no way she’s just a mature white dragon! That size, that breath, that aura—it’s like she’s a thousand-year-old fossil!"

Vesuvela cursed bitterly, venom dripping from her thoughts.

Kristina, however, remained composed. She was the only one among them who had actually spoken with the "Dragon Prince."

The Faria family had long ties with the Empire’s top brass. If Kristina truly wanted an audience, she could arrange one under the guise of cooperation.

Kristina had come just to stir the pot.

Her goal was to make sure none of the chromatic dragons—especially Vesuvela—got Cassius’s bloodline and the Dragon Queen’s blessing.

And now, that mission was complete.

Seeing the others suffer against Tinia was delightful. Kristina was secretly thrilled.

Looking around and seeing few dragons left with courage, Vesuvela turned to the blues and growled coldly: "Your turn, Kristina. We must fulfill Her Majesty’s will."

"You blues claim to be second only to reds. Don’t tell me you don’t even have the guts to fight?"

Kristina wasn’t having it. She smirked: "How pathetic. You might not even get to meet His Highness Cassius."

"Shame I have pressing Faria business. I won’t get to see your defeat myself."

With that, Kristina roared, flapped her wings, and flew off with her blues, heading for the Rosa Desert.

"Cowards!! Softer than gnomes!"

Watching the blues leave, Vesuvela’s face twisted as she cursed them out.

"Heh. That annoying blue’s gone too," Tinia smiled.

Now all that remained was that sly green. Once she was handled, Tinia could report back to her Master—and she couldn’t wait.

Vesuvela lowered her head, shadowed in gloom. "No. I can’t give up. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance—Tiamat’s divine favor!"

"Miss it now, and I might wait centuries for another."

Gritting her teeth, she reached out with telepathy to her green kin.

"Forget tradition. We’re fulfilling Her Majesty’s divine command! Her will is supreme. When the chance comes, ambush that white dragon! Catch her off guard!"

The green dragons exchanged glances and nodded. "Yes, Lady Vesuvela."

Vesuvela finally took flight. This green dragon was 17–18 meters long, covered in deep green scales and spines. Sharp horns jutted from her snout. Her eyes gleamed with toxic cunning.

Physically, this adult green dragon was barely half the white dragon’s size—frail in comparison.

But unlike normal chromatics, Vesuvela was a dragon warlock. Her father, an ancient green, had lived in a divine realm for centuries and earned Tiamat’s favor. She had inherited that noble lineage and become a leader among woodland greens.

Her body glittered with magical gear: protective enchantments, focused spells, divine guidance, emerald light—layer upon layer of magic cloaked her in light.

Holding a golden staff, her dragon face wore a fake smile: "Duchess Tinia, since you insist on opposing me and defying the Dragon Queen’s will, I have no choice but to offend."

"In the name of Tiamat’s faithful, daughter of Agria, I—Vesuvela—challenge you to a sacred duel..."

As her long-winded declaration continued, more glowing lights flickered around her—more spells.

"Cut the crap!"

Tinia roared, irritated, and unleashed a frost-white breath straight at her.

But the moment the breath touched the green dragon, her body blurred—the breath missed entirely. It was an illusion!

She had shifted position during her speech, leaving behind a decoy.

The freezing breath struck the lake, instantly turning half of it into solid ice.

Terrifying breath!

The green dragons hiding nearby inhaled sharply, growing more cautious.

"Annoying bitch..."

Tinia scanned her surroundings, then turned sharply and spotted the real green dragon—right behind her, raising her staff and chanting in ancient Draconic.

"Dragonflame Art!"

With the chant complete, a raging fire dragon shot from the staff, clawing through the air, radiating scorching heat, diving at Tinia’s back.

"ROAR—"

Tinia howled. Matalotok’s icy power surged within her.

Beams of icy blue light burst from her body, forming a blizzard field with her at the center.

The two magical forces collided, intertwining into a massive elemental storm. White mist filled the sky, rolling endlessly.