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Chapter 555: Wrath
"Your Majesty, that Ember Emperor is not a traditional evil dragon! It's not just his power—his ambition far exceeds what anyone here can imagine."
Dayev mustered his courage and stepped up beside Duke Sahisay, speaking resolutely.
Hearing his subordinate contradict him, Duke Sahisay frowned, his face darkening: "Dayev, don't forget—I'm the official envoy to the Empire."
Dayev hesitated, then bit back: "But... my lord, I've traveled through several cities in the Ember Empire and even lived in Isthalia for days. I understand the Empire far better than you."
He looked up at the "Angel King" on the throne, shrouded in a hazy glow: "Your Majesty Wilhelm, do you know what I saw?"
Wilhelm leaned forward slightly, his voice low: "Speak, what did you see?"
Dayev lowered his head, recalling the unforgettable journey of years past.
"I saw mechanical behemoths thundering across the land—not for war, but for agriculture. I saw cities of steel rise, mass-producing goods. I saw chimneys spewing smoke. I saw citizens—regardless of race—regarding their emperor with reverence.
That Dragon Emperor isn't simply chasing gold—he invested tens of millions in these developments. No greedy dragon would ever do that."
"Take the red dragon lord Osaros a century ago. Every few years, he'd ravage his own people without mercy—that's what a traditional evil dragon lord is."
"But the Ember Emperor Cassius behaves entirely differently. His goal isn't wealth. Rather..."
Dayev paused, searching for the words. Finally, he said heavily:
"The Ember Emperor is creating a new civilization."
"That's impossible!"
"Dayev is exaggerating!"
"He's just a red dragon. No matter how strong, he's a beast—not a wise ruler!"
"He's just trying to impress His Majesty!"
The hall erupted with voices. The ministers debated loudly, and Duke Sahisay's face darkened like coal.
"If this is true, aren't we just giving money to our enemy?"
"Indeed—using magical constructs for commoners is unheard of."
"That red dragon's charisma is terrifying!"
Most ministers supported Duke Sahisay's plan—they didn't want to face that northern terror.
But some were swayed by Dayev's words, concerned by the Ember Emperor's boundless ambition.
The ministers of Therese feared not rampaging dragons—they were just beasts.
But they did fear a wise, ambitious dragon lord who could dismantle their rule.
Wilhelm brooded, wings curling slightly: "So, that Ember Emperor has such ambition...
No wonder that northern coward was so terrified."
Having seen the battle and heard Dayev's account, Wilhelm couldn't help but feel wary of the red dragon.
But in Wilhelm's heart, the priority was always reclaiming the Holy City, seizing the old emperor's legacy, and becoming a god.
Everything else was secondary.
After all, he was a descendant of the Sun God—a born ruler of Fadlan. Why fear a red dragon?
But Dayev's next words made Wilhelm falter.
"Moreover...
Your Majesty Wilhelm, I witnessed hundreds of imperial followers receive the red dragon's blessing and grow immensely powerful. He is conducting something akin to an ascension ritual!
Cassius... that emperor wants to become a god in his people's eyes."
Dayev looked up at the angelic king on the throne, voice heavy.
"What?"
Wilhelm's eyes widened, body trembling with rage and shock. Even his pure wings quivered.
That red dragon wants to become a god of the earth!
Wilhelm's plan was to take the Holy City, eliminate his brothers, and inherit Aragon I's legacy—to ascend and become a god.
Then, he would restore sacred Fadlan, gather faith from all races, and rule eternally as a divine emperor.
And now another seeks that throne? Unforgivable!
Wilhelm's voice rumbled like thunder: "Are you certain?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I saw it. It was like the ascension of His Majesty Aragon a century ago."
Wilhelm slowly rose. His six wings spread wide, casting a shadow over the court.
"Ministers, what are your thoughts? My elite angelic guard and arcane corps are battling the Kassander rebels in the south—do you plan to face the red dragon alone?"
"Your Majesty, this..."
"Forgive us, we—"
"That monster cannot be stopped by mortals!"
"Yes—a hundred-meter dragon? Sending troops is suicide!"
Suddenly, Duke Sahisay stepped forward, eyes narrowed in thought.
"Your Majesty, do you remember Isa and Muken?"
Wilhelm's face turned cold: "Of course. Those traitors began the rebellion."
Isa and Muken were powerful divineborn dukes, once Wilhelm's key aides.
Years ago, weary of endless war and seeing Therese's decline, they broke off at the border.
They proclaimed themselves "Angel Princes" and declared divinity—while Wilhelm, embroiled in the southern war, could not stop them.
Soon, dozens more divineborn followed suit, carving up sacred Fadlan into many states.
This mass rebellion became known among scholars as the "Holy Turmoil."
Even now, divineborn rebels still resisted Wilhelm's rule, claiming the old emperor had named them princes.
Wilhelm deployed troops to crush them and restore his power.
Sahisay knew Wilhelm hated these rebels but continued:
"Your Majesty, since we can't control them, why not use them?"
Wilhelm pondered: "You mean..."
"Assign the rebellious divineborn nobles to the north. Let them be our shield against the Ember Empire's invasion."
He leaned closer, smiling slyly, wrinkles bunching.
"That way, you can focus on Kassander. Once you reclaim the Holy City, lead a restored Fadlan north, crush both dragon and rebels."
The ministers cheered. It was a low-cost plan.
"Brilliant, Duke Sahisay."
"Indeed—a clever solution."
"Let our enemies fight each other while Therese stands apart."
But Dayev questioned anxiously: "But... can the rebels really stop the Ember Empire? If the Empire destroys them, won't we face a two-front war against both the Empire and Kassander?"
An elderly man in golden robes stepped forward, gripping a glowing staff.
This was Herbert Favari, once a bishop of Amanata's church, now the Kingdom's High Priest.
"Your Majesty Wilhelm, Though the great Sun God sleeps due to Kassander's treachery, the celestials of Heaven's Mount still communicate with us. They want the Sun's radiance to shine once more—not a red dragon's tyranny."
He looked up, reverently.
"You received Lord Amanata's blessing. You possess seraphic blood. The angels will aid Therese.
No beast, no matter how mighty, can withstand Heaven's radiance.
I will travel to Heaven's Mount, and bring back a seraphic champion to aid us against the red dragon."
Herbert's voice was long and melodic—like a hymn.
"Very well."
Wilhelm sat tall on his throne, bathed in divine glow.
His commanding voice echoed:
"When Holy Fadlan is restored, the traitors and the red dragon will be ashes beneath Amanata's light!"
"Long live Emperor Wilhelm!"
"Glory to Holy Fadlan!"
Cheers rang out through the court.
But beneath the radiance, black cracks marred Wilhelm's once-perfect skin.
"Damn it..."
"This can't go on. I must find my father's legacy and become truly immortal."
The "Angel King's" handsome face twisted in pain. He muttered to himself.
"Crack."
A faint noise. The black cracks spread like fractured porcelain.
A magnetic voice whispered beside him.
"Your Majesty, your 'immortality' is running out."
"If you don't find Fadlan's legacy soon, the Nine Hells will come for payment."
Behind him, devilish sigils faintly flickered.
Wilhelm trembled, his face changed. He spread his vast wings and roared at the court:
"Out!
You useless worms—get out!"
Feathers scattered. Porcelain shattered. Ministers exchanged glances and quickly retreated.
Since the old emperor died, this ruler had grown moody—perhaps from grief.
Ember Empire, Dragonblood Mountain.
Sulfurous smoke coiled. Flames crackled. A massive shadow loomed.
Atop the peak, the forty-meter red dragon lay lazily, breathing silver fire to refine blood drawn from dragon corpses.
In just days, Cassius had grown larger. His body neared fifty meters.
The red dragon relished this steady growth. Unbothered, he could refine blood for decades until he became an ancestral dragon.
But flickering magical images distracted him.
"Hmm. Therese is wary now. Didn't expect Wilhelm to try feudal division. Amusing."
"And Kassander again wants an alliance? Getting desperate? Want to borrow my power to crush Therese?"
Cassius reviewed Langpu's intelligence, commenting softly.
In the past month, images of his battle with the Abyssal Dragon had spread widely, stunning all factions.
And the Empire again became the focus of the Feanso Continent.
Cassius rose, shook himself, spread his wings, drank another drop of ancestral dragon blood, and ordered:
"Have all departments prepare for war. Kartpa has been ready a long time. It's time...
To begin true conquest of the South.
Wilhelm was kind enough to give me a convenient opening. I didn't want to swallow all of Therese at once anyway."