In the darkest corner of the Nuxtar Empire, within the palace of the S Dragon clan, beneath the rays of Siamond and Ruya, an entirely different event was unfolding.
In the vast hall, nearly five hundred black dragons stood in silent ranks.
Suddenly, the doors creaked open. A tall dragon with jet-black hair cascading to his waist stepped inside. His eyes were deep, cold, and overflowing with power. He wore black robes and a cloak whose inner lining gleamed violet. At his side walked his loyal advisor, Marius.
Every dragon in the hall dropped to one knee as one.
Azel ascended the dais and raised his hand.
"Rise!"
A deathly silence descended upon the hall. He continued:
"I am Azel S Dragon, the new patriarch of the S clan.
I have gathered you here today for one simple reason: the S Dragon bloodline that once made the world tremble—even the 'Six Great Dragon Clans' feared us—has now been reduced to a mere shadow!
The last three emperors of the Nuxtar Empire—our own former patriarchs—tried to crush us, silence us, and wipe us out. They called it 'peace,' claimed this was the price of tranquility. If the price of peace is this, then let us live on the battlefield from the moment we are born until the moment we die!
Now I ask you: what remains of us?"
He drew a deep breath.
"Nothing!
In the last ten thousand years, we have lost seventy percent of our power. Our brothers and sisters have been humiliated, hunted; some hide among humans, living like shadows of themselves!"
Waves of rage surged through the hall.
"Do you know why this happened?
Because they labeled us 'evil'—simply for being born with black mana. As though it were our fault. No! The fault lies with this world!
Our ancestor, Polat S Dragon, once said: 'If the world will not accept us, we will remake the world.'"
He struck his chest with his fist.
"Let them call us evil! It changes nothing!
One day the S Dragon clan will stand against the entire world. And on that day, we will write history with our own hands!"
Stepping into the center of the hall, his voice thundered:
"Thirty centuries! For thirty centuries we fought every dragon clan that stood against us! They called us 'children of darkness,' yet we never once fell!
Look at us now—what have we become? A herd of the weak!"
His eyes blazed.
Black energy began pouring from his body.
"We will be silent no longer!
As your new patriarch, I command: every black dragon shall grow without limits! Raise your rank by any means necessary! Awaken your true power!
From this day forward, we will restore the glory of Polat S Dragon!"
The hall roared as one:
"For the S Dragon! For our humiliated brothers and sisters, our friends, our clan, our families!"
Azel fell silent. In his eyes burned an undying hatred and the cold flash of a plan decades in the making.
"Show this world your wrath!
Let our descendants take pride in us, just as we take pride in Polat S Dragon."
The dragons roared, fire blazing in their hearts.
Azel departed the hall with eight high elders.
He took the throne, surrounded by the eight mightiest warriors of the S clan. Every step was heavy; every gaze was dark and formidable.
Seated upon the throne, he surveyed the hall.
"Hear my decree!
From this day forward, the Nuxtar Empire is no longer our concern."
Marius stepped forward cautiously.
"Patriarch, what does this mean?"
Azel drew a heavy breath and smiled.
"The S clan will no longer dwell within the Nuxtar Empire."
*Inner voice:*
"Long ago, we twisted beast souls into evil spirits to birth black mana, and with it we forged unbreakable power. Now we will reclaim that strength. The Empire would give their very lives to stop us."
Marius instantly warned:
"That is impossible. Our fate is bound by the peace treaty with our sworn enemies—the white dragons, the dragons of light, the C Dragon clan. If we break it, war begins. We are not ready."
The elders bowed their heads in agreement.
Azel continued:
"Then tell me—how many black dragons do we still have?"
Two elders stepped forward.
Margarita: "One hundred thousand within the core territories."
"And in the border and central regions, intelligence reports speak of more than five hundred thousand who are either fleeing, scattered into minor clans, or wandering without purpose. And there are surely others we have yet to discover."
Azel clenched his fist until it trembled.
"One hundred thousand?! How did this happen?!"
Margarita: "In recent years, small-scale conflicts have multiplied. The C Dragon clan sends their elites disguised as criminals to mercilessly slaughter our ordinary warriors. In many regions, bounties have been placed on the heads of black dragons."
Azel's fist tightened further.
"Damn them!
From this day on, no one travels alone. Groups of at least three or four! Long-distance journeys are forbidden!"
"As you command, Patriarch," Marius replied.
Leaning back against the throne:
"Next—we will forge five thousand elite warriors.
Through the ritual in which a mother passes her entire power to her child and sacrifices herself. Naturally born dragons begin at intermediate rank and rise far faster than any others. Within ten years, they will reach master level."
The elders bowed deeply.
Azel grew silent. His eyes gleamed like ice with distant, far-reaching plans.
When at last he was alone, he let his head fall back against the throne and pressed a palm to his forehead.
*Inner voice:*
"This is only the beginning… The S Dragon clan will once more show the world its true power."
He thought of his younger brother—Noa.
*Are you still alive, little brother…?*
In the corridor, only Marius and Margarita remained.
Margarita looked at Marius, her eyes filled with respect, pain, and deep regret.
"The Patriarch's speech… it shook you the same way it shook me, didn't it?"
Marius lowered his head and spoke softly:
"Yes… it shook me. I admit it… it inspired me."
Margarita offered a faint smile, then turned grave.
"It inspired me too… but for the opposite reason."
Marius regarded her intently.
"What do you mean, my child?"
Margarita closed her eyes for a moment, then spoke softly yet firmly:
"Noa… word is he still lives. The Patriarch has made the right judgment."
Marius exhaled heavily, a bitter smile of profound sorrow and regret on his face.
*Inner voice:*
"One day, my child, those words may become a dagger plunged into your own heart—remember that.
Azel… I never imagined you could cast aside your little brother with such coldness. You once saw Noa as your true brother; that love was never false… but now…
My beloved grandson Azel, you have become the murderer of your own little brother. Forgive me."
Margarita bowed her head and answered quietly:
"I will remember, Elder."
The corridor sank back into silence.
Only the sound of footsteps remained.
Discord