Ashen Dragon

"How can this kindness be repaid?"

"Let all people worship together, the Great Red Dragon in the heavens!"

With the passionate music, the air in Hector City became scorching; this city forged of steel seemed like a giant furnace.

People unanimously raised their heads to look at the sky, only to see flames sweeping across the sky, gradually condensing into a form.

First came the majestic head, followed by the body covered in hard scales, powerful limbs, wings that blot out the sun, and lastly, a tail that serpents like mountains...

Thus, a scarlet Red Dragon hundreds of meters long appeared above the city, slowly flapping its wings, covering nearly the entire plaza with its shadow, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure.

The Dragon's Might, penetrating the soul, weighed on everyone's hearts, compelling them to worship as if the dragon's phantom was a sacred existence.

"It is His Majesty Cassius!"

"Cassius above, His Majesty has truly appeared!"

"Praise the Great Red Dragon! Loyalty!"

Some clasped their hands together in devout prayer; others placed their fists over their hearts in a Loyalty Salute; or knelt on the ground in reverent worship...

Whether human, ogre, Great Goblin, or Tiefling, as long as they were Imperial Citizens, without exception, they displayed a pious, fervent expression, and the roar grew even more grand.

"That is His Majesty!"

"Long live the Great Red Dragon!"

"Mom, is that the Ashen Empire's Emperor—His Majesty Cassius our teacher talked about?" Little Daniel timidly clutched Erin's skirt, his face mixing fear, curiosity, and reverence.

As a native Imperial person, Little Daniel had countless times heard about the Ashen Empire's Emperor from broadcasts, newspapers, and teacher's praise, but this was the first time he witnessed the Emperor's grandeur in person.

Now, the remembered image and the massive, majestic silhouette in the sky merged in Little Daniel's heart, leaving a deep impression.

Erin also devoutly gazed at the sky, silently praying "May His Majesty Cassius bless us," and patiently told her son: "Yes, child, that is our Emperor. You must respect and revere him just like me in the future..."

For citizens like Erin who had long merged into the Order of the Empire, the Ashen Emperor was no longer just a tangible ruler but a symbol of the Empire, an embodiment of victory, triumph, strength, wealth, and other abstract concepts.

Even these Imperial people themselves did not realize their belief in the Ashen Emperor had already immersed into every aspect of Imperial life—far surpassing any divine in thousands of years.

In perspectives unobservable by the people, countless points of faith soared upward, gradually converging into that Red Dragon phantom, making it more holy, dignified, even radiant.

On the towering city walls of Hector City, at the top of each tower stood a Bipedal Wyvern, and upon seeing the dragon phantom, the Wyverns lifted their heads to let out a uniform roar.

"Roar—"

Amidst praises, hymns, prayers, under the stirring melody of "Cassius's Hymn," the Red Dragon in the high sky finally spoke with a thunderous, solemn voice.

"My people, my loyal warriors! At this moment, I am standing beside the glorious Imperial banner, gazing at the rolling clouds on the southern horizon.

The Thrace People shamelessly tore up the peace treaty, their cavalry trampled our wheat fields, their blades pierced the throats of our border guards, and their King even arrogantly declared—that we, the Ashen Empire, would ultimately be destroyed by the wrath of the Sun God, and the Imperial people only deserve to be their slaves!"

The ability of the "(Smooth Talker)" activated, stirring emotions in hundreds of cities hosting the speech.

Actually, the so-called Thrace People's "invading Imperial borders" was entirely due to the Empire's rapid expansion, catching Thrace's border cavalry off guard.

Wilhelm's "boastful words" were indeed unaltered, stemming from the opponent's wrath in the palace, subsequently delivered to the Empire's intelligence personnel, becoming material for Cassius's speech.

After saying this, the Imperial people below were immediately furious, waving their arms, firing shots into the sky, shouting in rage.

The plaza instantly fell into chaos, with the City Guard Army diligently maintaining order.

"Damn those Southerners!"

"Shameful!"

"Those Thrace People are treacherous; they should be punished!"

"That so-called King dared insult His Majesty and humiliate the Empire! He will be dragged to the gallows!"

The Red Dragon in the sky surveyed the surroundings with its pale golden vertical pupils, solemnly asking: "Everyone, can we sit idle—watching those Thrace People ride on our necks?"

"No! No!"

The people shouted one after another, the fervent cries echoing throughout the city like waves.

In this increasingly chaotic situation, Erin nervously embraced her young child to prevent him from being frightened: "Child, do not fear, they are expressing hatred for the enemy..."

Erin did not expect Little Daniel to shake his head resolutely: "Mama, I know, the teacher at school taught us, those Southerners are all shameless big villains."

His eyes gleamed: "I want to be like Dad in the future, become a grand hero of the Empire, drive those bad folks away! I also want to be a follower of His Majesty Cassius, become a mighty Dragonblood Noble!"