Ashen Dragon

"Boom!"

Two gigantic beasts descended from the heavens, causing the ground to tremble and rocks to explode, the deafening sound echoing every corner of the battlefield.

The powerful impact seemed to make the ground surge, a raging sandstorm swept the land, and the shockwave mercilessly flung everything within a thousand miles — whether it was stones, trees, or soldiers — into the air.

A steam tank, unfortunate as it was, got flipped by the shockwave, landing clumsily a few meters away, its surface armor riddled with scars and cracks.

A massive crater of several hundred meters in diameter appeared on the ground, with the Red Dragon and the Hell Monster at its center, madly spreading web-like cracks that instantly covered the wasteland.

Amidst the smoke and dust, an enormous black silhouette raised its head and roared, its booming voice shattered the clouds and burst through the thick smoke.

As the smoke scattered, the enormous black silhouette finally revealed its true form, with scales shimmering with metallic luster, four huge horns, and a pair of pale golden vertical pupils like lava spheres — it was none other than the Emperor of the Crimson Dragon, Cassius.

And Wilhelm, or rather that despised Hell Monster, was pinned under the giant claw of the Red Dragon.

He was deeply embedded in the ground over a dozen feet down, unable to move, his emaciated body rising and falling with weak breaths, viscous black blood flowing out, showing no sign of the arrogance he had earlier.

Yet those slender claws twitched upwards slightly, and from that battered body came a hoarse voice, "Cassius... I... have not lost yet...

I... am..."

"Boom!"

Before the voice could finish, Cassius stomped on Wilhelm's chest with a claw, the sharp talons piercing the skin, deeply embedding into his body, tearing the flesh apart.

Wilhelm spat out a mouthful of foul blood, yet he still struggled with all his might, frantically howling and flailing the broken bat wing, trying to break free from the Red Dragon's grasp.

Withdrawing the claw, the black blood spattered everywhere, as Cassius watched coldly.

The Hell Monster wobbled as it flew into the air, its tattered wings making a sound like wind passing through torn cloth, and it raised the broken Final Judgment Spear almost maniacally.

"No, no! I... haven't lost! I still have, I still have other things, I will offer them — offer those vile wretches as sacrifices to Hell!

Quick, quick, Zarriel, I want to obtain greater strength, I want the strength to kill that Red Dragon!"

"Crazy, His Majesty Wilhelm has gone completely mad!"

"What is he trying to do?"

Hearing Wilhelm's roars, the Thrace People were in an uproar, unable to believe — the King they swore loyalty to intended to use his people as offerings to Hell.

"Those glowing arrays..."

"Help!"

"Mommy, my head hurts so much..."

"Child, my child! You need to hold on! Amanata, I beg you to save her back —"

Screams and wails echoed from within August City.

Inside the city, several Refining Arrays were activated, emitting an enchanting red light, which were located precisely in Thrace Kingdom's church, sheltering thousands of homeless refugees!

The refugees huddled together, jostling with each other, with people constantly passing out. Once they lost consciousness, their souls would be devoured by the array, becoming nourishment for Hell, becoming part of Wilhelm.

In an instant, countless souls from August City screamed as they flew into the sky, merging into Wilhelm's massive, twisted body.

Wilhelm opened his arms, spread his six bat wings, reveling in the sweetness of the rushing strength, "Such wonderful power, my subjects, you were born to serve me, dedicate your souls to me, and repay Fadlan's kindness —"

"Still a step too late!" Glaring at the distant Hell Monster, Dayev frowned; the once radiant King had now become something he despised the most.

Dayev turned to look at the refugee camp, where a mother held her soulless child sobbing, the child's hand clutching half-eaten bread — precisely what Dayev had given him.

The refugees huddled together, all wishing to escape this soul-devouring demonic lair, but unfortunately, the church's entrance was guarded by Holy Guard wielding Flaming Longswords.

"No..."

Dayev muttered to himself, his eyes gradually filled with raging fire.

That child should not die like this! Should not sacrifice his soul for the King's selfish desires!

Listening to the refugees' cries, reminiscing about that innocent face, Dayev's gaze grew firmer, and finally, he made up his mind, drawing the sword from his waist, leaping forward towards the Holy Guard.

"Filthy monster from Hell, die!"

...

Ten thousand beams of silver-white light poured onto the earth, the wicked Soul Refining Array ceased functioning, and the souls flying towards Wilhelm were directly purified, while the Hell Monster in mid-air was set ablaze.

Dayev wiped the black blood from his sword, looking toward the source of the radiance, and the refugees who were lucky enough to be saved all raised their heads in unison, gazing at the sky as if beholding a Savior.

In the sky, the great and unparalleled Red Dragon hovered, containing in its mouth a sacred blazing sun, like an incarnation of the Sun God — looking down from a great height upon the souls below.

"Praise the sun."

"Praise the Great Red Dragon, he is the embodiment of the sun!"

The refugees, passionate and devout, cheered for the great being that saved their lives.

Even Dayev stood in place, as if struck by lightning, staring wide-eyed at the sun, muttering, "Amanata above, could it be... that the Emperor truly is the embodiment of the sun?"