Ashen Dragon

The atmosphere had become extremely tense.

Even those five-colored dragons dared not speak, fearing that they might incite the wrath of these two immensely powerful giant dragons and get drawn into their conflict.

Tiamat maintained her composure and continued with a calm tone, "Cassius, you are still as unique as ever, but... greed, courage, decisiveness, that is truly the essence of what we five-colored dragons should embody."

The green dragon skull chuckled, "Haha, perhaps you're worried that I'll attempt to seize your Hell Authority?"

"..."

Cassius did not answer; he merely flapped his wings, watching the five monsters not far away indifferently, seemingly contemplating.

The Blue Dragon head of the Dragon Queen seduced with a deep, magnetic voice, "Cassius, rest assured, I do not covet such trivial power. You can completely take charge of Avernus on your own.

I will stand behind you with all my strength supporting you. All you need to do is turn this place into... a paradise for the five-colored dragons, ruling it with your brothers and sisters."

"At that time, you will become a hero of your race, the Duke of Avernus who all dragons look upon with admiration! You will have unparalleled power among the five-colored dragon clan, commanding innumerable giant dragons!"

Tiamat's tone was full of rhythmic persuasion and provocation.

The five-colored dragons surrounding her flapped their wings and roared with lifted heads, echoing loudly.

"Praise to His Majesty the Dragon Prince!"

"The Duke of Avernus!"

"We will follow you; Hell shall become the paradise of the True Dragon!!"

Piere did not dare to even take a large breath, afraid of missing something crucial. If that terrifying Red Dragon and Five-Colored Dragon Queen joined forces, he surely had no power to resist.

"His Majesty Tiamat, you do make a compelling case."

Without any hesitation, Cassius paused, then spoke firmly and powerfully, "But... permit me to refuse!"

At this moment, Cassius was coldly laughing inside; he knew Tiamat all too well.

Lord of Avernus?

He himself had obtained the Hell Authority by his own hands; since when did the God of the Evil Dragons need to grant it?

If the Lord of the Nine Prisons came knocking, he would likely become the scapegoat, while Tiamat could effortlessly gain a large following of faith.

Perhaps even control Avernus indirectly through the Five-Colored Dragon Clan!

This would completely disrupt his semi-colonial master plan for Avernus and introduce many harmful elements, bringing no benefit to the Empire's development.

Tiamat's expression finally soured, the Red Dragon head letting out a domineering roar, "Cassius, are you intentionally defying me?"

The immense divine power pressure spread like an abyss and sea, covering the sky.

Seeing this scene, the Blue and Green Dragons loyal to Tiamat posed angrily, roaring, "Cassius, do not be ungrateful!"

"How dare you!"

"You dare defy Her Majesty the Dragon Queen's orders; have you forgotten your identity as a five-colored dragon?"

Though their words were fierce, these five-colored evil dragons honestly hid behind Tiamat, fearing Cassius might attack them in a fit of rage.

Only that female Red Dragon remained entranced, her eyes full of admiration.

The Dragon Prince, no, the Ashen Empire's Emperor actually dared to refuse Her Majesty Tiamat directly, what courage, what confidence!

Indeed a powerful male!

After all, for a Red Dragon, a creature with muscles for brains, strength was the only thing that mattered; so-called loyalty and faith were nonsense.

Facing the aggressive Five-Colored Dragon Queen, Cassius relied on the "Dragon of Hell" Authority to resist the Racial God's pressure, and said without humility, "Your Majesty Tiamat, I do not intend to defy; however..."

He paused before continuing, "I have already signed a pact with Lord Piere as an ally; how could I betray my word?"

Cassius spoke righteously, appearing like a Justice Messenger?

Pact, ally, integrity—such concepts to five-colored dragons, especially cruel, violent, capricious Red Dragons, shouldn't they be mere ornaments?

Even Piere was full of doubt, sure that Cassius was merely speaking lies, that greedy Red Dragon definitely held different intentions in his heart.

Tiamat, enraged to the point of laughter, let her black divine power dim the sky, "Cassius, do you think to use such a reason to deceive me, and fool your Mother Goddess!!"

Faced with the pouring pressure, Cassius did not back down; instead, he took a step forward, unfurling his hundred-meter-long wings that shimmered with lava waves.

The pressure of Avernus also suddenly exploded, sweeping across several tens of thousands of meters, standing in a standoff against Tiamat's divine power.

"Boom——"

The collision created an intense storm, even causing the five-colored dragons surrounding Tiamat to stagger, flapping their wings frantically in the gale, roaring chaotically, struggling to maintain flight.

Tiamat's five heads simultaneously opened their mouths, issuing a roar that shook the heavens, layer upon layer, "Cassius! Do not forget the fate of those rebels!"

"I have seen far too many five-colored dragons like you! Many of them believe themselves powerful, attempting to stand on their own, yet all ended painfully!"

"Is that so?"

Cassius slowly flapped his dragon wings, doing his utmost to resist the pressure of that divine power, speaking in an even tone, "But Your Majesty Tiamat, I have never done anything detrimental to you or to the five-colored dragon clan."

"On the contrary, I have always devoted myself to the grand cause of the five-colored dragon clan; it is just this time... forgive me, but I truly cannot agree to your request."

Cassius saw through Tiamat's bluff; she dared not unleash her full power within Barto Hell.