The Epic Dragon Titan

"This is my Synapse!" Muria, leading nearly sixty thousand Frost Giant prisoners, returned to the Frost Giant city. Following him were nine Silver Dragons, who beheld the Synapse floating above the city—a fantastical realm consisting of 132 cloud islands. Muria introduced his residence with pride.

"This is the Synapse!" The Silver Dragons displayed expressions of envy, which greatly satisfied Muria's vanity. Gold Dragons loved to show off. Many transformed into humanoid forms, such as rangers and bards, to walk among human kingdoms, performing heroic deeds and enjoying the admiration that followed.

"What's that city at the top? A floating city? I've never seen such a large one!" A "small" Silver Dragon, only fifty meters in length, exclaimed.

"That's the Cloud City!" The Silver Dragon Queen quickly explained, preventing her companion from embarrassing herself.

"Wow!" The Silver Dragons were even more amazed, making Muria rub his chin with satisfaction. The Cloud City, naturally glowing with divine light, was more eye-catching than his cloud islands. However, Muria thought, the entirely artificial Cloud City and his Synapse, which preserved much natural scenery, had their unique appeals. He would never admit his Synapse was inferior to the Cloud City.

"I recall our Deprosian Continent didn't have so many cloud islands. Where did these come from?"

"These islands seem to be moving!" a Silver Dragon observed uncertainly as the Synapse slowly rotated around the central cloud island.

"They drifted from the sea," Muria rolled his eyes. "I've already told you, this is a domain capable of traveling the world—Synapse."

"So, these cloud islands can move?"

"Yes."

"If that's the case, how about this, Your Highness?" A Silver Dragon's eyes sparkled as he looked at the islands, proposing a suggestion he thought brilliant. "I won't ask for war reparations. Just give each of us a cloud island, and that will do."

"Heh!" Muria responded. The suggestion was too greedy. "In your dreams!"

"You're too stingy! You have so many cloud islands, what's the harm in giving us a few?" Several Silver Dragons grumbled.

"I don't think I have too many cloud islands. Honestly, I feel like I don't have enough," Muria retorted. He had witnessed the scale of the void war. Even if Synapse were fully developed, turning all the cloud islands into unique floating cities, it would still be insignificant compared to the endless void. "Besides, I don't think the war reparations I owe you can match the value of a single cloud island."

"What's so great about these cloud islands anyway?"

"The fact that they can move is impressive enough!" the Silver Dragon Queen said softly. "You're transforming these cloud islands, right? Converting them into floating cities. I remember the Arcane Federation proposed a similar project but abandoned it due to the excessive manpower and resources required."

The Silver Dragon Queen looked thoughtfully at the slowly rotating Synapse. Having lived for over a thousand years, she knew most of the world's affairs. A scholarly metal dragon's knowledge surpassed any mortal's imagination.

"Good eyes, Your Majesty. Indeed, I'm transforming these cloud islands into Cloud Cities."

"132 cloud islands mean 132 floating cities. Your Highness, what an ambitious plan!"

"Just the beginning, and it's less than ten percent complete," Muria humbly smiled.

"Your ambition is vast, Muria," Ilvest commented.

...

"The war failed. Let's discuss our next steps. That hybrid Titan won't stop here."

In the boundless void, atop the world's barrier, fifteen Ice and Snow Gods stood together. Below them, three divine kingdoms were crowded together. Tremendous divine power chains extended from the Ice and Snow Gods, sealing the divine kingdoms, where a cold crow, a frost wolf, and a snow leopard roared and struggled unwillingly.

"We've already defeated these three beast gods."

"What good does it do? They're just subordinates."

"If we threaten that Titan with these three, do you think he'll back down?"

"What do you think?" a god asked, his divine thoughts carrying a mocking tone. "To that hybrid Titan, these three are dispensable and unimportant."

"So, what do we do now? The war below has collapsed. Even if we gather all our remaining strength, we can't win."

"What if we descend as avatars and kill that Titan directly?"

"Sure, go ahead. We all support you," the Ice and Snow Gods smiled at the proposing deity. "I didn't say I would do it," the deity, like a mouse suggesting putting a bell on a cat, retreated a few steps and outright refused.

"If you won't do it, why suggest it?" the Winter Maiden, Auriel, coldly asked. "We need a practical plan. No one wants to fall."

Some gods fell silent. Losing the Frost Giant's faith was a significant loss but not enough to cause their demise. However, provoking a Titan and descending as avatars to fight him guaranteed death. More powerful beings had already set examples for them.

"How about we ask them?" a deity suggested, looking at the divine kingdoms below. "There must be a reason they yielded to that Titan. There must be benefits they couldn't refuse."

"Then let's ask them why they agreed to cooperate with that hybrid Titan."

Naturally, though the three beast gods were reluctant to share their agreement with Muria, they disclosed the benefits they would receive under pressure.

"Human kingdom faith!"

Upon learning this from the beast gods, the gods' eyes gleamed. They were tempted. Humans offered the largest faith pool in the world, and every god desired a share. Though many gods couldn't extend their reach into human kingdoms, they now saw an opportunity.

"So, should we consider abandoning the Frost Giants' faith to cooperate with that Titan in exchange for the chance to spread our faith in human kingdoms? This way, we lose nothing."

"Nothing?" Auriel sneered. "Didn't you hear? The price of spreading our faith is altering our doctrines. Once changed, our divinity, faith, and even will would be twisted. Would we still be ourselves?"

"Of course, who else?" a deity replied gravely, clearly tempted to follow the beast gods' example and alter his doctrines.

"Isn't it shameful to submit to a legendary being?"

"Submitting to a Titan isn't shameful. Who dares mock us? Let them try defying a Titan!"

After a heated discussion, the Ice and Snow Gods dispersed in discontent. Formed under Muria's pressure, this temporary alliance collapsed as soon as a new solution emerged.

...

"Brother-in-law, when are you returning to the heavens?"

"In eight or nine thousand years," Ilvest lazily replied, leaning against a tree and glancing at the irritated Muria with a mocking tone.

"I heard you have a fiancée. Aren't you afraid she'll be taken by someone else if you don't return for eight or nine thousand years?" Muria countered.

"I've notified her. She'll come down soon. Prepare a place for her. Your scenery is nice, a good place to relax and unwind, with no shortage of battles," Ilvest replied shamelessly.

"You really have no shame," Muria's face twitched. Because of this giant third wheel, his attempts to be alone with Mikaela were constantly interrupted.

"Let me ask you something, Muria," Ilvest continued, ignoring Muria's impatience. "Can Mikaela consider Synapse her second home?"

"Of course," Muria frowned, already guessing where this was going.

"Then as her brother, it's also my second home, right? If it's my home, why should I be a guest?" Ilvest argued.

"You're a Seraphim descendant, have some dignity," Muria's face twitched in exasperation.

"With someone like you, dignity is unnecessary."

"In that case," Muria stood, stretching his body. His bones crackled like thunder, and tiny golden arcs of lightning danced on his skin. "As my brother-in-law, I just broke through and need to adapt to my strength. Sparring with me is reasonable, right?"

Fists were the best solution to everything. Muria believed the Titan way was the best way to resolve issues.

"Gladly. Since you've broken through, I won't hold back this time." Magnificent armor pieces appeared on Ilvest, and divine Seraphim flames blazed around him.

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