The first layer of the Nine Hells, Avernus.
In the resplendent divine kingdom of the Five-Colored Dragon, the voluptuous and enchanting Dragon Queen lay languidly on her throne. Her curvaceous body reclined gracefully, her pale arm supporting her chin, a lazy expression on her face.
Suddenly, the Immortal Dragon Queen's eyes flickered, and she let out a soft hum.
"Throstamoze has the power to kill my avatar; his strength is indeed different from before. He needs to be treated cautiously."
During the Dragonfall War, the Immortal Dragon Queen had fought against the Storm Lord.
At that time, the Storm Lord was not a match for the Immortal Dragon Queen, but now the situation was different.
The Immortal Dragon Queen's divine power had waned, while the Storm Lord's strength had significantly increased.
To test the Storm Lord's power, the Immortal Dragon Queen's avatar in the prime material plane had not hidden its strength but still was not a match for the Storm Lord. This indicated that if a battle occurred between their true selves, the Immortal Dragon Queen would likely be defeated by the Storm Lord.
However, she was not angered by this.
She was never one to rely on brute force. The Immortal Dragon Queen knew her strengths and weaknesses well; schemes, plots, and intrigues were her preferred methods. If not for wanting to test the Storm Lord's current strength, she would not have confronted the Storm Lord's avatar.
Soon, the sharp glint in the Immortal Dragon Queen's eyes faded as she closed them again, appearing drowsy and seductive.
In a magnetic voice, she softly said, "Garon, I have already tested the Storm Lord's strength. He will be the greatest obstacle for our dragon gods in this war."
In the other corner of the temple lay a semi-phantom silver dragon, exuding a faint divine glow.
This was the divine incarnation of Garon.
Garon's true self remained inactive, still within his divine kingdom on Mount Celestia.
Recently, Garon's incarnation had arrived in the Nine Hells, delivering the experience of the metal dragon god's confrontation with the Storm Lord. Soon after, the giant gods' avatars descended en masse, and the Immortal Dragon Queen seized this opportunity to test the Storm Lord's power herself.
Now, in the Immortal Dragon Queen's divine kingdom, not only was there Garon's incarnation, but also the avatars of two other dragon gods from lower planes, quietly lying on the golden floor of the temple.
One was a robust red dragon, with scales seemingly forged from fire and magma, exuding a destructive aura from every crevice between the scales.
This was Karriketh, the Dragon God of Flames and Destruction.
The other was a skeletal black dragon, its scales clinging to its bones, its skull-like head adorned with bone spikes, radiating an aura of decay and evil.
This was Farazul, the God of Rot and Exhaustion.
A similar situation was unfolding on Mount Celestia.
During the war, the dragon gods of the upper planes surrounded the metal dragon god to strategize, while the dragon gods of the lower planes gathered around the Immortal Dragon Queen.
Due to the need to rely on the Immortal Dragon Queen's cunning, Garon had also come here.
Gazing at the languidly reclining Dragon Queen, Garon said, "Dragon Queen, almost all the gods recognize your cunning. In this gathering, we need your wisdom to devise a trap for the Storm Lord and eliminate this greatest obstacle."
The Immortal Dragon Queen smiled faintly and said, "Cunning? You have a way with words."
The gods described the Immortal Dragon Queen as skilled in plots and schemes, never facing her enemies head-on, always preferring to ambush them after meticulous planning. This carried a strong negative connotation, while "wisdom" was a more positive term.
"Heh, whether it's a scheme or an ambush, as long as it achieves the goal, it's a good method."
Farazul's voice was hoarse, like the night wind rustling through twisted, barren branches.
This god of rot and exhaustion was also meticulous and fond of working in the shadows, worshipped by many black and green dragons. These dragons were mostly schemers who preferred to subdue their enemies with cunning before resorting to physical power.
However, in terms of schemes, Farazul was still inferior to the Immortal Dragon Queen.
Meanwhile, the fiery red dragon lifted its head, revealing razor-sharp teeth, and spoke in a deep, thunderous voice, "Hmph, the giant gods are not worth mentioning. Even if the Storm Lord is powerful, we should kill all the other giant gods first and then deal with the Storm Lord."
"In my opinion, we should directly engage in a divine war, plunging the filthy, stupid giant gods into ruin!"
Karriketh, the Dragon God of Flames and Destruction, was an embodiment of violence, passionate about destruction, with a battle-crazed nature. Many dragons believed his combat prowess was the strongest among the mid-level dragon gods.
However, none of the dragon gods present considered Karriketh's words.
He was known for his recklessness.
Facing weaker gods, a straightforward attack might be the simplest and most efficient method, but the giant gods were not weak. With the Storm Lord's increased power, they were now equal to the dragon gods.
Seeing no dragon god agree with him, Karriketh, disgruntled, lashed his tail against the ground with a thud and said, "Last time we fought the elves, none of you agreed with me either. This time, you ignore me again."
"Hmph, you all just continue your discussions without me. I won't bother with you."
Turning away, he closed his eyes, seemingly sulking, but clearly listening to the others.
After a brief silence, the Immortal Dragon Queen softly spoke, "Based on current intelligence, the most effective way to defeat the Storm Lord is to use the information gap and your ability to reverse time, Garon, to deliver the final blow at the right moment."
Pausing, she continued, "The news of you being injured and losing your greatest trump card has already been spread to weaken the Storm Lord's suspicions."
"However, the Storm Lord is shrewd and cautious, and he won't fully believe it."
Even the timing of this war was chosen to further dispel the Storm Lord's doubts.
Otherwise, they should have waited longer, at least until more dragons mastered resonance casting and heavy magic, improving their overall strength. Currently, the dragons' use of these techniques was still immature, but it was gradually becoming more refined with the war.
Farazul rasped, "In this war between dragons and giants, we must win. Defeat is not an option, or we will face utter ruin."
"In such a scenario, as long as the Storm Lord has doubts, however slight, he will assume the worst and believe Garon can still use time reversal."
Garon nodded in agreement, "The Storm Lord indeed leaves a different impression than other giant gods."
"After killing his father and gaining immense power, he did not become arrogant. Instead, he became more cautious. He is a formidable enemy."
"Eliminating his doubts entirely will be difficult."
The dragon gods, in a few words, almost accurately guessed the Storm Lord's thoughts.
The Immortal Dragon Queen smiled and said, "So, to use the information gap to strike the Storm Lord, the first step is to eliminate his doubts. This is crucial."
If the Storm Lord remained vigilant, the dragon gods might win in the end, but at a great cost.
A god of such immense power, with a divine rank of twenty, was extremely troublesome.
At this point, Karriketh opened his eyes, irritated, and said, "You analyze and discuss, but what exactly should we do? Dragon Queen, if you have a plan, just say it."
Turning to Garon, the Immortal Dragon Queen smiled seductively and softly said, "Garon, given the current situation, we can only ask you to die."
Garon was slightly stunned.
"What?"
He was taken aback.
Karriketh immediately stood up, staring at the Immortal Dragon Queen, and growled, "What nonsense is this? Dragon Queen, have you betrayed us to the giant gods?"
The Immortal Dragon Queen glared at Karriketh, ignoring him.
She chuckled and said, "To truly reassure the Storm Lord, only Garon's death without summoning the time dragon can do it, making him drop his guard and attack our dragon gods."
The Immortal Dragon Queen changed her posture, sitting up, her slender legs crossed in a queenly pose.
"Of course, the one who dies must be 'Garon's true self,' the Eternal and Time Dragon, not the Saint of the Dragon Court."
She said this nonchalantly.
The two different identities left as a contingency for the information gap were both to be used against the Storm Lord, greatly increasing the chances of success.
Karriketh was confused and shouted, "Dragon Queen, you're mistaken! Garon is destined to become a powerful deity. If he dies, although there's a chance of resurrection, who knows how long it will take?"
"Suggesting this, have you really betrayed us to the giant gods?"
Only the Immortal Dragon Queen and the Metal Dragon God knew that the true self was Garon's avatar, and the so-called Saint of the Dragon Court was the main body.
Garon had ascended to godhood under the protection of these two dragon gods, shielding from the prying eyes of other deities.
The Immortal Dragon Queen glared at Karriketh and said
, "Karriketh, if you keep spouting nonsense with your chaotic mind, I'll swallow your avatar!"
With this, the shadows of five dragon heads loomed behind her, glaring at Karriketh.
Farazul rasped, "The Dragon Queen surely has her reasons. Karriketh, stop speculating wildly."
Given her status, if the Dragon Queen had indeed betrayed them, the dragon gods might as well surrender to the giants.
Seeing Garon deep in thought and not angry, while the Dragon Queen was visibly upset, Karriketh fell silent.
Even a reckless dragon like Karriketh knew he couldn't challenge the Dragon Queen.
Angering her could result in him being chased to the Abyss of Roaring Winds and beaten severely.
"Garon, what do you think?"
"For the sake of the dragon race, are you willing to sacrifice your life?"
The Immortal Dragon Queen turned to Garon, her multicolored hair flowing, smiling subtly.
After a moment of deep thought, Garon took a deep breath, his gaze clear, and said, "Of course, if it can make the Storm Lord pay dearly and lead us to victory in this war, my death is insignificant."
Being revered as a dragon god and the Lord of the Dragon Court, Garon indeed felt a certain responsibility towards the dragon race, but sacrificing his life for them was out of the question. He didn't consider himself selfless.
However, the one being asked to die was the divine incarnation of Garon, not his true self.
As a crucial avatar, almost like a second self, Garon's divine incarnation's death, while significant, was less permanent than it appeared, thanks to his true self.
After the war, revealing the truth would earn him endless devotion, paving the way for him to become a powerful deity.
What dragon wouldn't worship a god willing to die for his people?
Moreover, it greatly increased the chances of the Storm Lord's downfall and winning the war.
"Only by eliminating the Storm Lord can we minimize our losses in this war."
"For the dragon race, what is my death?"
"I am willing to die for the dragon race and the dragon gods!"
With this resolve, Garon declared firmly.
Both Karriketh and Farazul were moved, saying, "Garon, are you truly willing to make such a sacrifice?"
Though gods could be resurrected, it was never without cost.
Dragon gods, too, had their own interests. Putting themselves in his position, both gods doubted they could accept such a fate, even if it was the best plan.
Garon smiled slightly and said, "After I fall, as long as my fellow dragons don't hesitate to lend me their power, I can be resurrected."
Both dragon gods were moved again.
Only the Immortal Dragon Queen smiled knowingly at Garon's performance.
The other dragon gods were unaware, but she knew Garon well. Since his legendary days, she had been paying close attention to him.
Thus, she understood that Garon, while not entirely cold-hearted, was not one to sacrifice himself without immense benefit.
After some time, the Immortal Dragon Queen said, "Garon is willing to die, but it can't be a simple death."
"When to die and under what circumstances is equally important."
"This is something I cannot determine alone. We must wait for the right moment."
If the death seemed too easy, the Storm Lord wouldn't believe it.
Timing was crucial.
In war, such opportunities would naturally arise. They just had to wait for the right moment.
"As for whether the Storm Lord will ultimately fall for it, I cannot guarantee, but the odds are high."
This was a gamble using Garon's death against the strongest of the giant gods.
If they won, the war would be practically over, ensuring victory.
If they lost, the cost wouldn't be too high, as Garon could be resurrected more easily than other gods.
Victory meant soaring success; defeat carried little cost.
Everyone knew the right choice.
Meanwhile, on Mount Celestia, within Bahamut's palace.
Garon's true self conveyed the Immortal Dragon Queen's plan to the Metal Dragon God and other incarnations of the dragon gods.
After a righteous speech about his willingness to die for the dragon race, the Just Dragon God Landis, the Rune Dragon Hel, and even the cold-hearted Judgement Dragon God Chronopis were moved.
Besides these familiar gods, there were two others Garon met for the first time.
One was Estelabo, the Dragon God of Wealth.
She appeared as a beautiful red dragon, but with a more graceful and balanced physique. Each scale gleamed like a red gem.
She wore a fine gold necklace with an intricate floral pendant. Besides, her horns, claws, wings, and tail were adorned with exquisite ornaments.
Estelabo valued wealth and the power to protect it, advocating for dragons to amass treasures.
Those who worshipped Estelabo had their hoards protected by her divine power, punishing any theft.
The other was Tamara, the Dragon God of Life.
She appeared as a beautiful and elegant silver dragon, her scales shimmering like jade, with eyes bright as the sun and moon, exuding life and light.
Known as the Lady of Mercy, she was a compassionate and kind god.
She believed in mercy, healing the sick, caring for the wounded, and offering painless ends to the dying.
However, her compassion did not make her weak; her doctrine included swift and decisive punishment of evil.
Both female dragon gods were moved, especially Tamara, who said, "Garon, don't worry. If you fall, I will do everything to help you resurrect, no matter the cost."
Garon smiled and said, "Thank you, Lady Tamara. I'll be counting on you."
Tamara, though not a warrior, was unparalleled in healing.
Notably, due to their similar beliefs, Tamara was a steadfast ally of the God of Light, who had ties to the Metal Dragon God.
"Now, we wait for time to pass and the war to spread, looking for the right opportunity."
The dragon gods reached a consensus.
The war between dragons and giants continued relentlessly, with godly avatars frequently descending to the prime material plane, battling each other.
Though smaller in scale, these confrontations remained intense, with gods themselves still holding back.
Time flowed on, and in the Dragon Court realm, Garon's true self stirred, then opened his eyes, his platinum pupils shining brightly, fully refreshed.
After his rest, Garon felt reinvigorated, his power of time growing, raising his level again.
This wasn't a battle epiphany but a natural growth due to his innate abilities as a time dragon.
Having kept in touch with his divine avatar during his rest, Garon was now aware of the Immortal Dragon Queen's plan.
"For the divine incarnation to die and dispel the Storm Lord's final doubts."
"Then, when he lowers his guard, I, the 'Saint of the Dragon Court,' will give him a grand surprise."
Garon and his divine incarnation shared the same thoughts, and he fully supported the plan.
Though the divine incarnation was crucial, its death, though costly, would bring greater future benefits, making the sacrifice worthwhile.
Having his true self die was not an option.
Looking to his side, he saw Yuna sleeping soundly, hugging his tail and occasionally drooling.
On her head, the contract dragon horn dimmed slightly.
Before Garon's rest, Yuna had been using the contract dragon horn, and now, exhausted, she too had fallen asleep.
"There's no rush to die. We need the right moment. For now, let's see which prime material world needs my presence."
Garon closed his eyes, and the contract dragon horn glowed faintly.
His will crossed the planar barriers, observing various worlds through his dragon court members, selecting those where he would intervene.
After some time, Garon's interest was piqued by a particular prime material world.
"An avatar of the Beast Lord in the Beastlands?"
"Interesting. Collaborating with the giant gods against the dragon race? Do they not fear being destroyed?"
The Storm Lord's divine realm was in the Beastlands.
It was no surprise he could draw the Beast Lord to his side.
Garon had also interacted with the Beastlands, summoning beasts for food supply early on, even facing the guardian beast there, who was ultimately driven off by Yuna.
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