Despite Sylvana's declaration of love, Caesar did not immediately grant her desires. The threat of the human army loomed over them like a sword of Damocles; dealing with these cunning humans came first, and there would be time enough for intimacy later. Caesar had made his decision.
He was confident he could devour this extraordinary army of over three thousand soldiers, assured in his belief that not even a Dragon deity could halt his victorious onslaught. A human legion so elite was bound to possess an untold number of magical artifacts, which he could exchange for a mountain of magical gems, perhaps enough to fill his entire dragon's lair with riches. Caesar could hardly contain his restless dragon's heart at the prospect of such wealth.
The recent transformation of his powers meant he could no longer be compared to his former juvenile self. If the esteemed knight retained any outdated impressions of him, a grave mistake it would be. His ascension was a sight his own kin had yet to witness, making the leak of intelligence all but impossible.
Caesar was all but certain of the human army's goal. The endless stretch of the Karl Mountains harbored creatures beyond counting; only a being as noble as a Red Dragon would warrant such concerted human aggression, considering their innate drive for benefit.
Still, Caesar thought, "It pays to be cautious." Even with a newfound ally as formidable as Sylvana, total annihilation of the human forces remained challenging, with the likelihood being both sides facing mutual destruction.
"What I need is another creature of Sylvana's caliber."
The memory of a formidable savage breed he had encountered shimmered into his mind – a sixth-order Ferocious White Tiger that bore no magical abilities, but, once tempered by elemental forces, became an unstoppable war giant amid the battlefield.
Originally, Caesar had planned to bide his time until the creature reached its peak strength before converting it into a draconic familiar. Such an addition would mean a combatant roughly equal to a high-tier entity.
However, given current circumstances, he decided to hasten his move to tame the Ferocious White Tiger. Had time permitted, Caesar would've desired to command all the potent savage breeds within the vicinity to serve as his formidable military forces.
With his orders issued, the monstrous legion awaited ambush along the humans' inevitable path, primed for his command. Drakes favored the element of surprise, and the Red Dragons were masters of such tactics. Utilizing the terrain to their advantage, they would descend from high ground with a barrage of fire, obliterating foes amidst the inferno.
In this conflict with humanity, Caesar's decree was brutal and simple: spare none. No dragonkind could stomach any affront to their sovereignty; even the benign Metallic Dragons could not abide.
There once existed more than thirteen human kingdoms on the Emerald Continent. Those tumultuous times saw humans locked in ceaseless warfare until some, swayed by dark cults, sought formidable power through sacrilege – using necromancy to claim the carcass of a Gold Dragon. When discovered, the Metallic Dragon Isle erupted in fury. Even the Platinum Dragon God Bahamut was enraged, and his divine decree led to a roaring onslaught. Kingdoms with tens of millions of inhabitants, and suitably legendary defenders, were incinerated to ashes by the draconic wrath.
Since that fateful day, no human nation dared raise arms against a Metallic Dragon. If such were the retributions of a benevolent breed, what would be faced from the irascible Red Dragons?
Ceasar's memory guided him unerringly to the whereabouts of the Ferocious White Tiger, which sat grooming its pristine fur within its domain. Empowered by elemental forces, the creature was an indisputable sovereign amongst beasts, its realm's inhabitants serving as little more than rations.
Strong beings such as this seldom need venture beyond their territory, provided food is plentiful. That was why Caesar was not concerned about it fleeing.
Interestingly enough, a dragon's physique shared a certain affinity with felines – from limbs to torso, their anatomical proportions were strikingly similar. How could dragons remain agile despite their size? The Ferocious White Tiger might offer clues.
Caesar's expansive wings stretched skyward, merging with the heavens. The savage breed's instincts immediately noticed this ominous presence. On its feet now, it stood, having basked in elemental energy that bestowed upon these savages even fiercer and more belligerent life, unafraid of any threat, dragons included.
Though not imbued with the magical arts, the savages possessed evolved beastly talents. Devoid of fear and supremely aware of threats, the Ferocious White Tiger bristled unhappily, confronting the menace with a resounding roar that dissipated the oppressive ambiance overhead.
Intrigued, Caesar found himself admiring this tenacity. But as much as he relished overpowering the weak, he found strong-willed creatures like this savage breed far more valuable as subordinates.
The White Tiger's eyes met with Caesar, who recited a complex incantation. Bursting into reality, Exploding Fireballs appeared as though rolling from a stone giant's hand.
Using Exploding Fireball magic, a spell Caesar had once wielded with finesse, was now an overwhelming rain of fiery meteors, echoing a sixth-ring invocation of a fiery meteor shower.
Transformation had touched every facet of Caesar's being: not merely the physical, but his spiritual force had blossomed prodigiously, possibly outmatching even those esteemed as adult dragons – evident from his immunity to Sylvana's sixth-ring mental spells.
Descendant of fire, Caesar's conjuring gave potency to even simple spells like Exploding Fireball, controlling numerous casts without losing command – a testament to his awe-inspiring evolution.