As dawn's tender light pierces the dark veil of night, a new day stealthily scales the sky.
The day arrives anew, invigorating the soldiers who devour jerky, made from magical creatures, with vigor akin to ravenous wolves, all the while accompanied by the hydration spells cast by the accompanying sorcerers.
The transcendent army's logistics, secured by spellcasters, ensure their resilience whether on the battlefield or within unforgiving wilderness - a luxury afforded only to the most elite legions.
The army's formation is routine.
In the vanguard, high atop magical beasts, armored knights astride, wielding lances of exceptional length.
Following closely are gunmen clutching treasured firearms, ready to dispatch their magic-infused projectiles into the skulls of adversaries at a moment's notice.
Flanking the company to the west are forest rangers, blending less seamlessly with the military arrangement yet indispensable for their communion with nature - a skill accounting for the absence of magibeast assaults thus far.
Above all, the Griffin Knights roam the skies.
Though few, numbering just over a hundred, they serve as scouts and problem solvers for the battalion.
Centrally located, among the core of the force, stand highly esteemed spellcasters. They carry the might of arcane power, demanding prioritized protection from all.
In addition, there proliferates an abundance of transcendental soldiers and specialized units like assassins, priests...
They march, every step imbued with gravitas, towards the dragonslaying path.
Under Duke Cassius' manipulations, Caesar - who has merely abducted some human maidens - has been slandered as a wicked dragon within the Silvermoon Kingdom.
...
Caesar watches the advance of the human army with keen eyes.
All goes according to his expectations; this human legion has chosen the inevitable route to his domain. Additionally, the weather proves exceedingly favorable.
He had verified the night before that his recovery and defenses remain undiminished even without sunlight, thanks to the mystical elements of the Eternal Blazesun stored within him. Overall, his strength is barely affected.
With good weather, however,
endless solar absorption augments his combat endurance significantly, equipping him with an enhancement akin to a high-tiered, continuous spell cast upon his draconic form.
And then,
Caesar's scales gleamed, radiant lines igniting with a golden light more brilliant than any gold, his pupils gleaming with a trace of mockery. An idea occurs to him, a rather cunning one.
With a powerful flap of his wings, emerges a resplendent golden sun.
The grandiose dragon takes flight amid the sunlight, stirring the clouds into a frenzy. His scales shimmer with arcane power, each reflecting the sun with overwhelming brilliance - dazzling, commanding respect, epitomizing the grandeur and nobility every creature associates with sovereignty.
Upon sighting the splendid gold-scaled dragon,
the human army stands astonished.
The spellcasters murmur amongst themselves, reverence painted on their faces, "Why would a Gold Dragon emerge in the Karl Mountains? And such a formidable one at that; it's a rare spectacle indeed."
They are in awe.
For in the prime material plane, among the fifteen most common dragons, none commands respect like the Gold Dragon, validated by the multiverse.
Red Dragons boast in physique.
Gold Dragons in magics.
There's a jest among humans that reincarnation as a Gold Dragon signifies Bahamut's platinum blessing.
Moreover,
to their eyes, this seems a juvenile Gold Dragon.
Unlike their kin,
most dragons reach high status only upon adulthood, but Gold Dragons, as akin to Reds, ascend to supermassive stature in youth, owning the privilege of premature high-tier dragonhood.
Faced with such a formidably youthful Gold Dragon, the morale of the mundane soldiers would catastrophically falter, unable to spawn a semblance of combat spirit. Moreover, each Gold Dragon is believed to rest under Bahamut's vigilant gaze.
As the head of Metallic Dragons,
Gold Dragons are not to be trifled with - united and harmonious; if outmatched, they summon reinforcements. Ganging up is a valued tradition of their community.
And should they remain overpowered?
Well, congratulations - the avatar of a Dragon God will be your reckoning...
There was once a foolish human kingdom that coveted the carcass of a Gold Dragon, only to be obliterated without trace - a cautionary tale indeed...
As a medium-tier seer mage,
Reils knows certain secrets. Rumor has it a malevolent deity aimed to undermine the dragon's realm, only to have its own divine territory decimated by Bahamut himself, the dragon souls reclaimed - one can only imagine the deity's protective stance over its Gold Dragons.
Yet, he harbors no fear.
For Gold Dragons are exceedingly amicable, often aiding beleaguered humans without expectation of reward.
Their disposition is gentle, adhering to goodness, utterly selfless, their virtues surpassing even the most trustworthy paladins. They embody true sanctity, not merely in proclamation but in deed.
Unlike Caesar, the embodiment of draconic malevolence.
At this moment,
the 'Gold Dragon' approaches them with a might akin to a storm, inciting jitters in the magical steeds and an equal unease among soldiers, feeling as if a maelstrom has materialized over the sea, their vessel but a humble fisher's skiff.
To remedy this,
some spellcasters whisper incantations to bolster morale.
Aura of Courage!
An invisible light flashes across, steadfastly anchoring their hearts and minds, diminishing the dragon's oppressive aegis.
As the legion commander,
The high-ranking knight Zephyr steps forth, looking straight into those blazing golden eyes, the sun-like brilliance of the dragon's body seemingly hefting the weight of his breathing. With a courteous bow, he speaks, "Noble Gold Dragon, if we've trespassed upon your domain and disturbed your repose, we beseech thine forgiveness for our unwitting misstep."
Gold Dragons wander freely.
Sometimes, on a whim, they claim territory for their leisure.
All mistook Caesar for a Gold Dragon, and upon his arrival, the human army disastrously assumed no immediate threat.
"Humans, what brings thee here?"
Caesar, his eyes alight with mischief, utters in the common tongue.