In a world where dragons ruled, the Dragon God stood as the pinnacle of perfection, excelling in every endeavor. With the arrival of a new generation of dragons, they boldly challenged the reigning Dragon God to a duel consisting of three distinct activities.
The format was straightforward: the first activity would be chosen by the challengers, the second by the ruling Dragon God, and the final activity decided by a council of six esteemed dragon warriors, led by the Dragon King.
Azoth, the twelfth Dragon God, embodied wisdom itself. Revered for his intellect and strength, he had reigned longer than any other. However, I was different from those who had come before me. Acknowledging my limitations in knowledge and power, I resolved to focus on the intricacies of the duel's rules.
**The Rules of the Sacred Duel for the Appointment of the Dragon God:**
1. The duel must always be one-on-one.
2. Only the champion of that year's "Quarioth" may challenge.
3. No outside interference is permitted in any of the three matches.
4. Should any interference occur, that activity will be rendered void, and a new one will be chosen. If either contestant suspects foul play, all three activities must be altered.
5. All participants in the "Quarioth" will witness the matches.
Though I believed in my own cunning, I understood that a true contender for the title of Dragon God must anticipate every possible outcome.
My first challenge lay in winning the "Quarioth," a grueling seven-day battle royale among all dragons of my generation who sought to challenge the Dragon God. To emerge victorious, a dragon had to survive in an arena set by the council, collecting as many "game-orbs" as possible over the week.
Survival, however, wasn't merely a matter of outlasting others; it required cunning and strategy. Dragons, known for their intelligence, engaged in a game of wit rather than brute force.
The game-orb, a deep red sphere, could be obtained by defeating or compelling other contestants to surrender. As my collection of orbs grew, so too would the danger I faced; a special magic known as "Joith" kept a leaderboard of all contestants, making each participant a target.
Each year, the landscape for the Quarioth changed, dramatically influencing the tactics of different dragon types. I, Ksanath the frost dragon, was not intimidated by terrain—at least, I thought so—until I learned that this year's challenge would unfold in the Demon Realm, amidst the fiery volcanic expanse of Iraneal.
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