Vvvvrrroooom! A breath of fire escaped from his hands, illuminating the room with a purple glow, while the enemy spy was consumed in an explosion of ash.
The Dragon King releases his grip on the fire, the air saturated with heat.
Dragon King: «You have until the end of your lives to prove your loyalty.»
He freed Eldorin and his people, allowing them to continue to cultivate their land under his strict supervision. Crrrshhh! The ground shook slightly under the weight of his decision.
The Dragon king decision divided the local population. Some are relieved to escape total destruction, while others remain suspicious of their new ruler. Ssssqqk! The wind in the fields seems to whisper their worries.
Lyara gains influence as her strategy has been adopted. Fzzzt! The air around her seemed to vibrate with satisfaction as she observed the results of her work.
Carlos: «These cowards... They don't deserve this pity.» Bang! He violently hits the table showing his displeasure.
Darius withdraws to continue his experiments alone, frustrated at not having been listened to. Shhhhh! The creaking of a door closes behind him.
Trôk remains vigilant, aware of the growing tensions between the internal factions. Thrrrttt! His piercing gaze watched the horizon, always on his guard.
After this conquest, the first few months passed and the dragon king felt his empire strengthening. The lands around the valley were pacified, enemies eliminated and the territories he had annexed and new creatures were quickly integrated into his kingdom.
Vvvrrrmmm! The sounds of forges and buildings echoed throughout the kingdom, marking the growth of the empire.
His subordinates, who distinguished themselves in various fields, began to occupy positions of power within the imperial administration. CLANG CLANG ! Hammers strike the anvils, symbolizing the rise of the new rulers.
The Dragon King's kingdom was thriving, and every day that passed brought him closer to his ultimate goal. Fwoooosh! The wind was blowing through the buildings under construction.
And with each step of his ascent, the system's quests continued to follow one another, allowing him to hone his mastery of the elements and strengthen his techniques of warfare, which allowed him to acquire more and more magical knowledge.
Dragon King: «The gods claim to rule this world, but they do not shape it. I don't want to reign, I want to create. This world will not be under my dominion, it will be my reflection. »
Rrrrrrrumble ! A vibration of energy was felt around him, like a promise of what is to come.
He was on the verge of becoming as powerful a being as the gods themselves. Vvvvvrrrmmmmmm! A breath seemed to envelop the room.
Dragon King: «It's time to prepare for the future. » he says to his subordinates as he observes the kingdom under construction.
Craack! A sharp tap echoed in the air as he punched the table.
«The dragon empire will not just survive. He will reign over this world. »
The Dragon King was in his great throne room surrounded by his advisors and lieutenants, thinking about the next step in his ascent.
Dragon King: «The demons have been eradicated, but we all know that other forces lurk in the shadows. It was only a prelude. This kingdom will not be built by force alone. We need alliances and total domination. »
His lieutenants had understood his message. The Dragon King had once defeated a demon general, but he knew he had to expand his influence to establish true peace under his rule.
The demonic armies were only one aspect of the war to come. Now he had to deal with the other, more subtle powers that polluted this world: the sorcerer kings, the guilds of assassins, and even the forgotten old gods.
As he meditated under the shade of a thousand-year-old tree, the Dragon King felt a strange presence. The wind froze, and an ethereal voice echoed through his mind.
VZzzzz... Unknown voice: «Dragon of the lands and flames, the balance of the world rests in your footsteps. The Heavens are not only lands of light, but the very foundations of reality. If their brightness is extinguished, everything will sink into nothingness. »
Dragon King (opening his eyes, sarcastically): «Always the same bombastic prophecies. Nothingness, chaos... And I, the chosen one. Spare me the clichés and give me answers. »
Hhhhhh.... Unknown voice: «Michael keeps the key, but he's not your real enemy. The Heavens are crucial, not for their greatness, but for what they hide: the Primordial Source. If it is corrupted, even you will not be able to stop the fall of the worlds.»
Dragon King: «It's time to go and visit the Heavens. » whispered the Dragon King. He turned to his strategy advisor, a former mage named Bel, who held a magic card floating in front of him.
Bel: «We've detected several portals to a celestial realm, my King. » he explained, pointing to a point on the map.
Fffsss... : «These portals are protected by powerful entities, divine creatures who control the paths between the mortal realms and the Heavens. Accessing these portals could allow us to forge alliances with divine forces, or to increase our own power by accessing their forbidden knowledge. »
The dragon king was smiling. Access to Heaven would be a decisive step for him. With the right knowledge and alliances, he could not only dominate this world, but also the celestial realms themselves.
But he knew he couldn't go it alone. It required well-prepared forces to face the heavenly protections.
Carlos: «My king, I do not doubt your power, but Heaven is not a kingdom to be conquered by brute force. These creatures have seen millennia pass and crushed entire civilizations. We must proceed with caution.»
Hhhhhh... Dragon King (coldly): «Are you questioning my decisions, Carlos?»
Carlos (looking down): «Never, my king. But prudence is not a weakness, it is a weapon.» Grrr...
Dragon King: «Prepare an expedition. Take the best mages and warriors with you. We are going to open a breach in this heavenly realm.»
The crossing of the lands to the celestial portal was not easy. The terrain was dangerous, and mystical creatures haunted the area, ready to attack any life form that approached it.
The Dragon King and his soldiers advanced cautiously, using their powers to repel monsters and protect the weak.
Lyara: «Fascinating... These entities seem to be reacting to the divine flow that protects the portal. If we could isolate their essence, it could strengthen our own spells.»
Shhhhhh...
Carlos: «We're here to open a portal, not to experiment with magic.»
Tsss... Darius: «Carlos, without magic, you would be a simple demon, crushed under the boots of your enemy.»
Dragon King: «Silence! You will have plenty of time to debate when this gate is opened.»
The group walked in a tight formation while following the instructions of the mages who analyzed the ancient magic at each stage.
Hhhhh... «The portal is near. » a mage announced, looking up at the sky: «But it is protected by an ancient enchantment. We can't force it without getting the attention of the guards.»
Silarion (whispering to a fellow elf): «It is said that no one has ever returned from Heaven... Do you think we have a chance? »
Comrade: «Keep your fears to yourself, Silarion. If the king leads us, we will triumph. »
Silarion: «It's not the king who makes me doubt... It's those things behind the gate. They are not like us. »
The portal was surrounded by a divine energy, almost relentless, like an invisible barrier that made the air heavier.
Fffzzzz... The Dragon King felt the presence of the celestial beings who observed their every move.
A spiritual energy was circulating. But he was not the type to be intimidated. He was a dragon king, a being who had surpassed the limits of mortals. He turned to his system which invoked the quest generated.
Bzzzzt... [Quest generated: Open the Celestial Portal. Reward: Mastery of the sacred element and increase of divine strength.]
The system left no room for uncertainty. The reward was clear and precious, but there were many obstacles. The mages tried incantations to break the barrier, but nothing seemed to work.
The Dragon King knew he had to use a more direct approach. He raised his hand, concentrating his energy in a whirlwind of mana.
Vrrrrr... Dragon King: «If the path is locked, we'll just open it.» A shard of divine light came out of his fingers, a concentrated ray of his draconic power. The magic merged with the divine energy of the portal, creating a burst of bright light.
BOOOOOOM...
After the explosion of divine light, the portal was opened, a gaping gap leading to an unknown universe. Yet no one dared to move. Even the bravest soldiers felt the crushing weight of the power that emanated from the passage.
Fffzzzz... The oceans shook under the impact and a blast of celestial energy pouring in, cracking the barrier in an instant. The darkness of the portal lighted up, revealing another world behind. The Dragon King and his troops had taken the first step.
Inside the celestial realm, the scene was even grander than anything he had imagined. Floating islands of golden light lay before him. Celestial citadels, built on clouds of gold, floated in the air, protected by divine armies.
Carlos (observing the breach): «So these are the Heavens...I never thought I'd see such a show in my lifetime.»
Ssss... Darius (sarcastically): «And yet, Carlos, here you are, trembling before the door of immortality.»
Lyara (whispering): «Immortality or certain death, it's the same for us here.»
Hssss... Dragon King (imposing silence): «This portal is not an end in itself, but a beginning. If you're scared, stay here. If you doubt your king, step back. But know this: every step I take is a step towards total domination. Those who accompany me will have their place in history. The others will be forgotten.»
Beings with luminous forms, with majestic wings, moved gracefully, their voices resounded like siren songs.
Vvvv... Lyara (whispering): «It's... It's too good to be true. We shouldn't be here.»
Zzzttt... Darius (amazed but calculating): «These places... their structure does not obey the laws of mortality. Gravity itself seems... Reverse. If only we could understand its secrets!»
Carlos (pragmatic): «Enough wonder. If these creatures see us as intruders, their beauty will be the last thing we behold. Stay vigilant. »
Hhssss... The dragon king was not amazed by this spectacle. He knew that this celestial realm was home not only to powerful creatures, but also to ancient secrets and treasures of mystical knowledge.
Fffzzzz... Still, he couldn't afford to just observe. He had come to claim his right. Heaven was not a frontier that he was going to leave untouched.
A majestic archangel named Zadkiel , dressed in light, approached the group.
The archangel attacked, swift as lightning. But the Dragon King countered her with controlled elegance, using her powers to channel the celestial energy against him.
Darius (whispering): «If that's their way of saying hello, I'm afraid to see what they do to their enemies.»
Rrroooarrr... Dragon King (turning to Lyara): «Strength is not what defines us. These are our choices. And my choice is clear: I never leave a battlefield without having won. Whether the angels refuse or not, this kingdom will be mine.»
Zadkiel: «If you really want what belongs to us, you'll have to prove your worth to us first.» The angel reached out, and a bright light enveloped the area. Fzzzz... «We don't let anyone cross our border without paying the price.»
The Dragon King smiled. «Very good.» He turned to his soldiers and mages :«Prepare to prove that the dragon's empire is worthy of Heaven.»
Silarion (cautious): «My king, perhaps we should negotiate before we start a war that we don't fully understand.»
Carlos (impatient): «Ridiculous little soldier from Lyara. We don't have to negotiate anything. Heaven is full of forbidden knowledge, and I am sure that even its guardians do not fully understand it.»
Darius (murmuring, hesitating): «If these creatures are divine, what do we mean to them? Just an insect... »
Hissss... Dragon King (Authoritative): «Silence. It's not their judgment that counts. It is ours. »
Zadkiel raised his hand, and a series of portals opened around the Dragon King and his troops. From each portal emerged celestial warriors, powerful creatures born of divine purity. Vzzzz... Who wore shining armor and weapons composed of sacred magic. The dragon king, however, did not allow himself to be disturbed. He knew that the battle ahead would be the key to getting what he wanted.
Dragon King :« Carlos, Darius, Lyara return to the Kingdom with the other soldiers, I intend to continue this quest alone»
Lyara: «Master, I don't think it's a good idea for you to continue on your own»
Carlos: «If our king wants to continue the quest on his own, then he is free to do so»
Darius: «Good luck Master Volmeryn, I hope you come back victorious»
This is how Volmeryn decided to continue the conquest on his own. All of a sudden, the system was giving him a notification in his mind:
[Optional challenge unlocked: Tame the Skies alone.]
[Difficulty: High.]
[Hidden Reward: ???]
Dragon King (smiling): «Hidden, huh? I like mysteries. Let's go.»