Rise of The Demon General

While Mo Wang was discussing matters with Ling Dau and Amon, Thien Huo also discussed their options with Di Yu.

Thien Huo told Di Yu, "I know you long for vengeance. You go for Mo Wang. I will handle this fallen dragon."

"The responsibility for Amon’s call for aid is mine. I can’t drag you into this," Di Yu said.

"Nonsense. Until we get Amon to free Di Ying, I will not leave your side. We are in this together. Go! You won’t be able to concentrate with Mo Wang around. Plus, Mo Wang seems intent on using this opportunity to deal with us. We must face him whether we want to or not."

"... Careful. This Ling Dau is formidable despite being younger than us."

"Don’t worry. Even though he has the strength to rival older dragons like us, he doesn’t have the experience. I won’t lose. We will race. Let’s see whether I defeat Ling Dau first, or you finish Mo Wang first."

Di Yu chuckled. "Don’t get careless."

"Don’t worry. I won’t."

Di Yu stepped to the side where Mo Wang was, while Thien Huo maintained his eyes on Ling Dau. Who was whose opponent was clear. Neither Mo Wang nor Ling Dau seemed to mind this arrangement.

Amon, Yao Ai, and Krassazh, on the other hand, retreated to a safe distance.

"... Are we going to just be spectators?" Krassazh asked. "What if Mo Wang’s side wins? I’m not going back from this war empty-handed. I have lost too much." He was staring at the field filled with Cryanid corpses. It took a long time to breed this brood. It will take decades to rebuild this force, even with the Cryanid insane breeding speed.

"Don’t worry. Our side will win," Amon said.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Just be ready to interfere on my mark. Though your gravity art can’t wound those beings, it should be enough to interrupt them. If we time it right, we can create an opportunity to tip the battle in our favor."

"Which one should I pay attention to?"

"... Mo Wang," Amon answered. Even if they failed to slay the hydra, it would only be an inconvenience to their conquest of this lower world. Mo Wang, on the other hand, could become an active obstacle should he choose to oppose them.

Krassazh nodded. He wasn’t actually convinced of this plan, but he supposed he had no choice but to trust Amon. He didn’t expect things to spiral out of control like this, but he had invested too much in this operation. He decided to see things through to the end. The other option was to pack up, leave, and accept the loss. He was not yet ready for that.

As for Yao Ai, she was conflicted. She had served Mo Wang for a long time. Opposing him felt wrong. Even so, she had no choice, unless she was willing to blow up her head for loyalty.

The two pairs of opponents separated themselves. Mo Wang faced Di Yu, while Ling Dau was against Thien Huo.

"So, you finally came out of hiding," Di Yu asked. "What’s changed? Aren’t you always afraid that the Divine will come for you if I ever break out of his chains?"

"Honestly, I am also puzzled by that," Mo Wang answered. "Throughout all the years since you escaped, I have expected him to come here. Yet, he didn’t. I suspect he will only come after the purge of Aetheria’s main world. So, I can afford to roam around and play with you for the time being."

"Play...? You think this is a game? Do you have any idea what my suffering is like? Do you know what it feels like to lose your freedom for millennia? You will pay for all the suffering you have caused me!!"

Di Yu charged forward. Mo Wang wasn’t perturbed. He remained smiling as he vanished and reappeared a distance away.

"Stay and fight!" Di Yu exclaimed. She discharged her black breath. The black beam hit only air, as Mo Wang had teleported away again.

As the two went further away, Ling Dau and Thien Huo never moved from their spots. They just stared at one another.

"Are you sure you want to fight me alone, salamander dragon?" Ling Dau asked. "Even together with the abyssal dragon, you couldn’t win against me. What gives you the confidence to face me alone?"

"You are truly full of yourself, aren’t you?" Thien Huo replied. "What makes you think we weren’t winning? If Mo Wang hadn’t arrived, we would have torn you apart. Your claim to take down the noble dragons and our elder is laughable at most. Don’t worry, as your senior, I will break you out of this delusion."

"Hahaha!" Ling Dau laughed. "It seems to me that you are the most deluded one. I can’t imagine where your confidence comes from. Let me show you the reality!"

Ling Dau fired his blast breaths after his speech, all seven of his heads. Seven beams of different colors rushed toward Thien Huo, who erected a fire shield to block them. Thien Huo used his full power to form the shield. It was thicker and larger than the previous shield he had formed. Nevertheless, it could only block the seven beams for several seconds. A massive explosion occurred when the fire shield broke. The explosion covered a large area, conjuring a dust cloud that concealed Thien Huo within.

"Hey, that red dragon couldn’t have been defeated in one move, could he?" Krassazh asked with worry.

After growing a seventh head, Ling Dau indeed became even more powerful. Krassazh’s concern was understandable.

Amon answered, "No, those old noble dragons have not yet used their full power... Until now."

"What do you mean?" Krassazh asked, but the answer showed itself. He could sense Thien Huo’s aura again after the explosion receded. Not only was Thien Huo still alive, but his aura had also increased a lot.

Fire raged where the explosion had occurred, but it was not the explosion that caused it. The flames revolved around a colossal being. It was as if fire mantles waved around the place. Despite the intense fire, everyone could see the being at its center.

Thien Huo appeared larger. This was due to the bulging of his muscle mass. He was also covered in long spikes.

When he spoke, flames were released with each breath. "Didn’t you ask where my confidence comes from? It comes from my seniority. This is a power gained by a noble dragon after millennia of experience. Something a young noble dragon like you, who hasn’t received any guidance, will not be familiar with."

Ling Dau narrowed his eyes. "Dragon awakening...?"

He had heard of this power, but this was the first time he had witnessed it. He was banished from the noble dragon’s community, so his knowledge of this power was only hearsay.

Ling Dau could sense that the intensity of Thien Huo’s aura outshone his previous one. The power boost was significant. Even so, Ling Dau was deviant. He didn’t believe the power he had gained from his soul element would lose to this ancient technique.

"So what? I am still stronger!" Ling Dau exclaimed.

The two lunged at the same time. Their collision caused the air to shake. The result of that collision forced Ling Dau to accept the harsh truth. A power boost from the dragon awakening was not to be trifled with. He was sent tumbling back hundreds of meters away. Half of his body was also immolated from his contact with Thien Huo.

"Rargghhh...!!" He roared as he channeled energy to douse the flames on his body. When that didn’t work, he rolled on the ground, causing a minor earthquake.

He managed to put off half the fire on him that way. He was about to continue rolling, but noticed the fiery glow around Thien Huo was becoming brighter. He hurriedly jumped away as Thien Huo unleashed a fire breath.

The beam shone brightly, as if the fire that formed it had been condensed many times over. When the beam hit the ground, it turned into magma. A long fissure filled with molten rock was formed where the fiery beam passed. Ling Dau barely dodged the beam, which grazed his tail. The beam continued into the distance, narrowly missing the side of Venal Virtuous City.

Ling Dau grimaced. He looked at his tail. The scales at the small part of his tail, where the red beam had grazed, had been burnt to a crisp. If it had been a direct hit, he would have suffered a terrible wound.

Thien Huo walked toward Ling Dau. Each step had his feet sinking into the ground because it melted. He also left a trail of firestorm on the path he passed through.

"Do you see now the power of seniority?" Thien Huo asked as he slowly approached. "This is not something you can overcome with your meager power. If you don’t abandon your quest for revenge and repent, I will have no choice but to end your life here."

"Spare me your fake compassion!" Ling Dau hissed. "I am sick of you, outdated noble dragons! You should have given me the death sentence when you had the chance. Punished me by banishment? You had signed your own downfall by doing that!"

"You are still unwilling to see the error of your way? Very well! I will represent our elder and dispense your punishment!" Thien Huo exclaimed.