Long Chen stood before the mighty warriors of the Rhinodragon Clan, his body shrouded in raging imperial flames that surged uncontrollably. The sheer might of his draconic aura swept across the heavens like an unrelenting tidal wave, pressing upon the land with devastating force.
His aura grew more terrifying by the moment, the imperial flames around him dancing wildly as if reaching a critical point—on the verge of a breakthrough.
Having slaughtered countless dragon warriors, Long Chen now stood like an avenging deity before the survivors. Their fates hung by a mere thread, dictated solely by his will.
Gulp...
A collective swallow echoed among the Rhinodragon warriors. Beads of cold sweat trickled down their backs, their bodies frozen in dread. No one dared utter a word, fearing that a single misplaced syllable could seal their doom in an instant.
Looking back now, their attempt to band together and slay Long Chen seemed laughably naive—a foolish act of arrogance that now bore the weight of fatal consequences.
"There is nothing more to say. Our lives rest in your hands," Rhinodragon Qing spoke, his voice eerily calm. "I was aware of the barrier beforehand, yet I chose to remain silent, allowing you to execute your slaughter. But I know such a meager gesture won’t earn your mercy. Offering us a chance at survival is nothing but a farcical excuse."
Despite standing before certain death, Rhinodragon Qing remained fearless, his composure unshaken. Even in the face of annihilation, his unwavering poise commanded a sense of respect.
Long Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. This one has courage and wit. He shook his head and said, "I have no need for excuses. This is your only chance to live—cherish it."
Rhinodragon Qing sneered. "Excuses? What does it matter? To you, the so-called noble bloodline of the dragons, we are nothing but tools. When needed, you summon us; when discarded, you abandon us without a second thought. And now, we bear the label of traitors—branded as conspirators with the enemy. What words could possibly spare us? If there is any mercy in you, grant us a swift end and spare us the disgrace."
Long Chen’s gaze sharpened as he studied Rhinodragon Qing. Even with his impending doom looming, the warrior’s words were methodical, piercing straight to the heart of the matter.
Intrigued, Long Chen mused aloud, "What do you mean by ‘summoned at will and discarded like refuse’?"
"Are you truly interested, Lord Long Chen?" Rhinodragon Qing countered.
"Spare me the games and flowery speeches. My time is limited, and my patience even more so. Speak plainly or lose this last opportunity," Long Chen said coldly.
He saw through Rhinodragon Qing’s intentions—each word carefully chosen, weaving a trap of logic and emotion, making it difficult for Long Chen to simply execute them. But Long Chen was no fool; he refused to be led in circles.
A flicker of emotion crossed Rhinodragon Qing’s face. If Long Chen was willing to listen, then hope still lingered.
Taking a deep breath, he began, "Long ago, the great Chaos Dragon Emperor stood as the sovereign of all dragons, uniting the clans under one banner. It was an era of unmatched prosperity. But after the chaos war, the emperor vanished, and the dragon race fractured. With no leader, chaos reigned.
"Our Rhinodragon Clan once stood as the vanguard of the Imperial Dragon Clan, fighting at the forefront of war. Yet, in the wake of destruction, we were cast aside. Our strongest warriors had perished, our resources drained to nothing. To survive, we scattered to avoid complete annihilation.
"For countless millennia, we have teetered on the brink of extinction, enduring ceaseless trials. We pleaded for aid from the great dragon domains, only to be met with scorn and mockery. When we sought refuge in the Imperial Dragon Domain, we were greeted with condescending disdain.
"The Netherdragon Clan, on the other hand, saw our plight and slowly infiltrated us. We resisted, fought back with everything we had. But after thousands of years of internal strife and external threats, our people finally succumbed to their influence.
"We had no choice. To resist meant eradication. To submit meant survival. And now, the Netherdragons have declared that in the battlegrounds of the Heavenly Domain, they will settle their grudge with the Imperial Dragon Clan once and for all. By the end of this war, the Imperial Dragons will be no more.
"If you were in our place, Lord Long Chen—isolated, abandoned, faced with extinction—what would you have chosen?"
Silence.
Long Chen did not respond immediately. He thought of the relentless struggles within the dragon domains, the ruthless laws of the strong preying upon the weak. The Imperial Dragons, so lofty in their pride, had indeed turned their backs on those who once fought beside them.
Rhinodragon Qing spoke again, his voice grave. "Furthermore, our Rhinodragon Clan has never, aside from our conflict with you, raised a blade against another dragon clan. Our hands remain unstained by the blood of our kin."
"Were it otherwise, you would all be dead already," Long Chen said plainly.
With his heightened perception granted by his Imperial Bloodflame, Long Chen could sense the lingering resentment clinging to the souls of those he slew. Those warriors had massacred countless dragons—an act that sealed their fates. But the Rhinodragon Clan did not carry such a stain.
At his words, a visible wave of relief swept through the Rhinodragon warriors. They finally understood why Long Chen had stayed his hand.
With a heavy sigh, Long Chen spoke, "I care little for your so-called betrayal of the Imperial Dragons. Their own arrogance led to this. That, I cannot fault you for.
"But what I cannot forgive is your willingness to align with the Netherdragon Clan, knowing full well they conspire with the abyssal draconic fiends to destroy the Nine Heavens. If your ancestors could see you now—those who gave their lives to protect this world—what would they say? Could they ever forgive you?"
A deep, somber silence fell over the Rhinodragon warriors. Long Chen’s words cut into their very souls. They had long since known the truth, but they had chosen to turn a blind eye. Betraying the Imperial Dragons was one thing—but betraying the entire Nine Heavens and the legacy of their forebears was another.
They could not refute it.
At that moment—
Buzz!
Long Chen’s Imperial Flames trembled violently, an overwhelming force erupting from within him. His supreme bone had finally assimilated all the flames, unleashing its full power. The ninth hundred and ninety-ninth strand of Imperial Bloodflame ignited, blazing like a divine beacon.
In that instant, he sensed a presence—Long Xu.
Buzz!
With a flick of his hand, the Imperial Dragon Divine Nest materialized. He stepped onto it, but just as he was about to depart, he paused.
"Come with me," he said, his voice unwavering. "Wash away your disgrace. Restore the honor of your ancestors."
The Rhinodragon warriors gasped in disbelief, their faces etched with shock. Never had they expected Long Chen to extend such an offer.
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