A full week passed beneath the burning skies of the Dragon Realm.
And within that single week—
The realm changed completely.
The selection for the new Twelve Divine Generals became one of the largest events witnessed in recent dragon history. Thousands upon thousands of draconic warriors, nobles, commanders, wanderers, and hidden monsters entered the royal arena seeking glory, authority, or survival beneath the new reign of the Crimson Dragon King.
The weak were discarded.
The arrogant were broken.
And the truly dangerous slowly revealed themselves.
Under Velor's direct supervision and Kel's restructured evaluation system, the entire selection process transformed from meaningless spectacle into brutal military assessment.
Strength alone no longer mattered.
Adaptability mattered.
Leadership mattered.
Control mattered.
The dragons selected at the end of the week were no mere warriors.
They were survivors.
Strategists.
Commanders.
Monsters wearing discipline like armor.
And perhaps most importantly—
They were loyal to Velor.
Not the dead Silver King.
Not old noble factions.
Not ancient politics.
Velor himself.
Meanwhile—
The governance of the Dragon Realm stabilized rapidly.
Vistara handled administrative restructuring personally while royal officials worked day and night reorganizing military authority, resource distribution, noble influence, and border territories.
Kel occasionally interfered when necessary.
Usually whenever someone attempted something stupid.
Which unfortunately happened often.
But now—
For the first time in countless years—
The Dragon Realm actually functioned properly.
No civil unrest.
No internal rebellion.
No collapsing authority.
Only order.
Cold.
Heavy.
Stable order.
And on the seventh night—
The Crimson Royal Family gathered together quietly for dinner.
The massive dining chamber glowed beneath silver dragonfire while enormous obsidian pillars towered toward the ceiling high above. Ancient murals depicting draconic wars covered portions of the walls while volcanic winds entered softly through elevated crystal windows.
Unlike the grand royal banquets from before—
Tonight's atmosphere felt strangely peaceful.
Only three people sat within the enormous chamber.
Kel.
Velor.
Vistara.
No servants nearby.
No nobles.
No politics.
Just silence and the quiet sound of silver flames burning.
Kel calmly placed his cup down afterward.
The movement itself immediately caught Velor's attention.
Because the Dragon King had already learned something dangerous.
Whenever Kel looked calm—
He was usually about to say something troublesome.
And unfortunately—
Velor was correct.
"The Dragon Realm is stable now."
Kel's voice echoed quietly through the chamber.
Velor immediately froze slightly.
Vistara silently looked toward him.
Kel continued calmly.
"The realm functions properly. Your administration structure is complete. Your military authority is stable. And your new Divine Generals are competent enough to maintain order during your absence."
The atmosphere slowly changed.
Because both siblings already understood where this conversation was heading.
Kel quietly leaned back afterward.
"So…"
His dark eyes reflected the silver flames softly.
"My work here is done."
Silence.
Then finally—
Kel spoke the words directly.
"I'll leave tomorrow and return to my realm."
The chamber became completely quiet afterward.
Even the volcanic winds outside suddenly felt distant.
Velor lowered his gaze briefly.
"…Master."
His voice sounded unusually restrained tonight.
"Can't you stay longer?"
For the first time since becoming Dragon King—
Velor looked uncertain again.
Not weak.
Not dependent.
Just reluctant.
Because despite everything—
Kel's existence inside the Dragon Realm still felt like the pillar supporting everything around him.
Kel calmly looked toward the crimson-haired dragon king afterward.
"You still need my help?"
Velor immediately answered.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No pride.
Only honesty.
The silver flames flickered softly across his face afterward.
"There are still countless things I don't understand yet."
Kel stared quietly at him for several moments.
Then slowly—
A faint smile appeared.
"You already understand enough."
Velor frowned slightly.
Kel calmly gestured toward Vistara sitting nearby.
"Your sister is intelligent."
Vistara raised one eyebrow.
"That sounded surprisingly sincere."
"It was."
Kel continued casually afterward.
"You don't need to worry about administration, laws, policy structures, economic management, noble affairs, or governance systems."
He pointed directly toward Vistara.
"She can handle all of that."
Vistara sighed softly.
"…You're assigning work to me without permission again."
"You're already doing it."
"…Unfortunately correct."
A faint amused smile appeared on Velor's face briefly.
Then Kel's expression became slightly more serious.
"You focus on maintaining stability."
The atmosphere shifted subtly afterward.
"Ensure no rebellions form."
"No noble factions destabilize your reign."
"No external powers exploit weakness."
His dark eyes sharpened faintly.
"Kingship isn't about ruling everyone personally."
"It's about ensuring the system survives."
Velor silently listened.
And slowly—
He nodded.
Because those words came from experience.
Kel had survived through systems long before obtaining overwhelming power.
The chamber fell quiet afterward.
Then suddenly—
Kel asked casually:
"Before I leave…"
Both siblings looked toward him.
"Do you have a waterfall nearby?"
Vistara blinked once.
"…A waterfall?"
Kel nodded.
"A large one."
The silver-haired dragon woman thought briefly before replying.
"There's one within the Crimson Territory mountains."
Kel immediately stood afterward.
"Good."
The movement startled Velor slightly.
"…Master?"
Kel stretched lazily while adjusting his black robes calmly.
"Let's go."
Velor stared at him blankly.
"…Now?"
"It's night."
"We can go tomorrow if you wish."
Kel shook his head calmly.
"Tomorrow I leave."
His dark eyes reflected the silver flames quietly.
"So I want to complete everything tonight."
The atmosphere became strangely heavy afterward.
Because somehow—
Both siblings suddenly sensed something important was about to happen.
Without another word—
Velor and Vistara transformed.
CRAAAAACK—
Ancient draconic mana exploded throughout the chamber while crimson light engulfed both royal siblings completely.
Their bodies rapidly expanded beneath swirling storms of dragon aura while colossal scales emerged beneath ancient pressure.
Moments later—
Two massive crimson dragons stood outside the castle beneath the volcanic skies.
One radiated overwhelming royal authority.
The other carried elegant ancient majesty.
Kel calmly stepped onto Velor's forehead afterward.
Then—
BOOOOOOM—
The Crimson Dragon King ascended into the skies.
The volcanic clouds shattered apart beneath enormous wings while the mountains below trembled from the pressure alone.
Far ahead—
Deep within isolated mountain ranges—
A colossal waterfall eventually appeared.
Silver moonlight illuminated the endless falling waters while ancient forests surrounded the mountain valley quietly. Mist drifted across the area while glowing insects moved softly through the darkness like floating stars.
It felt peaceful.
Untouched.
Ancient.
Velor landed near the waterfall heavily while the mountains shook beneath the impact.
Kel slowly stepped down afterward.
The cold mist touched his face softly.
Then—
Sairen's voice echoed inside his mind through telepathy.
"…What are you planning?"
Kel quietly stared toward the waterfall.
Then calmly replied through telepathy.
"Didn't I tell you before?"
The silver-haired spirit fell silent.
Kel's dark eyes reflected the falling waters quietly.
"I said I would make you happy before leaving the Dragon Realm."
The moment those words ended—
The atmosphere changed completely.
BOOOOOOOOOOM—
An overwhelming surge of mana erupted from Kel's body instantly.
The mountains trembled violently.
The skies darkened.
Even Velor and Vistara immediately looked shocked.
Because Kel wasn't suppressing himself at all.
His full power exploded outward.
Ancient runes manifested across the skies while dimensional cracks slowly spread around the waterfall itself.
Space distorted violently.
Reality screamed.
Sairen immediately appeared in spiritual form nearby.
"Kel— wait—"
Too late.
Kel raised one hand toward the waterfall.
And then—
Reality split apart.
CRAAAAAAACK—
A massive dimensional fracture opened directly above the mountain valley.
Ancient silver mist flooded outward endlessly.
The pressure that emerged next felt ancient beyond comprehension.
Not dragon.
Not mortal.
Something older.
Far older.
Velor instinctively stepped backward.
Even Vistara's dragon instincts screamed danger immediately.
Then slowly—
A lake appeared.
An enormous glowing silver lake floating beyond the dimensional fracture itself.
The Scarlet Lake.
The legendary sacred waters capable of healing curses and diseases.
The same lake where Kel once shattered fate itself.
The same lake where Sairen had remained alone for countless ages.
Kel's expression twisted slightly afterward.
Blood slowly dripped from the corner of his mouth.
Yet he continued.
"COME."
BOOOOOOM—
The dimensional laws shattered completely.
The Scarlet Lake forcefully crossed dimensions.
Silver waters erupted downward violently while the waterfall itself merged together with the sacred lake beneath overwhelming spatial distortion.
The entire mountain valley transformed instantly.
Ancient silver mist spread endlessly across the forests while glowing spiritual water overflowed through the terrain beautifully.
A massive barrier formed automatically around the region afterward.
A sacred domain.
Protected.
Isolated.
Alive.
Kel's body suddenly trembled violently.
Then—
He collapsed onto one knee.
Blood splattered across the ground.
"MASTER!"
Velor immediately moved forward.
But someone reached Kel first.
Sairen.
The silver-haired spirit manifested physically atop the glowing waters while spiritual energy exploded around her violently.
And for once—
She looked genuinely angry.
"You fool!"
She grabbed Kel before he collapsed entirely while silver spiritual power flooded into his body rapidly.
Stabilizing him.
Repairing damaged mana circuits.
Her silver eyes trembled furiously.
"Do you even understand what you've done?!"
Kel coughed softly before smiling faintly.
"…Yes."
Sairen's expression became even more emotional afterward.
"You crossed dimensions forcibly!"
Her voice shook slightly.
"You merged independent realms!"
Silver tears slowly formed within her eyes.
"You didn't need to go this far…"
Kel quietly looked toward the glowing sacred waters surrounding them.
Then softly replied.
"Didn't I tell you?"
His voice sounded tired now.
"But sincere."
"I wanted to make you happy."
Sairen froze silently.
Kel smiled weakly afterward.
"Now you can have visitors."
The silver mist drifted softly around them.
"You can walk through forests."
"Travel nearby lands."
"You're no longer trapped alone inside one isolated dimension anymore."
His dark eyes slowly looked toward her.
"Aren't you happy, Sairen?"
Silence.
Then—
Tears finally fell from her silver eyes completely.
Yet even while crying—
She still sounded angry.
"…You fool."
Her voice trembled softly.
"Why do you always make things so complicated?"
Another tear fell quietly.
"Why do you risk your life every single time without thinking what happens to you afterward?"
Kel merely smiled faintly.
Because honestly—
He didn't really have an answer.
Eventually—
After stabilizing himself enough to stand—
Kel slowly turned toward Velor and Vistara nearby.
Both siblings still looked stunned.
Especially while staring toward the newly formed sacred lake glowing beneath silver mist.
Kel calmly introduced her.
"Velor. Vistara."
His voice echoed softly through the sacred valley.
"This is Sairen."
"The Guardian of the Scarlet Lake."
"A Great Old Being far older than anyone within this realm."
Sairen quietly stood atop the glowing waters while silver hair drifted beneath ancient mist.
Kel continued calmly.
"I met her during my journey to remove my curse."
"And afterward…"
A faint smile appeared.
"We formed a contract."
Velor stared silently toward the lake.
The sacred waters themselves radiated miraculous energy.
Even breathing nearby felt cleansing.
Kel looked toward the surroundings afterward.
"I thought this place suited her."
Vistara slowly stepped forward while staring toward the glowing lake in disbelief.
"…The Scarlet Lake truly existed…"
Her voice sounded almost stunned.
"I only heard about it in legends."
She slowly touched the glowing waters carefully.
And instantly—
Ancient warmth spread through her body.
Even residual curse traces hidden deeply within her bloodline disappeared completely.
Her crimson eyes widened slightly.
"…Incredible."
Velor slowly lowered his head afterward.
"Master…"
His voice sounded unusually sincere.
"Thank you."
He looked toward the sacred lake quietly.
"Now no dragon within this realm will die helplessly from curses or disease again."
The mountain valley fell silent afterward.
Peaceful.
Sacred.
Ancient.
Eventually—
Kel turned away slowly.
Velor and Vistara followed behind him toward the cave entrance quietly.
And behind them—
Sairen slowly dissolved into silver mist above the sacred waters.
Then—
Her voice echoed gently inside Kel's mind.
"Thank you very much for this."
The silver mist drifted softly through the sacred valley.
"But I'll still remain with you."
Her voice became softer afterward.
"I still want to see the world through your eyes."
A faint smile appeared on Kel's face.
"Don't think our contract ends here."
Kel quietly laughed under his breath afterward.
Then without turning back—
He continued walking forward beneath the burning skies of the Dragon Realm.
"…I thought you'd say that."