You know, it's truly wonderful to be a True Dragon, isn't it?"
A middle-aged man, splendidly robed, holding a staff, with a beard and a crown inlaid with pearls and gems, gazed at a Wyvern Knight soaring past in the sky, patrolling his territory. He spoke with a sigh to his companion.
"Indeed. To be a True Dragon means to possess power and freedom. A True Dragon can do whatever he wishes, and go wherever he pleases," replied his companion, who also held a tambourine, wore priestly robes, and had a circlet of small bells instead of a crown.
Both men looked up at the Wyverns in the sky, their human pupils occasionally shifting to vertical slits, and beneath their robes, faint, mottled scales, like those of a Dragonborn, subtly appeared on their skin.
On their exquisite robes, both wore an identical bronze badge: a True Dragon's head overlooking all creation. This was the emblem of the Dragon Worship Cult.
"Do you think we will succeed, choosing today, such an important festival within the Dragons Territory?" the middle-aged man with the crown suddenly sighed, seemingly lacking confidence in his upcoming actions and needing reassurance from his companion.
"We will definitely succeed, after all, they are Evil True Dragons," replied the man with the bell circlet.
"As long as they are Evil True Dragons, they will inevitably be unable to suppress the influence from their bloodline and heritage. They will let the people in the territory see the true face of the Evil True Dragons."
"If they want to follow order, then we will give them order, but it will be an order controlled and led by us!"
"Yes, as long as they are caught in the chaos guided and controlled by the Evil dragon blood, the territory's order will inevitably be affected. At that time, as long as the noble True Dragon Priests proactively seek an audience with those noble True Dragons and present the method to control the Evil dragon blood, the territory's order will be restored," the middle-aged man with the crown smiled, instantly brimming with confidence.
"At that time, the noble True Dragons will control the Evil dragon blood, and we, the Dragon Worship Cult, will control the noble True Dragons. Then this Dragon Kingdom, destined to be vast in the future, will naturally belong to us."
"Heh heh, most importantly, we will also be bestowed with dragon blood and become True Dragonborne!" his companion with the bell circlet also laughed.
Then he shushed, "They're coming. Let's start according to the plan. We will present the most precious treasures to the True Dragons. Surely these noble True Dragons will not refuse."
The two men stood on a wooden platform built by the river. A row of large drums covered with cowhide stood by the river. The morning mist over the riverine land had not yet dispersed, but in the thin white mist, shadowy figures of villagers had already appeared.
In the Riverine Village, built on the plains, almost all the villagers began to leave their homes and walk towards the river.
Elderly grandmothers and women, wearing gray and brown linen headscarves, led young children holding rattles, and ascended the wooden platform by the riverbank, their expressions filled with anticipation.
Meanwhile, the strong men of the village, under the village chief's command, stood before the large drums, their heavy drumsticks hanging down.
Other men, holding wooden staffs tied with bells and cloth strips, also arrived at the wooden platform, forming a circle along the riverbank.
The village chief of Riverine Village leaned on his cane and walked before the two men dressed as priests, saying respectfully, "Two esteemed True Dragon envoys, noble believers who worship True Dragons, we are ready. Our village's purest and most beautiful maidens will offer our loyalty and joy to the True Dragons."
"The pure maidens will present our village's brightest gems to the True Dragons, to pray for the true Dragons' blessings and to thank the True Dragons for their protection and generosity!"
The middle-aged man with the crown nodded and smiled, "The True Dragons will be pleased by this, and the noble True Dragons will be appeased, granting you the blessings you hope for! Begin, Village Chief."
The village chief nodded, his aged voice filled with excitement, and he shouted loudly, "Begin! Let the purest and most beautiful maidens of our village offer their profound respect to the True Dragons!"
Hoo!
The men standing beside the large drums raised their drumsticks and shouted in unison.
The women, meanwhile, released the young children they were holding and lit torches. The suddenly flaring flames dispelled the thin white mist, gradually heating up the atmosphere by the riverbank.
Ding-a-ling!
The man with the bell circlet and staff struck a dancing pose. The bells on his head jingled, and the bells on his staff began to ring rhythmically.
Bang, bang, bang!
The men began to beat the large drums, accompanying the jingling bells.
A small boat slowly drifted down the river that flowed through the village. A pure and beautiful maiden lay in a wreath woven from flowers, like a holy angel, a devout believer, a serene saintess.
She wore a flower wreath inlaid with various tiny gold specks, pearls, and gems, and was clad in a white gown like a wedding dress. Her bare feet were pristine white, her eyes gently closed, and her hands were clasped over her chest and abdomen, holding a crystal-clear river pearl, in a posture of prayer.
Pfft!
The village chief slit the throat of a bound lamb with a knife, and its blood splattered into the fiercely burning brazier.
A song, impossible to suppress by the drumbeats, rose from the throat of the crowned priest, who was dancing. His soaring voice seemed to carry a strange magic and resonance, drawing everyone by the riverbank into it.
The children's hand drums also echoed the strange song, and the women by the riverbank scattered newly harvested wheat, rice, and fruits onto the small boat, while singing loudly in unison.
The men also struck their bell staffs against the ground, echoing the strange rhythm, and their deep, resonant voices began to grow louder. Everyone's singing soared, carried by the morning breeze, drifting towards the distant horizon.
"In the beginning,"
"There was no time, no land, all was chaos, memories obscured;"
"The past like smoke, fleeting, mountains and seas changing, nothingness gone;"
Although the two leading priests used the Dragon Language, which the villagers did not understand, under the influence of this strange atmosphere, these villagers seemed able to fully use the Dragon Language to follow the two priests in prayer and chanting.
The increasingly fervent prayers resonated with the villagers' harmony, their voices layered, and under some mysterious power, they seemed to penetrate the barriers of space, drifting towards a specific distant location.
The chanting after the prayers further amplified this characteristic, like devout believers in a sacred church, singing to a deity who listens to the voices of his followers, soaring and ethereal.
"Time flows like a swift river,"
"No one can escape its current,"
"The maiden awaiting marriage awaits her husband, as if awaiting the moment of death;"
"She is entirely in white, as if wearing a white shroud,"
"She is destined for death, the wedding bells echo in praise,"
"Take her, take her,"
"Fly forth, descend,"
"Forever offered to you, young maiden."
This was a sacrificial song, and also a True Dragon Summoning Song.
It was not, as the two priests claimed, a song seeking the True Dragon's blessing, honoring their Dragon Lord, or a hymn like a True Dragon's song.
This was a song from a distant era, the era when True Dragons ruled the sky, earth, and sea, when numerous races, regarded as slaves and food by True Dragons, offered sacrifices to True Dragons, presenting the pure and beautiful maidens most beloved by the True Dragons.
Many Evil True Dragons still retain the custom of eating pure and beautiful maidens, a tradition inherited from ancient times.
This ritual has long been lost among True Dragons, and is considered an unspeakable taboo by other races once ruled by True Dragons, having been destroyed and buried over long centuries.
But the will of the dragon blood that the ritual can stir is still deeply engraved in the bloodline of every True Dragon; this is truly a True Dragon Summoning Song that can attract True Dragons.
The call from the ritual will awaken the ancient inherited memories of those True Dragons within the Dragon race, causing their Evil dragon blood to revive and seek satisfaction.
This is an instinctive memory etched in the True Dragon's bloodline, impossible to suppress, impossible to escape. This is the purpose of the Dragon Worship Cult.
Moreover, it wasn't just this one village in the Riverine Land; apart from the heavily guarded cities where territorial control was direct, in all villages where human commoners formed the majority, the same scene was unfolding simultaneously at this very moment.
And a small number of dependents, because they were sacrificing to the True Dragons, even actively echoed in the Dragon Language they understood, calling for the true Dragons' arrival.
For a time, the True Dragon Summoning Song, ethereal and layered, perceivable only by True Dragons, drifted everywhere within the territory.
...
Today was the last day of the year, and also Kalon's designated annual holiday.
The atmosphere within the territory was distinctly different. Many shops and taverns welcomed more guests. Even in the early morning, on the holiday prescribed by the True Dragons, the city was as lively as it would be at noon or evening.
Even Kalon, perched on the mountaintop, clearly felt the change in atmosphere.
When Kalon, for the first time, didn't sleep in and climbed out of his magma lair, flying to the Dragon Kings Fortress, this castle that belonged to all the True Dragons yet uniquely to him.
He found the lively and cheerful maids hanging lanterns and streamers bought from the market at the foot of the mountain on the castle's doors and windows, decorating the originally majestic, tall, and solemn castle in a festive manner.
Kalon did not blame these maids for their initiative; he liked this feeling. He did not directly enter the castle, so as not to make the maids have to spare people to serve him.
He paced behind the castle, waiting for the arrival of the other True Dragons in the Dragon clan.
At today's celebration, all the Dragon Lords would appear and celebrate with the people. On one hand, this was a requirement for ruling the territory; on the other hand, the True Dragons actually quite enjoyed lively occasions, especially the young True Dragon s.
"Daddy, Daddy, what's so special about today? Is there anything good to eat?" This was the cry of Grenek, the Greedy Snake. He dangled his body from a World Tree branch over four meters high, blinking his large, round eyes at Kalon.
"Daddy, Daddy, it's so lively today!" This was the good baby, Haninek, the Kind and Restrained Snake. Although this chubby snake cub was also greedy, he was much more obedient than Grenek.
"Oh, Daddy, this magic power isn't as tasty as heart energy, you see, I've been growing very slowly lately!" The World Tree, which had grown another section taller and thicker, swayed its increasingly lush branches like a bobbing child.
Kalon, who had been strolling outside to the castle's back garden, heard the calls of the three annoying little cubs and quickly flew back to the front of the castle. Getting entangled with these three little ones was not something he could easily get away from.
The sun had already risen, but for True Dragons, it was still early. Kalon gazed from the mountaintop at the city below, which was gradually becoming lively. Although the city built by Germott was not yet completed, it was already beginning to show the grandeur of a major city.
There were also many merchants from other places, even some from the most distant southern continent, who, with their excellent foresight, had already laid out their plans in this newly built city, purchasing many shops and residences.
Now, this city at the foot of the mountain was already much livelier than the distant Bay Stream City.
Kalon watched for a while, then shook his head. Originally, today's celebration would have been most suitable to be held in this city, which had enough space and wide squares, and was also the city Kalon planned to focus on developing in the future.
However, since the arena and some event venues were not yet fully completed, Kalon had to abandon the idea of drawing crowds this time and set the celebration in Goldsea City.
Kalon watched for a while. Once the maids had finished decorating the castle, and a beautiful carpet had been laid by these maids at the entrance of the Dragon Kings Fortress, he leisurely stepped into his castle.
The Chief Lady-in-Waiting, Charlize, had already lined up with all the maids, standing on both sides of the hall, awaiting the Red Dragon's arrival.
These maids were still wearing the uniforms Kalon had custom-made, but today, they had all changed into vibrant red outfits.
These outfits, which particularly accentuated their fair skin, made the maids appear even more beautiful and radiant, especially the thin black bands around their necks, adorned with tiny gold bells, which gave them an exotic charm.
"Master," the Chief Lady-in-Waiting, Charlize, led the two rows of maids in a deep bow, a small movement that caused their already short skirts to lift, revealing plump, full moons.
Kalon nodded and said, "Charlize, you all did very well. I really like this feeling."
Chief Lady-in-Waiting Charlize and the maids all displayed sweet smiles. Their efforts had been rewarded by the Red Dragon's praise.
Kalon, served by the maids, as always, lay in the center of the hall, closing his eyes to rest, enjoying the luxurious life of a Dragon Lord, while waiting for the True Dragons to arrive.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The sound of wings flapping came from afar; other Giant True Dragon s must have already left their nests and were heading towards Fortress.
But just then, an ethereal, layered, and echoing song and prayer came from the distant void, reverberating in Kalon's ears.
In this layered yet increasingly clear and loud singing, Kalon saw the holy and beautiful maidens in the distance, and the song that made his dragon blood gradually boil seemed to drift and rise from around these maidens.
There was also the scent of blood and food, and the temptation of treasure, calling for Kalon's descent.
The desire, originating from Kalon's bloodline, inscribed since the moment of creation, now surged like the Dragonfire coursing through Kalon's veins, burning the Red Dragon's will.
"Hmm, it's been a long time since I felt this sensation, this feeling of defiance against my will," Kalon opened his eyes, and leaping flames erupted in his vertical pupils.
"Try harder, try harder, and you'll touch the edge of my will," Kalon sneered, baring his fangs. His body was experiencing a strong restlessness he hadn't felt in a long time.
This restlessness gave him an intense craving, making him want to fly far away.
He withdrew his gaze from the ethereal scene in the distance, but found it difficult to tear his eyes away from the lightly clad maids around him.
His desire made him want to press these maids down hard, his erect, fiery Dick wanting to seek that hidden hole between those plump,beautiful ass cheaks.
"Heh," Kalon's will gently pressed down on the struggling desire. He sneered, "Some little mice who don't know their place have appeared again. Let's see what flaws these little mice can uncover in the territory this time."
His massive body stood up, stepped out of Fortress, and looked at the departing True Dragons, letting out a sigh.
"This is the fate and challenge you must face. There will always be various challenges on the path of growth. I only hope that you will always stand by my side!"