The Dragon Empire was sprawling as always. There was a saying in Debranlith that went, "Dragons are loved by nature."

This was true because despite dragons being the most powerful and destructive race, their lands were never seen destroyed in anyway. As a matter of fact, any place they destroyed gained a supernatural level of fertility despite the destruction they caused. They were like mortal depictions of destruction and creation.

Fafnir, the dragon emperor, sat in his human form on his large throne, his deep and heavy gaze on the ten kneeling dragons below his throne. His long black hair, dark as night swayed gently. His golden horns were pointed upwards, regally, depicting his authority as the emperor of all dragons.

"The new empire, Anbord, have started expeditions to destroy the void creatures and they are succeeding. This isn’t going according to my liking. For this reason, we will also move. We will also start an expedition to take out these dark creatures and strike Anbord once we get the chance.

I’m going to take out that weak empire from the face of the world," Fafnir spoke in a deep tone, his voice rumbling like thunder.

"Your majesty," a dragon man with dark skin, yellow hair and dark golden horns spoke.

"What is it Sol?" Fafnir asked him, his eyes scrutinizing him, making him shiver.

"Anbord isn’t weak, especially their higher ups and the imperial family. They are..."

"Silence! Don’t you dare try to tell me what to do."

Fafnir’s voice crashed through the throne hall like a landslide.

The pressure alone made the marble floor crack.

Sol’s body stiffened instantly, his head lowering further until his forehead nearly touched the ground. Every dragon present felt the air grow heavier as the Emperor’s aura bled into the chamber.

Fafnir leaned forward slightly on his throne, golden eyes burning like molten suns.

"I am well aware of what Anbord is capable of," he continued coldly. "Do you think the Emperor of Dragons needs a lecture from one of his own generals?"

"No, Your Majesty," Sol said immediately, his voice tight.

Fafnir’s gaze moved slowly across the ten kneeling dragons.

Each of them represented one of the great dragon lineages. Ancient powers that could collapse kingdoms if unleashed.

And yet, before him, they knelt like obedient beasts.

As they should.

"Anbord has grown bold," Fafnir continued, his voice now quieter but far more dangerous. "They push into the void lands as if they already rule this world."

His lips curled faintly.

"They forget something."

A low rumble shook the palace walls.

"This world still belongs to the dragons."

His fingers tapped once against the armrest of his throne.

"You are not wrong, Sol. Their higher-ups are strong. Their imperial family... interesting."

His eyes darkened.

"But strength is meaningless when the world itself turns against you."

The emperor slowly rose from his throne.

His towering presence instantly made the kneeling dragons lower themselves even further.

"Which is why we will move now."

His golden horns gleamed under the palace lights.

"We will crush the void creatures."

"And when Anbord stretches itself too far..."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"We will devour them."

Silence filled the hall.

Then Fafnir began issuing commands.

"Sol."

The earth dragon immediately straightened slightly.

"You will lead the western expedition. Advance through the fractured void plains toward Anbord’s borders. Tear down every void nest in your path."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Aokuruyu."

A pale blue-haired dragon woman with deep sapphire horns raised her head slightly.

Her voice was calm like the ocean depths.

"I hear you, Emperor."

"You will accompany Sol. Your waters will cleanse the void corruption spreading through the lands."

She bowed.

"It will be done."

Fafnir’s gaze shifted to the others.

"Vaelrith."

A tall silver-haired dragon with white horns spoke.

"Wind Dragon Vaelrith awaits your command."

"You will control the skies above their path. No void creature flies without your permission."

Vaelrith smirked faintly.

"As you wish."

"Drakar."

A massive dragon man with charcoal skin and iron-gray horns lifted his head.

"Metal Dragon Drakar stands ready."

"You will supply their warfront. Forge weapons and armor that will not break against void flesh."

Drakar slammed his fist to his chest.

"My hammers will sing."

"Luneth."

A quiet dragon woman with pale, glowing eyes answered softly.

"Light Dragon Luneth hears you."

"You will purify corrupted lands as they advance."

"Yes, Emperor."

"Umbriel."

From the shadows stepped a dark-haired dragon whose horns curved like black crescents.

"Shadow Dragon Umbriel listens."

"You will move ahead of the army. Scout. Kill anything that threatens the expedition before it reaches them."

Umbriel’s smile was thin.

"They will never see me."

"Zerath."

A dragon with violet eyes and crystalline horns raised his head.

"Crystal Dragon Zerath awaits."

"You will reinforce their defenses."

"It will be done."

"Thalgar."

A giant dragon with deep green horns grunted.

"Poison Dragon Thalgar hears."

"You will exterminate the larger void beasts."

Thalgar’s grin showed sharp fangs.

"Finally, something fun."

"Calyra."

A dragon woman with shimmering horns like glass spoke gently.

"I await your command."

"Dream Dragon Calyra... you will watch Anbord."

The hall became quiet.

Fafnir’s gaze sharpened.

"I want to know everything about them."

Calyra bowed.

"As you wish."

Fafnir turned away from them slightly, staring at the vast empire beyond the palace walls.

His voice dropped into something colder.

"Fire and Time are not present."

The dragons stiffened.

Everyone knew why.

"Barki and Amara."

The names tasted like poison.

"Traitors."

The temperature in the hall dropped.

"When this war settles... I will personally deal with them."

His golden eyes gleamed with murderous intent.

"No dragon betrays their emperor and lives."

He raised a hand.

"Go."

The ten dragons bowed deeply.

"At once, Your Majesty."

One by one, they vanished from the hall. Soon, the massive throne chamber became silent again. Fafnir returned to his throne slowly. He sat down and looked toward the distant horizon where Anbord existed. His fingers tapped against the throne once.

Then again.

"Anbord..."

His voice was low.

"Let us see how long your little empire survives."

Somewhere far away, thunder rolled.

...

Warm sunlight spilled across the royal gardens of Anbord.

The vast courtyard was quiet, far removed from the wars and expeditions taking place across the reclaimed lands. Ancient trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves shimmering with faint magical energy as nature itself seemed to flourish under the empire’s strange influence.

In the middle of the grass, a much more chaotic battle was happening.

Ethan lay flat on his back, staring at the sky as two tiny tyrants climbed all over him.

The boy was currently trying to grab Ethan’s nose with absolute determination. His small crimson horns gleamed in the sunlight while his silvery-white hair stuck out in messy directions.

The girl had chosen a different strategy.

She had climbed onto Ethan’s stomach and was attempting to pry open his mouth with both hands while giggling triumphantly. Small blue scales shimmered softly across her cheeks and the backs of her hands.

Ethan sighed dramatically.

"You two are supposed to be toddlers, not siege weapons."

The boy ignored him completely and grabbed his hair.

The girl squealed victoriously as she managed to pull Ethan’s cheek.

Ethan groaned.

"Ah yes. The legendary imperial family... defeated by children."

The boy suddenly raised both hands and shouted something that vaguely resembled a battle cry.

"Baah!"

Ethan blinked.

"...That sounded suspiciously confident."

The girl clapped happily in approval.

Before Ethan could retaliate with a tickle attack, something changed.

A ripple passed through the air.

Subtle.

Almost invisible.

But to someone like Ethan, it felt like a distant drumbeat echoing across the world.

His body reacted instantly.

He sat up.

The sudden movement made both toddlers cling tightly to his clothes like tiny barnacles.

The boy wrapped his arms around Ethan’s neck while the girl grabbed onto his sleeve with surprising strength.

Ethan’s silver-golden eyes glowed faintly.

For a moment he simply stared toward the distant horizon beyond Anbord’s towering walls.

Far away...

Something had moved.

Not an attack.

Not yet.

But power was shifting.

Dragons.

Ethan smiled slowly.

"Well... that was faster than I expected."

The boy tilted his head.

"Da?"

The girl looked up at him curiously, her blue-scaled cheeks puffing slightly.

Ethan reached up and gently patted both of their heads.

"It seems it will be happening sooner than expected."

His voice was calm.

Almost amused.

Somewhere far beyond Anbord’s borders, the Dragon Empire had begun to move.

Ethan stood up slowly, still carrying both toddlers clinging to him like decorative accessories.

The boy raised his tiny fists again.

"Baah!"

Ethan chuckled.

"Yes, yes. Very intimidating."

The girl tugged his collar.

"Up!"

Ethan adjusted them both comfortably on his shoulders. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

From the outside, it looked like nothing more than a father playing with his children.

But his glowing eyes were focused on the distant horizon.

Because the calm days were ending.

And the world was about to get much louder.