Ashen Dragon-Chapter 1205 - 353: Beast Trapped in the Mire

The armies of the Blue Dragon Descendant were completely buried under the imperial artillery fire, deep beneath the sands and rubble. The main forces of the Allied Forces rapidly conquered dozens of cities with lightning speed, occupying the vast expanse of the Talilo Desert and its surrounding territories, effectively taking control of the western Seleucid Region—previously dominated by the Blue Dragon Sect.

The Talilo Desert was known for its perennial droughts and harsh climate, with most of its population concentrated in the cities along the Yir River Valley. Seizing these major cities meant securing water, food, and other precious resources critical for controlling this expansive desert.

In ancient times, the desert kingdom flourished in the Yir River Valley, gradually occupying the entire Talilo Desert over a century. For thousands of years, dynasties fought over this fertile river valley until it was finally conquered by the rising Holy Fadlan.

Due to the reckless and violent actions of the Blue Dragon Sect, treating the populace as sacrifices and tools, the people of Talilo were long filled with resentment, only repressed by the formidable power of the Dragon Worship Cult.

But now, the Allied Forces had destroyed the main corps of the Dragon Worship Church, capturing city after city occupied by the Blue Dragon Sect, even incorporating local Rebel Armies. The locals could be said to be "welcoming the royal forces with food and wine."

From that point on, the Allied Forces had already eradicated the Green Dragon and Blue Dragon Sects, reclaiming more than half of the Kingdom of Seleucis, nearing the grand goal of "Restoring Seleucis."

However, there is a sad fact: Seleucid locals comprised less than thirty percent of the Allied Forces. In essence, it was the Ashen Empire from the North that controlled more than half of the Kingdom of Seleucis.

This was a cyclical destiny: the unfortunate Seleucid people had just driven out a group of Evil Dragon Kin, only to welcome a new set of Giant Dragon Retainers as their rulers. It seemed the shadow of the dragons forever loomed over this land.

Talilo Desert, Kafar City.

This city had once been the capital of the ancient desert kingdom, located in the Yir River Valley, positioned on the most fertile oasis within this barren desert.

And now, it was the last city still under the control of the Blue Dragon Sect.

On the pyramid altar in the center of Kafar City, a priest wearing a golden dragon-headed mask and a blue scale robe raised his scepter, shouted among the cultists: "Everyone—we have not lost, this is a trial bestowed by Her Majesty the Dragon Queen!"

He was Mahmoud, the ruler of this city and the last Evil Dragon Bishop of the entire Talilo Desert, while other bishops had mostly been captured by the Imperial Army and perished on the gallows.

At this moment, Mahmoud waved his scepter, pointing south, exclaiming with excitement: "I have received the divine edict; magma will cover the earth, ashes will shroud the sky, and the great Mother of Evil Dragons will descend upon the world, ushering in a new era!"

"Brothers and sisters who worship the Dragon Mother, as long as we endure this final moment, we will usher in the glorious era of giants ruling the earth!"

"Praise the Mother of Evil Dragons!"

Beneath him, the Dragon Worship Cultists raised their arms passionately, their fervent cries surged like a tide, ceaseless and overwhelming.

Amidst the cheers and shouts, several strong Dragonborn soldiers dragged the human captives to the edge of the Blood Pools.

This group of captives, clothed in rags, covered in whip marks and charred brands, were bound with coarse ropes atop the altar’s pillar, their scarred bodies immersed in the filthy, tainted Blood Pools.

Mahmoud stretched out his scepter, pointing at the scarred humans, speaking grimly: "And they—the lowly humans, dared to attempt to overthrow the rule of giants, to prevent the Dragon Mother’s descent, and even killed several esteemed Dragonborn.

It was utterly unforgivable! They will die in agony, to be sacrificed to Her Majesty the Dragon Queen!"

"Blood sacrifice! Blood sacrifice!"

"Kill them!"

"These lowly, despicable humans deserve punishment!"

The cultists were enraged, hollering angrily, eager to tear them to pieces, seemingly forgetting that most of them were also human.

A human captive bound to a pillar summoned all his strength to raise his head, glaring with hatred at the cultists, laughing maniacally: "Hahaha! Followers of the evil dragons, traitors to humanity, you are afraid!

The Allied Forces’ army will soon arrive, and all of you will be hauled up the gallows! Paying for your sins with the ultimate price!"

"Insolent! Silence him!"

Mahmoud shouted harshly.

A nearby Dragonborn soldier immediately stepped forward, gagging the human warrior with rough rope, reducing him to muffled whimpers.

"Kill him!"

The cultists’ cries grew more wrathful, resounding to the skies.

Mahmoud raised his arms, shouting almost madly: "Great Mother of Evil Dragons, Chaos Queen! Your five heads are the crown of greed, and your wings are the shadow of tyranny! Drink deeply of this Chaos Blood, grant us the power to shatter the chains of order!"

The priest raised his scepter, the dragon’s eye at its tip bursting with glaring five-colored evil light, shooting straight into the center of the Blood Pools.

The liquid in the pool became violent at once, streams of five-colored light twining and rising like giant pythons, forming a swirling vortex filled with profane energy.

"In the name of Our Lady Tiamat!"

Mahmoud howled, pointing the scepter at a human captive’s body, "Devour this fragile shell! Reshape it into the Claws and Fangs of the giants!"