Ember Dragon
Chapter 302: The Anti-Red Dragon Alliance

As the applause gradually subsided, someone finally began to address the practical matter of fighting the enemy.

At the discreet prompting of the Duke of the Carter Family, Count Narl rose from his seat, politely bowing slightly.

“But… Your Grace, how exactly do we confront the red dragon?”

“It is said that he has grown even more terrifying than before, beyond what any mortal can contend with. Even the Frost Giants of the Eternal Frost Tribe, as mighty as they were, were obliterated by that dragon’s cataclysmic power. Let alone us, mere humans.”

“Indeed.”

“Even the armies of Bosk wouldn’t stand a chance, would they?”

“The coalition of years past was destroyed by that dragon alone.”

“Ah, but that is the Ember King we are speaking of.”

“We wish to oppose evil forces, of course, but we fear that our hard-fought armies would merely become fodder for the slaughter.”

Many nobles voiced their agreement, the hall soon filled with murmuring.

Count Narl was not simply seeking an answer but probing for the Bosk Duchy’s hidden hand, curious to uncover the confidence behind such a decisive stance.

Grand Duke Leo showed no sign of panic. Stroking his graying beard and puffing out his chest, he laughed heartily, radiating confidence.

“Heh, Count Narl, that is an excellent question.”

“The red dragon is formidable, that much is true. But when dealing with an evil force of this magnitude and scale, our allies are far from limited to mere mortals.”

Grand Duke Leo gave a subtle glance, and Earl Trelishka immediately understood. Rising to his feet, he spoke with deliberate authority.

“Thanks to the mediation of the Harpist Alliance, we have found extraordinary allies—entities more than willing to offer their aid and help us uphold Northern justice and order.”

He cleared his throat and solemnly announced:

“Allow me to introduce to you all a revered figure from the southern Melvord Clan, an elder known as the ‘Silver Wing,’ the noble and powerful ancient silver dragon—Lord Oszedro.”

Trelishka turned toward what appeared to be empty space and bowed deeply.

Under the gaze of countless eyes, the air there began to distort.

Moments later, a resplendent silver portal materialized in the hall, glowing with intricate magical patterns as it slowly opened.

“It seems…”

“I am not too late after all.”

A voice, unfamiliar and majestic, echoed through the hall.

From the portal stepped an elder wielding a staff.

He appeared to be in his seventies or eighties, his pristine white beard and hair immaculate. His deep, silvery eyes gleamed with the wisdom of countless ages, like pools of liquid mercury.

He wore a robe adorned with shimmering stars, and his staff, crafted from mithril, bore a strange magical gem resembling the boundless void of the astral plane.

Silver dragons often adopted humanoid forms, presenting themselves as benevolent elders or striking young elves to facilitate interaction with mortals. Lord Oszedro was clearly the former.

As this elder appeared, the nobles erupted in astonishment, all rising to their feet.

“By the gods, Grand Duke Leo actually summoned a silver dragon!”

“An ancient silver dragon, no less!”

“This is incredible!”

“Finally, we have hope of defeating that red dragon!”

As the elder calmly stood his ground, Grand Duke Leo quickly rose, bowing slightly and stepping forward to welcome him.

“Lord Oszedro, your timing could not have been more perfect.”

“Please, take a seat.”

Grand Duke Leo personally offered the head seat to the ancient silver dragon, standing deferentially to the side, while Oszedro accepted the seat without hesitation.

Among dragons, silver dragons were the most benevolent and friendly toward humans, even among the metallic dragons.

But no matter how cordial their demeanor, Leo was not foolish enough to think himself an equal to a dragon. Such creatures carried pride woven into their very blood and bones.

Oszedro spoke slowly:

“I am already aware of your plight.”

“Heh, even here, I can smell the stench of Tiamat’s foul spawn—that wretched scent of sulfur.”

As he spoke, a magical projection appeared in the air, displaying the intelligence Trelishka had provided on Cassius. The silver dragon effortlessly conjured it for all to see.

“Roar—”

The image showed the red dragon soaring above an inferno, his wings beating as countless victims screamed, burning into ash.

Faced with such a scene, the nobles could not help swallowing hard.

With a wave of his hand, Oszedro effortlessly erased the projection. “At least archmage-level spellcasting abilities, far beyond his current age and size. That red dragon is indeed troublesome and could one day become a multiversal calamity.”

He paused, his silver eyes gleaming with undisguised pride.

“But unfortunately for him, he has encountered me.”

“You need only deal with his bothersome followers. I will confront the red dragon directly.”

“Out of respect for Lord Io, I may banish or imprison this wayward creature. But if he crosses my bottom line… I will show no mercy.”

The elder’s eyes narrowed, his gaze flashing with a faint light like liquid mercury.

“Will Olivia be in your care?”

“If anything happens to her, I will never forgive you, red dragon.”

Though he said nothing more aloud, this thought echoed silently within him.

Grand Duke Leo quickly led the applause, his voice full of admiration: “Lord Oszedro, your righteous actions command my utmost respect. You shall receive the highest honor from the North and all of Anzeta.”

“Indeed, Lord Oszedro.”

“We will never forget your grace.”

“That red dragon is nothing before you!”

Listening to the nobles’ flattery, Oszedro merely nodded indifferently.

Praise like this had long ceased to affect him. In his thousand years of existence, he had heard such words countless times, their novelty long faded.

Having witnessed countless dynasties rise and fall, he was no longer the zealous young silver dragon who roamed the world championing justice. Now, he was more a custodian of balance, a guardian of the material plane, and an elder of the silver dragon lineage.

Now, his purpose was to maintain order in the North and find the younger kin he had placed his hopes in.

But Oszedro’s arrival was not the end of the meeting. Several more portals opened, and to the nobles’ astonishment, a divine-born count from the Fadlan Empire, Asmo from Mount Celestia, and a druid elder from the mystical forests appeared in succession. Over a hundred extraordinary beings from the forces of justice gathered, united against a common enemy.

Grand Duke Leo, however, did not reveal the “Crimson Scarlet Blades” legendary adventurers. They were his hidden ace, meant to deliver a fatal blow to the red dragon.

Seeing the atmosphere grow ever more fervent, Grand Duke Leo raised his silver goblet high and shouted:

“For the order of the North!”

“For fairness and justice!”

Thus, amid the clinking of goblets and thunderous applause, a continent-spanning alliance of diverse races and factions was formed, recorded in history as the “Anti-Red Dragon Alliance.”

………

“That was the most hopeful time for the North. Hero Leo Bosk brimmed with ambition, and righteous champions from across the world stood united, confident in their victory against the red dragon. Yet they did not realize—this was merely the beginning of the nightmare.”

—《The Secret History of Anzeta: The Second Lionheart Alliance》, Duke Ludon

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