Ashen Dragon-Chapter 548 - 17 Announcement

Cassius stood on the platform, looking down at the crowd with his pale golden eyes, scanning over the distinct yet equally fervent faces.

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Whether they were humans, Tieflings, Great Goblins, Half-Dragons, or Ogres, there was not a trace of fear on their faces, only passion.

Good.

This was what he wanted.

After surveying the crowd, the Red Dragon slowly began to speak, his voice as heavy as thunder, resonating from his throat and spreading across the plains.

“I trust you already know who the Empire’s enemies are this time—

Demons.

They come from The Abyss, known as the world’s Destroyers, the embodiment of evil and chaos, bringers of terror…

Hearing this—are you afraid?”

“No!”

“We will defeat the demons!”

“Drive those vermin back to The Abyss!”

The Imperial People were instantly inflamed with passion, loudly condemning the demons, some even waving flags that read “Kill the demons.”

Adrowell sensed the people’s rage and was increasingly amazed—they truly were not afraid!

On the platform, Cassius nodded slightly and deliberately raised his voice as he continued, “But—they’ve picked the wrong adversary!

They chose to make an enemy of the Ashen Empire. They attack our cities, assassinate our officials, and plot to disrupt the Empire’s order.

But—such is but wishful thinking!

Now, standing here, in the name of the Ashen Empire’s Emperor, I launch a holy crusade of revenge against the demons!

I declare that the Ashen Empire is at war with The Abyss, and every Imperial Citizen has the duty to kill every demon they come across!

The Empire will hold nothing back, we will fight to the end, we will slay demons in the wilderness, we will slay demons in the mountains, we will slay demons in the sky…”

Cassius’ stirring words echoed across the plains, even reaching the entire Anzeta Great Wilderness.

Under the Red Dragon’s almost divine, Extraordinary Charm, all present were infected by his speech, falling into intense hatred towards the demons.

Even the Silver Dragon Adrowell, who was lurking in the crowd, felt his blood surge with excitement.

“Since demons bring fear to the world, then the Empire—will bring fear to the demons!”

Finally, Cassius slowly rose to his feet, unfurled his immense wings, bared his sharp teeth, and a fierce smile appeared on his dragon face.

“Crush them!”

“For the Ashen Empire!”

Dolores stood atop a Steam Tank, raising his arm to shout first, with the Goblin Infantry close behind.

“For the Ashen Empire!”

“For His Majesty Cassius!”

Soon, cheers merged into one unbroken wave, sweeping through the venue like a tidal force. Whether commoners, soldiers, or officials, in this moment, they all had but one identity—Imperial Citizens.

“Long live His Majesty Cassius!”

“For the Ashen Emperor!”

“Loyalty! Loyalty!”

“Kill those demons!”

The venue resounded like a tumultuous ocean, hundreds of thousands of Imperial People were frenzied, raising their arms high, eager to demonstrate their loyalty before their sovereign.

Wyverns circling the sky gave out long cries, screaming with all their might; Dragon Beasts on the ground rhythmically thumped the earth, emitting plumes of searing smoke and dull roars.

White Dragon Tiniya also flew into the sky, fanned away several Bipedal Wyverns, and took the closest position to the Red Dragon, emitting excited roars.

“Ao~~”

At a distance, portals of various colors opened, from which legions from across the Empire emerged.

“For the great Ashen Empire!”

“Praise the Soul Devouring Dragon!”

“Hiss hiss hohoho! (Fire Tribe language, translated as: For the Empire)”

Accompanied by a sky filled with ashes and sparks, legions composed of Elemental Creatures like Fire Lizards, Fire Drakes, and Fire Dwarves surged out of the portals.

“Children of Fire, liberated by His Majesty Cassius! It’s time to repay the grace, to repay His Majesty!”

“Let the demons taste real flame!”

“For the Ashen Empire!”

The Ashen Empire’s Elemental Colonist Governor—Marquis Selcan Wood, rode on the back of a Multi-headed Flame Snake Lizard, lifting a spear wrapped in flames high into the air.

Then, he placed his fist over his heart, giving the Red Dragon atop the high platform a standard “Loyalty Salute.”

“Oh offspring of the night…”

Under the Lich’s murmur, clumps of dark clouds suddenly appeared in the sky, casting immense shadows upon the ground.

In the shadows, pitch-black, hole-like vortexes appeared on the ground—those were portals leading to the Gloomy Region.

Next, massive Skeleton Bluefoot Dragon-serpents surged out, followed by an enormous Undead Legion, then armies of Grey Dwarves, Underworld Dwarves, and Drow Elves.

The Ashen Empire’s Governor of the Gloomy Region—Marquis Hart, rode on the back of a Skeletal Wyvern.

Raising that blood-stained, kill-laden heavy blade, his dark eyes gleamed with a cruel smirk.

“For His Imperial Majesty!”

“Wipe out those demons!”

The former Honorary Bishop of the Amanata Church, now the Imperial Priest Ingrid, waved her scepter, tracing the shape of a door in mid-air.

“Otherworld Gate!”

Another portal opened in the sky, this time leading to the Garden of Myriad Beasts, a place teeming with wild nature, from the Outer Planes.

“Roar!”

“Awooo!”

“Legion of Myriad Beasts! Fight for the Empire!”

The former Lizardfolk Chieftain, now Governor of the Empire’s Garden of Myriad Beasts expeditionary army, Marquis Acker Longtooth, hoisted his spear high.

Blackscale Shaman Koda, riding on the back of a polar bear, swung a deadwood scepter.

Thousands of Lizardfolk soldiers followed close behind, and hundreds of Imperial Druids controlling various Beasts, bringing a surging Beast Tide along.

Arrow Hawks, Griffins, Rhinoceroses, Beasts of Terror, Raptors, Frenzied Tigers, Petrifying Lizards, and other Beast swarmed out of the portals, startled by the Dragon’s Might, and bowed in unison toward the direction of the Red Dragon.

In the frenzied crowd, Adrowell watched the opening of one portal after another in stupefied amazement, as various creatures made their appearance at the gathering.

What was he here for?

Did such a country still need to seek aid from Melwood?

Suddenly, Jenny next to him pointed to the sky, frowning as she said, “Look there!”

Yet another portal opened, and from it flew out massive, fierce Blue Dragons, led by a smaller, young female Blue Dragon—it was the Blue Dragon of the Farria family.

Jennies looked at the Blue Dragons in the sky, then gazed at the Red Dragon on the high platform for a long time, clenching her teeth and saying, “No, we can’t lose… Let’s go too! Melwood can’t lose to them!”

Adrowell inquired, “What?”

“Swoosh—”

Jennies leaped up, transforming into a graceful Silver Dragon amidst the astonished gazes of the onlookers, flapping her wings as she flew toward Cassius.

“This…”

“Alright then.”

Adrowell shook his head in resignation and transformed into his true form, a towering Silver Dragon, slapping his gleaming wings to take flight.

At his command, ten more Silver Dragons rose one after another from among the crowd to surround the high platform.

In the midst of the audience’s gasps of astonishment, the previously empty military demonstration field became incredibly crowded, filled with Fire Lizards, Skeleton Dragon-Serpents, Fierce Tigers, Blue Dragons, and even Silver Dragons.

Beings alive or Undead, good or evil, running or flying, all gathered at the venue, obeying the same leader, coming together to participate in the same war.

For years, the Empire had gathered armies and power from various planes, all converging here, about to join the battle against the demons.

Cassius stood on the high platform, overlooking the bustling gathering.

For this battle, he had prepared for far too long, so much so that from the moment he entered this world, he had been locked in a relentless struggle with the demons trying to control his fate.

The Red Dragon surveyed the assortment of beings below with a ferocious smile, murmuring to himself in a voice only he could hear:

“Jezarslack…

Are you ready to face my revenge?”