Published at 21st of June 2024 8:57 am

Chapter 1730 Chaos [9]

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What Melania experienced was hell.

The initial scare of the Holy Dragons was already a huge event. It wasn't discussed enough how much a collection of auras at that level could affect a young genius' psyche.

Unless one could properly cope with the experience, the trauma could lead to consequences beyond belief, even leaving some crippled.

Melainia's mental fortitude was at a higher level than that of her peers. She wouldn't fold under pressure alone. Still, the impact of the potential death of a friend like August and the sort of inevitability represented by the Holy Dragons took a toll on her mind.

She didn't have time to process any of it which just made her life worse.

Just a few hours after August's situation occurred, the forsaken dragon clan attacked. The beginning of their siege was broadcasted live as the territories were struck. The geniuses within had to be evacuated by their clansmen to avoid death.

News continued to flood their minds. Soon enough, everyone in Arulion knew exactly what had happened, and not a single one of them could avoid it.

Images of the bloody endings of those who stood in the enemy's path were spread, and Melania and Valerie immediately jumped in to lend their strength to the closest territory to them, which was naturally Fort Halleya.

The first day was terrible. The entire fort was taken by the enemy, and the two young geniuses had to gather the forces left in the city to fight them off. They succeeded, sure, but not without losses. Too many people died meaninglessly that day. Melania and Valerie were unable to protect them as they protected the city.

In their memory, the two geniuses resolved to keep everyone else safe and do whatever they could to help end the conflict.

While Melania stayed in Fort Halleya and rallied those who remained to stand against the enemy, Valerie returned to her clan to recruit their help.

It was a tough journey for both of them.

Melania saw slaughter on a day-to-day basis and became used to it. Valerie was traveling a rocky path back to her clan, fighting through the groups of enemies she saw and risking her life to save those she met along the way.

A lot of tragedy had already affected them at a personal level.

Just a day ago, Melania received news that most of the members of their alliance from the heir wars had already died.

Only Lucas and Ophelia were still alive. Their sponsors supported them and kept them safe, but it was unknown what would happen when they actually entered the war. Someone like Damien could view this conflict as a shame and disregard it if he so chose. With the power he had, nobody in the forsaken dragon clans could even touch his toes.

However, for Melania and the other young geniuses, this kind of atrocity was unimaginable.

They never thought that they'd ever see so much blood. Even bloodline memories filled with such experiences could never give them the same feeling as seeing it in person.

"Anyway, I really can't tell you the entire situation. From what I've heard, the invaders kill anyone they see on sight. A guy named Hendricks is leading them. He and the other strongest members of the rebellion are Ancient Dragons, and the rest aren't weak either. They've taken hold of the west and are using it as a stepping stone to spread their troops throughout the kingdom. Anything more than that, I haven't heard. Communication hasn't been easy." "Hm."

August made a sound of acknowledgement. Simply put, people were being slaughtered with every second that passed.

'There's really nothing that can justify it, even if it's not something the forsaken dragons are doing willingly.' August was tempted to share the other side of the story with Melania just so she could know, but he didn't think it was right.

She had seen too much for her to feel anything for them. In fact, it might even make her opinion of them worse if she knew their motivations.

Rather than that, August had to think of a way to end this conflict. 'But is that even something I can do?'

He wasn't that strong. He was a 4th class dragon. It was hilarious for him to believe that he could damage or stop a force led by Gods.

'But, even if I can't fight them, I can at least do something, right?'

With the connections he'd built, he could definitely bring a fighting force into the battle and turn the scales in a few isolated areas. Was it worth making more people suffer by roping them into this conflict?

Was it worth fighting the battle at all?

As August contemplated it, another sudden change took place.

But this one…was less abrupt. It was something that had been planned long ago, but needed to happen in a different way considering the current situation.

A huge aura covered the entire world.

In front of every surviving participant that was once a part of the heir wars, a projection of the Dragon Emperor appeared.

They all recognized him immediately despite having never seen his face. That kind of aura was unmistakable, after all.

"You all must be confused."

Whether they were safe, struggling, or taking a break from the war, all of them were forced to pay attention to that voice.

"I am your Emperor, the man whose position you all strive to take."

He started with an introduction, but he didn't take long to get to his main point.

"Today, I present all of you with a challenge. As the heir wars were not able to conclude properly, this will act as its replacement."

August and Melania looked at each other in surprise.

Was now really the time to be doing this?

It was a thought they shared with many, but their opinions didn't change the Dragon Emperor's message.

"Somewhere in our kingdom, I have hidden my crown. It is the symbol of Arulion's ruler, and the object that will give you control over the kingdom."

"If you find it, then it is yours. If you take it, then you will become the next Dragon Emperor."

"Your candidate emblems will act as a compass. Your hearts will become deciders. If you have received this message, then you are worthy of my throne. However, if you cannot defeat those who are worthy alongside you…"

"...then you may be destined for nothing."

August's eyes sharpened.

Those were provoking words. They were meant to belittle the pride of a genius and force each and every challenger into accepting this race.

'I see…'

It was a move made both to provide an heir to the kingdom and to keep the geniuses away from the war.

In the end, when all other reasons and justifications were stripped away, it was a move made to protect the younger generation, the future lifeblood of Arulion. But, at the same time, it was a race for the throne and the simplest, most direct manifestation of what the heir wars were always supposed to be. The choice that August was trying to make had changed.

It was no longer about whether he wanted to participate in the war on a large scale or not.

No, it was much deeper than that.

August was forced to ask himself a question that he honestly didn't know the answer to.

What was more important to him?

The throne…

…or the people?

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