Published at 27th of June 2024 8:01 am

Chapter 1746 Crown [3]

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The function of both arrays was actually not too complicated, but the complexity that allowed them to achieve the feats they strived for was too much for any common man.

When they activated, two things happened simultaneously. Firstly, the central area of the dragon kingdom was enveloped in a crimson-red haze. Energy filled the air and infested everyone the spell targeted.

Specifically, the common populace of Arulion.

Their bodies bulged as new muscles formed where they were needed. Their blood screamed out as it underwent a massive change.

The array's functions dug deep into the ancestry of the common people and drew out the blood of their nearest possible Divine ancestor. All of today's dragons existed because of a select group of no more than fifty. If their ancestry was traced back far enough, one would be able to find the bloodlines that had been lost through eons of dilution. The main goal of the array was as simple as that. It aimed to awaken the draconic talents of any and everyone in Arulion.

And it worked perfectly.

As the commoners awakened to their blood lineages, their suppressed draconic instincts came loose.

In normal cases, this kind of influence would lead them to become like the forsaken dragons, machines that would kill wantonly until they were satiated.

However, the array guided their hostility towards the people they truly hated.

It marked all forsaken dragons and all those with noble blood, letting the berserk dragons loose on these parties.

Arulion's chaos deepened even further, but this was a necessary step. Those dragons needed to find their instincts and return to their original pride and stature. For that to be possible, they needed to adapt to their new bloodlines and properly accept that they were no longer inhibited by anything other than their own unwillingness and insecurity.

The best way to show them that they'd changed was to allow them revenge against the people who killed their loved ones and the people who oppressed them.

After all, they were berserk, but they had not lost all rationality. They would change once they experienced what it was like to be powerful.

The bigger change was created by the second array.

In the outer regions of the continent, the light that shined was not red, but blue.

It infected the dragonkin just as the commoners had been, invading their systems and changing them.

In essence, both arrays did the same thing.

Only, it meant something entirely different to the dragonkin.

See, unlike the commoners in Arulion who became content with their weakness, the dragonkin were always striving for strength so that they could eventually become True Dragons. Surprisingly enough, their lives were probably far better in the outer regions than they'd ever be in the central region.

August's plan for them was simple.

He was going to give them what they wanted in exchange for loyalty.

Taking inspiration from his father's methods, August instructed Raul's clansmen to give the dragonkin a choice.

A holographic window appeared in front of each and every one of them; a contract of sorts.

What it said was simple.

Pledge fealty to August Void and instantly become a True Dragon.

Obviously, not everyone believed it at first, but the widespread phenomenon was bound to attract one or two risk-takers.

When the scale was so large, it was impossible to not know or know of someone who took risks.

Just a few people signed the contract at first. They felt the pull in their souls as they were bound to another entity, but they hardly cared.

After all, the bloodlines they'd been working to complete their entire lives suddenly reached perfection.

It wasn't actually that involved. Once a process was created to find the hidden lineages within the common people, it was easy to find a way to improve already existing semi-draconic bloodlines so they could reach their full potential.

The requirement of fealty was implemented only so that any chaos caused by the rapid influx of True Dragons could be quelled. They would not be required to show any sort of loyalty beyond what they naturally possessed. Not in moments aside from this one, at least.

They had been given such a gift so they could participate in the conflict of the central region.

And though most of them were hesitant to get involved in a war that they had no part in, they had been drafted with an amazing gift.

Even those who took pride in their efforts and didn't want to take the easy road to power had to admit that it was almost impossible for any of them to actually evolve into True Dragons.

Everything they'd been through turned them into the people they were, but their paths from this point forth…

…would continue from the same point.

The only change was that they'd have the lineages they always dreamed of.

That person, "August Void," was their benefactor for life. They were at least willing to repay him for the gift he'd given them.

Like that, countless new forces entered the war on the side facing the forsaken dragons and nobles.

The situation was rapidly overturned, leaving the nobles in a position where they had no choice but to retreat if they wanted to survive.

Well, until even their homes were raided. Unlike the Holy Clans, they could not create highly functional and discreet hidden realms to support their clans.

They lived isolated from the majority, but their methods were easy to destroy with the methods available to their newfound enemies.

It was unacceptable.

Unacceptable to the point where the Holy Clans needed to intervene.

Right, it was about time for them to do something about the forces challenging their regime, wasn't it?

But..

For some reason…

No matter how many nobles died, no matter how their clans were turned into nothing more than remnants…

…where were the Holy Clans?

It was the worst possible situation.

When they were needed most, they disappeared to a place where nobody would be able to find them.

Though, it wasn't by choice.

***

It wasn't by choice at all.

For tens of millions of dragons to find themselves in a darkness beyond darkness, a void beyond voids, was not an expected event for them at all.

Still, that was what happened. Everyone who was in the hidden realms that they called their homes was instantly transported to another realm all at once.

From the Ancient Dragons to the youngest geniuses, not a single one was spared.

The heads of each clan immediately went to work trying to learn more about their situation. They flew as far as possible to find the boundaries of the realm, attacked the ground and sky to try and break it open, and looked for clues or array lines that could be read to understand the nature of this place.

However, there was nothing like that.

No borders, no sky, no clues.

This expanse was seemingly infinite and indestructible. It was a prison made so that those within could never escape.

As for the man who put them here…?

Naturally, he wasn't going to show his face.

After all, they'd been removed from the world so that all things in Arulion would wrap up smoothly.

The decision of what would be done with them…

Well, that would be made at another time, by another man entirely.

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