(Moltherak's POV, Planet Draconia)
Moltherak broke the seal lazily and unfolded the letter, his golden eyes scanning the first few lines with mild curiosity, as the Dragon Court leaned forward with restless interest while the ssenger stood trembling in the center of the chamber.
At first, Moltherak's expression remained relaxed.
Then slowly, almost imperceptibly, it began to darken.
[Esteed King Moltherak,
As per our previous discussion, the Cult had boldly declared to the universe that the Dragons and the Cult are allies, and that an attack on the Dragon Empire or an attack on the Cult would both prove to be an insult to the honor of the Ancient Dragon King.]
Moltherak's fingers tightened slightly around the parchnt.
[And yet, I must regretfully inform you that despite your reputation being entangled with ours, soone still dared to destroy Ixtal, attempting to wipe out myself and my family in a single stroke.]
Leo wrote, as Moltherak continued reading with an eyebrow raised. [I am not asking you to avenge us. No.
I do not need your help to avenge the fall of Ixtal.
For I am more than capable of biding my ti and taking my revenge when I am strong enough.]
The Dragon King's jaw tightened slightly.
[That is not why I have written this letter.]
[What I wish to inform you is that if you believed your reputation alone was enough to quell the rebels of this universe...]
Moltherak's golden eyes narrowed.
[If you truly believed that your eting with Kaelith had frightened him enough to stop ddling with your interests...]
A faint grinding sound echoed through the chamber as Moltherak's teeth clenched.
[Then you are mistaken, O Ancient King.
Because I do not believe anyone takes you particularly seriously at all.]
A ripple of tension spread across the hall, as Moltherak's killing intent began to leak from his body.
Several Dragons lifted their heads sharply in response to this change, as they saw Moltherak's expression hardening in real ti.
[You call yourself the Terror of Galaxies.
You call yourself the Conqueror of Conquerors.
And yet your ally saw their ho planet destroyed by Kaelith in an attack that showed absolutely no respect for your reputation.]
Moltherak's fingers slowly crumpled the parchnt as the veins along his forearm began to rise.
[I write this letter only to inform you that the universe does not yet treat you as seriously as you might believe.
And if you wish to avoid becoming a joke...
The response to this attack now rests on your shoulders.
And your shoulders alone.
Regards,
Cult Master Leo Skyshard.]
For several long seconds the Dragon Court remained completely silent.
Then Moltherak crushed the letter in his hand.
The parchnt disintegrated into powder within his tightening fist as
a low grinding sound escaped his throat.
"The Cult Master certainly has a way with words," Moltherak muttered quietly, his voice carrying effortlessly across the hall despite
its calm tone.
"The boy knows exactly which strings to pull and which topics to
avoid."
His golden eyes slowly lifted toward the ssenger.
The poor man froze instantly.
The weight of Moltherak's gaze hit him like a physical blow.
Within seconds the terrified courier lost control of his bladder, the dark stain spreading across his trousers as he stood shaking in the
center of the Dragon Court.
Yet Moltherak paid no attention to the humiliation.
"However... he raises a valid point,"
Moltherak said as he leaned back slightly against the throne of bones,
the hall growing quiet while his fingers tapped slowly against the
armrest in thought.
"I had not yet heard that Ixtal had been destroyed, nor that Kaelith would be brazen enough to attack one of my declared allies without the slightest concern for the consequences."
His golden eyes sharpened as he spoke, the faint amusent from earlier now gone entirely.
"Personally, I could not care less about Ixtal... but what I do care about is the universe rembering exactly why my na is the Terror
of Galaxies."
"The universe is ant to fear ," he continued calmly as he rose
from the throne, the simple motion causing several Dragons across the court to instinctively straighten their posture.
"And this is not an insult that I will allow to pass unanswered."
The temperature inside the chamber began rising faintly as Moltherak's killing intent slowly bled into the air.
"Kaelith may have started this little ga," he said softly, a slow smile
spreading across his face.
"But now he will learn why the Dragons once ruled this universe."
For a mont the court was silent.
Then suddenly the entire chamber erupted.
Claws slamd against the stone floor.
Wings beat violently against the air.
A thunderous roar shook the hall.
"NO ONE DEFIES THE DRAGON KING!"
"WAR!"
"WE WANT WAR!"
"ALL HAIL KING MOLTHERAK!"
The Dragons howled in savage excitent, their voices echoing like
thunder through the volcanic hall as the ssenger stood frozen in terror between creatures powerful enough to tear worlds apart. To him, the court looked less like a gathering of rulers and more like a pack of ancient monsters celebrating the beginning of a hunt. And yet, despite his personal horror, he also felt sowhat satisfied with this result, as deep down, he also understood that this reaction was exactly what his Lord Leo had been aiming for.
Leo had recently secluded himself to the Ti Stilled World, and until
he returned, he was hoping for the Dragons to stir enough trouble for the Great Clans and Kaelith, so that the Righteous Faction would not have the opportunity to focus their attention on the Cult.
'It seems like they took the bait, my Lord, by how rowdy the atmosphere is.... I believe there will be a big raid launched by the Dragons sooner or later.....
The ssenger thought, as he forced himself to remain perfectly still despite the chaos erupting around him, because although the Dragons believed this fury was born from Moltherak's wounded pride, he alone understood that every roar in the court ant Leo's trap had already begun to close.
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