As a mage, especially one who had reached the level of arch-mage, Marches certainly possessed knowledge on the various ranks of dragons.
This was a race favored by the gods and born to look down on everything else.
In comparison to dragons, most species were short-lived. Dragon lifespans ran into the thousands of years, and they did not need gruelling training to improve their powers. Simply ageing would be enough, and by adulthood, their strengths would likely be scraping at the legendary rank. Furthermore their titanic frames and lethal anatomy meant that even true-blue legendary rank powerhouses would hesitate to take one on. They would have to pay a hefty price even if they fought and won.
Like the elves the dragon population was low and so each dragon in the race was treated with great importance. If anyone really dared to kill a dragon, they would very shortly be torn to shreds by hordes of their victim’s brethren. So-called “dragon-slayers” were largely fictional characters in San Soliel; personalities who could only exist in the tales and songs of bards and minstrels. Unless the dragon had gone overboard with its actions, no legendary rank powerhouse would dare fight a dragon
But dragons possessed a fatal weakness as well: their fecundity. No one had ever actually counted, but the members of the dragon race on the main continent could not have exceed a few thousand in number. Save for their lengthy lifespans and overwhelming strength, they would be bound for extinction.
Dragons were also lazy. Asides from eating, they didn’t bother with training themselves, and indeed few even knew how to do so. Only the few dragon geniuses would possess that kind of knowledge.
If it were only a mature dragon, or even one of the elderly ones, Marches would not have nearly pissed his pants. Abir, after all, was still one of the strongest legendary rank warriors that the Theocracy could send out. And even if he couldn’t slay it, he could stand against it for a time at least.
“This isn’t any ordinary dragon, but a primordial one! One that should have gone extinct ages ago. Why?! Why is it here?! Shouldn’t they all have fallen with the Dragon God?!”
Marches grimaced. None looked down on him for his terror as the other mages’ reactions were even more pronounced. After seeing the golden dragon, some of them collapsed, paralyzed on the ground. And a few even lost control of their bladder.
These mages all joined the war to gain military merit, and this was their first expedition. Facing such a horrifying enemy, their immediate reactions paled in comparison to the soldiers. Though the latter were struck by deep fear, they retained some composure and remained on their feet.
The dragon, with its gigantic form of over 300 meters and wings that seemed to cover the skies; with its head that awakened a primal fear in all spectators, and a shadow that blotted out any optimism the army initially had, could not fail to strike any person cold with terror.
Normal adult dragons tended to top out at 60 meters in length. And they were terrifying enough, but not so bad as to evoke a sense of despair. Some rare ancient dragons could reach up to 100 meters, and they were of course even worse to deal with. But they were nothing in comparison to the behemoth of a reptile in front of them. Its size alone nearly made it a flying island!
“Is…… is that really a dragon?”
A low-ranked mage trembled and murmured.
“That is a primordial dragon. If I’m correct, it has already lived for at least 30,000 years…….”
Marches said word by word. After hearing his reply, the young mages were stunned once more.
How long was 30,000 years? Even the history of human civilization did not reach that far. As for the other races, anyone that had lived for 30,000 years would either already have become a God, or have been forgotten by the river of history. Despite that, today they were somehow able to see such a creature.
“When I dream, the world trembles! When I awaken, reality is born!!”
Along with its wrathful declaration, a light green glow spilled over the heaven and earth with the dragon at its center. It enveloped the legion of 30,000 people as well as the large forest. Every creature felt as if they had come to another world as the feeing of spring filled their hearts. It was as if they were in a world protected by nature.
This place was — the Emerald Dreamland!
A lush forest began to spring up over the plains with impossible speed. In the blink of an eye, the forest began to expand. Although the new woodland’s size could not compare with the entire Forest of the Moon, that did not diminish the miracle the dragon had brought about!
Marches heard cries in the distance. They came from the elves and druids. They had been lurking in the forest and waiting for the humans to attack before counterattacking. Their shouts, however, were laden with different emotions from the humans’. If the humans were shouting out of fear, then the elves did so from joy. For the elves and druids that loved nature, the new woodland created by the dragon in front of them appeared like an instance of divine grace
“Divine…… divine domain?!”
Marches went from sheer terror to numbness as he gazed at the dragon’s handiwork. Although he had never seen this domain before, he had read from records that this was one of the applications of a God’s divine power. If a person could condense this domain into their own divine authority, then a new God would be born.
“This is not an ordinary primordial dragon…… It’s a demigod!!!”
Marches’ voice already carried a sobbing tone. He began to regret coming to this battlefield. Even if the God of Magic had descended and compelled him, he would absolutely not dare to take another step forward.
Primordial dragons were already powerful enough. They were relatives of the Dragon God. Even the legions of heaven were helpless in front of these terrifying creatures, and if a primordial dragon had become a demigod, then only the Gods might be able to subdue it.
In this era where the glory of Gods had dimmed and their miracles faded, this demigod-rank primordial dragon was an invincible being!
The scaly behemoth opened its mouth and breathed out emerald-colored flames from the skies.
The breath washed over the human legion, instantly racking up casualties in the thousands . Rather than burn its victims, however, those touched by them seemed to flicker out of and into being. Their very presences gradually became illusory before they faded out of existence.
When I close my eyes, the world becomes a dream!
“This is……. the power of the Gods…….”
Marches lips were dry as he murmured.