Terra adjusted her glasses, a small smile gracing her lips as she stepped forward confidently.
“It is my pleasure to serve you, my Lord.”
Alister nodded, then extended one claw. Ether crackled around it, encasing his hand in a brilliant golden glow.
With his other hand, he turned his palm upward and, with a swift motion, sliced it open. His blood began to flow freely, shimmering faintly with a golden hue.
Willing a pristine white quartz bowl into existence with a flick of his hand, he let his blood flow into it until the bowl was filled.
The golden liquid glimmered as though alive, radiating his golden Ether.
With a wave of his finger, the bowl hovered toward Terra. As it floated, Alister spoke.
“Take this to all the dragon kin. Let them drink. This is my way of welcoming them into my family. Claiming them as mine with my blood.”
Terra’s eyes lit up with honor and excitement. She reached out, carefully catching the bowl as it descended into her grasp.
“I won’t disappoint you, my Lord!”
As she turned to leave, she couldn’t help but silently marvel at the gift. The subtle, alluring aroma of the Overlord’s blood filled her senses, making her almost drool, but she controlled herself.
‘Unmistakable and distinct. Just as the records say… The Overlord’s blood carries an irresistible, almost divine quality,’ she thought to herself, her respect for Alister deepening further.
With a final glance over her shoulder, she exited the throne room, bowl in hand, ready to carry out her task.
Alister turned his golden gaze to Yu’Keto and spoke.
“About the human you had in that time bubble…”
Yu’Keto bowed deeply. “I will hand him over to Terra once she completes her task, my Lord.”
A pleased smile curved Alister’s lips. “Brilliant. You may go now.”
Bowing once more, Yu’Keto said, “I will take my leave then.” With that, the time dragon turned, exiting the chamber gracefully.
Alister’s gaze swept over the remaining generals. “The rest of you may leave to your rooms if you wish. I plan to summon another general to join our ranks.”
Alzuring, Mar’Garet, Cinder, and Draven exchanged glances before bowing in unison. Alzuring, ever composed, spoke first.
“If it pleases you, my Lord, we would like to stay and witness the summoning.”
Mar’Garet spoke as well, sounding eager. “Yes, my darling, such an event is not to be missed!”
Cinder’s crimson eyes narrowed. “I would be honored to welcome the addition to our ranks.”
Draven, stoic as always, gave a firm nod. “It would be a privilege to remain.”
Alister smirked. “Is that so? I suppose I can entertain your presence, then.”
He rose from his throne, his aura rising again. As he moved, the system’s voice echoed within his mind.
⫷『System online.』⫸
Alister’s thoughts turned inward.
‘System… Is it possible to manifest the summoning gate in reality instead of entering the mindspace?’
⫷『Indeed, it is possible, Player.』⫸
“Good,” Alister said, his golden Ether flaring faintly as he prepared for the summoning ritual.
Alister glanced at the throne room’s surroundings and let out a soft hum of thought.
His golden gaze swept over his generals before he spoke.
“It would be best to conduct this… in a more suitable space.”
Without further explanation, he uttered,
“Shattering Space Law.”
The atmosphere rippled, and with a brilliant flash of Ether, the fabric of reality seemed to tear apart.
In an instant, Alister and his generals appeared in a vast expanse of grasslands. The endless green stretched toward the horizon, swaying gently in the breeze.
Above them, the enormous protective dome shield shimmered faintly, encompassing the entirety of Alister’s domain.
Alister stepped forward, his clawed hand extended, golden Ether coiling around him.
“Summoning Gate, materialize.”
At his command, the ground beneath them trembled. Ether surged upward in violent, crackling waves, condensing at a spot ahead of Alister.
Slowly, a colossal, double-doored structure emerged from the earth, black as night and with carvings of dragon skulls.
The Summoning Gate stood there, towering, its surface shimmering faintly with the residue of Alister’s Ether.
The generals gazed at it in a mix of awe and immense pride.
Alister stood before the towering Summoning Gate, his gaze sharp and focused.
‘System, open my summoning conduit list from the inventory.’
⫷『Accessing inventory… Displaying summoning conduits.』⫸
A translucent interface appeared before his eyes, listing the various conduits he had obtained. As he scrolled through the list, one item caught his attention:
Hydro Summoning Conduit.
Alister tilted his head slightly, his curiosity piqued. “When did I obtain this?”
⫷『The Hydro Summoning Conduit was acquired during your raid on the Hydra Dungeon, Player.』⫸
“Is that so?” Alister thought aloud, his golden gaze narrowing thoughtfully. Memories of the dungeon raid flashed through his mind—a faint smirk appeared on his lips.
‘And what of a Poison Summoning Conduit? Is it in my inventory as well?’
⫷『Affirmative, Player. The Poison Summoning Conduit is present in your inventory. However, the system advises against using it at this time. You already possess a considerable number of wyverns with poison-based attributes. Diversification of your dragon ranks is recommended.』⫸
Alister tapped his chin in contemplation. “A valid point. I’ve little use for redundancy within my army. A different type of dragon would indeed serve better in strengthening my forces.”
He glanced at the Summoning Gate, then back to the system.
“Very well. Let’s consider my options carefully.”
Alister’s gaze lingered on the Summoning Gate as thoughts weighed heavily in his mind. He knew the importance of maintaining a powerful army, but as a lord, the well-being of his people came first.
“A ruler is only as strong as those who follow him,” he said to himself, his golden eyes narrowing.
He turned his attention inward. While his dragons were formidable and loyal, he couldn’t ignore the glaring issue plaguing his domain: food scarcity.
“Fruits and agriculture could sustain them for now,” Alister reasoned, “but dragons have an innate craving for meat that fruits alone can never truly satisfy… Although nature’s delicacies should not be overlooked.”
Still, he recognized that a thriving agricultural foundation could alleviate some of the burden and bolster his people’s resilience. With that thought, his choice became clear.
‘System,’ Alister commanded, ‘are there any nature-based summoning conduits in my inventory?’
⫷『Accessing inventory… Searching for nature-based summoning conduits.』⫸
A brief pause followed, the system scanning through his collected items.
⫷『Nature-based summoning conduit found: Verdant Summoning Conduit.』⫸
It appeared to be a greenish crystal-like item.
“Verdant Summoning Conduit…” he mused aloud, rolling the name over his tongue. “A Nata-Void…”
The thought of strengthening his domain’s food supply while expanding his army’s diversity appealed to him greatly.
“Dragons with command over nature,” Alister said as he plunged his claws into the system window and pulled out the item.
‘System, it’s time to proceed with the summoning.’
⫷『Acknowledged, Player.』⫸
Alister stood before the towering Summoning Gate, his golden Ether coiling around him like a flame. In his clawed hand, the Verdant Summoning Conduit shimmered, its crystalline green surface pulsating with his ether energy.
He poured his Ether into the conduit, which responded by shooting a brilliant beam of green light toward the massive double doors.
The doors absorbed the energy, their dark surface beginning to glow golden as if imbued with the Overlord’s divine power.
The glow persisted for a time before it shifted, turning a vibrant green that spread across the carvings of dragon skulls etched into the gate. Slowly, with a low, groan, the doors began to part, releasing a warm, emerald glow that bathed the surroundings in a soothing light.
The generals behind Alister watched in silence, their expressions ranging from awe to curiosity.
Soon, tye sounds of faint footsteps echoed from within the glow. The sound grew louder until, at last, a figure emerged.
A magnificent green dragon stepped into view, its scales shimmering like polished jade.
Its horns resembled branching wood, curling upward like ancient tree limbs, and its deep golden eyes looked majestic.
⫷『Congratulations, Player. You have successfully summoned an SSS-Ranked Nature Dragon: Silvyr Von Nata-Void.』⫸
Alister’s golden gaze fixed on the dragon, studying every detail. Silvyr glanced around, taking in the sight of his summoner, the gathered generals behind him, and the towering city walls visible in the distance. With deliberate, measured steps, the dragon approached Alister.
Lowering its head in a show of respect, Silvyr spoke in a deep voice. “My Lord, I am Silvyr Nata-Void. I offer my pledge of loyalty to you and your cause.”
For a moment, Alister was taken aback. His brow arched as he crossed his arms, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. “No trial? You won’t even test me?”
Silvyr blinked, visibly startled by the question. He hesitated, his large frame shifting slightly. “Test you, my Lord? Only a fool would challenge one such as you in this scenario. What purpose would such a trial serve when your worth is already evident?”
Alzuring, the Sky Dragon, scoffed, stepping forward. His tone was sharp and brimming with indignation. “What? Do you have no pride as a dragon? Are you implying that our Lord is not special enough to warrant a trial? Would you pledge your loyalty to just anyone?”
Silvyr flinched at the accusation, his golden eyes widening. He quickly shook his head, his horns glinting in the light.
“No, no, that is not what I meant! I can already see that your Lord is more than qualified. His presence alone… it is undeniable.”
Alzuring’s jaw tightened, ready to retort, but Alister raised a hand, silencing him.
Turning his sharp gaze to Silvyr, he addressed the dragon by name. “Silvyr Von Nata-Void. Tell me, how can you be so certain of my worth without testing me?”