“Considering the Red Dragon Clan has been hiding in isolation for so long, the seven Great Devils won’t expect dragons to emerge from their isolation. Thus, if a group of dragons suddenly emerged, it would certainly throw a wrench in their planning,” Vaan began to explain.
“Why did the dragons stop hiding? Why did they suddenly appear? Why now? Who gave them the courage? What are they plotting? The enemy would most likely think along these lines.”
“And if they only saw that members of the younger generations of the clan were all Rank 5, then they would believe the members of the older generations would be even more powerful. That would make them wary,” Vaan added.
“So we are trying to bluff the Great Devils into thinking we have become even stronger than them during our isolation, huh? Not a bad idea,” Astarot thought before saying, “However, the odds don’t seem that high.”
“Right,” Irmoss nodded in agreement before adding, “There’s a chance they will see through our bluff. What then?”
“Then not much will change. Maybe the Devil’s Contractors would go on a dragon hunt, but the Great Devils themselves still won’t descend, not before they achieve their original objective through the Devil’s Contractors,” Vaan calmly replied.
“However, if our bluff does succeed, we will buy ourselves some valuable time and figure out what the Great Devils are trying to achieve using the Devil’s Contractors.”
“Furthermore, the bolder we act, the warier they may become. The key is not to show fear. That would also give us more freedom to do things in the open,” Vaan added.
“More importantly, it’s been three hundred years since your clan moved to this world. These mountains might be your home, but the vast sky is your territory. Opportunities are out there, not here. If your clan stays caged to these mountains, when will you ever spread your clipped wings?”
Because of Vaan’s dragon soul, his words easily influenced the dragon lords, causing their blood to boil and awakening something inside them.
At the same time, the dragon lords felt like they had been struck by a bolt of lightning, waking them up as if they had come to a sudden realization.
Suddenly, Astarot turned to Narvim with a regretful and apologetic look.
“I believe I—No, all of us owe you an apology, Lord Narvim,” Astarot stated.
“You weren’t the only one to have lost your edge and become conservative; we all have. I’ve only realized that now, and for that, I am sorry,” Astarot sincerely apologized while reflecting on his mistake.
Narvim was surprised but quickly recovered and waived off the apology.
“Why make it such a big deal? I would have already forgotten about it if you didn’t mention it. So let it be water under the bridge. I didn’t take it to heart, Lord Astarot,” Narvim replied before mentioning, “More importantly, we need to carry out the Supreme Leader’s task.”
“Right. Thank you, Lord Narvim.” Astarot replied with a gratified look, followed by the other dragon lords.
Shortly after, they returned their attention to Vaan with bright eyes full of vigor and life, which wasn’t evident earlier.
Any skepticism they had earlier was no longer present.
Their Supreme Leader had the boldness and decisiveness to lead their clan, the qualities of a leader they didn’t have. They were originally generals, not leaders.
And at that moment, they felt like the Fire Dragon God had returned to lead them again.
“We will carry out your task with diligence and haste, Supreme Leader,” Astarot and the other dragon lords declared faithfully.
However, Vaan shook his head and said, “No, we aren’t done here.”
As such, the dragon lords stayed back as they continued their discussion, addressing various clan matters and world affairs.
At the same time, Vaan learned more about the Thousand Fog Mountains and the various kingdoms and empires situated beyond the seven witch kingdoms.
Sometime later, their discussion finally ended.
However, Vaan still didn’t let the dragon lords leave to carry out his task. Instead, he brought them to the Trial by Fire, quickly arriving at the bottom of the third stage.
Seeing Astarot and the rest of the dragon lords having no problem on the third stage, Vaan nodded before proceeding to the lava whirlpool.
“Follow me,” Vaan instructed before pausing for a moment, then added, “Last one to arrive at the fourth stage will not be rewarded.”
Shortly after Vaan spoke, he jumped into the lava whirlpool without hesitation, startling all the dragon lords.
Although Vaan cleared the Trial by Fire, he never told the dragon lords how he cleared it, especially the fourth stage. As such, the dragon lords stared at the lava whirlpool with dread and hesitation.
Even if they conjured their most powerful defensive barriers to enter the fourth stage forcefully, the flames would still shatter their defensive barrier instantly and burn them to death.
That was how powerful the dragon lords believed the flames were, not knowing it was all just an illusion set up by the late Fire Dragon God.
Nevertheless, the dragon lords only hesitated for a moment before Narvim and Khaleesi dived into the whirlpool.
They held onto the hope that Vaan called them to the fourth stage for a reason, not to wish them dead.
“Oh, to hell with it. Here goes nothing!” Astarot followed after Narvim and Khaleesi.
Afterward, the rest of the dragon lords followed one by one, leaving Kemun last to enter. Some conjured barriers, and some did not.
Nevertheless, Vaan waited in the fourth trial region as the dragon lords appeared one by one.
“Ahhh—! I’m burning!!” Kemun cried, rolling in the hot sand to put out the imaginary fire while the others watched him.
The spectacle amused Vaan.
He kept his silence and gave the dragon lords time to adapt to the new environment, adjust their mental state, and accept reality.
Vaan didn’t find it surprising that they would all be shocked and dumbfounded after realizing an illusion had kept them from entering the fourth stage for so many years.