The Purified Heavens is collapsing. The Emperor has vanished from the capital, along with his top viceroyal, Garne. The news was shocking, yet predictable. Within hours, revolts sprung up within The Purified Heavens' territories and holdings across the continent.

I understand why everything fractured so quickly. It wasn't the fact they'd vanished, but the reason why. It's too obvious— they feel guilty, so they're trying to flee from the Chronometric Dragon God. Anyone with half a brain can see that.

I shake my head with shame.

The Dracon State was the second nation to declare war. Second, since despite lacking a direct declaration, everyone in the government knew the Chronometric Dragon God's grand statement was a declaration of war on The Purified Heavens.

He'd already taken Tengerii, after all, plus he made his declaration while facing our Empire. No, empire. I needn't treat our failed state as the prototypical empire any longer. No need to emphasize the 'E.'

I heard a rumor come out of Achiton that we supposedly created that monster. I believe it. There's long been rumors of experiments with dragons and other creatures among the top ranks of the military and civil enforcement divisions. Though I find it odd that this rumor originated within Achiton, rather than somewhere to the north, Achiton is where the dragon first showed up. Plus, our involvement explains why the Emperor...

Ah, I needn't emphasize his former title either.

The emperor decreed an official kill order before anyone knew whether the Chronometric Dragon God was a protected one. In fact, the rumor explains things a little too well. His talents, intellect, growth rate, and even his coloration; everything about him screams 'unnatural.' Still, it makes sense he'd hate us for trying to kill him. That's natural.

Tensions were so high that a declaration of war was the next logical step. Except, his power can't be fought. He's not anything like the dragons we usually avoid. We can fight them if we must, but we don't for propaganda purposes. The Chronometric Dragon God is different. We lost this war at the exact moment he declared it began.

I shake my head— in frustration this time.

With our leadership rapidly fracturing; incompetent buffoons though many were? What'll be left?

Ugh!

That dragon has destroyed my nation. The Purified Heavens will cease to exist soon enough. Might he prosecute me for aiding the empire? I did my job faithfully, and I did it well. I gaze around my less-full situation room.

As I ponder over the data showing the Dracon State swiftly taking city after city on our northeast border, I'm left wondering.

Was it was all pointless? Did I risk too much to support the empire? Might I be judged accordingly? I was the first to identify and track the Chronometric Dragon God, after all. But I don't hate him.

This is just my job. I work to support my family.

Speaking of my family; I should work.

"Recon T—. Recon. Status?"

"Sir, they've taken seven cities and are expanding into the regional capital, Viceroyal Tay's Quindon. However, I've located strong evidence the city is in chaos, suggesting he's fled."

That's not how you do recon. You're supposed to name and locate the aggressor, those Dracon State teams, then let Mana Team do closer inspection. I'm not even sure how you identified the city's current status, considering even Mana Team has trouble doing that in times like now.

Then again, if the earlier reports are accurate. Hm.

It's probably engulfed in a massive firestorm by now. It's difficult to miss a blazing inferno, I suppose. I briefly recall some of Mana Team's earlier images from the city I've often visited.

image [https://timjames.net/data/acd/images/069.png]

image [https://timjames.net/data/acd/images/069b.png]

Stolen story; please report.

Thank goodness my family didn't go on vacation this week.

Whatever. At least Recon made the effort. Probably saved Mana Team's time. I'll reward him later.

Though, I still don't understand why Tay burned his regional capital. Or, how he did. I hope that doesn't happen here. How many people must've died in the fire? Thousands? Millions?

I just. I can't imagine why he'd do that. The Chronometric Dragon God isn't going to be happy when he finds out.

I continue.

"Mana Team?"

"Yes sir, we've located those Dracon mages in plot zero-nine-two, in grid A dash M, directly northwest of Quindon. Their aerial unit is flying to the next city already; they're not attacking the regional capital. However, we don't have a lock on their current location."

Annnd, that confirms my suspicion. It's a blazing inferno. Why attack charred wreckage?

Well, there is no Validation Team anymore. I needn't call upon them.

"Coms Team, relay all of this to the frontlines."

"Including Recon's work, sir?"

"Yes, do it."

A green inscription appears upon the hand of the Communications Team leader. He begins relaying the data we've gathered.

I glance over at the northwest front's war map. Oplenthiom's border. Our defensive lines there are crumbling, too. It already looks entirely hopeless, and then there's also the Chronometric Dragon God to Oplenthiom's south. We don't yet know what he's calling his nation, and I'll be damned if I piss him off by calling it 'Shridenia.' Even mentally.

Who knows if he can read minds.

"Sigh."

The problem isn't solely that the Chronometric Dragon God is powerful. It isn't merely that he's taken city after city on our southwestern front, without so much as a single troop injury. We're barely bothering to contest his side of this war. We can't beat him. All we can do is hope he stops. That's not a problem— it's a predicament.

Problems have solutions. Predicaments have outcomes.

The problem is that he's an intelligent dragon. More specifically, it's those new 'hover-craft' as they're being called. He made thousands of what he calls 'offensive platforms,' which are like armored hover-craft. Each has a large barrel that he called an 'autocannon.' Whatever that's supposed to mean. What we do know is that it can turn and fire in any direction regardless of the direction the offensive platform itself is facing. It fires a massive cannon round that's unlike anything I've ever seen. This technology is surely many years ahead of our own, judging by his other inventions.

Despite all of this, our military leaders were ecstatic when they heard the Chronometric Dragon God wasn't personally participating in the war. Until they learned he was casting some sort of protective spell on all his troops, and each troop unit is supported by at least two offensive platforms. Oh, and they're protected too. Hah!

That's when they decided we were screwed. Many gave the order to attack and then fled. This might seem suicidal to a civilian, but had they not, the dragon would've likely been angry. They can flee on their own, but if they ordered everyone to stand down, it's likely the Chronometric Dragon God would personally hunt them. That's just how dragons are. They don't give a crap about your actions unless you lie or force your cowardice onto others.

"Pfaa." And that's not the half of it.

That dragon's not just intelligent. He's a downright horror.

I look at my own green inscription.

Information from several former Shridenian handlers now suggest that Aitos was dead long before the mayor. Numerous mages saw Aitos collapse from a heart attack shortly after the Chronometric Dragon God raided Haitos.

The claim was: Aitos left the meeting that day, positive and upbeat after being revived in an unusual way. We now suspect the dragon had killed him and was merely puppeteering the inscriptionist's body. Since, the next day, Aitos turned into the Chronometric Dragon God and flew off while...

While the original was still in Tengerii.

It was a stunning report. It meant the Chronometric Dragon God was likely the one who released this communication array in Aitos' name. It meant that the Chronometric Dragon God had cracked an ages-old inscription problem within a few days of being born. It meant he flew to Haitos, straight there as if guided by a map, to kill Aitos specifically so he could secretly release his inscription.

It meant that this dragon's intellect is, as his name suggests, godly.

But why did he hide his achievement? We don't know why.

Though, we have our suspicions. The Inscription Inspection Team found two extra inscriptions hidden within the communication array. Removing these causes no damage to the array's overall function, and also no change to the inscription's total Mana usage. It's not activated by using the array normally.

So, why's it in there? It's clearly intended to do something nefarious. I'd heard rumors it was decrypted by the Reverse Engineering Team. I'm not privy to what they found. That team's under my boss, Urolia.

That said, I've read many intercepted comms from the Shridenian king, and from former president Harani.

First off, these state the dragon's name as 'Chronomet,' which is a surprisingly approachable nickname.

If you don't think about it too hard.

Chrono-met. In the old language, this means 'time to meet.'

Time to meet what? Our doom?

Yeah— that's why nobody here calls him that. We know his nickname, but no. He's completely terrifying. Even his nickname is terrifying. Everything about him is terrifying.

These comms often insist he doesn't operate nefariously. He has enough power to remove anyone in his way, and so, he does. Perhaps that's true, at least today, but three days ago?

I shudder slightly.

Three days ago he wasn't this strong.

Not even close.

I look at our stalemated Taivin Confederacy front. No, they're falling back. At least we're winning somewhere.

Meh, it isn't my job to guess the intentions of a god. It's self-evident that's what he's quickly becoming; if he isn't already. Thus, if he wants to claim to be upstanding and forthright, who am I to argue? Maybe we're all mistaken about what went on between himself and Aitos.

I can't know everything, after all.

I'm not Chronomet.