"First is the alchemy formation that took me hundreds of years to research!"

Shena walked to the center of the underground laboratory, where an enormous alchemy cauldron stood.

"This Chaos Furnace is the crystallization of my life's work. Combined with the alchemy formation engraved on the floor, it can complete the final stage: Rubedo, ushering in the secret of immortality!"

The floor began to glow, the intricate array of patterns linking up the materials placed around the lab:

Gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, tin, mercury, and a large quantity of living body.

"I spent a very long time investigating why I always failed at the last step. The conclusion was that I was missing one element."

Shena took out a rather old leather-bound notebook from his pocket, opening it as he walked towards the cages holding various creatures.

"Lonu stole an ancient alchemist's handwritten manuscript from the imperial library for me. Only then did I realize that the material world encompasses all things - everything must start from the source, as below so above, as above so below."

He crouched, staring at the unconscious living body in the transparent water tank, his gaze shifting to the notebook's densely written pages, which also contained corresponding illustrations and labels.

"Since I'm synthesizing the immortal crystal for humans, of course I can't just use metals and minerals. The flesh and blood of my kindred is indispensable!"

Shena's eyes flickered with madness, hope, deliverance and tension. He slowly stood up and looked towards the workbench outside the large alchemy formation, which was piled with logs from previous experiments.

After expending endless effort, spanning eras and being endlessly entangled by the mundane world, there was finally a payoff!

"Nigredo, Albedo, Citrinitas, Rubedo! I've finally reached the last step!"

Shena excitedly walked towards the workbench, preparing to initiate the final process.

Nigredo, albedo, citrinitas, and rubedo correspond to the black, white, yellow, and red processes respectively.

These were the four indispensable stages of decay, fermentation, purification, and sublimation that the material must undergo. According to ancient alchemists' descriptions, the end product of sublimation would unlock the secret of immortality.

Shena had completed the first three steps - the base metals copper, iron and lead had been "killed", and mercury successfully acted as the bridge linking gold and silver.

The so-called "philosopher's stone", a golden gelatinous substance, now rested in the Chaos Furnace alchemy cauldron, waiting only for the alchemy formation to dissolve the living body and infuse its essence to be complete.

But Shena was extremely cautious about this final step. Firstly, he feared the amount and infusion rate of the living body might be a problem, causing failure - he had failed at this last step many times over the past six hundred years.

Secondly, the living body was difficult to obtain, and such experiments would provoke a storm of terror and outrage, unacceptable even to his own family. Losing everything would completely deprive him of the conditions to continue.

Finally, Shena was unsure what exactly this so-called immortal end product would be. What if his understanding was flawed and he synthesized something dreadful?

"No matter, after countless failures and calculations, this time it has to succeed. I can't bear to remain tormented in this mundane world any longer."

Shena hesitated for a moment as he prepared to activate the formation, but ultimately decided not to wait.

But at this critical juncture, his spatial ring suddenly began to vibrate.

"What's this? A communication orb? Someone's looking for me?"

He had to interrupt the experiment and release a small crystal ball to check.

It was his butler contacting him.

"My lord, I apologize for disturbing your blissful dream. But Lord Moran has arrived with a group of blood wyverns, saying he has an urgent, grave matter to discuss with you."

"Understood."

Shena let out a disgruntled sigh, cutting off communication.

"Why do they always bother me at the most critical moments?"

He had to take off his alchemy robe and shut down the preheated alchemy formation.

This one used uranite as a power source and consumed an enormous amount of energy.

The daylight stone lamps and alchemy cauldron all dimmed, with only the gelatinous substance emitting a tantalizing, luxurious golden glow through the cauldron's transparent window.

Shena took the secret elevator back up to his room on the top floor of the mansion, then quickly changed into formal attire and hurried downstairs.

In the parlor, Lord Moran sat anxiously bouncing his leg on the sofa, the proffered tea before him untouched.

"What's going on?" Shena asked brusquely as he came down, his tone impatient and rude.

Moran simply took it as morning grogginess from being woken up in the middle of the night, and said without concern, "The crimson dragon has urgently summoned us to Pillar Mountain for a meeting with the blood wyverns!"

He pointed out the window, where over a dozen blood wyverns flapped their wings impatiently, indicating Raphael had set a return time for them.

"What!?"

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Shena's expression went from a furrowed, impatient frown to eyes wide open, mouth agape in just one second.

"That's right, it has come—" Lord Moran took out a handkerchief to wipe his brow, "—war."

...

Raphael looked at Moran and Shena, sweating profusely as they dismounted from the blood wyverns, and asked with interest, "Didn't you foresee this day coming? Why are you panicking as if it were unexpected?"

"You jest, my lord," Lord Moran brushed it off casually.

But Shena asked anxiously, "Lord Crimson Dragon, please tell me when the enemy will begin their attack? From which direction? What are their numbers? What are the battle prospects?"

"Viscount Vattier, why so afraid?" Alvis emerged from behind Raphael's hind leg. "If they truly steamroll through our defenses, isn't that just how it will be?"

Raphael answered the question, "I've had eyes at the border this whole time. If they tried a surprise attack, I would have known. I wouldn't call you here after already starting the war."

Shena calmed down a bit. "So they've only begun preparations? That's a relief then..." He had hoped to complete the final experimental stage and study the product.

Slowly, important figures like Hil, Milmos, Komo and Amelia trickled in.

Even the dwarf king Naisa, the elders' council, and the big kobold Enokeitie hurried over.

"So many people, it seems we're preparing for total mobilization," Shena thought to himself, observing the increasingly crowded space.

Finally, a sturdy golden dragon squeezed in, completely filling the chamber save for a small open area in the center.

Evelina and Garry daintily stepped out from the gaps to take their seats at the table and chairs the kobolds had set up, ready to take written records.

"Even Father's here..."

Noticing Shena at the front, Garry felt uneasy, wanting to hide from his gaze. But Shena's mind was focused on finishing quickly to resume his experiment.

"Then let us begin." Raphael surveyed the crowd, finally settling his gaze on Arnold clinging to the cavern wall.

"Lord Raphael's vassals, I have discovered some ill news just hours ago," Arnold began calmly.

"To the northeast, the human kingdom of Ryton is becoming increasingly dangerous. From my observations, the number of humans there is now incalculable - a vast, swarming mass constantly being ferried in on those fast-moving iron rail carriages. But they quickly scatter into the riverside foliage, leaving no trace. Not a shadow can be seen during the day, yet their numbers have swelled considerably."

"Huge swaths of trees have been cut down, for unknown purposes. Constant ship traffic plies an inland river, seemingly coming from deeper within human territory."

"More importantly, I've caught the scents of over a dozen different dragons, as well as mixed scents akin to eagles or lions."

The chamber fell silent as everyone processed this horrifying information - at minimum, a battle cluster of over 100,000 troops plus over a dozen battle dragons and hundreds of griffin-lions. Such a force would be tremendously difficult to withstand.

Hil spoke up with a bitter tone, "The blood wyverns patrolling the south and southwest have also found traces of human activity - it seems they're surveying the terrain."

Those familiar with the continental map immediately realized this would amount to a three-pronged encirclement from the northeast, southwest, and south - likely representing Ryton, Karuk, and Morey allied with the Natterians.

Raphael only can face one path, meaning two fronts would have to be defended by their own forces alone.

"In my view, it seems the Ryton kingdom is stronger, so perhaps we should focus our defenses against them?" Baron Komo ventured cautiously.

"Are you dreaming?" A young noble leader immediately objected. "The northeast at least has Pillar Mountain and river terrain for support. But the south is wide open plains! If the imperial armies just roll through, wouldn't that mean putting no defenses there is just inviting them into our homes?"

Amelia scoffed coldly, "Is that so? I think those open plains are perfect for our crimson dragon lord to easily annihilate those fools - no matter how many legions come, they're just throwing their lives away! The northeast has over a dozen battle dragons that can fly in and disrupt our fortifications - that should be the priority!"

"Foolish old woman! Have you not considered they won't just mindlessly condense all their soldiers into a single ball to push forward? They'll spread out along the entire front and launch staggered attacks! Lord Crimson Dragon can only handle soldiers in one area. And doesn't the empire also have battle dragons? With just a bit of restraint, they could steamroll into the city districts like a bulldozer. Do you plan to fight them with scout squadrons then?"

"Watch your mouth, brat. We have the Sinister Wing mercenaries and dragon kin as our bulwarks, plus three mighty dragons, Lord Raphael and his two extraordinary draconic allies. The dragon tribe is also helping us - we just need to gradually fortify and repel the enemy."

Arnold's neck swayed where he clung to the ceiling, chuckling. "Much appreciated for the praise."

The scene devolved into chaos, with everyone voicing their own opinions. Only the dragon kin remained silent, adhering completely to Raphael's will.

"Enough!"

Raphael let out a draconic roar. "I called you here for consultation, not to formulate strategies!"

He curved his long neck towards the pensive Alvis before him, unusually using a gentle tone. "My dear strategist, you would not fail to live up to the authority I have bestowed upon you, would you? Speak your mind - with my backing, all will heed your words."

Enokeitie's expression soured, as this amounted to declaring Alvis the embodiment of Raphael's will. All his hard work building up the territory from scratch earned not even a verbal commendation, leaving him feeling resentful imbalance.

Alvis did not respond, still deep in thought, ignoring Raphael's overture. This disregard did not anger the crimson dragon, but rather heightened his anticipation for Alvis' plan.

"I—" Alvis finally spoke after twenty some minutes of contemplation. "—believe we should shift our perspective."

"What perspective?" Raphael immediately responded.

"From the essence of war itself - the reasons that lead to war occurring."

He continued, "War is the use of violence to force others to enact one's will, the extreme solution to all conflicts. In other words, war is merely a means, not the only method - it is but one of the ways we can achieve our objectives."

Baron Moran was the first to react. "You mean using diplomacy to make the enemy retreat? That's impossible! We're inherently seen as bandits - there's no way we'd be allowed at the negotiating table."

Alvis shook his head. "I don't believe matters are that absolute. Apart from Morey, who else would go to such lengths to reclaim their territory? Ryton is possible, but only because they hope to occupy this land through a 'legitimate' invasion."

"It is our crimson dragon lord's overt malice towards humans and repeated destruction of cities that has caused the nations to harbor fear of you as an unstable threat to be eliminated at all costs - unless you can convey your goodwill."

Raphael felt like he was lost in the clouds. "Goodwill? How can I convey that?"

Alvis explained further, "Setting aside doctrines and conventions, when you initially occupied Oakenburg, you merely wreaked widespread destruction - something the Natterian Empire holding the speaking right would pay little heed to, like an earthquake or tsunami. A draconic calamity is just another disaster."

"But then you demonstrated extraordinary strategic deterrence by sprinting over a thousand kilometers in under half an hour to easily destroy Oakland. At that speed, does it not imply that if you wished, any human city could turn to ash within an hour? The scope is far too vast! Who could not toss and turn over that prospect?"

This was based on data Alvis received from the Komo and Amelia families' agents operating externally, which had also left him shaken at the time.

"Ah, I see now..." Raphael realized.

His coveting of Morey's gold had led Morey to send dragonslayers to try eliminating him. His retaliatory destruction of Oakland rapidly escalated his perceived threat level among humans, prompting the nations to hasten their military buildup to definitively deal with this issue.

"So what should I do to convey goodwill? Relinquish Pillar Mountain? Or amuse human children by touring scenic areas like that golden dragoness?"

Even understanding the root cause, Raphael was unlikely to back down.

"I don't mean that kind of 'goodwill', but rather one built upon possessing strength that can reassure humans and provide them a path to stand down. This is something to consider towards the end of the war, but it remains important. Otherwise, humans will just keep escalating their war efforts until we're dragged down to defeat."

"Raphael, he speaks sense," Arnold chimed in below the cavern wall. "If something repeatedly threatens one's safety, anyone would try to eliminate it, no? With our current strength, we cannot advance deep into the empire to destroy their granaries and sources of troops. We must find a way to halt the war through some means."