The Age of Ancient Gods, it was the most ruthless era to live in. As small wars for territory between various different species ranging from the agile and intelligent Elves to the powerful and mighty Dragons occurred often in every continent in the world.
Problems arose as more of these wars continued, losing family members, lovers and friends could happen any moment, which also forced the beings of this era to become much more stronger physically and mentally. For those who weren't able to adapt were normally driven into madness, either killing themselves or becoming mindless slaves to stronger beings.
Nevertheless, the lands of this era were full of variety. From Mystical Purple Swamps that are filled with secrets to the Deathly Foggy Mountains, known to be unsafe even to the gods, as unknown forces inhabit the area. These lands were made to be beautiful and were full of wonders, yet they were too dangerous for most.
Due to the abundant amount of oxygen in the atmosphere, plant life in this era was also flourishing as beautiful blooming flowers and tall sturdy trees of all kinds spread through the lands. Some species that were closely related to plants like the Dryads and Treants also grew stronger and some even became greater beings. They may not be as powerful as the gods but they are still quite strong and poses a threat to those below them.
Also, a diversity of different types of animals and monsters can be found roaming the lands with each having different unique characteristics to them. From dinosaur-headed plants to giant herbivorous spiders, these creatures were everywhere, even enormous whales flying through the skies carrying loads were a common sight. A spectacle that soon will fade away...
As the era went on, Higher Beings like Ancient gods would continue to rule a large area of land and constantly trying to expand it. Some would share and some wouldn't, which caused the creation of several different groups. Those who would share were commonly known as the 'Peacekeepers', under them were multiple sub-groups that consist of different beings with the same goal...peace and harmony. Places where inside wars were almost to none and where discrimination between species was an absolute crime, as these beings would continue to live a serene and friendly lifestyle.
While for those who wouldn't, were separated into two groups which were known as the 'Aggressors' or the 'Impartials'. Aggressors were also called as the 'Warmongers', as they advocated wars between other beings and were often recognized as psychotic battle maniacs. They live to fight, pillage and take over new territories by force. Impartials, on the other hand, had a neutral stance as they were more focused on business and trading resources with other nations or empires. They may fight but they weren't addicted to it and these places weren't exactly peaceful either.
There were also other groups that don't match with either as some would share and some wouldn't at times, which depends heavily on their culture and how their species works. These places ranged from small villages to large cities, located far away from other groups except for the 'Impartials' due to the benefits of being near one.
...
A truce was made between the three large groups to prevent an all-out war from occurring as it would only cause more unnecessary harm and damage, even the Aggressors of that time knew that it would be a bad idea for them.
However, as time went on, the new generations of Aggressors grew too impatient and greedy. Neglecting the truce, they began creating silent agreements with the intention of making an enormous army that could rival against the Peacekeepers and obtaining more land for themselves to control. A hidden contract that would finally start after years of preparation...
It was almost at the end of the age where the Aggressors commenced the plan, invading and attacking any reachable towns, villages, and cities, which caught the attention of the Peacekeepers. Angered by the situation, the Peacekeepers were forced to create proper defensive measures and also sent additional support and reinforcements to other groups in the nearest vicinity.
This was also when the war began, the Peacekeepers didn't waste time and had to take their enemies head-on as a means to prevent the Aggressors from conquering and enslaving more unfortunate victims. Forces of both of these groups continued waging war on each other while the others had to fight for their lives from the invading Aggressors. Something that went on for years to come...
While the war was proceeding, the 'Impartials' took advantage of the whole situation as they begun to make several large trades with both sides and other groups, making tons of profit for themselves and using them on their cities. Also improving their defenses that were already quite impenetrable in general, since they were even able to withstand huge invasions and attacks from traitorous Aggressors. Making them the most prosperous out of the groups in this era.
...
It had been exactly a thousand years when the agreement was broken, the war persisted on and nothing too important happened. However, this was also the time when the Aggressors made a move that would forever leave a huge impression on their opponents.
The Dragon Empire, Ruuste was finally persuaded to the Aggressors' side after many failed attempts and began wreaking havoc that would seem to be fatal due to their powerful strengths and abilities. Mountains were obliterated and forest were burnt down, many of the wildlife that once described the beauty of the era were also affected due to the loss of many habitats or outright getting killed for resources, the land that was once a colorful paradise with flying whales, large gentle spiders and several others were now gone as the dragons that flew through the skies continued causing destruction to the land. Many ancients gods and higher beings of other groups especially the ones associated with the Peacekeepers were getting slaughtered left and right, this rate only continued to increase as the Ancient Dragon Gods began partaking in the wars.
However, that was not all, as these Dragon Gods were anticipating for the awakening of their dear little brother, who was the strongest dragon god among the group of siblings that were already filled with tremendous power. When all of them are united, they could destroy anything in their path. With that power, they could demolish the Peacekeepers whole and gain a very large amount of land. A plan that was going smoothly for them.
It was until an unusual problem occurred...
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// Dragon Empire, Ruuste
Aarde Sector, one of Ruuste's largest defense sectors. Specializing in the security of the Dragon Empire's favorable treasures and wealth acquired through participated wars. Created from the powers of one of the Ancient Dragon Gods.
Resting in an underground chamber at the center of the Aarde Sector was an enormous bulky dragon with scales that seem to have been made out of rocks and a long sturdy tail that's wide enough to cause small earthquakes with a single whip to the ground. Peacefully lying down on the floor, as energy continued to gather into its body.
It was until the aura of its sibling that could be felt throughout the empire all of a sudden vanished, which made its large yellow glowing eyes wide open in confusion. Looking at a certain direction while narrowing its eyes, it then tried sensing the aura of its sibling but was unsuccessful in doing so. A trace of worry appeared in Vodr's heart...
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
That's when a Red Dragon with an air of superiority and elegance surrounding it appeared behind him, seemingly out of nowhere.
"Krvena... something must've happened," Vodr said, turning his head towards his elder sister with a worried face.
"Indeed, but what are you doing here?... Shouldn't you be guarding our dear little brother? You are in charge of it after all, aren't you?... While our siblings are protecting the empire from enemies, here you are, just lazily resting in this small and pitiful chamber of yours while our little brother may be endangered." She said while glaring at him with her white glowing eyes but Vodr remained still.
"Forgive me for my actions elder sister, I'll get right into it. I'll report to you once I'm done... I shall take my leave." Vodr declared, before leaving his chamber immediately afterward.
Left alone in the chamber, Krvena smiled thinking about the declaration her little brother made while hoping he'd be back safely before disappearing into thin air, only leaving an empty chamber.
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( Vodr's POV )
'It seems I have overestimated my abilities... I'll have to get to the bottom of this quickly' I reflected while flying towards the cave my youngest brother resides in.
My little brother, Myrkur, also known as the Abyss Dragon God was acknowledged to be the strongest out of all us Dragon Gods. It was a long time ago when we found him suddenly took in the form of an egg in his residence, which we soon realized that he was actually in the process of awakening into a much stronger form than before. When the time comes, the war against those troublesome Peacekeepers would become a much simpler task.
Myrkur's powerful aura could be felt even outside of the empire, which made preventing and intimidating incoming invaders quite easy and was also able to cause paralysis, few even wetted their pants before becoming a disembodied head or a burnt corpse. However, that aura had unexpectedly vanished and it seems Krvena, my elder sister who is the leader of both the empire's offensive and defensive sectors was the first one to notice it. Our enemies seem to have used this opportunity to strike our sturdy walls but I doubt anyone of them could defeat my elder sister, as she is one of the strongest among us, only second to Myrkur after all.
Considering my current situation again, what could've stop such a powerful aura...? Has Myrkur already awaken from his slumber? He could control his aura very easily, so is he playing with us? No...he was often shy around us, which I'll admit is kinda cute in some way or another but if that's not possible then what made the aura disappear...
Was it such a strong enemy that was able to escape my 'Great Detection' so easily? Someone that could be hidden from my detection skills would mean he is either on par with me or even stronger than me.... 'I need to be careful of whatever my opponent might be, it obviously shouldn't be underestimated...'
// Abyssal Dragon God's Cavern ( Myrkur's Lair ) //
'I finally made it..' I was currently in front of the cave where Myrkur resided in.
Using my full potential, I used one of my skills and made a deafening roar that would make any enemies paralyzed due to the immense shock and also prepared my 'Petrifying Eyes' skill that could immobilize my enemies with a single look.
Activating most of my skills, I entered the cavern. I looked around the place to only see fallen rocks and the absence of Myrkur. How could it be!? A dragon eggshell couldn't just evaporate into thin air, as it was normally made into a part of our armor that was deemed to be almost indestructible but my brother's were all gone... No pieces of him remained. Was he taken? eaten? That's almost impossible...unless that thing is strong enough to do it.
Worried, I instantly tried to look for the perpetrator, I scanned through every nook and cranny in the cave with my enhanced eyes, when I finally saw it.
A small silver slime? It appears to be quite weak, however, looks can be deceiving... I can also sense it looking directly at me as well. I took this opportunity to glare back at it and made use of my skill to confirm whether or not it was the one responsible for my brother's disappearance, since something stronger or on par with me would not have much trouble with it, even with a skill that could negate it, my skill would still affect the enemy for a few seconds.
However, the end result surprised me, as the slime didn't seem to be affected by my skill at all, which made me take a defensive stance immediately and concluded that the slime has a really high chance of being the one that caused Myrkur's disappearance, Its even a slime, which are well known for digesting animals and objects. Though my skill would've at least caused it to flinch for a split second but it did nothing to the silver slime, which only Krvena and a few of my other elder siblings could do. Though compared to them, a small weak-looking slime can do it too!?
'Don't tell me its strong as elder sister...' I wished that wasn't the case.
This was the first time I felt hesitant to fight something seemingly stronger than me but I managed to convince myself to continue as my brother was probably killed or stolen by it. Killing it was now an absolute order, I'm an Imperial Dragon God for a reason and I have the strength to support that.
'Little Myrkur, I shall avenge you...'
After a long standoff between me and the slime, I was the first one to make the move. Using the advantage of the area around me, I summoned five large spikes made of rocks out of the ground, impaling the slime in an instant. However, I wasn't going to let my guard down so easily. With my tail directed at the enemy, when ten floating smaller spikes that were glowing an orange light appeared from thin air and shot itself at the impaled slime, piercing into it and exploding immediately afterwards.
However, the slime only regenerated parts of its body that were destroyed due to my attacks, seemingly unfazed by it or was it because it had no face at all...but before I could even react, It appeared right front of me.
" H-how!? " I said, startling with widen eyes. Superior speed? No, Teleportation?!
As it appeared in front of me, I slashed at it with the intent of trying to push it back but the slime dodged it with a swift reflects and went under it, wrapping itself on my right arm. It was a weird sensation, weren't slimes suppose to be... well, slimy as the name says it to be? Feels more like I'm wearing armor than anything else but unlike armor, it was dangerous.
It was when I felt my arm burning from where the slime was when I began thrashing about and used my other claw to try and get it off my right arm. It doesn't seem to be anything too serious but I knew leaving it alone won't help, it could only cause heavy injury over time as I've experienced something similar before. However, when I was successful in peeling it off my arm, it also managed to rip a large chunk of my flesh including my scales as blood continued to gush out of it.
"RAAAAAAAAAH!!!" I roared in pain and activated my regeneration skill but the damage was too heavy for it to instantly heal my wound.
'This is bad... I need to do something quickly... Call my siblings? Wouldn't I look like an idiot in front of them... needing help against a slime... Erk, I won't fail a second time today. For my little brother...Myrkur... '
With my new profound motivation, I roared again, boosting every part of me. My scales became a lot more harder than before and my tail became wider as larger sharp spikes began protruding out of it. Strengthening my limbs as my muscles became stronger and bulkier. My once deformed arm has recovered only a portion of it also stopping the bleeding in the process. My once yellow glowing eyes were now much more brighter than before as I felt the power in me increasing from my boost. I stood on all fours with a dignified posture looking down at the silver puddle that was regenerating itself after crashing into the cave's wall.
"I'll admit, You're quite strong for something so small. In my whole life, I didn't expect today will be the third time I would use my boost, especially on a slime. However, today shall be your end... With my brother's disappearance and your presence in his cave, I have concluded that you were the one responsible for killing my little brother, Myrkur...Also, injuring an Imperial Dragon God is a sin in these lands. With all of that settled, I, Vodr the Earth Imperial Dragon God, sentences You. To. Death." I declared with a deep threatening voice at the slime.
Roaring the fourth time, which successfully immobilized the regenerating slime. I closed my enormous mouth and began accumulating waves of energies from my body into my mouth. My throat enlarged as I continued to gather my power while a yellow light can be seen passing through my skin as more energy continued to pour into it. 'It's time.' I thought, ready to end the seemingly weakened slime in front of me.
Opening my mouth at the direction of the immobilized slime, a huge yellow beam came from my mouth and destroyed everything in its path. Reaching the slime immediately, the area around it was completely obliterated and nothing was left. A large hole was created at the other end of the cave which probably caught the attention of my siblings but that didn't matter, I was finally able to avenge my missing brother. Looking at the destruction in front of me, I produced a wide smile. 'I have done my job...'
...
However, that wasn't exactly the end of it...