Chapter 10: The Black Palace
There stood a dark castle at the very precipice of a massive mountain.
The mountain was shrouded in darkness, and obsidian clouds floated above everything.
Black grains of sand danced in the air as this single ominously gigantic castle elegantly sat at the heights of majesty.
There was a valley beneath the mountain that served as an Estate.
Several massive houses and colossal structures declared the landmark at the center. However, no matter how big or glamorous everything was, they were all submerged in inky black.
And the darkest of all… remained the castle.
Within the great structure, past its imposing gates, and inside the throne-room of absolute splendor, a being currently lay on his pile of treasures that formed a throne.
Multiple precious tones were mixed together with only the purest kinds of Magical Objects and Rare Ores.
Mana Crystals grew all around the absurd, yet immensely beautiful throne that the great being was casually laying on.
The throne was vertically huge, but more so horizontally long, so it could contain the huge form of the one atop it.
It had a soft cushion, so there was no way they would get uncomfortable.
No one was in the throne-room except them, and due to their eyes being closed, it was clear that they were currently asleep.
However, the two eyes of the slumbering beast slowly fluttered open.
"Strange…" As they opened their jaws, a deep voice echoed throughout the throne-room.
The glowing purple eyes of this entity shone through the area, piercing the darkness.
"One of my children is dead…?"
This being was what could be described as a Dragon; and not just any kind of Dragon.
He was a Dragon Lord.
—The Dark Dragon of the Black Mountain.
His current situation was a perplexing one, as one of his offsprings had met an untimely death.
The reason he could detect it wasn't due to a strong paternal bond between himself and his children, but the 'Bloodline Connection' that all Monarchs had with their progeny.
He couldn't help but be connected to them, and once one life was snuffed out, he would instantly know.
"Which one was it? All my kids are Generals, unless… ahh…"
It didn't take long for the Dragon Lord to know the one that was dead.
"Jar'rarid… right? That was the name… I think."
He squinted his eyes and frowned his face, almost as if saying the name of the deceased Dragon brought nothing but a bitter taste to his mouth.
That was how much he detested him.
'The weakest of my offspring. Shame upon my lineage…'
He had been so ashamed of his idiotic and talentless son that he couldn't have him in the Dragon Empire, so he gave him a job as a miner in the human place.
'He was a miner, if I'm not wrong. Ahh, yes… that's about right.'
The minerals he got from the Human Cities were quite subpar, all things considered.
Since Mana didn't flow as densely over there as it did in the Dragon Empire, it was a given that their materials would have less quality.
However, since they were at least useful for something, the job that his useless son had made him contribute at least a little bit towards the Empire.
'His death isn't really consequential. It's not like we won't live or function well without those minerals. But…'
The Dark Dragon narrowed his eyes, staring emptily into space as he growled silently.
Everything around him began to tremble in the presence of his almighty power.
'… How exactly did he die in a Human City?'
Rage, mixed with disgust and disappointment began to swirl within him,
He was embarrassed that he had a son like that. Even in death, the useless bastard kept bringing shame to the legacy of Darkness.
'He got himself killed among the humans? Is this some sort of joke?'
Sure, Jer'ard wasn't the strongest Dragon around, but he was still a Dragon Commander—far above the Dragon Newts and Dragon Soldiers.
'Are there any other races in the Western Continent? I don't think so.'
Humans were the only ones who populated that entire parcel of land, which made it their usual playground.
The truth was… humans were hilariously weak.
They were perhaps the weakest of all the races in H'Trae.
They barely had any natural abilities or talents, and none of their features gave them any major advantage in battle.
They were nothing more than cannon fodder to be used when training Dragon Newts and Dragon Soldiers.
A single competent Dragon Commander could probably alter the entire scope of battle if they were sent.
He could have even sent his useless child, and the fool would have been able to annihilate most of the humans there.
The only reason he didn't was because there was no need to.
The struggle of humans didn't have to end so quickly, so the tides of their battle was something they actively ensured wouldn't fall too far out of balance.
If the Dragons were winning too much, they would lessen their forces, and if the humans were winning too much, they'd send some reinforcements.
It was nothing more than that.
'And yet… that idiot lost to them?'
The Dragon Lord shifted on his throne, feeling the cushion rub on his scaly body.
'What a curious development. Which group defeated him? Did they gang up on him? Was it an ambush? We're there special circumstances behind it?'
The Dark Dragon had to admit that he was curious.
As his eyes shone brighter, the six horns on his head became more pronounced.
'Is it possible that humans have gotten stronger? Maybe smarter?'
Somehow, he doubted it.
'Either way, I think this is worth investigating.' He slowly closed his eyes and returned his posture to the way it was before.
As he got comfortable, he had one trailing thought.
'… I'll get to it as soon as I wake up.'
Thus, the Dragon Lord returned to his slumber.
This single act saved humanity from extinction at the hands of overwhelming power.
They just didn't know it yet.
[End Of Arc 2: The Royal Dungeon Incident Arc]
~We will now be beginning Arc 3!~
[Prepare for the Dark Undertaking Arc!]
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