"But they didn't do anything wrong. They appeared there out of kindness and righteousness, then tried to attack Claudia," the silver moon elf argued.
"So you want me to release them," Muria raised an eyebrow.
"If possible, I want to ask you to let them go. They've provided energy for Synapse for almost ten years now. Isn't that enough to quench your anger? Are you planning to imprison them forever?"
"No, I don't plan on that. I will release them after ten years," Muria smiled. He had already decided how to handle these well-meaning legends. He preferred to cooperate with such noble individuals.
Thus, he intended to keep them all in Synapse. After all, Synapse was currently lacking high-end combat power, which was a significant concern for Muria. This presented an excellent opportunity to supplement that power. If they refused, they would have to continue contributing to Synapse in another way.
In any case, Muria would not let them go. By any means, he would keep these legends around, as they could all contribute to the development of Synapse, whether they could move or not.
However, the silver moon elf didn't know Muria's exact plans. When she heard that he would release them after ten years, her face lit up with joy. "That's wonderful!"
There wasn't much time left until the ten-year mark, less than a year. All the human legends would soon be released.
"Your Highness, Queen Claudia requests an audience," a cloud giant reported as the still somewhat naive and romantic silver moon elf happily left the castle.
"There's no need for that," Muria muttered softly. He had granted Claudia the right to see him without any announcement, but after her defeat, Claudia had voluntarily declined this privilege, insisting that the cloud giants announce her arrival.
"Let her in."
"Is something wrong, Claudia?" Muria asked as the elegant white dragon walked in.
"I think we might need to postpone the attack on the human kingdoms."
"What's the problem?"
"The humans have come up with countermeasures," Claudia crouched at the base of Muria's throne, looking up at him.
"They've spread my information to other subcontinents, attracting the attention of many righteous human forces. According to my intel, many legendary humans have already crossed the sea to the Deprosen subcontinent."
In this world, as long as legends wished, there was nowhere they couldn't reach. It was just a matter of time and resources. What was a desperate situation for mortals was just a slightly more scenic route for them.
"But my assumption was that you had already conquered the entire north. Only then would you become a true sovereign dragon and naturally gain widespread fame, not in this current situation," Muria's face turned serious and somewhat annoyed upon hearing Claudia's words. "If the world's righteous human forces really intervene, it'll be a huge hassle."
"Exactly. My kin have already spotted followers of the dragon hunter Marlock in my territory," Claudia clenched her claws anxiously. "Dragons have already been hunted in my realm."
"Marlock!" The mention of this god's name filled Muria with disgust. Marlock's divine duties included hunting dragons, making him a natural enemy of the dragon race.
Marlock was a powerful deity. If he weren't, given his divine duties, the dragon gods would have already eliminated him. Although his primary targets were chromatic dragons, his followers occasionally hunted metallic dragons too. Chromatic dragons were disunited, so their deaths had no significant repercussions. But metallic dragons were different; killing one would anger a group. The more you killed, the more you provoked. This god killed dragons indiscriminately, only avoiding those whose deaths would have severe consequences. Hence, no dragon had any goodwill towards him. If any dragon spotted Marlock's followers, they would show no mercy.
"Besides Marlock's followers, I've also detected many dragon hunters arriving on our continent. They're likely after me."
"But when they investigate the local information, your pressure will lessen significantly," Muria suddenly smiled.
"What?"
"I've never hidden my presence on the Deprosen subcontinent. I'm far more conspicuous than you. Once they find out about me, how much attention do you think you'll still attract?" Muria asked with a grin.
"You think they'll target you instead once they know about you? Impossible!" Claudia was shocked by Muria's suggestion. She couldn't imagine humans, even dragon hunters, daring to target Muria.
"Don't underestimate human courage. Among them, many are reckless. These people would do anything for some inexplicable reason," Muria recalled some past experiences and shook his head.
"So, you don't need to worry. Compared to you, I'm the most dazzling dragon on this continent. Just focus on preparing for war. I'll send people to assist you. As for those dragon hunters and Marlock's followers, leave them to me!"
Muria smirked. Dragon hunters and Marlock, humans who evolved to combat dragons, and the deity, were mortal enemies of the dragon race. Even the kindest dragons wouldn't hesitate to strike against those aiming to kill them. No dragon would be merciful to such threats.
...
Roar!
"It's absurd that an evil dragon rules over humans here. After so many millennia, this still happens?"
Dragon hunter Shiro Wei watched the white dragon flying across the sky. Looking down, he saw humans gazing at the dragon with admiration, envy, and fear. His eyes turned cold. Clearly, these humans had been completely subjugated by the evil dragon and had grown accustomed to its rule.
The first dragon hunters emerged to fight against the evil dragons that ravaged human borders. In modern times, dragon hunters became those who saw slaying dragons as a source of glory. Most had lost the original purpose of protecting humans and had become fame-seeking opportunists.
But Shiro Wei was different. He also enjoyed hunting powerful dragons for the immense psychological satisfaction, but he preferred to kill dragons that persecuted humans. This belief stemmed from his upbringing in a dragon hunter family. He had slightly more integrity than most modern dragon hunters, but not by much.
"The Frost Queen Claudia? A divine sovereign dragon, I will cut off your head and hang it on your city wall," Shiro Wei silently vowed.
Disguised as a low-level adventurer, Shiro Wei glanced at the snow apes patrolling the streets, then turned into an inn. He needed more information and ideally to see the Frost Queen himself. Knowing the general strength of the evil dragon would help him set the appropriate traps.
He was still human and couldn't face a dragon head-on unless he was three tiers stronger. Unfortunately, he didn't have that strength.
Suddenly, a piercing dragon cry echoed in the sky. Shiro Wei, who had just paid for a room, rushed to the street and looked up. He saw the white dragon that had just flown by spewing frosty blood as it plummeted from the sky. A massive bolt was lodged in its chest.
With his extensive dragon-hunting experience, Shiro Wei could tell that the dragon's heart had been pierced. It was doomed. The dragon couldn't have possessed soul-level strength, and without that, a destroyed heart was fatal.
As the dragon fell, the town erupted in chaos. Dozens of wyverns soared into the sky, and various intelligent ice monsters swarmed toward the dragon's crash site.
Adventurers followed the monsters, eager to see who had dared to kill a dragon in the white dragon's domain.
Shiro Wei's eyes gleamed as he followed, realizing that other dragon hunters had arrived and couldn't resist attacking the dragon. These hunters must have been weak to target such a dragon.
Blending with the adventurers, Shiro Wei soon reached the crash site. There, he saw a group of humans surrounded by monsters, fighting with specialized dragon-hunting gear. Beside them lay the severed head of the white dragon, its eyes wide with disbelief.
"Are Marlock's followers all idiots?" Shiro Wei muttered, losing interest. "Killing a dragon in its territory and not fleeing, but harvesting trophies instead."
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