Volume 5 Chapter 0093 Preparation before the gods - I, The Dragon Overlord

Dragons soared across the sky, a magnificent sight where the followers of Louie, the benevolent dragon goddess, Heloise, and even the adherents of the malevolent dragon god flew together. Though Drexler, the god of evil dragons, advocated for draconic dominion through fear, he too held great pride in his dragon identity. Otherwise, he wouldn't have refrained from tearing apart Louie's divine office for the sake of the draconic race as a whole. Since the Dragon Kingdom stood as the only nation on the prime material plane entirely ruled by dragons, and given that war was a demonstration of draconic might, even the followers of the god of evil dragons joined the empire's conquests. Compared to the vast forces of humanoid armies, the number of dragons was far fewer. However, the awe induced by this group of dragons flying across the heavens surpassed that of any disciplined army. As ordinary people watched these creatures, each dozens of meters long, roar across the sky, the mere presence of these apex predators left them breathless. Among the flock of dragons, one particularly sensitive dragon detected the presence of Louie and Heloise. Although the two deities had cloaked their divine aura, their draconic essence remained evident. The dragon recognized their identities and cried out with a high-pitched roar. "Hahaha!! That dragon seems taken with you, Lady Heloise, and is expressing its affection," Louie said with a boisterous laugh, teasing the goddess beside him. Heloise responded with a playful tone, "…That dragon is also challenging you, my lord." Mistaking Louie for a rival suitor of the enchantress Heloise, the enamored dragon also let out a challenging roar directed at Louie. Louie, unfazed by the dragon's provocation, remarked to Heloise, "…That dragon happens to be your follower. I wonder how it would react upon discovering your true identity." Pondering for a moment, Heloise confidently replied, "…With a dragon’s nature, even if it knew I was the deity it worships, it would likely pursue me with fervor." "Haha, you are correct! To a male dragon, the status of the pursued is of little concern," Louie agreed, laughing heartily. Amidst Louie and Heloise's banter, the cheers from the entirety of Dragon Song City reached a crescendo. A convoy entered through the city gates, carrying cages crafted from metal, adorned with mysterious magical runes. Contained within were elves of extraordinary beauty, shackled, their expressions desolate, clad in tattered, scanty clothing. They sat still, distinguished from surface elves only by their skin tone. These were the dark elves, who, with their Spider Queen, had fallen into the Underdark; they were known as the drow. "Judging by these elves' demeanor and allure, they must be of the higher echelons among the dark elves. A few appear to be bound by anti-magic shackles, but judging from the magical currents within them, they are likely matriarchs of prominent families, perhaps even priestesses of the Spider Queen." Louie offered his insights on the captives. The matriarchal dark elves generally had females at their highest ranks. Parading captives through the streets was a powerful demonstration of might. Spectators were driven by intense curiosity and excitement, eager to glimpse the drow, who rarely surfaced above ground. "These dark elves will be granted as slaves to those who distinguished themselves in battle. To have matriarchal drow serve others is the greatest humiliation for them," Louie explained, as was a customary decision that Alexia would make. Merit must be rewarded, and errors penalized. Alongside honors, tangible rewards must be given—fundamental principles a ruler must comprehend. "But the most beautiful and highly ranked dark elf will be reserved for you," Heloise added. "Haha! The gods have the right to indulge in everything—that's a truth!" Louie proclaimed with hearty laughter. The Goddess of Benevolent Dragons smiled and nodded. Though she was a being of lawful good in the moral eyes of humans, she too embraced the notion that a deity naturally possesses the right to all experiences. "Next will be the rewards ceremony and celebration banquet. Lady Heloise, you should head to the palace first. I have a few matters to attend to and will join you shortly." "Then I shall proceed ahead. It will be my first human banquet," said the dragon goddess, with a hint of anticipation, exhibiting the playful demeanor of a child that Louie recognized from their first meeting. "Gods have all the time in the world to experience everything. For millennia, you were confined to the Kingdom of Dragon's Veneration by duty. Now, you are free to do as you please, to visit any place your heart desires," Louie said with a gentle smile, lowering his head to touch foreheads with Heloise, causing a blush on her cheeks before gesturing her to go. The goddess of benevolent dragons didn't use a spell or divine power to leave but walked alongside Louie off the balcony, exchanging pleasantries with a tavern keeper before departing. Parting ways at a street corner, Heloise had no invitation, yet as a deity, entering a mortal's banquet was the simplest of tasks. Louie, meanwhile, headed towards the magical quarter of Dragon Song City, appreciating the city he had established over two centuries prior. In the magical quarter stood several mage towers. Only legendary mages or higher could establish such towers within the empire's capital, and these also served as educational institutions for apprentices. In this area, filled with the radiant glow of magic, mages and apprentices wandered, and shops sold arcane items. Here, one felt a heightened connection to the Weave. Most imperial-trained mages, or those who sought imperial resources, dwelled here. Apart from gathering materials, they typically immersed themselves in their laboratory experiments. These organized mages, capable of forming a legion, largely worshipped the Goddess of Magic, existing within the empire as a self-governing body managed militaristically by a council of archmages and legendary mages, even boasting a demigod once rallying to the empire. This "Black Robed Mages' Council of Dragon Song," known for its uniform attire, had gained fame across the prime material plane. The Goddess of Magic, inherently neutral, imposed no allegiance or betrayal upon her mage followers, embodying the divine edict that magic must remain neutral. Currently, the Goddess of Magic bore no enmity towards Louie, and naturally refrained from influencing her followers. Louie was here to meet Marches, the old mage who, for over two centuries, had diligently served this empire since its inception. Following the Blood Wars, Louie contemplated his potential ascension as a Supreme God, hence, preparations were necessary.