Myth (1)
Aidon's geography was close to the sea. A massive river ran through the heart of Aidon, connecting it to the ocean. And the vast, fertile plains made them prosperous. That was why Aidon's skies were so wide open. Nothing blocked the horizon except their own buildings. From a single towering structure, one could survey east, west, south, and north.
It was a land with excellent geographical advantages in every way.
But then, snow began to fall from those skies.
Of course, snow wasn't unusual. Aidon was a nation with distinct seasons. Summers were hot, winters cold, and snow naturally fell in winter.
But the problem was...
—Flap, flap...!
Something was approaching from beyond that horizon. A dragon with enormous scales as white as fresh snow. A single White Gold Dragon was heading toward them, carrying someone on its back.
And when they stopped at the outskirts of Aidon's capital, the soldiers guarding the walls had no choice but to gather.
"Who goes there?! State your identity!!!"
"Answer now, or we open fire!!"
Once enough people had assembled, they declared their purpose in loud voices, as if they'd been waiting.
"I am Einhardt."
And when he revealed his name...
They could hardly believe it.
Einhardt. Aidon's national hero. The man who repelled the minions plotting the revival of an evil god. The one who banished a demon harboring a grand conspiracy back to its world.
Everyone knew his appearance. Everyone knew his fame.
The Einhardt they remembered was undoubtedly a handsome young man.
Or he had been.
"...Einhardt? You?"
He stood before them covered head to toe in burn scars. It was only natural they couldn't believe it.
But Einhardt didn't care about their reactions.
The mission entrusted to him by his Red Dragon Majesty was far more important.
"These are His Majesty's demands!"
He shouted, raising his sword toward them.
"First, surrender ownership of the Kingdom of Aidon!"
Then he slammed the sword into the ground and continued.
"Second, hand over the priest of Verinal, Kellian!"
At that moment, heat poured from the sword—scorching enough to melt the earth.
"Third, pledge eternal devotion to us."
That alone told them what he was doing. The heat announced his affiliation. It also showed his power had changed completely from before.
A declaration that he was utterly different from the Einhardt he'd been in Aidon.
The intense sense of betrayal and shock they felt was beyond words.
But their despair didn't end there.
The White Gold Dragon beside him tossed out a remark like an afterthought, striking their minds like a hammer.
[If you do not comply, we will return here. Not for 'devotion,' but for 'subjugation.' That will be your fate.]
Meirina's words carried a fierce thirst for vengeance. This was the home base of the dragon hunters who had slaughtered her kin for so long. Knowing how many of their hearts, bones, and scales had been traded in Aidon, she made her declaration without restraint.
"We'll await your answer. You have one week. If no envoy comes by then..."
Einhardt pulled his sword from the ground, sheathed it, and continued.
"Our forces will march on this place."
With that, Einhardt mounted Meirina's back without a backward glance and vanished beyond the horizon.
"...!"
No one there could speak.
Einhardt's fall was shocking enough. The White Gold Dragon with him was too.
But they all pictured what lay beyond him, beyond that horizon.
The thing on Hyahir Mountain. Calamity. Primordial dragon. An existence defined by countless words and titles.
The 'Apocalypse's Red Dragon.'
It had just declared war on them.
****
King Chitri III naturally flew into a rage upon hearing the news.
"What... what should we do?! How do we handle this?!"
In truth, it was somewhat foreseeable. Every move the Red Dragon made pointed to Aidon.
He'd recruited the White Gold Dragons to destroy it. He'd shattered the neutral Herflin Alliance.
He'd even granted them Yggdrasil's former site as a territory, clearly provoking Verinal.
Whether soon or late, an invasion of Aidon was inevitable.
But foreseeing it didn't lessen the shock when it happened. No matter how rigorously a gladiator trains, the fear upon entering the arena doesn't vanish easily.
And Chitri III was a king. Leader responsible for his kingdom's people. If his choices led to its fall, all blame would fall on him.
He couldn't help feeling the weight.
But...
"Worry not, Your Majesty. Everything proceeds according to plan."
Verinal's priest, Kellian, was different. He analyzed coolly, merely smiling.
"The Red Dragon is undoubtedly powerful. Few in the material world can stand against it."
But his words carried weight. White light seeped into his hands, his arms. A divinity no human flesh could contain.
"But Verinal is different. He resides beyond the material world, the chief god. With him—with the prayers of countless faithful..."
That power dwelt within him.
[That lizard will die.]
Chitri III almost doubted if the Kellian before him was human. His eyes gleamed lifelessly blue. His voice layered with countless tongues, inhuman.
Something beyond human. That's what Kellian had become.
"...Well, that's if the Red Dragon steps up personally."
But Kellian soon suppressed the aura, as if soothing it, saying the time wasn't yet.
Watching him, Chitri III was speechless. Kellian whispered reassuringly.
"...So, proceed as planned. Their demands aren't worth entertaining."
His sweet, priestly tone soothed like always.
"Aidon belongs to His Majesty and the people, not them. Eternal 'devotion'? That's just slavery."
Kellian knelt. To affirm Chitri III's right judgment. To emphasize his competence and loyalty. He bowed his head.
"So, Your Majesty, realize what you, what we desire. Do not overlook their evils."
"...!"
Chitri III's hands trembled. His heart pounded faster, refusing to stop. His gaze wandered restlessly.
But alas...
'...The die is cast.'
It was done. Whether he decided or not, they'd crossed an irreversible river.
Thus...
"Everyone. Prepare... for war."
He decided.
War. That was his choice.
****
—'We refuse. We will never surrender.'—
"Just as expected," Elenoa said upon reading the envoy's document.
She swiftly informed Kohmir and Einhardt. True to their prior preparations, they marched at incredible speed.
It took only four days to reach Aidon's walls. They set up camp and finalized war preparations immediately.
I watched them, genuinely impressed. Elenoa, Isabella, the White Gold Dragons. Even Kohmir Duchy soldiers—all disciplined, staring down Aidon.
Personally, I was satisfied. I wanted Aidon's destruction.
The pests who'd annoyed me, touched what was mine. Only its fall would silence them all.
I yearned for their ruin.
And I wasn't alone. Here, all shared that wish.
Draconic Elves bearing their race's sins. Dwarves of Kohmir Duchy, subtly scorned. White Gold Dragons bereft of kin to dragon hunters.
The place with the second-most Verinal followers after Yggdrasil. A superpower teeming with races.
Gazing at it, I recited the long-awaited command.
It was a declaration of sorts.
Of course, I don't enjoy killing.
But if killing is the only answer, I won't hesitate.
And everyone here knew that.
[—Grrrrrr!!!]
"Charge!!!"
"“Raaaaah———!!!”"
They advanced.
From the rear of the camp, I watched.
Those I'd raised without ascending to godhood. I trusted their victory without doubt.
And my faith wasn't betrayed.
"Two mages on the wall! Direct hit!!"
[Protect the chill. I'll breathe!]
—Kraka ka ka...!!!
Well-trained Draconic Elves mounted on White Gold Dragons ravaged the wall's foes.
[Gonna smash 'em?!!!]
"Do what you want! I'll match you!!"
—Kuuuung!!
Einhardt and Meirina crashed into the mage tower hurling spells.
No matter how prepared the dragon hunters, no matter the mages with them.
Facing paladins, archers, and mages on dragons was unprecedented.
And the remnants were handled by Kohmir Duchy soldiers at the front.
Their initial response was a total failure.
[...Good.]
Familiar sulfur wafted amid the Draconic Elves' and Einhardt's flames.
Screams followed.
Everything unfolding without my effort. Precisely the situation I'd hoped for.
So I just watched their exploits.
Confident my divinity wouldn't rise further, I enjoyed it.
[The war is as good as won.]
"Yeah. Still, no slacking—"
But then.
"—Wait, something's off?"
Leviathan spoke up. I agreed.
The sky glowed with light. Countless divine scents converged.
Unnatural, no matter how you sliced it.
I needed to analyze it.
And I traced the divinity's source.
No single person could produce it. Indiscriminate masses—countless prayers.
Gathering... in the sky.
"...N-No way."
[...Hoh.]
I stared piercingly at the sky. Where the light converged. What it formed.
My golden eyes fixed there, and I saw... a figure.
Human? No... too abnormal. Skin cracked, divinity leaking. Light poured from eyes, mouth—every orifice.
I tried recalling what it was.
Then his voice rang out.
[You shall survive.]
—Whoooosh——
"Gahk...!"
"Wh-What's happening...?!"
The dead revived.
[And crush the foe mercilessly.]
His gesture...
—Crunch...!
"Grk—?!"
Crushed our allies' hearts.
True 'godly authority' I'd never witnessed.
I beheld it now.
"...Insane. It's an avatar."
Leviathan feared the being.
Avatar. A god entering a human body or divinity-infused object. A deity from beyond manifesting in the material world.
Happening before our eyes.
As I probed deeper...
[...!]
It stared back. As if knowing I'd look.
Our instinctive gaze met.
[First time seeing with your own eyes, eh, red lizard?]
[Verinal. Remember it. The god who'll kill you.]
A god. Distant yet near all this time.
Now before me.
"Urk?!"
He glanced at Leviathan; she groaned in pain.
—Crack!
I blocked his filthy touch on Leviathan and roared at him.
Surprisingly, I wasn't afraid. Instead... rage surged.
At being able to tear it apart. Inflict agony. Its audacity touching me, mine.
And my own burning desire rose. Dragon pride. Craving to best what might surpass me.
Awakening deep within.
"W-Wait, where— you mad bastard...!!! Where are you going!!!!"
So I took flight.
Only I could face it. My duty called.
To him.
—Roarrrrr———!!
I breathed.