*Rumble!*
From the vast, desolate distance, a world-shaking sound echoed across the sky and earth. At last, the abyssal wall thousands of meters high was ruthlessly shattered by a brilliant silver radiance. Divine power breached the barriers of chaos and the boundaries of planes, descending upon the Great Anzetta Waste.
"He wields the silver hammer, revealing the truth and punishing the wicked... Praise be! He is the brave father, stern justice, and the radiance of truth and righteousness..."
As swirling gongs and drums resounded, joyous hymns echoed between heaven and earth. A one-armed man manifested, his forehead shining with a supreme, blinding white light.
In his sole remaining hand, he firmly gripped a steel-gray warhammer. That was the Hammer of Justice—the emblem of absolute truth, capable of discerning every lie in existence.
The man raised the warhammer high. Instantly, radiant light cascaded from the horizon, completely dispelling the abyssal power and bathing all living beings in order, honor, and truth.
The God of Justice, the Grim Jaws, the Maimed One, the Just—Tyr—had at long last descended into the mortal world!
Tyr was originally a greater deity of Mount Celestia and Ysgard, and many within the celestial host were his faithful followers. Beholding such a sacred spectacle, they offered devout prayers toward the avatar in the sky.
"Praise the God of Justice!"
"Lord..."
"Praise the great Maimed One, the Just, the Broken God, the Blind Overlord..."
At the same time, Cassius looked up at the distant avatar, feeling the suppression of rank that stemmed from the very nature of existence. Light flickered within his pale golden slit pupils.
"Tyr, the God of Justice..." Cassius murmured.
He had known of this deity in his past life. Tyr was a being of greater deity status who embodied the sternest justice, opposing all deceit, rebellion against order, and those who engaged in unjust destruction or crime.
Although Cassius had seen projections of Tiamat and Bahamut before, this was the first time he directly faced a true avatar descended from a real divine body.
He knew the real test was yet to come.
The distant avatar of Tyr seemed to sense Cassius's gaze as well. He turned his head, fixing his black, empty eye sockets upon the red dragon in the distance, the white light upon his brow blazing even more piercingly.
It was the light of absolute truth.
In an instant, Tyr saw through the causes and consequences of this demonic invasion with his gouged eyes and let out a stern shout.
"Red dragon! You personally freed Jerlazax, bringing about a calamity that devastated countless lives! Now, though the Demon of Vengeance is dead, that body still does not belong to you! It is an unholy relic that threatens the entire world. You must surrender it to the gods!"
His voice was like a thunderclap on a clear day, steady and powerful, striking mortal souls with profound terror.
The steel-gray warhammer hovered in the sky as an invisible pressure rolled outward. It was as if the magnificent vistas of Mount Celestia were unfurling behind him, causing even the red dragon's broad wings to quiver slightly.
Such was the might of Tyr, God of Justice, a greater deity of Mount Celestia and Ysgard.
Merely an avatar wrought from a wisp of divine power and will was enough to exert immense pressure on Cassius even within his Imperial Domain. It was an innate suppression of existential tier.
The voice of Tyr's avatar echoed ceaselessly between heaven and earth like surging ocean waves.
"Red dragon, surrender the carcass of Garyx to me, and we may yet pardon your transgressions and spare your life for now."
"Heh..."
Cassius looked up at Tyr's avatar in the sky and only let out a soft chuckle, not answering immediately.
He remained coiled atop Dragonblood Mountain, confronting the divine avatar high above from tens of miles away.
If he were on the Outer Planes facing a greater deity of this caliber, he would have tucked his tail and fled without the slightest hesitation.
However, this was the Third Age, and the gods were forbidden from descending into the Material Plane in their true forms.
Even a greater deity like Tyr was not guaranteed to defeat Cassius within this Imperial Domain—regardless of the vast chasm between their divine tiers.
This was the foundation of Cassius's confidence in facing a deity head-on.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere along the fringes of the Anstica Mountains turned strange and fraught with tension. Both sides began hurling curses at each other, indignant over the other's conduct.
The imperial subjects glared at the legions from Mount Celestia, shouting denunciations at the divine avatar in the sky.
"That old cripple dares insult His Majesty Cassius!"
"I knew it! We can't trust these bastards from Mount Celestia! They were the ones pulling the strings from the shadows when we attacked the Northlands too!"
"For the Empire, drive these birdmen back to the heavens!"
The celestial host refused to back down. Facing the verbal blasphemy of these dragonblood creatures, their gazes turned cold, and their silver swords gleamed brightly.
Tyr's followers saw everything in black and white and utterly abhorred evil. They could not tolerate the slightest imperfection, often being labeled as "tyrants" by others.
"Those who insult our Lord shall suffer the sternest judgment!"
"How dare they insult the great God of Justice!"
"Do these monsters with filthy dragon blood even deserve to stand alongside our glorious celestial host? They are fit only to fall beneath our blades!"
The scent of gunpowder grew heavier by the moment. Both factions drew their weapons, and local skirmishes broke out. Bolstered by their respective convictions, they glared at each other, on the verge of erupting into a bloodbath.
Just then, a mournful weeping echoed across the land. A man covered in open wounds, burns, and other marks of torment slowly materialized.
Upon seeing the bruised and battered divine avatar, everyone present felt a strange breeze wash over them. A bright white aura flashed, and in that instant, all pain vanished without a trace.
This was Ilmater, the Crying God, the Lord on the Rack, a deity full of mercy and compassion who frequently bore mortal suffering of his own accord.
"Friends, the calamity that ravaged life has only just ended, and the enemy from the Abyss has met his end. This should be a moment to pray and offer blessings for the innocent souls lost in this disaster. Why must you turn your blades against one another?"
Ilmater's gentle, tearful voice lingered in everyone's ears like a soft spring breeze or a bath in holy water, calming their agitated minds considerably.
The celestial host lowered their weapons in unison, turning reverently toward Ilmater's distant avatar and chanting praises together.
"Praise the Crying God."
"Glory to you, great Martyr! Your kindness and tolerance make us ashamed."
Ilmater's avatar struggled to turn his head. He slowly raised an arm that was broken and covered in bruises, a soft luminescence radiating from his eyes.
"Lord Tyr, why must you be so aggressive? This red dragon thoroughly destroyed a demon lord. He deserves recognition from the gods, and... my praise."
Only then did the fury on Tyr's face soften slightly. He lowered the Hammer of Justice to his side, seemingly pondering Ilmater's words.
Watching Ilmater's limping, trembling avatar make his way across the land, Cassius felt a flicker of gravity stir deep within his pale golden pupils.
This Crying God was definitely not as harmlessly kind and gentle as he appeared on the surface. Being able to quietly reshape the thoughts of the masses was enough to warrant high vigilance.
*One playing the good cop, one playing the bad cop? It seems their objective is crystal clear... the progenitor dragon corpse beneath my feet. And I suppose it's about time for the Platinum Dragon to make his entrance as well,*
Cassius thought to himself, perched atop Dragonblood Mountain as he listened to Ilmater's soft, weeping voice.
"Roaaar—"
Sure enough, accompanied by a drawn-out roar, a chilling north wind swept across the sky, and shimmering brilliance appeared on the horizon.
A slender, serpentine platinum dragon gradually came into view, his eyes shimmering with an azure light reminiscent of a midsummer sky.
"It is Lord Bahamut!"
"Ah, Lord of the North Wind!"
"Praise be to you! Great Platinum Father, Lord of Dragons!"
The gold, silver, and brass dragons at the edge of Anstica raised their necks and cheered, letting out joyful roars together as their wings shimmered with a metallic luster.
Beneath the draconic deity's overwhelming presence, the blue dragons of the Faria clan, the white dragons carrying progenitor bloodlines, and the dragonkin flowing with chromatic blood lowered their heads one after another.
Yet their gazes held not only reverence, but also a veiled hostility.
*That hypocrite again! That duplicitous, fickle old dragon! If not for him, Prince Cassius would have long since returned to the Dragon Queen's embrace, mated with me, and sired powerful offspring!* Christina gnashed her teeth, cursing inwardly.
Naturally, she never dared utter such thoughts aloud. Even evil chromatic dragons maintained superficial respect toward the Dragon God.
With varied thoughts, the assembly of mortals, dragons, and celestials looked up. They watched as the fifty-meter-long platinum dragon flew with effortless grace, weaving through tumbling clouds until he hovered high in the sky, only a few kilometers from Cassius.
Azure light swirled within the eyes of Bahamut's avatar. He gazed down at the red dragon perched on the mountain peak before slowly speaking.
"Cassius, we meet again. I am pleased to see that you have retained your sanity and were not blinded by that power—and that you even slew... a demon lord. Your emergence brings me pleasant surprise; it has been a very long time since the Material Plane witnessed a dragon so powerful, with such magnificent achievements."
The red dragon unfurled his wings slightly, then nodded and replied politely, "Good day, Lord Bahamut. Compared to your deeds, what I have done is merely trivial." He tilted his head, his gaze sweeping toward the distant avatars of the God of Justice and the Crying God. "My greetings to you as well, Lord Ilmater, and... Lord Tyr. Thank you for descending with your avatars to lend aid at this critical moment when the Empire faced an abyssal invasion. Your intervention relieved much of the pressure while I slew Jerlazax."
A faint smile crept across the corners of Ilmater's avatar's mouth, a face that perpetually wept for mortal suffering. Meanwhile, Tyr's avatar remained suspended high in the air, gripping the Hammer of Justice tightly, his expression solemn and cold as he offered only a frosty snort.
Bahamut inclined his head slightly. He looked down toward the towering mountain beneath the red dragon, the whistling north wind spilling from his jaws. "Cassius, you should understand why we have come. This is not about self-interest, but the counsel of an elder of your own kind to a junior: greed for power knows no bounds. You will often pay a terrible price for it—your reason, your temperament, your memories, and even... your soul. I trust you understand this as well."
The platinum dragon beat his wings, their broad, bright-silver expanse gleaming under the sunlight. He raised a foreclaw, and the phantom image of a hideous, ferocious red dragon formed within his palm.
"And the power of Garyx is the most uncontrollable even among my siblings. With the slightest carelessness, you will be—"
Bahamut's avatar clenched his massive claw, and the image shattered abruptly, leaving behind only swirling flames.
"—reduced to ash."
He turned his head once more, fixing a meaningful gaze upon the red dragon, and held open his palm. "Admit it, Cassius. You do not possess the strength to safely keep Garyx's body. Whether for your own sake, for the mortal beings of this world, or for the entirety of Elezerg—your best choice is to restrain the greed in your blood and surrender this dragon carcass to the keeping of the gods. The gods of justice and order shall become your steadfast shield."
Counsel to a junior, advice to kin—what grand, high-sounding words, making it seem as if he genuinely cared for him.
Cassius sneered internally. He heard none of those righteous justifications, hearing only Bahamut's covetous desire for his brother's remains.
For a draconic deity yearning to restore the glory of the past, this was completely natural.
After numerous catastrophes targeting the dragon race, the Dragon Gods of the Third Age were far weaker than they had been tens of thousands of years ago.
Once he obtained this progenitor dragon carcass—hidden away in a corner of the Astral Plane by the ancient gods—and absorbed it, Bahamut would gain a massive advantage in his contest against Tiamat.
Yet Cassius would never let a prize already in his grasp slip away.
Cassius replied calmly, "Thank you for the reminder, Lord Bahamut. But as for your latter words, I must respectfully disagree. Jerlazax's escape, the possession of Garyx's body, and the demonic invasion from the Abyss only prove that the gods lacked a proper method to manage this carcass. But... I do."
Cassius raised his head, grinning. "My lords, do not forget that I just thoroughly destroyed a demon lord outside the Abyss. Even the gods tens of thousands of years ago could only seal him away, whereas I truly killed—"
"Insolence!"
Tyr's avatar roared, abruptly cutting Cassius off. His rumbling voice echoed like rolling thunder throughout the mountains.
"I saw through your true nature long ago, filthy chromatic dragon—arrogant, conceited, greedy, and ignorant! Sincere counsel means nothing to you. Strength—only strength will make you truly submit!"
The one-armed man raised the warhammer in his hand. Instantly, the phantoms of scales representing absolute order and a warhammer representing absolute justice materialized in the sky. Boundless white radiance burst forth, surging toward the red dragon perched on the peak.
It was the divine authority of justice and order.
"Barbaric and unreasonable, resorting to open robbery—is this the justice of the gods? But there's a flaw in your words. Even strength cannot make me submit. Besides, on this land, it remains to be seen whose strength is greater!"
Cassius let out a cold laugh. Supporting himself on his hind legs, he slowly stood tall. The red dragon towered atop Dragonblood Mountain, majestically spreading his broad wings.
In an instant, the Emperor's Scepter materialized in the red dragon's talons. The law of the Imperial Domain surged around his massive draconic frame, releasing an overwhelming pressure.
*Whoosh—*
An invisible barrier formed before him, holding firm against the relentless battering of the white radiance.
Suddenly, the hundred-meter-long phantom of a steel-gray warhammer appeared high above. As Tyr's avatar swung his sole arm downward, the colossal hammer descended slowly like a falling mountain.
*Clang—!*
A deafening clash of metal rang out. A tremendous shockwave expanded outward for hundreds of miles, throwing up a colossal ring of dust and smoke.
High in the sky, the phantom scepter and warhammer crossed and collided, violently rebounding apart.
Cassius raised his left forelimb high, wielding the Imperial Scepter with his massive talons to repel Tyr's strike. He did not forget to roar, "God of Justice, is this the overwhelming strength you spoke of?"
Facing Tyr's assault, Cassius was only barely able to resist by relying on the Imperial Domain.
Such was the terror of a greater deity. With nothing more than an ordinary descended avatar, the God of Justice could rival Cassius, whose status within his Imperial Domain was comparable to a true god.
In truth, this was not a fight to the death, but merely a probe. Cassius saw through Tyr's intent—the deity wanted to intimidate him with divine might, forcing him to submit and yield the carcass.
Meanwhile, along the fringes of Anstica, against the backdrop of this clash between dragon and divine avatar, the imperial subjects were on the verge of going to war with Tyr's faithful.
Suddenly, Ilmater's weeping voice resounded once more: "Enough... This land has already suffered too much agony. There is no need for another meaningless war."
Tyr finally halted. Resentment lingering on his face, he lowered his warhammer and said in a deep voice, "Red dragon, your greed will swallow you whole in the end. When that day comes, you will deeply regret your actions today and pay the price for them."
Gazing at the radiant, majestic divine forms, the red dragon smiled and remarked, "It seems you lords have lingered on the Material Plane for a bit too long; it is beginning to repel you. By the way, let me remind you all: if I die beyond the Material Plane, the restrictions within the Empire will collapse entirely. When that happens, I cannot say where Garyx's carcass will end up. It might... even be dragged straight into the Abyss by the contingencies Jerlazax left behind."
Chapter 545