The visitor’s footsteps stirred the cold air, bringing new sounds to the silent and dark altar where the faint howl sounded like a switch, revealing all the liveliness hidden in the gloom. Breaths appeared in the darkness like the roar of a massive beast.

To onlookers, what might seem like a terrifying threat was, in reality, merely a form of greeting. The enormous skull, wrapped in black smoke, emerged from the like-colored darkness, its lamplight-like golden pupils gazing at the newcomer.

"Your aura is as murky as that of a dying man, Morocoy,"

The scholar’s mask flowed with bluish-green brilliance in the darkness, echoing with the four similar masks around it.

"I am indeed a dead man, elder brother Ohmhead."

The phantom of the Black Dragon dissipated, revealing the skinny old man holding a staff, his voice deep and melodious, not at all as feeble as his appearance.

"You know what I mean, Morocoy. What has happened? What has caused you to lose your usual grace? And what has compelled you to urgently convene this assembly?"

Black Dragon Priest Ohmhead, Red Dragon Priest Freheimer, Green Dragon Priest Irason, and White Dragon Priest Princess all looked at their brother, feeling the undisguised restlessness of his power, like sensing the brilliance of shining diamonds. Morocoy’s surging magic power was like the sun, but the scholar was accustomed to hiding the sun behind the clouds. Such a "leak" of light was rare.

"Jordania has undergone a new transformation; she has started ’altering reality’."

The throat of the Fire Dragon Priest sounded as if it contained boiling magma, he looked at his sisters nearby. "What is that? A new Evil God? The thing we cleaned up before has started to grow again? Like the never-ending rust?"

"That’s the innate talent under Morocoy’s watchful eye, only now it has taken on the form of an Evil God," explained Green Dragon Priest to his brother who cared little for worldly affairs.

"So now this talent can erode reality like an Evil God? That means she has become our enemy. Nonsense! Why didn’t you strangle her in the cradle, Morocoy? You’ve kept it from us!" the Red Dragon Priest bellowed angrily, raising the temperature of the air by several degrees.

Flecks of shattered ice were patted on his face by the White Dragon Priest Princess. "We all know if you were a bit more attentive at every assembly, you wouldn’t be kept in the dark. It was allowed for Morocoy to indulge Jordania, permitted by elder brother Ohmhead."

The Red Dragon Priest, who was on the verge of exploding in anger, simmered down, and he looked at the hunched figure, expressing his confusion.

"I trust Morocoy will give us a reasonable explanation, Freheimer. He’s always been the most sensible one among us. I have condoned your past actions, but the time has come to give us an account, my brother."

The scholar bowed deeply, "My student, the host of the Evil God infant Jordania, has noticed her changes. He is at Andrei Academy, embarking on a new research project. To allow Liches to taste food, to possess appetite."

The Red Dragon Priest found it absurd and did not hesitate to say so, "Nonsense, preposterous. What use is that? Do you mean to imply that using the power of an Evil God for such trivial tasks can conceal the danger of contamination?"

"For Liches, desire is no trivial matter," the scholar corrected him, "Plague Doctor is a human with extraordinary insights. I have a premonition that his alteration of the Lich world will not end here."

The ever-contrary Freheimer was beginning to sense something fishy.

"An Evil God capable of influencing Liches..."

"Can also change Giant Dragons," Black Dragon Priest concluded, his voice finalizing everything. He gazed at the trembling scholar. "You are far more insane than I imagined, Morocoy."

"Mad, but feasible. My brothers, would you really wish to live forever in regret, perpetually lurking in the dark corners of the world like bystanders, watching over the world that our guide protected with his life. With just a bit of guidance, I am confident that I can interest my student in Giant Dragons."

"You’re defiling the sanctity of Giant Dragons with the filth of an Evil God, you’ve forsaken your duty, Dragon Priest!" Black Dragon Priest Ohmhead’s eyes turned cold and stern, a terrifying momentum roared behind him as he looked at the scholar like an enemy.

The scholar dispersed the magic power shield spontaneously generated on his body, allowing the pressure to slice his robes like a blade.

"Giant Dragons have nothing to do with sanctity, Ohmhead, you and I both know that. I am simply seeking to amend my wrongdoings. You must feel the same as I do! Rather than dwelling in agony and doing nothing, why not let me take the struggle into my own hands! At least, I see the future I desire, Jordania is our hope! I do not wish to be enemies with you, my brothers!"

The remaining Dragon Priests looked at each other and then back at the two in confrontation.

Ultimately, everything returned to silence with a tap of the Black Dragon Priest’s staff.

"The old rule, let’s vote."

"Against," Red Dragon Priest Freheimer stubbornly declared, as unyielding as a hot iron.

"Abstain," Green Dragon Priest Irason... was good at... being indecisive.

"Support," White Dragon Priest Princess always brought surprises, usually, she loathed many things, including Morocoy. "For the sake of Lyle."

In the end, the decision still fell into the hands of Black Dragon Priest Ohmhead.

He raised his head, now level with his arm, and gazed at Mr. Scholar.

"I am the last barrier, Morocoy. If your hope disappoints you, I will shatter it. Go ahead and do as you please."

Mr. Scholar bowed deeply once again.

"Since the plan has been authorized, I hope every Dragon Priest will execute it accordingly."

"You’re wasting time, Morocoy. We are like the five fingers on a dragon’s claw; with an order, we can easily crush boulders."

"I need you to return to your respective tribes and reclaim your leadership positions. The Giant Dragon families need to return."

Morocoy’s gaze shifted to the remaining three Dragon Priests, finally resting on the hunched figure.

"Brother Ohmhead, the exile of the ancient human race should come to an end."

The Black Dragon Priest sighed, "Morocoy, if you fail, I will make you bear the cost of having given hope wrongly."

"I will do my utmost."

The gathering of the Dragon Priests soon concluded.

At the portal’s edge, the Red Dragon Priest slowed down, waiting for Princess, the White Dragon Priest accustomed to leaving last.

"Sister, I have a doubt that needs your clarification."

Princess looked at the burly man before her, who, even as a Dragon Lich, had not gained a shred of the literati’s refined elegance.

"Freheimer, don’t waste my time. If you have a question, ask it quickly."

"Ohmhead is indulging Morocoy. Even though he disguises it well, he actually stands with them." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Princess unexpectedly looked at her brother; he wasn’t as dull as he appeared. Of course, one couldn’t be a fool if they were to become a Giant Dragon Priest.

"...Ohmhead and Morocoy have many similarities."

"I thought the debt owed to the Giant Dragons was a common sentiment among all Dragon Priests."

"Yes, but theirs is much more intense."

"Why?"

"We cannot understand."

"???"

It was rare for Freheimer to talk about anything other than forging. Not wanting to let him leave in disappointment, Princess shared her own wild idea, one that had been buried in the depths of her heart.

"The White Dragon and the Green Dragon used their bodies to forge the cage that imprisons the Evil God; the Red Dragon transformed into the heart of the earth’s furnace. Then, why did the Black Dragon and the Blue Dragon die?"

"The Black Dragon nurtured the ancient human race with dragon blood, making their flesh and strength far surpass other races. The Blue Dragon used its skeleton to construct magical nodes, becoming the source of Magic Power for the City of Wandering."

"Then, why would the leaders of these two tribes, Ohmhead and Morocoy, choose to treat their own tribes in the same manner? One exiling his tribe, allowing savagery and degeneration to control his descendants. The other ignoring the collapse of the kingdom, the main city becoming a city without roots?"

"It’s guilt."

"Oh my Giant Dragon, what exactly did my brothers do?"

"It’s simple." Princess’s words were like a cold breeze that extinguished Freheimer’s flames.

"They not only kept gods in their hearts."

"They also held gods in their hands."