Legacy of the Dark Sage

Hubris.

This is a personality quality most superior beings have.

Some were oblivious to the consequences, while others were fully aware but feigned ignorance, leading to disastrous results.

Ickle's and Crei's understanding of Ladon and Thorn's decision not to request a spar against the new Dragon Lord was because of their extreme belief that, as dragons, there was no way for the latter to be of any threat to them. Since that was the case, Ladon and Thorn must have a different reason for not participating.

"Let him be then," Ickle said after a short pause. "But tell him to send a spar request against Warrick's talent."

Crei's expression turned solemn upon hearing the Earth Dragon Tribe's Patriarch.

"Was it Ambros? That earth youngling's name?" Ickle asked with a thoughtful expression.

"Yes, Patriarch. However, is it all right to have Thorn test him? I do not underestimate Thorn's capability, but from what I have heard, Ambros is exceptionally talented among the young talents of the Earth Dragon Tribe. He is younger compared to Thorn as well if something happens..." Crei's voice trailed off, a hint of worry in his tone.

"This is only a spar," Ickle reminded Crei. "I am not expecting Thorn to win. You know well enough that the Earth Dragon's defenses are among the greatest in the Higher Realm. The only ones who can pierce through their defenses are our Lord and The Emperor." The weight of his words hung heavy in the air.

Crei contemplated Ickle's words for a moment before finally nodding in understanding. He said, "I will let Thorn know," and sent a message to the young dragon through his tablet.

"Apart from the new Dragon Lord, have any of the other tribe's young talent sent spar requests?"

"There are only two others," Crei replied while checking the information sent by another member of their tribe that came with them. "The Hydra Dragon Tribe and Naga Dragon Tribe are having a dispute over a mining cave suspected to have high-quality tungsten. The cave also seemed to have several minerals for forging armor and weapons.

Both tribes sent their talents for a spar to claim rights on that cave."

Ickle sighed, "Obviously, they are not planning to use those minerals for themselves. There have been rumors that the Flame Dragon Tribe commissioned a considerable amount of minerals for their armory and weaponry project. They are likely involved in that.

"I think so, too," Crei agreed. "The Hydra Dragon Tribe and the Naga Dragon Tribe are developing their territory and need other resources. Currently, the Flame Dragon Tribe is among those with abundant resources and nearest to them. It is not wrong to think that a trade between them is mutually beneficial."

"The Flame Dragon Tribe's armor and weapon project has been revealed for some time. I can't help but think that Lord Aillos has already been preparing to retaliate against The Emperor since then," Ickle could not help but say with a wry smile.

Crei raised his brows and looked at him in surprise, "But as far as I remember, when Patriarch Eldir revealed the project, he never mentioned the Main Palace's involvement."

"No, but if you remember, there has been a piece of earlier news about the clan's Research Department having a breakthrough in deciphering one of the treasures discovered in the Tower of the Ancients hunt. It's said that the treasure in question is a grimoire with armor and weapon blueprints designed by the Ancients.

"Though there was at least a month gap between that news from the Flame Dragon Tribe's reveal of their project, there is definitely a connection between them. Add that to Lord Aillos's announcement last night; I can't shake the feeling that they are all connected."

"...I suppose you have a point," Crei replied after contemplating the matter.

Now that Ickle had pointed them out, the clues were quite obvious. But he did not make the connection because their Lord's war declaration against the Emperor seemed to have been decided to prevent the latter from collecting the Ancient Magic Cores and the Shaiha, and, of course, because they had endured for far too long all the annoying antics of his clan for some time now.

Crei suddenly thought of something and looked at Ickle with a slight frown.

"But if this is the case... it sounded as if Lord Aillos had already expected something like this to happen and had been making preparations from earlier on."

"That's one of Lord Aillos's innate abilities. He has such frightening Insight that it almost appears he can see the future or read others' minds."

Ickle was actually on point with his opinion.

Aillos indeed anticipated that something like this would happen in the near future from the moment he learned about the birth of a new Dragon Lord. Since then, he had been making some subtle preparations for when the time came that he would really declare war against The Emperor.

"Putting those aside, are the Hydra Dragon Tribe and the Naga Dragon Tribe the only ones sending out spar requests? Because I don't think Lord Aillos would appreciate it if we all targeted the new Dragon Lord," Ickle remarked, looking at the other platforms where the other patriarchs and their second-in-command were conversing in earnest.

"The others know this and should have sent requests against other tribes, even if it is only for show."

"At the moment, they are the only ones," Crei replied, shaking his head. "Actually, Patriarch, if this goes on... the three-day spar matches might end up with all our tribes only testing the new Dragon Lord."

"Not likely," Ickle disagreed. "Lord Aillos would not allow it. Besides, do you think that young human has the stamina to fight all his matches for three days? He might not even last in his first match."

"...."

Crei initially wanted to reply to Ickle's remark, but, in the end, he chose not to. They already established that the new Dragon Lord had great potential since he escaped from The Emperor. He would definitely not be a pushover.

However, a battle where your life was on the line and a spar was different.

There was tension between all the young talents, but at the end of the day, the matches were pretty relaxed. Given that anyone could watch the matches, they also served as entertainment.

Would that be considered entertainment if the new Dragon Lord collapsed in his first match? Probably, if the dragons were only waiting for him to embarrass himself.

But no such thoughts were present in them. Instead, they wanted to observe his potential.

In such a case, the young talents would fight in a way that would force the new Dragon Lord to show his cards. Only after he revealed everything would they act and end the match.

At least, that was the ideal.

DUUUUM!

A sound like a dull object banging on a hollow metal resounded throughout the dome. The sound was similar to a gong but seemingly coming from a horn. The sound was so deep and rich that as soon as everyone heard it, the noise stopped, and the crowd focused on the arena.

"It is time," Ickle said.

Crei, who snapped out of his thoughts upon hearing the sound, turned his attention to the arena.

"Yes," he replied. "I wonder which tribe will go first."

Since all the young talents wanted to test the new Dragon Lord, they could only wonder who would go first.

Eissen was the one responsible for the spar matches. After the sound died, he stood up from his platform and declared the event's start.

"With Lord Aillos's announcement last night, we understand that everyone is curious to get to know the new Dragon Lord who belongs to our latest member of the clan," Eissen started, his voice crisp and clear, reverberating in the air. "Lord Aillos expressed his understanding and decided to allow all the spar requests sent by the tribes."

Although they were the ones who sent the requests, all the patriarchs and second-in-commands were still surprised that their Lord accepted everything. They expected him only to allow a few of the requests to proceed. After all, the new Dragon Lord could not very well fight in all those matches.

"The new Dragon Lord, Null, also agreed to everything and only requested a break of a few minutes after each match," Eissen continued while looking at all the patriarchs.

They all nodded and murmured in agreement. However, they inwardly shook their heads at the new Dragon Lord's arrogance.

Would resting in between matches be even enough? Even if he possessed great stamina, he was still human.

"Since everyone has agreed, we will start the first spar match."

Two pillars of light appeared at the center of the arena and showed two silhouettes. Your next read awaits at empire

As the light from the pillar dimmed, the silhouettes of two people were revealed.

One of them was Kyran, who wore an all-black attire made with fine obsidian and leather threads.

It was not the first time the crowd met a Regis. Nevertheless, they found him a little different. Dragons never really cared about a human's appearance because they were dragons. However, how Kyran stood there imposingly and without fear gave them a very good impression.

Opposite Kyran was a young male dragon in human form. He was at least three feet taller than Kyran and wore light brown scaled armor. He had no horns, but his features were sharp, and his silver-gold-slitted eyes glinted in anticipation.

"Seems like Thorn doesn't need to send that spar request," Ickle let out a dry laugh as he looked at the new Dragon Lord's first opponent.

"My name is Ambros from the Earth Dragon Tribe. Let us have a good match."