Ethan had come prepared.

He reached into his coat and pulled out a rolled-up map, spreading it across the polished floor of the throne room. "Based on my investigation—"

He tapped several key regions on the parchment with his finger.

"Emerald Castle is a major power. Their territory is vast—this entire region here," he circled a swath of land, "is firmly under their control."

Kaelira's brow creased, just slightly.

Ethan continued, his tone measured. "But from what I've seen, they're a peace-inclined faction. Much like Sol'Rakka. They don't go looking for war. If they can avoid conflict, they will."

He paused deliberately, then added, "At the very least, they're not the type to conquer for sport."

Kaelira didn't look convinced. In fact, her frown deepened.

"Peace-inclined?" she echoed, voice sharp. "Then why did they wipe out Sky Citadel?"

Ethan gave a dry chuckle, feigning helplessness. "From what I've gathered, Sky Citadel made the first move. They tried to annex Emerald Castle's territory—declared they'd eliminate all rivals. That's what triggered the war."

He barely finished the sentence when—

CRACK!

Kaelira's palm slammed down on the table with a thunderous bang, loud enough to make the gemstones embedded in the walls hum with a high-pitched ring.

Ethan's heart skipped a beat. For a moment, he thought she'd seen through him.

But no—her fury wasn't aimed at him.

Her face was twisted with rage, teeth clenched. "Those bastards from Sky Citadel! I should've known they'd stoop this low!"

Her breath came hard and fast, her chest rising and falling with each inhale.

"They forced us into that damn treaty years ago with their dirty tricks. We've been shackled by those ridiculous terms ever since. And now—"

She slashed her hand through the air.

"Now I see it was all a lie!"

Ethan exhaled quietly, relief washing through him.

Good. She's mad at them, not me.

To keep the conversation moving in a direction that favored him, he leaned in slightly and asked, "Your Majesty, there's one thing I still don't understand—"

"If Sol'Rakka is this powerful now, then who would be foolish enough to provoke us?"

Kaelira let out a cold, humorless laugh. She grabbed a pen from the side table and drew a thick circle around a region on the map.

"Them."

Her finger jabbed the center of the circle, her voice low and laced with venom. "That lot. They've got land, armies, and ambition. And they've always been enemies of Sky Citadel. Now that Sky Citadel's fallen, they're turning their attention to us."

She narrowed her eyes.

"If I'm right—and I usually am—they're already plotting how to wipe Sol'Rakka off the map."

Ethan opened his mouth to press further, but—

BOOM!

A deafening explosion rocked the palace.

Thud—

RUMMMMMBLE—!

Dust shook loose from the ceiling. Two soldiers burst into the throne room, armor clanking, faces pale with panic.

"Your Majesty! Emergency!"

"Dragonscar Citadel has launched a full-scale assault! Their army is already at the gates!"

Kaelira shot to her feet, her expression turning to stone.

"What?!"

Her breath hitched, and then her power surged outward like a wildfire, heat and fury radiating from her in waves.

"Those fools… I warned them myself not long ago. And now they dare attack us openly?!"

Her fists clenched, and the pressure in the room spiked, thick enough to choke on.

"Send the order—mobilize the army! We march out now!"

"I'll make Dragonscar Citadel regret ever thinking they could challenge Sol'Rakka!"

The soldiers saluted and bolted from the hall, boots pounding against the stone as they ran to carry out her command.

Meanwhile—

Ethan's thoughts were heading in a very different direction.

Dragonscar Citadel… a land steeped in pure dragon blood.

Rumor had it that nearly every living being there carried the essence of true dragons. Some, perhaps, even harbored dragon pearls within—just like the serpent he'd faced moments ago.

His hand drifted to his chest, where the freshly absorbed pearl now pulsed inside him. He could already feel Idra's power climbing—fast.

If he could get his hands on a few more…

She might actually break through to Tier 25.

And if Idra ascended—his own strength would skyrocket with her.

The thought sent a thrill through him.

He stepped forward, voice calm and resolute. "Your Majesty, I have a proposal."

Kaelira turned to him, brow slightly furrowed.

"Let me engage Dragonscar Citadel's army first."

Ethan squared his shoulders. "If the opportunity presents itself, I'll bring you their leader's head."

Kaelira blinked, visibly startled.

"You…?"

"You want to face Dragonscar Citadel alone? They're not some backwater militia. Their bloodline is pure dragon. You, by yourself—"

But Ethan's fists were already clenched, his eyes burning with purpose.

"For you, Your Majesty…"

His voice dropped, low and unwavering. "I'd give everything. Let this be my tribute to the one I admire most."

He bowed deeply, then turned and strode from the throne room without a flicker of hesitation.

...

And yet—

After he left, the hall fell into a strange, suspended silence.

Kaelira stood frozen, eyes fixed on the space where he'd disappeared beyond the great doors. For a heartbeat—just one—she looked dazed.

No man had ever said something like that to her.

And certainly, no one had ever offered to stand alone against Dragonscar Citadel—for her.

A faint flush crept across her cheeks. Even her fingertips trembled, just slightly.

"Your Majesty?" a handmaiden rushed to her side, alarmed. "Are you… alright?"

Kaelira snapped out of it, quickly channeling her power to cool her emotions. She cleared her throat, straightened her spine.

"I'm fine."

Her voice returned to its usual commanding tone.

"Mobilize the army. Now."

"We ride out—immediately."

She drew a deep breath.

"I won't let that man charge into battle alone."

The guards and attendants scattered at once, moving with urgency.

Within minutes, Sol'Rakka's forces had assembled outside the city walls. Banners snapped in the wind, armor gleamed under the sun, and a tide of soldiers surged behind Kaelira as she led them toward the battlefield.

...

The moment Ethan collided with Dragonscar Citadel's army, the earth itself seemed to split open.

He unleashed the full force of his Dragon God power—golden-white light erupting from him like a second sun. The shockwave flattened the front lines, his aura alone crushing the breath from their lungs.

The enemy didn't even have time to react.

Half their strength vanished in an instant, drained by the sheer pressure of his presence.

To them—

Ethan wasn't a warrior.

He was a calamity.

"Who is that?! How—how can anyone be that strong?!"

Kaelira stood at a distance, stunned.

She'd already been surprised when Ethan offered to fight for Sol'Rakka.

But this?

This was something else entirely.

With a single, casual strike, he sent a dozen Dragonscar warriors' heads spinning into the air like tossed coins.

...