A band of demi-gods and legends, whose origins are unknown in the prime material world, created the Skyrealm Empire with their mastery of wind magic.
They quickly took root on Saiga Planet, rising to power swiftly and extending their wind magic system to other elemental mages. Combining with the local casting systems, they birthed even more diverse schools of magic, ultimately becoming one of the mightiest empires on Saiga Planet.
"Not just the Skyrealm Empire, but the Egran Empire… the Mechanar Empire was also founded by beings from other prime material worlds."
These were not secrets, but rather openly transparent intelligence.
Many empires on Saiga Planet, among the top three superpowers of the five high empires—Skyrealm Empire, Divinia Empire, and Mechanar Empire—only the Divinia Empire originated from Saiga Planet itself.
And the rise of the Divinia Empire was also related to the Skyrealm and Mechanar Empires.
Perhaps because they were both outsiders, the Skyrealm Empire and the Mechanar Empire never saw eye to eye, waging constant wars that at one point engulfed the planet in flames, dragging other nations into the vortex of war, whether they liked it or not.
The war escalated.
Before the non-aggression pact was signed.
The planet was like a meat grinder, a battlefield of carnage.
To survive in such a dire environment, every nation pushed forward at full speed, for falling behind meant ruthless destruction, becoming dust in the age of war.
Why was this planet so powerful?
Why were there so many empires coexisting on this planet, along with countless kingdoms, duchies, city-states, and more, each strong in its own right?
Because those that weren't strong enough had already been crushed by the whirlwind of war.
As the nations' military strengths grew, the war became more brutal. When Saiga Planet was on the brink of collapse, the five most powerful empires at the time realized the severity of the issue and signed a non-aggression pact, creating the Council of High Nations. Only then did Saiga Planet enter a new era of superficial peace.
However, while the large-scale global war had ceased, small-scale conflicts never stopped.
After all, the underlying conflicts between empires were not truly resolved, just addressed in a different manner.
Saga shook his head, diverting his attention from the mangrove island.
"A caster with the surname Alpha is most likely a member of the royal bloodline of the Skyrealm Empire. Few dare to impersonate a caster from the Alpha royal family."
"It's just unclear why a caster of Alpha royal blood would not stay in the City of the Sky but instead come to a remote island on the surface."
The Skyrealm Empire was so named because its City of the Sky hung high above the clouds, looking down upon the land. Casters of the Skyrealm Empire rarely moved on the ground, taking pride in dwelling in the sky and looking down on the ordinary beings below.
"Judging by the name and voice, she's likely a female. Is she expressing goodwill to the Dragon Kind for a trade proposal? What could that trade be?"
Saga was curious.
He didn't dwell on the question, knowing he would find out when the proposal was made.
Saga looked down from midair, surveying the battlefield below, scarred and smoky, rivers of blood flowing.
Among the rugged rocks of Grayrock Isle, bodies lay scattered, the stench of blood mingling with the salty sea breeze.
Ogres, trolls, gnoll, massive hounds, minotaurs, wolf giants—all manner of monsters suffered casualties.
Now that the war had stopped, the survivors, though not dead, were mostly wounded.
The sixth-tier Sea Dragon was also covered in crisscrossing wounds, silently licking its injuries.
Looking further away.
Glorithia, the Blue Dragon, excitedly soared into the sky, spiraling and dancing, her azure scales stained with blood.
Below her, two Storm Giants, besieged by the Blue Dragon and a horde of monsters, lay bloodied and lifeless on the ground, surrounded by the bodies of other monsters.
"It's over."
Saga looked at the Storm Giant blown back to Grayrock Isle by the caster's tornado.
This high-ranking Storm Giant struggled under the assault of the Topaz Dragon and Brass Dragon, one arm already torn off, its body covered in claw marks, bathed in blood, a tragic sight.
The giant had just dodged a wing sweep from the Brass Dragon.
The Topaz Dragon Lord, positioned behind the giant, suddenly dove down.
"Kneel before me!"
Thud!
The massive body of the Topaz Dragon Lord slammed onto the giant's back, bending its spine and forcing it to the ground, pinned down. The Storm Giant struggled to rise, but its weakened body couldn't muster the strength.
The battle was decided.
With this last high-ranking Storm Giant subdued, the rest had been slain.
Saga retracted his dragon wings and descended near the Topaz and Brass Dragon Lords.
"Damn dragons!"
Under the gaze of the three dragons, the giant struggled fiercely, roaring with rage.
Crack!
The Topaz Dragon Lord pressed down with its claw, pinning the Storm Giant's head, half-burying it in the ground.
"Do you think you can meddle in a war with my Dragon Kind at will?"
The Topaz Dragon Lord's claw dug deeper into the Storm Giant's cheek, causing excruciating pain.
At that moment, the Brass Dragon noticed an emblem carved on the giant's anklet.
A mountain range enveloped in stormy lightning.
"This is… the emblem of the Domnoka Kingdom."
The Brass Dragon blinked and said, "On the Cleis Continent, there's the Storm Kingdom, led by Storm Giants and many other giant races."
"This one hails from the Storm Kingdom, not some loose small-time Storm Giant."
The Domnoka Kingdom, belonging to the Storm Kingdom of giants.
"Hmph."
The Storm Giant snorted coldly.
"The dragons of this prime material world will eventually perish at the hands of giants!"
So it declared.
Hearing this, the three True Dragons scoffed.
The situation might be different in other prime material worlds, but here, on the planet beneath their feet, at least the Dragon Kind's power surpassed that of the giants.
The most notable concentration of giant power was the Storm Kingdom.
But the Dragon Kind's Deep Sea Dragon City was a colossal force comparable to an empire, not to mention the numerous Gemstone Dragon Lords and other Dragon Kinds.
"It seems the impending death has clouded your judgment."
Seeing no potential to subdue the Storm Giant, the Topaz Dragon Lord didn't waste more time, preparing to kill the Storm Giant outright.
Before the Topaz Dragon Lord could act, Saga suddenly spoke up:
"Wait, I happen to need a living Storm Giant. Subdue it for now and keep it. It might come in handy."
He had previously told Addison that he could prepare a Storm Giant for its soul usurpation and rebirth. Initially, it was just a casual promise, but now it seemed achievable.
"If Addison can successfully possess the Storm Giant, things will get interesting."
"A Necromancer Storm Giant, loyal to the Dragon Kind, tsk, that's probably unprecedented."
"And later, it could even infiltrate the Storm Kingdom. With Addison's cunning and deceit, it's not impossible to gain a decent position there."
Saga thought to himself.
Meanwhile, the Topaz Dragon looked puzzled.
"You need a living Storm Giant? Do you intend to subdue it? That seems unlikely."
Saga smiled mysteriously, "I have my ways, and there's a fair chance of success."
Both the Topaz and Brass Dragons were curious.
Just as giants took pride in taming True Dragons, dragons also found pleasure in enslaving giants, although this was a difficult feat for both sides.
"Fine, I'd like to see a giant subdued by a dragon. I hope you succeed. I can keep it subdued in my territory for you."
Eager to see a Storm Giant enslaved by a dragon, the Topaz Dragon Lord was willing to go through the trouble.
"Once you've succeeded, be sure to let me know. I want to come and see. There might be precedents in other prime material worlds, but it seems we don't have one here where a True Dragon has enslaved a Storm Giant."
The Brass Dragon was also intrigued.
Saga nodded, "Sure, that's no big deal."
Listening to the dragons' conversation, the Storm Giant pinned down by the Topaz Dragon roared in defiance.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
"I, Bax, will never be a slave!"
Saga grinned, "You'll see in time, it's not up to you."
Next, the Topaz Dragon broke the Storm Giant's limbs and, carrying its twisted body, flew back to Goldsand Isle, followed by its kin.
The Topaz Dragon's goal had always been to clear out the troublesome giant neighbors.
As a Gemstone Dragon, it had little ambition and no interest in the territory of Grayrock Isle, something Saga had understood from their initial contact.
Moreover, due to the brutal war, less than half of the monsters loyal to the giants remained, with nearly sixty percent dead and the rest injured.
These monsters stayed on Grayrock Isle, watching the young Golden Dragon with trepidation.
Saga now hovered midair, overlooking the scarred battlefield and the monsters scattered among the many corpses, deep in thought.
The Grayrock Archipelago was not small.
As one of the main islands, Grayrock Isle was about twice the size of Moon Bay.
He wanted to claim this place, but it would be insufficient to manage it with just the kin he would bring from Moon Bay. The monsters that had fought loyally for the giants were now dead, and the survivors were ripe for subjugation.
After about ten seconds.
Bathed in sunlight, the resplendent True Dragon looked down and spoke in a deep voice:
"The giants led you to defeat in war, countless deaths, and ultimately abandoned you. But I, will lead you to be invincible in battle, victorious in glory, and reborn in honor."
Proofreader & Editor: Lotas, Howard Wong