[Vol. 8] Chapter 0:
Prologue: Revelation
Under a dark sky full of cracks, a large blue-green dragon spread its wings and flew through the air.
It soared over endless mountains and rivers, until finally folding its wings and landing with a loud crash surrounded by strong winds. In a flash of light, the dragon turned into a calm young boy with short blue hair and ran quickly into the forest.
High above him, dragons of many colors and powerful auras flew back and forth. They rose and landed inside a huge, hidden valley surrounded by ten-thousand-meter-tall snowy peaks. These mountains were so high that even most flying creatures couldn’t cross them, but for dragons, the true rulers of the skies, this natural barrier was nothing more than a joke.
This was the home of the dragons. Even in this sealed-off world full of ancient and powerful beings, no outsider could enter without the dragons’ permission. Not even those connected to the so-called “Evil Gods.”
The young dragon’s return didn’t cause much disturbance. The dragon race had never been large in number, and even though they’d been recovering since the great war more than 300 years ago, they hadn’t yet returned to full strength. If hundreds of dragons flew in the sky in their true forms, they would definitely be noticed, but when they took human form, like this young one, it was like a grain of sand dropped into the sea, barely noticeable.
Running through the thick Dragonwood Forest, the boy soon reached a cave that had clearly been carved out by hand. At the entrance stood two other young adults with the same blue hair, dragon-like horns, and long tails, even in human form. One was male, the other female, and they looked so alike it was obvious they were siblings.
Even though they didn’t carry any weapons, their presence was powerful enough to make the very grass and bugs around them freeze in silence, as if they were weak creatures facing a terrifying master.
There was no doubt, they were also dragons. Fully grown, real dragons.
Judging from their hair and features, they belonged to the same tribe as the boy, the [Azure Cloud Dragons], one of the four fundamental dragon types. Also known as Thunder Dragons, they control storms and lightning. They are the fastest and most agile among all seven dragon tribes and often take on tasks like scouting, patrolling, or sending messages. Clearly, the boy had been out on one such mission.
“Yo, Aaron! You’re back early today, huh? The old man's probably still dozing off right now. So, what's up?”
The young man guarding the gate waved lazily and made a small joke about their father still napping. He seemed like someone with a carefree attitude. His sister, however, was more serious. She noticed the worry on Aaron’s face right away and raised her eyebrows slightly.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen outside the valley?”
Aaron nodded quickly. He looked shaken and his voice was urgent.
“Brother Arvin, Sister Atila, this is serious! Something big is happening! Please let me see the Grand Elder right away. The Evil Gods… they might be waking up!”
………………………………………
Deep in the Dragon Valley, The Hall of Heritage
“So that’s the situation. According to the report just brought back by the Azure Cloud Dragon, the seal on the Serpent’s Remains and the stones holding the Evil Gods' avatars have been shaking more often and more violently than ever. Also, the magical energy in the sealed lands has risen sharply. We believe something major has changed in the outside world, and it’s affecting us here too.”
A girl with golden eyes and silver-white hair stood under a glowing white and gold pillar. She wore a plain white dress, her long dark hair flowing freely. Though she wore no jewelry, she gave off a powerful, holy presence. She looked around the room seriously and made her statement.
This was the most sacred place in the Dragon Valley. Only the highest leaders of the seven dragon clans were allowed to enter. Under each of the seven glowing Heritage Pillars stood one representative, one for each dragon tribe.
Some were men, some women, some looked strong and majestic, others beautiful or even old and fragile, but they all had bright dragon horns and long tails. Behind them, the glowing pillars echoed with their presence, clearly showing who they were.
Dragon Kings, only those who reached the highest level of strength and earned the respect of both their own people and the other dragon tribes could gain this title.
It wasn’t just a name. A Dragon King also received the [Dragon King’s Crown], a sacred object passed down through the generations. While not as powerful as the legendary [Dragon Emperor's Ring], the crown could still greatly boost a dragon’s power and help them grow stronger, almost reaching godlike levels.
In other words, the seven people standing there were likely all powerful enough to defeat almost any enemy in the world. Together, they represented the terrifying strength of the dragons, known to be the strongest race below the gods.
And if all seven Dragon Kings had gathered to discuss something, it could only mean one thing. It was something truly serious.
“Is this for real?”
“Can we trust this report?”
Under the bright red sacred pillar, a female Dragon King stood. Her figure was striking and bold, wearing hot pants and a short top that made her quite eye-catching in a certain way. She was the first to speak, but her question wasn't aimed at the White Dragon King who had spoken earlier. Instead, she looked to the old man standing to the right. A calm-looking elder with short blue hair, a long beard, and simple clothes that didn’t show any signs of great power.
This old man was the Grand Elder of the Cloud Dragons. He was likely the first to receive the urgent news and had passed it on to the White Dragon King, leading to this meeting of all seven Dragon Kings.
The elder slowly opened his eyes and smiled kindly, nodding as he spoke.
“Ha ha… Yes, this news was brought back just now by a young member of our tribe. I’ve already sent others to double-check it at the sealing stones as fast as possible, but I believe there’s little chance this is a false alarm. Since this could be very serious, I suggest we treat it as true, better safe than sorry.”
The Red Dragon King frowned and didn’t respond right away. But a middle-aged man wearing full armor under the yellow sacred pillar across from her spoke in a deep, serious voice.
“The Cloud Dragon King is right. I too have heard the cries of the earth, the remains of the serpent are awakening. I fear the sealed land will return to the world soon. You all know what that means.”
The Dragon Kings looked at each other, then turned their eyes back to the white-haired, golden-eyed young woman, the White Dragon King, as if she were the one truly in charge.
Seeing their reaction, the girl nodded slightly, her expression more serious than ever.
“Everyone, the time of change is coming. The great war that ended three hundred years ago is about to begin again. Since I’ve earned your trust, I will now give the official order in the name of the Acting Dragon Emperor!”
“Starting now, the leaders of each tribe must call back all their members from outside. Gather in the Dragon Valley to train and prepare for battle. The Cloud Dragons will send skilled warriors to keep watch over the sealing stones and the serpent’s remains. Report back immediately if anything changes!”
“I’ll also contact the other mythical tribes inside the sealed land and inform them of the situation to confirm where they stand.”
“Three hundred years ago, we put aside our differences and worked as one. That’s the only reason we were able to stop disaster at the last moment. Now that the enemy is returning, we must again unite with every force we can.”
“This is not just the Dragon Tribe’s fight, it’s a crisis for the entire world. So I ask everyone to remind their people not to act arrogantly or cause inner conflict. We must stand together.”
“Please.”
She gave a small bow, and the other six Dragon Kings respectfully returned the gesture. Even though she was only the Acting Dragon Emperor and hadn’t yet received the [Dragon Emperor's Ring], the artifact needed to officially become a Dragon God, no one doubted her strength or position.
After her mother, the previous White Dragon King, used her last strength to help seal the Evil Gods during the war 300 years ago, this young woman took up the crown and became the new White Dragon King. She also became the acting ruler in her mother’s place.
The Dragon Tribe respects power above all. Even though she was young, Cielru White had passed every test to prove she had the strength of a true Dragon King. Some even believed that, if the [Dragon Emperor's Ring] weren’t locked inside the sealed land, she might already have achieved something even her mother couldn’t, becoming a true Dragon God.
Because of this, even the Dark Dragon King and Crystal Dragon King, both powerful leaders in their own right, didn’t challenge her orders. They hadn’t spoken at all, instead letting her lead the meeting entirely to avoid any conflict.
The short meeting soon ended. The Dragon Kings returned to their true forms and flew off to their homelands to start preparations. Once she saw that everything had gone smoothly, Cielru, who had kept a serious face the entire time, finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
She looked up toward the sky above the sealed land, now full of cracks, lost in thought.
Only one person didn’t leave right away, the elderly Cloud Dragon Grand Elder who had first received the message. He slowly walked to her side. He didn’t say much, only gently patted her on the shoulder.
Understanding the kind gesture of this ancient elder, who had lived for over ten thousand years, Cielru soon returned to herself. She smiled and shook her head.
“I’m fine, Grandpa Yaniels. I was just… remembering the words my mother said before she died. I guess I got a little emotional.”
“We all knew this day would come sooner or later. The Dragon Tribe and this whole place… will eventually return to our real homeland, and the flames of war sealed here will burn once again. I just didn’t expect it to come so soon, only a little over three hundred years…”
“I wonder what the other world is like now. How are the chosen ones doing? The battle ahead might need them too…”
As the White Dragon King softly spoke to herself, the kind-looking old dragon only smiled again and shook his head gently.
“What must come will come. All we can do is give our best. No matter what happens, the Dragon Tribe has already done more than enough for this world. But you, child… about that other thing you mentioned before… have you felt anything yet?”
Knowing what he meant, something only the two of them had talked about in private, Cielru White was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.
“Grandpa Yaniels, just recently, the mark of the Dragon Emperor's Seal that my mother left on me suddenly disappeared. This means I’ve lost the right to inherit that position. But something this important doesn’t just happen without a reason. I’m sure you can guess why.”
For the first time, the old eyes of the Cloud Dragon Elder, which were usually half-closed, opened slightly. A look of shock and confusion appeared in them.
“How could that be possible? Our tribe gave almost everything in that great war. Except for a few who were exiled, there shouldn’t be many pure-blood dragons left in the outside world, let alone someone who could receive…”
“But it’s true, Grandpa Yaniels.”
The young girl looked up at the sky again with her golden eyes, then gently closed them. A faint, peaceful smile appeared on her lips. Perhaps showing relief, or maybe just curiosity.
“I really want to meet that person... the new Dragon God.”
…………………………………………
Holy Empire, City of Angels.
Inside a grand and solemn Church, hundreds of high-ranking holy knights and archbishops stood on both sides in silence, waiting respectfully.
“Rumble... rumble...”
The heavy doors of the cathedral slowly opened. Under the watchful eyes of all the faithful clergy, a young girl walked in step by step on a bright red carpet that stretched from the main gate to the speaking platform. She wore a white-and-gold robe, a crown on her head, and held the Goddess’ staff in her hand.
Her long, golden hair, clear and bright like crystal, was tied up beneath her crown. Her beautiful eyes were clear and full of life, but also held a deep, noble sense of seriousness far beyond her age.
Wherever she walked, the holy knights on the left side raised their swords in a silent, noble salute. On the right, the archbishops from temples all over the world stood still with their staffs, gathering holy power into their staffs and creating a faint golden glow, like a sacred blessing.
Her name was Edwina Cecilia, the second daughter of the current head of the Cecilia family. One of the three holy bloodline families of the Holy Empire.
But that was only her most ordinary and humble title.
She was also the current Pope of the Goddess Church, the youngest Pope in the Church's history, the Goddess's Representative, and a Knight of God who had pushed beyond the limits through her own strength.
With so many titles and honors, it was hard to believe that just a few years ago, when she set off to travel the world, she was still a young and stiff Earth-level Holy Knight, unsure of the world.
But she did it, she changed everything. From a young bird to a soaring eagle, she shone brightly during the sudden Fourth Demon War, leading her troops into battle, slaying countless demons, and achieving legendary feats.
In the end, she was blessed and chosen by the Goddess herself, and naturally took over from the former Pope, August Lambert, who had grown too old and weak. Her "Book of Revelations", written and published by her own hand, spread throughout the world in just over a year and became a sacred book cherished by countless believers.
It was said the words in that book carried the will of the Goddess herself, and those with deep faith could understand the divine words and receive blessings called “Faith Magic”, just like Edwina Cecilia, who had caught the attention of the divine.
Her talent, her efforts, and her deep bond with the Goddess. Everyone saw it with their own eyes. Her position as Pope was truly well-earned, and the high level of ceremony she now received was fully from the heart of those present.
Finally, the young Pope, barely in her early twenties, walked up the platform. She bowed deeply to the holy statue of the Goddess behind her, then turned to face the crowd. With the divine light of the statue shining behind her, she raised the sacred badge in her hand, a symbol of divine favor and her role as Knight of God, a symbol even greater than the Six-Wing Emblem.
The badge was nearly identical to the statue behind her, showing a woman with her hands crossed in front of her chest, as if giving a pure blessing to the world. Though the face was slightly unclear, the badge glowed brightly. Below the stage, the gathered clergy from all over the world raised their own cross-shaped emblems in a show of shared faith.
Then, the young girl’s bright and strong voice echoed across the entire hall.
“Everyone, the world is about to change! A great disaster is coming, something we’ve never seen before!”
“But luckily, I’ve seen the future shown by the Book of Revelations.”
“One month from now, our most holy Goddess will appear in the Holy City. She will choose her Divine Apostles from among all people and bless them with her power. They will be called the Chosen Heroes!”
“The Goddess says: both believers and non-believers may take part in this sacred event. To protect our shared home, I ask you all, let go of prejudice and call upon heroes from across the land. In the name of the Primordial Light, this is... the Divine Oracle!!!”
“Wooooom—!”
As if to prove her words were true, a pure light slowly descended from the top of the cathedral, shining down on the young Pope holding the divine badge. A pair of golden wings of light, far beyond anything human, spread out behind her.
That holy and perfect light instantly erased any doubt that might have existed.
Everyone in the hall dropped to one knee, bowed their heads, and gave their deepest respect, to the girl representing the Goddess’s will, and to the divine being the statue behind her stood for.
The mighty voice of the holy gathering echoed throughout the Grand Church.
“We obey the Oracle! Praise the Primordial Light! Praise the Goddess!!!”