Morning arrived slowly beneath the burning skies of the Dragon Realm.
The volcanic horizon glowed crimson beyond the colossal windows of the Crimson Royal Castle while rivers of molten lava illuminated the distant mountains like flowing scars carved across the world itself. Ancient dragon statues towered across the royal fortress beneath drifting ash-filled winds while silver flames continued burning endlessly within obsidian braziers lining the endless corridors.
The atmosphere of the castle felt quieter than usual this morning.
Heavy.
Ancient.
As though the fortress itself still remembered the coronation from only days ago.
Inside the master chamber—
Kel remained asleep upon the enormous black royal bed positioned beneath dark crimson curtains. The silver flames near the walls illuminated portions of the chamber softly while ancient runes engraved into the obsidian ceiling emitted faint golden light.
The Dragon Emperor robes rested carelessly across a nearby chair tonight.
Instead—
Kel wore only loose black sleeping robes partially draped across his body while dark hair scattered messily across the pillow beneath him.
For once—
The Dragon Emperor actually looked his age.
Peaceful.
Young.
Not like the terrifying existence capable of making ancient dragons kneel.
The chamber doors opened quietly afterward.
Vistara entered slowly.
Her long crimson royal dress flowed elegantly across the black floor while crimson draconic embroidery shimmered faintly beneath the silver flames. Her Crimson hair rested neatly behind her shoulders today while golden ornaments shaped like dragon wings decorated portions of her hair softly.
She paused briefly near the entrance.
And silently stared toward Kel.
The room remained calm.
Only the distant sound of volcanic winds entering through the windows could be heard.
Then—
Vistara sighed softly.
"…You actually sleep deeply now."
At the beginning—
Kel had always slept lightly.
Too lightly.
Years of weakness and danger had trained his body to remain alert constantly.
Even small sounds once woke him immediately.
But now—
Perhaps because he had finally become strong enough—
He could actually rest.
Vistara slowly approached the bed afterward before stopping beside him quietly.
For several moments—
She simply watched him silently.
Then finally—
Her fingers gently pulled aside portions of his dark hair.
"Kel."
No response.
"…Kel."
Still nothing.
A faint amused smile appeared on her face afterward.
Then without hesitation—
She pinched his cheek.
Hard.
Kel's eyes opened instantly.
His hand immediately grabbed her wrist reflexively while terrifying aura pressure almost exploded across the chamber—
Before stopping abruptly.
The silver flames trembled violently.
Vistara remained completely calm despite the overwhelming pressure surrounding her.
Kel blinked several times afterward before finally relaxing.
"…Morning."
Vistara raised one eyebrow calmly.
"That is your response after nearly crushing my wrist?"
Kel slowly released her hand before sitting upright with a quiet sigh.
"You attacked first."
"I woke you up."
"You assaulted the Dragon Emperor."
"You deserved it."
Vistara stared at him silently for several seconds.
Then unexpectedly—
A small laugh escaped her lips.
Rare.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
Kel narrowed his eyes slightly afterward.
"…You seem to be in a good mood."
The crimson-haired dragon woman quietly folded her arms beneath the chamber light.
"I finally found out who placed the curse on me."
That immediately changed the atmosphere.
Kel's expression lost all traces of laziness instantly.
The room became colder.
His dark eyes narrowed slightly while looking toward her.
"…Who?"
Vistara's smile disappeared afterward.
"The Steel Silver Household."
Silence filled the chamber immediately.
Outside—
Volcanic winds howled softly beyond the colossal windows.
Kel quietly repeated the name internally.
The Steel Silver Household.
The royal bloodline directly connected to the previous Silver Dragon King.
One of the most politically powerful households in the entire Dragon Realm.
Ancient.
Arrogant.
Influential.
Kel leaned slightly forward afterward.
"So it really was political."
Vistara nodded calmly.
"Yes."
Her crimson eyes reflected the silver flames quietly afterward.
"The curse was never personal."
A faint coldness appeared within her expression.
"In politics, lives are only targeted when they become obstacles."
Kel remained silent while listening.
Vistara slowly looked toward the volcanic skies outside.
"And the greatest obstacle standing from the Steel Silver Household…"
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"…was the heir of their family."
Kel immediately understood.
The heir.
The same dragon Velor killed during the Sacred Wildness Selection.
The one standing closest to the throne before Velor's rise.
Vistara quietly crossed her arms afterward.
"Once their heir died…"
She exhaled softly.
"…the political reason for targeting them disappeared."
The chamber became quiet again.
Kel carefully observed her expression afterward.
No rage.
No hatred.
No vengeance.
Only calm understanding.
And strangely—
That felt more dangerous.
Because emotional anger faded eventually.
But calm decisions remained forever.
Kel finally spoke quietly.
"So what did you decide?"
Vistara looked toward him.
"About revenge."
The crimson-haired dragon woman remained silent briefly afterward.
Then calmly shook her head.
"No."
Kel raised one eyebrow slightly.
"No?"
"It was politics."
Her voice remained composed.
"Political families eliminate threats. That is simply reality."
The silver flames flickered quietly across her face afterward.
"The obstacle they feared already died during the Selection Competition."
Another pause.
"So there is currently no reason to attack the Steel Silver Household."
Kel stared at her silently for several moments.
Then slowly—
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Because her answer resembled his own thinking more than she realized.
Practical.
Cold.
Logical.
Yet Vistara wasn't finished.
Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly afterward.
"However…"
Kel tilted his head slightly.
"If my thoughts change someday…"
A dangerous calmness appeared within her gaze.
"And they become annoying even once…"
The temperature inside the room seemed to drop subtly.
"…Then I will have two reasons to destroy them."
Silence followed immediately afterward.
Kel quietly stared at her.
Then unexpectedly—
He laughed softly.
Not mockingly.
Genuinely amused.
Vistara blinked slightly.
"…What?"
Kel shook his head while standing from the bed slowly.
"You really changed."
At the beginning—
Vistara had been emotionally fragile beneath her calm exterior.
Years of suffering and the curse had isolated her completely.
But now—
There was steel inside her.
The composure of royalty.
The mentality of someone capable of surviving political warfare.
And unfortunately—
Kel's influence probably contributed greatly to that transformation.
The Dragon Emperor stretched lazily afterward while yawning softly.
His loose black robes shifted carelessly around him while silver light illuminated portions of his exposed collarbone beneath the chamber flames.
"So…"
He glanced toward her casually.
"Why wake me up personally?"
Vistara turned away briefly while speaking calmly.
"Velor sent me."
Kel blinked once.
"That explains the early suffering."
"You are impossible."
"I am correct."
Vistara ignored him gracefully.
"The new Dragon King is currently holding the selection for the next Twelve Divine Generals."
Kel's expression sharpened slightly afterward.
Ah.
Right.
The previous generation had already disappeared.
Or rather—
Currently remained imprisoned inside his dimensional space.
The Dragon Realm now required a new generation of generals.
Vistara continued speaking while walking toward the chamber doors slowly.
"Since Velor became king, he wants to personally oversee the selection process himself."
Kel quietly followed behind her while fixing portions of his robes casually.
"He doesn't trust others to choose his generals."
"No."
A faint smile appeared on Vistara's lips afterward.
"He specifically said…"
Her voice shifted slightly, imitating Velor poorly.
'If those old fools select them, they'll just choose politically loyal idiots again.'
Kel snorted quietly afterward.
"That sounds exactly like him."
The massive chamber doors opened slowly.
Ancient crimson corridors stretched endlessly beyond them beneath towering obsidian pillars engraved with silver dragon runes. Countless servants immediately froze the moment they saw Kel emerging from the royal chamber.
Several nearly panicked instantly.
Others lowered their heads immediately.
The pressure surrounding the Dragon Emperor had become terrifying after the coronation.
Even walking casually—
He radiated authority unconsciously now.
Kel yawned again while walking beside Vistara calmly.
"So why involve me?"
Vistara glanced toward him sideways.
"Velor said you are better at identifying monsters pretending to be leaders."
Kel smiled faintly afterward.
"A fair assessment."
The crimson-haired dragon woman continued.
"He wants you to evaluate the candidates and determine which among them truly deserves becoming one of the Twelve Divine Generals."
The corridor remained quiet except for their footsteps echoing softly across the obsidian floor.
Far below the castle—
Faint sounds could already be heard.
Crowds.
Roars.
Weapons clashing.
The arena had clearly become chaotic already.
Kel calmly placed both hands inside his robe pockets afterward.
"I wonder how many participants joined."
Vistara looked ahead quietly.
"Thousands."
Kel immediately stopped walking.
"…Thousands?"
"For twelve positions."
A brief silence followed.
Then slowly—
A dangerous smile appeared on Kel's face.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Because competition created desperation.
And desperation revealed true character faster than almost anything else.
The Dragon Emperor resumed walking afterward.
"Then let's go see."
His dark eyes reflected the silver flames quietly.
"How many among them are truly worthy of becoming Divine Generals."
Outside—
The volcanic skies burned endlessly above the Dragon Realm.
And deep within the colossal royal arena—
Thousands of dragons had already begun fighting desperately…
Completely unaware that the Dragon Emperor himself was coming to observe them.