Choose the Platinum Dragon Lord, or choose the future of the Dragon Race?
For the Diamond Dragon Lord, the answer came instantly.
"I hope you're not lying to me."
His voice was low as the magic he had been gathering slowly subsided.
They had known each other for centuries, but when the fate of their race was at stake, personal bonds meant nothing.
If their deaths could help revive the Dragon Race, then the Blue Sky Dragon Lord and the Obsidian Dragon Lord had not died in vain.
"Haha! My old friend, congratulations on making the right choice. Look, a brand new era is about to begin, and we'll be there to witness it."
The Wyrm Dragon Lord burst into laughter after hearing the answer he wanted.
He had never worried that the Diamond Dragon Lord would refuse. After knowing him for centuries, he understood his old friend's character very well.
Although the Diamond Dragon Lord was also loyal to the Platinum Dragon Lord, it was not the same blind loyalty shown by the Blue Sky Dragon Lord and the Obsidian Dragon Lord.
When it came to the greater cause of the Dragon Race, the Diamond Dragon Lord would abandon everything without hesitation.
That was the main reason the Wyrm Dragon Lord had suggested trying to persuade him.
"I'll be waiting for that moment."
The tense atmosphere faded, and the two dragons began chatting casually. Most of the time, the Diamond Dragon Lord asked questions while the Wyrm Dragon Lord answered.
Even with the dragon scales of the Brightness Dragon Lord and the Heavenly Dragon Lord, two ancient True Dragon Lords, as proof, the Diamond Dragon Lord still wanted to understand as much as possible.
After all, this concerned the future of their race.
Time passed like this for quite a while.
Meanwhile, the White Dragon Lord had finally finished his exhausting battle of wits with the Doppelgängers.
"Finally done. Damn it, next time I'm never asking those two for help again."
The White Dragon Lord stuck out his tongue and grumbled.
He walked over to the corner and looked at the Diamond Dragon Lord.
Although he was curious about how the Wyrm Dragon Lord had managed to convince him, he simply nodded politely.
After all, this dragon would now be one of their own. Maintaining good relations was important. That was the White Dragon Lord's personal philosophy for survival.
"Gentlemen, we should discuss the next step."
The two Supreme Ones were about to arrive in their loyal Argland Council State.
The White Dragon Lord felt they needed to think carefully about how to minimize trouble and make it easier for the two Supreme Ones to take control of the nation.
...
The next day, outside the capital of the Argland Council State.
At a glance, it was clear that the formation of the demihuman army had subtly changed compared to the previous day.
Through the quiet arrangements of the three Dragon Lords, the demihumans loyal to them had all been placed toward the rear.
At the very front were now demihuman soldiers who were close to the Platinum Dragon Lord, the Obsidian Dragon Lord, and the Blue Sky Dragon Lord.
Although the sudden redeployment felt a little strange, the demihumans didn't think too much about it.
Now thirty thousand strong, the demihuman army stood ready for battle, staring grimly into the distance.
The enemy was coming.
Boom!
The sky began to crack apart as a massive portal appeared.
At the same time, the sound of synchronized marching echoed through the air.
Dust rose into the sky and the earth trembled as the steady rhythm of footsteps approached without the slightest disorder.
Under the watchful eyes of the demihuman army, a force carrying an unfamiliar banner gradually came into view.
A chill ran through every heart.
This was a strange army.
Not humans.
Not demihumans.
Not beastmen.
They were undead skeletons.
Their numbers were only around three thousand. Compared to the thirty thousand demihumans present, that seemed insignificant.
Yet no one laughed.
Every skeleton was fully armed.
They wore golden full-body armor, held crystal-like swords, and draped brilliant cloaks over their shoulders.
The magic casters among the demihuman army quickly reached a horrifying conclusion.
None of those items were decorations.
Every single one of them was a precious magic item.
"How is that possible? There are so many magic items!"
A wave of unrest spread through the demihuman army. Before they could calm down, however, they saw the black legion advancing behind them.
Shifting mist replaced flesh and blood, and faint glimmers flickered within the haze.
Soul Eaters.
Undead that delighted in devouring the souls of the living.
Each one possessed enough destructive power to wipe out an entire city. They were undead far more advanced than Death Knights.
Behind the Soul Eaters, four enormous skeletal giants carried a massive platform as they slowly advanced.
On the platform stood two figures, faintly visible.
One wore crimson armor and held a long pipette lance dripping with blood. It was Shalltear, already in her Valkyrie form.
The other figure was somewhat unexpected.
Clad in deep blue armor and wielding a dragon lance, it was Sephis, who should have been assisting Demiurge with the dragon creation project.
"I didn't expect you to come, Sephis."
Shalltear looked slightly surprised. According to the original plan, it should have been her and Cocytus going into battle.
"Demiurge's work has reached its final stage. He no longer needs me to guide the dragon veins."
"And for Cocytus, slaughtering creatures this weak would only bore him. So I volunteered to take his place."
Sephis replied calmly. It wasn't coldness. That was simply his natural personality.
"I see. Then how about we compete and see who kills more?"
Shalltear nodded and raised her right hand, clenching it into a fist.
When it came to Sephis, Shalltear always felt a sense of rivalry.
Was she stronger, as the creation of Peroroncino-sama?
Or was Sephis, created by Naohara-sama, stronger?
She was very curious about that. But as Guardians, they couldn't fight each other to the death, so she proposed this unusual contest instead.
"I don't mind. But Shalltear, don't lose control. Keep yourself in check. Remember, the two Supreme Ones are watching us."
Sephis showed no visible expression, but as the village chief of Carne Village once said, he was actually a gentle person at heart.
"Hmph. I know, you're so annoying."
Although she spoke with obvious annoyance, Shalltear casually waved her arm.
Seeing this, Sephis shook his head and raised his own fist.
Their fists lightly bumped together.
"Then let us enjoy this feast of blood."
The moment the words left his mouth, both Sephis and Shalltear vanished.
One became a streak of lightning, the other a cloud of crimson mist as they shot downward.
They had nothing to say to the demihuman army.
The Supreme Ones had already arranged everything.
All the two of them needed to do was kill the designated demihumans.