The ocean stretched out like a magnificent, boundless painting.
Endless waters rippled with emerald waves, reflecting the blue of the sky and forming a scene as beautiful as poetry brought to life.
Sunlight poured down across the sea, making every patch of water sparkle with dazzling light, as though countless stars had fallen into the mortal world.
Far from the mainland, somewhere within the endless ocean.
Deep beneath the sea lay a volcano. Its surface was layered with flowing lava, rows of jagged pillars hanging with sand and broken stone.
Near the crater were many fissures where scorching seawater poured out, nurturing the growth of fire coral.
Although this place lay within a deep-sea trench, the magma erupting from below showed no fear of the freezing ocean. The surrounding waters were far hotter than usual.
The blazing lava bed was steeped in elemental power.
Ordinary monsters rarely chose to remain here.
Yet in an environment rich in both water and fire elements, certain special elemental beings had made this place their home.
Lava Elemental Spirits were one such species.
They were the essence born from the fusion of earth and flame, a union of the fire element and the earth element.
Dark stone surged across their bodies, while magma and flames seeped from the cracks in that black rock.
Firelight spilled from the stone as if it might burst apart at any moment.
They were powerful and highly destructive elemental creatures. Much like fire elementals, anyone who approached them would be devoured by their overwhelming heat.
At the same time, possessing traits of both earth and fire elements, they were as solid as rock and scorching beyond measure.
Their temperature far exceeded that of pure fire elementals. Like stones heated until they glowed red, they burned even hotter than flames themselves.
However, because they lived on the seabed, their territory was extremely limited.
They could only remain within the vicinity of the volcano and were unable to leave.
This situation might have continued for a very long time, perhaps until the volcano itself finally died out.
But today, something changed.
"Boom!"
Heat gathered within the once-silent volcano.
The lava began to boil, and thick white steam several meters high suddenly rose from the surface of the molten rock.
Creatures in the sea sensed that something was wrong. No longer drifting calmly as before, they fled in panic.
The Lava Elementals tried to control the magma with magic, attempting to calm the restless volcano and restore it to peace.
But it was already too late.
In a single instant.
The volcano erupted violently. Ash and a massive column of steam burst through the ocean surface and shot thousands of meters into the sky.
Some of the nearby Lava Elementals were caught off guard and shattered by the tremendous shockwave.
The rest were forced away from the volcanic region, swallowed by the cold seawater.
Inside the erupting volcano.
The Dragon Lord known as [Swordmaster] slowly awoke from a light slumber. Its eyes opened gradually, a sharp gleam flashing within them.
Its immense presence caused the entire volcano to grow even more turbulent.
"Deep Darkness?"
Th Swordmaster Dragon Lord lifted its head, gazing upward through the magma toward the sky.
Without hesitation, it spread its wings and flew out.
The volcano hurled vast amounts of material into the air, pillars of molten lava rising and surrounding it in blazing firelight.
Several hundred meters above.
A gigantic dragon over one hundred meters long, its face fierce and monstrous, circled high in the sky.
"What an odd one. As a True Dragon Lord, instead of pursuing Wild Magic, he's obsessed with pushing the limits of his own body."
The Deep Darkness Dragon Lord thought to himself.
After reaching an agreement with Surshana and leaving the Theocracy, he did not head to the Elf Country immediately to capture the Elf King.
Instead, he began searching for the whereabouts of the Swordmaster Dragon Lord using the clues he had.
He was not like those two peculiar dragons, Brightness and the Heavenly Dragon Lord.
Although he spent most of his time researching inside underground caverns, he still ordered members of Zurrernorn to periodically report the latest developments in the world.
Information about the True Dragon Lords was among those reports.
That was precisely why he had been able to locate the Swordmaster Dragon Lord so quickly.
"Long time no see, old friend."
The steady flow of air began to shift. The atmosphere itself seemed to transform into countless invisible blades, sharp and terrifying.
Watching the massive dragon approaching him, the Deep Darkness Dragon Lord greeted him.
"What do you want with me?"
"If you came to fight, then you're welcome. But if not, don't disturb my training. Otherwise, don't blame me if I stop being polite."
The Swordmaster Dragon Lord looked very different from other True Dragon Lords.
A blade-like horn grew from his head, and his entire body was covered in golden reverse scales known as Blade Scales.
These golden scales were thin and sharp like blades, and they regenerated at an astonishing speed.
Every single scale on the Swordmaster Dragon Lord's body was a dangerous blade. When he fought, countless sharp scales would become deadly weapons.
That was also how the Swordmaster Dragon Lord earned his name.
"Hundreds of years have passed and you're still the same."
The Deep Darkness Dragon Lord, wrapped in darkness, shook his head slightly.
At the same time, a trace of caution flashed through his mind.
Although he was reluctant to admit it, when it came purely to close combat ability, the Swordmaster Dragon Lord was unquestionably the strongest among dragonkind.
At such a close distance, if the other side suddenly launched an attack, even he would likely fall into a complete disadvantage.
"I don't have time to chat with you."
"If you have something to say, then say it. If not, go back to your own territory."
The Swordmaster Dragon Lord spoke bluntly.
It was not that he disliked the Deep Darkness Dragon Lord. That was simply his personality.
Compared to talking, he preferred letting battle speak for him.
However, knowing the temperament of the Deep Darkness Dragon Lord, he did not think the other party would agree to a fight, so he had little interest in continuing the conversation.
"Then let's spar."
"If you really have nothing to say, I'll just go back…"
The Swordmaster Dragon Lord was about to leave, but in the next moment he suddenly froze.
"?"
"You agreed?"
The Swordmaster Dragon Lord paused briefly, but quickly recovered. A trace of vigilance flashed through his eyes.
When a weasel pays respects to a chicken, it rarely has good intentions.
He enjoyed fighting, but he was not a reckless brute who only knew how to fight.
Dragons were naturally intelligent creatures.
Those who could become True Dragon Lords were certainly not fools.
Some seemingly foolish actions simply came from absolute confidence in their own strength. They believed there was no need to overthink.
"That's right, Swordmaster. I need your help."
"You've been focused on training all this time, so you probably don't know yet. The Argland Council State has already been destroyed, and Platinum Dragon Lord has most likely been imprisoned by the Filth."
The Deep Darkness Dragon Lord could not help but sigh after saying this.
What a pity.
If Platinum Dragon Lord were still here, he would certainly be a powerful ally.
The Platinum Dragon Lord, who considered himself the guardian of the world, held an even more radical attitude toward Players than he did.
"The century-long aftershock has arrived again. New Filth has descended. As True Dragon Lords, we must unite."
"After all, there are no other kin left this time. Only a few of us remain."
"And that Filth will not let us go."