The name Evil Dragon Bahamut and the history of the War of Liberation were etched deeply into the minds of everyone on the Central Continent.
That was why they revered Dragon Slayer Terakan Draker, who had slain Bahamut, as the protagonist of the Legend of the Dragon Slayer.
As the hero who had liberated humanity from the dragon's tyranny.
Zeke's words, therefore, struck those gathered in the grand hall like a thunderbolt.
The vague concept of the Demon King had suddenly taken on a concrete form: the Evil Dragon Bahamut.
It was said that Bahamut had razed six of the Seven Kingdoms—sparing only Thebea— in the blink of an eye, captured humans to enslave them, and devoured a beautiful maiden at every meal.
'Though in reality, it was all fabricated nonsense from history.'
Zeke didn't want to tarnish the name of Bahamut, who had sacrificed himself to save the Phenomenal World, but he had no choice.
If he didn't frame it this way, the key figures of the Central Continent would never grasp the gravity of the Demon King's descent.
Indeed, after Zeke spoke, the faces of those in the hall grew uniformly grave.
If the Evil Dragon Bahamut were to revive and lay waste to the Central Continent once more, there was no hero like Terakan Draker to lead them to victory.
At that moment, Kali addressed the uneasy assembly.
"There is a chance to prevent the descent of the Evil Dragon Bahamut—no, the Demon King."
All eyes in the hall turned back to her.
Kali spoke slowly.
"The sinister dark mages who summon demonkind and seek to bring down the Demon King—they have hidden in the shadows of the Central Continent for centuries under the name Narak."
The mention of Narak set the room buzzing once more.
Ignoring the growing murmur, Kali continued.
"It has been revealed that this Narak has joined forces with the Rom Empire."
Her words sent a shockwave through the assembly, who erupted in louder exclamations.
"Th-the Rom Empire?"
"Gods, how could such a thing..."
As the excited crowd began to settle, Kali pressed on.
"To be precise, they have allied with Emperor Nero of the Rom Empire, who was believed to be long dead."
Nero's infamous reign of madness had once terrorized the Central Continent, so most in the room nodded in grim understanding.
"As expected, there must have been a reason behind that mad emperor's atrocities."
"His madness must have stemmed from the Demon King all along."
With the atmosphere sufficiently charged, Kali stepped forward and drove the point home.
"This cabal of Narak is currently preparing the Demon King's descent right here in Jupiter."
The murmurs died abruptly.
Jupiter—the Rom Empire's premier strategic stronghold, now held by Grand Jupiter Army remnants under Castor Pollock's imperial legions.
A natural fortress with ample supplies of food and water, it was the ideal site for sieges and prolonged battles.
This was precisely why the newly empowered Prince Leo of Rom had been unable to dislodge the holdouts.
Kali addressed the stunned room.
"To avert the colossal crisis bearing down on the Central Continent! We must form an allied army, liberate Jupiter, and eradicate these vile dark mages!"
As Kali drew her sword and shouted, the knightly delegates felt their blood surge; they raised their fists in roaring support.
"Yes! Let's crush them!"
"Our family's cadets will lead the vanguard—we'll smash those bastards!"
But unlike the fired-up knights, the Delphoa contingent—dominated by mages— remained subdued.
They conferred gravely among themselves.
Once the hall's fervor had somewhat ebbed, Delphoa's representative, the royal chief mage, fixed his gaze on Kali.
"I do not doubt Lady Kali's words, but there is one thing I must confirm." His voice was steady and low.
"Where is the proof that this group of dark mages known as Narak truly seeks to summon the Demon King? For that matter, the claim that the Evil Dragon Bahamut is the Demon King stems solely from Sir Zeke Draker's assertion—it is unverified. We require concrete evidence on this point."
The royal chief mage of Delphoa was demanding solid proof for Kali and Zeke's claims.
Kali faltered, unable to respond immediately.
'Proof...'
She could provide ample evidence of Narak summoning demonkind.
But proving they intended to summon the Demon King—and that this Demon King had once descended as the Evil Dragon Bahamut—was no simple task.
Historical records from the War of Liberation were scarce, and even official documents on Dragon Slayer Terakan Draker were hard to come by.
Some existed in the Draker Family's secret archives, but revealing them was taboo— even for Kali as family head.
Seeing her hesitation, the chief mage pressed on with evident skepticism.
"Lady Kali, if you cannot produce proper evidence, it could raise suspicions that you used the provocative notion of the Evil Dragon Bahamut's revival to incite the continental council and form an allied army without just cause." He scanned the room as he continued.
"Should an allied army form as you suggest and invade Jupiter, it would deplete the forces of the Central Continent's major kingdoms and families. If this proves untrue, one might suspect the Draker Family is using the alliance to eliminate threats while preserving their own troops."
The chief mage's words sowed doubt; the room's mood shifted.
"No way?"
"But the Draker Family... it's entirely possible..."
Arthur Draker's legacy of intrigue and manipulation had tainted the Draker name, embedding distrust in the subconscious of the continental elite.
The chief mage's spark ignited that latent suspicion, spreading like wildfire.
Seeing the reversal, Kali clenched her teeth.
'This isn't good.'
She had laid the groundwork for a continental alliance, only for one mage's words to fill the hall with doubt.
Kali glanced sidelong at Zeke beside her.
He was staring out at the assembly, deep in thought.
Then it happened.
"The Holy Kingdom supports the formation of the continental allied army." In the midst of the chaos, Pope Beatrice raised her hand and spoke.
As the Central Kingdom delegates recoiled in surprise at the Holy Kingdom's sudden declaration, Princess Melissa of Alencia followed suit.
"Alencia also supports the formation."
Those connected to Zeke Draker were stepping forward, one by one, to pledge their support.
Yellin, who had been silent, raised her hand.
"Ishtar will participate as well."
When even Ishtar—the notoriously insular family—committed, the hall stirred anew.
Xeros, observing from the side, shook the dozing Jorge awake.
"Family head, we should join too... Hey! Nirvana participates! We're in!"
With Nirvana suddenly on board, the Delphoa mages' faces twisted in frustration.
Delphoa was the Central Continent's mage superpower.
But the Nirvana Family, who called themselves magi and rejected Delphoa's academies and towers, had always been a thorn in their side.
Now, with Nirvana aligning with the alliance, the chief mage grew more heated, his resentment fueling his objections.
"We must think this through rationally! This could escalate to a continental war— thorough evidence and certainty are essential before deciding..."
BAM!
As the Delphoa chief mage ranted, the grand hall's doors burst open.
A group of knights strode in.
Their armor and weapons differed starkly from Central Continent styles—fierce, untamed warriors.
Knights from the Northern Continent's Himonas.
Fresh from severing a monster's head, their savage aura silenced the room.
From amid the hulking figures emerged one who stepped forward.
The lord of Himonas on the Northern Continent, queen of the north.
Grand Duke of the North Alicia Himonas stood at the hall's center, her platinum hair gleaming, her brilliant blue eyes fixed on Zeke atop the dais.
"Zeke Draker! Friend of the north! At your summons, the knights of Himonas have arrived!"
Alicia's booming voice, thick with northern accent, shook the hall.
The Himonas knights behind her bellowed a guttural cheer at Zeke, wild and welcoming.
The Central Continent delegates eyed the barbarian-like northerners with wary fear.
Even Kali, who knew Zeke had requested Himonas's presence, felt a jolt at the sight.
Zeke stepped forward and bowed to Alicia.
"Lady Alicia, thank you for attending the continental council."
Not everyone understood the Northern Continent tongue, but they caught Zeke addressing the lead knight as "Alicia."
Realization dawned: it was Alicia Himonas.
"Alicia Himonas?"
"The one who beheaded northern lords in a single stroke...?"
"She looks so delicate!"
Alicia's reputation on the Central Continent was one of brutal rumors.
Yet she possessed an unbelievably beautiful, slender form.
Zeke recalled how his past-life foes had fallen to underestimating her appearance.
'With the power of a great strength wielder in that frame, it's no wonder they couldn't gauge her might.'
Alicia's true terror lay not in her great strength wielder prowess.
It was her unyielding will and spirit.
That unbreakable resolve, fused with her power, had repelled armies of tens of thousands, safeguarding the north.
As the Delphoa chief mage, face flushed with rage, advanced once more.
"Are the northern knights joining the continental allied army too? How can we ally with such barbarians...!"
Delphoa had long scorned knights, especially the north's, decrying their mingling with other races.
The chief mage bellowed.
"What if these savages use the alliance as cover to plunder our supplies and strike from behind? Why invite them here?!"
Some noble houses nodded in agreement.
"Quite right! Even standing near such barbarians is revolting."
"I'm disappointed in the Draker Family! I thought the lineage of the noble Dragon Slayer upheld honor!"
Kali froze at their vitriol.
She hadn't anticipated this backlash against the north.
As Zeke moved to intervene.
THUD!
Alicia drew her Fang-Wolf Sword from her back.
She glared at the Delphoa chief mage and nobles who had branded the north barbarians, her eyes flashing.
"So there are plenty of loudmouths here too."
Fluent Central Continent speech flowed from Alicia's lips, startlingly clear.
Her voice, laced with killing intent, left even the knightly nobles trembling, unable to retort.
Brandishing her Fang-Wolf Sword—nearly as large as she was—Alicia advanced on them, swinging it through the air.
"Let's see if your flapping mouths match your skill! Step forward!"
The nobles recoiled in panic.
Baring her teeth like a feral wolf, Alicia sneered.
"Cowards who won't even face me... I'll sever those useless heads myself." As she raised her Fang-Wolf Sword, channeling her great strength wielder power.
WHOOSH!
Zeke stepped between her and the nobles.