Alarm bells thundered across the lands of the Imperial Court Empire as soldiers poured from barracks and watchtowers, while messengers carried the same terrifying report from one territory to the next: a mysterious dragon had appeared in their skies and was stripping the mana from everything in his path at a rate no one could explain.
The news spread faster than Max himself, passing through the hands of commanders, nobles, and regional officials until it eventually reached the imperial palace. Orders were issued almost immediately, sending every available force toward the dragon before the damage could spread any farther, yet anger quickly gave way to unease when the first soldiers failed to return.
