A bet?
Hearing that word, everyone present agreed without hesitation.
If the bet was won, then even if Focalors herself died, the Hydro Dragon King wouldn't leave Fontaine for a very long time. A Dragon King with complete Authority could keep Fontaine stable and peaceful for a long time.
Even if Celestia noticed, they still wouldn't choose to fight a complete Dragon King for the time being—there was simply no benefit in it.
And if the bet was lost, how much worse could the outcome really be? It would just unfold according to the prophecy: Focalors would die, and the people of Fontaine would dissolve into the waters of the Primordial Sea.
As a gambler, Focalors's move was indeed insane—so insane she didn't even leave herself much of a fallback plan.
"Fontaine's prophecy exists in Irminsul," Buer said.
If it were her facing the same situation, she couldn't think of any better solution either.
Rather than waiting for the prophecy to happen, it was better to break the cauldron and sink the boat—go all in. Maybe, using "007," they could seize a turning point at the smallest possible cost.
"Koji, can you return the ancient dragon's Authority on the Dendro Archon's throne back to Apep?" Buer asked.
With Koji here, even if Apep regained complete Authority, she wouldn't be able to cause trouble. That was Buer's confidence.
"Buer, you…"
Apep hadn't expected Buer to say something like that. Wasn't she afraid? …Apparently not.
Apep felt that even with complete Authority, she still wouldn't be able to beat Koji.
"Yes."
Koji nodded. Even if Apep wanted to rebel, Koji could still blast the Eleazar plague flat again.
Apep regained the full ancient dragon Authority and became a complete Dendro Dragon King. Aside from still being a bit weak, her presence surged again, rising by a massive margin—like the difference between heaven and earth.
Forest… I have returned.
Apep let out a dragon roar so loud it shook the air. The Abyss's influence was purged completely, and she had regained her complete Authority—this feeling was almost indescribably liberating.
Fontaine.
Neuvillette, who had been working, lifted his head and looked toward the Sumeru Desert.
"The Dendro Dragon King's aura… and it's the complete ancient Authority of the Dendro Dragon!" Neuvillette murmured.
As fellow Elemental Dragon Kings, they could naturally sense the aura of their kin.
The Dendro Dragon King's aura was even more ancient than his. If he wasn't mistaken, this had to be one of the original Dragon Kings who had survived from the earliest era.
He wanted to speak with this senior, but there was no time. Dragonkind lived long—there would always be a day they met.
"What is it, old friend?"
Azhdaha had also sensed the Dendro Dragon King's aura. He froze for a moment, then asked.
"It's nothing. I just sensed the aura of an ancient dragon—over in Sumeru. They're venting their presence without the slightest attempt to hide it," Azhdaha said.
He and that Apep had never met—more like the relationship between unfamiliar dragons.
"An ancient dragon… truly a very old existence. If it's Sumeru, it should be the Dendro Dragon King. I haven't heard anything about her in many years," Zhongli said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"Didn't you say before that Apep sleeps too deeply?" Azhdaha asked.
"Yes. The Hydro Dragon King's aura is very young, while this Dendro Dragon King's aura is extremely ancient."
Even Azhdaha was curious. What era had this Dragon King lived through to still be alive today?
"Back then, the Dendro Dragon King took part in the war against Celestia. She was one of the few Dragon Kings who survived," Zhongli said with a faint smile.
"Zhongli, you know quite a lot. When that great war happened, were you watching from the sidelines?" Azhdaha asked suspiciously. After all, his old friend was far too mysterious—he knew far too much.
"As for that… where contracts are concerned, I won't say," Zhongli said with a smile, shaking his head.
He could say it, but as the God of Contracts, he naturally had to uphold the spirit of contracts.
Azhdaha's mouth twitched. Of course Zhongli would say that. Always speaking in riddles—knows so much, but refuses to explain.
…
"Apep, is this your human form?" Buer asked with clear interest, looking Apep up and down.
Not a colossal dragon body, but a tall, elegant mature woman. The aura of ages settling over time was obvious on her, adding a refined, mature charm.
Even though Apep's voice made it clear she was female, seeing her human form still made people's eyes light up.
"Human form really is fragile and weak." Apep frowned.
Compared to her dragon body, a human body was far too weak. It couldn't bring out her power.
"If you don't become human, you can't enter humans' tiny little cities at all," Buer said.
"The aura on you… that's the power of the Abyss (outside the world), isn't it?" Apep said as she looked at Skirk.
She was naturally very familiar with that power… and—
That's vicious. None of those limbs are the original ones. What kind of torment did that take?
"Yes," Skirk said flatly.
Apep was one of the few true powerhouses Skirk had met.
"If it's right now, I have no interest in fighting." Apep's tone stayed calm.
After being pinned down and ground into the dirt by Koji just now, she definitely had no interest in battle.
"Buer, I agree to an alliance with you, but I'm not your tool. I'll only act when Sumeru is facing a catastrophe that could wipe it out," Apep said.
She couldn't bring herself to protect humans.
Sumeru had originally been her territory. Protecting Sumeru itself was no problem—but whether humans lived or died had nothing to do with her.
Buer nodded. "No problem, Apep. Welcome back."
"Hmph. Let's go. I want to see what Sumeru looks like now."
Apep snorted. It had been many years since she returned to the rainforest—if she said she felt nothing, that would be a lie. And this sandy-yellow hair of hers… it was time it became long emerald-green hair again.
"We can go back?" Nabu's eyes lit up.
She truly didn't want to stay in the desert. It was just too dry.
Hot was one thing—but the air here barely had any moisture at all. When she got back, she definitely needed to do some serious hydration work.
"Yes, we can head back. We'll leave it at that for this matter," Buer said, nodding.
With the Dendro Dragon King stationed here now, Sumeru also had top-tier combat power—4.6, at that.
Sumeru City.
Apep walked down the street. So this was a nation developed by humans?
Compared to back then, it was indeed orderly.
"How does it feel?" Buer asked.
"Still just as weak," Apep answered honestly.
These ordinary people couldn't even use elemental power. Their bodies were pathetically weak as well.
With a single slap, she didn't even know how many she could kill. She couldn't understand why those bastards on Celestia would allow humans to hold such a position.
Buer wore an expression that was half amused, half helpless. That really wasn't something she could refute.
Celestia had transformed phlogiston into elemental power, but humans who could truly control elemental power were still only a minority. Most had to rely on technological creations to use elemental attacks.
As for training their bodies… everyone had jobs—who even had the time…
(End of Chapter)
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