The winds of the Paradoxical Expanse stirred tan cyclones across the corpse's distant dunes, sculpting and erasing landscapes every few breaths. Every shift of the desert was a whisper of its ruler's mood. Tonight, the desert was tense.
The Sand Dragon, Qarazuun the Dune-King, coiled atop a towering plateau of shimmering grains of sand. His scales were ridged like eroded canyons, each plate marked by years of shifting winds. Around him spiraled a small world of floating sand that moved only to his will. Beneath him, the deserts made of the dragon emperor stretched out like a sleeping titan heatless, barren, and silent.
Beside him already was the Mineral Dragon, Rokhal the Earth Tyrant, walking slowly but shaking the earth with each step. His hide was a mosaic of different rocks. The desert's faint light refracted off him in shattered rainbows.
He summoned the others here and they came. The first to appear was the Shadow Dragon, a silhouette with no body, a presence without form. Vanthelor manifested as ripples in darkness, rising from the Sand Dragon's own shadow. No sound accompanied him only absence.
Along with him was the Moon Dragon, Selunaris, drifting like a glowing moth through mist. Her scales shimmered with soft silver illumination, each breath releasing faint moon-dust. Her presence cooled the scorched dunes.
Next came the Infernal Dragon King, Pyrantor, wings of burning red and veins that glowed like molten iron. When he landed, the sand melted. Heat radiated from him in waves that distorted the horizon. Behind him fluttered the Thermal Dragon, Cindervale, a slim dragoness of bronze-red hues whose heat could twist air into mirages.
When the final dragon settled, the Sand Dragon finally spoke. His voice was ancient wind through stone caverns. "My kin… my rivals… my uneasy companions. You feel it, do you not?" Shifting sands responded like a great beast turning in its sleep. "Death stirs."
The Shadow Dragon's silhouette pulsed once. "Nýxavor always stirs. He breathes tragedy. He spreads rot. It is his nature."
The Sand Dragon shook his head slowly. "No. This is different." Qarazuun lifted one claw. Sand swirled up, forming an image—grain by grain—of a cavern deep within the corpse. The shapes flickered. "In the Organ Depths," Qarazuun said, "my eyes saw Death and Phantasm enter together. They descended into the Emperor's remains."
Pyrantor snorted molten breath. "We all wish to enter the depths. What of it?"
The sand illusion shifted. An outline of the Emperor's final heart pulsed weakly. Then for a brief moment a black ovoid shape appeared. No reflection. No light. No features. Then it was gone. Selunaris inhaled sharply, her moonlight flickering. "What… is that?"
The Sand Dragon did not answer immediately. Instead, he looked at each monarch, eyes heavy with centuries of memory. "I have lived longer than any dragon here. I knew the world before any of you crawled out of your eggs. Before you took your thrones. And I tell you now…"
His wings unfurled, casting a shadow large enough to rival mountains. "Something ancient that I have never seen in my life slumbers in that heart."
The Infernal Dragon rumbled, voice deep and earthen. "You believe he found an artifact? I'm surprised that the Great Ones did not take it for themselves."
"Not an artifact," Qarazuun said gravely. "I believe that is an Immortal Egg!"
Silence crashed into the desert harder than any meteor. Even Pyrantor's flames froze in place. Selunaris' luminous pupils widened. "Impossible. The Supreme Ones are a myth… aren't they?!"
"Or so we believed." Qarazuun's eyes narrowed.
The Infernal Dragon growled low. "If Death has found an Immortal Egg, then—"
"It's over," the mineral dragon finished for him.
"That is correct," the shadow dragon nodded his head. "I heard tale that long ago in this very Nest a supreme descendant was born here and it ruled with absolute dominion over the whole Nest."
"This cannot continue," Qarazuun said. "Death must be stopped. Before he awakens what must never awaken."
Selunaris bowed her head. "Death is not easy prey as you know. You have tired to put him down many times but he keeps coming back."
Cindervale swallowed nervously. "To go deep into the corpse..."
Qarazuun turned toward her. "That is why I gathered you. My alliance. The cautious ones. The keen ones. The ancient ones. Those who do not need to roar to be feared." He let the words settle like drifting silt.
"And what of the others?" the Infernal Dragon asked. "Sword, Atomic, Ocean, Sky. Do we not bring them in?" The Sand Dragon did not answer. Instead he lifted one claw and swept it across the dunes. Images appeared of meetings happening, alliances being secured and armies preparing to march out and spill oceans of blood.
Shadow Dragon chuckled from everywhere and nowhere. "Look at them." The images shifted: Sword and Atomic's alliances were already racing toward collision. "Already seeking to kill each other."
"Yes, and so," Qarazuun said, dismissing the illusions with a flick of his tail, "involving them would be a waste of time. They are liabilities more likely to kill each other before we even reach the depths."
Pyrantor folded his wings, embers dripping from his jaws. "There is one more faction," he said. "A faction older than even you."
The Sand Dragon's eyes narrowed. "You speak of the Sovereign Blooded."
"Yes," Pyrantor growled. "They do not mingle with us. See us as beneath them and are more interested in scheming against each other."
"Come now Pyrantor are we any better," the shadow dragon chuckled.
"No, but if Death has found an Immortal Egg then they will want to know and they will stand a better chance than us!"
"Without proof, the Sovereigns will not mobilize. They need certainty to act as they are locked in a stalemate. Each is worried that the other will attack them if they come so they will need to be as one."
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The Sword Dragon King's fortress was never quiet. Not at dawn. Not at dusk. And certainly not tonight. Artorius, Raijin, and Zoklath stood in silence, waiting for their "guests." A horn blew. A long, rising sound like crystalline bells struck by a hammer made of silk and moonlight.
The first to appear was the Gem Dragoness, gliding on prismatic wings that refracted light into blade-sharp rainbows. Her scales shimmered in hues of sapphire, ruby, amethyst, and opal living jewels arranged in regal symmetry. Behind her marched her gemstone legion, their armor faceted like carved diamonds, reflecting the fortress lights in blinding brilliance.
Image: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/60517188736888140/
Beside her landed the Fragrance Dragoness, her presence heralded by wafts of intoxicating scent rose, lavender, night lotus, and the faintest sweetness of poison. Her wings were thin veils of color-shifting pollen clouds, and each breath she exhaled left the air glittering with motes of perfume-bound magic. Behind her, perfumed warriors marched in silent, graceful unity.
Artorius tensed. He knew her. She knew him. But the surprise did not end there. Behind the twin queens came two more figures identical in shape, opposite in nature. Two dragons gliding side by side, mirror reflections of day and night given scale and flame. The Twilight Dragoness, cloaked in shifting dusk and starlight, eyes glowing violet-gold. The Dawn Dragoness, burning with sunrise radiance, bright gold and warm rose hues. Their combined armies of twilight specters and dawnlit soldiers came in behind them.
Artorius let out a slow whistle. "Great," he muttered. "Four queens. Four armies. One ego-driven Sword Dragon. This'll go well." Zoklath chuckled. Raijin groaned. And then the doors of the battlement hall opened. The Sword Dragon King strode out with the Psychic Dragon at his side.
"Welcome, jewels and perfumes," the Sword Dragon said. His tone was flat. Almost bored. "And welcome, children of dawn and twilight. You bring more than I expected."
The Gem Dragoness leveled a sharp stare at him. "Do you think we fear you, Sword Dragon?"
He smiled thinly. "Yes. Yes I do and for good reasons. I alone can kill both of you. And he alone can kill both your new followers."
The Fragrance Dragoness hissed, elegant and venomous. "You overestimate yourself, blade-spawn."
"Come let's entertain ourselves," the Sword dragon said as they went towards the newly prepared but much larger fighting arena. There was already cheering and roaring as two draconic gladiators fought with savage intent, blades and talons clashing in a spray of embers.
Blood sport was the Sword Dragon's preferred backdrop for diplomacy. A long wooden table, carved from Emperor bone was already set up. Dozens of lesser dragon servants brought platters of raw meat, bloodwine, and power-infused marrow shards. Everyone took their seats.
Artorius stood behind the Sword Dragon's right shoulder as the queens took their seats. The Fragrance Dragoness sneered at the brutal combat. "How barbaric."
The Sword Dragon snorted. "This is discipline. Soldiers train. Blood is earned." Then he clapped his clawed talons once. The fighting stopped. From the shadows behind the thrones, two bound prisoners were dragged out covered in bruises, stripped of armor, heads bowed in defeat.
It was the Moss Dragon and Pollen Dragon, the twin subordinates of the Fragrance Queen that Artorius had defeated and captured. The Fragrance Dragoness froze. Her perfume wavered sweetness turning acrid. "These are gifts for you to show my noble intention."
They were tossed forward and collapsed at her feet. "Let's not waste breath," the Sword Dragon said. "You know why you are here."
The Gem Dragoness leaned forward. "Care to enlighten us."
"Oh, you are beautifully crystallized but hopelessly blind," the Sword Dragon said, almost fondly. "Do you think the four of you can stand against what is coming? Already the others have started making great alliances. The Atomic dragon has met with the Sky and Ocean Dragon with the Kinetic, Cyber, Storm, and Sound Dragons in attendance."
There was some inhalation of deep breaths once that tid bit of information was revealed but the Sword Dragon did not stop there. "And the Sand, Shadow, and Infernal Dragon have made an alliance with their followers there; the Mineral, Moon, and Thermal Dragons."
The Sword Dragon pointed at them with the tip of his blade-wing. "Two great alliances already stand united. Both large. Both dangerous. And you think you can fight them?" Artorius watched the queens closely. Their expressions soured.
The Sword Dragon addressed them plainly. "Individually, you will fall. Together, you may survive."
The Fragrance Dragoness finally spoke, her voice dripping with venom. "Even if we were inclined to ally with you.." She gestured at Artorius without looking at him. "I will not stand beside the one who murdered my Radiance Dragon Lord."
Artorius couldn't help himself. "He tried to kill me first."
She ignored him and rose slowly. Her wings shimmered with deadly pollen. One breath from her could kill many. "We will ally with you, Sword Dragon, on one condition." The Psychic Dragon's eyes glowed. Artorius already knew what she'd say. "Give me," she whispered, "his head."
The Sword Dragon leaned back. "No."
She froze. "What?"
"He is mine," the Sword Dragon said simply. "And he is useful." Artorius blinked. Useful? That was almost… nice? The Sword Dragon continued. "When the corpse is conquered, the threats destroyed perhaps then I will consider it."
The Fragrance Queen stared. Then slowly sat. "…Very well. For now." The Gem Dragoness exhaled while the Twilight and Dawn stayed out of it. However inside Artorius was seething, but held it all inside. He needed to accelerate his plans
The Paper Dragoness, knowing the moment had stabilized, swept her scroll open fully. "This alliance," she said, "is mathematically optimal."
The Gem Dragoness tilted her head. "And what do we gain?"
"Survival," the Psychic Dragon answered calmly. "And positioning."
The Sword Dragon's tail tapped once. "You gain my information. My armies. My fortress. My control of the tailbone. My access to the outer corpse. And my strength." He raised a single talon. "Do you accept my alliance?"
The Gem Dragoness nodded first. "We accept. For now."
The Twilight and Dawn Dragoness spoke as one. "We will fight beside you."
Finally the Fragrance Dragoness exhaled one slow, poisonous breath. "We accept. But when this is over…" She looked at Artorius, eyes glowing with murderous promise. "…I will collect my due."
Artorius gave a weak smile. "Looking forward to negotiating that." She smiled back. It was the most terrifying smile he'd ever seen.
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Author Note: Well everyone is just going right at it.
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