When the demons' attack on the continent of Mira increased, the races of the continent believed it was only a matter of time, and that the attack would subside and become like before—mere attacks and minor skirmishes on the borders of the Fallen Islands.
But what increased the fear of the races was that the attack did not decrease with time; rather, it intensified, and the dragons left the matter of protecting the Fallen Islands to them alone. They did nothing unless a great demon moved; aside from that, the races themselves were always on the front lines.
The races of the continent were not accustomed to this, for it had always been the dragons who led them and went to the front first.
They were not used to the dragons' absence during wars, and this caused the peoples and races not to know the numbers or the individuals who were going to the Fallen Islands, which made the races of the continent of Mira initially retreat little by little and allow the demons to take their Fallen Islands.
But over time, the races grew accustomed to the demons' attacks and coordinated their assaults to reclaim the islands they had lost.
However, they were unable to focus on more than one front in confronting the demons. As a result, many demons infiltrated the continent of Mira without anything being done to stop them, since most of the forces were in the Fallen Islands.
Thus, the demons spread throughout the continent of Mira, and this became a terror for the peoples and individuals of Mira, as they feared that anyone leaving a village or city might encounter a demon by chance along the way.
This led the kings of the races to cooperate and launch a campaign of extermination against the demons within the continent.
As the confrontation between the races of the continent of Mira and the demonic continent intensified and grew fiercer, the dragons watched and intervened when necessary—but not often. They were enjoying their king's orders, and they were also enjoying the matter of war, the rise of heroes among the races of the continent of Mira and their fall. This was a pleasure they had never imagined.
For each dragon would watch and choose one individual from the races, to see whether he would rise and become a hero and a brave fighter, or fall.
They wagered on their choices, and whoever won would take the other's treasures. To them, it was mere entertainment. They neither cared nor felt that the demons' attack was a danger or a serious problem, for a few adult dragons could end that foolish war.
Therefore, the dragons did not care and continued their wagers and their selection of heroes. They even left a few treasures to be found by those they had chosen, so that they would become stronger and win the wager.
When the leaders of the three dragon clans saw their state and their addiction to wagering, they looked at one another and decided to let them do as they wished. If dragons do not release their emotions in something, they may explode and lose control of their instincts. At least this allowed them to amuse themselves, kept them occupied, dispelled their boredom, and ensured they would not leave the land of dragons—just as their king had said.
One of the clan leaders looked toward the distant lair of the king and said to the other two leaders:
"What is it that leaves our king so sad and worries him?"
The leaders of the two clans looked at him and did not speak, but after a while one of them said:
"Do you think the matter is related to the forgotten Titans?"
When he said that, the two looked at him in shock, and one of them said:
"If that is true, then our king's concern is justified. The war that occurred thousands of years ago was among the fiercest wars we ever fought. Even our battle with the Demon King was not that difficult."
While the leaders of the dragon clans were discussing matters far from the continent of Mira, in the depths of the seas, there was a land once inhabited by gigantic sea creatures. But for thousands of years, those creatures had departed and abandoned their land out of fear of a new inhabitant.
The place was enveloped in terrifying silence, with mountains everywhere across the land. But this calm ended when a sudden earthquake occurred, and one of the towering mountains in the depths of the sea began to move.
As soon as the mountain moved, the nearby mountains also moved, taking shapes resembling humans with legs and arms, yet their enormity was that of mountains.
When the last mountain moved and transformed as well, the largest among them spoke and said:
"Do you feel that? It is the scent of a massive war about to occur."
One of the Titans beside him spoke—most of whose body was made of volcanic magma—and said:
"Will we take part in this war, leader?"
The massive giant fell silent for a moment and looked toward the land of Mira, as if he could see their sworn enemy, the dragons, sitting upon the throne of the land of Mira—their land. Then he said in a deep voice carrying a dangerous tone:
"We will take part in the war, but we must prepare before it."
One of the other Titans spoke—most of whose body was made of trees—and said:
"Will we prepare for war, leader? Will we forge our ancient weapons?"
The leader spoke and said:
"Yes, we will forge them, and we will take part in the war, and reclaim our land that the dragons and the rulers of those despicable races have seized."
The Titans looked at their leader and shouted, and they all said:
"To war! To war!"
Far from the depths of the sea, in the land of the dragons, the Dragon King awakened once more, looked toward the direction of the sea, and said in a majestic voice:
"Who is it that has the ability to look at us from such a great distance without being detected?"
Had the Dragon King not already been cautious due to his old feeling, he would not have sensed that gaze. But because of his caution, readiness, and constant watch over the continent of Mira even during his sleep, he sensed that fleeting glance from the leader of the Titans.
He did not know who it was that had looked toward them from such a distance, but he was certain that his feeling had been correct, and that enemies were hiding in the shadows—and that fleeting gaze had revealed them.