Chapter 44

The centre of the continent is experiencing unprecedented turmoil.

Even in the distant Dark Marsh Forest, some well-informed powerhouses have learned of the upheaval.

They felt shocked and bewildered, but that was all.

The might of the Holy Silver Empire is unquestionable, with the Silver Emperor who has lived from ancient times to the present seated on the throne; this ancient empire will surely face no trouble—this is the consensus of almost all powerhouses who have received the news.

Especially those ancient powerhouses who have personally witnessed the Silver Emperor's strike know best how terrifying this human emperor is.

Yet, just as all powerhouses assumed the Silver Emperor would mercilessly crush the beastman king who provoked him—

Strangely, the rebellious beastmen continued to launch offensives within the empire's borders, and their momentum grew ever larger.

Moreover, the beastmen, as if pre‑planned, incited other races enslaved by the Holy Silver Empire to join this uprising.

Half‑beastmen and minotaurs are the two main forces of the rebellion. The former are an independent bloodline born from beastmen and other races; the latter also share deep ties with beastmen.

One after another, beastmen, half‑beastmen, and minotaur powerhouses who seemed to appear out of nowhere began leading rebel troops to attack human towns and villages everywhere.

They looted wealth, food, and women, killed, burned, robbed, committed every evil, as if hysterically releasing the suffering of past enslavement.

As time passed, in a short span the empire lost over thirty percent of its territory to the rebel army. The various major forces and powerhouses who had been waiting to watch the show also underwent subtle shifts in their thoughts.

That Silver Emperor seemed not to crush his enemies as usual—was he weakened? Or had something gone wrong? No one knows, but this did not prevent some evil forces from also taking the opportunity to muddy the waters in the Holy Silver Empire and reap profits.

Dark Marsh Forest, Emerald City centre, a secluded spot.

A pale‑green vortex hovered silently in midair.

Dragon‑tooth soldiers whose appearance resembled draconians entered the vortex with cold expressions, then vanished from sight.

The view shifted, and the dragon‑tooth soldier found himself in a lush world where hundred‑meter ancient trees stood everywhere.

This is the Emerald Dream—a dimensional plane attached to the main material plane.

The dragon‑tooth soldier spread his dragon wings and flew toward the heart of the Emerald Dream, that towering ten‑thousand‑meter giant tree resembling a world tree.

Along the way, probing glances swept over him, then fell silent, allowing him to proceed straight into the depths of the dream.

Above the world‑tree‑like giant tree stood a splendid palace exuding natural aura.

This is the usual residence of the Green Dragon Queen 'Ysera'.

The dragon‑tooth soldier landed in the palace square, folded his wings, and presented himself before the queen with a loyal heart—she is also his creator.

Inside the hall, the dragon‑tooth soldier half‑knelt below and reported in a low voice the information he had obtained.

"My lord, the wood elves and wild dwarves in the northern Dark Marsh Forest have been frequently coming and going these days."

"The number of times the mountain giants' beasts in the western ridge have been seen has also increased; several of our outposts have suffered mysterious attacks."

Above the hall, on a dark‑gold throne sat a tall woman.

Ysera wore a black‑gold robe inlaid with jewels, the robe embroidered with green leaves and floral wreaths.

Below her high nose bridge lay a slightly upturned cherry‑colored lip, as vivid as a rose. Between her brows, a pair of pale‑green pupils like a phantasmal dream were deep and mysterious, seeming able to see into people's hearts, yet also brimming with unsurpassable majesty.

Her green hair fell like a waterfall over her shoulders, each strand seeming to refract a soft glow. When she lightly brushed her hair, the motion was both tender as water and yet retained a sovereign's dignity. A few strands of hair fell loosely on her face, adding an unintentional charm to her majesty.

The Green Dragon Queen 'Ysera' has always preferred to act in human form. Some secretly speculate that perhaps her true body is too huge, hindering daily affairs.

After silently listening to the dragon‑tooth soldier's report, the Green Dragon Queen remained silent for half a day.

The half‑kneeling dragon‑tooth soldier lowered his head further, daring not to show the slightest disrespect.

After a long while, as if having undergone a solemn contemplation, the Green Dragon Queen spoke, her tone light:

"Those lazy wastes in the dream are also due to move—pass on my order: this time the Emerald Dream will initiate the once‑every‑century Dark Marsh War ahead of schedule."

"Yes, I will follow your command." The dragon‑tooth soldier said respectfully, then lowered his head and left the palace.

The majestic palace doors slowly closed.

The green‑haired queen on the throne, however, remained deep in thought for a long while; her gaze wandered, and after a long time she softly sighed, "The world is about to fall into chaos."

"Chaos is the ladder of advancement; perhaps she can seize this opportunity to go further." "The Dark Marsh War has been brought forward?"

Emerald Academy, inside the Black Dragon Fortress, Leon—who had learned this news from the kobold maid 'Pestoya'—stiffened his dragon eyes.

The so‑called Dark Marsh War is a long‑standing convention among the major forces of the Dark Marsh Forest, namely:

Every hundred years, let the people below launch a war.

The purpose of this war is threefold: first, to consume the accumulated living beings of the past century; second, to shift internal conflicts outward.

Third, to forge a batch of elites through war.

And as the Emerald Dream occupies thirty percent of the Dark Marsh Forest's territory and is naturally the strongest evil force there, it naturally takes on many enemies alone.

The northern wild dwarves and wood elves, the western mountain giants and winged folk, the southern subterranean goblin state, etc.

Leon, in his spare time, would browse the interesting trivia and common knowledge recorded in the dragon inheritance, and thus naturally learned of this matter.

But judging by the schedule, the next Dark Marsh War still has over twenty years before it begins; by then Leon feels he has acquired some self‑defense ability and is not overly worried about this low‑intensity war.

After all, it is a customary war; true powerhouses do not personally participate, only engage in 'minor skirmishes.' If powerhouses were to join, the situation could spiral out of control.

"... I understand." Leon replied somewhat absent‑mindedly.

The kobold maid Pestoya quietly withdrew.

She closed the door.

Leaving Leon alone to ponder.

Pestoya could naturally obtain this information not because her status as a kobold maid is high; Leon guessed that someone above had specially delivered the message to her.

As the strongest young dragon of this generation's Dragon Fortress Plains, although he has never been summoned, Leon undoubtedly has entered the sight of the Emerald Dream's high echelons.

Needless to say, the fact that the dragon‑kin retainer Diugus was sent to the Fish Spirit Marsh is also known to the high echelons of the Emerald Dream.

This is a reminder to it.

Thanks to reader 'BookFriend20231021233241665' for rewarding 100 coins (end of chapter).