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Chapter 503: Respect
Thick smoke billowed forth, filling the hall with a choking presence. Genesis lifted her head, her pupils dilating sharply.
Her lips parted slightly as she murmured, "So that is the Ember Emperor."
As the smoke gradually dissipated, a towering figure emerged at the top of the steps, seated upon the colossal steel throne.
A massive red dragon lay there leisurely, its presence utterly overwhelming.
By Bahamut!
What an enormous dragon!
Genesis had never seen a red dragon of such magnitude—its size was unprecedented, even surpassing the Ancient Gold Dragons she had encountered.
Smoke occasionally escaped from between its scales, and its vast body resembled a rumbling volcano, as if molten lava could erupt at any moment.
But the true terror was its draconic presence, so overwhelming that even the well-traveled Genesis stood frozen, trembling from the depths of her soul.
An Ancient Red Dragon!
No, more than just an Ancient Dragon!
The metallic sheen of its scales, the crystalline structure on its chest, and its distinct horns all marked it as something unique.
As much as she loathed to admit it, upon seeing this red dragon, she felt an almost instinctive urge to kneel in reverence.
It reminded Genesis of the ancient legends within her clan—those dragons who had ignited their divine flames and ascended to immortality.
Cassius lowered his gaze, looking down at the visitors, a glint of amusement flickering in his molten-gold eyes.
"It has been some time, Olivia. Langpu has told me of your deeds. It seems you have performed your task well."
He paused briefly, then turned his gaze to Genesis, firelight flickering within his eyes.
"And as for our unfamiliar guest—aren't you going to introduce yourself?"
Hearing Cassius' words, Olivia felt a mix of nervousness and secret delight as she nodded.
Genesis, however, finally snapped out of her shock and panic.
She tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear, forcing a strained smile before bowing slightly, lifting the hem of her dress in a formal curtsy.
Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, Genesis spoke in an even tone, neither servile nor arrogant:
"Genesis of Melward, envoy of the clan, greets His Majesty, Cassius."
Olivia quickly added in a soft voice, "Genesis is my aunt and the most outstanding member of our generation. She holds Grandfather's full trust. Grandfather personally sent her here. Now, you should see the sincerity of Melward."
"Oh?"
Cassius' gaze lingered on Genesis' voluptuous form, his expression intrigued.
"Interesting. So this is that old man's daughter? No wonder she seems familiar."
Hearing Cassius' words, Genesis immediately felt displeased.
She deliberated for a moment before speaking firmly, "When Olivia returned, the clan elders debated extensively, each with their own views. It was my father who stood against opposition and made this cooperation possible. Your Majesty Cassius, allow me to speak frankly—"
"Aunt, that's enough."
Olivia tugged at Genesis' dress, signaling her to soften her tone.
She absolutely did not want Melward to become an enemy of Cassius.
After all, Olivia knew well—while Cassius was not a purely evil dragon, his methods against enemies were often more ruthless than those of true villains.
—The bloodstained guillotines across the empire stood as undeniable proof.
However, as the silver dragon most similar in temperament to Oszedro's younger years—headstrong and unyielding—Genesis was not so easily persuaded.
Ignoring Olivia's attempts to stop her, Genesis continued, "Shouldn't you show at least the most basic respect to your future allies?"
"Respect?"
Cassius slowly stood up, spreading his mighty wings with a flex of his powerful latissimus dorsi muscles, casting a vast shadow over the hall.
In that instant, an almost tangible wave of draconic might surged forth, sending tremors through Genesis' entire body.
"Clink!"
A crisp sound rang out.
Genesis looked up in horror—floating in midair was a crystalline sphere pulsing with divination magic, its shattered fragments falling to the ground.
Cassius' gaze turned cold as he stared down at Genesis, his voice deep and menacing:
"Using magic to probe an ally's weaknesses—this is the sincerity of Melward?"
"Clearly, you do not respect me."
"Impossible!"
"How did you detect it?!"
Genesis turned deathly pale, her body going weak as she nearly collapsed.
That was the [Truth-Seeking Crystal Sphere] she had borrowed from Trafarlan, capable of detecting an enemy's vulnerabilities.
Even legendary mages with little experience in divination magic would struggle to perceive its presence.
This red dragon was supposed to be a brute-force sorcerer—how could he have detected such a delicate spell?
Cassius took a slow step forward, his immense pressure suffocating. "As expected of that old man's daughter—arrogant, stubborn, and hypocritical."
"Did you not think to ask your father about my spellcasting abilities?"
"Swish!"
Under the sheer weight of his aura, Genesis could no longer maintain her humanoid form. As fragments of magical energy flickered, her polymorph spell shattered instantly.
"Aagh!"
A twenty-meter-long silver dragon suddenly appeared in the grand hall, struggling and whimpering in distress.
Yet before the forty-five-meter-long red dragon, this adult silver dragon seemed pitifully small, shivering like a helpless hatchling.
Cassius did not even strike—simply unleashing the pressure of his ancestral dragon bloodline was enough to force the silver dragon to the ground. She couldn't even lift the tip of her tail, let alone stand.
"N-No… this isn't…"
Genesis struggled to shake her head, trembling as she spoke.
In all her centuries of life, she had never faced an opponent this terrifying. Even her most formidable foes had refrained from attacking her directly out of respect for her father.
Even the Five-Color Dragons hesitated to provoke an elder silver dragon favored by Bahamut, often choosing to keep their distance.
But now, for the first time, Genesis truly felt her life was in danger—her once-proud arrogance shattered.
Her silver dragon heart pounded violently.
She might actually die!
And this time, not even her revered father, "Silver Wing" Oszedro, could save her!
With all her remaining strength, Genesis lifted her head, her vision blurring. Yet she could still make out the massive figure looming over her. For the first time, she felt an unfamiliar emotion.
Cassius finally reached Genesis, his enormous left claw pressing down on her back without mercy as he spoke coldly:
"Genesis, put away your ridiculous tricks."
"If you truly represent Melward's will—if you truly represent that old man's will—then I have little choice but to consider this an act of provocation, or perhaps even—an act of war."
As he spoke, Cassius applied a bit more force, pressing the silver dragon harder into the ground, eliciting a muffled groan from her.
"No—"
"Wait, Cassius!"
Olivia, pale with fear, fought against the overwhelming dragon's might, reaching out anxiously.
Everything had happened too suddenly, even she hadn't foreseen this.
She had never expected her aunt to be so reckless, to so blatantly provoke Cassius!
The worst-case scenario had arrived. If mishandled, the Melward clan could become enemies of the empire.
For both the clan and the entire metallic dragon race, this would be a complete diplomatic disaster.
"Aunt…"
Realizing this, Olivia felt utterly drained—once again, she would have to clean up after her aunt's impulsive "righteousness."