Silence met Agnia’s words. More and more people gathered from the surrounding provinces, the men arriving only to find the capital in ruins, their bodies going still the moment defeat left their queen’s mouth.

The noble elders were furious, ranting among themselves that this was unacceptable. Children and women from the noble houses wept for the uncertain future ahead. Nearly every young man of noble lineage had been a warrior, and today, thousands of them had died.

The simple workers, the ones who had seen the dragon before, no longer knew what to believe. They had thought the progenitor was dead, and now their own clan had unleashed one upon the world. Because of that, many miners had been killed, the rubble from the missing mountain still fresh in their minds.

They did not know the full story, but they refused to believe it had been their queen’s judgment. Instead, they blamed the man who had brought this chaos.

"We shall never submit!"

Like wildfire, furious shouts rose from the ground below. Thousands resisted the sudden, forceful idea of unification with their blood enemies.

"The queen has been corrupted! We must free her!"

"We must take up arms and fight, even if we die!"

"This land belongs to the Fire Dragons! Whoever dares claim it shall die a horrible death!"

The farmers and miners were the first to roar, their bodies twisting into broken draconic hybrid forms. Dust burst from the shattered ground as wings beat wildly and voices crashed over one another in chaotic fury.

As if some single furious will had seized them all, tens of thousands of common folk rose into the air, leaving only the warriors kneeling, the ones who had felt Max’s strength before. They tried to stop the villagers and nobles from the surrounding lands, yet were shoved aside, cast as traitors to the Fire Dragon Kingdom.

The rebels were afraid. Their bodies trembled, and yet the desire to remain free, the desire to keep their land, had driven them to raise their arms against a single man.

"Stop!" Agnia shouted, her eyes full of tears. Her heart bled for her people. She could feel their pain as if it were her own. And yet, there was nothing she could do for them.

They would not listen.

Max stepped forward with a quiet sigh at the sight before him. He had known this would likely happen, and because of that, he knew he had to crush the rebellion before it could spread any further.

Twisting his wrist, he extended his fingers and let the black mist pour outward, swallowing whatever little mana still lingered in the air. He himself was nearly dry, with barely enough left for this final display.

Darkness swallowed the sky, crashing down over the people and forcing their bodies back to the ground.

"From this day forward, you will obey my orders, or your bloodlines will end with you. The queen you love so dearly is already under my control. If you do not want her to die, kneel before me and swear your eternal loyalty..." His voice was carried by the power of the void, spreading across the land like the decree of a demon.

He looked less like a man and more like something dragged out of a nightmare.

And he was fine with that.

He was not a saint, nor did he wish to become the savior of this world. What he wanted was power, and a life where no one would ever dare treat him the way his mother once had.

No matter the price he had to pay.

Agnia closed her eyes as more lives were crushed beneath his rule. Max had crossed a taboo, one even dragon rulers feared to stain themselves with, raising his hand against the innocent.

Even he knew this kind of rule would never last forever. One day, they would rise against him again. But until that day came, he needed to buy time, enough time to force the Thunder and Wind Clans into accepting a truce.

Knees slammed against the ground. The fallen rebels felt their strength stripped away, and in that moment, everyone understood who ruled here now.

No one dared to look up. Their heads remained lowered in defeat.

"Good," Max said coldly, nodding in satisfaction. He stepped back, dragging Agnia with him. "I need you to find the ones you trust most among those still left. Order them to gather the people within two days, no longer. Move all food to wherever you intend to hide them, and take the livestock with them. Burn the houses. Make it look as if everyone fled in panic." His voice left no room for refusal.

"Yes, my king..." Agnia clenched her fists, knowing there was no escaping his rule.

"And don’t even think of running. Not only will I catch you, but every single person of your bloodline will die by my hand before you do." His words sent a violent shiver through her body, crushing whatever thoughts of freedom she still clung to.

"I understand." She bowed deeply, transformed into her hybrid form, and took off.

"Are you sure she won’t run?" Rosalia asked, still reluctant to let Agnia go.

"She may be a poor leader and a coward, but she cares deeply for her people. As long as her people remain in my grasp, she will stay loyal."

Rosalia felt a knot tighten in her chest. She did not fully agree with Max’s judgment, yet she understood how cruel these choices had become. As long as he did not treat her clan like this, she could not bring herself to care too deeply about the enemy clan.

"I need you to go and gather our people. Bring them here. They will remain with the Fire Clan while we are gone on this mission..."

"Of course." Rosalia walked to him and took his hands into hers. "I will follow whatever you decide. Just know that I’m here for you." She rose onto her toes, her lips meeting his. "I will see you soon." Rosalia took off, leaving only Max and the ancestral Ice Dragon beast behind.

Silence felt like the only comfort he had long yearned for, finally giving him a moment to breathe. "I wonder what you would do in my place, Father... would you run?" he murmured to himself. "I won’t be like you. In this life, I refuse to run from my responsibilities..." His eyes fixed on the far horizon, preparing to stake everything on his ruthless gamble.