#766 Incoming Rivals

The story thus far...

Dragons suddenly crashed the joint wedding ceremony.

The mastermind and former Geyser Dragon, Al Gor, tried to dodge responsibility.

As punishment, he was exiled to a natto shack run by Horkoson and subjected to grueling labor.

Back at the wedding reception, the dragons teetered on the edge of an all-out brawl.

The attending guests, here to celebrate the various couples, were petrified.

As regular members of magical communities like demons and merfolk, witnessing a dragon war was beyond their wildest imaginations.

If something like that suddenly erupted right in front of you, of course, you’d be freaked out.

That’s the most natural reaction for any human.

With a dragon couple in the mix, chaos was inevitable at this quadruple wedding.

All there was to do now was enjoy the ensuing madness!!!

Evidence of the fun was clear as the other couples also chimed in...

“Look, Orkubo! The real entertainment’s about to start. Perfect for our wedding, eh?”

“Lord Gobukichi, please eat your cake. Here, say ahhhh!”

“Wow! A new character that’s worth making a new dress for has appeared!”

They were set on making the most of today’s ceremony.

As for the dragons, tension simmered.

In a two vs. six standoff, Bloody Mary, donned in her wedding dress, wore the fiercest expression. 

She looks as if she might revert to her dragon form any moment, wearing such a menacing face.

“Why, of all days, did you choose today to pick a fight?”

“Whooooooo! As expected of the cake the saint made! It’s the best I’ve ever tasteddddddd!”

“You dare to cast a shadow on what should be the happiest day of my life? You must be prepared to suffer a miserable end, then. I’ll give you a death so gruesome even a dragon couldn’t bear it!!!”

“Oh, look, Orkubo! Your fellow orcs are putting on a show! A human pyramid?!”

...Amid the merriment, the dragons’ tensions boiled.

“I expected more from you, Sis Mary. I hoped for a worthy contest over the Geyser Dragon title. But you chose to surrender so easily?”

“Huh. It’s quite presumptuous of you to think of our bout as a grand match when you are clearly the inferior one. Besides, you’re sorely mistaken. I serve Ardheg because he is truly fitting of the title of Geyser Dragon, far more than someone like you ever could be.”

Truly an intimidating situation.

Meanwhile, the orcs’ 37-layer human pyramid is even more intense.

“Too hung up on the title of Decem Dracones, are we? How pitiful to be hung up on accolades from a battle that’s already ended. It’s been decided that the next Geyser Dragon is Ardheg. Your refusal to accept that is pathetic.

“No, the battle is far from over. The Geyser Dragon Succession War should’ve been a fair duel as per our father’s rules. But a coward tried to twist its conclusion. We won’t accept such a breach of protocol!”

Amid the escalating party, Platy and her mother, Lady Mahi, take the stage for a duet.

Not solmization magic, but a merfolk take on the Ladybug Samba — perfect for weddings.

Their performance was incredible.

“We shall defeat the rebel Ardheg and reclaim the title of Geyser Dragon for ourselves! After that, we will fight again to formally decide the true ruler! If you still have any dragon pride left in you, Sis Mary, you should join us!”

“No thanks.”

“Among all, you were the most obsessed with the title... with the peak position. I even came to respect you as a rival vying for the same title... and yet...!”

The next performance is by one of the brides’ friends, Belena, who was murmuring spells to summon a deity.

Has Belena finally mastered summoning gods now...?!

“I’ve long since stopped caring about the title of Geyser Dragon. Why? Because I’ve obtained a far more meaningful title,”

“What title is that?”

“Gwynn Dragon. The one who stands beside the ultimate Emperor Geyser Dragon. The Dragon Empress, if you will. To me, this title is radiant and intoxicatingly sweet. It’s something that old traditionalists like you would never understand.”

“Nonsense! It seems even you, Mary, have lost your draconic spirit! If this is the case, I’ll defeat both you and the usurper! By the hands of us, the Decem Dracones!”

The tension keeps on rising

Whispers circled the crowd, anticipating the next act, followed by applause.

“No! We’re not trying to put on a show! Know your place, lowly mortals!!!”

“Um... Excuse me, but I’ve been wondering... what’s this Decem Dracons you’re talking about?”

“Say what?!”

I hesitantly asked, only to be met with an intense glare from the dashing dragon.

Terrifying.

“Who was the first to coin the term Decem Dracones, I wonder? Back when Father was on the throne, and the next in line was being decided by having the children battle each other, the dragons were ranked by power. But only the top ten. It’s somewhat like the mortal’s term for dark horses, perhaps.”

So, basically, it means “The Top Ten Dragons Most Likely to Become Number One” from the time when there was a succession battle.

And now, these top ten dragons have united and are coming our way. This will be interesting...

“Still, isn’t the count off?”

I voice my doubt again.

The dragons who crashed the wedding ceremony totaled six.

Shouldn’t the Decem Dracones consist of ten members?

Doesn’t it strike you as odd?

Odd, right?

“That’d be me.”

“Pardon?”

“I was once touted as the likely successor to the Geyser Dragon throne, making me number one among the Decem Dracones. Sounds logical, doesn’t it?”

This came from Bloody Mary.

Oh, I get it...

“Then there’s Agivend, who defied Ardheg once and was purged. He was the third. And Magony, who foolishly picked a fight with Ardheg and got thrashed, was ninth. Such overly ambitious ones.”

Her words seemed directed at the dragons before her.

“They might think that by attacking in a group, they can overpower Ardheg. Quite the optimistic lot, aren’t they?”

“Say whatever you want. We won’t let Geyser Dragon’s title remain in usurpers’ hands! We’ll reclaim what is rightfully ours!!!”

“You might talk big, but don’t forget: opposing Ardheg means you’re opposing me, his empress...!”

The other dragons stiffen at her proclamation.

“So, you do understand. The title of the Decem Dracones might be a relic, but the dread of facing me, who once led them...”

In her bridal gown, Bloody Mary, with just a glare from her dragon eyes, is intimidating.

The opposing dragons quake in fear.

Standing behind the formidable Bloody Mary is her soon-to-be husband, Ardheg, looking rather idle.

“I have nothing to do...”

His assertive wife overshadowed him.

Though Ardheg initially stepped forward with courage, Mary soon took the spotlight.

“Dammit, even Sis Mary is against us...!”

“Don’t falter! There are two of them and six of us! We have the numbers!”

Relying on numbers does make them seem a bit criminal, doesn’t it?

However, another unexpected intervention occurred.

“Hehe, I wonder about that.”

“What?! Who’s there?”

The unexpected intruder heightened the tension.

There stood a dragon in the form of a young girl...

“Veil?!”

If it isn’t our farm-dwelling dragon, Veil!

“Dragons are having a feud, and I’m not invited? You folks sure don’t know how to enjoy a party. So, I came off my own accord!”

“Veil, ranked eighth in the Decem Dracones? Why’s this whimsical dragon here...?!”

Huh? Veil’s also one of the Decem Dracones?

“Fine by me; the more, the merrier! Veil, join us to overthrow the false emperor Ardheg!”

“You kidding me? I’m not on your side.”

“Huh?”

Veil naturally sided with Ardheg and Bloody Mary.

“I’m with them. Ardheg needs to properly fulfill his role as the emperor. And anyone in my way will face atomic disintegration.”

“Whaaaaaaaaaaat?!”

“And it’s not just me.”

More shadows joined Ardheg and Bloody Mary.

“I am Grinzel Dragon Seidour!”

“I am Typon, the Proto-Geyser Dragon!”

“Huh? Must we really introduce ourselves? ...I’m Alexander the Grauglintz Dragon!”

With a dramatic pose, reinforcements arrive.

It’s like one of those scenes in young adult fiction where past rivals come to aid the protagonist in their time of need.

Author's PS:

Refer to Chapter 355 for Magony.

Refer to Chapters 478-480 for Agivend.