A Story of Evil

Sol did his best to try and create a barrier in time but it was no use. Jade's own release of [Overheat] couldn't even compare to the immensity of flames brought about by the dragon at that point. Most of the mana crystals around the dragon's body broke as these fed the flames, one which raged in a wild and berserk fury.

This same attack would've killed Sol and his team. They would've died from that situation, with their feeble lives ending. But it didn't.

Everyone screamed, until they realized that they were out of danger. They didn't feel any burning yet they could hear the flames and, feel its warmth. The group still had their eyes closed for fear that they'd open it at the point when the flames finally made contact. But after a few more seconds, they realized that this wasn't happening.

Slowly, the team adjusted their eyes to look at what was going on. All their eyes widened in shock as they saw the bright flames of the dragon. Mercilessly flowing like a vicious tide yet, it stayed on a seemingly invisible surface.

Sol immediately looked for the cause of this. For whatever creature it was that caused such an event and, his eyes didn't even take that long to see a figure standing in front of them. For a second, his mind thought that it was King Jubilee. But this was quickly betrayed as both the clarity of his eyes and mind increased. Showing him a different person altogether – Damian.

The group had no idea who he was. They have never confronted them. In fact, in all the domains, it was only King Jubilee who has seen him and talked to him. But the group also knew that he was far from being their ally because the horns on his head made one thing straight. That he was also part of the first generation.

"Make any sort of movement and you're dead." Were all that their savior said as he continued confronting the flames.

The group would've escaped too. If it wasn't for the fact that the direwolves already fainted and, most of Sol's team members were not in proper conditions. Thus he simply watched and marveled at what happened next.

Damian was actually watching the whole fight from afar. He was there starting from when the whole forest was covered in green flames. He was also there to witness the rise of the dragon. And with his [Analysis] he was able to gather enough intel on the dragon. Giving him the upper hand despite himself being greatly weakened by his lack of wings.

Damian not only fended out the flames, he even forced this same attack to go up. There was no chanting made. The flames simply rose on their own accord and, even hit back the dragon. Infuriated, the dragon stopped its attack and decided to use its claws. But, Damian was also prepared for this. Increasing gravity and forcing the dragon down.

The ground shook from the weight of the creature which growled as it tried escaping Damian's spell. The tremors were so strong that it could be felt until the end of the forest and, even made the surrounding cliffs begin eroding.

With Damian being weakened by the fact that all his wings were gone, the dragon didn't have much difficulty breaking free. As soon as it escaped Damian's attack, the creature whipped its tail toward Damian.

However the emperor was finished using his [Reverse Analysis] on the [Polymorph] used by the dragon. And so with a snap of his fingers, the creature reverted to its original form. The shock from this reversal created enough pause for Damian to dash in and punch the child on the gut – flinging her down the ground as her consciousness faded away.

The attack wasn't enough to kill the girl. All humans from the first generation received a certain degree of regeneration due to the fact that they were once turned into monsters. Because of this, they could heal through wounds, even the most fatal ones given enough time.

With everything that happened, Damian finally shifted his focus back on the group that he left. Still waiting idly by on their location and, all very much afraid.

"Let's get one thing straight here. I am not your ally so refrain from thanking me." The truth of the matter was that Damian's body moved on impulse. He didn't understand why but, his whole being screamed at him to save the children and, that he did.

"Then why did you save us?" Sol asked.

There were actually more questions on his head. Because no matter what angle he looked at it, their savior was also using [S.W.] the same SEED awakened by Sol and King Jubilee.

"Save you? I should fix that impression first then." Damian said, walking forward and placing one hand in forward while pointing at the group. And as he dropped the finger, the emperor commanded:

"Kneel."

The group immediately got their faces hitting the ground. They tried to resist but, with the fear of facing a dragon still running in their veins, there wasn't much force left of them. Nor could they escape even if they tried.

"I am not your savior. I'm just putting that pesky king in my debt." Damian added, referring to none other than King Jubilee.

"Plus, it isn't like any of you are worth saving."

"W-What do you mean?" Hendrickson asked.

"Oh? So another person dares speak up against me? Do you even realize what you did here?"

Nobody had an answer for him. Even Sol knew that it was best to remain silent in the meantime because, if what their savior said was true, then he wouldn't hesitate to kill them if they were placed on his bad side.

But Hendrickson wasn't going to let Sol get talked down like that. Stupid as it may be, he gave a response.

"We only did what the Void King asked of us. We're only carrying out our duties as citizens of the ten domains!"

It was true. They were simply following orders. But Damian was far from accepting this as a valid excuse.

"Orders? Look around you." He said, releasing the group from their gravity bind.

They then looked around them. On all the ashes and the charred trees. The smell of burnt corpses, wood, and every other being caught in the disaster.

"The monsters here have been living in peace. They aren't even close to your domain so they can do no harm. They are simply enjoying their peaceful lives here. But then you barged in, burned most of them and, destroyed the place they claim as their home."

The realization was slowly sinking in to the group. How they were basically cold blooded murderers. But they refused to accept it because, if they did, then they will be guilt driven and haunted by their conscience.

"No. They are monsters! They are the bad ones here!" Hendrickson tried to justify.

"Do you even hear yourself?" Was Damian's reply.

The steel user wanted to say more but, Jade refrained him from doing so. Even Sol looked at him and shook his head in disapproval.

"The way I see it, you are the monsters here." Damian added.

Everyone had their heads down in humiliation and defeat. They didn't understand why but, Damian's words were authoritative as much as they were commanding. Like it was the voice of reason itself.

"I'm done talking with you. If you still value your lives, I suggest you turn back now."

"What are you going to do with the dragon?" Sol asked.

"That's none of your business." Damian said as he made Sol's whole team float in the sky.

The members began squirming – trying to break free from the hold. But it was no use. They were caught in Damian's gravity spell. And without wasting a single second, the emperor flung them in the air. Above the forest and back to the top of the cliff.