Contrary to David's expectations, the Holy Temple of his Red Dragon ancestor, Ephelomon, was, strictly speaking, located outside the walls of the Evil Scale Fortress.
If this were the case with other deities, it would most likely be due to insufficient divine favor, akin to religious sculptures where the more special one's status, the closer they often are to the deity.
But in Tiamat's case, the situation was quite the opposite. This was the true depiction of absolute trust.
Much like the "Imperial Wall" or "The Emperor's Fist" in some Western fantasy novels, Ephelomon, the Vassal, was, in a sense, Tiamat's claw—the sharpest point of the entire Evil Scale Fortress.
It was just as the Chromatic Dragon Queen's primary head always towered above the other four.
Soon, following the lead of the Red Dragon before him, David arrived at the volcano just below the highest peak of the Palace of a Thousand Hues, where he met the Red Dragon Vassal—Ephelomon.
As David reached the summit, the original gray haze of magical glow dissipated, replaced by a battlefield of iron and ice.
The sight of vast plateaus, towering peaks, and the nearly endless 'warriors' immediately reminded David of the place he had been fortunate enough to witness twice before:
Tempas's Warrior's Rest.
David's pupils narrowed.
This place was actually the forefront of the Divine Realm's battlefield, as well as the command center for the conflict.
Only at this moment did David learn that what he had seen on the material plane was not just a subjective illusion. Tiamat had truly rammed her Evil Scale Fortress directly into the War God's Divine Realm. This most intense confrontation had been ongoing, largely unfelt by the believers within the Divine Realm.
If Pafila was like a venomous sting Tiamat had driven into Tempas's vital spot with her tail, then Ephelomon, the Vassal, was like her sharpest claw, plunged directly into the heart of the Warrior's Rest, continuously deepening the enemy's wounds.
The two sides supported each other, and with the gods secretly placing their bets on the outcome, the forces under the War God were being steadily pushed back. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn novelꜰire.net
At the same time, David also saw a group of blurry silhouettes with Red Dragon features moving incessantly across the Divine Realm's battlefield under Ephelomon's command.
There were even moments when he glimpsed Ephelomon's own figure.
In that instant, David finally realized that the Red Dragon before him was likely just a projection of Ephelomon. The true him—no, 'It' was the more fitting term—was battling on the front lines, just like his mother, Pafila.
A 'commander' who truly led by example.
And the silhouette before him was merely waiting here specifically to grant him an audience.
What an immense honor.
For a moment, David felt a surge of lofty ambition welling in his chest, an impulse to follow this Red Dragon ancestor and wage war alongside him on the battlefield.
However, this intense impulse had only just emerged when David forcibly suppressed it.
He knew it was due to draconic charisma.
The principle was remarkably similar to a succubus's charm, except that a succubus enflamed lustful desires. This Red Dragon ancestor, however, lured out the most primitive and pure desire for battle, destruction, and annihilation, hidden deep within any male, and at the very core of a Red Dragon's bloodline.
Ah! How utterly despicable! An old dragon, who knows how many countless years he's lived, still resorting to such sneak attacks, 'deceitfully' luring him—a dragon who's barely entered his youth—onto the battlefield!
Although he also knew clearly that if he truly followed this ancestor in the divine war, pushing his Authority to its limits, his future achievements would be unimaginable.
Wouldn't facing hellish intensity directly be simpler and quicker than seeking out powerful opponents for individual duels?
But sometimes, that's just how things were in the world. Even knowing the optimal choice, he wasn't willing to take it.
Just like the protagonists in rebirth novels. Armed with foreknowledge, they have plenty of opportunities to achieve financial freedom and become 'superior individuals,' yet they still choose to go through school conventionally.
Isn't it just for a satisfying life, to make up for regrets, and to enjoy living?
He was originally a vibrant young dragon, after all! Tiamat had whisked him away to Toriel. By the time he completed his mission and got out, he'd already entered his youth.
If he were to fight in another divine war, wouldn't he reach adulthood straight away?
That would be a total waste of his youth, the most exciting period of a dragon's life!
After all, countless dragons lay low for fifty years just so they can finally make their mark once they reach their youth!
No, definitely not. His mother, Pafila, fought to repay a debt of gratitude to Tiamat. What would *he* gain by 'enlisting' for this military service?
Besides, he was sure that if he caved, Tiamat, that old hag, would definitely have more schemes lined up to 'recruit' him.
Only then did David profoundly understand the 'slacker' mentality his mother Pafila had exhibited back in the day.
The sooner one advanced, the more ruthlessly Tiamat exploited them.
Besides, sometimes rushing things isn't necessarily good. After all, who knew if a shortcut was truly the path that would take one the furthest?
That being the case, why not just take it easy for a while and experience life at his own, slower pace?
With this thought, David, the young dragon who had just 'completed his assignment' in Toriel and acquired an imitation Sky City, suddenly adopted a more philosophical stance. A humble smile touched his lips as he addressed Ephelomon's silhouette: