Ashen Dragon-Chapter 547 - 16 Parade

However, it was still somewhat less sensational than the coronation ceremony that once shocked Fianso.

At the end of the exercise field was a high platform, temporarily conjured by spells, one might even call it a small hill—this was the “throne” prepared for the Red Dragon.

Suddenly, from a distance came a noisy roar, accompanied by the howling of the wind.

“Look, it’s the Wyvern Legion!”

“Cassius above…”

“This is magnificent!”

Some looked to the sky and saw hundreds, if not thousands of Wyverns crowding the horizon, their wings flapping in disorder like dense clouds, covering half the sky.

Leading the way was an exceptionally large Bipedal Wyvern, its neck stretched out in a hoarse roar.

“Aoow—”

This Bipedal Wyvern was fifteen meters long from head to tail; had it not been for its distinctive two-legged feature, even a Dragon Scholar might have mistaken it for a true Red Dragon.

—That was the leader of the Wyvern Legion, a kin of the Ashen Empire’s Emperor, with the status of a Marquis, Stieg.

On the spectator seats at both sides of the venue, amidst the cramped crowd, Adrowell lifted his head and pushed up his glasses on his nose bridge, gazing with a serious expression at the Wyverns in the sky.

Visit freewebnoveℓ.com for the best novel reading exp𝒆rience.

“Such bloodline concentration… It’s nearly on par with a True Dragon.

This Bipedal Wyvern possesses strength rivaling that of a young Silver Dragon, perhaps even comparable to an adult one.”

“Boom! Boom!”

“Woo—”

Suddenly, the ground trembled, producing a muffled sound like the beat of war drums, accompanied by the familiar sound of a steam whistle.

“What is that…”

“It’s the Terranean Dragon Beast Legion!”

“No, it’s not just the Land Dragon Beasts; there’s something else! That’s the sound of a steam whistle!”

From the distant horizon emerged a dense, roiling cloud of steam, and, with the trembling of the earth, huge figures rose out from among it.

First were several Land Dragon Beasts as large as hills, clad in thick Iron Armor, carrying Great Goblin Beast Tamers on their backs, emitting deep roars.

“I know it!”

“That Dragon Beast’s name is Black Rock! It once crushed an entire Northern Knight Order!”

These were powerful Dragon Beasts carefully nurtured on the Stormy Slope Ranch; each had been through the crucible of war and was equivalent to a small fortress.

Yet this was just the beginning.

Twelve ominous mechanical monsters blared forth from the steam, moving at speeds that defied their enormous size.

These “monsters” did not have limbs on their underside but instead high-speed treads.

In front, there weren’t heads, but rather heavy armor engraved with the Empire’s crest, shining horns, and that thick, spine-chilling cannon muzzle.

“This, this is…”

“It’s a Steam Tank!”

“Cassius above, aren’t these things only supposed to exist on blueprints? The Imperial Department of Technology has actually built them already!”

Imperial Citizens who subscribed to the “Military” newspaper looked at those mechanical giants and exclaimed in awe.

In fact, these Steam Tanks were not the works of players.

The Imperial Department of Technology’s Earl Gilmore Sparrow, drawing upon the knowledge of the Starfallen, personally designed and manufactured these steel beasts, equipped with battering rams and steam cannons.

To commemorate the old Dragon Beast Gar, who died in the war in the North, this type of Steam Tank was named the “Old Buddy” class.

Officers in the Imperial Military generally believed that, compared to the slow-moving, food-consuming Terranean Dragon Beasts, these mechanical giants were more impactful and cost-effective.

This was the Steam Tanks’ first grand appearance before the vast Imperial People, providing an immense shock.

“Gods…”

“This, this is too extravagant!”

“Cassius above, even demons would be crushed by these Iron Lumps!”

Wyverns crowded the sky, giant beasts occupied the land, gunfire and cannonade sounded in unison, and farther away, even more troops continued to arrive.

“Bahamut above…”

Adrowell among the crowd watched all this with an increasingly solemn expression on his face.

In terms of prestige alone, the Ashen Empire’s army was already no less formidable than the once Holy Fadlan.

He finally understood why Jennies placed such importance on this country, to the point of becoming panic-stricken, and why those Imperial masses were so excited

—with such an army, why worry about defeat?

Beside him, Jennies silently looked up at the sky, her shoulders trembling slightly, anxiety reflected in her eyes as if she were waiting for something.

She couldn’t help but clutch at her chest.

The parade had just begun, and the Empire’s army had already demonstrated its imposing might; what about the Emperor?

“Heave-ho, heave-ho…”

Accompanied by heavy panting, Ogre Gunners dragged heavy cannons into the military exercise field, then made adjustments, aiming the barrels at the sky.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

The cannons roared.

The shells shot straight into the sky, then exploded high above, forming two neat rows of fiery clouds, turning half of the sky orange.

Those were the Empire’s signal shells, capable of creating an extraordinarily splendid blaze.

The fiery clouds churned like tides, gradually forming a path made of flames and smoke.

“Roar—”

A thunderous roar came from the distance, and people’s gazes collectively shifted, only to see an immense figure appearing on the horizon.

The Red Dragon hung in the sky, its pale golden pupils looking down upon the earth.

Accompanied by the gentle flapping of its broad wings, hurricanes wrapped in Flowing Flames surged on either side of its body, as all fire elements in the world seemed to stir and leap.

—The Ashen Empire’s supreme ruler, Emperor Cassius, finally appeared at this parade!

“Cassius above…”

“Praise Cassius!”

“He, he’s really here!”

The Imperial People in the spectator stand looked up at the sky, at that figure, each different face filled with devotion and fervor.

They brought their hands together, closed their eyes, and murmured prayers as if witnessing the descent of a god.

“Bahamut above, what exactly is this…”

Adrowell, mixed in with the crowd, couldn’t help but swallow his saliva; he had never imagined such a monumental Red Dragon.

As an adult Silver Dragon, he was not even half the size of this Emperor, making him look like a mere fledgling by comparison.

No wonder he could defeat his highly respected Uncle, such a giant dragon had already transcended the limits of ordinary dragons.

“Ugh…”

Meanwhile, Jennies still had her hands over her chest, seemingly yet to recover from the shock.

She foolishly lifted her head, her heart pounding rapidly, as her blue-gray eyes reflected the blaze and—the towering figure of the giant dragon.