It wasn't an isolated case.
The common people around the world were reacting violently even after being saved.
Mob mentality was a dangerous thing. The second one person suggested a place to vent anger, it wasn't difficult for all those around them to adopt the same method to cope with their struggle.
After all, it was just so much easier than facing reality.
But in the current situation, refusing to accept the situation was absolutely impractical and foolish. When the world was burning around you, what was the point of pointing fingers?
Unfortunately, the people's minds weren't necessarily in a rational place at the moment, and even more unfortunately, not everyone was as patient and forgiving as Elena.
"Why are you so late?!"
"You should've saved us earlier!"
"If it wasn't for you, none of this would've happened!"
"I hope the Golden Dragon Clan gets exterminated!"
BOOM!
The man who spoke last immediately exploded into chunks of meat paste.
Those around him shuddered and cowered in fear, backing away from the assailant.
The golden eyes man glanced at them icily.
"You may say whatever helps you survive, however, anyone who wishes misfortune upon my Golden Dragon Clan shall die!"
Hedrick roared it out, making sure anyone in the vicinity could hear him.
He roughly exhaled, catching his breath and storing his weapon. He slowly took in the constant stream of information entering his ear from all around the world.
The situation only got worse and worse with every passing second. It got to the point where even hearing how bad the situation was already pissed him and all those working alongside him off.
Elena's strategy was definitely helping recover the Fate Clouds, but the irrationality of the common populace was countering their efforts almost 1:1.
He couldn't stand it.
No, "they" couldn't stand it.
He'd already led his army to save the people, he'd worked tirelessly to subdue the frenzied beasts instead of killing them, he'd conceded as much as he possibly could in the situation, yet they still…!
He couldn't do it.
He couldn't sit still and allow them to undermine the authority of the Golden Dragon Clan, he couldn't allow their negativity to affect the performance of his soldiers, he couldn't allow their weakness to infect those around them!
It was moronic!
Preposterous!
"ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC!"
Bang!
He slammed his foot into the ground and poured all of his mana into his voice, letting his fury fuel his power.
"HOW DARE YOU?!"
The words boomed across half the world.
All existences within that area turned their eyes to the sky, feeling the waves of fury rocking through their bodies.
"HOW DARE YOU ACT SO WEAK?! IT IS NOT ONLY THE GOLDEN DRAGON CLAN WHO LIVES IN THIS WORLD, BUT ALL OF YOU AS WELL!"
"INSTEAD OF FINDING ANY WAY TO HELP SAVE YOUR WORLD FROM DESTRUCTION, YOU BLAME THE ONLY PEOPLE TRYING TO SAVE YOU FROM TRAGEDY?!?!"
"ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC!"
He knew.
He knew there was nothing these common people could possibly do to help.
But he was not going to let them sit on their asses and ruin the efforts of those who were trying.
"EITHER SIT QUIETLY AND WAIT FOR DEATH, OR FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO SURVIVE!"
Hedrick breathed out, his emotions finally calming.
On one hand, he wanted to berate himself for doing something so detrimental, but on the other hand, he didn't know what he would do if he couldn't let out his frustration.
These people were the ones his father put so much thought into protecting? They didn't deserve his compassion at all!
He didn't even want to look at them anymore.
'This type of humanitarian work isn't meant for me.'
Without wasting another second, he delegated his duties to his subordinates and set up a chain of command for them before abandoning his post entirely.
From now on, the commander of the operation would be Elena, and her orders were absolute.
Hedrick was a fighter. He was the Draconic War God.
Instead of doing this bullshit, his skills could be put to better use elsewhere.
Particularly, the Black Dragon Clan bases.
It didn't matter how strong they were.
From this point on, as long as a Black Dragon existed in his perception…
They would be cut down without exception!
***
"Haa…"
A forlorn sigh rang through the throne room of the Golden Dragon Palace.
Elena and Hedrick were both constantly receiving reports about the world's situation through transmissions and communication, but neither of them could truly look at the world's situation as a whole and understand how bad it was.
Nobody could do so.
Nobody except the Golden Dragon Emperor himself.
'Will it truly end as predicted…?' He wondered to himself, unable to make a move in any capacity.
His personal feelings became irrelevant when acting on them would cause his own death and affect the fate of the universe as a whole.
'Their efforts are not enough to calm the mayhem. In less than 10 minutes, the situation will be out of our control.'
The Black Dragon Clan's plan was slowly growing in scale and intensity,
At first, they just let the beasts riot, but soon enough, they also began wantonly slaughtering.
Along with that, the siege on the castle was about to begin. The forces had finished their preparations and were already marching through the Inner Estate, slaughtering anyone who dared to fight.
And finally, as if it wasn't enough to target the people alone, the Black Dragons targeted the world itself.
Or rather, the forces they'd brought along with them were dividing up the world into their own territories and using the madness to rule as tyrants.
There were even some who seemed to be targeting the World Core.
Elena's Valhalla Souls were spread across half the world, and the Golden Dragon Army was covering the other. Both sides had already come in contact with these so-called territory lords and engaged in combat with them.
But the strength of these rulers was at the very least at level 399, with some of them being genuine extreme peak masters.
'Hedrick has gone after the Black Dragon Clan directly, Miss Elena is still fighting for the people, but her strength isn't nearly high enough…boy, are you the last remaining hope?'
The Emperor glanced up into the sky, piercing the atmosphere with his gaze and viewing the battle taking place in the depths of space.
'I truly hope you can pull through and save this world. If not…I hope you can at least protect and take care of my daughter.'
10 minutes, could anything be done in this time?
With such a comprehensive attack, the only reason the world was still standing was because the enemies also needed time to properly execute their schemes.
The Emperor found himself sighing once again.
That day, long ago, two prophecies were given to two different clans of dragons.
The first told of a tragic fate of enslavement.
And the second…
The second was more elusive. It told no great tales about glory or destruction, only of an opportunity that might present itself.
However, one question remained among all those who heard either prophecy.
Just what was the Golden Star, and who was the one who could tame it?
