There were more people than he had expected.
Standing atop the raised platform at the center of the square, Momonga quietly reflected on that.
Below him stretched a crowd made up of many different races. They had come from various countries, merchants, Adventurers, national leaders, and countless others, all drawn here by the Sorcerer Kingdom's celebration.
A sense of fulfillment unique to a ruler welled up within him.
He had founded this nation purely for fun at first. He had never expected it to grow into what it was now.
To Nazarick, the nation and its people were something that could be discarded at any time. Still, unless it became absolutely necessary, Momonga did not want to sacrifice them for no reason.
At heart, he still hoped to become a wise ruler, someone who could bring happiness to his people.
All right, this should be enough.
Sensing that the timing was right, Momonga cast a sound amplification spell.
"Citizens of the Sorcerer Kingdom, and honored guests who have traveled from afar. Today's celebration was personally chosen by the three of us to commemorate the founding and prosperity of the Sorcerer Kingdom. For that reason, we have prepared a grand gift for all of you."
His majestic voice echoed through the square.
After all this time, Momonga had mostly grown used to speaking in that tone. It no longer made him uncomfortable.
As his words faded, a pitch-black Gate suddenly appeared, radiating a mysterious glow.
Several figures slowly stepped out.
They were tall and imposing, each one exuding a powerful aura.
Along with them came a massive four-wheeled cart.
The cart was piled high with chunks of meat, stacked into a mountain that nearly filled the entire cargo bed. The pieces varied in size. Some were as small as fists, while others were as large as basketballs.
Layer upon layer, they formed a chilling mountain of flesh.
"What kind of meat is that?"
"That familiar pressure… No way…"
The surface of the meat glistened with an oily sheen.
Blood seeped through the gaps between the chunks, trickling down the edge of the cart and leaving dark red trails across the ground.
The air was thick with the pungent smell of blood, along with that faint pressure.
The crowd immediately began whispering among themselves like a disturbed swarm of bees.
Each person's voice was low, but once they overlapped, the sound swelled into a roaring tide of noise.
Hiss.
In the crowd, the Clear Light Dragon Lord sucked in a sharp breath.
Unlike the other people present, as a Dragon Lord, he immediately confirmed that this was genuine Dragon Meat!
Hey, hey, they're joking, right?
This has to be a joke!
With a mountain of meat this size, just how many dragons would they have had to slaughter to gather it all?
At least a hundred, probably.
Good grief. Staying here suddenly feels a little dangerous…
A bead of cold sweat slid down his forehead, and the Clear Light Dragon Lord suddenly had the urge to turn and run.
Elsewhere.
The Swordmaster Dragon Lord's pupils widened to their limit, and his sharp Dragon Scales bristled upright.
Humiliation!
This was humiliation!
Unprecedented rage surged up in him like a volcano, and in his heart, the Swordmaster Dragon Lord cursed his own kin to hell and back.
That was right. The Swordmaster Dragon Lord's anger was not aimed at the Sorcerer Kingdom. Instead, it was directed at his own race.
If they had not been so weak, how could things have ended up like this?
They clearly possessed such powerful innate talent, yet they refused to train hard. All they did was rely on that talent to grow stronger on its own.
Look at this. This was the result.
Dragons were perfect. Dragons were powerful. The Swordmaster Dragon Lord took pride in being part of the Dragon Race.
That was why he could not tolerate something like this happening.
So what if the Filth were strong? That was no excuse. In the end, it was still because they had not worked hard enough!
Because they had not worked hard enough, they could not defeat the Filth. Because they had not worked hard enough, they could only become food!
Every tragedy happened because those involved lacked the necessary ability.
Aside from dragons, there was no creature in the world that could defeat a dragon.
Only dragons could defeat dragons, and these worthless things were not fit to be called dragons!
It had to be said that anyone capable of becoming a True Dragon Lord was, to some extent, a fanatic.
"You bastards, you've gone too far!"
Just then, a furious roar burst from the crowd, and several Demihumans with obvious dragon-like traits leaped out.
As Dragonoids, they could also sense that faint pressure.
Before they could say anything more, a pitch-black tentacle shot out from nowhere like a venomous snake and instantly hoisted them upside down in midair.
"Dragon flesh and blood can strengthen the body. For Dragonoids like you, the effect is even more remarkable. It can further purify the Dragon Blood within you."
"We did not force you to take it. You could have refused. You could have left. We would not have interfered."
"But you chose to insult me, and my friend…"
Under the crowd's terrified gaze, the pitch-black tentacles began to multiply and spread like venomous snakes.
Amid piercing screams, everyone could only watch helplessly as their bodies were gradually devoured, slowly vanishing from sight.
"Then… don't blame me."
Herohero spoke in a faint, eerie voice.
The crowd instantly fell silent. Many faces were filled with terror.
What powerful Corrosion…
The Minotaur Sage looked at Herohero with a grave expression.
Although it had lasted only a brief moment, he was completely certain. That was the ability of that race.
The "Elder Black Ooze," the strongest and oldest among the slime species, possessed the ability to degrade weapons and armor.
It could even break through resistances and dissolve the equipment worn by hostile Players, damaging their morale in the process.
To a warrior like him, it was nothing less than a natural enemy.
"It seems an unexpected incident has occurred, but please don't worry. The Sorcerer Kingdom will guarantee everyone's safety."
"Now then, everyone may cheer to your heart's content!"
Naohara stepped forward and soothed the crowd with a smile.
Below the stage, the Minotaur Sage's mouth twitched slightly.
What a classic show of killing the chicken to warn the monkeys.
One played the good face, one played the bad face, and one played the red face. The stick in one hand, the carrot in the other.
They were treating people like dogs to be trained, and somehow, he was one of the ones being trained. Damn it!
...
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
On the eastern plains south of the Azerlisia Mountains, beside the Great Forest of Tob.
High above the endless plains, three figures appeared like ghosts.
The Deep Darkness Dragon Lord surveyed the forest in the distance from midair. His gaze was like a sharp blade, piercing through the barrier and seeing the hidden Guild entrance.
"Begin!"
Hearing this, the White Dragon Lord beside him immediately took out the item he had prepared in advance.
[Armageddon Evil]!
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