The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 220: Chapter 220: The Infernal Dragon Emperor

The journey toward the northern region continued.

After leaving the Endless Serpent Marsh, Ares and the Broodmother traveled for several hours before the environment around them gradually began to change.

The dense vegetation disappeared.

The waterways became fewer.

The air grew considerably hotter.

And eventually, the landscape transformed into an enormous volcanic wilderness.

Massive mountains covered the horizon, their peaks disappearing beneath dark clouds illuminated by the crimson glow of molten rock below. Rivers of lava flowed between the mountains, while enormous cracks spread across the blackened earth like veins carrying heat through the land.

The Broodmother looked across the landscape.

"So this is the northern region."

Ares nodded.

"Yes."

He stopped for a moment.

His gaze settled on the enormous presence sleeping somewhere beyond the mountains.

"More specifically..."

He narrowed his eyes.

"This is the territory of the Infernal Emperor Dragon."

The Broodmother remained silent.

She had already sensed it.

Even though the creature’s presence was heavily suppressed, something about the northern region felt fundamentally different from the territories they had crossed before.

The air itself seemed heavier.

The temperature was considerably higher.

And beneath everything else was a pressure that even the Broodmother couldn’t completely ignore.

Ares and the Broodmother continued forward until they finally reached a massive elevated plateau overlooking the northern territory.

Ares stopped.

The Broodmother stopped beside him.

Below them was an enormous valley.

And at the center of it—

something was sleeping.

The creature was so enormous that, from their position, it initially looked like another mountain.

Black volcanic scales covered its body, each one reflecting the crimson light of the surrounding lava. Golden-orange cracks ran between the scales like rivers of molten fire beneath its skin.

Two enormous wings were folded against its back.

Four massive legs rested against the ground.

Its long tail stretched across the valley, disappearing behind several mountains.

Even while sleeping, its body radiated enough heat to distort the air around it.

The Broodmother stared.

"It really is big."

Ares remained silent for several seconds.

"Hmm."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Now that I’m looking at it again..."

His expression became more serious.

"It’s not just big."

He could feel it.

The creature was powerful.

Extremely powerful.

Even while suppressing its presence, the dragon’s existence alone was enough to affect the surrounding environment.

The lava beneath its body continued flowing.

The air above it shimmered.

The earth trembled faintly whenever it breathed.

"I can feel how powerful it is."

Ares continued.

"Even though it’s deliberately concealing its presence, something of this level can’t hide itself completely from me."

The Broodmother narrowed her eyes.

"I can feel it too."

She looked toward the sleeping dragon.

"But only faintly."

Her expression became more serious.

"The difference in level is simply too great."

Ares nodded.

"Exactly."

He activated True Sight.

Information began unfolding before his eyes.

The creature’s body was saturated with multiple forms of elemental authority.

Fire.

Earth.

Destruction.

Infernal energy.

And something far older.

Ares studied it for several seconds.

Then he raised his head.

"Hey."

His voice carried across the enormous valley.

The dragon didn’t move.

Ares frowned slightly.

"Hey, you there."

Nothing.

The Broodmother glanced at him.

"Master, what are you doing?"

Ares ignored her.

He raised his voice again.

"Wake up."

The sound traveled across the valley.

Still nothing.

Ares sighed.

"Apparently, it doesn’t intend to wake up on its own."

He took a breath.

Then shouted.

"HEY! WAKE UP!"

The sound echoed through the mountains.

For several seconds, nothing happened.

Then—

The dragon’s eyes opened.

Two enormous golden-red eyes appeared within the darkness.

The entire valley became silent.

The dragon slowly raised its head.

Its gaze moved across the valley.

Then it found the two figures standing on the distant plateau.

Ares.

And the Broodmother.

A low growl escaped the dragon’s throat.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...

The sound wasn’t particularly loud at first.

But the moment the growl continued, the surrounding environment changed.

The wind suddenly reversed.

The temperature increased dramatically.

The lava throughout the valley erupted.

The mountains trembled.

Then the dragon released its full roar.

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The force of the roar exploded across the entire region.

A wall of compressed air swept through the valley.

The trees that had managed to survive the volcanic environment were torn from the ground.

Large stones were launched into the distance.

Even the ground beneath Ares and the Broodmother cracked.

The Broodmother immediately raised her hands.

A defensive barrier appeared around her body.

Even so, the force pushed her backward several meters.

"What..."

She stared toward the dragon.

"That was only its roar?"

Ares remained standing.

His cloak was being blown violently behind him, but his expression remained calm.

"It really is powerful."

He looked toward the dragon.

"Does it intend to fight me?"

The dragon slowly rose.

Its enormous wings unfolded.

The movement alone displaced enough air to create another violent wave across the valley.

Ares narrowed his eyes.

"It can’t be helped."

He raised one hand.

"Seems like I’ll have to unleash some of my power."

The Broodmother immediately looked toward him.

"Master..."

Ares didn’t answer.

The ground beneath his feet suddenly changed.

A deep vibration spread through the earth.

At first, it was barely noticeable.

Then—

BOOM.

A circular wave of force expanded from beneath Ares.

The black volcanic ground fractured.

Not from an explosion.

From pressure.

The earth itself had been forced to move.

Ares raised his hand.

A massive formation appeared beneath the entire valley.

Its outer ring was composed of enormous golden-brown circles, while several black lines crossed through the formation like cracks spreading through stone.

At the center was a symbol resembling the outline of a colossal beast’s claw.

The formation rotated.

Slowly.

Then faster.

Ares looked toward the dragon.

"Behemoth’s Ruin."

He lowered his hand.

The earth erupted.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

A seismic wave tore through the valley.

Mountains shook.

The ground split.

Enormous pillars of stone erupted from beneath the dragon, each one carrying enough force to launch the colossal creature upward.

The dragon roared.

Its wings opened completely.

Infernal flames immediately gathered within its mouth.

The Broodmother’s eyes widened.

The dragon released its breath.

FWOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!

A torrent of infernal flame erupted across the valley.

The flames were not ordinary fire.

They were crimson at the outer edges, orange toward the center, and almost golden-white at their hottest point.

Everything they touched began melting.

The seismic wave collided with the infernal flames.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The two forces crashed against one another.

Earth-shattering pressure pushed forward.

Infernal fire burned against it.

The valley disappeared beneath an enormous collision of black, golden-brown, crimson, and orange energy.

The Broodmother immediately raised another barrier.

"This..."

Her expression became tense.

"The force is incredible."

Ares remained at the center of the collision.

The seismic energy continued spreading beneath his control.

The dragon’s infernal flames continued pushing forward.

Neither side gave way.

For several seconds, the two powers remained locked together.

Then Ares smiled faintly.

"Interesting."

He raised his other hand.

A second magical formation appeared.

This one was blue.

Its outer ring consisted of several rotating circles resembling enormous waves, while the inner symbols moved in the opposite direction.

Ares pointed toward the dragon.

"Leviathan’s Surge."

The formation activated.

A colossal torrent of water erupted from the ground.

The blue force crashed into the infernal flames.

Steam exploded across the valley.

BOOOOOOM!

The dragon’s flames were pushed backward.

The water continued forward.

The dragon roared.

Ares raised another formation.

This one was crimson.

Its outer ring rotated clockwise while the inner ring rotated counterclockwise, with several flame-shaped symbols moving independently between them.

"Infernal Starfall."

Countless crimson spheres of fire descended from the sky.

Each one struck the dragon with concentrated destructive force.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The dragon’s scales burned beneath the repeated impacts.

But it remained standing.

Ares raised another hand.

A massive earth-colored formation appeared beneath the dragon.

Its rings rotated vertically rather than horizontally, while several geometric symbols resembling mountains shifted continuously around the center.

"Worldbreaker Pillars."

The ground erupted.

Enormous stone pillars rose beneath the dragon’s body.

They struck from every direction.

DOOOOOOM!

The dragon’s body was forced backward.

Ares continued.

A fourth formation appeared.

This one was silver-white.

Its outer rings rotated in opposite directions, while the inner symbols moved so quickly that they became almost impossible to distinguish.

"Heaven’s Gale."

The wind exploded.

A gigantic spiral of compressed air formed around the dragon.

The force twisted its enormous body sideways while countless blades of wind struck its scales.

SHRAAAAAK!

The dragon roared.

Its wings opened wider.

Ares raised his hand again.

A golden-white formation appeared above the battlefield.

Its outer rings rotated slowly in opposite directions, while countless radiant symbols moved toward the center.

"Celestial Judgment."

A pillar of pure light descended.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The entire northern region was illuminated.

The dragon’s body was swallowed by the radiance.

For several seconds, nothing could be seen.

Then the dragon roared again.

The light shattered.

The dragon emerged.

Its scales were damaged.

Several wounds covered its body.

Yet it was still standing.

Ares raised his hand once more.

This time, the formation was black.

Its outer ring rotated slowly clockwise.

The second ring rotated counterclockwise.

The third rotated vertically.

At the center was a completely black sphere that seemed to absorb the surrounding light.

"Eclipse Abyss."

The sphere expanded.

Darkness swallowed the dragon.

The Broodmother stared.

"This is..."

The pressure didn’t last long.

The dragon’s infernal flames erupted again from within the darkness.

The two powers collided.

Infernal fire against Eclipse darkness.

The force shook the mountains.

The dragon’s roar became louder.

Ares stood calmly in the center of the battlefield.

The darkness and flames continued clashing around him.

Then the infernal flames began overpowering the darkness.

Ares narrowed his eyes.

"So even after all that..."

He smiled faintly.

"...you’re still standing."

The dragon roared again.

Ares looked toward it.

"What a sturdy body."

He raised his hand.

"Then let’s finish this."

The final formation appeared.

It was enormous.

Several rings formed around one another, each rotating at a different speed and direction.

Black.

Gold.

Crimson.

Blue.

Silver.

White.

Every color of energy Ares had used earlier gathered into the same formation.

The center became completely black.

Ares raised his hand.

"Eclipse Cataclysm."

The formation activated.

Every element erupted simultaneously.

Seismic force tore through the earth.

Water crushed the flames.

Infernal fire exploded across the sky.

Wind shredded the surrounding energy.

Light descended from above.

Darkness swallowed everything around it.

The entire valley disappeared beneath the collision.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The Broodmother raised both hands and formed the strongest barrier she could.

Even then, the force pushed her backward.

The mountain beneath her feet cracked.

She stared toward the battlefield.

The attack continued for several seconds.

Then—

Silence.

The force disappeared.

The volcanic valley had been devastated.

The dragon was still standing.

Barely.

Its enormous body was covered in wounds.

Its wings were partially damaged.

Its scales were cracked.

Infernal flames flickered weakly around its mouth.

Yet it was still alive.

Ares slowly lowered his hand.

"Hmm."

He looked toward the dragon.

"I suppose I used too much."

The Broodmother stared at him.

"Too much?"

She looked around at the devastated valley.

"Master, you nearly destroyed the entire region."

Ares glanced at the surrounding mountains.

"They’re still standing."

The Broodmother sighed.

"That isn’t exactly reassuring."

Ares ignored the comment.

He looked toward the dragon again.

"It really is powerful."

The dragon remained on its feet.

Its breathing was heavy.

Its body continued struggling to regenerate.

Ares slowly descended from the plateau.

The Broodmother followed.

The two landed several meters in front of the enormous dragon.

The dragon was still struggling.

Its body was trembling.

Its eyes remained open.

Ares looked at it.

"Dragon Emperor."

The Broodmother’s expression changed.

"D-dragon Emperor?"

She looked toward the creature.

"No wonder it’s this powerful."

She hesitated.

Then looked toward Ares.

"But..."

Her expression became awkward.

"Isn’t it a little pitiful?"

Ares looked at her.

"Pitiful?"

She glanced toward the wounded dragon.

"Do you really need to beat it like that?"

Ares was silent for a moment.

Then he looked toward the dragon again.

"Hmm."

He tilted his head slightly.

The Broodmother sighed.

Ares stepped closer.

The dragon’s body suddenly began glowing.

Ares stopped.

"Hm?"

The Broodmother immediately became alert.

"What is happening?"

The dragon’s enormous body began shrinking.

Its scales dissolved into streams of crimson and golden light.

The massive wings disappeared.

The four colossal legs became human limbs.

The tail vanished.

Then the light surrounding the dragon intensified.

Ares narrowed his eyes.

The transformation continued.

The creature’s enormous body became that of a woman.

A very tall woman.

Her long crimson hair flowed down her back, reaching far below her waist. The strands were smooth and slightly wavy, with several locks falling naturally around her face.

Her skin was pale and flawless.

Her eyes were a deep crimson, carrying the faint golden glow of the infernal power that still remained within her.

Her facial features were remarkably refined.

She possessed the beauty of something that had never belonged to humanity in the first place.

Her clothing had changed as well.

A long, elegant dark-red gown covered her body, decorated with subtle black and crimson patterns that resembled flames and ancient dragon scales. The fabric flowed naturally around her tall figure, while the high slits along the sides allowed her to move without restriction.

Dark red high-heeled shoes formed beneath her feet.

Even after transforming into human form, she remained unusually tall.

Ares stared at her.

"...She’s tall!."

The Broodmother stared as well.

"She’s beautiful."

The woman slowly opened her eyes.

She looked toward Ares.

Then she lowered herself.

One knee touched the ground.

Her head bowed.

"Master."

Ares froze.

"...What?"

The Broodmother’s eyes widened.

"Master?"

Ares looked at her.

Then toward the woman kneeling before him.

"What is it this time?"

He narrowed his eyes.

’First the spider.’

He glanced toward the Broodmother.

’Now the Dragon Emperor.’

His gaze returned to the kneeling woman.

The Broodmother looked equally confused.

She slowly turned toward the woman.

"How can this be?"

Ares continued staring at her.

’And wait.’

’How can you she be an Emperor if she’s a woman?’

He looked at her height again.

’And she’s so tall. Draven isn’t even this tall.’

The woman remained kneeling.

Ares sighed internally.

’Is this really happening again?’

He looked toward the woman.

"Why are you calling me Master?"

The woman’s expression immediately became apologetic.

"Forgive me."

Her voice was calm and elegant.

"I did not intend to attack you."

She lowered her head.

"I reacted because your sudden appearance startled me, and I believed you were preparing to challenge me."

Ares raised an eyebrow.

"You were waiting for me?"

"Yes."

The woman looked up.

"I have been waiting for you to return."

Ares paused.

"Return?"

She nodded.

"When you first entered my territory, I sensed your presence."

Her crimson eyes softened.

"I was overjoyed."

She placed one hand against her chest.

"I believed I had finally found the person I had been waiting for."

The Broodmother stared at her.

"Waiting for?"

The woman continued.

"I have existed here for a very long time."

Her voice remained calm.

"I have watched countless creatures enter this territory."

"None possessed the existence I was searching for."

She looked directly at Ares.

"But when you appeared, I knew."

Ares narrowed his eyes.

"Knew what?"

"That you were the one I could serve."

Her expression became sincere.

"I was certain that my intuition had finally proven correct."

She lowered her head again.

"Please allow me to serve you."

Her voice became firmer.

"I swear that I will use everything I possess to protect my Master."

The Broodmother looked between them.

"W-what is happening?"

Ares remained silent.

He activated True Sight.

Information immediately unfolded before his eyes.

The woman was telling the truth.

There was no deception.

No hidden hostility.

No attempt to manipulate him.

Her desire to serve him was genuine.

Ares slowly exhaled.

’Of course.’

’First Draven, Cedric, Astra, and the Broodmother.’

He looked toward the woman.

’And now the Dragon Emperor herself.’

Ares shook his head slightly.

’At this rate, I’m starting to wonder whether I’m collecting powerful beings without even trying.’

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!