Chapter 495: Emperor Dragon Ao Tian, the Unbeatable Weak Divine Power

Ashura Field, First Layer, Battle Plain.

In the Battle Plain, the most iconic landscape comprises iron blocks the size of islands, even as large as continents in the prime material world. Countless iron blocks float in the dark void, densely distributed, and constantly moving slowly.

Castles, fortresses, kingdoms, and armies are stationed on these iron blocks. Due to the unpredictable movement of the iron blocks, they often cause the territories of different forces to come close to each other, leading to wars to defend their sovereignty. Rarely do these encounters end peacefully.

Each iron block is a battlefield. Every moment, battles rage in the Ashura Field. The entire Ashura Field is a place of constant conflict among various armies, seemingly never-ending.

But today, the situation is different. In the Battle Plain, countless iron blocks are embedded and connected, forming a massive arena that seems infinite to ordinary intelligent beings, with no visible boundaries.

At this moment, around the periphery of the arena, small iron block platforms are already occupied by figures bathed in dazzling divine light, standing silently. The divine pressure from these gods fills the Battle Plain.

Fairy God, Goblin God, Elf God, Beast God, Dwarf God—not to mention ordinary gods, the leaders of various divine systems are numerous. Besides the gods, the presence of demon lords like the Shadow Prince and Beast King, as well as the devil lords of Avernus Hell, can also be seen.

Most gods, demons, or devils are present in avatars, not their true bodies. Otherwise, they wouldn't coexist peacefully.

In the void of the Battle Plain, the Supreme Emperor Haotian, wearing a purple-gold imperial robe, has arrived, exuding the majesty and aura of an emperor. His posture is tall and straight, and nine intermediate divine powers surround him.

The Nine Walkers of the Heavenly Court, the Nine Gods:

- Guanyin, Goddess of Mercy and Peace

- Zhan Zheng, God of War of the Heavenly Court

- Chen Xiang, God of Poetry, Music, and Literature

- Zhishi, God of Knowledge, History, Tradition, and Scholars

- Nongjiang, God of Agriculture, Land, Fertility, and Sowing

- Aiqin, Goddess of Love and Marriage

- Faguan, God of Justice

- Xinyun, Goddess of Good Luck

- Shujia, God of Craftsmen and Art

Under the Supreme Emperor Haotian, a true dragon with dragon might, slender and winding, with antlers like a deer, eyes like a rabbit, scales like a fish, claws like an eagle, and palms like a tiger, clad in golden scales, is present.

This is an Imperial Dragon, the Emperor Dragon, Haotian's mount.

The Imperial Dragon belongs to the Heavenly Court but holds a low status, often appearing on the dining tables of the gods of the Heavenly Court and under their jurisdiction, never having a true powerful representative.

The Emperor Dragon under the Supreme Emperor Haotian is the strongest among the Imperial Dragons.

Emperor Dragon Ao Tian, possessing weak divine power with traits of intermediate divine power.

"Your Majesty Haotian, will I be fighting in this battle?" The gods' representative in the three duels is chosen by the Supreme Emperor Haotian, but he has never revealed his choice.

With his strength, Ao Tian indeed qualifies to represent, being one of the few with both weak divine power and traits of intermediate divine power.

Facing his mount's inquiry, the Supreme Emperor Haotian, sitting atop Ao Tian's head, smiled slightly, "You are not a match for the Destruction Dragon God."

"Moreover, deep in your heart, you hope to see the Dragon God lineage win."

The Supreme Emperor Haotian patted Ao Tian's dragon horns, speaking slowly in a statement-like tone.

The Imperial Dragons are heavily restricted by the Heavenly Court, often serving as mounts for gods and officials. Despite having traits of intermediate divine power, Ao Tian, due to his circumstances and lack of resources, cannot match the top-tier intermediate divine power of the Destruction Dragon God.

Moreover, while ordinary Imperial Dragons are loyal to the Heavenly Court, unaware of their oppression, Ao Tian, as the leader, understands that true dragons outside the Heavenly Court live as dominators and lords, not as food, mounts, or slaves.

Despite their noble name, the Imperial Dragons live the lowest lives in the eyes of real dragons.

"Your Majesty Haotian, you jest," Ao Tian lowered his head, speaking softly.

The Supreme Emperor Haotian remained calm and did not respond.

As time passed, more gods and avatars of god-like beings arrived to witness the first battle of the Non-War Pact.

Soon, the Dragon Gods also arrived.

Garon Aurelian, with three pairs of crown-like dragon horns and deep silver-gray scales like the vast starry sky. Karrix, with crimson scales like blood, covered in flames with lava-like patterns and a robust physique. Tiamat, with five heads in deep red, azure, forest green, pitch black, and icy white. Bahamut, with gold and silver intertwined scales, possessing traits of both gold and silver dragons, standing majestically.

The Dragon Gods and the Supreme Emperor Haotian, as the main actors of the Non-War Pact, attracted the attention of all gods, who silently observed and communicated through divine thoughts.

"This is the Imperial Dragon," Garon narrowed his eyes, looking at the winding true dragon carrying the Supreme Emperor Haotian.

The Imperial Dragon's appearance is similar to that of a serpentine dragon, but unlike the ferocious, beast-like serpentine dragons with only two claws, the Imperial Dragon exudes a divine majesty, evoking a refreshing feeling rather than fear.

Like Garon, the Dragon Gods noticed the Emperor Dragon under the Supreme Emperor Haotian.

Every Dragon God's expression turned serious.

For a dragon with traits of intermediate divine power to be used as a mount is a great insult to the proud Dragon Gods. However, since the Imperial Dragons belong to the Heavenly Court, even true dragons cannot protect them.

When the Dragon Gods appeared, most gods naturally kept their distance, except for those aligned with the Dragon Gods.

Witnessing this, Emperor Dragon Ao Tian glanced at the proud, towering Dragon Gods and then lowered his head in silence.

"Your Majesty Haotian, I will represent the Dragon God lineage in the duel of weak divine powers," Karrix, covered in flames and exuding a powerful battle intent, spoke.

After speaking, Karrix spread his wings, causing a fiery curtain to rise and fly toward the duel ground formed by countless iron blocks.

The specific rules of the Non-War Pact were meticulously analyzed and observed. Essentially, the Non-War Pact was fair and just, with no traps found. Given the significance of the contract, any deception would be challenging.

Moreover, the Ashura Field, an outer plane serving as the duel ground, provided a home advantage for the chaotic evil-aligned Destruction Dragon God.

Upon entering the duel ground, the Destruction Dragon God stood tall, spreading his enormous wings and scanning the gods with fierce eyes, roaring, "Who dares to challenge me? Come! Let me reduce you to ashes with my flames!"

Roaring, his body swelled, flames rolling.

Soon, the Destruction Dragon God resembled a dragon-shaped sun, standing in the vast duel ground, with scorching heat waves seemingly rushing out of the arena.

Facing the Destruction Dragon God's might, every weak divine power in the gods' camp turned pale, feeling as if they were about to be devoured by the dragon's ferocity. Even intermediate divine powers showed fear, while those in the Dragon God's camp were invigorated.

Meanwhile, the Destruction Dragon God's opponent arrived.

In the chaos of the Battle Plain, a black robe swept silently, deathly and gray, entering the duel ground.

The black robe, covered in skulls, skeletal hands, and death flowers, concealed the figure's form, the hood obscuring the face.

Under the gaze of the gods, the black robe moved with an invisible wind.

Seeing this god, the Dragon Gods, including Garon, became solemn.

Gods like the Radiant Lord, Sun God, and Fairy God also locked their eyes on the swaying black robe.

"Who is this god? I've never seen them before."

Some gods were puzzled.

"The Ancient God of Death, Master of the End, Jager."

"The Ancient God of Death? Isn't the God of Death Kelemvor?"

"He is the oldest God of Death, the first God of Death, who created the three powerful Gods of Death by sharing his power."

The gods who knew the Ancient God of Death explained in low, solemn voices.

Not all gods knew of the Ancient God of Death, a very old deity who wielded the power of death. He had grown weary of his duties long ago, stopped appearing, and divided his power to create three powerful Gods of Death, then disappeared.

"It's Jager, this is bad."

Garon hadn't expected to see the Ancient God of Death, who he had interacted with in the alternate timeline of Faerûn, reappear in the main timeline in such a manner.

The Ancient God of Death's position was undeniable.

Even though he was a weak divine power now, no god underestimated him.

"Could it be that my use of the immortality spell has caught Jager's attention?"

"No, he has given up his duties in the main timeline."

Garon pondered silently.

"Jager, the Dragon God lineage has no grievance with you, and you have been in seclusion for a long time. Why appear now and represent the gods against us?"

The Metallic Dragon God spoke in a deep voice.

He hadn't expected the long-retired Jager to reappear.

A raspy, ethereal voice emanated from the darkness beneath

 the hood, "You are correct; we have no grievances. But for some reason, I suddenly felt a loathing for dragons, an enmity growing within me. I trust my instincts."

Hearing Jager's response, Garon was slightly taken aback.

"Could a god so powerful sense even the alternate timeline?"

Garon speculated that his activities in the alternate timeline had triggered Jager's reaction in the main timeline, causing his enmity toward dragons.

Jager was no ordinary god, making this possibility not far-fetched.

"This first duel... will not be easy."

Garon looked toward the duel ground.

The Destruction Dragon God's eyes gradually turned fiery, his voice deep, "Jager, I don't care why you're here, but since you are, prepare to face my destruction. I will enjoy your screams in the flames!"

Under the death robe, Jager's expression was unseen.

Only a calm, steady voice spoke, "Is that so? I have been silent for long, away from conflict."

"Since I'm back today, I hope you won't disappoint me."

"Let your flames dance for me, amuse me."

As he spoke, a pale, gaunt hand, skin seemingly clinging to bones with little flesh, extended from under the robe.

Boundless death energy, like a vast river of black, gray, and white, converged on Jager, forming a scythe in his right hand and an ancient, thick book in his left.

The Scythe of Death, the Death Codex.

"My power... I can't control it."

Kelemvor, the current God of Death, also had an avatar observing the battle in the Ashura Field.

He wielded the power of death but felt his authority shifting, as if cheering for the appearance of its old master, Jager.

After dividing his power to create three powerful Gods of Death, Jager retained only a portion of his death power, equivalent to a weak divine power. But he could still command immense death energy and seemingly had some control over the divided death power.

Meanwhile, the battle between the weak divine power and the top-tier intermediate-like power of the Destruction Dragon God began under the gods' watchful eyes.

Karrix roared, his eyes turning blood-red, exuding a maniacal dragon might.

For the Destruction Dragon God, the crazier he acted, the more serious he was.

Simultaneously, Karrix's scales turned redder, emitting intense heat. Each scale resembled a red-hot branding iron, melting the iron block platform beneath him, although new ones replaced the damaged sections.

Sizzling high-temperature air currents and flames surrounded Karrix, forming countless rings from his head to his tail, moving back and forth, collectively forming a conical outline brimming with destructive energy, with Karrix's robust dragon horns at the apex.

"I am Destruction!"

With a deafening roar, Karrix lowered his head, dragon horns blazing, radiating an unimaginable heat.

Flapping his burning wings, his limbs burst with enough force to crush stars.

Boom! Circular shockwaves formed, shattering the iron block surface, sending fragments flying like ocean waves.

The Destruction Dragon God vanished from his spot.

In the duel ground, the dragon-shaped sun-like Karrix streaked through the air, leaving a fiery trail as wide as the Milky Way, rushing straight at the Ancient God of Death.

Facing the overwhelming Destruction Dragon God, Jager remained unmoved.

Meanwhile, the surging death energy converged, forming giant black hands, carrying the aura of death, desolation, and lifelessness, grabbing at the Destruction Dragon God from all directions.

Karrix, brimming with destruction and ruin, charged forward.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Each black hand print on Karrix's body failed to penetrate his flame barrier, incinerated by the raging fire.

Karrix's momentum was also slightly diminished.

On the other side, watching the approaching Destruction Dragon God, Jager extended his left hand.

In his pale palm, the Death Codex moved by an unseen wind, its pages rustling, faintly showing many anguished faces etched within. As the Death Codex turned, countless overlapping wails and groans echoed.

Finally, the Death Codex stopped on a blank page.

Under Jager's will, the death energy became ink, spreading across the blank page, swiftly forming a vivid picture of the Destruction Dragon God.

As the picture formed, boundless, seemingly limitless death energy erupted around the Destruction Dragon God, enveloping him.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

In the black death energy, flames flickered, struggling against the dense, liquid-like death energy, seemingly about to explode.

"Break!"

Karrix roared madly.

Boom! His radiant dragon horns, filled with destructive energy, shattered the clinging death energy.

On the Death Codex's page imprinted with Karrix's image, a flame bloomed, burning, spreading, causing damage.

Jager pressed his left hand onto the page.

Rolling death energy roared out, repairing the damage faster than it spread.

Hiss... Billions of death energy threads wrapped around Karrix's head, writhing and rolling, re-covering him.

Seeing this, the watching gods understood the situation.

Clearly, Karrix was at a disadvantage, very passive. Despite unleashing his full power in an initial attack, he was easily intercepted and now seemed stuck in a quagmire, struggling.

More death energy threads entangled Karrix, continuously accumulating like thick black asphalt, trapping him.

Inside, Karrix seemed cut off from perception, losing direction, only able to gather strength repeatedly to break through the death energy.

From the outside, it looked like a dark world where occasional firelight accompanied by violent explosions surged but was soon engulfed by the darkness.

"The gap is too big..."

Garon sighed.

By now, the battle's outcome was clear.

Jager had not shown the power level of a strong divine power, yet he had firmly controlled Karrix.

This was the foundation and strength of the Ancient God of Death. Even after dividing his power to create three strong Gods of Death, the remaining power was still formidable.

According to the Non-War Pact, life and death were unrestricted.

Additionally, surrender was allowed if one felt outmatched.

Karrix did not surrender, repeatedly resisting in the quagmire of death energy. However, after prolonged exposure to the death aura, his life force was gradually weakening, like a drowning person.

Jager's face remained hidden under his hood.

The surging death energy gathered behind him, forming a colossal black shadow, standing silently, its size rivaling the Destruction Dragon God's.

Gazing at the bound Karrix, Jager slowly raised the Scythe of Death.

The death shadow behind him mirrored his actions.

His movements were slow, almost leisurely, but each passing second increased the scythe's lethal threat.

Even through the duel ground's barrier, all gods, except the strong divine powers, felt the chilling danger of death, as if a scythe was poised at their necks.

As the target of Jager's scythe, Karrix felt this threat even more intensely.

His neck scales felt cold, a sharp prickling sensation like needles.

Facing this deadly attack, Karrix still refused to surrender.

He roared, enveloping himself in endless flames, trying to block Jager's attack.

The next second, the death shadow's scythe descended.

The Scythe of Death passed through layers of flames, like an illusion, without touching them.

Karrix's body went cold and stiff, his eyes reflecting the approaching scythe.

At this moment, a massive golden dragon claw intervened in the duel, forcefully grasping and shattering the scythe.

The Metallic Dragon God's dragon might surged, staring at the Ancient God of Death.

Watching the Metallic Dragon God's intervention, the atmosphere became tense.

"We concede this duel."

A low voice, devoid of emotion, spoke.

The Metallic Dragon God lifted Karrix, pulling the cold, stiff Destruction Dragon God out of the duel ground.

No god stopped the Metallic Dragon God, and Jager, the victor, watched silently.

"The Dragon God lineage loses the first duel of the Non-War Pact."

The Supreme Emperor Haotian declared.

Simultaneously, he produced a pen radiating death energy, capable of determining life and death.

With a flip of his hand, the pen disappeared, reappearing before Jager.

After Jager accepted the pen, his robe swirled, and he left the Ashura Field.

The long-reclusive Ancient God of Death, willing to involve himself in the Non-War Pact and risk the turmoil, was clearly motivated by more than just enmity toward dragons. He was also interested in what the Supreme Emperor Haotian offered.

With the Dragon God lineage's first defeat, no god doubted the Supreme Emperor Haotian's impartiality.

"The second duel of the Non-War Pact will take place in ten years."

The Supreme Emperor Haotian stated, then disappeared with the avatars of the Heavenly Court's gods.

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