Last Egg: Reincarnated as a Dragon in a Game Chapter 533: The Balance Council

A year has passed:

Clad in robes, a figure descended through the darkened passage, each footfall resonating on the gleaming obsidian floor much like a faraway bell's chime. Light spilled through towering, arched openings, casting distorted, sharp shadows upon the desolate world outside. He paused, his sight fixing on the barren expanse visible beyond the arches.

Fields of ash stretched to the horizon, interrupted by rugged stone formations jutting upward like the teeth of some ancient, deceased beast.

'An entire continent, ruined by these abominations. This devastation should not have occurred for another ten years.' More than a year had elapsed since the formidable Void Dragon King reappeared, the demonic hordes descended upon the continent, and reapers materialized in the cities. He had foreseen a conflict, mirroring his previous existence. However, the divine forces had retreated, abandoning the central continent to the encroaching onslaught.

His bony hands clenched tightly, the ephemeral flames swirling within his eye sockets intensifying with a desperate determination. 'This world, Earth, must not perish in such a manner.'

He came to a halt before a colossal golden gateway. The two winged sentinels, encased in dark armor, lowered their energy halberds; the scarlet glow emanating from their blades cast an unsettling illumination within the dim corridor. The undead player observed them intently, attempting to perceive any sign of life beneath their imposing armor. 'Whispers suggest they consumed the essence of the four balance races, perhaps even all five.'

"I have been granted an audience with the council," he declared, striving to suppress the apprehension that gripped his hollow chest. He had believed, as an undead being, that he was incapable of feeling fear. Yet, standing before a gathering of formidable monstrous entities, he was overcome with dread.

Arranging this meeting had demanded the expenditure of every single favor he had painstakingly amassed over the years, both as the leader of the foremost non-righteous guild and as a clandestine operative for the god of death.

The sentinels remained motionless. Without a sound, they shifted aside, their imposing weapons striking the floor with a resonant clang. The massive doors groaned open, unleashing a surge of intense heat that struck him like a physical assault. He stepped across the threshold and immediately collapsed onto his knees, his once steady flames flickering precariously in the oppressive atmosphere.

Waves of dread washed over him from every direction, each more terrifying than the last. Reapers, dragons, demons, and angels—their immense powers intertwined, suffocating him within a torrent of incomprehensible might. He dared not raise his gaze to meet their eyes, paralyzed by the potential repercussions.

"Speak, undead," a voice, as frigid and sharp as a blade forged from arctic ice, sliced through the air, sending a profound shiver down his spine. 'A reaper,' he identified, his mind struggling to process the revelation. He lowered his head further in deference.

"My esteemed lords! I implore your permission to subjugate Earth, the homeworld of the immortals, in your name," he uttered, barely comprehending the words leaving his lips. The cerulean flames in his eye sockets flickered with a profound sense of uncertainty. 'This was not how the sequence of events was meant to unfold.'

His original intention was to leverage his prescient knowledge to ascend above all others, uniting them beneath his command. Subsequently, when the dimensional convergence occurred, Earth would possess sufficient strength to conquer Lorenia—or at the very least, endure. But now, all his meticulously crafted plans lay in ruins.

'I even achieved divinity through the god of death. Yet, that accursed dragon shattered the established timeline. This council should not exist, and these monstrous beings ought to be embroiled in conflict with one another and with the gods.'

He was not so foolish as to believe Earth could emerge victorious from such utter chaos. In the best-case scenario, he could secure its survival by imposing subjugation through the least violent means possible. He had witnessed the demons and reapers annihilate entire continents. If Earth were to survive the impending descent, he would be compelled to conquer it on behalf of these monstrous entities before they directed their destructive attention toward it.

'The time is now, or never.' This represented his solitary opportunity. The dragons were consumed by the task of recovering their deceased kings' remains and amassing treasures to expedite their resurrection. The angels were in a state of disarray following the revelation of their god's treachery. The demons were excessively engrossed in their own savage revelries.

And the reapers, maintaining their characteristic deliberate pace, diligently harvested the death energy that the widespread conflict had abundantly provided.

"Ahh, coveting power, skeleton? I approve, proceed with your invasion! Conflict is eternally entertaining!" A demonic voice rasped, its tone imbued with a subtle undercurrent of dark amusement. He bowed even lower, offering a silent prayer that the demon would not derive excessive pleasure from the prospect of despoiling another world.

He continued, his voice steady owing to his undead state. "My lords, my forces are fully prepared. I am convinced that the remnants of the former governments and the righteous guilds will succumb swiftly, especially if your lordships can marshal your affiliated immortals in a singular, unified offensive."

"Why should we? What is our advantage?" A draconic voice, cold and feminine, echoed through the chamber, its fiery aura laced with a shrewd calculation. He almost cursed the dragon's insatiable hunger for any gain. 'What? Is conquering a world not sufficient for them?' Yet, he suppressed his anger, knowing that displaying it now would invite utter destruction.

"Your draconic lordship, I offer you all the gold my world possesses."

"Gold?" The dragon's voice was a low hiss. However, after a moment's consideration, she continued, "Perhaps it will serve as an initial payment. But understand this, skeleton: we are not easily purchased. Once you have conquered this world, we shall discuss taxes, tariffs, and tributes."

'Greedy lizards, but at least they can be bribed.'

Before he could fully process the exchange, another voice, clear and melodic, pierced the tense atmosphere. "You intend to invade a world? Do you not perceive the suffering it will cause? Is there not enough pain in this one? Must you plunge another world into the abyss?" The words, though gentle on the surface, held an underlying threat that sent a new tremor of fear through him.

'Those self-righteous pigeons.' He realized he had no alternative. The dimensional collapse would inevitably drag Earth into this nightmare anyway.

"Your holiness, my world is steeped in sin. Have you not witnessed the debauchery of immortals in this realm? My world is being consumed by greed and internal conflict. I do not seek to inflict suffering upon my people; I aim to bring them salvation."

The angel responded instantly, her voice resonating with a calming melody. "You may speak the truth, undead. A crusade might be warranted. However, I do not trust you. You will cooperate with the Holy-light Guild. They will ensure that power does not corrupt you."

The undead player nearly chuckled inwardly. No matter how powerful these beings were, their predictability was astounding. 'This way, one of the largest righteous guilds is neutralized.' He despised those fanatics, yet he comprehended their origins—religious zealots who, upon discovering the reality of magic and angels, eagerly joined their perpetual crusades.

"So be it. I grant you authorization to invade Earth in our name," the reaper finally spoke, its voice imbued with a chilling finality.