Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1704 - 1703 - Swift Campaign

Humans were adaptable beings. What would kill or wipe out other races due to a lack of intelligence or options, humans often could squeeze out enough as a species to endure even in very harsh conditions.

Extreme temperatures, city destroying natural events, or just plain bad choices could all lead to cataclysmic events but so long as enough humans acted in concert or independently, the race could recover.

History did not always record those moments as many were too busy surviving, but some traces endured. They became myths and legends to later generations and just mysteries or excuses to later generations.

The sudden collapse of all advanced civilizations at roughly the same time had been the most widely accepted first recorded event for Earth but how many had simply been unable to be recorded because everything had been on the brink of the end?

Lind had the stray thought pass through his mind as blood flowed down his arms. It was not his own. Around him the former fortress had been reduced to cinders and rubble while the Hellfire Tiger True Lord drew his last breath.

The once robust man was now missing his right arm and left leg. His ribs were exposed as his skull was partially ripped open. The gentle rain from the steel gray sky slowly washed the gore off of Lind as he let the man fall.

Compared to the insect, the Hellfire Tiger had been tenacious. Even in such a critical state, his soul had not given in. Lind had to break everything and still shatter the soul after exerting his harmony to do it.

The Fiend was no longer intact either as it seemed a stray piece of debris had ripped her legs into shreds. Her arms were broken but still tied up. Terror filled her face as she looked at him.

Lind had killed 4 True Lords in the northern territory until all fled.

At first, they had tried to work against him, but once they realized he was impervious to the weapons of the current world, they were forced to face him directly. They had severely underestimated his power.

The trial had not progressed since killing the insect but Lind always tested each one. Some had shown signs of breaking free yet they lashed out at the humans even then. They seemed obsessed.

Only 1 beast had seemed to break free but the Shen had never appeared before him. He had spent months mowing down all the True Lords in North America.

She certainly knew he was active and killing. The humans had varied reactions but most celebrated his spree. Lind wanted to slap their heads together but it was pointless. Without full control of his abilities, he could not purify the world.

He did confirm that his actions were working. In a few short months, he had begun to extend the life of the planet.

Originally it had been less than 200 years, but now it was up to 289!

The more he slowed down the exposure of the array, the longer it took to refine the world. The confirmation was good but that only worked with the known operations. As he left his home continent, he saw how truly ravaged the world had become.

South America was cut in half! The lower half was clearly nearly destroyed by both an impact and massive tsunami from both sides! It had not sunk but it may as well have!

There were only 2 beasts in the entire continent but they were not harming the humans nor uncovering the array. He observed them for a long time until he understood.

One was a dragon with dark violet and black coloring. A Star Void Dragon was damned rare to begin with but they supposedly could not become a True Lord from what he had heard. She must have done something to go beyond her bloodline limitations.

Such dragons were extremely difficult to mentally attack and while they did not care much about other races, due to their limited numbers, they did not go out of their way to kill. Humans and demons were also highly compatible with their bloodline to produce children.

The other seemed to be a race he could not readily identify. His eyes were rather larger than normal and instead of an iris, they were just bright blue orbs. Partial transformation, maybe?

His hair was also white and yellow but clearly made of harder material than human hair. His movements were smooth but Lind felt like he was nearly blended with nature.

A flash of an idea came to him. He had met an insect True Lord, could he be a plant True Lord? It was not impossible. Races existed in the Divine Lands unlike the lower realms.

Dryads certainly could have a divine bloodline but there were other plant races.

Still, he left them alone. They were actually helping combat the drain on life and improving the lives of the humans living there.

Lind felt sad by all that had been lost. He wondered how many ancient humans, if they visited just the 20th century, would be forlorn at all that was simply wiped away that none knew about.

He went further south and found Antarctica was actually intact! Its position both in the oceans and on the planet had spared it much of the damage. Rather than being crushed, the various forces passed it by or were nullified before reaching its shores.

The once famous ice and snow were mostly gone though. The air was actively warmer and the normal flow of storms were gone.

It might return to its original state but he found a small group of humans barely surviving. There were no beasts at all and no contradictory technology.

He sighed as he could do nothing in his current state for them. He could not make the land thrive nor take them with him. The Fiend would likely happily exchange places but he did not care as he leapt as far into the ocean as he could go.

Australia was devastated but intact. He did find a similar situation to the Americas but unlike them, the humans were being pushed to the brink by extreme weather. The Americas roughly held onto their seasons but it seemed Australia had been flipped inside out.

He wondered the full cause of it but there were 4 beasts ruling there.

A Roc, phoenix, and tortoise were fighting fiercely over a massive depression near the heart of the continent.

Such legendary beasts but it was clear they had lost their senses to their instincts. Blood has soaked the ground and little of it was from them, but he noticed an oddity. A woman with electric blue hair streaked with silver was racing with a wounded child to a fortified area.

Her own body was clearly injured.

For some reason, Lind felt a twinge of recognition when he saw her but he had never laid eyes on her in his life. He tried to scent out what she was but too much blood on her and in the air made it hard to pick it out.

It must be closer to a more common animal and mixed in because of that.

He tossed the Fiend in front of him and the action actually stopped the 3 people fighting. Now that they paused, he could see the Roc was a man as well as the tortoise but the phoenix was a woman.

All 3 were nearly mad with the desire to kill each other but for the first time, the Fiend snapped them out of the mental state they suffered from.

"Why–?"

"What was I–?"

"Damned mental attack–!"

All 3 quickly realized something had breached their defenses. Unexpectedly, the Roc grew pale and bowed to the phoenix woman.

"Sister-in-law! I lost my senses! I am so sorry!" His dark robes and silver eyes made Lind guess he was a Lighting Roc or maybe a Divine Thunder Roc. Both had similar coloring.

The phoenix was far harder. She had skin the color of cream and hair so pale he almost did not realize it was golden. Her eyes were a deep crimson but did not throw off her beauty. Even with their injuries all 3 were healing very fast.

The last man was massive, not just broad but tall! His clothes were actually damaged, showing they were not a part of him but his skin was as dark as night and Lind could tell it would be difficult to hurt him.

His eyes were pale gold and now looked irritated but it was directed inward.

"How could we be affected by this?!" He was glaring at the female Fiend who withered visibly under his stare. Lind cupped his hands at the 3.

"Seniors, I am Lind Frey, True Lord of Dragons. Do you remember everything or do you need things filled in?" All 3 blinked before the Roc nearly fell down in terror. The tortoise tossed his head back in laughter. The phoenix looked at him as if he was some kind of prey!

Not the prey to kill but to make hers!

Lind then dodged as a woman nearly struck him in the back. The scent was clear now, a wolf!

She was not deranged at all but very fierce and clear. She looked at the other 3 and seemed ready to fight them all!

Lind sighed before pulling on the rope and the Fiend flopped in front of her.

"I do not have time. If you are all clear headed, I must move on. The trial must end." He was about to leave when he was attacked again.

The wolf moved so damned fast even he could barely keep up! Still, his instincts did not even flare in warning. She could not harm him.

He finally caught her wrists and saw her dark eyes go wide in shock.

"I am not an enemy, I am busy clearing up this mess and getting us out of here!" He was about to toss her aside when both felt a tremor. They instinctively looked at their right hands.

The rings were gone but the feeling had been clear. It was as if Haro had reached out to him to stop him.

"Who are you?" The wolf backed off finally but Lind only sighed as he tensed his legs.

"Lind Frey, Divine Progenitor and True Lord of Dragons." He leapt away before could see her reaction. Yet, he heard it clearly enough.

"Lord Haro has returned and guards you. I will find you." Lord Haro? What was going on?

He still could not identify her race but wolves were massive in their numbers. A Divine bloodline was not only understandable, it was statistically unavoidable!

Air whistled but he found nothing nearby to land on! New Zealand was just gone. Whether smashed or drowned he did not know but it was not where it was supposed to be.

He sighed as he knew there could not be many more. He was sweeping the world and there were few places left to hide!