This time, Pride was the first to attack, feeling he'd wasted enough time on the others.
With a roar that shook the surrounding space, Pride charged forward. He extended his tails, each one ending in a head that snapped open, revealing jagged, razor-sharp teeth as they lunged toward the Dragon Kings.
Without hesitation, the Dragon Kings charged to meet him, fists thrust forward.
A violent collision erupted. Some Former Dragon Kings were immediately caught and crushed in the jaws of the tails, but others struck back with powerful blows that stunned and severely injured the heads.
Gathering their strength, they brought their hands down and severed the monstrous heads, halting the onslaught.
Then, without pause, they pressed forward again.
"You dare!" Pride growled, spreading his wings wide.
From his wings, the eyes of the Emissaries opened—unleashing a barrage of destructive attacks that rained down over a vast area.
The former Dragon Kings darted through the air, dodging the blasts, and finally reached him.
They clashed in close combat—blow after blow hurled toward Pride, who blocked their strikes with his wings and repelled them with casual shoves.
"You weaklings," he sneered.
A thunderous roar escaped him, unleashing a shockwave that blasted the former Dragon Kings away.
Below, Hydras that had been roaring were suddenly flattened as the former kings crashed down on them.
"You guys seem tense," the former Dwarf King remarked dryly.
"Shut up before I change my mind and kill you," the Dragon King snapped, rising with a flap of his wings and charging back into the sky.
"It's true—muscles really are the only thing you've developed."
A swarm of Hydras surged toward the Dwarf King.
"Troublesome bunch," he muttered, eyes cold.
From beneath his feet, countless spears erupted, piercing the Hydras and detonating the embedded magic stones—reducing the monsters to a storm of blood and fire.
"Now, let's figure out how to take down that big one."
His gaze shifted to Wrath—surrounded by Elf Guardians and bombarded by magical attacks from every direction. Yet Wrath absorbed the damage and healed just as quickly.
"This thing won't die…"
"Stop whining and keep attacking."
They continued bombarding Wrath with magic.
But Wrath didn't just take the attacks—it roared and fired a destructive beam of light, shattering the siege formation.
From the ground, enormous claws burst forth, chasing the Guardians with relentless speed.
The chase was fierce—those claws not only hunted the Guardians but tore apart the landscape, escalating the devastation.
"This isn't working," someone finally shouted. "We need to stop acting alone!"
"You got a better idea?"
Panic loomed—no solution in sight.
Then, the former Dwarf King glanced toward the horizon.
"That... could it be?" he murmured, startled.
"What are you looking at—?"
He pointed. The other turned and was equally shocked.
"I didn't expect our descendants to find and restore it."
In the distance lay the remains of the Abyssal Breaker.
"The Anti-Life Cannon... Maybe it can help us." The Dwarf King smiled.
He shouted to Queen Spirit.
"Hey, I need your help!"
"I'm busy!" she snapped, slashing down enemies with her claws.
"That cannon over there—your people restored it, didn't they?" he called, pointing to the Abyssal Breaker.
Queen Spirit caught sight of the weapon and froze.
"Abyssal Breaker... It's not completely destroyed?"
"It's a good name—but that's not what I need. I need to know how you restored it!"
"Just restore it!" she yelled. "If you want details, ask your descendant!"
A claw swept her away mid-shout.
The Dwarf King gave a wry smile and turned to seek out his descendant—though he didn't need to look far.
The Dwarf King was launched in his direction by a Hydra.
"How convenient," he said with a smirk.
The Dwarf King groaned, stood up, and stretched.
"This is exhausting. And what are you doing, just standing there?"
"Actually... I've got a plan."
"Oh yeah? Let's hear it."
He leaned in to whisper. When they parted, both wore wicked grins.
"We're going to die anyway—so let's try something crazy."
They split up—one group gathering the Former Dwarf Kings, the other recruiting anyone who could help restore the Abyssal Breaker.
The Leaders' faction was now divided—half holding the line, the other racing against time to repair the powerful weapon.
But restoring it wasn't easy—the Abyssal Breaker was no simple tool.
Still, they had no choice. It was now or never.
Meanwhile, the battle with Pride had turned grim.
All the Former Dragon Kings had fallen, their corpses littering the battlefield.
"You cannot defeat me," Pride sneered. "Stop wasting my time."
No one remained to answer—except the Dragon King.
"I don't think so," he gasped, bleeding from countless wounds. "Even broken... I'll keep fighting."
"Then let me help you."
With a blur, Pride rushed in and cleaved the Dragon King in half with a single, savage claw.
He collapsed in a pool of blood.
Pride turned away—but a hand grabbed his ankle.
"I... am not done with you yet," the Dragon King wheezed.
"Let go," Pride growled.
"I... will not... unless I die."
"Then I'll grant you death."
Pride stomped on his head, crushing it. Blood and flesh smeared across his foot.
He lifted it, letting the blood drip away."You're quite commendable. You made me bleed."
He turned back toward the altar.
The Dragon King's flaming body slowly faded—but a tiny spark ignited where he lay.
A single flame wasn't enough to revive a king.
Nor were two. Or three.
But hundreds—thousands of flames began to flicker to life across his body, merging into a massive blaze.
"Hey. Wake up."
The Dragon King opened his eyes to a clear blue sky.
'Is this heaven... did I fail?'
"No. It's not over," the voice said again.
"What do you mean?" the Dragon King asked, stunned.
"We won't end like this..." the voice echoed.
"We want our enemies to know fear. So take our fire."
The Former Dragon Kings appeared before him.
"You guys…"
"What, giving up already?" one asked.
"Are you worthy of the name Dragon King? Or just a big lizard?"
"What are you saying?" he frowned.
"Didn't we make it clear?" one stepped forward. "Take our power—and punch that monster."
"You're giving me power? I thought you were too proud."
"That's true. But right now, you're the only one who can wield the life flame."
"Wait... didn't you create it... then why?" he asked.
"We did," another replied. "But we failed. We lacked unity. You earned the people's trust—we didn't."
"So I'm stronger than all of you?" the Dragon King smirked.
"Even if we don't like it, yeah... Now stop talking and go beat that thing."
"Just your power won't be enough."
"Who said it's just us?"
Around him, the silhouettes of his people—and those of the Former Kings—appeared.
They stared at him in silence, then one by one, turned into flames and surged toward him.
"This is..." he whispered.
"This is the hope of the weak," someone said, flames overtaking them. "Take it."
"You're weak too, then."
"I'm tired of your mouth. Save that for the enemy."
The Dragon King's body ignited—surrounded by the flames of those who came before him.
"Thank you, everyone." He smiled.
The world around him collapsed.
Back in reality, Pride remained unaware.
Then the Dragon King's body burst into flame—an inferno formed in his shape.
The flames of the Former Kings gathered around him, igniting in a spectacular display.
The immense fire surged, lighting the entire battlefield.
Pride turned. Behind him stood the Dragon King—no longer flesh, but a blazing flame.
"You... how are you still alive?" Pride roared.
"Because you are weak," the Dragon King replied coldly.
Enraged by the Dragon King's words, Pride spread his wings wide, the eyes open with fury, and aimed all the Hydra heads straight at him.
"Die!"
Light beams tore through the air—but they passed harmlessly through the Dragon King's flame.
"Impossible!"
The Dragon King stepped forward.
Pride involuntarily stepped back.
"How can a lowly creature like you... make me tremble?"
Without a word, the Dragon King kept walking.
Pride pushed down his fear and lunged.
"I am the strongest Demon Lord! I won't be humiliated!"
His claws slashed through the flames—only to find emptiness.
The Dragon King seized him with both hands.
"Want to know how hot the sun is?" he whispered.
His body glowed. Heat distorted the air, melted the ground.
"What is this?! Let me go!" Pride thrashed.
But the Dragon King held him tight.
Pride's body began to burn.
"Let me go!"
"You talk too much for someone so arrogant," the Dragon King sneered.
He spread his wings and soared upward—into the sky, through the clouds, and beyond.
"What are you doing?" Pride howled.
"I'll show you how i take down Star Eater."
The flame intensified. Pride screamed as he burned.
No matter how he struggled, the fire returned.
The Dragon King met his eyes and smiled.
"It's time. Everything else will probably have to be left to others... and the King. I'm glad I got to fight for you again."
The flames dimmed.
"What are you doing?!" Pride shouted in panic.
"A finishing blow."
The fire exploded.
"STOP—!"
Pride was consumed in the blast.The explosion blazed like a new sun—brilliant, radiant, and strangely warm.
Pride's body turned to ash. No healing could save him.
As the light faded, sparks rained gently upon Utopia.
No Dragon King remained.
No Demon Lord Pride.
Only silence.
He died in fear—of those he called inferior.
A disgrace he would never be alive to acknowledge.