David didn't know whether it was the massive consumption of the 'mighty empowering dragonsword' that caused it, but he slept extremely deeply this time. Moreover, unlike the previous two occasions, his sleep was not troubled by a messy barrage of troublesome dreams.

And when he awoke feeling refreshed, he heard news from the Nifadora sisters, who had arrived first thing. It was news that he couldn't help but gloat over:

His Red Dragon ancestor, Christoph, had returned in a disgraceful state with his band of half-blood Dragonkin and Vassals, having failed to conquer the Gloomy Region.

It wasn't exactly a defeat, though.

To be precise, there hadn't been a battle at all.

They had discovered that the Drow, previously scattered after David unleashed the Wrath of Tiamat and destroyed Spider Nest City, had recently been almost completely reunited. This was accomplished by a group of matrons who had parachuted in from the city of Mosoblay on Toriel.

For a legendary Red Dragon who had sworn vengeance upon the Drow, this ordinarily wouldn't be a problem.

He could just roll over them.

But the issue was, when David's Red Dragon ancestor made his escape from the Gloomy Region, he was just a young Dragon.

And now? An ancient Dragon.

Moreover, having been blessed by the Chromatic Dragon Queen Tiamat, he was the size of an ancient Red Dragon.

The tunnel that had allowed for his youthful escape was no longer an option for his return!

Of course, Christoph wouldn't make such a rookie mistake. They had planned to use the Well of Miracles that David had once targeted with the Wrath of Tiamat.

The issue was that last year, the Duke of Silver, Mirillian, had taken it upon herself to construct a military fortress atop the Well of Miracles. Her aim was to prevent the pervasive Drow from continuing to sneak through this well and stir up trouble in the High Elven Kingdom.

For a legendary Red Dragon who had sworn vengeance upon the Drow, this still wouldn't be a problem.

He could just roll over them.

The famously cowardly and incompetent Elf King Ailiando wouldn't dare utter a peep in opposition.

However, something both expected and logical had occurred. The Elariya Plane had received the most shards of the Divine Realm, causing its promotion from a seemingly unremarkable Sub-Material Plane to a Primary Material Plane. Consequently, led by the gods, those High Elves who had long ago exited the historical stage on Toriel's Primary Material Plane were now getting involved...

"Hold on, hold on, if I'm not mistaken, this branch of High Elves from Elariya originally fled to escape the endless civil war among their ancestors on Toriel, right? Won't this lead directly to civil war breaking out?"

Nifadora opened her mouth and disclosed truthfully, "Umm, no. Queen Arasya of Eternal Gathering Island, guided by the chief Elven god, opened a Teleportation Gate directly outside Dewensen, bringing an army of 50,000 elites to the city's edge. Pressured by Queen Arasya's might, and to avoid a new round of civil war and pointless losses, Elf King Ailiando relinquished the throne to Queen Arasya in the presence of all Elves."

Although David had already looked down on Ailiando, the Elf King, he now felt even more frustrated by his apparent lack of fight. "Hmph! What a spineless king!"

Nifadora gave David a hopeful look. Such scenarios had been all too common recently, and not every legitimate ruler possessed the Dragon Lord's courage and determination to 'draw their sword' against their ancestors. In fact, he was likely the only one in all of Elariya. No, perhaps there was half another.

"Over the next seven months in the Elven Kingdom, apart from the Duke of Silver and some previous local factions, most of the Elven lords bordering Dewensen have already recognized the rule of Queen Arasya."

"Hmm," David nodded. It's just as I'd expect from the Duke of Silver, whom I've always admired. So much more resolute than that weakling Ailiando.

If not for this unexpected incident, after that old fool Ailiando died, the Duke of Silver would have been the most likely candidate to become the next Elf Queen through the Elder Council. What a pity.

"What! Have I slept for another seven months?"

David was shocked through and through; by merely 'drawing his sword' once, seven months had vanished into thin air.

Strictly speaking, this wasn't hibernation but rather a Dragon's sleep to recuperate his 'vital essence' after excessive exertion. And that was with the Stone of Regeneration his mother had given him.

Without it, he might have slept for another seven years.

Before reaching adulthood, a Dragon doesn't have that many seven-year periods to squander.

For a human, such an effort might turn their hair white instantly.

A true 'Slash of Years'.

However, for David, seven months of hibernation seemed a fair trade. It allowed him to protect the lands his mother, Pafila, had left behind and to enjoy a degree of autonomy, unimpeded by an old Dragon's constraints.

But this was only relatively speaking. He noticed Nifadora nodding and gesturing to her sister Shadila to pass him a report of the recent revenue in his territory. As he began to peruse the document, she added in an ostensibly casual manner, "Oh, by the way, that Dragonkin Succubus visited again recently. She represents Lord Christoph, the Flame of Baro, inviting you to a meeting at 'Duro Foundry Vale.'"

"Got it." David knew all too well that the old Dragon was once again covertly inviting him to join in the trouble with the Drow.