CHAPTER 471: CHAPTER 277: ENTERED THE ANNALS OF HISTORY (PART 2)

Princess Alicia nodded. Then, surveying the assembly of dragons, she spoke calmly:

"Indeed, my father left a testament before he departed. I hope this testament can be witnessed by all of you, and even by Her Majesty Pafila."

A testament?! David’s pupils contracted slightly.

Had the Silver Dragon King truly met with misfortune?

At this moment, regardless of their faction or personal thoughts, a surge of sorrow washed over all the dragons present at this sudden news.

And what matter could it be that would require Princess Alicia to seek the testimony of a powerful god from among the Red Dragons?

This series of revelations, shocking the dragons to their core, caused an uproar in the Dragon Court, which then quickly fell into silence.

In that silence, Silver Dragon Princess Alicia picked up the Dragon King’s document from the throne. It seemed light, yet it bore an immense weight.

Her voice rang out, like a clear spring in winter, crisp and penetrating:

"Dragon Island has stood apart from its homeland Toriel for over five millennia. Throughout these five millennia, we have adhered to the wartime regulations set forth by the Claw of Justice during the War of the Dragons, interpreting the will of the Platinum Dragon God and waiting for the day when justice would shine brightly, so we could once again fight for the fate of the Dragon Race.

"Now, the King of the North Wind and the Chromatic Dragon Queen have lost their way. It is as if all living beings have lost the sun and moon; we common dragons live in constant fear and anxiety day and night.

"I know the fear and Despair in your hearts.

"I also know that at this moment, for the sake of your descendants, your families, and your future destinies, you are inevitably turning to other faiths.

"There’s no shame in this. Before the relentless and unknown torrent of fate, all beings are equal; all beings also have the right to choose their faith anew.

"For these five thousand years, you have fulfilled your sacred duties to the Platinum Dragon God and maintained your loyalty to the Brandle Vincent family.

"However, faced with this unprecedented upheaval, as the institutions of the Dragon Island Royal Court can no longer be sustained, in accordance with the provisions of the Dragon Claws’ wartime management procedures and regulations, I, in the name of the Brandle Vincent family, decree that the Supreme Dragon Court shall formally cede sovereignty to all dragon clans. Dragon Island shall no longer be a cage for Metal Dragons. Every Metal Dragon shall also enjoy the freedom of belief.

"As for myself, I will use what little strength I have to continue searching for the two Dragon Gods lost in the spacetime of the Multiverse.

"I also hope that in the drifting years to come, you will not forget the founding mission of the Claw of Justice. When you find yourselves in other lands, do not betray the righteous aspirations of the Platinum Dragon God."

When Alicia finished reading the Dragon King’s document, the entire Supreme Dragon Court was utterly silent.

It seemed no dragon had anticipated that this Silver Dragon King would leave behind such an incredible testament. To think he would so casually relinquish the royal authority passed down through his family for generations and dissolve the Supreme Royal Court.

It was as if he had long foreseen this calamity for Dragon Island.

Indeed, perhaps in the eyes of the truly wise, all of this was inevitable from the moment the Dragon Gods were lost.

Such is the nature of dragons.

Such is fate.

Everything, everything, had long been marked for its destination in the torrent of destiny.

Only the wise see through it all, then act in accordance with the trend.

Moreover, he had preserved a spark, an ember of Hope, for the future of the dragons.

What if the Silver Dragon King truly succeeded in finding the Dragon Gods for Elariya, for all dragons?

Yet, even though during these years of being unable to connect to their Dragon God’s faith, they had countless times contemplated turning to other Dragon Gods, thought of breaking free from Dragon Island’s millennia-old, monotonous mission, and thought of leaving this lonely, isolated island...

When all this was suddenly attainable, their hearts felt none of the imagined joy, only a silent emptiness and a sense of guilt for their previous thoughts and actions.

The dragons stood solemnly in the Dragon Court, lashed by the howling north wind, like great stones amidst falling winter snow.

David, equally silent, could even faintly hear stifled sobs from among the assembled dragons.

Then, it is unknown who started it, but one by one, dragons began to prostrate themselves towards the empty throne in worship.

Gradually, the floor of the Dragon Court was covered with prostrating dragons.

This was an eternal show of respect and praise for this Silver Dragon King. It also stemmed from the guilt in their hearts.

This was a Silver Dragon King who truly cared for the Dragon Race.

"Princess Alicia, this is the family insignia of Balbosa. I, as the head of the Balbosa family, declare to you: should Princess Alicia ever have a command, the Balbosa family will answer the call without fail!"

"I am no longer a princess, Clan Head Balbosa," Alicia said, shaking her head with a gentle smile.

"No, you will always be my Princess Alicia."

In the end, Alicia accepted this family insignia.

Only then did Clan Head Balbosa slowly lead his family group out of the Dragon Court.

A second insignia followed, then a third.

"Princess Alicia! This is our Eberhardt Family..."

"Your Highness."

"The Trellis Family, we will answer your call without fail!"

...

This scene made David and his son look at each other, perplexed.

David could only offer one assessment:

What a masterful strategic retreat.

After all, facing this situation where the Dragon Gods were absent and every dragon had to fend for itself, even if the Silver Dragon King were still on the throne, he likely couldn’t have prevented this outcome.

Even Gold Dragons and Silver Dragons, when facing a crisis with a completely uncertain future, would have to prioritize their own clans first.