In the Empire. Deep inside the royal city, somewhere within an underground facility, the muffled sounds were swallowed by thick stone walls, creating an atmosphere that exuded mystery and cold restraint.

In this shadowy, secluded space, Erlandy, the Supreme Commander of the Royal Sorcerers Corps and the Empire Dragon Slayer Army, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze sharp and resolute.

He stood upon a cold, metallic platform, beneath which intricate networks of lines ran like pulsating currents, weaving through the entire room.

Before him loomed an enormous incubation pod. Though its design was unpolished and rugged, it was equipped with a multitude of complex alchemical devices, with countless liquid conduit pipes extending outward and tightly connected to the pod.

The pod was filled with a pale green nutrient solution that barely rippled, emitting faint fluorescence. Everything was silent and eerily still.

What took one’s breath away was what floated within the nutrient solution: a half-decayed severed head—a magnificent dragon’s head.

The dragon’s head emanated a dark crimson glow, resembling embers buried deep beneath the earth. Despite its rotting skin and a jagged, broken dragon horn, one could still sense the heavy traces of supreme glory it once enjoyed.

“Even after being dead for so long, one can still vaguely feel its majesty,” Erlandy mused aloud. His low voice reverberated softly within the chamber, his gaze filled with an indescribable blend of admiration and fervor.

The very air in the room seemed suffused with the oppressive aura emitted by the corpse’s lingering majesty, as if it sought to pierce through the nutrient-filled barrier and connect with the visible world outside.

Erlandy’s eyes penetrated the layers of rippling fluid and alchemical illusions, locking onto the slightly open eyes, as though engaging in a silent confrontation.

Even after centuries of decay, the dragon head still harbored an unyielding will, as though its owner continued to linger within the world, refusing to fully surrender to slumber.

Erlandy’s expression grew increasingly enraptured. Gently, he placed his hands on the transparent shell of the incubation pod, as if conducting a silent communion with the relics of the Dragon King.

“Dragons are, without a doubt, near-perfect beings in this world,” Erlandy muttered to himself, his voice tinged with awe, yet underscored by a barely concealed greed.

Ancient bloodlines, immense power, unparalleled longevity, and an indomitable will.

Any one of those traits alone would place other races far out of reach.

But thankfully, Erlandy was already on the verge of claiming this perfect specimen for his own purposes.

Moments later, his subordinate, Scott, approached him and bowed slightly before reporting, “My Lord, the first phase of the selection process for the ‘Dagger Special Forces’ has been completed. Approximately one hundred candidates passed the initial tests. We will choose three among them to inherit the power of Primordial Dragon King Noa and turn them into the Empire’s sharpest blades.”

It was good news.

Ever since the inception of the Dagger Plan, the Empire had poured a considerable amount of manpower and financial resources into it. The successful completion of the first phase meant that they were now a step closer to fruition. All that remained was the continual elimination of unworthy participants.

Yet, Erlandy did not seem particularly moved. He merely responded coldly, “Do the three individuals you originally had your eye on make it among them?”

“Yes, my Lord. The three brothers performed exceptionally well.”

“Good. Then don’t disappoint me. This project is under your complete jurisdiction, and I expect satisfactory results. Don’t end up like that imbecile Nacho, who perpetually failed at anything assigned to him. Is that clear?”

“Yes, my Lord,” Scott replied respectfully.

He could feel the weight of Erlandy’s expectations bearing down on him, palpable even in such short orders.

Scott was fully aware that this commander placed immense hopes on the Dagger Special Forces—and if that fails, however minor the failure is, would not be tolerated.

Erlandy was infamous for his ruthlessness. If the plan were to collapse, his subordinates would be nothing more than discarded pawns, doomed to the same fate as Nacho Salamander once endured.

On the other hand, achieving success under Erlandy’s command promised unparalleled wealth and glory.

The world had no shortage of gamblers, and Scott was one of them.

His gaze hardened with determination. He was confident that he could seize this opportunity and mold the Dagger Special Forces into the most cutting-edge unit in the Empire.

After a moment’s pause, Scott spoke again. “By the way, my Lord, regarding the investigation you ordered into Tigris Lawrence and Rebecca Clement, I’ve managed to make some progress.”

“Go ahead.”

“Although we haven’t been able to determine their precise movements within the Empire, I’ve found that they disappear every three months, for approximately twenty days each time, before reappearing within Imperial territory.”

Scott continued, “Though we don’t yet know what they’re doing during these absences, following the trail could yield vital clues. Moreover, there’s a strong likelihood it is somehow connected to Leon Casmode.”

At this, Erlandy gave a barely perceptible nod. “Not bad. Pursue this further. If you need more manpower, I can assign additional personnel to assist you.”

“Thank you, my Lord.” Scott bowed his head.

Erlandy’s eyes returned to the dragon’s head floating in the incubation pod. “After Nacho’s repeated failures, I finally understand what kind of monster the Empire has helped create in Leon Casmode. Facing him head-on is nearly impossible. Fortunately, I've never been one to shy away from dirty tactics in war.”

Scott’s shifty eyes sparkled as he seized the opportunity to flatter. “Forgive my insolence, my Lord, but I believe the term ‘dirty’ is inappropriate.”

Erlandy raised an eyebrow. “Oh? In what way?”

“Actions are only labeled as ‘dirty’ by the defeated. And it is clear that in this conflict, the loser will undoubtedly be Leon Casmode. A century from now, none will remember the details of today. They will only pass down stories of your unrivaled legacy, my Lord.”

Scott grinned slyly. “As for Leon? Who’s that, they’ll wonder—just an insignificant stumbling block in the Empire’s ascension to a global pinnacle.”

While Erlandy was well aware of Scott’s silver tongue, even a man of his status couldn’t help but relish in the praise.

He shook his head with a faint smile. “You’re not just more reliable than Nacho; you’re far better at flattery as well.”

“You flatter me, my Lord. I merely speak the truth.”

Scott added, “However, if you, my Lord, intend to use Tigris and Rebecca to threaten Leon, I suspect it might take some time. Those two are as elusive as ghosts, and it’s proving exceptionally difficult for our men to catch them.”

“I know,” Erlandy replied. “After all, Tigris was once among the elite of Dragon Slayers in the previous generation. For certain reasons, he chose to leave the Dragon Slayer Army and adopted a quiet and low-profile life. That kind of veteran intimately understands the Empire’s methods. It’s not surprising that you’ve struggled to apprehend him.”

Erlandy’s fingers drummed lightly against the side of the incubation pod as his thoughts drifted. “Still… if we can’t locate Tigris or Rebecca, then perhaps we should focus on someone else.”

Scott immediately adapted to Erlandy’s line of thinking. “You mean Leon’s other teammate, Martin? But Martin’s background is squeaky clean, and his father is a royal minister. It would be difficult for us to dig into him.”

“No, I wasn’t referring to Martin,” Erlandy said calmly. “In fact, the one I’m talking about isn’t even human.”

Scott blinked in genuine surprise. “Not… human?”

Erlandy nodded, raising a finger to tap on the pod’s transparent surface. “While this head’s owner was still alive, he once revealed to me that even among the Dragon Clan, familial relationships exist. And the Dragon Queen of the Silver Dragon Clan, where Leon belongs, has a sister who rules a rival faction. I wonder if this sister might be the key.”

“Her sister?” Scott echoed. “Indeed, if this Dragon Queen were to face trouble, Leon would likely step in, giving us an opportunity to act.”

Scott mulled over the idea before adding cautiously, “Though given our prior failures, I believe we should prepare for all contingencies before using this other Dragon Queen as leverage against Leon.”

“Of course,” Erlandy replied.

He nodded toward the head suspended in the fluid. “And this will serve as our ‘stone’ to cast into the waters, to gauge their depths.”

Scott’s eyes lit up with an eager fervor as he sensed the implications of such a breakthrough. The potential of this technology represented a monumental leap forward for the Empire, symbolizing a new epoch just within reach.

“My Lord, does this mean the ‘Fusion Array’ is complete?” Scott asked cautiously, his heart racing as he awaited the answer.

Erlandy’s gaze deepened. “Yes, we’re now in the final stage. The process is simple: place this head, which represents the element of ‘flame,’ into the array. Use the Heart-Guarding Dragon Scale as a catalyst to awake its dormant consciousness. And then combine it with the bodies of countless S-class dangerous beasts.”

“And voila—we will birth a machine of slaughter.”

Erlandy’s palm pressed firmly against the incubation pod as he stared into the depths at the floating dragon’s head. His voice grew steady, each word charged with a rising intensity that made the air in the chamber seem to tremble.

“A machine of slaughter that is invincible, tireless, and powerful enough to drag Leon Casmode into hell!” Erlandy’s voice was filled with ambition, underscored by his insatiable hunger for power.

He raised his other hand, pressing them both against the pod’s surface as if establishing his dominion over the remnants of the once-great Dragon King. A heavy expression flashed across Erlandy’s face, shifting quickly to firm resolve.

“Crimson Flame Dragon King Constantine, your fire of vengeance will be reignited by the Empire!”

His voice echoed through the enclosed space, resonating like a declaration.

Little did he know, the vengeful souls returning from the depths of hell had already seen through everything.