The dragon beam ripped at Max’s void armor, tearing it apart layer by layer until he no longer looked protected. Only his draconic scales remained, and even those began to split beneath the terrifying blast, despite his void blade blocking the greatest amount of power.

Purple ice flames surged from his body, trying to freeze the crimson winds that kept drawing blood from him. Frost crawled over the beam for a brief moment, spreading like cracks across red glass, but the crimson power ground through it again, pressing closer and closer as if it wanted to erase him from the sky.

He could not understand how the Wind Emperor still had such a trump card hidden up his sleeve. This blast was almost as strong as the one he had used all his power and mana to defend against when he faced the Fire Dragon Progenitor.

That time, he had passed out, becoming completely useless just for the sake of survival.

But now, he could not afford the same.

Behind him were his people, his new empire, Rosalia, and the child she carried. If he collapsed here, everything he had just built would be crushed before it could even stand.

Rage dwelled deep inside him, slowly seeping out through his blood, his breath, and the tightening grip around his blade. He hated being suppressed. He hated others trying to step over him.

Just like his mother.

He would not have it.

Void burst in waves from his blade. His bloodied scales began to darken once more, wrapping themselves in void armor as black energy crawled over the cracks and wounds. Purple light pulsed in Max’s draconic eyes, and the power buried deep within his magic soul answered his call.

He pushed his blade out with everything inside him, with the stubborn part of his soul that refused to be suppressed.

That wanted to rebel.

To be free.

Void winds wrapped around the purple ice flames, feeding them until they burned sharper and wilder than before. They burst from the blade, cutting into the crimson beam and carving through its center. The pressure around Max shifted. The attack that had been swallowing him moments ago began to shake, then bend, then slowly retreat under the force of his blade.

The crimson beam bent backward.

Oswald’s crimson eyes widened, but there was no time to react. The dragon head behind him twisted violently, its jaws cracking apart as void winds and purple ice flames tore through the center of the attack. The crimson light inside its throat pulsed wildly, swelling beyond its limit.

The next breath, it exploded.

A terrifying blast swallowed the sky. Crimson wind, black void, and purple ice scattered in every direction, tearing through the clouds and forcing the air itself to scream. Max felt the impact slam into his chest like a mountain, ripping him away from the beam and sending him crashing toward the ground.

Oswald was thrown back as well, his spear nearly slipping from his trembling hand. Thor, already wounded, was caught in the shockwave and dragged down with them, lightning scattering uselessly around his body as he tried and failed to regain control.

BOOOOM!

All three of them crashed into the earth. The ground split open beneath the impact, sending dust, broken stone, and chunks of scorched soil rising high into the air. Cracks spread across the battlefield like black veins, reaching all the way toward the ruined castle and the newly grown jungle around it.

A few breaths later, the two armies finally arrived.

Thunder Dragons and Wind Dragons filled the sky, rushing in with fury and fear, only to freeze at the sight below.

Three figures lay within the broken battlefield.

Silence followed for a long while. Neither the armies above nor the dragons surrounding the volcanic castle in the distance dared to breathe. That explosion had been too terrifying, too close to a world-ending force. None of them had ever witnessed a battle on such a scale.

Suddenly, the ground shifted, drawing gasps from every direction.

A claw tore through the dust first.

Max slowly crawled out from the crater, his void armor cracked, his scales split in several places, and blood dripping from his wounds. Yet his purple eyes were still burning with the same determination.

Ahead of him, Thor forced himself up with one arm, coughing blood as blue lightning flickered weakly around his ruined body.

Oswald rose last, his body shaking, his spear barely held in his hand, while crimson light still flickered weakly in his mad eyes.

The two armies rushed to their emperors’ aid, gathering behind them, their eyes burning with deep concern and hatred for Max.

"This battle is over. I will not fight you anymore, as there is no point!" Max roared loudly, his voice carried by the void winds across the shattered battlefield.

He could not see well from one eye. Everything on that side appeared blurry, and pain throbbed behind his skull with every breath. He was not sure if he could take on an army of at least four hundred thousand warriors in his current state.

Oswald tried to speak, but Max’s voice cut him off.

"For every single warrior that takes another step forward, my people will kill one of yours. By the looks of it, you will have nobody left by the time you reach me."

He smirked.

It was time to play the card he had prepared long ago in case he could not fully dominate the two empires by force yet.

Thor stepped forward first, making Oswald flinch. The madness in Oswald’s eyes had blinded his judgment, and he had been ready to send his army forward to rip Max to pieces.

"We’re ready to negotiate... But I expect a fair exchange. What do you want, Max?" Thor held his severed shoulder, trying to slow the bleeding as blue lightning flickered weakly around the wound.

Max smiled. He liked Thor much more than Oswald.

"We can do fair. I want half of your warriors. In return, I’ll return half of your people. But..." He smirked, making the emperors’ hearts freeze. "Your family members stay with me as insurance. I think that sounds fair, am I right?"