Chapter 131: | 131 | The Fall of Austerus
"I- Is this the truth?" An old man questioned with a tone brimming with doubts. He couldn\'t believe the reports about the status of the northern side of the colony. To think that their military outposts scattered throughout the northern lands would be destroyed in mere moments.
"It is the truth, Colonial Governor. These report could only be gain from the survivors of the northern side. Other than that, it became a wasteland covered with craters." The secretary reported with a hopeless voice.
It sounded cold, pragmatic, only speaking of the truth. His feelings had already gone astray the moment he recorded the amount of casualties in the northern massacre.
"But how? How could have they done such thing? I thought we were merely facing a single warship!? *Bam!*" The colonial governor slammed his hand onto the table. His mind surged with questions of all kinds. And he wanted answers.
Even though the colonial governor looked extremely pissed in front of him, the secretary merely lifted his glasses and answered each of his governor\'s questions.
"The north of Austerus was devastated through a variety of explosions. And the reason why they could do such a thing despite merely being one ship is simple. It was done by someone aboard on the ship." The secretary stopped for a second and continued.
"The Dragon of Liberation... That is what the survivors call the dragon that materialized in the heavens and blasted everything on the ground. Her identity is Laplace, formerly known as the Dragon of the Revolting Tide."
"We already knew she was a part of the United Navy. Though, we didn\'t expect for her to grow stronger. Her records didn\'t utter any violent explosions in the wake of her breath. This means that she had advanced into a higher form."
"It should explain why she looks incredibly bigger than her former size. At any rate, with her in the heavens of Austerus. We don\'t stand a chance." The secretary finally uttered the truth that no one wanted to hear.
It was the fact that they stood no chance against their adversary.
"B-But why is she working with the United Navy?" The colonial governor asked since the United Navy was a human-heretical organization. Why would be a beastfolk working for a human organization?
It doesn\'t make sense to him.
"Perhaps, their goals simply aligned with one another. It was already noted that the United Navy doesn\'t have the same values as the entirety of humanity. They consider the freedom of all sapient life as above all else, contradicting with the covenants erected by the Sovereigns."
The secretary didn\'t care about why the dragoness was working with the United Navy. What mattered was their current circumstance. The Dragon of Liberation was obviously aiming for the dismantlement of the colonial government.
Thus, the colony of Austerus must be destroyed.
He started working as a secretary because of how easy and safe the job was compared to the colonial military. Now, it became an anchor to danger. He had to be with the colonial governor, otherwise he would be branded a traitor.
As such, he simply went to do his job and accepted his fate of inevitable death. Panicking, regretting, and despairing over such a destiny was merely tiresome for someone like him.
Nonetheless, while the colonial governor seemed horrified, it appears he still held the confidence of his wealth and military might. It was understandable, after all, the colony of Austerus was the strongest colony in the south of the Colonial Dominion.
However, it was secretary\'s duty to report every information in the table. So, he continued reporting to the colonial governor, specifically the casualties in the north.
"Before the massacre, the north had a military population of half of our entire forces. At the moment, less than a third of his half survived the massacre. And most of them aren\'t planning to return to the capital and get remobilize."
"The forces in our capital is half of what remained in our military. The remaining are defending the high-priority port cities in the south, west, and east. The morale of our troops is lowering by the minute, because of the unknown and the negative anticipation of the battle."
The secretary didn\'t hold back, and reality finally set in for the colonial governor. He now understood the situation and knew he had no chance since the beginning. But before he could fall into despair, he asked a vital information from the secretary.
"What about the civilians left behind in the interior northern cities? Have they been massacred?" This was an important question for the colonial governor as it would be the foundation of his upcoming strategy.
"They are alive, Colonial Governor. The civilians of various northern cities have been spared. Only military installations were devastated by the attack of the Dragon of Liberation. This is the main reason why less than a third of our northern forces survive."
"Otherwise, there would be survivors in the north." The secretary answered as he felt a bad feeling from the frozen colonial governor. And he was right. The following words of the colonial governor almost made him frown.
"Wouldn\'t that mean that the dragon wouldn\'t destroy the capital? After all, there are civilians scattered throughout the three walls." What the colonial governor said made sense. But relying in the mercy of their adversary was as foolish as it gets.
Sadly, there was nothing the secretary could do with the delusional old man. And it\'s not like there was anything he could do even if he didn\'t hesitate. After all, the Dragon of Liberation was already above them.
*ROAR!!!*
Everyone in the capital city of Austerus slowly turned their gaze upward. Above them was a gigantic eastern black dragon that was a kilometer long. It was clad in jet-black scales while its golden eyes glowed with unparalleled radiance.
Its roar was heard by everyone and everything. It was like the hammer of justice. The capital city had become part of the court where the dragon would be its judge.
The colonial governor had his mouth wide open, but he believed his earlier strategy. The Dragon of Liberation wouldn\'t destroy the capital city with its breath. Fortunately for him, he was right. The dragon squinted its eyes and soon, golden brilliance shrouded its body.
What followed the gleaming golden light was the disappearance of the dragon. The monstrous being that dwelled before the heavens disappeared, and the skies calmed down as though nothing happened.
"A-Ah... I was right!" The colonial governor yelled out and began celebrating like an old man who won the lottery. The secretary kept gazing at the skies and felt that something was amiss.
It was at this moment that he realized, while the dragon would have spared the city. That didn\'t mean that it would spare the central castle and its colonial governor. With this in mind, the secretary was about to warn the colonial governor.
Sadly, he was too late.
"My, my... Aren\'t you quite a celebrative one." A beautiful voice sounded out of nowhere, bringing about the attention of the colonial governor and his secretary. The colonial governor felt his spine shiver and he immediately yelled out.
"Assassin!" The moment his voice escaped his lips, numerous colonial guards entered his office. There were also various generals who were waiting to have a meeting with him.
The moment they entered the colonial governor\'s office. They only saw a beautiful white-haired lady wearing a jet-black suit. She had black horns and a dark tail, making her akin to a summoned devil.
Though, she might as well be one to them.
"Immediately calling out for your men, I don\'t know if I should be impress or disappointed. But I understand your fear. This colony has little to no wyvern riders, and has no Magus. I would also fear myself, so I won\'t fault you."
The edges of her lips slowly rose as she pointed at the newly-arrived men. In a moment, golden arc of lightning escaped her finger. It shot into the entrance of the office, and immediately fried the colonial guards and generals of Austerus.
"W-What do you want! I will be willing to pay for my life. Do you want wealth? Slaves? Power?" The colonial governor decided to negotiate for his life. Sadly, it wouldn\'t work.
To dismantle the colony of Austerus, was to terminate the colonial government and its leader, the colonial governor.
"I don\'t need your wealth or power. He\'s already enough." Laplace smirked and responded to the colonial governor with confidence. Afterward, she appeared in front of the colonial governor and swiftly crushed his head.
Blood splattered all over the office, though most that dared to strike the dragoness\'s body was disintegrated into dust. Though, the secretary didn\'t have such a spectacular power. So, he was left with being fully covered of the blood of his boss.
After killing the colonial governor, Laplace\'s job in the colony of Austerus was done. She slowly turned her golden eyes towards the secretary and ordered him.
"There should be the remains of the colonial military scattered throughout the colony. Make them surrender, and I will not hunt you."
The secretary rapidly nodded when he heard her orders. He didn\'t dare to hesitate, and it was his chance to not die. With this in mind, he didn\'t hesitate to take it.
"I shall do so, Lady Laplace." He kneeled and bowed before the Dragon of Liberation.