Chapter 631: The Great Confession Technique

Golden rays of dawn pierced the open temple's highest layer, bathing everything in a golden hue. Yet, this radiance couldn't penetrate the deep, shadowy remnants in the temple's center.

The lingering dark aura, like a dying campfire, still tried to taint the temple's sanctity with its weak force of darkness.

This corpse, lifeless for a week, didn't merely hover tranquilly in mid-air; it seemed to wriggle as if still struggling. Above it, a faint, constantly churning black mist remained.

Suddenly, atop every pillar in the temple's highest layer, ethereal golden eyes opened.

Duke could distinctly feel countless gazes cast upon him from those golden orbs.

These were the eyes of the dragon mages.

Not every dragon or dragonkin was privileged to witness the ceremony in the temple's highest layer. In this manner, they silently observed Neltharion's fate.

Under the scrutiny of all dragonkin, an orb radiating a strange glow appeared around the floating remains of Neltharion. Like a horizon line, it split the orb in two: the top half shimmered with the golden light of dawn, while the bottom half mirrored the vastness of a starry night.

Duke realized, this line represented the boundary between life and death.

Soon, cracks appeared on the orb, and fragments occasionally fell off, dissipating into the air.

Neltharion's remains vibrated even more violently. An enraged roar, filled with boundless hatred and resentment, made the entire temple tremble.

Neltharion's soul echoed throughout, "Roar— None shall judge me— I am the supreme king of dragons! The world's purifier! The sole ruler of the new world!"

The floating dragon remains began to change, the severed head and the jagged-necked body collided, trying to merge.

The massive black dragon head tried to find its place but always missed— either impaled by its spine or resting beside its neck.

Neltharion seemed to be in immense pain. He screamed, flapped his wings, and tried to grasp his head, longing for wholeness.

He was so enraged, hurling curses.

Cursing every Dragon Aspect's name, cursing Duke, cursing the Wyrmrest Temple, and every living being.

For a moment, Duke almost believed Neltharion might be resurrected.

But upon seeing the calm expressions of the three Dragon Aspects, Duke relaxed into spectator mode.

Indeed, Alexstrasza couldn't bear watching Neltharion's pitiful state any longer. Bathed in the morning sun, she seemed to embody the sun itself. Her cold hum somehow felt magnificently radiant.

"Enough! You, who betrayed our kind and our eternal mission. If left unchecked, even as a vile ghost or undead dragon, you'd continue to plague this world."

Faced with Alexstrasza's fury, Neltharion's defiant spirit responded, "So what? I won't submit! Even if I fall into the deepest pits of hell, I'll exact my revenge on you hypocrites— Yes! I should've been the victor! Had I obtained your egg, I could've birthed a new breed of dragons, purified this world overrun by inferior races with my dark arts."

Alexstrasza was momentarily silenced.

Neltharion was indeed dead, but his spirit lingered.

The main reason for this grand dragon ceremony was to vent their frustrations and set a moral compass for dragons and dragonkin.

Seeing Neltharion's relentless defiance, even in death, she could destroy him. But that wouldn't serve their purpose.

Malygos interjected, "Begin the ritual. I've berated him for seven days and nights, but he shows no remorse."

Nozdormu added, "I have no objections."

But Alexstrasza was not satisfied!

After a millennia-long battle against this traitor, he still exuded defiance.

She suddenly thought of Duke: Yes, that lad was always full of tricks.

Suddenly contacted by Alexstrasza, Duke was taken aback.

"Hey, Duke, if you can make that mad dragon confess or humiliate him, I owe you big time!"

"Deal."

Seeing Duke's prompt agreement, Alexstrasza regretted her haste. With countless dragons watching, if she just obliterated Neltharion, it might seed further betrayals.

Reluctantly, the Queen conceded.

Duke confidently began, "Oh, Neltharion, I can't help but pity you."

Neltharion's spirit laughed, "Pity me? Ha! I am the exalted one! Why should you pity me?"

With a 'trust me, I've read more books than you' demeanor, Duke shook his head, "Because, everything about you, even your ambition to purify Azeroth, was a result of N'Zoth brainwashing you. You're just a pitiful creature without a will."

Neltharion retorted, "Nonsense!"

"You won't admit it? It's all due to the whispers of the Old Gods."

Neltharion firmly denied, "Absolutely not!"

"Fine. As long as you're willing to undergo a small experiment in front of everyone, and if you pass, I'll let you go!" Duke declared.

The other two Dragon Aspects disapproved.

If Neltharion was resurrected as an undead dragon, it would be catastrophic!

For a moment, they wanted to object. But suddenly, the voices of the two female Dragon Aspects echoed, "Leave it to Duke."

"Fine!" Neltharion agreed.

"The experiment is simple. Just repeat 'I have no brain' a thousand times. After that, I'll ask you a question, and if you answer correctly, you pass."

And so...

"I have no brain! I have no brain! I have no brain..." Neltharion's peculiar chant echoed throughout the temple.

At the end of the thousandth repetition, Duke suddenly shouted, "Neltharion, do you have a brain?!"

Without hesitation, Neltharion replied, "I have no brain!"

"Pfft—" Countless dragons inadvertently let out their breaths.