Chapter 629: The Dragonflight Ceremony (3)

The Wyrmrest Temple stands at the very heart of Dragonblight.

This land, blanketed in snow, is also the final resting place for many dragons who, gravely injured or struck by incurable ailments, or simply at the end of their lifespan, return to the earth.

Giant dragon skeletons are visible everywhere, exposed atop the snowy grounds. Were these resilient bones to find their way into the world of humans, they'd undoubtedly represent immense wealth, attracting the covetous gaze of countless powerful beings.

Yet here, they merely adorn the dragons' burial grounds.

It grows closer!

And closer!

Though Duke had visited the Wyrmrest Temple multiple times in the game, witnessing this marvel firsthand still left him awestruck.

To his left and right, snowflakes whirl and an endless skeletal wasteland stretches out. A vast chasm, resembling a canyon, bisects Dragonblight.

At the chasm's end stands the Wyrmrest Temple.

When this shining, golden temple, adorned with countless golden domes, so immense even by dragon standards, appeared in Duke's view, his heart thudded as if struck by a mighty hammer.

In the game, the Wyrmrest Temple remained a virtual model.

But witnessing it in reality, Duke could only describe it with one word—miraculous!

Atop the flying carpet, Duke's party gradually approached the temple's main entrance.

On either side of the entrance, rows of dragonkin stood guard.

Dragonkin, with their varying skin colors, were dragon subspecies resembling humans in stance, but not in appearance. Their imposing stature, nearly three stories high, exuded an oppressive aura.

They wielded massive metallic lances and hammers, so vast they could serve as human anvils. Donning heavy armor too burdensome even for the strongest of warhorses, they stood with an imposing presence.

Not just them, but also hundreds of young dragons, guardians of the temple, hovered in the skies by the great doors. Every hundred dragons formed a column, with six columns flanking each side in an inverted V formation.

Yet, even the towering dragonkin and the temple's young dragon guardians seemed minuscule, like ants, before the colossal archway that extended beyond Duke's field of vision.

The system sprite indicated that the archway spanned a width of "512 meters"!

Its height? An unimaginable 1024 meters!

Such was the grand gateway that even the five Guardian Dragons could enter side by side without feeling cramped.

By dragon standards, this was undeniably a super gate.

Walking, Duke estimated it would take at least an hour to ascend the steps and enter the massive doorway.

Duke's lungs filled with cold air—not from the weather, but sheer amazement!

He didn't even get a chance to admire the engravings on the temple's ceiling and massive pillars. Merely gazing at the temple's dome, which seemed to cover the entire sky, even a seasoned traveler like him felt an irresistible urge to pay homage.

Such an architectural marvel was beyond science!

From this, one could deduce the astonishing power of the Titans!

"An'gulodi's Marli..." A chant-like draconic language echoed from within the temple. With the help of a translator, Duke realized that a dragon was recounting his, Duke's, exploits.

From uncovering the schemes of the Black Dragon Aspect to venturing alone into the Emerald Dream to summon Ysera, then calling upon the three Guardian Dragons, bravely infiltrating Grim Batol to save Alexstrasza, and finally discovering Neltharion and setting up an ambush, ultimately assisting the dragons in eliminating this traitor who had eluded justice for ten millennia.

The chant, laden with mystery and a captivating rhythm, sounded more like an elegant poem than a plain narration.

Duke could clearly sense the shifting gazes from the dragonkin and dragon guardians.

Skepticism!

Disbelief!

Curiosity!

But above all, admiration!

Dragons revered power and wisdom!

Why couldn't they free themselves from the Soul of Demon's shackles over the past ten thousand years?

If the four Dragon Aspects could easily corner the traitor Neltharion, why did he escape last time?

Through that introduction, all realized the difference between the past and present—it was Duke Marcus.

The dragonkin and the guardians couldn't help but hold Duke in high regard.

Upon entering the vast temple, Duke saw dragons of four colors encircling the central square. Among them were ancient dragons over fifty meters long.

Regardless of their size, the sharpness of their teeth, or the intensity of their dragon breath.

In this sacred ceremony to punish the traitor, every dragon's focus was solely on Duke, standing in the center.

"You better withstand the upcoming little test," Krasus suddenly uttered.

Withstand?

Withstand what?

"Roar!" First, a horde of red dragons roared at Duke, their fangs exposed in a terrifying display.

Each roar brought with it an aura of dragon might. The formidable pressure made it hard for Duke to breathe, as if two enormous stones were pressing on his chest. Every inhalation felt like the stones were crushing him from within, every exhalation met with resistance.

"Roar, roar!" The bronze dragons joined in.

Now, Duke felt as if the weight was doubling, pressing down on him. The bronze dragons' roars felt as if they were pulling all the weight he had ever and would ever feel into the present.

The immense pressure almost made Duke spew blood.

Damn!

What did these giant lizards intend?

Almost instinctively, Duke began channeling his magical circuits, infusing magic into his muscles to counteract the increasing pressure.

"Roar, roar, roar!" Suddenly, the blue dragons roared.

Their eerie cries seemed to disrupt the circulation of magic within Duke's body. Any weaker mage would've had their magic circuits shattered, resulting in a catastrophic magical backlash.

Fortunately, Duke had the assistance of a system sprite. Through both active and passive controls, he barely held his ground against the pressure.

"Roar—" The ever-silent green dragons finally roared.

Unlike other dragon factions, the green dragons' roar wasn't overwhelming. It was subtle, seeping in like mercury. Their roar aimed to erode Duke's will!