Not only did the woman, Ananta, spread a vicious aura that seemed to rip the souls of the city guards to shreds but the Mother of All Black Dragons wasn't alone. Behind her, stood a sea of snarling Wyrms covered by obsidian scales consisting of all of her Brood but the younglings.
The flapping of the Black Dragons' wings caused a storm that had triggered the anti-natural calamity arrays protecting Telesta, and rumbling violet flames roared from their open mouths.
The soldiers doubted the Imperial Guard could slow the greed of Wyrms down, let alone stop it.
"One moment, please." The soldier said with a raspy voice as he pushed the red alert button on his communicator.
Even the lowliest of soldiers had the chance to report important events to the highest authority of the Empire, but it came with a price. If it was a joke, no matter if drunken or caused by any state of euphoria, the sentence was high treason.
If the reported news were not deemed relevant or important enough, there would be sanctions. A demotion at best, a dishonorable discharge, or military prison at worst.
The soldier was expecting the hologram of a two star Mage General to appear but when he found himself facing the Magic Empress, he yelped like a child caught with the hand in the cookie jar.
"Speak." Milea Genys stared at the poor man with pity and at the Dragon Matriarch with mild amusement.
"She- They request entrance to Telesta. They don't have IDs…"
"Let them in." Milea cut him short. "Let anyone who can prove their belonging to the Brood in until further notice. Am I clear?"
"Crystal." The soldier swallowed a stone-hard lump of saliva.
"Is this proof enough?" Ananta roared.
Darkness and fire erupted from her body, expanding at breakneck speed. The black flaming wave enveloped the city walls for kilometers before Milea could reply:
"I meant the wings on your back. No need for theatrics."
"Good girl." The Mother of All Black Dragons smiled, revealing a row of fanged teeth. "Now, send us to our Hatchling."
"We don't have any." The soldier replied in a panic. "No citizen of Telesta would kidnap a baby Dragon. I've never seen even a Dragon egg."
"She means Supreme Magus Verhen." Milea was secretly proud of her guards.
None of them had fallen to his knees, soiled himself, or begged for mercy. They stood on duty. Scared witless but they all stood in the face of the Brood. Fear made every one of the Dragon's words sound like a threat to them yet they reacted by protecting the city instead of themselves.
"Free access to the Warp Gate Network is granted to all members of the Brood as well." A snap of Milea's fingers and pillars of light emerged from the buildings of Telesta hosting a Warp Gate.
The branch of the Mage Council, the local army headquarters, and all the households with a private Gate were now visible from the sky.
"The destination coordinates are already fixed."
"All of them?" Ananta pointed at the lights in the sky in approval.
"All of them." The Empress nodded. "There's many of you and I know you are in a rush. I supposed you want to get there before the battle is over."
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