Chapter 664

Chapter 664: The Wounded Earth

The mountains of Batol were so quiet they sent chills down one’s spine. The lava had cooled and formed a black shell, while the rolling lava bubbles grew weaker. The earth elementals and fire giants had collapsed and lay still, and the flames in the air were scattered by the cool wind from the Wetlands.

The dark clouds and burning smoke were no longer as thick as before. Sunlight struggled to pierce the gloomy darkness and fell onto the ground. Grim Batol looked like a broken castle after an earthquake, making it hard to remember its original shape.

Dragon corpses lay everywhere, alongside Orc bodies. The stench of burnt flesh, shadows, and death filled the entire mountain range.

Deathwing’s corpse had dimmed, resembling a black hill in the distance, faintly glowing with dark red flames. Jesse could only glance at it briefly before pain shot from his eyes to his heart, forcing him to look away.

Nearby, a drakonid limped into the distance. Jesse followed its path to the body of the Red Dragon Lord, Thal’dor Lisstraaz.

This huge ancient dragon now lay in ruins with only half his body left. He was one of the oldest among all dragons, surpassed only by the Spellweaver Malygos. He was also the longest-standing mate of the Red Dragon Queen.

If not for the Red Dragon Queen’s capture, which trapped him in Grim Batol and tortured him with the Demon Soul for so long, he wouldn’t have been killed so easily.

Following the drakonid’s footsteps to Thal’dor Lisstraaz’s head, Jesse felt it was bigger than the house he’d recently bought, leaving him breathless with awe.

Moving around the giant skull, he saw a High Elven woman in red crouched by Thal’dor Lisstraaz’s closed eyes. Beneath her, vibrant green grass sprouted, dotted with golden and red flowers. Combined with the dragon’s blood, it revived a large area to its pre-polluted state, even more alive than before…

Jesse and his group stopped near this green patch. He cautiously stretched out his badly burned, shoeless foot toward the grass, hesitating to step down.

"Come closer, my friends," the woman called softly.

They exchanged glances and walked in. Jesse watched his foot wounds heal quickly, revealing clean skin. Greed saw the cuts on his arms from the earth element close up fast…

The imp hid in Jesse’s clothes, too scared to show itself. Molofeel stood outside, afraid to step in. The woman in red looked at her and said, "You won’t be harmed here, Sayaad."

The succubus stepped in hesitantly. Oddly, as a true Twisting Nether demon, she wasn’t repelled by the lush greenery.

"Perhaps you can tell—I am Alexstrasza, in another form," the woman said softly. Her voice was gentler and clearer than in her dragon shape, making it easier to understand.

Jesse realized why dragons took human forms to talk. With Alexstrasza’s earlier appearance in Grim Batol, he couldn’t have faced her so calmly.

The Red Dragon Queen stood up. Greed’s eyes widened as she straightened, and Jesse realized she stood over two meters tall.

Unlike her game version, her dragon-horned crown was less prominent, and her clothes were simpler. Her bright red hair flowed to her waist, blending with her blood-red cloak yet showing a subtle difference.

Jesse guessed her human look might depend on her strength or mood.

Even tired and pale, Alexstrasza’s beauty stunned even Vereesa.

Jesse gazed at the huge red dragon skull beside him and said, "My condolences, Queen."

"This is the end Thal’dor wanted; I know," Alexstrasza replied softly. "He was old and suffered in Grim Batol because of me… Even without this fight, he wouldn’t have lasted long."

"In those days, I’d stopped hoping to escape that castle. When I felt you arrive, I thought just facing Deathwing once—controlling my fate—would be enough. I never expected you’d stay and fight with me, or that it would really happen…"

"Thal’dor felt the same. He told me those words, and you gave him the chance to prove he was the Dragon Legion’s greatest warrior. With his last breath, he saw Deathwing fall and thanked you. So did I. I won’t grieve because I know he was thrilled at the end and wouldn’t want me sad."

Still, everyone fell silent, staring at the lifeless dragon body nourishing the land. "About Krasus," Jesse said, "I need to tell you something, Queen."

"Krasus?" Vereesa blurted, "He…"

"His true name is Korialstrasz," Alexstrasza explained. "He’s also my lover. He wasn’t trapped in Grim Batol but searched for me outside, trying to rescue me."

Vereesa’s eyes widened. "So he’s a dragon! No wonder he seemed older than the Sun King. Did Deathwing tell you his identity, Jesse?"

"Yes," Jesse said, "But he had trouble with Deathwing. I think he might be…"

"He’s not dead," Alexstrasza lifted her head. "I can still feel him."

Jesse paused. Was Deathwing’s illusion fooling him?

No—in Deathwing’s dream, Krasus hadn’t died. Or was he trapped somewhere?

Jesse didn’t want to think about these matters any longer. Deathwing was dead, and no one could imprison him anymore. Perhaps he had returned to the Kirin Tor but remained unaware of everything that had happened here.

"To bring you here, Korialstrasz must have promised something, right?" Alexstrasza asked. Jesse replied, "He promised to help me restore my name."

"As a spellcaster embraced by shadows, you must have endured much. This is what you deserve," the Red Dragon Queen nodded. "What else? I’ll help him fulfill his promise."

"He didn’t say anything else," Jesse answered.

He suddenly remembered the orb and felt inside his robe. Damn it, that was gone too. But it didn’t matter anymore; he wouldn’t have to turn into an Orc again.

"And you?" the queen asked.

"I don’t know Krasus… I mean Master Korialstrasz. I came with him," Vereesa said, gesturing toward Jesse.

"I came with them," Greed said. "I… had no choice," Molofeel added.

The imp shivered inside Jesse’s robe, clinging tightly and not daring to speak.

The Red Dragon Queen lowered her head. "I’m sorry my mistakes forced you to risk your lives without reward. But please don’t blame him—he could no longer promise anything."

"Here," she said, removing a golden gem necklace. Looking at the dwarf, she explained, "This pendant was given by Neltharion—Deathwing—before he betrayed us."

She fastened the necklace around the dwarf’s neck. Greed hesitated. "This is too precious—his treasure left for you, Your Majesty. Was… Deathwing good once?"

"He was the noblest among us," Alexstrasza said. "But that was ages past. This suits you, Greed of Thunderfist. I sense you walk the path to ancestral power. May this necklace guide you."

Greed stared at the golden pendant, lips trembling. Finally he murmured, "Thank you, great queen. I don’t know what to say—I wasn’t expecting anything."

"Don’t refuse. That would deepen my guilt. You’ve earned this."

Alexstrasza then removed an emerald pendant from her ear, fastening it around Vereesa’s neck. "My sister Ysera gave this long ago, hoping it would let me blend into forests to observe life undisturbed."

"But clearly," she smiled wryly, "I’m hopeless at hiding. Even with its aid, I frighten creatures—wasting its power. Ysera herself suggested gifting it to someone more agile, better at moving through woods. That person stands before me—Vereesa Windrunner."

"Queen Alexstrasza… I…"

Vereesa gently touched the pendant, speechless.

The Red Dragon Queen now turned to Jesse but produced no trinket. Jesse tried concealing his eagerness—yet Alexstrasza seemed to read his thoughts.

"Patience, Jesse Seso. Your gift isn’t ready. We’ll wait—my children are looking for it."

"Looking?" Greed asked. "For what?"

Vereesa glanced over as Jesse’s curiosity sparked.

Soon a young dragon descended, carrying something small and dark in its jaws. The queen took the object.

Though resembling ordinary chain links, Jesse recognized it instantly—the chain that held the Demon Soul.