Chapter 157: We... we will withdraw
"Sylvia, what brings you here?" Holy Maiden Aeliana's face lit up with excitement as she saw Sylvia, rushing over to greet her warmly.
"I should be asking you that. What are you doing here? What exactly are you planning with Timothy?" Sylvia grabbed Aeliana by the arm, her smile carrying a hint of mischief.
"Hehe, it's nothing like that! I just didn't want you to worry, so I came to help out," Aeliana quickly backed down, her eyes darting nervously as an awkward smile spread across her face.
The imposing aura she had just used to intimidate hundreds of thousands of dragon soldiers was completely gone.
"If you don't have a good reason, you're in for a lesson."
Sylvia let go of Aeliana. Though her lips curled into a faint, cool smile, it was enough to make anyone feel a deep sense of awe.
"Sylvia, I won't do it again, I swear! Please, go easy on me this time," Aeliana pleaded, her face twisted in a grimace, her earlier confidence utterly vanished.
In front of them stood an army of hundreds of thousands of dragons.
But every single one of them was dumbstruck.
Even in the depths of the ocean, they had heard of the Holy Maiden Aeliana, a powerful human Holy Emperor.
Especially after witnessing the aura she had just displayed, an aura so sacred and oppressive that it could strike fear into the heart of any dragon.
But now...
Even Aeliana was this terrified of Goddess Sylvia.
Just how terrifying was Sylvia's power?
"Dragons, are you going to retreat or not?" Sylvia's voice rang out again, her clear eyes flashing with a cold light.
Suddenly, an overwhelming and terrifying pressure erupted from her, radiating in all directions.
This was the true might of a Goddess!
Not only that, but the space around them began to warp, and golden light shimmered.
Behind Sylvia, a brilliant light flared, and the divine pressure transformed into a raging storm.
A sword hung in the sky above.
"Sacred Form!"
The wooden sword, glowing with a crimson light, was Sylvia's Sacred Form.
It wasn't massive like a mountain, nor did it have any extravagant appearance.
The sword simply hovered in mid-air, yet it seemed capable of cleaving the sun, moon, and stars.
There was a terrifying majesty in its calm presence.
Waves of energy rippled outward, carrying the sword's aura.
In an instant, everyone felt as if their bodies were frozen.
A chilling sensation spread, and their bodies trembled.
This inexplicable, terrifying pressure sent a shiver through the hearts of the hundreds of thousands of dragon soldiers.
"But Timothy injured our three Dragon Kings so severely, this grudge..." Vorrak's voice trembled slightly as he spoke.
Even though he kept reminding himself that he represented the dignity of the entire dragon race at this moment, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers behind him, the boundless fear he felt in Sylvia's presence was impossible to shake off.
He even began to doubt whether the three Dragon Kings and their army of hundreds of thousands of dragons could stand a chance against Goddess Sylvia in a direct confrontation.
"I have no interest in meddling in dragon affairs, but Azura was always meant to inherit the title of Ocean Dragon King. The three Dragon Kings attempted a rebellion, and while Timothy's actions were harsh, they were not wrong. Sky Sanctuary will handle this matter," Sylvia said, raising her hand and making a grasping motion toward the deep sea.
Instantly, deep within the Shrine of the Oceanic Dragon, thousands of feet below the surface, the three Dragon Kings' bodies convulsed violently, their meridians shattering simultaneously from that single gesture!
Boom!
With a swift motion, Sylvia hurled the three Dragon Kings out of the water, their bodies crashing down in front of the dragon army.
Vorrak stood there, stunned.
Sylvia had indeed returned the Dragon Kings to them, but in the blink of an eye, she had severed their meridians.
While such an injury wasn't irreparable for dragons, it was still a significant blow.
Was this Sylvia being fair and just, or... did she simply not care about the three Dragon Kings at all?
The three Dragon Kings writhed in agony, their cries echoing across the battlefield, a sight that pained the hearts of every dragon soldier.
To see their revered Dragon Kings treated this way—if it weren't for the fact that the one responsible was Goddess Sylvia, this grudge would have to be avenged at all costs!
But...
That wooden sword, Sylvia's Sacred Form, still hung ominously in the sky.
The divine aura radiating from Sylvia grew even more chilling.
The might of a Holy Emperor was truly overwhelming.
Even with an army of hundreds of thousands, the dragons felt as if their throats were being squeezed shut, struggling to breathe under the crushing pressure.
"We... we will withdraw."
Vorrak finally lowered his head, glancing back at the dragon army, now gripped by fear.
Today, only Goddess Sylvia stood in their way.
Yet, hundreds of thousands of dragon soldiers dared not take a single step forward.
Goddess Sylvia, though a woman, wielded a terrifying power that left them utterly defeated.
The dragon army had lost completely.
They didn't even have the courage to advance another step.
The dark clouds began to recede, and the vast dragon army, standing upon the clouds, retreated in solemn silence.
"The dragon army of the three Dragon Kings has really retreated!"
A wave of astonished cries erupted from within the Shrine of the Oceanic Dragon beneath the sea.
To force an army of hundreds of thousands to retreat single-handedly—this was the awe-inspiring power of Goddess Sylvia!
Such a grand spectacle was beyond imagination.
"Wow, your wife is so cool. I wish I could be half as cool as her one day!" Azura exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she clung to Timothy's side.
"Mmph, mmph~" Timothy quickly covered her mouth to stop her from saying anything more.
But he had to admit, his wife had just been ridiculously impressive...
Having a goddess for a wife was great and all, but it sure came with a lot of pressure.
With the dragon army brought by the three Dragon Kings now in full retreat, Sylvia descended into the water, bringing Holy Maiden Aeliana with her to the Shrine of the Oceanic Dragon.
After the intense battle, much of the Shrine was left in ruins, with large sections reduced to rubble.
And a significant portion of that destruction was Timothy's doing.
"Now that the three Dragon Kings have retreated, and Aegir is practically crippled, I must say that I had a good relationship with the previous Dragon King. According to his wishes, Azura should inherit the title of Ocean Dragon King. Does anyone object to this?"
Sylvia's cold gaze swept across the gathered dragons within the Shrine of the Oceanic Dragon, her overwhelming presence causing the surrounding seawater to tremble.
Looking at Aegir, who had been beaten to the brink of ruin by Timothy, and then at the hundreds of thousands of dragon soldiers who had been scared off by Goddess Sylvia alone, the dragons and dragon guards within the Shrine felt utterly helpless.
'Is this goddess who just scared off an entire army really here to "discuss" with us? There's no room for negotiation at all!'
"The Shrine of the Oceanic Dragon pledges allegiance to Azura as the Ocean Dragon King!"
In an instant, every dragon and dragon guard within the Shrine bowed their heads in submission.
Timothy, satisfied, patted Azura on the head.