Timeless Assassin

Chapter 1029: The Barbaric Dragon Court

(Meanwhile Moltherak’s POV, Planet Draconia)

While a hundred days had passed inside the Time Stilled World for Leo, only a single day passed in the outside world, as the scathing letter he wrote to Moltherak finally made its way to the Dragon Court.

The Dragon Court, after Moltherak’s resurgence, had slowly but surely turned from a noble hall where ancient Dragons once debated law, territory, and cosmic balance, into something far more chaotic and barbaric, a place where Dragons now gathered not for wisdom, but for entertainment that catered to their most primal instincts.

The hall itself was immense, stretching long and wide through the heart of a volcanic mountain, as dragons lounged across both sides of the long court room, their enormous bodies sprawled lazily across the stone as wings folded over their backs and tails coiled around pillars, while the constant sound of claws scraping stone and low rumbling laughter echoed through the chamber.

At the far end of the hall sat Moltherak.

His long red hair fell loosely across his shoulders as his golden eyes glowed faintly with ancient amusement, while he lounged comfortably upon a grotesque throne built entirely from the bones of defeated beasts and fallen rivals.

Even seated in human form, the weight of his presence pressed down upon the court.

The Dragons could shout, laugh, and jeer as loudly as they pleased, but none of them forgot that the seemingly relaxed man sitting upon that throne had recently blown the previous Dragon King to bits before claiming his crown.

"Bring in the beast!" one of the courtiers suddenly roared, his tail slamming against the floor as several other Dragons chuckled eagerly.

The massive doors at the end of the chamber groaned open moments later.

A snow ape was dragged inside in heavy iron chains.

The creature was enormous even by beast standards, a towering white gorilla whose arms were thick with muscle, yet as it stumbled into the hall surrounded by Dragons that dwarfed it many times over, it looked less like a warrior and more like a condemned prisoner.

The chains were removed and a servant rolled several metal spheres toward its feet.

"You will juggle for King Moltherak," one Dragon said lazily, his massive head tilting with cruel amusement.

The ape hesitated before slowly picking up the objects.

"And while you juggle," another Dragon added, his eyes gleaming, "we will throw more things for you to catch."

A ripple of laughter spread across the hall.

"Every object must join the rotation," a third courtier continued, grinning widely.

"And the moment one falls..."

A jet of Dragon Flame burst across the stone floor nearby.

"We burn you alive."

The ape swallowed nervously.

Moltherak leaned slightly forward on his throne of bones, resting his chin against one hand as the faintest smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

The performance began.

One metal sphere rose into the air.

Then another.

Then another.

The ape’s large hands moved quickly as the objects began rotating in a careful rhythm above its head.

For a brief moment the court watched with mild amusement.

Then the first interruption came.

A metal ring flew through the air toward the creature.

The ape caught it instinctively and added it into the rotation.

Laughter spread through the chamber.

Another Dragon tossed a dagger, which the ape barely managed to fold into the rotation.

Five objects spun through the air.

Then six.

Then seven.

By now the creature’s entire body trembled violently as it struggled to maintain control of the growing storm of spinning metal, its breathing growing ragged while sweat darkened its white fur.

Moltherak watched quietly.

Another Dragon lifted a heavy iron hammer and casually hurled it forward.

"Let us see how good this beast truly is."

The hammer spun through the air.

The ape caught it.

Seven objects now rotated in a fragile balance above its head.

Then another courtier threw something else.

An eighth object.

The ape tried to adjust.

For a brief moment its hands moved frantically as it attempted to force the object into the rotation.

But the rhythm shattered.

One metal orb slipped.

The hammer collided with another sphere.

And suddenly everything fell.

Metal spheres clattered loudly against the stone floor.

The ring spun uselessly across the chamber.

The hammer struck the ground with a dull thud.

For one brief moment the ape stood frozen in terror.

Then the court exhaled, as dozens of streams of Dragon Flame erupted forward at once.

The creature did not even have time to scream before it was incinerated completely, its massive body turning into drifting ash that scattered across the stone floor.

The court erupted with laughter.

"King Moltherak has not been properly entertained for over three thousand years!" one Dragon shouted loudly as he slammed his claw against the ground.

"And this miserable beast is the best you could bring to his court?"

"Nah!"

"Next!"

"Bring in the next beast!"

Servants hurried toward the entrance once again.

But this time, instead of another creature, a human messenger walked into the court.

The reaction was immediate.

"Boooo!"

"A boring human?"

"What do you want, weakling?"

"What can you possibly do that would entertain this court?"

The messenger swallowed nervously as dozens of Dragons leaned forward, their massive forms looming over him with predatory interest.

Despite the hostility, the man slowly stepped forward before bowing deeply.

"King Moltherak," he said, forcing his voice to remain steady.

"I carry a letter of grave importance from my lord... Cult Master Leo."

The boos intensified instantly.

"A letter?"

"What kind of entertainment is that?"

"Burn him!"

But Moltherak simply lifted one finger lazily.

The entire court fell silent immediately.

He snapped his fingers once.

The letter lifted gently from the messenger’s trembling hands and floated through the air before settling into Moltherak’s grasp.

The Dragon King glanced down at the seal.

Then a slow smile spread across his face.

"Well now..."

Moltherak leaned back comfortably against the throne of bones, his golden eyes gleaming with quiet curiosity.

"Let us see what our friend, the Cult Master, has written for us."