Chapter 5: The God Who Knelt
The sky over the Crimson Empire burned crimson and black, a permanent twilight heralding the presence of the First Demonic Dragon.
News of the fall of the first Archon spread like wildfire across the divine realms. Whispers of Draven's power reached the ears of gods who had ruled for eons, and fear twisted into paranoia, even among the most arrogant deities.
The Arrival of the Elder God
From the far reaches of the multiverse, a figure descended a god older than the sun, cloaked in silver light that flickered like starlight. His presence alone bent reality; the air around him hummed with divine authority.
He was Veyronis, the Elder God of Judgement.
Landing before Draven's obsidian throne, Veyronis' golden eyes scanned the Dragon Sovereign and his queens: Lilithia, Seraphine, and Nyxara.
"You are… the one they whispered about," Veyronis said, his voice deep as collapsing worlds. "The First Demonic Dragon."
Draven stepped forward, black flames dancing across his scales. "I am he. And your whispers have come too late."
Veyronis' wings stretched wide feathers of pure light, eyes piercing into the very core of existence. "I have come to stop you, to restore balance, and to erase this… abomination."
Lilithia tilted her head. "Balance? How quaint. Your 'order' brought nothing but fear, God of Judgement."
Draven's eyes glimmered, calm yet terrifying. "And yet here you stand, face-to-face with the truth. Tell me, Elder God… do you truly wish to die?"
The Divine Negotiation
Instead of striking immediately, Veyronis lowered his blade slightly. Something about Draven's aura made him hesitate an ancient recognition.
"You… are no ordinary demon," Veyronis admitted. "You carry the power of creation and destruction, balanced… like a god should."
Draven's wings unfurled, black lightning curling across the spires of Oblivion. "Then you see it clearly. This world is rotten, gods of old. I offer you a choice: kneel, or burn."
The Elder God's eyes narrowed. "Kneel to a dragon? A demon?"
"Not a dragon, not a demon," Draven said. "The Crimson Sovereign. And I rule not for vanity, but to rebuild the multiverse in truth."
Veyronis' golden light wavered. The ground trembled beneath them, the air itself bending around Draven's aura. For the first time in countless eons, the Elder God felt fear or perhaps awe.
"You speak with conviction… and power that rivals eternity," Veyronis murmured.
Lilithia's wings rustled. "The gods always fall first to conviction, then to truth. Observe carefully."
The Moment of Submission
Draven approached, his presence crushing yet magnetic. "Swear yourself to me," he said, calm yet commanding. "Serve not out of fear… but out of recognition. Join me, Elder God, and help me remake this universe."
For a heartbeat, the world held its breath. The Elder God's power enough to destroy nations shivered under the weight of Draven's authority.
And then, slowly, deliberately, Veyronis knelt.
"By my will… and my power," he said, voice trembling yet steady, "I kneel to the Crimson Sovereign. I offer my domain, my knowledge, my armies… to you."
Draven's crimson eyes softened for the first time. "Rise, Elder God. Stand not as a subject… but as a pillar of my empire."
Veyronis rose, now not a conqueror, but an ally a god who chose loyalty over pride.
Nyxara's eyes glimmered. "One god bent without a drop of blood spilled. Impressive."
Seraphine sheathed her sword. "Another joins our ranks. Soon, none will challenge you openly."
Lilithia leaned closer to Draven. "And this… is the first of many who will see reason."
Draven's gaze swept across the horizon. Thousands of worlds awaited, each ruled by gods or Archons each now within reach.
"The universe bends to me," he said softly. "And the age of the Crimson Sovereign begins in earnest."