The Elven Cultivator

「In the year 9361 of the Chenxi Calendar.」

In the history books of later generations, this year was mentioned repeatedly, and was finally etched into history under the name ”The Year that Divided the Ages.”

This year also marked the beginning of the Dragon Race’s decline from the height of its power.

Before this, there was a long era where the Dragon Race reigned supreme over the world as the golden race.

Wherever the dragon banners flew, the Ten Thousand Races submitted. For nearly ten thousand years, no power could shake their authority.

After this, an age of chaos began. All order collapsed, old authorities were crushed, and new powers ignited across the continent like wildfire.

Countless races that had once groveled under the might of the dragons raised their banners in rebellion.

And the starting point for all of this was a forest tucked away in the eastern corner of the continent, and an elf who, until then, was completely unknown.

Two months after Anton slew the Radiant Ash Dragon, Isaac, the turmoil finally erupted.

「August, 9361 of the Chenxi Calendar.」

Blood Roar Fortress, the Tide Hall, the Freedom Alliance, the Heart of the Mountains, and the Jade Royal Court—the top powers of five major races, as if by prior agreement, launched surprise attacks on the Dragon Cities in their respective territories on the very same day.

In less than half a day, the five Dragon Cities fell one after another.

The five Legendary Giant Dragons guarding the cities also died in the ensuing chaos.

This news struck the entire Dawn Continent like a thunderclap.

If anyone had previously harbored any doubts about the Dragon Race losing the Dragon God’s protection, the fall of five Dragon Cities in a single day, conquered with overwhelming force by the top powers of five major races, utterly shattered all such hopes and suspicions.

The Dragon Race had lost the protection of the Dragon God.

This fact was laid bare for the entire continent to see.

Those once-invincible, high-and-mighty Giant Dragons were no longer unbeatable.

After this, the situation on the Dawn Continent became like a lake with a boulder thrown into it, stirring up wave after wave of turbulence.

「September, 9361 of the Chenxi Calendar. The Thundering River Basin.」

The Beastman tribe ”Steel Mane” united with many local factions and launched an attack on the Dragon City.

After a grueling battle lasting nearly two months, ”Steel Mane” successfully captured the Dragon City and slew the Giant Dragon within.

「November, 9361 of the Chenxi Calendar. The Frost Ridge Plateau.」

The Naxi Dragon City in the eastern part of the plateau was breached by the joint forces of the Dwarven power ”Ironforge” and the local human city-state ”Frost Speech City.” The guardian Giant Dragon was surrounded and killed.

「January, 9362 of the Chenxi Calendar. The Green Highlands.」

The Dragon City was breached by a local coalition army. The guardian Giant Dragon was jointly killed by several Legendary Powerhouses while attempting to escape.

「February, 9362 of the Chenxi Calendar. The Jade Wave Coast.」

The Sea Race landed from the coastal waters and, in a pincer attack with a human coalition army, captured the Dragon City in less than a month.

...

In just half a year, over twenty Dragon Cities were captured, their guardian Giant Dragons either killed or forced to flee.

The Dragon Race suffered devastating losses.

And behind these wars, the shadow of the Fallen Dragon Association could be seen, more or less.

This organization, whose purpose was to slay dragons, was now operating at full capacity.

Its intelligence network delivered information on the defensive weaknesses of each Dragon City into the hands of the coalition armies.

Its couriers hurried back and forth across the continent, bringing factions that had never known each other to the same negotiating table.

It was through its tireless mediation that the various factions gradually united to strike back at the Dragon Cities.

Without the Fallen Dragon Association, these disparate factions, fighting on their own, might have been able to capture a Dragon City or two. However, they could never have coordinated on such a massive scale in just half a year.

「Autumn, 9362 of the Chenxi Calendar.」

Facing the relentless waves of attacks and rebellion, the Dragon Court was forced to make a difficult decision.

Recall all guardian Giant Dragons.

Recall all deployed Dragon Descendant Legions.

Pull back the defensive lines and fortify the Dragon Court.

This was a decision that shook the entire Dawn Continent.

For nearly ten thousand years, the banners of the Dragon Race had never been lowered over any Dragon City.

The hundreds of Dragon Cities scattered across the land were once symbols of the Dragon Race’s rule, proof of the Ten Thousand Races’ submission.

But now, they were either captured or abandoned, crumbling one by one like sandcastles washed away by the tide.

Everyone knew that the Dragon Race had begun its decline.

And this, in turn, ignited the ambitions of even more races and factions.

Beneath the surging undercurrents, a grand siege against the Dragon Race was gradually taking shape.

...

While the outside world was rife with turmoil and frequent uprisings, the Eldron Plain remained peaceful.

Time moved to the spring of 9363 in the Chenxi Calendar, and a major event brought life back to the long-silent plain.

The Silver Moon Race was holding an inauguration ceremony for its new Clan Leader.

The new Clan Leader was none other than Anton Silver Moon, the very man who had slain the Radiant Ash Dragon and been given the title ”Fallen Dragon Sword Saint” by the outside world.

When the news spread, the entire Eldron Plain was thrown into an uproar.

Major factions, races, merchant guilds, and even some well-known Mercenary Corps all sprang into action at once, as if with one mind.

They all scrambled to secure a spot to attend the ceremony.

Some hoped to use this opportunity to establish ties with the Silver Moon Race.

Some simply wanted to see the legendary Fallen Dragon Sword Saint with their own eyes.

But even more people wanted to take this chance to express their sincerity and goodwill to the new hegemon of the Eldron Plain.

After all, the Silver Moon Race had now become a power on the plain that could not be ignored.

Befriending them had everything to gain and nothing to lose.

「The day of the ceremony arrived in the blink of an eye.」

Before the sky had fully brightened, the edge of the forest was already bustling with activity.

The cyan light barrier that had once held back the Dragon City’s army now had a wide pathway specially opened through it.

On both sides of the pathway, Elf Guards stood ramrod straight in brand-new, rune-inscribed leather armor. The scabbards of the Long Swords at their waists glinted coldly in the morning light.