Tower of Heaven

On the other side, a similar dichotomy was showing itself, but for different reasons.

There were two different veins of dragons that existed in the world. They called themselves Heavenly Dragons and Cosmic Dragons. Heavenly Dragons like Artemia's Azure Dragon Clan were followers of the Heavens, while Cosmic Dragons like the Incendio Dragon Clan, rebelled against them.

Their countless differences stemmed from this base fact. Even their appearances were different.

Azure Dragons were wingless creatures. It was possible for them to have wings, but they were not necessary for flight. Azure Dragons were beautifully patterned snake-like entities that dominated the skies and seas.

Other Heavenly Dragons also had these traits. Their wings were mostly aesthetic, and their limbs were not the most pronounced part of their form.

Cosmic Dragons were different. They were creatures that had to flap their wings to fly when they were young. They had four limbs that were the core of their strength along with their wings, and a strong lizard-like reptilian form.

The differences between lizards and snakes were plenty. They didn't need to be individually listed.

They could be classified in the same spaces, but did they have much in common?

When Artemia and Horgen chose dragons as their species of choice, they were presented with a subterranean cave filled with small reptilian creatures. They were allowed to choose three of those creatures as their starting points, and once they were chosen, all of the living creatures in the cave turned into members of those three races.

Artemia and Horgen both chose different lizard species. Horgen then chose two other larger lizard species. As for Artemia, she chose a snake, and…

Well, a carp. A fish, the only one like it in the entire cavern.

The first two choices were more than enough for her to succeed. The third was just for fun. Artemia had heard a legend before, and she merely wanted to see if there was any truth to it. If it worked, it would be great. If it didn't, she wouldn't lose anything.

Horgen was systematic in his approach. For Cosmic Dragons, there was a very specific system of evolution in place and defined requirements to move through them. They had more militaristic tendencies and were rarely viewed as sages.

It was almost too much to focus on their story, as it was simply too basic. They conquered the continent with the pure strength and brutality of dragons. Their one-dimensional nature made them easier to control and guaranteed them more immediate success, but it stunted growth for obvious reasons. His dragons could only achieve so much.

Horgen was not a successor candidate like Artemia was. He was just one of the many members of his Incendio Dragon Clan who happened to catch the eyes of Elders because of his talent. He did not have access to the secrets of the Cosmic Dragons that allowed them to overcome their limitations.

Those secrets were created with the sole purpose of surpassing the Heavenly Dragons and becoming the true representation of the Dragon Race in history and legend. They could not be spread easily.

But, the sentiment of competition could be bred into every single member of the clan. It was why, despite not having as much base knowledge, Horgen still did his absolute best to raise a powerful army.

It was obvious from description alone that Artemia's force would be inherently superior. It was common knowledge that Cosmic Dragons had never been on the same level as Heavenly Dragons, but it was also true that the gap between them was the closest it had ever been.

Artemia didn't know that she would be facing a rival like this, so she did not raise her army as a blade meant to slaughter him.

Her dragons were raised as a showcase of what she planned to do in the future. She created the dream draconic society that she chased. The core of her ambition was there. She wanted to become a God, become a Divine Beast, and then raise the entire Azure Dragon Clan and all draconic species to a new level.

The culmination of her efforts wasn't at that level yet, but it was definitely close.

The lizards and snakes managed to do the impossible and evolve into dragons in only one thousand years thanks to her teachings. The carp population remained on the side and did not grow much as a whole, but after five thousand years, Artemia got what she wanted.

A carp leaping over the dragon gate. When it happened the first time and the carp became a dragon, the dragon gate manifested as a physical entity. The other carp then had a goal to reach just like the lizards and snakes. They strived against the current to reach it, leading them to their own form of growth.

It was a society that balanced strength and knowledge equally. Like the Neurics, the Dragons Artemia controlled ruled the continent as beings that its other residents considered holy and just. They were not tyrants, they were true royals.

In harmony and peace, these dragons found their fangs. In order to protect the order of the heavens, they could manifest power that mere belligerence could not replicate.

The two dragon races flew over the ocean and met each other in the space between the two continents. Unlike the giants, they did not necessarily need solid ground to fight, so the ocean remained in one piece.

Well, at least in the beginning.

They clashed in the air. Gigantic beams of concentrated qi filled with the energy of the Dao streaked through the clouds like shooting stars. The sky itself was razed apart. Due to the sheer force of their draconic aura, space itself trembled ever so slightly.

Not a single one of these dragons hid their auras. They allowed their bloodlines to clash as if provoking the other side into attempting to dominate them.
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Both sides believed they had bloodline superiority, and they acted as such. They fought without any holds barred, to the point where one would almost believe they were old enemies that had been fighting for centuries already.

The sky above the ocean was the perfect place for a battle of dragons. It allowed them to shine in a habitat that affected them all the same way.

Horgen also had Earth Dragons that could not fly guarding the borders of his continent so that Artemia's forces could not infiltrate it.

However, Artemia also had something special.

She had one of her own.

In ten thousand years, Artemia was able to create a single Azure Dragon.

A single Azure Dragon was more than enough to turn an ocean of this size into a weapon.

The environment itself turned against Horgen. His dragons didn't have a sense of connection, so they scattered, focusing on continuing their own battles.

Their formation collapsed, and the Heavenly Dragons gained a great advantage.

It was not the most definite match of the three, but it wasn't far from it. Horgen never really had a fair chance to begin with.

However, if he saw what was happening on the continent directly next to his own, perhaps he would feel better about himself.

Because, amongst the three, he certainly was not the one facing the worst possible situation.

That crown could be handed directly to Drya.