Chapter 554: At My Side or in My Way

Yu’Keto’s voice trembled as he spoke, the words heavy, uncertain, yet desperate for clarity.

"What are your plans for humanity... Father?"

The silver dragon’s question hung in the night air as both he and Alister hovered above the ruins of Megacity I. The city lay broken beneath them, its once-proud towers reduced to ash and rubble after the greatest battle ever fought. The wind howled through the gaps, ruffling their hair and carrying with it the smell of fire and blood.

Alister extended his hand slowly. The ruins below began to glow faintly, shards of shattered buildings stirring as though awakening from slumber. Under the pull of his authority, steel beams lifted, stone blocks reformed, and fragments of the fallen city rose into the air, drifting back toward their former places like pieces of a puzzle remembering where they belonged.

His golden eyes narrowed as he spoke, his voice carrying across the sky like thunder wrapped in calm.

"While it may be true that the Mythos of House Oboros no longer has the power to wound me as it once did... the same cannot be said for my people. For my children."

His gaze flicked briefly toward Ho’Rus, the young one watching from below with wide, unblinking eyes, before returning to Yu’Keto.

"As such, I cannot afford opposition. Not from them. Not from anyone." His voice grew colder. "They are either at my side... or standing in my way."

Yu’Keto lowered his head respectfully, though his voice carried resolve.

"I see... such is a step necessary to ensure we all thrive again. But Father—if I may be so bold—why not allow me to handle convincing them? My human persona, Yuto, still holds massive sway within the Union. Humans do not take kindly to threats. Many will foolishly cling to their pride, believing in some false memory of past grandeur. They would sooner bleed than kneel if forced."

Alister’s eyes lingered on the shifting skyline below. The city was reforming, but not as it once was. Every rebuilt structure gleamed white and gold, etched with sprawling dragon engravings. It was no longer Megacity I—it was his city now.

He finally glanced back at Yu’Keto, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"You wish to approach this peacefully?"

A low chuckle rumbled from his chest, carried on the wind like distant thunder.

"Hah... don’t let your uncle hear you. He would not go easy on either of us if he did. He might get so irritated he’d choose to simply kill them all."

For just a breath, warmth touched his golden eyes as though he remembered something far away. Then it was gone, buried beneath the weight of a sovereign’s gaze.

Soon, the city was fully rebuilt, its skyline gleaming in white and gold. With a single wave of his hand, Alister tore open a vast golden portal high above. From within, a massive structure slowly descended, dirt and stone cascading from its underside as though it had been uprooted from another world. Encased in a radiant dome of light, its sheer presence dwarfed the ruins below.

It was the Dragon City—the sanctum of their kind, and the refuge where most of Megacity I’s inhabitants had been transported at the start of the battle.

As the colossal structure sank lower, Alister’s power rippled outward. The megacity below began to shift and expand, buildings groaning as they were pushed outward in perfect symmetry. At the center, a vast barren circle formed, awaiting the descent.

With a ground-shaking thud, the Dragon City landed, sending golden energy surging outward in ripples that rattled every stone and scorched mark within sight.

Then, the dome of light swelled further, expanding beyond the city’s walls until both Megacity I and the Dragon City were fused beneath a single protective shell of shimmering gold.

When all was finished, Alister exhaled deeply, a sigh heavy with burden rather than fatigue. His golden eyes turned toward Yu’Keto, sharp yet weary.

"I understand your intentions," he said, his voice solemn, "but remember this—now is not the time we can afford to show weakness."

Yu’Keto’s silver eyes flickered, the reflection of the golden dome shimmering within them. He hesitated, torn between deference and conviction, before finally speaking.

"Father... with respect, I must disagree. Mercy is not weakness. Strategy is not weakness. If we rule only by fear, then humanity will never see us as their future—only as their end. And when people believe they are staring at the end, they will resist, no matter how futile."

Alister’s gaze lingered on him, calm yet intense. The weight of his presence pressed against Yu’Keto like a storm bearing down on fragile wings.

"You think I do not know this?" Alister’s voice rumbled low. "I have worn the chains of humanity’s judgment countless times before. I know their pride, their spite, their desperation. I do not wish for their destruction—only their obedience."

The golden dome above pulsed faintly, as though echoing his authority.

"And yet," Yu’Keto pressed on, lifting his chin, "obedience can be born of reverence, not just fear. Let me be the bridge, Father. Let me speak to them as Yuto. Let me give them a chance to kneel willingly, before we force them to bow."

For a long moment, silence hung between them. The only sound was the faint hum of the golden barrier encasing the twin cities.

Finally, Alister chuckled softly, though his eyes remained sharp as blades.

"You speak with fire. Perhaps too much of your uncle’s stubbornness has found its way into you."

His expression softened—slightly.

"Very well, Yu’Keto. You may try. But mark my words—if humanity spits on the hand you extend, I will not hesitate to close my fist around their throats. And when that day comes, mercy will not save them."

Alister’s golden gaze sharpened.

"But... you will have to handle this quickly. The moment your uncle catches wind of any of this, he will not hesitate to slaughter them all. And when that happens... there will be no logical reason for me to hold him back."

Yu’Keto’s lips curved into a faint smile despite the weight of his father’s words. He bowed his head slightly.

"I understand, Father."