[Eldoria: Moments Before]

​Alexandra shifted her gaze from the five commanders below to Queen Josephine and Princess Ellen on the high balcony.

​"Hey, do you know where the King is?" she whispered to her partner, Denny.

​"How the hell would I know that?" Denny snapped back, his irritation bubbling over. "Just keep your head straight. Wait, you and the Queen are close, why don't you ask her yourself?"

​"Listen to yourself," Alexandra scoffed, crossing her arms.

"I should ask the Queen where her husband is? Do you want me to get punished for being impertinent?"

​"Oh? So you know that, then why are you asking me if I know the King's whereabouts?!" Denny threw his hands up, completely exasperated by her illogic.

​"Okay. Okay. Okay, I'm sorry, Captain," Alexandra conceded with an exaggerated eye roll, looking away.

​BOOOOM!!

​Everyone in Eldoria looked up, braced for another attack, but the atmospheric disturbance was different this time. It wasn't hostile.

​They watched, transfixed, as an enormous, horrifying sight began to emerge from a crack in the space above. First, the colossal, black, scaled claws of a dragon materialized. Instantly, an unholy amount of spirit energy flooded the city, causing everyone's faces to contort in awe and terror.

​"This?!"

Nioh instinctively pulled out his sword, his training demanding a response, even against the impossible.

​"Who do you want to fight?" Jinx asked with a dismissive frown, pointing at the gargantuan claw.

"That one foot could cover forty percent of Eldoria city." She spoke flatly, her pragmatism overriding her shock:

"How the hell can you fight something that big? Not only that, it has the strength of at least the peak stage of the God Rank! Even fifty of you can't defeat it."

Her words stunned Star, Blood Eye, Nioh, and Nicolas into heavy silence.

​"Is that...?" Ellen's eyes widened as the space crack widened further, revealing more of the dragon's massive body.

​"I can smell him," Josephine murmured, her senses tracking Sunny's unmistakable scent amidst the dragon's powerful aura.

​"I know Dad can take on so many appearances, but I didn't know he could also turn into a dragon," Ellen whispered, amazed.

​"No, that Dragon isn't your father," Josephine corrected gently, staring at the colossal beast that now completely blocked the sun, plunging Eldoria into an unexpected twilight.

​Then came the final shock. Everyone was stunned speechless, watching a single figure standing casually on the colossal dragon's head, his hands folded behind his back, his gaze fixed on the city below. The barrier automatically opened, and the figure flew off the dragon, entering the protective shield.

​"It's the King!!" The people yelled, their collective awe, surprise, and disbelief merging into one unified shout of relief.

_

​"It's actually the King," Nioh said, lowering his sword, his stance relaxing as Sunny landed before them.

​"Greetings, My King!" The four—Nioh, Star, Nicolas, and Blood Eye—greeted him swiftly and formally. Jinx merely rolled her eyes again, crossing her arms, completely ignoring the protocol.

​Sunny acknowledged the four with a curt nod, ignoring Jinx; she was a variable he didn't have time to manage.

​"Daddy!!"

​Everyone looked up as Ellen, her eyes shining with pure joy, flew down from the balcony straight into Sunny's open arms.

​"I miss you so much, Dad," Ellen said, hugging his neck tightly.

​Sunny chuckled, caressing her hair. "I've only been gone for some hours, Cupcake."

​"So? Even if it's one hour, I still miss you!" Ellen grumbled against his shoulder.

​"Yes. Yes. I miss you too," Sunny said warmly, gently placing Ellen on the ground, just as Josephine arrived.

​She walked slowly toward her husband and daughter. She stopped before Sunny and, without a word or hesitation, simply pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss before everyone. Sunny, in turn, returned the kiss with equal fervor, the public display a genuine expression of their relief and love.

​"Gosh, now they're feeding us dog food," Jinx grumbled loudly. Star instantly covered her mouth with a panicked hand.

​"Can you at least stay quiet for some minutes?" Star whispered urgently.

​"Covering my mouth can't keep my voice sealed," Jinx said, her voice somehow still perfectly audible, her eyes moving meaningfully to Star.

"....?!"

​Star was speechless and let go of Jinx in defeat.

​"I grew up in the underground world with my adoptive father," Jinx explained, adjusting her posture.

"In a world where criminals, thieves, and drug sellers reside, you need to learn a thing or two about talking without moving your lips."

​"Well... that explains a lot," Blood Eye commented dryly.

​"Hey, I don't know your name yet! I am still looking!" Jinx stared at the one-eyed commander with a challenging smirk. Seeing Jinx's invitation for a verbal spar, Blood Eye simply shook her head and turned away, refusing to engage.

​Sunny and Josephine turned to the group, small, fond smiles on their faces. The dysfunctional but unified bond of his commanders was a small comfort.

​"Get ready, guys," Sunny said, drawing all five attention instantly. "It's time to show the world Eldoria's strength." He looked around the assembled group.

​"Where is Eve?" he asked.

​"Oh... she is still in the training ground with her soldiers," Jinx answered.

'Her core has been fully restored, if not upgraded. This is good. But I need her here.'

He activated {Mind Link} and sent a direct telepathic message.

_

​Within twenty seconds, Eve, the Dragoness, landed before Sunny, her red dragon wings flapping down as she instantly dropped to her knees.

​"Greetings, My King," she said, her head bowed in respect.

​"Rise," Sunny commanded. Eve stood up, awaiting orders.

​"I want you here because I want to detail my plan. As my Sixth Commander, and in charge of our dragon force," he paused, turning his head to Ladon, who still hovered massively in the sky.

"You will assist Ladon, and help train the army of dragons for me."

​The reaction was immediate and universal:

​"...???"

"..."

"Army of dragons?!"

"...?!"

​Every commander, even the habitually sarcastic Jinx, was stunned speechless by the sheer scale of the King's new acquisition.

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