The human noble, Andrew Kun, was experiencing something he never felt before.

Self-consciousness!

He, who always got what he wanted, was at a standstill because of a woman. An extremely beautiful one at that.

No, her beauty transcended the barriers that words created.

A face that could rival the Gods, luminescent hair that looked as if it was spun of the thread of diamonds.

The smooth skin of her shoulders was revealed because of the sleeveless, dark scarlet dress she wore that hugged the curves of her body before falling to the ground in a pool of rich fabric.

When she walked, the free-flowing skirt moved behind her.

Normally, he would have approached her. But there was an insurmountable problem.

The man whose elbow she’d been attached to since they had entered. It was none other than the Fifth Dragon Erebus.

Andrew felt like crying, not only was Erebus far more attractive than him, he was incredibly powerful and rich!

The woman, whose name was Tear of the Moon Goddess, was probably his wife or something.

Even if she wasn’t, why would she care about the spoiled son of some unimportant noble who barely scraped up enough money to attend?

Currently, he was trying to muster up the courage to ask her to join him in aerial dance.

He could only imagine what it would be like to stare into those beautiful sapphire eyes of her’s.

“Just go,” one of Andrew’s friends spoke after Andrew cast yet another longing stare at Tear. “The worst thing that’ll happen is the Dragon Erebus will kill you,” he said jokingly.

Andrew glared. “You’re not helping.”

His friend, Ryner, shrugged and took a long drink of his wine. “You could aim for any of the other girls over there, too. They’re all pretty hot.”

He was right, Lilian was absolutely stunning and Seira was an exotic beauty. But still! The men they stood with were leagues beyond Andrew and what he ever could reach.

“Maybe you could dance with the kid,” a redhead named Jackson laughed. “He’s pretty, too.”

Andrew’s glare grew stronger. “If they hear you, they’d kill you.”

His friends shrugged, they were too drunk to care about that right now.

“I’m going,” Andrew spoke with steely resolve.

He wasn’t ugly! He was pretty handsome if he did say so himself.

Andrew made his way through the multitudes of dancers and servers and to where the seven stood engaged in conversation with extremely important people.

Three of the famed archangels: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. The other four were still in the Pure Continent watching over.

They boasted being the closest to the One True God, only second to the seraphim.

The angelic race was the only race that didn’t treat the dragons with the utmost respect. To them, their god was the only one capable of receiving such high regard.

When Andrew crept towards them all, ten pairs of eyes landed on him instantly.

“Who is this?”

“What do you want?”

Lilian and Vyne both spoke.

Andrew started regretting his decision. “I, well, I, uh.”

Just say it already, their eyes seemed to say.

“I was wondering if Lady Tear would spare an aerial dance with me...”

Tear’s eyes turned ice cold. “Lower life--”

“Is that so? Tear, go dance with him,” Erebus said airly.

She didn’t bother hiding her displeasure. “Of course, Lord Erebus.”

Tear and the sweaty-palmed human walked towards a magic circle and stepped on it.

They stood there for a while, not moving. An even greater amount of displeasure became apparent on her face.

“Do I have to activate the circle or are you competent enough,” she hissed.

Andrew instantly starting pouring his mana into the circle until it came to life with a bright, pale blue glow and they slowly began to rise into the sky.

He placed his hand on her small body, the sweat from his palm dampening her beautiful gown.

“Are you seriously sweating?” Tear questioned in a bland voice, her eyes looked completely indifferent.

She was over the situation already.

“I-it’s hot in here, no?” Andrew laughed as they began to dance.

Within a few seconds, he stepped on her foot. She didn’t say anything until he repeated the process five more times.

“What are you, a newborn deer? You can’t dance at all, you incompetent swine!” she finally let loose her thoughts.

Andrew’s face paled even more.

What was with this terrible personality did not fit her angelic appearance?

“What? Are you a mute now? Dance properly!”

“Ugh...”

While Andrew was being scolded by a very irritated Tear, Erebus and Frize approached the twin dragons Ludis and Syron.

The twin’s previous fear creeped back into them. They had calmed down after a while, convinced that the elders had no idea of their activities. But, the moment that they approached them once again...

“Glorious party, I find myself very entertained,” Frize said with a lack of enthusiasm that didn’t match his words.

Ludis smiled weakly. “I-is that so? We are glad to hear such things, especially from such honorable beings such as yourselves. We never imagined the day that we could be able to meet you personally.”

A vicious smirk appeared on Erebus’ face. “Oh, but you did, didn’t you? In your nightmares, right?” His eyes twinkled with malicious laughter.

Unlike Frize, he had no taste for beating around the bush. He was straight-forward and to the point!

Syron blinked in surprise. “I have no idea what you’re trying to convey to us, Fifth Dragon Erebus?”

Erebus let out a bark of laughter. “Cut the bullshit, children. By the law of the Dragon Council, speak the truth to me. This shall be your trial for the sins you have committed.”

A few ears who had innocently been passing by perked up at the words. The four dragons drew even more attention.

“O-our trial? For what?” Syron stammered nervously.

“You’re not doing yourselves any justice,” Erebus snapped. “I’m already in a terrible mood, don’t attempt to stall with us.”

Frize quirked an eyebrow and took a sip of his wine. It was rare for Erebus’ patience to snap so easily. He was expecting the younger dragon to be more nonchalant about the entire ordeal.

But instead, Erebus slipped into his personality of the past.

In the very beginning of their years, Erebus had been cold. His words were concise and he never laughed or smiled unless it was in sardonic nature. He dealt with any problem swiftly and precisely, never doing more or less.

Slowly, he changed into the careless being that he is today. Even Frize found the memories of those previous days pushed in the corners of his mind.

“Your illegal trade of the mana stones hailed from the Dragon Continent, speak of it,” Frize said.

He couldn’t let Erebus have all the fame and glory, after all.

The twins fate was condemned the moment their eyes lost all hope. They had basically confessed to it without saying a single word.

Still, they were allowed to speak their part.

But it wouldn’t change their future.

“I suppose there is no hiding anything from the Dragon Council, eh?” Ludis said in a tired voice.

“So it is true, then?” Erebus questioned.

Syron nodded grimly. “Yes, my brother and I, we... We traded the precious stones of our country before and after you passed the laws that forbade it.”

They had the attention of everyone now.

“We needed money, we had gotten ourselves into debt! It was the only way to pay it off,” Ludis wailed. “Please, forgive us.”

“The law is absolute,” Erebus responded with sternness. “For you to have betrayed your continent for the simple sake of paying off debt.” Erebus shook his head sadly. “There would’ve been many willing to help you.”

Ludis’ face fell. That much was true...

Even though the dragons competed, they were a close-knit race who would help any in need.

But their pride would not allow them to ask for assistance.

Frize sighed and spoke in the language of the dragons, “As the decree of the Dragon Council, your lives are ours for the taking. This is your atonement for your sin.”

Erebus continued, “If you wish, you may challenge your judges to a duel until the other party is incapable of fighting back. If you win, the sentence will be lifted. If you lose, it will be carried out. Do you wish to use your privilege?”

Ludis and Syron hesitated, they knew they’d be fighting a losing battle. They both fell to their knees, crossing an arm over their chest.

“Yes... we wish to exercise the privilege to challenge our judges to a duel.”

Erebus’ fist tightened at his side while he and Frize spoke in unison, “Then so it shall be.”

The structure that the ball was held in began to shake violently as four immensely powerful auras were released.