Reborn as the Last van Ambrose

The weight of betrayal hung heavy in the volcanic-heated air, and Grim could see the exhaustion etched in every line of the wounded Dragon King’s face.

"Lord Ao Qin," Grim said finally, breaking the silence, "we need to reach the West Sea before Jiaolong does. Is there a way to travel between realms quickly?"

Ao Qin’s golden eyes shifted toward him, and for a moment, the ancient dragon seemed to be weighing how much information to share. "The Gate is the only way," he said.

"So we just need to get to the gate than." Lin said moving closer to Ao Qin.

"The Gate to leave here is on the far side of Mount Pyrion," he explained. "It’s a treacherous journey given the circumstances."

"Because of the rebels?" Grim asked.

"And these aren’t the best of circumstances," General Feng added grimly. "The entire region around Mount Pyrion has been taken over by the rebels."

Ao Qin’s expression darkened further. "The rebels. After their betrayal became clear, the surviving loyalists attempted to drive them from their strongholds. Instead, the rebels consolidated their forces and now control most of the volcanic highlands, including the gate."

"How many are we talking about?" Grim asked, trying to assess the tactical situation.

"At least two hundred dragons, plus whatever corrupted creatures they’ve allied themselves with," General Feng replied.

"Which we don’t have the forces for," Shen Yue added pointedly. "Our army was decimated in Jiaolong’s attack."

Lin studied the expressions of the South Sea dragons around them. "But there might be another way. If the rebels believe they were fighting for justice, if they genuinely thought they were opposing tyranny..."

"You want to negotiate with traitors?" General Feng’s voice carried barely contained outrage.

"I want to understand them," Lin corrected. "If we can convince some of them that they’ve been deceived, that Jiaolong used their legitimate grievances for his own purposes..."

"It’s possible," Ao Qin said thoughtfully, though his tone suggested he found the idea distasteful. "Not all of those who joined the rebellion were motivated by personal ambition. Some truly believed they were fighting for a better future for our realm."

Grim nodded, seeing the strategic potential. "And if we can turn some of them back to your side, they might help us reach the passage."

"Or they might kill you on sight," General Feng countered. "The rebels aren’t pushovers."

Shen Yue moved closer to the group. "There might be a middle path," she suggested. "The rebels are concentrated in the main strongholds, but they rely on patrols to control the territory between them. If you could avoid the major fortifications..."

"Stealth," Grim nodded.

"I could guide them," a new voice spoke from the chamber’s entrance.

They turned to see a young South Sea dragon, his scales marked with recent battle scars. Unlike the court members, his bearing was that of a common soldier rather than nobility.

"Captain Zhen," Ao Qin acknowledged. "You survived the attack on the outer defenses."

"Barely, my lord," Captain Zhen replied with a respectful bow. "Most of my unit was lost when the rebels opened the thermal barriers to Jiaolong’s forces."

"You’d be willing to guide us?" Lin asked.

Captain Zhen’s expression hardened. "Those rebels killed my friends, my comrades who trusted them. If there’s a chance to stop more realms from suffering the same fate, I’ll take it."

Ao Qin studied his subordinate carefully. "The journey will be extremely dangerous, Captain. The volcanic activity has increased since Jiaolong’s corruption spread through the region. Many of the routes may no longer be accessible."

"Then we’ll find new ones," Captain Zhen replied with quiet determination.

Grim looked around the group, seeing the mix of hope and desperation in their faces.

"I can provide heat-resistant gear," Shen Yue offered. "It should keep this human alive."

"How long will the journey take?" Lin asked Captain Zhen.

"Under normal circumstances, perhaps two days." he replied.

"Four days at most." Grim calculated aloud. "And Jiaolong has how much of a head start?"

"Not that much, an hour or two." Ao Qin estimated. "But he’ll be traveling directly through rebel territory, relying on their cooperation. If that cooperation falters..."

"He might be delayed," Lin finished hopefully.

"Or he might simply destroy anyone who gets in his way," General Feng countered darkly.

Ao Qin struggled to lift himself higher in the healing pool, his injuries clearly causing him significant pain. "There’s something else you need to understand about the rebels," he said. "They weren’t all motivated by simple political disagreement. Some of them have legitimate grievances."

"You’re saying they might have a point?" Grim asked carefully.

"I’m saying that good dragons can make terrible choices when they’re frightened and angry," Ao Qin replied. "If you do encounter rebels during your journey, remember that they may not be your enemies by choice."

Captain Zhen nodded grimly. "Some of the dragons who joined the rebellion... I served with them. They were honorable soldiers who genuinely believed they were protecting our realm."

"Which makes them more dangerous than simple traitors," Shen Yue observed. "Ideological opponents fight harder than mercenaries."

"But they’re also more likely to listen to reason," Lin countered. "If we can show them what Jiaolong really is, what his true goals are..."

"It’s worth attempting," Ao Qin decided. "But don’t sacrifice the mission for the possibility of redemption. The West Sea must be warned, regardless of what happens to misguided rebels."

They spent the next hour planning their route through the volcanic highlands. The path they outlined was dangerous, threading between active lava and rebel strongholds, but it offered their best chance of reaching the gate quickly.

"When do we leave?" Grim asked as they finalized their preparations.

"Immediately," Ao Qin replied. "Every moment of delay gives Jiaolong more time to consolidate his power and potentially corrupt the West Sea’s defenses."

"My lord," Captain Zhen said hesitantly, "there is one more thing. The rebels have been using communication crystals to coordinate their forces. If they detect unauthorized transmissions..."

"They’ll know exactly where we are," Lin finished with growing understanding.

"Which means once we enter their territory, we’ll be operating without support," Grim realized. "No way to call for help if things go wrong."

Ao Qin’s expression was grim but determined. "Then you’ll have to make sure things don’t go wrong."