A Chronometric Defect

Talk about a perfect storm for my Dracon State. First, the Empire's top leaders flee. Then it does one better and splits into three warring factions. A mysterious plague kills hundreds of millions of their citizens - their military and workforce. Finally, our military comes into contact with both Shridenia and the Taivin Confederacy.

How much of The Purified Heavens is left if we're meeting in the middle? Amazing!

What's more amazing is the one who caused this chaos. You'd think my Dracon State would be privy to such information, but no! The first news we got was the Chronometric Dragon God speaking into all of our minds.

When I heard his deep and powerful voice? I was euphoric. We, the Dracon State, FINALLY witness the revival of the draconic golden age.

Sure, dragons have always demanded a lot of treasure. But! Each one was unimpeachably brilliant. Their swift minds, their strong bodies, their open personalities. The weakest dragon is superior to the strongest human.

It's not that I dislike my own species, no— dragons are simply too amazing. Even a newly hatched dragon could handily defeat a grown man. A single adult dragon required a battalion of mages to injure. Never mind kill.

Ah. That was the case until they were sciolated.

My Dracon State maintains the seat of power of the deceased Dragon God. Every one of us has prayed, daily, with the utmost sincerety that he would rise from the dead and return us to our former glory.

We have, of course, kept much documentation of him and his many doings. Thus we retained a strong love for our draconic leaders. Though many of us forgot, it wasn't hard to rekindle our loving affections for their imperious form and power. Whatever that sciolation was? It can't erase our immense reverence for dragons!

A dramaid, or dragon's maid, walks swiftly into my housekeeping quarters whilst scanning a document.

"Sir, the Taivin Confederacy has agreed to retreat from their holdings if we'll not press our attack on their forces."

She looks to me and continues.

"Your orders?"

We don't do royal titles, elections, or military leadership. We're all servants of dragons. Even though their dulled minds can only be used as tools and weapons, we still spend most of our budget keeping their hoards filled and their bodies pristine. Just as they've always expected. I'm the head housekeeper— selected by the Dragon God himself!

"Press the attack! Their pathetic military shall fall beneath our dragons' mighty claws."

She bows politely, then walks to a nearby wall. She turns, stands facing away from the wall, then opens a blue communication inscription. I suppose she's going to be communicating for several minutes.

I return to musing about recent happenings.

Horrifically, we lost roughly 80% of our beloved dragons during the mass death afflicting the Empire. Very few Dracon State maids and housekeepers were harmed. Unfortunate, as we'd gladly trade our lives for theirs.

I'm left to assume it was yet another evil plot by Thaddeus. He does this often! The scale must've been larger this time because he was trying to kill the Chronometric Dragon God.

Seeing as Shridenia, the nation ruled by our new god, has reached us? Whatever Thaddeus did must've failed.

That madman can't understand. Only the GODS were able to diminish our beloved dragons' incredible power. What hope did HE ever have against the divine might the Chronometric Dragon God?

Speaking of, we still don't know who that vile man was. The one who killed our beloved Dragon God. Our teams deduced he was somehow related to the gods. Likely someone from Oplenthiom.

Another dramaid walks over.

"Sir, here's the new inscription."

"This is the new communication array?"

She hands me an inscription slab.

"Yes, sir."

"We've had this for days. Why in our incredible god's name did it take so long to release?"

She bows.

"Sorry, sir! There was a strange part we initially wanted to remove for security reasons. Because of that, we then tried to verify its authorship."

"And?"

"It was officially authored by Aitos, but rumors say the man was killed before it was released. The one who kill—"

"The Chronometric Dragon God."

"Yes, sir."

In which case, he killed Aitos so the man couldn't refute authorship attribution. The Chronometric Dragon God wanted to make him a proxy; a stand-in, for authorship of his divine array. This would allow his array to spread unhindered by the imposing reputation that all dragons naturally possess! Himself, especially.

"It's too obvious. Announcing their grand presence is a dragon's most relished activity. All the more impressive, he chooses to show off his intellect first. Yet he also finds a proxy so he doesn't appear arrogant. He's brilliant."

"Of course, sir. We should've known."

"Indeed, you should have. This single array opens a brand new field of inscription. It's only fitting that it was developed by a dragon. He seems even smarter than the dragons we cherish and revere— that is, before they were sciolated. The Dragon God at his prime was still our new god's inferior."

"Is that not rude to our draconic charges, sir?"

I turn to face her, frowning.

"One as powerful as him would agree with me and smack down any dragons who contended otherwise. I did not reach the position of head housekeeper by being ignorant of our great benefactors' forthright personalities!"

She bows again.

"Of course, sir! My apologies, sir."

"Apologize to the Chronometric Dragon God, and pray for his forgiveness. I merit not a single scintilla of your concern."

She drops to her knees and begins praying.

Good. She understands her place.

I refocus my attention on his divine inscription. It's so far beyond anything Aitos could possibly create. It's gorgeous. I lovingly rub my hand as the inscription pattern flows underneath my skin via the inscription slab. Oh my, I've become one with a small sliver of his amazing power.

Would he be angry if I contacted him?

No.

Dragons LOVE attention.

I enter his name.

I exuberantly hit 'accept.'

It connects almost immediately.

I hear him before I can say a word.

"Hello Rictor Vinn, head of Dracon State."

HE KNOWS ME?!

"My glorious leader, please accept this feeble one's praises and affection!"

"Rawh. I verily appreciate it. However, what do you mean by 'leader?'"

Is this a test?

"Your whim alone shall subsume our Will! The Dracon State is ready to service your every desire and need, oh perfect one!"

"Rrrgh. You certainly talk well. If thus is your mandate, then please join my Shridenia. What position do you prefer?"

Ohhh, he's giving me a CHOICE?!

So magnanimous!

"Head housekeeper! I am the head housekeeper, my divine and impervious god!"

"Head housekeeper?"

Agh! Stupid!

"Oh, my! Did I aim too high? Do you already have a head housekeeper? Please, accept my apologies! I will take any station so long as it places me under your scaled soles!"

Deafening silence.

...

Did. Did I say something wrong?

"I see there is a need for me to understand your situation further. I'll be there in a moment."

He disconnects.

He's... Coming here?

I raise my hands up high.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!"

I point at three nearby dramaids.

"You, you, and you! Go get our best treasures! The ones we use to worship the Dragon God! Bring them here, NOW!"

"Sir, those are—"

"Not good enough for our god, I know, but they're all we have. HE'S COMING HERE!"

Their whole demeanor becomes electrified, like mine. All three immediately rush out of the building and sprint toward our three main chapels.

I stand up and start reorganizing my desk. Oh, I hope he's satisfied with our dragon-sized rooms, beds, bathing facilities, and everything else we've kept running! Oh, please be enough!

I feel a weighty and powerful presence looming behind me.

Amazing, is he here already? How did he do that? No, it makes sense, he IS a Demigod... Or, perhaps?

I spin around and am greeted with—. Woah.

What... WHAT kind of dragon IS he?! He looks— looks— INCREDIBLE!!! Black exterior, but it looks like a magic facade. He's actually a spatial black color! I've never seen anything quite like it.

Quite small compared with the Dragon God, but, he's still twenty meters tall. He fits snugly within this room; it WAS sized to accommodate our dragons' original heights. Dragon God excluded, of course.

I run over to him like a madman and straddle a huge scaled toe. The Dragon God always preferred we sat on his foot rather than on the floor. I somehow know he's looking down at me.

I start using a cloth to buff one of his immense claws. His claw is as long and thick as my leg. It's so wildly sharp, even on top, that it instantly shreds my woolen cloth. I grab my steel cloth from my belt and continue. This time, I take greater care not to damage the sharp edges of his claws. He has AMAZING claws even by dragon standards.

*shrk-sh—*

Huh. Weirdly, my steel cloth stopped making noise.

I rub it very quickly.

There's still no noise.

I rub very hard. Nothing.

Did he silence it? Amazing!

I feel him examining me, oddly.

Like his gaze has a real presence.

Finally, I hear my god's divine word.

"You are... The leader of Dracon State?"

I look up, ensuring he gets proper attention.

I'm still buffing his claw, though.

"Oh, my impossibly impressive god! You are the leader and I am the housekeeper! Or whoever you want me to be!"

"Reh. You may refer to me as Lord Chronomet. However, I must ask. Do you not find your behavior excessive?"

"Lord Chronomet! No matter how much you test my devotion, I promise that I shall not falter! So please, PLEASE keep testing me until you are satisfied by my loyalty!"

He puts one of his clawed hands over his face. Why?

He pulls his hand down his face, drops his hand, then kneels down. His huge form still towers over me.

Yet, this posture is not one dragons usually take toward a human. They prefer towering over us more rather than less.

"I can see the dragons of old have given you much reason to bask in our glory. We are, of course, naturally deserving of such respect."

"OF COURSE!"

"However, I have made it my personal mission to ensure that those whom I induct into my hoard are able to live in a way that they see fit."

He points at his foot with his huge index claw.

"Are you certain this is the kind of life you desire? Kneeling upon our rigid scales?"

I look at him with confusion.

"Lord Chronomet, I have long struggled to understand. Why is it other nations cannot see the unquestionable perfection held within each and every dragon? Why do they not WORSHIP you as we do? Today, I have learned."

He looks at me with expectation.

"They were afraid a dragon beyond perfection might one day come into being! Thank you SO MUCH for existing!"

His face twists into a draconic mix of happiness and confusion.

"Rah, reh! Enough. I see. You may be the head housekeeper if that is your earnest wish."

He stands. I feel a bit let down. Huh? Bah! Away, blasphemous thoughts!

"My incredible lord, Chronomet! May I request something of your divine self?"

He looks down at me again, seemingly ponderous.

"Yes?"

"Would you mind showing your glorious self to all of your Dracon State?! We normally hold the Dragon God sermons in a few minutes and—"

"I cannot."

"Do you not wish to show off?"

"I'd love to, but I cannot. I'd crush this whole country."

I stop buffing.

What.

What?

"Lord Chronomet, I don't understand?"

"If I showed my immense self to your nation, I'd crush it under a single claw."

I glance at his absurdly sharp claws for a split second.

Aha, he's bragging about his power!

"You can do as you wish, my lord Chronomet! We will heed your demands for prostration— no matter how aggressive!"

"No, no. Literally. I'm. Well, I'm extremely large."

Hm. I think my mind broke.

"My lord Chronomet; is this not your full size?"

He shakes his head.

"Not even close."

"Are you bigger than the Dragon God?"

"I told you. My claw would crush this country. He's smaller than a speck of dirt when compared with myself."

Dragons like to brag, but generally hate lying. Is he serious? I'm trying not to pass out from imagining such immense power.

That's...

No, he. HE is beyond my comprehension.

"You're truly the Chronometric Dragon God."

"That I am. Now. I would like to m—"

"Sir, we're back with the—"

*crash-tinkle-tk*

"Ehhhh?"

She dropped the divine urn! That was the Dragon God's favorite pottery! How DARE she!

"Rah, hello. I am Chronomet. Nice to meet you."

She runs over, hops onto another of Chronomet's toes, and starts buffing his claw with her steel cloth. I also resume.

He looks down at her.

"You folks truly enjoy this?"

"OF COURSE, Chronomet!"

I remind her.

"LORD Chronomet!"

"Yes! Yes! Lord Chronomet!"

"What's the ornamental pottery for?"

"Oh, that WAS the Dragon God's favorite urn."

I glare daggers at the clumsy woman.

"My hoards are my intellect, my wealth, and my power, in that order. My wealth naturally includes my people. I know not how your dragons managed themselves in the past. However, pottery means nothing to me. I enjoy representing all three of my hoards in physical form—"

He creates an incredibly ornate and beautiful draconic throne, then majestically sits atop it.

Amazing! How deserving he is of such a throne!

We readjust our positions to better buff his claws after briefly admiring his throne. We must focus moreso on admiring his claws and never act covetous of his treasures.

"— but one of my immense stature cannot be sated by such trifling tributes. Thus, do not concern yourselves over a mere urn. Also. I am wondering why you are buffing my claws, which physically cannot become dirty."

"We exist to serve your every need! However, your body is perfection itself, I am not sure what else to do!"

"Do what... Pleases you, I guess... Rewh."

He says that, but he shifts his body to get more comfortable. I can tell he's enjoying our attention.

I buff with the righteous fury of god himself behind me. Quite literally.

The other two dramaids re-enter the room.

*chrsk-tink-tinkle*

*thun-KRAK*

Must they ALL drop the Dragon God's artifacts? There were only three; now it sounds like one. The Dragonstone probably broke the floor. Thankfully, that artifact should be fine: it's more or less a large boulder.

Never mind, focus on buffing.

The two rush over and begin properly buffing two more of Chronomet's unattended claws.

Yes! Now we just need another six, and—.

I notice his gaze has shifted. Is he interested in something?

"That flat rock— it didn't break."

I as watch the Dragonstone— no, my god said it was a flat rock. The flat rock flies through the air like magic. Except, I detect no Mana. Hah, Demigod? He must be a god, just like his title states! The Dragon God was a fake compared with him.

He catches the rock in his claws.

"This is a normal rock? Why does it feel strange?"

"Lord Chronomet, that was the Dragon God's favorite rock! He said it elevated his lineage and enabled his ascension!"

"Hra. Do you worship these items?"

"Yes, lord Chronomet!"

"He is dead. But— if alive? I expect he would be offended that you worship his coveted baubles rather than he himself."

I feel like a glass of ice water was poured over my head. That's absolutely right.

"Lord Chronomet! This was a major oversight! I'll tell our churches to worship you as soon as I'm done buffing."

"Rer— do as you wish. However, you're never going to be done buffing. I'm not exaggerating. My claw can't get dirty, so it can't be buffed."

I slowly realize that this IS an impossible task.

I once again thought he was bragging!

He continues to explain.

"My full majesty cannot be understood by the human mind. You must admire me without feeling compelled to provide so many extra niceties. If it's something you want to do, I won't reject it when I'm not busy. However, since I have conquered most of the world within five days, I'm often busy."

Incredible. He's exactly as powerful as he claims.

He continues again.

"I usually execute corrupt leaders and install well-reasoned ones after annexing territory. I know of you from my ability to read memories. You have done well! Since Dracon State—"

"We are Shridenian, lord Chronomet!"

He likes this correction of mine. A lot. Ooh, that was good.

Normally, dragons don't like being corrected, but I know the best moments to strike.

"Rawh! Yes. You, Rictor Vinn, have taken all the buffer states near this territory of mine. It seems the Taivin Confederacy will be the final addition to my hoard's land, at least on this continent. I will consolidate the continent under my leadership and then decide what to do next."

Wow, he named me specifically! That means, he's allowing his followers to claim they added to his hoard?!

He's so magnanimous!

He continues being magnanimous.

"You can— you can stop buffing my claw?"

We four stand up immediately.

"Yes! You maids; rally everyone immediately!"

They each open communication arrays.

Chronomet's eyes hold concern.

"Are they coming here?"

"OF COURSE!"