The celebration was short-lived for Bai Qi, as the entire castle began to tremble. The source of this upheaval was the storm raging at its center.
The sky darkened, and a fearsome dragon head slowly emerged from the tempest. Its golden eyes glowed, two gaping maws stacked atop each other, followed by a long body and massive blood-red wings that unfurled, casting a shadow over the world as thunder boomed.
Even Bai Qi was stunned by the sight. She had believed the creature she fought was a primeval god, only to realize she had merely defeated a subordinate. Now, the true primeval god had revealed itself.
As the ancient dragon appeared, more dragons from the murals came to life, flying out one by one. Three of them were identical in size and appearance to the one Bai Qi had slain.
While Bai Qi was still reeling in shock, a deep voice echoed in her ear.
"I didn't expect the thief who stole my power to be absent. This was all prepared for him. Since he isn't here, but you bear his bloodline, you must be connected to him. That's fine. I'll kill you first to make him suffer, and then I'll go after him."
The voice belonged to the ancient dragon at the heart of the storm, communicating telepathically with Bai Qi.
With that, a massive electrical discharge began to gather in the ancient dragon's mouth. Before Bai Qi could react, the destructive pulse surged towards her.
Bai Qi braced herself for severe injury, or even death, but after what felt like an eternity, she felt no pain.
When she opened her eyes, she was no longer in the sky castle. She had been transported to Cybertron, the resting place of her father.
Looking around, Bai Qi saw more than a dozen monstrous creatures of various forms encircling her. However, these guardians of Cybertron did not immediately attack this stranger, content to maintain a perimeter.
"Bai Qi, it seems you've caused trouble again."
Just as Bai Qi felt lost, a familiar voice reached her ears.
"Father!"
Hearing her father's voice, Bai Qi's spirits immediately lifted. She searched for the source of the sound, but all she saw was a dragon-like monstrous creature.
Thinking she had misheard, Bai Qi's mood plummeted again. However, the creature spoke once more, "What's wrong? Can't you recognize your father just because he's in a different body?"
With that, the creature transformed into a robot form, a feat of evolution unheard of among the Cybertronians present.
"Father, is it really you?"
Upon receiving Bai Qi's affirmative nod, Bai Qi could no longer contain herself and rushed into his arms, weeping uncontrollably.
It wasn't surprising. Bai Qi had endured so much over the past twenty years. A girl who had grown up under her father's protection was suddenly thrust into the forefront. Even with the support of capable subordinates like Dao Long, Octavius, and Wu, the pressure and responsibility she bore were unprecedented.
In the past, Bai Qi had not understood some of her father's actions, deeming them too extreme, believing there were better alternatives. But after taking over, she realized how correct his decisions had been at the time.
This was not Bai Qi's father's true form. His actual body was still in deep slumber within Cybertron's core. However, after twenty years of hibernation, his consciousness had awakened. Although his physical body had not yet undergone complete rebirth, his spirit could inhabit the bodies of the monstrous creatures, allowing him a limited ability to move.
After comforting Bai Qi in his embrace, Bai Qi's father asked sternly, "I heard you've caused trouble again?"
"Yes, yes, I have."
Despite her reluctance to admit it, the truth was undeniable. She had been defeated by the ancient dragon. Although she had escaped, the army that accompanied her was undoubtedly wiped out.
Just then, Dao Long, Octavius, and Wu appeared before Bai Qi's father.
Looking at the three, Bai Qi's father was about to reprimand them for not preventing Bai Qi's reckless actions. However, as the words formed on his lips, his gaze met Octavius', and in that instant, he understood everything.
This was a lesson for Bai Qi, purchased with money by the three of them.
While the cost was significant, Bai Qi's father deemed it acceptable.
Composing himself, he turned to Wu and said, "Initiate the backup plan."
Before falling into slumber, Bai Qi's father had foreseen the possibility of primeval gods invading the main world during his sleep. He had also considered how to handle the situation if Bai Qi and the others were outmatched.
Naturally, with his current strength, Bai Qi's father could not defeat the ancient dragon. His true body was still dormant, and the body he currently used was weaker than Bai Qi's. The one who would truly eliminate the ancient dragon was someone else.
As Wu chanted an incantation, a blood-red magical array materialized above Cybertron, expanding outwards in all directions.
Meanwhile, the ancient dragon, enraged that Bai Qi had been rescued, unleashed its dragons in a furious assault on Earth, personally annihilating the demon army that Bai Qi had led.
On Earth, the Justice League members, already struggling against the flying dragons, found themselves increasingly overwhelmed as time wore on, with many superheroes falling to the dragon's claws. The arrival of more numerous and powerful dragons proved to be the final straw.
Against these immense beasts, only Shazam, Superman, and Black Adam could offer any resistance; the others were no match. Indeed, in the face of the primeval dragon's invasion, even former villains had joined the fight. All the forces on Earth united, fighting shoulder to shoulder.
However, the vast disparity in power could not be overcome by unity or courage alone.
Just as despair loomed, a colossal magical array appeared in the sky. With a flash of red light, the sky castle and the multitude of dragons vanished from Earth.
"What... what was that?"
"Did we win?"
"No."
As everyone looked around in confusion, Catalara spoke, "That was a massive teleportation spell. The dragons have merely been teleported away, and I can sense the destination is not far from Earth."
"Can you take me there, Zatara?"
Just then, Batman, who seemed to have appeared from nowhere, asked.
"Are you crazy, Batman? You saw the power of those dragons. It's not just you; the entire Earth combined isn't enough to fight them."
"That's precisely why I must go."