Quick and simple today.
Some Japanese fans theorize "Divine Dragon ", who faced the 13 Heroes is the "Dragon Emperor", Tsa's "Daddy".
Now, the two titles are different of course -
(Divine) God Dragon 神竜.
Dragon Emperor 竜帝
But, there is evidence to back up this theory:
Evidence 0
Tsa is the strongest 'Dragon Lord' but the 13 Heroes supposedly lost to the 'God Dragon' (Volume7,10)
Dragon Emperor is at least as strong as Cure Elim (Twitter)
Evidence 1
Dragon 帝 NOT Dragon 皇帝
"Emperor" is written very strangely for the "Dragon Emperor". It doesn't use Jircniv's title皇帝, but 帝 alone.
So there should be a reason why .
Evidence 2
Some Dragon Lord titles actually depend on Chinese readings or Kanji.
朽棺
No Japanese equivalent for first Kanji- Maru Elder Coffin
First Kanji is Chinese only
白金
Silver in Japanese - Maru Platinum
Is always read as Platinum in Chinese
七彩
Seven Colors - Maru: Brightness
Second kanji read as "bright colors"; Chinese only
So the precedence exists that the Dragon Emperor's title can have a closer relation to it's true meaning if read in Chinese not Japanese.
Evidence 3
Dragons can change name following power up (XX to Elder Coffin)
Cure Elim established precedence that Dragon Lords can gain additional titles by their own desire.
Evidence 4
The Chinese Kanji 'Emperor' can also mean 'Supreme Deity' in Tian or Shang theology.
Evidence 5
神 is not always read "God" in Overlord.
5a: Godkin
神人
Literal: "Godlike Person" " Person as Strong as a God"
In Overlord: "Awakened human"
5b: Divine class
神器（ゴッズ）
Maru says to read it as "God" but literally it's written "Godly Instrument" or "Sacred Treasure"
and not just 神 alone.
Putting it Together:
(Divine) God Dragon 神竜.
Dragon Emperor 竜帝
Basically, even if the Dragon Empire is gone, the Dragon Emperor can still be called the Dragon Emperor 竜帝because it can be read as "Supreme Being Dragon" or more accurately "Dragon Deity". That or Auto Translate fucked up, and people who remember dragon lords pronounce it 竜帝, but for people who only hear about it second hand ie in bard songs about the 13 Heroes it more accurately translates as God Dragon 神竜.
This isn't so batshit if you consider 王 in China serve the 帝, where Chinese Dragon 王 are considered God Dragons, but the "Emperor" they serve is considered 'Supreme' and greater than them in power and scope.
Counter Arguements:
A
Not all Dragon Lords actually have Chinese readings associated with their titles.
DDDL
常闇
Vampire DL
吸血
Chinese - Blood Sucking
or Avenging
Calamity
破滅の竜王
災厄
Chinese Annhilation
Distressed
All of these are Japanese only readings with no Chinese reading nuance. .
B
God Dragon 神竜 can be what all Dragon Lords used to call themself ala Chinese reading of Dragon Lord but because of auto translate or whatever reason Cure Elim's title is censored, it comes out as Dragon Lord. But since Bards "'Sing' auto translate doesn't distort the nuance.
This is supported because Dragon Lords actually do not have a 'Lord' class.
==================================================
Pretty weird right?
I actually really like this idea the 'violation' of the world is mirrored in how Dragon Grammar gets butchered. Like why Dragons use the = or Double Hyphen instead of ･ for every other race's name given and family name.
Probably not definite theory, but does thematically fit the linguistic themes in Overlord. And gives some explanation for what the hell the God Dragon is that isn't just "Dragon Emperor is God Dragon".
竜帝の汚物
