Chapter 418 The Struggle Between Good and Evil: The Tolerance Faction and the Purification Faction

At the border, the wind and snow still lingered.

Several days passed quietly in the howling cold wind.

Like the silver dragon Edri, the copper dragon Serena also left this frozen land after a brief stay.

Her last visit to Dragon Valley was primarily to inform the Red Iron Dragon and the Crimson Silver Dragon about the Silver Dragon's slumber and return to the Dragon Realm. After a brief exchange and farewell, she set off directly back to the vast, turquoise Dragon Realm.

at the same time.

In the Dragon's Domain, known for its azure oceans and magnificent storms.

The azure sea, as clear as a pure gemstone, lapped against the soft sand, while a gentle sea breeze, carrying a salty yet refreshing scent, caressed the shoreline.

At this time, the silver dragon Edley had not yet officially entered his prime and entered a period of slumber.

He transformed into a middle-aged man in a silver robe, with flowing snow-white hair and a serious, aloof face. He was strolling leisurely with Serena, who was wearing a colorful long dress and whose honey-colored hair danced freely in the sea breeze, along the wet lines kissed and receded by the tide.

"Garos is becoming more and more unfathomable to the dragons."

Serena's eyes sparkled with excitement as she kicked at the occasional colorful seashells on the beach with her toes, saying in a light tone, "He actually managed to make contact with Elder Ovis of the Fubo Dragon Domain without making a sound, and became that mysterious dragon that everyone was watching in the competition rules."

"The champions selected through layers of trials in the five major dragon domains only earned the right to challenge him in the end."

"Hehe, this is going to be a good show."

"Although I didn't get to witness the announcement of the rules, I can easily imagine how angry the proud young dragons in the various dragon domains must have been when they heard about this rule."

Edley's gaze drifted to the horizon where the sea met the sky.

He said in a steady voice, "The legendary Golden Dragon, Elder Orvis... I have heard of his name."

"Rumors say he was flamboyant and liked to create a big show, but he had a sharp eye. He must have seen the potential in Garus and his unique qualities that set him apart from other dragons."

"His move may be an attempt to win over Galos, even at the cost of changing the long-standing rules of the game for him."

Silver Dragon paused slightly before continuing, "However, by doing this, he has also put Garos in the spotlight. Now, the young dragons of the five major dragon domains are probably all holding their breath, regarding him as a target that must be surpassed and defeated."

Elder Ovis himself may not have considered this, after all, he is a noble golden dragon.

In the five great dragon domains, the golden dragons naturally stand at the center of attention of all dragons from the moment they hatch. They are the nobles among metal dragons and the darlings of the dragon god.

It is said that the gaze of the great Platinum Dragon God is always fixed on every golden dragon.

But Galos... he is not a golden dragon.

No matter how outstanding or extraordinary he is, his bloodline from the Five-Colored Dragon still exists within him and is clearly displayed in his majestic and fierce appearance.

Metal dragons, who harbor deep-seated prejudices against evil dragons, do exist in all major dragon realms, even though they are not the most numerous.

Metal dragons who hold this view are collectively categorized as "purification faction" within the various dragon domains.

The metal dragons of the Purification faction firmly believe that the bloodline of evil dragons is an inherent "original sin".

Their chaotic, evil, and destructive nature is deeply rooted in their souls and cannot be completely changed through education or guidance. Tolerating their existence is tantamount to nurturing a tiger, and poses a potential danger to the orderly world and other benevolent races.

For the sake of peace and security in the wider world, the bloodline of the evil dragon must be ruthlessly eradicated and purified.

In their view, this is both a noble responsibility and an inescapable destiny.

Edley and Serena, on the other hand, belong to the "inclusive" faction, which is the opposite.

The inclusive metal dragon believes that the essence of good and evil originates from an individual's choices and will after birth, rather than simply from bloodline inheritance.

Each dragon is an independent individual with the right to freely choose its path. History has shown that evil beings that deviate from the path of good occasionally emerge from among the metal dragons, and similarly, individuals who choose the path of order and goodness have appeared among the five-colored dragons.

Therefore, patient education, guidance, and persuasion are more effective than simple and brutal killing.

All dragons, especially young dragons who have not yet committed grave errors, should be given an opportunity to turn to good and seek redemption.

The vast majority of metal dragons are inclusivity-oriented in their philosophy.

The purification faction is just one of the more vocal minority groups.

At this moment, Serena spoke up, "You sparred with Garros twice and lost both times. Don't you understand his personality and strength?"

"Since he agreed, he must have thought it through carefully and had something to rely on."

"And, my dear, when you wake up from this slumber, you'll be a legendary being. You'll have to keep an eye on our Red Iron Dragon son-in-law then, lest he be snatched away by another dragon realm. For example, that Golden Dragon Ovis might have some ulterior motives."

Edley glanced helplessly at his eccentric partner, about to say something.

Rumble!!

At that moment, a sudden change occurred!

The sea, which was originally calm and still, like a giant sapphire mirror, suddenly exploded without warning.

A massive water column, over a hundred meters in diameter, seemingly connecting the sea and the sky, shot into the heavens, carrying immense and unstoppable energy.

The sheer scale of the eruption was like a volcano that had been dormant at the bottom of the sea for thousands of years suddenly bursting forth.

At the same time, the surging legendary dragon's might, mixed with the unique aura of the bronze dragon, as resounding and majestic as a war horn, swept wildly in all directions from the water column as the center, like a tsunami.

The seawater was forced to roll backwards under this immense pressure.

The clouds that had piled up in the sky were instantly dispersed by the powerful force of this new legend.

Edley and Serena stopped strolling at the same time, their expressions instantly turning serious. Their gazes turned in unison towards the direction from which the huge column of water was rising, feeling the overwhelming pressure and aura emanating from it.

"That aura...is it Siano Sheffield? He succeeded?"

Serena's pupils contracted slightly.

Edley nodded slightly, his eyes reflecting the towering, majestic column of water that seemed to reach the heavens.

“That’s right, it’s Siano… He has officially stepped into the realm of legends.”

He said in a deep voice, "Given his personality and style of doing things, after achieving legendary status, he will probably become even more obsessive and radical. The atmosphere of our Raging Dragon Domain is almost being led astray."

Siano Sheffield.

The most outstanding individuals among the Bronze Dragons can increase their life level even faster than many Gold Dragons.

Not only that.

His actual combat performance at the same level was also extremely outstanding, and his fighting style was fierce and sharp; otherwise, he would not have been able to establish such a formidable reputation.

However, Siano is also one of the most representative dragons of the "purification faction".

His hatred for the bloodline of evil dragons and his determination to eradicate it reached an extreme.

Influenced by his words and deeds and his powerful influence, some young metal dragons within the Raging Dragon Domain, whose stance was originally not firm, gradually began to agree with and use extreme methods to "eliminate evil".

This made the silver dragon Edley, who has always upheld the principles of inclusivity and guidance, feel very displeased and worried.

However, Siano's influence within the Dragon Realm far surpasses that of Edley.

He was older and stronger, and his bloodline could be traced back to the Bronze Dragon King who controlled war and storms.

"In our Dragon Realm, the majority of metal dragons are still the tolerant ones with normal ways of thinking."

Edley frowned and continued, "But after this guy becomes a legend, the influence of his words, deeds and ideas will inevitably become more widespread. He will more or less lead some young dragons whose minds are not yet fully mature, making them gradually lean towards the more extreme Purification faction."

At the same time, a huge column of water connecting the sky and the sea slowly descended.

Water droplets poured back onto the sea like a torrential downpour, creating countless ripples.

The massive figure, covered in thick bronze scales, fiercely broke through the still-suppressed waves and proudly appeared between the sea and the sky.

He was muscular and his muscles exuded an explosive sense of power.

Its dragon horns were like sharp spears forged through countless trials, and its eyes were like molten bronze, burning with a blazing and unwavering light.

It was the bronze dragon that had just ended its long slumber and successfully reached the legendary realm.

—Siano Sheffield.

He flapped his huge wings, still glistening with water droplets, and hovered briefly in the air. His sharp eyes immediately caught sight of Edley and Serena on the beach.

Immediately, Siano withdrew the legendary dragon aura that he naturally exuded.

His massive body descended toward the beach, and just before it touched the sand, it shrank, transforming into the image of a robust middle-aged man clad in ancient bronze armor, with a resolute face and sharp, eagle-like eyes, and landed steadily in front of the silver dragon and the bronze dragon.

“Edley, Serena.”

When Siano spoke, his voice was like the clanging of metal, carrying a resounding quality and a sense of authority.

He first turned his gaze to Edley, a hint of recognition for his kin flashing in his eyes, "You are only one step away from becoming a legend, that final step of slumber."

"It seems that soon, our Raging Dragon Domain will gain another pillar of the legendary realm."

Congratulations in advance.

He was quite friendly towards the metal dragons of his own kind.

Even though Edley wasn't a legend yet, and was a level below him, his words still carried respect.

Edley maintained the elegance and courtesy that Silver Dragon always possessed, bowing slightly in response.

"The road to legend is long and arduous. I know that my experience is still shallow and I need more time to mature and hone my skills."

“On the contrary, you, Siano, have now successfully ascended to the legendary level and possess even greater power. You can probably do more… things that you believe in your heart must do.” He paused slightly at the end of his sentence and added, “Even if, in the eyes of onlookers, it may not be entirely the right thing to do.”

These words, though calm, concealed a hint of sharp confrontation.

Before meeting Red Iron Dragon, Edley, given his personality, would not have expressed his differing opinions so directly.

But it was his contact with Garros, and his firsthand witnessing of the wisdom, order, and extraordinary potential displayed by a red iron dragon that should have belonged to the "evil dragon" camp, that made him increasingly convinced that creatures born completely evil were only a very, very small minority.

Therefore, he increasingly disapproved of the actions of the bronze dragon, Siano.

It could even be described as disgust.

For example, most other metal dragons, if they happen to find an abandoned dragon egg in the wild, will most likely choose to bring it back to the dragon realm and try to take it in, teach it, and influence it, guiding it onto the right path.

Historically, there have been many such successful examples.

However, Siano is completely different.

The moment he confirmed that the dragon egg contained the bloodline of an evil dragon, he shattered it completely, eliminating the potential danger at its root.

"Congratulations, Siano."

"The bloodline of the Bronze Dragon King is indeed extraordinary. Your power has become so great that you will surely be able to do more things that benefit the Dragon Realm and uphold justice in the future."

Serena followed up on Silver Dragon's words and offered her congratulations at the opportune moment, easing any potential tension.

Siano nodded, accepting the congratulations.

However, his gaze shifted from the faces of his two kinsmen to the vast sea before him, and his tone gradually became solemn and resolute.

"Power means greater and more inescapable responsibility."

"This long slumber has made me more aware of the darkness and evil that permeates this world, and among all evils, the five-colored dragons that act recklessly and trample on order are the worst!"

"As a metal dragon, and as a fellow dragon, I cannot tolerate their existence, which tarnishes the reputation of the dragon race."

This unabashed declaration instantly froze the harmonious atmosphere on the beach, as if even the sea breeze had become cautious.

Clearly, the bronze dragon keenly sensed the underlying dissatisfaction and criticism in Edley's words.

Serena blinked, trying again to ease the suddenly tense atmosphere.

"Alas, the nature of dragons is as unfathomable as the ocean, diverse and complex. We cannot generalize about all five-colored dragons... Perhaps among them..."

She wanted to give more examples to illustrate the views of the Inclusivity Movement.

However, Siano interrupted her directly.

The bronze dragon's gaze was intense, as if it were a tangible object, fixed on the silver dragon, Edley.

“Edley, I know you believe that the good and evil of dragons should not be simply divided by bloodline.”

"But look around! Red dragons ravage the land, blue dragons gather to wreak havoc, green dragons spread conspiracies and schemes, black dragons roam in the shadows, and white dragons are foolish and ferocious... How many fertile lands have been destroyed by their breath? How many innocent lives have become victims of their claws?"

"The blood debts are too numerous to count."

Can this be dismissed with a simple "diverse natures"?

He took a step forward, and although he did not deliberately release his legendary aura, the oppressive feeling he naturally carried was already overwhelming.

"Faced with such grave sins, only by taking swift and decisive action, like a storm sweeping away filth, can these malignant tumors that threaten order be completely eradicated from the world! Only then can true and lasting peace and justice be achieved!"

"I, Siano Sheffield, having stepped into the realm of legends and gained the power to uphold my beliefs, will surely do the good of justice, using my claws and the fire of my heart to cleanse the world of evil, especially those evil dragons!"

He solemnly extended his palm towards the silver dragon in front of him.

He said in a deep voice, "Edley, give up your unrealistic fantasies."

"Stop wasting your mercy and consideration on those evil dragons destined for destruction. Think more about our own metal dragon brethren, and about those kind races that tremble in fear under the threat of evil dragons!"

"Join us, and we can work side by side to make this world a cleaner and better place."

Siano's goal was clear: he wanted to win over the Silver Dragon, who was about to become a legend.

The number of dragons belonging to the Purification faction is relatively small, especially among the legendary high-ranking forces.

If a legendary silver dragon could join their ranks, it would be a great help to both strengthen the Purification faction's influence and promote their ideals.

Edley did not take the outstretched hand.

He stood tall, meeting the bronze dragon's eyes without flinching, his voice clear and steady: "Siano, do you still remember how the First Age, when we dragons once ruled the entire world, finally came to an end?"

"The world is far more complex than your simple black-and-white classification."

"Gray is the most common background color in this world."

"Throughout history, there have been evil dragons who have come to their senses, laid down their weapons, and become guardians of order; similarly, there have also been noble and benevolent dragons who, for various reasons, have gone astray and ultimately fallen into the abyss of darkness. To judge good and evil solely by bloodline and to divide into factions by ethnicity is too rigid and too dangerous."

"I ask you, if you encountered a 'dragon' that has never done evil, and even protects the creatures in its territory and maintains order, how would you deal with it?"

Upon hearing this, the bronze dragon Siano smirked coldly.

"The apparent peace is nothing more than a disguise for a deeper conspiracy."

"That evil dragon must be brewing an even greater calamity, or it may be using this method to lull its prey into a false sense of security, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. I will not hesitate to kill such a potential threat."

"To fundamentally prevent future troubles is the greatest responsibility to order and justice."

Edley's brow furrowed deeply.

"What's the essential difference between such a tyrannical and arbitrary idea and those who you despise and who practice chaos and evil?"

He said without backing down.

Seeing that the conversation between the two was becoming increasingly heated, and that they were about to have a major ideological conflict, Serena quickly stepped forward and stood between them.

"Alright, alright, one of you has just achieved legendary status, and the other is about to enter a crucial slumber. These are both joyous occasions worth celebrating. Why argue about these unclear matters?"

"The Dragon Realm has its own laws and judgments. When we encounter specific issues, we can analyze them in detail."

As she spoke, she tugged at her partner's sleeve.

Please, my dear Edley, wake up!

You're facing a newly crowned legendary dragon!

The difference in strength is too great. If we really anger him and a fight breaks out, our fate will definitely not be pleasant... Serena thought helplessly.

However, the bronze dragon Siano was not angered by this.

He was always very tolerant of his fellow metal dragons who had different beliefs, as long as they did not explicitly side with evil, believing that they were only temporarily blinded by false kindness.

Looking into the bronze dragon's firm, even stubborn, eyes, Edley understood that this debate, rooted in deep-seated beliefs, was difficult to reconcile in a short time.

While the Metal Dragon Domain is united in the face of external threats, it is not a monolithic entity internally.

The clash of ideologies is a long-standing problem that the five Dragon Domains have failed to resolve completely, and it is also one of the ongoing contradictions within the Dragon Domains.

In fact, this problem exists not only in the five major dragon domains.

Across the vast continents and many other worlds, within almost every intelligent species, there exists a similar struggle over the concepts of order, freedom, and standards of good and evil, which has stirred up countless waves and even bloodshed.

Edley knew this all too well, and didn't want to engage in a pointless debate with a rising legend. He simply sighed softly in the end.

"Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together."

"Siano, I congratulate you once again on achieving your legendary status. May the justice you uphold be as unbreakable as bronze and as clear as a mirror, discerning the smallest details and distinguishing right from wrong."

Having said that, he nodded slightly to the bronze dragon Siano Sheffield, fulfilling his duty as a fellow clansman, and then turned around with Serena and slowly walked away along the beach they had come from.

On the beach, only the newly crowned legendary bronze dragon, Siano Sheffield, stands alone.

But he was not alone for long.

Soon, other dragons who shared his ideals or came to offer their congratulations flew in from all over the dragon realm and landed around him, surrounding this new legend. The air was filled with congratulations and conversations.

(End of this chapter)