Chapter 423 Platinum Oracle

"I hereby declare the winner of this final match to be—Garos Ignas!"

After a brief silence, the legendary brass dragon master of ceremonies' penetrating voice rang out again, higher and more impassioned than ever before, clearly reaching the ears of every dragon.

"He stood tall between the sky and the sea, proving to us with a crushing and irrefutable victory that he was fully entitled to change the rules of the competition that had been in place for many years! He was fully entitled to stand directly on this final stage of glory!"

"Now, let us all give a well-deserved cheer for the glorious victory of the Red and Iron Dragon!"

However, silence still shrouded a large part of the sky.

Many metal dragons stared at the red iron dragon standing in the air, speechless for a moment, finding it hard to accept the result immediately.

Just then.

"Garos is mighty!"

"Roar! Red Iron Dragon is invincible!"

"I knew it! You were sure you could beat that guy to a pulp!"

The crimson-silver dragon Deborah, the fairy dragon Vera, and the golden dragons Natasha and Alberto... especially the unrestrained, excited cheers of the fairy dragons and Alberto, which were the first to break the silence.

Immediately afterwards.

Those metal dragons who had a brief conversation with Garos, who was draped in gold and silk, before.

After a slight hesitation and exchanging glances, the silver dragon, the red copper dragon, and the others recalled their conversation and, combined with the shocking victory before them, felt even more strongly that this red iron dragon was indeed extraordinary. Perhaps... those outrageous rumors about the "dragon king's illegitimate son" were actually quite plausible?

Perhaps he is the offspring of a dragon king and an evil dragon.

So, with a mix of experimentation and acceptance, the metal dragons began to cheer in agreement.

At the same time, an irrepressible chorus of discussion began to spread rapidly among the dragons, like a tidal wave.

"He really won. Could a dragon really be this powerful?"

"That power...that speed...it's like a legendary dragon!"

"He seems to be exempt from Carius's talent."

"No, Red Iron Dragon completely withstood Karus's siphon and still managed to defeat him. His physical attributes are too outrageous."

Amidst these discussions interwoven with shock, analysis, and disbelief, cheers began to rise from every corner of the dragon horde.

At first they were sparse, but they quickly merged into one, creating a considerable sound wave.

Questioning? Anger? Resentment?

These emotions certainly still exist, especially in the minds of some metal dragons with traditional values, and are unlikely to dissipate in a short period of time.

But the gazes of the other metal dragons toward Garros had already subtly changed.

That red iron dragon never used any cunning or insidious magic, nor did it rely on any despicable evil curses.

He used the purest, most direct, and most dragon-aesthetic approach—he defeated Karus with absolute power.

This was a fair and square victory, beyond reproach.

Regardless of their lineage, this victory itself is worthy of celebration.

In the world of dragons, strength is always the most effective passport to earning respect.

Ultimately, dragons are inherently inclined to respect the strong, and the power that Garos is displaying at this moment is enough to win over the hearts of many dragons.

The metal dragons' instinctive wariness and vigilance towards evil dragons had not completely disappeared, but it had been mixed with more and more shock, awe, and a trace of curiosity about this special red iron dragon.

The center of the battlefield.

Galos calmly withdrew all his outward dragon might and aura.

He glanced down at the unconscious golden dragon Karus, who was still floating on the sea, then turned to the legendary brass dragon master of ceremonies and said, "His injuries are serious. It's best to treat him as soon as possible to stabilize his condition and prevent it from worsening."

Having said that, he didn't linger any longer. He flapped his dragon wings, turned around decisively, and left the airspace.

This composure and steadfastness, even in victory, is remarkable.

This act of not kicking the loser when he was down, but instead showing concern for his injuries.

The Red Iron Dragon's performance at this moment caused the legendary dragons, who were standing on the clouds and secretly observing everything, to nod slightly, their eyes revealing a hint of approval.

The vast majority of Order-side metal dragons, especially those that have endured the ages, possess profound wisdom, and have reached the realm of legend, have their own scales for judging right and wrong, good and evil.

Extremely radical purification-oriented dragons are ultimately only a minority among minorities.

For a dragon that has shown extraordinary potential and whose behavior is not chaotic and tyrannical, it would be the best outcome if they could try to win it over and guide it.

On one of the thick clouds, the legendary golden dragon Orvis was so happy he could hardly stop smiling, his whiskers trembling slightly.

He let out a loud laugh and said to the legendary clansmen around him, whose expressions varied, "Now who doesn't believe? Who still has doubts?"

“I told you long ago, Garus is completely different from those other evil dragons who only know how to destroy and plunder!”

"He is well worth the effort our Dragon Domain should put into winning him over. Even if we can't get him to join the Dragon Domain directly in the end, at least he can become our staunch ally, rather than pushing him to the opposite side and creating another enemy."

Ovis was in an indescribably good mood at that moment.

Red Iron Dragon's performance far exceeded his initial expectations, and this clean and decisive victory also earned him an extremely large sum of money in bets.

However, the legendary metal dragons who lost their precious stakes in this high-stakes gamble were not so happy.

Opposite Ovis, a legendary silver dragon from the Eternal Radiance Dragon Domain stared intently at him.

“Ovis, when you introduced him to us, you said that he had only managed to fight a legendary human swordsman to a 'bare' draw, and that he himself was on the verge of death and severely injured.”

"But what we just saw seems to indicate that this is not the case."

Silver Dragon's words were full of doubt.

According to Ovis's original description, Carius had many chances of winning, thanks to his talent and combat experience.

However, the truth is that Karus was completely outmatched from start to finish, while Red Iron Dragon appeared relaxed and at ease, clearly not giving it his all.

Ovis's eyes widened immediately.

"What are you trying to say? Do you think I, Ovis, would lie to you?"

Old Jinlong said matter-of-factly, "I made myself very clear at the time."

"When I arrived, his battle with the legendary swordsman had already ended. As for Red Iron Dragon's true level, I could only make reasonable inferences based on the traces at the scene and some other information."

A legendary bronze dragon beside him growled in dissatisfaction, "You dare to vouch for him so confidently, urging us to place heavy bets, based solely on speculation from traces?"

Upon hearing this, Orvis straightened his chest and said in a deep voice, "Why not?"

"Who in the entire Dragon Domain doesn't know that I, Ovis, have always loved high-stakes gambling? If I'm sure of something, I'll bet on it! This time, it was just that I had good judgment and good luck!"

He waved his paw, a hint of impatience in his voice: "Hmph, if you're not satisfied, you can go find one yourselves! As long as you're below the legendary level, no matter which outsider you find, as long as they can defeat the Garros I've chosen, I, Ovis, swear here and now, I will return all the bets in full, without taking a single penny!"

His gaze swept over the circle of legendary dragons around him, and his tone became more serious: "Enough nonsense! A dragon's character is reflected in its gambling etiquette; you must accept the consequences of your bet!"

"Now, hand over all my spoils!"

The legendary dragons around him were rendered speechless by his utterly tactless remarks.

They carefully considered the legendary dragons they knew or had heard of, and then realized with dismay that they probably couldn't find one that could directly confront the Red Iron Dragon at the same level.

That old bastard Ovis, his eyesight and luck were just too good this time.

Despite their reluctance, under the intense gaze of Orvis, these legendary dragons could only reluctantly hand over the items they had promised as stakes to the large spatial artifact that Orvis had prepared beforehand.

Jinlong Ovis could not contain his elation.

His lips curled up in a wide smile, and the dragon scales on his mask almost squeezed together in laughter.

On the other side.

Red Iron Dragon flapped its wings and flew towards the direction where its companions were.

Wherever he went, the dense swarms of metal dragons along the way, whether out of awe, curiosity or other complex emotions, subconsciously parted to the sides, naturally creating an unobstructed path for him.

"Hey! Well done! Just as I imagined, a crushing and decisive victory! Indeed, our Martial Dragon team is the strongest!"

Natasha, the golden dragon, was straightforward and bold. She stretched out her front paw and punched the red iron dragon's solid and broad chest.

I'm so happy to see that you weren't hurt.

At this moment, the Crimson Silver Dragon approached, stretched its neck, and touched the Red Iron Dragon's mask.

"What are you doing here...?"

Seeing this, Natasha's dragon eyes showed a hint of suspicion, then she laughed and said, "Is this some kind of new way of greeting? Interesting, I want to try it too!"

As she spoke, she excitedly leaned over and practically headbutted the red iron dragon, causing his head to tilt slightly backward.

In other words, Garus was physically strong; if it were any other dragon, it might have been completely overwhelmed and fainted.

Alberto stared intently at the Red Iron Dragon, saying with a mixture of envy and jealousy, "To easily defeat the challengers selected through layers of trials amidst the spotlight, and then leave so casually—why wasn't it me?

"Garos! I seriously suspect that you secretly stole the perfect dragon life that should have belonged to me!"

Upon hearing this, the fairy dragon Vera made an exaggerated face at Alberto.

She scoffed and said, "Give me a break! You're just a nobody who was eliminated in the first round. Don't try to mess with our great and invincible Lord Galos!"

Alberto also signed up for the competition.

His luck was really bad; in the first knockout round, he encountered Zafira, the bronze dragon, who was a favorite to win the championship.

Zafiri possessed a certain supernatural ability and a talent for rapid spellcasting, making her like a mobile magical turret. Alberto ultimately couldn't withstand her barrage of spells and was unfortunately defeated.

Alberto Long blushed, about to speak up and defend himself.

Just then, a nimble, bronze-colored dragon flapped its wings and flew lightly over, landing nearby.

"Hehe, Alberto is actually not bad. His strength is still quite good. If our life levels were exactly the same, I might not be able to hold my ground under his fierce attack."

"Brass Dragon said in a clear, pleasant, and fast-paced voice."

She has a long and flexible tail that appears slender in proportion, a pair of bright and lively dragon eyes that sparkle with a thirst for knowledge and curiosity, and her body is radiating rich magical energy.

She is none other than Zafiri, the favorite to win the championship from the Fubo Dragon Domain.

As she spoke, her curious gaze fell upon the most eye-catching figure in the arena, Red Iron Dragon.

"Hello, mighty red iron dragon, I am Zafiri."

The brass dragon gave a brief self-introduction, in a very friendly tone.

Just as the red iron dragon was about to give a polite response, the brass dragon Zafiri, as if she didn't need him to say anything, quickly launched into a barrage of questions.

"This is the first time I've ever seen a red iron dragon in person! A combination of a red dragon and an iron dragon is extremely rare! Can you tell me, is your father a red dragon or your mother a red dragon?"

"Oh, by the way, the Dragon Legacy says that the kinship between evil dragons is generally very poor."

"Is this true? What is your relationship with your parents like? Did they provide you with protection or guidance during your upbringing?"

She took a breath, her eyes sparkling, and continued to ask, "You do indeed have traces of both red and iron dragon forms on your body, but there are also many unique structures that I have never seen before."

"Is this a natural mutation resulting from mixed-race heritage? Or have you awakened some strange yet powerful unique talent?"

"Wow! And these on your body... these dense scars and battle marks, of varying depths and old and new, you must have been through many, many fierce battles."

"Could you tell me about your past? For example, where were you born? How did you grow up?"

"Also, how exactly did you get to know Deborah, Natasha, and Alberto, these metal dragons? Did you fight each other the first time you met because you were on opposing sides?"

The brass dragon's thoughts jumped around unusually, and he spoke at an extremely fast pace, throwing out a large number of questions involving privacy, bloodline, and experience all at once.

Galos was momentarily speechless as he listened to the almost seamless barrage of questions, unsure of which one to begin answering, or rather, whether he should answer at all.

He also realized firsthand why the tradition mentioned that it was best not to deal with brass dragons.

Just as Garus remained silent, the brass dragon took a deep breath, its chest slightly bulging, as if it were about to say something and launch another round of probing questions.

Garus raised a dragon claw ahead of time, interrupting her prepared words.

"You can ask Alberto about these questions first. He knows me quite well, and it seems you two already know each other."

Zafira blinked, thinking the suggestion was good.

She nodded immediately, then, with a delighted expression, looked at the golden dragon Alberto, who was about to sneak away, and chased after him, bombarding him with questions: "Alberto! Tell me quickly! How did you two meet? What happened when you first met? The Red Iron Dragon is so powerful, does it have some special secret?"

Alberto looked dizzy and disoriented.

at the same time.

A floating cloud high in the sky, far from the clamor of the dragons below.

The bronze dragon, Siano, narrowed his eyes and gazed quietly at the red iron dragon below, which was surrounded by several metal dragons.

Seeing the once noble metal dragons now chatting happily with a vicious dragon that had just lost its metal dragon honor in battle, in a harmonious atmosphere, Siano frowned deeply.

An overwhelming sense of disgust and displeasure surged within him.

However, the opponent truly won through fair and square strength, without resorting to any underhanded tricks. Moreover, this competition was jointly guaranteed by several legendary elders, including Ovis, whose status and identity are very high, and they are not the lowest-ranking legends.

Although Siano was extremely displeased and disgusted, he was not stupid and possessed his own pride.

He did not intend to directly attack the young red iron dragon, relying on his legendary status.

In Siano's view, even if he were to launch an attack, he would at least wait until his opponent had also entered the legendary realm before engaging in a fair duel.

But just as he suppressed his displeasure and was about to look away...

A majestic and sacred whisper, accompanied by immense pressure, resounded in Siano's heart.

“Siano Sheffield, my child.”

It did not travel through the air, but resonated directly deep within his soul, causing even Siano's dragon soul to tremble involuntarily.

Siano's gaze instantly turned extremely solemn.

He looked around, his dragon might concealed, his sharp gaze sweeping over the surrounding space and the other dragons, but found that they were all the same, still immersed in the various emotions after the competition.

It seemed that only he could hear it.

The sacred and majestic voice continued to flow in his heart.

"I gaze upon the land that carries my blood and hopes, and upon the people who have inherited my glory and vows."

"However, beneath the brilliance, shadows are growing, and the weight of vows is being forgotten."

“When power is blindly worshipped, when victory obscures inherent evil, when my children begin to associate with evil and even cheer for it... the foundation of order will begin to crack.”

The voice remained steady, but contained a hint of indescribable disappointment.

Siano could clearly sense that this emotion was not directed at him, but rather at all the Dragon Realms that seemed to be going astray.

At the same time, a thought that shook his soul flashed through his mind like lightning—he realized whose voice it was.

Siano took a deep breath of the cloud, forcibly suppressing the volcanic ecstasy and excitement in his heart, and with the most devout intention, carefully asked in his heart.

"Is it you? The common father of the metallic dragons, the great platinum dragon god, His Majesty Bahamut?"

"Are you watching me? Are you communicating with me?"

The voice did not give a clear yes or no answer.

He continued, “The glory of order is being rusted, the blade of justice is becoming dull, and my people are gradually falling into depravity.”

A brief pause seemed to freeze time and space around Siano, silencing everything.

The oracle's focus was entirely on Siano.

“In this increasingly ignorant land, I saw you, Siano Sheffield.”

He continued, “My child, I have always been watching over you.”

"Your beliefs are like bronze that has been tempered and refined, unbreakable; your will is like a spear pointing at evil, never wavering; the fire of justice burning in your heart is a pure and blazing cluster in this gradually dimming light."

"You are the representative I recognize most in this world."

Upon hearing this recognition and praise, Siano felt his eyes instantly well up with tears. An indescribable mix of sorrow and excitement surged into his heart, almost causing this powerful legendary dragon to shed scalding tears.

He has always been lonely and misunderstood.

The dragons saw him as a mortal enemy who had to be eliminated, and many of his brethren, whom he fought for, questioned his actions behind his back, accusing him of being too extreme and intolerant.

He persevered steadfastly, guided by his inner convictions.

But occasionally, in the deep of night, in the vastness of the world, he also felt lost, wondering whether his path was right or wrong.

And now, all the confusion and grievances have vanished in this moment.

It's not that I've gone down the wrong path, but rather, I'm the only one sober while everyone else is drunk!

Great Platinum Dragon God, understand him! Acknowledge him!

From this day forward, he, Siano Sheffield, will never waver even slightly!

"Evil should not be entitled to dwell in the land of light simply because it is powerful or unique."

Those who disrupt order shall be brought to trial.

Those who confuse right and wrong must be eliminated.

"My child, uphold your beliefs, exercise your will, and let the evil that should not exist here return to the darkness where it belongs, so that the lost children may see clearly what true glory is and what inviolable boundaries are."

"This is both your responsibility and my expectation of you."

As soon as the words fell, the vast and awe-inspiring pressure receded like a tide, as if it had never existed.

But every word and every sentence of the oracle was already imprinted in the deepest part of Siano's soul.

He slowly raised his head and looked in the direction where the Red Iron Dragon was.

The gaze that had initially held a hint of hesitation and principle had now become incredibly firm, sharp, and even carried a touch of martyr-like fanaticism.

The Dragon God's approval, and the sacred mission of purging evil, overwhelmed his principles.

Because this is no longer his personal grudge or a fight of pride; it is a holy war concerning the future fate of the Dragon Realm and the defense of the foundation of order!

We can no longer allow these seeds of evil to grow and spread in the Land of Light.

He will act as the Dragon God's agent, carrying out judgments and eradicating evil!

(End of this chapter)