Chapter 435 The Royal City, the Reactions of the Nations

The echoes of the founding declaration still reverberate in the valleys.

The dragons and their respective leaders have already received their orders and are heading to every corner of the wilderness.

At the same time, the news of the founding of the nation seemed to have sprouted invisible wings, spreading at an unprecedented speed to every piece of land and every settlement in the Serbian wilderness, carried by their figures and words.

Moreover, its impact extends beyond the wilderness.

The southern nations, which have never completely abandoned their focus on the northern wilderness, used their respective intelligence networks to capture and confirm this momentous news that was enough to change the regional landscape almost immediately.

—The Iron King officially announced to the world that he would establish his own kingdom in the Wilderness of Sel.

The country was named "Aura" and a grand founding ceremony was scheduled for soon.

The Kingdom of Aura is its official name that will be recorded in history.

Of course, some intelligent beings, based on the characteristics and background of their rulers, prefer to call it the "Molten Iron Kingdom," "Ignas Dragon Court," or "Burning Steel Kingdom," and so on.

Almost simultaneously with the confirmation of the news.

The Kingdom of Lorthene, which is associated with the Ignath Dragonflight, was the first to issue an official announcement.

It explicitly stated that it recognized the Kingdom of Aura's sovereignty over the Wilderness of Sel, acknowledged its legitimate status as an independent kingdom, and announced in a high-profile manner that it would send a high-level delegation to the Kingdom of Aura to personally present grand gifts and blessings for its founding ceremony.

This announcement immediately caused a huge uproar among the southern countries.

Few nations could have predicted that Lortherne, as one of the major powers, would respond so swiftly and clearly, and with such a positive attitude.

The message behind this couldn't be clearer.

The Kingdom of Lorthen did not act on a whim, but rather had already established contact with the rulers of the Kingdom of Aura long ago, and must have reached some kind of profound strategic cooperation or alliance.

After that.

The southern countries reacted differently to this matter, creating ripples of varying reactions.

Several vassal states or close allies that have always followed the lead of the Kingdom of Lorthern almost without hesitation followed suit, issuing statements one after another to express their recognition of the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Aura.

However, many more duchies and kingdoms are observing and weighing their options more cautiously.

They did not rashly issue any official opinions, but instead conducted an internal assessment, silently weighing the many gains and losses and long-term impacts that the birth of this northern dragon kingdom might bring.

The establishment of the Wilderness Kingdom was a double-edged sword for the southern kingdoms.

The advantages and disadvantages are both very obvious.

First, in terms of benefits, the most direct benefit is a stable order.

Although the vast wilderness of Sel has always been rich in mineral resources, magical materials and various animal resources, the environment here is treacherous, the forces are divided and there are many ferocious magical beasts and monster clans that are prone to plundering. They are everywhere and difficult to completely eliminate.

Trade and resource acquisition in the wilderness are fraught with immense uncertainty and extremely high risk.

Caravans often need to hire several times the usual number of armed guards, yet they still face the risk of losing everything or even being wiped out.

If a unified regime with strong authority can be established here, and is willing to establish basic order, regulate trade, and combat plundering.

This would undoubtedly be a huge benefit to the trade efficiency of the southern countries.

In the past, when dealing with the wilderness, nations might have had to face countless clans of varying sizes and customs, or monster lords, resulting in extremely high communication costs and very low efficiency.

Now, they only need to engage in diplomatic negotiations and trade with a unified kingdom entity.

This will be much simpler and more efficient.

Trade routes between nations and the wilderness are expected to become safer and more reliable, significantly reducing the costs and risks of trade and thus stimulating bilateral economic activity and development.

At the same time, specialties from the wilderness, rare minerals, high-grade monster materials, and so on are expected to be imported into various countries in a more stable, larger-scale, and higher-quality manner, meeting the needs of all parties.

Most importantly:

From a strategic security perspective, an orderly kingdom is theoretically easier to manage and control than countless chaotic and independent barbaric clans.

If the Kingdom of Aura can effectively control the various creatures within its territory, curb their predatory nature, and refrain from wanton expansion.

Therefore, the long-standing attacks and harassment incidents faced by the northern borders of the southern countries are expected to be significantly reduced.

However, the drawbacks and risks were equally obvious to the rulers and strategists of various countries.

In some aspects, it is even more outstanding.

Previously, the states could have taken advantage of the chaos, division, and competition within the wilderness, using methods such as dividing and winning over others and instigating internal strife to obtain high strategic returns and resources at a relatively low cost.

The situation is completely different now.

Once the emerging Wilderness Kingdom has integrated and monopolized all resources within its borders, the pricing power, allocation power, and trade dominance of all key resources will be firmly in the hands of the Kingdom of Aura.

If the southern kingdoms want to acquire these resources again, they will have to depend on the Kingdom of Aura.

Furthermore, it is highly likely that we will have to pay an even greater price than before.

This will undoubtedly have a huge impact on the economies of these countries, especially those industries that heavily rely on specific wilderness resources.

Furthermore, a loosely organized and chaotic wilderness, constantly consuming resources, is like a pile of loose sand and cannot pose a substantial threat to the southern kingdoms.

But a centralized kingdom ruled by a powerful red iron dragon is entirely different.

It may attract other non-human races, or even some powerful humans who are frustrated or forced into exile in human society, to join it, thereby weakening the talent pool and influence of the southern countries to some extent.

What's even more terrifying is that the Wilderness Kingdom itself possesses extremely high cohesion and war potential.

After the nation's founding, this aspect will grow exponentially, making it a military power not to be underestimated.

Moreover, in the ingrained beliefs of most intelligent beings, powerful dragons establish kingdoms, and their expansionist ambitions are almost innate.

Who can guarantee that this King of Iron won't set his sights on the more prosperous south?

The emergence of this kingdom means that an unprecedented potential adversary has suddenly appeared on the northern border of the various countries, requiring constant vigilance and the investment of more defensive resources.

For Galus, establishing a kingdom in the wilderness represented both new opportunities and challenges.

For the southern countries, this is also a major event that requires a reassessment of the regional situation and an adjustment of their diplomatic strategies.

How to deal with this kingdom that occupies the northern border and is ruled by legendary dragons.

Whether to choose cooperation, containment, isolation, or engagement... this will undoubtedly become one of the most intense diplomatic issues within the courts of various countries in the near future.

As a result, more eyes, both overt and covert, focused on this ancient and vast land, watching closely the new kingdom that was about to be born.

An invisible storm is brewing.

Just as the outside world was in turmoil and undercurrents were surging, at the top of the Dragon Ridge Mountains, the Red Iron Dragon stood quietly like a majestic mountain.

He lowered his calm eyes and looked down at the vast land in front of the mountains, a land known as the "Fertile Plain".

There, an unprecedented megacity is rising from the earth at an almost visible speed, outlining a magnificent and splendid prototype.

That will be the core of his future kingdom, the capital of the Kingdom of Aura.

Even atop the towering mountain, the clamor from below could still be faintly heard. It was his countless followers and subjects, passionately turning his will and blueprint into reality.

Countless tiny yet resilient figures, like worker ants, are busy at the junction of the plains and mountains.

The powerful ogres chanted rough and rhythmic slogans as they swung enormous stone hammers, comparable in size to roof beams, pounding the foundations of the city's main roads and important buildings with each strike, producing a dull, thunderous roar.

Groups of horsemen and warriors transformed into the best pack animals, their iron hooves pounding the ground like drumbeats, pulling heavy carts loaded with giant granite slabs or logs, transporting them in an orderly fashion to various areas of the city where they were needed.

The agile lizardman craftsmen, carrying complex blueprints, darted swiftly through the planned street grid, their sharp eyes scanning every detail to ensure that all construction strictly followed the city's blueprints with precision.

In the outermost areas, sections of the magnificent city wall surrounding the capital are being erected.

Like the spine of a dragon.

Led by the master craftsman Scott, the alchemists were highly focused, manipulating various types of engineering golems to tirelessly build towering and sturdy walls. Meanwhile, a dedicated team of spellcasters followed closely behind, meticulously inscribing various magical runes with protective, sturdy, and early warning functions onto the completed sections of the walls.

Judging from the emerging outline, the entire megacity is clearly planned in distinct layers.

From the outermost city wall inwards, the closer to the Dragon Ridge Mountains, the larger and more elaborate the buildings become, indicating that the area will be a more prosperous and central region in the future.

Because the steep cliffs of the Dragon Ridge Mountains facing the plains present a completely different scene at this moment.

That is the true domain of dragons.

Countless creatures skilled in rock climbing and construction are carving out and decorating the dragon's nest palace for their king, his dragon horde, and any dragons that may arrive or submit to him in the future.

It is not a simple natural cave, but a magnificent architectural complex built into the mountainside.

The skilled lizardmen artisans, adept at climbing and stone carving, erected massive scaffolding layers upon layers on the near-vertical cliff face. With their chisels, they hammered into the rock, gradually outlining a magnificent archway, an open-air platform wide enough for dragons to dance, and a vast corridor ensuring the dragons could enter and exit comfortably.

Some domesticated magical creatures, capable of spewing acid or flames, are responsible for grinding and polishing the inner walls of rocks, making them as smooth as mirrors, or for smelting specific metal ores and applying them to key structures like gilding, forming natural reinforcements and decorations that are both beautiful and practical.

Some of the dragon's nests have begun to take shape and their outlines have already been revealed.

They are not all the same, but are designed with different focuses according to the types, preferences and attributes of the intended residents.

Some dragon nests are inlaid with huge heat-absorbing minerals, making the interior temperature high, which is prepared for dragons that prefer high-temperature environments; others have been dug with ingenious water diversion systems, which bring melted snow or waterfalls from the mountaintop into the nest to form clear internal pools, suitable for aquatic or water-loving dragons to live in; still others have specially cultivated glowing moss and beautiful magical plants on the spacious terraces, creating a tranquil and vibrant atmosphere.

The most magnificent and spectacular nest is undoubtedly located on a high peak with the best view, overlooking the entire plain.

That was the palace prepared specifically for Garus.

Its size is astonishing, almost hollowing out half of the mountain peak.

On the gilded inner walls, the most experienced War Lizardman sculptors meticulously carved the legendary story of the Iron King's rise from weakness to strength, as well as the awe-inspiring scenes of him tearing apart powerful enemies and establishing his reputation, silently proclaiming the majesty of the ruler of this place.

Below the palace, on a slightly lower platform on the mountainside.

Some smaller, but equally magnificent, main nests are located here, which are reserved for blood relatives such as Samantha and Sorog, as well as important foreign dinosaurs such as Alberto and Natasha.

At this moment, the mountains and plains under construction look like a giant beehive.

Smoke and dust billowed, the light of magic and the roar of the golem's engine intertwined and rose, together forming a magnificent picture of savage primal yet vibrant upward movement.

Galos watched all of this silently.

The hustle and bustle of the city, the clanging of the dragon's nest being dug, the shouts of his kin... all these sounds mingled together in his ears, forming a magnificent and stirring melody, a hymn played just for him.

He could clearly feel that a brand new force was gradually taking shape and growing stronger on this land.

This power will assist him, enabling him to become stronger than ever before.

"The Kingdom of Aura..."

Hong Tielong repeated the name he had chosen in a low voice, his eyes reflecting the bustling construction scene below and the vast, boundless wilderness in the distance.

call!

A strong mountain wind swept across the cliff face.

Iron Dragon Sorog circled in the sky once, carefully inspecting the progress below, before folding its wings and landing steadily beside Red Iron Dragon.

He has been in a state of high excitement lately, throwing himself into overseeing all aspects of the construction of the royal city, keeping him extremely busy. This is a rare moment of rest for him.

"The construction of the royal city is progressing very quickly. At this rate, the main structure can be basically completed before the founding ceremony, and there will even be some time left to refine the details."

Sorog gave a brief overview of the city's construction progress.

With the tireless labor of alchemical golems, the efficient spellcasters' assistance, and a large number of burly and strong servants.

With this combined strength, the speed at which a city could be built far exceeded the imagination of ordinary mortal nations.

The outline of the city changes almost every day.

Hong Tielong wasn't surprised and nodded slightly: "Well, that's good."

At this moment, a hint of hesitation appeared on Sorog's face. He moved closer and lowered his voice, saying, "We use 'Aura' as our country's name... It's a magnificent and profound name, indeed very good."

"But isn't this a bit too ostentatious?"

After the initial excitement of hearing the name, the mature and calm Tie Long began to think more deeply about its potential drawbacks.

Any intelligent being who has studied the history of dragons will surely sense the immense ambition hidden within this kingdom established by dragons when they hear that it is named "Aura." This may cause them to feel strong vigilance and even hostility.

Hong Tielong's expression remained unchanged, as if he had already considered this question.

"Sorrog, since our youth, we have been cautious and patient in our development, which is how we have gradually come to where we are today."

His gaze was sharp, and his voice was steady and slow as he continued, "Now that the kingdom is about to be established, a cautious and steady approach is still essential, but on this basis, we should also appropriately show our strength and demonstrate our power and determination."

"Otherwise, if we are perceived by the outside world as weak and easily bullied, then all sorts of troubles and tests will inevitably follow."

"At the same time, being named after Aura serves as a constant reminder not to become complacent because of the small achievements we have made."

"Our dragon race once had an even more glorious past."

"We should also take this as our goal, keep striving forward, and make dragons great again."

Upon hearing these words, Sorog's eyes flashed with realization and admiration.

He sincerely praised, "I knew you didn't come up with this name on a whim; there must have been profound considerations and intentions behind it."

Red Iron Dragon maintained his composure and nodded slightly.

However, deep down he felt a little guilty.

The name of the kingdom was indeed carefully considered by Garus.

However, the specific situation at the time was that Red Iron Dragon had just successfully condensed an unprecedented dual domain and twelve legendary traits, and under the impact of such a huge success, his mentality was inevitably a little impetuous and arrogant.

It was in this state of mind that he finally settled on the name of the kingdom.

Now that I've calmed down and thought about it, the name is indeed a bit too eye-catching and could easily become a target of criticism.

However, there's no turning back now that the arrow has been released. Since it has already been announced to the world, there's no need to change it. Moreover, what he said to Sorog wasn't entirely an excuse.

While this name attracts more attention and vigilance, it can also bring other benefits.

Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. The key lies in how the rulers use their wisdom and power to gradually expand the benefits while effectively reducing or even eliminating the drawbacks.

(End of this chapter)