Chapter 391 The Crystal Princess's Gift, The Legendary Guardian
Deep within the palace of the Kingdom of Lorthen.
The atmosphere was somber in the spacious training ground, paved with hard marble and engraved with reinforcement and protective runes.
Princess Elena, the Crystal Princess, and Gorton, the Iron Dragon, who resembled a small steel fortress, stood facing each other from afar.
As a few short chants flowed from the Crystal Princess's lips, she gracefully waved her staff.
In an instant, an unstable, dark red fireball was formed and slammed towards the Iron Dragon's body with a low whistle.
Gorton did not dodge the exploding fireball that was powerful enough to melt rocks into crystals.
He straightened his broad chest, as wide as a city wall, and assumed a stance ready to take the hit.
Bang!
The dark red fireball struck its target and exploded with a deafening roar!
The surging flames instantly engulfed half of the iron dragon's body, and the scorching air and violent shockwaves spread out in a ring, causing the flags hanging in the distance to flutter loudly.
However, this attack only caused Iron Dragon's body to sway slightly.
"Hey, Elena, are you tickling me? Or did you not eat enough breakfast today and your strength has diminished?"
Gorton raised his claws, which were covered in thick scales, and patted the blackened but unharmed area on his chest, his tone full of smugness and mockery.
He has thick skin and flesh, and as a fire-type dragon, he has a natural reduction in fire damage.
Such a powerful fireball was like scratching an itch through a boot to him.
Across from her, upon hearing Iron Dragon's irritating words, Crystal Princess still wore an elegant smile, but her fingers holding the staff twitched slightly, subtly putting away the training wand and replacing it with a blue wand.
Azure Staff.
This is one of the Crystal Princess's frequently used staves, renowned for its exceptional ability to amplify ice magic.
It has many enchantment effects, but the most direct one is its piercing attribute, which can effectively weaken the target's resistance. At the same time, it can increase the power of the user's ice spells by a full three times.
It should be emphasized that the Crystal Princess is a caster specializing in Evocation magic.
The Evocation school of magic focuses on the purest destruction, excelling at manipulating and releasing energy in all its forms, and is renowned for its wide range and unparalleled power.
Top-tier staves, like the Staff of Aquamarine, provide extreme amplification to different attributes.
Princess Crystal possesses a complete set of equipment, sufficient to deal with any type of enemy.
On the other side, upon seeing Crystal Princess pull out the Staff of Aquamarine, Gorton's playful expression instantly vanished, replaced by a serious one.
He let out a low roar, and a thick, almost tangible black light suddenly emanated from beneath the dark, iron-gray dragon scales on his body, as if a layer of flowing metal covered his entire body.
Hardened body!
At the same time, his bulging muscles suddenly tensed and bulged, and the powerful muscle textures were even faintly visible through the thick layer of fat and dragon scales, making his already huge body look even more robust and swollen.
Tie Long adopted a serious attitude.
In an instant, his usual endearing, gluttonous demeanor vanished, replaced by a heavy, oppressive aura, like that of a ferocious beast.
If an ordinary human were standing in front of him at this moment, they would be so intimidated by this dragon's might that their legs would go weak and they would collapse to the ground.
However, Princess Crystal showed no fear whatsoever.
She had known Gorton for a long time, growing up together since childhood. She was already used to all the different states of this iron dragon, whether it was lazy, gluttonous, or serious in the form before her.
Moreover, although she still looks young, that's because she's a high-level professional and has access to a vast collection of treasures for maintenance.
In fact, Princess Crystal is nearly sixty years old, about the same age as Garus.
She is much more composed now than she was when she was younger.
"Ready, Gordon? What's coming... might hurt a little."
Princess Crystal smiled slightly.
She gently waved the azure staff in her hand.
Buzz—!
The temperature inside the training field suddenly plummeted, and countless tiny ice crystals and snowflakes condensed out of thin air.
Centered on the Crystal Princess's exquisite mage boots, a huge and intricate ice-blue magic circle, radiating a chilling aura, instantly appeared and unfolded on the ground, with runes flowing and exuding an extremely cold aura.
Gorton dared not be negligent and let out a low growl.
He successively cast skills derived from the Hundred Battles Dragon path, such as Unyielding Will and Resilient Barrier, on himself, preparing for battle.
As for rushing over to interrupt the spell? He didn't even consider it.
That damned Staff of Aquamarine itself comes with a teleportation spell, enough for Crystal Princess to easily create distance.
A spellcaster with money and good equipment is a true mage.
Furthermore, they are not engaged in a fair sparring match at this moment; rather, he has unilaterally requested that Princess Crystal accompany him in his training to withstand beatings.
Despite living in the bustling and peaceful royal court, Gordon's heart often flew to the vast and chaotic Serfland.
He often gathered news from the wilderness, knowing the fierce battles and glorious achievements his kinsmen had experienced on that land.
He desperately wanted to be a part of it, to fight alongside his brothers, and to forge his own legendary name as the Iron Dragon, Gorton.
But this is ultimately just wishful thinking.
Therefore, in order not to fall behind his blood relatives, he no longer slacked off in the royal court.
He devoted a lot of time to various training programs. Beneath the thick dragon scales and layer of fat was a body of solid muscles that had been honed through countless trials, making him look broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, yet not bulky or clumsy.
None of the Ignas dragons are weaklings.
He, Gorton, must never allow himself to be rejected because of his lack of strength when he truly stands shoulder to shoulder with his blood relatives in the future.
call--!
As the Crystal Princess uttered the last syllable, countless sharp ice spikes instantly condensed and took shape in the sky above the training ground, densely packed and blotting out the sun.
The next moment, the rain of death, accompanied by a shrill whistling sound that tore through the air, descended upon the Iron Dragon Gorton.
Clang! Sizzle!
The sounds of heavy rain pounding against the tin roof were interspersed with the constant crackling of ice spikes tearing through scales and slicing into flesh.
Gorton grimaced in pain as his hard dragon scales cracked and rolled under the relentless blows of the enchanted ice spikes. A cold, stinging pain spread throughout his body, but he did not back down. His body was like a mountain rooted to the earth, never retreating a single step from beginning to end.
Soon after, Crystal Princess skillfully switched weapons again.
The Azure Staff vanished, and a Thunder Staff, crackling with pulsating arcs of electricity and topped with a purple gem, appeared in her hand.
Rumble—!
Under the dome of the training ground, it seemed as if dark clouds were gathering, and a muffled thunderclap suddenly rang out.
Thick, pale lightning bolts, as thick as a child's arm, struck Gorton with pinpoint accuracy, like spears hurled by a raging god. The electric shocks shattered, illuminating his massive body in a ghastly white light. The air was thick with the stench of burning flesh, and intense electric currents coursed through his body, causing waves of numbness and excruciating pain.
over time.
The Crystal Princess used almost every type of evocation spell she was proficient in.
When she finally stopped casting the spell with satisfaction and elegantly wiped away non-existent sweat with a silk handkerchief, the iron dragon Gordon had already collapsed to the ground like a lump of mud. His body was charred black, covered in frost, and his scales were broken. He was almost unrecognizable as a complete dragon. Only his heavy breathing proved that he was not dead.
“Give him treatment.”
Princess Crystal clapped her hands, her tone relaxed, as if she had just finished an afternoon tea.
Those staves provided extremely high magical energy and mental recovery speed, and she didn't feel tired at all.
The court physicians, who had been waiting for some time, immediately surrounded him, showering gentle life energy upon Gorton's battered body.
Before long, his shocking injuries had mostly healed.
With the addition of potions provided by the royal family, the recovery speed is astonishingly fast.
"Should we continue tomorrow?"
Princess Crystal walked up to Gordon and said, "I would be happy to keep you company, but Gordon, your insistence is indeed beyond my expectations."
Iron Dragon grimaced as he propped himself up.
He raised his head and solemnly said, "Of course we must continue!"
“I, Gorton Ignas, will never tarnish the honor of the name Ignas! I’ll just endure the pain. As long as I’m not killed, I will only grow stronger with each blow.”
That's how Garus became stronger.
He can do it too!
Even if he couldn't surpass the monstrous Garus, he would at least hold the second-highest position among the four brothers.
Whether it's Iron Dragon Sorog or Red Dragon Samantha, they will both be subordinate to him in the future and have to be mindful of his feelings!
Princess Crystal smiled and said nothing more.
She knew very well that Gorton was spurred on by his blood relatives who were doing very well in the wilderness.
This is quite normal. After all, the speed and momentum of the rise of the Ironforge in the Wilderness of Sel had even surprised her, a princess in the royal court.
Crystal Princess has been closely monitoring the ever-changing situation in the wilderness.
She had a general understanding of how the Ironforge tribe gradually eroded and eventually conquered the northwest region, and how they gradually gained control of the chaotic central region.
Gordon's blood relatives, especially the Red Iron Dragon leader, are now one of the three overlords of the Sel Wilderness.
His strength is so great that he is probably hard to find a match for.
Given time, if the Iron King successfully steps into the legendary realm, then even a kingdom as profound as Lortheon will need to take him seriously.
"Tell your brother."
Princess Crystal changed the subject, saying, "I've accumulated a batch of black oil crystals recently. Although they're only grade one in purity, the quantity is decent, totaling fifty units. I'll arrange for reliable people to deliver them to the gem merchant group soon."
Upon hearing this, a hint of doubt appeared in Iron Dragon Gorton's eyes.
"The strongholds of the Kingdom of Reipos located in the wilderness, especially those in the northwest and central regions, have basically been wiped out by the tribes," he said in a deep voice. "As for the rest, those scattered in the territories of other regional kings, Garos made it very clear that he will not initiate war in the near future, and naturally he will not touch those strongholds."
Her fifty units of black oil crystals are not easy to trade.
He knows Galus very well.
The Iron King is decisive and has a clear goal. He will not disrupt his established development plan for the sake of some immediate benefits. He was willing to get involved with the Crystal Princess because he could obtain some extra resources, rather than fighting specifically for her.
"I know."
Princess Crystal smiled slightly and said, "Consider it a gift."
Gordon understood what Crystal Princess meant.
It's a gift, but it's also an investment.
As the bridge between the two parties, Gorton was happy to see their relationship become closer, for example, upgrading from a form of employment to an alliance.
Soon after, the sound of wheels rolling could be heard.
Court attendants pushed several large food carts, each large enough to hold a whole roasted cow, into the training ground after receiving permission.
After each of these tough-on training sessions, Goldon always had to consume a huge amount of food, which is a major reason why he could never shake off his stocky build.
Just as he was swishing his tail, eagerly preparing to pounce on the fragrant delicacies, his movements suddenly stopped.
Crystal Princess and Iron Dragon both looked towards the doorway.
A man is walking slowly towards us.
He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his steps steady and agile. He did not wear a crown symbolizing royal power, nor did he wear a magnificent royal robe. Instead, he wore a set of finely polished iron armor and a seemingly simple longsword at his waist.
He looked more like a general who had just returned from the battlefield than a king sitting on his throne.
The visitor was none other than O'Brien, the current king of Lorthorn.
"Oh! It's Your Majesty the King! Good day!"
Upon recognizing the person, Gordon immediately adopted a familiar expression.
His massive body moved closer, and he even used his claws to fork a sizzling piece of roasted leg meat from the food cart and enthusiastically offered it to O'Brien.
"It's lunchtime now, let's enjoy some delicious food! The cooking is perfect today!"
King O'Brien was not angered by Iron Dragon's disrespectful and casual behavior; instead, he laughed heartily.
He was a monarch who rose through the ranks of the army and inherently despised formalities and hypocritical pleasantries.
Gorton's directness and frankness suited his taste quite well.
Of course, this is also directly related to the fact that Gorton is not human, does not hold any real power in the royal court, and has such a personality.
If it were any other human subject, even if they knew the king's temperament well, they would not dare to be so presumptuous.
What they should revere is not only the king himself, but also the royal power he symbolizes.
The king reached out and patted Gorton's dragon arm, which was covered in hard scales, making a dull sound.
"For you, when is it not mealtime?"
O'Brien said, "However, being able to eat is a blessing and the foundation of being strong and healthy. I envy the good appetite of you dragons."
He paused, then changed the subject, saying with a smile, "Your blood relatives have done a lot in the wilderness. Gorton, please give my regards to them."
"Once that Iron King becomes a legend, you can invite him to the royal court as a guest."
“I will welcome him and host a banquet in his honor.”
Gordon nodded instinctively and replied, "No problem, I've got it covered!"
However, as soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
At the same time, the king's gaze turned to the Crystal Princess, who was standing quietly to the side.
"Elena".
His tone softened slightly: "The situation in the Sel Wilderness has limited impact on the front lines of the war, but since you're interested there, go ahead and do what you want."
As he spoke, he sighed softly: "I actually hope you can spend your time on relaxing and enjoyable things like appreciating flowers, reading books, or listening to opera."
"But I know that you, like me, care about the future of this land, so I will not restrict you."
Clearly, His Majesty the King was well aware of the resource transactions and collaborations between the Crystal Princess and the Ignas Dragonflight.
He simply hadn't interfered before, or rather, he hadn't cared.
Princess Crystal lowered her eyes slightly and said softly, "Thank you for your understanding, brother."
The king nodded slightly and continued, "In the future, if similar things happen again, there is no need to deliberately avoid me."
“I am willing to support my blood relative in doing what she wants to do, as long as it will not ultimately harm the Kingdom of Lortheron and her people. You can be more unrestrained.”
Upon hearing this, Princess Crystal did not show a joyful smile on her face. Instead, she frowned slightly, and a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes.
It's understandable that the king's brother didn't care about her cooperation with the dragons in the wilderness.
But encouraging her to take a more hands-on approach? That doesn't align with his past attitude of wanting to stay away from war-related matters.
She raised her head sharply, looked directly into O'Brien's blue eyes, and asked softly, "Brother, has something major happened at the front?"
O'Brien looked at his sister and shook his head slightly.
He said in a calm tone, "Nothing special, it's just that I've decided to set an example and lead the army in person."
The allied forces of the anti-king camp are gaining momentum, and the Lorthen Kingdom camp is suffering repeated defeats on the main battlefield, having lost many strategic locations and rich territories over the years.
Having spent his prime years in the military, O'Brien could no longer bear simply sitting on a distant throne, watching the battle reports list the names of places that had fallen.
He wanted to emulate the holy kings and ancestors who had swept across many countries.
He would personally don armor and lead the loyal kingdom's army to crush the lands of those rebels!
Princess Crystal was startled and exclaimed, "Brother! This is too dangerous!"
O'Brien is a true legend, a powerful figure honed through his own talent and countless battles, not a legend built on resources. There are more than one legend in our army.
However, the same applies to the enemy camp.
On the ever-changing battlefield, even legends can fall and die.
"My mind is made up. All the relevant matters have been arranged and will be officially announced to the whole country soon."
The king's voice was calm and steady, carrying an unquestionable determination.
"Eight hundred years ago, our ancestor, the Holy King, personally led his army to conquer the southern kingdoms. In the war of blood and fire, he constantly broke through his own limits and forged a great career."
"Eight hundred years later, I, who have inherited the will and the throne of my ancestors, can do the same!"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over his sister's worried face and Tie Long, who was listening in a daze, before continuing, "Don't worry, I won't do anything unprepared."
"It's time for the world to witness the rich heritage of our Kingdom of Lorthen, which has been passed down for thousands of years."
"Those legendary guards who have been dormant in the heart of the kingdom for so long will soon awaken."
"They will accompany me on the expedition and crush all enemies that stand in the way of Lorthorn's glory!"
Legendary warriors have limited lifespans, but some of the legendary figures in the royal family will go into a deep sleep through secret methods, only to be awakened at the most critical moment to fight for their country.
(End of this chapter)
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