Chapter 399 The Peril of a Legend: Gordon's Fatalism.
Many years ago, in a highly anticipated national fencing final.
The young Kylos, with a still imperfect and extremely risky self-created skill, unexpectedly defeated another opponent who was more experienced and had a strong chance of winning the championship.
The referees and audience erupted in cheers for him, ready to bestow upon him the title of "Peerless Sword" on the spot.
However, he raised his hand and refused this honor that so many soldiers dreamed of.
In front of everyone present, he said, "Remember this well, I am the 'Unfinished Sword'. Wait until I become the strongest sword saint and truly achieve the name of peerless before you come and cheer for me."
This incident allowed him to first show his talent and gain some fame.
Even now, having successfully risen to the status of a revered legendary swordsman, he still hasn't changed his title of 'Unfinished Sword'. Clearly, this legend has greater ambitions and aspirations, and is not satisfied with the status quo.
At this moment, Marquis Marcus looked at the legendary swordsman and spoke.
"Nearly thirty years of brutal civil war have almost made us forget that the sharp fangs of the wilderness have never truly fallen out; they have always been sharpened in the shadows, waiting for their chance to strike."
His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a hint of anger, and sounded particularly clear in the quiet room.
“Apart from the northeast, our base that we have painstakingly built up over hundreds of years in the wilderness of Sel has been almost completely uprooted by those barbaric natives! This is an unprecedented huge loss and a great humiliation in the history of our Xio Kingdom’s expansion.”
"Those wild natives are incredibly audacious and courting death!"
The civil war, which lasted for decades, ultimately failed to yield the expected benefits and instead wasted national strength, leaving the leaders of the southern countries, including the Kingdom of Theo, with a pent-up frustration that had nowhere to go.
Now, it seems that Marquis Marcus has found a suitable outlet for his anger.
If they can't defeat the Kingdom of Lortheon, which has seen the reappearance of the Holy King, surely they can deal with those ignorant and backward wilderness natives?
"Based on intelligence analysis gathered from various parties, this does not appear to be a sporadic tribal rebellion."
Marquis Marcus's fingers tapped heavily on the glaring red patch on the map.
"Ruling the northwest and central regions is the so-called 'King of Smelting Iron,' who has integrated a large number of monster tribes and even dragons under his command. He is a powerful and well-equipped army, and has even developed a well-organized and systematic alchemical armed force, with a level of organization far exceeding that of ordinary monster groups."
"And the 'King of Mushrooms' that dominates the southern region of the wilderness should not be underestimated either."
"To date, no reliable intelligence has revealed its true form; all we can see is its army of fungal monsters."
"In contrast, the mountain king who occupies the northeast, a giant who fled from the continent of Seresia, has been relatively well-behaved."
Marquis Marcus assessed the conditions of the wilderness.
Beside him, the legendary swordsman Kelos stood with his arms crossed, his posture relaxed yet exuding a restrained sharpness.
His gaze was sharp as a sword, as if it could pierce through the map and look directly at that chaotic land.
"The entire Ser Wilderness, in theory, should be the territory that civilized nations will explore and conquer in the future."
Keros said calmly, "Those entrenched beasts, those uncivilized monsters, and those two dragons and mushrooms that appeared out of nowhere—do they even deserve to presume to be kings?"
"They are openly challenging the dignity of the kingdom and trampling on the bottom line of civilization."
Upon hearing this, Marquis Marcus nodded slowly, deeply agreeing.
He stood up and walked steadily to the huge map, pointing heavily at several scarlet areas in the northwest, central, and southern regions.
"We can't let this continue any longer."
“We must make those arrogant scum of the wilderness understand who the true rulers of the Serbian wilderness are.”
"The Exotic Strategy Division has drafted a plan and submitted it to His Majesty the King. It has been decided to carry out a cleanup operation in the Sel Wilderness. The goal is to reclaim all our bases, seize more new resource points, and make those monsters who dare to provoke us pay a bloody price."
As he spoke, Marquis Marcus turned his gaze to the unfinished sword standing quietly to the side.
“Kyros, in terms of strength, prestige, and understanding of the wilderness, you are the best candidate to carry out this purge operation, without exception.”
“I will immediately request formal authorization from His Majesty the King for you to personally lead the team back to the Wilderness of Sel.”
"Our objective is very clear: to execute the so-called 'King of Molten Iron' and 'King of Fungi,' destroy their dragon hordes and fungal legions, regain and consolidate our control over the wilderness, and restore the glory of the Kingdom of Theo."
Upon hearing this, the legendary swordsman's lips twitched slightly, and he made a cryptic click of his tongue.
"The civil war has just ended, the Federation has been dissolved, and the country is in dire need of rebuilding. There are also many conflicts, and His Majesty the King is probably in a state of great distress right now."
"In retrospect, choosing to form a close alliance with the Kingdom of Reiber and advance together was not a wise choice."
His words seemed to lack sufficient respect for the monarch.
However, every legendary figure is the foundation upon which the kingdom stands, a precious resource that needs to be carefully protected.
Even if a legendary powerhouse has some criticisms of the king behind his back, as long as he doesn't actually do anything that harms the core interests of the kingdom, he usually won't be subject to any substantial punishment.
This is the privilege that comes with power.
"Life is unpredictable. Who could have imagined that the Holy King, who should have died long ago, would still be alive?"
Marquis Marcus lowered his voice.
"If it weren't for this, our Kingdom of Theo could have seized even more benefits from this civil war and further strengthened our national power."
He paused, then changed the subject, his voice even lower: "Keros, you were there during the Battle of Waldor, and you witnessed it firsthand."
"Based on your judgment... do you think the Holy King has truly been resurrected, or is there something else going on?"
The legendary swordsman's expression turned serious.
He pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head.
"I have no idea."
He answered very decisively: "As soon as the Holy King made his move, he crushed two legends with overwhelming force, and both of them were senior legends of a higher level than me. I simply cannot understand the power of the domain and the level of strength he displayed at that time."
"Perhaps, he really did take that crucial step."
"Perhaps his death was just an illusion, a period of dormancy."
"Otherwise, with his aging human body, it would be impossible for him to still maintain such incredible strength."
Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Marcus frowned deeply, his brows furrowing into deep lines.
He asked, "Then, is there another possibility... that it was just a contingency plan left behind by the Holy King before his death, containing immense power, but only usable once? Is the Kingdom of Lorthern actually bluffing, using its remaining influence to intimidate other nations?"
Sword Saint Kelos nodded: "Of course it's possible, and the possibility isn't low."
But he immediately changed the subject, a half-smile on his face, and said, "However, the question is, do you dare to gamble on this possibility? I certainly don't, and I believe that our King, and the rulers of other kingdoms, probably wouldn't dare to gamble so easily either."
"If we gamble wrong, the price will be the destruction of the entire country."
Marquis Marcus chuckled twice, his laughter sinister.
"What is fake can never become real."
"Even though the nations are currently afraid of the Holy King's power and dare not act rashly, as time goes by, some will eventually be unable to resist testing the waters."
“If the Holy King has not truly been resurrected, or if his condition is not as perfect as it appears, Lorthorn’s bluff will eventually be exposed.”
"We just need to wait and see."
After years of war, although the nations ultimately won nominal autonomy, they did not gain the substantial benefits they had anticipated, such as more territory and resources.
Overall, the losses suffered by all countries were actually more severe after this internal strife.
The nations are now forced to remain dormant due to the sage king's reappearance and his thunderous methods, and dare not cross the line.
But how long can this fear-based calm last?
In particular, there are rumors that the Kingdom of Reiberth seems to have some unknown backing, and the powerful weaponry that suddenly appeared during the war does not seem to be part of its inherent reserves.
"Alright, let's leave these matters, which involve too many issues, aside for now."
"Our current focus should be on the Sel Wilderness."
Marquis Marcus waved his hand as if to dispel his chaotic thoughts, then looked at Kelos again, his tone returning to its previous decisiveness.
"Keiros, you should prepare in advance."
"His Majesty the King will surely authorize and approve the use of force in the wilderness to reclaim lost territory and demonstrate national power. It won't be long before you return to the land you have guarded for so many years."
Kelos's lips curled up slightly, forming a confident yet cold smile.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.
"It's a good opportunity to meet those wild monsters that the ignorant natives call 'kings' and see if their heads are any harder than those of ordinary monsters."
For him, returning to the Sel Wilderness felt as familiar as coming home.
Before he ascended to legendary status, he had long guarded the border of the wilderness, using his sword to keep large numbers of ferocious monster tribes from showing themselves and suppressing their activity space.
Today, he has stepped into the realm of legend, and his life has undergone a qualitative leap.
In his mind, slaying those crude monsters who only knew how to rely on instinct and brute force would be even easier, like cutting melons and vegetables.
at the same time.
Borderlands, Dragon Valley, Burning Steel Fortress.
The red iron dragon stood on the edge of the tall platform, gazing at the howling, sweeping snow.
At the same time, he calmed his mind and touched upon the bond of blood ties in his heart.
He had already inquired with Deborah and the others about the general situation of the tribe in recent years.
However, since they live in the border region year-round, they don't know enough about the specific details of what's happening in the outside world, especially in the Ser Wilderness.
Garros still needs to talk to those dragons who are directly in the wilderness and on the front lines.
Soon after, with the Iron Dragon Sorog as the spiritual node, the spirits of the Red Dragon Samantha and the Iron Dragon Gordon also converged in this spiritual world.
Iron Dragon Girl, who also shares a blood relationship with her, was not summoned this time.
After all, she was an ally of the Ignath Dragon Clan, with her own independent territory and retinue, rather than a core member of the Ironforge.
There was no need to inform her of some conversations involving internal tribal affairs.
Once the mental connection was stable and all the participants had arrived, Galos got straight to the point.
He said, "What important things happened during my slumber? Tell me what you know."
Neither Samantha, the Red Dragon, nor Gorton, the Iron Dragon, particularly liked these kinds of formal reporting occasions.
In the end, it was the most steady and meticulous Iron Dragon Sorog who recounted the important events he had already organized and summarized in a clear timeline, in a well-organized and orderly manner.
After a period of time.
Through Sorog's narration, Galos was fully aware of the key events that occurred during his twenty-nine years of slumber.
This includes the changes in the Abyss, the end of the Southern Federation Civil War, and the reappearance of the Holy King Lortheon, among other things.
After a moment of contemplation.
Red Iron Dragon turned his attention to the consciousness representing Iron Dragon Gorton in the mental network.
In the realm of the mind, the appearance of consciousness can roughly reflect the true state of the physical body.
At this moment, Gordon's appearance, though still covered by a thick layer of fat beneath its scales, also revealed clear and strong muscle contours, showcasing the majestic form of a dragon.
His physique was so robust and imposing that, among his blood relatives, he was second only to Galus.
Galos asked directly, "Gordon, you were in the capital of Lorthen, and you personally witnessed the 'resurrected' Holy King?"
Gorton's mental fluctuations immediately became active.
He said, "That's right, I saw it with my own eyes! He walked out of endless light, and then, with a single move, easily killed two legendary powerhouses with overwhelming force. He then announced the dissolution of the Federation, which prevented the originally aggressive allied forces from daring to cross the line, and they eventually retreated to their respective homelands."
When the Lorthen Federation was still intact, the Holy King's prestige was as high as the sun, unmatched by anyone.
Galos was not surprised that he possessed such a powerful deterrent.
The question is, has the Holy King truly been resurrected?
The breakthrough that the Holy King attempted was far more difficult than a mortal ascending to legendary status. Even the powerful Golden Dragon King ultimately failed, and with his aging human body, the probability of success would only be lower.
Of course, there is another possibility.
He didn't die at all. The so-called signs of his fall were just that he was severely injured when he failed to break through to a higher level, and he had been quietly recovering and healing ever since.
However, this king, though known for his benevolence, so easily pardoned the invading enemy.
Isn't this... a bit too lenient?
Tracing his rise to power, one can find no shortage of ruthless and decisive deeds.
If Garros himself were in that position, he would at least have killed all the enemy legends involved in the invasion as a warning to others.
Of course, this might just be the idea of a dragon, and it's too presumptuous.
It's normal that he's not human now and can't fully understand decisions made under complex political considerations.
Perhaps, as the Holy King grew older and stronger, he truly reached a transcendent state, grew weary of killing, and became more benevolent and compassionate, and more fond of peace.
Galos suppressed these thoughts for the time being.
He then asked, "So, after the Holy King reappeared, has he made any public appearances in the past three years? Or has he simply disappeared again?"
Iron Dragon Gorton nodded and replied affirmatively, "Yes, he has appeared."
"During these three years, he appeared intermittently a few times, mainly in the Royal Academy or the palace, instructing his own children and descendants on cultivation and handling political affairs. However, each appearance was very brief, as if he did not want to interfere too much in the royal court."
"Moreover, there are some unverified rumors within the royal court that the Holy King was able to reappear in the world this time because his research on the 'art of immortality' has achieved key results, but has not yet been fully successful."
"Therefore, he still devotes most of his energy to perfecting the art of immortality, and has no time to do anything else."
This is a fairly reasonable explanation that could explain why he came back from the dead and why he is so secretive and rarely appears in public.
However, being reasonable does not mean that all doubts and speculations can be eliminated.
However, Galos did not pursue the matter further.
He knew very well that time would eventually provide all the answers.
Whatever the true nature of that holy king may be, it will eventually be revealed to the world over time.
Whether the southern kingdoms will be able to maintain this fragile peace or whether they will be embroiled in renewed conflict and war remains to be seen.
"By the way, I've made an important discovery."
Gorton's expression suddenly turned serious and solemn, breaking the brief silence.
He said, "Recently, through observation and reflection, I have come to understand a principle."
Galos nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.
Thus, with a touch of pride and mystery, Gordon solemnly put forward his theory of destiny.
"Strength, talent, sweat... even wisdom and opportunity, in my opinion, these are all secondary!"
"The most crucial, the most core, and the most important thing is—Destiny!"
"Look at this world, some people give their all and exhaust their life's blood, yet they cannot even make a ripple in the long river of fate; while others, perhaps with just a casual thought or an unintentional action, can change the course of events and influence the entire world."
"Where does all this difference stem from? It all comes down to the 'destiny' they themselves bear!"
"As long as you are born with a powerful destiny, no matter how humble your birth or how mediocre your talent, you will eventually achieve remarkable success under the influence and impetus of a series of seemingly accidental but actually inevitable events."
"Destiny is the most important thing; compared to it, nothing else matters."
Iron Dragon Goldon spoke slowly, his mental fluctuations filled with confidence.
Regardless of whether it is correct or not.
At first glance, his explanation seemed to make some sense and could explain many incomprehensible discrepancies in life.
Galos glanced sideways, looking at his usually unreliable younger brother with newfound respect. He felt that after experiencing the upheaval in the royal city, Galos seemed to have matured considerably, as he had come to comprehend such a profound theory.
He asked, "How did you come to this realization?"
Then, Goldon straightened his back and announced, word by word.
"Because, after repeated verification and reflection, I am convinced that I, Gordon, am the dragon destined by heaven!"
In the network of the mind, it was as if an invisible cold wind swept by, and silence fell instantly.
Galos was speechless for a moment, and silently retracted his earlier assessment of the Dragon Brother's growth.
The next moment, Samantha the Red Dragon burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Gorton! What kind of lame dragon joke are you telling us? Haha, if you're trying to amuse everyone, you've succeeded. I'm laughing so hard my scales are about to burst from your ridiculous confidence!"
Despite Samantha's mockery, Iron Dragon Gorton was neither angry nor embarrassed.
Instead, he became even more serious and began to explain and demonstrate his destiny in a clear and logical manner.
"Think back carefully, don't my past experiences just prove this point?"
"Will I be able to turn any danger into safety, or even turn misfortune into good fortune, no matter what I encounter?"
"For example, I was unfortunately orphaned as a child, but was adopted by the Royal Court of Lortheon and lived with the princess for nearly a hundred years. Isn't this a blessing from heaven?"
"For example, when the royal city of Lortheon was about to fall and was on the verge of collapse."
“I had already made up my mind to escape alone to save myself, but at the last moment, I hesitated and finally chose to stay. It was precisely at this critical moment that the Holy King reappeared, turned the tide, and the Kingdom of Lorthen was saved.”
At this point, Gorton paused for a moment, and then uttered yet another outrageous statement.
“I even have a strong feeling that if I had been more determined and had actually managed to escape, then… the Holy King might not have appeared, and the Royal City of Lorthen might have really fallen.”
He said very seriously, "In other words, whether the Holy King exists or not, and whether he appears at that time, is likely to have some kind of fateful connection with whether I decide to flee the royal city."
"He may be alive or he may not be alive until I make a final decision."
"He is in a superposition state determined by me!"
"If I leave, he will cease to exist; if I stay, he will exist."
A deathly silence fell once again within the network of minds.
This time, not only was Sorog silent and said nothing, but even Samantha, the red dragon who was always sharp-tongued and good at mocking Gorton, was speechless for a moment because of Gorton's inconceivable idea and did not know how to refute it.
Or rather, I don't know where to begin complaining.
"This guy has developed his own self-consistent logic around his concept of destiny."
Galos felt a moment of silence.
"How come all these dragons surrounding me possess such extraordinary skills?"
The thought flashed through my mind involuntarily.
"Could it be... that I am actually the true dragon destined by heaven?"
As soon as the absurd idea popped into his head, Galos himself chuckled at it, shaking his head slightly to dispel the ridiculous thought.
(End of this chapter)
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