Chapter 433 Return to the Wilderness.
The edict of the Eternal Dragon King acted like a stabilizing force, calming all the disputes and turmoil surrounding Garus.
After the stagnant spring had stabilized for a few more days,
He refined and adjusted the power that had surged within him from shaping his field and its characteristics to an unprecedented peak.
Galos knew it was time to return to his own Ser Wilderness.
Frankly speaking, after this incident subsided, his situation in the Dragon Realm was safe and secure, and he could even foresee enjoying a relatively peaceful life respected by the dragons.
But this is not his world.
Even though he was surrounded by metallic dragon companions like Alberto and Natasha, and had the protection of elders like Orvis, and they got along well, he was not a true metallic dragon after all.
The blood of the red and iron dragons flowing through his veins was always at odds with this land of order.
Moreover, he inherently disliked being bound by the complicated rules of the Dragon Realm.
"It was just killing an enemy who had attacked me with malicious intent."
"Such a clear and obvious matter actually required years of debate and scrutiny?"
"Do the dragon elders, who hold higher positions and greater power, really need to be so concerned about the opinions of the ordinary dragon community when making decisions?"
"Ultimately, even the Dragon King himself needs to make the final decision."
Thinking of all this, Galos shook his head repeatedly.
Fortunately, he was in a deep sleep most of the time, focusing on shaping his own legendary domain and characteristics. If he had been awake the whole time, he certainly would not have been able to bear being effectively imprisoned in the Dragon Realm and listening to the various dragons arguing about this matter for years.
"It's fine to stay in a place like this for a while to enjoy the scenery, but as for a long-term stay... I think it's better to forget about it."
Galos thought to himself.
Without hesitation, he suddenly spread his enormous dragon wings and left the energy-rich, stagnant spring.
Soon, he found the legendary golden dragon Orvis, standing atop the cliff face, overlooking the vast sea below.
Alberto and Natasha were also nearby.
Seeing Garus's majestic and imposing figure break through the air, the old golden dragon turned around, his dragon eyes filled with knowing look, as if he had already anticipated his arrival.
Before Galos could speak, Orvis asked directly, "Are you getting ready to leave?"
“Yes.” Red Iron Dragon nodded his massive head, his dark red scales gleaming with a deep, cold luster in the sunlight. “There are still many unfinished matters in the Sel Wilderness that await my attention, and the grand plan for establishing a nation cannot be delayed any longer.”
Orvis looked at him and said calmly, "Does staying in the Dragon Realm make you uncomfortable?"
"Your matter has now been properly resolved and there are no longer any obstacles. You are free to travel around the Fubo Dragon Domain and experience the scenery that is completely different from your wilderness."
Galos shook his head.
“Perhaps it’s because I’ve gotten used to the winds of the wilderness,” he said in a steady voice. “Here in the Dragon Realm, I always feel a bit constrained and uncomfortable.”
He paused, looked sincerely at the old golden dragon, and said in a deep voice, "Elder Ovis, thank you for your protection and mediation during this time."
"I will remember this kindness."
In the past few years, if it weren't for Old Golden Dragon overruling everyone's objections and placing him in the Still Spring, it would have been difficult for him to stabilize his initial legendary realm so smoothly. Moreover, if he had been taken away by those radical dragons from the Raging Dragon Domain, his fate would have been unimaginable.
Old Jinlong did not mention the external conflicts to him in detail.
But Galos knew very well that the old golden dragon must have endured immense pressure and criticism to be able to live peacefully in the Still Spring.
However, one has to admit that the feeling of being protected by a powerful being above... is indeed quite nice.
Galos, a red iron dragon, suffered a heartbreaking fate with his biological father, yet now, as an evil dragon, he unexpectedly enjoys the protection of a metal dragon. Truly, life is unpredictable and fate is hard to fathom.
Faced with the earnest and grateful Red Iron Dragon, Ovis casually waved his front paw.
He spoke in a relaxed tone, with his usual carefree attitude: "No need to make it so serious."
"This is my responsibility as the inviter and guarantor, and it is also a choice I should make based on the facts and the principles of fairness upheld by Dragon Domain."
At that moment, Alberto flapped his wings and came closer.
"Garos, your main purpose in returning to the wilderness this time is to formally establish a nation, right? Don't forget your promise. We agreed before that you would give me a territory so that I could fully utilize my abilities and build the 'Golden Order' that I envision!"
Red Iron Dragon nodded slightly: "Don't worry, I, Galos, always keep my word."
On the other side, Natasha excitedly flapped her wings, creating gusts of air, and shouted, "Me too! Don't forget the diplomatic post you reserved for me. I'm taking it very seriously!"
Listening to the conversation between the younger generation, Ovis seemed to be deep in thought, and then straightened his expression.
He warned Hong Tielong, "Establishing a nation is a momentous event that could change the course of your destiny."
"It will make your name resound far and wide, allowing you to stand at the top of the pyramid and seize massive resources, thus growing faster. But at the same time, it will also be like the most dazzling lighthouse, attracting countless eyes, whether open or dark, filled with malice, bringing unpredictable risks and challenges."
Across from him, Red Iron Dragon grinned, revealing a smile.
"With a legendary golden dragon like yourself backing me up, I fear no challenge, no matter how great." He then extended an invitation, "I will be holding a grand celebration banquet when the nation is founded. Would you be interested in attending?"
He tried to bring the old Golden Dragon on board as well, to make the background of his newly established kingdom seem more substantial.
Upon hearing this, Orvis's eyes widened immediately, and he shook his head repeatedly: "Good lad! Are you trying to drag this old man into the conflicts between nations?"
"No, no, absolutely not!"
He said, "I don't want to get into trouble for no reason, thousands of miles away."
"I haven't had a good night's sleep in the past few years dealing with your matter. After you're gone, I'm going to find a place where I can get a good, restful sleep!"
As he spoke, his expression became more serious.
Orvis stroked his flowing dragon whiskers and said slowly, "You should know that there are explicit rules within each of the major dragon domains. Metal dragons like us who have stepped into the legendary realm are, in principle, not allowed to personally establish a kingdom."
"Furthermore, unless it involves the interests of the Dragon Domain or is unavoidable, we should try our best to avoid getting involved in the conflicts between those kingdoms and empires."
"I see..." Garus realized.
No wonder, regardless of how long they ultimately existed, there were some examples of dragons establishing kingdoms, though not many, but kingdoms established by metal dragons were almost unheard of.
However, he also gleaned key information from Ovis's words.
If the 'Legendary Dragon' is not an option, then dragons like Alberto and Natasha, who have not yet reached the legendary level, as well as Karus from the Eternal Radiance Dragon Domain, could participate and cheer him on if they wished.
Alberto and Natasha also understood this subtext.
Their spirits lifted, and they asked the old golden dragon for confirmation, "A legend like you can't go, but can the two of us go? It doesn't violate the rules of the Dragon Realm."
Old Jinlong turned his gaze to his two children, who always gave him headaches, and said sternly, "I'm too lazy to deal with you two anymore."
"You've grown up, go wherever you want, just don't stay here and disturb my sleep."
These words can be considered a tacit approval.
At the same time, his disdain was evident in his words.
After a moment's thought, Red Iron Dragon said to Ovis, "To express my gratitude for your protection and assistance during this time, I have prepared a gift."
Words of thanks are ultimately less effective than a tangible gift in expressing one's feelings.
Moreover, although Old Golden Dragon has stated that he will not interfere in the conflicts between nations, as long as this relationship is maintained, he believes that if Garos really encounters an intractable crisis in the future, the other party will not really stand idly by.
"Gift?"
Upon hearing this, Ovis was slightly taken aback, then glared at his two offspring and let out a cold laugh: "Heh, I've never received any decent gifts from my own juniors!"
Alberto gave an awkward smile and didn't dare to reply.
Natasha puffed out her chest and retorted confidently, "How could there not be? Isn't Galos the 'great gift' I found for you? Otherwise, how could you have won so much in the previous betting games?"
Although this statement contained some sophistry and fallacy, Old Jinlong thought about it and it seemed to make some sense.
He nodded reluctantly, which was taken as agreement.
Then, he looked at the red iron dragon again, his expression becoming pleasant, and said with a smile, "I appreciate your kind gesture."
"However, there's really no need for gifts."
Looking at the well-behaved red iron dragon before him, Ovis couldn't help but wonder, "How come such a sensible dragon isn't my offspring..."
Right now.
This legendary golden dragon and a silver dragon slumbering in the Metal Dragon Realm found themselves in a strange and unspoken resonance regarding the question of Garos.
Old Golden Dragon paused, then teased Galos, "You've only recently entered the Legendary realm, what treasures could you possibly have that would catch my eye?"
"I'd better keep it for myself. My taste has been spoiled by countless treasures."
"Ordinary things don't catch my eye."
"You don't think much of me?" Hong Tielong gave a meaningful smile.
Without offering any further explanation, he directly retrieved the massive, ancient, and imposing legendary giant battle axe, the Earth Ripper, from his personal spatial artifacts.
Buzz...
The moment the battle axe appeared, the surrounding air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Upon seeing this legendary battle axe with its wild design and deep runes, Orvis's eyes widened instantly, and his golden pupils contracted in a flash.
He eagerly stretched out his front paws and picked up the Earth Ripper.
He held it in his palm and examined it closely with intense eyes.
Ovis was knowledgeable and had a keen eye; with just a few glances, he could tell that this battle axe was extraordinary.
It is a true legendary piece of equipment. Although it appears to be slightly damaged, its overall structure is intact and its core runes are undamaged, making it fully worth repairing. Moreover, it was specifically designed for giant life forms. As long as the rejection restrictions against dragons can be removed, it will also be suitable for use by powerful dragons.
More importantly:
The runes engraved on it clearly indicate the identity of its creator.
The dragons' archenemy, the giants!
Legendary equipment is already incredibly valuable, but a weapon from a sworn enemy race is far more valuable to an old dragon like Orvis, who has a passion for collecting, than any other piece of equipment of the same tier.
"This rough texture, this heavy weight, it's truly a wonderful treasure."
Ignoring the resistance from the Earth Ripper, the old golden dragon repeatedly stroked it with obvious affection.
He ran his hand along the gleaming axe blade to the handle, which was covered in anti-slip grooves, scratching it with an unseemly gesture.
If there weren't other dragons watching nearby, he might have been tempted to go up and lick it.
"Where did you get this treasure?"
Ovis suppressed his excitement, raised his head, looked intently at the red iron dragon, and asked curiously.
Garo replied readily, “A hill giant king who fled from the continent of Seresia to the wilderness of Seresia, wielding this battle axe called the Earth Ripper, is my enemy and has caused me a little trouble.”
"However, after that, its fate, along with that of the giant, belonged to me."
As he spoke, he flicked his dragon tail, which nimbly coiled around the middle of the Earth Ripper's axe handle.
Then, he gave it a gentle tug... but the battle axe remained firmly in Orvis's claws.
"Um?"
Orvis held on tightly to the Earth Ripper, showing no intention of loosening his grip.
"Didn't you just say that you have high standards and look down on ordinary things?" Hong Tielong continued to tug at it forcefully. "This broken axe probably doesn't even meet your standards."
"I'd rather wait until I acquire an even better treasure and then give it to you as a thank you gift."
Upon hearing this, Ovis not only didn't loosen his grip, but instead tightened it even more, saying righteously, "Hey! You can't say that! Since you're so sincere in wanting to express your gratitude with a gift, how can I, as an elder, bear to refuse?"
"This is it! I think it's perfect, just my type!"
As he spoke, his gaze suddenly sharpened, and he stared intently at the distant sea behind the red iron dragon, letting out a low exclamation:
"Hiss! Look over there! It's the Bronze Dragon King?! How did he suddenly appear here?!"
"What? The Bronze Dragon King?"
Red Iron Dragon, along with Alberto and Natasha beside him, were all startled upon hearing this and instinctively turned their heads to look in the direction Orvis was pointing.
In the field of vision, there is only a tranquil blue sky and a boundless, vast sea.
There wasn't a single extra cloud, let alone any bronze dragon king.
Just as Galos was distracted, a glint flashed in Ovis's eyes.
Taking advantage of the moment, he pulled hard and "snatched" the Earth Ripper from Garus's tail. Then, with fluid movements, he stuffed it into his spatial item in one go, as if afraid that if he was a second too slow, the other party would change its mind.
Red Iron Dragon turned around in confusion and asked, "Where is the Bronze Dragon King? I can't see him."
At this point, Lao Jinlong had regained his calm, reliable, and highly respected demeanor.
He stroked his dragon whiskers slowly and calmly, saying, "Oh...maybe I'm seeing things. I'm getting old, and my eyesight isn't as good as yours, you young dragons."
Talking nonsense in a serious manner.
Ovis was in a great mood. He stretched out his paw and patted the Red Iron Dragon's thick, sturdy shoulder, saying with a smile, "Hmm, this gift is indeed very nice. You've put a lot of thought into it."
Hong Tielong found his satisfied expression somewhat amusing, but didn't delve into it further.
"If you like it, then it's yours now."
He himself does not have a strong collecting hobby.
In Garros's view, exchanging a legendary piece of equipment that he couldn't use directly and which had troublesome restrictions for a deeper friendship and support from a Golden Dragon Elder was a very worthwhile deal.
On the other side, Ovis put away his battle axe and pondered for a moment.
He gazed at the imposing red iron dragon before him, his tone becoming more serious as he pondered, "Garos, after you establish your nation, if you encounter any intractable problems, or need any advice... you can always send me a message."
"I may not be able to directly step in and solve your problem."
"However, I will try my best to give you some valuable advice based on my experience and network, or provide other possible ways to solve the problem."
Hong Tielong grinned and readily agreed.
"Okay! I'll definitely ask you for advice as soon as I encounter any problems in the future."
Sending a generous gift that the recipient will appreciate is indeed a very necessary thing.
To put it bluntly, Lao Jinlong and he are not related. Lao Jinlong was willing to vouch for him and provide support before, perhaps because he saw his potential or because of a sense of justice. But if he only knows how to take and not how to give back, this hard-won relationship will eventually fade away.
Only by catering to their preferences and offering them benefits can a relationship be maintained in the long run.
"Strange...why do I have this vague feeling that I'm being manipulated?"
Old Jinlong rubbed the calluses on his chin and muttered to himself.
He was aware of Galos's 'dragon-taming technique'.
Galos didn't pick up on that topic, but instead reminded him, "Elder Orvis, the Earth Ripper was created by giants after all, and it has internal restrictions against dragons, so we can't directly unleash its full power."
"In addition to repairing its own damage, it will also require a lot of work to modify it."
Upon hearing this, Old Jinlong shook his head slightly, unconvinced.
“What do you know?” He straightened his face and said, “These historical traces left by the battle, the unique restrictions engraved by the giants… these are its true value, the stories and characteristics it carries! If you remove all of these and change it beyond recognition, it will be inferior and lose its beauty as a collectible.”
"I'll put it in my private collection room, and then... hehe, at the right time, I'll invite a few other old guys over to take a look."
He acquired the Earth Ripper not for combat, but purely as a collectible with display value, intending to show it off in the collecting community.
Galos didn't quite understand this collector's mentality, but he expressed respect and didn't say anything more.
Now that the Earth Ripper has been given away, it's none of Orvis's business whether he uses it as a lumberjack to chop down trees or as a decoration to collect dust in a corner.
What he cared about was the potential value of the gift.
"Alberto, Natasha, let's get ready to go."
Galos didn't delay any longer. He looked at the two golden dragons beside him who were already impatient and said in a deep voice.
"I've been waiting for this for ages!"
"Let's go! Back to the wilderness!"
Both responded with great enthusiasm, taking the lead in flapping their wings, creating a strong airflow, and soaring into the sky, circling in mid-air and waiting.
Orvis's dragon wore a gentle smile as he looked at the dragons who were all ready to go.
He concluded by saying to Galos, "The road ahead is long, and the world beyond the Dragon Realm is vast and complex."
"Remember your true self, stay true to your path, and remember that no matter what the future holds, Fubo Dragon Domain will always be one of your trustworthy friends."
Galos nodded and said, "I understand, I will keep that in mind."
There's no need for many words of farewell.
Garus took one last look at the island that had held so many of his memories, then at the legendary golden dragon before him, before raising his majestic head and letting out a long, powerful roar towards the vast sky.
call!
He spread his wings, creating a powerful gust of air, and his black and red dragon body soared into the sky, flying towards the land of Atlanta, with Alberto and Natasha following closely behind.
A new journey has begun.
The Iron King is about to descend upon his most loyal wilderness kingdom.
(End of this chapter)
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