Chapter 500 The White Calamity, the Green Emperor, the Orc Fleet, Awakening
After the meteor shower swept across the continent of Aurotara, the gears of time continued to turn.
The year 398 of the Gregorian calendar.
In the Kingdom of Lorthen, the Grand Princess Elena Lorthen, the aunt of King Raymond, began to age at an alarming rate, and the kingdom's treasures could not stop the passage of her life.
This princess, once renowned for her wisdom and beauty, is inevitably approaching the end of her life.
However, Princess Crystal was unwilling to accept this fate.
She grew up during Lortheon's peaceful and prosperous era, and personally experienced the trials of continuous warfare. She witnessed the kingdom's decline and difficult rebirth. Deep down, she was not afraid of death, but she worried that the younger generation would make wrong choices on the throne, fearing that this land would repeat the mistakes of the past.
In the final moments of life when the candle of life is about to go out.
Using her life's accumulated magical knowledge and the kingdom's secret ancient rituals, the Crystal Princess transformed herself into a pure fire elemental spirit, abandoning her flesh and blood to remain in the world as a burning elemental form, continuing to watch over her kingdom.
401 AD.
Exciting news has arrived from the Kingdom of Aura.
Ennus, the amethyst dragon-lion, had finally broken through its bottleneck after undergoing bloodline purification and a long period of accumulation, its life essence leaping forward, and officially entering the legendary realm.
This lord's power increased greatly, making him one of the kingdom's strongest pillars.
In the year 402 of the New Calendar, the long-dormant Iron Dragon Sorog awakens.
His life level had reached the limit of level 20, and his immense power was contained within his cold, hard, iron-colored scales.
In the same year, under the leadership of this prince, known for his iron will and wisdom, a grand project codenamed "Sanctuary," which had been temporarily halted due to his slumber but was only a few steps away from completion, was fully restarted.
The kingdom's resources and wisdom were once again poured into this place.
In the year 403 of the Gregorian calendar, autumn was deepening.
Deep within the Dragonspine Mountains, in the heart of the Kingdom of Aura.
Surrounded by towering, precipitous mountains, lies a vast basin heavily protected by countless layers of magical barriers and physical defenses.
This place is heavily guarded year-round, and ordinary creatures have no way to get close.
At this moment, in the center of the basin, a building stands quietly.
It is shaped like an inverted silver mountain, and its entire body is constructed from countless precisely interlocking regular geometric shapes. Its lines are cold and hard, its structure is bizarre, and its outline vaguely resembles a giant holy emblem magnified a million times.
Its material is neither gold nor stone, and its surface has a dark luster like mercury.
Countless intricate and dazzling runes are inscribed on it, layer upon layer.
This is the alchemical crystallization, the magical satellite of the Kingdom of Aura, "Sanctuary," created with a vast amount of resources and time.
The entire project not only embodies the hard work of warlocks from Aura, but also attracts elites from Lorthen, Matna, and even the Fubo Dragon Domain to participate in the collaboration.
It is highly anticipated and is a true strategic weapon.
On the western side of the basin, atop a mountain peak rising abruptly from the ground.
The Iron Dragon Sorog, its body gleaming with a cold metallic luster, sat atop the highest point, its massive form casting a large shadow that enveloped half of the mountainside.
He slowly turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the magnificent silver structure in the basin below, a look of satisfaction crossing his face.
Half a step behind Iron Dragon stood a figure formed from pure light.
It was in the form of a human male, with a resolute face and calm eyes, revealing the vicissitudes of time and the baptism of war.
He too gazed silently at the "sanctuary," the light around him flickering with the subtle fluctuations of his emotions.
This is Rodrigo, formerly the Shield of Theo, now one of the Templar Commanders.
“It’s finally finished.” Tie Long’s deep voice broke the silence of the mountaintop. “The slumber took some time, but in the end… we made it at the right time.”
He hoped that when his blood relatives awoke, they would see the sanctuary high in the sky.
Opposite him, Rodrigo bowed slightly, his body, formed of light, displaying a respectful posture.
"With the Prince's great talent and strategic vision, the Sanctuary has been completed, and the foundation of the Kingdom of Aura will be even more solid, making it a formidable force in all directions."
Iron Dragon turned his head to the side, his gaze focusing on the face of the human hero.
“Rodrig, you know I have high hopes for you,” he said slowly. “The Sanctuary, a strategic asset of Aura, will also become the stage for you to shine.”
At this point, Tie Long suddenly changed the subject.
His tone became direct and sharp as he said, "But if one day, Aura's forces are once again directed at Theo, the land for which you served and ultimately died, what will you think? Will your heart be stirred?"
The air on the mountaintop seemed to freeze for a moment.
Rodrigo fell silent.
Countless complex emotions flashed through his eyes, eventually settling into a calm.
After a few seconds, the heroic spirit slowly raised his eyes to meet the iron dragon's gaze.
“Rodrig has shed his last drop of blood for Theo, dying on the battlefield, his body wrapped in a horse's hide... I owe Theo nothing more.” He paused, then continued, “Now, I am the spirit of Aura, one of the commanders of the Sanctuary, and my loyalty belongs to this land that gave me new life.”
“However,” he changed the subject slightly, and said frankly, “if possible… I would not like to personally lead an army to that land.”
"This is not cowardice, but... some useless old thoughts may affect my judgment and decision-making at critical moments. Commander, be clear-headed and untainted by dust."
Tie Long lowered his eyes and stared at him for a few seconds, but no anger or dissatisfaction appeared in his eyes.
Instead, he grinned, revealing his gleaming white fangs, forming an arc resembling a smile.
"Old grudges... fine, I have no interest in forcing others to do things against their conscience."
"If we ever have to wage war against Theo, then other heroic commanders will be in charge of the front lines."
Tie Long shifted his gaze back to the shimmering silver sanctuary in the basin, as if he could see a more distant and grander vision of the future through it.
Then, he spoke again slowly, his tone resolute.
"Theo...it will become Aura's Theo sooner or later."
"The only difference is in what way and when. At that time, there will probably be no distinction between Aura and Theo on this plain. Your old thoughts will naturally disappear and you will have no more worries."
Rodrigo was silent for a moment, then bowed again: "Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness."
Tie Long said no more.
At the same time, the figures of the human heroes transformed into a flowing radiance, casting it upon the sanctuary in the center of the basin and merging with it.
Time passed quietly, and noon gradually approached.
Around the basin, in addition to the Iron Dragon Sorog, more and more powerful figures arrived one after another, each finding a place with a wide view to stop.
The white dragon Beskar coiled on the eastern cliff, its scales gleaming coldly in the autumn sun; the amethyst dragon Yseramas stood quietly to the side, its body shimmering with purple light.
The blue dragon Zolaya, along with the green dragon Ludwig, the black dragon Serafina, and other dragons, each occupied their own territory, their dragon might subtly intertwined.
On the other side, the Red Emperor's four offspring, now all in their youth, are robust and have a calm demeanor. Without exception, they possess a size and life level that surpasses that of an adult dragon, drawing attention. They stand solemnly alongside the Red Emperor's black dragon adopted daughter and several outstanding graduates of the Ignas Dragon Academy.
Further away, several lords were also in this area.
The main forces of the Kingdom of Aura are almost entirely concentrated here.
Elvie and Karu were also among the spectators.
Their eyes gleamed with a light different from usual, a gaze belonging to another consciousness.
The sleeping Red Emperor, through the two pairs of eyes beneath his throne, is witnessing this historic moment alongside his kingdom.
Soon, when the sun reached its zenith and the sunlight was at its most intense.
Iron Dragon Sorog raised its majestic head, its voice booming like a bell, echoing throughout the basin and reverberating among the mountains.
"Begin, Sanctuary, ascend!"
As soon as the order was given, the nine giant energy guiding towers surrounding the edge of the basin simultaneously emitted a deep hum.
They burst forth with dazzling beams of light, shooting straight into the sky, intertwining and spreading high in the heavens, ultimately forming a vast three-dimensional magic array that covered the entire basin.
The array slowly rotated, its speed increasing, causing the surrounding magic to surge like a tide.
Buzz!
The serene luster that had flowed across the surface of the sanctuary suddenly became dazzlingly bright. The countless runes engraved on it, starting from the base, lit up one by one like ignited flames, spreading rapidly upwards.
In an instant, the entire magnificent sanctuary seemed to be completely ignited from the inside out.
It transformed into an incomparably dazzling body of light, its radiance even surpassing the midday sun at one point.
Immediately afterwards, a deep and continuous tremor came from the earth.
Under the gaze of countless eyes, this creation, the culmination of countless efforts, began to break free from the earth's shackles and steadily rose upwards.
At first, it rose very slowly, like a giant whale emerging from the deep sea.
However, the speed quickly increased as more and more magic arrays were activated at each level.
Its silver body tore through the air, stirring up the dust accumulated in the basin and forming a thick, straight column of gray smoke. The sanctuary itself, like a sharp sword cleaving through the world, surged upwards along the center of the smoke column.
A howling wind swept through the viewing area, blowing against the dragons' hard scales and the lords' flowing manes and long hair.
"May Aura's might dominate the world, and may Aura prosper forever!"
Some of the young dragons, unable to contain their excitement, let out excited roars and growls.
Under the watchful eyes of countless people, the sanctuary rose higher and higher, its enormous form gradually shrinking in view. Soon after, when viewed from the ground, it had transformed into a bright, silvery-white star.
Even in daylight, its brilliance is clearly visible, shining alongside the sun.
The Heroic Spirit Sanctuary, a strategic asset of the Kingdom of Aura, is now officially in place!
Subsequently, under the effect of the pre-set magical array, the newly born star gradually receded and slowly disappeared into the azure sky, hiding in the elusive dimensional rifts.
It disappeared from the conventional view of the countries.
Only when the Kingdom of Aura needs it will this sword hanging in the sky reappear.
405 AD.
In the northern border region of the Kingdom of Aura, north of the permafrost tundra, the vast icy sea known as the Coldwater Ocean is no longer peaceful.
The coastal outposts and patrols established by the kingdom here began to be frequently attacked by the Shahua fishmen, evil intelligent creatures known as "sea devils" by the land races.
They resemble a hybrid of humans and fish, are ferocious and bloodthirsty, and are accustomed to plundering.
Initially, there were only sporadic harassments and small-scale looting, which did not attract much attention from the higher-ups and were simply dealt with by the local garrison guards.
However, the harassment by the Shahua fishmen quickly escalated from harassment to a large-scale landing attack.
More and more murlocs are swarming out of the sea, attacking Aura's coastal bases, destroying facilities, and plundering resources. Their behavior is becoming increasingly rampant, and there are even legendary leaders among them.
Blue Dragon Heriam realized that he could not completely eliminate the threat from the deep sea on his own, so he urgently reported the situation to the capital.
Soon after, beacon fires were lit one after another along the long northern coastline of the permafrost tundra.
The Shahua fishmen launched a long-planned large-scale offensive, tearing open gaps in the defensive line and advancing their landing forces inland.
Just as the pressure on the defending troops was increasing.
Above the sky, beams of dazzling light tore through the clouds and descended vertically.
The heroic warriors from the Sanctuary descend upon the battlefield.
They are composed of pure spiritual matter and energy, unaffected by cold or fatigue, and unafraid of injury or death.
The tide of battle turned in an instant.
The Sawa fishmen were routed by the Holy Legion's attack, retreating in disarray and leaving behind a large number of corpses. The fishman leader was severely injured by a legendary hero, but because he was too close to the ocean, he escaped by using the water and barely saved his life.
The Kingdom of Aura did not give up.
Under the orders of the Iron Prince, the ancient dragon Bescal personally went into the sea and chased the fish-man leader for hundreds of kilometers, finally capturing him in a deep sea rift.
After being interrogated, the Kingdom of Aura learned the reason for the large-scale attack by the Shahua fishmen.
They were trying to escape the threat of the "White Peril".
—The White Dragon of All Laws, Heatherfield.
This powerful and famous ancient white dragon has appeared multiple times in recent years in the depths of the Cold Water Ocean, specializing in hunting legendary life forms with cruel methods and mysterious whereabouts.
The White Dragon Domain issued a high-value warrant for his arrest and organized several expeditions, but all of them were unsuccessful.
Some legendary creatures that inhabit the deep sea have been forced to abandon their homes and migrate to the relatively safe shallow seas or even land.
This group of Shahua fishmen, unaware of the true power of the Kingdom of Aura, was forced to land and invade the Aura coast in an attempt to gain new living space due to a survival crisis.
Ultimately, the surviving Shahua fishmen chose to submit to the Kingdom of Aura.
They became vassals of the kingdom, thus adding another legendary figure to the Aura.
In the same year, Samantha, the Fire Princess and Industrial Governor of the Kingdom of Aura, awoke from her slumber. Her life level also broke through to the level 20 limit, just one step away from becoming a legend.
406 AD (Gregorian calendar)
On the continent of Aurotara, the aftershocks of the meteor disaster have not yet completely subsided. The Elf Empire is busy repairing its homeland and pacifying nature, while other kingdoms scattered across the continent have also suffered heavy losses due to the natural disaster and are unable to recover their national strength, all of them preoccupied with their own problems.
The southeastern part of the mainland is a vast wilderness area.
A previously unknown dragon seized the perfect opportunity and expanded its power at an astonishing speed.
Her monster army conquered everywhere, swallowing up weak tribes and city-states, and quickly established a loosely structured but vast dragon kingdom.
Because its core territory is a vast, lush, green wilderness, the kingdom is also known simply as the "Green Kingdom".
The Lord of the Green Fields is a female green dragon.
She had quietly advanced to the legendary realm before reaching adulthood, possessing a powerful special talent, yet she remained low-key and unknown.
Only when this golden opportunity arrived did she suddenly strike, rising like a comet streaking across the night sky, making a name for herself.
Known for her cunning, patience, and strength, she quickly rose to fame.
Some intelligent beings and intelligence organizations that keep a close eye on the movements of dragons around the world can't help but compare the newly rising Green Kingdom with the already established Kingdom of Aura on the distant continent of Atlanta.
Some even started calling this female green dragon the "Green Emperor," comparing her to the infamous "Red Emperor" of Aura.
Although the two currently have no overlap, many people have already made comparisons between them.
Currently, the Red Emperor, who has created many legendary feats, clearly enjoys a higher reputation.
410 AD (Gregorian calendar)
The orcish empire of Kantum on the continent of Seresia has never lost its desire for conquest.
However, while the orcs were individually brave, their alchemy and industrial technologies were severely lagging behind, and their massive army was confined to their home continent, making it difficult for them to launch long-distance expeditions across the sea.
For nearly a century, the entire Orc Empire has been holding back a sense of pent-up frustration.
They poured resources and time into the research of navigation technology, and with the whole nation united, they finally made a breakthrough. This unconventional empire, which was basically composed of barbaric and reckless men, developed a reliable fleet capable of long-distance ocean voyages.
An unprecedentedly large orc naval fleet has been assembled.
Amidst the frenzied battle cries of countless orc warriors and the prayers of priests, they officially set sail.
The massive orc fleet headed straight for the continent of Aurotara, which had not yet fully recovered from the calamity. At the same time, several smaller advance fleets were also dispatched, heading towards the land of Atalanta.
413 AD (Gregorian calendar)
Within the Kingdom of Aura, a new legend has been born among humanity.
Delia Hines.
He is Charles Hines' grandson, but he did not inherit any snake-man bloodline; he is purely human.
This child displayed remarkable talent. In addition to undergoing arduous training and trials, he also enjoyed the resources of the kingdom to nurture him, and thus, he finally succeeded in breaking through the legendary level.
Considering his age, his achievements may not be considered remarkable among legendary figures.
However, Delia was a true first-generation Aura, who learned, grew up, and rose through the ranks in the kingdom under the rule of the Red Emperor. She was the first human legend cultivated by the Kingdom of Aura itself, which is of profound significance.
Time flies, spring goes and autumn comes.
In the blink of an eye, another three years have passed.
Summer of 416 AD (Gregorian calendar).
The Kingdom of Leon, which gained the largest territory in the Second Romanian War, suffered from increasingly severe internal depletion due to its constant expenditure of national resources on suppressing internal rebellions and maintaining its rule.
All remedial reform measures have been ineffective.
They appealed to their former allies for help, but received no effective response.
Finally, this kingdom, which was already riddled with problems, could no longer maintain its superficial unity.
Driven by some unseen forces, it collapsed and split into several independent principalities that were either hostile to or united with each other. The former kingdom's territory became a chessboard for warlord conflicts.
That same year, in winter.
In the desolate wilderness of the Dragon Ridge Mountains, a fierce snowstorm raged.
On a cold day with light snow falling, an ordinary mountain covered in snow suddenly began to shake violently without warning. Deep cracks rapidly appeared and extended on the mountain's surface, and large amounts of snow and rocks rolled down.
It was as if some enormous entity sleeping inside the mountain was slowly awakening, turning its heavy body.
(End of this chapter)
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