Chapter 503 This time, I will personally ignite the flames and set all nations ablaze.
"Father! Wow, you've become even more majestic! The luster of your scales, your aura! I saw that giant fireball you created in the royal city just now, it was so cool!"
The voice of Iron Dragon Ophelia rang out.
Compared to García, she is several sizes smaller.
However, her figure was equally agile, with well-proportioned and powerful muscles, and the golden patterns on her scales became very clear.
The young Iron Dragon flapped its wings and landed lightly on the edge of the platform next to the Red Emperor.
She naturally moved closer, nestling beside Galos's majestic body.
She nuzzled her dragon father's arm armor affectionately with her faceplate and dragon horns, letting out a satisfied purr: "Although we haven't seen each other for decades, you've always been in my heart, and you hold the highest place, without a doubt!"
Immediately, her gaze shifted, landing longingly on the pile of glittering gems in front of the Red Emperor.
Galos chuckled softly.
He stretched out his paw, rummaged through the pile of snacks and pulled out a few moderately sized gems, then pushed them in front of her.
"Take it and play with it."
Little Iron Dragon got his wish and happily pawed over the shiny treasures with his claws, hugging them tightly in his arms, the scales on his cheeks even opening up a little with joy.
"Thank you, Father! Father is the best!"
Below, the red dragon Garclaw watched this scene, a fleeting look of envy in his eyes.
He envied Ophelia for obtaining the jewel, and he also envied her for being able to be so close to her dragon father without any restraint.
He himself could never act so coquettishly.
"How about... I try it too, and learn from Ophelia to act cute with my father?"
A bizarre thought suddenly popped into his head: Garclaw imagined himself snuggling up to his father, nuzzling his head, and saying in a steady voice, "Father is the best"...
hiss--!
The young red dragon's scales nearly stood on end on the spot. A strong sense of unease swept over his entire body, making him quickly shake the terrible thought out of his mind.
That dragon was terrifying.
Just then, he felt a gaze fixed on him from the direction of the throne.
"Galcro".
“I am here, Father.”
The young red dragon immediately composed himself and straightened his body.
“I see the battle marks on your body.”
Galos said calmly, "Very good. This proves that you have not wasted your time, have not failed your bloodline and my expectations. You are on the right track."
Garclaw's heart skipped a beat.
Receiving such direct affirmation from the dragon father was more exhilarating for him than acquiring treasure.
"then."
"This is a reward for your hard work so far."
Several fire-type gems, favored by the red dragon, flew in graceful parabolas through the air towards Garcho.
Garquero was taken aback at first, then quickly stretched out his claws and carefully caught it.
He grinned, revealing sharp fangs, and a joyful smile bloomed on his face.
"Thank you for your recognition, Father! I will continue to move forward and never let you down!"
Garclaw's loud voice rang out.
Galos glanced around the hall, his gaze sweeping over the dragons, before turning back to Garclaw and asking, "Where are your other brothers and sisters?"
"Laria, Isanora, and Salia."
When the dragon father asked about the other offspring, Garclaw lowered his head and replied, "Father, after his youth, Laria left the kingdom alone."
He said... he wanted to follow the path you took back then.
"From nothing to something, relying on his own wisdom and strength, he first conquered and ruled some scattered clans and tribes, and then step by step, he personally built his own dragon kingdom."
“Sister Isanora, she returned to the Fubo Dragon Domain with her mother.”
“As for Salia…” Garcroo paused for a moment, then said, “She is still in the permafrost of the North. She said that the harsh environment there and the abyssal rifts that have become active in recent years are the best places to hone one’s will and body. So she lives on the edge of the abyssal rift’s influence zone and trains herself by hunting demons.”
As expected... my feeling was right.
Despite his seemingly calm, rational, and thoughtful nature, the red dragon Laria is actually the most ambitious of his offspring, and he puts his ambitions into practice rather than just talking about them.
Just then, a whisper echoed in his mind—it was the voice of Iron Dragon Sorog.
"That kid Laria, he currently occupies several easily defensible hilltops as his territory in a no-man's-land near the Kingdom of Matna Goblin. He has proclaimed himself the Crimson Lord and has gathered about three thousand followers under his command, mainly gnolls and goblins, as well as a small number of ogres and orcs that he has defeated."
"Furthermore, his territory is within the regular surveillance range of our magic satellites."
Galos tilted his head slightly, his gaze falling to his right.
His brother, Iron Dragon Sorog, was having a mental conversation with him while savoring a giant cream cake adorned with berries and honey.
Galos asked himself, "Are you secretly watching him?"
Sorog replied, "Of course, Laria is my nephew after all, and he shares similar blood with me."
"Moreover... I admire his ambition and drive, which reminds me of you when you were young, and of myself."
"So I will keep an eye on him a little. I'm also curious about what he can achieve on his own. Of course, I'll just watch. I won't interfere directly unless absolutely necessary. This is his own trial."
A knowing glint flashed in Galos's eyes.
After a moment's thought, he said to Sorog in his mind, "If necessary, we can lend him a hand, but otherwise, let him make his own way."
"This is the path he chose."
"Understood." Sorog replied succinctly, taking another big bite of cake. "I know my limits. You can't grow a strong tree that can withstand wind and snow in a greenhouse."
Galos withdrew his gaze and looked back at the celebratory scene in the hall, his thoughts drifting.
As time goes by, his descendants will only increase, branching out and growing generation after generation.
At that time, he may only pay more attention to his offspring who have shown extraordinary talent, achieved remarkable success, or are at a critical juncture.
He does not intend to interfere too much with the path chosen by these descendants themselves.
Dragons have long lifespans and their future holds many possibilities.
Providing basic guidance and then letting them fly on their own to find their own sky might be a more suitable approach for the dragon family.
Galos picked up a piece of fine gold ingot, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly, making a crunching sound.
His gaze swept downwards.
Galkro has returned to his seat.
As he enjoyed the food, his hands opened and closed repeatedly, causing the muscles on his dragon arms to rise and fall.
Even during the banquet, the red dragon Garcolo did not forget to train.
Ophelia lay down next to her brother, happily fiddling with the gems her father had just given her, occasionally picking one up to look at it in the firelight and making satisfied murmurs.
In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.
The dragon's feast is drawing to a close, but it is not truly over yet.
However, the atmosphere in the hall was completely different from before.
The dragons and lords no longer focused on the delicacies before them, nor were they engrossed in the performance of their servants. Instead, they gathered in twos and threes, talking in hushed tones, occasionally glancing at the majestic figure of the Red Emperor.
Garros stretched its neck, and a slight crackling sound came from its joints.
Ten consecutive days of eating and rest brought his condition to its peak.
Then, his gaze fell on Iron Dragon Sorog.
Noticing his brother's gaze, Sorog, almost without pausing, skillfully constructed a network of mental connections, and then, at Garros's signal, extended this link to the other end of the hall.
Samantha, the red dragon, was bowing her head and whispering something to her red dragon nephew.
When the link was established, time seemed to slow down within the mental network of the three-headed dragon, and the noise of the outside world became a blurred background sound, like hearing the sound of rain through thick glass.
Galos's voice slowly echoed in his consciousness.
“Sorog, Samantha. You have both reached the level 20 barrier. Gorton, located in the Kingdom of Lorthorn, must be in the same situation. The legendary realm seems so close, but in reality, it is as far away as the stars.”
He paused slightly and said, "In the Fubo Dragon Domain, I have an opportunity to use 'Eternal Tide'."
"For dragons stuck at the limit, it is a key that allows them to truly step into the realm of legend."
Upon hearing this, Sorog's consciousness wave came: "I know about this wonderland. Some time ago, Deborah, Alberto and Natasha returned to the Fubo Dragon Domain one after another. From their words, I guessed that they were trying to break through to the Legendary level by using the power of the tides."
In the Fubo Dragon Domain, metal dragons that have reached the level 20 limit do indeed have the opportunity to use the ancient tides to break through to the legendary realm.
But opportunities are not free; even among our own kind, there is a price to pay.
They could either carry out dangerous missions for the Dragon Realm, driving away powerful enemies, or offer up a vast amount of treasure enough to fill a cave.
Galos continued, "I've decided to give this opportunity to you first, Sorog."
"Once you reach the legendary level, you will be better able to manage the kingdom and deal with possible future storms. As for Samantha, you don't need to wait too long. I will contact the elders of the Fubo Dragon Domain to exchange for more slots, whether it's for missions or treasures."
He was not a formal member of the Fubo Dragon Domain, but he had a good relationship with it.
The metal dragon elders had made it clear that they would not mind giving Garos an extra spot, provided that he could complete certain tasks assigned by the Dragon Realm or offer a sufficient amount of treasure.
If the latter option is chosen, the required amount will be far greater than that required for a regular metal dragon.
But Galus was not worried about this.
As the ruler of a country, his treasury was unfathomable.
Moreover, his resistance to treasure had been honed to the point of being as hard as steel over the course of more than a hundred years.
Trading gold and jewels for a blood relative's advancement to legendary status? That's an incredibly worthwhile deal.
As for the other blood relative, Iron Dragon Gorton...
His situation in the Kingdom of Lorthorn was somewhat delicate.
If one rashly advances to the Legendary level, even with the Crystal Princess's connection and having grown up in the royal court and been regarded as "half a Lorthene Dragon," one's identity will immediately become sensitive.
The influence of the legendary dragon is too great; the human kingdoms will not allow such a being to linger for long.
They either need to find a way to completely incorporate them into the royal family, or they need to impose restrictions and be wary of them at every turn.
Otherwise, if a legendary dragon were to suddenly go berserk, it could cause a devastating catastrophe.
Perhaps... it's time for Gordon to return.
Garus thought to himself.
The decision to keep him in Lorthorn was made after careful consideration.
This strengthens the alliance, demonstrates trust, and also places a pair of eyes beside the southern overlord.
Times have changed. Aura is no longer the nascent kingdom that needed Lorthen's support. Beneath the surface of peaceful relations between the two countries, undercurrents are growing increasingly turbulent.
Gorton's mission was already complete, so there was no need for him to stay in Lorthorn.
"Let's link Gorton in too."
"It's time to hear his own thoughts," Galos said.
Sorog did not say anything more.
The tendrils of the mental network extended from his consciousness, guided by his bloodline, traversing mountains and rivers, winding their way towards the Kingdom of Lorthen.
About half a minute later, a consciousness connected to the network.
"Garos! My dear brother, the great Red Emperor! You have finally awakened! I can feel that the still waters of Romania are about to be stirred up again because of your awakening!"
Gorton's consciousness conveyed a sense of excitement.
“Aura is holding a grand feast to celebrate my awakening, and it is not over yet, while your seat remains vacant.”
Galos responded calmly, then got to the point: "We are discussing matters of legend."
"Sorrog will have a breakthrough opportunity, and Samantha is also in the queue. Gorton, you should have reached the level 20 limit by now. What are your plans for the future?"
"You no longer need to stay in Lorthorn; you can return to Aura at any time."
He passed the choice to them.
The internet fell silent for a brief moment.
"legend……"
Gorton's mental fluctuations gradually subsided: "Yes, I felt that barrier, so strong it gave me a headache, but I have the same blood flowing through my veins as you, the blood of Ignath."
"Even if I am not as talented as you, I am confident that one day I will be able to overcome this obstacle."
"Besides, I'm still young, so I'm not in a hurry."
He then changed the subject: "As for returning to Aura... Brother, my thoughts have changed over the years."
Galos nodded slightly: "Tell me about it."
He noticed the change in Goldon's manner of speaking.
As time goes by, this once least intelligent blood relative has indeed grown a lot, and his tone has become more composed and thoughtful.
“When the kingdom of Aura was founded, I longed to escape this exquisite and magnificent cage, to return to the place where dragons should dwell, to soar through the skies with you, and to tear apart our enemies with our claws.”
"I'm fed up with the formalities of human courts, and I'm tired of all that empty formalities."
"But as time went by, I gradually gained different... insights."
Galos's interest was piqued: "Tell me more about it."
Gorton's consciousness rippled: "Brother, Sorog, Samantha, I have lived in the human kingdom for many years, surrounded by short-lived species."
"I witnessed firsthand the aging and death of the previous King O'Brien."
"I also witnessed Elena's gradual aging from a human girl to her eventual transformation into a fire spirit. It was a fundamental change, almost equivalent to death and rebirth."
"There's more."
“There are some nobles I used to know whose children grew up under my nose, inherited their titles, and then had their own children. One by one, the people I knew grew old and passed away, and new faces kept emerging in the royal court.”
"The Royal Court of Lorthorn is like a play, with roles changing and masks shifting, but the stage remains the same."
"Do you know what I've learned from all of this?"
After a brief pause, Gorton's consciousness deepened: "Time, the power of time."
"For humans, twenty years is enough for an infant to grow into a young adult and for black hair to turn silver; a hundred years is enough for a family to rise and fall."
"The king will grow old and die."
"Nobility rises and falls; a prominent family today may be forgotten tomorrow."
"But what about me? Twenty years is just a slightly longer slumber, and a hundred years is just a few pages in the long scroll of life. I have a long life ahead of me, long enough to spend decades cultivating a relationship, a hundred years subtly influencing a family's legacy, and even longer...weaving an invisible net."
A confused fluctuation emanated from Samantha's consciousness.
"So, what exactly do you want to do? Retire in Lorthorn?"
Gorton smiled and stated his thoughts. "I want to stay in Lorthorn and, over a long period of time, gradually infiltrate every corner of this country."
"Through influence, guidance, and subtle transformation, I will become the uncrowned king of this land, ensuring that Lorthen's future flows in a direction favorable to us without us even realizing it."
"This requires extreme patience."
“And I will always remember your teachings, Galus. I may not be smart enough, but I am never lacking in patience.”
Sorog's thoughts came calmly: "The human world is ever-changing."
"A single change of throne, a political purge, is enough to wipe out decades of your efforts. Moreover, how can you ensure that you will not be assimilated by Lorthen's interests over the long years? When you drink with human nobles more often than you see your own blood relatives, when you start to think in their way, whose brother are you really?"
Gordon's answer was unequivocal: "Because I will never forget who I am."
"When I look down at those human faces that come and go in a hurry, I will always know that I am a dragon, your brother, and time will never erase that."
Galos had been listening quietly until now, when he finally spoke slowly.
"A long-term plan, which sounds quite feasible, taking advantage of the dragons' most fundamental advantage: their long lifespan, but... I don't support it."
Gorton's consciousness clearly faltered.
He didn't rush to argue, but instead asked in confusion, "Why?"
Galos grinned, an invisible smile spreading across the network: "Because I have awakened, and because the peace between Aura and Lorthen may not last long."
Gordon instantly understood what he meant.
"Brother, do you intend to... wage war against Lorthorn?"
Galos shook his head slightly: "No, it is Lorthene who wants to start a war with us, and this war is most likely unavoidable."
“Until then, you can continue with your plans, find something to do, and perhaps... at a crucial moment, your presence can have an unexpected effect.”
The relationships among the Romanian countries have never been static.
Alliances can be torn up, friendships can be betrayed, and today's allies may become tomorrow's mortal enemies.
Galos had already seen through all of this.
The Kingdom of Aura is ultimately not a human-dominated nation. Its ruler is a giant dragon, and its core strength lies in its dragon horde. Such an existence, if it reveals even the slightest ambition for expansion, is enough to make all the human kingdoms in Romania uneasy.
Aura's expansion is inevitable.
The number of dragons is growing, legendary dragons will be born one after another, and Garoth's own power is also steadily increasing.
The kingdom's existing territory and resources are gradually becoming insufficient to satisfy its ever-growing appetite.
If it does not expand outwards, internal conflicts will accumulate and surge like magma underground, eventually erupting into a disaster that will tear the kingdom apart. At that time, without the existence of the kingdom's machinery, Garos's growth rate will inevitably slow down significantly.
His evolutionary talent has always primarily affected the transformation of his very essence.
His life level growth is inseparable from the support of massive resources.
Moreover, through conversations with Sorog during the banquet, Galos had learned of the changes in the world during his slumber.
The advancing orcish empire, and the meteor calamity that descended upon the continent of Aurotara.
All of this made him feel uneasy.
Thinking about Holden Empire's Abyss development plan, Garos instinctively felt that this world might become quite dangerous in the future.
Therefore, he cannot stop striving to become stronger.
“The suppression from other countries will come soon, but we will never sit idly by and wait for our doom.”
"Before that, we will strike first."
The Red Emperor slightly raised his head, his gaze seemingly penetrating the walls of the banquet hall, passing over undulating mountains and winding rivers, and gazing upon the vast southern land.
"The first step is to completely transform the entire Kingdom of Theo into Theo of Aura, not a nominal vassal, but a true territory of Aura, making it a part of us."
He said.
Once upon a time, during that war that swept across the continent, he was helpless, like duckweed drifting with the tide, and could only try his best to fight for his own interests in the cracks.
But now, the flames of war will no longer be lit by others.
This time, he himself will be the one to hold the torch.
(End of this chapter)
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