Chapter 456 Therese: Grandfather? You old geezer, how come you're still alive?!
The young dragons of the Royal Dragon Academy of Ignas have very well-developed muscles in their shoulders, backs, waists, and abdomens, in addition to their wings, necks, and limbs, as if they could unleash earth-shattering power at any moment.
Upon seeing this, the ancient white dragon Beskar instinctively gasped.
He was almost dumbfounded, forgetting to control his facial expressions.
What's with the dragons here?!
This art style is so weird!
On one side of the training field, there is a slightly higher stone observation platform.
On the stage, a tall, slender, and agile female white dragon with clearly defined muscles stood quietly.
She is the director here, Therese.
Her dragon scales were not the heavy, pale white of Bescal's, but a crystalline white with a pearly luster, shimmering with a cool halo in the sunlight.
In fact, Therese's scales were originally pale white, and even her name was Pale Wings.
However, as her ecological niche improved, she enjoyed more resources, and she underwent more training, her scales gradually changed to their current color.
Under Galus's quiet observation.
Therese was looking at several young dragons who had just finished a round of competition and were taking a short rest on the sidelines.
"Kahn, how did your challenge against the Blue Dragon Ries go?"
She looked at the teenage red dragon, whose body bore several charred electric shock scars and whose mood seemed slightly downcast.
Red Dragon Kahn lowered his head in frustration and replied sullenly, "I have lost, Your Excellency Dean Therese."
He explained, “She…she pretended to be weak to lure me into a full-force attack, then set up a lightning trap to ensnare me, and then launched a fierce attack on my flank, ultimately defeating me.”
After hearing this, Therese nodded, her face revealing neither joy nor anger.
Then, she turned her gaze to another, slightly smaller, teenage blue dragon beside her.
"Liz, you have won this battle."
She asked expressionlessly and in a flat tone, "So, does this mean that you can now freely laugh at Kahn's impulsiveness and folly to demonstrate your victory and wisdom?"
Under the gaze of the white dragon Therese, the blue dragon Liss hesitated slightly.
"According to Chapter 3 of 'The Practice of Niche Dialectics,' the victor does have the right to humiliate the loser to a certain extent, but this must be based on a careful assessment of the subsequent impact."
She paused briefly before continuing her analysis.
"Kahn's physical strength is superior to mine. If I choose to confront him head-on, I will be at a disadvantage."
"My victory this time was not overwhelming; the gap between us is not so large as to be insurmountable."
"Therefore, if I humiliate him excessively, it is very likely to provoke him to take more intense and longer revenge in the future, which will inevitably interfere with my growth process and, in the long run, be detrimental to my development."
After speaking, she turned her gaze to Dean White Dragon Therese, with a hint of inquiry in her eyes.
"Well analyzed."
Therese gave a word of approval, then her gaze slowly swept over all the teenage dragons in the room.
“The strong have an objective advantage over the weak, and the strong can use this advantage to exert appropriate pressure in order to maintain their own status and interests.”
"However, excessive humiliation only sows the seeds of hatred, especially when the other party also has the potential to grow."
"The reason we need to suppress the weak at certain times is to establish our own position and protect our own interests, not to create an enemy that we will never defeat."
Her tone suddenly shifted, becoming cold and clear: "However, this does not mean weakness or backing down."
“When you are certain that the other party will not pose a threat to you in the future, or that the benefits you can gain now far outweigh the potential risks in the future, taking swift and decisive action to completely establish a dominant relationship is also a reasonable and wise choice.”
"And when you are in a position of absolute disadvantage, and resistance will only bring meaningless destruction... what should you do?"
Upon hearing Dean Bai Long's question, all the young dragons present straightened their posture and became serious.
"Be patient! Observe! Learn! Accumulate! Surpass! Counterattack!"
They raised their heads and shouted the academy's motto in unison, their voices clear and powerful.
"very good!"
Therese flicked her dragon tail, a look of satisfaction in her eyes.
"The academy never encourages reckless courage and impulsiveness, as that would be irresponsible towards your precious dragon bodies and future prospects."
"When you are weak, the wisdom of survival and development is more important than momentary impulse. Only when you are forced into a corner with no way out should you bet everything you have, fight back, and fight to the death!"
She spoke in a deep voice, each word reaching the ears of every young dragon.
On the other side, Galos listened to this instruction, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
It sounds like Therese has made quite specific and pragmatic additions and developments to her proposed niche theory, making the theory more operational and instructive, and the system more complete.
Bescal, the ancient white dragon beside her, wore a strange expression, tilting his massive head as he scrutinized Therese.
When he heard about the topic of ecological niches, he nodded slightly, his eyes revealing a deep sense of agreement. Bescal actually had similar ideas, but he hadn't summarized them like Therese had.
Meanwhile, Therese's lecture was not yet over.
"Whether you dominate the weak or patiently develop your strength, the premise of all this is that you must clearly know who you are ultimately loyal to and where the source of your great power comes from!"
She raised one of her front paws and pointed at the majestic emperor sculpture.
"Your Majesty Garo Ignas!"
"Our Emperor, the Great Lord of the North, the Ruler of the Kingdom of Aura!"
"It was he who provided you with all the resources and a safe and stable environment necessary for your growth; it was he who defeated powerful enemies and expanded your territory with supreme power, allowing you to grow up in peace today without worrying about being captured or enslaved!"
"Your Majesty's strength, Your Majesty's wisdom, and Your Majesty's will are the cornerstones that support your ecological niche."
"Loyalty and reverence for His Majesty are not shackles that bind you, but your greatest reliance and glory!"
"Any thought or action that attempts to shake this point is digging its own foundation and courting its own destruction!"
The young dragons below listened, their blood seemingly boiling, and they shouted in unison, their voices sweeping across the entire plaza like a tidal wave.
"Loyalty! Loyalty! Loyalty!"
At the Royal Dragon Academy of Ignas, young dragons are taught to build strong bodies, hone their wisdom, and act decisively... but all this wisdom concerning their own survival and interests ultimately points to loyalty to the one and only emperor.
Of course, the dragons' inherently unruly and self-centered chaotic instincts still linger in their blood.
But they were also repeatedly educated.
Those instincts are bad habits, flaws, and inconveniences that need to be overcome.
In this academy, they struggle with their own nature almost every moment, gradually being molded into a new generation of dragons who possess both strong fighting will and survival wisdom, as well as a high degree of loyalty to the kingdom.
Therese finished her address and was preparing to arrange the next training session.
Just then, two striking lights suddenly appeared in the sky.
Buzz! Buzz!
Accompanied by faint energy vibrations, the figures of a majestic and imposing red iron dragon and a legendary white dragon appeared one after the other in the sky above the academy.
All the young dragons in the arena paused, and in unison looked up at the sky.
When the two figures were clearly seen, especially the red iron dragon in the lead, the entire world seemed to be instantly silenced, and even the heaviest breathing stopped abruptly.
The next moment, it was like a long-suppressed volcano erupting.
"Your Majesty! It's His Majesty the Emperor!"
A teenage blue dragon was the first to roar excitedly.
The fervent emotions spread like wildfire throughout the entire dragon horde.
The young dragons no longer maintained a neat formation; they stretched their necks, trying to appear more upright and spirited. Some tensed all their muscles, intentionally showing off their well-developed, muscular physiques. Every pair of dragon eyes burned with a fiery light.
"Loyalty! For His Majesty!"
It is unclear who first shouted this slogan that had just been repeatedly instilled, but it immediately triggered a tremendous response.
"Loyalty! For His Majesty!"
"Loyalty! For Emperor Ignas!"
The young dragons roared together, causing the surrounding snow to fall in a rustling sound.
The wisdom of forbearance and observation, which had been emphasized in the previous address, was temporarily overshadowed by pure excitement and reverence.
They were all young, and from the day they hatched, they had grown up listening to the legendary deeds of the Red Iron Dragon Emperor. Their awe of him even surpassed that of the ethereal dragon gods in their inherited memories.
Facing one's sovereign at close range is an experience that would be difficult for any young person to bear calmly.
Therese looked at the young dragons' slightly over-the-top, excited reaction, but there was no blame in her eyes. Instead, a hint of satisfaction flashed across her face.
This fervent reverence is a testament to the success of her education.
At the Royal Dragon Academy of Ignas, while instruction in niche theory and physical training is important, education on loyalty to the Emperor is always paramount and of utmost importance.
Dean Bailong did not speak to stop the dragons from cheering.
She turned slightly to the side, lowered her head, and gestured to the emperor in the sky to show her respect and reverence.
The ancient white dragon Beskar tilted its enormous head, its dragon eyes filled with surprise and contemplation.
In his long memory, dragons were usually arrogant, hostile to each other, and difficult to unite.
Even he, an ancient dragon, had never seen so many young people of his kind gather together, expressing their awe and respect for another individual in such a unified and collectively believed way.
At the same time, Galos took in everything below.
He spread his broad wings, and his majestic body stood out even more clearly in the wind and snow.
He did not let out a deafening roar, nor did he deliberately unleash his overwhelming dragon might. He simply nodded slightly, his gaze calmly and majestically sweeping across the entire academy grounds.
This simple action quickly calmed the boiling young dragons down.
They were still excited, but they tried to restrain themselves, looking up at their emperor with even more fervent eyes, waiting for instructions, or simply feeling honored to be watched.
Now that he was here, Galos felt he should say something.
Under the watchful eyes of many young dragons, the Red Iron Dragon slowly spoke.
“I have seen your enthusiasm.”
The first sentence made the hearts of all the young dragons skip a beat, followed by a surge of excitement at being recognized by their monarch.
Garus lowered his eyes, looking down majestically at these cornerstones of the kingdom's future, and continued, "The kingdom belongs to me, but its future also belongs to you."
"The niches you each establish will collectively shape the niche of the entire Kingdom of Aura on the world stage."
"Continue your training, young behemoths."
"For yourselves, for me, and for your emperor."
"Remember everything you have learned here, sharpen your claws, forge your scales, and temper your will to be unbreakable."
"I look forward to the day when you have truly grown up and become the strong pillars that support the kingdom."
"At that time, in the Kingdom of Aura, under the protection of my dragon wings, your power, your wisdom, your claws and dragon breath will extend along with the kingdom's territory and shine with the kingdom's glory!"
After a brief silence, an even more intense dragon roar tore through the swirling snow and exploded into the sky.
"For Aura! For His Majesty!"
"Loyalty! Glory! Victory!"
Galos calmly accepted the thunderous roar of loyalty and nodded slightly.
Bescal stood aside, secretly feeling a chill.
This Red Iron Dragon Emperor not only possessed a powerful force that made him feel oppressed, but his skill in controlling the dragon's heart and uniting will and loyalty also made him feel unfathomable.
How much time and effort must it take to accumulate such power and wisdom?
Could he be an ancient dragon, or even a prehistoric dragon?!
Bescal thought to himself.
A few minutes later, on the higher horizon, obscured by heavy wind and snow.
Garus, the white dragon Therese, and the ancient white dragon Beskar hovered here.
"Hey, my king, are you satisfied with the current state of this academy?"
Therese leaned closer to the red iron dragon, her tone tinged with anticipation.
There were no other young dragons around. As a dragon who had followed Garus for a long time, her attitude was no longer as formal as before, and she appeared more casual and approachable.
At this moment, the white dragon looked like he was waiting for praise, gazing expectantly at Garus.
The aloof dean demeanor she had previously maintained in front of the students had completely vanished.
Seeing this, Galos raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a smile, and said, "Frankly speaking, this exceeded my expectations and I am very satisfied."
"Therese, you did an excellent job."
The white dragon immediately wagged its tail happily.
Then, as if sensing something, her nostrils twitched slightly, and her gaze held a hint of doubt. She turned to the ancient white dragon, Beskar, who was following beside the red iron dragon.
Across from him, Bescal also wore a strange expression, carefully scrutinizing Therese.
At such close range, they could smell a similar bloodline aura emanating from each other, though very faint, it was definitely there.
Garus's gaze shifted between the two white dragons, and he also noticed the subtle connection in their scents.
Could it be such a coincidence?
He thought for a moment, then realized that the total number of dragons in the border region and the northern ice plains was not large to begin with, and since they all belonged to the same lineage of white dragons, the probability of them being related seemed quite high... He pondered silently in his heart.
"May I have your name?"
After a brief silence, the ancient white dragon Beskar couldn't help but ask first.
The middle-aged white dragon responded frankly: "Therese Gabriella."
Another silence fell over the air.
Then, the ancient white dragon slowly said, "My name is Bescar Gabriela. Judging from my age, I should be your grandfather."
The similarity in their bloodlines allowed them to confirm their kinship on the spot.
However, the touching scene of the grandparents and grandchildren showing their affection, which was expected, did not occur.
Grandfather… A slight alarm bell rang in Therese’s mind, but she showed no sign of it on her face.
Her parents seemed to have perished in the harsh environment of the icy plains long ago, but unexpectedly, this old man was still alive and had already broken through to the legendary realm.
What is his purpose in appearing at this moment?
Just to catch up?
Bai Long doesn't possess this traditional virtue of valuing family ties.
Could it be that they have their eye on this college that I have painstakingly built up?
He wanted to intervene, or even replace, Gu Long, as his author.
...Therese's mind raced, various possibilities flashing through her head.
Considering the other party's legendary level of life and strength, Therese quickly suppressed the slight wariness and displeasure that rose in her heart and switched to another face.
A perfectly timed look of surprise and realization appeared on her face, followed by a slight smile that blended affection and joy.
"So that's how it is! No wonder... no wonder I felt an inexplicable sense of closeness to you from the first moment I saw you."
"This is truly a fateful reunion, and it makes me... incredibly happy!"
Upon hearing this, Beskar smiled knowingly, his dragon whiskers trembling slightly.
Having lived for so long, how could he not see through Therese's little schemes and the pretense behind her words?
While Bai Long's acting was decent in his prime, it still appeared somewhat immature in the face of Gu Long's keen insight.
Bescal chuckled inwardly, but remained outwardly composed, even displaying a rather cooperative and gentle expression.
"Therese, my descendant, it fills me with heartfelt joy to see you grow up so well, to be able to stand alone under the great emperor and to lead such an important academy."
Gu Long's tone was very kind.
He paused, then continued in a low laugh, "Speaking of which, it's quite a strange coincidence."
"Now, like you, I am honored to serve His Majesty. However, I am new here and do not yet understand many of the affairs and rules of the kingdom."
"In the future, on this new land, I will inevitably have to ask for advice and learn from you, my 'senior'."
Therese immediately shook her head, adopting a humble posture.
"You are already a noble ancient dragon, while I am only in my prime and have not yet reached the legendary level. The little I have achieved so far is entirely due to His Majesty's favor and trust."
"I really don't deserve your advice."
"However, if you have any needs or questions, please feel free to ask. I will do my best to meet them within my capabilities."
The two white dragons flew back and forth in the air, their words sounding earnest and considerate, and their smiles appearing quite warm.
It truly felt like a touching family reunion.
Galos overheard the entire conversation, listening with great interest to their subtle exchanges, before interrupting.
"Alright, the bond of blood has brought you together again under my command, which can be considered a kind of fate."
He first looked at Therese and affirmed, "Your work in educating the young dragons, especially in the education of loyalty and the instilling of survival wisdom, is crucial to the foundation of the kingdom's future."
“You have done a great job. Under your management, the academy will surely become one of the core pillars for the long-term development of the kingdom.”
After saying that, he turned his gaze to the ancient white dragon Beskar.
“Bescal, your ability to make wise choices after recognizing the situation and dedicate the strength and wisdom accumulated over the years to the kingdom is truly rare. I look forward to the contributions and surprises you will bring to the kingdom in the future.”
The two white dragons bowed their heads simultaneously and replied, "We will obey Your Majesty's teachings!"
Galos nodded and made the arrangement: "That's all for today."
“Therese, the affairs of the academy are heavy and cannot be neglected. Bescal, you will come with me back to the Wilderness Fortress to familiarize ourselves with the details of the kingdom.”
After he finished speaking, he did not linger.
With a sudden flap of its broad wings, the Red Iron Dragon whipped up a powerful gust of air and hurtled off toward the wilderness.
Bescal dared not delay, and quickly flapped his frost-covered membranous wings, bringing with it a chilling current, and closely followed the emperor's figure.
Before leaving, he glanced back at Therese, who remained standing there.
Therese was also looking at him, and their eyes met briefly.
She nodded slightly as a simple farewell, then turned and descended, flying back down to the Dragon Academy, where faint sounds of activity still echoed below, to continue fulfilling her duties as dean.
(End of this chapter)
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