Chapter 478 The Undying Dragon, The Old and New Eras
Sel Wilderness, Dragon Ridge Mountains
The ground was slightly hot from the sun's heat, and distorted waves of heat rose from the cracked rock crevices. Glimmering light appeared and disappeared in the air, as if unseen flames were burning silently.
The red iron dragon stands in the center of a clearing surrounded by mountains.
This site, located in the Dragonspine Mountains, has been specially modified. The surface is paved with solid metal and has a large number of solidified magical runes.
Centered on him, countless flames and hard steel appeared in turn.
Suddenly, a sea of crimson fire ignited, the heat waves swirling and distorting the air into transparent ripples; countless metallic spikes and sharp points materialized, their cold metallic luster shimmering in the sunlight.
The two domains alternated, causing the surrounding air to almost freeze.
At the same time, he was clad in extremely heavy and oppressive armor. Under the influence of the super-heavy magic array built into the place, his magnificent and huge body rolled and moved, accompanied by thunderous sounds, causing the ground, which had been solidified by the array, to tremble and crack continuously.
As time passed, the sun gradually set in the west, casting longer and longer shadows over the Dragon Ridge Mountains.
As layers of fiery sunset clouds blanketed the sky, the red-iron dragon came to a brief stop.
He folded his wings, his chest heaving like a bellows, each breath exhaling a stream of air carrying sparks, white mist rising from the gaps in his heavy armor.
Whoosh! Clang!
The domains of flame and steel still alternated around him, but at a much slower frequency than when he was at his peak.
The temperature of the flame decreased, and the solidification of the metal also weakened slightly.
"Compared to my physical body, my domain is still too weak."
"Even with dual domains, it's not really that powerful for me."
He gazed at and sensed the changes in his own domain, his eyes filled with contemplation.
Leaving aside the suppression effect on enemies and the enhancements to oneself, the legendary domain is, in a sense, equivalent to a shield.
When the domain expands, it automatically neutralizes some of the energy from external attacks, whether physical impacts or magical bombardments.
When attacked, the shield bar will gradually decrease, and when its own regeneration cannot keep up with the consumption, it will disappear and need time to regenerate.
In the legendary realm, the domain can be said to be the fairest.
Perhaps due to differences in the depth of understanding of the field and the direction of development, the final effect is quite different, but the starting point of its strength is roughly the same and will not differ much due to different races.
The initial strength of the domain shield of a newly ascended human legend is almost the same as that of a newly ascended dragon legend.
Therefore, territory is of utmost importance to creatures such as humans, dwarves, and elves.
Their bodies are fragile, and their total health is far less than the shield value of their domain. In battle, they often need to rely on their domain to protect their bodies, blocking enemy attacks outside the domain and preventing direct damage to their bodies.
But for dragons, territory is not so important.
The scales of the legendary dragon are as hard as adamantite, its muscle density far exceeds that of other creatures, and its vitality is as vast as the sea.
Their fighting style often involves using their domain to suppress and disrupt their opponent's movements, and then relying on their superior physique to quickly end the battle in a short period of time.
Using a domain for protection? You're kidding. In terms of pure physical protection, a dragon's body is much tougher than a domain.
An attack that can pierce through a legendary domain's shield may not necessarily be able to break through a dragon's scales and flesh.
And this is just a normal dragon.
As a red iron dragon, Garus possesses top-tier physical strength among dragons of the same level. Through repeated training and multiple evolutions, it has reached an unbelievable level.
When the domain is placed on Garos, the length of the shield bar is almost negligible.
Moreover, no matter how specifically this shield is enhanced, unless Garus abandons the fundamentals and invests a lot of time and resources in domain development while neglecting the training of his main body, it will never be able to keep up with the growth rate of Garus's physical strength.
"As things stand, these two areas of mine are truly neither enjoyable to keep nor worth abandoning."
Galos flicked its tail, leaving furrows in the ground. "How can we make them useful? Simply strengthening them step by step is too ineffective. How about we try a different approach and focus on a single effect in a particular area?"
He was making plans in his mind.
Regardless of the type of field, the effects can be summarized into three main types.
Suppress the enemy, enhance yourself, and protect your body.
The enhancement of these three effects is often gradual and complementary, resulting in a fairly balanced effect. Areas with high shield values often also have a good suppression effect, and areas with strong amplification effects will not have weak protection.
One of Galus's ideas was to find a way to highlight one of the effects and adapt and evolve it to its extreme.
While this might result in a severe imbalance in his studies and relatively weaker performance in other areas, it would at least make his field truly useful to him, rather than leaving it in an awkward position as it is now.
However, he has not yet fully determined his future development direction.
Galos flicked its tail, ending its rest, and resumed its training.
But not long after, he suddenly paused and stopped again.
Galos took out a crystal.
Buzz!
The light and shadow converged around the crystal prop, first appearing as a blurry ball of light, then quickly stabilizing to reveal a clear human figure.
O'Brien, King of Lorthorn.
He wore that familiar silver crown, the sapphire in the center of the crown was somewhat dull, and there were even a few fine cracks along the edge. Moreover, he did not wear royal robes, but instead wore blood-stained silver-gray armor, with a deep slash on the breastplate, the edge of which was curled, clearly indicating that he had recently experienced a fierce battle.
The background behind him was not a royal palace hall or study, but a mountain forest.
The trees were sparse, the ground was scorched, and wisps of smoke could be faintly seen rising into the sky. In the distance, there seemed to be bonfires that had not yet been completely extinguished, still emitting smoke.
The reason for this was that the king had once again chosen to personally lead the expedition.
He achieved legendary success in his military career by murdering his brother and usurping the throne, and was by no means a king who lived a life of luxury in the traditional sense.
He could not bear the thought of his soldiers fighting for their country on the front lines while he himself was confined to the palace, waiting for news from various war zones every day.
So when the war reached its climax, he rushed to the front lines and personally took command of the Quinn Heights theater of operations.
What surprised Galos was O'Brien's appearance.
The last time the two had direct contact was three years ago when Garos asked him for military formation magic.
For humans, three years is not a very long time, especially for legendary powerhouses, whose appearance can often remain unchanged for decades after a breakthrough.
However, compared to his appearance back then, O'Brien now looks decades older.
In the image, the King of Lor'then's hair, though still neatly combed, is somewhat dry and lacks luster, resembling weeds in a dry season.
His face was so thin that his cheekbones protruded, and deep lines were clearly visible on his skin, especially around his eyes and the corners of his mouth, like cracks in a dried-up riverbed.
His beard had also turned quite white, with uneven edges, as if it hadn't been carefully trimmed in a long time.
Only his deep-set eyes retained a clear sharpness and a gleam of wisdom.
“Ignas, my appearance seems to surprise you somewhat.”
O'Brien spoke, his voice a little hoarse, but his tone was relatively steady.
He addressed Galos by his surname without adding a more formal title, which was a way of trying to build rapport.
The red iron dragon nodded slightly, the scales on its neck rubbing together and making a soft metallic sound.
He spoke in a casual, conversational tone, tilting his head slightly, and said, "Hmm, you look much older."
O'Brien shrugged and remarked, "Compared to you dragons, human life is far too fragile, both in terms of physical strength and lifespan."
"Three years may be just a period of slumber for you, but for us, it is enough to change a lot of things."
Galos said, "You are a legend, and you have the resources of a nation. You shouldn't have aged so much in such a short time."
This isn't a consolation; he's stating an objective fact.
Legendary powerhouses also have long lifespans, and their aging curves are very gradual. Unless they suffer serious injuries or overdraw their life force, they will not experience such a precipitous aging.
O'Brien was silent for two seconds.
In the video, he lowers his head slightly, looking at the bloodstains on his armor, before raising his eyes again.
He said, "For us humans, every battle, whether we win or lose, will inevitably have an impact if we get injured."
"The injuries are too severe, and may even cut off the path forward, burning future potential to ashes."
"During the first civil war, I was betrayed and ambushed. Although I survived, I was seriously wounded."
"Afterwards, I used the best medicine in the national treasury and invited the most skilled priest. It took a whole year to recover, but that was only superficial."
"In fact, my body has been severely damaged as a result, its essence has been damaged, my lifespan has been greatly reduced, and it is difficult to go any further."
"I'll probably stop at the current advanced legendary level. It's a pity I'll never be able to personally experience the scenery of the grand rank again."
At this point, O'Brien's mood dipped for a moment, and a look of regret flashed in his eyes.
But in the blink of an eye, he recovered and a carefree smile appeared on his face.
"So you see, my life is constantly slipping away, and my condition is gradually weakening."
"Rather than die on my sickbed in the deep palace, watching myself grow weaker day by day, I would rather use this crippled body to become a raging fire, burning for my kingdom while I can still fight."
"Anyway, if I had a better option, I would have preferred to be a general rather than sit on the throne of a king."
"The current situation is actually not bad. Even if it eventually burns to ashes, I will have no regrets."
Galos listened quietly without interrupting until he finished speaking.
Normal dragons might not be able to empathize with O'Brien at all, but he did have memories of being human, and although those memories were distant and blurry, he could still understand O'Brien's feelings at this moment.
"Given your position, there are many ways to survive if you want to. Why not give it a try?"
"Garos said."
A king of a nation, and a legend at that, must have had countless ways to prolong his life.
"Aside from common life-extending methods that only treat the symptoms and not the root cause, those methods are nothing more than changing the form of life."
O'Brien said in a deep voice, his tone becoming serious, "Becoming a lich, transforming into a vampire, fusing with elemental creatures, transplanting organs from other races... I am human, and I am proud of my human identity."
"Transforming into other forms will inevitably change my thoughts, my will, and even distort my memories and emotions."
“I cannot accept that kind of ‘living’.”
Galos respected his ally's opinion and said nothing more.
"Why did you contact me personally this time?"
He changed the subject and asked directly.
O'Brien's personal communication with him certainly wasn't just a casual remark.
First of all, congratulations on your victory.
O'Brien laughed, "Reaching for the stars, breaking through the barrier alone, being resurrected from the dead... every piece of news that reached my ears shocked me, especially the last one. I even checked the authenticity of the information three times."
"To be honest, at that time I even had a fleeting thought about transforming the dragon vein, if that could make me as resilient and immortal as you."
"Although it's also a matter of the emperor personally leading an expedition, I have to admit that I can't do those things."
"You've probably heard that some people have given you some new titles."
O'Brien added, "The Immortal Emperor and the Undying Dragon are widely known. In some places, they've even painted your image on doors as a talisman against evil."
Upon hearing this, Red Iron Dragon raised his head, revealing a calm expression, seemingly unconcerned about those titles.
He said casually, "Well, it was just luck. I don't care about those empty titles. Let's get down to business."
It's just empty fame; he truly doesn't care.
However, the idea of an immortal dragon didn't sound too bad, and Garos was quite satisfied.
When it came to business, O'Brien leaned forward slightly, causing the image to shake, revealing several personal guards busily moving supplies behind him.
His attitude became serious, and his eyes sharpened like knives.
He said in a deep voice, "On the Quinn Heights beneath my feet, the Lorthene Legion is engaged in a fierce battle with Reibers."
"This is one of the key points leading to the heart of the Reiber region. The terrain is treacherous, easy to defend and difficult to attack. In the past two months, the front line has been lost and regained, and has been repeatedly pulled back and forth."
"Overall, we have the advantage, but Rebos has built three lines of defense here, each of which is a strong fortified complex built against the mountain and equipped with a large number of war machines."
"We cannot take this place in a short time; we lack a key breakthrough."
“Your war with Theo has come to an end, and the army of the Kingdom of Aura is resting,” O’Brien continued. “I hope to get Aura’s support to turn the tide. I don’t need too many, just one powerful enough assault unit.”
The Second Romanian War was completely different from the First.
In the first civil war, the nations formed two major camps around Reipos and Lorthen, engaging in fierce battles on several main fronts as a coalition, which resembled a large-scale campaign.
This time, after the dissolution of the federation, the war objectives among the Romanian states have become even more complex.
In order to compete for land resources, trade routes, to settle historical grievances, and to seize a favorable position in the new order, the countries formed alliances with each other, and allied countries would provide support to each other, but no large-scale coalition like the first one was formed.
Lorthern vs. Reibos, Matner vs. Cambrook, Sack vs. Lane...
The battles between the nations were mainly one-on-one, but due to the accumulation of old and new grievances, they became more intense and protracted than the first war, with flames of war burning everywhere.
The battle between Reipos and Lorthorn is currently in Lorthorn's favor.
In fact, in terms of historical and cultural heritage, Lorthern has always had the upper hand.
Lorthorn has a larger territory, a larger population, more abundant resources, and a greater number of legendary powerhouses.
The reason for the defeat in the first civil war was mainly because Reboss suddenly produced some secret weapons, including some strategic weapons.
This time, when Rebus attempts to replicate his previous success by employing strategic weapons, King Lorthen will intervene and destroy it.
That's right, the Holy King personally participated in the battle.
However, his true state was exposed by the intelligence network of Reiber after his first participation in the war, before he could even intimidate the other countries. It is no longer a secret.
The true Holy King Lorthorn, the one who once unified the nations and established the federation, has indeed fallen.
He did not come back to life.
However, in order to continue to protect the Kingdom of Lorthorn, the Holy King, before his death, used his nearly successful art of immortality. Through complex rituals and some time, he closely linked his soul with the land and people of the Kingdom of Lorthorn, transforming into the "Holy Spirit of Lorthorn".
This Holy Spirit does not have a complete sense of self.
His sole purpose in existence was to protect the Kingdom of Lorthen, in accordance with the instructions set by the Holy King before his death.
Moreover, each of his attacks consumes a massive amount of rare materials such as high-grade spiritual crystals, resulting in enormous consumption.
In some ways, this Holy Spirit is now a strategic asset and a cornerstone of Lorthene's kingdom, rather than a living legend of destiny.
At this point, O'Brien continued, "I need a hammer that can break the balance, a unit that can directly assault the Reiber army's positions, tear apart their defenses, and demoralize them."
"Its defense must be high enough to withstand attacks and charge forward; its strength must be great enough to quickly destroy fortifications; and it should ideally have area-of-effect attacks to effectively clear out groups of enemies."
"I'm thinking of a legend under your command."
“The ancient white dragon, Beskar, his frost breath can freeze an entire section of the city wall, his dragon body can withstand bombardment, and his dragon might can make ordinary soldiers lose their will to fight. He is exactly what I need.”
In a tense and intense situation where one's side has a slight advantage, a legendary dragon is enough to break the balance.
Once Bescal and the Lortheon legends manage to breach the first line of defense, the Legion can surge in, seize key strongholds, and then use them as springboards to attack subsequent lines of defense.
Once the snowball effect of the advantage accumulates, Reibers' defensive system on Quinn Heights could completely collapse.
As for directly asking the Red Emperor for support... O'Brien didn't even mention such an excessive request.
He knew very well that Galus had just annexed the Kingdom of Theo and needed time to digest the territory, suppress resistance, and establish rule.
Moreover, it is inappropriate for a king to personally lead an expedition to the battlefield of another country, both in terms of political symbolism and actual risk.
“Bescal is currently unable to extricate himself.”
Galos gave a negative answer, "Besides the rich province of Aris, the newly conquered territories under my command also include those border towns north of the Emerald Mountains, where the people are fierce and still retain some loyalty to the Theo royal family, and the terrain is complex and suitable for guerrilla warfare."
“There have been many acts of resistance in the past month.”
"Bescal is busy suppressing the resistance with his legendary power and aerial advantage, and is unable to spare any time."
A hint of disappointment flashed in O'Brien's eyes, but he did not lose his composure.
He said, "I understand. Defending the country is more difficult than conquering it. Those rebels are like weeds. If they are not completely eradicated, they will grow back in the spring."
Red Iron Dragon continued, his voice steady: "However, I can send the War Commander of Aura over there."
“He is currently free and can provide reinforcements to Lortherne.”
Upon hearing this, O'Brien nodded.
"General Karu, commander of the Aura Wars... that'll do too."
He said, but judging from his tone, he didn't seem to trust the war commander.
This is normal.
Although Gluttony Karu has a considerable record, he has only recently broken through to the Legendary level and is still relatively inexperienced.
Moreover, in the Kingdom of Aura, which is based on dragons, the reputation of a legendary ogre is not as intimidating or reliable as that of the ancient white dragon.
Galos smiled slightly and said directly, "You seem a little disappointed, but I can tell you very clearly that in the entire Kingdom of Aura, Karu's strength is second only to mine."
“You can absolutely treat him as a legendary red dragon of the same level.”
"Hmm, I actually think he's stronger than a legendary red dragon of the same level."
O'Brien was somewhat surprised.
He had not expected that the Red Emperor would speak so highly of that war commander.
To compare an ogre to a red dragon is the highest praise one can give.
However, he trusted the Red Emperor's judgment; perhaps he had underestimated the legendary cannibal.
He quickly adjusted his mindset, the hesitation on his face disappeared, and a solemn and expectant smile reappeared: "...Understood, thank you for your honesty. Well then, Lorthern welcomes General Karu's arrival."
"I believe that with your vision and assurance, he will bring unexpected surprises and breakthroughs to me and to the battle for Quinn Heights."
Galos nodded and said, "He will set off immediately."
"Perfect."
After the business was finished, a brief silence followed.
O'Brien in the video looked tired. He leaned back against a charred tree stump, and the faint sound of a horn could be heard in the distance, probably a signal for a change of guard.
Galos suddenly asked, "Do you have someone in mind for Lorthorn's next king?"
His question went a bit too far.
Succession to the throne is the most sensitive part of domestic affairs and is usually not discussed with foreign monarchs.
O'Brien was clearly not expecting Garros to ask this so suddenly. He was silent for a moment, weighed his options, and finally turned to look around. He made a gesture, and several guards at the edge of the screen saluted and stepped back to ensure the privacy of the conversation.
"Currently, there are two candidates."
“My third son, Eric, is steady and politically astute. He handles government affairs in a clear and organized manner and has a good relationship with the nobles. However, he is somewhat conservative and lacks a spirit of adventure. In military decisions, he tends to be cautious rather than decisive, and may lack the necessary courage and boldness.”
"My ninth son, Raymond, is not very politically astute and often suffers setbacks in court intrigues. However, he has military talent. He joined the army at the age of fifteen, started from the bottom, participated in many small-scale conflicts, and commanded a legion-level operation. He has good talent and is expected to break through to the legendary level."
O'Brien paused for a moment, then continued, "Eric is better suited to be a king in times of peace. He can keep the kingdom running smoothly, keep the nobles happy, and keep the people living in peace and prosperity. But the Romanian plains are currently in turmoil, and it will be difficult to maintain peace in the future."
“I prefer Raymond. He’s more like me. He has the straightforwardness and courage of a soldier, and he’s willing to go to the front lines without fear of danger.”
"After this war ends, I will pass the throne to him. Even if I accidentally die in this battle, the magic scrolls I left behind will convey my thoughts."
Galos frowned slightly at the scales on his forehead.
From Aura's perspective, he actually preferred a conservative ruler.
That means the relationship between Lorthorn and Aura may not change much in the future; the alliance will remain stable, trade will proceed normally, and relations will remain peaceful.
A conservative king will not take risks easily, nor will he suddenly change the country's policies.
This is the ideal situation for Aura.
As for the new king who is more like O'Brien... a king with military ambitions, who admires strength and may be eager to achieve great things, always adds a bit of uncertainty to other kingdoms.
Galus remained noncommittal and said nothing.
"How will the next ruler view the alliance with Aura?" he simply asked.
O'Brien took a deep breath and then spoke slowly and deliberately.
“I will tell him: Garus Ignas is the ruler of a nation, but first and foremost he is a powerful dragon with an ancient lifespan, and he will only grow stronger. To ally with him requires sincerity and wisdom; one cannot play power games or break faith.”
"This alliance, this friendship that has been tested by blood and fire on the battlefield, must be carefully nurtured and maintained, because it is in Lorthene's interest."
Galos nodded slowly.
“I also cherish my friendship with Lorthen,” Red Iron Dragon said. “Aura is willing to live in peace and prosperity with kingdoms that respect us.”
He paused for a moment, then made a promise.
“After you leave, Aura will not adjust any terms of the alliance with Lorthene for ten years, as a way to give the new king an adjustment period.”
O'Brien nodded slightly, a smile appearing on his face.
“I don’t usually believe dragons’ promises; you’re always fickle and greedy.” He made a small joke, which lightened the atmosphere a bit. “However, I believe you won’t go back on your word. A ten-year buffer period… is enough. Enough for Raymond to gain a foothold and learn how to deal with dragons.”
That concludes our communication.
“Oh, right,” the king suddenly said, as if recalling something trivial, “if one day in the future Raymond makes a foolish decision… please give him a chance to correct it, for the sake of our conversation today.”
"This is not a negotiation between kings, but rather a dying friend's...last request."
Galos remained silent for two seconds.
The wind howled through the valley, stirring up dust, and the cries of nocturnal birds echoed in the distance; night was falling.
“Once,” he said.
Although he had never met O'Brien, the king of Lorthorn, in person, Garros had a good impression of him.
This king possessed the straightforwardness of a soldier, the shrewdness of a politician, and the pride of a warrior.
He provided Aura with support at a critical moment, although that support was more driven by self-interest. However, it did help Aura through the difficult early days of the nation's founding. When Aura asked Lorthen for military support, Lorthen readily agreed.
Galos is willing to respond to a private request based on this acknowledgment.
“That’s good.” O’Brien smiled. “Well then… farewell, Garus, may your flame never be extinguished.”
The communication has ended.
O'Brien's figure flickered a few times before disappearing into specks of light.
Red Iron Dragon put away the crystal, raised his head slightly, and looked in the direction of the Kingdom of Lorthen.
Dusk had completely enveloped the Dragonspine Mountains, and stars began to appear in the sky, with a pale crescent moon hanging on the mountain peaks.
A prominent figure of his era, the King of Lortheon, and an old ally of Aura, is slowly taking his final bow, while his era has only just begun, and the future is just beginning to unfold.
What challenges await us next? What opportunities will emerge?
These remain unknown.
"Hopefully, O'Brien's son will cherish the friendship his father forged during the war."
Red Iron Dragon murmured something, then resumed his workout as the night deepened.
(End of this chapter)
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