Chapter 469 He is a devil in dragon scales
The dialogue between Garos and the Crimson Silver Dragon via projection continues.
"Are there any dragon beasts among them? I remember that the metal dragon race has methods to detect such situations in advance."
The metal dragons on the planet Bernardo advocate for eugenics and good prenatal and postnatal care.
While the offspring are still developing inside the dragon egg, they use special methods to test them, ensuring that there are no mindless dragon beasts inside.
Dragons possess a powerful lineage, but this comes at a price.
Besides the deeply ingrained racial traits and instincts influenced by inheritance, some dragons, while receiving inheritance in their eggs, have their brains burned out because they cannot bear the overwhelming inheritance, thus transforming into dragon beasts.
Dragon beasts and giant dragons have exactly the same appearance.
However, dragon beasts have no magical skills, no inheritance, and no intelligence. They have only the bodies of dragons and the instincts of wild beasts.
If a dragon is born as a offspring, the metal dragon will often stop the dragon egg from developing and then bury it.
The dragons, however, dealt with the situation in a completely different way.
Among them, the most vicious ones often eat the offspring of dragon beasts to replenish their bodies, while those with slightly better temperaments will simply throw away newly hatched dragon beasts without any pity.
"It has already been tested."
Deborah said happily, "All four children are very healthy, and none of them are dragons."
As she spoke, she suddenly became curious, held up a dragon egg to her eyes, examined it carefully, and then asked, "Garos, you also have four siblings. Besides them, were there any other dragons of the same generation?"
She is an only child.
However, another dragon egg was born at the same time as her, but unfortunately, it was a dragon beast egg and was disposed of before it could hatch.
Galos shook his head, the dark red scales on his neck rubbing against each other, making a soft scraping sound.
"To my knowledge, no."
A dragon's litter can typically produce two to four offspring, with a relatively high probability of including a dragon beast among them.
Iron Dragon Girl gave birth to four offspring at once, and with no dragon beasts at all, there was also Garos, a red-iron hybrid, which is an extremely rare occurrence.
Now, Garus's descendants also have no dragon beasts, and there are four of them in one litter.
Even setting aside the possibility of mixed race or special physical conditions, such cases are already quite rare.
"Am I special, or is the bloodline of Ignas's lineage more unique, or perhaps both?"
Galos thought to himself.
It's worth mentioning that the Red Dragon's father's surname is also Ignas, while the Iron Dragon's mother's surname is not.
In the world of dragons, the principle of respecting the strong is even reflected in the right to name offspring. When dragon offspring inherit a surname, they often inherit the surname of the stronger party.
This means that the bloodline source of the person named Ignas is stronger than the bloodline source of the Iron Dragon Girl.
Galos didn't think much about the matter.
He changed the subject and chatted with the Crimson Silver Dragon about their recent situations.
However, as they talked, the Crimson Silver Dragon seemed to find playing with the dragon eggs quite interesting, so it curled its tail and nimbly pulled the other two dragon eggs over as well.
Holding two dragon eggs in each of her two hands, she began to slowly turn around, as if playing with two enormous gems.
Judging from her practiced movements, this was definitely not the first time she had done this.
Galos didn't think much of it.
Dragon eggs are not fragile; on the contrary, their shells are quite hard. As far as dragon eggs are concerned, the result of 'throwing an egg against a rock' is often to smash a crater into the rock.
If Garros had these dragon eggs with him, he might have been tempted to handle them and see how they felt.
They look quite nice to the touch.
Just then, a face covered in silver dragon scales burst in.
"You dim-witted little brat, how many times have I told you not to treat dragon eggs like toys!"
With a stern rebuke, the figure of the silver dragon Edley appeared in the projection.
He snatched all four dragon eggs from Deborah's claws and carefully held them in his broad, sturdy arms. Then, with a stern face, he glared at his daughter with his dragon eyes.
"My paws are just a little itchy, and besides, they're quite fun right now..."
Deborah blinked innocently, muttered something under her breath, and her tail tip swished restlessly across the ground.
"Hmph! They don't act like elders at all."
Edley snorted coldly.
He adjusted his posture while holding the dragon eggs, making them more securely attached to his chest and belly scales, before looking at the red iron dragon in the projection, his expression becoming serious and solemn.
“Garos, you have always been reliable, with a calm and steady personality.”
"Remember to keep an eye on your partner and don't let her get away with it."
I actually want to try that too...
The red iron dragon let out a barely audible gurgling sound, scratched the itchy scales on its neck with its front paws, and then slowly nodded.
"Okay, I'll definitely do it next time."
At the same time, the figure of the copper dragon Serena also appeared, bouncing and leaping, at the edge of the projection.
She made an extremely exaggerated expression and gesture, spreading her wings wide, covering her chest with her forepaws, and said to the Red Iron Dragon, "Wow, it's the Dragon Emperor of Aura! I am truly honored to be able to see the Red Emperor's face, and I'm so excited that my scales are about to stand up!"
Galos remained unmoved, simply watching her calmly without even blinking.
He knew that the more obvious his reaction, the more excited the bronze dragon would become.
Sure enough, seeing that he didn't react, the bronze dragon Serena pursed her lips, stopped her act, and her expression returned to normal.
On the other side, Edley looked down at the unharmed dragon egg in his arms, his cold face softening instantly, as if a glacier were melting in the sunlight.
"My little darlings, Grandpa will take you to enjoy the sea breeze and soak up the sun. Are you ready? Let's go."
His voice was softer than before.
After saying this, the silver dragon, holding the offspring's dragon egg, turned around, its broad silver wings unfolding gracefully and powerfully, creating a cool breeze as it flew out of the cave.
Before leaving, he turned back and glared at his unreliable daughter one last time before flapping his wings and disappearing into the sky beyond the projection range.
Not long after, Garos ended his connection with the Crimson Silver Dragon.
He stretched his massive body, his joints making a slight cracking sound, then flapped his wings and flew towards the back of the mountain.
There, with the help of Charles and Mien, he underwent a round of high-intensity training.
Heat waves mixed with dust kicked up by the battle billowed out from between his scales.
As the last rays of the setting sun sank behind the distant mountains, the sky turned completely dark.
The thick night sky was as dark as ink, and before the stars had fully appeared, his movements paused slightly, and he stopped.
“Charles, Mien.”
Red Iron Dragon calmly said, "Bring out that legendary Theo."
The two legendary spirits nodded, their figures transforming into two streaks of light as they flew back to the Hall of Heroes.
A moment later, they reappeared.
However, between the two of them, there was an additional human figure with a physical form.
It was the legendary Theo, Iron Spear Barna, who was captured by Karu using the power of his army.
Chains formed from condensed light pierced through his collarbone, ribs, and shoulder blades, binding him tightly.
The other end of the chain was held in the hands of the two heroic spirits, swaying slightly with their movements, pulling at his wounds and adding to the pain on his already pale face due to excessive blood loss.
He was wearing tattered military uniform, and many of his wounds had only been hastily treated and were still slowly bleeding.
The patient is weak and listless.
Nevertheless, when he was brought before the red iron dragon, Barna, disregarding the excruciating pain of his body being further torn apart, suddenly straightened his spine and tried to stand firm.
He raised his head and stared directly at the red dragon, which was coiled like a small mountain in the night, his eyes burning with an indomitable flame.
“Garos Ignas”.
Barna spoke first, his voice hoarse from thirst and injuries, but his words were clear: “Kill me if you want, don’t waste time playing these tricks. If you want anything from me, there is no way you will get it.”
His face was deathly pale from blood loss, his stubble on his chin was messy, and the marks of his days of imprisonment were obvious, but his eyes were still as sharp as a hawk's.
To become a legend is no ordinary person.
Barna may not be considered a strongman in the legends, but he has his own pride and dignity, and he is already prepared for death.
Galos gazed at him calmly, his eyes devoid of any emotion, showing neither mockery nor pity.
The wind swept through the valley, tearing through the thorns beside the dragon's neck and ruffling Barna's disheveled hair.
After a long silence, Galos finally spoke, his deep, resonant voice echoing softly through the mountains.
"Barna Fisher, the second son of the Fisher family of the Kingdom of Theo, joined the army at the age of sixteen and officially embarked on the path of a warrior at the age of seventeen. He then made great strides and became a legend in one bloody battle after another. He has been protecting Theo for one hundred and twenty-seven years."
Hong Tielong spoke slowly and deliberately.
"You have participated in three major foreign wars and suppressed seventeen internal rebellions and border conflicts. You are skilled with a gun, have a fierce style, are upright and incorruptible, dislike political maneuvering, and are only loyal to your duty and the kingdom itself. You have a high reputation in the Theo army and are also loved by the people of Theo."
Barna’s eyes flickered slightly.
This means that the current Red Emperor must have collected a large amount of information about Theo.
His expression remained unchanged, his lips tightly pressed together.
“The investigation is very thorough,” he said coldly. “So what? You want to prove you know everything, and then make me submit?”
Galos leaned forward slightly, his massive head casting a shadow as he approached the chained human legend.
His breath was hot and smelled of sulfur, blowing on Barna's face.
"Therefore, a pure soldier like you would not want to see the kingdom you have protected for over a hundred years shed more unnecessary blood and suffer more avoidable destruction because of the stubborn insistence of the upper echelons."
Barna sneered and tried to take a step forward, but was held back by the chains and could only hold his head high.
"A pointless insistence? It was you Aura who greedily started the war! It was you who crossed the border and burned our land!"
“It was you, Theos, who first sent your legends to sweep through the wilderness and become my enemy,” Galos interrupted him. “There are no innocent instigators in this war, Barna, only winners and losers, only survival and annihilation.”
"Now, you are the losers, and you are about to face utter defeat."
Barna gritted his teeth, his jaw muscles tensed, and he didn't say a word, just stared intently at the dragon.
“I have personally seized the Heavenly Eye, and the Indestructible Wall defense line collapsed as a result. Countless Theo soldiers are buried in scorched earth, and their souls may still be wandering on that battlefield,” Galos continued.
He spoke slowly, but every word struck Barna's heart like a hammer blow.
"The Emerald Peaks are the last geographical barrier of your Kingdom of Theo. Your Shield of Theo and the Shield of the Unyielding have joined forces and are heavily guarding Norton Pass, which is what you call the Dragon Severing Pass."
"But do you think that a single natural barrier can stop Aura's army?"
Barna took a deep breath, suppressing the dull pain in his chest, and said in a deep voice, "You can't get past Duanlong Pass! With the Kingdom's double shields, the treacherous mountains and impregnable fortifications, and with the Kingdom's heartland providing continuous support, this line of defense will be as solid as a rock. You will crash and bruise yourselves against the walls!"
Red Iron Dragon grinned, revealing fangs as cold as daggers.
"Duanlong Pass is indeed troublesome, undeniably, but what if I choose to go around it?"
"What are you trying to say?!"
Barna felt a sudden sinking feeling of unease.
“My war prince, my blood relative, has already drawn up a detailed plan.”
"Soon, my legion will assemble and launch an unprecedented attack on Duanlong Pass, drawing all your attention and pinning Theo's reinforcements to the front."
Red Iron Dragon paused for a moment to let Barna process the information before continuing.
"At the same time, I will personally lead my dragons and all of Aura's air force to fly over the Emerald Peaks from another direction, bypass the Dragon-Slaying Pass, and reach your poorly defended rear, the rich plains of Theo."
Barna’s pupils contracted suddenly, but quickly returned to normal.
He sneered, "Without your presence and air cover, the Aura Legion will surely suffer heavy losses at Duanlong Pass. And you have penetrated deep into our territory without supplies or reinforcements. Once you are entangled by our legendary troops and the garrison, you will be like a turtle in a jar."
"By doing this, you will only destroy yourself and your legion, pay a heavy price, and sever the foundation of your kingdom."
Upon hearing this, Red Iron Dragon narrowed its eyes slightly, its dark dragon scales reflecting a hard metallic luster.
"The cost?" He repeated the word, a hint of doubt in his voice. "Why do you, the leaders of human kingdoms, always have this misconception? You think I am like your king, dependent on the kingdom, subject to the nobility, needing to weigh the interests of all parties, and afraid that casualties will shake the foundation of your rule."
His massive head lowered again, and Barna’s tiny figure was reflected in his vertical pupils.
"But the truth is, Aura exists because of me, and is united because of my power."
"It is the glory and the choice of all my people to pledge their allegiance to me and give me their lives and loyalty."
"Do you think I would care about casualties as much as a human king cares about gold coins? For victory, for greater benefits, any price can be paid."
"As long as victory ultimately belongs to me, Aura will not fall, but will only become stronger."
Under the cover of night, the shadow cast by the red iron dragon completely enveloped Barna, as if dragging him into endless darkness.
Barna found it increasingly difficult to breathe, not only because of his injuries and the chains binding him, but also because of the oppressive feeling emanating from the words and the red iron dragon itself.
"Imagine Barna."
Galos's voice, like that of a demon, continued to echo in his ears.
"When all of Theo's attention was focused on the front of Dragon's Gate, when Theo's Twin Shields and all the reinforcement legends were keeping a close eye on the Aura army below the gate, and were on high alert for a possible frontal assault by me."
"Given that you have lost your satellite, I, Galos Ignas, will personally lead one of the most elite forces to appear behind the Emerald Peaks."
"I will not launch a direct attack on cities protected by walls, at least not initially."
"I will destroy everything in sight along the way."
"Unharvested fertile fields, major thoroughfares connecting towns, villages of civilians fleeing in panic, convoys transporting supplies... We burn granaries, cut off rivers, and destroy signs of life. I don't need to conquer your cities immediately; I only need to create the greatest possible chaos and panic, letting fear spread like a plague in your rear."
"At that time, the defenders of Duanlong Pass will find that their supply lines have been cut off, and they will be cut off from reinforcements. They will become an isolated island, and you, the civilians of Theo... will witness the legendary evil dragon and war beasts appearing in the skies above your homeland."
"The flames will devour their houses and fields, and their cries will echo across the plains."
"They will perish in the blood and fire I unleash."
"Moreover, I assure you that when I am focused on creating destruction, with the aim of killing and wreaking havoc, and not on conquering land, no one in your Theo territory can stop me, no one can catch me."
"Your legends may be able to fight me, but they cannot stop me; I can leave behind only devastation."
Upon hearing this detailed and ruthless description, Barna's expression changed completely.
He could almost see that hellish scene.
Burning villages, broken roads, terrifying dragon shadows sweeping across the sky, and countless comrades gradually falling into despair.
"Cruel...a tyrannical dragon!"
He forced out the words through clenched teeth, his voice trembling with anger and fear: "You want to slaughter unarmed civilians! You're trampling on the basic principles of war!"
"Don't you have any bottom line, no dignity that belongs to the strong?"
"Such a victory, even if obtained, will only be despised by all races!"
Red Iron Dragon shook his massive head slightly.
"Cruel? Violent?... In the dragon's mind, these words are often more like words of praise, describing how we efficiently fulfill our nature."
"Moreover, war has never been about dignity; it is only about victory and destruction."
"And I... choose victory."
"I will use any means necessary to achieve victory."
He paused, then changed the subject, the sharp light in his vertical pupils lessening somewhat, but the oppressive feeling remained.
“However, you Theos are lucky, because you have met me, Garoth Ignas, a… not-so-pure dragon. I seek power and domination, but I do not find pleasure in torture and senseless killing.”
All I want is victory.
"Death and killing are just one of my many paths to victory; they are tools, not ends."
“If there were other ways to achieve the victory I want more simply, efficiently, and at a lower cost, such as making your Kingdom of Theo submit, sign a treaty of surrender, cede land, pay reparations, and grant you trade privileges, then I would not go through the trouble of implementing that bloody plan.”
Barna fell silent, leaving only his heavy, labored breathing, which sounded exceptionally clear in the night air.
His mind was racing, analyzing the truth or falsehood in Galus's words and weighing every possibility.
He knew the other party was trying to psychologically undermine his will, but those words... were too real, too actionable, and he couldn't dismiss them as mere bluster.
"You told me all this..."
After a long silence, he finally spoke with difficulty, "You want me to betray the kingdom and reveal information in exchange for you abandoning this plan? In exchange for your so-called easier victory?"
"No."
Galos slowly shook his head.
This movement caused the scales on the neck to rattle softly.
"Whether this plan is implemented ultimately does not depend on whether you speak up, but on the attitude of the Theo Royal Court, and on the choice of your King and the Council of Nobles."
"If they are willing to negotiate and pay a reasonable price to end the war, then the war can end here, and Theo can avoid the devastation."
He stared intently into Barna's eyes.
"But if you, and the Theo leadership you serve, insist on resisting to the bitter end, insist on using the blood and flesh of countless soldiers and civilians to buy time, fantasizing about a miracle or external intervention..."
"Then I assure you, I will make the plan I just described a reality."
"And I will keep you alive, so you can see it come to fruition step by step, and see what your perseverance has brought about."
Galos knew very well that with Aura's current power, he could defeat Theo and severely injure Theo, but it would be extremely difficult to completely destroy a long-established human kingdom.
Not to mention Theo's final resistance and possible desperate counterattack.
Other human kingdoms would not stand idly by and watch a nation founded by dragons easily annex a major human kingdom.
That would invite unpredictable joint interventions.
The primary objective of this second war between the Romanian states was still to reshape the political landscape and gain benefits, rather than a war of national subjugation.
To achieve victory at a lower cost, gain more substantial benefits, and solidify Aura's rise—this is Garos's true objective at this stage.
According to his and Sorog's deductions, as long as they can break through the Dragon Pass head-on or put unbearable pressure on it, the will to resist of the Kingdom of Theo is likely to collapse, and the war will not last long.
However, Duanlong Pass is indeed not to be underestimated.
Moreover, this war involves not only the two Olympians, but also the attitudes and covert struggles of other surrounding kingdoms. Both Olympians have overt or covert allies or stakeholders, making the situation complex.
Red Iron Dragon put away his wandering thoughts and refocused his attention on the human in front of him.
He moved closer again, the facial spines on the massive head almost piercing Barna's skin.
Tell me, human.
"You fought and bled, you protected Theo, was it to protect the people living on this land, to protect their peaceful and prosperous lives, or merely to protect the king's authority and the interests of those nobles?"
"When your king, and those nobles sitting in the safe rear, would rather let the soldiers on the front lines bleed to their last drop, rather let the civilians be plunged into the hell of war, than sit down to negotiate, and are unwilling to pay a few coins, land or face for the survival of the people... will you still continue to be loyal to them?"
"To whom is your loyalty truly directed?"
Barna opened his mouth, but couldn't make a sound immediately.
"Where are the weaknesses in the defenses of Dragon's Lair?" Garos pressed, his voice low. "What flaws exist in the Shield of Indomitable Power's domain? What weaknesses do the Fangs of the Mountains possess? How many more hidden legends does Theo have? What legendary items are hidden away?"
“Tell me everything you know, Barna.”
“Each piece of intelligence could bring this brutal war to an end a day, a week, or even a month earlier. And every day earlier could save the lives of tens of thousands of Theo soldiers, prevent dozens of villages from being burned, and preserve tens of thousands of families.”
"This is not betrayal, but for peace, and for your duty to guard the kingdom."
"Or would you rather see them die, just to fulfill your blind loyalty?"
Barna fell completely silent, lowering his head which had always been held high.
Loyalty and responsibility, protection and sacrifice, victory and cost... countless thoughts battled in his mind, almost tearing his reason apart.
Finally, he lowered his head in dejection.
"Let me...think about it, let me think about it."
The sound was almost inaudible, barely audible.
But Galos still heard it.
His lips twitched slightly upwards, revealing a silent smile.
"Can."
He slowly straightened up, the shadow shifting away from Barna. "I'll give you time to think, Barna Fisher, but my patience, and the Kingdom of Theo's time, will not be much longer."
Immediately afterwards, a flash of light appeared in Charles and Mien's hands, and the chains rattled as they began to tighten.
Barna did not resist, letting the chains pull him away into the eerie light of Valhalla.
The place returned to silence, with only the sound of the night wind rustling through the rocks.
"Your Majesty, it seems that a demon, skilled at manipulating the strings of the soul, resides within your majestic and powerful dragon body."
Having witnessed the entire process, Ciel exclaimed in amazement.
He recalled his conversation with Hong Tielong, which was equally captivating and unsettling, revealing his inner weaknesses in just a few words.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Garros glanced at Charles and said.
"Of course, this is a heartfelt compliment, and I swear on my soul that there is not a single falsehood in it."
Charles bowed slightly and swore an oath.
This Red Emperor of Auras is not only incredibly powerful and extremely disciplined, but also possesses keen insight, able to discern the weaknesses of the human mind.
Any creature that is hostile to him.
Whether human, elf, giant, or other dragon, all will face the most terrible disaster.
(End of this chapter)
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