Many years ago, at a nationally watched swordsmanship finals.
The young Kailos, with a self-created technique that was imperfect and extrely risky, unexpectedly defeated another contender who was highly experienced and a heavy favorite to win.
Judges and spectators erupted into enthusiastic cheers, ready to bestow upon him the title "Peerless Sword."
However, he raised his hand and refused that glory so many warriors dread of.
In front of everyone present, he said, "Rember this, I am the Unfinished Sword. When I beco the greatest Sword Saint, when I truly earn the na Peerless, then you may cheer for ."
This incident let him show a flash of brilliance and gain so fa.
And until recently, although he had successfully risen to beco a revered Legendary Sword Saint, he still had not changed the title Unfinished Sword. Clearly, this legend had greater ambitions and pursuits and was not satisfied with the status quo.
At this mont, Marquis Marcus looked at the Legendary Sword Saint and spoke.
"Nearly thirty years of brutal civil war almost made us forget that the wilderness's sharp fangs never truly fell out. They have always been sharpening in the shadows, waiting for the right mont to strike."
His voice was low and hoarse, edged with anger, sounding unusually clear in the quiet room.
"Besides the northeastern lands, the bases we painstakingly built in the Ser Wilderness for centuries have almost been uprooted by those barbaric natives! This is an unprecedented great loss and an enormous humiliation in the history of our kingdom's expansion."
"Those wilderness natives are truly brazen, utterly reckless!"
Decades of conflict that ultimately failed to yield expected gains, but instead wasted national strength, left the southern nations, including the high officials of the Theo Kingdom, with a pent-up resentnt with nowhere to vent.
Now, Marquis Marcus seed to have found a suitable outlet.
If we cannot defeat the reappearing Holy King of Lothrian, can we not at least deal with those ignorant, backward wilderness natives?
"Based on intelligence gathered from various sources, this does not look like a scattered tribal uprising."
Marquis Marcus tapped heavily on the garish red region on the map.
"Ruling the northwest and central regions is the so-called Lord of Molten Iron, who has consolidated a large number of monster tribes and even dragons into a powerful force, and has even developed alchemical arms in organized, systemic formations. Their organization far exceeds that of ordinary monster packs."
"And the Fungus King who occupies the southern wilderness is similarly not to be underestimated."
"So far, there is no reliable intelligence revealing their true form. What we can see are only the fungal monstrous armies under its command."
"In comparison, the Mountain King entrenched in the northeast, the giant who fled from the Thalassian Continent, has behaved more or less obediently."
Marquis Marcus assessed the wilderness situation.
Beside him, the Legendary Sword Saint Kailos sat with his arms folded, relaxed in posture but carrying a restrained sharpness.
His gaze was as sharp as a sword, seeming able to pierce the map and stare directly at that chaotic land.
"The entire Ser Wilderness, in theory, should be the future territory for civilized nations to expand and conquer."
Kailos said calmly, "Those beasts occupying it, the uncivilized monsters, and those two dragons and that mushroom thing that popped out of so dark corner—do they deserve to call themselves kings?"
"They are openly challenging the authority of the kingdom and trampling the bottom line of civilization."
Hearing this, Marquis Marcus nodded slowly in strong agreent.
He stood up and walked steadily to the huge map, pressing his finger firmly on the scarlet areas in the northwest, central, and southern regions.
"We cannot let this continue."
"We must make those presumptuous wilderness scum understand who truly rules the Ser Wilderness."
"The Far Regions Strategy Office has already drafted a plan and submitted it to His Majesty the King, proposing a clearing operation in the Ser Wilderness. The goal is to take back our lost bases, seize more new resource points, and make the monsters who dare to provoke us pay with blood."
As he spoke, Marquis Marcus turned his gaze to the Unfinished Sword standing silently nearby.
"Kailos, in strength, prestige, and knowledge of the wilderness, you are the best choice to execute this purge, bar none."
"I will imdiately petition His Majesty the King for formal authorization for you to lead the expedition back into the Ser Wilderness."
"This mission has a very clear objective: execute the so-called Lord of Molten Iron and the Fungus King, destroy their dragon forces and fungal legions, recover and consolidate our control in the wilderness, and restore the glory of the Theo Kingdom."
The Legendary Sword Saint's mouth twitched and he snorted, a sound whose aning was ambiguous.
"The civil war just ended, the Federation has been dissolved, the country has many tasks awaiting reconstruction, and there are plenty of internal contradictions. The king is probably overwheld right now."
"Choosing to form a close alliance with the Kingdom of Rybos and enter together was not, in hindsight, a wise decision."
His words lacked evident deference to a sovereign.
However, any legendary being is the foundation on which a kingdom stands and a precious resource that must be carefully preserved.
A legendary strong individual, even if they privately criticize the king, will usually not face severe punishnt as long as they do not truly harm the kingdom's core interests.
This is the privilege that power brings.
"One can’t predict fate. Who would have thought the Holy King, who should have long been dead, was not?"
Marquis Marcus lowered his voice.
"If not for that, our Theo Kingdom could have reaped more benefits from the civil war and strengthened our national power."
He paused, then shifted tone, voice dropping several notches: "Kailos, you were at Valdo Palace that day, you witnessed that scene with your own eyes."
"From your judgnt... do you think the Holy King has truly been resurrected? Or is there trickery?"
Kailos' expression turned serious.
He pondered briefly, then shook his head slowly.
"I don't know."
He answered plainly: "When the Holy King first acted, he crushed and killed two Legendary figures near-instantly, and both were senior legends of ranks above mine. I could not comprehend the domain he displayed or the level of power."
"Perhaps he really took that crucial step."
"Perhaps his death back then was a façade, a period of lying dormant."
"Otherwise, with his aged human body, it would be impossible for him to retain such unfathomable power."
Marquis Marcus' brows tightened into deep furrows.
He asked, "Is there another possibility... that what we saw was so contingency he left behind, containing trendous power but usable only once? That Lothrian is bluffing to intimidate the nations?"
Kailos nodded: "That possibility exists, and it's not unlikely."
But his tone soon shifted into sothing half-smiling, half-serious: "The question is, do you dare bet on that possibility? I certainly don't. I believe our sovereign and the rulers of other major states probably won't dare gamble either."
"If the gamble is wrong, the cost could be the destruction of an entire nation."
Marquis Marcus sneered twice, the sound cold.
"A lie never becos true."
"Even if nations now fear the Holy King's might and dare not act rashly, with ti soone will eventually test the boundary."
"If the Holy King has not truly returned, or his state is not as perfect as portrayed, Lothrian's bluff will show cracks."
"We simply need to wait and watch."
After long war, the nations, though nominally autonomous, did not gain the land or resources they had hoped for. Overall, the losses from internal strife were more severe.
Currently, the nations lie low, cowed by the thunderous return of the Holy King, unwilling to step out of line.
But how long can this fear-based calm last?
Rumors suggested Rybos might have hidden backing; the suddenly appearing powerful war materiel during the war did not look native to them.
"Enough, those matters are too broad for now."
"We need to focus on the Ser Wilderness."
Marquis Marcus waved his hand as if to dispel the tangled thoughts and returned his attention to Kailos, his tone resuming its decisive edge.
"Kailos, prepare in advance."
"When it cos to military action in the wilderness to recover lost territory and assert national prestige, His Majesty will surely authorize it. It won't be long before you return to the land you once guarded."
Kailos' mouth curved into a confident, cold smile.
"I look forward to it," he said.
"It will be an opportunity to et those so-called 'kings' the ignorant natives worship. I’ll see whether their skulls are any harder than ordinary monsters'."
To him, returning to the Ser Wilderness felt like going ho.
Before ascending to Legendary, he had long guarded the wilderness border, using his sword to keep many ferocious monster tribes from rising, tightly compressing their activity range.
Now that he had stepped into the Legendary realm and his life level had undergone a qualitative leap,
slaying those coarse monsters who relied on instinct and brute force would be even easier—like chopping vegetables.
anwhile.
At the convergence lands, in Dragon Hold, at Scorchsteel Fortress.
The red iron dragon stood at the edge of a tall watchtower, staring into the howling snowstorm.
At the sa ti, he cald his mind and touched the Bloodline Connection deep within.
He had already asked Deborah and the others about the tribe's recent situation.
But because they had long stayed at the convergence lands, they did not know the detailed specifics of what had occurred in the wider world, especially in the Ser Wilderness.
Garoth still needed to talk with dragons who were on the frontlines, those actually in the wilderness.
Soon, with Iron Dragon Sorog as the ntal node, Red Dragon Samantha and Iron Dragon Gordon’s consciousnesses also gathered in this ntal world.
The Iron Dragon Mother, who also shared the Bloodline Connection, was not called this ti.
After all, she was an ally of the Ignas Dragon Cluster, with her own independent territory and followers, not a core mber of the Molten Iron Tribe.
So internal tribal matters need not be shared with her.
When the ntal link stabilized and participants had assembled, Garoth got straight to the point.
He asked, "While I was asleep, what important events occurred that I should know about? Tell what you understand."
Red Dragon Samantha and Iron Dragon Gordon were not the types to enjoy formal reporting.
In the end, the most steady and ticulous Sorog organized and delivered the important events he had already compiled in a clear tiline, stating them with structure and order.
After so ti.
Through Sorog's account, Garoth had a clear understanding of the crucial events that occurred during his twenty-nine years of slumber.
These included the changes in the Abyss, the end of the southern Federation's civil war, and the reappearance of the Lothrian Holy King.
After a mont of thought.
The red iron dragon turned his gaze to the consciousness representing Iron Dragon Gordon within the mindlink.
In the ntal world, a consciousness’s shape could roughly reflect the true condition of its body.
At this mont, Gordon’s image, though covered under heavy fat beneath the scales, still showed clear and strong muscle contours, revealing a majestic draconic posture.
His size and sturdy build were second only to Garoth among these kin.
Garoth asked directly, "Gordon, you were in Valdo Palace and saw the 'resurrected' Holy King with your own eyes?"
Gordon's ntal waves stirred actively.
He said, "Yes, I saw him personally! He walked out from endless light, and with a single move, killed two Legendary figures with crushing force. He then declared the dissolution of the Federation, causing the previously aggressive allied nations to hesitate and retreat to their own lands."
When the Lothrian Federation still existed, the Holy King's prestige was like a blazing sun, unmatched.
Garoth was not surprised that he had such formidable reputation.
The question was whether the Holy King had truly returned.
The step the Holy King tried to take was far more difficult than a mundane being advancing to Legendary; even the mighty Gold Dragon King ultimately failed. Given his aged human body, the chance of success would be even lower.
Of course, there was another possibility.
Perhaps he never truly died—what appeared to be his fall was rely a massive injury incurred during a failed advancent to higher levels, and he had been quietly recovering.
But this ruler, fad for his rcy, pardoned invaders so lightly.
Was that... too lenient?
Tracing his rise, his path has never lacked decisive killings and iron-blooded ruthlessness.
If Garoth had been in that position, he would at minimum have slaughtered every invading enemy Legend to set an example.
Of course, that might be the narrow view of a dragon, too presumptuous.
He was no longer human and could not fully comprehend the complex political calculations behind such choices.
Perhaps with age and power growth, the Holy King truly reached a transcendent state, weary of slaughter, becoming more rciful and compassionate, preferring peace.
Garoth set aside these thoughts for the mont.
He asked again, "After the Holy King's return, during these three years, has he made public appearances again, or has he vanished once more?"
Iron Dragon Gordon nodded and replied decisively, "Yes, he has appeared."
"In these three years, he showed up sporadically a few tis, mainly at the Royal Academy or within the court, instructing his offspring and descendants on cultivation and state affairs. But his appearances were brief; he seed unwilling to ddle too much in court matters."
"Also, there are unverified rumors in the court that his return may be due to a breakthrough in his research on the 'Art of Immortality,' though it has not been perfected."
"Thus most of his energies remain devoted to refining the immortality technique, leaving him little ti for other concerns."
This sounded plausible, explaining why he was seemingly resurrected yet remained elusive and rarely seen.
But plausible did not eliminate all uncertainties and speculation.
Garoth did not press further.
He knew ti would eventually reveal everything.
Whatever the Holy King's true status, it would in ti appear to the world.
Then it would be unknown whether the southern nations could maintain the fragile peace or whether conflicts would erupt anew.
"By the way, I have an important discovery."
Gordon's ntal tone abruptly turned solemn and serious, breaking a short silence.
He said, "Recently, through observation and reflection, I grasped a principle."
Garoth inclined his head slightly, inviting him to continue.
With a hint of pride and mystery, Gordon solemnly presented his Doctrine of Destiny.
"Strength, talent, sweat... even wisdom and opportunity—in my view, these are all secondary!"
"The most critical, core, and vital thing is destiny!"
"Look, in this world so people exhaust themselves their entire lives and never make a ripple in the river of fate; others, perhaps with a careless thought or an inadvertent action, can change the winds and clouds and affect the world's order."
"What is the source of all these differences? It is related to the 'destiny' they carry!"
"As long as you bear a powerful destiny, no matter how humble your birth or diocre your talent, you will, through a series of seemingly accidental but actually inevitable events, achieve astonishing accomplishnts."
"Destiny is what matters most. Compared to it, everything else is insignificant."
Iron Dragon Gordon spoke slowly, his ntal waves full of confidence.
Whether correct or not, his words at first seed to carry so logic, explaining many baffling disparities in fate.
Garoth glanced with mild surprise at his usually unruly dragon kin, feeling Gordon had grown since the palace incident, able to derive such a seemingly profound theory.
He asked, "How did you arrive at this insight?"
Then Gordon puffed out his chest and declared, word by word,
"Because, after repeated verification and contemplation, I am convinced—I, Gordon, am the dragon to whom destiny belongs!"
In the ntal network, an invisible cold wind seed to sweep through, plunging everyone into silence.
Garoth was montarily taken aback and silently rescinded his earlier praise for his dragon brother's growth.
The next mont, Red Dragon Samantha burst into loud laughter.
"Wa ha ha ha! Gordon! What ridiculous dragon joke are you telling? If you ant to amuse us, you have succeeded splendidly. I'm laughing scales off from your absurd confidence!"
Faced with Samantha's mockery, Iron Dragon Gordon was not angry and did not show embarrassnt.
Instead he beca even more earnest and started to explain and justify his destiny theory with clear structure.
"Think carefully about my past. Doesn't it prove this?"
"Have I not always turned danger into safety, disaster into blessing?"
"For example, when I was a child and suffered misfortune, I was taken in by the Lothrian royal court and grew up alongside the princess, enjoying nearly a century of luxury and privilege. Isn't that destiny's favor?"
"And when Valdo Palace was about to fall and faced a crisis..."
"I had already decided to flee alone to preserve myself, but at the last mont I hesitated and chose to stay. It was at that crucial point that the Holy King reappeared, turned the tide, and saved the kingdom."
At this point Gordon paused and then pronounced another extre claim.
"I even strongly feel that if I had resolutely fled then, the Holy Lord might never have appeared, and Valdo Palace might have truly fallen."
He said solemnly, "In other words, whether the Holy King existed and whether he appeared at that mont may have had so fateful connection to whether I decided to leave the palace."
"When I had not made my final decision, he could have been alive or dead."
"He was in a superposed state determined by !"
The mindlink again fell into a deathlike silence.
This ti not only did Sorog remain mute, but even the ever-sharp-tongued Samantha was temporarily at a loss for words, unsure how to retort.
Or she didn’t know where to begin with ridicule.
"This fellow has ford a self-consistent logic around his doctrine of destiny."
Garoth felt speechless inside.
"Why are the dragons around all so uniquely gifted?"
This thought flashed involuntarily.
"Could it be... hm... that I am actually the dragon to whom destiny truly belongs?"
The absurd idea popped up and Garoth laughed at himself, lightly shaking his head to dispel the fanciful notion.
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