Garoth stood silently atop the high ground, taking in the entire operation of the Dragon-Forge site.
He watched the Dragon-Forge Primordial Liquid slowly circulate in the pool, energy conduits pulsing in steady rhythm, the warriors undergoing modification enduring pain yet remaining orderly, and the wight mages adjusting every single procedure... all of it forming a picture of ticulous order.
Garoth slightly bowed his head, a trace of approval appearing on his face.
He turned to Seraphina and Ludwig who stood respectfully to the side and said, “The operation of the Dragon-Forge site runs very well. Both of you have not disappointed .”
Hearing the Iron King’s personal affirmation and praise, the black dragon and the green dragon both showed pleased expressions.
Imdiately after, they almost simultaneously lowered their heads and replied, “All of this is thanks to your guidance and support! We rely followed your will and executed your blueprint. We are the claws and arms extended from your intent.”
Neither of them displayed any pride; instead, they credited all the achievents to Garoth, their deanor extrely proper.
Garoth’s gaze swept over them, and in a calm tone he said, “No need for excessive modesty.”
“You may still be in your youth phase, but the contributions you have made to the dragon flock are not small; you have even surpassed many adult dragons.”
A few wyrmlings he had personally saved were now doing well.
The black dragon and the green dragon handled important Dragon-Forge modification matters; the blue dragons and the red dragons were expanding tribal territory on the Permafrost Tundra.
Although the four of them were not directly involved in front-line wilderness warfare now, each played a vital role in the dragon flock’s overall structure.
“To have your recognition is our greatest honor.”
The two young dragons replied in unison, voices mixing reverence with barely contained joy.
Garoth’s attention shifted away from the area where Dragon-Forge modifications were ongoing and fell on Seraphina. “Where is the phylactery kept? Take there.”
Besides inspection, there was another reason Garoth had co to the Dragon-Forge base.
A few days earlier he had received word from the black dragon Seraphina.
After prolonged nurturing within the phylactery, the soul of the Flower Knight Shire Hynes, who had fallen in battle for him, had gradually awakened from the chaos and regained clear consciousness.
A few minutes later, led by the two young dragons, the red iron dragon entered a heavily guarded inner chamber.
At the center of the room, that familiar phylactery lay quietly in place.
The red iron dragon stepped forward, extended a taloned paw, and slowly opened the phylactery’s lid.
With the surge of a cold wave of negative energy, a fairly solid soul semblance rose from the container, its appearance exactly that of the Flower Knight who had perished in the battle against Gorthax — Shire Hynes.
He stared at the red iron dragon for a mont in confusion, then the light coalesced and brightened.
“Lord Garoth...”
The soul’s voice was ethereal and echoed slightly, gently vibrating in the chamber. “To reunite with you in this... tenuous state is sowhat embarrassing.”
The Flower Knight’s specter gave a bitter, helpless smile.
Garoth looked at him, and a semblance of a smile tugged at the dragon’s features. “At least you have freed yourself from that frail mortal body. Human bodies are short-lived and fragile; there is little worth longing for.”
Did you ever live as a human? How can you be certain there's nothing to miss?
Shire’s soul longed to retort like that, but in the end, a thousand words condensed into a single long, complex sigh.
“I have pictured my eventual end countless tis...”
Shire’s voice carried reminiscence and sentint. “Perhaps it would be of old age, falling asleep surrounded by children and grandchildren as they mourn; or perhaps vanquished in a titanic battle against a worthy adversary, dying in glorious combat after fierce struggle.”
“But I never imagined my end would be to be killed in a single strike, shattered to pieces.”
He shrugged helplessly, an odd motion for a soul, “You’re right. Human bodies do have limits. They are far too fragile.”
Recalling that battle, Shire’s swordsmanship had not failed to land on the ferocious red dragon Gorthax; he had even left wounds multiple tis. But such injuries were nothing more than superficial for the hide-toughened giant dragon.
Yet a single solid strike from Gorthax had pulverized him instantly.
At this point, the red iron dragon spoke slowly, asking the crucial question: “Then, would you prefer your soul return to the earth, to find rest and reincarnation, or do you wish to continue existing in this current state?”
If he chose death, given the resilience of Shire’s soul, it was highly probable so higher plane would draw him in, possibly allowing reincarnation as a naturally powerful celestial creature.
The cost, however, would be total erasure of his mories and absolute severance from his past.
As for continuing to exist as a soul, aside from very rare secret thods, the most common route would be conversion into the undead, which also carried grave costs.
Shire’s soul flickered noticeably, falling into silence and hesitation.
After several seconds he lifted his head and asked with a thread of hope, “My wife, Befree... is she all right? Is she still alive?”
Garoth inclined his head slightly.
Before coming, he had already asked about the status of relevant followers.
“Your wife Befree has already undergone Dragon-Forge modification,” Garoth stated calmly. “She retains youth and vigor. In addition, she bore you two children: one is a human boy, the other a serpentfolk girl who inherited her mother’s bloodline. They now live in Ximu Town, serving as local security chiefs and contributing to maintaining the tribe’s order.”
Shire had died fighting for him. Garoth had instructed the iron dragon Sorog to give generous care to his survivors and offspring.
Regrettably, Shire’s two children, though superior in aptitude to ordinary humans or serpentfolk and now holding leader-level status, did not inherit their father’s extraordinary talent.
At present, among many followers, only Gluttonous Ogre Karu and Elvy have the potential to enter the legendary tier.
They are currently level 18 and 19 respectively, their life level rising faster than ordinary dragons; one was recently assigned to garrison a mineral-rich northeastern region, the other tasked with suppressing an Abyssal Rift — they are the two strongest follower leaders beneath the dragon flock.
The serpent woman Sword Saint, who had once been stronger than them, remains at level 17 and has reached her personal potential limit.
Moreover, that serpent woman Sword Saint, originally stationed at the convergence lands, has been transferred to the wilderness to assist Sorog with various affairs, in so sense acting as his “secretary.”
After Garoth finished describing the family situation, Shire’s soul visibly steadied.
Though a soul need not breathe, he inhaled deeply and spoke with determination: “I want to live, to continue to exist.”
That answer did not surprise Garoth.
To relinquish the remaining attachnts and bonds in the world is exceedingly difficult for soone who treasures relationships.
“Very well,” the red iron dragon said in a deep voice. “In that case I can offer you two concrete options.”
“First, I can provide rare materials to help you beco a powerful undead creature. But you must understand the costs and side effects — as ti passes you will gradually lose most of your emotions and begin to hate all living beings.”
“Second, I know of a legendary item called the Hall of Heroic Spirits. It was crafted to mimic the properties of a Hero Domain; you could transform into a heroic spirit and continue to exist. However, that artifact is currently held by a legendary envoy, and I am not entirely certain of the exact drawbacks of becoming a heroic spirit.”
Shire could not accept a future self who would co to loathe his wife and children and lose all warm mories.
He smiled and said, “A heroic spirit... in any case, it sounds a thousand tis better than becoming undead.”
“I’ve waited all these years. I don’t mind waiting a little longer.”
He paused, his voice full of unshakable faith, and continued: “Besides, I believe that if it is sothing you desire, sooner or later it will fall into your hands. Even a legendary being cannot stand against your will.”
So ti later.
The red iron dragon beat his great wings and returned to the convergence lands, back to Dragon Valley.
Besides the tal dragon Deborah, the brass dragon Serena was also there, conversing with Deborah about sothing.
When the red iron dragon’s massive body thundered down, Serena’s gaze imdiately shifted toward him.
Garoth scanned the surroundings and, not seeing the silver dragon Edri, directly asked the brass dragon, “Did Uncle Edri not co with you this ti?”
Deborah shook her head slightly, answering on behalf of her mother.
“Father’s pri-phase slumber is about to begin. He went back to the tal Dragon domains first to prepare for this sleep.”
Garoth’s face showed an enlightened smile. “Then let congratulate Uncle Edri in advance, and wish that after his slumber he will break through into the legendary realm.”
At their last eting, Edri had already reached level 20.
After another cycle of pri-phase slumber, given the silver dragon’s talent and the accumulation from sleep, a breakthrough to legendary rank was almost inevitable.
At that point Edri would officially join the ranks of the elder dragons.
“Your Uncle Edri was thinking of you before he left.”
Serena said with a squinty, amused smile. “He told to warn you to be cautious during this period and avoid provoking enemies you can’t handle. After he wakes, he can back you up. Of course, he also wants to clash swords with you once beforehand.”
Garoth had only recently finished his youth-phase slumber.
Following a normal dragon growth trajectory, he still needed to go through an adult-phase slumber and approach the pri dragon stage before reaching legendary — which usually requires a long ti.
So the silver dragon’s offer to support him made sense.
Garoth nodded. “I would gladly accept and enjoy the protection from the tal dragons.”
“As for a duel, that’s fine as well.”
The valley’s atmosphere was warm and relaxed.
After so more casual chatter, Serena seed to rember sothing important and abruptly changed the subject, her tone carrying a mix of excitent and mischief as she issued an invitation to the red iron dragon.
“By the way, Garoth! The interdomain tournant jointly organized by the Five Great Dragon Domains will begin in a few years. This is an outstanding chance for young dragons to make a na for themselves. Don’t you want to try?”
She did not know anything about Garoth’s pact with the gold dragon Ovis.
Before Garoth could answer, Serena continued enthusiastically, “You might not know, but this competition has a special rule: the final champion only wins the right to challenge ‘another mysterious dragon.’”
“Isn’t that outrageous? It’s practically using the champion as a stepping stone.”
“When the rumor spread, the young generation in every major domain was stirred up. All are indignant and want to know who that dragon is — what kind of power could force the rule to be altered.”
As she spoke, the brass dragon egged him on with excitent and urged, “Well? Garoth?”
“Don’t you want to et that mysterious dragon and teach him a lesson, see if he deserves his reputation? I believe with your strength you could easily take the challenge qualification and then win the final prize and honor.”
Garoth was silent; his massive head showed a subtle, complex expression.
Under Serena’s expectant, goading stare, he slowly opened his mouth in an oddly toned voice.
“That mysterious dragon... I happen to know him.”
Serena’s eyes exploded with curiosity.
She fixed her gaze on the red iron dragon and pressed, “You know him? Who is it? Is it so powerful dragon hiding sowhere in the wilderness? Tell .”
Garoth spread his wings slightly and calmly stated, “He is right here, in front of you.”
Upon hearing this, Serena’s eyes widened instantly, her face written with disbelief.
However, because Garoth had already delivered her so many surprises, she composed herself quickly and accepted the fact.
“It is the gold dragon Ovis of the Vophal Dragon Domain who invited to participate in this way.”
... ...
Garoth then proceeded to briefly recount the main sequence of events.
“I see, there’s that sort of connection behind it,” Serena clicked her tongue as she absorbed the information, a gleam of excitent and amusent in her eyes. “If the champion earns the chance to challenge you... hah, Garoth, whether you win or lose, after the tournant your na will echo across the Five Great Dragon Domains and beco the focus of every young dragon’s conversation.”
She then suddenly turned toward Deborah, who was listening quietly, a mischievous smile on her face. “My dear Deborah, you must do us proud. I am very curious to see what kind of offspring would result from a union between the red iron dragon and a brass-silver dragon. Ideally they would be as strong and rational as Garoth, and also tallic dragons.”
Deborah flushed with embarrassnt at her mother’s teasing.
She turned her head and ignored the teasing mother.
Serena took no offense, then turned back toward Garoth with renewed interest and asked, “So Garoth, as for your future offspring, which bloodline do you prefer? Do you have any inclination?”
“Do you want Chromatic Dragon children or tal dragon babies?”
Garoth shook his head slightly, his tone calm: “Either is fine. Let them be.”
Though he said that, a hint of curiosity did exist deep inside him.
Beyond bloodline inheritance, could his progeny inherit so of the unique abilities that belong solely to him?
“Could you two change the subject?”
“What dragon babies... I haven’t thought about that at all. It’s too early.”
Deborah protested.
anwhile.
Far out over the ocean, in the Everbright Dragon Domain governed by the twenty-four-winged gold dragon king and hailed as the foremost of the Five Great Dragon Domains, two great dragons lay on a sunlit beach.
One was a male adult gold dragon with scales shimring like flowing liquid gold, a well-proportioned, muscular body radiating power; the other was a slightly smaller female bronze dragon with bluish-gray scales.
They were discussing the tournant.
“Absurd! The rule is simply absurd!”
The bronze dragon flicked her long tail in agitation, full of grievance. “The final champion only obtains a ‘challenge’ qualification? Who is that so-called ‘mysterious dragon’? Is he a reincarnated dragon god?! Or did the legendary elders have nothing better to do and concoct this rule to toy with us?”
Compared to her excitent, the gold dragon beside her appeared much calr.
He gazed serenely at the distant, shimring sea and said steadily, “If the rule was jointly decided by the legendary elders of the great domains, there must be deeper aning behind it.”
“That unseen ‘mysterious dragon’ who receives such recognition must indeed possess extraordinary qualities.”
The bronze dragon shook her head vigorously, unable to accept that reasoning.
She shot back, “No matter how extraordinary, can he be stronger than the elites we trained with all our might in Everbright Dragon Domain? Stronger than you, Karus?”
The gold dragon called Karus rely smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying.
Karus Vellaperion was his full na.
His surna Vellaperion carries the aning of radiance and everbright in draconic tongue, and it is also the gold dragon king’s family na.
Karus belonged to the gold dragon king’s line, and not only did his blood descend from the dragon king, but Karus himself also possessed a unique, powerful talent. Although different from the dragon king’s gift, it was formidable enough to let him tower among his peers.
That made him the most renowned among the likely champions in the Five Great Dragon Domains, and originally he had been widely regarded as the most probable victor.
Under the new rule, he had beco the most likely challenger.
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