Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 1436

In an endless cycle of time, within an endless loop of dreams, Ovira saw scenes flashing past her eyes like fragments of a shattered mirror, frozen yet separated. She saw majestic mountains, magnificent palaces, clamorous dragons, and a colossal platinum dragon so large it almost blotted out the sky; she saw the peaks groaning, the earth trembling, and two dragons facing off in the sky higher than the clouds, their different eyes holding a familiar stubbornness; she saw ideals crumble, obsessions destroyed, pride shattered, and a soul that mistakenly understood love as loneliness, and another that mistakenly understood loneliness as love, reenacting their initial duel in ever-intersecting spaces of time.

As these images eventually melted away like snowflakes into the depths of memory, a colossal dragon, deeper than darkness itself, emerged from the darkness. It raised its ferocious head, silently gazing into the distance at a world of nothingness. Despite its expressionless face, its disdain, and its aura more ruthless than the Frost Moon of Linwell City, Ovira could still see a fierce resentment in its eyes, as if it were rebelling against this cruel fate, only to end in tragedy.

He was naturally unwilling, and had ample reason to be so, for he still had things left undone in this world, things he had to do, and things he was compelled to do, all awaiting their conclusion. When he realized he had kept his destined rival waiting too long, a feeling of humiliation and anger welled up within him, which then transformed into a strong, stubborn, and unstoppable obsession: he must keep his appointment, he would inevitably keep his appointment, and he would ultimately keep his appointment.

Even if death has separated us, I will climb up from the deepest part of the underworld, step by step, and stand before you once more.

Why be so persistent?

Ovira asked him, "Is it for revenge, against the person who killed you?"

The one-winged feathered elf hero Italos killed him; the spirits of Assyria, the paradise on earth, refused to submit to his violence; even the mortals of Atoliga, suffering terribly, cursed the evil dragon's cruelty. Were these impressions, along with the death of an evil soul, forever etched into his memory?

Based on history and legend, Ovira made what she considered the most reasonable judgment, but she seemed to have forgotten that before her teacher sent her into this memory, he had told her that in the illusion, there was a soul yearning for love.

He was created, born into this world, endured all kinds of suffering and trials, and ultimately died because of his own ambition.

Like... residue.

If you don't understand this, you'll certainly find it hard to understand his pursuit, right? So, the dragon didn't bow his head, nor did he respond. He was so arrogant that he seemed to ignore the traveler who had suddenly appeared in his memory. But his arrogant attitude seemed to be sending a signal to Ovira: Of course not.

I do not exist for such a superficial reason as revenge. Even if a mere one-winged feathered elf does possess the power to defeat or even kill me, how could I possibly be so attached to her that I would still yearn for her even in a world of death?

She, the fairy, the mortal of Atorica… they were all too insignificant, not worth mentioning.

For a soul that has been brought back from the dead, there are things in this world far more important than revenge.

That is, to prove...

……

Does Nidhogg still remember Platinum Hill?
To say there was nothing would be self-deception, but what remained was certainly not a pleasant impression, for his childhood was spent on this towering mountain. In fact, most talented young dragons were sent to Platinum Mountain for nurturing. After the dragons lost the war for continental dominance and gradually declined due to three calamities—heavenly upheavals, divine changes, and cataclysms—in order to preserve their strength for future restoration, the then-Dragon King Bahamut led the dragons to retreat to the continent's borders, using a high wall of dragon language to sever contact with the outside world. From then on, Platinum Mountain replaced the once-glorious Dragon City as the new holy land of the dragons.

The Dragon King deeply understood the impermanence of the world and the unpredictability of fate. He believed that if the dragon race wanted to restore its former glory, it should avoid fighting and preserve its vitality, but it should not isolate itself from the world and become complacent. Therefore, he ordered the construction of a great library on Mount Platinum to gather all the knowledge in the world. The most knowledgeable dragon in the race was appointed as the bookkeeper, and at the same time, the talented young dragons in the race were taught and guided on the path to restore the race.

It was under the tutelage of this bookkeeper that Nidhogg learned how to acquire knowledge of the outside world and how to hone his combat skills, quickly distinguishing himself among the young dragons. But this brought him not glory, but isolation and hostility from the other young dragons. Because of his solitary and stubborn nature, his silence and arrogance, almost no young dragon was willing to be his friend. Thus, for those long three hundred years, he always kept to himself, never experiencing what friendship truly meant.

Besides innate factors, Nidhogg's personality is partly due to a lack of nurture. His parents died when he was still a dragon egg, their deaths directly caused by wounds sustained in a past war. This war stemmed from an order by Bahamut, the Dragon King: the dragons wanted to relinquish their power in the prosperous lands of the Eastern Continent and retreat to Mount Platinum. However, their enemies would not give up easily. After the catastrophe, giants, humans, dust elves, and even the mirror elves of the deep sea united to annihilate this most proud yet most powerful race, eliminating any future threat. Nidhogg's parents died protecting their people outside the Dragon Language Wall, after which the Dragon King sealed the wall, forbidding anyone without permission to leave. Thus, those who came later never even had the chance to collect their remains.

Dragons are a race that highly values ​​bloodlines and family lineage. They are proud of their noble surnames, admire the glory of their ancestors, and aspire to create equally great achievements. In their eyes, Nidhogg, who neither values ​​his surname and family honor nor has a distinguished father or brother to personally teach him, is undoubtedly an anomaly among the dragons.

But all of this meant nothing to Nidhogg, for he was neither angry nor sad.

Never having experienced a father's authority or a mother's love, he learned soon after birth to use a cold and indifferent gaze to shut out any adult dragons who tried to offer him warmth or whose love was excessive. He firmly believed he didn't need their care, and was even labeled a "born emotionally deficient" young dragon by them. When studying with other young dragons, he was isolated and hostile, sometimes even mocked. He would retaliate without hesitation, even if they outnumbered him, fighting until they were bloodied. When he heard them cry out in fear, "Nidhogg has gone mad," and run to their teacher for help, he would spit out a mouthful of blood in disdain, believing them to be nothing more than a group of weaklings. Anger and sadness were emotions only the weak felt—anger at his own powerlessness, sadness at his own plight… Nidhogg was not weak. He vowed to become strong, stronger than everyone else, and thus he actively suppressed these two emotions. In the eyes of other dragons who understood joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, he was undoubtedly a strange dragon.

This personality trait made him even more unpopular as he grew up. So much so that when he finally stood on the stage to vie for the Dragon King's throne, all the dragons chanted "Heraswag's" name. As for Nidhogg, who had no background and had fought his way up through sheer strength, not a single dragon shouted his name—not to cheer him on, but to express their disgust. He was a reclusive outcast, unable to gain the approval of his own kind. No dragon wanted him to become the new Dragon King; some even whispered behind his back, "If Nidhogg becomes Dragon King, the dragon race is doomed!"

Nidhogg didn't care about these evaluations; in fact, he felt a sense of satisfaction, because it meant he not only had the qualifications to become the Dragon King, but also the qualifications to decide the fate of the entire dragon race. He could gain everything and then destroy everything. The born strong had the power to decide, while the weak could only stand by as bystanders, making insignificant and futile comments.

Defeating the opponent in front of you is the key to taking a decisive step.

And his opponent was Heraswalg... Ah, Heraswalg.

The moment the name surfaced in his mind, the jet-black dragon became dazed, caught in a complex emotion he had once thought could never be his own. Sometimes it was like a swamp, sometimes like a mountain peak; only by wading through this swamp and climbing this mountain could he reach the deepest part of his inner world and confront those past events he had never wanted to acknowledge.

What kind of dragon is Heraswalg?

He first heard this name from his teacher, who taught him knowledge and skills and was also the keeper of the Great Archives, instructing the dynasty's many talented young dragons. To Nidhogg, who had already distinguished himself and looked down on his incompetent peers, he said, "Your talent is the second best young dragon I have ever seen. If you continue to grow at this rate, you will soon have a bright future. It's a pity that if it weren't now, but at any time in the history of dragons, you would be qualified to compete for the throne of the Dragon King."

Still unaware of the cruelty of fate, and still holding his teacher in awe and respect, Nidhogg asked him, "Why now of all times?"

The teacher replied, "Because right now, there is a dragon that is far superior to you."

He was Herraswalg.

If Nidhogg, who lost his parents and relatives at birth, had an eccentric personality, and always kept to himself, was as insignificant as dust, then Herasvarg was the complete opposite. He stood atop the mountain, in the clouds, and even beyond the distant heavens, looking down on all those who chased after his shadow.

Inheriting the noble bloodline of the great and infinite dragon god Bahamut, he naturally possessed a temperament and demeanor befitting his birth. His eyes, always clear and calm without a single flaw, reflected his gentle and humble nature, unlike the arrogant and conceited impression that dragons were often perceived by outsiders. This earned him the praise of his people. His outstanding talent and diligent efforts enabled him to achieve more brilliant accomplishments than all other young dragons of his age. In fact, some wise elders in the dragon race had already concluded that no other dragon was more suitable for the future position of Dragon King than him. Of course, when the elders made this conclusion, they certainly did not even glance at the face of that always taciturn young dragon, not even for a moment.

Even in his conduct and interactions with others, Hraswald displayed an extraordinary maturity, completely unlike what one would expect from a young dragon. Almost all his peers were willing to gather around him, heeding his words and actions, whether they were well-intentioned reminders or stern rebukes. Regarding his talent and achievements, the dragons showed only envy and praise; jealousy and slander seemed reserved only for the taciturn and solitary. They were like stars, making Hraswald shine like a dazzling sun.

Nidhogg wasn't even a star; he was just a dull, lifeless meteorite waiting to fall.

The contrast between the two was too stark. Even though Nidhogg's talent and achievements were only slightly inferior to Hrathwalg's, no one remembered the "second place." Or rather, when Nidhogg was the "second place," they subconsciously ignored him, as if this member of their race had never existed. Only the teacher was relatively fair, correctly judging their respective achievements and believing that they were both geniuses of the dragon race, just slightly different in ability. But the mistake lay in this conclusion being too "correct." The teacher was the guardian of the Great Archives, immersed in books year-round. He might have his own unique understanding of the world's knowledge, but he knew nothing about the emotions of life. Therefore, the "correct" conclusions he told Nidhogg should not be considered "facts" in the eyes of the stubborn and obstinate latter.

How could he admit that he had lost to someone else, even if it was said by the teacher who taught them knowledge and skills?

So he began to try to prove, not to prove that he was better than Herraswalg, but to prove something more important.

Whether it was absorbing knowledge tirelessly in the Great Archives or secretly running to the foot of Mount Platinum to fight those dangerous magical beasts and hone his skills... he admitted that he might have lost to Hraesvarg in terms of bloodline, personality, and talent, but he firmly believed that all of this could be made up for. There is no such thing as innate conditions determining later achievements. If such an absurd thing is arranged by fate, then Nidhogg will rebel and show all those who believe in falsehoods!

But what was the result?

The stubborn, unyielding, aloof, and indifferent dragon proved itself. Even a dim meteorite that is not taken seriously by everyone will one day burst forth with a brilliance more dazzling than the sun.
Give me some cats