Under the Red Dragon.

Chapter 615 Intimidation
The wind blows from the north, carrying the scent of frost and iron.

At the edge of the grassland are white-brown mountains. From the exposed parts of the snow-covered mountains, one after another, huge cities stand against the mountains, their rough walls eroded by wind and snow, leaving only frozen outlines.

Only dragons, atop the low hills of the grasslands, can clearly see the frost giants faintly visible on the distant city walls, as well as the frost-infested extraordinary beings that occasionally flit across the clouds.

Crystal Dragon Galina's four claws trod on the frost-covered, coarse grass, her heavy body only slightly bending the grass roots.

Bathed in sunlight filtering through the clouds, the female dragon's body refracted almost all the light, making it nearly invisible to the naked eye.

Even the camel-like beasts and frost sparrows that happened to pass by this low hill did not realize that a giant dragon, at the top of the mortal food chain, was actually coiled up beside them.

This is not a concealment technique unearthed from the Crystal Dragon's innate bloodline, but rather a dragon magic derived from certain knowledge that the Crystal Dragon Galina discovered in the Golden Empire's library, based on its theories.

When the Empire first established smaller dimensional planes, it also conquered several races.

One of the kingdoms, which had established a civilization of 3,600 years in a small dimensional realm, once believed that those legendary powerhouses who came from large material planes were gods from beyond the planes because they occasionally encountered them.

Although this civilized nation is limited by inherent disadvantages and unable to break through the constraints of the world, its theoretical development also has its merits.

They believed that the gods of other planes were always observing the development of their civilizations through the dimensional barriers, so as to intervene in the evolution of living beings at certain times.

The gods observe the civilizations within their planes like a master observing the fish they raise through a glass tank.

To escape the observation of the gods, one must change the 'refractive index' of a civilized nation in the face of the gods' vision, thus escaping their gaze at certain key locations and times.

Many of the new stealth magic creations in the Golden Empire were inspired by the explorations and theories of this civilization.

Crystal Dragon Galina is one of the beneficiaries.

However, Galina did not come here to observe the giant race ruled by the Frost Giant King Ragnar Hagrid, but because of some unusual news that had recently been reported from all around the Imperial borders.

The management of supernatural powers is now governed by explicit regulations within the Empire.

Small-scale supernatural events are generally managed by the young dragons in the Empire who have not yet officially acquired their authority, serving as experience for these young dragons to hone their skills.

These young dragons can also apply to be seconded from the Imperial Guard as an aid.

These dragons, because they always resided among the mountains and rivers, were also known as the empire's mountain lords.

If it is a medium-sized supernatural event, then the empire's official agencies will get involved, usually by a young dragon who is unable to handle the event alone.

Of course, if it involves a large-scale supernatural event, then it is the Empire's garrison legions and mages who will be deployed.

The reports that Galina received from local town residents indicated that some strange forces were lurking on this grassland, and had begun to significantly affect the local environment and human ecology.

Not only have traces of a secret cult been discovered among the town's residents, but heretics are also easily evading the town's security system because of their magical powers.

The town's residents also suffered from various diseases due to the influence of this mysterious force. Ordinary doctors were unable to effectively treat these diseases, which were therefore classified as epidemic diseases.

Meanwhile, some local crops began to wither and die, and it was these factors that attracted the attention of Crystal Dragon Galina.

Following the directions given by the local residents, the female dragon arrived at this peaceful area and finally discovered some problems.

Because this area is located at the border between the Frost Giants Kingdom and the Golden Empire, although the two countries have a deep alliance, the border area is not strictly guarded in order to prevent unnecessary friction between the two sides.

"Is this the source of those ghostly things, Galina?"

A cheerful dragon's voice rang out, and a female crystal dragon, almost the same size as Galina, descended from the sky, its nearly transparent crystal wings folded as it looked in the direction Galina was staring.

It was a low-lying river valley, and although fine snowflakes always fell from the sky, they could not freeze the flowing water in the valley.

Wisps of mist rose and dissipated over this wide and shallow river.

A thin layer of frost had already formed around the dwarf trees growing in this low-lying valley. Occasionally, frozen wild animals lay scattered among the accumulated frost.

“I’m not entirely sure,” Crystal Dragon Galina replied to her companion without turning her head.

"Although these frozen corpses appear to have died naturally from the wild animals of the surrounding grasslands due to the cold climate and lack of food, I can always vaguely sense a very faint power lingering around them,"

"This faint power seems to spread among animals and plants, weak and hidden yet extremely enduring. Look at that dwarf tree; its exposed roots are the same color as the underlying structure that slowly decays even in frosty weather."

"It wasn't just the carcasses of these wild beasts; even that dwarf tree was repelling the frost and snow falling from the sky,"

"I strongly suspect that the carcasses of those beasts have transformed into witchcraft zombies corrupted by abnormal magical power, and zombies possessing a certain degree of instinctive intelligence,"

“Every time I use detection magic, I can vaguely feel that faint power rapidly lurking. If I hadn’t pretended to fly away and then returned with a concealment spell, and observed here for most of the day, it would have been difficult to notice the difference.”

Galina raised her head and looked at her companion who had landed beside her. The dragon runes in her crystal pupils began to disappear, and an imperceptible joy appeared on her face. But then she paused slightly and looked deeply at her companion.

"Boti, what brings you here? I went to your post to look for you before, but I didn't know where you had gone."

The female dragon, Boti, casually shook her head, seemingly enjoying the feeling of being blown by the cold wind.

Like the silver dragon, the crystal dragon prefers to build its nest high in the mountains, close to the clouds. It is cold-natured and prefers cold environments, unlike the white dragon, which always likes to dig burrows in cold places as its nest.

"You're looking for me? I heard some news and went to see what was going on."

The female dragon, Portia, bared her teeth and looked at her childhood friend with a light laugh, "Have you heard? The empire has been rather unstable lately, with unusual undercurrents stirring within it."

"His Excellency Morvanred, the Empire's Chief Magician, was attacked at his residence, and surprisingly used his magic to seal a portion of the power of an evil god from another realm," "Although His Excellency Morvanred also suffered considerable damage as a result, the sealed evil god's consciousness has been sent to the laboratory of the Empire's Central Magic Research Department as consumables,"

Crystal Dragon Galina was slightly taken aback again.

Portia looked at the female dragon's stunned face and chuckled, "What's wrong? Are you shocked?"

"Although I am also surprised that Lord Morvanred was able to seal the consciousness of the evil god, you must know that no matter how weak the evil god is, its essence is far superior to that of us beings who are limited by the mortal world."

"It is said that Lord Morvanred's legendary path exists prior to his essence,"

Porty frowned, pretending to think for a moment, and said with a puzzled look, "Existence precedes essence, what kind of rule is that? It's ambiguous, and I can't figure it out no matter how hard I try."

"However, since Morvanred was able to seal the consciousness of the evil god, his path to legend must not be weak. It has been nearly a hundred years since the founding of the empire that the first magician has advanced to the legendary level, so it is impossible for him to be too weak..."

Galina moved closer to Portia, her nostrils flaring slightly, and casually replied to her friend, "Although evil gods are gods, and their essence is superior to legends, they are like the astral plane and the material plane—although their underlying rules and mechanisms are the same."

"But they are more like two different large systems that can interact and influence each other, but will not completely merge into one."

"As long as the material world in the universe continues to restrict and suppress the gods, even powerful gods who come to the mortal material world must face the path of those truly legendary strongmen."

"Moreover, powerful gods also have weak priests, believers, and divine messengers, and weak gods also have powerful priests, believers, and divine messengers. We cannot directly distinguish their true strength based on a certain definition."

"The Empire does not prioritize or value strength. Simply advancing to the Legendary level does not elevate one's place in the Empire's ecosystem. What you witnessed was Lord Morvanred displaying Legendary power, which is why you realized he had already advanced to the Legendary realm,"

"But before he displayed his power, who knew he had advanced to the legendary realm? Only the unifying kings of the empire knew,"

"If the empire had not yet established a complete system of inheritance in its early days, there would be several times more legends in the empire today."

Galina slowly paced around Porti's body, constantly encroaching on Porti's space as she spoke, seemingly testing her companion's reaction.

"Moreover, a legend's rules are composed of everything within his unique realm of knowledge, and even his students cannot completely replicate his path,"

"Those who learn from me will live, those who imitate me will die" is not a joke; only each legend knows the difference.

Galina's head finally hovered at Portia's neck, her fangs slightly bared as she aimed at the female dragon's long neck, and slowly said, "Hidden power is the true foundation."

"Never let the enemy know your true thoughts and intentions. This is a maxim that every new member of the Golgmora Dragonflight must remember!"

The female dragon, Portia, seemed uncomfortable with the female dragon's probing and couldn't help but push Galina away with her paw, saying with dissatisfaction, "I'm not a male dragon, Galina. If you're in heat, go find other male dragons. Although I'm your friend, I don't prefer female dragons."

“I think you don’t dislike female dragons, but rather you dislike dragons in general,”

Galina, who had been pushed away, slowly raised her head, her entire body lying face down, her four paws firmly gripping the cold, hard soil. With a hint of regret in her voice, she said, "Botty, you are no longer the real Botty!"

The howling wind was filled with the faint scent of dragon blood, and the howling wind echoed the elemental magic flowing within the female dragon Galina, gradually enveloping the space around her.

"You're crazy, Galina! I'm not Portia, what am I?"

The female dragon, Portia, bared her teeth angrily, glaring fiercely at her companion, and said, "What else could I be...?"

"Within the Golden Empire, within the Gogmora Dragonflight, there are currently 398 great dragons residing on the empire's homeland, and each one has a backup record in the empire's intelligence database,"

Galina's dragon voice echoed softly, and ancient dragon runes swirled in her transparent pupils. Two beams of blazing light shot straight out of her pupils, as if nailed to Porti's cheeks.

"Regardless of which great dragon it was, they all went to the Dragon King's Court during the secret summons the day before yesterday and received some blessings from the court,"

“Every great dragon has been informed of certain dangers within the Empire and has received brief training,”

"And among those on the Crystal Dragons' list, Porty, you are the only one who is not present,"

"I really hope my judgment is wrong,"

Galina sighed deeply, "Porti, but the truth cannot deceive my reason."

The vast majority of conflicts and wars in the world are, in essence, struggles for the right to priority access to information.

Given enough information, even the weak can find opportunities to confront the stronger and use their wisdom to devise countermeasures against them.

Although the Golden Empire is currently unable to resolve the threat of the evil god, for a well-organized nation, a certain degree of preventative measures have already been secretly implemented.

"Hehe, you found out, that's no fun,"

The female dragon, Potty, made no move to resist or attempt to escape, but the tone of her voice was completely different from that of the female dragons she had spoken to before.

"Your sun has gone far away, and darkness will soon descend,"

Porty's twisted face revealed deep malice as he grinned maliciously and said, "Those more powerful dragon kings might possess the strength to resist us temporarily."

“But dragons as ordinary and weak as you, if you want to continue to live, you must get away from this land as soon as possible.”

"Crystal Dragon Galina, your friend is just the first, but not the last!"

"Go, go! Tell the other dragons in the Gogmora dragonflight that night is coming! Run! Run!"

(End of this chapter)