Defeat the entire world with the power of one dragon!

Chapter 507 Crimson Star Descends with Zero Casualties, Captures King Theo in One Minute (Long Chapter, Requesting Monthly Tickets)

This winter was not long.

Less than a month later, spring quietly arrived.

The early spring wind still carries a slight chill, but the earth has already awakened, quietly unleashing the vitality that has been dormant all winter. Grass sprouts emerge from the soil, and even the cracks in the rocks give way to resilient wildflowers, their pale yellow and light purple hues scattered like stars.

call!
Without warning, flames roared past.

The scorching air instantly swallowed up the budding life. The delicate flowers didn't even have time to sway before they, along with the surrounding grass and moss, turned into a wisp of smoke and some scattered ashes.

Centered on the red iron dragon, raging flames surged and burned, creating a huge, scorching area.

The air twisted and deformed under the high temperature, and the ground turned into a crimson red like lava. After more than half an hour of continuous burning, the flames that had illuminated half the sky in red slowly receded and dissipated, revealing the majestic and magnificent dark red figure within.

Galus lowered his head, gazing at the few scattered sparks drifting across the scorched earth.

He exhaled a hot breath with a sulfurous smell from his nostrils and shook his dragon head slightly.

Galus's evolution in terms of domains was not ideal.

Take this Blazing Domain for example. As his own life level increases and he trains and adapts day after day, the strength and temperature of this domain have indeed increased, which can also weaken the effect of spell attacks to a certain extent.

But this was still far from the result Garus had envisioned.

"The Domain was born because I stepped into the legend."

Red Iron Dragon remained with its head held high, lost in thought.

"But I always feel that it is also a kind of recognition, or a gift, from the world's rules to a legendary life. It is not entirely or one hundred percent derived from myself, and it does not belong solely to myself."

This judgment stemmed from his own clear feelings and understanding.

The field's evolution was too slow, so slow that he couldn't clearly perceive it.

The domain has always been a relatively weak link for Garos, with slow progress that lags far behind his growth in other areas such as physical strength and spell resistance.

And it wasn't just him.

Based on information from the Dragon Legacy and interactions with other dragons, for the vast majority of dragons, their domain is not a particularly important asset, far less important than their innate physical body and the various traits that awaken as they grow.

"Perhaps my expectations for this field were too high."

Galos flicked his dragon tail, lost in thought.

"Being all-encompassing is the ideal goal, but in reality, resources, time, and energy are all limited."

"I have to make some choices."

"I should prioritize exploring the potential of my own talents, followed by honing the power related to my characteristics, and the priority of my domain... should be put on the back burner."

Choosing the right direction for your efforts is far more important than blindly burying yourself in hard work.

He did not intend to completely abandon the exploration of the field, but decided to reduce its weight in his cultivation plan, reduce the energy and time invested in it as appropriate, and shift his focus to other more growth-oriented aspects.

Of course, this is just the current strategy.

If one day in the future, the root cause of the slow evolution of the field is discovered.

He might encounter a special opportunity that could drive a qualitative change in the field, or he might prioritize the field again when growth in other areas reaches a point that is difficult to break through.

Gululu...

A deep, loud rumble came from my abdomen, and a strong sense of emptiness arose from it.

Sustained high-intensity training results in astonishing energy expenditure.

Galos paused his thoughts and took out a mountain of meat from his spatial artifacts.

Those were high-grade magical beast leg and rib meats that had been prepared in advance and were rich in magical energy; each piece was enormous.

He opened his dragon mouth and began to eat, mixing in the viscous, asphalt-like essence of black oil, as well as some magical gems that shimmered with elemental light.

Its strong teeth easily crushed bones and gems, which were then swallowed along with chunks of meat and liquid.

The hunger only subsided slowly after consuming tons of food.

After eating his fill, Galos did not rest, but instead began to hone his basic attributes, wanting to quickly transform the energy he had just ingested into real growth.

boom! boom! boom!
A deep, thunderous sound echoed through the mountains.

In the blink of an eye, another seven days have passed.

Galos had just finished a round of physical training and was still feeling a bit unsatisfied. He planned to take a short break before starting the next round of training in other areas.

Just then, the feeling of emptiness in my stomach returned.

He paused, and the fine scales on his forehead furrowed slightly.

“In the past, one meal like this was enough to support me to complete two or three rounds of high-intensity attribute training.”

Red Iron Dragon raised its front paw, looked at its toes gleaming with a cold metallic sheen, and pondered: "Has my training intensity increased again, or... has my body's consumption rate increased?"

Legendary beings can absorb and exhale the elements of heaven and earth, and replenish some of their energy consumption with each breath.

But this is not enough, especially after intense combat or training, when a large amount of high-energy resources must be used to make up for the deficit and maintain the necessary energy.

For a dragon like Garus, this is a drop in the ocean.

Given his physique and the intensity of his daily training, his resource consumption is terrifying, far exceeding that of any other dragon of the same level.

He has not yet officially entered his prime after the age of two hundred, but the total amount of various rare resources he has consumed probably exceeds that of many ancient dragons that have lived for thousands of years.

The amount of black oil he drank alone was astronomical, far exceeding what ordinary people could imagine.

This is also the fundamental reason why he wanted to establish a kingdom.

"My body is too strong now."

Galos felt the power and emptiness within his body and realized a problem.

"Black oil crystals, high-grade monster meat, magic gems... these resources that once provided ample satiety and energy now seem somewhat insufficient."

"Perhaps only the flesh and blood of legendary creatures can give me a long-lasting sense of satisfaction."

"But that's not realistic."

"I can't eat legends every day."

Moreover, the problem doesn't end there.

As he continues to grow stronger, his demand for resources will only increase. The world's top resources are limited, and to acquire more, he will inevitably clash with more forces.

more importantly……

"This is not essentially a matter of the quantity of resources."

"My body's absorption and conversion efficiency is not keeping up with the consumption rate of certain parts, especially those parts that have undergone key evolution."

"My body is a whole, but evolution is not uniform and synchronous."

"Some parts of my body have improved rapidly through targeted training, becoming extremely strong. While other parts have also been strengthened as a result, the increase has been relatively small. Over time, while my overall strength is improving, the relative strength of certain internal systems cannot keep up..."

"My digestive and energy conversion systems have now become my weakness."

He grasped the crux of the problem.

The next step is to find a solution.

"Currently, there appear to be two clear directions for strengthening."

Galos walked slowly to a mountain spring, bowed his head to drink the water, and pondered at the same time.

First, enhance the efficiency of absorbing free energy in the environment.

The focus is on evolving the lungs, with the goal of eventually being able to meet most of our daily needs through breathing alone.

Second, improve the energy conversion rate of ingested substances.

The focus is on evolving the entire digestive system to extract more energy from the same resources.

Galos quickly sorted out his thoughts.

Moreover, he doesn't intend to answer multiple-choice questions.

Considering the already terrifying level of consumption at present, and the almost inevitable growth trend in the future, both directions are crucial, and it would be best to have both.

As for how to specifically train the lungs or digestive system and guide them to begin evolving in the desired direction, that's a question that needs careful consideration and practice.

He paused his regular strength training and started eating again.

But this time, he ate unusually slowly, chewing each bite carefully.

At the same time, his eyes shone brightly as he used his true vision to penetrate his own scales, muscles, and fascia, going deep into his body to carefully observe every peristaltic detail from the esophagus to the stomach and then to the intestines, feeling the complete process of digestive juice secretion, food decomposition, and energy absorption and transportation.

He spent two whole days and two nights in this way, amidst the slow and continuous sounds of chewing and swallowing.

On the morning of the third day, Galus tried a different approach.

He clung to a steep rock face, using his claws to pry off large chunks of hard, grayish-white rock, which he then put into his mouth and slowly ground with his dragon teeth, which were strong enough to chew steel.

Click, click...

The coarse stone powder mixed with saliva was swallowed into the stomach.

He was completely focused, sensing the rhythm of his digestive system as it processed the food.

"In the end, we can't avoid coming to this point... eating dirt."

A thought flashed through his mind.

According to incomplete statistics within the dragon race, over 90% of the five-colored dragons have experienced eating dirt when they lost the protection of their elders, had to survive alone, or faced the hardships of their early dragon years or resource scarcity.

This is not because they like it, nor is it simply because they are embarrassed.

This is also an extreme manifestation of the powerful physique of dragons.

Even in the most barren soil and rocks, a dragon's digestive system can extract a tiny amount of energy and minerals to ensure it doesn't starve, but its growth will be extremely slow and it will suffer from stunted development.

And it's not just soil.

Tree bark, grass roots, and even large amounts of water are all means by which dragons survive in difficult situations.

Many intelligent beings have been puzzled as to why, despite the harsh living conditions of dragons in their early stages, powerful individuals were always born from time to time, and the race did not decline as a result.

Aside from the faint divine shadow behind the dragons, which makes large-scale hunting somewhat hesitant,

The most fundamental reason lies in the powerful bodies of dragons, which endowed them with extremely tenacious survival abilities.

"Dragons are born with a powerful digestive system, and it has been further enhanced in me due to my overall evolution."

"However, the evolution in other aspects is so outstanding that this relatively ordinary digestive system is gradually becoming inadequate."

Galos then uprooted a sturdy hemlock growing in a crevice in the rock and stuffed it, roots and leaves included, into his mouth.

Over the past two days, he has tried almost everything he could find nearby.

Rocks, soil, different kinds of trees, and herbs are all put into the mouth, just to observe every detail of gastrointestinal function from the most extensive and primitive materials, and to find possible paths for its strengthening and evolution.

Just as he swallowed a mouthful of soil mixed with broken rocks, carefully savoring the differences within,

In the distance, a rapidly enlarging green dot appeared on the horizon, accompanied by the sound of wind breaking through the wing membrane.

A large, adult green dragon was folding its wings, lowering its altitude, and gliding toward the mountain where Garros was located.

He has emerald scales all over his body, a slender and well-proportioned body, smooth muscle lines that are powerful, a long dragon tail that sways gently, and a rich and fresh natural life aura emanates from his body.

The Green Dragon, Ludwig.

He was one of the elders who followed Garos when the Kingdom of Aura was still the Ironclad Clan.

Besides co-managing important dragon-forging and transformation ceremonies with the black dragon Serafina, he also assisted in handling the kingdom's external affairs, especially those related to the Kingdom of Theo, due to his quick thinking and meticulousness.

Normally, his direct superior is Iron Dragon Sorog, and he reports routine matters to Sorog.

Since Sorog has gone to the Dragon Realm and has not yet returned, and this matter is of great importance, he has chosen to meet the Emperor directly.

The green dragon landed on a rocky platform lower than where Garros was, and bowed its head respectfully.

"Your Majesty, there is an important matter that I believe I must report to you personally."

Galos lowered his eyes and asked, "Has the Dragon Forging Ceremony made a breakthrough, or is it on Theo's side?"

“It is Theo, Your Majesty,” the green dragon said. “Recently, Theo has raised the tariff rate on our country’s exported goods by ten percent. In addition, they have also suppressed our country’s exports of various minerals, monster materials and some manufactured goods by setting up non-tariff barriers and secretly supporting domestic competitive industries.”

Red Iron Dragon's pupils contracted slightly, turning into vertical pupils.

“I recall that the Norton Treaty had specific provisions regarding bilateral trade.”

His voice was low and calm as he said, “The tariff rate is capped at five percent, and Theo shall not use any administrative or legal means to restrict or hinder the normal circulation and fair competition of Aura goods.”

That treaty was not just a piece of paper.

It was established under the watchful eye of the God of Justice, in the form of a powerful magical contract.

Any party that violates the contract will suffer the consequences.

Frequent natural disasters, declining national fortunes, misfortunes befalling the royal bloodline, and a dramatic increase in the difficulty of breaking through to legendary status... all come at a heavy price.

"I'd rather pay such a high price to breach the contract..."

Galos quickly weighed the options in his mind: "Either the Theo royal family has gone mad and is making a desperate gamble, or... they have received some strong support or promise and are confident that they can offset, or at least withstand, the consequences of defaulting."

The latter is highly likely.

Theo had just signed the so-called new federal alliance with Lorthern, which is probably the source of their confidence to test their bottom line and stand tall.

"His Majesty."

Green Dragon Ludwig raised his head, a fierce glint in his eyes: "Perhaps we have been silent for too long, so long that some Theo people have become delusional, forgetting their rightful place and the pain they once suffered."

"It's time to make them remember this again, and... make them feel the pain to the core."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of hurried running and leaping came from the mountain path below.

A cyan shadow moved swiftly among the jagged rocks, leaping and bounding rapidly as it approached.

It was a large wolf-like creature, but fine black scales could be vaguely seen beneath its fur. Its claws and teeth were exceptionally thick and sharp, especially its forelimbs, which were muscular and had a structure more similar to the claws of birds of prey.

Russell, the Dragonvein Werewolf.

After decades of dedicated development, coupled with Galos's resource allocation, this follower, whose talent was not top-notch at the time, has raised his life level to twenty, but he has not yet reached his limit and is still some distance away from becoming a legend.

However, once he breaks through, the probability of him awakening the characteristics below the Dragon Throne is extremely high.

After stopping in an open space beneath the red iron dragon, a flash of pale blue light appeared, and the giant wolf disappeared, replaced by a werewolf standing upright.

He was tall and robust, with a wolf's head and a human body, covered in bluish-black fur and fine scales, and sharp claws and teeth.

"Your Majesty, there is urgent intelligence."

The red iron dragon slightly adjusted its crouching posture, turning its massive head downwards: "Is it also about Theo?"

Russell was slightly surprised, but when he looked up and saw the green dragon beside him, he immediately understood.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Our observers in Theo have confirmed that the Theo royal family and several of its great nobles are concentrating a large amount of rare resources to cultivate and support several near-legendary powerhouses at any cost, in an attempt to create new legends in the short term."

"This is a serious violation of the arms limitation provisions of the Norton Treaty."

The red iron dragon listened quietly, its massive head slowly rising.

He opened his enormous mouth and let out a deafening dragon roar of laughter. The sound waves rolled and shook the surrounding rocks, causing them to fall and the trees to sway violently.

A few seconds later, the laughter abruptly stopped.

The dragon's face instantly hardened, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

"Issue an official foreign affairs announcement."

“We strongly condemn the Kingdom of Theo’s violation of the Norton Treaty and make it clear to them that if they continue to act arbitrarily, they will bear all the consequences.”

He said in a calm voice.

It's that simple?
Ludwig and Russell were both slightly surprised.

Based on their understanding of His Majesty the Red Emperor, a more violent reaction would seem more in line with his style.

However, they knew that His Majesty's wisdom and strategy were not superficial, and that there must be a deeper meaning behind his decision.

Suppressing their doubts, they both replied in unison, "Yes, Your Majesty."

They respectfully withdrew to carry out the orders.

"Trade privileges, arms restrictions, and bypassing Aura to forge an alliance with Lorthene..."

Galus flapped his wings and flew to the top of the highest mountain in the vicinity, gazing southwards, his gaze seemingly piercing through thousands of mountains and rivers.

“Besides the territories already ceded and the reparations paid, they have tested almost every core clause of the Norton Treaty. Perhaps it won’t be long before they even dare to object to the sovereignty of those two provinces.”

Individually, each of Theo's current breaches of contract has not caused significant actual damage to Aura.

But this is an extremely dangerous signal; it is a test and challenge against Aura by the other side, with the support of Lorthene.

It cannot, and will never, be ignored.

Spring of the year 417 in the Gregorian calendar.

The Kingdom of Aura issued a strongly worded diplomatic statement through official channels, formally condemning the Kingdom of Theo for violating the Norton Treaty and demanding that it immediately cease all breaches of the treaty, or face unpredictable and serious consequences.

Shortly after the announcement was released, before Theo could react, the Kingdom of Lorthen responded first.

They issued a statement saying that, under the current theme of peace and development, the historical issues between the two countries can be resolved through "friendly, equal and fair renegotiation".

The Kingdom of Lorthen and its allies in the New Federation are willing to provide 'fair witness' for these negotiations.

These announcements caused quite a stir among the states of the plains, with many forces watching to see how the long-silent Red Emperor would react.

However, apart from that condemnation statement, Aura has taken no further action.

He showed no interest in negotiations, nor did he deploy troops to the border, as if the condemnation notice was merely a blustering but ultimately ineffective document.

This weakness and retreat gave some onlookers pause for thought.

Many believe this was a concession that Aura was forced to make under immense pressure from Lorthorn and his new federal system.

In the blink of an eye, spring is in full bloom.

A month passed quietly beneath the seemingly calm surface.

In the northern part of the Kingdom of Aura, deep in the mountains.

Red Iron Dragon lay quietly on a huge, exposed rock formation, its eyes closed.

His chest heaved violently, each inhalation like a hurricane sweeping back, disrupting the surrounding airflow; each exhalation spewed out a scorching stream of air, mixed with sparks and the smell of sulfur.

His heavy breathing echoed like continuous muffled thunder.

Galos was carefully sensing his respiratory system.

Just as he was completely focused, two tiny black dots suddenly appeared on the distant horizon and grew larger at an astonishing speed.

Whoosh!Whoosh!
Two dark figures swooped down from the clouds like meteors, carrying unparalleled power, but drew two perfect arcs as they approached the mountain peak, their speed decreasing sharply, and finally landed steadily on the open ground in front of Garos.

As the dust settled, two enormous creatures came into view.

On the left is an iron dragon that is over thirty meters long.

His entire body was covered in thick, shiny black scales, as if they were made of refined steel. Each scale had sharp, cold lines and distinct edges, and they were tightly interlocked to form what appeared to be an indestructible suit of armor.

Beneath the scales lies a powerful, explosive physique.

He exuded a sense of oppressive weight, as heavy as a mountain, simply by standing still.

Iron Dragon, Sorog Ignaz.

On the right is a red dragon, even larger than the iron dragon.

Her limbs, neck, and long tail were all muscular and powerful, far exceeding the robustness of an ordinary red dragon.

Her scales were as red as solidified magma, or like the most dazzling rubies, shimmering in the sunlight. When she spread her huge dragon wings, patterns burning with a dark red luster could be clearly seen on the wing membranes. Her rugged dragon horns snaked backward, and her sharp fangs even protruded from her lips, crossing each other when she closed her mouth, adding to her ferocity.

Samantha Ignas.

Both of them exuded a stable and powerful legendary aura.

As majestic as a mountain, as vast as the sea, as boundless as the tide.

"Haha! Garus, my dear brother, I'm back! Now, I am a legendary dragon too!"

Samantha, the red dragon, raised her long neck and let out a proud roar.

Iron Dragon Sorog was much more composed. He stepped forward and lowered his head slightly: "The trip to the Fubo Dragon Domain was very rewarding. Those metal dragons are indeed quite capable. Our legendary realm is now stable, and we have complete control over our power."

On the opposite rock stratum, Garos had already opened his eyes. His gaze swept over his two blood relatives, confirming that they had both reached the legendary realm, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

"Very good. Only a legendary body can stand firm at the forefront of the coming storm and control its own destiny."

He did not immediately inquire about the specific details of the Fubo Dragon Domain.

Those can be discussed in more detail later.

At this moment, there are more pressing matters.

"You must have heard about Theo's recent activities on your way back, right?"

Galos cut straight to the point.

A cold glint flashed in Sorog's eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "I've heard about it. They've violated the Norton Treaty and are pushing their luck..."

"It seems that the alliance with Lorthern has given them some unrealistic courage and illusions, making them think that they can ignore the wrath of the dragon by finding a backer. Those opportunists on the Romanian plains probably also think that with Lorthern uniting the countries to put pressure on us, we will choose to swallow our anger."

Samantha let out a low, hot breath, and a wisp of fire escaped from the corner of her mouth.

"Negotiation? That's a way for the weak to catch their breath, something only needed against an opponent they can't crush!"

"As for deterrence... Hmph, verbal warnings have negligible effect on fools who are already harboring illusions and are self-righteous!"

"They only remember Lorthorn's promises and the so-called alliance, but have long forgotten the feeling of trembling under the shadow of dragons and howling in the breath of dragons! Brother, it's time to make them remember again! With the hottest flames and the most scalding blood!"

Her dragon tail slapped the ground excitedly, creating cracks.

Under the burning gaze of his two blood relatives, Hong Tielong raised his head and turned his gaze south once again.

"Since they choose to test the bottom line by breaching the contract and embolden themselves with so-called alliances, then we will respond in the way they can best understand."

Sorog and Samantha simultaneously spread their dragon wings slightly, their fighting spirit burning fiercely in their eyes, releasing their legendary dragon might.

Tie Long asked in a deep voice, "What do you mean?"

The red iron dragon slowly rose from its resting position, its wings fully spread, casting a large shadow.

“I have been silent for long enough that some people have developed the illusion that I can challenge the might of the dragon.”

"It is time...to let the whole plains of Romania, and all intelligent beings, remember the name of the Red Emperor once more."

He paused, his tone shifting from calm to enthusiastic.

"At the same time, let us ignite this inevitable fire with our own hands, and let it... burn fiercely according to our will."

Late spring of the year 417 in the Gregorian calendar.

Silver City, Royal Court Hall.

The enormous chandelier bathed every corner in light, casting the shadows of the king, who sat on his throne, and his courtiers on either side onto the gleaming marble floor.

The young king, Thorfinn Chapman, sat on his high-backed throne.

He wore a simple yet exquisite platinum crown and royal robes embroidered with the Chapman family name; his gaze was both somber and somewhat excited.

About a decade ago, his father, the old king who was exhausted by the disastrous defeat in the Austro-Hungarian Wars and the humiliation of the Treaty of Norton, finally died on his sickbed, leaving this heavy burden to him.

Human kings, who enjoy the resources of the kingdom, can usually live to be around two hundred years old even if they fail to become legendary.

Thorfinn was still young on the throne, and his reign was not long.

But from the end of his father's reign to the present day, the entire Theo royal family and the upper nobility have been shrouded in humiliation and gloom.

The cession of two wealthy provinces, astronomical war reparations, severely restricted military development, and the granting of trade privileges to Aura…

Each of these was like a red-hot branding iron, searing the flesh of the Kingdom of Theo, leaving deep scars.

Now, a turning point has finally arrived.

"...Your Majesty, the New Federation Covenant signed with the Kingdom of Lorthen has officially completed the exchange of all documents and magical imprints last month and has been declared in effect."

A foreign minister dressed in fine clothes is giving a report, his tone enthusiastic.

"The advance party of the Knights of the Kingdom of Lorthen has arrived in a southern city of our country and has been warmly welcomed by the people."

"The agreed-upon material assistance, sharing of alchemy technology, and necessary military advisors will also be provided in succession over the next three months, in accordance with the agreement."

As soon as the minister finished speaking, a murmur arose in the hall, and many nobles showed excitement on their faces.

“Your Majesty,” another, younger nobleman stepped forward, his voice trembling with excitement.

"This means that our Kingdom of Theo is no longer isolated! Lorthen, the former and current hegemon of the Romanian plains, will become our solid and reliable backing!"

"The shadows of the past will surely be dispelled by the new sunshine!"

King Thorfinn, seated on his throne, tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest as his gaze slowly swept over the faces below.

Finally, his gaze settled on an elderly man with a furrowed brow, who remained silent.

Grand Duke Lawrence, a veteran of two reigns, personally experienced the entire process of the War of the Two Ages and worked hard to negotiate in the difficult negotiations after the defeat. He was one of the few important ministers in the kingdom who truly understood the cruelty of that war and the hardships of the kingdom.

Before his death, the late king held Thorfinn's hand and gave him his instructions.

When in doubt about matters of state, consult Archduke Lawrence first.

“Grand Duke,” Thorfinn began, “you seem… to have some doubts?”

Archduke Lawrence slowly stepped forward.

His figure was already somewhat hunched, and the ducal robes looked a little loose on him, but his eyes were still sharp.

He first bowed to the throne before straightening up.

"Your Majesty, I do not oppose the kingdom seeking a path to self-strengthening and revival, and I am happy to see powerful kingdoms extend a helping hand."

"Lothern's aid, if used properly, can indeed strengthen our nation."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming serious: "However... Your Majesty, breaching a contract is no small matter."

"The Norton Treaty is a contract concluded under the witness of the gods. You are well aware of the consequences of breaking it. Even with Lorthorn's tacit approval and support, it should not be underestimated."

"Moreover, what we are really facing is not those human monarchs who follow the rules, but Garus Ignas, the 'Red Emperor'."

A slight silence fell over the hall when the Red Emperor was mentioned.

The old Grand Duke continued, "To ally with Lorthorn, would that really influence or even curb the Emperor's decisions? I have serious doubts about that."

"That is a dragon. The price we, the Kingdom of Theo, have paid for angering it was a price so terrible that it was bloody and the land was shattered."

"I hope Your Majesty will reconsider and act in a more tactful manner."

"Leave some room for maneuver and flexibility to avoid pushing the situation to a point of no return."

Upon hearing this, some of the younger nobles secretly scoffed at these remarks, while a few veteran ministers who had also come from that era wore complex expressions and hesitated to speak.

King Thorfinn's eyelid twitched.

That's exactly the kind of argument we're talking about!

Such moments remind him, in his tone and eyes, how wretchedly and humiliatingly he and his kingdom groveled in the shadow of a dragon!

He's had enough!

As a king, he should enjoy the sunshine and beauty, not feel the invisible shackles binding him every day, feel the people's secret criticism of the royal family's weakness, and feel unbearable humiliation!

Today, he has the support of the undisputed strongest power on the plains of Romania, and a newly emerging federation as an alliance system.

Why should we have to grovel and swallow our anger before that damned dragon?

The king took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

"I am well aware of and deeply grateful for Grand Duke Lawrence's prudence and loyalty to the kingdom."

"But, Your Excellency, times have changed!"

His gaze sharpened, and he said, "Should my Kingdom of Theo forever live in the shadow of the past, forever at the mercy of that evil dragon, letting it take whatever it wants? No! Absolutely not!"

"Now, Lorseon has risen from the ashes, its national strength is at its peak, and its military might is formidable. It is the undisputed number one power on the Romanian plain! The New Federal Covenant is structurally sound and sufficient to balance the threat from Aura."

"While breaching the contract will certainly come at a price, it is worth it compared to rebuilding national dignity!"

"Let's see how Aura reacts!"

Thorfinn said, "Besides issuing an empty condemnation, have they taken any concrete action? No! This precisely demonstrates their hesitation, or rather, their fear of Lortherne and our new alliance!"

"What we need to do is proceed cautiously, and under the protection of the alliance, engage in a long negotiation with Aura."

"With Lorthern's mediation and the support of our allies, the situation will gradually develop in the direction we hope for."

"How can a barbaric nation, mainly composed of monsters, possibly defeat us at the negotiating table?"

His words ignited a flame in the hearts of many.

Yes, why should we be afraid forever?
We have allies and support; it's time to reclaim our rightful dignity and interests!

Archduke Lawrence gazed at the king's youthful face, slowly lowered his head, and returned to the ranks.

He knew that some things were useless to say now.

As the older generation, who had truly weathered the storms of life, gradually passed away, the current king and most of the young nobles had forgotten just how terrible the Kingdom of Aura truly was. They were blinded by the promises made by Lorthern and their desire to escape their current situation.

The atmosphere in the hall became lively again.

They began discussing how to leverage the alliance and how to maximize their gains in the upcoming negotiations, as if victory were within reach.

However, just as King Thorfinn's confident words were still echoing and the optimistic atmosphere in the hall had not yet settled,

boom!
A pale-faced guard officer dressed in personal armor rushed in, almost tumbling and crawling.

His helmet was askew, his breathing was heavy, and he didn't have time to run all the way to the designated place to pay his respects before the throne. He staggered and knelt down on one knee halfway there, his voice filled with fear and urgency.

"Your Majesty! Urgent military situation!"

"North, the northern border! Above the province of Essen... dragons have appeared! Three legendary dragons!!"

In an instant, the expressions on the ministers' faces froze.

All that confidence, composure, and thoughtfulness vanished into astonishment and confusion, quickly replaced by surprise and doubt that crept into their eyes.

Essen Province... was one of the two provinces ceded to Aura in the Treaty of Norton, located on Aura's southwestern border, bordering Theo.

It's not surprising to see dragons there, but for three legendary dragons to appear simultaneously in the skies above the border...

This is extraordinary.

same time.

Essen Province, on the southwestern border of the Kingdom of Aura.

This place was once one of Theo's granaries, and has now been fully incorporated into the Aura territory for decades.

The sky was originally clear, with a few wisps of white clouds drifting leisurely.

But at that moment, the celestial phenomena suddenly changed.

Thick, leaden-gray clouds gathered, pressing low over the sky and blocking out the sunlight.

Beneath the clouds, the silhouettes of three enormous creatures were clearly visible.

They hovered slowly high in the sky, and each flap of their huge membranous wings stirred up a deep, thunderous sound, causing the clouds below to churn.

Three legendary dragons.

Iron Dragon, Red Dragon, White Dragon.

They did not roar, they simply existed, hovering, casting their gaze beyond the boundary.

At the same time, the nearest province to this place is Theo.

Several legends received the news and arrived quickly.

They were on high alert, their faces so solemn they were almost pale.

Leaving aside the most terrifying Red Emperor, here are three legendary dragons. Unbeknownst to many, the behemoth Aura has become even more terrifying.

Time passed slowly under the overcast sky.

However, the dragons merely circled in the air, showing no intention of summoning a large army to wage war against Theo.

Silverlight City, Royal Court.

After the initial shock, Thorfinn gradually calmed down.

"See! Gentlemen, I was right!"

"They really don't dare to launch a full-scale war by directly invading our borders! They only dare to send a few giant dragons to hover on the border, showing off their power and trying to intimidate us in this crude way and make us lose our composure."

His words had some effect, and the expressions of surprise and uncertainty on the faces of some ministers eased slightly.

"This is precisely a sign of their guilty conscience and hesitation!"

"If we overreact to this, mobilize heavy troops to the border, or show panic, then we will fall right into their trap of provocation and appear weak."

“Contact Lorthorn’s envoys; we need them to put pressure on Aura immediately.”

Last time, Theo chose the wrong side, following Reboss and ultimately suffering a dismal end.

This time, Theo firmly chose Lorthorn's side.

King Thorfinn felt this decision was correct.

See, precisely because Lorthorn is so powerful, even though the Kingdom of Aura harbors resentment, it can only make meaningless threats and never dares to actually send troops.

However, less than a quarter of an hour had passed since he finished speaking.

Changes occurred suddenly.

The magical patterns engraved on the palace dome and walls began to fluctuate violently without warning, and countless rays of light flowed and appeared, illuminating the sky directly above the royal court.

The image was initially blurry, but then suddenly became clear, locking onto a vast blue sky.

A shooting star is falling straight down from the highest reaches of the sky.

It started as a small dot, but quickly grew larger, its trail of light becoming brighter and thicker, like a burning spear thrown down by a god.

Moreover, its goal is crystal clear.

Heading straight for the royal court!
"Then...what is that?!"

One of the ministers cried out in alarm.

After a brief silence, the court sorcerer's face turned deathly pale.

"Enemy attack! It's the Dragon! It's the Red Emperor!!!"

"Activate the Silver Radiance Array! Quickly! The Iron Wall Array protecting the palace also rises immediately!!"

More than one person noticed the shooting star.

Theo's reaction was not slow.

The entire city of Silverlight trembled, and the magical runes embedded in the streets, buildings, and ground lit up one after another, as a surge of powerful energy rushed out and rapidly converged and intertwined in the sky above the city.

A giant magical shield, shimmering with silver light, appeared, like an inverted bowl, enveloping the entire Silverlight City.

Almost simultaneously, the royal palace complex itself emitted a strong light, and a second, more solid shield covered with shield emblems rose from the ground, tightly enveloping the main palace building.

Thorfinn abruptly rose from his throne, staring intently at the projection on the dome.

His face turned deathly pale as he finally saw clearly that the shooting star was actually an incredibly majestic and ferocious creature!

The dark red, almost black scales gleamed in the intense flames from the high-speed friction, and the rugged dragon horns pierced through the flames. Those deep black vertical pupils, which seemed to hold the stars even through the magical image, were coldly locked onto this place, locked onto him!
"No...it's impossible...how could he dare..."

The king muttered to himself.

Before he could finish speaking, he was completely drowned out by the loud noise that followed.

Boom! ! !

The projection shook violently, and the image was briefly filled with blinding white light and billowing dust.

Everyone felt a jolt beneath their feet, as if the entire palace was about to leap off the ground.

The Silver Radiance Array, the ancient royal capital array that was said to be able to withstand the full force of attacks from a Grand Rank Legendary, let out a mournful cry of despair under the impact of the crimson meteor.

Countless runes flashed and flickered wildly before exploding one after another.

Silvery-white light fragments rained down like a storm, causing buildings inscribed with runes to crumble and crumble. The debris, mixed with bricks and tiles blown away by the shockwave, crashed into the streets of the capital, causing screams of terror and secondary destruction.

The ominous star, wreathed in crimson flames, showed almost no decrease in speed.

With the momentum of shattering the first layer of defense, it crashed hard into the second layer of the palace's shield.

The light shone brightest at that moment, and layers of phantom shields appeared, attempting to block it.

But all of this was ultimately in vain.

After only a few breaths of stalemate, the countless shield phantoms, like fragile eggshells, dented and cracked from the point of impact, eventually disintegrating into scattered fragments.

boom! ! !
This time, the impact was much duller.

A huge hole was violently smashed into the palace dome, and broken beams, shattered murals, and broken magic crystals, along with scorching heat and dust, poured down from directly above the hall.

Dust billowed, and gravel rained down.

As the billowing smoke and dust were slightly dispersed by the violent air currents, the courtiers in the hall, and Thorfinn, who was barely being protected by his guards, finally saw the disaster that was about to befall them.

A huge crater has replaced the once magnificent dome and part of the ground, with rubble and molten metal mixed together, still hissing and emitting blue smoke.

In the center of the pit, a majestic and imposing red iron dragon is slowly folding its wings that blot out the sky.

He was more majestic and awe-inspiring than any portrait or legend depicted, and more despairing.

Its sturdy limbs landed firmly on the broken floor, and its long tail coiled casually, sweeping the nearby pillars and throne base into pieces.

He lowered his head slightly, his vertical pupils looking down at the humans around him who were as insignificant as ants.

Time seems to be frozen here.

A terrified scream got stuck in his throat, and his instinct to escape was suppressed by the overwhelming dragon's might.

Thorfinn stared blankly at the red iron dragon, his mind a complete blank, his crown askew.

The Red Emperor's gaze fell on the crowned human, and then he simply raised one of his dragon claws.

"Protect the King!"

Two figures appeared almost simultaneously. One was surrounded by solidified cyan wind blades, while the other held hands in a trembling motion, conjuring a giant warhammer made entirely of holy light.

They are the hidden trump cards of the Theo royal family, two legendary and powerful figures who protect the royal court.

The wind blades tore through the air, and the Holy Hammer, carrying the power to purify evil, attacked the Red Iron Dragon's neck and flanks from both sides, attempting to relieve the siege by attacking Wei.

Red Iron Dragon merely tilted his head slightly and glanced indifferently at the two legendary humans.

boom! boom!
Black and red flames suddenly burst into flames, blasting the charging figure away violently.

In that brief instant, Garus's dragon claws had already reached out.

With a simple grab, the magical ornaments worn by the king burst into light one after another, and then shattered one after another. One of the spatial items had just lit up, but it could not shake the space that had been completely solidified under the dragon's claw.

The red iron dragon held King Theo in its claws as if it were picking up a tiny flying insect.

This whole process.

—From descending from the sky under the watchful eyes of all the Theos, to breaking through two layers of defense, then intimidating and repelling the enemy and capturing the king, it all took only a dozen or so breaths.

It was so fast that there was no time to react effectively; it was as fast as an absurd and terrifying nightmare.

A king, in his own capital, in the deepest part of his own court, became prey to a dragon.

The two legends attempted a rescue, but were routed once again at the dragon's mere glance.

Then, the Red Emperor raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the devastated hall and the Theo courtiers who were slumped on the ground, their faces ashen.

"Ah."

The dragon chuckled softly, leaving no further words, and its wings suddenly flapped.

A hurricane swept through the hall, and a crimson figure soared into the sky, emerging from the enormous hole it had smashed open. It still held King Theo firmly in its claws, and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a shooting star and disappeared into the northern horizon.

April 15, 417 (Gregorian calendar).

On this day, the Red Emperor, who had been dormant for many years, descended like a natural disaster, attacking the capital of Theo Kingdom with the power of a dragon. In less than a minute, he captured the king, completing a surprise attack that caught everyone off guard and shocked all the nations.

On this day, Theo's spine was completely broken.

On this day, the fragile peace between the nations was completely shattered.

P.S.: Please vote for me next month!

(End of this chapter)