Galos stood silently at a high vantage point, taking in the entire operation of the Dragon-Forging Grounds.
He saw the Dragon-Forging Essence flowing slowly in the pool, the energy conduits pulsing rhythmically, and the warriors undergoing transformation maintaining order despite their pain, while the Wight Mages regulated every step... all of this formed a picture of perfect order.
Galos nodded slowly, revealing a hint of approval.
He turned to Seraphina and Ludwig, who stood solemnly to the side, and said, "The Dragon-Forging Grounds are operating quite well. You two have not disappointed me."
Hearing the personal affirmation and praise from the King of Molten Iron, both the Black Dragon and the Green Dragon showed expressions of joy.
Immediately after, they lowered their heads almost simultaneously and replied, "This is all thanks to your guidance and support! We are merely following your will and executing your blueprint; we are but the claws and arms extended from your will."
Neither of them showed any arrogance regarding their merits; instead, they attributed all the credit to Galos, maintaining an extremely proper attitude.
Galos's gaze swept over them as he spoke in a calm tone, "There is no need for excessive modesty."
"Although you are still in your Juvenile stage, your contributions to the Dragon Group are not to be underestimated; you have even surpassed many adult dragons."
The few young dragons he had personally saved in the past were all doing well now.
The Black Dragon and Green Dragon were in charge of the important dragon-forging transformation affairs, while the Blue Dragon and Red Dragon were expanding the tribe's territory in the Eternal Frozen Tundra.
Although the four of them were not directly involved in the war on the wilderness front, they all played crucial roles in the overall structure of the Dragon Group.
"To receive your recognition is our greatest honor."
The two juvenile dragons responded in unison, their voices a mix of awe and unconcealable joy.
Galos shifted his gaze from the area where the dragon-forging transformation was taking place and looked at Seraphina. "Where is the Phylactery placed? Take me there."
Besides inspection, there was another reason for his personal visit to the dragon-forging base.
Some time ago, he had received news from the Black Dragon Seraphina.
After a long period of nourishment within the Phylactery, the Soul of the Knight of Flowers, Charles Haynes, who had died in battle for him, had gradually awakened from Chaos and regained clear consciousness.
A few minutes later, guided by the two juvenile dragons, the Red Iron Dragon stepped into a heavily guarded secret chamber.
In the center of the room, that familiar Phylactery was placed quietly.
The Red Iron Dragon stepped forward, extended his claws, and slowly opened the lid of the Phylactery.
Following a surge of cold negative energy, a rather solid Soul phantom emerged from the box. His appearance was unmistakably that of the Knight of Flowers, Charles Haynes, who had fallen in the battle against Gorsas.
He first looked at the Red Iron Dragon with some confusion, then his gaze gradually focused and became bright.
"Lord Galos..."
The Soul's voice was ethereal and echoing, vibrating gently within the secret chamber. "Meeting you again in this... ethereal form is truly embarrassing."
The phantom of the Knight of Flowers showed a bitter and helpless smile.
Galos looked at him, his dragon face pulling into an expression that could be considered a smile, and said, "At least you have escaped the shackles of that frail body in this way. There is not much worth lingering for in the short and fragile body of a human."
Have you ever been human? How can you be so sure it's not worth lingering for?
Charles's Soul really wanted to retort like that, but in the end, a thousand words turned into a long and complex sigh.
"I have imagined my final end countless times..."
Charles's voice was filled with reminiscence and emotion. "Perhaps it would be at the end of my natural lifespan, closing my eyes peacefully surrounded by the weeping of my children and grandchildren; or perhaps it would be in a fierce battle with an evenly matched powerhouse, dying a glorious death after a tragic struggle, ultimately falling one move short."
"But no matter what, I never expected that my end would be being killed in a single blow, crushed to pieces."
He shrugged helplessly, although the action looked a bit strange for a Soul body. "You are right, the human body indeed has limits; it is simply too fragile."
Looking back at that battle, Charles's sword skills and attacks had not failed to hit the frenzied Red Dragon Gorsas; he had even left scars multiple times. However, for a thick-skinned giant Dragon, those were merely insignificant superficial wounds.
While he himself was hit by only one solid frontal attack from the opponent and was instantly crushed to pieces.
At this moment, the Red Iron Dragon spoke slowly, asking the crucial question: "So, do you now wish for your Soul to return to the earth to find rest and Reincarnation, or are you willing to continue existing in your current state?"
If he chose death, with the resilience of Charles's Soul, there was a very high probability he would be drawn to an upper plane, and might even be reincarnated as a naturally powerful celestial creature.
But the price would be that all his memories from his previous life would be completely erased, and all connections to the past would be severed.
As for continuing to exist as a Soul, aside from a few extremely special secret methods, the most common path was to transform into an undead, and the price for that was also very heavy.
Charles's Soul phantom fluctuated visibly, falling into silence and hesitation.
A few seconds later, he looked up and asked with a hint of hope, "My wife, Beverly... is she well? Is she still alive?"
Galos nodded slightly.
Before coming here, he had specifically checked on the status of the relevant Dependents.
"Your wife, Beverly, has already undergone the dragon-forging transformation," Galos stated calmly. "She still maintains her youth and vitality. Furthermore, she has borne you two children: one is a human boy, and the other is a snakewoman girl who inherited her mother's Bloodline. They now live in Creekwood Town, serving as local security leaders and contributing to maintaining the tribe's order."
Since Charles had fought to the death for him, he had instructed the Iron Dragon Sorog to treat his widow and offspring well.
Regrettably, although the Aptitude of Charles's descendants was superior to that of ordinary humans or snakemen and they had reached the leader level, they had not inherited their father's astonishing talent.
Currently, among the many Dependents, only the Gluttony Demon Kalu and Elvie possessed the possibility of stepping into the Legendary Realm.
They were currently Rank 18 and Rank 19 respectively, and the speed of their life Rank improvement surpassed that of ordinary giant Dragons. One had just been stationed to oversee the mineral-rich northeast region, while the other bore the heavy responsibility of suppressing the Abyssal Rift; they were the two strongest Dependent leaders under the Dragon Group's command.
The Snakewoman Sword Saint, whose strength was originally above theirs, still remained at Rank 17, her potential having reached its limit.
Furthermore, the Snakewoman Sword Saint, who was originally stationed in the Borderlands, had been reassigned to the wilderness to assist Sorog in handling various affairs, serving as his "secretary" to some extent.
Meanwhile, after hearing Galos's description of his family's current situation, Charles's Soul phantom was visibly stunned.
Although a Soul does not need to breathe, he still took a deep breath and said firmly, "I want to live, to continue existing."
This answer did not come as a surprise to Galos.
Giving up the bonds and concerns remaining in the world is an incomparably difficult thing for those who value sentiment.
"Very well," the Red Iron Dragon said in a deep voice. "In that case, I can give you two specific choices."
"First, I will provide some rare Materials to help you transform into a powerful undead creature. But you should be aware of the costs and side effects—as time passes, you will gradually lose most of your emotions and begin to loathe all living beings."
"Second, I know of a Legendary item called the 'hall of valor.' It was created by mimicking the characteristics of the Heroic Domain. You can use it to transform into a Heroic Spirit and continue to exist. However, this item is currently in the hands of a Legendary Divine Messenger, and I am not entirely certain what the specific drawbacks of transforming into a Heroic Spirit are."
Charles could not accept a version of himself that would eventually loathe his wife and children and lose all warm memories.
He smiled and said, "A Heroic Spirit... in any case, it sounds countless times better than being undead."
"I've waited all these years; I don't mind waiting a bit longer."
He paused, his voice filled with absolute conviction, and continued, "Besides, I believe that as long as it is something you desire, it will eventually fall into your hands. Even a Legendary existence cannot block your will."
After some time.
The Red Iron Dragon flapped his wings and returned to the Borderlands, back to the Dragon Valley.
Besides the Metallic Dragon Deborah, the Red Copper Dragon Serena was also here, talking to Deborah about something.
As the massive body of the Red Iron Dragon landed with a thud, Serena's gaze immediately shifted over.
Galos scanned the area and, not seeing the Silver Dragon Edli, asked the Copper Dragon directly, "Did Uncle Edli not come with you this time?"
Deborah shook her head slightly and answered on behalf of her mother.
"Father's prime-age slumber is approaching, so he returned to the Metal Dragon Domain first to prepare for it."
Hearing this, the Red Iron Dragon showed a knowing smile and said, "Then, I shall congratulate Uncle Edli in advance. I wish him a Breakthrough to the Legendary Realm after this slumber."
At their last meeting, Edli had already reached Rank 20.
After another round of prime-age slumber, with a Silver Dragon's talent and the accumulation from the sleep, breaking through to the Legendary Realm was almost a certainty.
At that time, Edli would also officially join the Ranks of the old dragons.
"Your Uncle Edli was thinking of you specifically before he left."
Serena said with a smile, "He asked me to tell you to be extra cautious in your affairs during this time. Try not to provoke powerful enemies that are hard to deal with. Once he wakes up, he can back you up. Of course, before that, he wants to spar with you again."
Galos had only recently ended his youth-stage slumber.
According to a dragon's normal growth trajectory, he would need to undergo at least one adult-stage slumber and approach the prime-age dragon stage before it was possible to reach Legendary status, which usually takes a long time.
Therefore, the Silver Dragon's offer to back him up was perfectly reasonable.
Galos nodded and responded, "I am happy to accept and enjoy the protection of the Metallic Dragons."
"As for sparring, that's no problem either."
The atmosphere in the valley was harmonious and relaxed.
After chatting for a while longer, Serena seemed to suddenly remember something important. Her tone shifted abruptly, and with a hint of excitement and prodding, she issued an invitation to the Red Iron Dragon.
"By the way, Galos! The grand tournament jointly held by the Five Great Dragon Domains will begin in a few years. It's a perfect opportunity for young dragons to make a name for themselves. Do you want to try it out?"
She was unaware of the deal between Galos and the Gold Dragon Ovis.
Without waiting for Galos to answer, Serena continued enthusiastically, "You might not know yet, but the rules for this competition are a bit special. It's said that the final champion selected through layers of duels only gains the qualification to 'challenge' another mysterious dragon."
"Doesn't that sound excessive? It's practically treating the champion as a stepping stone."
"Since the news broke, the younger generation of the various Dragon Domains has been quite agitated. Everyone is indignant and wants to know who that dragon is and just how powerful they are to have the competition rules changed for them."
At this point, the Copper Dragon, with a mind to stir up trouble, prodded, "How about it, Galos?"
"Don't you want to meet that mysterious dragon and teach him a lesson yourself to see if he's worthy of the name? I believe that with your strength, you can easily get that challenge qualification and then win the final reward and honor."
Galos fell silent, his expression on his massive dragon head appearing somewhat subtle and complex.
Under the Copper Dragon's expectant and prodding gaze, he spoke slowly, his tone a bit strange.
"That mysterious dragon... I happen to know him."
Serena's eyes flared with curiosity upon hearing this.
She stared intently at the Red Iron Dragon and pressed, "You know him? Who is it? Is it some powerful dragon lurking somewhere in the wilderness? Tell me quickly."
The Red Iron Dragon slowly stretched his wings and stated calmly, "He is right in front of you at this moment."
Hearing this, the Copper Dragon's eyes widened instantly, her face filled with disbelief.
However, given that Galos had brought her so many surprises and shocks, she quickly calmed down and accepted the fact.
"It was Gold Dragon Ovis of the Fubo Dragon Domain who invited me to participate in the competition this way."
.
Galos simply gave a brief account of how the whole thing happened.
"I see, so there's such a connection behind it." Serena smacked her lips, digesting the information, her eyes gleaming with excitement and amusement. "Only the champion gets the right to challenge you... Tsk, Galos, whether you win or lose in the end, once the tournament is over, your name will surely resound throughout the Five Great Dragon Domains and become the focus of discussion for all young dragons."
As she spoke, she suddenly turned her gaze toward the Copper-Silver Dragon Deborah, who had been listening quietly.
Serena showed a mischievous smile. "My dear Deborah, you must do your best. I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of outstanding offspring the union of a Red Iron Dragon and a Copper-Silver Dragon will produce. It would be best if they are as powerful and rational as Galos, and also a Metallic Dragon."
Copper-Silver Dragon Deborah felt a surge of shame and annoyance.
She turned her head away, ignoring her mother who always loved to tease her.
Serena didn't mind and turned back to the Red Iron Dragon with interest, asking, "So, Galos, what about yourself? For your future children, which Bloodline are you more looking forward to them inheriting? Or rather, do you have any preferences?"
"Do you want Five-Color Dragon offspring or Metallic Dragon babies?"
Galos shook his head slightly, his tone calm. "Either is fine, just let nature take its course."
That said, in the depths of his heart, he did harbor a trace of curiosity.
Besides the inheritance of Bloodlines, would his descendants have a chance to inherit some of the unique special abilities he possessed?
"Can you two change the subject?"
"I haven't considered dragon babies at all; it's still way too early."
The Copper-Silver Dragon protested.
At the same time.
On the far-off ocean, within the 'Eternal Radiance Dragon Realm' ruled by the Twenty-Four Winged Gold Dragon King and hailed as the head of the Five Great Dragon Domains.
On a certain sun-drenched beach, two dragons were lying prone.
One was a male adult Gold Dragon with scales as brilliant as flowing liquid gold, a well-proportioned and athletic build, and a sense of power; the other was a female Bronze Dragon, relatively smaller in size, with scales of a greenish-gray hue.
The two were conversing, talking about the competition.
"Absurd! This rule is simply absurd!"
The Bronze Dragon lashed her long tail irritably, her tone full of dissatisfaction. "The final champion only gets a 'challenge' qualification? Who exactly is that so-called 'mysterious dragon'? Is it a Dragon God Reincarnation?! Or are those Legendary Elders so bored with nothing else to do that they deliberately made such a rule to play with us?"
Compared to his companion's excitement, the Gold Dragon beside her appeared much more calm and steady.
He looked peacefully at the shimmering ocean in the distance and spoke steadily, "Since the rules were jointly decided by the Legendary Elders of the various Dragon Domains, there must be a deep meaning behind them."
"For that 'mysterious dragon' who hasn't shown his face to receive this level of recognition, he must indeed possess extraordinary qualities."
The Bronze Dragon shook her head vigorously, unable to accept this explanation.
She retorted, "No matter how extraordinary, could he be stronger than the elites our Eternal Radiance Dragon Realm has poured its efforts into cultivating? Could he be stronger than you, Karlus?"
The Gold Dragon called Karlus only smiled faintly upon hearing this, neither admitting nor denying it.
Karlus Velaperion was the Gold Dragon's full name.
His surname, 'Velaperion', had the meaning of 'Eternal Radiance' in the dragon language and was also the surname of the Gold Dragon King.
Karlus belonged to the lineage of the Gold Dragon King. Moreover, not only was his Bloodline from the Dragon King, but Karlus himself also possessed a strange and powerful talent. Although different from the Gold Dragon King's talent, it was also very powerful.
That was enough to make him look down upon all other dragons of his generation.
In fact, almost all the young dragons considered favorites to win the championship in the Five Great Dragon Domains possessed some special talents or encounters.
Otherwise, it would be difficult to stand out among so many competitors.
And among all these hot dragon candidates, Karlus was the most famous and was originally recognized as the one with the best hope of winning the championship title.
But now, according to the new rules, he had become the most likely challenger.