The sky over Quinn Highlands was lead-gray, with smoke and low-hanging clouds mixing together, creating an oppressive atmosphere that made it hard to breathe.
The scorched earth was riddled with craters of varying depths, scattered with broken armor, snapped weapons, and bloodstains that had long since dried black and seeped into the soil. The air was thick with the smell of rust, burning, and blood.
In the distance was the Rippos First Defense Line, built upon the rugged mountain ridges.
It was like a man-made natural chasm, standing across the path of the Lothorn Legion.
Towering limestone fortresses were connected to each other, dense with battlements, their watchtowers pointing like needles toward the gloomy sky.
Atop the fortresses, the outlines of heavy crossbow platforms and giant alchemy cannons flickered in and out of the smoke, occasionally letting out dull roars as they hurled lethal enchanted bolts and exploding alchemy shells at the attackers; behind the battlements, the figures of archers and mages were busy, flashing briefly in the intermittent shimmer of magical shields.
Lothorn's military formation was like a grindstone, striking that solid defense line over and over again.
On the ground, soldiers in silver-gray armor held shields nearly as tall as themselves, and under the command of their officers, they condensed military formation magic, forming sheets of swaying pale-gold light.
Led by several Legendary powerhouses of their own, they pushed forward slowly but firmly against the continuous bombardment.
However, every time they drew close, it invited even more concentrated and fierce counterattacks.
Bodies continued to pile up, only to be blown away by subsequent artillery fire.
The battle fell into a brutal and draining stalemate.
Lothorn held the advantage in total troop numbers, and the soldiers' morale remained high due to the King's personal expedition, but Rippos, relying on the treacherous terrain and solid fortifications built over many years, was like an unbreakable iron nut.
With every passing moment, more of the Lothorn soldiers' blood was shed, yet a breach in the defense line still seemed out of reach.
OBrien was not personally participating in the battle on the front lines at this moment.
He had sustained significant injuries several days ago during an assault on a flank fortress; although he was no longer in danger after treatment, he needed time to recover his condition.
Currently, he was standing on a slightly elevated observation platform in the rear.
His silver-gray armor was covered in dust and smoke stains, his cheeks were thin, his eyes sunken, and his thick stubble made him look even more weathered than when he had spoken with Galos.
However, despite the stalemate and unfavorable battle situation, the King's brow was relaxed.
His gaze was calm, occasionally glancing toward the sky as if waiting for something.
The sky—a sky obscured by smoke and dark, gloomy clouds.
And in the high altitude beyond the reach of ordinary people, two figures like suns were constantly entangling and colliding.
Every time they clashed, they burst forth with a magnificent light that caused ripples in the clouds below, and thunderous booms could be heard faintly even on the ground.
Those were two Legends, and Crown Ranks who stood above ordinary Legends.
Crown-Rank Legends were regarded as the "Kings" and the pinnacle among Legendary powerhouses within The Nations of Romania.
Currently, the only ones on the plain clearly possessing Crown Rank existences were Rippos and Lothorn.
Compared to them, although the battles between other Legends were also intense, their movements seemed pale in comparison.
However, what OBrien was waiting for was not the victory of his side's Crown Rank; he was currently in a stalemate with the enemy's Crown Rank high in the sky, neither able to overcome the other.
The King was waiting for a different variable.
A short while later.
From the sky to the northwest of the battlefield, a strange sound was heard.
At first, it was just a low hum, like a giant beast breathing deep within the clouds, or the vibration of the air before a distant storm arrives.
Then, the hum turned into a sharp whistle, and a black dot rapidly enlarged, tearing through the thick lead-gray clouds.
More and more people noticed it, involuntarily looking up, and then their pupils shrank.
It was a terrifying giant beast.
He had a sturdy, frightening skeleton and a hideous head like an Ogre, with a wide mouth and fangs.
However, his body was covered not in fat, but in powerful, cable-like muscles full of explosive strength; from both sides of his forehead grew a pair of backward-curving horns shimmering with a dull metallic luster, and on his broad back was a pair of wings even more massive than his thick body, beating powerfully and whipping up a gale that sent sand and stones flying on the ground.
Not only that.
Key parts of his body—chest, shoulders, elbows, knees, etc.—were covered in dark Red Dragon scales as thick as armor, with a lava-like glow faintly flowing between the gaps of the scales; a muscular dragon tail swayed behind him, ending in a sharp, cone-shaped bone spur.
This was precisely the war commander from the Aura Kingdom.
The Dragon Vein Gluttony Demon, Karu.
Anyone seeing him for the first time would never associate him with an ordinary Ogre.
The current Karu was more like a terrifying Great Demon stepping out of the abyss.
"Insects, tremble beneath Lord Karu!"
The Gluttony Demon let out an ear-splitting roar, the sound waves rolling down and even temporarily drowning out some of the battlefield's clamor.
He did not pounce directly on the defense line; instead, he flapped his wings hard and surged upward.
Whoosh!
After reaching a certain height, scorching flames ignited from his body without warning, orange and dark red intertwining, wrapping him into a flying fireball.
He took a deep breath, and his chest puffed out.
Then, in an incredibly arrogant posture and enveloped in flames, he dove straight down toward the most heavily fortified central fortress of the Rippos First Defense Line, like a true meteor trailing a long tail of fire.
On the observation platform, OBrien witnessed this scene, his eyes flickering.
He felt a slight sense of déjà vu.
This scene was very similar to the description in the intelligence he had received of the Red Emperor breaking through Norton Pass with the momentum of a falling meteor.
"This Gluttony Demon wants to imitate their King?"
A flash of astonishment crossed OBrien's eyes, "Does he have the strength for that?"
As if in response to the human sovereign's doubt, the Gluttony Demon, descending rapidly from the sky, let out another roar.
A light as thick as substance suddenly lit up in his abdomen, spreading like a living thing to every muscle in his body, causing his already burly frame to expand even further; his bones and muscles made a tooth-aching creaking sound, and his Aura rose steadily along with it.
This was the Gluttony State based on his big-eater trait, which significantly boosted his attributes in a short time by consuming stored energy.
But this was not the end.
A deeper Aura rose from within Karu.
"For the great His Majesty Ignis, for Aura!"
The Gluttony Demon roared.
Below the Dragon Throne, Blood Burst State!
On the other side.
The distant Dragon Ridge Mountains.
Standing atop a high mountain, the Red Emperor felt a connection, clearly sensing the pulse of another heart; he even saw the battle situation on Quinn Highlands through Karu's eyes.
"Fight for me, and show my power," he said.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
A dull heartbeat, like a war drum, exploded from within the Gluttony Demon's broad chest, clearly reaching the ears of many powerhouses even amidst the high-altitude whistling and battlefield noise.
Vibrant, blood-colored patterns originated from his heart and spread frantically to his limbs like plant roots; the flames burning around him suddenly turned blood-red under the reflection of these patterns.
His Aura surged again, forming visible ripples.
His current objective was crystal clear.
That fortress, the tallest and most solid one in the center of the defense line, was also the hub and support point of the first defense line.
The Legends on the Rippos side felt unease and threat.
The Aura of the giant monster attacking from the sky had climbed to a level that made their hearts skip a beat, bringing an oppressive feeling like a natural disaster descending.
Several Legends intended to take to the sky to intercept, but would their opponents, the Legends of Lothorn, let this chance slip by?
Almost at the same time Karu's Aura surged, the Lothorn Legends' offensive suddenly intensified; the light of magic and battle skills became even more dazzling, firmly entangling the already disadvantaged Rippos Legends and giving them no chance to escape.
"What kind of monster is that?!"
"A dragon? No... it's a winged giant monster?!"
"Aim! Quick, aim at it! We can't let it land!"
A moment of commotion and panic instantly broke out on the Rippos defense line.
Sharp alarm bells were rung frantically, echoing throughout the mountain ridge.
The central fortress and its surrounding defense towers targeted by Karu reacted the fastest; the heavy magic ballistae on top of the fortress, the alchemy cannons embedded in the walls, and the towering magic towers all adjusted their angles at the same time, locking onto the growing fiery figure in the sky.
Hum—Boom!
The heavy ballistae and magic towers on the fortress immediately locked onto the target, and thick magic rays and armor-piercing shells capable of shooting through city walls fired toward the sky, whistling to meet the uninvited guest.
Facing the intense concentrated fire, Karu did not show the slightest intention of dodging.
Instead, he slightly folded his wings, curling his body more tightly, meeting the attacks with his dragon-scale-covered chest and shoulders.
Just as the attacks were about to hit, his dark Red Dragon scales and the tough skin not covered by scales suddenly lit up with a dim, dark light, as if able to absorb light, making his outline appear somewhat blurred.
Energy-Devouring Skin.
—When taking energy attacks, it can absorb part of the attack's energy and convert it into its own usable reserves.
Boom boom boom boom...!
Rumble!
Magic rays struck his chest, blooming into brilliant elemental sparks before merging with him; giant shells hit his shoulders and arms, making the sound of clashing metal and exploding into fragments, while Karu's diving momentum only slowed slightly.
Not only that, after enduring this round of fierce bombardment, Karu not only showed no signs of weakening but instead felt refreshed.
He opened his massive mouth and let out a loud burp; the blood flames around him shot up higher, and his Aura actually increased again.
Satiety.
—By obtaining sufficient energy through Energy-Devouring Skin or direct ingestion, one can perform beyond normal levels while in a full state.
Braving the intense concentrated fire, while adding a few minor wounds to his body, the Gluttony Demon's stomach rapidly swelled with power as it absorbed a massive amount of attack energy.
Then, carrying the momentum of a thunderbolt, he landed.
The passage of time seemed to warp at the point of impact, becoming slow and heavy.
In the final instant, Karu's swollen stomach deflated at a visible rate, as if something inside had been instantly drained.
Conversely, the blood-colored flames burning around him were like they had been doused with a massive amount of fuel.
The flames erupted, becoming more turbulent and powerful than ever before, soaring into the sky and completely transforming him into a blazing blood-colored meteor.
Starvation.
—Actively consumes the vast energy accumulated in the stomach at the cost of enduring intense hunger for a period afterward, to perform a limit strike far beyond normal.
Boom!
With the Gluttony Demon's landing point as the center, the magic shield protecting the fortress dented downward inch by inch, and cracks spread like lightning before finally shattering with a bang, a huge hole being smashed through.
He continued to crash down, his body curled and cracked from the counter-shock.
Boom!
The rune-reinforced fortress shattered layer by layer, then turned to powder.
The entire fortress shook violently; the defensive works on top, the heavy cannons, and the soldiers who didn't have time to escape were instantly cleared away in a large area by the terrifying shockwave and flying debris.
Smoke mixed with flames and the smell of blood soared into the sky.
"I am the First General of the Aura Kingdom! Fear me, my poor little snacks!"
A voice rose from the center of the smoke and ruins, and then, a massive figure stood up.
Karu shook his somewhat dizzy head, shaking off the debris and ashes from his body.
His frame was burly, and Dragon Qi rose, intertwining into two more thick energy arms that stretched out along with his original pair.
As the four arms moved, blood flames rolled and wrapped around his body; those giant eyes burning with tyranny and appetite lit up in the smoke, as if a terrifying Great Demon from the abyss had been reborn here.
This image was deeply etched into the eyes of all the surviving Rippos soldiers nearby.
They trembled uncontrollably, shaking with fear.
In the far distance, atop the peak of the Dragon Ridge Mountains.
Ignas, the Red Iron Dragon, withdrew his distant gaze and nodded slightly, a hint of approval showing in his eyes.
"Hmm, not bad. He has a bit of my style."
The outcome of this battle was already decided.
On the other side, at the Quinn Highlands.
"For Lothorn!"
OBrien suddenly drew the Dawn King Sword and swung it forward with great force: "The gap is open! All troops! Charge!"
Woo— Woo-woo—!
The horn for the general offensive sounded, desolate yet impassioned, merging with the King's command and spreading throughout the entire Lothorn military formation.
Meanwhile, Karu, amidst the ruins, was not idle either.
He shook his head to clear his senses, which were a bit dazed from the counter-shock, then turned around. With four fists clenched tight, he smashed down hard against the massive load-bearing stone pillars that were already covered in spiderweb-like cracks.
Boom!!!
This time, the loud bang was followed by a continuous sound of collapse.
The massive stone pillars snapped completely, causing nearly half the fortress to come crashing down.
Amidst the billowing smoke and dust, the Gluttony Demon, like a giant beast breaking through a dam, was the first to leap down from the gap in the collapsed fortress and charge into the interior of the defensive line.
He brandished his four giant arms, while his dragon tail and wings also transformed into weapons. Wherever he passed, flesh and blood flew, and fortifications crumbled.
A massive gap was torn through this defensive line.
Lothorn's iron torrent followed closely behind, surging in.
The stalemate between Rippos and Lothorn on the Quinn Highlands was broken on this day due to the arrival of the Dragon Vein Gluttony Demon, and the first defensive line collapsed completely.
A few days later, at night.
In a camp behind the former Rippos defensive line, which had been occupied and cleared by Lothorn, a bonfire burned fiercely, dispelling the chill of the autumn night.
Gluttony Demon Karu, the Legends of Lothorn, and several high-ranking generals sat together, enjoying food and rest after the victory.
Of course, the term "sitting together" only applied to the humans.
Karu was coiled directly beside the largest bonfire. On the grill in front of him, skewered on a thick iron spit, was an entire prepared war beast, its volume comparable to several bulls.
Compared to his size, the surrounding human powerhouses looked like infants.
OBrien also sat not far away.
He did not participate in the noisy eating; before him sat only a cup of warm wine and a small amount of dried meat.
His gaze frequently fell upon the Gluttony Demon, who was focused on tearing and chewing massive amounts of meat, while thoughts churned in his mind.
The Gluttony Demon's performance in this battle could be described as peerlessly ferocious.
Besides his naturally high racial stats, this was also related to the Red Emperor's Dragon Vein Transformation; specifically, the Gluttony Demon displayed power similar to that of the Red Emperor.
OBrien couldn't help but extend his thoughts toward the Red Emperor.
If one were to compare overall strength, that 'indestructible dragon' probably still lacked the foundation and comprehensive methods of a human Crown-Rank Legend.
However, in certain extremely prominent aspects...
For instance, that inconceivable physical strength, defensive power, and destructiveness—even compared to human Crown Ranks, the Red Emperor had already shown signs of surpassing them.
And most crucially, according to reliable intelligence, Ignas had not even stepped into the level of an Advanced Legend yet.
The Aura Kingdom established around the Red Emperor seemed to be composed of such over-the-top monsters.
Their Legends were few in number, but each one was enough to rival or even suppress most ordinary human Legends. Not to mention, as long-lived species, they possessed lifespans far longer than human Legends.
This gap in quality could not be measured by a simple comparison of numbers.
"If Ignas achieves Crown Rank..." A chill rose in OBrien's heart. "With his strength and the powerful subordinates gathered around him, there will likely be no one in the entire Romanian Plain who can restrain him."
"No, perhaps he doesn't need to wait for Crown Rank."
"As long as he becomes an Advanced Legend, with the traits he has displayed, it would be enough to make human Crown Ranks feel extremely troubled... even in danger."
Regarding this possible future, OBrien actually harbored hidden concerns.
He worried that after the Aura Kingdom's powerful rise under the Red Emperor's leadership, the desire for expansion would eventually drown out their former alliance, sparking a third war that would sweep across the entire Romanian Plain.
When that time came, would there still be a place for the Kingdom of Lothorn?
But he was also soberly aware of one reality: he would likely not live to see that day with his own eyes.
Human lifespans were too short compared to dragons.
However, OBrien was not entirely unprepared.
He was a mature and visionary monarch. As early as the beginning of the alliance with Aura, he had ordered people to collect as much information as possible about the Red Emperor, Ignas.
From his early activities in the Scale Earth Rift Road to various policies after establishing the kingdom, his style of diplomatic engagement, and even fragments of his rumored words and deeds.
He had scholars within the kingdom who specialized in psychological and behavioral analysis conduct in-depth research.
Finally, the scholars reached a conclusion.
This dragon of red and iron was essentially closer to Neutral Lawful. He valued practical interests but also valued promises and friendship, being quite protective of recognized allies and subjects. He was not one of those greedy, treacherous, purely instinct-driven Evil Dragons of traditional perception.
His expansions and wars always had a strong sense of purpose and planning, rather than being driven by a simple desire for destruction and conquest.
Therefore, OBrien's previous conversation with the Red Emperor in the Dragon Ridge Mountains was not entirely superficial or a tactic of convenience; he truly intended to promote and consolidate the alliance between the two countries.
"If Ignas can truly abide by order and value the alliance as he has shown..."
"Then his continued growth and the rise and expansion of Aura might not necessarily be a bad thing for Lothorn."
OBrien pondered silently, "In fact, by leveraging this special ally relationship, Lothorn could also gain benefits in future changes and compensate for some of our disadvantages."
"A powerful but lawful neighbor is more reliable than a group of weak neighbors with hidden malicious intentions."
This was one of the future scenarios he hoped to see.
And the future he most desired in his heart was naturally for the Kingdom of Lothorn itself to give birth to another leader as brilliant and powerful as the Holy King, to restore the former glory of unifying the plains.
That was also the greatest expectation of all Lothorn people.
Of course, as a king, he had to consider all possibilities, including the worst one.
"If friction really occurs in the future and contradictions intensify to an irreconcilable point, and Lothorn and Aura meet on the battlefield..."
For this reason, OBrien had held serious and secret talks with his side's Crown Rank existence.
Once clear signs appeared that the relationship between the two countries was heading toward a complete and irreparable break, then there must be no hesitation, no holding onto any luck. They must use all possible power at the fastest speed, at any cost, to carry out a decapitation strike against the Red Emperor.
If they were to be enemies, they must not repeat the mistake of Xio Kingdom.
Hesitating and being full of concerns gave the Red Emperor an opportunity, ultimately resulting in the bitter fruit of a fallen nation and lost passes.
"To deal with such an enemy, either do nothing, or act with the force of a thunderbolt to deliver a fatal blow."
This was the important instruction OBrien left for the Crown Rank.
"The future is unpredictable and difficult to grasp."
OBrien sighed softly and drained the wine in his cup.
"This is all I can do for now—sow some seeds and leave some warnings. I hope these arrangements will ultimately bring good results for Lothorn, so that when I return to the land of my ancestors' spirits, I can do so with a clear conscience."
As for now.
While the alliance still existed, cooperation was close, and they were facing a common enemy, to plan a backstab and nip a potential threat in the bud?
Such a thought had flashed through OBrien's mind, but he quickly discarded it.
On one hand, that alliance concluded in the name of both nations' destinies and their monarchs was not just a piece of paper; it contained a real binding effect. Those who betrayed the alliance would surely suffer corresponding backlash and costs, negatively impacting the nation's fortune.
Unless the alliance was formally dissolved, such an act of backstabbing would itself cause Lothorn to pay a significant hidden price.
On the other hand, OBrien was not a narrow-minded, short-sighted person.
He would not betray an ally currently fighting side-by-side just because of a worst-case speculation about the future.
The instructions to his side's Crown Rank were more like an insurance policy, an emergency plan for the most extreme situation.
He believed that after going through the tempering of war together, the alliance and friendship between Lothorn and Aura should be more solid, enough to maintain peace and cooperation for a long time.
"Hey, human King, what are you dazing off for over there?"
A muffled, booming voice interrupted OBrien's contemplation.
He looked up and met the giant eyes of Gluttony Demon Karu, which were bright under the reflection of the bonfire.
At some point, Karu had finished off that massive war beast and was picking his teeth with a thick finger, looking at OBrien with a curious tilt of his head.
Karu said with a serious face: "If you don't eat properly, how can you win battles?"
"Eat quickly, eat quickly. Look at how weak you are; you can't compare to our great His Majesty Ignis at all. Eat until you're sturdier so you can have more strength and live longer."
These overstepping words made the other Legends knit their brows.
However, OBrien was first slightly stunned, then broke into a helpless laugh.
From the Gluttony Demon's words, he didn't hear any intent to offend; the other party was simply being blunt.
"You're right, Commander Karu."
OBrien didn't mind; instead, he nodded. He picked up a sizzling roasted steak from nearby, took a forceful bite, chewed a few times, and smiled: "I indeed should eat more to replenish my strength."
Seeing the human King accept his suggestion, the Gluttony Demon hummed twice in satisfaction.
He said no more and went back to dealing with another pile of food.
The curtain of night slowly receded amidst fatigue and relaxation, but the sky over the Quinn Highlands did not become clear as a result; it remained shrouded in continuous smoke.
The war was not yet over.
Lothorn's offensive accumulated and grew like a rolling snowball, fiercely attacking the subsequent two defensive lines with unstoppable force.
October 4th.
After days of bitter fighting and heavy losses, the Rippos defenders were forced to abandon the entire Quinn Highlands and make a strategic retreat into their country's heartland.
The Kingdom of Lothorn achieved a decisive victory in this key campaign, seizing the initiative for the subsequent course of the war.
At the same time, the war commander sent as support from the Aura Kingdom performed eye-catchingly in this battle.
The soldiers of Lothorn called him the "fang of aura," while the Rippos people, in their battle reports and rumors, depicted him as the "Great Gluttony Demon."
These two titles, along with the result of the Battle of Quinn Highlands, quickly spread across the Romanian Plain.
Book recommendation: "Behind-the-Scenes Boss: Creating the World-Destroying Red Dragon at the Start"
Synopsis: "I was once called a vessel, a prisoner, a holy corpse. Now, the rise and fall of all things are but embers between the opening and closing of my fingers."
"When dragon flames burn cities, devious schemes have already corroded the throne; when the sea of bones surges, the stars are trembling for it!"
"Every Clone is a blade of my conquest, every shell is a foundation of my evolution!"
"Whatever I see can become me; whatever I transform into returns to eternity!"
"Those who kneel shall become Dependents under my dragon wings; those who stand shall turn to ash under my flames!"
"If fate decrees that I am the enemy of the world—"
"Then let this war become the world's final epic!"
—Excerpt from "Lord of Calamity · Ron's Declaration of War to All Realms"