This winter was not long.
In less than a month, spring arrived quietly.
The early spring wind still carried a slight chill, but the earth had already awakened, quietly bursting forth with the vitality that had lain dormant all winter. Grass shoots poked through the soil, and even the crevices in the rocks were squeezed by resilient wildflowers, dots of pale yellow and light purple.
Whoosh!
Without warning, flames roared past.
The scorching air current instantly swallowed that patch of newly sprouted 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 blue smoke and a few scattered ashes.
Centering on the Red Iron Dragon, raging flames burned fiercely, constructing a massive, scorching Domain.
The air distorted under the high temperature, and the ground turned a molten red. After more than half an hour of continuous burning, the flames that had painted half the sky crimson slowly receded and dissipated, revealing the majestic and burly dark-red figure within.
Galos lowered his head, looking at the few scattered sparks drifting over the scorched earth.
A hot breath with the scent of sulfur puffed from his nostrils as he slightly shook his dragon head.
Galos's evolution in terms of his Domain was not ideal.
Taking this Flame Domain as an example, as his own life Rank increased and through day after day of exercise and adaptation, the intensity and temperature of this Domain had indeed grown, and it could also weaken the effects of Spell attacks to a certain extent.
But this was still too far from the results Galos had anticipated in his heart.
"The Domain, it was born because I stepped into the Legendary Rank."
The Red Iron Dragon maintained his head-held-high posture, sinking into deep thought.
"But I always feel like it's more like a kind of... recognition from the world's rules for a Legendary life, or a gift. It doesn't originate entirely, one hundred percent, from myself; it doesn't belong only to me."
This judgment stemmed from his own clear feelings and perception.
The evolution of the Domain was too slow, so slow that he couldn't clearly feel it.
All along, the Domain had been a relatively weak link for Galos, progressing slowly and far failing to keep up with his growth in other areas like physical strength and Spell resistance.
And it wasn't just him.
According to the information in the dragons legacy and exchanges with other dragons, for the vast majority of dragons, the Domain was not a very important reliance, far inferior to their natural bodies and the various traits that awakened as they grew.
"Perhaps my expectations for the Domain were too high to begin with."
Galos flicked his dragon tail, thinking to himself.
"Being well-rounded in every aspect is just the most ideal goal, but in reality, resources, time, and energy are all limited."
"I must make choices."
"I should prioritize tapping into the potential of my own talents, followed by tempering the powers related to my traits. The priority of the Domain... should be pushed back."
Choosing the right direction for effort was far more important than blindly burying one's head in hard training.
He didn't intend to completely give up on exploring the Domain; he just decided to lower its weight in his cultivation plan, reducing the energy and time invested in it as appropriate, and shifting his focus to other areas with more growth potential.
Of course, this was only the current strategy.
If one day in the future he discovered the root cause of the Domain's slow evolution...
Or if he encountered a special opportunity that could trigger a qualitative change in the Domain, or when growth in other areas hit a limit that was difficult to break through, only then would he raise the priority of the Domain again.
Gurgle...
A deep, loud rumble came from his abdomen, and a strong sense of emptiness was born from within.
Continuous high-intensity exercise had an astounding consumption.
Galos paused his thoughts and took out a mountain of meat from his spatial tool.
It was pre-processed, high-energy leg meat and ribs from Advanced Demonic Beasts, each piece being massive.
He opened his dragon maw and began to eat, while also mixing in thick, pitch-like refined black oil and some magic gemstones shimmering with elemental radiance.
His hard teeth easily crushed bones and gemstones, swallowing them along with the chunks of meat and liquid.
It wasn't until a massive amount of food, measured in tons, went down his throat that the hunger from before slowly receded.
After being satiated, Galos did not rest but began tempering his basic attributes; he wanted to transform the energy he had just ingested into tangible growth as quickly as possible.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Dull, thunderous sounds echoed through the mountains.
In the blink of an eye, another seven days passed.
Galos had just finished a round of physical tempering and felt somewhat unsatisfied, preparing to make a few adjustments before starting the next round of exercise in other areas.
At that moment, the feeling of emptiness in his stomach struck again.
His movements paused, and the fine scales between his brows furrowed slightly.
"In the past, a single meal like that was enough to support me through two to three rounds of high-intensity attribute tempering."
The Red Iron Dragon raised his front claw, looked at his toe tips which gleamed with a metallic chill, and calculated in his heart: "Is it that my training intensity has increased again, or... has my body's consumption rate become faster?"
Legendary beings can absorb the elements of heaven and earth, replenishing part of their energy consumption through breathing.
But this was not enough, especially after high-intensity combat or training; they had to rely on large amounts of high-energy resources to make up for the deficit and maintain what was needed.
For a Dragon existence like Galos, it was even more like trying to put out a fire with a cup of water.
With his Physique and daily training intensity, his resource consumption could be described as terrifying, far exceeding any dragon of the same Rank.
He had not yet officially entered his prime after two hundred years, but the total amount of various rare resources he had consumed probably already exceeded that of many Ancient Dragons who had lived for a thousand years.
Just the amount of black oil he had drunk was already an astronomical figure, far beyond ordinary imagination.
This was also the fundamental reason why he wanted to establish a kingdom.
"My body is too strong now."
Galos felt the power and emptiness within him, realizing a problem.
"black oil crystals, Advanced Demonic Beast meat, magic gemstones... these resources that once brought a sufficient sense of fullness and energy replenishment now seem a bit lacking in punch."
"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 Legendary beings for every meal."
Moreover, the problem didn't stop there.
As he continued to get stronger, his demand for resources would only grow. The top-tier resources in this world were limited, and wanting to obtain more would inevitably lead to conflicts with more forces.
More importantly...
"This is fundamentally not a question of the quantity of resources."
"My body's absorption and conversion efficiency is somewhat unable to keep up with the consumption speed of certain parts, especially those that have undergone focused evolution."
"My body is a whole, but evolution is not uniform or synchronized."
"Certain parts have Advanced by leaps and bounds under targeted training, becoming extremely tough. Although other parts have also been enhanced by association, the increase is relatively small. Over time, while I am improving overall, the relative strength of certain internal Systems can't keep up..."
"The digestion and energy conversion System, as it seems now, has become my shortcoming."
He had grasped the key to the problem.
Next was to find a solution.
"Currently, there seem to be two clear directions for reinforcement."
Galos walked slowly to a mountain spring, lowering his head to drink while thinking.
"First, strengthen the absorption efficiency of free energy in the environment. Focus on evolving the lungs, with the goal that in the future, breathing alone can satisfy most daily consumption."
"Second, improve the energy conversion rate of ingested substances. Focus on evolving the entire digestive System, so that the same resources can yield more energy."
Galos quickly organized his thoughts.
Furthermore, he didn't plan to make it a single-choice question.
Considering his current consumption, which could already be called terrifying, and the almost certain growth trend in the future, both directions were crucial. It would be best to have both.
As for exactly how to exercise his lungs or stomach and guide them to start directional evolution in the way he desired, that was a problem that needed careful consideration and practice next.
He paused his regular strength training and began to eat again.
But this time, he ate exceptionally slowly, chewing every bite thoroughly.
At the same time, a brilliant light shone in his eyes. With the Eye of Truth, he peered through his scales, muscles, and fascia, deep into his body, carefully observing every detail of the peristalsis from the esophagus to the stomach and then to the intestines, feeling the complete process of digestive juice secretion, food decomposition, and energy being absorbed and transported.
In this way, amidst the slow and continuous sound of chewing and swallowing, he spent two whole days and nights.
On the morning of the third day, Galos changed his method.
He clung to a steep rock wall, using his sharp claws to pry off large chunks of hard, grayish-white rock, putting them into his mouth and slowly grinding them with dragon teeth strong enough to crush steel.
Crunch, crunch...
Coarse stone powder mixed with saliva was swallowed into his stomach.
He was fully concentrated, feeling the rhythm of his stomach and intestines as they dealt with this kind of food.
"In the end, it's unavoidable that I've come to this step... eating dirt."
A thought flashed through his mind.
According to incomplete statistics within the Dragon, more than ninety percent of Five-Color Dragons have had the experience of eating dirt when they lose the protection of their elders and struggle to survive alone during their difficult Young Dragon period or when encountering a lack of resources.
This wasn't because they liked it, nor was it purely due to desperation.
This was also an extreme manifestation of the powerful Dragon Physique.
Even from the poorest soil and rocks, a dragon's digestive System can extract a faint trace of energy and minerals, ensuring they don't starve to death, though growth will become extremely slow and stunted as a result.
And it wasn't just dirt.
Tree bark, grass roots, and even drinking large amounts of water were all means for the Dragon to maintain survival in difficult times.
Many intelligent beings once found it perplexing: why was the survival environment for Evil Dragons so harsh in their early stages, yet they could still occasionally produce powerful individuals, and the tribe didn't decline because of it?
Besides the vague shadow of gods behind the Dragon, which made large-scale hunting a matter of concern...
The most fundamental reason lay in the powerful bodies of the Dragon, which endowed them with extremely tenacious survival abilities.
"The natural digestive System of a Dragon is already powerful, and in my case, it has also been enhanced due to my overall evolution."
"It's just that the evolution in other areas is too prominent, causing this relatively ordinary digestive System to gradually seem inadequate."
Galos pulled up a thick hemlock tree growing in a rock crevice and stuffed it into his mouth, roots and leaves and all.
Over these two days, he had tried almost everything he could find nearby.
Rocks, soil, different types of trees, and herbaceous plants. He sent them all into his mouth, just to observe every detail of his stomach and intestinal functions from the most extensive and primitive Materials, looking for possible paths for their reinforcement and evolution.
Just as he had swallowed a mouthful of soil mixed with crushed rock and was carefully savoring the differences...
In the distant sky, a green dot appeared, rapidly enlarging, accompanied by the sound of wing membranes breaking the wind.
A fairly large adult Green Dragon was folding its wings and lowering its altitude, gliding toward the mountain peak where Galos was located.
He had emerald-colored scales, a slender and well-proportioned body, smooth yet powerful muscle lines, and a fairly long dragon tail swaying gently. His entire body exuded a rich and fresh Aura of natural life.
Green Dragon Ludwig.
One of the veterans who had followed Galos since the Aura Kingdom was still just the Melting Iron Clan period.
In addition to being responsible for the important Dragon Forging Transformation Rituals alongside the Black Dragon Seraphina, because of his quick mind and meticulous handling of affairs, he also assisted in handling the kingdom's external affairs, especially many matters related to the Kingdom of Theo.
Usually, his direct superior was the Iron Dragon Sorog, and he reported routine matters to Sorog.
Now, because Sorog had gone to the Fubo Dragon Domain and had not yet returned, and this matter was of great importance, he chose to meet the Emperor directly.
The Green Dragon landed on a rock platform lower than Galos's position and lowered his head respectfully.
"Your Majesty, there is an important matter that I believe I need to report to you in person."
Galos looked down and asked: "Is there a Breakthrough in the dragon-forging ritual, or is it something with Theo?"
"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. Furthermore, they have also suppressed various minerals, Demonic Beast Materials, and some manufactured goods exported by our country through means such as setting up non-tariff barriers and secretly supporting their own competing industries."
The Red Iron Dragon's pupils contracted slightly, turning into vertical slits.
"I recall that the Norton Treaty has clear provisions regarding bilateral trade."
His voice was low and calm as he said, "The maximum tariff rate is five percent, and Theo must not use any administrative or legal means to restrict or hinder the normal circulation and fair competition of Aura's goods."
That treaty was not a mere scrap of paper.
It was established under the gaze of the God of Justice in the form of a powerful magic contract.
If either party violated it, they would suffer the backlash of the contract.
Frequent natural disasters, a decline in national fortune, the royal Bloodline encountering misfortune, and a sharp increase in the difficulty of breaking through to the Legendary Rank... the price was heavy.
"To be willing to pay such a price to breach the contract..."
Galos quickly weighed the options in his heart. "Either the Theo royal family has fallen into madness and is making a desperate gamble, or... they have received some kind of powerful support or promise, and are confident they can offset, or at least endure, the price of the breach."
The latter was highly likely.
Theo had just signed that so-called New Federation Alliance pact with Lothorn; this was likely where they got the confidence to test his bottom line and stand tall.
"Your Majesty."
Green Dragon Ludwig raised his head, a sharp look flashing in his eyes: "Perhaps we have been silent for too long, long enough for some people in Theo to have developed delusions, forgetting their proper place and forgetting the pain of the past."
"It is time to let them remember again, and... let it be a pain that pierces to the bone."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the sounds of rapid running and leaping echoed from the mountain path below.
A cyan shadow, like a gust of wind, rose and fell several times among the rugged rocks, approaching swiftly.
It was a massive wolf-like creature, but fine black scales were faintly visible beneath its fur. Its claws and teeth were exceptionally thick and sharp, especially its forelimbs, which were bulging with muscle and structured more like the talons of a bird of prey.
The Dragon Vein Werewolf, Russell.
After decades of dedicated development, coupled with the resources provided by Galos, this follower—whose talent hadn't been top-tier initially—had raised his life level to twenty. However, he hadn't reached his limit yet and was still some distance from becoming a Legend.
However, once he achieved a Breakthrough, the probability of him Awakening a trait under the Dragon Throne was extremely high.
After stopping at an open space beneath the Red Iron Dragon, a flash of pale cyan light saw the giant wolf's figure vanish, replaced by a werewolf standing upright.
He was tall and burly, with the head of a wolf and the body of a man, covered in blue-black fur and fine scales, with sharp claws and teeth.
"Your Majesty, there is urgent intelligence."
The Red Iron Dragon slightly adjusted his coiled posture, turning his massive head downward. "Is it also regarding Xio?"
Russell was slightly surprised. He looked up, caught sight of the Green Dragon nearby, and immediately understood.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Our observers in Xio have confirmed that the Xio Royal Family and several major nobles are concentrating a large amount of rare resources, sparing no cost to Cultivate and support several quasi-Legendary experts, attempting to force the birth of new Legends in the short term."
"This is already a serious violation of the arms limitation clauses in the Norton Treaty."
The Red Iron Dragon listened quietly, his enormous head slowly rising.
He opened his massive maw and let out a deafening draconic laugh. The sound waves rolled out, shaking the surrounding mountain rocks loose and causing the trees to sway violently.
A few seconds later, the laughter stopped abruptly.
The Dragon's expression instantly returned to a cold hardness, showing no trace of emotional fluctuation.
"Issue a formal diplomatic announcement."
"Sternly condemn the Kingdom of Xio's actions in violating the Norton Treaty. Inform them clearly that if they continue to persist in their ways, they will bear all consequences."
He spoke in a calm voice.
Was it that simple?
Both Ludwig and Russell felt a hint of surprise.
According to their understanding of the Red Emperor, a more violent reaction would have seemed more in line with his style.
But they knew well that His Majesty's wisdom and strategy were not superficial. Since he had made this decision, there had to be a deep meaning behind it.
The two suppressed their doubts and responded in unison, "By your command, Your Majesty."
They respectfully withdrew to execute the order.
"Trade privileges, arms limitations, and bypassing Aura to privately conclude an Alliance with Lothorn..."
Galos vibrated his wings and flew to the peak of the highest nearby mountain. He gazed southward, his vision seemingly piercing through thousands of mountains and rivers.
"Aside from the ceded territories and paid reparations, they have tested almost every core clause of the Norton Treaty. Perhaps before long, they will even dare to raise objections regarding the sovereignty of those two provinces."
Looking at Xio's current treaty-breaking actions individually, the actual damage caused to Aura was still limited.
But this was an extremely dangerous signal. It was a test and a challenge to Aura, conducted by the other party with the support of Lothorn.
It could not, and absolutely would not, be ignored.
Spring, year 417 of the new calendar.
The Aura Kingdom issued a strongly worded diplomatic announcement through official channels, formally condemning the Kingdom of Xio's violation of the Norton Treaty and demanding that they immediately cease all non-compliant behavior, or else they would face unpredictable and serious consequences.
Shortly after the announcement was released, before Xio could even react, the Kingdom of Lothorn was the first to respond.
They issued a statement saying that under the current theme of peace and development, the historical issues between the Two Xios could be resolved through 'friendly, equal, and just renegotiations'.
The Kingdom of Lothorn and the allied nations of the New Federation were willing to provide 'impartial witness' for such negotiations.
For a time, these announcements caused no small stir among the various nations of the plains. Many forces were watching, wanting to know how the Red Emperor, who had been silent for many years, would ultimately react.
However, the Aura side took no further action beyond that condemnation notice.
He showed no interest in negotiations, nor did he mobilize troops to the border. It was as if that condemnation notice was merely a piece of paper, fierce in appearance but weak within.
This perceived weakness and retreat gave some onlookers ideas.
Many felt that this was a gesture of concession that Aura was forced to make under the immense pressure brought by Lothorn and its New Federation System.
In the blink of an eye, spring deepened.
A month quietly passed beneath a seemingly calm surface.
Deep in the mountains of northern Aura Kingdom.
The Red Iron Dragon lay quietly on a massive exposed rock formation, his eyes closed.
His chest rose and fell violently. Every inhalation was like a reverse hurricane, causing the surrounding airflow to become turbulent; every exhalation spat out scorching air mixed with sparks and the scent of sulfur.
The heavy breathing sounded like continuous muffled thunder, echoing endlessly.
Galos was carefully sensing his own respiratory System.
Just as he was fully concentrated, two tiny black dots suddenly appeared on the distant horizon and enlarged at an alarming speed.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two black shadows dove down from the clouds like meteors, carrying unparalleled power. Yet, at the moment they neared the mountain peak, they traced two perfect arcs, their speed dropping sharply as they finally landed steadily on the open ground in front of Galos.
As the dust settled, two colossal beings were revealed.
On the left was an Iron Dragon over thirty meters long.
He was covered in pitch-black, shiny, heavy scale armor like tempered steel. Each scale had cold, hard lines and sharp edges, tightly fitted together to form a seemingly indestructible suit of armor.
Beneath the scales were powerful muscles full of explosive strength.
Just by standing still, he emitted a heavy, mountain-like sense of oppression.
The Iron Dragon, Sorog Ignas.
On the right was a Red Dragon even larger than the Iron Dragon.
Her limbs, neck, and long tail were all knotted with muscle, filled with a sense of power that far exceeded the sturdiness of an ordinary Red Dragon.
Her scales were bright red like solidified lava, or perhaps the most brilliant rubies, shimmering in the sunlight. When she spread her massive dragon wings, lines burning with a dark red glow were clearly visible on the membranes. Her formidable dragon horns curved backward, and her sharp fangs even protruded past her lips, interlocking when her mouth was closed to add to her ferocity.
Samantha Ignis.
Both of them emitted a stable and powerful Legendary pressure.
Like mountains and peaks, like seas and tides.
"Haha! Galos, my dear brother, I'm back! Now, I am also a Legendary Dragon!"
The Red Dragon Samantha raised her slender neck and let out a roar full of pride.
The Iron Dragon Sorog was much more composed. He took a step forward, his head slightly lowered. "The trip to the Fubo Dragon Domain was very beneficial. Those Metallic Dragons indeed have some skill. Our Legendary Realm has stabilized, and our power is fully mastered."
On the opposite rock formation, Galos had already opened his eyes.
His gaze swept over his two blood relatives. Confirming that they had both achieved the Legendary Realm, a flash of satisfaction crossed his eyes.
"Very good. Only with a Legendary body can one stand firm at the peak of the tide in the coming storm and control one's own fate."
He didn't immediately ask for specific details about the Fubo Dragon Domain.
Those could be discussed in detail later.
At this moment, there were more pressing matters.
"You should have heard something about Xio's recent movements on your way back, right?"
Galos cut straight to the point.
A cold light flashed in Sorog's eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "I've heard. Violating the Norton Treaty, pushing their luck..."
"It seems the Alliance with Lothorn has given them some unrealistic courage and fantasies. They think that by finding a backer, they can ignore the Dragon's wrath. Those fair-weather fellows on the Romanian Plain probably also think that with the pressure from Lothorn and the allied nations, we will choose to swallow our pride."
Samantha let out a low, hot breath, a flicker of flame escaping from the corner of her mouth.
"Negotiations? That's a way for the weak to seek a breather; it's something needed only for opponents one cannot crush!"
"As for deterrence... Hmph, for fools who are already harboring lucky thoughts and are full of themselves, the effect of a verbal warning is negligible!"
"They only remember Lothorn's promises and the so-called Alliance, but they've long forgotten the taste of trembling under the Dragon's shadow and wailing in the Dragon Breath! Brother, it's time to make them remember again! With the hottest flames and the most scalding blood!"
Her dragon tail excitedly slapped the ground, smashing out cracks.
Under the burning gazes of his two blood relatives, the Red Iron Dragon raised his head and cast his gaze southward once more.
"Since they chose to use treaty violations to test the bottom line and used a so-called Alliance to bolster their courage, then we will give them a response in the way they understand best."
Sorog and Samantha simultaneously spread their dragon wings slightly. Battle Intent burned fiercely in their eyes as their Legendary Dragon pressure was released.
The Iron Dragon asked in a deep voice, "What do you mean?"
The Red Iron Dragon slowly rose from his resting position, his wings fully unfurled, casting a large shadow.
"I have been silent long enough—long enough for some to have the illusion that they can provoke the Dragon's might."
"It is time... let the entire Romanian Plain, let all sapient beings, remember the name of the Red Emperor once more."
He paused, his tone shifting from calm to soaring.
"At the same time, let us personally ignite this fire that is destined to come. Let it... burn fiercely according to our will."
Late spring, year 417 of the new calendar.
Silverglow City, the Royal Court Hall.
A massive chandelier bathed every corner in light, casting the shadows of the King seated upon the throne and the ministers lined up on both sides onto the polished marble floor.
The young King, Torfinn Chapman, sat upon the high-backed throne.
He wore a simple yet exquisite white-gold crown and royal robes embroidered with the Chapman Family crest. His gaze was somber yet contained a hint of excitement.
About ten years ago, his father—the old King who had eventually died in his sickbed, exhausted by the crushing defeat in the war between the Two Xios and the humiliation of the Norton Treaty—had passed this heavy burden into his hands.
Because human kings enjoy the resources provided by the kingdom, their lifespans can usually reach around two hundred years, even if they fail to advance to the Legendary Realm.
In the position of King, Torfinn was still young, and his reign had not been long.
But from the end of his father's reign to his own formal succession, the hearts of the entire Xio Royal Family and the high-ranking nobles had been shrouded in humiliation and gloom.
The cession of two wealthy provinces, astronomical war reparations, strictly limited military development, trade privileges granted to Aura...
Each of these was like a red-hot iron, searing the body of the Kingdom of Xio and leaving deep scars.
And now, a turning point had finally appeared.
"...Your Majesty, the New Federation Covenant signed with the Kingdom of Lothorn formally completed all exchange of documents and magic seals last month and has been declared effective."
A Foreign Minister dressed in elaborate clothing was reporting, his tone excited.
"The vanguard of the Kingdom of Lothorn's knight order has already arrived in our southern cities and received a warm welcome from the people."
"The subsequent agreed-upon material aid, sharing of alchemy technology, and necessary military advisors will also arrive over the next three months according to the agreement."
As the minister's words fell, a wave of discussion broke out in the hall, and many nobles' faces showed expressions of excitement.
"Your Majesty," another relatively young noble stepped forward, his tone emotional.
"This means that our Kingdom of Xio is no longer isolated and helpless! Lothorn, the former and current hegemon of the Romanian Plain, will become our solid and reliable backer!"
"The haze of the past will surely be dispersed by the new sunlight!"
On the throne, King Torfinn lightly tapped the armrest, his gaze slowly sweeping over the faces below.
Finally, his gaze stopped on an elder who was frowning and remaining silent.
Duke Lawrence, a veteran of two reigns, had personally experienced the entire process of the war between the Two Xios and had struggled to maneuver during the difficult negotiations after the defeat. He was one of the few high-ranking officials in the kingdom who truly understood the cruelty of that war and the kingdom's hardships.
Before the late King passed away, he had held Torfinn's hand and exhorted him.
If national affairs were undecided, ask Duke Lawrence first.
"Duke," Torfinn spoke and asked, "you seem... to have some doubts?"
Duke Lawrence slowly stepped forward.
His figure was already somewhat stooped, and his ducal formal wear hung a bit loosely on him, but his eyes were still sharp.
He first bowed toward the throne and then straightened up.
"Your Majesty, I do not oppose the kingdom seeking a path of self-strengthening and revival, and I am also happy to see a powerful kingdom lend a helping hand."
"Lothorn's aid, if used well, can indeed increase our country's strength."
His tone shifted, becoming grave: "However... Your Majesty, the matter of breaking the treaty is no small thing."
"The Norton Treaty is a covenant established under the witness of the gods. The price of violation, as you well know, is not to be underestimated, even with Lothorn's tacit consent and support."
"Moreover, the one we truly have to face is not some human monarch who follows rules, but Garos Ignas, the 'Red Emperor'."
At the mention of the Red Emperor, the hall fell into a slight silence.
The elderly Duke continued: "Will forming an Alliance with Lothorn be enough to influence or even restrain that Emperor's decisions? I am deeply skeptical of this."
"That is a Dragon. The price of enraging him is something our Kingdom of Xio has paid before. That price was tragic, bloody, and left our land broken."
"I hope Your Majesty will think twice. Our actions could be... more subtle."
"Leave some room for mediation and maneuvering to avoid pushing the situation to a point where it is completely beyond recovery."
Upon hearing this, some of the younger, more radical nobles secretly curled their lips in disdain, while a few old ministers who had also lived through that era had complex expressions, looking as if they wanted to speak but hesitated.
King Torfinn's eyelid twitched.
It was exactly this kind of rhetoric!
This tone and look that constantly reminded him of how pathetic and humiliated he and his kingdom were, groveling under the shadow of an Evil Dragon!
He had had enough!
As a King, he should enjoy sunshine and beauty, not feel the constraints of invisible shackles every day, nor feel the secret criticism of his people regarding the royal family's weakness, nor feel such immense humiliation!
Now, he had the support of the recognized strongest power on the Romanian Plain and the emerging New Federation as an ally System.
Why should he still bow and scrape, swallowing his pride before that damned Dragon?
The King took a slight breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"I am well aware of Duke Lawrence's caution and loyalty to the kingdom, and I am deeply grateful for it."
"However, Duke, times have changed!"
His gaze became sharp as he said, "Must my Kingdom of Xio live in the shadows of the past forever, always depending on that Evil Dragon's whims, allowing it to take whatever it wants? No! Never!"
"The current Lothorn has been reborn from the ashes; its national strength is at its peak, its military prestige is illustrious, and it is the undisputed strongest power on the Romanian Plain! The structure of the 'New Federation Covenant' is stable, enough to balance the threat from Aura."
"Breaking the treaty will certainly come with a price, but compared to reshaping our national character, these costs are worth bearing!"
"Look at Aura's reaction!"
Torfinn said, "Besides issuing an empty notice of condemnation, have they taken any substantive action? No! This exactly demonstrates their hesitation, or rather, their dread of Lothorn and our new Alliance!"
"What we need to do is proceed step by step, and under the protection of the covenant, engage in a long negotiation with Aura."
"With Lothorn's mediation and the support of our allies, the situation will gradually develop in the direction we desire."
"How can a barbaric nation primarily composed of monsters defeat us at the negotiating table?"
His words ignited a fire in many people's hearts.
Indeed, why should they be afraid forever?
They had allies, they had backing; it was time to take back their own dignity and interests!
Duke Lawrence looked at the King's young face, slowly lowered his head, and retreated back into the Ranks.
He knew that some words were useless to say now.
As the older generation who had truly weathered the storms gradually passed away, the current King and most of the young nobles had already forgotten exactly why the Aura Kingdom was so terrifying. They were blinded by the grand promises painted by Lothorn and their own desire to escape the status quo.
The atmosphere in the hall became lively once again.
They began to discuss how to utilize the covenant and how to strive for the greatest interests in the upcoming negotiations, as if the dawn of victory was already within reach.
However, just as the echoes of King Torfinn's confident remarks had yet to fade and the optimistic atmosphere permeating the hall had not yet settled.
Bang!
A guard officer dressed in imperial guard armor, his face deathly pale, practically crawled and scrambled his way inside.
His helmet was crooked, his breathing heavy, and before he could even reach the designated saluting position in front of the throne, he stumbled and knelt on one knee midway, his voice panicked and urgent.
"Yo— Your Majesty! Urgent military intelligence!"
"The n— northern border! Over Essen Province... Dragons have appeared! Three Legendary Dragons!!"
In an instant, the expressions on the ministers' faces froze.
That confidence, reserve, and deep thought were all transformed into shock and bewilderment at this moment, quickly replaced by suspicion and fear creeping into their eyes.
Essen Province... that was one of the two major provinces ceded to Aura in the Norton Treaty, located on Aura's southwestern border, bordering Xio.
It wasn't strange for Dragons to appear there, but for three Legendary Dragons to appear simultaneously in the sky above the border...
This was extraordinary.
At the same time.
The southwestern border of the Aura Kingdom, Essen Province.
This place was once one of Xio's granaries, but it had now been completely incorporated into Aura's territory for decades.
The sky had originally been clear, with a few wisps of white clouds floating leisurely.
But at this moment, the weather suddenly changed.
Heavy, lead-gray clouds gathered, pressing low against the horizon and blotting out the sun.
Beneath the cloud layer, the silhouettes of three massive beings were clearly visible.
They circled slowly high in the air, each flap of their giant membranous wings whipping up the low rumble of wind and thunder, causing the clouds below to churn and tumble.
Three Legendary Dragons.
An Iron Dragon, a Red Dragon, and a White Dragon.
They did not roar; they simply existed, circling there, casting their gazes beyond the border.
At the same time, in the Xio Province closest to this location.
Several Legends received the news and arrived quickly.
They stood ready for battle, their faces so solemn they were somewhat pale.
Setting aside that most terrifying Red Emperor, there were three Legendary Dragons here—unbeknownst to them, the behemoth that was Aura had become even more fearsome.
Time gradually passed under the dark clouds.
However, the Dragons merely circled in the sky, showing no intention of gathering a grand army to start a war against Xio.
Silverglow City, the Royal Court.
After his initial shock, Torfinn gradually regained his composure.
"Look! Everyone, I was right!"
"They indeed do not dare to directly press in with a grand army and launch a full-scale war! They only dare to send a few Dragons to circle over the border line, flaunting their power, attempting to intimidate us in such a crude manner and make us lose our footing."
His words had some effect, and the uncertain expressions of some ministers eased slightly.
"This is precisely a manifestation of their guilty conscience and hesitation!"
"If we overreact because of this, mobilizing heavy troops to the border or showing panic, that would be exactly falling into their trap of provocation, making us look weak."
"Contact the messengers of Lothorn; we need them to immediately put pressure on Aura."
Last time, Xio stood on the wrong side, following Rippos and ultimately ending up in a dismal state.
This time, Xio firmly chose Lothorn's side.
Regarding this decision, King Torfinn felt it was deeply correct.
See, because Lothorn was so powerful, even if the Aura Kingdom harbored resentment, they could only engage in some meaningless deterrence and never dared to actually dispatch troops.
However, not even fifteen minutes after he finished speaking.
A sudden change occurred.
The Spell patterns engraved on the court's dome and walls fluctuated violently without warning, and countless streaks of light flowed and appeared, reflecting the scene of the sky directly above the Royal Court.
The image was blurred at first, then suddenly became clear, locking onto a patch of azure sky.
A meteor was falling straight down from the immensely high firmament.
It was just a small dot at the beginning, but it rapidly enlarged, trailing a tail of light that grew brighter and thicker, like a burning spear thrown by a Heavenly God.
Moreover, its target was unmistakably clear.
It was pointed directly at the Royal Court!
"What... what is that?!"
A minister cried out in shock.
After a brief, deathly silence, the court Caster's face instantly turned deathly pale.
"Enemy attack! It's a Dragon! It's the Red Emperor!!!"
"Activate the Silverglow Grand Array! Quick! Raise the Iron Wall Array protecting the court immediately!!"
More than one person noticed the meteor.
The Xio people's reaction was not slow.
The entire Silverglow City trembled along with it, as magic runes embedded in the streets, buildings, and ground lit up one by one, and majestic energy surged forth, rapidly converging and interlacing in the sky above the city.
A giant magical barrier flowing with a silver luster appeared, like an inverted giant bowl, shrouding the entire Silverglow City within it.
Almost simultaneously, the Royal Court building complex itself burst forth with intense light, and a second layer of a more solid large-scale shield, densely covered with shield emblems, rose from the ground, tightly enveloping the main body of the palace.
Torfinn had already jumped up from his throne, staring fixedly at the dome projection.
His face was ash-white, and he finally saw it clearly—that meteor was actually an incomparably majestic and ferocious creature!
Dark red, almost black scales glowed brilliantly in the flames of high-speed friction, and towering dragon horns pierced through the flare. Those deep black vertical pupils, which seemed to hold swirling stars even through the magical image, were coldly locked onto this place, locked onto him!
"No... impossible... how could he dare..."
The King murmured to himself.
Before his voice could even fade, it was completely drowned out by the thunderous boom that followed in the next instant.
BOOM!!!
The projection shook violently, and for a moment, the screen was filled with blinding white light and rolling dust.
Everyone felt a jolt beneath their feet, as if the entire palace were about to leap off the ground.
The Silverglow Grand Array, that long-inherited royal capital array claimed to be able to withstand a full-strength attack from a Crown-Rank Legend, let out an overburdened wail under the impact of the crimson meteor.
Countless runes flickered wildly, brightening and dimming, then exploded one after another.
Silver-white light fragments showered down like a rainstorm, and buildings engraved with runes crumbled one by one, mixed with bricks and rubble sent flying by the shockwave, crashing onto the capital's streets and causing a wave of panicked screams and secondary destruction.
And that ominous star wrapped in red flames saw almost no reduction in its speed.
Carrying the momentum of shattering the first layer of defense, it slammed hard into the second layer of the palace's shield.
The light was dazzling to the extreme at this moment, as shield phantoms appeared layer by layer, attempting to block it.
But all of this was ultimately in vain.
After a stalemate of only a few breaths, the countless shield phantoms were like fragile eggshells, denting and cracking inward from the point of impact before finally completely disintegrating into flying fragments.
BOOM!!!
This impact sound was even more muffled.
The palace dome was arrogantly smashed open, creating a huge hole. Broken beams and pillars, shattered murals, and bursting magic crystals, along with scorching airwaves and dust, poured down from directly above the hall.
Dust billowed, and gravel fell like rain.
When the permeating dust was slightly blown away by the violent airflow, the ministers in the hall, along with Torfinn, who was barely protected behind his guards, finally saw the disaster that had descended before them.
A huge crater replaced the original magnificent dome and part of the floor. Rubble and molten metal were mixed together, still sizzling and emitting blue smoke.
And in the center of the crater, a towering and profound Red Iron Dragon was slowly folding his wings that blotted out the sky.
He was more majestic and solemn than in any portrait or legend, and also more despair-inducing.
His thick limbs stepped firmly on the broken floor, and his long tail coiled casually, sweeping nearby corridor pillars and the throne's base into fragments.
He lowered his head slightly, his vertical pupils looking down at the humans around him who were as tiny as ants.
Time seemed to freeze here.
Panicked screams were stuck in throats, and the instinct to flee was held down firmly by the vast Dragon Might.
Torfinn stared blankly up at the Red Iron Dragon, his mind a total blank and his crown crooked.
The Red Emperor's gaze landed on that human wearing the crown, and he then simply raised a dragon claw.
"Protect the King!"
Two figures flashed out almost simultaneously. One was surrounded by green wind blades so dense they were almost solid, while the other held his hands as if grasping something, condensing a giant warhammer composed purely of Holy Light.
They were the hidden trump cards of the Xio royal family who had been concealed in the shadows for years—two Legendary powerhouses guarding the Royal Court.
Wind blades tore through the air, and the holy hammer carried the power of purifying evil as they attacked the Red Iron Dragon's neck and flank from left and right, attempting to force him to defend and save the King.
The Red Iron Dragon only slightly turned his head, casting a cold glance at those two Legendary humans.
BOOM! BOOM!
Black-red flames exploded out of thin air, violently blasting the charging figures away.
And in that brief instant, Galos's dragon claw had already reached out.
With a simple grab, the magical ornaments worn by the King burst with light one after another and then shattered one after another. One of the spatial items just began to glow, but it could not budge the space that was completely solidified under the dragon claw.
The Red Iron Dragon pinched the King of Xio between his claws, like picking up an insignificant insect.
This entire process—
—from descending from the sky under the gaze of all Xio people, to consecutively breaking through two layers of defense, then intimidating and repelling the enemies and capturing the King, took only a dozen or so breaths of time.
It was so fast that people had no time to make an effective reaction, as fast as an absurd and terrifying nightmare.
A King, in his own capital, in the deepest part of his own Royal Court, had become an object in a Dragon's claw.
Two Legends attempted a rescue, only to retreat in defeat under a single glance from the Dragon.
Then, the Red Emperor looked up, his gaze sweeping across the devastated hall and those Xio ministers who were slumped on the ground, their faces devoid of color.
"Heh."
The Dragon gave a low laugh and, without leaving any further words, his wings suddenly vibrated.
A hurricane swept through the hall as the crimson figure soared into the sky, passing through the huge hole he had smashed open himself, with the King of Xio still held firmly in his claw. In the blink of an eye, he turned into a meteor on the horizon and disappeared into the far reaches of the northern sky.
April 15th, Year 417 of the new calendar.
On this day, the Red Emperor, who had been silent for years, descended like a natural disaster. With the power of a single Dragon, he invaded the Xio capital and, in less than a minute total, captured its King alive, completing a surprise attack that took everyone by surprise and shocked all nations.
On this day, Xio's backbone was completely snapped.
On this day, the fragile peace between nations was completely torn apart.