Chapter 624: Sea of Stars, the Emperor’s Hound
Beneath the deep sea, it was dark and sunless.
Claudia swam through the seawater, his massive body parting the icy currents. The edges of his scales shimmered with a dull silvery gleam, surrounded by an expanse of darkness. Occasionally, a few points of bioluminescent light flickered faintly, flashing past him before being left behind.
He had been drifting in these waters for a long time.
Without direction or purpose, he simply swam aimlessly.
He didn't know where he was going.
Nor did he know what he wanted to do.
This state had persisted for a while now, ever since he broke free from the Red Emperor's imprisonment.
Before long, Claudia discovered a sea monster.
The creature lurked at the edge of a trench, its tentacles as thick as ancient trees, each covered in knobby carapace. It sensed Claudia's approach and immediately opened its massive maw, revealing layered rings of razor-sharp teeth that writhed continuously.
Any other predator would have been deterred by such a sight.
But Claudia was no ordinary predator.
The battle ended quickly.
The sea monster's tentacles coiled around his body, its teeth scraping white marks across the chrome dragon's scales. But before the tentacles could tighten, they were crushed or torn apart by Claudia.
The hunt concluded in a very short time.
Claudia bit through the sea monster's head, swallowing the brain and soft cartilage into his stomach.
Then came each tentacle, and the tender flesh beneath the carapace.
The sea monster's blood was deep blue, nearly invisible in the darkness. Its pungent, fishy stench filled the entire trench, spreading outward with the ocean currents.
Claudia ate meticulously, leaving almost nothing behind.
After devouring it entirely, the hunger slowly receded, and a sense of fullness gradually rose within him.
Ever since breaking free from the Red Emperor's imprisonment, Claudia had noticed that the hunger that had tormented him for so long was much easier to alleviate.
After each meal, the feeling of satiety lingered a little longer.
Unlike before, when hunger would return shortly after eating.
But it was merely fullness.
The satisfaction he craved never came.
Instead, something heavier surfaced from the depths of his heart.
Emptiness.
This feeling was strange.
Unlike the sharp, urgent, burning sensation of hunger, it was more like an endless void, like an empty shell whose insides had been scooped out, leaving only a hard exterior with nothing inside.
Though hunger had tormented him,
As long as he kept eating, when he swallowed the food, he could always feel a momentary sense of satisfaction.
Brief, but at least it existed.
Now, however, this emptiness clung to him like a shadow, impossible to shake.
Claudia flicked his tail in irritation, stirring up an undercurrent that churned the surrounding seawater.
He couldn't understand this feeling.
Before, hunger was his everything. He lived to eat, found satisfaction in eating, continued to drift when satisfied, and ate again when hungry.
But now, things were different.
Even after eating his fill, he still wasn't satisfied.
In fact, it was even more unbearable than before.
"What's going on..."
Claudia muttered under his breath.
He shook his head, shifting his focus to hunting.
He looked around, activated his senses, and searched for the next prey.
The deep sea was not lacking in massive but dull-witted creatures. A few deep-sea sharks, attracted by the scent of blood, were circling in the distance, swimming back and forth, waiting for a share of the leftovers.
In the past, Claudia would have charged at them without hesitation, tearing them apart and swallowing them whole.
But now, he merely watched them, his mind completely still.
"Damn it."
He let out a low growl underwater, bubbles rising from between his teeth, drifting upward.
The chrome dragon turned and continued his aimless drifting.
After an unknown amount of time,
The hunger began to resurface, and the emptiness followed him relentlessly, like a shadow he couldn't shake. He tried to swim faster, to dive into deeper trenches, to seek out more powerful prey, but the feeling persisted.
"What is it?"
He stopped, suspended in the dark seawater.
The water pressure around him was insignificant, but the emptiness rising from the depths of his heart pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe.
"I've had enough. I want to kill, to find satisfaction in blood and death!"
A wild madness gleamed in Claudia's eyes.
He was sick of this inexplicable feeling.
In an instant, his dark silver body shot upward like an arrow released from a bowstring. The water around him screeched as he ascended. The pressure decreased as he rose higher, and the light transitioned from pitch-black darkness to a hazy deep blue, then to clear seawater.
Splash!
He burst through the surface, sending up a towering spray of water. His wings spread wide, the wet wing membranes drying rapidly in the wind. Droplets of water rolled off his dark silver scales, pattering back onto the sea surface.
He shot straight into the sky, his massive body tearing through the clouds.
The chrome dragon needed something else to do.
Killing, destruction, a more intense stimulus to drown out the maddening emptiness.
High in the sky, moonlight blanketed the clouds.
Claudia's gaze swept across the sea surface, his vertical pupils bloodshot, searching for anything that could serve as a target.
Suddenly, he caught something.
An elven fleet.
The ships had long, slender hulls and towering masts. Their sails, emblazoned with a silver laurel crest, were full of wind in the night breeze. A dozen or so ships of various sizes sailed in a neat formation, cutting through the waves, their prows parting the water and sending up white spray. Elves moved about on the deck, their silver light armor gleaming under the moonlight.
Claudia's pupils contracted slightly.
The corners of his mouth curled up involuntarily, revealing his fangs.
Good.
Since hunting couldn't fill the void, he'd try destruction.
He needed to hear screams, see blood, feel the trembling fear of those lives. Perhaps that intense stimulation could drown out the emptiness in his heart.
The chrome dragon folded his wings, using the cover of the clouds to approach.
Nausil had immortals. Attacking their fleet required speed, leaving no chance for reinforcements to arrive, or it could invite complete annihilation.
He knew this well.
Having survived Nausil's bounties and pursuits for years, even living to reach Mandate-tier, Claudia wasn't relying on luck.
Just then, the sea breeze carried some voices.
"...Have you heard? About the Red Emperor."
Claudia's movements paused. His vertical pupils contracted, catching fragments of conversation drifting from the fleet. The rhythm of his wingbeats slowed.
The elves had no idea a dragon was looming above them.
They stood on the deck, chatting in small groups, their tones relaxed, discussing the latest news.
"Of course, the whole of Atlan is buzzing with it. The news has reached us too."
Another voice chimed in. "That Scarlet Emperor Cangxing personally took down the Dragon Queen's Apostle. He's now the undisputed Master of Atlantis. Hah, who would've thought a ruler like him could rise from beneath the Halden Empire's Sky City?"
"Indeed."
Another elf interjected with a sigh. "When the Red Emperor first established his kingdom, who could have imagined he'd come this far? Back then, so many people thought he was just a flash in the pan, that he'd be swallowed up sooner or later."
When Garoth first founded his kingdom,
Since no dragon had founded a kingdom in a long time, the news had reached the Arotala Continent. It hadn't garnered much attention then. But now, his entire rise had been thoroughly investigated, and every empire took him very seriously.
At this point, an elf asked, "I heard that battle was incredibly fierce?"
"No, the version I heard is that after the Scarlet Emperor Cangxing dealt with the Storm Dragon, he actually fought the Dragon Queen herself when she descended to the Material Plane. Not only did he win, but he made the Dragon Queen kneel and beg for mercy."
"Kneel and beg for mercy? That's a bit much, isn't it? She's a deity after all."
"Exaggerated? My cousin, a wood elf, heard it with his own ears in Atlan. It's absolutely true."
"The evil dragon god came too? Really?"
"Of course it's true. Would I lie to you? That's why everyone's calling him the Blasphemer now. Tell me, what's the story with the Scarlet Emperor Cangxing? He's not even an Immortal, so how does he dare to challenge a deity?"
"Who knows? But he has a good relationship with us Nausil."
"His strength is good for us, at least for now."
One elf said with a hint of schadenfreude, "You're right. And even if this Red Emperor becomes a problem later, it'll be Halden's headache first."
"..."
The conversation continued.
Claudia, however, stopped his approach, listening quietly.
His body hovered in the clouds, his wings beating slowly to maintain altitude. His scales gleamed coldly under the moonlight. The murderous frenzy that had gripped him earlier gradually subsided as he listened to these conversations.
Blasphemer?
Made the Dragon Queen kneel and beg for mercy?
"As expected of the Scarlet Emperor Cangxing, the one who captured and imprisoned me."
Claudia unconsciously puffed out his chest, his tail lifting involuntarily.
The emptiness vanished in that moment.
Replaced by an almost instinctive pride, as if he himself were the one being praised.
Then, when Claudia came to his senses and realized what he was thinking, his entire body froze. His vertical pupils dilated, contracting violently.
What was he doing?
Feeling proud of someone else's achievement?
That wasn't even his own skill. It was the skill of the dragon who had imprisoned him.
The Scarlet Emperor Cangxing was his formidable enemy, his jailer, his... what exactly? He couldn't explain it. But how could he feel pride because of his enemy's accomplishments?
This was wrong.
Completely wrong!
Claudia's mind was a mess.
He hovered silently in midair, the sea breeze passing beneath his wings.
The elven fleet sailed slowly beneath him. The conversation on deck had shifted to other topics, but he didn't hear a single word.
The elves on deck continued chatting.
In the sky, the chrome dragon took a deep breath. He had finally realized why he felt empty.
Hunger and madness had never been his true desire.
Before, it was okay. Since he had never experienced recognition or satisfaction, he could let himself sink, numbing himself through the daily grind of hunting and eating.
It was like those who had never seen the light could better endure the darkness.
But now...
Having already felt that shining light, he could no longer bear his current state.
That feeling of being recognized, of being respected, even... of being commanded and dominated?
The chrome dragon didn't know how to describe it.
Then, he lowered his gaze to the elven fleet, watching the silver sails fill with wind, the elves' figures moving back and forth on the deck.
The chrome dragon suddenly lost all interest in the targets he had planned to tear apart.
Those screams and bloodshed probably wouldn't fill the void either.
Then, the chrome dragon folded his wings, silently diving back towards the sea surface, then plunging into the deep sea, swimming in the direction of Atlan.
...
Small World.
The red iron dragon hovered in the low sky, one claw raised high. Between his talons was an inverted massive mountain peak. Its thick shadow blotted out a large portion of the royal grounds. Fragments of rock kept falling, hitting the ground with dull thuds.
His muscles were taut and bulging, veins visible beneath the patterned scales.
The dragon repeatedly, slowly lifted the mountain and then slowly lowered it, the mountain's shadow shifting with the movement.
The power of the Spell-Extinguishing Claws wrapped around it, preventing it from shattering, keeping the massive whole intact.
While training,
The red iron dragon's eyes showed a thoughtful expression. As he lifted the mountain, he pondered.
"Deborah described my current mutated form as something like an ancient dragon overlord."
"Arrogant, powerful, looking down on everything..."
"Even though I think I'm quite normal and not arrogant, Deborah's description is somewhat close."
It had been a while since he mutated into this state that could achieve the Double Radiant State.
But Garoth still hadn't named it.
Recalling Deborah's earlier description, he thought for a moment, then gradually formed a suitable idea.
"Super Flash Overlord State."
He spoke the name.
"It can also be called the Super Flash State or the Overlord State."
Just as Garoth himself had many titles, he was willing to give this powerful form multiple names.
After all, it wasn't on the same level as the Rift Form or the Detonation Form. While the Rift Form and the Ember-Annihilating Form were also strong, they clearly fell short compared to this form.
The power of this form was something even he found somewhat exaggerated.
Especially the mechanism for the Double Radiant State, which was almost a qualitative change.
Garoth lifted the mountain and put it down again, feeling the stretch and contraction of his muscles.
Some time later,
He gripped the peak with both claws simultaneously, lifting it upside down like he was doing a deadlift on a giant barbell. All the muscles in his back tensed, forming ridges.
And so,
After training his back muscles in this manner for a while, Garoth gradually released his grip and let the mountain fall back to the ground.
Boom.
The massive mountain returned to its place, kicking up a cloud of dust.
But the red iron dragon didn't show his usual satisfied expression after training. Instead, after shaking his arm claws, he slightly furrowed the scales between his brows.
His training results were less than ideal.
For one thing, the physical attributes of the Super Flash Overlord State were too high.
Making further progress at the top was far more difficult than rising from a low level.
For another, as Garoth's own life level continued to increase, approaching the limit of the Material Plane, he gradually found it hard to find suitable training methods.
At the very beginning,
A rock, a large tree, and Garoth could happily train all day long.
Lifting heavy objects, running, crashing into mountains and the ground.
Everything allowed him to feel the joy of growth.
Now...
If he hadn't restrained himself slightly, the entire giant mountain would have shattered in no time. He had only lifted it for a while, and cracks had already appeared on the mountain's surface. If not for the power of the Spell-Extinguishing Claws holding it together, it would have collapsed.
If he charged into the earth without any restraint, he could pierce right through this small world.
And that's not to mention this small world.
Looking across the entire planet Bernardo, there weren't many places suitable for Garoth to train. Any slight movement of his would cause heaven and earth to shatter; the topography couldn't withstand his power.
The Serene Spirit Wilderness?
Causing too much destruction in a nature-aligned plane like that would likely earn him a divine fist to the face.
"Most Immortal-level dragons don't stay in the Material Plane."
"Besides the fact that they are suppressed and weakened here, it's probably also because the Material Plane is too fragile."
Garoth thought to himself.
It was okay for Immortal-tier humans and similar races; their strength didn't primarily rely on their bodies, so they could better restrain their power.
An Immortal-tier dragon staying in the Material Plane was like a giant living in a narrow bottle, having to be careful with every move and curl up.
If they weren't careful,
A simple turn in their sleep might cause their own lair to collapse.
"It's fine for now. I can manage some training, even if it's inefficient. But once I reach Mandate-tier, this will become a troublesome problem."
Garoth's thoughts raced like lightning. He suddenly lifted his head and looked towards the sky.
The sky of the Small World was dark, with no stars visible, like an endless curtain.
But that wasn't what he was thinking about.
Planets capable of bearing life were incredibly rare, one in a billion, and they were often fragile.
But in a cosmic-type Material Plane, there weren't just life-bearing planets. There were also cosmic wonders or special celestial bodies that could be dangerous even to Legendary or Immortal beings—the forbidden zones of life.
For example,
The Dragon Legacy mentioned,
One of the ways the deities sealed the Primordial Wastes was to grievously wound them and then throw them into a black hole in the Material Plane.
And it wasn't just the Primordial Wastes.
Relying on the inherent rules of the Material Plane and cosmic celestial bodies, there were quite a few difficult-to-kill divine aberrations, fiends, and the like that were sealed in similar ways, simple and efficient.
"Once I reach Mandate-tier, I can go to the cosmic starry sky to train."
"The sun, neutron stars, electromagnetic nebulae... they will be excellent training grounds for me. I'll eventually explore and experience that sea of stars."
Garoth made his decision, then withdrew his gaze.
The universe itself was dangerous.
Across the entire planet Bernardo, only the Nausil Empire had chosen to explore the cosmos, and they ended up attracting the Cataclysm Storm.
However, once Garoth became Mandate-tier, although he still couldn't freely roam the starry sky, he could at least avoid the vast majority of risks, without having to tread on eggshells.
Then,
Garoth took out the spatial crystal, staring at the meteorite sealed within.
"There's still one meteorite left. Should I use it?"
Garoth thought for a moment, then dismissed the idea, putting the meteorite away.
The training results for the Super Flash Overlord State were unsatisfactory.
If he underwent a new mutation, it might bring a more flexible structure or a form easier to refine. But that was just one possibility. The mutation could also fail, pushing him into a terrible situation.
He had just drawn an SSR; he didn't think his luck was good enough to get consecutive top-tier mutation forms.
Moreover, powerful enemies were watching him like hawks.
The Super Flash Overlord State also had many flaws. Its combat style was monotonous; everything relied on brute force. But he had to admit, this form gave him a strong sense of security.
Especially at this stage.
Although the Storm Dragon was dead, he still didn't know how many pairs of eyes were watching him from the shadows, waiting for him to show a weakness or make a mistake.
After some thought, Garoth decided not to undergo a new mutation.
He had another plan.
Garoth planned to use a gentler method, slowly absorbing the frenzied flame within the last meteorite to resist his own adaptive correction, thus maintaining the Super Flash Overlord State for a longer period.
If he could enter Dormancy in the Super Flash Overlord State while also absorbing the Tear of the Immortal left by the Great Demon,
By the time he broke through to Mandate-tier, he might be able to adapt and retain some of this form's strengths. Even if it was just a part, it would be enough to elevate his base state to another level.
"The Slaughter Great Demon's embryonic Potency is related to form transformation. I hope it will bring me a surprise."
Thinking this, the red iron dragon gradually collected his thoughts.
There were no shortcuts on the path to power. He had understood this a long time ago.
If efficiency was low, then repeat the process.
If it was boring, then endure it with will and patience.
Garoth focused on training and strengthening, just like the young dragon he once was, single-minded, silently honing his scales, claws, and fangs day after day.
A few days later,
Garoth completed his final round of training. He ascended to the kingdom's high skies, hovering among the flowing wind and clouds, looking down upon the Atlan continent.
The distant horizon was faintly visible in the mist.
The cities, fields, rivers, and mountains of Aola spread out before his eyes like a giant tapestry, now extending beyond the horizon.
The noon sun cast a golden glow over the highlands.
On the plains stretching westward, rivers wound like ribbons, reflecting the sunlight and nourishing the towns scattered along their banks.
Those western kingdoms, once under the Storm Dragon's tyrannical rule, now flew Aola's red dragon banner, fluttering proudly in the wind.
Just then, the sound of wing membranes cutting through the air came from behind.
The iron dragon Sorog ascended from below.
He arrived at the red iron dragon's side, folded his wings slightly to maintain position, and adjusted his wingbeat frequency to match Garoth's, so his voice could be heard more clearly.
"The affairs in the west are basically wrapped up."
Sorog looked towards the west.
"After the war, our legions moved in quickly and are taking over the entire western region. It's been much smoother than I expected."
"The western kingdoms signed the governance treaties one after another, all rushing to acknowledge Aola as their suzerain. Some even sent envoys with state documents to intercept our legion commanders on the road, afraid of being too slow."
Garoth tilted his head. "Rushing?"
"Exactly."
The corners of the iron dragon's mouth lifted in a smile. "As soon as the Storm Dragon died, the western kingdoms immediately submitted their pledges of allegiance to us, each one faster than the last, afraid of falling behind."
"Obviously, they know who the true master of Atlan is."
"When the Storm Dragon was alive, they feared him and didn't dare to resist. Now that he's dead, they fear us, or rather, they fear you."
Garoth nodded slightly, then asked, "What about the Helmod Dragonflight? How is their resettlement going?"
Sorog's expression turned more serious.
"Those below Legendary have been dispersed and resettled in Aola's various strongholds."
"The Northern Borders, Southern Domain, and the eastern and western regions each received a batch. The numbers were carefully controlled to prevent them from forming clusters anywhere. So far, integration is going smoothly."
"Some dragons have even been quite proactive, probably trying to prove their loyalty through action."
"A few had some complaints, unhappy with the dispersed resettlement, but they didn't cause any trouble."
He thought carefully, making sure he hadn't missed anything.
Garoth asked, "And those above Legendary?"
Sorog thought for a moment. "Legendary dragons can't be casually settled. At that level, their thoughts and beliefs are already fixed. It's hard to change them through education. For now, we can only put them under close observation."
He paused, then continued.
"However, after the Lord of Thunder's death, his two remaining blood kin hold the highest status within the Helmod Dragonflight."
"Their attitude will directly influence the other Legendary dragons."
"Alvia has been cooperative, even helping to pacify the other Legendary ones. Tiragon, while not as proactive as her, hasn't shown any hostility either."
"In short, there shouldn't be major problems overall, as long as you're here."
That last sentence was the key.
Garoth didn't bother with modesty. "As long as I'm here, their loyalty doesn't need to be worried about."
"Of course."
Sorog looked down at the earth. "After Brakton's destruction, Aola is already the most powerful kingdom on the surface of Atlan. In terms of army size, number of Legendary beings, and actual territory controlled, no other major kingdom can compare."
He paused, then raised his gaze higher.
"But this is limited to the surface."
"The sky still belongs to Halden."
Garoth also looked up towards the clouds. "The sky will be ours too, sooner or later."
The iron dragon nodded firmly. But then, as if remembering something, his jaw tightened.
He gazed at Garoth. "Actually, I'm a bit worried about the future. And it's not just because of Halden."
Garoth asked, "What is it, then?"
"Because of you."
The iron dragon said solemnly, "Garoth, my dear brother, your light is too brilliant right now."
He took a deep breath, speaking seriously. "Who would allow two suns in the sky? The radiance you emit will light the path for your followers, but it will inevitably attract countless malicious gazes."
Garoth let out a low, deep laugh.
He raised his head slightly, his voice calm and steady. "That's inevitable. But just as the blazing sun doesn't dim its light because of the insects staring at it, I won't hide my edge because of the vermin lurking in the shadows."
Sorog knew that Garoth was being stubborn.
So, he didn't argue, only saying, "When you are awake, you are naturally fearless, able to crush any enemy that dares to appear before you."
"But you will eventually have to enter Dormancy."
"Then, all those who fear you, hate you, or are jealous of your existence will swarm out from every corner like sharks smelling blood."
"They won't miss this opportunity."
The next Dormancy might be very dangerous.
This was what truly worried Sorog. With Garoth present, Aola was as secure as a fortress. But the moment he closed his eyes, the things hiding in the shadows would come out.
The red iron dragon listened quietly, his expression unchanged.
"I know. I'm already making preparations for that."
Just as Sorog was about to press for details, Garoth's gaze suddenly sharpened. It shifted from calm to piercing, like two blades drawn from their sheaths, focusing on a specific point that Sorog couldn't directly see.
The iron dragon followed his gaze, but saw nothing.
Clouds, mountains, forests, everything seemed normal.
Sorog asked, "What is it? An enemy approaching?"
The red iron dragon's lips slowly curled up, revealing a row of sharp fangs. "No. One of my insurance policies has arrived."
Through years of treatment, he had almost completely cured Claudia's bulimic psychosis.
Besides the traditional therapies recorded in the Dragon Legacy, Garoth had used another method.
For instance, fighting poison with poison.
By implanting a new mental problem to override the original one.
Sorog followed Garoth's gaze again, still seeing nothing.
But he didn't ask further. He simply folded his wings and retreated a short distance, giving Garoth some space.
At the same time,
The red iron dragon swept his wings once, diving down from the high altitude.
The air screamed past him. The mountains and rivers rapidly enlarged in his vision, the previously blurry details becoming clear.
On the other side,
A figure had just emerged from a dense thicket.
It was a jackal.
Its greyish-brown fur was covered in leaf fragments and mud. Its pointed ears stood upright, twitching occasionally to catch sounds. Its tail hung low, the tip swaying slightly. It was larger than an average jackal, with steady steps and muscles rippling beneath its fur.
It stopped, poked its head out from the shadow of a beech tree, and lifted its neck.
The Red Emperor Capital stood majestically in the sunlight. On the city walls, Aola's red dragon banner snapped loudly in the midday wind. Further in the distance, the dragon court soared into the clouds, gleaming with a dull luster in the sunlight.
From the jackal's small perspective, the city exuded a terrifying sense of pressure.
But he knew this was the power bestowed by the Red Emperor dwelling within, not the power of bricks and steel.
After arriving in Atlan, Claudia had passed through many of Aola's cities, disguised by his Transformation, before finally reaching the outskirts of the Red Emperor Capital.
Along the way, he had seen and heard a lot, finding it increasingly unbelievable.
"How can an evil dragon rule such a magnificent, vast kingdom? And earn the respect and admiration of countless intelligent beings?"
The jackal thought to himself.
He had seen many powerful evil dragons.
They ruled their territories, enslaved the weak, but none had ever achieved this level.
The territories of evil dragons were either barren, chaotic, or both. But here, it was different. The cities were orderly, everything was well-organized, and the entire kingdom was thriving.
Claudia couldn't understand how this was possible.
How could a hybrid of a five-colored dragon and an iron dragon hybrid do something that metal dragons only dreamed of but couldn't achieve?
Just then, the sky suddenly darkened, as if a giant beast's shadow had fallen upon them.
Boom!
The red iron dragon landed in front of the jackal, all four limbs hitting the ground. The displaced air created a visible ring of dust, flattening the surrounding bushes. Some small branches snapped from the blast, producing cracking sounds.
He folded his wings and lowered his head, looking down at the jackal before him.
The jackal looked up.
The red iron dragon stood before him. His half-upright form blocked out the midday sun, casting a thick, ink-like shadow over the jackal. His red scales appeared almost black in the backlight, adorned with intricate patterns.
His appearance had changed significantly.
Compared to their last meeting, Garoth's size, scale color, and even subtle features had undergone remarkable changes. Even the texture of his aura was different.
But Claudia was already very familiar with the Red Emperor.
The moment their eyes met, he could be certain that this was the person he had come to see.
There was no mistake.
That contradictory feeling of wanting to both flee and approach could only be given to him by the Scarlet Emperor Cangxing.
"Claudia, I have forgiven you."
"You appear in my territory. For what purpose?"
The red iron dragon looked down at him and asked.
"I should be asking you that. What have you done to me?"
Claudia's voice squeezed out from his throat, a strange mix between a bark and a dragon's roar. The Transformation spell affected his voice, making it sound odd.
"I returned to the sea, the sky, with no seals or cages holding me."
"But I feel no joy, only emptiness—an emptiness more tormenting than hunger!"
The jackal leaned forward, baring its teeth, a low growl rumbling in its throat.
"Did you use some mental technique on me? A curse? A subconscious imprint?"
"Otherwise, why would I feel pride when I hear your name? Why, after gaining my freedom, am I irresistibly drawn back into the trap?!"
As he growled, light began to emanate from the jackal's body.
Claudia wanted to revert to his true form, to face the red iron dragon as an equal, a Mandate great dragon.
"Stop."
Garoth raised one foreclaw, and said.
His tone wasn't heavy, but it carried an undeniable authority.
Claudia's movements froze.
His body instinctively obeyed the command. The light faded, and his swelling form shrank back down. He couldn't even think about why he should stop; his body had already reacted first.
Just like in the Small World.
Whenever Garoth raised his claws, he would instinctively retract his neck and pull back his bared fangs.
"This is fine like this."
Garoth withdrew his claw. "Claudia, I've already given you your freedom. You can go anywhere you want, do anything you want. But if you don't know how to cherish this freedom, I won't hesitate to send you to your death."
"The choice has always been yours. It always has been."
The jackal's breathing grew rapid, his chest heaving violently.
His paws dug into the ground, leaving marks, as if he was struggling.
Finally, as if he had understood something, he lifted his head. There was no madness in his eyes; he was as clear-headed as a normal dragon.
"You did give me freedom. I won't deny that."
"But it's not enough!"
Garoth tilted his head slightly. "Not enough?"
"Yes, not enough." The jackal repeated. "Just giving me freedom is not enough."
The empty forest fell into a brief silence. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the canopy, casting mottled patterns of light and shadow on the ground between them, swaying gently in the breeze.
The red iron dragon lowered his eyes. "Tell me, what else do you want?"
The jackal was silent.
After half a minute, he finally spoke, his voice very clear. "Recognition. Praise. Fulfillment and satisfaction for my mind and body."
As he said these words, Claudia felt a sense of release.
He knew how weak these words sounded, like a complete confession of weakness. But he didn't care anymore.
Across from him, Garoth's eyes flickered slightly.
"I can grant you these. The recognition, praise, fulfillment, and satisfaction you desire—I can give them all to you. But Claudia, you should know very well that everything has a price."
He paused. "What can you offer?"
The jackal's body tensed.
He had already prepared himself.
But when the moment came to speak, it was still difficult. His throat tightened, his tongue felt tied.
So, he slowly closed his eyes.
After taking a few deep breaths, when he opened them again, all hesitation was gone. He had finally made up his mind.
The jackal lowered his head. His greyish-brown head drooped bit by bit, his pointed ears pressed against his skull. His tail lay flat on the ground. His limbs bent slightly. He lowered his entire body, pressing it close to the mud, his nose nearly touching the fallen leaves and gravel on the ground.
"I have no wealth, no territory. I have always wandered this world alone."
"So, all I can offer is myself—the loyalty and strength of a Mandate great dragon."
The voice came from beneath his lowered head. "I, Claudia, am willing to pledge my allegiance to you, the Red Emperor of Aola, Garoth Ignas. I will be your hound, your claws and fangs, tearing apart all obstacles and devouring all enemies in your stead."
"I will ask no reason, no right or wrong. I will only ask for your will."
"This is all I have. This is the only price I can pay."
After his voice fell, the forest was quiet.
Garoth looked at the jackal, its body lowered before him. The corners of his mouth curled into a satisfied smile.
He slowly withdrew his half-upright stance, his forelimbs bending, his body lowering. He raised one foreclaw, the tip of the giant talon gently touching the jackal's head.
"Lift your head."
The jackal obeyed, lifting his head. The red iron dragon's figure was reflected in his vision. In the backlight, the red iron dragon's silhouette seemed wrapped in flames.
"I will be supreme over all things."
He said. "My glory will envelop you, Claudia, as your shelter and your home. You will become part of a whole that is greater than yourself."
The jackal's body trembled slightly.
At the same time, the red iron dragon's claw moved away from the jackal's forehead. It slowly rose, pointing at the sky. The midday sun burned behind him, coating his silhouette in a layer of golden radiance, so bright that the jackal could barely open his eyes.
"I am like the blazing sun. And my followers, including you, will be the stars clustering around me."
"Loyalty will be rewarded. Glory will be shared."
"You are no longer a lone soul in the deep sea, a beast of hunger. From this moment on, you are my hound, the claws and fangs of the Aola Kingdom."
"Claudia, you will no longer feel empty. I promise."
His voice was grand and solemn. Though he was right in front of the jackal, it felt as if it were coming from the distant heavens.
The jackal lifted his head, feeling as if a brilliant, dazzling light was shining, more radiant than the Material Plane's sun, sweeping over him. The persistent emptiness was driven away completely, and even the hunger didn't resurface.
He closed his eyes, letting the light engulf him.