Chapter 635: ’What If’ Timeline
"If other dragons found out that their Dragon King's pastime is poking other dragons' muscles in frozen time, what would they think?"
Garoth asked this question with a serious tone.
"Let's talk somewhere else. It's not convenient here."
Audothos responded.
He didn't explain what had just happened or show any sign of embarrassment.
Creatures that had lived long enough all understood one principle—when something couldn't be argued, the best way to handle it was to let it pass lightly, as if it had never happened.
"Alright, let's go."
Garoth nodded.
He could tell that Audothos was changing the subject. But he had no intention of pressing the issue.
For one, poking muscles a few times wasn't really a big deal—not worth harping on. For another, he was actually curious about this Gold Dragon King, so this was a good chance to chat a bit more.
Audothos raised his right hand and waved it gently.
The motion was casual and elegant, like brushing a thin layer of dust off a page.
A ripple spread from his fingertip—barely visible ripples appearing in the air, creating layer upon layer of fine wrinkles. They wrapped around Garoth and himself.
In the next instant, both figures vanished from where they stood.
Clean and efficient, leaving no trace behind.
Almost at the same moment, frozen time resumed its flow.
The dust suspended in midair began drifting again. *The Bernardo Chronicles* continued its fall toward the floor, pages rustling softly as they turned, finally landing with a *thump* on the ground.
Karus blinked.
He had been in the middle of talking about proposing things to the elders. His mouth was still slightly open, his words cut off mid-sentence, and then he stopped.
"Garoth?"
The space across from him was empty.
Garoth was gone.
From his perspective, it was like the person he'd been talking to just a second ago had abruptly vanished—no warning, no sign, simply gone without a trace.
Karus's pupils contracted slightly, and his body instinctively tensed up.
But then, he slowly relaxed again.
The Dragon Sleep Corridor was the Dragon King's territory.
Although other dragons didn't know exactly where the Dragon King was, everyone knew he was probably in some special space within the corridor—they just couldn't find it.
"...The Dragon King must have come."
Karus muttered to himself, "As unfathomable as always."
A hint of reverence appeared in his eyes.
For things that were completely beyond their understanding, any intelligent creature would feel a trace of awe.
Like how the Dragon King had arrived, and how he had taken Garoth away.
He couldn't understand any of it.
Karus didn't dwell on it. He bent down, picked up the book from the floor, and put it back on the shelf. Then he picked up the book he hadn't actually been reading, flipped to the first page, and started reading from the beginning.
Elsewhere.
The scene before Garoth had completely changed.
No longer the dome and bookshelves of the Dragon Sleep Corridor, it had become a vast, boundless void.
There was nothing here that could be called a reference point. Up, down, left, right, front, back—all were empty concepts. There was no ground beneath his feet, no boundary within reach. Only endless darkness stretched in all directions.
But the darkness wasn't oppressive.
Countless time-related objects floated silently in the void, each radiating its own light.
"A non-naturally formed dimensional space?"
Garoth looked around and stretched his fingers.
Then, his body began to change.
The outline of his humanoid form rapidly expanded. Dense red dragon scales surfaced on his skin, each one like an iron taken fresh from a forge, glowing with a dark red luster.
Bones stretched, muscles swelled, vertebrae lengthened one by one...
In the blink of an eye, Garoth had reverted to his massive, majestic dragon form.
Not far in front of him, another equally massive dragon silhouette was materializing.
Audothos had also revealed his true form.
The color of his scales kept shifting, just like the fine lines that kept appearing and disappearing on his face in human form. It looked quite peculiar.
But this Dragon King's size was completely overshadowed by Garoth.
Though they were at the same height level, Audothos had to look up slightly to meet Garoth's eyes.
This wasn't a negligible gap.
At their level, a dragon's size disparity often represented a difference in strength and life level. And Garoth's sheer size, along with the sheer muscularity of his body, made even the Dragon King silently marvel.
What caught Audothos's attention even more were the ring-shaped dragon scales covering parts of Garoth's body.
Like tree rings, or some ancient runic array, they circled his neck, chest, wrists, and ankles—layer upon layer, like natural markings.
They had grown in only a short time.
Yet they fit Garoth's body perfectly, as if he had been born with them.
Now, these scales were disappearing one by one, fading away.
Audothos's gaze lingered on the ring-shaped scales for a moment, a flicker of contemplation passing through the depths of his eyes.
"So that's it. These scales allowed him to resist my earlier time manipulation."
"These scales... are extraordinary."
He thought to himself.
Across from him, Garoth's gaze swept past Audothos, scanning the surrounding environment.
Antique clocks, exquisitely crafted pocket watches, hourglasses of various sizes, and things Garoth couldn't name... all these time-related objects floated in the void, forming a bizarre and dazzling exhibition hall.
He withdrew his gaze and looked back at the Gold Dragon King opposite him.
"You usually dwell here?"
"One could say that." Audothos nodded slightly. "For a very, very long time, this has been my lair, my laboratory, and also my... refuge."
"Here, I can focus on studying the mysteries of time without being disturbed by anything."
The Gold Dragon King used different terms to define this void.
He looked at Garoth, paused for a moment, and then asked, "Can you feel it? The difference here?"
Garoth seemed thoughtful.
When he had looked around just now, he had already sensed a subtle dissonance.
It was like the rhythm inside his body was out of sync with the surrounding environment. The beating of his heart, the flow of his blood—everything seemed slightly off.
He closed his eyes and carefully perceived for a moment.
When he opened them again, Garoth's gaze became certain.
"The flow of time here... is abnormal."
He said.
A faint smile curled at the corner of Audothos's mouth, showing a hint of satisfaction.
"Correct. You're very perceptive."
He nodded. "The flow of time here is ten times slower than the outside world."
The Gold Dragon King raised one of his front claws and slowly drew an invisible line in the void with his claw tip, as if tracing the path of a river.
"In the outside world, one year is one year."
"The four seasons cycle, spring goes and autumn comes. Time is like an endless river, carrying all living things forward."
"From birth to growth, from growth to peak, from peak to decline, from decline to death..."
"No one can stop it, and no one can turn back."
His claw tip pointed downward, his voice dropping slightly.
"But here... time is stretched. When one year passes outside, ten years pass here."
"Your heartbeat, your body's metabolism... all slowed down tenfold. Your body's growth rate is ten times slower, and your aging rate is ten times slower."
Hearing this, the red iron dragon frowned slightly.
Ten times slower?
Didn't that mean the speed of becoming stronger here would also be ten times slower?
Garoth instinctively felt a sense of resistance.
He had never slowed down.
His growth, his battles, his breakthroughs—all had been advancing at a rapid pace, surging forward.
Being stuck in a place where time flowed ten times slower was almost torture for him.
The Gold Dragon King seemed to read his thoughts and continued, "The only thing unaffected here is the mind."
"The speed of thought remains unchanged. Otherwise, staying here for a day would leave your brain as sluggish as if it were soaked in paste—unable to think clearly."
Garoth nodded thoughtfully.
He probably understood why the Gold Dragon King lived here now.
For someone like him, accepting that his growth rate would be slowed tenfold was impossible. But for dragons entering their twilight years, this place was an excellent residence.
It was a roundabout way to extend life.
"Are you fighting twilight here?"
Garoth asked.
"After all, I am not immortal."
"Creatures that aren't immortal will inevitably be eroded by time. Although gold dragons are naturally longer-lived than other dragons, I have already spent far too much time. One could even say that I am the oldest living dragon among Bernardo's dragonkind."
Audothos lowered his head and looked at his own front claws.
Strong, sharp, with no signs of aging. The scales were tight, the joints flexible.
But this was just the surface appearance of a dragon's body.
All dragons grew stronger with age. Physical aging left no obvious marks on their external form. Only they themselves knew that something internal was slowly, bit by bit, draining away.
He was already in his twilight years.
"My time is running out."
He lifted his head and looked back at Garoth. "But studying the mysteries of time isn't something that can be accomplished overnight."
"I need time. I need a lot of time. Only then do I have a chance to succeed."
"So I created this space."
His gaze swept across the floating clocks and hourglasses around him, saying:
"To other dragons, I may have only not shown my face for a hundred years. But here, I've actually been staying for a thousand years."
"A thousand years. Alone, as a dragon, facing these clocks and hourglasses, day after day, year after year."
"Occasionally I go out for some fresh air, casually do a few things, and then come back here."
"This is my life."
From Audothos's words, Garoth sensed loneliness.
But he didn't think it deserved any pity.
The path to pursuing one's goal was never smooth.
Garoth's path was forged with battle and iron will. Audothos's path was paved with time and solitude.
The methods were different, but the essence was the same.
Both required a price.
After a few seconds of silence, Garoth asked the question he wanted to ask.
"Why are you so obsessed with studying time?"
He stared at the Gold Dragon King. "With your accumulation and talent, if you had just chosen a different path, you would have already reached Immortal long ago. You didn't need to stay in a space like this, suppressing yourself."
Hearing his question, the Gold Dragon King smiled faintly.
He didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked back, "Garoth, have you ever thought about what if, in some timeline, you weren't born as a red iron hybrid, but as a gold dragon or some other metal dragon? What would your life have been like?"
The red iron dragon was silent for a moment.
When he was young, he had thought about this more than once.
What if he weren't a red iron dragon? What if he hadn't been born in the wilderness? What if he didn't have the Adaptation talent? But as he had taken step after step to get where he was today, these thoughts had long been left behind.
The Gold Dragon King's voice gradually became more impassioned.
"What if, in the primordial era, the Primordial Wastes had won the war? What would the current state of the multiverse be like?"
"What if, during the Dragonfall Era, the dragons had chosen to let go of their hatred, and the dragon supremacy had never ended? How glorious would the dragon race be now?"
Audothos stared directly into the red iron dragon's eyes, his gaze burning.
"You probably think I'm crazy."
He said. "But I swear, with all the wisdom and effort of my life, these timelines must truly exist."
"In endless time, there are endless possibilities."
"Every choice gives rise to countless tributaries. Every tributary is a real world."
"Only by glimpsing the mysteries of time can one cross those invisible, unseen barriers, freely navigate the surging river of time, and pursue the infinite possibilities."
His voice was fervent, even fanatical.
Hearing these words, Garoth finally understood why the Method White Dragon and the Silver Dragon King had both said that the Gold Dragon King's pursuit of time had reached the point of obsession, and no one could change his mind.
But this wasn't a derogatory term.
Creatures who could reach the pinnacle on a certain path, without exception, had a clear understanding of themselves. They knew what they were pursuing, why they existed, and what they wanted.
Their convictions were extraordinarily firm.
Those who weren't understood or accepted by others were labeled 'stubborn.' Just as, in the eyes of some creatures, Garoth himself was also an extremely stubborn existence.
Finally, Garoth said slowly, "I wish you success in achieving your goal."
He meant it.
There was no conflict of interest or ideological opposition between him and the Gold Dragon King.
One could even say that if the Gold Dragon King could break through to Immortal, it would bring some indirect benefits to Garoth as well.
Audothos's fervor gradually subsided, and his expression returned to calm.
"I have already seen my own successful future."
He said firmly. "I will inevitably grasp the mysteries of time and achieve my goal."
He paused and smiled at the red iron dragon.
"Compared to time, even the most abundant treasures seem dull. When that time comes, I might invite other dragons to join me in exploring those timelines—some miraculous, some dangerous."
"So, are you interested?"
Garoth didn't think the Gold Dragon King would succeed.
The probability was far too slim.
But he still nodded.
"Sure. If that day ever comes, I'd be happy to see those timelines you speak of."
What if, in some timeline, there really was a version of himself with gold dragon blood? If only their origins were different, but their talents were exactly the same—at the same age, who would be stronger?
Or.
What if there was a version of himself without the Adaptation talent, only red iron blood? What heights could he reach?
Garoth was curious about these things.
After speaking, he stared at the Gold Dragon King and shifted the topic slightly.
"When I was in Dormancy, time flowed over me in an abnormal way."
"That has something to do with you, doesn't it?"
The Gold Dragon King didn't deny it.
He looked at the red iron dragon, his gaze candid: "I made some attempts on you. I tried to make time flow faster. Judging by the results, this attempt was very successful."
The red iron dragon carefully assessed his current state.
He said, "I feel like my age is over six hundred years, but my life level doesn't match it."
If the Gold Dragon King's methods had been used on a short-lived race, it might have directly caused them to wither away.
Even for a dragon, this somewhat drained future potential.
If Garoth had developed normally to six hundred years old, his life level would definitely be a cut higher than it was now. That was beyond doubt.
The Gold Dragon King said matter-of-factly, "Everything comes with a price. The river of time isn't easy to bear. When it flows rapidly through you, it inevitably brings some negative effects. This is unavoidable."
The red iron dragon nodded lightly.
Compared to quickly breaking through to the Mandate of Heaven, this price was perfectly acceptable.
But a new question also arose.
He asked, "So what is my actual age right now?"
The Gold Dragon King thought for a moment and did a mental calculation.
"Same as what you feel."
"Your actual age has already exceeded six hundred years. You're in the category of a very ancient dragon. The next stage up is Ancient Dragon."
When he said this, his voice paused.
Audothos's gaze swept over the red iron dragon's absurdly powerful physique, and his tone was full of emotion.
"A six-hundred-year-old dragon at the Mandate of Heaven level..."
"There is no precedent in my lineage. If nothing unexpected happens, by the time you break through to Immortal, I might still be stuck at the Mandate of Heaven."
Garoth nodded and said, "There's no precedent in my lineage either."
Then he asked another question.
"Since you can make time flow faster, can you build a special space? Like the one you're in now, but with a faster time flow?"
If such a place existed, Garoth would also be willing to stay inside like the Gold Dragon King.
Training and getting stronger without restraint.
Under his gaze, the Gold Dragon King shook his head slightly.
"I understand what you mean."
"But I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. Making time flow rapidly for a short period and creating a permanent special space are not on the same level of difficulty."
The Gold Dragon King explained patiently.
"My current mastery of time mysteries only allows me to construct the space I'm in now. The kind of space you're talking about—with a faster time flow—I'll need to break through to Immortal to achieve that."
He thought for a moment, smiled again, and his tone became lighter.
"Don't worry. I've gained a lot of insight into time recently. I'll break through to Immortal soon."
"When that happens, I can specially construct a space for you, just the way you want it."
Soon?
Garoth was quite skeptical about that.
Audothos's 'soon' was likely just a relative concept.
And based on what he was saying, building such a space probably wasn't easy.
Since it wasn't easy, why would he make such a promise?
With the Gold Dragon's nature, they wouldn't just say such things casually.
Across from him, the Gold Dragon King seemed to see through the red iron dragon's doubts.
He flicked his tail and said with a chuckle, "I admit that my 'soon' might be a bit exaggerated. But if I can get something I need, my 'soon' might become a reality."
With that, the Gold Dragon King stared intently at Garoth.
Garoth followed his gaze and looked down slightly at his own chest.
On his dragon breastplate, the ring-shaped scales that had resisted the time freeze earlier were disappearing one by one, with only a few remaining on the surface.
What the Gold Dragon King was staring at was exactly these scales.
Garoth lifted his gaze and asked, "You want my scales?"
The Gold Dragon King nodded eagerly.
"Yes, yes."
He didn't hide his desire. "There seems to be some connection between them and time. Very special. I only need one piece. For observation and research."
No wonder he was so eager to make promises.
He had his eyes on my scales. Threw me a pie in the sky...
Still, Garoth wasn't the type to be indecisive.
He thought this was beneficial for both sides, so there was no need to hesitate.
"I broke through to the Mandate of Heaven in a short time, and I have you to thank for that."
"Take these scales."
He reached out his claw and touched his own chest.
The remaining ring-shaped scales were all pulled off—more than just one piece—and he handed them to the Gold Dragon King.
The Gold Dragon King's breathing became a little heavier.
His movements were cautious, as if he were handling some rare treasure, afraid of even the slightest bump.
He held the scales in his claws, his eyes almost pressing against them.
At the same time, after leaving Garoth's body, the ring-shaped scales began to fade at a visible rate, a layer of grayish-white color appearing on their surface.
The Gold Dragon King's expression turned serious. Ripples spread between his claws.
The ripples were almost tangible, layering over these scales layer by layer, forming a crystalline structure similar to amber, temporarily sealing them.
Garoth watched him treat them with such solemnity and said, "No need to be so careful."
"If you need more, I can come back to the Everbright Dragon Domain. Coincidentally, I'd also like to experience the power of time a few more times."
He wanted to gain more time resistance.
Even rapid adaptive evolution required time and sufficient stimulation.
In the library, during the time when Audothos first appeared, Garoth had almost no way to counter it—he could only endure it passively.
Later, when his combat traits fully activated, he gradually managed to shake off some of the effects.
But he also noticed that before the time freeze, he had actually sensed something.
After careful recollection, Garoth believed it was related to the faint time resistance he had gained from fighting the Crowned Time Warden.
Since Garoth was willing to cooperate, the Gold Dragon King was naturally more than happy.
"That's great." The Gold Dragon King said. "When the need arises, I'll invite you to the Everbright Dragon Domain. As for now... I can't wait to study these scales."
The almost fanatical color reappeared in the depths of his eyes.
The Gold Dragon King needed quiet when doing research.
Garoth didn't disturb him any further. He returned to the library of the Dragon Sleep Corridor, his form shifting back into his humanoid state.
"Back already?"
Karus was still in his original spot. He looked up at Garoth and asked, "Did you meet His Majesty the Dragon King?"
Garoth nodded. "Yeah. Saw him just now."
A look of anticipation appeared on Karus's face.
"Our Dragon King is always so mysterious and unfathomable."
"So? What was your impression of him? Is he extraordinarily mysterious, ancient and wise?"
Garoth was silent for a few seconds.
Two images surfaced in his mind.
One was the Gold Dragon King poking around him, quite undignified.
The other was the Gold Dragon King crouching in the void, carefully holding the dragon scales, eyes shining, breathing heavily.
Let's just say, distance creates beauty.
Garoth said slowly, "Yes. He lives up to your imagination. Ancient, wise, mysterious, powerful, noble..."
Karus nodded with satisfaction, then showed a hint of regret.
"I have the utmost admiration for the Dragon King. But unfortunately, even though I am one of his descendants, I rarely saw him when I was young. Especially after I grew up, I've hardly ever seen him again."
Garoth didn't respond.
Afterward, he didn't stay long in the Everbright Dragon Domain. He returned directly to Atlan.
He had some 'knowledge' of space as well. When he needed to come again, he could come whenever he wanted.