Chapter 632: A New Storm Has Arrived
The feast had ended.
The Sacred Aola Empire was formally born on the continent of Atlan. This day was destined to be recorded in history, becoming a pivotal moment referenced by future generations.
However, Garoth wasn't particularly concerned about it.
In his view, whether it was a kingdom or an empire, victory and glory were merely accessories along his path forward.
They were like scenery along the way—worth a glance, but not worth stopping for.
His gaze was always fixed on a farther destination; these things were never his endpoint.
It was precisely because of this clarity that he had managed to stop himself at the last critical moment, holding fast to his original will, forcibly halting his ascent to godhood.
This was not an easy task.
Under normal circumstances, when a lifeform began ascending to godhood, the process was almost irreversible.
The ascender would be immersed in an ocean of faith, wrapped in warm and vast power, feeling themselves rising toward a supreme realm.
This temptation was harder to resist than any ecstasy.
But Garoth had forcibly stopped.
His will was already firm, and he had experienced the erosion of personality through the mutation form. The effect of the godhood state was, in some ways, similar to the mutation he had long been familiar with.
Both were invasions of the inner consciousness by external forces—trials that required a will of steel to withstand.
He had grown accustomed to this struggle.
In fact, one could even say that this struggle itself was the norm of his existence. From the time he was a tiny lifeform, this struggle had shadowed him, becoming the most faithful companion on his path of growth.
Meanwhile, in the grand banquet hall, the long tables had been cleared away, and servants were quietly cleaning up the remnants.
Garoth remained coiled on his throne.
He did not leave, gazing calmly ahead.
Before him, one figure still lingered.
The Solar Grand Knight of Nausil, Thalamond.
After the banquet ended, the envoys and kings from various nations had dispersed one after another.
They would carry the news of the Sacred Aola Empire's establishment back to their lands, spreading it farther in every direction.
These tidings would spread rapidly, stirring waves of varying intensity in the hearts of every listener.
Some would be thrilled, some would be anxious, some would wait and see... But regardless, from today onward, the tripartite balance of empires had been completely upended.
Every power would have to reassess its position and strategy.
Thalamond was also supposed to depart and return to Nausil, reporting to Queen Issezeia.
He had witnessed with his own eyes the Red Emperor's rejection of Halden's goodwill and the proclamation of the Sacred Aola Empire's founding. It was time to bring this information back, allowing Nausil's decision-makers to make corresponding judgments and deployments based on the latest intelligence.
But Garoth had ordered him to stay.
"Your Majesty, do you truly intend to stand against Halden?"
Thalamond spoke, testing the waters: "Your stance in the banquet hall was quite resolute, leaving no room for retreat. Everyone saw it."
Halden was the most ancient empire on Atlan.
They had millennia of accumulation, the protection of two immortals, numerous Mandate-level experts, and countless war resources.
Even though the Abyss war had consumed part of their reserves, the strength they had built up was still formidable.
To break with them was not a choice to make lightly.
The red iron dragon's faceplate was thick, making his expression unreadable.
"One continent cannot hold two empires at the same time."
"As a dragon, how could I allow other creatures to roost above my head?"
He lifted his jaw slightly, his gaze growing sharper, as if it could pierce through the hall's dome and see directly into the city suspended in the sky.
Halden hovered above Aola.
Day after day, year after year.
Every day, when the people of Aola looked up, they could see the city suspended in the sky.
They looked down on Atlan, and also overlooked Garoth's kingdom.
From Halden's altitude, the cities of Aola were probably just insignificant little dots, like the most inconspicuous pawns on a chessboard.
And the people living in Aola were even more insignificant, like specks of dust, not worth even a single glance.
Garoth had endured this for a long time.
At the very beginning, the Sky City was just a distant sight, unrelated to him.
He only focused on his own growth.
But as his power grew stronger and his vision broadened, the silhouette of the Sky City became increasingly glaring, impossible to ignore.
Until now, he could no longer tolerate it.
He wanted to pull Halden down, or completely drive Halden from this sky.
Thalamond seemed deep in thought.
"I understand."
After a few seconds of silence, he said seriously, "There are words that should be spoken by our queen, but I feel it's more appropriate for me to say them directly now."
His voice paused slightly, then continued in a deep tone.
"If Aola goes to war with Halden, Nausil is willing to provide resource support."
"Fountains of Life, Moon Crystal Stones, War Giant Trees... These resources may not directly help Aola win the war, but they can serve as the foundation for victory and reduce the losses among Aola's citizens."
If Halden and Aola went to war, it would be entirely in Nausil's interest.
In political matters, this Solar Grand Knight was not particularly sharp, but that didn't mean he was foolish.
He also understood the strategy of befriending distant states while attacking nearby ones.
If these two empires went to war, Nausil could simply sit back and reap the benefits, without paying too high a price while weakening two potential adversaries.
Just then, a low, resonant voice rang out.
"Supplies are useful, no doubt about that."
"But if the day comes when we and Halden cross swords, then on that day, Nausil would do best to send its legions directly to fight."
The speaker was the iron dragon Sorog.
He too had not left.
Earlier, he had been coiled at the Red Emperor's lower right side, silent as a cast-iron sculpture.
"Aola does not lack ordinary soldiers, nor resources."
"If the legendary experts of the Elves can come, Aola will reserve the most suitable positions on the front lines for them. If an immortal is willing to join the battle, even better."
As for resources, Aola commanded the entire Atlan continent and was continuously developing the Serene Spirit Wilderness—that had never been an issue.
The real key lay in high-end combat power.
In an empire-level war, the primary purpose of ordinary legions was to maintain stability and clean up the aftermath.
They could fortify defensive lines, maintain order in occupied territories, mop up scattered enemy forces, and after the war, clear the battlefield and rebuild homes.
But what truly decided victory or defeat were battles above the legendary level.
The clash of top-tier experts was the decisive factor in the direction of war.
Everything else was just icing on the cake.
Thalamond looked up at the Red Emperor, then shifted his gaze to the iron dragon.
"Aola's Iron Royal Duke, Solog Igneous. I've long heard of your reputation."
The Elf's tone was steady as he spoke, "To fight alongside the dragons of Aola would be an honor for Nausil. However, please forgive me—Nausil is currently unable to provide substantial support in direct combat."
He paused, organizing his words.
"Nausil's war with Kantum has only just ended. This war lasted far too long. Although we ultimately drove the orcs out of Arotala and saved our homeland, the price we paid... was heavy."
"We even shattered the Elves' Moon in the process."
"Moreover, the Cataclysm Storm is still ongoing. Those creatures infected by the Fury Curse continue to roam the lands of Arotala, bringing death and calamity. Nausil is pouring all its strength into eradicating this calamity. We are stretched thin and truly cannot spare more forces to support another battlefield."
Everything he said was the truth.
Nausil had indeed won the war, but the losses were not small.
They still had their own problems to deal with and were barely managing their own affairs. How could they have the strength to intervene directly in a conflict between Halden and Aola?
Garoth narrowed his eyes slightly.
His main purpose in keeping Thalamond was not to draw Nausil into fighting Halden alongside him.
When facing difficult problems, unless there was no better choice, Garoth always preferred to solve them himself rather than relying on other powers. He had never liked pinning his hopes on others.
"Besides Kantum, the Cataclysm Storm is another major factor behind the turmoil on Arotala."
"But recently, I've heard some rumors."
"I've heard that Nausil has developed a magical medicine capable of dispelling the Fury Curse. Is this true?"
He asked.
Thalamond was momentarily stunned, then broke into a smile.
"Yes, it's true."
He said, a hint of pride in his voice: "After countless days and nights of painstaking research by Nausil's scholars, and countless failed experiments, we finally succeeded in creating the Purification Potion."
"It can dispel the Fury Curse and restore infected individuals to normal."
"We've already been using it on a large scale in Arotala, and the results are remarkable. Those who could only be quarantined or executed before are now able to return to normal life."
"Our scholars are still refining the formula, striving to make the purification effect more stable."
Upon hearing this, the great dragon leaned forward slightly.
A look of keen interest appeared in his eyes.
"Regarding the Fury Curse, I also have my own insights. I know it's no ordinary disaster—its source... is far more complex than it appears on the surface."
"So, when I heard that a Purification Potion had been created, I was indeed somewhat surprised."
He slowed his speech slightly, then continued, "Now, I'm quite curious about your Purification Potion. Thalamond, can you satisfy my curiosity?"
The Elven knight gave a hearty laugh.
"Your Majesty, when I was on Arotala, I stood on the front lines of purifying the curse."
"I fought against those rage beasts corrupted by the curse. After every battle, we needed to use the Purification Potion to treat the wounded; otherwise, the spread of infection would be completely uncontrollable."
"So, carrying the potion with me has become a habit."
As he spoke, he retrieved a box from his spatial equipment. It was made of wood, with Elven-style patterns carved on its surface—delicate and antique.
"Inside are twelve vials of Purification Potion."
"Since Your Majesty is interested in this potion, please accept them as a gift. You can study them and see if the effect is as I described."
Garoth's gaze sharpened slightly.
His sight pierced through the obstacle and landed directly inside the box.
Twelve vials of potion were neatly arranged.
Each one emitted a faint, pale green fluorescence, like the luster of the first ray of spring sunlight filtering through fresh leaves.
The liquid was clear and transparent, but upon closer inspection, extremely fine red particles could be seen slowly sinking and floating within it.
He waved his claw lightly.
A dragon-blooded attendant stepped forward, took the box with both hands, and silently retreated to put it away.
Garoth's gaze returned to Thalamond.
His tone shifted slightly as he asked, "How many meteorites does Nausil currently have? Aola can trade corresponding treasures for them."
Thalamond was taken aback again, then shook his head.
"Meteorites..."
"They are one of the ingredients for the Purification Potion, and an irreplaceable catalyst at that."
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but Nausil currently has no surplus meteorites. All of them have been used to manufacture the Purification Potion; they are a critical resource for resolving the Cataclysm Storm."
"If we had any to spare, we would not mind trading with Aola, but right now, we simply have none to offer."
Meteorites.
One of the main ingredients of the Purification Potion was meteorites?
The tiny particles suspended in the potion—were they meteorite dust?
Garoth turned several thoughts over in his mind.
Did this potion follow the principle of fighting poison with poison?
Or was it something similar to a vaccine?
The frenzied flame harbored the secrets of mutation. Had Nausil's Elven scholars actually found a way to resolve it?
Did they truly understand the essence of the Fury Curse? Or were they merely groping in the dark and happened upon a temporarily effective solution?
Garoth vaguely felt that things were not so simple.
But he did not press further. Instead, he said, "The Cataclysm Storm will eventually pass, just as all dark nights give way to dawn. I wish Nausil a swift resolution to the Cataclysm Storm, so that the land of Arotala may be revitalized."
Thalamond bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your blessing, Your Majesty. I will convey your goodwill to Queen Issezeia."
With that, he stepped back a few paces, then came to a halt.
"Your Majesty, it is getting late, and I must set out. The queen awaits my reply. Please allow me to take my leave."
Garoth nodded slightly. "Go."
The Sun Elf turned and strode toward the hall's entrance.
The iron dragon Sorog's low voice sounded.
"This knight is quite candid. In the descriptions from my inheritance, Elves are more like a group of hypocritical moral paragons. They claim to be romantics who guard order, yet unwittingly cause many disasters."
"If all the Elves of Nausil are like him, perhaps I have been blinded by prejudice."
"But I suspect that he is an outlier among Nausil."
Among the various humanoid races, Elves were usually seen as an elegant, long-lived race living in harmony with nature.
They possessed a powerful civilization, ancient traditions, and a pursuit of romance and order.
But dragons had inheritances, and their vision was not limited to a single world.
The inheritance clearly recorded that the Elven race had triggered many shocking disasters, including events that caused entire worlds to collapse and even affected numerous realms.
Elves always believed they stood on the side of order, thinking everything they did was for the world's welfare.
But...
When the dust of history settled, people often found that they brought more chaos than order.
"You've been to Arotala."
Sorog gazed at the red iron dragon and asked, "What do you think of the Elves of Nausil? Will they become our enemies in the future?"
Garoth shook his head slightly.
"No. At least not now. There is no conflict of interest between us. As for the future... who can guarantee anything completely?"
Accidents and variables fill every breath we take.
Thinking one can see through the future only brings danger to oneself.
Sorog nodded and said no more.
The night grew deeper.
Some time later, Garoth traveled from Valdo Palace to the Small World.
He took out a vial of Purification Potion and toyed with it in his claw.
The potion vial seemed incredibly tiny in his massive claws. The liquid swayed gently within, emitting a faint, ghostly fluorescence.
At the same time, he contacted Cerora through his mind.
A response came immediately.
"Ah, it is the great Lord of Victory and Glory, the true god walking the Material Plane! May I humbly offer you my loyalty?"
The voice was filled with exaggerated reverence and tension.
Garoth played along with her tone, his voice calm and level, and said, "Kneel, pray to my name, sing of my greatness. I will accept your faith."
A cheerful laugh came from the other side.
"We are so far apart. Even if I prostrate myself, you can't see me."
"Perhaps you could make a Divine Descent before me, so that I may witness your glory with my own eyes. Then, perhaps, I might be compelled to offer you everything."
The feigned tension had vanished completely.
Given Cerora's understanding of Garoth, she had been certain from the start that he would not choose to ascend to godhood. She was just habitually joking with him.
Garoth did not continue the jest.
He spoke seriously, "I want to ask you something. Nausil is purifying the Fury Curse on a large scale in Arotala, with remarkable results. Is that the real situation?"
Cerora dropped her playful demeanor.
"Yes, the Fury Curse is being extensively cleansed."
"The Purification Potion developed by Nausil works very well. Some of my subordinates who were accidentally infected—both dragon-kind and followers—were quarantined. After using Nausil's Purification Potion, they have recovered completely."
"I checked them myself and couldn't find any problems."
"Their minds are completely clear, and their bodies show no lingering aftereffects. They are exactly the same as before infection."
Garoth's gaze fell on the potion vial in his claw. He pondered for a moment, then said, "Cerora, here's a piece of advice: continue to keep them isolated. Don't give them freedom for now."
The green dragon was silent for a moment.
She caught the seriousness in Garoth's tone and immediately became alert.
"What's wrong? What did you find?"
Cerora knew that, although Garoth looked perfectly fine, he was the 'super rage beast' of this planet, an entity at the level of the curse's origin. Calling him the 'King of Rage Beasts' wouldn't be wrong.
His understanding of the Fury Curse ran deeper than that of any other intelligent being.
If he said there was a problem, then there was definitely cause for vigilance.
"Just a hunch. This Purification Potion is likely only effective on the surface."
Garoth said.
Cerora trusted Garoth's instincts.
She didn't press for more details and said directly, "Alright. Time is of the essence. I will continue isolating the infected individuals. Let me know when you have more specific information."
After this brief exchange, the communication ended.
Garoth shifted his attention back to the Purification Potion.
"Can this thing purify the frenzied flame within me?"
He pondered for a few seconds, then picked up a vial of Purification Potion and crushed its container.
Crunch.
The potion was exposed to the air. The liquid churned slightly, as if alive.
Then, as if sensing something, the liquid surged toward Garoth.
It climbed onto his scales, seeped into the gaps, bringing him a sensation extremely similar to absorbing meteorite energy—a burning force was trying to merge into his body.
"This familiar feeling?"
He narrowed his eyes. Without resisting, he absorbed the potion.
In an instant.
A portion of the frenzied flame within the great dragon stagnated for a moment... and then vanished.
It disappeared completely, as if it had never existed.
"Is it really that effective?"
Garoth did not relax.
He focused his mind and began to scan his body inch by inch.
Half a minute later, his gaze sharpened.
Sure enough, the frenzied flame had not truly disappeared.
It had merely hidden deep within, as if entering hibernation.
It had concealed itself to such an extent that Garoth needed extreme focus to detect it. If not for his absolute control over his body and his deep familiarity with the frenzied flame, he would never have discovered that it still existed.
Furthermore, besides its inherent rage effect, he detected something new.
Within that dormant frenzied flame, a new strand of mutation force had been born.
It was very faint, but it was undeniably present, like a latent seed waiting for the right moment to break through the soil.
Garoth lifted his head, his heart solemn.
"Those Elven scholars of Nausil... should I call them brave or foolish?"
"The curse came from the meteorites, and they use the curse as a catalyst. Do they truly believe this can counter poison with poison?"
"No, perhaps something has gone wrong within Nausil itself."
The red iron dragon gazed into the distance, his sight piercing the boundaries of the Small World.
When he was still not strong enough, the Fury Calamity had already descended upon Arotala, and the Demon Calamity had appeared on Atlan.
Back then, he didn't take them seriously, because when the sky fell, the tall ones would hold it up.
These disasters had nothing to do with him. He only needed to think about how to strengthen himself. In fact, he was even happy to see these two great calamities appear.
Because they had created chaos and paved an upward path for him.
And he had not let the opportunity slip away.
Garoth had climbed the steps of chaos, unknowingly reaching the peak of the Material Plane.
But these two great calamities had still not drawn to a close.
Setting aside the Demon Calamity, this Fury Calamity... showed signs of becoming even more dangerous. What lay before them was merely the calm before the storm.
If the true great calamity were to descend, no one else would be there to shield him.
Now, it was his turn to become the tall one who held up the sky for Bernardo.