Chapter 677: Force Dragon, Time Dragon
The morning sun had just risen.
Light spilled over the ridgeline of Atlan like molten gold poured from the heavens, cascading across the high platform of the Dragon Court. The wind still carried the acrid scent of scorched earth and gunpowder smoke.
Across the various warzones.
Massive ogres hauled shattered golems on their shoulders, stacking them at designated sites. Centaur cavalry rode through the battlefields, holding longbows and sharp swords, searching for any remnant demons that might be hiding in corners. Mages and sorceresses walked along lands contaminated by Abyssal aura, guiding purifying arcane formations that spread outward in concentric rings.
Team after team handled the post-battle cleanup simultaneously.
Everything was orderly and methodical, clearing away the debris of war bit by bit.
Garoth stood upon the Dragon Court, gazing at the distant horizon.
Sunlight fell upon the scales on his back, flowing down along the raised ridges of their texture, making him appear even more majestic and imposing.
Swoosh!
A slender figure broke through the air and landed on the Dragon Court, stirring up a gentle wave of displaced air.
The elven grand knight’s armor gleamed brilliantly under the sun. His footsteps steady, he came to a stop beside the red iron dragon, followed the great dragon’s line of sight to watch the sunrise for a moment, then bowed, executing a solemn knightly salute.
“Great Scarlet Emperor Cangxing, Master of Aola.”
“Please allow me, in the name of the Nausil Empire and the Arotala Continent, to offer you my most sincere congratulations.”
“The shadow of the Abyss has dissipated. Your glory shines upon the entire Atlantis Continent. Every living being still drawing breath under this sky and earth bathes in your radiance. This is your great victory.”
As soon as the elf spoke, his words were filled with rhythmic, melodic praise.
Thalamond lifted his head, his demeanor shifting from solemn to natural.
“Your Majesty, my original intent in coming here was to fight side by side with the various living races of Atlan, to witness the evil of the Abyss with my own eyes, to feel the flesh of demons with my own blade, and to see their end with my own eyes.”
He looked up at the great dragon and said:
“In the final battle, I did not personally slay any Great Demon. That is a slight regret.”
“However, being able to behold Your Majesty’s majesty and glory has already far exceeded my expectations. This journey has been well worth it.”
The red iron dragon grinned, revealing sharp fangs.
“You are straightforward and honest. Many elves always layer their words with embellishment before speaking.”
He said approvingly.
Across from him, Thalamond’s expression turned solemn once more. He straightened his back.
He looked up at the red iron dragon’s massive, towering form and said, “Your Majesty, allow me to steer our conversation in another direction.”
Garoth nodded. “Speak.”
Thalamond said frankly, “After this battle, Sacred Aola has no more lingering threats on Atlantis.”
“All Abyssal Rifts have been completely erased. The scattered remnants of the enemy are no longer a threat; it is only a matter of time before they are wiped out by the allied forces of the various kingdoms. Holnden, which once ruled the skies, has now become a vassal of Sacred Aola.”
He paused, speaking each word deliberately:
“You have fully taken control of Atlan’s skies and earth. There is nothing left on Atlantis that can threaten your empire’s foundation. No power on this continent can stand against Sacred Aola.”
“So, allow me to offer my congratulations in advance.”
“Congratulations, Your Majesty, on uniting Atlantis.”
After hearing these words, the red iron dragon lowered his gaze and gazed at the elf.
A few seconds later, the lines at the corners of his mouth relaxed, carrying a hint of a playful smile.
“Thalamond, you are right.”
“The demons have been defeated. Sacred Aola is now the sole ruler of Atlantis. No power can question my rule.”
He lowered his massive head slightly, bringing it closer to the elven knight. The scorching breath from his nostrils washed over the knight.
The great dragon’s tone shifted slightly.
“However, every empire has the desire to develop and expand. Sacred Aola is no exception.”
“Dragons have never been a race content with the status quo. We expand, we conquer, we yearn to restore the glory of the Golden Age. And I have never concealed my ambitions.”
“My goal has never been limited to just one Atlantis.”
“Controlling the skies and earth of Atlantis is merely the starting point of a process, a springboard toward a wider world.”
He looked at the elven knight, his tone becoming meaningful.
“Thalamond, you come from Nausil. You should understand that when two powerful empires expand, they are bound to collide. Perhaps one day, my dragon wings will appear beneath the skies of Nausil, just as I now stand on the scorched earth of Atlantis.”
“By then, we may cross swords. The blade in your hand might be aimed at my people.”
Thalamond’s expression did not change.
At least, on the surface, there was no visible change.
He smiled slightly.
“Your Majesty, I know you dislike beating around the bush.”
“So, allow me to respond with equal candor.”
He said: “If that day ever comes, if Sacred Aola’s dragon wings truly appear beneath the skies of Nausil, then there can only be one reason.”
“—That Nausil has broken the rules, destroyed the bond of comradeship we once shared in battle.”
His voice was firm and resolute.
“But I believe, I firmly believe, that the elves will not do such a thing.”
“As a long-lived species like the dragons, we have witnessed the rise and fall of empires. We have seen races that brought about their own destruction through greed. We may still make mistakes, but we will never repeat the same errors. The fate of those who fell serves as our mirror.”
“Temporary gains and losses have never been the measure by which elves weigh things.”
“Long-term vision is far more precious than immediate profit.”
“So, on behalf of Nausil, I swear to you: Nausil will not be your enemy. We will stand on the same front as Sacred Aola. We will be Sacred Aola’s steadfast ally. This is a vow I make on the honor of a knight.”
These words were delivered with unwavering certainty and force.
But you cannot fully represent Nausil...
The red iron dragon watched him and said, “I hope so. I never mind having more allies.”
He did not delve deeper into this topic. The sharp gleam in his vertical pupils gradually softened, becoming calm and profound once more.
“How are things in your homeland, on the Arotala Continent? How far along is the cleanup of the Fury Curse?”
He asked.
Upon hearing this question, Thalamond’s expression relaxed.
“It is my honor that Your Majesty inquires.”
“On this matter, I can report good news: the Fury Curse has been completely eradicated.”
He smiled. “Through the empire’s tireless efforts and round-the-clock dedication, there is not a single trace of the rage beasts left on the lands of Arotala.”
“The creatures twisted by the curse have either been fully cured or purified after they were beyond saving.”
“Crops have regrown in the fields, and the beasts in the forests no longer hide.”
“When I left Arotala, it happened to be during Nausil’s Harvest Festival. The entire empire was celebrating. Bonfires burned all night, and songs rose from dusk until dawn... After the decay and suffering, Arotala has gradually regained its former prosperity.”
As he mentioned the current state of Nausil and Arotala, the elf’s speaking style became more “eloquent and ornate.”
But this also meant his mood was relaxed, immersed in heartfelt joy.
The red iron dragon nodded slowly.
“The Fury Curse has been uprooted, the rage beasts are gone, and Arotala has regained its prosperity. These are all good news. Your people can live in peace.”
“However, there is another matter I wish to ask about.”
He gazed at Thalamond: “What have Nausil’s immortals been busy with these days?”
A hint of hesitation appeared on the elf’s face. His brow furrowed slightly as he weighed things in his mind.
But then, he let out a soft breath and made his decision.
“Your Majesty, this is a secret.”
“As a grand knight of Nausil, I am obligated to keep this secret. Some things cannot be easily revealed even to allies. However, the empire has not explicitly prohibited this either. Telling you might not be a problem.”
Thalamond said: “The empire is currently building a new elves’ moon, under the leadership of the immortals.”
“It is the symbol of Nausil. When it rises into the night sky, our people will become more united and more positive. All elves will find a sense of belonging under the new moon.”
Building a new elves’ moon?
The red iron dragon’s gaze narrowed slightly, but he said nothing.
At the same time, a brilliant light suddenly flared within his eyes, deep and piercing.
Across from him, under the red iron dragon’s gaze, Thalamond’s body unconsciously straightened, all his muscles tensing.
He felt as though he had become utterly naked, as if all the secrets hidden within his body and soul could no longer be concealed, laid bare for the great dragon’s eyes to inspect one by one.
This feeling was not pleasant.
However, Thalamond did not dodge or cover up. He still stood straight in place, allowing the red iron dragon’s gaze to sweep over him inch by inch.
A few seconds later, the light in the red iron dragon’s eyes gradually receded.
“On Thalamond’s body, I cannot see any trace of the frenzied flame. Both the surface and the depths are clean.”
“Could it be that they truly managed to completely eradicate the Fury Curse through ‘fighting poison with poison’? Without leaving any remnants?”
Years ago, Garoth had discovered some issues with the Purification Potion.
But up until now, Nausil had not erupted into anything noteworthy. Everything seemed to be functioning normally.
“Perhaps I am overthinking. Maybe they truly found the correct solution.”
“But there is also the possibility that the incubation period is very long... and over time, even I can no longer detect it.”
This was a matter worth pondering.
The great dragon’s thoughts churned within his mind, but on the surface, he showed no signs of it.
“Ever since my birth, from the first time I opened my eyes and looked up at the starry sky, I have seen two bright moons in the night sky. Their radiance intertwined, illuminating the darkness.”
“But now, only one moon remains in the night sky. It always feels like something is missing.”
He looked at Thalamond: “If your elves’ moon can be reconstructed and shine in the night sky once more, I will not stint on my congratulations for this new, bright moon.”
Thalamond bowed deeply.
“Thank you for your understanding and blessing.”
“When the elves’ moon rises into the night sky, it will shine upon the elves of Arotala, and it will also shine upon you in Atlantis. The light of Nausil will not forget any friend.”
Having said this, he straightened his back once more.
“Your Majesty, this conversation with you has been the most valuable treasure of my journey. I will carry these words back with me, deeply etched in my memory.”
“But please allow me to take my leave.”
“Though my blade has tasted the blood of demons, I have not yet won the war that belongs to Nausil.”
“The orcs have sheathed their claws for a long time, but these green-skinned scum will never cower just because of defeat. We must remain vigilant at all times, on guard against these restless creatures. They are surely plotting something in the shadows.”
Orcs...
Since the Kantum Empire suffered a massive defeat and lost a Saint at Garoth’s hands, it had entered a state resembling isolation, going silent and disappearing from the outside world’s view.
No one knew what they were up to.
But these creatures would certainly not just sit back and wait for death. The longer their silence, the greater the brewing storm.
“After I go through another period of dormancy and gain more confidence to face deities in the Material Plane, perhaps I can directly set foot on Thalassia and remove the root of the problem for good...”
The red iron dragon pondered, the light in his pupils flickering slightly.
He raised his right claw and gave a slight wave.
“Go, and be careful on the road.”
Thalamond bowed his head: “Your Majesty, I look forward to meeting you again.”
The elven knight leaped into the air, turning into a faint golden streak. He quickly disappeared into the sky, speeding off into the distance.
Garoth withdrew his gaze and settled his mind.
The Bottomless Abyss, the Sulfur Lands.
Dark red clouds hung low. Over the scorched earth, lingering smoke and scorching air currents spread.
The once densely packed demon hordes were no more. Only pits of varying depths and still-burning molten lava fissures remained on the scorched ground. Occasionally, a few broken figures fled in panic or huddled trembling in the shadows.
The Ember-Annihilating dragon hovered in the sky, surrounded by raging flames and toxic fumes.
In his right claw, he gripped a withered figure.
A rift demon.
One of the six Great Demons that had invaded the Material Plane. Once a demon that could freely traverse through spatial rifts, it now curled up in the Ember-Annihilating dragon's claw, like a trapped ragdoll. The spatial tears that had once surrounded its body were now completely extinguished.
Its body was twisted and withered. It struggled weakly a few times.
Finally, the demon’s body trembled, and its face forced out the most respectful expression it could muster. Its voice was sharp and sycophantic:
“Great... Great Conqueror...”
“The Lord of the Flame Prison is dead. By the laws of the Abyss, the Sulfur Lands now belong to you. Your power has proven everything.”
“I am willing to serve you, willing to do anything for you.”
“The remaining demons will also be willing to submit to a greater power, to become your fangs and claws, to carry out your will.”
The Ember-Annihilating dragon lowered his head, staring at the Great Demon.
“A loyalty without any integrity...”
“Cheap and worthless.”
He let out a laugh, a cruel and delighted smile on his face: “I did not come here to take in your rabble. I will burn the skies and earth here. Then, I will rule over its ashes. I need no spokespersons.”
The Great Demon of rifts tried to say something more.
But the great dragon’s claws had already closed, devouring everything the Great Demon was. The rift demon’s body was burned to ashes in the dragon qi erupting from the claws, leaving not even a trace of remains.
Then, the Ember-Annihilating dragon withdrew his gaze.
He lifted his three heads once more, looking at the remaining traces of demons.
After these days of relentless slaughter and destruction, the demon legions had been all but annihilated. The remaining demons were hiding in every corner, not daring to reveal themselves, curling up in cracks and pits, afraid to make a sound.
But Garoth was not ready to end it just yet.
He swept across the high skies, his wing shadows blotting out the sun.
As the great dragon’s shadow moved, flames spread across the scorched earth, burning fiercely, as if intent on turning everything to ash. Dragon breath erupted from all three mouths simultaneously, carving burning trails across the land.
To be honest, this was unnecessary.
It was nearly impossible to kill all the demons in the Abyss. They could always breed new individuals.
However, in his Ember-Annihilating form, Garoth reveled in destruction and ruin.
Even through a clone, it soothed his heart and gave him a certain degree of relaxation. The destructive urges he needed to restrain in the Material Plane could be released here without reservation.
On the other side.
Garoth opened his eyes again.
The demons in the Sulfur Lands were no longer a threat. Handling them with split attention was sufficient.
At this moment, the sunlight grew stronger, gilding the red iron dragon’s scales with a golden outline.
Thanks to his regeneration trait, the battle damage on the great dragon’s scales was no longer visible to the naked eye. The cracks had healed as if new. And every scale had become as smooth and glossy as a dragon’s—shiny as a mirror, reflecting brilliant rays of light.
“The gravitational field... I can’t feel it at all in my normal state.”
Garoth focused his spirit completely, beginning to try and mobilize the power within his body, feeling for the invisible force lines he had touched upon in his Shining Form.
However, the result was the same as before.
The force lines he could feel and grasp in his Double Radiant State were now completely imperceptible to him. Let alone trying to grasp them.
This was not a power he could master right now.
Garoth lifted his own claws, carefully observing the scales covering his forearms.
These smooth, glossy scales, like those of a hatchling, reminded him of the description of a certain great dragon in his inherited memories.
[From birth, their bodies are covered in scales as bright and glossy as tiny diamonds, each one capable of reflecting light like a mirror...]
“Legendary dragons, Force Dragons.”
"Not only are my dragon scales gradually becoming similar, but according to legend, Force Dragons are born with the innate talent to manipulate force fields. They can capture the threads of force fields from birth."
“Did my training on the white dwarf satisfy some condition, causing me to evolve toward a Force Dragon?”
Garoth pondered in his mind.
The “legendary dragons” here did not refer to great dragons whose life level had reached legendary.
It meant a type of dragon that was “born legendary.” From the moment they broke out of their shells, they stood at a height that countless beings could not reach even in a lifetime.
Born legendary...
That meant a one-year-old legendary dragon could possibly be even more powerful than a thousand-year-old Ancient Hundred Dragon. Their starting line surpassed the finish line of many other dragons.
The gap here was no longer that of the same species. They were existences of two entirely different levels.
However, legendary dragons might not necessarily actually exist.
They only existed in the legends recorded in dragon inheritances, in the accounts of some hearsay. They were said to be even rarer and more mysterious than the Dragon God. No one had ever witnessed their existence.
But the inherited records had quite a few descriptions of this type of great dragon.
Based on these descriptions, Garoth felt that his condition seemed to be moving closer to the legendary Force Dragon.
The changes in his scales were one of the signs.
If he could elevate his manipulation of force fields to another level, instinctively mastering them, and combining that with his shining scales, he might indeed be mistaken for this legendary dragon type.
The red iron dragon raised his right claw again, turning his wrist to examine a seemingly empty spot on his arm.
Though he couldn’t see it, he knew there was a mysterious Time Loop embedded at his wrist, nestled quietly in a fold within the river of time.
According to the inherited records, besides the Force Dragon, there was another legendary dragon type called the Time Dragon.
Time Dragons could naturally manipulate time, freely traveling between different timelines. Their very existence seemed to be the embodiment of the law of time, profoundly mysterious.
“If I could also feel time, grasp its flow...”
“Perhaps I could also pretend to be a Time Dragon.”
Garoth put down his right claw and let out a quiet laugh.
This was merely a fleeting fancy.
Garoth had always been clear about the direction of his path.
He would not deliberately pursue evolution toward so-called legendary dragons. After all, whether these dragons existed or not was unknown. And even if they did exist, Garoth would not yearn for their power.
When he was younger, perhaps he would have. He might have longed to become the most powerful being recorded in those legends.
But now, he had his own path.
With that, Garoth composed himself and returned to his Dragon Nest palace.
The successive battles and his rampage in the Sulfur Lands had brought about immense consumption. Though his body appeared unscathed, with scales as smooth as before, he was still in a weakened state, having not recovered much.
Both mental fatigue and energy depletion needed replenishment.
He chose to rest for a good period of time.
It wasn’t laziness.
Garoth was still captivated by the feeling of manipulating and grasping the gravitational field. He was very eager to immediately set foot on the white dwarf and once again experience the wonderful sensation of touching the threads of force fields. However, in his current state, the efficiency of training and tempering would be extremely low. The cost would outweigh the benefit.
For the sake of a more distant future, he needed to recover first.
The red iron dragon first feasted, devouring piles of metal and gems, letting the energy-rich materials break down and absorb within his body. Then, he coiled up on a mountain of piled gold and silver treasures, slowly closed his eyes, and his breathing gradually became steady and long.
Outside the Dragon Nest, time flowed unhurriedly.
Under the organization and mobilization of Sacred Aola, the traces of destruction left by the war were being quickly restored. At the same time, this campaign would be recorded in history.
New Calendar, Year 757, Summer.
Demons from the Bottomless Abyss launched an invasion of the Atlantis Continent.
Dark clouds obscured the sun. The world was plunged into shadow.
The kingdoms of Atlantis, with Sacred Aola at the forefront, formed a defensive line. With steel, flesh, magic, and an unyielding will, they held back the demonic tide.
In the end.
The Master of Sacred Aola, the Scarlet Emperor Cangxing, slew the demon lord in the Maelstrom Sea. Then, with supreme power, he wiped out all the Abyssal Rifts, ending the demon crisis.