Defeating the World with the Power of One Dragon!

The Oath of the Maelstrom was shattered.

After being pierced through by the Red Emperor's iron wings, the storm lost its restraint and began to return to its original chaos.

The tempest became even more violent than before. The waves were no longer mere undulations but had turned into moving mountain ranges, rolling in from the horizon, crashing against the reefs, and splashing water dozens of meters high.

Dark clouds hung low, almost pressing down onto the sea surface.

Yet.

The tension, stretched to the breaking point like a bowstring, had somehow, at some unknown moment, quietly loosened.

The Gold Dragon Fenoris sensed this change.

The iron-clamp-like dragon claws around his neck did not tighten any further.

The Red Emperor's talons pressed against his scales.

Hard, sharp, dangerous.

He knew that with just a gentle squeeze, his proud golden dragon scales would be pierced like paper, his spine would snap, and his head would be twisted off.

But that claw did not move.

Fenoris lifted his head with difficulty, gazing at those dragon pupils that reflected...

At that moment, countless images flashed through the Gold Dragon's mind.

He recalled the words the Bronze Dragon King Sheffield had said to him before leaving the Raging Tides Dragon Domain and heading to the Abyss.

"Fenoris, you are the finest warrior of the Raging Tides Dragon Domain. After I leave, the Raging Tides Dragon Domain will be entrusted to you."

The Bronze Dragon King had said to him: "Guard the Raging Tides. Guard the Oath of the Maelstrom. Wait for me to return as an Immortal being. Then we will purge all of Bernardo. At that time, this world will usher in unprecedented peace and justice."

Fenoris had bowed his head at the time and solemnly accepted this charge.

The Gold Dragon not only recalled the Bronze Dragon King's entrustment but also everything he had sacrificed for the dragon domain over the years.

But now, the Red Emperor stood before him.

A question he did not want to face, like a thorn, drove itself into his mind.

Was the justice he had steadfastly defended truly justice itself?

Or was he merely convinced he was on a righteous path, walking far down a wrong one without even realizing it?

The Gold Dragon's gaze began to waver.

He did not want to admit this.

As one of the leaders of the Raging Tides Dragon Domain, his convictions should have been as firm as bedrock. Yet at this moment, under the calm gaze of the Red Emperor's dragon pupils, his bedrock began to crack.

Earlier, the Red Emperor's voice had not been loud.

Neither hurried nor slow, it could even be described as very calm.

But when the Gold Dragon heard it, it felt deafening. Every word seemed to strike his heart, making his soul tremble slightly.

"You..."

The Gold Dragon's voice was hoarse and dry, as he spoke. "Red Emperor, you led the Aolan dragons to the Maelstrom Sea and pierced through the Oath of the Maelstrom... What exactly is it that you want?"

"Is it a punitive expedition? Is it conquest? Or do you want to turn all of us into your slaves?"

Being shaken did not mean completely denying oneself.

The Gold Dragon's heart was indeed wavering, but he still maintained vigilance and caution toward the great dragon before him.

Garoth looked down at him.

His dragon claws slowly unclenched. The iron-clamp-like digits unfurled one by one, releasing the Gold Dragon from his grip.

"None of those."

The red iron dragon's voice was deep. His eyes gazed upon the Gold Dragon as he said, "As I said before, I came to make you feel the radiance of the Sacred Aola."

Gold Dragon Fenoris had gained his freedom.

He took a few steps back, putting some distance between them. He lifted his dragon claw to rub his neck.

Under the Red Emperor's gaze, the Bronze Dragon King's entrustment echoed relentlessly in his heart, like the sound of a bell, ringing over and over again.

The Gold Dragon's vigilance had not dissipated.

"If you want the Maelstrom dragons to fight for you, if you want us to bow our heads, pledge our loyalty to you, and kneel before your empire..."

"Then with just these few words, with just this empty talk, it is absolutely impossible."

He straightened his body. His dragon wings spread slightly.

"You can defeat us. You can kill us."

The Gold Dragon's voice gradually grew more forceful. "But you cannot make us betray everything we have steadfastly defended with just a few words. If you think you can make us submit like this, then you underestimate us."

At the same time.

The Aolan dragons had all crossed through the shattered water curtain and landed on the various islands of the Raging Tides Dragon Domain, each taking an advantageous position.

Opposite them were the Legendary Metal Dragons originally stationed on the major subsidiary isles.

These great dragons had been alert the moment the Oath of the Maelstrom was shattered. They had forced themselves into the air despite their injuries. After the initial shock and wavering, they were now glaring at the Aolan dragons, flames of anger burning in their dragon pupils.

But they did not immediately launch an attack.

The Aolan dragons did not flaunt their power either. They stood there with the calm of victors.

Neither arrogant nor impatient, neither servile nor haughty.

In comparison, the Maelstrom dragons were much more disheveled.

Their scales more or less bore wounds from the backlash of the Oath of the Maelstrom.

Their emotions were also vastly different.

Some were angry, their scales bristling. Some were fearful, their gazes not daring to look at the Red Emperor at all. Some were silent, their eyes flickering uncertainly, lost in thought.

Garoth looked around.

He took everything in. Then he spread his wings, his entire body slowly rising into the air so that all the dragons could see his posture more clearly.

"This battle was not for conquest."

"Not for plunder. Not for slaughter. Not to trample you underfoot."

The Red Emperor's gaze swept across every dragon face, inch by inch.

The dragons swept by his gaze, whether Aolan or Maelstrom, unconsciously quieted down.

His voice continued, word by word: "This battle was only to proclaim to the entire world that the Sacred Aola is a nation belonging to the dragons."

Under normal circumstances, dragons were always arrogant.

The Five-colored Dragons were like this, and the Metal Dragons even more so.

Especially the Metal Dragons. They always felt they were nobler than the Five-colored Dragons, more civilized, closer to what dragons ought to be.

Wrong?

Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

Even if they knew they were wrong, dragons would absolutely never admit it.

The Metal Dragons standing on the opposite side of Aola should have instinctively rejected the Red Emperor.

They should not have listened to a single word he said. They should have been stubbornly set in their ways, dismissing everything he said as deceptive lies.

That was the consistent style of the Purification Faction dragons of the Raging Tides Dragon Domain.

Yet.

There seemed to be a special charisma about the Red Emperor.

He was like the scorching sun, warm and yet majestic in spring.

When his radiance shone upon the Maelstrom dragons, they involuntarily set aside their inner rejection and caution.

They began to rationally consider the meaning of his words. They even began to reflect.

Was it possible that they themselves were wrong?

Should they look for problems within themselves?

This kind of reflection was almost unimaginable for the Purification Faction dragons.

But now, it was happening.

"Regardless of whether they are Five-colored Dragons or Metal Dragons, regardless of whether they are Gemstone Dragons or Iron Hybrid Dragons, regardless of scale color, regardless of origin."

The Red Emperor's voice continued to resonate. "Under the banner of the Sacred Aola, all dragons willing to rebuild the glory of the dragon race have a place."

Every word landed heavily on the hearts of the Metal Dragons, shattering their stubbornness and psychological defenses.

Garoth's face was like cast iron, betraying no emotional fluctuations. He said calmly, "From now on, the Sacred Aola will take over the Raging Tides Dragon Domain."

"As for you..."

He looked down, his gaze falling upon the Maelstrom dragons whose convictions had begun to waver.

"Although you are foolish and stubborn, unable to see what the true future of the dragon race is, I am still willing to give you a chance."

He paused, then continued:

"You can choose to stay in the Raging Tides Dragon Domain."

"The Maelstrom Sea will still be your home."

"Every island here, every reef, every wave will not be taken away."

"As long as you can recognize your own problems and are willing to return to the correct path for the dragon race, the Sacred Aola is willing to accept you. Then, you will enjoy the same rights and dignity as all other Aolan dragons."

Then he offered a second choice.

"You can also choose to leave."

"Leave the Maelstrom Sea, go somewhere else to continue carrying out your so-called justice. Do not be an enemy of the Sacred Aola. Do not encroach upon Aola's territories and subjects."

"At that time, Aola will not pursue any of your previous offenses or provocations."

Finally, he said, "Choose. You have three minutes."

Having said that, the red iron dragon spoke no more. His faceplate covered all his expressions.

A strong wind blew past the scales of every dragon, making a whistling sound. Lightning danced across the sky, illuminating the world in flickering flashes.

The Metal Dragons either lowered their heads in thought or exchanged glances with each other. Their hearts were filled with intense struggle and contradiction.

Most of the Metal Dragons couldn't help but look toward the Gold Dragon Fenoris.

When they couldn't make up their own minds, they tended to lean toward the choices of those who were more highly esteemed.

And Fenoris, as the Bronze Dragon King's most trusted subordinate and one of the most prestigious dragons in the Raging Tides Dragon Domain, his choice would directly influence the decisions of many dragons.

Meanwhile, Gold Dragon Fenoris had landed on a cliff face.

His heart was equally agitated. His dragon claws unconsciously scraped against the reef, leaving deep grooves, one after another, crisscrossing.

When he felt the gazes of his many kin upon him, the burden on his heart grew even heavier.

Stay?

Or leave?

The Red Emperor's words echoed endlessly in his mind, forcing him to reconsider many questions he had never thought about before.

Whoosh!

A gust of wind sounded.

The Silver Dragon Archer folded her wings and landed beside the Gold Dragon.

She could see his struggle.

Because she was struggling just the same.

The Red Emperor's voice was even more deafening to her. Her expression constantly shifted. Eventually, all of this slowly calmed down. Her gaze also became firm.

"Fenoris."

The Silver Dragon whispered, uttering the Gold Dragon's name.

The Gold Dragon slowly turned around, looking at the Silver Dragon Archer.

Archer did not say much. She just nodded slightly at the Gold Dragon, a simple and small gesture.

Having been Crown Ancient Dragons for so long, having known each other for a thousand years, they were familiar enough with each other. Familiar enough that no words were needed, just a simple glance to understand the other's choice.

The Gold Dragon was stunned for a moment, then relieved as if a weight had been lifted.

He turned around, facing the Red Emperor, and deeply bowed his head.

"Your Majesty, I once believed you were an evil tyrant. But when you appeared here, I clearly realized that this was all due to foolish prejudice."

"I believe that under the radiance of the Sacred Aola, the Raging Tides Dragon Domain will move toward a more glorious future."

He bowed his head, making his choice.

Lord Sheffield, I am sorry.

But you were wrong. We were all wrong.

The great Scarlet Emperor Cangxing is by no means an evil dragon. He is a Dragon Emperor born once in tens of thousands of years, harboring the grand ideal of restoring the dragon race to glory. He does not deserve such malicious speculation.

The Gold Dragon silently thought to himself, no longer wavering.

It was as if a heavy stone had been removed from his body, making him much lighter.

Fenoris's choice was a beginning.

After the Gold Dragon set the example, the Silver Dragon Archer also stepped forward and bowed her head. "Your Majesty, I am willing to stay in the Raging Tides Dragon Domain and strive for the acceptance of the Sacred Aola."

Following them, more and more Metal Dragons made the same choice.

One after another. Some were decisive. Some hesitated before finally stepping forward. Some lowered their heads under the gaze of their companions.

In the end.

The vast majority of the Maelstrom dragons chose to stay. Only about one-tenth of them chose to leave.

But even in leaving, there was very little hatred or anger in the eyes of this small minority.

They simply did not want to accept the control of a foreign empire.

As for the Red Emperor...

The Metal Dragons' thoughts had quietly shifted.

They no longer held the same malice and prejudice toward him. They even couldn't help but feel respect and admiration.

For a Dragon Emperor who fought for the dragon race and was willing to let his radiance shine upon all dragons, even if they did not wish to gather at his feet, they should absolutely not be hostile toward him.

This small group of Metal Dragons silently departed.

Their figures were gradually swallowed by the tempest, disappearing at the gray horizon of the Maelstrom Sea.

No one chased after them or tried to stop them.

The Maelstrom dragons who stayed behind silently watched their figures disappear between the sea and the sky.

Afterward, the Sanctuary, hanging high in the sky, lit up.

More and more Aolan dragons emerged from the pillar of light, ready to take over the Raging Tides Dragon Domain.

Garoth had never been interested in this kind of cleanup work.

He stood on a tall sea cliff, facing the surging Raging Tides Dragon Domain. Behind him was the Raging Tides Dragon Domain, now enveloped in his radiance.

"There was a time when, because of the existence of the Raging Tides Dragon Domain, I avoided the ocean at all costs."

Garoth thought to himself.

Before he had grown strong, this stronghold of the Purification Faction dragons had always been a thorn in his heart, causing him deep unease. He had stayed far away from the sea.

Now, the Raging Tides Dragon Domain was his.

At that moment, the chrome dragon flew over.

He landed on the sea cliff, folded his wings, and walked to Garoth's side.

"Your Majesty, these Metal Dragons are such cowards, bullies who fear the strong."

"Back on the Arotala Continent, I had already heard of the reputation of these Purification Faction dragons of the Raging Tides. The extremists among the Metal Dragons, each more stubborn than the last, the type who would rather die than surrender."

He licked his fangs, showing a dissatisfied expression.

"But what was the result? Their performance here doesn't live up to their reputation at all. They didn't even put up a decent resistance. What is this? They're not even as tough as those Elven bones I gnawed on back on Arotala."

To be honest, he was really disappointed.

He would have preferred these Metal Dragons to choose death over surrender. He had looked forward to them proving their spine with the most violent resistance, expecting them to fight to the end with the most extreme methods.

Then, he could legitimately torture them, making them completely submit through pain.

That was the chrome dragon's favorite part.

The way it was now just made him feel it was boring.

"...Even a mad dragon like you can learn to control yourself under my command, let alone a bunch of Metal Dragons who can't even figure out their own pursuits?"

Garoth turned his head to glance at the chrome dragon.

Compared to the chrome dragon when he was going mad, these Metal Dragons were all as normal as could be.

"Dragons always mock those weaker races, saying they like to blindly follow the crowd, have no opinions of their own, and only follow others when faced with things."

"But the vast majority of dragons are not fundamentally different from other races in this regard."

"They just don't want to admit it."

The storm churned on the horizon. There was almost no boundary between the dark clouds and the sea. The entire sky was gray-black. It was as if the whole world was being swallowed by darkness.

The red iron dragon turned to look at Claudia. His voice continued to ring out:

"There aren't many truly extreme Purification Faction dragons here, not to the core."

"Most of them simply admired the Bronze Dragon King. Under his influence, they chose a similar path. Or, they just wanted to stand out through a different approach, to make themselves seem special among their kin."

"And when the true moment of decision arrived, all illusions were shattered."

"They discovered they weren't as firm as they had imagined, nor were they ready to sacrifice everything for their so-called justice. Then, they could only make the most realistic choice."

That was just one aspect.

Garoth was well aware that the other, more important aspect, was because of him.

The attribute of charisma was never just about attracting the opposite sex.

Power, authority, speech, posture, reputation, bearing, past accomplishments... All these elements together forged an attribute called charisma.

Charisma could not be measured by level. It had no specific numerical value.

But it existed in reality, and in many cases, it was even more important than power itself.

It could transform fear into awe, hostility into submission. It could make opponents who should have fought to the death put down their claws and willingly bow their heads.

And Garoth's charisma was so high it had condensed into a trait.

That was precisely why those Maelstrom dragons had felt that irresistible charisma on him, the kind that made dragons want to follow him, and then put down their inner stubbornness.

"And what about the Bronze Dragon King?"

Claudia flicked her tail, asking curiously. "If the Bronze Dragon King had been standing here today, would he have changed his mind?"

Garoth did not answer.

He calmly withdrew his gaze and looked back at the surging waves before the sea cliff.

The matter of the Raging Tides Dragon Domain gradually came to an end.

Soon after, it was fully taken over by the Sacred Aola. Under the direction of the Aolan dragons, order in the Raging Tides Dragon Domain gradually recovered.

In the shadows, many people had been looking forward to internal conflict among the dragons.

They had hoped to see the Metal Dragons and the Aola Empire slaughter each other, causing the dragon race to consume its own strength in internal strife.

However, these people did not get their wish.

The other four great dragon domains did not launch any punitive action against this, not even a condemnation.

On the contrary, the Everbright Dragon Domain and the Vophal Dragon Domain even publicly expressed their support for the Sacred Aola. They believed that the Sacred Aola had guided the lost Metal Dragons back to the correct path, which was something worthy of affirmation.

As for the Raging Tides Dragon Domain.

The dragons who chose to stay were filled with admiration for the Red Emperor himself.

The influence of their past thoughts still lingered in their hearts. It would not disappear completely just because of a single battle. It would take time to eliminate.

Only through the precipitation and test of time could they truly gain the acceptance and recognition of the Sacred Aola.

However, this would not take too long.

The Aolan dragons pursued victory and glory, not evil and destruction.

Their hearts yearned to usher in an era of dragon glory under the leadership of their Emperor. To achieve this, the Aolan dragons were willing to put forth far more blood, sweat, and effort than other dragons could imagine.

After closer contact, more and more Metal Dragons began to realize this.

They began to understand that even Five-colored Dragons could possess firm convictions and lofty ideals, rather than being as evil and chaotic as they had imagined.

The Raging Tides Dragon Domain was gradually becoming Aola-ized.

While the Raging Tides Dragon Domain was gradually being taken over by the Sacred Aola.

The Bottomless Abyss.

Some unknown plane.

Rotten sludge piled up on the ground that had been sedimented for who knew how many years, emitting a nauseating odor. No living creature was willing to approach this place.

Beneath the thick sludge.

A pair of pale cyan eyes slowly opened.

Even within the rotten, filthy sludge of the Abyss, they still shone brightly, without the slightest wavering or confusion.

The Bronze Dragon King, Sheffield.

He was not dead.

Back then, in the battle with the Demon King, he had been severely wounded by the Demon King's power, his body nearly torn apart.

At the last moment, a shattered spatial rift had swept him up and thrown him into this unknown Abyssal plane.

At first, the Bronze Dragon King had narrowly escaped death. He had encountered many dangers. Some he barely managed to deal with using his remaining strength. Others he could only avoid.

But as time passed, his injuries gradually healed.

The nearly fatal wounds began to close. The broken scales regrew. The depleted strength slowly recovered.

Moreover, his life force had not decreased due to the injuries. On the contrary, it had been steadily advancing, surging toward a level above Mandate of Heaven.

The harsher the environment, the stronger the Bronze Dragon King's will became.

As long as he was not truly dead, his conviction would allow him to persevere in any environment and become stronger.

"Just one last step."

"Soon, I will return to Bernardo as an Immortal being. At that time, I will lead the people of my Raging Tides Dragon Domain to set things right and purge all evil."

The Bronze Dragon King thought to himself, then closed his eyes.

He lay silent and still beneath the sludge like a dead thing, but the life force beneath his scales grew more and more intense, charging toward the realm of Immortality time and time again.