Chapter 521
The increasingly out-of-control Mad Fire, a Disaster on the Continent of Aurotara
Chapter 521 The increasingly out-of-control Mad Fire, a Disaster on the Continent of Aurotara
Three months have passed since Lorthene officially submitted.
It was springtime, and the mountains of Ser were teeming with life, with grass growing and birds singing.
Pine seeds were carried by the wind and fell into the crevices of the rocks. With a little bit of accumulated soil and snow water, they pushed aside the stone chips and stretched out their verdant branches from between the steep cliffs.
scoff!
A tearing sound shattered the tranquility of the mountains.
A giant claw covered in dark red scales embedded itself deeply in the rock wall, then closed up, easily scooping out a large chunk of granite mixed with tree roots and soil.
Garros casually put the lump into his mouth, his thick dragon jaws opening and closing.
The stone and wood fibers were ground into powder between his indestructible teeth, then rolled in his throat and were swallowed whole.
The surrounding mountains have long been unrecognizable.
The mountainside is riddled with huge and jagged gaps, as if it had been viciously devoured by a giant beast. Some places are teetering on the verge of collapse due to loss of support, and occasionally loose rocks roll down the steep slope with a rustling sound.
"No matter how much of these things I eat, my stomach still feels empty."
Galos ate while pondering silently.
A considerable amount of time has passed since the intense battle on the Ryan Plateau.
Since then, he has never had a proper meal.
At his most unbearable moments, he even wanted to bite himself.
However, Galos endured it with great willpower.
Galos knew very well that this unsatisfied hunger was not meaningless; his body was being forced to adapt to a low-intake state, and his digestive system was slowly improving its efficiency in absorbing food.
With each swallow of rocks and soil that contained no energy whatsoever, his digestive system underwent subtle adjustments and strengthening.
This is the process he must go through to evolve towards a more efficient form of energy utilization.
This is also a difficult process.
Hunger itself was not unbearable for Galus.
What truly made him uncomfortable was the accompanying weakness; insufficient food intake directly reduced the effectiveness of his daily exercise.
Strength gains became sluggish, and muscle strengthening slowed down.
This is the most difficult part for Red Iron Dragon, who is obsessed with increasing his strength and enjoying the thrill of becoming stronger every time.
"Resources are no longer a problem for me now."
His claws dug into the rock again, tearing off another piece of food.
"What truly constrains me is my own efficiency in utilizing resources."
"If I continue to waste my time like this, this weakness will only be magnified as my size and strength increase, eventually becoming a fatal flaw that slows me down."
It was based on this clear-headed thinking that Galos was able to force himself to continue.
This is to pave the way for a broader future.
call!
Red Iron Dragon exhaled a scorching breath, then, enduring the hunger within him, began his training for the day.
But today's workout didn't last long.
A familiar mental fluctuation came from Iron Dragon Sorog.
Galos paused slightly, his claws digging into the rock beneath him to steady himself.
He temporarily stopped exercising, and while still clinging to the ground, he used his left claw to rake off some pebbles and put them in his mouth, chewing them while focusing most of his attention on the connections in his mind.
“That kid, Gorton, has been a bit restless lately.”
Sorog's voice echoed in his mind, "He came to me and said he wanted to experience what it's like to be a king, of course, referring to the throne of Lorthorn."
"I refused outright."
Iron Dragon paused, then continued, "Lotharn is ultimately a kingdom dominated by humans. Putting a dragon, especially a dragon like Gordon, in that position will only ignite the flames of rebellion in everyone's hearts."
Galos made a muffled sound of approval in his throat and swallowed the pebbles.
"Yes, you handled it correctly."
Conquest, domination, destruction... these are completely different concepts.
Galos's goal was never to turn Lorthorn into scorched earth.
Only a well-ordered Lorthene, where productivity is maintained and even developed, can continuously supply Aura and Garros with minerals, food, manpower, and even knowledge for many years to come.
Gorton's idea was purely out of curiosity and playfulness, and ran counter to true governance.
"After I rejected him, I didn't completely block his path."
Sorog said, "I told him that although he could not become king, his previous plans could continue, and I would give him the necessary support."
What was the result?
"He was very happy and agreed on the spot."
Sorog seemed to smile. "Lothern may appear to submit, but he may not truly be convinced."
“Gorton’s approach of slowly infiltrating and subtly changing Lortherne’s thinking does not conflict with our strategy; in fact, it can complement it.”
"Give him something productive to do, so he won't get into trouble when he's idle."
Galos nodded slightly and asked, "So, the one to the throne has been chosen?"
"It's decided. We've chosen the most sensible one from among King Lorthorn's surviving sons."
Tie Long said in a calm tone, "He's not very old and has a weak personality, but the important thing is that he's obedient enough and understands who gave him this position."
"The reaction from the Lorthorn royal family was calmer than expected."
“At least the crown is still on their family’s head, and the bloodline has not been broken. This seems to give them some comfort, or rather, a reason to convince themselves.”
Galos neither confirmed nor denied this.
The royal family's submission was expected; in the face of absolute power, a fragile sense of honor is utterly vulnerable.
He thought for a moment and then asked, "What is the attitude of the commoners and nobles of Lorthorn now?"
Sorog paused for a few seconds, organizing his thoughts: "This country... its heritage is indeed much deeper than that of Theo."
"The sense of shame over Lorthorn's defeat was intense, and a general sense of suppressed resentment permeated the populace."
"Many veterans and old nobles, in particular, harbor a clear hatred for Aura and for us. In the taverns, one can often hear resentful grumbles about past glories and present humiliations."
"But this is not unsolvable."
Tie Long changed the subject, his voice filled with certainty.
"How long can human hatred last? One generation? Two generations? Three generations?"
"The generation that personally experienced the horrors of war and lost loved ones and homeland will gradually grow old and die. The memories of blood and fire will fade with their passing, and the truth of history will be buried by new narratives."
"Fifty years, one hundred years, two hundred years... Time will make these short-lived species forget everything."
"By then, Lorthen will only remember Aura's power and be proud of it."
The likes and dislikes of ordinary people are the least important, because they are often the easiest to influence.
During the honeymoon period between Lorthern and Aura, many Lorthern merchants, scholars, and commoners longed for Aura's glory. However, on the eve of the war, almost the entire Lorthern regarded Aura as a barbarian.
Was this change spontaneous?
No, that was the result of the Lorthene royal family and nobles manipulating public opinion.
Now, it's Aura's turn to sit in the dominant position.
"So, you plan to replicate the methods you used in Theo in Lorthorn?"
Galus asked, tearing off another rock with his claws.
"It's not just about copying, but also about deepening and improving."
Sorog's mood visibly improved. "Moreover, the conditions are better now than before."
"The ruling class of Lorthorn, whether they like it or not, must outwardly obey our will. With their cooperation, there will be much less resistance and the results will be much faster."
"What about it?"
Galos chewed on a stone, then pressed for more information with great interest.
"First and foremost is education; that is the foundation."
Tie Long, clearly having given it considerable thought, said, "History must be rewritten."
"Lotharne's past glories can be preserved, even highlighted, but the direction of interpretation must be completely changed."
"Its decline will be attributed to arrogance, isolation, and stagnation, with the outdated and corrupt aristocratic system dragging down the entire kingdom. Now, with Aura's help and guidance, Lorthen has been able to set things right, be reborn, and integrate into a stronger and more advanced order."
"Regardless of what happens in private, all teaching materials and official records must adhere to this principle."
"Secondly, it is about shaping the culture."
"I have ordered the collection of all folk tales, epic poems, ballads, plays, and even nursery rhymes within the territory of Lorthorn."
"Any depiction of dragons or other Aura symbols as evil villains is strictly prohibited from being disseminated."
"At the same time, I will encourage the creation of new cultural works, such as those that praise you, the sun, celebrate the power and order of Aura, and depict dragons as symbols of strength, wisdom, and protection."
"We want the people of Lorthern to unconsciously accept our narrative during their leisure time."
Galos chuckled, and pebbles fell between his teeth: "You've thought things through very carefully, but the emotions of intelligent beings are complex. Relying solely on preaching and stories is probably not enough."
"Of course not enough."
Tie Long immediately added, "So there's a third step, which is also the most crucial one: binding interests together."
"We must ensure that the interests of Lorthen's ruling class and noble class are deeply intertwined with those of Aura, so that they rise and fall together."
"For example, loyalists will receive mining rights, trade licenses, tax reductions, and will be encouraged to marry into the Aura people."
“The families of the rebels will be marginalized, their property confiscated and distributed to the collaborators.”
"In just a few generations, the upper echelons of Lortheon will be deeply intertwined with Aura. Their interests will be our interests, and to rebel against us will be to rebel against themselves."
Education shapes cognition, culture influences emotions, and interests determine stance.
This combination of tactics is enough to silently and gradually transform a hostile, defeated nation into a submissive or even dependent territory.
"Very thorough."
Galos spoke up, offering his praise without reservation, "Your wisdom earns my trust, Sorog. This process can serve as a model for handling similar situations in the future."
"This is all thanks to your initial reminder, my dear brother."
Sorog humbly returned the praise, saying, "You showed me the true essence of domination beyond power; you are the wise one who leads the way."
After a brief period of mutual affirmation, Tielong turned the conversation to the other subjects who had submitted.
"Let's leave those small duchies aside for now. The three great kingdoms of Rebos, Matna, and Kambrook are all very sensible."
"They signed the new alliance we drafted, formally recognizing Aura's...special leadership position on the Romanian plains. The terms of the alliance were very straightforward, with little to no equality; resource extraction, military passage rights, trade preferences... were all in our favor."
This move was learned from Lorthern, but it also has many Aura-specific characteristics.
Tie Long paused briefly and then asked a question: "Garos, I'm a little confused."
"Now that we have the situation under control, why not follow Lorthern's example and form a new federation centered on Aura? It would be easier to manage if all the countries were nominally incorporated."
Galos stopped chewing.
He slowly raised his head, his gaze passing over the mountains of the Serbian wilderness and reaching towards the higher horizon.
"Look at the sky."
Instead of answering directly, he said something that seemed completely unrelated.
Elsewhere, upon hearing this, the Iron Dragon Sorog instinctively raised its head and looked up at the sky.
The sky was clear and vast during the day, a deep, clear blue.
A few wisps of thin clouds drifted leisurely.
“Remember, above us is not nothing; there dwells a true empire.” Galos’s voice murmured softly.
Tie Long's expression immediately turned solemn.
Yes, and Holden, he's been so busy dealing with the affairs of the Romanian countries lately that he's almost forgotten that there's a real behemoth beyond this plain.
Holden's floating city is still located in the sky.
"It was my oversight."
Tie Long said in a deep voice, his tone regaining its composure.
“It’s alright, but we must remain vigilant.” Galos’s voice softened as he said, “A loosely connected system bound by an alliance and a tightly knit federation are completely different in terms of the level of excitement Holden sees.”
"There is no need for us to actively cross that line right now."
Sorog understood.
This is typical of Galus.
Before you have enough power to overturn the rules, use everything cautiously and hide yourself from your enemy's sight.
Tie Long chuckled in a low voice: "Alright, let's maintain the status quo for now."
"Anyway, I'm waiting for the day you can knock that floating city down with a single pebble."
A lighthearted joke eased the somber atmosphere.
"There's one more thing I need to discuss with you."
Sorog returned to the main topic, "About the Lane Plateau."
"Its geographical location is far superior to that of the Serb Desert. It is located almost in the center of the Romanian plain, with fertile land and abundant resources. With a little development, it can be easily developed in all directions."
“I think it’s time to officially plant the Aura flag on that plateau.”
Galos was not surprised by this.
In fact, he thought much further ahead.
"We must not only occupy the Ryan Plateau."
Galos announced his decision: "I intend to move Aura's capital there."
"Move the capital?" Sorog was clearly taken aback.
"Times are changing, and we need to adjust accordingly."
Galos explained, his gaze becoming distant, “The Sel Wilderness and the permafrost tundra, located in the northern border of the plains, with the cold northern ocean behind them, were in a position that was easy to defend and difficult to attack in the past, and there was also a way to retreat, which was suitable for the newly established Aura.”
"But now, our territory and influence have expanded significantly to the south and into the heart of the plains."
"This location seems somewhat remote and outdated."
More importantly, threats from the ocean are increasing.
"The White Peril is raging in the ocean; we must be wary of her potential attack."
"The orc fleet has crossed the ocean, and although it is aimed at the continent of Aurotara, it is also possible that it will send a vanguard to the continent of Atlanta. They will not fight the Holden Empire at the same time, so they will most likely choose to land in a weaker location."
"Garos said calmly."
He has always had an extremely keen sense of real danger.
He got to where he is today not because of his strength alone.
Prepare for a rainy day and take precautions to prevent problems before they arise.
When faced with truly powerful enemies whom they do not yet fully understand, Galus has always adopted a cautious "no confrontation" strategy, avoiding unnecessary direct conflict as much as possible.
This caution accompanied him from a young dragon, step by step, as he grew into the Red Emperor who now shakes the entire plain.
Today, his power is vastly different from what it once was; his wings cast shadows that blot out the sky. Yet, his original intention remains unchanged. He has not become arrogant or complacent because of this, nor has he lost his caution.
Power breeds arrogance, while wisdom lies in controlling arrogance.
Galus always remembered this.
“I understand,” Sorog’s voice rang out again, deeply agreeing.
"Moving the capital to the Rhine Plateau was indeed a visionary move."
"This matter requires careful planning, and I will begin the preliminary preparations."
"You are fully responsible for these specific matters."
Galos interrupted him, showing him the utmost trust.
“Yes, sir,” Sorog replied curtly.
Soon after, the mental connection was finally severed.
Galos brought his attention back to reality.
The hunger in his stomach still lingered, and the mountain peaks groaned under the weight of his body.
He gazed southward, at the Romanian plains where his voice was gradually fading into the distance.
However, above them was a seemingly empty sky, but in reality, it was filled with the shadow of an empire; in the distance was a vast ocean with undulating waves, harboring unknown dangers.
The road ahead is still long.
Galos withdrew his gaze, no longer thinking about those distant threats and plans.
Right now, there is another important matter.
Hu. Garros took a deep breath, and his eyes instantly became bloodshot. He closed his eyes slightly and repeated deep breaths. When he opened his eyes again, there were still a few bloodshot streaks in his eyes. It took him a few seconds to completely suppress them.
"The mad fire has been burning even more fiercely lately."
Galos thought to himself.
For some reason, Madfire became more difficult to control during this period. His previously evolved mental resistance gradually became insufficient, and whenever he looked westward, Madfire's swaying would become more intense.
The west is the direction of the continent of Aurotara.
Everything was fine before, why did this change suddenly happen?
Considering the origins of the Madfire and the recent anomalies on the continent of Aurotara, it's not hard for Galos to imagine that the meteor shower that swept across Aurotara and was classified as a natural disaster by the Nausir Elf Empire might be related to the Madfire.
I don't know if it's good or bad.
Hong Tielong's gaze was serious as he pondered.
Meanwhile, on the eastern border of the continent of Aurotara.
Reinhardt walked wearily along a path leading to an ordinary village.
He came from Atlanta, and in order to get away from the hustle and bustle and to heal old wounds, he decided to set foot on this unfamiliar land.
Soon after, a peaceful and serene human village came into view.
The drying grains were golden, chickens and ducks strolled along the fence, and a yellow dog lay lazily in the sunlight in front of the door.
His arrival attracted some attention, but the villagers looked at him with simple, honest eyes, filled with curiosity and goodwill.
An old man greeted him warmly, a young girl fetched him cool stream water, and the villagers prepared a clean guest room for him. The air was filled with the smell of cooking smoke and earth, and everything seemed peaceful and tranquil.
In the continent of Aurotara, elves reign supreme.
The people living here are actually more united.
Reinhardt liked the atmosphere of the village.
He even felt that he could rest here for a few days.
However, this tranquility was completely shattered in the afternoon.
It started as a sharp argument between children over a pebble with a unique pattern by the stream.
This is a common occurrence in villages like this.
But soon, the atmosphere changed drastically when a father intervened. The man's voice was unusually harsh, and the accusation instantly escalated into a charge of "theft."
The other parent naturally retorted angrily.
Reinhardt was resting in front of the house when he heard the sound and looked over, frowning slightly.
He originally intended to observe for the time being and mediate if necessary.
But things developed faster than expected.
He noticed that the eyes of the arguing men were becoming bloodshot at a visible speed.
The voices grew louder and louder, as if they were not about the stones, but about some deep-seated hatred. The insults became vicious and widespread, affecting not only individuals but also families and even ancestors.
What's even more chilling is that this rage spreads like a plague.
The peacemakers' faces also turned red as they joined the fray; the onlookers' pointing and whispering turned into loud agreement and incitement.
Within minutes, dozens of people gathered in the open space, spitting and glaring at each other, their rationality seemingly extinguished.
Reinhardt strode forward, his voice steady: "Gentlemen, please calm down! It's just a pebble..."
"Shut up, outsider!"
"What do you know!"
"That family has disliked us for a long time!"
Anger easily turned against him, suspicion and malice surged forth, and then, someone shoved him first. The suppressed volcano erupted.
The pushing and shoving turned into fists and kicks, and some people grabbed wooden sticks and farm tools from the side.
Screams, roars, and the sound of objects shattering filled the air.
The girl who had once handed him water now had a contorted face and screamed as she stabbed the neighbor woman with a sharpened wooden stick; the kind-smiling old man from yesterday was now brandishing his cane and attacking everyone around him like a mad tiger; chickens and ducks flew away in fright, and the once docile yellow dog had broken free of its chain, drooling, barking and biting wildly at the figures.
The entire village was plunged into an abyss of rage and chaos in an instant, and blood began to splatter on the ground.
Is this some kind of curse?
Reinhardt no longer hesitated.
An invisible pressure emanated from him, and a soft yet irresistible halo enveloped the open space.
He opened up the realm.
Within the domain, all the waving weapons, the lunging figures, the howling villagers, and even the barking dog were all gently but firmly suppressed by a force.
They were unable to move.
However, their chests heaved violently, their eyes were bloodshot, and their throats still emitted hoarse sounds like trapped beasts, filled with the most primal hatred and hostility. They glared at each other as if they wanted to devour each other alive.
In the center of a desolate open space, only Reinhardt stood out from this eerie scene.
His brows furrowed as his gaze swept over a series of familiar yet unfamiliar, grotesque faces.
"enough!"
With a furious roar, his voice, imbued with the majesty of a legendary rank, attempted to pierce through the fog of anger and awaken these lost souls.
The moment the shout left his mouth, Reinhardt felt a surge of annoyance and anger.
As he looked at the villagers struggling in vain and remaining stubborn in his territory, a violent thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
"This is utterly absurd! A bunch of ignorant idiots, they might as well..."
Before the thought was even finished, Reinhardt was startled.
He instantly focused his mind and looked inward. Sure enough, a very faint trace of heat and resentment was trying to penetrate his strong will. A bloodshot vein had also quietly appeared in his eye.
He is a powerful legend who is incredibly close to becoming a Grand Slam champion!
How could the uncontrolled anger of these ordinary villagers infect him like a plague?
"wrong……"
Reinhardt took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing all the turmoil in his heart, his eyes becoming incredibly sharp and solemn.
He re-examined the village shrouded in an invisible rage.
The sunlight was still warm and gentle, yet it sent chills down his spine.
Reinhardt came here seeking opportunities to escape the strife on the Romanian plains, but now it seems that the continent of Orotara harbors something far more mysterious and troublesome.
(End of this chapter)