Chapter 523
Reigning Supreme over the Immortal Realm, Reuniting with the Fairy Dragon
Chapter 523 Reigning Supreme over the Immortal Realm, Reuniting with the Fairy Dragon
"I need to temporarily leave the material world and go to the Immortal Wilderness."
Red Iron Dragon relayed the general situation to Sorog and Samantha through their blood ties.
Samantha's response immediately exploded on the other end of the link, with an excited mental reaction: "So, our name is finally going to spread to the outer planes?"
"Haha! Galos, my dear brother, I hope the Fairy Wilderness is just the beginning."
"From the highest peaks of heaven to the deepest abyss, one day our roar will make gods and demons tremble!"
That's a rather arrogant statement.
But Galus did not correct him.
Red Dragon is by nature fond of making wild pronouncements and painting grand blueprints.
Samantha was one of the best among them; she never held back her words, but she knew very well what she was doing.
She has a clear understanding of her own capabilities and her place in the ecosystem, and she won't do anything foolish that is beyond her ability.
They may talk a lot of nonsense, but when it really matters, they are quite cautious.
At the same time, Iron Dragon Sorog also felt excited, but for a completely different reason than Samantha.
"Outer plane..."
He pondered for a moment, then his deep voice slowly came through the link, “The Romanian plains are now ours.”
"If they want to continue expanding, the next step will inevitably be direct conflict with other regional hegemonic powers or powerful city-states."
“That would be very troublesome, and more likely to alert the Holden Empire prematurely.”
Atlanta is a vast country, which can be roughly divided into five major regions.
The Romanian plains in the north are just one example; there are similar regions in the east, west, and south, which together account for about a quarter of the continent's total area.
The remaining three-quarters is the Central Land, located in the center of the continent, which is the most resource-rich and fertile land.
That was the territory of the Holden Empire, also known as Middle-earth, the absolute center.
The heavens and the earth of Middle-earth belong to the Holden Empire.
Galus once earned the title "Lord of the North" on the plains of Romania.
Initially, this title seemed somewhat pretentious.
But even today, looking at the entire Atlanta continent, this title has acquired a significant weight.
However, if the Kingdom of Aura wants to extend its reach to other regions, even the closest ones, it must detour around the territory of the Holden Empire and can only do so by taking routes through treacherous and remote places.
This is no simple matter; it requires a huge investment, but the results are unpredictable.
"Once we have fully utilized the resources of the Romanian plains, our development will inevitably hit a bottleneck sooner or later."
Sorog continued his analysis, his thinking clear.
“I had thought about how to break the deadlock before, but I always felt that the goal was still far away and that daily affairs were too complicated, so I didn’t go into depth.”
“Now, Galos, you have given me new inspiration.”
He paused briefly, his spirits noticeably lifted: "If the Holden Empire can develop the Abyss, why can't we?"
"As long as we find the right channels and methods, it may be more efficient and less resistant to seize power and resources from other planes than to compete with other forces in the material world."
Dimensional resources are theoretically almost unlimited.
Compared to many other planes, the planet Bernardo is ultimately just one of the countless worlds in the prime material plane, and its resources are hardly abundant.
Upon hearing this, Samantha's astonishment immediately overwhelmed her excitement.
"Sorrog, are you insane?!"
When she previously shouted "make the abyss tremble," she was expressing a distant and beautiful longing, but she didn't really want to touch the abyss immediately.
Even the most arrogant red dragon would instinctively feel a sense of dread when he mentioned that place.
As for the Holden Empire, which dared to actually develop the Abyss... Samantha privately admired their courage.
This is not something an ordinary person can do.
It's not easy to even have this idea, let alone put it into practice.
"The Abyss is not a place where we can extend our claws right now, at least not right now."
Samantha became unusually serious and spoke slowly and deliberately.
Tie Long paused for two seconds before slowly explaining, "What I mean is, we can follow Holden's approach."
"Develop other dimensions, but they don't necessarily have to be the Abyss."
"For example, the Fairy Wilderness that Garos is going to is a good starting point."
Of all the known outer planes, the Abyss is undoubtedly the most infamous and the most dangerous.
If the abyss is likened to a vicious, bloodthirsty thug, then the Fairy Wilderness, in its presence, is at most like a lively, harmless, and even somewhat innocent little girl.
"Oh...I see."
Samantha visibly relaxed, her tone becoming light again. "You scared me half to death. I thought you'd gotten your head stuck in a door, or that you'd been quietly corrupted by the whispers of the abyss."
Then, she added in that fierce tone:
"No, I absolutely have to go to those little rifts in our territory later, burn some demons to death, and listen to their beautiful wail before they die! Just to get rid of the bad luck!"
Sorog ignored Samantha's declaration of violence and instead sought confirmation from Garros.
What do you think of this idea?
"Since you're heading to the Immortal Wilderness, why not take the opportunity to observe that plane carefully? Is it worth our attention? Is it possible to establish a base and put down roots there?"
Galos did not answer immediately.
He is also seriously considering this issue.
Any outer plane, due to the difference in its fundamental rules from the primary material world, will inevitably give rise to rare resources or unique environments that are completely absent in the primary material world.
The benefits of successfully developing a stable outer dimension would be immeasurable.
However, opportunities always coexist with risks.
Every outer plane has its own dangers; the only difference lies in the form and degree of the danger.
Perhaps because few of their ancestors were dragons that set foot on that land, the records in the Dragon Heritage about the Fairy Wilderness are not detailed.
The heritage only contains some rough descriptions.
For example, it was a beautiful and vibrant plane, inhabited by many kinds of spirits.
But one thing is clear.
Gods exist in the Fairy Wilderness.
The true God who holds authority and dwells in the Kingdom of God.
"To me now, there is really no difference between the gods in the outer planes and the immortal beings in the material world."
"However, venturing into other dimensions inevitably comes with risks and requires careful consideration."
With that in mind, he said to Sorog via the link, "Practice makes perfect."
"I'll fly to the Immortal Wilderness myself, see it with my own eyes, and experience it firsthand before I decide whether it's worth the risk we're taking."
The communication lasted a few more minutes, and after finalizing some details, the link gradually faded away.
Red Iron Dragon lowered his head again, looking at the Flower Fairy who had been quietly standing aside, both nervous and full of anticipation.
"We can set off now."
He said this while crushing the fairy dragon's scales.
At first, there was nothing unusual about the surroundings.
About a minute later, ripples began to appear in the air, and a rainbow-like brilliance emerged, swirling and intertwining, gradually forming a vortex about ten meters in diameter.
Through the center of the vortex, you can see the view on the other side.
A lush forest scene.
The faint sounds of the stream and the laughter of the spirits could still be heard.
"Wow...this is completely different from the teleportation spell that brought me here!"
The flower fairy flapped her wings and flew excitedly around the vortex. "This vortex is huge, and you can see the verdant countryside directly from it! Lady Vera, you are truly amazing, you are practically omnipotent!"
She praised him generously.
Galos stared at the 'huge' spatial vortex, then looked down at his own dragon body and fell into a brief silence.
Should we force our way through?
He dismissed the idea as soon as it arose.
As the faint light flowed across his scales, he used a shapeshifting spell, rapidly shrinking his size until he could easily pass through the vortex.
However, as he approached the vortex, the edge of the vortex contracted inward in sync with his approach.
It always maintains a size that Galus cannot pass through directly.
"The dimensional portal opened by Vera has a limit to its capacity... and even though I have shrunk in size, my life force still exceeds this limit."
Galos recalled some teleportation knowledge and quickly made a judgment.
Interdimensional teleportation and intradimensional spatial teleportation are two different things, and their levels of difficulty cannot be directly compared.
Take Ciel for example.
Even before he became a legend, he was able to use the skill to banish targets to other dimensions, and he even tried it on himself, though he failed. He was also able to teleport short distances or travel through dimensional rifts.
However, he himself cannot perform long-distance spatial teleportation.
Similarly, someone capable of long-distance spatial teleportation may not be able to banish living beings to other dimensions, let alone teleport themselves to other dimensions.
"Send the alchemists and magic array masters from within the kingdom here to create a dimensional portal stabilizer or amplifier?"
Galos considered technical solutions, but then rejected them, saying, "No, this is not as simple as setting up a temporary teleportation array. It involves the stabilization and expansion of interdimensional channels, which is a huge project that cannot be completed in a short time."
After a moment's thought, he gradually came up with an idea.
The next moment, he raised one of his front paws.
Garus's Destroying Claw firmly grasped the edge of the dimensional vortex.
A deep roar rolled from his throat, and Garus exerted force in his arms, his muscles bulging beneath his scales, and began to slowly tear to the sides.
Buzz!
The spatial vortex immediately trembled violently, resisting this force.
The resistance was astonishing; even with Galus's immense power, he felt a heavy burden.
The vortex was being torn apart very slowly, and as the opening widened, the force of resistance increased exponentially, making him gradually feel overwhelmed.
"That's interesting."
Hong Tielong paused slightly, a grin spreading across his face.
call!
A tangible dragon aura rose from his body.
Under the astonished gaze of the little fairy, a shocking change occurred.
Energy condensed in the air on either side of Garus's shoulders and neck, instantly transforming into two majestic dragon heads, identical to the central head and covered with thick dragon scales.
at the same time.
On either side of his torso, two additional pairs of massive arms, also composed of dragon energy and bulging muscles, were clearly visible.
Three heads stand side by side, and six arms encircle the body!
At this moment, the Red Iron Dragon seemed like a creature that had stepped out of ancient mythology, its aura vast as an abyss and its posture majestic as a mountain.
Then, six claws gleaming with the power to destroy magic simultaneously reached out and seized several 'points of leverage' under the observation of the Eye of Truth.
open!
The three dragon heads roared in unison, the sound waves causing the surrounding air to buzz. The six giant claws unleashed terrifying power, working together to tear at the sides and up and down simultaneously!
the other side.
A fairyland wilderness, a verdant countryside.
Led by the fairy dragon Vera, a large group of various spirit creatures are gathered in a forest clearing.
They all tilted their little heads back, gazing longingly at the rainbow vortex in the sky, their eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation.
"What will Garus look like now?"
Vera stood at the front, equally thrilled.
"He was already a legend when I left the material world, so even if things changed afterward, they probably wouldn't have changed much... right?"
Thinking about this, she felt inexplicably uncertain.
After all, that's Galus; he always manages to create some unexpected commotion.
Time passed second by second.
Suddenly, the center of the vortex began to fluctuate violently, with its expansion and contraction becoming extremely exaggerated. Then, the center of the vortex bulged outwards as if some enormous object was ruthlessly squeezing in from the other side.
Then, a giant claw covered in dark red dragon scales slowly emerged from the vortex.
This scene was quite terrifying.
The spirits gasped in unison, but none of them were afraid. Instead, they stretched their necks even longer, their eyes wide with excitement.
These claws... they're huge!
In Vera's recent "Red Emperor Story," she claims that she used some kind of clone technique to balance her life in the Fairy Wilderness and the material world.
The real body is Vera, a lively, intelligent, and adorable fairy dragon.
Another, more combat-savvy and imposing clone, known as Garo Ignas, has achieved great things in the material world.
The spirits firmly believed in this and were filled with romantic imagination about it.
At this moment, they held their breath and focused intently.
After the first giant claw, a second, a third... a total of six equally majestic and terrifying dragon claws, seemingly capable of crushing steel and rocks, emerged from the vortex and firmly grasped its edge.
The next second, the six giant claws simultaneously unleashed unparalleled power, tearing fiercely in different directions.
Tsk! ! !
A deafening roar that shook the very souls of all spirits resounded throughout the entire verdant countryside.
The dimensional portal, which required special talent to construct, was forcibly torn open with a huge gap by the most primitive and violent method.
Right in the center of the crack.
A towering, imposing figure slowly extended its upper body into the Immortal Wilderness.
The first thing that caught the eyes of all the spirits was three majestic dragon heads, side by side, covered with thick dragon scales. Each one was enormous beyond the spirits' imagination, its eyes like the sun, looking down upon the tiny creatures below.
Next came the neck, as majestic as a mountain range, connected to the head, and the broad shoulders and back. Then came the three pairs of thick dragon arms, supporting the upper body and also protruding from the rift. The muscles on them were clearly defined as if carved by a knife and axe, bulging and gleaming with the luster of metal and power.
The shadow cast by his upper body, which had only squeezed into the Fairy Wilderness, completely enveloped the forest clearing.
The air seemed to freeze.
The babbling of the stream seemed to have disappeared, the wind seemed to have stopped breathing, and even the usual faint chirping of insects in the forest had fallen completely silent.
All kinds of spirits, whether they are little flower fairies or little goblins flying in the air.
They are still tree spirits and flower spirits rooted in the ground.
They all craned their necks, opened their mouths wide—either flower stamens or tree hollows—staring blankly at the giant dragon that occupied most of their field of vision in the sky, their minds completely blank.
This...this is the Red Emperor from Lady Vera's story?
Well... the story doesn't say he had three heads and six arms!
Galos lowered his eyes, looking down at the spirits below who seemed to be petrified, and a thought flashed through his mind.
Did my posture frighten them?
But the moment that thought arose in his mind...
"Wow!!!"
It's unclear which little imp let out a piercing scream first, but it was like lighting the fuse of a powder keg, followed by more cheers.
"The Red...the Red Emperor! It's the great Red Emperor!"
"So...so big! So...so powerful!"
"That's incredible! Ten thousand times more amazing than the stories say! No, a million times more amazing!"
"The demon is doomed! Absolutely doomed! It's not even worth a single claw of His Majesty's!"
The little fairies began to fly wildly in the air, screaming and cheering excitedly; the tree spirits shook their branches and leaves vigorously, making a rustling sound of applause; the flower fairies sprinkled colorful pollen, like celebratory fireworks.
Even the mushroom people and shy grass spirits on the ground jumped up and down, making happy chirping sounds.
"Long live the Emperor!"
"The Red Emperor has arrived, and peace has come! Our desolate countryside is saved!"
"Tear that evil demon apart! Protect our home!"
Instead of fear, they erupted with a welcome and worship a hundred times more enthusiastic than before!
Galos was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized.
The fairy dragon, through his story, had already laid the groundwork for sufficient awe and trust.
Therefore, in the simple minds of these spirits, no matter how ferocious Garus may appear, he is not a dragon that brings disaster, but rather the guardian deity in the story who will protect them.
His gaze passed over the jubilant spirits and landed on that most familiar figure.
Fairy Dragon, Vera.
She looked to be in excellent condition; the dark spots that had appeared due to the passing of life had long since disappeared, and her scales were bright and vibrant, full of vitality.
More importantly, her life force... has already stabilized at the legendary level.
Returning to the Immortal Wilderness was indeed of great benefit to her recovery and growth.
At this moment, the fairy dragon was also tilting its little head up, staring blankly at the magnificent dragon body with three heads and six arms in the sky, its eyes full of shock and amazement.
"This big guy... it's only been a short time since I last saw him, how did he become so... so exaggerated?"
Vera thought to herself, "And this form...it's so imposing! But, hehe..." She suddenly chuckled, her tail tip swaying happily, "The stronger he is, the stronger I am! Hehe, I, Lady Vera, will also become stronger!"
Thinking of this, a bright smile with a hint of smugness appeared on her face.
A moment later.
Galos had completely crossed the dimensional rift and set foot on the land of the verdant countryside.
"Red Emperor! Red Emperor! Red Emperor!"
The cheers of the spirits rose higher and higher as they huddled around the dragon, jumping and scattering more celebratory powder and petals, filling the entire forest clearing with fervent joy.
However, Galos didn't pay much attention to the enthusiasm of the spirits at the moment.
Upon arriving in a completely new outer plane, a multitude of sensations utterly different from the material world surged forth like a tide, assaulting his senses.
First, there's the visual aspect.
The entire world was clearly visible to him, and it wasn't just the effect of the Eye of Truth.
The color saturation here is extremely high.
The green is like the emerald green that seems to flow down. The stream is so clear that you can see every line on the pebbles in the deepest part. The flowers are brightly colored, like an oil painting. Even the dust floating in the air shimmers with a faint halo under a soft light.
Everything was so clear, so vivid.
It's as if the entire world has been subjected to top-notch beautification and sharpening effects, completely different from the relatively calm and natural colors of the material world, carrying a dreamlike texture.
Next came changes at the level of perception.
Galos could clearly sense the 'emotions' of his surroundings.
The ancient trees exude a sense of peace, contentment, and protection; the flowing stream carries a light, song-like joy; the soil beneath our feet conveys a generosity and steadiness that nourishes all things... This plane itself seems to be immersed in an 'emotional field'.
Finally, and this is the point that Garus cares about the most.
His own emotional state changed.
As a dragon who controls his power with reason, Garus has long since tempered his emotions and will to be as refined as steel.
He certainly possesses emotions such as anger, joy, curiosity, and vigilance, but they are usually restrained within a controllable range by strong reason and will.
They are rarely exposed, and they are unlikely to easily get out of control.
However, the situation changed here.
Having only stepped into the Immortal Wilderness for a few dozen breaths, Galos felt that his emotions had become much more active than when he was in the material world.
Hearing the enthusiastic cheers of the spirits, and seeing those tiny creatures dancing and scattering colorful pollen and swaying their branches in celebration of his arrival...
A sense of satisfaction and joy welled up from the bottom of my heart, and I couldn't help but wag my tail.
He even wanted to jump around to express his joy.
He could even taste the emotions of worship and joy permeating the air, like invisible floral fragrances seeping into his consciousness.
This is unimaginable in the material world.
Not only that.
As the spirits' emotions continued to rise, Galus also noticed changes in the surrounding environment.
Some flowers and plants became vibrant at an abnormal speed, and several fruit trees even blossomed on the spot and produced plump fruits at a rapid pace.
"The Immortal Wilderness..."
Galos quickly analyzed in his mind, "One of the rules of this plane can amplify the emotional reactions of living beings, making the emotions themselves more real and perceptible, and can even directly cause an impact on the real world."
His own emotions were indeed affected.
However, the current level of impact is not enough to affect his judgment and actions.
This is a novel experience.
But at the same time, he sensed the danger lurking within.
"Not only positive emotions, but also emotions such as anger and destruction will be amplified."
Galos attempted to awaken the Mad Fire, and his eyes suddenly became bloodshot at a rate ten times faster than usual, filled with immense rage. However, he reacted quickly, and with his control, the Mad Fire was rapidly suppressed.
Here, all emotional reactions are more intense.
“Here, all emotional reactions are more intense, and the threshold for arousal and outburst is lower.”
Galos thought to himself.
Kind people may become more compassionate and loving, while the wicked... their malice and destructive desires will be amplified, making them more prone to getting out of control.
“An interesting place.”
Galos made an initial assessment of the Fairy Wilderness.
Beautiful, vibrant, and full of life, but also harboring various risks that may be triggered by amplified emotions.
As for whether this place is suitable as a future expansion target for the Kingdom of Aura... more observation is needed.
hum!
The red iron dragon glowed, its size gradually shrinking to about the size of a young dragon. It moved cautiously, careful not to step on the flowers, plants, or spirits.
Normally, he doesn't like to conform to his surroundings.
However, Galos was in a good mood and couldn't bear to spoil the beautiful scenery around him.
He knew that this thoughtful idea was somewhat influenced by the local rules.
However, Galos did not reject this novel emotional experience within a safe range. On the contrary, he was happy to try and feel it with the mindset of an experiencer.
"Get out of the way, everyone! Don't crowd so tightly!"
"Give me and my... um, give us some space to talk alone!"
Vera flew over, waving her little paws, and began to scare away the overly enthusiastic spirits.
Although the little fairies were a little reluctant, they obediently flew away with giggles, landing on the branches or petals of the surrounding trees, continuing to look around with their bright eyes.
She flew to the red iron dragon's shoulder and landed firmly, then said with a grin, "Garos, my great Red Emperor, it's been a long time!"
She paused, then exaggeratedly drew out her words, gesturing with her little paws.
"Wow, you've become... bigger, more... imposing! You're like a moving mountain! I'm so glad you could come!"
Her joy was genuine, and her tail swept back and forth happily.
Red Iron Dragon tilted his head slightly, focusing his gaze on the little one.
“My esteemed Lady Vera, this is my true form.”
“Serving you is my duty. After all, according to you, I am just a ‘clone’ of yours. It is only natural for a clone to help the original body solve its problems.”
The dragon said with a half-smile.
Vera's smile froze for a moment.
"Keep your voice down..."
She looked around guiltily, then lowered her voice, "What...what bad intentions could I possibly have? It's just to spread your fame and let your glorious deeds resound in more places! Wait..."
"Why are you talking so strangely? So sarcastic... Are you really the Garus I know?"
Vera squinted, looking the dragon's head up and down, which was so close to her.
"Can't you even recognize your own 'clone'?"
Hong Tielong tilted his head slightly, making an exaggerated expression of confusion.
"It seems that my true form isn't very perceptive of my changes."
"That won't do. As the great Red Emperor himself, you should be fully aware of the state of your clones."
His tone was noticeably varied, with a slight upward inflection at the end, making him sound much more lively than usual.
As it spoke, the Red Iron Dragon also gently shook its neck and patted the ground with its thick, long tail, its movements much more varied than when it was in the material world.
Vera across from them widened her eyes.
She flew around Galos's head twice, scrutinizing him carefully.
"Oh!"
She suddenly slapped her head with her paw, realizing, "I know! It's the influence of the Immortal Wilderness! I didn't expect that even someone like you would have your emotions amplified by the rules here!"
She had spent a considerable amount of time in the material world and was well aware of the differences between the two dimensions, especially their impact on emotions.
"Perhaps."
Galos shook his head slightly again, his tone tinged with pleasure, "The rules here are interesting; they make emotions brighter and more prominent."
"For example, right now I feel particularly... well, pleasant to see you looking surprised and guilty."
He pronounced the word "joy" with exceptional clarity, while simultaneously patting the ground with the tip of his tail, carefully avoiding a clump of plants blooming with small blue flowers.
Vera was speechless for a moment, her dragon face puffing out.
But then she straightened her small body and tried to appear confident and self-assured.
“Hey! What do you mean I’m guilty! I… I’m diligently spreading your heroic deeds, helping you make a name for yourself, and building up… uh, I mean, building up your reputation! The spirits in Green Country and other places I’ve heard about worship you now! Didn’t you see how happy they were to see you?”
She stretched out her little paw and pointed to the little elves who were still excitedly looking around.
"Yes, they are very happy."
Galos's gaze swept over the spirits, his eyes softening slightly. The amplified sense of satisfaction increased his fondness for these small creatures.
"Thanks to you, I inexplicably became the guardian deity of this place, and even attracted a demon."
When the topic turned to demons and ghosts, the pleasure in Hong Tielong's tone quickly faded, replaced by a chill.
The rules of the Immortal Wilderness refined his displeasure and aversion to trouble. This emotion, like a drawn blade, was not fully revealed, yet it already sent chills down one's spine.
"...Well..."
Vera's momentum waned, and her eyes began to dart around. "That demon, it... it has no sportsmanship! It launched a sneak attack!"
"Moreover, it was mainly attracted by the story of the Red Emperor. Your reputation is too great, so you also bear some responsibility!"
She tried to share some of the pot, but the more she spoke, the softer her voice became.
Finally, she completely deflated, her wings drooping, and she muttered an admission: "Okay, okay... it's all my fault. I shouldn't have told stories everywhere, and I shouldn't have made them so exciting."
Seeing her admitting her mistake, Hong Tielong grinned and smiled.
“My true self,” he said, “now that I have answered your call, my responsibility is to take on the responsibilities that are yours.”
"A little demon, hehe."
The dragon's voice deepened, becoming arrogant and domineering, with a hint of eagerness.
“I will wait for it to come here, to come to me, and then… crush it to ashes.”
Galos was indeed deeply interested in this special creature that was born from stories and lies and fed on them.
This was unlike any creature he had ever encountered before.
He was already quite impatient to come into contact with these unique beings in the outer planes. Perhaps, this would bring him a new level of stimulation and a new level of evolution.
(End of this chapter)