Chapter 526
The Source of the Mad Fire, A Dangerous Planet
Chapter 526 The Source of the Mad Fire, A Dangerous Planet
The feast in the verdant countryside continued day and night.
Galos also relaxed for once, letting himself be immersed in the pleasure amplified several times by the plane's characteristics.
He did not display his majestic, mountain-like form, but maintained a length of about ten meters, a size that allowed him to blend into the home of the spirits without appearing out of place, while also preserving the majesty of a dragon.
He maintained his imposing form with three heads and six arms, but at this moment, this form had nothing to do with the battle.
Six dragon claws, covered in dark red scales and powerful enough to crush steel, were carrying six enormous wine barrels the size of a spirit house.
The bucket was filled with joyful honey.
It is a precious wine made by the spirits using the sweetest morning dew and the most joyful fruits. The wine has a dreamy rainbow gradient color and exudes a mesmerizing fruity aroma.
Galos's three dragon heads had completely abandoned their usual majesty and contemplation.
They lowered down in unison, their dragon snouts probing into their respective wine barrels.
"Gulp... gulp... gulp..."
A deep, hearty drink resounded as the wine flowed continuously into the dragon's throat.
Hong Tielong drank without restraint, even swaying his head contentedly.
Suddenly, the movement of the middle head paused slightly, a muffled groan came from its throat, and then with a "pfft," it spat out a small, wet figure.
It's the fairy dragon Vera.
She was like a soaked fruit, dripping with liquid from head to toe, her wings drooping.
This guy had taken advantage of Garus's inattention and jumped into the barrel of wine Garus was drinking from, getting completely drunk and floating in the rich honey, oblivious to the world around him.
The mead of the spirits is intoxicatingly pleasurable; as long as there is no resistance in one's heart, even the consciousness of legendary creatures will be submerged.
Vera, on the other hand, clearly opened her heart completely to enjoy it.
"Waaah... Why is the sky spinning... And the floor is spinning too..."
The fairy dragon mumbled in a daze, flapping its wings a few times with difficulty, but flew in a crooked arc and almost crashed into the cap of a glowing mushroom.
Several spirits quickly flew over to support her and hurriedly helped her wipe the wine off her body.
After spitting out the troublesome little guy, Red Iron Dragon drank the rest of the liquor in the barrel in one gulp.
In high spirits, he suddenly raised his head and, towards the sky where stars were just beginning to appear, unleashed a magnificent dragon breath as dazzling as a grand festival firework.
"Wow—! His Majesty the Red Emperor is breathing fire!"
"So beautiful! So pretty!"
"One more! One more!"
The little creatures' eyes widened, and they erupted in cheers like waves. Some of the bolder ones even flew closer, their little faces turning red from the heat.
Upon hearing this, Hong Tielong laughed heartily, his laughter like rolling thunder.
"Alright! Let me show you just how high my flames can shoot!"
His three heads were raised high at the same time, his neck muscles bulged, and his dragon snouts opened.
Crimson flames and leaping lightning spiraled upwards, exploding with a deafening roar in the high sky, transforming into a shower of fiery streams and dazzling specks of light that illuminated the entire verdant countryside as if it were daytime, and also lit up every face below filled with amazement.
Wow! Again, again!
The spirits cheered.
They leaped, sang, and scattered even more dazzling pollen and light dust around the drinking, fire-breathing dragon. Some of the little elves even dared to fly onto Garus's horns or shoulders, swaying to the rhythm of his drinking and fire-breathing.
Galos felt the sweetness and heat of the honey in his throat, and the warmth rising in his stomach.
Here, in this dimension amplified by emotions, he could clearly perceive the almost boiling joy in the air and feel the unreserved worship and closeness of the spirits.
It was a torrent of pure emotion that washed over his nerves, which had been taut for years.
So, Red Iron Dragon raised all six arms and gently placed the empty barrel aside.
The three heads turned in different directions, their eyes reflecting the bonfires and dancing lights, receiving cheers from all directions.
"For pleasure!" the middle head boomed.
"For the joy!" The left side of the head immediately reattached.
“For… uh,” the right side of the head hiccuped, then continued, “for not sleeping tonight!”
The spirits burst into even louder laughter.
Just then, some diligent little flower fairies and tree spirits, along with several docile creatures resembling giant beetles, arrived buzzing as they dragged the new, enormous wine barrels.
Galos reached out his claws to take it and once again drank with a bold and unrestrained attitude.
As time passed, swept by this wave of jubilation, other representatives of the animal habitats that had received invitations from Green Countryside also arrived one after another.
They are mostly guardians of their respective habitats or respected elders, and they come in various forms.
There were taciturn, oak-like tree-people; there were magnificent eagles with gorgeous feathers, surrounded by gentle breezes; and even gem spirits that shone with light.
In total, eight people came.
Only one of them is a guardian spirit with butterfly wings on its back.
When these outsiders first arrived, their eyes were more or less filled with observation and wariness.
But their vigilance began to waver when they noticed the unpretentious, completely absorbed red iron dragon.
They also saw Hollis sitting cross-legged on a huge lotus leaf, holding a wooden cup in one hand and gesturing in the air with the other, telling something to a group of spirits sitting around him.
The spirits listened intently, occasionally letting out gasps of amazement.
The human guardian looked relaxed, his robes stained with grass and pollen, his staff casually resting on his shoulder, clearly not in a position of being forced or reluctant to participate.
The initial wariness began to dissipate.
Without needing to say more, these guardians joined the feast almost eagerly.
They sang and danced, sharing the special drinks and food they had brought. In fact, fueled by the alcohol and the joyful atmosphere, some of the guardians even raised enormous containers commensurate with their size to drink with the Red Emperor.
However, the revelry must eventually come to an end.
Another week later, the banquet came to an end.
Prior to this, Red Iron Dragon and the Guardians had already completed their discussions on cooperation in a relaxed and friendly manner.
Compared to signing various rigorous and complicated contracts with other kingdoms in the material world, the "cooperation" here is much simpler, and there are no written documents, only verbal promises and agreements.
The Kingdom of Aura will purchase Emotion Fruits from contracted spirit habitats in exchange for material products, including but not limited to certain gems, textiles, musical instruments, beautiful storybooks or poetry collections that are attractive to spirits.
In addition, Galus expressed interest in black oil.
He was willing to clean up the 'slippery mess' for the spirits and pay them a generous reward. If the spirits could provide information on the location of the black oil field, there would be an additional reward.
As for providing guards free of charge, only Green Country Garden is currently willing to accept the offer.
The guardians of other habitats were cautious, saying they didn't need it for the time being, but they would keep an eye on Green Country. They knew that this kind of 'guarding' and trade were not the same thing; the former required unreserved trust and recognition.
Galos was not surprised by the result.
He understood the caution of these creatures.
They are not stupid; they are just more inclined to trust their intuition and emotions.
His reputation in other spirit habitats has not yet reached a point where he can entrust his home to safety.
However, Galos's development strategy for the Fairy Wilderness was long-term and gentle, based on cooperation and mutual benefit, rather than on plunder and conquest.
This is just the beginning. As time goes by, trade increases, and trust is gradually established, his reputation will naturally continue to rise.
Soon, the framework of the agreement was reached, and the banquet gradually came to an end.
Guardians from other habitats gradually returned, gaining a new understanding of the Red Emperor's image.
"Your Majesty Ignas, please allow me to offer you one last toast."
Hollis brushed the fallen leaves off his robe, stood up, and toasted Red Iron Dragon with a glass of wine.
"I must say, you have impressed me greatly. I thought I was knowledgeable and had a good understanding of the powerful race of dragons, but now it seems that I was still a bit narrow-minded."
Galos let out a low chuckle, raised the barrel of honey wine, which still had a little less than half left, and offered a distant toast to the spellcaster.
"Life would be too dull if strength were not adorned with a moment of joy."
He tilted his head back and took a big gulp.
"exactly."
Hollis smiled and finished his drink, but the intoxication in his eyes quickly faded like a receding tide.
"There are still many things in the lush woodland that need my attention, so I will take my leave now."
"May all your wishes come true, and may your kingdom... be filled with everlasting joy."
Galos did not try to persuade him to stay.
Later in the banquet, he had several long conversations with the human mage, covering a wide range of topics, but mainly focusing on the customs and traditions of their respective material worlds.
Galus's curiosity about other material worlds remains strong.
He considered inviting the mage to the Kingdom of Aura.
The value of a legendary arcanist who possesses vastly different magical knowledge and cross-dimensional experience is self-evident.
However, Galus eventually abandoned the idea.
Hollis stayed in Fairy Wilderness voluntarily in search of inner peace, and he had no interest in power, wealth, or worldly glory.
Forcing an invitation is not only abrupt, but also has a very low chance of success.
After the banquet, Galos did not rush back to the material world.
He set off again for the somber Woods of Mourning, this time alone, with a clearer purpose.
He took out the Fruit of Wrath, which the spirits called 'Hot'.
“In the Fairy Wilderness, emotions naturally become more active.”
"In specific areas, the activation effect of corresponding emotions will be greatly enhanced."
Red Iron Dragon pondered for a few seconds, and then, in an area filled with negative emotions, he cautiously ate only one Rage Fruit.
The effects were immediate, even far exceeding expectations.
call!
Like adding fuel to a fire, the raging inferno instantly transformed from calm to raging.
Galos's pupils narrowed, turning bloodshot, and his vision was shrouded in crimson. Countless voices seemed to roar and howl in his ears, and his rage raged as it assaulted his defenses of reason.
"Whew, that's really powerful!"
The red iron dragon murmured, and a scorching heat seeped from the gaps in its scales as its sharp claws dug deep into the ground.
He looked like he was about to explode at any moment.
However, no matter how much anger burned, it could not break through Garos's rational defenses, but it did cause ripples in his mind, preventing the Red Iron Dragon from being completely calm.
Galos suppressed his inner turmoil and carefully sensed every subtle change.
He let the rage burn, then forcibly suppressed it just as it was about to reach its limit, repeating this process while trying to maintain his rationality amidst his anger.
As he became more familiar with the changes in his state, Garus consumed more of the Fruit of Wrath as appropriate.
Add one at a time, and give the body enough time to adapt.
His emotions became even more volatile, fluctuating like a tsunami.
At the same time, he noticed that the entire cycle of the manic fire, from its ignition to its limit and then to its forced suppression, was dozens of times faster than in the material world, and it was increasing with the consumption of the Wrath Fruit.
A cycle that might take hours or even longer to complete in the physical world could take only minutes here. It is an extremely dangerous experience, and one could easily succumb to the rage they themselves have created.
Fortunately, Galos had extensive experience in fighting against the Mad Flame and had reached an extremely high level of control over his own will. He did not rashly consume too many Wrath Fruits and always kept the Mad Flame within a range of rapid changes, but within a controllable range.
During this process, Galos sensed something was different.
The resistance of the mad fire seemed to have weakened.
It's not that the intensity has decreased, but rather that the resistance from the source has disappeared.
In the material world, no matter how much Galos tries to suppress it, the Mad Fire is like an untamed beast, always ready to retaliate.
But here, in the Immortal Wilderness, the Mad Fire seemed to become compliant. Although it was still violent, it did not put up much real resistance when suppressed.
"Perhaps I can completely suppress, or even control, the Mad Fire."
Red Iron Dragon breathed heavily, muttering to himself.
This is of great significance to him.
The existence of the Mad Fire has always been a hidden danger. Galos had only suppressed it before, rather than truly controlling it. In the material world, no matter what methods he tried, the Mad Fire stubbornly maintained its independence and backlash, and could not be completely tamed.
But in the Fairy Wilderness, the situation seems to have taken a turn for the better.
Aside from intense emotional fluctuations, for some reason, the 'resistance' of the maniac itself was almost nonexistent.
This potential problem seems to have a chance of being resolved.
However, Galus did not act rashly.
He was well aware of the principle that haste makes waste, especially when it came to his own significant hidden dangers.
Right now, establishing a passage between the material world and the immortal wilderness is a more important matter.
To be honest, Garus had a pretty good impression of Fairy Wilderness.
The uninhibited feast with the spirits allowed him to experience pure joy and relaxation, a joy that came from the heart, not the satisfaction of victory.
Galos was already accustomed to years of training, contemplation, and fighting, but that didn't mean he was only passionate about these things.
Often, it is a necessary means of survival and upward mobility, rather than an inherent pleasure.
His journey through the Immortal Wilderness was like a thorough spiritual cleansing, washing away most of the pressure and dust that had accumulated in his heart, making his soul feel lighter.
No wonder many interdimensional travelers have said that once they have visited a unique outer dimension, they will never forget it and always want to return.
Galos felt the same way.
His focus is on the material world, but he will return here, not only for trade, for exploration, and for solving the Mad Fire, but also for pure joy and tranquility.
This place can become his backyard, a haven for rest.
After spending about a day in the Woods of Mourning, Garus returned to Green Country.
Over the next few days, there were no more banquets. He simply spent time with the spirits, watching them busy themselves among the flowers, listening to their impromptu songs, and occasionally participating in some lighthearted games.
He also carefully reflected on the gains and feelings of this interdimensional journey, and clearly organized what he saw, heard, thought and felt.
But ultimately, it's time to return to the material world.
He found a fairy dragon jumping around on a giant mushroom with a group of fairies.
The fairy dragon was having a great time, its little face covered in pollen.
"Huh? Galos!"
Noticing the red iron dragon's arrival, Vera flapped her wings and flew over, landing on his outstretched claws. "What do you want? Want to play? I can teach you the rules, although your claws are too big and might be a bit inconvenient..."
Galos shook his head slightly and said, "I'm going back to the material world."
"Oh……"
Vera's smile faded slightly as she said, "Leaving so soon? Wasn't this place fun? Or were the spirits not welcoming enough?"
"This place is great, and the spirits are very welcoming."
Galos said, “That’s why I need to go back and implement the trade and guard commitments I promised you as soon as possible, and also… establish a more stable route to facilitate future exchanges.”
He paused, looked into Vera's bright eyes, and asked, "Want to come back with me?"
"The Kingdom of Aura has developed considerably in recent years and has decided to relocate its capital, so there will be some new and exciting things to come."
Vera's eyes instantly brightened.
"Yes! Of course I want to! I haven't been back in so long! I wonder how my little attic is doing, and all those glittering collections..."
She excitedly flew around Garus's claws once.
But then her movements slowed down, and the excitement on her face was gradually replaced by a hint of hesitation.
She looked back at the little flower fairies and tree spirits who were still playing or curiously looking this way, and then looked at the lush green land of the countryside.
"But……"
Vera's voice lowered: "I haven't been the guardian of this place for long... Elder Unicorn entrusted Green Country to me, and the spirits rely on me a lot. Although I'm sometimes unreliable and always thinking about playing, I promised the elders and them that I would protect this place and keep it full of joy."
She looked up at Galos, her eyes filled with an unusual seriousness.
"If I leave, what if some evil things like demons and ghosts come again? Spirits are brave, but fighting is not their forte, and they will be afraid."
As they talked, the fairy dragon's hesitation gradually disappeared, replaced by a firm resolve.
"Garos, I cannot go to the material world with you."
She spoke softly but earnestly, "At least not now. Green Country needs my protection. Since I've taken on the responsibility of being a guardian, I can't leave at will. I have to stay here."
Red Iron Dragon watched her quietly.
The fairy dragon, who once only thought about playing, has grown up after undergoing a transformation and inheriting responsibilities.
Nothing stays the same forever.
Galos did not dwell on the past, but praised, "You did the right thing, Vera. Green Country is lucky to have you here."
Upon hearing Galos's affirmation, Vera raised her head.
"Oh dear, don't say that..."
She scratched her cheek with one little paw, while her tail wagged happily. "I'm a little embarrassed... Although I am indeed the greatest pride here, I don't usually boast like this. I don't really care about the title of 'Guardian,' really, I just do it casually..."
But she quickly returned to normal.
The fairy dragon asked, "Can I still come to visit you in the future? After everything settles down?"
"of course."
Galos nodded affirmatively, "Once the dimensional portal is stable, the warriors of Aura will be stationed here to assist in the defense. At that time, your burden will be much lighter, and you can come to the material world at any time."
"And I will come here again."
"Great!"
The fairy dragon perked up again, saying expectantly, "Hurry up and get the passage finished! When it's ready, I'm going to bring all my best friends to visit your kingdom. They've never seen such a big city and so many races before, they'll be so happy they'll faint."
"Okay, I'll do it as soon as possible."
Galos promised.
In the verdant countryside, farewells always require a touch of ceremony.
Vera gathered all the spirits of Green Country to bid farewell to the Red Emperor.
They sprinkled their most radiant pollen and sang songs of blessing, hoping that joy would accompany His Majesty on his return journey.
Subsequently, Garros tore apart the dimensional vortex constructed by Vera, and his figure gradually faded away in the verdant countryside.
Rip! Rip!
With a series of violent spatial fluctuations, the massive body of the Red Iron Dragon reappeared among the mountains of the material world.
Here, emotions become dulled, and one becomes unable to perceive the emotions of the surrounding environment.
A strong sense of discomfort instantly enveloped Galos.
However, the material world was where he was born. He only took a few breaths before the discomfort disappeared, and he became familiar with his surroundings again. Compared to the dreamlike feeling of the Immortal Wilderness, this place was more real and easier to adapt to.
"Dimensional portal"
Galos turned around and looked at the fading traces of the spatial tear.
"After undergoing special training and acquiring some knowledge of dimensional space, will I be able to use the Claw of Annihilation to directly tear open the dimensional barrier for myself and reach other worlds?"
He seemed to be deep in thought.
In theory, this is feasible.
Galos did not ponder this matter for long.
Because he felt the resistance of the mad fire once again.
Galos was slightly taken aback at first, then felt a little confused.
"Why... in the Immortal Wilderness, the Mad Flame clearly showed signs of being suppressed and even gradually submitting to my will, but once we returned to the material world, it was as if... it came back to life? That sense of resistance became stronger again."
Soon, a possibility surfaced in his mind, making his gaze become serious.
"Perhaps it's because the source of the maniacal fire is located in the material world."
His gaze was serious as he slowly pondered to himself.
at the same time.
In the vast depths of space, thousands of light-years away from Bernardo's planet, a planet silently floats on a curtain of darkness.
From a distance, it is breathtakingly beautiful.
The atmosphere had a hazy blue halo, as if shrouded in a dreamy veil.
On the surface, forests stretch endlessly, the azure ocean shimmers, white clouds drift leisurely, and you can even see the poles covered with crystal-clear ice caps.
This is a beautiful planet that has preserved its original natural landscape.
It is like a beautiful gem, set in the universe.
However, if we zoom in and look beyond the beautiful facade, the truth here is enough to send chills down the spine of any rational observer.
This planet, in a sense, is indeed 'full of life'.
The forests are far from tranquil, constantly filled with high-frequency hissing and roaring; on the grasslands, countless figures chase and trample wildly; the waters of rivers and lakes are rarely calm, always stirred up and murky by fierce battles.
All the living things here.
Whether they are towering giants or tiny flying insects; whether they are winged creatures soaring through the sky or scaled monsters diving into the deep sea, their eyes are all blood-red without exception.
On this seemingly beautiful planet, a mad flame burns, capable of destroying everything.
But beyond madness, there are also some seemingly rational beings.
They stay on bare mountains or near fissures in the earth, but no matter what they look like, they are mining a kind of blood-red ore, then filling the round boulders with the ore, and then throwing them into spatial rifts.
Among these creatures, there are even a very few elves with handsome appearances and slightly pointed ears.
However, these elves had no wisdom in their eyes, only dullness and bloodlust.
They are like marionettes, being manipulated by something.
(End of this chapter)