Chapter 587: Divine Wills, The Irresistible Tide of the Times |
The waterspout shattered in midair into a spray of mist, like a sudden torrential downpour, crashing head-on onto the coastline.
The boundary between the sandy beach and the sea was briefly blurred.
Gabriel instinctively squinted, while the Silver Dragon shrank her head even lower, almost burying herself in the wet sand.
The red iron dragon spread his wings in midair and slowly exhaled a scorching breath.
By now, the wounds on his body had mostly healed. Beneath the scales shattered by the Giant King's heavy halberd, new tissue had already filled the gaps, leaving only a few faint red marks. The spasms coursing through his body had also lessened considerably.
"The Radiant State is even more powerful than I initially anticipated."
Garoth thought with satisfaction.
This was his first time activating the Radiant State in actual combat, unleashing the energy meant for a complete resurrection in an extremely short burst. The effect was nothing short of astonishing.
Even for someone as powerful as Garoth himself, it triggered an instant qualitative change.
Facing the Giant King, who possessed a strong defensive trait, he had ended the battle in no time.
He even had enough leftover power to kill several orc legends.
"Such great power comes at a great cost."
"If my health were measured as one hundred points, after some recovery just now, it's probably only around twenty left. This value can no longer sustain a full-fledged battle against top-tier crown-level or Mandate of Heaven beings."
"Still, I won't be easily crushed."
Garoth silently assessed his condition in his mind.
He felt his own state.
The lower his health, the stronger he actually became. Moreover, he had his Abyssal Breath Lungs and Furnace Stomach, along with skills like Claim Life and life extraction, allowing him to constantly draw power from enemies in combat.
His health might seem to have reached a warning line.
In reality, it was still beyond the imagination of most living beings.
Garoth didn't dwell on it further.
He folded his wings, and his massive, towering body began to descend. When his four claws touched the soft sand, they didn't sink in. His landing was silent, as if he had no weight at all. Only his tail swept a few shallow furrows behind him, revealing the damp, dark sand layer beneath.
He shook his body, and a few shattered scales fell off onto the sand.
The edges of those scales were already blackened, curled, and devoid of luster.
The red iron dragon cast a cleaning spell on himself, removing the blood and gore clinging to his body, making himself a bit cleaner and tidier.
After doing that, he turned to look at the two young dragons, his gaze first falling on his own offspring.
"Gabriel."
The Gold Dragon straightened his spine, meeting his father's gaze, his posture correct, like a soldier being inspected.
"Father! Long time no see!"
He said.
Garoth's gaze swept from the top of his offspring's head to the tip of his tail, then slowly retracted. He nodded. Gabriel's size had increased considerably since their last meeting; his bones were well-developed, and his muscles were full.
"Mm, you've grown a lot."
He said, "At your current size, you've already surpassed some legendary-level great dragons. Reaching this level before your prime is very good."
Hearing this, the Gold Dragon's lower jaw lifted slightly, a gleam flashing in his eyes.
"The dragon domains have a lazy environment, but I haven't been influenced by it. I train myself often."
Gabriel said, his tone restrained, but his tail tip unconsciously swaying lightly. "In the Dragon Domain Championship two years ago, just like you when you were young, I defeated all the young Metal Dragons and won the championship. I didn't dishonor your bloodline."
His voice paused for a moment, and he asked, "Father, do you know about this?"
Garoth nodded.
"Your mother mentioned it."
He said with a hint of a smile, "She said you won the championship and earned a title called... the Golden-Red Crown Prince. Every time she sends me a message, you bring up your title within three sentences."
"She's happy for your achievement, but she also hopes you can tone it down a little sometimes."
Gabriel's expression stiffened for a fraction of a second.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but swallowed it back.
The Silver Dragon couldn't help but let out a soft laugh, then, realizing her gaffe, quickly shrank her head back, pretending she hadn't done anything.
Gabriel quickly regained his composure. He cleared his throat and said, "I have a reason for doing this."
"Father, I just think that if a dragon doesn't even dare to mention the honor it has won, how can it dare to pursue higher honors?"
"I never do this for show."
Gabriel said thoughtfully, "Like you, I'm a dragon who doesn't care about empty fame. This is just a way for me to remind myself not to slack off. Every time I hear others call me that, I remember I still have higher goals to chase."
He said it fluently, as if he had explained this reasoning more than once before.
The red iron dragon nodded. "Mm, I believe you're not doing it for the fame."
This was a lie.
He didn't believe it.
The reason was simple enough.
Not to mention a growing adult dragon, even some prime dragons over three hundred years old, though they might not admit it verbally and claim to not care about vanity, inevitably have a harmless amount of pride.
This isn't a flaw that needs correcting; it's barely even a flaw.
If a dragon lacks even this bit of vanity, its fighting spirit is probably almost gone.
However, he didn't say this out loud.
At that moment, the Silver Dragon slowly poked her head out from behind Gabriel.
She had almost buried herself in the sand just now, but as Garoth and Gabriel's conversation progressed, she found that the legendary Red Emperor wasn't as ferocious as his appearance suggested.
His tone was very calm, his reasoning clear, and the way he spoke wasn't like that of a thunderous evil dragon.
It was more like... a superior accustomed to controlling the situation.
She stepped out from behind Gabriel and stood at his side.
"Your esteemed Majesty, the Red Emperor."
The Silver Dragon said quietly, her voice a little nervous. "My name is Aniakssi·Alektra."
As she spoke, she took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and continued. "I've often heard tales about you in the dragon domains. Here, many young dragons admire you."
"Your deeds of establishing a kingdom, repelling demons, and nearly unifying Atlan are widely spread in the dragon domains."
"I... I'm very happy to see you in person."
A Metal Dragon admiring a red iron hybrid dragon would be almost unthinkable in any other world.
But here, because Garoth's reputation had been built gradually, step by step, reaching its current zenith, and most of what he did was practically legendary, it inspired genuine longing and awe in many young Metal Dragons.
Alektra...
A descendant of the Silver Dragon King?
Garoth knew this surname.
The Silver Dragon King held a respectable position in the dragon domains and had a good reputation, known for her tolerance and gentleness. This was also one of the reasons Garoth chose to establish good relations with the Vophal Dragon Domain.
At the same time, his gaze swept between Gabriel and the Silver Dragon, noting their close proximity.
This was already beyond the normal social range. The Gold Dragon's wing was almost brushing against the Silver Dragon's body, and she showed no sign of resistance.
"Young Silver Dragon, your behavior of hiding behind Gabriel just now doesn't look like admiration for me."
Garoth said teasingly.
The Silver Dragon flicked her tail awkwardly, her gaze unsure where to look.
"That's because... because you're different from what I saw in some images."
She defended herself in a low voice, her eyes drifting towards Garoth's sharp claws and spikes before quickly looking away. "In the magical images, you looked... um, incredibly strong. The first impression was majesty and power."
"But the way you are now..."
"You look like the most fearsome of evil dragons, even the kind... the kind of dragon that eats other dragons."
"Even though I've heard about your personality, I was still frightened when I first saw you."
She said it very bluntly, even a bit reckless, but there was no malice in her tone.
Before, although Garoth was massive and powerful beyond normal dragon comprehension, he was still within the bounds of a dragon, clearly identifiable as a red iron hybrid.
Now, at first glance, he looked more like a terrifying, dragon-like ferocious beast.
His overly sharp claws and fangs, his unique scale structure, his wings and tail like blades and spears, his entire body exuded a dangerous, sharp aura.
Gabriel couldn't help but speak up too.
"What happened, Father? Your appearance has changed too much."
He stared at Garoth for a few seconds, then said, "And I can feel that the aura about you is different too, like... something has been mixed in."
He said, "You seem quite surprised by my change."
The Gold Dragon nodded, speaking from the heart. "Father, I feel your previous appearance was more majestic. Now you look too fierce. When I look at you, it feels like a blade tip is hanging in front of my eyes; it's a bit chilling."
"When I first saw you just now, I almost didn't dare to recognize you."
"Why did you change like this?"
Hearing this, the red iron dragon shook his massive head.
"Gabriel, my offspring, remember: change is a good thing."
He said slowly, "Whether it changes for the better or worse, change itself means you haven't stopped. A dragon that stops changing, no matter how powerful it is now, will eventually be surpassed."
Having said this, he didn't explain further.
Things like mutation were hard to explain, and he had no interest in elaborating.
The Silver Dragon blinked, feeling genuinely that the great dragon before her was profound and wise, unfathomable. The words he spoke sounded simple, but upon reflection, seemed to contain many layers of meaning.
Gabriel felt the same.
He had initially thought that, just like his father in his youth, he had won the championship, was close to legendary, and was gradually catching up to his father's shadow.
But now, with his Dragon Father standing before him, he felt as if he were looking at something through a thick pane of glass.
He could see the outline, but it was blurrier than before.
"The height my father has reached is beyond my imagination."
He thought, but he wasn't discouraged. "Someday, I will reach this level too! Standing before other young dragons, speaking profound and unfathomable words to them."
Just then, the red iron dragon looked up at the sky.
One figure after another was passing through the clouds, appearing before his eyes, rapidly arriving at this place.
These Metal Dragons formed a loose encirclement around the coastline, staring at Garoth with wary and puzzled eyes. They didn't dare approach recklessly, their bodies tense, claws and fangs slightly exposed, assuming a defensive posture.
The Metal Dragons quickly recognized Garoth.
But Garoth looked different from the image in their memories.
In their memories, although Garoth was enormous and imposing without being angry, he at least still looked like a dragon. But the creature before them was more like a malevolent beast crawling out of the Abyss or hell, emitting an aura that instinctively made one want to retreat.
The Metal Dragons whispered among themselves, murmuring something.
Just then, a figure flew out from the dragon group and landed on the beach.
This was a Gold Dragon. His scales showed a deep, dark gold, not the bright, dazzling gold of a young dragon, but like metal polished by time, steady and heavy.
Ovis.
One of the elders of the Vophal Dragon Domain.
At the same time, he was also Gabriel's grandfather, more precisely, the father of Gabriel's mother. In the Vophal Dragon Domain, Ovis was one of the elders. Although his status wasn't the highest among the surrounding great dragons, because of his special relationship with Garoth, he walked to the forefront.
"Garoth? It's been a long time since you visited the Vophal Dragon Domain."
The Gold Dragon said, his tone like greeting an old friend. "Making such a big stir the moment you arrive—that's your style, alright."
His gaze swept over Garoth's body, from the spikes on his head to the tip of his tail, then slowly retracted.
Although Garoth's appearance had changed drastically, Ovis could tell from his gaze that there were no signs of madness or loss of control.
He had personally witnessed Garoth in a state of complete madness.
Compared to that, this was just a change in appearance, trivial in the face of true insanity.
"I asked you to come before, and you refused."
Ovis continued, "Why the sudden uninvited visit now? It can't just be for Gabriel, can it?"
He could feel the aura of the dragon opposite him. It was strong, but not very stable, fluctuating continuously, as if he had just finished an intense battle and hadn't fully recovered yet.
Garoth thought for a moment, then spoke bluntly.
"I accidentally offended a demigod, got a bit scared, so I came to the Vophal Dragon Domain to seek some shelter."
Ovis was stunned for a moment, wondering if he had heard correctly.
Accidentally?
Who would accidentally provoke a demigod!
And where exactly do you look scared?
Ovis was silent for a few seconds, his gaze sweeping over Garoth's posture and expression. He was quite certain that there wasn't a single part of this red iron dragon expressing the emotion of fear.
The surrounding great dragons quickly exchanged glances.
A demigod.
When Garoth said it, his tone was as calm as if he were talking about an ordinary enemy. But every dragon present knew what that meant.
Demigods and immortals were the pinnacle of existence on the Material Plane.
Their most revered Dragon Lord hadn't even reached this level.
...
"Garoth, when you don't come, it's fine. When you do, you bring a huge mess."
Ovis shook his head helplessly.
He knew Garoth wasn't joking.
He was very clear about the growth of this "dragon son-in-law."
Almost every so often, he would hear about some great deed Garoth had done, from establishing a kingdom to repelling demons, to nearly unifying Atlan and challenging the strongmen of various major forces. The scope of his impact grew ever wider.
A crown-level going to provoke a demigod...
If any other dragon said this, Ovis would absolutely not believe it. But coming from Garoth, there was nothing to be surprised about. This dragon, from the moment Ovis met him, never played by the rules.
"It's not a big mess. The orc demigod probably can't chase me here. He's still fighting Nausil's immortals."
Garoth said, "Mainly, I'm heavily injured right now, so I wanted to recuperate in the Vophal Dragon Domain for a while."
The surrounding great dragons were all silent, unsure how to respond.
Demigods, immortals—had this Scarlet Emperor Cangxing gone to fight an empire war on Arotala?
And where did he look heavily injured? Although his aura fluctuated, it was still terrifyingly powerful. He didn't even have a decent wound on him.
Ovis was silent for a moment, then stroked the scales on his chin.
"Garoth, this matter is beyond my capacity to handle. I need to report to the Dragon King first."
He said after thinking it over.
Garoth nodded.
"Mm, I'll wait."
Just a few minutes later.
Ovis received some kind of message, and his expression relaxed considerably.
"The Dragon King welcomes your arrival."
"The Dragon King said she has wanted to meet you for a long time."
Among the Five Dragon Kings, two were female. The Silver Dragon King was one of them.
At this point, the surrounding great dragons gradually retracted their defensive stances, folding their half-spread wings.
This result was within Garoth's expectations.
Given his reputation, as long as he didn't go to the Raging Tides Dragon Domain to antagonize the Bronze Dragon King and the Purification Faction dragons, the other four major dragon domains would basically welcome him.
Then, Ovis said, "Garoth, let's go. I'll take you somewhere to heal. The Dragon King is already waiting for you."
As he spoke, a hint of curiosity appeared in his gaze. "And along the way, tell me what you did to provoke a demigod. I haven't heard such a novel story in a long time."
With a sweep of his wings, he flew towards the center of the island.
The red iron dragon spread his wings and also soared into the sky. His wingspan was enormous, surpassing all the other great dragons present. As he flew, he cast a huge shadow on the ground below.
Gabriel's voice quickly followed.
"Father, after you recover, please teach me some combat or training methods and techniques!"
The red iron dragon cast his gaze down towards his offspring, gave a slight nod, and then withdrew his gaze.
Not long after.
Above the Dragon Island.
Garoth and the Gold Dragon flew at a leisurely pace.
The sea breeze blew up from below, carrying the scent of the forest and earth.
The main island of the Vophal Dragon Domain was very vast. Seen from the air, the center of the island was a dense primeval forest, with towering trees that blotted out the sun. Occasionally, the pointed roofs of a few dragon nests could be seen emerging from the canopy.
During the flight, Garoth roughly recounted some of his experiences on Arotala to Ovis.
After listening, Ovis was silent for a long while.
"So what you're saying is..."
"You killed his legendary clansmen right in front of the orc demigod, slapped his face, and then turned around and left?"
Garoth thought about it and felt the summary was quite accurate.
"Pretty much, you could say that."
He said.
"Doesn't sound like you."
The Gold Dragon said suspiciously. "When did you get so arrogant?"
Just as the words left his mouth, before Garoth could answer, Ovis's gaze swept over again, scrutinizing him, and then he shook his head.
"But, thinking about it, it makes sense."
"You're only a little over three hundred years old, still quite young among our dragonkind."
"When you're young, you should be bold and spirited. If it were me, I'd definitely be even more arrogant than you."
"To be honest, you always made me feel like I wasn't facing a young dragon. You acted too mature and steady. Sometimes I forgot you were only a little over three hundred."
"Sometimes, you even made me feel like I was talking to an Ancient Dragon who had lived for a thousand years."
Ovis laughed a few times. "Good thing now. You finally did something befitting your age."
The red iron dragon didn't argue.
Under normal circumstances, he certainly wouldn't have provoked a demigod.
Besides making the other side a bit angry, for Garoth himself, it was a meaningless risk. The risk and reward were completely disproportionate.
However, he wasn't a completely emotionless machine.
In his Radiant State, Garoth's power exploded violently. Ordinary legends were like chicks before him.
When one's power swells to the extreme, one feels omnipotent, as if the whole world has become fragile, with nothing able to stop a single claw.
In this state, his emotions inevitably became a bit more exuberant.
And it wasn't purely an emotional release.
He had planned his escape route in advance and fled right after his provocation.
During their conversation, Garoth flew over the central mountain range of the island, crossing several low mountain ridges.
The vegetation on the ground became increasingly dense. The canopy spread out in layers, almost covering the ground below.
Ovis changed the angle of his wings and began to descend, landing towards a hollow surrounded by hills. Garoth followed closely, maintaining a proper distance while observing the surrounding terrain.
Passing through the final wall of trees, the view opened up.
In the center of the hollow was a lake. The water surface wasn't large, only a few hundred meters in diameter, and it showed a deep blue-black color, as if someone had embedded a dark gem in the earth.
Ovis didn't land but hovered in midair.
His wings flapped slowly as he turned his head to look at Garoth.
"This is it. The Cold Spring, the healing sanctuary of the Vophal Dragon Domain. It is said to be the masterpiece of a certain Immortal Dragon King from a past generation. This lake contains an extremely rich concentration of life essence, highly effective for restoring depleted energy. Even legendary-level injuries can heal quickly here."
Garoth landed on a rock by the lake.
He lowered his head to look at the lake surface. The water was incredibly clear.
"But there's a catch here: it's too cold. Ordinary great dragons simply can't withstand it. Some hot-headed young dragons in the past didn't believe it and insisted on trying to go in. They ended up stiff from the cold shortly after entering. We old folks had to jump in to fish them out."
"Of course, for you, it's no problem."
Garoth walked to the lake's edge and looked down at the water.
The lake surface was as calm as a mirror, reflecting his current appearance.
A ferocious face, a forest of spikes, dark red eyes that even in the reflection emanated an unsettling luster.
"I'll try it out."
He said.
Ovis hovered in midair, not moving, obviously not planning to follow him into the water.
"Take your time soaking. I'll go report to the Dragon King. Oh, and be gentle when you soak. This lake is our domain's sanctuary. Don't turn the lake bottom over."
Garoth nodded, indicating he understood, and walked straight into the lake.
The icy lake water rose over his paw joints, and a bone-chilling cold immediately spread up his leg bones, like someone had shoved ice directly into his marrow.
Given his physique, this level of cold shouldn't have caused any trouble.
But it wasn't a superficial cold; it was more like a chill penetrating from the inside out, as if even his blood was about to freeze.
Garoth didn't stop. He continued deeper.
The lake water reached his belly, then his chest.
Each step brought an even more intense cold. The muscles beneath his scales involuntarily contracted, and even his breathing became heavy.
He only stopped when the lake water reached his shoulders.
He spread his wings, letting the icy lake water touch the skin under every scale, while closing his eyes, sensing the changes in his body.
After the initial cold passed, another feeling gradually emerged.
Like melted snow seeping into parched earth, the cold of the lake water was continuously nourishing his damaged body.
The energy that had been overly consumed in the Radiant State began to replenish. His life force was climbing at a visibly perceptible rate.
"This place is good."
Garoth thought to himself. "The Eternal Tide, the Cold Spring... the dragon domains truly have deep reserves. Other dragon domains should have similar sanctuaries, perhaps with different effects and other uses."
Individually, the major dragon domains were inferior to an empire, but they were stronger than any single kingdom.
If the empire didn't have an immortal, it would definitely be suppressed by the dragon domains.
Meanwhile, the Gold Dragon Ovis spread his wings, flew into the sky, and disappeared beyond the canopy in an instant.
Garoth's body continued to sink, leaving only his nostrils and eyes above the water.
The chill surrounded his whole body, like countless tiny needles piercing under his scales, a pain laced with comfort.
His breathing gradually became long and slow. Each exhale caused ripples on the water's surface, spreading outwards before being swallowed by the lake's stillness.
Time passed in this quietude.
Garoth closed his eyes, clearing his mind, allowing his body to recover naturally in the lake water.
He didn't know how long it had been—perhaps an hour, perhaps a day—when the red iron dragon suddenly opened his eyes.
Something was approaching.
He saw that a figure was already standing on the shore.
She wore a deep blue long dress, its hem falling to her ankles. Her silver hair was unbound, casually draped over her shoulders, like threads of moonlight congealed.
The woman's face was gentle, her specific age impossible to tell.
She had the look of a woman in her twenties, yet she also carried a temperament shaped by a long, long time.
She just stood there by the lake, her hands naturally at her sides, watching Garoth, as if she had come for a stroll and happened upon a dragon soaking in the lake.
The Silver Dragon King, Nereus·Alektra.
Garoth had never met the Silver Dragon King before, but he confirmed her identity in an instant.
Being at this place, at this time, possessing such temperament and composure, there was only one such being in the entire Vophal Dragon Domain.
Nereus's lips curled up into a faint smile.
"Scarlet Emperor Cangxing... or is it more fitting to call you Garoth?"
"Garoth is fine," the red iron dragon said, maintaining appropriate politeness. "As Your Majesty wishes."
He didn't come out of the lake, just exposed a bit more of his body to show respect, naturally soaking in the water.
The Silver Dragon King nodded, a look of appreciation in her eyes.
"The Vophal Dragon Domain welcomes your arrival. Choosing to recuperate here is a recognition and trust in our domain."
"To be honest, it's been a long time since I've seen an outstanding rising star like you. Among the younger generation now, there are many with talent, but you are the only one who has reached this level at your age."
She paused for a moment before continuing. "The dragon race needs an existence like you."
"Every era needs some great dragons capable of carrying the banner; otherwise, the future of the dragon race is without hope."
"You flatter me," Garoth said. "I came uninvited and brought potential risk to the Vophal Dragon Domain. I should be thanking Your Majesty for your tolerance."
"Once I recover, I will surely repay you."
The Silver Dragon King waved her hand. "Let's talk about repayment later."
Her tone shifted, becoming sharp. "As for the orc demigod... if he really has the nerve to come here, I wouldn't mind letting him know that the Vophal Dragon Domain is not a place for anyone to run wild. Not even a demigod."
So confident?
Some confidence is built on strength, some on ignorance. But the Silver Dragon King's confidence clearly belonged to the former. That kind of certainty couldn't be faked.
The reserves of the dragon domains might be even deeper than I thought.
Garoth mused.
"The various Dragon Kings are the top existences of the Material Plane, naturally unafraid of demigods."
He paid a compliment.
Nereus studied the red iron dragon and suddenly said, "Your current life level is crown-level, but the strength of this body... has already firmly stepped into the realm of the Mandate of Heaven."
"Normally, life level and physical strength are synchronized, but your situation is quite different."
"You seem to have found some method, or possess the innate talent, to let your body take the lead in carrying power that should belong to a higher level."
She continued, "Continuing this way will give you a tremendous advantage over your peers when breaking through to the Mandate of Heaven, and even... a very good chance of breaking through to immortality."
Garoth slightly inclined his head in agreement. "Mm, many intelligent beings believe I have the potential for immortality."
The Silver Dragon King nodded. "Yes, you have a great chance, Garoth. More so than any other great dragon in this world. I see in you that possibility, that... potential to break the shackles, to burst free from the cage."
Hearing this, Garoth was instead a little puzzled.
After thinking it over, he decided to ask a question that had always bothered him.
"I have always had a doubt, but there's no corresponding answer in the heritage. I wonder if the Dragon King knows."
"What doubt?" Nereus asked.
Garoth said, "The dragons of Bernardo have no immortal-level existence. The most powerful are those at the Mandate of Heaven, including the Five Dragon Kings."
"This doesn't seem quite right."
"From what I understand, the most important condition for breaking through after the crown-level is having a resilient fate, needing the life essence to be tough and tenacious enough to support the required breakthrough."
"These are precisely the fields where dragons excel."
"Theoretically, dragons should have a natural advantage in achieving immortality, but why... is the reality the opposite? Why are dragons absent from this level?"
The Silver Dragon King's expression didn't change much, but her gaze dropped slightly, and the silence lasted for several seconds.
"Very few dragons discover this contradiction."
She began to speak slowly, her voice lower than before. "In terms of talent, physique, life force... dragons are indeed one of the races most suited for achieving immortality. In ancient times, this was indeed the case. It wasn't as difficult as it is now."
"During the dragon race's most glorious era, immortal dragons appeared one after another."
"Then why has this changed now?"
Garoth pressed further.
A Dragon King's lifespan is long, their experience vast. He knew the Silver Dragon King was getting to the point, that some truths he hadn't known were gradually surfacing.
The Silver Dragon King raised her head to look at him.
"Because the times have changed, Garoth. This is no longer the era of the dragon race."
Garoth listened quietly.
The Silver Dragon King continued, "In ancient times, great dragons were the most powerful race. Our strength, our wisdom, our lifespans far surpassed those of other races."
"In that era, dragons could easily achieve immortality."
"As long as one had decent talent and sufficient accumulation, breaking through was just a matter of time." She paused, sighing. "But it's different now. Today, the rules of many worlds and planes have changed, and this change is extremely unfavorable to the dragon race."
The red iron dragon's pupils contracted slightly.
A change at the level of rules?
"I would be grateful to hear the details," he said, his tone serious.
"For example, the rules for achieving immortality."
The Silver Dragon King said, "It's not just dragons. Giant life forms, like the giants, face the same problem. For races like us with large bodies and abundant life force, the difficulty of achieving immortality has been drastically increased."
"For an average-sized Material Plane, being able to produce one immortal like us is probably the limit."
The red iron dragon's brow scales furrowed slightly.
"This is the first time I've heard such a claim. A change at the level of rules... it sounds like some kind of targeted restriction."
The Silver Dragon King looked at him and nodded slightly. "Your guess is close. It is a restriction."
But how could rules specifically target dragons?
Garoth wondered.
As if knowing what Garoth was thinking, the Silver Dragon King's voice was ethereal. "Because no deity wants to see the dragon race rise again."
"The gods are the rulers of the world. They hold the Authority. The will of the gods is the will of the world."
"When enough gods hold the same thought, their collective will permeates the world's rules, subtly changing the way they operate."
"And so, the rules changed."
"You can also understand it as a trend, a suppression at the level of the entire multiverse. No one can resist it, because what you have to fight is not a single god, but..."
"The will of an entire era."
"The will of a single god can perhaps be resisted, but when the wills of all gods tend towards uniformity, no individual can stand against it."
"This is why Bernardo hasn't seen an immortal dragon for a long time."
She continued, "For a dragon like me, stuck at the Mandate of Heaven for my entire life, it's not a lack of talent or effort. It's simply because I was born in the wrong time."
"If it were in the glorious era of dragons, I would have achieved immortality long ago, rather than struggling in my twilight years."
She said this, her voice carrying the resignation that comes with weathered experience, and also a hint of barely concealed bitterness.
"Not only that."
"Because the Material Plane is the center of the multiverse and the most valued foundation of the gods, under their will, if an immortal dragon stays in the Material Plane for too long, it will be influenced by the plane's rules and become weaker and weaker."
"It is very difficult for immortal-level dragons to stay in the Material Plane for extended periods."
"This is also why those dragons who have achieved immortality rarely appear in the Material Plane."
Garoth was silent for a long time.
The lake water rippled gently in the cold, lapping against the scales exposed above the surface.
His breathing was steady and even, but his mind was racing, digesting every word the Silver Dragon King had said.
The will of the gods changed the rules. Not just one god, but the collective will of all gods.
They didn't want the dragon race to rise, so they made it incredibly difficult for dragons to achieve immortality. It was like a race where others run on flat ground while the dragons climb against the wind up an increasingly steep slope.
"If the gods have a collective will... our dragon race also has gods. Did they just sit back and do nothing?"
Garoth asked.
She said, "If the great Dragon Gods could unite, they might be able to change things. As for now, the Dragon Gods are in constant conflict. Even if they wish to turn the tide, it is very difficult to do so."
"So,"
The Silver Dragon King's voice paused for a moment before asking, "Now that you know these things, how do you feel? Pressured?"
Garoth looked up. "Yes. Thinking that such a thing exists, I am now very anxious, with unprecedented unease in my heart."
He said.
The Silver Dragon King blinked.
She looked at Garoth's expression. On his spiky dragon face, there was no trace of anxiety or unease whatsoever. It was expressionless; one could even say it was too calm.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Very sure," Garoth said. "My heart is currently undergoing a tremendous shock and upheaval. It's just that my expression management is quite good, so it doesn't show."
Hearing this, the Silver Dragon King couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
Realizing her lapse, she restrained her smile and said, "Audothos had a chance to break through to immortality, but his stubbornness trapped him at the Mandate of Heaven. Right now, you are the most promising dragon I have seen to break the shackles."
"When that time comes, it won't change much, but at least it can bring a moment of glory to the dragons of Bernardo."
"Keep it up."
"I'll be watching to see how far you can go."
Having said that, the Silver Dragon King turned and walked back the way she came. Her steps were unhurried, her deep blue dress faintly visible in the mist, her figure gradually disappearing into the pervasive cold fog.
Silence returned to the surroundings, leaving only the gentle sound of water lapping against the rocks.
Garoth submerged his head back into the water, leaving only his eyes exposed.
He stared at the direction the Silver Dragon King had disappeared for a few seconds, then looked away.
"The collective will of the gods, the tide of the times... these are still distant from me."
He thought to himself. "But, the Material Plane continuously suppresses and weakens immortal dragons? I hope that's true. It shouldn't be bad news for me."
As for the tide of the times the Silver Dragon King mentioned, it did cause Garoth some anxiety.
But...
Was it truly irresistible, unchangeable?
Garoth remained silent, then sank his entire body to the bottom of the lake.