Defeating the World with the Power of One Dragon!

"Training the stomach and intestines can wait until the dust settles and the situation stabilizes."

The red iron dragon discarded the rock he had been tightly gripping in his claws, then retrieved food from his spatial storage device, opening his massive maw to begin rapidly consuming it, filling the persistent feeling of emptiness within him.

During this period, Garoth had consumed a great deal of food with extremely low energy content.

However, throughout this process, Garoth could vaguely sense a certain change.

In a state of hunger where his energy needs were chronically unmet and he could only ingest low-quality food, his digestive system had instead become more active. The rhythm of his stomach and intestinal movements accelerated, and the conversion efficiency of ingested substances improved by a tiny margin.

The change was subtle, but it did not escape his mastery over his own body.

And this meant he could indeed adapt and strengthen his stomach and intestines gradually through this method.

But the price paid was also clear.

Eating too poorly led to his body's basic needs being chronically unmet.

He felt his strength waning, the explosive power contained within his muscles was not as abundant as before, his body felt heavier than usual, and his training efficiency had also decreased significantly. The same training regimen now required much more time to achieve the previous results.

For a dragon like Garoth, who considered power fundamental, this was far more unbearable than simple hunger.

Although, given his willpower, it was not intolerable.

But right now was a critical moment in the struggle for the Romanian Plains.

The situation in the Theo Kingdom was not yet fully stable, the threat from Lothrian hung over his head like a suspended sword, and other surrounding kingdoms circled like a pack of wolves.

There might be a series of fierce battles awaiting him next, and any slight negligence could lead to total defeat.

He could not afford to be careless; it was best to adjust all aspects of his condition to their peak.

Everything depended on the circumstances. Garoth would not blindly create a huge short-term weakness for himself just for the sake of training.

That would be tantamount to digging his own grave.

"Raising the Star Path level by one more grade will grant me a powerful skill."

Garoth thought to himself as he swallowed the last piece of meat, "This will provide the highest increase to my combat power next. For now, I should focus my spirit and time on training this aspect first, and push other things back."

After repeated deliberation, he finally made this decision.

He needed to break through the Star Path level as soon as possible.

Buzz!

Dragon Qi, condensed into a tangible form, ignited from his body, rising like flames, causing the surrounding air to begin to distort.

Instantly, the red iron dragon's form underwent a dramatic transformation. First, a new head extended, then two new pairs of arms grew from his shoulder blades, transforming into a double-headed, four-armed combat form.

Immediately after, vigorous training unfolded amidst the mountain ranges.

Unbeknownst to him, three days passed in the blink of an eye.

During this time, the incident of the Red Emperor capturing the King of Theo alive continued to ferment, spreading to every corner of the Romanian Plains.

Even in some remote small villages, legends, or perhaps some tales of infamy, about the Red Emperor had emerged.

Statements like 'If you don't behave, the Red Emperor will fly over and snatch you away' were widely circulated to scare children. The name of the Red Emperor could now silence a crying child at night.

Furthermore, the Lothrian Kingdom issued an official proclamation at the first opportunity.

A document, personally read by a court scribe and rapidly disseminated through the magical communication network, used severe language to condemn the Red Emperor's "violent actions" and "unacceptable violation of the kingdom's sovereignty." It demanded that Aola guarantee King Torfin's personal safety and "immediately and unconditionally release King Torfin, returning him intact to the Theo Kingdom."

The proclamation concluded by mentioning that "the new Federation will take all necessary measures to safeguard the interests of its member states."

Reebos, Cambruk, Matna... these three kingdoms subsequently issued similar statements.

However, compared to Lothrian's statement, the wording of these three kingdoms was much more tactful, expressing more concern and calling for a peaceful resolution, lacking the same forceful tone.

Anyone with clear eyes could see the difference.

Lothrian was truly angered by the challenge to its authority, while the other kingdoms were more perfunctorily stating their positions. On one hand, they could not ignore it; on the other, they did not want to provoke the increasingly powerful beast that was Aola.

In response to the condemnations from the various kingdoms, Aola responded with the most direct form of silence.

No defense, no rebuttal. The Aola Kingdom turned a blind eye to this overwhelming diplomatic pressure, continuing to operate at its own pace.

And this act of ignoring itself was a form of forceful statement.

Dragonback Mountains, early morning.

As the first rays of sunlight pierced the clouds, spilling onto the rugged mountain peaks, the iron dragon Sorog's dark, heavy figure descended once more. The strong wind stirred up by his folding wings scattered the morning mist, revealing the scene atop the cliff.

He saw that the human king was still alive.

Torfin's condition was worse than three days ago.

His originally magnificent and majestic royal robes were now tattered, stained with mud and dried filth. His hair was disheveled, plastered to his forehead and cheeks. His complexion had taken on an unhealthy bluish pallor, his eye sockets were sunken, and his lips were dry, cracked, and peeling.

But he was alive.

He had not become a cold corpse, nor a smear of pulp at the bottom of the cliff.

The iron dragon grinned, his mind already understanding.

He descended slowly, landing opposite the king.

On one side was a black dragon as large as a hill; on the other was a ragged human curled up on a rock, looking like beings from two different worlds.

The iron dragon scrutinized the human king, his gaze sharp as a blade.

Torfin raised his head, meeting the dragon's gaze.

His eyes no longer held the previous anger, terror, or pleading, leaving only a kind of calm and exhaustion.

"Three days have passed." The iron dragon's low voice slowly sounded across the mountaintop. "It seems you have made your choice."

Torfin took a deep breath of the cold, thin air, then slowly exhaled. White mist spread and dissipated before him.

"I, Torfin Chapman, seventh monarch of the Theo Kingdom."

He spoke word by word, each syllable seeming to be squeezed out with difficulty from the depths of his throat, using all his strength, "am willing to lead Theo in submitting to the Aola Kingdom, pledging loyalty to the great Red Emperor, His Majesty Garoth Ignas."

"Theo... will become Aola's Theo."

He finished speaking, his body trembling slightly, uncontrollably.

The iron dragon looked down at him, carefully examining the appearance of this mortal, not immediately speaking in response.

The mountain wind howled past the cliff top, sweeping up tiny pebbles that tumbled into the abyss. Dozens of seconds of silence spread between the two.

Torfin suddenly twitched the corner of his mouth, revealing an expression that was both like crying and laughing.

"You are perhaps thinking in your heart."

He spoke to himself, his voice dry, "This human king is truly foolish and cowardly."

"Foolish enough not to see the situation clearly, daring to oppose the powerful Aola, ending up in such a state; cowardly enough to lack even the courage to jump from this cliff or simply take his own life, only able to cling to survival, accepting humiliating terms."

The king raised his head, looking towards the gray, overcast sky where dark clouds were gathering.

"Yes, I was indeed foolish."

"But not because I opposed Aola."

As he spoke, his gaze refocused on the iron dragon. "As long as Theo still wanted to revive, to restore its former life, it was destined to clash with Aola."

"In this, I do not believe I was wrong."

"Anyone sitting in my position would have made the same choice."

"My foolishness lay in my gullibility towards Lothrian's promises."

Here, a note of regret entered his voice.

"I overestimated the protection the so-called new Federation could provide, and I underestimated Aola's resolve and decisiveness."

"Lothrian... merely used our Theo as a sacrificial pawn, not a true ally. Where were their armies when I needed aid the most? Probably, they now only have a sheet of empty condemnation."

The iron dragon tilted his massive head slightly. He did not interrupt the king's speech, but continued listening quietly.

"As for cowardice..."

Torfin's voice lowered. He raised his slightly trembling hand, pointing towards the edge of the bottomless cliff not far away.

"To be honest with you, over these three days, I have thought countless times about jumping from there."

"End it all, not having to bear the infamy of being a king who lost his kingdom, not having to endure the shame of being a puppet king."

"Death is sometimes easier than living, especially on such cold nights, listening to the wind howling like the wails of lost souls, feeling hunger and cold gnawing at your body."

"But I did not."

"Not because I cling to the power and authority of the throne." He gave a bitter smile. "After this incident, I have realized it is more like a hot potato to me than an honor. It is a heavy burden. Anyone in this position, once they realize their true situation, would find it hard to be at ease, only feeling restless and unable to eat or sleep peacefully."

"Being awake is worse than being ignorant..."

"But then, I couldn't help but think, if I died, what would become of Theo?"

"My children, or my ambitious brothers, would eagerly vie for the throne."

"And a newly ascended king, having not experienced the storms I have weathered, not having tasted the despair of being captured alive by a dragon..."

"Whoever it might be, to consolidate authority or to placate the kingdom's outraged sentiments, would likely be easily swayed again by the sweet words of Lothrian or other kingdoms, repeating the same mistakes."

"At that time, the entire Theo Kingdom might truly be reduced to scorched earth in the flames of war."

"The walls of Silverglow City would be toppled, the ancestral temple of the Chapman family would be burned, and my people would become displaced refugees."

He looked directly at the iron dragon, his voice unbearably dry.

"I am afraid of that. I fear that. This fear, for a time, surpassed my fear of death itself."

Perhaps because the extreme fear had already passed, perhaps because the cold of these three days had made his mind unprecedentedly clear.

Torfin now understood many things clearly.

He realized that in the current situation on the Romanian Plains, Theo, while seemingly still bearing the title of a kingdom, was actually just a fragile pawn caught between the two major powers of Aola and Lothrian, in an extremely precarious position.

If either side applied a little more force, this pawn would be reduced to ashes in the ensuing inferno.

He had already relied on Lothrian, and the result was his capture and being brought into Aola's territory, with no sign of rescue to this day. That alliance treaty was as thin as a cicada's wing.

But he was also fortunate.

The Red Emperor had given him a choice, allowing him to place his hopes under Aola's wing.

Although this hope came with chains, at least Theo could continue to exist.

Opposite him, the iron dragon Sorog narrowed his eyes slightly, his pupils reflecting the tiny figure of the human king.

As one who also cultivated the Mind Sorcerer Path, he could sense the truth in the king's words.

In just three short days, this originally ignorant and foolish young king seemed to have matured considerably. Hah, time and hardship are the best teachers, though the price for these lessons is often too heavy.

If those older kings who had experienced hardship and the tempering of war were still alive and well...

Aola might have continued to lie low for a while longer, rather than choosing to raise the torch now. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

However, the differences in race and lifespan were right here. The succession of human kingdoms would always be interrupted by youth and inexperience, while the dragons of Aola, guided and patient, were adept at leveraging their own longevity advantage.

The iron dragon looked down at the king and said slowly, "Human, you have made a wise choice."

"Not every mortal has the courage to admit their mistakes and seize the only opportunity in a desperate situation. In this regard, you have performed well."

Opposite him, the King of Theo looked up at the iron dragon and suddenly said, "I have heard that dragons prefer straightforward communication and despise hypocritical concealment and roundabout games."

"So, there are some words in my heart that I must speak."

The iron dragon revealed an interested look, a low rumble emanating from his throat. "Oh? Speak. Here, honesty is indeed considered a virtue. Provided you can bear the consequences of that honesty."

Torfin took a deep breath, then said earnestly:

"As long as Aola remains strong for a day, as long as the Red Emperor's power remains at its zenith like the midday sun, I will be Aola's most loyal vassal. Theo will be Aola's most docile tributary. I will use everything I have—my authority, my wisdom, even my life—to ensure Theo does not become a trouble for Aola, to ensure Theo belongs to Aola."

Here, he paused, his chest rising and falling noticeably.

Then, his tone suddenly shifted.

"However, if one day, Aola weakens, reveals a flaw... if the Red Emperor's dragon wings can no longer shield the sky..."

"...then, please forgive me, I might become foolish again, might again foolishly attempt to challenge Aola's authority."

"The bloodline of the Chapman family flows with an unwillingness to submit. The hearts of the Theo people harbor a longing for independence. At that time, I will seize the opportunity, just as you seize opportunities now."

After saying this, he breathed slightly heavily, awaiting the dragon's judgment.

Torfin had mentally prepared himself to be killed outright.

However, the iron dragon listened quietly, his eyes showing no trace of offended anger. On the contrary, a sound of approving rumbling came from his throat.

"Very good, Torfin Chapman."

The iron dragon said unhurriedly, "You have finally... understood reality."

"Loyalty built upon Aola's strength, ambition lurking beneath Aola's power. Hah, that is honest."

"Moreover, our entire Aola Kingdom operates under a similar framework. Your thinking is, in fact, shared by many lords within our kingdom. This is not a problem."

Immediately after, he declared solemnly.

"Your choice will be accepted."

"Prepare to return to your Silverglow City. Aola's envoys will arrive shortly to inform you of the new terms, the amount of tribute, the locations of garrisons, the rules of trade... These will determine Theo's future fate."

The iron dragon leaned forward, casting a deeper shadow over Torfin's head.

"Remember your words today. Under Aola's wing, be a good puppet, maintain Theo's stability, suppress any sparks of rebellion that may sprout. This is the best choice for Theo as it is now."

"This is also the last correct thing you can do for your kingdom as a king."

Having said this, the iron dragon said no more, extending his massive foreclaw.

The giant claw filled Torfin's entire field of vision, the shadow engulfing his body.

But this time, the human king showed no fear. He merely stood silently in place, allowing the iron dragon to pick him up.

A gale rose again, the thunderous roar of wings beating the air deafening.

The scene atop the mountain rapidly shrank in Torfin's vision, the cliff edge he had gazed at countless times gradually blurring.

Torfin took one last look at this solitary peak that had brought him despair and yet seemed to grant him rebirth, then completely closed his eyes, burying all emotions deep within his heart.

Not long after, Sarl Province, northern Theo Kingdom.

The terrain here was gentle, the view open, with watchtowers standing in great numbers. The garrisoned soldiers maintained a high state of alert. Ever since the king was captured, the entire northern defense line of Theo had entered a wartime state, though most knew it was of little use.

A sentry atop a watchtower was routinely scanning the distant horizon, his eyes sore from prolonged focus.

Suddenly, his pupils contracted. He raised his hand sharply, signaling to his companion.

"Alert! Something approaching! It's a dragon!"

A sharp whistle cut through the tranquility.

The soldiers stationed here quickly moved into combat positions. Crossbows were loaded, spears gripped tightly, and mages began chanting spells in low voices. Everyone tensely looked towards the sky.

There, a blue-black figure was flying swiftly towards them, the beating of its wing membranes producing muffled thunderclaps.

As the figure drew closer, the soldiers gradually made out the details.

It was an exceptionally robust Blue Dragon, about fifteen meters in length, its muscular contours clearly visible beneath its scales. Unlike ordinary wild dragons, its neck, shoulders, chest, and other conventional weak points were clad in heavy armor, with plate armor reinforcing its joints. Even its claws seemed to have specially crafted combat attachments.

Strong, equipped with fine gear.

These were often the hallmark characteristics of Aola's dragons.

Those completely wild dragon species rarely bothered to forge armor for themselves, nor did they have the means.

Under the tense, watchful eyes of the human soldiers, the Blue Dragon slowed its speed over a gentle area still some distance from the watchtower.

It made no aggressive posture, slowing its flight rhythm before descending gently.

The Blue Dragon folded its wings, tucking them against its sides, then turned its head, placing the object in its right foreclaw onto the ground.

It was a human.

A human wearing tattered finery, with disheveled hair and a haggard complexion.

Despite his wretched appearance, the soldiers recognized that face almost immediately.

They had seen that face in countless official portraits, ceremonial celebrations, and royal proclamations.

"...Is that our King?!"

"Aola's dragon has returned the King! He's alive!"

Exclamations rose from various points along the defense line.

After several days of fermenting news, the story of the Theo King being captured alive by the Red Emperor had spread throughout the kingdom; no one was unaware.

Most had pessimistically believed that His Majesty Torfin was in grave danger, perhaps even already killed. And now, the King had returned alive, albeit in such a humiliating manner.

The Blue Dragon glanced at the human king, emitting a low guttural sound.

Then, the Blue Dragon spread its wings once more. Its powerful hind legs pushed off the ground, its massive body rapidly ascending into the sky, swiftly flying back in the direction it came from. It soon became a small black dot on the horizon, eventually disappearing into the clouds.

The area fell into a brief silence. The soldiers looked at each other, unsure how to react.

Finally, an officer snapped out of it first. He shouted orders, "Open the checkpoint! Receive His Majesty! Quickly, send someone to notify the Governor! Send the best physicians! Also, relay this news back to Silverglow City immediately!"

The soldiers, as if waking from a dream, began to bustle about.

Several cavalrymen spurred their horses out of the outpost, galloping towards the figure who looked on the verge of collapse.

King Torfin stood in place, gazing at the familiar Theo banners, at the cavalry rushing towards him. Complex, indescribable emotions flashed in his eyes.

He had returned.

As a puppet, but he had returned nonetheless. As long as Theo still existed, as long as the kingdom's people could continue living on this land, he could pay any price.

April 20th, Year 417 of the New Calendar.

Shortly after the Lothrian Kingdom and other members of the new Federation issued strong condemnations, King Torfin Chapman was released by Aola. After undergoing a series of examinations and identity verification by Theo's spellcasters, he had returned to the Theo capital, Silverglow City.