Evil dragon has a warm heart

The tenacity of life is beyond imagination.

The deep blue demon from another world, wielding the Ice Artifact, created bitter cold across the Dragon Sleep Continent, quickly enveloping human civilization in snow and ice.

And the power of the Ice Artifact continued to grow with the spreading ice and snow, decaying civilization and killing creatures. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Link and his companion Theo, leading humans in a decisive battle with the deep blue demon, perished together... Those of us who survived were at a loss, unable to destroy the Ice Artifact, and the ice and snow on the land didn’t recede..."

The translation by the Shadowflame Dragon wasn’t smooth, but its general meaning could be understood.

After Link and companion Theo chose to die alongside the deep blue demon, displaying an undaunted spirit, the Ice Artifact fell.

But at that time, humans didn’t know how to deal with the Ice Artifact. They could only create a container from metal to seal the Ice Artifact and then bury it deep in the earth, hoping that with time, its power would decay.

"Translation complete, little one," said the Shadowflame Dragon, "Shuang Da must have come for this Ice Artifact, but couldn’t have imagined that it would end up in your hands... Russell, where is the Ice Artifact?"

"It’s still within the seal, but I took the seal back home. I didn’t dare to open it immediately," Russell said honestly. "Your Highness Shadowflame, how should this Ice Artifact be handled?"

The Shadowflame Dragon fell silent for a moment.

Then it shook its head, "Shadowflame doesn’t know either. The Ice Artifact is only a legend from the Dark Ages, no one has truly seen it... Perhaps time has already decayed the Ice Artifact, and there is no need for Shadowflame to deal with it."

"But what if, because of the seal, it is still intact?" asked Russell. "If it had decayed, then Shuang Da wouldn’t have needed to smuggle himself over to Leize three times in search of it, right?"

He paused.

Russell said, "Otherwise, I can bring the Ice Artifact to Shadowflame Volcano, and then have you open it to inspect?"

The Shadowflame Dragon blinked, and coldly said, "If it extinguishes Shadowflame’s volcano, how will you compensate Shadowflame?"

"Uh..."

"Just kidding, little one," the Shadowflame Dragon flipped its body, sending lava flying in every direction, and continued, "Bring the Ice Artifact here. We’ll open it in the Shadowflame Volcano. Without the Frost Giant to activate it, it won’t unleash any power."

"What if... I mean, what if it still operates normally?"

"Then it’s your responsibility to throw it deep into the Snowfield. In any case, don’t leave this calamity on Shadowflame’s territory," it replied.

"Alright."

"Don’t worry so much. Time can decay everything, and the Ice Artifact is no exception. The Dragon Sleep Continent was not frozen over by a single Ice Artifact, but the other Ice Artifacts have all become legend... They are just disposable items."

With the explanation from the Shadowflame Dragon, Russell felt relieved.

He immediately left Red Castle and returned to Cigar Castle, then riding the Black Oil Dragon Rossi, holding the metal stone that sealed the Ice Artifact, he flew back to Red Castle. He didn’t go through the underground tunnel this time but entered directly through the volcano’s crater.

"Your Highness Shadowflame, the Ice Artifact has arrived," Russell landed on the platform.

The Shadowflame Dragon leaned in, closely examining the coffin-like metal stone, "A perfect seal, just as Shadowflame anticipated, forged from seventy-two metals and thirty-six gems."

"What?" Russell didn’t quite understand.

The Shadowflame Dragon pondered for a moment before explaining, "During the Dark Ages, dragons had not yet emerged, and bipedal flying dragons were not yet born. In that era, metals and gems were not mere minerals but spread across every corner of the land."

However, affected by the freezing, the entire Dragon Sleep Continent underwent a drastic change, resulting in the disappearance of metals and gems.

They were then reborn in the form of bipedal flying dragon-borne minerals.

It was as if the Dragon Sleep Continent, in response to the freezing crisis, reorganized its mineral reserves, making it easier for humans to mine in warm areas, thus recreating civilization. Of course, it’s also possible that the power of the Ice Artifact caused this peculiar change.

Legends say that otherworldly beings birthed dragons to more easily harvest the essence of the Dragon Sleep Continent.

"Is that so..." Russell felt somewhat dazed.

Whether the Dragon Sleep Continent reorganized its mineral reserves in response to the crisis, or otherworldly beings exploited its essence to hunt dragons, these were inconceivable matters that could only arise in a world beyond the ordinary.

"That’s not important anymore," the Shadowflame Dragon said slowly, "Russell, open it. Let Shadowflame witness the Ice Artifact!"

A tinge of longing emerged within its pupils, "If it contains the essence of another world, it’s just what Shadowflame needs to greatly replenish itself!"

The Sword Butterfly Mark flickered, and a Greatsword appeared in Russell’s hands.

He aimed at the crack on the huge metal stone and kept pouring Dragon Breath into it, prying. Moments later, the seal loosened, and the metal stone suddenly split in half.

An Ice Holy Relic that had been sealed inside was revealed.

A faint glow emerged, and the scorching temperature of Shadowflame Volcano seemed to drop by several degrees in an instant, changing from blistering heat to cool refreshment.

A slender item resembling a crystal lay quietly in the groove of the giant metal stone.

"Quick, close it up!" The Shadowflame Dragon glanced at it only once, its pupils constricted, urging Russell to close up the metal stone again, "So cold, it chills to the bones of Shadowflame, and Shadowflame does not like this feeling, does not like it!"

Russell didn’t like it either.

As soon as the slender Ice Holy Relic was exposed, it involuntarily made him shiver, a cold emanating from his marrow.

Even after millions of years, the power of the Ice Holy Relic was still formidable.

However, just as he was about to close the metal stone, he saw a smaller groove next to the slender crystal, and within it lay a snow-white feather. This snow-white feather looked somehow familiar.

With a thought, Russell reached out and touched the feather.

Immediately, a faint warmth came over him, and he understood this was not part of the Ice Holy Relic, so he picked up the snow-white feather and closed up the metal stone.

Although the seal had been opened, once the metal stone was closed, the temperature of Shadowflame Volcano returned to its sweltering heat.

"What did you take?" asked the Shadowflame Dragon, poking its head over.

"A feather, or rather, a feather left by a Pseudo-Dragon." Russell raised his hand, holding the snow-white feather, "And if I’m not wrong, this feather has something to do with my July companion, Hape."

He placed the snow-white feather in the palm of his hand; the feather was about half a meter long, not only proudly white in color but also translucent in texture.

A familiar aura swirled around it.

"Pseudo-Dragon feathers?" asked the Shadowflame Dragon, puzzled.

Russell explained, "In the southern border of Shadowflame Duchy, there’s a place called Greentown Snow Forest, where there’s a spot known as Cold Spring Point. It was there that I met my comrade, the Harpy Dragon Hape, who is a Pseudo-Dragon heir."

"And then?" prompted the Shadowflame Dragon.

"Well, it had a tuft of hair on its head, just like this one, only not as long or as textured as this feather. But I believe, quite possibly, this tuft of hair was left by Hape’s ancestors, maybe even by the Theo from the stories."

In the text sealing the metal stone, there was a story about Link and his companion, Theo, fighting the Snow Demon to steal the Ice Holy Relic.

At first, Russell had no idea of the identities of Link and Theo.

But with this tuft of hair, the protagonists of the story began to take clear shape in his mind.

Link was a Dragon Domain Lord, and Theo was his contracted Pseudo-Dragon—the Harpy.

Together they had fought through life and death in Greentown Snow Forest, ascended and then carved out a Warm Enclave—of course, perhaps at that time, the earth had not been completely encased in ice, and Greentown Snow Forest, as well as the surrounding vast area, was still warm land.

In short.

After Link and Theo passed away, their people sealed away the Ice Holy Relic and, at the same time, the mark of the Pseudo-Dragon left by Theo was also sealed inside the metal stone.

"An interesting story," remarked the Shadowflame Dragon, glancing at the tuft indifferently, "Take away the Ice Holy Relic, Shadowflame does not like its aura."

"Your Highness Shadowflame, you won’t keep it?" Russell asked in surprise.

"Whoever discovers it, keeps it," said the Shadowflame Dragon, "If you’re afraid, send it to Scorching Torrent Kingdom. Ares might make use of it... That kid is sly, too cunning for Shadowflame’s liking!"

King Ares·Sundazzle, known as the War God, was seen by the Shadowflame Dragon as merely a slightly older rascal.

Russell nodded, "Alright, I’ll take the Ice Holy Relic back first... Once I’ve thought it over, I’ll decide whether to give it to King Ares."