novelraw Chapter 424: Gold Dragon King, Departure
Chapter 424: Gold Dragon King, Departure
Time flowed like the waters of the Tranquil Sea, silently slipping by.
Because faerie dragon Vira had successfully captured the attention of the vast majority of the young metallic dragons, Garoth was able to enjoy a rare stretch of tranquility, leisurely admiring the scenery of the Everbright Dragon Domain.
Over these past few days, he strolled through this dragon realm and witnessed splendors and grandeur far beyond ordinary imagination.
The sky above the Everbright Dragon Domain was not a single unchanging blue, but displayed dreamlike shifts.
At times, the sky seemed to pour molten gold, scattering golden radiance across the heavens; at other times, it resembled sheets of liquid mithril, spreading a cold, sacred silver sheen.
These were not mere light effects, but highly condensed elemental energies forming auroras across the firmament.
They bathed the entire dragon domain in magnificent hues while also effectively blocking all forms of outside surveillance and detection.
The metallic dragons’ architecture was equally distinctive, full of draconic aesthetics and a sense of power.
From afar, Garoth had once noticed a wonder called the Thousand-Scale Spire.
It was not built from ordinary materials, but painstakingly inlaid with countless old scales willingly shed by dragon kin.Under shifting light, the spire refracted a flowing spectrum of colors like a living rainbow.
They said it could unleash attacks equivalent to the Ancient Dragon tier.
Beyond the great dragons themselves, the dragon domain was home to many other intelligent or magical beings:
crystal-winged birds whose wings sparkled like gemstones, mist sprites that frolicked in clouds when dragon might ebbed, and even enormous elemental titans composed entirely of pure elements.
These beings usually served as thralls to some powerful dragons.
Such creatures far outnumbered true great dragons.
Yet their existence was deeply tied to the great dragons, providing various conveniences and servitude to the rulers of this realm.
Through dense, verdant forests full of life, Garoth walked at an unhurried pace.
To avoid drawing dragon attention, he kept his human form.
He stood tall and imposing, muscles flowing with powerful definition; even with his dragon might restrained, his gravitas remained mountain-solid and eye-catching.
Nearby, Deborah flitted through the trees like a light butterfly.
She delightedly picked fruits with enticing sheen, collected crystalline nectar and dew from petals and leaves, then fed them to Garoth so he could savor the unique flavors nurtured by this kingland.
Siblings Nasha and Alberto carried on their usual antics, bickering and laughing without pause.
The atmosphere felt particularly pleasant and relaxed.
Garoth felt a rare serenity, a sense of being away from turmoil and a loosening of his spirit.
Suddenly, the sky darkened.
A vast shadow swept across the forest clearing.
Garoth sensed it, looked up, and met the gaze of a golden great dragon circling at low altitude.
The aura radiating from that dragon felt oddly familiar to Garoth.
It was none other than Karus, the gold dragon he had defeated in a highly public battle in the arena.
Karus’s sharp dragon pupils fixed on Garoth in human form.
Although this was the first time he had seen Garoth’s humanoid face, the fierce battle they had shared and the unmistakable traits Garoth could not fully hide allowed Karus to instantly conclude that this towering, iron-strong man before him was the red iron dragon champion who had defeated him.
The gold dragon folded his massive wings decisively, adjusted his posture, and dove like a golden meteor, landing in the forest clearing.
As he touched down, a soft, shimmering light shifted, and his enormous draconic body contracted and reformed, turning into human shape.
Before Garoth stood a young man of upright bearing, radiant golden hair, and a pair of vivid green eyes.
He wore a neat warrior’s attire, his demeanor calm and reserved.
"Hmm... I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before?"
Garoth looked at the gold dragon in human form and felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.
Especially those clear, profound green eyes—they left a particularly strong impression.
As far as he knew, unless a dragon had performed special disguise or possessed rare bloodline anomalies, most gold dragons’ pupils bore varying degrees of golden hues, like Alberto and Nasha.
Green eyes like this were extremely rare among the gold dragon kin.
Garoth searched his memory but could not pin down the source of that familiarity.
He only shook his head lightly and focused his attention on Karus.
This gold dragon seemed to have come specifically to find him. For what purpose?
Could the opportunity Garoth had anticipated—where the defeated would come to gloat and then be spectacularly humbled—be about to arrive?
At that thought, Garoth braced himself mentally, ready for anything.
"Yo, isn’t this the Everbright Domain’s Dawnlight Wing, Karus? What—did you come all this way to wash your face in defeat and fight again?"
Nasha raised an eyebrow first.
She hopped forward to Garoth’s left front, hands on her hips, and said to Karus with a teasing air, "So, are you ready to be utterly crushed again, rolled in the dust and humiliated?"
"Let me warn you, our Garoth won’t go easy on you just because you’re a gold dragon!"
On the right, Alberto, eager for spectacle, tilted his chin condescendingly and mocked Karus, "Want a rematch?"
"Heh, I advise you to think twice."
"He’ll knock you to your knees and shame you thoroughly—then you’ll know the gap!"
Karus froze mid-step.
He stared at these two, whose manners did not match the usual composed gold dragon demeanor, but rather resembled street ruffians of his kind; suspicion flickered in his green eyes.
Are these two really noble gold dragons?
Why do they seem like some bad dragons in disguise, come to cause trouble?
Seeing the two gold dragons behaving so unseriously, Garoth nearly lost his composure.
"That’s enough, both of you."
He spoke in a low voice, stepped forward, and with his broad chest pushed Nasha and Alberto to either side, placing himself squarely before Karus.
He looked at Karus calmly and nodded slightly.
"My companions have somewhat brash personalities and their words were offensive, but it was not intentional."
Karus’s look of doubt slowly faded, replaced by his usual calm.
He shook his head, revealing no anger, and spoke evenly, "Huh...gold dragons with such temperaments are indeed rare."
"But true straightforward kinfolk are better than polite hypocrisy."
After saying this, Karus’s gaze fell earnestly upon Garoth.
"Garoth Ignas, red iron dragon."
"Although not long ago we clashed in dragon form within the arena, please allow me to properly introduce myself now in human form—my name is Karus Vellaperion."
He straightened his back, placed his right hand elegantly over his left chest, and performed a concise and standard metallic dragon salute.
At last a proper, orthodox gold dragon who matched the image in the lineage records!
Garoth felt a slight emotion and an odd thrill.
Previously he had met only four gold dragons at most—Alberto’s family—but that whole household defied conventional expectations in their own ways.
In contrast, Karus’s words and manner aligned with the orthodox gold dragon image described in Garoth’s Dragon Legacy.
"I did not come seeking trouble or to reclaim lost face," Karus said calmly, his gaze clear and sincere, "I was thoroughly convinced by that battle’s outcome."
"Your strength and skill earned my deep admiration."
A serious light flickered in his eyes as he continued, "I have long considered myself not weak among my peers. For a time, praised by my kin, pride grew within me, and I thought I could sweep aside all beings beneath the Legendary tier."
"But that duel with you was like a bucket of icy water: it cured my arrogance and cleared my mind."
"It made me truly realize that there are always greater heights, dragons beyond dragons."
Under Garoth’s steady gaze, he went on, "Therefore, I hope to befriend you."
"Not for any utilitarian purpose—only because I truly wish to know a dragon like you. If possible, I would also like opportunities to learn from you—combat techniques and experience."
His tone was measured, neither boastful nor servile, full of respect for the strong and reflection upon his own path.
Compared to him, Nasha and Alberto, who were still making faces and trying to stir things up, suddenly felt far more out of place.
Garoth studied Karus’s calm, distinctive green eyes, and that faint sense of familiarity rose again.
Yet it remained like a flower in fog—visible but unreachable.
He did not press for the origin, instead refocusing on the impressive gold dragon before him.
"Your bearing earns my respect, Karus," Garoth’s voice softened a touch. "That battle also showed me the gold dragon’s stubborn will and resilience."
"As for asking for instruction...it’s not out of the question."
"Swapping techniques and improving together would certainly benefit me as well. I’d be glad to speak again in the future."
Hearing this, Karus was visibly moved.
The gold dragon’s reputation had preceded him.
Before coming, he had prepared for being coldly rebuffed or verbally shamed.
He had not expected the red iron dragon to be so magnanimous and broad-minded.
Though unquestionably the victor, Garoth displayed no arrogance; instead he treated his vanquished opponent as an equal with candor.
Karus’s gaze swept over Deborah, Nasha, and the others, and he understood.
No wonder the red iron dragon gathered so many metallic dragons around him...well, though those two gold dragons’ personalities were unusual, the fact that they genuinely respected him was itself extraordinary.
"I lost thoroughly in that battle. I know the root cause was the vast gap in our strength," Karus said seriously, seeking advice. "But I believe there are aspects I can improve personally."
"In your view, what is the most urgent weakness I need to fix?"
Garoth thought briefly and struck at the core: "Your talent is tremendous with enormous potential, but your body’s durability can’t keep up."
"When you absorb too much energy in a short time, your body collapses under the load."
"My suggestion: don’t over-rely on the advantage your innate talent gives you."
"A towering structure must be built from the ground up. A body robust enough to bear any power is the surest foundation for all skills to function."
Karus looked at the red iron dragon’s human form—still showing the same heavy, sturdy physique—and considered Garoth’s words.
He nodded slowly. "I have long taken pride in my siphoning talent and poured much energy into better employing it. I admit I have neglected physical conditioning."
"You are right. I should make my body strong enough to match my talent."
If one compared pure physical strength among dragons of equal life level and size, Karus lagged behind Alberto and was only at ordinary gold dragon standards.
Soon Karus fell into step beside Garoth.
The gold dragon walked with him, posing many questions about combat and training.
The two who had once fought amid public glare now conversed peacefully in human forms within the quiet forest; the atmosphere was unexpectedly harmonious.
Deborah blinked and watched, smiling faintly.
She was pleased to see Garoth earn wider recognition among metallic dragons.
Nasha and Alberto puckered their lips at each other, thinking the scene was a little too proper and not lively enough.
Not long after, Garoth’s gaze returned to Karus’s green eyes and he asked with curiosity, "Green eyes are extremely rare among gold dragons. Karus, forgive the question—apart from pure gold dragon bloodline, do you have other great dragon blood in your lineage?"
Karus shook his head slightly.
"My eye color is inherited from the Dragon King himself. As far as I know, he also has a pair of green eyes."
Garoth’s heart stirred. He followed up, "I see...so what is the current situation of the Gold Dragon King?"
Karus shook his head. "I do not know."
"In fact, I saw His Majesty only once when I first displayed my siphoning talent in childhood."
"Other than that, I have never seen him in person nor do I have much information about his current affairs."
Though a descendant of the same blood, Karus spoke of the Gold Dragon King not like someone reminiscing about a familiar elder.
There was respect and reverence, but also clear distance—more like speaking of a lofty, unattainable leader.
Deborah softly explained to Garoth, "The dragon kings of the Five Great Dragon Domains are Ancient Dragons who have lived for millennia. Their lifespans are long and they prefer seclusion."
"Unless something piques their strong interest, they rarely appear before their subjects."
Ancient dragons who live thousands of years view their descendants differently from ordinary metallic dragons.
Even an outstanding direct descendant like Karus had only seen the Gold Dragon King once.
Mention of this mysterious lord of the Everbright Domain piqued Garoth’s interest.
"Did you inherit your talent directly from the Gold Dragon King? Also, I’ve heard rumors that the dragon king possesses twenty-four distinct and powerful talents—are those reports true?"
Karus answered candidly, "As for whether my talent was inherited or a congenital mutation, I cannot be entirely certain myself." His expression then turned more solemn. "Regarding the Dragon King’s talents...no one can fully know exactly which talents he has or how many. Most versions circulating outside are just speculation."
He paused and lowered his voice slightly. "However, some senior elders have mentioned that the Dragon King has been attempting to temper and fuse many of his talents into a single one."
"To simplify the many into one supreme skill—this was his chosen Path of Immortality."
"Sadly...from what I understand so far, he has not succeeded."
They walked and talked until the forest opened, and without realizing it, Garoth and his party returned to the familiar wide beach.
Faerie dragon Vira had reverted to her true form and lay limp on a sun-warmed smooth rock, her small wings drooping.
She had enjoyed herself fully these days, reveling in the spotlight.
Yet maintaining the Lord of Molten Iron mimicry had been very taxing for her, nearly exhausting her; she had to dispel the illusion, return to her true body, and wait at their prearranged spot for Garoth’s return.
Not long ago, Nasha and Alberto had received a message stone transmission.
After checking, they immediately told Garoth that their father Ovis had basically finalized arrangements and instructed them to prepare to depart for the Vophal Dragon Domain.
"Karus, I suppose this is where we part."
"I will be leaving the Everbright Domain. If fate allows, we will meet again."
At the edge of the beach, after a brief farewell to the gold dragon, Garoth turned without regret and began to walk away, secretly counting rhythms in his head.
One, one, three...
Just as he paused and had not truly taken a few steps,
"Please wait!"
Almost simultaneously from behind came Karus’s clear voice calling him back.
"My dragon-taming technique still works well even in the dragon domains."
A slight smile curved Garoth’s mouth. As he turned, he suppressed the grin and resumed his steady, dependable composure, looking calmly at Karus.
"Is there something else?"
Karus stepped forward. "May I...exchange contact information with you?"
He hesitated, then explained, "The Everbright Domain is wonderful, but it remains only a corner of a vast world."
"Sometimes I yearn to leave the domain and personally experience broader mountains, rivers, seas, and myriad races. I had always thought the outside world no different from staying here."
"This defeat changed my resolve."
"When I am fully prepared and officially set out to travel the continent, I would like to visit your lands. I am curious what kind of kingdom could nurture dragons as powerful and unique as you."
Garoth nodded and transmitted his message stone frequency to Karus.
He looked at Karus and said, "When you are ready to come to my domain, perhaps...you will witness a grand event firsthand."
Karus brightened at this and asked eagerly, "A grand event? What do you mean?"
Garoth smiled mysteriously, playing coy like a riddle-bearing dragon: "When you come and see for yourself, you will know."
This in-depth conversation with Karus was hardly idle chit-chat.
If one lacked sufficient strong background and was easily targeted, the best remedy was to create your own background.
When Garoth formally founded a state in the Ser Wilderness, if he could invite this "direct descendant of the Gold Dragon King" and "Everbright Domain prodigy" to bolster his court and promote the association...Garoth was confident that many hidden hostile forces would at least be half-deterred.
Karus was clearly intrigued and said solemnly, "Very well, I will wait and see."
"I will prepare soon. Then I will await your message."
With that, Garoth raised his head and strode into the open on the beach.
In a sudden burst of intense light, his body rapidly expanded and shifted, returning to his towering, imposing red iron dragon form.
Deborah, Nasha, and Alberto likewise dispelled their disguises and revealed their true dragon bodies.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Massive wings beat, whipping fierce winds and stirring swirling sand as nearby waves roiled in response.
Several large dragons took flight together, pushing air with tremendous force, climbing into the clouds before adjusting course and soaring toward the location of the Vophal Dragon Domain.