Defeating the World with the Power of One Dragon!

Chapter 431: Return to the Wilderness. 4

The Everbright Dragon King's edict acted like a stabilizing anchor, calming all the disputes and turbulence that had arisen around Garoth.

After consolidating at the Stillness Spring for several more days,

he settled and refined the power that had been stirred by shaping his Domain and Traits to an unprecedented peak.

Garoth knew it was time to return to the Ser Wilderness that belonged to him.

Honestly, after this incident was resolved, his situation in the dragon domains was already secure; he could even expect a period of relative peace and respect among the dragons.

But this place was not truly his world.

Even with companions like Alberto and Nasha nearby and the protection of elders like Ovis, and despite the harmonious relationships, he was not a genuine Metal Dragon.

The red dragon and iron dragon blood that ran through him would always feel out of place in this orderly land.

Moreover, at his core he disliked being bound by the convoluted rules of the dragon domains.

"I only killed an enemy who attacked me first, with ill intent.""Such a crystal-clear matter had to go through years of debate and investigation?"

"High-ranking, powerful dragon elders, when making decisions, still had to worry about the public opinion of ordinary dragon groups?"

"And in the end the Dragon King himself had to step in to finalize the verdict."

Thinking this, Garoth shook his head repeatedly.

Fortunately, he had spent most of that time in deep slumber, fully focused on shaping his Legendary Domain and Traits. Had he been fully awake the entire time, he would never have tolerated being effectively confined in the dragon domains while various elders argued over the matter for years.

"A place like this is fine for a brief stay to enjoy the scenery, but living here long-term... no thanks."

Garoth thought silently.

Then he stopped hesitating, unfurled his massive dragon wings, and left the energy-dense Stillness Spring.

Soon he found Ovis, the legendary Gold Dragon, standing atop a cliff peak overlooking the vast sea below.

Alberto and Nasha were nearby as well.

Seeing Garoth’s majestic figure tear through the sky, the elder gold dragon turned, a knowing expression on his face as if he had expected his arrival.

Before Garoth could speak, Ovis asked directly, "Ready to leave?"

"Yes." The red iron dragon nodded his huge head, his black-red scales reflecting a deep, hard sheen under the sun. "There are still many unfinished matters in the Ser Wilderness that require my attention, and the plan to found a nation cannot be delayed any longer."

Ovis looked at him and said calmly, "Does staying in the dragon domains make you uncomfortable?"

"Your affairs have been properly resolved and there are no longer any obstacles. You could spend more time touring the Vophal Dragon Domain and enjoy scenery very different from that of your wilderness."

Garoth shook his head.

"Perhaps I'm simply used to the winds of the wilderness," he said in a measured voice. "Here in the dragon domains I always feel constrained, ill at ease."

He paused, then looked at the elder gold dragon with sincere eyes and spoke in a low voice, "Elder Ovis, thank you for your protection and mediation during this time."

"That kindness I will remember."

Those years, if it had not been for Alberto pushing through opposition to place me at the Stillness Spring, I would not have been able to stabilize myself as I entered the Legendary rank so smoothly. And if I had been taken away by dragons like the angry Ros, who knows what might have happened,

Ovis did not go into detail about the outside turmoil.

But Garoth knew in his heart that for him to live in peace at the Stillness Spring, the elder dragon must have borne a tremendous amount of pressure and criticism.

Still, he could not deny that the feeling of being protected by a powerful presence was... rather nice.

Garoth, as a red iron dragon, had a fraught relationship with his biological father—an open, painful history—yet now, as a so-called evil dragon, he unexpectedly enjoyed the protection of Metal Dragons. Fate was indeed unpredictable.

In response to Garoth’s serious and grateful tone, Ovis casually waved a foreclaw.

His voice was light, carrying his usual roguishness: "No need to make it so solemn."

"This is my duty as the one who invited and vouched for you, and it follows the dragon domains' principle of fairness. It was the right choice to make."

At that moment, Alberto flapped his wings and approached.

"Garoth, you're heading back to the wilderness mainly to formally found a nation, right? Don't forget your promise. You said you'd give me a territory so I can fully develop and build the 'Golden Order' I imagine!"

The red iron dragon nodded slightly. "Don't worry. I, Garoth, always keep my word."

On the other side, Nasha beat her wings excitedly, stirring the air, and said, "And me, don't forget to reserve the diplomat position for me. I'm serious about this!"

Listening to the younger dragons' conversation, Ovis seemed thoughtful, then put on a serious expression.

He warned the red iron dragon, "Founding a nation is a matter capable of changing your destiny's course."

"It will make your name resound everywhere, place you near the top of the hierarchy and grant you access to vast resources so you can grow faster. But at the same time it will, like the brightest lighthouse, attract countless eyes—some overt, some covert—full of malice, bringing unpredictable risks and challenges."

Across from him, the red iron dragon grinned broadly.

"With a respected Legendary Gold Dragon like you backing me, no challenge will scare me." He took the opportunity to invite Ovis, "When I found my nation I'll hold a grand celebratory banquet. Would you be interested in attending?"

He tried to pull the elder gold dragon into his plans to make his nascent kingdom look weightier.

Ovis immediately widened his eyes and shook his head repeatedly. "You brat! You want to drag my old bones into the mess of state affairs?"

"No way, absolutely not!"

He said, "I don't want trouble to come to me for no reason from a thousand miles away."

"Just handling your case these past few years has robbed me of any peaceful sleep. After you leave, I plan to find a place and have a proper, long rest!"

Saying this, his expression grew a bit more serious.

Ovis stroked his flowing beard and said slowly, "You must understand, each major dragon domain has explicit rules. Metal Dragons who have stepped into the Legendary rank are, in principle, not allowed to personally establish nations."

"Furthermore, unless it concerns the interests of the dragon domain or is absolutely necessary, we should avoid getting entangled in disputes between kingdoms and empires."

So that was it... Garoth realized with sudden clarity.

No wonder—regardless of how long it lasts—examples of evil dragons founding nations are not too common, but a nation built by Metal Dragons is almost unheard of.

However, from Ovis’s words Garoth caught the key point.

If Legendary dragons cannot do it, then dragons who have not yet entered Legendary—like Alberto and Nasha—or figures like Karus from the Everbright Domain, if willing, could participate and help rally support for him.

Alberto and Nasha also detected this subtext.

They brightened and asked the elder gold dragon for confirmation, "You won't participate since you're Legendary, but can we two help? This wouldn't violate the dragon domain rules."

The elder gold dragon turned his gaze to his two often troublesome offspring and put on a stern face: "I'm too lazy to bother with you two now."

"Your wings are strong now; go wherever you want, just don't stay here and disturb my sleep."

Those words were a tacit approval.

At the same time, his disdain was obvious.

Garoth considered for a moment and then told Ovis, "To thank you for your protection and mediation, I prepared a gift."

Empty words of thanks could not compare to a tangible present.

Besides, though Ovis claimed he would not involve himself in national disputes, maintaining this relationship might mean he would not stand idly by if Garoth later faced an intractable crisis.

"A gift?"

Ovis was slightly startled, then glared at his two offspring and sneered, "Ha. I have never received anything decent from my juveniles!"

Alberto smiled awkwardly and kept quiet.

Nasha puffed out her chest and retorted righteously, "What do you mean? Isn't Garoth the big gift I found for you? Otherwise, could you have won so much in that bet before?"

Though part of that was sophistry, Ovis thought for a moment and conceded there was some truth.

He reluctantly nodded, acknowledging the point.

Then he looked back at the red iron dragon, his expression warming, and said cheerfully, "I accept your sentiment."

"But you really didn't need to give such a gift."

Seeing the considerate dragon before him, Ovis couldn't help but wonder inwardly, "Such a well-behaved dragon, why isn't he my offspring..."

At this moment,

this Legendary Gold Dragon and a Silver Dragon sleeping somewhere in the Metal Dragon domains had, without knowing it, developed a slight resonance over the matter of Garoth.

Ovis paused, then teased Garoth, "You only recently became Legendary, what treasure could you possibly have that would catch my eye?"

"Better keep it to yourself—my eye has been spoiled by countless treasures."

Looking down on it? The red iron dragon smiled meaningfully.

He did not explain further. From his personal spatial item he produced a massive, archaic giant-kin legendary battle-axe that radiated a heavy, oppressive aura: the Earth Sunderer.

As soon as the battle-axe appeared, the surrounding air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Upon seeing this wildly shaped Legendary axe, etched with deep runes, Ovis's eyes lit up and his golden pupils constricted.

He eagerly extended a foreclaw and snatched up the Earth Sunderer.

He cradled it in his claws and examined it with fervent eyes.

Ovis had seen much and had a keen eye; with just a few glances he recognized the axe's extraordinary nature.

It was a true Legendary piece. Though somewhat damaged, its overall structure remained intact, the core runes were unharmed, and it was fully repairable. Moreover, it had been forged for colossal lifeforms; if one could remove the anti-dragon restrictions on it, it could suit a powerful dragon as well.

More importantly:

The runes clearly identified its maker.

The dragons’ ancient enemy, the giants!

Legendary gear was already priceless, and a weapon from an enemy race carried even greater value in the eyes of an old collector like Ovis.

"The heft of this material, the weight... oh, what a fine treasure."

The elder gold dragon, ignoring the axe's anti-dragon repulsion, fondled it repeatedly with delight.

He ran his claws from the gleaming blade down to the handle wrapped with anti-slip patterns, his actions unbecoming.

If other dragons were not watching, he might have even leaned in closer.

"Where did you get this treasure?"

Suppressing his excitement, Ovis looked up at Garoth with keen eyes and asked curiously.

Garoth answered calmly: "A hill giant king who fled from the Thalassian Continent to the Ser Wilderness confronted me wielding this axe, the Earth Sunderer, and caused me some trouble."

"But afterwards, both he and the axe became mine."

Saying this, he swung his tail, deftly wrapped it around the middle of the axe handle,

and gently tugged... yet the axe did not budge in Ovis's claws.

"Huh?"

Ovis gripped the Earth Sunderer tightly, not intending to release it.

"You just said your taste is high and ordinary things won't catch your eye?" Garoth tugged again, "This broken axe probably won't even meet your standards."

"Maybe I'll get a better treasure later and give that to you as thanks."

Ovis not only refused to loosen his grip, he tightened it further and said with mock righteousness, "No! You can't say that! Since you sincerely wish to give me this as a token of thanks, how could I, as your elder, refuse?"

"This one it is! I think it's quite splendid, exactly my sort!"

Then his gaze suddenly fixed. He looked toward the distant sea behind Garoth and let out a low exclamation:

"Hiss! Look over there! The Bronze Dragon King?! How did he suddenly appear here?!"

"What? The Bronze Dragon King?"

Garoth and the nearby Alberto and Nasha were all startled and instinctively turned to the direction Ovis pointed.

The view contained only a serene blue sky and the endless ocean.

There wasn't a stray cloud, much less any Bronze Dragon King.

While Garoth was momentarily distracted, Ovis's eyes flashed.

He seized the opportunity and yanked the Earth Sunderer from Garoth's tail-wrapped hold, then, in one smooth motion, stuffed it into his own spatial item as if afraid that a single second's delay would make Garoth change his mind.

Garoth, puzzled, turned back and asked, "Where's the Bronze Dragon King? How did I not see him?"

By now the elder gold dragon had returned to his composed, dignified demeanor.

He stroked his beard without changing expression and said, "Oh... perhaps I misread it. I'm getting old; my eyesight isn't as good as yours young ones'."

A straight-faced lie.

Ovis was in a good mood. He patted Garoth's solid, heavy shoulder with a claw and chuckled, "Yes, this gift is quite fine. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated."

Garoth found his contented expression amusing but did not press the matter.

"If you like it, then from now on it is officially yours."

He did not have a strong collector's obsession himself.

To trade a Legendary piece I cannot directly wield and which carries troublesome restrictions for the deeper friendship and support of a Gold Dragon elder was, to Garoth, a very worthwhile exchange.

After Ovis put the axe away and pondered briefly,

he looked at the imposing red iron dragon and spoke more seriously, "Garoth, after you found your nation, if you encounter trouble you cannot solve or need advice... you can send me a message anytime."

"I may not be able to directly intervene to fix everything."

"But I will, based on my experience and connections, try to offer you valuable advice or other possible avenues to resolve issues."

Garoth grinned and readily accepted. "Good! If I run into trouble, I'll ask you first for guidance."

Presenting a gift the recipient loves is indeed important.

Frankly, Ovis had supported and vouched for him earlier perhaps because he saw potential in Garoth or because of principles of fairness. But if Garoth only took and never repaid, that prized relationship would eventually fade.

Cater to their tastes and give benefits, and the relationship endures.

"Strange... I have an odd feeling I've been played," Ovis murmured to himself, rubbing his chin.

He had noticed Garoth's Dragon Taming Technique to some degree.

Garoth didn't pick up the topic and instead reminded, "Elder Ovis, the Earth Sunderer was forged by giants and carries anti-dragon restrictions. We cannot directly trigger its full power."

"Besides repairing its damage, further work will be needed to modify it."

Ovis waved his head dismissively at that. "What do you know?" he said seriously. "The battle scars, the giants' unique restriction methods... those are its true value. They are the story and character it carries. If you strip all that away and remake it into something unrecognizable, that's a downgrade. It loses its value as a collectible."

"I'll put it in my private collection room and... hehe, call a few old comrades over to appraise it at the right moment."

He had taken the Earth Sunderer not for combat use but purely as a showpiece to parade among fellow collectors.

Garoth could not fully understand this collector's mindset, but he respected it and said no more.

Since the Earth Sunderer was now given, whether Ovis used it as an axe to chop trees or as an ornament gathering dust in a corner was no longer Garoth's concern.

What mattered to him was the potential value this gift brought.

"Alberto, Nasha, let's prepare to depart."

Garoth did not delay. He looked at the two eager gold dragons beside him and said in a low voice,

"We've been waiting for this!"

"Depart! Return to the wilderness!"

They responded spiritedly, beating their wings first to generate powerful gusts, launching skyward and circling to wait.

A gentle smile graced Ovis's dragon face as he watched the dragons prepare to go.

He said finally to Garoth, "The road ahead is long. The world beyond the dragon domains is vast and complex."

"Remember who you are, stay true to your path. No matter what the future holds, the Vophal Dragon Domain will always be one of your reliable friends."

Garoth nodded. "I understand. I will remember."

No need for many farewell words.

Garoth took one last look at the island that had held him for years, glanced at the Legendary Gold Dragon before him, then lifted his proud head and let out a long, powerful dragon howl toward the wide horizon.

Whoosh!

He spread his wings, whipping up a strong current. The black-red dragon shot upward and flew toward the Atlantis Continent, with Alberto and Nasha close behind.

A new journey had begun.

The Lord of Molten Iron was about to descend upon his most loyal wilderness kingdom.