novelraw Chapter 498: White Peril, Green Emperor, Orc Fleet, Awakening
Chapter 498: White Peril, Green Emperor, Orc Fleet, Awakening
After the meteor shower swept across the Arotala Continent, the gears of time continued to turn.
New Calendar Year 398.
In the Lothrian Kingdom, King Raymond's aunt, the Grand Princess, Crystal Princess Elina Lothrian, began to age at an extremely rapid pace. The treasures stored in the kingdom's vaults could hardly stem the ebbing of her life.
This princess, once renowned for her wisdom and beauty, was inevitably approaching the end of her lifespan.
However, the Crystal Princess was not resigned to accepting this fate.
She had grown up during Lothrian's peaceful and prosperous peak, personally experienced the tempering of continuous warfare, and witnessed with her own eyes the kingdom's decline and difficult rebirth. Deep in her heart, she did not fear death, but she worried that the younger generation on the throne would make wrong choices and feared this land would repeat the mistakes of the past.
In the final moments as the candle of her life was about to extinguish.
Using her lifelong accumulated magical knowledge and the kingdom's secret ancient rituals as her foundation, the Crystal Princess transformed herself into a pure spirit of the fire element. She abandoned her flesh-and-blood body, remaining in the world in a burning elemental form to continue watching over her kingdom.
New Calendar Year 401.
Exciting news came from the Aola Kingdom.The Amethyst Dragon Lion Ennus, having undergone bloodline purification previously and after a long period of accumulation, finally broke through the bottleneck. His life essence leaped, officially stepping into the legendary realm.
This lord's power greatly increased, becoming one of the kingdom's solid pillars.
New Calendar Year 402, the long-slumbering iron dragon Sorog awoke.
His life level had already reached the twentieth-level limit, with vast power contained beneath cold, hard iron-colored scales.
In the same year, under the leadership of this prince renowned for his iron will and wisdom, a grand project that had been temporarily stalled due to his slumber, a plan only a few final steps away, codenamed "Sanctuary," was fully restarted.
The kingdom's resources and intellect were once again poured into it.
New Calendar Year 403, as autumn deepened.
Deep within the Dragonback Mountains, in the heartland of the Aola Kingdom.
Amidst layers of steep mountain ranges, there existed a vast basin meticulously guarded by countless layers of magical barriers and physical defenses.
This place was perpetually under strict guard; ordinary creatures simply could not approach.
At this moment, at the center of the basin, a structure stood quietly.
It was shaped like an inverted silver mountain, its entire body constructed from countless precisely interlocking geometric shapes. Its lines were cold and hard, its structure bizarre, and its outline vaguely resembled an enormous holy symbol magnified millions of times.
Its material was neither metal nor stone; its surface flowed with a dull luster like quicksilver.
Countless complex, dizzying runes were layered upon it.
This was the alchemical crystallization that had consumed vast resources and time, the magical satellite belonging to the Aola Kingdom, "Sanctuary."
The entire project not only embodied the efforts of Aola's own sorcerers but also attracted collaboration from elites from Lothrian, Matna, and even the Vophal Dragon Domain.
Great hopes were placed upon it; it was a true strategic heavy weapon.
On the peak of a mountain that rose abruptly from the ground on the western side of the basin.
The iron dragon Sorog, his entire body gleaming with a cold metallic sheen, coiled at the highest point. His massive form cast a large shadow, covering half the rocky peak.
He slowly turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the magnificent silver creation in the basin below. A trace of satisfaction flickered across his face.
Half a step behind and to the side of the iron dragon stood a figure condensed from pure light.
It took the form of a human male, with resolute features and calm eyes, bearing the weathering of years and the baptism of war.
He too silently gazed at "Sanctuary," the light around him flickering slightly with the subtle fluctuations of his emotions.
This was Rodrigo, the former Shield of Theo, now one of the Sanctuary's Heroic Spirit commanders.
"Finally completed," the iron dragon's low voice broke the mountaintop silence. "The slumber delayed things for a while, but in the end... it was finished at the right time."
He hoped that when his blood kin awoke, he would see Sanctuary hanging in space.
Opposite him, Rodrigo gave a slight bow, his light-constructed body posture respectful.
"The prince's great talent and grand strategy; with Sanctuary taking shape, the foundation of the Aola Kingdom will be even more solid, deterring all directions."
The iron dragon tilted his head, his focus shifting to the face of the human Heroic Spirit.
"Rodrigo, you know I have high expectations for you," he said slowly. "Sanctuary, Aola's strategic heavy weapon, will also become the stage for you to shine."
At this point, the iron dragon suddenly changed the subject.
His tone became direct and sharp. "But, if one day, Aola's military might once again points toward Theo, that land you served to the death and ultimately died for... what would you think then? Would there be ripples in your heart?"
The air on the mountaintop froze for an instant.
Rodrigo fell silent.
In his eyes, countless complex emotions flashed rapidly, finally settling into a pool of calm.
After a few seconds, the Heroic Spirit slowly raised his gaze to meet the iron dragon's.
"Rodrigo has already shed his last drop of blood for Theo, died on the battlefield, wrapped in horsehide... I, I have long owed Theo nothing." He paused, then continued, "Now, I am Aola's Heroic Spirit, one of Sanctuary's commanders. My loyalty belongs to this land that gave me new life."
"But," he shifted slightly, speaking candidly, "if possible... I would not wish to personally lead troops to descend upon that land."
"This is not cowardice, but... some useless old attachments. They might affect my judgment and decisions at critical moments. A commander's heart should be like a clear mirror, untainted by dust."
The iron dragon lowered his gaze to stare at him for several seconds. No anger or dissatisfaction arose in his eyes.
On the contrary, he bared his teeth, revealing pale fangs, forming an expression akin to a smile.
"Old attachments... fine. This prince has no interest in forcing others to act against their conscience."
"If we ever mobilize against Theo, other Heroic Spirit commanders will be responsible for the front lines then."
The iron dragon shifted his gaze away, looking back toward Sanctuary, its silver light flowing in the basin, as if seeing a more distant, grander future vision through it.
Then, he spoke again leisurely, his tone certain.
"Theo... it will inevitably become Aola's Theo."
"The only difference is the manner and the timing. By then, there will likely be no distinction between Aola and Theo on these plains. Those old attachments in your heart will naturally dissipate like smoke, leaving no lingering ties."
Rodrigo was silent for a moment, then bowed again. "Thank you for your understanding, Prince."
The iron dragon said no more.
Simultaneously, the figure of the human Heroic Spirit transformed into a stream of flowing light, shooting toward Sanctuary at the basin's center and merging with it.
Time quietly advanced, gradually approaching noon.
Around the basin, aside from the iron dragon Sorog, more and more powerful figures arrived one after another, each finding a place with a clear view to stand.
The White Dragon Beskarl coiled on the eastern cliff, his scales gleaming coldly under the autumn sun; the Amethyst Dragon Iseramas stood quietly nearby, purple radiance flowing around him.
The Blue Dragon Zoraya, along with the Green Dragon Ludwig, the Black Dragon Seraphina, and other dragons each occupied a position, their dragon might faintly intertwining.
On another side, the Red Emperor's four offspring, all now in their youth phase, with robust forms and steady auras, each without exception possessed size and life levels surpassing those of adult dragons, drawing attention. They stood solemnly alongside the Red Emperor's Black Dragon adopted daughter and several outstanding graduates of the Ignas Dragon Academy.
Further away, several lords were also present.
The main strength of the Aola Kingdom was almost entirely gathered here.
Elvy and Karu were also among the spectators.
Deep within their eyes shone a luster different from usual; it was the gaze belonging to another consciousness.
The slumbering Red Emperor was witnessing this historic moment alongside his kingdom through these two pairs of eyes beneath the Dragon Throne.
Soon, when the sun reached its zenith, its light most intense.
The iron dragon Sorog raised his majestic dragon head. His voice, like a great bell, spread throughout the entire basin, echoing among the mountains.
"Begin! Sanctuary, ascend!"
The command given, the nine giant energy-guiding towers surrounding the basin's edge simultaneously emitted a low hum.
They burst forth with dazzling beams of light, shooting straight into the sky, intertwining and spreading at the highest reaches of the heavens, ultimately forming a massive three-dimensional magical array covering the entire basin.
The array slowly rotated, its speed increasing, stirring the surrounding magical energy to surge like tides.
Hum!
The originally calm, flowing luster on Sanctuary's surface suddenly became incredibly brilliant. The countless runes inscribed upon it, starting from the lowest foundation, ignited like kindling lit one by one, lighting up in sequence and rapidly spreading upward.
In moments, the entire magnificent Sanctuary seemed to be thoroughly ignited from within.
It transformed into an exceedingly dazzling luminous body, its radiance even momentarily overpowering the midday sun.
Immediately after, the earth transmitted a low, continuous tremor.
Under the gaze of countless eyes, this creation born of immense effort began to break free from the earth's restraints, steadily rising.
At first, its ascent was slow, like a giant whale surfacing from the deep sea.
But soon, as more propulsion arrays activated step by step, its speed noticeably accelerated.
Its silver body tore through the air, stirring up the dust accumulated in the basin, forming a thick, straight column of gray smoke. Sanctuary itself, like a sword piercing through the mundane world, surged upward against the current along the smoke column's center.
Howling gales swept through the spectator area, whipping against the dragons' hard scales and the lords' flowing manes and long hair.
"Majesty over the cosmos, Aola everlasting!"
Some younger dragons, unable to contain their surging emotions, let out excited roars and low growls.
Followed by countless gazes, Sanctuary rose higher and higher, its massive form gradually shrinking in their field of view. Soon, from the ground looking up, it had transformed into a bright silvery-white star.
Even in broad daylight, its brilliance was clearly visible, shining alongside the sun.
Aola Kingdom's strategic heavy weapon, the Heroic Spirit Sanctuary, was officially in position!
Subsequently, under the effect of the preset spell arrays, this newborn star gradually dimmed, slowly disappearing into the azure sky, hidden within a dimensional crease difficult to track.
It vanished from the conventional view of the various nations.
Only when the Aola Kingdom needed it would this sword hanging in the firmament reveal its form once more.
New Calendar Year 405.
In the northern borderlands of the Aola Kingdom, north of the Permafrost Tundra, the vast icy sea known as the Cold Water Ocean was no longer calm.
Coastal outposts and patrols established by the kingdom here began to suffer frequent attacks. The assailants were sahuagin, evil intelligent beings called "sea devils" by land-dwelling races.
They resembled a combination of humans and fish, with savage, bloodthirsty temperaments, accustomed to plundering.
At first, it was only sporadic harassment and small-scale raids, not attracting excessive attention from higher-ups, merely dealt with by local garrison guards.
However, the sahuagin incursions soon escalated from harassment to large-scale landing assaults.
More and more fish-men swarmed out from the sea, attacking Aola's coastal bases, destroying facilities, and plundering supplies, their behavior growing increasingly rampant. Moreover, there were even legendary leaders among them.
The Blue Dragon Heriam, realizing he alone could not completely resolve the threat from the deep sea, urgently reported the situation to the capital.
Soon after, along the long northern coastline of the Permafrost Tundra, beacon fires ignited one after another.
The sahuagin launched a long-planned large-scale offensive, tearing openings in multiple points of the defensive line, with landing forces pushing inland.
Just as the defending troops' pressure multiplied.
In the sky above, beams of dazzling light tore through the clouds, descending vertically.
Heroic Spirit warriors from Sanctuary descended upon the battlefield.
They were composed of pure spiritual essence and energy, unaffected by cold or fatigue, and unafraid of injury, fearless of death.
The tide of battle instantly reversed.
The sahuagin crumbled under the assault of the Sanctuary Legion, leaving behind numerous corpses as they retreated in disarray. The sahuagin leader was severely wounded by a legendary Heroic Spirit but, being too close to the sea, escaped using water-based magic, barely preserving his life.
The Aola Kingdom did not stop there.
Under the directive of the Iron Prince, the Ancient Dragon Beskarl personally entered the sea, pursuing for hundreds of kilometers. Finally, in a deep-sea trench, he captured the severely wounded, not-yet-recovered sahuagin leader.
After interrogation, the Aola Kingdom learned the reason for the sahuagin's massive offensive.
They were fleeing the might of the "White Scourge."
—The Wanfa White Dragon, Hitherfell.
This powerful and famous ancient white dragon had appeared multiple times in the depths of the Cold Water Ocean in recent years, specifically hunting legendary lifeforms with cruel methods and elusive movements.
The Daylight Dragon Domain had issued a high bounty for him and organized several expeditions, but all returned empty-handed.
Some legendary lifeforms dwelling in the deep sea were forced to abandon their homes, migrating to relatively safer shallower waters and even land.
This group of sahuagin, unaware of the Aola Kingdom's true power and under survival pressure, were forced to land, invading the Aola coast in an attempt to gain new living space.
In the end, the surviving sahuagin chose to submit to the Aola Kingdom.
They became a vassal of the kingdom, adding another legendary existence to Aola.
In the same year, Aola Kingdom's Fire Prince, Industrial Overseer, the red dragon Samantha awoke from her slumber. Her life level also broke through to the twentieth-level limit, only one step away from the legendary realm.
New Calendar Year 406.
On the Arotala Continent, the aftermath of the former meteor calamity had still not completely subsided. The Elven Empire was busy repairing their homeland and soothing nature; other kingdoms distributed across this continent also suffered heavy losses from the disaster, their national strength not yet recovered, all in a state of being unable to attend to others.
In the southeastern part of the continent, in the vast wilderness regions.
A previously obscure evil dragon seized the perfect opportunity, expanding her influence at an astonishing speed.
The monster armies under her command attacked everywhere, annexing weak tribes and city-states, rapidly establishing a loosely structured but territorially vast evil dragon kingdom.
Because its territorial core was a huge, verdant wilderness, this kingdom was also simply called the "Greenwild Kingdom."
The ruler of Greenwild was a female green dragon.
She had quietly ascended to the legendary realm before entering her prime, possessing a certain powerful special talent, yet had remained patient, low-key, and unknown.
Only when this heaven-sent opportunity arrived did she suddenly strike, rising like a comet streaking across the night sky, making a stunning debut.
She became quickly renowned for her cunning, patience, and power.
Some intelligent beings and intelligence organizations that continuously monitored dragon activities worldwide couldn't help but compare the newly risen Greenwild Kingdom with the already established Aola Kingdom far away on the Atlantis Continent.
Some busybodies even began calling this female green dragon the "Green Emperor," placing her alongside Aola's awe-inspiring "Red Emperor."
Although the two currently had no interaction whatsoever, many were already comparing them.
For now, the Red Emperor, who had forged numerous legendary deeds, held significantly greater prestige.
New Calendar Year 410.
The orc empire Kantum on the Thalassian Continent, its desire for conquest had never been extinguished.
However, while orc individuals were brave, their alchemy and industrial technology were severely backward. Their massive armies were confined to their home continent, unable to conduct transoceanic expeditions.
For nearly a hundred years, the entire orc empire had been stewing in frustration.
They poured resources and time frantically into researching navigation technology. With the entire nation united, they finally achieved a breakthrough. This alternative empire, composed basically of barbaric brutes, developed reliable fleets capable of ocean-going voyages.
An unprecedentedly large-scale orc naval fleet was assembled.
Amidst the frenzied war cries of countless orc warriors and the blessings of shamans, they officially set sail.
The massive orc fleet headed straight for the Arotala Continent, which had not fully recovered from the celestial disaster. Simultaneously, several smaller-scale vanguard fleets were dispatched, sailing toward the direction of the Atlantis Continent.
New Calendar Year 413.
Within the Aola Kingdom, a new legendary emerged among humans.
Dilia Hynes.
He was a grandchild of Shire Hynes, but inherited not a trace of serpentfolk bloodline; he was pure human.
This child displayed considerable talent. While undertaking arduous cultivation and training himself, he also enjoyed the kingdom's resource cultivation. Thus, he ultimately succeeded in breaking through the legendary barrier.
In terms of age, his achievement might not be considered stunning among legendary powerhouses.
However, Dilia was a genuine first-generation Aolan, having studied, grown, and ascended within the kingdom under the Red Emperor's rule. He was the first human legendary cultivated independently by the Aola Kingdom, a profoundly significant milestone.
Time flowed on, spring passed and autumn came.
In the blink of an eye, another three years slipped by.
New Calendar Year 416, summer.
The Lyon Kingdom, which had gained the most extensive territory during the second Romania nations war, had long expended vast amounts of national strength on internal suppression of resistance and maintaining rule. Internal attrition grew increasingly severe, accumulating problems until they became irremediable.
Various remedial reform measures were of no avail.
They sought aid from former allied nations but received no effective response.
Finally, this kingdom, already riddled with holes internally, could no longer maintain its superficial unity.
With the push of certain invisible hands, it collapsed with a thunderous roar, splitting into several independent, mutually hostile or allied duchies. The former kingdom's territory became a chessboard for warlord infighting.
In the same year, winter.
Ser Wilderness, Dragonback Mountains, the wind and snow were fierce.
On a cold day with light snow flurrying, an ordinary mountain peak covered in pristine white snow suddenly shook violently without warning. On the mountain's surface, one deep crack after another rapidly split and extended, with large amounts of snow and rocks tumbling down.
It was as if some enormous existence slumbering within the mountain was slowly awakening, turning its heavy body.