Defeat the entire world with the power of one dragon!

Chapter 540 Galos's Second Generation Bloodline

The Rhine Plateau, the Crimson Emperor's City.

Garus stood on the edge of the high platform, gazing towards the direction of Middle-earth.

The intense, brilliant sunlight poured down, illuminating the dragon's crimson scales. The interplay of light and shadow further accentuated the dragon's imposing and majestic presence.

"In this turbulent era, who will emerge victorious?"

This question lingered in his mind, but he had no answer.

Galos had witnessed too many rises and falls, and he himself had crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. But the higher he stood and the farther he could see, the more he could feel the silent turbulence permeating the cracks of time, and the more he could feel his own limitations.

For now, the situation in Atlanta appears to have stabilized.

The floating cities of the Holden Empire still blot out the sky, while the surface kingdoms divide up the rich lands of Middle-earth. Because resources are plentiful, the various powers maintain a balance, which, under normal circumstances, may continue for hundreds of years.

However, everyone at the top knows that this is just an appearance.

Beneath the seemingly calm surface lies a turbulent undercurrent.

Although the abyssal rifts have been temporarily suppressed, the danger has never truly disappeared; the giant cities of the Holden Empire hang overhead, and no one knows what those behemoths are brewing; the mad fire scourge on the continent of Aurotara continues to spread; and disputes between the surface nations are inevitable due to borders, resources, and historical grievances.

No one knows when or where the next crisis will break out.

"However, in any case, I at least have a way out."

Galos thought to himself.

This thought made the tense muscles under his scales relax slightly.

The initial decision to develop the Immortal Wilderness was not only for the special resources contained in that plane, but also to have a way out in the event of an insurmountable world-class crisis.

Of course, this is just a safety net, a last resort.

Galos was unwilling to give up his base on the planet Bernardo unless absolutely necessary.

This relates to his growth rate and environment.

In particular, after acquiring territory in Middle-earth.

Its abundance was more than enough for Galus's needs for a very long time.

Regardless of any unforeseen circumstances, at least he can be promoted all the way to the Destiny level while maintaining a growth rate far exceeding that of normal dragons.

As for the immortals beyond...

That definitely requires more.

A quarter of the continent is insufficient to meet that level of consumption; it may be necessary to integrate the resources of the entire Atlantis, or even extend its reach to other continents.

However, that's a matter for the future; there's no need to think about it too much right now.

You have to eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time; you can't rush things.

Galos understood this principle even when he was still a young dragon.

call!call!
Two whooshing sounds interrupted his thoughts.

The dragon's shadow pierced straight through the clouds, hovered briefly in the high sky to adjust its posture, and then landed on the wide platform in front of the red iron dragon.

"Father, good day."

The black dragon lowered its head, bowed its body, and spoke very softly.

Red Iron Dragon nodded slightly and said calmly, "Salia, get up. There's no need for such formality between us in private."

Upon hearing this, the black dragon changed from a crouching posture to a normal standing position.

But she still looked a little nervous, her front paws gently scratching the ground, and the tip of her tail slightly curled up.

Unlike other sons of emperors, she was mostly relaxed when facing her father in private.
After all, it is difficult to achieve complete equality wherever intelligent beings gather.

Even among the emperor's sons, who held special status, subtle class distinctions existed.

For example, adopted sons and daughters like Salia were ranked one level lower than the emperor's biological children.

This is a natural occurrence, not a rule imposed by Galus.

Those descendants born directly from his bloodline generally have higher growth potential and are very powerful. Naturally, their status is higher than that of his adopted sons and daughters. Among his biological descendants, the fourth son born in the first birth is the most prominent.

Of these four, Garcro and Laria have the highest prestige.

The former needs no introduction; he always charges to the front in every battle, leading from the front. His battle-worn armor is his badge of honor, and the other emperors' sons admire him wholeheartedly and would never belittle his bravery. The latter is a dragon lord, quite powerful himself, and commands a considerable number of followers, whose territory is well-governed.

Among the other underage sons of the emperor, Gabriel the Red Dragon is currently the most prominent.

It is foreseeable that as the number of emperor's sons increases, and even more generations of dragon descendants increase, only the most outstanding or special dragon descendants will be able to stand out and gain the attention of the Red Emperor.

Resources are limited, and so is attention; this is a selection process that no group can avoid.

at the same time.

The red dragon Garkro, who came with the black dragon, had an impatient expression on his face.

He landed with increased force, causing the platform to tremble slightly, then strode forward, the scales rubbing together with a clanging sound.

Unlike the black dragon, he wasn't nervous. He took a few more steps forward, almost touching Galos, before grinning, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth, and said in a gruff voice:

"Haha, my dear father, I have some good news for you! Would you like to hear it?"

Galos glanced at his eldest son.

"Do not want to."

He said succinctly.

"Since you want to know, then I will tell you."

Garclaw pretended not to hear the word 'no'.

He straightened his back, a proud expression on his face, and said in a loud voice, "Father, you're going to be a grandfather!"

He paused, then raised his front paw and pointed at the black dragon beside him, whose head was bowed.

"Haha, Salia is pregnant with my child! Your bloodline is about to welcome its second generation!"

For a time, there were only rumors circulating on the platform.

Galos slowly turned his head, shifting his gaze from his eldest son's smug face to Salia.

Will the second generation of descendants be able to inherit their talents?
Galos seemed to be deep in thought.

This concerns my future career path, so it's extremely important.

The black dragon was already nervous, and now, under Garos's gaze, his whole body tensed up even more.

She lowered her head even further, the scales on her neck stood up slightly and then slowly flattened, her tail swaying from side to side behind her, making a soft rustling sound as it swept across the ground.

When did this happen?

Red Iron Dragon asked.

"Just a month ago!"

Galcroze answered first.

He had clearly been holding back for a long time, and once he started talking, he couldn't stop: "After the war in Middle-earth ended, I wondered why she had become so lazy, always lying in her nest sleeping, but her appetite was gradually increasing."

The red dragon spoke with great enthusiasm, gesturing with its front paws:

“I asked Salia if I had some serious illness, and she glared at me and said, ‘You’re the one who’s sick, your whole family is sick’… Oh, I’m not talking about you, Father, I mean she was cursing at me back then… Anyway, that’s the gist of it!”

He scratched his head and added, "The more I thought about it, the more something seemed off."

"Galcro".

Hong Tielong interrupted his eldest son's rambling, saying, "I'm asking about her."

Garclaw awkwardly shut his mouth, but a grin still lingered on his lips, clearly indicating he was in a very good mood.

He pondered that when his child was born, he would educate him the same way his father had educated him. If this descendant could be a little rebellious, that would be even better, so that he could unleash his full potential.

Red Iron Dragon's gaze returned to Salia.

His tone softened as he asked, "How are you feeling now?"

Salia raised her eyes, met her father's gaze, and then quickly looked down again.

She whispered, "I'm fine. Although I feel more tired than before and have a bigger appetite, it's mild and doesn't have much of an impact."

Galos listened quietly, then asked:
"Can you still fight?"

This statement surprised both Salia and Garclaw.

"can!"

Salia paused for a moment, then said firmly, "My claws are still sharp. As long as Father gives the order, I can still go into battle and kill the enemy, no matter who the enemy is."

Galos stared at her for a second.

Then, he stretched out his huge claw and gently patted the black dragon's lowered head.

"it is good."

He said, "If they can fight, then there's not much of a problem."

He retracted his claws and continued, "However, I will not send you to charge or fight. During the time you are nurturing your offspring, your original tasks will be entirely handled by Garcro."

He turned to the red dragon: "You're in charge of Salia's mission. Do you have any objections?"

Upon hearing this, the red dragon Garclaw patted his breastplate, producing a dull, resounding clang.

He straightened his back and said in a loud voice, "Of course not, leave it to me!"

"I didn't have enough fun killing in the war in Middle-earth. Perfect timing, I can vent my anger on the demons of the Abyss Rift within our borders. Those scum are starting to stir again recently, I'll deal with them personally!"

His tone was impatient.

Red Iron Dragon's gaze swept over the eldest son's body, landing on the few purple patterns still present on his breastplate.

The patterns looked alive, slowly meandering between the scales, their color so deep it was almost black.

Seeing this, Galos slightly furrowed the scales on his forehead.

"After all this time, you still have remnants of the abyss on you?"

Garquero raised its front paw and touched the patterns on its body.

He said casually, "These things grew because I ate too much demon flesh on the battlefield, not because of any residual abyssal energy."

This sounds even more abnormal.

Galos narrowed his eyes, and some inherited knowledge surfaced in his mind.

Examples of people developing 'abyssal markings' after consuming too many demons are recorded in the heritage.

This typically occurs in dragons that have long fought against the abyss. In their fierce battles, they feed on demons, converting the power of their enemies into nourishment. However, in this process, some abyssal qualities can subtly seep into their bodies. But whether this is good or bad is not specifically stated in the heritage.

It only mentions that if one feeds on demons, there is a small chance that abyssal patterns will grow on one's body, but there are no other follow-ups or consequences.

"It's called the Abyss Pattern. There are records of it in the inheritance, so you should already know that."

"Garos said."

Red Dragon nodded emphatically.

He wasn't worried at all. Instead, he grinned and said, "The fact that such a low-probability event happened to me proves my strength and the excellence of your bloodline, Father."

"Not just anyone can eat the flesh and blood of those demons, but I did!"

"Not only did I digest them, but I also made them a part of me!"

Clearly, Galcroze didn't take him seriously.

He even regarded the Abyss Mark as a kind of 'mark of glory' similar to the Battle Mark, and was very proud of it.

He turned to his side, showing his father several lines on his side abdomen, which started from where Garcolo's heart was and spread down the muscles.

Under the watchful gaze of the Dragon Father, Garclaw paused for a moment before continuing:

"It makes me look more powerful."

"Moreover, I sense that these patterns are not just decorations... I'm considering whether I should eat more demons, which might increase the number of abyssal patterns on my body. If they could cover my entire body, that would be truly awe-inspiring."

He turned to look at his father, his eyes serious:

"I want more Abyss Marks, Father. What do you think?"

Although Garclaw appeared carefree on the surface, he was well aware of the dangers of the abyss.

This thing is likely a double-edged sword; it can bring power, but it may also bring unpredictable mutations. So he consulted Galos for his opinion.

Hong Tielong gave him a deep look.

“You’re already an adult, and I won’t interfere too much with your choices. Besides, you’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you?”

Garclaw paused for a moment, then a genuine smile appeared on his lips.

"Father, you understand me best."

His expression turned serious, and his voice deepened: "I have a feeling that it will make me stronger."

"It will certainly come with some temptations or corruption from the abyss, that's the inevitable price, I know that."

"But how can the pursuit of power be smooth sailing?"

“Father, you have overcome countless obstacles and dangers along the way, including being attacked by legends, being besieged by powerful figures, and struggling on the edge of life and death. As your most outstanding son, I will never stop moving forward because of fear of risks!”

Galcrove was always proud of being the eldest son.

He was the first to hatch, the first son of an emperor.

However, he also knew very well that in the Kingdom of Aura, strength was respected, not age.

The dragonborn that followed were all more talented than the last.

To maintain his power and to live up to his status as the eldest son, Garclaw made more arduous efforts than his other blood relatives.

However, while his bloodline talent was excellent, it was not top-tier.

For example, the red-gold dragon Gabriel's growth rate was significantly faster than that of Garcro at the same age, and his personality was also quite domineering, which made Garcro feel somewhat threatened.

As time goes by, the father may have other, even more outstanding descendants.

Its bloodline will only grow stronger.

Only by seizing every opportunity and becoming stronger at all costs can one stand out among the many sons of emperors, always stand at the forefront, and make one's father proud.

This is the most persistent thought deep in Galkro's heart.

He wouldn't allow himself to be surpassed by his other siblings.

Galus gazed at his eldest son.

He knew the conviction in his heart.

He saw it all: the resentment, the anxiety, the burning ambition.

But... Garus doesn't actually care much about whether his offspring are powerful.

Because no matter what, he will always be at the forefront.

He was the emperor, the one who created all of this. His gaze had long since turned to more distant places. The growth of his offspring was more like icing on the cake to him than a necessity.

However, he did not try to persuade his eldest son.

Galos himself also had some obsessions that were difficult to shake off.

For example, he actually has an extreme lack of security.

As long as he hasn't reached the very top, as long as there are still those above him who can decide his fate, Galos will always feel a sense of unease deep down.

It's always there, never truly gone.

His pursuit of power was largely driven by this 'unease'.

These kinds of thoughts can't be dispelled in just a few words.

Moreover, its existence is not necessarily a bad thing.

Obsession can be a driving force, propelling beings to break through their limits. The key lies in how it's utilized, how one maintains clarity in the pursuit of power, and how one makes the right choices when faced with temptation.
Follow your own heart, my eldest son.

Red Iron Dragon said slowly, "But you must remember, don't blindly pursue power."

"Power is a tool, not an end."

"If you lose yourself in the pursuit of power, then the power you gain will eventually turn against you."

He paused, a sharp glint in his eyes: "Otherwise, Gorsas will serve as a cautionary tale for you."

Garclaw lowered his head slightly and said solemnly, "As you know, my mentality may not be as calm as the fourth brother's, but I am by no means a foolish and reckless dragon."

"I will carefully test the strength of those patterns and record every change."

"If the risks outweigh the rewards, and if I feel my rationality is being eroded and I am losing control, I will stop without hesitation."

"What I want is power to control, not to be controlled by power."

Red Iron Dragon nodded slightly.

"Okay, let's go down."

The two giant dragons bowed their heads in reverence, then turned and flapped their wings, flying down towards the Dragon Court.

Galos stood alone, watching the two figures gradually disappear into the distance.

"Keep an eye on Garcro's condition. Report any unusual activity to me immediately."

The voice of the red iron dragon echoed in Salia's heart.

Since he started practicing the Mind Mage path, although his level is not high yet, he has found it very convenient to use telepathy like this.

the other side.

The black dragon paused for a moment, but quickly resumed its gliding motion.

"I will, Father, please don't worry."

She responded silently in her heart.

The wind passed through the clouds, caressing the scales of the red iron dragon, and the sunlight began to slant westward.

He stood alone atop the Dragon Court, gazing at the twilight gradually appearing on the horizon.

"Times have changed... Before I knew it, my bloodline was about to welcome its second generation."

Galos murmured to himself.

He suddenly realized that dragons' lifespans didn't seem to be that long.

The days of struggling in the wilderness are still vivid in his mind, but in the blink of an eye, he is already standing on the top of the North.

Beneath his feet lay the royal city, before him lay the land, and behind him were countless relatives and subjects who looked up to him. He had several companions, many children, and now even his grandchildren were coming.

time flies.

"A thousand years... is too short."

The red iron dragon murmured softly.

For many ordinary things and even legendary life forms, a thousand years is an unimaginably long period of time.

But for Galus, who was determined to reach the pinnacle and explore the end of evolution, what was a little time?
Previously, his small goal was to live to be a thousand years old, which was a vague longing for the distant future when he was a young dragon.

But after he saw a wider world, his goal changed without him realizing it.

A thousand years? That's just the beginning.

What he wants is to climb upwards continuously for thousands, tens of thousands, or even longer, until he stands at the pinnacle of all existence, feeling completely at ease and allowing his heart to truly find peace.

As dusk deepened, the outlines of the distant mountains began to blur.

at the same time.

Amidst the drifting winds and floating clouds, the Holden Empire.

Whispers were quietly rising in the shadows of the magnificent building.

"I never expected that the Red Iron Dragon, whose country is named after Aura, could display the power of destiny and directly smooth out the Abyss Rift at the critical moment."

"This dragon is more powerful than expected; we need to be careful."

"The time for our king's arrival has to be postponed. That rift was an important part of the plan, but now it no longer exists."

"Be patient. The whispers of the supreme will have already resounded in Holden’s central nervous system, and the number of awakened individuals like us is increasing."

"Within the upper echelons of the Holden Empire, some have already begun to heed the call of the abyss."

"Heh, this material empire will eventually fall into the abyss, and then the whole world will belong to us."

"Proceed with caution; Holden's resistance remains fierce."

The communication gradually fell silent.

The magnificent city still hangs in the sky, like a miracle from mythology.

The lights on the tower lit up one by one, and magical light flowed between the buildings, making them appear orderly and prosperous. But beneath the light, countless shadows were slowly growing and spreading.

(End of this chapter)