Defeat the entire world with the power of one dragon!

Chapter 560 Holden's Dawn and Dark Star, Conspiracy
541 AD (Gregorian calendar)

Holden Empire, Sky City.

This colossal city, suspended above the sea of ​​clouds, is Holden's pride and the most magnificent spectacle in all of Atlantis.

The base was cast from a magical alloy, which gleamed with a silvery-gray luster in the sunlight. Each piece of alloy was engraved with intricate runes, layer upon layer, densely packed. On the base, countless magnificent buildings stood side by side.

On the outskirts of the city, rings of floating defense platforms rotate slowly, like planetary rings.

Warships, long and slender with sharp lines, were moored on the platform, appearing and disappearing in the sea of ​​clouds. Further away, countless small floating structures shuttled back and forth, like a swarm of tireless worker bees, maintaining every corner of this giant city.

The clouds churned beneath my feet, like a boundless white ocean.

Sunlight poured down from above, illuminating every corner of the city, bathing the entire city in a dazzling glow, like a legendary divine kingdom.

This is Holden's royal city, the heart of the empire.

Sky City, Royal Court.

It resembles a three-dimensional platinum giant sword, magnificent and straight, planted in the center of the city. The hilt is the main gate of the royal court, while the blade is a series of palaces.

at the same time.

Inside the royal court, King Holden entered a sealed chamber.

He was dressed in imperial robes, a white robe with gold trim, and the imperial emblem embroidered on his chest: a city floating in the clouds, with two stars above it, one bright and one dim.

King Holden gazed ahead.

This secret chamber is located in the deepest part of the royal court. Its four walls are covered with densely packed runes, and light moves along the traces of the runes, like rivers of light flowing on the walls.

In the center of the secret room was a pool of water.

The water is transparent, without a ripple, yet it subtly exudes a profound quality, as if it can devour all light. Standing by the pool and looking down, you can't see the bottom, only endless depth.

In the center of the pool was a huge crystal.

It presents an irregular polyhedron, each facet as smooth as a mirror, with a faint light flowing inside, and a figure can be vaguely seen within the crystal.

It is in human form, sitting cross-legged, with its eyes closed, in a peaceful posture.

Holden's Immortal.

For countless years, the true guardian of the empire, the ancestor of all Holden kings, and the great being who single-handedly created the golden age of the Holden Empire.

Those in the royal family called him "the Immortal Dawn".

It means: The empire rose in a chaotic and turbulent era, and he was the first light.

"Ancestor, the empire's situation is improving."

"King Holden said in a low voice."

The figure inside the crystal did not respond.

King Holden continued, “The spread of the Abyss’s corruption has been gradually contained in recent decades. Our warships, carrying the Empire’s bravest warriors, are determined to defend the Empire and are heading into the Abyss without hesitation, guarding one Abyss Root after another with their flesh and blood and their iron will.”

The Root of the Abyss: The Cloud Engine is connected to the Abyss, forming a root-like region when drawing energy from the Abyss.

Those areas, which were originally channels of energy, have now become the most dangerous battlefields.

Because of the corruption of the Abyss, the connection between the Engine and the Abyss is difficult to sever. The Abyss Root, which the Empire used to draw energy from the Abyss, has instead become a channel through which the Abyss erodes the Empire.

Countless demons attacked relentlessly, while Holden's powerful warriors fought primarily around the Root of the Abyss.

"In recent decades, only seven cities have shown signs of their engines going out of control."

"Apart from the first two being destroyed, the subsequent ones were discovered in advance and successfully contained, which prevented the situation from deteriorating further."

He paused, then said, "The alchemists are researching ways to remove the corruption of the abyss."

"News came from the front lines some time ago that they have created a new purification rune, which is more effective than we expected. It can clear the abyssal aura from the engine. Although it cannot completely eradicate the source of the corrosion, it can effectively reduce the concentration, at least making the floating city less likely to get out of control."

"Even if the corresponding Jiyuan Root is lost, this rune can buy us a lot of time."

As he spoke, a hint of satisfaction crept into King Holden's voice.

"At the current pace, in a few decades, or at the latest within a century, all fifth-generation Cloud Engines should be able to return to normal operation. By then..."

He looked at the figure inside the crystal and said, "The empire will be saved from danger."

silence.

A few seconds later, a voice came from the crystal.

"How are things on the demons' side?"

The voice was very soft, as if it drifted from a great distance, yet it reached King Holden's ears clearly. It carried a sense of oppression, as if bearing some heavy burden; every word sounded weighty.

King Holden knew that this was because the Dawn Ancestor was in poor condition.

"There are no large-scale operations at the moment."

King Holden said, "After the Red Emperor of Aura destroyed the two out-of-control floating cities, the demons have become much more subdued."

"According to frontline reports, the demons' attack on the Root of the Abyss has weakened considerably. In some areas, the demons have even retreated a distance. However, we are not taking this lightly. They may be readjusting their deployment."

When the Red Emperor was mentioned, King Holden smiled slightly.

"Speaking of which, that Red Emperor was truly... an unexpected gain."

He said, "At first, we just wanted him to help deal with the out-of-control city, but we didn't expect him to do a better job than we anticipated."

A very soft laugh came from inside the crystal.

“Interesting,” said the Immortal. “A dragon that has not yet reached its destiny can perform like this.”

“Yes,” King Holden replied. “It is indeed interesting; he is not even a Grand Master yet.”

"A legend in his prime, dominating the Grandmasters... He has the potential to be immortal. He may pose a danger to us in the future, but right now, he has relieved a lot of pressure for us, and we must admit that."

Not much to say on this topic.

King Holden's gaze turned serious. He hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Ancestor, there is one more thing... I need to report to you. This matter is of great importance."

"explain."

"Regarding the erosion issue of the fifth-generation Cloud Engine."

King Holden carefully considered his words, weighing each one repeatedly, before saying, "After repeated examination and deduction, the alchemists have come to a... rather unusual conclusion."

"They initially couldn't believe this conclusion, but after multiple verifications, the evidence became more and more convincing, and they eventually submitted it to me."

He paused for a moment, then continued:
"They believe that the fifth-generation engine had a hidden flaw in its initial design."

"This defect is very small, so small that it is not noticeable in normal operation, but it makes it impossible for the engine to completely isolate itself from the erosion of the abyss when it draws energy from the abyss, giving the abyss a little chance to corrupt us."

"It's like an extremely fine crack, usually invisible."

"However, when the pressure is great enough, it can become the ant hole that causes the dam to burst."

He paused, his voice becoming low: "In other words, this vulnerability existed before the Empire began large-scale development of the Abyss, before the fifth-generation engine went into mass production; it didn't appear later."

The atmosphere in the sealed room suddenly froze.

The flowing runes paused for a moment, then continued to rotate slowly.

After a long silence, the voice came from the crystal again: "What do you want to say?"

King Holden took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Ancestor, I suspect... there is a high-ranking rebellion in the Imperial Central Government."

"When the fifth-generation engine was being designed, when the Abyss development project had just started, there were people... or rather, there was power that was driving all of this."

"No ordinary person could be capable of doing this."

"This requires the ability to plant this hidden danger unnoticed under the watchful eyes of countless people."

The silence lasted for a long time.

So long that King Holden thought the other party would not respond.

He stood motionless, waiting, the light of the runes swirling across his face, reflecting his solemn expression. Then, the voice of the immortal rang out once more.

Whom do you suspect?

He asked.

King Holden did not answer immediately.

His gaze fell on the figure within the crystal, then shifted to the flowing runes, before finally returning to the crystal. His lips moved slightly, and after a few seconds of hesitation, he slowly uttered three words:

"...the other one."

The emblem of the Holden Empire features two stars, one bright and one dim.

One of the brighter stars represents the immortality of the royal family before them; while the other star represents the immortality of another, who is not of royal blood.

The people of Holden called him the "Immortal Dark Star".

It means: the empire's second star, though not as bright as the dawn, is equally important and irreplaceable.

The Abyss development project was mainly spearheaded by Dark Star.

He was the one who came up with the initial idea, propelled the implementation of the plan, and oversaw the design and construction of the engine.

King Holden continued, "He was in charge of the entire project and knew the engine's construction better than anyone else."

"From the initial theoretical deduction to the mid-term experimental verification, and finally to the mass production, he participated in and supervised the entire process. He had access to all the core secrets during the design phase, and no one knew every detail of the engine better than him."

“If someone tampered with the engine, they couldn’t have been completely unaware.”

“Moreover…” He paused for a moment, then said in a deep voice, “Since you were injured, he has been on the front lines all these years, near the Root of Jiyuan.”

"His reason was to personally oversee the battle, set an example, and personally confront the abyss."

"That certainly makes sense and leaves no room for doubt, but now that I think about it, is it possible that he reached some kind of agreement with the demons, requiring him to be on the front lines so that he could keep track of changes in the situation and adjust his plans accordingly?"

silence.

A long silence.

King Holden stood still, waiting for a response.

He could feel his own heartbeat.

He knew what his words meant.

To doubt an immortal, to doubt the empire's second star, is a dangerous act in itself. Although he is the current ruler of the empire, the one sitting on the throne, rulers like him come and go, generation after generation, while immortals are eternal, like gods.

Finally, the sound rang out again.

"...Don't say anymore."

King Holden raised his head.

"Ancestors..."

"I said, stop talking."

The voice interrupted him, soft yet carrying undeniable power: "Holden needs to unite now. Whatever the truth may be, now is not the time to pursue it."

"The abyss lies ahead, the demons lie ahead, we need all forces to fight them together."

"Any internal division will cost the empire an unbearable price."

King Holden whispered, "But, ancestor, if it really is him, then the consequences..."

“If it’s him, then it’s even more unfortunate.”

The immortal's voice carried a hint of weariness as he said, "If he betrayed us, you should know what that means. Besides, you have no concrete evidence, only speculation. I'm more inclined to believe that he was simply unaware and was deceived by the real traitor."

"Perhaps there is a third person, a force we don't know about, manipulating all of this in the dark."

King Holden nodded slowly.

"hope so."

"Don't spread the word about the engine defect," the Immortal continued. "Keep everything as usual. Don't investigate, don't test, and don't reveal your suspicions to anyone. Just pretend it never happened."

"Your mission is to stabilize the empire and concentrate all your resources to resolve the current crisis."

King Holden lowered his head slightly: "I understand."

"The most urgent task right now is to focus on solving the engine problem. Other things... can wait."

A faint reply came from the crystal: "Yes, go."

King Holden bowed again, then turned and walked out of the secret chamber.

As he reached the entrance, he paused and glanced back at the figure in the crystal. The figure remained seated cross-legged, eyes closed, in a serene posture, as if the conversation had never happened.

King Holden then took his leave and departed from the secret chamber.

The light within the crystal gradually subsided, the surging mist returned to its tranquility, and the secret chamber regained its former peace.

543 AD (New Calendar)

The Southern Region of the Middle-earth.

Crossing the vast and desolate Saroud Desert and continuing south, the air gradually becomes more humid.

The wind carries moisture, the scent of plants, and the distant smell of the ocean.

This area belongs to the Kingdom of Latona, and at the southernmost tip of Latona lies a coastal city.

It is situated on the shore of the most prosperous harbor in the southern region, with towering buildings and crisscrossing waterways, and ships coming and going in droves.

Sunlight shone on the sea, creating a sparkling effect that mirrored the crystal spires of the city's magical towers, making the entire city seem to glow, and everything appeared peaceful and serene.

Meanwhile, in a secluded meeting room.

Two figures sat facing each other.

One of them was none other than Varta, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Farrell.

He still looked as capable as ever, but there were a few more wrinkles around his eyes and a few more strands of white hair at his temples. His aura, however, remained as deep and profound as ever, like a bottomless pool of water, calm on the surface but containing a power capable of sweeping everything away.

He sat on the ground, relaxed, exuding an aura of authority without anger.

Opposite them was Afra, the Magic Crown of Latona.

She wore a dark blue robe with intricate incantations embroidered along the hem. Her hands were folded on her knees, and she was surrounded by a faint magical glow. Her eyes were deep in thought.

"Have you made your decision?"

Varta spoke calmly, as if asking about a trivial matter.

Afra picked up the crystal glass in front of her, took a small sip, and then put it down. The liquid in the glass was pale gold with a faint halo; it was her favorite drink.

Do you know what you're saying?

She asked.

“I know.” Varta nodded, looking directly at her, and said, “I’ve thought this through very clearly, and I’m determined to succeed. I’ve considered this matter countless times, and I’m certain that this is the only option.”

Afra's brow furrowed slightly.

The three Grandmasters came here in person to discuss cooperation with her.

The cooperation involved assassinating and beheading Aura's Red Emperor while he was asleep. "Atlania is calm now, but that doesn't mean the storm has passed."

Afra said, "The demons might come back at any time, and we'll need the Red Emperor's power to resist them. It doesn't seem right for us to fight amongst ourselves and weaken each other at this time."

Varta's expression remained unchanged.

"It's inappropriate, but necessary."

He said.

Afra looked at him, her gaze sharpening: "Necessary? Tell me your thoughts."

Varta took a deep breath and leaned forward slightly.

This gesture indicates that he is about to say something important and hopes that the other person will listen attentively.

“Afra, a spellcaster like you is only wiser and better at analyzing pros and cons than I am. I won’t beat around the bush with you or say any of those high-sounding words.”

He said, "We're sitting here today to talk about serious matters, about the real benefits and risks."

"Demons are dangerous, I admit that. They are indeed terrifying and threaten the entire continent. However, the true power to fight demons is not you or me, nor the Red Emperor; he is merely standing on the front lines."

"Out of sight of us, at the very front is Holden."

"They caused this disaster and they should be held responsible. As for us? We are in the rear, guarding our own land and solving some surface problems. We have done more than enough."

Afra's brow twitched slightly, but she didn't speak.

On the other side, the eyes of the three-phase grand master lit up, flashing with the sharp glint unique to monks.

"Most importantly, you know very well that for us, the Red Emperor is a more imminent danger than the devil."

He said in a deep voice, "Dragons naturally grow stronger with age, let alone a monster like him."

"When he wakes up, his power will be even stronger than it is now. That's for sure, there's no doubt about it. The Red Emperor will most likely reach the Grand rank directly, and even before he reaches the Grand rank, he will already be incredibly powerful."

At that time…

He paused for a moment and said, "Who else can stand against him? You? Me? Even if we were tied together, we would still be no match for him."

Afra shook her head slightly.

She said, "The Red Emperor is not like a violent dragon."

"Are you sure he'll target us after he wakes up? Judging from his past actions, although he has ambitions for expansion, he has never broken any alliances."

"I do not know."

Varta said frankly, “I don’t know if he will see us as an obstacle, but I do know one thing: I can’t put my fate on ‘I don’t know’.”

He looked at Afra and asked, "Are you willing to stake the future of the Southern Region on the whim of this dragon?"

"Would you want your people, all the people of Latona, to live in such uncertainty? To wake up every day and worry that the dragon might suddenly turn on you or find us an eyesore?"

Afra fell silent.

In fact, she didn't harbor much malice towards the Red Emperor.

On the contrary, she even felt that this dragon emperor was special, that he had a different temperament from other dragons, a kind of possibility that they could get along harmoniously.

However, she had also considered what Varta had said.

She couldn't gamble on the other party's kindness.

Because she was not alone; behind her lay the entire kingdom and countless people. To entrust her own and their fate to the goodwill of a dragon was far too risky.

After a long silence, Afra spoke, asking, "Where is the Lord of Thunder? Lamorion, have you contacted him?"

"Although they are both dragons, he and the Red Emperor are not of one mind. Perhaps we can take advantage of their conflict. The infighting among the dragons may be of our own use."

Varta shook his head slightly.

"This ancient dragon is very cunning and adept at disguise."

"However, my intuition tells me that he looks down on us humans, or rather, on all creatures other than dragons. He may agree to cooperate on the surface, but secretly turn his claws on us and deliver a fatal blow at the crucial moment."

"Those who are not of our kind cannot be trusted."

Varta trusted her intuition.

The monks' intuition is so accurate that it surpasses the perception of many spells.

He carefully considered his words before continuing, "We also don't need to worry about the Lord of Thunder attacking us."

"You should have also received the news that the Raging Dragon Domain has made a move against the Kingdom of Blaketon. The dragons are fighting among themselves, and the kingdoms that were previously intimidated by the Lord of Thunder can no longer tolerate his oppression and have taken this opportunity to rise up in rebellion."

"With internal and external conflicts erupting at the same time, he is now overwhelmed with his own problems."

Afra nodded slightly, clearly aware of this as well.

"I've received the news from the north."

"So you think now is the best time to deal with the Red Emperor?"

She asked.

"Correct."

Varta nodded, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

He adjusted his posture to make himself more comfortable, and then began to explain in detail.

"Not long after, the Red Emperor will be asleep for about fifty years."

"This is the most delicate moment. At this time, he has not broken through to the Grand rank, his level has not changed qualitatively, and he has not crossed the decisive threshold. However, due to decades of long-term slumber, his body is in a state of depletion."

He looked at Afra and said, "You should know this better than I do."

Afra nodded: "When a dragon sleeps for too long, the energy in its body will gradually become depleted, and it will be weak for a period of time when it first wakes up."

"Yes."

Varta said in a deep voice, "His body is in a state of depletion, and his strength has not fully recovered. Meanwhile, we have prepared carefully for several years, gathered legends from both sides, elite troops and generals, and various means of restraint... we have everything we need."

"If we don't want to bow down to the dragon, this is our only chance, our best chance."

"If we miss this opportunity, and he wakes up naturally and fully recovers, we will never have another chance. At that time, whether we like it or not, we will have to accept this cruel reality."

Upon hearing this, Afra remained expressionless.

She said, "You make a good point, but I have a question."

"Please speak."

"What for?"

Varta was slightly taken aback.

Afra looked at him and said, "You've said so much, about those who are not of our kind, about the Red Emperor being more dangerous than demons, about not being able to grovel under the wings of dragons... but all of that is too empty."

"Would you take the risk because of these things?"

She paused, then said bluntly, "In the end, all you want is the Tears of Immortality. That's your real purpose. Everything else is secondary."

Varta nodded slowly.

"you're right."

He stated frankly without offering any explanation, "That tear of immortality was my only chance. If possible, I would prefer to achieve my destiny through my own strength alone. I tried, but I failed."

"Now, my body is aging."

“I can feel myself getting older every day, every moment, and I… can’t wait any longer.”

Afra looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

She could understand his inner resentment and longing; it was a shared feeling as a fellow human being.

The realm of destiny is right before our eyes, yet it remains out of reach. As time goes by, the distance grows ever wider, and hope grows ever more elusive, like seeing a mirage in the desert, desperately chasing after it, yet never quite catching up.

Today's Varta may be her future self.

"You did it for the Tears of Immortality, but what have I gained in return?"

Afra composed herself and asked.

Upon hearing this, Varta's spirit trembled slightly, and he immediately said, "The Red Emperor's entire body is yours, intact, with not a single scale or claw missing. I only want the Tears of Immortality."

"Study it however you want, dissect it however you want."

“A special individual with such great potential as the Red Emperor is more valuable to a spellcaster like you than a single tear of immortality. That body may hold countless secrets.”

Afra's eyes flickered slightly.

Indeed. Such a special dragon, a dragon that could overpower a Grand Dragon even before reaching the Grand rank, a dragon with an immortal aura—its body would be a coveted research subject for any spellcaster.

Those secrets, talents, and the source of power may be hidden in his flesh and blood.

After thinking for a moment, she asked again, "After you take the Tear of Immortality and become the chosen one, how can you guarantee that you won't turn against me?"

"I am willing to enter into a magical contract with you."

Varta answered without hesitation, clearly having already thought it through.

"The contract is yours to decide."

“You are a spellcaster, you know more about those things than I do. You can set up any mechanism you think will guarantee safety, any constraints, any restrictions. I believe you definitely have a way to make it impossible for me to back out.”

"Spell Lock, Soul Imprint. The choice is yours."

He said earnestly, "After I break through to the Heavenly Mandate, I will not harm your interests. In fact, I will do three things for you."

"As long as it doesn't violate my principles or harm my fundamental interests, I will do it for you, whether it's fighting, protecting, or anything else."

A deep look of contemplation appeared in Afra's eyes.

Destiny, in essence, is also a legend.

Since they are all legends, but not yet immortal, she can indeed guarantee that the magical contract she led the formation of will be difficult for Varta to violate.

Afra fell silent, weighing her options in her mind.

After Varta's destiny, it will replace the Red Emperor's ecological niche.

He can also clear large fissures on the ground, becoming a force against demons.

The key point is that she can guarantee that this martial monk, destined for heaven, will not pose a threat to her. Signing the contract will actually be beneficial to her; a powerful figure who owes her three favors is a tremendous asset.

As for the Red Emperor...

Although Afra felt that he was somewhat different, deep down she still couldn't fully believe in the dragon's mercy.

To allow him to awaken from his deep sleep normally would be to place his future life and death entirely in his hands.

She can't gamble like that.

Varta did not urge her, but sat quietly, waiting for her answer.

After a long silence, Afra spoke.

"it is good."

With just that one simple word, Varta's eyes lit up slightly, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

A Grand Spellcaster can play a role in a legendary battle that no other Grand Spellcaster can match; her participation is crucial, even more important than he himself.

Afra looked at him and said:

"I need to know your plans."

Varta did not hesitate.

"Of course."

"The first step is to locate the specific location where the Red Emperor is sleeping."

He looked into Afra's eyes and said, "Through some scale fragments and body tissues dropped by the Red Emperor in the battle, the spellcasters of the ASEAN have pinpointed the approximate location, which is on the Ryan Plateau."

"But that's all."

"The Red Emperor has very high magic resistance, making it difficult to locate him even with a medium. The spellcasters in ASEAN have tried many times, but they can only determine the general area and cannot pinpoint the exact location."

After a slight pause, Varta continued, "However, if you were to cast the spell, the situation would be different."

“You are the Crown of Magic, a master of spells. You can do what other spellcasters cannot. You can pinpoint his exact location. This is the first and most crucial step in the entire plan.”

Afra nodded slightly.

“I can do that. With his body tissue as a medium, I can use the source tracing and location technique. As long as he is still alive, I can find him.”

"Then, he made his move while he was still asleep," Varta continued.

"You should first set up a large magic array to cover the area where he is sleeping, and then launch a devastating attack when he is at his weakest."

"Killing him outright is unrealistic."

"However, as long as we can severely injure him, leave him wounded and in a deeper state of weakness, the rest will be much easier."

“Aura is a nation built entirely on the back of the Red Emperor. The other legends are just icing on the cake and not worth worrying about. Once the Red Emperor falls, they will be a disorganized mess.”

He paused, then emphasized:

"With all the legends on both sides at ease, outnumbered and outgunned, we have a greater than 70% chance of defeating the weakened and injured Red Emperor."

Afra stood up, walked to the window, and opened it.

The sea breeze blows in, carrying a salty, damp scent and the sound of distant waves. In the distance, seagulls circle, and boats come and go.

She gazed out the window, remaining silent for a long time.

Varta walked over to her and also looked out the window.

The two Grand Masters stood side by side, looking down at the city and out to sea.

"What are you thinking about?" Varta asked.

Afra didn't turn around, her voice calm: "I'm thinking about whether the decision we made was right or wrong, and how future generations will judge us."

"Will they say we are determined warriors, or that we are foolish and overconfident?"

There is no absolute right or wrong.

"Only the necessary choices," Varta said.

Afra nodded slightly.

"Yes, it's a necessary choice."

She repeated it softly, then turned to look at Varta: "Then it's settled."

The two exchanged a glance, and everything was understood without a word.

Outside the window, the sea breeze continued to blow, and the waves continued to lap against the shore. But the bustling city and its busy crowds were unaware that just moments before, a conversation that would determine their future had come to an end.

(End of this chapter)