Defeat the entire world with the power of one dragon!

Chapter 567 Light and Darkness, the Clash of Mechanisms and Numbers (Climax Chapter, Requesting Monthly Tickets)
Dark clouds rolled like a sea, and thunder roared beneath our feet.

Reinhardt soared into the sky, piercing through layers of darkness. Lightning bolts, like silver snakes, swirled around him, yet none touched his body, as if making way for this newly chosen one.

The clouds grew thicker and darker.

The darkness was so thick that one could hardly see their own hand in front of their face. Occasionally, a flash of lightning would cleave through the darkness, illuminating the churning clouds around him. These clouds seemed to have a physical form, pressing and pushing against him, yet making way for him in an invisible path.

Reinhardt knew the direction.

The voice came from above, piercing through all darkness and chaos, like a guiding light.

He had heard similar sounds countless times, in his dreams, in the depths of his memory, and in his most vulnerable moments, but this time was different; he was actively seeking them out.

Finally, he broke through the last layer of dark clouds.

The world suddenly fell silent.

All the noise was shut out beneath the sea of ​​clouds; the gale, the lightning, the roar of the dragons—all vanished the moment he passed through the last layer of clouds.

It was like crossing an invisible threshold, entering another world from another world.

His figure paused for a moment above the sea of ​​clouds.

His golden hair was gently lifted by the air currents high above, and his robes fluttered in the wind. He looked down at his feet, where the clouds resembled a surging white ocean, obscuring the path he had come from.

I looked up and suddenly everything opened up before me.

The sunlight poured down without any obstruction, illuminating a huge platform.

We are now above the clouds, with a surging sea of ​​clouds beneath our feet and a clear blue sky above. The sun is not far away, its rays shining brightly, warm and intense.

In the center of the platform, a dragon lies.

Reinhardt gazed into the distance.

That was the dragon he had seen countless times and that had haunted his dreams for most of his life.

But he is more real than any statue, any painting, any imagined figure.

The red iron dragon lay crouching in the center of the platform, its mere posture resembling a mountain forged by the blazing sun and steel.

His body was covered with dark scales, each as large as a door panel, layer upon layer covering his massive body, extending from his neck to his back, and from his back to his tail, leaving no weak point that could be easily pierced.

Its physique is majestic and imposing.

At this moment, his head was slightly lowered, and his eyes were fixed on Reinhardt.

Reinhardt also looked into those eyes.

His pupils were a deep black, with a faint dark red halo flowing around the edges.

His gaze wasn't fierce or violent; it was just a quiet, focused stare. Yet, this calm gaze made one involuntarily hold their breath, making them feel small and vulnerable in his presence.

Reinhardt had met those eyes countless times in his dreams.

Each time, he would wake up in shock under that gaze, his heart pounding like a drum, cold sweat pouring down his face.

But now, when he actually stood before those eyes, he found that he wasn't as afraid as he had imagined.

Or rather, the fear is still there, but he has come to accept it and it no longer controls him.

At that moment, a faint sound of dragon scales rubbing together rang out.

Red Iron Dragon slowly raised its head, its neck bending into a powerful arc.

With just this simple movement, the air seemed to freeze.

King.

These two words came to Reinhardt's mind.

He was not the kind of king who built his power through his army or his authority.

Those kings need rituals, grand displays, and countless people groveling at their feet to demonstrate their status.

The things we have now don't need these.

He was like a king born to rule the world, not because he wanted to rule, but because his very existence was meant to inspire people to flock and follow him, just as the sun doesn't need to prove to anyone that it is the sun.

Red Emperor Cangxing.

The Undying Dragon, the creator of the Kingdom of Aura.

Reinhardt's hands trembled slightly, and his breathing became heavier, not because of fear, but because of something inexplicable.

He took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and soothed the surging emotions within him.

He then landed on the edge of the platform, straightened his wind-blown robes, and stepped forward.

His steps were neither hurried nor slow, each step firm and steady. His golden hair fluttered gently in the wind, his back was straight as a sword, and all traces of vicissitude and weariness had faded from his eyes.

He stopped after walking a certain distance.

Here, he could see the details on the scales more clearly. Some places had shallow cracks that had long since healed, but were still visible. He could see the occasional glint in the dragon's eyes, like lightning flashing in the depths of the clouds, gone in an instant.

Reinhardt bowed slightly, performing a human greeting.

That was the most solemn ceremony in the Kingdom of Theo, usually used only when meeting the king, and only on formal and important occasions.

His movements weren't quite standard, even a bit awkward, because he hadn't bowed like that in a long time.

"Thank you for receiving me, Your Majesty."

He said, “Reinhardt, a Theo, has presumptuously come here and disturbed the peace of His Majesty’s court and people. I hope you will forgive me.”

He paused, then continued.

"At the same time, I am very grateful that Your Majesty is willing to accept my challenge."

His tone was respectful, but neither servile nor arrogant.

He showed neither humility nor fear, nor did he act tough or arrogant because he was the challenger. He was just like an ordinary visitor, politely expressing his apologies and gratitude to a distinguished host.

The dragon opposite remained silent.

He looked at Reinhardt quietly, his gaze lingering on the human for a few seconds, as if examining something interesting.

The wind from high above passed between them, whistling softly as it swept across the edges of the red iron dragon's scales, and also ruffling Reinhardt's golden hair. The sea of ​​clouds surged beneath their feet, and sunlight poured down from even higher, gilding the entire platform with a layer of gold.

a long time.

The red iron dragon spoke.

"I saw what you were doing down there."

The voice was deep and resonant, as if it came from the deepest part of the earth or fell from the highest sky. Every word carried weight and vibrated in the air, making people's chests tingle.

"It's quite novel to step into destiny in this way."

Reinhardt listened quietly without interrupting.

“Besides, I know you,” Red Iron Dragon continued. “I witnessed that battle.”

Reinhardt's heart skipped a beat.

Red Iron Dragon said, "The former Light of Theo, on whom great hopes were placed, my minions did not kill you, but gave you the opportunity to live and grow."

He knows these things.
The eyes I vaguely saw back then were not a hallucination from when I was near death.

Reinhardt paused for a moment, then smiled.

“Your Majesty is wise,” he said. “Thank you for your mercy back then, which allowed me to see more of the world and gave me the opportunity to truly face you. Although falling to the bottom was painful and torturous, it also benefited me greatly.”

The dragon lowered its eyes, its gaze still fixed on him, and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"You chose a bad time."

His voice was calm, as if giving a sincere piece of advice: "You should have come when I had just woken up and was still weak. Before I fully recovered, join forces with the other legends and launch a coordinated attack."

"Back then, you and others might have had a chance."

Reinhardt shook his head slightly.

"I was in the Crimson Emperor's Royal City the day His Majesty awoke."

He said, “I felt the aftershocks of that battle. Watching from afar, I could feel your power reviving, I could feel the attackers fighting desperately, and I could also feel… the outcome.”

He raised his head, his gaze open and honest, and met Hong Tielong's eyes.

"But I didn't go."

"Why?" Red Iron Dragon asked.

"Because I know they can't win."

Reinhardt said, "Even if His Majesty had just awakened, they could not win. At that time, although I had not yet entered the realm of destiny, I could already see this clearly. Those legends... they thought they were the hunters, but in fact they were the prey."

"Moreover, and most importantly, what I want has never been a victory by taking advantage of others' misfortune, nor a lucky escape under siege."

Reinhardt paused slightly.

He looked up at the red iron dragon, his eyes shining as if a fire was burning within them.

"What I want is to face you alone."

"front."

"Upright and honorable."

Reinhardt said, word by word, "No intrigues, no traps, and no borrowing from others."

“I am the only one standing before you, looking you in the eye, and challenging you, not to kill you, or to prove anything, but simply to… accomplish this, to accomplish what I must accomplish.”

After he finished speaking, there was a brief silence on the platform.

Hong Tielong looked at him, and there seemed to be something more in his eyes.

"Ha ha……"

Then he laughed, as if he had heard something amusing.

His voice was deep and resonant, like thunder in the distant mountains, reverberating from the depths of his chest. It lasted for a few seconds before gradually dissipating, carried away by the wind in the high sky, and vanishing above the sea of ​​clouds.

Red Iron Dragon suppressed his smile and his gaze fell on Reinhardt once again.

"I will destroy your country and ruin your family."

"You have been in exile for many years, suffering endless torment. You went from being the light of Theo to a homeless exile, from a highly anticipated genius to a fugitive hiding in the shadows. You must have experienced a great deal of despair and pain."

"And now, you want to have a chivalrous duel with me?"

Reinhardt did not avoid his gaze.

"Because I have no real hatred for His Majesty."

He said.

Red Iron Dragon's eyes narrowed slightly.

"After I returned to Atlanta, the first thing I did was go to Theo."

Reinhardt continued, “I wanted to see what it had become, to see what my homeland had become. I had imagined it would be a wasteland, a place of enslaved people, a place of devastation. But when I actually stood on the streets of Theo and looked at the passersby, I suddenly realized that things were not as I had imagined.”

He paused, then spoke again.

“I used to think that you ruined my country and everything I had, but when I actually stood on the streets of Theo, I found that they were all doing very well.”

"Theo is more prosperous and powerful now than at any time in its history."

His voice was slightly lower as he continued, "The battle between the two Olympic champions back then had nothing to do with right or wrong."

"Two kingdoms, for survival, for development, and for their own interests, are bound to go to war. There may be many reasons for the war, but in the final analysis, it is simply because we are blocking your way, and you are blocking our way."

"Importantly, after Aura won the war, he did not enslave the people of Theo."

“You simply… made Theo a part of Aura, allowing it to continue to develop and prosper. You even preserved Theo’s name, letting the Theo people continue to be Theo people.”

Reinhardt took a deep breath.

"When I finally saw the prosperous and powerful Theo, I realized that I didn't hate you, but rather the me who was once entrusted with great expectations but was unable to protect the kingdom."

After he finished speaking, the platform fell silent again.

The wind grew stronger, ruffling Reinhardt's hair and the hem of his dusty gray cloak. The sea of ​​clouds surged beneath their feet, with occasional waves of clouds splashing high before slowly receding.

Red Iron Dragon listened quietly, his eyes reflecting Reinhardt's image.

Then he asked, "If you have no hatred, then why have you come?"

Reinhardt took a deep breath.

"In order to confront my past."

He said.

“Some things have haunted me for most of my life, taking root in my heart and growing into a giant beast that torments me day and night, keeping me awake and restless. No matter where I flee or what I do, it is there, watching me and reminding me: You are a failure, you failed to protect your kingdom, you have let everyone down.”

His voice trembled slightly, but he didn't stop.

"After much thought, I believe that only by fighting you can I truly let go of this."

After he finished speaking, he bowed again.

“I know this request is selfish. Your Majesty has no obligation to grant my selfish wish, nor any reason to waste time on my release. But if Your Majesty is willing to give me this opportunity, Reinhardt will be extremely grateful.”

"Even if I die under His Majesty's claws, I will have no regrets or remorse."

The wind grew stronger, making his cloak flutter loudly.

Sunlight shone on his youthful face, revealing more defined features, and his eyes held a calm that came with the passage of time.

Red Iron Dragon looked him over, then slowly nodded.

"it is good."

"I'm giving you this chance, and you'd better make me happy."

"If you're just here to die, that's going to be boring. Show me what you've got and how much you've improved over the years."

Reinhardt paused slightly, then bowed deeply.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."

He said, "I will do my best. I will not let you down, nor will I let myself down."

Hong Tielong didn't say anything more.

He slightly raised his head, and then gently lifted his right forepaw, drawing an arc in the air.

stab.

Space was torn apart.

A pitch-black rift appeared between them, with a faint silver halo flowing around its edges, as if some force was maintaining its existence.

On the other side is another space.

Looking through the crack, Reinhardt could vaguely see a desolate land, a gray sky, and the outline of undulating mountains in the distance.

"Come with me."

Hong Tielong said.

Then, he walked toward the spatial rift, his massive head disappearing into the darkness first, followed by his neck, forepaws, and finally his entire body.

His figure disappeared into the crevice.

Anyone else might have wondered if this was a trap, or hesitated about whether to follow, but Reinhardt did not hesitate.

He came with a firm resolve.

Whatever is on the other side, whatever awaits him, he will go.

He stepped forward and walked towards the spatial rift.

After the dragon, his figure disappeared into the darkness and vanished in an instant.

The crack closed behind him and eventually disappeared, leaving the high platform silent again, with only the sound of the wind and the sunlight above the sea of ​​clouds.

At the same time, Reinhardt only felt the surrounding light distort for a moment before returning to normal.

The scene before my eyes has been completely transformed.

He stood still, his feet firmly planted on the solid ground.

It was grayish-brown, cracked, and covered with tiny pebbles.

He could find numerous deep trenches and huge pits, as if they had been struck by meteorites or repeatedly plowed by giant beasts.

The distant mountains undulate, their outlines blurred, as if shrouded in a thin mist. The sky is hazy, without sun or clouds, just a uniform gray.

The light, though its source was unknown, was enough to make everything around us clear.

Clearly, this is a separate little world.

Desolate, silent, and isolated from the world.

An excellent battleground.

Red Iron Dragon was not far away, standing on a relatively flat piece of ground, watching Reinhardt and waiting for his preparation.

Reinhardt took a deep breath, savoring the air and the atmosphere.

He raised his head, looked at the red iron dragon, and then stretched out his arms.

hum!
Two beams of light, one bright and one dark, emerged from his palm, then solidified and extended, transforming into two giant swords that seemed to be forged from light. Their lengths were almost equal to his height, one white and one black, making them look extraordinary.

Such a greatsword is usually held with both hands by human swordsmen.

Reinhard, however, held both weapons in his hands simultaneously.

"Dawn and Eternal Night are the names of these two legendary swords."

He waved his hand lightly a few times, the movements fluid and effortless, as he continued his introduction:

"I found them by chance in a desert ruin. They weren't powerful at first, but because they were compatible with my domain, their sharpness gradually increased as I grew. Now they have almost become a part of me."

He paused slightly, then looked up and met Hong Tielong's gaze.

"Your Majesty, I am ready."

Reinhardt lowered his body slightly, holding his greatswords one in front of the other, assuming a fighting stance.

"Come, let me have my fill."

"The dragon whispered."

Reinhardt moved.

He neither charged forward nor marched quickly.

The moment the words left his mouth, Reinhardt's body suddenly blurred, as if he had been wiped away from his spot and vanished into thin air.

At the same time, a thick darkness exploded from where he was standing.

Like ink falling into clear water, it spread in all directions at an astonishing speed.

Darkness instantly enveloped the red iron dragon.

This darkness possesses a certain special power.

It devours light, swallows sound, and swallows all perception.

In the blink of an eye, the world in Red Iron Dragon's field of vision was compressed into a small circle, surrounded by pitch blackness, and even the ground right next to him could not be seen clearly.

He looked down at his claws, the outline of their scales already obscured in the darkness.

In the darkness, the sound also disappeared.

Not only could I not hear any external sounds, but I couldn't even hear my own breathing or feel my own heartbeat. It was as if the whole world had been emptied out, leaving only pure darkness.

Even more peculiar was his intuition.

The fighting instincts honed through countless life-or-death battles, and the keen intuition of the Martial Dragon, now sent out chaotic signals.

Sometimes it points to the left, sometimes to the right, and sometimes to behind.

It felt as if deadly danger was approaching from all directions.

The Great Dark Sky.

Reinhardt had wanted to disappear and escape in his days and nights of torment. It was because of this that when he ascended to the Grand rank, he comprehended this dark realm and learned how to blend into the vast darkness silently.

He rose to legendary status in his youth, without much experience.

He relied entirely on talent and worked hard, but his domain characteristics were quite mediocre, and he suffered a crushing defeat against Centaur when he was of the same level.

Reinhardt, looking back, thought the result was quite normal.

Young and impetuous, with limited knowledge, they were completely unaware of the gap between themselves and others.

But now, things are different.

On his legendary journey that followed, he faced countless life-or-death situations, encountered all sorts of dangers, and treaded on thorns with every step, enduring wind, frost, rain, and snow.

He fought against the orcs in Aurotara.

A powerful orc of a higher rank than him, and also afflicted by the curse of rage.

The battle was not easy.

Orcs are skilled warriors. Although they cannot compare to giants and long-lived species like dragons and giants at the same level, they are still among the top races and should not be underestimated.

But in the end, he won.

Moreover, he didn't pay too high a price.

Meanwhile, Reinhardt remained quietly hidden in the darkness.

At the same moment darkness descended, a vast dragon's might erupted from the red iron dragon's body.

Accompanied by surging lightning and flames, his already enormous body grew larger and larger.

The bones inside emitted a deep rumble, the muscles swelled, the scales expanded, and the length of the head, tail, and body eventually exceeded one hundred meters. The claws and teeth became sharper, and thorns protruded along the back, each gleaming with a metallic luster.

In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a gigantic, six-armed beast.

Besides his physical size, the lightning and flames surging around him achieved a harmonious fusion and unity. For a moment, a perfectly round sphere appeared around him, with lightning and flames intertwined, no longer repelling each other, forming a perfect whole.

The shape of a blue star.

Exhilaration, explosive bloodlust—this is the outward manifestation of Crimson Lotus Garus, a state he named after himself.

When he entered his Azure Star form, he exuded an aura that was comparable to that of Destiny, despite being a Grand Master.

The dragon's might swept across the sky and engulfed the surrounding area.

However, the surrounding darkness remained completely undisturbed by the dragon's might.

It seems to have its own will, unmoved by anything external.

The dragon's three heads drooped, and all six eyes simultaneously shone with the light of the Eye of Truth.

Those were eyes that could see through space, see through disguises, and see through illusions, but at this moment, they could only see a range of about 100 meters around them.

Beyond that, it was pitch black; nothing could be seen or perceived.

"A clever trick."

Red Iron Dragon spoke up.

His voice disappeared into the darkness without any echo, as if it had been swallowed up.

Suddenly, the scales on his back stood up slightly.

My intuition sent out a strong warning signal.

This time, my intuition told me the direction was clear: it was right behind me.

The red iron dragon suddenly turned around, flapped its wings, raised its sharp claws, and slapped at the place it sensed.

This claw strike was incredibly powerful, tearing through the curtain of darkness and letting in light, while the surrounding darkness surged and quickly filled it in.

The target was not hit.

The claws missed their mark.

At that moment, the pitch-black Eternal Night Greatsword appeared silently behind the dragon, as if it had grown out of the darkness.

It condensed into a long sword beam, piercing straight into the back of the dragon.

At that moment, Reinhardt's figure also briefly appeared.

His expression was focused and calm, his grip on the sword hilt was tight, and the tip of the sword was embedded in the scales.

Galos reacted extremely quickly.

The head on the left has turned, opened its huge mouth, and spewed out dragon breath.

The dragon's breath only illuminated a brief area in the darkness before being swallowed up again in less than a second. In that brief moment of light, Reinhardt's figure was not revealed.

He had vanished, disappearing into the darkness along with the Greatsword of Eternal Night, leaving only a deep wound on the dragon's body.

Dragon blood gushed from the wound, burning into dark red flames in the darkness, like a flower blooming in the darkness.

The injury was not serious.

Although it wasn't shallow, the area was so small that it healed in the blink of an eye.

It's like your health bar has just dropped by one ten-thousandth, and before the next attack even arrives, it's back to full in the blink of an eye.

What really bothered Hong Tielong was that he didn't sense the approach of that sword.

His intuition gave no warning, and his senses failed to detect anything unusual, as if the sword strike never existed and was merely his illusion.

This means that even his intuition could be deceived in this dark realm.

Moreover, although the wound had healed, a dark sword mark remained, faintly visible on the surface of the dragon scale.

Before Galos could think any further, a second sword strike came from the side.

This time it is dawn.

A greatsword, shimmering with white light, emerged from the darkness, its blade glowing with a holy light that illuminated Reinhardt's face. The instant he appeared, the dragon's claws struck.

That claw was incredibly fast.

The claws tore through space, leaving deep cracks in the dark realm, each crack radiating the chaotic aura of a broken space and realm.

The trajectory of the Dawnbreaker Greatsword remains unchanged.

Reinhardt parried with Eternal Night.

The darkness was intense, clinging to the Eternal Night Greatsword and forming a barrier that seemed almost tangible.

The barrier collapsed the instant the greatsword collided with the dragon claw.

Sparks flew, and the mournful sound of metal was swallowed by the darkness, not carrying far.

A tremendous force emanated from the sword, causing Reinhardt's face to turn slightly pale, his arms to go numb, and his entire body to fly backward. During his flight, he disappeared back into the darkness, as if swallowed by it, vanishing instantly.

At the same time, the Dawnbreaker Greatsword grazed the Red Iron Dragon's arm armor, leaving a wound.

As before, the wounds healed almost instantly.

But just like before, a white sword mark remained, echoing the previous black sword mark.

Reinhardt's figure reappeared, but he did not come to attack. Instead, he raised his twin swords from a distance and swung them in the air.

No sword light appeared; it seemed like a meaningless feint.

Hong Tielong's gaze sharpened slightly as he sensed something was amiss.

The dark sword mark on his back and the white sword mark on his arm armor both lit up simultaneously.

The next instant, an arc of light shone from the two sword marks at both ends, as fast as lightning, extending along the body of the red iron dragon and connecting with each other in an instant.

The arc of light wasn't a straight line; it traveled along a special trajectory, passing through scales, muscles, and bones.
A shocking, winding, and enormous sword mark appeared on the Red Iron Dragon's body.

It wasn't a slash or cut, but rather an "erasure." It ignored the dragon's defenses, piercing straight through its body, tearing it apart from its back to its arm armor.

This move is Reinhardt's signature Grand Prix technique.

Terminal arc light.

Concentrate your power into your twin swords, leaving light and dark marks when you deal damage. When both light and dark marks are present, an arc of light flashes, and the power of the end is born. It travels and extends along the shortest distance between the marks, ignoring defenses and dealing true damage.

Even a terminal arc could not cause such massive damage.

One of Reinhardt's characteristics is also at play.

A will to break one's spine.

You have had your spine broken and fallen into the abyss, but you have never truly despaired. When you face an opponent with attributes higher than your own, you will deal extra damage. The greater the attribute difference, the higher the damage.

This is the strength honed through suffering, the fangs that grow from desperation.

Red Iron Dragon felt the pain in his wound.

The sword wound was deep, almost splitting his body apart. From his back to his arm armor, the entire torso was torn apart at an angle.

However, the wound is still healing at a visible rate.

Muscle connections, blood vessel connections, and scale proliferation
While Red Iron Dragon's traits like Rapid Regeneration and Endless Recovery haven't changed significantly, they have been enhanced after he became a Grand Dragon.

Immediately, Reinhardt's figure descended from the sky.

With the two swords combined, he spun and plummeted like a black and white meteor.

Eternal night comes first, dawn follows.

Two greatswords struck simultaneously, drawing two arcs in the air before merging into one.

Galos did not look up.

His dragon wings unfurled, like two giant shields bursting forth and striking upwards.

The wind pressure alone caused Reinhardt's hair to fly and his robes to flutter.

He expanded his domain to fight the enemy, which meant that if someone was hit by this giant wing without the domain's protection, they would almost certainly die instantly.

Reinhardt's figure flashed by and disappeared.

The next second, he emerged from the darkness in front of the dragon.

The two swords converged, unleashing a sharp sword aura. The Eternal Night Greatsword slashed towards his neck, while the Dawn Greatsword thrust towards his heart. The two swords were struck almost simultaneously.

The red iron dragon neither dodged nor avoided, its sharp claws closing forward one by one.

Six arms converged from six directions simultaneously, their claws carrying the power to tear everything apart, compressing Reinhardt's space for dodging to the extreme.

If this strike hits, it would be enough to crush any legendary human into a pulp.

However, Reinhardt did not dodge.

He actually went straight to the enemy, even though he knew the Red Emperor still had the title of the Undying Dragon, and adopted a posture of mutual destruction.

Galos did not back down.

Then, the greatsword swept across the dragon's neck and pierced its heart; the dragon's claws closed, completely engulfing the human body.

The Final Arc and the Broken Spine Will are triggered again.

A massive sword beam flashed, obliterating the dragon's scales and flesh, leaving a horrifying wound between its heart and neck.

It shone from the front, piercing through the thick body, and shone through the back, almost tearing the dragon's entire upper body apart.

In the past, Red Iron Dragon's Palm of Life and Death would have been triggered.

This is one of his life-saving skills, allowing him to forcibly hold onto his last breath and reverse life and death when he suffers fatal damage.

But now, apart from a slight tremor in his body, he didn't react much.

The wounds on his body ignited with bloody flames, healing rapidly.

At the same time, he clenched his dragon claw and felt a sense of shattering.

"that's it?"

Galos thought to himself.

He felt that Reinhardt wouldn't just die like that.

As he expected, the dark realm did not dissipate.

In the darkness, a figure solidified inch by inch.

Reinhard reappeared, and what Garus held in his claws was merely a dissipating mass of darkness—a Stand he had created using the power of the Great Dark Heaven to replace him when he suffered a fatal injury.

A narrow escape from death.

Within their own territory, they become immune to damage when fatally wounded, and this effect can be triggered up to nine times in a single battle.

"good."

"How many times can you risk your life like this? If you do it a hundred more times, you might be able to kill me."

Red Iron Dragon said quietly.

There was no longer any fatal wound for him. The attack was very strong, and it probably caused him to lose one percent of his health, which was still recovering.

Reinhardt smiled helplessly.

"Your Majesty's vitality is truly astonishing."

He said.

More than a hundred times? He can't afford that.

The Nine Deaths and One Life technique can only be triggered nine times, and he couldn't withstand such a high-intensity battle. Each use of the Final Arc required a large amount of power.

However, Reinhardt also realized that attacking weaknesses seemed pointless.

The heart, head, and neck—parts that would be fatal to normal creatures—are no longer weaknesses on the Red Iron Dragon.

After becoming a Grand Emperor, this Red Emperor became even more incredible.

Does it have to be completely crushed to kill it?
Immediately, Reinhardt took a deep breath, stopped thinking, and his figure flickered rapidly in the darkness.

He appears and disappears without warning, his location always completely unpredictable.

Sometimes it appears atop the giant dragon's head, sometimes beneath its belly, and sometimes behind its wings; and each time it appears, it is always accompanied by a slashing attack.

The Dawn and Night Greatswords drew countless dangerous arcs in the darkness.

On the other side, the giant arms, head, wings, tail... every part of the Red Iron Dragon's body was a deadly weapon; a single hit could leave Reinhardt with a slim chance of survival.

However, this dark realm is extraordinary.

The dragon's senses and intuition were clouded, and its field of vision was extremely narrow.

Reinhardt's attacks were swift as lightning, and he was also unpredictable, always finding gaps in Reinhardt's defenses. These gaps were small and appeared for very short periods, but under the cover of the Great Dark Sky, they were enough for Reinhardt to deliver a blow.

Under the ribs, on the shoulder blades, thorns, on the back...
Marks were left behind.

Each strike left a trail of light or darkness, followed by a final arc of light that crisscrossed the dragon's body, leaving massive, crisscrossing wounds. Dragon blood burned silently in the darkness.

However, all wounds are healing.

As each new wound appears, the old wounds begin to close, scab over, and heal.

Reinhardt reappeared from the darkness.

He drew both swords simultaneously, using Eternal Night in front to draw attention, while Dawn was poised to strike from behind. The Eternal Night greatsword, imbued with intense darkness, pierced straight for the dragon's left eye; the Dawn greatsword, meanwhile, remained hidden behind the shadow of Eternal Night, awaiting the opportunity for a fatal blow.

The dragon's claws came at him, reaching for his body.

Reinhardt's body flashed in mid-air and reappeared from another patch of darkness. His figure was like a ghost, leaping continuously in the darkness, causing every attack from the dragon to miss.

However, the dragon's tail had already lashed out as if it had foreseen this.

My intuition, which had been clouded by darkness, has quietly returned without me even realizing it.

Reinhardt was slightly startled.

Faced with the giant tail that was already within reach, he only had time to cross his two swords and block it in front of him.

The immense force caused him to writhe in the darkness, blood spilling from his mouth.

The force of the dragon's tail, transmitted through the sword, still reached his arms, shoulders, and internal organs, causing his internal organs to churn. Yet, even as he rolled, he managed to thrust out a sword. The Dawn Greatsword sliced ​​through the dragon's tail scales, leaving a white mark.

However, the Red Iron Dragon's claws also attacked at the same time.

Catch the flying figure before it disappears into the darkness.

Reinhardt was unable to escape.

The dragon's claws gripped his entire body and tightened.

The claws gripped his limbs and torso like iron hoops, and his bones creaked as if they were about to break at any moment.

He did not struggle, but simply gripped the sword in his hand, channeling his power into the Eternal Night Greatsword, piercing through the dragon's claws.

From claws to tail.

In an instant, arcs of light shone simultaneously from the marks on the claws and the tail, traveling along the shortest distance to connect the dragon's forearms and tail into a line, tearing through all the scales and muscles along the way.

On the other end, Reinhardt's figure materialized from the darkness.

His face was pale, and there was still blood at the corner of his mouth, but his gaze was extremely focused.

He had already survived nine deaths and used up one of his chances, leaving him with seven more.

Without a moment to catch his breath, he launched another attack on the dragon.

The battle in the dark realm was completely silent.

Everything was submerged in darkness, like a silent pantomime, with only occasional flashes of light and blood-red flames revealing the intensity of the battle.

As time passed, the two clashed in a deathly silence.

Reinhardt appeared and disappeared unpredictably, his Final Arc flashing repeatedly, leaving one crisscrossing wound after another on the dragon's body.

The dragon's counterattacks became increasingly fierce and precise.

He seized two opportunities, striking Reinhardt with his dragon wings and his head.

Each hit came at a heavy price for Reinhardt, and his chances of surviving near-death experiences were rapidly dwindling.

Soon after, the dragon's breathing remained steady.

He scanned his surroundings, but all he could see was deep darkness.

Although I've adapted somewhat and can see more clearly than before, my overall sensory experience is still affected.

"If there are any other tricks, bring them out as soon as possible."

"I'm already tired of all this."

As soon as he finished speaking, golden flames surged from the gaps in each scale, enveloping his entire body.

It was as if a blazing sun had risen out of nowhere.

The light was so dazzling and intense that it gradually drove away the surrounding darkness.

At the same time, he raised his six dragon arms and opened his claws.

The dragon energy blast began to condense.

Each dragon energy blast was like a miniature sun held in his palm, radiating intense light and destructive energy, illuminating the surrounding darkness and revealing the human figure.

Reinhardt sensed the power that was about to erupt.

He instinctively stepped back, disappearing back into the darkness.

But he knew that this time, the darkness probably wouldn't be able to protect him.

At the same time, Garus's six dragon arms thrust forward simultaneously.

The dragon energy blast spread in all directions, like the corona material ejected when the sun explodes, trailing golden flames and drawing countless brilliant trajectories in the dark realm.

This instant of light caused the entire dark realm to tremble violently.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Golden light, layer upon layer, wave after wave, tore countless openings in the thick darkness.

Every opening is widening and spreading, illuminating more darkness.

The dark realm struggled, trying to close up again, but before each crack could be shut, a new wave of dragon energy bombs exploded, tearing the cracks deeper and wider.

Reinhardt's figure was completely exposed, leaving him nowhere to hide.

He stood in the darkness, his face solemn.

He could feel his dark realm collapsing, being forcibly torn apart by the almost endless light.

He made a decision without hesitation.

The dark realm suddenly contracted.

The thick darkness that permeated the world seemed to be grasped by an invisible hand, rapidly closing in on Reinhardt's body. The once overwhelming darkness disappeared in just a few breaths.

Then, light shone from his chest.

This is a power completely different from the darkness before.

Warm, intense, with a certain reassuring quality.

The realm of glory.

Reinhardt did not completely succumb to the darkness created by torment and pain. Ultimately, at the moment of ascending to the heavens, the light deep within his soul illuminated the darkness, shaping this radiant realm for him.

Light surged from the deepest part of his chest, piercing through layers of darkness, like dawn finally breaking after a long night.

It did not spread as overwhelmingly as darkness.

The radiant field first clung tightly to his body, forming a warm, moist film on his skin, enveloping Reinhardt completely, like a star fallen to earth.

Reinhardt's figure twisted and turned amidst the explosion of the dragon energy bomb.

With the domain's close-range amplification, his speed was even faster than before, his figure leaving countless afterimages in the golden light.

The dragon energy bombs were too dense, and the area affected by the explosion was too large; he couldn't possibly avoid them completely.

However, as the dazzling light of the sun swept in first, the radiant field on Reinhardt's body also lit up, absorbing the light and transforming it into a more solid defense. That light membrane became even more dazzling the moment it came into contact with the explosion, like a shield that blocked the impact and high temperature of the explosion.

He was like a bird flying through a storm.

The thunderstorm brushed past him, and the scorching air currents swept past him, but they did not actually touch him. Occasionally, some aftershocks would hit him, but most of them were neutralized by the Radiant Domain, and the rest no longer posed any threat.

A moment later, Garos narrowed his eyes slightly and stopped unleashing the dragon energy blasts.

If this continues, the burst of power will become unstoppable, and the Shining Form will be activated.

But he had no such intention.

The golden aura subsided and returned to normal. The golden flames that had been surging from the gaps in the scales gradually died down, and the surrounding temperature dropped as well.

At the same time, the darkness dissipated, and the golden light vanished, replaced by a white world.

Reinhardt unfolded the Radiant Realm.

The sky was dyed silver-white, the earth was dyed silver-white, and even the air was filled with fine dust particles.

Countless specks of light, like tiny fireflies, drifted slowly through the air, illuminating the entire world. Unlike the previous dark realm, everything here was clearly visible—every scale of the dragon, every pebble on the ground.

But this does not mean it is safe.

Because the light dust began to converge on the dragon's body.

As if drawn by something, they slowly drifted toward the dragon's body, attaching themselves to its scales and gradually converging into spots of light of varying sizes.

The light spot was very faint at first, but it became brighter and brighter as more and more light dust gathered.

At the same time, Reinhardt's figure had already disappeared into the light.

It's not like before, where you can teleport directly into the darkness.

This time, he relied on extreme speed; within the realm of light, his attributes seemed to have been enhanced in every way.

Moreover, the injuries he sustained from the aftershocks are also rapidly improving.

The torn muscles, damaged internal organs, and severed blood vessels healed rapidly under the illumination of the radiant field. His pale face gradually regained its color, and his exhausted body was filled with strength again.

This realm of light also possesses healing properties.

clang!
The blades and claws clashed, scattering tiny sparks of light, like fleeting fireworks.

The two, one human and one dragon, were almost completely locked in a head-on battle this time.

Reinhardt was teetering on the edge of life and death, dancing on the edge of a knife. He seized the gaps in the dragon's attacks, finding openings between claws, and gaps between the dragon's breath and tail strikes.

While dodging one of the dragon's attacks, the Eternal Night Greatsword and the Dawn Greatsword alternately struck the dragon.

At this moment, light dust condensed into a mark on the dragon's body.

The light dust adhered to the scales, and after a period of time, it has formed a visible light mark.

Combined with the marks left by the greatsword strikes, there are a total of three marks.

One black and two white pieces stand out against the dragon's massive body.

Tear!

Tear!

Two arcs of light spontaneously generated along the path between the marks. Ignoring defenses, they cut directly into the body, like two invisible knives, slicing through scales, muscles, and bones.

A long scar stretched from his shoulder all the way to his chest.

Before the dragon's blood could even flow out, a second arc of light shone from under its ribs, extending along the direction of the ribs to its back. The two wounds crossed, leaving a huge cross on the dragon's body.

Reinhardt struck successfully and retreated a kilometer away.

His breathing was relatively steady, and his grip on the sword remained unchanged. Although the continuous attacks had consumed a lot of his strength, he was still in good condition thanks to the blessing of the Radiant Domain.

Suddenly, the dragon's eye stared straight at him.

boom!
A smaller version of the Dragon Aura Explosion appeared out of nowhere, bursting out in layers and engulfing Reinhardt.

There were almost no signs.

Fortunately, Reinhardt's warning signs rose in advance, saving his life at the last second. The moment the dragon energy bomb exploded, he held his twin swords in front of him, forming a shield of sword light that cut and shattered the flames formed by the explosion.

Flames flowed from both sides of the shield, scorching the ground behind him into a wasteland.

But it was at this moment that...

The dragon's thorny tail had already lashed out at him.

Bang!
The already cracked shield collapsed instantly.

The power of the giant tail slammed directly into Reinhardt through the shattered shield, its force astonishing, as if an entire mountain had crashed down upon him.

The healing effects of the Light Realm are difficult to achieve.

Because Reinhardt's body also collapsed, turning into scattered light, he was nearly killed.

On the other side, Reinhardt's figure solidified once more.

Nine chances to be immune to fatal wounds have been used up again.

The realm of light is shrinking.

His hands gripped the sword hilt tightly, and darkness spread out from beneath his feet, engulfing the red iron dragon once more and obscuring its senses.

But this time, it's different from before.

After darkness comes light.

They came in waves, flashing with alternating light and darkness, almost seamlessly switching between the two realms.

Darkness had just descended when light burst forth in the next second; before the light could dissipate, darkness surged back in.

Two diametrically opposed forces rise and fall in a regular pattern, like the tides.

Clearly, Reinhardt is growing stronger through battle.

He had just become a Heavenly Mandate holder, and the power he gained at some Heavenly Mandate realms was still immature, but he was gradually becoming familiar with it.

His figure disappeared into the churning darkness.

The next second, he appeared on the left side of the dragon, and slashed horizontally with the Eternal Night Greatsword, leaving a dark mark on the dragon's ribs.

Garros's dragon claw slammed down, its radiance bursting forth. Reinhardt's speed increased dramatically as he dodged the claw, and as darkness shifted, he instantly appeared behind the dragon, slashing with his Dawn Greatsword once more, leaving a white mark on its spine.

Light and darkness, two marks.

No, there are more than two.

As the realms intersected, marks also coalesced on the dragon's body.

The light dust and dark mist drifted in the domain, naturally attaching themselves to the dragon's body, forming marks that were either bright or dark.

The final arc of light ignites between the marks, cutting along the shortest path.

One, two, three, four... the number of marks existing simultaneously is increasing.

Reinhardt's Dark Domain has also begun to condense marks. This is a new use he gained after Destiny, and he has just mastered it.

The final arc of light intertwined into a net, leaving crisscrossing wounds on the dragon's scales. It seemed that Reinhardt, who was gradually becoming familiar with the power of destiny, was gaining the upper hand with his powerful domain of destiny.

But at that moment, the dragon's claws suddenly tore through the darkness and swept toward him.

The speed was so fast that it completely broke through the previous limit, as if it had transcended time.

Before Reinhardt could react, the claws were already upon him, striking his body directly. He collapsed under the claws, scattering into fragments that then solidified on the other side.

He looked at the red iron dragon covered in wounds, his gaze solemn.

The injuries that used to penetrate his body were no longer effective.

The damage from the Final Arc is decreasing.

It wasn't that Reinhardt himself became weaker; his power hadn't diminished much. It was that the Red Iron Dragon's body underwent some changes, to the point that even the true damage of the Final Arcane was reduced, and the amplification of the Broken Spine couldn't keep up with these changes.

However, he did not hesitate at all and charged towards the dragon.

He knew that the red iron dragon's life could be regenerated and restored.

If more damage isn't inflicted quickly, all the previous efforts will be in vain, and all the wounds that were painstakingly created will vanish under the Red Iron Dragon's astonishing regenerative abilities.

Light and darkness flickered alternately around him.

Each switch is accompanied by a slash, each slash leaves a mark, and each mark generates an arc of light.

He weaved among the dragon's claws and teeth, darting between its breath and tail strikes.

Reinhardt, familiar with the power of destiny he had recently acquired, moved faster and faster, his attacks becoming more and more frequent. He seemed to transform into a storm of light and darkness, enveloping the dragon within it.

However, the more Reinhard tried, the more he felt the power of the dragon before him.

It was like an insurmountable mountain; no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't budge it an inch.

The darkness that previously clouded his intuition now only slowed his reactions by a fraction.
Those arcs of light that used to tear through his scales can now only leave shallow scars.

Reinhardt gradually felt a deep sense of exhaustion.

His power is not limitless.

While rapidly switching domains allows for faster accumulation of marks, it also depletes power more quickly. Moreover, the Red Iron Dragon is not a sitting duck; its counterattacks, if they hit, can almost always be fatal.

The problem is that his domain can only be maximized when it is expanded.

If you use your domain as a shield, it will be even harder to sustain yourself.

His near-death experience has been triggered nine times.

Finally, the dragon's claw shattered half of his body.

He reformed in the radiance, his face as pale as paper.

The radiant domain had dimmed, leaving only a thin layer clinging to his body like a candle flame that could be extinguished at any moment. The dark domain was also struggling to surge, with only a faint mist drifting around his feet, barely maintaining its final form.

"If you get hit again, you'll be dead without a burial place."

Reinhardt thought to himself.

His grip on the two swords was becoming weak, his arms were trembling slightly, and his breathing had become rapid and heavy. But his eyes remained sharp, showing no sign of giving up.

It was nothing more than death; he had long ago made up his mind about it.

He then completely closed his domain, closed his eyes, and then opened them again.

He crossed his two swords in front of him.

Dawn and eternal night, light and darkness—two diametrically opposed forces awaken simultaneously within him.

They no longer alternate; they coexist, like two parallel rivers flowing through his body.

His eyes lit up.

One black and one white, two beams of light shot out from the pupils, so pure that they had no impurities, so deep that they seemed to devour everything, and so bright that they seemed to illuminate everything.

Reinhardt raised his two swords.

The light on the Dawnbreaker Greatsword grew brighter and brighter, eventually transforming into a blazing white light. The sword's aura expanded and extended hundreds of meters from its tip, resembling a solidified pillar of light that emitted a brightness strong enough to burn the eyes.

The Eternal Night Greatsword is the opposite.

It devoured all the light around it, growing darker and darker, until it became like a solidified dark rift. The sword light also extended, transforming into a sword light that was hundreds of meters long and as dark as a rift, where even light could not stay.

This is the sublimation of the characteristics of the Destiny.

Nine Deaths and One Life: After triggering nine instances of fatal damage immunity, you can gather all the remaining power of the domain to shape or enhance your own weapon in a short period of time, condensing the Judgment Lightsaber and the Great Dark Sword. All your slashes are accompanied by the final arc of light and ignore defense.

This was his last trump card in his desperate situation, his only chance to fight back after facing death nine times over.

Two great swords, two sword beams hundreds of meters long.

One light, one darkness; one brightness, one extinguishing.

"Your Majesty, be careful."

As soon as he finished speaking, Reinhardt took a step forward, and his figure disappeared from the spot, leaving only a lingering shadow that slowly dissipated in the air.

The next instant, he was already standing in front of the dragon.

The two swords struck down simultaneously.

Hundreds of meters long, sword beams tore through the sky, each strike carrying the power of the final arc of light. Light and darkness converged on the blades and collided in the air.

Hong Tielong narrowed his eyes slightly.

"After the injury and recovery, I've lost about 20% of my health..."

"Hmm, let's play it safe."

Thinking this, he exploded with anger again.

Golden flames shot into the sky, like lava erupting from a volcano, spewing out from the gaps in every scale of his armor.

Countless dragon energies surged, taking shape, condensing, and compressing within his claws.

It changes from a gaseous state to a liquid state, and from a liquid state to a solid state.

In the end, it wasn't the Dragon Energy Bullet, but the Dragon Spear.

Six spears formed from golden dragon energy took shape in his claws. Each spear was longer than Reinhardt's sword, its tips sharp enough to pierce through space, and its shafts shimmered with golden patterns, radiating a suffocating pressure.

He swung all six spears at the same time.

boom!
The moment the sword light collided with the dragon spear, the entire world seemed to fall silent.

Golden flames, dazzling light, and profound darkness... they intertwined, entangled, and exploded in a fierce collision, forming a huge vortex with a diameter of nearly a kilometer around them, engulfing everything in the surrounding area.

The ground was ripped up, gravel was crushed into powder, and air was compressed into a substantial shock wave that spread in all directions.

The aftershocks of sword light or flames scattered in all directions. The distant mountains were shaved off by the shockwaves, revealing the rocks inside. Huge craters on the ground were filled by the shockwaves, only to be blown open again in the next wave of impact.

The entire battlefield looked as if it had been repeatedly kneaded by an invisible giant hand, leaving it unrecognizable.

Reinhardt's sword is crumbling.

He shattered the first spear, and golden fragments scattered in the air.

The second weapon was also shattered by him, turning into countless golden specks of light.

The third, fourth, fifth... the dragon spears shattered with each collision, while his hands tore open with each shock, his tiger's mouth split open, and blood dripped down the hilts.

In the midst of the intense battle, his body swayed precariously.

To make matters worse, the Red Emperor's dragon aura seemed inexhaustible.

The golden dragon spear had just broken, but it instantly reformed.

It was as if as long as the Red Iron Dragon was still breathing, this dragon energy would never run out. Reinhardt's attacks had no chance to hit its body at all, and every slash was blocked by the dragon spear.

Finally, with the swing of the dragon's arm, dragon spears came crashing down.

Reinhardt's face turned pale, his teeth clenched, and he swung the Judgment Lightsaber and the Great Dark Sword simultaneously.

Click!

Click!

Although it blocked this wave of attacks, the sword light formed by the domain completely collapsed, turning into countless fragments that flew everywhere.

Reinhardt was struck as if by lightning, plummeting towards the earth like a meteor, creating a deep crater in the hard ground.

His clothes were torn, revealing his body covered in wounds.

These were all formed by the residual force.

The two swords, now in their normal state, lay among the rubble, their light almost completely extinguished, leaving only a faint glow.

At the same time, the ground trembled slightly.

The red iron dragon folded its wings and landed in front of Reinhardt. Its majestic and imposing body cast a shadow that completely covered the tiny human body.

Reinhardt barely opened his eyes, looking at the giant dragon before him, and into its eyes.

Back then, under similar circumstances, he saw a pair of indifferent vertical pupils, and from that moment on, he could never forget them, which haunted him for the rest of his life.

But this time, it's different.

He lay on his back, arms outstretched, feeling no pain, only peace.

The fears that had tormented him for years, the nightmares that kept him awake at night, the shadows that had driven him to flee to Aurotara... all vanished in that moment.

He was finally able to face those eyes calmly.

"I lost."

"I am truly sorry that I was unable to satisfy Your Majesty."

He smiled and spoke haltingly.

Although the battle was intense and he had inflicted a lot of damage on Red Iron Dragon, he could clearly sense that Red Iron Dragon had not used its full strength.

The mighty Destiny, beaten like this by a Grand Master...

But Reinhardt thought it was perfectly normal.

This result was not unexpected.

From the very beginning, he didn't think he could win.

He lived almost his entire life in the shadow of the Red Emperor.

Even after fleeing to Aurotara, while trying to escape, he couldn't help but inquire about the Red Emperor's deeds, and every now and then, he would hear about things that sounded like legends.

On the one hand, he was terrified by it.

Those messages weighed on his mind like mountains, making it hard for him to breathe.

On the other hand, he felt that this was how it should be, and even felt amazed.

This dragon's power has exceeded common sense and imagination; it seems to have been born to stand at a height that no one else can reach.

Amidst this inner conflict and struggle, the image of the Red Emperor becomes extremely complex for him.

It is fear, it is a nightmare.

It is a target to be caught up with, and also, in a sense, a support.

Reinhardt, driven by self-destructive tendencies, faced numerous perilous situations and considered giving up during his dangerous adventures.

but……

Under the cold gaze of those eyes, he gritted his teeth and persevered time and time again, becoming stronger.

"Well, although it wasn't completely enjoyable, it was still pretty good."

"Garos said slowly."

He hasn't used his Wild Mode or Shining Mode yet, nor has he triggered Life and Death Control or Fearless Fury. However, this battle was indeed intense. He unleashed his power twice, and if he does it again, he will inevitably enter Shining Mode.

If forced to use his Shining Form, he would kill Reinhardt without hesitation.

As for now
Red Iron Dragon narrowed his eyes, gazing intently at the human before him.

Reinhardt paused for a moment, then smiled.

"That's good."

He paused, then said, "Please give me an end to this."

After saying this, Reinhardt gazed at the gray sky, awaiting his final death.

The dragon's claws reached out, obscuring all vision, then pressed down. Reinhardt did not move, letting the dragon's claws cover his body, and darkness swallowed him.

However, the expected death did not come.

Reinhardt felt a jolt, then slowly opened his eyes.

Sunlight streamed down from above, illuminating him.

A crisp wind howled past, carrying the occasional dampness drifting from the depths of the clouds, ruffling his hair. The wind was cold, but the sunlight was warm; the two contrasting sensations intertwined, gradually bringing him back to his senses.

Reinhardt was slightly taken aback upon sensing this.

Clang!

Two greatswords were thrown in front of him.

His Dawn and Night Greatsword struck the metal platform with a crisp metallic sound.

They landed within his reach, as if waiting for him to pick them up; the light on the sword, though dim, still shimmered faintly.
"If you're not dead yet, stand up."

A familiar voice rang out.

The Red Emperor stood in the center of the high platform, his figure having returned to its normal state before battle.

He no longer possessed the ferocious form of having three heads and six arms, but remained in his normal dragon form, yet he was still majestic enough, with his head slightly lowered and his eyes looking down at him.

Reinhardt gripped the hilt of his sword.

He leaned on his sword to stand up, swaying unsteadily, his back gradually straightening. First his waist, then his back, and finally his neck.

Then, Reinhardt looked up at the dragon.

"Why...don't you kill me?"

He asked, puzzled.

Red Iron Dragon asked, "If you win, will you kill me?"

Reinhardt was slightly taken aback.

To be honest, he hadn't thought about that question.

Because he didn't think he could win from the very beginning.

From the moment he issued the challenge, he was prepared to fail, or rather, he never even considered the possibility of victory.

The wind passed between them, carrying moisture from the clouds and the chill of the high altitude.

Reinhardt looked down at the sword in his hand, lost in thought.

"will not."

A few seconds later, he looked up again and said.

"With His Majesty here, Theo can continue to prosper."

"As long as you exist, the land of Atlan will not be easily trodden by demons."

“When I was in Aurotara, I saw what a continent would become without a king. If His Majesty dies, Atlantis will become a second Aurotara, no, perhaps even worse.”

Reinhardt recalled that when he was young, someone boasted that he could be compared to the Holy King of the past.

At the time, he was somewhat arrogant and even genuinely believed that he was the chosen one, destined to lead Theo to glory.

However, he is very clear about this now.

Although I am quite talented, I am slow-witted in many ways, or even completely clueless.

He didn't know how to govern a country, how to balance the power of various factions, or how to preserve a kingdom in a chaotic world.

He can't be a pillar of strength, nor can he be a savior.

Galos's lips parted slightly, which could be interpreted as a smile.

“Some call me the savior of destiny, the protector of all races, the most severe father of demons… and many other such titles.”

He paused, his gaze becoming distant.

“My initial motivation was not for others. I built the kingdom purely to grow stronger and better myself.”

"However, I will not watch as demons engulf the material world."

"Regardless of the original intention, I am more inclined to see a more prosperous Atlanta."

As he spoke, the sunlight burned behind him, casting his long shadow across the sea of ​​clouds, like a barrier stretching across the heavens and earth. The clouds churned beneath his feet, as if the entire continent lay prostrate beneath him.

"However, while Atlanta may appear calm now, there are actually turbulent undercurrents."

"No one knows when the demon army will return. Among them may be great demons, or even the demon king."

He stared at Reinhardt: "I may be strong, but I am only one."

“My dragons and their retinue can manage the kingdom and gather resources for me, but they cannot truly fight alongside me. If the demons launch a full-scale attack, I will not be able to attend to all fronts. If Atlantis falls, I can try my best to protect Aura, but kingdoms like Theo's will be completely destroyed.”

The wind picked up, making Reinhardt's robes flutter loudly.

"What...are you trying to say?"

He asked.

Red Iron Dragon raised one of its claws, palm up, and extended it toward him.

The dragon claw was large enough to hold Reinhardt in its palm, and the cold light at the tip of the claw was subdued in the sunlight, leaving only a metallic luster.

"You have let go of the past, and now it's time to look forward to the future."

"Reinhardt, would you be willing to share my so-called responsibility of saving the world?"

He said.

The dragon's deep, resonant voice echoed through the air, stirring ripples in Reinhardt's heart.

He was somewhat lost in thought, gazing up at the red emperor before him. Sunlight shone from behind the dragon, casting a halo around its outline, and the edges of every scale shone.

Images flashed through my mind.

He remembered his father's face and the rigorous training he had received.

He recalled the old king's aged face and his parting words.

He recalled everything he saw upon returning to Theo.

Those bustling streets, those laughing children, those ordinary people living in peace and contentment...

Then, these images gradually blurred.

Reinhardt suddenly realized that he could finally let go of those things completely.

However, something new sprouted in my heart and replaced it.

He couldn't explain what it was.

I just felt something warm growing and spreading in my chest, filling those places that had been empty for so long.

Immediately afterwards, Reinhardt's gaze cleared.

He stretched out one hand and placed it between the dragon's claws, while kneeling on one knee, bowing his head, and letting his golden hair fall down, obscuring his eyes.

"Thank you for your kindness and trust."

"I will defend your territory with my life and the edge of my sword."

He said solemnly.

The voice wasn't loud, but it was firm.

"Okay! I believe you can do it."

With a slight tug from the dragon's claws, Reinhardt was lifted up.

"Now, let's go heal our wounds first."

Autumn of the year 550 in the Gregorian calendar.

The Light of the Oath, having weathered many storms to settle past scores, returned as the Chosen One, and rightfully challenged the Red Emperor. After his defeat, he swore allegiance, and the Red Emperor, as the Grand Master, submitted to the Chosen One. Such an event was unprecedented and caused widespread celebration in Atlantis, even spreading overseas and to other continents, bringing his prestige to its peak, as bright as the rising sun.

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(End of this chapter)