Defeat the entire world with the power of one dragon!

Chapter 570 Lord of Atlantis

The red dragon Garkro flew over the last mountain ridge, and the Ryan Plateau came into view.

He originally planned to return to the Crimson Emperor City first, but the lingering scent of his father in the air made him change direction and fly directly there.

The land beneath our feet gradually opened up, and the fields spread out in all directions, like an unfolded blanket.

A great river stretches across the distance, its surface wide and shimmering, with waves surging from time to time.

Garclaw slowed down and moved closer.

A figure appeared on the river, its scales faintly visible in the water. Its head was above the surface, its eyes half-closed, as if enjoying the coolness of the river.

He opened his eyes when he sensed his eldest son approaching.

Whoosh!

Water splashed everywhere, and a dragon's shadow emerged from underwater.

Her scales were sky blue, gleaming faintly in the night. Her slender body nimbly flipped in the river, and she used her tail to slap up a spray of water that landed on the face of the red iron dragon.

Zolaya.

One of the companions of the Red Iron Dragon.

She was much smaller than the red iron dragon, and the two seemed to have been playing in the river before stopping.

Garque landed on the riverbank, folded its wings, and stirred up a gust of wind that rustled the reeds on the bank.

"You and your son can talk first."

Zolaya's gaze swept between the two of them, and then she flapped her wings and flew into the night sky.

The red iron dragon stood up from the water.

Water poured down from the gaps in his scales, forming streams at his feet that flowed into the river.

He was much larger than García, and when he stood in the shallow water, the river only reached his knees.

"Father, it's rare to see you rest."

Garclaw lowered his head slightly and said, "I'm sorry to have disturbed your leisure time."

Galos looked at him, but did not reply immediately. Instead, he slowly walked from the river to the shore.

The water parted at his feet and then converged behind him. He stood on the rocky shore, shook off the water, and fine droplets splashed in all directions.

"Judging from your expression, something's wrong?"

he asks.

Garclaw remained silent for a moment.

The river water lapped against the rocks on the bank, making a rushing sound. In the distance, a night bird flew by, casting a fleeting shadow on the river. It lowered its head, its tail wagging uneasily behind it.

"Father."

The red dragon finally spoke.

"Ok?"

"When I broke through to the Legendary level, I obtained a trait called Bloodthirsty Dragon."

Garclaw told his father about this characteristic in detail.

"When it was influencing me and intimidating me into seizing the black oil field, I wanted nothing more than to kill every living creature present."

He hesitated for a moment, and the wagging of his tail became smaller: "For a moment... I even had the thought of killing my father and killing you."

After saying this, he looked up at Galos, then quickly looked away, staring at the stone at his feet.

Galos looked at his eldest son with no emotion in his eyes, but rather with a hint of amusement.

"Then let's go."

"Haven't you always wanted to challenge me? Now you can. Come on, let me see how much you've improved since you became a legend."

Garclaw shook his head so hard it almost fell off.

"Father, that's not what I meant!"

"I mean, that trait is influencing me; it's making me have those thoughts, but I don't actually want to. That's not what I really think, I..."

He spoke more and more urgently, his tongue almost tied in knots.

"okay."

Galos interrupted him.

"The fact that you can say it means you can still control it."

The red dragon paused slightly, then stopped moving.

“Fear that can be spoken is not fear, and desire that can be acknowledged is not desire.”

Galos looked at him, his voice steady, "You stand before me and tell me that you wanted to kill me for a moment, which in itself proves that that moment has passed."

Garclaw slowly calmed down.

His father's voice echoed in his ears. He pondered those words carefully, and gradually a smile spread across his face.

"Yes."

He said, his tone becoming more relaxed, "As expected of me, I managed to suppress it without even realizing it."

He chuckled and shook his head, then his tail started wagging again.

But then he looked at the red iron dragon, his smile vanished, and he said seriously, "I know you also once possessed a power that would make you lose control, but you have completely taken it under control."

"So, I would like to ask you, how can I better control my bloodlust?"

He paused, then emphasized, "I don't want to be controlled by it. I want to control it perfectly."

Galos did not answer immediately.

He turned around and looked at the river.

The river shimmered silver in the moonlight, its waves rippling endlessly. A night breeze carried the scent of water and distant vegetation.

He looked at it for a while before speaking.

“I’ve been affected by anger before,” he said.

“I know,” Garclaw nodded. “You defeated it.”

"It's not about defeating, it's about coexisting."

Garclaw looked at him, not quite understanding.

"Just like you, the desire to kill won't suddenly disappear; it's a part of you that can't be completely eliminated. Your characteristics just amplify it."

"Do you think I can't feel anger? It's an emotion that all living beings are born with."

"But it is not the reason for my actions, it is just something that accompanies my actions."

Garclaw nodded thoughtfully.

"You need to know why you are killing."

Galos turned his head and looked into his eldest son's eyes.

"Killing to become stronger and killing for the sake of killing are two different things."

"The former has a goal, the latter does not. The latter will only make you like a beast, but you are not a beast, you are a dragon, and my blood flows in your veins."

Galos's voice was soft and low, his tone shifting slightly.

"Do you know your grandfather? Gorsas."

Garclaw nodded.

He certainly knew the name—mad and powerful, ultimately killed by his father.

"Everyone thought he was as crazy as a beast, and that I killed him with my own hands in the end, but I also have to admit that, in some ways, he was just as resilient as I was."

He looked at Galcroil again.

"And you will not succumb to the so-called killing instinct."

Garcro stood there, wings folded at his sides, his eyes fixed on his father.

"Can I...do it?"

He asked hesitantly.

Galos looked at him and nodded firmly.

I believe you can.

He paused for a moment, then continued, "If you want to have better control over yourself, you can go to the Immortal Spirit Wilderness."

"The Immortal Wilderness?"

Garclaw was puzzled.

"The emotions and desires are more intense over there. Stay there for a while, fight against them, and strengthen your will. When you return to the material world, the bloodlust you feel will be nothing."

Garclaw nodded emphatically.

"I understand! Without further ado, I will set off immediately."

He took a step back, preparing to turn around.

“Go,” Galos said.

Garcro took a deep breath, spread his wings, and created a gust of wind that made the reeds bend over.

"Father."

He suddenly stopped and turned his head.

"Ok?"

I won't let you down.

After saying that, he leaped into the air and disappeared into the night sky.

Galos stood there, watching the shadow grow smaller and smaller until it disappeared into the night.

The river wind continued to blow, the reeds rustled, and Zoraya flew back again at some point, landing beside him.

"Are you done talking?"

She asked.

Galos nodded.

"Of all your children, he is most like you."

"Zolaya said."

Hong Tielong said, "Yes, but that means he needs to pay more."

News of Aura Legends crossing the border and seizing the black oil field spread like wildfire.

In less than ten days, almost everyone, from the kingdoms of the eastern plains to the alliances of the southern regions, knew about it.

Farrell's black oil fields are lost.

However, no one stepped forward to condemn it, no one issued a strong statement, and there wasn't even a diplomatic protest.

Everyone knows this is pointless.

Diplomatic rhetoric can be effective when the power gap between the two sides is not that large, but now... the Grand Legends have been wiped out, and the other nations have no confidence to face the Red Emperor.

In front of Aura, they were as fragile as little girls in front of a giant.

Farrell and Latona are the backbone of ASEAN and the Southern Asian countries.

All the nations were waiting for their reaction.

More than half a month after the Aura Legion crossed the border, King August of Farrell and King Severus of Latona arrived together and personally came to the Red Emperor's City.

"This is the capital of the Kingdom of Aura..."

August looked up at the magnificent and wondrous Dragon Court and murmured to himself.

"Let's go. Now that we're here, let's not hesitate."

"Severo said."

Soon after, the two entered the Dragon Court under the guidance of the guards.

As they walked through long corridors and through heavy gates, the Aura guards along the way remained expressionless, and no one gave them a second glance.

Most of these guards were dragonborn, tall and with cold eyes.

The occasional glances they cast were like those of two insects who had strayed into a dragon's nest.

After walking for nearly fifteen minutes, they finally arrived at a huge council hall.

King Farrell walked on the right.

He was a middle-aged man in his fifties, with a thin face and a neatly trimmed beard, but his eyes were sunken and there were obvious dark circles around his eyes, as if he hadn't slept well for a long time. His steps were relatively steady, but his breathing was obviously more rapid than usual.

King Latona is on the left.

He was younger and more robust than King Farrell, but his complexion was worse. His fingers kept fidgeting with his cuffs, a small gesture that hadn't stopped since he entered the Dragon Court.

The two paused briefly in front of the council chamber.

They could see the same thing in each other's eyes when they looked at each other.

fear.

This is not something to be ashamed of.

Although they were kings with extremely high status, they were not skilled in combat and rarely left their palaces. Now, on someone else's territory, facing a dragon emperor capable of killing multiple Grand Legends and wiping them out at will, fear was the only normal reaction.

They took a deep breath and stepped into the council chamber together.

Then they saw the dragon.

Garoth Ignas, the Red Emperor, Lord of Aura
It is perched right in the center of the council chamber.

His body seemed to be forged from flames and steel, each scale gleaming with a dark red luster, like solidified magma. His dragon wings were folded at his sides, yet they still occupied a huge space, making the pillars on either side appear thin in comparison.

Under the dragon's gaze, the two kings stopped after taking only a few steps.

It's not that they want to stop.

Even though the Red Emperor restrained his dragon might, the sheer size of this behemoth was enough to make one feel suffocated.

His head was larger than a giant elephant's, each tusk was like a long sword, and his claws, when they touched the ground, gleamed with a cold light.

The dragon's breath was like a fierce wind, blowing on the two kings, who trembled slightly, their knees buckled, and if they went any further, they would probably collapse to the ground.

"King Augustus of Farrell and King Severus of Latona pay their respects to His Majesty the Red Emperor."

Two voices rang out almost simultaneously.

One voice was hoarse, the other trembling, but most of it was blown away by the wind.

After saying this, both of them lowered their heads unconsciously, instinctively avoiding eye contact with those dragon eyes.

Galus looked down at them.

He did not get angry, but simply looked at the two men calmly. However, even this gaze was enough to make the two kings break out in a fine sweat.

"Because of my mercy, your kingdom has survived the tide of demons."

"But you repay me with betrayal."

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the two faces.

"Tell me, what should I do with you?"

These words were not harsh, but to the two kings, they felt like a boulder had struck their chests, causing them to turn slightly pale.

"Your Majesty, there are some misunderstandings between our country and your country..."

King Farrell said, as if trying to explain something.

"It's not a misunderstanding."

Galos interrupted him.

King Farrell's words stuck in his throat.

"The legends you sent attacked my territory while I slept, attempting to kill me." The dragon's voice was flat and even, saying, "This is not a misunderstanding; this is an act of war."

"We were unaware of the attack on you."

King Latona said in a low voice, "Those legends are unauthorized..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

Galos's lips curled into a slight smile, and an invisible pressure suddenly descended, causing King Latona to stop speaking abruptly, his face turning pale instantly, and large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

August wasn't much better off.

He clenched his teeth so hard that he could barely stand, but his whole body was trembling uncontrollably.

"Multiple Grandmasters and Legends, each one an elite, none of them are newly promoted ordinary Legends."

Galos's voice deepened as he asked, "Ha, with such a force assembled, can you possibly deceive the two kings?"

The two kings opened their mouths, but could not utter a word.

What can they say? Say they don't know? Even they themselves don't believe it.

To say you know is to admit you were involved in the attack.

Galos did not press further.

He withdrew his oppressive aura and returned to his calm demeanor, as if everything that had just happened was merely a minor warning.

"I don't like nonsense."

He said, "So, if you want to talk, show some sincerity."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Iron Dragon Gorton walked over from the corner.

His steps were neither hurried nor slow, and he carried something that looked like a scroll in his paws.

As the iron dragon raised its sharp claws, the scroll cascaded down like a long waterfall, reaching all the way to the ground. The scroll was very long, and the writing on it was dense and numerous, clearly indicating that it contained a great deal of information.

Iron Dragon placed it before the two kings and then stepped aside.

"Treaty for the Unification of the Surface Nations of Atlantis".

"Look at that."

"Garos said."

The two kings took a deep breath and then leaned closer together.

The two heads almost touched, and four eyes were fixed on the treaty. Here, they were no longer the high and mighty kings in their own kingdom; they looked somewhat humble, even pitiful.

They focused their attention and began to review the contents of the treaty.

Article 1: The sovereign status of the Kingdom of Aura is recognized, and heads of state of all countries must be approved by Aura before they can ascend the throne.

Article 2: Accept Aola troops stationed in the country. The cost of stationing troops shall be borne by each country. The number of troops and their location shall be determined unilaterally by Aola.

Article 3: Tribute shall be paid to Aurana annually, the quantity and type of which shall be determined by Aurana based on the circumstances of each country.

Article 4: The armed forces of all countries shall be incorporated into the unified command system of Aura.

Article 5: Legends of each nation must obey Aura's orders and may not leave their own territory without Aura's approval.

Article 6: Foreign affairs shall be coordinated by Aura. No country shall privately conclude an alliance with another country or privately accept envoys from another country.

Article 7: ...

The content is extensive, with detailed explanations for each clause, and some clauses are accompanied by supplementary notes, filling the entire parchment with dense writing.

The two kings grew paler and paler with each glance, and their hands trembled more and more violently.

Moreover, even before they had finished reading it, they already realized what kind of treaty it was.

"His Majesty,"

King Farrell hesitated before saying, "This is... a vassal treaty."

The Red Emperor did not say much.

Beside him, Iron Dragon Goldon spoke up with a chuckle.

"It's an integration treaty, but you can also think of it as a vassal treaty. The name isn't important; what matters is the content, right?"

He finished speaking and then smiled, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth.

King Latona remained silent for a moment.

His fingers began fidgeting with his cuffs again. After thinking for a long time, he cautiously spoke.

"It's not that we're unwilling to coexist peacefully with Aura."

He tried to sound sincere, saying, "On the contrary, we very much hope to establish friendly relations with Aura, but the contents of this treaty are indeed too... harsh."

He paused, glanced at Garus, and seeing that the dragon showed no signs of anger, continued speaking.

"If Your Majesty is willing, we can discuss other options."

"For example, we could cede territory and pay ransom to Aura in one go as a price for releasing our legends and negotiating peace. At the same time, we could also draw up a formal contract promising never to invade Aura's territory and to live in peace with Aura forever."

He finished speaking and waited for a response.

August quickly added, "King Severus's meaning is exactly mine. We can offer generous compensation, and even cede territory. As long as Your Majesty is willing to relax the terms of the treaty, we can discuss anything."

The dragon remained silent for a few seconds.

Then, he chuckled softly.

The entire council chamber trembled, a few wisps of dust fell from the dome, the air vibrated, and the hearts of the two kings trembled along with the laughter.

"What do you think you're doing here?"

Galos said, his laughter gradually subsiding, "Not a single word of the treaty will be changed. This is not negotiation; this is notification."

“I know what you’re thinking, but I’m telling you, you have no choice.”

The two kings opened their mouths as if to say something, but in the end they said nothing.

"of course."

Galos's voice softened somewhat as he said, "If you really can't accept it, I won't force you. The door is right there, and you can leave at any time."

He paused, his gaze becoming even sharper.

"However, I will only give you two one month."

"Go back first and think it over carefully. At the same time, you should bring the message to the other countries in ASEAN and the Southern Region. Within a month, the kings or plenipotentiaries of each country should come to the Red Emperor City to sign the unification treaty."

"This is my last act of mercy."

"No time limit, or you'll bear the consequences."

After saying this, Galos fell silent. He resumed his crouching posture, his eyes half-closed, as if he no longer paid attention to the two people in front of him.

Finally, August sighed and took his leave of the Red Emperor, and Severus followed suit.

The two turned and left, their figures slowly disappearing.

Soon after, the iron dragon Gordon wagged its tail and walked over to Garros.

Do you think they'll sign it obediently? Or will they try some other underhanded tactics?

Galos's expression remained unchanged, and his eyes were still half-closed.

"They will come."

He said.

He paused, then continued:

“I have already shown my mercy. If they do not come, or try to be clever in their own way, they will face cruelty.”

In the past, Galus would have had many concerns.

Holden's attitude, the Dragon Domain's reaction, and even the stability within his own territory all need to be weighed.

But now it's different.

Just as he once told Varta, he can now do whatever he wants to some extent. He no longer needs to think deeply about many things; it all depends on whether he wants to or not.

When you reach this level of strength, many problems actually become simpler.

the other side.

The two kings only gradually steadied their steps after leaving the Dragon Court.

They turned and looked back at the magnificent building.

Sunlight shone on the surface of the Dragon Court, reflecting a cold, hard luster. The highest peak pierced the clouds, obscuring its full appearance. Just now, standing before that giant dragon, they felt like two ants.

"There is absolutely no room for negotiation..."

King Latona sighed, his voice filled with weariness.

“I know,” King Farrell said.

"But at least he gave us a month."

What can you do in a month?

“We can find a way,” King Farrell said, his eyes flickering. “For example, we can find someone who can help us.”

King Latona was taken aback for a moment, then realized what was happening.

"You mean... Holden?"

The two kings exchanged a glance, each seeing a last glimmer of hope in the other's eyes.

Yes, Holden.

If this human empire is willing to step in, Aura will at least have some reservations.

“Give it a try,” Severus said. “It’s better than doing nothing.”

“Yes.” August nodded. “We have one more month.”

Without saying anything more, the two got into their respective cars and left the Crimson Emperor City.

Soon after returning to their respective countries, the first thing the two kings did was to contact the messenger using the contact information left by Holden's envoy.

In the study of Farrell Palace, August personally communicated with Holden's messenger.

He didn't beat around the bush and recounted the entire story of his trip to the Crimson Emperor's capital, including Galos's words, the contents of the treaty, and the one-month deadline.

He spoke in great detail, not even hiding his own feelings.

"Your country is the hope of mankind."

He concluded by saying, "If even Farrell and Latona become vassals, other countries will be even less likely to resist. We request Holden to step in and put pressure on Aura, at least to get Aura to back down and change the terms of the peace talks."

Meanwhile, King Latona was doing the same thing.

They begged Holden to intervene and save them from their predicament.

The messenger's answer was almost identical.

“I am aware of your country’s request.”

The messengers said, "This matter is of great importance. I will forward your country's request to the imperial central government. Please wait patiently."

A glimmer of hope ignited in the hearts of the two kings.

They began to wait.

One day, two days, three days... each day felt like a year.

A few days later, Holden’s reply was sent to Farrell and Latona.

The content is very simple, consisting of only a few lines.

"The Empire is aware of your country's request and will pay attention to it. However, the Empire is currently burdened with many affairs and the calamity of the demons has not yet subsided, so it is not convenient to intervene directly."

"We hope that your country will maintain communication with Aura and resolve the dispute peacefully."

After receiving a response, both sides came to terms with reality.

The matter of the demons has not been completely resolved.

The current peace is only temporary; perhaps one day a new calamity will emerge.

The Red Emperor has already proven his power, and his existence is very important to Holden now, as he can help Holden fight against the demons.

Who knows what will happen in the future, but right now, at this critical juncture, Holden will not push the Red Emperor to the opposite side.

The two kings knew this from the beginning; they simply clung to the illusion that Holden would help them out of consideration for their shared humanity.

But now, the illusion has been shattered.

What lies before us is a harsh reality.

For Holden now, all the other nations on Earth combined probably wouldn't be as important as the Red Emperor.

So, they resigned themselves to their fate.

Shortly thereafter, Farrell and the Kingdom of Latona sent plenipotentiary representatives to the Red Emperor's capital to sign a treaty of unification.

With them taking the lead, other countries dared not slack off.

Those who were originally observing, hesitating, or hoping for the best all realized the situation. In no time, the road leading to the Red Emperor's capital was filled with processions of envoys from various countries.

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

At dawn, the red iron dragon stood on the edge of the Dragon Court Peak.

A morning breeze blew by, carrying a chilly edge. On the eastern horizon, the rising sun slowly painted the entire sea of ​​clouds golden red.

Beside him, Goldon was grinning from ear to ear, his eyes almost disappearing from his grin.

His voice was excited as he reported to Galos, "All twelve countries in the ASEAN alliance, including the kingdoms and duchies, have signed. All nine countries in the Southern Region have also signed."

He paused, looked at his blood relatives beside him, his eyes filled with pride.

“My dear brother, now, three-quarters of the land of Atlanta is under your wings. Of course, I have also contributed a little to this, so please allow me to be proud and happy about it.”

After he finished speaking, he grinned again.

"Ah."

Galos nodded and said, "This is the future we're creating together."

He did not keep the glory to himself, but shared it with his blood relatives.

For Galus, this was never his top priority.

His face was calm as he gazed at the ever-expanding sky.

Lord of Atlantis.

He didn't care about these empty titles, but his title was indeed gradually transforming from the praise of the people of the North into a fact recognized by the entire continent.

　I recommend a book called "I Really Need to Control You, Sister".

　　In 1268, at the age of nineteen, Serafina was crowned the youngest female pope in the history of the Church of Light.

　　She forgives and embraces everything, yet her hands are stained with blood.

　　Let's take a look at what titles she has.

　　Archbishop Pickens, S-Rank Hunter, Serpent Guild's Ace, Saintess of Light, [Always seems to like flirting with young girls for some reason], [Awesome, just a bit schizophrenic]...

　　Serafina stated that she is emotionally stable because she knows she is innocent and that it was all orchestrated by someone controlling her.

　　"You brought thorns, but I saw roses blooming among them. Those sharp blades that stung me have long been soaked in my blood and become marks of blessing."

　　In the flickering candlelight of the confessional, Serafina's voice was as soft as a feather.

　　She gently stroked the heretic's trembling face, gazing tenderly at him:

　　"Sinner? Demon? No, you are just a child who has lost his way on the path of discovery. Now, let me use the warmth of my palm to help you find your way home."

　　With a crisp, pleasant crack, Serafina snapped the other person's neck, her face expressionless.

　　"I'm sorry, I forgive you, but my body doesn't."

(End of this chapter)