Chapter 633: Gains and Wounds of the Gold Dragon
"Still, this harvest is not all," Kai Xiusu sneezed, exhaling a puff of sulfur-scented white smoke. He felt the ebb and flow within his body, the surge of power coursing through his Basal Vessels.
Now, his Red Dragon form was like a vast ocean—Ancestral Dragon bloodline, chaotic Fire, Order Force, the Elemental Plane’s raw Fire Power, and countless other energies of differing natures surged and interwove within him, forming a colossal, intricate system.
Using True Sight, Kai Xiusu gazed inward, finally uncovering the two newly plundered strengths hidden within his core: the Primordial Source of Heaven and the Divine Power of the Sun—both now manifesting as unique artifacts within the Red Dragon’s body.
A delicate, semi-transparent sphere floated amidst the Dragon Blood, slowly rotating—this was a fragment of Heaven’s Mountain’s Primordial Source, accounting for two percent of the entire Silver Heaven, brimming with overwhelming Law Force.
> [Heart of Luciath]
> Relic, Mythic Realm: Order, Justice, Goodness, Law
> Effect: Unknown
> Description: Heaven is the homeland of countless benevolent beings—such as Asmo, the Stellar Realm’s apostles, the divine attendants of Another Realm, and the Blazing Sky’s divine servants. Seven blessed martyrs, who sacrificed themselves for Order and Goodness, now appear in this young world in powerful, unique forms—commissioned by Heaven itself to serve as immortal rulers over the Seven Heavens, each wielding a fragment of Heaven’s Authority.
“So this is Heaven’s Authority?” Kai Xiusu mused. “Just staring at it, I can feel Order, Justice, and pure goodness.”
Barachiel had taken only five percent of Silver Heaven’s Primordial Source, yet it had been enough to match Kai Xiusu. And Luciath was merely the weakest of the Seven Heavens—proof of how immense Heaven’s Mountain truly was.
And above the Radiant Heaven, Zafkiel stood as a being Kai Xiusu could only gaze up at in awe.
The Essence of Heaven—born from the Outer Planes over eons—was beyond even Kai Xiusu’s grasp in the short term. It would take time, strategy, and patience to master.
The second artifact floated within the Heart: a miniature sun, continuously emitting light and heat, illuminating the space around it. This was the Divine Power of the Sun God Amanatara.
For days, Kai Xiusu had not only absorbed Walter and Kalen’s Divine Power but also captured every Angelic Offspring of the Northern Aether—ripping their Divine Power from their bodies with merciless precision.
> [Blood of Amannata]
> Relic, Mythic Realm: Law, Order, Sun, Light, Fire
> Description: A century ago, the Holy Emperor Faldran and the great “Sun Emperor” Aragon I performed a grand ritual, summoning the Sun God Amanatara. In that glorious ceremony, the nobles chosen by the Emperor were blessed, becoming the “Divine Offspring”—endowed with immense strength and immortal lifespans.
“So this is the so-called Sun Power? How fascinating.”
Kai Xiusu stared at the tiny sun, licking his lips. He was no stranger to Divine Power.
Divine Power, by name, was the fundamental force of a Deity—the physical manifestation of divine strength, the vessel through which miracles were wrought and power displayed.
To mortals, the divine aura within it was enough to grant them the status of “Divine Offspring,” bestowing lifespans of a thousand years and strength far beyond ordinary beings.
But only a being who had ignited the Divine Fire could produce such power. Kai Xiusu had not yet achieved that state. To him, the Sun God’s power was like water without roots—useful, but disposable.
Yet as the God of Law and the Sun, Amanatara’s Divine Power contained within it the essences of law, order, sun, light, and fire—perfectly aligned with Kai Xiusu’s own nature. Thus, it flowed through him with remarkable ease.
> [You have absorbed the Divine Power of God of Law and the Sun—Amanatara, unlocking the following special abilities:]
> [Solar Breath]
> Your breath, now enhanced by the Sun God’s might, unleashes the power of a stellar explosion—like an enraged sun, incinerating everything in your path.
>
> [Sunflare Orb]
> You can conjure a phantom image of the sun in the sky, intensifying heat and dryness across the surrounding area, altering the climate within a thousand-kilometer radius.
Both abilities surpassed Ninth Circle magic, rivaling Legendary Spells. Yet due to the limited amount of Sun God Power Kai Xiusu had gathered, they could only be used a few times.
Still, he wasn’t displeased. Instead, he gave a satisfied nod, murmuring softly:
"The people of Fadalan all worship the Sun God, don’t they? If I were to perform such a 'miracle' before their very eyes... what would they think? Duke Walter, thank you for this gift. I’ll carry out your dream of restoring Fadalan—though perhaps in a way you never imagined."
He stepped out of the cave. His towering spine rose like a mountain ridge, his broad wings slowly unfurling.
"Cassander, Thrace, Seleucus—these puppet kingdoms? What are they to Fadalan? Only our Empire of Ashen is the true successor of the sacred Fadalan!"
A fierce smile curled at the Red Dragon’s lips—the dignified face of the dragon now bearing the grim grin of a conqueror.
In his past life, the three great kingdoms—Cassander, Thrace, and Seleucus—had been mockingly dubbed “East Fadalan,” “North Fadalan,” and “West Fadalan” by players, due to the endless rivalry among kings for the Emperor’s title.
Now, Kai Xiusu would make all of Feiansuo Continent know: only Dragon Fadalan was the true, sacred legacy.
Eternal Order Realm, White Monastery.
"Ha… ha…"
The ancient Gold Dragon lay sprawled, his body riddled with wounds, his wings tattered and frayed. He breathed heavily, resting in the monastery’s sacred water.
Above, the scales of Lanthis glowed with a serene radiance, slowly mending his injuries.
Titus lifted his head with great effort, voice trembling: "Krasus, my lord—why do you stand by while that evil dragon commits such atrocities? He… he murdered our Gold Dragon kind’s savior—Walter Graham! Ah—ah—ah!"
A surge of emotion sent him into a violent cough, spewing blood.
Primordial Gold Dragon Krasus stood beside him, letting out a deep sigh. "Don’t excite yourself, Titus. Your greatest priority now is healing. You’ve broken thirty-seven bones, lost a third of your blood. If things worsen… you may have to seek audience with the Lord of the Northern Wind himself."
"Krasus, answer me! Why do you let that Red Dragon go unpunished?" Titus roared, his voice hoarse, filled with fury, confusion, and a deep, aching sorrow.
"I cannot defeat him." Krasus replied, calm, almost dismissive.
"Even if you can’t, couldn’t the entire Gold Dragon regiment unite and defeat him?"
Titus froze. His scarred, wounded face twisted in dawning realization. "Wait… is this… King Bahamut’s will?"
Krasus said nothing. His expression was bitter, his silence speaking volumes.
Finally, the elder Gold Dragon sighed again. "Titus, your courage, your unwavering resolve—they remind me of my younger self. But this world isn’t so simple. Not all things are black or white."
With his Scepter, he tapped the floor. A crisp chime rang through the monastery, and a translucent image projected before Titus’s eyes.
There, in the vision, stood a magnificent palace. Dozens of robed figures in black and purple stood in prayer, led by a man wearing a golden five-headed dragon mask.
And upon the throne at the head of the hall sat a crowned man—but his head was not human. It was a deep blue-gray, metallic, grimacing like a dragon forged of steel.
Titus heard the chanting: "Praise the Eternal One, Lady of Darkness, Enemy of the Gods."
His face darkened. "They… they’re praying to the Dragon Queen?"
"Yes," Krasus said gravely. "Her followers have taken root across the Kingdom of Seleucus. Her cult is expanding rapidly."
"We’ve received intelligence that the Demon Queen will descend once more upon Feiansuo Continent, unleashing a cataclysm of unimaginable scale. For us, the Emperor of the Ashen Flame’s stance is critical. We must at least ensure his neutrality—otherwise, the consequences could be irreversible."
"But that Red Dragon—" Titus tried to protest.
Before he could finish, Krasus’s body flickered with arcane light, growing translucent. A final warning lingered in the air.
"Titus… be careful. Avoid provoking that Red Dragon. I barely saved you this time. Next time… I may not be able to."
And with that, the Primordial Gold Dragon vanished into thin air—leaving Titus alone in the sacred pool, his wounds healing slowly.
As the Chief Regent of the Golden Dragon Council, Krasus had been busier than ever.
Titus lay still, struggling to spread his wounded wing. His face still bore anger and resentment—but his mind was now a storm of thought.
“In the past life, the Dragon Tyranny arc was supposed to begin only at the end of the Age of Kings. Yet here it is—early. She’s confident, isn’t she? Does she truly believe I’ll join the Five-Colored Dragon’s ranks? This old crone is living in a fool’s fantasy.”
Titus—Kai Xiusu—let out a cold, silent laugh in his mind.
The impact of the Red Dragon and the Empire of Ashen was no longer mere butterfly effect. It was a dragon flapping its wings and triggering a hurricane.
The memories of the past were unrecognizable.
For instance, a famous Ranger—meant to rescue an elf maiden from noble captivity and flee to freedom—had instead been shot dead by city guards with rifles.
Minor details had changed. But the tides of history themselves had shifted. After the Battle of Northern Aether, even once-foe factions had united, fearing the threat posed by the Empire.
"Titus Elder! Titus Elder!"
A clear, bell-like voice broke through his thoughts, pulling him back to the present.
Titus turned. There she was—Orola, the slender young Golden Dragon he knew.
She stared at his wounded form, her eyes wide with worry. "Titus Elder… your injuries…"
"Just a few surface wounds. Nothing serious." Titus shook his head, smoothing his gill whiskers with a casual gesture.
But the slight tremor in his body, the steady trickle of Dragon Blood, the horrific, gaping wounds—none of it could be hidden. Orola’s worry only deepened.
After a pause, she whispered: "Titus Elder… I’ve heard what happened. I want you to know—no matter what the elders say, your stand against the Emperor of the Ashen Flame, your vow for revenge… it inspires me. You are still our hero in our hearts."
Her voice was firm.
"Hero?" Titus chuckled bitterly, a wry smile forming on his noble, wise face—his scars deepening the weight of his age. "A madman’s failure, that’s all I am."
"Just like before… I couldn’t protect anyone. I watched helplessly as friends died… watched people become slaves to that evil dragon."
"No, Titus Elder, you did your best!" Orola murmured softly.
But the Ancient Gold Dragon’s expression hardened. He looked at her, calm. "Orola… besides these meaningless memories, is there anything else?"
"Ah! I nearly forgot!" She snapped back to her purpose, nodding vigorously. "The King of the Dwarves—Aid Klein, of the High Mountain Kingdom—he wants to see you. From my observation, his condition is dire. His Soulfire is flickering, like a dying candle."
"I know. You may go. I’ll go to him when I’m ready." Titus nodded, composed.
But as he spoke, a fresh wave of blood erupted from his throat. Orola gasped, rushing forward to catch him. "Titus Elder! Are you alright?"
The Ancient Dragon pushed her away with a fierce strength, his gaze unyielding. "I’m fine. Leave me. Don’t worry about me."
Seeing the dragon—wounded, broken, yet still trying to stand—Orola’s eyes filled with tears.
She shook her head firmly, voice breaking: "Titus Elder… you can’t use magic in this state. I’ll go with you."
Silence.
The Ancient Dragon looked into her pleading eyes—and finally, slowly, nodded.
(End of Chapter)
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