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This time, the Prince who appeared beneath the Apple Tree was visibly older and more haggard.
It was clear that these five years had exhausted him. On one hand, he had to face the ever-younger Black Queen; on the other, he had to carry out his own plans.
Without any subordinates, he had to serve as both a blacksmith and a craftsman, while also reaching out to humans, dwarves, and elves.
It could be said that over these five years, he had not even had time for a proper rest.
Moreover, having passed forty, his physical strength had already begun to decline.
When the Prince emerged now, he was no longer as handsome as before, nor did he hold his head high.
Yet he remained quite confident. Holding the Silver Blue Scepter, he walked beneath the Apple Tree, before the Hundred-Headed Giant Dragon.
This time, the prophets and astrologers within the Hundred-Headed Giant Dragon sensed that something was wrong. The Hundred-Headed Giant Dragon kept trying to stop the Prince from approaching.
Although the Prince had come beneath the Apple Tree several times, he had never encountered a situation like this.
At this point, the Prince could only raise his scepter and order the Hundred-Headed Giant Dragon to retreat.
Though the Hundred-Headed Giant Dragon was displeased, the scepter truly could protect the Prince from harm. Its dragon heads could only glare at him and try to frighten him away, preventing him from drawing closer.
The Prince was frightened into retreating twice. In the end, he could only stop approaching the Apple Tree and instead used an iron nail to pin the ring on his left hand to the ground.
When he nailed the ring down, the power of Fate stirred. The nail