"I can't just attack you once in vain."
Alberto The expression on his face quickly changed from the joy and satisfaction just now, to becoming extremely solemn.
His golden vertical pupils looked directly at Garos, and he continued in a solemn tone, "Garos, there were too many interfering factors in the previous battle."
"Whether it was the siege of the dragons under your command or the distraction I had to deal with, I failed to truly appreciate your full power, especially when you were surrounded by astonishing lightning."
"At this moment, please let me feel it more intuitively."
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
A hint of surprise flashed through Garos's dragon pupils, and he confirmed in a deep voice.
"Absolutely certain!"
Gold Dragon's answer is decisive.
Since the other party is so insistent on the request, Red Iron Dragon will naturally not dampen his interest.
Zhila! Zhila!!
The scalp-numbing blast of electricity suddenly tore apart the tranquility above Dragon Valley.
Black and red Dragon Qi and Bloodburst's Golden Lightning instantly burst out from Garos's body, causing his momentum to surge and exuding a terrifying sense of oppression.
Alberto dare not be careless, Crown Sacred Oath and Conquest Sacred Oath are issued at the same time.
The solid armor of the god Holy Armor appeared first and adhered to the body surface. The shining golden crown further increased its defensive effect, and was then coated with a layer of rich golden light.
Just the next second after the double Holy Oath Defense blessing was completed.
The thick dragon claws holding Dragon Qi and Exhilarated State lightning were clenched into a hammer shape, and they crashed straight into them.
Kaka-collapse!
The armor is cracked, Shatter.
Red Iron Dragon's blow landed hard on Alberto's chest.
The huge impact made Alberto's huge Gold Dragon body shake violently.
"Uh--!"
A suppressed groan escaped from his throat uncontrollably.
I saw that the originally strong and gorgeous dragon scales on his chest dented and collapsed visibly to the naked eye under the heavy blow of Garos.
The huge force was even transmitted to his back, causing the tough dragon scales there to make a subtle cracking sound.
Alberto's body suddenly arched forward involuntarily.
"As expected... very... very strong..."
Gold Dragon endured the overwhelming pain and shock in his body, and straightened his arched body very slowly and little by little, with a hint of suppressed breathing in his voice.
"... but... it's true... it's within my tolerance."
Before he finished speaking, he did not stop for a moment. The huge golden dragon wings flapped violently, setting off a strong air current, like an arrow from the string, flying straight in the direction of Ser Wilderness, and quickly disappeared into the darkening sky.
Garos hovered quietly in place, the huge Red Iron Dragon wings fluttering slightly in the evening breeze, with a calm expression.
However.
As the golden figure of Alberto gradually disappeared from sight, becoming smaller and smaller until it disappeared from the skyline... the calm expression on Garos's face collapsed.
He bared his teeth fiercely and stretched out his paws to touch the marks left by Most Holy Slash on his chest.
Maybe it has something to do with his bloodline, or maybe it's because his character is also in the evil category.
Most Holy Slash's various effects on evil creatures are all applied to Garos.
"This kind of unbearable pain is something I haven't experienced in a long, long time."
Garos took a few deep breaths of the cold night air.
It seems... should we specifically look for a powerful Paladin in the future? Or at least a creature with divine power similar to Paladin?
Their attacks to repeatedly train and adapt to their resistance to this Divine Retribution power?
Only in this way can we be as calm and fearless as I have shown before when facing attacks like Most Holy Slash in the future.
As for his dependents, that Half-Blood Centaur Elvie.
Although her attack also has sacred attributes, it is not Paladin after all. The effect is still a lot worse, and it may not be enough to train her resistance.
At the same time.
On the far side.
While Alberto was holding on to flying, he kept looking back vigilantly until he made sure that there were no prying eyes.
Whoosh! He could no longer hold on, and the huge Gold Dragon body crashed down like a meteorite on a remote rocky slope.
Poof--!!!
As soon as he landed, he didn't even have time to retract the dragon wings, his throat rolled violently, and he couldn't hold back a mouthful of hot Dragon Blood anymore, and it splashed hard on the rocks.
"Ouch!"
Alberto let out a painful scream, and the huge dragon body could no longer maintain its majestic posture. It fell to the ground in a state of embarrassment, and then rolled and flopped uncontrollably on the gravel-covered ground.
It hurts, it hurts too much.
It was as if heartbreaking pain surged through Alberto's body.
He felt it carefully, oh, it turned out that it was not as if, but that his heart and lungs were actually injured.
If he were replaced by an ordinary young man White Dragon, he would probably be penetrated directly and his soul would return to Hell.
Alberto endured the suffocating pain, tremblingly raised the dragon claw, and cast several powerful Holy Healing on himself.
After a while, he felt that the overwhelming pain had subsided slightly, and his violent chest could finally breathe steadily. Although every time he inhaled, there was still a constant, needle-like pain deep in his body.
Thinking that Garos was only in his teenage years and already had such terrifying power that could crush him.
The proud Alberto fell into a brief silence.
After a few seconds, his eyes became determined and he decided to set a ruthless Holy Oath for himself to motivate himself to surpass Red Iron Dragon.
"I, Alberto·Aurelius, hereby take my bloodline, my glory, and my lifelong pursuit of Golden Law as evidence, and establish this Holy Oath!"
"Before completely surpassing--Red Iron Dragon Garos·Ignas!"
"I will refuse all entertainment and leisure! I will no longer allow myself any meaningless rest and laziness! I will work day and night to sharpen my minions with all my strength! Temper my scales! Temper my will and strength!"
"Until I become more powerful than him! Undisputedly powerful!"
"If I violate this oath, I, Alberto·Aurelius, will be reincarnated and become like White Dragon!"
Buzz - As the last syllable of his oath fell, an invisible and heavy force suddenly descended.
Alberto Immediately felt as if there was an invisible, bodyless, but cold and sharp sword hanging high above his head, the tip of the sword pointed directly at his soul, and it was slowly descending.
This is the binding power of Holy Oath.
It clearly reminded Alberto: Although he is in extremely poor condition now, with heavy internal injuries and mental exhaustion... but with Gold Dragon's extraordinary and extraordinary physique, he is far from the point where he must lie down immediately and fully recuperate.
Any trace of slackness and laziness is a blasphemy to this heavy oath.
Alberto felt a chill in his heart and did not dare to neglect at all.
He clenched his dragon teeth, endured the severe pain and deep fatigue that were still raging in his body, and then flew into the deep night sky.
"With the constraints of this oath, with my talent of Gold Dragon Bloodline, I will be able to surpass Garos sooner or later."
"I'll have a good rest then."
Alberto thought optimistically, as the figure was bathed in the light of the sunset and drifted away.
And with the departure of Alberto and the complete fall of night, the deep darkness, like a huge velvet curtain, slowly enveloped another piece of land that has experienced vicissitudes of life - Alva Valley.
This river valley that winds between mountains is located exactly in the Borderlands zone between Aber Duchy and Haltai Duchy. It is one of the most sensitive and complex areas on the long border between the two countries.
Among them, Haltai Duchy has always been the most loyal and obedient supporter of the Lothern Kingdom. Its status is almost equivalent to that of the Lothern Kingdom's subordinate territory, and every move is deeply affected by the will of its suzerain country.
And Aber Duchy on the other side.
It maintains a close and friendly relationship with another giant in Federation - Rybos Kingdom.
Rybos Kingdom, this country plays a decisive role in the Federation countries. Its national power and influence are almost second only to the powerful Lothern Kingdom. It is the undisputed second pole in Federation.
Back to business.
Due to some extremely complex special reasons involving the early days of the founding of the two countries and even the longer history of the two countries, the long border line between Haltai Duchy and Aber Duchy has never been accurately determined on the spot by both parties, and a formal boundary treaty that is fully recognized by the two countries and has the highest legal effect has never been jointly signed.
The two countries' interpretation of historical basis, understanding of the terms of ancient agreements, and understanding of the scope of traditional jurisdiction... are worlds apart.
This has resulted in a large area of overlapping sovereignty claims in most parts of the border between the two countries - both sides claim to have undisputed sovereignty over the same land.
Moreover, the geographical environment of the Alva Valley area is particularly complex and changeable: towering mountains, deep and precipitous canyons, rapid and winding rivers... This changeable terrain itself can easily cause controversy.
What's even more troublesome is that natural river diversions, sudden landslides, and even small-scale geological subsidence often occur here. These continuous geographical changes further exacerbate the difficulty of accurately determining specific boundary control points.
So that the final result is:
There are huge and difficult-to-bridge differences in the specific direction of the border advocated by both sides.
In the versions of maps drawn by each country, between the lines representing sovereignty claims, there are often large areas of dispute that are intertwined and not recognized by each other.
In this context.
When the scouts, sentries, patrols and other armed forces stationed on the border by the two countries encounter each other unexpectedly in these sensitive disputed areas, it is very easy for them to have gunpowder-filled confrontations or even tense conflicts.
However, for a long time in the past, because both parties belong to the loose but effective framework of Federation, and there are two more powerful "great gods" Lothern Kingdom and Rybos Kingdom above who are coordinating and exerting pressure, Aber Duchy and Haltai Duchy have always maintained considerable restraint.
Both parties strictly followed the unwritten rules.
--Try to keep the level of conflict to a minimum, limiting it to pushing, quarreling, or small-scale hand-to-hand combat, and try to avoid using lethal weapons, let alone letting the conflict escalate into a real war.
However... just tonight, Alva Valley, a land that has been repeatedly claimed, seems to be filled with an unusual atmosphere.
Under the calm surface, undercurrents are surging.
The night was as thick as ink that cannot be melted. A cold waning moon cast a pale silver glow, barely illuminating the rushing river Alva Valley and the steep outlines of both banks.
A border guard patrol team affiliated with Haltai Duchy is strictly following the established route and conducting routine patrols along what they consider to be their "own" border line.
They walked heavily, and their bronze scales glowed with a greenish color under the cold moonlight.
Unknowingly, they stepped into a disputed area that both sides claimed belonged to them and had highly overlapping sovereignty.
Sure enough, as expected.
Almost at the same time they stepped into this sensitive area, on the other side of the river valley, a Aber Duchy guard team also performing patrol duties appeared from the shadow of the coniferous forest like a ghost.
Heavy breastplates forged from black iron covered their upper bodies, seeming to absorb all the light under the moonlight, making them look particularly deep and solemn.
Under the cold moonlight, the turbulent Alva River surface was cut into countless jumping and shining silver scales.
The soldiers on patrol on both sides came out of the dense coniferous forests on both sides of the river valley at almost the same time. Their eyes collided like swords across the not-so-wide water.
Haltai Duchy The guard captain's figure is exceptionally tall, and his trademark bushy Redbeard trembles slightly in the cold wind.
He firmly pressed the hilt of the long sword at his waist with one hand, and raised the other hand to signal the team to pause their advance.
"Go back! Abel people!"
Captain Todd's thick Redbeard shook violently as he shouted, "This is Hatai's sacred territory that Lothern Kingdom personally appointed and cannot be doubted! Leave immediately! Otherwise, you will be responsible for the consequences!"
Opposite.
Aber Duchy The leader of the patrol is a one-eyed sergeant with a rough face and sharp eyes.
A ferocious scar was like a centipede, tearing from his forehead to the bottom of his neck, looking particularly horrifying in the moonlight.
Faced with Todd's warning, the one-eyed sergeant named Barton not only did not flinch, but instead grinned and cursed angrily.
"Old Todd, let your mother's stinky fart go!"
Barton replied in a rough voice, with a voice like a broken gong. "Hurry up and take your Hatai brats back to the mountain valley to your south! This river valley, every inch of land, every stone, has belonged to us Aber Duchy since ancient times! This is our indivisible territory!"
After saying that, Barton untied the sword belt around his waist without hesitation, and let the heavy stainless steel sword and the scabbard fall to the gravel on the ground with a clang.
Then, he took off the heavy arm armor, and the hand guard made of fine steel hit the chain armor hard, making a clear and harsh metal collision sound.
He moved his thick neck, making a soft clicking sound, and then walked step by step towards the other side of the river, towards the team of Hatai people.
The Abel soldiers behind him, without verbal orders, moved in unison, and one after another took off their weapons - swords, shields, hatchets... and threw them heavily on the ground.
A pair of calloused fists were clenched tightly, and the knuckles made a scalp-numbing "click, click, click" sound.
On the other side, the soldiers of Hatai were also unwilling to be outdone.
"Remove armor!"
With Todd's deep and powerful command, the bronze scale armor, sword, short spear... all metal weapons were also lifted one after another and thrown aside.
The engines of the Golem guards that were following them silently shut down instantly and entered standby mode.
The soldiers of Hatai also clenched their fists, and with the dignity and unyieldingness of soldiers, they faced the Abel people who were approaching step by step.
Soon.
The oppressive atmosphere reached its peak. Accompanied by a deep roar from someone unknown, it was as if a fuse was lit - the battle began instantly!
Two groups of soldiers from different principalities and shouldering their own loyalties, under the leadership of their respective commanders, were like two raging tides, violently colliding and blending together, fighting together in a melee on the edge of the cold Alva Valley.
The hard and heavy soles of military boots crushed the thin ice condensed on the edge of the river beach, making a crisp and harsh cracking sound.
The fist, full of anger and power, hit the opponent's face, chest, and ribs hard, making dull crashing sounds one after another.
The heavy chainmail armor worn by the soldiers rubbed and collided violently in the fierce fighting, making a continuous, tooth-gripping noise of metal scraping and collision!
All these sounds, mixed with heavy breathing, angry roars and painful groans, echoed repeatedly in the deep Alva Valley.
Todd pushed Barton into the biting stream with a hug. Redbeard was covered with ice. "I'll let you go if you admit defeat!"
Barton's knee suddenly hit his crotch. Hatai man curled up in pain, but he did not forget to raise his fist and hit Abel man on the bridge of his nose.
As time went by, the melee situation gradually became clearer.
Although Aber Duchy's soldiers are brave, they seem to be slightly at a disadvantage in terms of numbers and individual strength.
Finally, when the last few Abel guards were thrown to the ground by the combined force of Hatai soldiers, moaning in pain and unable to get up... Captain Barton, who was hit by Todd until his nosebleed, staggered and barely stood, finally raised his right hand, which was stained with mud and blood and was trembling slightly, with difficulty.
This is a traditional gesture used by one party to admit defeat and indicate a stop in border conflicts.
Seeing this gesture, Redbeard Todd endured the severe pain and dizziness coming from his vital parts, released his left arm that had been subconsciously holding Barton's neck, and tried to stand up.
"Hmph!"
Todd gasped, with the disdain and ridicule of a winner on his face, and spat bloody spit at Barton: "Go back to your Abel territory! Don't let me see you in this valley again!"
He thought that tonight's conflict would be the same as countless times before, and it would end here.
However.
This time, it was beyond everyone's expectations.
Barton, who had just climbed up from the ground with difficulty, did not silently retreat with his troops as usual after hearing Todd's taunt.
His rough, blood-stained face showed a complex expression of helplessness, cruelty and a hint of guilt.
There was a moment when Todd was unprepared and even relaxed his vigilance.
Barton's right hand, the hand that had just made the gesture of surrender, suddenly reached towards his lower back like a poisonous snake!
Whoa! He pulled out a Alchemy Dagger that was matte and did not reflect any light under the moonlight at lightning speed!
Without any hesitation! Poof--!!!
The extremely sharp blade, with a harsh sound like tearing leather, pierced Todd's unprotected throat with precision and coldness.
Immediately afterwards, the blade was pulled sharply horizontally.
A huge, shocking wound was opened instantly! Blood surged out from Todd's neck like a fountain.
Barton looked at Todd's eyes that widened instantly due to severe pain and disbelief, and quickly lost their energy. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end it only turned into an inaudible whisper, "... I'm sorry, Redbeard..."
"Tonight, the order from above... wants some... more intense conflict... and I... have no choice..."
The warm, life-like blood, like the thickest dye, instantly soaked into the cold stream water beneath Todd, blooming into a dazzling scarlet color under the moonlight.
Whether it was the soldiers of Hatai or the soldiers of Abel, everyone was shocked by this sudden and cruel killing.
After a brief moment of dead silence.
"Todd Captain--!!!"
"Barton! You bastard!!!"
Two languages, equally full of extreme anger, sadness and incredible violent roars, burst out from the mouths of soldiers on both sides like ignited powder keg.
At the same time! Buzz--boom!!!
The eyes of Alchemy Golem, who had just shut down their engines and were standing quietly beside them, suddenly lit up with a dazzling red light. The huge gears and drive shafts made a deafening roar, and their heavy steel bodies were instantly activated.
They took heavy steps and rumbled into the battlefield.
Clang! Clang!
The sword that had just been removed and thrown to the ground was instantly picked up again by countless pairs of angry hands.
The cold metal reflected a deadly cold light in the moonlight. The border conflict, which was originally strictly restricted to the range of fists and feet, suddenly lost control amid the roar of the Alchemy Golem engine declaring destruction, the harsh symphony caused by the violent collision of countless swords, and the soldiers' roars filled with blood, tears and hatred... instantly.
It escalated into a completely irrational, Bloodshed cruel, unrelenting... tragic Blood War.