"For gastrointestinal exercise, let's wait until the dust has settled and the situation is stable before we start."
Red Iron Dragon threw away the rock clenched in his claws and took out food from the space props he carried with him. Then he opened his huge mouth and began to eat quickly to fill the emptiness that had been felt in his body for some time.
During this period of time, Garos has eaten a lot of very low-energy foods.
However, during this process, Garos could vaguely feel some changes.
In a state of hunger where energy was not satisfied for a long time and he could only eat junk food, his digestive system became more active, the rhythm of gastrointestinal motility accelerated, and the conversion efficiency of ingested substances also improved slightly.
The changes were subtle, but they did not escape his control over the body.
And this means that he can indeed gradually adapt and strengthen his intestines and stomach in this way.
However, the price paid is also obvious.
If you eat too poorly, your body's basic needs will not be met for a long time.
He felt that his strength was weakening, the explosive power contained in his muscles was not as abundant as before, his body became heavier than usual, and his exercise efficiency was significantly reduced. The same exercise method now required more time to achieve the previous results.
For a dragon like Garos who regards strength as the fundamental thing, this is much more uncomfortable than simple hunger.
Although, with his willpower, it is not unbearable.
But now is the critical moment to compete for Romanian Plains.
The situation in the Theo Kingdom is not yet completely stable. The threat of Lothern is like a sharp sword hanging above the head, and other surrounding kingdoms are also like a pack of wolves.
There may be a series of fierce battles waiting for him next, and any negligence may lead to total loss.
He cannot take it lightly, and it is best to adjust all aspects of his condition to its peak.
Everything depends on the situation. Garos will not create huge short-term weaknesses for himself just for the sake of training.
That is tantamount to digging your own grave.
"Star-Self Path's level can be increased by one more level, and you can get a powerful skill."
Garos was thinking in his mind while swallowing the last piece of meat, "This will increase my combat power the most. During this period, I will focus on this aspect first and push the other things later."
After repeated weighing, he finally made this decision.
He needs to break through Star-Self Level as soon as possible.
Buzz buzz!
The solid Dragon Qi ignited from his body, rising like a flame, causing the surrounding air to begin to distort.
In an instant, Red Iron Dragon's body shape changed drastically. First, a new head extended, and two new pairs of arms grew from the shoulder blades, transforming into a battle form with two heads and four arms.
Immediately afterwards, a vigorous exercise began among the mountains.
Unknowingly, three days passed by in a blink of an eye.
During this period, the incident of Red Emperor capturing King Theo alive continued to ferment, spreading to every corner of Romanian Plains.
Even in some remote villages, there are legends of Red Emperor, or in other words, some evil names.
Statements such as "If you don't obey, Red Emperor will fly over and take you away" are widely spread to scare children, and the name Red Emperor can stop children from crying at night.
In addition, Lothern Kingdom immediately issued a formal official announcement.
A document read out personally by the Palace Clerk and spread rapidly through the magical communication network was severely worded, condemning Red Emperor's "violent behavior" and "unacceptable violation of the kingdom's sovereignty" and demanding that Aura must ensure the personal safety of King Torfin, and "immediately and unconditionally release King Torfin and return him intact to Theo's country."
The notice also mentioned at the end that "New Federation will take all necessary measures to safeguard the interests of member states."
Ribos, Cambrook, Matena... these three kingdoms subsequently issued similar statements.
However, compared to Lothern's statement, the wording of the three kingdoms is much more euphemistic. It is more about expressing concern and calling for a peaceful solution to the problem, and it is not so tough.
Anyone with a discerning eye can see the difference.
Lothern truly felt the anger of his authority being challenged, while other kingdoms expressed their stance more routinely. On the one hand, they could not turn a blind eye, and on the other hand, they did not want to stimulate the increasingly powerful beast of Aura.
As for the condemnation from various countries, Aura responded with the most direct silence.
There was no excuse or refutation. Aura Kingdom turned a blind eye to this overwhelming diplomatic oppression and continued to operate at its own pace.
And this kind of ignorance itself is a tough statement.
Dragonspine Mountains, early morning.
When the first ray of sunlight pierced the clouds and shone on the rugged mountain top, Iron Dragon Sorog's dark and heavy figure descended again. The strong wind whipped up by folding its wings blew away the morning fog, revealing the scene on the top of the cliff.
He saw that the human king was still alive.
Torfin's condition is worse than three days ago.
The originally gorgeous and majestic king's robe was now in tatters, stained with dirt and dried stains. His hair was messy and stuck to his forehead and cheeks. His complexion showed an unhealthy bluish white, his eye sockets were sunken, and his lips were chapped and peeled.
But, he is still alive.
He did not turn into a cold corpse, nor did he turn into a puddle of flesh under the cliff.
Iron Dragon grinned, already understanding in his heart.
He landed slowly and stopped opposite the king.
On one side is a giant black dragon that looks like a hill, and on the other side is a human in ragged clothes huddled on a rock. They look like creatures from two worlds.
Iron Dragon looked at the human king with eyes as sharp as a knife.
Torfin raised his head and met the dragon's gaze.
There was no anger, fear or begging in his eyes before, only a kind of calmness and exhaustion remained.
"Three days have passed." Iron Dragon's deep voice slowly sounded from the top of the mountain, "You seem to have made a choice."
Torfin took a deep breath of cold, thin air and slowly exhaled it. The white mist dispersed and dissipated in front of him.
"I, Torfin Chapman, the seventh monarch of the Theo Kingdom."
He said word by word, each syllable seemed to be squeezed out from the depth of his throat with all his strength, "I am willing to lead Theo, surrender to the Aura Kingdom, and be loyal to the great Red Emperor, Garos·Ignas."
"Theo... will become Theo of Aura."
After he finished speaking, his body shook slightly uncontrollably.
Iron Dragon looked down at him, carefully studying the appearance of this mortal, but did not respond immediately.
The mountain wind howled across the cliff top, rolling up tiny gravels and rolling them down Abyss. Tens of seconds of silence spread between the two.
Torfin suddenly twitched the corner of his mouth, showing an expression that looked like crying and smiling.
"You may be thinking."
He said to himself with a dry voice, "This human king is really stupid and cowardly."
"Too stupid to see the situation clearly, daring to make an enemy of the powerful Aura, and finally ending up like this; so cowardly that he doesn't even have the courage to jump off this cliff, or to commit suicide directly, so he can only live in an ignoble manner and accept humiliating conditions."
The king raised his head and looked at the gray sky, where dark clouds were gathering.
"Yes, I am indeed stupid."
"But not because of being an enemy of Aura."
As he said that, he focused his eyes on Iron Dragon again. "As long as Theo still wants to revive and restore his old life, he is destined to face Aura."
"I don't think there is anything wrong with this."
"Anyone sitting in my position would make the same choice."
"I was stupid because I easily believed in Lothern's promise."
Speaking of this, there was more regret in his voice.
"I overestimated the protection that the so-called New Federation can provide, and also underestimated the determination and decisiveness of Aura."
"Lothern... just treat us Theo as expendable pawns, rather than true allies. When I need help the most, where are their troops? I guess they only have an empty condemnation now."
Iron Dragon tilted his huge head. He did not interrupt the king's speech, but continued to listen quietly.
"As for cowardice..."
Torfin lowered his voice, raised his slightly trembling hand, and pointed at the edge of the bottomless cliff not far away.
"To tell you the truth, in the past three days, I have thought about jumping from there countless times."
"Once and for all, you don't have to bear the infamy of a subjugated king, and you don't have to bear the shame of a puppet king."
"Death is sometimes much easier than living, especially on such a cold night, when you listen to the sound of the wind like the cries of the dead souls, and feel the hunger and cold gnawing at your body."
"But I didn't."
"It's not because I'm greedy for the throne and power." He smiled bitterly and said, "After this incident, I have realized that it is like a hot potato to me, not an honor. This is a heavy burden. Anyone in this position will find it difficult to live well after realizing their true situation. They will only feel sleepless."
"Being sober is worse than being confused."
"But, I can't help but think about what will happen to Theo if I die?"
"My heirs, or my more ambitious brothers, will be eager to claim the throne."
"And the new king has not experienced the wind and rain that I have experienced, and has not tasted the despair of being captured alive by a giant dragon."
"No matter who it is, in order to consolidate their authority or appease the angry emotions in the country, they are likely to be seduced by the sweet words of Lothern or other kingdoms again and make the same mistakes again."
"By then, the entire Theo Kingdom may really be reduced to scorched earth in the flames of war."
"Silverglow City's city walls will be knocked down, Chapman Family's ancestral temples will be burned, and my people will become displaced refugees."
He looked directly at Iron Dragon, his voice extremely dry.
"I was afraid of this. I was afraid of it. This fear once exceeded my fear of death itself."
Maybe it was because the extreme fear had passed, or maybe it was because the three days of cold had made his mind clearer than ever before.
Torfin understands many things now.
He realized that in today's Romanian Plains situation, Theo seemed to still have the title of a kingdom, but in fact it was just a fragile chess piece sandwiched between the two major forces of Aura and Lothern, and was in an extremely dangerous situation.
If either party exerts a little force, the chess piece will be reduced to ashes in the ensuing fire.
He had already relied on Lothern, but in the end he was captured alive in the territory of Aura. So far, no rescue has come. That covenant is as thin as a cicada's wings.
But he is lucky.
Red Emperor gave him the opportunity to choose, allowing him to place his hope in the shadow of Aura.
Although this hope comes with chains, at least Theo can continue to exist.
Opposite, Iron Dragon Sorog narrowed his eyes slightly, and the tiny figure of the human king was reflected in his pupils.
He who also studied Psion Path can feel the truth in the king's words.
In just three days, this young king who seemed ignorant and stupid at first seemed to have matured a lot. Oh, time and wind and rain are the best teachers, but the price of this lesson is often too heavy.
If only the older generation of kings who had gone through ups and downs and wars were still alive.
Aura may continue to lie dormant for a while, rather than choosing to raise fire now.
However, the difference in race and lifespan lies here. The inheritance of the human kingdom will always be interrupted by youth and lack of experience. However, Dragons of Aura has received guidance and is very good at taking advantage of its long lifespan and has patience.
Iron Dragon looked down at the king and said slowly, "Human, you have made a wise choice."
"Not every mortal has the courage to admit his mistakes and seize the only opportunity in a desperate situation. In this regard, you have performed well."
Opposite, King Theo looked up at Iron Dragon and suddenly said, "I heard that dragons like straightforward communication and hate hypocritical cover-ups and roundabout tricks."
"So, I have some words in my heart, and I won't be happy if I don't say them out."
Iron Dragon looked with interest and made a low purr in his throat. "Oh? Tell me, here, honesty is indeed regarded as a virtue, provided that you can bear the consequences of honesty."
Torfin took a deep breath, and then said seriously:
"As long as Aura becomes stronger and Red Emperor's power remains at its peak, I will be Aura's most loyal vassal, and Theo will be Aura's most docile vassal. I will Use everything I have, my authority, my wisdom, and even my life to ensure that Theo will not become Aura's trouble, and to ensure that Theo is Theo that belongs to Aura."
Having said this, he paused for a moment, his chest rising and falling significantly.
Then, the tone suddenly changed.
"But, if one day, Aura weakens and reveals its flaws... if Red Emperor's dragon wings can no longer cover the sky..."
"... Then, please forgive me, I may become stupid again and try to challenge the authority of Aura again."
"The blood of the Chapman Family flows with the will not to surrender, and the desire for independence is buried in the hearts of the Theo people. At that time, I will seize the opportunity, just like you seize the opportunity now."
After saying these words, he panted slightly, waiting for the dragon's judgment.
Torfin is mentally prepared to be killed directly.
However, Iron Dragon listened quietly without any offended anger in his eyes. On the contrary, he let out a roar of approval from his throat.
"Very good, Torfin Chapman."
Iron Dragon said calmly, "You finally... understand the reality."
"Loyalty is built on the strength of Aura, and ambition is dormant under the strength of Aura. Ha, this is very honest."
"Moreover, our entire Aura Kingdom operates under a similar framework. Your ideas are actually the ideas of many lords in our kingdom. This is not a problem."
Then, he declared in a deep voice.
"Your choice will be accepted."
"Be prepared to return to your Silverglow City. Aura's envoy will arrive later and tell you the new terms, the amount of taxes, the location of the garrison, and the rules of trade. These will determine the future fate of Theo."
Iron Dragon leaned forward, casting a deeper shadow over Torfin's head.
"Remember what you said today. Under the shadow of Aura, be your puppet, maintain the stability of Theo, and suppress any resistance that may sprout. This is the best choice for the current Theo."
"This is also the last right thing you, as a king, can do for your kingdom."
After saying that, Iron Dragon stopped talking and stretched out his huge front paws.
The giant claws covered Torfin's entire field of vision, and the shadow swallowed his body.
But this time, the human king did not panic, he just stood there silently and let Iron Dragon catch him.
The wind picked up again, and the roar of wings beating the air was deafening.
The scene at the top of the mountain quickly narrowed in Torfin's field of vision, and the edge of the cliff he had stared at countless times gradually became blurred.
Torfin took one last look at this lonely peak that had once made him despair and seemed to bring him rebirth, then he closed his eyes completely and buried all his emotions deep in his heart.
Soon after, Theo Kingdom north, Sar Province.
The terrain here is gentle, the view is wide, there are many sentries, and the garrison soldiers maintain a high degree of vigilance. Since the king was kidnapped, the entire northern defense line of Theo has entered a wartime state, although most people know that this will not help.
A guard on the guard tower was routinely patrolling the distant horizon, his eyes a little sore from concentrating for a long time.
Suddenly, his pupils shrank and he suddenly raised his hand to signal his companions.
"Alert! Something is coming! It's a dragon!"
A sharp whistle broke the silence.
The soldiers stationed here quickly entered the fighting position, bows and crossbows were strung, spears were clenched, and the magicians began to chant incantations in a low voice. Everyone looked to the sky nervously,
There, a blue-black figure was flying quickly, its wings beating the air with a thunderous sound.
As the figure approached, the soldiers gradually saw the details clearly.
It was an extraordinarily strong Blue Dragon, about fifteen meters long, with muscle lines clearly visible under its scales. Different from ordinary wild dragons, its conventional weak points such as neck, shoulders and chest were covered with thick armor, its joints were inlaid with plate armor for enhanced protection, and special combat kits could even be seen on its claws.
Strong and well-equipped.
This is often the signature feature of Aura Dragon.
Those completely wild Dragonkin rarely bother to build armor for themselves, nor do they have the conditions.
Under the nervous and vigilant gaze of the human guards, Blue Dragon slowed down on a gentle area some distance away from the sentry post.
It did not make any aggressive gestures, slowed down its flight rhythm, and then landed slowly.
Blue Dragon folded his wings, folded them to his side, then turned his head sideways and placed the object in his right front paw on the ground.
That's a human being.
A human being wearing tattered fine clothes, with disheveled hair and a haggard look.
Despite its wretched appearance, the soldiers recognized the face almost immediately.
They had seen this face in countless official portraits, ceremonies and royal announcements.
"... That's our king?!"
"Aura's dragon brought the king back! He is still alive!"
Screams of exclamation sounded from all over the defense line.
After several days of fermentation, the news that King Theo was captured alive by Red Emperor has spread throughout the kingdom, and no one knows about it.
Most people pessimistically believed that His Majesty Torfin was in danger and might have even been killed long ago. But now, the King has come back alive, albeit in such a humiliating way.
Blue Dragon glanced at the human king and made a deep guttural sound.
Then, Blue Dragon unfolded its wings again, kicked off the ground with its powerful hind legs, and its huge body quickly rose into the air and flew away in the direction it came from. It soon turned into a small black spot in the sky, and finally disappeared into the clouds.
The place fell into a brief silence. The soldiers looked at each other, not knowing how to react.
Finally, an officer was the first to react. He loudly ordered, "Open the checkpoint! Welcome His Majesty! Quick, send someone to inform the governor and send the best doctor over! Also, send the news back to Silverglow City immediately!"
The soldiers woke up from a dream and began to get busy.
Several cavalrymen rushed out of the post and ran towards the shaky figure.
King Torfin stood where he was, looking at the familiar Theo flag and the cavalry running towards him, complex and unspeakable emotions flashing in his eyes.
He's back.
As a puppet, he is back after all. As long as Theo is still there and the people of the kingdom can continue to live on this land, he can pay any price.
April 20th, 417th year of the New Calendar.
Not long after the Lothern Kingdom and other New Federation members issued strong condemnations, King Torfin Chapman was released by Aura. After a series of tests and verification by Theo Spellcaster, he has returned to Theo Royal Capital Silverglow City.