Reinhart has been standing on the street of Red Emperor Royal City for a long time.
He wore a dusty cloak, with the hood pulled down low, covering most of his face.
Pedestrians passed by him, and occasionally someone glanced at him, but quickly looked away. In this city, although people like him are not common, they are not uncommon. No one cares about a stranger standing silently.
Even though he was once famous, no one recognizes him now.
Reinhart walked aimlessly on the street, his eyes scanning both sides.
There are many shops and bustling people.
Intelligent creatures of various races live together in this city, and they come in all shapes and sizes.
There are Goblin driving a small Golem in a hurry, there are Kobold carrying baskets to select fruits and vegetables, there are people patrolling and galloping Iron Hoof flying, and there are Kobold flexibly shuttling.
The aroma of food wafts in the air, mixed with various sounds, weaving into a vibrant noise.
At this time, a barbecue seller Ogre pushed a dining cart past him.
Several little Werewolfs gathered around the car, grinning and drooling, vying to buy it. They huddled together, stretched their furry paws long, and made eager whining sounds.
"Wolves, don't worry, don't worry."
Ogre Grill the meat skewers and sprinkle with salt and other spices. A rich aroma will spread immediately.
He handed the meat skewers over one by one, took the copper coins, and patted the head of a wolf cub. The wolf cub narrowed his eyes and wagged his tail.
Reinhart looked at one of the little Werewolf.
He took the meat skewer and took a big bite. He was so eager to eat that the meat juice flowed down the corner of his mouth without even bothering to wipe it off.
Another adult Werewolf walked over next to him, probably his father, lowered his head and said something.
The wolf cub immediately raised the meat skewer and brought it to his father's mouth, and the wolf father ate all the meat in one bite, chewed it a few times and then swallowed it.
The little boy was stunned.
First, he stared blankly at his empty claws, then bared his teeth and howled loudly, his voice high-pitched and bright.
The wolf father laughed loudly, showing his fangs, and bought another barbecue skewer, stuffed it into the cub's mouth, then lifted it up and let the cub ride on his shoulders.
The little boy stopped crying immediately and happily gnawed the meat skewers while holding his father's ear with one hand.
Father Wolf just carried him like this and gradually disappeared into the crowd, leaving only the laughter that gradually faded away.
"Cruel, ruthless, and chooses people to devour..
"
Reinhart remembered what he learned when he was young.
The introductions to Werewolf in those books describe them as ferocious beasts, saying that they eat hair and drink blood, are cruel and ruthless, kill everyone on sight, and have no sense at all.
At that time, he believed it to be true and felt that Werewolf was a monster.
But later, he learned that Werewolf had also been transformed from humans. It might have been a failed magic experiment or suffered some kind of curse, but there was a close connection between Werewolf and humans.
Even though his temperament becomes more ferocious after transforming into Werewolf, his intelligence is not inferior to that of humans.
They have their own families and emotions. They are not the unintelligent ferocious beasts that most people think of. They behave cruelly and brutally. This is also because most Werewolf tribes live in no fixed places and survive in the wilderness. Human beings will not be very civilized in the same situation.
Reinhart looked at the disappearing figures of Werewolf and his son, and suddenly thought of his father.
His father rarely smiled.
In his memory, that face was always serious.
His brows were furrowed, his eyes were stern, and his lips were pressed into a tight line. Every day before dawn, he would be picked up from the bed and forced to practice swordplay in the yard.
In winter, his hands turned red from the cold and he couldn't hold the sword steadily.
His father watched from the side without saying a word. It wasn't until he picked up the sword himself and gripped the hilt again that his father nodded slightly.
"You are the hope of our family."
My father always said this, "You can't relax and live up to the family's expectations."
At that time, Reinhart was still young and did not understand what the hope of the family was.
He only knows that he doesn't want to disappoint his father, because when his father is disappointed, his face will be uglier, his brows will be furrowed tighter, and his eyes will be colder. That kind of silent gaze is more uncomfortable than any scolding.
His father never praised him.
It was the first time he defeated a child of his own age, thinking he would get a compliment, but his father just gave him a cold hum.
Even when he stepped into the Legendary Realm when he was a boy, the whole Theo was excited, and countless people came to congratulate him, but his father still just nodded and said it was okay.
Later, he became Theo's hope.
Everyone said that he was a genius, Light of Theo, a hero who could lead the kingdom to revival and overthrow the tyranny of Red Iron Dragon.
The praises were overwhelming and he couldn't help but feel a little intoxicated. But on the night when he was most energetic, danger came quietly.
When he was thinking about whether to accept the challenge, his father came.
That night, his father had a heart-to-heart conversation with him for the first time and smiled at him for the first time.
My father said, how could you lose? You are the most talented person I have ever seen. My father said, I will watch you and I will be proud of you.
That was the first time he saw his father smile.
It's also the last time.
Thinking about it now, his father pushed him down this path and had no intention of letting him turn back.
Reinhart Close your eyes and take a deep breath.
Some memories are already a long time ago for a human being.
More than a hundred years have been enough to make most past events blurry and faded, but when I think about it now, it is still vivid in my mind, as clear as if it happened yesterday.
He kept walking forward.
The streets are getting wider and the buildings are getting taller.
This should be the central area of Red Emperor Royal City, and the flow of people is even denser. Here you can even see some tall Golem standing on the street corner, silently watching the people coming and going.
Their bodies are engraved with runes, and they occasionally take heavy steps to patrol the streets.
However, the excitement here has nothing to do with Reinhart.
He was immersed in his memories and thought of the former King Theo.
After his canonization ceremony, he was invited to Royal Court.
The sun was warm that day and the breeze was just right.
The old king took his hand, stood on the balcony of the palace, pointed to the street outside and said, "Reinhart, look at the people living here, they are my people and they will be your people."
"Theo's future lies on your shoulders."
The young Reinhart looked solemn and said in a solemn voice that he would not live up to expectations and would definitely protect this kingdom and these people.
The old king patted him on the shoulder, his eyes full of relief.
With a flash of memory, he thought of his last meeting with the old king.
At that time, he was dying, covered in blood and mud, his body was penetrated by Aura's Edge arrows, and there were countless arrows raging in his body.
Everywhere in my body hurts.
Every muscle, every bone, every cell is screaming in pain.
He didn't wail or struggle in pain.
His heart was filled with despair, and he just wanted to wait quietly for death. He only occasionally let out a few low groans like a wild dog due to pain, which was suppressed and numb.
At that time, he didn't want to think about anything or do anything. He just wanted to close his eyes and be done with it.
It was at this moment that the king's old face appeared in front of him.
He struggled to sit up, but could only lie weakly on the stretcher. He said in a hoarse voice that he had failed the king's expectations and asked for his forgiveness.
Tears slid down his cheeks and mixed into the blood.
But the king also shed tears, held his hand tightly, and said, "Reinhart, my poor child, it is me who should ask for forgiveness. I should not have let you stand in front of the stage prematurely, and should not have put such a heavy burden on you. You are still a child."
"Go away, go far away."
"Forget your past identity and start a new life. As for Theo... remember, you owe nothing to this kingdom. Put down your burden and live your own life."
After that, the king treated him at all costs and secretly sent him away Theo.
After leaving Theo, Reinhart wanted to let go of the past and start a new life, but his heart was always tightly entangled with guilt, like a thorn piercing deep.
On the one hand, he knew that he was not omnipotent and was not good at governing the country. The restoration of the kingdom could not rely on just one person, as it required too many things.
But on the other hand, it was difficult for him to completely let go.
Those expectant eyes, praising voices, and faces with high hopes... always appeared in front of him late at night. He felt that he had let down too many people, the king's trust, and the hope of the entire kingdom.
Later, he went to Orotara.
He goes to the most dangerous places and does the craziest things.
I once fought with giant beasts in the deep sea, and the water was dyed red with blood; I faced the storm alone on the top of the snow-capped mountains; I searched for lost ruins deep in the desert----
Each time he survived, each time he became stronger.
Until I can no longer become stronger and reach the limit of this body.
He's back.
He still can't let go of Theo.
At first, Reinhart thought to himself that whether it was fighting or negotiating, he would fight for freedom for the Theo people.
He thought that even if he risked his life, he would do something, but what he didn't expect was that he saw Theo that was completely different from what he had in mind.
Revival?
Oh, under the leadership of the Aura Kingdom, Theo has become stronger and stronger than the peak period in history.
The city is more prosperous, the people are richer, the streets are cleaner and more orderly.
It is already walking on a broad and glorious road, becoming stronger and stronger day by day, and people are very proud of it. How can we talk about revival?
He stood on the Theo street, looking at the pedestrians coming and going, and seeing the smiles on their faces, he suddenly felt relieved.
It was at this time that the haze that had accumulated for many years finally opened up.
There was light coming in.
The threshold between him and Destiny Rank, which was originally pressing in front of him like a mountain, too thick to be shaken, suddenly became clearly visible and within reach.
He finally understood that what was blocking him was none other than those obsessions that he couldn't let go of.
However, it is still a little bit behind after all.
There was a pair of cold and indifferent vertical pupils that lingered in his mind, lingering on.
Whenever it was late at night, those eyes would appear and look down at him condescendingly, causing him to toss and turn and keep him awake at night.
That's Red Emperor.
No, it's not just Red Emperor either.
What makes him stop moving forward is essentially himself.
He is the child who was severely disciplined by his father and lived in expectations since childhood. He is the genius who carries the hope of the whole country and is praised too high. He is the loser who was hit hard without even seeing Red Emperor. His confidence has completely collapsed. He is the coward who fled to another continent to survive and has never been able to face the past.
All kinds of emotions were entangled together, forming a giant beast entrenched in his heart, torturing him day and night.
So, Reinhart came to Red Emperor Royal City.
He walked through the wider streets and finally came to a huge square. In the center of the square stood the statue of Red Emperor. He stopped and looked at the statue.
It is more realistic and lifelike than the statue in Theo Royal City.
The details of every scale are clearly visible, every corner is curved just right, and every muscle line is full of strength.
The giant dragon raised its head and lowered its eyes, as if overlooking the entire city.
Reinhart looked at the statue seriously and let out a long breath.
Then, he took steps again.
He didn't come here to see a statue.
He wants to see the real Red Emperor and face this Red Emperor Pale Star.
Not for revenge, or to prove anything, or even to overcome fear, but just because he needs an end, a closure, a ceremony that allows him to truly let go of the past.
The giant beast that had occupied his dreams for most of his life, he was going to face it once in reality.
Even if you die.
Even if it breaks into pieces.
Even if I can't even pull out the sword.
Anyway, he's going.
The sounds around him suddenly became clearer, the sun shone warmly on him, and the noisy, noisy, and people coming and going suddenly became real.
Reinhart raised his head and looked at the sky.
There are a few white clouds floating in the blue sky. At the end of the field of vision, the majestic Dragon Court is like a wonder, reaching straight into the sky. It is the highest place in the city and the place closest to the sky. At the same time, it is also where Red Emperor lives every day.
Reinhart takes another step.
His pace became faster and faster, his head gradually raised, and he walked in the direction of Dragon Court.
The towering buildings glowed with metallic luster in the sun, and the huge platforms extended upward layer by layer. On each layer, there were giant dragons circling up and down. When their wings spread out, they covered the sky and blocked out the sun. When they landed on the ground, they shook the ground slightly.
The higher you go up, the fewer the dragons, the larger they are, and the stronger their aura.
The top is hidden in the clouds and cannot be seen clearly.
Reinhart stood at the feet of Dragon Court, raised his head, and looked at the invisible top.
There were already dragons around who noticed him.
Several young Dragons of Aura were hovering in the air, staring at him coldly, but he ignored them and just stood there, looking up quietly.
A few seconds later, Reinhart took a step.
Buzz!
With this step, the world suddenly changed.
The clear sky seemed to be suddenly grasped by an invisible hand, and the bright sunshine was instantly extinguished.
Thick dark clouds came from all directions, rolling and roaring, and gathered into a black curtain over Dragon Court that blocked the sky and the sun. They were layered on top of each other and pressed very low, as if they could be touched by reaching out.
Several young Dragons of Auras hovering in the low altitude let out an angry roar, which shook the whole country.
But the next moment, the roar got stuck in his throat.
The power that was infinitely close to Destiny Rank and was still rising spread out, making them unable to move.
Their wings were spread out stiffly, and their bodies were hanging in the air. They could not even blink their eyes, and the pressure was like a mountain, pressing on every scale.
Reinhart raised his head, the hood of his cloak was blown off by the strong wind, revealing a weathered face.
Based on his age, he can be said to be still young among the Legendary Realm, far from aging, but his face is already full of wrinkles.
The temples are white, the eye sockets are sunken, the skin is rough, and the lips are chapped.
This is a weather-beaten face, full of traces of time.
But he took another step.
Step two.
Boom!
It was like an invisible hurricane exploding, sweeping away the surrounding dust and debris.
Reinhart's back straightened a little, the wrinkles on his face faded a little, and the golden color began to reappear in a hair, like sunlight penetrating dark clouds.
Several giant dragons swooped down from higher platforms, filled with anger and vigilance.
But they are still difficult to get close to.
The power is getting stronger and stronger, like an invisible wall, isolating them from the outside, and they can only hover around the periphery.
Reinhart Keep moving.
After the third step, his whole body began to glow with a shimmering light, pure and blazing, as if something was burning inside his body. The light came out from under his skin, getting brighter and stronger.
Thunder began to move in the dark clouds, and silver-white lightning illuminated half of his face.
It can be seen that his face has become younger at a speed visible to the naked eye, his eye sockets are no longer sunken, wrinkles have faded like a tide, and his skin has become firm and shiny again.
Step 4.
Rumble!
Thunder struck down and the sky was filled with lightning.
Countless thunders rolled and roared in the sea of clouds, silver snakes danced wildly, lighting up the entire sky, the sky changed violently, the wind howled, the dark clouds rolled, and thunder and lightning struck.
At this time, Reinhart's blond hair had completely replaced gray, becoming thick and shiny again, flying in the wind.
His back is as straight as a sword, and every inch of muscle is being reshaped.
Reinhart raised his feet and hung them in the air.
After a moment of stagnation, it fell again.
Boom!
The light around him suddenly exploded, like the sun bursting.
At this moment, the entire Dragon Court was illuminated.
The giant dragons hovering in the sky closed their eyes subconsciously, and some were even stung by the light and retreated. When they opened their eyes again, they saw a young boy about seventeen or eighteen years old.
He has dazzling blond hair, sharp eyebrows, his back is as straight as a sword, and his whole body exudes a sharp and pure aura.
He stood at the feet of Dragon Court and looked up at the sky.
On his face, all the vicissitudes of life and fatigue have faded away, leaving only the high-spirited and sharp edge that once belonged to him.
The steps Reinhart took seemed slow but actually fast, as if he had broken through to Destiny Rank in the blink of an eye, like walking, with ease and ease. But only he knew what was behind these steps.
Year after year of torture and pain, countless nights of tossing and turning, indescribable suffering.
"Human, if you dare to break into Dragon Court, you are asking for death!"
In the sky, the furious Dragons of Aura roared, and the power of Destiny Rank failed to scare the giant dragons here.
Reinhart ignored them.
He raised his head and looked at the top of Dragon Court hidden above the clouds. He knew that the person he wanted to see was there, perhaps looking down at him.
He took a deep breath, raised his head and said, "Please see His Majesty Ignas."
The voice paused slightly, and then sounded again, word by word. "Human Reinhart, challenges you."
As Destiny Rank, I challenge Crown Rank.
When people who don't know the situation see this scene, they may think that Crown Rank is at a higher level than Destiny Rank, or they may think that this young man is crazy, but Reinhart knows what he is doing.
He doesn't do it to win, just to face it.
In the thick dark clouds, the giant dragons lowered their eyes and looked at this small figure. There were not many emotions in their eyes, they were just looking at it, as if they were looking at a dead person.
But Reinhart ignored those looks.
He looked up, waiting for a response.
The wait is not long.
After a few seconds of silence, a deep voice came from the top of Dragon Court, penetrating the clouds and thunder, and fell clearly into his ears.
"Come up."
These two simple words cannot convey joy or anger.
Reinhart showed a bright smile.
Then, he no longer hesitated, straightened up, and flew resolutely above the thick dark clouds.