The interior of Heroic Spirit Sanctum belongs to the kingdom of the dead.
But this place is not the cold and quiet place people imagine.
Sanctum is an independent space with an endless boundless world.
The mountains and rivers are undulating like the backbone of a giant dragon, and the rivers are rushing like broken silver. The scenery looks more majestic and magnificent than the real world.
Every inch of the land here is made of spiritual matter, and the air is filled with a faint light. There is no wind, but there is an indescribable sense of flow, as if the whole world is breathing slowly.
Xia'er Behind you is the open wilderness, and in front is a mountain.
He glanced at the mountains and walked ahead.
His figure was as solid as a real person, and he looked no different from a stranger. Every piece of armor on his body was glowing with silvery white luster. There were no scratches on the armor, as if he had just been taken out of the forge. His cloak was gently fluttering behind him, not stained by any dust.
Xia'er There is another person beside him.
Rodrigo, formerly Theo's Shield.
His stature is half a head shorter than Xia'er, and his face is far from handsome. He looks very ordinary, with only a pair of eyes as sharp as an eagle.
His aura was thicker and more solid than before.
Legendary Realm.
This Heroic Spirit has now become Legendary Realm.
The two walked side by side on a gravel road leading to the mountains, their footsteps soft and heavy.
In the distance, the figures of other Heroic Spirit can be vaguely seen.
Some wrestled with the rapids under the waterfall, letting the huge water hit their shoulders and backs without moving their bodies; some fought on the plain with one enemy against many, with swords shining like horses, forcing three or four Heroic Spirit who besieged them to retreat.
The crisp sound of weapons clashing was carried by the wind, intermittent, mixed with several roars and laughter.
If you look carefully, you can see that the Heroic Spirits have no scruples when fighting and kill each other.
The long sword penetrated the chest, the battle ax split the head, and the magic blew the body into pieces... However, every time Heroic Spirit died in the battle, he would be reborn in the light of Sanctum not long after, unscathed, and even the scratches on the armor disappeared.
Moreover, some Heroic Spirit who had drawn their swords at each other just now were now hooking up with each other again.
Xia'er's hand hung casually by his side, occasionally stepping on a tuft of weeds on the side of the road. The grass blades broke under his feet and then quickly recovered.
In this space, everything is composed of spiritual matter, and Heroic Spirit itself, as well as mountains, rivers, vegetation, etc., will not really die.
"Rodrigo."
Xia'er suddenly spoke and asked, "Have you ever thought that one day you would become Legendary Realm?"
Rodrigo continued walking, the gravel under his feet creaking under his iron boots.
"No, I never thought about it when I was alive."
He paused and looked at the mountains in front of him.
"My talent is very poor, you probably don't know, no, you should know."
"Except for some talents in command, I am not much different from ordinary people. I worked my butt off during my lifetime, and I am just a professional who barely made it to Warrior Path. My level is pitifully low."
As he spoke, he looked down at his palm, turned it over, and then turned it over again.
"Legendary Realm? It's like the stars in the sky, I can see them but I can't touch them."
As he spoke, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.
Rodrigo still vividly remembers the last big defeat in his previous life.
He remembered every detail of that battle.
He had made the most appropriate strategy under the circumstances, and every order was issued after careful consideration.
However, although he is a commander, because he is not Legendary Realm himself, Legendary Realm people don't pay much attention to him. Those with extraordinary power are more willing to listen to their own power rather than the wisdom of an ordinary person.
In his heart, Rodrigo longs to become Legendary Realm.
Not for the power itself, but for the qualification to be taken seriously.
"I really didn't expect that after I died, this dream would come true."
he said.
Xia'er glanced sideways at him and nodded slightly.
"The advantage of becoming Heroic Spirit is that as long as you have enough spiritual quality, you can become stronger, and your talent during life is no longer important."
"Here, what determines how far you can go is how many resources His Majesty is willing to invest in you, not how many talents you were born with."
He withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward.
"Becoming Legendary Realm is just the beginning."
"Maybe you will also have a chance to reach my current height."
Rodrigo heard this, shook his head and smiled, the laughter was very soft, with a bit of helplessness.
"Okay, Master Crown Rank, don't say such things, I can't bear it."
He waved his hand as he walked, "I can be the lowest Legendary Realm, and that's enough."
"Besides, even if I become Crown Rank, I am not good at fighting. I might as well give my spiritual essence to other Heroic Spirit who are good at fighting. For people like you, my value lies in commanding, not fighting."
The two continued to move forward, and the mountain began to rise.
The gravel road turned into stone steps, and unknown weeds and shrubs grew on both sides of the stone steps, which were all formed by the condensation of spiritual essence.
Not long after, Rodrigo suddenly spoke.
"Xia'er."
"Hmm?
"When - when did you begin to be loyal to His Majesty?"
Xia'er paused slightly, then stepped forward again.
"Very early."
"A long time ago."
"At that time, our Majesty was not the Red Emperor he is now."
Rodrigo raised his eyebrows slightly and listened quietly without interrupting.
Xia'er's eyes became distant.
"When I first met His Majesty, he was still very young. Of course, the age of a dragon cannot be measured by human standards, but by the standards of a dragon, he is indeed very young."
"Back then, people called him Lord of Molten Iron, the leader of a tribe."
"His tribe is in the mountains in the wilderness, and he himself is far less powerful than he is now. However, the way he stands in the wilderness is exactly the same as the way he stands now at Summit of the Dragon Court."
Rodrigo glanced sideways.
"Exactly the same? What are you referring to?"
Xia'er thought carefully and organized the words.
"Something deep in your bones."
"Where Your Majesty is, it's as if the foundation of the entire world has sunk three inches because something heavier than the world is pressing on it."
Rodrigo was silent for a while.
"What happened next? How did you become Heroic Spirit?"
he asked.
Xia'er's expression didn't change much.
"Later---- I met a powerful enemy and died fighting alongside His Majesty."
His tone was very calm, as if he was describing something that had nothing to do with him.
"It was a very brutal battle. There was also a dragon on the opposite side. I was accidentally hit once and was killed instantly. There was no chance of resistance."
He paused, with a look of regret in his eyes.
"If I were still alive, I might be able to break through Crown Rank on my own, instead of relying entirely on spiritual matter. I could only rely on His Majesty's attention."
Rodrigo smiled.
"It turns out you are a veteran. No wonder, Varta and Soul-Matter Crystal have basically been used on you.
77
As he spoke, he stopped smiling and his expression became serious.
"I'm different from you. I once stood on the opposite side of Aura and was the defeated general."
"A defeated general can hold important responsibilities in Heroic Spirit Sanctum and was promoted to the Legendary Realm -- our Majesty's mind is indeed extraordinary."
Rodrigo sighed.
There was no deliberate flattery in his tone.
He was once Aura's enemy. He fought against Aura's army on the battlefield and was ultimately defeated and died. He knew better than anyone how much magnanimity it takes for a winner to accept a former loser.
Xia'er didn't answer, just nodded slightly.
Immediately, they arrived at the top of the mountain.
Here is a relatively flat rock platform, surrounded by steep cliffs. Under the cliff is the surging sea of clouds and the stretching Mountain Range in the distance. The clouds are slowly surging like white Ocean. Occasionally, light spots formed by condensed spiritual matter flicker in the sea of clouds.
And in the very center of the ledge, Aura and Dragon Spirit are entrenched there.
Its body has shrunk countless times, and it is no longer a huge thing that blocks out the sky and sun. Instead, it is like a chain, winding around and around, sealing the figure in the center airtight.
The one imprisoned in the center is Afra.
Crown of Magic of the Latona Kingdom is also the only Spellcaster of Crown Rank level among the countries on the surface besides Holden.
She was sitting on the rock platform with her back leaning against Dragon Spirit's body. Her long hair was scattered, her face was pale but her expression was calm.
Aura Dragon Spirit sensed the arrival of Xia'er and Rodrigo and looked up at them.
"According to His Majesty's order, take away Crown of Magic."
The voice of Xia'er sounded from the top of the mountain.
Dragon Spirit's body trembled slightly, and it loosened its restraints. Every time it was loosened a little, its body grew a little larger. When the last circle broke away from Afra's body, it had returned to its original size, soared into the sky, and let out a low dragon roar.
Dragon Spirit circled in the sky, then fluttered its wings and flew away, turning into a giant dragon that covered the sky and the sun, patrolling Sanctum.
Xia'er lowered his head and looked at Afra.
"Afra, your kingdom, has signed Integration Treaty."
"Today, the treaty has come into effect. Ratona takes Aura as its suzerain. According to the content of the treaty, the captured Ratona Legendary Realm will be released."
He paused and his eyes fell on Afra's pale face.
"Other Crown Rank has been released. You can confirm it. Of course, you probably can't confirm it now. You will be the last Crown Rank to leave Sanctum."
"Your Majesty wants to see you by name."
When these words fell, the wind on the mountaintop suddenly picked up again, and it was a little more violent than before, blowing Afra's scattered long hair to fly in a mess.
"Free----"
Afra sighed.
"I haven't made many bad choices in my life."
She spoke slowly and said, "You chose the right mentor when you were young, you chose the right path when you were young, you chose the right allies when you were in your prime - step by step, from an apprentice in a small city-state to Southern Domain's Crown of Magic."
"If you think about it carefully, my life has been so smooth."
"Almost every step was taken in the right place, and every choice brought good results. I almost forgot what it feels like to make the wrong choice."
"And this wrong choice is really unforgettable to me."
Hearing this, Xia'er took a step forward.
He stood still in front of Afra and looked at her condescendingly.
Afra raised his head and looked at him.
Two Crown Rank, one is the living Crown of Magic, and the other is the dead Heroic Spirit Crown Rank, met in an extremely unequal manner on the top of the mountain Sanctum.
"You're lucky."
Xia'er said.
"You made a wrong choice before, but now, you are still alive and have a chance to make another choice. For most people, a major mistake will ruin themselves. Not everyone has this kind of treatment."
His eyes looked at her calmly.
Afra's eyes flickered slightly.
"A person who has died told me that I am lucky to be alive."
She said softly, with the corners of her mouth slightly curved, "Destiny is indeed very good at making jokes."
Rodrigo took a step forward and stood beside Xia'er.
"It's time for you to go. If there is anything else, go and tell His Majesty in person."
His voice is deeper and crisper than Xia'er.
Hearing this, Xia'er raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
Snap!
Space exploded at his fingertips.
Like a flower blooming in an instant, countless tiny spatial blades shot out from his fingertips.
They hovered around Afra, some stuck to her throat, some pressed against her heart, and some wrapped around her wrists and ankles, trembling slightly, as if they could cut into any substance at any time.
"This is a necessary measure, just in case."
Xia'er said.
Afra nodded slightly to express understanding.
Immediately, Rodrigo took a few steps back and raised his right hand.
Buzz!
Sanctum The light in the sky condensed, and as the layers of runes lit up, it turned into Magic Array. The light converged from the center of Magic Array and formed a pillar of light.
Afra raised his head and stared at Magic Array in the sky.
Her brows frowned slightly.
"There are dozens of incongruous places in this Magic Array rune."
She said, her eyelids trembling.
When it comes to magic, she has a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder and strives for perfection.
Seeing the disharmonious place Magic Array, I immediately felt uncomfortable all over.
The order in which the runes are arranged, the direction of the energy circuit, and the spacing between nodes...
.. There is room for improvement, some runes are completely redundant, and some runes that should be there are missing.
She subconsciously raised her hand, wanting to point out those problems.
But thinking of her situation, she sighed and put her hands down.
It's not her who has the final say here.
A beam of light fell, covering Xia'er and Afra.
The light enveloped them, the air began to tremble, and the space twisted and deformed in the light pillar.
At the same time, in the far-reaching space, Sanctum emerged from the cracks in space, lit up, locked onto a certain place on the surface, and projected a shining beam of teleportation light.
Just like a flower before my eyes, the surrounding environment has changed.
Xia'er brought Afra to the high platform Dragon Court, which is higher than the sea of clouds.
In front of him is a thick and majestic figure.
It blocked a large area of skylight in front of it, and the scales glowed with a dark red luster under the light, like steel about to cool in a blacksmith's furnace. Two huge dragon wings were tucked behind the back, and the wingtips hung down on the ground.
"Your Majesty, bring Afra."
Xia'er said to the dragon shadow in front.
As he spoke, he simultaneously dispersed the space blades surrounding Afra. Here, there was no need to worry about what little tricks she would make.
The dragon slowly turned around.
His body was so majestic that it almost blocked out all the light in the sky, casting a shadow that enveloped the two tiny humans at the same time.
On the high platform, the wind was blowing fiercely.
Heroic Spirit Xia'er took a few steps back silently, without making any unnecessary movements, and stood still at the corner of the high platform.
Afra stands alone in front of the dragon.
She raised her head.
Not far away, every line on the dragon's scales was clearly visible, as if the entire mountain had been compressed into this body. She could feel the heat radiating from his body, as if she were standing at the mouth of an active volcano.
Red Iron Dragon looked down at her.
Staring at this tiny human who disturbed his sleep, there was no obvious anger in his eyes, he just watched quietly.
Under the gaze of the giant dragon, Afra lowered her posture naturally and walked forward. Soon, she was under the dragon's head. She lowered her head slightly, put her right hand on her left chest, and saluted. "Afra of Ratona, send my regards to His Majesty Lord of Aura and Red Emperor."
"And congratulations to Your Majesty - you will soon become Lord of Atlant."
Afra itself is imprisoned in Sanctum.
No one told her what happened in the outside world.
However, she knew it very well.
Emperor's Awakening War, Ratona and Farrell were all on the losing side, not to mention other countries. The moment her magic tower shattered, Afra already understood one thing.
Atlant On the surface, no one can stop this giant dragon.
Red Iron Dragon stared at her, then turned around again.
His tail passed not far in front of Afra, and the wind brought by it blew her scattered long hair into chaos again.
At the edge of the high platform, the giant dragon overlooked the sea of clouds beneath his feet and the vast land vaguely visible between the gaps in the sea of clouds.
"Come to me."
he said.
Afra was slightly startled.
This shock only lasted for a moment. She stepped forward, walked to the edge of the high platform, and stood beside the giant dragon.
She looked down.
The sea of clouds surged like a colorful Ocean. Occasionally, the wind tore a crack in the clouds, revealing the earth below.
Mountains, rivers, cities, roads - everything was like Asia that had been shrunk countless times, looming in the clouds and mist. She saw the winding rivers like silver ribbons, the outline of the city like chess pieces on a chessboard, and the roads crisscrossing like spider webs.
As far as the eye can see, almost all is the territory of Aura.
This Atlant Continent youngest kingdom was originally just on one side, but in just over two hundred years, it grew from a small tribe to the behemoth it is today.
"My kingdom, what's the scenery like?"
Garos asked.
His eyes were not looking at her, but still looking at the sea of clouds and the outline of the earth in the distance.
Afra was silent for a few seconds, organizing his words.
"Strong soldiers and horses, this is the first impression Aura gives to everyone."
She spoke slowly, her voice steady.
"Hoplites, cavalry, and those----Dragonkin warriors, the quality of individual soldiers cannot be matched in any kingdom."
She paused, and then her successor spoke.
"The most amazing thing about Aura is the speed of development."
"More than two hundred years ago, it was just a nascent kingdom located in Northern Frontier. In the eyes of other countries, it was just a barbaric land with a shallow foundation. Now, it has become the overlord of the kingdom."
"Such a rapid change is amazing."
"And all of this is because of your presence, Your Majesty."
When she said this sentence, there was no flattery in her tone.
Because it's true.
Everything about Aura originates from this giant dragon.
His strength, his will, and his determination have shaped every texture of this kingdom. Without him, Aura is nothing.
Garos shook his head.
"Aura's existence is too short."
"Two hundred years may be enough for a person, but it is too short for a country to change."
Red Iron Dragon looked into the distance with bright eyes. "It is like a pieced together kingdom. Militarily, we have the best warriors, but in other aspects - magic technology comes from all countries, refining technology comes from Goblin, and forging technology comes from Dwarf."
"It seems like I have everything, but actually I don't have anything."
"Especially----the magic system."
Red Iron Dragon said.
"Aura people follow my example."
"They generally admire stronger bodies, steel and fierce beasts."
"If a Aura's People shows talent for casting spells, unless he has no other way out, he will be more inclined to strengthen his body, hone his combat skills, and become a warrior, rather than standing in the back row and reciting spells."
He paused and continued, "Out of one hundred Aura's People, ninety-nine want to be soldiers."
"So, Aura's Spellcaster has always been the smallest among all kingdoms."
He said, turning his head slightly, and his eyes fell on Afra again.
"That's why I kept you."
Afra raised his head, met the dragon's scrutinizing gaze, and suddenly understood something in his heart.
"Your Majesty means----"
"Let me put it more clearly."
Red Iron Dragon said calmly, "I want you to stay at Aura, spread magic knowledge here, cultivate Spellcaster, and improve Aura's magic level."
"At the same time, as my sparring partner."
"I can forget everything you have done before."
Ratona has become a vassal.
In the eyes of Garos, this kingdom is basically his property, and so is the Crown of Magic in front of him.
As long as he can ensure control and create more value for himself, then he has no interest in damaging his own property.
Afra is silent.
Countless thoughts flashed through her mind, but she didn't let any of them stay for too long. She was very aware of her situation and knew that she didn't have much choice.
"I stay at Aura----"
"Then, can I still return to Ratona?"
She raised her head and said, "Your Majesty, I have family, friends, and students in Ratona. My whole life is tied to that kingdom. If I am wronged from now on, I will not be able to go back——"
She didn't finish her words, but the meaning was already obvious.
Garos didn't say anything.
He turned around and faced the sea of clouds again.
At this time, Xia'er, who was standing quietly behind, understood, took a step forward, and said, "Ms. Afra, a batch of these people you mentioned have been received by Aura, and there will be more to come."
"The people who have arrived at Aura are currently safe and living in a manor in the East District of the Royal Capital."
"The conditions of the manor are good, with gardens, a library, and a magic workshop."
He paused, his eyes fixed on Afra's face.
"Of course, if you still want to return to Ratona, just tell His Majesty. With His Majesty's kindness and magnanimity, as long as you show your loyalty, you will agree."
Hearing this, Afra smiled helplessly.
"I understand. Thank you for your kindness. I will stay in Aura as you wish."
She knew very well in her heart that this was the price she should pay, and the conditions given by the other party were tolerant enough, which was much better than the result she expected after the defeat.
She was silent for a moment, then raised her head.
"Sanctum's transmission Magic Array, I took a look when I left."
"Those runes - to be honest, there are a lot of inconsistencies. Some of the runes have problems with their order, and some of the energy circuits are unreasonably designed. They can be made more efficient."
"I can fix these omissions and make the runes run more efficiently."
The voice paused slightly, and Afra continued, "On the one hand, it is to make up for the mistakes I made before, and on the other hand - since I have chosen to stay here, I want to prove my worth first."
Her tone was sincere.
Red Iron Dragon nodded slightly.
Sanctum Magic Array and the like are all trivial matters in his eyes.
Using Afra to give him fire and magic resistance is what he values the most, and it's not just magic resistance either.
For example, Spellcaster at the level of Afra has some powerful spell penetration skills or corresponding characteristics, which can ignore magic resistance.
The Sword of Celestial Phenomena she had gathered at that time was crushed by Garos and Spell-Annihilating Claw.
But if it comes to reality, even with Garos's physique, there will still be some price to pay.
Garos wants to adapt to magic resistance that can reduce spell penetration.
However, she does have more value. The knowledge and experience of Crown Rank Spellcaster are immeasurable wealth for the construction of Aura's magic system.
In addition, Garos also cares about one thing.
Now Aura has a vast territory, strong soldiers and horses, and numerous resources.
However, there is no such thing as "interancient tides".
Now there is Afra, this Crown Rank Spellcaster, if more resources are invested in this aspect, maybe we can create a similar, even better, kingdom creation that is also useful to Garos itself.
"Xia'er."
"Here."
Xia'er walked out and knelt down on one knee in front of the dragon's head.
"Take her back to Sanctum and let her repair Magic Array. After the repair is completed, arrange her residence and work in the royal capital."
"As commanded."
Xia'er stood up and turned to Afra.
"Fuba, Crown of Magic."
Immediately afterwards, another beam of teleportation light descended from the sky, covering the person and Heroic Spirit, and bringing him back to Sanctum.
After the light dissipated, only Red Iron Dragon was left on the high platform.
He stood on the edge of the high platform, overlooking the sea of clouds and the earth below him.
"The series of funeral events caused by the Battle of Gun Awakening are almost finished.
,"Now, this is the only thing left."
Garos's eyes pass through mountains and rivers, living in the far west.
"Raging Tide Dragon Realm is almost the base camp of Purification Faction Lulong. Bronze Dragon King is in charge, and Lacirien, Primordial Dragon, is very ambitious and seems to have some secrets hidden behind it."
"Do you want to get involved in this?"
Red Iron Dragon narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking deeply in his heart.
Braketon Kingdom and Raging Tide Dragon Realm are still at war.
Since Bronze Dragon King cannot produce Dragon Realm, without Destiny Dragon personally taking action, although Lord of Thunder's side is at a disadvantage, it will not be directly defeated.
The two sides continued to see each other, and the situation was stalemate. No one could make a decisive breakthrough.