Lain Plateau, The night falls.
The surface of the lake was as flat as a mirror, reflecting the stars above, but it was still covered with a vague layer of gray.
The shadow of Darknight Star has not yet been removed.
The night wind on the plateau was isolated, there was no ripple on the lake surface, the reeds no longer rustled, and even the occasional chirping of night birds in the distance completely disappeared.
The shadow is like a thin veil covering the sky and the earth, isolating this place from the world.
No one knows what happened.
In the big lake, there is one person and one dragon.
Red Iron Dragon meditate quietly.
He changed his upright sitting posture before and sunk half of his body into the lake, revealing only the raised ridges and huge head. His eyes were faint and burning quietly, like two fires submerged under the water.
Opposite, Darknight Star is still standing on the water, without a ripple under his feet.
He did not urge the dragon to reply, but waited quietly, with no trace of impatience or impatience on his ordinary face.
Immediately, Red Iron Dragon slightly raised its huge head.
He half-squinted his eyes, and his gaze fell on Darknight Star's face, carefully examining his expression.
At the same time, the dragon was also thinking.
There is no doubt that Immortal One's proposal in front of him will be very beneficial to him if it can be carried out smoothly. It can directly solve the serious problem above his head.
But there are also many issues that must be paid attention to.
After a few minutes of silence, Red Iron Dragon's deep voice sounded.
"Create a new Holden."
His voice slowly spread on the water, and he said, "Abandon your homeland, go to a foreign land, leave everything accumulated over the generations behind, and then take your people to a strange Material Plane. Overthrow everything and start from scratch in a strange land."
"I must admit that this requires courage and determination."
Red Iron Dragon tilted his head slightly and looked at Dark Star from Holden.
"To be honest, I would rather see the birth of a new Holden Empire and see an empire that truly stands on strength and will."
"It would be interesting to see such a scene."
His tone was honest and without falsehood.
Because including Sacred Aura, the entire Bernardo does not have an empire that is truly supported by the people at the bottom. If Darknight Star can do it, Garos will not be stingy with his congratulations.
On the opposite side, Darknight Star's expression still didn't change much, and there was no joy on his face.
As Immortal One, he has naturally experienced more than one negotiation and communication with other intelligent life forms.
He knows an iron rule.
When a creature compliments your idea first, it's best not to be happy too soon.
As expected.
Just as the dragon finished speaking, the conversation changed slightly.
"But, Dark Star, what you said...
The dragon's lower jaw was slightly raised, and the light in its pupils became sharper, as if it could pierce the shadow covering this place.
"What you said is all empty talk."
"Why should I believe that every word you just said was true to your heart? Rather than teasing or deceiving me?"
He lowered his head slightly, shortening the distance between him and Darknight Star. The dragon's breath almost hit him, with the heat of molten metal.
"Let me ask you."
"Can you provide evidence that Emperor Holden and Chen Xi were corrupted? Do you have anything to prove the corruption of Abyss? Even a little bit of convincing evidence?"
Darknight Star is silent.
The moonlight fell on his face, and he shook his head gently.
"Abyss's corruption is the most secretive thing in the world."
"It's not as shocking as a sword wound, nor does it cause scales or abscesses on people's skin."
"It will hide under a bright appearance, behind impassioned words, and then unknowingly erode people's will, judgment, and things deep in the soul."
"By the time you find out, it's often too late."
He paused and looked at the dragon.
"I have no evidence for this."
"If I had, I would have appeared directly in front of Imperial Core, instead of going to the enemy king's territory alone late at night to seek cooperation."
These words are quite true.
Garos has Dragon Inheritance, and it is clear that Abyss is horribly corrupted.
This thing is so silent that even the gods may not be able to detect it until the last moment.
As for why it is so secretive, there is an explanation in Dragon Inheritance.
Abyss is constructed from the reflection of the most chaotic and evil thoughts in the hearts of all living beings in the world of all planes. It is closely related to all life, and is one body with two sides.
Its corruption is like a shadow blending into the darkness, and its existence cannot be felt at all.
"As for cooperation."
Darknight Star Raise your right hand and hold the five fingers inwards.
A deeper shadow formed in his palm, surged a few times, and then receded like a tide, revealing what was hidden inside.
It's a contract.
Its material is not like sheepskin, nor is it like paper or cloth. It is more like a milky white material with a very faint shimmer. The surface is densely covered with countless inscription circuits that are so small that they are almost invisible to the naked eye, intertwined layer by layer.
The reel itself does not have any supporting structure.
It is slightly suspended in the sky above the palm of Darknight Star, rotating slowly, and each rotation brings out a circle of faint golden ripples, like the first ray of morning light on the skyline before the rising sun.
"This is a blank contract."
Ryan said, with a little more solemnity in his voice.
"It was left by Dawn Church and built by the Archbishop himself. It is witnessed by the God of Dawn. Even if it exists, it has sufficient binding force on the Immortal Realm."
"Once signed, the price paid by the violator will not be exempted from the Immortal Realm's body."
He held the contract in his palm and handed it flatly to the front.
"You write the content."
"Write it down one by one according to your ideas. Write down whatever guarantees you want. As long as the terms are not too excessive, I am willing to sign my name."
"That's more trustworthy than any empty talk, isn't it?"
Garos's eyes fell on this contract.
He can feel the power contained in the contract.
A very upright and pure feeling without any impurities or hidden malice.
Dawn Church..
Garos naturally knows that too.
They believe in Lord of Dawn, one High Deity, which controls creation, dawn, revival, birth, etc. Divine Authority is a very powerful existence among the gods, with churches and believers spread across many planes and worlds.
In Bernardo, there is not much soil for faith.
Holden Empire is similar, the divine power is far weaker than the royal power, but Dawn Church is an exception, it is the state religion of Holden, it has a high voice and a high status.
"I remember that Dawn Church is the state religion of Holden."
Red Iron Dragon said, "However, there seems to be little news about it in recent years, and it has gradually disappeared."
Darknight Star nodded.
He regretted. "When the empire proposed to develop Abyss, the personnel of Dawn Church tried every means to dissuade it."
"They sent their most senior priests to repeatedly state the dangers of Abyss on Imperial Council."
"But in the end, the plan was passed. The Holy See's dissuasion was ineffective, and it was suppressed by Imperial Core. Many bishops were transferred from key positions and their voices were deliberately suppressed."
"Eventually, they gradually drew a clear line with the empire and moved away in batches."
"Bernardo couldn't see them. They must have gone to a certain Material Plane.
39
So that's it.
The Holy See is quite decisive. It can leave at the drop of a hat and let go of its status as a state religion and its accumulated reputation. This decision is not an easy one.
Red Iron Dragon stopped asking and looked back at Darknight Star's face.
"I feel your sincerity, Ryan Steinbeck."
"However, this is such a big deal that I can't make a decision on the spot with a late-night meeting and a scroll."
"I need time to think."
he said.
Darknight Star nodded, without any disappointed expression on his face.
"Such a big matter, even if it were me, I would need to think carefully."
His tone was very calm. "If your Majesty agrees tonight, I will wonder if you have other intentions."
After speaking, he took a step forward and gently put down the contract in his hand.
The contract was suspended in the air, as if it was being held up by an invisible force, preventing it from falling.
Immediately afterwards, Immortal One took out a small dark crystal stone from his arms.
There are no runes or decorations on its surface, and it looks like an ordinary piece of gravel picked up from the roadside, as inconspicuous as itself.
"It comes from the same source as my power."
"If Your Majesty has thought about it, you only need to put your thoughts into it, and I can receive the message no matter when and where."
He placed the dark crystal next to the contract and stepped back.
"This blank contract will stay here. The content will be written by His Majesty, and the terms will be decided by Your Majesty. If you finally decide to cooperate with me, please contact me immediately and I will rush over to sign my name immediately."
Darknight Star raised his head and looked at Red Iron Dragon.
"If the cooperation fails in the end, this blank contract will be regarded as my apology for disturbing His Majesty's purity tonight."
"Okay."
Red Iron Dragon closed his claw fingers and grabbed the two things.
The contracts and crystals seemed extremely small in his huge claws, but his movements were light and precise, without causing any damage.
"I will seriously consider it," he said.
Hearing this, Darknight Star nodded slightly.
His body began to become blurry, starting from the edge of the outline and gradually fading away, and the shadow that shrouded the sky over the lake began to slowly dissipate.
The moonlight becomes clear again, and the light of thousands of stars penetrates the gauze-like shadow layer and shines on the lake again.
The lake water was filled with sparkling waves, and the whole world quickly became alive.
Before disappearing completely, the voice of Darknight Star came for the last time.
"The empire is quickly passing the proposal to counterattack Abyss. There is not much time left. I hope your majesty can give a reply as soon as possible. Once the engine of Platinum Star is re-ignited, everything will be irreversible."
The last words of this sentence fell in the night wind, and then disappeared together with the last afterimage.
Red Iron Dragon lowered his head, got close to the contract, and looked at it for a few times.
Immediately, he put away all the contracts and crystals, and sank more of his body into the water, leaving only half of his head exposed. His nostrils and eyelids floated on the water, and his breath caused tiny ripples on the lake.
"Corroded Holden, Abyss...
A lot of information was floating and colliding in his mind. He narrowed his eyes slightly and fell into deep thought.
This Darknight Star seems to come with sincerity.
However, a contract is not enough to make Garos put aside all its worries.
He felt that the purpose of the contract was to be broken.
Violating it may have to pay some price, a heavy price, but for Immortal Life it will definitely not lead to death and it is bearable.
And this contract is not that important.
Garos and Ascension to Godhood are the big dependencies.
Even if it's a trap, it's difficult to actually kill him.
The key is whether the risks and returns match.
"Holden's Platinum Star is said to be purely for combat and does not have many other skills. Although it is not as comprehensive as Elven Moon of Nausir, in terms of pure combat, it is far stronger than the single Immortal One."
When he thought of this, his heart condensed slightly.
Essentially, Platinum Star is a Alchemical Colossus of Immortal-tier.
As long as the materials are sufficient, relying on the extreme stacking of materials and the painstaking efforts of generations of Holden, Platinum Star's racial value can completely surpass Dragonkin.
This is an ultimate strategic weapon and cannot be simply treated as a Immortal One.
"If Holden's plan to counterattack Abyss goes well, and there is a powerful Platinum Star, as well as an entire Abyss level of resources, who will it want to eliminate next?"
The answer to this question is obvious.
If things don't go well, they will be swallowed up by Abyss, and the situation will be equally troublesome.
Abyss can corrode everything, including Alchemical Colossus.
At that time, Platinum Star of Holden is likely to become a weapon of Demon Lord, driven by Demon King to invade Atlant.
"Promising Ryan can curb these two possibilities at the same time. It can not only prevent Holden from expanding after they successfully counterattack Abyss, but also prevent them from being exploited by Abyss after they fail."
"The problem is, it could be a trap."
"Moreover, overthrowing Holden's existing central government does not mean that Abyss's crisis is over. Once Holden leaves, Sacred Aura will have to face Abyss completely."
The stakes are high.
No matter which choice you choose, the risk is not small, and Garos is a little unsure.
Gradually.
The time came a few days later.
At noon, the scorching sunshine falls from the sky and shines on the Atlant land.
Garos stood on the high platform of Dragon Court, with the hot breath that he had just returned from White Dwarf still lingering on his body, causing the surrounding air to slightly distort.
"It looks the same as before. Who would have thought that it is already turbulent inside?"
He raised his head and scanned the outline of the huge city hanging above the clouds.
He didn't think too much about Darknight Star's proposal.
I held simple discussions with my blood relatives, but did not get very good results.
Ultimately, Garos decided to put it behind her.
What he thought was simple.
Since there are troubles no matter what choice you make, it is better to remain unchanged in the face of changes, wait and see what happens, focus on training and becoming stronger, and wait for Dark Star to come up with more chips, or see if other variables occur.
Anyway, it's not him who's anxious.
At this moment, the light in front of him suddenly became brighter.
Garos's vertical pupils narrowed slightly, and his eyes were locked on the sky again.
A ray of light falls.
As the height decreases, it rapidly expands, stretches, and condenses into shape, turning into a human-shaped outline. The clothes fly in the flames, and every inch of skin and every hair is woven from pure light.
When he landed in front of Red Iron Dragon, the flames of light were restrained, revealing a human figure.
His face is young and handsome, and his hair color is very special, between silver and light gold.
He carries a sense of fieryness and majesty about him. He stands out from the crowd wherever he goes. He is very conspicuous. His temperament is completely different from Darknight Star.
At the same time, a layer of halo enveloped the place, isolating the Dragon Court platform from the outside world.
Garos looked at this scene and fell silent.
Here comes another one.
Holden and Immortal One both like this sneaky way of meeting? Dark Star uses shadow, this one uses light. The methods are different, but the essence is exactly the same.
"Please let me introduce myself first."
The visitor nodded slightly, with a decent smile on his face.
"My name is Nosien. In Holden, people call me Sunlit Dawn. I have heard the name Red Emperor Pale Star for a long time. I am honored to be able to face you so close."
The giant dragon lowered his eyes and stared at the human in front of him.
Sunlit Dawn.
One of the two Immortal Ones from Holden.
Unlike Dark Star who rose from the common people, Nosien is of royal blood and the oldest pillar of Holden Royal Court. His existence itself is part of the history of the Holden Empire, older and older than Dark Star.
Darknight Star just came here a few days ago.
Now, this morning sun is here too.
"No need to talk nonsense."
Garos said calmly, "Why did you come to me?"
Hearing this, the smile of Immortal One opposite him paused for a moment, and then returned to its original state.
He had some surprises.
"I came in such an unexpected way, but it doesn't seem to cause you any surprise."
"Could it be that you knew I would come?"
he asked.
The giant dragon let out a deep snort, "There's nothing surprising."
"I often look up at Holden and Floating City. From the day I was born in Atlant, they have been hanging above my head."
"I know that sooner or later I will meet Immortal One who lives above."
"So, since we're here, let's get down to business."
Nosien listened quietly, then nodded slightly.
At the same time, the polite smile on his face disappeared and was replaced by a solemn expression.
"In that case, I'll try to talk about the important parts."
"Abyss has corroded our empire to an unimaginable level. Holden has been riddled with holes without even realizing it."
He said this directly without any detours or foreshadowing.
Red Iron Dragon's pupils narrowed slightly.
This sentence is almost exactly the same as what Darknight Star said a few days ago. Moreover, the Immortal One in front of him seemed not to realize that Dark Star had met him in advance.
"Why do you say that?"
Red Iron Dragon asked.
Nosien said slowly, "I suspect that the other Immortal One of the empire, my colleague, my junior, Ryan Steinbeck, Darknight Star...
"He was corrupted by Abyss."
Garos's expression was calm, but his heart was turbulent.
Darknight Star suspects that Nosien is corrupted, and Nosien suspects that Darknight Star is corrupted. These two Immortal One are accusing each other, and their rhetoric is almost identical.
Then comes the problem.
Who is right and who is wrong? Or do both have problems? Or do both have no problems and it is just a struggle within their empires?
"Oh? Tell me the reason for your suspicion."
Garos asked, showing interest.
Nosien put his hands behind his back, raised himself slightly from the light, and looked at the outline of the giant city above the clouds in the distance.
"Ryan Steinbeck, our Holden's Darknight Star."
"He rose from humble beginnings and climbed all the way from the lowest level of civilians to the Immortal Realm. This is inseparable from the cultivation of the empire, but it is mostly because of his sufficient talent."
"After he stood in a high position, he still did not forget his origins."
"For so many years, he has been fighting for the rights and interests of the grassroots people, suppressing corrupt aristocrats, promoting system reform, and doing many practical things. He established almshouses, abolished some unreasonable and harsh taxes, and punished a group of corrupt officials who were extremely angry with the people."
"This in itself is a good thing."
"I don't deny that he is a respectable person."
He paused for a moment, then changed the topic and continued to speak.
"But the problem is--his actions are becoming more and more aggressive."
"It sounds a little ridiculous."
"The dignified Immortal One, the highest-ranking being in the empire, standing at the top of the world where mortals look up to him, can actually do some incredible things."
Garos is a little curious.
"What happened?"
he asked.
Nosien shook his head, with a hint of helplessness in his tone.
"For example, disguise your identity and hide your face."
"He would sneak into the mansions of great nobles late at night, assassinate those nobles who he regarded as inferior to the common people, regard himself as a chivalrous and righteous thief, and distribute the wealth he collected to the common people."
"The method was clean and tidy, taking wealth from the aristocratic treasury and spreading it on the streets of the slums.
"He thought no one knew."
"But under the light, the shadows can't hide. He has done it many times, and he has never hidden it from me, who is also Immortal One."
Red Iron Dragon showed a surprised expression for the first time.
This was the first time he had heard of these things.
A Immortal One plays the role of a thief, assassinating nobles in his own empire, and distributing wealth to the common people? This sounds like a ridiculous story made up by an unpopular Bard.
As for whether this is true or false...
Garos prefers the truth.
Because it's so bizarre.
Under normal circumstances, no one would believe that Immortal One would do such a thing.
Nosien There is no need to make up such a ridiculous lie.
In that case, although Darknight Star has some lofty ideas and beliefs, he seems to have some serious problems.
"So impatient, so extreme."
"This is definitely not the normal state that a Immortal One should have, so I think he was affected by Abyss."
"Even Immortal One has been corrupted. This is the current situation of Holden. If this continues, the empire will collapse and die from Rot within."
Nosien had a sharp light in his eyes.
"So, in order to change the status quo, I made a decision."
"Take advantage of Platinum Star's recovery to counterattack Abyss."
"Only through a glorious victory can the empire be reunited. Only in the glory of victory can the shadow cast by Abyss in people's hearts be dispelled."
"Victory, glorious victory."
"Let those things that are corroded, polluted, and distorted be burned in glory."
"This is our Holden's only way out."
He said in a deep voice.
"So, what does this have to do with me?"
Garos kept quiet and asked.
Nosien seems to have expected that he would ask this question.
He raised his head and looked at the majestic and strong dragon, showing a serious expression.
"I sincerely hope that Sacred Aura can stand on the same front as Holden."
"As long as we win this time, Atlant will no longer have to worry about Abyss's danger. Hellfire Lord will be killed, Abyssal Rift will be blocked, and the entire Atlant sky and earth will become clean and brand new."
He paused, then threw out the conditions.
"I also know that you are not willing to share Atlant with Holden. There is no room for two tigers in one mountain. Everyone knows this truth."
"This can be discussed."
"After we win this war, Holden is willing to migrate to the Theresia Continent, be next door to Orc, and completely hand over Atlant."
"The sky, the earth, the lakes, and the mineral veins are all left to you and your people."
For Holden, migration is not difficult as long as the Abyss troubles are solved. Floating City can already move. Their roots have never been on a specific piece of land.
Garos lowered his eyes and looked at Immortal One.
"What if I say no?"
he asked.
Nosien has a solemn expression.
"If you refuse----"
"Holden will still charge at Abyss."
Nosien stared into the dragon's eyes and said in a deep tone, "I know that you look down on Holden in your heart and think that we are high-sounding and extremely hypocritical."
"Of course, you have every reason to look down on me."
"We are arrogant, arrogant, and arrogant. We claim to be like Overlord and Deity in the sky, but we personally opened the cracks in Abyss and kicked off the disaster."
He didn't mean to make any excuses, he just talked about it one by one.
"I admit all of this."
"In order to develop better, the empire has embarked on the wrong path and allowed many lives to pay for us. For those creatures who died in Abyss's invasion and those lands that were destroyed, Holden has an unshirkable responsibility."
"However, we may be guilty, but we are by no means cowards."
Nosien's eyes were filled with flames.
"Even if we have to pay the heaviest price and shed the last drop of blood, Holden must face Abyss and end the danger it brings with our own hands. This is the disaster we have caused, and it should be ended by us."
"You can watch us rush to Abyss, and we won't have any complaints."
"But maybe, we are also an ally worth fighting alongside."
"This is the pride of Holden."
After Bloodburst's long speech, Sunlit Dawn handed over the choice to Garos and left.
Now, there are three choices before Garos.
Wait and see what happens, keep a distance, and watch Holden's actions; cooperate with Darknight Star to attack Holden Nexus; fight side by side with Sunlit Dawn to jointly attack Abyss.
How to choose?
Garos had already forgotten the problem, but the appearance of Nosien made him think again.