Under the Red Dragon

What does it feel like when the first exceptionally warm ray of sunlight in the long, dark night of a blizzard shines upon a weary and cold body?

This is the initial feeling experienced by all living beings, except for the Golden Empire's legion present, after the Dragon Emperor of the Empire departed.

For the dragons and legion warriors of the Golden Empire, the descent of the Progenitor Red Dragon signifies reassurance, a warm red sun, and the master of world order.

However, for the Frost Giant legion, other wild dragons, and those with ulterior motives observing, the Progenitor Red Dragon's arrival is a black sun that devours all warmth and heat.

It is so in both the material and spiritual realms.

This illustrates the collective oppressiveness and exclusivity of the Imperial domain under the cohesion of the legion's will.

The Progenitor Red Dragon's consciousness had long since departed. What remained was a statue purely crafted from various metals, its four claws pressed upon the solitary watchtower perched atop the hill, standing tall, with wings retracted, gazing down upon the north.

This statue's northward gaze prevented the Frost Giants from taking a single step south.

It also served as a reminder to the Frost Giant King that the Empire's Emperor was constantly watching his progress, urging the Frost Giant King not to slacken.

Countless observers looked at the lifelike statue. Each dragon scale appeared as if it had grown from the true dragon's body, without being abruptly metallic.

From a certain perspective, this Progenitor Red Dragon possessed considerable skill in alchemy, spellcraft, and creation.

Even if these individuals were unaware that, for Kalon, all branches of magical disciplines were merely categorized as a single series in his studies, they were still awestruck by the knowledge and power this Progenitor Red Dragon commanded.

Moreover, if a spellcaster could acquire this statue, it could immediately be fashioned into an immensely powerful golem.

The energy transfer pathways and perfect shaping left behind by the Progenitor Red Dragon eliminated the need for these spellcasters to exert even the slightest effort.

Simply installing an energy core sufficient to drive the golem, along with a sufficiently resilient elemental spirit, would grant them a guardian almost impervious to mortal forces.

Unfortunately, the observing spellcasters, no matter how envious, dared not entertain any wicked thoughts. The Golden Empire's legionary forces alone were enough to deter the vast majority.

Who could know if the Progenitor Red Dragon's consciousness would not descend again the moment you touched the statue?

Even the wild dragons, unable to suppress the greedy desires of their evil dragon blood, merely drooled as they gazed at the statue, their eyes gleaming with avarice, but taking no further action.

"To be honest, I feel that even the ancient dragons in our clan may be difficult to compare to his majesty," Grilla Helaica's tail swung again, as if the stiff tail had only reconnected to the blue dragon's neural network after the Progenitor Red Dragon's departure.

"And he didn't even descend in his true form. It's hard to imagine that dragons like us, when facing his true form, might be as intimidated in spirit by his majesty as beasts are when facing us."

The leader of the Helaica blue dragon family was an ancient blue dragon. Although some dragons say that there are ancient blue dragons in the clan, such dragons rarely actively travel outside.

However, another young blue dragon, Kollem, noticed another aspect.

Kollem tilted his fierce head forward slightly, the single horn on his skull pointed towards the blue dragon Akz and other dragons of the Empire who were pacing forward in the field, and whispered, "Look at the dragons of the Golden Empire, their eyes."

Grilla Helaica and the female blue dragon Sabrina then noticed. In the dragons' vision, they clearly saw the most unique commonality of the Golden Empire's dragons.

Perhaps after many years, they would not remember many important scenes, but they would remember the eyes of these dragons.

Whether they were the fierce and valiant blue dragon species, or the ignorant white dragon species akin to beasts, the eyes of these Golden Empire's dragons did not have the violence of chromatic dragons, but were merely very calm.

The three blue dragons turned their heads and looked at each other. Even though they came from the Helaica blue dragon family, a blue dragon family with a stable order, each of their dragons' eyes, in addition to the dragons' innate indifference, contained the innate violence brought about by evil dragon blood.

Even if it was hidden deeply, even if it was neutralized by wisdom, even if it was an ancient blue dragon who could overcome the infection of evil dragon blood to a certain extent, this manifestation that frightened mortal things could be easily discovered in their pupils.

This was also one of the reasons why other races in the world kept dragons at a respectful distance.

Because this violence was like the magma still boiling beneath a calm volcano. Perhaps a minor trigger could ignite this dangerous volcano.

Metallic dragons were no exception, except that many metallic dragons lacked the innate chaotic interference of the chromatic dragons.

"How did they do it?" Grilla Helaica couldn't help but wonder. The sudden, unusually obvious chaotic, dark, and violent aura on the white dragon during the brief battle between the blue dragon Akz and the white dragon Sacraisse flashed through the minds of these blue dragons at this moment.

"Achieve, using the shackles and toxins of bloodlines as their own strength and weapons, and not even in a completely severed way?"

Kollem shook his head. In the minds of these blue dragons, there were also ancient blue dragons of the Helaica family who, in order to reach a higher level, chose to separate the interfering will in their bloodline in a way similar to that of a dracolich.

Although that ancient blue dragon did it, the chaotic and violent blood also lost a powerful source of power, causing that ancient blue dragon's power to drop by several levels.

In the end, it was even subjected to a backlash similar to schizophrenia, completely going mad, leaving the family, and has not been heard from since.

"It seems that the rumors circulating outside, that the Gogmora dragon group, the true dragons of the Empire, are the most perfect form of life that dragons should exhibit, are not groundless."

Grilla Helaica's pupils shone brightly, as if she had found a map to some kind of treasure.

"I think the Golden Empire should be our next stop. Perhaps our ultimate destination after traveling through various lands is here."

The young blue dragon Kollem nodded, agreeing, "I have this premonition as well. Perhaps the biggest gain from this experience is this journey."

"Sabrina, do you have anything to say?" The young blue dragon Kollem turned his head and looked at the female dragon in confusion.

"Me? I want to find Gogmora and lay my first clutch of eggs." In the female blue dragon Sabrina's pupils, it was difficult to tell whether it was ambition or something strange.

"Gogmora's bloodline must be very powerful," the female dragon said, raising her head and puffing out her chest, aggressively, "If I am pregnant with Gogmora's bloodline, then I will return to the family, give birth to them, and raise them to adulthood. In the future, I will have several outstanding thugs. In the Helaica family, I will be the first matriarchal clan leader. If anyone is not convinced, I will let my cubs beat them up."

The two male blue dragons looked at each other, shook their heads in unison, and sneered in unison: "Ha, big-breasted idiot!"

The grassland, which had been destroyed by the Progenitor Red Dragon's descent, was not suitable as a location for the main brains of the two forces to meet, so the location of the two kings' meeting became the Frost Giants' camp.

The morning mist on the grassland had dissipated, and only the humid air was steamed into a light white mist by the intense bonfires.

Woolly mammoths and land-walking dragon beasts from the Frost Plains were slaughtered by the Frost Giants and hung on open-air bonfires, roasting out a rich oily aroma.

Many Frost Giants surrounded the bonfires, beating animal skin drums, or striking heavy rhythms with bone sticks, singing unique, bold, and tragic songs from the Northern Lands.

The songs of the Northern Lands, sung in the Frost Giants' voices, although appearing crude in the dragons' ears, possessed a unique charm.

Dragons were born with a wide range of aesthetics. Although these Frost Giants' songs were difficult to compare to the performances of the mysterious Song Dragon in the Empire's central opera house, they could still make several dragons squatting behind simple long tables lightly tap the table, appreciating the performance of these Frost Giants who had changed from brave and skilled warriors to being able to sing and dance.

"King of Azure Lightning, please! Distinguished dragons, please drink your fill!"

The Frost Giant King raised the huge beast horn cup in his hand, gesturing to the several dragons of the Empire. His calm cheeks did not reveal the slightest emotion in his heart.

This calm Frost Giant chuckled softly: "Perhaps the Frost Giants' wine is difficult to compare to the fine wines that dragons enjoy, but it also has its own advantages. The wine is strong enough!"

The blue dragon Akz raised the huge beast horn cup, drinking the fiery liquor as if a fire line entered his throat, and then laughed boldly: "Fine wine has the taste of fine wine, and strong liquor has the taste of strong liquor. The Golden Empire, like the true dragons of the Empire, has an aesthetic and acceptance of all excellent things,"

"Frost Giant King, you don't need to be polite, you can directly call me by my name. The title of King of Azure Lightning is just a title given to me by mortals, I can't be considered as such."

The Frost Giant King sighed inwardly. Just a short response could reveal many details. The Golden Empire, this newly emerging civilization in the wilderness, was already comparable to a powerful empire in his heart.

And the chromatic dragon, who had always been proud and conceited, putting the Dragon God first and himself second, had actually learned the rhetoric of humility. Even if it was just a superficial effort, it also showed the terribleness of the Gogmora dragon group.

"Ragnar Haegr, this is my name, Lord Akz,"

The Frost Giant King showed a respectful expression, and for the first time in front of everyone, he spoke his name.

"Haha, Lord Ragnar, dragons and Frost Giants, our races never care about those etiquettes and roundabout ways, I will speak to you directly,"

The blue dragon Akz raised his cup to pay respect to this equally respectable king, drank the wine refilled by the blue dragon Kallit, and then spoke.

"The Empire's policies have long been set. Since Lord Ragnar has agreed to reconcile with the Empire, then I will directly explain."

The Frost Giant King nodded calmly, looking at the blue dragon Akz's face that did not appear arrogant and his unusually calm pupils, and then glanced at the white dragon Sacraisse next to him, thoughtfully.

"With the statue of the Empire's Emperor as the boundary, the Golden Empire and the Frost Giants will connect through mutual trade. The Frost Giants can establish a city shared by both sides in this place, as a location for mutual trade."

"The Empire will open up trade routes, allowing merchants from the Empire and other places to come and go. The Empire's tea, salt, iron, grain, silk clothing, sugar, medicine, spices, etc., can all be traded with the Frost Giants,"

"And the Empire will set up a Mutual Supervision Department here, as an organization to manage the mutual trade in this area. But the grassland is too vast, and the Empire does not have enough manpower. The personnel allocated here will probably only be a few ten-man teams,"

The blue dragon Akz looked at the Frost Giant King's calm expression, coughed and then said: "So if the Empire's personnel suffer losses, internal public opinion in the Empire will rise up, and even I will find it difficult to defend you."

The Frost Giant King nodded expressionlessly and said: "Don't worry, Lord Akz, the Frost Giants will definitely not let others affect our relationship with the Empire."

"However," The Frost Giant King frowned, "The Frost Giants do not have extra money. Even if it is bartering, we do not know what things are more suitable for trading. Even some precious mineral resources are difficult for the Frost Giants to mine on the icy Frost Plains."

"You don't need to worry about this," The blue dragon Akz glanced at the white dragon Sloka, and then echoed: "The Empire will send scholars to statistically analyze the relevant resources, and list a list of resources needed by the Empire, as trading materials."

"I also understand your Frost Giants' difficulties. For the sake of, um." The blue dragon Akz thought for a while, and then said: "For the sake of a good cooperative relationship between the Empire and the Frost Giants, the Empire will make advance payments to the Frost Giants for some tools and machinery for mining and excavation,"

"Of course, there is no need to charge much interest for these, after all, we both have to maintain a long-term friendly relationship in the future."

The Frost Giant King's frowned brows did not smooth out, he said softly: "Thank you for the Empire's generosity, but in this way, wouldn't the Frost Giants be reduced to the Empire's miners and slaves? Although there are no substantial shackles, we can only work hard day and night for those materials."

"In this way, how can the Frost Giant tribe develop."

The blue dragon Akz bared his fangs and smiled faintly: "That is your problem, the path the Frost Giants take is under your own feet."

"However, considering the difficult situation of the Frost Giant tribe, the Empire will also give you some preferential policies,"

"Although the Frost Giants cannot hunt freely on the grassland, nor can they plant on the grassland, they can graze in the pastures designated by the Empire. The Empire also allows the Frost Giants to enter the Empire to learn the knowledge and culture of the Empire. What you learn and how you use it depends on yourselves,"

The white dragon Sloka quickly added: "But these all have to be paid for!"

The other dragons who were gnawing on Frost Plains elephant legs at the same time raised their heads and nodded repeatedly.

The Frost Giant King sighed: "It sounds like the Frost Giants have indeed received some preferential policies. Please thank the Empire's Emperor on my behalf, for his tolerant and generous heart!"

"Of course," The blue dragon Akz smiled, "But in addition to this, there is also a requirement that must be fulfilled. If this requirement cannot be met, everything above will naturally not be established."

The Frost Giant King Ragnar Haegr's expression became serious, "Please speak, Lord Akz".

"Has Lord Ragna ever heard of the Empire's 'Dragon Code'?" The blue dragon's pupils blazed at that moment.

The Frost Giant King was silent, then nodded. "The 'Dragon Code,' I have indeed heard of it. Perhaps everyone initially thought it was just a joke. But who would have thought that the Frost Giants would be the first to become the Empire's blade-wiping target."

The blue dragon Akz clapped its claws and said indifferently, "You Frost Giants are just the first; there will be others. Frost Giants who have killed dragons must be handed over to the Empire. Those who have consumed dragon flesh and blood must also be handed over to the Empire as a warning to others."

The Frost Giant King looked back at the Frost Giant leaders, their cold faces showing anger and nervousness, and suddenly asked, "What will be the fate of these Frost Giants?"

"The Empire knows the principle of making the most of everything, so even though these Frost Giants have committed great mistakes, they will not be executed. After all, no one could have foreseen what happened."

"But they will be demoted to slaves, forever and ever, slaves of the Empire."

The Progenitor Red Dragon did not eliminate the slavery system. Although he could benefit from it, in the Progenitor Red Dragon's mind, the existence of the slavery system did not necessarily represent a lack of civilization.

The absence of a slavery system does not necessarily represent civilization either. Many civilizations without slavery have simply changed it into another form.

Rashly eliminating the slavery system is a very foolish thing. To completely copy the systems of a previous civilization without considering the time or circumstances is not advisable. The so-called slave liberators and slave saviors have completely failed to see the essence of the development of productive forces. Disregarding reality is merely the fantasy of idealists and borrowers.

In the Golden Empire's system, slavery has actually become another form of legal punishment. The Empire, with its slave promotion system, has already opened the door to freedom and equality for those unfortunate slaves.

But these Frost Giants will never have the opportunity to step into freedom and equality.

The Frost Giant King was silent for a long time, then rose and sighed, "Tomorrow, I will give you an answer."

"When the Dragon Emperor of the Golden Empire descended upon the plains of the Green Algae River, everyone realized the true meaning of the term 'force of nature.'"

"Of course, to describe His power with such a vulgar word as 'natural disaster' is like a dull blasphemy. But from then on, whether it was dragons, Frost Giants, or the civilizations and forces of other races, they all had to admit,"

"The Emperor of the Golden Empire, the Dragon Emperor, this title has become His crown,"

"Perhaps when Frost Giant King Ragna Hegg sighed at the might of the superior nation and personally bound the leaders of the Frost Giant tribes, sending them to the Empire, it already indicated that the skies of the North were being covered by the shadow of the red dragon."

——

《Northern Chronicles - The Green Algae River Alliance》

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