Beneath the Red Dragon

A handsome young man with golden hair stood proudly beside the Golden Dragon Naloya, his tall and impressive figure especially striking.

His features were well-defined, except for the large dark circles that nearly covered his high-bridged nose, severely affecting the charm of this handsome youth.

The Deputy Secretary of the Tax Department, Ancestral Golden Dragon Oblash, still retained his exceptional poise.

But under the King of White Dragons Gomot’s ’passing the buck’ tactic, he gained extremely important experience in just a few short months, making this arrogant Ancestral Golden Dragon’s aura become vastly steadier.

"Obilash, how do you think the Southern Good Dragon Alliance compares to the Dragon Country of Gogomola?" Golden Dragon Naloya finally asked this question, which she herself found somewhat fanciful, after a long silence.

"Southern Good Dragon Alliance? Just a bunch of outdated, ignorant old things. How can they compare to this Golden Empire?"

Old habits die hard. As soon as Ancestral Golden Dragon Oblash spoke, an overwhelming aura of arrogance emanated from the golden-haired youth.

"Naloya, you must remember, the empire with me, Ancestral Golden Dragon Oblash, at its helm is beyond your imagination in strength,"

Oblash said arrogantly, his nature unchanged, the arrogance of authority may have ceased, but it was an innate part of his personality.

Naloya couldn’t help but roll her eyes, a large white eye flipping as she sneered, "I see you’ve been used as a beast of burden by the Gogomola Dragon Group and burned your brain out. Have you forgotten you’re just a prisoner of Gogomola?"

"Of course not," Oblash stood with hands behind his back, proudly stating, "But my contributions and intelligence are indelible. Without my oversight and operation of the tax department, the entire Golden Empire would collapse!"

Naloya couldn’t help but grind her teeth. The Giant Dragons of the Golden Dragon Race were all too familiar with this Ancestral Golden Dragon’s personality.

As one of the only two Ancestral Golden Dragons in the Icaria World, Oblash and Erikson were the darlings of the Golden Dragon Race, bearing hopes.

These two golden dragons were also the most likely candidates to inherit the divine favor of the Platinum Dragon King Bahamut, fostering in them an even more arrogant and conceited nature than ordinary golden dragons.

Naloya forcibly suppressed her discomfort. For Erikson, this female golden dragon had a favorable filter and did not see anything wrong with Erikson’s actions.

But her voluntary double standards made her somewhat resentful of Oblash’s behavior and words.

"Are you really willing to lie low under that Red Dragon and become a member of this empire? Oblash, you could very well return to the Southern Alliance’s stronghold and join forces with Erikson; the power of two Ancestral Golden Dragons far surpasses that of one Ancestral Red Dragon."

For the sake of her love and partner, Naloya persuaded earnestly, "I hear Ancestral Red Dragon Karon Gogomola has already promised you that as long as you pass the test, he’ll let you return south. Your help will surely bring Erikson much joy."

Oblash snorted disdainfully with his nose in the air, "Naloya, you actually let a mere desire named love blind your already not-so-bright mind,"

"Want me to help Erikson? What a joke, once I return, having learned from the empire, the first one I’ll challenge is that arrogant fool Erikson,"

"A hybrid who considers Titan’s Blood more noble than Golden Dragon’s Blood, how can he possibly lead the giant dragons as emperor? The Golden Dragon Race, only I, Oblash, am the king of the golden dragon!"

Naloya was taken aback, urgently saying, "How could you have such thoughts, Oblash? You and Erikson are the most gifted new generation of golden dragons, the ones most likely to bear the divine favor of His Majesty Bahamut. You should join forces to defeat that domineering Red Dragon."

Oblash looked at Naloya with contempt, laughing boastfully, "His Majesty Bahamut’s divine favor? Let me tell you the truth, I’ve already refused His favor. Let Erikson, that fool, pray for the attention of the Dragon God. I have my own path to pursue."

Naloya was shocked, "How could you have such rebellious thoughts? The favor of the Dragon God cannot be refused."

"Fool, you’re a fool too," Oblash laughed heartily, "His Majesty Bahamut is the father of all golden dragons. Refusing His power to seek my own path will only please Him."

"My realm is already far above yours, Naloya. Don’t make a fool of yourself in front of me."

"You, you arrogant guy," Naloya gritted her teeth, "Have you forgotten the humiliation of your defeat, or are you still scared of being beaten by that Red Dragon?"

"Rubbish, you fool," Oblash retorted disdainfully, "I just recognize some of the ideologies and thoughts of the Golden Empire, about the entire giant dragon race, about the perfect evolution of giant dragons,"

"As for that Ancestral Red Dragon, hmph, you watch. I’ll gradually use my ability and charm to win over other giant dragons, usurp the power to lead the Dragon Group, and eventually personally defeat him to become the emperor of the empire."

Naloya was stunned, "How is that possible? Those giant dragons won’t acknowledge you."

Oblash shook his head and said, "You just don’t understand, Naloya. Let me ask you, what is a giant dragon?"

"What is a giant dragon? A giant dragon is a giant dragon, inherently noble and powerful, a near-perfect race," Naloya replied.

"Look at those creatures in the Mortal World," Ancestral Golden Dragon Oblash said, pointing at the many races in the city, "Whether stronger than weak humans like ogres and giant demons, or those with extraordinary powers like deep sea naga, descendants of ancient elves, they can’t compare to giant dragons."

"A ten-thousand-meter-high mountain, these beings need to spend countless time to climb, but a giant dragon just needs a gentle flap of its wings,"

"A ten-thousand-meter-deep sea, those beings need to rely on magic, need to rely on sacred artifacts to reach it, but a giant dragon just needs to swim slightly,"

"High in the sky, those beings need to reach the Legendary Holy Sanctuary, or rely on magic to glimpse the splendor, but giant dragons are born soaring in the blue skies above,"

"No matter how perilous the place, giant dragons can always easily adapt, survive, and become the strongest race, but that’s all."

Oblash said, "Giant dragons are inherently supposed to be perfect beings, but the shackles of dragon blood and dragon legacy hinder them when they approach perfection, making them never able to reach the perfect pinnacle."

"Only by embracing independent wisdom, a will unrestricted and uninfluenced, can giant dragons make up for their imperfect flaws and evolve towards perfection. This is my understanding of the true meaning of True Dragon in the Golden Empire!"

Oblash looked into Naloya’s eyes and softly said, "Becoming a perfect True Dragon is the only way to oppose the empire’s True Dragon. You still don’t get it, Naloya!"

Naloya found it difficult to understand why every giant dragon that traveled in the Golden Empire underwent such a terrible change.

Perhaps she had already sensed it within, but dared not investigate herself, for she feared she too would be changed.