Translator: AnubisTL
But…
The thought flashed through his mind and was immediately suppressed by more practical considerations.
After all, he was not one of those metallic dragons, born protected by the Order alignment and relatively safe in their circumstances. He was a hybrid dragon who carried the bloodline of an evil dragon—one whose identity, if exposed in the civilized world, would likely attract relentless, unending persecution.
The "leisurely" life of freely shifting into human form at will and delving into the realms of intelligent creatures to play a role-playing game... For him, such a life was simply too distant, an impossible dream for now.
"Exhilarating!"
Just then, a robust, satisfied shout rang out from the center of the hall—the voice of Alberto in his human form.
He had just completed his final, grand and powerful dance step.
Now, his golden curls clung to his smooth forehead, dampened by sweat. A fine sheen of perspiration covered his temples, and steam seemed to rise from his body as if he had just emerged from a fierce battle. His chest heaved slightly, his breath came in short gasps, and his entire posture suggested a body pushed to its absolute physical limit.
He had to admit, this exhausted state... he had feigned it with such astonishing realism.
Then, Alberto leapt lightly back onto his massive stone platform.
A soft, brilliant magical light erupted from his body.
Enveloped in the glow, his slender human form—that of an adventurer—began to expand, stretch, and deform as if inflating.
The light faded.
In place of the human figure, his true form—a majestic gold dragon covered in shimmering scales—now stood tall.
His entire aura shifted in an instant. He transformed from the sunny, exuberant young adventurer brimming with endless energy back into the majestic and noble gold dragon, his gaze sharp and his temperament tinged with an extreme streak of obsession.
"I thoroughly enjoyed myself tonight, Garos."
Alberto turned to the red-iron dragon, his massive head lowering slightly in a gesture of solemn gratitude.
"Thank you for your generous hospitality."
He paused, then added, "A promise—that is something one must strive to fulfill to the very end, no matter what hardships may lie ahead!"
"Until our respective journeys inevitably pit us against one another, Garos, you may signal me for aid whenever you encounter a foe too formidable to face alone. I, Alberto Aurelius, swear to do everything in my power to reach your side as swiftly as possible!"
Though he had just been defeated by Garos in battle, he spoke these words with an unyielding confidence and an imposing aura, as if he were the one with the absolute strength to protect Garos.
Undoubtedly, this defeat had failed to truly crush the pride and arrogance ingrained in this gold dragon's bones.
The reality check had been too mild.
Of course, Alberto's attitude and promise were undoubtedly more beneficial than harmful for Garos.
The gold dragon was indeed extreme, arrogant, and possessed a volatile and unpredictable temperament... but it was also undeniable that Alberto, having embarked on the Holy Dragon path, placed extraordinary importance on the oaths he swore.
Moreover.
He had clearly developed a unique sense of trust and kinship with the red-iron dragon who "recognized" his ideals.
An ally of such immense power, unwavering commitment, and the potential to unleash extraordinary strength out of ideological alignment... perhaps, in the future, on the windswept Sierre Wilderness, such a bond would prove invaluable at critical moments.
The two dragons then exchanged and confirmed a method for urgent, long-distance communication.
As the dragon pack departed, the second-level gates of the Burning Steel Citadel slowly swung shut.
High atop the towering cliffs of Dragon Valley, the night wind howled, carrying the scent of the wilderness.
"I am about to depart," Alberto declared, gazing southward. "To the Sierre Wilderness! There, I shall personally lay the foundation and build my own, inviolable 'Golden Order.'"
Just as the gold dragon beat his wings, preparing to take flight toward his unknown journey, the red-iron dragon beside him suddenly called out, as if remembering something crucial: "Alberto, wait!"
The gold dragon paused mid-air, folding his wings just as they were about to beat. He turned his head in confusion to look at Garos.
"What is it?"
Meeting Alberto's questioning gaze, Garos stated his request plainly. "Before we part, would you allow me to experience the power of your 'Divine Smite' firsthand?"
He emphasized his words deliberately. "And please, do not hold back."
A Holy Dragon's Divine Smite was far more powerful than that of an ordinary paladin. When Alberto had used it before, Garos had sensed a hint of danger and countered it with his Arm of Dragon Qi, preventing the attack from landing.
But now, he wanted to see how it would affect him.
The gold dragon licked the still-healing wound on his jaw, a complex light flickering in his eyes—a mix of bewilderment at Garos's strange request and a thrill at the chance to retaliate openly.
He nodded his massive head heavily. "A strange request, but very well! I accept! I will grant your wish and go all out!"
The injuries he had sustained in that humiliating battle, where he had been swarmed by several evil dragons, were truly severe.
The vast majority of them had been inflicted by this very red-iron dragon! Although powerful divine magic like Lay on Hands and Reverse Injury had been used to heal him in time, his body still bore the messy marks of shattered and peeled-off dragon scales, leaving him looking quite disheveled.
Now, presented with such a fair chance to "strike back," how could he possibly refuse? Even if it was just a symbolic blow.
"Then... I am ready!"
Alberto let out a low dragon's roar.
Vroom— A strange humming of energy resonated.
Rune chains of the Oath of Conquest, formed from pure energy and shining with a holy golden light, emerged and protruded from the gold dragon's right forelimb like living creatures, then rapidly interlaced and converged.
In an instant.
A massive halberd, materialized and condensed from Sacred Oath energy, abruptly appeared in his dragon claw, gripped firmly by him!
The next moment.
"Sacre-fic-ial! Slash!"
Accompanied by Alberto's roar, filled with power and a sense of holiness, a brilliant, blazing light lit up on the halberd. It carved a scorching and shining arc through the air, slashing toward the red-iron dragon.
The red-iron dragon neither dodged nor flinched, thrusting out its chest—where the Cold Exploding Scales had yet to recover—to meet the blow.
CLANG—RIIIIP!
After a violent shudder of resistance, the war halberd tore through the dragon scales, leaving a massive but shallow gash across the red-iron dragon's body. Faint, shimmering light still clung to the wound's surface.
The red-iron dragon merely shook its body.
"Hmm." Garos's voice was calm and devoid of emotion, even carrying a hint of ease.
"I don't feel much of anything," he said.
"I knew it! Anyone who can align with my philosophy could never be truly evil."
Seeing this, Alberto's initial astonishment gave way to a much deeper trust.
A Divine Smite empowered by the Oath of Conquest would inflict radiant punishment—derived from the very essence of holiness—on creatures of evil alignment, dealing several times the physical damage. The searing agony, which burned deep into the soul and marrow, was enough to make even the fiercest demons wail in torment.
Yet, look at Garos's reaction now.
He had merely shaken his body, without even a flinch of his brow. His tone was as nonchalant as if he'd been bitten by a mosquito.
This could only mean one thing: the holy radiant damage targeted at evil had almost no effect on him—or rather, its effect was negligible!
Divine Smite never lied to a dragon.
This meant the red-iron dragon was not a creature of the evil alignment.
(End of the Chapter)
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