The sun was brilliant, and the cloudless sky resembled a flawless sapphire without a single blemish. Sunlight poured down, illuminating the highest platform of the dragon court with a warm, translucent glow.

Two giant dragons stood facing each other.

One possessed a majestic and imposing stature, its muscle lines appearing as if cast from steel and iron. Even standing quietly, it exuded a suffocating sense of pressure.

The other had an elegant and slender form, its emerald green scales layered one upon another.

"Red... Garoth, I have seen the traces you left on the central continent."

The Green Dragon Cerora was the first to speak, addressing the other by name.

She slightly raised her head, her gaze falling upon the red iron dragon before her, a flicker of barely concealed amazement flashing in her eyes.

"It is truly... breathtaking."

"The Arotala Continent is embroiled in conflict almost every single day, with flames of war spreading everywhere. The intensity of the warfare is extremely high, far beyond the imagination of the beings of Atlantis. I thought I had witnessed enough destruction and devastation."

"But even so, the traces you left after sweeping away the Abyssal Rift..."

She gently swayed her long, slender neck and continued, "...still left an indelible impression on me. When I flew over that region, even though many days had passed, I could still feel the impact of that moment."

The red iron dragon listened quietly, his face showing little emotional fluctuation.

He fell into thoughtful silence for a few seconds before speaking up to ask, "Green Dragon Queen, how do you think it compares to the might of the Mandate of Heaven?"

Cerora blinked her eyes, not answering immediately.

She gave her tail a light swing and then asked a question in return. "We are allies now, and in the future, we might even have a closer relationship. Isn't such a form of address too distant?"

Garoth glanced at her.

A few seconds later, he nodded without any pretentiousness.

"Alright."

He simply acknowledged and then repeated his question, only changing the form of address. "Cerora, you know there are no wars involving the Mandate of Heaven in Atlantis. I am very curious, just how much of the Mandate's might can my ultimate strike match?"

Cerora lowered her head, contemplating seriously for a few seconds.

"I have witnessed battles of the Mandate."

"Not once or twice, but many times."

"I have personally witnessed quite a few of those Mandate battles. To be frank, based on what I saw in those scenes of war, in terms of pure destructive power, the sheer scope of destruction and intensity of annihilation... no Mandate can match you."

"It's hard to imagine that you are not even at the crown-level yet, and haven't even undergone your prime phase slumber."

The destructive power of his ultimate strike even surpassed that of the Mandate...

A flicker of satisfaction flashed in Garoth's eyes.

But that was all.

He did not feel proud because of this, nor did he become carried away.

The power of that strike was indeed formidable, but its prerequisites and limitations were too many; it simply couldn't be deployed in most situations.

Moreover, to judge whether a creature was powerful, the key lay in its overall situation, not in a single isolated aspect. Real combat was not about comparing whose ultimate move was more spectacular; the contest of comprehensive strength was more important.

"Compared to a true Mandate, I am still far behind."

Garoth thought to himself.

He knew his own place, and he knew how long the road ahead still was.

Just then, the green dragon's gaze fell upon him again as she said, "After you become a crown-level... perhaps... most Mandates will not be your match."

"This kind of combat strength capable of bridging such a huge level gap, to be honest, makes me envious."

"Among the dragon race, there are quite a few who can fight across levels, but to be able to bridge it as far and as thoroughly as you... I have never seen such a thing."

Garoth responded calmly, "You also possess your own powerful talent."

He paused, a flicker of contemplation flashing in his pupils.

"I am curious, what is your current life level?"

The green dragon's condition was somewhat special; his True Eye couldn't completely see through it, but Garoth could be certain that her life level was higher than his own. He just didn't know exactly how many levels higher.

It was important to note that the Green Dragon Queen was also a prime dragon.

Her age wasn't much greater than Garoth's, yet her life level was higher.

This truly surprised Garoth.

Because he knew very well just how much blood, sweat, and life-and-death battles he had endured to reach his current life level.

Hearing this question, Cerora slightly raised her chin, a hint of amusement flashing in her pupils.

"I have already undergone one slumber during my prime phase. I am now infinitely close to the crown-level."

Garoth's gaze sharpened slightly.

He asked, "Such a high life level, is it related to your talent?"

Cerora didn't answer immediately.

She pondered for a few seconds, her eyes sweeping over Garoth once before the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, revealing a smiling expression.

"If another dragon asked me this, I definitely wouldn't say."

"However, since it's you... I'll make an exception and tell you."

She stepped forward, moving closer to the red iron dragon.

Only when the distance between them gradually shortened, shortened to a point that was somewhat intimate rather than a normal social distance, did Cerora stop. She lowered her voice and spoke again.

"I can shorten the slumber cycle."

"To be more specific, I can make our dragon-kind's slumber period arrive earlier, increase the efficiency of slumber, and shorten the slumber duration. Within the same slumber cycle, I can gain more growth; for the same amount of growth, I need less time."

This...

Shortening the slumber cycle.

It sounded simple. For many races, this talent would be of little consequence.

But placed upon a giant dragon, this was undoubtedly an indisputably powerful talent, even one of the top-tier talents.

A dragon's lifespan was long, but much of that time was spent in slumber. Moreover, excessively long slumber periods also made them prone to various accidents, or they might fail to keep up with the changing times while asleep.

Countless dragons had missed entire eras during their slumber, waking up to find the world completely transformed.

Being able to shorten the slumber cycle...

Garoth knew all too well what this meant.

"Are you envious?"

Cerora said while secretly taking another step forward, now less than ten meters from the red iron dragon.

This distance, for dragons tens of meters in length, was practically skin-to-skin.

"Let me tell you another secret."

Her voice dropped even lower, carrying a mysterious tone as she said, "My talent doesn't just work on myself."

Garoth turned his head to look at her.

Cerora continued, "The specifics vary depending on the target."

She deliberately paused, not finishing.

Then, she began to slowly circle around the red iron dragon, her long neck slightly lowered, her tail gently swaying, her pace unhurried. Finally, she stopped at Garoth's side, stretched out her neck, and almost pressed it against the red iron dragon's ear.

"If it were you... I could at least shorten your slumber time by half."

Her voice was very soft, carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible allure.

Upon hearing these words, even with Garoth's temperament, his spirit couldn't help but be shaken.

Halving the slumber time...

What did this mean?

It meant he could complete his evolution in a shorter time, accumulate power at a faster pace, and have more waking time to train, accumulate, explore the unknown, and pursue even greater strength.

The red iron dragon's breathing grew heavy for an instant.

But only for an instant.

The next second, it returned to normal.

He turned his head to look at the green dragon almost pressed against him.

"Speak, what are the conditions?"

Cerora blinked her eyes.

She tilted her head, putting on an innocent expression, and asked knowingly, "What conditions?"

Garoth didn't beat around the bush with her, stating bluntly, "Using your talent to help me shorten my slumber time, what price do I need to pay?"

Cerora continued to tilt her head.

She raised one foreclaw, tapped her chin with a claw tip, and looked up at the sky as if truly pondering seriously.

"Hmm..."

She drew out the sound, saying, "What if I said it's free, without compensation, requiring no conditions whatsoever?"

Garoth looked at her without speaking.

Cerora waited for two seconds. Seeing he had no reaction, she asked again, "You don't believe me?"

"I don't."

"Why?" Cerora pressed.

Garoth said calmly, "There are no free gifts in this world. What's free is often the most expensive."

Cerora blinked her eyes upon hearing this.

"That sounds very reasonable..."

She took two steps back, once again using the tip of her wing to tap her chin in a thoughtful pose, her gaze sweeping over Garoth.

Then, her eyes lit up.

"Alright then, how about this."

Her voice became lighter and quicker as she said, "I want to go to a place, but I haven't been here long and am a bit lost in Atlantis. If you can tell me how to get there, I'll shorten your slumber time for you."

Garoth looked at her and asked, "Hmm? What place?"

A cunning light flickered in the Green Dragon Queen's eyes.

She straightened her neck with a serious air, using the most earnest tone to say, "You just need to tell me, how does one walk the path to your heart?"

As soon as the words fell.

A high-altitude wind howled past at just the right moment, sweeping up a current of air that rushed between the two giant dragons.

Garoth was silent for two seconds.

Then, he slowly spoke, "Are you joking? This isn't funny."

"Alright."

Cerora lowered her head somewhat dejectedly. "I set this up for a long time. From the moment I moved closer to you, I was thinking about how to say this line naturally. I just didn't expect..."

She raised her head and sighed, "...it turns out to be so dull."

Immediately, the green dragon reined in her emotions, gave her tail a gentle sway, and changed the subject.

"I'm returning to the Arotala Continent."

Her voice returned to normal as she said, "When are you going? Perhaps we can travel together."

Garoth shook his head slightly.

"Not for now."

He said, "There are still matters to handle here. Although the Abyssal Rift is temporarily resolved, there are many follow-up matters."

Cerora nodded, showing understanding.

"That's fine too."

"You are always welcome whenever you come."

She lowered her head and lightly traced a line across her neck with a foreclaw.

A piece of emerald green scale detached, hovering in the air, shimmering with a dreamlike, peculiar radiance.

She used a claw tip to lift the scale and offered it to Garoth.

"With this, you can contact me."

"When you decide to go to Arotala, or before your slumber, if you've made up your mind and want to shorten your slumber time, you can inform me in advance. Anytime, anywhere, as long as you carry this scale, I will receive your message."

Garoth raised a claw and took the scale.

It was very light.

The touch was warm and smooth, carrying a faint trace of warmth.

Cerora watched him take the scale, the tip of her tail wagging happily.

Then she said, "Now it's your turn to give."

"What?"

"Your scale," the green dragon said matter-of-factly, her eyes fixed directly on him. "I gave you mine, surely you won't give me nothing in return?" She paused, then added, "It can't be that only I give to you, while you give nothing back. That's not fair."

This logic...

Garoth thought about it; it seemed there was nothing wrong with it.

As for body tissues like dragon scales, if obtained by someone with ill intentions, they might be used to curse their owner. During past intense battles, many of Garoth's scales had shattered, with some lost to the outside world.

This was unavoidable.

However, there was nothing to worry about either.

Curses?

Garoth welcomed them.

Although cautious, he was not timid. If anyone truly thought they could deal with him using just a single scale, then they were simply being naive.

He raised a foreclaw and lightly pressed it against his chest.

A dark red scale detached, several times larger than Cerora's, shimmering with a metallic luster. The edges of the scale were sharp, while the center was a deep, dark red, like solidified magma.

He handed the dragon scale to the green dragon.

Cerora took it, cradling it carefully in her claw for inspection.

She turned it over, rotated it, held it up to the sunlight to look, and then, suddenly, she brought it to her nose and took a deep sniff.

Seeing this, Garoth slightly frowned.

He wanted to ask the green dragon to give it back.

However, before he could speak, Cerora's body began to erupt with light.

Starting from the edges, her entire form became dreamlike. All her scales were glowing, the emerald green radiance growing brighter and brighter, yet simultaneously seeming to be diluted by something, fading away bit by bit into the air.

The light grew more intense, her form grew fainter.

Just then, she suddenly spoke.

"Oh, right, Garoth."

Her voice also became ethereal as she continued, "Don't you think this is like what many love stories say..."

As she spoke, the green dragon's form grew increasingly faint, almost on the verge of complete disappearance.

"...exchanging tokens of affection?"

With the last word spoken.

The light dissipated completely.

She, too, had vanished completely.

The sun remained brilliant, the sky remained azure. Garoth stood alone atop the dragon court's peak.

He lowered his head and looked at the emerald green scale in his claw.

"Cerora, the Dragon Queen of the Greenwild Kingdom on the Arotala Continent."

Garoth murmured to himself.

Was her eagerness genuine infatuation with him?

Or did she have other motives?

A dignified Green Dragon Queen, a ruler of a kingdom, shouldn't be such an emotionally driven character. Those who reached such a position had all experienced countless storms and witnessed countless human treacheries.

But it was also possible that he was overthinking it.

Garoth shook his head slightly, reined in his thoughts, and stopped pondering the question.

Whatever her intentions and goals might be, time would tell. Being cautious wasn't bad, but there was no need to dwell on it excessively. The pressing matter at hand was to handle the affairs before him.

Afterward, he closed his eyes.

Bloodline Link.

This intangible bond was the most direct means of communication between him and all his blood relatives.

His consciousness extended outward, traversing space, finally touching a familiar presence.

"Laria."

He spoke on the mental level.

The next second, a steady voice responded.

"Father."

Through the spiritual connection, Garoth could perceive Laria's general state.

He wasn't in combat or busy, merely resting quietly, accumulating strength.

But he also knew that with a single command from him, Laria would immediately rise, spread his wings, and head to any place he designated without hesitation.

Garoth asked, "How are your preparations?"

"Ready."

The Emperor's son's response was concise, his spirit carrying a trace of barely concealed excitement.

All along, Laria had wanted to make his own way, not primarily relying on his father's shadow. He wanted to prove himself, to carve his own path, to leave behind his own legend in the vast world.

But in the current Atlantis Continent, there weren't many opportunities left for him.

Although the situation here was complex, the territories had largely been divided, and the established order was in place. To carve out a place here required not just strength, but also timing.

Arotala was different.

It was filled with danger, but also brimming with opportunities.

Garoth gave a slight nod and asked further, "How much do you know about the situation in Arotala?"

"I've learned some."

Laria said, "A land of war, with various powers carving out territories. Elves, orcs, and all sorts of forces rising amidst the chaos. There is no absolute overlord; battles occur every single day."

He paused, then added, "I've collected all the intelligence I could find. Although not comprehensive, it's enough to handle the initial situation."

Garoth asked:

"What is your mission?"

"To take root."

Laria answered without hesitation. "Establish a foothold in Arotala, stabilize the situation, make it our base of operations there. Don't rush expansion, don't rush for dominance. First, put down roots and secure a firm footing."

Garoth nodded, then said:

"Regarding that Green Dragon Queen, gather more information and collect news about her."

Laria responded, "Understood."

He didn't ask why, nor did he need to.

If Father said so, he naturally had his reasons.

"Remember."

Garoth's voice grew heavier as he said, "If you encounter danger, prioritize survival."

He paused, then added, "I know you want to rely more on yourself, to prove your own abilities. But a true wise man should understand how to properly utilize all the resources at his disposal."

"Father, are you worried about me?"

The other side was silent for a moment.

Then, the low voice sounded again.

"Just a reminder."

"I will be careful," Laria said. "Does Father have any other instructions?"

"None."

Garoth said, "You may set off."

"Yes."

The link gradually faded away.

The Bottomless Abyss.

A certain small layer.

The air here was scorching hot. Enormous volcanoes dotted the land, some erupting, others silent.

Countless fissures spread across the ground like a giant web, faintly revealing flowing magma within. Orange-red light seeped from the cracks, illuminating the sulfur-scented earth.

On the parched ground, a figure lay prostrate.

The six-armed serpent demon, Verishka.

All six of her arms were spread out, her body pressed tightly against the ground, her forehead resting on the scorching hot rock, her posture one of utmost humility.

Before her stood a bluish-black, humanoid giant shadow.

The figure was as tall as a mountain range, with four pairs of horns winding toward the sky. Its bulging muscles seemed about to tear through its skin, especially its arms, which were extraordinarily thick and long, with countless veins bulging like snakes, pulsing slightly with each breath.

The Slaughter Demon, Abaddon.

Simultaneously, this was also a Great Demon.

A former Great Demon.

His imposing aura remained terrifying; that soul-deep sense of pressure still made it hard to breathe. But if a true powerhouse were here to carefully sense it, they would find that this Great Demon's aura had already dropped to the level of a high-ranking Demon General.

"This time... I shall personally descend upon the Material Plane!"

His voice rumbled forth, echoing across the land, carrying extreme hatred and fury.

"I shall wash away the previous failure with blood; burn away the previous disgrace with flame."

"I shall prove my return with countless lamentations and deaths!"

Verishka didn't say much more.

She merely pressed her body even lower, her forehead almost sinking into the rock.

The previous failure had turned the Slaughter Great Demon into a laughingstock among other Great Demons. Some who had once bowed before him now mocked his incompetence. And the punishment from their Lord had stripped him of his dignity.

Now, Abaddon was filled with rage.

To return to the Material Plane, to wash away the disgrace, he was willing to actively lower his rank, allowing himself to pierce through the restrictions and descend once more upon the land that had shamed him.