Golden Dragon: Six Thousand Years of Empire

"Why are you showing such an expression? You are not the only one who wants to be favored by the Great Serpent. There are too many people in this land who are troubled by the shortcomings of their own race."

Seeing the nobles whose expressions changed from disdain to shock and finally speechless, the snake priest was very satisfied with the change in Orf's expression.

"You are not the only one. To a certain extent, you are even lucky because you were baptized by the original blood of the Snake of Cycles without doing any meritorious deeds.

In our empire, only true purebred nobles can receive such a gift after they have made great achievements. "

"So, I am now considered a noble of the empire?"

In this underground palace hidden deep underground, there are many half-human, half-snake creatures similar to him, as well as snake-man priests who have snake-like characteristics but generally maintain human form. There is also a big snake with human-like arms, but this kind of snake seems to have a very low status in this underground palace, like a slave.

"If you want to become a true imperial noble, you still need to have meritorious service, but this is very easy for you. Just use your original identity to help us expand our influence."

The snake priest introduced.

The cost of conquering the world with pure force is too high. Taking the lead in sending a vanguard force, tempting the local ruling class with irresistible benefits, and actively surrendering to serve and cultivating a group of forces close to the empire can greatly reduce the risk of conquest. The level of difficulty can be said to have been tried and tested repeatedly.

Roar~

While the snake priests were talking, a long and ferocious snake head suddenly poked its head out from the metal buildings, spraying poisonous clouds into the air.

"What's this?"

Orff looked at the monster head that looked like a snake and a dragon, and the young face covered with snake scales, with a fearful expression on his face. He felt a strong threat.

"That's a snake dragon unique to our empire. Do you want to see it?"

A reserved smile appeared on the snake priest's face. I don't know how many times similar scenes have been played.

He knew that these indigenous people, who were powerful and powerful in their own right, would have many small thoughts even if they transformed into snake people before they saw the power of the empire.

Only by truly showing them the power of the empire and cutting off all thoughts of resistance will they serve the empire wholeheartedly and strive to integrate into the empire.

"good."

Although Orff felt the danger, he still agreed immediately because he wanted to verify the authenticity of the Settra Empire. If it was really an empire, then there was really no need for him to resist and sever ties.

"Snake dragon? Did you transform it from a dragon creature?"

Walking in the most important core area of ​​the Temple of Ten Thousand Snakes, Orff watched with shock as a multi-headed dragon roared angrily, but was still restrained in the transformation circle.

As the magic circle moved, the shadow of the huge giant snake was revealed. The ferocious dragon monster let out a painful cry, and then its shape slowly changed inside it.

"Of course, but this kind of transformed snake dragon can only be used as a war beast. Snake dragons with real potential still need to be transformed with real dragon eggs and cultivated from an early age."

The snake priest looked at the snake dragon that was gradually changing its life form in the midst of wailing and pain. Its vertical pupils, which were already filled with violent colors, became even more ferocious during such a rough transformation.

"Transformation of true dragon eggs? Are the top leaders of your empire all born through transformation rituals?"

Orff had an idea and asked with a hint of sarcasm.

If the Snake Man transformed through acquired cultivation can also reach a high position in the empire, doesn't that mean that he also has a chance?

If the Settra Empire is so inclusive and can open a path to promotion to the top for him, then it seems that it is not impossible for him to be loyal to it.

"Only part of it, the transformation ceremony is a way for the empire to replenish new blood!"

The snake priest corrected,

"I know what you are worried about. Whether it is a pure-blooded snake-man like me or a original-blood snake-man like you who has been transformed through a ritual, the difference in treatment received in the empire is judged based on merit. There will be no other difference.”

"Can I see the transformation ceremony of the true dragon egg?"

Orff was reassured and made other demands.

"certainly."

As expected, Orff saw dragon eggs in red, blue, green, black and white in a palace. They were dragon eggs from the Color Dragon Clan.

Orff was not surprised that these snake people were able to collect colored dragon eggs. Even as a great nobleman of a principality, he could collect some as long as he was willing.

However, he did not have the corruption ritual mastered by the Snake Man Empire. Even if he collected the dragon eggs, they were only sold as materials. As for hatching and raising them, he had no such stupid idea.

True dragons are born with inheritance, and will have sufficient knowledge of the world before they are born. The concept of dragons has been shaped the moment they are born.

Any attempt to tame the dragons will only arouse the hatred of the dragons. In history, there have been countless forces that tried to tame dragons and ended up overturning.

But the empire's domestication of dragons is different. They will transform the dragon eggs before they hatch, twisting the original true dragons into corrupting them and transforming them into snake dragons.

Orff saw the snake dragons transformed from the five-color dragon eggs. They had some characteristics of the color dragons, but at the same time, more of them came from the characteristics of some great snakes. Some of the inheritance in their minds had been tampered with. .

"Why are there still bronze dragon eggs?"

Orff originally visited various transformation facilities in the Temple of Ten Thousand Snakes, and his confidence in the empire became stronger and stronger. When he saw a few lonely dragon eggs with bronze colors, his thoughts froze for a moment, and then he came to his senses. Just like a string, it breaks instantly,

"Are you crazy?"

"It's just a few bronze dragon eggs. Your reaction is too strong, Mr. Orff!"

The snake priest frowned and looked at the original blood snake man whose reaction became extremely excited in an instant. Many snake men around him had already looked over with dissatisfied expressions.

"Just a few bronze dragon eggs? Those are metal dragon eggs. Do you know what this means?"

Orff's mood was still high. He was a nobleman belonging to the southern countries. The Balov Principality he belonged to happened to be in the central area where the gates of the abyss were open and demons were raging. The threat of the demon army.

Some of his injuries came from this. Fighting with demons was indeed too challenging for humans.

Back then, his territory was on the verge of destruction several times, but he received help and continued to survive. Two of them he remembered very clearly, which were aid from the Dragon Clan.

The first aid came from a golden dragon whose shape was completely different from that of its kind. When he appeared, he used his overwhelming power to kill the demon warlord who made him despair and prepare to die calmly.

He still remembered the name of that golden dragon, its name was Noah.

The second aid from the dragon clan came from the bronze dragons. These young dragons who came in groups were far less powerful than the first golden dragon.

But in the face of the demon's attack, even if they themselves are at risk of being torn apart by the demon, they will not retreat. On the walls of his city, there are still traces of blood left by the bloody battle between the bronze dragon and the demon.

Now, the descendant of the dragon who fought fiercely with these demons and protected his territory appeared in the palace of a foreign race spying on his world.

How could he tolerate such a thing? He could abandon his own race in order to extend his life, but the descendants of the good dragons who had helped him would suffer misfortune.

Can he ignore it? Of course, but if you really ignore it and take it all for granted, Orff doesn't know what the meaning of his continued life is.

"Of course I know, Mr. Orff, the metal dragon clan is a very united dragon clan, and the bronze dragon is also a dragon that loves its children very much. They will not abandon their children, but so what?"

The snake priest stared at the dragon egg for a while, then his words changed, with disapproval in his tone,

"This place is protected by the power of the original snake mother. Even if the ancient dragon comes, it will never find it. Even if it is found, it is not us who should be afraid, but those metal dragons!"

"Isn't your strength insufficient? Aren't you still dormant now and continuing to develop your strength? Why do you want to offend the Metal Dragon Clan? Don't you know how powerful the Metal Dragon Clan is?"

"The Metal Dragons are indeed powerful, but their terror comes from their unity. However, the powerful Metal Dragons are scattered in various planes, and it is very difficult to bring them together.

Even though bronze dragons value their offspring, how many dragons do you think ordinary metal dragons can call? Your imagination of the Dragon Clan is too scary.

For the empire, the metal dragon clan that is about to lose the protection of the dragon god is not terrible. On the contrary, they are great conversion targets, and I feel like any Metal Dragon can become a member of the Empire. "

"What are you talking about?"

Orff looked at the snake priest in front of him incomprehensibly.

"Don't you know about Holy Dragon Noah? Look at his existence. What basis do you have for saying that the Metal Dragon Clan is about to lose the protection of the Dragon God?"

"Holy Dragon Noah, he is indeed a very powerful dragon, and he is also very young.

However, he is proof that the Dragon Clan is about to lose the protection of the Dragon God. Don’t you think his birth is too unreasonable? "

The snake priest swore an oath as if he was declaring some kind of truth.

"Whether it is a person, the world, or some powerful races, when they are on the verge of extinction, they will always explode to their full potential. However, many times, this explosion is just a futile struggle.

Of course, it is undeniable that such an outbreak will sometimes be successful and can save the situation. However, the more powerful the race, the more powerful the world, the final outbreak can only block the temporary decline, but cannot reverse the final result. .

Holy Dragon Noah is the last afterglow of the Metal Dragon Clan’s explosion. His existence is not worth fearing! "

"Incomprehensible lunatic!"

This is Orff's evaluation of the snake-man priest's sermon-like propaganda.

He did not see any sign that the Metal Dragon Clan was about to decline. Not only that, but in the newly established Kingdom of Atlas, hundreds of dragon lords occupying a large area of ​​lords proved that the Metal Dragon Clan would prosper again.

Although this kingdom is ruled by humans, its nickname is the Kingdom of Metal Dragons.

Many anthropologists have expressed a considerable degree of worry, fearing that in a few hundred years, the eastern border of the continent will be completely transformed into the territory of the metal dragon tribe.

"Ignorant mortals, this is the revelation from the Primeval Snake Mother. However, I can understand you. After all, before you became a snake man, your life was too short and insignificant. The decline of a race like the Dragon Clan is Taking thousands of years as a unit, from your life perspective, of course the Dragon Clan has not changed at all, but has become stronger and stronger."

"You are the one who is stupid. That is the perspective that only the eternal and great beings have. Even if the Dragon Clan declines, it will only happen thousands of years later. What does it have to do with you? Why do you want to provoke the Metal Dragon Clan now? "

Orff retorted and asked sharply.

"This is not my responsibility, and I don't know why there are dragon eggs from the metal dragon clan here!"

The snake priest roared in annoyance.

He recruits two or five young people for the empire, trains a leading party, and brings people to the Ten Thousand Snakes Palace. Of course, he must show that he understands everything and has everything under control.

You can't see a few dragon eggs being frightened to death. How can you make people yearn for the empire and have confidence in the empire? But now he is so angry that he can't talk anymore.

Because with the power they are currently developing in the Zealandia continent, they really should not provoke the Metal Dragon Clan, especially a powerful group that is unusually united with the Metal Dragon Clan. This will expose them in advance.

Which idiot stole this bronze dragon egg? What did he put in his head?

How strong can a snake dragon transformed from a bronze dragon egg be? Is it comparable to the snake dragon transformed from a few red dragon eggs that no one cares about?

Now is not the time to provoke the Metal Dragon Clan. The rewards you get are not proportional to the risks you pay. This is a stupid and brainless thing.

"Give me the dragon egg and I can return it."

"This is impossible!"

The snake-man priest flatly rejected it.

"You are no longer a human being. Even if you have accepted a complete inheritance and can use the transformation technique, there is no way to hide your true form in front of adult dragons.

We must not be exposed to public view now. You don’t have to worry about this! "

Orff was silent, but there was a faint light shining in his vertical pupils.

Even now, he has not forgotten the bronze dragon that fell in front of him.