CHAPTER 474: CHAPTER 279: HOW COULD HE POSSIBLY DESERVE THIS?

After David and his dragons left the protective range of the Dragon Nest on Dragon Island, they opened a "Fesentelerus’s Portal" and returned directly to the Tokamak Fortress in the Kutaro Desert.

This saved a portion of their Authority energy and also conveniently prevented an ambush from the High Elves upon their return to the New Continent, Granyel.

Even though David instinctively felt this possibility wasn’t very high, he still had to be on guard.

It could be said that ever since Sahani Moonbow’s current Chosen of God, Aria, fell unexpectedly into David’s clutches, the ’rules of the game’ between dragons and elves had fundamentally changed.

In the current complex situation, a Chosen of God who could perfectly embody the arrival of the Moon Goddess Sahani was far more important than the gain or loss of any city or territory.

To use a somewhat inappropriate analogy: it was as if in an imbalanced game of LOL, the advantaged side, while rampaging through the enemy’s high ground—practically godlike and unstoppable—suddenly discovered their own lane’s defense towers and inhibitors had been completely demolished by the enemy’s int-feeding Sion. The nature of the match had reverted to the most fundamental objective: destroying towers.

For this reason, after securing the Chosen of God Aria, David immediately decided to abandon his original plan of unifying the New Continent to attack the Elven Kingdom and restrain the opponent’s main forces on the Old Continent.

Instead, he arranged for his spouse and family members to be deployed or settled elsewhere to prevent the High Elves from using them to threaten or restrain him.

Yet, what puzzled David was whether it was because the High Elves were wary of his mother, Pafila; to this day, he still hadn’t encountered a single ambush or trap set by the elves.

Even their offensive against Skanis had slowed.

But based on David’s understanding of the High Elves, these extremists, who easily went to extremes, would definitely not sit by and watch such a situation continue.

Their persistent lack of overt action seemed to point to only one thing:

A major event, it seemed, was about to unfold.

It was like the calm before a storm.

The Slaying King Star, huh?

David slowly raised his head, looking towards the brilliantly sunny, clear, and empty sky.

After much thought, he could only connect this to Tiamat’s plan regarding the ’Dragon Mad Lock’.

After all, Tiamat’s move could be considered an open stratagem.

Whether it was the initial actions against The Slaying King Star or the subsequent deployment of military forces toward Toriel, everything was done almost right under the noses of the High Elf gods, without any concealment.

The target was clear.

Yet, the preparations on both sides had always remained shrouded in the fog of war.

However, despite all his calculations, he hadn’t anticipated that Tiamat, the unreliable Dragon God, in Her rush to seek revenge against Bahamut, would end up eloping with him, so to speak, drifting off until they were completely out of contact.

This left the entire Dragon Race in a terrible mess.

And now, the arrow was nocked and had to be fired:

If nothing unexpected happened, the coordinates he had marked on The Slaying King Star had likely already been traded by Tiamat to the Spider Goddess Rose. This was in exchange for cooperation from Her and the Drow elves in strategies against the High Elves, indirectly making the coordinates a sharp tool for this former elven deity’s revenge against Corellon and even the elven pantheon.

This, in itself, wasn’t originally a problem.

After all, risks and opportunities always coexist; nothing ventured, nothing gained.

But without Tiamat, the Dragon God, personally overseeing things and potentially intervening at a critical moment, the variables were now far too great.

In the past, he’d always thought that even if the sky fell, Tiamat, the five-headed Dragon God, would be there to hold it up. But now, the main support beam had crashed down right on his own family, leaving him with a massive headache.

Thinking of this, David looked utterly helpless, and he also felt a pang of sympathy for his mother, Pafila.

He knew full well that Pafila, the ’homebody dragon,’ had always disliked meddling in affairs. Her only interests were staying in her nest, enjoying being fed by her daughter, Tania, and researching the viability of theories from Blue Star in this world.

But now, She herself had become the busiest one, unable to stop...

Sensing David’s complex and troubled mood, Alicia chose not to rashly probe or comfort him. Instead, she gazed at the towering, mountain-like Metal Fortress before them. Sensing the subdued yet surging Mana Energy behind its steel defenses, she glanced at David with bright, appreciative eyes, her tail swaying teasingly as she said,

"So this is the source of your confidence, what made you dare to venture to Dragon Island? You’d show me such an important secret? Aren’t you afraid I’ll learn it and steal it?"

This was a device that could grant an ordinary dragon legendary power—something even deities would covet.

If a church were to acquire one, it would become an ’impregnable’ fortress, an unshakeable bastion anchored to the very hub of the world.

David, the steel dragon, however, lifted his head, a touch of [Arrogance] in his demeanor, and said haughtily,

"Hmph, go ahead and try. If you can learn it all by yourself, or even cobble one together on Dragon Island, I’ll even take your surname, Brandle Vincent."

He scoffed internally. That thing involved a complete technology tree from another world! If Pafila hadn’t integrated and restored its knowledge system after becoming a deity, he and his father, along with a bunch of Neisser wraiths, would have had an incredibly tough time.

Attilicia, the dragon father standing by, nearly had a stomach cramp from listening. He looked at his son with disdain. Honestly! I have no experience romancing Metal Dragons myself, relying purely on the fanciful notions from bardic chronicles, but even I can see this! It’s like they say, ’the emperor isn’t worried, but the eunuchs are wringing their hands.’

A female asking you this is clearly showing her interest, you blockhead! You really don’t know how to seize an opportunity!

Yet, not a bit discouraged, the Silver Dragon princess chuckled.

"Then why don’t you just teach me? If you teach me the principles, I wouldn’t mind taking the name Sed Ponga, you know."

"..." That straightforward pitch left David completely stumped.

Attilicia, ever the mentor, was also taken aback for a moment before the corners of his mouth involuntarily curled up.

Clumsy as my son is, faced with such a proactive and intelligent Silver Dragon like Alicia, he’s bound to be ’frozen in place, unable to move!’

Just as Attilicia, noticing the atmosphere becoming somewhat amorous, smiled with satisfaction and began to tiptoe away, his body suddenly stiffened.

At the deep, dark entrance of the fortress tunnel, a pair of crimson dragon eyes glowed ominously.

It was his third daughter-in-law...

The Red Dragon, Lizrite.

"Ah, this..."

Perhaps she had sensed the magical fluctuations of the Teleportation Gate and knew David had safely returned from his trip to Dragon Island.

She still held a Bluefin Tuna in her mouth, freshly roasted with Dragon Breath—crispy on the outside and tender on the inside—brought as a welcome-home offering.

Yet, David seemed completely oblivious to being ’caught in the act.’ Instead, his mouth split into a broad grin, and he trotted over with cheerful, quick steps to meet her.

"Is this for me? Perfect timing, I’m starving! You have no idea how bland the food on Dragon Island is."

His perfectly normal demeanor made Lizrite, who had been on the verge of exploding with rage, suddenly pause at the entrance. She was caught in a dilemma, her lava-filled mind experiencing a momentary shutdown.

Could it be... I misunderstood?

Just then, Alicia, the Silver Dragon, having caught up, approached with a bright and forthright smile, saying,

"Lizrite, the [Flameflow Crimson-Shadow]? Even on Dragon Island, I’ve heard of your renown among Elves and humans! The Dragon Nest has more than one bardic chronicle starring you, you know. If my sisters knew I’d met you in person, they’d be green with envy. HEE HEE."

It was the first time Lizrite, who had little experience with dragon etiquette, had received such a compliment from another female dragon, especially a Metal Dragon. She awkwardly pressed her head against the enthusiastic Silver Dragon’s and asked, puzzled,

"You are...?"

"Me? I’m Alicia. Lisriti Alicia Hartfield Brandle Vincent, from Dragon Island. Just a... well, a Silver Dragon who renounced her inheritance and is now a bit homeless, you could say. So for now, I’m just tagging along with this fellow, David Uthos. Please look after me, Sister Lizrite!"

When Lizrite heard the renowned surname Brandle Vincent, combined with her origin from Dragon Island, how could she not realize that the one before her was the legendary Silver Dragon princess?

Even though she had witnessed many grand scenes while following David, this ’country girl’ Red Dragon from Skanis still instinctively recoiled a bit.

"Oh... alright." Even her earlier anger began to subside.

That’s Alicia, the [Sacred Silver Banner], the Silver Dragon princess of Dragon Island!

And David, that guy?

What did he ever do to deserve her company?

Just as Lizrite was being smoothly ’won over’ by the emotionally intelligent Silver Dragon princess...

David, having wolfed down the roasted fish in two bites, licked his chops and then asked with a suddenly serious expression,

"Lizrite, have you ever thought about..."

"...coming home for a visit?"