Beneath the Red Dragon

”Cutting down the World Tree just for research? What exactly are those mages trying to study to waste resources like this!”

Karon’s mind flashed with this thought, focusing on these mages. Karon once pondered the words of the Squinting Mage Hughes.

Those once incredibly powerful mages wanted to study the Divine Spirit, blocking the faith of the Divine Spirit among humans, which resulted in the gods intervening and causing the collapse of the mighty Magic Empire overnight.

Karon thought that even if those mages were insane, they wouldn’t block all faith in the Divine Spirit. They probably only targeted specific Divine Spirits for their endeavor.

However, it provoked all the gods together to overthrow the Magic Empire, and Karon felt perhaps it was such a reckless act that caused these mages to be feared by the gods.

To say nothing else, just the act of cutting down the World Tree for research made Karon want to pierce a few holes in those mages with his Dragon Claw.

The Squinting Mage felt awkward under the strange gazes of others, even the Jackal-Wolf Man had a curious look in his eyes.

He muttered in a low voice, ”Those mages are indeed a bit excessive, but it has nothing to do with me. I’m a proper Scholar Mage, a theoretician. Do you understand what a theoretician is?”

Karon ignored the Squinting Mage’s excuses and directed his curiosity towards the self-proclaimed World Tree, ”What were those mages intending to research that prompted them to cut down the World Tree? And what is the origin of the creature you nailed?”

The male elf’s soul shook his head, reverting to a calm voice, ”I’m only a test subject for them. Even the seed of the World Tree was sown by those mages in this world; how could I know their purpose?”

”But fundamentally, what those mages want to study is the laws and essence represented by the World Tree. As for what mages intend to do with the essence and laws of the World Tree, maybe the group of mages behind you has their own ideas.”

”And that corpse is an external creature that invaded this world hundreds of years ago, a descendant of the Desolate God wandering the endless stars,” the male elf said indifferently, as if this corpse, still exuding powerful aura even after death, was no different from a common beast.

”Though I’m a life born from the World Tree planted by the mages, many lives in this world were born because of me. They revered my remaining body as a guardian spirit and helped me gather soul consciousness, and naturally, I occupy the role of guardian spirit.”

”The responsibility of guardian spirit!” Karon felt a growing sense of admiration towards the soul present.

Numerous gods of faith, despite being stronger than the life born from the World Tree, rarely display protective behavior towards their believers. Only a few specially valued souls receive the gods’ favor.

Even the Dragon God Tiamat, supposedly favoring the Red Dragon the most, only provides for those Red Dragons that catch her attention. The countless massacred Red Dragon bodies labeled as Evil Dragons serve as proof of this.

As for the Desolate God’s offspring, nearly every Giant Dragon knows of such creatures, but their forms are not fixed kinds. Therefore, Karon’s inability to recognize them is understandable.

Through the subsequent conversation, Karon gradually dispelled his doubts, initially suspecting the soul before him might be the disguised soul of that corpse.

Even possessing the true sight of a Red Dragon shouldn’t lead to blind reliance on one’s ability to see through all disguises.

From the soul named Natis before him, he learned that this plane used to have a powerful dragon tribe, specifically the Green Dragon from the Five-Color Dragon.

”Those Green Dragons nested in the sky, atop a floating island that once fell from the Star Realm. You might want to take a look; perhaps there is something to gain.”

”Those Green Dragons used to command elves, but strength and weakness exist inevitably in this world. Experiencing adversity can prevent elves from becoming complacent, so I’ve been silently observing.”

The male elf’s words made Karon feel like this soul is akin to a plane consciousness born within the plane, possessed of a slight human nature, something akin to a rule. For the most part, it views all creation as equal fodder.

”So, there are no mages’ remnants here, just a battleground?” Mage Hughes finally couldn’t resist asking since their exploration target was the legacy of the former Magic Empire.

The elf Natis shook his head, saying, ”Those mages’ towers once stood beside the ruins of the World Tree, far from here. You probably found this place because of the World Tree’s heart.”

”In that case, we should head back,” Karon decisively made the decision and turned to instruct the Jackal-Wolf Man to prepare to return to camp.

”Wait, Red Dragon, I have a small request,” the ethereal body of Elf Natis called out to the turning Red Dragon, puzzled by how this Red Dragon, without a glance at the Golden Divine Spear, decided to leave, whereas the previous Green Dragon leader even held the Golden Divine Spear while sleeping.

Moreover, the Jackal-Wolf Men and mages eyed the Golden Divine Spear eagerly, wishing to immediately claim it as their own. Only this Red Dragon, known for the Five-Color Dragon’s greed, showed no fluctuation in its gaze.