Chapter 662: Charge into the Abyss

On the Rhen Plateau, night had fallen.

The lake's surface was smooth as a mirror, reflecting the river of stars overhead, yet it remained veiled by a faint, almost imperceptible gray haze.

The shadow of the Dark Star had not yet withdrawn.

The plateau's night wind was sealed off, leaving not a single ripple on the lake. The reeds no longer rustled, and even the occasional cries of nocturnal birds from afar had fallen completely silent.

The shadow lay like a thin veil over the sky and the earth, isolating this place from the rest of the world.

No one could know what was happening within.

In the celestial lake, there was one man and one dragon.

The Red Iron Dragon meditated in silence.

He altered his previously upright and dignified seated posture, sinking half his body into the lake, leaving only his raised ridge and enormous head exposed. His gaze was deep and quiet, burning like two submerged flames.

Across from him, the Dark Star still stood on the water's surface, with no ripples beneath his feet.

He did not urge the dragon for an answer, only waiting quietly. On his ordinary, unremarkable face, there was no trace of impatience or annoyance.

Then, the Red Iron Dragon slowly raised his massive head.

He narrowed his eyes, his gaze falling on the Dark Star's face, carefully scrutinizing and sizing up his expression.

At the same time, the dragon was thinking.

The proposal from this Immortal before him was, without a doubt, extremely favorable to him if it could proceed smoothly. It could directly eliminate the major threat hanging over his head.

But there were also many issues that could not be ignored.

After a few minutes of silence, the Red Iron Dragon's deep voice rang out.

"Establishing a new Halden."

His voice spread slowly across the water as he spoke. "Abandoning the homeland, leaving for a distant land, leaving behind all the accumulated legacies of generations, then taking the people to an unfamiliar Material Plane. Tearing everything down and starting over from scratch on foreign soil."

"I must admit, this takes courage and resolve."

The Red Iron Dragon tilted his head slightly, looking toward Halden's Dark Star.

"Honestly, I would like to see a new Halden Empire born, to see an empire that truly stands on its own strength and will."

"If I could witness such a sight, it would not be without interest."

His tone was candid, without pretense.

Because, including Sacred Aola, the entire Bernardo did not have an empire truly supported by the common people from the bottom up. If the Dark Star could achieve this, Garoth would not withhold his congratulations.

Across from him, the Dark Star's expression still showed little change, and there was no joy on his face.

As an Immortal, he had naturally experienced negotiations and communications with other intelligent beings more than once.

He knew a golden rule.

When a creature first praises his idea, it is often best not to be too happy too early.

And sure enough.

As soon as the great dragon finished speaking, his tone shifted slightly.

"But, Dark Star, what you said..."

The great dragon's lower jaw lifted slightly, and the light in his eyes became sharp, as if it could pierce the shadow covering this place.

"What you said is all empty talk."

"Why should I believe that every word you just said came from the heart, and is not a mockery or deception toward me?"

He lowered his head slightly, shortening the distance between himself and the Dark Star. The dragon's breath, carrying the heat of molten metal, nearly washed over the other's face.

"I ask you."

"Can you produce evidence of the corruption of the Halden Emperor and Dawn? Do you have any proof of the Abyss's corruption? Even a shred of convincing evidence?"

The Dark Star was silent.

Moonlight fell on his face, and he gently shook his head.

"The corruption of the Abyss is the most secretive thing in this world."

"It is not like the glaring wounds of a knife or sword, nor does it cause a person's skin to grow scales or pustules."

"It hides beneath a glossy exterior, behind impassioned and grand speeches, and then erodes a person's will, judgment, and the depths of their soul without them noticing."

"By the time it is discovered, it is often already too late."

He paused, his gaze meeting the great dragon's.

"I have no evidence of this."

"If I did, I would have presented it directly before the Imperial Central Command, rather than running alone in the dead of night to the territory of a hostile ruler to seek cooperation."

These words were not false.

Garoth had the Dragon Legacy and knew very well how terrifying the corruption of the Abyss was.

This thing was silent and unseen; even a god might not detect it until the very last moment.

As for why it was so secretive, the Dragon Legacy had an explanation.

The Abyss was formed from the reflection of the most chaotic and evil thoughts in the hearts of all living beings across the planes. It was inherently connected to all life, two sides of the same coin.

Its corruption was like a shadow blending into darkness; its presence could not be felt at all.

"As for cooperation."

The Dark Star raised his right hand, his five fingers curling inward as if grasping something.

A deeper shadow coalesced in his palm, churning for a moment before receding like a tide, revealing the thing hidden within.

It was a scroll of contract.

Its material was unlike parchment, paper, or cloth. It was more like a milky-white substance with a faint luminescence, its surface densely covered with countless runic circuits too small for the naked eye to discern, interwoven layer upon layer.

The scroll itself had no supporting structure.

It hovered slightly above the Dark Star's palm, rotating slowly on its own. Each rotation brought with it a faint, barely visible ring of golden ripples, like the first rays of dawn on the horizon before sunrise.

"This is a blank contract."

Ryan said, his voice carrying a note of solemnity.

"It was left by the Dawn Church, personally crafted by the High Archbishop, and bears the witness of the Dawn God. Even for an Immortal being, it has sufficient binding force."

"Once signed, the price of violation cannot be avoided even by an Immortal body."

He held the contract in his palm, offering it flatly forward.

"The terms are for you to write."

"Write them one by one according to your thoughts. Whatever guarantees you want, put them down. As long as the terms are not too excessive, I am willing to sign my name to them."

"This is more trustworthy than any empty talk, is it not?"

Garoth's gaze fell on this scroll.

He could feel the power contained within it.

A very righteous, very pure sensation, without any impurities or hidden malice.

The Dawn Church.

Garoth, of course, knew of it.

They worshipped the Lord of Dawn, a high-ranking deity who held dominion over creation, dawn, renewal, and birth. Among the gods, he was a very powerful existence, with churches and followers spread across numerous planes and worlds.

On Bernardo, there was little soil for faith.

The Halden Empire was much the same; divine power was far weaker than royal power. But the Dawn Church was an exception. It was Halden's state religion, holding considerable influence and a high status.

"I recall that the Dawn Church is Halden's state religion."

The Red Iron Dragon said. "But it seems they have had no news in recent years, gradually fading into obscurity."

The Dark Star nodded.

He said regretfully, "When the Empire proposed developing the Abyss, the Dawn Church's personnel tried to dissuade them by all means."

"They sent their most senior priests to repeatedly state the dangers of the Abyss before the Imperial Parliament."

"But in the end, the plan was passed. The Church's objections were ineffective, and they were suppressed by the Imperial Central Command. Many bishops were removed from key positions, and their voices were deliberately silenced."

"In the end, they gradually distanced themselves from the Empire, relocating in waves."

"Their figures are no longer seen on Bernardo. They should have gone to some Material Plane as well."

I see.

This church was quite decisive. They left when they said they would, able to put aside their status as the state religion and their accumulated prestige. That kind of resolve was no small feat.

The Red Iron Dragon asked no further questions, his gaze returning to the Dark Star's face.

"I can feel your sincerity, Ryan Steinbeck."

"But this matter is not something I can decide on the spot based on a single late-night conversation and a scroll."

"I need time to think."

He said.

The Dark Star nodded, and there was no disappointment on his face.

"For such a major matter, even I would need to think it over carefully if I were in your position."

His tone was very calm. "If Your Majesty agreed outright tonight, I would instead suspect you of having ulterior motives."

With that, he took a step forward and gently set the contract down.

The contract hovered in the air, as if held up by an invisible force, not falling.

Then, this Immortal took a small, dark-colored crystal from his bosom.

Its surface had no runes or decorations. It looked like a common pebble picked up from the roadside, as unremarkable as he himself was.

"It shares the same origin as my power."

"If Your Majesty has made a decision, simply infuse your will into it. No matter when or where, I will receive the message."

He placed the dark crystal beside the contract, then stepped back.

"This blank contract will be left here. The terms are for Your Majesty to write, the clauses for Your Majesty to decide. If you ultimately decide to cooperate with me, please contact me immediately, and I will come at once to sign my name."

The Dark Star looked up at the Red Iron Dragon.

"If cooperation does not come to pass in the end, consider this blank contract an apology for disturbing Your Majesty's peace tonight."

"Very well."

The Red Iron Dragon retracted his claws, seizing both items.

The contract and the crystal appeared extremely tiny in his massive claws, but his movements were deft and precise, without damaging them in the slightest.

He said, "I will give it serious consideration."

Upon hearing this, the Dark Star nodded slightly.

His body began to blur, starting from the edges of his outline, growing fainter bit by bit. The shadow that had hung over the great lake also began to slowly dissipate.

The moonlight became clear again. The light of countless stars pierced through the veil-like layer of shadow, once again spilling onto the lake's surface.

The lake rippled with shimmering waves, and the world quickly became vibrant.

And just before he vanished completely, the Dark Star's voice came one last time.

"The Empire is rapidly pushing through the proposal to counterattack the Abyss. There is not much time. I hope Your Majesty can also give a reply as soon as possible. Once the Platinum Star's engines are reignited, everything will be irreparable."

The final syllable of this sentence fell into the night wind, then dissipated along with the last of his afterimage.

The Red Iron Dragon lowered his head, leaning close to the contract to examine it for a few moments.

Then, he stored both the contract and the crystal away, sinking more of his body into the water, leaving only half of his head exposed. His nostrils and the rims of his eyes floated on the surface, and his breath stirred a series of tiny ripples across the lake.

"A corrupted Halden... the Abyss..."

Countless pieces of information collided and floated in his mind. His gaze dimmed slightly as he fell into contemplation.

This Dark Star seemed to have come with sincerity.

But one contract was not enough to make Garoth set aside all his concerns.

He felt that the very purpose of a contract's existence was to be broken.

Violating it might come at a price, a heavy one, but for an Immortal life, it was by no means fatal. It could be endured.

And this contract wasn't all that important.

Garoth also had the great ace of ascending to godhood.

Even if it were a trap, it would be very difficult to truly kill him.

The key was whether the risks matched the rewards.

"Halden's Platinum Star is said to have been built solely for combat, with few other functions. Although it is not as versatile as Nausil's elves' moon, in pure combat capability, it far surpasses a single Immortal."

Thinking of this, his heart tightened.

In essence, the Platinum Star was an Immortal-level alchemical colossus.

As long as the materials could be supplied, through extreme resource stacking and the heartfelt efforts of generations of Halden, the 'base stats' of the Platinum Star could vastly surpass those of dragons.

This was a strategic, ultimate weapon. It could not simply be regarded as an ordinary Immortal.

"If Halden's plan to counterattack the Abyss goes smoothly, with the formidable Platinum Star and the resources of an entire Abyssal plane, who would they set their sights on next?"

The answer to this question was obvious.

If it went poorly, and they were instead swallowed by the Abyss, the situation would be equally troublesome.

The Abyss could corrupt everything, including alchemical colossi.

In that case, Halden's Platinum Star would likely become a demon lord's weapon, driven by the demon king to invade Atlan.

"Agreeing to Ryan could simultaneously curb both possibilities: preventing Halden's expansion after a successful Abyss counterattack, and also preventing them from being turned back against us by the Abyss if they fail."

"The problem is, this could be a trap."

"Moreover, overthrowing Halden's existing central government does not mean the danger of the Abyss is over. Once Halden leaves, Sacred Aola would instead have to face the Abyss head-on."

The stakes were high.

Whichever choice was made came with considerable risk, and even Garoth was having a hard time deciding.

Gradually.

Several days passed.

At noon, the scorching sun poured down from the sky, shining upon the Continent of Atlan.

Garoth stood on the high platform of the dragon court, the residual heat from his recent return from the white dwarf still clinging to him, causing the surrounding air to distort slightly.

"It looks no different from before. Who would have guessed that turmoil is brewing inside?"

He looked up, his gaze sweeping over the silhouette of the massive city suspended above the clouds.

He had not spent too much time thinking about the Dark Star's proposal.

A brief discussion with his blood kin had yielded no particularly good results.

In the end, Garoth decided to put it out of his mind.

His reasoning was simple.

Since either choice came with trouble, it was better to stay put and wait for changes, focusing on training and growing stronger, while waiting for the Dark Star to offer more chips, or to see if other variables would emerge.

After all, he was not the one in a hurry.

Just then, the light before him suddenly grew brighter.

Garoth's slit pupils narrowed slightly, his gaze locking back onto the sky.

A beam of light descended.

As it lowered, it rapidly expanded, stretched, and coalesced into a humanoid silhouette. His robes fluttered amidst the radiance, and every inch of his skin, every strand of his hair, was woven from pure light.

As he landed before the Red Iron Dragon, the radiance retracted, revealing a human figure.

He had a youthful, handsome face, and his hair color was special, a shade between silver-white and pale gold.

He carried a sense of blazing heat and majesty. Wherever he went, he stood out like a crane among chickens, very conspicuous. His temperament was completely different from the Dark Star.

At the same time, a halo of light enveloped the area, isolating the dragon court platform from the outside world.

Garoth watched this scene, silent.

Another one.

Did Halden's Immortals all prefer this kind of sneaky meeting? The Dark Star used shadows, this one used light. The methods were different, but the essence was exactly the same.

"Allow me to first introduce myself."

The visitor slightly inclined his head, a polite smile on his face.

"My name is Noxian. In Halden, I am known as the Blazing Dawn. I have long heard of the Scarlet Emperor Cangxing's reputation. It is an honor to face you at such close range."

The great dragon lowered his eyelids, gazing at the human before him.

Blazing Dawn.

One of Halden's two Immortals.

Unlike the Dark Star, who rose from the common folk, Noxian was of royal blood, and the most ancient pillar of Halden's royal court. His very existence was a part of Halden's imperial history. He was older and more ancient than the Dark Star.

A few days ago, the Dark Star had just come.

Now, this Dawn had also arrived.

"Skip the pleasantries."

Garoth said calmly. "Why have you come to see me?"

Hearing this, the Immortal's smile paused for a fleeting moment before returning to normal.

He was a bit surprised.

"I appeared in such an abrupt manner, yet it seems to have provoked no surprise from you at all."

"Could it be that you knew I would come?"

He asked.

The great dragon let out a low snort. "There's nothing to be surprised about."

"I often gaze up at Halden's floating city. From the day I was born on Atlan, it has hung over my head."

"I knew that sooner or later, I would meet the Immortals who live above."

"So, since you're here, get to the point."

Noxian listened quietly, then nodded slightly.

At the same time, he put away the polite smile on his face, replacing it with a solemn expression.

"In that case, I will try to speak only of the important parts."

"The Abyss's corruption of our empire has reached an unimaginable level. Halden, without anyone realizing it, has become riddled with holes."

He spoke this sentence directly, without any circumlocution or preamble.

The Red Iron Dragon's pupils narrowed.

This sentence was almost identical to what the Dark Star had said a few days ago. And it seemed this Immortal had no idea that the Dark Star had visited him first.

"Why do you say that?"

The Red Iron Dragon asked.

Noxian spoke slowly. "I suspect that the empire's other Immortal, my colleague, my junior, Ryan Steinbeck, the Dark Star..."

"He has been corrupted by the Abyss."

Garoth's expression showed no ripple, but his heart churned.

The Dark Star suspected Noxian of being corrupted, and Noxian suspected the Dark Star of being corrupted. These two Immortals were both accusing each other, and their rhetoric was nearly identical.

So the question was.

Who was right and who was wrong? Or were both compromised? Or was neither compromised, and this was merely an internal power struggle within their empire?

"Oh? Tell me your reasons for suspecting him."

Garoth asked, showing an intrigued expression.

Noxian clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze slightly raised, looking towards the silhouette of the giant city above the clouds in the distance.

"Ryan Steinbeck, our Halden's Dark Star."

"He rose from obscurity, climbing from the very bottom of the commoner class all the way to the realm of Immortality. This was made possible by the empire's nurturing, but more so by his own innate talent."

"After reaching a high position, he still did not forget his origins."

"Over the years, he has been fighting for the rights of the grassroots, suppressing corrupt nobles, and promoting institutional reforms. He has done many practical things: establishing poorhouses, abolishing some unreasonable harsh taxes, and punishing a number of corrupt officials who had aroused great public indignation."

"This, in itself, is a good thing."

"I do not deny that he is a man worthy of respect."

He paused, then changed his tone and continued.

"But the problem is... his actions have become increasingly radical."

"It sounds somewhat ridiculous to say."

"An Immortal, an existence at the highest echelon of the empire, standing at the pinnacle that mortals look up to, would actually do some unbelievable things."

Garoth was a bit curious.

"What things?"

He asked.

Noxian shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his tone.

"For example, disguising his identity and concealing his face."

"He would sneak into the mansions of high-ranking nobles in the dead of night to assassinate those he deemed as nobles who preyed on the people, acting as a chivalrous thief delivering justice. He would distribute the plundered wealth to the commoners."

"His methods were clean and efficient. He would haul away wealth from the nobles' treasuries, then scatter it on the streets of the slums."

"He thought no one knew."

"But under the light, shadows have nowhere to hide. He did it too many times and did not fool me, a fellow Immortal."

The Red Iron Dragon showed a look of surprise for the first time.

This was the first he had heard of such things.

An Immortal playing the role of a chivalrous thief, assassinating nobles from his own empire, distributing wealth to the commoners? It sounded like an absurd tale made up by a third-rate bard.

As for whether this was true or false...

Garoth leaned towards it being true.

Because it was too bizarre.

Under normal circumstances, no one would believe that an Immortal would do such a thing.

Noxian had no need to fabricate such an outlandish lie.

That said, while that Dark Star harbored some lofty ideals and beliefs, he also seemed to have some significant problems.

"So impatient, so extreme."

"This is definitely not the normal state an Immortal should be in. Therefore, I believe he has been influenced by the Abyss."

"Even an Immortal has been corrupted. That is the current state of Halden. If this continues, the empire will surely collapse, dying from internal decay."

A sharp light flashed in Noxian's eyes.

"So, to change the current situation, I have made a decision."

"To take advantage of the opportunity to restore the Platinum Star and counterattack the Abyss."

"Only through a glorious victory can the empire be reunited. Only in the glory of victory can the shadow cast by the Abyss in people's hearts be dispelled."

"Victory. Glorious victory."

"Let those things that have been corroded, contaminated, and twisted be burned away in the radiance."

"This is the only way out for our Halden."

He said in a deep voice.

"So, what does this have to do with me?"

Garoth remained calm as he asked.

Noxian seemed to have anticipated this question.

He looked up at the formidable, mighty dragon, a solemn and earnest expression on his face.

"I sincerely hope that Sacred Aola will stand on the same side as Halden."

"If we win this time, Atlan will no longer have to worry about the danger of the Abyss. The Lord of the Flame Prison will be slain, the Abyssal Rift will be sealed, and the entire sky and land of Atlan will become clean and brand new."

He paused, then laid out his terms.

"I also know that you are unwilling to share Atlan with Halden. One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. Everyone understands that."

"This can be negotiated."

"After we win this war, Halden is willing to migrate, to go to the Continent of Thalassia and live alongside the orcs, handing over Atlan completely... as a gift."

"The sky, the land, the lakes, the mineral veins—all left for you and your people."

For Halden, as long as the Abyss problem was solved, migration was not difficult. The floating city could move on its own. Their foundation had never been on any specific piece of land.

Garoth lowered his gaze, looking at the Immortal.

"What if I refuse?"

He asked.

Noxian's expression was solemn.

"If you refuse..."

"Halden will still charge into the Abyss."

Noxian gazed into the great dragon's eyes, his tone deep. "I know that in your heart, you look down on Halden, believing us to be hypocritical and full of pretenses."

"Of course, you have every right to look down on us."

"We are arrogant, conceited, self-important, considering ourselves the rulers of the sky, beings like gods. Yet we personally opened the Abyssal rift, setting the stage for disaster."

He offered no excuses, speaking plainly.

"I admit all of this."

"For the sake of better development, the Empire took a wrong path, making countless lives pay the price. For those lives lost in the Abyss invasion and those lands that were destroyed, Halden bears an inescapable responsibility."

"But, we may be deeply sinful, but we are no cowards."

A flame blazed in Noxian's eyes.

"Even if we must pay the most painful price and shed our last drop of blood, Halden will still face the Abyss and personally end the danger it has brought. This was the disaster we caused, and it is only right that we clean it up."

"You can watch us charge into the Abyss. We will have no complaints."

"But perhaps, we are also an ally worth fighting side by side with."

"This is Halden's pride."

After this impassioned speech, this Blazing Dawn left the choice to Garoth, and then departed.

Now, before Garoth lay three choices.

Sit back and wait, keep his distance, and observe Halden's actions; cooperate with the Dark Star to launch a surprise attack on Halden's central command; or fight alongside the Blazing Dawn to assault the Abyss.

Which path to choose?

Garoth had originally pushed the problem to the back of his mind, but Noxian's appearance had thrown him back into contemplation.