Chapter 1214
The Seventh Path: War
Dream Realm, Crystal Mountain Range.
This was originally a transparent mountain range with ice as rock and snow as soil.
The glaciers that stretched for thousands of miles were the eternal prison where Calamity Red had resided. When the ice prison was shattered by rage, this mountain range was instantly dyed red by blood. The original snow turned into dark red soil, and the ice turned into rock.
The snow on the ground turned into accumulated blood, deep red and close to black—the color of dried blood on the battlefield.
A chilling aura spread, and weapons, some intact, some broken, were scattered on this sword mound.
These were the weapons of his past self—and all the powerful enemies killed by Vothigern, who impersonated Arthur, and his subordinates. They were all engraved here to witness the tragic glory of each war.
The Great Library, originally built on the snowy mountain peak, had also changed its appearance.
—In fact, it was a gift from the Great Philosopher to Supreme Heaven. Perhaps it could also be considered a form of irony. Supreme Heaven then burned all the books and converted it into a shrine with an altar, replacing the statue of the Great Philosopher with its own colossal statue.
After the Silver Crown Dragon defeated Supreme Heaven, he gradually rebuilt the shrine back into a true library. Knights placed precious books collected here, and occasionally some novels and leisure reading that knights enjoyed. After galloping on their horses, they would return here to read and study—for these heroic spirits on the Path of Authority, they always kept in mind their difference from mere brutes.
But now, with the Seventh Origin River changing hands, its form had also changed.
The books in the library were not all destroyed, but the leisure reading—novels, poetry, and the “impractical” knowledge of literature and art—had all turned to dust. However, the “useful” knowledge, especially that which could be used in combat and war, was preserved intact.
The wooden bookshelves that originally exuded the scent of pine had turned into black iron, covered with scarlet protective runes, and the soft sofas had become straight, hard brass seats.
The exquisite and gorgeous silver chandeliers had all transformed into giant skull chandeliers—the skulls of dragons and giants. Apart from them, there were no other skulls of such size in this world.
The library, originally made of obsidian, which looked like a silent clock tower from the outside and was covered in snow, had now become a war fortress made of molten black iron.
Layers upon layers of skull decorations hung outside the library—the icicles that once dangled from the spire had turned into vertebrae.
Creak—
The sound of a door opening echoed.
A burly man with black hair slowly walked in from outside.
He wore black leather armor—not full plate armor, but like ancient Roman armor, sleeveless and legless, a vest-like armor with a short skirt. Seven silver plates were hung on his chest, each bearing a carved portrait.
There were humans, elves, lizardmen, dragons, giants…
These were the seven most powerful enemies he had defeated in his lifetime.
In the center of the seven silver plates hung a larger, dark red heart guard. It was carved with the head of the Silver Crown Dragon… and considering its red color, it could also be considered his own head.
This was the new Pillar God, Calamity Red.
Unlike Arthur, who was a “dragon,” Calamity Red was a “human” Pillar God—he was not a dragon, but a dragon slayer.
Behind Calamity Red, a huge cloak was draped. It looked like a cloak condensed from blood, or the fur of a bear, or quietly burning deep red flames.
This cloak trailed on the ground, making the ground he walked on look as if a giant brush had drawn a thick, continuous, and clear bloodstain.
Calamity Red’s appearance was exactly the same as Arthur’s mortal form, but his pupils were scarlet.
Unlike Arthur, who always had a poker face, making his emotions and tendencies unreadable and his divine power unfathomable—Calamity Red’s expression was far clearer. His brows were furrowed, his eyes were bright, his lips were pursed, and he looked solemn and serious… as if he was constantly thinking.
As he entered the library, the internal structure of the library continued to transform.
The giant dragon sculptures gradually collapsed and turned to dust. Statues belonging to him took their place—he stood with his hands on a black-red greatsword, standing straight with a stern expression.
Behind the statue, the throne made of silver and tin also changed—it was originally the throne of Supreme Heaven.
After the Silver Crown Dragon defeated him and seized the power of the giants, the throne also changed accordingly. The Dream Realm would undergo corresponding changes due to the concepts of the Material Realm… the succession of Pillar Gods was also one of them.
But after that, the Silver Crown Dragon did not live here, but stayed on the ice mountain peak.
It was to personally suppress the Calamity Demon Dragon, leaving no room for him to escape.
“But in the end, you lost, Vothigern.”
Finally, Arthur spoke slowly. “After so many years… I won in the end.”
This was the first sentence he spoke after becoming a Pillar God.
Under his gaze, the silver and tin throne also changed—
No longer silver and tin, but brass and black iron. Its shape was no longer luxurious and elegant, but ferocious and rough. The two large jewel armrests had become skulls. This was Arthur’s hobby before he became the Crown Heavenly Envoy… back then, he was known as the Skull Hunter.
Arthur always kept the skulls of the enemies he defeated. He believed that he could gain some of their power through this ritual… perhaps he really could.
Calamity Red slowly sat on the throne.
His left hand rested on the armrest, his curled fingers supporting his chin. His right hand rested on the skull armrest.
The next moment, a scarlet nova spread outwards—
The territory that was already slowly expanding instantly expanded hundreds of times.
The eternally sunny emerald grassland turned into a desolate battlefield burning with fire and smoke, filled with trenches.
The lake surface, like a sapphire, also dried up and became a huge void.
It was filled with billions of skulls—
These were not the enemies he had killed.
But everyone who had died in “war” from ancient times to the present.
These skulls were proof of their existence and death in war. Their existence could become the validation of this path on the Origin River of Violence, thus becoming the source of Calamity Red’s power.
Those knights who were banished to the end of the emerald grassland by the Silver Crown Dragon, forbidden from fighting in the name of “command,” were instantly transformed by this surge of power—
Their pristine and new crystal silver armor, like works of art, instantly turned into matte black armor. It was covered in wounds, bullet holes, scratches, and dried bloodstains.
The next moment, they were all teleported in front of Arthur.
Half of the knights prostrated themselves without hesitation—the principle of the Path of Authority was to submit to the strong, let alone this being the “true Arthur.”
But the other half refused to kneel.
Because besides order and admiration for strength, loyalty was also an embodiment of the Path of Authority. When the change in the path conflicted with loyalty, they chose to adhere to their original intentions—they believed this was not Arthur no matter what.
They had even prepared themselves for death!
Just as the Silver Crown Dragon of the past had expelled and killed almost all the giant apostles—except for those protected by other Pillar Gods, all others were wiped out. Those wild Phantom Demons who refused to submit to him were also all killed.
Authority was absolute.
It could not tolerate too many “exceptions,” otherwise it would only weaken itself.
But Calamity Red, unexpectedly, did not act against them.
“Alas…”
Arthur just waved his hand and sighed.
He waved his hand, regrettably withdrawing the power he had bestowed upon them.
…He slightly regretted devouring the Silver Crown Dragon.
Just looking at these knights, the memories of adventuring together with them were etched in his heart and could not be forgotten.
The Silver Crown Dragon of the past had suppressed these emotions to uphold the ideals of his path. But that did not mean he was heartless, nor did it mean these feelings did not exist.
And now, these feelings had become the “comradeship” in arms that Arthur could not forget.
The matte black armor instantly shed its rust and once again turned into silvery white armor. However, it was no longer as bright and brilliant as before, but had become dull.
Arthur looked at his former close friends, who were now almost drawing their swords at him, their eyes filled with vigilance and regret, and felt sadness.
“You may leave.”
Calamity Red said calmly. “I will not kill you… but do not return.”
He said as he waved his hand.
These knights were driven out in a deep red vortex—randomly scattered to the corners of the Material Realm and the Dream Realm.
After mourning for a while, he looked up.
As if reaching out to turn a key, he extended his right hand into the void and slowly turned it.
The constellations of the Material Realm would change, and the original Crown Lord constellation would turn into the Red Dragon constellation amidst rumbling tremors. The original brilliant silver chief star also turned deep red.
“…It’s a pity that the power of the ‘Warrior’ has been divided.”
Calamity Red frowned deeply. “War without a warrior… what kind of war is that?”
For a moment, he did not know what profession to assign.
Because he felt that his path had little power left… it had all been given away in advance by the profligate Silver Crown Dragon.
He could only send a message to the Eternal Pope of this generation, setting his prayer—
The Pure White of the Eternal Church’s Holy See suddenly opened his eyes and involuntarily uttered a prayer:
“——I pray to Calamity Red, the God of Sacred Number Seven.
“The invincible God, the God who wields weapons—”
