Chapter 179: Rest
Aug's right wing was almost completely severed at the root, the wound a bloody, mangled mess. Blood gushed out, forming a large, ever-expanding pool on the ground. Seeing this, Ignius dove down, landing steadily beside Aug.
Up close, the injury was far more severe than he had imagined. The dragon scales and muscle tissue around the wound showed a necrotic discoloration, and life force was rapidly draining away.
"Are you insane?! Get back, now!" Ignius's voice held a note of urgency. He tried to prop Aug up with his front claws, but the other dragon stubbornly shook his claws off.
"I can still fight." Aug gritted his teeth, stubbornly pushing his broken body to a shaky stand. His left wing trembled uncontrollably, struggling to maintain his balance. The massive wound on his right side tore further open with this standing motion, and blood gushed out even faster.
"What good is fighting in that state?! Why didn't you escape?!" Ignius's voice was filled with exasperation; he couldn't understand why this fellow insisted on waiting for death here.
But Aug simply looked up, his bloodshot dragon eyes fixed on him. "Because you came." Aug's voice was hoarse, yet exceptionally clear. "Since losing to you, I've trained every single day."
"Every swing of my claw, every breath I exhaled, I thought, next time I see you, I will be stronger."
"I will catch up to your footsteps."
Ignius was stunned.
Aug completely ignored Ignius's reaction, continuing to speak slowly and deliberately. "Actually, I don't hate you for defeating me."
"On the contrary, I thank you."
"You made me realize how high the sky truly is, how far the path of the strong extends."
"I've been waiting, waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity to fight alongside you." Aug forced a grim smile, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. "I didn't expect this opportunity to come so quickly, so suddenly."
Ignius's throat felt as if it were clogged by something. He opened his mouth but couldn't utter a sound. After a long while, he finally managed to squeeze out a few words from his throat. "I am... not that Ignius anymore."
Ignius's gaze darted away, completely unwilling to meet Aug's dazzling dragon eyes directly. "I chose to run."
"I don't deserve to be called the Dragonkin's undefeated genius anymore."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Ignius felt a tremendous force strike his head. It was Aug; he had used his remaining, still trembling, left wing to forcefully smack Ignius's head.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Aug's voice held a hint of annoyance. "You're standing right here, alive and well, in front of me—isn't that damn well enough?"
"Are you saying that after being called a genius, you don't even have the right to catch your breath?"
"Rest for both body and mind is also crucial training."
Ignius stared blankly at Aug. This prime-aged red dragon, now covered in blood, his wings mangled. Life force was rapidly draining from him, yet he still held his unyielding spine straight.
"From the perspective of a worshipper," Aug took a deep breath, "I won't allow you to call this 'running away'."
"You were just tired, taking a moment to rest, that's all."
"What's there to be ashamed of?" He paused, his tone shifting. "Now, as your defeated opponent, here's what I have to say." Aug raised a front claw and forcefully thumped Ignius's chest. "Go on!"
"The Dragonkin right now need a genius as overwhelmingly strong as you!" His gaze swept over Ignius, a flicker of unconcealed envy in his eyes. "Haven't you rested well enough?"
"Look at those scales, look at those muscles, even your claws are sharper than before."
"You're in peak condition!"
Aug's words were like a fuse. Ignius felt something ignite within him. Mana began to surge. That long-lost instinct for battle was being reawakened. He looked up, towards the distant battlefield.
Flames soared to the heavens. Dragon roars deafened the ears. And there were his kin, constantly falling.
"Yes..." Ignius murmured softly. "I have indeed rested enough."
"The best rest." His voice gradually grew louder, the hesitation in his eyes vanishing, replaced by a fervent light. "Next..."
Ignius spread his wings, the scales on his dragon wings shimmering with a dazzling red light in the sunlight. "It's my turn to let everyone rest."
Aug looked at Ignius, a satisfied smile gracing his face. "That's more like it."
"Go, let those bone-bags see what a true genius is made of."
Ignius said no more. He simply gave Aug a profound look. Then, with a fierce flap of his wings, his entire body shot skyward! The powerful airflow swept away all the surrounding debris. Aug was pushed back a few steps by the current, but he simply steadied himself, looking up at the red figure in the sky.
"So fast..." He grinned. "Truly worthy of being my goal."
Ignius circled once in the air. He didn't immediately charge into battle. Instead, he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Mana surged wildly within his body. Those dormant powers were slowly awakening. He felt it. His physical condition was indeed incredibly good. This past month of rest, though forced by fear, had objectively allowed his body and mind to fully recover. He was even stronger than before.
"So that's it..." Ignius opened his eyes. He finally understood the meaning of Elder Basaka's words. "Only a dragon who knows reverence can reach the end."
It wasn't that reverence would make a dragon cowardly and simply survive. Rather, it was only when you truly recognized that there were forces in the world you could not overcome that you would cast aside useless arrogance and learn to pause and examine yourself. Only then would you know when to rest, when to gather strength, and when... to set forth anew.
Reverence was not weakness. Reverence was for a stronger self.
A faint smile touched Ignius's lips. "Thanks, Aug." Ignius whispered, even though he knew the dragon on the ground could no longer hear him.
Then, Ignius adjusted his posture, his body parallel to the ground, his wings tucked back. He plunged towards the battlefield!
This time, Ignius's speed was faster than any flight he had ever made!
On the ground, Aug watched the red streak vanish instantly at the edge of his vision, then slowly, slowly lay down.
"Finally... I can truly rest..."
Aug closed his eyes forever, the smile on his lips frozen in that moment of satisfaction.
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