"Only by employing the order of a more advanced civilization can we truly destroy the order filled with decay, depravity, and sin. Only order can completely replace order; chaos is merely temporary."
When Noah’s will descended once again, the Holy Image that now possessed the vibrant aura of living beings spoke, and its voice fell upon the ears of a group of excited and devout Fallen, sounding like the sacred words of the Divine.
Under such words, the Fallen, whose beliefs in the righteousness of the Paladin’s path wavered due to inner turmoil, began to undergo unusual changes—Dragon Horns sprouted from their foreheads, Dragon Scales manifested on their skin, and Dragon Tails swayed behind them.
Without having resided long-term within Noah’s Dragonization Domain, merely coming into contact with a sliver of Noah’s will, the Fallen Paladins, originally of pure Human Race bloodline, began to exhibit distinct features of dragonification.
However, with a careful observation, one could notice a significant difference between this and the dragonification that occurs with bloodline advancement. Within the radiation range of Noah’s Life Origin, the dragonified features resulting from assimilation and contamination were an evolution based on the essence of life, directly acting upon the body, and could be inherited by offspring.
But the dragonification of these Paladins before our eyes was a power gradually falling upon them. They seemed more as if they donned a suit of dragon-shaped golden light Armor; their bloodline was indeed influenced, but there were considerable differences compared to the Dragon inhabitants who have resided for generations in Elisium City.
"From today on, you are no longer Paladins, but belong to my Holy Dragon Blade. Your duty and mission are to build and maintain the best order in this world."
"Go, head to the East, to the Goltai Region, to assist my offspring, aid them in establishing the ideal place that truly employs the Golden Dragon Code."
"Terra, do you know what war signifies?"
Upon hearing his brother declare his ambition to sweep across the Six Countries, Iliad’s expression became serious, and his heart was filled with helplessness.
Because at the time of their last farewell, he had merely regarded it as the naïve declaration of a youngling, yet who would have thought that when his brother returned, he would indeed bring with him an entire legion.
"Of course, I know. War, accompanied by conquest, brings glory, honor, and a plethora of resources and benefits; it allows for the physical annihilation of those enemies who dare to obstruct you with various plots and schemes in everyday life."
Terramus thought for a moment and then answered with a earnest face.
"No, that’s not it. War has no honor; it only brings slaughter, death, hatred, and pain."
Iliad was shocked to hear his brother’s statement, and promptly corrected his brother’s dangerous rhetoric with a more solemn tone.
Though he had dominion over the Goltai Region for decades, he did not like war. Even though neighboring countries allied in secret to blockade his territory and hinder the economic development of the Goltai Region, he had never thought of destroying surrounding countries through warfare, even if it sometimes really irked him.
But he knew the horrendous hazards of war, had seen too much suffering endured by the lower-class populace, and his teacher had often educated him on this point. Thus in governance, he exercised great restraint over some of his own frantic ideas.
"Slaughter? Indeed, I will kill all who stand in the way of you, my brother, bringing them death. As for their hatred and suffering, who cares?"
Hearing his brother’s words, Terramus fully agreed, but his additional remarks made Iliad even more shocked. Such indifferent and apathetic demeanor and expression made this Angel and Dragon’s Son feel a tinge of fear,
"Anyway, I don’t care."
"No, it’s not like that, Terra, who taught you this? Such thinking is wrong..."
"Brother, why do you think that your ideas are right?"
Without waiting for his brother to finish, Terramus interrupted,
"I know what you want to say. You love peace, trying to resolve disputes through peaceful means, but what’s the outcome?
Is there any major change to this land since the last time I left?
Thirty-seven years have passed, my brother, our sister is already in school, yet the territory you govern sees virtually no change.
Do you know how unbelievable this is on the lands governed by our father? Even in the poorest backward regions, after such a lengthy time of development, it couldn’t possibly be ."
"I admit that the territory I govern doesn’t measure up to my father, even in the poorest backward areas, but that’s no reason to start a war."
Terramus continued trying to correct his brother.
"My dear brother, do you really think that the poverty in your territory is due to your abilities? Isn’t it because neighboring countries are collectively boycotting you?
The surplus goods produced in your territory cannot be sold outside to earn enough currency, and affordable resources from outside cannot enter, this is why your governed land is in distress and poverty.
Since you cannot solve these problems through normal peaceful means, why not use war to destroy them? It is currently the only solution to your problems.
Would you sympathize with those citizens of countries who owe you no allegiance while letting those who obey your orders suffer? Is this the principle our father taught you? I remember that this is not what I learned."