Chapter 287 The Strange and Impatient Golden Dragon

Steel Fortress, fourth floor.

Bathed in the bright, dazzling afternoon sunlight, the red iron dragon stood quietly on the rough, sturdy edge of the lookout tower.

He lowered his head slightly, his gaze looking down at the vast training ground in Dragon Valley below, which was covered with claw marks and charred marks.

There, a battle between vastly unequal forces is unfolding.

The white dragon Therese's massive and icy body, as large as an ice hill, was suppressing two young dragons, whose bodies, though several times larger than in their juvenile stages, still appeared small in her presence, with an absolute advantage in strength.

Serafina, who was entirely black, and Ludwig, whose scales were emerald green.

A fierce combat training exercise is underway under the watchful eye of Red Iron Dragon.

Inside the training ground, energy surged and dragon shadows danced.

The biting cold wind howled, cutting through the air and stirring up wisps of white frost.

Poisonous magical vines burst forth from the ground as if alive, wrapping and tearing with a corrosive green light.

An invisible curse of weakness, like a leech, attempts to erode the white dragon's will and defenses.

Even more so, there was the most primal and direct dragon combat—claws gleaming with cold light tearing fiercely, massive bodies covered in thick scales colliding violently with immense force, producing teeth-grinding metallic friction and heavy thuds.

A variety of attacks came one after another, raining down on the unmoving, pale figure like a storm.

However.

This seemingly fierce siege did not last long.

White Dragon Therese let out a powerful roar, relying on her age advantage and the resulting huge difference in size and strength, she actually managed to withstand the black dragon's curse and the green dragon's poisonous vines as she closed in.

Her massive claws, covered in thick frost, swung out like a battering ram, brutally tearing apart the young dragons' seemingly impenetrable defenses with unparalleled ferocity.

final.

With a muffled roar, she struck with overwhelming force, one giant claw firmly pressing down on the neck of the green dragon Ludwig, while the other giant claw pressed down on the back of the black dragon Serafina like a mountain.

The immense power, combined with the bone-chilling cold air that surged from beneath the claws and was enough to freeze steel, instantly eroded the muscles and joints of the young dragons, pinning them to the cold, hard ground like nailed specimens, rendering them unable to move.

"Green-skinned cubs and black-scaled cubs."

White Dragon Therese held her head high, her gaze sweeping over the two "little guys" who had been completely subdued beneath her claws with the delight of a victor, her voice loud and mocking.

"Too weak, you are simply too weak. Even though you have undergone the baptism of slumber and successfully entered the stage of juvenile dragons, possessing greater power, your pitiful attacks still cannot make me—the noble Pale Wings—shed even a single insignificant drop of blood."

The green dragon Ludwig and the black dragon Serafina are indeed no longer the small young dragons they once were.

After years of dormancy, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, they are now all over sixteen years old, officially entering adolescence with more vigorous vitality and significantly increased strength, and their bodies are several times larger than before they fell asleep.

pity.

Compared to the White Dragon Therese, who is in her prime and possesses considerable talent, their growth is insignificant and still cannot bridge the gap.

As for the other two small dragons in the tribe.

The blue dragon Heriam and the red dragon Cahill, these two older and stronger young dragons, have just entered their crucial period of dormancy, a time for them to accumulate power.

The next time they awaken from their deep dragon slumber, their life level will undergo a leap... and they will most likely be promoted to teenage dragons with greater strength and size.

White Dragon Therese thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of completely suppressing her opponent.

With a mischievous grin, she deliberately ground her enormous, icy claws over the immobilized black and green dragons.

Only when she could no longer feel any resistance under her claws, nor hear the unwilling roars of the young dragons, only heavy and suppressed breathing remained... did she finally release her restraining giant claws with satisfaction.

Deprived of the unbearable pressure, the chests of the young green dragon and black dragon heaved violently like bellows as they greedily gasped for the thin, cold air.

They struggled, slowly getting up from the cold ground.

The sight of them was appalling.

The dragon scales were shattered and rolled up in large areas, like metal tiles ravaged by hail. Strands of scalding dragon blood were constantly seeping from the wounds, spreading dark red marks on the cold ground. The once shiny scales were covered with dirty mud, gravel and dust from the training ground, making them look utterly wretched.

However, their behavior at this moment stands in stark contrast to their disheveled appearance.

Unexpected calm.

Despite suffering utter defeat and the undisguised humiliation from the white dragon, they did not lose their minds or roar in fury... Instead, deep in their eyes, there was a restraint and forbearance far beyond what an ordinary young dragon should possess.

The reason... is actually quite simple.

Similar scenes have played out in past training sessions... this is not the first time.

After being repeatedly bullied and verbally abused countless times...

As the black dragon, who is naturally good at enduring hardship and has a deep mind, and the green dragon, who is even more cunning and knows how to assess the situation, they have long since learned, through countless painful trials, how to forcibly suppress and bury the boiling anger and intense humiliation in their hearts.

They gradually became accustomed to this restraint, regarding it as a necessary course for survival and growth.

"You did a good job."

White Dragon Therese maintained her condescending attitude, her tone carrying a hint of condescending praise.

"It seems that after so many 'friendly' exchanges, you two little brats have fully realized your humble ecological niche in this valley and in front of the great pale wings."

The black dragon Serafina extended her dark red tongue and slowly licked the dragon blood seeping from a deep, bone-revealing wound on her arm.

She raised her deep, dark dragon eyes and looked at the white dragon.

"When Heriam and Cahill awaken from their slumber, their power will have increased even further." The low, hoarse voice paused slightly before continuing, "Noble Pale Wings, we hope you will still maintain this enthusiasm and personally engage in practical training with us."

"I look forward to witnessing your heroic feat of defeating and insulting us by fighting against our four dragons one against many at once."

She pronounced the last two words with exceptional clarity.

The implied threat and challenge in the words are self-evident.

If four young dragons, all of whom have gone through a period of dormancy and have grown stronger by an age, were to join forces, the situation would indeed be quite different.

With the Wild Dragon (Red Dragon Cahill)'s strong body in front, it could absorb the damage.

A natural dragon (the green dragon Ludwig) provides a constant stream of healing and life support from behind.

It has the devastating power of the Storm Dragon (Blue Dragon Heriam) with its raging thunder and hurricane.

Furthermore, the unpredictable curses and soul manipulation of the Necromancer Dragon (Black Dragon Serafina) can restrain and interrupt its attacks.

With such cooperation and combined strength.

Even the young and vigorous White Dragon Therese would never dare to say that she has the upper hand. Even if she wins in the end, the process will be difficult, and it will never be as easy and effortless as it is now.

It's obvious.

Therese's seemingly rough but actually sharp senses instantly picked up on the provocative meaning in Black Dragon's words.

She let out a disdainful sneer, her icy breath condensing into tiny ice crystals in the air.

"Hmph, that's something we need to consider later."

“Now, Blackscale brat, instead of worrying about the distant future…”

Her gaze pierced the black dragon.

"...Why don't you worry about your current situation instead?"

The ecological niche will be greatly enhanced when the four dragons join forces.

White Dragon Therese certainly understood this simple truth.

She didn't need Black Dragon's "kind" reminder at all; she had already considered this possibility in her heart.

but---

She didn't care at all; in fact, she had already come up with a solution.

Her solution was simple.

In one-on-one combat, even if they advance to the juvenile stage, they will still be unable to defeat a mature white dragon alone for a considerable period of time.

At that time... she can completely rely on her absolute individual advantage to educate and discipline them one by one.

As for the more distant future...

Is it possible for the Little Dragons to completely surpass her in strength?

Of course, she had considered it.

Therese's response to this was... simple and brutal to the extreme.

At that point, just lie down, admit defeat, and beg for mercy.

Let them hit and scold us, let them insult and vent their anger, and that's it.

In her view, these were merely some hardships on the dragon's journey.

Therese didn't mind at all.

Since grasping the ecological niche theory, she has suddenly become enlightened, as if she had an epiphany, and has an extremely "open-minded" view of the dragon's life.

Anyway, no matter what.

No matter how powerful or arrogant those little dragons become afterward, they cannot change an ironclad fact already etched in history—they were all once severely beaten by her, Therese.

And more than once.

This honor and achievement are enough to make her stand tall at any time and continue training other new dragons.

"remember."

The voice of the white dragon Therese was as cold as a winter wind: "Don't try to play any clever tricks on creatures of a higher ecological niche than yourself, otherwise..."

Her gaze swept over the black dragon.

"...You'll bear the consequences!"

The final warning was delivered with resounding force.

The green dragon Ludwig's keen intuition had already clearly sensed the intense malice permeating the air, directed at the black dragon.

He quietly took a few steps back without making a sound.

"Like now! Blackscale, it's time for you to pay the price!"

The massive body of the white dragon Therese, radiating a chilling aura, took a sudden step forward, causing the solid ground to tremble.

It was accompanied by a muffled whooshing sound.

Her thick, icy tail lashed out in a vicious arc, striking the side of the black dragon Serafina before she could fully react.

Bang!

With a loud bang, the black dragon's heavy body was launched uncontrollably into the air like a catapult projectile, tumbling through the air before crashing heavily onto the edge of the training ground dozens of meters away, kicking up clouds of dust.

"Black-scaled cub."

"Looks like you haven't learned your lesson yet. We'll... have some extra one-on-one practice."

White Dragon Therese let out a low growl and then pounced.

Before the other party has truly matured, we should repeatedly educate and humiliate them to our heart's content.

Even if I have to return it later.

In this deal, Therese won't lose out.

From the observation deck, Galos withdrew his gaze from the training ground.

He slowly raised his head and gazed into the distance at the vast, boundless Serbian wilderness to the south, a place brimming with both opportunities and dangers.

His gaze swept over the undulating mountains at the border, finally settling on the boundless, ever-changing wilderness sky.

call.

A strong gust of air rose up, accompanied by a slight, sharp sound of metal rubbing together.

Deborah, the Crimson Silver Dragon, hovered gracefully above the watchtower like a gliding falcon before precisely and lightly folding her wings and landing beside the Red Iron Dragon.

She adjusted her posture, adopting an elegant, aristocratic sitting position with her four legs slightly together, and sat down next to the red iron dragon.

What are you looking at?

Deborah turned her long neck slightly to the side, her eyes looking at Garros.

She carefully avoided the menacing, sword-like thorns protruding from Garros's body, and gently poked the Red Iron Dragon's broad and sturdy shoulder with the tip of her agile and delicate tail.

"future."

Hong Tielong's answer was unusually concise, his gaze still fixed on the southern horizon.

Upon hearing this, Deborah, the Crimson Silver Dragon, subconsciously followed Garos's gaze and looked towards the distant southern wilderness horizon.

But soon, she withdrew her gaze and refocused on the red iron dragon beside her.

"It seems you're ready to return to the Sel Wilderness."

She knew Galos's past—he was forced by circumstances to retreat to this wild and barren borderland.

Although he gradually built a vast empire on this land, becoming a powerful and influential king of the border region.

But in Deborah's view...

Deep within Galos's heart, a flame never went out.

Whether it was to wash away the shame of being forced to leave and to avenge his past humiliation, or for the resources and infinite possibilities of the wilderness that were far richer and more alluring than the borderlands... it was only natural and inevitable for him to want to return to his homeland.

The Crimson Silver Dragon tilted its head, asking with a hint of curiosity:

"So... what specific opportunity or event... made you finally decide to return to the wilderness at this time?"

She wanted to know what the final straw was that led Galos to make that last decision.

Galos did not turn around, but simply recounted his encounter with Crystal Princess Elena.

"The Federation of Lortherne?"

A flicker of surprise and worry flashed across Deborah's eyes.

"You want to get involved in the internal affairs of that behemoth? Garros, isn't that a bit too risky?"

"That is a vast federation composed of multiple powerful kingdoms, with profound foundations and strength. Its internal waters are deep enough to drown dragons. Even legendary dragons would find it difficult to deal with troubles of the level of the Kingdom of Lorthen."

Galos shook his head.

“Deborah, you’ve got one thing wrong.”

He slowly turned his head, looked at the crimson dragon, and corrected her misunderstanding.

"The parties with whom I, or rather our Ironforge tribe, have made potential cooperation... have never been the entire Lorthern Federation, or even the Kingdom of Lorthern itself."

"The one I was speaking to was a princess named Elena."

After a slight pause, Garros continued, "Furthermore, because this princess was preoccupied with magical research in her youth and did not actively participate in the cruel power games within the royal court... she did not occupy a position in the intricate power network of the Kingdom of Lorthorn that could influence the kingdom's decisions."

"but."

"The resources she controls—especially that rich magical crystal mine—are far beyond the reach of ordinary noble lords, and that is exactly what we need right now."

"More importantly..."

"Up to now, those kingdoms that are truly at the pinnacle of power and represent the core of the Federation, such as Lortheron and Rebos... have not shown any intention of personally getting involved or taking the lead."

"The ones who have now ignited the flames of war and are fighting each other on the border are merely their respective subordinate duchies, which are playing a game of power on behalf of their will, especially the Duchy of Hartai and the Duchy of Abel, which are fiercely confronting each other on the front lines."

"After reaching an agreement with the Crystal Princess, the scope of our involvement and influence will likely be limited to the 'duchy-level war arena'."

Galos's Iron Dragon bloodline gave him an extraordinary strategic vision, allowing him to see the current situation very clearly.

The current Lorthern Federation is divided into two major factions.

One faction consists of kingdoms and duchies that still consider themselves the legitimate rulers, firmly believe that the Kingdom of Lorthen will not easily fall, and choose to continue to support its leadership.

The other faction consists of nations that are dissatisfied with the existing order, resent the distribution of resources and power, and yearn for a reshuffling. Among them, the strongest and most ambitious is the Kingdom of Reibos, whose comprehensive national strength is second only to Lorthern.

The core of the two factions—Lothern and Reipos, two behemoths—are currently maintaining restraint, like two silent volcanoes, not personally engaging in combat.

The other kingdoms remained as stable as a rock.

They chose to have their subordinate duchies act as proxies, representing their will in battle.

The significance of the victories and defeats in these principality wars lies not only in the gains, losses, survival, and demise of the principalities themselves, but also in the means, strength, and determination demonstrated by the kingdoms they represent in these proxy wars.

Its success or failure will, to some extent, influence the choices of other small and medium-sized kingdoms and duchies that outwardly take sides but are actually still wavering and silently observing.

—Is it a choice to continue supporting Lorthorn, who appears orthodox but is already showing signs of decline?

—Or should we lean toward Rebos, who is ambitious and full of transformative aspirations?

“That Crystal Princess Elena is by no means a fool.”

"She would never be so naive as to think that we, a bunch of dragons rising from the wilderness, could directly shake the deeply entrenched structure of the Federation's upper echelons and change the fundamental situation of the entire Federation."

"but--"

“To participate in and influence wars between lower-level principalities, and to exert power at the level of proxy wars… this is entirely possible and there is room for maneuver.”

For Garros, leading the dragons and the Ironforge tribe into the Sel Wilderness to seize the land's abundant resources... inevitably meant clashing with the duchies that controlled those resources.

In the process, if he could also obtain additional sponsorship from the Crystal Princess, whether it be the coveted treasures and resources she possesses or the valuable intelligence support she can provide regarding the internal movements of the Federation, it would undoubtedly be icing on the cake and adding wings to a tiger.

Just as the two were exchanging words.

At almost the same time as the Crimson Silver Dragon, he sensed a familiar aura approaching from afar at an extremely fast speed.

Both turned their heads simultaneously, their sharp gazes fixed on the direction from which the aura was coming.

On the distant horizon.

The dragon-shaped silhouette, shimmering with pure golden light, is rapidly magnifying in view.

Shortly after, Alberto appeared above Dragon Valley, then folded his wings and landed on the cliff opposite Burning Steel Fortress.

"Garos! I challenge you."

For some reason, Alberto seemed a little impatient. As soon as he landed, he spoke in a deep voice, his tone revealing an undisguised urgency.

Galos did not answer immediately. His vertical pupils narrowed slightly, his gaze fixed on the golden dragon's body, which had undergone significant changes.

It looks different from what it did a few years ago.

Alberto's body changed from its original lithe dragon form to a more robust and muscular one, with muscles slightly bulging beneath its golden scales. Its scales became denser and thicker, and its claws and teeth seemed sharper.

His strength has become somewhat similar to that of a red dragon of the same size, and his dragon aura has also increased significantly.

but.

Alberto's eyes had some bloodshot veins that shouldn't have been there, and his tail was constantly swaying from side to side. He seemed somewhat irritable, which was inconsistent with the majestic and calm demeanor of a golden dragon, as if he hadn't rested in a long time.

"You seem to be in a hurry, but don't rush."

After thinking for a moment, Galos said, "I am not interested in challenges that are meaningless and without cause."

"As a challenger, what are you willing to give up?"

"Or, what kind of prize are you willing to offer to match the value of this challenge and make me interested in accepting it?"

(End of this chapter)