Chapter 288 Five Years! Do you know how I've spent these past five years?!

Alberto's bloodshot vertical pupils were fixed on Garos, his massive dragon wings slightly raised.

A faint glow from the alchemical artifacts flickered.

One after another, enormous treasure chests, crafted from heavy solid wood and reinforced with metal strips around their edges, appeared out of nowhere and crashed heavily onto the cliffs and rocks where he stood, making muffled thuds and raising clouds of dust.

"This is 30% of the original debt plus interest."

Alberto said with a pained expression.

Red Iron Dragon's gaze swept calmly over the treasure chests, and he nodded slightly.

Almost at the same time he nodded, a group of well-trained dragons of various sizes rose from the shadows of Burning Steel Fortress, grabbed the heavy wooden treasure chests one by one, and quickly carried them away from the valley cliff.

"These things originally belonged to me."

"Whether you take the challenge or not, they will be returned sooner or later and cannot be considered as a bonus attached to your challenge."

Hong Tielong said.

"I know."

Alberto said, "It's just a partial payment."

He exhaled and then said in a deep voice:

"If I lose, I will owe you an additional debt equal to twice the original total amount."

"But if I win, that will be enough to prove that I am stronger than you. Undeniably stronger. Completely surpassing you."

The thick neck of the red iron dragon, covered in heavy scales, swayed slightly, producing a faint metallic scraping sound.

really.

It had been a while since he had properly stretched his muscles and enjoyed a serious fight.

However, seeing Alberto's eager expression, Galos didn't mind talking to him a few more times.

“Alberto, you seem very eager to win this battle.”

He shook his head and said, "In my opinion, the probability of this victory is not high."

"If you lose, it will be even harder for you to pay off your debts."

Are you sure you still want to challenge me?

Alberto, the golden dragon, nodded heavily with his enormous head covered in golden scales.

Without any hesitation.

Without any hesitation.

It's as if they've already thrown the so-called consequences to the back of their minds.

In reality, his willingness to challenge the formidable Iron King of the border region, despite the risk of mounting debt, stemmed not from a mere competitive spirit.

The root of the problem lies in the almost self-destructive, ironclad vow he made five years ago in a moment of youthful arrogance and impulsiveness.

—Before truly defeating and completely surpassing the Red Iron Dragon Garros, Alberto will abstain from all forms of entertainment and leisure activities. He will devote himself wholeheartedly and without reservation to training and honing his own limits.

In the first two years, this oath served as a constraint and impetus.

Alberto pushed himself to the limit day after day, night after night, immersing himself in the fulfillment that came with this extreme training. He enjoyed it immensely, filled with high morale and an unwavering belief in victory. It seemed as if surpassing Garos was just around the corner.

However.

As time relentlessly flowed into the third year, the enthusiasm began to wane.

A deep sense of weariness crept over his body and mind like vines.

He began to long for a moment to relax his tense nerves, even if it was just to briefly look up at the stars or lazily bask in the sun.

but.

Because in order to solidify his resolve, he made an overly ambitious and ruthless vow.

Let alone entertainment and relaxation.

Even the most basic, sufficient rest time has become a luxury.

The Holy Dragon's proud regenerative abilities.

At this moment, it has instead become a curse.

Whenever he trained himself to the point of exhaustion, collapsing to the ground like a rag doll, it wouldn't be long before the vow would instantly transform into an invisible flame, forcing him to get up immediately, as if his back were on fire, and throw himself back into the grind.

What pained him even more was...

His grand ambitions, his dream of creating a perfect golden law, all these magnificent blueprints for the future, can now only be thought about and constructed in the short, pitifully brief breaks between vows, squeezed out like toothpaste.

The entire dragon was like a spinning top being whipped by an invisible whip, never having a moment to rest.

Five years, a full five years!

He was so busy that he almost questioned the meaning of his life.

Even the inherently obsessive nature has been worn down and diluted considerably in this boundless tempering.

finally--

Five years have passed.

Alberto could no longer endure it, and a voice deep within him roared:

They have undergone five years of extreme training that can be described as purgatory.

The potential of the noble golden dragon bloodline flowing in his body has been almost squeezed to its limit and brought to its fullest potential.

He has grown a lot since five years ago.

With his potential, his talent, and his continuous efforts over the past five years... he may not be weaker than Hong Tielong at this moment.

"I've made up my mind!"

Alberto's voice was resolute: "Garos, accept my challenge."

As soon as the words were spoken.

Alberto's sharp forepaws, covered in thick golden scales, sliced ​​deep, bottomless furrows into the hard cliffs and rocks like a hot knife through butter.

His massive limbs suddenly bent, and his muscles taut and bulged high like golden cables.

The entire massive and heavy dragon body lowered slightly, like a golden bow stretched to its limit.

The entire dragon is poised to unleash its power, like an arrow on a bowstring, ready to strike with thunderous force.

"Then come on, challenger."

Galos's voice remained calm as he announced the start of the challenge.

call--!

The red iron dragon's pair of majestic, sky-covering wings suddenly spread out completely.

With a seemingly casual wave, a fierce hurricane was created out of thin air.

Immediately afterwards, he transformed into a crimson meteor that tore through the sky, shooting straight up into the vast and distant firmament without any frills.

We must win.

Alberto the Golden Dragon roared inwardly.

Buzz—!

Buzz—!

Two sacred and majestic lights suddenly shone.

A crown, symbolizing authority and flowing with dazzling golden light, instantly appeared on his proud head. At the same time, the Holy Oath War Halberd, symbolizing the will to conquer and engraved with ancient vows, also shone with dazzling light. It was formed from pure energy and firmly held in his huge dragon claw.

Jinlong, a young man fully armed, was bathed in a sacred light.

His enormous golden dragon wings were also flapped with all their might at this moment, and the entire dragon transformed into a golden lightning bolt that tore through the sky, and then charged fiercely into the boundless sky where the wind and clouds were churning.

at the same time.

Apart from Deborah, the Crimson Silver Dragon who still stands on the edge of the fourth-level watchtower of Burning Steel Castle, her long, elegant claws resting above her brow bone as she looks up and gazes at the scene as if watching a play.

In the training field below.

White Dragon Therese had long since suspended her "education" of the two young dragons.

She was now watching with great interest, along with the black dragon Serafina who had just gotten up from the ground and the thoughtful green dragon Ludwig, focusing on the two figures that were about to collide in the sky.

"The ecological niche of the golden dragon is indeed very high within the mainstream dragon lineage."

White Dragon Therese calmly analyzed the situation in her mind.

"In the eyes of other races, and even in front of most five-colored dragons and metal dragons, they naturally appear majestic, sacred and noble."

"but--"

A silent sneer escaped her lips.

"—He insisted on challenging Garoth, a red iron dragon whose ecological niche was essentially higher than his."

"A lower-ranking person challenging a higher-ranking person will likely only result in being crushed and humiliated once again."

She didn't need to watch the process; she had already foreseen the outcome.

"Hmph, that arrogant golden dragon who doesn't know his own limitations."

Ludwig the Green Dragon flicked his slender, emerald-green tail and let out a contemptuous sneer.

“The great Iron King will soon beat him to his knees and beg for mercy,” he said in a low voice.

Beside her, the black dragon Serafina, who had just struggled to her feet, also nodded silently in agreement.

(End of this chapter)