Chapter 316 The Little Dragons' Revenge Plan

Faced with Alberto's resounding challenge once again, the muscular, imposing humanoid figure merely raised his eyes slightly, a thoughtful glint in them, before giving up immediately.

At the same time, a faint light flashed.

His human form vanished rapidly, revealing a massive and imposing dragon form that was even more oppressive, its black scales gleaming with a metallic sheen.

Alberto suddenly wanted to change his approach from a friendly sparring match to a challenge.

Galos understood perfectly and could roughly guess the source of his confidence.

When ordinary five-colored dragons transform into a weak human form, they are limited by the unfamiliar body with a very different structure and can usually only exert about 50% of their original strength. Moreover, this is only after they have mastered the transformation technique.

And like Garus, a young dragon who has only just mastered the art of transformation for the first time.

Under normal circumstances, due to extreme unfamiliarity with human anatomy, severe lack of limb coordination, and even basic exertion of force, the ability to exert force is reduced to a pitiful 20-30%.

In contrast, Alberto, a golden dragon much older than Garus, has been practicing shapeshifting for decades.

His mastery of human form was already unparalleled, enough to unleash about 70% of his original strength.

70% to 30%!

There is a huge gap of nearly 40% in the proportion of human form being utilized.

Such a huge disparity in proportions was, in Alberto's view, a golden opportunity. His chances of winning were not just considerable, but almost overwhelming. The advantage lay with him!

However, Alberto was unaware of this.

None of the dragons present, including their retinues, knew what was going on.

Although Galos did dislike the feeling of power reduction that came with human form, he had an extraordinary understanding and familiarity with human body structure and power generation.

During battle.

He would never make basic mistakes such as uncoordinated movements or awkward exertion.

In fact, the moment he transformed, the power he could mobilize was already close to that of those evil dragons who were skilled in this technique, firmly standing on the threshold of 50%.

In short, Alberto's beautiful vision is probably destined to remain just a pipe dream.

"He currently owes only about 30% of his original principal..."

“If he loses to me again in this challenge, even with the bet from this challenge, the principal owed will only recover to about 60%, which is not a high amount.”

"As long as this kid behaves himself and doesn't make things difficult for himself, he should be able to pay it off in a short time."

Galos's gaze swept over Alberto's confident face.

"When the debt is settled, I'm afraid it will be a bit more complicated and require more persuasion if I want to ask him to do things for me again."

In a flash, Galus had already weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

Finally, a solemn expression appeared on his majestic dragon face. He merely raised his imposing chin slightly, revealing a calm yet somewhat arrogant demeanor.

"Alberto."

Galos's deep, resonant voice, like muffled thunder rolling across a valley, drowned out the surrounding noise.

“Alberto, you seem very confident about victory.”

He lowered his eyes, looking down at the golden dragon in human form below, and said, "But I also don't think I will lose."

"Admittedly, this is my first time piloting a humanoid form, but the improvements I've gained from this long period of slumber far exceed your imagination."

"I am quite certain that even under these restrictive conditions, this challenge will, like every previous encounter, end in your defeat."

Alberto could clearly detect a faint hint of disdain deep within Red Iron Dragon's calm gaze.

He admitted that before his next period of growth and slumber, even though he had improved considerably through years of hard work, in terms of dragon form, he was probably no match for the transformed young red iron dragon.

He is a proud golden dragon, but he is not incapable of assessing the situation.

but!

What are the strengths and weaknesses of human form and combat experience?

Alberto's chest burned with an absolute flame of confidence. Decades of immersion and countless experiences of walking as a human had endowed him with unparalleled proficiency!

In a battle of human form, he will surely win.

"No, Galos."

Alberto straightened his back, his golden hair flying in the firelight, and said with absolute certainty, "I will definitely be the winner!"

"Oh? So sure?"

Galos drawled out the last syllable of his voice, saying, "Since you're so confident, and I'm also certain I can win, how about we add a little more stakes?"

Alberto thought for a moment and asked, "What kind of bet do you want to place?"

"It's very simple."

"If you lose, all the debts I waived for you during my slumber will be null and void, and your debts will be restored to their original state."

Alberto's heart sank.

This means that his previous efforts to repay the debt will be in vain.

But Galos's next words made his heart skip a beat.

"Conversely, if you can defeat me in this human form."

"In addition to the effective reduction and exemption, you will also receive an extra generous reward that doubles the amount."

"how?"

"Okay! It's a deal!"

Alberto agreed almost decisively and forcefully, his eyes gleaming with a desire for wealth and victory.

If he defeats Garros, he will not only be able to completely escape the quagmire of debt, but also gain a huge windfall.

As for failure? How could that be! He was able to skillfully transform into human form decades ago and has rich practical experience. How could he possibly lose to a novice who has just mastered shapeshifting and can't even conjure up clothes?

"Foolish golden dragon, it seems you're destined to continue working for us."

Not far away, Iron Dragon Sorog calmly sipped a mouthful of sweet honey syrup, while on the other side, Red Dragon Samantha tore off a large piece of roasted, fragrant beast meat. The two were thinking to themselves almost simultaneously.

Although they weren't entirely sure where Garus's confidence came from, they knew their brother all too well.

Galus would never do anything meaningless, much less fight a battle he couldn't win.

This poor golden dragon was clearly being manipulated once again without even realizing it.

"The challenge will begin after the banquet."

Hearing Alberto's eager acceptance of the challenge, Red Iron Dragon nodded in satisfaction.

Alberto, in high spirits, once again immersed himself in singing and dancing, brimming with enthusiasm, as if victory was already in his grasp, making the atmosphere in the arena exceptionally harmonious.

Outside the valley, the wind and snow continued to howl and dance wildly in the dark night sky.

Inside Dragon Valley, the blazing campfires and magical light illuminated the area as bright as day, with laughter and the low roars of dragons mingling together.

As time went by, Garos drank a mouthful of rich black oil and ate several pieces of magical beast essence containing abundant magic power. He felt the power in his body becoming more and more abundant and surging. His condition was steadily rising towards its peak, and his spirit was becoming more and more vigorous.

Their own strength has reached a whole new level, coupled with the existence of 'backup hidden energy'.

A powerful sense of self-confidence, radiating from his chest, seemed to burst forth: "Who can kill me! Who can defeat me!"

Galos even felt a strong urge to immediately spread his wings and fly to the wilderness of Sel, to proclaim his rule over that vast land, to make all living beings submit to his dragon wings, and to turn any disobedient one to ashes.

call.

With a slow, deep breath, these suddenly rising, agitated thoughts and impulses vanished instantly, as if doused with ice water.

Although each time the dragon awakens from its slumber, the primal desires and instincts inherent in its bloodline also rise.

However, its growth rate was ultimately far less than the growth of Galus's own will and character.

His control over his emotions has long reached a level of perfection, allowing him to control them with ease.

It wasn't just the urge to fight and conquer; even the dragon's almost instinctive greed for wealth was now increasingly difficult to sway his mind. Just now, when he was extremely weak, he swallowed more than twenty priceless magic gems in one go, but he didn't feel too much torment; he hadn't reached his limit yet.

"How is the situation at the Royal Court of Lortheon?"

Garros turned his thoughts back to business, his massive head looking at the iron dragon Sorog. He didn't speak, but through the bond of blood, his voice resounded directly in the other's mind.

“Shortly after I woke up a few years ago, Gorton also ended his slumber, and we re-established contact immediately.”

Tie Long responded, conveying the organized information in his mind.

"According to the intelligence obtained by Gorton... after the current king's coup d'état in which he murdered his brother and usurped the throne, although the surface of the Lorthene royal court has gradually calmed down, beneath the surface, there are still undercurrents and people's hearts are restless."

"Many nobles, and even members of the royal family, continued to gossip in private, constantly criticizing the king's legitimacy to the throne."

Galos's eyes flickered slightly as he pondered.

When he learned of the old king's critical illness, he had already gathered general information about several important princes of Lorthorn through various channels.

The eldest prince, who was the first in line to the throne, was a typical example of a monarch who wanted to maintain the status quo—indulging in pleasure, mediocre in talent, and with limited abilities… He was almost a carbon copy of the old king in his youth.

But he was not entirely without merit.

The eldest prince was extremely adept at understanding the emperor's intentions, and he flattered the old king to the point of delight. The old king's favor and support were his greatest political capital. At the same time, he was well-versed in the rules of the aristocratic circle, and he was skilled at navigating social situations and winning over a large number of nobles and lords by virtue of his status as crown prince and his promises. His power base was deeply entrenched.

The second prince, who ultimately carried out the feat of killing his brother, was the complete opposite extreme.

He has a fiery and unyielding personality, admires strength, and possesses remarkable talent.

In his youth, he volunteered to give up the comforts of the court and plunged into the harsh environment of the military camp to hone his skills. He was decisive and ruthless, and his iron fist and bravery earned him the respect and loyalty of the rank-and-file soldiers. He established a considerable reputation and won the favor and goodwill of many high-ranking officers and even generals.

However, his problems are also obvious.

He is too upright and unyielding, preferring to break rather than bend.

In his youth, he couldn't stand the arrogance of the noble children, so he personally beat and killed the son of a marquis who was committing crimes in the street. Although he showed courage, he also sowed the seeds of future trouble.

As he grew older, he became increasingly intolerant of injustice, deeply abhorring the corruption and greed of the aristocratic circles. He acted toughly, making countless enemies and suffering ostracism from the aristocratic community.

Most of the time, he stayed away from the political center, stationed on the front lines, living a purely military life. He was more like a pure general than a prince.

It wasn't until the old king was critically ill and on his deathbed, urgently summoning all his children back to the palace, that the second prince finally rushed back from the border, weary from his journey.

When the old king was dying on his deathbed and formally announced that the eldest prince would succeed him, it is said that the second prince remained silent and expressionless throughout the process and did not raise any objections on the spot.

However, shortly after the old king's burial, and on the eve of the eldest prince's formal coronation.

This seemingly silent general, who appeared to have accepted his fate and seemed uninterested in the throne, launched an event that shocked the entire Federation with overwhelming force.

Bloodshed erupted in the palace; he murdered his brother to seize the throne.

"This whole process is full of too many perplexing questions."

Garros calmly analyzed: "As a core power of the Federation, the Kingdom of Lorthen must have legendary experts stationed in the heart of the palace, making it a crucial area shrouded in magical barriers."

"The eldest prince, who is about to ascend the throne, will inevitably be surrounded by the most elite guards and will be under the watchful eyes and protection of countless people."

"Second Prince... how did he manage to murder his brother and usurp the throne under the watchful eyes of those legendary powerhouses, amidst the heavy guard of the palace? After succeeding, how did he quickly quell the situation, intimidate all potential opponents, especially those legendary powerhouses who supported the eldest prince, and smoothly ascend the throne without triggering a large-scale civil war?"

A series of questions swirled in Galus's mind.

He thought for a moment and asked, "What role did Crystal Princess Elena play in all of this?"

Iron Dragon Sorog's telepathic response carried a hint of caution: "Gorton indicated that Princess Crystal was not present at court during the bloody moments of the coup, and therefore she was unaware of the most crucial and specific details of the assassination. However..."

Sorog conveyed the message: "...she has always had a closer relationship with the second prince."

“When she was very young, she had repeatedly expressed her admiration for her brother who was able to fight for the country on the front lines, and even expressed to Gordon her envy of the second prince’s military career.”

"After the usurpation, she was one of the first members of the royal family to explicitly express her support for the second prince's succession to the throne."

Then, Tie Long continued, "After the new king ascended the throne, he declared a full-scale war against the Kingdom of Reipos in the name of being a descendant of the Holy King and maintaining the unity and stability of the Federation. What was originally a proxy war has now escalated into a war between kingdoms."

"During this period, the Crystal Princess did not interrupt our previous business cooperation. On the contrary, it became more frequent and urgent after Gorton awoke. She contacted us through Gorton many times, promising more generous rewards than ever before, and wanted to entrust the dragons to attack the logistics outposts and other camps established by the Kingdom of Reipos in the wilderness."

After a pause, Iron Dragon continued, "However, considering that you have not yet awakened and the dragon horde lacks a unified core will, I had Gorton temporarily decline these requests, citing the fact that the core members of the dragon horde are all in a dormant state."

Galos narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in his dragon pupils.

"Next time she makes a similar request, we can agree to it."

He made a decision.

The border region is now environmentally degraded and resource-scarce; the Federation's control over the wilderness has also plummeted; and he himself has awakened.

The time has come.

The Ironforge tribe's expansion into the Wilderness of Sel is about to officially begin!

Red Iron Dragon's gaze reflected the flames of the banquet, and it seemed as if he could also see the Sel Wilderness about to burn.

“There’s one more thing,” Sorog changed the subject.

"Nick requests an audience."

Nick, once a down-on-his-luck and humble merchant, is now a vital member of the family who controls a large gem trading group and plays a crucial role in the development of the Ironforge tribe.

"The life of mortals is ultimately too short."

Galos recalled the old minister: "He has no professional talent, he's just an ordinary person, and he's nearing the end of his life."

He remembered the promise he had made to Nick.

When the opponent has the determination to go all in and live or die, he will grant them the opportunity to transform into a dragon-blooded creature, thus prolonging their life and loyalty.

However, the risks of dragon vein transformation are extremely high, and a real problem arises as a result.

“Once Nick dies, the gem trading guild he built will likely face turmoil and a power vacuum.”

"He is a rare intelligent man who knows how to assess the situation and his loyalty has been tested."

"But what about his successor? I cannot guarantee that his successor will be as intelligent, as loyal, as able to understand my will, and continue to be as efficient as he is in serving me."

Galos silently weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

After thinking for a moment, he looked toward a noisy corner of the banquet.

The two enormous heads of the green dragon Ludwig and the black dragon Serafina were pressed together, like whispering schemers.

Despite the noise and commotion at the banquet, and the fact that they were speaking in hushed tones, Galos still managed to catch a few snippets of words.

[White Scale] [Four Against One] [Revenge Must Be Taken] [Wipe Out] [Insult]

Without needing to listen any further, combining the two teenage dragons' past experiences with the excited glint in their eyes, Garus instantly understood their secret plot.

It's obvious.

As they gradually grow and their ecological niche steadily improves, and the gap between them and the white dragon narrows, these young dragons are no longer willing to endure the humiliation and suppression of the mature white dragon Therese. They are secretly plotting a revenge operation to overthrow the superior.

As for the eye of the storm.

What is the young and vigorous White Dragon Therese doing?

Her enormous, snow-white body was lying comfortably on a small hill made of frozen meat and ice. Her huge left paw was holding a piece of frozen rock antelope that was bigger than her head, while her right paw was holding a bucket of mead and drinking happily. At the same time, a little white dragon was massaging her paws.

She seemed completely unaware of the teenage dragon's plans, fully immersed in the joyful atmosphere of the banquet.

(End of this chapter)