Chapter 382 X Fantasy about Red Iron Dragon
The dark clouds did not dissipate with the end of the war; they remained heavy in the sky.
The raindrops continued to fall incessantly, pounding against the dragons' cold, hard scales, only to shatter into finer mists that fell upon the scarred earth.
Galos was standing at the highest point of Thunder Bluff.
His sharp claws pierced the rugged, slippery crevices beneath his feet, remaining steadfast in the wind and rain, as if they were one with the cliff face.
He lowered his head slightly, scanning the devastated battlefield below. Everywhere he looked, there were traces of war.
The dragons belonging to the Ironforge tribe, several feudal lords, and their retinues are currently scattered across the battlefield, resting or cleaning up after the battle.
The air was filled with a complex smell of blood, burnt food, and rain, as well as a sense of post-war weariness and solemnity.
On the Dominican dragon side, the scene was far more tragic.
Due to their previous fierce resistance, the number of their dependents and legions had been extremely heavy. As far as the eye could see, corpses littered the ground. The number of survivors who ultimately chose to surrender was less than one-fifth of what it was before the battle. They were now being guarded by the Iron-Melting Warriors, huddled in the mud, their eyes numb and filled with fear.
Nearly half of the dragons that soared through the sky and rode the thunder were also lost.
The remaining survivors were surrounded in a semi-circle by the dragons of the Ignas dragon pack and several powerful lords.
Their bodies were covered in hideous wounds, their scales were broken, and dragon blood mixed with rainwater dripped down. Their once proudly raised wings now drooped limply, their eyes were dull, and their fighting spirit was gone.
To be fair...
If we disregard the two dragon leaders, the overall strength of the Ignas dragon group and the Dominic dragon group was not significantly different.
However, when the two allies, the golden dragon Alberto and the iron dragon Leticia, joined the battle, and the young blue dragon Zolaya betrayed them at a crucial moment, the balance of power on the battlefield instantly shifted completely.
Faced with the overwhelming onslaught of the Ignasaurus swarm, the Dominican swarm could only retreat in defeat.
Furthermore, whether in pre-battle mobilization or during the fierce battle, Garus never issued any order requiring mercy with his claws.
Dragons are creatures that are dangerous and powerful.
In the fierce battle where life and death are at stake, unless the difference in strength between the two sides is so great that they can completely control the situation, if either side hesitates to act due to concerns, even for just a moment, the opponent is likely to seize the opportunity, resulting in severe injury or even death.
Galos was fully aware of this.
He did indeed harbor a long-term ambition to subdue the Dominic dragons and expand his own dragon horde, but this ambition could not be realized at the cost of sacrificing the lives of the loyal dragons who had followed him for so long.
In his view, unnecessary mercy towards the enemy is the greatest cruelty towards one's own comrades.
In the continuous rain, the red iron dragon suddenly spread its huge and powerful wings, the wing membranes cutting through the air and bringing with them a whistling sound.
He leaped from the top of a high cliff and then plunged towards the ground in a very imposing manner.
With a deep, muffled boom, the ground visibly shook as his heavy body landed steadily in front of the captured Dominic dragons, splashing up a large amount of mud and water.
"Two choices."
"First, prostrate yourself before me, lower your proud heads, and offer your loyalty to me and to your new king."
Galos's gaze swept over the wounded dragon captives before him, and he continued, "Second, choose to follow the will of your former leader and challenge me. I will respond with power and grant you a glorious death."
Wars between dragon hordes are quite different from one-on-one battles between individual dragons.
For a dragon herd that is completely defeated, its members usually face only two fates.
— Surrender to the victor, or choose death.
The dragon captives fell silent, with only the sound of raindrops hitting their scales and the ground.
By choosing to submit to the Ignas dragons, they can indeed survive and save their lives.
However, as the defeated and captured side, even if they chose to pledge allegiance, their status in the new dragonflight was destined to be incomparable to that of the original Ignath dragons, and they would certainly be a grade lower.
What awaits them is likely the constant trampling of their dignity, and their use as cannon fodder and expendable resources in future conflicts.
The Blue Dragon Clan's inherited memories contain numerous accounts of the tragic fates of defeated dragons.
In comparison, some dragons who value dignity above all else would rather die with dignity in battle.
"I'll give you one minute to think about it."
After saying this last sentence, Galos said no more.
He stood quietly in the rain, waiting for time to pass and for their final decision.
At this moment, a sky-blue figure emerged from the group of captured dragons.
It was the blue dragon Zolaya.
Ignoring the many gazes cast upon her from behind, she walked straight to the Red Iron Dragon, lowered her long neck deeply, and completely exposed her beautiful, forked dragon horns to him, revealing a submissive and humble posture.
"The Heart of Thunder is dead, Your Majesty King of Molten Iron, I, Zolaya, on behalf of the surviving members of the Dominic Dragonflight, humbly request that you accept our allegiance."
"The Dominican dragon herd yearns to be your lord, to become your new minions, and to tear away all obstacles for you."
She said in a low voice.
By this time, Zoraya had already made up her mind.
She understood that she had no leverage to negotiate with Garros, nor could she become a new, independent leader of the dragons based on the merits of this betrayal.
Now, her best, and only, wisest choice is to completely submit to the Ignas dragons.
He assumed the role of leader of the remaining forces of the Dominican dragon race, similar to that of several of his subordinate lords.
This differs from her initial goals.
However, plans can never keep up with changes, and things in life can never always go as planned.
Being able to personally participate in killing Thunderheart and gain a leadership position in the new dragonflight is already a big step forward.
If in the future, I can gain further favor from the King of Iron through my abilities and performance.
Her status and power may continue to rise.
She was satisfied with the result.
In fact, when Zolaya saw her father use his semi-elemental abilities to try to escape, she was filled with unprecedented fear. She was afraid that the powerful father could actually escape.
That was a trump card that she had never seen before, a life-saving advantage belonging to Perest.
But what she didn't expect was that the King of Molten Iron was able to catch up with the Blue Dragon leader, who was half-elementalized and whose speed had increased dramatically, in such a tyrannical manner.
Even though Perest was seriously injured and not at his peak, the semi-elemental blue dragon was still incredibly fast.
Like real lightning streaking across the night sky.
The moment she saw her father vanish in a flash of lightning, Zoraia was almost certain he had escaped.
However, the result was that the Iron King suddenly flapped its wings, instantly parting the wind and rain, and its huge body chased after it like a meteor, disappearing into the sky in the blink of an eye, leaving only a long-lasting trail of scorching flames.
This also shocked and amazed her.
She could hardly believe that the Iron King, who seemed to have maximized his strength and defense attributes, was also so fast that he managed to catch up with the blue dragon that wielded lightning.
Zolaya knew that if the Dragon Father was at his peak and had chosen to flee without hesitation from the beginning, the Iron King would most likely have difficulty keeping him.
But there are no "ifs".
As a proud and powerful dragon leader, why would he flee at the mere sight of the enemy without even engaging in a proper battle?
This is absolutely impossible; no dignified dragon would make such a shameful choice.
Goodbye, my father, the greatest shadow in my life.
Zoraya thought silently to herself.
Just as this thought crossed her mind, she felt as if a huge boulder weighing on her heart had suddenly shattered.
An unprecedented sense of ease swept through my body, and even my breathing became much smoother.
She raised her head and looked at the imposing and powerful figure of the red iron dragon before her, a figure that could not be destroyed by wind and rain. In addition to the respect and deep fear that should be shown, her eyes unconsciously revealed a hint of heartfelt admiration.
She was deeply impressed by him and felt a surge of heat throughout her body.
This was an experience she had never had before.
In the Dominic dragon herd, Zolaya has always been the most outstanding and dazzling blue dragon. No male dragon can catch her eye. Moreover, she has devoted almost all her attention to how to deal with her unpredictable dragon father and how to survive and climb the ranks in the herd. She has never thought about finding a mate.
Now, the greatest threat—the Dragon Father—is dead.
Now, an incredibly talented young dragon stands before her, in the posture of a conqueror.
Thus, as she bowed her head in submission to the King of Molten Iron, her body's instincts were irresistibly awakened.
She gently and unconsciously swayed the dragon's tail behind her, her heart pounding with restlessness.
Zolaya couldn't help but imagine herself completely covered by that incredibly strong body... Hmm, it would probably feel even better if her father's charred corpse were placed next to her as a symbol of victory.
besides.
After a long period of pleasure, will the Iron King cherish her and keep her in his fortress because of her obedience and special nature? Or will he be cold and ruthless, discarding her like used trash?
Hehe, no matter which ending it is, thinking about it now brings her a thrilling sense of anticipation.
Just as Zolaya was lost in her own thoughts, immersed in her inner world...
A furious roar, like a thunderclap, interrupted her.
"Zolaya! You shameless traitor who attacked our leader! What right do you have to represent the Dominic Dragon Clan?!"
With its right wing broken, the adult blue dragon, dragged helplessly behind it, raised its head and roared with all its might, its eyes burning with rage and contempt.
Zolaya's gaze instantly turned icy, and the previous dazed expression vanished.
"Fool! Your so-called leader was already prepared to abandon the entire dragon herd and flee alone at the last moment. Can't you see that?" Zolaya roared back without any politeness, her voice sharp.
"Perest has never been a competent leader!"
“He is narrow-minded, short-sighted, and only cares about his own interests. He is cold-blooded and selfish. To him, our entire dragon clan is nothing more than a tool for him to maintain his rule and power.”
"The King of Molten Iron is a more powerful and more worthy leader for us to follow!"
However, the blue dragon's anger did not diminish in the slightest because of her words.
Regardless of ethnicity, there is never a shortage of members who value the honor of their community more than their own lives.
He suddenly turned his head, staring intently at the red iron dragon with bloodshot eyes, his expression one of resolute determination.
"King of Molten Iron! I acknowledge your power, far surpassing ours, but I absolutely do not condone the manner of your victory! I challenge you! In the name of a member of the Dominic Dragon Swarm!"
Having said that, the badly injured blue dragon mustered its last remaining left wing and charged forward, dragging its battered body.
The surrounding lords and other Ignas dragons simply watched calmly, and not a single dragon made a move to stop them.
This is the moment for the challenger, and it is up to the challenged to respond.
Faced with a suicidal charge, the Red Iron Dragon moved with lightning speed, even exceeding the limits of visual capture.
He extended his sharp, massive right claw and precisely grabbed the blue dragon's long neck, rendering it unable to move forward an inch.
"Glory be with me! Dominic the Dragon, I shall die rather than surrender!"
The blue dragon, its throat being choked, struggled violently, squeezing out sounds from deep within its throat.
Galos stared directly into the dragon's eyes, which were filled with anger and determination, and said calmly, "As you wish."
Click!
A crisp sound of bones breaking suddenly rang out amidst the rain.
Garros snapped the blue dragon's long neck, and the light in the dragon's eyes quickly dimmed, its struggling body going completely limp.
Galos released his dragon claws, letting the other's corpse fall heavily into the mud.
"Who else?"
He raised his gaze again, sweeping it over the remaining Dominic dragons: "To defy me, to challenge me, is commendable."
"I will give him the respect and honor he deserves, and a glorious death."
On the other side, Alberto, the golden dragon who had challenged Garos many times, subconsciously touched his neck with his claws and then breathed a sigh of relief.
As for Galos's killing spree, he simply watched quietly, without making any attempt to stop it.
The reason is simple: Galos has given a clear choice, rather than leaving no way out.
If Garus were to order the slaughter of all the surrendered or captured dragons without any explanation, Alberto would certainly stop him, even at the cost of his life.
As for now.
The choice between honor and life is the right of each dragon, and Alberto has no intention of interfering.
When these two options were laid bare before them, the survival instinct ultimately prevailed, and the vast majority of dragons chose to live.
One after another, blue dragons, along with a few other evil dragons of different colors, lowered their proud heads.
Under the oppressive gaze of the Iron King, they prostrated themselves deeply in the cold, muddy rain, expressing their submission in the most humble of postures.
"Zoraia".
Red Iron Dragon's gaze shifted to the female Blue Dragon waiting quietly to the side.
"From this day forward, you will command the surrendered Dominican dragon herd."
He granted Zoraya a status and rights similar to those of several feudal lords, allowing her to manage the remaining forces of the original Dominic dragonflight. Similarly, these dragonflight members were subject to the overall jurisdiction and command of the Ignas dragonflight.
As for the hatchlings and young dragons, they will all be transferred to the border area in the future.
They will receive entirely new education and guidance.
In addition, Galos gave Zolaya a specific task.
— Take over the central region.
This was originally the target of the Dominican swarm, but the plan was interrupted by the attack of the Ignas swarm.
The Dominican dragon horde has suffered significant losses in this battle, greatly reducing its strength.
It has become difficult for them to take over the central region on their own, as there are several formidable map masters in the area.
However, Galos also made a promise.
The dragons and several lords of the Ironforge tribe will provide them with appropriate support when necessary.
After explaining all the details...
Because he still needed to fight and adapt to the manic fire, Galos did not linger there and set off again to return to the border.
Because Golden Dragon Alberto needed a suitable and safe place for his next period of dormancy and growth, he also went along.
The other dragons of Ignath and their fiefdoms.
They remained in the wilderness, responsible for securing the northwestern territory and assisting Zolaya in her next move.
At this time, the wilderness was still battered by wind and rain, far from peaceful, and war was raging everywhere.
The Iron King has already occupied the northwest region and is now beginning to expand into the central wilderness.
The Mountain King, who had drifted from the continent of Seresia, led his giants to sweep across the northeastern region. Instead of continuing to expand, he adopted a strategy similar to that of the Ironforge tribe, consolidating his existing territory and digesting the fruits of victory. His next move is unclear.
The Troll King of the Southwest Region and the Fungus King of the Southeast Region.
Both regional kings have a strong desire for expansion, and because their territories are adjacent, friction and conflict between them are constantly escalating and intensifying. However, they are still maintaining a certain degree of restraint for the time being, and a full-scale war has not yet broken out.
Currently, the resources available in the Northwest region are sufficient to support Galus's development and consumption for a considerable period of time.
Once he successfully takes over the central region, he will no longer need to worry about resource issues.
Moreover, the other regional kings are almost all in the top tier below the legendary level, each with their own unique skills and profound foundations. Without sufficient intelligence and without necessary circumstances, Garos does not want to rashly start a war with the other regional kings.
However, all strategies are based on current strength and circumstances, and are not static.
The expansion of power often breeds greater ambition.
Once Garros's life level further increases to the peak of level 19 or even 20, and he can even rival a legend, whether he will still be satisfied with merely occupying the northwest and central regions will be another unknown.
(End of this chapter)
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