Chapter 422 Under the Spotlight, the Crimson Iron Dragon Unleashes its Ferocity (Mega Chapter, Requesting Monthly Tickets)
The tranquil sea shines eternally over the Dragon Realm.
When the scene before Garus first came into view, even with his resolute mind, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
This vast sea area lives up to its name, with the seawater flowing slowly in a serene manner that transcends nature.
As far as the eye could see, there was not a single ripple, nor a wisp of wind.
Looking down from high above, the entire sea area appears at first glance like a huge, smooth, mirror-like blue glass, clearly reflecting the magnificent aurora borealis that slowly flows and changes unpredictably in the sky.
That is the Dragon Realm Aurora.
A magnificent spectacle formed by the highly condensed energy of various elements intertwining in the sky.
It is not only beautiful, but also highly functional, effectively blocking the spying and surveillance of the Star Eye.
In the middle of the sea, there stands a magnificent, towering island whose beauty defies description.
Centered around this magnificent main island, hundreds of islands of varying sizes are scattered around it, each with its own unique shape, like stars surrounding the moon, together forming the layout of the Eternal Radiance Dragon Domain.
Moreover, these islands have bizarre shapes and do not appear to have been formed naturally.
Some islands are completely covered by lush primeval forests, full of vitality; others are rugged rocks and steep cliffs; some islands have surfaces like huge, uncarved crystal clusters, refracting a mesmerizing light under the aurora; and still others seem to be made entirely of pure metal, exuding a cold and solid luster.
"Any dragon that sets foot in the realm of legends can build an island that is entirely their own."
Deborah, standing to the side, explained to Red Iron Dragon, "Each of the islands you see represents the existence of a legendary dragon, while the largest main island in the center is the core place where all dragons live and communicate, and it is also the direct territory of the great Twenty-Four-Winged Golden Dragon King."
“Once my father ends his slumber and officially ascends to the legendary level, he can also build an island of his own in our Raging Dragon Domain.”
The Eternal Radiance Dragon Domain is the foremost of the five major dragon domains and also the first metal dragon domain ever established.
The subsequent Dragon Domains were basically built based on its structure.
Centered on the main island where the Dragon King resides, the branch islands of various legendary dragons stand guard around it like sentinels.
“I’ve heard the old man mention that the establishment of these islands was not arbitrary.”
Alberto Jinlong added, with a rare seriousness and awe in his tone, “Each island is actually a node in a vast network of energy.”
"If an extremely powerful external enemy invades, all the islands can work together to construct a super-giant composite defensive array."
"The Dragon King sits in the central position, and combined with the power of the magic array, it is said that he can withstand the power of immortality."
Immortality is a realm that transcends legend; some also call it demigod.
On the planet Bernardo, only those empires currently have immortal demigods in charge.
The number of legendary figures in the dragon race is in no way inferior to any empire, but in terms of top-tier combat power, it has always lacked an immortal being, and even the Golden Dragon King, who had the best chance, failed to succeed.
The lifespan of an immortal demigod is theoretically infinite.
If they do not encounter natural disasters or man-made calamities, they will almost certainly not die from the passage of time.
Compared to the duchies or kingdoms that rose and fell throughout history, empires are like the eternally shining sun, always illuminating the earth.
As long as they don't make fatal decision-making errors, they can continue to exist and observe the changes of the world.
Looking at the magnificent and imposing main island in the distance, Jinlong Nasha couldn't help but let out a complex sigh.
"If the Golden Dragon King can successfully break through to the Immortal Realm, our Dragon Clan will be able to truly stand on equal footing with those empires."
"The Dragon Kings will no longer need to stay in the Dragon Realm year-round to protect it. Unfortunately, the Golden Dragon King's breakthrough still failed."
Upon hearing this, the faces of the metal dragons present, including Alberto and Deborah, involuntarily turned somber.
Although the higher-ups in the Dragon Domain have never released any concrete information, almost all the metal dragons have implicitly accepted the fact.
The Golden Dragon King's attempt to break through to the realm of immortality ultimately ended in failure.
Galos, however, did not feel much empathy for this heavy burden.
Immortal demigods are too far removed from him; they are not something he should be thinking about.
Red Iron Dragon's gaze swept over the hundreds of legendary sub-islands, silently assessing the powerful foundation of the Eternal Radiance Dragon Domain.
Each island represents a legendary dragon... This means that the Eternal Radiance Dragon Realm has at least a hundred legends.
The other four Dragon Domains are probably slightly weaker, but the five Dragon Domains combined could probably field three hundred legendary dragons.
It's just unknown how many legendary dragons scattered around the world actually number in total.
Just as Galos was thinking, two golden beams of light, like shooting stars streaking across the sky, flew from the direction of the autonomous island and stopped precisely in front of Galos and his group.
All who come are golden dragons.
One of them was the legendary golden dragon Ovis, whom Galos had met once before.
The other one, also a legendary golden dragon, was female, and the aura she exuded was somewhat similar to that of Alberto and Natasha.
"Estelle, the mother of Alberto and Natasha."
The unfamiliar legendary golden dragon fixed his gaze on Garus with lightning speed and gave a concise self-introduction.
"You're Garus? I've heard a lot about you lately."
“Ovis vouched for you and even placed a heavy bet on you.”
As Astrid spoke, a golden dragon aura, almost tangible, suddenly ignited around her, only to extinguish itself in an instant.
She continued, "I heard that you also follow the Martial Dragon path, and it's the rather rare Star Self path. That's great. If you have time, we can exchange martial arts experiences."
Before Galos could respond, she abruptly turned her head to look at Ovis beside her, her tone crisp and decisive.
"Since I've come all the way to the Eternal Radiance Dragon Domain, I'm going to find that girl Pershulina and have a fight with her."
"If you have anything important to discuss, then let me know. There's no need to bother with trivial matters."
After saying that, the golden dragon Astrid suddenly flapped its wings and transformed into a swift golden streak, speeding towards a distant island and leaving behind trails of dissipating energy ripples.
They truly came and went in a hurry.
The level of decisiveness and efficiency reached its extreme.
“Hmm… my mother is a martial arts dragon who specializes in ‘striking’. Her fighting style and personality are rather… well, very unrestrained.” Natasha looked in the direction her mother had left, subconsciously baring her teeth, and explained to Galos in a low voice, “I don’t really like ‘fighting’ with her. She always seems to be a little reckless when she attacks.”
Upon hearing this, Galos fell into a brief silence.
Even Natasha, who also admires the thrill of combat, would shy away from it.
Her mother, Astrid, was a style that could hardly be described simply as "wild."
Or rather, Natasha's combative nature probably stems from this, and it's just a minor issue compared to the bigger picture.
Meanwhile, other giant dragons kept soaring and flying by.
Some of the more discerning dragons noticed Garus's presence, but most merely glanced at him casually before looking away, showing no surprise or curiosity about his unfamiliar face.
Clearly, the "Golden Robe of All Beings as One" is continuing to have an effect.
Under its influence, the metal dragons subconsciously regarded Garus as one of their own.
In the Eternal Radiance Dragon Domain, a sacred land of metal dragons, the most common sight is all kinds of metal dragons.
No dragon would be surprised by his arrival.
Galos turned his gaze to the legendary golden dragon Orvis and asked, "Has the final challenger been determined?"
Orvis stroked his flowing dragon whiskers and chuckled, "It's confirmed."
"Carius Villaparion, the golden dragon of the Eternal Radiance Dragon Domain, has earned the final challenge qualification. Once he has made some adjustments and returned to his peak condition, it will be the final match between you."
At this moment, the fairy dragon Vera sneaked over.
She lowered her voice and asked with a sly look, "That Karus, what are his weaknesses? And his main profession, his innate abilities, his signature skills, etc.? Can you reveal even a little bit about him?"
Upon seeing this small, exquisite, and colorful fairy dragon, a hint of surprise flashed in Ovis's eyes.
Dimensional Dragon?
This is rare even on the entire planet.
However, Old Jinlong was a man of great experience and knowledge, and he quickly regained his composure.
He looked at Vera with a smile, deliberately drawing out his words: "Weaknesses... well, of course I have them."
Just as the fairy dragon's face lit up with joy, he changed the subject: "But there's no need to tell you."
The fairy dragon's big eyes darted around, its gaze occasionally glancing at the old golden dragon's flowing whiskers, its little claws twitching as if it really wanted to tug at them.
At the same time, she rolled her eyes at Old Jinlong and muttered, "So stingy!"
Old Jinlong immediately straightened his face, puffed out his beard and glared, saying, "Hey, you little brat, what you're saying is really unpleasant to hear, it makes me very unhappy."
He paused, then adopted a slightly more serious tone, explaining, "Carius is the challenger in this match."
"Moreover, all information about Garus is kept strictly confidential. To this day, the vast majority of dragons know almost nothing about this 'mysterious dragon.' If I were to reveal more detailed information about Karus now, it would be too unfair to him."
"A contest where information is completely unequal is a contest in which even if Galus wins in the end, there is no glory to be had."
To be honest, Galos only cared about the final victory; he didn't really care about how he won... However, he didn't say much at the moment, but simply nodded slightly in agreement with Ovis and said in a deep voice, "I look forward to the challenge from that Karus."
Upon hearing this, Lao Jinlong burst into hearty laughter.
He stretched out his dragon claw and patted the red iron dragon's solid, broad shoulder.
"Good! That's the spirit I've been looking for!"
"Don't worry, Carius is just a small challenge for you; he's no match for a legend."
"I've prepared a place for you to rest. Get yourself in good shape, and then just relax and wait to face the challenge."
"As for the Eternal Radiance Dragon Domain, if you are curious, after the competition is completely over, Natasha and Alberto can show you around and let you appreciate the scenery of our Metal Dragon Domain."
Galos nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
Afterwards, he was personally led by Lao Jinlong to the residence he had arranged for him to rest and make final preparations for the battle.
Deborah, Natasha, Alberto, and the fairy dragon Vera did not disturb him, but began to wander around the magnificent Eternal Radiance Dragon Realm with great interest.
And so time passed peacefully, and five days later it arrived in the blink of an eye.
This day marked the official start of the highly anticipated final challenge.
Considering the terrifying destruction that dragons, especially powerful dragons, can cause in battle, the arena is not a traditional man-made ring.
It lies on a tranquil sea.
It is a vast circular sea area that was specially designated by the elders of the Dragon Domain.
The surface of this sea appeared exceptionally calm and deep today, like a huge sapphire set between heaven and earth, serving as a natural arena. In the sky, the flowing aurora borealis of the dragon realm was more dazzling than ever before, with colors constantly shifting, as if adding brilliance and setting the mood for this grand dragon event.
The actual stands are the entire sky above this arena.
Countless dragons have gathered here.
They either gracefully circled or quietly hovered above the competition area.
They roughly formed different spectator formations according to their respective dragon domains and clans.
The boundaries of these arrays are not rigid; they still intersect with each other.
The young dragon cubs, led by their elders, excitedly looked around, chattering and discussing with curiosity. Even some legendary dragons, who usually lived in seclusion and were rarely seen, appeared in the higher airspace or stood atop the swirling clouds, casting their watchful gazes.
Dragon wings blot out the sky, dragon might is as vast as the sea.
Countless powerful auras intertwined and collided here, creating an invisible yet chilling sense of oppression.
Even legendary creatures wouldn't dare to act recklessly here.
Before the competition had even officially begun, all the dragons' eyes were already fixed on the calm sea stage below, filled with intense anticipation, waiting for the highly anticipated Eternal Golden Dragon and the mysterious giant dragon shrouded in mist to make their appearance.
At this very moment, the much-anticipated 'mysterious dragon' was quietly blending into the audience of dragons scattered across the sky, draped in strange golden robes, without attracting any attention from the dragons.
"Hey, I'm from the Flowing Water Dragon Domain. You look unfamiliar. Which dragon domain are you from?"
A robust adult brass dragon noticed the fellow creature beside him, draped in magnificent gold and silk, whose aura made him feel close to it, and took the initiative to strike up a conversation.
Galos calmly replied, "The Domain of Fubo Dragon."
The brass dragon nodded, then eagerly pressed on, "Who do you think will win today's match? Is it Karus, or that mysterious dragon who hasn't even shown its face yet?"
Galos shook his head slightly: "The match hasn't started yet, and the strength of both sides is unknown, so it's not appropriate to make any rash judgments."
This standard answer did not stop the talkative Brass Dragon from talking.
"Personally, I think Carus has a better chance of winning."
He began to analyze with great seriousness, his tone certain: "Carius is a descendant of His Majesty the Golden Dragon King, and is now about 150 years old, with his life level already reaching the peak of level 20!"
"If he can go through another period of dormancy during his prime, he will surely be able to steadily step into the realm of legend."
"I also heard that a few years ago, when he went hunting and training in the deep sea, he was accidentally attacked by three level 20 sea monsters. Guess what happened? He managed to kill all three sea monsters while only suffering minor injuries himself!"
Before Garos could comment, another silver dragon couldn't resist interjecting with a different opinion.
"No, no, no, I think the mysterious dragon might have a better chance of winning."
The silver dragon adopted a mysterious posture and lowered its voice to say, "I have some inside information and know a little about the origins of that mysterious dragon."
Galos narrowed his eyes almost imperceptibly as he looked at the silver dragon.
Several other dragons that had been observing nearby also quietly pricked up their ears, very curious about the situation.
Seeing that he had successfully attracted attention, Silver Dragon spoke in an almost whispered voice:
"I've heard that the mysterious visitor is actually the illegitimate son of His Majesty the Golden Dragon King! In terms of lineage, he could even be considered to be from the same generation as Karlus's grandfather!"
"Moreover, he has perfectly inherited the extraordinary talent of the Golden Dragon King in his youth. Over the years, he has been undergoing the most rigorous secret training in a secluded place. Only recently has he prepared to officially appear in the world and shock all dragons."
How come I didn't know when I became the Golden Dragon King's illegitimate son?
Upon hearing this outrageous rumor, Galos was speechless for a moment, unsure of how to respond.
"Nonsense! Your information is absolutely wrong!"
A bronze dragon nearby couldn't contain itself and retorted in a low voice.
"That person is clearly the illegitimate son of the Silver Dragon King of the Fubo Dragon Domain, not the Golden Dragon King at all! Moreover, the version I heard is that he is the illegitimate son of the Silver Dragon King and some... well, some evil dragon, so his identity is sensitive and he has been kept hidden all this time."
"Now that we can no longer hide it, we have no choice but to make it public."
Upon hearing this, Galos fell silent once again.
"Hiss... According to what you're saying, is it possible that he is actually... the illegitimate son of His Majesty the Golden Dragon King and the Silver Dragon King?"
"Brass Dragon said in a low voice."
"What are you saying! These two great dragon kings are both male! Are you serious?"
The silver dragon and the bronze dragon turned their heads almost simultaneously and glared at the outspoken brass dragon.
"Well... it's not entirely impossible, you know, the Dragon King's shapeshifting technique..."
Before the brass dragon could finish speaking, it wisely shut its mouth.
Immediately afterwards, the silver dragon and the bronze dragon began to argue in hushed tones about the question of "whose illegitimate child the mysterious dragon is," each convinced that the version they had heard was correct.
As they argued, they all turned their attention to the fellow clansman from the Fubo Dragon Domain, who they felt an inexplicable affinity for and who was draped in gold.
"What do you think? Whose illegitimate child is that mysterious dragon?"
Facing those pairs of eyes filled with inquiry and expectation, Galos felt a sense of absurdity and helplessness.
He shook his head slightly and said, "It should... have nothing to do with any Dragon King."
Both the silver dragon and the bronze dragon looked puzzled and pressed, "You seem quite certain about what you're saying. Where did you get this information? If it's not one of these two dragon kings, could it be the bronze dragon king, or the illegitimate son of another dragon king?"
Why do these dragons insist on linking their thinking to the Dragon King or illegitimate children?
Galos chuckled, shook his head, and stopped participating in this pointless speculation. He turned his gaze back to the arena below, calmed his mind, and silently adjusted his breathing and state of mind.
The match time is almost here.
Just then, a colossal dragon shadow, nearly forty meters long, carrying immense pressure, slowly descended from the high clouds and finally hovered in the center of the calm, mirror-like sea that served as the arena.
It was a legendary brass dragon with a well-proportioned and healthy body, its scales gleaming with a warm brass luster.
He was also the emcee for the final competition.
The legendary brass dragon first surveyed the vast dragon spectators around him with majesty, then cleared his throat and spoke in a highly infectious and impassioned tone, his voice instantly spreading in all directions.
"Honorable kin! Heirs of ancient and glorious bloodlines! Dragons favored by order and radiance!"
His voice was not simply a roar, but was amplified by a sophisticated amplification spell, clearly spreading throughout the entire viewing area, and even at one point drowning out the clamor of the dragons.
"Welcome! A warm welcome to this place where glory and power converge, the most sacred heart of the tranquil sea!"
"Today, we gather here not merely to witness an ordinary contest! Today, we are about to jointly commemorate the birth of a glorious moment!"
He brandished his enormous dragon claws, solemnly pointing them towards the sea below, which resembled a giant sapphire.
"Right here on this azure stage blessed by the Dragon King's will, the most special and highly anticipated showdown in the history of our Five Dragon Domain Elite Tournament is about to take place!"
The legendary brass dragon suddenly spread its wide wings and made an extremely exaggerated and dramatic welcoming gesture.
His voice rose in pitch, filled with excitement and exhilaration.
"First, there are the challengers who have emerged from countless strong competitors through fierce and brutal selection processes and finally stand proudly before us."
"From the Eternal Radiance Dragon Realm, with the blood of the Great Golden Dragon King flowing through his veins, known as the 'Wings of Dawn'—Carius Villaparion!"
As he gave his impassioned introduction, a golden streak, like the rising sun, shot from afar, tearing through the sky like a sharp sword. After completing an elegant yet powerful spiral in the air, it hovered above the arena, revealing the majestic and beautiful golden dragon body beneath it.
It was none other than the Golden Dragon, Karlius.
He was calm and composed, yet his imposing presence radiated outwards without any attempt to conceal it.
His calm and confident demeanor immediately drew thunderous cheers and encouragement from his fellow tribesmen.
The legendary brass dragon waited patiently for the cheers to subside slightly before abruptly changing the subject.
"And his opponent is none other than the dragon shrouded in mystery, whose rules were changed because of him, allowing him to stand directly in this final battle without any preliminary rounds!"
The name "Garos Ignas" became known to the vast majority of metallic dragons for the first time.
Without any introduction of glorious achievements or lengthy and illustrious titles, the name alone, and the unconventional and unknown nature it represents, instantly ignited the curiosity and heated discussions of all the dragons watching the battle.
Countless gazes, like countless searchlights, focused on the sky above the arena.
At the same time, Galos took a slow breath.
He no longer concealed himself, brandishing his enormous dragon wings, parting the surrounding air, and flying towards the center of the arena.
"So...it was him?!"
The dragons that had been having a heated discussion with Garus just moments before all looked surprised.
They never expected that the mysterious dragon, who was rumored to be so powerful, had been silently staying beside them and even discussing its origins with them.
The bronze dragon was initially relieved, but then a strong excitement appeared on its face.
"So it's the Copper Dragon! He must be the Copper Dragon King's illegitimate son! That's great, I hope he wins and brings glory to our Copper Dragon clan."
The silver dragon beside him flicked its tail in dissatisfaction and retorted, "What kind of look is that?"
"He's clearly a silver dragon! He's the silver dragon king's illegitimate son!"
Because of the effect of "all beings are draped in gold with me", Garus still appears in the eyes of different metal dragons as similar to themselves, which is why this controversy has arisen.
Under the watchful eyes of countless people, a mixture of curiosity, scrutiny, expectation, and skepticism.
Galus flew to the center of the sea, facing the golden dragon Calus across the distance.
At that very moment, he extended his claws and untied the golden ribbon that had always been wrapped around his body.
In an instant, the airspace that was originally noisy and filled with dragon roars and howls seemed to be subjected to a collective silencing spell covering the entire area, becoming completely silent and eerily quiet.
All the metal dragons.
Whether it was the naturally noble golden dragon, the elegant silver dragon, the calm and composed bronze dragon, or the lively red copper dragon and the talkative brass dragon, their gazes fixed on the center of the sea froze at this moment.
What did they see?
It was covered in ferocious scales that were black and red, as if they had been forged through countless brutal trials of blood and fire.
A body far more robust, majestic, and incredibly strong than any other dragon of its kind.
Those enormous dragon wings, when fully extended, had crimson energy patterns along their edges that clearly did not belong to any metal dragon, and their structure was also completely different.
And, most importantly, and most impossible to fake—that tangible, pervasive aura of primal wildness, the ferocity of a top predator, and the dangerous oppressive presence that only a dragon possesses!
Is that a red dragon?!
No, it doesn't feel quite like it!
The unique color and cold, hard texture of the scales clearly bear the distinctive characteristics of an iron dragon!
This is a...red iron dragon!
The crystallization of the bloodlines of the leader of the five-colored dragons and the leader of the iron dragon, a hybrid born with the mark of evil—the Red Iron Dragon!
After a brief silence, the entire sky erupted like a boiling oil pan, bursting into a tumultuous uproar.
The legendary dragons standing atop the highest clouds mostly maintained their deep gazes, revealing little emotion. Many of them already knew the truth. Among them, a majestic bronze dragon with horns as sharp as spears suddenly transformed its eyes into extremely dangerous vertical pupils, its dragon might hidden but then slowly returning to calm.
The younger generation of metal dragons, however, reacted much more intensely.
"A dragon?! How could a dragon appear here?"
"Why did the strongest young talents painstakingly selected from the five major dragon domains ultimately only earn the qualification to challenge a single evil dragon?!"
In the past, the rules of the competitions in the Five Dragon Domains did not exclude the participation of other dragons.
However, no one expected, much less could accept, that the mysterious dragon who enjoyed the special treatment of skipping the preliminary rounds and being directly parachuted into the finals, so favored by the rules, was actually an evil dragon!
There were many rumors that he was the illegitimate son of the Dragon King.
The main reason is that the rules were changed for them, making them seem too special.
However, the elders of the Metal Dragon Domain are actually supporting an evil dragon?
This special treatment, especially the special treatment imposed on a dragon, ignited strong resentment and anger in the hearts of many metal dragons.
Why should the elites of their metal dragon race have to go through rounds of arduous and fierce battles to advance?
But a dragon can stand by and watch, waiting for its time to come, and finally appear with a detached attitude.
"quiet!"
The voice of the legendary brass dragon rang out once more, imbued with dragon might, suppressing the clamor and doubts of the countless dragons in the sky.
"Garos Ignas is a guest personally invited by Elder Ovis of the Fubo Dragon Domain! His qualification for the finals, as well as the corresponding changes to the rules of this competition, were all agreed upon and approved by the legendary elders of the five major dragon domains!"
"Any dragon that has any objection to this may formally file a complaint with the Council of Elders in accordance with the laws of the Dragon Realm after the competition has concluded!"
"But at this moment, in this place, the only focus is the competition itself!"
He paused slightly, allowing himself to fully process his words, before raising his voice to an unprecedented climax.
"Will the 'Wings of Dawn,' upholding tradition and honor, successfully complete the challenge and prove the unquestionable majesty of the Metal Dragon Realm? Or will this dragon forged from red and iron defeat the Metal Dragon, proving its own power and silencing all doubters and critics?!"
"The rules are simple and fair! It continues until one side is completely incapacitated or voluntarily concedes defeat!"
"Victory or defeat will be determined by strength and will!"
The legendary brass dragon swung its claws violently, the sound like a thunderclap:
"Now—I declare!"
"The final match has officially begun!!!"
In an instant.
Countless gazes, filled with a variety of complex emotions—expectation, scrutiny, hostility, and curiosity—were focused on the two protagonists in the center of the sea, as if they were tangible objects.
In this incredibly oppressive atmosphere, filled with hostility and skepticism.
Red Iron Dragon slowly raised its head, which was covered with thick scales.
He wasn't intimidated or angry; instead, he grinned and revealed a smile.
He enjoyed that gaze; he craved that hostility.
This made him feel...like he had returned to the wilderness of the past.
Red Iron Dragon's gaze finally settled on the Golden Dragon Karus opposite him, and his deep, powerful voice echoed between the sea and the sky.
"Come on, challenger."
"Let me see just how much weight this rising star of the Eternal Radiance Dragon Domain really carries."
On the other side, the last trace of doubt and astonishment in the eyes of the golden dragon Karus transformed into a fierce fighting spirit.
At this point, the game has become far more than just a simple matter of winning or losing.
It concerns the glory and dignity of the metal dragons. At this moment, Karus represents not only himself, but also the face of the Eternal Radiance Dragon Realm and the pride of the metal dragons.
He wouldn't allow himself to lose to a dragon.
Without uttering any further words, the golden dragon Karus let out a clear and powerful roar, its wings flapping suddenly as it launched the first attack, charging towards Garus.
Instead of a simple straight charge, he displayed superb flying skills, his body nimbly maneuvering and turning, drawing elusive arcs in the air as he approached his opponent in a circuitous manner.
Moreover, each flap of his wings seemed to accumulate some kind of potential energy, making the aura emanating from his body even stronger.
This is one of Hundred Battles Dragon's signature skills: Sky Dragon Dance.
Although the route is winding, the speed is not slow.
In the blink of an eye, Karus had already approached the red iron dragon standing still. The power gathered around him reached its peak at this moment. Without hesitation, he stretched out his right forepaw covered with golden scales. On the tip of the claw, thick and condensed magical energy swirled and compressed like a tangible substance, tearing through the air and emitting a shriek.
A tearing, devastating blow!
Karlus's gaze was solemn; this strike embodied the essence of his current state of mind and energy.
However, at the very moment his claws were about to strike.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
A heavy heartbeat, like the beating of an ancient war drum, burst forth from the chest of the Red Iron Dragon.
Beneath its thick, black and red scales, muscles bulged and rippled like coiled pythons, and bursts of blazing golden electricity crackled and leaped... The once stoic Red Iron Dragon suddenly erupted like a dormant volcano, its power surging to a terrifying level.
The red iron dragon's wings, adorned with crimson patterns, suddenly unfurled fully, radiating a brilliant light.
Tear!
Carius's determined strike hit the target squarely.
However, what was shattered was merely a fading, slowly dissipating afterimage.
The real Red Iron Dragon had transformed into a crimson beam of light that tore through the sky.
Almost instantly, he appeared behind and to the side of Karus with incredible speed. His speed was so fast that many of the dragons who were watching the battle were caught off guard and failed to catch his movement.
"What?!"
Carius's heart sank.
The opponent's explosive speed far exceeded his previous expectations and judgments.
At the critical moment, the golden dragon displayed its exceptional combat skills, hastily twisting its body and raising a thick dragon arm to meet the red iron dragon's slashing claws.
Clang!
Like two metal mountains colliding violently, a deafening clang of metal resounded, and visible shockwaves spread rapidly in all directions.
The moment they made contact, Carius felt an overwhelming force travel up his arm bone.
He dared not be negligent in the slightest and instantly activated his innate siphoning talent.
In an instant, Karus's body seemed to turn into a miniature black hole.
At the point of contact where the power of the Red Iron Dragon clashed, some of the golden lightning and surging dragon energy leaping from the opponent's body were attracted and pulled by an invisible force, breaking free from control and continuously flowing into the Golden Dragon's body.
This absorbed energy further enhanced the golden dragon's aura and power.
However, even so, he still could not fully withstand the overwhelming power of the Red Iron Dragon.
Click!
A teeth-grinding cracking sound rang out.
As Karus parried the dragon's arm, many of the hard, golden dragon scales shattered, and dragon blood gushed out from the cracks.
His body flew backward uncontrollably, like a boulder thrown by a catapult, carving a white trail of waves that stretched for a kilometer across the sea.
"Garos is mighty!"
In the audience, Deborah and her group excitedly shouted their support.
This stood out conspicuously among the spectators, a group of metal dragons, and immediately attracted the attention of many onlookers.
Red Iron Dragon remained calm and composed.
With a slight flap of his dragon wings, his magnificent body swooped down in the direction where Karus had fallen, at an astonishing speed.
Boom!
A huge column of water shot into the sky, and countless crystal-clear water droplets splashed and fell in all directions.
Deep in the water, Carius had barely managed to steady himself and catch his breath when he immediately felt the surging and oppressive force of the surrounding water.
The red iron dragon has already chased into the sea.
In this underwater battlefield, the Red Iron Dragon's offensive became even wilder and more unpredictable.
His limbs, his flexible and powerful dragon tail, and even his enormous dragon wings have all been transformed into deadly weapons, capable of launching fierce attacks from any angle at any time.
The relentless offensive, like the omnipresent seawater, instantly enveloped Karus completely.
Thud! Thud! Crack!
The dull thuds of impact and the sounds of scales shattering echoed continuously underwater.
The golden dragon scales shattered continuously, and the blood stained the surrounding sea red.
Karus was in excruciating pain all over his body, and at the same time felt an immense sense of oppression.
He tried his best to calm himself down and bring out the full potential of the Hundred-Battle Dragon technique.
Centered on the area where the two forces clashed fiercely, a huge whirlpool naturally formed in the sea, stirring up undercurrents.
Parry, dodge, and seize the opportunity to counterattack... Karus's combat skills are indeed exquisite. At times, he defends as steadily as a rock, and at other times, he moves nimbly like a rushing stream. Golden light flashes around him, and occasionally he can seize a fleeting opportunity to leave wounds on the scales of the red iron dragon.
However, what gradually darkened Carius's heart was...
The scorching blood flowing from the wounds on Hong Tielong's body did not dissipate into the seawater; instead, it transformed directly into a raging flame, burning incessantly in the water, while his aura remained undiminished from beginning to end.
"He is indeed stronger than I imagined... but with my Siphoning talent, I might still have a chance to win!"
Karus gritted his teeth and continued to activate his Siphon talent, constantly absorbing the dragon energy and stamina dissipated by the Red Iron Dragon between passive defense and difficult counterattacks to replenish his own consumption.
As long as he can grit his teeth and endure the initial and most intense phase of the attack, the effects of his talent will gradually become apparent as the battle drags on.
With this shift in power, he might be able to gradually reverse the disadvantage and eventually turn defeat into victory.
boom!
After a brutal, unpretentious collision, the energy exploded underwater, creating a brief vacuum bubble.
A fierce glint flashed in Karlus's eyes.
He gathered the energy he had previously absorbed and stored in his body through siphoning, and compressed it all into his right forepaw. Instantly, his right paw was enveloped in a blinding golden light, as if he were wearing a giant gauntlet made of pure energy. Within that light, there was also a faint trace of the black and red color from the Red Iron Dragon.
Break through the city!
Red Iron Dragon neither dodged nor evaded; the muscles in his right arm bulged, and dragon energy gathered on it before he smashed it down.
Bang!!
The moment of impact produced a dull sound like giant logs colliding, mixed with the cracking and shattering of scales.
A visible white shockwave exploded out from the junction, briefly creating a vacuum in the water.
Karus's entire body trembled violently. On his right forearm, where he had unleashed the City-Breaking Strike, scales shattered and rolled off one by one, and golden blood gushed out like a spring, splashing into the seawater.
He couldn't help but let out a painful roar.
At the same time, his fighting instincts made him endure the excruciating pain, and his left wing, like a giant golden blade, used the momentum of his body's rotation to slash horizontally towards the Red Iron Dragon's neck.
However, the red iron dragon reacted faster than expected.
Instead of retreating, he advanced, easily dodging the vicious wing slash, and his massive body pressed close.
Immediately afterwards, his dragon head, covered in thick scales, slammed forward, his forehead like a battering ram, slamming hard into Karus's jaw, which was slightly open in pain.
Click!
That was the heart-stopping crack of a jawbone being struck hard.
Karus was struck so hard that his head flew back and up high, his vision went black, and he saw stars. He instantly lost his balance.
He instinctively tried to lash out at the red iron dragon with his tail, but the dragon's more agile tail beat him to it, striking the middle of the tail like a steel whip.
Snap!
Another muffled thud, and scales mixed with blood and flesh flew everywhere.
Carius's tail strike was abruptly broken, leaving a horrifying, bloody dent on his tail.
"Why? It's clearly in a state of explosive power, yet it never shows any signs of weakening?!"
"Moreover, the energy I siphoned from him was not fake; it was both immense and condensed."
A wave of intense confusion washed over Karlius.
There was no answer to the question, but he finally realized that his previous idea of relying on talent to fight a protracted battle might have been too naive.
"We can't keep taking this beating! We have to take a risk!"
A resolute glint flashed in his eyes as he decided to unleash his trump card, a skill reserved for life-or-death battles.
Karus no longer focused on defense and skillful maneuvering, but instead poured all his will and power into his Siphon talent, pushing it to an unprecedented extreme, even... beginning to exceed his own safety limits.
Buzz—!!!
Centered on Carius, a huge whirlpool with a diameter of nearly 100 meters suddenly appeared in the sea, emitting a terrifying suction force.
The moment this enormous vortex appeared, the Red Iron Dragon, with a speed far exceeding what it had previously displayed, instantly escaped the core area of the vortex and was not engulfed by it.
Siphon - Return to Nothingness!
This time, the siphon is absorbing more than just the energy of living organisms.
The surrounding seawater surged back into the whirlpool, vaporized upon contact, and was completely devoured as pure, boundless water elements.
Carius stretched his wings to their limit.
Ignoring the bursting wounds all over his body, he carried the enormous golden vortex and crashed through the sea, soaring straight into the sky.
In the sky, all kinds of magical elements were brutally torn apart and absorbed! Even the surrounding light became distorted and dimmed, as if all matter and energy were being ruthlessly plundered and devoured by that huge golden vortex.
Karus let out a dragon's roar mixed with pain.
After absorbing a massive amount of energy, his body began to expand unnaturally. The golden light shining on his scales became dazzling and extremely unstable. Streams of energy surged across his body like out-of-control lightning snakes, as if a miniature sun about to explode was hidden within him.
His aura surged wildly, even faintly touching the threshold of legend.
But this force exceeded his capacity to withstand it.
The golden dragon's eyes were filled with ferocious blood vessels, and large areas of cracks, like those on porcelain, began to appear on the surface of its body, with a constant cracking sound.
Anyone can see that this state cannot last and that it puts a huge strain on him and causes him great harm.
"Red Iron Dragon! Come on! Our battle has only just begun!"
Carius forcibly suppressed the excruciating pain in his body and the feeling of being on the verge of collapse.
He opened his dragon mouth, and a dazzling light began to gather within it, too bright to look directly at.
However, the red iron dragon opposite the golden dragon, facing this overwhelming momentum, did not show any panic in its eyes. Instead, it grinned.
The next moment.
The red iron dragon's body was covered in black and red scales, which turned crimson red, like a red-hot branding iron.
Within the grooves and crevices between the scales, bursts of condensed, almost tangible flames ignited.
The flames intertwined and entwined, forming patterns on his majestic body that resembled blooming red lotuses.
He also opened his dragon mouth, which was filled with sharp teeth, and bit down on a ball of dark red fire that was compressed to the extreme, solidified, and exuded an aura of destruction.
Under the watchful eyes of countless dragons, who were tense to the point of almost suffocating.
Above the sea, the golden dragon and the red iron dragon simultaneously unleashed their respective dragon breaths.
A dazzling golden dragon's breath.
A destructive dragon's breath, crimson as blood.
They were like two torrents piercing the sky, colliding together.
"How could this be?!"
Karlus's pupils suddenly contracted.
He discovered that his enhanced Golden Flame Dragon Breath was showing signs of weakness!
The crimson, blood-red dragon breath, with its overwhelming domineering force, rapidly crushed his dragon breath and pushed back towards his location.
In the critical moment, Carius made a decisive decision.
He abandoned the obviously disadvantageous dragon breath exchange and dodged to the side.
laugh--!
Despite his timely dodge, the base of his right wing and part of his body were still scorched by the edge of the destructive dragon's breath.
Even though the golden dragon was naturally resistant to fire and its siphon talent absorbed and dissipated some of the dragon's breath power, Karius still felt a burning pain. Large patches of scales on the edge of its right wing were charred and curled up, and the flesh below became a blurry mess.
When he steadied himself and looked closely, he couldn't see the red iron dragon.
"Up there!"
A sense of crisis, stemming from instinct, made him shudder, and he abruptly looked up.
The red iron dragon had already appeared high above him, swooping down towards him with the force of a falling meteor.
The enormous shadow and the overwhelming sense of oppression almost suffocated Carius.
"No, I can't lose! I haven't reached my limit yet."
The golden dragon let out a low roar and spread its wings.
Ignoring the physical strain, he once again pushed his siphon talent to its limits.
The buzzing started again.
The surrounding space distorted again, and a huge vortex, slightly smaller than before but equally dazzling, suddenly appeared, drawing in the surrounding matter and energy, while simultaneously engulfing the swooping red iron dragon within its devouring range.
At the same time, the surging dragon aura around Red Iron Dragon suddenly changed.
Level 12 Dragon Aura Circulation!
Star, my body!
The immense dragon energy, like a blazing flame, erupted from his body, highly condensed and intertwined, instantly transforming into a thick, solid energy armor that firmly protected his entire body.
Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!
The star armor formed by the condensed dragon energy rubbed and canceled out the siphon vortex.
The surface of the armor thinned at a visible rate, but it successfully resisted the siphoning force, protecting Garus from direct effects.
Karus roared, his blood-soaked body charging towards the red iron dragon, raising his claws in a final desperate attempt.
However, the Red Iron Dragon's attacks are faster and more ferocious.
His claw strike came first, hitting Carius hard.
boom!
The dense energy covering his body instantly collapsed, transforming into countless out-of-control golden fireflies that exploded in all directions.
The red iron dragon's claws continued their momentum, piercing through the burst of energy and landing on Karus's chest!
puff-!
A dull thud resounded.
Karus's massive body shuddered violently, unable to hold on any longer.
The vortex, like a candle flickering in the wind, was extinguished and dissipated.
"What the heck... So, I really am just a challenger... Hah, we're not even... on the same level..."
The light in the eyes of the golden dragon Karus dimmed rapidly, tinged with resentment, but ultimately turned into relief.
Before his consciousness went completely dark, he clearly felt that the Red Iron Dragon opposite him had been in complete control from beginning to end, and even though he had used up all his trump cards, he could not force him to use his full strength.
This means that the gap between the two is not small.
The golden dragon's body plummeted towards the sea like a kite with a broken string.
Boom!
A huge splash broke the tranquility of the sea.
The red iron dragon slowly retracted its claws, the boiling dragon energy around its body gradually subsided, and it withdrew from its red lotus form. Under the golden light that scattered across the sky, its scales appeared even more majestic and awe-inspiring.
He stood in the air.
His opponent, the Golden Dragon Carius, floated on the rippling sea, his eyes closed, already unconscious.
Countless gazes, filled with shock, complexity, awe, and a lingering disbelief, all focused on the Red Iron Dragon's imposing body.
The entire arena and surrounding sky fell silent once again.
All the doubts and dissatisfaction that had previously filled the air have vanished at this moment.
All the metal dragons, young and old, understood one thing perfectly at this moment—why those legendary elders would go to such lengths to change the competition rules that had been in place for so many years for the sake of the evil dragons.
That's not special treatment.
This red iron dragon... is ridiculously strong.
Giving him the championship title directly would not be an exaggeration.
P.S.: I'm out of steam, please vote for me!
(End of this chapter)
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