Chapter 490 Legends, Young Dragons
The gradually brightening spring light dispelled the thin mist, transforming into countless golden scales on the walls and towers of the Crimson Flame Royal City.
The Red Iron Dragon coils among the mountains of the Dragonspine Range, its body casting a massive shadow.
Not long ago, the fairy dragon quietly departed.
Galos understood and respected the fairy dragon's choice, and even appreciated her cunning and pride. The faint sense of loss in his heart dissipated when he returned to the forging ground and felt the hardness of the ground.
He didn't have much time to dwell on the emotions of parting.
At dawn the next day, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, Galos began a new round of rigorous training.
Now, the red iron dragon has been here for three days and nights.
His dragon body was as large as a mountain, his breathing was long and slow, and each breath brought out a fiery aura, instantly vaporizing the morning frost falling around him.
And in his open eyes, there were streaks of blood.
The madness flickered violently, and anger surged within him.
But Galus remained rational and calm.
The muscles around the dragon's neck were slightly tense, and its claws dug deeply into the rock, a habitual action it took when fighting against the mad fire.
He let the madness burn and the anger rise until his eyes turned completely blood red, his spirit was shaken by the rage, and his vision began to be shrouded in a blood-red veil, before he took a deep breath of the vast amount of air.
He forcibly suppressed the manic fire within Galos's body, and the bloodshot color in his eyes faded like a tide, restoring some clarity.
Then, after the situation stabilizes, he will release the control again and start accumulating rage again.
This cycle repeats itself, over and over again.
From sunrise to noon, and from noon to sunset.
Only the heavy breathing of the dragon could be heard. A few bold rock eagles had circled in the distance, but after sensing the ever-changing oppressive aura, they flew away in terror.
This is Galos's special training program for this week.
In order to improve his strength more efficiently, Garus never engages in random, unplanned training.
He developed a rigorous cycle plan for himself.
For example, last week focused on honing the domain; this week will mainly focus on controlling rage and increasing the level of the Wild Path; and next week will focus on training the Claw of Annihilation.
Such specialized training can improve efficiency.
“The skill ‘Fearless Wrath’ requires level 14 in the Wild Path.” During a break after suppressing the madness once again, Garros silently felt the flow of power within his body. “And I am already level 12.”
The progress was faster than he had expected.
This is largely due to the existence of the Mad Fire.
Although dangerous, it is also an excellent catalyst for cultivating anger.
Galos estimated that, at the current rate, his Wildness level might surpass that of the Star Path.
He didn't dwell on his thoughts for long.
After a short rest, Red Iron Dragon reopened his eyes, and the manic fire ignited in them once more.
A new round of rigorous training has begun.
Time passed amidst fury and flames.
As the sun gradually sets in the west, painting the clouds on the horizon in shades of orange and violet, the temperature on the mountaintop begins to drop.
Suddenly.
"唳——!!!"
A clear, melodious cry, brimming with boundless vitality and burning pride, seemed to tear through the sky, coming from the highest heavens.
The sound pierced through the clouds, crossed the mountains, and reached Galus's ears.
Within the royal city, countless residents also looked up in the direction from which the sound came, noticing its presence.
Galos suddenly opened his eyes.
The bloodshot in his eyes had not completely faded, but the madness had been temporarily suppressed.
He raised his head and looked towards the southeast horizon.
At first it was just a tiny dot, almost imperceptible in the vast sky.
But soon, the small dot rapidly enlarged, accompanied by increasingly louder chirps and hot winds that made the air boil and distorted vision.
It was a bird, but not an ordinary bird.
Its long, elegant neck and magnificent tail feathers, each feather seemingly forged from the purest liquid sunlight and molten gold, with a sacred and beautiful flame halo flowing along its edges.
With its wings spread wide, it blotted out the sky.
Each flap of its wings leaves behind a dazzling trail of sparks, as if draped in the morning glow.
Her head was adorned with a magnificent feathered crown, and her eyes shone with a blazing white light. When she looked around, a sense of holiness, pride, and nobility emanated from her.
Phoenix, Angela.
To be precise, it is a legendary phoenix that stepped into the realm of legend and completed a sublimation of life.
She flew straight toward the palace and the Dragonspine Mountains, so fast that she left a golden-red trail in the sky that stretched from the southeast horizon to the capital. Wherever she passed, the clouds dispersed and water vapor rose, as if a fire god was touring her kingdom.
The people of Aura cried out in amazement.
Many people put down their work, bowed, and prayed for good luck.
Because of its magnificent and sacred appearance, the phoenix is regarded as an auspicious creature in the Kingdom of Aura, in addition to its status as a lord.
In the blink of an eye, Angela had arrived above the Red Iron Dragon.
She did not land immediately, but began to circle.
Its enormous wings gracefully swept across the sky, creating swirling gusts of hot air that swept over Garus's scales.
Gradually, she slowed down, stretched her neck, and preened her tail feathers with her beak, allowing the sunlight and her own radiance to intertwine and reflect, further highlighting her dazzling splendor.
Finally, she landed lightly a hundred meters in front of the red iron dragon.
Even with its wings folded, its magnificent form remained dazzling.
The phoenix's feathers reflected a warm glow in the setting sun, and the flames along the edges of each feather flickered and shimmered like breaths.
She stood with a dignified and elegant posture, her long tail hanging down naturally, coiling into a beautiful curve.
Even with Galus's strong will, he couldn't help but feel a sense of amazement.
I have to admit, Angela is the most beautiful creature he has ever seen, bar none.
This beauty transcends racial boundaries; even a creature with no interest in birds and no cross-species aesthetic sense can feel that unparalleled beauty in this phoenix.
“My dearest King Ignas.”
"The Kingdom of Aura, no, the most beautiful creature on this planet, comes to greet you."
Anqiya spoke, her tone full of smugness.
After speaking, she tilted her head slightly, looking at the red iron dragon with her bright white eyes. Her long tail feathers swept gracefully across the ground, leaving a scorch mark.
Galos looked at her in silence.
The beauty of the phoenix has indeed reached a new peak, with every feather containing a golden-red glow, as if the darling of flames has manifested itself here.
Seeing that Galos did not respond, Angela moved her claws in dissatisfaction.
She moved with graceful steps, approaching the red iron dragon.
The difference in their physiques was immediately apparent.
Even with her head held high, Angela's crest only reached the height of Garos's chest, and that was without the Red Iron Dragon standing properly.
But she showed no fear. Instead, she raised her head and met the gaze of the red iron dragon as it looked down.
"Don't you think that I am now a thousand times more beautiful than the most dazzling jewel in the kingdom's treasury, or the most magnificent clouds at dawn?"
She slightly spread one of her wings, allowing the flowing light on it to be fully displayed before the red iron dragon's eyes.
The feathers on the inside of the wings displayed a gradient of golden-red, from a deep dark gold at the base to a bright orange-red at the tips, like a frozen sunset.
It is indeed beautiful.
Galos finally spoke.
He lowered his eyes to look at the phoenix so close to him, his gaze lingering on her magnificent wings for a moment, and said thoughtfully, "Yes, you have indeed become more beautiful after breaking through to the legendary level, that's undeniable."
"However, I am more interested in the fact that your Nirvana Flame should also have undergone some changes."
"I'm very curious about this, and perhaps I can do some more research on it."
Upon hearing this, the phoenix's smile froze on its beak.
Just moments ago, the phoenix stood tall and proud, eager to show off its beauty to the whole world. In an instant, it deflated like a punctured balloon.
Its magnificent crest drooped slightly, its tail feathers hung down behind it, and its eyes began to dart away.
It's not that she overreacted.
When Angela first joined Garos's forces.
Galos had enthusiastically dragged her along for two months to study the Nirvana Divine Technique, hoping to gain insight into its secrets. However, after numerous attempts, he still came up empty-handed and gave up the idea.
That was not a pleasant memory for the phoenix.
Under the calm yet extremely oppressive gaze of the red iron dragon, Angela first timidly took a small half step back.
But then, whether out of reverence for the Dragon Lord or some kind of reckless courage, she suddenly raised her neck and moved a little closer to Garus.
Come on, come on!
She closed her eyes, revealing an expression of resignation to her fate.
"Don't mess up my feathers, that's my only request."
He looked just like a warrior about to go to the execution ground.
Galos chuckled, the dragon's laughter low and rumbling like muffled thunder.
He shook his head and said, "Never mind, let's do it another day. I have other things to do."
He has indeed lost most of his interest in the fire of rebirth.
The initial research had already shown that this was a racial talent that was difficult to replicate, at least he couldn't do it now.
Instead of continuing to waste time on this, it's better to focus on developing your own abilities.
Moreover, he possesses the Dragon Jade.
If it continues to develop and evolve, it might form a divine skill similar to Nirvana, granting him the ability to resurrect multiple times without the limitations and costs of Nirvana.
"Oh, I see!"
Angela instantly regained her composure.
Her eyes lit up again, and her feathered crest stood upright. "You can't bear to ruin my beauty, can you? After all, even a great dragon like you would cherish such a perfect creation."
Galos: "."
He stared at the phoenix for two seconds and decided not to respond.
Arguing about aesthetics with a phoenix that has just broken through to legendary status and is in a state of extreme narcissism is not a wise choice.
As for destroying her beauty
The Phoenix was right. He wasn't really thinking about it right now, but if the Phoenix talked a little more, things might change.
After a few seconds of silence, Galos changed the subject.
"You came to the capital not just to show off your beauty, right? If you have other important business to discuss, then let's talk about it first."
Anqiya tilted her head.
"Important business?" she said matter-of-factly. "Showing off my beauty and, incidentally, telling you about my breakthrough to legendary status—that's the most important business. Is there anything more important than that?"
She paused, then added, "Oh, right, there's something else strange that I think I need to tell you."
Galos asked, "What?"
“Recently, several birds and beasts with dragon bloodlines have appeared in my territory.”
Angie's tone became more serious.
“They are still young, probably just born. What puzzles me is that, apart from Natasha occasionally visiting my territory, I don’t have any other dragons living here long-term or visiting frequently.”
"Could it be that some wild dragon has infiltrated our Kingdom of Aura and, in my territory... left behind its offspring?"
Galos fell silent again.
This silence was longer than the last.
Red Iron Dragon shifted his gaze from Angela to a cliff on his right.
The place looked empty except for a few clumps of heat-resistant rock thorns swaying in the hot wind.
Then, he slowly turned his head and spoke calmly: "The dragon-like birds and beasts you mentioned, are their dragon-like characteristics mainly purple? Or are they entirely purple?"
Anqiya was stunned for a moment, then showed admiration.
"So you already knew?"
She exclaimed, her tail feathers sweeping merrily across the ground: "As expected of you, Your Majesty Ignas, the all-knowing one."
"Yes, the little guys do have a purple sheen at the base of their feathers, and their eyes are the color of amethyst."
Garos nodded: "Take good care of those dragon vein birds and beasts."
"Once they grow up, they will become the backbone of our Kingdom of Aura."
He paused for a moment, then added, "As for their origin, there's no problem; you don't need to worry about it."
Angela breathed a sigh of relief, her feathered crest swaying slightly: "Then I'm relieved. I'll take care of her. After all, she was born on my territory, so she's one of my subjects."
Next, she enthusiastically circled around Garros, displaying her increasingly perfect figure and radiant feathers from various angles after her ascension to legendary status, for more than an hour before finally letting out a clear cry of satisfaction, spreading her giant wings, and transforming into a golden-red streak of light to return to her territory.
By this time, the sun had completely set, and night had enveloped the sky.
Galos stood still for a moment.
He slowly turned his head, his gaze once again falling on the seemingly empty cliff to his right.
"You've been watching for so long, it's time to come out."
On the cliff, the air was slightly distorted.
Like ripples on the surface of water, a tall and enormous figure gradually appeared from the void.
Amethyst Dragon, Yseramas.
"Good evening, Garus." The amethyst dragon's voice was gentle and slightly magnetic, carrying the composure of an elder. "The moonlight is beautiful tonight, isn't it?"
The phoenix made quite a commotion as it streaked across the sky, and the amethyst dragon, who lived near the royal city, naturally noticed it as well.
Perhaps out of curiosity, or perhaps out of guilt, he used his psychic powers to conceal his form and secretly observed the entire process from the sidelines.
However, his arrival did not escape Galos's notice.
"Iseramas, congratulations."
Galos's voice was low and unreadable, revealing neither joy nor anger.
"Happy Together"
The amethyst dragon folded its wings and landed in front of Garos, its tone somewhat unnatural.
He avoided Galos's gaze, pretending to admire the surrounding night view, and said, "The weather is really nice today. Um, congratulations on adding a legend to your ranks, and a powerful creature like the phoenix at that."
Galos stared at him, a playful expression on his dragon face.
He wasn't swayed by the topic of the amethyst dragon and continued, "Among humans, there's an adjective that describes someone who is still vigorous in old age."
"I think this word suits you very well right now."
The reproductive desire of dragons often begins to emerge in adulthood and reaches its peak in prime.
Although they will still be able to reproduce after that time, the success rate will be significantly lower than in their prime, and the probability of reproduction will decrease with age.
More importantly, older dragons often shift their energy and interests to other areas.
Knowledge, magic, territory management, or simply slumber.
Given the age of Yseramas, the amethyst dragon, the fact that he can still leave offspring in a short period of time truly deserves the description of "still vigorous in his old age".
A brief silence fell over the mountaintop.
A night breeze carried the scent of a distant forest. Several nocturnal birds flew overhead, but upon sensing the presence of the two legendary dragons, they changed course in alarm.
Ysera's dragon face twitched slightly.
But he quickly regained his composure, even straightening his neck and displaying a serious expression on his dragon face.
"Having children is not something to be ashamed of."
The amethyst dragon's voice became solemn, "On the contrary, this is a natural process of life's continuation and a noble act of bloodline inheritance. As a member of the dragon race, I have a responsibility to contribute to the prosperity of the race."
He paused, gathering his thoughts, before continuing, "Moreover, I did not do it arbitrarily."
"Those who have fused with me are all magical creatures with outstanding magical talents. Their offspring will inherit the dragon bloodline and magical talents, becoming a bridge connecting the dragon race with other races."
"From this perspective, I am contributing to the biodiversity of dragon veins."
"The appearance of each dragon vein creature enhances the influence of our orthodox dragon race in the entire ecosystem. They will become disseminators of dragon culture, extensions of dragon power, and may even form new sub-dragon branches in the distant future."
"I spent a lot of time on this."
Galos listened quietly without interrupting.
Only after Yseramas finished speaking did the Red Iron Dragon nod slightly and slowly say, "In that case, I should thank you for your contributions on behalf of my people."
"Your efforts are indeed expanding the influence of the dragon race."
Yseramas flicked its tail and grinned.
"And I will gladly accept this gratitude."
He said.
Galos stared at him for two seconds, then looked away.
The old man's shamelessness truly exceeded his expectations.
However, Galos didn't really care.
As long as Yseramas's actions do not violate the kingdom's laws or cause any negative consequences, he does not intend to interfere with the amethyst dragon's hobbies.
After all, as Yseramas said, the increase in dragon vein creatures is indeed beneficial to the Kingdom of Aura in the long run.
"Since you're here, train with me for a while." Galos changed the subject, tapping the ground with his claws, making a dull thud. "Attack me with your mind skills. I need to hone my resistance to mental interference."
When training for a ferocious state and pushing the limits of rage, external mental stimulation can often accelerate the process.
As a mind mage, the Amethyst Dragon possesses powerful and precise skills, making him an excellent sparring partner.
"No, I have something to do."
Galos interrupted, "A gem."
Dog Emperor!
Yseramas cursed under his breath, then smiled broadly and said, "It's alright, let's begin."
Time passed gradually as Garus trained according to plan.
Autumn of the 355th year of the Gregorian calendar.
Good news arrived with the bumper harvest of crops.
Elvie, the Ranger General of the Kingdom of Aura, has broken through to the Legendary realm.
More importantly, Elvie also awakened the "Under the Dragon Throne" trait.
Galos could clearly sense that an invisible connection had been established between himself and the centaur general.
Through this connection, he could perceive Elvie's sights and sounds to some extent, observe the world through her eyes without her resistance, convey his will through her mouth, and manipulate her body.
With the addition of Gluttony Karu, who had already awakened this trait, Garos now possesses two points of will extension.
This means that even if he falls into a deep sleep, he can still perceive the changes and developments in the world through these two attendants, or, when necessary, convey important commands through them.
Elvie's breakthrough also proves an important fact.
Other dragon vein companions also have the opportunity to acquire the "Under the Dragon Throne" trait.
Moreover, this is not an exception unique to Galos.
Galos carefully searched through the records of this characteristic in the inherited knowledge and later made some discoveries.
Throughout the long history of the dragon race, especially in the distant First Age, the most loyal and powerful dragonkin occasionally awakened similar traits, though each had a different name.
This is seen as the ultimate manifestation of the bond between the dragon lord and his retinue, and a natural extension of the dragon race's authority.
The record mentions that there are two key factors for awakening this characteristic.
First, the companions themselves must reach the legendary level; second, the time spent with the Dragon Lord and the depth of their bond are crucial.
Generally speaking, the longer a follower has been with the dragon lord, the greater the chance of awakening this trait.
This discovery led Galos to re-examine his retinue.
His first thought was Russell the werewolf.
This member of the family was one of the earliest 'veterans' who followed Galus.
His talent wasn't top-tier among the many familiars; at least compared to figures like Elvy and Karu, there was a clear gap.
But Russell possessed an extremely tenacious and resilient will, and remained utterly loyal to Galos.
Therefore, Garros decided to provide the werewolf Russell with more resources for his development.
Once he breaks through to the legendary level, he will most likely become one of the extended wills of Galos.
In addition, Garus also took notice of some other potential members of his retinue, including those lords, but for the time being, their chances were slim.
In the same year, the Romanian plains stabilized.
All nations entered a period of post-war recovery or development, and peace arrived.
Apart from the Kingdom of Ryan.
This kingdom, which reaped the greatest rewards in the war, was engulfed in internal strife.
The people in the annexed territories refused to submit, and the resistance spread like wildfire across the land.
The original aristocratic class was dissatisfied with the new king's centralized policies, and their covert separatist activities never ceased.
Years of war had depleted the national treasury, taxes had been rising again and again, and the anger of the common people at the bottom of society had reached a breaking point.
The army of the Kingdom of Ryan is exhausted. Today it is suppressing a peasant uprising in the east, tomorrow it is fighting against the noble rebels in the west, and the day after tomorrow it is going north to wipe out the guerrillas on the border.
They won the war, but lost the peace.
The king spent almost all his time suppressing various rebels, and the kingdom's rule was crumbling.
Time continues to flow forward, like a river that never turns back.
Summer of the 358th year of the Gregorian calendar.
"I am nearly 140 years old."
On the watchtower of the Dragon Court, the red iron dragon gazed at the horizon.
Lately, he has often felt slightly tired and sleepy.
This was a sign that the period of slumber was about to begin, something Garus had anticipated, so he was not surprised.
He will likely fall into a deep sleep within three years.
With the addition of the legendary Phoenix and legendary warriors to his ranks, and with Elvie and Karu both possessing the characteristic of being under the Dragon Throne, none of them were ordinary legends. Garos had little concern about his sleeping kingdom of Aura.
Even without him, the Kingdom of Aura is not to be trifled with.
Moreover, he can awaken from his slumber if absolutely necessary.
"If I fall into a deep sleep now, it will be for at least several decades."
"It's time to meet those offspring in the Fubo Dragon Domain; they are now young dragons."
Garus thought to himself.
If he falls into a deep sleep before seeing his offspring, they will all be young dragons when he wakes up, which might create a sense of distance between them.
Galus still had some expectations for his offspring.
“Deborah, bring the children to the kingdom. They are strong enough to see their father.”
Galos contacted his companion, who was far away in the Fubo Dragon Domain.
Deborah's cheerful voice rang out: "Perfect timing, we're already on our way."
She paused, then added with a hint of helplessness, "These little brats have practically turned the world upside down in the Fubo Dragon Domain. It's best if you, their father, discipline them. I ultimately lack the authority to control them properly."
So fierce?
Galos paused for a moment, then looked on with interest.
"Very good, I'll be waiting for you to arrive."
(End of this chapter)
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