Chapter 493 The Red Dragon Queen's Gift, Two Against Two, Battle of the Four Sons
As dawn breaks, the mountains are bathed in a pale gold glow.
A thin mist, like gauze, flowed slowly along the mountainside, tinged with a pale rose-red and orange hue by the morning glow.
On the east side of Longting, a wide platform has been cleared of gravel and dust, leaving the ground flat and offering a wide view.
The place has already become lively.
Samantha, the red dragon, spread her burning bright red wings. Her wing membranes were almost transparent in the sunlight, revealing a network of tiny blood vessels interwoven like dark red threads.
She flicked her tail contentedly, her gaze falling on the four baby dragons that had arrived at the appointed time.
Garcro, Laria, Isanora, and Ophelia.
Four young dragons stood in a row, their average length already reaching ten meters. To ordinary humans, they would be enormous beasts, but in reality, they were not even eight years old. The luster of their scales carried the softness unique to young dragons.
Their postures were all different at this moment.
Garro stood tall and proud, Laria stood steadily, Isanora lazily half-closed her eyes, and Ophelia occasionally turned her head to observe her surroundings.
"Great, no one was late."
Samantha said with a smile.
She took two steps forward and said, "This is your reward. If you perform well in the future, there will be more."
As she spoke, she flipped her front paws, and four gold Auras appeared in her palm.
This is a standard gold coin minted by the Kingdom of Aura. The obverse features an emblem of mountains and dragon wings, and the edges have fine anti-slip textures.
The gold coin looked small in the red dragon's claws, yet it shimmered with an alluring luster.
With a gentle toss, the gold coins traced four arcs, landing precisely in front of each young dragon.
The gold coins shimmered with a brilliant and warm luster in the morning sunlight, as if the sunlight itself had been solidified.
The gold coins made a crisp clinking sound when they landed, a sound that sounded incredibly pleasant to the young dragons.
The baby dragons' eyes shone brightly, revealing undisguised expressions of happiness.
Laria carefully picked up the gold coin with her paws, bringing it to her nose to smell the unique, cool scent of metal; Isanora, on the other hand, used her nimble claws to toss the coin, letting it roll on her scales, her silver pupils following its trajectory; Garcro opened his mouth and took it in, repeatedly tracing the surface of the coin with his tongue, feeling its smooth, hard texture; Ophelia quickly tucked the coin under a loose scale on the side of her neck, glancing warily left and right to make sure no one noticed her treasure hiding place.
Regardless of their personalities, they all behave similarly when faced with gold coins.
It was a pure joy.
Back in the Fubo Dragon Domain, the mothers of the young dragons were very strict about managing their finances, and their allowances were pitifully small.
The metal dragons believe that premature exposure to large amounts of wealth will corrupt the minds of young dragons, so they only allow them to possess very little private property.
The few young dragons' private stash consisted of only some worn copper coins, a few worthless pebbles and shells.
The edges of those copper coins were worn smooth, and the patterns on their surfaces were blurred, but even so, they were carefully stored in a corner of their nest.
The brand-new King Aura is already a considerable fortune for them.
It is heavy, with sharp edges and a clear emblem.
Seeing their genuine joy, Samantha the Red Dragon grinned, revealing a nostalgic smile.
When she was young, her love for wealth was exactly the same as theirs, and perhaps even greater.
Back then, she was a miser who wouldn't even show Bie Long a single copper coin. She would never part with her treasures. Whenever she got something, she would immediately hide it in the most secluded corner and get up several times at night to check it.
But ever since he followed his brother Garus, established the tribe, participated in the founding of the nation, and expanded the territory...
Her wealth accumulated at an astonishing rate.
Gold coins piled up, gems filled boxes, pearls were like sand... so many that she herself couldn't remember the exact number, only that the several side caves deep inside the nest were completely stuffed full.
Sometimes when I wake up and turn over, I hear the clattering sound of gold coins sliding down my body.
When wealth becomes so abundant that it becomes a vague concept rather than a concrete treasure, her obsession with wealth naturally fades.
Gold coins are just gold coins, and gems are just gems.
They pile up there, and instead of decreasing, they increase day and night.
Moreover, her brother had always taught her that wealth is a tool, an extension of power, not a prison. True strength lies not in how much one possesses, but in whether one can use it to achieve one's goals.
Nowadays, she likes to bestow treasures upon the younger generation, and seeing their joyful expressions makes them more willing to follow her arrangements.
The process itself also brings a fresh kind of pleasure.
This is a kind of joy that combines control and gifting.
Watching the young dragons' eyes light up for a single gold coin, she seemed to see a reflection of her past self, yet she transcended that simple possessiveness.
"Alright, you little money-grubbers, now that you've put the money away, it's time to get down to business."
Samantha clapped her paws, making a crisp sound that drew the young dragons' attention back, and then tapped her tail lightly on the ground.
"Laria, Isanora; Garcro, Ophelia."
She called out the names of the four young dragons one by one, her vertical pupils flashing with amusement, her gaze lingering on each dragon for a moment.
"You two stand in pairs, then walk to opposite ends of the platform."
The young dragons looked at each other, somewhat puzzled.
Isanora and Laria exchanged a glance and slowly moved closer together.
The silver dragon's movements were elegant and languid, while the red dragon appeared more cautious.
Garclaw glanced at the little iron dragon Ophelia beside him. The latter was looking down and using its claws to check if the gold coin was hidden properly. Noticing his gaze, it raised its head and hopped over to Garclaw's side.
"Aunt Samantha, what are we going to do?"
Ophelia asked, her voice clear and melodious.
"What are we doing?" Samantha's tail tip wagged happily. "Playing games, of course, or you could say fighting."
"fight?"
The four young dragons spoke in unison, each with a different expression.
Garro immediately became excited, the scales on his neck slightly opening, and scorching breath emanating from his nostrils; Ophelia retreated behind her elder brother, lowering her body slightly; Laria looked thoughtful, her gaze shifting between her opponent and her teammates; Isanora, on the other hand, looked uninterested and yawned.
"That's right, the game is called 'The Gift of the Red Dragon Queen'."
Samantha cleared her throat and began to speak in a melodious tone.
"The great and wealthy Red Dragon Queen, in order to encourage the young dragons, has given them the opportunity to please her. The outstanding young dragons will also receive generous rewards from the Red Dragon Queen."
“I am the Red Dragon Queen, and you are the young dragons.”
Samantha slowly finished explaining the game's background, and then began to explain the actual rules, speaking slowly to ensure that each young dragon could hear clearly.
"You two will face off against each other in a real sparring match."
"Laria and Isanora are in one group, and Garcro and Ophelia are in another group."
"There are no complicated rules. Just use whatever means you know to attack your opponents and protect your teammates until one side is completely defeated, or until I call a halt."
"The winning team will receive a gem reward."
Samantha was obsessed with similar games when she was a child and never tired of them.
At that time, she would mark out areas on the ground with stones and branches, starting with insects and ants, and later with her followers and alchemical creations, treating them as her own legion, and then simulating various battle scenarios.
Now that she's an adult, her personality has become much more composed, but she hasn't changed much in essence. She still enjoys playing these kinds of games, and has now switched the characters she controls to her brother's offspring.
She felt a wonderful sense of satisfaction watching these little guys work hard for the reward.
Samantha said, "Now, go to both ends of the platform and I'll give you one minute to prepare for the integration process."
In order to receive the 'Red Dragon Queen's' gift, the four young dragons quickly separated and ran to opposite ends of the platform, even the little silver dragon Isanora didn't slack off.
Their claws pounded the ground with a dense thud, and their wings were half-open for balance.
The platform is spacious, with ample space in the middle for buffering and combat zones.
On the west side, Laria and Isanora are huddled together.
The little silver dragon stretched out its long wings, the wing membranes gleaming like pearls in the sunlight.
She looked at the fourth brother and said, "Thinking is tiring, Laria. Just tell me what to do, and I'll do whatever you say."
Laria looked at the group opposite her.
Garclaw was shaking his head and moving his limbs, while Ophelia whispered something in his ear.
He said thoughtfully, "Ophelia is your responsibility. She's cunning and probably won't fight you head-on. You should feign an attack on her first and not expend too much energy."
“Galcroze had just been reprimanded by his father, so his mindset might be unstable. He might be eager to prove himself and prone to rash actions.”
"When he gets impatient, use my dragon roar as a signal. You will break away from your battle with Ophelia and use your speed to support me. We will first surround and attack Garcro."
"When Ophelia comes to our aid, we'll deal with her at the same time."
Although Laria is a red dragon, its way of thinking is not simple.
He also possesses the strategic thinking characteristic of Tie Long, preferring to formulate plans before taking action. His gaze is calm as he analyzes the opponent's weaknesses and his own advantages.
The little silver dragon nodded: "Okay, then that's settled."
She moved her body, causing the silver scales to ripple. "I hate sweating, I hope this ends soon."
On the east side, Garclaw was excitedly digging at the ground, his scorching breath coming out of his nostrils, forming two wisps of white smoke in the morning air.
“Ophelia, you stay behind me. I don’t need your help. Watch me take them both down.”
Just as Laria predicted.
He was eager to erase his previous failures and prove his strength.
The memory of his father easily breaking his neck still lingered in his mind; he needed a victory to rebuild his confidence.
Ophelia ignored his boastful words: "Galcro, my dear brother, have you forgotten Father's words? Or do you not want Aunt Samantha's treasure? Don't be impulsive, we need to cooperate."
Her voice was soft and lacked strength.
However, the words 'father' and 'treasure' are both insightful and hard for the young red dragon to ignore.
"Cooperate? How do we cooperate?"
Garclaw took a deep breath, suppressing his impatience.
He forced himself to calm down and turned his gaze to his two blood relatives opposite him.
“Isanora, she’s fast, but she’s rather slender and can’t withstand a lot of impact. Remember, Laria is your opponent, but she’s your primary target. If you manage to hit her once, we’ll basically win.”
"Don't get entangled with Laria, don't get provoked by him, wait for the right moment and attack Isanora."
Ophelia spoke quickly, her words fast but clear.
"Time's up, let the game begin!"
"The Red Dragon Queen awaits your performance."
Samantha's leisurely voice rang out. She took a few steps back, finding herself a comfortable viewing position, her tail curled at her side, and her wings slightly folded.
The four young dragons moved at the sound.
At the start of the battle, Garcro was the first to launch an attack.
He spread his wings and charged forward two steps, while Laria also assumed a fighting stance and charged towards him.
The scales of the two red dragons gleamed brightly in the morning light, like two moving flames.
The little silver dragon gracefully ascended and circled around, its wings flapping to create airflow, before swooping down towards the little iron dragon that was trying to cut in from the side. Its movements were fluid and elegant, like a streak of silver light.
In the center of the platform, two young red dragons faced each other.
Garrosh's eyes burned with a fighting spirit, while Laria was much calmer, her gaze focused, her body slightly lowered, and her center of gravity shifted backward.
"roar!"
Garclaw took the initiative, charging forward with his more robust body, intending to crush the enemy with his strength. His steps were heavy, and each step caused the ground to tremble slightly.
Larria didn't engage head-on, but dodged to the side, simultaneously slapping Garrosh's sideways with its claws.
He tried to steer García Márquez away by imitating his father's previous moves, but because he lacked experience and couldn't grasp the timing, he failed.
The claws grazed the scales on Garcro's shoulder, sending sparks flying.
The two red dragon cubs instantly became entangled in a fierce battle.
Clawing, wrestling, biting.
The dull thuds of impact and the scraping of scales filled the air, and scorching breaths emanated from their mouths and noses, causing the surrounding air to distort slightly.
Their tails lash out like whips, trying to disrupt each other's balance.
Garclaw's pursuit of power allowed him to suppress the laziness inherent in dragons.
Back in the Dragon Realm, he was strict with himself and trained regularly, making him the strongest in terms of physique. He clearly suppressed Laria, who was also a red dragon, but there was no overwhelming gap between them.
Laria's skill and composure made up for her lack of strength.
Meanwhile, the battle between Isanora and Ophelia was much quieter.
Ophelia never engages in direct combat. She sometimes feigns an attack, and sometimes instantly creates distance, making it difficult to predict what she is trying to do. Her movements are unpredictable, like a leaf drifting in the wind.
Isanora was also in control, her silver eyes tracking Ophelia's movements, launching attacks around her lightly and quickly. Her attacks were not swift, but each one blocked Ophelia's movement path.
The silver dragon's claws and wings were enveloped in a layer of cold air, leaving traces of white frost in the air wherever it passed.
This continued for some time.
Galcroir, unable to break through after a prolonged siege, grew increasingly frustrated.
He prided himself on being stronger than Laria, but Laria's steady blocking and deflection made him feel as if he were hitting a stubborn swamp, unable to exert his strength.
Each powerful blow was skillfully deflected, instead expending his own energy.
Larria dodged another fierce attack, but Garrosh's patience ran out after his claws dug deep furrows in the ground.
However, he did not launch a more furious attack.
"roar!"
Garrosh roared and decisively abandoned his fight with Laria.
He suddenly turned around, his limbs exerting tremendous force, his massive body carrying scorching wind pressure as he veered sharply toward Isanora, who was fighting Ophelia.
This turn was powerful and heavy, even leaving a semi-circular skid mark on the ground.
"Brother, are you afraid to fight me head-on?"
Laria growled, trying to provoke Garkro, but the dragon ignored her. Garkro's gaze was fixed on the silver dragon, as if it had already locked onto its prey.
Garclaw was not as easily provoked as usual, a change that surprised Laria.
But Laria didn't panic; instead, a glint flashed in her eyes.
The moment Garclaw turned, the faint red lotus patterns on Laria's body suddenly burst into a dazzling light, as if they were on fire. The patterns spread from his back, quickly covering his entire body, emitting a dark red light.
He took a deep breath, his chest bulging high.
"hold head high--!"
Larria let out a dragon roar that resonated with a metallic tremor.
As the dragon's roar resounded, the surface of Laria's originally deep red scales was covered with a layer of cold, hard, gray-iron-like luster at a visible speed, as if it had instantly transformed from flesh and blood into a fine iron statue.
The edges of his scales gleamed with a cold metallic sheen, and his entire body looked heavy and sturdy.
Seeing this, Samantha raised an eyebrow, revealing an expression of great interest.
"Harden the body?"
This is a spell-like skill belonging to the Iron Dragon, which can usually only be mastered by Iron Dragons and their hybrid offspring. It can greatly increase the hardness and weight of the body for a short period of time.
Laria looks exactly like a red dragon, but it has awakened iron dragon-like spells.
This means that he may be the most similar offspring to Garros in terms of bloodline, a red iron dragon whose characteristics are not very obvious.
At the same time, the red dragon, arriving later but arriving first, crashed into Garcro's side and rear.
Garcolo felt a fierce wind coming from behind, but he didn't care. He was prepared to withstand the impact and even turn it into a boosting force.
He tensed the muscles in his back, and the scales closed tightly.
Bang!!!!
The impact was solid, the dull sound like a giant wooden drum being struck.
"Huh?"
Garclaw's eyes widened.
He felt as if he had been hit by an iron mountain, his momentum was abruptly stopped, his entire body was thrown off the ground and tilted to one side, his limbs lost their balance, and he was actually knocked into the air.
The impact was far greater than he had expected; his internal organs churned from the shock.
(End of this chapter)
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