Chapter 497 The First Adopted Son, Asleep (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
In the year 361 of the New Calendar, at the border region, Ignaslong Academy.
Nearly three years have passed since the four arrived here, and now it's the end of the year again, time for the challenge.
The enormous circular training ground is located in the center of the academy. It is built of neatly cut gray rocks. The snow in the center of the field has been cleared away, revealing the hard ground underneath that has been trampled and reinforced countless times.
The stands were already packed with dragons.
The dragon scales, in their various colors, reflect a dazzling array of hues under the winter sunlight.
All eyes were focused on the four figures in the preparation area on the sidelines, and on the position high above the main stand.
In order not to affect the young dragons' competition, the Red Iron Dragon did not descend in its full dragon form.
He sat atop a massive obsidian throne in a dragon-human form, retaining features such as horns, a dragon tail, and vertical pupils.
He was a massive man, with dark red scales adorning his neck, shoulders, and back, which were particularly prominent. His deep black eyes calmly surveyed the area below, like a king inspecting his territory and his minions.
The arrival of the Red Emperor silenced the once noisy venue considerably.
On the sidelines, four young dragons stood quietly.
Three years of rigorous training left a deep mark on them.
The red dragon Garquero experienced the most significant growth in size.
His shoulder height already surpassed that of many young dragons, his deep red scales were thick and glossy, and his muscles were clearly defined, as if forged from cooled lava. Just by standing there, he exuded an irrepressible, almost tangible sense of power.
The Red Dragon Laria has a more well-proportioned and solid physique, a steady posture, and sharp eyes.
The scales of the Iron Dragon Ophelia have a cold, hard metallic sheen at the edges, and its body lines are smooth and bulging, full of a sense of power ready to be unleashed.
The silver scales of the silver dragon Isanora became even purer and more dazzling.
Although she was not as robust as her brothers, she was still well-proportioned and agile, especially her pair of long and huge dragon wings with sharp edges. Her usually lazy gaze now contained a hint of sharpness.
Today, the rules of the challenge are very simple.
Any young Dragon trainee can challenge any one of the Four Sons.
However, the challenges did not come without a price.
They need to pay a sum of money to qualify for the challenge.
In addition, if the challenger is older and is already a juvenile dragon, restrictions will be imposed in order to create a relatively fair environment as much as possible.
For example, teenage blue dragons cannot use any type of spell or breath attack, and teenage green dragons cannot use poison...
These restrictions cannot completely eliminate the gap, and so-called fairness is only relative.
But dragons revere strength and are indifferent to minor injustices; they value more the power and will they demonstrate under limited conditions.
"Let's begin."
The Red Emperor's voice was not loud, but it drowned out all the noise in the arena and reached the ears of every dragon.
"Young dragons, I look forward to your performance."
As he finished speaking, the challenge officially began.
"Come on, my challenger!"
Garclaw, the eldest son of the red dragon, raised his head and roared, his voice as loud as a bell.
"After Garclaw takes your treasure, he will defeat you all and make you submit to my power!"
His declaration ignited the will to fight.
Soon, several imposing teenage dragons appeared, mostly blue and red dragons.
They were physically strong, with burning eyes and a determination to prove themselves. After choosing their opponents, they launched a fierce attack on the four.
Instantly, the training ground erupted with the sounds of fierce collisions, the roar of breaths, and the sharp crack of scales tearing apart.
The red dragon's flames intertwined with the blue dragon's lightning.
Claws flashed, and the dragon's tail swept up clouds of snow dust.
The four Ignas performed admirably.
Not only are they exceptionally talented, but in the past three years, in order to uphold their honor as the sons of the emperor, they have also undergone far more arduous training than dragons of the same age.
Garclaw's physique was so powerful that it instilled despair in his opponents; ordinary claw strikes often left only shallow marks on him.
Larria's Crimson Form grants him terrifying speed and power in a short period, which, combined with precise use of spell-like abilities, makes him difficult to defend against.
Ophelia is born with a high-energy state and has a steady and strategic fighting style, always managing to win at the lowest possible cost.
Isanora, with its enormous wings unlike those of ordinary dragons, possesses unparalleled maneuverability, often delivering fatal wing strikes before its opponents can even react.
The battles were full of intense sparks, and some challengers even gained the upper hand at times due to their rich experience.
However, the four players responded with increasing composure, and the final victory was essentially a foregone conclusion.
Discussions began to rise in the stands, some praising the four boys' rapid growth, while others subtly expressed disappointment.
Is it possible that this year, no dragon will be able to shake their position and gain the emperor's favor?
The competition proceeded in rounds, interspersed with short breaks to allow participants to recover their energy.
As dusk approached, leaden clouds hung low, and the snowstorm intensified, with fine ice crystals rustling against the dragon's scales.
Just as another round of challenges ended and the arena fell into a slight silence.
A black dragon slowly emerged from the shadows at the edge and stepped into the center of the arena.
This was a young black dragon, less than half the size of Garkro at this time, and appeared particularly thin among the young dragons who generally admired a strong physique.
Her scales were a dull, pure black, without any luster, as if they could absorb all the light around them.
Her muscles weren't bulging, but they were taut like steel wires, outlining rugged and strong lines, especially the tendons in her shoulder blades, neck, and hind limbs, which were clearly visible.
Unlike other challengers who roared and protested, she simply handed over the treasure in silence.
Then, she walked straight to Garcro on one side of the arena, raised one of her front paws, and pointed the sharp claws at the red dragon.
“I, Salia, challenge Garclaw Ignas.”
Black Dragon's voice was hoarse and low, with a hint of coldness.
Garclaw paused for a moment, tilted his huge head, looked her up and down, then grinned, revealing sharp white teeth, and a few sparks flew from his nostrils.
"Ha! Little one? Well, I just finished warming up, so I'll use you to stretch my muscles."
He flicked his tail, completely ignoring the black dragon, which was much smaller than himself.
This black dragon was smaller than all of his challengers.
On the high platform, Garus narrowed his eyes and fell on the black dragon.
Beneath the black dragon's seemingly unremarkable exterior, he sensed an almost solid focus.
This kind of temperament is rarely seen in young dragons.
White Dragon Therese, perched beside him on a stone seat, explained in a low voice at the opportune moment.
“Salia, the young black dragon, was born with developmental delays and has some defects. Her size and strength are far inferior to those of dragons of the same age, but she trains extremely hard, to a degree that no dragon in the entire academy can match.”
"She didn't participate in the challenge in the previous two years, perhaps because she felt that she hadn't accumulated enough experience and didn't have the opportunity."
"This year... her combat skills are unmatched by other students. However, she has a gloomy personality, keeps to herself, and rarely shows her full strength. Apart from a few who pay attention to her, few dragons truly understand her background."
Galos nodded slightly, his gaze never leaving the arena.
"Interesting," he said in a low voice, a hint of interest in his tone.
Meanwhile, the battle began.
The black dragon Salia lowered her body, almost completely lying flat on the ground.
Her pair of black dragon wings were not folded, but stretched out to the sides in a strange arc, the wing membranes taut, forming a taut line with her body.
The entire dragon resembled a fully drawn bow, every muscle brimming with power.
Whoosh!
The next instant, her figure blurred and disappeared from the spot, rapidly sweeping towards Garcolo in a slightly curved trajectory.
The speed was so fast that a hint of surprise flashed in the red dragon's eyes.
But he reacted quickly, raising his thick forelimbs and smashing his huge claws down on the black dragon's head with a dull thud, intending to end the battle with one blow.
However, just as the claw was about to touch the black head...
Salia's body suddenly twisted in a strange way.
Her spine seemed incredibly flexible, twisting sharply at an angle almost defying the physiological structure of dragons, causing her entire muscular and slender body to slide sideways along the ground, narrowly avoiding the heavy blow.
Not only that.
In the instant they passed each other, the edge of her fully extended dragon wings grazed the scales on the outside of Garcro's hind legs.
*Sizzle!*
A scraping sound rang out, and a thin crack appeared on the red dragon's thick scales. It wasn't deep, and only a few drops of blood seeped out.
"Um?"
Garcro retracted its claws and examined the wound on its leg.
He wasn't annoyed; instead, he grinned and said, "Interesting, little bug."
He turned around, his thick, long tail sweeping across like a steel whip, while his other claw swiftly reached for the direction the black dragon might dodge.
But Salia reacted faster, or rather, her prediction of the red dragon's movements was extremely accurate.
With her limbs pushing off the ground with minimal amplitude and subtle adjustments to her wing membranes, her body moved like a weightless shadow, slipping through the gap between the claw shadow and the tail strike at the last second, even leaving a shallow mark on the red dragon's forelimb joint once again.
The battle entered a unique rhythm.
Salia never confronted Garclaw in any form of physical confrontation.
Her tactics were extremely clear.
Utilizing its small size, incredible speed, and far superior agility compared to its opponents, it engages in continuous movement, dodging, and counterattacks.
Her dodging maneuvers were full of small-scale sharp turns, low rolls, sudden stops and restarts that defied inertia.
Some of her movements were so violent that they even tore the thin scales on her shoulders or ribs, but she didn't care.
Moreover, every successful dodge was accompanied by a sharp and precise counterattack.
Her targets are the gaps at the joints, the relatively thin abdominal lateral edges, the base of the wing membranes, the eyes, the nostrils... these are either places that affect movement or are vulnerable.
Moreover, the black dragon's claws had been specially honed and enhanced with a kind of magical enhancement, giving them an unsettling, dark luster.
Although Garquero's dragon scales are tough, they are not without weaknesses.
Under Salia's precise and rapid grabbing, scratching, stabbing, and prying, the red dragon's wounds began to increase.
Although each injury is not deep, they accumulate and bring pain and obstacles to movement.
*Sizzle!*
A deep gash appeared on the side of Garcro's left forelimb joint, causing a slight delay in his claw movements.
puff!
On his right side, a piece of scale armor was skillfully pried open by the claw tip, followed by a deeper stab, and blood immediately seeped out, staining the surrounding deep red scales.
Salia's fighting style is devoid of beauty; it is insidious and ruthless.
She never engages in prolonged combat, striking and retreating immediately. Whether successful or not, she uses her small size and high speed to circle around Garrosh's massive body, like a persistent leech, specifically seeking out the most vulnerable and painful spots for the red dragon to strike.
Galcroze was furious.
He felt like a giant beast being swarmed by poisonous bees, possessing power but having nowhere to use it.
His roars grew increasingly violent, and his attacks became more ferocious, but this also exposed more weaknesses in his defenses.
The black dragon, like the most patient assassin, calmly seized every opportunity, while the red dragon began to develop more and more small but painful wounds, its scales stained red with blood, and its movements gradually became sluggish.
The buzzing from the audience had long since stopped.
The young dragons watched intently as this starkly contrasting duel unfolded.
They saw that the wounds on the arrogant red dragon's eldest son were increasing, his movements were becoming noticeably sluggish, and his breathing was heavy; while the thin black dragon had the upper hand.
"That's about enough..."
A dark glint flashed in the vertical pupils of the black dragon Salia.
The Red Dragon's movements have slowed by at least 30% compared to the beginning, greatly reducing the threat of a counterattack.
"But...could this be a trap?"
A flicker of doubt crossed her mind.
Although the Red Dragon seems irritable, he is, after all, the emperor's son with extraordinary bloodline. Could he really be depleted to this extent?
However, his physical strength was almost depleted, and his speed had been declining without him realizing it. This was his only chance to win.
In any case, we must risk ending the battle as soon as possible.
Having made up her mind, a fierce glint flashed in her eyes.
The black dragon once again feigned an attack from the right. Just as Garclaw swung his claws to intercept, she suddenly shrank back and then burst forth, pushing off the ground and spinning faster than before. She leaped over the red dragon's lowered forearm, swiftly gliding along the curve of his spine, and lightning-fast circled around to the red dragon's left neck.
The scales there are relatively fine, and below lies the deadly throat!
Dark claws tore through the air, heading straight for their target!
"You've fallen for their trap! Roar!!!"
Galcro's deep voice suddenly rang out, his previous fatigue vanishing instantly.
His massive body leaped back half a step to avoid the dangerous attack, while his head suddenly sank down, using the pair of thick, hard horns on his forehead to slam into the oncoming black shadow.
This sudden change of tactics was swift and ruthless, completely unexpected.
Salia was shocked and dared not take the long-planned headbutt head-on. She forcefully reversed the momentum of her charge and flapped her wings sharply to the side to dodge.
But the two are too close together.
Although the red dragon's headbutt missed, its thick, long tail, which had been dragging seemingly due to exhaustion, had already gathered enough power. At this moment, it suddenly sprang up, sweeping horizontally with a shrill whooshing sound, covering a vast area.
Salia only had time to fold her wings to protect her sides.
Bang!!
With a heavy thud, the black dragon's petite body was struck hard by the tip of its tail. The protective membrane of its wings tore with excruciating pain, and the scales on its side shattered instantly.
She let out a muffled groan as her body was sent flying by the immense force, crashing heavily onto the hard rock more than ten meters away. She then rolled and slid for several more meters, leaving a trail of rubble and blood.
She struggled to get up, but the shadow had already fallen.
boom!
Garclaw fell like a meteorite, landing on the black dragon's back. His forepaws pressed firmly against her shoulder blades, and his weight pressed down on her, rendering her completely immobile.
The red dragon was breathing heavily, and blood was still seeping from many wounds on its body, dripping onto Salia's black scales.
However, his deep red vertical pupils burned with a fierce fighting spirit and the light of victory. He lowered his head and let out a deafening roar at the black dragon under his claws, proclaiming his victory.
"That's enough, you bugs!"
"You can hit me ten times, a hundred times, but I only need one chance to end the fight completely!"
"You think the eldest son of the great Red Emperor is just a stupid dragon with a head full of muscles?"
The red dragon pointed to its enormous head and sneered, its voice filled with undisguised smugness, "Hidden within this is an astonishing wisdom that can crush you!"
Salia shook her slightly dizzy head, spitting out the blood and dust from her mouth.
She felt the heavy pressure on her back and the burning pain in her side, knowing that the outcome was already decided.
"Your Highness..."
Her voice was still hoarse, but it carried a hint of submissiveness.
"Your wisdom surpasses mine; I have lost. Please forgive my offense."
She did not resist violently; instead, she exposed her soft and vulnerable abdomen.
"Um?"
Garclaw snorted and stared at the black dragon under his claws, which seemed to have completely surrendered.
He felt the stinging pain from the tiny wounds on his body, a reminder that the little guy in front of him had indeed caused him quite a bit of trouble.
After a two-second silence, he removed the front paw that was holding down the other person.
Then, after a slight pause, it extended its claws, roughly but not fiercely, and pulled Salia up from the ground.
Garclaw was willing to give basic respect to opponents who showed sufficient strength and resilience, even if they were enemies, let alone this was just an academy challenge.
"Insect... Black Dragon, you're actually quite good."
He said casually, flicking his tail, "In the past three years, you are the first challenger to make me bleed so much. Haha, keep it up. I hope there will be more guys like you in the future who can leave me with some memorable scars."
"Defeating a powerful opponent makes me appear even stronger."
Salia steadied herself, paused slightly, seemingly not expecting the other party to say that.
She lowered her head and replied in a low voice, "Yes... I will do my best not to disappoint Your Highness."
Hearing this, Garcro was even more satisfied and patted the black dragon's shoulder with his paw.
Black Dragon Salia was knocked off balance and almost fell again.
"Your Highness, I wish you continued success in your upcoming battles."
Black Dragon steadied himself, muttered something, and silently turned around. Dragging his injured body, he limped quietly down from the noisy training ground, hiding himself again in the heavy shadow cast by a tall wall, as if trying to blend into it.
"Who else?! Bring it on!"
"Those who challenge me, Garcro, will only gain defeat and awe of my power!"
On the training ground, the little red dragon stood tall and proud, letting out an arrogant and exhilarating roar, full of vigor and high spirits.
In the shadows below the stage, the little black dragon Salia looked up at that powerful and confident figure, a hint of envy in her eyes.
"It's really... dazzling..."
She stuck out her dark tongue and silently licked the bloodstains on her front paws, whispering to herself.
The ensuing challenge seemed to have all its excitement stolen by the battle between the red and black dragons.
Despite their continued efforts, the subsequent challengers performed poorly and failed to pose a real threat to the four.
The sons of the Red Emperor swiftly and decisively defeated all their rivals, consolidating their position.
Shortly after, the last challenger had his back scales cut open by Isanora's dragon wings, the wound so deep that bone was visible, and blood gushed out, leaving him no choice but to admit defeat.
"Alright, this year's challenge is now over."
Dean Bai Long slowly stood up and announced the end of the challenge.
The dragons assumed that His Majesty the Emperor would leave quietly after the ceremony, as he usually did, but the next moment, the tall figure sitting on the obsidian throne slowly stood up.
Its humanoid form appeared tiny compared to the many giant dragons in the arena.
But just by standing there, his invisible aura of majesty made him seem even more majestic than the sky.
His deep black eyes swept across the entire arena, and wherever his gaze fell, the noise involuntarily subsided. Finally, his gaze settled on a certain inconspicuous shadowy spot on the sidelines.
Salia was curled up quietly, cleaning the severe tear in her side.
Immediately afterwards, the sound of the red iron dragon pierced through the increasingly dense wind and snow, ringing out clearly.
"Today, I saw desire, I saw hard work, and I also saw... talent, wisdom and indomitable instinct that impressed me deeply."
His gaze first fell on García, and he nodded slightly.
“My eldest son, Garclaw, you have shown strength and wisdom, proving that you are not just a strong body.”
“My other offspring—Laria, Ophelia, Isanora, you have also proven your growth and worth, and are worthy of my bloodline.”
The four young dragons on the sidelines immediately raised their heads and puffed out their chests, their tails swaying slightly involuntarily.
Praise from the dragon father was rare, which made each achievement all the more joyful and proud they felt.
Then, under the spotlight of countless gazes, Garus raised his dragon arm, his claws clearly pointing at the black dragon in the shadows.
"And you, Salia."
Black Dragon Salia subconsciously raised her head and looked at the mountain-like figure on the high platform. She was slightly stunned and then completely froze.
"Your physique is inherently inferior, and your strength is weak, putting you behind most of your peers from the very beginning."
Galos stated the obvious facts, "But you did not complain or blame others, nor did you accept your weakness. You found your own path, knowing how to compensate for your strength with skill, how to see through your weaknesses with wisdom, and how to endure harm with resilience."
"Within your body lies a powerful and resilient soul that refuses to bow to fate."
Salia's breathing became uncontrollably heavy, her dark chest heaving slightly, and a burning light gradually shone in her usually gloomy vertical pupils as she stared intently at the emperor.
The emperor paused slightly, leaving a brief silence in the room.
Then, the words that would decide fate fell once more, resounding with conviction.
“I, Galoth Ignas, acknowledge your performance today and the value you have demonstrated.”
“From this moment on, you, Salia, are my adopted daughter and the fifth child of the Ignas family.”
"You will enjoy the attention and cultivation of the emperor's son. I hope you will guard against arrogance and impetuosity, continue to hone your claws and will, and serve the kingdom loyally in the future, contributing your strength and loyalty to me."
His words, though not impassioned, resonated like thunder in the hearts of every listener.
The Emperor's Son!
This is not a distant daydream, nor is it a wishful thought that young dragons jokingly dream about!
His Majesty the Great Ignatius, right before the eyes of everyone at this year-end challenge, personally announced that he has taken in a goddaughter!
After a brief silence, a huge uproar swept through the entire training ground.
Countless gazes were directed at the small, thin black dragon that was still curled up in the shadows.
Salia was, after all, just a young dragon. No matter how gloomy and aloof she was, she could hardly suppress the turbulent emotions churning within her at this moment.
She struggled to stand up, ignoring the pain in her side wound, and took a step forward.
The black dragon was completely out of the shadows, exposed to all sight and the light of day.
She lowered her head deeply, almost touching the ground.
"Great King Ignas, my only sun and guide! Thank you for your recognition and grace! From this day forward, my life, my claws, my soul will fight only for you, until death do us part!"
Her voice trembled, a mixture of awe and disbelief.
The emperor looked down at the respectfully bowing black dragon, nodded slightly, and added, "Watch your address, Salia."
The black dragon's body visibly trembled.
She hesitated for a moment, as if to confirm that this was not a dream, before calling out softly in a still somewhat dazed voice, "Your Majesty... no... Father..."
"alright."
"The tradition of the Challenge will continue. I look forward to seeing more shining figures here and in the future, discovering more gems worth polishing, and welcoming more descendants."
After saying that, the Red Emperor said no more.
In a burst of light, he transformed into his majestic form, then spread his wings and soared into the high sky, tearing through the vast snowstorm in the blink of an eye and disappearing into the horizon, leaving behind only endless majesty and reverie.
Two months later.
A cave inside a mountain in the Dragon Ridge Mountains.
The red iron dragon dwelled there, silently swallowing one gem after another, magical precious metals, and black oil crystals—all top-quality items, none of them inferior.
"The matters to be handled before the slumber have been arranged."
His massive head rested on his crossed forepaws, his eyes gradually closing as his inner thoughts slowly settled. "This sleep... might be longer than any other before."
"While I sleep, let the stars shine their brightest."
"When I awaken, the true sun will hang high in the sky, shining on the entire Romanian plain."
This time, the sleeping Red Iron Dragon did not tightly wrap its wings around its body as it had in the past due to subconscious unease. Instead, it stretched out at the most comfortable angle and gradually fell asleep.
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(End of this chapter)
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