Chapter 487 Desire, Zolaya
Deborah felt a brief tremor in her heart when faced with the vertical pupils of the red iron dragon Garos, which seemed to be spewing out solid flames.
She couldn't help but recall those crazy things she had done in the past.
Images of intertwined dragon tails, sparks flying when scales collide, and panting breaths mingling with low growls flashed through my mind.
She subconsciously lowered her gaze, avoiding Hong Tielong's eyes.
A few seconds later, seemingly feeling that it was too immature, she raised her head again.
Deborah said calmly, "The baby dragons have just hatched and are in need of their mother's company the most. As for you... Garus, I've said before that I won't interfere with your choices."
Metal dragons traditionally prefer monogamy.
But this tradition is never an ironclad rule; more often than not, it only applies to couples of similar strength and status.
When the gap in strength between the two sides is too large, it is difficult to maintain this balance.
In fact, those highly respected metal dragon kings each had more than one partner.
Galos's own power is extraordinary enough, and now he is the ruler of the Kingdom of Aura, so he naturally attracts the attention of many women.
He has always been adept at fighting against his own desires and has not indulged in pleasure, but all sorts of temptations have always surrounded him.
Deborah understood that if she actually asked him to follow the ancient traditions of metal dragons, he might agree, and might even treat suppressing his instincts as a form of training, drawing satisfaction from it to strengthen his will.
But she was unwilling to do so.
A persistent worry lingered in Deborah's heart.
She always felt that Galus had experienced too many crises and upheavals in his childhood, and that he always lacked a sense of security deep down, which was why he was so persistent in pursuing absolute power.
In addition, he possesses a rare talent that allows him to directly gain feedback from training, making it easier for him to immerse himself in endless honing.
Resist desires and restrain instincts.
What other dragons see as torment can be transformed into nourishment for his cultivation.
Deborah had no doubt that if one day she had to choose between "continuing to become stronger" and "her partner," Garus would choose the former without hesitation.
His desire for power was as hard as iron and unshakable.
This is also the fundamental reason why he was able to grow from an ordinary red iron dragon into the King of Aura.
Perhaps even Galus himself did not realize how similar he was to his father, Gorsas.
Both are dragons that would give up everything for power.
As an observer, and especially as his partner who knew him well, Deborah saw things with exceptional clarity.
She feared that if this continued, Galos would one day discard all factors that might hinder his evolution.
Including emotions, bonds, and even the most basic desires, it ultimately transforms into a cold-blooded monster that only knows how to pursue power.
This is the ending Deborah least wanted to see.
In contrast, if Galos could occasionally indulge his desires selectively, it would make her feel more at ease, as it would at least prove that he was still a living, breathing dragon.
The red iron dragon opposite her was unaware of the turbulent thoughts swirling in Deborah's mind.
After hearing her words, the burning passion in his eyes visibly subsided, and he quickly regained his usual composure.
"Yes, you're right."
His voice was calm and steady: "Young Dragon needs you more now."
Sure enough... I suppressed my strong instinctive urge in an instant.
Seeing this, Deborah's heart sank slightly, and a complex emotion welled up in her chest.
“Garos,” she changed the subject, “I see you’ve been really into training lately. The fighting on the Romanian plains is over, you should give yourself some time to relax.”
"For example, personally tour your kingdom and listen to the voices of your people."
"Or, like before, disguise your identity, take Vera with you, and go to the towns of Aura to experience ordinary life."
Red Iron Dragon shook his head: "That sounds like a waste of time."
He paused, his gaze fixed on the distant mountains. "The war is only paused; it will not end forever."
"This world has never truly been peaceful. No one knows when the next crisis will strike. Only by constantly becoming stronger can we be qualified to protect everything we have now."
Deborah knew that continuing the conversation would be pointless.
She knew Galos; once he set his mind on a certain path, no one could pull him back.
She could only sigh softly and swallow the words that were about to come out.
A moment later, the conversation ended.
Hong Tielong's inner turmoil had long since subsided, and he returned to his calm and focused demeanor. He headed back towards the training ground, quickly immersing himself in the fulfilling feeling of gaining strength through effort.
Time flies by, and a month has passed in the blink of an eye.
After a period of intense training, Garus dragged his exhausted body back to the depths of the palace.
He stepped into the spacious hot spring room and slowly immersed his massive body into the perfectly warm water.
The misty water vapor immediately rose up, blurring the vision. The liquefied energy water enveloped the dragon's powerful body, slowly seeping into every crevice of its scales and muscles, taking away its accumulated fatigue.
Galos closed his eyes, feeling the soothing sensation of energy flowing through his body.
This was one of the few times he allowed himself to relax.
The pool water was specially formulated according to the dragon race's physique. It is already a high concentration of energy and has been infused with various magical potion essences with healing and nourishing effects, making it remarkably effective in restoring physical strength.
Before long, a group of carefully selected snake maidens quietly slipped into the pool.
They were all young and beautiful, tall and slender, and were the best among the snake-man sorcerers, with skillful techniques and precise control of force.
With an instinctive reverence for the king, the attendants approached cautiously and began to massage the dragon's hard scales and muscles with just the right touch, helping him to relax further.
Galos's breathing was steady and normal, without any fluctuation.
He had little interest in these small creatures; their touch was more like a routine service.
Moreover, fighting against desires is one of his usual ways of training his will, and this level of contact is not enough to distract him.
However, as time went by, among the many touches by the maids, one began to stand out from the rest.
At first, it followed the standard path, pressing cautiously and restrainedly near the dragon's spine.
But gradually, the trajectory of that touch shifted subtly.
The hand, with a hint of probing teasing, slowly traced the strong lines of the dragon's spine, its fingertips lightly brushing the edges of the scales before finally resting on a sensitive spot where the shoulder blade meets the neck—one of the few areas on a dragon where the scales are relatively thin and nerves are densely distributed.
The fingertips twirled gently there, the pressure varying from light to heavy.
Galos did not open his eyes immediately, but his breathing became slightly heavier.
The other snake women seemed unaware of anything amiss and remained focused on their work.
The owner of that hand seemed to have received some kind of tacit approval, and his actions became more explicit and bold.
She began to venture into the gaps between the scales, wandering along the dragon's torso, probing the reactions hidden beneath the armor, gliding across its sides, waist, and even gradually approaching more intimate areas.
Galos finally slowly opened his eyes.
His eyes remained sharp as knives even in the rising steam.
His movements were subtle; he merely lowered his gaze slightly.
A snake woman was kneeling at the bottom of the pool, holding one of his front paws in her hands and gently licking the scales on the back of the paw.
The movements were devout and meticulous, with the tip of the tongue occasionally brushing against the soft membrane where the scales met.
Sensing the emperor's gaze, she paused, then slowly rose to the surface.
Her wet, black hair clung to her slender neck, and water droplets rolled down her delicate skin.
Her appearance was considered the most beautiful among snake women, with a natural allure in her eyes and brows.
"My king, do you like it this way?"
She raised her head, gazing up at the majestic dragon before her, her voice soft.
"You've crossed the line."
Red Iron Dragon looked down at her, his voice like thunder, revealing neither joy nor anger.
"Please...please punish me for my overstepping..."
The snake woman lowered her head in alarm, leaning forward slightly to reveal a beautifully curved, snow-white back that almost shimmered in the water.
Her shoulders trembled slightly, making her look pitiful.
Red Iron Dragon's gaze lingered on her for two seconds before turning to the other waiters: "All of you, step back."
Without the slightest hesitation or question, the other snake women immediately stopped what they were doing, obediently slid into the water, and quickly went ashore.
They left the bath area quietly with soft steps, leaving behind damp traces of water, without making a sound.
The spacious hot spring room fell silent, with only the swirling mist and the gurgling sound of water remaining.
And, Red Iron Dragon and that audacious waiter.
"Zoraia, there's no need to pretend anymore."
Galos began to speak.
Under his gaze, the snake woman suddenly smiled sweetly, and the look of panic on her face vanished instantly.
Her body then began to twist and deform.
Her appearance hasn't changed much; she's still stunning.
Her lower body's snake tail quickly contracted, transforming into a pair of straight and slender legs, with a few azure snake scale patterns remaining below the knees; at the same time, several gem-like blue dragon scales appeared on her arms, chest, waist, and abdomen, arranged in exquisite patterns; a pair of forked dragon horns, like lightning bolts, snaked out from the side of her forehead, with tiny electric sparks dancing at the tips.
Blue Dragon Zoraia.
She showed no fear whatsoever; instead, she straightened her chest and let her beautiful curves be fully revealed beneath the shimmering water.
The emperor's authority seemed to have no effect on her.
"As expected, nothing can be hidden from you, my king."
She said softly, "I just wanted to... personally help you relieve your fatigue after the victory. The glorious victory on the Romanian plains deserves a proper celebration."
She paused, her voice lowered but becoming even clearer.
"And I think I myself... can be this congratulatory gift."
The pool remained still for a moment, with only water vapor rising, condensing, and dripping.
Galos slowly extended its forepaws, and a huge shadow enveloped Zolaya.
He opened his claws, grasped her whole body in them, and then lifted her up to his eyes.
Zolaya slumped into the dragon's palm, adopting a timid and weak posture, hugging her knees with both hands, yet staring at the red iron dragon without flinching.
For a long time, she had harbored complex feelings toward this powerful and majestic Iron King.
Awe, admiration, longing, and a contradiction of wanting to get closer yet not daring to act rashly.
Galus was as resolute as iron, rarely swayed by desires, never actively seeking pleasure, and always ignoring her various hints.
But now the situation seems to have changed subtly.
After the war on the Romanian plains, even the most resolute heart can easily become complacent after a glorious victory.
Moreover, the metal dragon companion has not been by the king's side for some time.
Most importantly, the metal dragon actually contacted her and told her that now was the best time to get close to the king, whereas before, the silver dragon had been very wary of her.
This might be a trap, or they might be trying to play a trick on her.
But after careful consideration, Zolaya decided to trust the Metal Dragon.
So she orchestrated this encounter, blending in with the waiters.
During this time, she once felt as if her mind had been spied on and discovered, but nothing happened afterward, and everything went smoothly.
"Your Majesty, please... accept this gift."
Zolaya bit her lip lightly, nestled her cheek against one of the red iron dragon's curved, sharp hooked toes, and slowly rubbed against it.
Her cheeks gradually flushed, her breathing became rapid, and the electric sparks dancing on the tip of her dragon horns became more active, crackling and mingling with the rising steam from the hot spring, producing subtle popping sounds.
Galos's eyes showed a hint of emotion.
He could feel the warmth, the trembling, and a certain burning anticipation of the body within the claws.
Long-suppressed instincts began to stir at this moment, engaging in a tug-of-war with reason.
“A nice gift,” he finally spoke, his voice becoming somewhat low and hoarse. “I accept it.”
A full month later.
Red Iron Dragon flew out of the palace and reappeared in the training ground.
His movements seemed no different from usual, still steady, with each flap of his wings carrying a powerful momentum.
However, upon closer observation, one can see that his flying posture is slightly more relaxed than before, and his mind is no longer as tense as a fully drawn bowstring.
A moderate amount of indulgence did allow him to relax to some extent.
He quickly returned to his daily training schedule, as if the month he had missed had never happened, and everything went back to normal.
And in that former hot spring room, which is now almost a ruin.
The blue dragon has reverted to its original form and is struggling to support its body with its forelimbs.
Large patches of her scales were cracked and rolled up, with streaks of blood seeping from the gaps, staining the pool water beneath her a pale red; her right forepaw was twisted unnaturally, clearly broken; and there were several dents in the scales on her chest and abdomen, marks of a tremendous impact.
Even more serious are the internal injuries.
At least four ribs were broken, and the internal organs were also damaged to varying degrees. Every breath pulled at the wounds, bringing sharp pain.
What just happened was no less than a life-or-death struggle for her.
This is the result of the significant difference in strength and physical attributes between the two sides.
But Zoraya did not show any pain or regret on her face.
Instead, she had a sense of satisfaction in her eyes as she tried to move her body while breathing softly.
Those pains seemed to be telling the story of the Red Emperor's power and madness, which was exactly what she was most obsessed with.
That unparalleled sense of power, that feeling of being utterly crushed yet being carefully controlled at the last moment, captivated her completely.
Sunlight streamed through the broken window, forming several hazy beams of light.
As Zoraya gazed at the dust swirling within the pillars of light, the scene from just moments ago replayed uncontrollably in her mind.
The intense, fiery breath of the red iron dragon brushed past her ear, and the oppressive feeling of its claws pressing against her scales almost made her involuntarily curl her intact claw, and she gasped softly as the wound was aggravated.
Finally, she fell into a deep, contented sleep.
(End of this chapter)
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