Chapter 322 Iron Dragon Girl's Suspicion
A thick, black velvet-like night sky enveloped the Sel Wilderness, with sparse stars, like randomly scattered diamonds, casting a faint and cold light over the sinkhole territory, barely outlining the enormous silhouettes of two dragons facing each other.
Opposite the magnificent and incredibly imposing red iron dragon.
The composure and majesty that should have belonged to the Iron Queen on Leticia's face had vanished without a trace.
The expression, a mixture of utter shock, bewilderment, and disbelief, was clearly palpable even through her heavy, cold metal mask.
Gradually.
After she repeatedly confirmed the familiar aura that ran deep in her blood, and the irrefutable details in the other party's words, the exaggerated shock on her face gradually subsided like the receding tide, but a deep sense of confusion and bewilderment still lingered in her huge dragon eyes.
For a moment, she was speechless.
My throat felt like it was being choked by an invisible force, and I couldn't find any suitable opening remarks.
Garus, being quite considerate, didn't say anything more, but simply stood quietly, his eyes calmly fixed on her, patiently waiting for the Iron Dragon Girl to calm her turbulent emotions and recover from the enormous shock.
"You...Garos?"
After a long silence, Leticia's voice finally rang out again, tinged with obvious hesitation, as if she needed to carefully consider each word.
She said in a somewhat uncertain, almost questioning tone:
"The fusion of the bloodlines of a red dragon and an iron dragon... my... hybrid offspring?"
Hearing the uncertain question from the Iron Dragon Girl, Garus tilted his massive head slightly, his rugged, winding horns drawing a majestic arc.
"Exactly."
He gave a brief but affirmative answer, his voice deep and magnetic, sounding exceptionally clear in the quiet night sky.
After a brief pause, he carefully examined the Iron Dragon Girl in front of him, who was much thinner than himself—she might have a slight advantage in length, but in terms of pure strength and imposing presence, she could not match him.
"It seems that my growth and changes over the years have impressed you more than I expected, Mother."
He said.
After calming down completely, Leticia did not let her guard down. Her body remained tense, as if facing a strange and dangerous dragon. She stared intently at the Red Iron Dragon, her sharp gaze sweeping over its thick scales and the muscles that contained explosive power.
"If my memory serves me correctly, you left my territory when you were nine years old."
"Leaving the protection of the mother dragon and honing their scales and claws in a wider and more brutal world can indeed allow young offspring to grow and mature faster."
"But in any case."
"It has only been about fifty years since you left."
Leticia's voice was full of skepticism: "What did you eat? How could you grow to this extent in such a short time?!"
Even among dragons of the same species, different individuals can have differences in personality, and these differences can be as great as an insurmountable chasm.
Leticia is a standard Iron Dragon, a Lawful Evil alignment, and a pragmatist.
However, compared to most other Iron Dragons, she is more cautious and suspicious by nature.
She did not lower her guard because of Galos's words.
Deep down, she even began to suspect that the powerful red iron dragon before her might be a powerful being in disguise, skilled in shapeshifting or illusion.
Their aim might have been to lower her guard, so they could seize her territory, her treasure, and even her life.
“Mother, you should know better than any dragon—”
Galos said calmly, "The word 'impossible' doesn't seem to apply to me."
"Do you remember when I was about four years old, I asked you to whip me with your dragon tail for training? I recovered quickly from those lacerations, and my scales became even harder than before."
"At that time, the recovery and adaptation capabilities that far exceeded those of ordinary fledglings also seemed impossible to you."
After mentioning some childhood memories as evidence, Hong Tielong calmly corrected him, "Also, you seem to have misremembered something about when I left."
“I did not leave when I was nine years old.”
"To be precise, I left the sinkhole territory with Samantha and Gordon when I was a little over seven years old, not quite eight yet."
From the Iron Dragon Girl's words and expression, Garus keenly sensed the hidden suspicion and probing.
Immediately, he raised a giant claw covered in dark scales.
In the palm of the claw lay an object, a broken, cracked metal ring that had completely lost all its magical luster.
Galos held the broken ring up to Leticia's eyes so she could see every detail clearly.
"This prop provided me with immeasurable help during those difficult early years."
"Unfortunately, it was still too fragile. I accidentally broke it during a period of high-intensity use."
This was the gift that Leticia, the Iron Dragon Girl, gave to Garos when they parted years ago—the lightning bolt tail ring.
It was precisely because of this tail ring that Garus realized for the first time that he could stimulate himself with external alchemical tools to achieve targeted evolution in certain specific directions.
It is the key that Galus unlocked the path of high-energy evolution and played a very important role in his growth process.
Across from her, Leticia listened attentively to the Red Iron Dragon's clear and detailed narration, her gaze then falling on the already damaged lightning tail ring, which could never be easily replicated by an outer dragon.
Her extremely wary posture finally softened somewhat.
However, the dragon scales on her body still bristled slightly, and her muscles remained in a semi-tense state, not completely relaxed.
Her long-term solitary life and the dangers of the wilderness instilled in her a habit of never letting her guard down easily.
“Garos, your growth rate and the final form you have taken have truly astonished me.”
She bared her sharp, gleaming teeth, her pupils narrowing into dangerous slits, and asked bluntly, "So, tell me, did you return here today merely to show me your current power? Or do you harbor other intentions regarding this territory that I have cultivated for so long?"
Iron Dragon Girl's overreaction at this moment did not surprise Galos.
This is not because she is overly sensitive or harsh.
This is because, in the social laws of the dragon, kinship is inherently extremely weak and indifferent.
Perhaps some affection can still remain between peers who grew up together.
However, there are often deeper barriers and potential competition between blood relatives of different generations.
The Dragon Legacy records quite a few elderly dragons who were successfully challenged or even killed by their offspring.
Examples of fratricide in the struggle for territory, treasure, or simply to prove one's superiority are not uncommon.
"Relax, Mother."
Garus casually swept his gaze over the Iron Dragon Familia around him, who were still on high alert but trembling and dared not step forward, and said, "If I truly harbored hostility, the thing you should be doing right now is not questioning me here, but busy collecting the corpses of your Familia."
His voice was calm, as if he were simply stating a fact.
However, when these words reached the ears of the surrounding scorpion lions, dragon vein creatures, and other monsters, they all felt a chilling fear and lingering dread.
Indeed, if this terrifying red iron dragon truly harbored malice, it could have struck first when the dragon lord left the territory, swiftly eliminating all its followers.
Even if he had the idea of taking over these followers, he would first eliminate the leaders of the dragon vein followers who were absolutely loyal to Leticia, leaving only those who were easy to tame or control.
Instead of what it is now.
He waited patiently for the Dragon Lord to return, ready to face her and her entire army of followers alone.
After careful consideration and weighing of the options.
Iron Dragon Girl Leticia finally slowly stretched out her limbs, which had been slightly lowered and in a state of imminent explosion, and her strong muscles gradually relaxed.
Like a large feline that has confirmed there is no immediate danger, it sits on the ground with its limbs slightly together in a relatively relaxed posture, its long tail covered with steel scales swaying unconsciously from side to side behind it.
She looked closely at Galos's imposing physique once more, and finally asked the core question: "So, Galos, what is your real purpose in spending time waiting for my return?"
Galos pondered for a moment, carefully choosing his words, and then said, "I've come here mainly to tell you two things."
"First, my life in the Tiankeng Territory back then was an indispensable part of my growth experience. Finally, the alchemy tool you gave me also provided me with tremendous help at a crucial moment."
"Secondly, based on the fact that we share some similar bloodlines, I believe we have a better foundation for cooperation than strangers. I hope we can try to establish some kind of alliance or cooperative relationship."
First express goodwill and approval, then put forward a clear intention to cooperate.
After succinctly finishing his statement, Galos said no more, simply gazing calmly at the Iron Dragon Girl, awaiting her response and decision.
Leticia was also gazing at Garros, her eyes sweeping over his astonishing physique, which was slightly shorter than hers but far larger and more robust than her own.
cooperate?
This suggestion is not something that cannot be considered.
For Leticia, the mad and powerful red dragon Gorsas was always a sword hanging over her head, a huge and unpredictable potential danger.
She was unwilling to leave the familiar wilderness of Sel, where she had lived for many years.
But as long as they remain here, they are destined to deal with Gorsas sooner or later.
Given the current strength disparity, she is at a complete disadvantage.
In order to counter the threat from Gorsas, Leticia was already actively seeking potential allies.
However, there aren't many suitable candidates.
She had previously tried to unite with the Dominic Blue Dragon family, but although she had not yet received a final answer, she would most likely be rejected. Those blue dragons were too shrewd and pragmatic to act easily for the sake of vague potential risks.
On the other hand, any cooperation is often based on two things: trust and a clear understanding of each other's strengths and capabilities.
In terms of trust, although the kinship between dragons is weak, they still have a layer of blood connection and past understanding compared to completely unfamiliar dragons.
Moreover, in her memory, Galus was quite different from the ordinary chaotic and crazy dragons, appearing more calm and reliable.
The fact that she gave away that alchemical tool back then can be considered a forward-thinking investment.
As long as Garus isn't as extremely insane and chaotic as his red dragon father, then cooperation is a possibility.
As for specific skill levels, physique often only represents a part of skill, not the whole.
Throughout her long life, Leticia had hunted many ferocious monsters that were far larger than herself.
Although the red iron dragon in front of them looked very intimidating, there was a possibility that it was all show and no substance. After all, it was too young. Perhaps it was due to some fortuitous encounter that its body had developed prematurely, and its actual combat strength might not match its terrifying physique.
After carefully weighing the pros and cons and risks, Leticia's enormous dragon eyes focused on Garros again, and she said, "My dear Garros, today is our reunion after decades, which should be a joyous occasion to celebrate."
"But before we formally begin discussing any specific details of cooperation."
"I want to know more directly how much you've grown up."
"Your size surprises me, but as a fellow dragon, you should also know that size doesn't tell the whole story."
She gazed at the red iron dragon and said.
Galos asked, "How can I know?"
He had already vaguely guessed what Tie Longniang was thinking, but he still chose to ask, both as a formality of respect and to set the tone for the conversation to come.
Leticia raised her head slightly, and a steady voice came from beneath her heavy visor.
She stated directly, "It's very simple, just a peaceful and calm exchange."
"Only through the friction between scales, the collision of claws, and the most authentic clash of strength and skill can we truly understand each other's real level."
"I believe that after this, we will be able to make better judgments regarding cooperation or other matters."
Her suggestion was exactly what Galos wanted to hear.
He needs a battle of sufficient significance to establish his rightful place in this mother's heart.
In the world of dragons, verbal promises are often as insignificant as dust; only strength tested by claws and flames can forge truly solid contracts or alliances.
(End of this chapter)
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