Translator: AnubisTL
At this moment, most of the dragons who had participated in the siege were still truly unconscious.
But considering that the Red-Silver Dragon Deborah and the Fairy Dragon Vera, who had not participated in the battle, were still circling in the sky, as well as some little dragon spectators who were still young and had not yet reached the juvenile stage...
"Well, it's mainly because lying on the ground felt so comfortable just now," the Gold Dragon's voice sounded quite sincere. "So I thought I'd lie down for a little longer."
"I had originally planned to make a grand entrance at the critical moment of the battle, at the very last minute, and turn the tide."
"But who would have thought—"
He pointed to the dragon pack lying all over the ground and said, "—that they would all lie down so quickly?"
"So I didn't even get a chance to make my entrance. You can't really blame me for that, can you?"
He shook his head, a picture of regret.
"I see. But then again, making your entrance now isn't exactly too late," Garos said. "Considering the crushing debt you're carrying, you've had to use every single one of those glittering gems and gold coins, and all those rare magical materials you've managed to acquire, just to pay it off."
"I can't bear to watch you struggle, so I'm giving you a special opportunity."
"From here on, for every wound you successfully inflict upon me, I will reduce a certain amount of your debt based on the depth of the scar. Conversely, if you fail, as a small incentive, you will only need to pay an additional debt equal to half the value of the wager."
"What do you say? Sounds like a great deal, doesn't it?"
Hearing this, the Gold Dragon Alberto felt an instinctive surge of anticipation.
He carefully sized up the red-iron dragon, his keen eyes noting that the other seemed to have just conducted some extremely dangerous experiment. As a result, his dragon scales were now covered in fine cracks, and even the aura he radiated seemed strong in appearance but weak in reality—far from the unfathomable power he had shown before.
He looked like he could be defeated with ease.
Never mind just leaving a few scars on him.
"Deal—"
Alberto almost agreed instinctively, his dragon's maw already open.
But in that same instant, the blood-and-tears-soaked memories of past experiences—of confidence and arrogance leading to crushing defeats and mounting debts—drowned his impulse, jolting him awake.
"No!"
He choked back the agreement that had nearly escaped his lips, his tone shifting abruptly.
"Thank you for your kind offer! But I've rested too long already. My oath is urging me to begin today's training immediately! Let's discuss other matters another time!"
As Alberto spoke with righteous conviction, he began marching in place, performing warm-up exercises as if he truly couldn't wait to fulfill his oath.
Hearing this, a flicker of regret crossed Garos's eyes.
This gold dragon has suffered enough losses to not be so easily fooled anymore.
Like the Ignis Dragon Clan, Alberto had grown through repeated lessons, becoming someone completely different from before.
Over the years, bound by that harsh oath, Alberto had been forced to keep his feet on the ground, tempering and training himself day after day. His temperament had gradually lost much of its impetuousness, becoming considerably more composed than before. Even his paranoid, stubborn tendencies had improved greatly, and his resistance to being duped had advanced by leaps and bounds—he was no longer so easily provoked into a hot-headed frenzy.
The contents of the Oath of Conquest and the Oath of the Crown remained unchanged.
But Alberto was no longer as blindly confident and arrogant as he once was; his perception of his own strength had become much clearer.
Still, it's not completely without opportunity, Garos thought to himself, sizing up the gold dragon, who, despite his refusal, still had a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
Alberto should be in his seventies now, not far from the slumber of his young stage. Once he passes that slumber, his life grade will surely undergo a massive, leapfrog-like upgrade. Given the temperament of gold dragons, his self-confidence will undoubtedly swell to an unprecedented new peak.
At that time, it will be a virtual certainty that he will take the initiative to challenge me.
"Then I'll place an even bigger bet," the red-iron dragon thought, a smile spreading across its face. "Until then, if he manages to pay off his current debts, I'll let him enjoy a period of respite. I won't resort to other methods—after all, I'm not a devil."
Opposite him, Alberto was also lost in thought, his mind racing.
"Thanks to the grueling training forced upon me by my oath all these years, my life grade has reached 16, making me comparable to an ordinary adult gold dragon."
"Once I emerge from my deep slumber and enter adulthood, my life grade will likely jump straight to 18, perhaps even approach 19! That's nearly the level of a late-stage adult gold dragon."
"When that time comes, it will be my best chance to wipe away my past humiliation and completely turn the tables."
"I can issue a formal challenge to Garos and win back all the treasure I've lost, with interest, in one fell swoop."
At the thought of this glorious future, Alberto couldn't help but grin, his massive draconic maw stretching wide in an expression of eager anticipation.
For a moment, the two dragons gazed at each other from a distance, both wearing smiles of satisfaction, though for very different reasons.
The atmosphere seemed perfectly harmonious.
But this was only temporary. In the end, only one dragon would be able to smile more happily than the other.
Then, to hide his true intentions, Alberto took the initiative to flap his massive wings and soar into the sky. He immediately began a rigorous self-training session, using the Sun-Earth method he had learned from Garos.
Not long after, the dragons Garos had knocked unconscious began to stir.
Though they had expected to lose the battle, being defeated so swiftly and utterly had driven home the vast, insurmountable gap between them and the Ironforged Lord. Their awe and reverence for Garos deepened once more.
Meanwhile, Alberto, who had just completed a set of Sun-Earth training and was still dizzy from the impact, climbed out of the massive crater he had created. Shaking his head to clear the lingering fog, his expression turned serious.
"Garos," he said, "I'm ready to return to the Sierre Wilderness."
"Ever since the Federation's Civil War broke out in full force, the situation over there has grown more chaotic and thrilling by the day."
"Almost every so often, powerful creatures that were once dormant in the depths of the wilderness seize the opportunity to rise, baring their claws and fangs in an attempt to seize territory and resources."
"The wars and slaughter between monsters have almost never ceased. The duchies and kingdoms, standing on opposing sides, are also constantly dispatching their elites to raid each other's strongholds and supply lines. Occasionally, monster clans or tribes of considerable size intervene, looting and pillaging amidst the chaos."
"The Sierre Wilderness now is like a boiling pot of porridge—a complete mess, yet brimming with opportunity and excitement."
Alberto said expectantly, "I can't wait to soar over that land and fight by your side."
As a challenger, he felt a heavy sense of oppression from Garos.
But as an ally fighting side by side, Garos's presence would be as reliable as an immovable mountain of steel, enough to make any companion feel utterly at ease.
After a brief exchange, Alberto wasted no more time. He beat his wings, his massive form soaring upward, piercing through the perpetual snow and gloom of the Frontierlands. He became a brilliant golden streak, hurtling toward the Sierre Wilderness.
As he watched the gold dragon depart, Garos's gaze slowly swept over the dragons around him—all now awake, their conditions varying.
After a moment's thought, he spoke in a deep, resonant voice, "The banners of the Ironforged Tribe have already been planted in every corner of the Frontierlands, but this is merely the beginning."
Garos's colossal dragon wings snapped open, pointing toward the Sierre Wilderness.
"A vaster wilderness, brimming with endless opportunity, awaits our conquest—awaits the rule of the dragon pack's iron wings!"
"Once you have fully recovered, the Ironforged Tribe will formally march upon the wilderness! Our talons will crush all obstacles that dare stand in our way, and our roars will become the new law of that land."
A surge of hot-blooded fervor swept through every dragon present.
As if on cue, they all raised their heads and unleashed deafening, exhilarated roars that tore through the howling blizzard and pierced the heavens.
Listening to the rising and falling dragon roars, Garos's heart remained utterly calm.
His declaration had been meant only to rouse the dragon pack. He knew all too well that the wilderness was vast. While the coming days offered the perfect opportunity to seize the initiative, they also brought greater challenges and dangers. He could not afford to act recklessly; he needed to proceed steadily and methodically.
The Sierre Wilderness will be a massive cake, he thought. And right now, I'm not strong enough to devour it all myself.
The Blue Dragon Clan Alberto mentioned, the Plague Dragon, and my own red dragon father are all formidable foes. And then there are the other powerful beings beyond dragonkind.
Trading benefits for reliable allies would ease a lot of my burdens and troubles.
His thoughts drifted back to the Heavenly Pit Territory, the domain he had inhabited when he was still weak.
The iron dragon maiden should still be in the wilderness. Perhaps I can win her over.
With her age and bloodline, her life grade must be at least 16, and there's a high chance she's reached 17. Compared to me now, she isn't overwhelmingly powerful, but she's certainly no weakling.
Garos pondered his options. It was time to see the iron dragon maiden.
This wasn't about flaunting his newfound strength or indulging in some fleeting sense of vanity. This was purely business—a strategic move to ensure his growth in the wilderness.
(End of the Chapter)
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