Translator: AnubisTL
"Seraphina, Ludwig."
When the Red-Iron Dragon's low, resonant voice reached the ears of the black and green dragons, who had been whispering to each other, they both jolted as if doused in ice water. Instantly, they straightened their previously curled dragon bodies, turning in unison toward their pack leader. They snapped to attention, barely daring to breathe.
"There's no need to be so tense," Garos said, his gaze sweeping over the two adolescent dragons. "The task I assigned you—the research on the Dragonforged Modification Ritual—how is it progressing?"
Hearing this, the green dragon, Ludwig, relaxed slightly.
He lifted his long, emerald-scaled neck and replied respectfully, "After repeated experiments and research, we have determined that the Dragonforged Modification Ritual is best approached in a gradual sequence, from the simplest to the most difficult."
"For example, the first ritual focuses on Dragon Scale Modification, while the final and most challenging one is the Dragon Heart Modification."
Beside him, the black dragon Seraphina lowered her voice and added, "We have already successfully designed the complete process and rune array for the first Dragon Scale Modification Ritual. However, it is far from perfect, and its stability still needs improvement... The current success rate is only about thirty percent."
Thirty percent?
For a ritual involving the transformation of life's very essence, even a simplified version—broken down into stages—achieving a thirty percent success rate was already a major breakthrough.
"The task you are carrying out is crucial to the future of the tribe," Garos declared with solemn earnestness. "For every Modification Ritual you successfully perfect and stabilize, I will bestow upon you rewards beyond your wildest imagination—wealth, knowledge, or power. I will not disappoint you."
After making this lavish promise, his gaze slowly swept across the assembled familiar bosses.
"M-my lord... Congratulations on your awakening and return."
Noticing Garos's gaze, the Gluttonous Demon Karu—who was gnawing on a massive chunk of unknown beast meat with grease dripping from his mouth—mumbled in a thick, guttural voice, "B-But... you look like you've... gotten a bit thinner? Hmm, it must be because you slept too long and didn't eat enough! You should eat more, eat much more."
Garos carefully observed this veteran familiar of the Ironforged Tribe.
The current Gluttonous Demon Karu was covered in fiery red dragon scales, with ferocious dragon horns sprouting from his head and a thick, powerful dragon tail trailing behind him. His entire body radiated the dense characteristics of a dragon-blooded creature.
His physique had long since surpassed that of an ordinary ogre, swelling to the terrifying size of a hill giant. He was exceptionally burly and muscular, his arms bulging with explosive power and knotted veins. Even among the rest of the grotesquely shaped familiar bosses, his massive frame remained the most eye-catching presence.
A glint flashed in Garos's eyes as he used Inspection.
Gluttonous Demon Karu, Life Grade: 16
He was one level lower than Garos's current grade, yet he was already a formidable combatant capable of holding his own in any battle.
Given the terrifying innate talent of the Gluttony Demon's bloodline, which allows for rapid growth through devouring, this rate of improvement seemed rather slow. After all, Karu had consumed a vast number of powerful creatures and magical materials during the Ironforged Tribe's campaigns across the land.
Theoretically, his life grade should have been higher.
The reason for this was that Karu was no longer a pure Gluttony Demon.
He was now a more powerful Dragon Blood Glutton, his body infused with the bloodline of a long-lived dragon. While this had greatly raised his potential ceiling, it also meant his growth was subject to the relatively slow development cycle of dragon bloodlines, which had actually slowed the rate at which his life grade increased.
Regardless, after more than a decade, the overall progress of the tribe's bosses has been quite impressive, Garos thought to himself. His gaze swept over the other familiar leaders, and he cast his Inspection spell on them one by one.
Centaur Elvie, Life Grade: 16
Werewolf Russell, Life Grade: 14
Serpent Woman Naris, Life Grade: 17
Flying Dragon Tasha, Life Grade: 14
Kobold Doug, Life Grade: 13
The core bosses of the Ironforged Tribe were each unique. Nearly every one of them had been tempered in blood and fire, possessing extraordinary experiences and singular traits. Their trump cards were diverse, and their fighting spirits were high.
Under normal circumstances, an ordinary adult dragon—or even some mature dragons—would struggle to truly rule such a tribe, brimming with talent and powerful warriors.
Only Garos, with a life grade only slightly higher than some of his familiars, could firmly control the entire tribe, relying on his unparalleled prestige and unfathomable power.
Before advancing to a young dragon, his life grade had even been lower than that of several of his strongest familiars.
Now, among these familiar bosses, the highest-level one remained the Serpentfolk Blademaster Naris, who had risen from her original level 16 to level 17.
The one who had improved the fastest, however, was the Half-Centaur Elvie.
Initially, Elvie's life grade wasn't particularly outstanding among the familiars. But with the blessing of her exceptional innate talent, she had gradually caught up and surpassed the rest. Now, she stood firmly at the threshold of level 16, second only to the Serpentfolk Blademaster.
As for the most formidable and combat-capable among these bosses...
Garos believed it was the Gluttonous Demon Karu, who was currently feasting and gorging himself, rather than the higher-leveled Serpentfolk Blademaster.
Though Karu was one level lower, he held an absolute advantage in direct combat.
Over time, the Gluttonous Demon Karu and the Half-Centaur Elvie—both of whom Garos highly favored—would inevitably surpass the Serpentfolk Blademaster. Their bloodlines and innate talent gave them the potential to reach the Legendary Realm.
However...
If no unforeseen accidents occurred, the first to step into the Legendary Realm under the Ironforged Tribe's banner might not be either of them. Instead, it would likely be the Flower Lord—Charles Haynes—who remained far away in the Sierre Wilderness.
Over the years, Creekwood Town had grown into a small city, earning it the new name of Creekwood Fief.
Because the Sierre Wilderness required a powerful figure to guard against unforeseen threats, Charles, as its lord, had not come to the Frontierlands to join the feast. Instead, he celebrated the King's return within the borders of Creekwood Fief, alongside the local residents and stationed troops.
The human race had many flaws—short lifespans, fragile bodies... but their true geniuses possessed an unparalleled rate of growth.
The gap in talent between humans could sometimes be far greater than the gap between dragons.
The possibility of Charles being the first to become legendary was extremely high.
"Once Charles becomes a Legendary being, the magic contract he signed with us will no longer be able to bind him."
A flicker of concern crossed Garos's mind.
The magic contract used for the wager with Charles was not of Legendary rank. Once Charles himself ascended to Legendary status, the contract's effects would naturally dissipate. At that point, whether he would still be willing to remain in Creekwood Fief and serve the Ironforged Tribe would become an unknown.
However, crossing the threshold to Legendary status was no easy feat, far from something that could be achieved lightly.
Though Charles's innate talent was formidable, it had not reached the monstrous level of the Holy King of Lothurn. Considering his loyal and trustworthy character, there was no need to worry too much in the short term.
Still, out of his habitual caution, Garos turned his gaze to the Iron Dragon Solgorn once more.
"Solgorn, what is Charles's current situation? Has he developed a sufficient sense of belonging to Creekwood Fief and the Ironforged Tribe?"
The Iron Dragon fell silent for a few seconds, a rather strange expression crossing his massive draconic face.
He said, "That Flower Lord? He has more than just a sense of belonging to Creekwood Fief. Now, I'm afraid that even if they wanted to drive him away, he might be unwilling to leave."
Seeing Solgorn's unusual expression, Garos pressed, "What do you mean? Explain yourself."
Iron Dragon Solgorn let out a low, somewhat playful chuckle. "He's already officially married and started a family in Creekwood Fief," he said.
"And his wife isn't human. She's a... well, an exceptionally beautiful and charming Serpent Woman."
Hearing this, Garos finally understood.
No wonder Solgorn had worn that expression.
The Iron Dragon himself had a special fondness for serpentmen. He had never expected that the Flower Knight—a man who looked so upright and righteous with his thick eyebrows and large, honest eyes—would share such similar tastes and choose an alien partner.
Just then, Naris, the Six-armed Serpent Woman Chief who had been standing silently nearby, glided forward with grace. "My King," she added, "Beverly is a young sorcerer in our tribe with considerable innate talent. She is meticulous and tactful, which is why she was chosen as the Flower Lord's administrative assistant to help him manage the territory's daily affairs."
"After spending so much time together, they must have grown fond of one another. Eventually, with the blessings of everyone in Creekwood Fief, they officially wed."
(End of the Chapter)
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