Translator: AnubisTL
The snow-swept sky roared like a raging beast, its endless winds howling as they lashed the desolate earth with frost and fury.
Garos stood in the center of the ravaged battlefield, his body dusted with ice crystals and grime.
The challenge was over. He glanced at the unconscious Gold Dragon Alberto nearby, then, with a thought, dispelled his human form.
A blinding flash of magical light erupted.
The towering, colossal, and immensely powerful true form of the Red-Iron Dragon descended once more upon the snow-covered land.
The intense heat from his recent exertion seeped from the gaps in his thick scales, hissing as it clashed with the frigid air. The snow around him melted and evaporated instantly.
Thick white steam swirled around his massive frame, making his silhouette fade in and out of view, adding an air of unfathomable mystery and heart-stopping pressure.
After a few seconds of silent contemplation, the Red-Iron Dragon raised his head. He gazed at the swarm of dragons still circling in the sky—beings who watched him with a mixture of awe and curiosity.
A gleam flashed in his eyes as he silently cast Inspection, his gaze first sweeping over his two blood kin.
Young Iron Dragon, Life Grade: 15 Young Red Dragon, Life Grade: 15
Both young dragons had reached Life Grade 15, already surpassing the average level 14 of their ordinary young gold dragon peers.
Garos was not surprised.
Under his long-term influence and by example, Solgorn and Samantha had developed the habit of constant training and self-improvement.
Though their training intensity couldn't compare to Garos's own, it was still absolutely diligent and rigorous.
Moreover, as core members of the dragon pack second only to him, the resources they were allocated far exceeded those of any other dragon. It was only natural for them to have reached such a Life Grade.
Next, Garos's gaze swept past the younger dragons still in their juvenile or hatchling stages, landing on the adult white dragon and several others who had already entered their adolescent stage.
adult white dragon, Life Grade: 14 Adolescent Blue Dragon, Life Grade: 11 Adolescent Red Dragon, Life Grade: 11 Adolescent Green Dragon, Life Grade: 9 Adolescent Black Dragon, Life Grade: 9
Without exception, the Life Grade of every single dragon exceeded the average standard for their respective age group.
Garos felt he deserved a great deal of credit for this.
A powerful, hardworking dragon chief who constantly pushed his own limits would unconsciously exert a profound influence on every member of his pack. As long as these dragons possessed even the slightest ambition—as long as they weren't absolute failures—they would instinctively look to Garos as their role model and goal, striving to improve themselves.
After his inspection, an idea took root in Garos's mind.
"All dragons who have reached the juvenile stage or beyond!"
The Red-Iron Dragon unfurled his wings and let out a deep, sky-shaking roar.
"All of you, come at me together! Bring your absolute best and lay siege to me without holding back!"
"Let me see with my own eyes how much commendable progress you've made after all these years of growth and tempering."
This wasn't an attempt to re-establish his authority after awakening.
Garos's strength was already deeply ingrained in their minds. His towering, powerful, and immensely oppressive physique alone was enough to awe the other dragons; he had no need to prove himself in battle.
For one thing, his humanoid form had left him feeling constrained and stifled. The fight with Alberto had been mere warm-up, leaving him unsatisfied. The power coursing through his veins still craved a more complete release.
For another...
He also craved this opportunity to personally verify his body's attributes after awakening from his slumber. Simultaneously, he wanted to conduct a more in-depth test of the specific changes and synergistic effects in the connection between the Dragon Jade and the Cold Exploding Scales.
"What a perfect chance! Should I wake up now and join the fray?"
On the other side, Alberto, who was still perfectly playing the role of an unconscious victim, felt his heart stir with anticipation once more. The tip of his tail twitched upward slightly in excitement.
"Wait... I should stay calm and observe the situation first. I've suffered too many losses already."
Recalling his bloody history of repeated challenges and crushing defeats that had left him burdened with heavy debts, the Gold Dragon's tail, which had just lifted, quietly lowered back to the frozen ground. He decided to remain motionless in his feigned coma and watch from the sidelines.
High in the sky, after hearing Garos's dragon's roar, which was filled with provocation and anticipation, the circling dragons exchanged glances.
They could all see the irrepressible excitement and the sparks of eagerness in each other's eyes.
They knew full well that the red-iron dragon's power was unfathomably vast. Yet, it was precisely because of this that they were even more eager to personally experience the Lord of the Clan's awe-inspiring strength and measure the gap between themselves and the pinnacle.
Thus, after a brief but intense exchange of glances and silent communication—
Roar! Roar!
Two exceptionally deep, power-laden roars tore through the wind and snow, shattering the brief silence.
Solgorn the Iron Dragon and Samantha the Red Dragon—the two largest and highest-life-grade young dragons—didn't hesitate. They snapped their wings open and dove from the clouds like two heavy battleships, carving sharp arcs to the left and right, their target fixed on the red-iron dragon below amidst the swirling steam.
Heliam the Blue Dragon and Cahill the Red Dragon followed close behind.
Screeeech—!
Seraphina the Black Dragon let out a piercing shriek, her black wings churning the wind and snow as she beat them furiously to keep pace. Necrotic energy began to coalesce around her.
Ludwig the Green Dragon, however, was a bit slower. He instinctively tried to lag behind, waiting for a safer moment to make his move.
But suddenly, he felt a strange chill on his back. He turned his head in confusion.
There, the Adult White Dragon Tracy was staring at him with her cold, slit-pupiled eyes, her gaze fixed and unblinking, filled with silent urging and a crushing sense of pressure.
Ludwig subconsciously licked his lips, forced a sheepish grin, and, daring to delay no longer, beat his wings furiously to catch up with the black dragon ahead.
Only after all four adolescent dragons had charged out did Treacy, the adult white dragon—the oldest and most experienced among them—nod in satisfaction.
She beat her wings unhurriedly, leisurely trailing at the very rear of the attack party. By doing so, she perfectly positioned all the young and adolescent dragons in front of her, waiting to assess the situation before deciding when to strike.
At the vanguard, Solgorn the Iron Dragon and Samantha the Red Dragon tore through the frigid wind like two unsheathed blades, one on the left and one on the right. Within their dragon eyes, a blazing battle intent burned like a tangible flame.
Garos stood his ground, his dragon head slightly raised as he calmly watched the dragon pack rapidly approaching from the sky.
Screeeech—!
A piercing shriek, like cloth being violently torn, suddenly erupted. Solgorn the Iron Dragon plummeted in a near-vertical dive. His entire body was enveloped in a jet-black luster, shimmering like liquid metal, and his dragon body exuded an indestructible quality. The edges of his fully extended wings were as sharp as two giant cleavers.
(End of the Chapter)
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