Twilight gradually faded into the darkness of night.
The light cast by the twin moons plated the valley, as if draping a silver veil over the jagged rock walls; the acrid scent of Wyvern blood permeated the valley.
Garros's claw tips slowly retracted from Tasha's neck.
The strong, scar-faced Wyvern landed on the ground. Immediately after, the entire swarm of Wyverns, including itself, crouched low, their wing membranes pressed against the earth as they let out submissive low cries.
"From this day forth, you shall be responsible for guarding the valley's airspace."
Garros's voice echoed through the valley as he said, "Tear apart the bodies of any who dare to trespass."
With this swarm of Wyverns and the presence of several Kora Giant Eagles, he wouldn't always have to worry too much about aerial security himself.
They were, after all, creatures with Dragonkin Bloodlines.
Wyverns themselves were formidable enough, generally second only to True Dragons.
Though they had submitted quickly before Garros, showing obedience and awe, in the eyes of most intelligent beings, Wyverns were extremely terrifying predators.
Their talons could tear through steel, their wings could shatter rocks, and their sharp tail stingers carried lethal poison; they were monsters through and through.
The female Wyvern raised her head first and let out a hiss.
"As you wish, the Wyverns shall tear apart all enemies for you."
She said.
The other Wyverns also raised their heads, raising their voices to emit low roars that intertwined under the night sky.
At the same time, two other dragon shadows circled down from the sky.
Red Dragon Samantha's scales looked like burning flames in the moonlight, while Iron Dragon Sorog's body shimmered with a cold, hard metallic luster.
Their arrival caused a brief commotion among the Wyverns, most of whom instinctively shrunk their necks.
This was the irrepressible awe sub-dragons felt when facing a True Dragon.
Except for Tasha, the other Wyverns found it difficult to resist the suppression at the Bloodline level.
Only the Wyvern Tasha, while submissive before Garros, still showed a defiant side when facing the Red Dragon and Iron Dragon, holding her head high and looking directly at the two Young Dragons without evasion.
Just as she had declared to Garros.
She respected no Bloodline, only strength.
While the Red Dragon and Iron Dragon were indeed high-tier Dragonkin, as mere Young Dragons, they weren't enough to make Tasha feel awe and respect; Garros was the exception, as his power had already conquered the wild Wyvern leader.
"Oh, my dear brother."
Samantha tilted her chin, her eyes narrowing slightly as she said, "Among this new group of sub-species you've taken in, it seems one lacks respect for True Dragons."
Having said that, her gaze became like a branding iron, staring straight at Tasha as she said, "Inferior breed! Who permitted you to look directly at me?!"
The Wyvern leader unfurled her massive wingspan and growled with a fierce expression, "You have no right to bluster before me. You should be glad you aren't facing me alone right now."
With the Red Dragon's volatile temper, she could not tolerate the provocation of a sub-species.
Boom!
Samantha's foot crushed the ground, her dragon wings flapping to accelerate, and her entire body charged at Tasha like a molten cannonball.
Caught off guard,
the Wyvern leader was sent flying by the 'Dragon Charge.'
The Red Dragon was smaller than the Wyvern, and her age and Life Level were lower, but her naturally powerful body still possessed unstoppable momentum when charging at full speed.
Flapping her wings,
the Wyvern leader stabilized her body in mid-air.
She bared her teeth and roared, about to counterattack Samantha, who continued her charge.
"Enough."
Garros intervened at the right moment.
The current Young Red Dragon was most likely not a match for the Wyvern.
The prime Wyvern leader was currently Rank 10, her Life Level the same as Garros's and two ranks higher than Samantha's. Moreover, she wasn't lean like an ordinary Wyvern; she seemed well-trained and had a very strong body, making her an outlier.
The attack just now allowed Samantha to vent some of her dissatisfaction, and the Wyvern had paid a small price for her arrogant attitude.
It was time to stop.
Garros's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a bucket of ice water dousing the fire of war that was about to erupt.
Even the enraged Red Dragon snapped back to her senses with a jolt and stopped her charge.
Tasha also immediately retracted her aggressive stance, the fire in her eyes turning into submissiveness.
The newly recruited Wyvern leader bowed her head deeply, using this gesture to express submission to the Red-Iron Dragon—it was awe for strength and obedience to the arbiter.
"You are a vassal of Garros; be glad for that."
"Otherwise, I would have snapped your neck by now,"
Samantha said, sparks spitting from her mouth.
The Wyvern leader remained silent and did not provoke her further. Over two hundred years of time had polished her with wisdom beyond that of ordinary monsters; she understood that she needed to make concessions at the right time.
The power contained in the Young Red Dragon's collision just now had also surprised Tasha and helped her calm down.
Dragonkin grew in strength far faster than she did.
Before long, she would be completely surpassed by the Red Dragon.
After thinking for a moment, for the better development of the swarm, the Wyvern leader suppressed her defiance, took a deep breath, and bowed her head to the Red Dragon as well, saying, "I apologize for my offense. Please forgive me."
Hearing this, Samantha was slightly taken aback, then she held her head high like a proud, victorious swan.
"Fool, this dragon disdains to bicker with a sub-species."
She said, though the pleasure on her face couldn't be hidden.
Conquering a powerful and defiant creature was far more fulfilling than intimidating a coward. Samantha was very happy now; her previous displeasure vanished, and even the Wyvern leader seemed much more pleasing to the eye.
"Tasha, go and tally the number of your kin and their age groups, then report back to me,"
Garros said.
The Wyvern leader nodded, then looked toward the western cliff wall and let out a shrill whistle.
Following that, immature Wyverns poked their heads out and landed uneasily.
Those who had come out to face the enemy and attack the Giant Wolf Knights earlier were mainly youths and adults.
The younger hatchlings had remained inside the caves.
Including Tasha, there were ten young adults in this Wyvern swarm. The other Wyverns were more numerous, with a rough estimate of over forty; it was a sizable swarm, and finding and recruiting them was an unexpected boon.
While the Wyverns were tallying their numbers,
Iron Dragon Sorog's gaze swept across the valley before he walked over and said, "This will be our new beginning. I suggest we give the new territory a name."
Garros nodded. "Very well. Do you have any ideas?"
He asked the three dragons.
Fairy Dragon Vera was the first to chime in: "Faerie Valley!"
She spun around lightly, the glowing powder she shed shimmering in the night. "How beautiful! It makes one feel happy just hearing it!"
Samantha glanced at the Fairy Dragon and said, "A weak name, it has no sense of intimidation."
The Fairy Dragon retorted indignantly, "It clearly sounds lovely! It sounds like a beautiful, relaxed, and fun place."
The Red Dragon ignored the Fairy Dragon's words.
She preferred grand and flamboyant names, her nostrils puffing out two wisps of sparks. "Only the Cinder Domain is worthy of our prestige! Let enemies tremble at the sound of it!"
This was a name that very much suited the Red Dragon's tastes.
Garros looked at the Iron Dragon.
The Iron Dragon pondered for a moment and said, "A place forged of iron and frost should be named for strength—I propose the Black Iron Realm."
Sounds like a blacksmith's shop.
Not good.
Garros shook his head slightly and asked the Wyvern leader, "Tasha, what was this place originally called?"
The Wyvern leader turned back and replied, "Our tribe calls this place Broken Claw Cliff."
She pointed her tail tip toward the eastern precipice. "Over the years, many young Wyverns have proven their courage here. They let themselves fall toward the ground, competing to see who can take flight at the last second. Many Wyverns have broken their claws in the process."
Named Broken Claw Cliff because they broke their claws.
A truly simple naming convention.
Finally, the Red-Iron Dragon's gaze swept over his bickering companions and then took in the full view of the valley.
The jagged rock walls rose and fell like a dragon's spine, the ice lake reflected the twin moons, herds of beasts hid in the night, and Wyvern nests dotted the cliffs.
"This shall become the territory of the Dragon Clan; perhaps more Dragonkin will be recruited in the future."
His voice echoed through the valley, his Dragon Might bringing all arguments to an abrupt halt. Finally, he made the final decision, saying, "We shall call it—Dragon Valley."