"Garros, that breath just now—how did you do it?"
The Red-Silver Dragon couldn't help but ask, "And after using such a powerful breath, why don't you look weakened?"
Opposite her, the Red-Iron Dragon still possessed a majestic presence, his aura soaring, showing no sign of the exhaustion that should follow an overloaded attack.
Garros shook his head slightly, giving no answer.
He thought to himself, "The essence of this breath is the sum of all the energy I absorbed earlier from the Red-Silver Dragon's attacks and the thermal energy gathered from the environment."
He now carefully recalled all the sensations and changes from before.
Garros had a moment of realization, gaining a general understanding of the effects of his new scales.
They had evolved in the direction he had hoped for, yet they were also somewhat different.
Just as Garros wanted, they would no longer overheat and explode, but they still retained the ability to absorb kinetic energy and weaken attacks.
Furthermore, they had other new effects.
For example, releasing cold air.
Or more accurately, absorbing heat.
His scales could rapidly absorb heat to create a chilling effect. A portion of the kinetic energy absorbed from physical attacks was converted into thermal energy, while they also constantly drew heat from the surrounding environment.
Moreover, this thermal energy would not dissipate through explosions.
This evolution of his dragon scales also involved changes in his internal organs.
The absorbed and converted thermal energy would all be concentrated, reaching a Peak limit when all the scales were completely shattered. It could then be released all at once as a Dragon Breath, with a power so great it even surprised Garros himself.
Though the form was a bit peculiar and different from what he had initially envisioned...
It was similar to what Garros had previously thought—an evolutionary result that could accumulate energy to strengthen himself, compensating for his lack of long-range attacks. If an enemy were hit by this Dragon Breath, he wouldn't even need to enter the Frenzied State; he could end the battle with an instant kill.
The only flaw was...
When the thermal energy reached its limit, the reaction on his body was too conspicuous. He would glow red-hot all over with rolling heat waves, making it obvious he was about to use a finishing move and giving the enemy a chance to react.
Putting himself in their shoes...
If an enemy Garros faced showed such a state, he would definitely pause his attack, concentrate on being alert, and prepare to dodge at any moment to avoid the brunt of the strike.
But regardless of the drawbacks, he had ultimately gained a powerful new skill.
Under the moonlight, the black-and-Red Dragon scales on Garros's body emitted a metallic luster.
He picked up a fragment of an Explosive Scale, thinking, "It can absorb heat to release cold air, and it can also produce an extreme burst."
"Since it has evolved again, let's change the name—let's call them Cold-Burst Scales."
He was quite satisfied with the effect of the Cold-Burst Scales.
It gave Garros a brand-new Ice Attribute, ensuring he no longer had a weakness in that area and even allowing him to deal specialized weak-point damage to creatures that were previously of the same fire element.
Furthermore, their appearance was more than twice as good as the previous Explosive Scales.
Just as Garros had thought when he first evolved Explosive Scales, he might one day evolve a magnificent set of dragon scales. While the current Cold-Burst Scales weren't exactly magnificent, they were aesthetic enough.
Of course, utility was the most important thing; appearance was secondary.
"It's a pity they only gradually turn completely cold-silver when taking damage."
"Otherwise, when facing creatures unfamiliar with Dragonkin, I could even pretend to be a Silver Dragon."
Garros thought to himself with a chuckle.
"I still need to research more, like how long I can endure when the thermal energy is at its limit, whether it gradually dissipates or stays forever, and whether it can be used before reaching the limit and what the effect would be."
Although the regeneration speed of the Cold-Burst Scales was fast, it wasn't like the spines which could regenerate at high speeds.
Since they were all shattered now, he would have to wait two or three days for them to grow back.
Garros first decided on some directions in his mind, planning to properly explore the uses of the Cold-Burst Scales once they grew back.
The Red-Silver Dragon gradually calmed her shocked heart and walked to Garros's side with elegant steps, looking at him with uncertainty.
Garros: "Is there something strange about me?"
Red-Silver Dragon: "Too many things to count."
She sized up Garros's appearance and muttered, "A special mutation from being a hybrid? I'm a Hybrid Dragon too, so why haven't I felt anything like that?"
"Maybe Red Dragon and Iron Dragon Bloodlines are more compatible."
Garros said casually.
Suddenly, the Red-Silver Dragon became curious and asked, "Garros, do you think if a Hybrid Dragon and another Hybrid Dragon had offspring, there's a chance to activate more than two types of Bloodlines simultaneously?"
Garros began to think seriously.
He shook his head and said, "It's hard to say, but the possibility is miniscule. The probability of a two-way hybrid is already very low, let alone a three-way or four-way hybrid."
After saying this, Garros looked at the Red-Silver Dragon.
Suddenly, he felt that her scale color was exquisite and the curve of her neck was exceptionally graceful under the moonlight, making him somewhat unable to suppress the heat rising within him.
A hint of aggression gradually appeared in the Red-Iron Dragon's eyes.
He changed the subject and said to the Red-Silver Dragon, "There's a saying that practice brings forth the truth."
"No amount of hypotheses can compare to trying it personally."
He suddenly stepped closer to the Red-Silver Dragon, lowered his head to sniff the scent of frost and snow emanating from the side of her neck, and whispered, "Deborah, do you want to try? I'm more than happy to accompany you. If we produce several generations of offspring, perhaps we can figure out the mystery of hybrids."
Driven by his own Bloodline, the Red-Iron Dragon spoke bluntly and boldly issued an invitation.
However, as soon as the words left his mouth, Garros thought to himself that this was bad.
Every time he woke up from a Dragon Sleep, the desires of the Evil Dragon Bloodline would be exceptionally strong. In a moment of carelessness, the Evil Dragon's desire had dominated him just now, and he hadn't suppressed it in time.
If the one opposite him were also an Evil Dragon...
Such a direct invitation from Garros would basically be fine. As long as there was a foundation of mutual favor, the other party would likely accept gladly. After all, Garros's appearance, potential, and strength were all excellent; there was no reason to refuse.
But for a Metallic Dragon, the situation was different.
Mere favor wasn't enough to win over a Metallic Dragon; they had more considerations when it came to choosing a mate.
Opposite him, the Red-Silver Dragon first froze, looking at Garros with some confusion as if she hadn't heard him clearly. Then, after a few seconds, once she realized what Garros had actually said, she abruptly retreated several steps. Her scales suddenly became scorching hot, almost as if they were about to catch fire.
Deborah the Red-Silver Dragon stammered in shy anger, "You... you presumptuous Red Iron Evil Dragon! What nonsense are you talking about!"
Garros hadn't even answered or explained yet.
Her eyes darted around, and she suddenly flapped her wings and took to the air, practically fleeing with her face covered. In her haste, she even frantically crashed headlong into the valley cliff before flying back into the sky in a daze, looking somewhat disheveled as she gradually disappeared into the night.
"This..."
The Red-Iron Dragon scratched his head, watching Deborah's departing back and thinking, "She wouldn't just leave and never come back, or even go to complain to her parents, would she?"
If it were the latter, that would be quite troublesome.
The strength he had gained after waking from this Dragon Sleep was not yet enough for Garros to contend with a mature Silver Dragon.
But thinking carefully, based on his understanding of the Red-Silver Dragon, she was probably just feeling a bit unsettled and didn't dare to face him, but she would likely return before long and probably wouldn't go 'tattle'.
Metallic Dragons above the adolescent stage rarely liked to seek help from their parents.
They viewed it as a sign of weakness and an inability to be independent.
"Garros, remember to let reason dominate desire."
"This is the consequence of being dominated by desire."
The Red-Iron Dragon shook his head, admonishing himself.
He had originally intended to ask the Red-Silver Dragon about the situation in Dragon Valley over the last ten years—how it had developed, if there were any dangers or unexpected situations—but because he hadn't controlled the surge of desire after the Dragon Sleep, his overly bold and presumptuous invitation had instead scared her away.
"What are you peeking at? Come out."
The Red-Iron Dragon suddenly flicked his right wing, and a gust of wind swept the Faerie Dragon hiding in the bushes out into the open.
"Ah, Vera was just sleeping here, I didn't see anything."
Indeed, she swore she hadn't seen the Red-Iron Dragon's presumptuous and rude invitation of love, while silently praying in her heart that the Red-Iron Dragon wouldn't fly into a rage from being rejected and take his anger out on her.
"Why are you backing away? Come here."
Garros said to the Faerie Dragon, who was unconsciously backing away from him.
He could more or less guess the Faerie Dragon's thoughts and couldn't help but feel a bit speechless.
Why was it that every time something a bit shameful happened, she was there to see it?
Now he definitely couldn't let the Faerie Dragon leave; otherwise, if he ever became a world-renowned existence one day, he would have to worry about her leaking his dark history.
PS: Asking for power stones.