"Haha, Solrog, are you joking? I would lose to this iron swine?!"
"Mother, I'm afraid you have some misunderstandings about me. I will surely defeat that red-scaled fellow who lacks self-awareness!"
Hearing the conversation of several kin, Red Dragon Samantha and Iron Dragon Gorton retorted almost simultaneously, then glared fiercely at each other. Their consciousness bodies' sharp gazes collided in the air, as if physical electric sparks were crackling.
"Good! When we meet in the real world, the first thing we'll do is duel!"
The two Dragons bared their teeth, their Battle Intent boiling. They reached a consensus almost the moment their eyes met, deciding that when they met in the real world, they would first determine who was superior, knock the other to the ground, and mock them ruthlessly.
"I would be happy to be your witness then,"
Garros said with a chuckle.
It was he who first threw out that nerve-wracking question, followed by Iron Dragon Sorog's seemingly unintentional fanning of the flames, which finally led Samantha and Gorton to make this battle pact.
It was hard to say if this Dragon Lord held a subtle desire to watch the chaos unfold from the sidelines.
After this small interlude,
the smile on Garros's consciousness body gradually faded, replaced by a serious and solemn expression.
"I have gathered everyone this time mainly to discuss a potential and massive hidden danger."
His gaze slowly swept across every kin present, finally resting on the three Young Adult Dragons besides Leticia.
"First, let's clarify what the hidden danger is."
"Solrog already knows—our birth father is also currently in the Serel Wilderness."
"His name is Gorthax, and his nicknames include 'Frenzied Flame Bloodflame', 'Mountain-Burning Wings', and so on. He is an extremely powerful Mature Adult Red Dragon."
Having said this, his voice paused and became even lower and more somber.
"But what Solrog doesn't know, just like the rest of you, is that our Red Dragon birth father is extremely dangerous. If we encounter him carelessly, it will likely bring unpredictable and immense trouble, or even a life-and-death crisis."
"Kin of the same origin who share a Bloodline Connection have a relatively keen natural perception of each other's existence."
"As long as we and he both live in this same Serel Wilderness, an encounter is almost inevitable sooner or later."
"In other words, the options before us are actually very limited."
"Either we choose to leave the Serel Wilderness and abandon everything here, or we will eventually have to face this extremely dangerous father. There is no other way."
He then concisely yet clearly described the current state of Red Dragon Gorthax.
A mind driven mad by Frenzied Flame, power surpassing Red Dragons of the same age, and an extremely unpredictable level of danger.
After Garros finished his description, he looked calmly at his siblings and asked, "How do you think we should treat this powerful birth father?"
After speaking, he fell silent, simply gazing at his kin and waiting for their responses and insights.
Garros understood the importance of collective wisdom; he never believed himself to be infallible or his ideas perfect.
Consulting other kin for their opinions and thoughts, even if they weren't necessarily adopted in the end, could provide inspiration from different perspectives and reveal potential oversights.
This was undoubtedly an excellent way to check for gaps and deficiencies.
After a few seconds of silence, the only Red Dragon present with the purest Bloodline was the first to break the silence.
Samantha flicked her tail indifferently, trailing a string of invisible sparks.
"He's just a biological father."
She bared her massive maw, revealing chilling sharp teeth. Her tone held no fear; instead, it was filled with the excitement of being eager to try.
"Since he's destined to be difficult to get along with and might even become a nuisance, let's just treat him as an enemy! I won't have any psychological burden attacking a so-called father I've never even met."
"On the contrary—" Her eyes narrowed slightly as she said, "—out of a certain subtle psychology, the thought of potentially being enemies with such a powerful father even makes me feel very excited. I feel the flow of Dragon blood in my body accelerating quite a bit."
Leticia glanced sideways at her only female offspring.
From what she knew of Gorthax, she was almost certain that if a fight really broke out, a maddened Gorthax would never show the slightest mercy to his own descendants. Instead, he might become even more excited and brutal because of the target's identity.
Samantha's blunt attitude perfectly inherited the unruliness and battle frenzy of the Red Dragon Bloodline.
Her thoughts coincided with Gorthax's to some extent; truly, a powerful father does not have weak children.
"My initial inclination was that perhaps we could first attempt to communicate."
Solrog's low voice rang out, carrying his usual composure.
"A Mature Adult Red Dragon of such strength would be far more valuable as an ally than as a powerful enemy."
"In any case, an alliance with a Bloodline as a potential bond is generally more stable than a pure interest-based cooperation between stranger Dragons."
He was not as easily swayed by emotions as Samantha.
For the sake of the grand blueprint of the Dragon tribe in his mind, even for a potential enemy, as long as there was a sliver of possibility for cooperation or subjugation, Solrog would prioritize such a superior solution.
For example, he hadn't ordered the death of the Centaur Commander who had surrounded and wounded him back then to vent his anger. Instead, he had kept him and converted him into a Kinship force to contribute to the Molten Iron Tribe.
However, after stating the possibility of communication, Solrog's tone suddenly shifted, becoming more grave.
"But before this, I have already tried to actively establish a Bloodline Connection with Gorthax."
"The result was that as soon as my Psionic Threads touched him, they were instantly incinerated by his violent, fiery spirit."
"During that process, I truly felt an indescribable, total chaos and madness."
The Iron Dragon's voice was steady as he explained, "Considering the risks are too great to control, my final judgment on this matter aligns with Samantha's: treat our father as an enemy and prioritize his elimination."
Gorton scratched his thick, fat-layered neck with his sturdy claws.
After thinking for just two or three seconds, he nodded his large head heavily.
"Solrog and Samantha have a point, and their analysis is very clear. My thoughts are the same as theirs; I have no other opinions."
After a quick discussion,
these Young Adult Dragons, who were gradually growing and beginning to show their brilliance, finally reached a consensus. They would treat the mad Red Dragon father as an enemy that must be eliminated, rather than an object for recruitment or cooperation.
A scene of "filial" devotion seemed inevitable.
"Good. Since our thoughts are aligned, let's discuss specifically how to deal with Gorthax."
Garros slightly raised his formidable dragon head and said, "Our goal is to try to completely resolve this hidden danger through a single, carefully planned siege, giving him no chance to make a comeback."
His voice was calm and steady, yet it contained an extraordinary determination.
Against an enemy like Red Dragon Gorthax, one must either not strike at all or strike to kill in one blow, ending the trouble forever.
Otherwise, if the evil is not completely eradicated and he is allowed to escape and return, his mad Heart-Nature and powerful strength would surely bring immense trouble to Garros and his Molten Iron Tribe.
"Find an open space, fill it with the top-tier delicacies that Red Dragons love most, and then use a wind Spell to spread the aroma far and wide!"
Gorton shook his massive head, being the first to propose a suggestion full of his personal style.
"Once Gorthax is lured by the scent, we'll all swarm him and catch him off guard!"
Samantha immediately cast a disdainful look.
"Do you think all Dragons are like you, with only eating on their minds? Could such a childish trap fool a Mature Adult Dragon?"
She snorted.
After speaking, she raised her head and proposed her own plan.
"I say we should directly dispatch a team of Elite Kin to enter Gorthax's territory with great fanfare and issue a challenge! Use the most vicious language to insult and provoke him, then set a location for a duel where we'll have an ambush prepared in advance!"
This suggestion was immediately countered by Gorton.
AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-lite
He said in a rough voice: "Ha! You think other Dragons are as straightforward and brainless as you? That they'd foolishly charge over the moment they see a provocation? If Gorthax were that stupid, he would have been killed long ago."
Just as the two Dragons were about to fall into an argument.
Under the gaze of Garros, psychic power flickered in Solrog's eyes, and he slowly spoke:
"Frenzied Flame... according to Mother's description, this thing is the source of Gorthax's power, and it is also very likely his greatest obsession."
"Perhaps we can try using the Frenzied Flame as bait."
"He has a very high probability of taking the bait."
He articulated his plan clearly: "Using our existing various channels, quietly spread a piece of news, claiming that deep within the Sinkhole Territory where Mother Leticia resides, a strange, nameless fire has inexplicably ignited recently. Any creature that approaches it will become frenzied and deranged, but their strength will briefly surge."
"As long as this news reaches Gorthax's ears, given his familiarity with the Frenzied Flame, regardless of whether he fully believes it internally, he will inevitably be unable to restrain himself and go to investigate it personally."
"At that time, Mother, who understands Gorthax best, can find a way to stall him first, while simultaneously calling us through the psychic link."
"Once the group of Dragons gathers, we can launch a thunderous strike."
Upon hearing this, Garros gave Solrog an approving look.
"Not a bad idea. It takes Gorthax's mindset into account and is more targeted."
He looked around and said: "If there are no better or more perfect plans, let's proceed with the preliminary preparations according to Solrog's proposal."
Samantha and Gorton were inherently not Dragons who liked to rack their brains thinking about complex strategies.
They expressed no opposition to this plan, which sounded more feasible, effectively approving Solrog's proposal.
At this moment, Leticia, who had been silent for a long time, tilted her head slightly and spoke with a hint of doubt: "Children, in discussing how to surround and suppress Gorthax, you all seem to possess an unusual amount of confidence."
"But I must remind you that Gorthax is by no means an ordinary Mature Adult Dragon."
"He is a Wild Dragon with powerful combat ability, possesses a formidable and mysterious Frenzied Flame, and has also awakened a portion of the ancestral Red Dragon Bloodline. His level of danger far exceeds the imagination of ordinary Dragons."
"Furthermore, while he is somewhat frenzied and chaotic, that does not mean he is stupid."
"Once he sees that the situation is unfavorable, it is highly likely that he will sober up from his frenzy and choose to retreat decisively."
"Even if he is outnumbered, as long as he is determined to escape, given his strength and speed, it will be very difficult for us to truly keep him here."
This was indeed a crucial issue.
However, Garros happened to have a way to deal with this.
"I once encountered a powerful Dragon Hunting Group. In that life-and-death crisis, I almost died."
Garros said calmly: "After I luckily managed to counter-kill them, I turned a misfortune into a blessing; not only did I awaken Dragon Qi and take the profession of Martial Dragon, but I also seized an extremely powerful Alchemical Item."
He described the effects of the gladiator array disk.
It forcibly pulls the target into an independent space, isolates external interference, and restricts spatial movement.
In short, this item was a Sharp Weapon tailor-made for outnumbering opponents and hunting down targets with exceptionally powerful individual strength!
"The effect of the gladiator array disk involves the Dao of space."
Garros continued: "Gorthax is a typical warrior-type Red Dragon and surely possesses many powerful Spell-like abilities."
"But the Dao of space? That requires extraordinary talent and research."
"No Dragon present is proficient in this Dao, and Gorthax is no exception. Unless he has already stepped into the Legendary realm, it is almost impossible for him to break through the blockade of a carefully crafted spatial item in a short time while under the siege of multiple powerful enemies."
Leticia nodded slowly, a flash of understanding in her eyes.
"He is not only unproficient in the Dao of space, but apart from those innate Spell-like abilities, Gorthax can be said to be completely incapable of any other Spells."
She added: "He takes pride in his own pure strength and tyrannical physique, believing that the Red Dragon body is the most powerful weapon in the world, and has always scoffed at learning Spells."
"A powerful spatial item that can generate an independent battlefield, combined with the siege of a group of Dragons... there is indeed a great chance to completely eliminate him."
After another detailed discussion and refining many operational details.
The topic of how to deal with the Red Dragon father Gorthax came to a temporary pause.
Leticia's consciousness withdrew from the psychic network; she needed time to digest this information and prepare for possible actions.
"The footsteps of the Molten Iron Tribe will not come to a standstill because of one potential enemy."
Garros did not end this psychic gathering there; he took the initiative to change the subject, his voice becoming high-spirited.
"Our Vassal Legion has fully arrived at the Serel Wilderness and is assembled and waiting for orders in Ximu Territory and all major peripheral strongholds. They are craving war, craving to seize glory and resources for the tribe through victory."
Red Dragon Samantha was the first to nod heavily, her consciousness appearing more solid due to excitement.
"I have already been impatient!"
"I want to witness rivers of blood! I want to burn enemies to ashes with Dragon Breath! I want to make the prestige of the Molten Iron Tribe resound throughout the entire wilderness!"
She bared her teeth and growled low, as if real sparks were sputtering from her mouth.
Iron Dragon Sorog's tone also rose slightly, a rare occurrence, showing that his heart was also unable to remain completely calm: "Currently, Ximu Territory and our main strongholds are concentrated in the northwestern edge of the Serel Wilderness."
"My idea is to use Ximu Territory as our starting point for expansion and a stable rear, gradually radiating outward, advancing step by step, and first attempt to bring the entire northwest region under our control."
His voice paused slightly, then he continued: "Some of the many scouts I sent out in advance have already returned with intelligence. After my comprehensive analysis, I have already selected the first target for us—the Quenchfire Highlands."
"That place once belonged to our Molten Iron Tribe and possesses an extremely precious Leyline Symbiosis Pool."
"After we were forced to retreat, the pursuing troops of the Duchy of Raymond occupied and have long entrenched themselves there."
"They are clearly very aware of the value of this land, having invested massive resources into the Leyline Symbiosis Pool for upgrades and modifications, making its efficiency far exceed what it was before. At the same time, they have also deployed heavy troops in the Quenchfire Highlands and constructed extremely solid fortifications, which can be called the most heavily guarded and hardest nut to crack among all the strongholds of the Duchy of Raymond in the entire Serel Wilderness."
Solrog continued: "In addition, the Duchy of Raymond belongs to the Rebos Kingdom faction."
"By attacking and capturing their stronghold, we can also obtain the previously agreed-upon additional investment and support from Crystal Princess Elena."
Garros pondered for a few seconds, went over the information provided by Solrog in his mind, and then nodded slowly.
"Since that is the case, let's start from the Quenchfire Highlands. Let the war banner of the Molten Iron Tribe once again fly across this land we once lost, and point toward even more distant territories."
He said in a deep voice, making his decision.
"Solrog, start gathering and mobilizing the legion. Get ready; we will take the Quenchfire Highlands in one fell swoop with thunderous force!"
The territories that were once lost will surely be recaptured one by one as Garros grows stronger and the Molten Iron Tribe flourishes. Furthermore, the tribe's territory will further expand outward based on this.
"Sigh, it's a pity that I am trapped in the royal court and cannot personally participate in this glorious campaign."
Gorton spread his thick claws, feeling a bit regretful.
"I can only wait in the distant south for the news of your victory. However, regarding Princess Elena, I will continue to communicate with her to ensure that she can provide continuous investment for the great cause of the Dragons."
Garros smiled slightly and said: "Gorton, I want to correct your first sentence."
"You are also participating in this war, just in a way different from the fighting on the front lines. Every great achievement of the Dragons will surely have a share of credit that belongs to you."