The dragon's scales were thick and layered, a deep iron-black color. The surface was covered in fine, serrated textures, similar to a raw metal casting after forging; it looked as if it were made of poured steel. There were exoskeleton-like metal protrusions at the joints, and a layer of thick, shark-fin-like heavy spikes on its back.
It simply sat upright on the high platform. Its wings and limbs were not fully extended; its massive frame was in a retracted state. Yet, even so, an overwhelming sense of pressure came crashing down. The thought of the destruction such a dragon could cause in a fit of rage was enough to make one shudder.
The dragon was gazing at Galo with black dragon-eyes, just like Galo's own. This was Galo's mother—the Iron Dragon Mother, Laetitia.
"Mother," the young dragon lowered his head, greeting the giant dragon on the platform.
The Iron Dragon Mother was a very traditional Iron Dragon. She trusted no dragon god, was Lawful Evil, and held efficiency and pragmatism as her highest principles. She followed a strictly hierarchical lifestyle and longed to build a world dominated by dragonkind and ruled by Iron Dragons, possessing a very strong sense of class.
In her eyes, even her own offspring could not overstep their bounds. They had to follow her rules and show her respect and awe.
"Galo, my child, the crystallization of flame and steel." The Iron Dragon Mother looked down at Galo, her voice cold yet magnetic. "Six cycles of the moon have passed—enough for a wyrmling to shed its soft scales. Now, your scales are as hard as iron."
Her voice sounded like sandpaper rubbing against steel bars; every syllable vibrated the metallic particles in the air, making them hum in resonance. Galo nodded, thinking to himself that things were looking grim.
Dragon Age Categories
According to age, dragons are divided into many stages:
• 1–5 years (Wyrmling): During this time, they receive protection from their mother, including food, safety, and shelter.
• 6–12 years (Very Young/Juvenile): Evil dragons have thin familial bonds and little interest in raising offspring. When a hatchling reaches this stage, evil dragons often choose to expel them, forcing them to leave the territory and live alone.
Galo had an older brother who was expelled a few years ago; his current status—dead or alive—was unknown. As for himself, Galo had long expected this day, though he hadn't expected it to come so soon.
This magical world was not safe. Supernatural creatures weren't limited to dragons, and magic power wasn't exclusive to them either. Furthermore, because every part of a dragon's body was a top-tier material, they were highly coveted. Adult dragons were fine, as they possessed powerful strength for self-preservation. But a juvenile?
Compared to humans, a juvenile dragon is like a toddler who can barely stand and wobbles while walking. For a juvenile alone in the wild without protection, danger is everywhere, and survival is incredibly difficult. The mortality rate for the offspring of evil dragons before reaching adulthood is extremely high.
Galo felt that expelling juveniles to live alone was highly irrational—no wonder the dragon race was gradually declining. He mused that perhaps it was these traumatic childhood survival experiences that created the tyrannical and cruel personalities of evil dragons in adulthood.
The Expulsion
"I wasn't as sharp as you when I was your age," the Iron Dragon Mother continued. "My scales weren't as solid as yours, yet I had already left my mother's protection and held my own territory."
When mentioning her "territory," her eyes flickered, and her tone lacked confidence. That so-called "territory" was actually just a stinking ditch. However, her face was covered in steel-like scales; she was thick-skinned and her expression remained unchanged.
She leaned her massive body back slightly and said, "Galo, you should leave this place and start your own life. Before dawn tomorrow, your scales should no longer be stained by the dust of this land."
As expected, she wants to kick me out, Galo thought. This is a cursed tradition! Just because you went through the rain doesn't mean you have to tear up everyone else's umbrella, Dragon Mom!
His heart went cold. At the same time, two suppressed chuckles came from behind him. A Red Dragon sister and a newly arrived Iron Dragon brother—both five-year-old wyrmlings—were looking at Galo with schadenfreude, their tails flicking happily.
Because of their evil nature, the two often provoked Galo, only to be beaten by him time and again. They desperately wanted him gone.
Am I looking at what I'll be in a year? Galo shook his head slightly, too lazy to argue with fools. They only cared about the present and hadn't thought about their own future.
Galo looked up at his mother. "Mother, I hope to stay in your territory for a while longer. I'm not ready yet."
The Iron Dragon Mother spread one wing, and the shadow instantly swallowed half the cave. She refused decisively: "No."
Galo had anticipated this. He sighed and said, "I originally wanted to trade wealth for food and protection, but since Mother is so determined, then never mind."
As he spoke, Galo turned to leave.
The Turning Point
"Wealth?"
The Iron Dragon Mother's pupils instantly slit. "My dear Galo, wait!"
Normal dragons cannot resist wealth. Galo knew this well—wealth was the weakness of almost all dragons, and the Iron Dragon Mother was no exception. Though she was traditional and believed a six-year-old should live alone, she was also a standard pragmatist. If Galo could bring her wealth, she wouldn't mind continuing to house this offspring.
Her cold face softened significantly. She asked warmly, "Where would you get wealth? And how much are you willing to exchange for food and shelter?"
Galo sat upright on the ground, looking up at the massive dragon. "I have a keen perception of minerals, especially precious metal ores."
The Dragon Mother suddenly changed her face to one of shrewd calculation. "If you want to requisition my retainers to mine for you, that will cost extra. The specific amount depends on the level of the retainers you use."
"Level" referred to Biological Level—the most intuitive way to distinguish individual strength. Currently, Galo's biological level was 7. At the same age, this was on par with a Gold Dragon, or even slightly superior. Under normal circumstances, both Red and Iron dragons are weaker than Gold dragons at the same age. For comparison, a White Dragon at six years old only has an average biological level of about 3.
"No need," Galo replied. "I have two mining slaves I can command. With my personal supervision, their mining efficiency shouldn't be low."
Galo had rejected the Mother's offer to rent her retainers.
"Two mining slaves?" The Red Dragon sister and Iron Dragon brother looked on in shock. When did Galo get two mining slaves?
"I don't know either," the Iron Dragon brother shook his head, his eyes clear and confused. The two wyrmlings looked at each other, racking their brains, unable to imagine where Galo had found two slaves.