Translator: AnubisTL
Deep within the Sierre Wilderness, in the Heavenly Pit Territory.
The moonlight flowed silently, coating the northern wall of the massive Heavenly Pit in a layer of silver radiance.
An adult chromium dragon was now moving with a stealthy grace, carefully retracting his sharp claws as he landed softly on the hard ground. His cautious demeanor was just like a hatchling attempting its first hunt, terrified of startling its prey.
In his mouth, he carried a meticulously prepared courtship gift: an entire ironflow tree, perfectly sealed in ice.
This was a magical plant, exceedingly rare even in the wilderness.
It possessed the incredible ability to draw upon the vast earth elemental energy from deep within the ground, materializing this power into metallic branches as hard as steel. This unique trait made it one of the most cherished natural creations for the Iron Dragon clan, who were born with a special affinity and fondness for metal.
"Leticia!"
The chromium dragon solemnly placed the ice-sealed ironflow tree before the entrance to the Iron Dragon's lair.
He raised his long, elegant neck and called out the Iron Dragon's name, professing his love and admiration.
"Accept my burning admiration! If you so desire, I swear to you, I will make the entire vast Sierre Forest bloom with dazzlingly brilliant steel flowers for your sake."
At that moment, a languid and massive shadow, accompanied by the faint scraping sound of heavy scales against the ground, slowly extended from the dense darkness deep within the cave.
Iron Dragon Leticia finally revealed her true form.
Her dragon scales were not pure black, but shimmered with a cold, hard metallic luster, as if countless razor-sharp blades had been forged together. The dragon might radiating from her was clearly a whole level more powerful than that of Chromium Dragon Eric before her.
Her vertical pupils held a scrutinizing gaze as she carefully observed the Chromium Dragon outside the cave—from his posture and the luster of his scales to the attitude and sincerity he was currently displaying.
Chromium Dragons, like Iron Dragons, belonged to the submetallic dragon race and were naturally inclined toward lawful evil.
Running from his snout to the tip of his tail was a long spine adorned with smooth fins. He possessed shimmering horns and broad, supple wings. His dragon scales looked like liquid metal, strikingly reflecting the surrounding terrain. At first glance, he somewhat resembled a silver dragon, flawless in terms of draconic aesthetic standards.
In terms of demeanor, the chromium dragon was also beyond reproach.
Each time he came to visit, he would always prepare a different, meticulously chosen gift. And each time, it was something he had carefully observed and pondered, certain it would be a thing that the Iron Dragon Leticia would admire.
Unfortunately, the standards for a mate deep within Leticia's heart favored lawful dragons who could surpass her in both strength and life grade, making her look up to them in awe.
She simply could not muster much interest in a suitor whose age and life grade were both clearly lower than her own.
After just a few seconds of scrutiny.
Her tail swept out, precisely coiling around the precious Ice-Sealed ironflow tree in front of the cave, and without the slightest hesitation, tossed it back, landing it steadily at the chromium dragon's feet.
"I have told you more than once."
Her words were resolute, leaving no room for any illusion: "These... cheap little trinkets, don't bother bringing them anymore. I have absolutely no interest in you. Leave my territory immediately."
Her posture was cold and distant, her entire body radiating an aura that kept other dragons a thousand miles away.
However.
The chromium dragon was precisely enamored with these very qualities—the dominance, the coldness, and the decisiveness—that Leticia possessed.
He lowered his head slightly, his voice laced with a deliberately softened humility and earnestness.
"I know you prefer dragons more powerful than yourself."
"But Leticia, consider this: those evil dragons who tower over you in strength—can their hearts truly be trusted?"
"They will only ever think of how to dominate you, rule you, and bring your will completely under their control, reducing you to their mere vassal."
He raised his head slightly, meeting the Iron Dragon's gaze.
"If that's the case, why not try a completely different kind of relationship?"
The Chromium Dragon murmured softly, "I admit my own weakness."
"At least in terms of power, I am indeed no match for you at the moment."
"But doesn't that also mean I will know how to better accommodate you, obey your wishes, and never defy your will?"
"I am even willing to endure your humiliation, letting you fully experience the pleasure of controlling everything as the more powerful party."
The Chromium Dragon's temperament, in some ways, shared similarities with the cunning Green Dragons—they were naturally adept at camouflage, skilled in conversation, and masters of deception.
For instance, they sometimes mimic the silver hue of their scales, using their silver dragon-like elegance to approach intelligent creatures.
Once the victim lets their guard down, mistaking them for a noble silver dragon, they strike with a sudden, lethal attack.
At this moment, the chromium dragon was clearly leveraging his race's innate talent for "silver-tongued persuasion" and "masterful manipulation" in the art of courtship.
Iron Dragon Leticia fell into a brief silence.
During those few seconds of stillness, although her massive body remained in a posture of rejection, a keen observer could catch a subtle hint from the slight sway and softening curve of her powerful tail. Some point in the chromium dragon's words had indeed stirred her deep-seated desire for control, piquing her interest.
The chromium dragon seized this opportunity, striking while the iron was hot.
"Leticia, can you feel it? The atmosphere in the wilderness is growing more tense by the day. The air is thick with invisible gunpowder, as if a firestorm is about to sweep across everything."
"But danger often comes with immense opportunity. This turbulent wave is precisely our chance to rise with the tide and seize even greater power!"
"I know your dream! I know you would never be willing to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! And I know even better that to realize the grand blueprint in your heart, you will inevitably find your strength as a single dragon to be insufficient. You need allies who are both reliable and powerful!"
Eric squared his chest, his voice filled with sincerity and promise:
"I promise you, Leticia! As long as you are willing to accept me, I will stand firmly behind you, dedicating all my wisdom and strength to help you build your magnificent empire, becoming your most trustworthy aid!"
Iron Dragon Leticia fell silent again.
This time, the silence lasted longer, as if she were repeatedly weighing the pros and cons and the possibilities in her mind.
After a few seconds, she finally slowly shook her massive head.
"Every word you just spoke is indeed the sweetest honeyed talk I want to hear at this moment."
Her gaze was as sharp as a knife: "But precisely because of this, I can conclude with absolute clarity—you are performing the Chromium Dragon's most skillful bluff on me!"
Leticia's voice was resolute.
"Any sweet words detached from reality, any promises as fragile as castles in the air, are destined to plunge a hopeful dragon into the abyss of despair."
A dragon had once promised her he could restrain his chaotic nature for her sake. The result had been the exact opposite.
The chromium dragon opened his mouth to speak again, but the iron dragon stepped forward, wings unfurled. Her right claw was slightly raised, her eyes fixed on him with cold indifference. "I will not say this a second time. Get out of my territory."
Feeling the overwhelming pressure of her dragon might, the chromium dragon struggled internally for a moment. He slowly backed away, then beat his wings and took to the sky, gradually receding from the Heavenly Pit Territory.
Iron Dragon Leticia did not fold her wings until she was certain the chromium dragon had vanished from sight. Only then did she turn and return to her lair, settling onto her iron throne and closing her eyes halfway.
The chromium dragon had not been entirely wrong. Her keen senses had already detected the tension spreading through the wilderness, a scent as volatile as sulfur awaiting a spark.
She would never abandon this chance to alter her destiny.
Therefore, she needed time. She needed absolute calm to carefully weigh and repeatedly plan every crucial step toward the future.
Meanwhile...
Eric, the chromium dragon, beat his vast wings with all his might, soaring solitary across the boundless, silent sky.
Suddenly—
A suffocatingly dense, pungent stench of sulfur, like the eruption of a volcano's core, struck him without warning.
Eric's scales instantly bristled, a chilling sense of peril washing over him like ice water. He whipped his long neck around, his gaze locking onto the source of the odor.
(End of the Chapter)
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