Serel Wilderness, Sinkhole Territory.
Above the firmament, a massive shadow cut through the sky, its blood-red scales reflecting a heart-palpitating luster.
"My dear Leticia, my treasure, are you unwilling to come out and welcome my arrival?"
Red Dragon Gorthax circled in the sky, each flap of his wings whipping up gusts of wild wind.
He raised his head and let out a heaven-shaking roar; the deep and oppressive dragon cry echoed through the air in layers. Then, he suddenly folded his wings and dove rapidly from the high altitude.
Accompanied by a deafening boom, he crashed onto the surface, smashing out a deep crater.
The Red Dragon shook his head, a dangerous light flashing in his eyes.
Almost simultaneously, a dragon shadow rushed out from the largest nest.
Iron Dragon Leticia stopped before the Red Dragon, her muscles tensed in high alert, her dragon pupils filled with vigilance.
She questioned, "Gorthax, why have you suddenly come here instead of staying in your own territory?"
The Red Dragon flicked his tail, looking around nonchalantly as if he were merely taking a stroll.
"Relax, Leticia."
"I just wanted to catch up with you. Why are you so nervous? Would I ever hurt you? Impossible."
His tone was flippant, but those burning dragon pupils were constantly searching for something.
Suddenly, his gaze swept over the surroundings, and his tone shifted.
"I still remember that this Sinkhole Territory was originally a barren land of scorched earth, lingering with the scorching aura of a fallen star, where even the hardiest spines grass could barely survive."
His gaze swept over the now lush vegetation as he continued, "Now it has become so full of life and verdant. It seems you have indeed put countless effort into this, Leticia."
"I must say, while I don't particularly like this soft green, it does have a certain charm."
Red Dragon Gorthax flicked his thick tail with interest and said, "Why don't you show me around? Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever properly admired the scenery of this territory."
Hearing these words, Leticia's eyes flickered slightly; she had already vaguely guessed Gorthax's intention.
Her claws tightened unconsciously, sinking into the rocks on the ground.
The plan previously proposed by Iron Dragon Sorog to use news of the Frenzied Flame to lure Red Dragon Gorthax had clearly worked, drawing the target here.
Evidently, even if it was just groundless rumors, given Gorthax's obsession with and emphasis on the Frenzied Flame, he would certainly come to investigate personally regardless of whether the news was true or false.
Moreover, the Frenzied Flame had originally appeared in this area along with the falling meteorite.
Even if it wasn't fully collected back then, it wasn't impossible for some residual embers to remain.
This reason was sufficient enough.
"Gorthax, there's no need to beat around the bush anymore."
Leticia sneered, directly exposing the Red Dragon's true intention: "You came for the Frenzied Flame, didn't you?"
The Red Dragon was first taken aback, then let out a burst of booming laughter that made the surrounding leaves rustle: "As expected, you know me best! The one who understands me most in this world will always be you, Leticia."
He stopped laughing and pressed, "So, my dear Leticia."
"Have you actually seen any trace of the Frenzied Flame? Even just a tiny spark?"
Red Dragon Gorthax's emotions seemed relatively stable for now, showing no obvious malice.
He even maintained a friendly attitude, but this instead made Leticia even more vigilant.
Leticia knew well that his temperament was volatile and unpredictable; this surface calm was very likely just the illusion before a storm.
Once he failed to get a satisfactory answer, this mad dragon could erupt at any moment.
The primary task now was to stabilize him, but she must not let him detect anything unusual.
The Iron Dragon's mind raced. While quietly calling out to her descendants and offspring in her heart, she wore an expression of unabashed disgust and rebuked, "Look at yourself now, Gorthax! The Frenzied Flame has already burned you to the point of nearly losing your mind. You're about to become a stupid beast that acts only on instinct; where is the slightest bit of wisdom left?"
"What else is left in your eyes besides the flames of madness?"
She took a step forward, her voice carrying suppressed anger: "Even so, you still want to seek more Frenzied Flame? You are truly beyond saving, utterly foolish! Are you determined to let those flames consume you entirely before you're satisfied?"
This reaction carried the risk of provoking the Red Dragon, but it was Leticia's normal personality.
If she were too tactful or submissive, it would instead likely make the Red Dragon suspicious.
Faced with this blunt and disgust-filled scolding, the Red Dragon's face instantly darkened.
A dangerous light flashed in his dragon pupils, and the surrounding air grew scorching due to his anger.
However, as if suddenly realizing something, his violent expression gradually faded, and he regained that boisterous, uncaring smile.
"You're wrong, Leticia."
"The Frenzied Flame was mastered and controlled by me long ago. I am stronger and more sober now than ever before."
"The current me simply no longer wishes to be bound by any constraints or put up any pretenses."
He spread his wings, displaying his powerful body: "Doing as I please, acting without restraint, disregarding all taboos... This is the life I have always desired. That kind of unfettered freedom is something an Iron Dragon like you, who adheres to order and rules, can never understand."
Red Dragon Gorthax paused briefly, his gaze sizing up Leticia.
"However, I can hear a hint of concern in what you just said."
"Leticia, do you still care about me? Do you want to rekindle our old flame? It's understandable, after all, given how majestic and peerlessly powerful I am now."
His tone carried a bit of playfulness: "As long as you speak up and ask me, I can grant your wish."
The disgust on Leticia's face almost overflowed through her facial armor.
She suppressed the urge to lash out on the spot, her dragon tail tapping the ground impatiently.
She originally didn't want to say another word to Gorthax, but considering the need to stabilize the situation, she replied: "A while ago, while I was away from the territory, a group of bold adventurers sneaked in here."
"They were eventually driven out by my vassals, but they seemed to have discovered something."
"It was after that that news about the Frenzied Flame began to spread in the outside world."
Leticia paused, observing the Red Dragon's reaction: "I don't know if they truly found anything or were just spreading rumors, but if you really want to seek the Frenzied Flame, this is all I know."
She waved a claw toward the vast territory: "If you really want to look, then go ahead and search this place carefully yourself."
"But I warn you, Gorthax, do not damage a single blade of grass or tree here. Once you're done searching, leave my territory immediately."
Allowing the Red Dragon to search the Sinkhole Territory himself was an effective strategy to stall for time.
This territory wasn't exactly vast, but searching every corner thoroughly would still take some time.
Hearing this, Gorthax spread his massive blood-red wings and said with a chuckle, "Of course, but Leticia, you have to accompany me."
"Exploring alone would be too boring, and you might be able to help me identify the traces left by those adventurers."
The Iron Dragon kept her face cold and flatly refused: "I have no interest in joining your madness."
The smile on the Red Dragon's face vanished instantly, his gaze suddenly becoming extremely dangerous. His dragon might pressed down like a mountain, making the surrounding air feel as if it had frozen.
"You can refuse."
His tone was exceptionally calm, yet it felt like the dead silence of the sea before a storm.
"But I guarantee that this place will turn into scorched earth in an instant, returning to the barren state that I prefer."
"You should know that I am a dragon of my word."
After saying that, Red Dragon Gorthax flapped his wings and took to the air. He turned his head mid-air, his gaze heavy as he stared at the Iron Dragon, waiting for her decision.
Leticia was silent for a brief few seconds.
Ultimately, under the Red Dragon's gaze, she still spread her wings, slowly rose into the air, and followed him.
"Very good, this is the Leticia I admire."
Gorthax smiled with satisfaction.
Then, accompanied by Iron Dragon Leticia, the Red Dragon began to circle and patrol above the Sinkhole Territory.
It was as if two clusters of flame had ignited in his eyes as he carefully sensed and investigated every inch of the land below, searching for any possible traces of the Frenzied Flame and not missing any suspicious signs.
While circling and investigating,
He suddenly asked as if casually mentioning it, "By the way, Leticia, have you heard of the name King of Molten Iron lately?"
The Iron Dragon's pupils contracted slightly.
Her heart skipped a beat, but years of experience allowed her to quickly regain her composure.
For a moment, she almost thought her plan to conspire and ally with the dragon group had been exposed, but observing Gorthax's reaction, it didn't seem to be the case.
This might just be a casual question or some form of testing; she needed to handle it carefully.
Maintaining a calm expression, she replied in a frank tone, "You mean that newly risen king in the northwest region? A fellow dragon, his fame has indeed been quite great recently."
"It's said he conquered several map kings and already rules the northwest."
The Red Dragon let out a displeased snort.
"A bug that doesn't know the height of the heavens, a clown that popped out of nowhere."
He said viciously, "Hmph, it won't be long before I personally go and wring his head off, letting all dragons know who the true ruler of this wilderness is."
Hearing this, Leticia's eyes flickered again, and she said tentatively, "The wilderness is inherently chaotic and dangerous, with constant conquests."
"The King of Molten Iron is a Dragonkin after all. Perhaps there's a chance to coexist harmoniously; there's no need to go to war and fight to the death."
"One more ally is always better than one more enemy."
She paused and continued, "Besides, I heard that Red Dragon blood indeed flows within him. In a sense, he has a close blood connection with you."
Gorthax sneered, puffing out two trails of scorching fire from his nostrils with deep disdain.
"Close blood connection? That's meaningless."
A twisted and cruel smile appeared on the Red Dragon's face as he continued, "Oh, if we must say this Bloodline has any use, it's that it will make me feel double the excitement and pleasure when I personally finish him off."
"Just imagine."
"When my sharp claws pierce his chest, personally crushing his heart and wringing his neck while feeling a Bloodline similar to mine stop beating—what exquisite joy that would be!"
Leticia fell into silence and said no more.
At the same time.
In the northwestern part of the wilderness, on an open clearing.
The Red-Iron Dragon's strong body stood on the ground.
Before him, the three enfeoffed lords—Amethyst Dragon-Lion, Holy Spirit Deer, and Phoenix—stood solemnly.
They had been summoned here for only one task: to become sparring partners for the King of Molten Iron.
On one hand,
The Amethyst Dragon-Lion's psionic blasts that directly struck the spirit, the Holy Spirit Deer's attacks containing holy damage, and the Phoenix's incredibly sharp beak strikes... Any attack method capable of affecting Garros was used in precise rounds of tempering, constantly stimulating and strengthening his defense and resistance, making his body increasingly indestructible as he adapted.
On the other hand,
The more the three lords personally participated in this training, the deeper the awe in their hearts became.
In the Red-Iron Dragon, they could find almost no obvious weaknesses.
What alarmed them even more was that the effectiveness of their attacks seemed to be weakening at a rate visible to the naked eye. This King of Molten Iron was still continuously becoming stronger.
Suddenly,
The Red-Iron Dragon, who was originally enduring the simultaneous attacks of the three lords, gave a sudden jolt.
"Stop!"
The three lords immediately ceased their actions upon hearing the command and looked at the Red-Iron Dragon with confusion.
The training field fell silent instantly.
According to usual practice, this training had only just begun and shouldn't have even finished the warm-up phase. Garros usually trained until the stars filled the sky, until every lord was exhausted.
Under their puzzled gazes,
Excitement, hesitation, caution, and other complex, hard-to-define emotions surfaced one after another in the Red-Iron Dragon's eyes. His claws tightened instinctively, and his scales made a faint sound as they rubbed against each other due to his tensed body, his inner heart churning with waves.
Garros received a mental message from Iron Dragon Sorog.
He already knew that Red Dragon Gorthax was currently in the Sinkhole Territory.
Leticia would do her best to stall him, and right now was the best opportunity to deal with this dangerous and powerful Mad King.
After a brief moment of rapid thought, all the churning emotions in the Red-Iron Dragon's eyes eventually withdrew, turning into a bottomless calm, and a resolve beneath that calm.
—Father, I have come to kill you!
"All of you, follow me!"
"We will encircle and suppress Mad King Gorthax!"
Garros's gaze swept across the three lords before him as he spoke in a deep voice.
At the same time, Golden Dragon Alberto and Lord of Flowers Charles also received the news.
While Red Dragon Gorthax was still patrolling and investigating in the Sinkhole Territory, immersed in his search for the Frenzied Flame, powerful figures had already set off like arrows from a bow, rapidly closing in on the Sinkhole Territory from various directions of the wilderness.