As the Red-Iron Dragon slowly stepped out of the Burning Steel Fortress, what met his eyes were the guards surrounding the fortress layer upon layer.
A biting storm howled and raged at the Peak of the valley, whipping up snow and ice across the sky.
But these loyal guards, whether the wyverns circling at low altitudes or the Ogres standing silently, were like Iron Hemlocks rooted in the earth; no matter how the wind and snow lashed their heavy armor and fur, their bodies did not waver in the slightest.
Among them, the most conspicuous were the Earth Rampage Bears, exceptionally tall and sturdy, clad in runic heavy armor.
These magical beasts, the first to follow Garros, had seen their population multiply several times over after decades of breeding and thriving.
In the abundant environment of Dragon Valley, their physical development far exceeded that of their ordinary kin in the wilderness, and their intelligence had also significantly improved.
The Storm Bears were rarely sent out to battle; they were more like the Imperial Guards of Dragon Valley.
Should any enemy dare to invade this Holy Land, these Storm Bear Guards, armed to the teeth, would use thunderous momentum to let the intruders experience firsthand what true "bear strength" was.
"My Lord, you have finally awakened."
Mobel, the Storm Bear Commander, immediately stepped forward to meet him.
It stood upright, paws clasped together in a gesture resembling a bow, and skillfully offered greetings and praise: "Your grand body seems capable of supporting an entire mountain range, and your majestic aura is more awe-inspiring than a storm! Your dragon might grows daily, King of Molten Iron!"
Garros's gaze fell upon Mobel, carefully observing this earliest follower.
It was the first subordinate Garros had tamed.
As the new generation of Storm Bears grew and became a primary part of Dragon Valley's defenses, time had left clear marks on this original Storm Bear Leader.
Its once bright and sharp tusks were now slightly yellowed; its thick, dense fur had lost the oily luster of its prime and appeared somewhat dry; especially on that bear face, many conspicuous white hairs had quietly appeared at some point.
Mobel had quietly passed the Peak of its prime and was inevitably moving toward old age.
"In your current condition, barring any accidents, you should have another ten or twenty years of life."
The Red-Iron Dragon said, "Try undergoing the Dragonblood Transformation; it can extend your life and give you more time to continue your service to me."
The Storm Bear Leader's massive paws rubbed restlessly against the ground upon hearing this.
It hesitated for a moment before responding softly, "I am grateful for my Lord's grace... It's just, I feel that following the laws of life and death and naturally reaching the end might also be a good choice."
"For magical beasts like us, being able to die of old age is already a rare fortune."
Garros nodded his massive head slightly, showing his understanding of this choice.
"The Dragon-Forged Transformation Ritual is different from the risky Dragonblood Transformation; its success rate is much higher."
He added, then his tone shifted as he said, "However, since your mind is made up and you wish to let nature take its course, I shall grant your wish."
Mobel the Earth Rampage Bear was suddenly stunned.
Although it had never heard of any Dragon-Forged Transformation Ritual, it could tell even with its paws that this was surely something bestowed by the Dragon Lord that would bring immense benefits.
"Wait, wait! Great King of Molten Iron!"
The expression on its face instantly changed from hesitation to fawning, its massive body pressing down suddenly, almost prostrating itself, sticking its furry bear butt high in the air.
"My bear brain was muddled just now!"
It said, "Following nature is good, of course, but if I can use this still somewhat strong body to continue serving you, to charge into battle for you, until the very last moment when you no longer need these old bones... that would be my, Mobel's, greatest honor and wish! Please, my Lord, grant me this favor!"
Thump!
The Red-Iron Dragon raised a front claw and gave the Storm Bear's upturned butt a kick that wasn't too heavy, sending it rolling several times.
"Fine, get lost and wait over there."
Garros shook his head and said.
"Alright! I obey my Lord's command!"
Mobel, who was very familiar with the King of Molten Iron, was overjoyed; after steadying itself, it actually curled its body into a giant fur ball and rolled roundly toward the edge of the guard formation, looking quite comical.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
In the sky, two dragon shadows broke through the wind and snow, circling down.
They were the White Dragon Tereshi and the Red-Silver Dragon Deborah, who were patrolling high above; they folded their wings and landed beside Garros.
"Garros, Garros!"
Faerie Dragon Vera's tiny figure popped out from behind Deborah's broad wings, circling rapidly around the Red-Iron Dragon's massive body.
She said, "You look much more pleasing to the eye like this!"
"When you came back before, the aura on you was so terrifying; Vera kept thinking you were going to eat us all in the next second!"
Meanwhile, Deborah carefully examined Garros.
She noticed that the frightening blood-red color that had previously filled the Red-Iron Dragon's eyes had faded.
She asked joyfully, "Has your state returned to normal?"
Garros shook his head slightly and said, "It hasn't fully recovered, only been temporarily suppressed. As time passes, the Fury in my heart will gradually accumulate, and I will need to find ways to vent it periodically."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the tiny Faerie Dragon.
"For instance, eating a Faerie Dragon to pick my teeth; perhaps that fresh and juicy taste would make me feel much more cheerful."
Vera, who was stealthily flying behind the Red-Iron Dragon preparing to pull a graffiti prank, froze instantly.
"Ha, hahaha... Garros, you really know how to joke. This joke isn't funny at all, right, Deborah?"
She chuckled nervously, darting back behind the Red-Silver Dragon, only peeking out with half her head, pretending to look around nonchalantly and admire the snowy sky.
"Venting your Fury? I have a suggestion."
The White Dragon Tereshi's voice rang out.
She said with a hint of anticipation, "With your current status and power, Garros, you could completely and arbitrarily insult all the creatures present, including us dragons."
"I guarantee that when you see them trembling and humiliated under your majesty, you will surely feel delighted, and your Fury will naturally subside."
If she had Garros's status and power, she would want to do this even without the influence of the Frenzied Flame.
Just imagining that scene made her claws stretch and a wave of indescribable satisfaction surge within her.
Garros turned his head, staring at the White Dragon, and asked back, "By making such a suggestion, aren't you afraid I'll start with you? After all, you were the one who proposed it."
Hearing this, the White Dragon's breathing instantly became a bit heavier.
She responded almost without thinking, "Please, insult me as you wish. I will not resist in the least, nor will I dare to have any complaints."
Garros fell into silence.
He had almost forgotten that this one wasn't just a sadist; she seemed to have some strange masochistic tendencies herself. She probably wouldn't reject any form of insult but would instead relish it.
"And me! I have a good idea too!"
Faerie Dragon Vera plucked up her courage and flew out again, suggesting, "I can teach you to play all sorts of fun pranks, Garros."
"Like drawing funny graffiti all over other creatures while they're asleep, or stuffing special Itching Powder up their nostrils. Seeing them jump with anger yet be helpless will definitely make you super happy!"
In the depths of Garros's eyes, a tiny bloodshot vein quietly emerged, and the level of Fury in his heart almost soared directly because of this.
I am so normal myself, so why are there so few among these kin gathered around me who don't cause me worry?
"Your suggestions are very good."
"Next time, don't mention them again."
Garros raised a claw and rubbed the side of his massive forehead, feeling a wave of mental exhaustion.
Finally, he turned his gaze toward the Red-Silver Dragon Deborah.
Under Garros's gaze, Deborah met his eyes and said, "You must already have a plan for venting your anger in mind; you don't need me to give more suggestions."
"However, whatever you decide to do next, I can accompany you."
Garros nodded, feeling that Deborah was still the most reliable and considerate.
"By the way, there is a piece of important news from the outside world that you might not know yet since you were asleep."
Deborah said, as if suddenly remembering something, "The Dragon Domain has been unsealed, and those elder Metallic Dragons who had vanished for a while are now becoming active again."
"My parents have also returned to The Borderlands and are currently in Red Maple Valley."
Garros narrowed his eyes, a flicker of contemplation flashing within them.
The Dragon Domain has been unsealed... I wonder if that Golden Dragon King has successfully stepped into the Realm of Immortality?
If he failed, the entire Dragon Clan will likely face turmoil in the near future.
However, conflicts of that level are still far removed from him right now; they are not things he needs to consider at the moment.
He turned to look at Deborah and asked, "After your parents returned, did they not ask you to go back and reunite with them?"
The Red-Silver Dragon shook her head gently.
"They have already visited Dragon Valley once."
She explained, "Besides catching up with me, my father Adrie seems to have something he wants to discuss with you personally. It is just that you were still in deep slumber at the time, so he left instructions for me to notify him once you woke up, and he would come to visit again."
"By the way, I did not tell my parents much about your affairs in The Wilderness."
Garros pondered and said, "Having not seen each other for decades, did your father not suggest that you accompany them back to Red Maple Territory to live for a while?"
Deborah answered with a natural tone, "Of course he did."
"But I believe that since we are both in The Borderlands, meeting is not difficult, so there is no need to specifically return to Red Maple Territory."
"Besides, I also clearly told him that during your slumber, the defensive strength of Dragon Valley is relatively weak and it is in need of reliable guards, so it is not appropriate for me to leave at this time."
Garros was silent for a few seconds.
He could almost imagine the expression of the adult Silver Dragon Adrie upon seeing his precious daughter refuse to return home in order to guard another male dragon... That complexion probably would not look much better than the bottom of a pot.
If he were in the Silver Dragon's position, he reckoned he would have had an outbreak of Frenzied Flame on the spot, with flames of Fury scorching the heavens.
As for the matter that the Silver Dragon Adrie specifically wanted to discuss with him face-to-face... Garros had an intuition that it probably would not be anything pleasant.
Thinking of this, he could not help but feel a little troubled.
He was not troubled by the prospect of a conflict with the adult Silver Dragon.
With his rapid growth, his strength was no longer what it once was.
What he was truly worried about was something else.
"If a fight really breaks out and I cannot control my strength and emotions, beating the Silver Dragon too badly... the scene probably would not be very pretty."
Garros shook his head inwardly, pondering.
"Also, when I discovered you were awake, I already notified my father; he should be coming over soon."
Deborah added.
Well, things have come to this; he would just have to adapt as the situation demanded.
After chatting for a while longer, he suddenly spread his massive wings and said, "I have been asleep for too long; this body is almost rusting. It needs a good stretch and workout."
As his voice fell, the Red-Iron Dragon flapped his wings, took flight, and landed in the training grounds within the valley, turning on the gravity-enhancing equipment.
His body suddenly sank, but Garros's expression remained unchanged.
"The effect of this equipment has weakened significantly for me."
Feeling the burden on his body, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind: "It is time to have Samantha custom-make a special alchemical heavy armor for me."
What he wanted was not defense or attribute enhancement.
On the contrary, Garros hoped that this heavy armor could create a form of restraint and suppression, keeping him in a certain weighted state at all times, effectively integrating exercise into every second of his daily life.
In this way.
In some future fierce battle, the enemy, after enduring great hardships and paying a heavy price, finally manages to smash and shatter this seemingly indestructible heavy armor... Just when the exhausted opponent thinks victory is in their grasp and is about to collapse.
They would discover that with his armor shattered, it was as if he had shed heavy shackles; not only did his aura not weaken, but it would surge and rise instantly.
This would surely bring the enemy an unforgettable surprise.
Thinking of this, Garros could not help but open his massive maw, revealing a ferocious smile.
The pleasure brought by this caused the rate of his internal Fury value increase to slow down by a fraction.
"Later, I will use the Blood Kin connection to ask about the recent development of the tribe in The Wilderness, and by the way, communicate with Samantha about the heavy armor."
He composed his mind and gradually focused his attention.
First, it was the most basic body stretching and extension.
Garros stretched his pair of massive dragon wings almost completely to their limit, and then, his huge and strong body began to twist with his spine as the axis, performing a movement that transcended convention and was jaw-droppingly astonishing.
The thick dragon scales rubbed against each other during the twisting, shooting out dense, red-hot sparks and making teeth-grinding, creaking sounds.
Soon, his body was twisted into an extremely exaggerated posture; his thick neck was turned almost one hundred and eighty degrees, and every joint of his limbs and torso was twisted to a shocking angle.
And this was merely the beginning of his warm-up, just some simple stretching movements.
His body was as sturdy as a mountain, but every muscle was filled with explosive power and astonishing resilience; they were not dead muscles, possessing both unparalleled toughness and extraordinary flexibility.
After finishing the warm-up, he began the truly high-intensity, high-load physical training.
As time passed, he progressively activated various strengthening states.
Frenzied State, Bloodburst State, and finally the Crimson Lotus State that made the surrounding air twist and boil; his blood felt as if it had been ignited, surging and roaring in his blood vessels, with bright red lotus-like patterns emerging on his body surface, emitting a scorching high temperature.
When he first mastered the Crimson Lotus State, once activated, it was completely impossible to stop; he could only wait for the power to run out.
But after constant familiarity and adaptation, the current Garros, in a non-combat focused state, was already able to rely on his powerful willpower to gradually guide and calm the burning dragon blood within his body, thereby safely deactivating the Crimson Lotus State.
This allowed him to more precisely control the intensity and duration of his training.
If he could also turn off and on the Crimson Lotus State at will during battle in the future, that would be even better.
A long time later, Garros finally stopped his movements.
The dragon scales all over his body presented a dark red hue like a branding iron, and billowing heat waves spread outward with him as the center, completely dispelling the snow and chill of the training grounds.
Haa!
He took a deep breath.
The branding-red light and red lotus-like flame patterns on his body surface slowly receded like a tide, and his scales seemed to have undergone a tempering of a thousand hammers, finally returning to a deep and restrained black-red color.
"Control of the Crimson Lotus State will, one day, become a power I can wield as easily as an extension of my arm, just like the Frenzied State."
Garros adjusted his long, steady breathing and pondered inwardly, "And in this process, the evolution of the dragon blood itself is, in all likelihood, the key."
His evolution never came out of thin air or happened overnight; it was often closely related to his own state and experiences.
He continuously exercised and challenged the limits of the Crimson Lotus State, and it was precisely in these repeated burnings that his dragon blood was undergoing some kind of deep-level adaptation and transformation.
Although the specific direction and result of the evolution could not yet be precisely predicted.
But what was certain was that after the evolution, a deeper and closer connection would inevitably be established between his Bloodline and the Crimson Lotus State.
Garros shook his massive head, refocused his attention on the Frenzied Flame deep within his consciousness, and carefully sensed the subtle changes in his own Fury state.
"Hmm? It seems... when I am focused on exercising, the accumulation rate of Fury has significantly slowed down, and has even dropped slightly overall?"
Feeling the changes in his own emotions, Garros had an unexpected discovery.
Just as Tereshi and Vera had suggested before, immersing himself in things he truly loved and gaining inner joy and satisfaction was indeed an effective way to vent negative emotions.
Constantly tempering himself, feeling his strength grow day by day, and stepping toward becoming stronger step by step.
This was exactly what Garros loved from the bottom of his heart and found pleasurable.
"Very good; in a daily state, I can slow down the accumulation of Fury through focused exercise."
"When the Fury accumulates to a certain critical point, I will go hunt those demons to have a thorough vent."
Regarding how to effectively control the Fury that constantly grew within his body due to the Frenzied Flame, and how to better grasp this double-edged sword, Garros's train of thought slowly became clear and complete.
He was already gradually adapting.