"Why do you care so much about this Life Level?"
Deborah muttered softly in her heart, though she didn't dare show it on the surface.
Under the stern gaze of her Silver Dragon father, she tactfully chose silence, lowering her head slightly. Her eyes focused intently on her front claws covered in silver scales, putting on an act of obediently listening. She even nodded from time to time as if etching every word of her old father's lecture deep into her heart.
Seeing Deborah's attitude, the Silver Dragon Adrie quit while he was ahead and didn't continue his long-winded scolding.
After a moment, he slowly stopped speaking and turned his gaze back toward Garros.
The severity in his eyes was immediately replaced by warmth and appreciation.
"Compared to a dragon like you who grew up fighting in the wilderness, the young Metallic Dragons are indeed too well-protected."
Adrie's voice was filled with emotion as he said, "Their path to growth is smooth, rarely encountering real danger or life-and-death tests. They lack the necessary tempering."
"In a peaceful and stable era, this might not matter much, but in this turbulent age..."
Speaking to this point, the Silver Dragon shook his head slightly and didn't continue. He only let out a faint sigh and fell silent.
Garros was thoughtful, keenly catching the hidden information in the Silver Dragon's words. He took the opportunity to ask, "I heard that the Metallic Dragon Domain was sealed for decades. It's said the entire race put forth their strength to help the Twenty-Four Winged Golden Dragon King charge into the Immortal Realm."
"Now that the Dragon Domain has been unsealed, what was the final result?"
He actually had some vague guesses about this in his heart, but he couldn't be sure. The prime-aged Metallic Dragon before him might be able to provide the answer.
"The result... is still inconclusive, but there's a high probability it's not optimistic."
Adrie spoke slowly, his tone deepening a bit. "Those older, more powerful dragons only announced the unsealing of the Dragon Domain to the outside. Regarding the specific situation of the Golden Dragon King, there has been no clear word."
Sometimes, silence itself is an expression of an attitude.
After hearing the Silver Dragon's meaningful answer, Garros's heart sank slightly.
"I hope it was just a failure to break through the Realm, and that the Golden Dragon King himself is fine and can maintain his previous state."
Garros said in a low voice.
This was perhaps the best possibility under the current circumstances.
Hearing this, the Silver Dragon Adrie's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, and he said, "Oh? It sounds like you'd prefer the Golden Dragon King to be safe and sound?"
He had thought that as a Red-Iron Dragon who struggled to survive in the wilderness and had little connection to the Metallic Dragon Race, Garros would hold a more indifferent attitude toward this matter.
Garros nodded slightly, his gaze calmly looking toward the distant sky, and said, "Of course."
"Metallic Dragons, Chromatic Dragons, Ferrous Dragons... no matter how complex our internal relations are, whether it's conflict or peace, we ultimately all belong to the Dragon Clan."
"We rise and fall together; it's a very simple truth."
The existence of the Golden Dragon King seemingly had no direct connection to the fate of an individual Evil Dragon.
But regardless.
If a Dragon King who symbolized a top-tier powerhouse of the Dragon Clan were to fall, every dragon on Planet Bernardo would surely be affected, directly or indirectly. The only difference would be the depth of that impact.
Adrie looked sideways again, giving Garros a deep look.
This Red-Iron Dragon had suffered from the world's prejudice and malice since childhood, struggling to survive, yet he still possessed such foresight and an open-minded heart that transcended his own position! He truly was a junior that Adrie appreciated more and more.
"If all members of our Dragon Clan, from top to bottom, could possess the foresight and broad-mindedness you have, Garros, perhaps our Dragon Clan would still stand at the world's Peak today, looking down upon all living beings."
The Silver Dragon said with deep emotion, his tone carrying a hint of reminiscence for a glorious past.
The innate pride of dragons was not without reason.
In the distant and ancient glorious era known by the Dragon Clan as the 'First Era,' dragons were the undisputed sole overlords of numerous planes and countless worlds. Their shadows covered the boundless sky, and their claws ruled the vast lands and deep oceans.
In that era.
Powerful giants were skilled craftsmen who built magnificent palaces and cities for the Dragon Clan, or served as servants on the front lines; elegant elves were attendants who offered beautiful songs, dances, and art, or were kept as precious pets; and the humans who now spanned the world were then just insignificant, tiny beings clinging to powerful races.
Almost all intelligent races had to live at the mercy of the dragons.
However, times change.
The overall strength of today's humans, giants, and elves is no longer inferior to that of the Dragon Clan.
Although the Dragon Clan is still prosperous and a powerful presence that no force can ignore, compared to the Peak period of the First Era when they were the sole masters, their glory has faded, and the gap is vast.
Garros's Legacy memory contained this magnificent history.
He also knew why the Dragon Clan had fallen from the throne of hegemony.
The collapse of a powerful Empire often begins with internal cracks.
The First Era ruled by the Dragon Clan could not escape this fate either.
Due to a lack of sufficiently powerful external threats, friction and conflicts between different dragon branches caused by nature and differing philosophies grew day by day. Dragons who believed in different Dragon Gods and belonged to different camps gradually became incompatible.
Ultimately, a massive civil war that swept through the entire Dragon Clan inevitably broke out.
Countless dragons fell in the fratricide.
Countless glorious Dragon City-States turned to ruins.
The First Era of dragon rule came to a dismal end in this tragic internal depletion.
Taking advantage of this once-in-a-millennium opportunity when the Dragon Clan was at its weakest, the giants and elves were the first to blow the horn of resistance. Many races long suppressed by the Dragon Clan followed closely behind, uniting to confront their former rulers, opening the prelude to the magnificent Second Era.
After millennium after millennium of cruel war, the Dragon Clan was completely pulled down from the altar of hegemony. The giants and elves also paid a heavy price under the dragons' fierce counterattacks, their strength greatly diminished.
Eventually, the various forces gradually ceased fire and entered a stage of recovery, bringing the Second Era of resistance against dragon hegemony to a close.
Today, the human race has risen strongly, and more races like orcs and dwarves are growing and developing rapidly.
The Dragon Clan, giants, and elves... these former overlords are no longer at their Peak, but they are still powerful forces that cannot be underestimated.
The entire world has entered the Third Era, where multiple races coexist, a hundred flowers bloom, and competition and cooperation are intertwined.
"Sing of rest, scions of the dragon!"
Silver Dragon Adrie's tone suddenly became passionate and solemn. He chanted in an ancient, rhythmic aria:
"Thou shalt inherit the Dragon God's great work, and reign over the First World of yore—though it be but a shattered past!"
This line was the final chapter of the "Song of Dragons."
It was a grand ballad that sang of the rise and fall of the entire Dragon Clan and even reflected the development trajectories of many world planes, inscribed in the Legacy memories of all dragons.
In Garros's view, this "Song of Dragons" inevitably had a tendency toward dragon self-glorification, even deliberately downplaying the tragic civil war that led to the end of the First Era. However, the history and spirit it carried still made it widely circulated among the Dragon Clan, deeply remembered by many dragons, especially Metallic Dragons.
"The First World of yore, the First Era when we dragons ruled."
The Silver Dragon's tone returned to normal as he sighed. "Unfortunately, time cannot be reversed. The wheels of history only roll forward. We cannot go back. Now we can only look to the future and do our best, hoping that in this new torrent of the times, there will still be a stable place for our Dragon Clan."
Garros didn't have much feeling about this in his heart.
Due to harsh living environments and cruel growth experiences, Evil Dragons tended to focus more on the present, being pragmatic and calm.
On the contrary, many Metallic Dragons had a nostalgic streak in their bones, liking to reminisce about the glorious times of the past. The Silver Dragon Adrie before him was clearly no exception.
"If the Dragon Clan truly had a chance to restore the glory of the First Era, I'm afraid that when the time comes, the Metallic Dragons who usually preach order and goodness would be even more frenzied and persistent than most Evil Dragons."
Garros thought silently to himself, having no doubt about it.
Suddenly, a question flashed through his mind that he had since he was young but had never found an answer to.
"My Legacy mentioned that the Ferrous Dragon Race used to be part of the Metallic Dragon Race in the distant past. In the early First Era, there was no independent concept of Ferrous Dragons."
Garros looked at Adrie and posed his question.
"However, the Legacy is vague and doesn't clearly record for what reason the Ferrous Dragon Race was later expelled from the ranks of the Metallic Dragon Race."
He paused and continued with another doubt: "Furthermore, in the depths of my own Iron Dragon Bloodline's Legacy, there's a faint mention of an existence called the Sub-Iron Dragon King. It's said his power was enough to rival the great Platinum Dragon God and the Immortal Dragon Queen, and he was even honored as the Supreme Dragon King."
"However, an existence that should have been famous throughout countless worlds has no specific deeds circulating in the Dragon Clan other than vague snippets in the Legacy. It's truly puzzling, and I don't know if this rumor is true or false."
He looked at the Silver Dragon and asked, "Do the Metallic Dragon Legacies have clearer answers to these secrets?"
Hearing this, the Silver Dragon shook his head slightly.
"The First Era is simply too far from the present. The dust of time has buried too many truths," he said candidly. "When it comes to the specific history of that ancient era, our Metallic Dragon Legacies also have many gaps and blurred areas. Much information is left only as fragmented remnants."
Garros had only asked on a whim.
Since he couldn't get a definitive answer, he set the question aside and didn't delve further.
Meanwhile, Serena, the Copper Dragon who had been quietly watching, turned her gaze toward the young Red-Iron Dragon.
AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-lite
"Garros, these bloodshot eyes of yours seem rather unusual?" She observed keenly and said, "I feel that your mental state seems somewhat unstable. During the previous battle, you were full of aggression and restlessness. Although it has calmed down a bit now, I can still detect something amiss."
She paused, then asked directly, "This shouldn't be something that can be explained by simple sleep deprivation or mental fatigue, right?"
Hearing his partner's detailed observation and question, the Silver Dragon Adrie also cast an inquisitive gaze toward Garros.
He had vaguely felt that Garros's state was off before, but because his attention was more focused on the sparring match and his daughter, he hadn't delved into it.
Now, after Serena pointed it out, he also realized the crux of the issue.
"Have you encountered something tricky? Perhaps, with my experience and ability, I can be of help."
Under the gaze of the two Metallic Dragons, Garros pondered slightly. Feeling there was no need to conceal this matter, he said directly, "Hmm, something did indeed happen."
"Not long ago, I devised an ambush and ultimately ended the life of the Red Dragon Gorthax with my own hands."
Adrie's face had originally worn a look of understanding, and he subconsciously replied, "Oh, so that's what caused your mental strain... wait!"
Before he could finish, his brain fully processed the shocking information contained in that sentence, and his voice suddenly hitched.
His dragon eyes widened, and his tone uncontrollably shot up, even cracking slightly: "What did you say?! You killed the Red Dragon Gorthax?! That Frenzied Flame Bloodflame Gorthax?! Your father?"
The shock in his heart was like a stormy sea, simply impossible to describe in words.
Adrie had dealt with the Red Dragon Gorthax in his early years and knew deeply how terrifying and troublesome that madman was.
"Gorthax returned to the wilderness, his temperament becoming increasingly violent and insane, posing a huge threat to all living beings in the vicinity, including me."
Garros narrated in a calm tone, as if talking about something unrelated to himself.
"I set up an ambush in advance, exhausted a precious Alchemical Item, gathered allies, and after a bitter battle, only then managed to kill him by luck."
His description was understated, omitting the thrilling details and the heavy price he had paid.
However, Adrie and Serena opposite him exchanged a glance, both seeing deep shock and disbelief in each other's eyes.
Although Garros mentioned prerequisites like the ambush, the Alchemical Item, and outnumbering his opponent, to Adrie, these were not the key points.
In the past, it was not that other powerful creatures or factions hadn't tried to deal with Gorthax using similar methods.
But the only one who ultimately succeeded was Garros before them.
Facts speak louder than any eloquence.
The infamous Red Dragon Gorthax had indeed fallen under the claws and fangs of this Young Adult Red-Iron Dragon.
"Losing to such an absurd Young Adult Dragon doesn't seem too unjust..."
This thought flashed through the Silver Dragon's mind instantly, but immediately after, a deeper sigh and complex emotions surged into his heart.
"Having such an insane father, and ultimately having to kill one's own father."
"Truly a poor child with a tragic fate."
Adrie and Serena felt the same pity and sighed at almost the same time.
Patricide, such an extremely cruel thing, was almost impossible to happen among the Metallic Dragon Race, who valued family and Legacy.
Metallic Dragon elders value and painstakingly cultivate their offspring.
Metallic Dragon descendants also usually hold deep reliance and trust in their elders.
Wait... The Silver Dragon suddenly thought of something, his gaze turning to his daughter Deborah, who was also showing a look of surprise. A half-smile appeared on his face as he asked in a calm tone, "Did you already know about Garros killing Gorthax?"
Upon hearing her father's question, Deborah nodded subconsciously.
However, the moment she nodded, she caught a flash of cold light in her Silver Dragon father's eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, and she secretly thought, "Oh no."
"My dearest father~"
Deborah reacted extremely quickly, immediately using the sweetest, most coquettish tone, trying to change the subject, while leaning close to the Silver Dragon and rubbing her head against her father's shoulder armor.
"Let's go back to Red Maple Valley together in a while! I haven't seen you and Mother for so long, I really miss you both so much! This time back, I will definitely stay by your side for a while to comfort my longing."
She said coquettishly.
However, the Silver Dragon Adrie just let out a cold snort with an expressionless face.
He didn't even look at his daughter, who was desperately acting spoiled, and said directly, "You don't need to be in such a rush to return to Red Maple Valley; you can just stay here."
Immediately after, he turned his head, looking gently at Garros, and said in a solemn tone, "Garros, I entrust this good-for-nothing daughter of mine to your care and discipline."
"Please do not be too lenient with her; take her to train with you more. You know, flowers carefully protected in a greenhouse can never truly resist the onslaught of outside storms. I sincerely hope that under your influence and leadership, she can become as excellent and as powerful as you."
Some time later.
"I will try to make potions to suppress the Frenzied Flame, or Alchemical Items that might be helpful to you. I will notify you once there are results."
Leaving this last sentence, the Silver Dragon Adrie and the Copper Dragon Serena flapped their wings and took off. Under Deborah's tearful gaze, they left Dragon Valley without a trace of reluctance, leaving Deborah messy in the wind.
"Have I been officially kicked out of the house?"
After a long while, Deborah finally recovered from this sudden turn of events. She blinked her eyes, looked at the Red-Iron Dragon beside her, and asked in a tone of disbelief, puzzled.
"Judging from the meaning of your father's words, it seems so."
The Red-Iron Dragon nodded.
Subsequently, he grinned and laughed, "Now there is one more thing; I cannot let down Your Excellency Adrie's trust and entrustment."
"Deborah, it has indeed been a long time since you trained with me."
"Come on, let's restart right now, and begin training."
Deborah had indeed mustered the courage in her early years to train with Garros for a period of time.
But with Garros's near-masochistic training intensity and unusual frequency, among the Dragons around him, perhaps only the Golden Dragon Alberto could barely grit his teeth and keep up. After persisting for a while, Deborah ultimately chose to give up because she couldn't bear it, and hadn't participated for a long time.
While speaking.
Garros's massive body began to approach the Red-Silver Dragon step by step, the heavy footsteps making dull echoes on the ground.
"No, don't! Your training intensity is really too high. I don't think it's very suitable for a Dragon like me... um... who develops towards the magical side..."
Deborah felt that invisible pressure. While speaking, she couldn't help but slowly retreat, her eyes wandering, looking for a path to slip away.
However, Garros at this moment, with the influence of the Frenzied Flame not yet fully calmed, was clearly more aggressive and offensive, and would not easily indulge the Red-Silver Dragon's behavior as he usually did.
He approached suddenly at a speed far exceeding Deborah's reaction. A giant claw covered in thick scales reached out like lightning, precisely and firmly grabbing the Red-Silver Dragon's long and elegant silver tail!
"Eh?! Wait! Garros! Let's talk this over!"
Deborah exclaimed.
Garros turned a deaf ear to this. With a slight exertion, he effortlessly dragged the struggling Red-Silver Dragon toward the training ground step by step.
"It seems Garros finally adopted my suggestion, to amuse himself by humiliating and forcing other Dragons, thereby venting the manic frenzy in his heart."
On the other side of the training ground, the White Dragon Tereshi noticed this scene.
A trace of understanding flashed in her eyes, but in the end, she shook her head with some regret.
"But why... is the one enduring all this not me?"
She whispered to herself, her gaze tightly following the Red-Silver Dragon being dragged by Garros, her eyes full of envy.
Meanwhile, just as Garros remained in The Borderlands, struggling to adapt to the influence of the Frenzied Flame within him and forcing the Red-Silver Dragon to accompany his training.
In the vast and dangerous Serel Wilderness, in the central region, within the habitat of a powerful dragon group named the Dominic Dragon Flight.
Boom—!
In the sky, the originally clear weather suddenly changed drastically. Thick, ink-like dark clouds gathered from all directions. Blinding flashes of lightning darted through the clouds like silver snakes, and dull thunder rolled in, as if a giant beast were roaring in the horizon.
A few seconds later.
A loud, majestic, and powerful dragon roar suddenly sounded from the deepest part of the dragon group's nest. The tangible sound waves pierced through the clouds, echoing for a long time between the vast sky and the mountains, announcing the awakening of some existence.
Hearing this dragon roar, which contained majesty and a familiar aura.
All the dragons inhabiting this area, whether soaring in the sky or dormant in their nests, all raised their heads one after another, looking in the direction from which the dragon roar came.
On their faces, they all wore expressions of excitement, awe, or anticipation.
This dragon roar represented that the highest leader of the dragon group had finally ended his prime-age slumber.
After waking up, the Life Level of the leader of the Dominic Dragon Flight would reach at least twenty.
Even if he could not reach the Legendary Realm, he would be infinitely close to it, becoming a powerful existence in the top tier below the Legendary Realm.
To wait for the leader to complete this important slumber, the entire Dominic Dragon Flight had been silent and dormant for too long.
And now, with this declaration that resounded through the sky.
The Dominic Dragon Flight no longer needed to remain dormant and could bare its sharp claws and fangs to the Serel Wilderness.