A Dragon against the Whole World

"Little one, protect Deborah, I’m entrusting her to you."

Red Copper Dragon Selena’s voice suddenly echoed, lightly falling into the depths of Galos’s consciousness like a feather.

The Red Iron Dragon’s neck scales trembled slightly, nodding subtly.

Turning to look, Deborah was quietly complaining that her mother hadn’t notified her before coming, completely unaware of the looming crisis.

The unusual advice from Red Copper Dragon confirmed his suspicions; a storm might be brewing within the Dragon Domain, and this summons for adult Metal Dragons was abnormal.

However.

This was not something he needed to worry about.

If the sky were to fall, there would be taller figures to hold it up; even if something happened in the Metal Dragon Domain, it wasn’t for him to fret over.

The Silver Dragon looked at Deborah, instructing, "Red Maple Valley has a barrier I set."

"Apart from you, it’s difficult for other creatures to intrude, and I’ll know immediately if it’s attacked. If you encounter any deadly danger, remember to use the magic scale to save yourself and then take refuge in Red Maple Valley."

What a good place.

The Red Iron Dragon cheekily said, "Can I go in too?"

"Not for any other reason, mainly because Deborah would be too lonely as the only dragon, I can accompany her."

The Silver Dragon expressionlessly raised his sharp claws, heavily landing them on the Red Iron Dragon’s thick neck, almost knocking him over.

Has this old thing gone mad?

Galos felt anger for a moment, then realized a rune had appeared on one of his neck scales, subtly flashing before blending into the scale, invisible to the naked eye.

"This is the Rune Key to enter Red Maple Valley."

Red Copper Dragon Selena explained.

"Elf Dragon, have you made up your mind?"

"Will you come with me to the Boiling Sea Dragon Domain, and then I will send you back to your homeland, or will you continue to stay in the Material Realm."

The Silver Dragon shifted his gaze to the Elf Dragon Vera, tangled among a cluster of cornflowers, plucking petals one by one.

Upon hearing the Silver Dragon’s words, she said, "Wait, let Vera use this flower to decide, the last petal will represent my thoughts."

"Go back, don’t go back."

"Go back, don’t go back."

"......."

The Elf Dragon muttered under her breath, plucking a petal for each chant. As the petals fell one by one, the flower soon became bald, leaving only one petal remaining.

"Hmm... go back..."

As she finished speaking, the Elf Dragon Vera plucked off the last petal.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she used her tail to pick up another flower, seemingly talking to herself, yet explaining to the Silver Dragon, "Didn’t count, didn’t count, the flower just now wasn’t bright enough, I didn’t like it, it couldn’t make decisions for me, I want another flower."

In response, the Silver Dragon did not urge her; he already knew the answer.

He looked at the Red Silver Dragon and Red Iron Dragon one by one, warning Deborah, "If your mother and I aren’t in the Border Area, and you encounter danger, we won’t be able to return immediately; you should not cause trouble or act recklessly."

After a few seconds of silence, he said to Galos:

"When I return from the Dragon Domain, I hope to see the Border Area in perfect order."

Red Iron Dragon: "I will do my best."

Deborah playfully swayed her Dragon Tail: "Cause trouble? Do I look like a dragon who would cause trouble? I am the most well-behaved."

She motioned at her parents with her claws, saying, "Go ahead without worry, I am almost a young dragon now, I know how to take care of myself, I know what to do and what not to do."

Selena glanced at the Red Iron Dragon, her eyes brimming with satisfaction.

"Hey, little one."

Red Copper Dragon suddenly patted the Red Iron Dragon lightly with her wing membrane: "Next time, remember to play riddles with me."

Her eyes glimmered with a mischievousness that Galos was familiar with, much like many times when Deborah had the same look.

"Lady Selena, it’s my honor, I am happy to accompany you."

Galos’s dragon face showed a smile as he responded.

He could tell, Red Copper Dragon Selena bore little hostility towards him, unlike that old Silver Dragon, constantly keeping a wary eye on him.

Sly, slick-tongued, cunning Evil Dragon!

The Silver Dragon snorted softly, wordless and silent.

After a brief assignment and farewell.

The Silver Dragon and Red Copper Dragon spread their Dragon Wings, soaring into the sky, as a glow flashed across their bodies, their massive forms gradually twisted and disappeared.

They used the Invisibility Technique, not merely simple visual concealment, but their scales refracted the gradient colors of the sky, like a drop of water merging into the sea.

The Elf Dragon blinked, staring dumbly in the direction of the two adult dragons’ departure.

Coming to her senses, she cast aside the bald flower stem, her small wings flapping frantically: "Wait! The last petal said to go back!"

She shouted at the sky, but received no response.

In the skyline, only a few leaves stirred by the Dragon Wings slowly fell.

"Alright, then I’ll have to stay in the Material Realm for now."

The Elf Dragon first sighed, but soon perked up again, flapping her small wings, running off to play pranks on the Violent Bears.

"Galos."

The Red Silver Dragon twisted its slender tail, saying softly: "I was just getting into the exercise when it was interrupted; now please continue guiding me."

Exercise was just an excuse.

The key was Galos’s ’guidance.’

The Red Silver Dragon couldn’t help but feel a shiver run through its dragon scales as it thought of his hot and powerful claws landing on her body.

Guiding the Red Silver Dragon in training was a form of relaxation for Galos himself. He nodded and said, "Alright, your body isn’t weak, but it can’t be called strong either; it indeed needs proper training."

He stepped forward and squeezed the Red Copper Dragon’s tail.

"The tail is one of the most commonly used weapons for the Dragon Race. Let’s start from here this time."

Feeling the tingling numbness in her tail’s muscles, Deborah’s silver-white scales immediately blushed with a faint pink hue, and she softly agreed.

Afterwards.

The Red Iron Dragon, while exercising himself, also guided Deborah, teaching her various moves he was skilled in.

As time passed, the sun slowly rose into the sky and then gently sank toward the horizon.

Until dusk fell, the twilight deepened, and layers of afterglow burned like flames in the sky, bursting forth with splendid and colorful radiance.

The Red Silver Dragon was completely exhausted, like a melting ingot of silver.

She lay on the ground, feeling muscle ache throughout her body, unwilling even to lift the tip of her tail.

Galos remained vigorous and energetic.

Not only was his power explosive.

His endurance and stamina far exceeded those of normal adolescent dragons.

Moreover, with the passage of this day’s time, most of the scars on Galos from the ’sparring’ had healed.

Although they weren’t serious to begin with, being able to recover to such an extent in just half a day exceeded past performances.

"My regeneration and healing speed have improved considerably."

Red Iron Dragon thought to himself.

Super high-speed regeneration is a trait that Galos desires greatly; only the thorny parts of his body can regenerate at super high speed, and they can recover at a speed visible to the naked eye once severed.

Just regenerating the thorns alone can cause significant trouble for his enemies.

With his formidable physical quality, if he could pair it with high-speed regeneration throughout his body, he would reach a brand new height.

As for the method to adapt and evolve into super high-speed regeneration.

Theoretically, it’s simple—involve injury and recovery.

However, in reality, there are many considerations.

Light injuries recover slowly, but if merely to adapt and evolve, you would have to push yourself to the brink of severe injury, and it’s uncertain how long it will take to evolve successfully.

The risk is too high and not worth it.

Having a solid backing might make it feasible, but Galos lacks a deep background. He needs to consider risks before acting and cannot gamble everything on one outcome.

"Besides, my regeneration speed has been subtly improving all along."

"No need to rush or deliberately injure myself."

"Super high-speed regeneration might, like the thorns, naturally evolve at a certain stage."

Galos thought silently.

His strength has been built up over time, not all at once; he has always been very patient.

After a round of eating and drinking heavy oil, the Red Iron Dragon continued to train under the cover of night.

Deborah also ate some food and now lay curled up next to the rock wall, her silver-white chest and belly gently rising and falling with her breath, her Dragon Eyes reflecting the Red Iron Dragon’s form darting in the moonlight, showing a hint of admiration in her gaze.

She used to just watch Galos train every day without understanding the difficulty.

But after trying it herself, she realized how arduous it was to maintain such persistent effort day and night.

Those invincible scales, the iron-cast muscles, and the powerful build... were all honed and forged bit by bit, and not entirely reliant on talent.

He deserved his talent and strength.

Galos didn’t know what the Red Silver Dragon was thinking.

Had he known, he might have heartily agreed, thinking that it was true indeed! His achievements today are due entirely to his own sweat and diligence; even if he were born a White Dragon, he would not be weaker than other dragons.

At this moment, liquid silver-like moonlight poured over the rock walls of Dragon Valley, and Galos slowly folded his Dragon Wings, concluding a long session of tempering.

All was silent.

It was the best time for thinking and planning the future.

After awakening from a deep sleep, he had communicated with Nick, thus learning about the fall of the Luo Sern Saint King and the turbulent undercurrents in the Federation.

Now, thinking it over carefully, the internal chaos of the Lothern Federation may be just the opportunity for his rise, a rare one that must be seized firmly, where the benefits far outweigh the risks.

"The Federation stands like the Wall of Sighs on the Sel Wilderness border, a giant that even Ancient Dragons must detour around."

"Its existence has always weighed down on me like a mountain, keeping me constantly uneasy and guarded day and night."

The Red Iron Dragon’s gaze flickered as he contemplated.

The Lothern Federation, always looming like the Sword of Damocles, has kept countless beings like Galos awake at night and anxious, considering the Federation’s response and acting cautiously before doing anything.

Galos has always lacked a sense of security.

And the Lothern Federation is a major source of his inner unease.

He had retreated to the Border Area because he feared the Federation, not the foolish Human Viscount.

If the Lothern Federation remained solid as ever.

Then, once Galos exhausted the resources of the Border Area, he would think about finding a safer place for growth.

But things are different now.

The Saint King has fallen, and chaos is arising.

When the Federation begins to fracture, who among those vying for the throne will notice a certain Red Iron Dragon rising rapidly?

Galos contemplated silently, his thoughts becoming clearer.

Seize the Border Area quickly, consolidate resources, amass power, and then wait for the great edifice to collapse.