Facing Golden Dragon Alberto's resonant request for a challenge once again, the tall, imposing humanoid figure with bulging, knotted muscles merely lifted his eyes slightly, a flicker of contemplation passing through them as he did not immediately agree.
At the same time, a flash of faint light swept by.
His human form dissipated rapidly, and his massive, imposing, and even more oppressive true Dragon form reappeared, with black scales flowing with a metallic luster.
Facing Alberto, who had suddenly changed his request from a spar to a challenge, Garros understood clearly in his heart and could roughly guess the source of his confidence.
When ordinary five-colored Evil Dragons transformed into the frail human form, constrained by the unfamiliar body with its vastly different structure, they could usually only exert about fifty percent of their original strength, and that was only after they had relatively mastered Polymorph.
As for a Young Dragon like Garros, who had just mastered Polymorph for the first time...
Under normal circumstances, due to extreme unfamiliarity with the human structure and severely lacking limb coordination, even basic exertion of force would be problematic, and the strength they could exert would plummet to a pitiful twenty or thirty percent.
Conversely, Alberto, this Golden Dragon who was quite a bit older than Garros, had mastered Polymorph for decades.
His command of the human form was already perfect, sufficient to exert about seventy percent of his original formidable strength.
Seventy percent against thirty percent!
There was a huge gap of nearly forty percent in the exertion ratio of the human form.
In Alberto's view, such a stark disparity in ratios was simply a god-given opportunity; his chance of winning was not just not small, it was so large it was almost a crushing victory—the advantage was his!
However, Alberto did not know.
All the Dragons present, including those dependents, had no way of knowing.
Although Garros indeed disliked the feeling of weakened strength brought about by the human form, he had an extraordinary understanding and familiarity with the human body structure and methods of exerting force.
When fighting, he would never make low-level mistakes like poor limb coordination or awkward force exertion.
In fact, as soon as he transformed, the strength he could mobilize was already close to the level of those Evil Dragons who had mastered this technique, firmly standing above the fifty-percent threshold.
In short, Alberto's beautiful vision was likely destined to become nothing but a pipe dream.
"His current debt only has about thirty percent of the principal remaining..."
"If he loses to me in this challenge again, even adding the wager of this challenge, the principal of the debt will only rise back to around sixty percent; this amount is not high."
"As long as this kid behaves himself and doesn't keep making things difficult for himself, he should be able to pay it off before long."
Garros's gaze swept over Alberto's confident face.
"By then, when the debt is cleared, if I want to entrust him to do things for me again, I'm afraid it will take some extra effort and more persuasion."
In a flash, Garros had already weighed the pros and cons in his heart.
Finally, a solemn expression appeared on his majestic Dragon face; he merely lifted his imposing chin slightly, revealing a calm look that carried a hint of arrogance.
"Alberto."
Garros's deep, resonant voice was like muffled thunder rolling through the valley, suppressing the surrounding clamor.
"Alberto, you seem to be full of confidence in your victory."
He lowered his eyes, looking down at the Golden Dragon in human form below, and said, "But I, likewise, do not believe that I will lose."
"Admittedly, this is my first time wielding a human form, but the improvement brought to me by the long slumber far exceeds your imagination."
"I am very certain that even in this heavily restricted form, the result of this challenge will still end in your defeat, just like every previous confrontation."
From the depths of the Red-Iron Dragon's calm gaze, Alberto clearly caught a trace of faint contempt.
He admitted that before his next slumber and growth, even if his diligent sharpening over these years had improved him significantly, in terms of Dragon form, he was likely no longer a match for this transformed Young Red-Iron Dragon.
He was a proud Golden Dragon, but he was not one who did not understand how to assess the situation.
But! When it came to the strength and combat experience of the human form?
A flame of absolute confidence surged within Alberto's chest; decades of immersion and countless experiences of walking as a human had endowed him with unparalleled proficiency!
In a contest of human form, he would definitely win.
"No, Garros."
Alberto straightened his chest, his golden hair flying under the firelight, his tone incomparably certain: "The one who wins will definitely be me!"
"Oh? So certain?"
Garros's tail end of his sentence was slightly drawn out as he said, "Since you are so confident, and I also believe I can win, why don't we add a little more stakes, how about it?"
Alberto thought for a moment and asked, "What wager do you want to add?"
"Very simple."
"If you lose, then all the debt that I waived for you during my slumber will be void, and your debt will return to its original state."
Alberto's heart sank abruptly.
This meant that his previous efforts to repay would go down the drain.
But Garros's next words made his heart jump.
"Conversely, if you can defeat me in this contest of human form."
"Besides the waiver remaining effective, I will also pay you an additional, doubled, generous reward."
"How about it?"
"Good! It's a deal!"
Alberto agreed almost decisively and resoundingly, his eyes flashing with a desire for wealth and victory.
As long as he beat Garros, he could not only completely escape the quagmire of debt but also gain a huge windfall.
As for failure? How could that be! He had been able to skillfully transform into a human form decades ago and had rich combat experience; how could he lose to a novice who had just mastered Polymorph and couldn't even transform clothes?
"Foolish Golden Dragon, it seems he is destined to continue working for us."
Not far away, Iron Dragon Sorog quietly sipped some sweet honey syrup, while on the other side, Red Dragon Samantha fiercely tore off a large piece of charred, fragrant roasted beast meat; both thought to themselves almost simultaneously.
Although they did not completely understand where Garros's confidence came from, they knew their brother too well.
Garros would never do anything meaningless, nor would he fight a battle without certainty.
This poor Golden Dragon was clearly being played in the palm of his hand once again without realizing it.
"The challenge will begin after the banquet ends."
Hearing Alberto's eager acceptance of the challenge, the Red-Iron Dragon nodded with satisfaction.
Alberto, meanwhile, was in an increasingly happy mood, immersing himself in the singing and dancing again, full of enthusiasm, as if victory were already in his pocket, and the atmosphere in the venue also appeared exceptionally harmonious because of this.
Outside the valley, the wind and snow were still howling and dancing wildly in the pitch-black night sky.
But inside Dragon Valley, the blazing bonfires and magical radiance illuminated this world as bright as day, with laughter and the low roars of Dragons intertwined.
As time passed, Garros drank a sip of mellow black oil and ate a few pieces of Demonic Beast essence parts containing abundant magic power, feeling the strength within his body becoming increasingly full and surging, his state steadily recovering towards his Peak, and his spirit becoming increasingly vigorous.
His own strength had stepped into a brand-new height, coupled with the existence of the 'reserve hidden energy'.
A strong sense of confidence of [Who can kill me! Who can defeat me!] was almost about to burst out of his chest.
Garros even felt a strong impulse to immediately spread his wings and fly towards the Serel Wilderness, to declare his rule over that vast land, to make all living beings submit under his Dragon wings, and to turn any dissenters into ashes.
Haa.
With a light and deep breath, these suddenly rising, agitated thoughts and impulses were like being doused with ice water, instantly vanishing into thin air.
Although after every awakening from slumber, the primitive desires and instincts belonging to the Evil Dragon Bloodline would also rise accordingly.
But the magnitude of their growth was, after all, far from comparable to the growth of Garros's own will and Heart-Nature.
His control over his own emotions had long reached the Realm of perfection, capable of being reined in or released at will.
Not only the impulses for battle and conquest, but even the almost instinctive greedy obsession that Dragons had for wealth was now increasingly difficult to shake his mind; just now, when he was extremely weak, he swallowed more than twenty priceless Magic Gems in one breath, yet his heart did not suffer much, and he had not yet reached his limit.
"How is the Lothern Royal Court doing now?"
Garros turned his thoughts to serious matters, his massive head looking towards Iron Dragon Sorog; he did not open his mouth, and through Bloodline Connection, his voice sounded directly on the other party's mental level.
"Not long after I woke up a few years ago, Gorton also ended his slumber, and we restored contact immediately."
The Iron Dragon responded, transmitting the organized information in his consciousness.
"According to the intelligence obtained by Gorton... after the palace coup where the current king killed his brother and usurped the throne, although the surface of the Lothern Royal Court has gradually calmed, beneath the water, the undercurrents remain turbulent and hearts are unsettled."
"Many nobles, and even collateral branches of the royal family, continue to gossip in private, with constant criticism regarding the King's illegitimate accession."
Garros's eyes flickered slightly as he began to ponder.
Back when he learned the news of the old King's critical illness, he had already collected general information on several important princes of Lothern through various channels.
The first-in-line heir, the First Prince, was a typical example of a ruler meant only to maintain the status quo—indulging in pleasure, mediocre in Aptitude, and limited in talent... he could almost be seen as a carbon copy of the old King in his youth.
But he was not entirely without merit.
The First Prince was extremely skilled at gauging the King's intentions, coaxing the old King into delight; his favor and support were his greatest political capital. At the same time, he was well-versed in the rules of the noble circles, adept at social maneuvering, and able to please everyone. Relying on his status as Crown Prince and various promises, he had rallied a large number of noble lords, creating a deeply entrenched power base behind him.
The Second Prince, who ultimately accomplished the feat of fratricide, was the complete opposite.
He had a fiery, unyielding personality, revered strength, and possessed considerable talent himself.
In his youth, he volunteered to abandon the comforts of the palace, diving headfirst into the harsh environment of the military camps for training. Decisive and swift in action, he won the awe and loyalty of the rank-and-file soldiers through his iron-fisted rule and martial prowess. He established significant prestige and gained the favor and goodwill of many high-ranking officers and even top generals in the military.
However, his problems were also very obvious.
His nature was too upright and unyielding; he would rather break than bend.
When he was young, unable to stand the arrogance of noble offspring, he had personally beaten a criminal marquis's son to death in the street. While it showed his mettle, it also planted the seeds of disaster.
As he grew older, he became increasingly intolerant of any faults, deeply detesting the corruption and greed of the noble circles. His heavy-handed actions created countless enemies, leading to his alienation from noble society.
For the most part, he stayed away from the political center, stationed at the frontier borders, living a purely military life. Rather than a prince, he was more like a pure general.
It was not until the very last moment, when the old King was on his deathbed and urgently summoned all his children back to the palace, that the Second Prince rushed back from the frontier.
When the old King was on his deathbed, gasping his last breaths, and officially announced that the First Prince would succeed him, it is said that the Second Prince remained silent the entire time, expressionless, and did not raise any objections on the spot.
However, shortly after the old King was buried, on the eve of the First Prince's formal coronation.
This silent general, who seemed to have accepted his fate and appeared uninterested in the throne, launched the event that shocked the entire Federation with thunderous momentum.
Blood splattered the palace; he killed his brother and seized the throne.
"This entire process is filled with too many baffling points of doubt."
Garros analyzed calmly: "As a core power of the Federation, the Lothern Kingdom's palace heartland must be guarded by Legendary powerhouses and shrouded in magic barriers, making it a place of utmost importance."
"The First Prince, who was about to ascend the throne, must have been surrounded by the most elite guards, watched and protected by countless eyes."
"The Second Prince... how did he manage to kill his brother and usurp the throne under the heavy guard of the palace guards and right under the noses of those Legendary powerhouses? After succeeding, how did he quickly calm the situation, intimidate all potential opponents—especially those Legendary powerhouses who supported the First Prince—and smoothly ascend the throne without triggering a large-scale civil war?"
A series of questions swirled in Garros's mind.
He thought for a moment and asked: "What role did Crystal Princess Elena play in this?"
Iron Dragon Sorog's mental response carried a hint of caution: "Gorton stated that at the bloody moment of the coup, Crystal Princess Elena was not at the palace, so she does not know the core and specific details of the assassination process. However..."
Solrog conveyed the information: "...She has always had a relatively close relationship with the Second Prince."
"When she was very young, she frequently expressed admiration for this brother who could fight for the country on the front lines, and even revealed to Gorton her envy of the Second Prince's military career."
"After the usurpation, she was also one of the first royal family members to clearly express support for the Second Prince's succession."
The Iron Dragon continued: "After the fiery new King ascended the throne, in the name of being a descendant of the Holy King and maintaining the Federation's unity and stability, he simultaneously declared total war on the Kingdom of Ripos. The original proxy war has escalated into a war between kingdoms."
"During this period, our trade cooperation with Crystal Princess Elena has not been interrupted; on the contrary, it has become more frequent and urgent since Gorton woke up. She has contacted us multiple times through Gorton, promising more generous rewards than before, wishing to commission The Dragon Flight to launch attacks on the Kingdom of Ripos's logistical strongholds and various other camps established in the wilderness."
The voice paused, and the Iron Dragon said: "However, considering you had not yet awakened and The Dragon Flight lacked a unified core will, I had Gorton politely decline these commissions on the grounds that the core members of The Dragon Flight were all in a period of slumber."
Garros narrowed his eyes, a sharp light flashing in his dragon pupils.
"Next time she proposes similar commissions, we can accept."
He made his decision.
Currently, the environment of The Borderlands has deteriorated and resources are scarce; the Federation's control over the wilderness has dropped to freezing point; plus, he himself has awakened.
The time has come.
The Molten Iron Tribe's march and expansion into the Serel Wilderness is about to officially begin!
The Red-Iron Dragon's gaze reflected the firelight of the banquet, and he also seemed to see the Serel Wilderness about to burn.
"There is one more thing." Solrog changed the subject.
"Nick requests an audience."
Nick, that once down-and-out, humble little merchant, is now an important subordinate who controls a massive Gem Merchant Guild and plays a crucial role in the development of the Molten Iron Tribe.
"The lives of Mortals are, after all, too fleeting."
Garros thought of this old servant: "He has no professional Aptitude, he is just an ordinary person, and he is nearing the end of his life."
He remembered the promise he once made to Nick.
When the other party possessed the determination of 'Living Toward Death' and was willing to stake everything, he would grant them the opportunity to undergo a Dragonblood Transformation, extending their life and loyalty.
However, the risks of Dragonblood Transformation are extremely high, and a realistic problem has emerged.
"Once Nick passes away, the Gem Merchant Guild he built with his own hands will likely face turmoil and a power vacuum."
"He is a rare, intelligent person who understands how to judge the situation, and his loyalty has been tested."
"But what about his successor? I cannot guarantee that his successor will be as intelligent, as loyal, and as capable of understanding my will as he is, continuing to serve me and work for me efficiently."
Garros silently weighed the pros and cons in his heart.
After thinking about it, he looked towards a corner of the bustling banquet.
The two massive heads of Green Dragon Ludwig and Black Dragon Serafina were huddled together, like whispering conspirators.
Although the banquet scene was noisy and boisterous, and their voices were kept extremely low, Garros still caught some fragmented words.
"White Scale" "Four against one" "Must take revenge" "Wipe away the shame" "Insult"
There was no need to listen any further; combined with the past encounters of the two Young Dragons and the excited gleam in their eyes, Garros instantly grasped their conspiratorial thoughts.
Obviously.
As they gradually grew and their ecological niche steadily improved, and the gap with the white dragon narrowed, these Young Dragons were no longer willing to continue enduring the humiliation and suppression of the adult White Dragon Tereshi, and were secretly planning a revenge operation of subordinates rising against their superior.
As for the center of the storm.
What was the adult White Dragon Tereshi doing?
Her massive, snow-white body was comfortably lying on a small hill made of frozen meat and ice. Her huge left claw was grabbing a piece of frozen ibex larger than her dragon head, while her right claw was holding a barrel of mead, drinking with great delight, all while having a little white dragon massage her claws.
She seemed completely oblivious to the Young Dragons' plan, completely immersed in the joyful atmosphere of the banquet.