Garros's gaze was sharp as he gazed at the Blue Dragon before him.
To be honest, even with his weathered experience, he completely hadn't expected the other party to throw out such an unexpected request upon their first meeting.
Patricide?
Among the generally Chaotic Evil Chromatic Dragon lineage, the Blue Dragon is the relatively most Law-abiding branch that places the highest emphasis on social structure.
They live together in communities, and their internal bonds of affection are tighter than other solitary or loosely related Chromatic Dragons.
If it were in a different timeline,
Gorthax was a Blue Dragon, and Garros was a Blue-Iron Dragon.
The relationship and developmental trajectory between this pair of father and son might differ greatly from the cruel reality.
"Give me a reason that can convince me."
"Why commit patricide? What is your motivation?"
Garros's voice was steady and waveless, revealing neither joy nor anger, but his pair of dragon pupils contracted slightly, revealing his inner seriousness.
Blue Dragon Zolaya fell into a brief silence, weighing her wording internally.
Finally, under the Red-Iron Dragon's gaze, she slowly opened her mouth, her voice low and clear as she said: "In order to be able to survive."
She first gave a most direct generalization.
Afterwards, her words paused slightly, and she began a more detailed explanation.
"With your sharp vision, you can definitely tell that my horns are completely different from normal Blue Dragons."
Garros's gaze shifted to the very distinctive pair of horns on her head.
That structure with its many gorgeous and complex forks truly could not find any precedent recorded in his dragon heritage memory.
Unique and eye-catching.
"Although Blue Dragon blood flows within my body, and I am a pure-blood Blue Dragon, in reality, my mother is not a Blue Dragon."
Zolaya's voice became a bit lower as she said: "These extraordinary horns of mine stem from a special mutation produced by crossbreeding."
She raised her head, meeting Garros's gaze.
"My mother was a vicious and sinister, yet outstanding Green Dragon."
Zolaya continued: "She was extremely adept at camouflage and bluffing, scheming and calculating. She was the publicly acknowledged companion of the leader—that is, my father, Perest—and also the universally recognized strategist of the Dominic Dragon Flight."
"Many of the Dominic Dragon Flight's major and minor affairs and external strategies came from her scheming."
"She herself was also extremely powerful, enjoying extremely high prestige within The Dragon Flight."
"That was during a fierce battle between The Dragon Flight and the Storm Giant clan, when we held a combat meeting to decide the next step of action strategy."
Zolaya's tone was straightforward as she said: "At that meeting, my father vetoed the combat strategy proposed by my mother, turning instead to propose his own set of plans. No Dragon dared to question him."
"However, in the end, my father's strategy ended in a miserable failure, bringing no small losses to The Dragon Flight."
"Afterwards, the Dragons reviewed it in private, generally believing that if my mother's strategy had been executed at the time, the result would have been completely different, and might even have been a crushing victory."
"Ever since then, the members of The Dragon Flight privately harbored much dissatisfaction and doubt toward my father's leadership."
"On the contrary, my mother's prestige grew day by day."
Hearing this, combined with Zolaya's request for patricide, Garros roughly outlined the contour of subsequent developments in his heart.
But he did not interrupt, simply continuing to remain as a silent listener.
"Regarding the waxing and waning changes in prestige between the two, my father back then acted abnormally magnanimous, even one could say open-minded," Zolaya said. "He once publicly stated in front of all core members that sooner or later he would abdicate in favor of someone more capable, believing that my mother was more suited than himself to lead The Dragon Flight, and in the future would cede the leader's position to her."
Her voice paused once more, dropping a few notes lower.
"However, shortly afterwards, my father and mother joined forces to go and intercept a lone Storm Giant. This should have been a surefire, risk-free mission, but in the end a fatal mishap occurred—only my father returned alone."
"His explanation was that before dying, that Storm Giant erupted with unexpected strength."
"My mother was killed by surprise."
"Because he sensed other Storm Giant reinforcements rapidly approaching, he couldn't attend to my mother's corpse and could only evacuate alone."
This rhetoric sounded like an accident full of regret.
A Green Dragon's power was reflected more in her endless Spell-like Abilities and virulent poison; her own physical fitness and defense capabilities were at the bottom among Chromatic Dragons, inferior even to White Dragons.
In a fierce battle, being killed by a dying opponent's counterattack due to a momentary lapse in concentration was logically speaking entirely possible.
However, thinking in reverse, another possibility could not be completely ruled out either.
Heart of Thunder Perest, out of fear regarding his damaged prestige, executed this murder targeting his companion.
"I believe it was my father who murdered my mother."
Zolaya said with a definite tone, without too much sorrow in her eyes.
The Red-Iron Dragon narrowed his eyes with a scrutinizing expression, asking: "With a Green Dragon's sense for intrigues and sharp perception of danger, could she not sense the killing intent a Blue Dragon harbored toward her?"
Hearing this, Zolaya shook her head covered in sky-blue fine scales.
"Perhaps because they grew up together and had countless times gone through life and death together, fighting side by side."
"My mother schemed countless times in her life, but her only weakness lay in trusting her companion too much, ignoring the cold-blooded essence hidden beneath his rational exterior, and ultimately paying the price of her life for it."
Zolaya let out a short, icy sneer: "And I see it very clearly, very thoroughly."
"My father, Perest Dominic, is a creature with almost no superfluous emotions."
"All of his actions place his own interests first; he is an Evil Dragon completely supreme in self-interest. Emotions, promises, blood ties... in his eyes, they are nothing more than chips and obstacles available for utilization or needing to be cleared away."
Right at this moment, Red-Silver Dragon Deborah, who had all along collapsed by Garros's feet, reluctantly propped up her upper body with her forelimbs.
Touched by this ruthless narrative, she couldn't help interrupting to ask: "So, it's because you want to avenge your mother that you gave birth to this kind of thought?"
Her voice still carried the post-exercise weakness, but more than that was doubt.
Blue Dragon Zolaya glanced doubtfully at this crossbreed Metallic Dragon, then looked back toward the Red-Iron Dragon.
She originally thought this Metallic Dragon was the King of Molten Iron's prisoner or trophy, but looking at it now, the relationship between the two didn't seem quite so simple.
Observing that the Red-Iron Dragon did not show displeasure at this, she turned her head back and said to the Red-Silver Dragon: "Metallic Dragon, please don't always use your set of standards full of warmth and morality to guess the thoughts of us Evil Dragons."
"Regarding my mother's death itself, I don't care too much about it."
"She blindly trusted my father, and at the same time her existence truly threatened my father's ruling position, yet she didn't realize this. From the survival Law of Evil Dragons, her being eliminated is a natural and proper result."
"I recounted matters concerning my mother," she refocused her gaze back onto Garros: "mainly so that you, the esteemed King of Molten Iron, can understand more clearly what kind of cold-blooded and merciless Dragon my father truly is."
"This will help you judge whether my request is worth considering."
Red-Silver Dragon Deborah opened her mouth, seeming to still want to say something, but in the end all words turned into a sigh.
She originally still held a shred of fantasy, thinking that Blue Dragons, known for their order and Family concepts, might be somewhat different from other Chromatic Dragons.
But looking at it now, she had thought too naively.
The internal struggles within the Blue Dragon Clan were likewise cruel and dangerous.
Zolaya paid no mind to the Metallic Dragon's reaction, continuing to explain to Garros: "My father, before he entered his Mature Adult Dragon slumber this time, personally promised me that when my future strength surpasses his, he will actively cede the leader's position to me, and told me to wait patiently."
She sneered: "Heh, similar words he also said to my mother back then."
"Previously, The Dragon Flight was right at the critical period of coming to the wilderness to expand territory, and when he slumbered, The Dragon Flight needed management. I still had no small utilization value to him, so he didn't do anything to me. On the contrary, he trusted and relied heavily on me, viewing me as his right-hand man."
Zolaya paused, saying earnestly: "However, he has now awakened."
"When he no longer needs me, or feels that I pose a threat to him, I'm afraid I'll follow in my mother's footsteps and die inexplicably in some accident."
"I put on an appearance of awe and submission in front of him, just so that at the right moment, I can strike him dead first!"
She raised her head and looked intently at the Red-Iron Dragon: "There are rumors in the wilderness that the Mad King Gorthax is your biological father. Although unverified, I believe the truth of this rumor is very high."
"As a dragon capable of coldly killing his own father, I believe you will definitely understand my thoughts and current predicament."
Garros: "..."
His dragon face seemed to twitch slightly, feeling offended.
But the facts were right there. No matter the reason, there was nothing to explain. Had it not been for the influence of the Frenzied Flame, he wouldn't have cared about the Blue Dragon's rhetoric at all.
He suppressed the urge to go mad.
He stared at the Blue Dragon Zolaya and asked: "Is your reason simply to survive?"
Just for survival, she actually didn't need to choose the patricidal path with extremely high difficulty and risk.
As a formidable Mature Adult Dragon, after seeing her father's true face, she completely had the opportunity to choose to flee The Dragon Flight, fly far away, and get out of Perest's control.
Zolaya calmly said: "Besides that, it is naturally also for a bit of unwillingness and ambition deep in my heart."
"My father once said half-jokingly in a conversation that with my talent and personality, when I become stronger than him, I will inevitably challenge his rule and seize the position of leader."
"And my answer at that time was: Impossible, I will forever awe and respect him, and remain content in the position of assistant."
"Father was very satisfied with my answer."
She grinned and said: "However, my father... he actually didn't misjudge me."
"He merely underestimated that part of the Green Dragon Bloodline I inherited from my mother. Although it is not exposed, it makes me better understand how to hide my fangs and better at long-term forbearance."
"I have coveted the position of leader of The Dragon Flight for a long time."
"Becoming a Dragon Lord and ruling a region is the dream of the vast majority of Blue Dragons, which also includes me, Zolaya Dominic."
The Red-Iron Dragon gazed at Zolaya.
After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly grinned and said: "Then, tell me, Blue Dragon."
"To achieve your ambition, what kind of price can you pay for it?"
Zolaya took a deep breath and said seriously: "As long as you agree that after I become the leader of the Dominic Dragon Flight, the entire Dominic Dragon Flight will become your, the King of Molten Iron's, most steadfast and loyal ally."
"Our strength will be at your disposal!"
Hearing this, Garros only shook his head slightly: "Perhaps, I have an even simpler and more direct choice."
"For instance, packaging you together with your patricidal declaration and sending them to your father, using this as a bargaining chip in exchange for clearing up past hostility with the Dominic Dragon Flight, and even forming an alliance."
He said unhurriedly: "Your father is stronger than you, more experienced, and has ruled The Dragon Flight for a longer time. He obviously carries more weight than you."
Zolaya's heart suddenly tightened, but the calm nature originating from the Blue Dragon and the scheming inherited from the Green Dragon forced her to calm down in a very short time.
She quickly realized that this was very likely the King of Molten Iron testing her determination and observing her reaction.
She quickly deliberated for a few seconds, organized her language, and then replied: "You are right, my father is indeed stronger than me, but precisely because he is so strong, you cannot completely suppress him, let alone truly control him."
"He only trusts himself."
"He might agree to ally with you for immediate benefits, but it would just be to buy time, to better find your weaknesses, and wait for an opportunity to act."
"An alliance with him is doomed to be filled with uncertainty and potential danger."
"You need to guard against him forever."
Her tone changed, pulling the focus back onto herself: "Whereas I am completely different."
"To you, I am weak enough that you can easily control me, and even take my life at any time. I have a clear understanding of this and am willing to accept it."
"Therefore, the alliance between us will not be based on false equality, but rather a stable superior-subordinate relationship similar to that of a vassal."
She lowered her body slightly and emphasized: "I, Zolaya, am willing to submit beneath you and obey your commands."
As she spoke, the Blue Dragon gracefully stretched her exquisitely curved body, slightly raised her head, and fully exposed her unique and exceptionally gorgeous dragon horns in front of Garros.
"Beyond the value brought by the identity of leader of The Dragon Flight, I myself... will also belong to you."
Her voice took on a subtle tenderness as she said: "Before meeting you, I had never encountered any male dragon that could make me feel so conquered and so amazed."
"I can become your partner, or even a plaything solely for your amusement, until you grow tired of me."
"To be able to serve a powerhouse like you, this will be my honor."
Hearing her words, the Red-Silver Dragon Deborah on the side suddenly stood up completely as if her tail had been stepped on.
"You! You... You shameless Evil Dragon!"
Although her body was still aching, she was so angry that her scales bristled slightly, and she reproachfully rebuked: "Garros hasn't even officially reached adulthood yet! Damn Evil Dragon, take back all those shameless words you just said! Immediately!"
Not yet an adult?!
Zolaya turned a deaf ear to the Red-Silver Dragon's insults, instead capturing the piece of information that shocked her the most.
The actual age of the King of Molten Iron seemed to completely mismatch his majestic appearance!
"Could that rumor, which sounded the most outrageous and incredible, actually be true?!"
Her dragon eyes were filled with disbelief, her gaze focusing once again on Garros's body.
Zolaya truly couldn't suppress the surging emotions in her heart, and couldn't help but speak up to ask: "Respected King of Molten Iron, please forgive my presumption, are you... are you really just a Young Adult Dragon?"
"So what if I am?"
Garros neither admitted nor denied it, but the tone and attitude of the counter-question were almost equivalent to tacit consent.
Zolaya took some time to calm her shocked mood.
Her gaze involuntarily swept once again over the Red-Iron Dragon's robust body, every inch of which was filled with explosive power, and she muttered: "Sorry, please forgive my overreaction; you are simply too surprising to me."
Metallic Dragons generally believe that they need to wait until after adulthood before considering reproduction and partner matters.
Evil Dragons don't think that way.
In the eyes of Evil Dragons, age is never the key issue.
On the contrary, Garros being so young yet so strong, and the potential and infinite future represented behind this, caused the Blue Dragon Zolaya to feel an even stronger surge of excitement in her heart amidst her shock.
Her slender tail bent slightly, and her neck raised gracefully, displaying her charm as a female dragon.
"Then, what do you think of my proposal just now?"
"As long as you nod in agreement, I, Zolaya, will be yours from this moment on, and to some extent, the entire Dominic Dragon Flight will surely be at your disposal in the future."
She looked expectantly at the Red-Iron Dragon.
However, the Red-Iron Dragon's subsequent words instantly doused the eagerness in her eyes, causing her heart to sink.
"You seem to have gotten one thing wrong."
The Red-Iron Dragon slowly said: "If the Heart of Thunder can be killed, the entire Dominic Dragon Flight will belong to me, and that includes you."
His voice wasn't loud, but it made Zolaya's whole body tense up.
His body leaned forward slightly, and those bloodshot eyes, with raging waves hidden beneath calmness, locked onto the Blue Dragon.
"What makes you think you have the capital to negotiate with me?"
"And what makes you think I would trust the words of someone attempting patricide?"
At this instant, an overwhelming sense of oppression rushed towards her.
The figure of the Red-Iron Dragon in front of her became infinitely lofty and terrifying, as if filling the entire field of vision of the Blue Dragon Zolaya.
Her Mature Adult Dragon body trembled slightly out of control, and she opened her mouth, only to find her throat dry, momentarily speechless, not knowing how to reply.