"The power of my Wing Slash at full speed is formidable—I'm not even certain my own defenses could withstand it."
Galos thought silently to himself.
The armor on the Earth Bear, though rocky in texture, was even harder than typical metal and steel. Especially the armor on its arms, which was the thickest; its fur, flesh, and bones were anything but fragile.
But even so, Galos's Dragon Wings still sliced through it in a single strike.
Throughout that brief moment, he barely felt any resistance or slowing down.
His body traced an arc at low altitude, and Galos's sharp claws gouged long fissures into the ground, steadying himself at the other end. In the next moment, he crouched slightly, the muscle fibers beneath his Dragon Scale coiling like steel cables, exploding with tremendous strength.
Dragon Wings accelerated, cutting through the air.
Galos charged across the ground, crushing the earth with every step. His Dragon Wing Blade hacked down trees along the way; the commotion was nothing like a Young Dragon's, as he surged toward the Earth Bear for another kill.
This battle was mainly to test the current strength of his Dragon Wings.
As for dangerous skills like the Desolate Dragon Crash, Galos was already quite adept at using them.
Agonizing pain radiated from the broken arm. Faced with the unstoppable Long Wei of the Dragon Race, the wild brutality in the Earth Bear's bones evaporated. No roars or screams came from its mouth, only a whimper.
Then...
Just as Galos was dashing at full speed, about to try slicing the Earth Bear in two with his Dragon Wings, he was stunned to see the Earth Bear, after whimpering, suddenly grovel, five limbs sprawled to the ground, trembling in surrender, its butt sticking up, head pressed low, practically burying itself in the dirt.
Whoosh!
The Young Dragon, nearly colliding with the Earth Bear, suddenly veered upward.
Galos soared straight up, looped in the air, then landed smoothly, opting not to kill the Earth Bear.
The gale ceased and the oppressive aura of Long Wei faded.
The Earth Bear cautiously raised its head, watching as the Young Dragon approached step by step.
"Ooah, oolah!"
It whimpered, eyes showing a very human-like mix of flattery and fear.
Demons are intelligent; Earth Bears, especially, possess not inferior intellect to Humans, categorizing them as intelligent creatures. They're born knowing a bit of the Giant language.
Giants are the nemesis of the Dragon Race.
As the saying goes, your enemy understands you best.
The Dragon's Legacy contained Giant language, so Galos could understand.
Noble Giant Dragon, please spare me—more or less the gist of what the Earth Bear just said.
"The Legacy says Earth Bears are fearless, even facing Dragons, they dare attack fiercely. I don't know about others, but this Earth Bear doesn't seem to match the description. Maybe the Dragon's Legacy shouldn't be taken as gospel."
Galos gazed at the Earth Bear, mulling it over.
"But the fight ended too quickly, I didn't get a complete sense of my Dragon Wings' strength yet."
Slightly narrowing his gaze, the Dragon Eyes of Galos flashed dangerous intent.
The Earth Bear caught this instantly, burying itself deeper into the soil like an ostrich, its body trembling, basically meaning: kill me if you wish, I won't look or resist.
Faced with this display, Galos's urge to kill faded.
He still lacked any Followers serving him—maybe he could tame this Earth Bear.
Stepping forward.
Galos reached out, lightly patting the Earth Bear's head with his claw.
The other trembled with fright, then looked up to meet Galos's calm, unreadable gaze.
"Choose submission, and I'll give you a chance to live."
Galos spoke in slightly awkward Giant tongue.
"It is my honor."
The Earth Bear nodded eagerly, chick-pecking at grain, accepting without hesitation.
Galos's overwhelming strength had shaken it.
Earth Bears living alone in the wild aren't ignorant. While it couldn't pinpoint what kind of Dragon Race Galos was, judging from his size, Galos must only be a Young Dragon. That's why the Earth Bear started out bravely, showing no fear—yet in the first clash, it lost a bear arm. A few more strikes, and it knew it was dead meat.
After a brief exchange, Galos learned the Earth Bear's name—Möbel, a male Earth Bear.
Having saved its own skin, the Earth Bear picked up its severed arm and pressed it against the wound.
A swirl of earthy-yellow energy wrapped around, temporarily fusing and reattaching the limb.
The Earth Bear's regeneration was strong; with some rest, the bear arm would be usable again.
"Are there any demons around here on your level, or stronger? I'm not done testing."
Galos asked the Earth Bear.
The Earth Bear nodded and gestured south with a paw.
"There's a Red Phosphorus Python entrenched in that direction. I've fought it many times; we're evenly matched."
As it spoke, a glint of sly glee flashed in the Earth Bear's eyes—a touch of schadenfreude.
The Red Phosphorus Python was its mortal enemy. The two had fought often over territory and resources—many of the old wounds on the Earth Bear were left by the Red-Scaled Python.
"Lead the way."
Galos took off at once.
The Earth Bear set off at a brisk pace south, and thanks to its guidance, Galos quickly discovered the Red-Scaled Python's nest.
It was coiled atop a giant cedar, its girth matching the trunk, its snake scales blazing red.
Its Life Level was also 8, same as the Earth Bear.
The difference was, the Red-Scaled Python was a Fierce Beast—hardly any intelligence.
Target locked, the Young Dragon in the hundred-meter-high sky tensed every muscle, spread his blade-like wings to their full extent, and dove in a roaring attack toward the Red-Scaled Python.
In less than a minute...
As the Dragon Wings swept by, the massive head of the Red Phosphorus Python shot skyward, a rain of blood splattering, landing on Galos and making him look even more fierce.
"Even Level 8 Fierce Beast Demons can't last long against me."
Galos flicked his Dragon Wings, shaking off the blood.
Despite fighting above his level with such ease, his heart wasn't filled with arrogance—the Dragon Race are apex demons, so this was only natural.
Life Level is just a reference; it can't truly measure combat prowess.
Galos reminded himself that arrogance and pride are the root sins that get Dragons killed—never lose yourself just because you're strong for a moment.
Besides, he couldn't truly be considered strong. In this wilderness, he's only just developed some self-defense—wanting to act without restraint was still a long way off.
To say nothing of Iron Dragon Lady—just a few hits from her and she's got him flattened.
And Iron Dragon Lady, a fully grown Giant Dragon, isn't even overlord of Sel Wilderness.
After a short while, Galos told the Earth Bear to stay put in this area. He didn't bring it along, instead returning alone to the Celestial Pit Territory.
The reason was simple.
With Iron Dragon Lady's temperament, she'd never allow an uncontrollable Earth Bear in her territory—she'd just enslave it outright, since Galos hadn't used Dragon Vein Transformation on it.
Dragon Vein Transformation—the Dragon Race bestows its own blood upon another creature, transforming it into a Dragon Vein Creature loyal from the heart.
Compared to Followers, Galos cared more for himself; he was still a Young Dragon, at a stage of rapid growth. Giving away his blood would slow his own progress, and he wouldn't risk that for a Follower.
The Earth Bear, lacking Dragon Vein Transformation.
Its verbal submission wasn't reliable; it could ignore Galos and run at any time.
However...
Survival in the wild is tough, dangers everywhere—even Galos had to be careful. Demons like the Earth Bear wouldn't leave their familiar territory unless desperate.
If it actually fled, it didn't matter.
For Galos, taming Followers was just a convenience; he didn't really care. If they met again, he might kill it, otherwise he wouldn't give it another thought.
Besides...
On one side, there's the perilous wilderness, a life of hardship and fleeing; on the other, a strong Dragon Race as backing, brimming with potential.
With the Earth Bear's intellect, it knew which choice to make.
When Galos returned to the Celestial Pit Territory, daylight still lingered, the sun radiating its usual intense heat.
"Galos, Mother wants us to gather at her Dragon's Nest."
Just after landing at the cliff's edge, two hatchlings came up to Galos—or more accurately, two Young Dragons.
After a year, Red Dragon Sister and Iron Dragon Brother had grown a size larger, their age reaching the Young Dragon stage.
"All three of us called together? That hasn't happened in a long time—I wonder what Mother wants to tell us."
Red Dragon Sister blinked, looking curious.
"Hehe, maybe Mother's prepared a feast of fresh blood for us to enjoy together."
Iron Dragon Brother tilted his head, guessing cheerfully.
You idiots, have you already forgotten what happened to me last year?
Galos shook his head ever so slightly.
He stayed silent, flying off toward Iron Dragon Lady's Dragon's Nest. The two Young Dragons followed him excitedly, all heading off together.