Bernardo is the name of the planet beneath Galos' feet.
On this planet, magic culture is highly developed, and every nation is sparing no effort in advancing magic technology.
The more advanced countries have even used Magic Engines to create interstellar spaceships, exploring the universe and other planets to harvest cosmic resources.
"The Dragon Race is almost the most supreme creature, but in this world, even they can't call themselves invincible."
Galos blinked as he gazed at the artificial moon in the sky.
In the heritage records, it's mentioned that a certain Ancient Blue Dragon known as 'Gale Wings' once devastated and destroyed several cities of the Nausir Elf Empire, and was hunted and chased for ages by Nausir.
In the end, Nausir used a city as bait and trapped Gale Wings with a Magic Array.
The artificial moon descended with beams of utter destruction, killing Gale Wings.
"Besides, other species on Bernardo Planet have a bad impression of Five-Colored Dragons and Iron Dragons. If they're discovered, they'll immediately prepare to hunt them down."
The Dragon Race has many classifications.
For example, the most common types are Five-Colored Dragon, Metal Dragon, Gemstone Dragon, and then Iron Dragon.
Five-Colored Dragons are regarded as Evil Dragons because of their inherently wicked nature and tendency for chaos and destruction; Iron Dragons are seen as the 'mad dogs' among Dragons, attacking even their own kind, let alone other species.
"I'm a Mixed-blood Dragon of both Five-Colored and Iron Dragon lineage, specifically a Red Dragon and Iron Dragon hybrid. I'm likely considered the evilest of the Evil Dragons—a naturally wicked Dragon bad seed, terrifying indeed, definitely can't be kept alive."
He plopped down by the lakeside.
The Young Dragon's tail dipped into the water, swinging back and forth.
Moonlight shone on Galos, as he felt his tail drifting in the water. Occasionally, tiny fish would come clear away grass and debris, giving him a pleasant sensation; at the same time, he pondered silently.
"Better train more and keep strengthening myself."
"If I'm strong enough, I'll have more confidence facing any dangers that might come."
This new dragon life has only just begun; Galos hopes to live as long as possible, unlike his past life, when fortune struck at the prime age of eighteen.
"Set a small goal first; live to a hundred."
"Wait, that's wrong. Dragons only come of age at a hundred. Guess I'll hope to live a thousand years instead."
Galos leaned backward.
The Young Dragon's body crashed through the water's surface, splashing countless crystalline droplets in the moonlight. He dove to the deepest part of the lake, enduring the heavy water pressure, not breathing.
——Actually, the Dragon Race can breathe underwater too.
Galos was just trying to train his cardiopulmonary fitness and affinity for water elements.
Thanks to daily rigorous training, his heart and lungs are much stronger than ordinary Dragons; the intensity and duration of his Dragon Breath both surpass normal Young Dragons.
Also, both Iron Dragon and Red Dragon are Fire Dragons and don't like water.
As a Mixed-blood, Galos is no different—a classic Fire Dragon.
Attacks of water or ice attributes would deal double damage to him.
The best way to overcome fear is to face it.
Just in case one day he faces attacks that counter his attribute, Galos started forcing himself to soak in water for desensitization and adaptation, despite hating it, a few years ago.
Now, his instinctive aversion to water has completely disappeared.
Though he's never really encountered a water-type attack and can't confirm his affinity for water elements, Galos feels at least he won't take double damage anymore.
Suddenly.
A subtle current rippled behind him.
A shadow darted toward Galos, launching an attack.
Galos keenly picked up on the water's movement, and before the attack landed, he turned his body, raised a Dragon Claw, and slapped hard.
Bang!
A black Dragon Claw and Galos' fiery red Dragon Claw collided, stirring up a vortex underwater.
The fiery red Dragon Claw gripped Galos' claw tightly, trying to wrestle with him.
However.
Galos possessed astonishing power; the strong muscles beneath his Dragon Scale bulged, pushing his Scale Armor higher. His claws pressed inch by inch over the fiery red Dragon Claw, forcing it to retreat.
The wrestling match lost.
The owner of the fiery red claw withdrew it, locked Galos in her red Dragon Eyes, and said with a crisp, annoyed voice, "Galos, you damn mixed-blood, I'll beat you some day!"
The hatchling Samantha, Galos' biological Dragon Sister, a pureblood Red Dragon.
In the Dragon Race, mixed blood is rare due to dominant Dragon bloodlines, which are hard to merge.
For example, when a Red Dragon and Iron Dragon breed, you're most likely to get pureblood Red or Iron Dragons; the offspring usually inherit one parent's bloodline. Hybrids like Galos, who can fuse Red Iron Blood, are extremely rare.
Smack!
Galos slapped Samantha, the Red Hatchling, on the head.
"When you're dealing with a stronger Dragon, watch your tone and word choice."
This smack sent her head lolling sideways, almost knocking her whole body aside; Galos didn't go easy.
Among Dragons, especially Evil Dragons, power speaks. Only strength wins respect from other Evil Dragons, and Galos was used to communicating this way.
The Red Dragon Sister hatched a year after Galos.
Back then, Galos found his Dragon Sister chubby and round, looking adorable and honest, inviting affection. He tore off a piece of his food to feed her.
Result.
She saw Galos as weak, pushed her luck, let her Evil Dragon instincts out, and demanded all his food. The Iron Dragon Brother, who hatched around the same time, also thought Galos was weak, teaming up with Red Dragon Sister to extort Galos' food.
After Galos refused, the two actually went straight for his food with their claws.
Galos pinned them to the ground and gave them a good thrashing, knocking out a few of their teeth before they dared behave themselves.
As a Mixed-blood Dragon, Galos is naturally tougher than ordinary Red Dragons or Iron Dragons—let alone the fact he's a year older.
Meanwhile.
Red Dragon Sister, who just took a claw to the head, grinned and bared her teeth, wanting to fight back, but seeing Galos' fierce glare, wisely swallowed her urge.
Red Dragons worship violence and love solving problems that way.
But when their violence is weaker than their opponent's, they know how to bide their time, waiting to surpass the other and then exact savage revenge.
Plus, she's had no shortage of beatings from Galos over the years and knows her Brother Long never holds back.
"My dear brother."
Red Dragon Sister gave in and said, "Mother asked you to come to the Dragon's Nest."
After stating her purpose for seeking out Galos, she muttered under her breath, "Always soaking in water. You're so weird. Makes me have to get in, too."
Red Dragon Sister was thoroughly uncomfortable in the water, her dragon face full of disgust.
She twisted her tail and waist, floated upward quickly, leaving the lake ahead of Galos.
Galos took his time, flapping his wings underwater. Then, breaking through the surface, he soared skyward and soon overtook Red Dragon Sister, heading for the Dragon's Nest.
The Dragon's Nest—it sits on the cliff wall east of the sinkhole.
From the outside, it looks like a rugged, primitive cave.
Moonlight doesn't reach into the Dragon's Nest, but inside, the stone walls are plated with a strange metal, some areas shining bright, so it's not dark.
Galos folded his wings, crossed his limbs, and strode across the metallic floor, heading deeper inside.
The further he went, the more metal there was.
Clusters of metal blossomed like flowers from the stone walls, the ground dotted with angular metal pillars.
Finally, when Galos reached the deepest part of the cave, his view opened up—he arrived in a vast 'void'.
This Dragon's Nest core was not a crude cave as most would expect.
The surrounding floor and stone walls were covered with a layer of soft yet tough metal, its texture akin to mercury, surface laced with rust-colored ripples.
To the north stood a thirty-meter-high stepped metal platform; at its peak was the Iron Dragon Lady's exclusive throne.
——It was forged from countless swords and halberds; the weapons of the vanquished solidified into steps, every level engraved with Dragon Language runes.
Galos looked up.
On the throne sat a giant twenty meters long; even her breath stirred the air like a howling gale—a true Giant Dragon.
PS: Please follow, new books rely most on reader retention in early stages; this determines all later recommendations. Pleeeease.