Translator: AnubisTL
A typical human legendary might live for two to three centuries. Those with the means could extend their lifespans through various light or dark arts, but even then, they rarely exceeded five or six centuries, and their power would inevitably wane with age.
Dragons, however, were a different story.
Once a dragon achieved legendary status, its already long lifespan would surge by at least another millennium. After that, they would remain at their peak forever. In fact, a legendary Twilight Dragon was at its most formidable during its twilight years, a being no one dared provoke.
Currently, the major empires treated the Metallic Dragon Clan with utmost respect and refrained from completely exterminating evil dragons, largely due to their fear of the twenty-four-winged golden dragon in its twilight state.
In its twilight, a dragon teetered on the brink of death, yet its physical functions were at their absolute peak.
These terrifying buffs stacked to an overwhelming degree.
Even if the twilight golden dragon didn't attack, its mere presence circling over a nation's territory would send shivers down spines, each nation fearing the ancient dragon might drag them into mutual annihilation.
"Only legendaries are truly powerful."
"To a legendary being, all battles below that level are mere squabbles, petty skirmishes."
Garos set himself a goal: "To become legendary within five hundred years."
This target wasn't ambitious; in fact, it could be considered quite modest.
Like the gold dragons Garos often compared himself to, achieving legendary status by age five hundred posed a challenge, but it wasn't insurmountable. Exceptional gold dragons typically reached this milestone well before their five-hundredth year.
Garos preferred setting realistic, achievable goals.
He found a sense of accomplishment in surpassing them ahead of schedule.
Had he aimed for legendary status within a century and failed, he wouldn't have been discouraged, but he would have felt a lingering sense of disappointment.
Garos took a deep breath, his body erupting with dazzling golden lightning as he entered his frenzy state.
Even lying motionless in this state stimulated and strengthened his body.
He calmly coiled amidst the wind and rain, silently savoring the electric sting in his muscles while continuing to eavesdrop on Frostfang and Nick's conversation.
It's worth noting that the old shaman of the Graymane Werewolf Tribe had passed away naturally two years prior.
After the werewolves held a funeral to honor him, Frostfang inherited his legacy, stepping into his role to continue serving Garos.
After sharing all he knew about the Permafrost Tundra, Nick produced waterproof paper and a pen, meticulously recording Frostfang's requests one by one. He checked the list several times to ensure nothing was missed before carefully stowing it away.
Having agreed on the time for their next transaction, the merchant caravan's troll slaves began loading the goods onto the wagons.
Nick stood inside the tent, watching the scene unfold, while Frostfang prepared to depart with her tribe.
Just as she reached the tent flap, Nick suddenly called out, "Wait."
The werewolf sorcerer paused, turning to face him. "What is it?" she asked.
Nick's smile remained unchanged as he lowered his voice. "During our next transaction, I wish to meet the overlord personally to express my loyalty and reverence. That overlord has given me a new life, and I am eternally grateful."
The "overlord" he referred to was clearly the hidden leader of the Ironforged Clan.
Of course, Nick didn't know the clan's name.
Their transactions only occurred along the trade route, and Nick's understanding of the Ironforged Clan was only slightly deeper than that of other merchants. He knew the monsters of the Scaly Earth Rift Road served the same lord, but he was unaware that these monster clans had been unified.
Upon hearing Nick's words, Frostfang's gaze abruptly shifted, becoming cold and dangerous.
Over the past few years, many merchants had attempted to uncover Garos's identity, only to vanish without a trace. Frostfang, the sorcerer, had been primarily responsible for handling such matters.
However, Nick was different from those merchants.
Suppressing her murderous intent, Frostfang said slowly, "I cannot make this decision myself. I can only relay your request. You will be notified via message stone once a response is received."
Nick nodded eagerly, his face splitting into a servile smile.
"Thank you, thank you so much."
He pulled out a magic gem and pressed it into Frostfang's clawed hand, whispering, "This is a small token of my gratitude. Please accept it."
Frostfang took the gem, then gradually disappeared into the rain with her tribe.
After a brief reorganization, the caravan resumed its journey, gradually receding into the distance along the Scaly Earth Rift Road.
Ten minutes later, the iron dragon Solgorn descended from the sky, its massive wings shielding the rain as it landed before the werewolves who had yet to return to their territory.
It had been watching the area the entire time, just in case.
"Noble Iron King, please accept this gem," Frostfang offered the still-warm gem. The iron dragon took it without hesitation.
"Will the dragon lord agree to meet us again?" Frostfang asked.
Iron Dragon Solgorn gazed toward the trade route, his eyes glinting darkly through the rain. "Not necessarily," he replied. "But if he refuses, we'll terminate our dealings with this merchant caravan and find a new one—one we can control and manipulate."
Frostfang knew exactly how to terminate the arrangement. She nodded firmly.
The fine rain continued to fall relentlessly, showing no sign of stopping.
Iron Dragon Solgorn returned to Needleleaf Valley, folding his wings and shaking off the rain. He turned to Garos and asked, "Do you intend to meet with that human?"
Garos nodded casually, sparing Nick from certain death.
"Let him come," Garos said, his tail sweeping across the ground, leaving a deep furrow in its wake. "Ten years of trials have proven him to be a clever man, capable of balancing loyalty and self-interest."
"Besides, times have changed. Now he can witness firsthand the true majesty and grandeur of the being to whom he pledges his allegiance."
Garos puffed out his chest, indulging in a moment of exaggerated self-praise.
The iron dragon wanted to warn Garos against arrogance, but when his gaze swept over Garos's formidable physique, his eyelids twitched, and he remained silent.
Garos spoke the truth.
This had nothing to do with arrogance or conceit.
After scouring his dragon heritage, the iron dragon couldn't find another dragonkind as strong as Garos at the same age.
After a moment's thought, the iron dragon proposed, "I want to establish taverns along the trade route and select intelligent familiars to manage them."
Garos's eyes flickered slightly.
"You intend to gather information through these taverns?"
The iron dragon nodded. "We're isolated in the wilderness, our information networks are backward. We can't wait until we need intelligence or discover a problem to start gathering it. We need better eyes and ears."
After a pause, the iron dragon added, "Furthermore, I wish to step out of the shadows and into the light."
He said earnestly to Garos, "You and Samantha will remain behind the scenes, while I will stand on the stage, using my dragon identity to attract more wild clans to pledge allegiance. This will accelerate the Ironforged Clan's rapid development."
Hearing this, Garos shook his head.
"Now is not the right time," he said.
Whether it was establishing a tavern or having the iron dragon step into the spotlight, both actions would be too conspicuous, effectively pushing the Ironforged Clan into the open.
The iron dragon was undoubtedly competent in managing territory and familiars, but it often acted too hastily, unable to conceal its ambitions. It also possessed certain flaws inherent to dragonkind. Ultimately, Garos remained the true decision-maker, the one who determined the clan's future direction.
"Why not?" Solgorn asked, puzzled.
Instead of answering directly, Garos countered with a question: "Solgorn, who do you believe the Scaly Earth Rift Road belongs to?"
"To us, of course. It belongs to the Ironforged Clan," Solgorn replied naturally.
"No, it belongs to the Lothurn Federation. You must understand this," Garos said, gazing southward. "The Thousand Serpents' Trail Trade Route, which crisscrosses the Sierre Wilderness, both its main arteries and branch lines, were all established and maintained by the Lothurn Federation, and are guarded by formidable forces."
"We can conduct normal trade with merchant caravans on the roads, even if we're recognized as the dominant force on this branch."
"But this requires us to remain hidden, to avoid the spotlight, and to never openly proclaim ourselves as the masters of the Scaly Earth Rift Road."
Garos's gaze remained calm as he continued, "Why do you think the Lothurn Federation's trade route guards tolerate the presence of monster clans along the trade routes?"
"Precisely because we cling to the cracks in the rocks like lichen—neither conspicuous enough to warrant eradication nor without practical value."
"But if the lichen suddenly aspires to become a towering tree..."
Garos trailed off, his meaning clear.
The iron dragon fell silent, though resentment still simmered within.
"When will we be able to shed our disguises and stand openly on the stage of the wilderness, on the stage of the world?" it asked.
Across from it, the red-iron dragon grinned, baring its teeth. "Patience, my brother," it said.
"Never forget who we are. Time is always on our side."
(End of the Chapter)
---------------------------------------------------------
Continue Reading (𝘿𝙍𝘼𝙂𝙊𝙉) on CinderTL• ⓒⓞⓜ
Read Ahead to Ch232 • 𝕱𝖗𝖊𝖊 𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖘 • No Login
🎉 10,000 Chapter Discount is Live. Ends June 2.
---------------------------------------------------------