Translator: AnubisTL
A biting north wind swept through Dragon Valley.
Red Dragon Samantha had already returned to the Black Iron Plains, and Iron Dragon Solgorn had also departed, returning to his original stronghold.
Red-Silver Dragon Deborah now stood on the highest watchtower, her tail tip twitching with keen interest. She withdrew her gaze from the distance and turned it toward the red-iron dragon that had just folded its massive wings and landed steadily on the platform.
"Garos, I've just realized that the 'dragon talents' under your command are truly extraordinary, completely different from the common evil dragons I've known in the past," she said, her tone tinged with a hint of astonishment. "An iron dragon who is calm, rational, and can restrain its primal desires to a great extent; a red dragon with a volatile temper yet capable of settling down for alchemy research; and a white dragon that exhibits astonishing wisdom in such harsh, snow-swept weather..."
Deborah blinked her bright dragon eyes, the admiration in her voice becoming even more pronounced.
"In short, all of this is simply unbelievable."
From the moment the young dragons were brought back, to their conversation with the adult dragons, and then the white dragon's appearance and its haughty attitude toward the little dragons—she had been silently observing everything from the high platform. She was particularly shaken by the Dynamic Niche Theory expounded by that white dragon.
She never expected it.
The white dragon, widely regarded as the most foolish of dragonkind, had actually proposed such a profound and philosophical concept.
This was knowledge never before recorded in their inheritance.
If the Chromatic Dragon Clan were to embrace and follow this Dynamic Niche Theory on a large scale—avoiding needless early deaths and successfully navigating their most vulnerable and arduous growth phase—
Deborah mused, given time, the chromatic dragon population would inevitably experience an explosive surge.
An image involuntarily formed in her mind:
Countless evil dragons, who should have been flaunting their power, instead hiding their claws and fangs, enduring humiliation, and suppressing their natures until they grew strong enough to ruthlessly prey on those below, venting their long-suppressed rage in a retaliatory frenzy... Just imagining such a scene sent a chill through the red-silver dragon's heart.
By then, if the Metallic Dragon Clan failed to find an effective countermeasure, they might truly be utterly overwhelmed by the evil dragons.
However, on second thought, she realized such a scenario was unlikely to occur.
The deeply ingrained nature of dragonkind stood in the way.
Only Treacy, the white dragon and creator of this theory, truly understood, accepted, and grasped its essence from the bottom of her heart. Only she could endure external insults without psychological burden and willingly lower her own ecological niche.
No other dragon could ever hope to achieve such "transcendence" of mind and fortitude.
Still, regardless, if those young evil dragons could learn even a fraction of her patience and restraint, and shed a sliver of their blind, impulsive arrogance, their overall survival rate would surely improve.
Once this theory spread, it would inevitably have some positive impact.
And not just for evil dragons—it applied to metallic dragons as well.
There were countless examples of metallic dragons, relying on their elders' protection and their noble bloodlines, provoking foes far more powerful than themselves in their youth, only to be killed in a blind rage by those very enemies.
As she considered this, breaking free from her own mental constraints, she suddenly realized that none of the dragons gathered around Garos were simple. It was as if they had undergone some kind of evolution, building upon their original nature.
"They clearly forget who they serve," Red Iron Dragon Garos said with airy nonchalance, his tone carrying an air of obvious truth. "A leader's quality is reflected in their followers."
Hearing this nearly boastful remark, the red-silver dragon, for once, did not retort. Instead, she nodded thoughtfully. "Birds of a feather flock together... or rather, dragons of a kind gather in a brood. That's exactly right."
Her gaze swept over the red-iron dragon's imposing and majestic form, carefully taking in every detail.
"The Lord of the Clan's every word and action will have a profound influence on the dragonkind under his command."
She praised him sincerely, "Aside from occasionally revealing a tiny, harmless bit of vanity, Garos, your will is as steadfast as steel, your self-discipline is admirably strong, your temperament is as cautious as if it were watertight, and you possess an extraordinary foresight that looks far into the future... I can find almost no obvious flaws in you."
"With an existence like you as their role model and core, it is highly likely that the dragons gathered around you would become extraordinary and exhibit traits that surpass their kind."
(I love hearing this. Give me more.)
The red-iron dragon gave Deborah a subtle, encouraging glance, as if silently gesturing for her to offer more words of praise.
"What about me? What about me?"
Just then, a crisp, cheerful voice rang out.
A small door in the side spire swung open, and Fairy Dragon Vera's petite and delicate body nimbly emerged from the hidden attic.
She circled the Red-Silver Dragon's massive head with a few light, joyful loops before coming to a steady hover in front of Deborah. Her delicate face was alight with eager anticipation as she asked impatiently, "Then what makes me different from the other fairy dragons?"
"Smart!" the Red-Silver Dragon replied almost instantly, her voice laced with amusement. "Vera, you are absolutely the smartest fairy dragon I've ever seen!"
Hearing this all-too-familiar praise, Garos shot the Red-Silver Dragon a surprised glance. She responded with a sly wink, a silent acknowledgment of their shared secret.
The excited fairy dragon, of course, completely missed the subtle exchange between them.
She spun and danced in the air, her iridescent wings fluttering rapidly and scattering shimmering magical dust that illuminated the surroundings.
"Yes! I am the smartest fairy dragon!" she declared proudly.
Vera came to a stop and affectionately rubbed her cheek against the Red-Silver Dragon's cool, hard scales. Then, she made an enthusiastic suggestion: "Deborah, do you want to play a guessing game now? The smartest fairy dragon is always ready to play!"
"Sure!"
The red-silver dragon readily agreed and turned to the red-iron dragon with an invitation. "Garos, do you want to join us?"
The red-iron dragon shook his head slightly, a hint of weariness in his voice. "No, I'm a little tired and need to rest."
The intense training and combat from earlier had left him feeling a deep-seated exhaustion. It was time to relax and recover; he had always understood the importance of balancing work and rest.
With that, the red-silver dragon and the fairy dragon remained on the spacious observation deck and began their guessing game.
The red-iron dragon turned and walked into the depths of the Burning Steel Citadel.
This magnificent fortress was clearly structured, divided into four levels from top to bottom.
In the strict hierarchy of dragonkind, status was often closely tied to altitude.
Therefore, the highest level, the fourth, was Garos's exclusive private domain. Without his explicit permission or a formal summons, neither his familiars nor other dragons were ever allowed to enter.
This level housed Garos's bedchamber, a trophy room displaying his glorious military achievements, and other core spaces.
The vast treasury of Dragon Valley had also been completely relocated here, situated right next to Garos's chambers.
The third floor was the grand council chamber, where the dragons met to discuss important matters. The space was incredibly vast and open, supported by several colossal, thick pillars. The floor was paved with hard stone and featured small doorways for attendants to enter and exit, as well as wide stone platforms for dragons to comfortably sprawl or coil upon. Most striking of all was the Golden Throne, placed on the main dais, symbolizing supreme authority and reserved exclusively for the Lord of the Clan.
The throne's structure differed from conventional seating, its design tailored to fit the massive and unique contours of a dragon's body. It was forged from rare gold alloyed with various hard precious metals, its surface meticulously engraved with runes that preserved its brilliant luster. Now, it radiated a dazzling golden light, silently proclaiming the supreme status and power it represented.
Notably, both the third and fourth floors featured high platforms that provided direct access to the outside.
This meant that flying dragonkind could bypass the first and second levels entirely, landing directly from the sky.
The second level of the Burning Steel Citadel primarily served as an antechamber and reception area. If Garos needed to receive important representatives of his servants or hold formal meetings with other dragons, they would typically be arranged on this level.
The first level, the lowest of all, was the daily living quarters for the citadel's guards and servants. The guards of the Burning Steel Citadel were mainly elite forces, strictly selected from Earthstorm Bears, wyverns, and ogres. The servants, meanwhile, were primarily serpentmen, carefully chosen for their quality—some even possessing the abilities of sorcerers or shamans.
Notably, all the servants were female.
Even though Garos had not personally demanded it, his familiars—mindful of a male dragon lord's intense possessiveness and the boost to their own clans if they could bear dragonkin offspring—had conscientiously provided only beautiful and pure females when selecting servants.
(End of the Chapter)
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