After Gorton threw out his outrageous theory, the entire mental network fell silent.
Even the usually steady and prudent Iron Dragon Sorog couldn't help himself and said, "Is there a possibility that all of this is just you overthinking because you've got nothing better to do after eating your fill?"
He spoke slowly, weighing his words, trying to wake his dragon brother and pull him back to reality.
This dragon brother, because he was adopted by the Human Royal Court and grew up in a pampered environment, the greatest setbacks and hardships he had experienced were perhaps how to struggle with his own overly plump physique and work hard to shed his layers of fat.
Although he had indeed put effort into it, and his current relatively imposing physique was proof of that.
But compared to his other kin who had struggled to survive and grew up step by step in the perilous and resource-scarce wildlands, his experiences seemed far too naive and smooth.
The innate pride and arrogance inherent in dragon nature were still particularly evident in him.
In fact, they were even more inflated due to a lack of enough reality checks.
Gorton was now very certain of his theory and believed himself to be a dragon of destiny, unmoved by Solrog's rhetoric.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
His consciousness waved a claw in the mental network and said so.
In fact, from a certain perspective, Gorton's way of thinking was a common psychological reflection of many proud dragons.
Their Inheritance recorded far too much about the glory and power of the Dragon Race.
From the moment they hatched, most dragons subconsciously believed that the entire world should revolve around them.
This perception usually required a head-on blow from cruel reality to gradually wake them up, like ice water being poured over their heads.
Solrog and Samantha, including Garros, who had to fight for survival during his Young Dragon period, had all gone through similar self-centered stages of perception to some extent.
The biggest difference with Gorton was that...
After experiencing many trials and witnessing the vastness and cruelty of the world, they had all clearly recognized reality.
The world does not easily turn because of an individual's will.
To realize the grand blueprints and ambitions in their hearts, they had to put in massive amounts of blood, sweat, and effort.
Even if they might not necessarily reach the envisioned shore in the end, they still chose to move forward.
The journey itself was the meaning of their existence.
At this moment, Red Dragon Samantha let out an unabashed sneer, breaking the brief silence.
"Gorton, according to what you're saying, you might as well turn back into that fat pig you were before."
With a cold dragon face, her tone was as sharp as a knife: "Since you're so convinced you're a dragon of destiny, then naturally there's no need for any more hard exercise or tedious training. Just eat and sleep, sleep and eat, and enjoy yourself to your heart's content. Let your so-called 'destiny' achieve all those 'extraordinary' accomplishments for you!"
Samantha keenly felt that Gorton was looking for a high-sounding excuse for laziness.
Seeing his change in physique earlier, Samantha thought this dragon brother had finally grown up, but now it seemed his essential nature as a useless dragon hadn't changed at all.
Regarding this good-for-nothing dragon brother, she couldn't help but feel a surge of frustration and disappointment, wishing he would live up to his potential.
However, to Samantha's great surprise...
Iron Dragon Gorton did not take the bait as she expected; instead, he firmly shook his thick neck.
"You're wrong, Samantha."
He responded solemnly, "Exercise, training—these arduous practices not only cannot stop but are absolutely necessary."
He paused and continued, "I believe that destiny is not a gift that is fixed forever once and for all."
"I am indeed a dragon of destiny now, but precisely because of that, I must work hard to be worthy of this favor from destiny. I must not become slack or complacent because of it."
"Otherwise, this precious favor of destiny will sooner or later move elsewhere, or... disappear entirely."
Hearing this unexpected statement, Samantha couldn't help but be stunned, a flash of bewilderment crossing her massive dragon face.
Then, she bared her teeth, seemingly wanting to laugh habitually, but the smile vanished as soon as it appeared. She switched to an even more ferocious tone: "Idiot! What kind of self-contradictory big talk are you spouting? When we meet later, I'll have to smash that stupid head of yours so you can clearly see what cruel reality is!"
Samantha spoke in a nasty tone.
Gorton naturally refused to be outdone and immediately retorted, "Bring it on! Who's afraid of who! The things this dragon has eaten over the years weren't eaten for nothing! They've long since been converted into power!"
The two were like ignited powder kegs, breaking into a fierce argument.
Their words were sharp and neither would yield an inch.
Garros was long used to this familiar scene, and his heart remained unruffled.
Back in their Wyrmling days, since their hatching times were very close, these two had always been in this state of bickering and refusing to submit to each other.
"Nasha and Alberto, that pair of Golden Dragon siblings, are currently in the Wilderness. What have they been up to lately?"
Garros ignored the pair of dragons arguing nearby and threw the question to Iron Dragon Sorog.
"Alberto has been wandering around the various territories of our Molten Iron Tribe, observing and recording," Solrog replied meticulously.
"According to him, he wants to 'observe and reference' our tribe's operational model and management system."
"I agreed to his request and, as a condition, had him occasionally show his face publicly in important gathering places like Streamwood Territory to say some lines we scripted in advance. It's essentially using his reputation and image as a Golden Dragon to endorse our tribe."
"As for that Golden Dragon Natasha, she has absolutely no interest in things like managing territories or administrative affairs."
At this point, Solrog felt a bit of a headache.
"This Golden Dragon... is far too bellicose. Since arriving in the Wilderness, she has completely let herself go."
"Under the guise of martial arts exchange, she has challenged and 'exchanged' with almost every notable member of our Dragon flock, as well as Dominic's Blue Dragons and powerful subordinate commanders like Karu."
"Day in and day out, she's either fighting or on her way to find a target to fight."
Solrog continued to explain.
When Nasha engaged in martial exchanges with Dragon flock members and subordinate commanders, she usually didn't wear her signature ornate armor.
Facing opponents whose Life Level was clearly lower than her own, she would also deliberately suppress her own power and speed, trying her best to pursue a fair contest; however, even so, the powerful combat skills and physical fitness of a martial Golden Dragon were definitely not something ordinary dragons or subordinates could compare to.
The outcome of "exchanging" with her was often not very pleasant.
"However, the situation has improved slightly recently."
Solrog changed the subject with a hint of relief: "She's recently become quite familiar with several other lords in the Wilderness. Now she spends her time looking for them for martial exchanges, which has reduced the harassment of our Dragon flock."
Speaking of this, his voice paused, then he said in a low tone, "Although it solved a lot of trouble for the tribe, these Golden Dragon siblings don't seem quite normal."
That goes without saying.
Would a normal Golden Dragon hang out with a group of Evil Dragons and not even want to return to the Dragon Domain?
Garros thought to himself.
Just then, Gorton, who had just finished a round of arguing with Samantha, suddenly seemed to remember something and chimed in.
"Oh right, earlier it seemed someone asked me how my relationship with the Crystal Princess is progressing?"
His consciousness fluctuations were instantly filled with a smug tone: "I can clearly tell you all, the relationship is progressing very smoothly!"
"I am certain that before long..."
"I, Gorton, the dragon of destiny, will have a noble princess of my own!"
Who asked you?
Garros and Solrog carefully recalled their previous conversation and were quite certain that no one had asked about this issue.
At this moment, Red Dragon Samantha looked as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world.
She couldn't help laughing: "Crystal Princess? Hahaha!"
"Gorton, don't you realize that based on that human woman's actual age, among the short-lived human race, she could have been respectfully called 'Crystal Grandma' long ago!"
"Does getting a Crystal Grandma actually make you this happy and proud?"
She continued to mock him mercilessly, "Those truly formidable Evil Dragons only kidnap princesses who are young and beautiful, like maidens in their first bloom."
Hearing this, Gorton immediately let out a cold snort.
He retorted righteously, "What do you know? How superficial!"
"A true beauty is like a top-tier vintage wine; only through the settling and fermentation of years will she exude an increasingly rich and mellow fragrance and charm!"
As they spoke, the two dragons began to argue fiercely again over the topics of aesthetics and princesses.
The Red-Iron Dragon shifted his gaze directly, no longer paying attention to the endless argument. He looked at Solrog and asked about serious business, "During the twenty-nine years I was asleep, has it been peaceful between the tribe and the other two Regional Overlords, the Mountain King and the Mushroom King, or have there been occasional frictions?"
Iron Dragon Sorog immediately collected his thoughts and responded with focus.
"Overall, a basically peaceful situation has been maintained."
"Both the Mountain King and the Mushroom King are content with guarding their existing territories and have shown no intention of external expansion."
"The only exception was during the period when an Abyssal Rift suddenly appeared in the northeast region, when the giants under the Mountain King's command seemed to have some movement, showing certain signs of expansion."
"As the Abyssal Rift was suppressed, those giants quickly returned to their usual stable state and no longer engaged in any boundary-crossing behavior."
Under the premise that one's own resources are still sufficient, rashly going to war with other formidable Regional Overlords is undoubtedly an extremely foolish decision.
Blindly pursuing war will only continuously drag down one's own development and accumulation.
Whether it is the Mountain King or the Mushroom King, they are clearly creatures possessing high intelligence. After obtaining their respective territories and resources, choosing peaceful development and digesting their gains is a perfectly normal and rational behavior.
At this time, the flames of war between Samantha and Gorton regarding princesses gradually subsided.
Adhering to the pure philosophy of 'fighting is fun,' Samantha turned her gaze toward the Red-Iron Dragon.
"Garros, since you have awakened and undergone such a long period of dormant evolution, you must be more powerful than before. Why don't we take this opportunity to officially declare war on the other two Regional Overlords!"
"If they are sensible, let them obediently submit to the rule of our Molten Iron Tribe; if they dare to resist fiercely, then we shall crush them straightforwardly! Turn them, along with their ambitions, into ashes and dust upon the wilderness!"
Samantha shook her head excitedly.
"Kill them and seize all the regions of the Serel Wilderness in one fell swoop! By then, our Dragon flock will be the sole Sovereign of this vast land!"
"At that time, my title of Red Dragon Queen can be truly solidified in name and fact."
"And you, my dear brother, will be crowned as the undisputed King of the Wilderness. All creatures in the entire Serel Wilderness, regardless of race or strength, will kneel beneath your wings and offer you their loyalty and awe!"
She held her head high, as if she could already see the vision of victory.
These grand words describing the future were indeed quite well-spoken. Even Garros couldn't help but feel his blood boiling slightly as he listened, as if he could see the magnificent picture of himself reigning over the wilderness.
However, he quickly suppressed the thought and shook his head calmly.
"Now is not the appropriate time for a full-scale war with the other Regional Overlords," the Red-Iron Dragon said steadily.
A look of confusion appeared on Samantha's dragon face. "Why? I think the timing is perfect right now. The tribe has been quiet for so long and needs a great war to re-establish its prestige. And you have just awakened; you also need a glorious victory to announce your return and intimidate all sides!"
The Red-Iron Dragon said, "The enemies we need to pay the most attention to right now are not in the wilderness."
He paused and continued, his tone carrying a hint of gravity, "The decades-long civil war in the Southern Kingdoms finally ended with the dissolution of the Lothern Federation. This is by no means a good thing for us."
"Without the cover of war, the wilderness is bound to re-enter the sight of the various kingdoms."
"When that time comes, we will no longer be facing a few Regional Overlords, but rather those kingdom powerhouses who possess Legendary power and once acted like a sword hanging high, suppressing the wilderness natives."
Three years have passed since the end of that civil war that swept through the south.
This amount of time is neither long nor short, but it is enough for those kingdoms exhausted by the war to catch their breath and redirect some of their attention outward.
Garros estimated in his heart that it wouldn't be long before some duchies, or even stronger kingdoms, noticed Regional Overlords like them who had occupied large areas of the fertile wilderness.
It was even quite possible that they had already noticed.
It was only because of the tedious decision-making processes of those human nations, and the fact that they had other matters to handle, that they had temporarily not taken any large-scale action.
When he awakened this time, the tribe did not happen to run into any imminent danger or trouble.
The timing was considered quite good.
At least it gave him time to prepare for the coming storm.
If it were a few years later, facing the organized cleanup operations of the various nations, the leaderless Molten Iron Tribe, lacking unified command, might have been forced to give up the vast foundation it had built in the wilderness and retreat first to The Borderlands, or even the more distant Tundra.
"The other Regional Overlords, as long as they are not fools, must surely understand this as well."
Iron Dragon Sorog spoke up in agreement; his thoughts coincided with Garros's.
"That is why we have been able to maintain basic peace among ourselves and coexist without incident all these years."
"The enemies we truly need to rack our brains to deal with have never been each other, but rather the Southern Kingdoms."
After hearing the words of the two, Samantha also realized the crux of the problem and recognized the potential immense crisis.
She quickly reined in her burning desire for war, and her attitude became cautious.
"The Southern Kingdoms... in our expansion over these years, we have destroyed and occupied quite a few of the bases they established in the wilderness."
"If all the duchies and kingdoms view us as a thorn in their side and come looking for trouble together, that would be terrible."
"Fortunately, Heriam has already been sent to the Tundra to open up new territory."
"In case something goes wrong here in the wilderness, we will have a place to migrate to and temporarily avoid the brunt of the attack."
At this point, Samantha couldn't help but sigh, flicking her tail somewhat irritably and saying with reluctance, "But when I think about giving up the huge foundation we've spent so many years building in the wilderness... I'm truly unwilling!"
A Red Dragon's intelligence and strategic vision are actually not low.
It might seem calm now, but according to Garros's meaning, the tribe has actually reached a critical juncture. Facing powerful kingdoms, whether the tribe fights or retreats, it will be a decision with a major impact on its future development.
At this moment, Garros, as the Lord of the Dragon flock, spoke slowly.
"I will not give up the wilderness unless it is absolutely necessary."
He said, "Now that the Lothern Federation has dissolved, their nominal sovereignty over the wilderness no longer exists. This is a free land; whoever can take it does so by their own ability."
"The war just ended three years ago; most of them are too busy with their own affairs."
"Moreover, for the Southern Kingdoms with their vast territories and complex web of interests, the development and conquest of the wilderness is just one of many aspects they need to pay attention to, not the current focus."
"We have no need to fear ordinary duchies."
"If some kingdom sets its sights on us, there's no need to be overly nervous. The nations are no longer a monolithic block; there is plenty of room to maneuver."
Feeling Garros's consistently steady spirit, the slight unease and anxiety of his kin gradually calmed down.
As long as this King of Molten Iron, this Lord of the Dragon flock, still exists, they dare to face any storm.
"But the premise of all this is that I am capable of matching a Legend."
This final sentence was not spoken by Garros in the mental network; it only echoed silently in the depths of his own heart.
If he were completely unable to compare to a Legend, to those kingdoms, he would be nothing more than a stray on the roadside. Without the strength to match a Legend, one doesn't even have the qualification to negotiate. To maneuver between nations? At the very least, one must have a certain amount of capital.