Translator: AnubisTL
In Needleleaf Valley, within the gradually expanding alchemy workshop, Samantha clutched a glass test tube forged from sand in her claws, her crimson dragon eyes fixed on the bubbling liquid inside.
"Add another pinch of iron sulfide powder," she muttered, curling her tail around a mortar and pouring the metallic-sheened powder into the tube.
Boom!
The test tube shattered, filling the workshop with acrid fumes. Samantha sneezed three times, waving her dragon wings to disperse the smoke.
"Another failure!" she growled, flicking her tail in frustration. "I followed the proportions from the inheritance exactly. What went wrong?"
The Bonechewer Clan's ogres were expanding relentlessly, their momentum terrifying. Though they hadn't yet reached Needleleaf Valley, Samantha already felt the threat looming.
In the third year of Garos's dragon sleep, Samantha had also entered her own two-year slumber. When she awoke, she expected Garos to have returned.
But three years turned into six, and still, Garos hadn't come back.
Having lost its accustomed support, and as a red dragon who would never submit to any creature but Garos, Samantha temporarily took over Needleleaf Valley, becoming the central figure for the fairy dragons and earthstorm bears.
But this position was far from easy.
Especially now, with the threat from the Bonechewer Clan looming.
Samantha had to steel its resolve.
To fulfill its promise to protect Needleleaf Valley, it attempted to create alchemy items to arm its familiars—Flame Orbs.
These were single-use alchemy items that, when thrown, would unleash a devastating explosion.
If Samantha could stockpile a large number of Flame Orbs, it could buy more time against the ogre invasion.
Yes, buy more time, not defeat them.
To better manage its territory, Samantha forced itself to think like Garos, suppressing its arrogance and self-importance. Following Garos's habit, it first inhaled a pinch of fairy dragon scale powder to enhance its wisdom.
Then...
Samantha knew all too well that the Gluttony Demon, who had risen to power in the Bonechewer Clan almost immediately after dragon Garos entered his slumber six years ago, was an enemy she couldn't defeat.
And it wasn't just the Gluttony Demon.
Years of rampant hunting had provided the Bonechewer Clan with abundant food resources. Perhaps fueled by the Gluttony Demon's leadership skills, the ogres' overall strength had surged. The number of elite, burly ogre warriors had multiplied, and more than one sorcerer had emerged within their ranks.
The Bonechewer Clan was thriving, its power reaching its zenith.
Their territory expanded relentlessly, and their numbers swelled exponentially.
Even the most arrogant young dragon wouldn't dare believe they could subjugate this ogre clan as their familiar.
In this situation, Samantha's best course of action was to wait for Garos to awaken and return, while doing her utmost to defend Needleleaf Valley until then.
If all else failed, she would have no choice but to lead the fairy dragons, earthstorm bears, and her own monster retinue into retreat.
Samantha had personally tamed a swarm of Giant Fire Ants and a pack of Fire Lizards.
Being forced to abandon her territory by ogres was a profound humiliation in the eyes of a red dragon, but she couldn't afford to lose her life over pride.
On the surface, Samantha disdained Garos's cautious approach to self-preservation.
Yet, upon deeper reflection, she found his words held considerable wisdom. In her heart, she secretly admired Garos, subconsciously learning from him.
"I can't afford to fail again."
"Stay calm, Samantha. Stay calm."
"Clear your mind. Don't panic."
Samantha took a deep breath and resumed her attempts to create a Flame Orb.
Time passed slowly. Soon, a dark, unremarkable bead appeared in Samantha's claw, its surface faintly etched with crimson patterns.
"Once I succeed the first time, the rest will be easy."
Her efforts had borne fruit. A joyful smile spread across Samantha's dragon face, and her tail swished with delight.
Just then, a wave of oppressive dragon might surged closer.
Samantha's dragon eyes narrowed, her scales almost standing on end. The Giant Fire Ants surrounding the alchemy workshop emitted shrill cries, cowering and burrowing into the ground.
She burst from the workshop and gazed upward.
Across the dark sky, a comet-like streak hurtled toward Needleleaf Valley.
No, it wasn't a real comet.
It was a dragon, leaving a comet-like trail in its wake, moving with unimaginable speed!
As the distance closed, Samantha caught a familiar scent. Her eyes widened, and the wariness and tension in her gaze vanished in an instant.
Though his appearance had changed somewhat, she recognized Garos immediately.
"Garos, my dear brother, welcome back to consciousness!"
Samantha flapped her wings, feeling as if a great weight had suddenly lifted from her shoulders. Her body felt lighter as she soared into the sky to greet Garos.
The surging flames trailing behind Garos's dragon wings gradually dissipated.
He slowed his pace, feeling a pang of hunger.
Growth and evolution had consumed vast amounts of energy. He hadn't eaten much after awakening, and now that his initial hunger had subsided, he flew toward Needleleaf Valley.
He could have returned at a leisurely pace.
But having just acquired new skills, he was like a child with a new toy, eager to test them out. He activated his jet-boosted acceleration, reveling in the exhilarating sensation of soaring through the sky at breakneck speed.
"The territory seems secure."
"I'll need to hunt and feed properly soon."
As Garos approached Needleleaf Valley, he spotted Samantha flying toward him.
He slowed down further, his gaze fixed on her.
The once-tender red young dragon was still young, but she had grown considerably.
Samantha's body length approached ten meters, and her body was now adorned with more spines and thick, protruding fangs. Her scales gleamed like quenched steel, reflecting a dark crimson metallic sheen under the moonlight.
Garos sniffed the air.
A pungent sulfurous odor emanated from Samantha, like a volcano or molten lava—the characteristic scent of red dragons, which intensifies with age.
Due to his own dragon blood, Garos didn't find the smell unpleasant; in fact, he found it rather appealing.
"Samantha, you've grown quite a bit," he remarked.
"Of course! We share the same bloodline. I won't fall behind you," Samantha replied, her voice brimming with the innate confidence of a red dragon, concealing the hardships and psychological pressures she had endured.
The two dragons landed together in Needleleaf Valley.
Fairy Dragon Vera swooped down with excited cries, then abruptly halted before Garos, blinked her eyes, and exclaimed, "Garos, you look even fiercer than before!"
The jagged explosive scales.
The massive Heavenly Comet Wings, like weapons of destruction.
The increasingly pronounced dual traits of his red dragon and iron dragon bloodlines.
All these features made Garos's appearance overwhelmingly sharp and menacing, making him look more like an evil dragon, more imposing, and more terrifying.
(End of the Chapter)
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