Translator: AnubisTL
Garos said, "The dragon blood transformation process is violent and agonizing."
"Russell, attempting the transformation in your severely wounded state would be a near-certain death, a waste of dragon blood."
After a pause, he continued, "However, I will still grant you this opportunity. The choice is yours."
Out of lingering affection for his former follower and to set an example for his other familiars, Garos decided to offer the werewolf the chance at dragon blood transformation, regardless of the outcome.
Russell now faced two options:
1. Drag out a miserable existence with his crippled body. 2. Risk death in the dragon blood transformation for a chance at survival and power.
As a warrior and former leader who had led his clan through the harsh wilderness, Russell didn't hesitate. His gaze unwavering, he declared, "Dragon Lord, grant me your dragon blood. I wish to become stronger and continue serving you."
The most crucial element in dragon blood transformation is willpower.
As long as the will to survive and the desire for power burn fiercely enough, even a completely shattered body has a high chance of success.
Garos saw that unyielding will burning in the werewolf's eyes. "As you wish," he said.
Immediately, he ordered his familiars to bring the dragon blood they had collected earlier and began the transformation ritual.
During the process, many familiar bosses gathered to observe.
A blood sphere, glowing like magma and shimmering like molten iron, was hurled into the werewolf's mouth.
The moment the dragon blood touched Russell's throat, his gray-white fur stood on end.
His previously weakened body suddenly tensed, muscles bulging as if inflated, and bones cracking with sickening pops, as if undergoing rapid healing.
But this power was too violent.
The werewolf's skin suddenly cracked, revealing newly formed black scales beneath. Old skin peeled away like dried bark, but the new scales couldn't keep pace with the destruction. His body quickly transformed into a grotesque hybrid of flesh and scales, his spine elongating and contorting as a two-meter-long bony tail pierced through flesh and protruded from his tailbone.
The most agonizing part was the skull's reconstruction. The werewolf's snout tore open and healed repeatedly as dragon horns gradually sprouted from his head.
Frostfang watched her father writhe on the ground, the trenches carved by his claws filling with a mixture of blood and scales. She clenched her fists, silently praying to their ancestors that he would survive this ordeal.
"Remember who you fight for."
"When your body reaches its limits, let your will guide you to break through."
The red-iron dragon's voice boomed directly into Russell's collapsing consciousness.
In a daze, Russell recalled the old shaman's final words: to lead the werewolves to glory. He thought of the howling pups awaiting their mother's return, of the hardships of the past, and of the vast future that lay before them under Garos's leadership.
A primal instinct for survival surged through Russell.
"I can't fall," it growled.
Russell's bony tail suddenly shattered the ground as it let out a bestial roar. Inch by inch, it forced itself upright, and as it rose, newborn dragon scales materialized, forming a suit of armor.
When it finally stood, its body had doubled in size, transformed into a completely new form.
Its wolf head remained, but now bore draconic features: fangs like icy daggers, and beneath its thick fur, a visible layer of black, steel-like scales. A pair of wings sprouted from its back.
Garos gazed at the werewolf turned dragonkin and smiled faintly. "You have earned yourself a new life."
To be honest, he hadn't expected Russell to succeed.
The dragon blood transformation was typically easier for creatures with purer instincts, like Karu, whose mind was consumed by thoughts of food.
For intelligent werewolves like Russell, who even enjoyed reading books to acquire knowledge, their rationality often led to hesitation and doubt. However, this particular werewolf possessed an exceptionally resilient will, far surpassing Garos's expectations.
It was this unwavering will that had allowed it to be reborn in blood and fire.
Unlike Karu, whose scales were crimson like a red dragon's, Russell's body was covered in black, iron-like scales, clearly inheriting the power of the iron dragon bloodline.
"Karu's temperament is brash and fiery, akin to a red dragon, which is why he inherited the red dragon bloodline."
"Russell is more rational and intelligent, with a nature closer to an iron dragon, thus inheriting the iron dragon bloodline."
Could it be that one's inherent personality, being closer to a particular dragon nature, influences the outcome of the transformation, favoring the corresponding dragon bloodline? Garos mused, deep in thought.
Due to the rarity of hybrid dragons, his inheritance contained no records on this phenomenon. He was now left to speculate on his own.
Meanwhile, Russell knelt before the red-iron dragon, panting heavily as his chest heaved violently.
His voice rang with unwavering conviction as he declared, "My strength, my life, my soul—all burn for you!"
With this, Garos gained another dragon blood retainer.
The former Warchief Bloodtooth, now Warband Leader of the Steel Will Legion, the Hyena-Man Hodge, groveled before Garos, his face plastered with a fawning, ingratiating smile. "Noble, invincible, and glorious dragon lord! Hodge also wishes to grow stronger, to serve you even better!"
Garos replied tersely, "You will die, without a doubt."
The Steel Will Legion, despite its grandiose name, was composed of the most ordinary warriors from various races, lacking any distinctive traits. In essence, it was a cannon fodder unit.
Hodge lacked the courage to embrace death for the sake of rebirth.
He shrank back, chuckling nervously. "Please disregard my words. Give the opportunity to someone more deserving."
Hodge was still in his prime, not yet desperate for the life-extending benefits of dragon blood transformation. Moreover, the vivid memory of Russell's agonizing struggle filled him with trepidation and uncertainty.
For now, Garos decided against transforming any more of his familiars.
He sealed and preserved the remaining dragon blood.
He instructed his familiars to disperse and begin developing their territory, while he resumed his rigorous training. As he trained, wisps of magic energy and life energy within his body gradually transformed into dragon qi.
The early stages of advancement for martial dragons were straightforward: dragon qi could only be converted through brutal self-exertion in training or intense combat.
Each time his total dragon qi increased by one-tenth, he would advance one level. Once he reached level 10, Garos's life energy and magic energy would be completely transformed into a denser, more resilient form of dragon qi.
In the days that followed, Garos's life in Dragon Valley became fulfilling once more.
Dragon qi, explosive scales, dragon heart, and occasional maintenance of his wings and tail—he immersed himself in these various training regimens, reveling in his own progress.
Meanwhile, as each day passed...
Samantha, who detested the frigid weather, led her familiar and a group of lizardfolk to the Sulfur Hills to rebuild their alchemy workshop.
Under the command and management of the Iron Dragon Solgorn, the familiars also worked tirelessly to develop their territory. They constructed defensive lines, arrow towers, and hidden sentry posts around the valleys, and established strongholds at strategic locations like high ground and key chokepoints.
Samantha primarily stationed herself at the ruins of the giants' fortress, occasionally visiting Dragon Valley.
The Iron Dragon Solgorn was the busiest of all. In addition to commanding the familiars, he personally scoured the earth for hidden mineral veins, relying on his innate talent for sensing metals.
Only the Fairy Dragon Vera had a single task: collecting her scale powder for Garos. Beyond that, she spent her days playing and enjoying a leisurely, carefree life.
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
The Ironforged Clan gradually established roots in Dragon Valley and the surrounding lands.
Under the weak sunlight, the Iron Dragon Solgorn took a deep breath and slowly rose from a pit, his face flushed with excitement. In his claw, he clutched a dark gray stone.
"Finally, a valuable mineral vein!"
Beneath its feet, the iron dragon sensed the presence of a metallic ore deposit.
After excavating the area, it confirmed the discovery of gray magnetite.
While gray magnetite wasn't a magical metal, it still held considerable value. Moreover, the dragon sensed that the vein was substantial, promising a sustainable resource point for continuous mining.
A joyful expression spread across the dragon's face.
The iron dragon marked the location, flapped its wings, and soared into the sky, heading toward Dragon Valley to deliver the good news to Garos.
But the iron dragon failed to notice...
Several miles away, a group of agile centaur scouts emerged from the frost-resistant pine forest, their eyes fixed on the iron dragon's receding silhouette as it vanished into the sky.
The borderlands were the domain of monster clans and powerful ferocious beasts and demonic creatures.
Juvenile dragons were even more active in the unguarded borderlands than in the wilderness.
Now, the native inhabitants of the borderlands—the monster clans—had also detected the arrival of the juvenile dragon.
(End of the Chapter)
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