Translator: AnubisTL
Layers of sunset hues painted the sky like a vibrant oil painting. The scales of the two juvenile dragons shimmered in the twilight as they conversed.
"An unclaimed gray magnetite deposit? An excellent discovery," Garos remarked. "With this mine, we'll have leverage for trade. Deploy a battle group to garrison it and put the kobolds to work mining—they're the best miners."
After a pause, he added, "Bring the Kora Giant Eagles as aerial sentries."
The Borderlands, less resource-rich than the wilderness, made Garos highly value this first gray magnetite deposit.
To establish river trade along the Estonian Great River, relying solely on hunted animal horns and hides for biological materials would be insufficient. The key was a steady supply of valuable minerals.
Moreover, Nick's Caravan was due to return soon.
Having received news of the Ironforged Clan's relocation, the caravan would reroute, traveling up the Estonian Great River by waterway. The red-iron dragon hadn't forgotten Nick's request for an audience.
The Ironforged Clan, newly settled in the Borderlands and rebuilding, urgently needed various resources.
The alchemical equipment, manuals, and blueprints they had requested previously were also crucial for developing the clan's alchemy industry.
"I'll handle the mining operations," Garos assured him.
Iron Dragon Solgorn nodded, his gaze shifting to Garos. "Garos, my dear brother, have you undergone another mutation?" he asked, gesturing to the thorn spikes protruding from Garos' body.
After settling in Dragon Valley for a month, Garos' thorn spikes had completed their evolution.
Varying in size, the hardened, dark brown spikes clustered densely around Garos' neck, arm guards, and shoulders, their icy glint radiating a palpable sense of danger.
"Come, feel them," Garos said to the curious iron dragon, turning slightly to expose his shoulder and inviting Solgorn to strike.
"Here I come," Solgorn warned before raising his razor-sharp claws and slashing at the densest cluster of spikes on Garos' shoulder.
Clang!
Sparks flew as claw met thorn, the friction creating a shower of fiery sparks.
Tear! Solgorn grimaced, swiftly retracting his claw. Glancing down, he was stunned to see his hardened claw pierced by the fine, razor-sharp spikes, dragon blood seeping from the wound.
These thorns were so incredibly tough and sharp that they could pierce even a dragon's claw!
Thorn spikes were a common feature among dragonkind.
The thorn spikes of evil dragons were even denser and sharper than those of metallic dragons.
However, these thorn spikes were far less sharp than dragon claws and less durable than scales. They served little practical purpose for dragonkind, primarily fulfilling an aesthetic function in line with evil dragons' sense of beauty.
Garos's thorn spikes, however, were more than mere ornamentation.
They had scratched the iron dragon's claws, which were renowned for their hardness, making them akin to razor-sharp blades—and not just any blades, but divine weapons of the highest caliber.
The iron dragon bared his teeth and gasped, tilting his head to examine Garos's shoulder.
An even more astonishing sight unfolded before him.
The broken thorn spikes were regenerating at an astonishing speed, visible to the naked eye. Within mere breaths, they had regrown completely, their color indistinguishable from mature spikes—a truly unsettling sight.
"They can regenerate?!"
The iron dragon's eyes gleamed with envy. "Garos, how did you achieve this? I admit your training intensity surpasses anything I could ever hope to match, but this goes beyond mere training, doesn't it?"
Training could certainly harden thorn spikes.
But to make them capable of piercing an iron dragon's claws? And to regenerate them? That was pure fantasy.
"A mutation from my hybrid heritage, combined with relentless training," Garos explained, attributing his abilities to his mixed blood and rigorous training.
He changed the subject, asking, "Solgorn, have you decided which class you'll choose first?"
The iron dragon nodded. "Mind mage. I plan to become a mind mage."
Garos was somewhat surprised. He had expected Solgorn to favor a warrior-type class.
"Your combat prowess is more than enough for our needs," Solgorn explained. "Besides, mind mage possess formidable combat skills as well. More importantly, this class will allow me to better manage our territory and command our familiars."
The division of labor among the Ignis Brothers was now clear.
Garos was the leader, the symbol of absolute power. His intervention could resolve any crisis or desperate situation.
Solgorn served as the chief advisor, exceptionally skilled in managing all aspects of the clan's affairs. This was why he had chosen the mind mage class. Samantha handled alchemical logistics, a role currently less critical but essential for the clan's future development as the alchemy industry became indispensable.
"Your mind and will are stronger than those of ordinary iron dragons," Garos said with a smile. "I'm confident you can succeed in this class."
Becoming a mind mage required passing a threshold: awakening psychic power through meditation. Meditation was a tedious and monotonous process. Samantha, for instance, would never be able to sit still long enough. But Solgorn possessed the innate talent for it.
After exchanging a few more words, the iron dragon led several groups of familiars and flew toward the gray magnetite mine, intending to establish a base there first.
Garos continued to focus on himself.
He concentrated his spirit on the thorn spikes covering his body, then violently shook himself.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The thorn spikes tore through the air, piercing deeply into the surrounding earth, rocks, and vegetation. Like enchanted and alchemically enhanced arrows, they covered an extremely wide area and possessed even greater destructive power than the shattering of explosive scales, while also offering the element of surprise.
Now that my thorn spikes have evolved, I no longer need the damage from explosive scales, Garos thought. He then summoned the wyverns to "trample his back" again.
The wyverns carefully avoided the thorn spike range and attacked Garos's scales.
As Garos endured the wyvern attacks, his explosive scales gradually turned red. However, because he repeatedly stopped midway through the process, the rate at which the scales reddened slowed significantly. Ultimately, they would still overload and explode, requiring time for gradual adaptation and further evolution.
By late night, Iron Dragon Solgorn had led his familiars to the gray magnetite mine.
Before commencing the excavation, they first established a simple base camp to support their subsequent operations.
Ogres, Hyena-Men, lizardfolk, and other creatures began erecting tents and constructing watchtowers and other defensive structures.
Kobolds, carrying pickaxes, trailed behind the iron dragon, their tiny eyes glinting with cunning under the moonlight.
The gray magnetite deposit lay nestled around a low mountain. Solgorn lightly tapped the rock strata with his claws, closing his eyes to sense the mineral veins.
"Here," he pointed to a rock face. "Begin mining from this spot."
The kobolds immediately sprang into action. The crisp clang of fine steel pickaxes striking stone shattered the night's silence.
Simultaneously, Kora Giant Eagles circled overhead, their sharp eyes scanning the ground. They occasionally emitted piercing cries, warning of any potential threats.
Under the iron dragon's command, the establishment and mining of the gray magnetite deposit proceeded at a feverish pace.
Meanwhile, in a distant, frost-resistant pine forest...
Hidden beneath the canopy's shadows, Silvermane lowered his eagle-eye telescope, his silver-white mane bristling slightly with tension.
"Those towering ogres are clad in metal armor," he murmured.
He lowered his voice, saying, "And there are the hyena knights and giant wolf knights, all equipped with superior gear. These aren't the kind of familiars a juvenile dragon would typically possess."
Ironhoof's hooves pawed restlessly at the ground as he added, "What's even more troublesome are those Kora Giant Eagles. With them patrolling the skies, it'll be nearly impossible to approach and strike silently."
The two exchanged a silent glance, both seeing hesitation in the other's eyes.
Ironhoof suddenly grinned, "What's wrong? Scared?"
Silvermane replied, "I'm just thinking... perhaps Elvie was right."
He gazed at the familiars toiling in the mine, musing, "This iron dragon... it's no ordinary creature."
Ironhoof retorted, "Don't forget, whoever resolves this situation first has the best chance of becoming clan chief. This iron dragon may be different, but it's not enough to make us cower in fear."
Across from him, Silvermane proposed, "Why don't we join forces? We'll deal with the iron dragon together first, then you and I can compete for the clan chief position later. Either way, we can't let a half-blood become clan chief."
After a moment's thought, Ironhoof nodded decisively.
(End of the Chapter)
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