More than a month had quietly passed since Golden Dragon Nasha set foot in the Dragon Valley.
During this time, Nasha observed the orderly operations of the Ignas Dragon Group and the large, efficiently run Molten Iron Tribe.
Her understanding of Red Iron Dragon Galos also gradually deepened.
—He was a powerful being who possessed both strength and wisdom.
At the same time, it was natural for two great dragons who had also embarked on the Martial Dragon path to exchange experiences.
And the way Martial Dragons exchanged experiences had always been direct and pure—they fought!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Gale-force winds roared above the Dragon Valley, sweeping over the dragons' indestructible scales.
Black-red Dragon Qi and brilliant golden Dragon Qi clashed and collided in the void like two armies facing off, erupting in waves of energy ripples.
Various elemental lights flashed and exploded within them.
The dragons' low roars, powerful enough to drown out the wind, intertwined with the booming air blasts, echoing incessantly.
After more than ten minutes.
Accompanied by a dull thud, the golden dragon's figure was knocked off balance by the Red Iron Dragon with a swift wing-sweep followed by a claw strike. Immediately after, Galos's massive claw, covered in dark red scales, stomped heavily onto her back, forcing her to lose her flight posture and fall diagonally towards the solid ground below.
Bang!
The ground suddenly shook violently, and the thick snow instantly surged into white waves, rapidly spreading outwards in a ring, revealing the frozen ground below, covered in a spiderweb of cracks.
Galos released his claw from Nasha's back.
His powerful body stood amidst the swirling snow, like a mountain, his chest rising and falling slightly with his breathing.
"Exhilarating! Exhilarating!"
Nasha gasped for air.
The air rushing into her lungs brought sharp pangs of pain, yet it also offered a slight relief to her overheated body.
She struggled, flipped over, and stood up again, shaking her somewhat dizzy head.
Although she had accumulated many new wounds, and the tearing pain and soreness from overexerted muscles constantly spread through her body, she was also exceptionally satisfied and joyful, even as she couldn't help but wince from the pain.
Unlike Galos, she wasn't infatuated with pain itself.
What she craved was the experience of complete focus and immersion during combat, and the surging thrill that came from clashing with a powerful opponent.
Every encounter with Galos, every single moment, made her feel immense pressure.
But precisely because of this, in such a state, her mind could fully concentrate on the battle itself, and the speed at which her Martial Dragon skills improved far surpassed her usual solitary training.
Moreover, Galos's attacks were far more substantial than those of her Metallic Dragon companions in the Dragon Domain, who emphasized stopping just short of injury.
Aside from avoiding vital points to ensure no fatal danger, he basically had no other reservations.
In the Dragon Domain, sparring among Metallic Dragons was far less intense and realistic.
Because of the aura forged by countless life-and-death battles, combined with the practical feel of claws meeting flesh and scales drawing blood, Nasha sometimes even had the illusion that Galos genuinely wanted her dead.
This sense of combat, infinitely close to reality, was like dancing on a tightrope, making Nasha feel incredibly stimulated.
"Just now, you tried to link ice-type skills with fire-type skills, using the destructive force generated by the instantaneous interplay of extreme heat and extreme cold to reduce defenses and create openings. That's a good idea."
The Red Iron Dragon looked at the standing Golden Dragon and spoke in a deep voice.
Nasha shook her somewhat dizzy head, listening attentively.
"But at the moment of transition, your Dragon Qi showed a clear delay. This is fine against weaker opponents, but against opponents of equal or greater strength, an instantaneous opening can be fatal."
"If you can't connect them smoothly, it's best not to use such a technique in battle."
"It will instead become your own weakness."
Galos pointed to the spot where he had been grazed by an attack earlier; a trace of frost remained on his scales there, but it was rapidly melting.
Nasha took a deep breath, feeling her Dragon Qi still somewhat turbulent within her, and nodded thoughtfully.
"I understand."
"The Four Symbols Path pursues change and combination, using varying combinations to adapt to all situations. But if the elemental changes themselves are not fluid enough, and there are gaps in the transitions, then no matter how many changes there are, they will only become a burden to oneself, and instead create more vulnerabilities."
She paused, looking at Galos.
She sighed, "Your offense is like a seamless bolt of lightning, leaving me breathless. Compared to you, my Martial Dragon skills are still too immature."
Nasha couldn't help but recall the details of the battle just now.
Every pounce, every tail whip, every claw strike from Galos seemed to have been tempered a thousand times, appearing utterly natural. The transitions between his movements were incredibly fast, almost as if he had always activated the warrior skill 'Flowing Movements,' smooth and effortless, without any superfluous or sluggish motions.
Once he seized even a tiny opportunity.
The ensuing dense and continuous attacks often sealed the victory and ended the battle in a very short time.
Galos replied, "Ultimately, it's still because you lack sufficient real combat experience."
For a young dragon to comment on an adult dragon's lack of combat experience, this statement sounded somewhat paradoxical.
However, Golden Dragon Nasha did not refute it and acknowledged the point.
She still clearly remembered the sight she saw the first time she managed to break through the tough Cold Burst Scales defense on Galos's body during an intense clash.
Those black-red scales, covered in battle scars, delivered a dual impact to her vision and her spirit.
Furthermore, over these past days, with each clash, each incisive piece of advice, and each in-depth discussion, Nasha could clearly feel her progress on the path of the Martial Dragon.
Previously vague thoughts and ideas became clear through real combat and Galos's sharp critiques.
Galos was also not stingy in guiding Nasha with his Martial Dragon experience.
Through mutual sparring and shared discussions, he himself also benefited.
Engaging with a Martial Dragon who mastered the Four Symbols Path and excelled in elemental combinations and tactical changes enriched his understanding of different combat styles and counter-strategies. The endless elemental combinations and tactics of the Four Symbols Dragon, while unable to pose a substantial threat to him, also served as a mirror, allowing him to see previously untouched blind spots in his own combat system.
Beyond fighting and guidance, Galos also asked Nasha to act as his sparring partner.
This was in return for his unreserved sharing of experience and guidance.
"Shall we conclude today's Martial Dragon exchange for now?"
Galos looked at the sky and suggested.
Nasha, still eager, licked her lower jaw with her tongue, her golden pupils still burning with fighting spirit: "No, let's go a little longer! I haven't had enough fun yet; I feel like I can still squeeze out some more potential."
The Red Iron Dragon nodded.
"Alright, then as you wish."
Amidst the wind and snow, two massive figures, one black and one gold, once again erupted with powerful force, soaring into the sky, then constantly intertwining, separating, and colliding, until they gradually ceased about half an hour later.
Nasha removed her shining golden armor and put it away.
She lay sprawled on her back on the cold snow, utterly limp, gasping for breath, feeling as if every muscle and bone in her body had been completely drained, reaching its physiological limit.
At this moment, she didn't even have the strength to twitch the tip of her tail.
Galos exhaled a breath of hot white vapor, stretched his strong body, which had also undergone high-intensity combat, and said to the Golden Dragon lying on the ground: "You rest here and recover. Once you feel somewhat better, come and join me for the next round of resistance training."
His breathing was only slightly heavier than before, showing no signs of fatigue or weariness.
The fierce battle just now seemed to him like nothing more than an effective warm-up.
In fact, that was indeed the case.
So Galos was already contemplating, preparing to bring out the Copper-Silver Dragon for another round of training.
Listening to Galos, the Golden Dragon couldn't help but weakly complain, "You're truly a monster who knows no fatigue… Galos, do you have a perpetual motion machine in your body? Do you never get tired at all?"
Galos heard this and thought seriously for a moment.
He replied with a matter-of-fact tone, "Tired, of course I still get tired, but I am striving towards the goal of 'knowing no fatigue.'"
He recalled the two battles with Gorsas the Red Dragon and Perester the Blue Dragon.
Only battles of that caliber could make him feel fatigued.
In comparison, his spar with Nasha was far from that level of intensity.
Nasha was speechless, unsure how to react to the Red Iron Dragon's reply, which sounded like a boast but was delivered with utmost seriousness.
"Arrogant and perverse fellow..."
She gnashed her teeth, involuntarily fantasizing about the wonderful scene where, one day, her strength would greatly advance, and she would defeat Galos, then condescendingly instruct him on Martial Dragon techniques.
After all, no matter how much one loved battle, one couldn't always be the one suppressed and instructed.
Learn Galos's Martial Dragon techniques, master them, and then surpass him!
—This was a small goal Nasha had set for herself.
But what she didn't know was that the previous one to set a similar goal, and even swear an oath for it, was none other than her younger brother, Alberto, and that ambitious Golden Dragon was still struggling in a cycle of repeated defeats and repeated battles, with the day of realizing his oath still far off.
Having finished his warm-up, Galos flapped his wings and returned to the Dragon Valley area.
"Hmm? Where's Deborah?"
His gaze swept around, but he didn't find that familiar silver-white figure.
"Here, here! I know where she is, I'll take you!"
The Fairy Dragon immediately appeared, a wide grin on her face, eagerly hopping ahead to lead the way.
Thus, guided enthusiastically by Vera the Fairy Dragon, Galos found the Copper-Silver Dragon hiding at the bottom of the lake, having cast a transformation spell to disguise herself as a large silver fish, attempting to blend in with the school of fish and slip through unnoticed.
"Deborah, stop hiding, I've found you."
The large silver fish remained silent, feigning ignorance and stupidity.
Galos shook his head slightly, then charged through, scattering the school of fish and singling out the large silver fish.
"How did you find me?"
Left with no choice, Deborah reverted to her true form.
Galos didn't betray his guide, and then, ignoring her half-hearted resistance, forcibly dragged the Copper-Silver Dragon out of her comfort zone and into a new round of training.
Time flowed steadily with the howling wind and snow.
Not long after, the Copper-Silver Dragon collapsed, utterly exhausted. The Fairy Dragon flew over and whispered bad things about Galos in her ear, declaring that she stood firmly on the same side as her.
Galos was accustomed to this and began his own, more focused and in-depth training alone.
Meanwhile, in another area of the Dragon Valley, the wyrmlings and hatchlings from the Dominic Dragon Group were enduring arduous physical conditioning and basic skill practice under the strict, almost harsh, training of Tracy the White Dragon, gritting their teeth.
The air was filled with the muffled groans and heavy panting of the young dragons.
However, no dragon complained.
It was said that the mighty King of Molten Iron had attained his awe-inspiring power today precisely by training with an intensity far beyond what ordinary dragons could imagine.
This greatly encouraged these young descendants, who took Galos as their role model and strived to emulate him.
Moreover, although the training intensity was terrifying, often resulting in broken scales and torn flesh,
the food and nutritional supplements provided by the Molten Iron Tribe were unprecedentedly abundant and high-quality, allowing them to feast to their heart's content after exertion and recover quickly.
This was a level of generous treatment completely unimaginable in their former Dominic Dragon Group.
Precisely because of these tangible benefits, and because the arduous training, though uncomfortable in process, yielded significant results and truly benefited their growth and development, these wyrmlings and hatchlings' sense of belonging and trust in the Molten Iron Tribe was growing daily.
At the same time, they gradually came to view the Dominic Dragon Group, to which they once belonged, as an unbearable former Dragon Group.
Rumble!
The low roars of the giant dragons, the tremors of heavy footsteps treading the earth... all these sounds intertwined, rising and falling, ceaseless.
The entire Dragon Valley was vibrant and full of energy.
If not for the ground and mountains here being reinforced and enchanted layer by layer by the warlocks among the dependents, and with specialized engineering teams constantly maintaining and strengthening them, it would truly be difficult to withstand the almost frantic training and destruction of so many giant dragons day after day.
Soon after, time quietly slipped into the deep night.
The dark night sky, like thick velvet, enveloped the world, and snowflakes danced wildly in the howling cold wind.
Beneath the night sky, it seemed only the Dragon Valley still emitted light, with numerous bonfires and magical glows dispelling the effects of darkness.
The wyrmlings and hatchlings finally finished their torturous training for the day, then, dragging their exhausted bodies, flapped their still-tender wings, and flew unsteadily towards their own cave lairs, carved into the steep cliffs, ready to enter dreamland and face the challenges of the next day.
Just then, a golden dragon shadow circled in the sky, seemingly searching for something, then landed in front of Galos, who was still refining himself alone.
It was Nasha the Golden Dragon.
After a period of rest, she had recovered some of her physical strength.
"You've come at a good time."
Galos's movements paused slightly, temporarily stopping.
He looked at Nasha the Golden Dragon, whose aura had stabilized considerably, and greeted her: "Attack me with your elemental skills. The requirements are the same as before, no need to hold back."
Nasha was already accustomed to this and didn't stand on ceremony.
She took a deep breath, suppressed the lingering soreness in her body, raised her dragon claw, and felt the Dragon Qi surge and circulate within her once more.
The next moment, flames, ice, lightning, rock spikes, torrents... various elemental attacks of differing attributes, like the most dazzling fireworks display at a festival, rained down upon the Red Iron Dragon in a furious barrage.
The blinding light instantly completely engulfed Galos, and the energy turbulence distorted the surrounding air.
His scales made faint cracking sounds, but far from showing any pain, a hint of pleasure flashed in his eyes. He even actively stretched his wings and body, slightly adjusting his posture to match Nasha's attack angles, allowing elemental attacks of different attributes to more fully cover every inch of his body.
Although there was no specific progress bar, Galos was certain that he was gradually adapting to these attacks.
His resistance was slowly increasing as a result.
After some time, Nasha once again felt her body completely drained, her Dragon Qi nearly dry, her breathing becoming rapid and heavy like a broken bellows, and she slowly stopped this round of elemental outpouring.
Galos's body was now covered with various scars and marks left by the elements.
Charred, frosted, corroded, lacerated... the list was endless.
His Cold Burst Scales had largely shattered and peeled off under such fierce bombardment, revealing the underlying black and red scales covered with countless battle-hardened patterns.
Those dense patterns and elemental traces intertwined.
Far from appearing disheveled, they further highlighted the grandeur and might of his physique.
A fierce aura, tempered by countless battles and refined through a hundred trials, surged forth, making the panting Nasha somewhat flustered for a moment, her gaze unable to move away.
Just then, as if sensing something, Galos and Nasha almost simultaneously turned their heads, looking in the same direction.
They saw Alberto approaching with steady, unhurried steps.
He stood tall, chest out, head held high, his eyes seemingly containing a lion poised to strike, radiating a profound aura different from before.
Most crucially,
Galos and Nasha both keenly noticed that the golden dragon horns on Alberto's head, at some unknown point, had increased from one pair to four pairs!
The newly grown dragon horns wound and intertwined skillfully.
Finally, they formed a majestic structure on his head, like a natural crown, shimmering with noble and mysterious luster under the glow of bonfires and magic.
Under the combined gaze of the Red Iron Dragon and his Dragon Sister, Alberto did not speak, nor did he offer any explanation.
He merely raised his head again, making his dragon horns appear even more prominent.