A month passed quietly.
On this day, a majestic black Dragon shadow fiercely tore through the swirling snow curtain, soaring freely in the high heavens.
Its blood-red wing membranes stretched to their limit, forming a terrifying wingspan of a hundred meters, like a burning blood cloud.
He danced wildly in the biting high altitude, his posture domineering and fluid.
As visible sonic boom airwaves erupted one after another behind him, the massive Dragon body instantly vanished from its spot, leaving only a reverberating roar, and the next moment it had already appeared on the other side of the distant horizon.
Its speed was so great that it exceeded the limit of ordinary creatures' eyes, barely allowing a scorching, crimson tail flame, as if tearing the sky apart, to linger for a long time.
This high-speed soaring lasted for about half an hour.
Afterward, the Red Iron Dragon slowly reduced his speed, seemingly still wanting more, and folded his wings, diving towards the bottom of the Dragon Valley.
The pair of wing membranes, shining with a crimson glow, gradually retracted, fitting against his strong body, returning to the appearance of seemingly normal Dragon wings.
In addition, he was wearing a heavy suit of armor, completely black with rigid lines.
This armor not only didn't appear cumbersome but instead made him look even more mighty and extraordinary, exuding a fierce aura.
However, his life essence at this moment was not as strong as in his normal state, maintaining only around level 18.
That was the Restraint Armor forged for him by the Red Dragon Samantha.
It was cast from several incredibly heavy and exceptionally strong magical metal materials.
The alchemical arrays inscribed inside and outside the armor could effectively suppress Dragon Qi. Its structure referenced the Gold Dragon's solely honored dragon emperor armor, using a more convenient split design for wearing and removal. Numerous alchemical formations were etched inside and out, deploying super-heavy arrays, and it could also change to a certain extent with changes in body size.
It provided Galos with additional defense.
Besides that, its suppression and restraint also improved Galos's training effect.
However, he didn't plan to wear this thing all the time, except when training.
It was too heavy, and although it offered some defensive effects, overall it was actually inferior to Galos's previous Cold Burst Scales; its main effect was still to suppress his own strength.
As for relying on it to play the pig to eat the tiger... Galos had a fleeting similar thought before, but that was more of a self-deprecating jest.
He had no real interest in it deep down.
A true tiger, even if it pretends to be a pig, might not be able to eat; and against those fake tigers, there was even less need for such extra effort.
"My top speed has more than doubled since before my slumber."
"Even wearing this Restraint Armor now, my speed is faster than when I went all out before."
The Red Iron Dragon exhaled a hot breath, which condensed into white mist in the air, thinking calmly: "The current me, if I were to face the Blue Dragon Leader Dominic at his peak again, even if he elementalized decisively upon seeing me and fled without looking back, he would no longer be able to escape my pursuit."
At this moment.
Seeing that he had finished his aerial training, the Copper-Silver Dragon Deborah, who had been waiting silently nearby, gently stretched her long and graceful wings, like a light feather, and landed opposite him.
She looked as if she had taken great care with her appearance.
Her already beautiful scales appeared meticulously polished, smooth and bright, shimmering with an alluring luster of honey and silver intertwined. Not even a speck of dust could be found between the scale gaps, making her appear flawlessly clean and breathtakingly beautiful.
Even non-Dragons could appreciate her beauty.
Even rarer, she wore some exquisite yet not ostentatious jewelry.
A golden necklace with delicate patterns encircled her slender neck, a silver circlet was bound at the base of her prominent Dragon horns, and a honey-colored, exquisite anklet was clasped at her wrist.
These ornaments sparkled on her, making her even more radiant.
Standing opposite the Red Iron Dragon, Deborah lowered her head slightly, wanting to speak but hesitating.
She seemed to have mustered her courage to say something, but the words reached her lips, yet she found them difficult to utter, transforming into a faint, almost imperceptible hesitation.
The Red Iron Dragon's gaze retracted from the meticulously cared-for details on her.
He grinned, teasing: "Dressed up so beautifully?"
"Deborah, you're not trying to tempt me into mischief, are you? I must remind you, according to Dragon age calculations, I still have two years until I officially enter adulthood."
Opposite him, Deborah's face, covered in fine scales, instantly flushed hot, as if steam might rise from it.
"Rude! Presumptuous fellow! You... what nonsense are you spouting!"
She seemed to have had her tail stepped on, glaring at the Red Iron Dragon in shame and anger, completely forgetting what she had originally intended to say. She abruptly spread her wings and almost fled back into the depths of Burning Steel Fortress, hiding herself and disappearing from sight.
At the bottom of the valley, Galos watched the Copper-Silver Dragon's hasty retreat, unable to help but laugh dumbfounded.
"It seems I was right; I'm not the only one restless and suppressed by growth."
He understood in his heart.
Afterward, the Red Iron Dragon did not choose to pursue Deborah back into the fortress.
Focusing on his own improvement was more important.
He quickly discarded the surging distractions in his mind, once again becoming single-minded, and then, wearing that heavy Restraint Armor, performed various exercises at the bottom of the valley.
As time quietly passed, the sky in the Borderlands gradually darkened.
A deep night enveloped the world.
Whoosh—!
Just then, a golden meteor streaked across the dark night sky, rapidly approaching the Dragon Valley.
Only when it got closer could one clearly see that it was a majestic Dragon covered entirely in golden scales, with a strong and powerful body.
It was the Gold Dragon Alberto.
His size had grown considerably since Galos last saw him, his strength even surpassing that of a Red Dragon of the same length, exuding a mighty and powerful aura that made him stand out.
Seeing the Red Iron Dragon training below, the Gold Dragon's eyes suddenly lit up.
He immediately adjusted his direction and quickly descended near Galos.
"Hey! Galos, long time no see!"
The Gold Dragon raised his head, and above it, layered Dragon horns, like a magnificent crown, were prominently displayed. A rough count revealed no less than four pairs, making him particularly eye-catching.
The Red Iron Dragon glanced at him, his gaze lingering for a moment on the overly abundant Dragon horns.
He asked flatly: "Your sister Nasha didn't pull off these extra horns of yours?"
The Gold Dragon Alberto just chuckled dismissively at the remark: "Her? Not worth mentioning."
Wouldn't it be fine to just put them back on if they were pulled off?
No big deal.
He added in his mind.
Ever since he 'grew' these magnificent pairs of Dragon horns, Alberto found that no matter where he went, he received more attention, admiration, and even awe than before. This undoubtedly strengthened his resolve to maintain this image.
Anyway, except for a few Dragons, other creatures couldn't tell the difference between real and fake.
"After your slumber this time, besides your increased size and some changes in your scales and Dragon wings, it seems... your life essence hasn't increased much?"
Alberto carefully observed the Red Iron Dragon, his eyes gleaming.
He heard that the Red Iron Dragon had awakened and specifically came to the Borderlands, one of his main purposes being to see with his own eyes how much this opponent, who had repeatedly defeated him, had grown after this long slumber, to compare it with his own improvements after slumber.
But now, based on his initial perception, the other party's aura strength didn't seem very strong.
Although Galos certainly looked more formidable, and the black armor he wore appeared quite imposing, the strength of the life essence he exuded didn't feel much different from before his slumber.
"Hmm, about the same as what you sensed."
The Red Iron Dragon nodded, not denying it.
At the same time, some irresistible thoughts involuntarily emerged in the Gold Dragon's mind.
We're both level 18, and I've truly mastered several powerful skills since I awakened this time; things are different now.
Perhaps... now is the chance to clash with Galos and avenge my past defeats?
The more Alberto thought about it, the more his fighting spirit soared.
He disliked idle talk, took a sudden step forward, and with burning eyes fixed on the Red Iron Dragon, solemnly declared.
"Galos! I, Alberto, officially challenge you!"
After speaking, he quickly and cautiously added: "On the condition that you are not allowed to use that special state where your whole body erupts with crimson lotus patterns!"
The Red Iron Dragon had no reason to refuse such a request.
He nodded again, indicating his acceptance.
Two minutes later, the two quickly finalized the details of the challenge and the stakes.
Similar to the previous arrangement, if Alberto lost, he would once again bear the debt he had painstakingly cleared, and the amount would be even heavier than before; as for the price of Galos losing... he actually no longer remembered what he had casually agreed to earlier, after all, in his opinion, such a possibility was minuscule, almost non-existent.
"Let's fight in the sky, so as not to damage your Dragon Valley."
Gold Dragon Alberto's eyes gleamed with excitement and anticipation, and he impatiently flapped his wings, taking to the sky first, assuming a battle stance in the night.
On the ground, the Red Iron Dragon looked up at him, a slow smile spreading across his lips.
"Alright, then, let me take off this cumbersome armor first."
Clang! Clang! Clang!
As his body swayed slightly and his muscles contracted, heavy steel armor components successively detached from his body, crashing heavily onto the solid ground of the valley floor, emitting a dull, thunderous roar that even created large craters and radiating cracks on the surface.
Soon, the last shoulder plate fell to the ground.
Galos revealed his Dragon body covered in black and red scales and battle scars, and at the same time, like a flood beast freed from its shackles, a life aura and Dragon Might far more powerful and terrifying than before spread out like a tangible force.
The surrounding air seemed to solidify at this moment.
Alberto could not precisely determine the 20th-level life rank with his perception abilities.
However, at this moment, he realized with absolute clarity that Galos's true rank must far exceed his own!
Because under Galos's powerful Dragon Might, he felt waves of trepidation.
His keen senses were warning him that if the opponent were an enemy, he should best start fleeing immediately or seek help from his Legendary Dragon elders.
He had only felt a similar sense of oppression from those Dragons who had truly stepped into the Legendary domain when he was in the Dragon Domain.
And below Legendary, no Dragon had ever given him such a feeling.
"I'll let you make the first move, come on."
The Red Iron Dragon shook his thick neck, emitting a faint sound of bones rubbing, and spoke in a calm tone.
Alberto, in mid-air, took a deep breath of the cold air, as if making a certain decision.
Then, under Galos's gaze, he... decisively retracted all battle stances and quickly descended back to the ground.
He stood firm, his gaze stern, his demeanor majestic, and he spoke in a deep voice.
"I, Alberto Aurelius, surrender!"
If one were only to look at his posture, head held high and chest out, with a firm gaze, but without hearing his voice, one might have thought he was making some grand declaration of a decisive battle.
Galos: "Won't you really try? Maybe there's a chance?"
Alberto said unequivocally: "No attempt, I surrender."
Galos: "I just finished high-intensity training and am currently fatigued, you actually have a chance."
Alberto was expressionless: "No chance, I surrender."
Galos, with a hint of teasing: "Where did your confidence and arrogance as a Gold Dragon go?"
Alberto was still decisive: "It's gone, I surrender."
He had made up his mind; he would absolutely not allow the Red Iron Dragon to truly make a move, no matter what.
Otherwise, he would likely be bedridden for a very long time.
Galos shook his head regretfully: "I should have taken off my armor during the fight to give you a surprise."
That probably wouldn't be a surprise, but rather a horror that would leave psychological trauma... Alberto muttered silently to himself.
"Alas, when will the oath I made in my ignorant youth finally be fulfilled..."
Thinking of how he had once again incurred an even heavier debt in the blink of an eye, Gold Dragon Alberto couldn't help but look up at the night sky, his gaze filled with a sense of melancholy about an uncertain future.
However, with the reminder of the oath, his inherent stubbornness quickly gained the upper hand.
He didn't consider any opportunistic possibilities, but instead, he cheered up again and silently walked to the side, throwing himself back into high-intensity training.
Even if this still couldn't make him surpass the monster that was Galos, at the very least, it could make him stronger.
Strong enough to surpass most other Dragons!
Suddenly, the Gold Dragon felt that White Dragon Tracy's previously mentioned ecological niche theory made a lot of sense.
Since he couldn't get even with Galos, using the motivation from the bullying he received from Galos to bully other Evil Dragons who were inferior to him seemed like a very good option.
Thinking this, Alberto's inner frustration instantly vanished, replaced by even greater excitement and surging passion, as he sweated and shimmered with golden light under the night sky.
After some time.
Red Iron finished all his planned training for the day, while Gold Dragon Alberto continued with a stubborn persistence, as if tireless.
Galos had no interest in competing with him.
After completing his daily routine, he stopped decisively and then flapped his wings, flying back to Burning Steel Fortress.
Inside the magnificent and warm bedchamber.
The Red Iron Dragon lay prone on a bed piled high with countless gold coins, various gems, and all sorts of magical precious metals. With a casual flick and twist of his flexible tail, he tossed a few magical gems of excellent quality to his mouth, then, like eating candy, he carelessly chewed and swallowed them as a bit of energy replenishment after his daily high-intensity training.
Such luxury, if his territory wasn't rich in resources, it would be utterly unaffordable.
Not long after.
The Red Iron Dragon adjusted to a more comfortable position, curling his tail under his head, preparing to sleep and get some good rest.
But just then, the scales covering his eyelids twitched slightly, as if he had keenly sensed something.
The Red Iron Dragon raised his head, looking towards the huge and heavy Metal door of the bedchamber.
Creak... With a faint but clear friction sound, the door was slowly pushed open from the outside, creating a gap. Immediately after, an elegant and beautiful figure silently slipped in.
It was Copper-Silver Dragon Deborah.
She walked in with light steps that made almost no sound.
However, just as she fully entered the room, a slender Dragon tail swiftly swept out as if it had eyes.
"Oh dear!"
A faint gasp sounded.
The Fairy Dragon, who was originally invisible, was directly swept out by that tail, tumbled a few times in the air, then was wrapped by the Copper-Silver Dragon's tail and thrown out the door.
Immediately after, the Copper-Silver Dragon's tail smoothly pulled again.
The Metal door closed tightly and perfectly, and she immediately cast many sealing spells, completely isolating the inside from the outside.
After doing all this, Copper-Silver Dragon Deborah acted as if nothing had happened.
She gracefully approached, stopping before the bed piled with treasures.
The Copper-Silver Dragon's slender neck lowered slightly, her eyes meeting Galos's, with an unspeakable tenderness and a hint of bold invitation flowing within them.
She said nothing, only exhaled softly.
Her breath carried the scent of a Metallic Dragon, brushing past the Red Iron Dragon's nostrils and facial scales.
Then, the Red Iron Dragon emitted a low breath from his throat.
"Have you decided?"
"Mm."
The Copper-Silver Dragon responded softly.
Afterward, the Red Iron Dragon said nothing more, only responded with action.
His tail, which had been serving as a pillow, relaxed and coiled around the Copper-Silver Dragon's ankle.
Dragon scales touched, making a faint rustling sound.
The Copper-Silver Dragon did not resist; instead, she took another step forward, bringing their two Dragon bodies close together, scale touching scale, so that she could clearly feel the heartbeat emanating from the Red Iron Dragon's chest.
Restless and fervent.
The Red Iron Dragon's huge head lowered, his snout brushing against the scales on the Copper-Silver Dragon's neck.
At the same time, the Copper-Silver Dragon raised her foreclaw and gently placed it on the Red Iron Dragon's broad and solid shoulder blade, retracting her sharp claw tips, carefully feeling the surging power beneath the other's scales.
Gold coins and gems rustled and slid, creating a crisp and pleasant accompanying sound.
The crimson Dragon wings slowly unfurled and grew larger, not for flight, but closing like a curtain, with an unquestionable posture of protection and possession, enveloping both their figures and isolating them from external prying eyes.