The first light of dawn broke, gilding the mountains in a layer of pale gold.
The mist, like gossamer, flowed slowly along the mountainsides, dyed a faint rose and orange by the morning glow.
On a wide platform on the east side of the Dragon Court, the gravel and dust had long been cleared away, leaving the ground level and the view open.
At this moment, the place had become lively.
Red Dragon Samantha stretched her wings, which were a brilliant, burning red. Her wing membranes were almost transparent in the sunlight, revealing a fine network of Bloodlines interwoven like dark red threads.
She flicked her tail comfortably, her gaze falling upon the four Young Dragons who had arrived at the appointed time.
Galkro, Laria, Isanola, and Ophelia.
The four Young Dragons stood in a row, their average body length already reaching ten meters. To an ordinary human, they were already massive Vicious Beasts, but in reality, they were not even eight years old, their scales possessing the soft luster unique to Young Dragons.
They each held a different posture.
Galkro held his head high and chest out, Laria stood steadily, Isanola lazily squinted her eyes, and Ophelia turned her head from time to time to observe her surroundings.
"Good, none of you are late,"
Samantha said with a beaming smile.
She paced forward two steps and said, "This is a reward for you. If your subsequent performance satisfies me, there will be more."
As she spoke, she turned her front claw over, and four Gold Auras appeared in her palm.
These were standard gold coins minted by the Aura Kingdom, with an emblem of high mountains and dragon wings on the front and fine anti-slip ridges along the edges.
The gold coins looked tiny in the Red Dragon's claws, yet they shimmered with an alluring luster.
She gave a gentle toss, and the gold coins traced four arcs, landing precisely in front of each Young Dragon.
The coins forged of gold shimmered with a brilliant and warm luster in the morning sun, as if the sunlight itself had been condensed into physical form.
The gold coins made a crisp clinking sound as they hit the ground, a sound that was incredibly pleasant to the Young Dragons' ears.
The Young Dragons' eyes lit up one by one, revealing undisguised expressions of happiness.
Laria carefully cupped the gold coin with his claws and brought it to his nose to sniff the cold, metallic scent unique to metal. Isanola toyed with hers using her flexible claw tips, letting the coin roll over her scales while her silver pupils followed its trajectory. Galkro simply took it into his mouth, his tongue repeatedly passing over the coin's surface to feel its smooth, hard texture. Ophelia quickly tucked the gold coin under a loose scale on the side of her neck, glancing warily left and right to ensure no one had noticed her hiding spot.
Regardless of their personalities, their behavior in the face of gold coins was similar.
It was a feeling of pure joy.
Back in the Fubo Dragon Domain, the Young Dragons' mother had been very strict regarding wealth, and their allowance was pitifully small.
Metallic Dragons believed that early exposure to vast wealth would corrupt a Young Dragon's Heart-Nature, so they were only allowed to possess very little private property.
The private stashes of several Young Dragons consisted only of some worn copper coins, a few worthless variegated pebbles, and shells.
The edges of those copper coins were already worn smooth and the patterns on the surface were blurred, but even so, they would carefully store them in the corners of their nests.
A brand new Gold Aura was already a considerable fortune to them.
It was heavy, its edges sharp, and its emblem clear.
Watching their genuine delight, Red Dragon Samantha grinned, revealing a nostalgic smile.
When she was young, her love for wealth was exactly the same as theirs, or even far exceeded it.
Back then, she was a miser who wouldn't even let another dragon see a single copper plate, and it was absolutely impossible for her to part with her own treasures. Every time she got something, she would immediately hide it in the most secluded corner and would even get up several times at night to check on it.
But since following her elder brother Garros to establish a tribe, participate in founding a nation, and expand their territory... her wealth had accumulated at a staggering speed.
Gold coins piled up, gemstones filled chests, pearls were like sand... eventually, it became so much that she herself couldn't remember the exact amount, only knowing that several side caves deep within her nest were packed full.
Sometimes when she woke up and rolled over, the clattering sound of gold coins sliding would come from beneath her.
When wealth became such a vague concept rather than specific treasures, her obsession with it naturally faded.
Gold coins were just gold coins; gemstones were just gemstones.
They sat there in piles; they wouldn't decrease, but rather increased day and night.
Furthermore, her brother had always taught her that wealth is a tool, an extension of power, rather than a cage. True strength lies not in how much one possesses, but in whether one can use it to achieve their goals.
Now, she enjoyed bestowing treasures upon the younger generation, watching their excitement and making them more willing to follow her arrangements because of it.
This process itself also brought a fresh sense of pleasure.
It was a joy where control and gifting coexisted.
Seeing the Young Dragons' eyes light up for a single gold coin, she felt as if she were seeing her past self, yet she was transcended above that simple possessiveness.
"Alright, little money-grubbers, put your money away. It's time for business."
Samantha clapped her claws, making a crisp sound to draw the Young Dragons' attention back, her tail tapping gently on the ground.
"Laria, Isanola; Galkro, Ophelia."
She called out the names of the four Young Dragons in turn, a playful light shining in her vertical pupils as her gaze lingered on each dragon for a moment.
"Stand in pairs, and then walk to the two ends of the platform respectively."
The Young Dragons looked at each other, somewhat bewildered.
Isanola and Laria exchanged a glance and unhurriedly moved together.
The Silver Dragon's movements were elegant and lazy, while the Red Dragon appeared more cautious.
Galkro looked at the Little Iron Dragon Ophelia beside him. The latter was looking down, using her claws to confirm if the gold coin was safely hidden. Sensing his gaze, she looked up and hopped over to Galkro's side.
"Aunt Samantha, what are we going to do?"
Ophelia asked, her voice clear.
"What are we doing?" Samantha's tail tip wagged happily. "Playing a game, of course. Though, it can also be understood as fighting."
"Fighting?"
The four Young Dragons spoke in unison, their expressions varied.
Galkro immediately became excited, the scales on his neck flaring slightly as his nostrils snorted hot breath. Ophelia retreated behind her eldest brother, her body lowering slightly. Laria showed a thoughtful expression, his gaze moving between his opponents and his teammate. Isanola looked uninterested and let out a yawn.
"Exactly. The game is called 'The Red Dragon Queen's Gift'."
Samantha cleared her throat and began to narrate in a rhythmic tone.
"The great and wealthy Red Dragon Queen, in order to encourage the Young Dragons, granted them an opportunity to please the Queen. The Young Dragons who perform excellently will also receive generous rewards from the Red Dragon Queen."
"I am the Red Dragon Queen, and you are those Young Dragons."
Samantha slowly finished the game's background and then began to explain the actual rules, her speaking speed slowing down to ensure every Young Dragon could hear clearly.
"You will engage in a two-on-two actual combat."
"Laria and Isanola are one team; Galkro and Ophelia are the other."
"There are no complex rules. Just use every means you currently know to attack your opponents and protect your teammate until one side is completely down or I call a stop."
"The winning team will receive a reward of gemstones."
Samantha had been obsessed with similar games when she was young and never tired of them.
Back then, she would mark out areas on the ground with stones and branches, using everything from insects and ants at first to Dependents and alchemical creations later as her own army, then simulating various combat scenarios.
Now that she was an adult, her personality had become much more stable, but her essence hadn't changed much. She still enjoyed playing such games, and had simply replaced the controlled subjects with her brother's offspring.
Watching these little ones work hard for a reward gave her a strange sense of satisfaction.
Samantha said, "Now, go to the two ends of the platform. I'll give you one minute to prepare and coordinate."
To receive the 'Red Dragon Queen's' gift, the four Young Dragons quickly separated and ran toward the opposite ends of the platform; even the Little Silver Dragon Isanola did not slack off.
Their claws made a dense pattering sound on the ground, their wings half-spread to maintain balance.
The platform was very wide, leaving enough distance in the middle to serve as a buffer and combat zone.
On the west side, Laria and Isanola huddled together.
The Little Silver Dragon stretched her slender wings, the wing membranes shimmering with a pearl-like luster in the sunlight.
She looked at the fourth-born and said, "Thinking is very tiring, Laria. You tell me what to do; I'll follow your lead completely."
Laria looked at the opposing pair.
Galkro was shaking his head and stretching his limbs, while Ophelia leaned in and whispered something in his ear.
He said thoughtfully, "You'll be responsible for Ophelia. She's very cunning and probably won't fight you head-on. Use feints to deal with her first, and don't expend too much stamina."
"Galkro was just lectured by Father, so his mental state might be unstable. He'll likely be eager to prove himself and prone to being reckless."
"When he gets impatient, use my Dragon Roar as a signal. Break off your fight with Ophelia and use your speed to support me. We'll gang up on Galkro first."
"When Ophelia comes to support him, we'll deal with her together."
Although Laria was a Red Dragon, his way of thinking was far from simple.
He possessed the strategic thinking of an Iron Dragon, preferring to formulate a plan before acting. His gaze was calm as he analyzed his opponents' weaknesses and his own side's advantages.
The Little Silver Dragon nodded. "Alright, let's do that."
She stretched her body, her silver scales rippling with the movement. "I hate sweating. I hope this ends quickly."
To the east, Galkro was excitedly pawing at the ground. A sharp, scorching breath snorted from his nostrils, forming two wisps of white smoke in the morning air.
"Ophelia, stay behind me later. I don't need your help. Just watch me knock them both down."
It was exactly as Laria had surmised.
He was desperate to wash away his previous failure and prove his strength.
The memory of his father easily snapping his neck still swirled in his mind; he needed a victory to rebuild his confidence.
Ophelia ignored his grand words. "Galkro, my dear brother, have you forgotten Father's words? Or do you not want Aunt Samantha's treasure? Don't be impulsive; we need to cooperate."
Her voice was thin and sounded like it lacked power.
However, the words 'Father' and 'treasure' hit the mark, making it impossible for the Red Young Dragon to ignore them.
"Cooperate? How?"
Galkro took a deep breath, suppressing his impatience.
He forced himself to calm down and cast his gaze toward his two kin opposite him.
"Isanola is very fast, but her build is slender and she won't withstand a collision. Remember, Laria is your opponent, but your primary target is her. As long as we hit her once, we basically win."
"Don't get into a protracted fight with Laria, and don't let him provoke you. Look for an opportunity and attack Isanola."
Ophelia spoke rapidly, her words fast but clear.
"Time's up. Let the game begin!"
"The Red Dragon Queen looks forward to your performance."
Samantha's leisurely voice rang out. She took a few steps back to find a comfortable viewing spot, her tail coiled at her side and her wings slightly folded.
The four Young Dragons moved at the sound.
As the battle began, Galkro was the first to burst forward.
He spread his wings and lunged two steps forward. Laria also assumed a stance and met him head-on.
The scales of the two Red Dragons shimmered with a vivid luster in the morning light, like two masses of moving fire.
The Little Silver Dragon took to the air gracefully to bypass them, the flapping of her wings creating air currents as she dove toward the Little Iron Dragon who was trying to cut in from the flank. Her movements were fluid and elegant, like a streak of silver light.
In the center of the platform, the two Red Young Dragons faced off.
A bellicose fire burned in Galkro's eyes, while Laria was much more composed, his gaze focused as he lowered his body slightly and shifted his center of gravity back.
"Roar!"
Galkro was the first to strike, charging straight ahead with his sturdier body, intending to crush his opponent with strength. His steps were heavy, each footfall making the ground tremble slightly.
Laria did not meet him head-on. He sidestepped and simultaneously swiped a claw at the side of Galkro's charging path.
He mimicked his father's previous Move, trying to knock Galkro off course, but because he lacked experience and his timing was off, it was ineffective.
His claws brushed against the scales on Galkro's shoulder, throwing off a shower of sparks.
The two Red Dragon hatchlings were instantly locked in a melee.
Clawing, wrestling, and biting.
The dull sounds of impact and the grinding of scales were constant. Scorching breath puffed from their mouths and noses, causing the surrounding air to distort slightly.
Their tails lashed like whips, attempting to disrupt each other's balance.
Galkro's pursuit of strength allowed him to suppress the natural laziness of the Dragon.
Back in the Fubo Dragon Domain, he had held himself to strict standards and exercised frequently. Physically, he was the strongest, clearly suppressing Laria, who was also a Red Dragon, but there was no overwhelming gap between the two.
Laria's technique and composure compensated for his lack of strength.
On the other side, the battle between Isanola and Ophelia was much quieter.
Ophelia never engaged head-on. She would sometimes make feinting lunges and then instantly pull away, making it difficult to discern her intentions. Her movement path was erratic, like a leaf drifting in the wind.
Isanola was also handling it with ease, her silver eyes tracking Ophelia's trajectory as she circled and attacked lightly and swiftly. Her offensive wasn't fierce, but every Move blocked Ophelia's path of movement.
The Silver Dragon's claws and wings were enveloped in a layer of cold Qi, leaving traces of white frost in the air wherever they passed.
This continued for some time.
Unable to break through for a long time, Galkro's temper flared.
He prided himself on having more strength than Laria, but the other's steady parrying and redirection of force made him feel as if he were striking a pile of resilient mud—he had power but nowhere to apply it.
Every heavy blow was cleverly neutralized, and instead, he was the one consuming his own stamina.
After another fierce lunge was avoided by Laria twisting his body, and his claws plowed deep furrows into the ground, Galkro's patience was exhausted.
However, he did not launch a more furious frontal assault.
"Roar!"
Galkro let out an angry roar and decisively abandoned his struggle with Laria.
He suddenly turned, his four limbs exerting sudden force. His massive body, carrying a scorching wind pressure, turned violently and charged toward Isanola, who was currently maneuvering with Ophelia.
This turn was so powerful that it even left semi-circular skid marks on the ground.
"Brother, do you not dare to face me head-on?"
Laria let out a low growl, trying to provoke Galkro, but the other dragon turned a deaf ear. Galkro's gaze was locked onto the Silver Dragon as if he had already targeted his prey.
Galkro was not as easily provoked as usual, a change that exceeded Laria's expectations.
But Laria did not panic; instead, a glint flashed in his eyes.
At the moment Galkro turned, the faint red lotus patterns on Laria's body suddenly erupted with a brilliant light, as if they had caught fire. Those patterns spread from his spine, quickly covering his entire body and emitting a dark red glow.
He took a deep breath, his chest swelling high.
"Aung—!"
Laria let out a Dragon Roar that carried a metallic vibration.
As the Dragon Roar sounded, the surface of Laria's originally deep red scales was covered at a visible speed by a layer of cold, hard luster like gray iron, as if his flesh-and-blood body had instantly transformed into a cast iron statue.
The edges of his scales glinted with a metallic cold light, and his entire body appeared heavy and solid.
Seeing this, Samantha raised an eyebrow, showing an expression of great interest.
"Harden Body?"
This was a Spell-like ability belonging to Iron Dragons, usually only mastered by Iron Dragons and their mixed-blood descendants. It could greatly increase the body's hardness and weight in a short period.
Laria's appearance looked entirely like a Red Dragon, yet he had awakened a Spell-like ability of the Iron Dragons.
This meant that he might be the offspring most similar to Galos in terms of Bloodline—a Red Iron Dragon whose characteristics were not very obvious.
At the same time, the Red Young Dragon, having started later but arriving first, slammed violently into Galkro's rear flank.
Galkro felt a foul wind approaching from behind, but he didn't care. He was already prepared to tank the impact and even turn it into a propelling force.
He tensed his back muscles, his scales clamping shut.
Bang!!!!
This collision was solid, the dull sound like a giant log striking a drum.
"Ngh—?"
Galkro's eyes widened.
He felt as if he had been hit by an iron mountain. His momentum was abruptly halted, and his entire body was knocked off the ground, tilting to one side. His limbs lost their balance, and he was actually sent flying by the impact.
That impact far exceeded his expectations; his internal organs churned from the shock.