Laria, having gained the upper hand, showed no mercy to the Dragon. His hardened claws, like iron pincers, gripped Galkro's tail, digging deep into the gaps between the scales and locking on tightly.
He unleashed his full power, his waist and hind legs working in concert, and the Crimson Lotus patterns on his body flashed wildly with light.
"Brother, fly!"
Laria yanked the Red Dragon's tail, swinging Galkro, who was larger than himself.
His wings spread to their limit, his body spun, and with the tail as a pivot, Galkro's body drew a huge arc in the air.
He chose not to slam Galkro heavily to the ground, but instead, using the rotational force, he hurled Galkro's heavy body, like a flung boulder, towards Ophelia, who was not far away.
This throw was precise and swift; Galkro's body had become a living projectile.
Ophelia was slightly startled.
The battle situation had changed so suddenly. Seeing the Red Dragon's body hurtling towards her, with the Silver Dragon still entangled nearby, she had almost no way to avoid it.
She quickly calculated the angle and distance, but time was too short.
At that critical moment.
From the gaps in Ophelia's scales, several tiny yet dazzling golden electric lights suddenly burst forth.
Crackling!
The electric lights coiled around her body, emitting a harsh crackling sound.
She instantly erupted with immense power and speed, her figure blurring in the electric light. Like a teleportation, she shot a short distance backwards and to the side, narrowly dodging the incoming Galkro. The electric light trailed a golden afterimage behind her.
Boom!
Galkro fell heavily to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
He landed with a dull thud, his body sliding a distance across the ground before stopping, his scales covered in dust.
At the same time, the instant Ophelia landed.
Isanola's eyes opened, revealing a sharp gaze.
Her wings spread to their limit, and her slender, elegant body transformed into a silver streak of lightning, cutting towards her side at a straight-line speed far greater than Ophelia's.
The Silver Dragon's movements were so fast they were almost imperceptible; only a flash of silver light could be seen.
Her forelimbs, covered in fine silver scales, were enveloped in a layer of sharp cold Qi, striking Ophelia's body. The cold Qi erupted upon contact, condensing tiny ice crystals in the air.
Crack!
A crisp, light sound, like ice breaking.
"Ugh!"
Ophelia let out a short cry of pain, her body sent flying by the blow. She tumbled several times on the ground before stopping, her left wing hanging unnaturally, clearly having sustained a serious injury, making it difficult for her to get up for a while.
Her scales were covered in a layer of white frost, and the air she exhaled turned into white mist.
"Good, good, good."
"Ophelia, I told you long ago, you can just hide behind me and wait. Leave the rest to me."
Galkro shook his head and stood up again.
He shook off the dust and stretched his limbs. Although the fall earlier was not light, it didn't cause any substantial damage.
He looked at his two blood relatives and grinned, saying, "The real battle has only just begun. I will defeat you both alone."
Galkro's body was much stronger than a normal Red Dragon's. Laria's unexpected burst of power surprised him somewhat, but it didn't truly trouble him.
His muscles tensed beneath his scales, ready to face the upcoming battle.
"Brother, I'm probably not your match."
"But ganging up on you... I hope you're ready to face defeat."
Laria stood in place, clusters of enchanting, crimson-lotus-like flames burning on him.
Those flames danced on the surface of his scales without burning him, instead causing the surrounding air temperature to rise sharply. The Silver Dragon Isanola, meanwhile, circled in mid-air, two streaks of light trailing behind her wings, formed by condensed cold Qi.
The battle resumed, but the situation had changed.
Ten minutes later.
"Hoo hoo hoo hoo..."
Heavy breathing echoed on the platform.
Galkro's chest heaved violently, his scales covered in claw marks, but he still stood firm. There was a deep scratch on his faceplate, and drops of blood seeped from the gaps in his scales, but he paid no mind.
Opposite him were the Red Dragon Laria and the Silver Dragon Isanola, both already struggling.
The Crimson Lotus patterns on Laria's body had extinguished, and a wave of weakness washed over him.
The consumption from Harden Body and Crimson Lotus State far exceeded expectations; his four limbs trembled slightly, and he could barely stand steady.
Although Isanola still had a lot of stamina, it was difficult for her to defeat Galkro. Her attacks could only leave shallow marks on Galkro's hard scales, and her stamina was continuously depleting.
Among the Red Emperor's four children, the eldest prided himself on strength and inherited his strongest power.
Besides the dragon jade, he also inherited some Physique attributes from the Red Emperor. Though young, his defense and endurance far surpassed Dragons of the same age.
Galkro's scales were exceptionally thick, and his muscle structure was denser, allowing him to withstand far more blows than Dragons of his age.
Laria possessed the Iron Dragon's Spell-like abilities and the Crimson Lotus State for bursts of power. The combination of these two gave him astonishing combat strength in a short period, even allowing him to suppress Galkro.
Unfortunately, these were still insufficient to defeat Galkro in a short time.
When the burst period ended, fatigue and weakness would surge like a tide.
When his Crimson Lotus State ended, Galkro still stood firm and had the strength to fight, even though he was covered in wounds, his deep red eyes still burned with fighting spirit.
Moreover, this guy had a dragon jade.
"Alright, game over. This is as far as it goes."
Samantha's voice drifted over leisurely. She slowly stood up and stretched her wings.
"The Red Dragon Queen's gift, Round One: Galkro and Ophelia win. They will receive shiny gems as a reward. Laria and Isanola, don't be discouraged; keep up the good work."
She rewarded the two Young Dragons in turn, taking out gems from her spatial item and handing them to the Young Dragons.
The Young Dragons held the gems, their eyes sparkling, and their previous fatigue seemed to vanish.
"I didn't do anything, it seems."
Little Iron Dragon gleefully accepted the gem, carefully holding it with her claws, then ran to Little Silver Dragon to show off: "Isanola, look, what a beautiful and shiny gem! Do you want it?"
She deliberately held the gem high, letting the sunlight refract through it, casting colorful light.
"You just purely got a free win..."
Isanola grumbled enviously, then simply closed her eyes, refusing to look at the Little Iron Dragon's gem.
On the other side, Galkro put away the ruby, carefully tucking it under his scales. He puffed out his chest, his gaze sweeping over the other Young Dragons, finally resting on Laria.
"Tactics? Tricks?"
He looked at the other Red Young Dragon and said, "Laria, my brother, listen well."
"In the face of true power, other things are always just icing on the cake. Only one's own strength is most important. Power is the only reason we are kings."
Galkro, haughty, delivered his victory speech.
His tail was held high, his heart filled with pride.
Slap!
An Adult Red Dragon's claw descended, pinning Galkro in place.
Samantha's claw pressed on his back like a mountain. The force was well-controlled, not hurting him, but preventing him from breaking free.
Samantha stared at him coldly, dangerous light flashing in her vertical pupils: "A little Young Dragon whose scales haven't even hardened yet, dreaming of being king?"
This time, Galkro did not struggle angrily as before. He simply lay docilely under his aunt's sharp claws, offering no resistance.
He had learned to be restrained, at least when facing an opponent clearly stronger than himself.
Seeing this, Samantha suddenly laughed again, her expression changing so quickly that the Young Dragons were a bit bewildered.
She smacked her lips and said, "Good performance, but... I also want to try killing you once, Galkro. I still like your previous unruly look. How about giving Auntie a chance?"
Her tone was half-joking, half-serious, making it difficult for Galkro to discern her true intentions.
The Little Red Dragon instinctively wanted to bare his teeth but held back.
He remembered his father's previous lessons and knew that in certain situations, concealing one's sharpness was the wise choice.
The existence of the dragon jade had many advantages.
But it actually had disadvantages too.
For example, when being disciplined by elders, they would truly beat them within an inch of their lives, because knowing that the dragon jade provided a safety net, the elders wouldn't hold back too much.
Samantha shook her head and, losing interest, moved her claw away.
She looked around at all the Young Dragons and said with a smile, "My game won't just have one round, and the forms will be varied. Those who perform exceptionally will at least receive gem rewards, and when I'm in a good mood, I also like to sprinkle gems."
"So, little ones, look forward to it, or try your best to please me."
As soon as her voice fell, the four Young Dragons all gathered around.
They surrounded the Great Red Dragon, their eyes gleaming with a desire for treasure.
"Aunt Samantha, no, Great Red Dragon Queen, you are truly my dream role model."
Ophelia said in her sweetest voice.
"Look at your scales, there's a bit of dust. I'll wipe it for you." Galkro and Isanola carefully brushed the dust off Samantha's shoulder scales with their claws.
"Auntie, your muscles are a bit tense. I'll massage your tail for you."
Laria gently tapped Samantha's tail with his foreclaw.
Flattery, scale-wiping, tail-massaging.
The Young Dragons, eager to obtain gems, used various methods to please the Great Red Dragon.
Samantha, surrounded by the Young Dragons, hummed contentedly, the tip of her tail gently swaying, enjoying the feeling of being flattered.
"Auntie, what do you think... of my combat talent?"
Galkro, wiping the Great Red Dragon's scales, asked with a hint of anticipation in his voice.
Samantha's deep red eyes scrutinized her nephew, her gaze lingering for a moment on his wounds and sturdy Physique.
"To be honest, it's very good. Most importantly, your appearance reminds me of another powerful Red Dragon."
She deliberately paused, building suspense.
Watching the curiosity gradually ignite in Galkro's eyes, she felt a surge of pleasure.
"A powerful Red Dragon? Who is it?"
Galkro pressed, his tail unconsciously perking up.
He tried to remain calm, but eagerness still seeped into his voice.
"My father, your father's father, Gorsas, your grandfather, he wasn't just any Red Dragon. He was infamous, pursued great power, and was an out-and-out Evil Dragon."
Samantha's tone became distant, as if recalling something from a long time ago.
Her gaze drifted towards the distant mountains, where clouds and mist swirled.
Hearing this evaluation, Galkro immediately perked up. He took it as a compliment, puffing out his chest even more.
"Really?"
Galkro's eyes lit up, his crimson vertical pupils slightly dilating with excitement. "Am I really like Grandpa?"
"Yes, very much so. You are both obsessed with pursuing power."
Samantha nodded, her expression serious, as she scrutinized the Little Red Dragon.
"Even the color of your Dragon scales is very similar: dark red, with black edges, like cooled lava. Gorsas's scales were just like that, only thicker, since he lived longer. Your scales will show the same dark red luster in the sunlight, and the edges also have those deep, almost black patterns."
Galkro's chest puffed out even further.
Being compared to a powerful Red Dragon Senior made him proud.
He began to imagine what his never-before-seen grandfather looked like, surely as massive as a mountain, breathing like a volcanic eruption, with wings that could eclipse the sky.
However, he also had some doubts.
"Why haven't I met this Red Dragon Grandpa? And Mother never mentioned him before."
Samantha showed a playful expression, a dangerous curve forming at the corner of her mouth.
"Because he's dead. He was killed."
Upon hearing this, Galkro's face darkened.
The other three Young Dragons also pricked up their ears, stopping their actions and listening intently.
Galkro asked angrily, "How did he die? Who killed him?"
Samantha chuckled, "Oh? What do you plan to do?"
Galkro's eyes glinted fiercely, "Once I grow up, I will avenge Grandpa! I will let them know the might of the Red Dragon."
Having been educated in the Dragon Domain, Galkro's concept of kinship differed from normal Red Dragons. Under the influence of his Metallic Dragon mother, he valued Family ties, believing that blood relatives should support each other.
Hearing that the grandfather he most resembled had been killed, he was furious.
Although they had never met, the feeling of Bloodline connection instinctively made him angry. His claws dug deep into the ground, and his nostrils snorted out fiery Qi.
On the other side, Ophelia pricked up her ears, Isanola stopped yawning, and Laria's gaze became focused.
They were all somewhat curious; this story clearly touched upon an unmentioned part of the Family.
Samantha grinned even wider, revealing her sharp teeth.
"Killed by your father."
She said.
Casually, as if saying, "The weather is nice."
The air froze.
Galkro's expression froze on his face, his eyes wide. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out, as if his throat was blocked by something.
The other Young Dragons were also stunned, looking at each other, seemingly doubting if they had misheard.
After a long while, Little Iron Dragon Ophelia stammered, "By... by Father?"
"Yes."
Samantha nodded, her tone still relaxed, as if recounting an ordinary trivial matter.
"Garos ripped out his heart and crushed it in front of him, but he still wasn't dead. So your father then tore off his head, taking his head as a trophy, and completely killed him."
She described it in great detail.
"W-why? Didn't Father teach us to value blood relatives?"
The Young Dragons murmured, their voices filled with confusion.
This contradicted the education they received. Father hadn't taught them to be kind, but like Mother, he also emphasized the importance of Family and the bond between blood relatives.
Yet he himself killed his own father?
Samantha shrugged, her wings rising and falling with the motion.
"You were born into a privileged environment, with a Metallic Dragon mother's protection and a Dragon Emperor as your father. You don't have to worry about survival, or whether you'll still be alive to see the sun tomorrow."
"However, your father didn't have such conditions."
"In the perilous Age of the Wilderness, if you blocked my path, I would eliminate you, even if it was father and son, no exceptions."
"So, little whelps, be glad for your birth. You don't have to experience such choices."
Just then.
Shadows enveloped the platform.
Huge, oppressive shadows.
All the Dragons looked up simultaneously.
Garos Ignis descended from the sky.
The Red Iron Dragon's Physique was as massive as a mountain, its dark red and deep black intertwined scales gleaming with a cold, hard luster.
He spread his wings fully, slowing his descent, then landed steadily, causing a dull tremor in the ground.
The Red Iron Dragon's arrival made the air heavy, and the Young Dragons instinctively shrank their heads.
"My dear elder brother, I'm telling the children your story."
Samantha said with a grin, "Some stories that the Metallic Dragon probably didn't mention."
The Red Iron Dragon nodded, his gaze calm as water, showing no emotion. Then he lowered his eyes to look at his eldest son.
"Galkro, do you want to avenge Gorsas?"
His voice was low and steady, as if asking a common question.
Seeing his father's gaze fall upon him, Galkro was startled, his body trembling slightly, his tail pressed tightly to the ground. He recalled the pain of his neck being broken before, and his father's easily suppressing power.
"No, no, I was just talking nonsense."
He shook his head like a rattle-drum, his crimson eyes not daring to meet his father's, only staring at the ground.
The experience of having his neck broken was still vivid, and Galkro's heart was filled with fear for his Red Iron Dragon Father. That absolute disparity in power, that feeling of life and death being completely controlled, was deeply imprinted in his consciousness.
And now, he also knew that his Dragon Father had personally killed his grandfather.
These two events intertwined in his mind, forming a terrifying picture: would he, so similar to Gorsas, one day suffer the same fate?
This thought made him even more afraid.
Garos looked at his eldest son for a few seconds—a brief moment that felt incredibly long to Galkro. Then, the Red Iron Dragon extended his massive claw.
The giant sharp claw hung over the Young Dragon's head, its tip as keen as a blade, capable of easily piercing the hardest rock.
Shadows enveloped Galkro, making him feel as if the whole world was shrinking, leaving only this claw that could descend at any moment.
He could clearly see the tiny marks on the claw tip, imprints left by countless battles.
The Little Red Dragon's body was completely stiff, his breathing almost stopped.
He closed his eyes, awaiting the possible punishment.
However, the giant claw merely poked gently.
The claw tip touched Galkro's forehead with perfect force, causing his head to tilt back slightly from the impact, raising his head without losing balance or feeling pain.
"Galkro, I saw all of your performance just now."
The Red Iron Dragon said slowly, his voice peaceful, devoid of its previous majesty, and instead carrying a hint of... approval.
"Power is the reason for kingship... that's a very good saying."
"However, wielding power with wisdom is more important than simply possessing great strength."
After a pause, Garos changed his tone, saying, "Compared to the deceased Gorsas, you are actually more like me, which is why I am strict with you."
"Because, Galkro, my eldest son, I have high hopes for you."
His gaze lingered on the Young Dragon.
Upon hearing this, Galkro looked up blankly, finally daring to meet those deep eyes directly.
He saw calmness and scrutiny in those eyes.
High hopes for me. When he realized what his Red Iron Dragon Father's words truly meant, an unprecedented light burst forth in his crimson eyes.
That light was not the fire of anger or belligerence, but the joy of being recognized and anticipated.
"I... I understand."
"My dear Father, I will absolutely not disappoint you; I will make you proud of me."
The Little Red Dragon spoke softly, his voice much steadier than before, mixed with awe and admiration.
He straightened his body, and although he still appeared tiny before his gigantic father, his posture now held a new resolve.
Garos nodded gently, retracting his sharp claws.
He did not expect to rely solely on fear to make his offspring obedient.
Overly docile children were not what Garos wished to see. He needed descendants who could think independently and had their own will, not puppets on strings.
Even if that will sometimes went against his expectations, as long as there were no serious problems, it was acceptable.
"All of you, come with me. I'm taking you somewhere."
He said, his massive wings slowly unfurling, the wing membranes displaying complex patterns of dark red and deep gray interwoven in the sunlight.
"Where are we going?"
Little Iron Dragon Ophelia asked curiously, temporarily forgetting the pain in her wings.
Garos patiently said, "A place with many Young Dragons your age, but they are not Metallic Dragons; they are primarily Dragon, mostly Five-Color Dragons."
When the four children were in the Dragon Domain, they had a lot of contact with Metallic Dragons.
Most of their playmates were Metallic Dragon cubs, and their education leaned towards Metallic Dragon values.
Order, goodness, responsibility. Regardless of whether they agreed, they needed to get to know other Dragons.
As descendants of the Red Iron Dragon, they were destined to walk between two worlds, belonging neither entirely to the Metallic Dragon faction nor entirely to the Five-Color Dragon faction.
This unique identity required unique understanding and preparation.
Education during the Young Dragon period was very important. Garos hoped to establish appropriate values and understanding for his children before his slumber. He didn't want to wake up and find four unruly and rebellious Youth Dragons.
PS: The monthly ticket lottery results are pinned in the reader community. No separate chapter will be posted.