Year 361 of the new calendar, Borderlands, Ignas Dragon Academy.
Nearly three years had passed since the four children arrived here. Now, it was once again the end of the year—the time for the challenge matches.
A massive circular martial arts arena sat at the center of the academy, built from neatly cut grey stone. The snow in the center of the field had been cleared away, revealing the hard ground beneath, which had been trampled and reinforced countless times.
The spectator stands were already packed with Dragons.
Dragon scales of various colors reflected a kaleidoscope of hues under the winter daylight.
The focus of all eyes, aside from the four figures in the staging area by the field, was the position suspended directly above the main grandstand.
In order not to affect the Young Dragons' matches, the Red Iron Dragon did not descend in his full colossal Dragon form.
He sat upon a massive obsidian throne in a Dragon-man form that retained features such as twin horns, a Dragon tail, and vertical pupils.
His physique was stalwart, with dark red scales dotting his neck, shoulders, and back particularly noticeably. His deep black eyes looked down calmly, like a monarch surveying his territory and minions.
The arrival of the Red Emperor caused the originally boisterous arena to fall silent by more than a notch.
By the side of the field, the four Young Dragons stood quietly.
Three years of rigorous training had left deep marks upon them.
The growth of the Red Dragon Galkro's size was the most significant.
His shoulder height already exceeded many Young Blue Dragons. His crimson scales were thick and glossy, and his muscles were clearly defined like forged cooling lava. Just by standing there, he radiated an irrepressible, almost physical sense of power.
The Red Dragon Laria's build was more proportionate and solid, his posture steady and his gaze sharp.
The edges of the Iron Dragon Ophelia's scales glinted with a cold metallic luster. Her body lines were smooth yet bulging, filled with a sense of power ready to be unleashed.
The silver scales of the Silver Dragon Isanola had become increasingly pure and brilliant.
Though her size was not as burly as her brothers, she was well-proportioned and vigorous. Especially her pair of long, massive Dragon wings—their edges were as sharp as blades. Deep within her habitually lazy gaze, a hint of sharpness was now hidden.
Today, the rules of the challenge matches were simple.
Any Young Dragon student could nominate and challenge any one of the four children.
However, the challenge was not without a price.
They needed to pay a sum of treasure to obtain the qualification to challenge.
Furthermore, if the challenger was at a higher age stage—already a sub-adult Dragon—they had to accept restrictions to create a relatively fair environment.
For example, sub-adult Blue Dragons could not use any Spell-like abilities or breath attacks, and sub-adult Green Dragons could not use toxins...
These restrictions could not completely bridge the gap, and the so-called fairness was only relative.
But Dragons revered strength and did not care about slight injustices; they valued the power and will displayed under limited conditions more.
"Begin."
The Red Emperor's voice was not loud, yet it suppressed all the noise in the arena and reached the ears of every Dragon.
"Young Dragons, I look forward to your performance."
As his words fell, the challenge matches officially kicked off.
"Come, my challengers!"
The eldest Red Dragon, Galkro, raised his head and roared, his voice as resonant as a bell.
"After Galkro takes your treasures, I will defeat you all and make you submit to my power!"
His declaration ignited Battle Intent.
Soon, several aggressive sub-adult Dragons took the stage, mostly Blue Dragons and Red Dragons.
They were physically strong with burning gazes, carrying the determination to prove themselves. After selecting their opponents, they launched fierce attacks on the four children.
Intense sounds of collision, the roar of breath attacks, and the sharp noise of tearing scales immediately erupted in the martial arts arena.
The flames of the Red Dragons and the lightning of the Blue Dragons intertwined.
Claw shadows flew, and Dragon tail sweeps kicked up clouds of snow dust.
The performance of the four Ignas children was impressive.
Not only was their talent outstanding, but over these three years, to defend their honor as Sons of the Emperor, they had put in arduous training far exceeding that of Dragons their age.
Galkro's physique was so tyrannical it drove his opponents to despair; ordinary claw strikes falling on him often only left shallow marks.
Laria's Crimson Lotus State allowed him to unleash terrifying speed and power in a short time, which, combined with his precise use of Spell-like abilities, made him difficult to withstand.
Ophelia was born with mastery of the Excited State, and her combat style was steady and strategic, always allowing her to achieve victory with minimal cost.
Isanola, relying on that pair of massive wings distinct from ordinary Dragons, gained unparalleled mobility, often delivering a fatal wing strike before the opponent could react.
The battles were not without intense sparks, and some challengers even briefly held the upper hand through rich experience.
However, the four children responded with increasing composure, and in the end, there was essentially no suspense regarding the outcome.
Discussion began to rise in the stands, containing both praise for the growth speed of the four children and a faint trace of disappointment.
Would no Dragon be able to shake their status and gain the Emperor's favor this year either?
The matches proceeded round after round, interspersed with brief breaks to allow contestants to recover their stamina.
The sky gradually grew late. Lead-grey clouds hung low, and the wind and snow grew thick, with fine ice crystals rustling as they hit the Dragon scales.
Just as another round of challenges ended and the field fell slightly silent.
A Black Dragon slowly stepped out from the shadows at the edge and entered the center of the field.
This was a Young Black Dragon. Her size was not even half of Galkro's at this time, making her appear exceptionally small among the Young Dragon Group that generally revered a robust physique.
Her scales were a dull, pure black, devoid of luster, as if they could absorb all the surrounding light.
Her muscles did not bulge, yet they were as taut as steel wires, outlining gaunt and pithy lines, especially the tendons in her shoulders, neck, and hind limbs, which were clearly visible.
She did not roar to show off like the other challengers; she simply delivered her treasure in silence.
Then, she walked straight toward Galkro on one side of the field, raising a front claw and pointing its sharp tip at the Red Dragon.
"I, Sarya, challenge Galklo Ignatius."
The Black Dragon's voice was hoarse and low, somewhat cold.
Galkro was stunned for a moment. He tilted his massive head, sizing her up, and then widened his mouth to reveal forest-white sharp teeth, his nostrils snorting a few sparks.
"Ha! Little runt? Fine, I've just finished warming up; I'll use you to stretch my muscles and bones."
He flicked his tail, not taking this Black Dragon, who was far smaller than himself, seriously at all.
This Black Dragon's size was smaller than all of his challengers.
On the high platform, Galos's eyes narrowed slightly, falling upon the Black Dragon.
Beneath the Black Dragon's seemingly unremarkable appearance, he felt an almost tangible focus.
This kind of temperament was rare in Young Dragons.
White Dragon Tracy, coiled beside his stone throne, lowered her voice to explain at the right moment.
"Sarya, a Young Black Dragon. She had Innate stunted development and has some defects; her size and strength are far inferior to Dragons her age. But her training is extremely diligent, to a degree unmatched by any other Dragon in the entire academy."
"She didn't participate in the challenge matches the past two years, perhaps feeling her accumulation was insufficient and she had no chance."
"This year... her combat techniques are the best among the other students. It's just that she has a gloomy personality and keeps to herself, rarely showing her full strength. Aside from the few who pay attention to her, not many Dragons truly know her background."
Galos nodded slightly, his gaze never leaving the field.
"Interesting," he said softly, a hint of interest added to his voice.
On the other side, the battle began.
The Black Dragon Sarya lowered her body, pressing almost completely against the ground.
Her pair of black Dragon wings were not folded; they were fully extended to both sides in a strange arc, the wing membranes taut, forming a line full of tension with her body.
The entire Dragon seemed to have become a fully drawn bow, every inch of muscle filled with power.
Whoosh!
In the next instant, her figure blurred and disappeared from the spot, rushing toward Galkro at high speed along a slightly curved trajectory.
The speed was so fast that a trace of surprise flashed in the Red Dragon's eyes.
But his reaction was not slow. His thick front limb rose, and his massive claw, carrying the sound of heavy wind, smashed down hard toward the Black Dragon's head, intending to end this battle in one strike.
However, just as that claw was about to touch the black head.
Sarya's body suddenly underwent a bizarre twist.
Her spine seemed very flexible. She spun fiercely at an angle that almost defied Dragon physiology, and her entire gaunt, pithy body slid out along the ground, narrowly avoiding this heavy blow.
Not only that.
At the moment they crossed paths, the edges of her fully extended Dragon wings brushed against the scales on the outside of Galkro's hind leg.
Chii-la!
The sound of friction rang out. A long, thin crack appeared on the Red Dragon's thick scales. It wasn't deep, only causing a few streaks of blood to seep out.
"Hmm?"
Galkro retracted his claw and looked at the wound on his leg.
He wasn't angry; instead, he grinned and laughed. "Interesting, little bug."
He turned, his long, thick tail sweeping across like a steel whip, while his other claw rapidly snatched at the position where the Black Dragon might dodge.
But Sarya's reaction was faster, or rather, her anticipation of the Red Dragon's movements was extremely precise.
Her four limbs kicked the ground rapidly with minimal movement. Combined with subtle adjustments of her wing membranes, her body was like a weightless shadow, sliding through the gaps of the claw shadows and tail strike in the blink of an eye, even leaving another shallow mark on the Red Dragon's front limb joint.
The battle entered a unique rhythm.
Sarya never engaged in any form of power struggle with Galkro.
Her tactics were crystal clear.
She utilized her advantages of small size, startling speed, and flexibility far exceeding her opponent's to perform continuous maneuvering, dodging, and counterattacking.
Her dodging movements were full of various small-scale sharp turns, ground rolls, and sudden stops and restarts that defied inertia.
Some movements were so violent they directly tore the thin scales on her own shoulders or ribs, but she didn't care at all.
Moreover, every successful dodge was accompanied by a sharp and precise counterattack.
Her attack targets were the gaps in the joint connections, the side edges of the belly where scales were relatively thin, the base of the wing membranes, the eyes, the nostrils... positions that either affected movement or were fragile.
Furthermore, the Black Dragon's claws had been specially honed and reinforced with Spell-like abilities, carrying an unsettling, dim luster.
Though Galkro's Dragon scales were hard, they were not without weaknesses.
Under Sarya's precise and fast scratching, clawing, stabbing, and prying, the wounds on the Red Dragon's body began to gradually increase.
Although each one wasn't considered deep, accumulating them brought pain and obstruction to his movements.
Chii-la!
A relatively deep gash appeared on the side of Galkro's left front limb joint, causing a trace of lag in his claw-swinging motion.
Puchi!
Below his right ribs, a gap was skillfully pried open in a piece of scale by a claw tip, followed by a deeper stab. Blood immediately seeped out, staining the surrounding crimson scales red.
Sarya's combat style lacked beauty; it was insidious and vicious.
She never lingered in a fight, retreating after a single strike. Regardless of whether she succeeded, she used her small size and speed to maneuver around Galkro's massive body like a maggot in the bone, specifically looking for the points that were most uncomfortable and vulnerable for the Red Dragon.
Galkro became enraged.
He felt like a giant beast being besieged by poisonous wasps, possessing power but having nowhere to use it.
His roars grew increasingly irritable, and his attacks more wild, yet he also exposed more openings because of it.
The Black Dragon was like the most patient assassin, calmly capturing every opportunity, while more and more fine yet painful wounds began to appear on the Red Dragon. Blood stained large areas of his scales, and his movements gradually became sluggish.
The buzzing in the spectator stands had long since ceased.
The Young Dragons watched this duel of immense contrast with rapt attention.
They saw the wounds on the invincible eldest Red Dragon's body constantly increasing, his movements clearly becoming somewhat sluggish and his breathing heavy, while that thin Black Dragon instead held all the advantages.
"Almost there..."
A dark light flashed in the Black Dragon Sarya's vertical pupils.
The Red Dragon's movements were already at least thirty percent slower than at the beginning, and the threat of his counterattacks was greatly reduced.
"But... could this be a trap?"
A trace of doubt flashed through her mind.
Although the Red Dragon seemed irritable, he was, after all, a Son of the Emperor with an extraordinary Bloodline. Would he truly be worn down to such a state?
However, her physical stamina was nearing its end, and her speed had unknowingly decreased; this was the only possible chance to win.
No matter what, she had to take a risk and end the battle as quickly as possible.
Her mind made up, a fierce glint flashed in her eyes.
The Black Dragon feigned another thrust from the right. The moment Galkro swung his claws to intercept, her body suddenly contracted and then exploded with power. Moving even faster than before, she kicked off the ground, spun her body, leaped over the Red Dragon's lowered defensive forearms, and swept rapidly along the curve of his back, circling like a lightning bolt to the left side of the Red Dragon's neck.
The scales there were relatively fine and dense; beneath them lay the fatal throat!
Gloomy sharp claws tore through the air, heading straight for the target!
"You fell for it! Roar!!!"
Galkro's deep voice suddenly rang out, and his previous exhaustion vanished instantly.
His massive body hopped back half a step to avoid the dangerous strike. At the same time, his head plunged downward, using the pair of thick, hard horns on his forehead to viciously ram into the pouncing black shadow.
This change of move was both fast and ruthless, completely unexpected.
Sarya's heart jolted. She didn't dare take this long-premeditated headbutt head-on. She forcefully twisted her momentum mid-dash, her wings flapping frantically to dodge to the side.
But the distance between them was simply too close.
Although the Red Dragon's headbutt missed, his thick, long tail—which had seemed to be dragging out of exhaustion—had long been gathering power. Now, it suddenly snapped up, sweeping horizontally with a piercing whistle as it covered a vast area.
Sarya only had time to tuck her wings in to protect her sides.
Bang!!
Amidst a heavy, muffled thud, the Black Dragon's petite body was struck hard by the tip of the tail. A piercing pain of tearing came from her protective wing membranes, and the scales on her flank shattered upon impact.
She let out a muffled groan as her body was sent flying by the immense force, slamming heavily onto the hard rocky ground over ten meters away. She tumbled and skidded for several more meters, leaving a trail of crushed stones and bloody froth.
She struggled to stand, but a shadow had already loomed over her.
Boom!
Galkro landed like a meteorite, stepping onto the Black Dragon's back. His forepaws firmly pinned her shoulder blades, his body weight pressing down and leaving her completely unable to move.
The Red Dragon panted slightly. Numerous wounds on his body were still seeping blood, which dripped onto Sarya's black scales.
However, a blazing Battle Intent and the light of victory burned within his deep red vertical pupils. He lowered his head and let out a deafening roar at the Black Dragon beneath his claws, proclaiming his triumph.
"It ends here! Bug!"
"You can hit me ten times, a hundred times, but I only need one chance to end the battle completely!"
"Did you think the eldest son of the great Red Emperor was just a stupid dragon with a head full of muscles?"
The Red Dragon tapped his massive head and sneered, his voice carrying unabashed pride. "Inside here hides a world-shaking wisdom sufficient to crush you!"
Sarya shook her dizzy head and spat out the bloody froth and dust from her mouth.
Feeling the heavy pressure on her back and the burning pain in her flank, she understood that the battle was over.
"Your Highness..."
Her voice remained hoarse, but it now carried a tone of submission.
"Your wisdom leaves me in awe. I have lost; please forgive my offense."
She didn't resist violently; instead, she exposed her soft, vulnerable underbelly.
"Hmm?"
Galkro grunted, staring at the Black Dragon beneath his claws who seemed to have completely yielded.
He felt the stinging pain from the fine wounds on his body, a reminder that this little one had indeed caused him significant trouble.
After two seconds of silence, he moved his forepaws off her.
Then, after a brief pause, he reached out with a claw and pulled Sarya up from the ground with a rough but not overly aggressive motion.
Galkro was willing to grant basic respect to an opponent who showed sufficient strength and resilience, even if they were an enemy—let alone since this was just an academy challenge.
"Bug... Black Dragon, you're actually quite good."
He said casually, flicking his tail. "In these past three years, you're the first challenger to make me bleed this much. Haha, keep it up. I actually hope there will be more fellows like you in the future to leave me some scars worth remembering."
"Defeating a powerful opponent only highlights my own strength."
Sarya steadied herself, appearing slightly stunned as if she hadn't expected him to say that.
She lowered her head and replied in a low voice, "I see... I will do my best not to disappoint you, Your Highness."
Hearing this, Galkro was even more satisfied and reached out a claw to pat the Black Dragon on the shoulder.
Sarya the Black Dragon was patted so hard she stumbled, nearly falling again.
"Your Highness, I wish you continued victory in your upcoming battles."
The Black Dragon steadied herself. After murmuring those words, she turned silently and, dragging her injured body, limped quietly off the noisy martial arts arena. She hid herself once more within the deep shadow cast by a tall wall, as if trying to merge into it.
"Who else?! Come at me!"
"Challenge me, Galkro, and all you will ultimately receive is defeat and awe for my power!"
On the arena, the little Red Dragon held his head high and chest out, letting out an arrogant and cheerful roar, brimming with high spirits.
In the shadows below the stage, Sarya the little Black Dragon looked up at that figure full of power and confidence, a hint of envy showing in her eyes.
"Truly... dazzling..."
She stuck out her dark tongue, silently licking the blood on her forepaws, whispering in her heart.
The subsequent matches of the challenge tournament seemed to have all the excitement drained from them by the battle between the Red and Black Dragons.
Although the later challengers still worked hard, their performances were lackluster and failed to pose any real threat to the four sons.
The Sons of the Emperor cleanly and efficiently defeated all their opponents one after another, consolidating their positions.
Not long after, the final challenger had the scales on their back sliced open by Isanola's dragon wings. The wound was deep enough to see bone, and blood flowed like a stream, leaving them no choice but to concede.
"Good. This year's challenge tournament ends here."
The White Dragon Headmaster slowly stood up and announced the end of the challenge segment.
The dragons thought His Majesty would quietly depart after the ceremony as he usually did, but in the next moment, the tall figure seated on the obsidian throne slowly stood up.
His body in humanoid form appeared small compared to the many giant dragons in the arena.
But simply by standing there, his invisible Aura of majesty made him seem more magnificent than the sky itself.
His deep black eyes swept across the venue. Wherever his gaze landed, the clamor involuntarily fell silent. Finally, his gaze fixed on an inconspicuous shadow near the edge of the field.
Sarya was quietly curled up there, cleaning the serious tear on her flank.
Following that, the Red Iron Dragon's voice pierced through the thickening snow, ringing out clearly.
"Today, I saw desire, I saw struggle, and I also saw... impressive talent, wisdom, and an unyielding instinct."
His gaze first fell upon Galkro, and he nodded slightly.
"My eldest son, Galkro, you have demonstrated both strength and wisdom, proving that you possess more than just a strong body."
"My other children—Laria, Ophelia, Isanola—you too have proven your growth and value, worthy of my Bloodline."
The four Young Dragons at the edge of the field immediately held their heads high and chests out, their tails unconsciously wagging slightly.
Praise from the Dragon Father was rare; because of this, every time they received it, their hearts were filled with immense joy and pride.
Then, under the focus of countless gazes, Galos raised his dragon arm, his claws pointing clearly at the Black Dragon in the shadows.
"And you, Sarya."
Sarya the Black Dragon instinctively raised her head and looked toward the mountain-like figure on the high platform. She was momentarily dazed, completely stunned.
"Your physique is Innate deficient, and your strength is weak; you lagged behind most of your kind right from the starting line."
Galos stated the obvious facts. "But you did not blame the heavens or other dragons, nor did you settle for being weak. You found your own path, knowing how to use technique to compensate for strength, wisdom to perceive weaknesses, and resilience to endure injury."
"Within your body hides a powerful and resilient Soul that does not bow to fate."
Sarya's breathing became uncontrollably heavy, her black chest heaving slightly. In those usually gloomy vertical pupils, a burning light gradually ignited as she stared intently at the Emperor.
The Emperor's voice paused slightly, leaving a brief silence over the entire venue.
Then, the words that would decide her fate fell once more, resonating with power.
"I, Garos Ignis, acknowledge your performance today and the value you have shown."
"From this moment forth, you, Sarya, are my adopted daughter, the fifth child of the Ignas Family."
"You shall enjoy the attention and cultivation befitting a Son of the Emperor. I hope you will remain humble and diligent, continuing to hone your claws and will, to serve the kingdom in the future and contribute your strength and loyalty to me."
His words were not impassioned, yet they were like thunder, exploding in the hearts of every listener.
Son of the Emperor!
This was no unreachable daydream, nor was it a wishful thinking joked about in private by the Young Dragons!
The great His Majesty Ignis, in full view of everyone at this year-end challenge tournament, had personally announced the adoption of a daughter!
After a brief, dead silence, a massive uproar swept through the entire martial arts arena.
Countless gazes shot in unison toward the thin little Black Dragon still curled in the shadows.
Sarya was, after all, only a Young Dragon; no matter how gloomy or withdrawn her personality, she could hardly suppress the turbulent emotions surging within her heart.
She struggled to stand straight, ignoring the pain from the wound on her flank, and took a step forward.
The Black Dragon completely left the shadows, exposed to all gazes and the light of day.
She bowed her head deeply, almost touching the ground.
"Great His Majesty Ignis, my only sun and guide! Thank you for your recognition and grace! My life, my claws, and my Soul shall henceforth fight only for you, until the day I die!"
Her voice trembled, a mix of awe and disbelief.
The Emperor looked at the respectfully bowing Black Dragon below, nodded slightly, and added, "Mind your form of address, Sarya."
The Black Dragon's body visibly jolted.
She hesitated for a moment, as if confirming this wasn't a dream, and then, in a voice still somewhat dazed, she whispered, "Your Majesty... no... Father..."
"Very well."
"The tradition of the challenge tournament shall continue. I hope to see more shining figures here in the future, to discover more unpolished gems worth carving, and to welcome more children."
Having said that, the Red Emperor spoke no more.
Amidst a flash of light, he transformed into his majestic true form and spread his wings, flying into the high altitude. In an instant, he tore through the vast snowstorm and vanished into the horizon, leaving behind only endless majesty and wonder.
Two months later.
Dragon Ridge Mountains, a cave inside a certain mountain.
The Red Iron Dragon was coiled within, silently swallowing one gemstone after another, along with magical precious metals and black oil crystals. Every single item was of top-tier quality, with none being inferior.
"The affairs before my slumber have been properly arranged."
His massive head rested on his folded forepaws, and his eyes gradually half-closed as the thoughts circulating within slowly settled. "This sleep... might be longer than any before."
"During my slumber, let the stars shine to their heart's content."
"On the day I awaken, the true sun shall hang high in the sky, shining upon the entire Romanian Plain."
This time, as the Red Iron Dragon fell into slumber, his wings did not wrap tightly around his body due to subconscious unease as they had in the past. Instead, they stretched out at the most comfortable angle, and then he gradually drifted off to sleep.