Serel Wilderness, Blackrock Duchy's Chromite Mine Base.
The Dwarf Alchemist Groni was tinkering with several dragon scales of different colors in the Alchemy Workshop, a satisfied smile flickering in his single eye.
More than twenty years ago.
He was responsible for operating and maintaining Alchemy Golems at the Blackrock Duchy's Black Oil Field Base, and lost an eye in an explosion during an experiment trying to track a Hybrid Dragon.
But he didn't become disheartened because of that.
Afterward, he realized that one must always be meticulous and careful, never negligent.
Having learned from his pain, the naturally rough Dwarf character was barely visible in him.
Because of this, his Alchemy improved even further.
Later, he was transferred to this chromite mine base as the chief Alchemist, commanding other Alchemists in the maintenance, improvement, and operation of various weapons, armor, Alchemy Golems, and defensive heavy weapons.
"Truly a Blessed by nature creature. The creator is really biased."
After studying the structure of the dragon scales for a long time, the Dwarf Alchemist took a break and sighed.
Armor imitating the pattern of dragon scales had significantly better defensive effects than other armors. If one could understand the finer structural mysteries of dragon scales and forge Dragon Scale Armor, the defense would surely leap to a higher level.
"But."
"The microstructure of the scales from that Hybrid Dragon back then was completely different from these scales—more complex and special."
Thinking of this.
The Dwarf Alchemist's smile suddenly faded. He raised his hand and touched the black eyepatch covering his blind eye. The intense pain from back then seemed vividly fresh.
It was precisely because of this eye-loss vendetta.
That he bore a grudge against the Red-Iron Dragon.
Unfortunately, he had never been able to track down the Red-Iron Dragon. Later, he heard that it had appeared, raiding a Duchy of Raymond base, and had shown considerable strength, earning titles like Death Omen Star and Sky-Rending Wings.
Gradually.
Since he could do nothing about the Red-Iron Dragon, not even knowing where it was, he had no way to take revenge.
The Dwarf Alchemist slowly buried his hatred deep in his heart, transferring it to other Dragonkin.
Not long ago, when their scouts spotted a Dragon Flight passing overhead, all of them Young Dragons, he immediately ordered a tracking and raid. It was this decisiveness that allowed them to successfully capture three dragons at once.
Once the reinforcements arrived to transport the dragons away, he would take the primary credit.
Such merit would be enough to elevate his position further.
Though he had only one eye, the Dwarf Alchemist seemed to see a bright and smooth future ahead.
"But before that, let me collect a bit more interest."
A trace of malice flashed in the Dwarf Alchemist's eyes. He then walked out of the Alchemy Workshop and headed to the heavily guarded rear of the base.
Blue, green, black. In steel cages reinforced with Alchemy, three dragons were bound tightly, their ribs and wings pierced by chains engraved with runes.
"How do you feel, dragon whelps?"
The Dwarf Alchemist said with a chuckle.
"Reptile, once I escape, I'll tear your flesh strip by strip and make you die in endless pain."
The female Black Young Dragon growled hoarsely, her gaze dark and dangerous.
"Oh? What a terrible threat."
The Dwarf Alchemist stepped forward and ordered the guards to pull the chains. With the sound of iron scraping flesh and bone, the Black Dragon was pulled tight against the cage. The runes on the chains all lit up, applying a paralysis effect that made the weak and severely injured Black Dragon unable to move.
"Then let's start with you."
The Dwarf Alchemist took out a sharp knife and cut off the Black Dragon's scales piece by piece, flesh and skin attached.
Throughout the process, the Black Dragon remained silent, only staring fixedly at the Dwarf Alchemist, as if branding his face into memory. Though young, the Black Dragon's inherent gloom and vengefulness were already showing.
"Anyone else want to make noise?"
After collecting a bucket of scales and flesh, he looked at the other dragons.
"Dwarf, release us, and we promise not to seek revenge. Instead, you will gain the friendship of Dragonkin."
The male Green Young Dragon said softly, "Friendship and hatred—easy to choose, isn't it?"
Green Dragons are widely considered the most intelligent of the Chromatic Dragons, fond of schemes and skilled in deception and persuasion.
Unfortunately, the Dwarf Alchemist was well aware of this.
"Compared to deception, I prefer threats and curses."
Ignoring the Green Dragon's various verbal tricks, the Dwarf Alchemist continued to cut off its scales and flesh.
Then, he walked up to the Blue Dragon.
The Blue Dragon was the largest, bound by the thickest and longest chains with the densest runes.
Unlike the Black and Green Dragons, who chose threats and negotiation, the Blue Dragon simply lay quietly on the ground, completely relaxed, without any posture of attack or defense, as if resigned to reality.
"Little whelp, have nothing to say?"
The Dwarf Alchemist asked.
He enjoyed the feeling of humiliating Top-tier monsters like dragons.
The Blue Dragon opened its eyelids, glanced at him, then lay back down without a word.
"What, do dragons also have the saying 'biting dragons don't bark'?"
The Dwarf Alchemist laughed heartily, then slowly cut off the Blue Dragon's scales and flesh.
These were all good stuff; he wanted to keep some for himself.
"Despicable creature, you will pay for this."
The Black Dragon barely lifted its head and said.
The Dwarf Alchemist looked at it with pity and said, "Pay? Do you think you have a chance to live? Such a whelp, you don't know your place. When you're transported south, you'll know what real—"
Before he could finish.
The Dwarf Alchemist suddenly felt a tightness in his heart. An intangible sense of danger made his hair stand on end.
After a moment of shock.
The Dwarf Alchemist abruptly looked up.
Silently, a crimson Omen Star streaked across the sky, its dark red trail tearing through the gray-blue night like a burning wound.
Dragon wings that slice the sky.
The Omen Star representing death.
He had come.
The dark red trail burned through the sky over Serel Wilderness. When the Red-Iron Dragon appeared like a falling star, the hearts of all Dwarves tightened instantly.
"Bold Evil Dragon!"
From the center of the mine came a roar of a war hammer striking the ground. A Dwarf commander's hair and beard danced wildly in the wind.
"Let it taste Blackrock's firepower!"
He shouted the order to open fire.
At the same time, ten multi-barreled steam ballistae embedded in the ground roared first.
These three-story-tall killing machines were driven by adamant gears, and each steel crossbow arm was wrapped with dragon-lizard tendons soaked in whale oil.
Dozens of barrels rotated and fired simultaneously, a rain of armor-piercing bolts weaving a Domain of death in the air.
The anti-air heavy cannons followed, their bases embedded with Demonic Energy Stones shining brightly, spitting solid energy spheres from their thick muzzles.
But the descending giant dragon didn't even dodge.
He merely avoided attacks aimed at vital points, letting the rest strike his body.
Bolts hit his breastplate-like red scales, bursting not into blood but blinding sparks.
The Dwarf gunners watched in horror as the arrowheads twisted and snapped.
These weapons, capable of piercing a Earth Dragon's heart, now shattered like fragile icicles against iron plates. Then, Demonic Energy cannon shots struck the Red-Iron Dragon, making his body sway slightly and scales crack and break.
"Why does this dragon look so familiar?"
"It's him! The Death Omen Star!"
"How many years has it been?! He's become stronger and come back for revenge!"
The Dwarf Alchemist's heart shook violently as he recognized Garros.
The Young Dragons, ignoring their own injuries, propped themselves up and looked up at the sky.
Under the gaze of all, the Red-Iron Dragon folded his wings.
Frenzied State!
Activate!
Crackle! Dense, dazzling golden lightning emerged from the Red-Iron Dragon. His already powerful body expanded another size. Then, before more cannon fire arrived, he dove straight down like a line piercing the earth, with a terrifying momentum.
Boom!
With a earth-shattering sound, countless cracks spread across the ground like lightning.
Wind, shockwaves, earth, and stones mixed and surged, dealing a devastating blow to the steam ballista array.
Boom boom boom!
Before the Dwarf guards could react.
The golden Frenzied Red-Iron Dragon spread his wings and hovered.
That fierce, sky-diving impact didn't even cause a second of dizziness or delay.
He took a deep breath, opened his dragon maw, and bit into flames and lightning. Then, spheres of Dragon Breath, like fire and thunder, tore through the murky dust, shooting in all directions and precisely hitting each ballista and Demonic Energy cannon.
Boom rumble!
The earth trembled, engines roared. The Blackrock Duchy's War Golem,'Son of the Mountains,' activated.
Three massive beings of metal and steel leaped high, flames propelling from their backs, swinging fists like battering rams, charging directly at the Red-Iron Dragon. The shock runes on their fists shone like small suns.
Bang!!!
The moment Garros's right claw collided with the golem's iron fist, the shockwave shattered all the glass in the mine.
The Red-Iron Dragon's hooked toes dug into the golem's arm armor, muscle fibers tightening like red steel cables.
Rip! The entire golem arm was torn off!
Garros swung the heavy metal limb like a windmill, smashing it hard into the head of the second golem. The collision of the two giants was like a landslide, and flying gear parts cut Dwarf heavy infantry in half as they tried to dodge.
Another Son of the Mountains' arm turned into a war hammer, coming from behind, aiming to break the Red-Iron Dragon's spine.
The scales on the dragon's tail interlocked like a giant blade, moving like lightning, sweeping across the golem's chest, cutting it in two.
The Sons of the Mountains were just the beginning.
One golem after another rushed at the Red-Iron Dragon.
Valiant heavy-armored Dwarf warriors also joined the attack.
These 'iron fortresses' in full plate armor, only their eyes visible, charged at the Red-Iron Dragon. Tower shields extended spinning saw blades, and battle axes crackled with runic lightning.
When the first row of saw-blade shields hit the dragon scales.
The Red-Iron Dragon inhaled, his expanding chest crushing the front-line Dwarves into iron-skin meat pies. His tail sweep created a bloody metal storm, sending Dwarves flying into Ore refining towers, where molten iron poured like a waterfall onto the crowd.
Invisible Dragon Qi giant arms grabbed and exploded the heads of golems attacking from the sides.
A brave warrior jumped onto the dragon's back, hacking at its neck. The battle axe shattered Frostburn Scales, and his body slowed by the spreading cold, only to be pierced by the spines that shot out.
With the Red-Iron Dragon's continuous and rapid claw swipes, tail strikes, and wing slashes.
He endured attacks from all sides while counterattacking irresistibly, dismembering golems and crushing Dwarf warriors.
All the defenders of the chromite mine were powerless against the rampaging Red-Iron Dragon.
After another golem was cut in half by a spinning wing slash, the morale of the Dwarf defenders completely collapsed. Most Dwarves stopped attacking and fled in all directions like rock rats.
But two huge dragon shadows descended from the sky, blocking the main paths and sealing off the mine.
The fleeing remnants and low-level Alchemy Golems couldn't break through their interception, torn by claws and fangs, engulfed by Dragon Breath.
"Reptile, how do you feel now?"
On the other side, the Black Dragon asked gloomily.
The Dwarf Alchemist's face turned ashen. He manipulated the chains, trying to kill all the Young Dragons, at least taking some down with him.
But the runes on the chains had just lit up.
Boom!
With a violent tremor of the ground, the sound of a heavy object landing came from behind.
He turned in horror and saw the fierce, malevolent Red-Iron Dragon looking down at him coldly, behind him burning flames, scorched earth, wreckage, and ruins.
Neither the defensive heavy weapons nor the Alchemy Golems and heavy warriors.
Could stop his advance; they were all broken and shattered by him.
"Over twenty years... Red-Iron Dragon, finally..."
The Dwarf Alchemist's expression changed, finally showing a look of determination as his Demonic Energy surged.
But before he could finish speaking or launch an attack, under the relieved and awed gazes of the Young Dragons, the Red-Iron Dragon raised and dropped its paw, crushing him into a splatter of meat paste.
"He seemed to want to say something? Never mind, an insignificant insect."
Having never faced him directly, Garros had no memory of the Dwarf Alchemist. He crushed him like a bug, his mood undisturbed.
PS: My exam starts from tomorrow. Updates might get a bit shaky.