The hazy rain curtain was like a giant grey veil, shrouding the Coniferous Valley below.
In the valley, pine trees swayed gently in the wind and rain, fine raindrops continuously gathered and slid along the deep green needles, tracing crystalline paths in the humid air.
Whoosh—! A sudden gust of wind howled past, carrying icy rain, tearing open a brief, near-vacuum passage in the valley, brutally pushing the fine curtain of rain to both sides.
The Red-Iron Dragon's rugged, sturdy body, covered in thick scales, was circling above the valley shrouded in rain and mist.
He tilted his head slightly, eyes lowered, as if recalling something.
After a moment of thought, Garros folded his wings and landed steadily on the steep mountain peak at the side of the valley, his sharp gaze piercing through the rain curtain, slowly sweeping over every inch of the land soaked in rainwater below.
Time is the most ruthless steel blade in the world, enough to reduce countless once-renowned heroes to dust, eroding glorious pasts into vague legends.
However, time is also a life-saving medicine that heals wounds.
The valley, once ruthlessly devastated by scorching Dragon Breath and turned into scorched earth to thoroughly erase tracks just in case, had, under the nourishment of over twenty years, now recovered to a lush, vibrant state.
It was covered again by lush vegetation, revealing a sense of vigorous vitality in the continuous drizzle.
Garros's massive head turned slightly, carefully looking around at the familiar yet strange scenery.
Although the carving knife of time had left undeniable traces on the details of the valley—trees were taller or had changed positions, the course of the stream might have slightly altered—he could still recognize the cave where the Violent Bear pack once resided; he could also faintly see the forest clearing that had once been specially cleared as a place for him to secretly train 'Young Dragon'.
"It has been over twenty years."
"Finally, I have stepped onto this land again."
Garros's gaze swept across the valley, unexpectedly capturing a familiar giant rock slab—that had once been the place he liked to curl up on, basking in the sunlight or starlight to sleep peacefully during his childhood and youth.
Unexpectedly.
After more than twenty years of wind, frost, rain, and snow, it had not collapsed, only its surface was covered in slippery moss, with a few deep cracks added.
Garros's heart stirred.
He blinked cautiously, confirming there were no other creatures watching, and then landed slowly.
He tried to twist his sturdy body, carefully retracting his limbs inward, his massive body curling up bit by bit, fitting himself completely onto this rock slab that carried memories of the past, covering it without leaving a single gap.
However, to tell the truth, this hard, cold, and damp touch.
Compared to his comfortable dragon bed in the Burning Steel Fortress, paved with dazzling treasures, it was simply worlds apart.
That sense of fit and comfort in his memory, no matter how he adjusted his posture, could never be found again.
Crack—! A slight but clear snapping sound interrupted his thoughts.
When he came to his senses and subconsciously propped up his body, the rock slab beneath him that carried years and memories, unable to bear his current terrifying weight that far exceeded the past, instantly shattered into pieces, turning into a pile of moss-covered rubble.
It was different after all.
The rock slab that had once brought him stability in his childhood could now no longer even bear the weight of his body.
Garros shook his massive head slightly, a trace of emotion passing through his eyes, but there was no excessive lingering attachment.
He was now a lord who ruled The Borderlands and made the four directions submit, with a forest of powerful kin under his command, and many Dragonkin following under his wings; he was no longer the small, pathetic Young Dragon struggling to survive in the cracks of the wilderness.
He straightened his tough body.
Countless raindrops fell, hitting his broad and heavy dragon body, which seemed to be cast from steel, instantly shattering and turning into fine water mist.
Just at this moment, a whisper from Iron Dragon Sorog came from the depths of his heart.
The Red-Iron Dragon nodded slightly from time to time, and occasionally fell into brief contemplation.
A moment later, through Solrog's telepathic transmission, he had clearly grasped the changes in the Scale-Earth Rift Road over the past twenty-plus years.
"Ximu Town... Albert Family..."
Garros's gaze suddenly became as sharp as a blade, as if it could pierce through the rain curtain before him, but just for an instant, that sharpness was hidden back into a profound calmness.
Viscount Ironthorn, and that deadly Dragon Hunting Group.
They had once forced Garros into a desperate situation, nearly burying him completely.
It was also in that baptism of blood and fire that he awakened his own Dragon Qi.
He remembered all of this clearly; every detail had not faded.
As for now?
Viscount Ironthorn himself had long turned into dust in the wilderness.
However, the Albert Family, possessing the same surname, had taken over the Scale-Earth Rift Road.
Now, this land had been recaptured and controlled by the Molten Iron Tribe with the momentum of thunder; those noble lords entrenched in prosperous castles would surely receive the news before long.
However, there was no fear in Garros's heart.
The current comprehensive strength of the Molten Iron Tribe, perhaps, was still slightly inferior compared to the Duchy of Raymond as a whole.
But.
The wilderness, this vast, treacherous land with many resources, had never been the home field of the Duchy of Raymond.
This place was far from the core hinterland of the Duchy, supply was difficult, and the number of Federal Garrison troops in the wilderness was already stretched thin, not to mention that to cope with the increasingly severe secession crisis in the south, some of the true powerhouses and elite troops among them had long been anxiously recalled to the southern hinterland.
The remaining garrison forces' primary task was to guard those crucial resource strongholds.
Unless there was a clear order from the highest level of the Duchy, they would never rashly mobilize troops for the private territorial dispute of some noble.
Under these circumstances.
To want to organize forces to crusade against the Molten Iron Tribe—even if it was just against its vanguard troops—relying solely on the power of a mere count's Family was far from enough!
However, given Garros's deep understanding of the greedy nature of those nobles.
Once their core interests were touched.
Before they truly hit a wall and suffered a painful price, they would never easily give up.
Solrog's voice sounded in his heart again: "Ximu Town, which is mainly composed of merchants and adventurers, mixed with some ordinary humans, should it be kept or destroyed?"
Garros's thoughts churned.
A few seconds later, he gave his decision.
"Keep it for now."
The Iron Dragon responded happily: "Good, I will immediately announce that Ximu Town is entering a state of full martial law. During this period, only personnel are allowed to enter, and no one is allowed to leave. Specific management and public security matters will be fully responsible by Ludwig."
In Iron Dragon Sorog's grand blueprint.
As the Molten Iron Tribe's sphere of influence continued to expand, the kin under its command must not be limited only to those monster races with a bloodthirsty and combative nature.
Humans, as well as intelligent races such as dwarves and elves, would all be indispensable components within its ruling territory in the future.
Creatures like humans, which have relatively higher intelligence, complex social structures, stronger production capabilities, and are easier to manage systematically, would sooner or later become important producers and builders within the Molten Iron Tribe's territory.
Ximu Town was the first human settlement with a small scale that the Molten Iron Tribe had taken over.
Compared to completely razing it to the ground and turning it into scorched ruins, Solrog preferred to keep this ready-made settlement, carefully managing and transforming it, and developing it into an important human stronghold and logistics base that radiated to the surrounding area.
"The Albert Family's counterattack will come soon."
"However, humans also cannot avoid the common ailment of arrogance and conceit; they know nothing of our true power now and cannot stir up much trouble."
"All strategic locations around the Scale-Earth Rift Road have been set with hidden sentries and elite scouts. Every move they make will not escape our eyes."
Speaking of this, Iron Dragon Sorog's voice paused slightly.
"Garros, my dear brother, such a grand return... shouldn't we do something to declare our—Ignas Dragon Flight and Molten Iron Tribe—strong return to this land, to those who have forgotten or despised our existence?"
His voice carried a hint of excitement.
Hearing this, the Red-Iron Dragon nodded slightly: "The Federation's control over the wilderness is indeed weakening day by day, but being too flamboyant and high-profile is ultimately not a good thing."
He suddenly changed the subject and continued: "However, we do still owe that generous Crystal Princess a 'firework', it is time to return a precious thank-you gift to her."
Crystal Princess Elena's support went far beyond those shining treasures and various resources.
Regardless of the actual situation within the Federation, the Kingdom of Lothern was still the nominal leader of the Federation to this day.
Although Princess Elena was on the periphery of the royal court's power, she was, after all, an incredibly wealthy and prestigious princess, and the interpersonal network behind her was complex and deep-rooted.
In previous conversations, she had solemnly promised Garros that she would closely monitor the situation in the Serel Wilderness.
As long as the Ignas Dragon Flight does not commit any overly shocking, crazy acts that challenge the Federal Garrison's bottom line, she will do her best to mediate and maneuver regarding matters at the federal level, urging the Federal Garrison to ignore the existence of the Ignas Dragon Flight.
And this is the most crucial benefit gained from forming an alliance with this Crystal Princess.
The Serel Wilderness today is already filled with the smoke of war and is in complete chaos.
The Federal Garrison is already exhausted and overwhelmed.
If, at this time, an order were to come down from the high-level Royal Court implying they should selectively ignore certain areas, they would only feel relieved, happy to have one less thorny problem to handle that would require risking their lives.
Solrog asked: "When shall we ignite this firework?"
"Now!"
The Red-Iron Dragon said decisively.
"Call Samantha; she has been looking forward to this moment for a long time."
It is not every matter that proud Dragons are willing to delegate to their kin.
Moreover, things like raiding a Duchy outpost of the Federal Garrison are not suitable for bringing too many kin.
Possessing the advantages of speed and flight, the Dragon that rules the sky prepared to strike personally.
Whoosh—!
Thick, lead-gray clouds weighed heavily on the horizon, and a torrential downpour poured down, mercilessly enveloping a saltpeter mine outpost in the central Serel Wilderness that was surrounded by fortifications.
Raindrops pounded against the muddy ground, the roofs of shacks, and the cold Alchemy equipment, creating a continuous roar, as if only the sound of this clamorous water remained between heaven and earth.
This place belonged to the Duchy of Abel.
Because it unwaveringly relied on the Kingdom of Ripos, the Duchy of Abel received resource allocation and strong support far exceeding that of ordinary Duchies, and its military strength was so formidable that it could be called a hegemon of the region.
The same was true for the Duchy of Haltai, which also relied on the Kingdom of Lothern.
As the clouds of war grew denser, some of the elite forces deployed by the Duchy of Abel in the wilderness had been transferred to the war-torn border front.
However, its deep foundation meant that the garrison left behind in the wilderness could still not be underestimated.
Inside the saltpeter mine outpost, sophisticated Alchemy Golems and fully armed human guards were deployed in tight defense.
Among them, the most conspicuous was a war beast produced by the Kingdom of Ripos, possessing autonomous intelligence—[Heavens Fury]!
It possessed both powerful ground suppression and aerial combat capabilities, enough to easily tear apart any Vicious Beast or monster that dared to invade.
Pitter-patter! Pitter-patter!
Dense raindrops pounded frantically against the cold and massive steel body of Heavens Fury, shattering into countless tiny splashes.
Several Alchemists were braving the heavy rain, carefully performing routine maintenance on it.
They were fully focused, meticulously repairing the minute scratches left on the Golem's armor from battle, and using the unique techniques of Alchemists to restore some of the drive joints and energy nodes that had shown signs of aging from long-term operation back to a perfect state close to factory standards.
Suddenly!
Two blinding rays of light lit up without warning on the metal faceplate of Heavens Fury.
It 'opened' its eyes.
The massive metal head suddenly lifted, its cold 'gaze' piercing through the heavy rain curtain, looking toward the depths of the sky covered by thick, dense dark clouds.
The built-in detection device emitted an emotionless mechanical voice.
"High-energy life reaction detected!"
"Warning! Warning! A life form with extremely high threat is approaching at high speed! Position: Directly above!"
Under the gaze of countless astonished guards, this war beast erupted with a deafening engine roar.
Dazzling energy flames erupted from its back, its massive metal wingspan of over forty meters violently tore through the wind and rain, and its huge steel body shot into the sky like an arrow released from a bow.
Almost at the same instant.
A "meteor" wreathed in crimson flames and golden lightning, carrying the momentum to destroy everything, forcibly broke through the heavy rain clouds and dived down from the peak of the firmament.
The rainwater around it evaporated the instant it touched that terrifying high temperature, dragging a dense, tangible trail of white steam behind it, like a Death Omen Star descending upon the world, bringing a suffocating sense of oppression as it rapidly approached the ground.
It was—Sky-Rending Wings, Death Omen Star—Garros.
His gaze was as sharp as a blade, clearly reflecting the massive steel shadow nearly twenty meters tall rushing toward him.
This was not Garros's first encounter with Heavens Fury.
He remembered it with absolute clarity—when he decided to flee the Serel Wilderness back then, he had looted the gemstone mine of the Duchy of Raymond on the way, and during his escape, he had encountered the pursuit of such a powerful creation.
At that time, as a Young Dragon, he dared not confront it head-on at all, and could only sheepishly avoid its edge, conducting a strategic retreat.
However, today is different from the past!
In the blink of an eye, Heavens Fury had already approached.
The massive steel fist, shimmering with energy light, collided violently in the high sky with the Red-Iron Dragon's claws, which were covered in thick scales.
Boom—!!!
With the deafening roar, a visible shockwave kicked up waves of water, spreading and sweeping wildly in all directions with the collision point as the center.
The massive steel body of Heavens Fury was hit head-on, its chest deeply distorted and collapsed, and it fell uncontrollably toward the ground below.
Before it could initiate any counterattack program.
The Red-Iron Dragon's wings flashed like giant blades, mixed with attacks from his claws and tail, like a storm, instantly sweeping over Heavens Fury, leaving countless deep marks on its steel body.
Rrrrip! Crack! Boom!
The heart-stopping sound of tearing steel, the crashing sound of shattering parts, and the buzzing sound of energy overload blended into a sonata of death.
Countless twisted parts fell from the sky like a rainstorm.
Red-hot sparks splashed wildly in the cold water vapor and were instantly extinguished!
The powerful steel body of Heavens Fury was easily dismembered like a paper toy in Garros's ferocious attack.
And at the moment of its destruction, it exploded violently without any warning, turning into a ball of monstrous flames in mid-air, forming a vacuum in the rain curtain, as if a second sun was slowly rising.
The guards on the ground almost cheered out loud, thinking that this terrifying explosion had finally ended that fearsome Evil Dragon.
However.
Zzzzt! Blinding golden lightning tore through the expanding flames!
The Dragon shadow, shining with flying lightning all over its body, rushed out of the'sun', its scales having many more cracks and scorched marks, but it looked unharmed.
Garros's fire resistance weakened the flame damage to the extreme.
As for the shockwave of the explosion, it could not do anything to his Frostburn Scales, and the high-temperature flames and impact force actually caused him to accumulate a lot of thermal energy, as if a ball of fire was burning inside his body.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two more sturdy Dragon shadows tore through the rain curtain from different directions, diving down toward the chaotic outpost, throwing the guards into complete disarray.
Meanwhile.
The Red-Iron Dragon, bearing the futile, tickle-like energy beams and Alchemy artillery shells from the ground anti-aircraft weapons, landed violently!
Boom!
The earth trembled beneath his feet!
Wreathed in golden lightning and black-Red Dragon Qi, his massive, rugged body shifted and moved at an incredible speed.
Everywhere he passed.
Whether it was sturdy fortifications, tall watchtowers, or stubborn Alchemy Golems, all collapsed and shattered like sandcastles; even those battle-hardened, formidable human guard leaders were crushed like ants in the face of that unrivaled power.
The Iron Dragon and Red Dragon were slightly weaker, but they also displayed power beyond that of normal Young Dragons, blocking escape routes and slaughtering those guards who tried to flee.
Rumble—!
Finally, a heavy Demonic Energy cannon that had been accumulating energy for a long time luckily hit the Red-Iron Dragon in the chaos.
The Dragon's body trembled, broken scales flew, and he let out a low roar.
His massive Dragon wings flapped violently, his huge body instantly lifted off the ground, shooting straight into the sky! The Iron Dragon and Red Dragon followed closely behind, quickly escaping the chaotic battlefield.
The remaining guards on the ground witnessed this scene and almost cried tears of joy, thinking that they had finally repelled this terrifying Evil Dragon.
However, the very next second.
The Red-Iron Dragon spread his wings, his whole body rolling with heat waves, the evaporating rainwater hissing, and every Dragon scale on his body was like a red-hot branding iron.
He took a deep breath, and then violently exhaled toward the ground.
A Destruction Dragon Breath far more terrifying than any previous attack, like a pouring river of magma from the heavens, like a spear of judgment cast by the God of Fire, violently struck the earth.
Wherever the Dragon Breath passed, the hard rock melted and vaporized instantly like butter.
The mine pit was directly pierced and torn apart!
The saltpeter mine was ignited and detonated, causing a chain reaction, and the rumbling continuous explosions sounded like thunder echoing across the earth.
The surface cracked and collapsed wildly like a fragile eggshell.
The surging flames, mixed with the shockwave of the explosion, formed a massive pillar of fire connecting heaven and earth, shooting straight into the sky.
It arrogantly evaporated the rain-filled sky, and in the gloomy night sky, it bloomed into—the grandest, most magnificent firework woven from flames, blood, and death!