novelraw Chapter 226: Old Bastard, Do You Like My Deadly Thirty-Strike Combo?
Chapter 226: Old Bastard, Do You Like My Deadly Thirty-Strike Combo?
The second layer of black-red dragon scales revealed by the red iron dragon rapidly opened and closed with intense vibration, instantly turning crimson red and scorching hot like heated iron. Billowing waves of heat emerged from the gaps between his scales, completely dispersing the chilling cold left by the silver dragon's attacks.
Old fossil, my turn now!
The smile transferred from the silver dragon to Garoth's face as he took a deep breath, opening his jaws at close range with a dazzling, brilliant flame that even made the silver dragon feel threatened. His entire body burned like branding iron, causing excruciating pain to radiate through the claws gripping the red iron dragon's head.
The silver dragon immediately wanted to retreat.
But his dragon claw that had clamped onto Garoth's head was simultaneously pierced by Garoth's dragon horns, restricting his movement. As he pulled out his claw and attempted to retreat backward, Garoth's breath attack was already primed and ready to unleash.
Boom!
Like a cannon barrel, his mouth erupted with Destruction Breath, a solidified torrent of flame that struck the silver dragon's cross-defended arms at point-blank range, then forcefully pushed against the silver dragon's massive and agile body, driving him inch by inch toward the sky.
When the dragon breath dissipated.
The dragon scales on the silver dragon's arms had completely turned the color of red-hot metal. His shoulders, chest, and even parts of his face showed numerous areas that had become forge-red, with large amounts of steam billowing from the alternating cold and heat, the surrounding air distorted from the intense high temperatures.
Fire-based damage countered silver dragons effectively. He felt burning, scorching pain throughout his body, gritting his teeth in discomfort.However, the silver dragon's expression instead became relaxed.
"Such powerful dragon breath—the little whelp must have exhausted all his strength. Time to give him a good beating."
Just as the silver dragon thought this, buzzing, intense and chaotic electrical currents erupted beside his ears.
Zap! Zap!
After unleashing his Destruction Breath to blast the silver dragon skyward, the moment his breath attack depleted, Garoth decisively activated his Frenzied State.
Boom!
A golden dragon silhouette tore through the dense, billowing steam like lightning, arriving before the silver dragon before he could react.
Level 3 Dragon Qi Activation!
Enhanced Claw Strike!
Thwack! Thwack!
His claws alternated left and right, wreathed in golden lightning and black-red dragon energy, consecutively smashing against the silver dragon's head.
With scales shattering and flying everywhere, the adult silver dragon saw stars from the red iron dragon's suddenly surging power attack, feeling dizzy and disoriented, temporarily unable to react.
If this had been an adult white dragon, this strike would likely have knocked them out completely.
Enhanced Tail Strike!
The scales on his dragon tail clanged together, transforming into sharp blades and spear points, several times larger than before with razor-sharp edges. His body abruptly twisted as Garoth's blade-like tail swept across the silver dragon's chest, leaving a long bleeding gash amidst a shower of sparks.
The tearing pain in his chest jolted the silver dragon back to awareness.
Enraged, he raised his dragon claw, seizing a gap in the red iron dragon's assault to counterattack.
Reflexive Dodge!
The red iron dragon had preemptively used combat skills, instinctively swaying left and right to completely evade the silver dragon's slightly sluggish attacks.
In the next instant.
He pounced back toward the silver dragon again.
Thick golden lightning crackled intensely across his head, neck, and spine, while black-red dragon energy coiled around his claws and tail.
Enhanced Claw Strike!
Enhanced Tail Strike!
Dragon Wing Combo Slash!
The red iron dragon instantly transformed into a ferocious combat weapon—claws, dragon wings, tail... launching continuous, high-frequency attacks.
Maintaining the momentum.
Like a violent storm, the assault poured down upon the silver dragon.
Amid the sounds of clashing metal and nerve-grating tearing noises.
Within just a few short, rapid breaths, the silver dragon became covered in bleeding wounds, losing his previous elegance, his shining beautiful scales turning unsightly and ragged.
Garoth held nothing back, lavishly expending his dragon energy.
In this brief time, his dragon energy was nearly depleted.
Simultaneously.
The silver dragon's wings shuddered as brilliant light erupted across his body. Patterns resembling forked branches or cracking ice fissures emerged from his scales, extending to cover both wings.
Vast, ocean-like magical energy surged and churned within him.
Chilling air began to spread, with ice crystals materializing out of thin air.
This clearly wasn't just physical combat anymore.
He's getting desperate.
He's really desperate now.
Garoth's eyes flashed as he realized this, promptly folding his wings and withdrawing all the intense lightning and remaining dragon energy internally.
"Truly worthy of being the most powerful silver dragon in the convergence lands!"
The red iron dragon's voice boomed across the valley: "Even going all out, I only managed to leave some scorch marks on your scales. This contest is my loss!"
He knew when to quit, surrendering at lightning speed before the silver dragon could launch another offensive, moving closer toward the brass dragon mother and daughter.
Watching Garoth shout while shuffling toward them, the tip of brass dragon Serena's tail twitched uncontrollably several times, while simultaneously chuckling.
She was gradually understanding why little Deborah had become so utterly fascinated.
This red iron dragon was truly interesting.
When forceful, he attacked like a storm, daring to fight even an adult silver dragon, yet he understood when to advance or retreat, yielding without hesitation when appropriate.
From what little Deborah said, he was also good at riddles and willing to play guessing games with brass dragons.
"He's an excellent mixed-blood dragon, with potential to be guided toward goodness and order. Edri probably grudgingly acknowledges him deep down."
Brass dragon Serena thought to herself.
Among dragonkind, strength ultimately spoke loudest. The silver dragon proposed combat both to vent anger and to test the red iron dragon's capabilities.
Being excellent and powerful naturally earned respect anywhere.
Otherwise, everything else was empty talk.
Under the gaze of his mate and daughter, the silver dragon hovered silently in mid-air for a long time, finally emitting a metallic, grating laugh, appearing free and unrestrained as the piercing, bone-chilling coldness dissipated.
He folded his wings, slowly descending to land before Garoth.
"You certainly know when to advance and retreat."
The silver dragon said with a chuckle, raising his massive foreclaw to press on Garoth's shoulder. The elegant dragon claw now felt heavy as a mountain, grinding against the black-red scales until fine cracks appeared.
"This old fossil's smile hides ill intentions—his usual indifferent expression is actually more normal."
"Reserved, elegant, noble... none of these terms from the Dragon Legacy describing silver dragons seem to apply to him."
"White... White Dragons might be different, but most other adult dragons who've lived centuries have mature mentality."
"Facing such dragons, I need to be more serious and cautious. I was truly careless earlier, actually fooled by the silver dragon. Fortunately, he also suffers from dragon pride, effectively fighting with self-imposed limitations."
Garoth felt the increasing pressure on his shoulder, silently reflecting.
He felt the Dragon Legacy contained strong stereotypes. While generally accurate, each dragon actually possessed their own unique personality.
Like the silver dragon before him.
When he first showed goodwill, smiled, and dropped his indifferent expression.
Garoth truly thought he had let things go, never expecting it was deliberately meant to lower his guard, finding excuses to fight through different methods.
If not for the silver dragon's pride, setting limits on quasi-spell skills and class skills beforehand.
Garoth would have suffered greatly this time.
"You're the first young adult dragon in centuries to make me bleed in melee combat."
The silver dragon said with a "smile."
"Meeting surpasses hearing—Deborah's admired father is truly exceptionally powerful. Lord Edri, I'm delighted we can interact amicably. Fighting someone of your caliber has taught me immensely."
The red iron dragon broke free from the silver dragon's heavy claw, equally beaming with a bright smile.
Anyone unaware of the context might think these two dragons were chatting happily, admiring each other's prowess, enjoying harmonious interaction.
At that moment.
The brass-silver dragon approached Garoth, unable to conceal her joy, saying cheerfully: "Garoth, you actually made my father look disheveled! You're amazing!"
Though he surrendered, in the brass-silver dragon's eyes, he was the winner.
The muscles around the silver dragon's eyes twitched violently.
"Not at all, not at all, I still have much to learn."
"Only because Lord Edri went easy on me—otherwise I wouldn't have lasted a single move."
"Being able to inflict any damage was because I was too nervous, completely unable to control my power. The fact I have few injuries precisely shows Lord Edri's composure and far superior strength."
The red iron dragon said humbly and praisefully, not rubbing salt in the silver dragon's wounds but instead offering a way out.
This dragon whelp... might not be so bad after all?
After hearing the red iron dragon's words, the silver dragon suddenly thought.
Had he been somewhat biased against him?
He reflected on his own issues.
However, when he glimpsed his daughter's completely focused gaze on the red iron dragon, the slight goodwill that had just sprouted instantly froze—an old father's sour anger always needed an outlet.
"Deborah's harming me."
The red iron dragon thought to himself.
Under normal circumstances, he could probably win the silver dragon's favor. Unfortunately, the current situation was clearly abnormal, with the silver dragon father in a jealous state and Deborah's occasional direct provocation. Ordinary 'dragon handling' techniques were basically useless against him.