novelraw Chapter 253: Divine Dragon's Favor, Iron Dragon and Monastery
Chapter 253: Divine Dragon's Favor, Iron Dragon and Monastery
"I hold deep prejudice against metal dragons... explain in detail."
Garoth didn't refute the brass-silver dragon's assessment, instead actively leaning his neck forward to signal her to continue explaining.
As a red iron dragon who grew up in harsh environments, he understood better than anyone the fatal consequences that mistaken perceptions could bring—if he could avoid this cognitive trap in advance, that would be for the best.
The brass-silver dragon folded her wings, adjusting to a more comfortable position.
"First you need to understand that among the metal dragon community, those extremists who blindly attack evil dragons upon sight actually represent an extremely small minority within the minority."
She raised a claw to gesture, saying: "When most metal dragons encounter evil dragons, their first reaction is to try guiding them to change alignment, after all..."
Deborah lowered her voice, saying: "Chaotic evil evil dragons are the truly dangerous scourges."
"Like the red dragons, black dragons, white dragons among the Five-colored Dragons."
Her tone turned serious as she continued: "They frequently produce completely reckless madmen. Even the relatively lawful green dragons and blue dragons might occasionally produce utterly out-of-control individuals... these chaotic evil dragons not only threaten other races, but even our own dragonkind gets affected."
Snowflakes swirled between the two dragons.The brass-silver dragon paused briefly, then said: "But alignment is never a permanent label."
"Especially young dragons who have suffered trauma—if they remain in abused or exiled conditions for long periods, they more easily slide into the abyss of chaos."
"So if you can take in these abandoned young dragons and juvenile dragons,"
Deborah's eyes lit up, as if thinking of something interesting: "You don't need to turn them good-aligned—just shifting them from chaotic to lawful would be considered a commendable achievement in the eyes of rational metal dragons."
Good-aligned creatures tainted with chaotic traits might actually be harder to deal with than lawful evil.
Evil alignment combined with chaotic alignment creates mobile hazards.
Garoth lightly tapped the ground with his claws, deep in thought.
Lawful evil dragons might still be unpopular.
But compared to those illogical chaotic madmen, they were at least predictable and negotiable.
"For example, my never-met red dragon father."
Just from Silver Dragon Edri's brief descriptions back then, Garoth could sense how dangerous his red dragon father was.
The brass-silver dragon slyly narrowed her eyes: "Imagine if you cultivated enough lawful evil dragons..." Her voice trailed upward with anticipation: "Maybe even the Platinum Dragon God would cast approving glances your way."
Let's not go that far... Garoth warily flicked his tail.
Nothing in this world comes free. He wanted no relationship with deities.
The power gap between them was too vast.
Being noticed by beings who could determine his fate would make the slightly paranoid Garoth extremely uneasy.
Who knows what consequences those supreme beings' whims might bring.
Calming down, Garoth took a deep breath of the crisp air: "Dragon Valley won't indiscriminately take in evil dragons. We'll keep the numbers within reasonable limits."
He calculated silently in his heart.
Even if he raised dozens or hundreds of lawful evil dragons, they'd be just a drop in the ocean across the vast multiverse, hardly enough to attract divine attention.
Even when believers pray to deities daily, unless they reach certain levels themselves, they rarely receive attention or responses, let alone non-believers.
Not just juvenile dragons.
Even adult, mature dragons who think they can attract divine favor... are seriously overestimating themselves.
"I'm going to start training now."
The red iron dragon focused his mind, inviting Deborah: "Join me?"
The brass-silver dragon's tail hooked slightly as she gladly agreed.
The snow continued falling as time passed unhurriedly.
Lothrian Kingdom capital, borderland suburbs, newly built Spark Monastery.
Morning mist still lingered as dawn light emerged, with nearly a hundred children already spaced across the bluestone plaza in training formations.
Their exposed skin steamed with heat, young faces showing exceptional determination, sweating profusely yet none complaining or expressing discontent.
These children.
Were precisely the gem merchant consortium's rescued orphans handed over to Spark Monastery as Divine Dragon Sect reserves.
All were parentless street orphans who underwent the consortium's rigorous, even magically-assisted screening to ensure each possessed resilient will, grateful hearts, and training potential.
Currently, the children were undergoing basic Divine Dragon Sect training.
They maintained dragon-coiling stances, standing single-legged like coiled dragon tails, with heavy stones hanging from their ankles. Most bodies swayed and trembled constantly while they gritted teeth to keep legs raised, preventing stones from touching ground.
The best performer was a ten-year-old boy.
His eyes were covered with black cloth, yet his movements remained impeccable, body steady as bedrock without slightest tremor, standing out exceptionally among the children.
He could smell various scents in the air, feel snowflake movements through air currents, hear the faintest sounds.
Perhaps because his blindness spared him from seeing the world's splendors or ugliness, he maintained extraordinary focus during practice, progressing fastest as Spark Monastery's 'little master'.
"Spine rises like ascending dragon!"
Divine Dragon Monk Balder's booming voice erupted.
The brawny monk—shirtless in snow weather with massive dragon tattoos covering his body—assumed a posture resembling a soaring great dragon, stretching his spine with popping sounds like frying beans.
The children simultaneously changed postures.
Boys and girls alike, mostly moving awkwardly yet trying their best to imitate the instructor's movements.
As time passed, they sometimes raised heads like young dragons, sometimes stretched arms like wings... assuming one dragon posture after another.
"Remember! Postures are merely appearances, just vessels! The true core is 'qi'!"
"Feel your energy flow, capture that wisp of qi."
Balder moved among novice monks, speaking while correcting a tough-looking, fierce-eyed boy's posture.
This boy named Theron, eight years old, bore many scars.
Also an orphan but unlike others' timid insecurity—when the gem merchant consortium found him, he was beating a stray dog to death with bare fists over a piece of bread.
Just then.
The ground suddenly shook as if some massive creature had landed outside.
Yet feeling the ground tremors, the children couldn't help showing happy smiles.
"The great Steel Lord approaches, little worms! Quick, show your welcome!"
Iron Dragon Gordon stepped unevenly as he 'squeezed' into the monastery, attendants following with numerous delicacies ordinary people had never even heard of.
Even though the foods were sealed in containers.
Just the faint escaping aromas made the children drool uncontrollably.
"Balder greets you."
The Divine Dragon Monk responsible for Spark Monastery bowed respectfully, movements somewhat stiff but gaze filled with awe and admiration toward the iron dragon.
He belonged to the Dragon Heart Society, a dragon admirer who took pride in approaching dragonkind and serving them.
"At ease, you've worked hard."
The iron dragon chuckled, pulling a bottle of royal magical medicine from beneath his scales, casually handing it to the monk: "A small gift, take it. Drink when tired—restores your energy."
Gifting upon meeting.
Wins favor from superiors, wins loyalty from subordinates.
This social tactic Gordon learned through noble interactions. Except for Princess Elina, he collected his shed scales and teeth as gifts for other lords, princesses, even the king.
Value aside.
Receiving small gifts from a dragon definitely felt different.
Returning to topic—directly scattering gold coins pained Gordon, but magical medicines with higher actual value (just not coin/gem value) he gave freely without heartache.
"Thank you for your generosity."
The Divine Dragon Monk's eyes shone with delight as he bowed.
"Little worms, why don't I hear your cheers?"
The iron dragon stepped heavily into the plaza, deliberately putting on a stern expression.
"Welcome great Steel Lord!"
The children cheered in unison, delighted by Iron Dragon Gordon's arrival, their unified youthful voices echoing across the plaza.
This was already Gordon's third visit.
While accompanying Princess Elina during charity activities, he guided her to Spark Monastery, expressing particular interest in and preference for the Divine Dragon Monks. Subsequently, he naturally returned bringing premium foods and his guidance.
Though guidance might be overstating it.
Like right now.
"Little worms, come experience a real dragon!"
With permission granted, the children ended training, gathering around Iron Dragon Gordon, closely touching his scales, observing his appearance and postures, sensing his aura.
Though the iron dragon's body was massive, his chubby appearance lacked menacing quality.
Really hard to feel afraid of.
"You, little thing called Aisha—still not afraid of me?"
The iron dragon extended a claw, gently tapping the bean-sprout-thin girl.
Hearing the question, the once skin-and-bones girl who timidly awaited death in corners now boldly said: "Not afraid! You bring us good food! I like you!"
"Rest assured, with the great Steel Lord here, you'll never go hungry again."
The iron dragon patted his wings, declaring heroically.
Not just for mission purposes—he genuinely enjoyed this moon-surrounded-by-stars feeling.
Mixing among children like this gave Iron Dragon Gordon a sense of omnipotence, of being treated like a deity, greatly satisfying his vanity.
Scattered snowflakes continued falling.
Yet Spark Monastery felt anything but cold.
The 'Steel Lord' and future Divine Dragon Monks interacted harmoniously. When the children looked up at the iron dragon, their eyes held no fear of the alien giant, only reverence and admiration.
The seeds planted by the Ignas brothers here were quietly taking root, gradually sprouting.