novelraw Chapter 369: He finally vented his anger by insulting the mother dragon.
Chapter 369: He finally vented his anger by insulting the mother dragon.
Chapter 369 He Still Ended Up Insulting the Mother Dragon to Vent His Rage
"Why are you so hung up on this life level?"
Deborah muttered quietly in her heart, but outwardly dared not show it.
Under the stern gaze of her silver dragon father, she sensibly chose silence, slightly lowering her head, eyes fixed on her forepaws covered in silver scales, wearing a look of obedient attentiveness, nodding occasionally as if committing every word of the old father's admonition to memory.
Seeing Deborah behave that way, Silver Dragon Edri accepted the moment and did not continue with a long lecture.
After a moment, he slowly stopped speaking and turned his gaze back to Garoth.
The severity in his eyes was immediately replaced by warmth and appreciation.
"Compared to dragons like you who grew up fighting for survival in the wilds, the young metal dragons have indeed been overprotected," Edri said with feeling. "Their growth path has been smooth; they rarely encounter true danger or life-or-death trials, lacking necessary tempering."
"If it were peaceful times, that might not matter much, but given the turbulent age we live in now..."
He shook his head slightly and did not continue, issuing instead a faint sigh before falling silent.Garoth pondered, keenly catching the implication in the silver dragon’s words, and asked in turn, "I heard the Metal Dragon Domain was sealed for decades, supposedly mobilizing the whole tribe to support the Twenty-Four-Winged Gold Dragon King in his attempt to reach the Immortal Realm. Now that the domain has been unsealed, what's the final result?"
He actually had a vague suspicion already, but he couldn't be certain. Perhaps this middle-aged metal dragon could provide an answer.
"The result...is still undecided, but the odds are not optimistic," Edri said slowly, his tone a few degrees more somber. "Those older, more powerful great dragons only announced the end of the sealing of the domain; they gave no clear statement about the Gold Dragon King’s specific situation."
Sometimes silence is itself a form of answer.
Hearing the silver dragon's loaded response, Garoth felt his heart sink slightly.
"Let's hope it was only a failed breakthrough and the Gold Dragon King himself is unharmed, able to maintain his previous condition," Garoth murmured.
That was probably the best hope under the circumstances.
Edri's eyes flickered with interest. "Oh? It sounds like you would prefer the Gold Dragon King to be safe?"
He had assumed that Garoth, a red-iron dragon who had struggled to survive in the wilds and had little connection to the metal dragons, would be more indifferent.
Garoth nodded slightly, his gaze calm as he looked toward the distant sky. "Of course. Metal dragons, Five-colored Dragons, Iron Hybrid Dragons...no matter how complicated our internal relations are, whether we fight or live in peace, we are all still dragons. What benefits one of us benefits us all; what harms one harms all. It's a simple truth."
The presence or absence of a Gold Dragon King may seem unrelated to the fate of an individual evil dragon, but regardless, if a dragon king—the embodiment of the top echelon of dragon strength—were to fall, every dragon on the planet Bernardo would be affected, overtly or subtly. The difference is only one of degree.
Shi Zhichong glanced over again, looking at Garoth with deep respect. That Nix dragon had endured the world's prejudice and scorn from youth and fought to survive, yet still possessed such farsightedness and magnanimity! He felt more admiration than ever for the senior before him.
"If all members of our dragonkind could have the vision and generosity of someone like Garoth, perhaps we would still stand at the pinnacle of the world, overlooking all life," Edri said with wistful feeling, his voice carrying a trace of nostalgia for past glory.
The innate arrogance of great dragons is not without cause. In the distant, ancient era the dragons call the First Age, great dragons were the undisputed overlords across countless planes and worlds; their shadows covered the limitless sky, their talons ruled vast lands and deep oceans. In that era, powerful giants built magnificent palaces and cities for the dragons and could be used as shock troops; graceful elves provided song, dance, and art as attendants or were kept as prized exotic pets; humans, everywhere now numerous, were then insignificant creatures dependent on stronger races. Almost every intelligent race relied on the dragons' breath to survive.
However, times changed. Humans, giants, elves...their overall strength has risen to rival dragons. While dragons remain mighty and cannot be ignored, they have long since lost the unchallenged supremacy of the First Age. Garoth's inherited memories contained this sweeping history. He understood why dragons fell from their throne: the collapse of a great empire often begins with cracks from within. The First Age of dragon rule was not immune. In the absence of a strong external threat, friction and conflict grew between dragon lineages because of differences in nature and ideology; dragons who followed different deities and factions became mutually hostile. Eventually, a massive civil war erupted across the dragon race. Countless great dragons perished in the internecine slaughter; glorious dragon city-states turned to ruins. The First Age ended in the tragedy of this internal consumption. Taking advantage of the dragon race’s weakest moment, giants and elves first raised the banner of rebellion, and many races long suppressed by dragons followed, joining forces against their former overlords and ushering in the grand Second Age. After millennia of brutal wars, dragons were torn from the pedestal of supremacy, and giants and elves paid heavy costs for their resistance. Eventually, all sides made peace and entered a period of recuperation, closing the bloody Second Age. Now, humans have risen strongly, and orcs, dwarves, and other races grow rapidly. Dragons, giants, elves—former overlords whose apex has passed—remain powerful forces. The world has moved into the Third Age of multiple races coexisting, each flourishing, mingling competition with cooperation.
"Sing the breath, heirs of the great dragons!" Edri's voice suddenly grew impassioned and solemn as he chanted in an ancient, accented cadence: "You shall inherit the dragon god’s great work and reign over the bygone First World—even though it is fractured past!"
That line came from the final chapter of "The Song of the Great Dragons," a grand ballad recounting the rise and fall of dragonkind and even reflecting the development of many world-planes, its verses inscribed in the inheritance memories of every great dragon. Garoth thought the song tended to glorify dragons and sometimes softened the brutal civil war that ended the First Age, but the history and spirit it carried still made it widely sung among dragons, especially metal dragons.
"The old First World, our First Age of dragon rule," Edri sighed as his tone returned to normal. "Sadly, time cannot be turned back. History’s wheel only moves forward. We cannot return. Now we must look to the future and do our utmost to secure a stable place for dragonkind in this new era."
Garoth did not react much inside. Due to harsh survival and brutal upbringing, evil dragons often focus on the present—practical and unromantic. Many metal dragons, however, are nostalgic at heart and love to recall past glory; the present silver dragon Edri was no exception.
"If dragons ever regained the glory of the First Age, I suspect that those metal dragons who preach order and kindness would become even more obsessive and fanatical than most evil dragons," Garoth thought silently, having no doubt about it.
Suddenly, a childhood question that he had never found an answer to flashed through his mind. "My inheritance mentioned that Iron Hybrid Dragons once belonged to the metal dragon clan in the distant past; in the early First Age, there was no separate Iron Hybrid designation." Garoth looked at Edri and raised his question. "But the inheritance was vague and did not record why the Iron Hybrid group was later expelled from the metal dragons' ranks." He paused, then added another puzzlement: "Also, deep within my iron-dragon bloodline inheritance, there was a faint mention of an Iron Hybrid Dragon King, said to have power comparable to the great Platinum Dragon God and the Immortal Dragon Queen, even being honored as the Supreme Dragon King. Yet such a figure who should be famed across countless worlds has left no concrete deeds in dragon lore beyond blurred snippets. It’s baffling—are these rumors true?"
Edri shook his head slightly. "The First Age is too distant; the dust of time has buried too much truth," he admitted. "When it comes to the specific history of that ancient era, our metal dragon heritage also has many gaps and ambiguities; much information remains in fragments."
Garoth had asked on impulse and received no definite answer, so he let the matter drop.
At the same time, the brass dragon Serena, who had been quietly watching, turned her gaze to the young red-iron dragon. "Garoth, those bloodshot veins in your eyes seem unusual," she observed keenly. "I feel your mental state is a little unstable. You were full of aggression and agitation during the fight earlier. Although you seem calmer now, I still sense something odd." She paused and asked directly, "This shouldn't be simple lack of sleep or fatigue, right?"
Hearing his partner's careful observation, Edri also looked at Garoth with a probing expression. He had vaguely felt something off about Garoth’s state earlier, but because his attention had been more on his daughter, he hadn't investigated. Now that Serena pointed it out, he realized the core issue. "Have you encountered something troublesome? Perhaps with my experience and ability I can help."
Under their combined scrutiny, Garoth hesitated briefly, deciding there was no need to hide the matter, and said, "Yes, something did happen. Not long ago, I planned an ambush and ultimately personally ended the life of the red dragon Gorthax."
Edri's face, which had worn an expression of comprehension, instinctively continued, "Ah, so that explains your mental exhaustion...wait!"
The rest of the sentence caught in his mind as he fully processed the astonishing information, and his voice broke off. His dragon eyes widened, his tone shooting up uncontrollably and even cracking: "What did you say?! You killed the red dragon Gorthax?! That Madfire Bloodflame Gorthax?! Your father?!"
The shock inside him churned like a storm. Edri had had dealings with the red dragon Gorthax in earlier years and knew how terrifying and intractable that madman could be. "Gorthax returned to the wilds increasingly violent and insane, posing a massive threat to surrounding life, including me," Garoth said calmly, as if recounting something unrelated to him. "I set an ambush in advance, exhausted a precious item, gathered allies, and after a fierce struggle I managed to kill him."
His description was offhand, omitting the heart-stopping details and the heavy price he had paid. But Edri and Serena exchanged a look of shock and disbelief. Garoth had mentioned ambushes, tools, and fighting with numbers in his favor, but to Edri those weren't the crucial points. Others had tried similar methods against Gorthax before, but the only success was this Garoth before them. Facts speak louder than rhetoric. The notorious red dragon Gorthax had indeed perished under the claws and fangs of this young red-iron dragon.
"I suppose it's not too unreasonable to lose to such an absurd young dragon..." Edri thought briefly, but then a deeper sigh and more complex emotion rose in him. "To have such a mad father, and have to kill him yourself."
Both Edri and Serena felt pity and sorrow in that instant. Filial slaughter is an extreme cruelty almost inconceivable among metal dragons, who cherish kinship and heritage. Metal dragon elders value and carefully cultivate their offspring; descendants typically hold deep reliance and trust toward their elders.
Edri suddenly remembered something and turned his gaze to his equally astonished daughter Deborah, a half-smile and an amused expression on his face as he calmly asked, "Garoth killing Gorthax—did you already know about it?"
Deborah nodded instinctively when her father asked. But as she did, she noticed for an instant the cold flash that passed through Edri’s eyes and was instantly alarmed, thinking this was not good.
"My dear father~"
Deborah reacted quickly and put on her sweetest, most coquettish tone to change the subject, leaning closer and nuzzling his shoulder armor with her head. "We'll go back to Red Maple Valley together later! It's been so long since I've seen you and mother; I miss you so much! This time I want to stay with you both for a while and keep you company to make up for how much I missed you." She cooed.
But Edri only gave a cold snort without expression. He didn't look at his daughter’s desperate cooing and said bluntly, "You don't need to rush back to Red Maple Valley. Stay here." Then he turned and looked at Garoth with warm eyes and spoke solemnly: "Garoth, I entrust my useless daughter to your care and discipline. Please do not spoil her too much. Train her often. Remember, a flower coddled in a greenhouse will never truly withstand wind and rain. I sincerely hope that under your influence and leadership, she can become as excellent and strong as you."
After a while he added, "I'll try to make an antidote to suppress the frenzied flame, or craft an alchemical tool that could help you. I'll inform you when there are results." With that final sentence, Edri and the brass dragon Serena beat their wings and rose. Under Deborah’s tearless, crestfallen gaze, they left Dragon Valley without regret, leaving Deborah flustered and alone in the wind.
"Have I been officially kicked out of the family?"
It took Deborah a while to recover from the sudden turn of events. She blinked and looked at the red-iron dragon beside her with disbelief, asking in puzzlement.
"It seems so, judging by your father’s words." Garoth nodded. Then he grinned and said, "There’s one more thing I mustn't disappoint Lord Edri’s trust on. Deborah, you really haven't trained with me for a long time. Come on, let's start now—let’s train."
Deborah had indeed once bravely trained with Garoth years ago. But with Garoth’s near-masochistic intensity and unusually frequent regimes, only the Gold Dragon Alberto could barely keep up among the dragons around him. Deborah had given up after a while because she couldn't bear it and had not participated since.
As he spoke, Garoth’s massive body began to approach the brass-silver dragon step by step, his heavy footsteps thudding on the ground.
"No, no! Your training intensity is just too much. I don't think it suits a dragon like me who leans more toward mage-like development..." Deborah felt the invisible pressure and slowly backed away, eyes darting to find an escape route. But Garoth, still not fully recovered from the influence of the frenzied flame, was more aggressive and offensive now and wouldn’t indulge the brass-silver dragon as before. In a move far faster than Deborah’s reaction, a giant claw armored with thick scales shot out like lightning and, accurate and firm, grabbed the long, elegant silver tail of the brass-silver dragon!
"Ah?! Wait! Garoth! We can talk!" Deborah cried.
Garoth ignored her. With a little force he effortlessly dragged the struggling brass-silver dragon toward the training ground.
"It seems Garoth ultimately adopted my suggestion, humiliating and forcing other dragons for amusement to vent his inner frenzy," observed White Dragon Trixie on the other side of the training ground. Her pupils flashed with understanding, but she shook her head with some regret. "But why...am I not the one enduring this?" she murmured, watching the brass-silver dragon being dragged with envy in her gaze.
Meanwhile, while Garoth remained in the convergence lands trying to adapt to the frenzied flame within him and forcing the brass-silver dragon to train, elsewhere in the vast and dangerous Ser Wilderness, in the central region inside a powerful dragon lair belonging to a clan surnamed Dominik, thunder rumbled—
The previously clear sky darkened abruptly as thick, ink-like clouds gathered from all directions. Sharp streaks of lightning twisted through the cloudbank like silver serpents, and booming thunder rolled, sounding like a great beast roaring across the horizon. Seconds later, a loud, majestic dragon roar—full of authority and power—erupted from the deepest heart of the dragon herd’s lair. The tangible soundwave pierced the clouds and reverberated between the vast sky and the mountains, announcing the awakening of a certain presence.
At the sound of that familiar, dignified roar, every great dragon living in that area—whether flying in the skies or lying in their nests—lifted their heads and looked toward the source. Their faces, without exception, showed anticipation, reverence, or excitement. That roar meant the herd’s highest leader had finished his prime-phase slumber and awakened. After this awakening, the Dominik herd leader’s life level would be at least twenty. Even if he could not break into the legendary rank, he would approach it, becoming a top-tier power just below legendary. The entire Dominik clan had remained dormant for too long to await their leader’s important sleep. Now, with the declaration that echoed across the sky, the Dominik herd need no longer stay hushed; they could show their sharp claws and fangs to the Ser Wilderness.