novelraw Chapter 386: Old Golden Dragon: What? My daughter isn't coming back either?!
Chapter 386: Old Golden Dragon: What? My daughter isn't coming back either?!
Snowflakes fell like countless cold feathers, adding another layer of chill to the convergence lands.
After a brief exchange, the Gold Dragon Nasha could no longer suppress the questions roiling in her heart.
Her gaze locked onto the red iron dragon, she asked, “The Star Path skills consume dragon qi on a massive scale, but you... your dragon qi seems endless, flowing without pause. How do you achieve that?”
If she could possess such vast stores of dragon qi, her strength would undoubtedly rise by at least a whole tier.
Some of the Four Elements Path’s finishing moves likewise require enormous amounts of dragon qi to execute.
“The answer is simple: training.”
Garoth said, “Continuously pushing your limits, surpassing them again and again, conditioning the body to tolerate high-intensity expenditure, letting the dragon qi inside adapt to berserk output.”
“When your body becomes strong enough to bear a boundless ocean, the dragon qi will naturally increase and condense.”
“Like rivers flowing into the sea, it happens by itself.”
A flicker of doubt instinctively passed through Nasha’s eyes.Metal dragons also emphasize bodily training, but typically they complement it with rare magical potions, pure elemental purifications, and blessings from elders to accelerate progress.
Given that dragons’ bodily attributes naturally grow stronger with age, pure gains from physical training alone strike many metal dragons as inefficient—more a decorative enhancement than a main method.
Nasha herself had focused more on refining and improving her battle skills than on conditioning her body.
Alberto sensed his dragon sister’s suspicion and interjected from the side, “Nasha, you haven’t seen how he trains in daily life.”
“That’s nothing like your idea of flapping claws and spitting flames on a training ground.”
He raised his sturdy right forelimb, covered in golden scales, and proudly flexed the angular, powerful muscles.
“Look closely, take a good look! This build, this power—I've already surpassed the vast majority of red dragons at the same tier!”
“And to some extent, I owe this to copying Garoth’s training methods.”
Nasha shot her brother a warning glance.
She noticed Alberto’s physique indeed looked much bulkier than in her memory; his muscles were more pronounced, and his life level had reached Level 16, only one tier below her.
At this rate, after his next hibernation he would overtake her.
The realization unsettled her.
She turned her gaze back to Garoth.
Though this was not their first direct meeting, she still felt genuine astonishment at his visually striking, imposing physique.
“Only training can bring someone to this level?”
She found it hard to believe.
“Be resolute and persistent, and you have a chance.”
Garoth answered simply. He paused, then added, “Of course, perhaps a little talent helps in the process.”
He did not deny that talent played a role.
But he knew deeper down that regardless of talent, without day-after-day, unwavering persistence and effort, he could never have achieved what he had today.
“This is not a place for chatter. Follow me.”
With that, Garoth fell silent. His great dragon wings beat, whipping up a blizzard of snow, and he led the way toward Dragon Valley.
The other giant dragons spread their wings and followed.
In the blink of an eye, the group soared over Dragon Valley.
Nasha’s gaze swept sharply downward.
Guards stood in the wind and snow like statues, disciplined; young dragonlings, overseen by adult white dragons, conducted orderly basic drills.
Everything told her that this was not a place of chaos.
“In my memory, an evil dragon lord’s lair is either a lawless, survival-of-the-fittest wilderness, or a blood-soaked horror filled with cages, instruments of torture, and piled bones.”
Nasha looked down and said, “But this is different. It genuinely surprises me.”
She meant it.
In fact, when she first reached Dragon Valley’s outskirts she should have noticed how different this place was from typical evil dragon dens.
But she had been blinded by long-held beliefs about evil dragon groups, and seeing so many evil dragons gathered at once—plus the fact that her brother had just been mauled—her emotions flared with anger and worry, making calm, objective thought difficult at first.
“Order is the foundation of efficiency.”
Garoth’s voice came from ahead.
“Chaos only breeds pointless internal consumption, while excessive oppression leads to fierce rebellion.”
He said, “To achieve better development—for myself, for those who follow me, and for the numerous followers—we need a relatively stable environment that can continuously supply sufficient resources.”
To him, order was a highly efficient tool for achieving goals.
Had total chaos and destruction offered a faster, safer path to power, he might have become another catastrophic, chaotic entity like his frenzied red dragon father.
At the same time, his words moved Nasha.
Garoth’s long-term vision and rationality exceeded her prior conception of evil dragons; he resembled a wise ruler more than a savage monster.
“My previous view was indeed too narrow and one-sided.”
Nasha candidly admitted her misjudgment.
Like most gold dragons, pride ran deep in her bones, but she refused to hide the mistakes she had made.
“Alberto’s choice to ally with you wasn’t purely a momentary impulse.”
“You truly have the qualification.”
She finished, letting her gaze rest on another gold dragon, her look containing less skepticism now and more contemplation.
Alberto snorted a spark-lit breath through his nostrils in displeasure, then quickly changed the subject, asking, “Nasha, why did you suddenly come here?”
Nasha’s eyes immediately sharpened, locked onto her wayward dragon brother.
“Don’t you know?”
“It was Father who sent me. He ordered me to bring his prodigal, home-skipping son back to the dragon domains.”
She grinned, amused, and added, “He specifically told me, if you refuse to cooperate, beat you until you do. Honestly, I’m quite eager to carry out that family discipline.”
She didn’t hide her ‘malice’.
Alberto remained unmoved.
“This is Garoth’s territory.”
He said slowly, “He’s my ally, my partner through thick and thin. He won’t stand by and watch you run wild here. If you have the skill, beat him down first.”
“If you can do that, I promise without question I’ll obediently go back with you.”
“If you can’t...” He spread his claws, “then don’t waste your effort.”
Nasha laughed even more heartily, as if hearing something amusing.
“I don’t care either way,” she said casually. “Anyway, if I take you back alone, next time it’ll probably be Father and Mother themselves who come. Then... hehe.”
Alberto trembled ever so slightly, but kept his composure.
He remembered Garoth’s Charm Hierarchy Theory and felt he should project an extraordinary, unshakable dignity, like a dragon king unmoved even if the sky fell, to boost his charm.
So, under Nasha’s gaze, Alberto tilted his head up slightly.
“Hah, me bow to them?”
His tone was indifferent, suffused with arrogance.
Nasha. ...
Garoth. ...
The air seemed to freeze in that instant.
Both fell into an awkward silence.
Not seeing each other for decades and he was still this insufferable—no growth at all—still spouting reckless boasts. Nasha felt her claws itch; the urge to pummel her brother surged.
Garoth suddenly understood why other metal dragons used Alberto as a cautionary example.
“A little family quarrel—may I handle it for a moment?”
Nasha took a deep breath, suppressing her impulse to lash out, and turned to the red iron dragon, asking politely.
Garoth’s gaze lingered on Alberto’s expression for a moment, then he slightly inclined his head and said three concise words.
“Suit yourself.”
Alberto’s eyes widened in disbelief as he hurriedly shouted at Garoth, “Wait! We’re allies—”
Before he could finish, an eruption of furious roaring cut him off like a volcanic blast.
“Al-be-rt-o! Get over here and die!!!”
Nasha instantly transformed into a savage, fearsome monster.
Golden light flashed around her as the ornate golden armor rematerialized on her body.
She lunged, her armored claws seizing the tail that Alberto tried to tuck under, then spun him through the air like a windmill for a dozen frantic rotations! With a venting roar she hurled him high into the sky.
Whoosh!
Golden wings unfurled, her dragon qi resonating with wind elements into a streak of gilded lightning that chased after him.
In moments, heavy thuds echoed through the high air, mixed with Alberto’s pained groans and Nasha’s scolding. Elemental flashes burst like festival fireworks, and shards of golden scales rained down.
By his own skill alone, Alberto might have had some hope against a superior dragon sister, but Nasha’s armor amplified her strength so greatly that even Garoth would need to enter a Bloodburst State to subdue her, so teaching her dragon brother a lesson was simple.
“I heard that relationships within metal dragon clans, especially among kin, are usually close and harmonious.”
The Blue Dragon Zoraya looked up at the one-sided beating in the sky and tilted her head, puzzled.
“But these two don’t seem like that. Their way of communicating is more like ours—using claws.”
The brass-silver dragon Deborah quickly shook her head, not wanting a misunderstanding.
“No, please don’t misunderstand—this is just an exception.”
She explained with a hint of helplessness, “Not all metal dragons are so hot-tempered. Just as among evil dragons there are unique individuals like Garoth with different styles, metal dragons also have those who stand out.”
The faerie dragon Vira appeared unexpectedly again.
She flapped happily at the side and chimed in with a cheerful voice, “Hehe, do you really think those who stay with Garoth are normal dragons?”
One line offended every dragon present.
Sensing the ill will, the faerie dragon innocently did a flip and then used an illusion to hide herself.
In the high sky, Nasha’s strikes were fast, wolfish, and heavy.
Yet as a battle dragon, she knew precisely which body parts produced maximum pain while cleverly avoiding fatal targets.
After a dozen minutes!
A golden silhouette traced a miserable arc and crashed into a training ground in Dragon Valley, creating a shallow pit, then lay utterly still, soundless.
“That’s him unconscious? He’s getting less resilient by the day.”
Nasha landed beside him, flicked Alberto’s cheek a few times with the tip of her tail, and found no response—he really had been knocked out.
She pursed her lips, slightly dissatisfied.
At that moment, the red iron dragon descended, his heavy body making the ground tremble.
He cast a wary glance at the pit where the battered, seemingly unconscious Alberto lay, then turned his attention to Nasha.
“I have no intention of interfering excessively in your clan matters.”
Garoth said, “If your purpose here is to take him back to the dragon domains, you can depart now. I promise I will not stop you.”
It was reasonable that Garoth had sheltered Alberto in his absence of kin; providing refuge was fair.
But with the dragon’s elder sister here in person, it was best they handle family issues themselves.
Garoth did not want to face the wrath of a legendary old gold dragon.
Under Garoth’s gaze, the ferocious-looking Nasha instantly relaxed; her demeanor became gentle and harmless as if the violent battle dragon had been an illusion.
“Actually, I’m not in such a hurry to take him back.”
She looked at Garoth brightly and said, “Warpath dragons are rare. In the dragon domains I cannot find suitable peers to exchange battle-dragon experience with.”
She paused, then continued, “I hope to exchange combat experience with you, if possible.”
Garoth chose the Battle Path because it was powerful in combat.
Nasha chose it because she had a natural, deeply ingrained love for battle.
But inside the many rules of the dragon domains she had to suppress that warlike nature, venting only through minor skirmishes and enforcing discipline on her rebellious brother.
Now, away from the domain and encountering a powerful dragon who also walked the warpath, having just experienced a short but extremely intense fight, her suppressed battle spirit was fully ignited.
For a moment she did not want to return to the comfortable calm of the dragon domains.
Garoth and she stared at each other; he could clearly see the unhidden burning heat in her eyes.
That pure, blazing fighting intent stood out sharply to his keen senses as a battle dragon.
“Alberto’s sister’s personality seems abnormal as well.”
That thought surfaced in his mind.
Nasha continued, her tone sincere, “Besides exchanging battle experience, I’m curious about your territory. I’ve never seen so many evil dragons before. May I stay in your Dragon Valley for a while to witness the order and strength you’ve built?”
Garoth pondered, weighing the pros and cons.
After a moment he nodded slightly.
“Fine.”
He agreed.
Dragon Valley had never opposed strong outside visitors, especially those who might bring new challenges, perspectives, or potential benefits.
A solid adult gold dragon could, by forming good relations, raise Dragon Valley’s external reputation and prestige.
Moreover, Garoth was intrigued by her armor.
The Four Elements dragon skills could also enhance his resistances comprehensively.
He added, “Dragon Valley welcomes dragon visitors who respect our rules. You may observe freely, but you must not interfere with normal operations or training schedules. I’m also happy to exchange experiences with other battle dragons.”
Nasha inclined her head slightly, dipping it in a small arc to show gratitude.
“Vira.”
Garoth called.
“Oh great, invincible Lord of Molten Iron! Your most loyal Vira stands ready!”
The faerie dragon’s shape materialized on cue.
This time she behaved very formally, standing straight as if a soldier at inspection.
“Lead Lady Nasha around and familiarize her with Dragon Valley’s basics and rules.”
“Understood! I guarantee completion!”
Vira answered loudly, then turned to Nasha and greeted warmly, “Honored Gold Dragon Lady, please follow me.”
Not long after, wind and snow still howled tirelessly over Dragon Valley.
The faerie dragon eagerly led Nasha through the valley’s important areas, explaining layout and regulations.
Garoth calmed his mind and contemplated further evolution of his wings.
His thoughts churned while the frenzied flame flickered, and he adapted to the flame’s negative effects.
Elsewhere, Alberto quietly opened an eye after confirming his dragon sister’s presence had receded with the faerie dragon.
Finding the danger passed, he clambered out of the pit, briskly shaking dust and small stones from his body.
Though still battered, bruised, and clawed, he kept his chest straight and his face the composed mask of “all under control.”
Garoth’s gaze swept over him.
“Your sister has decided to stay in Dragon Valley for a while. What do you think?”
Alberto brushed imaginary dust off his shoulder and gave an ambiguous chuckle.
“Just a little wind and frost.”
He was determined to live the charm theory to the end.
Besides, his next hibernation was not far off. If he rested in Dragon Valley, Nasha couldn’t forcibly take him back to the domains during that time; he was unafraid.
Meanwhile, deep in the Endless Sea’s reaches within the Vophal Dragon Domain.
Inside a magnificent palace of white marble and gleaming gold,
a colossal gold dragon over thirty meters long, his scales shining like ancient refined gold, lay prostrate upon a high dais draped with soft fabrics.
He sat in silence for a moment, then sent a transmission to his progeny in the distance.
“Nasha, have you found that troublesome prodigal Alberto yet?”
Seconds later, a reply came through from the other side.
“Yes, Father.”
“Good. Bring him back swiftly so he stops making trouble outside and sullying our gold dragons’ reputation.”
“Well... let’s wait a bit, Father. I’ve discovered an interesting place and don’t plan to rush back. I’ll return when I’m ready and bring Alberto along then. Don’t worry, with me watching, he won’t cause a ruckus.”
“Hm? You—”
The old gold dragon hesitated, puzzled and displeased, about to probe further.
At that moment, the transmission abruptly cut off, leaving the old gold dragon’s follow-up words to fade unanswered through the palace halls.