novelraw Chapter 427: The Red Iron Dragon’s Domain and Traits
Chapter 427: The Red Iron Dragon’s Domain and Traits
The newly risen dawn poured down from the horizon.
Light scattered like shards of gold across the boundless surface of the Endless Sea, reflecting a million glittering ripples.
Somewhere within this vast ocean, a grand main island stood like the heart of the sea, surrounded by a constellation of smaller isles.
Although waves raged around it and tides surged, an invisible force protected these islands, making them immovable.
This was the Vophal Dragon Domain, ruled by the Silver Dragon King.
Like the Everbright Dragon Domain, the sky above here was also draped in an ever-shifting, magnificent aurora, effectively blocking prying eyes from beyond the heavens.
Just as dawn and aurora shone together,
Ovis and his party, carrying the unconscious red iron dragon, crossed a great distance and arrived above the Vophal Domain.
The old Gold Dragon cast his gaze toward the imposing main island below, paused for a moment, then instructed his two offspring beside him: “Alberto, Nasha, you two head to the main island immediately, go straight to the Dragon Breath Sanctuary.”
“Remember, do not mention Garoth first. Only cry that you were attacked by the Bronze Dragon Siano, emphasize how vicious his methods were, say you nearly lost your lives, and beg the elders to seek justice on your behalf.”“Make as much noise as possible, let more of our kin know.”
“When an elder steps forward to ask details, then ‘reluctantly calm down’ and tell the whole sequence of events truthfully.”
The ancient dragon elders were all experienced and sharp-eyed; attempting to deceive or deliberately mislead them would be extremely difficult.
However, the emotions of other ordinary metallic dragons were relatively easy to sway and guide.
The old Gold Dragon knew this well.
The Dragon Breath Sanctuary was the core place where the Vophal elders gathered to discuss domain affairs.
Besides, the Silver Dragon King, like other Ancient Dragon kings, lived in seclusion and rarely appeared, but his true body resided directly beneath the Dragon Breath Sanctuary.
Whenever the elders discussed matters here, the Silver Dragon King was actually listening as well.
Only when matters concerned the domain’s survival or were extremely important would he directly issue instructions.
“All right! We’ll make sure this is done beautifully!”
Alberto and Nasha brightened at his words.
These two Gold Dragons loved chaos and mischief; the old Gold Dragon’s plan suited them perfectly—exactly what they wanted to do but were afraid of being scolded for.
The siblings beat their dragon wings and excitedly flew toward the main island.
“Dragons are being killed! Dragons are being slaughtered!”
“The noble, righteous Gold Dragons are about to be murdered by kin!”
“The evil Bronze Dragon of the Raging Tides Domain is killing Gold Dragons! Is anyone in charge?!”
Before reaching the Dragon Breath Sanctuary, their shrieks and cries—piercing and mournful—instantly drew the suspicious attention of many metallic dragons, who turned to look.
Some metallic dragons who enjoyed spectacle beat their wings and, curious, followed the two Gold Dragons.
Thus, Garoth and Nasha shouted and wailed along the way without restraint, and more metallic dragons joined, forming a swelling procession moving toward the Marsha Sanctuary.
Meanwhile, Alberto did not continue to the main island; instead he veered toward his own private isle.
He decided to place the red iron dragon within his territory first.
If the Vophal Domain authorities seized the red iron dragon before the truth was clear, radical Purification Faction dragons might secretly cause trouble. Furthermore, the old Gold Dragon had a vague premonition that the attack’s cause might be more complicated, perhaps more than just the Purification Faction pulling strings.
The safest choice was to keep the red iron dragon under his own watch.
Not long after, Ovis reached his island.
His palace sat at the center, with a clear, wide lake in front.
Ovis did not go into the palace; he carried the red iron dragon and dove into the cool lake, descending steadily,
until he brought the dragon to a special, completely motionless pool.
The Stillness Spring.
This natural spring, formed from the purest water element and abundant life energy, was a treasured site kept by the old Gold Dragon.
Its waters contained gentle but plentiful energy, excellent for healing grievous wounds and stabilizing a freshly reached realm.
Ovis placed the red iron dragon at the spring’s center.
The water was highly condensed, feeling like semi-solid amber, fully enveloping the dragon’s massive body. The spring’s life-like waters seeped into every battered inch of his flesh and scales, entering wounds and repairing his ravaged body at a visible pace.
Ovis gently lifted the red iron dragon’s eyelids and carefully observed; he noticed the crimson in his eyes had faded considerably.
“Wake up first.”
The old Gold Dragon raised his golden-scaled claw and called softly: “Hey, awaken—Rend God Claw!”
Smack!
He tapped the side of the red iron dragon’s head with a measured strike.
The dragon, deep in unconsciousness, jolted violently, opened his eyes, and snapped awake.
A low rumble came from his throat; he bared sharp fangs and tensed muscles, about to attack the nearby figure.
Then his blurred vision rapidly focused.
He saw that the figure was not his Bronze Dragon enemy, but the familiar old Gold Dragon Ovis, and he felt the surrounding gentle energies nourishing his broken body.
He immediately relaxed his attack posture and loosened his tense muscles.
“Where... is this?”
The red iron dragon stretched his stiffened body in the Stillness Spring and asked in a hoarse voice.
At the same time he drew a deep breath and concentrated.
Once again the invisible mental prison within him reformed.
Although the prison’s walls were riddled with tiny cracks, as if they might shatter at any moment, they stubbornly held, suppressing the inner madness.
The crimson in his eyes ebbed like a tide, finally returning to their former black and depth.
Ovis smoothed the long beard under his jaw with his claw.
He said, “The Vophal Dragon Domain, on my island.”
Hearing this, the red iron dragon’s nerves eased, and his massive body found a more comfortable position in the water.
“My memory... stops at losing my mind in the fight with that Bronze Dragon.”
“I have no recollection of what happened after.”
He paused, voice threaded with concern. “Deborah and the others... are they all right? And the Bronze Dragon who attacked me—what became of him? Did he escape, or was he detained by the Domain?”
Ovis’ clawing at his beard paused slightly.
He countered, “You remember nothing at all?”
The red iron dragon slowly shook his head and explained, “I cultivated the Wild path concurrently, and in that fight I pushed the Wild State almost to its absolute limit. My consciousness was completely overtaken by madness; I don’t remember anything that followed.”
Ovis glanced at Garoth with suspicion, studying him in the light.
He knew the behavior described matched how dragons steeped in the Wild path often acted after extreme battles, but inwardly he felt uneasy: Garoth’s usual caution made it unlikely that he would so completely lose himself and even erase key memories.
Still, Ovis chose not to pursue the matter now.
Memory loss from brutal combat, resulting in killing a Legendary metallic dragon while unconscious, might paradoxically benefit the red iron dragon for the moment.
“Deborah and the others are fine; they were only knocked unconscious earlier.”
“As for Siano... the Legendary Bronze Dragon who attacked you,” Ovis said steadily, “for unknown reasons he also seemed to lose his mind, fought you to the death, and in the end you tore him to pieces in battle.”
At this, the red iron dragon showed surprise.
He carefully assessed his condition, and after a moment realized, “No wonder I feel so weak... it wasn’t just the intensity of the fight draining me, but the enormous overexertion caused by forcibly breaking the Legendary barrier.”
Ovis stared at him and said, “You defeated a stronger foe through in-battle breakthrough and counterkilled a Legendary.”
“To achieve such glorious feat, yet the actor himself can’t remember clearly—that’s regrettable.”
The red iron dragon emitted a low sigh in agreement: “Yes, it’s a pity.”
His memories now were shrouded in fog; many details blurred, only the burning rage and immersion in pure combat and destructive instinct remained—how he had seemingly ripped apart something incredibly tenacious.
The entire process felt like a bizarre yet utterly real dream.
However, in the chaotic depths of that dream one scene was branded into his soul like a hot iron; it remained vividly etched.
When he neared death,
a deep, seductive voice had sounded in the nearly still caverns of his mind, coaxing him to surrender faith and soul.
He instinctively cursed and forcefully refused that ominous offer.
Yet every word from that voice seemed to carry a power beyond the mundane, breaking through madness and searing itself into his memory. Even now, the phrasing remained clear as if it had just whispered in his ear.
As for who owned that voice...
from the tone and the sense of calling that seemed to spring from the bloodline’s origin, it was likely the fabled being representing evil and chaos—perhaps the god of evil dragons.
“You flow with red dragon blood, and your performance is excellent; them spotting you is suspicious.”
“But when did it begin? When did this deity cast its gaze upon you?”
Garoth’s heart fell silent with thought, feeling a lightness.
Deep down he did not want to be entangled with any deity, whether a righteous god of order or a chaotic evil god.
He had deliberately concealed the whisper from the Immortal Dragon Queen for caution.
Even if he had refused angrily, merely “hearing the Dragon Queen’s whisper” or “being courted by the evil dragon god” would be a terrible stain in the eyes of most metallic dragons, inviting suspicion and ostracism.
How could he prove he had truly and steadfastly rejected the queen?
Once tainted by contact with such a being, many things would become inexplicable.
If he told Ovis everything now, the old Gold Dragon might, based on trust and judgment, stand with him—but that too carried great risk. Others who might otherwise remain neutral or lean toward him could become distrustful or distant.
“How will the Domain judge me for killing a Legendary Bronze Dragon? How will they treat me?”
Garoth steadied his roiling thoughts and returned to the present, asking Ovis.
Ovis studied the red iron dragon and sensed that Garoth hid some unspeakable secret.
He didn’t dig for it, answering calmly: “Relax, you mustn’t be overly anxious.”
“This incident—Siano brought it on himself by attacking kin first. The guilt is his.”
“Although he had some supporters within the Domain, believe that those who are reasonable and uphold justice remain the majority among metallic dragons.”
“The extreme, radical Purification Faction dragons are ultimately a minority.”
Garoth remained unconvinced and analyzed coolly: “But most silent metallic dragons, faced with those extreme and loud factions, tend to stay quiet, right?”
“Those aggressive few make the loudest and most jarring noise.”
Ovis nodded slowly, admitting, “That situation indeed exists.”
“But Vophal Domain values order and rules.”
“Reason does not depend on volume; the final decision lies with the Council of Elders. Those shrill voices without evidence cannot truly sway the elders’ fair judgment.”
Pausing, the old Gold Dragon relaxed and smiled slightly: “Most importantly, do not forget—you just won the top spot in the Everbright Dragon Domain, becoming the Domain Champion admired by many.”
“You’re young and you’ve broken through to Legendary—endless potential.”
“Compare that to Siano—he was wrong and... he’s dead now.”
Simply put, a living Legendary is worth more than a dead one.
Garoth’s astonishing potential would attract hostility from extremes like Siano, but would also win admiration from many far-sighted dragons.
In the broader context of dragons’ gradual decline,
the emergence of a powerful, promising kin is a cause for celebration among many dragons.
Ultimately, one’s own strength and value are the decisive chips in fate.
Had he died in the previous attack, the situation would have been different.
Then, even if Siano was at fault, the Domain leaders would never severely punish a living Legendary on account of a dead red iron dragon; at most they might levy some penalties.
That was precisely why the Bronze Dragon dared to ambush him.
“Sleep here in peace. Don’t overthink. Concentrate all your spirit on shaping your Legendary Domain and traits. By the time you wake, this matter should have settled.”
Ovis soothed in a kindly tone.
Garoth indeed felt soul-deep exhaustion rolling over him like a tide.
He had broken through in battle and his Legendary realm was not yet stabilized; his foundation was shaky.
This sleep to heal and consolidate would likely be long—probably measured in years.
“I have personally experienced the power of Domains many times.”
Garoth sighed, “It won’t be long before I master my own Domain.”
“Legendary, legendary... I spent a hundred years, shedding sweat, and finally reached this step.”
A century to reach Legendary—astonishingly fast for the long-lived dragons; a pace worthy of being recorded in the legacy.
Yet his tone showed slight dissatisfaction, as if he still thought it slow.
Ovis’ lips twitched; he wanted to tease but suppressed it.
He thought carefully and then spoke seriously: “Garoth, the power of a Domain is undeniable; you have felt that.”
“But I’ve heard from dragons older than I am: for our kind, the Legendary traits you cultivate are very important.”
“A dragon’s Domain often relates to bloodline, but traits define a Legendary dragon’s essence even more than the Domain; traits are more vital.”
“So, do not ignore deep cultivation of your traits because you focus on Domain strength.”
Traits more important than Domain?
Garoth quickly searched his Dragon Legacy and found no clear record explicitly supporting this claim.
The legacy mentioned that dragons, after ascending to Legendary, could awaken far more Legendary traits than most other species,
but whether traits trump Domains in strength or importance was not spelled out.
Garoth looked thoughtful and then said earnestly, “I understand.”
“I’ll pay special attention to that.”
Suddenly Ovis lifted his head, flashing a boastful grin reminiscent of Alberto’s, and said, “When I ascended to Legendary I awakened many traits, which made me outstanding among my peers.”
After saying this, he glanced at Garoth—a prodigy dragon who reached Legendary in roughly a hundred years—and his mood dampened.
At that moment, an irate message arrived for the old Gold Dragon.
“Ovis! Look at the children you raised!”
“They’re rolling around in the Dragon Breath Sanctuary, shamelessly behaving without the dignity Gold Dragons should have, demanding an audience with His Majesty the Silver Dragon King before they’ll stop! What a disgrace!”
Ovis first gave a slight cough, then immediately realized Alberto and Nasha had added their own flourish, not fully following his earlier instructions.
But, after all, “make as much noise as possible” had been his original order.
From the fact that the elders personally sent messages to question them, the commotion must have been no small thing; those two had exceeded his expectations.
“My apologies, their behavior is my fault—discipline was lax. I’ll go handle it at once.”
Ovis replied quickly via his message channel.
He then looked back at the red iron dragon soaking in the Stillness Spring and explained: “My mate, Astrid, should return soon from outside.”
“I’ve told her the general outline.”
“While I’m away, she will personally stay here to ensure safety.”
“Here you can be completely at ease; you won’t face any retaliation or attacks. Your only job is to sleep, recover, and stabilize your realm—become stronger and prove your worth.”
Ovis had not expected Siano to be so brazen as to attack.
Overall, however, his subsequent handling was careful and thorough,
which put Garoth somewhat at ease.
“This sleep of mine will probably take a long time.”
Garoth said, “My blood kin in the Ser Wilderness will worry... please calm them and tell them I’m fine, only in seclusion for a while.”
The old Gold Dragon nodded readily and agreed.
“Don’t worry. I’ll arrange for Alberto or Nasha to personally visit your lands and deliver the message.”
After setting those matters in motion, Ovis did not delay.
His massive body swam upward and left the lakebed of the Stillness Spring.
On the way to the lake’s surface he layered dense, impenetrable protective barriers around the area.
He summoned many elemental titans and commanded them to guard strictly,
some of which were even Legendary beings.
When everything was set, he beat his wings and flew toward the Dragon Breath Sanctuary on the main island.
During flight, he considered his explanations carefully.
He would stress Siano’s unprovoked attack, his brutality, and intent to kill metallic kin; emphasize that Garoth was forced to the brink, and in desperate self-preservation broke through to Legendary, then reacted in a mad state and was compelled to counterkill the stronger enemy.
Meanwhile, deep in the tranquil lakebed at the Stillness Spring,
the red iron dragon felt extreme fatigue and the steady, gentle nourishment from the water; his heavy eyelids could no longer be held open, and he gradually closed them, slipping into a deep sleep.
But this sleep was unlike his previous slumbers.
Although his conscious self slept, his subconscious remained partially alert, quietly guiding his body and beginning to shape his Legendary Domain and traits in the dream.
Centered on the sleeping red iron dragon, bursts of dancing flames would occasionally ignite from the surrounding water without warning and vanish just as quickly; sometimes an irregular piece of steel would materialize out of nowhere and then quietly disappear.
There was no fuel, no metal raw material—these phenomena defied conventional logic.
The forging of a Legendary Domain challenges the rules of the world; it reshapes and redefines common understanding.
A Legendary being had touched a strand of the world’s essence and could influence and alter it through a Domain.
As the sleep quietly lengthened,
in the hazy dream’s depths the red iron dragon seemed to relive countless times of grinding training for strength,
endless sleepless nights; sweat pouring like rain; repeated tests of his limits.
The robust muscles beneath his scales underwent subtle, continuous changes—sometimes stretching and swelling, sometimes contracting and refining—cycling, undergoing deep tempering and metamorphosis.
Then, in a single instant,
the red iron dragon felt something at his core, and a flash of clarity rose naturally to his mind.
He knew he had successfully birthed his first Legendary trait—also called a template or specialty.
Legendary Trait: Colossal Strength.
Due to countless past trials and pursuits of raw power, the essence of your strength fundamentally transformed: base strength is tripled, and you gain an additional triple rate of strength growth.
One part toil, three parts harvest.
Simple and powerful.
And this was only the beginning.
In subsequent dreams the red iron dragon relived the many times he stretched his wings hard, enduring ripping pain at the wing roots, repeatedly soaring across the wide sky without fatigue.
He had been tempered by wind, frost, rain, snow, and lightning—countless drills that sharpened speed and maneuverability.
Overspeed and agility... two more Legendary traits began to germinate and bud on him.
And still, this seemed merely the start.
It was foreseeable that the number of Legendary traits Garoth could awaken would far surpass ordinary dragons.
All his past hardships, every drop of sweat, every pain he endured had not been forgotten by his body; now all those investments would turn into tangible returns, like a cocoon breaking to reveal a butterfly.