Translator: AnubisTL
In dragonkind culture, if Garos were to formally introduce himself to another dragon, his full name would be:
Garos Ignis.
The true names of dragons are exceptionally long. During formal introductions, the middle part is often omitted, and only the first and last parts are combined.
Iron Dragon Solgorn shared the same ancient surname as Garos and possessed a similar bloodline. He was four years older than Garos.
When Garos was two years old, Solgorn, who had just turned six, was banished from the territory by the iron dragon maiden.
Among his siblings, Garos considered Solgorn to be the most cunning, second only to himself.
Even at a young age, Solgorn had mastered the art of manipulation. He constantly belittled Garos with his words, trying to keep him under his sway. When they were banished, he secretly tempted Garos to abandon the protection of the iron dragon maiden and join him in the Sierre Wilderness for a life of survival.
He had been experimenting with the Dragon Taming Art from the Iron Dragon Legacy on Garos, using him as his first test subject in his grand dream of forging a dragon empire.
Beyond verbal abuse, Solgorn also resorted to bribery. He would try to lure Garos with shiny stones he'd dug from the sand, passing them off as magic gems, or make empty promises.
The thought was good.
However.
Though far more cunning than Samantha and Gordon, at just a few years old, the young dragon's tricks and schemes were no match for Garos.
Solgorn was obsessed with subduing Garos, making him follow his lead.
But no matter what method it used, he only earned a look as if Garos were staring at an imbecile.
After a few seconds of silence.
Garos blinked and turned his gaze toward the northern part of the Quenching Highlands.
"Could this Iron King be Solgorn?" he mused.
Though he couldn't be entirely certain yet.
The combination of the same title and the identity of a young iron dragon made it ninety percent likely that it was Solgorn.
"If it's Solgorn, this could get interesting."
Garos vaguely recalled Solgorn's words when the iron dragon maiden had driven it out. Solgorn had tried to secretly lure him into surviving in the wilderness together, but Garos had firmly refused, and Solgorn had left with a parting threat.
"Garos! My foolish, pitiful, and weak little brother!"
"If you somehow survive and make your way to me."
"When we meet again, you'll find the wings of the great Iron King blotting out the sun."
"When that time comes, you'll grovel and beg to follow the great Iron King, and I, with ruthless coldness and cruelty, will reject you! You'll regret this decision for the rest of your life!"
As these words came to mind, Garos glanced down at his physique, which surpassed even that of a red dragon. The muscles beneath his scales were clearly defined, and his massive, formidable wings resembled peerless weapons.
The red-iron dragon couldn't help but grin, a pleased smile spreading across his face. He was eager to see Solgorn's reaction upon meeting him—his expression would surely be priceless.
Garos would suppress the negative emotions that might cloud his judgment, but he wasn't a machine, nor did he lack desires. A touch of vanity lingered within him, and he sometimes relished showing off, savoring the thrill of earning gasps of awe from other dragons.
"In any case, first, I must confirm the Iron King's identity."
Garos questioned Hyenaman Haken in detail, growing increasingly certain that this Iron King was his long-lost brother, Solgorn.
"My lord! Ugo, your claw and fang, pledges to serve as your vanguard and conquer for you!"
"Even if we face the mighty dragonkind, Ugo will show no fear if you command us to battle!" the ogre Ugo declared, eager to demonstrate his loyalty.
Garos casually waved a claw, amusement in his voice. "No need to rush. I have matters to confirm first."
He addressed Ugo, "Don't act rashly. Remain at the camp and prepare to support the main force of the Bonechewer Warband."
The ogre nodded solemnly.
With that, Garos lifted the hyena-man scout leader by one claw, spread his wings, and soared into the night sky. Under the cover of darkness, he flew northward toward the Quenching Highlands.
The dragon's shadow quickly crossed the cliff edge, then flew back dozens of kilometers over dense forests. Finally, Garos gazed into the distance and spotted a massive river winding across the land, its course stretching to the horizon and nearly splitting the earth in two.
The Estonian Great River.
It nearly traversed the entire Sierre Wilderness, serving as its primary water source. Several rivers in Garos's territory were its tributaries.
The Thousand Serpents' Trace was the land trade route.
The Estonian Great River, however, was the waterway. Merchant caravans plied its waters frequently, and it saw even more traffic than the land-based Thousand Serpents' Trace.
Many important river junctions were protected by fortified dams and heavily guarded.
Garos shook his claws, rousing the hyena-man who had fainted from acrophobia.
"Ah! It's so high!"
The hyena-man tucked its tail between its legs, let out a shrill scream, and passed out again.
Considering that hyena-men rarely looked down from such heights and might not be able to orient themselves, Garos circled briefly before landing on the summit of a higher hill. He then woke the hyena-man again.
The moment the hyena-man came to, it tried to scream.
But when it met the red-iron dragon's calm, deep eyes, its voice caught in its throat. It dared not utter a sound, its face swelling with the effort, until it coughed violently.
"Point me toward Gravel Beach."
Garos said.
The hyena-man trembled as it extended a claw and pointed toward a tributary of the Estonian Great River.
"Here! Right here!"
Garos lifted the hyena-man into the air again, slowed his flight, muffled his presence, and flew in that direction.
Soon, he hovered between the clouds, gazing down.
A ten-meter-wide tributary flowed before him, its banks lined with gravel-strewn shores. On one side, he could see the figures of hyena-men and kobolds, along with scattered tents and campfires.
This was Gravel Beach.
"Where is your lord's lair?"
Garos shook the hyena-man awake again and asked.
"Underwater! The Iron King likes to dwell at the bottom of the river!"
After Garos replied, the hyena-man fainted from his fear of heights.
Likes to dwell at the bottom of the river?
Garos narrowed his eyes, scanning the riverbed below.
The turbulent current shattered the moonlight into fragmented, yellow-tinged, murky light. The bottom seemed thick with silt and sand, showing nothing out of the ordinary.
I suspect it's not out of preference, but to conceal his presence and hide his existence.
Garos thought to himself.
What iron dragon would nest at the bottom of a river? Iron dragons prefer dry, hot environments and instinctively dislike water, much like red dragons. I myself loathe water. I know for a fact that no iron dragon would willingly reside in the water unless forced by circumstances.
His gaze swept over the combined force of less than five hundred hyena-men and kobolds.
Garos sniffed the air.
Though he hadn't seen the Iron King with his own eyes, he was already certain it was his brother Solgorn. Dragonkind are exceptionally sensitive to the scent of their own kind, and he could detect a faint, familiar aroma in the air.
The scent was faint due to the water current and distance.
Normally, Garos would have overlooked it, perhaps not even noticing it.
But now that he knew an iron dragon was present, he focused his senses and quickly caught the iron dragon's scent.
Without a doubt, it was Solgorn's.
Instead of immediately descending to meet Solgorn, Garos's eyes flickered with a different idea. He turned back toward the Quenching Highlands.
(End of the Chapter)
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