Translator: AnubisTL
Twilight gradually deepened into night.
The twin moons cast their silvery light across the valley, draping the jagged cliffs in a shimmering veil. The air hung thick with the acrid scent of wyvern blood.
Garos slowly withdrew his claw from Tasha's neck.
The powerful Scarface Flying Dragon landed heavily on the ground. Immediately, the entire wyvern flock, including her, lowered their bodies, wings pressed flat against the earth, emitting submissive growls.
"From this day forward," Garos's voice echoed through the valley, "you will guard the skies above Dragon Valley. Tear apart any who dare trespass."
With this flock of wyverns and the few Kora Giant Eagles under his command, Garos no longer needed to personally oversee aerial surveillance.
After all, these creatures possessed the dragon bloodline.
Bipedal flying dragons were formidable in their own right, second only to true dragons in power.
Though they had submitted quickly to Garos, displaying obsequious reverence, to most intelligent creatures, bipedal flying dragons were terrifying predators.
Their claws could tear through steel, their wings could shatter mountains, and their venomous tail spikes carried lethal poison—they were monsters in every sense of the word.
The female wyvern raised her head and let out a piercing screech.
"As you command, bipedal flying dragons will tear apart all your enemies," she declared.
The other wyverns followed suit, lifting their heads and unleashing deep, resonant roars that echoed through the night.
Simultaneously, two more dragon shadows spiraled down from the sky.
Red Dragon Samantha's scales blazed like molten flames in the moonlight, while Iron Dragon Solgorn's body gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen.
Their arrival caused a brief stir among the wyverns, most instinctively shrinking their necks in deference.
This was the inescapable awe subdragons felt before true dragons.
Apart from Tasha, the other wyverns struggled to resist the bloodline-based suppression.
Only Tasha, who had submitted to Garos, retained her defiant spirit before the red and iron dragons. She held her head high, meeting the gazes of the two juvenile dragons without flinching.
Just as she had declared to Garos:
I respect only strength, not bloodline.
While both red dragons and iron dragons were high-ranking members of dragonkind, as mere juvenile dragons, they failed to inspire awe or respect in Tasha. Garos was the exception; his overwhelming power had already subdued the fiercely independent flying dragon leader.
"Oh, my dear brother," Samantha said, tilting her chin and narrowing her eyes. "Among your newly acquired subspecies, there seems to be one lacking proper reverence for true dragons."
Her gaze, like a branding iron, locked onto Tasha. "Inferior creature! Who authorized you to meet my gaze?!"
The flying dragon leader spread its massive wings, its face twisted in a ferocious snarl. "You have no right to challenge me here. You should be grateful you're not facing me alone."
With the red dragon's volatile temper, it couldn't tolerate the subspecies' insolence.
Boom!
Samantha's foot shattered the ground as her dragon wings beat furiously, propelling her forward like a molten cannonball aimed straight at Tasha.
Caught off guard, the flying dragon leader was sent flying by the dragon charge.
Though the red dragon was smaller and younger, with a lower life grade than the wyvern, its naturally formidable physique still carried unstoppable momentum at full charge.
Flapping its wings...
The flying dragon leader stabilized itself in mid-air.
It bared its fangs and roared, preparing to retaliate against Samantha, who continued her charge.
"Enough," Garos intervened decisively.
The young red dragon stood little chance against the flying dragon.
The mature flying dragon leader was currently at life grade 10, matching Garos's own life grade and surpassing Samantha's by two levels. Unlike typical lean wyverns, this creature possessed an exceptionally muscular physique, honed through years of combat—a true anomaly.
Samantha's earlier assault had allowed her to vent some frustration, while the flying dragon had paid a price for its arrogance.
Now it was time to end this.
Garos's voice carried no particular volume, yet it doused the impending conflict like a bucket of ice water.
Even the enraged red dragon jolted awake, halting its charge mid-stride.
Tasha immediately retracted her attack stance, her fiery fury replaced by subservience.
The newly subdued flying dragon chief lowered its head deeply, a gesture of submission to the red-iron dragon—a display of respect for its overwhelming power and obedience to its judgment.
"You are Garos's familiar. Be grateful for that."
"Otherwise, I would have snapped your neck by now."
Samantha spat fire, her words scorching.
The flying dragon leader remained silent, no longer daring to provoke her. Over two centuries of honing had granted it wisdom beyond that of ordinary monsters, and it understood when to yield.
The young red dragon's earlier collision had startled Tasha as well, its raw power forcing her to calm down.
Dragonkind grows stronger far faster than I do.
Soon, I'll be completely surpassed by the red dragon.
After a moment's contemplation, the flying dragon leader suppressed its pride for the sake of its clan's future. It took a deep breath and bowed its head to the red dragon, saying, "I apologize for my insolence. Please forgive me."
Samantha froze momentarily, then tossed her head back like a triumphant swan.
"Fool! This dragon disdains to concern itself with subspecies," she declared, unable to conceal her delight.
Conquering a powerful, defiant creature brought far greater satisfaction than intimidating the weak. Samantha was now elated, her earlier displeasure vanished. Even the flying dragon leader seemed more agreeable now.
"Tasha, count your kin's numbers and age distribution, then report back to me," Garos instructed.
The flying dragon leader nodded and turned toward the western cliff face, emitting a sharp whistle.
One by one, juvenile bipedal flying dragons emerged, landing nervously.
When the wyverns had emerged to confront the enemy, the primary attackers against the giant wolf knights had been the young adult and adult wyverns.
The younger, juvenile wyverns had remained hidden within the cave.
Including Tasha, the prime-age wyverns in this group numbered ten. The remaining wyverns, roughly estimated to exceed forty, formed a sizable flock. Encountering and subduing them was an unexpected boon.
As the wyverns tallied their numbers, Iron Dragon Solgorn surveyed the valley before approaching. "This place marks our new beginning," he declared. "I propose we name our new territory."
Garos nodded. "Agreed. Any suggestions?" he asked the three dragons.
Fairy Dragon Vera immediately chimed in, "Fairy Spirit Valley!" She twirled gracefully, her shimmering dust scattering through the night air. "Isn't it lovely? Just hearing it makes you feel happy!"
Samantha shot Vera a disdainful glance. "A weak name, utterly lacking in intimidation."
Vera retorted indignantly, "It's perfectly lovely! It sounds like a beautiful, relaxing, and fun place!"
The red dragon ignored Vera's words.
Preferring grandiose and bombastic names, it snorted twin plumes of sparks. "Ashen Domain is the only name worthy of our renown! Let our enemies tremble at the mere mention of it!"
This name perfectly suited the red dragon's tastes.
Garos turned to the iron dragon.
The iron dragon pondered for a moment before speaking, "A place forged from steel and ice should bear a name reflecting its power. I propose Black Iron Domain."
Sounds like a blacksmith's workshop, Garos thought.
No good.
He shook his head slightly and asked the flying dragon leader, "Tasha, what was this place called before?"
The flying dragon leader turned back and replied, "Our clan calls this place Broken Claw Cliff."
She pointed the tip of her tail toward the eastern cliff face. "Over the years, many young wyverns have come here to prove their courage. They let themselves fall toward the ground, competing to see who can take flight at the last possible moment. Many have broken their claws in the process."
So it's called Broken Claw Cliff because wyverns break their claws here.
Such a straightforward naming method.
Finally, the red-iron dragon's gaze swept over his quarreling companions before settling on the entire valley.
The jagged cliffs rose and fell like the spines of dragons, the frozen lake reflected the twin moons, herds of beasts concealed themselves in the night, and wyvern lairs dotted the cliff faces.
"This place will become the dragon race's territory. In time, we may welcome more of our kind here."
His voice echoed through the valley, the weight of his dragon might silencing all debate. With finality, he declared, "Let us call it—Dragon Valley."
(End of the Chapter)
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