Translator: AnubisTL
Under the deep night sky, the twin moons hung like silent eyes, observing the events unfolding below.
The battle between an eighteen-year-old hybrid dragon and a one-hundred-eighty-year-old adult dragon ended with Garos forcing the white dragon onto her back, begging for mercy.
"Must we white dragons forever bear the shame of our kind, enduring repeated humiliation from other dragon species?"
"Will we never have the chance to punch a red dragon or kick a gold dragon?"
"Every other dragon looks down on me, and I'm the weakest of them all."
The white dragon Treacy, as if her mind had been broken by the battle, clutched her head with her claws, muttering to herself.
Hearing her words, Garos tilted his head.
He thought to himself that with his Adaptive Evolution Talent, if he had been born a white dragon, he might have been able to stage a comeback and realize the very things Treacy was lamenting.
For ordinary white dragons, matching the strength of red or even gold dragons was virtually impossible.
"Being a Red Iron Hybrid gave me a natural advantage, putting me on par with gold dragons from birth."
"My evolutionary talent and rigorous training should allow me to rival even the rare, powerful planar dragons."
For a juvenile dragon of his age, defeating an adult white dragon is to be expected, Garos thought to himself, feeling no particular pride in his victory. His mindset remained calm, unlike before, when defeating a powerful opponent would have instinctively made him feel somewhat smug due to his draconic instincts.
According to his inherited instincts, he didn't consider white dragons to be his kin.
If it had been an adult red dragon, or even a young red dragon, challenging him, Garos would likely have needed to reveal all his trump cards. The gap between them was almost as vast as the difference between a cat and a tiger.
"White Dragon, what's your name?" Garos asked, suppressing the bloodline instinct to call her "White Scale."
The white dragon beneath him snapped out of her daze, sensing the strange look in the red-iron dragon's eyes.
At times, it was filled with contempt and disdain; at others, it was calm and restrained, full of contradictions and constantly shifting, leaving her unable to discern his true intentions.
Still, no longer being called "White Scale" offered her a small measure of comfort.
"Treacy," the white dragon replied softly.
"Now, let's discuss compensation."
Garos removed his clawed foot from the white dragon's body.
He pointed to the shattered scales on his body and said, "You provoked this fight and shattered my precious dragon scales. This isn't something that can be resolved with a simple plea for mercy. You will pay the price."
There was no blood feud between them.
Garos had no intention of killing her.
Among dragonkind, battles rarely ended in death unless fueled by deep-seated hatred.
More often, the victor demanded compensation from the defeated, whether in the form of tribute, wealth, or sworn servitude.
Writhing in pain that seemed to permeate every inch of her body, the white dragon's chest heaved violently as she struggled to rise.
Her face was ashen, her eyes devoid of light.
As Garos had said, her claws had indeed left some wounds on his body.
But in comparison, the white dragon's condition was utterly wretched.
Vast swaths of her scales were shattered, her body riddled with Garos's claw marks. Several bones were broken, and many of her claws were snapped off, leaving her in a pitiful state.
Even worse...
The more severely injured white dragon was forced to compensate the unscathed red-iron dragon.
But that was only secondary.
What truly devastated the white dragon, who was nearing adulthood, was being utterly defeated by a juvenile dragon. Throughout the entire battle, she hadn't gained the slightest advantage, and she sensed that her opponent hadn't even unleashed his full power, having shown mercy.
Yet, encountering this monstrously strong red iron hybrid dragon, she had fought with all her might and still failed to prevail.
Faced with this reality, the white dragon resigned herself to her fate.
Gone was her former arrogance. She now adopted a submissive, defeated posture before the juvenile dragon, saying, "I'm willing to offer half my wealth as compensation for my offense."
Garos shook his head in silence.
"Too little," he stated bluntly. "I want all your wealth. Remember, you provoked this battle. The loser loses everything."
Hearing this greedy demand, the white dragon bared her fangs, feeling her heart bleed. Her draconic face twisted in agony, every scale on her body resisting. "No! My wealth is my life! You might as well kill me!"
Garos scrutinized the white dragon's violent reaction.
How can a fully grown dragon be so emotional, with no restraint over its instincts?
Garos recalled that while the iron dragon maiden also coveted treasure, she could exercise some restraint.
As dragons matured with age and experience, their perspectives broadened, and they gradually gained control over their primal desires.
But the white dragon Treacy, who stood before him, was already nearing adulthood.
Yet her reaction struck Garos as anything but mature.
Perhaps it's due to racial differences.
Not just in strength, but white dragons also have the lowest intelligence among the chromatic dragons, making them more susceptible to their instincts. Young white dragons are practically indistinguishable from wild beasts.
This Treacy is quite old, but she doesn't seem particularly bright.
Garos mused inwardly.
This was his first encounter with a white dragon, and he wanted to understand them better.
The inherited knowledge contained too many subjective biases and stereotypes from his ancestors. Garos refused to blindly accept these preconceptions. Instead of relying solely on tradition, he preferred to use it as a reference point and learn firsthand.
For now, however, it seemed to Garos that the stereotypes about white dragons in the inherited knowledge held some truth, rather than being baseless fabrications.
After a moment's thought, Garos narrowed his eyes, his expression turning menacing. "Since you value wealth above life itself, I'll grant your wish. Guard your treasures as you meet Tiamat."
He extended his dragon claw toward the white dragon's neck.
Treacy, the white dragon, shuddered violently, her tail stiffening.
Shouldn't we be negotiating first? she thought frantically. He's not even giving me a chance to bargain—he's going straight for the kill?!
Hiss, these Red Iron Hybrids are truly evil.
"Wait, wait!" Treacy pleaded urgently. "I can't bear to part with my wealth, but I'm willing to satisfy you in other ways."
Garos paused.
The white dragon's response was exactly what he wanted.
While she couldn't compare to Garos himself, her raw power surpassed Samantha, Solgorn, and all his familiars by a significant margin.
As a fully grown dragon, even Garos needed to enter his frenzy state to truly suppress her.
Subduing her would add another member to Dragon Valley, bolstering Garos's forces. More importantly, she could help him train and enhance his ice-type resistance.
The Silverfrost Ring he'd obtained from the red copper dragon required recharging after each use, and its effects were too weak.
It couldn't compare to the power of an adult white dragon.
Treacy mistakenly believed Garos wanted her wealth.
Little did she know, Garos had his sights set on her, not her wealth.
"Tell me," Garos asked, seizing the initiative, "what else do you possess besides riches that might tempt me?"
The white dragon rose to her feet, her eyes flickering. Her slender tail coiled around, reaching for Garos's neck, but before it could touch him, the juvenile dragon swatted it away with a claw.
"White Dragon," he warned, "what are you planning?"
The white dragon paused, then exhaled a frosty breath. She spread her wings, arched her tail, and displayed her curves and form.
"I can bear you a brood of offspring," she declared.
After a pause, she added, "I have never had a mate. You know that the firstborn of a female dragon are the strongest. I can ensure the continuation of your bloodline."
Treacy had always scorned other white dragons, suppressing her desires.
Yet the red iron hybrid dragon who had brutally defeated and humiliated her now ignited her admiration for strength. His robust, imposing physique made her body burn with heat, and thoughts surged through her like a rising tide.
Offspring?
Heaven only knew why the white dragon would think such a thing.
"White Dragon, mind your manners!" Garos stepped back, avoiding her attempt to press against him, and refused in a deep voice.
(End of the Chapter)
------------------------------------------------------
- Read ahead up to Ch294 (DRAGON) on AnubisTL; free chapters up to Ch196.
- No sign-up required. Find CinderTL via Google search.
🎁 2nd Anniversary Grand Giveaway. 26 Slots. Details on the Site. ❗JOIN NOW❗
------------------------------------------------------