Conifer Valley

"Why change territories? Haven't we been doing just fine in Iron Fir Hills?"

Samantha was baffled and asked doubtfully.

She had not considered at all that the appearance of the Earth-Splitting Centipede was merely the beginning, and that it likely meant even larger Black Rock Troops would be drawn here afterward.

Moreover, because of draconic laziness, she had grown accustomed to life in Iron Fir Hills and was not yet prepared to relocate.

"Use that little head of yours. Do you really think the appearance of these Alchemy Golems was just some coincidence? Others will be coming soon."

Garos said.

Samantha tilted her head and thought seriously, gradually understanding the reason.

Red Dragons were not stupid. On the contrary, Red Dragons ranked relatively high in intelligence among dragonkind. It was simply that their usual line of reasoning was: [My wisdom tells me to solve problems with strength.]

Only when violence could not solve a problem would Red Dragons change the way they thought.

"Oh, you're afraid an army will come to surround and kill us, so you're getting ready to run away."

After thinking for several seconds, Samantha suddenly understood and spoke.

Smack!

Garos lashed her head with his tail, his dragon face stern.

"This is a strategic retreat. Don't spout nonsense if you don't understand."

Samantha rubbed her head with a claw after being struck by his tail, baring her teeth. By instinct, she had wanted to retaliate, but the moment her eyes met Garos's, she immediately became meek and submissive.

"Dragon Lord, where are we going next?"

Mobel, the Earth Violent Bear, asked cautiously.

At that, Garos fell into thought.

There was a proverb in dragon culture.

—A dragon who sees spring roses must also watch for a Giant's footprints in winter.

It essentially meant to be prepared for danger in times of peace and to take precautions before trouble arose.

Garos had done precisely that.

While staying in Iron Fir Hills, knowing that this was merely a temporary place with limited resources, he had not forgotten to investigate other suitable habitats.

After investigating and weighing his options over the previous period,

he had three targets.

Graystone Ridge.

—Its cliff faces were covered in natural caves, allowing for the construction of highly concealed dragon nests. It was lofty, steep, easy to defend, and difficult to attack. Lakes and forests lay nearby, home to many creatures, with abundant biological and water resources.

Silver Moss Plains.

—It had once contained a large Mithril mine. Even now, the soil still held a certain amount of Mithril particles, causing many Silver-Bud Mosses to mutate and grow. Eating soil or moss could aid the development of dragons' scales, claws, and fangs, and there were vast numbers of ferocious beast packs.

Conifer Valley.

—A bowl-shaped valley surrounded by mountains on three sides. Hot springs steamed within the valley, and the smell of sulfur could conceal a dragon's scent. A tributary of a great river also wound through it.

All three places possessed resources far richer than those of Iron Fir Hills.

Territories like these already had owners in Ser Wilderness.

After a brief period of thought, Garos ultimately chose Conifer Valley.

The rulers of Graystone Ridge were a group of Giant-Tailed Steel Scorpions.

They were enormous ferocious beasts that also possessed terrifying venom. Their poison was enough to threaten a Hatchling Dragon's life.

Garos had never specifically strengthened his poison resistance, and he was unsure whether he could withstand the venom of the Giant-Tailed Steel Scorpions.

There were no overlord-level groups or individuals on Silver Moss Plains. Numerous ferocious beast packs fought there, with the strong devouring the weak and each side vying against the other. Garos had originally favored that place most, but later discovered that armies occasionally came there to collect samples of silver moss and other mutated plants. Its potential danger was instead the highest.

As for Conifer Valley,

aside from having the lowest risks itself, it was neither too near nor too far from a branch of the Trail of a Thousand Snakes, which crisscrossed Ser Wilderness like veins. They could come into contact with caravans traveling along the Trail of a Thousand Snakes, as well as teams transporting minerals, Black Oil, and other resources.

Its drawback was that quite a few tribes of intelligent creatures, such as Goblins and Gnolls, lived nearby.

"Conifer Valley? Roar, roar, roar! That's wonderful!"

Upon hearing Garos's decision, Mobel the Dire Bear widened his eyes and shouted excitedly.

The reason for his excitement was simple.

Conifer Valley had another, more formal name recognized by several intelligent tribes and clans in the surrounding area.

—Dire Bear Ridge.

It was where the Earth Violent Bear pack Mobel had originally belonged to lived, and it was also the place Mobel had recommended to Garos back then, driven by the thought of a father dying and a son rejoicing.

It had been while investigating the Dire Bear pack that Garos had inadvertently discovered the branch route of the Trail of a Thousand Snakes.

"My honorable Dragon Lord, I am willing to become your sharpest blade and take Conifer Valley for you!"

Mobel knelt before Garos and said in a gruff voice.

The night wind lifted his fur, revealing the densely packed runes engraved into his skin. They were the work of Samantha, the Red Dragon Alchemist, over the past half year.

Strengthened by these Alchemy Runes, Mobel had also become considerably more powerful.

However, he knew he still could not compare to the old bear. But his greatest support was not himself—it was the dragon before him.

"Heh heh, you damned old bastard."

This bear will take back everything he lost, seize your territory, and claim your she-bear!

Mobel thought happily.

Garos had not forgotten his promise. He patted the Dire Bear's shoulder with a hand.

"Once we subdue the bear pack, you will be their commander. But don't forget: if anything goes wrong with them, I'll break your legs."

Then,

the Earth Violent Bear carried the largely intact Earth-Splitting Centipede, along with some other necessities, and ran across the ground toward Conifer Valley.

Garos spread his wings and soared through the sky.

The outline of Iron Fir Hills gradually blurred in the twilight.

He looked back at the territory where he had lived for nearly a year.

The Iron Firs blasted apart by Explosive Scale, the crooked ruins of the Alchemy Workshop, the winding tunnels dug by the Earth Spiders, the collapsed cracks he had smashed into the ground.

Everything would return to Wilderness with his departure.

As though recalling something,

Garos suddenly paused, then turned back and flew toward Iron Fir Hills. He had Samantha follow the Earth Violent Bear and continue ahead to Conifer Valley first.

Samantha did not know what Garos intended to do, but she did not ask.

After a while, as she flew through the sky, she turned to look back toward Iron Fir Hills.

A cluster of flames suddenly flared to life. Then, like a wildfire spreading across the plains, they grew fiercer and fiercer, gradually igniting all of Iron Fir Hills and turning the vast hills into a blazing torch in the night. Its light illuminated the darkness, while the heat distorted and churned the surrounding air.

Dazzling firelight reflected off his scales.

The Red Iron Dragonet soared from the "volcano" like a meteor and swiftly caught up.

In this world, Alchemy items and magic with strange effects emerged endlessly.

Though he felt some lingering attachment, to ensure safety and prevent anyone from continuing to track him, Garos still chose to burn Iron Fir Hills and cleanse everything with fire, erasing as many traces as possible that could prove he had ever existed here.

He was not sure whether it would work.

But at the very least, it would put his mind more at ease.