Chapter Summaries

Garos rejected Xiaer Hines's request to negotiate and defeated him in a fierce battle, using Star-Self Visage to counter the Flower Knight's spatial abilities. He captured the unconscious Xiaer, who had asked him to stop the war before passing out.

• Xiaer Hines approached Garos to ask for a proper talk, but Garos attacked him with a sudden, lightning-fast assault.
• Xiaer used Flash Strike and Spatial Walk to evade Garos, while Garos activated Star-Self Visage to track him through space.
• Garos overwhelmed Xiaer's defenses and struck him with his tail, leaving him badly injured and hurling him into the air.
• Garos caught Xiaer in his claw and agreed to talk, but Xiaer asked him to stop the war before losing consciousness.

Garos led the Molten Iron Tribe to crush the Albert Family’s private army, capture its leaders, and force the surviving soldiers to surrender. The tribe returned to Creekwood Town with prisoners and spoils, then sold captured weapons and armor to fund its expansion.

• Garos refused the Flower Knight’s plea for a ceasefire and waited as the battle continued.
• Sorog, Samantha, the Ice Deer Lord, the White Tiger Lord, and the Giant Snake Lord defeated and captured the Albert Family’s commanders.
• Garos declared victory, and most surviving human warriors surrendered while the remaining holdouts were killed.
• The Molten Iron Tribe stripped the battlefield, took its prisoners and spoils to Creekwood Town, and displayed the victory to its residents.
• The tribe sold captured arms and armor to adventurers and merchants, gaining wealth for workshops, fortifications, and watchtowers.

Garos consumed Princess Elina’s gifts and trained intensely before speaking with the recovering Flower Knight Xiaer Hines about the conflict with the Albert Family. Xiaer offered to broker peace, but Garos doubted his favorable view of Count Mills and reflected on the motives behind charitable acts.

• Garos stored the scarce Black Oil Crystal, then drank No. 98 Refined Black Oil and swallowed magical gemstones to fuel a punishing workout.
• After several days, Xiaer Hines awoke, and Garos told him the war had ended but their interrupted conversation would continue.
• Xiaer explained that Count Mills had asked him to reclaim the Albert Family’s lost territory, claiming the Molten Iron Tribe had committed atrocities against Creekwood Town.
• Garos mocked Xiaer for being deceived by a nobleman’s lies, but Xiaer defended Count Mills’s charitable reputation and offered to help reconcile the Albert Family and the Molten Iron Tribe.
• Garos rejected Xiaer’s assumptions about Count Mills’s kindness and considered how charitable gifts, including his own, could carry a price.

Garos exposed Count Mills’s willingness to abandon Xiaer and negotiated the release of the Albert Family’s captured forces in exchange for territory and reparations. Xiaer learned that the family had discarded him, and Garos ordered him to kill Mills.

• Garos challenged Xiaer’s faith in Count Mills by asking whether Mills would ransom him if he became a cripple, and Xiaer agreed to a wager over his life and freedom.
• Count Mills negotiated with Garos to recover the captured Albert Family elites, agreeing to cede the Scale-Earth Rift Road and pay reparations and ransom.
• When Garos offered to spare Xiaer for ten gold coins, Mills refused to pay anything and disclaimed any interest in Xiaer’s fate.
• Xiaer heard Mills abandon him and accepted that the Albert Family owed him nothing and he owed them nothing in return.
• Garos revealed that Mills trained orphaned and beggar children as expendable death warriors, then ordered Xiaer to kill Mills.

Count Mills regretted refusing to ransom Xia'er but chose to honor the deal and planned to retaliate against the Molten Iron Tribe after securing his family’s captives. After the exchange, he welcomed the rescued members home and considered using his family’s accumulated favors to defeat the dragons.

• Count Mills decided not to renegotiate for Xia'er and resolved to complete the prisoner exchange before pursuing revenge against the Molten Iron Tribe.
• Garos explained how he had provoked Mills into refusing the ransom, while Xia'er vowed to expose the count and Garos told him to recover in Creekwood Town.
• More than a month later, the Albert Family and the Molten Iron Tribe signed a witnessed contract, exchanged the prisoners and ransom, and the Albert party returned safely.
• Count Mills warmly welcomed Rod, Sienna, Sanchez, and the other rescued members, telling them to recover instead of seeking revenge.
• Alone in his study, Count Mills judged another invasion too risky and considered calling on favors accumulated by his marquis ancestor.

Flower Knight Xiaer Hines confronted Count Mills with evidence that the Albert Family had arranged accidents to create orphans and recruit talented children, then killed him. Xiaer left proof of the family’s crimes for its commanders, and Rod Albert began to turn against the family.

• Xiaer questioned Count Mills about suspicious accidents and the Albert Family’s recruitment of talented orphans, then disabled the count’s alarms and defenses.
• Count Mills appealed to Xiaer’s past debt, but Xiaer declared their debt repaid and ran him through with his sword.
• Xiaer told Mills that the Molten Iron King sent his regards, then secretly placed evidence in the rooms of Sienna, Sanchez, and Rod.
• Rod woke, read the papers about the talent tests and engineered accidents, and suppressed his rage as his loyalty to the Albert Family crumbled.

After Count Mills’s death, Xia'er escaped the authorities and returned to the Ser Wilderness, where he took charge of Creekwood Town as the Molten Iron Tribe expanded its influence amid a spreading war. In 258 of the New Calendar, Garos watched Tressie train a newly adopted White Dragon hatchling at Burning Steel Fortress.

• Garos learned that Count Mills had been assassinated and concluded that the Albert Family’s threat to the Ser Wilderness had largely ended.
• The authorities identified Xia'er as Count Mills’s killer and issued a nationwide warrant, but Xia'er escaped pursuit and returned to the Ser Wilderness.
• Ludwig gave Xia'er responsibility for governing Creekwood Town, which grew as the Molten Iron Tribe secured the Scale-Earth Rift Road and gained the endorsement of a visiting Gold Dragon.
• As war spread between camps led by the Aber Duchy and the Haltai Duchy, the Molten Iron Tribe harassed Aber supply lines and resource outposts.
• In 258 of the New Calendar, Garos watched Tressie train a White Dragon hatchling that Kobold scouts had found starving in the Northern Icefield.

As Garos prepared for his final adolescent Dragon Sleep, he arranged for Alberto to protect the Molten Iron Tribe and ordered its leaders to follow a conservative policy while the dragons were away. He settled into a hidden lair in Red Maple Valley and fell asleep, expecting his Dragon Heart to evolve before he woke as a Young Dragon.

• Alberto demanded immediate payment for his appearance fee, and Garos offered to waive interest on his debt if Alberto helped the Molten Iron Tribe during Garos’s sleep.
• Garos assigned Tressie and the other dragons and Kin Leaders to protect the tribe, forbidding expansion and aggressive action while the Ignas Siblings slept.
• Garos gave Tressie responsibility for leading the tribe and told her to prioritize safety, restraint, and strengthening their foundations.
• Garos traveled to Red Maple Valley, where Deborah was sleeping, and dug a secluded temporary lair beside a stream.
• Garos swallowed his Black Oil Crystals, magic gems, and precious metals, then fell into Dragon Sleep as his Dragon Heart’s pulse slowed almost to a stop.

The chapter recounted the world’s upheavals from New Calendar 258 to 274, including alien contact, wars, dragon conflicts, climate disasters, and the expanding Abyssal Rift. It ended with the Holden Empire launching its Abyss Development Project while Seraphina and Ludwig entered adolescence.

• Garos Ignas fell into a long Dragon Sleep in Red Maple Valley, and Nausir later detected life on Bernardo Planet and sent an elven diplomatic mission.
• The Orc Empire of Cantum destroyed the Giants’ last stronghold, while the Giants scattered into exile and the Lothern Federation descended into civil war.
• The Metal Dragons gathered to perform a ritual for the dying Sky-Shielding Wings, and Hitherphil attacked their Dragon Realm, leaving the battle’s outcome unknown.
• The Northland Barbarian King and Frost Giant King died fighting, while climate shifts widened the Abyssal Rift and a huge Demon army attacked the Molten Iron Tribe before its defenders and reinforcements drove it back.
• A coup in the Lothern Kingdom intensified the Federation Civil War, and worsening conditions stalled the Molten Iron Tribe’s development in the Borderlands.
• The Holden Empire approved the Abyss Development Project, while Seraphina and Ludwig entered the adolescent stage of rapid growth.

After waking from Dragon Sleep in Red Maple Valley, Garos discovered that he had reached level 17 and grown to more than twenty meters long, but much of his strength and energy had been drained. He found that the lost reserves had formed a second, energy-based heart, leaving him to understand the transformation’s consequences.

• Deborah chased Vera through Red Maple Valley and caught the Fairy Dragon by following a hidden magical mark.
• Deborah and Vera went fishing, and Garos burst through the stream and earth as he awoke from Dragon Sleep.
• Garos examined his changed body and found that he had reached level 17 and grown exceptionally large, while his muscles and energy reserves had diminished.
• Garos sensed two beating hearts and discovered that his drained life energy, Magic Energy, and Dragon Qi had condensed into a new Energy Heart.

After awakening from his long slumber, Garos discovered that his evolution had created a Dragon Jade that restored his depleted body and seemed to absorb energy from everything he ate. He returned to Dragon Valley, where his kin celebrated his arrival, and began feeding the Dragon Jade as the tribe prepared a feast.

• Garos examined his evolved body, named the energy core in his chest Dragon Jade, and collapsed from exhaustion before he could investigate its powers.
• Deborah offered Garos stored blood food, but Dragon Jade suddenly glowed and flooded his body with life energy, rapidly restoring his strength.
• Garos ate the cellar’s frozen beasts, realized their energy was flowing into Dragon Jade, and flew toward Dragon Valley with Deborah and Vera.
• Garos saw that the Borderlands had been devastated by extreme cold, then reached Dragon Valley, where his kin enthusiastically welcomed him home.
• Garos ordered a grand feast, summoned scattered dragons and Dragonkin, and began consuming energy-rich food and materials to satisfy Dragon Jade.

After waking, Garos discovered that his Dragon Jade could restore him from near death, giving him the confidence to pursue the dangerous Eternal Death Pathway. His return was celebrated across the Molten Iron Tribe, where Sorog urged expansion and Alberto prepared to spar with him.

• Garos found that his Dragon Jade had filled with energy and could revive him when he was near death.
• Garos decided to begin training in the Eternal Death Pathway because the Dragon Jade gave him a second chance at life.
• Sorog and Samantha arrived after awakening as Young Dragons, and Sorog urged Garos to lead the tribe toward expansion.
• The Molten Iron Tribe celebrated Garos's return at Burning Steel Fortress, where Alberto performed a sword dance.
• Alberto explained that he had learned to balance training with rest, then asked to compare abilities with Garos, who agreed to spar.

During a banquet, Sorog told Garos about major upheavals across Bernardo Planet, including the Elven Empire’s star exploration, the Orc Empire’s planned conquest, and Hitherfell’s attack on the Metal Dragon Realm. Garos transformed into human form at Alberto and Deborah’s urging, and Alberto challenged him to a fight with their debt at stake.

• Garos asked Sorog what had happened in the outside world while he slept, and Sorog described growing turmoil across Bernardo Planet.
• Sorog reported that Nausir had contacted other inhabited planets, Kantum planned to conquer Theresia, and Hitherfell had attacked a ritual meant to help Sky-Shielding Wings enter the Immortal Realm.
• Garos considered the dangers posed by the empires’ plans but decided that growing stronger and seizing opportunities for the Molten Iron Tribe mattered most.
• Alberto and Deborah asked Garos to show them his human form, and Garos transformed into a towering, muscular man before creating armor from his scales.
• Alberto challenged Garos to fight in human form, offering to erase the rest of his debt if he won and double it if he lost.

Garos accepted Alberto’s wager on their human-form challenge while privately confident he would win, then learned about Lothern’s political turmoil and ordered Sorog to accept Crystal Princess Elina’s next request for aid. At the banquet, Garos also noticed Ludwig and Seraphina plotting revenge against Tressie, while he considered how to secure Nick’s legacy.

• Alberto challenged Garos to a contest in human form, and Garos wagered that Alberto’s debt reductions would be void if Alberto lost but promised an additional reward if he won.
• Alberto eagerly accepted, unaware that Garos could use far more of his strength in human form than expected.
• Garos asked Sorog about Lothern, learned that the second prince had seized the throne and escalated the war against Rybos, and instructed Sorog to accept Elina’s next offer for dragon assistance.
• Sorog reported that Nick had requested an audience, and Garos considered the risks of turning his aging, loyal merchant into a Dragon-Vein Creature.
• Garos overheard Ludwig and Seraphina plotting revenge against Tressie, who continued enjoying the banquet without noticing their scheme.

Garos reviewed the Molten Iron Tribe’s progress and learned that Xia'er had married Beverly and started a family in Creekwood Territory. He then defeated Alberto in their human-form duel, leaving Alberto to fake unconsciousness to avoid the humiliation.

• Garos asked Seraphina and Ludwig about the Dragonforged Transformation Ritual, and they reported that the first stage had a success rate of about three in ten.
• Garos assessed the Kin Leaders’ strength and learned from Sorog that Xia'er had married Beverly, a Snake Woman, and had a child in Creekwood Territory.
• Garos and Alberto began their human-form duel on a snowy plain as the gathered dragons watched.
• Garos overwhelmed Alberto with a relentless barrage, disarmed him, broke through his Holy Armor, and knocked him out of his human form.
• Alberto recovered enough to feign unconsciousness, hoping to escape the defeat and the debt he expected to owe Garos.

Garos challenged the adult and Young Adult Dragons to test their strength after waking, then used Bloodburst State to break their combined assault and defeat them all. The horde watched in awe as Alberto pretended his earlier defeat had left him unconscious and declared himself the strongest dragon after Garos.

• Garos assessed the dragons’ Life Levels and invited everyone in the Young Adult Dragon stage or above to attack him together.
• Sorog, Samantha, Kaxier, Heriam, Seraphina, Ludwig, and Tressie attacked Garos with physical strikes and spells, but he overpowered them and evaded their strongest attacks.
• Garos activated Bloodburst State, broke free of the dragons’ binding spells, and frightened the attackers into fleeing.
• Garos knocked out Kaxier, Samantha, Heriam, Ludwig, Seraphina, and Sorog, while Tressie deliberately dropped to the ground and pretended to be unconscious.
• Vera thanked Deborah for keeping her out of the fight, and Alberto woke up and claimed that he was the strongest dragon after Garos.

Garos discovered that his evolved Dragon Jade let him combine its stored heat with Bloodburst to create the dangerous Red Lotus Form. After Alberto left for the Ser Wilderness, Garos rallied the recovering Molten Iron Tribe to march there and decided to seek the Iron Dragon Mother as an ally.

• Garos used heat from his Dragon Jade to strengthen Bloodburst, creating the powerful but life-consuming Red Lotus Form, then ended it with a Destruction Dragon Breath.
• Garos challenged Alberto to wager against him, but Alberto resisted the temptation and continued his oath-bound training.
• Alberto explained that the Ser Wilderness had become a chaotic battleground full of opportunities, then flew there to fight alongside Garos.
• Garos announced that the Molten Iron Tribe would march into the Ser Wilderness once the dragons recovered, while privately recognizing the dangers and rival powers there.
• Garos decided to visit the Iron Dragon Mother and try to win her support for his plans in the wilderness.

Garos led the Molten Iron Tribe’s expansion toward the Ser Wilderness while leaving Deborah and Vera to guard the Borderlands. After Vera demonstrated her powerful Garos Mimicry illusion, Garos flew ahead alone to the Sinkhole Territory to meet the Iron Dragon Mother.

• The Molten Iron Tribe mobilized its legions for the Ser Wilderness while Tressie, Scott, Naris, Elvie, and others stayed behind to protect the Borderlands.
• Garos and Deborah discussed the Metal Dragons’ disrupted ritual to extend the Gold Dragon King’s life and the unexplained attack by End of Winter Hitherfell.
• At the Estonia River, Garos asked Deborah to remain in the Borderlands, and she agreed to guard their home.
• Vera emerged from beneath Deborah’s wing and demonstrated her lifelike Garos Mimicry, impressing Garos with her illusion magic.
• Garos instructed Deborah and Vera to contact him if trouble arose, then flew ahead alone toward the Sinkhole Territory to meet the Iron Dragon Mother.

Garos returned to Sinkhole Territory and waited for his mother, Laetitia, after learning she was away negotiating with a Blue Dragon over a possible alliance against Gorsas. Laetitia came home and was stunned to discover how enormous and powerful her offspring had become.

• Garos flew into Sinkhole Territory, announced himself to Laetitia’s Scorpion-Tailed Lion guards, and waited near her lair when they told him she was away.
• Garos explored his childhood haunts and warmed up while the territory’s servants watched him nervously.
• In the Steepstone Highlands, Laetitia urged a Blue Dragon to help eliminate Gorsas, but it warned that the Dominic Family was unlikely to accept without tangible benefits.
• Laetitia flew back toward her territory after sensing a powerful, strangely familiar Dragon Might.
• Laetitia confronted Garos near her lair, then froze in disbelief when he greeted her as his mother.

Garos reunited with Laetitia in the Sinkhole Territory and sought an alliance, explaining his rapid growth and proving his identity with the shattered lightning tail ring she had given him. Laetitia remained cautious about his strength and proposed a peaceful sparring match before deciding whether to cooperate.

• Laetitia questioned whether the red iron dragon before her was truly Garos and doubted he could have grown so powerful in roughly fifty years.
• Garos recalled his unusual recovery as a dragonling, corrected Laetitia about when he left, and showed her the broken lightning tail ring she had given him.
• Laetitia eased her guard but asked whether Garos intended to threaten her territory; he said he had come to express gratitude and propose an alliance.
• Laetitia considered Garos as a potential ally against Gorsas but questioned whether his imposing size reflected his true combat ability.
• Laetitia proposed a calm sparring match so they could assess each other's strength before discussing cooperation, and Garos welcomed the chance.