Chapter Summaries

Sorog reunited with Garos and Samantha in Conifer Valley, where the dragons discussed their family, rank, and preferences before holding a feast. As Samantha and Sorog dreamed of founding an empire, Garos quietly wished for a peaceful, safe, and more comfortable life.

• Samantha declared that Sorog ranked fourth among the dragons, behind herself and Vera, and Sorog asked whether Gordon was there.
• Garos said Gordon was unlikely to survive alone in the Wilderness, while Sorog vowed that the Ignas siblings would become renowned.
• Sorog excluded Vera from the Ignas siblings, and Vera retreated behind a tree after Sorog suggested she could join as someone's mate or spouse.
• Sorog asked Garos what kind of females he preferred, and Garos said he had no particular preference.
• Garos announced a feast in Conifer Valley, where the dragons ate roasted meat and Samantha and Sorog discussed their hopes for a grand empire.
• While the others dreamed of future luxuries, Garos silently wished for a peaceful, safe, and comfortable life.

Three years after Gordon was brought to the Lothern Kingdom, he had grown enormous and fat, while Sorog reorganized the Molten Iron Clan and helped make the Scale-Earth Rift Road a prosperous trade route. With the territory stable and thriving, Garos had focused on training and evolution and officially became an Adolescent Dragon at seventeen.

• Gordon told Elina he wanted to lose weight because he could barely fly, but he ate more cakes after she tempted him with a sapphire.
• Sorog recovered from his injuries and reorganized the Molten Iron Clan's warbands, ranks, rewards, and paths for advancement.
• Sorog appointed Ugo to oversee statues of Garos and had warlocks compose ballads praising Garos among the tribes.
• Sorog linked tribal bases with garrisons and helped reopen the Scale-Earth Rift Road, where the Nick Caravan and other merchants traded with the Molten Iron Clan.
• Over the next three years, the territory prospered while Garos trained and evolved, and he officially became an Adolescent Dragon at seventeen.

Garos tempered himself in a thunderstorm and brought his Supercharged Frenzy State evolution close to completion, gaining a powerful new combat form. He returned to Quenching Heights, where the expanding Molten Iron Clan continued to grow under his rule.

• Garos, now thirteen meters long and at life level 10, flew into a thunderstorm and deliberately absorbed lightning to strengthen himself.
• Garos's body developed golden lightning that enhanced his physical abilities, but fissures appeared in his scales before the evolution was complete.
• Garos named the new ability the Supercharged Frenzy State and left the storm to rest, deciding that another tempering session would likely finish the evolution.
• Garos considered how the Supercharged Frenzy State could serve as a second combat phase alongside his Explosive Scales and Bloodburst Art.
• Garos returned to Quenching Heights, where his troops praised him and he saw that the Diamond Core had helped provide them with high-quality equipment.
• Garos observed that the Molten Iron Clan's territory, forces, and population had expanded rapidly over the past three years, with further growth expected as its young subjects matured.

A Frost Behemoth attacked a Molten Iron Clan outpost and wandered toward Quenching Heights, prompting Sorog to warn Garos that it could threaten their Symbiotic Pool. Garos set out with Sorog to confront the beast.

• A Frost Behemoth destroyed the outpost north of Shingle Beach, slaughtered its defenders, and continued toward Quenching Heights.
• Sorog investigated the attack, recognized the Frost Behemoth, and reported its approach to Garos.
• Sorog warned that the beast could damage the Symbiotic Pool at Shattered Stone Camp, the Molten Iron Clan’s vital resource.
• Garos ordered Sorog to lead him to the Frost Behemoth.

Garos confronted a Frost Behemoth threatening Shattered Stone Camp and completed his evolution during the battle. He awakened the Supercharged Frenzy State and killed the Behemoth with a devastating finishing strike, though its immense energy cost left him exhausted.

• Garos identified the Frost Behemoth as a threat to the Symbiotic Pool and sent Sorog away while choosing to fight it alone.
• Garos drew lightning into himself, completed his evolution, and opened the fight with a barrage of Explosive Scales.
• Garos exchanged attacks with the Behemoth, losing his remaining Explosive Scales as the giant beast battered him.
• Garos activated the Supercharged Frenzy State and overwhelmed the Behemoth with lightning-fast attacks.
• Garos plunged down in a thunder-and-fire strike that blasted the Behemoth apart, then assessed his exhaustion and the state’s heavy energy demands.

After Garos killed the Frost Behemoth, he warned Sorog against recklessly imitating his Golden Lightning and ordered precautions against further threats from the Permafrost Tundra. He then resumed punishing physical training, relying on hard work to grow stronger while waiting for Dragon Qi to awaken naturally.

• Garos explained that he had practiced with thunderstorms for years before unleashing Golden Lightning against the Frost Behemoth, and Sorog considered trying the same method.
• Garos told Sorog to have the followers collect the Frost Behemoth's remains and to establish more lookout posts between Shingle Beach and the Estonia River.
• Garos and Sorog agreed to ask the arriving Nick Caravan for news about the Permafrost Tundra.
• Garos flew to a barren stretch of ground and trained in Supercharged Frenzy State until his body was exhausted.
• After recovering, Garos began another round of training, determined to build his strength through relentless effort.

Garos trained in heavy armor while his heart and thorns showed signs of evolution. After learning the Nick Caravan had arrived, he asked Frost Fang to have it gather information about the Permafrost Tundra and considered seeking an alchemical item to increase his gravity.

• Samantha was woken by Garos's training but returned to sleep after seeing him wrapped in golden lightning.
• Garos reflected on his heart's developing evolution and his thorns' rapid growth and regeneration.
• Garos honed his wings and received Frost Fang's report that the Nick Caravan had arrived at Scale-Earth Rift Road.
• Garos asked the caravan to gather information about the Permafrost Tundra and decided he needed an alchemical item that could increase his gravity.

Nick and Maggie discussed their ties to the Molten Iron Clan as the Nick Caravan delivered goods to the Werewolves. Frost Fang requested alchemy manuals and blueprints, especially Alchemy Golem blueprints, for the Clan.

• Nick told Maggie he enjoyed trading with the monsters and preferred dealing with them to scheming human merchants.
• Nick and Maggie arrived with sixteen carriages at the meeting place, where Frost Fang and three Dire Wolf Knights waited.
• Cole directed Troll slaves as they unloaded Black Oil, liquor, spices, forging supplies, and other goods for the Dragonkin.
• The Werewolves inspected the cargo and carried it away into the surrounding shadows.
• Frost Fang asked Nick to bring an item that enhanced gravity, alchemy manuals for every level, and complete alchemical blueprints next time, preferably Alchemy Golem blueprints.

Garos learned that the Frost Giant Alliance and the Warcry Clan were at war over an Ice Marrow Vein after a Frost Giant peace delegation was ambushed, and he feared the conflict would drive dangerous creatures toward the Ser Wilderness. He resolved to strengthen the northern outposts while reflecting on how far he was from reaching the Legendary Realm.

• Nick offered to trade advanced alchemy blueprints and an Alchemy Golem blueprint for the clan's diamonds, and he explained the value people placed on Frost Behemoth bones.
• Frost Fang questioned Nick about the bones and asked how he knew the Permafrost Tundra was unsettled, so Nick described the war between the Frost Giant Alliance and the Warcry Clan.
• Garos listened through a Sound Transmission Stone as Nick explained that the war began after Frost Giants returning from peace talks were ambushed and a child of the King of White Frost was killed.
• Garos suspected that the Frost Behemoth's arrival was connected to the war and decided to strengthen the northern outposts against possible migrations from the tundra.
• Garos considered the powerful Legendary Realm beings among the warring factions and compared the slow growth of Dragonkin with the rapid advancement of gifted humans.

Garos considered his goal of becoming legendary within five hundred years while Frost Fang negotiated with Nick, who asked to meet the hidden ruler behind the Molten Iron Clan. Garos agreed to meet Nick, but rejected Sorog’s plans to establish taverns and step into public view, warning that the clan had to remain inconspicuous under the Lothern Federation’s authority.

• Garos set himself the goal of becoming legendary within five hundred years as he trained in the Exhilarated State and listened to Frost Fang and Nick.
• Nick asked Frost Fang to arrange a meeting with the lord he served, and Frost Fang agreed to pass along the request through the Communication Stone.
• Sorog arrived after the trade and took Nick’s gemstone from Frost Fang, saying the caravan could be replaced if it proved difficult to control.
• Garos agreed to meet Nick, judging that ten years of dealings had shown him to be intelligent and loyal.
• Sorog proposed establishing taverns to gather intelligence and stepping into the open to attract more clans, but Garos rejected both plans as too conspicuous.
• Garos explained that the trade route belonged to the Lothern Federation and warned Sorog that the Molten Iron Clan had to stay in the shadows until it could safely take the stage.

Brent, a tax officer sent by the Ironthorn Viscount, demanded road taxes from the monster clans controlling the Scale-Earth Rift Road. After the Lizardfolk leader struck him, both sides prepared for a possible fight, and the monsters contacted their superiors.

• The Ironthorn Viscount sent Brent and five warriors to demand taxes from the monster clans after deciding to profit from the busy trade route.
• Brent introduced himself to the Lizardfolk leader and declared that the Ironthorn Viscount owned the road and was owed taxes from the monsters.
• The Lizardfolk leader mistook Brent's demand for robbery and struck him with its tail, knocking him into the mud.
• The Fearless emerged from a covered wagon, and the Lizardfolk and Ogres readied themselves against the alchemy golem and the humans.
• Brent demanded that the Lizardfolk summon a higher-ranking leader, so the Lizardfolk leader used a Communication Stone to contact its superiors.

Garos killed a level 10 Sword-Jawed Beast with his newly developed Flame Thunder Breath and planned ways to stabilize the energy and evolve his Explosive Scales. After receiving a message from the Iron Dragon about Ironthorn Viscount’s tax collector, Garos prepared to negotiate over the Scale-Earth Rift Road while refusing to accept unreasonable demands.

• Garos descended through the storm and killed a Sword-Jawed Beast with a powerful Flame Thunder Breath.
• Garos tested forming Flame Thunder around his claws and concluded he needed more practice to stabilize the dual-element energy.
• Garos decided his Explosive Scales had become unsuitable and planned to train them to absorb kinetic energy without overheating and exploding.
• Garos repeatedly practiced condensing Flame Thunder and cooling his Explosive Scales before they overloaded.
• Garos received a message from the Iron Dragon about Ironthorn Viscount’s tax collector and decided to meet them, intending to cooperate only if their demands were reasonable.

Frost Fang negotiated with Brent over the Ironthorn Viscount’s taxes on Scale-Earth Rift Road, but neither side would accept the other’s terms. Brent reported the failed talks to the viscount, while the dragons in Conifer Valley condemned the humans’ demands.

• Frost Fang, speaking for Garos, rejected Brent’s claim that human law gave the Ironthorn Viscount authority to tax the Wilderness.
• Brent demanded five thousand gold coins per month and a year of back taxes, then offered a daily doubling copper-coin payment as an alternative.
• Garos instructed Frost Fang to counter with one hundred gold coins per month, and the negotiations continued until Brent insisted on three thousand gold coins monthly plus back taxes while Frost Fang offered three hundred with no back taxes.
• Frost Fang and Brent exchanged threats, and the meeting ended after Brent demanded to speak with their lord as an equal.
• Brent camped at the entrance to Scale-Earth Rift Road and reported the failed negotiations to the Ironthorn Viscount.
• In Conifer Valley, Sorog and Samantha condemned the humans’ greed and arrogance.

Garos restrained Sorog and Samantha from attacking the tax collectors and planned to have Kalu negotiate with Ironthorn Viscount while keeping the Molten Iron Clan’s Dragons hidden. As the viscount escalated pressure on the Scale-Earth Rift Road, Garos prepared to seek out Deborah, a Copper Dragon, as an ally and thwarted an attempt to track the clan’s territory.

• Garos persuaded Sorog and Samantha to avoid starting a war over the tax demand, while warning that they would fight if negotiations failed.
• Garos chose Kalu to pose as the Molten Iron Clan’s lord in formal negotiations and considered recruiting Deborah, a Copper Dragon, as a Metal Dragon ally.
• After a week passed without Ironthorn Viscount sending a negotiator, the viscount raised road taxes to the maximum and stationed tax collectors and Dauntless Alchemy Golems at the road entrance.
• The clan’s sorcerers found tracking devices hidden among traded goods, but Garos’s inspections kept them from exposing the clan’s core territory.
• Garos halted trade and scattered the suspect goods through the Wilderness, leaving any scouts following their signals vulnerable to powerful beasts and magical creatures.

Ironthorn Viscount sent Edmund to demand taxes from the Molten Iron Clan, while Garos learned that the Steelback Trolls had reached the Ser Wilderness. After Kalu pretended to submit to Edmund’s demands, Garos prepared to face the conflict he believed the humans had deliberately provoked.

• Ironthorn Viscount ordered Edmund to negotiate with the Molten Iron Clan and sent Bane to guard him.
• Sorog told Garos that the Steelback Trolls had migrated from the Permafrost Tundra and been captured at Shingle Beach.
• Edmund arrived at the negotiation site with Thorn Knights and Alchemy Golems, then demanded three thousand gold coins each month and overdue taxes.
• Kalu rejected Edmund’s demands, then pretended to submit and promised payment in seven days.
• Garos concluded that the humans had never intended to negotiate in good faith and faced the coming conflict in Conifer Valley.

Garos ordered the Molten Iron Clan to evacuate the Scale-Earth Rift Road while preparing to strike the nobles who had pushed him too far. As Edmund waited confidently in his camp for the clan to submit, a crimson object tore through the storm toward him.

• Garos ordered Sorog to ready the clan's battle groups and evacuate their territories to the Quenching Heights, while Samantha cleared Conifer Valley.
• Sorog warned Samantha that defeating the viscount's troops could draw the Lothern Federation's garrison and powerful fighters to the clan, so they had to withdraw.
• Garos ordered a retreat but vowed to make the humans pay, and Kalu's combat units advanced covertly toward the noble's son's camp as the clan evacuated.
• Four days later, Edmund dismissed Brent's concerns and planned to keep pressuring the Molten Iron Clan until he controlled its wealth.
• Bane sensed an approaching threat, and the Frost Giant and nearby knights spotted a crimson star ripping through the storm toward the camp.

Garos and his brothers ambushed Edmund’s expedition, destroying the knights and Alchemy Golems as the humans’ attempted escape collapsed. Bane fled with Edmund but turned to fight Garos and died; Edmund was left trapped between the Red Dragon and Iron Dragon.

• Garos descended on the human camp, shattered its defensive shield, and killed the knight captain and many knights.
• The Iron Dragon and Red Dragon joined Garos as their monster army surrounded the camp, and Edmund’s forces attempted to break east.
• Sorog and Samantha destroyed an Alchemy Golem, while Garos tore through the remaining Golems and the Frost Giant.
• Bane carried Edmund through the encirclement, but Garos pursued with Golden Lightning and forced Bane to send Edmund away before confronting him.
• Bane fought Garos with monk techniques and burned his life force, but Garos shattered his arms and killed him.
• The Red Dragon and Iron Dragon cornered Edmund after Bane’s death.

Garos killed Edmund after granting him a chance to flee, then ordered his troops to migrate toward the Quenching Heights. Before leaving the region, Garos and the other dragons decided to raid a Sky Moorstone Mine belonging to the Raymond Duchy.

• Edmund begged Garos for mercy and offered his father's wealth, but Garos refused the ransom.
• Edmund taunted the dragons and threatened revenge, so Garos let him run before killing him when he tried to escape.
• Garos ordered Kalu to lead the troops north toward the Quenching Heights, while the dragons flew off to make another move.
• Garos explained that the battle would draw the garrison at the Trail of a Thousand Snakes and that they could no longer stay in their territory.
• The Iron Dragon realized Garos planned to raid the Raymond Duchy's Sky Moorstone Mine, and Samantha eagerly welcomed the chance to rob it.

Garos and two other dragons attacked the Sky Moorstone Mine outpost, drawing the regular army’s defenses while Samantha and the Iron Dragon looted the Sky Lake Gems. The dragons escaped after wrecking much of the warehouse district, leaving the garrison behind in flames and ruin.

• The sentries at the outpost sounded the alarm when Garos appeared in the storm, and the regular army fired its ballistae at him.
• Garos dodged the bolts, destroyed the No-Fly Pillars, and drew the garrison’s forces into battle.
• Samantha and the Iron Dragon tore open the western warehouse and looted its Sky Lake Gems while the defenders turned toward them.
• Garos attacked the Golems and soldiers trying to reach the warehouse, preventing the garrison from stopping the raid.
• The Iron Dragon and Samantha escaped through the warehouse roof as Sorog’s damage and Samantha’s Dragon Breath collapsed much of the warehouse district.
• Garos took a ballista bolt and flew after the other dragons, escaping pursuit after announcing the attack was a return gift for the Ironthorn Viscount.

After Garos, Samantha, and Sorog escaped a mining outpost with Sky Lake Gems, Heaven's Wrath pursued them. Garos drew the Alchemy Golem away from his companions and outran it, leaving the dragons to regroup at Quenching Heights.

• Samantha showed off the Sky Lake Gems while Sorog carried a large piece of Sky Moorstone ore, and Garos assessed his wounds from the raid.
• Garos warned that the outpost defenders would pursue them, then heard an engine approaching from Lothern Federation territory.
• Heaven's Wrath arrived, so Garos ordered Samantha and Sorog to split up and meet him at Quenching Heights.
• Garos attacked Heaven's Wrath with Electric Fire Breath, then lured it closer while his companions escaped in different directions.
• Garos swallowed Black Oil, used Fairy Scale Powder, entered the Exhilarated State, and flew at supersonic speed until Heaven's Wrath lost him.