Clear footsteps echoed from the depths of the lair, abruptly halting the lively gathering. The Juvenile Dragon lowered their voices, each gazing intently at the figure stepping out.
"Ah?"
Moqi was stunned, completely dumbfounded.
Emerging from the lair was a twelve-meter-long Giant Dragon. Its black scales absorbed light, yet showed no luster under the bright sunlight, giving it a cold, armored feel, like an extinguished star. Its imposing horns extended from the back of its head, and its limbs were as strong as towering reefs.
This is a strangely shaped Heavy-Metal Dragon, with the massive and ferocious size of Iron Dragon, yet also exhibiting a streamlined and sharp appearance.
Although his companions were already familiar with Ferrum and knew that he would eventually become completely corrupted by continuously consuming Nether Iron, they did not expect that Ferrum would undergo such a huge change after his dormant period, almost like a transformation into a different dragon species.
If Moqi hadn't recognized those familiar bright yellow vertical eyes, Moqi would have doubted whether that was really his brother.
Nether Dragon.
An exceptional evolution, achieving perfection in strength, speed, and physical rigidity for his current life stage. From this day forward, Ferrum was no longer flawed; he could fight however he wanted.
"What? If you don't know me, should I introduce myself?"
Only when a familiar voice came did the silent pressure ease. " Ferrum Solaxus, Juvenile Dragon, sixteen years old."
"This is it, we're doomed."
Moqi covered his head; now no one would believe he was Ferrum's brother anymore.
"This is it, we're doomed."
Nipo chimed in from the side, "How come Boss Ferrum went from ugly to handsome all of a sudden? What if another female dragon snatches him away?"
Moqi lowered his claws and glanced at Nipo. After the war Nipo often came to the plateau to play with Ferrum, baring her teeth and brandishing her claws at Afterglow. She was already quite familiar with them.
Nipo could be considered a gifted individual among the dragons, but even after growing up during her adolescence, she was still only two or three meters tall.
By this time, Moqi had grown to six meters long, enough to look down on her.
"You'd better not think about these things."
Moqi shook his head and said, " Ferrum told me that he prefers the strong and ferocious type, like the Feather Dragon or the Purple Dragon. You, a little devil with a strange head, really have no chance."
"You're talking nonsense!"
Nipo grinned. "What's the use of judging a dragon by its appearance? Once you master Transformation Spell, you can take any form you want. Do you even know what Giant Dragon value most? It's wealth and gold. You're the one who's clueless and doesn't understand anything."
"Your wealth has nothing to do with Ferrum. The property of Giant Dragon is sacred and inviolable; even the Supreme cannot seize it. Isn't that your own word?"
Nipo scoffed, "Want to be violated? Fine?"
Moqi was dumbfounded.
Nipo, too lazy to argue with him, skipped into the arena. "Boss Ferrum, we made a deal: neither of us can attack the other. If they both fall, I'll admit defeat, okay?"
"Good."
Ferrum agreed, looking around. "Let's go."
Even with Ladon present, there was no guarantee that he could defeat Ferrum alone. Therefore, after discussion, the challenge was not a one-on-one duel, but a siege of Ferrum by the strongest of the dragons.
"Roar!"
As soon as his voice fell, the five Juvenile Dragon scattered around immediately roared and breathed.
Ferrum spread his claws and pressed them against the ground, rolling Bloodfire rising from his body, annihilating each other with the colorful energy of his breath.
After a brief standoff, the dragon abruptly stopped breathing, and Jelierion stomped the ground, pouncing forward first.
The talent of " Accelerated Growth " makes Jelierion always have the strength of a generation ahead of his age. While most Juvenile Dragon are around level seven to nine, Jelierion immediately became Tenth-Level Disaster after ending his slumber. As a large dragon species, his body is as huge as the evolved Ferrum.
" Axe Form."
Jelierion leaped into the air as he charged forward, his body twisting and contorting as his mountain-like form tore through the air with tremendous force, whistling as he slashed down.
The opening move was a killing technique from the Ember Scar Inheritance.
He had been defeated by Ferrum, but he always harbored a desire to catch up with and challenge Ferrum.
Long before the Dragon Blood War, Jelierion had already begun to move towards becoming Archaic Species. After the war, the Hatchling Dragon obtained the method for Bloodline Refinement of the Chromatic Dragon. This method was completely different from meditation and could be perfectly suited to Iron Dragon.
He was ordered to go abroad to participate in the Battlefield against the Short-lived Species, which pushed his bloodline to the limit of True Dragon. Jelierion voluntarily gave up his breath attack, hoping to break through the shackles through this intense battle.
Ferrum stood still, waiting for the attack to approach before suddenly sweeping his sword, colliding head-on with Jelierion. The moment the two enormous creatures collided, the rocks beneath his feet suddenly cracked open with countless fissures.
Just as Ferrum and Jelierion's forces collided, two gusts of wind pressure approached from the left and right.
"Come!"
Nili circled around to the left of Ferrum. With his " Activation " ability, his physical functions were greatly enhanced, and he entered the battle like a gleaming blade. As Variant Species of Chrome Dragon, he looked exactly like Ferrum back then, and his speed was so fast that it was like a fleeting shadow.
But even while fighting Jelierion, Ferrum managed to distract himself, turning his head as he struggled, his molten gold-like vertical eyes watching his movements.
On the right, In Tas also arrived. His fighting style was influenced by Ferrum, and he also used extremely fast speed to leap and charge forward.
However, as Thunderclap Dragon, In Tas has also forged its own path, enhancing its physical activity through electric arc stimulation and using magic to propel its attacks. Thunder and lightning crackle between its claws and fangs as it moves.
Ferrum took a slight breath, then suddenly exerted force to push Jelierion aside, tearing it apart with his claws to the left while simultaneously whipping his tail to the right.
"Bang bang."
With an extremely brief collision, magic and scale fragments flew everywhere, and the three figures were sent flying almost simultaneously.
Despite facing three opponents alone, Ferrum showed no sign of smugness. However, before he could even straighten his stance, the ground beneath his feet suddenly sank, Meteoric Fire Rain from the sky.
Afterglow spread her four wings, and as she raised them, circles of magical symbols lit up simultaneously. She was a fire-type dragon, but she no longer relied on flames as she had in the past.
The stone ground beneath Ferrum's feet was first overturned and collapsed by the Ground-Sinking Spell, and then the Wind Prison squeezed in from all sides, binding his membranous wings and limbs. The Meteoric Fire Rain he saw was just the final stage of this composite spell.
" Spell Formula Evolution " enhances spellcasting ability, allowing the user to replicate any spell they have ever seen, provided they have sufficient magical power.
The meteor crashed down, and the Bloodfire on Ferrum's body reignited. Dark red light burst forth from his chest and abdomen, and the Wind Prison that had just been created was dispelled. The meteor exploded on his barrier, and the rain of fire flowed along his scales to both sides, leaving only a few dark red trails in the end.
Afterglow's pupils contracted, and he changed his spell again. Dozens of rock spikes rose from around Ferrum, forcing him to remain in place.
Let's give it our all.
She had assessed Ferrum's power and called upon other powerful beings, "Otherwise, even injuring him will be difficult."
Just as Ferrum cleared away the rock spikes, Jelierion charged back, his strength greater than before, his breathing heavier, and waves of heat gradually surging from the gaps in his scales.
Boom!
The two Juvenile Dragon clashed like bulls. Few dragon species in the world could withstand a direct confrontation with Iron Dragon, but after the collision, the final result was that Jelierion's scales shattered and his bones emitted a mournful cry of unbearable strain.
Ferrum simply took two steps back.
Hidorivi finally made his move. As Jelierion's brother and a powerful member of the dragon pack, he had not been in a hurry to attack until this moment, when he approached from the side and rear of Ferrum and swung his claws.
Ferrum pushed Jelierion aside, ready to meet Hidorivi's attack, only to find that the Iron Dragon's pounce was only halfway through when it suddenly stopped and held down, completely feigning an attack to observe his reaction.
" Hidorivi."
Ferrum couldn't help but laugh, recalling their battles when they were young.
However, being surrounded and having one's attention drawn like this is extremely dangerous, because In Tas and Nili have arrived again.
The five Juvenile Dragon began to unite their attack, treating Ferrum as Young Dragon on the Battlefield. They remained cautious, yet gave it their all.
Jelierion spearheaded the attack, with Afterglow providing support and magical suppression. In Tas and Nili circled Ferrum at high speed. Hidorivi, though lacking special talents, always appeared in dangerous positions to probe and draw attention.
Behind them is Nipo, who can heal the wounds of the powerful, allowing them to continue fighting and preventing potential fatalities between the two sides.
"Alright."
As the pressure intensified, Ferrum gradually finished experiencing their power. He lowered his body, his vertical eyes sweeping across the faces of his companions one by one. His Burning Heart Bloodfire rolled, sweeping away the wind pressure, gravity, and lightning on his body.
The next moment, the rock shattered, and the powerful body vanished abruptly, leaving only a surging shockwave spreading outwards.