The conversation taking place in the Mental World gradually came to an end.
Shortly after, Garros's consciousness withdrew from the invisible network and refocused on reality.
He raised his head and glanced at the sky above Coniferous Valley.
It was currently afternoon; the clear sky was cloudless for ten thousand miles, and the sunlight was intense but not dazzling, carrying a lazy warmth.
The golden light occasionally condensed into sacred pillars of light, penetrating the layers of the coniferous forest canopy to stab straight into the woods; at other times, it was cut and crushed by the swaying branches moved by the mountain wind, turning into countless dancing and flickering spots of light that skipped across the forest clearings.
They fell onto the Red-Iron Dragon's broad back, as if plating his scales with a layer of shining gold foil.
The sense of battle damage formed by the Crimson Lotus State was temporarily obscured.
Garros slowly closed his heavy eyelids, shutting out the external light and shadows.
He was resting, and more importantly, adjusting.
He was conserving his energy for the upcoming war.
Years ago, when the tribe was forced to make a strategic relocation, due to the lack of a way to move the Leyline Symbiosis Pool, Iron Dragon Sorog and Red Dragon Samantha had both strongly suggested destroying it completely.
Since they couldn't take it with them, they absolutely couldn't leave it for future enemies, providing the enemy with resources.
However, Garros refused.
In his eyes, temporary strategic forbearance was not a permanent retreat, but was for the sake of accumulating enough strength to tear through all obstacles.
Choosing to leave was for the sake of returning stronger.
From the day he chose to retreat, he had already made up his mind that one day, he would lead a more powerful Molten Iron Tribe to make a comeback, return to this land, and take back everything that belonged to him.
And now, he had returned.
He had brought a Molten Iron Tribe far more powerful than before, he had successfully reclaimed the territory of Scale-Earth Rift Road, and he had made his old rival, the Albert Family, pay a heavy price.
The Leyline Symbiosis Pool left to the enemy back then was also about to be personally brought back under his control, along with the Quenchfire Highlands.
Whoosh—!
Garros's nap did not last long.
Before the setting sun had sunk into the western mountains and while the sky was still bright, a sudden, violent mountain wind howled into Coniferous Valley, swirling up dead leaves and dust from the ground, letting out a whistling shriek that broke the silence of the forest.
Garros abruptly opened his heavy eyelids and looked toward the distant horizon.
In his field of vision, a brilliant golden streak of light was breaking through the layers of the sea of clouds at an astonishing speed, racing towards Coniferous Valley.
The streak of light drew closer, and its form became clearer—a vigorous, strong body covered in golden scales that shone as if cast from the blazing sun.
It was none other than Golden Dragon Alberto.
He folded his wings and landed in front of Garros, then habitually raised his neck, his gaze carrying an inherent majestic air, full of power and a sense of divinity.
But his next words broke that feeling.
"Here, this installment of the debt, count it and put it away."
"I, Alberto, have always been a dragon of my word. Although I can't clear all the debt at once, I will never be a shameless scoundrel who defaults on his debts."
Alberto tried his best to put on a carefree and easygoing act, pushing over a metal box that looked heavy with his claws.
However.
If one observed closely, they would find that his facial muscles were slightly stiff and his eyes were darting around; clearly, his heart was undergoing some extremely intense and painful struggle.
Garros used the tip of his claw to flip open the lid and glanced inside.
It was filled with raw ores of various colored magic gems.
Uncut and unpolished, with rough edges and even some dirt clinging to them, but the pure magical radiance contained within, as well as the naturally formed magnificent colors, were all silently proclaiming their high value.
These were clearly fresh goods just mined from the wilderness, not yet having had time for fine processing.
Under Alberto's gaze, which he could almost not hide and was accompanied by a slight twitch, Garros expressionlessly closed the entire box and, with a hook of his sharp claws, pressed it under his paw.
He was silent for two seconds before saying, "Alberto, I am well aware of your speed. Next time you come, just land directly. There's really no need to create an atmosphere of [the wind arrives before the dragon]."
"Staying somewhere and flapping your wings desperately to create a gale seems like quite a lot of trouble."
Alberto, whose previous operation had been seen through in a single word, had his breathing hitch abruptly, and his high-held head seemed to drop an inch.
But the Golden Dragon's reaction was swift.
He quickly straightened his back, and his face once again wore a noble and indifferent expression.
"I don't know what you're talking about; that was just the natural airflow created when I fly."
Garros slightly shook his massive head, not bothered to delve deeper into this trivial matter.
The Golden Dragons in his knowledge were supposed to be models of majesty, nobility, and proper conduct, and his first impression of Alberto had indeed been like that.
However, as the time they knew each other grew longer, the layer of glorious filter on this Golden Dragon had long since shattered into pieces.
Meanwhile.
Alberto's gaze noticed the dragon scales on Garros that were covered in fine cracks.
The perception belonging to a Holy Dragon, which was extremely sensitive to evil and abnormal states, also allowed him to simultaneously detect the aura of a curse clinging to him like a maggot on a bone.
Garros's obviously weak state and slightly fluctuating aura further confirmed his judgment.
"You seem to have... been hit by some rather troublesome curse?"
He leaned in half a step closer, observing Garros carefully, and said, "As long as you're willing to appropriately reduce a portion of the debt, in exchange, I can remove this annoying curse for you."
"Uh... wait, the root of this curse is quite stubborn, like the deathbed counterattack of some powerful evil creature; I'm afraid it might be difficult to completely remove it in one go."
"However, with my power, I can at least significantly weaken its effects."
"We can take it slow, do it in several sessions, and eventually solve it completely. You can fully trust a Holy Dragon's talent for purifying evil."
As a symbol of order and justice, Holy Dragons indeed possessed unique advantages in purifying curses and striking down evil.
Garros's answer was simple and direct: "No need."
Sensing the weakness and unstable aura on the Red-Iron Dragon, Alberto's heart was full of doubt. He had an illusion that Garros didn't seem to reject this curse, but rather felt like he viewed it as something good.
"Could it be that this curse is too intense and has already affected his mind, making him unable to make a correct judgment?"
"Perhaps I can first take action to purify a part of it for him, let him regain his clarity, and then talk about the issue of reducing subsequent treatment costs."
Thinking this, Alberto slightly raised one front claw, and the tips of his claws began to gather Oath Energy.
He prepared to cast a small-scale Purification Spell on the Red-Iron Dragon, targeting the head.
Just then, he suddenly met Garros's deep eyes.
"What are you trying to do?"
Garros asked.
Hearing the other party's calm inquiry, Alberto gave a sudden start, and alarm bells rang in his heart.
He had an incredibly strong intuition that if he really threw that Purification Spell onto Garros at this moment, regardless of his original intention, his own end might be very unpleasant.
So, after a brief second of thought, his dragon claw continued to rise, but he dissipated the purification energy on it and scratched the base of his towering dragon horn.
"Nothing, it's just that after flying for a long time, my dragon horn is a bit itchy. I'm just scratching it."
Alberto said with a natural expression.
Garros scanned the Golden Dragon up and down, seeing through his thoughts but not exposing them.
He said, "This curse, I'm keeping it for my own use. However, I am indeed in a very weak state because of it and the high-intensity exercise that just ended."
Before he could finish his sentence, Alberto immediately shook his head like a rattle.
"Stop! I came today just to repay part of the debt; my purpose is very simple, and that's it. I absolutely have no interest in taking the opportunity to challenge you, none at all!"
He indeed felt Garros's current weakness.
If it were in the past, with his competitive personality, he might have really proposed a challenge in a moment of heat.
But the current Alberto had long since made up his mind that no matter what, he would endure until he completed his next slumber and further improved his strength before coming to avenge his shame.
Before then, no matter how 'enticing' Garros's state appeared, he would never take the bait.
Moreover, he had a faint feeling.
Even if Garros looked weak, there seemed to be some heart-palpitating, extremely powerful trump card hidden within his body.
Acting rashly would lead to an unpredictable outcome.
Across from him, seeing that his attempt to provoke a battle had failed, Garros readily changed the subject and asked, "Where did you get these raw gemstones? Given the meager output of your territory, it's not enough to support this quantity and quality."
At the mention of the gemstone source, Alberto's spirits instantly lifted!
He lifted his chin once more, resuming that noble and majestic posture, his golden pupils flashing with the light of wisdom.
"Do not easily forget my identity—I am a Golden Dragon revered by countless intelligent creatures!"
"I only need to elegantly display my form above those human strongholds, and naturally, people will scramble to offer gifts, begging only to exchange them for a single blessing or a symbolic promise of protection from me."
It turned out that the experience of being hired by Garros to work in Ximu Territory had unexpectedly given Alberto some inspiration.
After a few cautious attempts, he discovered a way to make money that could be described as high-profit with zero investment.
For human kingdoms that firmly adhere to the Order alignment, a Golden Dragon willing to show a friendly attitude is, to some extent, a symbol of auspiciousness and power, capable of greatly boosting morale and public sentiment.
Based on this point.
Alberto began to selectively visit some human principalities on the edge of the Serel Wilderness, and even border strongholds of kingdoms.
He would choose to circle high in the sky under the gaze of numerous guards, or land in a conspicuous place, and deliver some high-sounding blessing speeches, such as 'May the light of Order protect this place,' or 'Evil shall surely retreat,' making the guards feel at ease.
This was almost a business with no cost.
It only required showing his face and saying a few pleasant words.
Furthermore, with the wilderness becoming increasingly chaotic and various evil creatures becoming more rampant, Alberto was also constantly fulfilling the Golden Dragon's vocation to punish the wicked and eliminate evil, wiping out evil nests and driving away ferocious monsters, which not only earned him fame but also allowed him to seize quite a bit of ill-gotten wealth from the enemies' lairs.
With both methods combined, the speed of Alberto's wealth accumulation finally began to steadily increase.
"At this rate, it won't be long before I can completely pay off all the debts I owe you."
Golden Dragon Alberto said not without pride; although it wasn't entirely clear what there was to be proud of, his tone was indeed quite smug.
Garros was noncommittal about this, only slightly nodding his head, which counted as a bit of encouragement.
Wanting to pay off his debts wouldn't be that simple.
Immediately after, the Red-Iron Dragon, after a brief moment of thought, spoke again, leading the topic in a more serious direction: "Alberto, do you still remember the Red Dragon Gorthax you mentioned to me before?"
"Of course I remember!" Alberto's tone instantly became serious.
"Gorthax, that guy is infamous, his arrogance is extreme, and he has committed countless evil deeds in the wilderness, burning strongholds, plundering towns, and killing all living things; he is a thoroughly chaotic and Evil Dragon!"
"An Evil Dragon like this, who is thoroughly and hopelessly rotten, should be completely eradicated!"
"Otherwise, letting him continue to live and reproduce will only give birth to more naturally evil, chaotic, and disorderly Dragonkin, bringing more destruction and suffering to this already chaotic land!"
The more Alberto spoke, the more excited he became, his golden Dragon claws slamming heavily onto the ground.
"At his age, I'm afraid he has already wreaked havoc in certain places and left behind evil offspring!"
"Those progeny flowing with the Bloodline of Gorthax must also be natural seeds of chaos! They are scourges that must be purged."
"If I were to encounter Gorthax's offspring, humph! I would definitely strike with a heavy hand! Mercilessly eradicate them! And clear away future threats for this world."
Hearing these words, the Red-Iron Dragon fell into a silence that lasted several seconds.
This silence made Alberto's passionate condemnation seem somewhat abrupt.
Finally, Garros spoke slowly: "Alberto, there is one thing I think it is time to tell you."
Under the Golden Dragon's slightly puzzled gaze, Garros lifted his head, which possessed physical features similar to a Red Dragon, and then looked straight into Alberto's eyes, saying: "The Gorthax whose descendants you say must be eradicated, he is my biological father."
Across from him, the expression on Golden Dragon Alberto's face instantly froze.
It took a full two or three seconds for him to suddenly snap back to reality, his pair of Dragon eyes widening in disbelief, his gaze sweeping back and forth over Garros; although there was no immediate surge of hostility or wariness, the shock and bewilderment were almost overflowing.
His line of sight finally fixed on those distinct features of the Red Dragon on Garros, as if recognizing their meaning for the first time.
The air seemed to have solidified.
Facing the speechless Golden Dragon, who seemed to have had his brain crash, Garros leaned forward slightly and asked: "So, didn't you say you wanted to eradicate all of Gorthax's descendants? Come on, he is standing right in front of you now, within arm's reach."
"And as you can see, he is not in good condition right now, very weak; perhaps this is your best opportunity."
"Kill him, and you will reap excellent fame."
Alberto:...
Hearing these words, the Golden Dragon fell into a silence that lasted several seconds.
Finally, he let out a slightly awkward laugh: "Ha, hahaha! That last bit was just a little joke to lighten the mood, don't take it too seriously."
"I, Alberto, as a Saint Dragon who can distinguish right from wrong, would never judge a Dragon's goodness or evil solely based on their Bloodline origin!"
His gaze looked firmly at the Red-Iron Dragon: "Garros, you have undoubtedly proven with your own will and actions that you are a Dragonkin standing on the side of Order! You are an ally who can fight side by side with a Golden Dragon."
"On this point, I have no doubts! Bloodline cannot define your Soul."
After quickly stating his position, the Golden Dragon changed the subject and asked: "However... why did you suddenly think of telling me about your background? And specifically mention Gorthax?"
Garros's expression returned to calm.
He said: "Because between us, there is almost no possibility of coexisting under the same sky."
Upon hearing this, Golden Dragon Alberto nodded his huge head thoughtfully: "I almost forgot, the father-son relationships among you Chromatic Dragons, especially Red Dragons, are very unusual. The Legacy memories tell me that it is often filled with betrayal, devouring, and naked power struggles, with not a shred of warmth to speak of."
Immediately after, Garros explained the general situation.
The danger of Gorthax, the huge uncontrollable hidden threat, and the decision of the Ignas Dragon Flight; after saying all this, he formally issued an invitation to Alberto.
"So, Alberto, I need your power."
"For a better future, and also to eliminate a huge scourge of the wilderness, join me in besieging Gorthax!"
"Besieging the Frenzied Flame Bloodflame? Good, very good."
Alberto did not hesitate at all, his eyes burning with eager Battle Intent.
"You must bring me along when the time comes; eradicating such evil and maintaining the order of the wilderness is exactly the responsibility I, Alberto, am duty-bound to fulfill."
Both publicly and privately, he had no reason to refuse.
Alberto felt very expectant about being able to participate in the crusade against such an infamous and chaotic Evil Dragon.
After discussing some of Gorthax's possible activity ranges, power estimations, and initial siege plans, Golden Dragon Alberto bid farewell to Garros, spread his wings, soared into the sky, turned into a streak of golden light, and disappeared into the horizon.
Garros then closed his eyes again, continuing his quiet rest, conserving his energy, and adjusting his state to his Peak.
As time passed, day by day went by.
Under the efficient and meticulous command of Iron Dragon Sorog, the legions of the Molten Iron Tribe awakened like sleeping giant beasts and began to mobilize in full swing.
The various clans sharpened their weapons and prepared their gear, and a stern yet rousing Battle Intent permeated Ximu Territory and every stronghold.
About five days later.
When the first ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds and fell upon the ground, fully armed legions, like unsheathed sharp swords, set off from their garrisons in a mighty force.
Their target was the Quenchfire Highlands.
This ancestral land of the Molten Iron Tribe was about to welcome back its masters amidst a wild dance of iron and blood.