The dark clouds did not disperse with the end of the war, still hanging heavily in the sky.
Raindrops continued to fall incessantly, pelting the cold, hard scales of the dragons with a pattering sound, only to be shattered into finer mist and fall toward the scarred land.
Garros was currently standing at the highest point of Thunder Cliff.
His sharp claws were embedded into the rugged, slippery rock crevices beneath his feet, remaining unshaken in the wind and rain, stable as if he had merged with the cliff.
He bowed his head slightly, scanning the devastated battlefield below; everywhere his gaze reached, there were traces of the scars left by the war.
The dragons belonging to the Molten Iron Tribe, several enfeoffed lords, and their kin were currently scattered across the battlefield, resting or cleaning up after the battle.
The air was filled with a complex scent mixed with blood, scorched smells, and rainwater, as well as a sense of post-war exhaustion and solemnity.
On the side of the Dominic Dragon Flight, the scene was much more miserable.
Due to their tenacious and fierce resistance earlier, the Vassal Legion they brought suffered extremely heavy casualties. Looking out, corpses were strewn everywhere. The survivors who ultimately chose to surrender numbered less than one-fifth of their pre-war strength, and they were currently being guarded by the warriors of the Molten Iron Tribe, huddled in the mud with numb and fearful eyes.
The dragons that soared in the sky and commanded thunder had also lost nearly half their numbers.
The remaining survivors were surrounded in a semicircle by the dragons of the Ignas Dragon Flight and several powerful lords.
They were covered in hideous wounds, their scales shattered, and dragon blood mixed with the rainwater dripped continuously. The wings they had previously held high in pride now drooped powerlessly, the light in their eyes dim, their fighting spirit gone.
In all fairness.
If you put aside the two masters of the dragon flights, there was not much difference in the overall strength of the Ignas Dragon Flight and the Dominic Dragon Flight originally.
However, when the Golden Dragon Alberto and the Iron Dragon Leticia, these two allies, joined the war, and with the betrayal of the adult Blue Dragon Zolaya at a critical moment, the balance of the battlefield tilted completely in an instant.
Facing the onslaught of the Ignas Dragon Flight like a tidal wave, the Dominic Dragon Flight could only retreat step by step.
Furthermore, whether during the pre-war mobilization or in the heat of the fierce battle, Garros had never once issued an order to show mercy.
Every dragon is a dangerous and powerful existence.
In a fierce life-and-death battle, unless the gap in strength between the two sides is so great that one can completely control the situation, any hesitation due to scruples, even for a split second, could likely be seized upon by the opponent, leading to being severely wounded or even killed.
Garros had a clear understanding of this.
He did indeed have a long-term plan to subdue the Dominic Dragon Flight to expand the scale of his own dragon flight, but the realization of this plan could never come at the cost of the lives of those dragons who had followed him for a long time and were loyal to him.
In his view, unnecessary mercy to the enemy was the greatest cruelty to his own companions.
In the continuous curtain of rain, the Red-Iron Dragon suddenly spread his huge and powerful wings, the wing membranes slicing through the air, creating a whistling sound.
He leaped from the top of the high cliff and then dove toward the ground in a posture full of oppression.
With a dull, booming sound, the ground shook visibly, and his heavy body landed steadily right in front of the captured Dominic dragons, splashing up a large amount of mud.
"Two choices."
"First, crawl before me, lower your arrogant heads, and offer your loyalty to me, to your new king."
Garros's gaze swept over the scarred dragon captives before him, and he continued: "Second, choose to follow the will of your former leader, launch a challenge against me, and I will respond with strength and grant you a glorious death."
The war between dragon flights is completely different from a one-on-one duel between individual dragons.
The fate faced by members of a completely defeated dragon flight usually only has two options: submit to the victor, or choose death.
The dragon captives fell into silence, with only the sound of raindrops hitting scales and the ground resounding in their ears.
Choosing to submit to the Ignas Dragon Flight, they could indeed survive and keep their lives.
However, as the defeated and captured side, even if they chose to pledge allegiance, their status in the new dragon flight was destined to be difficult to compare with the original Ignas dragons, and it would certainly be a tier lower.
What awaited them would likely be the constant trampling of their dignity and being used as cannon fodder and consumables in future conflicts.
The Legacy memory of the Blue Dragon clan recorded many examples of the tragic fate of defeated Dragon Clans.
By comparison, some dragons who regarded dignity as life would rather choose to die with dignity.
"I will give you one minute to consider."
Garros said this last sentence and said no more.
He stood quietly in the rain, waiting for time to pass, and waiting for their final decision.
At this moment, a sky-blue figure was the first to walk out from the captive dragon group.
It was the Blue Dragon Zolaya.
She ignored the many gazes cast from behind, walked straight to the Red-Iron Dragon, lowered her slender neck deeply, and completely exposed her beautiful, forked dragon horns to the other party, showing a submissive and humble posture.
"The Heart of Thunder is dead. Noble King of Molten Iron, I, Zolaya, on behalf of the surviving members of the Dominic Dragon Flight, beseech you to accept our allegiance."
"The Dominic Dragon Flight longs to honor you as our master, longs to become your new claws and fangs, to tear apart all obstacles for you."
She said in a low voice.
At this moment, Zolaya's heart had already weighed everything clearly.
She understood that she had no capital to negotiate with Garros, nor could she rely on the merit of this betrayal to become the new, independent master of a dragon flight.
Now, her best choice, and the only wise choice, was to completely join the Ignas Dragon Flight.
To serve as the leader of the remnants of the Dominic Dragon Flight, with a status similar to that of the several enfeoffed lords under his command.
This was somewhat different from the goal she had initially envisioned.
However, plans never keep up with changes; how can everything in the world go as one wishes?
Being able to personally participate in killing the Heart of Thunder and obtaining a leadership position in the new dragon flight was already a big step forward.
If she could win further favor from the King of Molten Iron with her ability and performance in the future, her status and power might continue to rise.
She was already satisfied with achieving such a result.
In fact, the moment Zolaya saw the Dragon Father use his semi-elemental ability in an attempt to escape, her heart was filled with unprecedented fear; she was afraid that the powerful Dragon Father could really escape.
That was a trump card for survival belonging to Perest that she had never seen before.
But what surprised her even more was that the King of Molten Iron could actually catch up to the Blue Dragon leader, who had increased his speed through semi-elementalization, with such a brutal posture.
Even though Perest was seriously injured and not in his prime state, the speed of a semi-elementalized Blue Dragon was still incredibly fast, like real lightning streaking across the night sky.
The moment she saw the Dragon Father turn into lightning and flee, Zolaya had almost concluded that he would be able to escape successfully.
However, the result was that the King of Molten Iron flapped his wings violently, instantly pushing aside the sky full of wind and rain, and his huge body chased after him like a meteor, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye, leaving only a trail of scorching tail flames that lingered for a long time.
This also made her feel incomparably shocked and incredible.
She really couldn't imagine that the King of Molten Iron, who appeared to have maxed out his strength and defense attributes, was also so off the charts in terms of speed, actually catching up to the Blue Dragon who commanded lightning.
Zolaya knew that if the Dragon Father had been in his prime state and had chosen to flee without hesitation from the beginning, it would have been highly probable that the King of Molten Iron would not have been able to keep him.
However, there were no "ifs."
As a proud and powerful dragon leader, fleeing at the first sight of trouble without a proper fight? This was absolutely impossible to happen; no dragon with dignity would make such a shameful choice.
".Goodbye, my father, the greatest shadow in my life."
Zolaya thought silently in the depths of her heart.
Just as this thought landed, she felt as if a huge stone pressing on her heart had shattered.
An unprecedented sense of relief swept through her whole body, and even her breathing became much smoother.
She raised her head and looked at the rugged and powerful figure of the Red-Iron Dragon before her, who could not be destroyed by wind and rain. Besides the due respect and deep fear in her eyes, unbeknownst to her, a trace of heartfelt admiration appeared.
She was deeply conquered by him, feeling her whole body burning with heat.
This was an experience she had never had before.
Within the Dominic Dragon Flight, Zolaya had always been the most outstanding and dazzling Blue Dragon.
No male dragon could catch her eye, and in the past, she had devoted almost all her thoughts to dealing with the dangerously unpredictable Dragon Father, surviving within the dragon flight, and climbing the ranks, never having considered things like finding a mate.
Now, the greatest threat—the Dragon Father—was dead.
Now, a Young Adult Dragon, outstanding to the point of absurdity, stood before her in the posture of a conqueror.
Thus, as she bowed her head in submission to the King of Molten Iron, the instincts of her body were uncontrollably awakened.
She gently and unconsciously flicked her dragon tail behind her, feeling restless inside.
Zolaya could not help but imagine in her mind the image of being completely covered by that incredibly strong body... Hmm, if she could place the Dragon Father's charred corpse nearby as a decoration of victory, that feeling might be even better.
And there was more.
After a certain period of prolonged pleasure, would this King of Molten Iron pity her for her submission and uniqueness and keep her in his fortress?
Or would he be cold and ruthless, discarding her like used trash?
Heh, no matter which outcome it was, thinking about it now brought a sense of excitement she looked forward to.
Just as Zolaya's thoughts were in turmoil, immersed in her inner world, a roar filled with fury rang out like a thunderclap, interrupting her.
"Zolaya! You shameless traitor who ambushed the leader! What right do you have to represent our Dominic Dragon Flight?!"
An adult Blue Dragon, whose right wing was broken and could only be dragged listlessly behind him, raised his head and roared with all his might, his eyes burning with raging fury and disdain.
Zolaya's gaze instantly turned cold, the previous dazed expression swept away.
"Fool! That leader you speak of was already prepared to abandon the entire dragon flight and flee alone at the last moment—can't you see that?" Zolaya snarled back unceremoniously, her voice sharp.
"Perest was never a qualified leader!"
"He was narrow-minded, short-sighted, and saw only his own interests. He was cold-blooded and selfish. To him, our entire dragon flight was merely a tool he used to maintain his rule and power."
"The King of Molten Iron is a stronger leader, one more worthy of our following!"
However, that Blue Dragon's fury did not diminish in the slightest because of her words.
No matter the clan, there is never a shortage of members who value the clan's honor more than their own lives.
He turned his head abruptly and stared fixedly at the Red-Iron Dragon with bloodshot eyes, carrying a sense of determination.
"King of Molten Iron! I acknowledge your strength; your power far surpasses ours, but I absolutely do not accept the way you achieved this victory! I challenge you! In the name of a member of the Dominic Dragon Flight!"
After speaking, this heavily injured Blue Dragon struggled to flap his only remaining left wing, dragging his broken body as he launched a charge.
The surrounding lords and other Ignas Dragon Flight dragons just watched calmly, without a single dragon stepping in to stop him.
This was a moment belonging to the challenger, which should be responded to personally by the one being challenged.
Facing the suicidal charge, the Red-Iron Dragon's movements were as fast as lightning, exceeding the limits of visual perception.
He extended his sharp, massive right claw and grabbed the Blue Dragon's long neck with absolute precision, preventing him from advancing even a fraction further.
"Honor is with me! Dragons of Dominic never yield, even in death!"
The Blue Dragon, having his throat gripped, struggled violently, squeezing out a sound from deep within his throat.
Garros stared straight into the opponent's dragon eyes, which were filled with fury and determination, and said indifferently: "As you wish."
Crack! A crisp sound of bone breaking rang out abruptly amidst the sound of the rain.
Garros twisted and broke the Blue Dragon's long neck, and the light in the latter's eyes quickly dimmed, his struggling body going completely limp.
Garros released his dragon claw, letting the corpse fall heavily into the mud.
"Who is next?" He raised his gaze again, sweeping across the remaining Dominic dragons: "Resisting me, challenging me—your courage is commendable."
"I will grant them the admiration and respect they are due, and, a glorious death."
On the other side, Golden Dragon Alberto, who had challenged Garros many times, subconsciously touched his own neck with his claw, then let out a sigh of relief.
As for Garros's killing act at this moment, he just watched quietly from the side, with no intention of stepping in to stop it.
The reason was simple: Garros had already given a clear choice, rather than leaving no path to survival.
If Garros had ordered the slaughter of all dragons who surrendered or were captured without explanation, then Alberto would have definitely intervened, even if it meant risking his life.
As for now, how each dragon chose between honor and life was their own right, and Alberto had no intention of interfering.
When these two options were laid out nakedly before them, in the end, the survival instinct gained the upper hand, and the vast majority of dragons chose to live.
One after another, the Blue Dragons, along with a few Evil Dragons of other colors, successively lowered their proud heads.
Under the King of Molten Iron's gaze, which was filled with immense pressure, they prostrated their bodies deeply into the cold, muddy rainwater, expressing their submission with this most humble posture.
"Zolaya." The Red-Iron Dragon's gaze turned to the female Blue Dragon waiting to the side.
"From today on, the surrendered Dominic Dragon Flight shall be led by you."
He granted Zolaya a status and authority similar to that of the several enfeoffed lords, allowing her to manage the remaining forces of the original Dominic Dragon Flight. Likewise, these members of the dragon flight would also need to accept the overall jurisdiction and command of the Ignas Dragon Flight.
As for the Wyrmlings and Young Dragons, they would all be transferred to The Borderlands in the future. They would receive new education and guidance.
Besides this, Garros also gave Zolaya a clear task—to take the central region.
This had originally been the goal of the Dominic Dragon Flight, but the plan had been interrupted by the attack from the Ignas Dragon Flight.
Now, the Dominic Dragon Flight had suffered significant losses in this battle, and their strength was greatly reduced. Relying solely on their own power, trying to take the central region had become a difficult matter, as there were several map kings present who were not weak.
However, Garros also gave a promise. The dragons of the Molten Iron Tribe and several lords would provide them with corresponding support when necessary.
After giving instructions on many matters, because he still needed to resist and adapt to the Frenzied Flame, Garros did not stay here for too long and set off again to return to The Borderlands.
Golden Dragon Alberto, because he needed a suitable and safe place for his next slumber and growth, also went along.
The other Ignas Dragon Flight dragons and the enfeoffed lords remained in the wilderness, responsible for stabilizing the northwest territory and assisting Zolaya in her next steps.
At this moment, the wilderness was still filled with wind and rain, far from the time of peace, with the smoke of war rising everywhere.
The King of Molten Iron had already occupied the northwest region and was simultaneously starting to expand toward the center of the wilderness.
The Mountain King, who had drifted over from the Selesia continent, after sweeping through the northeast region with his giants, did not continue to expand. Instead, he adopted a strategy similar to the previous Molten Iron Tribe, starting to consolidate his existing territory and digest the fruits of victory, with his next intentions unclear.
The Troll King of the southwest region and the Mushroom King of the southeast region—these two regional kings both had very strong desires for expansion. Moreover, because their territories bordered each other, the friction and conflict between them were constantly escalating and intensifying, though they were still maintaining a certain degree of restraint for the time being, and a full-scale war had not yet broken out.
For the present, the resources possessed by the northwest region were already enough to support Garros's development and consumption for a long time.
Once he successfully took the central region, he would not need to worry about resource issues at all.
Moreover, the other regional kings were almost all in the top tier below Legendary, each possessing unique ultimate skills and profound foundations. In the absence of sufficient intelligence and without necessity, Garros did not want to rashly start a war with other regional kings.
However, all strategies are based on current strength and the situation, not unchangeable.
The expansion of power often breeds greater ambition.
Once Garros's Life Level further increased, reaching the Peak of Level 19 or even Level 20, or even after he could contend with a Legendary, whether he would still be satisfied with merely occupying the two regions of the northwest and the center would be another unknown.