Kingdom of Lothern, deep within the palace.
In the spacious training ground paved with hard marble and engraved with reinforcement and protection runes, the atmosphere was solemn.
Crystal Princess Elena and Iron Dragon Gorton, who resembled a small steel fortress, stood facing each other from a distance.
As a few short incantations flowed from the Crystal Princess's lips, she elegantly waved the staff in her hand.
In an instant, an unstable dark red explosive fireball was formed and smashed toward the Iron Dragon's body with a low whistle.
Gorton did not dodge the explosive fireball, which was powerful enough to melt mountain rocks into crystals.
He puffed out his chest, broad as a city wall, and struck a pose to take the hit head-on.
Bang!
The dark red fireball hit the target and exploded with a bang!
The surging flames instantly swallowed nearly half of the Iron Dragon's body. The scorching air and violent shockwaves spread in a circle, making the distant banners flutter loudly.
However, this strike only made the Iron Dragon's body sway slightly.
"Hey, Elena, are you just tickling me? Or did you not eat enough breakfast today and your strength has waned?"
Gorton raised his claw, covered in thick scales, and patted the blackened but unharmed area on his chest, his tone full of pride and teasing.
He was thick-skinned and, as a fire-element dragon, had a natural resistance to fire damage.
An explosive fireball of this level was indeed like scratching an itch through a boot to him.
Opposite him, hearing the Iron Dragon's punchable words, the Crystal Princess still wore an elegant smile, but the fingers holding her staff moved slightly as she unobtrusively put away the training wand and replaced it with a blue one.
The Sea Blue Staff.
This was one of the several staffs commonly used by the Crystal Princess, famous for its excellent ice Spell amplification capabilities.
It possessed many enchantment effects, but the most direct one was its inherent penetration attribute, which could effectively weaken a target's resistance. At the same time, it could boost the power of the user's ice Spells by a full three times.
It should be emphasized that the Crystal Princess was a Spellcaster in the field of Evocation School Spells.
Evocation School, this Spell school focuses on the purest destruction, specializing in manipulating and releasing various forms of energy, and is known for its wide range and peerless power.
Top-tier staffs like the Sea Blue Staff, which provided ultimate amplification for different attributes.
The Crystal Princess possessed a whole set, enough to deal with any type of enemy.
On the other side, seeing the Crystal Princess pull out the Sea Blue Staff, the playful expression on Gorton's face instantly vanished, becoming serious.
He let out a low growl, and beneath the layer of dull iron-gray dragon scales on his body, a layer of dark light as thick as substance suddenly surged, like a layer of liquid metal covering his entire body.
Hardened Body!
At the same time, his knotted muscles suddenly tightened and bulged. The powerful muscle texture was even faintly visible through the thick layer of fat and dragon scales, making his already massive body appear to have bulked up and expanded once more.
The Iron Dragon assumed a serious stance.
In an instant, his usual naive and cute temperament due to gluttony vanished, replaced by a heavy pressure like that of a Vicious Beast.
If an ordinary human were standing before him now, they would be so intimidated by this Dragon Might that their legs would go weak and they would collapse to the ground.
However, the Crystal Princess was completely unfazed by this.
She and Gorton had known each other for a long time, growing up together, and she was long accustomed to all of this Iron Dragon's states—whether lazy, gluttonous, or this serious form before her.
Furthermore, although she still looked young, it was because she was an Advanced professional and used a vast amount of treasures for maintenance.
In reality, the Crystal Princess was nearly sixty years old, similar to Garros.
Her Heart-Nature now was much more stable than when she was young.
"Are you ready, Gorton? Next... it might hurt a little."
The Crystal Princess's lips curled slightly into a smile.
She gave the Sea Blue Staff in her hand a gentle wave.
Buzz—!
The temperature in the training ground plummeted suddenly, and countless fine ice crystals and snowflakes condensed out of thin air.
Centered on the Crystal Princess's exquisite mage boots, a huge and complex ice-blue magic circle emitting a piercing chill instantly appeared and expanded on the ground, its runes flowing and radiating an aura of extreme cold.
Gorton did not dare to be careless, letting out a low growl from his throat.
He successively applied skills such as Unyielding Will and Resilient Barrier, derived from the Hundred-Battle Dragon pathway, standing ready.
As for lunging forward to interrupt the casting? He didn't even consider it.
That damn Sea Blue Staff itself came with a teleportation Spell, enough for the Crystal Princess to easily open up some distance.
A Spellcaster with money and equipment is a true magic lord.
Besides, they weren't engaged in a fair duel right now; rather, he had unilaterally requested the Crystal Princess to accompany him in endurance training.
Living in the prosperous and comfortable royal court, Gorton's heart often flew toward the vast and chaotic Serel Wilderness.
He often collected news from the wilderness, knowing the fierce battles his kin experienced and the glory they achieved in that land.
He longed to participate, to fight alongside his brothers and make a name for himself as Iron Dragon Gorton.
But this was, after all, just a pipe dream.
Thus, in order not to fall behind his kin, he no longer slacked off in the royal court.
He invested a great deal of time into various types of training. Beneath those thick dragon scales and fat layers was a physique of solid, well-tempered muscle, making him look stout and powerful without appearing bloated or clumsy.
In the Ignas Dragon Flight, not a single one was a weakling.
He, Gorton, must never be looked down upon for a lack of strength on the day he finally stands shoulder to shoulder with his kin in the future.
Whoosh—!
As the Crystal Princess uttered the final syllable, countless sharp icicles instantly formed in the sky above the training ground, dense enough to blot out the sun.
The next moment, this rain of death descended upon Iron Dragon Gorton with a whistle that tore through the air.
Clang, clang! Squelch—!
The sounds of collision, as dense as heavy rain hitting a tin roof, mixed with the sounds of icicles tearing through scales and cutting into flesh, rang out incessantly.
Gorton grimaced in pain. His hard dragon scales continuously cracked and peeled under the sustained assault of the enchanted icicles. A cold, stinging pain spread throughout his body, but he did not flinch; his body stood like a mountain rooted in the earth, never retreating a single step from beginning to end.
Shortly after, the Crystal Princess skillfully switched weapons again.
The Sea Blue Staff vanished, and a Thundering Staff, entwined with leaping electric arcs and set with a purple gemstone at its tip, appeared in her hand.
Rumble—!
Beneath the dome of the training ground, it seemed as if dark clouds were gathering, and muffled thunder boomed out of thin air.
Pale bolts of lightning, as thick as a child's arm, struck Gorton with precision like spears thrown by an angry Heavenly God. The electric light exploded, illuminating his massive body in a ghostly white. The smell of scorched flesh filled the air as intense currents surged wildly through his body, bringing waves of numbness and sharp pain.
As time passed.
The Crystal Princess treated him to almost every type of Evocation School Spell she specialized in.
When she finally stopped her casting with satisfaction and elegantly wiped away non-existent sweat with a silk handkerchief, Iron Dragon Gorton had collapsed to the ground like a pile of mud. He was scorched all over, covered in frost, and his scales were shattered; he hardly looked like a complete dragon anymore, with only his heavy breathing proving he was still alive.
"Treat him."
The Crystal Princess clapped her hands, her tone light as if she had just finished afternoon tea.
These staffs provided extremely high recovery rates for Demonic Energy and mental strength; she didn't feel tired at all.
The court physicians, who had been on standby for a long time and specialized in healing Spells, immediately swarmed forward, showering Gorton's scarred body with gentle life energy.
Before long, the shocking wounds on the surface of his body were mostly healed.
Supplemented by the magic potions provided by the royal family, the recovery speed was astonishing.
"Will we continue tomorrow?"
The Crystal Princess walked to Gorton's side and said, "I'm quite happy to oblige, but Gorton, your persistence has indeed exceeded my expectations."
The Iron Dragon grimaced as he propped himself up.
He raised his head and said solemnly, "Of course we'll continue!"
"I, Gorton Ignas, will never tarnish the glory of the Ignas name! Pain is nothing but a trifle to be endured. As long as it doesn't kill me, I will continue to grow stronger with every strike."
That's how Garros became strong.
He can do it too!
Even if he couldn't surpass the monster-like Garros, he at least wanted to firmly hold the second position among the four siblings.
Whether it's Iron Dragon Sorog or Red Dragon Samantha, in the future, they will all have to rank below him and look to him for cues!
The Crystal Princess smiled and said no more.
She knew very well that Gorton was being motivated by his kin who were thriving in the wilderness.
This is quite normal. After all, the speed of the Molten Iron Tribe's rise and its momentum in the Serel Wilderness have even surprised her, a princess residing in the royal court.
The Crystal Princess has always closely followed the shifting winds of the situation in the wilderness.
She is generally aware of how the Molten Iron Tribe gradually encroached upon and finally took over the Northwest Region, and how it slowly gained control over the chaotic Central Region.
These blood relatives of Gorton, especially the Red-Iron Dragon leader, are now one of the three hegemons of the Serel Wilderness.
Below the Legendary level, it is likely hard to find an opponent for them.
In time, if the King of Molten Iron successfully steps into the Legendary Domain, then even a kingdom with such deep foundations as Lothern will need to treat it with a serious attitude.
"Tell that brother of yours."
The Crystal Princess changed the subject and said: "During this period, I have accumulated a batch of black oil crystal. Although the purity is only Tier 1, the quantity is decent, totaling fifty units. I will soon arrange for reliable personnel to send them to the Gem Merchant Guild."
Upon hearing this, a trace of confusion appeared in the eyes of the Iron Dragon Gorton.
"The strongholds of the Rebos Kingdom faction located in the wilderness, all those in the Northwest and Central Region, have basically been completely uprooted by the tribe," he said in a muffled voice. "As for the rest, distributed in the territories of other regional kings, Garros has made it very clear that he will not actively provoke a war in the near future, so naturally, he will not touch those strongholds."
Her fifty units of black oil crystal were not easy to trade.
He knew Garros well.
The King of Molten Iron has a decisive personality and clear goals; he would not disrupt his established development plans for the sake of some immediate benefits. He was willing to establish a connection with the Crystal Princess before because he could obtain some extra resources, not because he was fighting specifically for her.
"I know."
The Crystal Princess smiled slightly and said: "Just treat it as a gift."
Gorton understood the meaning of the Crystal Princess.
A gift, and at the same time, it is an investment.
As the bridge between the two sides, Gorton was very happy to see their relationship become closer, for example, upgrading from a form of employment to an alliance.
Shortly after, the sound of wheels rolling came.
Court attendants pushed several large dining carts capable of holding an entire roasted cow and, after receiving permission, entered the training ground.
Every time he finished this kind of beating-resistance training, Gorton always needed to consume a massive amount of food, which is also an important reason why he could never get rid of his stocky figure.
Just as he was wagging his tail, impatiently preparing to pounce on the fragrant delicacies, his movements suddenly paused.
The Crystal Princess and the Iron Dragon looked toward the entrance at the same time.
A man was walking over slowly.
His figure was as straight as a pine, his gait steady and vigorous; he did not wear a crown symbolizing royal power, nor was he dressed in magnificent royal robes. Instead, he wore a suit of polished refined iron armor and had a seemingly plain longsword at his waist.
The whole person looked more like a general who had just returned from the battlefield than a king sitting on a throne.
The person who arrived was none other than the contemporary King of Lothern—Aubrien.
"Oh! It is the noble King Your Majesty! Good day!"
After seeing who it was, Gorton immediately put on a familiar expression.
His massive body leaned in, and he even used his claws to fork a piece of sizzling roasted leg meat directly from the dining cart, enthusiastically handing it to Aubrien.
"It is currently mealtime, let's enjoy some food together! The heat today is quite good!"
Regarding this casual behavior of the Iron Dragon, which lacked any sense of hierarchy, King Aubrien did not get angry but laughed heartily.
He was a monarch who grew up in the army; deep down, he loathed those tedious formalities and hypocritical pleasantries.
Gorton's directness and frankness, on the contrary, suited his taste very well.
Of course, this also had a direct relationship with the fact that Gorton was not human, held no real power in the royal court, and had such a personality.
If it were any other human subject, even if they knew the King's temperament well, they would not dare to be so presumptuous.
What they had to revere was not just the King himself, but also the royal power he symbolized.
The King reached out and patted the dragon arm of Gorton, which was covered in hard scales, making a dull thud.
"For you, when is it not mealtime?"
Aubrien said: "However, being able to eat is a blessing and also the foundation of being strong. I envy the good appetite of your Dragon Clan."
After a pause, he changed the subject and said with a chuckle: "Those blood relatives of yours have done quite a few things in the wilderness. Gorton, give my regards to your blood relatives."
"When that King of Molten Iron becomes Legendary, you can invite him to be a guest at the royal court."
"I will welcome his arrival and host a banquet."
Gorton nodded subconsciously and replied: "No problem, leave it to me!"
However, as soon as the words left his mouth, he suddenly shuddered, and then felt a chill throughout his body.
At the same time, the King's gaze turned to the Crystal Princess who was standing quietly to the side.
"Elena."
His tone softened a little: "The situation in the Serel Wilderness has limited impact on the war front, but since you are interested in that place, then continue doing what you want to do."
As he said this, he sighed softly: "I actually hope more that you could spend your time on things like admiring flowers, reading books, or listening to operas—things that are relaxing and enjoyable."
"But I know that, just like me, you care about the future of this land, so I will not restrain you."
It was very clear that this King was well aware of the resource trades and cooperation between the Crystal Princess and the Ignas Dragon Flight.
It was just that he had not interfered before, or rather, he did not care.
The Crystal Princess lowered her eyes slightly and whispered: "Thank you for your understanding, brother."
The King nodded slightly and continued: "In the future, if there are similar things, there is no need to deliberately avoid me."
"I am willing to support my own blood relative to do what she wants to do, as long as this matter does not eventually harm the Lothern Kingdom and its people; you can be more uninhibited."
Upon hearing this, the Crystal Princess did not show a happy smile on her face; instead, she slightly furrowed her beautiful brows, and a trace of confusion flashed in her eyes.
It was understandable that her brother the King did not care about her cooperation with the dragon group in the wilderness.
But encouraging her to be more uninhibited? This did not conform to his usual attitude of hoping she would stay away from war affairs.
She keenly lifted her head, looking directly into Aubrien's emerald eyes, and asked softly: "Brother King, has some major change happened on the front line?"
Aubrien looked at his sister and shook his head slightly.
He said in a calm tone: "There is nothing special, it is just that I have decided to lead by example and personally lead the army to the front."
The coalition forces of the anti-king camp had fierce momentum, and the Lothern Kingdom camp was retreating steadily on the frontal battlefield, having lost many strategic strongholds and fertile territories over these years.
Having spent his youth in the army, Aubrien could no longer endure just sitting on a distant throne, watching one lost place name after another on the war reports.
He wanted to emulate his holy king ancestor who once swept across the kingdoms.
He wanted to personally don armor and wield weapons, lead the loyal kingdom legions, and trample the lands of those rebels!
The Crystal Princess was suddenly shocked and blurted out: "Brother King! This is too dangerous!"
Aubrien was a genuine Legendary powerhouse, a powerful existence forged by his own talent and countless battles, not a Legendary piled up by resources, and there was more than one Legendary in their own army formation.
However, the same was true in the enemy camp.
On the ever-changing battlefield, even a Legendary could possibly fall and die.
"My mind is made up, the related matters have already been arranged properly, and it will soon be officially announced to the whole country."
The King's voice was steady, carrying an unquestionable decisiveness.
"Eight hundred years ago, our holy king ancestor could personally lead legions to trample the Southern Kingdoms, continuously achieving Breakthroughs in the war of blood and fire, and forge great achievements."
"Today, eight hundred years later, I, who have inherited the will of my ancestor and the throne, can do the same!"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over his sister's worried face and the Iron Dragon standing beside her who was listening in a daze, and continued: "Rest assured, I will not do things without preparation."
"It is time to let the world see again the foundations of our Lothern Kingdom that have been passed down for a thousand years."
"Those Legendary guards who have been silent for a long time in the kingdom's important places will soon awaken."
"They will march with me to trample all enemies that hinder the glory of Lothern!"
The lifespan of a Legendary powerhouse is limited, but among the generations of Legendaries of the royal family, some would sleep through secret methods and would only be awakened at the most critical moments to fight for the country.