A Dragon against the Whole World-Chapter 203 - 192: Magnificent and Formidable, New Scale Armor
As the darkness receded like a tide, Galos’ first feeling was the oppressive proximity of the rock wall.
This cave, once spacious enough for him to turn over, now felt incredibly cramped and stifling to stretch his wing membranes.
The last Dragon Sleep of his juvenile phase brought a tremendous increase in size.
"How long have I slept this time? It seems I’ve grown a lot."
The Red Iron Dragon pushed the ground with his sharp claws, slowly rising, feeling his back spines almost touching the cave ceiling.
Long-lived species generally have a dull perception of time; he was unsure how long he had slept.
But from the changes in his body, it was certain he had surpassed the normal limits of juvenile Dragon Sleep, roughly sleeping through to his teenage phase over the age of 25.
"So hungry."
A burning hunger arose in Galos’ stomach.
During his deep sleep, he had eaten an enormous amount of food that completely filled his belly.
But it was not enough to sustain his prolonged slumber, besides his adaptation and evolution would also consume energy.
Galos touched his body.
His rough, protruding bones and muscles clung tightly to his frame, somewhat shriveled.
"I might look like a Black Dragon now, quite unsightly."
Buzz — The spatial ring on his teeth radiated a hazy glow, and amid a ripple like water waves, a barrel of 95 black oil appeared in the mouth of the Red Iron Dragon.
This was originally prepared for fighting the Bloodhoof Chieftain, but wasn’t used.
Now it was just right for energy replenishment upon waking.
Crunch! He chewed down the metal barrel.
A whole barrel of 95 black oil was consumed, like fiery flames coursing in his belly, yet it didn’t feel unpleasant as before, giving Galos the sensation of gradually filling up.
Not just a sensation.
His shriveled body swelled visibly after absorbing the energy, returning to its expected form.
Yet his stomach remained hollow.
He needed real food containing various nutrients, not just singular ’energy supplements’ like black oil.
Taking heavy strides.
Galos crawled out from the narrow slumber cave, each step made the cave tremble slightly, as if about to collapse.
At the same time, Deborah, the Red Silver Dragon, who remained at Dragon Valley, suddenly raised her neck scales.
She was perched on a cliff, sharpening her claw tips, but felt the tremors emanating from the slumber ground, stirring the Dragon Blood.
She spread her wings and flew towards the source of the sound.
Boom!
The disguised rock layer cracked like an eggshell, and the silver glow of the twin moons cascaded down.
A shadow rushed skyward against the silver radiance, the sound of wings stretching resembling the thunder before the storm.
The Red Silver Dragon paused slightly, her irises reflecting the mighty silhouette of a Giant Dragon unfamiliar to her.
The Red Iron Dragon’s size had soared to sixteen meters, comparable to a nearly mature White Dragon.
Knotted muscles made his body as if two Red Dragons stood side by side, colliding brutishly with the observer’s vision, possessing an indescribable sense of oppression.
Those steel-forged limbs exuded an inexplicable beauty, his neck thicker than the waist of a mature White Dragon, arms capable of shattering mountains.
The spines on his body each resembled unsheathed long swords.
Under the moonlight, they shone with an icy brilliance, exuding an extremely dangerous, awe-inspiring aura.
His wingspan was extraordinarily large, fully stretched reaching a terrifying forty meters, proportions far exceeding normal Dragon Race.
He overshadowed the sky, projecting a dense shadow on the ground.
A pair of Dragon Horns spiraled towards the sky, their base rugged and firm, the tips sharp as if to pierce the heavens, with a perfect curvature.
Both a splendid feature and a deadly weapon, closely adjacent areas had newly raised pairs of auxiliary horns, positioned like a crown.
The most peculiar change was his scales.
Originally dull black-gray with edges tinged with a hint of flaming red explosion scales, have now transformed greatly.
Overall, they became a deep black like the night sky, the flaming red edges dissipating.
In its place, were luminous silver edges, with moonlight flowing over them, as if plated with Mithril.
Majestic, fierce.
Divine, magnificent.
These contradictory yet harmonious traits concentrated on him made him appear extraordinary even in his normal state.
A deadly allure to both Evil Dragons and Noble Dragons alike.
"Ga...los?"
Looking at the Giant Dragon clad in moonlight, Deborah’s Dragon Language carried a slight tremor.
She felt danger from the Red Iron Dragon’s presence, yet instinctively drew closer. Like a moth to the flame, reminiscent of a dancer gracefully testing the edge of danger on a tightrope.
"It’s me."
Galos was unaware of Deborah’s psychological reaction.
He noted that Deborah’s size had also increased over the decade, though her appearance hadn’t changed much, her dorsal curves more beautiful, the silver sheen on her scales became more delicate and crystalline.
"How long have I slept?"
Galos asked.
"A full decade."
Ten years? Definitely surpassing the limits of juvenile Dragon Sleep.
This time span wasn’t long for the Dragon Race, but it was enough for some changes.
What major changes might have occurred outside?
Galos pondered.
Deborah blinked, whispering: "You now... look much more splendid than before."
The Mithril-like scale edges added much splendor to Galos, softening a bit of the fierce majesty, making him appear more unique and attractive in the Metal Dragon’s eyes.
"Really? I haven’t taken a good look yet."
After a simple reply, Galos didn’t wait for Deborah to approach.
He flapped his wings and soared into the sky, observing his current form, while quietly sensing his changes.
Life Level: 14.
This corresponds to the level of a fifty-plus-year-old young Golden Dragon.
Galos now was exactly thirty years old.
At this age in human terms, it’s considered middle age.
For the Dragon Race, it’s merely between juvenile and adolescent, a youth with a long way to go before maturity.
However.
Although his age is adolescent.
His life level and size have already surpassed his age group, fully reaching the levels of a young dragon.
And compared to Upper-Rank Dragons like Red Dragons and Golden Dragons.
If compared to White Dragons, he even surpassed the level of a mature dragon.
He also awakened several Magic-like Skills.
Such as the Scorching Metal from the Iron Dragon Bloodline.
— It can heat specified metallic creations to a scorching temperature, burning targets that grasp or wear them.
And the Fire Curse from the Red Dragon Bloodline.
— Cursing the target, causing them to suffer double damage from Fire Element attacks during the curse duration.
These two skills can undeniably cooperate with each other.
Additionally, Galos’ Martial Level reached level 3.
During his slumber, Galos’ Martial Level had already reached level 2, and his decade-long slumber only raised it by 1 level.
This increase isn’t much, but it’s normal because the increase in Martial Level mainly relies on rigorous training and combat, not slumber.
His internal Dragon Qi now amounted to thirty percent.
Apart from mastering Claw Strike, Galos also comprehended two new Martial Dragon skills: Tail Mastery and Reflective Dodge.
Tail Mastery, similar to Claw Mastery, is a fixed passive that allowed Galos’ command over Dragon Tail techniques to reach a new level, while Reflective Dodge requires Dragon Qi and can enhance reaction speed for a certain time.
Martial Dragons also have elemental-based long-range strike skills, but those require very high levels to master.
For now, it seems Galos is moving further down the close-combat path, lacking long-range means, mainly relying on Dragon Breath for remote attacks, most powerful being Spherical Flame Thunder Dragon Breath.
Though this isn’t a significant issue.
His speed and mobility allow him to easily approach targets and defeat them within his familiar close-combat domain.
