Defeating the World with the Power of One Dragon!

The dark clouds did not disperse with the war's conclusion, still hanging heavily in the sky.

Raindrops continued to fall incessantly, pattering against the dragons' cold, hard scales before shattering into finer mists that descended upon the battle-scarred land.

Garoth stood at the highest point of Thunderclap Cliff.

His sharp claws dug into the rough, slippery rock crevices beneath him, unwavering in the wind and rain, as stable as if fused with the mountain cliff itself.

He lowered his head slightly, scanning the devastated battlefield below. Wherever his gaze fell, he saw only the scars left by war.

The dragons of the Molten Iron Tribe, several enfeoffed lords, and their followers were now scattered across the battlefield, resting or cleaning up after the battle.

The air was thick with the complex scent of blood, scorched material, and rain, mixed with a post-war weariness and solemnity.

The scene on the Dominik Dragon Cluster's side was far more tragic.

Due to their previous stubborn and fierce resistance, the subordinate army they brought had suffered extremely heavy casualties. As far as the eye could see, corpses littered the fields. The number of survivors who ultimately chose to surrender was less than one-fifth of their pre-war strength, now being guarded by Molten Iron warriors as they huddled in the mud with numb, fearful eyes.

The dragons that once soared through the skies, commanding thunder and lightning, had also lost nearly half their numbers.

The remaining survivors were surrounded in a semicircle by the dragons of the Ignas Dragon Cluster and several powerful lords.

Their bodies were covered with gruesome wounds, scales shattered, dragon blood continuously dripping mixed with rainwater. Their previously proudly raised wings now hung limp and powerless, the light in their eyes dim, their fighting spirit gone.

To be fair.

If we set aside the two dragon cluster leaders, the overall strength of the Ignas Dragon Cluster and the Dominik Dragon Cluster originally didn't have much difference.

However, when the Gold Dragon Alberto and the Iron Dragon Leticia joined the battle as allies, coupled with the adult Blue Dragon Zoraya's betrayal at the critical moment, the scales of the battlefield instantly tipped completely.

Facing the Ignas Dragon Cluster's tidal wave-like assault, the Dominik Dragon Cluster could only retreat step by step.

Additionally, whether during pre-war mobilization or in the heat of intense combat, Garoth never issued any orders to show mercy.

Dragons, every single one of them, are dangerous and powerful creatures.

In life-and-death struggles, unless the power gap between both sides is so vast that one can completely control the situation, any hesitation due to reservations—even a moment's delay—could allow the opponent to seize the opportunity, resulting in serious injury or death.

Garoth had a clear understanding of this.

He indeed had long-term plans to subdue the Dominik Dragon Cluster to expand his own dragon forces, but this goal could not be achieved at the cost of sacrificing the lives of dragons who had long followed him with loyalty.

In his view, unnecessary mercy toward enemies was the greatest cruelty toward his own companions.

Through the continuous rain curtain, the red iron dragon suddenly spread his massive, powerful wings, the wing membranes cutting through the air with a roaring wind.

He leaped down from the high cliff summit, then dove toward the ground with an overwhelmingly oppressive posture.

With a dull, thunderous impact, the ground visibly shook as his heavy body landed steadily right in front of the captured Dominik dragons, splashing enormous amounts of muddy water.

"Two choices."

"First, prostrate yourselves before me, lower your proud heads, and offer your loyalty to me, your new king."

Garoth's gaze swept over the wounded dragon prisoners before him as he continued, "Second, choose to follow your former leader's will, challenge me, and I will respond with power, granting you an honorable death."

Wars between dragon clusters are completely different from individual dragon duels.

For members of a completely defeated dragon cluster, their fate typically has only two outcomes.

—Submit to the victor, or choose death.

The dragon prisoners fell into silence, with only the sound of raindrops hitting scales and ground continuing incessantly.

By choosing to submit to the Ignas Dragon Cluster, they could indeed survive and preserve their lives.

However, as defeated captives, even if they chose allegiance, their status in the new dragon cluster would inevitably be inferior to the original Ignas dragons, certainly relegated to a lower rank.

What likely awaited them was continuously trampled dignity and being used as cannon fodder and expendables in future conflicts.

The Blue Dragon clan's inherited memories recorded numerous examples of the tragic fates of defeated dragon clans.

Comparatively, some dragons who valued dignity above all else would rather choose to die honorably in battle.

"I give you one minute to consider."

After these final words, Garoth said nothing more.

He stood quietly in the rain, waiting for time to pass, waiting for their final decision.

Then, a sky-blue figure was the first to step forward from the prisoner dragon group.

It was the Blue Dragon Zoraya.

Ignoring the many gazes from behind her, she went straight before the red iron dragon, deeply lowering her slender neck, completely exposing her beautiful, forked dragon horns to him, displaying a submissive, humble posture.

"The Heart of Thunder is dead, noble Lord of Molten Iron. I, Zoraya, hereby represent the surviving members of the Dominik Dragon Cluster, begging you to accept our allegiance."

"The Dominik Dragon Cluster desires to honor you as sovereign, desires to become your new claws and fangs, to tear apart all obstacles for you."

She said in a low voice.

By now, Zoraya had already carefully weighed her options internally.

She understood she had no bargaining power with Garoth, nor could she become a new, independent dragon cluster leader based on her betrayal merits.

Now, her best choice, her only wise choice, was to completely submit to the Ignas Dragon Cluster.

To serve as commander of the Dominik Dragon Cluster's remaining forces in a position similar to several enfeoffed lords.

This differed from her initial goals.

But plans could never keep up with changes—how could everything go exactly as wished?

Having personally participated in killing the Heart of Thunder and obtaining a leadership position in the new dragon cluster already counted as a significant step upward.

If she could gain further favor from the Lord of Molten Iron through ability and performance in the future.

Her status and power might continue to rise.

She already felt satisfied with such an outcome.

In fact, when Zoraya saw the Dragon Father use his semi-elementalization ability to attempt escape, her heart filled with unprecedented fear—she feared that powerful Dragon Father might actually escape.

That was a life-saving trump card of Perest's she had never witnessed before.

But what surprised her even more was that the Lord of Molten Iron could chase down the Blue Dragon leader in semi-elementalized form with such overwhelmingly brutal posture, despite his dramatically increased speed.

Even though Perest was seriously injured and not at full strength, a semi-elementalized Blue Dragon's speed was still incredibly fast.

Like real lightning streaking across the night sky.

The moment she saw Dragon Father transform into electric light and flee, Zoraya had almost believed he would succeed in escaping.

Yet the result was the Lord of Molten Iron violently flapping his wings, instantly parting the stormy skies, his massive body pursuing like a meteor, vanishing over the horizon in the blink of an eye, leaving only a long-lasting trail of scorching heat.

This also filled her with immense shock and disbelief.

She found it hard to imagine that the Lord of Molten Iron, who seemed to have maximized strength and defense attributes, could also be so excessively fast as to catch up with a thunder-wielding Blue Dragon.

Zoraya knew that if Dragon Father had been at full strength and chosen to flee without hesitation from the start, the Lord of Molten Iron likely couldn't have stopped him.

But there were no ifs.

As a proud and powerful dragon leader, fleeing without a proper fight?

This was absolutely impossible—no dignified dragon would make such a shameful choice.

"...Farewell, my father, the greatest shadow in my life."

Zoraya thought silently in her heart.

As this thought settled, she felt as if a massive boulder crushing her heart had shattered.

An unprecedented sense of relief swept through her entire body, making even her breathing much smoother.

She raised her head, looking at the formidable, powerful red iron dragon figure before her that even storm and rain couldn't damage. Besides due respect and deep fear, unconsciously, an additional trace of genuine admiration appeared in her eyes.

She was deeply captivated by him, feeling her entire body grow feverish.

This was an experience she had never had before.

In the Dominik Dragon Cluster, Zoraya had always been the most outstanding, most dazzling Blue Dragon. No male dragon could catch her serious attention, and almost all her past thoughts were devoted to dealing with the dangerously unpredictable Dragon Father, surviving in the dragon cluster, and climbing upward—never considering matters like finding a mate.

Now, the greatest threat—Dragon Father—was dead.

Now, an exceptionally outstanding young dragon stood before her in a conqueror's posture.

Thus, while showing submission to the Lord of Molten Iron and lowering her head, her body's instincts were uncontrollably awakened.

She lightly, unconsciously swayed her dragon tail behind her, her heart restless.

Zoraya couldn't help but fantasize in her mind about being completely covered by this incredibly strong body... Hmm, if she could place Dragon Father's charred corpse nearby as a victory decoration, that feeling might be even better.

Also.

After a certain lengthy period of pleasure, would this Lord of Molten Iron, moved by her submission and uniqueness, keep her tenderly in his fortress? Or would he be cold and ruthless, discarding her like used trash?

Heh, either outcome, when thought of now, carried an exciting thrill that made her anticipate.

Just as Zoraya's thoughts ran wild, immersed in her inner world.

An angry roar like thunder interrupted her.

"Zoraya! You shameless traitor who ambushed your leader! What right do you have to represent our Dominik Dragon Cluster?!"

An adult Blue Dragon with a broken right wing dragging powerless behind him raised his head, roaring with all his might, eyes burning with raging fury and contempt.

Zoraya's gaze instantly turned icy cold, her previous dazed expression completely gone.

"Fool! Couldn't you see that so-called leader of yours was ready to abandon the entire dragon cluster and flee alone at the last moment?" Zoraya retorted sharply without courtesy, her voice piercing.

"Perest was never a qualified leader!"

"He was narrow-minded, short-sighted, caring only about his own interests, cold-blooded and selfish. To him, our entire dragon cluster was just a tool to maintain his rule and power."

"The Lord of Molten Iron is the stronger, more worthy leader for us to follow!"

However, the Blue Dragon's anger didn't diminish in the slightest because of her words.

No matter the race, there are always members who value clan honor more than their own lives.

He abruptly turned his head, fixing his bloodshot eyes firmly on the red iron dragon with a resolute meaning.

"Lord of Molten Iron! I acknowledge your strength, far surpassing ours, but I do not recognize the manner of your victory! I challenge you! In the name of a member of the Dominik Dragon Cluster!"

After speaking, this heavily wounded Blue Dragon desperately flapped his only remaining left wing, charging forward with his broken body.

The surrounding lords and other Ignas dragons merely watched calmly, none intervening to stop him.

This was the challenger's moment, to be answered personally by the challenged.

Facing the suicidal charge, the red iron dragon moved with lightning speed, even beyond visual perception limits.

He extended his sharp, massive right claw, precisely grabbing the Blue Dragon's slender neck, preventing any further advance.

"Glory is with me! Dominik dragons would rather die than submit!"

The throat-gripped Blue Dragon struggled violently, forcing out words from deep in his throat.

Garoth looked directly into the other's dragon pupils filled with anger and determination, saying lightly, "As you wish."

Crack!

A crisp bone-breaking sound abruptly rang out amid the rain.

Garoth twisted the Blue Dragon's slender neck. The light in the latter's eyes quickly dimmed, his struggling body completely going limp.

Garoth released his dragon claw, letting the other's corpse fall heavily into the mud.

"Who else?"

He raised his gaze again, sweeping over the remaining Dominik dragons: "Resisting me, challenging me—commendable courage."

"I will grant due admiration and respect, and an honorable death."

On the other side, the Gold Dragon Alberto, who had challenged Garoth multiple times, subconsciously touched his own neck with a claw, then breathed a sigh of relief.

As for Garoth's current killing actions, he merely watched quietly without any intention of intervening.

The reason was simple: Garoth had given clear choices, not leaving no way out.

If Garoth had ordered the slaughter of all surrendered or captured dragons without explanation, then Alberto would definitely have intervened even at the cost of his life.

But now.

How to choose between glory and life was each dragon's own right—Alberto had no intention of interfering.

When these two options were laid bare, ultimately, survival instinct prevailed, and the dragons choosing to live constituted the vast majority.

One after another, Blue Dragons and a few other colored evil dragons successively lowered their proud heads.

Under the Lord of Molten Iron's overwhelmingly oppressive gaze, they deeply prostrated their bodies in the cold, muddy rainwater, expressing their submission in this most humble posture.

"Zoraya."

The red iron dragon's gaze turned to the waiting female Blue Dragon nearby.

"From today onward, you shall command the surrendered Dominik Dragon Cluster."

He granted Zoraya a position and authority similar to several enfeoffed lords, allowing her to manage the Dominik Dragon Cluster's remaining forces. Similarly, these dragon cluster members also needed to accept the Ignas Dragon Cluster's overall jurisdiction and deployment.

As for the wyrmlings and young dragons, they would all be relocated to the convergence lands in the future.

They would receive completely new education and guidance.

Additionally, Garoth gave Zoraya a clear task.

—Conquer the central region.

This was originally the Dominik Dragon Cluster's goal, but this plan was interrupted by the Ignas Dragon Cluster's attack.

Now, the Dominik Dragon Cluster had suffered significant losses in this battle, their strength greatly reduced.

Relying solely on their own power, conquering the central region had become difficult, as several not-weak Map Kings still existed there.

However, Garoth also gave a promise.

The Molten Iron Tribe's dragons and several lords would provide corresponding support when necessary.

After explaining numerous matters.

Because he still needed to resist and adapt to the frenzied flame, Garoth didn't linger here too long, setting off again to return to the convergence lands.

The Gold Dragon Alberto, needing a suitable, safe place for his next sleep and growth, also went along.

The other Ignas dragons and enfeoffed lords.

They remained stationed in the wilderness, responsible for consolidating the northwest territory and assisting Zoraya with next steps.

At this time, the wilderness was still stormy, far from peaceful, with flames of war rising everywhere.

The Lord of Molten Iron had already occupied the northwest region while beginning expansion toward the wilderness center.

The Mountain King who came from the Thalassian Continent, after leading Giants to sweep through the northeast region, didn't continue expanding. Instead, he adopted a strategy similar to the earlier Molten Iron Tribe, beginning to consolidate existing territory and digest victory gains, with unclear next intentions.

The Ogre King of the southwest region, and the Fungus King of the southeast region.

These two regional kings both had strong expansion desires, and because their territories bordered each other, friction and conflicts between them were continuously escalating and intensifying, though both maintained some restraint temporarily, not yet erupting into full-scale war.

For now, the resources possessed by the northwest region were already sufficient to support Garoth's development and consumption for a long time.

Once the central region was successfully captured, he would no longer need to worry about resource problems at all.

Moreover, the other regional rulers were almost all at the top tier below legendary level, each with unique ultimate skills and profound foundations. Without sufficient intelligence and without necessity, Garoth didn't want to rashly start wars with other regional kings.

However, all strategies were based on current strength and situation, not immutable.

Power expansion often breeds greater ambition.

When Garoth's life level further improved, reaching peak level 19 or even 20, even capable of fighting legendary beings, whether he would still be satisfied with merely occupying the northwest and central regions would be another unknown.