A Dragon against the Whole World

Chapter 163: Chapter 155: Ultra-Fast Regeneration and Hardening, Mind Mage

The layers of sunset glowed like a brilliant ink painting spread across the sky. Two young dragons, their scale armor gilded by the evening glow, were in conversation.

”An unclaimed gray magnetic iron ore? Quite a find.”

Galos said, ”With this iron ore, we have leverage for trade negotiations. Deploy the warband units to guard it and assign the kobolds to do the digging; they are the best miners.”

After a pause, he added, ”Also, bring the Kola Giant Eagles over as aerial sentinels.”

The border area isn’t as rich as the wilderness, so Galos placed a high value on the first discovered gray magnetic iron ore.

To conduct water trade via the Estonian River, relying merely on biological materials like animal horns and hides obtained from hunting was a drop in the bucket. The key was the ability to continuously mine valuable mineral veins.

Moreover.

Nick’s Trading Team was about to visit again.

Having received new information about the Molten Iron Clan, the trading team had altered their route to arrive via the Estonian River, and Red Iron Dragon had not forgotten Nick’s audience request.

The Molten Iron Clan had migrated to the border to restart, and they were in urgent need of various resources.

The previously requested alchemy equipment, manual knowledge, and item blueprints were also crucial, impacting the development of the Molten Iron Clan’s alchemy industry.

”I’ll handle the matters concerning the mining and extraction of the ore.”

Iron Dragon Solrog nodded, his gaze resting on Galos, saying, ”Galos, dear brother, have you mutated again?”

He was referring to the spines on Galos’ body.

After settling into Dragon Valley and spending a month there, the spines on Galos had now fully evolved.

The black-brown, hard spines, varying in size, were especially concentrated around Galos’ neck, arm armor, and shoulders, gleaming with a cold light and appearing quite formidable.

”Feel it for yourself.”

Galos said to the curious Iron Dragon, slightly turning his body to expose his shoulder, indicating for Iron Dragon to strike his shoulder.

”Here I come.”

Iron Dragon gave a heads-up, then lifted his sharp claws, striking at the most densely spined area of Galos’ shoulder.

Clang!

The spines and claws collided, sparks flying.

Ow... Iron Dragon grimaced, quickly withdrawing his claws to find, to his astonishment, that his hard claws had actually pierced into the fine, sharp spines, oozing threads of dragon blood.

These spines—so sturdy and sharp that they pierced dragon claws!

All dragons generally have spines.

But the spines of evil dragons are denser and sharper than those of the Metal Dragons.

However, these spines are not as sharp as dragon claws nor as hard as scale armor, thus serving little purpose on dragons, primarily offering an ’aesthetic’ appeal for evil dragons.

Galos’ spines, however, were more than just for show.

The fact that they could scratch the hardness of Iron Dragon’s claws elevated them to the level of a divine weapon.

Iron Dragon, gritting his teeth, looked at Galos’ shoulder with widened eyes.

What happened next took him by surprise.

He watched as the broken spines regenerated at a visible speed, growing back within a few breaths, their luster identical to that of the original spines, making one’s heart leap.

”They can regenerate?!”

Iron Dragon cast a look of envy, asking, ”Galos, how on earth did you do it? I admit your training intensity is beyond my reach, but this isn’t just the result of hard training, is it?”

Through training, one could harden the spines.

But to the point of piercing Iron Dragon’s claw? And with regenerative ability? It’s unheard of.

”It’s the mutation from mixed blood and my persistent training.”

Galos attributed the reasons to mixed blood and training.

He shifted the topic, asking, ”Solrog, have you decided on which vocation to choose first?”

Iron Dragon nodded, ”Mind Mage. I plan to take the Mind Mage vocation.”

Galos was a bit surprised; he had thought Iron Dragon would prefer a warrior-like profession.

”With you in combat, that’s enough, and the Mind Mage possesses impressive combat skills as well,” Iron Dragon said, ”The most important thing is, this vocation will allow me to manage the territory and command followers better.”

The three brothers Ignas had clear divisions of responsibilities.

Galos is the leader, the symbol of strength, capable of resolving any adversity or dire situation.

Solrog acts as the statesman, excelling in managing clan affairs, thus opting for the Mind Mage vocation, while Samantha handles alchemical logistics, not crucial now, but becoming indispensable with the clan’s development.

”Your mind and willpower are stronger than those of ordinary Iron Dragons.”

”I believe you can undertake the vocation.”

Galos smiled as he spoke.

The Mind Mage vocation has a prerequisite, needing one to awaken spiritual energy through meditation—a mundane and boring process, something Samantha couldn’t endure, but Iron Dragon had the talent for it.

After chatting for a while longer.

Iron Dragon, accompanied by several teams of followers, headed towards the gray magnetic iron ore, preparing to establish a foothold there first.

Galos continued to focus on himself.

He concentrated his mind on the spines on his body, then fiercely shook.

Swish, swish!

The spines tore through the air, piercing deeply into the surrounding earth, rocks, and vegetation, akin to enchanted and alchemical arrows, with extensive reach and more damaging than shattering scales—also carrying an element of surprise.

”After the spine evolution, I no longer need the explosive scale damage.”

Galos mused to himself, then called the dragons over again for a ’back massage.’

The dragons carefully avoided the spines and attacked Galos’ scale armor.

Under the dragons’ attacks, the scales on Galos’ body gradually turned red, but because he repeatedly paused midway, the speed of the scale reddening significantly slowed—though they would eventually overload and explode, requiring time to gradually adapt and undergo new evolutions.

As night fell.

Iron Dragon Solrog arrived with his followers at the gray magnetic iron ore site.

Before the actual mining could begin, they needed to establish a simple base camp here for subsequent operations.

Ogres, jackal-wolf folk, war lizardfolk, and others began setting up tents, constructing watchtowers, and other living and defensive structures.

The kobolds, carrying pickaxes, followed Iron Dragon, their small eyes gleaming slyly under the moonlight.

The gray magnetic iron ore was located around the foothills, where Solrog lightly tapped the rock layers with his claw, listening intently with his eyes closed.

”Here,” he pointed to a rock face, ”Let’s start digging here.”

The kobolds sprang into action, the crisp sound of their steel-forged pickaxes clashing with the rocks pierced the night’s silence.

Meanwhile, the Kola Giant Eagles circled above, their keen eyes scanning the ground while occasionally emitting sharp cries, warning of any potential threats.

The establishment of a stronghold and the mining of the gray magnetic iron ore proceeded fervently under Iron Dragon’s command.

Meanwhile, within the resilient pine forest a distance away.

Silver Mane, hidden in the shade of the treetops, lowered his eagle-eye scope, his silver-white mane bristled slightly with tension.

”Those tall, muscular ogres are clad in Metal Armor.”

He whispered, ”And those hyena knights, giant wolf knights, all are well-equipped; they don’t look like followers that young dragons should have.”

Ironhoof pawed at the ground restlessly, saying, ”Even more troubling are those giant eagles. With them surveilling from the sky, sneaking close for an attack is going to be difficult.”

The two exchanged silent looks, seeing hesitation mirrored in each other’s eyes.

Ironhoof suddenly grinned, asking, ”What, are you scared?”

Silver Mane said, ”I’m just thinking, perhaps Elvira was right.”

He gazed at the busy followers in the pit, pondering, ”This Iron Dragon... is no ordinary one.”

Ironhoof said, ”Don’t forget, whoever gets this done first has a chance to become clan leader. This Iron Dragon is a bit different, but not enough to frighten us.”

Opposite him, Silver Mane suggested, ”Why don’t we join forces, deal with the Iron Dragon first, then you and I can vie for clan leadership. In any case, we can’t let a mixed-blood become the leader.”

Ironhoof thought for a moment, then nodded firmly.

P.S.: Hereafter, intelligent beings will be referred to as he/she, while non-intelligent beasts or semi-intelligent creatures like the Violent Bear will use it.