A Dragon against the Whole World

Chapter 124: Chapter 123: Evolution, Supercharged Exaltation Mode

The lead-gray clouds pressed down on the Quenching Highlands like shredded cotton, as the first rainy season storm had lasted three days and nights, with dense rain continuously pouring from the skies, as if the heavens were overturning.

The young dragon soared through the rain curtain.

Raindrops collided with his iron-jacketed body, quickly shattering upon the dense dragon scales or spikes, and then disintegrated into watery fragments, which slid down the seams of his scale armor, eventually dripping off his sharper claws and stronger, longer tail.

In terms of length.

Galos reached a length of thirteen meters from head to tail.

This length is typically found in some adolescent dragons, while for a White Dragon, it might take until fifty years of age to reach a similar size.

Moreover, length is secondary.

His robust and stout body surpassed the common understanding of what a dragon could be, resembling a fierce beast forged of iron and fiery flame; other dragons of the same 13-meter length would appear thin as reeds beside him, with even the famous Red Dragon seeming thin by comparison.

The spikes on his body did not grow denser.

Some continued to grow thicker, while others shrank and became sharper, making Galos more distinctive than when he was a juvenile.

His life level was elevated to 10.

This is roughly equivalent to a twenty-year-old adolescent Golden Dragon.

The Dragon Race, as a long-lived species, giant life forms, possess many inherent advantages, but also a disadvantage.

— Prolonged growth period.

This seems to be common to all long-lived races, not just dragons.

In just around three years, without having undergone long-term sleep, growing naturally to raise 1 level is already quite an achievement.

If he could gain 1 level every three years, Galos could reach Legendary status before adulthood.

However, such a possibility is low; as life levels increase, each level becomes more substantial, and growth slows, with ancient high-tier dragons taking centuries to gain a level.

The Celestial Comet Wings did not surge with flames, merely flapping effortlessly tore through the wind and rain curtain.

Galos ascended in a straight line into the dense clouds.

Within the lead-colored clouds, silver-white electric light rolled, with lightning like wild beasts trapped inside the cloud prison, dashing back and forth.

And as the Red Iron Dragon entered the clouds.

With a majestic dragon roar, wings flapping and tail swinging.

The beast-like lightning seemed to find a breakthrough, biting at him from all directions.

Galos did not dodge, standing bravely, stretching out his broad wings to welcome the lightning’s baptism.

When the first lightning struck the dragon horn, the entire sky seemed to shiver.

The young dragon’s outline became translucent under the light, revealing for a moment the electric current coursing through his veins—from the spine to the tail tip, eventually bursting into countless tiny sparks across the wing membrane.

He deliberately grabbed for the brightest thunder serpents with his claws, letting the current explode between his claws.

A strong paralytic sensation emerged from within.

Then came excitement; the muscles beneath the scales contracted and swelled, fibers tightened and relaxed like steel wires, unleashing power beyond normal limits.

Strands of golden lightning lit up between Galos’s scale armor gaps.

Starting to coil around the dragon horns, turning the originally dark red horns into radiant gold, then gradually extending across the back, neck, chest..., dense and dazzling, like thick golden mane, arcs frolicking even across limbs and tail wings.

ZZZ! ZZZ!

The intense, dazzling golden lightning enveloped his entire body.

Galos’s body seemed to swell further, his golden aggressive form making his previous robust stature pale in comparison.

He stretched his body among the clouds, tumbling in the thunderstorm.

Each time lightning pierced the dragon’s body, the golden lightning on Galos brightened, as if he had become a colossal magnet, drawing the surrounding lightning again and again.

As if it were not the dragon enduring the lightning, but the lightning beseeching the dragon’s favor.

Until a crack sounded, and a fissure appeared on the young dragon’s scales, beginning to crumble, as if reaching some limit.

”Just a little more, and evolution will be complete.”

Galos carefully felt the sensation of current between his muscles.

The marked sensation running through him like a tight web, only needing a few more threads to fully weave together.

Then, he would no longer need to rely on thunderstorm weather.

Galos did not rush for quick success, paused, leaving the clouds, still draped in lightning, folding his wings and diving down, reducing speed as his form descended, landing steadily.

”This evolution isn’t outwardly obvious; mainly it is the deep muscle fibers within, from which golden lightning can burst out, further stimulating the body, enhancing all-around attributes.”

”Such a state, let’s call it the super-charged exalted form.”

”The only downside is, the exalted form’s lightning makes my scales overload rapidly, both can’t coexist well, not a big issue though, the super-charged exalted form can be activated at crucial moments.”

He spread his wings amid the rain, silently thinking.

Predicting from his body’s state, feels when his body has rested and adapted, taking such tempering again could completely finish this evolution.

Then, he would have another hidden ace.

If adventurers came to slay Galos.

With painstaking effort breaking through his buffering scales, thinking they were about to win, as an exalted, piercing electrical sound arose, his body lit with dense, dazzling lightning, becoming stronger than before, initiating a mighty second phase.

If magically enduring Galos’s second phase.

When the engine-like heart’s roar echoed in the sky, he still had the Blood Burst Secret Technique third phase.

If not fully prepared, by powerful ones, it’s very hard to slay Galos; he possesses many talents, any one of which on another dragon would be a great advantage.

The slight imperfection is, the Blood Burst Technique is an alchemy tool effect.

As Galos grows, the Blood Burst Technique’s enhancement becomes limited, but its side effects similarly lessen, reducing bodily burden.

Galos estimated, frequent use of the Blood Burst Technique for training, might provide the opportunity for a fitting evolution, like initially using the Lightning Tail Ring, like a key, unlocking this exalted form evolution.

”Praise the Dragon Lord!”

”Loyalty!”

The war platoons stationed on the Quenching Highlands knelt down, extolling Galos’ greatness.

Galos signaled for them to rise, continuing with their duties.

His gaze scanned over the monster leaders, noting that much of their equipment bore a hint of diamond-like brilliance, quite extraordinary.

A year ago.

Galos, on a whim, placed the Diamond Giant’s crystal core in the Symbiotic Pool.

This high-quality crystal core absorbed the essence of other minerals in the Symbiotic Pool, constantly yielding high-quality diamonds, with weapons and armor crafted from it of very high quality, used as rewards.

Raising head slightly, surveying around.

Galos could clearly see the number of war platoons stationed at the Quenching Highlands had nearly doubled.

And not only the Quenching Highlands.

All locations within the Molten Iron Clan territory like ranches, mines, watchtowers, the number of guards increased.

In these three years, the Molten Iron Clan developed rapidly, absorbing and conquering by various means, almost fully uniting the small clans dispersed around the Scale Earth Rift.

Moreover, this is just the beginning.

Except Ogres’ growth period is a bit long.

Those Jackal-Wolf Folk, Kobolds, War Lizardfolk, usually mature at nine or ten years old, bearing five or six, even over ten offspring in one litter.

Owing to trade routes constructed with merchant caravans.

Various minerals and biological resources fell short of supply.

The Molten Iron Clan is not wanting for food.

In these three years, the population of newborn citizens exploded, and influenced in various ways, held great respect and admiration for Galos.

If nothing unexpected happens.

After a few more years, as this batch of citizens grows, the Molten Iron Clan’s scale will further expand.

PS: Seeking a vote at month’s end.