Chapter 113: Life-or-Death Battle

The scorching sun hung high above the wilderness, pouring light and heat onto the earth.

After sleeping for a full ten days, the red iron dragon slowly opened his eyes, revealing a pair of black pupils. Then he shook his body, rattling off the dust that had settled on him over those days.

“All the wounds on my body have healed.”

Garoth turned his head to inspect himself.

The previously shocking scars had basically all closed up, the newly grown skin tougher, and the scales a bit harder than before.

Sleep after intense battle was the best stimulant for dragon growth and development.

“No, not quite fully healed yet.”

Garoth lifted his claw to touch his head, realizing that the broken section of his dragon horn hadn’t completely regrown.

“My Dragon Qi hasn’t awakened.”

Feeling carefully the magical energy flowing inside him, the red iron dragon gently shook his head but didn’t lose hope.

“The fight against the Diamond Stone Giant was something I carefully prepared and planned before engaging.”

“Although the process had some ups and downs and certain risks, I was always in control, with no mortal danger. It can’t be called a desperate, life-for-death battle.”

Failing to awaken early was normal; there was no need to feel disappointed.

A life-or-death battle… that was the most critical condition for the early awakening of Dragon Qi.

According to the legacy, only by putting life and death aside and fully squeezing out all one’s magical energy and life force could magical energy and life force be sublimated at the extreme limit of life and death, merging to form Dragon Qi.

“Find a powerful target, and have a life-or-death battle?”

“Like breaking into the Blackrock dwarves’ military oil field.”

“With my talent, I’m 100% sure I can awaken Dragon Qi at a crucial moment, then win the fight, become stronger, defeat all fools who challenge me, and ascend to the throne of the wilderness!”

Garoth’s emotions churned uncontrollably.

He narrowed his eyes, stopped the thought, then took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

After repeating deep breaths several times, he gradually suppressed his restless and arrogant thoughts, regaining calm and rationality.

Having defeated such a powerful enemy as the Diamond Stone Giant, a bit of arrogance naturally grew, but Garoth was keenly aware of it.

Every time Garoth achieved a significant evolutionary breakthrough or killed a strong enemy,

the arrogance and pride inherent in dragon bloodlines, especially among red dragons, would wildly grow and become even stronger.

Because most evil dragons were promiscuous, their offspring numbers were actually quite high, but most died young before they could grow up. Less than one-tenth survived to adulthood.

The highest mortality period wasn’t infancy but adolescence.

At this time, evil dragons’ strength grew rapidly, they began to gather followers, and gained territories of their own. Their temper became extremely arrogant, thinking themselves the strongest in the world, then dying from pride and arrogance.

However, Garoth’s mental will was also growing stronger, keeping these within controllable limits.

He would soon be able to suppress negative emotions.

“A reckless life-or-death battle is too risky.”

“Unless forced into a corner with no other choice, no sane person would go deliberately get their brain eaten by ogres.”

“Better to train and accumulate strength steadily, temper the body.”

“At my training intensity, I will most likely awaken Dragon Qi before reaching young adulthood, just not right now.”

Garoth pondered silently.

He carefully sensed his body again.

Beneath his scales and flesh, a tingling sensation like electricity became clearer.

Garoth flexed his muscles, trying to capture those tiny electric currents, attempting to control and harness them.

Crackle, crackle.

Some electric arcs jumped from the gaps between his scales.

They swayed and flickered, mostly concentrated around his spine and neck.

At a glance, it looked like a mane woven from lightning.

The only downside was the amount was too small and sparse, and Garoth didn’t feel any obvious effect.

The lightning-related evolution was still ongoing, and though he didn’t know exactly when it would complete, he estimated it wouldn’t take too long—probably finishing by the time he officially became a Young Dragon.

During this period,

he needed to do more targeted adaptive training.

Suddenly, hunger arose in his abdomen. Ten days without food or drink made Garoth’s body desperately need replenishment.

At times like this, if no other food was available, a young dragon might gnaw on soil to quell hunger.

Garoth didn’t need to.

He had something better.

He picked up a jar of black oil stored in the cave beside him, took a sip, letting the thick, fiery black oil energy fill his body, temporarily dispelling hunger, then climbed out of the cave.

Bright, blazing sunlight filled his vision.

Temperatures above forty degrees roasted the earth, forcing many creatures to seek shade, but Garoth felt it was just right. He looked up to face the blazing sun like a giant fireball.

“Garoth, Garoth.”

“You’re awake!”

The faerie dragon Vira flew over, fluttering her butterfly-like wings, blocking Garoth’s view.

Her body was purplish-red with hints of dazzling blue iridescence, but under the scorching sun, she refracted dazzling rainbow spots all over, almost like a sparkling spell, making Garoth squint.

The faerie dragon held something in her claw, presenting it like a treasure to Garoth’s nose.

“Smell this! I found something good! It’ll refresh and awaken you.”

She said enthusiastically.

Garoth sniffed.

A strong, musky scent instantly filled his nostrils.

But the scent was secondary.

It felt like invisible little fingers tickling his nose, making it twitch several times until he couldn’t help but tilt his head and sneeze explosively, shooting thick sparks from his nostrils.

The faerie dragon had anticipated this and quickly dodged aside, a mischievous grin of success curling on her lips.

What she didn’t expect was that Garoth sneezed several more times in a row, each aimed at her. Sparks rained down like a storm on the tiny dragon’s body. She screamed and dodged frantically but was still hit, eventually looking like she’d been smoked and singed.

She wasn’t hurt though.

Though tiny, she was still a dragon. The sparks from Garoth’s nostrils had little killing power.

“A bit ugly.”

Garoth touched his nose and commented on the faerie dragon’s current appearance.

“You did that on purpose.”

The faerie dragon huffed angrily, her smile disappearing.

“Of course.”

Her smile shifted onto Garoth’s face. He naturally nodded in admission, then twitched his nose again, tilting his head as if about to sneeze, scaring the faerie dragon into fleeing hastily.

Garoth’s life revolved around survival and growth.

Except when sleeping, his mind was mostly serious and rarely relaxed. Occasionally, he would tease the innocent and playful faerie dragon, or use his understanding of evil dragon temperaments to discipline Samantha. For him, it was a form of relaxation and entertainment.