Under the iron dragon's command, the vassal army began entering Dragon Valley in batches. anwhile, so lizardfolk and kobolds climbed the steep cliffs on both sides to construct watchtowers and other fortifications.
The wyvern forces had also been tallied.
Among them was one mature wyvern - Tasha - along with four adult wyverns, six adolescent wyverns, and forty-six younger wyverns in total. These would provide the Clan of Molten Iron with formidable aerial power.
The night was ink-black. Having finally found suitable territory, Garoth didn't imdiately rest, but eagerly began his training instead. Since the migration began, requiring constant vigilance along the journey, he hadn't been able to properly train for too long.
Now with free ti and new sparring partners available, Garoth's excitent was palpable. He had Tasha and the other four adult wyverns gang up on him simultaneously, forbidding himself from counterattacking and relying solely on his body's defenses.
The wyverns found this request puzzling.
But that didn't prevent them from obeying orders, thus comncing their brutal assault on Garoth. The wyverns took to the skies, diving repeatedly to rake their powerful claws across Garoth's body.
The strength of these draconic creatures surpassed that of magical beasts of similar size. Their attacks indeed provided more satisfying resistance to Garoth than the Rampage Bears or ogres could offer.
tallic clanging sounds rang out continuously as red-hot sparks flew everywhere. Garoth's Explosive Scales soon glowed cherry-red like heated steel. At this point, he would signal the wyverns to pause while he plunged into the freezing lake center.
Hissing steam rose like tal being quenched as his scales gradually cooled back to their usual black-gray hue, after which the wyvern assault would resu.
Using his Frenzied State could stimulate the scales faster, of course. But that thod only provided pure heat stimulation without impact force, unable to further enhance the scales' energy-absorbing properties. Moreover, the wyverns' attacks combined blunt force with slashing damage from their claws, improving the scales' defense against edged weapons - a more comprehensive training thod than simply smashing into mountains with earth pounding.
Garoth hoped this approach would gradually evolve his Explosive Scales further.
The explosive property was no longer necessary - he wanted to preserve the fundantal shock absorption while achieving one of two ideal evolutionary outcos:
First, the ability to channel absorbed energy back into himself. This way, while using this defensive layer to withstand attacks and wear down opponents, Garoth could maintain peak condition without stamina drain.
Second, the capacity to store absorbed energy for instantaneous release. By first absorbing damage then unleashing all accumulated energy in one burst - combined with Frenzied State - Garoth could deliver strikes surpassing his normal limits, potentially overcoming stronger foes in dramatic reversals.
Of course, the absolute best outco would combine both capabilities, allowing flexible switching between gradual self-replenishnt and concentrated bursts as situations demanded. But this seed unrealistic currently.
Garoth had no clues yet about evolving in these directions - even consuming faerie dragon scale powder hadn't sparked any ideas. His only option was tempering the scales to first eliminate their explosive nature, then adapt based on subsequent evolutionary developnts.
Additionally, the wyverns' widespread attacks covered large areas of his body. Garoth's dorsal spines kept breaking during the assault, simultaneously slicing open the wyverns' talons and armored scales, leaving lacerations behind.
At each broken spine's base, Garoth felt distinct tingling itchiness - a clear sign that after years of adaptation and accumulated stress, these areas were undergoing rapid evolution.
Garoth had never specifically trained his spines. Yet through repeated fracturing and regeneration during countless battles and training sessions, they'd finally reached this evolutionary threshold. The spine evolution was imminent now.
Unfortunately, Garoth's more prioritized scale and dragon heart evolutions remained distant prospects.
After more training, Garoth motioned for the wyverns to stop.
"All of you may rest now," he declared.
Most wyverns, exhausted with bleeding talons, scattered gratefully at the dismissal. Only their leader Tasha remained excited.
Her superior physique compared to normal wyverns wasn't innate, but resulted from her exceptional dedication to physical conditioning. Though unable to match Garoth's extres, her training diligence already set her apart from her kin.
"My Lord, please summon whenever you wish to train. I'm honored to serve," Tasha said. She was currently the only vassal who found satisfaction and even eagerness in being Garoth's training partner.
anwhile, Frostfang arrived lakeside, accompanied by two werewolves carrying Russell on a stretcher.
"Dragon Lord," Russell weakly attempted to rise from the stretcher to salute, but collapsed instead, needing werewolf assistance to stand upright.
Exploring unknown territories was dangerous work. During a previous skirmish, he'd suffered a brutal tail strike from a wyvern leader that shattered his ribs, while the tail's poisoned barb inflicted additional damage. Though the wyvern leader later sucked out the venom, enough toxins had seeped into Russell's organs to worsen his already critical condition.
The werewolves had applied dicinal ointnts and administered traded healing potions, while Frostfang as Shaman communed with healing spirits. These asures stabilized Russell, but couldn't fully cure him. He wouldn't die imdiately, but could no longer fight, his body rendered too feeble.
"Please forgive my inability to salute properly," Russell maintained his usual humility before the red iron dragon.
Garoth gazed down at this long-serving werewolf. Now, like the elderly Shaman who could barely walk back then, Russell stood at death's door.
"Salutations are unnecessary," Garoth said. "You've already proven your loyalty."
Frostfang suddenly knelt, pleading: "Great Dragon Lord, please grant my father continued service to you."
This opportunity ant dragon vein transformation.
Russell had been an excellent leader, whether commanding the forr Howling Moon Clan or current Crimson Iron Riders. His superior intelligence and foresight compared to ordinary monsters enabled exceptional managent of subordinates and execution of orders.
Garoth studied the werewolf intently. His stored dragon blood could transform multiple vassals, and Russell had always been among his considerations - along with the ogre Ugor and gnoll Hodge.
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