A Dragon against the Whole World

In New Calendar year 289, the King of Molten Iron officially began his slumber.

From the Border Area, Eternal Frost Tundra, Sel Wilderness, the Southern Countries, and even the distant Human Empire... the fates of various parties did not stall due to the temporary dormancy of a young Giant Dragon. Under the manipulation of time’s invisible giant hand, they continued to develop along their predetermined paths, sometimes slowly and sometimes swiftly.

In New Calendar year 292, Iron Dragon Gordon, residing in the Lothern Royal Court, also entered his Sleep Stage after long-term accumulation.

In New Calendar year 293, Iron Dragon Solrog, overseeing the tribal management in the Northwest wilderness, followed closely behind, entering hibernation.

In New Calendar year 295, the fiery-tempered Red Dragon Samantha, responsible for Alchemy Industry and equipment development, was similarly propelled by accumulated power, entering a crucial growth slumber.

By this time, the core members of the Ignas Dragon Group had all entered a hibernation phase.

The rule and consolidation of the Sel Wilderness by the Molten Iron Tribe were mainly maintained by the experienced adult Blue Dragon Zoraya and three capable Vassal Lords.

Time passed, and by New Calendar year 300...

In the southern Eternal Frost Tundra, a territory centered around Dragon Fang Fortress had begun to take shape.

The Blue Dragon Heryam, who had once shouldered heavy responsibilities and traveled north from the Sel Wilderness, had now shed his youthful naivete and entered adolescence.

He successfully expanded the Molten Iron Tribe’s territory on the vast and harsh frozen land.

The so-called Dragon Fang Fortress was not a traditional brick-and-mortar structure, but rather a crude area shaped by carving into a massive glacier. Its jagged, towering form appeared like the fangs of a Giant Beast emerging from the ice, hence the name.

Around the fortress.

There were breeding grounds maintained by geothermal vents, smoke-belching workshops, and settlements of followers, all with a rough and practical style, managed in an orderly manner under Blue Dragon Heryam’s calm supervision.

Everything was well-organized.

The standing military force here was mainly composed of the thick-skinned and cold-resistant Ogre Warriors.

Additionally, numerous Kobolds, Jackal-Wolf Folk, and War Lizardfolk were responsible for constructing, maintaining, breeding the cold-resistant livestock native to the Northern Lands, and planting berry crops capable of surviving in extreme cold.

These relatively weaker followers suffered losses due to the harsh climate upon initially reaching the Icefield.

But their races, known for adapting to various environments across many worlds, slowly adjusted to the harsh cold after surviving a round of brutal natural selection.

Another indispensable force came from the Black Iron Plain’s large Alchemy Golem workshop in the Border Area.

These steel creations could endure extreme cold better than flesh, and though they occasionally malfunctioned due to internal freezing, they remained reliable core forces of the Pioneer Corps under the meticulous maintenance by accompanying Alchemists.

In the same year, Dragon Fang Fortress faced its first large-scale battle on the tundra.

An "Frost Claw" Giant Clan, driven by severe food scarcity, cast greedy eyes on the well-maintained pastures of Dragon Fang Fortress.

They rallied the clan’s warriors and launched a surprise attack on a snowy and stormy day.

However, they severely underestimated their opponent, and their intelligence work was pathetically lacking.

This attack was destined to be a one-sided crush from the start.

"For the glory of the Molten Iron Tribe!"

Amid the swirling snow, a burly Ogre Warrior let out a thunderous roar.

The heavy giant axe in his hands swung with the whistling wind, striking fiercely at the shoulder-neck joint of a Giant! The axe blade embedded deeply into flesh and bone, emitting a jarring thud.

The Giant, though pained, did not lose its ferocity.

The Giant Clan might fall slightly short of the Ogres in sheer Strength Attribute, but their formidable regenerative ability was a vexing trait. Battles between Giants and Ogres of the same level often ended in draws, with no clear victor.

Seeing that the injury was not fatal, the Giant roared in fury.

He gripped the axe stuck in his flesh and bone with one hand, tightly holding a rough spear with the other, thrusting sharply at the Ogre’s vital heart!

However, the Ogre’s face showed no fear but instead bore a sinister grin.

"Die, scum!"

His fingers pressed down hard on a hidden mechanism on the axe handle.

Buzz—!

The runes engraved on the axe suddenly glowed bright crimson, as if magma flowed across the axe’s surface!

In the next moment, boom!!!

A violent explosion resounded, flames, shattered flesh, and bone fragments scattering everywhere.

The Giant’s head, along with a good portion of its upper body, was blown to pieces by the sudden explosion!

Acid Arrow!

Not far away, a Giant Mage waved a crude Bone Staff, high-concentration corrosive acid gathering into an arrow shape, shot with a hiss toward the Ogre who just completed the explosive kill.

Ordinarily, with the relatively sluggish reflexes of Ogres, it would be hard to dodge.

But just as the acid arrow was about to hit, the heavy steel-plated armor covering the Ogre emitted gear-turning hums and steam-venting hisses.

Instead of dodging awkwardly, the Ogre moved as nimbly as a leopard.

With a swift sidestep, he narrowly avoided the deadly acid!

Bursting Giant Axe, powered heavy armor—these were all products of the Alchemy Workshop in Broken Ridge Hills, designed by Red Dragon Samantha, tailored as standardized equipment for Ogre followers.