Chapter 26: Basic Defense Rune (Requesting Monthly Tickets, Requesting Follows)

"Then what can you do?"

Facing Garos's final soul-searching question, Samantha puffed out her chest and raised her head like a proud swan, saying, "I can engrave alchemical runes now! A basic defense rune!"

Mentioning the runes she had mastered.

Samantha was very excited and said to Garos, "Shall I engrave a rune for you? I have already practiced on myself; my technique is quite proficient, and I guarantee I won't make a mistake."

Samantha's tail curled in front of her, waving back and forth before Garos's eyes.

On the fiery red, gem-like tail scales, one could see many crooked marks resembling crawling earthworms, scattered haphazardly and looking shapeless, yet interspersed among them were some gradually normal patterns that, though rough, showed promise.

A visible improvement in technique.

"Come on."

Garos thought for a moment, then slowly nodded.

He stood before Samantha, puffed out his chest, and flexed his muscles to push up the gray buffer scales, revealing the black-red scale armor beneath that looked as if it were cast from steel and iron.

"Let's try engraving one here first."

Samantha took a deep breath.

Her vertical dragon eyes focused intently as she slowly carved with her claws onto one of Garos's chest scales.

Magical energy gathered at the tips of her claws; the claw tips were like red-hot irons, sparking against Garos's dragon scales and emitting a metallic grinding sound that made teeth ache.

And as time passed.

The scratches gradually outlined a shield-like pattern; when Samantha finished her final stroke, a complete rune circuit was formed.

Although it showed promise, it was not very beautiful, but overall it barely took shape, counting as a crude finished product.

Garos squinted his eyes.

When this alchemical rune was constructed, he could clearly feel that something extra had appeared on this dragon scale.

The magical energy flowing in the dragon blood gathered there.

The rune immediately lit up, covering the entire dragon scale.

Garos gently rubbed this dragon scale.

The sensation was strange; it did not feel like touching his own dragon scale directly, but rather as if an invisible yet tough film had been plated over it.

"Let's test its strength."

Garos extended a sharp claw and pressed it onto the dragon scale, gradually applying force.

The rune first flickered uncertainly, then gradually dimmed, cracked, and finally, with a crack, the light extinguished completely, and the film-like sensation vanished.

So far, Garos had not exerted much force.

"The defensive effect is average, nothing special."

He made this assessment in his heart.

However, it must be noted that Samantha only mastered the most basic, foundational alchemical runes, and the engraving was imperfect and somewhat rough.

Yet it still provided a certain degree of defensive effect.

Once Samantha's alchemy skill improves a bit more.

Using alchemy to strengthen and amplify dragon scales, claws, and fangs is still something worth looking forward to.

"Not bad, keep up the good work."

Garos casually offered a compliment and told Samantha to go about her own business.

"Don't you need me to engrave a few more?"

She asked, still eager to continue.

Engraving on oneself feels different from engraving on other objects; Samantha wanted to increase her proficiency by engraving basic defense runes on Garos.

Garos saw through her thoughts.

Moreover, he had no interest in being a test subject.

Glancing at the Earth-Bear Mobel, who was leaning against a hemlock tree and rubbing his back, Garos said, "Let Mobel accompany you for practice; you can use the strengthening of alchemical rune engraving to exchange for him hunting food for you."

Samantha did not refuse and stepped toward the Earth-Bear.

Knowing Samantha's intention, the Earth-Bear widened his eyes, patted his chest, and immediately agreed.

Alchemical rune strengthening was something even his damned old father could not enjoy, and it was being performed personally by a True Dragon; Mobel had no reason to refuse and felt very happy inside.

Hiss!

When the red dragon's sharp claws tore through the skin, Mobel let out a low growl and gritted his teeth to endure the pain.

He had no dragon scales, so the basic defense rune could only be engraved directly onto the skin; this process was not pleasant, but it was bearable.

He withdrew his gaze from the two of them.

Garos pondered briefly, then flew to the massive rock slab where he usually stayed, closed his eyes slightly, and coiled down to lie.

He was not sleeping, but rather digging into the spells existing within his bloodline.

Dragons are innate sorcerers; at certain ages, they can awaken some spell-like skills.

However, through self-exploration, one can master them earlier.

Generally, young dragons do not possess spell-like skills; they mainly fight using claws, fangs, and their bodies, with dragon breath being their ultimate trump card.

Small Fireball.

Life-Level Detection Spell.

These skills were all mastered by Garos through his own exploration ahead of time.

When the mind sank down and focused within the body.

Garos could clearly feel the surging, thick magical energy like a tide flowing through his veins, moving with the blood to his four limbs and every part of his body.

As a natural top-tier magical beast.

Dragons are born with magical energy, that is, magic energy, already inside them.

When breathing in and out, one can draw demonic energy from the air, store it within one's own blood vessels, and gradually transform it into demonic energy one can utilize.

Feeling the undulating rhythm of demonic energy and blood circulating within the body.

Garos's mind gradually emptied, and relying on instinctive sensation, he sensed the spell skills hidden within his bloodline.

The Adaptation Evolution Talent also has some effect in this regard, but it is not as direct and obvious as the enhancement to the body and physique.

However, Garos was not in a hurry.

Time passed slowly; he calmed his mind and spirit, exploring gradually.

In the blink of an eye.

Time arrived at one month later.

A ruined mine pit with jagged rocks.

A red young dragon lay on the ground not far from the mine pit, seemingly dozing for rest; its tail tapped the ground lightly now and then, yet its eyes were not closed, blinking occasionally, appearing somewhat nervous.

Shortly after.

A predator lurking beneath the ground felt a slight tremor and approached silently.

When the distance was about right, the ground began to tremble, and the red young dragon also seemed to sense the anomaly, flapping its wings to take flight.

Boom!

Earth and stone heaved upward, cracking; mud and gravel flew into the air.

The massive body of the Shattered Rock Worm shot straight up; its mouth, like a meat grinder, opened and bit toward the red young dragon, but because the red young dragon had risen and taken flight a step earlier, it only bit the air, and then its body began to fall back down.

Just at that moment.

A black shadow faster than it suddenly dove down.

Splat!

Sharp claws pierced through the carapace, gripping the flesh of the Shattered Rock Worm tightly.

Garos flapped his wings; muscles beneath the scales erupted with thick power, pulling this Level 7 Shattered Rock Worm straight out of the ground.

The Shattered Rock Worm struggled constantly, but to no avail.

"Caught it! Hope it goes as I wish, successfully tamed."

Carrying the Shattered Rock Worm, Garos's spirit trembled slightly as he returned toward the Iron Fir Hills; the red young dragon Samantha followed closely behind.

(End of this chapter)