"Who shall be first?"
Winters' voice was deeper and more solemn than ever before.
Upon hearing this, a profound sense of resistance welled within my heart.
In my mind, the world belonging to my inherited memory is, by and large, a peaceful realm, and thus I instinctively recoiled from words like 'slaughter.'
However, I also comprehended that that world could be considered a dream, for what I was experiencing now was stark reality.
And reality is often cruel.
So, for a moment, I knew not how to react.
Feeling lost, I looked towards Celine and the others, only to see the other four young dragons also wearing expressions of utter bewilderment.
Seeing that no dragon responded, Winters continued, "Desidero can afford you considerable protection, but this world is fraught with peril.
To entrust your safety to the protection of others is the way of the weak.
If you aspire to be weak, then I have naught more to say.
But if you wish to command your own destiny, then slaughter is an ordeal you must inevitably confront!"
Speaking thus, Winters' voice softened once more.
"Slaughter never signifies anything benevolent.
If it were possible, I too would hope that you would not have to face it on the mere second day of your existence!
But alas, Desidero is not yet powerful enough to permit you to mature free from care.
My apologies!
We brought you into this world, yet we cannot grant you unbridled freedom and security!
You must strive for them yourselves!"
As the words subsided, the Dragon's Den fell into a profound silence, broken only by the fearful, anxious breathing of a juvenile Bus Dragon Beast.
It desperately yearned to escape, but an invisible force constrained it, preventing even the slightest movement.
"I shall go first!"
The assembled Dragons looked in the direction of the voice and beheld Celine slowly stepping forth.
"Let me be the first!"
As if addressing the others, and also as if steeling herself.
Seeing this, Winters dragged the Bus Dragon Beast before him, felled it to the ground, and then looked at Celine.
"Be it Dragon Beast or True Dragon, the neck is a fatal point, vulnerable to a single, decisive blow!"
Celine nodded, then approached the Bus Dragon Beast's neck.
Taking a deep breath, she tremulously extended her claws, forced herself to fix her gaze upon the Bus Dragon Beast's neck, and then struck downwards with all her might.
Bright crimson blood erupted from the wound, and Celine, standing at the site of the injury, no longer bore any milky white spots upon her form.
However, at this moment, Celine's attention was not focused on herself at all.
More than the warm liquid spraying upon her, the gradually dimming gaze of the creature made Celine confront the passing of life with a more visceral directness.
"Celine, life is fragile.
If you do not wish to face your own demise helplessly like this one day in the future, then becoming stronger is your sole recourse!
And the initial step to becoming stronger is to permit yourself to grow, and growth necessitates sustenance!"
Hearing this, Celine's dazzling golden vertical pupils suddenly contracted, and then she hesitated no longer, sinking her teeth into the wound she had torn open.
Gulping down the bright red flesh and blood, Celine gradually began to exude a palpitating aura that instilled a sense of unease in many of the dragons.
Feeling this aura, Winters nodded in satisfaction, then she turned her gaze to the other little dragons.
Then, with a wave of her paw, another Bus Dragon Beast of comparable size fell before her.
"Next!"
This time, no sooner had Winters finished speaking than Ao rushed to the Bus Dragon Beast's neck and bit down fiercely, followed by the sound of avid gulping.
"Next!"
Winters moved to the side and conjured yet another Bus Dragon Beast out of thin air.
The remaining three Dragons exchanged glances, and then Billy took the lead to step forward.
Then Dinnett.
Finally... I slowly approached the neck of the newly materialized Bus Dragon Beast, my pupils glinting with a strange light.
Is this the world of the survival of the fittest?
Thinking this in my heart, I looked at my claws, and then inserted them into the neck of the Bus Dragon Beast.
However, watching the gushing blood, my pupils contracted abruptly, and an inexplicable revulsion filled my heart.
By the time I fully registered it, I was already a considerable distance from the Bus Dragon Beast's carcass.
I was momentarily stunned, then looked at my claws.
When I saw the bright crimson bloodstains, that potent feeling of disgust surged anew.
I could not help but rub my claws upon the ground.
Winters was taken aback upon witnessing this.
"What are you doing?"
Hearing this, I looked at Winters, my tone tinged with a hint of pleading.
"Winters, help me remove them!"
After a moment's hesitation, Winters extended a claw and tapped my body.
Then, a burst of flame erupted, and in the blink of an eye, the blood on my hand was incinerated, without causing me any injury.
Looking at my immaculate claws, I inexplicably heaved a sigh of relief.
But Winters' gaze grew solemn.
"Tell me, Vet, do you abhor blood?"
Hearing this, I turned to look at the blood that had now pooled across the ground, and then shook my head.
"I do not abhor it, but I detest the sensation of it adhering to me."
A hint of confusion flickered in Winters' eyes.
What a peculiar idiosyncrasy.
However, Winters did not press the matter.
If I merely disliked the feeling of blood upon me, it was not a significant issue.
What she feared was that I truly detested blood, for that would imply it would be difficult for me to become a proficient True Dragon.
Glancing at the Bus Dragon Beast's remains, Winters hesitated once more.
"Then how will you consume it?"
"Can you assist me in cooking it?"
Hearing this, Winters' gaze towards me grew strange again.
"I can, indeed.
Some True Dragons do prefer cooked sustenance, though the flavor is not generally considered superior.
Are you certain?"
I nodded.
Possessing the memories of that other world, I had no fondness for consuming raw flesh.
Even that being who identified as human partook of cooked food.
As a True Dragon, how could I eat like a mere beast?
Seeing me nod, Winters did not hesitate.
She extended her claws and touched the body of the Bus Dragon Beast.
A torrent of scorching flame surged forth, enveloping the Bus Dragon Beast.
Soon, a rich, savory aroma began to permeate the Dragon's Den.
This meaty fragrance attracted the other four little dragons.
Still engrossed in devouring their portions, Celine and the others sniffed the unique scent in the air and then looked towards its source—my Bus Dragon Beast.
At this moment, it was entirely wreathed in a sphere of fire.
Billy swallowed audibly.
"Mistress Winters, what is that?"
Hearing this, Winters looked at Billy.
"This is cooked food.
Would you also like some?"
Billy inhaled the distinctive aroma in the air, then nodded emphatically.
Winters then looked at the other three little dragons.
"And what of you?"
"Yes!"
"Me too!"
"Um... I wish to try it!"
"I trust you will not regret it!"
Winters muttered quietly, tapped each Bus Dragon Beast in turn, and as clusters of flame erupted, the fragrance in the air intensified...