Kadilos lay listlessly in front of the gate of the Dragon Treasury, burying his head in the gap formed by his thick forelimbs.
His deep red wings were spread across the flat valley floor, and his long, thick tail was coiled up, tightly surrounding his rear.
An eighteen-meter-long Young Red Dragon already possessed sufficient deterrence and an imposing aura, carrying enough pressure.
But unfortunately, after the harsh beatings of the outside world, this Young Red Dragon had begun to learn some simple truths.
After a long period of recuperation, the Young Red Dragon's appearance had long since returned to its peak state. Although the True Dragons of the Dragon clan had enslaved Kadilos, they had never lacked for the Young Red Dragon's rations.
However, even so, the Young Red Dragon's growth in size appeared very slow. During the peak growth period of a True Dragon, having a large amount of dragon blood and two drops of the Evil Dragons True Blood extracted caused damage that required a long time to compensate for.
Therefore, the Young Red Dragon's spirit was always somewhat listless, a feeling of weakness stemming from his bloodline.
Surrounded by this sense of weakness, even the treasures in the Dragon Treasury behind that ten-meter-thick stone wall gate, which held immense temptation for True Dragon s, had lost a tiny bit of their attraction for Kadilos.
Turning back to linger at the Dragon Treasury thirty times an hour became twenty-nine times; this was undoubtedly a huge change.
Just as Kadilos couldn't help himself and was about to rub his head against the Dragon Treasury's gate like a cat on catnip, a massive True Dragon shadow descended from the sky.
Rumble,
The Blue Dragon landed on the cliff wall, its sharp claws firmly gripping the stone. Head down, tail up, a pair of large blue wings spread wide, its slender neck hanging low as it brought its head close to the Young Red Dragon's body.
A salty sea breeze mixed with the scent of wet sand and stone rushed into Kadilos's nostrils. That thick, long Blue Dragon horn was almost about to poke into the Young Red Dragon's eye.
"I know you, Akzi. What are you doing here? Have you come to look down on me and mock me, specifically to mock an imprisoned True Dragon?"
Young Red Dragon Kadilos snorted a few sparks from his nostrils. According to his former temper, this Red Dragon, who ranked higher among the Chromatic Dragon species, would have already spat out a breath of Dragonfire.
A proud Red Dragon would never allow any True Dragon to step on his head, rather than maintaining his only bit of self-esteem to question this Adolescent Blue Dragon.
"Oh, don't misunderstand, Kadilos. Every True Dragon in the Dragon clan now has their own things to do and has no time to waste precious moments mocking you."
The fifteen-meter-long Adolescent Blue Dragon Akzi twisted his slender neck. Small stones cracked by his sharp claws broke off from the mountain wall and rolled down, hitting the valley floor.
"Spending time with the passionate and beautiful maidens in the territory is better than spending it mocking you."
Akzi's unique True Dragon voice carried a low echo as he said, "I have come here to give you an opportunity, a chance to gain freedom. I hope you do not refuse this gift from the Dragon clan."
"Tell me, what do you want me to do?" The Young Red Dragon pretended to be indifferent, but his forced calm had already been seen through by the Blue Dragon.
"Hehe, it's very simple. You just need to follow my orders..." Akzi's low voice echoed in the canyon.
"What? You want me to follow you to capture and conquer those stray Wild Dragons around your territory, and I get no reward? Aren't you using a noble Red Dragon like a War Beast? I, Kadilos, am also a noble True Dragon. I refuse such insulting conditions!"
The Young Red Dragon said indignantly. Although he would gain relative freedom, he was expected to work for free. These True Dragons in this Dragon clan should be hanged in True Dragon Queen Tiamat's divine kingdom.
Upon hearing the refusal, a strange look appeared in Akzi's large vertical pupils. His slender neck swung his head back and forth in front of the Young Red Dragon.
"True Dragon? Heh, the Dragon clan will redefine the term True Dragon in the future. From now on, True Dragons like you, who cannot restrain the influence of the Evil Dragon Bloodline and forever suffer from the interference and incessant chatter of the Evil Dragon Blood, cannot be called True Dragons."
"And every True Dragon in the True Dragon is a True Dragon more noble than you."
A heartfelt pride appeared in Akzi's vertical pupils, and this pride originating from within even stung the Young Red Dragon's weak self-esteem.
"Look, a True Dragon who has restrained the interference of the Evil Dragon Bloodline can have a sufficiently stable mind to study knowledge and manipulate magic items."
Akzi extended his right claw, and a magical light gathered in his palm. A Mage Hand extended from his claw, and what the Mage Hand was holding was exactly the Magical Spatial Pouch that every Dragon Lord was equipped with.
At this moment, the Magical Spatial Pouch was slowly opening, revealing a shimmering golden light.
Sizzle, a spark flashed, and the Mage Hand quickly collapsed. The opened Magical Spatial Pouch also slowly closed and fell into the Blue Dragon's claw.
"Oh, sorry, I'm not very proficient yet. The Evil Dragon Bloodline in my body still frequently affects me." Akzi swallowed the Magical Spatial Pouch into his stomach, but there was no apology on his face.
Thanks to the methods explored and summarized by Kalon, and the determination of the True Dragons in the Dragon clan, these True Dragon s had all begun to embark on their true paths.
Young Red Dragon Kadilos, however, was sufficiently shocked.
His large mouth opened wide enough to fit an entire lamb.
One must know that the reason True Dragons do not like to study knowledge, and rarely even explore the inheritance in their minds, is partly because True Dragons are lazy and feel that the power brought by their own bloodline is strong enough.
But another important reason, well known to all True Dragon s, is that various desires from the dragon bloodline constantly influence and disturb them, making it difficult for them to calm their spirits.
It's like a human driven by desires triggered by male hormones during adolescence; various fantasies often pop up in their minds even in class.
And the interference brought by the dragon bloodline is many times stronger than the influence of human hormones.
"I can follow your orders, but I demand to obtain a status in the True Dragon in the future. Also, I hope you can teach me the method to control dragon blood. This is my condition for following orders."
Kadilos tried to bargain, but the initiative was not with him.
"Oh," Akzi quietly withdrew his head, looked down at the Young Red Dragon, and said proudly, "You are not worthy yet, Kadilos. If you weren't of the same race as the most noble sovereign in the True Dragon, perhaps we would have already drained your Evil Dragon True Blood."
"Making contributions to the True Dragon is the only way for you to obtain true freedom and rights. This is the King's promise to you!"
"And now, you should honestly be the True Dragon's War Beast and complete your mission!"
The Young Red Dragon thought for a long while before finally nodding in agreement. "I only hope the Dragon clan is not like me and can keep your promise!"
Akzi didn't deign to answer such a question. He simply chanted the Dragon Language passed down by Kalon. The magic spell released the restraints on the Young Red Dragon. Crimson chains snapped off his body, and the shackles on his limbs opened automatically.
"Hey, why didn't you also remove the iron ring around my neck? Are you afraid you can't suppress me alone?" Kadilos spat out two mouthfuls of fire in dissatisfaction, spraying them onto the gate of the Dragon Treasury.
Young Red Dragons have a huge range of power, but almost all have Saint-level destructive power. The strongest even possess power to rival the Legendary.
Although Kadilos was not among the strongest batch, a Werewolf Elder who had just entered the Saint-level, like the one killed by Sahar, would be settled in just a few slaps by this Young Red Dragon.
This is why True Dragon s cannot be measured by ordinary standards; the destructive power they possess far exceeds their Life Level measurement standards.
At the same level, there can still be a world of difference.
To suppress or even defeat this Young Red Dragon, the True Dragon would need to dispatch at least several True Dragon s besides Kalon, or an army of hundreds equipped with dragon-hunting ballistae, magic-infused ballistae, and Armor-piercing arrows.
But the Adolescent Blue Dragon Akzi only sneered coldly, "That is the mark of your status. As for when you need to be suppressed, Kadilos, you'd better pray you can suppress that magma-filled, hot-headed brain of yours. Otherwise, there will be True Dragons to teach you that there is always a True Dragon above another, and a heaven beyond heaven!"
"Hurry up, we still need to find another True Dragon who is also a sinner," Akzi said, his four claws cracking the rock as he gently flapped his wings and took to the sky.
"A rare freedom," the Young Red Dragon said, stretching his body before spreading his broad wings and soaring into the sky. A loud roar echoed through the mountains—the Young Red Dragon's venting howl... Carlit, with her long blue hair, was dressed in coarse hemp clothes, leaning quietly under the Tree of Life in Bay Stream City. Her slightly damp forehead showed that this seemingly young girl was actually under quite a bit of strain.
The surrounding men and women stayed away from this young woman, who appeared sufficiently proud and cold.
This young woman was stronger than a man in his prime and did more work than two adult men. Moreover, she was beautiful enough that she should have been the target of every man's pursuit.
However, after the fifteenth man who tried to flirt with her had his eye socket punched swollen, no more men attempted to approach the girl.
The women, on the other hand, rejected the girl's aloof attitude, as she maintained a graceful appearance even while others were dripping with sweat. Only the kind little girl, Nora, could easily approach the young woman.
The construction of Bay Stream City followed a path completely opposite to that of the city beneath the Nest of Dragons; it required the outer defensive facilities to be built first, followed by the buildings within the city. Therefore, many people were resting around the Tree of Life at this time.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh,
Two True Dragons descended from the sky, one Blue Dragon and one Red Dragon. The pressure brought by their massive forms caused the resting residents to quietly disperse, moving away from where the two True Dragon s were landing.
"A new Red Dragon? Since when did the Dragon Lords get another new member?" whispered the residents who had seen Kalon, watching the two descending True Dragon s with curious eyes.
"This Red Dragon doesn't look like much. It can't compare to the majesty and beauty of the Sovereign of Flames. It looks like a destitute Wild Dragon that's come to join the True Dragon," a woman whispered.
To the subjects, the Young Red Dragon's scales, which were gradually darkening, were indeed not as beautiful as those of the Red Dragon Sovereign. Having been battered by the outside world, the Young Red Dragon was no longer as arrogant and overbearing as before, so he did not leave a particularly striking impression on the crowd.
The Young Red Dragon Kadilos pricked up his ears and heard the surrounding discussions clearly. He irritably clawed at the dirt on the ground, but he did not dare to burn those talkative weaklings to death with a blast of Dragonfire.
The thriving Tree of Life before him made the Young Red Dragon realize that perhaps the True Dragon had already conquered that alternate plane, turning it into a back garden for them to harvest at will.
Carlit, with her long blue hair, also stood up with a shocked expression. As a high-ranking Blue Dragon herself, she could clearly understand the threat posed by the Young Red Dragon before her.
The collar around the Young Red Dragon's neck, engraved with the name Kalon Kogmora and a string of Dragon Language, was also enough to surprise the Blue Dragon.
This meant that the Young Red Dragon was Kalon's captive. In the words of those humans, the Young Red Dragon Kadilos was just a pet, a watchdog kept by Kalon.
Akzi seemed to have developed a new habit lately, particularly enjoying looking down on others with a condescending gaze.
At this moment, the Blue Dragon treated his former goddess, the female True Dragon he adored, just as he had previously treated the Young Red Dragon Kadilos.
He climbed the thick Tree of Life with his four limbs, stretching his long neck and lowering his head to sniff at the surprised young girl.
"Akzi, what business do you have with me? I have always abided by our original agreement, performing the hardest labor and never attempting to escape."
Eventually, the older Carlit could no longer bear the silent pressure and took the initiative to ask.
"Carlit, just yesterday, I suggested to Kalon that you be imprisoned like Kadilos, to extract the Evil Dragon True Blood from your body and contribute your only current value to the territory, but Kalon refused!"
As soon as Akzi spoke, he dropped a bombshell, leaving both the Young Red Dragon Kadilos and Carlit stunned on the spot.
During the True Dragon's youth, Akzi had protected them. Although he also possessed the pride and malicious nature of a Chromatic Dragon, to the young True Dragons in the group, he had always been a warm, brother-like figure.
After obtaining the method to control the influence of the Evil Dragon Bloodline and gradually discarding the negative effects, the more rational and clear-headed Adolescent Blue Dragon Akzi integrated into the Dragon clan. Consequently, he became colder when handling matters based on the True Dragon's interests.
More warmth brought more polarized emotions.
"Why?" Carlit's calm voice wavered slightly. She looked at her once-loyal Simp Dragon in disbelief, sensing that he had undergone a world-shaking change.
"You did not cherish the opportunity the generous Sovereign gave you, Carlit. You need to prove your worth; you shouldn't be like an ordinary person. You are a True Dragon, and the value you create is no longer proportional to the resources you consume."
Akzi's deep blue pupils were filled with coldness. He moved his head close to Carlit, who was still in human form, bringing Carly an extremely dangerous and intense sense of pressure.
"I didn't understand Kalon's intentions before, but now I can understand some of them," Akzi said, his breath blowing Carlit's long blue hair.
"He hopes to unite every True Dragon that can be united to charge toward a great goal together, but you are still escaping, still immersed in your former weakness, and have not taken the initiative to draw closer to the True Dragon."
"You didn't even volunteer for the war to conquer the alternate plane, but instead hid in some corner of the territory. I once hoped you could grasp concepts of family and companions from your contact with humans, but it seems you have disappointed both me and the True Dragon."
Akzi's voice echoed in Carlit's ears but did not travel further; the sensible Tree of Life had already extended its branches to isolate the sound within a small area.
"Those who do not align with the Dragon clan are enemies of the True Dragons. You, too, are a potential enemy of the Dragon clan," Akzi's tone became extremely cold.
"I will not allow anyone to harm the Dragon clan or sabotage our common goal," Akzi said, extending his tongue to lick the face of the numb Carlit.
A low sigh sounded in Akzi's throat. "Therefore, I petitioned Kalon to give you another chance to face the True Dragon's trial. If you fail to meet my expectations, I will kill you and keep your head in my lair to commemorate the rose that bloomed in my world during my youth!"
"Even if I am punished by Kalon, I will not hesitate!"
"Oh, Akzi, I really like that line," Kadilos said, coming back to his senses and wagging his tail as he offered his suggestion. "Before you kill her, maybe you could force yourself on her to make up for the regret in your heart."
Akzi gave the Young Red Dragon a cold glance and said flatly, "Of course I could do that, I just don't like doing it!"