After the hunt, Garos found a barren mountain and hurled himself against rock and earth again and again, enjoying every impact.
At first, Garos had trained to grow stronger and improve his chances of survival. He had forced himself to endure the pain. But he had long since grown used to it. If a day passed without training, he felt as though something was missing. It had become part of his daily life.
As dusk deepened into night, Garos returned to Conifer Valley.
The moment he arrived, he sensed a faint air of impending battle.
He circled overhead instead of landing, looking down at a dragon and an ant army locked in fierce combat.
The Fairy Dragon and the red dragon both wore grave expressions. Neither noticed Garos's arrival; they were still immersed in their imaginary world.
Samantha sat in a regal pose, gazing down at an anthill with a mouthful of fire.
The Fairy Dragon Vera circled above her head.
She scattered glittering magical dust, making the ordinary black ants look like warriors clad in armor.
"Lowly ants!"
Samantha's roar rang with anger. She lowered her voice until it sounded as deep as an Adult Dragon's. "How dare you build a fortress on the Red Dragon Queen's territory!"
She breathed out a thin stream of flame, scorching a smoking pit three centimeters from the anthill's entrance as a warning.
"Face me in single combat, King of the Giant Ants!"
Samantha carefully picked up the "ant king" and set him before her.
He was a large soldier ant with unusually long antennae.
He scrambled to escape, but a trench drawn around him trapped him in the middle. He ran in frantic circles.
The Fairy Dragon Vera cast an illusion that made light flare and contract around the ant king, making