"What Moqi just said was right, too. This is how we Chrome Dragons fight—piercing, cutting. That's why it looks rather brutal."
Ferrum withdrew his gaze and said slowly, "Besides, I told you before that I actually like that blazing, all-consuming feeling of battle. So sometimes, I can't help putting too much force into it."
"But those aren't the heart of the problem. The heart of the problem is that the target in your eyes and the target in mine are not entirely the same."
Ferrum said, "You think punishment, warning, and drawing a line are enough once those three things are done. But In Tas, I must remind you of something you need to remember and consider: rooting out future trouble."
"Rooting out future trouble?" In Tas froze.
"Yes. When dealing with Iron Dragons, I can fight them without reservations and without worrying about consequences. Even after a duel, I can still talk to them normally, perhaps even become friends with them."
"But Nickel Dragons are a completely different matter."
"You don't understand Nickel Dragons, but we of the same kind know them very well. Nickel Dragons are the weakest among us. They are the Heavy-Metal Dragons most like Chromatic Dragons—vengeful over the slightest grievance, vicious and poisonous."
"A Nickel Dragon might develop deep hatred for you over some trivial matter. That hatred might fester for centuries without you knowing a thing, only to erupt like thunder when the perfect opportunity arrives."
"So even under the premise of the Divine-Fall Calamity, the Lineage doesn't particularly like Nickel Dragons. They are the fewest in Dragon Valley, and unlike us, each with a traceable origin, their dragon eggs are basically offered to the Lineage by adventurers and retainers."
Hearing this, In Tas's expression dimmed slightly.
The origins behind Nickel Dragons' identities were scorned by the Higher Species, yet the origins of Lesser Dragons were much the same. Dragon Valley's hierarchy was strict; only strength and bloodline determined who had the right to speak.
He thought for a while, then returned to the point. "If that's the case, doesn't that mean we shouldn't provoke Nickel Dragons lightly?"
"That is indeed how Short-lived Species see it. But as fellow Heavy-Metal Dragons, we aren't afraid of them. Do you know what I was thinking during the fight?"
Ferrum leaned slightly closer to In Tas, and that chilling expression appeared on his face again. "The inheritance of Chrome Dragons kept reminding me that only by killing them all could I root out future trouble."
"But that is a crime strictly forbidden by the Lineage. If one of our kind kills another, then forget Chrome Dragons—even Iron Dragons won't be allowed to live."
Having said that, Ferrum sat back. Before the aura around him could truly rise, it slackened away.
"So I used another method. I wasn't merely going to teach them a lesson. I was going to trample them beneath my feet."
"I wanted them to feel fear, to leave a shadow over their hatchling years. I wanted them to tremble at the thought of my name, not even daring to entertain revenge."
"Nickel Dragons are extremely evil Heavy-Metal Dragons, but Chrome Dragons are the greatest evil. Nickel Dragons might not fear powerful good dragons, but they will absolutely fear powerful Chrome Dragons."
"Because we don't play by rules, and we mean what we say. That is how I root out future trouble."
"As for this thing..."
Ferrum pulled out that fragment of a Nickel Dragon's skull. "It was only meant to scare them. It's not as if I'm some mad dragon."
He weighed the bone fragment in his claw, then hurled it hard across the lake.
Spinning through the air, the fragment skimmed out at an angle, bouncing again and again across the glittering lake surface—twice, three times... until it vanished beyond the edge of sight.
Moqi's splashing came from the lake. Ferrum raised his neck and craned forward to look, commenting on Moqi's swimming posture.
In Tas contemplated in silence. Recalling how those Nickel Dragons usually acted, then imagining their fear and cowering, the knot of distress in his heart slowly loosened.
Perhaps Ferrum was right. If Nickel Dragons truly possessed such fierce desires for revenge, then being softhearted would only delay himself and harm his companions as well.
"Next, am I going to learn Finger-Bone Rebound with Leijieduolei?"
In Tas brought up another matter.
"So what? If the sight of him bothers you, go bite him. Fight him every day if you want. But if you go looking for trouble like that and Leijieduolei beats you up, we won't help you."
Ferrum smiled, then patted the Thunderclap Dragon again. "Show some spirit. Compete with Leijieduolei. Even though he's an Iron Dragon, he might not learn new things faster than you."
"Mm."
In Tas nodded with great seriousness.
After a long stretch of quiet, as he watched Moqi continually churning through the water, the Thunderclap Dragon's attention was gradually drawn to him, and he wondered whether he should go down and help.
Only much later did Ferrum speak softly. "Actually, there is another way."
His voice sounded distant. In Tas did not even catch it clearly, so he turned his head and asked in confusion, "What?"
"I said before that Nickel Dragons should be dealt with through violence countering violence, through bloody intimidation. But that is the method of Chrome Dragons. In my heart, there is actually another way."
Ferrum revealed a thoughtful expression and said earnestly, "All intelligent lives possess dignity. When facing those who commit violence, we should stop them from doing evil, but we should not inflict extreme, bloody torture upon them. After giving appropriate punishment, we should treat them as lives capable of understanding, choosing, and reforming—educate them and guide them toward improvement."
In Tas was completely stunned. This was not something a Dragon Hatchling should have been able to say. It was as if he had heard the legendary Platinum Dragon God speaking above his head.
"But for me, although I can understand it, I still can't do it now."
Ferrum shook his head. "I still have so many things of my own to do. I train every day. I want to challenge Jelierion. I need to learn wedge forms, teach you and Leijieduolei the techniques of Finger-Bone Rebound. I also want to observe the other Dragon Hatchlings and meet some new companions..."
He looked toward the lake and said softly, "Maybe when I've grown very, very large, I'll consider doing things like that. But not now. I don't have the energy to spend on Nickel Dragons."
In Tas could not speak. His mind was in complete turmoil, all kinds of thoughts passing through it. He stared hard at the Chrome Dragon, as if he wanted to imprint him from his eyes into his mind.
"Couldn't find any Stone Crabs. Will two Tropical Giant Crucian Carp do?"
Moqi surfaced from the water with a dark giant crucian carp clamped in his jaws and another writhing one held in his claws, calling out in a muffled voice.
Without waiting for an answer, he flung the large fish from his mouth onto the shore.
With a graceful leap, Ferrum caught the Tropical Giant Crucian Carp precisely, swept his wings as he turned, and landed without a sound.
"That's more than enough. Come up quickly."
Ferrum called to Moqi, then split the fish open with one claw and handed it to In Tas. "Slice it on the rocks. I'll grab some snakeberries. Don't sneak a bite before I get back."
In Tas watched his light, brisk retreating figure, watched the opened fish, then heard the splashing water and Moqi's muttering as he gradually approached. At last, he smiled.
Before you continue