Amid the cheers, the dragon hatchlings crowded their heads toward the wooden cups before them.
The strong liquor went down their throats like fire, but the sharp burn lasted only an instant before melting into a gentle warmth. Rich fruit fragrance slowly spread through their throats.
"Delicious."
Ferrum gave his verdict, his eyes sparkling.
No matter how potent the liquor brewed by the Short-lived Species was, without any potion ingredients, it was ultimately just an ordinary drink. Once it entered a dragon hatchling's stomach, it could not stir even the faintest trace of drunkenness.
Yet that flavor steeped in the air of civilization was something the little dragons had never tasted before.
The Iron Dragons merely sampled it, sitting upright as their tails swayed lightly. The Cobalt Dragons drained their cups in one gulp, then lay belly-up, lazily savoring the lingering sweetness.
The Tungsten Dragons stretched their bodies and hummed ancient ballads from the Dragon Legacy. Singing low like bards, without harps or bagpipes, they beat the ground and sang, their expressions peaceful and warm.
The Nickel Dragons gathered together, still bearing injuries. They whispered among themselves, noisily chattering away, though no one knew what they were discussing.
"So lively." Ferrum raised his cup and drank again.
The Lesser Dragons in the back were obscured by the shadowy Heavy-Metal Dragons, making them difficult to see. He only noticed that they guarded their cups tightly, taking a tiny sip, glancing left and right, then taking another tiny sip, as though afraid the drink might sprout wings and fly away.
"Should we toast, Ferrum?"
Moqi shuffled over with his wooden barrel. "My memories describe it this way: when you're happy, you have to clink cups together to be happiest."
Moqi was indeed greedy and fond of food, but he was happy not merely because of the honey and liquor. He was happy because Taigo had called them "honored members," because the Nurturer had addressed them as "everyone." Like all the little dragons, he felt as though he was finally being taken seriously.
"Cheers."
Ferrum casually clinked cups with Moqi, a faintly contemplative look appearing on his face.
The twentieth millennium he now inhabited was called the Age of Dragons and Titans. Giant Dragons ruled the skies, Titans walked among the mountains, and Metallic Dragons, Heavy-Metal Dragons, Chromatic Dragons, and Exotic Dragons soared in every color as dragons rose together.
A thousand years ago, the Supreme Dragon had not yet fallen, and the Heavy-Metal Dragons were still a force to be reckoned with across all realms. Jialagedong sat entrenched upon the highest divine throne, His gaze overlooking the sea of stars, His eyes burning with Bloodfire that never ceased.
Within a towering obsidian palace that pierced the clouds, the Supreme hosted all the Heavy-Metal Dragons who had come to pay homage.
Tens of thousands of Giant Dragons drank without restraint and sang at the tops of their voices. Then, roaring, they departed the divine kingdom, descending upon the realms like meteors falling from the heavens. With their unrivaled strength, they split mountains and tore open the earth, unstoppable as a surging tide.
The fine wine of a thousand years ago and the wine of this moment had long since ceased to taste the same.
A knock rang out like clashing steel, wrenching every little dragon's thoughts back.
The gathering ground gradually fell quiet layer by layer. The little dragons held their cups and looked up. Valyria was coiled in the firelight, having silently watched them for a long while.
"You have had your drink. Now you may taste the meat as well."
Valyria said, "Now let us speak freely. Since you have all grown up, I have a question I want you to answer."
"Members of the Ashmark Lineage, tell me: who is the greatest enemy in your hearts?"
The dragon hatchlings froze, looking at one another, unable to understand the Nurturer's intent.
Valyria smiled casually. "Whoever answers well will receive a gold coin."
"Chromatic Dragons!"
"Exotic Dragons!"
Several voices immediately rang out. To the Heavy-Metal Dragons, their greatest enemies were naturally these two kinds of Evil Dragons.
Back then, the Supreme Dragon had formed an alliance with the Evil Dragon Mother, agreeing to join forces and kill the Platinum Dragon God. Yet during the bloody battle, they were ambushed by the Three-Tailed Dragon Queen. Then the Evil Dragon Mother turned against Him, and together with the wounds the Platinum Dragon God had inflicted earlier, it ultimately caused Jialagedong's fall.
Whenever that war was mentioned, people always mocked Jialagedong for His arrogance and stupidity. The Evil Dragon Mother's vicious treachery was well known. Forming an alliance with Chromatic Dragons was like keeping venomous snakes at one's side while believing one could control them.
But the Supreme Dragon had never been a benevolent god to begin with. The Chrome Dragons, Cobalt Dragons, and Nickel Dragons beneath Him were likewise all Evil Dragons, long filled with hostility toward the Metallic Dragons for various reasons. At the Evil Dragon Mother's slightest provocation, they were immediately lured in.
After the disastrous defeat in the Dragon God War, countless Heavy-Metal Dragons were implicated, hunted down, slaughtered, and purged. It was impossible for the Heavy-Metal Dragons not to hate the Chromatic Dragons and Exotic Dragons.
"Titans!"
"Metallic Dragons!"
Some dragon hatchlings brought up those names as well.
Titans had always been the mortal enemies of Giant Dragons. That went without saying.
The Heavy-Metal Dragons had taken the initiative to start the war and ended up in their current state; they had brought destruction upon themselves. Naturally, the Metallic Dragons would not extend them a helping hand. They had always watched coldly from the sidelines, which had also bred hatred in some Nickel Dragons.
By now, nearly every race hoped for the Heavy-Metal Dragons to go extinct so they could seize the ecological niches the Heavy-Metal Dragons had once occupied and controlled.
Conversely, aside from their sole close friends, the Gem Dragons, the Heavy-Metal Dragons were wary of every other race as well.
The dragon hatchlings spoke eagerly. Some answered seriously, some merely parroted others, and several Lesser Dragons followed the Feather Dragons in front of them, foolishly repeating their words, drawing quiet laughter from the Heavy-Metal Dragons once more.
Valyria swept them with a cold glance, and the laughter immediately died away. She listened carefully as the dragon hatchlings spoke. Whether it was a sinister answer from a Nickel Dragon or a timid reply from a Lesser Dragon, she heard each one out attentively. In the end, she calmly acknowledged them, nodding and saying they were good.
The bonfire flickered, and after quite some time, the gathering ground slowly quieted.
In order to earn gold coins, the lively dragon hatchlings had mostly finished speaking. Only a few unusual ones remained. Some trusted in their own strength, some were overly cautious, and some were exceedingly lazy. Even now, they sat entrenched in their places, holding themselves back and saying nothing.
"Kelaili."
Valyria finally moved, calling him out directly as her gaze turned toward the middle of the grounds. "There is no need to keep hiding off to the side. You have grown so large—who could fail to see you? You are the Cobalt-Blue Overlord of the Cobalt Dragons. Do you have anything to say?"
All the dragon hatchlings followed the Nurturer's gaze.
The Cobalt Dragons had always had little presence in Ochre Valley. They barely participated in any activities—no Racing Competitions, tug-of-war, biting and fighting, hunting, or play. They spent all day playing by themselves in Sunken Hollow, only appearing in great numbers when it was time to eat.
Because they were numerous and a Higher Species, even the Iron Dragons and Chrome Dragons would not casually provoke them, so neither side knew much about the other.
Only upon looking carefully today did the dragon hatchlings suddenly realize that every one of these fellows had grown larger than a male lion. They lay there in lumps, surrounding the largest among them like little mountains.
"Eh?"
For no apparent reason, Kelaili had become the center of all the dragons. With no choice, he could only stretch out the claws tucked beneath him and say, "Lord Nurturer, the greatest enemy in my heart..."
He paused for a moment, confirming the answer within his heart before saying, "is the Short-lived Species."
"The Short-lived Species?"
"Everyone says Exotic Dragons and Chromatic Dragons are dangerous, but not all Exotic Dragons and Chromatic Dragons obey the Three-Tailed Dragon Queen and the Evil Dragon Mother. Those creatures themselves enjoy slaughtering one another. Their internal strife never ends, and they are constantly being crusaded against by other righteous races. Their reputation is even more disgraceful than ours."
"Apart from the dragon gods and the Apostles at their sides, the other Chromatic Dragons and Exotic Dragons are, in the end, just a loose pile of sand. There is nothing to fear."
Kelaili spoke slowly. "But if it is the Short-lived Species, then the situation is completely different."
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