Dragonbirth Day (Part 2)

Once Kelaili gave her answer, her following words flowed smoothly.

"We watched with our own eyes as the short-lived races learned to wield fire and magic, tamed the beasts of the jungle into war pets and livestock, gathered like drifting sand, and forged enormous nations that could dispatch armies of hundreds of thousands to wage war at the drop of a hat."

"They clearly possess no Dragon Legacy, yet through mutual communication and storytelling, they pass knowledge and emotion down through generation after generation, as though reproducing."

"They are still developing and evolving, creating all kinds of hateful weapons, such as Dragon-Hunting Crossbows, Dragon-Bane Spells, and Blasphemous Elixirs."

"We Cobalt Dragons originally feared nothing, because we live long enough. But the longer we live, the more clearly we realize the changes in those short-lived races."

"Now they can already stand shoulder to shoulder with the long-lived races, challenging dragons and Titans. If given more time, even I cannot imagine what they might become."

Kेलaili spoke slowly. "So, in my heart, the short-lived races are the greatest enemy."

The Cobalt Dragon spoke at a snail's pace, and her explanation was especially long. The hatchlings were all growing impatient, but the feeder maintained rare patience and listened as Kelaili finished every sentence.

A brief silence.

"Good."

The feeder nodded and gave her assessment, looking toward the other hatchlings. "Do you think the Cobalt-Blue Overlord is right?"

The hatchlings whispered among themselves.

"It does seem to make some sense."

As Moqi sipped his wine, he said quietly, "The Tagoma Kingdom and Aino Kingdom that the feeder mentioned earlier are also nations of short-lived races. They rose swiftly. What do you think, Xilong?"

Xilong shook his head. "I understand, but I do not agree."

"How so?"

Moqi knew it was time for him to press further.

"The Cobalt Dragon means that short-lived races evolve and reproduce too quickly, making them dangerous. I can understand why Cobalt Dragons think that way, but ultimately, it is because they fear evolution and change, because they themselves always remain unchanged."

Xilong said to Moqi, "But we Chrome Dragons welcome evolution and competition. I am even more so. Therefore, even if the Cobalt-Blue Overlord says it, I cannot agree."

"What's so special about the Cobalt-Blue Overlord? Is the Cobalt-Blue Overlord ranked or something? Ugh, these Kobolds really have no eye for things..."

Moqi muttered as he rose lightly to his feet and ran off to have the Kobolds refill the wine. Before leaving, he casually grabbed Xilong's wooden barrel as well.

"Hidorivi."

The feeder began calling names again. "Do you have anything to say?"

"There is one thing I strongly agree with the Cobalt Dragon about: Exotic Dragons and Chromatic Dragons are not as frightening as people imagine."

Hidorivi rose from among the Iron Dragons. "The greatest enemy in my heart is the Bloodridge Tribes. There is no special reason. It is because the Lineage's greatest enemy at present is the Bloodridge Tribes."

"Good."

Jiazhuosa nodded approvingly. "Your surname is Ember Scar. You truly should hold your Lineage close to your heart and worry about what lies before you. Once you reach the Hatchling Stage, you will be able to take part in the Lineage's actual affairs. Then, Jelierion, what is your answer?"

Moqi returned carrying the barrel and saw that imposing figure slowly rise. Jelierion Ember Scar was ranked even ahead of Xilong. Moqi smacked his lips, feeling that surging pressure.

"The greatest enemy in my heart."

Jelierion answered, but his eyes were not on the feeder. Instead, he stared at a back before him. "Of course, it is Ladon."

The feeder looked down from on high and asked, "Ladon is also a member of the Lineage. Do you truly regard him as an enemy in your heart?"

"Ladon is indeed a member of the Lineage, but since the feeder asks it this way, I can only answer this way."

Jelierion's tone was calm. "What I think about every day is how to defeat opponents stronger than myself. My eyes can see only Ladon. As for the short-lived races and Bloodridge Tribes they speak of, I cannot see them yet."

"Good."

Jiazhuosa nodded. "You two brothers are both the type to focus on what lies before you. Not bad. The youngest one, Leijieduolei, do you have anything to say?"

Leijieduolei looked at the feeder, then at Hidorivi and Jelierion. He remained silent for a while before working his throat and saying, "I think the same as my elder brothers."

"Being able to see the strengths of other dragons and understand one's own shortcomings is also self-knowledge. Very well."

Jiazhuosa continued nodding.

When she finished, she looked at the one beside her. "Ladon, Jelierion regards you as his greatest opponent. What do you think? And who is the enemy in your heart?"

"I cannot control what the other hatchlings think. Between enemies and enemies, I do not believe any is qualified to be called the greatest."

Ladon calmly shook his head. "Therefore, I cannot answer."

"You act too much and think too little."

Jiazhuosa looked at the Iron Dragon. "By order of the Lord of Ochre Valley, you must answer."

"If I must give an answer."

Ladon fell silent for a moment, then said, "I think it is... waiting."

"Waiting?"

"More precisely, waiting for time to pass."

Ladon confirmed his answer. "Though I can see the sky, I must endure crawling on the ground. Though I know I will one day tear all things apart, I must still endure my present weakness. Waiting is the only thing that makes me feel pain. It sets my anger ablaze and leaves me unable to sit or stand at ease."

"Ladon is invincible now."

Moqi simply could not bear it. Beside Xilong, he bared his fangs and claws as he complained fiercely, "Waiting? Back then, I guarded the drying shed every day, bored enough to want to smash my head against a tree and die. Even I never said waiting was my greatest enemy. He said it first—he is deliberately putting on a grand act."

Xilong shifted his gaze and saw that the Chrome Dragons, Cobalt Dragons, Tungsten Dragons, and Nickel Dragons—most of them—were dismissive, wearing the same unconvinced expressions as Moqi.

Yet the five Iron Dragons at the very center—three with the surname Ember Scar and two with the surname Karajiege—were all tensing their bodies, their brow scales furrowed, as if each were thinking of something.

Xilong was thoughtful. "Perhaps he truly is invincible right now."

"Good."

The feeder let Ladon off. In any case, so long as he gave an answer, she would say good.

"Xilong."

Jiazhuosa counted silently to herself, knowing he was the last one. Her gaze slowly descended from above. "You were able to defeat an Iron Dragon with the body of a Chrome Dragon, which shows that you are quite capable. Is your answer the same as the other hatchlings'?"

"This is bad. They have stolen all the spotlight."

Before Xilong could speak, Moqi whispered beside him, "Xilong, if we want to get gold coins, we need to say something even more invincible."

The dragons' gazes converged. Xilong was now quite famous in Ochre Valley; nearly every dragon knew of his deeds. However, he had spoken last. The dragons had eagerly offered their thoughts before, and nearly every answer they could give had already been given.

The hatchlings watched Xilong's face with great interest. They somewhat wanted to see him embarrass himself, yet also hoped he could say something new.

"I think everything my kin have said is right."

When it was his turn, Xilong slowly rose and said quietly, "Chromatic Dragons, Exotic Dragons, Titans, short-lived races, the Bloodridge Tribes, and Ladon—even time and waiting—are all great enemies in my heart. Yet none of them is the greatest enemy."

"Then what do your eyes see?"

Jiazhuosa said this because it was the purpose of questioning every young dragon.

"The greatest enemy should be something that can make me feel threatened at every moment. After thinking it over and over, I discovered that there is only one such enemy: a dragon's nature."

Xilong said, "Powerful strength flows in our blood, but it also contains irresistible instincts. It blinds dragons' eyes with arrogance, turns dragons into beasts through wrath, lures dragons into evil with greed, and makes dragons mediocre and useless through sloth. I cannot accept that. So, in my heart, nature is the greatest enemy."

"Good!"

Moqi pulled faces. Though he could not understand it, he observed Xilong's tone and bearing as he spoke and felt that the momentum was more than enough. Moqi cheered inwardly, thinking it could not be much worse than Ladon's.

Yet this time, the feeder did not say good. Instead, she narrowed her eyes and revealed a heart-palpitating expression.

Her power spread outward, almost instantly silencing the dragons.

"You are utterly wrong!"

After a stunning silence, Jiazhuosa finally spoke in a deep voice. "Power and nature originate from our bloodline. It is precisely because we possess such nature that we Heavy-Metal Dragons can possess such power. You dare regard it as your greatest enemy—do you intend to strip away and discard the identity of a Heavy-Metal Dragon as well?"

"I dearly love my bloodline and identity. I would never abandon them, even in death."

Xilong's expression did not change. Facing that mountain-like pressure, he said, "My lord Feeder, I do not believe I am wrong. I regard nature as my greatest enemy, but my goal is not to strip it away or destroy it."

"Then what do you intend?" Jiazhuosa's voice rumbled.

Xilong said, "My ultimate goal is not to eliminate or suppress nature, but to be able to see it, and then control it freely."

Jiazhuosa's gaze sharpened further as she immediately pressed on. "How will you control it freely?"

Xilong froze for a moment, shaking his head as if somewhat at a loss. "To see nature and sense its flow is already difficult. As for controlling it freely... that remains a dream for now."

After a brief confrontation.

Jiazhuosa withdrew her gaze. She realized she had lost her composure. In order to resolve the problem that had troubled her for so long, she had become somewhat impatient, and such pressure was too heavy for a hatchling.

"I will count that as you talking your way through it."

After a long while, Jiazhuosa gave a low snort. The gathered aura quietly dispersed as she looked toward the dragons again. "Every one of you spoke very well, so every one of you may receive a reward."

She flexed her claws, and the Kobolds entered again. This time, they were not carrying dishes, but glittering gold. One gold coin for each hatchling!

The atmosphere over the sandy ground became fervent once more, churning like thick soup at a boil. Before gold, no dragon could resist. Even with the pressure of young dragons nearby, the hatchlings could not suppress their restless cries.

"Take the gold coins. I hope that in the days to come, you will understand yourselves, remember your enemies clearly, and see the companions at your side."

Jiazhuosa swept a claw. "That is all for Dragonbirth Day. My words end here. Now, let the revelry begin."

Moqi gave a cheer, clutching the gold coin in his claws as he drank fruit wine and threw himself into the dishes, feasting heartily while his tail swayed of its own accord.

Xilong received his gold coin as well. He slowly rubbed it with his hooked toe before beginning to taste the richly fragrant dinner. He liked this sort of food, and he liked this sort of life too.

The young dragons ate to their hearts' content, even forgetting the feeder's presence and beginning to indulge without restraint. Even the divisions between the various groups seemed to blur and fade away.

Days always passed swiftly. The hatchlings were already one year old, and they continued to grow.

One day, they would each depart. Perhaps some dragons would die young and fall; perhaps some would survive; perhaps some would turn against each other as enemies...

But regardless of what the future held, at this very moment, the hatchlings were happy in their hearts, and the atmosphere in the valley was joyful.

The Tungsten Dragons beat upon the sandy ground and sang once more, a common dwarven-style tune from the mortal world—

"Gold buried in the earth has no wings of its own,

The mash within an oak barrel is sweeter than honey known!

When the sun drops beyond the mountain, let us not gaze afar,

Even should the heavens collapse, sleep well where you are!

Hey! Raise a cup, my friend, lift your tail up high,

Hey! Raise a cup, my friend, shake your head and sway!"

The sky grew darker and darker. Beneath the blazing light of the bonfire, the feast gradually drew to its close.

"Feeder."

Amid the lively atmosphere, Ladon came before Jiazhuosa again. "Lately, I have felt very hungry. I need more meat. I am stronger than all of them combined, so I should receive more."

"Very well."

Jiazhuosa nodded. "But it is not because you are stronger than anyone. It is because of equal exchange. If you want an extra portion of meat, then do one extra task. The valley's newly built gravel yard will be your workplace from now on."

Ladon showed no expression as he silently withdrew, accepting the arrangement.

"So requests can already be made?"

Seeing this, Xilong waited for a while before running to Jiazhuosa as well. He raised his head and said, "Feeder, I want to learn the magic of Turning Stone into Gold."

"Turning Stone into Gold? Magic?"

Jiazhuosa looked at him twice, then flicked a claw and sent the little Chrome Dragon tumbling to the ground. "Learn it in your dreams."