Kaili Rolling Over

The next day.

Ferrum walked out of the Young Dragon lava-cave nest, where Kaili was waiting for him.

"The Gray Dwarves' smuggling exposed no small problem. The Nurturer came to ask me about the details again. It seems to take this very seriously and has already begun a thorough investigation."

Ferrum said.

"Short-lived Species have always been dangerous and sinister."

Kaili deeply agreed, nodding repeatedly. "The Nurturer has always forbidden Dragon Hatchlings from associating with their retainers. Thinking back on it now, it was probably not only worried that we would slaughter the retainers, but also that the Dragon Hatchlings' valuable information would leak out."

The Cobalt Dragon was enormous. Ferrum had to raise his head to see his face. "What valuable information do you have?"

Kaili thought for a while before answering seriously, "Everything about me is exceedingly valuable."

"That's true. I heard that although Cobalt Dragon blood is highly poisonous, if its toxicity can be removed, it becomes an immortal nectar that Short-lived Species covet beyond measure. And your internal organs are precious materials for brewing magical potions too. No wonder you see Short-lived Species as your greatest enemies."

Ferrum said casually.

"Trying to scare me?"

Kaili narrowed his eyes. "Chrome Dragon claws and horns can be made into the finest weapons. Not only are they sharp, they also have the special effect of breaking magic. Pull out your spines and polish them a little, and they become peerless spears. So don't always think Chrome Dragons can stay out of it."

Ferrum looked puzzled after hearing this. "I meant to say that you're timid. Why did you turn around and praise me instead?"

Kaili snorted coldly, turned around, and pointed his tail at him.

Ferrum circled around him again. "I saw that Cobalt Dragons always acted as a group before. When I invited you, I hoped you would bring the other Cobalt Dragons with you. Why did you still come alone in the end? Could it be that after losing to me, you're no longer the Cobalt-Blue Overlord?"

"It has nothing to do with winning or losing. I just don't like being pushed along by them. I don't want to be an Overlord. I only want to be Kaili."

Kaili shook his head. "Forget it. Chrome Dragons go their own way. There's no explaining it to you."

"Do I look like I'm going my own way now?"

Ferrum said.

Kaili thought for a while without replying. He spread his hind legs, sat down squarely, and scratched the scales on his belly.

He had always been slow and sluggish, and he did not talk much. It was only because Ferrum was likewise one of the powerful dragons and was called a Variant Species that he had been willing to say a few extra words. But by now, there was basically nothing left to talk about.

The autumn wind swept dust through the valley. One dragon sat while the other stood, waiting in silence. For a long time, neither spoke again.

"The time is about right."

Only after the sun had passed overhead did Ferrum speak again. "I'll draw Ladon's attention. You act according to plan. If you get the meat, remember to save me a share."

"Of course," Kaili answered in a muffled voice.

After the Kobolds withdrew, mountain-like piles of bloody meat once again rose at the gathering ground.

As usual, Ladon appeared, claimed it, swept his gaze around, then withdrew his gaze and lowered his head to chew.

The day before yesterday, he had abandoned the gathering ground's food to hunt the Thunderclap Dragon. The Tungsten Dragons watching from the sidelines had seized the chance, rushing up to snatch it all and stuffing themselves full.

After the news spread, even more nearby Dragon Hatchlings gathered around. Yet, as usual, they merely watched from far away. No one dared challenge his strength.

Until Ferrum entered the field.

The Chrome Dragon appeared openly, stopping twenty meters away from Ladon. He swayed his tail and stomped the gravel until it creaked beneath his feet.

Ladon bared his fangs, and the chase began at once.

Rather than predicting his escape like In Tas had, Ferrum watched Ladon's body until the Archaic Species lunged, then suddenly retreated at high speed.

At the same time, seeing Ladon leave the mountain of meat, Ferrum's companions swiftly began to act.

Afterglow whipped up a gale and dove down with astonishing speed. She neatly seized the piled bloody meat, skimming over the gathering ground like a hawk snatching fish from water.

Kaili thundered forward, swaying as he charged before the meat mountain. He flung huge chunks of beast meat outward while opening his jaws to chew and swallow fiercely.

Moqi received them from behind. With smooth coordination, he dragged away every chunk of meat that had been thrown out.

Of course, Ladon knew what those creatures were doing, yet he still pursued Ferrum relentlessly. He seemed intent on racing Ferrum. His strides were immense and his strength astonishing; in straight-line acceleration, he was fast beyond words.

But whenever he was about to close in on the Chrome Dragon, Ferrum would swiftly shift direction and leap away. Ladon was not agile enough. Though he charged wildly, howled, and pounced, he was always just short of catching his prey.

"Ferrum!"

After failing again and again, Ladon finally roared. "Even that Lesser Dragon dared challenge me. You call yourself one of the powerful dragons, yet with me chasing behind you, you do not even have the courage to look back?"

The air froze in an instant. Both sides slowed without prior agreement. Ferrum gradually came to a stop, turned his head and body, and met Ladon's gaze.

In the world of dragons, eye contact was an invisible slaughter, a grim collision of power and bloodline. Little dragons never dared look directly into the eyes of Great Dragons, nor did Lower Species dare offend the majesty of Higher Species.

As an Archaic Species, Ladon could force Dragon Hatchlings to submit with his gaze alone. Back when Jelierion had led the Iron Dragons to challenge him, even they had deliberately avoided meeting his eyes.

Yet Ferrum turned back and met Ladon's gaze head-on.

Dragon's might.

The Archaic Species' vertical pupils were like pools of molten lava, Bloodfire boiling within them. His fury, his bloodline, his power—all of it crushed down through that severe gaze.

Ferrum's heart throbbed, nearly trembling.

Yet in the end, Ferrum was not crushed by that gaze. As his blood surged rapidly, his pupils gradually blazed as well. As if answering some summons, flowing light ignited within his originally orange-yellow vertical eyes, like molten gold.

Neither side emerged victorious from that exchange of gazes. Ladon froze for a moment and tried to press harder, but Ferrum had already turned away and retreated.

Ladon stared at that gray-white back, a faintly contemplative expression on his face. Only after a long while did he abandon the chase, draw in his fangs, and return to the gathering ground.

It was still only for food, without any real battle. Ladon felt somewhat disappointed. But when he returned to the gathering ground, he discovered that one Cobalt Dragon had not yet run far.

To fill his stomach, Kaili had eaten beside the mountain of meat for a long time. Only now did he retreat with a chunk of beast meat in his mouth, scrambling away on all fours. But he was too slow, and having eaten too much, his movements were rather comical.

Ladon leaped forward and landed in front of Kaili. Looking at the even larger Cobalt Dragon, he nevertheless felt as if he were looking down on him.

"Are you joking?"

Ladon ground his teeth, anger surging. "This is outright humiliation."

Kaili gaped, never expecting Ladon to return so quickly. He hurriedly swallowed the meat in his mouth and said, "This has nothing to do with me."

Ladon had no interest in hearing his explanation. He struck Kaili fiercely, and the Cobalt-Blue Overlord, heavy as a small mountain, was sent skidding sideways in an instant. He rolled across the ground, throwing up great clouds of dust.

What followed was brutality beyond measure.

Moqi, watching from afar, could not help covering his eyes. Only when he saw Ferrum returning did he hurry forward to greet him.

"Ferrum."

Moqi examined him for a moment. Seeing that Ferrum was uninjured, he relaxed and said quietly, "There's something I don't know whether I should say, and I don't know if you'll be angry after hearing it."

"What?"

"I feel..."

Moqi hesitated. "I feel like Afterglow might like me."

"Hm?"

Ferrum was stunned. "What makes you say that?"

"I listened to you before and went to invite that Feather Dragon to join us. Before we made our move just now, I saw her again. Every time she sees me, she smiles. She smiles whenever she sees me, as if I'm glowing."

Moqi confessed bashfully.

"She smiles whenever she sees you."

Ferrum looked Moqi up and down. "Could she be laughing at you? Feather Dragons can fly, and their eyesight is good too. Have you done anything embarrassing lately that she might have seen?"

"...No way."

This was an angle Moqi had never considered. He stood stunned for a moment, then mulled it over slowly. His face gradually fell.

At that moment, Afterglow folded her wings and landed, walking closer. Seeing Moqi, she indeed gave a soft laugh, then looked toward Kaili, who was fleeing in the distance.

"How did he get caught by Ladon?"

Afterglow asked. "Should we save him?"

"It's fine."

Ferrum shook his head. "Cobalt Dragons are the hardest to kill among all True Dragons, and Kaili is the Cobalt-Blue Overlord. As long as his head isn't twisted off, he'll be fine no matter what."

"Do you all want to watch me get beaten to death?"

Kaili rolled and tumbled around the gathering ground. "Come help me already!"

Chrome Dragons and Cobalt Dragons were bitter enemies and knew each other well, so Ferrum could stand by and do nothing. But Afterglow was different. Looking at Kaili as he shouted, she thought for a while.

"Why don't we take this chance to challenge Ladon too?"

Afterglow said. "The Iron Dragons have done it once already. If we swarm him together, it won't be shameful."

"Lesser Dragons simply do not understand the concept of Archaic Species."

Moqi hurriedly shook his head. "Even Jelierion and Hidorivi failed. How could the few of us possibly manage it?"

"Lesser Dragons merely lack Dragon Legacy. The Nurturer said that at this age, I have already learned everything a True Dragon can learn."

Afterglow continued, "After all, we are companions who acted together. It is better for us all to be hurt than for him to bleed alone. If we can bite a few chunks of meat off that Archaic Species, that would be even better."

Hearing this, Ferrum could not help looking at Afterglow a few more times. He discovered that Moqi had actually been right. The Feather Dragon looked quiet on the surface, but there was savagery in her bones. She truly was a bird of prey.

"That could work."

Ferrum said, "It mainly depends on Kaili's wishes. If he fights back, we'll go help him."

Kaili's cries carried over again, and Moqi hurriedly called out, "Overlord, if you fight back, we'll go help you."

Kaili seemed not to hear at all. Under Ladon's attacks, he rolled and tumbled, charging about with his head down, yet he did not fight back in the slightest.

"Then that's that."

Ferrum withdrew his gaze and smiled. "Where is my share of the meat? I'll take it to In Tas."

"No need. This time, we got a lot."

Moqi said happily. "We'll each eat our own. I've prepared In Tas's share too. I'll deliver it to him later."