After discussing it for a while, the Nickel Dragon shook out its membrane wings again, broke into a run, then leaped down from the foothills and rode the momentum into a glide toward the western side of the plateau to investigate.
The long journey was over, and everyone was somewhat tired. Aside from Bido, who had to carry out the scouting task, the other three Hatchling Dragons went to the lakeshore and simply stopped there, resting as they lowered their heads to sip the clear lake water.
Kelaili snorted two streams of white vapor from its nostrils. Though still in its juvenile stage, the Cobalt-Blue Overlord had already reached seven meters in length, as large as a great draft beast, a Kodo. Even its snorts were thunderous.
It lowered its body to drink, scales expanding and contracting all over its body. Countless Little Stone Spirits rolled off the Cobalt Dragon, scattering in every direction as they began gathering useful supplies on the spot—firewood, edible mushrooms, and the like.
Quite a few Little Stone Spirits had been lost along the way for various reasons. But so long as the Creation Mother Orb remained in the Cobalt Dragon's Storage Stomach, they could eventually be replenished, so Ferrum did not feel too distressed about it.
Four Hatchling Dragons, a troop of Little Stone Spirits, along with the coins and a few blueprints they had each stored away—that was everything they possessed.
Under normal circumstances, if a mortal power wished to reclaim lost land and reassert control over a remote territory, it would have to devise a detailed plan. Lords, guards, craftsmen, and laborers would each perform their duties, while advance forces and supply teams marched before and behind, forming an enormous army.
Leaving aside what rewards such an army might ultimately gain, merely marching across the border would consume resources beyond counting.
Yet these young dragons had arrived empty-handed, tails swaying behind them. Along the way, they took everything from the land—whether water was salty, bland, acidic, or alkaline, they drank it all; anything alive was swallowed whole as food; they could sleep with their bellies pressed to the ground; they could withstand every kind of extreme weather and feared neither injury nor bloodshed.
They were practically the perfect template for "frontier pioneers."
The lakeshore was quiet, with only the sound of flowing water and birdsong in the surroundings.
"I'll see what fish are in the lake and catch some to eat," Moqi said. After seeing Ferrum nod, Moqi splashed into the water.
Kelaili lazily lay down, tucking its claws beneath its body. Watching Ferrum stand nearby, bright, sharp, and streamlined, it could not help licking its teeth.
"I've noticed that you're looking more and more distinctive. You barely resemble a Chrome Dragon anymore. Is that the effect of your bloodline advancement?"
Ferrum crouched down beside it and replied casually, "Probably. Ladon doesn't look quite like an Iron Dragon either."
"I want to become an Archaic Species too, but it sounds like it would be too much trouble, so forget it."
Kelaili paused for a moment before continuing. "Once the Nickel Dragon has drawn a complete map, what's next? What do you plan to do?"
"We still need to find where the local clans are gathered first."
Ferrum thought for a while, a faintly contemplative expression appearing on his face. "What I told you on Dragonbirth Day was a joke, but it was also true. Compared with the other Hatchling Dragons, our appetites are far too large. We need enormous amounts of meat every day, and I have to swallow metal as well to supplement my nutrition. Relying solely on hunting and predation would be inefficient and unstable. That definitely won't work. We need to find dependents to support us as soon as possible."
"As long as you don't egg me on to do work, and let me lie around properly, I can go without eating for a very long time," Kelaili said.
"Of course there will be things to do, but there will also be things to eat. I brought you here, so I'll certainly take responsibility for you. I didn't bring you here to starve and suffer."
Ferrum spoke.
Kelaili grinned and rolled over, thinking that if Ferrum became a Cobalt Dragon, he would probably make an excellent Cobalt-Blue Overlord.
"Splash—"
Moqi emerged from the water and nearly scrambled onto shore. "There's an Aberrant Monster at the bottom of this lake! A huge one chased me out!"
Before the words had even faded, the lake surface exploded with a bang. Countless sprays of water shot violently into the air as a giant python suddenly sprang up, twisting through the sunlight, its tiny scales reflecting a chilling gleam.
A heavy stench of blood and rot rushed into their faces.
Kelaili narrowed its pitch-black vertical pupils and opened its mouth in a long inhale. Its thick, stubby neck pulsed, releasing an enormous howl.
Any normal intelligent creature that heard such a howl, even without knowing it heralded a dragon's breath, would feel fear well up from its bloodline and instinctively try to evade it.
The giant snake pursued Moqi onto the shore. Only when it saw the figure standing by the lake did it realize what creature it had been hunting, but by then, it was too late to flee.
Kelaili suddenly exhaled. Its powerful throat compressed at once. Cobalt Dragons possessed neither frost nor flame; what they breathed was pure Gravity Pulse, its strength closely tied to their size. Any creature unable to bear the weight of a Cobalt Dragon would likewise be crushed into mud by its breath.
The giant snake crashed heavily onto the ground, its body erupting with cracking blasts. In an instant, its bones shattered and its hide split open. Its scarlet tongue flopped weakly out from the corner of its mouth as blood pooled across the ground.
Moqi had already run behind Kelaili. Seeing the overlord defeat the enemy in one strike, Moqi immediately relaxed and walked back, looking the snake over from top to bottom.
Just as Moqi was about to speak, the giant snake suddenly began struggling again. On the verge of death from grievous wounds, it instead erupted with even fiercer savagery, opening its fang-filled maw and lunging at the Hatchling Dragons.
A thread-thin gleam swept past Moqi's face, slicing the giant snake's head into the sky. An even more violent gravity breath followed close behind, blowing the snake's head apart completely as chunks of flesh and bone rained down.
"Hmph."
Cobalt Dragons loved enemies that rushed right up to them. Imitating the tone of a Great Dragon, Kelaili said coldly, "You brought this upon yourself."
"It looked to be a Level-Four Calamity."
Ferrum walked over and examined it for a moment. "It wasn't quite an Aberrant Monster, nor was it some ferocious breed, yet it dared to chase and bite dragons. Near the border, the Lineage's influence has fallen to its lowest point. The environment really is much more dangerous here. We need to be careful."
"A Level-Four Calamity?"
Moqi froze. "Isn't that the same as me? It got killed by the two of you in an instant."
Although both Moqi and Bido were Level-Four Calamities, Kelaili had already reached Level Six. Among the Hatchling Dragons who had once left Ochre Valley, only Jelierion could stand alongside it. Together with Ferrum, who had advanced into an Archaic Species, their strength stood firmly at the top among all the Hatchling Dragon groups.
If not for that, Ferrum would not have dared to step so easily into Windsong Plateau, which had no Great Dragon lord.
Moqi was discouraged for a moment, but quickly regained its liveliness and ultimately did not take it to heart. "Never mind. Let's skin it and pull out its tendons first. This giant snake is huge—we should have a good feast before anything else."
"I want mine cooked. Can we make a fire?" Kelaili asked.
Ferrum nodded and called back the scattered Stone Sprites. Just as he was about to say something, his scales suddenly trembled almost imperceptibly.
He straightened up as if sensing something, then slowly turned his head and stared toward the northeast, locking onto a boulder hidden beneath the shade of the trees.
The watchers' expressions changed in terror. They had never expected that even from such a great distance, they would be discovered merely for spying.
Noticing Ferrum's gaze fixed upon them, the watchers did not hesitate for a moment. They immediately chose to retreat and flee, like coyotes watching a beast of prey.
Mountain Goblins?
Ferrum narrowed his eyes and withdrew his gaze without giving chase. It seemed these creatures were indeed organized—and extremely vigilant.