Viserys withdrew his hand, looking at the tiny wound rapidly healing in his palm and the Dragon Eggs that had gained a little more luster.
Afterward, they tried adding "flame catalysis." King Ghidorah controlled a gentle wisp of dragonfire, heating the surfaces of the Dragon Eggs evenly. Under the intense heat, the energy inside the eggs grew active and restless, absorbing the blood smeared over them and the magic faster than before. For a time, the cave filled with scorching heat and the hum of energy.
Yet, just as in their previous attempt, as they approached a certain threshold, the energy inside the Dragon Eggs seemed to peak. Then the rate of absorption slowly fell again. The eggs looked much the same as before, though the pulses of life within them had grown a little stronger.
After spending so long nourishing them with blood and channeling magic at such intensity, Viserys was already somewhat out of breath. Still, this method worked reasonably well. At least it was faster than before and could save them a good deal of time. That was progress.
"We could simulate a magical tide," King Ghidorah suggested.
"Dragons are magical creatures. Their birth is closely tied to the magical environment around them." King Ghidorah's thoughts reached Viserys's mind. "The magic in this world is at a low ebb now, so the hatchlings inside the eggs have fallen into deep slumber, minimizing their consumption as they wait for magic to return. Those three completely petrified Dragon Eggs probably died after exhausting all the energy inside them over countless years, with no outside magic to replenish it. Only then did they turn to stone."
Viserys stared intently at the nine lustrous Dragon Eggs before him, sensing the faint but undeniable life within them. "So the bottleneck now is