Fine, fine, big little girl, striking first against a dragon, are you?

"Hmph~"

White Chubby nodded her dragon head.

With food to sustain her, the scales on her round white head that the Blue Hatchling had shattered with a kick had mostly recovered. A layer of whitish, translucent scales now covered the area, thin enough to reveal the tender pink flesh beneath.

New scales were growing in, gradually replacing the broken ones.

"All right, keep eating. I'm going to sleep for a bit."

Actually, Chaos had started feeling drowsy as soon as he was full. That was a hatchling's nature: once they had eaten their fill, they got sleepy.

This instinct was etched into their bloodline. Hatchlings grew stronger in their sleep. At the most basic level, their claws grew sharper, their strength increased, and their protective scales thickened. They might even learn new magic in their dreams.

"Hmph, hmph~"

Turning her head, White Chubby went back to gnawing on the crab leg.

Above her raised rump, her plump, cone-shaped dragon tail swayed from side to side, neither fast nor slow, looking utterly carefree.

Lying inside the crab shell, Chaos slowly closed his heavy eyelids.

Crunch, crunch~

Soon, the only sound inside the crab shell was the crunching of shell being chewed.

Half an hour later, White Chubby stopped eating, her entire belly rounded out.

She was full.

Her eyelids began to grow heavy.

So sleepy~

She looked at Green Chubby, who was lying ahead of her.

Green Chubby was a good dragon, a good dragon who gave her food.

She moved her chubby feet, stopping only when she reached the Green Hatchling. Her round, plump white body nimbly made a half turn, bringing her around.

Like backing into a parking space, she squeezed into the spot beside the Green Hatchling and lay down.

Her body pressed close against his. Her round head lightly nuzzled the head of the already sleeping Green Hatchling, then lowered onto the crab shell beneath her as her heavy eyelids slowly closed.

Why was it so cramped?

And what was this cool sensation against his side?

He opened his eyes, lifted his head, and looked beside him.

White Chubby lay pressed against his body. She was still asleep, and her sleeping posture was atrocious. Her Dragon Jaws hung slightly open, half her tongue dangling out, and clear dragon drool had puddled all over the ground.

There was so much room inside the crab shell. Why did this girl insist on sleeping right against him?

He pushed himself up and took two steps forward.

[Rustle~]

He had barely taken those two steps when a sound came from behind him.

With her support gone, White Chubby flopped onto the ground, limbs sprawled everywhere. She did not wake up, though. Even belly-up, she kept sleeping soundly.

Chaos glanced at her and decided to leave her alone.

Having just woken up, he was a little hungry.

He walked over to the two remaining crab legs inside the shell and sat upright, then grabbed one in his claws and stuffed it into his Dragon Jaws.

As he chewed, he checked what he had gained from this sleep.

[Perceptive Vines: Use mana to grow several vines, which the caster can use to see through.]

One nap, and he had gained a spell. His bloodline really was something.

Although it was only a support spell, it was exactly what he needed most right now.

Accept it.

As soon as he gave the mental command, that familiar sensation returned, and a wealth of unfamiliar magical knowledge surfaced in his mind.

Perceptive Vines was only a minor support spell.

So the influx of knowledge lasted only about half a minute before ending.

That was a little short.

[Crunch~]

He popped the last section of crab leg into his mouth.

Dropping onto all fours, he gathered strength in his hind legs and leaped three or four meters into the air, landing outside on the riverbank.

Ahead of him, the underground river still surged with turbulent currents.

He walked forward and stopped about fifteen meters from the underground river.

He lowered his head.

The soil beneath him was dark and looked very fertile.

Time to try out the new spell.

His emerald slit pupils focused slightly.

He needed no complicated chanting. That was something only creatures with weak magical aptitude had to do. He was a dragon, a born spellcaster by blood, with all nine great elements at his command.

Emerald motes began gathering in the air, slowly forming a ring the size of a washbasin.

Intricate emerald Magic Runes began appearing on the ring. They did not emerge slowly; in an instant, the entire ring was covered in them.

An emerald glow lit up, reflecting across his green dragon head.

That glow signaled that the spell was ready and could be activated at any moment.

Looking at the casting ring before him, Chaos brought his head closer.

The Magic Runes on the ring were crooked and twisted. Though this was his first time seeing them, he could read them directly.

[Honored lord of the elements, I am Vinnie, a Life Element. It is a pleasure to serve you.]

[Life is the origin of all things. We brought sound to this world... (a lengthy arrangement of Magic Runes)]

[Lastly, may I become your elemental familiar?]

Sincere. Eager.

The elements in the emerald casting ring quivered faintly.

A Life Element had taken the initiative to offer him a contract.

For any spellcaster, this could be considered one of the highest honors imaginable.

Once a caster contracted with an elemental, their magic of that element would receive an almost unfair boost. Their aptitude, power, and every other aspect would improve.

His lowered head rose slightly.

A trace of disdain appeared in his emerald slit pupils as he looked at the casting ring.

A mere Life Element actually wanted a contract with him? If an elemental queen came along, he might consider it.

An ordinary elemental could forget it.

"What's wrong?"

A young yet indifferent voice came from beside him. The next second, a massive Red Dragon head leaned toward his casting ring.

At least, that Red Dragon head was massive to Chaos. It was a full twice the size of his.

It was the big little girl.

Seeing that it was her, Chaos relaxed his tense claws.

"Nothing. Just a contract offer from an elemental being."

The Red Dragon head leaned closer to the casting ring.

Feeling the scorching heat coming from beside him, Chaos shifted his head slightly to the left.

Agatha quickly finished reading the Magic Runes on the casting ring.

They were all Draconic Magic Runes, so naturally, she could read them too.

"Is this your first time casting a spell?"

"Mm."

Chaos nodded lightly. This really was his first time casting a spell. Venomous Thread did not count as proper magic; at most, it was an unranked cantrip.

"Impressive. How do you intend to respond to this contract?"

"Refuse it. I have no intention of contracting with an ordinary Life Element."

After waiting a while without receiving a response, Chaos turned his head and saw the big little girl staring straight at him with her crimson slit pupils.

It was strange, but he could not quite put his finger on why.

Still, he recognized what was in those crimson eyes... pride?

No way. What the hell did this big little girl have to be proud of?

When he looked more closely, all that remained in those crimson slit pupils was seemingly endless depth and indifference.

He must have imagined it after all.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Chaos: ...

Fine, fine, big little girl, striking first against a dragon, are you?

That was clearly his line, yet this big little girl had said it first.

"Nothing."