"Um... Xiluo, how about... I bet with you..."
The little white dragon Allen spoke cautiously.
Xiluo's face twitched, and he glanced at the little hatchling.
"Look after yourself! You don't need to worry about my affairs."
Over the past two years, Xiluo had become completely certain of what the little white dragon Allen's phantom in the Mystery Sea represented.
Allen had probably accepted him completely as his leader, and that was clearly why the [Leader] achievement had unlocked.
As for why Allen had decided he was his leader? It seemed to have been because he had proposed the four contests back then.
Thinking it over carefully, these Dragon Cubs were often bullied because they were weak, and had even lost the use of a leg because of it. They also had timid dispositions, which might have made them dislike fighting.
And after Xiluo had made his proposal, it had completely resolved the issue of fighting among the dragon hatchlings.
Added to that was the admiration Xiluo's own strength had inspired in the little white dragon... everything seemed clear.
Judging by the little white dragon's behavior so far, he was also quite obedient.
Xiluo regarded him entirely as his subordinate.
Embezzling a subordinate's rations, leaving him hungry and thin and causing his strength to plummet...
He really couldn't bring himself to do something like that.
Of course, if the situation became critical, he would still choose to do it, but things clearly hadn't reached that point yet.
He stared closely at the little white dragon for a while.
[White dragon wyrmling] Level: 4 Condition: good (disabled)
The white dragon hatchling, who had only just turned six, had already reached level 4, though his lame leg meant he wasn't even considered elite.
Overall, however, thanks to the contests Xiluo had started these past few years, the dragons had often exchanged spells, and each had made decent progress.
As his only subordinate, this white dragon hatchling was someone Xiluo valued quite highly.
"Then... won't you go hungry, Xiluo?" the little white dragon asked softly, lowering his head.
"All of this is that bastard Cato's fault! The food he hands out isn't enough to fill our stomachs at all! Damn him! If I get the chance someday, I'll teach him a good lesson!"
Beside Xiluo, the Red Dragon Whelp Gordon sat on his haunches, his face full of anger. His tail, slightly longer than Xiluo's, slapped loudly against the ground.
At present, if ordinary wyrmlings needed two hundred pounds of food every five days, Gordon needed four hundred pounds, while Xiluo needed nearly six hundred!
If Xiluo hadn't been helping him out for nearly two years, the Red Dragon Whelp, who had been caught up in Cato's actions, would have suffered terribly from hunger!
Seeing that food was running short again, the Red Dragon Whelp was naturally anxious and angry, and kept up a steady stream of curses.
Xiluo glanced at him.
[Mutated red dragon wyrmling] Level: 6 (elite) Condition: good
Then he looked directly ahead of himself.
[Strong blue dragon wyrmling] Level: 6 (Elite-+) Condition: good
These were Gordon's and Xiluo's current stats.
Despite being a year younger than Gordon, he had matched Gordon's level through the spells he had learned and his innate abilities.
Of the two wyrmlings, one was only six and the other seven, yet both had reached level 6. This was an outstanding achievement, and they were every bit the equal of ordinary dragons just entering their juvenile years.
This was thanks to the wyrmlings constantly pushing themselves to outdo one another in training for the four contests, which had made every one of them much stronger than normal wyrmlings.
Setting aside the two exceptions, Xiluo and Gordon...
Several outstanding Green Dragons and Blue Dragons, including Alicia, Koraman, and Abel, had also reached level 5.
Most of the other dragons were level 4, all at least one level above the normal standard.
His own strength inevitably gave Xiluo more ideas, ideas he would never have dared entertain two years earlier.
He looked at Gordon and Allen and said:
"Those Young Dragons are no use at all. In the end, we still have to rely on ourselves!"
He sounded somewhat wistful.
"Hm? So, what are you planning to do?" At his words, the Red Dragon Whelp jolted and narrowed his eyes at him.
Having been close to Xiluo for two years, the Red Dragon Whelp knew very well that Xiluo was a clever dragon with a mind of his own, who could often come up with solutions other dragons never thought of.
Just like the dice gambling more than two years ago.
Although, to him, it was a bit of petty cleverness unbecoming of a powerful dragon.
At least it benefited him...
"We'll go hunting!"
Xiluo spoke calmly, his expression firm.
"Hunting? Us? We're only six or seven... it's dangerous out there. According to our Dragon Inheritance, the most suitable age should be when we enter our Young Dragon years... besides, Lady Barbara won't let us out."
Allen was somewhat panicked and afraid, his foreclaws clasped tightly together and twisting constantly.
"I'll convince Barbara! If we can't get food from Cato, are they really planning to starve us to death?" Xiluo said.
"Hahahaha! Hunting sounds great! I've wanted to do that for ages!
"Now that you've brought it up, Xiluo, let's have a contest!
"Let's see who catches prey first! And who catches more!"
Gordon, the Red Dragon Whelp, immediately grew excited. He planted his forelegs on the ground and roared excitedly, ready to act.
Hearing this, the wyrmlings nearby couldn't help turning to look.
Alicia even walked straight over, frowning as she said:
"What did you just say? Hunting? You're planning to go out hunting?"
"Yes. Want to join us? We can form a dragon hunting team together!" Xiluo replied mildly.
"Join you? Don't be ridiculous! We're not interested in joining a hunting team of cheats! You two can go hungry! Find your own solution!"
Alicia sneered without the slightest politeness.
"Tch... Xiluo! What nonsense are you talking about?
"This is a contest between you and me! How could there be any room for a useless green dragon like you to interfere?"
The Red Dragon Whelp's face darkened. He only glanced at the female green dragon out of the corner of his eye, and his utter disregard for her infuriated Alicia.
"Gordon! Don't get too arrogant! Do you really think you're the strongest among us? With that attitude, are you looking to fight all of us wyrmlings?" Alicia growled furiously, her entire body tensing as she readied herself for battle.
Seeing this, Koraman immediately readied for battle as well, baring his teeth and growling:
"Damn you, Gordon! I won't let you look down on Alicia! Or on us!"
"Two pieces of trash! You want to fight me? You think the two of you are worthy?" The Red Dragon Whelp kept provoking them, but lowered himself into a crouch as well.
"You're provoking all of us wyrmlings!" Alicia roared.
"So what if I am? Xiluo and I are the only strong ones. The rest of you are nothing but trash! I don't care how many of you come at me!" The Red Dragon Whelp showed no fear, dragging Xiluo into it along the way.
Hearing this from the sidelines, Xiluo's face twitched.
(End of chapter)
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