"Hmph! There are other dragons here! Don't get cocky!"
Koraman growled, immediately turning to the other dragons. "Everyone! Please place your bets with me and make that bastard Allen pay us every last gold coin!"
"Bet with you? Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to order us around?"
Abel curled his lip, glanced at the bark again, then spat out his valuables and said:
"Everything on Xiluo beating Gordon within ten minutes! I have faith in Xiluo! He's the strongest of us all! How could a mere Gordon be his match? He won't even last ten minutes!"
"Heh, you certainly have confidence in Xiluo, but I'm still betting on Gordon to win! After ten minutes, though!"
"Isn't betting everything on one outcome too risky? I'll put thirty silver coins each on Gordon beating Xiluo after ten minutes and Xiluo beating Gordon within seven minutes. That way, whichever one wins, I'll make a profit as long as one bet pays off."
The Wyrmlings joined in one after another.
Finally, all the Wyrmlings turned to Alicia.
The female Green Dragon still hadn't placed a bet. She had only been frowning in thought when she saw all the dragons looking at her.
She shook her head and said:
"Who wins or loses has nothing to do with me. I'm not interested in betting, either."
The little female dragon was deeply wary of the sinister, cunning Xiluo. When she had lost before, that idiot Koraman had paid her stake for her, but if she lost this time, she would have to pay it herself!
That made this an entirely different matter!
"As expected, Alicia, this is all you amount to: weak, timid, and overly cautious.
"Even with a chance to get rich right in front of you, you can't seize it. With enough gold coins, you could clearly buy powerful spells from Lady Barbara to study and grow even stronger.
"But you're giving that up?
"Like this... you're only fit to play house with the likes of Koraman. You'll never measure up to Xiluo and Gordon in your entire life."
Little White Dragon Allen spoke again.
Veins bulged on the little female dragon's forehead.
At that moment, Alicia suddenly understood how Koraman had felt earlier!
That bastard Allen! Hanging around Xiluo for so long really has messed him up!
Clyde should have broken both his legs!
"You wretched bastard! Fine! I'll bet too! Xiluo to beat Gordon within ten minutes!"
Alicia roared in utter fury.
He had gotten under her skin as well.
All the Wyrmlings finished placing their bets.
Using nature magic, Barbara wrapped the money in broad green leaves and hung it from a giant tree.
Only then did Little White Dragon Allen excitedly return to Xiluo's side and report everything to him.
After listening, Xiluo nodded repeatedly and praised the Little White Dragon.
Everything was going according to plan!
He was determined to get those gold coins!
Word of the betting also reached the Red Dragon Whelp. After learning that seventy to eighty percent of the dragons supported Xiluo, he cursed them as a bunch of blind fools, swearing that he would make those fools with no judgment lose every last gold coin!
Another four days soon passed.
The day of Xiluo and Gordon's duel finally arrived.
On a stretch of bare ground, the two Wyrmlings stood facing each other, their eyes fixed on one another.
The ground beneath their feet was still part of the Green Forest.
But, taking the Red Dragon Whelp's fire Breath Weapon into account, Barbara had cleared away all the flammable grass, leaving a huge clearing at least a hundred meters across for their duel.
The other Dragon Cubs gathered in twos and threes outside the clearing.
They roared loudly:
"Xiluo! Go! You're the strongest! Take Gordon down within ten minutes!"
"Xiluo! Don't rush! Take your time! Keep your rhythm. Taking Gordon down after ten minutes is the safest bet!"
"Gordon! I believe in you! Take Xiluo down! Smash his head in! You're the strongest Wyrmling!"
At the top of the giant tree.
"What an energetic bunch of little brats.
"Xiluo will most likely win this duel.
"A pity that coward Cato no longer dares to bet against me.
"But this little fellow Xiluo had Allen set up the betting. Judging by his betting arrangements and the bets the other Wyrmlings placed,
"he'll have to defeat Gordon within seven minutes to make a profit.
"But is that possible?
"These two should be almost evenly matched.
"Under the sparring rules, neither side can strike to kill. That means they can only knock the other unconscious or leave them completely unable to resist, making the outcome clear at a glance.
"But can you do that?
"Or... are you planning to lose to Gordon?"
At the top of the giant tree, Barbara gazed down at the two Wyrmlings and murmured, her voice full of puzzlement.
She pondered, then finally extended a claw and tapped the air.
In an instant.
Above the many Wyrmlings' heads.
An illusory clock appeared.
Its hour, minute, and second hands each pointed to an Arabic numeral, and the second hand moved slowly.
The clock was almost identical to a modern one.
Xiluo wasn't surprised at all to see it.
This world's units and instruments for measuring time were almost the same as those on Blue Star.
The clock before him was called [Heaven Clock], a minor first-tier spell.
Its function was to project a clock from heaven, giving travelers abroad a clear sense of the time.
It was a very convenient spell.
Xiluo glanced at the clock.
It was now 9:37:27 in the morning!
"Xiluo, Gordon! Your duel will officially begin at nine forty.
"Before that, I must reiterate! You may not attack each other's vulnerable areas, such as the neck or groin.
"If you feel you have no hope of winning, you may also choose to surrender..."
Barbara's voice carried from afar, slow and resonant, allowing every Wyrmling to hear her clearly.
Finally, both dragons nodded slightly.
Gordon grinned and growled:
"Xiluo, we can finally settle who's stronger this time. Don't disappoint me!"
"I should be the one saying that to you, Gordon!"
Xiluo replied with a smile. Although he had been reluctant to fight before, that didn't mean he feared fighting.
He simply hated struggles that brought no benefits! As long as there was something to gain, he was more willing to use violence than anyone!
"Hmph! That boring betting scheme of yours will only bankrupt you in the end! You want to beat me within seven minutes? Do you think that's possible?
"Or are you planning to surrender to me? Or deliberately hold back during the fight? Whichever it is, I won't forgive you! And I certainly won't give you what you want as we agreed!
"Listen! You have to give it everything you've got!"
Gordon growled, staring straight at Xiluo with sharp eyes.
"Gordon, I have my pride too! Lose to you? Impossible! I'll make you understand that I, Xiluo, will always be stronger than you!"
Xiluo likewise stared at him, his voice firm.
Their gazes met in midair. Both seemed to understand what the other was thinking and feel the other's desire for victory.
Then both dragons raised their gazes together to the clock in the air, watching the second hand move slowly.
Until only a dozen or so seconds remained.
The two Wyrmlings lowered their bodies at the same time.
Sparks and Lightning Arcs began to appear across their bodies.
They were fully ready for battle!
(End of chapter)
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