"Roaaar!"
A roar, young yet tinged with ferocity, rang out through Green Forest.
Inside a huge circle.
Gordon, the red dragon hatchling, lifted a green dragon hatchling over his head and hurled him out of the circle!
A crash followed, along with the green dragon's wail.
Under the astonished gazes of the other hatchlings, Gordon roared at the top of his lungs, venting his excitement and displaying his strength.
"Gordon, that musclebound monster! We don't stand a chance against him in pure strength."
"Strength is all he has! In the other contests, I'll show him what real power is!"
The hatchlings chattered among themselves, some amazed, others disdainful.
Xiluo paid no attention to the hatchlings. Instead, he looked toward the top of the Giant Tree nearby where Barbara had been living.
Besides Barbara, another green dragon was there now, one slightly larger than she was.
Xiluo studied him.
[Young green dragon] Level: 12 (elite) Condition: good
He was a young green dragon just like Barbara, and they were the same level, but he was male.
His name was Kato Rigelis.
Another green dragon serving under the Dragon Mother, this young green dragon commanded Green Forest's hunting party.
The two young dragons lay atop the Giant Tree, watching the hatchlings' struggles below with keen eyes.
After seeing Gordon throw a hatchling cleanly out of the circle.
The young green dragon Cato grinned and said with interest:
"The gap is just too wide. That Red Dragon Whelp is as strong as some Wyrmlings.
First place in this competition seems as good as his."
"In strength alone, Gordon is naturally first. But this competition tests strength, speed, Breath Weapon, and spells. Taking everything into account, winning first place won't be easy for him!
When it comes to speed, the slender black dragons have the advantage. In Breath Weapon, blue dragons are undoubtedly the strongest. As for spells, the Kraum Clan, whose legacy Alicia inherited, are masters of magic among dragonkind.
That little female dragon mastered three spells in her very first awakening."
Barbara slowly shook her huge head, rejecting his assessment.
"Even so, the black dragon with the best speed, the blue dragon with the best Breath Weapon, and Alicia with the best spells don't seem capable of achieving outstanding results in the other three contests.
But Gordon is different. He'll certainly place first in strength. Even if he can't match the specialists in the other events, he can still rank in the second tier. Taking everything into account, he'll still be the ultimate winner.
Much as I hate savage, uncouth Red Dragon Whelps, those little whelps have far too great an advantage as hatchlings," Cato said dismissively.
"You think Gordon will take first place overall? I don't think he can. Why don't we make a wager?"
Barbara turned toward Cato, her eyes intent.
Hearing this, Cato could not help laughing.
"So that's why you invited me to watch?
You're actually after my gold!
Barbara! You really are bold! But... there's no doubt Gordon will take first place. If you insist on betting, I'll play along!
How much do you want to wager this time?"
"How about fifty gold coins?"
"Fifty? You really are betting big."
"What? Don't you have that much?"
"Hmph! Do you think I'm like you? Spending all day watching these Dragon Cubs? As captain of the hunting party, I have wealth beyond anything you can imagine!" Cato sneered.
"..." Barbara's draconic face instantly went from emerald to dark green.
As the hatchlings' caretaker, watching the Dragon Cubs all day offered no opportunities to line her pockets. She had earned practically no extra gold for three years!
Cato, as captain of the hunting party, was different. Whenever he had surplus food, he would have the nearby merchant group they worked with sell it for him. The profits might not be great, but his life was far more comfortable than hers!
Back in those days, she, Barbara, had been Green Forest's guardian dragon!
She had commanded over three hundred evil servants! The profits she had made each month were enough to make her current self laugh in her sleep, but now...
The thought filled Barbara with anguish, and her expression involuntarily turned savage.
She gave a sinister smile, spat a piece of parchment from her mouth, and said:
"Then let's do it! Sign this contract, and our wager will be binding!"
"So you really did plan this in advance. You even have the contract ready." Cato bared a mouthful of sharp teeth and glanced sideways at the contract.
"These terms are very unfavorable to me. I only win if Gordon wins, but I lose if any other dragon wins?"
"Then let's do it another way. You pick one, then I pick one. We'll take turns until we've picked them all, and see whose chosen dragon wins!"
"That sounds good. I'll go first, then. Naturally, my first pick is that Red Dragon Whelp."
"My first pick is Xiluo Utrasis."
"Xiluo Utrasis? I remember that name. Wasn't this competition his suggestion? I hear his Breath Weapon is remarkably powerful too? Enough to rival a Wyrmling's?"
Cato paused in surprise, but soon continued:
"Even so, he's a full year younger than Gordon. Apart from his Breath Weapon, there's nothing special about him. Compared with others of his kind, he has no advantage whatsoever in strength or speed. You're actually putting your money on him?"
Hmm... have you taught him other spells? Hoping he can get a good result in the spell contest too?"
Cato seemed to have guessed something. "But even if he comes first in Breath Weapon and spells, he's bound to fall short in strength and speed! I'll take that wager! It's my turn again. I choose Alicia."
"Abel."
"Koraman."
Only after finishing their selections did the two young green dragons press their clawprints onto the contract.
Both were full of confidence in their choices.
They turned their gazes back to the hatchlings competing below.
Barbara's eyes immediately met Xiluo's, and she gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Looks like the plan worked. Even if Cato realizes there might be something unusual about me, he'll still have enormous confidence in Gordon's strong all-around abilities. After all, he's the obvious favorite to win.
Fifty gold coins would equal a year or two of income for the lord of some small frontier town. For two dragons who can only serve under the Dragon Mother, that's no small sum...
Barbara will be delighted with that income, and I can get what I want out of it too...
"Xiluo! Stop spacing out. You're up!"
Gordon's low growl reached his ears, bringing Xiluo out of his thoughts. He turned to look at the Red Dragon Whelp.
After his easy victory just now, Gordon's face glowed, his expression brimming with smug satisfaction.
"Go on, Xiluo! Show your strength!
First place in this competition is definitely mine! But don't you go letting another dragon take second!"
Thanks to [Star Dream Divine Fate] for the 200-coin tip and [Master Newbie] for the 100-coin tip. Thank you both for your tips.
(End of chapter)
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