Ecstasy

He remembered the system notifying him that King Ghidorah had entered the "juvenile stage," but he had only paid attention to the evolution points and the stage name, without looking closely at the other data.

This time, with a trace of doubt, he clicked the plus sign that represented "more."

The information under Pet-King Ghidorah (+) expanded in full: next stage: juvenile,

Age: 1 year (1-infinity),

Body length: 0.2 meters,

Wingspan: 0.3 meters,

Bloodline: Titan King Bloodline

Abilities: King's Might, Gravity Beams, Storm Control, Electricity Manipulation, Accelerated Regeneration

Status: good.

"Infinity"... the word seemed to hold some kind of magic, locking Redd's gaze in place.

"1-infinity" after his age? What did that mean?

He checked again and again, making sure he had not misread it.

The system's information was cold and precise. It could never be wrong.

An absurd sense of ecstasy swept over him in an instant.

He suddenly remembered his own Personal Panel, which also had an age field.

Almost fumbling in his haste, he brought up his own panel:

Name: Redd

Sex: male

Age: 12 years (12-infinity)

Evolution points: 2

Storage space: 100 cubic meters (+)

Bloodlines: Old Valyria Dragon King bloodline, Dragon Rider bloodline, Titan King Bloodline

Abilities: King's Might, Gravity Beams, Storm Control, Electricity Manipulation, Accelerated Regeneration

Status: good

"12 years (12-infinity)!" Redd nearly cried aloud. He stared fixedly at that little word, his heart pounding wildly in his chest.

He had always assumed he would age like an ordinary human, until he reached some endpoint.

But what did "infinity" mean? Immortality? Had he really gained immortality?!

An indescribable surge of ecstasy instantly washed away every worry and pressure in his heart.

Ten thousand evolution points, Sandworms being hard to kill, titan beasts being so far beyond his reach-all of it seemed so insignificant at that moment.

He had unlimited time! He was no longer that twelve-year-old boy struggling to survive in a cruel world, constantly worrying about the end of his life. What he had was eternity!

Redd could no longer contain himself. He staggered back two steps, leaned against the cold wall, threw back his head, and let out a wild burst of uncontrollable laughter.

His laughter echoed through the empty room, carrying an almost crazed joy.

He laughed at his own needless worrying, at how he had fretted over ten thousand evolution points.

What did any of that matter now? He had all the time and all the future he could want!

He laughed for a full three minutes, until tears spilled from his eyes, before he finally managed to cover his mouth with both hands and try to steady his heaving chest.

But he could not suppress the upward curve of his lips. It seemed welded in place, betraying the irrepressible excitement and satisfaction within him.

This is fucking incredible! He silently repeated the words, feeling as though the entire world had changed.

After that brief ecstasy, however, Redd soon regained his composure.

He shook his head, pressing that almost extravagant joy deep into his heart.

Now was not the time to lose himself in fantasies of immortality. Ten thousand evolution points might be a lot, but now it was merely a goal that would take time to reach.

He had all the time he needed. This little difficulty was nothing!

He turned around and looked resolutely at the Red Dragon Aegon, who lay coiled beside him.

Aegon seemed to sense the violent fluctuations in his emotions. He raised his head and looked at him with those eyes full of wisdom.

Redd stepped forward, stretched out his somewhat rough palm, and firmly patted Aegon's rock-hard snout, his voice loud and full of strength:

"Did you hear that, kid?

"I've got all the time in the world now!

"Forget ten thousand points-even if it's a hundred thousand or a million, I'll get them for you!

"We're leaving right now for the Valyria Ruins. Even if I have to turn the whole place upside down and burn it to bare ground, I'll get you enough evolution points!"

His gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, filled with unprecedented determination.

With "infinity" as his trump card, everything seemed to become clear and full of hope.

At that moment, Redd really was getting a little carried away with his arrogance.

He was completely immersed in the tremendous joy of discovering his "infinite" lifespan and the confidence that came with it, as though the entire world had become his backyard.

He even dared to pat Aegon, a Red Dragon who had already lived for over two hundred years, and call him "kid" in an incredibly familiar yet somewhat condescending tone.

To him, although Aegon was old, his strength had declined, leaving him like an old man in his twilight years,

while he himself was a "rising star" with an infinite lifespan and powerful bloodlines. What was wrong with cracking a joke now and then?

"Did you hear that, kid?" Redd's voice echoed through the empty ruins with unprecedented boldness. "I've got all the time in the world now!

"Forget ten thousand points-even if it's a hundred thousand or a million, I'll get them for you!

"We're leaving right now. These Valyria Ruins-even if I have to turn the whole place upside down and burn it to bare ground, I'll get you enough evolution points!"

At those words, the Red Dragon Aegon narrowed his eyes slightly and tilted his enormous head, showing a trace of disbelief and offended anger.

He had lived for over two hundred years, seen countless people of every kind, and experienced countless battles and changes,

and he had seen every kind of arrogance and confidence. But someone like Redd,

whose strength was nowhere near his own and whose age was pitifully young, yet who dared to address him so flippantly as "kid,"

and boast that he would burn the entire Valyria Ruins "to bare ground"-that truly was a first.

Aegon even felt a moment of bewilderment. Had he grown senile and misjudged him?

Was the judgment he had honed over more than two hundred years really so poor that he had acknowledged a brat like this as his master?

A trace of complex emotion flashed through his world-weary eyes:

offense, doubt, and even a barely perceptible hint of... helplessness.

Redd did not notice Aegon's shifting emotions at all. Or even if he had, he would have thought the Old Dragon was simply grumbling and refusing to accept his age.

He nimbly climbed onto the Black Dragon Ehm's back.

The Black Dragon Ehm was steady by nature and accustomed to Redd's behavior. He merely adjusted his posture slightly,

then took a few steady strides forward, and his enormous body rose effortlessly into the air amid the howling wind.

Redd, however, had no intention of letting Aegon have it so easy.

He reached out and happened to touch King Ghidorah, who liked lounging atop his head to sunbathe and sleep.

King Ghidorah was comfortably squinting, enjoying the softness of his master's hair. Startled by the sudden "attack," he shuddered all over and wriggled in displeasure.

Redd chuckled, tightened his grip, and forcibly plucked the little fellow off his head, tucking him against his chest like a treasure.