Misunderstanding

On the steep cliff face, nearly ninety degrees vertical to the ground, ten or so enormous nests were built. The nests used sticks as their framework and branches for support, then were covered with dry grass collected from the Great Prairie, creating warm little homes for the Harpies.

But at this moment, on their own territory, the Harpies couldn't feel the slightest warmth. They were facing an unprecedented great enemy – a Red Dragon.

Even though they had the advantage in numbers and were on their home turf, the Red Dragon acted as if it owned the place, shamelessly scrutinizing them and offering casual commentary.

"Your discipline is not bad, quite well-trained. As expected from the Red Nest's training."

Jose ignored everyone else, observing the group of Harpies. Most of the harpies had dispersed to hunt, leaving only twenty-one behind to guard the nest.

Facing him, these Harpies trembled like chicks in a cold wind, but their morale hadn't collapsed. They maintained their aerial combat formation for large creatures, and their backbone was a peculiar Harpy at the very front of the formation.

Jose looked at the leading Harpy. This Harpy was two sizes larger than her ordinary kin. Her crimson feathers were lustrous and unblemished. What was even more surprising was that her exposed skin was snow-white and tender, and she even had a set of small, pearly teeth in her mouth.

Just looking at her skin and face, Jose would have thought he was facing an elegant Elf, not an ugly Harpy.

The source of all this, of course, was good genes.

"Truly worthy of my Red Dragon lineage!"

The moment he saw the Harpy Chieftain, Jose realized he had been mistaken.

This Harpy Chieftain was not a Dragonkin tainted by dragon aura, nor was she a Dragonkin bound by a Familiar Contract. She was a true blood descendant, personally created by a Great Dragon. That familiar fiery aura was undoubtedly the Red Dragon bloodline.

Seeing that the Red Dragon hadn't attacked yet, Luna Bloodfeather secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This True Dragon was not reckless. He had brought her clansmen here, so he must have figured out her capabilities. Yet, he was still so brazen, which meant he had the confidence to not take them seriously.

She couldn't confront him directly; she could only try to avoid conflict.

With that thought, she was the first to break the silence.

"Great True Dragon, may the Evil Dragon Mother watch over you. May I ask the purpose of your visit to the Bloodfeather Clan?"

"Tiamat's gaze is not good for me," Jose muttered inwardly. Looking at the Harpy Chieftain, his eyes were sharp. "I've come for your loyalty."

"Loyalty?"

Luna Bloodfeather sized up the young Red Dragon before her, understanding his general intention. This Red Dragon was building his own power. Judging by his physical size, his influence was likely just beginning.

She was about to refuse when she suddenly remembered something important.

Based on her understanding of dragons, only those who awakened their spellcasting abilities and could contract familiars would begin building their own influence.

He had awakened his spellcasting abilities already in his youth?!

It was known that while dragons awakened their spellcasting abilities during their youth, it wasn't immediate. It happened at a certain point within that period, and the earlier the awakening, the greater the dragon's potential for growth.

"Hey! Harpy! What's your answer?!"

The Red Dragon's interrogation jolted Luna Bloodfeather from her thoughts. She took a deep breath and made an important decision.

"It is my honor to follow in your footsteps. However, I hope you can grant your servant a humble request."

A request?

Jose raised an eyebrow.

Making a request at this point was undoubtedly about the terms of servitude, such as the Essence Blood Contract, division of duties, and material provisions, among other things.

Negotiating terms was certainly possible, but the initiative had to be in his hands, and nothing was better for gaining the initiative than demonstrating his strength.

"You think you're qualified to negotiate terms with me?"

"On what grounds?!"

"On the grounds of these insects beside you!"

His words were extremely arrogant, but Jose had the capital for his arrogance. He released the seal on the Phoenix Heart, allowing a trace of the massive amount of Fire Elemental stored within to leak out. His body was instantly engulfed in an orange-red flame, the terrifying heat distorting the surrounding air into a hazy, warped state, as if the hottest summer day had arrived.

The Harpies screamed and retreated. Even from dozens of meters away, they felt a wave of heat wash over them, their feathers threatening to char.

"What... What is this?!"

Luna Bloodfeather retreated rapidly, her heart filled with shock. She wasn't an ordinary, ignorant Harpy; she was Dragonkin.

Although her estranged father, who had fallen on the final battlefield, didn't care about her, due to her bloodline, she was part of the privileged class within the Red Nest and had received formal Mage education since childhood.

Neither the knowledge she had learned nor the partial dragon common sense glimpsed from her bloodline contained any records of the situation before her eyes. It was unheard of!

But the power of the magic and the terrifying elemental fluctuations couldn't be faked. This dragon's spellcasting ability was definitely not newly awakened!

Suddenly, she thought of a possibility, and her excitement became uncontrollable.

"Ancestor Bloodline!"

Almost all races that had been passed down from ancient times were degenerating, and dragons were no exception. In ancient times, the richness of dragon bloodlines was such that Ancient Dragons, Upper Ancient Dragons, and Far Ancient Dragons were merely natural stages of life.

Now, Ancient Dragons had become a life limit that only a very lucky few could surpass, which showed how severely the dragon bloodline had degenerated.

However, the path upwards was not completely blocked. Like many races, dragons had a very small chance of giving birth to an Ancestor Bloodline.

From childhood, those with an Ancestor Bloodline were different from ordinary dragons; for example, they were physically stronger, grew faster, and could occasionally obtain powerful Dragon Language Magic from their Dragon Heritage.

To be more specific, the Red Nest Matriarch – Savannah, who had disrupted the entire world single-handedly and fought against gods before escaping successfully – was an Ancestor Red Dragon.

The potential of this True Dragon before her was even greater than she had imagined!

Luna Bloodfeather's face was filled with joy at this thought; her long-held wish finally saw a glimmer of hope.

Jose, however, didn't quite understand.

Did I see that right?!

Despite being treated so roughly, this beauty actually looked excited!

Stockholm Syndrome?

If she makes an excessive demand of me...

"Respected True Dragon, please don't misunderstand. I'm not trying to blackmail you, but I hope that when you are able to, you can help me lift this damned curse."

"Curse? What curse?"

To deal with a mere Harpy Intermediate Stage Mage, a curse is needed? Is that existence that bored?!

Jose sized up the Harpy before him. She appeared to be in good spirits, not like someone who was cursed.

Thanks to xiaotang246 for the 100 coin and Yayla for the 500 coin reward.