"I'm Capulius Caesar, a Ground-type Dragon."
"Right now I'm on the edge of the Dragon Spine Mountain Range. I'm going to show you how to survive in the harshest environment on the planet."
"This is the most dangerous forest in the world. Behind every leaf could be a Magical Beast that wants you dead, and in every crystal-clear spring could be a corpse soaked in Toxic Poison. Here, ancient Dragon Element twists the law. Listen up, humans—stay alert every single second."
"To stay alive here you can't just be a hunter. You've got to think like a druid, hear the wind, taste the soil. My goal is to cross this living forest and reach the human plains. No supplies, no backup, no retreat—"
"This time, I'm alone—one Dragon."
"What? Since I'm alone, what's that shiny thing behind me?"
"Caesar took a deep breath; the solemn look on his face collapsed, and he helplessly stepped aside, pointing at the bushes not far behind him."
"Author, please cut the camera over and see what that Young Miss is doing."
"Deep in the jungle, a crackling bang shattered the grim atmosphere."
"Cecilia was sticking her silver rump in the air, both foreclaws raised high like some cult priestess."
"Hey! Ha! Transform!"
"With her excited shout, colorful fireworks burst above her head—red, green, blue, even pink heart shapes."
"This was her newly learned Move—Celebrate."
"Originally a totally useless skill, just for atmosphere. But ever since this silly Dragon learned to control the size and shape of the fireworks she's been hooked. She's been using it as a hologram projector the whole way."
"Look what I drew!" Cecilia chirped, turning back and waving a claw."
"In mid-air exploded an ugly big-headed monster made of light dots, grinning like an idiot."
"It's you! See the resemblance?"
"Caesar stared expressionlessly at the abstract light doodle."
"And that's why I said 'one Dragon'," he added to the camera. "Because my teammate's an idiot who only shoots fireworks."
"Take this—Stellar Secret Art · Celebrate!"
"Boom! Fwoosh—"
"A red firework burst above the little flower, turning into a heart. Then a green five-pointed star, a blue smiley face, multicolored lights darting through the trees."
"A rabbit-shaped Magical Beast hiding in the grass, about to ambush the seemingly defenseless little Dragon, was startled by the sudden explosions and blinding flashes. Its heart gave out on the spot; all four legs stiffened and it fell flat on the grass."
"See?" Caesar narrated deadpan. "In this brutal world, sometimes you need a bit of luck—like this 'killer rabbit' scared to death by fireworks. Remove the head and it's edible. Six times the protein of beef."
"Caesar sighed, walked over, and lifted the rabbit by its ears."
"Hearing the commotion, Cecilia turned her Dragon head proudly, a bit of grass still stuck to her snout."
"Well, Ground-type Dragon! Is This Young Lady's magic getting more exquisite? Did that light show just now feel divinely majestic?"
"Didn't sense any majesty, but the light pollution was severe." Caesar slung the rabbit behind his back. "Stop playing. Any more and all the prey in the area will bolt. Move—need to start a fire before dark."
"Hmph, uncultured boor who doesn't understand art." Cecilia tossed her head, yet her tail honestly followed."
"Night fell, and the forest temperature plummeted."
"Using his sonar System, Caesar found a dry cave halfway up a cliff face—hidden location, wide view, a perfect overnight spot."
"He tossed the rabbit on the Ground, went to the entrance, and with Shadow Claw carved a hollow in the rock, then found a flat slab to serve as a pot lid."
"Lend me a flame." He dropped the prepared meat into the stone pot and turned to Cecilia."
"I'm a noble True Dragon, not your flint!" she protested."
"Want roast meat or not?"
"…Huff."
"An orange-red flame obediently sprang up beneath the pot."
"Add water."
"I'm a noble—"
"Want broth or not?"
"…Puff."
"A clear stream of water poured into the pot."
"Caesar nodded in satisfaction. Exactly—channel limited Moves into unlimited survival tasks. No wilderness tools? Turn the Silver Dragon into a multi-function Swiss-army-knife."
"Soon the broth boiled, fragrance filling the cave."
"Caesar pulled a handful of freshly picked mushrooms from his animal-skin pouch—(for pouch-crafting, see last episode of Wilderness Survival)—"
"The mushrooms were gorgeous: white stems, bright-red caps dotted with white spots."
"Watch closely."
"Caesar switched back into 'Bear-Grylls mode', holding the mushrooms up to the nonexistent camera."
These are Red-Spotted Devil-Face Mushrooms. One cap can easily Poison an adult Komodo dragon to death. Anyone who eats them will suffer violent nerve Paralysis and, in the end, cardiac arrest.
Luckily, they're not as deadly as the author made them sound in his novel. We can still cook them at high heat to slash their toxicity.
With that, Caesar simply tossed the whole handful of sinister red mushrooms into the bubbling broth.
The red-capped fungi rolled in the boiling water, quickly bleeding out a weird purple juice that turned the creamy-white soup into something that looked like dregs from a witch's cauldron.
Boil for twenty minutes and the toxicity drops to manageable levels. That little dose is perfect for training our Poison tolerance—and for meeting the Dragon God.
You just said 'Dragon God,' didn't you? You absolutely said we're going to meet the Dragon God! Earth-Dragon, I swear you've been Poisoned; you've been talking to yourself this whole time...
Cecilia's face was horror-struck.
Yet lured by the poison milk, she still tasted a spoonful.
Delicious!
Apart from a tingle on her tongue, the flavor was superb. The mild toxin was nothing compared to the cave mushrooms—just a spicy kick.
Caesar fished chunks of now-violet Magical Beast meat from the pot with his claws, ignoring the heat, and flung them straight into his maw.
Chew. Swallow.
A pungent, numbing blast filled his mouth, slid down his gullet, and landed in his stomach. A faint burn, then familiar numbness.
[Ding! Micro toxin damage received, HP -1.]
[Ground-type triggered; poison-type damage halved.]
[Poison resistance EXP +1.]
Bliss. Caesar burped, every pore seeming to open wide.
The two wyrmlings circled the stone pot, mouths dripping grease.
Outside the cave, pitch-black darkness reigned. To save herself another firewood run, Cecilia lifted a claw and kept releasing tiny Celebrates that popped like fireworks.
First they formed flowers, then little stars.
Flickering colored light danced across the rock walls, giving the crude shelter an eerily cozy glow.
Burp—
A Poison-mushroom-flavored belch escaped Caesar as he patted his swollen belly.
Fed and watered—time for business.
Come here. Caesar beckoned toward Cecilia, who was crouched in a corner playing.
What?" she asked warily, a miniature firework leaping in her paw. "I already washed the pot!
Who told you to wash it? Sing.
Huh?
That tune I taught you. Caesar settled into a comfortable sprawl and regulated his breathing. "I need to 'hibernate.' Without your song I won't sleep soundly.
It was an excuse, of course.
Yesterday's tower climb had left him a bit PTSD; he needed a Jigglypuff-style forced shutdown into deep sleep.
Cecilia blinked, then turned her head away, silver scales flushed crimson in the firelight.
So demanding... What does This Young Lady look like, a wandering minstrel?
Not a bard. Caesar didn't even lift an eyelid. "Tomorrow I fancy roasted Magical Beast. If you lull me well, I might bother to catch one.
...
She weighed pros and cons, then surrendered to the lure of good food.
A-hem. She cleared her throat and struck a diva's pose.
A gentle melody drifted through the cavern.
♪purin~ purin~ puri-purin~♪
♪Pupuro~ pupuripo~♪
The tune had power; Caesar's eyelids felt lined with lead and consciousness sank fast.
...Had the little thing actually learned Sing?
...[⊹System Notice: you have entered the Legacy space.⊹]
[Current floor: NO.003.]
[✲Matching opponent for floor three: Venusaur...✲]
Same space, same foe.
We meet again.
Caesar rolled his neck, joints crackling.
Across from him the mountain of flesh lay quietly, the huge flower on its back pulsing with dreadful energy while thick vines slapped the Ground, raising clouds of dust.
NO.003, Venusaur.
And no ordinary Venusaur.
Last time it had ambushed him; Caesar had replayed the fight for days. Its stats were sky-high, its AI even higher.
The green toad's biggest edge was its Chlorophyll trait under sun—speed doubled. Once it hit phase two it began MEGA Evolution, stacking Ingrain for healing and status immunity—an immobile artillery piece.
This time... I won't let you set up so comfortably.
Caesar inhaled, eyes sharpening—
[⊹BATTLE START!⊹]
Round two—begin!