The sleeping Young Dragon's eyelids were tightly shut, but at a certain moment, they began to flutter slightly, and a faint aura rose from the giant Dragon's body.
It flowed like water, spreading throughout most of the cave. This was the powerful weapon Dragons used to intimidate the weak and deter the strong
This inherent talent unique to all true dragons were called Dragon Might.
Within the domain covered by his Dragon Might, enemies with weak wills will have their minds shackled and terrified, losing autonomy, while enemies with strong wills will constantly feel spiritual oppression.
Clearly, Kalon, who was waking up from his slumber, could not yet fully control his Dragon Might, which startled the other baby Dragon playing, fighting, and biting on the sunlit half of the cave floor.
Kalon's first period of slumber lasted a little longer than he originally estimated. It was most likely because he temporarily restricted his physical growth, using the stored nutrients and energy for internal regulation and development. Thus, twenty days had passed since he entered his slumber.
During this time, several more baby Dragon were born under the magical incubation of the Blue Dragon Mother: two White Dragons, one Green Dragon whose scales resembled an Emerald Dragon's, one Blue Dragon, and one Black Dragon.
These were the results of the Blue Dragon Mother diligently collecting and incubating Dragon eggs from the mountains and wilderness. (Many Five-Colored Dragon eggs laid before maturity are abandoned in the wilderness due to a lack of fixed nests or laziness in care. A large part of the reason they begin raising their baby Dragons to adulthood is mainly due to the demands of Tiamat, the Goddess of Evil Dragons.)
These baby Dragon were only ten-odd days old, so their sizes did not vary significantly.
Even the smallest Black Dragon was half a size larger than a three-to-five-month-old pony. At this moment, the Young Dragon pack looked in surprise at the source of the Dragon Might, then slowly began to gather around Red Dragon Kleinaya, the strongest Dragon present.
Baby Dragon are still a True Dragon species, thus Dragon Might does not suppress them as severely as it does other races. What startled the other baby Dragons was not the Dragon Might, but the unique Red Dragon stepping out of the shadowed part of the cave.
As a young Dragon, his body was far inferior to the Blue Dragon Mother deep inside the cave, but the full, bulging muscles on his limbs, chest, and back demonstrated the nascent, formidable strength of the Red Dragon, which far surpassed other Evil Dragon species.
Even the strongest Gold Dragon among the Metal Dragon of the Good Dragon faction would not be stronger than this Red Dragon in a pure contest of strength under the same age conditions.
On his sculpted face, the spines extending from his jawline to his cheeks, and the dark Red Dragon horns winding backward and beginning to metallize, added a sense of ferocity to the Red Dragon.
His light red vertical pupils were filled not with the apathy of a beast, but with the spark of intelligence, creating an extra sense of oppression when he stared at an enemy.
Red patterns began to appear on his wide, sturdy wings, tending to spread across his entire body's scales. This indicated that this Red Dragon had awakened his own fire spells.
These patterns were born from fire attribute magic power, allowing the Dragon's magic power to flow faster, increasing its control ability, and making its spells more powerful.
However, not every Red Dragon develops these patterns, just as not every ape develops intelligence.
His scales, gradually changing to deep red, became thicker and acquired a metallic sheen, occasionally flowing with a hint of gray-yellow light.
These baby Dragon's inherited knowledge told them that this meant this Red Dragon had awakened other special talents.
Red Dragon are born rulers of fire and magma, and also possess the potential to become masters controlling earth and metal elements.
Therefore, it could be roughly inferred what the Red Dragon's special awakened talent was.
"What kind of monster is this?" the baby Dragons, who themselves were viewed as monsters by most creatures in Ekania, couldn't help but exclaim internally.
Emerald Dragon Antagena looked at the stubborn little female Dragon Klenaya beside her, who was slightly longer than Kalon but seemed somewhat "scrawny" in comparison, like a fully armored knight compared to a lightly equipped soldier.
She couldn't help but nudge the little female Dragon's shoulder with the tip of her wing, glanced at Kalon, who was pacing and stretching his wings, and quietly whispered, "Are you really going to challenge this exceptionally talented monster? I think you should forget it."
Klenaya, who was influenced by the Red Dragon heritage and aspired to be the queen of the Red Dragons, saw the retreating expressions on the faces of the Young Dragon who had undergone "physical persuasion" recently, and even her best friend Antagena looked worried.
A surge of anger rose in her heart, and she huffed defiantly, "You are all great Dragons! Are you afraid of another Dragon? I am not afraid of Kalon. Humph, I will find a chance to challenge him, defeat him, and make him submit to me."
The growth she experienced after her period of slumber made the little female Dragon a bit overconfident.
"Then I suggest you challenge him while he is still in the weak period right after waking up from his slumber. Once you defeat him, we can help you hold him down and make him bow his head and acknowledge your status as the leader among the Young Dragon."
The Green Dragon's eyes shifted. As a Green Dragon, Antagena, who naturally loved schemes and tricks, tempted her.
"Wouldn't that be taking advantage of Kalon? He wouldn't submit," Klenaya, who possessed some but not much martial virtue, hesitated. This suggestion certainly tempted the Dragon.
"We will help you, and we have strength in numbers; he cannot fight us," chimed in the mixed-blood White Dragon, whose mind was naturally more chaotic than the other Five-Colored Dragon. This White Dragon was clearly smarter than his dull-faced kin.
Only the Black Dragon and the Blue Dragon exchanged a silent glance, remaining quiet.
Klenaya hesitated for a second, accepted the advice, squeezed out of the Dragon pack, and let out a low growl.
It was like an engine running with fluctuating intensity. "Roar---" This was a provocation directed at Kalon.
"Kalon, I challenge you! The winner will become the leader of these baby Dragons. If you dare not accept this challenge, then lower your head and admit that I am your Queen."
The little female Dragon Kleinaya growled, declaring war on Kalon. She imitated Kalon's previous actions, stomping her hind legs heavily on the ground and poised her forelegs, ready to strike.
She thought she was clever, intending to use Kalon's method to defeat him and then also crush Kalon's four limbs. Undoubtedly, the Dragons' pettiness and vengefulness were a consensus among all creatures in Ekania.
Kalon did not reply. He only let out a deep growl, powerfully pushed off with his strong hind legs, stood upright, and with a gentle flap of his wide, sturdy wings, he soared into the sky.
He knew that no matter the opponent, he could not let them easily understand his intent or method of attack. Although he was now unafraid of a direct physical confrontation with the little female Dragon, Kalon circled briefly in mid-air before swooping down.
Klenaya calmly waited for Kalon's pounce. Just as Kalon's thick, sharp claws were about to reach her, she pushed off with her hind legs and stood upright.
While retracting her upper body to twist away from Kalon's attack, her foreclaws and mouth full of small fangs were ready to bite the passing Kalon and drag him down.
But when Klenaya roared and stood upright, what awaited her was not Kalon's attacking claws, but Kalon, who had not used his full strength, suddenly stopping short just outside her attack range.
A cone of flame, fluctuating with magic power and mixed with explosive destruction, erupted from Kalon's wide-open mouth.
Kleinaya instinctively closed her eyes to avoid being burned by the Dragon Breath.
Even though Red Dragon possess excellent natural fire resistance, arguably immunity to mundane fire damage, their relatively vulnerable eyes could not withstand the blast of Dragon Breath.
In that instant, Klenaya heard the shriek of her neck bones, and she immediately crashed heavily onto the ground.
Kalon used one thick foreclaw to firmly press down on the fallen Kleinaya's neck and the other to hold the little female Dragon's mouth shut, completely ignoring Klenaya's struggle to flap her wings and twist her body.
Amidst the dust kicked up by his tail, his fierce head approached the little female Dragon's wide-open eyes. Their four eyes met. In his vertical pupils, looking down, there was none of the anger or desire for destruction present earlier in the fight, only rationality and indifference.
"This is the last time you will offend me," Kalon's increasingly strong and ferocious head began to exude majesty, enhanced by his status as the victor.
The sharp claw pressing against her mouth tapped the little female Dragon's cheek repeatedly. His calm and measured words, however, carried immense force, "I am in a good mood today, so I have decided to forgive your foolish offense. If there is a next time, the price will be your fragile life."
Klenaya, who had been easily defeated in two consecutive challenges, finally had the accumulated pride, humiliation, and anger in her heart shattered, and her inflated will returned to rationality.
The shadow in her heart manifested through her eyes as weakness and submission. Her still-flapping wings drooped weakly, and her twisting body quieted down. Only a low sound in Dragon Language, indicating obedience, was heard, "Forgive my reckless offense. I will follow your will."
"Very good. You finally took your damn brain out of your ass and used it," Kalon said contentedly, releasing his sharp claws.
He turned and scanned the Young Dragon watching the battle around him with fierce, Dragon-like eyes, and said, "What about you? Do you want to challenge me? I can give you one chance."
Even Klenaya, the strongest among the Young Dragon, had been toyed with and crushed. Dragons, who possessed intelligence even greater than humans, knew how to assess the situation, especially since that damned Red Dragon's sandbag-sized fists clearly hadn't had enough fun yet.
Stepping forward now would only result in a pointless beating, and proud Dragons would not engage in such a guaranteed losing business.
The Green Dragon was the first to decisively lower its proud head. "You are the leader of the babyDragons. I will obey you."
The smart White Dragon extended a hind leg and kicked its dazed kin next to it. They both lowered their heads and echoed the Green Dragon's words. The silent Black Dragon and Blue Dragon also lowered their heads, acknowledging Kalon's leadership among the baby Dragons.
Kalon, full of pride, roared toward the sky, proclaiming the status and majesty of the Young Dragon leader.
An even louder roar suppressed Kalon's voice. Blue Dragon Carlit, having been woken up, clearly had a case of morning temper.
A massive Dragon head emerged from behind the thick stone pillar supporting the wide dome of the cave, angrily roaring, "Get out! You annoying, noisy little brats! Get out of my lair!"
The Blue Dragon's immense pupils flashed with rage, and she yelled, "Akzi! Where did that damned lazy Dragon run off to again? Hurry up and lead these little brats out! It's time for them to have their own separate dens."
And so, Kalon Kogmora, the great baby Dragon boss, was expelled on his first day in office, driven out of this warm, comfortable, and secure lair, taking his weak and helpless Dragons with him.