A long time ago, a powerful Titan fell here. Time has passed so long that the Titan's flesh and blood turned into fertile soil, nurturing a dense jungle.
The Titan's rib cage transformed into towering, perilous cliffs, becoming the lair for many magical beasts.
The Titan's bones and sinews became continuous low hills, serving as a resting ground for countless wild beasts.
That is why this place was named the Forest of the Fallen Titan.
Although the Titan of the past could not possibly have possessed such a massive size, the remains of the fallen Titan and the dissipated magical energy influenced this vast area, altering the ecology of this forest.
This is also a testament to the power of the world's top-tier powerful creatures; they can burn mountains and boil seas in life, and exert immense influence even after death.
Carlit, along with Akzi and Young Red Dragon Kedilosi, had been lingering in this area for nearly two months.
During this time, besides scaring away two Adolescent Wild Dragons hiding in caves due to the conspicuous Young Red Dragon Kedilosi, they had only 'picked up' a few True Dragon eggs.
For the vast majority of True Dragon s, as long as the difference in strength isn't too great, it is truly difficult to capture someone determined to flee, especially since Young Red Dragon Kedilosi adopted a mindset of putting in minimal effort upon realizing the targets were male True Dragon s.
"Kadilos, this will only delay you. Perform well, and the True Dragon Group might even forgive your offense and give you a chance to join them."
Adolescent Akzi slightly shook his head; the massive blue horn situated in front of the Blue Dragon's skull always made one worry about their center of gravity.
Young Red Dragon Kadilos walked listlessly at the rear, his powerful body directly knocking down and trampling some trees and vines blocking the path.
"Hmph, you self-proclaimed noble True Dragon s, do you even regard such an opportunity as charity toward me? I, Kadilos, am unwilling to be Kalon's dog like you lot. I am a proud Red Dragon."
"If your Dragon clan hadn't ganged up on me back then, do you think I would have lost to Kalon? Hmph!"
The Young Red Dragon snorted two sparks from his nostrils, igniting the shrubs beneath Akzi's feet, and a wisp of smoke rose from the undergrowth.
After Kadilos's demand for status equal to that of the Dragon clans Lords was rejected, the Red Dragon's self-esteem transformed into a kind of rebellious psychology.
In this Young Red Dragon's mind, his strength was enough to become the leader of the Dragon clan, yet he was currently being rejected even for wanting to become a mere Lord.
"Assessment? Assessment my foot. Do you really think your Dragon clan is some delicacy?" the Red Dragon Kadilos thought resentfully.
Crack,
The Blue Dragon stomped out the flame beneath his feet, revealing a somewhat smug smile. He followed closely behind Carlit, then turned his head to Young Red Dragon Kadilos and said, "Aren't you Kalon's dog right now? Except you are just being led out by me to hunt for Kalon."
"Do you think I wouldn't dare attack you? The gap between an adolescent True Dragon and a Young Dragon is not something you and Carlit can bridge."
Flames of anger instantly ignited in the vertical pupils of the Young Red Dragon Kadilos. A dense sulfurous odor billowed up from the scales on the Red Dragon's back. He tucked his wings backward, slightly bent his hind legs, and dug his forelimbs into the ground, assuming an attacking posture.
A dense light of fire illuminated the Young Red Dragon's abdomen; the rolling line of fire was ready to erupt from the Young Red Dragon's mouth at any moment, transforming into world-destroying Dragonfire.
But the two Blue Dragons walking ahead showed no defense or fear, continuing to walk ahead with their heads down, ignoring the Young Red Dragon's threat.
"Damn it, they're ignoring me!" The hot-headed Red Dragon was instantly driven by rage. The fire in his abdomen shot rapidly up to his throat, ready to spew out furious Dragonfire.
Buzz, buzz, buzz,
Just as the Dragonfire was about to erupt, the collar around the Young Red Dragon's neck, forged from divine iron nurtured deep within the volcano for countless years, lit up.
Kalon kogmora—these characters seemed to come alive, and a low Dragon Language sound echoed as the characters became active.
The magical runes on the collar writhed like snakes and suddenly tightened, firmly gripping the Young Red Dragon's throat.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
The Young Red Dragon Kadilos's Dragonfire was extinguished. He coughed out a few plumes of black smoke with difficulty, desperately batting at the collar that was gradually digging into his bones with his sturdy forelimbs. His True Dragon eyes bulged outward, like those of a man about to be hanged and suffocated.
"Heh, a hunting dog can never bare its teeth at its master. If there's a next time, you'll end up in Tichi's laboratory, Kedilosi."
Akzi and Carlit stopped, watching the Young Red Dragon struggle painfully.
After allowing the Young Red Dragon enough time to calm down, the Blue Dragons chanted a spell and released the restraint of the collar.
"Have you poured out the magma in your brain, Kadilos? Can you listen to me calmly now?"
Akzi stepped forward, looking at the Young Red Dragon who was gasping for air, and teased him.
True Dragons can also breathe through the skin covered by their scales; even without breathing, True Dragons can survive for a long time. Their massive bodies possess numerous marvelous abilities, and their combination makes them creatures closest to perfection.
However, this was the first time Kadilos had experienced this feeling; he had previously assumed the chain and collar binding him were merely extremely hard and difficult to destroy.
"I am very calm," Kadilos roared, but the hostility had already dissipated. This was because he now clearly understood that harboring hostility toward the True Dragons in the Dragon clan would result in punishment; he had experienced the harshness of the outside world once again.
"Good. Listen carefully, Kadilos," Akzi habitually moved his head closer to the other True Dragons, causing the Young Red Dragon to subconsciously take a small step back.
"Either you work hard and earn the recognition of the Dragon clan to gain the rights of a normal True Dragon, and then use your performance to prove you are worthy of joining the Dragon clan, or you will remain a watchdog forever."
"If the Dragon clan were not about to enter hibernation, you wouldn't even get this chance. If you cooperate well during this period and help us guard the territory, I will recommend you to the Dragon clan and give you a position where you can prove your capabilities."
Adolescent Akzi was already preparing in advance for the Dragon clan's impending hibernation period, just as he had done when guarding the Young Dragons during their slumber in his youth. However, the Dragon Clans Territory was now tens of times larger than before, so he needed to enhance the defensive strength as much as possible.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have specifically requested permission from Kalon to truly incorporate Carlit and the Young Red Dragon Kadilos into the service of the Dragon clan.
"Moreover, don't you think your strength is sufficient? Kalon will give you a fair chance."
Akzi revealed a smile. "As long as you can join the Dragon clan and gain their recognition, you can issue a challenge to Kalon. If you succeed, you can command the Dragon clan."
"This is the power Kalon grants to every True Dragon among the Dragon clan. Challenge the Monarch, Young Red Dragon. I eagerly await that moment."
Akzi had also learned the skill of drawing a big picture. Unlike Kalon's approach of using both a big stick and a sweet date when subduing other True Dragons, the big picture Akzi painted, though grand, was impractical.
Compared to defeating Kalon, gaining the recognition of the Dragon clan was not much easier, because it meant integrating into the Dragon clan, sharing the same goals as the Dragon clan, and embarking on the Dragon Path.
This also meant being assimilated by the Dragon clan and becoming one of Kalon's sources of power.
But the Young Red Dragon Kedilos was deeply confident in his own strength. He shook his head, and twin streams of hot air jetted from his nostrils, pushing past Akzi and Carlit as he strode to the front.
"Then what are we waiting for? If we meet a True Dragon this time, let me strike first. I will beat him half to death, then drag him back to the True Dragon clan."
Carlit and Akzi exchanged a glance. "These True Dragons driven by desire are truly easy to fool." This realization dawned in the eyes of the two True Dragons, and then they followed the Red Dragon Kedilos, who was tiptoeing nervously ahead, afraid of startling the other True Dragons.
Several miles ahead, a towering cliff emerged from the dense jungle. A dark opening gaped towards the direction the three True Dragon s were advancing—this was the skull of the fallen Titan.
It was also the lair previously inhabited by the most powerful Wild Dragons dwelling in the Forest of the Fallen Titan, the target of the three True Dragon s.
On the steep cliff faces to the left and right, several Wyverns could be seen emerging from the cave. One Wyvern poked its head out from the cliff face, spotted the True Dragons sneaking through the forest, and immediately opened its mouth to let out a warning cry.
"Aow... uh, aow... uh,"
Knowing their whereabouts were exposed, the three True Dragons no longer concealed their tracks. They leaped from the ground, flapped their wings, and flew towards the nearby cliff.
The warning from the Wyverns and the momentum of the three True Dragons startled the creature in the lair. A green head poked out from the pitch-black cave and let out a threatening roar.
"Aroar!"
"Leave my territory, I..." This adolescent Green Dragon swallowed the rest of her words upon seeing the three rapidly approaching True Dragons.
She had never seen such a strange combination of True Dragons—a Red Dragon consorting with Blue Dragons. Even if a Blue Dragon clan unexpectedly raised a Red Dragon, a male Red Dragonthat grew to its adolescent stage would leave the group.
Although influenced by the Blue Dragon clan, Red Dragons often adopted traits of order, but proud Red Dragons would never submit to Blue Dragons.
Furthermore, the size of each of these three True Dragon s was greater than hers; they were enemies she could not contend with.
Even though Wild Dragons were wild, they were not fools.
"I also just arrived here. If you want the lair, I can give it to you." This adolescent female Green Dragon crawled out of her lair, revealing her body as she looked at the three True Dragon s surrounding the cliff.
The thirteen-meter-long adolescent Green Dragon appeared so frail before the True Dragons of the Dragon clan. Although her scales were emerald green, they lacked the luster of Antagena's.
The horns on her head also looked like dull, dead wood, lacking the life force of Antagena's crown-like horns.
This was the normal growth size for a Wild Dragon surviving in the wild.
During the hatchling and juvenile stages, Chromatic Dragons rarely appeared in the Ekania World. They would hide like wild beasts in remote, dark caves and corners to protect their fragile lives.
Because even True Dragons, born with True Dragon heritage, were not strong at this stage; some powerful ferocious beasts posed a threat to them.
Unlike Metal Dragons who had the protection of elders, Chromatic Dragons could only try their best to minimize their range of activity and the times they appeared. Some especially timid True Dragons would survive by eating the soil and roots around them, waiting for their growth.
Therefore, this adolescent female Green Dragon was considered quite well-off among wandering Wild Dragons; otherwise, she wouldn't have dared to seek her own territory during her adolescent phase.
"Our target is not your lair, but you, little beauty."
Young Red Dragon Kedilos laughed heartily, flapping his broad wings as he hovered in the air, showing his malice without reservation.
Adolescent Akzi and Carlit hovered in two other directions. Upon hearing this, they immediately showed looks of disdain—this Red Dragon was truly hungry.
Hearing the Red Dragon's reply, the adolescent Green Dragon immediately spread her wings, retreated two steps, bared her fangs, and let out a low roar that resonated in her throat, urging the Wyverns on both sides of the cliff to attack the surrounding True Dragons.
When Wild Dragons wandered alone in the wild, even if they met or competed for a lair, they generally only drove the other away—this was the common understanding among True Dragons.
Only extremely irritable Red Dragons or some eccentric True Dragon s would kill or enslave their opponents. At such times, even knowing they were outmatched, Wild Dragons would resist; this was the wild nature of True Dragon s, the pride inherited in their bloodline.
The Wyverns on the cliff face cautiously approached the three True Dragon s, but the bloodline suppression of the True Dragons made them afraid to act, especially since the three True Dragons were already fully exerting their True Dragon Might, capable of instantly tearing these Wyverns apart.
"Aroar!"
Seeing this, the adolescent Green Dragon let out a roar. Countless thick vines clinging to the outer wall of the cave grew wildly, transforming into tentacles that bound towards the three True Dragon s.
She herself shot upward, spewing pale green toxic Dragon Breath from her mouth, attacking Carlit along with the vines, trying to break through the gap next to Carlit.
Carlit, seeing the charging Green Dragon, instinctively flapped her wings, wanting to retreat and evade the Green Dragon's attack, thus widening the gap.
"Carlit!" Akzi spat Dragon Breath, turning the incoming vines into charcoal, roaring from his throat.
Whoosh. The Red Dragon in mid-air spat his flames, turning the vines to black ash, and then lunged directly behind the Green Dragon.
Carlit also snapped out of her instinctive timidity at this moment, meeting the Green Dragon's breath with her own Lightning Breath, confronting it head-on without yielding.
Carlit's sharp claws simultaneously raked towards the Green Dragon's flank, forcing the Green Dragon, who was passing to Carlit's right, to raise her own claws to resist the Blue Dragon's strike.
Clang, clang, clang,
Sharp claws flashed sparks as they rapidly crossed in the air. The Green Dragon's claws dug into Carlit's scales during the passing maneuver, but the Green Dragon's claws were firmly entangled and locked by Carlit.
The Green Dragon tried to break free from the Blue Dragon's restraint, but Carlit ignored the increasingly deep grip of the claws and pulled the Green Dragon down with her.
The two Female Dragons were like two female eagles grappling with each other, flapping their wings and constantly attacking each other with their forelimbs. The Dragon Breath from their mouths was sprayed back and forth as their heads dodged, resembling the pecking of eagle beaks.
The attacking Red Dragon Kadilos and Akzi hovered in the air, actually watching the performance of the two Female Dragons.
It was only when the Carlit let out her own roar that the two male True Dragon s flew forward, restrained the adolescent Green Dragon whose chest and belly scales were already covered in scratches, and subdued her.
"Do you know if there are any other stray wild True Dragon s, Ellie?" The adolescent Akziunhesitatingly imprinted the spell specifically used for enslaving others—Draconic Dominion—onto the head of this female Green Dragon named Ellie.
"My original lair was occupied by a rude Black Dragon. That Black Dragon fled from that mountain range just like me. She originally lived adjacent to me, but she coveted the Swampwithin my territory. She is also a Young Dragon, just like this Red Dragon. Catching her won't be that easy,"
The adolescent Female Dragon Ellie raised her claw and pointed to the distant south, "I only arrived here not long ago, and my lair was snatched by you again."
The Green Dragon's tone carried a hint of complaint; clearly, good fortune seemed to have abandoned her.
"That mountain range? Are you referring to the 'Gods' Promised Land'? What happened there?" Carlit frowned at the skin between her brows.
The word 'fled' from the female Green Dragon's mouth caught Carlit's attention. Although that region was quite dangerous even for True Dragons, every creature and race had its own range of activity and territory.
Even stray True Dragons could survive there with enough caution, without needing to flee. Carlithad only fled the outer regions of that mountain range because a great True Dragon from her family had been hunted down.
"Ah, you don't know yet? The Supreme Heaven Titan guarding the center of that mountain range, who was slumbering within the mountain, has fallen, suddenly dying."
"It wasn't until the mountain range formed by the Supreme Heaven Titan collapsed that the creatures around the mountains discovered that this powerful Titan was left with only desiccated bones. His fleshy heart had vanished, as if gnawed away by something."
"This incident caused a panic, and many powerful creatures fled. Those powerful ones occupied the best locations, so I could only run farther away and come here."
The female Green Dragon showed off the information she had obtained, and the sense of superiority at this moment gave her a burst of vain confidence.
"Died inexplicably," Carlit's blue skin between her brows wrinkled into the character for 'mountain' (river). Her family once lived in the outskirts of that mountain range, so some knowledge had been passed down in her lineage.
The origin of the Land Promised by the Human Gods dated back to the era when the Beastman Empire ruled the land. The rising humans, guided by certain deities, defeated the Beastman Empire. The remaining orcs were driven away to islands in distant seas, forced to subsist there.
And the former allies of humanity, creatures of various races, including some monsters, were promised a piece of fertile land by the Gods to serve as their homeland.
This was the origin of the Gods' Promised Land, but it was both a promise from the Gods and a restraint imposed by them.
The Supreme Heaven Titan, commanded by the Gods to guard this vast territory, had, over the passage of time, become a being fallen from the Celestial Realm.
But regardless, this Supreme Heaven Titan, who was at least at the Legendary rank, was undoubtedly a top-tier powerhouse. Even though he constantly used slumber to extend his life, ordinary creatures could not harm this Titan.
Let alone killing this Supreme Heaven Titan silently.
Without the restraint and deterrence of this Supreme Heaven Titan, in an era where the Gods do not manifest, the races and powerful creatures living in the mountains could not possibly adhere to the treaties. Perhaps the spiny-tailed lynx that hunted Carlit's Blue Dragon Family had flowed out from the central region.
Carlit knew well that there were numerous dangerous creatures in those mountains, and they might pose a threat to the Dragon Clans Territory someday.
She communicated her thoughts to Akzi and Red Dragon Kadilos.
Cadilos dismissively flicked his tail, "It's still far from the Dragon Clans Territory. Based on what you say, there's no need to worry."
"We must tell the Dragon clan this news," Akzi made a decision. He said to the few True Dragons, "Let's go, it's time to return. Although the harvest is unsatisfactory, obtaining this piece of news is sufficient."
The few True Dragons took flight, and the adolescent Green Dragon Ellie also let out a roar, driving the subdued Wyverns to follow the True Dragons.
This was a habit gradually cultivated by every True Dragon in the Kogmora Dragon Clan. Although both the Blue Dragon and Red Dragon looked down on these ugly Wyverns, whether they were useful or not, they were brought back to the Dragon clan first... In the distant southern nations, within the territory of Earl Rabic, in that magnificent and towering castle.
Obirash Rabic, transformed into his true Golden Dragon form, lay in the spacious underground lair connected to the castle. His body, larger than that of an ordinary adolescent True Dragon, showcased the extraordinary talent of this young Golden Dragon.
The floor was covered with Mana Crystals, yet none shone as brightly as the scales on this Golden Dragon. The few whiskers under the Golden Dragon's jaw moved slightly, as the magic within the Mana Crystals was absorbed by him.
Suddenly, the Golden Dragon opened his eyes. Endless spiritual light and profound arrogance appeared in his vertical pupils. A spiritual radiance floated between his True Dragon claws, and intense spirituality overflowed from the light.
This was the Authority of Arrogance, the Scepter of Spirituality, and the fortunate blessing bestowed upon him, Obirash Rabic.
"I smell the presence of the Glutton, in that distant northern land," Obirash's voice, like that of other True Dragons, echoed throughout the spacious lair.
"Don't mind him for now. After you pass through this slumber and step into adolescence, your father will allow you to leave the sanctuary and venture into the world for tempering."
A pleasant and melodious voice came, and a massive head emerged from the darkness—it was an adult female Silver Dragon.
"Alright, Mother. When I reach adolescence, with my Ancestral Dragon bloodline, I should be able to truly control this powerful authority. The primal desire of the Ancestral Dragon bloodlineis enough to surpass this supreme arrogance!"
"By then, I will travel to the distant northern lands, not only to seek the Seed of Gluttony but also to conquer the Kogmora Dragon Clan there. Ha, the civilized nation the Red Dragons want to establish is utterly laughable! Only a Golden Dragon is qualified for that!"
The young Golden Dragon closed his eyes again, and all the spiritual radiance returned to his body, causing the entire lair to dim once more.