Chapter 61: Dragon Flame 2 |
At dusk, as the setting sun sank below the sea's horizon, it cast a warm, lingering glow over the newly grown forest of White Pearl Island.
A thin mist rose among the trees, winding around gnarled trunks and the lush dragon's blood vines. Emerald-like leaves shimmered with the last vestiges of light, and the entire island seemed immersed in a tranquil yet vibrant dream of twilight.
Suddenly, a colossal jade-green figure, vast enough to blot out part of the sky's light, tore through this serenity.
Xia'er's broad wings beat powerfully, tearing through the air with a dull, roaring sound like low thunder skimming over the canopy sea.
Her magnificent draconic form cut across the twilight sky, its immense shadow instantly enveloping a large swath of forest. She swept her gaze over the newborn woodland below with the majesty of a lord surveying her domain, tinged with a purely Green Dragon-style satisfaction.
Like a jade-green meteor, her figure abruptly dove down, descending with hurricane force into a forest clearing with pinpoint accuracy.
Xia'er raised her head, drawing in a deep breath of the cold, plant-scented air, feeling the surging power within her body.
The satisfaction of a full meal and the nourishment from the forest environment blended perfectly. The explosive power contained within her dragon blood seemed to pulse beneath every scale, dispelling the fatigue from her earlier miracle-working. All that remained was an abundant, overflowing energy circulating through her muscles, bones, and sinews, like a living volcano on the verge of eruption forcibly restrained, harboring a heart-palpitating might.
Two months had passed, and Xia'er had already returned to her peak.
Surpassed it.
[User: Green Dragon XT40392.]
[Level: 10.]
Xia'er's current level had fully stepped into Level 10.
She stood at the peak of the mundane, just one level away from stepping into the 'Paragon' tier, a level where heroes abound!
Regarding this level increase, it was somewhat unexpected for Xia'er.
Xia'er had originally thought she would need to endure the remaining two years and enter the Juvenile Dragon stage before reaching Level 10.
But now, it had clearly happened ahead of schedule.
Judging by this growth speed, she might truly step into the Legendary tier early, becoming a Legendary Dragon during her Mature Adult Dragon period, or even during her Young Dragon period.
The moment Xia'er landed, a panel also materialized before her.
[Growth Mission Completed.]
[Mission Reward Acquired: Bloodline Enhancement.]
[Please select one reward from the following five options.]
[Red Dragon Breath: You will acquire the flame breath of a Red Dragon.]
[Blue Dragon Breath: You will acquire the lightning breath of a Blue Dragon.]
[Black Dragon Breath: You will acquire the acid breath of a Black Dragon.]
[White Dragon Breath: You will acquire the frost breath of a White Dragon.]
[Uncertain Bloodline: You will randomly acquire the ability of a non-Green Dragon.]
The gilded text before her flashed by, causing Xia'er to pause in surprise.
A Growth Mission...
It was this?
This truly caught Xia'er off guard.
So it turned out that Slaughter Missions enhanced her numerical attributes, Domination Missions enhanced her magic, and Growth Missions were for acquiring abilities from other dragon types.
With four options laid out before her, Xia'er hesitated for almost no time at all, directly selecting 'Red Dragon Breath'!
Are you kidding!
Red Dragons were the leaders of the Chromatic Dragons, something Xia'er had to admit. If she possessed the flame breath of a Red Dragon, it would grant her a significant enhancement!
At the very least, besides being able to refine toxins, Black Oil could also enhance her flame breath ability.
Although in terms of breath weapons, all dragons were somewhat similar.
But dragon fire was the stereotypical image the masses had of dragons. A dragon that couldn't breathe fire just felt like it was missing something.
As for randomly acquiring a dragon ability, Xia'er was very familiar with some game tropes from her past. It might seem like there could be something good, a chance to get a Legendary Dragon ability if luck exploded, but most of the time, what one ended up with were abilities from Lesser Dragons.
Special dragons, like Shadow Dragons, would be fine.
But what if she got something like a 'Hydra' ability, giving her 'The Dragon Has Three Heads'? Xia'er could only say her vision would go dark at that point.
Choosing an ability from the other Chromatic Dragons might not be stunningly impressive, but at least it provided a guaranteed baseline.
A Green Dragon never takes risks!
One must think thrice before acting.
Almost the instant her choice solidified, an indescribable, scorching heat violently erupted from deep within Xia'er's chest, as if a river of molten lava had been forcibly poured down her throat!
This power was savage and unfamiliar, completely different from the Green Dragon's innate Poison Mist breath, which carried toxins and corrosion. This power was filled with pure destruction and a burning desire.
"Urgh... ACHOO!"
Xia'er's massive head jerked violently as she couldn't help but let out a loud sneeze.
A speck of crimson-red spark, mixed with a faint trace of sulfurous smoke, sprayed unexpectedly from her jade-green nostrils. It landed on the damp moss ahead with a soft *hiss*, leaving behind a tiny charred mark.
This sudden little 'accident' made Xia'er take it seriously immediately. She tensed the muscles in her throat, forcefully suppressing the searing torrent churning within her windpipe, yearning to burst forth.
The burning sensation felt like magma flowing through her veins, but Xia'er, relying on her formidable willpower, forcibly restrained it, slamming shut the valve of a furnace on the verge of explosion.
'That was close!'
Alarm bells rang loudly in Xia'er's mind.
The power of this Red Dragon flame breath far exceeded her expectations. The initial fusion had almost caused an uncontrolled leak.
"This technique must not be exposed!"
Xia'er quickly calmed down.
A Green Dragon with absolutely no fire-related characteristics suddenly spewing destructive dragon fire would overturn all her enemies' perceptions and tactical predictions of her.
After all, who would think that a Green Dragon, showing not a single characteristic of a fire dragon, would possess an ability like dragon fire?
However, regarding combat power, she still needed to find a target to verify it.
Perhaps, by scouting out the Dwarves' situation, she could test her combat power on them.
Thinking of this, Xia'er couldn't help but reveal a satisfied smile. She then focused her mind and began to continue lying low.
Before the equipment was ready and the intelligence was truly and clearly investigated.
Xia'er would absolutely not make a move.
Over these past few months, Xia'er had also paid close attention to the battlefield situation.
Ever since the Dwarf Third Legion was unexpectedly defeated by her Poison Mist, suffering nearly a thousand Dwarf soldier casualties, they had begun reinforcing their ventilation ducts. They purchased some wind-attribute magic scrolls from the Human Duchy and forged several bellows-like devices to guard against Xia'er.
However, since then, Xia'er had never shown herself again, which gave the commander of the Dwarf Third Legion a rather aggrieved feeling.
As for Princess Valentina, although she repelled the Dwarves with Xia'er's help, she was too timid and didn't dare to continue south. After dismantling the fortifications the Dwarves had built, she simply continued to hold the defense line, flying at a great distance every day to intimidate the Dwarves.
Karta entered Dragon Sleep to recover from his injuries and had just woken up a few days ago. However, the whole dragon seemed much more subdued, not as arrogant as before.
Otto and Rebecca followed Valentina, soaring on schedule every day.
Only the Red Dragon Tyrone was perhaps the only dragon actually doing work.
He attacked the Dwarves' supply convoys every few days, making himself particularly conspicuous.
As for the Star Mist Archipelago, the Sea-Dwelling Dragon Tina was still in Dragon Sleep. Regarding this, Xia'er could only assume the Ocean Dragon bloodline was at work.
There wasn't much to say about Disos. He had been staying in the north with the lizardmen on some floating ice. The White Dragon was currently unreliable.
As for what Xia'er was most concerned about, naturally, it was news of the Black Dragon Saga.
Surveying the dragons around her.
Valentina was weak-willed, Karta was mean-spirited, Otto was cowardly, Disos lacked wisdom, Rebecca was mediocre, Tina was unfamiliar, and Tyrone was arrogant.
Only Saga was her true right-hand man!
"Dragon Lord!"
Just as Xia'er was pondering, the Kobold chieftain Valentine had respectfully rushed over to report to Xia'er: "News from Bright Scale Bay! Lord Saga has returned, and he brought a ship full of humans. The ship is currently docked at Starlight Dew Island. Lord Saga ordered a messenger to relay that he will return to the Royal Court in one day to report his findings. He wishes to inquire of the esteemed Dragon Lord, the Dragon Lord of the Star Mist Archipelago, whether you wish to summon those lowly humans?"
"If needed, Lord Saga will bring these humans along. If not needed, Lord Saga will interrogate them on Starlight Dew Island and then present all the answers you require before you."
Hearing Valentine's words, Xia'er casually flicked a wing. "Then bring them all here."