Chapter 56

Above the black lake.

Three black juvenile dragons fluttered their rear dragon wings, using them to maintain a stable hovering state.

When dragons are in the hatchling stage, their bodies are not fully developed, so all their spell-like abilities are quite weak.

Upon reaching the juvenile stage, the two most core innate spell-like abilities of dragons—dragon breath and dragon might—begin to awaken, and the juvenile dragons start to show their fangs to the world.

In the adolescent dragon stage, they awaken a third spell-like ability—"levitation technique."

Under the effect of the levitation technique, the dragons' increasingly massive and heavy bodies will become light, their flight speed will increase considerably, and even without moving their rear dragon wings, they can hover stationary in midair and fly.

At this point, dragons initially possess the ability to protect themselves from the dangers of this world.

This is also why the vast majority of colored dragons, even the Emerald Academy, drive them out once the young dragons reach the adolescent stage—one of the reasons.

Metallic dragons tend to dote on their children a bit more, raising and protecting them until the adolescent dragon stage, the young dragon stage, and even adulthood.

"Should we just dive straight in, or should we shout?" Ai Di looked at his older brother beside him and asked.

Lai Ang did not respond; his dragon eyes narrowed, and his dragon might surged forth instantly.

Ai Di's body shuddered violently, dropping several meters, before he reacted, using his meager dragon might to resist his older brother's dragon might.

Sai Jia beside him was not as flustered as Ai Di; his body merely twitched slightly, his dragon might spreading out to cancel, and he took it in stride.

Lai Ang's dragon might had not been boosted by any auto‑cast slot, but the strength of dragon might is influenced by soul and spiritual power. When its caster reaches the Third Rank, the power displayed by its dragon might can far exceed that of Sai Jia and Ai Di.

Although the dragon might's rank is only second rank, level 2, it appears low.

However, compared to spells, the effect of second‑rank dragon might is not inferior to a second‑circle mental suppression spell.

It is still a lasting‑type second‑circle spell.

Spell‑like abilities are innate abilities, a kind of instinct, and their consumption is naturally low.

However, dragon might can maintain its maximum power only when exerted within a small range; if it spreads out, the farther the diffusion, the lower the power.

The black lake began to tremble slightly, surface ripples spreading, indicating that a massive creature beneath the lake had been roused.

In the next instant, the sky above the three young dragons darkened.

The black bulk blocked most of their view, and the fearsome rows of bone spikes on the beast's surface were like unmatched pale blades, seeking to rend anything that drew near.

This was an adult black dragon over forty meters in length.

Lai Ang and his two siblings were nothing more than specks before this black dragon.

"How did you come here?"

The dragon mother, Xi Er Wa Na Si, was meditating in the lake's depths when she suddenly sensed a familiar dragon‑might aura rising into the bottom, whereupon she awoke and flew out.

Upon looking, she saw that it was her three children.

"Hasn't it been less than seven years? I recall that the Emerald Academy only graduates when one reaches the adolescent dragon stage." Xi Er Wa Na Si sounded puzzled.

When she brought her three children to seek refuge in the Emerald Dream, the eldest, Lai Ang, was just over a year old, had spent less than seven years at the Emerald Academy, and now Lai Ang is only a bit over eight.

There are still more than two years until the eleven‑year‑old adolescent dragon stage.

Facing their mother's question, Ai Di and Sai Jia both looked toward their older brother.

The two of them were also a bit confused; the older brother said he hadn't seen their mother in a long time and wanted to pay a visit. Lai Ang withdrew his dragon might and said, "Mother, you should know the Emerald Academy's training system, which is divided into Lord Dragons and Guardian Dragons." Guardian Dragons remain in the Emerald Dream, sustained by the dream for all their eating, drinking, and waste disposal.

Normally these dragons carry out tasks assigned by the dream, such as when border enemies offend, requiring the dragon to lead its retinue to repel and annihilate them, or when some territory encounters an unknown danger, requiring investigation.

The danger level of these tasks varies; sometimes they run into extremely unlucky encounters with revived ancient magical beasts, and even adult dragons can come to grief.

Moreover, after becoming a Guardian Dragon, when the Emerald Dream faces danger, they must rush to the front line of the battlefield, guarding the Green Dragon Queen with their lives.

Lord Dragons are comparatively free; they just need to develop their own territories, and as their territories grow, they can also expand the Emerald Dream's influence over surrounding forces.

When the Emerald Dream encounters danger, they can prioritize protecting their own territories; of course, as part of the dream, they must also contribute their share.

Whether Guardian Dragon or Lord Dragon, both sign the dragon clan's notarized contract, and the stronger the party, the greater the contract's binding force.

Basically, dragons that reach the Seventh Rank or above, if they violate the contract, will suffer extremely severe punishment, very likely resulting in their fall.

This is also why not all wild dragons are willing to join those powerful dragon factions, even though the benefits of joining are many.

Often, they are dragons that have gotten into trouble outside or faced crises, or dragons of weak strength seeking refuge.

The rest are dragons born and raised within the faction.

Xi Er Wa Na Si nodded slightly and said, "I naturally understand; hearing your words, you have already made a choice?"

"I intend to go outside, and Ai Di and Sai Jia will follow me." Lai Ang said.

Xi Er Wa Na Si remained silent, also not asking why Lai Ang had chosen to become a Lord Dragon.

Dragons each have their own aspirations.

Like her, she is too lazy to develop any force, focusing solely on increasing her strength.

But precisely because of that, Xi Er Wa Na Si came to the attention of a dragon‑slaying squad and once faced a mortal danger.

A solitary dragon is always so tempting, even though it remains extremely dangerous, yet there are always beings willing to take the risk.

"I've heard the Dark Mire War is about to begin; although under normal circumstances no overly strong enemy will appear, but just in case," the dragon mother, as if prepared, slightly opened her maw and spat out several streams of light.

Lai Ang, Ai Di, and Sai Jia stared; those streams of light hovered in midair, their surface glow gradually fading to reveal their true forms.

Three spell scrolls, a greatsword, a suit of armor, and a blue seed.

Aside from the blue seed, the other five items all radiated astonishing magical aura.

"Sai Jia." Xi Er Wa Na Si called her youngest child.

Sai Jia, who usually wears a haughty, irritable expression, rarely replied in a soft voice, "I'm here, Mother."

The three young dragons vaguely anticipated what was to come.

"Your physique develops differently from that of ordinary black dragons; it is likely a bloodline mutation, and judging by the situation, this mutation should be beneficial." Xi Er Wa Na Si felt relieved and continued,

"You excel at physique, so this armor is yours."