Just as the administration building was in complete chaos—
In the medical center at another corner of the academy, the atmosphere was eerily peaceful.
Veronica leaned against the hospital bed, covered with a pristine white sheet.
She had suffered some internal injuries, but after treatment, she was mostly fine. At this moment, she was tightly clutching a piece of torn cloth—a remnant from when her clothes were ripped.
Sitting opposite her was a middle-aged woman wearing glasses, holding a clipboard. This was the special investigator sent by the academy, disguised as a psychological counselor.
"Student Hester," the investigator adjusted her glasses, speaking gently, "let's confirm the details once more. You said that dragon took you away to protect you?"
"Yes."
Veronica nodded, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders. There was no trace of fear on her face; instead, under the light, it glowed with a strange blush.
"When he charged into the monster horde, he was so fast, so ferocious. But when he picked me up, his movements were gentle," Veronica's voice was light, as if in a dream, "He even used a special energy to wrap around his claws to prevent me from getting hurt. That must be a Dragon Clan protective magic."
The investigator's mouth twitched. She tapped her clipboard for a long time but couldn't bring herself to write anything down.
"Student Hester, is there anything else you'd like to add about that dragon?"
"No," Veronica shook her head, her silver hair swaying slightly.
"He... was just incredibly powerful and very mysterious."
She looked up, her eyes not holding the fear of other students but instead shining with a peculiar light.
"I think it meant no harm. It took our things, perhaps... perhaps it's just a dragon's... unique way of communicating? Like exchanging gifts?"
The investigator disguised as a psychological counselor frowned. Had this girl been scared out of her wits?
Veronica had repeated similar statements several times already.
Given that she was the only one who had been in close contact with that dragon, and as the daughter of the Hester family, the Empire investigator ultimately wrote "under observation" in the file.
"It seems you need a good rest, Student Hester."
Watching the investigator leave, Veronica couldn't help but hum softly.
Mortals would never understand.
That was a Dragon.
That was a powerful, beautiful Dragon that made her feel safe.
She turned to look out the window at the dark night sky, in the direction of the Dragon Spine Mountain Range.
Her hand unconsciously touched her cheek, which had been licked by the "dragon's tongue" today. It still seemed to retain that rough, scalding sensation. Like a kiss.
"I'll wait for you."
She whispered softly to the night sky.
"Since you accepted my token of affection... you can't run away now. My Mr. Dragon."
#
Meanwhile, in a cave hundreds of kilometers away from the academy.
"Achoo!"
Kapu-Lias Caesar, who was counting his treasure, suddenly sneezed, nearly dropping the terastal fragment in his hand.
"Who's talking about me?"
Caesar rubbed his nose, looking around suspiciously.
Beside him, Cecilia was holding a few pieces of clothing, trying to fit them onto her dragon body, muttering, "How do you wear this thing? Why are there only a few strings? Humans are so strange..."
"Maybe they go on the claws?"
The Little Silver Dragon wrapped the lace strings around her claws, leaving four different-colored gems exposed, and used [Celebrate]...
"Yahoo! O(≧▽≦)O!"
—Infinity Gauntlet!!!
Caesar saw this, his blood pressure instantly spiking, and kicked the Little Silver Dragon in the butt.
"Put that down! Unlucky thing! If you take it out again, I'll stew you!"
"Woo..." Cecilia could only lie on the ground, looking pitiful, waiting for the aroma of roasted meat.
At this moment, the two little dragons were hiding in a dry cave. It had originally been the territory of a Great Earth Rage Bear. But half an hour ago, that unlucky bear had been killed by Caesar with a single [Shadow Claw] and was now roasting over a fire.
Caesar roasted the meat while picking up the book "Introduction to Earth Control," flipping through a few pages.
The book explained how magic power flows through soil and how to alter the earth's structure. These basic theories gave him new insights into skills like [Quicksand Abyss] and [Mud Shot].
Although it was just a first-tier magic book, for Caesar, it was perfect for filling in his understanding of magical theory.
The System might allow dragons to directly learn skills, but that was knowing how without knowing why. To truly master power, and even fuse Z-Moves and Terastalization like today, he had to understand the principles.
"System, tally current assets."
[Ding! Current assets are as follows:]
[gold crystal coins: 843]
[silver crystal coins: 2150]
[Various low-tier magic devices: 12]
[Various monster materials: several (estimated value about 6000 gold crystal coins)]
[Special items: aura cloak (imitation) ×5, elemental resonance crystal (fire) ×2]
Why record weird stuff like "aura cloak"...! Caesar was a bit speechless.
Fortunately, with this money, he could figure out how to buy magic potions only humans could make, and the missing synthesis Materials, such as the final synthesis material for [Weather Ball]—"arcane leather"!
But before that, he had to solve the hunger problem.
Although that Great Earth Rage Bear had gone to heaven, the honey and dried fruits it had stored in the cave were still there.
Out of respect for the deceased, Caesar planned to reunite them.
"Fat dragon, go bring that pile of honey over. We're adding it tonight!"
"honey? Yay!"
Hearing about food, Cecilia instantly forgot her earlier grievances, wagging her tail as she ran to scoop up the honey.
Caesar watched her back and sighed.
Is this a True Dragon? Why does it feel like her intelligence isn't even as high as a child's?
Forget it, forget it. Might as well keep raising her for now.
Later, when we coat it with honey... maybe we can unlock some Dragon-type skills?
...
Meanwhile.
Above the capital of the Lordaeron Empire.
The clouds were suddenly torn apart. A terrifying pressure that made the entire city tremble descended from the sky.
The griffin knights in the palace had just tried to take off to intercept when they were suppressed by that aura, unable to control their mounts, and fell to the ground one after another.
Deep in the imperial palace, several Legendary mages who were meditating suddenly opened their eyes, their faces pale.
"This is... Dragon's Might?!"
"This intensity... could it be a Legendary Great Dragon?!"
In the sky.
Two red figures, one large and one small, slowly emerged from the clouds.
Those were real Dragons. Not Sub-dragons, nor earth dragons. Those were Red Dragons standing at the top of the food chain, representing destruction and power!
Ilena flapped her sky-obscuring dragon wings, looking down at the brightly lit capital below.
Behind her, Fafnir looked impatient.
"Teacher, why come to a place of such weak humans?" Fafnir snorted a sulfur-scented breath, "I don't understand."
"Use your brain, Fafnir," Ilena's voice echoed in his mind, "The Dragons Nest becoming active again will inevitably make surrounding countries feel threatened. Do you really want... the Emerald Council's long-ears to find an excuse to ally with humans and start a war?"
"Humans?" Fafnir sneered disdainfully, "These insects dare?"
"Who knows."
Ilena didn't explain further.
Her vertical pupils, burning with flames, stared intently at the magnificent magic tower below. She could sense several powerful auras there.
"Let's go, say hello."
Ilena folded her wings, her massive body plummeting downward like a meteor.
"—To declare our intentions, that is... peace!!"