A Dragon against the Whole World
Chapter 292 - 263: The Little Dragon’s First Lesson
The life level of a young Red Dragon is inferior to that of the White Dragon Trish.
But their previous battle had already proven that a Red Dragon can triumph over a White Dragon despite the difference in levels.
At this moment, seeing Samantha, also a Red Dragon, speak up, Kahill blinked, anticipating the Red Dragon to chastise Trish.
However, the outcome left Kahill disappointed.
The nerves of the White Dragon instantly tensed, and she transitioned into a submissive stance with incredible smoothness that was awe-inspiring:
"Honored Red Dragon Queen, please forgive my inconsiderate rhetoric."
Trish even proactively revealed the most vulnerable scales on the side of her neck, continuing: "You are, of course, a being entirely different from those inflexible cubs."
Samantha found herself momentarily choked by this utterly spineless display.
How dull... she felt as if she had struck air, disgruntled, she swung her tail and shattered a rock:
"Mind your tongue!"
The White Dragon obediently nodded, deciding not to squabble with an individual of higher ecological position; she was ready to endure any beating or scolding.
The next moment, she raised her head, looked confidently at the young dragons.
"Now, what should you call me?"
The White Dragon coldly fixed her gaze on Kahill: "You go first."
The young Red Dragon’s muscles trembled violently, pride in her inherited memory clashing with the intense pain of reality.
She wanted to roar, to bare her teeth, to belittle the White Dragon.
But recalling the White Dragon’s words and seeing her submissive behavior toward a stronger Red Dragon, she finally held herself back.
"This White Scales does have a bit of sense."
"Let her have her time now, and I’ll get my revenge once I grow stronger!"
Kahill thought venomously, while her head lowered gradually, staring at the bloodstains in the snow from her cough, squeezing out the words through gritted teeth: "Pale... Wings."
It sounded somewhat reluctant.
Nevertheless, there’s plenty of time for reeducation in the future.
The White Dragon nodded in satisfaction and looked toward the other young dragons.
The Blue Dragon, Black Dragon, and Green Dragon, reflecting on Trish’s earlier thoughtful words and with Kahill’s example before them, after a few seconds of silence, also respectfully referred to the White Dragon as Pale Wings.
"You, come here, lick my paw."
The White Dragon deemed Kahill too unruly, and with her inherent dislike for Red Dragons, she continued to press her advantage.
"What did you say?!"
The Red Dragon Kahill erupted in anger.
The earlier concession had already been her limit; such humiliation was something she could not accept, even upon pain of death.
"Enough, Trish, that’s too far."
The Red Iron Dragon intervened at an opportune moment.
Too much is as bad as too little; education should be gradual and progressive.
The White Dragon promptly nodded respectfully and said to the young dragons: "Thank the great Master of Molten Iron, for his mercy has spared you from disgrace."
The first lesson for the new young dragons in the Border Area had concluded satisfactorily.
At the same time, a bitter cold wind swept across the cliffs on both sides of Dragon Valley, making the natural caves on the west cliff wall emit a mournful echo.
Galos’ Dragon Wings cast narrow shadows in the daylight as he raised a forepaw to point towards the rock wall full of cavities.
"The caves on the west side are for you to inhabit, pick whichever you’d like."
The western cliff of Dragon Valley is the habitat of the flying Dragon group; after years of excavation, it had already formed a staggered and well-organized cluster of three-dimensional nests.
For these scarred young dragons, any cave would be sufficient to accommodate their still immature bodies, while the fortress built like burning metal at the top of the eastern cliff — the Burning Steel Castle, silently overlooks the entire valley.
The permitted young dragons dragged their weary bodies into flight.
Despite their injuries causing sharp pains with every flap of their wing membranes, the innate territorial instinct of the Dragon Race still drove them to carefully scout each of the potential nest choices.
The young Blue Dragon Heryam took the initiative to act.
As he spiraled upward, he deliberately curtailed the extent of his wingspan, avoiding too showy a presence.
Ultimately, he chose a cave at the upper-middle level.
This height would not intrude upon the more powerful flying dragons residing higher up, while maintaining an appropriate distance from the younger dragons below.
The hierarchical gap between strong and weak is also a form of order.
The Blue Dragon didn’t mind living beneath the flying dragons.
The Red Dragon Kahill first defiantly darted towards the highest empty cave but, just about to reach the entrance, sharply veered downwards, landing in a cave at the same level as Heryam’s.
The choices of the Green Dragon and Black Dragon were more sensible.
Neither of the young dragons even attempted to probe upwards, instead landing directly in front of two adjacent caves at the bottom level.
The Green Dragon even measured the distance between the two cave entrances with the tip of its tail to ensure the chosen nest wasn’t larger than the Black Dragon’s, avoiding direct conflict.
"Trish."
The voice of the Red Iron Dragon instantly made the amused White Dragon’s tail stiffen.
"You’ve done well, keep it up, and I will reward you handsomely."
His praise made the White Dragon’s tail curl upwards.
However.
Just as the White Dragon was about to float up with self-satisfaction, the Red Iron Dragon’s subsequent words brought her back to earth.
"I allow you to reprimand these young dragons within a certain scope."
"But, you must maintain balance."
"Should any issues arise due to your errors, I will strip you of all your rewards and send you back to guard the Abyssal Rift."
The White Dragon immediately bowed her head with the utmost solemnity.
"I promise to maintain proper balance!"
She said.
Having experienced the pleasure of mingling among the young Dragon group, she couldn’t bear to leave and go engage with demons. In future lessons with the young dragons, she must try to restrain herself, not going too far would suffice.
"Oh, right."
The Red Iron Dragon pondered for a few seconds, then slowly said: "Your ecological position theory is quite good, feel free to impart it to these young ones."
He gave it serious thought, considering the White Dragon’s theory to indeed be worth passing down.
Especially pertinent for the Evil Dragons, were they to learn and understand this theory — to say nothing else — at least they would know not to provoke monsters stronger than themselves, restrain the arrogance inherent in their nature, and their survival rate would significantly improve.
This theory is not precisely tailor-made for the Dragon Race but is quite suitable.
For other creatures, if they have limited talent, limited lifespan, perhaps spending a lifetime as a subordinate, living so wretchedly without hope would almost be worse than death.
But the Dragon Race is different.
As long as a Dragon is not killed or meets an untimely end, it is destined to become Legendary, destined to become a high-ranking existence.
With such a foundation, the acceptance of the ecological position theory by the Giant Dragons should not be low, as they are very aware that they will eventually grow into a higher ecological position, enduring humiliation only for a better advancement.
"The greatest sorrow of being born an Evil Dragon is the difficulty in surviving to the day when your potential is realized."
The voice of the Red Iron Dragon echoed through the valley, his gaze shifting to the young dragons peeking from cave entrances, saying: "Your theory can teach them how to live and grow into true Giant Dragons."
Upon hearing these words, the White Dragon’s excitement was no less than the first time she successfully robbed a caravan.
She suddenly realized she was making history.
Perhaps.
In the Dragon Race’s millennia-old legacy, it would be recorded as:
[The pioneer, founder, and promoter of the ecological position theory — the great Pale Wings Trish]
This notion made the blood vessels under her scales tremble, her breathing became heavy.
"I will be full of patience in this endeavor!"
Trish’s wings quivered slightly with excitement as she spoke: "We’ll begin by distinguishing between strong and weak fundamentals, then gradually discuss techniques for disguising lower rank, and finally..."
Galos raised a forepaw to interrupt her never-ending plans.
"You can decide on the specific methods yourself."
"Remember, I want them to live and pledge their allegiance to Dragon Valley."