CH : 49 Most Unique Ingredient

The bodily fluids of a Plutonium Dragon are highly toxic; just a drop is enough to decimate the population of a large city, rendering the surrounding land lifeless for decades, if not centuries.

It's no wonder they are considered part of the evil alignment; with such capabilities, being virtuous is not an option.

Plutonium Dragons have eyes like X-rays, able to see through most things and very cunning, even more so than black dragons. Like most chronometric dragons, they are cruel, deceitful, possessive, and utterly selfish.

The realisation of what lay before me didn't just bring awe to me; it also brought with it a sense of grave responsibility. The Plutonium Dragon Egg was a treasure of immeasurable potential but also a source of great danger if it fell into the wrong hands or hatched uncontrolled. I knew I had to make a decision that could change the course of my life and possibly the fate of many others.

I carefully examined the Plutonium Dragon egg before me.

"What a pity it was a dead egg!"

But even if it wasn't stillborn, I was a little bit on tenterhooks.

Yet, even if it hadn't been, I would still have been apprehensive. Such a creature is a born powerhouse.

There was a hole in the egg's shell, about as thick as a human's little finger, which had pierced through, revealing the lifeless embryo inside. This small wound proved fatal for the egg.

This was puzzling to me. Normally, these dragon species would be born among the metallic dragons and spend their early years there. And Plutonium Dragon eggs are hard to differentiate from other metallic dragons as juveniles—only their scale colour sets them apart, and not until they grow older and their radiation becomes undeniable do they stand apart from their kin.

I wondered how this unborn Plutonium Dragon was discovered and targeted so precisely...

The land had become barren because the unborn Plutonium Dragon's fluids had leaked out through the hole. The multitude of magical beasts had rushed here driven by instinct; after all, the blood of a true dragon, especially a Plutonium Dragon, could potentially evolve their own bloodlines.

But not a single beast made it alive to the egg's side.

It was a small mercy that it was the radiation from an unborn Plutonium Dragon. Had it been a single drop of blood from an adult, not just this small area, but the entire Black Forest would have been engulfed in radiation, leaving it utterly lifeless.

Even though the Plutonium Dragon egg had perished, its value remained immeasurably high. In the hands of skilled alchemists, it could be transformed into incredibly powerful magic artefacts. Saron pondered and decided to incorporate it as an ingredient in the upcoming feast he planned to host.

Swallowing the egg whole would be the epitome of folly. Even with my robust constitution, such an act would assuredly lead to my demise—either through lethal radiation poisoning or an explosive end. With this in mind, I began to dig in the Earth, using my body to manipulate the surrounding soil and stone to gently enshroud the egg. These elements were infused with particles from the Plutonium Dragon egg, and tho I said I won't dirt ever again.

But it seems like the Heavens Above didn't like that so I had to do it again, I resolved to consume them as well, anticipating a potential monumental transformation.

After securing the egg, I spread my wings and temporarily vacated the area, sensing my bodily functions were beginning to falter after prolonged exposure to the site.

***

"Master actually saved you?" Shadar looked upon the half-beasts with scepticism in the heart of the Rose Tribe's enclave. He had expected a formidable group, not this collection of the infirm and frail.

"Don't forget your mission, Shadar," Winnie dismissed his scoffing without a second glance. The Rose Tribe, in its heyday, wasn't intimidated by the forest trolls. Now, it seemed they were getting the upper hand.

"Ha! Of course, I remember my task. It's to find an iron ore vein, isn't it?" Shadar laughed, pointing toward Vickers, the goblin chief who had already located the deposit. Vix could only offer a sheepish grin as an apology.

At that moment, the sky seemed to darken, and my immense silhouette descended from above. The scent of blood clung to me—I had encountered and slain several fierce beasts on his way here, utilising Water Therapy to mend the wounds on my scales.

"What's going on here?" my deep voice boomed as I surveyed the assembled group and nonchalantly set Shea down on the ground as I found her on the way while returning.

"Lord, we've located a vein of Magic Iron ore!" Shadar rushed forward to report.

"And the estimated reserves?" I inquired, eyeing Vix for the answer.

"Your Excellency, the True Dragon, the reserves are truly astonishing, far surpassing those of the Topaz mine!" Vix responded humbly.

"Excellent!" I thought to myself. That should provide sustenance for a good while.

"Master Barbatos," I acknowledged her with a nod as she bowed in respect.

"Winnie, I've uncovered the cause of the changes around your tribal lands," I informed her.

"Shadar, begin the mining operations for this magic iron ore at once!" I commanded succinctly.

"As you command!" Shadar thumped his chest in affirmation.

"Winnie, gather your people and head to the Sunset Enclave for now. Shaldar will assist you with the temporary arrangements. Don't worry," I added, meeting her gaze firmly, "once I'm done here, we'll relocate everyone to Black Blood Valley for a more permanent home."

"I need to find a place to slumber and rejuvenate. Attend to your tasks!" I started before turning my attention elsewhere.

****

"Shadar, did you bring the things I asked?" I queried.

"Right here, Lord Barbatos!" Shadar presented a magical bag, the spoils from a man who lost here had previously slain.

My consciousness delved into the device, finding it filled to the brim with Topaz ore and Iron Ore.

"This was the last of the Topaz, and now the Topaz Vein is completely depleted. There is nothing left to mine," Shadar reported, his voice steady but with a hint of finality. "As you commanded, we sealed the mine, allowing it to naturally recover. In the meantime, we've drawn up a comprehensive map detailing the exact location of the Topaz Vein."

"Very good," I nodded in approval before taking to the skies. It was time to commence the feast at the location of the Plutonium Dragon egg.

After some time in flight, I returned to the site where I had found the egg. Upon arrival, I carved out a cavern in the crater large enough to accommodate my massive form and brought the dragon egg inside.

In the suffocating blackness of the cave, my crimson eyes locked onto the prize before me—the centrepiece of my feast. This wasn't just any delicacy; this was a rare, once-in-several -lifetimes treasure. After all, there are only ten known Plutonium Dragons across the entire Star Multiverse. To hold one of their eggs in my grasp? That was beyond priceless. Its rarity could be measured in septillions, a treasure so unique it made me wonder—perhaps I am the Child of Destiny, The Lover of Lady Luck, Bedded by Fortune, Heir to the Star, The Passion of Fate, The Chosen One.

'Yeah, that's enough being narcissistic'

With a chuckle I glanced at the egg, "Let the feast begin!" I declared.

As the familiar pangs of hunger surged, the aroma of the dragon egg became intoxicating.

The aroma this time was more intense than ever before. Without any hesitation, I began my feast with gusto. Crunch, crunch—the eggshell, along with the surrounding earth, was devoured bite by bite. Perhaps it was just my impression, but I felt an even greater hunger this time.

The grand feast reached its climax only after I had consumed the Plutonium Dragon egg and devoured some ores. By the time it concluded, my hunger was sated, and the feast surged to 100%. In the oppressive darkness of the cavern, I could feel something monumental stirring within me. My body, now a cauldron of chaotic energy, began its agonising transformation.

My heart lurched violently, as if a long-dormant nuclear reactor had been reawakened, suddenly refuelled with volatile plutonium.

"Ha! Why that comparison?" I mused briefly, caught off guard by my own thoughts. But there was no time to ponder. The heat released from my Black Dragon heart soared to blistering levels in mere seconds. My body temperature skyrocketed, climbing by dozens of degrees in the blink of an eye. Panic coursed through me, and I roared into the darkness, "I THINK I'M GOING TO EXPLODE!"

The words were barely out of my mouth when the breath stored in my belly detonated like a chain reaction. Pure white heat erupted from my body in terrifying waves. From the corners of my mouth, my nostrils, my eyes, and my ears pure-white-hot energy poured out uncontrollably. My wings and every inch of my hide radiated an impossible heat, so intense that the cavern's sand beneath me melted into glass in seconds.

The pain was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. Every cell in my body was ablaze, a searing agony so profound that words fell short of capturing it. I had not expected that devouring a mere egg would send me spiralling into this crucible of suffering. My flesh, bones-every part of me-was incinerating from within, beyond the aid of any earthly remedy. If an army of a thousand fire trucks came to quench the heat, they would be worthless. this kind of pure white magical heat was obviously not something that could be extinguished by conventional means!

The mutation didn't last long, but it felt like an eternity. The heat tore through my body for less than half a minute before my heart finally began to calm. The heat diminished... no, not fully. In my heart, something wild still churned-growing even more volatile.

"What the hell is happening?" I gasped. My heart throbbed painfully, like something was burrowing deep inside it, carving out a space. There was no mistaking the golden glow that began to coalesce within me. It radiated power- alien and exhilarating-guiding the creation of a new organ, an infernal energy furnace in the shape of a heart. Golden veins stretched from this newborn furnace, branching out like blood vessels but pulsing with raw energy.

As this organ solidified, it roared to life, cranking into overdrive. I could feel my very cells mutating-no, evolving. The cells in my body transformed, becoming producers of heat and molten lava. I felt new venom glands growing alongside, augmenting my reserves for dragon breath. I was becoming something else- something more.

The process was agonisingly slow, each second stretching into hours of excruciating torment. No previous Feast had wrought such intense and prolonged change. But when the metamorphosis reached its apex, I could feel it-my body growing, expanding, strengthening with each pulse of that molten heart. Muscles thickened, bones grew denser, my very form became larger and more imposing. I had survived the trial by pure heat, but I was no longer the dragon I had been before.

I was reborn, forged anew by the fury of the Plutonium Dragon's essence now fused within me. My heart, my breath, my very blood now carried the power of a living furnace, making me a force to be reckoned with-an embodiment of destruction tempered by the fires of a world-ending cataclysm.

***

Meanwhile, in the Principality of Kas, within the walls of Golden Flower City, the Sieglinde family was in a state of unease. Roy Sieglinde, the muscular, golden-haired patriarch of the Sieglinde family, scrutinised a map spread before him. "Our slave-hunting unit has been missing for days with no word," he grumbled.

"But we cannot launch a full-scale search just yet!" interjected a middle-aged man, massaging his temples. Their family operated several such units, but this one was the strongest, always capturing prime 'merchandise.' Slavery was a commonplace affair, but the Sieglinde family's operations went beyond capturing slaves of different races. They would sometimes snatch up common-born warriors, renowned merchants, or beautiful girls—all highly valuable commodities in certain markets.

However, these activities couldn't be conducted under the Sieglinde name. Furthermore, their units were powerful and could handle much more than slave-catching, such as dealing with individuals who shouldn't exist.

"Their deaths are inconsequential; we've more than made our profit from them. But what if the inside rumours about the massive Magic Iron ore vein is true? It could be of extraordinary significance to our family," Victor pondered.

"The last report they sent urged discretion; Lathos wouldn't dare deceive us," one advisor noted.

A predatory glint flashed in Roy's eyes, his ambition barely concealed. "With this vast wealth of Magic Iron Ore at our disposal, we could not only strengthen our forces but obliterate the Walton Family entirely. And who knows? Perhaps soon, we'll topple the Rotten Royal House itself!"

"Tarom, you will lead an investigation yourself; this is crucial for our family," Victor commanded with icy resolve.

"Yes, sir!" Tarom responded with a bow, accepting the critical mission.

***

A dozen days later.

With a thunderous roar, a ferocious black dragon burst forth from the ground. This was me, transformed. Now 13 metres in length and incredibly robust, my body shone with a metallic sheen.

Upon closer inspection, it was clear that each of my scales was threaded with fine strands of golden filaments. These filaments spread out radially across the surface of my scales. My back now sported many spikes, also adorned with these fine golden threads.

I felt a surge of excitement—these were traits unique to the Plutonium Dragon. When a mature Plutonium Dragon unleashed its power, energy would flow along these golden filaments to the surface of its body. Their glow could outshine even the sun.

I glanced at my status panel:

//

Status:

Name : Barbatos Caesar Volaric."

Race : True Dragon

Biological Order : 8th

Occupation Level : Mage LVL 5 [9%]

Body Length : 13.04M

Vitality (VIT) : 20.07

Current Feast Tier : 36

Feast Cool down Time : 30 Days

Spell-like Abilities:

Darkness, Low-Light Vision, Identification

Spell Rune:

Zero Tier : Secret Mark (Entry 32%)

First Tier : Weakness (Entry 57%), Water Blade (Entry 15%)

Second Tier : Water Element Strengthening (Return to Nature), Water Therapy (Entry 5%),

Third Tier :

Fourth Tier : Rupture (Proficient 15%),

Abilities:

Earth Mana Affinity (LV 1), Water Mana Affinity, (LV 2) Dragon Scales (LV 10), True Dragon Breath (LV 8), Draconic Vitality (LV 9), Draconic Might (LV 1), Draconic Magic (LV 2), Fly (LV 7), Dragon Eyes (LV 2), Bite (LV 9), Claw (LV 9), Wild Scream (LV 1)

Atomic Furnace (LV 1) - It allows your body to absorb and convert more energy, and perhaps once you reach a certain level, you can attempt nuclear fusion within the Atomic Furnace.

//

A 30-day cooldown period was remarkably long, and the only new talent added was the Atomic Forge, ominously lacking a description.

I could feel the presence of a golden, sac-like organ next to my heart, which was undoubtedly the Atomic Forge. From it, a constant stream of energy erupted, filling my body with a power that begged for release. And as he willed it, so it was done. I felt a warmth in my chest, and energy began to amass in my mouth.