Double SSS-tier talents

The new dragon egg bore mysterious dark-gold markings and radiated a regal aura, instantly drawing every dragon's gaze.

Especially the red dragon—she was overjoyed, because she caught a familiar scent on its surface.

It smelled like her offspring.

But she was certain this egg wasn't the murderous thief that killed her brood. More likely, it was another victim whisked away by that scoundrel. Perhaps the mother of this egg was also anxiously hunting for her missing child.

After a round of urgent, whispered discussion among the dragons, the red dragon carefully reached out and touched the egg. There was no rejection at all—if anything, she felt warmth and kinship.

Solemnly, she lifted the egg, beat her wings, and soared away toward her lair at high speed.

Even so, the other dragons didn't abandon their search. They tore through the forest but still failed to find the real culprit. By nightfall, frustration forced them to leave empty-handed.

Arthur had zero clue about what was happening outside.

From the moment he initiated his evolution, he'd plunged into a sort of sealed state, feeling as though his entire body was submerged in warm fluid.

All he sensed was his massive form reconstructing itself and swiftly regrowing.

The process flew by, but he experienced none of that explosive agony from before. Instead, everything felt calm and orderly.

He had no idea how long he stayed that way. Suddenly, he snapped his eyes open, instinctively raising a paw to tap the shell in front of him.

Crack. Crack!

The noise immediately drew the red dragon's attention. Her clouded eyes sharpened, and she hunched closer to the huge eggshell, waiting patiently.

Breaking out was surprisingly easy. Before long, a beam of light slipped through a narrow gap in the shell. The fresh air gave Arthur an electric jolt of energy—he struck the shell harder, quickly opening a hole big enough to poke his head out.

Arthur eagerly stuck his head outside and took a deep breath. A soft, babyish dragon cry escaped his mouth before he could hold it in.

"Rrrawr!"

Startled by his own weak voice, he clamped a paw over his snout.

"That's way too puny! No way does it match a fearsome adult dragon! Not cool. I've gotta evolve fast—I can't be stuck with this squeak forever."

With that in mind, he scrambled harder until he'd completely freed himself from the eggshell.

Crunch, crunch.

The shell, already drained of nutrients, was basically as thin as paper, so he only needed a few swipes to wiggle free.

"My child…my little one…"

That unexpected voice made Arthur freeze mid-stretch. He stiffly twisted his chubby neck and locked eyes with a pair of golden dragon pupils.

Arthur's gaze slid sideways onto that red-tinged scale pattern he recognized so well, and the same rocky walls he'd escaped once before. A mental thunderclap boomed through his body, leaving him ice-cold.

The red dragon? How on earth did she find me?

Am I totally screwed?

A storm of thoughts pounded his brain, rooting him to the spot.

Then the red dragon extended a massive claw toward him.

Arthur squeezed his eyes shut in despair.

"It's over… I'm toast. Game over!"

Yet the expected pain never came.

He only felt a faint pressure on his head, followed by a gentle lift. Then he sensed himself being cradled—something that smelled amazing pressed close to his mouth.

Arthur cautiously sneaked his eyes open. He found himself staring into a gaze full of motherly affection. The red dragon was offering a chunk of eggshell near his snout.

Too surprised to react, he opened his jaws on reflex, chewing.

It tasted kind of sweet, almost like crispy chips. The more he chewed, the better it got, and in no time at all, he'd finished the entire piece.

But she wasn't done. She handed over a blackened, roasted toxic frog next.

As soon as he laid eyes on that frog, Arthur's memories came flooding back, snapping his dulled mind awake.

He wasn't imagining things. The red dragon seemed to have mistaken him for her own child.

Arthur clung to the frog, craned his neck, and scrutinized the red dragon more carefully. Only then did he notice the difference—her fierce, slit-pupiled eyes were brimming with both sorrow and joy, two conflicting emotions swirling visibly.

Her once-massive body had clearly shrunk. Arthur could see protruding bones beneath her scales. She looked practically starved.

Swiveling his head around the cavern, Arthur finally realized the truth:

The red dragon had lost her real hatchlings and, upon finding this peculiar egg, never left its side—never went hunting—and literally starved herself thin.

A pang of guilt surged in Arthur's heart, but it faded quickly.

Here in this wilderness, survival of the fittest was absolute. If he hadn't gained the power he did, he'd have been eaten long ago. That was just the way it worked.

He'd devoured the dragon eggs to evolve. Tomorrow, if he was too weak, the red dragon might turn him into a snack. Might happen; might not. Nature could be cruel like that.

Still, he had no death wish. Having clawed his way back to life, he valued his survival too much to throw it away.

Taking in the red dragon's condition and his new situation, Arthur shifted mental gears. If she believed he was her child, it was a perfect chance to get accepted by the dragon clan. A mystery hatchling on its own would be an outcast, but one under parental care? Much easier to fit in.

Calmer now, Arthur checked his latest status panel. It had been totally updated:

[Red Dragon · Juvenile · A]

[Will evolve to SSS rank at adulthood; max potential SSSSS]

[Base Talents:

Bite (B),

Fire Resistance (A),

Hunting Instinct (A),

Flight (E),

Dragon Speech (C),

Flame Dominion (SSS),

Devour Evolution (SSS)]

[Inherited Skills:

Stone Skin (C),

Rapid Digestion (B),

Acidic Saliva (S),etc]

[Strength: 189]

[Agility: 45]

[Defense: 133]

[Evolution Points: 0/1000]

[Status: Hungry (5/100)]

[Description: You possess a rare bloodline among dragons. Though your current combat power is limited, you stand to gain the dragon race as your greatest ally.]

Arthur's back straightened at once.

A rare bloodline—plus backup from an entire dragon clan? Now that was badass!

Thrilled, he pranced on his stubby new legs. His base talents had shifted a bit—he'd lost one camouflage ability but gained flight, albeit at the lowest level. With further growth, that would improve quickly.

More vital was that he'd kept all his original inherited skills, some even upgraded. He might still be a hatchling, but surrounded by dragons, he was basically at the top of the food chain.

As long as he could mature normally into an adult, he'd become the forest's mightiest being. From there, maybe someday, he'd venture beyond these trees and carve out his own kingdom.