Translator: AnubisTL
"Alchemy spells?" Samantha snorted a disdainful spark through her nostrils. "Isn't that just weak trickery with bottles and jars? A true red dragon should conquer the world with claws and flames."
Among all dragonkind, red dragons were nearly the most fervent adherents of raw power, taking immense pride in their bloodline and status. They preferred to crush their foes with their innate weapons—claws, fangs, and dragon breath.
Samantha's scornful reaction to Garos's suggestion that she learn alchemy spells was entirely predictable.
After all, learning requires genuine interest, and coercion rarely works. Garos smiled faintly and coaxed, "Do you know how many gold coins alchemists in the Lothurn Federation earn in a year?"
As he spoke, he pawed at the alchemy engine, the metallic clangs echoing like the clinking of gold coins.
Samantha's pupils widened slightly, piqued by curiosity. "How much?"
Garos replied solemnly, "Even the most mediocre alchemist can amass a fortune that would fill a small mountain."
At this, Samantha's tail twitched involuntarily, clearly intrigued.
"...Really? You're not lying, are you?" she pressed.
Garos nodded, his tone grave.
"Alchemists can even create their own gold coins. With diligent study and mastery of alchemy, you could become so wealthy you could buy an entire empire. You could hire hundreds or even thousands of adult giant dragons like the Iron Dragon Maid to serve you, their roars echoing day and night in praise of your greatness."
"Beyond wealth, alchemy spells can also make you far more powerful. Remember the Giant-Arm Miner that forced you to flee in disgrace? Once you master alchemy, you can continuously enhance your claws, fangs, and scales with alchemy spells. With your innate talent, I believe you could one day tear apart the Holy Flame Arbiter with your bare hands, earning the cheers of countless evil dragons who would prostrate themselves in awe at your feet."
The scenes Garos described struck Samantha's sweet spot.
Even imagining it made her heart race, a jolt of electricity surging from her head to the tip of her tail.
Her chest heaved, her breath quickening, and a longing gleamed in her eyes.
Yet she remained hesitant, her voice troubled. "But learning magic sounds so... tedious."
Red dragons are far from unintelligent. As apex demonic beasts, their innate talent and comprehension of magic surpass those of most spellcasters. However, red dragons are notoriously lazy, disliking the effort of thinking deeply.
As a pureblood red dragon, Samantha had no fondness for thinking or studying.
Garos asked slowly, "Which do you find more troublesome: studying knowledge or being hunted by inferior creatures wielding alchemy items?"
His pointed question silenced Samantha. Being hunted by such weak and inferior creatures as goblins was, in her eyes, a profound humiliation.
"Only through relentless forging can one forge unbreakable scales."
"Samantha, if you lack the resolve to face hardship, even torment, then abandon your dreams of ruling the world from the pinnacle of all things. They are destined to remain unfulfilled."
Garos concluded with the red dragon's favorite motivational tactic: a challenge.
As expected, Samantha's hesitation and reservations vanished instantly, replaced by a fierce determination and ambition.
"Garos, my dear brother," she declared, her voice ringing with conviction. "I will show you that I, Samantha, possess my own resolve!"
With a resounding declaration, she announced, "I will begin studying alchemy immediately!"
Having spoken, Samantha leaned against a towering iron fir, settling into the shadows. She closed her eyes slightly but remained awake, focusing intently on delving into the alchemy knowledge within the dragon heritage, spontaneously beginning her studies.
It was a tedious and uninteresting process.
Very few dragons would independently delve into the knowledge within the dragon heritage during their youth.
In truth, with such a treasure trove as the dragon heritage, even the weakest white dragon could achieve remarkable feats if they abandoned their arrogance and laziness, dedicating themselves to diligently studying its various magical arts.
If Samantha could persevere...
Though she would still be no match for Garos, her growth rate would undoubtedly surpass that of ordinary red dragons.
Meanwhile, Garos placed the alchemy engine in a rocky hollow, preparing to begin his daily training. As he raised his claw, he noticed a viscous black liquid clinging to it.
"What's this?"
At first, he didn't recognize it.
But the moment curiosity stirred within him, the dragon heritage activated instinctively, and corresponding information flooded his mind.
It must be said that while the dragon heritage had perpetuated negative traits like arrogance and conceit across generations of dragonkind, its existence remained a crucial factor in their status as apex predators.
The inheritance contained a vast and boundless wealth of knowledge, like a library that had accumulated millennia of information.
Whenever needed, it always responded promptly.
"Black oil flowing from the alchemy engine."
Garos sniffed lightly, detecting a pungent odor reminiscent of machine oil, yet with an intense, spicy undertone.
"Black oil—formed from the long-term decomposition of demonic beast bodies. A primary energy source abundant on Bernardo Planet. Hmm, it's like an upgraded version of petroleum."
Garos pondered thoughtfully.
"It must contain a significant amount of energy."
"The inheritance says it's not food, but it feels strangely alluring."
After a moment's hesitation, Garos raised his black oil-stained claw to his mouth and tentatively licked it.
It tasted like a mouthful of mustard.
The sharp, spicy sensation shot straight into his nasal cavity.
As he swallowed, Garos felt a small flame ignite in his stomach. The young dragon immediately jolted awake, threw back his head, and involuntarily unleashed a pillar of fire.
"Enough, that's potent!"
Garos stared at the black oil clinging to his claws, his face lighting up with surprise.
The energy contained within this substance rivaled that of the high-grade demonic beast flesh he had consumed before.
His adaptation and evolution weren't spontaneous; the process required massive amounts of energy replenishment.
Garos still remembered his first adaptation and evolution.
Because he hadn't replenished enough energy, the evolution had occurred, but it had drained his body's reserves. For the next few months, the entire dragon had become gaunt, little more than skin and bones, as if he had been completely drained by a succubus.
Only after ravenously devouring everything in sight, like a starving ghost, had he gradually recovered.
Garos had been worried about the future.
As he grew stronger, the energy required for evolution would skyrocket. Relying solely on hunting ferocious beasts and demonic beasts, he would need to consume an unimaginable quantity at once to accumulate enough energy, making the process incredibly cumbersome.
This unexpected discovery revealed his best source of energy.
(End of the Chapter)
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Translator's Corner
🙏Sorry for the delayed chapters. Had a technical issue. To read ahead please go to the site. It is always updated first.
𝟏𝟒 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬 | 𝟖.𝟒𝐤 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 | 𝟏𝟒.𝟐𝐌 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 [𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦]