"A spherical object found in the flood dragon's cranial cavity—there's a massive amount of energy contained inside. We can't confirm whether it's the legendary dragon pearl; even if it isn't, it should still be where the flood dragon's energy converged."
When he said this, Liu Suifeng's expression turned grave.
"Originally, this was supposed to be handed over to the Research Institute. But since your ability is related to dragons, we figured it might be of great benefit to you, so we're sending it along with the rest."
"It's only because you're first sequence—right now, the strongest after the White Emperor—that they were willing to part with it. Otherwise, they really might not have."
After all, this was the first truly dragon-related mutated beast they had discovered so far. That energy-laden sphere could well be the legendary dragon pearl and held enormous research value.
If Skyler Quinn weren't first sequence—one of the key talents Huaxia was cultivating—and if his ability weren't dragon-based, they would never have released it.
"I'll remember this," Skyler said solemnly.
"This is what you deserve," Liu Suifeng replied with a smile.
They had all seen how much Skyler had done for Huaxia.
Not just Skyler—Firewing, Chris Frost, Nathaniel Gray, William Mecham… all of them were prodigies Huaxia intended to nurture with priority, and all of them were first-sequence powerhouses.
So whenever they found resources, aside from setting a portion aside for research, they would allocate some to Skyler and the others, as nourishment for their growth.
After handing everything over, Liu Suifeng departed. Skyler carried the case out of the training room and returned to his quarters to cultivate.
Click!
He opened the case. Inside were twelve vials of gold-red blood; at the very center rested a bead about four centimeters across.
A resonant note—like the hum of a dragon's cry—seemed to brush Skyler's ears. His body trembled despite himself.
"Huu—"
Skyler didn't hesitate. He picked up a vial and uncapped it.
Boom!
An oppressive dragon's might shook the room. A violent power surged out of the vial—behind Skyler, the red silhouette of a flame dragon emerged, its red-gold pupils fixing on the dragon blood before it. A still more terrifying draconic pressure unfurled, and the energy within the vial was actually suppressed back down.
Skyler swallowed the gold-red dragon blood in one draught.
Rrrrumb—!
Amid a thunderous roar, an immeasurably vast energy poured madly into Skyler's limbs and bones, scouring his body.
Skyler's ability meshed perfectly with the true dragon heart-blood. Although his ability had already transformed into [Flame Dragon] and might not match this dragon's bloodline exactly, the gap in level let him absorb all the energy in the blood regardless.
His body jolted again and again. Bones all over him crackled crisply; a searing pain swept through every inch of him.
Skyler clenched his teeth through the agony. A faint red-gold tint seemed to flicker in his pupils.
As time passed, the energy in the first vial dwindled away, and the instant it did, Skyler uncorked a second and drained it without a second thought.
Pain.
A pain beyond words.
It was as if countless steel needles pierced him everywhere, as if hammers pounded him again and again. The torment nearly exceeded Skyler's ability to endure.
But he thought of his goal—of the person he wanted to become.
He gritted his teeth and held on once more.
A ringing dragon cry—"Yin!"
The flame dragon silhouette behind Skyler sounded off, jaws opening slowly. The remaining ten vials uncapped themselves; the true dragon heart-blood within rose into the air and streamed toward the phantom flame dragon.
Not only the heart-blood— even the dragon pearl at the center of the case surged into Skyler's abdomen.
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
Lightning seemed to flicker in the air. A chrysalis of red heat slowly sheathed Skyler, and a terrifying energy gestated within.
At the same time, in Vantora City—
"Flood dragon heart-blood?"
"Since when did that guy Nathaniel Gray get so fierce? He can hunt flood dragons now?"
"What? The flood dragon was half-dead from tribulation lightning and Nathaniel just moved in for the finisher? That sounds right."
"There's a dragon pearl in there too? Do flood dragons even have dragon pearls?"
"If they're giving it to Skyler, then fine—but why not refine the flood dragon's body and that 'pearl' into a pill for him? Maybe it would change his ability. Even if it didn't, it should still make him a lot stronger."
"Research? It's been ages and they haven't produced anything. Better to let Skyler eat it. Once he's strong, what can't he get his hands on?"
"That alchemist's ability isn't strong enough to break it down? Sure, 'best if'…"
Firewing twirled the vial of dragon blood in her hand. In a bit, she planned to summon the strongest fire-aligned creature with true dragon blood she could currently call forth. If she absorbed this stuff herself, it would obviously be the worst use.
She was a summoner. She wasn't about to start brawling with her bare body, was she?
She didn't even know what element that flood dragon had been. If it was water, would that have a negative effect?
Firewing fell into thought.
A long while later—
"Forget it. It's not like I'm the one drinking it."
"Let's try one vial first."
The dragon blood was precious, but Firewing didn't especially care. She wasn't Skyler; her own power was a summoning ability. Once she grew stronger, what fire-type summon would she be unable to call?
To her, the dragon blood's main value was the vast energy it contained. As far as anything 'dragon-related' went, she'd rather just let Skyler have it.
Jealous?
What was there to be jealous of? It was for the people, anyway.
Whoever could make the best use of it should be the one to use it.
Of course, that logic applied only to dragon blood. If it were a Five Elements Armor, a Kamen Rider summoner, an Imperial Arm, or Clow Cards—well, pretend she never said anything. If she got one of those, it would be hers, and she wouldn't be giving it to anyone.
There would be more dragon blood in the future. But that kind of gear, once given away, was gone.
"Let's see… what should I summon?"
As Firewing spoke, a ring of mysterious array-runes slowly lit up beneath her feet. As she continued feeding spiritual energy into the formation, something began to take shape within it—
…an egg?
"Huh???"
Blank bewilderment spread across Firewing's face.
"What the hell? Why did I summon an egg?"
That shouldn't be possible. Even if her ability was fire-type summoning, it didn't include eggs. Only fire-type summons with intelligence and will should be able to answer her call.
Unless she had misunderstood her own ability all along—maybe she could summon eggs, and it was just luck that she hadn't ever pulled one before?
Ohhh, so that's how it—like hell it is!
She had summoned more times than she could count. If eggs were fair game, there was no way she would never have brought one out before!
So… what was this egg?
Cautious, Firewing reached out and touched it—then felt it again.
Warm. Hot. Smooth.
Didn't feel any different from a normal egg… other than being a bit bigger.
(End of this chapter)