Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
Whistling sounds of air currents filled the air.
A fierce wind kicked up on the flat ground, swirling up gravel, dust, dead branches, and broken leaves, forming a visible murky storm.
Whoosh!
Black Shark Tig rolled, his silver-white patterns flickering uncertainly, arcs of electricity dancing. Before him, the storm he had created surged forward, engulfing a sturdy cypress tree, uprooting it, and sending it soaring into the sky.
Saga looked up to see the cypress tree split into pieces mid-air and suddenly catch fire.
The storm created by Black Shark Tig was filled with electric currents that ignited the branches.
"My lord, I have grown much stronger. My mind is brimming with countless ideas, and my blood is boiling as if I've been reborn," said Black Shark Tig, unusually excited after stopping.
After the successful Dragon Vein transformation, Black Shark Tig gained an extremely powerful affinity for the lightning element.
At the same time, his agility was enhanced beyond belief. Even a fifth-tier monster known for its agility would be on par with Black Shark Tig now.
He was now a completely different lifeform from what he used to be.
"Otherwise, why do you think I called it a gift to you?" Saga said calmly, lifting his chin.
"Thank you, my lord. I, Tig, will dedicate my life to fighting for you, serving as your most powerful fang until death," Black Shark Tig said earnestly, panting heavily.
Rumble, rumble. The ground trembled rhythmically, small stones bouncing up and down. Black Shark Tig turned his head to see the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon approaching, pushing aside two tall maple trees with its heavy steps.
The Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon walked up to Saga, stretching out its huge head to nuzzle Saga's dragon claw.
Then, it turned its head towards Black Shark Tig and sniffed.
On Black Shark Tig, it smelled a dragon-like scent similar to its own and sensed the transformation and difference in Black Shark Tig. The Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon's gaze narrowed slightly, a low growl in its throat, and a different expression appeared in its eyes.
"You say you're my most powerful fang?" Saga said with a chuckle, stroking the head of the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon.
The Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon wasn't very intelligent and couldn't express itself well, but Saga could directly sense its intentions.
Turning his head to look at Black Shark Tig, Saga shook his head and grinned, speaking with an encouraging tone:
"Tig, Kordoba doesn't recognize your declaration just now. Anything you want to say?"
Black Shark Tig was momentarily stunned, then looked at the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon, which was as imposing as a small mountain, and said eagerly:
"I will prove myself with strength."
The Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon growled, as if understanding Black Shark Tig's intention, and its tail hammer pounded the ground with a thunderous noise.
"Good, show me your current level."
Saga chose a spot with a clear view and settled down leisurely to watch the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon and Black Shark Tig face off.
Black Shark Tig's size hadn't changed, only its appearance had.
In front of it, the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon was an undeniable behemoth. Just its movements caused the ground to tremble due to its heavy weight.
"Begin."
Saga's voice echoed in the minds of both the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon and Black Shark Tig.
Upon receiving Saga's signal to start, the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon, always fond of charging headfirst into battle, roared and galloped forward, charging at Black Shark Tig.
Black Shark Tig felt the ground shake and saw the immense body of the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon reflected in his eyes. It was impossible not to feel a bit nervous, but he was not afraid, maintaining his calm and rationality.
The distance of several hundred meters was crossed in an instant by the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon's charge.
After reaching Black Shark Tig, it lifted its claw, covered in a thick keratin layer, and smashed it down hard.
Boom!
The ground shook abruptly, and dirt and stones exploded in all directions, forming a deep pit where the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon's claw landed, with cracks radiating out. However, there was no blood, only lingering traces of electricity.
Zap!
Silver-white arcs of electricity flickered, tracing elegant paths through the air with afterimages, and appeared on the back of the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon.
Black Shark Tig twisted his waist, his claws gathering a large amount of electricity, and then he viciously tore at the back of the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon.
But before Black Shark Tig could land a hit, his expression suddenly changed.
Crackle!
A flash of electricity, and Black Shark Tig vanished from the back of the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon.
At the same time, boom! Dark red, magma-like patterns lit up on the keratin armor of the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon's back, and then a column of lava fire burst forth from where Black Shark Tig had just been.
At the top of a cypress tree.
Black Shark Tig, wrapped in electricity, stood on a slender treetop, his heart racing.
Had it not been for his quick reflexes and speed, he would have been severely injured by the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon's lava fire column.
Roar!
The Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon roared, its tail raised high, and its body turned sharply.
Its tail, like a hammerhead, smashed towards Black Shark Tig.
Black Shark Tig dodged again, landing in time, and the cypress tree where he had stood was blown to pieces.
Huffing, Black Shark Tig's high-speed movement and the tornado created by the lightning rose from the ground, swirling towards the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon from the side.
The Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon didn't dodge, stepping forward and directly dispersing the non-explosive tornado with its head, continuing its charge towards Black Shark Tig.
Thousands of electric arcs danced.
Black Shark Tig circled around the massive body of the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon, relying on his high agility to engage in a grueling fight.
Saga watched the battle between his two Dragon Vein followers quietly. It hadn't been long since the start, but he already knew the outcome.
In a fight to the death, Black Shark Tig would surely lose.
After all, the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon had grown to the sixth tier, its life level genuinely higher than Black Shark Tig's.
Before being subdued by Saga, the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon was already a fifth-tier lifeform. After the Dragon Vein transformation and several battles, reaching the sixth tier was just a matter of course.
Although they were both at the mid-tier level, and the gap wouldn't be huge, it still existed.
Black Shark Tig was fast, and his attacks were fierce.
But even at his best, he could only inflict insignificant, negligible wounds on the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon, which as a single earth-attribute Subdragon, had exceptional defense and vitality.
After being granted powerful fire attributes through the Dragon Vein transformation, the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon also possessed highly destructive offensive capabilities.
Black Shark Tig was indeed fast, but he couldn't afford any mistakes.
The Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon could withstand countless hits from Black Shark Tig.
But if Black Shark Tig was struck even once by the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon, the battle would be over.
If it weren't a fight to the death or a sparring match that needed a clear winner, just a regular encounter, then Black Shark Tig would be evenly matched with the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon. With its high attack, defense, and vitality, the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon naturally had agility as its weakness. The highly agile Black Shark Tig could simply flee if he couldn't win, and the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon wouldn't have a good way to deal with it.
Bang!
Another fierce swipe of the dragon claw, and Black Shark Tig's eyes sparkled. He leaped up, landing on the wrist of the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon, then jumped towards its head, his claws reaching out, aiming for the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon's eyes.
It seemed he had found a good opportunity.
The Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon suddenly raised its head and opened its mouth.
Roar!
A deafening roar erupted, and visible sound waves poured out of the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon's mouth, enveloping Black Shark Tig, who couldn't dodge in time.
Black Shark Tig's head throbbed as if struck by a massive hammer.
When he quickly regained his senses, what he saw was the huge horn, already close at hand.
The Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon swung its head, using the horn on its head to side-slam Black Shark Tig, sending him flying.
Thud. Black Shark Tig managed to stabilize himself in the air and landed smoothly, avoiding a fall.
His ribs ached, and bones had broken during the collision.
Roar.
The Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon growled but did not pursue its victory. It raised its head high, assuming a victorious and proud stance.
On the other side, Black Shark Tig sighed.
"I lost."
Had the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon not held back on its last strike, Black Shark Tig would have been impaled by the horn and seriously injured.
As he spoke, Black Shark Tig showed a look of regret, but he was not discouraged, his expression calm and composed.
Saga stretched his body and then stood up.
"It was a good duel. Although you lost, I am not surprised," he said after a pause, looking down at Black Shark Tig. "Explore your abilities well. I still have high hopes for the potential within you."
Black Shark Tig nodded solemnly:
"I will not disappoint your expectations."
Then, Saga approached the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon, hugged its big head with both claws, and vigorously rubbed and kneaded it as a reward for the victor.
Moments later, the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon lay dizzily on the ground.
After his defeat, Black Shark Tig continued to explore his abilities, gaining some insights from his battle with the Yellow Crystal Earth Dragon.
Saga flew back to the Gem Peak, closed his eyes slightly, and immediately, a wealth of knowledge related to the Mind Warlock's path filled his mind. It contained many psychic abilities, all six energy systems of psychic abilities were included.
This included the Brass Dragon's ability to make enemies listen, a clever speech technique that could arise directly from the heart, also belonging to the psychic telepathy abilities.
"I have electromagnetic force, and when combined with psychic energy, I can amplify or modify the effects of psychic abilities. With so many psychic abilities, my methods will be much more diverse."
Saga focused his mind, concentrating on one psychic ability—creating Psychic Guards.
Just as he was about to delve deeper into this ability and create his own Psychic Guards, Saga suddenly opened his eyes, shifting his attention from the inherited knowledge to himself.
A profound sense of sleepiness emerged from deep within his body.
The eyelids of the Golden Hatchling Dragon began to tremble uncontrollably, his body leaning back, dragon wings spread wide, as he let out a big sneeze.
"This intense drowsiness means my accumulation is sufficient; it's time to enter a growth slumber."
Dragon sleep came in two forms: one was the normal daily rest to recover spirit, energy, and physical strength, which had no significant benefit to a dragon's growth. The other was growth slumber, which came after accumulating enough experience and energy from daily battles and hunting. During this long period of growth slumber, a dragon would grow rapidly. The more experiences they had, the more frequent and effective the growth slumbers would be.
Of course, if a dragon was naturally lazy to the extreme and did nothing, it could still enter growth slumber, but the intervals would be very long, the frequency low, and the growth efficiency not as good as under normal circumstances.
This time, Saga was entering a growth slumber.
Proofreader & Editor: Lotas