Dawn broke, casting a faint light on a coastal beach where a small Silver Dragon and a Golden Giant Mountain were chatting. Yekaterina was feigning sleep with her eyes closed.
Saga leaned against a magic-infused coconut tree, effortlessly plucking large coconuts with his claws, gazing out at the endless golden sea.
Countless True Dragons soared in the sky, occasionally breaking the surface of the sea or diving into its depths. The sea shimmered with golden waves, a magnificent and beautiful sight.
Suddenly, a distinct golden dragon burst from the sea, shooting straight into the sky, ascending into the clouds before basking in the morning light, motionless.
This was a small Golden Dragon, about eleven meters long, its scales shining like the blazing sun.
Sunlight continuously converged around it from all directions, almost tangible, forming a sphere of golden light like a miniature sun.
The small Silver Dragon and Golden Giant Mountain ceased their conversation, looking up at the distant sky.
Golden Giant Mountain, with a deep voice, slowly said, "It's him, the most promising prodigy of the Golden Dragon clan in thousands of years, the Glorious Golden Dragon Hyperion."
"Glorious Golden Dragon Hyperion," Saga murmured, narrowing his eyes as he looked up at the sky.
In his view, Hyperion was focused on absorbing the power of the sun, surrounded by a halo of light, shining like a small sun, which made Saga realize why he was nicknamed the Glorious Golden Dragon.
A well-proportioned body, a calm and steady posture, and an air of authority like a leader.
As a rising star of the Metal Dragon clan, this Glorious Golden Dragon was indeed extraordinary. Just one glance from afar, and Saga was certain of it.
Meanwhile, as if sensing the gaze from Dragon Island, Hyperion suddenly opened his half-closed eyes, looked down, and met Saga's gaze across the vast distance.
After a brief glance, Hyperion calmly closed his eyes again, focusing on absorbing solar energy.
Saga turned his attention back to his coconut, crunching away.
Minutes later, the air suddenly cooled as a legendary Silver Dragon with a refreshing aura flew by, hovering above Saga and the others.
"Ilyagor, have you forgotten where your Dragon's Nest is?" the Silver Dragon asked softly.
The small Silver Dragon stuck out its tongue, then said cheerfully, "Mother, let me play with my brothers and sisters a little longer."
"You have your own tasks to attend to," the legendary Silver Dragon replied gently but firmly.
"Alright," the small Silver Dragon nodded.
"I need to head back to the Dragon's Nest now. The competition will start soon, and I need to prepare, contract more summons. If I'm eliminated too quickly, my parents will be unhappy."
"See you when the competition starts," Ilyagor waved its claw, bidding farewell to Saga and the others.
"Yekaterina, don't underestimate me. I've prepared thoroughly for this competition, especially for our battle."
Soon after, Golden Giant Mountain Hekris also departed.
Saga took to the air, calling out to Yekaterina, "Let's go to the deep-sea Dragon City."
Dragon Island and Dragon City.
Saga had already explored some of Dragon Island, but he knew nothing of the deep-sea Dragon City.
Dragon Island was mainly a place for Hatchling Dragons, young dragons, and adolescent dragons to play and frolic, while the deep-sea Dragon City was where the powerful True Dragons gathered. Of course, there were no strict boundaries between the two areas; dragons could go wherever they pleased, but younger dragons preferred to play on the island.
"Sure, let's go," Yekaterina said, flapping her wings and flying up.
Together, a golden and a red dragon traced a beautiful arc in the sky before plunging into the golden sea, splashing countless sparkling droplets, creating ripples of beauty.
Below the sea's surface, Saga swayed like a nimble fish, diving with Yekaterina into the depths.
As they descended, Saga saw many wondrous sights: a colossal old sea turtle moving slowly, jellyfish with curtain-like tentacles, coral emitting a faint glow, dense schools of fish, and forests of strange aquatic plants.
Many True Dragons swam below, dancing with the fish or chasing each other, their strong bodies creating countless undercurrents.
In ordinary seas, it would be pitch dark hundreds of meters down, but the golden sea was bright even in the deep.
Following Yekaterina deeper, soon the countless buildings and creatures of the deep-sea reflected in Saga's eyes.
Majestic dragon statues.
Grand and splendid Dragon Palaces.
Outside the dragon residences, an expanse of coral, giant shells, and fish bones housed numerous Sharkmen, Magic Fish, Succubi, Giant Crabs, Wolf Shrimp, Water Spiders, and other sea creatures, all dependent on the deep-sea Dragon City.
The water hummed and vibrated.
A hundred-meter-long blue whale swam by, stirring up turbulent currents with a flick of its tail, causing Saga and Yekaterina to stagger.
The whale glanced at them, its eyes kind.
The turbulent water suddenly calmed, gently brushing over the two dragons.
Then, the whale swam away at a leisurely pace.
The sea teemed with creatures, including legendary beasts that occasionally swam past Saga, all showing patience and goodwill.
Passing the sea creatures' dwellings, Saga and Yekaterina entered the Dragon Palace area, filled with towering palaces.
Only True Dragons, their sea creature attendants, and some high-ranking nobles from the three great sea empires of Sharkmen, Magic Fish, and Succubi, who came here for exchange and learning, could move about in the Dragon Palace area.
"What a lovely little Golden Dragon," a voice with a slight accent in Dragon Tongue said, and Saga turned to look, thinking it was about him.
First, he saw a pink jellyfish about five meters in diameter, with tentacles tens of meters long, drifting in the sea.
Looking up, on the jellyfish's head, Saga saw a beautiful creature.
A delicate face, skin as white as snow, slender arms, and other features formed a humanoid upper body, while below her waist was a long, beautiful red fish tail, with scales that shone like rubies.
Saga noticed that she was adorned with a variety of jewelry on her ears, neck, wrists, and hair.
Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, headbands—all were imbued with strong elemental light and were valuable magic items.
"Hello, little Golden Dragon," the mermaid said with a smile, touching her necklace and producing a light blue gemstone the size of a pebble from her fingertip.
The nearly tangible elemental light indicated the gemstone's high quality.
With a flick of her finger, the mermaid sent the gemstone flying towards Saga.
Saga caught it, a bit surprised, and quickly stored it in his spatial crystal.
"Hope to see you again," she waved and rode away on her pink jellyfish, not even leaving her name.
Saga was puzzled.
"Are Succubi always so generous?"
The beautiful mermaid was a Succubus, a noble from the sea empire, indicating her high status.
The Succubi of the empire were not simple; each was a talented Caster, with magical aptitude rivaling that of dragons.
Succubi were exclusively female, with the beautiful mermaid form, and they reproduced by mating with males of other species.
Keen on mating with dragons, many Succubus nobles would visit the deep-sea Dragon City if given the chance.
Among the nobles from the three great sea empires, Succubi were the most numerous in the Metal Dragon City.
It's worth mentioning that if a Succubus gives birth to a female, it will be a Succubus; if male, it will become a sea monster.
Unlike the spellcasting, intelligent, and physically weaker Succubi, male sea monsters are infertile, dull-witted, immensely strong, grow rapidly, are enormous, ferocious, and bloodthirsty, and only obey the Succubi.
The sea monster legions of the Succubus Empire have rarely been defeated in direct combat, having triumphed over the Mechanar Empire's iron legions in their oceanic home.
The land-dwelling Succubi could not compare to the sea Succubi.
Yekaterina watched the Succubus leave with a cold snort, then looked at Saga displeasedly.
Then, pointing to a grand palace at the center of Dragon City, she said, "That's our father's palace, my foolish brother. Let's go, I'll take you there."
Saga shook his head, "You go back first. I'll wander around Dragon City some more."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yekaterina turned and left.
Saga blinked and then curiously roamed the bustling Dragon City.
Minutes later, the little Golden Dragon, with an odd expression, stored a mithril magic ring into his spatial crystal.
He had just encountered another Succubus noble, or rather, a wealthy Succubus, who gave him the magic ring as a gift.
"The legacy mentioned that Succubi have diverse racial aesthetics and are serious about looks."
"Heh, looks are justice, looks are wealth."
The little Golden Dragon swished its tail, then with a gleam in its eye, continued to wander, 'accidentally' appearing before various Succubus matrons, soon collecting many fine items.
"Didn't expect such a windfall," Saga thought contentedly after a while, not satisfied with his current gains.
Spotting a target, Saga pretended to pass by, approaching.
However, a voice suddenly rang in his ear, stopping him in his tracks with annoyance.
"Saga, stop accepting gifts from these Succubus nobles. If they ask you to go to the Succubus Empire for a marriage alliance, it would be quite a headache for me."
Proofreader & Editor: Lotas