In the hall filled with memory crystals, a glance revealed many hatchling dragons, among which were some powerful contenders for the upcoming competition.
Saga swept his gaze across the room and then walked towards the memory crystals.
After the eighth match, Saga had already obtained information about his opponent for the ninth match.
His next opponent was not a favorite to win the championship.
However, anyone who had made it to the ninth match, even if not a favorite, was an exceptional and outstanding dragon. None were below the sixth order, a level that a significant portion of ordinary young dragons could only hope to achieve.
It was possible that among these hatchlings, there were some like Saga at the beginning, who had concealed their true capabilities, holding back their trump cards until now, ready to astound everyone.
"If we were outside, it wouldn't be possible to encounter so many powerful hatchlings."
"Gulitya has already reached the adolescent stage but is only at the fifth order. Even in a hatchling, no, even in a lower-level hatchling competition, it's doubtful she would make a splash."
"Including the Topaz Dragon Lord and the adult Brass Dragon I encountered outside, they are quite ordinary. Dragons with exceptional talent, one in a thousand among their kind, are extremely rare."
"It can only be said… this place is truly Dragon City of the deep sea, truly a sacred place of the sea tribes."
Saga mused for a moment, then prepared to get a rough understanding of his opponent while continuing to pay attention to other championship favorites, especially the dazzling Golden Dragon, Hyperion, and his foolish yet powerful sister, Yekaterina.
Pulling out a magic memory crystal from the cluster, Saga expertly placed it against his forehead, and instantly, a series of match replays appeared in his eyes.
Moments later.
The little Golden Dragon opened his eyes and reinserted the magic memory crystal.
"The Brass Dragon, who had eliminated the little Silver Dragon Ilyasong early on, met Hyperion in the eighth match while I was fighting the Amethyst Dragon Tishir. As expected, he was defeated."
When the Brass Dragon fought the Golden Dragon, he still started with his signature move of countless fireballs. The fireballs, covering the sky and burning the seawater, made vast swathes of the sea boil as if completely unaffected by the surrounding environment, smashing towards Hyperion.
However.
This Son of the Sun, the Golden Dragon, with an unstoppable charge, shattered countless fireballs, dancing in the fire sea that had formed, and easily approached the Brass Dragon, who was like a fireball turret.
What followed was no surprise.
The Golden Dragon's size did not seem advantageous compared to other dragons of the same age, but its close combat ability was extremely powerful. Its scales shone like the blazing sun, with an indestructible defense, even stronger than the Iron Dragon Lexander's steel scales, and not just by a little bit.
Besides its indestructible defense.
Strength, speed, reaction… this Golden Dragon could be called top-notch in every aspect, almost maxing out all attributes.
"With such an unparalleled physique, the title of the Iron Dragon should belong to the Golden Dragon, truly deserved, much stronger than Lexander."
"What a formidable opponent."
"However, it is precisely because of this that the competition, this honor of hatchling champion, is even more worth my anticipation."
Saga's golden dragon eyes shone brightly, as if molten gold flames were burning vigorously within.
This was his fiery fighting spirit.
Yekaterina.
Hyperion.
One was a powerful dragon sister who had fought all over Dragon City during the hatchling stage, and the other was a brilliant new star in Dragon City of the deep sea. Only these two dragons were truly taken seriously by Saga, seen as opponents he must face with all his might.
If one were to simply categorize the talents of a species into five levels—
Poor, ordinary, excellent, genius, and monstrous.
Then, without exception, the hatchlings considered favorites for the championship all belonged to the fourth level, the geniuses.
And these geniuses were still not enough to make Saga reveal his true level.
Because if these championship favorites are genius dragons.
Then Saga is definitely a monster, a level above genius!
In an empire-level power, there may be many geniuses in the same period, but monstrous creatures are few and far between.
"And between monsters, there are also differences."
Saga's gaze narrowed, and he murmured to himself.
Just as Yekaterina had said before, deep in his heart, Saga's pride was no less than hers, even arrogant.
This was only natural.
With the Red Dragoness who could refine and extract power from the lords of hell, the Golden Dragonfather who could grow by devouring divine power.
He himself also possessed infinite potential, a talent to control and manipulate fundamental forces.
How could he consider himself ordinary?
Both Red Dragons and Golden Dragons are proud and powerful beings.
The difference is that Red Dragons express it by enslaving other lifeforms, seeing themselves as kings, while Golden Dragons do so by striking down evil and aiding other races, using the praise of other lifeforms and the fear of evildoers to demonstrate their might.
With Saga's background and abilities, he was fully entitled to call himself a True Dragon Above All.
After watching the match replays he wanted to see.
Since there was still some time before the ninth match, Saga returned to his chamber to adjust his state and invited a new friend into the grand Dragon Palace of the Golden Dragonfather.
"The palace of the blessed Golden Dragon, truly grand and majestic."
"Just a chamber for his offspring to live in, yet it's decorated with glittering gold and even has exclusive water elemental lifeforms as attendants."
Led by the Crab General, the Amethyst Dragon Tishir arrived at Saga's chamber.
This Amethyst Dragon, covered in translucent and beautiful amethyst scales, with an intelligent and elegant demeanor, looked around Saga's chamber and praised it.
"Is there anything I need to be aware of here, or any rules?"
The Amethyst Dragon Tishir smiled slightly and asked.
Her own talents were outstanding, and her abilities were excellent, but her parents were just a pair of ordinary adult Amethyst Dragons living in Dragon City of the deep sea, not even close to the tip of the Golden Dragonfather's tail, a huge gap in status.
Splash…
Saga stepped out of the lava pool, and the surrounding water spirit maids quickly approached, transforming into water streams to clean the residual lava covering the little Golden Dragon's body.
"Just make yourself comfortable here; there are no particular rules," Saga said to the Amethyst Dragon, while waving his claw to dismiss the water spirit maids in the chamber.
"Alright, then I'll make myself comfortable."
With a thought from the Amethyst Dragon, a pale purple psychic glow blossomed, turning into suspended purple crystals that interlocked with each other, eventually forming a dragon throne that fit her body and structure.
Just as she said, Tishir casually sat on the Amethyst Dragon Throne and looked directly at Saga.
Dragons value their own power more than the family energy behind them.
Therefore, even though she was facing a descendant of the blessed Golden Dragon with a prominent status in Dragon City of the deep sea, the Amethyst Dragon Tishir did not show any restraint.
As an excellent Mind Warlock, although Tishir was defeated by Saga, she adjusted well mentally, without any gaps or shadows, and confidently spoke to Saga without being humble or arrogant.
Always full of confidence, believing in one's own mind, believing in one's own will.
This is one of the mottos that Mind Warlocks adhere to.
If a Mind Warlock falls into self-doubt, it's not far from mental collapse and psychic dispersion.
"Psychic creation ability? Conjuration?"
Saga glanced at the Amethyst Dragon and spoke in a mental whisper.
"Yes."
The Amethyst Dragon's faceplate revealed a slight smile, responding in the same mental whisper.
In Dragon City of the deep sea, it was rare to encounter a True Dragon on the path of a Mind Warlock, other than her own parents. The Amethyst Dragon Tishir had hardly ever communicated with other dragons through the mind, and the mental communication with Saga felt novel and pleasant to her.
Additionally.
Communication between Mind Warlocks often involves exploration and competition.
During the conversation, the Amethyst Dragon subconsciously tried to understand Saga's inner thoughts, but Saga's firm mental barriers prevented her from succeeding.
Saga also wanted to probe the Amethyst Dragon's mind, but was similarly blocked by her mental barriers. Unless he used aggressive psychic abilities, simple techniques accompanying mental communication were not enough for Saga to breach the Amethyst Dragon's mental barriers with his current abilities.
"Psychic enchantment series' personality parasitism."
"Psychic creation series' psychic guards."
"Psychic transformation series' bone-deep pain."
"Psychic transmission series' psychic stride."
"…The six major psychic series of a Mind Warlock, just from what you've shown, you have at least four of them. I estimate you've also dabbled in the prophetic and self-sculpting psychic abilities."
Saga looked intrigued and continued:
"On the path of a Mind Warlock, you are a practitioner of all six psychic series, am I right?"
Under Saga's gaze, the Amethyst Dragon Tishir nodded slightly and asked in return, "Aren't you the same?"
"From your previous performance, like me, you are also a practitioner of all six series."
The little Golden Dragon nodded and said with a matter-of-fact tone:
"Only those with limited talent and mediocrity can only choose one series."
"Practicing all six psychic series is a privilege for those of us with extraordinary gifts."
The Amethyst Dragon Tishir smiled and said:
"On this point, we agree."
Most beings who embark on the path of a Mind Warlock will only choose one psychic series to cultivate. It's not that they don't want to practice all six series; they simply can't.
To go further and higher on a certain path in a limited lifetime, those with limited talent and short lives need to consider carefully. Beings like Saga and the Amethyst Dragon Tishir, who are naturally endowed, are rare.
After chatting briefly with the Amethyst Dragon Tishir, Saga got to the point.
He looked into the Amethyst Dragon's gem-like purple eyes and said seriously:
"Tishir, I hope you can do me a favor."
The Amethyst Dragon tilted her head, and the pair of floating psychic dragon horns on her head twitched:
"What is it? You can tell me first."
Saga pondered his words and then grinned with a hint of excitement:
"Please use your Singularity Dragon Breath on me again!"
Amethyst Dragon: …
"Making a request for an Amethyst Dragon to use its dragon breath on oneself, such a request must be unprecedented in the history of this planet."
"After all, it sounds a bit like seeking one's own death."
Tishir blinked and said.
"Of course, if it's you, there definitely won't be a problem. I've already witnessed your ability to devour dragon breath."
After a pause, the Amethyst Dragon sighed slightly and said, "How can there be a dragon that can even swallow dragon breath? Even though I've seen it with my own eyes and experienced it myself, it's still hard to believe. For any dragon, dragon breath is a powerful trump card."
She thought.
If Saga couldn't devour dragon breath and couldn't handle the powerful Singularity Dragon Breath, then she would have been the victor of the match.
Unfortunately, what happened has happened, and there are no ifs.
"I was born this way."
The little Golden Dragon sighed, spread his claws, and put on a helpless look as if to say, "I can't help it," while enjoying the benefits.
Then, the Amethyst Dragon said, "Singularity Dragon Breath takes a lot out of me, but since I've already been eliminated by you, I don't need to prepare for the next match, so I can use Singularity Dragon Breath on you."
Looking up at the little Golden Dragon, the Amethyst Dragon continued:
"I can help you, but before that, I hope you can answer a question that's been on my mind."
After a pause, the Amethyst Dragon Tishir asked seriously:
"During our battle, I felt that your psychic energy had an extraordinary effect. It made my mental defenses as fragile as paper in front of you, and it made your mental barriers indestructible. It's very targeted against fellow Mind Warlocks."
"Out of my own curiosity and as a Mind Warlock's pursuit of psychic power, I want to know why your psychic energy is so special and powerful. It seems to contain something different, and that's the source of its strength."
As a Mind Warlock, the Amethyst Dragon Tishir had a very keen perception, and she felt the oddity of Saga's psychic energy.
In fact.
Depending on the mental and willful state of the Mind Warlock themselves, some exceptionally talented Mind Warlocks have unique psychic energies.
Some psychic energies are as hot as fire, some as cold as ice.
There are also psychic energies with properties as solid as iron or chaotic and crazy.
Tishir's psychic energy is a kind of amethyst texture, a manifestation of the power of the mind, while also possessing a special entity.
However, Saga's unreasonable psychic energy that restrains other Mind Warlocks was a first for the Amethyst Dragon Tishir. This was not recorded in her extensive and vast heritage knowledge of Mind Warlocks. As the leader of the Gemstone Dragons, even the heritage knowledge of the Amethyst Dragon did not contain such information, so it is very likely a first and unprecedented.
"Can you tell me what this is?"
The Amethyst Dragon Tishir added, saying:
"If this is a secret knowledge that cannot be shared, and you need an equivalent exchange or are unwilling to trade, I can understand. I will still use Singularity Dragon Breath for you, and your answer will not affect my previous decision."
The little Golden Dragon smiled slightly.
Under the expectant gaze of the Amethyst Dragon, he extended his dragon claw and then raised a sharp hook.
Zzzt!
A thread of psychic energy in the form of electric arcs emerged on Saga's dragon claw hook, then moved at will under his command, leaping, spinning, and dancing as if alive.
The Amethyst Dragon's gaze followed the psychic electric arcs.
"You can try it."
Saga said.
The Amethyst Dragon nodded, then with a thought, created a psychic amethyst that flew towards the psychic electric arc jumping on Saga's dragon claw.
Crack!
The electric arc flashed past, effortlessly shattering the psychic amethyst.
Feeling the targeted effect of the electric arc on psychic energy, the Amethyst Dragon's eyelids twitched.
"That's the feeling."
"The intensity of the psychic energy I released is clearly higher than yours, but it's exceptionally fragile in front of your psychic energy. Moreover, my amethyst psychic energy also has a special effect, superior to ordinary psychic energy, and shouldn't be so fragile. This confuses me."
The Amethyst Dragon said.
"Have you ever thought about what the essence of psychic energy is?"
"Spirit, will, soul… the power of the mind."
As an excellent Mind Warlock, the Amethyst Dragon Tishir answered without hesitation.
"That's just on the surface. I'm talking about the deeper, more fundamental truth, the reality hidden beneath the appearance of psychic energy."
"If you can discover and understand it, you will surely go further and higher on the path of a Mind Warlock."
"As for how to clear the fog to see tomorrow, how to see the truth through the surface, that's up to you."
Saga spoke calmly and slowly.
Although psychic energy was only an auxiliary for Saga and not considered very important by him, he had a good impression of the Amethyst Dragon.
However, their friendship was not yet deep enough to reveal all his abilities to her, so he only gave her a little hint.
Moreover, even if Saga directly told the Amethyst Dragon that psychic energy is an extension of electromagnetic force and that electromagnetic force is the fundamental essence of psychic energy, the Amethyst Dragon would only have obtained a vague conceptual theory. Without her own deep understanding, she would not be able to use it.
"Psychic energy is just the surface; there is a deeper fundamental truth…"
The Amethyst Dragon Tishir pondered.
Then, her psychic dragon horns became still, and she spoke with a serious and earnest tone:
"Thank you, this is very important knowledge. If there's anything I can help you with in the future, just ask."
Unlike Saga, who only saw psychic energy as an auxiliary and stepped onto the path of a Mind Warlock just to better study his own fundamental abilities, the Amethyst Dragon was a pure Mind Warlock. Saga's guidance was precious to the Amethyst Dragon, as any knowledge involving the essence of a certain power could be said to be priceless, even just a little bit, especially knowledge not recorded in her heritage.
"Sure, I'll give you the opportunity to properly repay me."
The little Golden Dragon flicked his tail, unabashedly saying.
"Let's start with using Singularity Dragon Breath on me."
The Amethyst Dragon's faceplate revealed a faint smile: "Okay."
The environment in the chamber was not suitable for display, so Saga took the Amethyst Dragon to the coral training field. In this training area designed for practice, Tishir once again demonstrated the powerful Singularity Dragon Breath of the Amethyst Dragon.
At Saga's request, the Amethyst Dragon prepared more steadily and calmly this time.
The pair of dragon horns on her head lit up with a bright glow, and countless seawater gathered into her open mouth, compressed into the profound and pitch-black singularity, as if it could suck in all matter.
Saga observed the Amethyst Dragon's dragon breath from a close distance.
He concentrated, focused, and stared unblinkingly at the Amethyst Dragon.
In Saga's force field vision, countless gravitational arcs undulated, reflecting a unique pattern of movement in the depths of his pupils. He memorized every curve and movement of the gravitational arcs without missing a single detail, deeply imprinting them into his mind.
Until the Singularity Dragon Breath was charged to its peak.
Hum!
The gravity ball was expelled.
The seawater surged accordingly.
Centered around the gravity ball, boundless seawater rotated, compressed, and collapsed, creating a massive spectacle.
It was difficult for ordinary lifeforms to imagine that such a level of attack came from the mouth of a hatchling dragon. If a high-level magical lifeform were hit directly by the Singularity Dragon Breath, unless it had special abilities like Saga to cope, it would likely face death.
Crack, crack!
The scene from the match was recreated here as the little Golden Dragon flapped its wings and flew into the center of the vortex, then swallowed the singularity gravity ball in one gulp.
Burp~
The little Golden Dragon patted his belly, let out a satisfied burp, and looked spirited and invigorated.
"Shall we go for another round?"
Saga turned his head and looked at the dimly scaled Amethyst Dragon Tishir.
Hearing Saga's words, the Amethyst Dragon couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"Do I look like I can use Singularity Dragon Breath again?"
"I'm this exhausted after one use. Are you up for it?"
Looking at the weak-faced Amethyst Dragon, Saga licked his lips and said with a longing tone.
"I'm not up for it."
"You can try to find if there are any other Amethyst Dragons that can use Sing ularity Dragon Breath consecutively."
The Amethyst Dragon Tishir rolled her eyes attractively again, speaking with a hint of annoyance.
Unlike ordinary dragon breath, Singularity Dragon Breath is immensely powerful and thus highly taxing on the Amethyst Dragon, often used as a decisive move in battle and difficult to employ consecutively in a short period.
"You should rest for now."
"Or if you still have the energy and are interested, you could let the coral construct dragons here keep you company. This training field can quickly replenish what you've expended."
"Coral construct dragons?" The Amethyst Dragon showed a curious expression.
Saga explained a bit and summoned a coral construct dragon to appear before the Amethyst Dragon.
"My two psychic guard constructs were shattered by you."
"Perhaps this coral construct dragon could give me some new inspiration."
Following that, the Amethyst Dragon Tishir went down to the field and started to tangle with the coral construct dragon.
Meanwhile.
The little Golden Dragon stayed to watch the battle, recalling the details of the gravitational arcs when the Amethyst Dragon used Singularity Dragon Breath, his expression contemplative and thoughtful.
Proofreader & Editor: Lotas