Evolving by devouring from a young dragon

The human and dwarven magical empire, the most powerful nation on the continent of Ysera.

Since the dragon-slaying order was issued 500 years ago, countless dragons have been hunted down, including dozens of adult dragons.

For this reason, dragons almost always stay within their own territory and dare not easily set foot in human territory.

The position of overlord of the Western Continent changed hands three hundred years ago, from dragons to humans and dwarves.

But their dragon-slaying morale not only did not diminish, but actually increased.

Instead of recuperating, the empire devoted all its resources to developing magical technology and spent enormous amounts of resources to build twelve floating fortresses in the sky—the "Eyes of the Sky."

These floating cities serve as both reconnaissance outposts and dragon-slaying fortresses, monitoring the dragon's every move day and night.

Whenever a dragon dares to set foot in human territory, it will be met with overwhelming and devastating attacks.

Dragon-slaying knights are the elite of the empire's elite forces.

They piloted special magical mechs, and each of them could be said to possess the strength to directly confront an adult dragon.

William Graves was a dragon-slaying knight.

However, due to his advanced age of 120 and the presence of old injuries and ailments, he had no hope of becoming a legend and chose to retire, eventually arriving in Elder City.

For humankind, there are two key stages.

Breaking through to the fifth rank can extend lifespan to 200 years; entering the legendary realm, one can live up to 500 years.

But William knew that the hidden injuries left by the battle back then prevented him from breaking through to the legendary level, so he chose to retire and return to his hometown of Eld City.

The empire has always respected the wishes of its loyal citizens, and William departed without any hindrance.

However, his old companion that had been with him for many years—the Type II Dragon Slayer Mech—had been stripped of its exclusive core, leaving only an empty shell.

Ordinary mechs on the market can be activated simply by installing any core.

However, the dragon-slaying mechs specially made by the dwarves are never sold to outsiders, and no one else knows about them—once they lose their exclusive core, they can no longer be activated.

Therefore, without his old companion, William was left with only his own seventh-tier strength.

This is both pity and a shackle.

The empire will not allow a potential legend to escape its control.

Therefore, William knew in his heart that his smooth departure was not due to any imperial mercy, but simply because he was no longer of any use.

However, this is for the best.

Let's spend the rest of our days in Elder City...

In fact, given his past as a dragon-slaying knight, he could have easily gone to the floating city and lived out his remaining years in peace and comfort.

But he still returned here, after all, this is his hometown.

However, he had already spent all his money.

It wasn't that he was extravagant; rather, he used it all to buy ownership of his old friend.

He has always only had the right to use this Type II Dragon Slayer mech, but has never owned it.

According to imperial regulations, when a knight retires, their mech must be returned in its original condition.

But he couldn't bear to part with it, so he spent money to buy it completely.

Forget about getting an exclusive core; that's the Empire's top secret, and no amount of money can buy it.

And so, he used all his savings from all those years to redeem his old friend from servitude.

But why?

Why would he sell his old friend, whom he had redeemed at a high price, to that businessman at a low price?

Why did he come back?

Yes, he could have redeemed his old friend and gone straight to the floating city.

Anyway, he can live a stable and respectable life based on his former status.

But why did he still come back?

Yes, why is that?

William couldn't understand it either.

Perhaps it is the guidance of my hometown.

A crimson light appeared deep in his eyes, but it quickly vanished without a trace.

Then, with his only remaining left hand, he picked up the wine glass on the table, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

Wojnarowski's heart was bleeding.

A few days ago, an old man with one arm suddenly came to his door and forced him to buy the Dragon Slayer mech.

How could he not know that the Empire's control over high-level magical equipment was extremely strict? He usually only secretly traded small items, and he wouldn't dare touch a seventh-tier dragon-slaying mech even if he had ten lives.

However, due to the intimidating pressure from the other party, he could only grit his teeth and take out one hundred top-grade magic crystals—his entire fortune.

This thing is a hot potato; nobody dares to take it if it's stuck in their hands.

In the end, he had no choice but to sell it to the kobolds for a pittance.

Although I only got five magic crystals in return, at least I've finally gotten rid of this troublesome situation.

A flash of crimson crossed Wojnarowski's eyes, but it vanished in an instant.

……

Alduin stared at the dark gold dragon-slaying mech in front of him, his eyes filled with a chilling light.

In the dragon's inherited memories, this thing was a killing weapon forged by dwarves and ridden by human knights—

Dragon-slaying mechs with the mission of slaying giant dragons.

Each mech requires a dedicated core to operate.

The seventh-tier dragon-slaying mech before them had a cold and silent body, and the area where the core was embedded in its chest was empty, clearly indicating that it had lost its core.

However, even without a core, the materials of this dragon-slaying mech and the runes engraved on it can still greatly help his evolution.

However, Alduin did not devour it rashly, after all, the origin of this mech was too bizarre.

According to Black Claw's description, it only cost five top-grade magic crystals to buy it back.

Moreover, judging from its tone, it seems like it actually suffered a loss...

As a low-level magical beast, Black Claw has never witnessed the power of the Dragon Slayer Mech, so it's normal that it doesn't know its price.

However, according to Alduin's inherited memories, activating this thing once would require the magic power of hundreds of magic crystals, so the cost of its creation is unimaginable.

Therefore, there must be something fishy going on here.

Had I been discovered?

Auduin was the first to think of this possibility.

After all, who would send a dragon-slaying mech to a dragon? Wouldn't that be an open provocation?

But he quickly dismissed the idea.

Given the nature of the human and dwarven magical empires, once they detect the dragon's presence, they will immediately deploy their floating fortresses and dragon-slaying knights in a thunderous attack, giving him no time to react or think.

Of course, this is based on the premise that the dragon is unaware that it has been discovered.

After all, if the dragons detect the humans' movements in advance, they can still outrun them even if they can't defeat them.

As long as one doesn't actively trespass into human territory, living a peaceful life isn't too difficult.

Unfortunately, many of the five-colored dragons are inherently fierce and foolish, and always seek their own demise.

However, such situations are now extremely rare.

Since it wasn't me who was discovered, that makes things easier.

Alduin's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he suddenly opened his mouth and bit down on the dark gold dragon-slaying mech. With a few snapping sounds, he couldn't bite it down.

Finding that he couldn't bite it, he simply swallowed the entire mecha whole, leaving it to be slowly digested by the magical furnace in his stomach.

Why refuse power that is offered to you?

Any schemes or tricks are insignificant in the face of absolute growth in strength.