Evolving by devouring from a young dragon

A cold glint appeared in Alduin's eyes. He already knew the answer to the riddle the moment the other party opened his mouth.

but……

He spoke slowly in a deep dragon language: "The answer is... a young dragon."

The bronze dragon paused for a moment, then burst into deafening laughter.

"Haha! Not bad, not bad, you got it right!"

It laughed so hard it swayed wildly in the sky, forgetting to flap its wings, and started doing somersaults.

The bronze dragon trembled violently as it laughed and said, "I knew you could answer that."

"However, you know, the beauty of this riddle is that it's actually talking about you, little black dragon!"

Auduin stared at it expressionlessly.

"Think about it, a sixth-tier youth dragon comes to trade with a seventh-tier epic dragon. Isn't that just 'brainless'?"

The bronze dragon laughed so hard he almost fell over, his tail wagging incessantly. "And another thing—'When you die, you'll run all over the mountains!' If you ever get killed, won't all your belongings be stolen and scattered all over the mountains? Hahahaha!"

It laughed so hard in the air that its scales trembled, and it could barely breathe.

Seeing the ever-smiling bronze dragon, Alduin's eyes flashed with a sinister light, then his entire body burst into crimson flames, and he spoke in a deep, majestic voice:

"Have you laughed enough?"

The bronze dragon's smile froze on his face.

……

The copper dragon led Alduin into its underground labyrinth, muttering to itself.

"Isn't it funny? But I really think it's hilarious..."

As it muttered, it swept the tip of its tail across the copper mechanism on the rock wall, and a rumbling sound came from the depths of the maze, after which a stone archway slowly opened.

After passing through three stone archways and winding around two underground corridors formed by interlocking stalactites and stalagmites, the space ahead suddenly opens up.

It was a huge underground cave, a full hundred meters wide.

The cave ceiling is covered with dense stalactites, like an inverted forest, while in the very center of the cave, a dozen stone figures stand quietly.

Some of them are sitting cross-legged, some are standing, and they are all in different shapes and sizes, but without exception, they all remain absolutely still, just like real sculptures.

Auduin's vertical pupils contracted slightly.

These are stone giants.

The largest adult figures are as tall as six meters, with a faint yellow glow flowing over them.

At their feet, a dozen or so smaller, juvenile stone giants huddled together, each only one to two meters tall, their bodies indistinct, looking just like a stone.

"Ten juveniles, plus one adult."

The bronze dragon tapped the largest stone giant with the tip of its tail. "Here, take this one. Peak sixth rank. It's not my strongest, but it'll be enough for you to command."

The stone giant that had been targeted slowly opened its eyes.

It looked down at the copper dragon, then turned to look at Alduin, making a low, grinding sound.

"Boss."

The copper dragon nodded, then looked at Alduin: "It was agreed, 10 top-grade magic crystals."

Auduin said nothing, but spat out ten crystals that emitted a faint purple glow.

The moment the magic crystal appeared, the light throughout the cave changed.

These are ten extremely high-quality magic crystals, almost without any impurities inside. Pure magic power flows within them, emitting a soft, ethereal purple light.

The copper dragon's pupils suddenly dilated.

It originally thought that Alduin's claim of ten top-grade magic crystals was an exaggeration, and that it was actually a hundred high-grade magic crystals.

Dragons, after all, have a bit of vanity.

But these flawless magic crystals before him were of such high quality that even this seventh-tier epic dragon, who had lived for nearly a thousand years, had rarely seen them.

It's important to understand that while one top-grade magic crystal can be equivalent to ten high-grade magic crystals, that's only a difference in magic power content. In terms of quality, purity, and the ability to carry out high-level rituals, they are completely incomparable.

Furthermore, this quality can be considered a flawless magic crystal...

"You..." The bronze dragon opened its mouth, wanting to ask something, but ultimately swallowed its words back.

It gathered the ten magic crystals in front of it with its claws, a hint of greed flashing in its amber vertical pupils, but it was quickly suppressed by reason.

"The deal is done." The bronze dragon's voice was unusually serious. "These stone giants are yours."

It waved its claws, and a draconic spell uttered from its mouth: "Mah—Do—Dovah!"

Instantly, a slowly rotating golden magic circle appeared in the air, emitting a warm light.

"The Dragon Pact. Once you sign it, no one can go back on their word."

Alduin sensed the contents of the magic circle, and after confirming that it was correct, he also uttered the same dragon language.

"Mah—Do—Dovah!"

In the name of the Dragon Clan, a covenant is made.

……

Because these stone giants moved too slowly, Alduin grabbed them with his claws and carried them back to the Rotten Swamp.

However, it still took quite a bit of time.

The dragon language magic he just used to sign the contract with the copper dragon is a power controlled by the Time Dragon God Akatosh.

A contract can be signed as long as both parties agree; this applies not only to dragons but also to other creatures.

And once the agreement is signed, there will be no thought of going back on it.

However, dragons are generally proud and never take the initiative to sign contracts with other races. Only those with great strength are qualified to make dragons speak.

The bronze dragon stared at the glittering magic crystal before it, its amber dragon eyes filled with complex emotions.

It has lived for nearly a thousand years and has seen countless powerful beings, but it is rarely willing to sign a contract, even with its own kind.

but……

It truly couldn't resist these top-quality magic crystals.

He cautiously sniffed the scent of the top-grade magic crystal, his amber eyes filled with greed and inner turmoil, before finally swallowing hard, completely lacking any backbone.

really fragrant...

……

Alduin's trade with the Copper Dragon for the Stone Giants was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather part of a pre-existing plan.

He wanted to personally build his own elite family army.

Stone giants are not only loyal and reliable, but also mindless. Most importantly, their rock-forged bodies have an extremely high tolerance for magical runes.

For Alduin, who possesses an endless supply of magic crystals, this means he can modify and strengthen these stone giants at will.

Alduin's sonic perception, gained from devouring the Serpent of Ygg, can also play a crucial role here.

Auduin's dragon eyes flashed, and he whispered.

"Not enough."

Eleven stone giants are already a significant asset to the current territory.

However, this number of troops is far from enough to launch a proactive campaign and annex other tribes.

He needs more.

Alduin looked down at his dragon claws.

The pale gold rune on the back of its claw, "Mark of the Dragon's Pact," shimmered faintly in the pitch-black dragon's nest.

"Next time..." he muttered to himself, "bring more magic crystals."

Although that old dragon was talkative, it was indeed a good trading partner.

As for that joke...

Alduin turned and walked deeper into the territory, his dark golden vertical pupils remaining completely calm.

He didn't laugh.

But he remembered it.