Chapter 7: Cooperative Hunting
Seven years old
Three young dragons lay on the edge of the nest, their body lengths between eight and ten meters. Placed among adult dragons, they would at most be considered three little brats who had just started middle school and hadn't fully developed yet.
Carlos was the sturdiest of the three dragons. His scales had already prematurely taken on the dark red of an adult Red Dragon, and his thick muscles rolled beneath his skin. Walking like a mobile little volcano, he looked incredibly fierce, though in reality, most of his brain was probably used for growing muscles.
Sephira was the thinnest, her build as flexible as a bamboo pole, but her dragon eyes darted faster than anyone else's. The tip of her tail flicked incessantly. Any observant dragon could tell at a glance—this dragon was full of little schemes and would feel restless if she wasn't stirring up trouble.
Livia's size was the most average—neither sturdy nor thin. Her combat power and IQ were both up to par, but her gaze was always inexplicably fixed on the pitch-black darkness at the deepest part of the nest, as if some world-shaking secret were hidden there.
And in that darkness, the faint sound of breathing that had been there before had vanished.
Ever since that eerie ancient dragon corpse suddenly appeared in the nest, the Dragon Mother had been confronting it for an entire night. Livia had been huddled in the corner at the time, not daring to breathe loudly, only seeing two pairs of crimson dragon pupils staring at each other in the darkness—one was a living dragon, the other a dead one; one was her mother, and the other was some underworld thing that had popped out of nowhere.
At dawn, the thing retreated, silently withdrawing to a deeper, darker part of the nest as if it had never appeared.
The Dragon Mother offered no explanation.
She simply crawled slowly back to the giant rock in the center of the lake to lie down, closed her eyes, and soaked her tail in the magma, maintaining an air of 'nothing happened, don't @ me, don't ask, don't disturb.'
But Livia's heart was as clear as a mirror.
Something was about to happen.
And in all probability, it meant kicking these freeloading little dragons out to work.
Sure enough, that afternoon, judgment arrived.
The Dragon Mother raised her head from the lava lake, her crimson vertical pupils slowly scanning the three still-dazed young dragons. Her tone was as casual as if she were asking, 'What's for dinner?':
"It's time for you to leave the nest."
Carlos was stunned on the spot, his dragon brain short-circuiting: "Now?"
"Not right now." The Dragon Mother's eyes narrowed slightly, her tone carrying a hint of unquestionable coldness. "But soon. Before that, learn how to survive out there first, so you don't become a snack for some other magical beast the moment you leave the nest."
She raised a massive dragon claw and pointed toward the nest's entrance. Her tone was light, but the content was terrifyingly harsh:
"On the outskirts of the Sulfur Mountain Range, there is a Magma Core Giant Scorpion. A Bronze-rank magical beast, fifteen meters long, with pincers that can crush granite. Go kill it and bring back the trophy."
Upon hearing this, Carlos's blood boiled with excitement, feeling he was cool enough to light up the entire volcano: "I can kill it by myself!"
The Dragon Mother glanced at him indifferently and said only five words:
"Alone, you will die."
Carlos shut up instantly, his tail drooping obediently.
The Dragon Mother looked at Sephira next, her tone still calm: "If you go with him, you will also die."
The tip of Sephira's tail froze instantly. She didn't dare move, fearing she would be the next one named to go to her death.
Finally, the Dragon Mother's gaze fell on Livia, and her tone finally softened slightly:
"If you lead them, you might not die."
Livia was silent for two seconds, as calm as a teacher leading a field trip: "Just the three of us?"
The Dragon Mother lay back down on the giant rock, closed her eyes, and issued the final command:
"Just the three of you. Bring back the trophy before sunset tomorrow. If you don't bring it back, don't come back at all."
Having finished, she directly muted her mic and entered 'Do Not Disturb' mode.
The three young dragons looked at each other, the atmosphere so awkward they could have clawed out a new volcano.
Carlos lowered his voice, a look of disbelief on his face: "Is she serious?"
Sephira rolled her eyes, the tip of her tail twitching slightly: "When has she ever joked with you?"
Livia didn't waste words; she turned and walked toward the nest entrance.
If they dawdled any longer, the sun really would set.
From behind came the Dragon Mother's indifferent reminder: "The Magma Core Giant Scorpion is at the southern foot of the third peak of the Sulfur Mountain Range, at the bend of the lava river. Don't fly too high; there are Stone-Winged Demons in the sky that specialize in pecking at stray young dragons."
Livia's footsteps paused for a moment before she continued forward.
The moment she stepped out of the nest entrance, hot volcanic ash blew into her face.
For fifteen years, she had lived under the Dragon Mother's protection. The outside world was now closer to her for the first time—so close it was a bit stifling to the nose.
Carlos quickly caught up, his thick tail slapping loudly: "Why are you walking so fast?"
Without looking back, Livia said: "We have to be back before sunset. Do you have a problem with that?"
Carlos did a simple calculation in his head: Not making it back = Death.
He shook his head decisively: No problem.
Sephira followed at the back, stuffing things into the gaps of her scales as she went—bits of bone, shiny minerals, a broken piece of metal she'd picked up from somewhere. If it could be stuffed, she wouldn't let it go.
Livia glanced back: "What are you bringing those for?"
Sephira said righteously: "What if they come in handy!"
Livia was too lazy to call her out: You're not going hunting; you're going on a moving-day looting spree.
Rushing down from the volcanic crater, Carlos relied on his thick legs and great strength to run fast, his four legs stamping deep pits into the scree slope. Rocks tumbled down, making Sephira roll her eyes the whole way.
Livia walked in the middle, her wings half-spread to maintain balance, her eyes fixed on the sky the entire time.
It was a hazy gray, indistinguishable whether it was smoke or clouds.
Fortunately, no aerial bandits like Stone-Winged Demons appeared for the time being.
Two hours later, the three dragons finally reached the foot of the mountain and stepped into the outskirts of the Sulfur Mountain Range.
The environment instantly became eerie.
There was less volcanic ash but more pitch-black rocks. The ground was cracked with deep fissures, each emitting choking hot steam. The smell of sulfur in the air was strong enough to bring a dragon to tears, and the temperature was as high as walking into a giant steamer.
Carlos's nose twitched suddenly, and he said with certainty: "That way."
Having said that, he charged toward the east, running faster than a hound.
Livia followed silently, complaining in her heart: With that sense of smell, it's a waste of talent that you're not a search-and-rescue dragon.
An hour later, a lava river lay before them.
The river wasn't very wide, only about a dozen meters. The orange-red lava flowed slowly, its surface covered with a black hard crust. When a crack opened, it revealed the blindingly bright lava beneath. Both banks were charred black rocks, yet a few clusters of fiery red moss stubbornly grew there—it was absurd that plants could grow in this hellish place.
Sephira curiously leaned in to sniff it and even boldly took a lick. The next second, she spat frantically: "What is this stuff? It tastes terrible."
Carlos was already sprinting along the riverbank.
Livia followed closely, her gaze quickly scanning the surroundings.
The lava river turned here, forming a semi-circular bay. On the open ground in the center of the bay sat a large heap of what looked like rocks.
Carlos stopped abruptly, staring intently at that heap of 'rocks.'
The next second, the pile of rocks moved.
Volcanic ash drifted down as a massive creature slowly stood up, revealing its true form.
Magma Core Giant Scorpion.
It was fully fifteen meters long, larger than the three dragons combined. Its black-red shell looked like solidified lava, covered in cracks that emitted a dangerous dark red light. A pair of giant pincers was held in front, each two meters long and lined with sharp barbs. Its tail was arched high, the venomous stinger at the tip over half a meter long. Droplets of venom hit the ground, sizzling with black smoke.
Most terrifying were its compound eyes, composed of countless small eyes, each clearly reflecting the figures of the three young dragons as if looking at three appetizers.
Carlos's blood boiled again. Completely forgetting the Dragon Mother's warning, he was the first to charge out.
Livia wanted to shout "Wait," but it was too late.
This guy had already charged thirty meters and opened his mouth to release a powerful fireball.
Boom—
The fireball slammed into the giant scorpion's shell, sparks flying everywhere in a very flashy display.
The giant scorpion's shell: Not even a mark was left.
The giant scorpion slowly turned its head, its compound eyes locking onto Carlos. With its pincers open and its eight legs kicking off, it charged toward Carlos at a speed completely inconsistent with its size. Volcanic gravel was crushed to powder under its feet.
Carlos froze for a second, instantly transforming from a brave giant dragon back into a cowardly little dragon. He turned and ran, letting out a string of panicked, meaningless dragon roars.
The giant scorpion pursued relentlessly from behind, its pincers snapping at the air. Each snap produced a piercing metallic clashing sound that felt painful just to hear.
Seeing an opportunity, Sephira immediately entered stealth mode, sneaking around the back along the shadows of the riverbank. Her footsteps were as light as a cat's, and her tail was tucked tight for fear of exposure.
Livia stood still, observing calmly.
Big, fast, but inflexible when turning.
The lava river was on the left, and narrow rock crevices were all on the right. With such a cumbersome body, the scorpion would definitely get stuck if it went in there.
She took a deep breath and roared at the terrified Carlos: "Run toward the rock crevices!"
Carlos was already delirious from the chase. Hearing the instruction was almost an instinctive reaction; he immediately turned and charged into the area of rock crevices, specifically picking the narrowest spots to squeeze through.
The giant scorpion followed without a second thought, but it got stuck fast in the very first crevice. Its body was wedged between the rock walls, unable to move. Its eight legs flailed wildly in the air, and its giant pincers smashed rocks into flying debris, but it couldn't squeeze through.
Sephira's eyes lit up instantly: "It's stuck! Now's our chance!"
She zipped behind the giant scorpion and immediately locked onto the most vulnerable part of its body—the tail-bone joint.
She lunged forward and slammed a claw hard against the joint.
Crack—
The tail-bone split open with a large gash on the spot, and the venomous stinger dangled crookedly to one side.
The giant scorpion let out a sharp screech of pain, a sound like fingernails frantically scratching glass, so piercing it made the dragons want to go deaf on the spot. It twisted its body madly, forcibly breaking free from the rock crevice. Its compound eyes fixed on Sephira, overflowing with killing intent.
Sephira's heart skipped a beat: Oh no, I've been targeted.
She turned and bolted, moving so fast that afterimages appeared.
Just then, Livia moved.
She leaped down from above the rock crevice, claws extended forward. Her entire body was like a precision-guided Red Dragon missile, slamming hard into the giant scorpion's head.
The giant scorpion sensed the danger and tried to turn to avoid it, but it was too late.
Livia's claws directly pierced its compound eyes, stabbing deep inside, puncturing through soft tissue until hitting the hard skull. She twisted her claws with force—
The giant scorpion's entire body convulsed violently, its eight legs kicking wildly and its tail whipping around, sending gravel flying. After just a few seconds, the movement stopped abruptly.
All eight legs went limp at once, and the massive body crashed heavily to the ground, completely motionless.
It was as dead as could be.
Livia pulled her claws out of the giant scorpion's eye, bringing with them a pool of slimy, unidentified liquid. She crouched on the scorpion's head, panting heavily, with only one thought in her mind: This is exhausting.
Carlos crawled out of the rock crevice, covered in dust and panting like a dog that had just finished a marathon: "Is... is it dead?"
Sephira poked her head out from behind a rock, her eyes starting to dart around frantically again as she already calculated how to divide the spoils.
A system notification popped up before her:
[First Kill of a Bronze-rank Magical Beast: Magma Core Giant Scorpion]
[Reward: A small amount of Bloodline Evolution Points]
[Current Evolution Points: 1.5/100]
Livia closed the panel expressionlessly.
...That's it? Are you treating me like a beggar?
Carlos had already excitedly approached the scorpion's tail, his face full of longing: "I want the venomous stinger."
Livia looked at him indifferently: "What do you want that for?"
Carlos's eyes shone: "To attach to my tail. It'll look cool."
Livia was silent for two seconds, complaining wildly in her heart: That's not your tail, what the hell are you going to attach it to! But in the end, she was too lazy to waste words.
Sephira crouched under the giant scorpion's belly and rummaged around, pulling out a string of things like grapes, each the size of a fist, with liquid encased in semi-transparent shells—scorpion eggs.
Livia leaned in: "What are you digging those out for?"
While frantically stuffing them into the gaps of her scales, Sephira said righteously: "To domesticate them as laborers later, and sell scorpion venom for treasure! You don't understand how to make money!"
Livia: I really don't. You're planning to start a scorpion farm, aren't you?
She herself walked to the giant scorpion's head and pried out the ruby-like crystal from the center of the compound eyes—the Magma Core Eye.
The system immediately popped up an appraisal: Approximately 300 gold coins.
Livia nodded in satisfaction and stuffed the two rubies into the gaps of her scales—safe and theft-proof.
Carlos had already struggled to snap off the stinger. He held it in his mouth, looking it over, and tried to position it against his tail for a long time. Realizing it couldn't be attached at all, he had no choice but to carry it in his mouth dejectedly.
Sephira had stuffed exactly seventeen scorpion eggs, her belly bulging as if she were pregnant. She walked with a waddle, her posture incredibly comical.
Livia looked up at the sun tilting toward the west: "Let's go, back to report our mission."
The journey back was unusually smooth. No Stone-Winged Demons, no wild magical beasts; the three dragons made their way back steadily.
But halfway back, Sephira suddenly stopped, her expression as complicated as if she had swallowed a whole scorpion.
Livia looked back: "What's wrong?"
Sephira's voice was trembling: "It feels like... something is moving."
Livia's gaze slowly shifted downward, landing on Sephira's bulging belly.
Inside the gaps of her scales, the pile of scorpion eggs was collectively wriggling.
One cracked open, then two, then three or four... all the scorpion eggs hatched at the same time.
Dozens of fist-sized baby scorpions scrambled out, crawling frantically all over Sephira. A few even headed straight for her ears, under her wings, and the base of her tail.
Sephira broke down and screamed on the spot: "Aaaah—!!"
She jumped up and shook her body wildly, but the baby scorpions' legs were covered in barbs, clinging tightly to her scales. No matter how she shook, she couldn't get them off.
Livia stood by, watching calmly.
Carlos also stood by watching the drama, the stinger still in his mouth, watching with great interest.
Sephira was being driven crazy by the crawling: "Help me!!"
Livia thought for a fraction of a second, then opened her mouth to spit out a precision fireball, hitting Sephira directly on her back.
A large patch of baby scorpions was instantly charred, falling off with a crackling sound.
The scales on Sephira's back were also scorched black. She jumped in pain: "You burned me!!"
Livia looked innocent: "Helping you with pest control."
Sephira wanted to curse, but more scorpions crawled out from behind her neck. She could only continue shaking her body frantically, screaming all the way back to the crater.
By the time they returned to the nest, she was in a sorry state—her scales were blackened in some places, injured in others, and she was covered in scratches.
The Dragon Mother lay on the giant rock in the center of the lake. She opened her eyes and glanced at the trophies: Carlos's stinger, Sephira's charred scorpions, and Livia's rubies.
She then looked at Sephira's scorched scales and said in a flat tone:
"The scorpion eggs hatched?"
Sephira lowered her head, not daring to speak.
The Dragon Mother looked at Livia: "You burned her?"
Livia nodded in admission.
The Dragon Mother was silent for two seconds before lying back down, leaving only one sentence:
"Manage your own pets yourselves."
Having said that, she closed her eyes again, ignoring them completely.
That night, Sephira's miserable screams echoed through the nest.
It wasn't pain; it was itching.
The places where the scorpions had crawled were agonizingly itchy. She rolled around on the ground, rubbing her back against the walls and scratching herself frantically with her claws, even scratching off several scales.
Carlos slept soundly, his snoring like thunder; his heart was large enough to hold a volcano.
Livia slept better than anyone, pillowed on the two warm rubies.
After all, this was her first time killing a Bronze-rank magical beast on her own. The sense of accomplishment was something only those who had experienced it would know.