Chapter 66: Naming and Rewards
Three days after Grimhild was born, a system pop-up appeared again.
[Offspring naming complete: Grimhild Noventu Skalen]
[Race Evaluation: Red Dragon × Fire Giant Hybrid (True Dragon Class)]
[Genetic Quality: S- (Perfect cross-species fusion, inheriting the advantages of both sides)]
[Host detected completing the "High-Quality Hybrid Offspring" achievement]
[Reward issued: fire law fragment ×1]
Livia stared at the line "fire law fragment" for three seconds.
Law Shard.
Not an ordinary skill, not a temporary buff, but a Law—one of the things that constitute the origin of the world.
She clicked on the details:
[fire law fragment (1/7)]
[Grade: Mythic Grade]
[Effect: After absorption, increases understanding of the Fire Origin; Fire-type skill power +30%, Fire Resistance +50%, can comprehend an Exclusive Fire Domain (requires 3 or more pieces)]
[Current absorption progress: 0%]
[Absorb?]
Livia clicked "Yes" without hesitation.
The shard turned into a red light and burrowed into her forehead.
In that instant, the entire world changed.
It wasn't a visual change—it was perception.
She could "see" fire now.
Not seeing the way fire burns, but seeing the essence of fire. Every flicker of flame was composed of countless tiny points of light, those points of light jumping, dancing, singing. She could perceive their emotions, their desires, their—
She raised her claw, a thought moving in her mind.
A flicker of flame emerged from her claw tip.
But this time the flame was different from before. Before it was red, now it was gold. Before it was just hot, now it was scorching—the kind of heat that could burn through space.
System pop-up:
[fire law fragment absorption complete]
[Current comprehension progress: 14% (1/7)]
[Skill Enhancement: Dragon Breath temperature +500°C, range +20%, duration +30%]
[New Ability: Fire Perception—can detect any fire within a one-kilometer radius, including hidden Fire Elementals and fire traps]
[Body Length Increase: Influenced by the Law, body size breaks through the original upper limit]
[New Body Length: 45 meters]
[Note: Congratulations to the Host, you have finally reached the lower limit of a Prime Dragon's size.]
Livia stared at that last word "finally" for half a second.
System, you really know how to talk.
She closed the panel and stood up.
Forty-five meters.
From thirty-five meters to forty-five meters, she had grown a full ten meters.
She looked down at herself. Her scales were larger, the color deeper, her wingspan wider, and her tail longer and thicker. The edges of every scale shimmered with a faint golden light, a trace left by the Law Shard.
She spread her wings and gave them a gentle flap.
A fierce wind howled, and the entire bedchamber shook.
Audric rushed in from outside, still holding half a roasted Rock Sheep, looking shocked: "What's wrong, what's wrong?! An earthquake?!"
Then he saw Livia.
He froze.
His mouth formed an "O" shape.
The roasted Rock Sheep fell from his hand to the ground.
"You, you you you... how did you get bigger?!"
Livia looked down at him.
Forty-five meters versus twenty-five meters.
This time, she didn't need to look up.
She looked down from above, her tone calm: "I broke through."
Audric stood with his mouth open, looking at her, then at his hands, then at the roasted Rock Sheep on the ground, his brain clearly unable to process it.
"Br-breakthrough? Breakthrough what?"
Livia thought for a moment and explained in a way he could understand: "I became stronger."
Audric was silent for three seconds.
Then he scratched his head and grinned: "That's good! Becoming stronger is good! More strength for fighting later!"
He bent down to pick up the roasted Rock Sheep that had fallen, patted off the dust, and handed it to Livia.
"Want some?"
Livia took it, tore off a piece, and put it in her mouth.
Tastes okay.
While chewing, she looked toward the corner at the two-meter-long infant who was sleeping.
Grimhild was sleeping soundly, his little belly rising and falling, puffing out a small string of sparks with every breath, burning a new little black hole into the animal hide beneath him.
She withdrew her gaze and continued gnawing on the meat.
——————
The next morning, Livia prepared to leave.
Audric stood by the throne, holding a dark object in his hands, handing it to her.
"Here."
Livia took it.
It was a piece of iron—no, not ordinary iron. It was pitch black all over, its surface covered in dark red patterns, with light like flowing lava moving within the patterns. It felt heavy in her hand and was extremely hot; an ordinary creature would lose a layer of skin just by touching it.
System pop-up:
[Obtained: Molten Core Iron ×1]
[Grade: Legendary Grade]
[Use: Main material for forging Epic Grade weapons/armor, contains the origin power of a Fire Giant]
[Note: This is one of the Giant King's most prized treasures. Giving it to you shows his love for your barbecue is real—and he's looking forward to the next time.]
Livia put away the Molten Core Iron and looked at Audric.
The Giant King scratched his head with an embarrassed expression—for a twenty-five-meter-tall giant, the word "embarrassed" was a bit abstract, but at this moment, he truly looked that way: eyes darting, corners of his mouth twitching, his large hands not knowing where to go.
"Um..." he began, "next time you come, bring some more Roasted Kobold. Remember to brush on some honey. My chefs still haven't been able to replicate that honey-glazed flavor from last time."
Livia looked at him.
Looked at his face full of expectation.
Silent for a second.
"Okay."
Audric grinned, his face wrinkling with the smile.
Livia turned and spread her wings.
Her forty-five-meter body soared into the air, her wingspan nearly sixty meters, blotting out the sun. With a flap of her wings, a fierce wind howled, and pebbles on the ground were swept up, clattering against the throne.
Audric looked up, squinting at the receding figure, and shouted loudly:
"Next time you come, let me know in advance—! I'll have my men prepare more firewood—!"
The voice echoed across the plains.
Livia didn't look back.
But the frequency of her wing flaps slowed for a beat.
————
Three days later.
Lava Dragon Court.
Five heads were squeezed into the cave entrance as usual, but this time their expressions were a bit complicated.
Because the figure flying from the distance was too large.
Forty-five meters.
A full ten meters larger than when she left.
Kalendil was the first to react, shouting at the top of his lungs: "Mother is back—! But—but she's gotten bigger—!"
The gem in Valerion's hand fell to the ground and rolled three times.
Aetheriel was covered in flashing sparks, so excited he couldn't speak clearly: "Bi-bi-bi-big—!"
Mihariel held her notebook, the tip of her pen hovering over the paper, her eyes wide as she muttered to herself: "Body length increased... this is a breakthrough... what level of breakthrough allows one to grow ten meters..."
Valensius was disguised as a rock, but the rock was shaking.
Livia landed in front of the cave entrance and folded her wings.
The ground shook once.
She looked down at these five little heads—they really were "little" heads now. Before, at thirty-five meters, they reached her knees. Now, at forty-five meters, they only reached her shins.
Kalendil looked up, speaking with difficulty: "Mo-mother... how did you get so big?"
Livia didn't explain, just reached out a claw to push him aside and walked into the main hall.
The five heads followed behind, trotting all the way.
Reaching the side of the Lava Lake, she lay down.
Her forty-five-meter body lying down took up most of the main hall. Her tail had to be curled up, otherwise it would stick out of the cave entrance.
The five heads surrounded her, looking up at her.
Mihariel was the first to react, pulling out her notebook and scribbling:
[Mother has returned. Body length increased to 45 meters. Reason unknown. But it's definitely related to this trip to the Molten Core Plains.]
She finished writing and looked up at what Livia was holding in her arms.
It was an infant.
Two meters long, dark red skin, fine scales, sleeping.
With every breath, a small string of sparks puffed from its mouth.
Mihariel's eyes lit up.
"A new brother!"