Chapter 24: If It’s There, Might As Well Take It
The red and green tails were slightly entwined as the Male Fire Dragon bit onto the Female Fire Dragon’s shell, pulling her gently to the side with an air of experienced nonchalance.
The Female Fire Dragon let out a low growl, twisting her neck while feeling the weight pressing down on her. Quietly, she lifted her tail just a little higher.
The Smoky Snow Weasel darted around left and right before finally finding the perfect spot, getting a full view of the movements below the two dragons.
The Male Fire Dragon was rubbing around, searching for the right position. After some fumbling, their reproductive tracts finally connected.
From the angle, there were indeed two on either side, designed to make it easier for side-position mating.
And when the Female Fire Dragon’s tail shuddered, Jié Jié, in a prime viewing position, was sure that both parties had successfully aligned.
Unlike mammals whose mating consumes considerable energy, the union of Fire Dragons was tight and still, with no visible motions indicating comfort or discomfort—only the occasional sound of purring audible.
During this time, Jié Jié noticed the Flying Thunder Dragon silently passing by nearby.
Glancing around the surroundings, this place seemed to correspond to the Flying Thunder Dragon’s nest in the game.
Tsk tsk tsk. Getting busy in someone else’s home, Jié Jié couldn’t help but find it amusing.
Just as he began to feel bored and decided to try surprising the Male Fire Dragon for revenge from their earlier encounter, another dragon roar echoed:
“Roar!”
A roar invigorated Jié Jié’s spirit. Another emerald figure was charging toward the balcony, shouting at the live-action spectacle within.
It was another Female Fire Dragon; her shell was slightly duller, much like the seasoned Male Fire Dragon’s—a clear sign of marital resemblance.
In other words, they looked like a proper couple.
Tsk tsk tsk tsk.
Jié Jié’s thoughts raced, various ideas colliding, amplifying and shrinking in his mind.
So, it seems she’s the one meant for the seasoned Male Fire Dragon? Are Fire Dragons monogamous? Is this the jealous wife coming for the mistress?
On all fours, he dashed away, having already seen enough of the mating scene. He planned to find a safer spot where he wouldn’t accidentally get caught in the crossfire.
“Hooowwwll~”
The Male Fire Dragon flapped his wings and roared at the younger Female Fire Dragon but didn’t leave his perch atop the more vibrant-looking female beneath him.
“Hoooowl!”
Instead, the young Female Fire Dragon, upon spotting the older female, moved restlessly with great dissatisfaction. Her roar was loud and filled with provocation.
This angered the older female, who immediately dove straight toward the intertwined pair of Fire Dragons.
Only then did the male disengage from the female, closing his reproductive tract, flapping his wings, and flying off the balcony, leaving the two females to battle it out.
What a scumbag.
Unlike the model couples of Old Continent Fire Dragons, New Continent Male Fire Dragons often mate with multiple females, leading to frequent disputes since the more chances to reproduce, the better. The bigger the harem, the merrier.
But not only males compete; the females do too.
Even though the male may have a harem, among the females, they must vie to be the “model couple.”
Thus, the females also fight over who gets to be the “model wife” alongside the powerful Male Fire Dragon.
The victor enjoys cozy moments with the Male Fire Dragon atop the Ancient Tree, relishing the prey brought back from his hunts, living a leisurely life as the housewife.
The loser naturally moves far away from the “model couple,” becoming a single mother.
There can only be one Queen of the Land; the rest are mere runners-up.
The ferocity of the Mother Dragons’ fight left Jié Jié in awe. Clearly, the original Female Fire Dragon, with years of experience as the model wife, had superior combat skills.
She skillfully used the long spines on her chin, biting and piercing her opponent effectively while utilizing the spines on her wings.
The young Female Fire Dragon’s emerald shell was marked with white scratches, and her beautiful wing membranes were torn and pierced.
After a series of retreats, the young Female Fire Dragon flew off the balcony, her flight posture unmistakably disheveled.
Seemingly unconcerned about the younger female complaining to the male, the original Female Fire Dragon ascended above the balcony.
Jié Jié watched as the small dot gradually disappeared into the distance. Transforming back from the Smoky Snow Weasel into the Black Wolf Bird, he stood on the balcony and spread his wings.
Just standing here won’t let me feel the wind.
Jié Jié took a few steps back, accelerated, and leapt off the balcony.
In the first instant, gravity captured him, pulling him downward, yet inertia propelled him forward.
In the second instant, he opened his wings, feeling the wind lift his wing membrane upward.
The time until gravity would pull him to the ground lengthened because he was gliding.
His wings transitioned from flat to raised, interspersed with flapping motions.
The healed wings grew stronger, embracing the wind once more, breaking free from gravity’s chains and returning to the sky.
The grounded Broken-Wing Fire Dragon hadn’t strayed too far, glaring angrily at the Avial soaring above.
It spat a fireball at the airborne Black Wolf Bird, but the fireball merely became an updraft aiding Jié Jié’s flight.
Coward! I’ll take out the distant one first, then come back for you.
Jié Jié disdainfully glanced at the grounded Broken-Wing Fire Dragon and chased after the Female Fire Dragon.
He was also curious if his transformed self into a female dragon was truly feminine.
With birds available to glide through the skies, he confirmed that his other forms were male.
Pushing aside memories of the previous female Black Wolf Bird, Jié Jié quietly retracted the bird form.
No matter how beautiful any female is, none could compare to even a fraction of the joy of flying!
The pursued Female Fire Dragon descended into the outer forest of the Ancient Tree, with Jié Jié closely following behind.
The Female Fire Dragon turned her head, glaring at the unwelcome stalker, issuing a threatening roar.
The piercing roar struck the sharp ears of the Black Wolf Bird, causing Jié Jié immense irritation.
Irritation transformed into a blazing fireball, illuminating the face of the Female Fire Dragon. Jié Jié broke through the flames, pecking fiercely at her face.
Both attacks missed, and the Female Fire Dragon, using the momentum from the fireball, jumped backward into a low-altitude state, swinging her tail toward Jié Jié.
Jié Jié blocked the attack with his raised wings. The long spines on the Female Fire Dragon’s tail were ineffective against his hard shell, so she extended her claws toward him.
The hard beak clashed with the Female Fire Dragon’s claws. After crossing paths, Jié Jié kicked powerfully with his legs.
In a dizzying spin, his poisonous tail struck the Female Fire Dragon’s wing shoulder, sending them both crashing to the ground.
As the one flipped and tail-whipped into the fall, the Female Fire Dragon was at a disadvantage. Jié Jié, half of his body pressing down on her, quickly got up and pecked at her again with his strong beak.
The greatest benefit inherited from the Bead Dragon wasn’t enhanced ambush capabilities but a comprehensive boost in stamina, constitution, and strength.
The Female Fire Dragon’s counterattacks landed weakly on his hardened shell.
However, each of his strikes caused alarming cracks on her emerald shell.
Getting up, the Female Fire Dragon shoved him away and retaliated with a tail whip.
But Jié Jié slipped out of the counterattack, letting out a sharp cry. His black-purple wings swooped down, transforming into wing blades, his smooth black fur covering his shell.
In an instant, he pounced like a Swift Dragon.
The wing blades curved like knives, and the knives gleamed like the moon, slashing repeatedly.
