Chapter 112: Feast.
Even though the main meaty parts had been gnawed on by the Flying Dragons, there were still plenty of useful bits left on this fresh carcass.
The Team Leader and his Companion exchanged a glance before starting to cut away at the uninteresting shell, claws, and bones that the dragons had ignored.
“Meow?”
Shan Mao let out a confused sound as he placed several long bones beside the Fire Dragon’s main carcass.
“What is it?”
“There’s an extra bone supporting the wing membrane?”
The Team Leader paused for a moment, took a closer look to confirm he wasn’t mistaken, then moved to the other side of the corpse for comparison.
“Indeed, compared to the Fire Dragons from the Original Continent, this one has an extra bone, making it more evolved for flight.”
“But even so, it couldn’t escape its current fate.”
Shan Mao merely nodded, carefully sliding part of his body into the carcass, seemingly searching for something. Eventually, with regret, he withdrew his head.
“Meow.”
“Don’t be disheartened; we still have half of the Fire Dragon’s head remaining! Look, the tongue is still intact!”
Without hesitation, the Team Leader reached out and placed his arm on the carcass’ head, exerting a little force to pry open the skull.
“Meow!”
The Shan Mao who had squeezed under the Grand Team Leader’s arm immediately perked up upon seeing the intact Fire Dragon tongue.
Fire Dragons are meat-producing monsters; their ribs, shoulder meat, and fatty cuts are all top-grade ingredients. Moreover, the organs and tongue also receive high praise.
As for whether the liver should be sweet or savory, that debate will likely continue unresolved for another hundred years.
But with the meat and liver already eaten clean, finding the tongue was truly a pleasant surprise.
Since the Fire Dragon hadn’t been dead for too long, there was no need to worry about hygiene.
A quick slash of the kn*fe, and Shan Mao tucked the long Fire Dragon tongue into a separate bag.
He was a follower-type Ailu Cat but showed great interest in cooking, which his followed companion fully supported him pursuing.
The blond man looked at him with a fond smile, holding up the Fire Dragon’s head while using the Skinning kn*fe to pry out each tooth with one hand.
The outer shells and claws could be taken back for hunters to maintain and repair their equipment.
“By the way, I don’t think I mentioned when we’d return, did I?”
“Meow~”
Shan Mao glanced at him, understandingly shaking his head.
“Great! Then let’s continue exploring. This time, we must at least reach beneath the trees!”
“Meow?”
“You’re asking about the map?”
“Hmm, as the Team Leader, my primary duty is to lead the charge, not worry about horizontal expansion.”
As the Team Leader laughed heartily, the Commander far away at the base sneezed violently.
“Ah, both the Field Master and the Team Leader are such impulsive people. They didn’t even mention when they’d return! This is the perilous New Continent where you can encounter three Slaying Dragons just stepping outside!”
The low-energy Commander turned to his Dragon People Tribe relative, also an explorer skilled in expeditions, feeling reassured only by him.
My good friend would never become like them!
The Dragon People Hunter scratched his head, clearly puzzled, and shrugged.
—Meanwhile—
Just as the Team Leader was examining their leftover carcass, Jié Jié had quietly followed the Fire Dragons flying back towards the peak of the Ancient Tree.
He’d been here countless times, and nothing felt new anymore.
Yet, this place remained the yearning destination for all Fire Dragons.
Now, the mate of the deceased Male Fire Dragon, the Female Fire Dragon guarding the nest, stood before them, roaring fiercely.
Her voice was loud, but no matter how loud, her mate wouldn’t return.
The young dragons in the nest were already large, having learned to fly and nearing the age to leave the nest.
“Hmmph!”
Facing the charging Female Fire Dragon, Jié Jié slightly turned his body and struck her down with a single wing.
As the Female Fire Dragon tried to rise again, she was pushed back by another powerful wing strike.
The young male fire dragons approached the combat-ready young dragons in the nest with hostility, ready to clash.
Hmph, do they all look like a family of villains?
“Hmmph~”
Jié Jié roared to restrain them, glaring intently at the Female Fire Dragon while spreading his wings to intimidate her.
The Female Fire Dragon growled lowly, slowly retreating after confirming from the bl**d scent on them that her mate wouldn’t return.
She turned around and began driving out the young dragons who were ready to leave the nest.
The departure of the young dragons marked the end of the nurturing period, which also signified the separation of the Male and Female Fire Dragons.
A few minutes later, only he and the jubilant young dragons remained atop the crown.
But this wasn’t the end. The group of semi-grown young dragons would soon face challenges from other Male Fire Dragons.
Unless Jié Jié stayed here like a protective parent until they grew to twenty meters in length.
In that case, it wouldn’t be much different from a year ago.
Might as well stay with them now; why overthink things?
Jié Jié raised his body, performing the Flying Dragon Step Dance, stomping his feet to signal the Fire Dragons to show off their skills.
“Aaahh!”
They called out in succession, stretching their wings and raising their bodies to exercise, exhaling into the sky to dissipate heat, creating a lively atmosphere akin to a Flying Dragon festival.
Jié Jié transformed from a Spiny Dragon into a Male Fire Dragon, joining them.
When they became parched, they all ran to the reservoir to drink water.
The rain brought by the Steel Dragon had caused the lake level to rise, spilling over in some areas, forming waterfalls flowing into the tree trunks below.
Night gradually deepened, and the Flying Dragons’ festival ended at this point.
The young Fire Dragons successively fell asleep, no longer needing to avoid various threats in nature, sleeping soundly.
For sleep, Jié Jié naturally reverted to his Spiny Dragon form, indulging in the deep slumber unique to the strong in nature.
When he woke up the next day, only he rested atop the tree, with a dead Herbivore Dragon lying before him.
But the footprints on the ground and the lingering scent in the air indicated that yesterday’s festival was no dream.
Fire Dragons have the concept of gifts, much like how Male Fire Dragons present courting displays during mating season.
Jié Jié leisurely ate the Herbivore Dragon while waiting, continuing until the sky darkened again. He even took a few hours of nap in between.
The scent of the young dragons didn’t return. Yesterday’s events weren’t a continuation of last year’s life but rather a short interlude called “reunion.”
It feels kind of like having dinner together, doesn’t it? And yet, I thought so much about it.
Still, their feast consumed the finest Fire Dragon from the Ancient Tree.
Jié Jié stood up, thinking it was time to leave.
But looking at the sky, the Spiny Dragon curled up again.
Let’s keep sleeping. Tomorrow, I’ll check on the Investigation Corps again.
Chapter 113
