Seriously, buddy, are you really a Green Dragon?
This isn't right.
This is frustrating.
Tyrone was truly frustrated.
If there was no explanation, Tyrone might become the first Red Dragon to suffer from depression.
He had clearly been working very hard, and Tyrone considered himself a top performer among Red Dragons of his age.
But why couldn't he beat Xia'er...
If it was an age gap, Xia'er had only hatched two days earlier than him.
Could it be... that I'm really weak, a disgrace to Red Dragons?
Tyrone felt this was unlikely.
After much thought, Tyrone concluded there was only one possibility.
"You're a hybrid, aren't you."
Tyrone held it in for a long time before finally speaking: "An ordinary Green Dragon wouldn't be this emerald green. You're a hybrid dragon breed between an Emerald Dragon and a Green Dragon, inheriting the superior traits of both dragon types, right?"
Not all dragon crossbreeds receive the beneficial genes of both parents.
For example, if a Green Dragon and an Emerald Dragon mate, the offspring might be a purebred Green Dragon, or a purebred Emerald Dragon.
Hybrid dragons possessing attributes of both parent species are extremely rare and uncommon. Moreover, they don't necessarily inherit the strengths of both; they could also combine the weaknesses of both.
However, a union between a Green Dragon and an Emerald Dragon is particularly unusual.
After all, their alignments differ. Emerald Dragons are inherently suspicious, a type of Gem Dragon with an absolute neutral stance, making it difficult for them to mate with the greedy and cunning Green Dragons.
The difficulty of a Green Dragon mating with an Emerald Dragon is probably only slightly lower than that of a Chromatic Evil Dragon mating with a Metallic Good Dragon.
Among Chromatic Dragons, the most common hybrids are with Ferrous Dragons, since both belong to evil-aligned dragonkind, making interbreeding quite normal.
"An Emerald Dragon?"
Xia'er pondered. Indeed, after seeing the color of her own scales, even she might misunderstand. But the Dragon Inheritance she received contained no information about Emerald Dragons. Moreover, compared to a genuine Emerald Dragon, her own color was extremely dull.
She was indeed a pureblood Green Dragon.
It was just that some changes had occurred, possibly due to contamination by the Evolution Game, granting her super-evolution which led to the color transformation.
Xia'er looked into Tyrone's molten-gold eyes filled with confusion and took a step back, allowing Tyrone to struggle to his feet from the dust. The Green Dragon's tone was calm, carrying a clarity that saw through to the essence: "Tyrone, I am not a hybrid. Bloodline has nothing to do with the gap between us at this moment."
Xia'er's voice sounded particularly steady in the canyon's cold wind: "The reason I am stronger than you is not because my scales are harder or my muscles are more powerful. It's because of this..."
With that, Xia'er gently tapped her own head, covered in emerald scales, with a claw tip: "My mind is clearer than yours, and I understand the true techniques of survival and becoming stronger better."
High emotional intelligence: My mind is clearer than yours.
Low emotional intelligence: You're an idiot.
Tyrone felt somewhat unconvinced and was about to retort, but after thinking about how he truly wasn't Xia'er's match, he held back.
Other Red Dragons might be rampant, arrogant, and prideful.
But Tyrone was different from traditional Red Dragons. He was a seasoned dragon feudalist warrior who deeply understood the principle of lying low when you can't win. He immediately began listening carefully.
Xia'er continued: "Survival and growth require not only strength but also wisdom. Understanding how to utilize the environment, avoid unnecessary risks, and seek more effective paths. For example, finding suitable opponents for genuine combat practice. For example, understanding the value of enemies and allies."
"The Karugu Highlands are barren and cold, not an ideal habitat for Red Dragons. Come with me to the Star Mist Archipelago, Tyrone. There, you'll find warm sea breezes, abundant food, and more worthwhile targets to challenge. I will grant you an island as your territory."
"The Star Mist Archipelago?!"
Tyrone reacted with instinctive resistance, his nostrils exhaling coarse breath tinged with sparks: "Water! Damned water everywhere! I am a Red Dragon! A favored child of flame! You want me to live on an island surrounded by saltwater? What difference is there between that and locking me in an undersea prison?!"
Red Dragons are fire-aligned dragons; their aversion to the ocean is ingrained deep within their bloodline.
Xia'er had anticipated this and patiently explained: "I'm not asking you to live in the sea. The archipelago has large islands with dry volcanic rock peaks. You can choose a cliff cave near the coast, where you can overlook the sea while staying away from the dampness."
"The previous master of the Star Mist Archipelago was an adult Red Dragon."
Tyrone fell silent.
He craved power, craved surpassing Xia'er.
Would staying here, repeating days of crashing into mountains and crushing weak creatures, truly make him stronger?
"Hmph!"
Tyrone's massive head turned reluctantly to the side: "Forget about making me live in the water! But, if it's just staying in a dry, high cave on the shore of that archipelago with a view of the land... and occasionally stretching my limbs... that might be acceptable."
"But listen, Xia'er! This is absolutely not submission! I, Tyrone Killian Fitzwilliam, will not bow beneath any dragon! This is merely temporary cooperation!"
"One day, I will become stronger than you! When that day comes, I will challenge you again! If you lose, you must acknowledge my power, admit that you are no match for the great Red Dragon, Tyrone Killian Fitzwilliam!"
A faint, almost imperceptible glint of amusement flashed in Xia'er's emerald dragon eyes.
Tyrone's reaction was entirely within her expectations.
The Red Dragon's unwillingness and pride were precisely the best driving forces.
Xia'er didn't believe she would lose in the future, but Tyrone's demand was also somewhat too lenient.
Just admitting he wasn't a match?
If Tyrone was willing to serve her like a beast of burden, Xia'er could admit right now that she was no match for the great Red Dragon.
"That's fair, Tyrone."
Xia'er nodded: "I accept your challenge agreement. If you can defeat me fairly and squarely in the future, I will naturally acknowledge you, mighty Red Dragon. You will earn your own title, and I will use every means to promote you, making your name resound throughout the entire world."
Tyrone no longer looked at Xia'er, instead turning towards the cliff wall he had battered into a pockmarked mess. Flames of a new kind burned in his lava-like eyes.
He would not lose the next challenge!
"Very well! Red Dragon Tyrone is willing to heed Green Dragon Xia'er's commands, until the day Red Dragon Tyrone's power surpasses that of Green Dragon Xia'er!"
Tyrone suddenly raised his head high and let out an earth-shaking roar, a command saturated with draconic aura spreading through the cold wind: "Awaken! You fools! We're moving!"
The two Petrified Giant Lizards, who had been lazily sprawled on the rocks, were startled awake and scrambled to their feet, emitting confused guttural rumbles.
Further away, four massive Owlbears covered in thick fur emerged from their respective caves or rock crevices. They let out low bear-like growls, looking puzzled at the Dragon Lord who had suddenly summoned them.
These were the 'vassals' Tyrone had subjugated over the past half-year or more.
Unlike Xia'er, who enslaved an entire race, Tyrone's vassals were more elite, consisting only of individual creatures he had conquered.
Xia'er, meanwhile, elegantly beat her wings, used Mage Hand to collect the few dragon scales shed during the battle, and then stirred up an air current to ascend into the sky.
Finally, Xia'er glanced down at the Red Dragon whose fighting spirit had been reignited, and at this utterly worthless Barren Canyon, beginning to make calculations in her mind.
Karta's Blue Dragon scales, Saga's Black Dragon scales, Disos's White Dragon scales, plus Tyrone's Red Dragon scales... the five Chromatic Dragon scales were now complete.
Moreover, there was an unexpected bonus this time: gaining a powerful Red Dragon like Tyrone.
Although Xia'er could defeat the Red Dragon now, Red Dragons grew stronger with age. As they matured into older, more experienced dragons, they would gradually widen the gap with other Chromatic Dragons.
By the time they reached the young dragon and adult dragon stages, a Red Dragon's strength would likely have few rivals below the Legendary tier!
In the future, dealing with the leaders of several large surrounding forces might just rely on Tyrone to handle.