In the end, Saron decided to proceed with Meesha accompanying him. As they delved deeper into the heart of the land, the desolation grew. Lifeless plants and the remains of animals littered the ground.

"It used to be so beautiful here," Meesha said, a tinge of sadness in her voice as she clung tightly to Saron's claw. They soared above a landscape that was a shadow of its former self.

Suddenly, Saron came to a halt, his keen senses picking up on something amiss—a sensation akin to radiation permeated the air, prompting him to descend to the ground for a closer inspection.

Upon landing, Saron immediately felt that something was off. The life force seemed to have been drained from the surroundings. When he scooped up a clawful of soil, his powerful affinity for earth magic revealed a startling lack of earth elements—a near absence, which was unusual.

The foundational structure of the land was utterly disrupted, and Saron wondered what could have caused such devastation.

"Meesha, wait for me here, or you can go back first," Saron advised, sensing that the area ahead might not be safe.

"Lord Saron..." Meesha began, but he swiftly cut her off.

"Quickly, go back. Be careful on the road!" With those words, Saron took off, leaving Meesha behind. She watched his retreating figure, her previous notions of black dragons from legends challenged—Saron was proving to be quite different.

Saron continued his solitary journey towards the center of the devastation. The further he went, the more numerous the carcasses became, as if they all died moving towards something—something ominous that also made Saron feel increasingly uneasy.

He finally arrived at the edge of a massive crater. Peering inside, his crimson eyes widened in shock.

"How is this possible!"

...

Meanwhile, Winnie led her group to a thicket of blackened trees. She pulled out an object resembling a whistle and gently blew into it, following a specific pattern. The sound called for whatever allies or assistance she had arranged, signaling them to gather and prepare for what was to come.

Before long, the rustling sounds of movement broke the silence, and a variety of half-beast creatures such as satyrs and cervitaurs emerged from the underbrush.

"Sister Winnie!" they called out, recognizing their comrade.

"Layla!" Winnie greeted one affectionately.

After hearing Winnie out, some of the half-beasts let out a resigned sigh. "Winnie, that's a black dragon," one began, "the most cunning and deceitful of the chromatic dragons. He—" But the half-beast was cut off by Winnie.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"If you all know that dragons are petty creatures, be careful not to anger him. Since we've decided to become followers of the black dragon, we must commit fully. For those unwilling to follow, I'll provide food and gold to leave," she said decisively.

Seeing Winnie's serious demeanor, the others fell silent. In their world, strength ruled above all.

...

Meanwhile, in the center of the meteorite crater, Saron discovered the source of the unease that had been bothering him. The carcasses of magical beasts were even more numerous here, all dried out and dead.

In the midst of these remains was an egg—precisely, a dragon egg. It was black with golden patterns, much larger than a typical dragon egg.

Saron felt the egg was the source of the radiation. He noticed some of his own scales starting to fall off from the exposure. Undeterred, he moved closer, intrigued by what kind of dragon could produce an egg with such effects.

After searching through ancestral memories, Saron finally recognized this egg.

"Plutonium Dragon Egg!!!" Yes, before him was the egg of a Plutonium Dragon!

Plutonium Dragons were infamous creatures throughout the multiverse. In the cosmic hierarchy of dragons, alongside the iridescent Prism Dragons, the metallic dragons like the Plutonium Dragon, the gemstone dragons such as the Blue Diamond Dragon, and the alluring Star Dragons among the Feydragons, Plutonium Dragons stood out for their immense power and rarity.

The realization of what lay before him didn't just bring awe to Saron; it also brought with it a sense of grave responsibility. The Plutonium Dragon Egg was a treasure of immeasurable potential but also a source of great danger if it fell into the wrong hands or hatched uncontrolled. Saron knew he had to make a decision that could change the course of his life and possibly the fate of many others.

Time Dragons and Force Dragons are also among the ranks of these exceptionally powerful dragons. They are the proverbial wall-hangers, possessing gifts and a stature that no ordinary dragon species can match, making even the ancient gods wary of them. There are fewer than ten Plutonium Dragons in the entire multiverse.

Plutonium Dragons, a subspecies of fire dragons, are immune to fire and heat damage upon reaching adulthood. Unlike other metallic dragons, Plutonium Dragons distinctly belong to the evil alignment. They are armored with opaque, black metallic scales and almond-shaped pupils that are just as dark. The edges of their scales and irises are rimmed with gold, causing every move they make and every glance they cast to shimmer with a glistening, golden light.

As members of the metallic dragon family, their scales consist of over 80% plutonium. This means that Plutonium Dragons constantly emit deadly nuclear radiation, essentially acting as giant, ambulatory nuclear reactors. Hence, they have earned another title: "Nuclear Dragons." Micro-nuclear fusion occurs on their skin at all times.

Land walked upon by a Plutonium Dragon remains barren for three years due to intense nuclear radiation. Humans or other beings that come into contact with them often succumb to cancers and do not survive long...

When a Plutonium Dragon attacks in a rage, its scales no longer appear black but are covered in a blinding, sun-like golden radiance that is unbearable to look upon. Of course, no creature can survive witnessing such a spectacle.

The bodily fluids of a Plutonium Dragon are highly toxic; just a drop is enough to decimate the population of a large city, rendering the surrounding land lifeless for decades, if not centuries.

It's no wonder they are considered part of the evil alignment; with such capabilities, being virtuous is not an option.

Plutonium Dragons have eyes like X-rays, able to see through most things and very cunning, even more so than black dragons. Like most evil dragons, they are cruel, deceitful, possessive, and utterly selfish.

Saron carefully examined the Plutonium Dragon egg before him. Unfortunately, it was a dead egg! Yet, even if it hadn't been, he would still have been apprehensive. Such a creature is a born powerhouse.

There was a hole in the egg's shell, about as thick as a human's little finger, which had pierced through, revealing the lifeless embryo inside. This small wound proved fatal for the egg.

This was puzzling to Saron. Normally, these dragon species would be born among the metallic dragons and spend their early years there. And Plutonium Dragon eggs are hard to differentiate from other metallic dragons as juveniles—only their scale color sets them apart, and not until they grow older and their radiation becomes undeniable do they stand apart from their kin.

Saron wondered how this unborn Plutonium Dragon was discovered and targeted so precisely...

The land had become barren because the unborn Plutonium Dragon's fluids had leaked out through the hole. The multitude of magical beasts had rushed here driven by instinct; after all, the blood of a true dragon, especially a Plutonium Dragon, could potentially evolve their own bloodlines.

But not a single beast made it alive to the egg's side.

It was a small mercy that it was the radiation from an unborn Plutonium Dragon. Had it been a single drop of blood from an adult, not just this small area, but the entire Sunset Forest would have been engulfed in radiation, leaving it utterly lifeless.