Caesar specifically observed the fatal wound on the alpha wolf's neck. The claw marks had caused a gaping hole, leaving the entire neck bloody and mutilated, almost severed completely.
Such a horrifying wound would undoubtedly be fatal. No wonder the alpha wolf had died on the spot. Even for resilient dragons, it would be difficult to survive such injuries.
The feast began.
Although the herbivores had long fled in fear from the chaotic battle, the heavily injured wolf pack left behind many corpses. The hungry hatchlings, no longer able to contain themselves, devoured the bodies without hesitation.
Compared to Caesar's appetite, Ghalon and Blackscales seemed relatively "reserved." They always corroded the meat with acid before consuming it.
In the sky, the blood vultures and scavenger vultures formed a dark mass, emitting harsh cries even more piercing than ravens. They circled above the lake, staring greedily at the terror wolf carcasses.
"Roar, roar!"
With half-eaten food in its grasp, Blackscale let out two threatening growls towards the sky. Even though she couldn't eat anymore, she intended to protect the food. In this season of scarce natural resources, every scrap of meat was precious.
Thus, she and Ghalon worked together, dragging the terror wolf carcasses into the water or burying them in the muddy swamp. Being scavengers, these wolf corpses would provide them sustenance for a long time without the need for further hunting.
"Hmm, Ortolonzo, we made it through this time."
Although Caesar had emphasized his name before, Ghalon still hadn't changed his habit. Chewing on meat, he followed behind Caesar, mumbled his apologies in a muffled voice.
"Hmm."
Caesar had a bigger appetite than them, so he was still busy dealing with the terror wolf in front of him, providing a vague response.
Dragons possessed strong pride, rarely admitting their mistakes even when they knew they had made one. Ghalon's muffled apology showed his sincere intentions, demonstrating that he had deeply recognized his error.
Caesar, with an adult soul beyond his appearance, had no interest in salt on wounds or coercing the dragon with force. He simply responded casually.
However, this scene irked Blackscales. She enjoyed teasing and tormenting Ghalon, but when she saw Ghalon showing such respect and silently apologizing to Caesar, she felt as if something had been taken away from her, stirring up jealousy.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
But she was also aware of her own past mistakes and couldn't find any reason to act out. So she vented her frustration in the sludge before her, tearing apart the wolf corpses buried within it.
As the sky gradually darkened, the hatchlings began preparing their first territory. Having satisfied their hunger, they needed to prepare for the challenges of survival, hunting, meditation, and rest.
At least until now, Caesar hadn't detected any traces of strange or aggressive creatures. So it seemed that this place was safer than the edges of the jungle. With the nearby carnivorous beasts expelled, the young dragons didn't need to worry excessively.
With the help of the two hatchlings, Caesar spent some time carving out a groove at the bottom of the shallow water, expanding it into a decent-sized underwater cave.
But that wasn't enough. The hatchlings were meticulous in their approach to constructing a nest that would affect their survival. To be safe, they continued their work, diligently digging out multiple exits at the bottom of the cave, ensuring a quick escape in case of emergency.
Compared to the swamp nest, the pitch-black cave was far from ideal, but the black dragons were not picky. They simply needed a hiding place that accommodated their preference for muddy sludge.
Caesar once again found himself in that eerie and mysterious space in his dreams. The towering display case still stood silently, just as monotonous, cold, and lifeless as before.
He had eagerly waited for a long time, yet there were no new trophies to be seen.
"What's going on?"
Caesar hesitated. In his speculation, if he compared his life to a game, the trophies should be equivalent to level-up rewards. It didn't make sense for the experience gained from such a great battle to be insufficient for him to achieve a second promotion.
Unless his conjecture was wrong.
Having waited for a long time, Caesar eventually sat down in front of the display case, staring into the deep, endless abyss, pondering deeply.
Killing alone didn't make him stronger. If the rewards didn't come solely from leveling up through defeating enemies, then what other methods could yield benefits?
The black dream was the foundation on which he stood, and naturally, he wanted to uncover its rules.
Predator. The First. Anything is Possible. Trophies.
Images of how he had obtained the bronze cup repeatedly played in Caesar's mind. He carefully examined every detail, leaving no room for error.
Trophies. Trophies. Trophies.
Time continued to pass.
"I understand."
Caesar suddenly realized, shaking his head and swaying his tail before standing up once more. If he likened his experiences in this otherworldly realm to a game, what other methods could yield rewards besides leveling up through gaining experience?
Combining the unique form of the rewards, Caesar could only think of one possibility: achievements.
Killing the wild tiger and receiving a reward was not because he had gained experience and leveled up, but because he had completed the "Predator" achievement.
"So, anything is possible."
Caesar finally understood the profound meaning behind the small text engraved on the bronze pedestal. He needed to constantly strive to complete new achievements, exchanging them for as many rewards as possible.
It seemed that the path laid out for him by the black dream would not be easy.
Among the ten hatchlings, not even half were guaranteed to successfully reach the stage of self-preservation and adulthood without the protection of their parents.
After the siege incident, the young dragons became increasingly aware of their vulnerability. So, in the coming days, apart from Caesar, who was always eager to ambush and hunt for drinking prey, the other two hatchlings stayed in the nest, sleeping and sustaining themselves with scavenged meat.
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