As time gently passed by, seven years came and went. The dragon’s nest had undergone numerous transformations through years of drought and rain, with the underwater cave system continually expanding to almost half the size of a small pond.

The defining features of animals at the top of the food chain are their low reproductive rates and long reproductive cycles. Despite growing into their seventh year, the little dragons were just entering their juvenile stage.

With the continued passage of time, the young dragons’ bodies grew increasingly robust, and some ancestral memories became clearer. A rotating aura of black light appeared around Ghalon and Blackscale.

Reaching their juvenile phase awakened their second innate spellcasting capability: a corrupting aura.

Under the effects of this aura, the watering hole where the young dragons rested began to transform into murky, foul-smelling water. Unfortunate fish that somehow found their way into the cave through gaps in the entrance met a grisly fate, turning into putrid fish cadavers in no time.

Any knowledgeable individuals who came across such a place would instantly recognize it as a black dragon's dwelling, a highly dangerous area. Therefore, Caesar decided to live away from them very decisively.

Whether this decision was due to the inherent dangers or his intolerance for the foul smell was something only outsiders could speculate about.

When Ghalon and Blackscale discovered the awakening of their spellcasting abilities, they initially felt quite elated. However, their joyful moods took a hit the moment they saw their elder brother Caesar.

Compared to Caesar, they had only “somewhat” progressed in their growth.

Caesar's transformation was utterly beyond their comprehension.

Let's talk about size first. Blackscale couldn't fathom how Caesar had grown so much. Not counting the span of his wings, Caesar was over seven meters long. To provide a clearer picture, the siblings Ghalon and Blackscale put together, wouldn't match up to Caesar's size.

Caesar was not only bigger, but he also seemed much stronger. With highly developed muscles, he carried an imposing air about him that belied the typical slender shape of black dragons, looking more like a red dragon draped in black scales.

The incredulous Blackscale muttered, "By Tiamat above."

Seven meters, indeed. Blackscale doubted if her elder brother was the product of mixed blood with a red dragon. However, to her knowledge, even pure-bred young red dragons didn't grow as large.

But what truly differentiated Caesar from the rest were the horns on his head. While black dragons typically had two intertwining horns on their heads that aided in conducting magical energy, Caesar bore as many as four: two branched towards the back, and two towards the left and right.

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Unlike the hollow structures of dragon horns meant for conducting magic, his horns were solid, incredibly hard and sharp, turning them into deadly weapons.

What made Caesar truly elated was the fact that as a dragon, he had finally learned to fly. He had mastered the ability of flight.

The massive strength required to fly through the pure flapping of wings meant that his wings were significantly larger than those of Ghalon and Blackscale. His wingspan was roughly three times that of an average black dragon measuring an astounding fifteen meters. At first, he was worried that his enormous wings would hamper his terrestrial movements. However, once he thoroughly examined his body, he found that his wings contained two unique structures that allowed them to fold like a collapsible bed.

After two years of becoming familiar with his wings, Caesar could now adeptly stretch and fold his wings. When not flying, his folded wings didn't impede his movements, and he appeared to be no different from any other dragon.

The seven-meter-long black dragon could now be classified as a formidable creature. At least Ghalon and Blackscale combined weren't a match for him, and even the higher-tier, young red dragons would have to think twice before confronting him.

This aberration among dragons, Caesar Ortolonzo, had also achieved another notable feat. Regardless of the type – be it chromatic or metallic or other legendary dragons - none of them could increase their speed or agility as they aged. On the contrary, they would only become more unwieldy as they grew in size.

But, Caesar Ortolonzo was an exception to the rule. His speed only increased over time, which was unprecedented in the history of dragons.

A black dragon growing increasingly agile? If anyone were to hear about this, they'd likely think it absurd. Even Tiamat, the draconic goddess, would probably find it hard to believe.

The prohibitive food requirements of Caesar’s physically imposing body meant he had to eat twice as much as Ghalon. He needed plenty of energy to maintain his bodily functions. After consuming a mature Stinger Lion, Caesar was now lazing about in the shallow waters near the shore, moving his back spikes along with the currents.

The sun warmed the waterfront, while a pack of dire wolves lay near the shore, yawning in satisfaction as they sunned themselves.

These were indeed the same dire wolves whose leader Caesar had killed. By the fourth dry season since Caesar and his kin took over the lake, these wolves had returned to the watering hole, hoping for better luck.

Unfortunately, their luck ran out when they bumped into Caesar, who had just woken up and was out hunting.

What happened next was no surprise. After the loss of six male dire wolves, the rest of the pack submitted to Caesar. Shivering in fear, they became a part of Caesar’s first vassals.

Having realized that his hunger was insatiable, Caesar knew that he could not continue to hunt at his present rate without running the risk of starving. Hence, he needed some subordinates who could help him track prey and make his hunts more efficient.

The intelligent dire wolves seemed to be the perfect choice. At his current stage, Caesar could just about feed himself and had no capacity to enslave a tribe of goblins or gnolls.

Success vindicated Caesar's decision. As time passed, he felt less and less hungry. His territorial expanse increased every day, giving him greater control over his surroundings.

Seven years had passed, and the hilly area had become well-aware of the fearsome black dragon near the lake. With no high-level weird creatures around, a seven-meter long black dragon had naturally emerged as the undisputed ruler of this area, known for its insatiable greed and brutal tyranny.

However, Caesar was already preparing to leave.