Firstly, this hilly region was far from bountiful, devoid of any malignant species and high-level creatures, enabling Caesar, the juvenile dragon, to become the overlord of the pond.

During the rainy season, there were myriad places for the wildlife to venture, and they would not consider entering the hillsides. Conversely, in the dry season, the lakes which would normally attract prey with the promise of water had been poisoned and polluted by the residing black dragon.

With the monstrous appetite of Caesar, food was becoming increasingly scarce in the region, which in turn was expanding his circumambient area. For a dragon of his age, an expanded territory was synonymous with increased danger.

This was only one of the reasons. The pivotal factor that cemented his decision was the traces of humanoid activities he discovered recently in the southern woods - humans, to be precise.

To ascertain this information, he lost a good number of dire wolves in the process.

Caesar surmised that those were likely human adventurers lured by the green dragon. These individuals had been gathering in the south for some time, planning and preparing for their onslaught on the dragon.

Though Caesar was powerful, he was still a match for magic-users and berserk warriors. Regardless of whether it was the green dragon named “Emerald City” or human adventurers, neither could he afford to trifle with.

The pond where the juvenile dragons dwelled was situated right on the path where humans must pass through to reach the green dragon's lair.

Immediate migration was critical.

It was becoming obvious that the wolves scouting toward the south were growing more restless with each expedition. Their keen instincts, superior to those of dragons, allowed them to sense the imminent danger.

Escaping the urgency of the dire wolves, Caesar realized that humans were likely ready to commence their war against the green dragon at any time. If they failed to leave soon, he and the two other dragons could easily be swept up in the ensuing chaos.

Although at this point, the other two black dragons could barely aid Caesar, he had no intentions of leaving them behind. Having spent such a long period as a collective, there was certainly a level of emotional interconnectedness - although they mostly spent their time in slumber.

Once Ghalon and Blackscale created the corrosive aura, Caesar infrequently visited their underwater lair. However, he was back this time to inform them of the imminent migration and the underlying reasons.

There was not much to prepare, only the blocks of gold they somehow managed to come by -

Who knew how the two juvenile dragons could find gold stones in the hills? Their treasure-hunting talents were indeed extraordinary.

The two creatures were quite attached to their first-ever property and insisted on finding a way to transport it. Their love for treasure was even beyond their lives. For this reason, Blackscale was particularly cautious of his brother's arrival.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Just then, a slight tremor came from the underwater lair. Blackscale continued to pack up his treasure while Ghalon quietly surfaced, taking a swift glance at their surroundings before quickly diving back in.

"A malignant tiger," Ghalon whispered to Caesar. For juvenile dragons, this large and malicious beast was naturally challenging to deal with, far surpassing them in strength and speed.

However, this was not the case for Caesar. He slowly emerged, revealing his growing, robust body.

He had yet to observe any malignant creatures in the area, and the origins of this tiger were mysterious. It could have escaped from the rainforest where the green dragon dwelt.

The great beast far surpassed any common tiger in size, with a body over seven meters long, larger than Caesar. Its front legs were significantly sturdier than its hind ones, showcasing greater strength. Additionally, its elongated, sharp teeth were left uncovered.

In the jungle, the tiger certainly held dominion. No wonder Ghalon instantly shied away upon seeing it. A common juvenile black dragon would often struggle to combat such a beast. Only adolescent dragons would potentially stand a chance.

The malignant tiger instantly spotted the onshore black dragon. Such creatures were not senselessly ferocious; they at least had the intuition to judge a situation. It had never seen a black dragon such as this before.

Slightly puzzled, the tiger took a few steps and let out a low, intimidating growl.

This was a beast's method of assessing danger. If the black dragon retreated, the tiger would see it as a signal that it could chase and kill. If the dragon growled back without flinching, the tiger would have to evaluate further if it should attack or back down.

The tiger was caught off guard as the dragon did neither, instead rushing up to attack without a word.

At the tiger's growl, Caesar had already conjured the scenario in his head.

The optimal outcome would be to ambush and claw the tiger dead instantly. However, that was quite wishful thinking. As a ferocious creature, the tiger's speed was beyond its ordinary counterparts. Its reaction was impeccable, so it efficiently dodged Caesar's sudden attack.

Once standing again, the tiger shook its head. Though it refrained from growling once more, it was notably aggravated. Its back curled up – with its seven-meter body fully arched, ready to retaliate.

Feline creatures have better reflexes than dragons. Despite Caesar's genetic enhancements, he could barely match the speed of the tiger at this age. As he turned around, the tiger was already lunging at him.

Direct hit.

Upon tackling his prey, the tiger's instincts drove it to utilize its common hunting tactics. It used its forceful forelimbs to tightly grip the joints of Caesar, and its large mouth brandished sharp, threatening teeth, certain that they could effortlessly pierce through the scales of the black dragon.

Unfortunately, it ended up in shock as it found itself weakening in the struggle, its prestigious forelimbs falling before the black dragon, getting gradually lifted, twisted and fractured.

All its hard paws were fractured and began to bleed. For the first time ever, its prey had broken loose.

Simultaneously, after breaking free, Caesar took a leap with his four limbs and his tail, launching upwards with all his might.

Too close to escape.

His head shot out like a spiked battering ram. At this, the tiger howled, its immense body uplifted by the black dragon. It tumbled in the air before crashing back onto the ground fiercely.

At that point, the tiger’s breath was labored. It had sustained a severe injury, with four gruesome holes visible in its chest region and fresh blood staining its pale yellow fur.

Its deep yellow eyes shook faintly and were completely unable to growl anymore. Reflected in the tiger's dilated, dark eyes were the advancing wide-reaching jaws filled with intimidating teeth.

The mighty tiger fell to its doom as Caesar severed its neck with a bite.

Killing the beast was not an impulsive act. Caesar had been yearning for a fight with such a large, malignant creature. It would ascertain his position in the food chain and prepare him for future migrations. What could be touched and what should be avoided needed to be clear before embarking on the journey.