They rested in the willow grove near the foot of the mountain, the young dragons sipping from the mountain spring while Caesar's direwolf pack scattered to keep watch.

It was the third day since leaving the hills, and they had yet to find a suitable habitat. The terrain in this otherworldly region was completely different from what Caesar was familiar with. As they headed further north, the weather seemed to grow hotter.

Splash!

A faint spray of water splashed nearby. Soon, two direwolves approached, each carrying a freshly caught fish in their jaws. They wagged their tails and placed the fish before Caesar, seeking approval.

"Well done."

Caesar praised them generously, scratching the fur between the direwolves' necks with his claws before swallowing the small fish, not much bigger than his palm.

After years of rest and recuperation, the wolf pack had grown to thirty members once again. These obedient creatures knew how to please their master. Caesar had come to see them as pets, and they brought him joy during the otherwise monotonous journey.

"Hah."

Blackscale, who had been watching with disdain, spat in disgust. "These direwolves were once fearsome beasts, and now you've turned them into lapdogs."

She and Caesar had always been at odds, constantly bickering. But Caesar was superior to her in every aspect except for magic. His scales were tougher, his claws sharper, and his body was more robust.

Even with her magical abilities, Blackscale was no match for Caesar in a fight. It frustrated her to no end. She couldn't understand how this dragon, who lacked the imposing presence of a dragon, had managed to gather a pack of thirty direwolves.

Even as their biological sibling, Blackscale couldn't do anything to him. She could only occasionally snap at him.

Caesar ignored her, turning his head away. At this age, young dragons were much like human children. The more you argued with them, the more they would resist. If you ignored them completely, they would naturally lose interest.

Blackscale grew bored and noticed Ghalon, who was still drooling over the fish. Irritated, she slapped him on the head. "Let's go. You idiot. I'll take you to find food."

Caesar sighed. "If you're going, go alone. Don't take Ghalon with you. I don't want to dig an extra grave later."

Upon hearing this, Blackscale trembled slightly and stopped in her tracks.

"Do you really want to hunt at night? You're not valuing your own life. The night in the wilderness is far more dangerous than the day. Do you know how many creatures are nocturnal?"

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"Of course, I know better than you."

Blackscale muttered, feeling frustrated. She knew that venturing out into the unknown at night was dangerous. Many large beasts and monsters were active during the night. A few young dragons would be no match for them - they might even end up being captured.

"Awoo!"

The howl of the direwolves grew urgent, and the young dragons instinctively stood up, becoming alert.

"The sky has been sealed by magic. Something is coming."

Blackscale looked at the direwolves retreating towards her. Her voice grew hoarse and uneasy. Like a startled cat, her scales stood on end, her body hunched, and her mouth opened, ready to release a low growl like a beast asserting its dominance.

"Quiet, don't make any sudden moves."

Caesar stopped her, his eyes fixed on the deepening night. The beings capable of sealing the sky were undoubtedly highly intelligent creatures. They wouldn't be easy to deal with.

The first thing he noticed was a pair of red eyes. Shadows approached from all directions.

"Humans?"

Even Ghalon, who was slow to react, grew restless. In their eyes, humans were far more cunning and ruthless than dragons. The fate of a young black dragon in human hands was never a pleasant one.

"We are the offspring of the great 'Shadow Dragon' Nysatoria."

Caesar fabricated a title for his mother. Now was the time to bring out the prestige of his family: "Who are you?"

"Is that the black dragon that was driven away?"

A more aged voice came from the shadows. A figure emerged from the underbrush, wearing tattered robes and wielding a staff made of bone. Despite his old age and hunched posture, his muscular body was still strong.

Green skin and a face resembling a mix of human and pig, with a sloping forehead and protruding fangs.

Orcs!

Behind him, rocks seemed to shift and move, revealing towering orcs. They were burly and strong, wearing animal fur around their waists and wielding stone weapons. They stomped heavily towards the young dragons.

For any tribe or clan, young dragons were gifts from the gods. Despite their small and weak bodies, they could fetch a hefty price in the human realm. This generous reward could even change the fortunes of some impoverished tribes.

"Roar! Despicable orcs!"

Ghalon and Blackscale roared, their voices filled with anger. Facing nearly fifty strong and robust orcs, they had to display a fierce response to intimidate them and prevent them from approaching.

The two young dragons were infuriated. It was an ambush, clearly planned in advance. These green-skinned orcs had spotted them long ago, or else they wouldn't have mobilized so many elite warriors, including esteemed wizards from their tribe.

"Roar! We'll kill you!"

Blackscale roared, spewing a nearly two-meter-long acid breath from her throat. Ghalon stood on one side, and Blackscale on the other, both ready to unleash their dragon breath. The direwolves surrounding them arched their backs, prepared for battle.

This was not looking good. If they were to engage in battle, it would be disastrous. Even with Caesar's genetically enhanced body, the three young dragons and the pack of direwolves were no match for the orcs.

Caesar could see clearly that they would be the ones at a disadvantage in a fight. The sky was already sealed, making it difficult for the young dragons to escape.

What should they do?

"Silence!"

With a loud thud, Caesar slammed his paw on the ground. The resounding noise silenced the rowdy orcs and the provoking young dragons. His strength was astonishing, and the keen-eyed orcs even noticed cracks forming on the ground.

After a brief moment of awe, Caesar fixed his gaze on the orc who stood out from the others. In a deep voice, he said, "If you want to capture us, do you know how many orc warriors will die trying?"