Chapter 320

Chapter 320: Ant Tribe vs. Earth Dragon (Part Nine)

Returning to the present moment…

Though Earth Dragon Jon’s "Dragon Roar" lasted merely an instant, its reverberations penetrated deep into the forest’s heart.

Fire Dragon Fan and Ice Dragon Orna ceased their squabble, faces etched with astonishment.

A single roar had conveyed complete information to the two Earth Dragons.

"Kekui and Jon perished… while Aier struggles desperately?!"

Fire Dragon Fan growled, fury coloring his voice.

"Impossible! Mere ant monsters could never defeat our kind!"

"Why ask me? Do I look omniscient?"

Ice Dragon Orna shot him a glacial stare.

Though her frosty demeanor remained, seismic waves churned beneath her calm surface. While the deaths of Kekui and Jon shocked her, Aier’s predicament proved even more inconceivable. If even Aier couldn’t triumph, their combined strength might still prove inadequate.

So… Was this why Jon bid us alert Mother?

"Fan. Enter the cavern to inform Mother."

"Me?"

The Fire Dragon stiffened mid-outrage. Mother’s final command had been explicit – guard the entrance, allowing no disturbance regardless of circumstances. Not even themselves could breach that sanctum.

Mother’s decrees were absolute.

Defiance might incur her wrath… perhaps worse…

No. Surely not.

Only those fools Kekui and Jon had dared repeatedly suggest intruding to check on Mother. Yet now those same fools lay dead… An unexpected pang of sorrow briefly gripped him.

The emotion evaporated as quickly as winter mist. Among the five dragons, his rapport with three others had been merely passable – and with Ice Dragon Orna, openly hostile.

After prolonged silence, he glared daggers at Orna.

"Why not you?"

"You require an explanation?"

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The Ice Dragon’s gaze intensified, frigid air thickening around her until the temperature plummeted by dozens of degrees. During winter’s reign, Fire Dragon Fan ranked fourth among their quintet – barely surpassing Earth Dragon Kekui.

Ice Dragon Orna held the second seat.

Due to their opposing elemental affinities, Fire Dragon Fan was acutely aware that he was no match for his adversary.

"Hmph."

The crimson drake parted his jaws only to emit a stifled snort.

Were this the season of summer, I’d make this wretch rue his arrogance! The thought burned bitterly in his mind.

Approaching the cavern’s maw, he gulped nervously before crossing the threshold.

Witnessing the Fire Dragon’s ingress, Ice Dragon Orna couldn’t help feeling a twinge of unease.

Yet.

Within mere moments, a pained howl echoed as Fire Dragon Fan’s massive form came hurtling from the cave. His trajectory felled over a dozen ancient trees before vanishing from sight amidst a thunderous crash.

"Fan?"

Orna’s breath caught. As she moved to investigate, the draconic roar behind her froze the marrow in her bones.

"Did I permit entry?"

The Psychic Call’s placid tone carried winter’s bite, chilling the Ice Dragon to her core.

Mother’s wrath…

The realization turned Orna’s gaze toward the devastation left by Fan’s expulsion.

Should Mother strike in anger… Her talons clenched at the thought.

Deep within, Orna understood – the five Earth Dragons held no more significance to Mother than common wyrms. Their maternal appellation was but childish presumption.

Yet like her kin, she’d clung to the conceit of being extraordinary, believing their talents might earn Mother’s favor.

Fan’s violent ejection shattered this delusion.

He likely perished without uttering a syllable before Mother cast him out…

Perhaps even our deaths would scarcely ripple Mother’s indifference?

Memories of fallen Kekui and Jon surfaced, mingling with thoughts of embattled Aier and now Fan… An icy sorrow crystallized in her breast.

Still… One final entreaty…

With dwindling hope, Orna lifted her eyes to the shadowed grotto.

"Mother…"

"Begone."

The single syllable struck like glacial winds, the cavern’s presence radiating mounting impatience laced with lethal intent.

Resignation settled over Orna’s heart.

After a final lingering glance, she turned toward Fan’s crash site, an unfamiliar kinship warming her frostbound thoughts. Should the Fire Dragon survive, perhaps together they might aid Aier.

Presuming Fan yet lived.

Upon discovering her crimson kin, Orna’s blood turned to ice.

Amidst splintered timber lay the massive crimson Earth Dragon, Health Value extinguished, once-fiery scales dulled to ash.

Fan… gone…

So it was Mother – no, Flossie now – who struck the fatal blow!

Flossie’s wrath has consumed him!

Grief and desolation surged through Orna’s veins like poisoned arrows.

As she stood paralyzed by anguish, death’s whisper gusted behind her – a shadowy limb materializing with murderous intent!

Orna’s reflexive ice shield shattered like glass. A five-meter obsidian foreleg pierced her cranial frost-armor in less than a heartbeat.

Her desperate evasion spared complete impalement, the shadowy claw emerging through her right temple instead. The attack claimed her right eye, ear, and swathes of scaled flesh.

Frostwhirlwinds erupted from the Ice Dragon’s form, scouring the landscape clean as Orna staggered back. Channeling Regeneration to mend her wounds, she confronted her assailant – a shifting shadow resembling some ant-like monster given form, radiating palpable malice.

"What manner of abomination are you?!"

Orna’s surviving eye blazed with glacial fury. Her Magic Essence Perception revealed an entity matching her own power.

Sudden realization made her glance at Fan’s corpse. Now she saw the truth – wounds from multiple bladed weapons, impossible for Dragon Flossie’s draconic arsenal.

The shadow-beast before her hadn’t merely attacked… It had executed Fan.