Chapter 3: Toddler Days

Tiamat was currently cheering on a one year old Mordred. Due to being fed by Tiamat herself. He was growing exponentially.

His physiology was just like a dragon's as well. With the souls sealed inside him influencing his body.

"Go Mordred, defeat that cliff. Make mama proud!" Tiamat looked at Mordred who was climbing a cliff without any safety gear. And due to her sanding it down, it was a V17 climb. Even the best rock climbers in the world can't climb it easily.

Huffing, he arrived at the top and plopped down. Sweating bullets due to his workout.

"Mom! I did it!" Mordred waved at Tiamat who was smiling at him. Ever since he could crawl. Which he was able to since he was a one month old baby. Tiamat already made him do physical activities.

In her words, a month old dragon should already be able to fight. Because it would be fighting tooth and nail for survival already. A dog eat dog world which the dragon king experienced.

Thankfully, her milk was absolutely filled to the brim with nutrients and her mana. So he was able to keep up with her extreme play time.

"Come on down baby." Tiamat called out to him and he jumped. Landing down on the ground in front of her with a small crater, she hugged him tightly and he also reciprocated.

"You're so agile now, maybe you'll leave the nest already?" Tiamat pinched his cheeks and he pouted.

"Mom, I'm not going to leave the nest yet. I love you so much, so I can't do that." He beamed at her and she put a hand on her chest, receiving damage from his cuteness. (pic)

"I love you too, are you hungry?" Tiamat popped her top open and Mordred latched onto her.

Tiamat followed the books from the human world. And she exclusively breastfed him until he was 6 months old. It also said there to continue if possible until he was 2 years old.

Though she was already feeding him meat when he reached 6 months that she hunts in the familiar forest. There are tons of monsters and animals roaming around.

She cradled him lightly and Mordred drank a lot. His body developing in overdrive. He already looked like a 6 year old who is ripped due to his exercises.

After drinking a few liters, he was satisfied. Letting out a sigh. "Thanks mom, your milk is the best." He smiled at her and Tiamat cooed at him in pride.

"Of course, no formula or meat would surpass your mother's milk." She nodded sagely and he agreed. It was rich and delicious, he also felt better after feeding from her.

Which he noticed, so after every exercise. He requested to feed and Tiamat was happy to oblige.

"What are we going to do now mom? Morning playtime is already done." He tilted his head and Tiamat took out some books with space magic.

"Here, you rest for a bit and read these. Then right after, comes sparring. You love to fight me don't you? You're already turning into a strong dragon." She patted his head and he nodded with a smile.

"Un, okay mom." He took the books and went back to their house. Which was Tiamat's cave where she found him. It was furnished of course, because she can't let him sleep on the floor.

"Hmm, introduction to magic? Cool." He started reading it and internalized the subject.

He didn't know why, but he was always interested in magic. Mordred felt an affinity with it.

"Hmm, let's see." Magic was unnecessarily complex. Mages use calculations to try and induce phenomena.

"Umu, so it's like. If I calculate this and know this, then it will turn into a spell? Isn't this a bad system?" He tilted his head in exasperation.

"I can't use this while fighting mom, I have to do calculations on the fly?" He sighed and started to find more explanations about magic.

There were all different kinds of magic. But he was disappointed that even the type which gods use require calculations and mystic codes.

Demonic power interested him, but he didn't have any. You'd either need to be a reincarnated devil or a pureblood to use it. "Aww, it uses imagination and your senses to use. This one's much better." He was disappointed once again.

"Hey mom, what's the magic dragons use?" Mordred looked at Tiamat who was cooking a huge hunk of meat for breakfast.

"Hmmm, we dragons use primordial magic sweetie." She smiled at him when she saw that his attention was piqued.

"Primordial magic is similar to the devils. But instead of imagining spells, you will your mana to do your bidding." Tiamat willed fire to appear on her fingertips.

"Will them? Isn't that the same as how the devils use it? Silly mom." He chuckled and Tiamat pouted at him.

"Do you want to learn or not?" She huffed and he immediately apologized. "That's right... Ahem, so where were we? Yeah, we will it to happen." She nodded.

"But you are correct, it is similar. But in case of our magic. We influence the world to do supernatural feats. The magic of dragons is reliant on your amount of mana and will. If the latter isn't strong enough, your spell won't happen." She shrugged and his eyes shone.

"As for the magic of the devils, you can say that it is an inferior version of ours. Yes, they have fancy shmancy pillar magic like the famous power of destruction. But that's due to mutations from their lineage. it's like specialized traits that they inherit." Tiamat explained patiently.

"So? What's the pros and cons of our magic?" He wanted to test it out immediately.

"It is much, much stronger. You've heard of dragon fire leaving nothing behind even bones right? That's because a dragon, if strong enough. Can will it to be that strong." She demonstrated on some bones to be discarded. And not even ash remained.

"That's so cool! But that's the positive, what's the drawback?" He was curious about that too. If he wanted to be a strong dragon, he will not neglect his weaknesses as well.

"To us? None at all, dragons are at the top of magical manipulation. That's why so many try to hunt one down. It's our mana heart, it is like a regulator for your mana. It will always output magic depending on how much you desire." She pointed at her chest, but she winced a bit.

Mordred, being human. Does not have that core like other dragons do. So she thought he was going to be frustrated a lot with using their magic.

"But it isn't that easy right?" He was suspicious of that power. Because if it was that powerful, then low class dragons would be extinct due to being hunted down.

"That's right, you're a smart little cookie. That's my boy~ You have to develop and saturate it with your magic. Form it, mould it, perfect it. That's why dragons like Albion or Ddraig have special powers." She hissed after speaking the latter's name.

But he ignored it, he already knew that Ddraig is her mortal enemy for losing Tiamat's treasures that he borrowed.

"Boost and divide right?" He read about the Longinus. Ddraig and Albion got sealed into sacred gears. The top 13 that are so ridiculous, they can kill the divine.

"Yup, they moulded their cores due to their rivalry. The red guy can multiply his strength and magic. While Albion divides his enemy's and steals it for himself." Tiamat patted Mordred's head for being well informed.

"So I can technically get Longinus tier abilities by moulding my core to what I want." He adopted a thoughtful expression and Tiamat smiled softly.

"Hey, you need to walk before you can fly. Most dragons can't even develop their own cores. Your soul makes a qualitative change due to it. And you'd need tons of mana and strength." She hoped that he won't get depressed if he can't do it.

"Well, I'll be a dragon you can be proud of. You can count on me to do so." He grinned at her and Tiamat hugged him.

"Is that so? I know you can do it hatchling. Mama believes you." She kissed his head and he chuckled.

"Come on, let's get some breakfast and start sparring. You have tons of magic, I'll teach you how to use our magic." She ushered him to the table and he ran like the wind.

She never did imagine that she would take care of a child. It made her feel good that he was growing up nicely.

Tiamat's eyes then went ice cold. Thinking of possible threats that would be out to get him when he inevitably leaves the nest and makes a name for himself.

"Ajuka, even if it's you devils who I worked with in the past tries something. I'll burn the underworld and drown it in fire." She promised in her heart.

So she did what most dragons do not care about. Train, train to the absolute limit of her body until she couldn't anymore. Leaving their home to do so every night when he falls asleep.

"Slow down, it isn't going to run away Mordred." She tried to make him slow down or he'll choke on his food. He was stuffing his gullet like pelican.

After resting for a bit, they went to the front yard which was just a clearing which Tiamat created.

"Alright mom, I'm ready. Are you going to teach me magic first?" He was excited and she nodded with a smile.

"Primordial magic comes from your very soul, your entire being. So unleash your desire for what you want and pour your mana into it." Tiamat put up a barrier.

She then breathed in and a a blue laser came out of her mouth. Everything that got sweeped by her breath exploded and got vaporized by the extreme heat and power.

"Woah, I want to do that as well!" He breathed in and roared. His desire to copy Tiamat got unleashed as a spell. But it lacked the necessary mana and was instead a flame thrower. Though it was still quite destructive.

"Aww, it was like a fart compared to yours mom." He pouted and she patted his head for a job well done.

"No, you just lack the reserves to do it. Remember, it's still magic. And you don't have a mana core to make it efficient." She praised him and he gave a toothy grin.

'This kid, is it because of the souls of the evil dragons inside him? He could already breathe some fire that is on par with low class dragons.' Tiamat analyzed his mana reserves.

It was certainly high, but it pales in comparison to a true dragon. But compared to humans? He was at the top of them. His mana was miles away from an average human.

"I don't think I can do that again, maybe later. Can we fight while my mana regenerates mom?" He grinned at her and she nodded with a smile.

Though she was a bit concerned. He is normally level headed and calm. But when it comes to fighting, he would have that grin on his face like he was getting high.

"Okay baby, come at me with all you've got alright? We will focus on your technique first. You're still a growing dragon." Tiamat reminded him and he charged at her.

Running towards her that would leave Olympic runners in the dust, he cocked back his fist and attempted a punch.

Stringing a low kick right after she blocked it, he got countered by Tiamat. She lifted her leg and kicked him softly on the chest.

But her definition of soft was in dragon standards. So he flew and crashed onto a tree. Splintering its bark like it was hit by a cannonball.

"Come on hatchling, you know that you should focus on dodging because you lack strength." Tiamat chided him. She might love him a lot, but hell would freeze over before she goes easy on him with training.

"Right!" He brushed it off, feeling the throbbing pain on his ribs and sternum. But it excited him to no end.

He pressed the attack once again, but was mixing in feints. Waiting for Tiamat to overreach and he would go in with a counter at vital points.

Joints, soft spots, groin, sensitive areas, locations of internal organs. Their fighting styles were for brutal fights that aimed to kill someone.

He was outclassed of course. Tiamat is a dragon king, the strongest one of the five. And he was getting beat up like a ragdoll whenever a mistake happens on his side.

"Yes! Kyahahaha! Fight! My blood is boiling!" His eyes turned into slits and scales were appearing on his body.

His bright green eyes turned silver and thick, black scales armored his body.

"Grendel?" Tiamat blinked, remembering how the Crime Force dragon looked like. Mordred, turning into a raging berserker, charged at her with reckless abandon.

And true to Grendel's other epithet. Mordred started to overreach, not caring about counters. His form is still good though, but it was overly aggressive.

Tiamat kicked him with more strength, making him go through multiple trees. But Mordred just stood up like there was no problem and wiped some blue blood from his mouth.

"Mom, you're strong! Come on, let's get this party started!" He breathed in and released flames like earlier.

His mana was starting to increase exponentially. But Tiamat frowned at the sight, he was sacrificing self preservation over strength.

"Control yourself Mordred. Remember my teachings, how can you use your strength if you don't dodge life threatening attacks?" She disappeared from her place.

She cocked her fist and aimed it at him with a healthy dose of her killing intent and mana. Cracking the ground around them.

Mordred went wide eyed and she was torn. His eyes trembled with fear at the thought of being killed.

"M-mom?" He lost his bloodthirsty grin and looked at her with concern.

"I'm sorry baby, but you were losing yourself to the fight." She hugged him immediately and Mordred looked at himself.

His sight was sharper than ever. His hands turned black, covered with scales. The fingers on it transformed into black, sharp claws.

"I transformed into my dragon form?" He was confused and she nodded. Not wanting to tell him that Grendel was influencing his mind and body.

"You shouldn't lose yourself honey. Or you'll get killed at a serious fight, okay?" She put her hands on his cheeks and looked him in the eyes.

"B-but, it felt good. I felt powerful!" He got excited and she could feel his intent to battle starting to rise again.

"No, or I won't spar with you anymore." She glared at him and he whimpered. "O-okay. I'll control myself mom." He hugged her and she sighed in relief.

'So that's what's happening with him? Grendel and the others are fusing with his soul and body? I never did know how sacred gears worked. I should ask an expert about this.' Tiamat frowned as she patted his back.

"Okay, once more alright? Remember, always keep calm. Your pride as a dragon rests on it, after all. A dragon isn't a savage beast right? Are you a savage animal?" She boosted his morale and he shook his head with a growl.

"No! I'm a dragon, not like those lizards in the forest!" He remembered the dragonkin that are more like animals than sapient and conscious.

"Good, if you stoop that low. Mama will be disappointed in you." Tiamat reminded him and he nodded gravely.

"Alright, let's fight once again. Calm down and use your thirst for battle into strength." Tiamat ordered him and he nodded.

After the day was done, they didn't have any more accidents. With Mordred keeping a tight leash onto his desire to fight like a maniac.

Tiamat just finished training her mana and body. Dumping her mana into forcibly reinforcing her muscles and bones. Saturating it and coating it like touki. A technique that yokai use, enhancing their bodies with their life energy.

"I need to contact someone knowledgeable about sacred gears." Tiamat formed a magic circle and contacted the leading researcher about the big G's creations.

"Hello? Tiamat? Why are you calling me so late at night? Is this a booty call?" Azazel answered with a laid back attitude.

"You wish, listen Azazel. I just wanna ask, do sacred gears assimilate with the soul it was given? Like Regulus Nemea?" Tiamat asked anxiously.

"Huh? Why the sudden interest with sacred gears? And yeah, the vessel of course gets fused with the soul if it was given one. It even bleeds over to the user. Why do you think you can find Ddraig's host via his aura?" Azazel answered, thinking she was acting weird.

"Ohh, is that so? It's because I was curious. Ddraig's users were more susceptible to dragon slaying weapons. I used a couple of them to threaten them from the past hahaha!" She laughed and ended the call.

"Hmmm, weird? Dragons are inherently weird anyways." Azazel just shrugged.

But the thought lingered in his mind, why would Tiamat ask about sacred gears? It was obviously not because of her curiosity.

"Tch, is Mordred going to be okay? This changes everything, he is fusing with the evil dragons. He'll be like an autonomous sacred gear." Tiamat bit her nails in paranoia.

"No, he won't turn into those maniacs. I'll get powerful, moreso than Ddraig and Albion. If he goes to the deep end, I'll drag him out of there no matter the cost." Tiamat rubbed Mordred's hair while he was asleep.

She kissed his forehead and pledged to herself that Mordred won't be like the evil dragons at all. "You won't be hunted down by the other factions, I promise you that."

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Thank you for reading everyone. His mind and body is being influenced by the berserker dragon. Honestly, that guy is scary. He's a pervert that keeps on going even when his body is mostly destroyed.

Grendel even survived a battle with Ddraig, he's that strong. The guy shrugs off attacks from multiple Longinus users, the power of destruction, and even Azazel. Anyways, ciao.