Chapter 66: Monsters Everywhere

"The rumors about this have reached me as well."

"Me too."

"Nonsense!"

"Look at Muria right now, he's clearly a pureblood Titan. How could he possibly be a half-blood? He's obviously a purebred Titan."

"That's right, Muria being here just proves that he's all Titan."

...

Amid the discourse of the Titans and their fantastical companions, Muria managed a rigid smile, and Heylois, who knew Muria's true lineage, couldn't help but display a knowing grin.

"Roar!" Suddenly, a large cat-like creature with pure white wings on its back roared for silence. "Everyone quiet! It's not a rumor. It's absolutely true."

"Troy, what are you talking about?" a majestic roc perched atop a four-tusked giant elephant challenged.

"I'm not making this up." The white "big cat" stood up and paced towards Muria, sniffing the air around him. "His scent is different from that of a pureblood Titan. There's a faint fragrance mixed in, a scent unique to golden dragons."

"He is indeed a hybrid of Titan and dragon," the big cat concluded after its inspection.

"Troy is right." The three silver-white wolves also approached Muria and sniffed. "There's a very faint scent on Muria that matches what we know of golden dragons from our ancestral memories."

"How is that possible?" A young Titan looked at Muria in disbelief. "How can he look like a half-blood?"

"No need for debate," Muria interjected as the group seemed poised to argue further. "It's true, my mother is a golden dragon. I am indeed a hybrid of Titan and dragon."

"A Titan-dragon hybrid?" The big white cat scrutinized Muria, a hint of disdain flashing in its eyes.

In the outside world, having dragon lineage was a source of great pride. Here, however, even the strongest of the metallic dragons, the golden dragons, ranked low.

"Golden dragon lineage? That's kind of weak." Atrean scratched his head in slight disappointment upon hearing Muria's admission but quickly offered words of encouragement. "No worries, Muria. The bloodlines of a Titan and a golden dragon are more than enough for you to achieve great things. Your ultimate success will depend on your efforts, not just your lineage."

"Atrean, could you wait until I've finished speaking before you comment?" Heylois couldn't help but interject, slightly annoyed at Atrean's premature consolations.

"How could any of you think Lord Ansor would choose an ordinary golden dragon as his mate?" Heylois pointed at Muria. "His mother is a dragon, yes, but a progenitor dragon. Which one of your lineages surpasses that level?"

The various noble creatures around looked at each other with renewed respect. Even a progenitor white dragon was not to be underestimated, and thus, even the disdainful big white cat reconsidered its stance.

"Cough, cough." Atrean cleared his throat, his face heating up a bit from embarrassment.

"Moreover, do you remember the epic that invaded our Titan islands eight years ago?" Heylois continued, "My father told me that it was a Dragon King. Could it be that—?" A series of surprised glances turned towards Muria.

The assembled beings, all highly intelligent, began to connect the dots. Muria had golden dragon blood, and the only time the legendary Titan had intervened was then.

"Cough, that was my maternal grandfather," Muria admitted somewhat sheepishly under the collective gaze, revealing his grandfather, Emperor Dimos's identity.

"A Dragon King as a grandfather and a legendary Titan as a grandfather, wow, who else here has lineage that compares to Muria's?" a young Titan exclaimed in awe.

"Actually, there is one who might compare to Muria."

"You mean the one from the Celestial Clan?"

"Indeed, that could be an interesting comparison."

...

Muria's lineage sparked awe among the Titans and mythical creatures, though not envy as their own lineages were nearly as distinguished, and each could easily live a legendary life of leisure based on their bloodlines alone.

"Ha ha, Muria, I take back what I said," Atrean laughed, dismissing his earlier awkwardness. "I look forward to you reaching Soul Intent level. With such fine bloodlines, you'll surely be a formidable opponent."

"Aoow, Atrean, we don't have to wait for Muria to reach Soul Intent. I'm ready now," a silver-white giant wolf stood and howled, its eyes alight with unhidden battle intent.

"Come, Muria, let's battle and see the strength of a descendant of a legendary Titan and a Dragon King!" the roc called out as it soared into the sky, stirring up winds.

"Roar, step aside, I'm the same rank as Muria. It's most suitable for me to fight him," the big white cat roared, its gaze locked on Muria.

"Fight with me, Muria! We are kin," another Titan surrounded by thunder and wind approached Muria.

"This..." Muria was taken aback by the sudden turn from a peaceful conversation to imminent battle with these extraordinary creatures and Titans. Yet, a thrilling excitement began to awaken within him. He looked to Heylois for guidance.

"Why are you looking at me?" Heylois raised an eyebrow. "Fight. Why do you think Jerall's martial skills are superior? It's because he fights these guys every day. Combat is the best form of training."

"Got it," Muria replied, his body wreathed in golden thunder and wind as he faced the eager creatures and Titans. "Who's first?"

"Of course, it's me!" The big white cat roared and pounced, disappearing in a blur of motion.

"Boom!" Muria dodged just in time, vacating his spot right before the big cat's pounce made a crater in the ground. When Muria looked back, the formidable white tiger was looking back at him from the pit.

"White Tiger!" Muria's face showed respect as he recognized the creature's true nature. From the moment he saw the "big cat," his dragon lineage knowledge told him its true identity: a super monster capable of clashing with legendary ancient dragons once fully grown.

Only beings of such caliber were tamed by the Titans and became their partners. Thus, all the mythical creatures in Titan territory were of this elite level.

"Roar, don't interfere, let me finish my fight with Muria," the white tiger, Troy, roared at the other creatures, then turned to face Muria who had just dodged his attack.

"Rest assured, no one will interrupt your battle," Heylois declared. In Titan territory, battles were always fair one-on-one matches among equals, born from a sense of pride deep in their mighty bloodlines.

"Whoosh!" A faint sound of air tearing, and Muria watched as the white tiger disappeared again, its speed too fast for his eyes to fully track.

"Zzzt! Zzzt!" The sound of flesh being sliced open. This time, Muria couldn't evade completely. A burning pain surged as he looked down to see four shallow scrapes on his arm rapidly healing.

"Muria, you're not up to par," Troy taunted,

 lifting a paw to reveal snow-white claws dripping with faint golden blood. "You can't even dodge at this speed?"

"Don't be too quick to judge, Troy. Muria used to live with giants and chromatic dragons. He lacks experience fighting against beings of our caliber," Heylois chided, then turned to Muria. "What are you thinking? Fight with all your might. Don't hold back, use your real form, fight with everything you've got."

"...," Muria remained silent, aware that Heylois was suggesting he use his dragon armor for its defensive capabilities. However, Heylois still underestimated him; he had an even better battle form for dealing with Troy.

"Roar!" A deep and majestic dragon roar filled the air. As the onlookers watched in surprise, Muria was enveloped in golden dragonfire, transforming into a formidable dragon with six imposing horns and thick scales.

"Is that the Crown of the Dragon King?" Atrean looked on in surprise at the ornate horns atop Muria's dragon form.

"Not a true crown, but close. It's a symbol of the Dragon King's lineage," a giant turtle, its shell like a mini mountain range, observed Muria's transformation and spoke.

"Wow, Muria really has the blood of a Dragon King, even able to shift like this."

"How interesting, to have two bloodlines and be able to shift between Titan and dragon forms so freely. I really want to fight Muria right now."

...

Muria's dragon form impressed all the Titans and mythical creatures. Those with inherited bloodlines understood better than anyone on Muria's previous island home—the power inherent in such a transformation not only signified his potential to achieve legendary status but also hinted at a possible path to the epic tier.

"Come on, kitty cat," Muria taunted the white tiger, now fully transformed, his voice resonant and echoing.

"Roar, from the first glance, I knew you were trouble, you bastard, treating me like a cat!" The white tiger, Troy, growled back, "I am a white tiger, a noble creature with a prestigious bloodline."

As Troy disappeared again, this time Muria didn't dodge. Instead, he braced himself. "Zzzt!" Sparks flew and a grating noise erupted as Troy's claws failed to penetrate Muria's dragon scales, only leaving faint marks.

With this, the true battle between the newly revealed dragon prince and the prestigious white tiger began in earnest amidst the Titan territory.