The young dragons

The next day, during feeding time, the young dragon feeder indeed followed the rules he had previously set, distributing different types of blood food to the young dragons based on their rankings in the combat.

As the winner of the gladiatorial combat, Kazan Rego received special treatment. He got a whole roasted horned bull, complemented with honey and fruits, while the top-ranked young dragons received fresh meat as their reward. The middle and lower-ranked ones got baskets of stinking river fish and tough bones, and the last few dragons got nothing at all.

Dragons can digest anything they eat, but they still have their preferences in taste. The young dragons, lacking the privilege to be choosy, had to eat what the clan provided. None wanted to consume stinking fish and bones like wild animals, and eating dirt or tree bark was out of the question.

When the new rules were announced, the young dragons knew they would be treated differently, but the extent of this difference was unexpected. Seeing Kazan enjoying his meal, his teeth glistening with oil and blood, likely made every other dragon envious and jealous.

And there was honey and fruits too! Until now, those born in the ruined castle had never tasted such delicacies.

The combat the following day was less chaotic than the previous day, as the young dragons understood the rules better. Knowing everyone had a chance at a ranking, they didn't rush to fight like before, creating a somewhat somber atmosphere.

Yongrong noticed that today's intensity seemed higher than yesterday's. Driven by hunger and appetite, the young dragons were determined to push their rankings as high as possible. Dragons who hadn't participated in the first round of combat, like Hel and those disqualified by Yongrong, chose to join this time.

Yongrong's first opponent was weak, younger than him and a black dragon, with a significant disparity in size and strength. The black dragon's combat skills, while present, were not well-honed. Yongrong, with his considerable size advantage, easily grabbed the black dragon's head and lifted it off the ground.

In the second round, Yongrong, by chance, faced Belron Kwo, who had also easily defeated his opponent and was excitedly preparing for the next battle. Belron had reached the ninth place the day before by luck and shared some of his food with Hel. Today, he hoped to maintain his position in the dragon group but deflated upon seeing Yongrong as his opponent.

This was why Yongrong had suggested the gladiatorial combat to the feeder, with random pairings determined by drawing lots. No one knew their opponents beforehand, making it likely for familiar dragons to face off, rendering any alliances useless.

"I give up..." When it was their turn to fight, Belron immediately conceded, having no desire to battle Yongrong. Despite Yongrong's limited combat experience, they had privately tested their strength, and Belron was no match for him in either power or combat skills.

Belron's surrender allowed Yongrong to advance to the next round. Seeing that there was still time left in the day, Yongrong decided to fight another round. Gaining combat experience was, of course, another key path to becoming stronger. During the observation period, he saw many outstanding dragons, such as the poison-using green dragon Aisaria, the tough-skinned pure blood blue dragon Oser, and the remarkably skilled black dragon Posa... and of course, Kazan.

These formidable dragons' combats weren't much slower than Yongrong's. Kazan was particularly quick and ruthless, ending each fight by making his opponents bleed. After tasting the sweetness of honey, he was more determined than ever to maintain his position, swiftly concluding his battles either by forcing a surrender or leaving his opponents unable to rise. Aisaria and Posa, though not as dominant as Kazan, also maintained an advantage throughout their fights.

Only Oser's battles were unsightly; anyone facing him gained the upper hand. His bulky size made him slow, but if he managed to pin or embrace an opponent, the fight would end, as they couldn't break free.

By the third round, it was down to the top eight: Yongrong, Kazan, Aisaria, Posa, Oser... and Hel, who hadn't participated in the combat yesterday but had made it to the top ten today. Yongrong was pleased to see both young dragons by his side were not weak.

The young dragons in the courtyard formed a large circle around the fighting area. Belron, who had conceded, helped Yongrong by collecting the victors' stone plaques and setting up eight new ones for the dragons to choose from.

The observing young dragons, all eliminated competitors, wore various expressions. Some still bore significant injuries but refused to leave, eager to watch the upcoming battles and see who would emerge victorious. Some dragons stared vengefully at the ones who had just defeated them, determined to win back their honor next time.

Coincidentally, Kazan's opponent this time was Hel, in the first match, while Yongrong's last match was against the pureblood blue dragon he had named for elimination yesterday.

As soon as the fight began, Kazan charged at his opponent with large strides. Hel, understanding the mixed-blood red dragon's superior strength, continuously dodged, using his smaller size and agility to avoid grappling with Kazan. He waited for Kazan to complete each move before striking back.

His strategy was successful; Hel managed to tear at Kazan's waist and abdomen several times, and his breath attacks all hit their mark. However, the damage wasn't fatal. Just as Hel was preparing to repeat his tactic, Kazan feigned a move, pausing his forward swiping paw and changing his attack rhythm. He caught Hel's tail and slammed him hard onto the ground.

Dust and sand flew up as Hel was dazed and weakened by the impact, unable to get up immediately. By then, Kazan was already close by, ready to breathe fire, forcing Hel to surrender.

Seeing his opponent concede, Kazan twisted his neck, his face devoid of any joy from victory. He surveyed the remaining six dragons, assessing his potential future opponents.

"How does it feel?" When Hel returned, Belron immediately asked him. Losing to Kazan, the previous day's champion, was no disgrace, so Belron wasn't worried about damaging Hel's confidence and spoke openly.

"It's okay. My strategy was sound, but I currently lack the strength to tear through his scales and skin, which is why I lost."

Hel walked unsteadily, still reeling from the impact that seemed to have shifted his organs, causing him pain. But the young dragon was somewhat unconvinced: "After I reach adolescence, I should be able to beat him."

Hearing this, Yongrong didn't comment, just imperceptibly shook his head. Hel meant that once he reached adolescence, he would have stronger attack power to tear open an opponent's scales and skin. But Kazan was also growing, and with the talent he was currently displaying, the chances of beating him in the future were slim.