Chapter 36: Abilities

Garon widened his dragon eyes, looking towards the ethereal river of time that was invisible to the naked eye and undetectable by magic.

He took a deep breath, drawing in the waters of time mingled with the real river waters into his body. This breath absorbed more of the river's temporal waters than his last four or five breaths combined.

His connection with the river of time had become even more intimate following this growth.

"The effects of my time manipulation's accelerated state must have also enhanced," Garon mused.

He did not rush to leave the lair, instead silently exploring the capabilities he had developed after his growth.

Dragons do not automatically master new abilities upon waking from their slumber; rather, they need time to explore and understand their new state in order to fully harness their enhanced powers.

Inside the lair, Garon enthusiastically began a series of self-examinations and experiments, reveling in the process of gradually uncovering and comprehending the unknown.

A day later, on the ice-covered surface of the river where the blizzard continued unabated, adding layers of snow that, if the storm persisted, would slowly transform into thicker ice. Suddenly, there was a faint sound of turbulent water flowing under the ice.

Crackling sounds rang out as if the hard ice layer had been violently struck by a heavy object. First, a dense network of cracks appeared, then with a loud crash, the ice shattered in an instant, sending chunks of ice and splashing water into the air.

A majestic and powerful figure leapt out, revealing itself amidst the falling snow.

Snowflakes swirled and landed on Garon's scales but could not adhere to his body, quickly sliding off. Even amidst the dense blizzard, not a single flake remained on him.

He had left the lair for two reasons. Besides understanding the new abilities gained after his growth, there was a more basic reason.

He was hungry.

The slumber had depleted all his stored nutrients, and after exploring his new abilities and coming to his senses, Garon was so hungry he felt he could eat dirt.

Fortunately, he had instructed the polar ice spirits to catch and freeze four or five muskoxen beforehand, to be eaten after his awakening.

While not fresh, and not Garon's preferred type of food due to its inferior taste and texture and the nutrient loss even when frozen, his current hunger left him unconcerned with such details.

With a shake of his dragon might, and a dignified dragon roar, Garon commanded the polar ice spirits to bring the stored meat.

Upon seeing Garon's new appearance, the polar ice spirits displayed expressions of shock, their eyes filled with increased reverence.

The reputation of a true dragon was well-known among all intelligent races, and many legends surrounded them, but the polar ice spirits had never heard of a dragon that grew as rapidly as their lord, especially not a white dragon.

For the subjects, the master's strength was a cause for celebration.

Especially for dragon-veined subjects.

The strength and potential of dragon-veined creatures would rise alongside their master.

Joy unconsciously shone on the faces of the assembly of polar ice spirits as they offered their respectful blessings and praises to Garon's growth.

"Great master, your wings shall cover the entire northern ice plain."

"Your name will echo throughout the continent of Noah, known to all."

Garon, while wolfing down the food, listened to the somewhat exaggerated praises of the polar ice spirits.

Although a bit awkward, he found their earnest flattery quite energizing.

After consuming the previously stored food, Garon turned to Roy Ice River and said in a deep voice, "Reform the hunting parties; we begin hunting."

Roy Ice River nodded enthusiastically, "At your command, great master."

The blizzard did not affect the polar ice spirits; their strength actually increased in such weather. Although the fear lizards were less effective, the white hounds alone were sufficient.

Garon thought for a moment and said to Roy Ice River, "Show me your current strength; let me see how much you have improved."

The disparity in strength among the polar ice spirits wasn't significant, and Roy Ice River could somewhat represent the capabilities of the others.

Roy Ice River nodded, his expression becoming serious.

He knew that if he demonstrated weakness, it could potentially displease Garon.

The status of a dragon's subject was not something just any creature could hold. With Garon's rapid growth, if they remained too weak to even meet his dietary needs, being abandoned was a distinct possibility.

He raised his arms and, under Garon's calm gaze, grabbed his left arm with his right hand and yanked forcefully.

Crack!

His left arm was torn off, instantly stretching and transforming into a sharp ice crystal spear, bristling with cold and keenly pointed.

As for the severed left arm, clusters of ice crystals quickly grew, regenerating the limb, though its color appeared slightly faded and its hardness less than other parts of the body.

Following this, Roy Ice River charged towards Garon, brandishing the ice crystal spear. As he sprinted, he simultaneously swung the spear, drawing in surrounding elemental forces to create a storm of ice needles—a flurry of hundreds of sharp projectiles hurled towards Garon, with Roy Ice River close behind.

Garon's eyes showed a hint of surprise.

He hadn't paid much attention to the polar ice spirits' strength before, and now, seeing Roy Ice River's full display, he was impressed by the manifold increase in power compared to the past when they could only conjure ice daggers.

The barrage of ice needles clattered against Garon's body, shattering upon impact without leaving a mark.

Simultaneously, Roy Ice River shouted and raised his arm high, the ice crystal spear slicing through the air towards Garon.

Garon extended a dragon claw, blocking the spear's path.

Crack!

A crisp sound echoed as the spearhead of the ice crystal cracked, though it did not break completely.

Roy Ice River felt as if he had struck an impenetrable wall, unable to advance his spear any further despite his force, and his arm showed dense fractures from the immense recoil.

"Master, this is my strongest attack," Roy Ice River said as he lowered the ice crystal spear, his expression slightly dimmed and his heart a bit uneasy.

Garon raised his hand, noting a small white mark on his dragon scale armor and recalling the elemental fluctuations brought by the ice needle storm. He estimated Roy Ice River's strength to be roughly equivalent to that of a second-circle lower-tier mage.

However, the polar ice spirits still had room for improvement.

A true elemental life form of wisdom could possess strength not inferior to that of a mid-tier mage. Given their current rate of progress, it might be possible for them to reach the threshold of elemental life form strength.

"Not bad," Garon remarked without much praise or blame, leaving Roy Ice River uncertain of his full reaction.

This uncertainty caused a little pang in Roy Ice River's heart as he worried about the implications of appearing weak.

Garon considered for a moment then said to Roy Ice River, "Focus future hunting efforts on magical creatures or medium to large beasts. I need higher-quality food."

He wasn't tired of muskoxen; their meat, unafraid of blizzards, was delicious and textured, making it one of Garon's favorites.

But with his recent growth, the ordinary flesh of wild animals was somewhat insufficient to meet his nutritional needs.

He required food rich in elemental energy, which would better support his continued growth.

Across from him, Roy Ice River quickly nodded, eager to demonstrate his value, and assured with formality, "Rest assured, great master. Your loyal subjects will not disappoint you."

Garon nodded slightly, his wings stirring as his body, accompanied by a gust of wind, vanished into the blizzard.

The food he had just consumed only alleviated some of his hunger. He needed to personally hunt magical creatures to satisfy the growing demands of his dragon stomach and to test his newly mastered abilities.