Chapter 5: The Illusory River

"If it's a magic gemstone, then I need a substitute with similar magical properties." Garon cautiously approached the diamond-shaped white crystal, restraining himself from any rash actions. He had chosen this gemstone not only because it was visually appealing but also because it contained inherent ice magic.

Dragons inherently absorb elemental energy with every breath, which not only nourishes their scales and flesh but also accumulates within their bodies. This stored energy can react with unique substances within their bodies to produce their lethal breath weapon—dragon breath.

Thus, dragon breath isn't merely a magical ability; it's a formidable attack that typical spell resistance can hardly counter.

Setting aside the benevolent and gemstone dragons, the ranking of evil dragons from the same class as the white dragon, based on average racial strength, goes as follows: red dragons, blue dragons, green dragons, and black dragons, whose breaths are fire, lightning, poison, and acid respectively.

These dragons inhabit environments like volcanoes, deserts, jungles, and abysses.

The white dragon, residing in the icy plains, ranks last and is the most commonly slain by adventurers seeking glory as dragon slayers.

The breath of a white dragon is a concentrated form of ice magic.

Known variably as frost breath, ice breath, or chilly breath depending on regional terminology, the meaning remains the same.

Garon paced, the scales above his eyes (his dragon brows) furrowing.

"Using my breath to create an ice crystal identical in shape to the white crystal, while also matching the magic concentration, will prevent the white dragon mother from noticing anything amiss."

This seemed beyond the capability of a mere dragonling.

"Just take a non-magical ordinary gemstone?" Garon was reluctant to settle for less.

His determination solidified, and he opened his dragon mouth. Instinctively, just as fish are born swimming, Garon expelled a breath of frost.

"Why not try? If it doesn't work now, there will always be another chance."

If the white dragon mother knew of Garon's covetous thoughts towards her treasures, she would undoubtedly curse him as an ungrateful child.

"Consider it practice, gaining experience."

While this was true, as Garon aged, the white dragon mother's vigilance would only increase.

Thus, Garon hoped to succeed on this first attempt.

He took a deep breath and extended his claw, exhaling frost upon it. By adjusting his breathing rhythm, the opening and closing of his dragon mouth, and the flow of magic, he controlled the frost to form the shape he desired.

The white dragon mother could return at any moment, and Garon's mind raced at full capacity, nearly smoking with the effort.

To his surprise, Garon discovered he had an unusual talent for finely manipulating magic, far surpassing that of ordinary dragons. The usually haughty magic energy was unexpectedly obedient and tame under his control.

What he anticipated as the most challenging task turned out to be less difficult than expected.

His skill improved rapidly; the frost in his mouth concentrated in one area, transforming from irregular ice chunks to well-formed diamonds in just a few minutes.

"It turns out I'm a little genius!" Garon paused, catching his breath, and admired the diamond-shaped ice crystal in his claw.

It closely resembled the white crystal in shape, though its clarity was slightly off. At a glance, they looked the same, but a closer inspection would reveal the difference.

Garon crushed the crystal with his claw and consumed it, unwilling to waste it.

He ran to the entrance of the nest and looked out. The world still swathed in silver and white showed no sign of the white dragon mother.

Garon lingered at the entrance, occasionally peering out while adjusting the clarity of his ice crystal.

Meanwhile, Hil's tail twitched, showing signs of waking. Garon hurried over and delivered another dragon headbutt, causing her eyes to roll back as she fainted again.

After a few more minutes, Garon examined the diamond-shaped ice crystal at his claw tip, satisfied with its appearance.

He glanced out of the nest again, then quickly moved to the deepest part of the nest. Carefully, he picked up the magic crystal with two claws, holding his breath to avoid disturbing other treasures.

If he disarranged the piled treasures, the white dragon mother would surely inspect them meticulously.

After picking up the magic crystal, Garon gently placed his ice replica back in its spot. His movements were delicate, reminiscent of a tiger sniffing a rose.

"True to my roots as a counterfeiter, I have a natural talent for this!" Garon admired the beautiful crystalline magic gem, sniffing it lightly.

Hmm, the magic crystal had no scent.

Tilting his neck back, he opened his mouth and released the claw, letting the magic crystal fall into his seemingly bottomless gullet.

Gulp. Garon swallowed hard, and suddenly, his empty stomach felt satisfied.

Simultaneously

, waves of cold spread rapidly from his stomach like a stream, flowing throughout his body. Wherever the stream traveled, there was a tingling sensation, as if countless tiny hands and mouths were gently massaging him.

As a white dragon who thrives in the cold, this was a very comfortable sensation for Garon.

It was like getting a full-body massage from a delicate and gentle girl on a drowsy summer afternoon, followed by a gulp of icy soda—a refreshingly unforgettable sensation.

"Ow," Garon's eyes narrowed, and he couldn't help but emit a resonating dragon moan.

"I need to quickly digest and absorb this magic."

Dragon scales have a strong magic resistance, especially against their own elemental magic. Adult dragons can become immune to most spells, a nightmare for many sorcerers.

As long as Garon kept his mouth shut, even the white dragon mother, in his presence, would struggle to detect the surging ice magic within him.

However, Garon didn't want to appear too unusual.

His size and distinctive appearance were already conspicuous enough; constantly breathing through his nostrils might arouse the white dragon mother's suspicions.

Garon wouldn't underestimate a nearly mature white dragon mother, so he quickly ran to the wind-howling edge of the nest and lay quietly on the ground, fully absorbing the magic from the crystal while keeping an eye out for the white dragon mother.

As his dragon stomach melted part of the crystal, waves of frosty magic spread, causing Garon to moan comfortably.

This magic crystal wasn't high-grade, occupying a corner position in the white dragon mother's collection, but for a newly born dragonling, it was a top-tier treasure.

Minutes later, a vague white shadow, pushing through the flying snow, rapidly approached the nest perched on the cliff, hundreds of meters high. Its figure grew clearer.

It was the white dragon mother.

Noticing her imminent return, Garon tensed up.

Although he believed his dragon scales would prevent her from detecting the magic within him, he still felt guilty, like a thief, and wanted his crime to be perfect.

Garon frantically digested the magic crystal within him, experiencing rapid, concentrated waves of magic, causing his body to tingle almost to the point of exhaustion.

As the white dragon mother's figure drew nearer, and with about a quarter of the crystal still undigested, Garon grew desperate. With the white dragon mother's speed, it would take no more than thirty seconds to reach him.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!" he thought urgently.

The white dragon mother's figure was now clear, and even through the flying snow, Garon could see her cold, pale yellow eyes.

Suddenly, a mysterious light flashed across the ring-like black scales on his neck.

The world of flying snow paused, time seemed to stop, like a silent movie with the pause button pressed. Garon could clearly see the snowflakes suspended in the air, the swirling wind, and the rigid figure of the white dragon mother amidst the icy breeze.

"What's happening?" Garon wondered, lifting his head.

He thought he saw an illusory river spanning the sky, filled with an enigmatic, mystical water flowing at a constant, unchanging speed.

A giant dragon-shaped shadow hovered above it, seemingly dominating this illusory river, its platinum eyes intently watching him.