Tale of the Red Dragon Without Dragon’s Might
Chapter 141 - 140: Youth

Chapter 141: Chapter 140: Youth

Once Leon reaches 26 years old, a dragon is considered to have entered the teenage stage, meaning it has already traveled far on the road to adulthood. Although to truly reach adulthood, several more 26-year cycles are required.

Leon ran away from Mother Dragon’s nest shortly after hatching and has no idea on which day he was specifically born. Even now, he’s still a bit fuzzy and can only roughly guess his age, waiting for the day he meets Mother Dragon or Dragon Sister again to ask them when exactly he was born.

Therefore, Leon is merely guessing and assertively considers himself a teenage dragon now. After all, reality is not a game where different age stages have stark differences in strength. In reality, there’s not much difference between a teenage dragon about to enter adolescence and a young dragon that has just entered it, and being off by a few months or a year isn’t a big issue.

Leon’s growth in size didn’t just suddenly start on the day he entered his teenage stage, it has been gradual. In fact, he surpassed Tassera in size years ago, and because of Tiamat’s help in activating her bloodline, Cecilia has grown quite fast over the years, but he still maintains a huge gap.

Leon stands over three and a half meters at the shoulder, over six meters in body length. When he stretches his neck and tail, his total length exceeds twenty meters. Although such measurements don’t have much comparative value, they’re impressive enough to boast about. His wingspan, at the very least, is no less than twenty-five meters. Finally, when he stands up on his hind legs and tail for support, he’s as tall as a four-story building... Leon is truly an exceptionally large dragon, normally such size wouldn’t be reached until decades later in the young dragon stage.

Of all these, Leon is happiest about certain aspects, although some of his features still reveal his youth. For instance, the backward-sweeping horns on his head are not yet as majestic and dominating, and the row of little spikes under his eyes seem somewhat tender, kind of like baby teeth. But he no longer has the disproportionately large head and feet of the past, now having the body proportions of an adult dragon.

As for his scales, they remain as shiny and beautiful as ever. The thickness and toughness are not Leon’s concerns anymore, given the insignificance since he acquired the Vajra Body.

With the increase in size, his strength improved doubtlessly. Leon can now easily flip over Tassera while playing after finishing the Inner Core Dual Cultivation Method.

However, for Leon, size has never been that important. His journey thus far has been based on the magic spells rewarded by the Golden Finger. The amount of Mana he possesses is his most significant concern, and his Mana has seen substantial increases since his first venture to the Lost Plateau.

Leon had already been able to face Angmog, a prime adult Red Dragon, head-on and drive him away.

Of course, his victory at the time was largely due to his advantages over the opponent. For example, his tough scales could ignore the opponent’s bites and claw attacks. As a Red Dragon with a natural Flame Immunity, he disregarded the opponent’s Flame Breath, whereas if he had faced a Blue Dragon of the same caliber he might not have won.

Now, Leon could confidently assert... not that he could easily defeat or kill the opponent, but that he could win steadily. Even against a Blue Dragon of similar status, the result would be roughly the same. His Challenge Level was at least 17, and possibly higher. Should he wish so, his influence could even extend across the entire region or continent.

"Such great power..."

In comparison to the past, Leon has transformed from a young dragon to a teenage dragon; at first, he couldn’t even find a suitable practice partner, as Hobgoblins and Orcs were unworthy opponents. Now, it’s easy for Leon to drum up a host of contenders. Over the years, he has made many enemies but even more friends.

Considering that during his Dan Formation he had fought against a Blue Dragon, a Green Dragon, and an Efreeti, this time he decided to include a Brass Dragon as well... He even thought about adding the Magma Land Shark, which, as a growing being, now held a bit of combat power as a young Magma Land Shark. However, after some thought, he gave up the idea because the Magma Land Shark lacked intelligence.

It’s showtime with the activation of the Vajra Body.

Even though it was one against four, Leon ultimately won the victory. It’s a pity that a friendly match has little real significance... The deadly moves couldn’t be used, and it was all about holding back. Various tactics, like guerrilla warfare, were off the table, and it was as if Tassie, being a Blue Dragon, totally lacked the ability to dig burrows; in some sense, she was merely keeping the prince company in his studies.

Even so, winning one against four, Leon is quite pleased with himself.

"When did you become so strong? I remember you were just so big then, brandishing a sword around, it was only your Flame Breath that was a bit more impressive..." The Brass Dragon is concerned about how an Adult Dragon like him could lose in a four-against-one fight to a teenage dragon.

The Brass Dragon used to be bigger in size than Leon, or so it seemed, but now he was nowhere near Leon’s match. Leon looked down at the Brass Dragon and said, "You don’t think that what I told you before was a lie, do you... I mean, the part about me driving away a full-grown Red Dragon."

"Are you saying that wasn’t a lie?" The Brass Dragon had of course heard of Leon’s venture to the Lost Plateau but, measuring others by his own standard, couldn’t believe Leon’s miraculous adventure there.

"Now look at me and say that again." Leon said without any self-awareness, "I never lie."

The Brass Dragon sniffed and chose not to speak; nothing is more frustrating than comparing oneself with someone better.

Leon looked towards the others.

"Welcome back, Dragon King." Tassie said with smiling, squinting eyes.

She had been practicing the Inner Core Dual Cultivation Method with Leon and had spent a considerable amount of time with him, starting to pick up his way of speaking somewhat chaotically.

"You are truly formidable, sir." The Fire Giant said with admiration.

The once young Red Dragon had now grown so strong that he had to look up to him, and this disparity was only growing wider. He was convinced now, and without any contract in place, he wouldn’t dare to act rashly.

Perhaps he should dedicate himself wholeheartedly to being a servant?

"A salute to you, Lord Leon," Cecilia bowed her head almost to the ground, "You are like the high-hanging sun in the sky; my adoration for you is like the sunflower chasing the sunlight..."

No one is more talkative than the Brass Dragon, but most of what he says is nonsense, and not nearly as insightful into the human heart as Cecilia, the Green Dragon, who knows exactly what people like to hear.

Shameless as Cecilia is, Tassie couldn’t help but cast a contemptuous glance. The Fire Giant and the Brass Dragon were more observant and reflective, but Leon had to save some face, so he coughed and said, "That’s enough."

Leon stood up and gazed down at his strong and pure body, thinking that after such a long period of quiet, it was time to do something. So where to go first? To the Lost Plateau for a visit with Angmog, or head straight to Watchtower Port?