A Dragon against the Whole World

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Illusion Technique Domain

”Can you play with Vera?”

Regarding the Elf Dragon’s inquiry, Galos pondered for a moment, neither rejecting nor agreeing, and said, ”Depends on my mood.”

As soon as he finished speaking.

He felt something strange on his tail.

When he turned his head, he saw that emerald green vines were wrapped around the tip of his tail, tied into a bow, glistening with the pink glitter sprinkled by the Elf Dragon.

Galos flicked his tail.

The sharp Dragon Scales layered like blades quickly shredded the vines.

”Play later. Right now, I need you to do something serious for me.”

He said.

”Alright, alright, let’s handle the serious business quickly so you can play with me afterward.”

The Elf Dragon nodded excitedly, then tilted its head and asked, ”What is the serious business?”

Galos grinned.

”Come on, use your Illusion Technique on me.”

A strange request... really a strange Dragon, its interests are unfathomable and somewhat dangerous.

”Illusions carry some degree of mental damage. If you get affected too much, your brain will suffer damage, and you might become a fool. Aren’t you afraid?”

The Elf Dragon asked curiously.

I want the mental damage.

”Don’t ask too many questions, just start.”

Galos took a deep breath, focusing his mind, ready to receive the Elf Dragon’s Illusion Technique.

”Alright, alright, this is what you asked for, don’t get angry if you get hurt.” The Elf Dragon added reassuringly, then used its most skillful Illusionary Sound Technique on Galos.

The sound of flowing springs echoed, reaching Galos’s ears.

The scene before his eyes began to rotate, warp, and deform.

The fur on the Violent Bears far in the distance disappeared, their bodies shrank, turning into dolls chasing and playing, while rocks and trees grew limbs and mouths, dancing, singing, and the colors of the world turned vivid, like an oil painting.

This time, Galos did not attempt to interrupt the illusion with physical attacks; instead, he allowed himself to sink into it.

He looked down at himself.

Galos was stunned to find his Dragon Scales turning into flowers.

Bees and butterflies surrounded him, buzzing their wings, singing indistinct and vague songs, causing him to feel dizzy.

Galos sat on the ground, as steady as a rock.

He allowed the song to continue, the scene before his eyes becoming increasingly grotesque, using it to train and adapt.

But soon.

The sound and illusion abruptly ceased.

The bizarre, oil painting-like world vanished, the hallucination disappeared, and the world before him returned to normal.

The experience just now felt like accidentally entering some fantastical, bizarre realm, leaving Galos wanting more. He looked at the Elf Dragon and let his gaze fall on its butterfly-like wings, saying, ”I’ve heard that the Elf Dragon’s scale powder can enhance mental strength.”

The Elf Dragon nodded, saying, ”Yes, indeed.”

”Let me try it.”

Galos said.

Scale powder is a renewable resource from the Elf Dragon, not rare for it. Without hesitation, it flew above Galos’s head and shook its butterfly-like wings.

Silver-gray glitter sprinkled down.

Galos opened his mouth and consumed it all.

Instantly.

His mind became highly sensitive, his excitement and concentration soared, making the colors of the world vivid and bright, turning into some kind of warm hue.

Spiders weaving web in rock crevices, insects crawling on treetops, dust in the air.

The rustling of wind through leaves, the subtle sound of his Scale Armor rubbing, the crisp drip of dew on rocks.

... Details normally overlooked now appeared in full detail, present in Galos’s vision and hearing.

”This feeling is wonderful.”

Galos thought with glowing eyes.

This feeling is different from consuming black oil.

Black oil primarily makes his body excited, while this enhances mental sensitivity and excitement.

Apart from perception, Galos also felt his thinking speed accelerating, seemingly becoming smarter.

Then he reconsidered, pondering whether he should shift focus to improving mental and spiritual aspects or formally start learning Magic.

After contemplating deeply for a few seconds, he got a negative answer.

His wisdom told him—physical might and strength are more important.

Mental, spiritual, Magic... The Red Iron Dragon hybrid does not excel in these areas, hard to improve, unable to form combat abilities in a short time, unable to be relied upon for survival in the wilderness.

Attempting it when strong enough is a better choice, achieving twice the result with half the effort.

”Vera, continue using the Illusion Technique on me.”

He turned his head and said to the Elf Dragon.

Galos did not intend to focus entirely on enhancing spirit but also would not completely ignore it; appropriate training is necessary.

Feeling mentally exhausted, the Elf Dragon rubbed its head, then used the Illusionary Sound Technique again.

Due to using scale powder, with heightened mental sensitivity, the illusion’s effect on Galos increased.

The scene in his eyes became bizarre, hard to describe.

Shadows of rocks lengthened.

Turning into distorted monsters.

A giant tree hung upside down, rooted in the sky, the trunk and shadow-blocking branches were all made of flesh.

The songs in his ears transformed into incomprehensible murmurs, like some creature’s whispering hisses.

Galos once again submerged in this strange illusionary domain.

During this.

He vaguely saw tree branches resembling claws reaching down from the grotesque world, extending towards him, but as if blocked by a barrier between illusion and reality, unable to approach or touch him.

”Is it because the use of scale powder heightened mental sensitivity?”

”The effect of this illusion is something the Elf Dragon alone cannot produce.”

Galos thought.

Time slowly passed.

Soon after, Galos looked at the Elf Dragon with bright eyes and said, ”Vera, you can go play now. Today’s mental training ends here.”

The Elf Dragon drooped its wings, laying on a tree branch, listlessly lifting its eyelids.

”No... no more play. Vera wants to rest, I’m so tired now.”

The Elf Dragon is adept at using illusions, but its spirit is not limitless. Exhausted from Galos’s demands, mentally fatigued to the extreme, it just wants to sleep and rest, having no interest in playing.

Galos still felt energetic.

The effect of the scale powder had faded.

The world in his eyes was no longer vivid, perception not as powerful as before, but slightly improved compared to the very beginning.

”It is indeed good stuff.”

”Frequently using the Elf Dragon’s scale powder allows the strength and perception of my mind to significantly improve without dedicated training.”

Galos glanced at the Elf Dragon, sound asleep on the tree branch, feeling like he struck gold this time.

Unfortunately.

Now there’s no channel to obtain black oil, unable to get any.

”If consuming black oil and scale powder together, with body and mind simultaneously excited... what would that feel like?”

Galos couldn’t help but ponder.

”If there’s a way, black oil, can be purchased from the merchant caravans.”

”But I can’t show myself, or trouble will follow.”

After pacing and pondering for a moment, he spread his wings, soared up, preparing to more thoroughly explore other biological territories near Needleleaf Valley.

When choosing this place as a domain.

Galos knew.

There are several intelligent creature clans surrounding Needleleaf Valley, not too close nor too far, and there’s a branch road of Thousand Snake Mark.

These are safety concerns.

However.

Danger is omnipresent in the wilderness.

Needleleaf Valley, compared to other places, though resources are relatively abundant, has fewer safety concerns.

And if handled well, it can be advantageous to him.

Therefore, after comprehensive comparison, Galos chose this place as his domain.