Beneath the Red Dragon

Green Dragon Antajena could see from the misty mountain peaks, nestled among the mountains, a sacred sanctuary that used to be blood-red was gradually being bathed in a holy glow, surrounded by many souls singing and dancing loudly.

As she got closer, Green Dragon Antajena could also hear the humming of songs coming from the fields and villages among the mountains.

Some newly born beloved cubs were roaring the song of the Giant Dragon and then fighting with each other using sticks as weapons.

Some young human children also stuck two twigs in their hair, tied a thick long vine on their butts, and were humming enigmatic songs while playing in groups along the country roads at dusk.

At the foot of the mountain, lights and cooking smoke rose, an atmosphere of bustling yet quiet enveloped the heart of Green Dragon Antajena, involuntarily calming her soul.

The will and disturbance of the Evil Dragon, howling in the blood of the Green Dragon, also seemed to be infected by this atmosphere, becoming extraordinarily calm.

Green Dragon Antajena stopped on a mountain peak, silently watching this familiar scene; this was her favorite territory, and even absolute power in the Greenfield Forest couldn’t compare to this feeling.

It wasn’t until nightfall that Green Dragon Antajena spread her wings again and flew toward the mountain peak where the Dragons often gathered.

The mountain peak was already brightly lit, with countless lit torches illuminating the entire hilltop.

The peak had been arranged by those loyal beloveds, and at least it was no longer as simple as before.

Atmospherically carved stone tables and chairs were neatly arranged, used by those who came to visit the Giant Dragon.

Every day, there would be a Giant Dragon here to guard in case some important matters occurred needing to inform a Dragon, and no Dragon was present.

There was also an unusually huge stone table, a tool used by Dragons for games. The now-popular Eternal Card in the territory originated as an intellectual game popular among the Dragon Group.

Green Dragon Antajena knew that no matter when she came here, she could see the Giant Dragons of her family.

Moreover, most of the time, this place was quite lively.

The Dragons busy with territorial affairs would gather here every evening to communicate and entertain, a habit formed since infancy.

Today was no exception.

Black Dragon Rosani was laying his entire head on the massive stone table, using a trick learned from Karon, the Mage’s Hand, to play his card.

A mighty phantom emerged from the card, depicting a robust Centaur Warrior charging with its weapon.

”Battle is the Warrior’s reason for being,” the phantom of Centaur Chiron shouted the set slogan.

”That’s not fair, when did you get that golden-quality card, Rosani? You must have cheated. As the card designer, I didn’t abuse my position, completely relying on my luck,”

Opposite, Pick Elf Riven sat cross-legged on the massive stone table, looking suspiciously at the grinning Black Dragon Rosani.

Female Red Dragon Kleyna placed her gigantic head on the table, much larger than Pick Elf, intensely focused on watching the duel between the Elf and Black Dragon.

The shameless voice of Black Dragon Rosani sounded, ”Karon said, can anything involving Dragons be called cheating? It’s called being clever, hehe.”

Pick Elf Riven protested unsatisfied with Black Dragon Rosani’s remarks, shouting, ”Alright, wait till I go back and print all the golden cards for myself, Rosani, prepare to be defeated by me.”

At another table, Blue Dragon Doss, Blue Dragon Akzhi, White Dragon Gomot, and White Dragon Camid, two teams of scaled Giants, were playing cards.

White Dragon Camid, lazily half-closing his eyes, had the most chips in front of him despite his slackest attitude. Well, perhaps the saying about a fool’s luck refers to this White Dragon Camid.

The other three Giant Dragons kept stern faces; even those accustomed to trading with wealth tried to learn restraint over their excessive greed for treasures from this game, hoping their wealth wouldn’t slip from their claws.

But when Green Dragon Antajena’s gaze shifted towards Red Copper Dragon Alfred and Bronze Dragon Alina’s direction, this Giant Dragon unexpectedly trembled.

Green Dragon Antajena’s body shook as if overwhelmed by a feeling of extreme fear, a chill coursing from her tailbone straight to her head, her teeth chattering uncontrollably, stuttering in extreme astonishment: ”Ka-ka-ka-ka... Karon!”

”You, you-you-you-you... why are you here?”

Green Dragon Antajena was utterly certain she had personally interacted with Karon in the Greenfield Forest and had witnessed Karon stepping into the ruin’s gateway, yet to return.

But everything about the Karon before her - the aura and all the characteristics - indicated this Red Dragon was also the Karon known to the Green Dragon, giving rise to a fear-inducing thought for Green Dragon Antajena.

So, who exactly is the Karon before her? Or rather, who was the Karon she encountered in the Greenfield Forest?

Who is real, and who is fake? Could it be that Karon was unknowingly replaced silently by some formidable existence?

Beside her, Bronze Dragon Alina couldn’t help but smile happily, saying, ”What nonsense are you talking about, Antajena? Karon has always been with us. After returning to Aikania, he never left.”

Green Dragon Antajena felt the active Dragon Blood within her turn cold along with these words, then who was the Karon she met in the Greenfield Forest?

The other Karon she interacted with seemed entirely normal, like the Giant Dragon she was familiar with.

Her muddled mind lacked the clarity to discern the logic and truth; she only felt a profound sense of sorrow from deep within her heart.

Green Dragon Antajena was so stunned she could no longer speak fluently, stuttering, ”That... that I also in Greenfield Forest, also...”

”Shh,” Green Dragon Antajena saw Karon slowly extend a claw, placed in front of Karon’s slightly exposed long fangs.

Karon displayed a strange smile, softly saying to the stunned Green Dragon Antajena, ”It’s just an interesting little experiment, Antajena, consider it a secret between you and me!”

”An interesting little secret!”