Beneath the Red Dragon

In the Dragon Nest Canyon, considered a forbidden area within the Dragon Group Territory, not only is there the largest Treasure Vault in the territory, but it also houses the largest experimental complex.

These experimental complexes include some laboratories that belong exclusively to Karon, while others are shared with other scholars and mages loyal to the Dragon Group.

Some particularly important experiments, which require strict confidentiality, are conducted here, or some plans not under the jurisdiction of the Magic Integration Department, like the series of ’Wise Kings’ experiments, are carried out here.

In a spacious laboratory, two scholars surrounded a human bound at the limbs, along with several apprentices.

This human was a prisoner, with marks of shackles visible on his limbs, bound to a bed-like instrument. He was now breathing rapidly, eyes wide in terror, watching helplessly as apprentices approached him with syringe-like instruments, unable to make a sound due to the sock-like cloth stuffed in his mouth.

The apprentice, already highly skilled, injected the bright red potion from the transparent tube into the prisoner’s vein, then stepped back, leaving space for the two scholar mages who pressed forward.

The two scholar mages observed the prisoner’s reaction, occasionally glancing at the timing device.

"Uh," Initially, the prisoner did not react much, but after a while, he suddenly became agitated, constantly struggling, with veins bulging, and his formerly terrified eyes seemed to have turned oddly intimidating.

His skin appeared to have worms crawling underneath, and his previously frail body seemed to have filled out visibly.

The shackles binding the prisoner’s limbs creaked from the tension; however, the special tools used for experimentation were robust enough that even if the prisoner possessed the strength of a Juvenile Dragon, escape was impossible, and moreover, the prisoner’s strength had not increased to such terrifying levels.

"Red Blood Potion, when injected, takes effect in about a quarter of an hour, about twice as fast as ingestion," observed one scholar mage, directing the apprentice beside him to record the experimental information.

Seemingly unfazed by the increasingly violent struggling prisoner, the lean scholar squeezed and examined the skin and bones, performing examinations with instruments and occasionally employing small magic for detection and measurement.

"Skin elasticity increased by one-fold, bone hardness increased, continually changing, muscular strength increased two-fold, healing ability enhanced five-fold, reflex speed nearly doubled, overall physical condition greatly improved,"

The other scholar lifted the prisoner’s eyelids and, after a series of tests, provided his conclusion.

"Life changes have not yet stabilized, but presently, life expectancy may increase by approximately two to five years," the previous scholar noted dispassionately while observing the blood drawn from the prisoner placed within an apparatus.

"Pah," At this moment, the prisoner managed to expel the cloth from his mouth with a tongue that had become more agile and powerful, and began to yell loudly: "Damn you, raising bitches, how dare you take me...uhhh,"

An apprentice swiftly stuffed the cloth back into the prisoner’s mouth, while the scholar mage calmly remarked: "Record that injecting the Red Blood Potion causes exceptionally irritable temperament!"

Once a series of observations and tests were complete, one of the scholars compared the data with previous experiments, reaching a conclusion.

"Compared to ingestion, direct injection of the Red Blood Potion yields greater benefits; the sole deficit is increased irritability, while ingestion of the potion slowly changes, undergoing digestion, making drastic changes in temperament less likely."

The leading scholar nodded and instructed one of the apprentices: "Take this guy away and bring another person over, we want to try the effect of direct injection into the heart."

This apprentice was a brawny-looking young man who queried his teacher somewhat confusedly: "Isn’t injecting into the body similar to injecting into the heart? Why waste time and resources on redundant attempts?"

The scholar mage glared sternly at the usually obedient apprentice, solemnly stating: "The first principle in a scholar’s research is rigor; don’t overlook any possibility, achieve the optimal solution, go back and write this down a thousand times."

"Also, inform Gomot that we will soon run out of people for the experiment; we still have Green Blood, Blue Blood, and Black Blood that have not been tested yet, have Lord Gomot send experimental materials promptly."

...

"Dad, why are you so eager to contact that giant? Did it owe you Gold Coins or something? Once I’ve learned all this knowledge, I’ll help you reclaim it!"

The World Tree Ovo was particularly jubilant during rest time; aside from Karon, this creature was only willing to communicate with the two Titan Demon Pythons residing on itself, a pride difficult to say wasn’t inherited from Karon.

Karon shook his head, his thick, long Dragon Horns radiating light akin to a legendary Divine Sword.

"Do you think I’m strong enough, Ovo,"

"You’re very strong, Dad, you’re almost stronger than one of that giant’s branches, though it can’t move, it’s quite powerful!"

The World Tree Ovo responded joyfully, the young tree did not belittle the Red Dragon for this, born because of the Red Dragon, it was naturally extremely close to Karon, and thus spoke its true thoughts.

Karon merely smiled, refraining from asking just how many branches that giant might have, instead gently stating: "But I’m not quite strong enough, Ovo,"

"In the world, there are only two kinds of existence, Hunter or prey. And I wish to become the Hunter eternally pursuing others, never to become prey or a puppet manipulated by others,"

Karon’s voice was exceedingly resolute, quieting the World Tree Ovo to attentively listen to his unconscious indoctrination and will infusions.

"You need to swiftly grasp digesting this knowledge, I’ll soon enter hibernation, once awakened from it, will be the moment I truly set foot on the path of pursuit,"

"By then, Ovo, promise me you can bypass the giant’s restrictions and independently seek the world I require!"

"I will do my best, Dad, I will assist you, Ovo promises!" The World Tree’s consciousness cheered being needed.

Karon patted as he gazed toward the distant horizon, where infinitely remote, lay the giant, the ancient mage nurtured World Tree locale.