Chapter 27: The Core Spell of the Metallic Dragon Race

Chapter 27 - 27: The Core Spell of the Metallic Dragon Race"Burp~" Noah let out a long, comfortable belch, completely indifferent to the grace befitting a Golden Dragon. But he didn't care now, since no other dragons were around to see him - after all, he had eaten to his heart's content. Even though he devoured the flesh that he had once considered too pungent or unpalatable before he had gone into hibernation, none of that could compare to the satisfaction of having a full belly. Not only did he experience mental satisfaction, but there were also significant physical changes. Noah remembered the wretched state of his appearance prior to feasting. He had almost become a Skull Dragon, similar to a Black Dragon, with a withered body and dull scales. His pearl-strewn bed was covered in a layer of gray-white dust, the magic from the pearls absorbed entirely, turned to powder. The first slumber required more resources than expected; however, fortunately, Noah hadn't been prematurely awakened by hunger. He successfully underwent his first transformation, evolving from a hatchling to a young dragon. After sweeping through the majority of the food in the Dragon Nest, Noah gradually restored the splendor expected of a Golden Dragon. Gleaming golden scales neatly covered his lithe and agile body, his dark golden eyes glowing faintly, much brighter than during his hatchling stage. The two Dragon Horns extending slightly from either side of his forehead each branched off with a small bough, adding a touch of majesty and grace to Noah, who was still in the young dragon stage. Unlike other True Dragon Species, his Dragon Wings extended all the way to his long dragon tail. Even slightly folding them, as Noah moved, a slight stretch would almost make him glide above the ground, soaring in mid-air. His golden dragon form showed no particularly striking changes in shape—just the appearance expected of a young Golden Dragon. The only notable difference was his body length, now reaching close to ten meters, which was not the size a just-out-of-hatchling-stage Golden Dragon should have. But it didn't matter. Having devoured so many resources, what harm was there in being bigger than Golden Dragons of the same age? It seemed quite normal! Compared to physical changes, Noah was more interested in exploring the new Talent Magic he mastered—a legacy ingrained in his bloodline, instantly accessible once conditions were met. As for what qualifies as meeting the conditions, that naturally boils down to talent; in other words, each according to their ability. Even dragons of the same species, at the same age, could access different Talent Magic. Of course, even if the obtained Talent Magic was somewhat lacking, one could still compensate through later learning. To the Metallic Dragon Race, it didn't matter much; awakening more Talent Magic simply meant learning a bit less. "My talent really isn't bad at all!" Noah examined himself, organizing the Talent Magic acquired from his bloodline, unable to resist boasting due to the sheer number of spells he obtained. First Rings Magic naturally didn't require much discussion: Lesser Flame Pearl and Burning Hand, which he'd already mastered in his hatchling phase, though they were hardly useful. This time, after awakening, he acquired several practical Second Rings and Third Rings spells. Second Rings Spells: Fire Blade Skill, Detect Thoughts, Item Locating Skill, Detect Invisibility, Undying Bright Flame, Fiery Flame Burst, Flame Dagger, Red Flame Magic Ball, Scorching Ray, Sunlight Beam, Yang Flame Protection Third Rings Spells: Human Immobilization, Arcane Vision, Flying Skill, Fireball Technique, Flame Arrow Seeing these various spells, though mainly Second Rings spells, Noah's tail couldn't help but wag. Could this not prove his exceptional talent among Dragon Species? Furthermore, considering these primarily fire-based shape-shifting spells, the Crystal Core from the Fire Element Elder must have played a notable role. Else he might not have gained such an abundance of Talent Magic, but even without those, the number of spells he now mastered was by no means small. Most crucially, and what made Noah most proud was mastering a Fourth Ring spell, Transformation Technique! This could be called the Metallic Dragon Race's favorite and most frequently used spell. It allows a spellcaster to morph into a different form. Many Metal Dragons use this spell to disguise themselves into humanoid forms, mingling among civilizations to enjoy their splendor and prosperity. However, Golden Dragons most enjoy using this spell to disguise themselves for sting operations. For example, transforming into an injured sailor with a stash of Ancient Gold Coins, or a delicate and beautiful maiden, to lure criminals, then dole out severe punishment to evildoers. If needed, a Golden Dragon would unveil its true identity without hesitation, indulging in the adulation and reverence of humanoid beings. Regarding the fishing tactics of those Golden Dragon Elders in his inherited memories, Noah remained noncommittal. His ideas slightly diverged from those of his peers; his delight in mastering Transformation Technique stemmed from the fact that it allowed transformations beyond mere humanoid forms. In truth, it's a spell of rather extensive—and virtually limitless—scope. Theoretically, mastering Transformation Technique means one can morph into any creature, with the only restriction being unable to change into something stronger than oneself. Such limitations, for a Golden Dragon destined to reach the pinnacle of the Material Realm with the passage of time, were practically nonexistent. However, for Noah, who was still a young dragon, the restrictions were numerous, yet even so, there were many ways to utilize them. Certainly, Transformation Technique wasn't a Wish Technique, and numerous prerequisites are essential for successful deployment, of which crucially, having enough understanding of the desired form is key. For humanoid mages, this necessitates considerable expertise and experience in anatomy, but for Dragon Species, rummaging through inherited memories would inevitably yield results. "Why are there so many humanoid forms?" While searching through inherited knowledge, Noah was somewhat speechless. Metallic Dragons indeed showed a fondness for humanoid races, providing countless reference templates. However, Dragon Species preferred transforming into High Elves rather than humans because they represented the most perfect humanoid form in reality. As long as it wasn't for purposes like those of Golden Dragons involving fishing, Dragon Species crafted humanoid forms that reflected their perception of perfection. "Ah! Finally found it!" Bypassing humanoid transformation references, Noah found the knowledge he sought. It was knowledge about animal transformations. If some dragons enjoyed becoming human, then naturally some dragons enjoyed turning into various animals or monsters—after all, Dragon Species XP is remarkably free. This segment of ancestral Golden Dragon knowledge provided the relevant transformation insights, sparing descendants the trouble of pondering anatomy and saving significant effort. "Judgement Angel? Storm Giant! Chaos Roc! Hiss~ Even Phoenix is possible? What creature is a Sea Demon Whale? Why is there also Balrog Flame Demon?"