Throughout the day, Bruce contemplated the nature of his recent meal. The two-headed rhinoceros, known for its potent lightning magic attacks, reinforced his understanding that the benefits he gained from his diet were indeed linked to the attributes of the food he consumed.
After their hearty meal, Bruce and his siblings rested in the nest. Dragon Mother, seemingly reluctant to linger in the nest except for delivering food or in the evenings, took off again, soaring into the sky.
Bruce had given up on any immediate thoughts of taking Dragon Mother Shia's treasure. He was aware that, despite her lack of overt maternal affection, crossing her could lead to severe consequences, including expulsion from the nest.
In the dragon hierarchy, Bruce knew that young dragons like him, while powerful compared to ordinary beasts, were still vulnerable in the dangerous world they inhabited. Facing a creature like the two-headed rhinoceros outside the safety of the nest would be foolhardy.
Deciding that the nest, despite its precariousness, was the safest place for him, Bruce embraced the idea of growing stronger in the security it provided. "It's like marking time and emerging stronger," he mused proudly, envisioning a future where he could stand tall among the mightiest.
His gaze fell upon his swollen belly, which astonishingly deflated within an hour, testament to his remarkable digestive prowess. "Is there a gluttonous beast inside me?" he wondered, amused by his ability to digest food so rapidly. Unlike his siblings, who would be sated for days, Bruce felt he would be hungry again in just a couple of hours.
Carona and Torenço, their bellies full, grew drowsy. They moved into the acidic pool, curling up at the bottom to sleep. In this harsh environment, the corrosive acid posed no threat to them but instead would enhance their future abilities.
Bruce understood that their choice to sleep in the acid wasn't mere preference but a crucial part of their growth process. While adult dragons could slumber for years, young dragons like them needed shorter, but still extended, periods of sleep to strengthen.
However, Bruce felt no urge to sleep. His focus was solely on eating and growing stronger. Two hours later, his belly was flat again, and with his siblings in deep slumber, he was left alone with the remains of the two-headed rhinoceros. The opportunity to eat without competition brought a sense of joy and anticipation.
All to himself.
Bruce had observed over several days that Dragon Mother Shia primarily hunted and ate outside, bringing back prey primarily for her offspring. The last meal, the two-headed rhinoceros, had been mostly devoured by Bruce, who could consume nearly twice as much as Carona and Torenço.
Feeling hungry again, Bruce clambered into the acid pool, carefully maneuvering past the sleeping Carona and Torenço, and resumed eating the rhinoceros meat. Initially, the taste of the acid had been off-putting, but Bruce had grown to enjoy it, finding it complemented the meat perfectly – akin to fries dipped in ketchup.
"Ho ho, delicious," he mumbled contentedly, savoring each bite. While his primary goal was to gain strength, he also found joy in the act of eating itself.
Soon, his previously deflated belly swelled up like a balloon. After indulging himself, Bruce shook his head, returning to a more lucid state. "Well, that's about enough. Any more and I might burst," he thought, clambering out of the pool, satisfied.
As he digested his meal, Bruce received the familiar notification:
[Consumed: Two-headed rhinoceros
Quality: High
Benefit: Absorb magical life talent, thunder magic talent +1.]
But this time, to his surprise, there was an additional benefit:
[Consumed: Green Dragon Venom
Quality: Fine
Benefit: Absorb magical life talent, Poison Breath magic talent +1.]
"Wow, Dragon Mother's saliva is high-quality stuff? Gaining abilities from it?" Bruce was ecstatic. He hadn't realized before that consuming the acidic pool, a byproduct of Dragon Mother's breath, could bestow the talent of poison breath.
Bruce pondered the possibility of coaxing more acid from Dragon Mother to enhance his abilities further. However, he doubted his charm would work on her. Nevertheless, the pool held enough acid for now.
He eagerly anticipated his next meal, relishing the continuous improvement in his strength. It was a tedious process, but the tangible gains kept him motivated and hopeful.
After eating six times throughout the day, far exceeding a typical young dragon's capacity, Bruce waddled to the cliff's edge. He released the waste from his body, a byproduct of his energy absorption, and then returned to the nest. He found a soft spot among the branches and settled down, ready for his extraordinary digestion to commence.
In the evening, Dragon Mother returned. Her gaze fell upon Bruce, resting in the nest. Her eyes held a look of disdain.
"All he does is eat and sleep, then sleep and eat," she seemed to think, dismayed. "How could I have birthed such a gluttonous descendant?" If it weren't for his real name, she might have considered casting him out to fend for himself.