C12 Between Eating and Being Eaten, There Was Only a Wall Called Strength!

"Igrel, you've grown so much!"

Oliveira's eyes widened in amazement as she sized up Igrel's impressive stature.

"I think I'm just fine. You're the one who seems smaller to me, Oliveira."

Igrel replied, his voice a mix of pride and amusement. A year of Renafam's intense training had seen him shoot up to an imposing two and a half meters, while Oliveira herself was just over a meter tall.

"The surge in magical power has accelerated my growth. It's a bit of a side effect, really."

Igrel indicated his own body while explaining.

"But we have the same parents. Why are you the one growing so fast, Igrel?"

Oliveira asked, her fingers gently tracing the outline of Igrel's wings.

"Who knows? It could be some sort of mutation."

Igrel looked away, his tone betraying a hint of evasion.

"I'm curious too. Maybe it's the combination of a human soul with a dragon's body? My previous world had no magic, so it's anyone's guess what kind of reaction this is..."

Igrel pondered, tilting his head in thought.

"Say, Igrel, let's go find something to eat. Mom and Dad taught me how to forage. I want to show you what I've learned."

Oliveira shook Igrel's arm, her voice filled with excitement.

"Alright, a short stroll nearby should be okay. I just want to make sure we're back soon. I'll go tell Mom and Dad."

Igrel glanced around and then spoke to Oliveira.

"Great!"

Oliveira beamed, nodding enthusiastically at Igrel's consent.

"Dad, Oliveira and I are going to the woods close by."

Igrel approached Carrick, who was feigning sleep, and whispered.

"Don't go too far and make sure to return early. There shouldn't be any dangerous creatures for a few kilometers around, but keep your eyes peeled."

Carrick opened his eyes and offered his counsel to Igrel.

"Got it, Dad."

Igrel nodded to show he understood, then gestured to Oliveira. She happily sprinted over, took Igrel's hand, and together they raced out of the cave.

"Haha, they're still just kids. It's good for Igrel to relax a bit..."

Carrick smiled as he watched Igrel and Oliveira vanish into the distance, then he closed his eyes again, content.

"So, Oliveira, tell me about your year."

As they strolled through the forest, Igrel struck up a conversation with Oliveira.

"I've just been doing the usual, waking up, having a bite to eat that my dad or mom prepares, then I either meditate or go out to play. Oh, and Igrel, I've made some friends recently. I'll introduce you to them later."

Oliveira, struck by a sudden thought, turned to Igrel.

"Sure, I'd like that. As long as it doesn't cause any issues with your friends, I'd be happy to meet them."

Igrel nodded in response.

"It's all good. They're young dragons I really click with. We spend a lot of time playing together."

Oliveira said, her face lighting up with a smile.

"Understood. Now, Vera, step just behind me, will you?"

Mid-sentence, Igrel waved Oliveira behind him and stepped forward to shield her.

"What's going on, Ig?"

Oliveira, confused, looked up at Igrel who had moved in front of her and tilted her head quizzically.

"We've got a welcoming party."

Igrel answered quietly.

"Huh?"

Oliveira was perplexed by Igrel's remark and stretched her neck to look ahead.

"Rustle... Rustle..."

However, all she could see was the grass rustling in the breeze. Minutes ticked by with no activity, and certainly no sign of other creatures.

"I don't see anything, Ig. Maybe you're just being a little too cautious?"

Oliveira looked up at Igrel.

"Vera, you need to work on sensing presences. They're already here."

Igrel gently patted Oliveira's head as he spoke.

"They are? Where? I can't see..."

"Whoo..."

"Whooo..."

Before Oliveira could finish her sentence, confused and scanning the surroundings, a chorus of low growls surrounded them. Dark figures slowly emerged from the brush, encircling Igrel and Oliveira. They were beasts with green fur, resembling wolves.

"Is this... a pack of green wolves?"

Oliveira's voice was grave as she recognized the creatures.

"Yes, they've been following us for some time. It seems they've decided we're not a threat and have chosen us as their prey."

Igrel nodded, offering an explanation.

"You knew this whole time?!"

Oliveira shifted her gaze, her voice tinged with surprise.

"Yes, I spotted them as soon as they began tailing us. But you, Vera, you didn't notice a thing. You really lack a sense of urgency."

Igrel stood upright on his hind legs, crossing his arms as he teased Oliveira. "This isn't the time for such talk. Look at their numbers... we're in serious trouble."

Trying to maintain her calm, Oliveira whispered back to Igrel, "Are you afraid?"

"To tell you the truth, a little," Igrel confessed. "Father said this area was safe, but this is anything but. I've never seen this many green wolves before."

Oliveira trembled slightly. She might be a dragon, but she was also just over a year old—a young dragon. Against a first-rank beast like the green wolf, which lacked magical power, she could easily deal with three or five. But dozens? That was overwhelming. Her scales were still developing, and her small, fragile form was extremely vulnerable. The numerical advantage they faced was deadly.

"Igrel, we need to find a way to break through and get home. They'll retreat once we're there," she proposed.

"That's a good idea," Igrel conceded, "but they seem to have a different plan. They're not exactly eager to let us go. And there's a big one trailing behind them."

"What? Oh..." Oliveira's voice faltered as she caught sight of the larger green wolf emerging from the pack.

Oliveira paused for a moment, her gaze following Igrel's to a green wolf that emerged from the pack, its build more robust than that of an ordinary wolf.

"...A Green Wolf King. Have we wandered into a den of wolves?" Oliveira's golden vertical pupils narrowed as she muttered.

"It's not that we've entered their territory; rather, they've come out of theirs. Something must be amiss with the Green Wolves' den. I'm curious— they look rather weary, as if they left in a hurry without preparation. Otherwise, they wouldn't consider us prey. Horned rabbits and rock bulls are much easier to catch and have more meat than the two of us combined. We hardly have enough flesh to satisfy them," Igrel observed calmly.

"Could their territory have been taken over? Is there a higher predator nearby?" Oliveira tensed up at Igrel's speculation.

"I don't think so," Igrel replied.

"Why are you so sure?" Oliveira asked, puzzled.

"Because at the top of this forest's food chain are our parents. If any Third or Fourth Order beings appeared, they would have been swiftly dealt with and eaten by now. For any Devil Beast with a bit of strength, the Dragon Clan's domain is a no-go zone. They could become prey at any moment," Igrel explained with a casual shrug.

"In this world, being too strong can still make you prey to something stronger, while being too weak makes you just as vulnerable. It's a brutal truth. So, we must aim to be the strongest, right? Grandfather, I think I'm beginning to understand."

Before they could delve deeper into the conversation, Oliveira's attention snapped back to the imminent threat of the green wolves readying themselves to attack. She signaled to Igrel.

"Vera, can you use magic now?" Igrel asked.

"Uh, not really. My magic isn't strong enough yet. I haven't even reached the minimum requirement for dragon breath. That's something you start using in your young dragon phase, and I certainly don't have the immense magical power you do," Oliveira admitted.

"Understood. I'll take the lead then. Just keep yourself safe," Igrel said, stepping forward to face the challenge ahead.

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