Chapter 61: Honey-Glazed Roasted Kobold Head
Silence.
A long silence.
The wind on the Molten Core Plains blew, swirling up a puff of black smoke that drifted between the giant and the Red Dragon.
The giant's expression changed from blankness to confusion, from confusion to shock, and from shock to—
"Hahaha—!!!"
He threw his head back and laughed, laughing so hard his whole body shook, the throne trembled, and the chefs below lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to move.
"Mating?!" He clutched his stomach, laughing until tears came out. "You, a Red Dragon, thirty-five meters long, came here to find me to mate?!"
Livia looked at him and said nothing.
After the giant had laughed enough, he straightened up, wiped the corners of his eyes, and pointed at himself: "Me, twenty-five meters. You, thirty-five meters. How does that match?"
Livia was just about to speak.
A system pop-up window slammed right into her face:
[Size Mismatch Warning]
[Host's current body length: 35 meters]
[Target's body length: 25 meters]
[Size difference: -10 meters]
[Normal mating position cannot be completed]
[Suggestion: Enable "Adaptive Adjustment" function]
Livia stared at those words.
[Adaptive Adjustment: During mating, the Host can compress their size, with a minimum compression of 18 meters]
[Compression Effect: Size reduced, energy consumption increased, movement restricted]
[Compression Duration: Maximum duration of 12 hours]
[Note: During compression, the Host will experience the humiliation of "a human mating with a Husky"]
[Note 2: This system is only providing an objective description and has no intention of insulting the Host]
[Note 3: Really, none at all]
Livia was silent for three seconds.
System, you certainly know how to insult.
She took a deep breath, closed the panel, and looked at the giant.
"I can become smaller."
The giant froze: "Become smaller? How?"
Livia didn't explain.
Light enveloped her entire body.
Her thirty-five-meter body began to compress—it wasn't the soft light and shadow transformation of the Transfiguration Technique, but a real, physical compression. Bones contracted, muscles squeezed, scales overlapped; every inch of her body resisted this change that defied nature, but with the system forcing it, she could only grit her teeth and endure.
Three seconds later.
Eighteen meters.
Livia stood on the ground, looking down at herself.
She had become smaller.
Truly smaller.
Shrinking from thirty-five meters to eighteen meters, the visual effect was like a mountain suddenly turning into a large boulder. Her wings were smaller, her claws were smaller, and her head was smaller—but everything that should be there was there, just with the wrong proportions, looking awkward no matter how one saw it.
The giant stared at her, his eyes nearly popping out.
"You... you know this trick too?"
Livia looked up and met his gaze.
At eighteen meters versus twenty-five meters, she had to crane her neck to see his face clearly.
"Let's begin."
The giant scratched his head, looking confused: "But even if you've become smaller, this—"
Livia spat a mouthful of fire onto his face.
The flames weren't large, and the temperature wasn't high, just enough to make him shut up.
The giant was stunned for a second, then silently lowered his head.
"Fine, fine then."
——————
Three hours later.
In the temporary nest next to the throne—calling it a nest, it was actually just a clearing surrounded by a lava river, with several layers of animal hides spread on the ground, and the giant's personal belongings piled in a corner: a few large bones, a heap of ores, and half an unfinished roasted Rock Sheep.
Livia lay on the hides, having returned to her thirty-five-meter size.
The giant sat nearby, holding a piece of roasted meat, munching on it with grease all over his face.
The atmosphere was very eerie.
A giant who had just finished mating, instead of holding his partner tenderly, was eating roasted meat.
Livia stared at him for three seconds.
Then she climbed up, went to her bundle, took out the last piece of roasted meat, tore off a small piece, and put it in her mouth.
Chewing.
The taste was okay.
But it was cold.
The giant leaned over, his eyes sparkling: "Um... when are you coming again next time?"
Livia looked at him.
The giant scratched his head, looking embarrassed: "I didn't mean that, I meant... that roasted meat, is there more?"
Livia was silent for a second.
Then she spoke: "Yes."
The giant's eyes brightened even more: "Then bring more next time!"
Livia nodded.
The giant grinned, his face full of wrinkles.
He reached out his large hand and grabbed a stone from the pile of ores nearby—fist-sized, dark red, with a faint glow flowing over its surface.
"For you. A meeting gift."
Livia took it.
System pop-up:
[Obtained: Fragment of Molten Core Heart]
[Grade: Epic]
[Usage: Can be used for forging weapons/armor/magical items; contains the original power of a Fire Giant]
[Note: This is the Giant King's prized treasure. The fact that he gave it to you shows his love for your roasted meat is true.]
Livia put away the shard and stood up.
The giant stood up too, suddenly remembering something: "By the way, what's your name?"
Livia turned back to look at him.
"Livia Kelsina Novati."
The giant nodded, pulled out a piece of animal hide from his bosom, scribbled a few words on it with charcoal, and then handed it to her.
Livia took it and saw written on it:
[Odrich Seran Dilmullong · Friend · Roasted Meat Special Supplier]
She stared at those words for three seconds.
Friend.
Roasted Meat Special Supplier.
The giant's logic was truly simple and crude.
She tucked away the animal hide, spread her wings, and took to the sky.
From behind came the giant's shout: "Bring more next time—! Put more fire lotus—!"
The voice echoed across the plains, startling a swarm of Fire Bats nesting in the rock crevices, which flew off into the distance.
Livia did not look back.
But the frequency of her wingbeats slowed for a moment.
——————
When she returned to the Lava Dragon Court, it was already the evening of the next day.
Five heads were crowded at the cave entrance as usual, all staring at her.
Kalendil was the first to rush up, looking her up and down to confirm she wasn't injured before letting out a sigh of relief: "Mother, are you okay?"
Livia shook her head.
Valerion handed over a gemstone; it was the ruby with the tooth marks she had entrusted to him before leaving.
"Mother's gemstone, I've kept it safe."
Livia took it and patted his head.
Aetheriel came forward, looking excited: "Mother, is the giant powerful? Did you fight? Who won?"
Livia looked at him.
"We didn't fight."
Aetheriel froze, looking disappointed: "Huh? No fight? Then what did you go there for?"
Mihariel raised her hand: "I know. She went to deliver roasted meat."
Aetheriel was even more confused: "Deliver roasted meat? Why deliver roasted meat?"
Mihariel blinked and didn't answer, just pulled out her small notebook and wrote:
[Mother returned from the Molten Core Plains. She brought back a Fragment of Molten Core Heart and a "Friend Certificate" written by a giant. Note: The giant's handwriting is really ugly.]
Valensius changed back from a stone and silently moved to Livia's feet, leaning against her without a word.
Livia looked down at this small head and pressed it with her claw.
Valensius grinned; it was a small smile, but a genuine one.
Livia withdrew her claw and walked toward the main hall.
Arriving at the side of the Lava Lake, she lay down and placed the Fragment of Molten Core Heart before her eyes, staring at it for a long time.
System pop-up:
[Gene Collection Progress: Blue Dragon (Completed) + Copper Dragon (Completed) + Fire Giant (Completed)]
[Current Gene Pool: 3/? (Unknown quantity)]
[Next Task Hint: Detected new target clues—Eastern Dragon Clan, located across the Endless Sea on the eastern side of the continent]
[Note: This is a high-level task; it is recommended to be well-prepared before triggering it]
Livia stared at the words "Eastern Dragon Clan" for three seconds.
Across the Endless Sea.
Jiaolong. Yinglong. Dragon King. Heavenly Court.
She closed the panel and shut her eyes.
The chirping voices of the five heads reached her ears:
"The stone Mother brought back is so pretty!"
"That's a Fragment of Molten Core Heart; it can be used to craft weapons."
"What kind of weapons can it make? Can it discharge electricity?"
"Since it's something giants use, it should be able to release fire..."
"I want to touch it—"
"Don't touch it! It's Mother's!"
"I'll just look..."
"Smack!"
"Ow—!"
The tip of Livia's tail flicked slightly.
Then she continued to lie there as if asleep.
But her eyes moved slightly under her eyelids, staring toward that distant east.
The Endless Sea.
The other shore.
How many more surprises were waiting for her?