The Defeated Dragon Chapter 172-173

Chapter 172 – The Last Stage of The Thorn Sprite Worm

Just after crossing this world, Liszt felt as if he had to keep a low profile; be a country baron and deal with eating and wearing fancy clothes.

As his quality of life improved and his rank changed, he began to embrace the aristocratic knight system, but he was unwilling to go to war and was only worried about his town's growth.

Flower Town was growing fast, and the thorn sprite is coming. His ideas have changed again, his impulse for glory, his desire for his own island, all of it has deepened. The idea of not going to war has been replaced by the idea of going to war, doing logistics, and combat.

He is becoming like a real n.o.bleman.

To be engulfed by the world, or actively integrated into the world, into the knight system.

“Some people are common fighters who have dedicated their whole lives to the liberty of all mankind. I admire such people, but I will never imitate them.” Liszt's mind is still clear. His integration into this world must not be a pa.s.sive decision, but the result of his initiative. “My goal in life is to ride a dragon and become my own master.”

He wanted to be king, not a va.s.sal.

The smoke task, the modern knowledge in his mind, plus his rising network in the social system gave him enough confidence to accomplish his big goals in life.

Liszt went to the window where originally he could hear the squealing of Blessedcurls, but it was no longer there. Nostalgia flashed across his eyes.

He just had to look away.

Just as Blessedcurls was unwilling to be a pet, he was also unwilling to be a servant, not even to the king.

One can become corrupted by the life of the n.o.bility, but one should not bend the knee to others, except to your parents.

The road is tortuous, and the future is bright: “First set yourself a small target, find a secretary, ehem, no, be a Viscount!”

This world's medieval knighthood system was centered around lords, courtiers and land but its social customs, cultural production, are far from the European Middle Ages on Earth.

Here, productivity revolves around dragons and sprites, which is entirely different from Earth's.

It was essentially a deformed medieval European serfdom system.

An economic system established by feudal lords on their territory, which exploited slave-owning serfs and was very brutal in its exploitation – serfs and free people have very little means of production because the real means of production were dragons and elves which were firmly monopolized by the n.o.bility.

It was a very exploitative system.

But the world's feudal serfdom was much more moderate than the dark medieval world that the barbarians built on the Roman Empire's dead bodies, or the Tibetan serf system that brought about the legend of the Sister Drum.[1]

At least serfs and civilians have a chance of climbing up the system.

Fighting is like an ancient imperial examination in China where most people can't take the exam, but there are always so many civilians who hope to change their fate by relying on it . Most people in the world are not fed enough and have no extra nutrients to develop their fighting skills, but there are always those who are chosen by their leaders since they are physically qualified.

If only qi was continuously cultivated for years, it would've not been difficult to produce an earth knight.

After a few generations of struggle and a little bit of opportunity, one can secure a place among the n.o.bles— the Tulips had followed this path. The early ancestors last name was "Tile", and judging from their surnames, they were probably either free people or serfs, but were irrelevant to the aristocracy anyway.

His great grandfather was chosen by the aristocracy to be a knight of the throne and to serve the newly formed Sapphire family.

Several wars were fought, he was knighted, and their family made it into the aristocracy. From then on it was several generations of advancement, from his great grandfather's generation, becoming a baron, a viscount, and finally in Leewilliam's generation, serving the Grand Duke of the Sapphire Duchy.

The last name was also changed to the n.o.ble “Tulip”.

“After generations and generations, it's essentially about mutation!”

The rich depended on technology, while the poor depend on mutation – the mysterious existence of qi requires acc.u.mulation of nutrition, and if there is no nutrition to become strong, then the body can only be changed through mutation.

For example, the innate strength of the great grandfather of the Tulip family was a mutation—probably a greater power and his natural ability, was the ability to attach himself to it.

“Now I don't need to rely on mutation, I can count on technology.”

Nutrition is technology. Magic is technology as well.

When he came to the Flame Mushroom Workshop, Liszt saw the mage Elkson smoking, “Mr. Elkson, my Flame Mushroom magic potion, are they done?” “

“I'm sorry, not yet, but it'll be done soon, you won't have to wait too long.” Elkson replied.

Liszt was slightly dissatisfied with the mage's willingness to smoke and not work, but he did not let his dismay show, “When you finish a potion, give it to me first. “

“Yes. “

He quickly moved out of a large box containing magic potions wrapped in strips of cloth.

Lister opened a magic potion strip, revealing a small thin crystal tube, which contained a light red sticky liquid.

It was a very small piece, but it was worth at least a gold coin.

“Baron Liszt, you can taste its effect. Although I am not a mage appointed by Tulip Castle to make potions, I still have confidence in my methods.”

Liszt opened the stopper of the crystal tube, and cast a Magic Eye to observe the concoction for a while. He then poured the potion directly into his mouth and drank it like jelly, leaving no drop.

The change was instantaneous.

Immediately afterwards, he felt a flame-like magic rising from his stomach, impacting his limbs. The whole impact process lasted for a full three minutes before gradually toning down. Liszt's eyes were s.h.i.+ning, and he felt a level of qi he hadn't raised for a long time.

Liszt couldn't help but exclaim,  “It's very addictive!”

“I'm happy that you're satisfied.”

“Mr. Elkson, I won't bother you with your work any further. If there is anything you need, I will try to do what I can.” Liszt said, holding Tremblingwoods and a box of magic potions, and returned to the castle .

In that very moment, the road to magical potions has officially opened.

———

A day later.

Marcus, who had been on business for several days, finally returned to Flower Town.

“Well, have you found new breeds of thorns?” “

“I've contacted Tulip Castle and Gravel Castle, and I haven't found any new varieties of thorns. Only Beer Castle on Beer island has new thorn varieties. Sir Trik said you are always welcome in Beer castle and Sir Aubrey asked me to bring you a letter. “

Aubrey, the son of Trik and heir to Beer Castle, has a good relations.h.i.+p with Liszt because of the seafood business.

Hearing that there are new varieties of thorns on Beer island, Liszt sighed with relief, “So, I need to take the thorn sprite worm with me and go to Beer island.” “

Marcus replied, “Of course you can Sir, or we could just stay here since I have brought back the new species of thorns with me so it can be planted directly here in Flower Town.” 

Liszt was very pleased, he appreciates a qualified subordinate who understands how to worry for his leader, “Yes, then plant it quickly! The thorn sprite worm's fattening period is nearly over, it urgently needs a.s.similation!” “

A moment later.

Not far behind the castle, the new species of thorns have been planted. After watering and fertilizing, Liszt put the thorns in.

[1] It is about a Tibetan girl who discovered that her sister had been killed in a religious ritual, and was made into a drum with her skin. So, she went to pursue the drum. 

Chapter 173 – 'Wow Wow Wow' Sprite

This is how a thorn sprite worm looks in their fattening period; their body shape is already three times the size of other sprites, and  the original s.h.i.+ne of their skin gradually dim, as if it has turned old.

It is true that the fattening period means evolution and death.

In a short period of one or two months, if the worm can not break through to the sprite evolution, it will consume its remaining energy and turn gray.

“It has felt the pheromones of the new thorn species!”

Liszt picked up the thorn sprite worms in the jade box, connected to the worms' mind and could deeply understand the emotions of the thorn worms at that moment.

It was a complex emotion full of excitement, anxiety, fear and courage. An ordinary sprite worm would never have so many emotions. It can only grow when it evolves.

The new species of thorns was just a thorn that has a mutated branch and different leaf colors, which was not much different from ordinary thorns.

Moving forward.

It was moving slowly at first but when the thorn sprite worm landed on the branch of the thorn, it began moving quickly. climbing  along the branch of the thorn.

It had no legs, only tiny flesh-like protrusions, so even when it  climbed on a trunk it would not fall off.

This magical creature can crawl in the air, defying the rules of physics. In particular, it wants to climb from one thorn, climb to another thorn, not stepping on the ground but directly in the air, easily across the gap between the two thorns, and collected the next thorn pheromone.

Marcus, who's on guard with the knights, rushed over.

He looked at thorn worm's behavior was equally nervous: “My lord, the thorns…..Will it succeed?”

“Of course!”

Liszt's mouth suddenly revealed an arc, laughing as brilliant as the March sun,  “Don't be nervous, Mr. Marcus, the thorn sprite worm has succeeded … I feel the restlessness inside it, it's a whole new force in the process, it's evolving! “

In fact, Liszt felt nothing at all.

He was just certain of the evolution because smoke missions were emerging.

“Complete the task and be rewarded a thorn sprite.”

Thanks to Marcus's interruption, the smoke quickly dissipated, as if nothing had appeared before his eyes.

Sometimes Liszt feels that there really was no smoke at all, and the reason why the others can't see it is because it is just a projection of “fate” in his mind -or the Smoke Dragon must have been to earth so it could present itself in the form of a mission, with a familiar style.

Just like how the invisible dragon cannot be seen, only people with “integrity and courage” can see it.

The smoke form of the smoke dragon, like the invisible dragon, is a special existence beyond the magic. The other special dragons, emerald dragons, and twilight dragons may all exist in some special form.

This also explains why all sacred dragons are just legends-people haven't actually seen what they really look like.

Even the three types of dragons, and the elves.

They were all special in itself.

At this time, the thorn sprite worm's skin was gray and it can be seen that its l.u.s.ter was completely dissipating at a speed visible to the naked eye. The originally tight skin was now covered with wrinkles, as if all of a sudden it came to the end of its life.

But its emotions were intense and exhilarating, with unspeakable joy and happiness.

Using Magic Eye, Liszt can see the chaotic magic in its body that was constantly generating bubbles like boiling water. The bubbles would explode, and an invisible change occurred. It seemed to be blown up by boiling magic bubbles, and the size of the thorn worm was still growing.

The larger its body became, the more its appearance declined and grew older.

The more exuberant the mood, the more intense it became.

Excited, Liszt also followed the mood and anxiously sang a song.

Marcus, who was next to him, couldn't feel this excitement, but he saw the thorn sprite worm grow as big as a balloon. His eyes were piercing, his fists clenched tightly, and he sweated looking at the evolution of the thorn sprite worm.

Time seems to be running so slow.

The wind blew on Liszt's forehead and pale gold curly hair a few times, and the thorn sprite worm had swelled into a large gray worm with thick legs.

The sunset dyed the clouds in the sky with fire red.

In the distance, there was Tremblingwoods' barking, followed by Stupidwoman's response to the barking.

The castle was bathed in the sun, as if plated with a golden glow. One would be unable to distinguish between the windows and the rock walls, with only the outline of the spire roof being visible.

The dusk brought silence which made that moment especially peaceful.

Liszt kept his eyes on the Thorns. He remembered having witnessed the birth of the Tulip's sprite. He was a teenager now and that memory seemed so long ago. Now, he could clearly witness with his own eyes the birth of his own sprite.

In a flash, his heart was a bit more connected with the sprite and Liszt blurted out: “Here we go.”

That moment.

There was a sound like a piece of paper tearing — hiss.

The gray-colored skin of the thorn worm cracked open, and then a little pink and white hand came out from under the thorn worm's skin. After, a white sprite directly broke through the thorn worm's skin and jumped as it came out. In a blink of an eye, the white sprite spread its translucent wings on his back and flew into the air.

“Wow!”

“Wow!”

Its shout was as crisp as that of a three-year-old child's cry. It was rippling in the air, flying around Liszt, it's speed not too fast, but it had a graceful posture, the movement was agile, and it can turn countless times.

 “Wow!”

“Wow!”

Even without telepathy, its cheerful mood can be felt just by listening to its shouts.

Liszt's gaze was firmly locked on the shape of the thorn sprite, and a sweet smile pervaded the corner of his mouth. He finally had a sprite bound to him, connected by blood, and connected to the soul.

They did not disturb the thorn sprite.

He felt the joy of the little guy's evolutionary success.

His eyes moved to the ground, squat and touched the thorn sprite worm skin gently. But even so, the molted skin turned to dust and disappeared with the breeze, leaving no trace.

He couldn't see how the sprite worm evolved into a sprite under this skin. It was just the magic boiling, and then it turned into a sprite. It was so crude and simple, without any reason.

Liszt came back to his senses.

The thorn sprite had finished expressing his emotions and landed on Liszt's shoulder. He held on to Liszt's hair and stabilized its body. He had big eyes filled with curiosity about the world. Liszt turned his head and saw its eyes were large, different from human eyes, black and bright, such beautiful pupils.

“Wow.”

“Come here.”

Liszt stretched out his hand, and the thorn sprite crawled to his hand, Liszt holding out a finger.

If one would look carefully, one would see on top of its round melon head a small thorn, which was a common thorn, representing that the sprite's spirit came from a common thorn.

The little hands were fat, the little feet were fat.

It was very delicate.

It looked like it was made of water.

It had no genitals.

"Mr. Marcus, what do you think of my thorn sprite?", Liszt smiled proudly.

Marcus exclaimed, “Beautiful! “