8 Dragon Mother's Worries!

After the Dragon Mother departed, the two young dragons, ravenous but wary, dared not provoke Bruce. They recognized his formidable stature and knew any conflict would likely end in their defeat.

What's more, Bruce possessed a fearsome ability — the reverse dragon breath. This mist-like attack had left a deep, indelible impression on his siblings, marking them with a lingering fear.

Bruce, however, saw this as an opportunity to instill some discipline in his younger siblings, especially Torenço, who had a habit of complaining to the Dragon Mother. He considered it his duty as an older brother to guide them towards a better understanding of respect and survival.

As the Dragon Mother vanished from view, Bruce's eyes, which had feigned deep sleep, narrowed. He rose and approached his brother, Torenço.

Carona, perceptive and intelligent, quickly realized Bruce's intent. She quietly folded her wings and curled up, feigning sleep to avoid his attention.

Torenço, however, faced Bruce with a mix of fear and forced bravado, flapping his wings defiantly. His pride wouldn't allow him to show weakness, even in the face of certain defeat.

Bruce shook his head in mild exasperation. Torenço's naivety and stubbornness could spell disaster outside their safe haven. It was Bruce's responsibility to teach him the value of prudence and adaptability, crucial traits for survival.

With a swift motion, Bruce knocked Torenço to the ground, asserting his dominance. Torenço let out a roar of defiance, struggling to rise, only to be pushed back into the nest's tangled branches.

"Respect your elder brother," Bruce lectured, his tone firm but controlled. "And don't run to Dragon Mother over every little issue."

The skirmish was decidedly one-sided. Torenço had no chance against Bruce's superior strength. However, Bruce was careful not to harm him seriously; he knew the Dragon Mother's intervention would not bode well for him.

Once he felt his lesson had been imparted, Bruce ceased his reprimand and lay down to rest.

Torenço, chastened by the encounter, realized the futility of complaining to the Dragon Mother. She wouldn't mediate their disputes, and resisting Bruce only led to further defeat.

Xarona watched Torenço with a hint of mockery. She had already learned the lesson of not provoking Bruce and now watched as Torenço grasped the same truth.

The dragon siblings settled into a rare, peaceful silence for the rest of the day.

Bruce, content with the effectiveness of his warning, finally relaxed into a deep, undisturbed sleep.

As evening approached, the Dragon Mother returned, clutching the body of a two-headed rhinoceros. The two hungry dragons eagerly approached the cliff's edge, anticipating the feast. However, they were swiftly repelled by the Dragon Mother's powerful wings, a gust of magical wind sending them tumbling back into the nest's center.

Bruce, understanding the Dragon Mother's indifferent approach towards her young, wisely stayed put, waiting for her to deposit the prey and leave before he moved to eat.

"Wow, this smells incredible," Bruce exclaimed, a hint of hunger in his voice.

"It really does," agreed Carona, her eyes locked on the feast before them.

Bruce observed his younger siblings eagerly devouring their meal. He mused inwardly about the so-called 'noble dragon eating etiquette,' which seemed irrelevant in the face of true hunger. To him, it was mere pretense.

Bruce often battled the gnawing hunger that plagued him due to his unique condition. The 'golden finger' that gave him advantages also subjected him to frequent, intense bouts of hunger. Without the Dragon Mother's timely provision of food, he felt like a specter of famine, starved for centuries.

"Ho ho, brother, this piece is particularly succulent. Come and join us," Carona invited in the dragon tongue, offering him a choice cut.

Bruce eyed her curiously. Was this an olive branch or a sign of submission? Regardless, the underlying tone of flattery was unmistakable.

Bruce noted the shift in Carona's behavior. She had always regarded him with disdain, occasionally even muttering insults under her breath. Now, this sudden change intrigued him.

"Ho ho, you're such a suck-up," Torenço scoffed at Carona.

He couldn't hide his discomfort at seeing his sister, who had once shared his disdain for Bruce, now seemingly align with their elder brother. Torenzo grappled with his pride. Should he, too, swallow his ego and seek favor with Bruce?

"No, I must uphold my dignity as a true dragon," Torenço resolved, refusing to succumb to what he saw as a shameful act of subservience.

Bruce, meanwhile, accepted Carona's gesture without hesitation, moving towards the offered meat. He knew his strength depended on sustenance, and he silently commended Carona for her shrewdness. Dragons like her, he believed, could have a promising future with the right guidance.

Although Torenço maintained his proud stance, refusing to openly seek Bruce's approval, he had learned to avoid provoking him. The confrontations with Bruce had taught him the value of discretion.

Bruce, far from being a tyrant, sought only to guide his siblings. He believed in correcting their foolishness for their own good.

With the dynamics shifting in the nest, Bruce found his life less troubled. In the Dragon Mother's absence, he was the undisputed leader, his decisions shaping their daily existence.

The feast of the two-headed rhinoceros, weighing over four tons, was swiftly consumed in just three days, with Bruce being the primary contributor to its depletion. His size had grown impressively, now reaching three meters in length, dwarfing Carona and Torenzo.

The Dragon Mother, upon her return, was taken aback by Bruce's voracious appetite and significant growth. She acknowledged his increasing strength, yet worried about the sustainability of their food supply.

From his hearty diet of rhinoceros meat and acid, Bruce had gained considerably, acquiring fifteen thunder magic talent points and fifty poison breath magic talent points from the meal. He pondered the potential strength these points had granted him, curious about the extent of his newfound powers.

As the story continued to unfold, the author invited readers to contribute their thoughts in the comment section, encouraging a communal exchange of ideas about the dragon siblings' journey.