The dusk poured down like thick ink, and Seratus, dragging his exhausted body, crawled back into the crude volcanic lava cave. The air was heavy with the lingering stench of magical beast blood, oppressive and suffocating. In the dim corners of the cave, fragments of coagulated flesh and blood formed grotesque outlines, silently narrating the brutal feasts that had taken place.

He climbed onto the natural stone bed carved into the cave wall, the rough surface pressing against his scales as exhaustion washed over him like a tidal wave.

“Now, there’s not even a single point left in my account,” he muttered to himself, his eyes flickering with disappointment and helplessness. Even if he encountered a highly valuable item, he couldn’t afford it.

The only things that gave him hope were the flower he had planted himself and the twenty rapidly growing Sunshine Mushrooms that still needed time to mature. [Just like the author’s bank balance—completely empty.]

This long wait hung over him like the Sword of Damocles, making him afraid to open the system interface—he feared that the cold numbers would ignite the flames of impulsive spending in his heart. The items on the market, marked with tens of points, seemed as distant and unreachable as stars.

And yet, the ordinary radishes he painstakingly cultivated were worth a pitiful ten points, with a growth cycle even longer than the hopeful Sunshine Mushrooms. Every time those despairing numbers appeared before his eyes, his heart would tremble as if doused in ice water, a deep sense of powerlessness and anxiety taking hold.

Worries tangled like threads, and Seratus was lost in them when a scene from earlier in the day suddenly intruded on his thoughts—he had been idly chewing on a slightly bitter magical plant when his nostrils caught a familiar, pungent scent, the stench of a goblin tribe, a mix of rot and cheap alcohol.

This smell, like a cold, venomous needle, pierced through the fragile layer of self-respect in his heart. An indescribable disgust and disdain, like an invisible poison, spread through his limbs, causing ripples of unease in his once calm mind.

The calm and restraint he had once possessed as a “human” now flickered like a candle in the wind, unstable and wavering. And yet, this young and frail dragon body instinctively harbored a deep, almost savage sense of superiority toward the alien scent. It was so strong and real, as if his soul had been branded with the absolute right to rule over weaker races, believing they were born to grovel in the shadow of dragons, gazing up at their backs, even offering humble submission.

However, the consciousness of being a “human” blew through like a cold wind, scattering this illusory and dangerous flame. He was startled and questioned himself deep within—Had I truly become such an arrogant, self-important dragon, inherently disdainful of “inferior races”?

No, never! I was never the kind of creature who would belittle life because of bloodline. Where did this sudden, seemingly forced sense of “superiority” come from?

He silently turned his gaze to Agnus, observing his elder brother’s body as if admiring a finely crafted piece of art. Agnus’s iron-hard, metallic red scales shimmered with explosive power, even the edges of the scales exuding a sharp, intimidating aura.

Even more terrifying was the innate combat aura that surrounded Agnus, a wild, aggressive pressure that made one’s throat tighten and spine chill just by looking at him. Seratus knew in his heart that although they had hatched around the same time, there was an insurmountable gap between them in terms of true strength and combat experience.

And he, now, could only rely on a system designed for farming assistance. Although he was nourished daily by a steady supply of fertilizer energy, a flame of discontent burned deep within him—he craved power, he wanted to grow stronger!

He knew that only when he truly possessed strength comparable to his brother could he reverse this situation of being controlled by dragons, no longer looked down upon by anyone.

A thought flashed through his mind like lightning, instantly illuminating Seratus’s thoughts—“If I could find laborers to farm for me, wouldn’t I be able to free my hands completely and reap the rewards without lifting a claw?” The thought made his heart burn with excitement, as if he could already see countless points rolling in.

However, this beautiful fantasy was quickly extinguished by the cold waters of reality. “With Agnus and Cartilia’s inherently proud personalities, how could they stoop to such menial labor?” Seratus sighed inwardly, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

He couldn’t help but glance secretly at Agnus, his gaze once again drawn to his brother’s tough, gleaming red scales and the intimidating aura that surrounded him.

He realized once again that although they were of similar age and appearance, Agnus far surpassed him in true strength and combat experience. And he, relying only on a system designed for farming assistance, though nourished daily by fertilizer energy, knew that only when his strength grew could he reverse this situation and no longer be looked down upon.

Meanwhile, Agnus and Cartilia, not far away, had also fallen into silence, their dragon eyes flickering with complex, unreadable emotions.

Although exhaustion washed over them like a tide, the dissatisfaction and doubt brewing in their hearts kept sleep at bay—seeing Seratus show no interest in the delicious flesh and sleeping soundly all night, they couldn’t help but wonder: Had Seratus monopolized the harvest of those mushrooms rich in plant life energy?

After all, they had followed him all this time but had never caught a single clue. This made them both jealous and feeling neglected, a wave of frustration rising in their hearts.

But they also knew that questioning him directly would only alert him, even making the distant Seratus wary, further complicating the situation.

Time flowed by like a gentle stream, and the next morning quietly arrived. Seratus slowly opened his eyes, looking around, and immediately remembered the flower that needed watering and fertilizing, and the rapidly growing Sunshine Mushrooms—they were the hope of future harvests.

At the same time, the temptation of the Book of Prophecy stirred within him—his magic power had fully recovered, and now was the time to test that tome engraved with green magical runes, boldly labeled “Book of Prophecy.”

He held his breath, carefully scanning his surroundings. Agnus and Cartilia were still asleep, like two red statues, quietly curled up in the corner of the cave.

These two equally proud red dragons were like dormant volcanoes—once awakened, they would erupt with terrifying fury. He had no desire to disturb them.

So, he crept out of the cave, glancing back a few times to confirm the two dragons were still in deep slumber before, as if freed from invisible shackles, he quickly walked toward the secluded, quiet area outside the cave.

Reaching the quiet clearing outside the cave and confirming there were no other dragons around, Seratus finally relaxed his guard. Eagerly, he summoned the mysterious “Book of Prophecy” from his system space, carefully holding it in his claws.

It was a thick, ancient tome, its cover engraved with intricate green magical runes, the edges of its pages yellowed with age, exuding a faint aura of time.

His heart stirred with excitement and apprehension. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart, and after a moment of silence, finally spoke softly, posing the question in his heart to the “Book of Prophecy”: “How… how long until true danger arrives in my environment?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, something strange happened! Seratus suddenly felt his claws lose control, gripping the “Book of Prophecy” tightly against his will.

Then, a bone-chilling cold spread from the pages throughout his body, making him shiver uncontrollably, his teeth chattering.

He was horrified to discover that the magic power within him was being drained at an uncontrollable, terrifying speed, as if the book was determined to suck every last drop of energy from him!

In an instant, more than half of his magic power was gone. The once-full sense of strength vanished, replaced by an unprecedented weakness and emptiness, as if his body had been hollowed out, making his vision darken and his legs wobble.

“Ridiculous! This is absolutely ridiculous!” Seratus let out a trembling roar, his voice filled with disbelief and anger.

He could hardly believe that this system-produced Book of Prophecy possessed such terrifying power, able to so easily and brutally drain most of his magic power!

The sudden loss of magic turned his face ashen, his breathing becoming rapid and shallow. Although his red scales and crimson phosphorus hid the subtle changes in his expression, the chaotic and weak aura surrounding him clearly conveyed his shock, anger, and deep dissatisfaction.

“I… I just asked a simple question. How dare this wretched book take so much of my magic? It’s downright robbery!”

Seratus roared inwardly, his tone tinged with frustration and humiliation. He stared intently at the “Book of Prophecy” in his claws, his eyes filled with doubt and scrutiny, as if trying to see through the book.

“It better give me a decent explanation, one I can grudgingly accept!” he swore to himself, his thoughts dark and vengeful: “If this wretched book gives me another vague, cryptic, or utterly worthless answer, no matter if it’s a system-produced item, I’ll burn it to ashes and scatter them to the wind!”

Perhaps sensing the volcanic fury and threat brewing within the young dragon, the “Book of Prophecy” suddenly seemed to come alive, abruptly stopping its greedy absorption of magic. As the last trace of magic was drawn into the book, the once-dull pages suddenly burst with a dazzling green light.

The light, as if guided by some mysterious force, slowly gathered and condensed, forming a series of tiny, ancient runes at the center of the page. Seratus held his breath, his heart in his throat.

“In the near future, a compassionate and kind lady will lead a crusade against the evil red dragon, sending the surviving young dragons to a distant Dragon Island, ‘giving them a chance to redeem themselves’!”

A bitter smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he silently mocked himself: “How absurd! To drain so much of my magic, only to receive such a vague, incomprehensible prophecy. What’s the point?” Yet, a lingering unease, like an inescapable shadow, clung to his heart. He furrowed his brow, chewing over every word of the prophecy, and gradually—he caught a cold, undeniable warning in the seemingly nonsensical text, like the oppressive air before a storm, making it hard to breathe.

First, the “crusade against the evil red dragon” seemed to hint at the arrival of a righteous force, but that so-called righteousness often meant dragon slayers. And the “kind lady sending the young dragons to Dragon Island, giving them a chance to redeem themselves,” according to his inherited dragon memories, was nothing more than locking the young dragons in a place akin to a dragon prison!

All these interpretations pointed to an unsettling future. A bitter taste spread in his throat. “A good dragon”… He tried to convince himself that he was a “good dragon,” or at least, he wanted to be one.

But what was the definition of “good”? Was it his own understanding of “good,” or… others’ perception of it?

Would the “good” of a red dragon be accepted by humans? Or, in the eyes of those “crusaders against evil,” was the very existence of a red dragon a “sin”? The thought made Seratus’s heart even heavier. The words of the prophecy were like a cold stone, pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

With a long sigh, he set aside the cryptic prophecy for now, focusing on replenishing his strength.

When he returned to the cave, Agnus and Cartilia were still peacefully asleep in the dim corner—at least for now, there were no signs of intruders.

The cold, piercing words of the prophecy still echoed in his ears, but at that moment, a clear sense of self-mockery rose within him: He had already died once, so how could he be easily frightened by such a prophecy?

The thought made him laugh at himself, finding his own foolishness somewhat endearing. This self-mocking relief quickly calmed his chaotic mind.

Seratus took out some Primary Elemental Fertilizer from his system. This fertilizer not only promoted crop growth but could also be consumed directly to quickly restore magic power.

Although it tasted bland, he swallowed it in large mouthfuls, feeling his magic gradually replenish. After recovering slightly, he left the cave and headed toward the field he had cultivated.

Stepping out of the cave, Seratus cautiously scanned his surroundings, using his magic to enhance his senses. The faint rustle of falling leaves reached his ears, mingling with the chirping of insects and birds, every natural rhythm resonating in his heart.

He carefully discerned the sounds around him, confirming that no one was following before confidently walking toward the field. The first thing he noticed was a patch of carrot plants—they were almost ready for harvest.

He took out his Plant Encyclopedia and lightly touched the plump carrots. The screen immediately displayed a “Ready to Harvest” label. After a thorough inspection, he picked about twelve carrots, a hint of joy rising in his heart.

Meanwhile, the field was also dotted with twenty young Sunshine Mushroom seedlings, waiting to be nourished with fertilizer and carefully watered. Seratus carefully spread the fertilizer evenly and then watered them, allowing the nutrients to seep into every inch of the soil.

Seeing this bountiful scene, he didn’t stop there. Instead, he took out carrot seeds and planted them in the remaining plots, sowing twelve new carrot plants. Looking at the vibrant field, he nodded silently to himself: Farming was hard work, but it also allowed him to temporarily forget the troubling prophecy and his worries.

Just as he was immersed in this peace and sense of accomplishment, a mechanical yet crisp notification sounded in his ears: “Ding! Ding! Congratulations, host, for completing the task: Planting and harvesting ten plants!”

Then, the system announced the evaluation: “Detection shows the host has completed the task diligently, earning an A+ rating! Now distributing task rewards!” Amid the series of notifications, Seratus learned that he had received a random plant seed unlock reward and a Primary Plant Growth Acceleration Card.

Immediately after, the system’s slightly mechanical yet tempting voice sounded again: “Detection shows the host has obtained a random plant seed unlock. Would you like to proceed?”

This time, Seratus didn’t hesitate at all, silently confirming in his heart. With the crisp “Ding! Ding!” sound.

In an instant, Seratus’s consciousness was pulled by an invisible force, immersing him in the familiar system space. A massive gachapon machine appeared before him, its body gleaming with a metallic sheen, filled with countless colorful seed capsules—green, white, blue, red… the lights intertwined and shimmered like countless miniature stars spinning rapidly, dazzling and overwhelming.

A faint sense of disappointment washed over him—the memory of his last gachapon draw was still fresh, and it had only yielded a blue-quality seed. This time, he desperately longed for the legendary golden-quality seed. However, as if mocking his eagerness, the lights representing hope seemed to slow down whenever he tried to speed up the gachapon machine, as if deliberately opposing his anxious mood. Seratus couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

His tone carried a hint of helplessness and frustration: “Damn this system, always tormenting me, making me spin so slowly. Can’t it just give me a good result quickly?”

Seratus took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his irritation, and continued to spin the gachapon machine unwillingly, praying that this time he could at least escape the disappointing green or white, even if it was just blue. The dull mechanical sound of the gachapon machine echoed in the vast system space, the colorful lights flashing like a chaotic kaleidoscope—green, white, blue, weaving together into a confusing rainbow.

Just as he slowed his pace, almost holding his breath, waiting for the final result, a blinding light suddenly tore through the void, instantly engulfing his entire consciousness!

As the dazzling light slowly receded like a tide, a shimmering rainbow orb floated quietly before the gachapon machine, its surface flowing with red, gold, green, blue, and other dreamlike colors, so beautiful it made one hold their breath.

As time passed, the surface of the egg-shaped object gradually dimmed, and finally, all the colors faded, leaving only a slightly disappointing, fresh green.

Then, the system’s emotionless mechanical voice sounded again, like a cold verdict: “Congratulations, host, for drawing a green-quality plant. Now updating the exchange store. Please wait.”