The first light of dawn filtered into the depths of the cave, where a thin mist hung like a veil of gossamer. The moss clinging to the stone walls glistened with moisture under the faint light, and the air carried the earthy scent of soil mingled with the fresh fragrance of plant roots. Serathus slowly opened his draconic eyes, the molten glow within them flickering like embers. His crimson pupils were encircled by faint golden flame-like patterns. His gaze swept across the familiar stone walls, their rough textures appearing even colder in the dim light.
He instinctively called out to the system in his mind, expecting the familiar mechanical voice to chime in as usual, announcing the next task. But this time, there was only silence. The task panel was empty—no new tasks had been added.
Serathus frowned slightly, a trace of confusion creeping into his thoughts. Since hatching from his egg, he had been like a puppet on strings, guided step by step by the system. Tasks had become the very meaning of his existence, the driving force behind his progress. And now, with that thread abruptly severed, he felt momentarily adrift.
His thoughts drifted to the field he had cultivated with his own hands. The Sunlight Mushrooms swayed gently in the morning light, while the emerald-green potatoes and carrots thrived in the soil. The buds of the Radiant Flowers were on the verge of blooming. From a single seed to this now flourishing field, he had poured his heart and sweat into it over the past month. This was his domain, his hard-earned territory.
Yet, the system’s silence cast a faint shadow over his sense of accomplishment. He began to wonder: if there were no more tasks from the system, what should he do? Was he destined to repeat the monotonous cycle of farming day after day? The thought filled him with an indescribable restlessness. He recalled the moment he had hatched from the egg, when the system had provided him with a beginner’s package and seeds, guiding him to plant. Without the system, he would not be where he was today.
He remembered the time he had brought the Sunlight Mushrooms back to the cave, sharing them with Agnus and his sister, Katilia. After tasting them, they had eagerly asked for more. This alone proved that even green-quality plants held an irresistible allure for young dragons like them. Moreover, the system-produced carrots and elemental fertilizers were infused with pure plant life energy—and they were delicious!
Just as he was lost in thought about his field and the future, a familiar mechanical voice suddenly rang in his ears.
“Congratulations, Host, for completing the task with excellence. System upgrade successful! Current system level: V2.”
“Random functions unlocking in progress!”
“Congratulations, Host, for unlocking the System Map module!”
“Task panel updating. Please wait!”
A series of system notifications echoed in Serathus’s mind, and he felt a surge of relief. The system had finally upgraded! The days of silence had almost made him believe it had rotted away into oblivion.
After all, the majority of his strength had come from the rewards of system tasks. And the tedious farming life had long since bored him to no end.
Serathus turned his gaze to where his brother, Agnus, lay nearby. His sturdy frame was covered in tough scales, a testament to the young dragon’s potential. Though Agnus was slightly smaller in size, Serathus did not underestimate him. Not long ago, in a “friendly match,” the newly hatched Agnus had soundly “beaten” him. If not for Agnus’s exhaustion from the intense battle, the outcome might have been uncertain. Now, though Agnus was smaller, his strength and combat experience far surpassed Serathus’s. If they were to fight again, Serathus wasn’t entirely confident of victory.
As his thoughts churned, the system notifications chimed again, and the task panel finished updating. Serathus eagerly opened it, and new tasks appeared before his eyes.
“Congratulations on the successful upgrade of the task panel. The following tasks are now available!”
**Task 1 Description:** The city near the Elden Beast Mountains seems intent on driving out the red dragons living here in the near future, to restore peace to the people! [Short-term Task]
**Current Task Requirement:** Plant and harvest 100 plants!
**Task Reward:** 2 Primary Lottery Tickets, 1 Common Lottery Ticket
**Task 2 Description:** Truly comprehend and master the power of love!
**Task Requirement:** Communicate with plants using the most sincere heart, allowing them to feel the power of love! [Daily Progress: 0/10] [Long-term Task]
**Progress Reward:** 100 Points!
**Task Completion Reward:** System Level +1
Serathus carefully read through the task panel. The first task was straightforward—plant and harvest a hundred plants. For a “seasoned” farmer like him, it was a piece of cake. However, the second task left him puzzled. “Truly comprehend and master the power of love? Communicate with plants using the most sincere heart, allowing them to feel the power of love?” What kind of task was this? Was he supposed to express love to plants? It reminded him of a cheesy trope—[The Domineering Plant Falls for Me].
But when he revisited the description of the first task, a sudden realization struck him. “The city near the Elden Beast Mountains wants to drive out the red dragons?” The words echoed like thunder in his mind. He immediately recalled the vague prophecy he had read in the Book of the Seer, which hinted at impending danger in this region. And now, the system task was explicitly warning of the same crisis.
The system’s upgrade seemed to be more than just unlocking new functions—it was sounding an alarm. A strong sense of urgency welled up within Serathus. He knew he had to grow stronger, and the most effective way was to complete tasks and earn rewards.
“To face the coming danger,” he took a deep breath, suppressing the restlessness in his heart, and turned his gaze back to the field. He knew he had no other choice. Perhaps the farming life was dull and tedious, but it was a system task, the only path to gaining strength, and the last line of defense against the bloodthirsty instincts lurking within him. He craved power, he wanted to grow stronger, but not through slaughter and plunder. Instead, he would create and protect through his own hard work. After all, he refused to be a beast driven by instinct. He wanted to be the master of his own destiny.
With his resolve firm, Serathus stood up, ready to leave the cave and begin a new round of farming. Before departing, he glanced back into the depths of the cave. The Dragon Mother still stood guard over the mountain of gold, and with her presence, Katilia and Agnus were safe—for now. But Serathus knew this peace was temporary. If human armies ever marched on their home, even the Dragon Mother might not be able to protect the younglings. He had to seize every moment to grow stronger, to ensure he could protect himself in the coming crisis. He would not be captured by humans as a pet—or worse, a mount!
With determination, Serathus turned and strode out of the cave. As his figure gradually disappeared into the distance, a subtle change occurred within the cave: the two young dragons simultaneously opened their fiery red eyes.
Katilia was the first to break the silence, leaning close to Agnus, who had just stretched his strong frame, and whispered, “Hurry, let’s follow him. Don’t let Serathus get too far.”
Without hesitation, Agnus sprang to his feet and chased after him, calling out in his usual gruff tone, “Katilia, my foolish little sister! Use that brain of yours, filled with molten lava, and catch up!”
Though his words were teasing, there was a hint of urgency in Agnus’s voice—he couldn’t easily admit his sister’s cleverness, not with his pride as a young dragon at stake.
Hearing her brother’s taunts, a glint of mischief flashed in Katilia’s eyes. She pouted, pretending to be hurt, and replied softly, “Brother… you’re so mean. Katilia knows she’s wrong. I’ll use my brain… I’ll catch up!”
In her heart, however, she was secretly pleased: *Hmph, Agnus, you fool. You always think I’m clueless, but I’ve already seen through your tricks. When you least expect it, I’ll play the weakling, ‘kindly’ mediate, and then take advantage… Perfect!*
With that, Katilia lowered her head, pretending to be nonchalant, and followed Agnus’s footsteps, her mind already plotting her next move as she trailed after Serathus.
