"Be cautious, do not approach them; those are Morse Dragon Beasts!"
Hearing Winters' words, we five young dragons, who had been preparing to capture and observe the diminutive creatures that had flown in, immediately halted our actions.
I was, as usual, the one posing the questions.
"Morse Dragon Beasts, what are those?
Do Dragon Beasts exist in the world that are this small?
Also, why are they able to enter the Dragon's Den?
Is it not said that other dragons cannot enter without our express permission?"
Hearing my words, Winters did not respond immediately, but first manipulated the fire element to form a semi-transparent crimson sphere, casually enveloping five of the Morse Dragon Beasts that had flown in.
Afterward, she placed the five Morse Dragon Beasts before Celine, Billy, Ao, Dinnett, and myself.
"Ordinarily, our second lesson would pertain to magic, but since you exhibit interest in the Morse Dragon Beasts, then we can first learn about the Dragon Beasts that cohabit our surroundings."
After a pause, Winters continued, "There are myriad types of Dragon Beasts.
In this world, every living entity other than the Dragon Clan, and all flora, are designated Dragon Beasts!
Of course, this is not merely for convenience, but because our world was forged by the collision of the potencies of the Creation Dragon and the Destruction Dragon.
And when the Creation Dragon departed, He bequeathed a droplet of His own blood to this world.
Therefore, all living beings in this world, even plants, contain some measure of draconic power.
Not to mention others; they fundamentally all contain dragon blood!
Among them, those endowed with intelligence constitute the Dragon Clan, and those dominated by bestial nature are the Dragon Beasts!
Morse Dragon Beasts are considered a diminutive species among Dragon Beasts!"
The largest Morse Dragon Beasts are the Sudomorusu Dragon Beasts that dwell in the southern jungles of this world.
They are three times the size of the Isumorusu Dragon Beasts currently before you!"
I listened to Winters' explanation whilst carefully observing the Morse Dragon Beast hovering before me.
It bears a strong resemblance to a fly from that other world, save that it is considerably larger.
It is approximately five centimetres in length, with an ovoid body.
Its small head is crowned with a pair of golden compound eyes that occupy two-thirds of its cranial space.
Behind the compound eyes are two small draconic horns, and at its posterior are two pairs of transparent wings, but no Dragon Tail.
Below its body are six Dragon Claws, which are slender and adorned with sharp barbs.
According to Winters, the largest Morse Dragon Beast is only about fifteen centimetres long.
Compared to the Bus Dragon Beast, which measures thirty metres in length even before reaching adulthood, it is indeed a diminutive species.
But...
"Why are they designated Isumorusu Dragon Beasts?"
Upon hearing this, Winters elucidated, "The plains south of the Desidero Dragon Roost are known as the Isu Plains.
Because the Isu Plains are encompassed by the Starspring Mountains, the Warren Great Rift, the Moonshadow River, and the Gloomnight Forest, the Dragon Beasts within the Isu Plains are somewhat distinct from those in other locales."
That is how the name Isumorusu Dragon Beast originated!"
"Then why do you assert they are dangerous?
Judging by their frail little legs, they probably could not even scratch my Dragon Scale!
And, I am even more curious as to their taste!"
As he uttered this, Billy extended his tongue and licked the Fire Element Shield; consequently, his tongue instantly blistered.
After a pitiable howl, Billy covered his mouth and swiftly retreated several paces, then regarded the Fire Element Shield with an expression of fear, no longer daring to advance.
Winters evidently had not anticipated that a young dragon would lick the Fire Element Shield with its tongue.
By the time she reacted, the deed was done.
"Billy, I believe I must admonish you: not everything can be placed within your mouth.
That applies to the Fire Element Shield, and it applies to the Morse Dragon Beast!"
"Besides, did your bloodline inheritance not inform you that a True Dragon's resistance to magical elements originates from the Dragon Scales upon its body?"
Celine, Ao, Dinnett, and I looked at Billy with peculiar expressions whilst subconsciously distancing ourselves from the Fire Element Shield.
We had no desire to be burned as Billy had been.
"My apologies, I shall not repeat the offense!"
After being lectured by Winters, Billy immediately became tractable and readily admitted his error.
Winters nodded, evincing no intention of prolonging the reprimand.
"The Morse Dragon Beast is the weakest of all Dragon Beasts, and almost any creature other than plants can easily dispatch one.
However, that does not imply they are not dangerous!"
Saying that, Winters gestured for us five little ones to observe the other Morse Dragon Beasts that had flown in.
At this time, they were alighted upon the Bus Dragon Beast remains that we five had left, feasting voraciously.
Moreover, new Morse Dragon Beasts were continually flying in from the exterior.
"They are drawn to the scent of blood.
Even the faintest trace of blood will attract a vast multitude of Morse Dragon Beasts.
Of course, the danger lies not in their numbers, but in the pestilence they carry!"
Especially for young dragons newly hatched like yourselves, your resistance to this plague can be said to be virtually non-existent!
Therefore, be it Morse Dragon Beasts or anything that Morse Dragon Beasts have touched, you would be wise not to approach, particularly this food; it is no longer edible.
If you are unfortunately infected with the plague, then you can only imbibe those potions with peculiar odors; believe me, the taste of that potion will render you devoid of any desire to eat for several days!
Listening to Winters' narration, I noticed that amongst the newly arrived Morse Dragon Beasts, another kind of creature was intermingled.
Their size is comparable to that of Morse Dragon Beasts, but their appearance is entirely different.
These diminutive creatures are like miniature facsimiles of True Dragons.
Dragon heads, Dragon horns, Dragon wings, Dragon Claws, Dragon Tails, and so forth, are all complete.
But after they flew in, they did not alight upon the remains of the Bus Dragon Beast as the Morse Dragon Beasts had, but rather...
"They are preying upon Morse Dragon Beasts!"
Hearing my exclamation, the eyes of the other four young dragons also turned towards the newly arrived guests, and then they too uttered similar exclamations.
But Winters exhibited not the slightest surprise.
"Calculating the time, they should indeed have arrived by now."
Hearing this, I could not help but look curiously at Winters.
"They?
Are you referring to these little creatures?
Also, they bear such a strong resemblance to us; are they also of the True Dragon Species?
Ah... though their size seems somewhat incongruous."
Hearing this, Winters smiled (a distinct grin) and shook her head.
"Assuredly not!
They are not of the True Dragon Species, but are Dragon Beasts!
This is a Dragon Beast known as the Ball Little Dragon, and they are called Friends of the True Dragon!
Precisely because they are the natural predators of the Morse Dragon Beast!
Furthermore..."
As she spoke, the smile on Winters' face broadened even more (became more ferocious), and then she extended her claws and prodded at a Ball Little Dragon.
The Ball Little Dragon, thus poked, roared silently at Winters, and then its body abruptly swelled, becoming a sphere approximately half a metre in diameter in the blink of an eye.
"They are quite intriguing, are they not!"