# Chapter 41: The Dream of Riding a Flying Dragon
The Primordial Realm Ancient Dragon, the Black Erosion Dragon Granmiraos, a legendary monster, a colossal dragon species comparable to deities. In ancient times, in the myths of the Milan Gados coastal plains of the Western Mountain, it was the calamity god from the ocean that used heavenly fire and meteors to destroy the world.
It had fallen into slumber long before the flourishing of human civilization. The period when this mysterious ancient dragon was active was in the ancient mythological era, even more distant than several thousand years ago. Only fragments of records in ancient texts documented some of its stories.
As an ancient dragon, the Black Erosion Dragon possessed a long, slender body similar to a sea dragon, but had wings resembling cannon turrets. Its entire body was covered in golden-red molten veins, within which flowed inconceivably terrifying magical power. Although it lived in the depths of the ocean, it could move freely on land. Among known creatures, there was no life or race similar to it—this was a unique, ancient lifeform.
In myths and legends, the appearance of the Black Erosion Dragon was usually accompanied by submarine volcanic eruptions, the ocean heating up and turning red, and strange celestial phenomena like meteor showers. Its very existence was a composite of several natural disasters, a being capable of destroying civilizations. Rumors held that the destruction of the ancient Fishman civilization was related to the Black Erosion Dragon. According to ancient records, at that time, the seas raged in fury, the Emerald Ocean turned entirely into a calamitous red, and molten lava meteors, as if the sky were collapsing, sank a thousand islands, forming the current Western Island chain on the original island sites.
In the previous life's Starfall Year 853, the Year of Legends, due to the second invasion of the Abyss, the Mycroft Continent suffered its most grievous wounds. Drastic environmental changes awakened countless ancient dragons that were meant to slumber until the world's destruction. The Black Erosion Dragon also awakened from the Milan Abyss due to the great Western Sea tsunami, reappearing in the world. In its immense fury, it crushed the Western Sea demon invasion with overwhelming power, even blasting an Abyss Lord back to the other side of the teleportation gate.
At that time, infinite fire elemental energy erupted from the ancient dragon. Meteors and lava fell into the sea, turning everything into the primordial chaos of creation's beginning.
But after the great battle, this ancient dragon fell into madness due to chaos erosion, attacking all living things indiscriminately. Like a moving volcano, it continuously sprayed high-heat lava from its wings. Its maddened march destroyed one-third of the coastal cities in the western part of the Mycroft Continent. Finally, blocking its path was the allied army of all the kingdoms of the Western Continent.
That was a battle comparable to the apocalypse. When the sky and sea turned infernal red, and scorching waves crashed against the coast, several Legendary experts joined forces to strike the ancient dragon back into the bottomless Milan Abyss. Along with the subsidence of fire elements, this mysterious ancient dragon was gradually submerged by the cold seawater, then returned to endless eternal slumber.
Joshua had not participated in that great battle against the Black Erosion Dragon, but that did not prevent him from understanding the information about that ancient dragon. Actually, as a rare fire-attribute sea dragon, data on the Black Erosion Dragon had always been a top priority for various factions.
After all, even though humanity had developed to the point of being able to travel to the Void and other worlds, they still did not fully understand the oceans of their own world. Even if people could go to other worlds to fight and colonize, they could not comprehend even a fraction of the ecology in the deep sea abyss.
Looking at the dragon-blood warhorse happily swimming in the pool before him, Joshua's expression gradually calmed down.
Although the fact that Black had awakened the Black Erosion Dragon's bloodline surprised him somewhat, regardless, it was just a bloodline. It did not mean Black could grow to that level. Not to mention other things, just to stabilize this bloodline to the point where it could be passed down through mating would require a large amount of precious materials. For example, the ancient dragon blood he had taken out earlier was one of the indispensable basic materials.
Although the ancient dragon's body was enormous, and the blood it shed was measured in tons, the blood that could be used for bloodline awakening was not so abundant. Coupled with the extinction of countless ancient dragons over hundreds of years, with only news of dragon-like mountain-sized creatures appearing in the Shimmering Wasteland Desert, this had made even ancient dragon blood, which was not particularly rare, extremely expensive.
"This way, the budget is probably not enough. Winterfell Academy needs to be established, the Rune Factory also needs to start construction, and the newly trained knight order needs to be officially granted a title. There really are many places that need money recently."
Rubbing his chin, Joshua's brow furrowed slightly, and his gaze began to drift, as if he was pondering some issue: "Should I postpone the construction start time of the Rune Factory? But neither side can be delayed..."
Now was not the time to think about these things. Stopping his train of thought, the warrior shook his head and looked at the pool, which had begun to turn red and was gradually heating up. In the backyard, the maids from the Lord's Manor who wanted to fetch water stood nervously to the side. They watched Black, who was engaged in deep diving exercises, showing curiosity on their faces and beginning to whisper among themselves.
Northerners rarely saw the sea in their lives, let alone large creatures that could swim. A horse that could swim was undoubtedly a topic worth discussing for these maids. Perhaps a few days later, this news would spread throughout the city through gossip.
Sighing, Joshua clapped his hands, then reached out to lift Black, who had swum to his side, and pulled him back to the ground. Immediately, a wave of high heat evaporated the moisture around the warhorse, and a thick water vapor covered the entire backyard of the Lord's Manor.
After the steam dispersed, Black still looked reluctantly at the pool, his entire body of shell-like scales trembling. Because of the bloodline awakening, he seemed to have started enjoying the feeling of swimming in the water. The creature twisted its body. Joshua squinted to observe and only then belatedly realized that this twisting motion was indeed very similar to the posture of a sea dragon in water.
It really seems to be a sea dragon. Preconceived notions are truly harmful. I am still too young, too naive.
The warrior didn't know what to say either. He just sighed deeply: "My dream of riding a flying dragon into battle... it seems to be shattered."
He had originally planned to order a custom dragon saddle specially made for flying dragons. Now it seemed unnecessary. But to be honest, Joshua wasn't particularly disappointed. The Black Erosion Dragon bloodline was, after all, the inheritance of an ancient dragon, far superior to those ordinary flying dragon species. For the current situation, he was already satisfied enough. One should still be content with what one has.
"Then, Master, are these materials no longer needed?"
By Joshua's side, Firefly said leisurely. And Frost followed up: "So, should I return them to the secret vault?"
"Yes, thank you both. Keep the ancient dragon blood."
Nodding in reply, Joshua seemed to remember something. He added to the silver-haired girl and black-haired boy: "Later, bring the Life Tree fruit from the rune box in the secret vault—the one I left over from last time."
"Understood, Master."
Watching his weapons carrying a large pile of things and trotting off, Joshua turned around and looked at Black, who was still staring fixedly at the ancient dragon blood in his hand. He smiled and twisted open the bottle cap.
"Although the materials are not enough, I have a sufficiently precious substitute. At least it can solidify the bloodline within your body."
Gazing into the void, the warrior looked at the various precious items and substitute measures on the system list, muttering to himself: "Be grateful, Black. Your Master has bled a lot for you."
"Don't let me down."
(To be continued)