A Hatchling Ate Three Eggs!
Before he knew it, he had picked up his third baked egg while eating mindlessly.
Christina watched him fondly and spoke gently.
“Hee hee. There's plenty, so no need to rush, dear. You should drink this milk with it too, right? Even with a hatchling's stomach, it's best to be careful.”
He nodded, but his pace didn't slow much.
The texture was so soft and smooth going down, and they were so delicious he hated wasting time peeling the shells.
Huh? Why is this one so tough?
He quickly shoved aside the one with an unusually hard shell and went for another easy-to-peel baked egg.
As he chewed with his mouth full, he took a swig of milk and ended up gulping down the whole bottle.
Despite their massive size, it took six or seven before he finally flopped back with a satisfied groan.
Ugh. So full.
His belly was already plump, but now it was ballooned out tight.
It was so stuffed that every breath came with a faint wheeze.
After Christina cleared away all the shells, she moved the egg basket closer to the cradle.
“I didn't expect you to eat this well. Looks like I need to fetch more.”
“Kyuu! Kyu!”
Christina smiled warmly at the hatchling kicking his feet happily and chirping.
“All right. Since you mentioned it, I'll go now. Rest easy, little one.”
“Kyuuu.”
Rubbing his belly contentedly, the imugi waved a forepaw in farewell.
Overeating like this isn't like him. He'll need time to digest...
His digestion was strong enough to avoid any trouble, but with that bloated belly making it hard to breathe, he needed some rest.
Lying in the cradle, he caught his breath blankly until his eyes drifted shut.
Did I doze off?
Blinking his eyes open, the imugi looked around.
Rai must have noticed him sleeping and moved away so its light wouldn't disturb him.
Without Christina or Rai, the room felt profoundly quiet.
His gaze fell on the egg basket.
He smacked his lips thoughtfully.
Not super hungry, but... maybe just one more?
The perfectly baked sheen tempted him.
Yeah. One more won't hurt.
Licking his chops, he tensed his back muscles and flapped his wings.
Small compared to his body, but enough to lift him.
He floated over lightly and landed in front of the basket, eyes sparkling as he snatched an egg with a forepaw.
The smoky aroma whetted his appetite.
No reason to hesitate.
Crack. He split the shell and bit deep into the egg.
Yes. This is the taste.
To make heaven from a single egg—what a species the red dragons must be.
Beings who can produce this flavor... they might be born with the ultimate culinary talent.
What started as “just one more” led naturally to peeling another, until only the last one remained.
Hmm.
It was especially large and glossy.
Unlike the others, it had a faint reddish tint and was so tough even his grabs hadn't cracked it.
So this is the one left.
“Kyu.”
Staring it down, he used it as a prop to stand on his hind legs.
I have to face this head-on eventually.
A subtle mana aura flickered in the imugi's eyes.
I didn't want to go this far, but to crack this shell, now while no one's around is the chance.
Mana from his heart and energy from his dantian enveloped his small body, quietly building power.
“Kyu... huu.”
Deep breath in, he spread his forepaws into a steady straight punch stance.
Incredible—stable form from one who'd struggled just to stand on two legs.
“Pya!”
Ha!
Breath and energy perfectly synced, he punched toward the egg.
Thwack!
Grk!
Even with mana-infused strike, not a single crack—the imugi squinted in frustration.
Of course. If it broke that easily, it would've by now.
He opened his right paw for a handblade strike.
Smack!
Not even this?
Sharper than most blades, yet it did nothing.
Instead, his edged paw throbbed from the impact.
It even felt like the egg nullified his mana, draining his strength instead.
Just a baked egg?
Now his pride was stung.
...I didn't want to go this far.
For one whose life was pure training, he craved a worthy target for full power.
Just once. I'll pour everything into shattering it.
Killing intent, unbelievable from such a tiny hatchling, crept forth.
Stuffed with mana-rich food, his energy brimmed.
This time for sure!
He unleashed everything he'd built.
Haaah!
“Kyaaaaah!”
Terrifying energy adhered to the egg's surface from his paw.
Break!
Compressed burst exploded inward.
The egg shuddered violently from the core quake, like an earthquake.
Huhk!
Thud.
All qi spent, he collapsed to his knees.
Did I hatch it...?
Panting, regaining wits, he stared at the egg touching his forepaw.
Drip. Crack.
Success.
Cracks spiderwebbed from his paw's impact point.
I did it! This body's power is supreme!
Fissures spread rapidly.
The imugi grinned, slumping into a V-sit with the egg between his legs.
To withstand that. Impressive for a mere egg.
As he shook his head and placed a paw to peel the shell and recover qi—
Crack!
“Peeyak—!”
“Kyu?”
Huh?
The shell burst open, a white bird's head popping out and bumping his finger.
“Pee-yap. Pee-yap! Pweh-pweh-pweh-pweh.”
“Kyu... uu?”
What is this...?
The imugi was half-stunned.
Soft, fluffy white down rubbed against his forepaw.
“Pee! Pweah!”
The chick lifted its white face, opening yellow eyes that met the imugi's red ones.
A bird?
Shell shattered more, tiny white wings flapping.
“Pee-it! Pweak!”
What the—why is there a bird in here—!
Snapping out of his daze, he stared.
Wait... why is it alive? It was baked! And what's this aura I'm sensing?
Examining the chick, his jaw dropped further in disbelief.
Fire energy—and my own power mixed in!
No wonder it felt like his efforts were nullified; it had absorbed everything.
Clearly, it hadn't fully baked in the red dragon's fire because it sucked up all that energy too.
Th-then all the power I've built so far went to this thing...?
Thud.
Realization hit, leaving him hollow and drained.
Propping his limp body with one forepaw was all he could manage.
What a waste... seriously, insanely wasteful.
His small frame trembled with rage.
Meanwhile, the chick fully shed its shell and toddled toward the half-collapsed imugi.
“Pweh. Pweh-pwet.”
What're you saying.
Lifting weary eyes, he saw the white chick—like a chick—nuzzling his forepaw happily upon eye contact.
“Pweah. Pweah.”
Unusually affectionate, leaning against him, a thought crossed his mind.
Imprinting?
Some creatures blindly see their first sight after birth as mother.
Having absorbed his power, it might sense him as kin.
Come to think of it, some divine beasts have similar traits.
He stood and walked away from the chick to test.
It followed eagerly, cheeping, no matter left, right, or circles—thin legs pumping hard.
Ridiculous.
Sighing mid-air, he shook his head.
“Pweat! Pee-it!”
Tiny white wings flapped, bright eyes begging for praise.
Ugh. Such a hassle.
Having burned all strength and spirit on this unexpected nuisance, he desperately needed rest.
The imugi spread small wings and flew back to the cradle.
“Pweaaaa! Pweh-pweh! Pweat!”
What. Can't fly yet?
Desperate cheeps faded as he distanced.
Perfect. I'm exhausted anyway; ignore it, and it'll figure itself out.
He landed indifferently, face-planting into the pillow.
“Pweh! Pweat! Pweh...”
That's right.
The cries weakened, pricking his conscience, but he pressed his ear to the pillow to block them.
But.
“Pweh... Pweat. Pweh... uu. Pee-ru-ru-ru.”
The sounds grew pitiful, dissolving into hiccuping sobs.
Daring a peek, he saw the white chick shedding tears like an orphaned child.
It's crying! Crying!
Spotting his face over the cradle edge, the chick flapped tiny wings and hopped in place.
“Pee! Pweh-pweh-pwet!”
He was losing his mind.
Irritation and guilt warring, he finally bolted upright.
This damn bird brat!
Pawing the cradle rail, he glared fiercely at the chick.
Meanwhile, oblivious to it all, Christina hurried back to her lair, anxious.
Took longer than expected to get home.
Her left wrist basket brimmed with freshly baked, steaming phoenix eggs.
I said I'd be quick... what if he's hungry?
Recalling his shocked face at no milk, she chuckled softly.
It had been cuter than expected, his pouty sulk amusing too.
So cute.
But worry for the alone child chased away stray thoughts.
“Baby.”
Entering the imugi's room, she heard snoring and sighed in relief.
Shell fragments littered around.
Oh dear. Ate all the leftover eggs waiting and fell asleep.
Approaching the imugi, she tilted her head at the white fluff ball curled atop his head.
“What's that?”
It hadn't been there when she left.
The sleeping hatchling and the white chick—with a single black feather poking out—alternated snores, brows slightly furrowed.
“Pee-ro-ro-ro-ro.”
“Ku... uu.”
Bellies rising and falling, they curled innocently, oblivious to the world.
A sight to melt the heart just watching.