Chapter 15 Planes and Worlds
Brian's scales gleamed like mirrors, showing no signs of aging. His Dragon Claws were strong, his wings spread wide, and his dragon tail, spear-like, radiated strength.
The most striking features were his platinum eyes and the ring of tightly interlocked black scales around his neck.
The Newborn Dragon phase for dragons lasted from birth to six years old.
However, at just about a year and a half, still within the Newborn Dragon phase, Brian already had the physique of a juvenile dragon, the size typically achieved after over twenty-five years.
This rapid growth astonished Brian.
It was as if time flowed faster for him.
But after understanding his own power, Brian gradually accepted this extraordinary growth rate.
With multiple periods of deep sleep and growth, Brian's vision now encompassed not just the sky, earth, ice, snow, and living beings... but also an ethereal river unseen by other creatures.
This was the River of Time.
To be precise, it was a manifestation of time, appearing as a river to Brian. It might be a towering tree or a gentle breeze to other beings.
The entire Prime Material Plane, no, all planes, even the Arcane Power layer between the planes' Crystal Walls were within the River of Time.
The River of Time enveloped everything, all things existed within it—the falling snow, the flowing ice rivers, the blowing Cold Wind... the sky, earth, sun, moon, stars, and rivers...
When Brian breathed, he also absorbed wisps of the River of Time's ethereal water along with air and elemental energy, gaining a unique power he called the power of time.
This power allowed him to manipulate time.
Brian first mastered Time Acceleration rather than deceleration or reversal because the River of Time always flows forward, making reversing the flow much harder than going with the current.
As a Time Dragon hatchling, he seemed to be favored by the River of Time, growing at a rate ten times faster than ordinary dragons.
Moreover, the passage of time only made him stronger, leaving no adverse effects on him.
Ordinary White Dragons' scales would gradually become rough and show signs of age except when newly born.
But Brian's scales remained mirror-like, beautiful, and brilliant, as if untouched by time.
Only natural disasters or human calamities could kill a Time Dragon; the passage of time had no effect on them.
Under the night sky, the much-grown Brian felt a bit worried.
He mumbled, "White Dragon Mother's gaze has been increasingly strange lately. She probably doesn't want to raise me anymore."
"Without her, my stable life of development is gone."
Normally, a dragon mother would raise a Newborn Dragon until it reached the juvenile stage, capable of some self-defense, before driving it out to fend for itself.
Even the most cold-hearted Evil Dragon wouldn't let a Newborn Dragon fend for itself directly.
But Brian, just over a year old, already had the size of a juvenile White Dragon.
White Dragon Mother now looked at Brian with increasing wariness and impatience, likely planning to drive Brian out of the Dragon's Lair soon.
Although Brian now had some self-defense abilities and had mastered new powers besides Time Manipulation, he was still no match for a fully grown dragon. In this perilous world, he would have to be extremely cautious once he left her protection.
Brian was already making plans.
He would occasionally venture to the edge of White Dragon Mother's Territory, looking out from high places, searching for a suitable place to settle after being driven out.
A life of constant wandering was not what Brian wanted; it was too dangerous.
Under the night sky, Brian flapped his wings, his mirror-like scales blending with the night sky, serving as excellent camouflage.
Anyone with poor eyesight might mistake him for a dark cloud.
At this moment, the northern Ice Field was adorned with a starry sky, with stars and the moon together creating a breathtaking scene. Brian felt the air around him become more vibrant while flying in such a night sky.
