Dragon of Ares's Spring

The myth

The Ismenian Dragon guarded a spring sacred to Ares at the place where Thebes would be founded, and many called it a son of the god himself. When Cadmus sent his companions to fetch water, the serpent killed nearly all of them. Cadmus destroyed it and, on Athena's advice, sowed half of its teeth: armed warriors sprang from the earth, the Spartoi, who fought one another until five remained, ancestors of the Theban nobles. To atone, Cadmus served Ares for eight years. The other half of the teeth went to Aeetes in Colchis, and Jason had to sow them too.

Why it has this power

A Rare level-7 card with 2350 ATK and 2000 DEF: a beast of war worthy of the god it served. A Darkness Dragon lurking in the dark cave beside the spring, it bears the Moon and Crown constellations, the night and the royalty of Thebes that sprang from its teeth.

Did you know

At the end of their lives, Cadmus and his wife Harmonia were turned into serpents, as if the dragon had collected its debt.

Connections

• In Theron, Priest of the Underworld's deck

Where to get it

• Daily Offering: 0.11% per pack (Rare 2.8% per card)
• Traveler's Pack: 0.69% per pack · 4.2% in the themed pack (Rare 7% per card)
• Bronze Reliquary: 0.78% per pack · 4.7% in the themed pack (Rare 8% per card)
• Silver Reliquary: 1.3% per pack · 7.9% in the themed pack (Rare 15% per card)
• Golden Reliquary: 2% per pack · 12% in the themed pack (Rare 25% per card)
• Daily Showcase: Shows up on about 1.5% of days · 400 gems
• Craft with card dust: 600 dust
• Crossing of Myths: Can be offered as a reward during a crossing (the card stays in the crossing deck).

Sources

1. ISMENIAN DRAGON (Drakon Ismenios) - Giant Serpent of Greek Mythology — Aaron J. Atsma, Theoi Project
2. The Library, Book 3 — Pseudo-Apollodorus (trans. J. G. Frazer), Theoi Classical Texts Library
3. Cadmus (World History Encyclopedia) — Liana Miate