Translator: AnubisTL
Late at night, Garos folded his dragon wings and hovered above the clouds.
His gaze pierced through the thin mist and darkness, surveying the hills below.
The Cracked Spine Hills—territory of the Bonechewer Clan ogres.
Six years ago, Garos had conducted a cursory reconnaissance of this area. While the terrain remained largely unchanged, the ogre territory had been completely transformed, bearing no resemblance to his memories.
The once sparsely populated ogre camps had expanded into a sprawling tribal complex stretching for miles.
Over a hundred tents sewn from the hides of colossal beasts dotted the landscape like malignant tumors.
The number of bonfires had increased tenfold, each surrounded by five or six burly ogres.
They wore necklaces strung with the teeth of their prey as trophies, donned metal-plated skirt armor, and kept iron clubs, massive axes, warhammers, and other high-quality weapons close at hand.
Elite ogre warriors, standing around four meters tall, were numerous, while even ordinary adult ogres exceeded three meters in height.
There were also ogre mages, and more than just one.
The most striking feature was undoubtedly the throne atop the central hill.
This colossal platform was constructed from the skeletons of countless unknown creatures, its surface coated in a dark crimson metallic alloy that glowed ominously in the night.
Karu Jawbone occupied the throne.
This ogre, judging by its sheer size and appearance, bore little resemblance to its kin.
Standing six meters tall, it resembled a giant.
Though massive, its physique was not flabby. Beneath its iron-black skin lay layers of gnarled muscles, resembling ancient tree roots. Its mouth bristled with shark-like teeth, and a pair of spiraling horns curved skyward from its head. The entire body seemed forged from steel, radiating an aura of invincibility.
Four-meter-tall elite ogre warriors continuously hauled food, rocks, and even massive logs to Karu, who devoured everything without hesitation.
Blood-soaked meat, stones, wood—nothing was spared. His appetite seemed insatiable.
"That form... he truly is a Gluttony Demon! Samantha was right."
Garos narrowed his eyes, silently observing the scene under the night sky.
A Gluttony Demon, a rare high-tier variant among ogres, possessed the Gluttony Talent, allowing it to surpass its original physical limitations.
With sufficient food, a Gluttony Demon could continuously grow stronger. If it survived to adulthood, becoming a legendary creature was virtually guaranteed. Moreover, at the same level, its combat prowess rivaled that of elite dragons. Even white dragons of equal rank would struggle to defeat a Gluttony Demon.
Gazing down at the Gluttony Demon, Garos felt a flicker of interest.
Until now, he had lacked a core familiar among his subordinates.
The earthstorm bears, hyena-men, and graymane werewolves all had inherent limitations. Even after dragon blood transformation, their potential remained capped. The overall scale and strength of his clans were insufficient for significant endeavors.
Furthermore, considering the current size of the Bonechewer Clan, the Redeye Clan, Howling Moon Clan, and another battle lizard clan had either abandoned their territories to hide or had already met a grim fate. None could withstand the Bonechewer Clan's ascendant power.
"My own strength is paramount," Garos mused.
"But a powerful legion of familiars is also essential."
Evil dragons were notorious for attracting encirclements and extermination attempts. Warriors and adventurers eager to slay dragons would relentlessly track and attack them.
A formidable legion of familiars could handle many of these unnecessary troubles for the evil dragon.
Garos didn't consider himself an evil dragon; he believed he was a neutral dragon. However, he knew that if discovered, he would be targeted as an evil dragon and besieged.
He couldn't abandon his territory and flee with his tail between his legs every time a hunting party appeared.
Relocating to unfamiliar territory also carried risks. Unless absolutely necessary, no monster lord would willingly abandon their territory.
Garos felt he needed to prepare in advance.
"This Gluttony Demon hasn't fully matured yet, and there's also this ogre clan. They could become my core chosen."
Garos's hunting instincts flared as he pondered how to subdue the ogres.
Here stood a Gluttony Demon, three ogre mages, and a vast number of elite ogre warriors.
"Check on the hyena-men and graymane werewolves," Garos instructed. "If they haven't been wiped out, regroup and consolidate them. Then, bring Samantha, the earthstorm bear pack, fire lizards, and giant fire ants—all our chosen—to attack the Bonechewer Clan."
This was Garos's first thought, born of caution and prudence.
His eyes flickered as he studied the ogre territory, then slowly shook his head.
One of Garos's ultimate goals was to one day defeat the entire world with the power of a single dragon, freeing him from the need to live cautiously. His current prudence was merely a means to achieve that future ambition.
Though cautious, he was far from timid.
Garos understood his own capabilities and his current level of power. He possessed a clear awareness of his strength, refusing to suppress himself despite his growth and evolution. Playing the pig for too long risked becoming one.
"My speed and explosive power, combined with these newly evolved dragon wings, have already made me invincible."
"I have no reason to fear an ogre clan or an immature Gluttony Demon. I can defeat them alone."
"My goal is to conquer the world with the power of a single dragon. I'll start by testing my strength against this ogre clan."
Garos triple-checked his reasoning, ensuring it wasn't arrogance or hubris clouding his judgment. After careful consideration and even a small dose of fairy scale powder to sharpen his mind, he concluded that his assessment of their relative strengths was accurate.
With unwavering resolve, he made his decision.
Meanwhile, the Gluttonous Demon Karu was crunching on a marble slab offered by his clan members, devouring it with loud, grinding bites.
His insatiable appetite threatened to bankrupt the entire clan if he consumed only fresh meat. As chieftain, Karu had to supplement his diet with stones to ensure the clan's long-term survival.
This wasn't just for the clan's sake; it was for his own. Only a thriving clan could provide him with the endless supply of food he craved.
Suddenly, Karu detected an unusual scent. He paused chewing, tilted his head, and gazed skyward.
A dragon shadow, radiating undisguised dragon might and qi, materialized in the Gluttonous Demon's vision.
It wasn't just the Gluttony Demon; the elite ogre warriors and several sorcerers also noticed the appearance of the dragon shadow.
However, they showed little fear, instead brimming with anticipation.
Since the Gluttony Demon's birth, the entire Bonechewer Clan had been in a state of frenzied excitement, driven by an unstoppable momentum. Any obstacle or creature that dared cross their path would be torn apart and devoured, fueling their relentless expansion.
"It's a juvenile dragon," the two-headed ogre mage, the most experienced and knowledgeable among them, declared in unison.
"What kind of dragon?" Karu asked.
The ogre mage's left head answered, "Looks like a red dragon." The right head disagreed, "No, it's an iron dragon!"
"It's definitely a red dragon!"
"It's definitely an iron dragon!"
The two heads devolved into a heated argument, eventually resorting to physical blows. The ogre mage, as if seized by madness, swung his fists wildly, alternating between hammering his left head and pounding his right.
Karu pressed, "Is it tasty?"
Can it be eaten?
Is it delicious?
These were the Gluttony Demon's paramount concerns.
The two-headed ogre mage froze, answering in perfect unison, "It must be delicious!"
Saliva dripped from Karu's lips.
He tilted his head back, a glint of cunning in his eyes, and bellowed in his rough voice, "Dragon of the heavens, descend and feast with the Bonechewer Clan! I offer to share my meal with you!"
The red-iron dragon abruptly flapped its wings, but instead of diving down, it blasted away the surrounding clouds, creating a hundreds-meter-wide void. It then shot straight upward into the higher heavens, as if startled and fleeing.
Karu watched the dragon shadow shrink into the distance, becoming increasingly difficult to see, and sighed.
But before he could lower his head and avert his gaze, he suddenly noticed a crimson light erupting in the distant sky. It tore through the heavens like a scarlet comet hurtling downward.
The dragon's weapon-like wings beat furiously, and torrents of dark red flames surged from the tips of its silver crystalline bones.
Garos's speed surged.
The crimson scales on his wing membranes vibrated at a high frequency, slicing through the air with a buzzing sound like a thousand blades being drawn from their sheaths. His explosive scales, heated by the extreme friction with the air, gradually turned searing red, emitting thunderous roars as he descended.
The rock walls cracked, and fine gravel rained down.
The sonic boom created as the red-iron dragon broke the sound barrier caused the ordinary ogres of the Bonechewer Clan to clutch their ears in agony.
Karu suddenly stood up, his eyes gleaming with fierce light as he fixed his gaze on the comet-like dragon descending rapidly.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
He pounded his chest, producing a drum-like rhythm. His massive frame visibly tightened, every muscle fiber coiling like steel wire, brimming with terrifying power.
"Come, dragon!" he roared.
The elite warriors gripped their weapons, bracing for battle. Several sorcerers began channeling spells, awaiting the dragon's landing.
But their expectations were dashed.
When Garos reached within three hundred meters of the ground, he abruptly flapped his wings.
Boom!
A shockwave erupted, uprooting tents and sending debris flying. The ground churned with dust and stones, leaving a scene of utter chaos.
Yet this was merely the faintest aftershock.
Garos didn't stop. Flames surged from behind his dragon wings as he arced gracefully through the air, his astonishing agility allowing him to instantly adjust course and soar upward once more.
At the same moment...
The crimson-hot explosive scales, having generated immense heat through extreme friction with the air, rained down in a dense, torrential downpour upon the Bonechewer Clan.
Gluttonous Demon Karu's pupils constricted sharply.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Blazing pillars of fire erupted skyward, their explosive roars echoing like the wrathful roars of dragons, engulfing the Gluttony Demon and the elite warriors and sorcerers surrounding it.
(End of the Chapter)
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