Otherwise, once the outer wall is broken, the hunting environment will cease to exist, and all plans will become empty talk."
"Fourth, and most importantly."
Rodrigo finally locked his gaze firmly on Percival. "Percival, your primary task with your arrows during the hunt should be to heavily wound and distract the Red Emperor, weakening his ability to move and counter-attack to create opportunities for other companions. You should not be obsessed with pursuing a one-hit kill."
"We still don't know what kind of trump cards or special traits the Red Emperor is hiding."
"What kind of reliance allows a monarch like him, who is not a reckless man, to repeatedly choose seemingly risky personal expeditions?"
"In the absence of information, we must play it safe and not leave anything to chance."
"Shoot his eyes to deprive him of vision; shoot his throat to interfere with his breath and roars; shoot the key nodes of his Dragon Qi circulation to disrupt his rhythm."
"What we want is not a flashy solo kill, but to ensure he dies under our encirclement, no matter the method."
Hearing this, Percival narrowed his eyes slightly.
He habitually rubbed the bow arm with his finger and slowly shook his head.
"General Rodrigo, are you... overestimating the complexity of a beast?"
He said: "A beast is a beast. Just because he has put on an Emperor's mantle and created an illusion of wisdom and depth, it doesn't change his instinct to plunder, conquer, and display power."
"In my view, the Red Iron Dragon's various actions precisely prove the pride and arrogance in his bones."
"Such a personality is a far cry from the word 'cautious'."
"You are overthinking it."
Rodrigo's expression instantly became incredibly solemn.
He did not back down, staring straight into the sharp eyes of the Legendary Fate Hunter.
"Percival, do you think the Red Emperor—who could rise like a comet within a hundred years, establish a nation as an Evil Dragon, and have the support of the Dragon Domain and Lothorn, while making the various races under his command united—would be a Dragon without a plan?"
"Whether it's cruelty, ferocity, or arrogance, these are all his camouflages, meant to deceive his enemies."
"Beneath the Red Emperor's scales, I see a heart that is both calm and cold."
"He is not an opponent to be underestimated. No amount of caution is too much."
A ripple of emotion flashed in Percival's eyes, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Rodrigo said no more. He stood up straight, his arm resting on the sand table, his body as straight as a javelin.
"Everyone, this battle concerns the fate of our nation."
"What we are planning here is no longer just a victory in a pass defense battle, but an aim to end this war that has swept across both countries!"
"If the Red Emperor falls here, the Aura Kingdom will instantly lose its only, irreplaceable King."
"At that time, the lords of various races, those monster tribes, and even those Dragons who have lost the Emperor's suppression will immediately begin to fight for power and set up independent regimes. The powerful Aura Kingdom will begin to disintegrate from within and collapse without a fight!"
He looked around at everyone and explained: "This is different from human nations."
"If a human kingdom loses a king, as long as the royal family's foundation remains and the Legendary powerhouses support them, a new monarch can soon be elected. The ruling structure is not easily shaken. But the Aura Kingdom is a behemoth built entirely around the authority of the Red Emperor."
"This gives it terrifying cohesion and mobility, but the cost is also very serious."
"Once the highest pillar collapses, the entire building will come crashing down."
Rodrigo's gaze was like a physical weight, scanning every face present.
"Conversely, if our plan fails and the Dragon Severing Pass is broken head-on by the Red Emperor... then the natural barrier of the Cui Luan Mountain Range will be completely lost, and the Xio heartland will be fully exposed to the Aura Iron Hoof. Morale will completely collapse, the balance of the War of the Two Auras will tilt entirely, and the war will end with the victory of the Aura Kingdom."
"So, we cannot afford to fail; there is no way back."
"This battle..."
He took a deep breath and said word by word, "Must be won! Failure is not allowed!"
New Calendar Year 344, Spring, April 7th.
North of the Cui Luan Mountain Range, Rolling Stone Valley.
This place was located behind the assembly point of the Aura army, full of jagged rocks and uneven terrain.
"Aura will win! Xio will lose!"
A roar shook the air of the valley, carrying undisguised pride and wildness.
"Because, besides the great and invincible Your Majesty the Emperor, I, Karu, have finally become a Legendary! Hahahaha!"
Gluttony Demon Kalu raised his head and grinned with a huge mouth that almost extended to his ears, letting out a deafening laugh.
Compared to before, the Dragon-like features on his body had become more prominent.
The two curved Dragon horns on the top of his forehead had become thick and formidable, their cuticles shimmering with a metallic luster, pointing straight at the sky.
Thick and hard dark red scales covered almost every inch of his skin.
Most striking was the pair of broad and massive Dragon wings spread out behind him.
The wing membranes were tough, the skeleton strong, and the wing surfaces were covered with bright red patterns like flowing lava. Even when stationary, they emitted a scorching Aura.
But even more special were the faint blood-colored streaks flowing in the gaps and on the surface of those dark red scales.
These streaks changed brightness with his breathing, faintly resonating with his heartbeat.
Whoosh—!
The Gluttony Demon took a deep breath.
The surrounding air seemed to be pulled, making a faint hissing sound.
In the next instant, a solid red flame erupted from every streak on his body, instantly enveloping his mountain-like frame.
Under the shroud of this blood flame, his body began an astonishing expansion, muscles knotting together like tightened steel cables.
[Under the Dragon Throne]
—You are loyal to your Dragon Lord; you are his extended scales and claws, and thus, you are able to share the afterglow of his power.
Through this trait brought by loyalty and connection, Karu gained the qualification to draw upon a portion of the Red Emperor's power.
What he was displaying now was exactly the Blood Burst State.
In the future, as his Legendary Rank increases and he further explores and strengthens the trait "Under the Dragon Throne," he might be able to display even more power.
After trying out the effects of the Blood Burst State for a while.
Karu stopped and began to eat again. His stomach was like a bottomless pit, capable of consuming a massive amount of food in a very short time.
[Big Eater]
—You have an almost infinite appetite, as well as a terrifying digestion and energy conversion System.
This was a trait deeply rooted in his nature as a Gluttony Demon.
Now, he could accumulate massive amounts of energy faster and store them with higher efficiency to perform the Gluttony State he already possessed.
That was a state of accumulating energy through daily eating and releasing all stored energy in one go at a critical moment in exchange for explosive power.
While eating frantically, Karu looked at the silhouette of the Cui Luan Mountain Range, baring his teeth as sparks flew from the gaps in his scales.
"Dragon Severing Pass... hehe... just you wait..."