Chapter 348 The Elderly Amethyst Dragon, Garos's Unease

The sky grew increasingly dark, with leaden clouds hanging low and a deep curtain of rain enveloping the entire wilderness.

The rain seemed to connect the sky and the earth, falling softly and splashing endless ripples on the rocks and in the puddles.

"Ennus, tell me about your origins."

A deep sound echoed in the rain.

Red Iron Dragon stood atop the rain-washed, wet cliffs of Echo Rift, countless raindrops striking his hard scales before shattering into finer mist.

Ennus—that is the name of the Amethyst Lion King.

Furthermore, just as the Ignas dragon pack had speculated upon their first meeting, Ennus was no ordinary monster leader.

It possesses the bloodline of the Amethyst Dragon, and the concentration of its dragon blood surpasses that of most mixed-blood dragons.

This powerful bloodline not only endowed it with amazing physique and magical power, but also activated a part of the dragon inheritance that was dormant deep in its bloodline at a key point in its life. This gave it a high level of intelligence from birth, making its thinking profound and its vision clear, far surpassing that of a beast that acts on instinct.

At the same time, the other half of its bloodline, the lion-beast bloodline, is also extraordinary.

Its lion bloodline endows it with a primal quality that allows it to command thousands of lion prides and subdue all beasts.

roar!

The amethyst dragon-lion raised its scarred, seemingly majestic head and let out a low roar. An invisible wave of spiritual energy spread out, conveying to Garos everything it had experienced.

The story goes back more than two hundred years, to a distant era before Galus was even born.

Ennus was already active in the vast, dangerous yet opportunity-filled Ser wilderness at that time.

Back then, it was young, strong, intelligent, and ambitious, with a burning flame within it, determined to create a well-ordered kingdom of ferocious beasts and monsters, completely ruled by it and centered around a powerful pride of lions.

With its own formidable strength, the natural majesty of its dragon descendants, and its remarkable wisdom, it gradually gathered many powerful and diverse elite lion beasts and monsters under its command.

It reigned supreme in a remote area, achieving a dream that seemed unattainable at first.

The emerging power was like a grain of sand in the wilderness; initially, its quiet rise went unnoticed by the outside world.

The Federation's attention was focused on more fertile regions, while the powerful native monster lords were busy in their own territories, undisturbed by anyone.

However, as their power gradually consolidated and their ambitions grew uncontrollably.

The young Amethyst Dragon Lion was no longer content with its secluded corner and began to expand its territory, setting its greedy gaze on Federation outposts and caravans laden with goods, thus extending its sharp claws towards the civilized world for the first time.

The result, however, far exceeded its initial expectations and turned out to be extremely bad.

The swiftness and fierceness of the federal garrison's response to the attack taught young Ennus a harsh lesson.

The Federation quickly assembled a well-equipped, well-coordinated military force led by powerful professionals to launch a comprehensive purge of Ennus's lion pride.

Soon after, the pride of lions that Ennus had painstakingly assembled was either dead, fled, or scattered.

It itself suffered unprecedented damage in that siege, almost dying. Only by exhausting all of its companion amethyst did it barely manage to fight its way out of the desperate situation and escape with its life in a sorry state.

Since then, Ennus, disheartened and resentful, chose to go into complete seclusion.

It hides in the most remote corner of the wilderness, like a wounded beast, silently licking its wounds to heal, while like the most patient hunter, carefully accumulating strength, regrouping the lost lions, training new elites, and building its pride of lions.

It waits in the darkness for its opportunity, yearning to one day make a comeback and realize its former grand ambitions.

What happened next... you know.

The amethyst dragon-lion let out a heavy sigh, squeezing out a helpless growl from its throat.

With the federal government's control over the wilderness weakening in recent years, it believes that the long-awaited opportunity has finally arrived and has decided to return to the mountains, determined to realize its dream.

but.

It never expected that just as it was beginning to show its strength and build up its power, it would provoke the Ironforge tribe, which was also expanding rapidly and was stronger than the lion pride. As a result, it was attacked by the Red Iron Dragon and was eventually defeated, forced to lower its proud head.

"Sure enough, the so-called map kings who have recently risen to prominence in the wilderness are mostly old guys like the Lion King who have been lying low for a long time, waiting for their chance."

“Those who are truly young like me are the very few of the very few, the outliers among outliers.”

Galus slowly spread his wings in the torrential rain, letting the rain wash over his scales, lost in thought.

The lich I had encountered before, the amethyst lion king before me, and myself were similar in some ways.

They had all chosen to hide because they feared the Federation's power, but now they are showing their strength as the situation changes.

"The map kings who have already established themselves in their own territory, as well as some powerful beings who are still observing in the shadows and have not yet surfaced... I estimate that many of them are in this situation."

"This wilderness is much more profound than it appears on the surface."

Rainwater slid down the rugged horns and thorns on the mask, and Garus turned his head slightly to gaze at the Amethyst Lion King.

He asked, "Your dragon blood concentration is extremely high. Was there a real amethyst dragon among your direct blood relatives in the previous generation?"

The Amethyst Lion King shook his head, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.

I don't know.

It responded through psychic energy.

It is not born with the innate knowledge of dragons, but rather suddenly becomes enlightened one day during its growth process and naturally acquires some of the knowledge of dragons.

From the time it could remember, it had only ever seen its mother, a powerful and beautiful lion.

It grew up under the care and protection of a pride of lions.

It knew little about its father, or rather, the existence of the other half of its powerful bloodline.

"Ennus is now over three hundred years old."

"If the amethyst dragon that gave birth to it is still somewhere in the wilderness, it is most likely an old dragon that is over four hundred years old."

Thinking of this, Garus felt a slight chill run down his spine.

Old age—a word that signifies weakness, slowness, and the end for most species—is, in the case of the uniquely gifted dragons, a deeper accumulation of power, more terrifying magical might, more exquisite combat skills, and more cunning wisdom.

An elderly amethyst dragon that is over four hundred years old has a life level of at least 20.

If one is an outstanding member of the Amethyst Dragons, possessing exceptional talent and extraordinary opportunities, it is highly likely that one can break through that difficult threshold and achieve an astonishing qualitative change in one's life level, reaching level 21 or even higher.

The thought that perhaps a powerful and old member of the same race lies dormant in this vast wilderness is puzzling.

Furthermore, his own descendants who had been living abroad had just been defeated and subdued by him, inevitably causing a sense of unease to rise deep within Galus's heart.

This is not fear, but an instinctive caution towards an unknown and powerful being.

However, he immediately realized that the Amethyst Dragons generally belonged to the absolutely neutral camp.

They are completely different from the five-colored dragons who like to do evil and spread fear, or the metal dragons who are keen on punishing evil and maintaining justice and order.

As the leader of the gem dragons, the amethyst dragon is naturally inclined to be independent and detached from the world.

They often choose to build their nests in secluded places, or even outside the material world, quietly observing the changes of time and the rise and fall of civilizations, maintaining a detached and indifferent attitude towards the development of world affairs, and rarely taking the initiative to participate in any form of worldly struggle.

Of course, there are differences between individual dragons.

Overall, neutral amethyst dragons are certainly easier to deal with than evil dragons; in some ways, they are even easier to communicate with in a pragmatic way than some stubborn metal dragons.

"There's actually no need to worry too much."

"To worry excessively about those distant and uncertain possibilities is not being prepared for the future, but rather to be outsmarting the air and wasting one's energy on idle thoughts."

Galos slowly exhaled, calming his mind, and his gaze regained its composure and sharpness.

"I understand your ambition, and I know your past dreams."

The Red Iron Dragon's massive, heavy head turned slightly, its gaze falling on the Amethyst Lion King: "I know that you have no choice but to submit at this moment."

"But I can tell you."

"By following under my dragon's wings, the probability of you realizing your vision will only increase, not decrease."

His voice was calm and deep, yet carried a convincing power.

If charm could be visualized, then Garros's charm stat would undoubtedly be at an astonishing level, no less than his physical attributes.

"Ennus, you are still the ruler of this land."

"Your pride of lions will continue to be under your command and control. What the Ironforge needs are loyal warriors and lords, not soulless slaves."

Upon hearing this, the Amethyst Lion King's previously dim eyes suddenly lit up, and the lion's spirits were clearly invigorated.

Is it true?!

It let out a low growl that was a mixture of surprise and disbelief.

"The Ironclad Tribe is adept at enabling each member to realize their greatest value and occupy the most suitable position, and you are the most suitable choice to guard and govern this plain."

Galos said, "As long as certain necessary preconditions are met, and loyalty and duty are upheld."

"Whether you want to gradually develop this place into a prosperous land with order and civilization, or let it continue to maintain its original wild style, is your freedom, and I will not interfere too much."

"I only look at the results—prosperity, flourishing, and readily available soldiers and resources."

On the other side.

Hearing the conversation between the Red Iron Dragon and the Amethyst Lion King, the Iron Dragon Sorog's eyes flickered slightly as he listened intently without making a sound.

"First, you will continue to serve as the lord of this land, enjoying the right to govern and most of the autonomy, but you may no longer use the title of king. This land has only one king."

"Secondly, the tribe will dispatch a certain number of elite Ironforge warriors, led by reliable leaders, to be stationed at key passes, resource nodes, and near your lair, as needed."

"They are responsible for assisting in defense, monitoring the flow of resources, and maintaining basic order in the area. You must cooperate with them and not obstruct them."

"Third, the pride of lions must be integrated into the tribe's military system, regularly sending qualified warriors to be conscripted by the tribe..."

Galus put forward several conditions, which were not lenient but not harsh either, and largely preserved Ennus's autonomy.

After a moment's thought, the amethyst lion readily accepted.

You are so powerful, wise, and brilliant that surrendering to you would be the wisest choice I have ever made.

It continued to growl, expressing submission and respect.

Garros nodded slightly, then, as if remembering something, added, "Next time, you can use Dragon Language to express flattery and loyalty. I prefer to hear the actual words."

The amethyst lion's expression turned solemn, and it nodded very seriously, memorizing the sentence.

After briefly explaining the follow-up matters and leaving behind advanced communication tools that could be used for long-distance communication, Galos led his dragon horde into the sky, tearing through the thick rain curtain, and embarked on his journey home.

“Garos, it seems you have finally made your decision.”

"Will we adopt this feudal system of lords to govern our new territories from now on?"

On the return journey, Iron Dragon Sorog soared steadily beside Red Iron Dragon. He did not speak, but his deep voice echoed directly in the depths of Garros's mind through telepathy.

With the continued rapid development and expansion of the Ironforge, the territory under its control has become increasingly larger and more dispersed.

How to effectively defend, govern, and consolidate these newly acquired territories has become a crucial practical issue.

Even before the battle to recapture the Tempering Highlands, the core members of the Ignas Dragonflight had discussed this issue in detail during their future planning discussions within the Mind Network.

They proposed several different governance strategies, ranging from centralized to loose alliances.

Judging from Galus's treatment of Ennus and his pride's territory, he clearly favors a more traditional yet efficient system of fiefdom.

"Yes, Sorog. This appears to be the optimal solution at the moment."

Galos responded, "The tribe is in the midst of an unprecedented period of rapid expansion, and the window of opportunity is fleeting."

"The feudal system can make the most of the initiative of those who have surrendered, stabilize newly acquired territories as quickly as possible, ensure the effectiveness of the rule, and free us from the tedious local governance so that we can focus on more important directions."

The powerful creatures that were subdued were appointed as lords.

Allowing them to continue managing their familiar lands and communities while pledging allegiance and fulfilling their obligations to the Ironforge tribe is undoubtedly the most efficient, cost-effective, and least resistant approach to governance.

However, this approach also has an obvious drawback.

—It places extremely high demands on the supreme ruler.

The leader at the top of the power structure must have an unparalleled deterrent power over the various lords under his command, and must possess absolute power and prestige that prevents the lords from having any disloyal thoughts.

Otherwise, let alone further expansion.

The powerful force is likely to crumble from within, plunging into endless rebellion and strife.

However, for dragons, which have long lifespans and only become stronger, the impact of this drawback is minimized.

Dragons do not age and weaken like mortals; they only grow stronger with the passage of time.

As long as Galus is alive and continues to grow stronger.

His lords would naturally remain loyal, and might even gain more benefits from following a dragon king who was becoming increasingly powerful.

in short.

As long as Garus remains powerful, his territory will be as solid as a rock; if he were to fall one day, then whatever becomes of this territory will no longer matter to him.

"The title of 'tribe' may be removed soon."

Tie Long let out a low, pleasant laugh.

I witnessed firsthand and was deeply involved in the development of an organization from nothing to something, from weak to strong, step by step into a formidable force.

The process itself was enough to give Iron Dragon Sorog immense satisfaction and joy.

After that, time passed quietly under the rain.

Since the war between the Iron King and the Amethyst Lion King ended, the northwestern region of the Sel Wilderness has lost a renowned and powerful map king.

Meanwhile, the Ironforge tribe now has a lion lord with the bloodline of the Amethyst Dragon, as well as a massive legion composed of numerous ferocious lions and monsters.

However, both the amethyst dragon lion Ennus and its lion army suffered considerable damage in this battle.

They need a considerable amount of time to rest, recuperate, and recover.

In the short term, this newly added force cannot provide much substantial help for the further expansion of the Ironforge tribe.

Currently, they remain in the vast territory centered on Echo Rift Valley. This area, which originally belonged to ferocious beasts and monsters and was unnamed, has been officially named Lionheart Plains and marked on the ever-updated military map of the Ironforge tribe.

Unlike before, the ultimate ownership of this plain now belongs to the Iron Smelting Tribe.

Ennus and his pride are now guardians and rulers stationed in the area, exercising administrative authority on behalf of the tribe, rather than the former overlords.

The Ironclad Tribe plans to build sturdy outposts, watchtowers, and small fortresses in strategic locations and resource-rich areas of this new territory, and leave behind a lean and loyal Ironclad core legion to provide permanent defense.

It serves both as a deterrent and as a means of connection and oversight.

besides.

As Garros had previously stated, in exchange for submission and as a condition of obligation, the Lion Pride was required to provide manpower for the Ironforge.

Those powerful lion beasts, in addition to forming their own independent and distinctive legions, will also have their elite individuals selected based on their different characteristics and sent to other legions of the Ironforge tribe to be mixed with warriors of other races and fight together.

Various mineral resources, magical plants, and special hunting grounds have been discovered on the plains.

Their mining and main profits will also be centrally allocated by the Iron Smelting Tribe.

When the Ironforge tribe needs him, Lord Ennus of the Amethyst Dragon Lion must also fulfill his duty, answer the call, and fight for the tribe.

Not long after.

New information was relayed back to the Ironforge tribe by scouts and also reached Galos's ears.

"Yesterday's map king may become today's corpse."

"This wilderness is getting more and more chaotic."

Galos muttered to himself as he continued his training.

The python king, located in the Lost Swamp, was attacked.

A vast swarm of eagles, birds, and ferocious beasts and monsters, led by a powerful firebird, attacked and killed the python king. After a fierce battle, the python king died, the flock of birds occupied the Misty Swamp, and the pythons scattered and fled.

(End of this chapter)