Chapter 82: Fighting Beyond One's Level, But Downwards

During the rainy season, the wilderness is soaked by continuous rain, and the originally clear scent of prey is dispersed and mixed, becoming difficult to distinguish. The swollen streams will wash away footprints and traces, causing trackers to lose their way.

The flesh and blood of prey decompose rapidly in the heat and humidity, making it difficult to preserve even if the prey is successfully killed.

Gnolls of the Red-Eyed Clan.

The War Lizardmen of the Crackclaw Clan.

They all chose, without prior agreement, to cross the clan-controlled routes when the rain subsided, arrive at a section of the scaly earth path, and begin their ambush and plunder.

Based on the clan's past experience.

They knew that the rainy season in the Sel Wilderness wouldn't end so quickly. Above the drizzling rain, dark clouds were gathering and brewing a more violent storm, which could arrive at any moment. Therefore, whatever they were doing, it was best to start when the rain was not heavy.

Strangely enough.

The ogres of the Bonechewing Clan remained holed up within their territory, not venturing out in large numbers.

Even if one clan is missing.

The few caravans that passed through the Scaled Earth Rift Pass, having been exploited and plundered by the jackalmen and war lizardmen, were unable to reach the sections of the road occupied by the Howling Moon Clan. The ones that could reach the area were large caravans that the Red-Eyed Clan and the Cracked Claw Clan dared not touch, and the Howling Moon Clan did not have the confidence to plunder them.

"Red-Eyed Clan and Cracked Clan."

"Goblins, War Lizardmen."

Galos narrowed his eyes, deep in thought and calculating.

He had not investigated the general situation of these two clans himself, but had some understanding of them through the Howling Moon Clan.

Gnolls are individually weaker than Greymane werewolves, but the overall strength of the Red-Eyed Clan is comparable to that of the Howling Moon Clan.

Their leader was a military governor.

The Gnoll Warlord – in Gnoll society, it is not only a status, but also a rank.

The most powerful and ferocious individual in the gnoll tribe is promoted to overseer through a ritual of devouring the hearts of other gnolls. The probability of death if the ritual fails is very high, but if successful, one gains many extraordinary abilities.

Gnoll overseers can buff their kin, granting them extra damage or a movement advantage, making them brave and fearless, and enabling them to unleash power far exceeding that of a normal gnoll.

Apart from the gnoll overseer.

The Red-Eyed Clan also has a priest.

Sacrifice is different from shamanism.

Shamans communicate with the spirits of nature, ancestors, wild animals, and plants through meditation and totems, thereby gaining extraordinary power. Sacrifices, on the other hand, offer sacrifices to deities in exchange for corresponding blessings.

The gnoll priests worship the gnoll god, Yenogu.

This is a god, and also a demon lord.

Thanks to their gifts, gnoll priests are not as skilled at survival as shamans, but they possess many brutal sacrificial rituals and divine arts.

That is certain.

Both the gnoll warlord and the priest are level 7 life forms.

"The Claw Clan and the Bone Chewing Clan were larger and more powerful."

"In that case, let's start with the Red-Eyed Clan."

Galos thought to himself.

Pick the softest persimmons first.

The Red-Eyed Clan's warlords and priests were not to be trifled with by the Howling Moon Clan, but they were nothing to Garos. Although he was cautious, he was well aware of his own level of power.

Creatures like gnolls.

Even if the life level is several times higher, it is difficult for dragons to pose a life threat.

The Claw Clan and the even stronger Bone Chewer Clan contain individuals with higher life levels, but frankly, with Garus's current power, he could easily visit them directly if he wanted.

But Galus didn't like that.

He also enjoys fighting opponents of higher levels, but not those higher than himself.

If conditions permit.

Galos wanted to crush level 6, 5, and 4 creatures by 'going beyond his level'.

He lacked the resolve of a strongman to wield his sword against an even stronger opponent, nor did he possess great ambition. Perhaps he would in the future, but for now, he adhered to the principle of prioritizing his own life, only wishing to live a long life, and if possible, to live comfortably.

Garros said to the werewolf shaman, "Continue to send werewolves to lie in ambush in the Scaled Earth Rift. The other clans will soon cease to pose a threat to you."

What are your plans?

"The werewolf shaman asked."

Galos grinned, revealing sharp dragon fangs: "Starting with the Red-Eyed Clan, they either perished or became your companions."

Upon hearing this, the werewolf shaman was slightly moved.

As a shaman, it communicates with all things in nature year-round and has a keen mind. Through its contact with Garus, it gradually realized that although Garus claimed not to be an evil dragon, it gave it a very dangerous feeling.

If they had refused to pledge allegiance back then.

The Howling Moon Clan will likely face annihilation.

It felt somewhat fortunate that it hadn't regretted its initial choice.

Galos did not treat them cruelly. The only thing that made the werewolves somewhat wary was that he liked to ask them to gang up on him, which would exhaust them, but it was also a kind of training for the werewolves.

Moreover, Garos enjoys honing his combat skills through hunting, does not require werewolves to provide food, and even rewards his kin if he has eaten his fill and has killed more ferocious beasts and monsters while hunting them.

The ferocious beasts and monsters that Garos has his eye on are a rare delicacy for the Howling Moon Clan.

Galus's protection was also important.

His dragon-like aura deterred the ferocious beasts that used to attack the clan from approaching him, and greatly reduced the sense of threat from other clans. This put the werewolves at ease, allowing them to focus their attention on other things, and several female wolves have become pregnant in the past few days.

"The Howling Moon Clan is ready at any time!"

"At your command, the werewolves will become your henchmen and your vanguard."

The shaman prostrated himself on the ground again, his voice firm, expressing his loyalty.

Having received Garus's protection and gifts, it was ready to fight for him.

However, Galos shook his head dismissively.

"You don't need to fight."

He paused, then added, "Let the young and strong men of the tribe rest well and give them the best food. I hope their claws and teeth become sharper, so that they can leave wounds on me and make me bleed."

The old shaman fell silent, speechless.

Are there some errors in the clan's records regarding the understanding of dragons?

It was thinking.

If it had known earlier that dragons were like Garus, it would have led its entire race to bow down in worship the moment it saw Garus, without Garus having to make a choice for it!

The wilderness presented numerous obstacles.

It's the rainy season again, and weeds are growing everywhere, mud is everywhere, and shrubs are growing wildly.

Garros disliked the werewolves' movement speed on the ground and did not intend to let them attack and pressure the Red-Eyed Clan together. At their speed, it was unknown how long it would take them to reach the Red-Eyed Clan.

I decided to handle it myself.

His purpose in gathering his followers was not primarily to fight for himself.

Galus flapped its wings and took off into the air in the drizzle, disappearing into the thick dark clouds in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile, he was heading to the Red-Eyed Gnoll Clan.

In the western part of the Ser Wilderness, near the Boiling Sea, a giant clan consisting of more than ten stone giants was forced to pack up their belongings and prepare to migrate north.

"Elder, will we ever come back?"

Standing on high ground, looking back at the surging, boiling sea, the young stone giant asked the stone giant elder in a gruff voice.

"When we are strong enough to kill these blue dragons, we will return and reclaim our territory."

The tall and burly stone giant elder spoke in a deep voice, his voice rough and dull, like the grinding of rolling stones.

In the Cliff Straits, their clan fought a war for years with a blue dragon clan for territory.

As time went by, the stone giants gradually became weaker, and of the original thirty-odd stone giants, only eleven remained, most of whom were minors.

If the war continues, they risk total annihilation.

Left with no other choice.

The Stone Giants chose to abandon their original territory and migrate, temporarily avoiding the Blue Dragon Clan's advance, and fled north.

I was too sleepy at noon and overslept, so I'll only be writing two chapters today.

(End of this chapter)