Chapter 201 Wild Monster Lord, Time is Merciless.
“Resource scarcity should be secondary.”
"The border region is adjacent to the permafrost tundra, where the Frost Giants and Barbarians, whose strength rivals that of a kingdom, reside. They do not allow any organized Federation legions to be stationed in the border region."
Galos pondered to himself.
He put aside his wandering thoughts, looked at Iron Dragon Sorog, and said, "The overall level of the four major tribes may be slightly higher than ours, but not by much. Moreover, they value each other more because they have been occupying the border areas for many years and keep each other in check."
Tie Long nodded and agreed, "That's what I think too."
"The most urgent task for the Ironforge is not to start a war with the four major tribes, but to fully integrate the resources in the southwest and consolidate our existing territory. We have developed too fast."
He looked at Garros and said, "There are several powerful monster lords in the southwest, and I am not confident that I can defeat them."
"The cost of these sacrifices, which involved the lives of family members, was too high, so they were left untreated."
"They occupy a few of the more fertile territories, which are also the last missing pieces of the puzzle in the southwest. Now that you have awakened, it is time to use the power of growth that they are familiar with to reclaim these territories."
Wild monster lords refer to powerful ferocious beasts and monsters. They have limited intelligence, few followers, and no management skills. They mainly rely on their powerful individual strength to dominate a territory.
The four tribes would not rashly provoke some of the most powerful monster lords.
Red Iron Dragon swayed its thick, agile neck and grinned, "I said long ago that I would take charge of the toughest battles. My wings will protect the entire Ironforge tribe, including you."
"I'll take on the monster lords that you can't defeat."
Snap, snap—he spread his wings and spine, the scales on his body rubbing against each other, making a crisp sound like metal clashing.
He needs to adapt to and become familiar with the increased power brought about by ten years of slumber; otherwise, the uncontrollable power may sometimes become a hidden danger.
A dragon's tail and wings resembling gunblades.
Brand new Cold Explosion Scales.
Level 3 dragon aura.
Galos needs to familiarize himself with them more and develop new fighting styles around them.
Iron Dragon told Garos the locations of several monster lords' lairs and other details, then said, "The Golden Tooth Tribe wants to block our trade routes, and we can't just sit idly by."
He gave a cold laugh.
"Trade war? Our ancestors who once built a powerful dragon nation have left behind a lot of knowledge in this area. It just so happens that I can put it into practice and test this knowledge."
He was eager to try.
The conflict with the Golden Tooth tribe was handled by Iron Dragon.
Galos then focused on what he did best – fighting.
With his intelligence, he could actually find a way to deal with the Gold Tooth tribe instead of Sorog, and he could do it even better.
However, when it comes to things that require thinking, Garos, after all, has the blood of a red dragon. If he had a choice, he would actually prefer a simpler, more direct approach, solving problems with force.
All along.
When Galus has enough power to deal with his target, after careful consideration, his wisdom tells him that using force to solve problems is the most efficient way.
And that's exactly what he did.
Use wisdom to harness power, and use reason to restrain desires.
Overcoming all obstacles.
The monster lords of the southwest are a thorn in the side of the Ironforge tribe's territory.
Unlike other red dragons, Garus is more cautious.
He didn't plan to act immediately, but instead prepared to wait for the Cold Scales to grow out and be in full bloom before removing them one by one.
"Lord Dragon, Hodge the gnoll requests an audience."
A bear guard approached and spoke in a gruff voice.
Since all the teenage dragons have ended their slumber, the bears no longer guard the slumbering grounds and have officially taken on the role of guards.
"Let him come over."
Red Iron Dragon nodded slightly.
A few minutes later, an old gnoll with patchy, fallen hair revealing wrinkled skin came into Garros's view.
His back was hunched, his eyes were cloudy, his claws and teeth were no longer sharp, and his left arm was missing, severed at the root.
He staggered unsteadily to Garus's side, then slowly knelt down.
At first glance, his appearance was somewhat unfamiliar to Galos.
If the Bear Guard hadn't mentioned the name in his earlier report, Garoth would have had a hard time recognizing the gnoll in front of him.
"Dragon Lord, your scales still gleam; we praise you."
The jackal, panting slightly, wagged its tail and spoke.
Her voice was hoarser than before, but you could still vaguely hear a familiar tone, along with a familiar fawning and ingratiating tone.
"Hodge, you're getting old."
Hong Tielong said.
“My lord, time is the most terrible enemy. It has no claws or teeth, but it has left countless scars on me. Only a being as noble as you can defeat it.”
"It's a jackal," the gnoll said in a hoarse voice.
Ten years is but a fleeting moment for long-lived species, but when it flows through short-lived species, it weighs as heavily as a mountain.
The lifespan of an ordinary jackal is only about thirty years.
By the time Garros entered adolescence, few of the first gnolls who had followed him remained. Even the once spirited "Bloodfang Overseer" was now old and frail, with one foot in the grave.
"Hodge, what do you want from this audience?"
Galos asked directly.
The gnoll's cloudy eyes revealed his usual cunning and shrewdness as he said, "My lord, it is my good fortune that you have awakened at this moment, allowing me to behold your glory one last time before I die."
Galos gave a half-smile.
"Anything else besides this?"
He asked.
The jackal's petty cleverness was completely exposed in front of him.
Hodge wagged his tail and smiled obsequiously, "No, no."
He paused, then added, "Ever since I was ripped off my arm and nearly died from my injuries while leading the Iron Will to hunt down the Beast Lord a few years ago, my health has deteriorated over time. Now, all I ask for is to see you one last time before I die, and to tell you in person that Hodge's greatest honor in this life is to fight for you."
Hong Tielong nodded:
"Since that's the case, now that you've seen it, you can go back."
The gnoll's smile froze slightly, then he slowly turned around, turning back almost every three steps, his pace as slow as a snail.
"Stop, come here."
A dozen seconds later, a deep dragon voice came from behind.
This sentence is so pleasing to the ear, like hearing celestial music, that it instantly brightens the ears.
Just like in his youth, the gnoll turned around swiftly, his face full of a fawning smile.
Galos said bluntly, "You have followed me for a long time and are an elder of the Ironforge tribe. You have made great contributions. As a reward, I will bestow upon you dragon blood and give you the opportunity to be reborn."
"You deserve it."
Garos did not waste the dragon blood left behind from the fierce battles. He collected it and stored it in the cellar of Dragon Valley as material for the transformation of dragon veins. There is still a lot of it left.
Red Iron Dragon leaned forward slightly and said, "Hodge, burn yourself out, then live on and continue to fight for me."
"That's an order, do you hear me?"
The gnoll abandoned his fawning smile, straightened his hunched back, and adopted a solemn expression.
"Yes, sir!"
He answered solemnly.
Not long after.
Dragon's blood was brought in from the cellar.
Garros, familiar with the process, began the transformation ritual, condensing the dragon's blood into a scalding hot droplet.
Hodge, the jackal, gritted his teeth and swallowed the bead of blood.
In an instant, flames burst forth from his body.
Because of the terrible pain that seemed to be happening simultaneously in the body and soul, the gnoll bent over and knelt on the ground, tearing the ground with his single claw, and letting out a shrill howl.
His flesh proliferated, tearing his skin and fur.
His body kept swelling and being burned to ashes by the flames.
His movements gradually decreased, and his howls weakened—half an hour later, the gnoll was gone, leaving only ashes.
Ultimately, Hodge the gnoll failed to complete the order.
Transforming a dragon vein requires an iron will.
From the very beginning, Hodge lacked the courage to face death. During the battle, he positioned himself at the rear, protecting his warriors and using his Overseer skill to strengthen them.
This allowed him to survive time and time again in the fierce battles.
However, it could not give him a new life.
Red Iron Dragon shook his head slightly.
He waved his dragon wings, stirring up a gale that sent ashes flying across the vast sky.
Time is merciless.
Dragons are long-lived species, capable of living for thousands of years, but unless they can become immortal, their lifespan will eventually come to an end. Even a powerful twenty-four-winged golden dragon is now in its twilight years and could die at any time.
"Immortality, immortality... Can I achieve that?"
Galos was filled with turbulent emotions, silently asking himself a question.
"We definitely can!"
The answer was firm and resolute.
(End of this chapter)
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