Chapter 479 Aura's Fang, the Gluttonous Demon
The sky over Quinn Heights was leaden gray, the smoke from gunpowder mingling with the low-hanging clouds, creating an oppressive atmosphere that made it hard to breathe.
The scorched earth was riddled with pits of varying depths, scattered with broken armor, broken weapons, and bloodstains that had long since dried and turned black, seeping into the soil. The air was filled with the smells of rust, burnt metal, and blood.
In the distance lies the first line of defense of the Rypogee, built along the rugged mountain ridge.
It was like a man-made chasm, standing in the way of Lorthorn's army.
The towering graystone fortresses were connected to each other, with densely packed crenellations and watchtowers pointing like thorns at the gloomy sky.
On the fortress, the outlines of heavy crossbows and alchemical cannons appeared and disappeared in the smoke, occasionally letting out a muffled roar as they hurled deadly enchanted bolts and exploding alchemical projectiles at the attackers; behind the crenellations of the city walls, the figures of archers and mages were busy, flashing by in the intermittent glimmers of magical shields.
Lorthorn's army, like a millstone, repeatedly pounded against that solid defensive line.
On the ground, soldiers clad in silver-gray armor held shields almost as tall as themselves. Under the command of their officers, they condensed military formation magic, and pale golden light connected to form swaying light curtains.
Led by several legendary powerhouses on their side, they advanced slowly but steadily, braving the relentless bombardment.
However, each approach only invites a more concentrated and fierce counterattack.
The corpses piled up and were then blown away by subsequent artillery fire.
The battle has reached a fierce and exhausting stalemate.
Lorthorn had the advantage in total strength, and the morale of his soldiers was high due to the king's personal presence. However, Rebos, with its strategic location and well-preserved fortifications built over many years, was like an unbreakable iron block.
With each passing moment, more blood was shed by Lorthorn soldiers, yet the breach in the defensive line still seemed impossibly far away.
O'Brien was not personally fighting on the front lines at this time.
He was seriously injured in an attack on a flank fortress a few days ago. Although he has recovered after treatment, he will need time to recover.
At this moment, he was standing on a slightly elevated observation platform behind him.
His silver-gray armor was covered in dust and soot, his cheeks were thin, his eyes were sunken, and his thick stubble made him look even more weathered than when he was talking to Garros.
However, despite the stalemate and unfavorable situation, the king's brow was relaxed.
His gaze was calm, occasionally glancing at the sky, as if waiting for something.
The sky was obscured by smoke and dark clouds.
And in the sky, where ordinary people cannot reach, two sun-like figures are constantly entangled and colliding.
Each time they clashed, they unleashed a dazzling light that caused ripples to spread across the clouds below, and thunderous explosions could be faintly heard even on the ground.
Those were two legends, and they were Grandmasters, who surpassed ordinary legends.
Grand Legends are considered the "kings" and pinnacle of legendary powerhouses in Romania.
Currently, only Rebos and Lortherne have a clearly established crown position on the plains.
Compared to them, the battles between other legends, though equally intense, paled in comparison.
However, what O'Brien was waiting for was not a victory for his team's championship; he was locked in a high-flying battle with the opposing championship team, neither able to gain the upper hand.
The king was waiting for another variable.
Not long after.
An unusual noise came from the sky to the northwest of the battlefield.
At first, it was just a low hum, like a giant beast panting deep in the clouds, or like the trembling of the air before a distant storm.
Immediately afterwards, the buzzing turned into a sharp whistling sound, and a black dot rapidly enlarged, tearing through the thick, lead-gray clouds.
More and more people noticed it, and involuntarily looked up, their pupils suddenly shrinking.
It was a colossal beast that inspired awe and fear.
He had a burly and terrifying skeleton like an ogre, a ferocious head, and wide mouths with fangs.
However, its body was not covered in fat, but in powerful, bulging muscles like steel cables, exuding an explosive sense of strength. From the sides of its forehead grew a pair of backward-curving horns that shimmered with a dark metallic luster. On its broad back were wings that were even larger than its thick body, which were flapping powerfully, stirring up a gale that sent sand and stones flying from the ground.
Not only that.
His vital parts, such as his chest, shoulders, elbows, and knees, were covered with thick, armor-like dark red dragon scales. A molten lava-like luster flowed between the scales. A muscular dragon tail swung behind him, with a sharp, cone-shaped bone spike at the end.
This is the war commander from the Kingdom of Aura.
Dragon Vein Gluttony Demon, Karu.
Anyone who sees him for the first time would never associate him with an ordinary cannibal.
At this moment, Karu seemed more like a terrifying demon emerging from the abyss.
"Insects, tremble beneath Grandpa Karu!"
The Gluttonous Demon let out a deafening roar, the sound waves rolling down and even temporarily drowning out some of the battlefield noise.
Instead of rushing directly at the defensive line, he flapped his wings and soared upwards.
call!
Upon reaching a certain height, intense flames erupted from his body without warning, a mixture of orange and dark red enveloping him in a flying fireball.
He took a deep breath, and his chest swelled up.
Then, with an incredibly domineering attitude, engulfed by the flames, he swooped down like a real meteor, trailing a long tail of fire, straight toward the most fortified central fortress of the first line of defense of Reipos.
On the observation deck, O'Brien witnessed this scene, his eyes flickering slightly.
He felt a sense of familiarity.
This scene was very similar to the description in his intelligence of the Red Emperor breaking through Norton Pass with the force of a meteor impact.
"This gluttonous demon wants to emulate their king?"
A flicker of surprise crossed O'Brien's eyes. "Does he have that kind of ability?"
As if in response to the human king's suspicion, the Gluttony, which was rapidly descending from the sky, let out another roar.
Suddenly, a dense, almost tangible light shone from his abdomen, spreading rapidly to every muscle in his body as if it were alive. This caused his already imposing physique to swell and bulge further, his bones to creak and his breath to rise steadily.
This is the Gluttony state, which is based on its gluttonous nature and greatly enhances its attributes in a short period of time by consuming stored energy.
But this is not the end.
A deeper aura rose from Karu's body.
"For the great Emperor Ignas, for Aura!"
The Gluttonous Demon roared and howled.
Beneath the dragon throne, a burst of blood erupts!
The other side.
The distant Dragon Ridge Mountains.
The Red Emperor, atop a high mountain, sensed something and clearly felt the beating of another heart. He even saw the battle situation on Quinn Heights through Karu's eyes.
"Fight for me, show my strength," he said.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The dull, drum-like heartbeat resounded from the Glutton's broad chest, clearly reaching the ears of many powerful individuals even amidst the howling in the sky and the clamor of the battlefield.
Vibrant, blood-red streaks, starting from his heart, spread wildly to his limbs and bones like the roots of a plant. The flames burning around him suddenly turned blood red under the reflection of these streaks.
His aura surged again, forming visible ripples.
His goal is now crystal clear.
That fortress, located in the center of the defensive line, was the tallest and most sturdy, and also the central hub and support point of the first line of defense.
The legends of Reipos felt uneasy and threatened.
The giant monster that attacked from the sky had an aura that made their hearts tremble, and the oppressive feeling it brought was like a natural disaster.
Several legends attempted to take to the skies to intercept, but their respective opponents, the legends of Lorthorn, would not let this opportunity pass.
Almost simultaneously with the surge of Karu's aura, the legends of Lorthen intensified their offensive, their magic and combat skills becoming even more dazzling, firmly entangled the already disadvantaged legends of Reipos, giving them no chance to escape.
"What kind of monster is that?!"
"A dragon? No... a winged giant?!"
"Aim! Aim at it quickly! Don't let it fall!"
The Ripos defense line was instantly thrown into turmoil and panic.
The piercing alarm bells were rang frantically, echoing throughout the entire mountain ridge.
The central fortress and its surrounding defensive towers, which were locked onto by Karu, reacted the fastest. The heavy magic ballistae on the top of the fortress, the alchemical cannons embedded in the walls, and the towering magic towers all adjusted their angles at the same time, locking onto the ever-growing fiery figure in the air.
Buzz—Boom!
The ballistae and magic towers on the fortress locked onto the target immediately, and thick magical rays and armor-piercing shells strong enough to penetrate the city walls shot into the sky, whistling as they met the uninvited guest in the air.
Despite the intense concentrated fire, Karu showed no intention of dodging.
Instead, he slightly folded his wings and curled his body up even more tightly, using his chest and shoulders covered with dragon scales to meet the attack.
Just as the attack was about to strike, the dark red dragon scales on his body, as well as the tough skin not covered by the scales, suddenly lit up with a dark, gloomy light, as if they could absorb light, making his outline appear somewhat blurry.
Energy-consuming skin.
—When subjected to energy attacks, it can absorb a portion of the attack's energy and convert it into its own usable reserves.
Boom boom boom boom...!
Rumble!
The magical ray struck his chest, bursting into dazzling elemental sparks, and then merged with him; the giant cannonball struck his shoulder and arm, producing a metallic clang, and exploded and shattered, while Karu's diving momentum only paused slightly.
Moreover, after withstanding this fierce bombardment, Karu did not show any signs of weakness; on the contrary, he was invigorated.
He opened his enormous mouth and let out a loud burp, his blood flames surged higher, and his aura actually improved again.
Full.
—They obtain sufficient energy through energy-absorbing skin or by directly ingesting food, and can perform at an extraordinary level when they are full.
Despite enduring the intense barrage of attacks, the Gluttonous Demon sustained minor wounds on its body, while its stomach rapidly swelled with power as it absorbed a massive amount of energy from the attacks.
Then, he landed with tremendous force.
The passage of time seemed to be distorted at the point of impact, becoming slow and solemn.
In the final instant, Karu's bloated stomach deflated rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye, as if something inside had been instantly emptied out.
Conversely, the crimson flames burning around him were as if they had been doused with a huge amount of fuel.
The flames erupted with a deafening roar, becoming more turbulent than ever before, shooting straight into the sky and completely transforming him into a blazing, blood-red meteor.
Starving people.
—Actively consuming the enormous energy accumulated in the stomach, at the cost of enduring intense hunger for a period of time afterward, to unleash an ultimate attack far exceeding the norm.
Boom!
Centered on the point where the Gluttonous Demon landed, the magical shield protecting the fortress caved in inch by inch, and cracks spread out like lightning until it finally shattered with a bang, creating a huge gap.
He curled up, his body cracked from the recoil, and continued to slam down.
Boom!
The fortress, reinforced with runes, crumbled layer by layer and turned to dust.
The entire fortress shook violently, and a large portion of the top fortifications, heavy artillery, and soldiers who couldn't escape were instantly wiped out by the terrifying shockwave and flying debris.
Smoke, mingled with flames and the stench of blood, rose into the sky.
"I am the greatest warrior of the Kingdom of Aura! Fear, my poor little minnows!"
The sound rang out from the heart of the smoke and ruins, and then a huge figure stood up.
Karu shook his slightly dizzy head and shook off the rubble and ash from his body.
His body was massive, and dragon energy rose up, intertwining to form two more thick energy arms, which stretched out along with his original arms.
With a wave of its four arms, blood flames surged and swirled around its body. Its enormous eyes, burning with savagery and gluttony, lit up in the smoke and dust, as if a terrifying demon from the abyss had been reborn.
This image was deeply imprinted in the eyes of all the surviving Riberian soldiers in the vicinity.
They trembled uncontrollably, shaking with fear.
Far away, atop the Dragon Ridge Mountains.
Ignas the Red Iron Dragon withdrew his gaze from the distance, nodded slightly, and a hint of approval appeared in his eyes.
"Hmm, not bad, it has some of my style."
The outcome of this battle was already decided.
On the other side, Quinn Heights.
"For Lorthorn!"
O'Brien drew his Dawn King Sword with a mighty swift motion and swung it forward: "The breach has been opened! All troops! Charge!"
Waaaaah!
The bugle call for the final assault sounded, desolate yet stirring, merging with the king's command and resounding throughout the entire Lorthen army.
Meanwhile, Karu was not idle in the ruins either.
He shook his head to clear his senses, which were still a little dizzy from the shock, then turned around, clenched his four fists, and slammed them down hard on the huge load-bearing stone pillars that were already covered with spider web-like cracks.
Thump!!
This time, the loud bang was followed by a series of sounds of collapse.
The massive stone pillar snapped completely, causing a large portion of the fortress to collapse.
Amidst the billowing smoke and dust, the Gluttonous Demon, like a colossal beast bursting through a dam, leaped first from the breach in the collapsed fortress and charged into the interior of the defenses.
He wielded his four giant arms, and his dragon tail and wings also transformed into weapons. Wherever he passed, blood and flesh flew and fortifications collapsed.
This line of defense has been breached, leaving a huge gap.
Lorthern's steel torrent followed closely behind, surging in.
The stalemate between Reipos and Lorthene in Quinn Highlands was broken on this day by the arrival of the Dragonvein Glutton, and the first line of defense collapsed completely.
A few days later, at night.
In a camp behind the former Reipos defense line, which had been occupied and cleared by Lorthern, a campfire blazed, dispelling the chill of the autumn night.
The Gluttonous Demon Karu and the legend of Lorthorn, along with some high-ranking generals, were sitting together, enjoying a post-victory rest and food.
Of course, the so-called sitting in a circle only applies to humans.
Karu sat directly beside the largest bonfire. On the grill in front of him, skewered on thick iron skewers, was a whole, processed war beast, its size comparable to several bulls.
Compared to his size, the powerful humans around him appeared like infants.
O'Brien was also sitting not far away.
He did not participate in the noisy meal; in front of him was only a cup of warm wine and a small amount of dried meat.
His gaze occasionally fell on the Gluttony Demon, who was focused on tearing and chewing up huge amounts of meat, his mind churning.
Gluttony's performance in this battle was nothing short of ferocious.
This is not only due to its high base stats, but also related to the Red Emperor's dragon vein transformation, especially the fact that Gluttony exhibits power similar to that of the Red Emperor.
O'Brien couldn't help but think of the Red Emperor.
If we consider all strengths, that 'Undying Dragon' is probably still lacking in foundation and comprehensive methods compared to the human Grand Legends.
However, in some particularly prominent aspects.
For example, his incredible physical strength, defense, and destructive power, even compared to human Grand Rank cultivators, the Red Emperor has already shown signs of surpassing them.
Most importantly, according to reliable intelligence, Ignas has not even reached the level of advanced legend yet.
The Kingdom of Aura, built around the Red Emperor, seems to consist of these kinds of extraordinary monsters.
Their legends are few in number, but each one is enough to rival or even suppress most ordinary human legends, not to mention that as long-lived beings, they have a lifespan far longer than that of human legends.
This difference in quality cannot be measured by simple quantitative comparisons.
“If Ignas were to achieve Grand rank…” O’Brien felt a chill run down his spine. “With his strength and the powerful subordinates gathered around him, I’m afraid no one in the entire Romanian plains would be able to control him.”
"No, perhaps we don't need to wait until the Grand rank."
"Once he becomes a high-level legend, the qualities he displays will be enough to make the human Grand Ranks extremely troublesome, even... dangerous."
O'Brien actually harbored some concerns about this possible future.
He feared that once the Kingdom of Aura rose to power under the leadership of the Red Emperor, its desire for expansion would eventually overwhelm the former alliance, triggering a third war that would sweep across the entire Romanian plains.
At that time, will the Kingdom of Lorthorn still have a place to exist?
But he was also keenly aware of the reality that he probably wouldn't live to see that day.
Human lifespan is far too short compared to that of dragons.
However, O'Brien was not entirely unprepared.
He was a mature and visionary monarch. Early in his alliance with Aura, he ordered his men to gather as much information as possible about the Red Emperor Ignas.
From its early activities in Lin Tu Lie Dao, to its various policies after the establishment of the kingdom, its style of foreign negotiations, and even some of its surviving words and deeds.
He commissioned scholars within the kingdom who were experts in psychological and behavioral analysis to conduct in-depth research.
Finally, the scholars came to a conclusion.
This red and iron dragon is essentially more neutral and lawful. He values practical interests, but he also values commitments and loyalty. He is quite protective of his trusted allies and subjects, and is not the greedy, treacherous, and purely instinctive evil dragon traditionally perceived to be.
His expansion and wars were always highly purposeful and planned, rather than simply driven by a desire for destruction and conquest.
Therefore, O'Brien's previous conversation with the Red Emperor in the Dragon Ridge Mountains was not entirely a pretense or a stopgap measure; he genuinely intended to promote and strengthen the alliance between the two countries.
"If Ignas can truly live up to his reputation by respecting order and valuing the covenant."
"So his continued growth and leading the rise and expansion of Aura may not necessarily be a bad thing for Lorthene."
O'Brien pondered silently, "Even through this special alliance, Lorthern could gain benefits in future changes and make up for some of our disadvantages."
"A strong but law-abiding neighbor is more reliable than a group of weak but treacherous neighbors."
This is one of the future scenarios he hopes to see.
What he most desired in the future was naturally the birth of another leader in the Kingdom of Lortheon, a leader with great talent and outstanding strength like the Holy King, to restore the glory of the unified plains.
That was also the greatest hope of all the people of Lorthern.
Of course, as a monarch, he must consider all possibilities, including the worst one.
"If friction does arise in the future, and the conflict escalates to the point of being irreconcilable, Lorthern and Aura will become enemies..."
To this end, O'Brien had a serious and secret conversation with his own team's Grand Slam champions.
Once there are clear signs that relations between the two countries are heading towards a complete and irreparable breakdown, then there should be no hesitation or wishful thinking. We must spare no effort and use all possible resources to decapitate the Red Emperor as quickly as possible.
If we are enemies, we must never repeat the mistakes of the Kingdom of Theo.
Hesitant and overly cautious, he gave the Red Emperor an opportunity, ultimately leading to the bitter consequences of national collapse and loss of control.
"To deal with such an enemy, you either don't do it at all, or if you do, you must be swift and decisive, striking with overwhelming force."
This is an important message that O'Brien left to the championship team.
"The future is unpredictable and difficult to grasp."
O'Brien sighed softly and downed the drink in his glass.
"This is all I can do now: sow some seeds and leave some warnings. I hope these arrangements will ultimately bring good results for Lorthorn, so that I can return to the land of my ancestors' spirits without any regrets."
As for now.
While the alliance is still in place, cooperation is close, and we are united against a common enemy, why would we plot a betrayal and nip a potential threat in the bud?
O'Brien did have such thoughts, but he quickly dismissed them.
On the one hand, the alliance concluded in the name of the national destiny and the monarchs of both sides was not just a piece of paper; it contained a real binding effect. Those who broke the alliance would inevitably suffer the corresponding backlash and costs, which would have an adverse impact on the national destiny.
Unless the alliance is formally dissolved, this act of betrayal will inflict a considerable hidden cost on Lorthorn.
On the other hand, O'Brien is not a narrow-minded or short-sighted person.
He wouldn't betray his allies who are fighting alongside him right now just because of a worst-case scenario about the future.
The entrustment to one's own team with the crown position is more like an insurance policy, an emergency plan for the most extreme circumstances.
He believed that after being tempered by the flames of war together, the alliance and friendship between Lorthern and Aura should be even stronger, enough to sustain peace and cooperation for a long time.
"Hey, human king, what are you daydreaming about?"
A deep, muffled voice interrupted O'Brien's thoughts.
He looked up and met the Gluttony Demon Karu's huge, piercing eyes, illuminated by the campfire.
Sometime later, Karu had already dealt with the enormous war beast and was picking his teeth with a thick finger, tilting his head curiously to look at O'Brien.
Karu said with a serious expression, "How can we win a battle if we don't even eat properly?"
"Eat up, eat up! Look at how thin you are. You can't compare to our great Emperor Ignas at all. Eat your fill so you can be stronger and live longer."
These presumptuous words caused the other legends to frown.
However, O'Brien was slightly taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.
He didn't detect any offense in Gluttony's words; the other person was just being blunt.
“You’re right, Commander Karu.”
O'Brien didn't mind. Instead, he nodded, picked up a sizzling piece of grilled meat next to him, took a big bite, chewed a few times, and laughed, "We really should eat more to replenish our energy."
Seeing that the human king had accepted his suggestion, the Gluttony hummed with satisfaction.
He said no more and went on to deal with another pile of food.
Night slowly faded away amid fatigue and relaxation, but the sky over Quinn Heights did not become clear; it remained shrouded in continuous smoke.
The war is not over yet.
Lorthern's offensive grew like a snowball, relentlessly attacking the two subsequent lines of defense with unstoppable momentum.
October 4th.
After days of fierce fighting and heavy losses, the Rebos defenders were forced to abandon the entire Quinn Heights and strategically retreat into their own territory.
The Kingdom of Lorthen achieved a decisive victory in this crucial battle, seizing the initiative in the subsequent war.
Meanwhile, the war commanders who came with support from the Kingdom of Aura performed exceptionally well in this battle.
Lor'theon's soldiers called it "The Tooth of Aura," while the Reiberians described it as "The Gluttonous Demon" in battle reports and rumors.
These two titles quickly spread across the Romanian plains following the outcome of the Battle of Quinn Heights.
I recommend a book: *The Boss Behind the Scenes: Creating a World-Destroying Red Dragon at the Start*
Synopsis: "I was once called a vessel, a prisoner, a holy relic. Now, the rise and fall of all things are but embers between the opening and closing of my five fingers."
"When dragon flames engulf the city, treacherous schemes have already corrupted the throne; when the sea of bones surges, the stars tremble in fear!"
"Each clone is a blade I conquer, and each body is a foundation for my evolution!"
"Everything I see can become me; everything I transform into belongs to eternity!"
"Those who kneel will become my subjects under my dragon's wings; those who stand will turn to ashes under my flames!"
"If fate has destined me to be an enemy of the world—"
"Let this war become the world's final epic!"
—Excerpt from "Lord of Calamities' Declaration of War to All Realms"
(End of this chapter)
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