Defeating the World with the Power of One Dragon!

Chapter 174: Recruiting Young Dragons, Testing the Waters

"Russell."

Garoth summoned the dragon-veined werewolf.

"My lord."

The powerfully built werewolf covered in iron-like dragon scales knelt on the ground.

"Take the cavalry, scouts, and elite centaurs to investigate. Map out the Bloodhoof Clan's resource points and sentry distribution." The red iron dragon then turned to the flying dragon leader and said, "Tasha, lead the flying dragons to harass the Bloodhoof Clan's stronghold. Draw their attention to cover for Russell."

Smelling the scent of war, the Gluttonous Ogre Karu gnawed on a leg bone as he approached.

In his rough voice, he asked eagerly, "Dragon Lord, what about me? I want to taste some bull horns."

Garoth replied, "Gather the Starbreaker Maul Warhost and prepare them for mobilization ahead of the coming battle."

As time passed, orders continued to be issued either directly from his mouth or through message stones.

After a while, Garoth finally let out a long sigh.Such trivial matters should have been handled by the iron dragon - organizing the general situation before reporting directly to Garoth. But with Iron Dragon Sorog in hibernation, Garoth had no choice but to handle it himself.

The red dragon was too reckless, the white dragon's intellect was mediocre, and the faerie dragon was even less capable.

As for the other vassal leaders, while some were intelligent and skilled at management, none could command the respect of the other vassals from a higher position.

"Dragon Valley is still too thin. We need more dragons here," Garoth thought to himself.

He preferred focusing on himself rather than expending energy on territory and vassals. But with the iron dragon in hibernation, territory management and vassal command had become sluggish with no suitable dragon to take over, forcing Garoth to intervene.

"Perhaps I should learn from the blue dragon clans."

"Recruit, absorb, and nurture stray young dragons to build a draconic community."

Garoth pondered deeply.

Among the Five-colored Dragons, blue dragons were also called storm dragons, representing thunder and tempests. Of all chromatic dragons, they were the most calm and rational.

Blue dragons never abandoned their young.

Instead, they gathered their offspring to raise collectively. And not just their own - occasionally when encountering other chromatic dragon younglings, they would take them into the family too, offering them protection under the family name. When these young dragons grew into juveniles and adults... they too would become protectors of the family.

Red dragons led the Five-colored Dragons.

But in most encounters between red and blue dragons, the red dragons ended up worse off, because blue dragons moved in groups like metal dragons.

Of course, evil dragons remained evil dragons.

Blue dragon clans didn't raise young out of kindness, but for profit.

Adult dragons would coldly exploit the young, often using them as cannon fodder to lead vassals to their deaths in dangerous battles. In such an environment, young dragons either fled midway, died young, or survived to become part of the ruling class, perpetuating the cycle of exploiting those weaker than themselves.

"I can adopt the blue dragons' methods of absorbing young dragons to establish the Ignas family."

"But I don't need such cruel downward exploitation."

"The future of the Ignas family, the future of Dragon Valley, should be a nation ruled by dragons, not a narrow clan like the blue dragons."

With iron dragon blood flowing through his veins, it was in Garoth's nature to want to build a draconic empire.

He believed having such an empire as his 'logistical' support would greatly aid his development and longevity.

"What should I do now?" asked White Dragon Trixie.

Garoth replied, "Like me, conserve your strength and prepare for battle."

He ceased further training and began eating and resting to gradually restore his body to peak condition.

Meanwhile.

At the Bloodhoof Clan stronghold.

Towering stone walls like city ramparts encircled the compound, patrolled by strong, hulking minotaur guards. All internal structures were also built from stone, with few crude wooden houses or tents to be seen.

Minotaur shamans excelled at harnessing the earth and manipulating stone.

They were skilled builders, though all their constructions were rough-hewn with no aesthetic appeal.

A stone hall permeated with savage, primal energy. Bal Bloodhoof's pitch-black eyes shimmered with abyssal light as they swept across the other minotaurs.

His thick horns curled skyward as he sat silent on the highest throne, his iron tower-like body motionless.

Other minotaur leaders debated recent events.

"We've been discovered. They reacted quickly."

"The flying dragons' scouting was just the first step. The dragons inhabiting Flying Dragon Valley will take more actions."

"We can't wait passively. We must prepare."

"..............."

The minotaurs' rough voices rose and fell.

They knew Dragon Valley housed more than just flying dragons.

Long before the young dragon targeted the White Mane Clan, the Bloodhoof minotaurs had set their sights on the centaurs, eager to expand further and attack the White Mane Clan when the time was ripe.

Yet.

Before they could officially declare war on the White Mane Clan.

Their scouts originally meant to monitor the centaurs had inadvertently discovered the young dragon's presence - and that the young dragon had already subjugated the White Mane centaurs before them.

Afterwards, through scout reconnaissance and shaman divination, the Bloodhoof Clan gradually located Dragon Valley.

But when their scouts were spotted by patrolling flying dragons.

They realized they'd been exposed to the dragons' gaze.

Soon after, the Bloodhoof Clan's head shaman opened his pair of dim white eyes and spoke slowly in grave tones: "I see war and flames. I see death and blood."

"Conflict with dragons will bring danger to our clan."

After a pause, the shaman's tone shifted: "But danger and opportunity walk hand in hand. If we survive this trial and offer dragon souls in sacrifice to great Baphomet, our chieftain will grow mightier, and the Bloodhoof Clan shall receive greater boons."

Minotaurs were stubborn and obstinate by nature.

Now filled with ambition, they dreamed only of expansion, of dominating the borderlands. They would crush any obstacle, trampling enemies into bloody pulp.

"Minotaurs are unstoppable!"

"Our horns are indestructible!"

"All who stand in our way shall be trampled beneath our hooves!"

Hearing the shaman's words, all minotaur leaders roared excitedly.

Seconds later, they gradually quieted, turning unified gazes toward the iron tower-like figure.

Their opinions mattered little - only the chieftain's decision held weight.

Others had challenged the chieftain's authority before. Without exception, they had been reduced to scattered bones.

Bal Bloodhoof's black mane flowed over skin stretched taut over steel-cable muscles that coiled like ancient tree roots across his towering frame.

His jet-black eyes held no other color, bottomless as the abyss.

Bal slowly rose, his massive body blocking the hall's light and casting deep shadows.

The chamber fell deathly silent, other minotaurs feeling suffocating pressure until Bal spoke, allowing air to flow once more.

"Prepare for war!"

His voice was low and gravelly.

Minotaur bellows rose in waves.

Most proposed immediately gathering clan warriors to launch a full assault on Dragon Valley, but the chieftain overruled them.

"Victory will be ours, but don't underestimate the enemy."

Bal ruled the Bloodhoof Clan with an iron fist, yet possessed considerable wisdom. He said slowly, "Dragons excel at flight. If they feel outmatched and choose to flee, we'll be powerless to stop them."

"I don't fear dragon vengeance, but merely driving them off would be no better than defeat."

Bal's voice rumbled like thunder, "I will forge the Bloodhoof Clan's rise with dragon lives and souls."

Under his leaders' gazes, he issued commands.

In summary: appear weak, let the dragons grow arrogant and overconfident. When they lowered their guard, strike with thunderous force to exterminate them.

Just then, shrill shrieks pierced the sky.

The flying dragons had returned.

"Still just flying dragons."

"These two-legged lizards are merely probing. Pay them no mind."

Bal spoke impassively.

Accordingly, the Bloodhoof Clan didn't respond seriously to the flying dragons' harassment.

They possessed anti-air measures but held them back, offering only token resistance like before.

The flying dragons didn't risk themselves either, merely dropping stones from high altitude onto Bloodhoof territory as harassment. But such attacks caused little real damage, all intercepted by shaman defensive spells.