novelraw Chapter 19: Rock Gnawer Tribe
Chapter 19: Rock Gnawer Tribe
"What is this?"
Garoth stepped closer and focused his gaze.
It was a square-shaped stone with simple runes carved in the center. The faint glow wasn't from reflection - the runes themselves were emitting light.
A message stone.
Garoth recognized it.
—This was one of the most common and versatile alchemical tools on planet Bernardo, functioning exactly as its name suggested for transmitting messages.
The runes on the message stone's surface were gradually dimming and extinguishing.
Clearly, it had just been used.
"This gnome used the message stone before dying, likely sending some information back to its tribe."
"It must be about me and the Iron Fir Hills territory."Garoth's draconic brows furrowed slightly.
Gnomes were extremely vengeful creatures. According to Samantha's description, this gnome tribe possessed numerous alchemical tools, though their individual life levels weren't high and their size was moderate.
"The gnome tribe won't let this go after receiving the message."
"If they dared hunt Samantha, it means they don't fear young dragons—perhaps even see them as prey."
Garoth paced in place, deep in thought.
"Should I abandon the Iron Fir Hills? While the resources here are mediocre, they're barely sufficient for my current needs. The wilderness is dangerous, and finding suitable territory won't be easy. A nomadic life isn't conducive to my growth."
But if he didn't abandon this territory...
An ambush by prepared gnome tribesmen could prove dangerous.
"I don't want to abandon my territory, nor do I want to die in an ambush."
"First, I'll scout the gnome tribe's situation."
"If they're extremely weak, I can simply ignore them. If they're overwhelmingly strong, I'll have to abandon the Iron Fir Hills."
"But if they're moderately capable—not enough for direct confrontation but dangerous through ambushes... just to be safe, I should eliminate them preemptively!"
Under the sunlight, the red iron young dragon's eyes narrowed slightly, flashing with ferocity.
Whenever his life was at stake and danger loomed, Garoth became extremely vigilant, cautious, and... murderous.
Facing potential threats,
Garoth's approach was to nip them in the bud whenever possible.
Like during the recent attack on the gnome wolf cavalry.
To prevent information leaks, the moment Garoth decided to act, he resolved to leave no survivors. Unfortunately, a message had still escaped via the stone, potentially bringing future danger.
Turning to Samantha,
Garoth inquired: "What's the overall strength of this gnome tribe hunting you? Describe everything you know in detail—don't omit anything."
Samantha seemed puzzled by Garoth's sudden questioning.
After recollecting her memories, she truthfully shared everything she knew with Garoth.
Gradually, as Samantha finished her account, Garoth fell into thoughtful contemplation.
"In terms of life levels, the strongest gnome is only level 6."
"But their tribe possesses numerous alchemical tools, including one alchemical golem that Samantha found particularly threatening."
Alchemical golems were highly successful products in the development of alchemical tools.
Dragon lineage memories contained records about them, with special attention.
For example,
The Holy Flame Arbiter·Ignis.
One of the human empire [Halden]'s supreme golems, jointly created by countless alchemists and the Dawn Church. Constructed using an ancient red dragon's skeleton combined with precious metals, engraved inside and out with the Dawn Church's sacred runes, possessing multiple attributes.
Because the Holy Flame Arbiter used ancient red dragon remains as materials,
This was considered sacrilege by dragonkind.
Even metal dragons hostile to evil dragons couldn't tolerate it.
Once, a group of legendary metal dragons stormed the empire demanding its destruction, but were refused by the joint forces of Halden Empire and Dawn Church.
Being lawful creatures, the metal dragons had reservations and didn't wish to wage war over evil dragon remains.
The Halden Empire also wisely offered many alchemical tools to appease them, and after lengthy negotiations, the matter was dropped.
As for evil dragons—solitary by nature—even ancient ones couldn't oppose an empire alone.
The Holy Flame Arbiter now guards an abyssal rift within Halden Empire's borders, having slain countless demons, earning formidable renown across planet Bernardo.
And supreme alchemical golems like the Holy Flame Arbiter capable of slaying ancient dragons,
Are far from unique.
Returning to the main topic.
The alchemical golem in the gnome tribe couldn't possibly be high-level—most likely mass-produced, perhaps even mining or transport models rather than combat variants. Such golems could be purchased through many channels.
"I shouldn't overreact."
"Thinking carefully, if this gnome tribe were truly powerful, Samantha couldn't have escaped their initial capture."
Garoth relaxed somewhat, the ferocity in his eyes gradually fading.
"I'm so hungry... I haven't eaten meat in so long."
Samantha was currently staring fixedly at the bison, unable to tear her gaze away.
Were it not for her now-peak reverence toward Garoth, she would have pounced immediately.
Gurgle gurgle!
Her stomach suddenly rumbled like distant thunder, drawing Garoth's attention.
Samantha immediately became flustered, her draconic face flushing as her tail swished side to side. Yet unable to endure the hunger pangs, she pleaded: "My dear brother, could I have just a little beef? Just a tiny bit, the smallest portion."
Why didn't you just ask properly earlier?
Garoth tore off an entire bison hindquarter with his claws and tossed it to Samantha.
Samantha caught it and devoured the meat ravenously, even crunching through the bones without wasting a morsel.
"Mobel, herd these gray wolves into the hills as reserve food."
Garoth began eating too while issuing instructions.
"Got it!"
The Earth Rampage Bear nodded vigorously before striding off to drive the surviving wolves.
Time passed slowly.
The sun dipped below the horizon as night fell silently.
The Rock Gnawer Tribe—the gnome tribe that had hunted Samantha—
Had their settlement at the foot of a severely wind-eroded reddish-brown hill, its surface pockmarked with honeycomb-like natural caves resembling worm-eaten wood.
The gnomes had used rusted nails to affix wooden planks, beast bones, and broken pottery at cave entrances, piecing together crooked defensive walls.
Less like fortifications and more like warning signs made from garbage piles.
The perimeter featured a fence woven from flint spikes and man-eating vines.
Dried lizard skulls hung from the vines—in gnome culture, displaying prey skulls was believed to bring tribal fortune.
Though small in scale, it was fully functional.
In the iron pit, gnomes used sulfur-stained claws to sort ore before delivering it to smithies, forging barbed arrowheads and blades later enhanced by tribal alchemists.
The Ser Wilderness abounded with various ores.
Common iron deposits were practically everywhere—even the smallest tribes lacked not for iron. As for magical precious metal ores... those were beyond their reach.