novelraw Chapter 209: Garoth: There Is a Black Oil Field?! We Must Strike Hard!
Chapter 209: Garoth: There Is a Black Oil Field?! We Must Strike Hard!
After hearing the brass-silver dragon’s words, Garoth fell silent for a moment.
At this time, the brass-silver dragon introduced, “My grandfather, titled ‘Golden Wings,’ is a pure gold dragon, a true legend. He lives together with my silver dragon grandmother in the Boiling Sea.”
“Whenever he arrives, he can wipe out the Abyssal Rift as easily as dust.”
Upon hearing this, the red iron dragon became even more silent.
Several seconds passed without a response, then the brass-silver dragon blinked and said, “Say something. Do you want me to ask the elders above for help?”
Garoth looked at the brass-silver dragon but did not answer directly.
He asked, “Suppose, just suppose, your grandfather still can’t solve the problem, then what?”
The brass-silver dragon replied matter-of-factly, “What else can be done? Keep asking the elders above. My grandfather has elders above him.”
The older the dragon species, the stronger they inevitably are.
The brass-silver dragon herself was just a young adult dragon in her early forties, yet she could call upon older dragons. Using the young to fight the old, completely ruthless,unless facing utterly chaotic evil creatures that don’t care about consequences.
Otherwise, other intelligent beings wouldn’t dare touch the metal dragons.
There was a reason for this.
Damn it, why couldn’t the Five-colored Dragons and the Iron Hybrid Dragons unite and protect each other like the metal dragons?
Garoth hadn’t even seen his own red dragon father.
He couldn’t imagine how wonderful life would be if he came from a metal dragon lineage, with layers of protection above him, with strong arms to rely on. At the very least, he wouldn’t have to compete with goblins for resources.
“Deborah, does your grandfather want to adopt a wicked dragon as his godson? Do you think a naturally evil red iron hybrid dragon like me fits the criteria?”
The red iron dragon covered his admiration with a joke.
“You want to be in the same generation as my father? Dream on.”
The brass-silver dragon rolled her eyes at Garoth and then said seriously, “I can ask my father for help. Once he hears about the Abyssal Rift, he’ll be glad to rush over.”
After a brief hesitation, she continued, “However, I’m not sure how he feels about you.”
The brass-silver dragon looked at Garoth’s formidable, fierce, and mighty figure and whispered, “My father is always strict. He upholds justice and likes to educate wicked dragons.”
“He might ignore you, but he might also suddenly decide to capture and imprison you for education.”
Garoth shook his head and said decisively, “The Abyssal Rift problem isn’t a big deal for now. It might even provide some resources. No need to trouble your father.”
He always hated risks beyond his control.
Although the Abyssal Rift was a hidden danger, its scale was clear, and it was constantly monitored by minions. It wouldn’t cause a huge disturbance, and if something happened, he wouldn’t be the first to face it.
The mature silver dragon was different.
An 18th-level mature silver dragon… if it targeted him, it would be extremely troublesome, with unpredictable consequences.
“Let’s go. Come back with me to Dragon Valley.”
Garoth looked at the brass-silver dragon and said,
to first bind her to his faction. Metal dragons valued family bonds deeply. If the silver dragon Frostmark really wanted to attack him, she would at least have to consider her daughter’s opinion.
Also, if they unfortunately encountered an overwhelming enemy, having a metal dragon nearby would at least make the opponent hesitate.
He thought to himself, preparing for the worst.
Soon after, the brass-silver dragon and Garoth returned together to Dragon Valley.
As before he fell asleep, the brass-silver dragon accompanied and assisted him with various training exercises, and Garoth would give her puzzles or gold coins as rewards.
Time passed day by day.
Friction and conflict continued between the Gold Fang Tribe and the Molten Iron Tribe around the riverbank strongholds.
Guerrilla raids led mainly by elite centaurs caused many losses to the goblin strongholds, but the goblins also planned ambushes and counterattacks.
Both sides inflicted damage on each other.
Comparatively, the goblins, who relied on golems and alchemical constructs for combat and were reluctant to give up their strongholds, were at a disadvantage.
However, the goblins seemed to be enduring, waiting for something. Though occasional ambushes and counterattacks occurred, the overall response was not intense.
Thus, a month slipped quietly by.
Crash!
The hills covered with cold-resistant pine trees trembled violently.
The red iron dragon and a giant black-scaled serpent rolled and wrestled on the ground.
Stones scattered, the earth cracked, massive trees toppled… Their battle raged like an earthquake, leaving deep trenches on the land.
The black-scaled giant serpent was nearly fifty meters long, its slender body coiled around the red iron dragon. Every muscle fiber beneath its scales was as tough as steel wire.
Scales rubbed against each other with a clang. Sparks flew but were immediately swallowed by dense cold air.
The black-scaled serpent tightened and contracted inch by inch, trying to strangle the red iron dragon. Clear sounds of tense muscles echoed within, yet no matter how it constricted, it couldn’t stop the red iron dragon’s heart.
Cold air continuously invaded its body.
The forest-like spikes sliced through the serpent’s scales like a slow torture.
The ferocious dragon wings and tail repeatedly slashed and stabbed, leaving horrifying wounds deep enough to see bone.
However, the black-scaled serpent seemed numb to pain and was not very intelligent. It stubbornly constricted its body, biting the red iron dragon’s back with its fangs and injecting poison.
Minutes later.
Snap!
With dark red flames surging, the dragon wings slashed down like blades, cutting off all ferocious momentum and decapitating the black-scaled serpent. Even in death, its serpent head still bit onto Garoth’s body.
“The last one.”
Garoth removed the serpent head, thinking, “The Wild Beast Lords in the southwest have been completely eliminated. The last piece of the puzzle is complete.”
With this, the Molten Iron Tribe had fully taken over the southwest. Every inch of land here belonged to the Molten Iron Tribe, belonged to Garoth.
“Among the Wild Beast Lords, only the white tiger has been tamed.”
“The others are either like the Chimera—innately chaotic and evil with no loyalty—or like this giant serpent, cold-blooded and ferocious, fighting to the death without retreat.”
Garoth thought regretfully.
He picked up the black-scaled giant serpent’s body and flew toward Dragon Valley.
If it couldn’t be tamed, he would at least supplement his body. High-level carnivorous meat like this wasn’t something Garoth could eat every day.
Not long after, night fell.
A bonfire was lit in Dragon Valley. The ogre chef, skilled in preparing meat, carefully roasted the serpent meat, expertly sprinkling various spices. The sizzling of fat under the flames mixed with the aroma of the spices, filling the valley.
Roasted serpent meat, serpent meat soup, serpent sashimi.
One serpent, three ways to eat.
Garoth enjoyed the feast while watching the duel ahead.
The bonfire brightly lit the clearing. The battle lizardfolk Ulos and the kobold Dag stood in the firelight, cautiously and carefully sizing each other up.
The battle lizardfolk looked like a giant lizard standing upright.
The kobold’s name didn’t fit its appearance. It looked more like a dragonborn, without canine features, only called a kobold because of its extreme devotion to dragons and generally weaker physique.
After the death of the gnoll Hodge, the Iron Will lost its warhost lord.
For the new generation of monsters, Garoth wasn’t very familiar and had no favored candidates, so he chose a martial contest for selection.
The battle lizardfolk and the kobold before him had fought through numerous trials to become the final candidates and the strongest of their respective tribes’ new generation.
Garoth tore off a piece of roasted serpent meat, fat dripping down his jaw, watching the two leaders with interest.
“Begin.”
The red iron dragon’s voice was low and imposing.
The taller battle lizardfolk Ulos struck first. He swung his tail, strode forward, grabbed a battle axe, and swung at Dag. The axe blade’s wind pressure made the bonfire flicker wildly.
The kobold didn’t take the hit head-on. He ducked low and rolled, disappearing into the darkness, blending with the night.
With a violent tremor, the ground was cleaved open by the giant axe, a deep trench extending over ten meters, showcasing the power of the strike.
At the same time, taking advantage of Ulos’s attack interval, Dag silently appeared beside the battle lizardfolk. His attack was quiet and subtle, a dagger slashed upward slyly, aiming between Ulos’s legs.
Ulos twitched his eyelids.
He jumped back to avoid it, slapping the ground with his thick tail and lunging at the kobold at an even faster speed.
At that moment, the kobold suddenly took out a handful of sand and dirt, throwing it at Ulos’s face.
The battle lizardfolk instinctively closed his eyes, his movements slightly delayed.
Dag seized the opportunity. Suddenly, a pair of bat-like wings unfolded from his back, speed skyrocketing, ghostlike. His dagger aimed straight at Ulos’s throat but changed tactics at the last moment, the tip lightly pressing on Ulos’s carotid artery.
“You lost.”
Dag’s voice was sharp but firm.
Ulos opened his eyes, staring in disbelief at the dagger pressed against his neck.
His heavy breathing gradually calmed, and he slowly lowered his battle axe.
“Well done, shorty.”
The battle lizardfolk said in a muffled voice.
The kobold Dag wagged his tail and turned to look at the red iron dragon.
The firelight shimmered on the giant dragon’s scales, making him appear even more majestic and imposing.
“Ulos’s strength is greater.”
The red iron dragon said, “But Dag is better at using his brain in combat. His victory is indisputable.”
The overall levels of the battle lizardfolk and the kobold were comparable.
But in combat, the battle lizardfolk relied solely on brute force with no other tactics. In contrast, the kobold Dag deeply understood the essence of shadow assassins, fought with his mind, controlled the rhythm, and delivered the killing blow at the perfect moment.
Their strengths and weaknesses were easily distinguishable.
“Dag, the position of warhost lord of Iron Will is yours now. Show us what you’ve got.”
The kobold sheathed his dagger and immediately knelt on the ground. “My lord, I am willing to give my life and fight to the death for you.”
The bonfire crackled, sparks rising into the night sky.
The iron dragon Sorog appeared above Dragon Valley. He circled briefly, folded his wings, and landed in front of the red iron dragon.
“Garoth, my dear brother, I have a major discovery.”
He could barely contain his excitement as he said.
“What is it?”
Garoth asked.
The iron dragon lowered his voice and slowly said, “Within the territory of the Gold Fang Tribe, there is very likely a black oil field.”
Garoth first raised an eyebrow slightly.
The next second, his breathing grew heavy, pupils suddenly narrowed to thin lines, and a few sparks burst from his nostrils.
“Are you sure?!”
Anything called a black oil field would have a minimum extractable reserve exceeding ten thousand tons of black oil, enough for Garoth to swim in—an extremely valuable strategic resource.
“An eighty to ninety percent probability.”
Sorog nodded heavily.
Black oil field, black oil field… Garoth’s eyes shone brightly, filled with intense desire and a hint of danger.
“Sorog, tell me the details of the discovery.”
The red iron dragon took a deep breath and said in a low voice.
A strategic resource like a black oil field, once confirmed to exist and with a chance to seize it, must be hit with full force. Missing it was absolutely not an option!