novelraw Chapter 211: Fight for Your King
Chapter 211: Fight for Your King
In order to select the warhost leader for Iron Will, Dragon Valley happened to be gathering numerous chieftains at this moment. After deciding to declare war on the Gold Fang Tribe, Garoth soared into the night sky.
Under the gaze of countless eyes looking upward.
The red iron dragon's wings suddenly spread wide, sparks generated from fine scale friction pouring down like a torrential rain.
"Hear me! Warriors of the Molten Iron Tribe!"
The red iron dragon's roar shook loose falling rocks: "The goblin vermin in the southeast are eyeing us with predatory intent."
"They dare drive boundary stakes into our rivers! Dare leave arrow holes in our outposts! Delusionally attempting to impose tax yokes upon us!"
The voice paused slightly, then continued with even greater intensity.
"I want to see the Gold Fang Tribe's forges become our smithies! To see goblins wailing and begging for mercy amidst the flames! To make the entire convergence lands know that a true king is coming to claim this territory!"
"Now—"
"Sharpen your claws and fangs!""Polish your weapons!"
"—Prepare yourselves, to fight for your king!"
Wings that blotted out the sky spread proudly like banners, the red iron dragon's declaration of war resonating through Dragon Valley's night air like quenched steel blades.
"For the great Redwing Lord!"
"For the Molten Iron Tribe!"
"For the master of the convergence lands!"
All warriors simultaneously struck their weapons against shields, creating thunderous drum-like impacts.
Excited wolf howls and roars rose and fell continuously without end.
The warriors of the Molten Iron Tribe were without exception battle-hungry and ferocious. Even the orderly centaurs were each exceptionally brave and skilled in combat.
They didn't fear war—they even anticipated it.
Ten years of retreat and hibernation had left them desperately thirsty for battle.
Their claws and fangs craved blood.
Afterward, commands were issued one after another.
The subordinate chieftains no longer gathered in Dragon Valley, instead dispersing to various strongholds of the Molten Iron Tribe.
They opened storehouses to distribute food reserves, releasing meat supplies to be cooked with vegetables into unlimited provision soups. Even the most basic gnolls and kobolds could unusually eat their fill, bellies round and full.
Elite troops like centaurs and ogres received even better treatment.
High-quality ferocious beast or magical creature meat, magical energy-infused fruits and vegetables... became their staple foods.
After feasting heartily, they donned iron armor, grasped their weapons, constantly prepared for battle. During this preparation period they didn't remain idle either, engaging in moderate intensity training to warm up for combat and activate their bodies.
They each received their orders.
After seven sunrises, the fully prepared Molten Iron Tribe warriors would launch more ferocious attacks on Gold Fang Tribe outposts, no longer limited to just riverbanks.
Mines, pastures, grasslands... the Gold Fang Tribe's main southeastern outposts were all designated targets.
Subordinates located in Howling Wind Dense Forest also received commands. Werewolf shamans used magic to communicate with the white tiger, informing this powerful and ferocious wild beast lord that it was time to tear enemies apart for the Molten Iron Tribe.
Dragon Valley.
Garoth consumed the high-quality flesh of the black-scaled giant serpent, washing it down with mouthfuls of 93 black oil to moisten his throat. Energy gradually filled his body, and after finishing his meal and replenishment, he didn't engage in further training, instead calmly adjusting his condition.
The seven-day period was for battle preparations and developing combat strategies.
It was also the time needed for Garoth's frostburst scales to fully recover and his personal condition to reach its peak.
Crackle!
A crystal lit up, outlining the form of red dragon Samantha with faint blue light.
This was a projection stone—a higher-grade communication artifact purchased previously through the gem merchant consortium. It could transmit images and sounds in real time while resisting magical interference, far more expensive than ordinary message stones.
Currently only Dragon Valley's dragons and core subordinates possessed them.
Samantha had already received the news, but she was located in the sulfur hills overseeing the alchemical production line. With advanced communication tools like projection stones, she didn't need to personally come to Dragon Valley.
"If we can obtain the black oil field and conquer the Gold Fang Tribe, we can attempt to manufacture alchemical golems, war machines, and various medium to large alchemical tools."
The red dragon said excitedly.
Alchemical industry couldn't develop without energy sources.
The Molten Iron Tribe's alchemical industry had struggled to develop, progressing slowly mainly due to energy shortages. Some crucial, large alchemical tools required burning black oil as energy, which the Molten Iron Tribe couldn't afford to supply.
Only with black oil field reserves could the alchemical industry develop rapidly.
"The higher purity black oil you want—with the black oil field's production capacity, we could also extract and refine it."
Samantha added, not forgetting her brother who enjoyed drinking black oil.
"I look forward to it."
The red iron dragon said: "Seven days from now, we will declare war on the Gold Fang Tribe. Samantha, during this period, halt weapon and armor production first. Concentrate capacity on manufacturing high-explosive flame orbs."
High-explosive flame orbs—these were currently the most powerful offensive artifacts in the red dragon's alchemical inheritance.
They were single-use items with no usage threshold.
The Molten Iron Tribe lacked middle and upper-tier combat power. The high-explosive flame orbs' destructive capability could somewhat compensate for this deficiency, but their production cost was substantial. Each one thrown was equivalent to its weight in silver, almost like fighting using wealth itself.
However.
As long as they could obtain the black oil field, any current investment would be merely a drop in the bucket.
"Good! Blast those wretched creatures to oblivion!"
After brief communication, red dragon Samantha deactivated the projection stone, eager to oversee production line operations.
"Sorog, what suggestions do you have?"
Garoth looked toward the iron dragon.
The iron dragon's eyes glowed with spiritual energy, his mind operating at high speed analyzing the current situation and formulating combat strategies.
His vision seemed to display a map of the entire southeast and southwest regions.
The distribution of major outposts, known guard strengths, and other details all appeared clearly visible.
Though battle hadn't yet begun, he had already been continuously running simulations based on both sides' circumstances, gradually developing clear strategic lines in his mind.
"We and the Gold Fang Tribe each have our strengths and weaknesses."
Iron dragon Sorog said: "The Gold Fang Tribe has deep accumulated resources, numerous mecha golems and alchemical tools, including some high-powered heavy artillery and powerful war machines. Their frontal assault capability is extremely strong."
"However, they themselves are physically weak, almost entirely dependent on alchemical industry—severely unbalanced."
"They fatigue more easily, require more logistical support, need more supplies."
"The goblins themselves are the Gold Fang Tribe's greatest weakness."
"In comparison, our Molten Iron Tribe warriors are almost all tireless champions with extremely low logistical demands. Relying on powerful physiques, they can fight continuously for extended periods. Plus we have dragonkind among us, giving us mobility advantages."
The light in the iron dragon's eyes didn't fade.
He continued: "When fighting the Gold Fang Tribe, we should avoid large-scale frontal clashes, avoid combat on open terrain like plains, avoid committing all forces in a single engagement."
"We should disperse to attack their various outposts, fight on multiple fronts, strike and ambush their logistical supplies..."
The iron dragon spoke rapidly, yet each word remained precise and clear, his speech well-organized.
Comprehensive and detailed combat strategies flowed from him systematically.
"The core of all tactics is... dividing the whole into parts, blossoming at multiple points."
After several full minutes, the light in his eyes gradually faded. He stopped speaking, vigorously rubbing his head with his claws, showing an extremely exhausted expression, his gaze even somewhat unfocused.
High-intensity rapid thinking severely drained spiritual energy.
The iron dragon now felt only splitting headaches, his brain turning muddy and sluggish.
"What do you think?"
The iron dragon exhaled, enduring his headache as he asked Garoth.
The red iron dragon nodded gently: "Similar to what I was thinking. We'll engage the Gold Fang Tribe according to this strategy." After a moment's thought, he added: "Trixie of the Hundred Dragons and Elvy can also be deployed to the battlefield."
"Hmm? Not managing the Fertile Plains anymore? The Abyssal Rift still exists."
The iron dragon's question carried the sluggishness of spiritual energy depletion.
"No matter. When necessary, we can directly abandon the Fertile Plains first. If the goblins want it, then let them have it."
"Letting the goblins temporarily hold it for us—what does it matter?"
The red iron dragon grinned: "Let's see if they can actually keep it."
The iron dragon nodded in sudden understanding: "I see."
He showed a look of admiration, saying to the red iron dragon: "Truly worthy of you, Garoth, my dear brother. Your thinking is more thorough than mine. Even though I've become a Mind Sorcerer and use mental magic, I still can't match you."
Garoth gently inclined his head, expression composed:
"You're not bad either. Your growth has exceeded my expectations. In overall war coordination, you'll surpass me sooner or later."
Actually, there were some details in the iron dragon's battle plan that Garoth hadn't considered, but he openly accepted Sorog's praise nonetheless. Between brothers, some small matters didn't need to be explicitly stated.