novelraw Chapter 343: The Amethyst Winged Lion King
Chapter 343: The Amethyst Winged Lion King
The boundless night sky hung low over the earth like a thick velvet blanket of ink.
Led and sheltered by the dragon flock, the Molten Iron Legion had already crossed the blurred boundary line, boldly stepping onto the vast territory belonging to the pride on the other side.
Composed of various fierce and savage beasts and magical creatures, the pride did not establish strict sentry towers like human armies within their vast territory.
However, this land was not undefended.
Countless swift-as-wind, lightning-fast lion beasts were given special missions.
Their task was not to stubbornly guard one place, but to act as mobile sentinels, patrolling the outer edges of the territory.
When the shadow of an enemy attack approached, these sentinels would raise their heads to the sky and let out deafening roars that pierced through the night, transmitting warning signals of impending danger throughout the entire pride territory.
Thus.
Across these vast plains and rolling mountains that the pride considered forbidden territory.
Frightened or highly alert roars rose and fell one after another, rapidly spreading out in circles from near to far, continuous like surging waves, echoing endlessly under the silent night sky, shattering the quiet darkness.Those pride members who had been leisurely strolling or proudly inspecting their own territories.
When they caught sight of the Molten Iron Legion sweeping forward like a mighty torrent, crushing the night as they advanced, their once arrogant and fierce postures instantly crumbled.
They only dared to bare their pale, sharp fangs from relatively safe, distant distances, squeezing out low, threatening yet fear-filled hisses from deep within their throats.
But no matter what, they absolutely did not dare to truly approach their target.
Especially when they noticed the dragon shadows circling under the low-hanging night sky, the fear originating from the depths of their bloodline instantly overwhelmed their territorial instincts and ferocity, making them even more unwilling to face the dragon flock's edge.
The pride members subconsciously retreated one after another, the low growls in their throats now carrying obvious timidity.
At this moment, they no longer possessed the fierceness and audacity they had shown when actively attacking the Molten Iron territory.
Accompanied by the Molten Iron Legion's unwavering advance, the pride could only helplessly step back, continuously retreating backward.
The incompetent pride watched helplessly as the Molten Iron Tribe's iron hooves trampled their territory, but could do nothing about it, only letting out low growls and roars that were fierce in appearance but weak in reality.
For every inch the Molten Iron Legion advanced forward, the pride was forced to retreat an inch.
Finally.
As time passed unhurriedly, the deep night sky gradually became replaced by a layer of grayish halo.
However, the sun that could disperse the gloom did not arrive as scheduled.
The sky still presented a disturbingly oppressive gray-dark tone.
Thick dark clouds converged from all directions, pressing low against the horizon. The humidity in the air noticeably increased, carrying the scent of earth and withered grass, along with the sticky feeling of an impending storm.
A heavy rain was quietly brewing between heaven and earth, seemingly ready to pour down at any moment.
Climate changes, along with the convergence lands that had almost become part of the ice plains, had also affected the Ser Wilderness, making this land originally known for its dry heat experience more frequent and prolonged rainy seasons than before.
Just then.
Under the dark, oppressive sky, in the distance, a rift valley that looked like a high mountain split in half by a divine giant's axe began to faintly appear on the horizon, revealing its general outline.
Echo Rift, the lion king's nesting territory.
The Molten Iron Legion's target was clear, steadily advancing toward the rift valley direction, gradually approaching this natural strategic pass.
Not long after, the steep rock walls of the rift valley became increasingly distinct.
And before the rift valley, on that relatively open alluvial plain, the scene was enough to make one's heart tremble.
Countless lion beasts of various types and ferocious appearances were densely arrayed as if undergoing inspection, standing ready in full battle formation.
They anxiously pawed at the ground, their low roars merging into an oppressive ocean.
Facing the large-scale enemy force that had already reached their doorstep, the previous scattered harassment guerrilla tactics lost all meaning.
Therefore, to counter the advancing Molten Iron Legion, the pride members dispersed throughout the territory heeded their leader's call, all gathering before Echo Rift, preparing to engage in the final decisive battle with the Molten Iron Legion here and now.
At this very moment.
The heavy panting of fierce beasts and the sharp low growls of magical creatures tightly intertwined, like countless muffled thunderclaps rolling, brewing, and spreading deep beneath the earth's surface! Forming a continuous wave of sonic pressure.
Roar——!
Suddenly, a massive roar far more majestic and resonant than any before, like thunder from a clear sky, violently exploded from the highest cliff top of Echo Rift.
It contained an invisible yet powerful kind of pressure that swept across the entire pride like quicksilver pouring across the ground.
In that instant, the restlessness, anxiety, and unease caused by the pressing strong enemy almost simultaneously disappeared. The mental state of all lion beasts visibly stabilized into solemn killing intent, with ferocious light rekindling in their eyes.
"Spiritual energy?"
Iron dragon Sorog's pupils slightly contracted.
From that unique roar, he detected power fluctuations he was very familiar with.
Spiritual energy.
Moreover, it seemed to surpass his own in terms of refinement.
The red iron dragon's expression didn't change much; he simply slightly lowered his gaze, looking down at the source of the roar.
Under his watchful eyes, an immensely oppressive giant lion figure slowly emerged from a large eagle-beak rock at the highest point of the rift valley.
Its gaze was like two substantial lightning bolts, sharply piercing toward the dragon flock in the sky.
Its size was unimaginably massive, even larger than an ordinary young red dragon by a full circle, radiating intense magical energy and spiritual energy reactions.
The mane around its neck was exceptionally dense and majestic, surrounding and erupting like an emperor's cloak.
But that wasn't real fur.
It was a ring of violently burning, constantly leaping purple flames. The purple flame mane danced and fluttered as if alive, adding much imposing presence to the giant lion.
It had wings growing on both sides of its back, and its body surface wasn't simply fur—many amethyst-like scales could be vaguely seen embedded in key areas.
Starting from its forehead, running along its spine all the way to its tail, thumb-sized purple crystals floated several inches away from its body, following its breathing and heartbeat, slowly sinking and rising rhythmically as if possessing life.
Most crucially.
Its gaze was deep, without obvious cruelty or ferocity, instead giving a feeling belonging to an intelligent being, brimming with shining spiritual energy light.
At this moment, the biological characteristics and appearance of this [Amethyst Winged Lion King] were completely reflected in Garoth's field of vision.
He slightly twitched his nostrils, simultaneously detecting an unusual draconic aura in the air.
"This lion king is a mixed-blood descendant born from the mating of an Amethyst Dragon and some powerful fierce beast or magical creature."
Garoth stared at the lion king on the cliff, thoughtfully pondering.
He rapidly searched his Dragon Legacy, but couldn't find biological race records that completely matched the lion king before him. However, if those prominent characteristics were considered separately, corresponding biological descriptions could be found in the legacy.
"Amethyst Dragon descendant... truly unexpected, never thought I'd encounter a powerful Amethyst Dragon bloodline descendant here."
A strange light also flashed in the eyes of iron dragon Sorog beside him: "Could there be true Amethyst Dragons lurking deep within the Ser Wilderness? I've never heard of this."
Amethyst Dragons, the crown jewels among the gemstone dragon race.
Five-colored Dragons, Metal Dragons, Gemstone Dragons... these three major dragon types were often mentioned together by mortal species.
But unlike the numerous branches of Five-colored Dragons and Metal Dragons spread throughout the Material Plane, Gemstone Dragons were extremely rare in the Material Plane, with the vast majority inhabiting other strange planes.
All Gemstone Dragons were born Mind Sorcerers, possessing powerful innate talents for manipulating spirit and spiritual energy.
Amethyst Dragons, the recognized leaders among Gemstone Dragons, the acknowledged elite of Gemstone Dragons.
Their status roughly corresponded to Red Dragons among Five-colored Dragons, Gold Dragons among Metal Dragons.
The lion king's signature floating amethyst crystals, pure and powerful spiritual energy fluctuations, highly matched the characteristics of Amethyst Dragons recorded in the Dragon Legacy.
Seeing the lion king's specific form and sensing its aura, the dragon flock could confirm its draconic descendant identity.
"Garoth, the possibility of absorbing this draconic lion king into our tribe is much higher than anticipated."
Sorog looked toward the red iron dragon beside him, softly voicing his judgment.
Garoth slightly nodded, harboring the same thought in his heart.
Wild draconic descendants were creatures with quite contradictory inner natures.
On one hand, when they encountered pure-blooded giant dragons with lower life levels than themselves.
To enhance the concentration and purity of their own draconic bloodline, the greedy instinct originating from the depths of their bloodline would be strongly stimulated, prompting them to generate the terrifying thought of killing the giant dragon and completely devouring its flesh and blood essence.
On the other hand, when they faced pure-blooded true dragons whose life levels surpassed their own and whose power could completely crush them.
That deeply rooted, inherent instinct in their draconic descendant bloodline to follow stronger true dragons would be activated, generating an almost instinctive 'returning to ancestral roots' idea, possessing a strong impulse to seek shelter and recognition.
"Halt!"
The giant dragon issued a concise and authoritative command. The steadily advancing Molten Iron Legion uniformly stopped their march, facing the array formed by countless lion beasts ahead from a distance across a stretch of land.
The solemn, killing atmosphere instantly climbed to its peak.
A suffocating dead silence permeated between the two armies, with only the wind moaning.
The red iron dragon slowly circled in the sky, while the Amethyst Lion King stood at the rift valley summit.
Their gazes intersected in the air, invisible auras violently colliding between the two Map Kings, pressing against each other.
"Giant lion with dragon blood flowing in your veins."
The red iron dragon's deep voice rolled like thunder, overwhelming the wind, spreading across the battlefield: "Submit under my wings, pay the price of loyalty for your previous reckless provocation. Thus, I shall grant forgiveness, bestowing upon you the honor of survival under dragon wing protection."
Hearing this, the Amethyst Winged Lion King took a step forward.
Its giant claw covered with crystal scales stepped on a protruding sharp rock, raising its head to gaze intently at the red iron dragon circling in the sky.
It didn't speak immediately, only emitting a low lion roar containing spiritual energy.
When this roar reached Garoth's ears, the intent it contained was naturally understood.
[Dragon circling in the sky, offer your loyalty, submit under my claws and purple flames! Swear allegiance to the pride's roar, thus I shall generously forgive your current offense and ignorance.]
This almost returned Garoth's previous words completely unchanged.
Clearly, this Amethyst Winged Lion King simply didn't consider itself weaker than these few dragons circling before it.
Compared to direct submission, its bloodline mixed with dragon pride and lion wildness craved more to challenge the dragon's authority, to prove who was the true ruler of this land.
While draconic descendants indeed possessed the nature of 'returning to ancestral roots,' they equally harbored the instinct to prove themselves through 'patricide.'
Receiving the Amethyst Lion King's highly provocative response, Garoth didn't become angry at being offended.
On the contrary, the red iron dragon's mouth corners slightly pulled upward, stretching into a somewhat ferocious yet pleased smile.
Simple, bloodless surrender and allegiance?
That would be too boring, too cheap.
Facing powerful, proud, and confident enemies, Garoth preferred to thoroughly conquer and crush them through the most direct, most intense collision of scale and claw, through the confrontation of power and flesh, and then take them under his wing.
The prouder, more confident, and more powerful the lion king behaved at this moment.
When it was eventually forced to lower that proud head and emit submissive whimpers, the conquest pleasure and satisfaction Garoth could obtain from this would be like the most mellow fine wine, intense to the extreme.
—This counted as one of Garoth's few hobbies.
"Very good, I will thoroughly enjoy your current unyielding and untamable posture!"
The red iron dragon looked down upon the earth, speaking to the Amethyst Lion King.
As his words fell, he suddenly spread his giant wings wide, issuing to the Molten Iron Legion standing ready below an attack command that shook the clouds.