novelraw Chapter 370: Heart of Thunder
Chapter 370: Heart of Thunder
Thick black clouds rolled and converged, countless silver serpents writhing wildly.
Below, around a steep, towering cliff, dragons of various shapes circled and soared.
When a massive deep-blue figure, its whole body wrapped in blinding electric light, flew out from its lair and finally landed steadily atop the highest point of the cliff, every dragon of youth phase and older folded their wings one by one and descended onto the cliff platform, gathering around that figure.
At a glance, the majority of dragons assembled here were Blue Dragons whose scales ranged in shades of deep blue, emitting the crackle of static electricity in waves.
Among them could also be seen a few crimson-scaled Red Dragons, relatively slender Green Dragons, and other types of drakes, together forming the Dominik Dragon Cluster.
“Leader! Congratulations on awakening from your slumber.”
“You will guide us again! Your thunder and storms will sweep across the entire wilderness!”
“Under your leadership, the Dominik Dragon Cluster will surely reclaim our lost homeland and restore our former glory! Kill those giants!”
Amid the noisy, ardent flattery and praise from the drakes, the dragon who had become the center of attention revealed his form clearly to every draconic eye.
He was a robust, powerfully muscled prime-phase Blue Dragon.His size was noticeably several times larger than any other drake around him, and simply standing there he radiated a heavy, oppressive presence.
His scales were a deep, true-blue whose smooth surfaces reflected dancing electric sparks; one scale after another fit tightly together, and across those scales were many clear, intersecting battle-hardened patterns that told of countless killings throughout his long years, conveying extreme weight and toughness.
His dragon horn did not grow atop his head but at the upper end of his snout like a thick, sharp spiral lance, its surface constantly spitting off tiny, dangerous electric sparks that made a faint sizzling sound.
Most striking were his dragon wings.
When he stretched his body, the wing membranes unfolded like two enormous deep-blue banners. On those membranes were densely packed patterns resembling natural lightning trails and countless branching veins, easily visible.
Countless tiny currents were now racing and flashing along those patterns, as if a thunderstorm-darkened sky had been seared onto them.
He was the leader of the Dominik Dragon Cluster, revered by all members as the Heart of Thunder.
—Perest Dominik.
Life Level: 20
Perest had now entered the final stage of his prime phase, his life flame burning fiercely. In a few decades he would cross the four-hundred-year threshold and become an elder dragon.
Blue Dragons of the same age averaged around Life Level 18.
Perest had not only reached Level 20, he also cultivated a high profession rank.
There was no doubt he was an outstanding Blue Dragon and a top-tier strongbox among his kind; otherwise he could not dominate and lead the cluster.
The Blue Dragon leader moved his slightly stiff neck and allowed the rain pouring from the sky to wash over his heavy scales, savoring the long-missed air of the outside world.
At the same time, his gaze slowly swept across the faces of every dragon around him.
“What notable changes occurred in the Ser Wilderness while you slept?” I asked.
Xue Yizhong, the dragon whose size was second only to Xue Yisheng, stepped backward in response.
Zoraya, a prime-phase female Blue Dragon, Life Level 17.
Her scales were a beautiful sky-blue, and her energy fluctuation and bloodline aura were similar to Perest’s.
She was Perest’s direct descendant and his most capable subordinate. During Perest’s slumber, the Dominik Dragon Cluster had been mainly managed by Zoraya.
Unlike other standard Blue Dragons:
Her horns did not grow at the snout tip; their thick bases sprouted from the sides of her skull near the ear ridges, then grew back and upward into many complex, elegant branches. At first glance they resembled a stag’s antlers but were stronger, harder, and more ornate.
Clearly, she bore some special mutation.
“Father, the developments largely match what we predicted before you fell asleep.”
She paused slightly, then continued her report.
“In our Dominik Dragon Cluster’s central territory, the strongest contender for the title of regional king before was the Red Dragon known by many intelligent beings as the Mad King, Gorthax.”
Previously, Leticia the Iron Dragon had hoped to ally with the cluster to jointly counter Gorthax’s huge threat.
The dragon cluster ultimately chose to refuse.
The reason was simple.
Their leader was in a critical prime-phase slumber. At such a juncture, deliberately provoking a mad and powerful enemy like Gorthax was not wise.
During the leader’s sleep, the Dominik Cluster maintained strict restraint, tightly controlling its claws and followers, quietly managing its traditional territory in the central region. It did not expand outward aggressively and deliberately concealed its sharp edges, so it had not left many distinguished marks in the wilderness.
But that did not mean they were weak.
On the contrary, a dragon cluster capable of forcibly restraining the innate drive for expansion and conquest was often far more terrifying than those that indulged their nature and fell into disunity.
Hearing the name Gorthax, a brighter cluster of electric sparks suddenly burst from Perest’s horn, crackling loudly.
“Gorthax... I know him.”
Perest said slowly. “A wild, mad dragon whose mind is filled with destruction and slaughter is indeed a formidable enemy.”
He admitted with sober honesty, “If we fought head-on at equal Life Levels, I probably would not be his match.”
Being able to directly acknowledge he was inferior to another dragon of the same age was a rare quality among proud, arrogant drakes, even within the comparatively rational Blue Dragon circles.
“However.”
The Heart of Thunder shifted his tone, and strong confidence returned to his voice. “I have the advantage of time and accumulation. I have just emerged from my prime slumber; my Life Level now reaches 20, at the peak just under Legendary, which surely surpasses his current state.”
“With me as leader, gathering the full strength of our Dominik Dragon Cluster to encircle and eliminate an enemy who is strong but mentally unbalanced should not be difficult.”
However,
after these words, the gathered dragons did not immediately roar in agreement. Instead, they exchanged uneasy glances.
This was clearly not the reaction Perest had expected.
His pupils narrowed as he scanned the silent crowd.
“Father.”
Zoraya spoke at the right moment and revealed the reason. “You woke up one step too late. The Mad King Gorthax is already dead.”
Seeing a flicker of stunned surprise in his father’s eyes, she continued, “The one who killed him was the ruler of the northwest region of the wilderness, a Red and Iron Dragon—Lord of Molten Iron.”
The battle between Garoth and Gorthax had been tremendous in scale.
Before long, the identities of the two combatants and the outcome of the battle spread through various clues and the probing of certain interested parties, gradually circulating throughout the wilderness circles.
Afterward,
the prestige of the Lord of Molten Iron rose like wildfire across the Ser Wilderness, and many intelligent beings quietly regarded him as the current strongest dragon of the wilderness, arousing widespread fear and respect.
Zoraya recounted to Perest as thoroughly as possible everything she knew about the rise of the Lord of Molten Iron, the composition of his tribe, and the various rumors and information about how he slew Gorthax.
Finally, she seemed to recall something else and, after a moment’s hesitation, added, “There is another matter concerning our cluster’s internal code of conduct that requires your personal judgment.”
The Blue Dragon leader inclined his head slightly and adopted a listening posture to signal her to continue.
“When our cluster fought the storm giants in the coastal region for territory and resources, a portion of our members who were cowardly in battle betrayed the cluster and fled during the fiercest fighting.”
Zoraya said, “Based on intelligence we later gathered, it can be confirmed that some of those shameful traitors fled alive to the wilderness’s northwest region and... currently seem to be sheltering under that Lord of Molten Iron.”
Perest’s gaze suddenly sharpened to an extreme edge.
Blue Dragons, unlike many other drakes, lived socially in clans.
Many powerful drakes living together in the same region made strict rules vital, and among all the iron rules of the Dominik Cluster, none tolerated betrayal of the clan.
“Those damned, cowardly traitors! They must be found and torn apart alive!”
“How dare the Lord of Molten Iron take them in! That is a direct challenge and insult to our Dominik Cluster! Leader, we should declare war on the Lord of Molten Iron immediately! Wash this shame with fire!”
An explosive-tempered Red Dragon could no longer contain himself and let out an angry low roar.
“Fool! Shut your mouth!”
Perest, the Blue Dragon leader, spun toward the interjecting drake.
Boom!
Without any warning, a bolt of heavenly thunder descended and struck the young Red Dragon, causing it to seize and tremble under the electric shock.
After disciplining the unruly Red Dragon, his gaze remained razor-sharp, but there was no anger in it; rather, it shone with calm, contemplative light.
A nearly four-hundred-year-old prime Blue Dragon with abundant experience like him was no longer one easily ruled by impulse; he could control parts of his nature and think and decide more rationally.
That the Lord of Molten Iron could kill Gorthax, whom he himself admitted was difficult to handle, was not to be taken lightly.
Moreover, according to intelligence, the opponent was not a lone wolf.
He commanded a powerful tribe, numerous loyal followers, and other dragons who followed him—he was truly the head of a dragon cluster.
If they rashly provoked a full-scale war between two powerful clusters over a few traitors, the risks involved would very likely far outweigh any gains.
After a brief, swift weighing of pros and cons, Perest made his decision.
“Zoraya, my daughter.”
He looked at his most trusted descendant; his voice had regained its steadiness.
“To show our sincerity, you will personally go to the northwest region.”
“You must meet that Lord of Molten Iron and convey my thoughts: regarding those cowards who betrayed Dominik, I wish to open a friendly and candid dialogue and negotiation with him. I believe a true strong leader should understand the necessity of upholding the cluster’s rules.”
Zoraya inclined her head lightly, indicating she accepted the order.
She did not leave immediately; after hesitating a few seconds she spoke, “Father, I understand your intent.”
“But if... if that Lord of Molten Iron refuses to communicate, or if our dialogue and negotiation ultimately reach no agreement and fail—”
“Then what shall we do next?”
She had gathered considerable intelligence and formed an impression of the Lord of Molten Iron she had never met.
In her judgment, he was absolutely a dragon of firm will, hardline manner, fierce tyranny, and strong opinion—once he made a decision, he would probably not change it easily due to outside influences.
“Very simple.”
The Blue Dragon leader opened his massive maw and revealed glinting, cold fangs.
“If negotiation fails, we will use a more direct method.”
“Claws, fangs! And thunder and storms!”
He valued practical gain and was unwilling to start a war whose risks outweighed the rewards. He would not rashly wage all-out war with another powerful cluster.
Yet he also placed ultimate importance on the cluster’s rules and dignity—this was the foundation on which the Dominik Cluster had survived.
In any case, those who betrayed the clan must be made to pay.
“I understand, Father.”
Zoraya nodded.
Without further hesitation, she shot into the sky and flew straight toward the northwest region dominated by the Ignas Dragon Cluster.
After continuing to converse with other dragon members to gather recent updates about the cluster,
the Dominik leader suddenly beat his great wings patterned with countless lightning veins, his deep-blue body shot into the sky, and he plunged into the clouds.
His silhouette became faint and indistinct within the cloud layers.
At the same time, the innumerable writhing silver serpents within the clouds converged on his body, gathering around the Blue Dragon leader into an almost solid orb of lightning centered on him.
Vast electrical energy was absorbed by him.
Perest’s unstable aura from his long sleep was quickly consolidated and replenished.
After a while,
Zoraya did not succeed in meeting the Lord of Molten Iron.
Although she came on behalf of the Dominik Dragon Cluster, Iron Dragon Sorog was not negligent and immediately reported the matter to the Lord of Molten Iron, who was located in the convergence lands.
This involved another dragon cluster.
Whether it meant negotiation or direct war, the final decision would rest with Garoth.