novelraw Chapter 51: The Price of Fearlessness
Chapter 51: The Price of Fearlessness
The moonlight was clear and bright, casting a layer of glow over the Needleleaf Valley, which was surrounded by mountains on three sides.
Mobel carried the charred corpse of his deceased father and returned to the den where the Rampage Bears lived. With a thud, he threw the burnt body onto the ground.
However, the bears’ gazes were not on Mobel.
They lifted their heads, alert as if facing a great enemy, their pupils reflecting the silhouettes of two dragons circling in the sky.
Their eyes passed over the purebred red dragon, but they were all focused on the other dragon.
The red iron young dragon’s scales looked as if cast from steel. From its huge and broad dragon wings sparked trails of fire, casting shadows that almost engulfed all the bears present under the moonlight.
Garoth stood firmly behind it, supporting.
Mobel straightened his chest, slamming his thick bear paws heavily on the ground, scattering stones.
He looked around at the bears, his voice loud and thunderous:
“Open your bear eyes wide and look!”He pointed with his claw to the burnt corpse on the ground: “This is the fate of those who resist the great Dragon Lord!”
Under the moonlight, the alchemical runes on Mobel’s body flickered with light, adding an extra layer of intimidation to his aura.
He stepped slowly toward the center of the bear group, each step causing a slight tremor in the earth.
“How many years has Old Gore ruled over you? Even the right to mate depends on his mood.”
Several low grumbles of agreement rose from the bear pack, especially from the younger male bears, who had long harbored resentment against the old leader.
Seeing this, Mobel raised his voice immediately: “And now!”
He spread his arms wide.
“On behalf of Lord Garoth, I promise you—all male bears will gain mating rights! And you won’t have to fear being cast out!”
Of course.
As the leader, I will stand before all male bears, enjoying the highest priority.
He added this thought with a low chuckle.
This declaration stirred unrest within the bear group.
Several female bears’ eyes visibly brightened.
It wasn’t just the male bears who were unhappy with Old Gore’s dictatorship; the females were also tired of the old Rampage Bear leader. Compared to the graying and withered fur of the old bear, who was powerless, they preferred the shiny fur of younger males—otherwise, they wouldn’t have kept sneaking off.
“Not only that.”
Mobel continued to incite.
“The Dragon Lord will also grant us power!”
He displayed the glowing runes on his body: “Look at these! Did that stingy, ruthless old thing ever give you any blessing?”
In the sky,
Garoth quietly listened to Mobel’s speech.
He was surprised to find that this cowardly Rampage Bear actually had some talent for leadership, and his intelligence was a level above the other Earth Rampage Bears.
Thinking carefully, it made sense.
When he first encountered Garoth and realized he was no match, he immediately dropped his bear pride to flatter and curry favor—that quick adaptability was exceptional.
At this moment, most of the Rampage Bears were persuaded by Mobel.
But there was still one naturally fierce and rebellious male bear who had been favored more by Old Gore standing up, roaring angrily:
“Mobel, stop talking! You are a shameful traitor! You actually led a dragon to kill the leader! You are trying to make us submit and abandon the honor of the bear tribe!”
No sooner had he finished speaking,
With a sharp whistle,
A massive oppressive force descended from the sky.
The male bear lifted his head and saw a dragon like a crimson meteor rushing at him at high speed. The courage he had just shown instantly vanished, and he shut his eyes in terror.
Whoosh!
The wind pressure pressed his fur tightly against his skin, but the expected death did not come.
Opening his eyes,
The male bear’s vision was almost completely filled.
Garoth spread his dragon wings, hovering in midair. His deep black dragon pupils lowered their gaze, staring intently at the male bear.
“Evil dragon! I, Paris, the Earth Rampage Bear, never fear death!”
The male bear bared his teeth and growled at Garoth, trembling all over but posing an attacking stance despite the overwhelming dragon might.
Unlike the male bear who faced a great enemy with fear,
Garoth tilted his head slightly, seeming somewhat puzzled.
“You have never died, so how do you know you’re not afraid?”
He asked.
Not afraid to die?
That was too simple a statement.
Garoth felt that he himself was very afraid of death, so much so that he wanted to eliminate all dangers that made him uneasy and afraid.
If even I am afraid, how can you not be? Are you really stronger than me?
The instinct for survival and continuation was inherent in living beings. This statement pierced the male bear’s psychological defenses like a spear, and the fear of death flooded over him like a tide.
His eyes grew hesitant, wavering between submission and resistance.
Submit?
The dragon before him was not even a mature dragon.
Submitting to such a young dragon would damage his dignity as an Earth Rampage Bear.
But on the other hand, this young dragon had killed the leader, which meant it was stronger than ordinary dragons and had excellent potential. It seemed worth following.
The male bear struggled with these thoughts.
Garoth was unaware of the male bear’s inner turmoil.
Even if he knew, he wouldn’t care.
He did not like being seen as an evil dragon, nor did he like resistance. He had no intention of sparing this Rampage Bear.
Garoth opened his dragon maw, unleashing a surging fiery breath that engulfed the still hesitant and terrified male bear.
Accompanied by fading howls and roars, the bear was burned to a crisp.
“Those who submit live; those who resist die.”
Garoth raised his head, his gaze sweeping across the Earth Rampage Bears, speaking succinctly.
Thud!
The red dragon Samantha landed simultaneously, glaring at the bears with predatory eyes. Between her dragon jaws, sharp teeth intertwined, brewing dazzling flames.
Mobel shouted timely:
“Choose! Do you want to become ashes like Old Gore and that foolish bear, or follow me to enjoy the Dragon Lord’s blessings?!”
The bear pack stirred.
Under threat and temptation, soon the first bear prostrated himself on the ground.
The creatures in this wilderness sought nothing more than two things:
Survival and continuation.
Better survival, better continuation.
If, as Mobel said, submitting to dragons was better than Old Gore’s dictatorship,
After the first bear, the second, the third... finally, all the Rampage Bears bowed their heads. Under the moonlight, the entire bear tribe knelt one by one like waves, showing submission to the dragon silhouettes in the sky.
The next day.
The sun shone brightly, golden sunlight flooding the Needleleaf Valley inside and out.
Garoth called over several sub-adult male bears, each standing six to seven meters tall, to join him in a clearing.
“Dragon Lord, do you have any orders?”
One bear cautiously asked.
Because they had just submitted, they still did not know Garoth’s temperament. His previous act of burning disobedient bears without hesitation also left a shadow in their minds, making them appear nervous and cautious in front of Garoth.
Garoth instructed the bears to form a circle around himself.
“Come, attack me.”
He said.
Hearing this, several bears widened their eyes, as if not having heard Garoth correctly.
“Wh-what did you say?”
One bear scratched his head, doubting his hearing, asking in confusion.
Garoth patiently repeated and added, “I said, attack me. Use all your means to attack me. Anyone who causes me pain or threatens me will be granted priority mating rights.”
The bears looked at each other.
After hesitating for a few seconds, seeing Garoth’s expression grow somewhat impatient, one bear hesitantly reached out its paw and lightly slapped Garoth.
More accurately, it was more like a gentle touch.
It used no strength at all.