novelraw Chapter 85: Evolution, Evolution!
Chapter 85: Evolution, Evolution!
After some minor twists and turns.
The Redeye Clan of Howling Cliff officially became Garoth's vassals.
He gazed at the fawning Warlord Bloodfang with its wagging tail, contemplating whether to perform dragon vein transformation on it.
The Iron Dragon Mother had dragon vein vassals under her command - her most trusted guards used to protect her treasure vault or carry out orders. In fact, she trusted these dragon vein vassals more than some of her own offspring.
Core vassals of dragons typically undergo dragon vein transformation.
Dragon vein vassals are a dragon's closest confidants, extensions of their claws and fangs, possessing absolute loyalty to the dragon who granted them the transformation through dragonblood.
"The cost is too high. I can't afford it now."
Garoth shook his head slightly, dismissing the idea.
Only young dragons over 50 years old qualify for dragon vein transformation, requiring expenditure of vital essence blood and temporary weakening of one's own strength.
Transforming ordinary creatures into dragon vein beings is akin to rebirth.The process involves torment bordering on death, requiring immense determination and willpower to emerge reborn from the flames. Random selection yields less than ten percent success rate.
This gnoll chieftain before him didn't seem capable of surviving the transformation.
More importantly, candidates for dragon vein transformation couldn't be chosen haphazardly.
Only creatures with exceptional innate talent and potential would be granted the privilege.
Otherwise, what's the point of wasting precious dragonblood to create more trash?
No dragon would tolerate such disgrace.
An adult dragon may have many vassals, but the number of core dragon vein leaders always remains countable on one hand.
Gnolls.
Earth Rampage Bears.
Graymane Werewolves.
Garoth saw no transformation-worthy potential in any of them. Upon reflection, had the old Rampage Bear leader been willing to submit, it might have earned his favor.
"Perhaps among the lizardfolk or ogre clans."
"Could there be worthy candidates for transformation?"
Garoth pondered.
But given his nature, unless he became powerful enough that the transformation's cost wouldn't weaken him, he wouldn't waste his blood and power enhancing other creatures.
To Garoth.
Only personal strength truly mattered.
If he remained weak, having numerous dragon vein vassals would prove useless.
Putting aside these thoughts, Garoth lowered his gaze to Warlord Bloodfang and declared: "The Graymane Werewolves of Howling Moon Clan now also serve under me. You shall all pledge loyalty together."
Warlord Bloodfang immediately fawned: "For those Graymane dogs to follow you is their greatest honor!"
Said as if it were the senior follower.
Garoth then began issuing commands, establishing rules to stagger the Redeye Clan's ambush schedules along the Serpentine Earth Rift from the Howling Moon Clan's activities.
This increased chances of encountering caravans while preventing conflicts between the two groups.
A dragon's vassals obey only their dragon.
Different vassal groups often clash while competing for favor, which dragon lords rarely discourage - sometimes even intentionally instigating such competition.
In draconic traditions.
Texts like [On Lordship] and even [The Prince] constitute essential knowledge.
"Not just the Howling Moon Clan."
"The Rending Claw Clan's lizardfolk, the Bonegnaw Clan's ogres."
"They will soon kneel beneath my wings, joining you to dominate the Serpentine Earth Rift."
Garoth proclaimed.
"Of course, mighty one. They shall all grovel before your power."
"Should you require anything, the Redeye Clan will charge at the forefront as your vanguard."
Warlord Bloodfang replied reverently.
"Hodge, I appreciate your cunning and cleverness."
Garoth said meaningfully: "Among you and other clan leaders, whoever performs best shall receive the dragon vein transformation."
Warlord Bloodfang froze momentarily before ecstasy overwhelmed it.
"Oh great Dragon Lord! I shall never disappoint you!"
It brimmed with fighting spirit and anticipation.
In gnoll oral traditions, the glory of dragon vein transformation remains legendary.
Ordinary gnolls live pitifully short 35-year lifespans. Even powerful individuals like warlords rarely exceed a century. But successful dragon vein transformation, granting even a trace of long-lived species' bloodline, could extend life to two or three hundred years.
Beyond longevity.
Dragon vein gnolls possess strength ordinary gnolls could never match.
Driven by survival instincts and power lust, Warlord Bloodfang now obsessed over pleasing Garoth and outperforming rival clans to earn transformation rights.
Soon after, Garoth departed Howling Cliff.
He wouldn't remain indefinitely at Howling Cliff or Crescent Valley.
Nor would he provide clan leaders exact return schedules or reveal his whereabouts.
He simply demanded obedience to his commands - raiding caravans, controlling merchants to establish channels for acquiring black oil and mana crystals.
Upon his next visit, he would evaluate their performance and dispense rewards or punishments accordingly.
This wasn't intentional mystique but prudence.
Caravan raids and merchant control carried risks - potentially attracting dangerous attention, much like when the earth spiders' black oil theft was discovered by Blackrock dwarves. Caution remained necessary.
As for why accept such risks?
This represented Garoth's carefully calculated cost-benefit analysis.
He remained cautious but never cowardly.
When benefits outweighed costs, he willingly shouldered certain risks.
Complete wilderness isolation might reduce dangers and bring temporary peace, but would severely stunt his growth rate.
Even Garoth's routine training created noticeable disturbances with exposure risks. Absolute safety would require reducing training intensity.
Moreover.
To Garoth.
Personal weakness constituted the greatest danger!
All threats stemmed from inadequacy.
The longer weakness persisted, the more dangers would multiply from all directions.
Grow powerful, and the world gradually becomes peaceful.
Drizzling rain continued through the night, accompanied by endless wind.
Garoth considered capitalizing on momentum to subjugate the Rending Claw Clan's lizardfolk and Bonegnaw Clan's ogres, fully unifying the Serpentine Earth Rift's surrounding clans to solidify control over this branch route.
But before reaching his destination.
Garoth suddenly felt exhaustion.
This weariness felt unnatural, unusual.
His activities at Redeye Clan shouldn't have drained him given his stamina.
Alongside fatigue.
Came lethargy, a growing drowsiness.
"My dragon sleep approaches."
These sensations surprised Garoth.
They weren't true exhaustion but signals indicating he should set aside other matters to prepare for dragon sleep.
Dragon sleep differs from ordinary rest.
Draconic growth isn't linear - during dragon sleep, growth accelerates dramatically. Accumulated training/combat experience and stored energy become nourishment for significant advancement.
Ordinary naps don't count.
Before ancient dragon stage, each age category permits only one true dragon sleep.
Wyrmling sleep typically lasts one to five years.
Greater accumulation means longer sleep and greater growth.
Most lazy, untrained wyrmlings sleep only one or two years.
Between ages 6-15, dragon sleep usually comes after age 12. Some sleep so late they awaken as young dragons.
Garoth currently aged eight (approaching nine).
Early signs of dragon sleep surprised him.
Upon reflection, he realized his daily physical conditioning, honing of claws/fangs, plus consumption of black oil and faerie dragon scale powder likely accelerated his physical/mental development, triggering early dragon sleep.
Regardless of exact causes.
This represented good fortune.
Allowing faster progression through vulnerability.
"My dragon sleep may last three to four years, possibly the maximum five."
Garoth estimated.
This would disrupt some plans.
Subjugating the Rending Claw and Bonegnaw Clans now seemed pointless - caravan-acquired black oil/mana crystals would remain unusable during dormancy.
Disruptions and variables define existence.
Untroubled by this, Garoth contemplated how to evolve during dormancy.
Undoubtedly.
Dragon sleep brings more than growth.
His accumulated training and adaptations would also evolve during this period.
Garoth first discovered his adaptive evolution talent after wyrmling dormancy.
"To evolve jet-propulsion burst acceleration wings, this dormancy presents the perfect opportunity!"
Revitalized, Garoth turned back toward Needleleaf Valley.