novelraw Chapter 48 – Attack Silvermoon Swamp
Chapter 48 – Attack Silvermoon Swamp
"Demon?"
Su Nian was slightly taken aback.
If his inherited memories were correct, demons had been completely eradicated 1500 years ago. How could there still be demons now?
"Yes, demons..."
Anna seemed to recall something unpleasant, and her petite body shivered in fear, tightening her grip around Su Nian's neck.
"Those demons looked very strange. Most were the size of ordinary humans, surrounded by pitch-black shadows. A few were like huge stitched monsters, howling as they destroyed my home... They killed my father, mother, brother... My sister died saving me..."
"I... I still remember their faces, covered with pulsating black veins, their necks clad in dark red scales, and a pair of grey horns curving backward on their foreheads."
As Su Nian listened to Anna's story, he began searching the dragon race's inherited memories but found no record of such demons.
In the era when demons existed, they were a brutal race exuding a sulfuric stench, obsessed with muscles and combat. Only a few demons indulged in schemes, skilled in curses and manipulating souls.
But Anna wouldn't lie to him. Perhaps some special demons had survived, unknown to the dragons.
"Don't worry, Anna. I'll always be by your side. From now on, the Dragon Nest is your home."
Su Nian didn't know what to say, so he wrapped Anna in his dragon wings, offering comforting words from his past life experience, though they were somewhat hollow.
"But... Dragon Brother, Anna might not live much longer..."
Anna looked up, tears streaming down her face, biting her lip, her eyes filled with sorrow and reluctance.
She had an extraordinary sensitivity to certain things, and she was absolutely certain.
Su Nian knew in his heart, no matter what medicine he used, Anna's heart failure couldn't be cured, and her remaining lifespan was stuck at 63 days, never increasing.
Now, the medicine Su Nian gave Anna only improved her complexion and slightly alleviated her physical pain. As for the heart failure, there was no solution.
Based on Anna's story, Su Nian guessed her malady might be a demon's curse.
To cure such a curse, they might have to go to the human kingdom and find a high-ranking cleric to perform a great purification spell on Anna.
However, a combination of a black dragon and an elf wouldn't be welcomed by humans in the Southern Continent. The Empire of Winter in the Northern Continent might be more accepting, as they had less racial discrimination.
Should he carry Anna to the Empire of Winter?
Travel by sea, crossing the dangerous Northern Cold Sea.
Then over the Thunder Mountains, through the Northern Wastes, to reach the Empire of Winter.
But not to mention himself, Anna's constitution would turn her into an ice block halfway through the cold northern winds.
If they traveled by land, they would have to cross at least three or four empires in the Southern Continent, then pass through the Desert of Death.
This route was even more perilous than the sea route.
The only way was to hunt more players, gain System Points, unlock magical inheritance ahead of time, or evolve and modify other abilities.
"I won't let you die, Anna. Rest assured, I've found a way to cure you."
Su Nian gently nuzzled Anna's delicate face with his dragon head, his dragon tongue softly licking away her tears.
The originally sorrowful atmosphere was instantly disrupted by Su Nian's big tongue, turning lighthearted.
Anna wiped away her tears, her bright eyes blinking, shyly lowering her head.
"Dragon Brother..."
Anna's mood improved significantly. She held the black dragon's head tightly, her rosy face pressed against the black dragon's hard, scaly cheek.
Her gaze was filled with attachment and sincerity, her voice trembling slightly as she pleaded:
"Can you... can you always keep Anna by your side? Anna... Anna doesn't want to leave you."
"Don't worry, I promise."
Su Nian nodded, his eyes firm.
"Mr. Dragon, liars have to swallow a thousand needles..."
"But Anna is generous and won't make you swallow a thousand needles."
"As long as you always remember Anna."
...
After chatting with Anna for a while and soothing her emotions, the physically unwell Anna began to nod off.
Of course, the herbs played a part in this too.
Su Nian covered Anna with a bear skin, instructed a few elite gnolls to guard the Dragon Nest, and then flew out.
He was only going out for a short while, which shouldn't count as leaving. By the time he returned, Anna might still be asleep.
The scorching sun blazed.
Although it was already autumn, the high-altitude Silvermoon Forest was still the first to suffer from the scorching sunlight.
In such hot weather, all creatures were huddled in cool corners, unwilling to move.
Including the Rock-Helmed Crocodiles.
Su Nian was ready to take action.
He wanted to have a friendly chat with those Rock-Helmed Crocodiles, hoping they would obediently hand over the potatoes.
Outside the Dragon Nest, Su Nian first flew to the Flame Arrow Tower still under construction, looking for the kobold chieftain Polikri.
"Polikri, prepare to go to the Silvermoon Swamp to find that plant you mentioned."
"Go inform Big Grey Wolf to bring twenty gnolls."
"Each of the other magical beast leaders should bring fifty elite magical beasts."
At this moment, the kobold chieftain Polikri was marveling at the rapidly constructed Flame Arrow Tower.
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't figure out when his kobold subordinates learned to build a Flame Arrow Tower.
Upon receiving Su Nian's order, he dared not delay.
Standing at attention, he saluted, then with a howl, jumped off the cliff to carry out the command.
...
By the time Su Nian led the magical beast army to the Silvermoon Swamp, it was already past two in the afternoon.
The Silvermoon Swamp was located directly south of the Silvermoon Forest.
Very close to the Silvermoon Mountains.
Su Nian flapped his wings, flying overhead to observe the terrain, seeing only a sun-baked, dried-up basin.
The basin emitted a strange smell, a mix of grass and stench.
Su Nian instinctively felt a sense of familiarity with the smell, even having the urge to roll around in the swamp.
He knew this was due to the black dragon's natural instincts.
However, he could suppress these minor instincts and remain calm.
The swamp's dryness was only superficial.
If any creature stepped in, it would be instantly sucked into the swamp.
Hovering in the sky, Su Nian noticed nine Rock-Helmed Crocodiles in the Silvermoon Swamp, all fully grown, led by a chief crocodile.
They were about two meters long, with the leading Rock-Helmed Crocodile chief nearly three meters long, more robust and powerful.
Their bodies were encased in a rocky grey armor.
These creatures were generally not high-level, comparable to gnolls.
But they had the advantage of terrain, and their defense was quite good.
At least, without tools, it would be difficult for gnolls and kobolds to break through the Rock-Helmed Crocodiles' defenses.
Upon first seeing the Rock-Helmed Crocodiles, Su Nian began calculating in his mind.
Although these Rock-Helmed Crocodiles were unimpressive, if he could tame them, they would make excellent mounts for his gnolls.
As for the kobolds, they already had Spear Boars as mounts, so Su Nian didn't consider them.
Meanwhile, the Rock-Helmed Crocodiles, upon noticing the sudden appearance of the black dragon, instinctively gathered together, forming a fan-shaped defensive formation facing the black dragon.
They didn't spare a glance at the surrounding kobolds.
After all, strictly speaking, these kobolds were their food, not a concern.
As for the gnolls, the not-so-bright Rock-Helmed Crocodiles only saw them as larger prey.
The true threat was the black dragon in the sky.
The Rock-Helmed Crocodiles raised their heads, their gaping mouths slightly open, sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight, their dark yellow pupils devoid of emotion, filled only with the cold-blooded creatures' ultimate bloodlust and killing intent.
However, Su Nian could still detect the Rock-Helmed Crocodiles' true emotions from their occasionally swaying tails and tense muscles.
They were uneasy, afraid.
The dragon's bloodline exerted absolute dominance over them.