Beneath the Red Dragon

Chapter 26: Chapter 25: Dragon Catcher

Night had fallen, and the mountain range where the Dragon Nest was located transformed into a deep silence. Even on nights when the Dragon Group entered sleep, this place was a domain that all other creatures dared not set foot, except for a few elite Kobold Warriors guarding the wide canyon exit, tasked with protecting the Guardian Giant Dragon.

The deep night enveloped the landscape; there was no light in the canyon, not even a torch. Clearly, the Dragon Group did not share the habits of the Civilized World, but these things were unnecessary for the Giant Dragons anyway.

Fortunately, Kobolds are accustomed to living in dark caves, and these warriors, carefully chosen by Dogman Leader Bag to guard the True Dragons, also possess the ability to see in darkness.

The Gold-eating Beast lay on the ground in exhaustion, resting. Unlike the Kobold Warriors who could rotate shifts, it had to guard the entrance with the Kobolds day and night, with only short times of eating and excretion being its free moments.

But beasts, after all, possess more sensitive perception than Kobolds. The dozing Gold-eating Beast suddenly lifted its head as if it sensed a dangerous aura. However, before it could distinguish the source of the danger, a few Long Spears whistled out from the darkness, piercing the unsuspecting Kobold Warriors, whose small bodies almost split in half from the force, falling silent in the dark.

Pupils that emitted faint light in the darkness emerged from the deep woods, and strong Ogre Warriors rapidly approached, lighting torches. Flames appeared on the cliffs on both sides of the canyon, surrounding the Dragon Nest completely.

The Gold-eating Beast whimpered, tucking its tail ready to flee, only to be lightly picked up by the nape by two fingers of Ogre Tyrant Moergo, instantly rendering it limp and motionless.

”Oh, a little kitty, give it to Fafnir as a toy,” Moergo handed the little cat to a nearby Ogre, his gaze turning to the two-headed Wizard releasing spells with the tribe’s wizards to ban the Giant Dragon’s flight.

Great Witch Sahai and the other wizards waved their scepters while chanting. The Shamanic Magic Power surged in the air, resonating with their bloodline, creating a domain of invisible force gradually covering the entire canyon Dragon Nest.

The domain’s fluctuation and other movement sounds startled the sleeping Juvenile Dragons. The temperamental Female Red Dragon Kleyna poked her head out of her cave, angrily reprimanding, ”You damned Kobolds, what are you... Grrr,” her warning roar to the Dragon Group interrupted as she quickly assessed the situation.

The Juvenile Dragons, initially thinking it was noise made by Kobolds or other Giant Dragons, immediately emerged from their caves upon hearing Kleyna’s warning.

”Damn, where did so many Ogres come from? Are they surrounding the Dragon Nest to start a war with us?” The Juvenile Dragons were astonished, roaring in high tones, wanting to fly out and gather together.

However, they found that the magic power they relied on to gently flap their wings and lift their bodies was no longer under their control. The Juvenile Dragons could only awkwardly control their wings, gliding out of their nests onto the ground.

This wasn’t due to the power of those Ogre Warlocks being able to seal off the vast space, but disordering the originally ordered magic power into chaotic waves, preventing the Juvenile Dragons from easily controlling magic as usual.

Benefiting from Karon’s training, the grounded Juvenile Dragons naturally gathered back-to-back, spreading their wings to intimidate the advancing Ogres.

”Hahaha, surrender, you weak dragonlings,” Ogre Moergo’s towering figure stepped forward, the Giant Axe in his hand scraping the ground, sparking everywhere, dismissively standing before the Juvenile Dragon. Despite not being slim, it looked particularly slender compared to his six-meter sturdy body.

”I wouldn’t want to shatter your precious bodies with my big axe. They could fetch a good price. Obey King Moergo’s words, and I’ll treat you gently.”

Impulsive Moergo usually wouldn’t be so lenient, but Ogre Giantess Fafnir took a fancy to the larger Female Red Dragon Kleyna among these Juvenile Dragons, so Moergo refrained from rushing to use force.

”What should we do; perhaps we should unite and charge out in one direction, maybe escape,” the restless White Dragon Gomot paced impatiently.

Kleyna blew two sparks from her nostrils, ”Karon is still asleep; he hasn’t awakened. If we flee immediately, what about him?”

Blue Dragon Doss sighed heavily, assessing the enemy’s strength, faint sparks of lightning dancing on his body. He spoke in a deep voice, ”Find a chance to wake Karon. There’s no way we can break through with just us few. We can’t fly flexibly now; launching into the air makes us easy targets. Akzhi and Carlette should’ve heard our warning; we’ll act when the chance arises.”

Blue Dragon Akzhi heard the Dragon Group’s roars but didn’t rashly charge over, instead sailing from high above, avoiding the domain that gave him an odd feeling.

With all attention from the Ogre Warriors focused on the canyon, he silently glided down from the sky. Before the alarmed Ogre Warriors could raise their Long Spears, Akzhi shredded their bodies with his Dragon Claws, simultaneously releasing a Lightning Dragon Breath. The swift Chain Lightning instantly charred several Ogres, tumbling them down the cliff.

Though the other Ogres threw their Long Spears, the agile Akzhi easily dodged the weapons. Occasionally, a fortunate spear flying close was effortlessly swiped down by the Giant Dragon. As the ruler of the skies, when unrestrained by flying ability, ordinary Ogre Warriors were no match for these Giant Dragons.

The Blue Dragon Leader Carlette behaved likewise. She did not easily approach the canyon, instead clearing ordinary Ogre Warriors along the canyon flanks with Akzhi. Her two claws grasped two Ogre spines, hurling them from the high air to the ground, becoming mush.

Yelling loudly, she declared, ”You inferior Ogres, how dare you offend my Dragon Group. Withdraw now, or face the wrath of the Giant Dragons.”

The Juvenile Dragons watched the two dragons display their might, momentarily agitated, ready to swarm forward. Suddenly, they saw a figure of unparalleled beauty stand up from behind the Ogre Warriors—a tall human, her jade-like arms raised high, unleashing a wave akin to Dragon Power that instantly spread.

Descending Akzhi felt his mind suddenly slapped by adult Giant Dragon’s claws, screaming in agony, his body losing control, crashing to the ground. The weakened Blue Dragon was quickly tied up by ascending Ogres, ropes threading through his wings.

While turning, Carlette witnessed Akzhi’s sudden fall, squawked sharply, flapping her wings frantically, trying to escape.

But, grinning Moergo seized the chance, hurling his Long Axe with all strength, slicing through the air with a sharp whistling, matching the speed of Blue Dragon’s Breath, swiftly cleaving off a portion of Carlette’s wing.

The tremendous mental wave simultaneously struck Blue Dragon Carlette’s mind, causing her to emit a thunderous mournful cry, helplessly crashing to the ground.

The canyon fell silent, Juvenile Dragons displaying panic and fear; even mighty Giant Dragons were no different from ordinary humans before a superior force.

Moergo impatiently squeezed his fist, advancing. The Dragon Group’s two strongest Dragons were captured; he no longer planned to offer these unruly Juvenile Dragons any chance, intending to teach them a lesson, showing them the Ogre Tyrant was not the inferior race in Dragon mouths.

”Should we surrender?” Even the most timid White Dragon Gomot struggled with these words, as pride and innate Giant Dragon refusal to yield urged them to fight, yet clear disparity in power cautioned them to retreat.

The Juvenile Dragons were at a loss; even the usually calm Blue Dragon Doss’s mind felt muddled. With the strongest Carlette fallen, what could these Juvenile Dragons possibly do?

”Karon,” suddenly Kleyna glared and shouted, finally drawing movement from the long silent cave.