Beneath the Red Dragon

Chapter 35: Chapter 34: Targeting the Ogres

The Centaurs originally wanted to build a new dwelling for the Red Dragon, but Karon did not plan to stay here for long. He also quite liked the large tent made of beast hides and logs, so he declined the Centaurs’ kind offer.

The Red Dragon was currently lying in the uniquely prominent large tent located at the center of the Centaur camp, while Centaur Maiden Suniya was attentively cleaning the lazy dragon’s scales with clean fur.

There were also some scale flakes in the gaps of the dragon’s dazzling scales, which were difficult to clean. This was the protective layer formed by the dragon’s body’s magic power, which made it unavoidable, as it was not external dust or other stains.

However, for Suniya, this task did not seem like a laborious chore. Much like most females around the world who find it difficult to refuse beautiful shining things, the Centaur Maiden couldn’t resist the Red Dragon’s scales, which resembled thin, round gemstone-like beauty. This could be seen from the occasional Centaur ballads hummed by Suniya.

Karon was somewhat comfortably half-closing his eyes. In his perception, the Centaur Tribe did not simply form a heart energy transmission connection with him just by becoming his cherished ones. Only a few rough powers of thought were connected to him, including the Centaur Maiden Suniya in front of him.

”It seems I need to lead these Centaurs to some victorious results to speed up their recognition of me,” the Red Dragon pondered. Just as the Ogre Tribe was also the enemy of the Giant Dragon, Karon harbored thoughts of destroying the Ogre Tribe to intimidate the surrounding monsters and tribes of the Dragon Nest. This was a heartfelt intention of Karon, as well as the will of the Evil Dragon Blood.

”But the Ogre Tribe is very powerful. The strength of the ogre together with the warriors of the entire Ogre Tribe is something I can’t confront head-on right now.” Karon was well aware that with his strength as a Juvenile Dragon, he could not completely overpower the Ogre Tyrant Moergo at his peak. Without the long tail, the Red Dragon’s body was not even as tall as an ogre.

As for those juvenile dragons, they have already run far away, and Karon was too lazy to spend time looking for them, given that the distance from the Centaur camp to the Dragon Nest was already several hundred miles.

As long as he made some noise, if there were any Dragons in the vicinity, they would surely come to join him.

Karon was not reckless by nature; since he had decided to take action, it was natural to make some plans. After thinking for a while, he patted Suniya—who was diligently wiping the scales—with his wing to make her stop, then stood up and said to the Centaur, ”Let’s go, Suniya, accompany me on a trip.”

The Red Dragon led the Centaur out of the camp. He ascended into the sky, while the Centaur ran through the dense woods, leading the dragon to the areas where the ogres often hunted.

The Centaur Tribe’s territory bordered the ruling region of the Ogre Tribe. The northern and southern extents of the Ogre’s bay overlapped with the territories of the Giant Dragon and the Centaur, creating an impression of being sandwiched in the middle. However, the Ogre Tribe’s location was actually to the east, while a vast area to the west remained unexplored by either group.

However, as the Centaurs gradually retreated and contracted southward due to prolonged conflicts with the ogres, the range of activities for the Ogre Tribe gradually expanded.

At this moment, a few ogres in the forest were bullying two Forest Giants. The skin of these giants was a greasy green and also grown with a thin layer of moss, making them look unattractive. But ogres, well, it’s widely known that dragons can at least be explained with a broad aesthetic, whereas ogres truly disregarded any distinction between raw and cooked.

Ogres could lust equally after any creature, even wanting to try with the Tree-men. They also enjoyed turning the corpses of these creatures into food after venting their desires. The remaining bones would be polished into decorations and weapons, maximizing the utilization of their prey.

Centaur Suniya silently appeared in front of these ogres. Her longbow, fully drawn with the automatic absorption of magic power, launched a sharp arrow that pierced through an ogre’s skull, the arrowhead coated with ogre cerebral fluid as it exited from the back of its head.

The ogre’s body was still twitching as it fell with a soft plop sound. It wasn’t until this moment that the other ogres realized the motionless Centaur standing by and, roaring in rage, lunged at Suniya.

The bow in the Centaur’s hand did not shoot another sharp arrow, but she stood motionless, coldly watching these damned ogres, an unusually distinct whooshing sound resounding from above her head.

A Red Dragon descended from the sky, its icy sharp claws easily piercing the bodies of the ogres. With a forceful thrust, the dragon tore the robust bodies of the ogres into halves as if tearing a piece of thin paper.

It left only two ogres standing there, entirely covered in the blood and fluids of their compatriots, trembling in fright. The Red Dragon’s power was undeniable. The cold predatory gaze of the dragon seemed to lock onto the ogres’ flesh and minds.

Without a strong leader like the Ogre Tyrant Moergo, these ogre warriors didn’t even have the courage to step forward in front of the Red Dragon.

With a snort, Karon exhaled two sparks from his nostrils and said, ”Take them back to the tribe, I have some use for these two ogres.” With that, he soared into the sky.

The Centaur bowed down to acknowledge her master, then stood up and pulled down several vines from a nearby tree to casually bind them around the ogres’ necks, leading them like hounds back in the direction of the camp.

Karon and Suniya returned to the camp with the captured ogres without causing much of a stir. The ogres frequently captured Centaur warriors to mistreat, and the Centaurs often brought back captured ogres for execution. Nevertheless, this act undeniably earned Karon favor among the young Centaurs there.

However, the Red Dragon ignored these for the time being, instructing Suniya to bring the two ogres into the tent. He needed to learn some of the ogre language from them.

But the ogres had yet to form a significant civilization, and their language often involved gestures and shouts, forcing Karon to concentrate intensely to understand the meaning of their language.

Sometimes, when the pressed ogres could only stammer nonsensically, Karon’s two slaps would spark inspiration, prompting the ogres to continue jabbering and teaching Karon.

In this manner, Karon stayed in the tent for two full days. The dragon’s innate talent for learning the languages of most creatures enabled the Red Dragon to quickly grasp a part of the ogre language. He only needed enough to be useful, not to entirely master the ogre language.

Then he tossed the oogres, now drained of spirit, out of his tent for the Centaurs to handle. He then had Suniya fetch the Centaur leader, Kali, as Karon’s simple plan required the Centaurs’ cooperation.

”Lord Karon.” Kali and her mate Zogo entered the tent together. Lately, these Centaurs also hoped the dragon would promptly lead the Centaur Tribe in a counterattack against the ogres, but they were now merely the Red Dragon’s beloved ones, subject to the Red Dragon’s will.

Thus, upon hearing Karon’s summons, they came immediately, their eyes full of hope gazing at the Red Dragon squatting on the plush fur.

The words of the Red Dragon did not disappoint them. Karon gave the Centaur leader an order, ”Go gather the most adept warriors of the Centaur Tribe, Kali. I will lead you in delivering a crushing blow to those ogres. Go, bring your sharpest weapons and your sturdiest shields. I’ll be right here.”