Beneath the Red Dragon

Chapter 36: Chapter 35: Insults

The silhouette of the Red Dragon flying high in the sky seemed hidden among the drifting white clouds. To the Centaur Warriors, the massive body of the Red Dragon appeared to be almost the same size as an eagle.

The Giant Dragon’s vision, countless times sharper than an eagle’s, allowed Karon to easily spot the tracks of the Ogres moving in the dense forest. He adjusted his throat to mimic the sharp cry of the prairie eagle.

The Centaur Tribe’s elite warriors almost all came out in full force, carrying well-maintained longbows and old shotguns stained with blood and rust, silently following behind the Centaur leader, Kali.

The strongest Warrior in the Centaur Tribe held in their hands a bronze spear, a powerful weapon passed down through generations, capable of easily piercing through shields.

Guided by Karon’s eagle cry, the Centaur Warriors quickly spread out and infiltrated, surrounding the unsuspecting Ogres not far ahead. Under the attack of the Centaur Warriors, the solitary or grouped Ogres had almost no chance to resist before being taken down.

The Centaurs turned into harrowing phantoms in the forest, all-knowing and omnipresent, swiftly cutting down the Ogre Tribe’s warriors scattered outside for patrol or hunting.

The Ogres, disorganized as they were, didn’t realize there was anything unusual happening within their territory.

Thus, progressing slowly, by evening, the Centaur Tribe’s forces had approached within dozens of miles of the Ogre Tribe.

Under Kali’s gesture, they quietly gnawed on jerky brought from the tribe to replenish their physical strength, then began to rest with eyes closed.

Karon, however, without rest, continued to glide high in the sky day and night. The darkness of night couldn’t obscure his vision; he discovered White Dragon Gomot and Blue Dragon Akzhi trapped within the Ogre Tribe. Carlette seemed to have been taken somewhere by these Ogres.

No traces of humans were found in the Ogre Camp, but the humans’ big ships were still docked in the natural harbor in the Gulf.

Only a few crew members were seen on the ship, arousing some suspicion in Karon’s mind.

The good news was that the Two-headed Ogre Mage and the beautiful Giant Demon, looking like a human, seemed to be still recovering. Karon only spotted Moergo, busying about in the camp, among those he needed to pay extra attention to.

This Ogre’s physical strength was clearly substantial, exhausting several captured Centaurs throughout the whole first half of the night. This gave Karon a bit more confidence in the plan for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Will and his group, who were still stationed far at the Dragon Nest Canyon, received the Red Dragon’s news through Mage Laksu.

”You mean that Red Dragon actually plans to attack the Ogre Camp?” Will Clarence was overjoyed.

He had been waiting here to capture the Ogres and that special Red Dragon mentioned by Orsus. He was considering actively going to capture it if the Red Dragon didn’t come soon. Now, finding that the Red Dragon seemed to be walking into a trap, how could he be anything but happy?

”That Red Dragon keeps loitering near the Ogre Camp, likely intending to attack. However, he’s not one of those reckless brainless Dragons; he should have some preparation, especially since our ship and supplies are still there.”

Mage Laksu had no habit of underestimating the opponent.

With a clear system of civilized language that humans already possessed, the wise Two-headed Mage could naturally learn it with ease.

He stepped forward and said to them, ”Don’t worry, Moergo can handle that Juvenile Dragon. Once he captures that cunning Red Dragon, our transaction will soon be completed.”

Will Clarence could understand the Ogres’ intention, and he laughed heartily, saying, ”Don’t worry about the Clarence Clan’s credibility; your reward will be delivered as promised. Come on, I can’t wait to see my spoils of war.”

Ignoring the forest’s dangers, these people, taking captive Juvenile Dragons with them, ventured into the night, for they were stronger than the lurking dangers in the forest.

Dawn soon arrived, and the Ogre Camp was still in quietude. The powerful tribe gave these Ogres a great sense of security.

Even the necessary guards were snoring on their posts, making a noise that even a Giant Dragon would find disturbing.

The Red Dragon silently descended from the sky, its sharp claws tearing apart the sleeping Ogres at the camp entrance. Its strong body smashed through the large gates made of thick logs, as Kali and Zogo led a few Centaur Warriors charging in.

The sharp shotguns pierced into the Ogres sprawling and sleeping soundly in the clearing. These normally powerful Ogre Warriors at this moment were just like fragile chickens under the Half-Elves, awaiting slaughter.

At this moment, the Centaur Warriors only regretted that their shotguns weren’t sharp knives. The process of stabbing and retrieving the shotguns seemed a waste of time and wasn’t satisfying enough to them.

Karon, the dangerous Red Dragon, took to the sky, spewing his violent Dragon Fire around the camp, specifically targeting the Ogres’ wooden houses used for living and storage. Quickly, the fire raged and surged.

The Ogres, killed in their sleep, didn’t have the chance to make a sound before forever closing their eyes, but those roasted by the Dragon Fire woke up, screaming as they rushed out of their houses, covered in flames, towards the nearby sea.

The Ogre Tribe’s Tyrant, Moergo, was also awakened. His single eye flashed with unimaginable fury and killing intent as he roared to arm himself, intent on slaying the Red Dragon and the daring Centaurs into mincemeat, and savoring them bit by bit.

”Quick, retreat,” ever alert to the Ogres, the Red Dragon decisively commanded, knowing that in a short time his Dragon Fire couldn’t cause significant harm to Moergo. Ogres weren’t fools to just stand there waiting for him, so the priority was always to eliminate the active Ogre forces.

But now, to delay Moergo and buy the Centaurs time to retreat, he had to unleash a breath of Dragon Fire towards Moergo, whose handily wielded Giant Axe easily intercepted it.

The Ogre’s horn emitted a tinge of red, effectively insulating the heat of the Dragon Fire.

Yet, the momentary delay was sufficient; Kali and Zogo had already gathered the Centaurs and were retreating into the forest, and Karon also took to the air.

He ignored several Centaur Warriors, caught in the frenzy of battle who didn’t heed his command to retreat in time, leaving them to be cut to pieces by the furious Ogres.

Instead, he controlled his speed, kept near the ground, and shouted insults at Moergo using the Ogre language he had just learned: ”You vile, low-born cross-breed bastard of a Kobold and a goblin with a single eye! This is just a minor lesson for you. Next time I come, I’ll squash you like a bug.”

”Then I’ll shove that ugly chamber pot you have for a head, which even the Jackal-Wolf Man would vomit at the sight of, into your rear, so you can savor a taste of the stench emanating from your own body.”

This loathsome Red Dragon, not only unceasingly insulting the already infuriated Ogre with words, but occasionally using crude body language to enact the Ogres’ vulgar gestures.

Ogre Moergo was so enraged that the single eye on his forehead was veined with blood, fierce veins throbbing across his hideous face, panting heavily, shouting to the awakened Ogre Warriors, ”You go and protect the slumbering Fafnir. Don’t let these pests disturb her.”

Then, brandishing his Giant Axe, he stomped off to pursue the Red Dragon, which alternately flew high and low in front of him. He swore by his Ogre Ancestor’s blood that even if he had to chase to the ends of this forest today, he would kill that foul-mouthed Red Dragon.

And then, turn its head into his chamber pot, forever trampled underfoot, ensuring the Red Dragon never rests in peace.

Hanging back at a distance, the White Dragon Gomot and Blue Dragon Akzhi exchanged glances, originally perplexed why Karon hadn’t come for their rescue. Simultaneously, a mutual and enlightened understanding arose in their eyes.