Beneath the Red Dragon

Chapter 42: Chapter 41: White King’s Twins

Silent and dark, the sound of waves, the world shaking. Karon slowly opened his weary eyes, smelling the clear salty scent of the sea, and was met with the faintly glowing eyes of the giant dragons in the darkness.

”Karon!”

”Karon, you’re finally awake.”

”Karon, how are you? Are you feeling okay?”

The delighted voices of the juvenile dragons reached his ears, somewhat resembling a buzzing sound after ear ringing. His head felt a bit dizzy, but he could still make out their words. Red Dragon let out a deep breath and replied slowly, ”Don’t worry, I’m fine now.”

”Karon, Carlette betrayed us; she betrayed the Dragon Group.” The young female dragon Kleyna squeezed forward with difficulty, her words filled with anger and a sense of grievance towards Red Dragon.

”I know, Gomot told me about it.” Karon turned his head to look around. The once spacious cabin had been emptied to make room for the giant dragons.

Red Dragon Kleyna, Black Dragon Rosani, Blue Dragon Doss, White Dragon Camid, Green Dragon Antajena were all here, while Blue Dragon Carlette was coiled alone in a distant corner, her head buried under her broad wings, silent and motionless.

Karon let out a sigh of relief. Not seeing the presence of White Dragon Gomot and Blue Dragon Akzhi was a piece of good news.

”Karon, what should we do now?” White Dragon Camid, who had the most faith in Red Dragon’s abilities, looked at Karon expectantly. He believed Red Dragon could come up with ideas, unlike himself, who only knew how to follow others.

Blue Dragon Doss sighed, a bit frustrated, ”Even Karon got caught, what can he possibly do?”

”Are we supposed to rely on Gomot and Akzhi to rescue us? Even Karon couldn’t manage that.” Antajena lay dispirited in the corner. These juvenile dragons saw White Dragon and Blue Dragon being taken away by the Centaur Tribe’s warriors, but they didn’t trust Gomot and Akzhi’s abilities. She felt their dragon lives were bleak and without hope.

”Perhaps we will be sold as merchandise by these humans, exchanged for piles of gold coins. Karon might even be bought back by the Highland Dwarves to be tied up as a fire-breathing stove.”

Black Dragon Rosani shrugged, in high spirits, though his mood was downcast, he still attempted a not-so-funny joke on Red Dragon.

Karon silently watched these juvenile dragons. His determination allowed him to calmly accept whatever happened, whether the outcome was good or bad, but these juveniles could not. He could feel their inner confusion and helplessness.

For now, he needed to give these juveniles some encouragement and courage.

The pupils of Red Dragon glimmered in the darkness of the cabin, not caring if Carlette heard his words, he said solemnly, ”For now, we must endure patiently, like beasts lying in the wilderness.”

”And I,” Red Dragon’s face was exceptionally determined as he stated, ”will do my best to bring all of you back, back to the land of our birth. We will eventually return to this land, this is my promise!”

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The former Ogre Camp had been burned down, leaving a thin layer of ash on the blackened ground. Countless ogre bodies, slain under the centaurs’ hooves, were gathered together, forming a small hill.

Some ogres who didn’t escape in time died in the battle between Red Dragon and Will Clarence, while others perished in the massacre by the warlords of the Clarence Clan.

The hot weather had already started rotting these corpses, emitting a foul stench, with countless flies and insects buzzing over them.

Ogre Giantess Fafnir brought the surviving ogres who had fled into the forest back, hauling the deceased bodies, then sprinkled them with a resin from the forest that easily ignited.

These ogres would be burned and turned into nutrients for the land, contributing in death to the earth on which they grew.

Groups of Centaur Warriors patrolled the camp, armed with sharp weapons and long, thick vine whips confiscated from the camp, and also supervised the ogres’ work.

If any ogre attempted to slack off, they would be whipped immediately, even Giant Demon Fafnir was not spared. These Centaur Warriors had no sympathy; as Karon proclaimed, these ogres had become the slaves of the Centaur Tribe.

The leader of the Centaur Tribe, Kali, and her mate Zogo stood at the mouth of the gulf, accompanied by the powerful female warriors, Oni and Suniya. All the centaurs gazed at the figures ahead.

White Dragon Gomot and Blue Dragon Akzhi sat atop a large rock at the harbor, the evening sea breeze across the tranquil gulf unusually cold, yet Blue Dragon’s heart felt even frostier.

The endless sea showed no trace of human ships, and Blue Dragon Akzhi’s face was filled with bewilderment.

Akhzi turned his head, his confused heart instinctively seeking some comfort, perhaps White Dragon felt the same, not knowing where to head next.

Yet Gomot appeared exceptionally relaxed, White Dragon flicking his tail as he gazed at the setting sun on the sea, seeming to understand why Karon enjoyed watching the sunset on the evening plains.

Blue Dragon Akzhi noticed White Dragon’s tail, despite the wound of the severed tail having healed, there was no sign of regrowth, which was unusual for a dragon’s powerful regenerative abilities, even if only a few days had passed.

Akhzi questioned, ”Gomot, what’s with your tail, is it under some curse? You can tell me, maybe I can help find a solution.”

White Dragon shook his head, stopping his tail’s motion, ”Akhzi, you need not worry about me. There’s nothing wrong with my tail, it’s my choice not to let it regrow.”

”Why?” Blue Dragon was bewildered; a dragon’s tail is a potent weapon and sometimes essential for maintaining balance during flight.

”As long as Karon and the Dragon Group have not returned to this land, I shall remain Gomot of the severed tail!” White Dragon stated, ”In the past, I was timid and cowardly, hiding behind Karon, blending into the Dragon Group, but now I must step forward, the group needs my strength, Karon needs my help.”

At this moment, at the tail end of the young dragon’s age, Akzhi appeared immature compared to the juvenile dragons. Perhaps the saying holds true, those who mature early sometimes mature later, and those who mature late often become more mature.

Gomot turned to Blue Dragon, ”Akhzi, you’ll help me, won’t you? Just like Karon always helped us.”

The confusion vanished from Blue Dragon’s face, and he feigned a relaxed tone, ”Although Karon has beaten me before, but who can deny I am part of the Dragon Group.”

White Dragon stood up, his gradually growing wings suddenly spreading open. He turned around, his crystalline white vertical pupils fixed on the centaur, asking calmly, ”And you, centaurs, Kali?”

The centaurs beat their chests with their hands, bowing their heads, their eyes filled with resolve, ”We will await the return of our lord Karon. Until then, your will is the will of the centaurs, Lord Gomot!”