The First Legendary Beast Master

Chapter 918: The Nature Of The Dragon Isles

That was the same thing that was on everyoneʼs mind. They were going to be targeted again after eliminating nine Totem Ranked undead and Necromancers in the course of a single battle.

The loss of an army was a significant blow, but the loss of its assigned leaders was worse. Under normal circumstances, they should be able to escape, and the leaders of an army rarely fought to the death, unless they had a sure way to resurrect, like the ones who fought at the battle in Drodh City.

However, things were still calm after the finished breakfast, and the village was beginning to get back to their routine, with the Orcs going out to check on the newly revamped fields to see what they had coming for crops and what it needed.

Most of the outlying fields were fine, as they were past the battlefield, but those who worked the inner fields had countless notes to take about the current state of the land. Especially as all the field boundaries had changed with Thor and Karl bulldozing up the undead bodies.

Chief Snakebite motioned for them to join him on the porch of his house, where he had a large book set out.

”Thank you all for the help. If you would like to continue your battles against the undead, I got a notice this morning that the city of Bhakh has been recruiting adventurers into a force to clear the border region around Ekh-Bhor, in preparation for a retaliatory invasion.” The giant Orc suggested.

Karl looked to the others for a decision. The point of the trip was to build experience, which should help their growth, and please the gods.

Both of those things would be likely to happen if they joined this expedition.

But there was always a chance when you joined a larger ongoing plan that someone would try to use you as cannon fodder. For that reason alone, showing up at random places to join border defence forces was a superior method of support.

Delilah shrugged. ”If you can all advance one more time, you could probably come out of the dead zone and visit the rest of the dragon isles. Karl would most likely be alright travelling alone as an Overlord, but heʼs as much a beast as the ones bonded to him.”

Dana gave her a confused look. ”What do you mean the dead zone?”

Delilah laughed softly as she realized that they didnʼt know the nickname.

”The region around the undead horde, and the whole southeastern isle in general, is known as the dead zone on the other islands. Itʼs where those without potential go to die, never able to reach immortality.

For example, Iʼm from Northern Kopji, near the Cyhosasa straights. There are no lesser demon species there. No Orcs, no lesser trolls, and the only thing elevating most of the dragonkin above slavery is the law prohibiting the practice.

If you canʼt make Overlord Rank by adulthood, your life is somewhere between forfeit and worthless.

I was the runt of my clutch, slow to grow, and I am the last of us still lingering at Totem Ranked. That is why I was chosen to be moved when the church needed dragons for its deployment.

Now, my attitude and accomplishments have often pleased the Goddess. But among my peers, I am seen as an underachiever at my age.

That might diminish your respect for me, but the Red Dragon doesnʼt care about personal pride.

Then there is Sholaha. I heard that the Dwarves of Bara have gone there to fill an order for Karl. Something about blood. They should have it at your Guild House soon.

The Dark Dwarves hold a combat tournament along the shores of Naraleddum Lake, and it doesnʼt even start until Overlord Rank, which is the amateur fighters. The pros are all Totem and Mythic Ranked.”

Karl was intrigued. ”What do they fight for? What sort of prizes would intrigue enough people to come fight in such a battle?”

The dragon laughed. ”They fight for the right to levy fees on the Zilaz Dungeon. The winning Mythic and Totem Ranked fighter split half the income from the dungeon entry fees, with the city taking the rest.

It probably sounds outlandish to you, coming from this region, but itʼs really not unexpected if you have lived long enough to see the change.

The problem here in Drodh is somewhat of their own making, after all. They went on a rampage to eliminate all the most powerful monsters and beasts. That dropped the latent mana level in the region, and now they are weakening themselves with their supposed safety.

We have tried to talk sense to the Lord of Drodh in the past, but he likes things just how they are, and this is his territory, so we let it go.”

Dana sighed. ”So, thatʼs how it is. But now that the system is back, arenʼt things going to be tossed on their heads?”

The dragon smiled at her. ”Unlike humans, who have zero innate power, and unlimited potential for growth, almost every other species will hit a cap within the system where they cannot progress any further, no matter what they do.

Chromatic Dragons need variable amounts of time, but they can reach Demigod status, in theory. Though, I am not certain the world could support a Demigod at this point. We need higher quality mana to keep growing.

But other than humans and dragons, everyone else will hit a genetic dead end. Even the Elves and Dwarves will reach their limits somewhere within the realms of the Immortals.

Few in the past did make it into the realm of Peak Immortals, but there has never been a Supreme-Ranked Dwarf or Elf.

Once upon a time, the two species both had Legendary Heroes, but that was a gift from the System, and they skipped the Supreme Rank entirely on their way by.

But youʼre not here for history. What Iʼm saying is that from a logistical standpoint, it makes sense for you all to try to get to Overlord Ranked within the next few years. I can see that the ladies are still new to the Monarch Rank, but your power is growing. Earn enough rewards from the System and youʼll make it there.

Itʼs not like youʼre short on time. With a fully active system, your aging process should slow dramatically once youʼre in your later twenties, or the species equivalent of the human end of early adulthood.”