Evil Red Dragon

After leaving the cave where the dragon's corpse was located, Alecto and Oliveira continued flying southeast.

As they moved further away from Daenerys's territory, the landscape transformed into relatively flat river valleys.

About a day into the flight, Alector suddenly lowered the altitude.

At the bottom of a secluded river valley, several plants emitting a pale blue fluorescent light sway in the wind.

Their leaves are crescent-shaped, dotted with starlight, and their stems are translucent, exuding a rich magic.

"Starlight Grass..."

Alecto identified it as a "low-level magical plant that can gently enhance magic power and is slightly beneficial to the growth of a fledgling dragon."

Why not take it if it's free? It's an easy thing to do.

He used to collect a lot of weeds when the three dragons hunted, and Cinsera even mocked him for eating those weeds, saying it was shameful, until he persuaded her with force.

However, we need to deal with the minor troubles nearby.

He concealed his dragon might, slowly approaching but never landing, maintaining a subtle distance from the starlight grass, and circling continuously.

Until three dark figures couldn't hold back any longer and darted out from the shadows.

They were three monitor lizards, each about three meters long, covered in armor.

They dripped corrosive mucus from their mouths, fiercely protecting the starlight grass.

"Poison Armor Lizard, a level three magical beast, lives in groups and is skilled in ambush and venom spray."

Oliveira slowly relayed the information from behind.

"Perfect timing to try out some new talent."

Alekto hovered in mid-air, its dragon snout opening and closing, and its dragon breath instantly poured down on the Poison Armor Lizard.

Unlike the pure high-temperature flames of the past, this time his breath contained countless tiny metal particles, which produced a piercing cutting sound when they touched the hard shell of the Poison Armor Lizard!

chi chi-

The lead venomous armored lizard screamed and rolled around. Its proud armor was as brittle as paper in front of the dragon's breath, and large pieces were forcibly peeled off to reveal the bright red flesh underneath, which then instantly turned to carbonize.

A sudden aroma of caramelized food wafted up, making Oliveira's mouth water.

Damn it, she hasn't eaten a single thing since she came out!

I'm so hungry~~~

Seeing that things were not going well, the other two turned around and tried to escape.

"Trying to run away?"

Alecto flapped his wings and shot out.

Unsurprisingly, the Poison Armored Lizard was no match for Alekto.

The battle ended in just ten seconds.

All three level-three magical beasts were killed.

Oliveira looked at Alecto with envy; his dragon breath had actually evolved?!

Did she get it from eating ore? She ate some too, so why didn't her dragon breath change?! By Tiamat...

Alecto shook the slime off his hands, walked to the Starlight Grass, dug it up by the roots, and handed it to Oliveira: "Keep it safe."

Oliveira took it: "Aren't you going to eat it?"

Alecto casually remarked:

"No, the dragon beast hasn't finished digesting yet. If I eat now, I'll immediately fall into a deep sleep. This place is too open and not suitable for building a nest. Let's continue searching."

"Brother...can I eat these lizards?"

Oliveira's eyes lit up immediately as she asked.

"you?"

Alecto glanced at her:

"Sure, but if you eat too much and fall asleep here, I won't care."

"Don't worry, brother, I know what I'm doing!"

After saying that, Oliveira pounced on the food and hurriedly started eating.

This once again proves that Oliveira's words were utter nonsense.

After watching her empty one of the armored lizards one by one, Alecto didn't stop and looked up to bite the second one.

Alecto grabbed Oliveira by the neck, lifted her up like a chick, and stared directly into her eyes, coldly saying:

"If you keep eating, I'll leave you here."

"Hehe... I couldn't help it, I just couldn't resist..."

Oliveira tried to explain while licking the blood off the dragon's kiss.

But her swaying tail betrayed her; she just wanted to keep eating!

Alecto snorted coldly, released her neck, and silently ascended into the air without saying another word.

"Hey! Wait for me! Brother!"

Oliveira, falling freely, crashed into the ground, creating a sizable crater and kicking up a cloud of dust.

Watching Alekto's figure gradually disappear into the distance, she hurriedly took another bite of the poisonous armored lizard before rushing off to chase after Alekto.

After flying east for another two days, they entered a hilly area with complex terrain.

The mountains here are not high, but the underground caves are well-developed, and many underground rivers and lava converge here to form several hot springs and large waterfalls.

The vegetation is exceptionally lush, but the aura of magical beasts is generally below level four.

Alecto stopped in front of a solitary peak about 300 meters high.

There are several natural caves at the base of this mountain. The largest cave entrance is hidden behind vines. The interior is spacious and divided into two levels. The upper level is dry and suitable for living, while the lower level connects to a dry underground riverbed, making it a good emergency escape route.

What concerned Alector even more was that he sensed a strong presence of gold.

There's a mineral vein down here!

"This is it." Alecto landed and stroked the rock wall.

"There are mineral veins here, of very high quality, and plenty of food, enough to last us until our youth."

"The view from up there is wide open, and it's at least 500 miles away from the area of ​​human activity. There's plenty of buffer zone, so if we're careful, there shouldn't be any major problems."

Oliveira volunteered to explore the cave and quickly returned excitedly: "Brother! There's a small crystal cluster inside!"

Alecto nodded, about to personally enter the cave for a detailed investigation, when a roar suddenly came from the distant mountains and forests.

Oliveira tilted her head back, looking in the direction the sound came from, and asked in confusion, "What was that sound?"

"Let's go take a look."

Alecto was a man of action; he set off as soon as he finished speaking.

The two dragons followed the sound and discovered that it was a group of mountain trolls.

They are on average two and a half meters tall, with gray skin, and wield rough bone spears. They are besieging a level four Karl rhinoceros.

There were thirteen trolls in total, and their leader was an exceptionally strong man, three meters tall, with an aura approaching level four, who was directing the trolls in an orderly attack.

"Mountain trolls..."

Alecto squinted: "It seems to be quite large, and intelligent enough to communicate."

Oliveira asked in a low voice, "Brother, are you going to kill them? I'm hungry..."

"Killed them?" Alecto laughed. "From now on, this is my territory, and they will all be my subjects."

He didn't want to be a lone dragon like his mother; he wanted to develop his own territory and have his own retinue so he wouldn't have to do everything himself.

For trivial matters like hunting, it's best to leave them to your family and Oliveira.

This will free up a lot of time for you to explore and practice the magic and combat techniques passed down through generations, quickly making up for your lack of combat experience.

After all, from birth until now, he has basically relied on his physical attributes to overwhelm others, and has had very few battles against strong opponents of the same level.

He has combat experience, but it's all from bullying weaker opponents. When he actually fights against enemies of the same level, his childlike fighting skills become his fatal weakness.

Moreover, family members serve a variety of functions.

Whether using them as lowly laborers to provide food and build and maintain nests, or stationing them in territories as cannon fodder and guards to protect against threats from other powerful creatures and dragon slayers.

In general, there are many benefits to having family members.

Now that a large group of mountain trolls was right in front of him, how could he let them go!

With a little transformation, it's not impossible for a dragonborn troll to appear; those are elite guards!

Alecto made up his mind.

He's going to subdue these trolls!

Alecto suddenly spread his wings, unleashing his dragon might without reservation.

The terrifying pressure of the red dragon swept through the mountains and forests as if it were a tangible force, causing the trees to rustle, birds to flee in terror, and the trolls who were besieging Karl the Rhino to freeze in their tracks.

"roar--"

Alecto roared to the sky, and the sound wave, carrying the dragon's might, surged forth!

Half of the trolls collapsed to the ground on the spot, foaming at the mouth.

The rest of them trembled, looking in terror at Alecto as he ascended into the air.

The troll chieftain, barely managing to stand, raised his stone club and shouted, attempting to rally the tribe's courage.

"madness."

Alektor swooped down, seized the troll leader, and pinned him to the ground.

The troll leader struggled frantically, his stone club slamming against the dragon scales, sending sparks flying, but it couldn't even leave a mark.

"Listen to the ants."

The barrier-free communication technique was activated.

Alektor lowered his head and approached the troll leader:

"This mountain, this land, belongs to me from this day forward!"

"You have trespassed into my territory without my permission and even dared to hunt my prey. You've had enough of living! Now I'll give you a chance: either become my servants, or..."

He applied slight pressure with his claws, and the troll leader's entire body emitted cracking sounds as if it were about to collapse under the strain.

"die."

The troll leader's struggles proved futile against Alektor's claws.

Those crimson-gold dragon eyes were inches away, and fear, like ice water poured over his head, instantly overwhelmed the troll leader's original ferocity.

Surrender or destruction?

The troll leader made a hoarse sound from its throat, and the stone club slipped from its hand.

It barely managed to turn its eyes and look at its tribesmen who were lying limp on the ground around it.

Most of them had lost the will to resist and were just staring in terror at the terrifying red dragon that had descended from the sky.

Continue the resistance?

The outcome is obvious.

The dragon's power far exceeded their comprehension; its scales could not even be scratched by a stone club struck with full force.

"I...we..."

The troll chieftain struggled to utter a few syllables in their tribal language:

"I submit... to the great Red Dragon..."

Alecto released his claws with satisfaction.

He raised his head, his dragon-like aura slightly diminished:

"All of you, kneel down and swear allegiance to your new master."

His unimpeded communication technique clearly conveyed his will to every troll present.

The trolls who were still able to move helped each other to their feet, and led by their leader, they knelt down shakily, pressed their foreheads to the ground, and began to swear allegiance.

Oliveira watched with great interest.

"very good."

Alektor withdrew his dragon's might, allowing the trolls to catch their breath.

"From this day forward, you are my family."

"Your duty is to guard this territory, hunt for food for me, gather ores and treasures, and obey all my commands."

He paused, his dragon eyes sweeping across every troll face:

"In return, I will protect you, allow you to live in my territory, and grant you strength."

power?

This word made the troll leader suddenly raise his head.

A longing gleamed in its eyes.

Although trolls are incredibly resilient and can heal themselves quickly after being injured, they are born with low intelligence and their strength grows slowly.

If one could receive the blessing of the true dragon...

Alecto caught that longing.

He extended his right claw, and a little bit of reddish gold condensed at the tip.

That was his dragon blood.

"This is both a contract and a reward."

He applied the dragon's blood to the troll chieftain's forehead.

As the dragon's blood seeped into his skin, the troll leader trembled violently, and red lines appeared on his body. His muscles swelled, and his aura seemed to be on the verge of breaking through to the fourth level.

With more, it will definitely break through level four!

"Thank you, Master!"

The troll leader was so excited that he became incoherent.

It lowered its body again, this time with heartfelt submission.

Seeing this, hope also ignited in the eyes of the other trolls.

They all knelt down in a more devout posture, uttering vague vows.

Alecto withdrew his claws and turned to the Karl rhinoceros.

The monster didn't run away; it just huddled trembling beside the tree roots.

"As for you..."

Alecto thought for a second.

Killing and eating it is certainly a good idea, but a living level four magical beast might have other uses.

For example, as a mount? Or as a laborer pulling a cart?

Never mind, I'll keep it for now.

"Olivera".

He called his sister over:

"Drive this rhinoceros to the vicinity of the cave, enclose it with rocks, and use it as a food reserve."

"Yes, brother!"

Oliveira responded joyfully and pounced on the rhinoceros.

She was starving, and although she couldn't eat right away, she was happy just to look at the food up close.

Alektor looked back at the trolls.

"Now, take me to your settlement."

The troll leader quickly got up and respectfully led the way.

After passing through a dense coniferous forest, we arrived at a valley backed by a rocky cliff.

Dozens of simple animal-hide tents are scattered here, with a campfire burning in the center, and some trolls, old, weak, women and children, are processing their prey.

Upon seeing their leader return with a terrifying red dragon, the entire tribe was instantly thrown into panic.

"Quiet!"

The troll leader roared in their language:

"This is our great Red Dragon Master! From this day forward, our entire race will pledge our allegiance to him! This is an honor!"

With the leader's reassurance, the trolls gradually calmed down.

They looked at Alecto with a mixture of curiosity and fear.

Alecto surveyed the makeshift camp.

There were more trolls than he had expected, about sixty in total, of which about thirty were capable of fighting.

Although the equipment is crude, it is sufficient as an initial companion.

"Starting tomorrow, you will be divided into three teams."

He issued his first order:

"One team is responsible for patrolling the territory, keeping watch on any outsiders."

"The second team is responsible for hunting. They should send me at least three level-three magical beasts every week. In return, I can have six level-two magical beasts or twenty level-one magical beasts."

"The last team went to build my nest, and I want to see them tomorrow."

The troll leader respectfully noted it down.

"Also, my lair is here..."

Alecto used his claws to draw a simple map on the ground, marking the location of his cave:

"Yes, Master."

The troll leader bowed and accepted the order.

After giving the initial instructions, Alecto returned to the cave.

Oliveira had driven the rhinoceros to a natural stone pit below the cave and blocked the exit with rocks.

She was now lying at the cave entrance, gazing longingly at Alecto:

"Brother, I'm hungry..."