Evil Red Dragon

Alecto pressed the slave contract against Oliveira's forehead:

"Lower your mental defenses and accept it willingly. If there is even the slightest resistance, I will automatically choose the second option for you."

Oliveira trembled, her last shred of resistance completely shattered under the threat of death.

She dismantled her mental barriers, her soul laid bare before the contract.

"elder brother……"

She sobbed uncontrollably, her eyes filled with despair and pleading.

Alecto remained silent, only urging the slave contracts to be reinstated.

The contract burrowed into Oliveira's forehead and entangled her soul.

"ah--"

An intense burning sensation erupted from the depths of her soul, and Oliveira's soul was forcibly branded.

She screamed in agony, collapsing to the ground in convulsions, but the course of the contract was irreversible.

The branding process lasted a full ten minutes.

For Oliveira, it felt like eternity.

Every second was torture; the contract not only bound her soul but also etched an ironclad rule deep within her consciousness:

Alector's will is supreme; to disobey it is to perish.

The contract solidified deep within her soul, forming an inescapable shackle.

Oliveira collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

From then on, her life and death were entirely in Alector's hands.

Alector stared at the slave mark that flashed across Oliveira's forehead.

"Remember Oliveira, from now on, your existence depends solely on your worth. Now get out; you are not worthy of being in my lair."

Oliveira huddled on the spot, sobbing softly, not daring to utter a single complaint.

The brand burned in her soul, a constant reminder that she was a slave, a tool, and the possession of Alecto.

She could no longer bear the price of betrayal.

She struggled to get up, each step aggravating her injuries.

The broken dragon scales fell off with her movements, drifting down like withered petals.

As she reached the entrance to the lair, she glanced back. Alecto, however, still had his back to her and did not utter a word to stop her.

At this moment, Oliveira finally understood:

Some mistakes, once made, can never be undone.

She flew away from Chifeng and landed on the Longyan Meadow.

As night fell, starlight shone on Oliveira.

She murmured to herself:

"Why is the price so high this time...?"

She lay prone on the ground, burying her head between her front paws, and couldn't help but feel regret.

She initially thought that even if Alecto came after her, she'd only get a beating, but little did she expect…

Now look what's happened; even their freedom has been taken away, and they've been completely turned into slaves.

Alecto stood alone beside the lava pool, his eyes reflecting the churning lava.

Only after Oliveira's sobs had faded into the distance did he turn his gaze toward the exit.

"This is your last chance."

Red Dragon is selfish, greedy, and arrogant; this is an innate trait etched deep in its blood.

Alecto himself was no exception.

But he understood that if he wanted to gain a foothold in this perilous world and build his own power or even empire, he could not be driven entirely by his nature.

It should be noted that even a powerful race like the dragons would not dare to directly challenge the authority of the three major races.

Therefore, he not only needs to become powerful, but also needs subordinates, a large number of subordinates who completely obey his orders.

Oliveira's retreat at the critical moment was not only a betrayal of her oath, but also a blow to his plans.

Slave contracts are both punishment and a test.

If Oliveira can prove her worth through her actions in the future, perhaps centuries later, Alecto will still consider keeping her.

If not...

A cold glint flashed in Alecto's eyes.

Let her serve as a tool and realize her final value.

Look around.

The lair is no longer what it once was; only remnants of its former treasure remain, and even the underground mineral veins have been completely destroyed.

Alecto muttered to himself:

"It feels like two years have passed..."

He had a slight premonition about the passage of time, but when the number was roughly perceived, a strange feeling still welled up in his heart.

Two years pass in the time it takes to take a nap, which is a long time for ordinary creatures. I wonder how his family members are doing.

He flapped his wings and took flight, the night wind blowing against his face.

Alecto hovered in mid-air, its dragon wings flapping slowly.

Under the moonlight, the entire Chifeng Territory was laid out before one's eyes.

Compared to his memories before he fell into a deep sleep, the changes here are nothing short of earth-shattering.

Now he can properly inspect his territory.

At the foot of the mountain, the campsite has more than doubled in size.

The houses are arranged in a staggered manner, following the terrain, with a large square in the center.

A five-meter-high wooden and stone wall was erected around the perimeter, with watchtowers at the four corners, and the figures of soldiers on duty could be vaguely seen at the top of the towers.

Further away, beyond the borders of the Dragon Realm, a large newly developed area was enclosed by fences.

By the moonlight, Alector could see herds of cattle and sheep moving about inside, numbering at least several hundred.

There were several neatly planned fields nearby, but it was unclear what was planted there.

Well done.

Alecto gave a silent thumbs-up.

Despite the beast tide attack and the leader's slumber, they not only stabilized the situation but also expanded their territory. Kula and Gru must have put in a lot of effort.

He lowered his altitude and slowly landed on the central plaza of the camp.

The ground trembled slightly upon landing.

"Owner!"

"Master is awake!"

……

Exclamations came from all directions.

The orcs and trolls on duty rushed down from the watchtower and poured out of the barracks, quickly kneeling in a line around the square.

Alecto could sense that the aura of these followers was much stronger than it had been before he fell asleep.

Especially the few dragon descendants.

Gru stood at the very front; at four and a half meters tall, he was considered a giant among trolls, and the dragon horns on his forehead were even more ferocious.

His scales were thicker and denser, his muscles were bulging, and he stood like a small mountain, exuding a strong sense of oppression.

The three dragons behind him, Rag, Mog, and Ug, had also broken through to level four, their size had increased significantly, their scales had expanded, and their dragon characteristics were more obvious.

As for the orcs, although Gronn has not yet broken through to level five, his aura is much more solid than it was two years ago, and he is estimated to be just one step away from breaking through.

The soldiers behind him were also all highly skilled and had sharp eyes.

"Get up, everyone."

Alecto's voice echoed across the square.

The family members all stood up, but still kept their heads bowed respectfully, not daring to look directly at their master.

"Where's Kula?"

Alecto looked at Gru.

"Reporting to Master, Kula is on his way, and his injuries show no signs of healing at all."

Gru answered in a deep voice.

Alekto narrowed his eyes slightly.

He certainly remembered Kula's injuries, and he had even found a cure, though the materials were proving a bit of a problem...

He stopped dwelling on that and continued asking:

"How much time has passed exactly since the day I fell into a deep sleep?"

Gru closed his eyes and recalled, then opened them after a moment and answered:

"If we count from the day you sank into the lava, it has been exactly two years and fourteen days today."

Two years and fourteen days.

Alecto calculated silently in his mind.

So, I'm just over six years old now?

A six-year-old boy named Long?

This growth rate is astonishing, even among dragons.

When a typical red dragon is six years old, it is usually still in the young dragon stage, rolling around, and its size does not exceed eight meters. It mainly relies on melee combat in battle.

He not only entered the juvenile dragon stage ahead of schedule, but also constructed a magic corridor, possessing spellcasting abilities comparable to a level six mage.

From the innocent beginnings of hatching to the current master of Chifeng.

He's progressed too fast in these six years, but he's learned a lot. Now he should take the time to reflect and refine his skills.

Just then, Kargas came running up quickly, pushing a wheelchair with Kula in it.

Two years have passed, and Kula's injury remains unchanged, showing no improvement whatsoever.

"Owner."

Kula was unable to bow, and could only try her best to lower her head from her wheelchair.

Kargath knelt down in excitement.

This is his first time appearing in front of his master, so he must make a good impression.

"Kula..."

Alecto nodded slightly.

He remembered Kula's loyalty and sacrifice very clearly.

He had to cure this great shaman, who was his most important general and whose role was immeasurable.

But he needs to understand the full picture of the territory over the past two years first.

"Go to your council chamber."

Alecto gave a brief command.

Immediately, a hazy halo appeared around him.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the enormous dragon body rapidly shrank and reshaped in the light.

With a soft crack of bones and a flicker of light, the sixteen-meter-long red dragon vanished in a few breaths, replaced by a tall, red-haired youth.

He appeared to be about eighteen years old, with fiery red hair that flew wildly. His features were distinct and handsome, yet he also appeared cold and aloof due to his dragon-like presence.

Dressed in a striking red outfit, the simple design accentuated her tall and slender figure.

This is one of his improvements to the Transfiguration technique; not only are the forms more mature and stable, but even the clothing can be simulated more realistically.

Alecto moved his limbs, getting used to the human body.

Compared to his child form, he has more precise control over his adult form, but the amount of magic power he consumes does not increase much. This is thanks to the magic corridor and his deep understanding of transfiguration.

Although it wasn't the first time Gru, Goron, and their retinue had witnessed their master transform, they still couldn't help but feel a sense of disorientation.

Not only has the master's strength increased, but his mastery of magic has also reached such a level.

"lead the way."

Alecto's voice also changed, becoming exceptionally clear, like that of a young man.

"Yes, Master!"

Gru realized what was happening and quickly stepped aside to lead the way.

Goron stepped forward and took the wheelchair handle from Kargath, who respectfully followed behind him.

The group walked past the respectfully made way for their families and headed toward the largest building in the center of the camp.

The entire hall was built with neatly stacked stones, the floor was paved with polished stone slabs, and thick logs served as beams to support the towering roof.

At the far end of the hall is a slightly raised stone platform, upon which sits a large chair carved from a single block of obsidian.

This is the throne that Gru and his men prepared for Alekto.

Burning torches were stuck in the walls on both sides, illuminating the room brightly.

Long wooden tables and large stone benches were placed in the hall for daily meetings.

Alecto walked straight to the obsidian throne, casually leaned back in his chair, and glanced at the core retinue that had followed him in.

Gru, Kula, Gronn pushing Kula, Kargath, and the three Ragnaros who automatically respawn at the door.

"Kula".

Alecto spoke, his voice echoing through the hall.

"Tell me, what happened in Chifeng Territory in these two years and fourteen days, from the beginning, I need to know every detail."

Kula had prepared countless times for this moment.

"Yes, Master."

Kula began his report slowly, calmly and in detail.

……

The entire presentation lasted nearly half an hour. Kula's logic was clear, and his data was accurate. He explained the achievements without shying away from the difficulties and sacrifices.

Goron and Gru occasionally added details at crucial points, while Kargath stood by, extremely excited that his contributions were being mentioned.

Alecto listened quietly, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of the obsidian chair.

Kula's report confirmed his judgment and filled in many details.

His family members did a very good job, preserving the foundation under extremely difficult circumstances and achieving remarkable development.

The hall was quiet except for the crackling of the burning torches.

Everyone awaited the master's evaluation and next instructions.

Alecto finally straightened up, his gaze slowly sweeping over his retinue before settling on Kula.

"You did a great job."

He affirmed:

"Despite suffering heavy losses, it not only preserved its territory but also made it stronger."

He stepped down from the stone platform and came to the center of the hall, his shadow elongated in the firelight.

"Based on Kula's report and my own judgment, Chifeng Territory will enter a new stage of development."

Alector began his deployment with a calm tone:

"Graystone Town is not a concern. We can take the initiative to make contact with them and strengthen our intelligence gathering efforts."

"Gorlon, compile all the observations and information from the last transaction. I need to know the current situation of human towns, and the greatest threat."

Alecto slowly came to a stop in front of Kula:

Finally, regarding your injuries.

Kula looked up abruptly, her eyes flashing with unbelievable anticipation.

For the past two years, he has been prepared to remain disabled.

Could it be that...?

"Your sacrifice bought me time, and your loyalty is the cornerstone of our territory."

Alector said slowly:

"Your injury is due to damage to the very source of your life, and ordinary treatments are ineffective, but I have found a way to heal you."

As Kula's eyes suddenly lit up, Alecto continued:

"But we need a few rare materials, such as the sap of the ancient tree of life and star sand... These things are not available in our territory, so we can only try to buy them from humans."

In addition, we need the help of a master proficient in life magic; I can try to do that.

With each word he spoke, Kula's heart sank a little deeper.

These materials are all extremely valuable, and even in the human world, they are considered rare and hard to come by.

"I know it's difficult."

Alecto saw through his thoughts:

"But this is not without hope; the search for these materials is itself a process of expansion for us."

He looked at Kula, his tone solemn:

"Kula, healing you is one of my next important goals."

This is not just a reward, but a necessity.

As the high shaman, you are crucial to the development of the territory.

During this period, you will still need to oversee domestic affairs and guide the shamanic tradition.

Kula was already in tears. He struggled to get up from his wheelchair, but could only lower his head deeply, his voice choked with emotion:

"My lord! Kula... I could never repay your kindness, even with my last breath! I will give my remaining strength to serve you until the very end!"

Alecto raised his hand and gestured for him to calm down.

"Living well is your greatest value."

He then turned to look at the demons:

"The details still need to be discussed further. For now, Gru, Goron, and Kula, stay here. The rest of you go out. Lag, you guys bring some food over."

Rag led the demon out of the hall and gently closed the door.

The flickering firelight cast the shadows of the four people onto the wall.