Beneath the Red Dragon

The long spears in the hands of the Jackal-Wolf Men easily pierced the Leather Armor of these Elf Warriors. Their sharp claws could also tear through the bodies of the Elves, staining the dark Iron Armor with the color of blood.

The War Tree-men were slaughtering the Dogman Soldiers, while the Jackal-Wolf Man Warriors were massacring these ordinary Elf Warriors.

”Die, you cowardly insects,” a Jackal-Wolf Man captain roared, his spear drenched in blood and almost slipping from his grasp. Gasping for breath, he kicked the corpse off his spear and was about to press forward.

Seeds shot from behind the Elf Warriors and landed on him.

Then countless vines began to grow madly. The blood on the Jackal-Wolf Man captain’s Iron Armor became nourishment for these vines, instantly drained away.

Within seconds, the vines spread all over, binding the Jackal-Wolf Man tightly.

These vines were tougher than the most resilient tendons of wild beasts, and the Jackal-Wolf Man couldn’t break free. The vines extended thorny tendrils that drilled into his body.

Within moments, his strength flowed away like water, and the once-powerful Jackal-Wolf Man captain was reduced to an empty shell. Blood-red flowers sprouted from the gaps in his Iron Armor, vivid and bright.

The battlefield grew ever more chaotic. As more Elf Warriors and Elf Druids appeared, the entire outpost was gradually being compressed.

Even the Jackal Wolfman Soldiers clad in Iron Armor couldn’t face the onslaught of War Tree-men, the Druid spells of the Elf Druids, and the onslaught of countless Elf Warriors.

The two mages responsible for guarding the camp had already intervened, with fire rings and a barrage of fireballs killing several War Tree-men and hundreds of Elf Warriors, but Magic Power was depleting fast amid the encircling crowd, edging toward danger.

”Let’s withdraw for now,” the two Mages shouted to the Jackal Wolfman Commander fighting at the front, ”We should temporarily abandon this planar transmission Beacon and join the other mages; after all, these Beacons can be rebuilt, albeit with some effort.”

High Tier Mage Lu Man, one of the camp’s mages, shouted urgently, ”They’re too far from us, and it will take time for the assistance spells to reach. We need to retreat, Jackal-Wolf Man.”

”The Dragon once told us to guard this gate,” the Jackal Wolfman Commander roared, driving a broken spear into an Elf Warrior’s body, then stepping back slightly to pick up a weapon from the ground.

”The Dragon’s warriors will not retreat. His will is watching over the Jackal-Wolf Men. Go, Mages, tell our master that the Jackal-Wolf Men have not betrayed our original oath. The souls of the Jackal-Wolf Men, forever loyal!”

The Jackal Wolfman Commander’s tattered, dented Iron Armor was already soaked with the blood of both enemies and himself, just like his weapon, but he unhesitatingly charged back into the fray.

In front were the silhouettes of all the remaining Jackal-Wolf Men, roaring and swinging their weapons. At that moment, a sudden flash of the Giant Dragon’s song from the territory of the Giant Dragon at sunrise passed through the Jackal Wolfman Commander’s mind.

The Jackal Wolfman Commander roared and shouted, as the Dragon’s song also burst from his mouth, leaping into the midst of the encircling enemies.

Blood splattered, and song roared.

But every war has its end, and every song its coda.

Finally, this warrior, second only in the Jackal Wolfman Tribe to the Jackal Wolfman Leader Yougu, also fell, his Iron Armor deeply embedded into his strong body, his blood long dried up and no longer flowing.

Bang, the Jackal Wolfman Commander’s body fell heavily, the light fading from his bloodshot eyes, weak whispers fading from his throat.

”Thou shall inherit the Dragon God’s grand endeavor, though it is a shattered past!”

...

The massive Red Dragon and the Mage stood before the camp, the Jackal Wolfman Soldiers and Dogman Soldiers behind them remained silent.

The camp, long dried of blood, still bore traces of the former battle.

But the bodies of the Dragon’s Beloved were not in the camp, but in the forest, on the trees.

On those trees, every trunk was filled with the broken bodies of Dogman Soldiers, their bodies almost merging with the trees, as if these trees had grown out of the soldiers’ bodies.

And there were the Jackal Wolfman Soldiers in Iron Armor, their armor and bodies pierced by countless vines, blood-red flowers growing from their noses and mouths.

These Dragon’s Beloved had long been dead, drained of blood and flesh, their bodies completely twisted and deformed. The plants filled these warriors’ bodies as if alive, eating them whole.

Karon stood silent for a long time before he finally spoke, ”Natis, I failed to fulfill your promise; I cannot coexist peacefully with these Elves.”

”Ah,” a sigh emanated from within Karon’s Scale Armor—that was a thread of Refined Gold Natis’s soul sighing. He manifested in the air, waved his hand, and scenes appeared before Karon’s eyes.

The last scene froze in Karon’s pupils, the Jackal Wolfman Commander’s cry as he fell.

”Karon, do what you must. Although I cherish these Elves, I will not favor them,” Natis’s soul sighed, retreating back into Karon’s scales.

Karon’s crimson pupils scanned over the battlefield, clearly seeing many souls still lingering there—the souls of the Dragon’s Beloved. They refused to sleep in this world, unwilling to depart, wandering and lost on the battlefield.

”Roar,” an indescribable emotion surged into Karon’s heart. Suddenly, he roared and soared into the sky, endless Magic Power and Heart Energy bursting from his body as a Dragon Language Magic blossomed from his throat.

The world’s magic boiled, carrying the Red Dragon’s roar far and wide, turning into layer upon layer of unending shouts and calls, ”Heroic Spirit, return! Heroic Spirit, return!”

A massive, life-energy-infused Golden Divine Spear leapt from the void, radiating limitless brilliance, akin to a Heaven-Supporting Pillar.

A Spatial Bag imbued with powerful Magic Energy disassembled midair, extending forth, transforming into ground beneath the pillar manifested by the Golden Divine Spear.

The corpses on the trees trembled, detached from the trees and vines that bound them, unraveling their forms in the air.

Their flesh covered the pillar formed by the Golden Spear, becoming the dome.

Their bones interlinked, forming white pillars like those upholding the dome and the floor beneath the Golden Spear.

One by one, Soul Crystals burst in midair, merging into the structure, solidifying the dome and the pillars. Pure Power of the Soul generated patterns on the dome and pillars, creating murals.

Endless Magic Power and Power of Heart Energy roared from the Red Dragon, infusing the hall forming behind the Dragon.

Boundless Life Energy and radiance streamed from the Golden Spear, stitching and mending this Blood and Flesh Sanctuary.

This hall, built with the filthiest bones, became the most sacred sanctuary.

The Red Dragon’s summons provided direction to the lost and wandering souls, as layers of ethereal staircases emanated Heart Energy-like light, appearing in the void, connecting this gradually forming hall with the souls.

”Return, Heroic Spirit! Return, Heroic Spirit! Souls unwilling to vanish, return to the Sanctuary of Heroic Spirits. With utmost loyal souls, tread upon this sanctuary and enjoy eternal peace!”

The bewildered souls looked up to see a sanctuary radiating infinite warmth, the Dragon’s voice resounding within, calling them.

Without hesitation, they sang the Dragon’s song as they entered the Dragon’s Holy Hall!