The dragon's roar was like thunder, piercing through the night like lightning, awakening the monsters in Silvermoon Forest.
A flock of bats fell to the ground in a daze, then took off in a panic, flapping their wings with a "flap-flap" sound.
Also awakened were the drowsy human soldiers and the still dazed Weimons, and Mei Magogoko, who seemed unaffected.
"What was that sound?!"
Weimons pulled up his pants and rushed out of the tent.
The night was as dark as ink, with a hazy moonlight.
"Whoosh—"
A shadow swooped overhead.
"It's the Black Dragon! On alert!!"
Weimons shouted loudly, warning the soldiers as he watched the shadow flash past the full moon.
The whooshing sound came again.
The Black Dragon lowered its altitude and began its dive.
"Hiss—"
The vile green dragon breath spread across the sky, wreaking havoc within the camp as the Black Dragon flew.
"Scatter, scatter quickly, don't cluster together!"
The soldiers were caught off guard by the Black Dragon and scattered in all directions.
Some soldiers were already burning with cyan-green flames, screaming as they searched for water, only to ignite their companions in their frantic rush.
"Whoosh—"
Su Nian circled in the sky and dove again.
He deliberately drove these humans toward the kobold traps.
The dragon's head lifted slightly.
Vile green magma dripped from the dragon's mouth.
A "gurgling" sound came from his throat.
He aimed at a crowded area where soldiers were pushing siege crossbows.
The scorching acidic dragon flames spewed again.
"Hiss—"
A cyan-green fire line drilled into the crowd.
Dozens of arrows shot over, hitting Su Nian's abdomen and wings, leaving only faint white marks; Su Nian barely felt any pain.
He was no longer the weak Black Dragon he used to be.
The human camp was large, and Su Nian couldn't cover it all with dragon breath; each spray could only affect a small area.
Moreover, these soldiers weren't all pushovers.
Most who were brought to slay a dragon were experienced veterans.
Plus, Weimons had considerable prestige.
So after the initial panic, the human army had regrouped.
They formed a phalanx and withdrew from the camp with too many burning materials.
A dozen siege crossbows were pushed out, and Su Nian immediately flew higher.
Back when he raided Anna in the palace of Anlius, it was these siege crossbows that nearly shot the Black Dragon to death.
The crossbow bolts as thick as a baby's arm, with barbs and ropes, would be a real trouble for Su Nian if hit.
Charging in now would be foolish.
While observing the human army, Weimons was also watching the dragon circling in the sky.
His soldiers had lost over three hundred, and many remaining had burns, with only a dozen siege crossbows left; the rest were burned.
"This Black Dragon isn't the same one!"
Weimons's face was solemn.
The previous Black Dragon had a skeletal face, was skin and bones, and only knew acidic breath.
But this Black Dragon was different.
It had bulging muscles, a larger physique, a short and thick neck, a wide mouth, and crown-like devil horns on its head.
This was a mutant Black Dragon.
Mutants often meant powerful and troublesome.
Weimons didn't understand.
Anlius was just a small country, so how could two Black Dragons appear in succession? It was mind-boggling.
"Magogoko, please cast a spell shield to block when the Black Dragon dives again to prepare for breath."
"Now we only have siege crossbows and your Fireball that can threaten it, but if it doesn't approach, we're helpless."
"Oh, oh..."
The frightened Mei Magogoko nodded.
She had been scared silly by the sudden appearance of the Black Dragon.
The fleeting glimpse on the chaotic battlefield, the cold and murderous pale gold dragon eyes, had deeply imprinted in her mind.
Without seeing a Black Dragon, one couldn't understand this feeling, only knowing from words how terrifying they were.
When truly seeing such a mythical creature, Mei Magogoko felt chills.
It was like being locked in a zoo's lion and tiger house, sharing a room with lions and tigers.
The earth suddenly shook.
"Boom—"
As if a legion was approaching.
But Weimons had no time to care about these, as the Black Dragon in the sky began to dive again.
"Adjust the crossbow angle!"
At Weimons's command, the soldiers began to raise the siege crossbows' angles, moving along with the Black Dragon's movement.
They aimed ahead of the Black Dragon's flight path.
This way, they could not only hit the Black Dragon but also target its chest and abdomen.
The Black Dragon was getting closer.
"Magogoko, shield!"
Weimons shouted, and Mei Magogoko instinctively chanted magic, releasing a ten-meter radius elemental shield to protect the siege crossbows, while also starting to gather Fireball.
"Closer, yes, keep flying!"
Weimons muttered, calculating the distance with a sinister look.
However, just as it was about to enter the effective killing range of the crossbows, the Black Dragon didn't continue to approach. Instead, it spread its wings and ascended again, seemingly toying with the humans.
"Damn it!"
Weimons slapped his thigh, secretly resenting the Black Dragon's vigilance and cunning.
In the sky, Su Nian began issuing commands in high-pitched dragon language to the monsters:
"All monsters attack the crossbows; they haven't had time to adjust their shooting angles."
"Charge in, smash them!"
"Roar—"
Roars echoed.
Dense, bloodthirsty red eyes appeared from the surrounding bushes, the murderous intent making the soldiers' scalps tingle.
A gale swept through the forest, leaves swirling in the night sky, and even the insects' chirping gradually ceased.
"It's monsters, so many monsters, my God!"
"By Emperor Siwei! What are these things!"
"This, how is this possible?"
...
The soldiers were dumbfounded by the charging gnolls.
They had seen gnolls before.
But never had they seen such strong gnolls.
These gnolls stood over two meters tall, their gray mane on their necks slick and smooth, muscles bulging all over, with arms as thick as the soldiers' thighs.
They had fierce Blackwater Pythons coiled around their necks, and the leading gnolls rode gigantic Rock-Armored Crocodiles.
The key was these Rock-Armored Crocodiles were incredibly fast, like arrows, instantly reaching the front of the crossbow formation.
Even more outrageous was that behind these gnolls were Fireflame Rabbits riding Spearboars.
Those Spearboars had bloodthirsty eyes, sharp tusks, taller than knights' warhorses.
Their muscles formed a small hill on their backs, with fierce Fireflame Rabbits seated behind.
These Fireflame Rabbits had fierce eyes and bulging muscles.
They were not the same breed as those served on dining tables for tasting.
In the soldiers' moment of distraction, the monsters had already charged into the shield, smashing the crossbows to pieces.
Even a Fireflame Rabbit with a gold chain and a cigarette had started beating up a soldier.
The crossbows were all smashed by the monsters.
Su Nian grinned, wings flapping as he dove down.
"Awaken, hunting time!"
"Ke ke ke…" """
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