The difference between Dragonoids and True Dragon lies in the latter possessing the body of a giant dragon.
Among the nearly one hundred kin present, about one-third successfully evolved into True Dragon.
Low-ranking True Dragon, Mid-ranking True Dragon, High-ranking True Dragon, and above them, the Dragon Kings.
The hierarchy here does not refer to the True Dragon's combat power, but to the origin they inherited.
For example, taking the attribute of fire.
Simple Fire Dragons and Red Dragons are actually low-ranking True Dragon.
Above them are special True Dragon that mutated from fire elements, such as Exploding Flame Dragons, Blazing Dragons, Fiery Dragons, and so on.
These belong to Mid-ranking True Dragon.
As for High-ranking True Dragon, their characteristic is uniqueness.
Such as Mantle Dragons, Magma Dragons, Ash Dragons, and so on.
The characteristic of High-ranking True Dragon is their ability to form a massive domain centered on themselves and transform the natural environment within that domain to suit themselves.
As for Dragon Kings,
Dragon Kings are born from High-ranking True Dragon.
Theoretically, any High-ranking Dragon has the opportunity to become a Dragon King.
The prerequisite is to awaken the Dragon King factor and receive the conferment of the True Dragon.
"No matter."
Rin said, "Consider it your payment received in advance from me."
"We shall certainly complete your mission!"
Souka remembered the price Rin had mentioned earlier.
Only now, her heart felt even more ashamed.
If they were to fight the Western Nations with the strength of Lizardmen, it would indeed be a life-for-a-pledge situation.
But the problem now was that they had evolved.
For Souka and the others, who had become True Dragon, dealing with the Western Nations was almost effortlessly easy.
To put it plainly, Rin was still looking out for them.
In the future, I must repay this kindness!
There was no other way. Souka could only secretly remember Rin's grace.
At the same time, she also thought of the mockery from Aone and the other two girls.
However, this time, Souka did not blame them.
From her current position, she dared not use the power she received from Rin to provoke the Oni Race.
The only thing Souka could do was to find a way to achieve merits, thereby telling the Oni Race that they, the Lizardmen—no, now they were True Dragon.
They, the True Dragon, were not shameless people.
Sooner or later, I will lead the True Dragon to surpass the Oni Race and gain the favor of the Creation Dragon God!
...
Rin could actually hear some of his subordinates' thoughts, especially when they mentioned him.
However, he didn't say much.
Competition, as long as it was healthy, was a good thing.
"Next, you will follow Rimuru's orders. Do not disappoint me."
After Rin finished speaking, he disappeared from before Souka and the others.
"Yes!"
At this moment, let alone obeying Rin, even if he told her to die, Souka would not hesitate for a second.
"Congratulations, Souka-san."
"I apologize for my previous offense, Rimuru-sama, please do not take it to heart."
Souka already knew about the Lizardmen's grievances with Rin. She now wished she could tear Gabiru into a million pieces.
The scene when Souei came to offer surrender.
Souka found no fault with the entire process.
But Gabiru had insisted on his own way.
Even if he couldn't see the situation clearly, he should at least have brought Souei before the leader for him to decide personally.
However, Gabiru took it upon himself to act, angering Souei and causing the Lizardmen race to miss a heaven-sent opportunity to join Rin's command early.
Now look, so many Lizardmen were led to a dead end by Gabiru.
Gabiru!!
You scum of the Lizardmen race!!
Just thinking about how their Lizardmen had the chance to follow closely in the footsteps of the Oni Race and become Rin's second subordinates.
But because of Gabiru's arrogance and disdain, they missed such a heaven-sent opportunity.
In the end, not to mention the Oni Race and the Tengu.
The Lizardmen couldn't even compare to the Goblin and the Starfang wolves, completely becoming the tail-enders of the Jura Great Forest's monster groups.
Sigh...
Well, what was done was done. No matter how much Souka disliked Gabiru, it was useless.
"Please allow me to go to the battlefield and retrieve the surviving members of my race."
Souka was mentally prepared for some of the Lizardmen to die.
Souka didn't blame Rin. She even felt he was overly merciful.
If it were any other powerful being, having been so ignored and humiliated, the Lizardmen race would have been annihilated long ago.
How could they still be like this, only having some of Gabiru's loyalists purged, and paying with the lives of a portion of their race?
The only thing Souka could do now was to speed up.
Then, she would preserve as many lives of her race as possible, allowing them to break free from the shackles of the Lizardmen, just like herself, and evolve into True Dragon.
"Hmm, then, let's depart."
As Rimuru finished speaking, the Dragonoids and Dragon race present were immediately enveloped by a massive teleportation array.
The next moment, everyone vanished directly from the underground prison.
Time rewound to half an hour earlier.
"All troops, halt!"
Gabiru, leading nearly 30,000 Lizardmen, ordered the entire army to stop.
He looked at the cliff ahead, his face filled with doubt.
"Gabiru-sama?"
Seeing him stop, his loyal subordinates hurried forward to inquire.
"Ahead…"
Gabiru said, "I remember it being a forest wetland, right?"
The forest wetland, similar to a basin-structured canyon, was lush with grass and abundant in water, making it a favorite place for many herbivores.
However, the layout of the forest wetland was very special.
It was somewhat like a meteorite crater, with surrounding rocky bulwarks resembling cliffs, and only one entrance on each of the east and west sides for convenient passage.
"Yes, Gabiru-sama."
A subordinate asked, "Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing is wrong."
"Gelmud-sama even considered the environment we Lizardmen prefer."
"As expected of Gelmud-sama!"
Gabiru didn't doubt much and immediately ordered to advance. "Just a little more, once we pass through this canyon, we will rest in the forest wetland!"
The Lizardmen race numbered about 37,000 people in total.
And at Gelmud's request, Gabiru brought all his race members, except for the truly old and weak who had no combat power.
Because it was too rushed, the Lizardmen's equipment was not good.
Only about 8,000 genuinely had elite armaments. Most only wore simple leather armor.
As for weapons…
They used whatever they had.
If all else failed, the Lizardmen's own claws and teeth were also good weapons.
Thus, Gabiru led 30,000 Lizardmen straight through the mountain pass and into the forest wetland.
It was dawn at this time, the sky was dim, and dense fog permeated the surroundings, making it impossible to see one's hand in front of one's face.
(To be continued.)