Chapter 34: Phantom of the Dragon

The Stepstones, Throat-Cutting Isle Main Island, Godswood

The Godswood on Throat-Cutting Isle Main Island was actually just a part of the main island's forest; before pirates like "Skullcap" Bill and his lot occupied the island, this giant heart tree had already existed.

Under normal circumstances, few people dared to fell a heart tree. Although weirwood was the best timber in the world, many were very clear that the heart tree was the representative of the old gods.

Although there were very few heart trees in the south of the continent of Westeros, outside of some ancient noble castles and deep mountain forests, they could hardly be found in the outside world.

But once someone discovered a heart tree or weirwood, their first reaction would only be to stay far away from it, because heart trees and the old gods were mysterious and eerie, long since etched into their DNA.

It was just like how humans on Blue Star would subconsciously feel afraid after seeing a snake, because in their DNA, creatures like snakes were representatives of danger and death.

The pirates under Blackfox Lena did not know the details of this island, so they rushed directly to the outskirts of this forest.

At this time, there was not a single sound in this forest; it looked as if it were a terrifying monster sleeping quietly.

"Boss Kamos! Where should we start now? There doesn't seem to be anything flammable here?"

Most of the trees on The Stepstones were primarily olive trees, fig trees, palm trees, and coconut trees; of course, there were also timber species like nightwood, crown trees, and soldier pines.

Since the pirates had only brought a small amount of Fire Oil, they didn't know where to start. Consequently, everyone coincidentally threw these questions to Kamos, the leader.

"You few, go find some dry wood. You, go find some briar vines. You, go find some hay or palm bark. What's the matter? Are you all children? Don't you even know how to start a fire?"

Perhaps because the surrounding environment was eerily terrifying, many pirates didn't want to stray too far from their companions. In fact, it wasn't that they didn't know what to do, but rather that instinct was driving them to stay away from this dangerous place.

Lemon was a pirate from Dorne. Like all those who ran to The Stepstones to become pirates, he had several murder cases on his head.

Although Dornishmen also worshipped the Seven, their lifestyle and certain customs were closer to those of the rhoynar. From the moment he arrived here, Lemon instinctively wanted to flee.

But under Kamos's intimidation, no pirate dared to make such a suggestion. Thus, as one of the first batch of pirates selected to find dry wood, Lemon could only bite the bullet and head in.

Lemon's group had 15 people in total, and they were heading northwest. The reason they were heading this way was entirely because they saw a withered soldier pine.

Soldier pines are similar to the pines on Blue Star. They are distributed across both the continents of Essos and Westeros and are an excellent source of timber and firewood.

"Ramno, you and Jack go chop it down. We'll keep watch for you here. This ghostly place is too terrifying. Let's finish the task quickly so we can leave. I'd rather fight enemies at sea than come to this godforsaken place."

As a minor leader, Lemon naturally had the authority to order others around. The two pirates he named had expressions like they were constipated, but they had no choice; if they didn't do it, they would likely face punishment.

So the two of them could only bite the bullet and walk toward that withered soldier pine. This withered soldier pine was somewhat crooked, seemingly because it hadn't grown well, which had caused it to lose the chance to occupy more sunlight at the top of the forest.

"Heh, heh... Ha..."

After these two pirates walked under the soldier pine, they took the axes in their hands and quickly hacked at its weak points.

Because both were somewhat flustered, their aim was off. After hacking for over a minute, they had only left a few axe marks of varying depths on the trunk.

"Why don't you two idiots just go die?"

"Ah... Help!"

...After seeing the incompetence of his subordinates, Lemon directly shouted insults. But just as his words fell, a series of shrill screams came from beside him.

It happened very suddenly. Lemon had just felt a gust of wind from beside him, and then he felt that one of the companions next to him had disappeared.

"Woo... Ow..."

Crack...

Amidst a series of scalp-numbing sounds of chewing and biting, the pirates saw a huge monster. It looked similar to a wild bull, with a massive head and white mane on its neck.

Upon seeing this terrifying monster, the pirates thought they had encountered a Hrakkar white lion from the Dothraki Sea. But once they overcame their fear and saw the other's silhouette clearly...

The pirates were shocked to find that standing before them was an incredibly massive white wolf.

"Roar..."

In the other's warning-like low growl, blood and shredded meat kept dripping from its mouth, looking extremely terrifying.

"E-everyone, gather together quickly, w-we..."

Lemon, whose legs were shaking, stammered out these words, but seeing the size of the giant white wolf, he also had no confidence in his heart.

"Roar..."

"Ah... Ah..."

"Help..."

...A series of screams and cries echoed in the Godswood. This sudden scene also terrified the other pirates in the forest. Some of the less courageous ones even dropped their work and bolted toward the outskirts of the forest as if running for their lives.

"There's a monster..."