"Flee? Abandon the territory here?"
This was Garros's first thought.
When encountering a massive, irresistible risk, Garros would choose to decisively retreat and temporarily avoid the brunt of the threat.
However, life here had just gotten on the right track. He had integrated the monster clans under his command, controlled a branch of a trade route, and had a stable channel for black oil—everything was moving in a positive direction.
Garros was unwilling to simply give it all up.
In the wilderness, weakness was the greatest risk. Abandoning his territory to start over would cost time and energy, which would drag down his growth speed and leave him in a state of vulnerable weakness for much longer.
This was something Garros could not tolerate.
"The giant's words might not be entirely true. To intimidate the Bone-Chewing Clan, it might have chosen to bluff."
"I'll make my final choice after confirming their specific situation."
Garros did not act rashly. Instead, his gaze became deeper and calmer as he suppressed his emotions, continuing to wait in silent concealment.
Among the several types of giant species...
Stone Giants specialized in strength and defense, but their perception was relatively dull. Hidden in the shadows, Garros was not worried that the Stone Giant would discover his presence.
"Oh, you mean there are other giants."
Karu nodded, waving an oily palm, and said, "Are you the strongest among them? If not, then don't talk to me about loyalty and submission here. The Bone-Chewing Clan only follows the strongest."
"Let the strongest Stone Giant among you come to see me, and then I will consider pledging my loyalty."
The Stone Giant's brow furrowed again.
It stared at Karu, a dangerous glint appearing in its stone-bead-like eyes. Its aura grew heavier, as if it were merging with the earth itself.
Karu refused to be intimidated, grinning to reveal a mouthful of shark-like fangs.
The elite Ogre warriors of the clan picked up their weapons, their burly bodies surrounding the giant with hostile gazes. Several Shamans also gripped their bone staves, retreating behind the warriors, ready to construct Spells at any moment.
The Stone Giant remained silent for a few seconds before the dangerous light in its eyes gradually faded.
Its fellow clansmen had other tasks. It was alone within the Bone-Chewing Clan, and getting into a direct conflict with this group of Ogres was not a wise choice.
Neither its stamina nor its Demonic Energy was infinite.
It had not reached the level where it could ignore numbers with absolute power.
"In three days, an Elder even more powerful than I will arrive personally."
The Stone Giant looked directly into Karu's eyes, its voice coarse like grinding stones. "At that time, whether it is submission or refusal, I will need your final answer."
After saying that,
it turned and left, striding away from the Bone-Chewing Clan. Just as when it arrived, every step it took caused the ground to tremble slightly.
Karu shouted, "Let your Elder come alone! That is respect for the Bone-Chewing Clan! If he brings other Stone Giants, he won't get the Bone-Chewing Clan's recognition!"
Once the Stone Giant had left, two elite warriors were given permission to put down the Gluttony Demon Karu they had been carrying, panting like oxen from the effort.
After some more time had passed,
and it was certain that the Stone Giant hadn't pulled a feint and suddenly returned, the Red-Iron Dragon flew out from the ridge and landed in front of the Gluttony Demon Karu.
"Karu, you did well."
Garros did not hold back his praise.
Especially the final request for the Stone Giant Elder to arrive alone.
If the other party truly valued the Bone-Chewing Clan and actually came alone, it would give Garros a certain degree of initiative.
The Gluttonous Ogre chuckled and said in a muffled voice, "Then can I have the dead skin you shed as a reward?"
It was salivating over Garros.
It certainly had no chance of tasting his flesh, and it didn't dare make such a request, but it still hadn't given up hope. It wanted to taste dragon skin, even if it was just the dead skin he shed.
"No."
Garros refused the Gluttonous Ogre's request.
After a pause, he added, "Once I perform the Dragon Vein Transformation on you, you will become a Dragonkin creature. If you want to know what it tastes like, you can just take a few bites out of yourself."
The Gluttonous Ogre's eyes lit up.
"Then when can I get the Dragon Vein Transformation?"
it asked.
"After you have rendered enough meritorious service for me,"
Garros said.
"Then when can I render meritorious service?"
Karu asked eagerly, looking forward to the Dragon Vein Transformation.
"Soon. Notify your clansmen to prepare for battle."
Garros narrowed his eyes, gazing in the direction the Stone Giant had left.
Whether it was to fight or flee, it was never wrong to make some preparations first.
The Gluttonous Ogre became excited and growled, "Karu likes fighting!"
Consuming a large amount of food after an intense battle was the best way to stimulate a Gluttonous Ogre's growth and development.
A few minutes later,
under Garros's instructions, the Gluttonous Ogre began to mobilize the clansmen within the Bone-Chewing Clan. It opened up the clan's food stores so the elite warriors could feast to their hearts' content, getting as full as possible to handle the potential upcoming battle.
A full Ogre was a crack soldier.
Here, one had to mention Garros's generous treatment of the Bone-Chewing Clan.
Because there were several Shamans here, as well as the relatively powerful Gluttonous Ogre, they provided better training results for Garros. He spent more time with the Bone-Chewing Clan than with any other clan.
While honing his combat skills against Vicious Beasts, Garros would occasionally capture some high-level Vicious Beasts or monsters after feeding and toss them to the Bone-Chewing Clan as a reward.
Garros knew very well that a rule based solely on Dragon Fear and terror was unstable.
He needed the clans under his command to know that following him brought benefits, profits, and a future. Balancing kindness with authority was better than constant pressure and extraction.
This was one of the pieces of knowledge from 'the prince' within his Legacy, originating from an Ancient Dragon ancestor who had once established a kingdom.
The purpose of an Ogre's existence was to eat.
Garros's rewards made them move to tears of gratitude, and the Bone-Chewing Clan's loyalty grew day by day.
The Stone Giant's empty promises were not even worth mentioning compared to the tangible benefits they had already received.
Garros restrained his presence, making no sound as he took to the air. His dark gray, inconspicuous normal Explosive Scales almost merged with the night.
He glided silently through the clouds, his gaze sweeping over the mountains and the earth below.
Very quickly, Garros locked onto a familiar figure.
It was the adult Stone Giant that had left the Broken Spine Hills and was currently traveling across the ground in a certain direction.
To avoid alerting the other party,
Garros did not use the Detection Spell on the Stone Giant.
However, based on the other's size and the description of the Stone Giant race in his Legacy, he could roughly judge that this Stone Giant's life Rank was around Rank 9. Rank 9 was the highest probability, with an error margin of no more than one Rank.
In other words, it was the same Rank as the current Garros.
A Stone Giant of the same Rank did not make Garros feel threatened.
In the hierarchy of giants, Storm Giants were at the top and were the most powerful at the same Rank, while Stone Giants were not near the front.
As a Red Iron hybrid, even without the Adaptive Evolution talent, Garros's natural talent as a Hybrid Dragon was comparable to a Gold Dragon. And as he evolved and grew, he estimated that even a Gold Dragon of the same Rank would likely not be his match now.
Among the common major dragon types,
unless they had special talents or certain positive mutations,
none could contend with Garros at the same Rank.
The problem lay with the 'Elder' the Stone Giant had mentioned.
A Stone Giant that could be granted the title of Elder would be at least a prime Stone Giant over two hundred years old, with a life Rank between 10 and 13.
Even if it were the weakest Stone Giant Elder at Rank 10,
its life Rank would still exceed Garros's.
Garros did not like fighting above his level—more accurately, he did not like fighting upwards against higher Ranks unless there was a necessary reason to do so.
"The number of this Stone Giant vanguard and their strength levels..."
"While I am currently in the shadows and they are in the light, I should investigate clearly first."
Garros thought to himself.
If he confirmed that a large army would follow, he would have to abandon the territory. But if this vanguard wasn't exceptionally powerful, then while Garros retreated, he would at least make them pay a heavy price.