Under the vast, boundless sky, the Red-Iron Dragon stood silently atop the hills.
His tiny spines glinted under the twilight glow, his imposing, exaggerated wings were slightly folded, and his majestic limbs and dragon tail were taut like bowstrings. Every scale on his body radiated a near-tangible killing intent, and even the surrounding air seemed to thicken and solidify under his Dragon Might.
The two Kora Giant Eagles trembled.
They buried their heads deep into the feathers of their chests, their thick talons curling up instinctively, like two quails being stared down by a natural predator.
The presence and reaction of the Elder Diamond made Garros feel a sense of severe danger.
Garros was naturally cautious, lacking the arrogance and conceit common to Dragonkin. He knew well that his cautious Heart-Nature was one of his primary means of survival in the wilderness, alongside his evolutionary talent.
Therefore.
Facing another character who clearly possessed great power yet was cautious and suspicious by nature, Garros felt an even stronger sense of threat.
Giants were similar to Dragons.
Because they were born with great power, their style of doing things was simple and direct, preferring a straightforward approach.
Stone Giants were no exception.
However, the Elder Diamond's unusually cautious behavior made Garros take things more seriously.
A cautious person understands the fatal points of another cautious person best.
An enemy who possesses great power yet still proceeds with calculated steps is a thousand times more terrifying than those arrogant challengers.
As the night wind swept over his dragon spine, Garros's pupils constricted into two thin slits.
He slowly unfurled his wings, the fine scales on the wing membranes rubbing against each other and sparking trails of fire. The Explosive Scales on his outer body also slightly opened and closed. This wasn't a build-up of power before a fight, but an instinctive reaction of a predator encountering a threat from its own kind.
When two equally cautious hunters meet on a narrow path.
The side that shows a weakness first will inevitably become the other's stepping stone.
This time, he didn't even need fairy scale powder.
Stimulated by the sense of danger, Garros's mind was exceptionally focused, his thoughts racing like lightning as he considered his next move.
"My advantage lies in my mobility, and more importantly, I am in the shadows. The Stone Giant clan has just arrived and is not yet aware of my existence."
"The longer I wait, the clearer the Stone Giants' investigation of their surroundings will be, which is disadvantageous for me."
Garros narrowed his eyes.
"As for the Stone Giants."
"Stone Giants are social groups; they value their kin and communal bonds."
The Elder Diamond's caution might be because it carries the heavy burden of guarding the tribe, thus it considers things carefully before acting and cannot afford to be impulsive.
"They value their tribe and help each other; this is their strength. However, in certain situations, it is also their greatest weakness and vulnerability."
Strengths and weaknesses.
Sometimes, the boundaries between them are not that distinct, or even completely blurred.
After deep consideration, Garros took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions to make himself calmer and more rational for the upcoming raid on the giant camp.
He decided to launch a night raid on the giant camp.
Strike first to gain the upper hand!
Since dragging things out would only be disadvantageous, he would be decisive and resolute—attack the Stone Giant camp! Destroy them before they can establish a firm foothold!
This Stone Giant tribe had already built a Leyline Symbiosis Pool, with Megarith Sentinels being cultivated inside, and they were also grandly recruiting vassals to expand their scale.
He could not give them time to develop.
Garros took the two giant eagles, broke their wings so they couldn't fly for the time being, and threw them into the Bone-Chewing Clan's camp. At the same time, he summoned the legion located on the back of the hills.
Bloodtooth Overseers, Gnoll Warlocks.
Lizardfolk Lurkers, Stalking Hunters.
Giant Wolf Knights, Werewolf Warlocks.
These units gathered together, converging in the Ogre territory, forming a sizeable monster legion.
"Bind and imprison these two giant eagles first, and take them away."
He gave a simple order.
Garros folded his dragon wings and slowly landed on the high stone platform.
His gaze swept across every upturned face—the murky single eyes of the Ogres, the flickering green eyes of the Gnolls, the pointed ears of the Werewolves—and then he spoke in a low voice, his words rolling across the land like muffled thunder.
"Monsters of the wilderness! The Stone Giants have established a stronghold on the northern highlands and are eyeing us greedily. War is already inevitable."
"Today, I want you to fight for me, to fight for glory."
"Before those Stone Giants launch a war, we will destroy them first!"
"I want your claws to gouge through their granite chests, and your teeth to crush every moving stone! Rip out their stone hearts! Bite them! Swallow them!"
As he spoke, the Red-Iron Dragon spread his wings like a massive banner.
The Ogres' roars were the first to explode, as they struck their great shields with axes. The Werewolves unsheathed their sharp claws, leaving bloody gashes across their chests as they howled towards the sky. Different monsters responded in different ways.
"For the great Garros!"
"For the glory of the clan!"
They shouted, their blood-red eyes almost forming a continuous line in the night.
The four clans under Garros were respectful and subservient to him, occasionally even appearing honest and somewhat cute. But do not forget, this was only because they were Garros's vassals.
In the eyes of other creatures.
Lizardfolk, Gnolls, Grey-mane Werewolves, Ogres.
Without exception, all of them were creatures of the evil alignment! Bloodthirsty, cruel, and bellicose.
"Karu, you shall lead the army."
"Bloodtooth Hodge, you will assist Karu."
Garros gave the position of Grand Commander to the rough-yet-detailed Gluttonous Ogre, letting the other Bloodtooth Overseer, who was also skilled in leading armies, assist him, and explained their mission.
—Attack the Stone Giant camp.
As for Garros, he would take the lead at the right time. Before the vassal legion arrived, he would find a way to lure the Elder Diamond away, turning the Elder Diamond's tribe into a weakness and vulnerability that would restrain it.
Immediately after.
Garros beat his wings and soared into the sky, while the monster legion began their march on the ground.
Multiple warlocks took turns using buff Spells.
Influenced by the Overseers' strengthening auras, their marching speed was very fast.
After some time, it was late at night.
From high in the air, Garros could already faintly see the highlands where the Stone Giants were stationed. After confirming the direction of the march for his vassals, he no longer waited for the legion. With a flap of his dragon wings, he flew toward the Stone Giant camp at a faster speed.
Meanwhile.
In the Stone Giant camp, inside the Elder Diamond's house.
The Elder Diamond, Abaddon, sat cross-legged on the ground with his hard and heavy body, frowning slightly.
The Kora Giant Eagles had been gone for a while and had not yet returned.
This made the Elder Diamond feel a faint sense of unease.
Initially, the Elder Diamond had decided to go to the Bone-Chewing Clan alone.
But.
As the strongest member and leader of the current Stoneheart Clan, burdened with the mission of continuing the clan, its decisions would affect the survival of the tribe. It could not afford to be negligent and had to act with caution.
So it thought seriously, casting aside distracting thoughts and reflecting over and over, until it caught an abnormality.
The Ogres' reaction to the giants' recruitment seemed a bit too resistant, and they lacked a sense of awe.
Normally, due to the Bloodline origin and the difference in status between the two sides, Ogres would always feel awe when facing giants and would be willing to submit and pledge loyalty.
Allowing the strongest giant to go alone under the guise of "respect."
In the giants' Legacy, they had never heard of any Ogre tribe having such a custom.
Unless it was a trap.
Expecting the worst, the Elder Diamond did not go alone; it dispatched the Kora Giant Eagles to scout.
If there was a trap or ambush, it would definitely be today.
After the Kora Giant Eagles gathered more specific intelligence, it would then decide whether to continue recruiting the Bone-Chewing Clan or to trample them.
But the Kora Giant Eagles hadn't returned yet.
The return time set for them by the Elder Diamond had already passed.
Exceeding this time meant that an unexpected situation had occurred.
No, it wasn't an accident.
There must be an ambush in the Broken Spine Hills! And it was enough to cause trouble for the "Wind Dancers" soaring in the sky, preventing them from returning smoothly!
The Elder Diamond suddenly opened its eyes.
Its pair of crystal-like eyes flashed with sharp light, full of alertness and caution.
"Targon!"
It called out in a deep voice.
"Elder, what is the matter?"
The Granite Giant entered the room and looked at the Elder Diamond in confusion.
"Wake up all the sleeping monster vassals! Take three young clansmen and patrol together."
The Elder Diamond said solemnly.
"What happened to make you so serious?"
The Granite Giant asked.
"I suspect there is a Dragon behind the Bone-Chewing Clan!"
The Elder Diamond said word by word.
Only if they had seen or even pledged loyalty to a Dragonkin—which is as famous as the giants—or some other even more powerful creature, would the Ogres lack awe for giants.
For the Kora Giant Eagles to get into trouble, the most likely possibility was a flying creature.
Based on these deductions, the Elder Diamond believed there was a Dragonkin behind the scenes.
Its wisdom, caution, and nearly four hundred years of life experience allowed the Elder Diamond to guess the truth.
"You're overthinking it."
The Granite Giant scratched its head and said, "Those lowly, filthy Ogres are just a bit greedy and ungrateful."
It felt that the Elder might have been traumatized by the war with the Blue Dragon and was overreacting.
The Elder Diamond slowly said, "I hope I am just overthinking it."
"But regardless, being careful is never wrong."
It said sternly, "Only we are left of the Stoneheart Clan. We carry the burden of reorganizing and making the clan strong again. Any potential danger must be nipped in the bud."
There was a high probability of a dragon behind the Bone-Chewing Clan.
It might not yet realize it has been exposed and should still be thinking about how to respond.
This is an opportunity.
While it is still hesitating, find a way to hunt and kill it!
As for living in harmony, trying to negotiate, or peaceful coexistence.
What a joke.
Neither Garros nor the Elder Diamond had ever considered that option.
"Wait, Targon."
As the Granite Giant was about to leave to lead the clansmen and vassals in patrol, the Elder Diamond stood up its majestic and strong body, stopped it, and said in a deep voice, "I've changed my mind. If there is a dragon behind the Bone-Chewing Clan, launching a raid with our vassals right now is the best time!"
Strike first to gain the upper hand!
The attacking side always has more initiative than the passive defensive side.
Whether there is a dragon or some other creature behind the Bone-Chewing Clan, the Stoneheart Clan must resolve it if they want to settle here.
Since the other party didn't show up immediately.
It means they are definitely not a dragon or monster of the Adult Dragon class and are also wary of our Stone Giant strength.
The Granite Giant felt the Elder Diamond was making a mountain out of a molehill.
But it didn't question the Elder's decision and nodded heavily.
However.
Just as the Elder Diamond and the Granite Giant stepped out of the stone house, before they could gather their vassals and clansmen to give orders.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of countless blades unsheathing and rubbing against each other rang out in the high sky, startling the monsters awake and causing the playing young Stone Giants to accidentally fall to the ground with panicked faces.
Trailing a long wake behind it, a Crimson Ominous Star streaked across the sky, tearing through the night, rapidly approaching.