"By flame and iron, let it be witnessed!"
Garros said in a deep voice, "I, Garros, the Dragon of Red and Iron, shall lead you to glory! I shall give you new life!"
The monsters knelt one after another.
"By flame and iron, the Molten Iron People shall remain loyal to you for generations to come!"
They felt as if they were witnessing a moment of history worth remembering, their hearts swelling with a different kind of emotion.
"Remember your oaths today." The dragon's roar pierced the heavens, "When my wings blot out the scorching sun, your names shall be forever etched in history alongside the Molten Iron People!"
Following that, Garros continued to make appointments for his kin.
He abolished the clan divisions, but since the habits and social customs of different subordinates varied, mixing them together easily led to trouble. Thus, distinctions still had to be made, and he shifted to categorizing them in the form of warbands.
The names of the warbands were not yet fully finalized, so for the time being, they continued to use their previous clan names.
—Bone-Chewing Warband, Red-Eye Warband, Rending-Claw Warband, and Howling-Moon Warband.
Gluttony Demon Karu was tentatively appointed as the Legion Master.
Original clan leaders such as Blood-Fang Hodge, Russell, and the Lizardfolk Nara were designated as secondary Warband Masters; the appointment of leaders under the Warband Masters would be handled by the Warband Masters themselves.
Each warband was also assigned a Molten Iron Priest position, filled by units like warlocks and shamans selected by Garros.
The Molten Iron Priests held veto power over the Warband Masters' proposals and could apply to Garros for a ruling in case of disagreement. They ranked above the Warband Masters but could not command the warbands; they were directly loyal to Garros, serving as his eyes and ears.
"Given the current size of each warband, calling them 'warbands' is a bit presumptuous."
"However, the future is promising."
After completing the appointments, Garros rewarded the Gluttonous Ogre who had performed most valiantly and with both boldness and caution, formally granting it the Dragon Vein Transformation.
He gave Karu the supreme authority to command all warbands, second only to himself.
Of course, he had to ensure its absolute loyalty.
The Dragon Vein Transformation was necessary.
More importantly, the battle with the Diamond Giant had left Garros severely injured and bleeding profusely. This dragon blood could not go to waste; it was the perfect time to transform a dragon-vein subordinate.
Immediately after.
Several Warband Masters and Molten Iron Priests followed Garros to the deep pit where the Diamond Giant had fallen and died.
There was a pool of blood here where Garros's dragon blood had gathered.
The reason he had the other subordinate leaders follow was to let them witness firsthand the Gluttonous Ogre becoming stronger after the Dragon Vein Transformation, thereby stimulating their motivation.
Garros led the Gluttonous Ogre down into the pit, while the other subordinates remained on the edge to watch.
Then, under the envious gaze of the other subordinates, Garros began the Dragon Vein Transformation on the Gluttonous Ogre according to the records in his Legacy.
Obscure and ancient dragon language spilled from his mouth.
Demonic Energy gathered in his claws, stained with dragon blood, as he etched special runes onto the pool of blood. As the runes and the ancient dragon language incantations proceeded, an invisible vortex seemed to appear in the pool, beginning to spin.
In an instant, all the blood condensed into a single sphere of blood, floating in mid-air.
As the last syllable fell from Garros's mouth, the blood sphere suddenly burst into flames. The intense heat distorted the air, making it look like lava.
"Karu, eat it."
Garros said.
The Gluttonous Ogre did not hesitate. Gazing at the lava-like blood sphere radiating a dangerous aura, it stepped forward, opened its cavernous maw, and swallowed it in one gulp.
"I don't feel anything."
Smacking its lips, Karu spoke in a muffled, booming voice.
Immediately after, as if in response, extreme heat rose from its abdomen.
Karu's skin also took on an unnatural crimson hue, as if magma were surging beneath the surface.
Its pupils contracted into pinpoints, and a pained gurgle escaped its throat. It knelt on the ground and spat out a stream of scorching fire—the first sign that the dragon blood was beginning to rewrite the very essence of its life.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
As if tormented by immense pain, it pounded the ground frantically.
As time passed steadily, and the bottom of the pit trembled again and again.
Karu's grey skin began to crack and peel off, as Red Dragon scales squeezed out from within.
Some of the teeth in its mouth grew exceptionally thick and sharp, protruding from its gums and pressing against its upper and lower jaws.
Its horns began to sweep back, becoming more jagged and menacing.
The spine on its back pierced through its flesh, sprouting three rows of spines. The tailbone thrust directly out of the flesh, growing longer and longer until it finally became a brand-new tail.
Its limbs and torso grew more robust, muscles bulging in layers like cast steel.
Finally.
Karu now possessed dragon-like characteristics, specifically those of a Red Dragon. Besides the scent of a Gluttonous Ogre, a sulfurous odor emanated from its body. A Red Dragon Bloodline had been added to its system, unlike the dual hybrid nature of Garros.
The Dragon Vein Transformation was completed successfully.
Karu panted heavily as it stood up, its entire body radiating a stronger aura and dragon might than before.
After steadying itself, it let out a long howl toward the sky, its voice a mixture of a dragon's roar and an Ogre's bellow, announcing the birth of a brand-new being.
Then, Karu suddenly dropped to one knee, the impact making the gravel on the ground jump, while its new dragon tail whipped a furrow into the earth.
"By molten iron and dragon blood, let it be witnessed—"
It issued its declaration of loyalty to Garros once more, speaking in a solemn, deep voice, "—May my flesh and blood become the foundation beneath your throne, and my Soul become the gale between your wings!"
Garros gazed at the Dragon-vein Gluttony Demon, clearly able to sense its thoughts.
Its awe, its respect, and its loyalty had reached their peak; it would sacrifice its life for him without a moment's hesitation.
At this point.
Garros now had a capable general under his command, a dragon-vein subordinate.
In the future, when encountering minor troubles, he would not need to take action personally. He could focus more on strengthening himself, concentrating on his own training and evolution.
It was a bit of a pity.
Karu had inherited the Red Dragon Bloodline rather than the Iron Dragon's. If it had been the Iron Dragon Bloodline, it might have further enhanced its intelligence, especially in terms of territory management.
Most Iron Dragons dreamed of establishing a dragon Empire and were very skilled at governing territories. The Iron Dragon Mother's territory was orderly and well-planned.
Pastures, outposts, armies, and logistics.
The division of labor was clear, and order was strictly maintained.
Garros's knowledge of the prince and Lordship Theory both came from the Iron Dragon Legacy.
As for the territory management knowledge within the Red Dragon Legacy, it was simple—kill!
Disobedient? Kill.
Incompetent? Kill.
Displeasing? Kill!
Red Dragons preferred to maintain their rule through brutal means, which easily led to backlash. Garros favored the management methods found in the Iron Dragon Legacy.
Next.
The subordinates took the remains of the Diamond Giant and returned to the Giant Camp to clean up the aftermath.
Ultimately, a squad of Ogres from the Bone-Chewing Warband was left behind to guard the Leyline Symbiosis Pool, led personally by Karu's biological brother, the Ogre Ugo.
This nameless highland, which had witnessed the birth of the Molten Iron Clan, was subsequently named the Quenchfire Highlands by Garros.