The sky grew increasingly dark as leaden-gray clouds hung low, and a deep curtain of rain enveloped the entire wilderness.
The threads of rain seemed to connect heaven and earth, falling with a rustle and creating endless ripples in the rocks and puddles.
"Ennus, tell me about your origin."
A deep voice rang out through the rain.
The Red-Iron Dragon stood atop a rain-washed, slick cliff in Echo Canyon, where countless raindrops collided with his hard scales and shattered into a fine mist.
Ennus—that was the name of the Amethyst Lion King.
Furthermore, just as the Ignas Dragon Flight had speculated when they first met, Ennus was no ordinary monster leader.
The Amethyst Dragon Bloodline flowed within its body, and the concentration of its dragon blood surpassed that of most Hybrid Dragons.
This powerful Bloodline not only granted it an astounding physique and Demonic Energy but also, at a critical juncture in its life, activated a portion of the dragon heritage sleeping deep within its Bloodline. This endowed it with innate high intelligence, making its thoughts as profound and its gaze as clear as any creature, far exceeding that of beasts acting on instinct.
At the same time, the other half of the lion Bloodline flowing within it was also not simple.
The lion Bloodline gave it a primal aura capable of commanding thousands of prides and making all beasts submit.
Roar!
The Amethyst Dragon-Lion raised its scarred and majestic-looking head, letting out a low growl. Invisible psionic waves spread out, conveying everything it had experienced to Garros.
The story traced back over two hundred years ago, a distant era before Garros was even born.
At that time, Ennus was already active in this vast, dangerous, yet opportunity-filled Serel Wilderness.
Back then, it was young, strong, intelligent, and full of ambition. A scorching fire burned within its heart, and it was determined to build an orderly kingdom of Vicious Beasts and monsters centered around a powerful lion pride.
Relying on its own great strength, the natural majesty of a Dragonkin, and its considerable wisdom, it gradually gathered many powerful and diverse elite Lion-Beasts and monsters under its command.
It reigned as a king in a remote area, initially realizing a dream that had seemed unreachable.
The emerging power was like a grain of dust in the wilderness; at first, its quiet rise did not attract outside attention.
The Federation's eyes were focused on richer areas, and the powerful native monster lords were busy with their own territories, so no one came to disturb it.
However, as its power gradually stabilized and its ambition grew uncontrollably,
the young Amethyst Dragon-Lion was no longer satisfied with staying in one corner and began to expand its territorial boundaries, casting greedy eyes toward Federation outposts and caravans loaded with goods, baring its sharp claws and teeth to the civilized world for the first time.
The result, however, far exceeded its expectations at the time and became extremely dire.
The speed of the Federation garrison's reaction and the ferocity of their retaliation taught the young Ennus a heavy lesson.
The Federation quickly organized a well-equipped, well-coordinated military force led by powerful professionals to launch a comprehensive suppression and sweep of Ennus's lion pride.
Before long, the lion pride Ennus had painstakingly gathered was killed, fled, or scattered.
It also suffered unprecedented heavy injuries during that encirclement, nearly dying. It only managed to carve a bloody path out of the desperate situation and escape with its life in a wretched state by completely exhausting its Companion Amethysts.
Since then, a disheartened yet unwilling Ennus chose to go into complete dormancy.
It hid in the most remote corners of the wilderness like a wounded beast, silently licking and healing its wounds while cautiously accumulating strength like the most patient hunter, regrouping scattered Lion-Beasts, training new elites, and building its lion legion.
It waited in the darkness for the right moment, longing for the day it could make a comeback and realize its former grand plan.
[The things that happened after... you already know.]
The Amethyst Dragon-Lion let out a heavy sigh, a helpless growl squeezing from its throat.
With the Federation's control over the wilderness weakening in recent years, it believed the long-awaited opportunity had finally arrived and decided to emerge again, vowing to realize the dream in its heart.
However,
it never expected that just as it was starting to make a name for itself and its power was beginning to take shape, it would provoke the Molten Iron Tribe—which was also expanding aggressively and was stronger than the lion pride—and be struck by the Red-Iron Dragon's heavy fist, eventually being defeated and forced to bow its proud head.
"As expected, those so-called map kings who have recently risen and gained fame in the wilderness are mostly old things like the Lion King who have been dormant for a long time, waiting for their chance."
"Truly young ones like me are instead the minority of minorities, outliers among outliers."
Garros slowly spread his wings in the torrential rain, letting the water wash over his scales, lost in thought.
The Lich he encountered before, the Amethyst Lion King before him, and even himself were similar to some extent.
They had all chosen to hide due to their wariness of the Federation's great power, and were now showing their brilliance as the situation changed.
"The map kings who have already occupied territories, and some powerful existences still watching in the shadows who have yet to surface... I expect many are in this situation."
"This wilderness is much deeper than it appears on the surface."
Rainwater continuously slid down his majestic horns and the spines on his faceplate. Garros turned his head slightly and gazed at the Amethyst Lion King.
He asked, "Your dragon blood concentration is extremely high. Among your previous generation of direct blood relatives, was there a true Amethyst Dragon?"
The Amethyst Lion King shook its head, a flash of confusion appearing in its eyes.
[I am not sure,]
it responded through psionics.
It hadn't awakened its heritage from birth; rather, it had suddenly gained enlightenment one day during its growth, naturally obtaining a portion of dragon knowledge.
From its earliest memories, it had only seen its mother, a powerful and beautiful great lion.
It had grown up under the nurturing and protection of the lion pride.
Regarding its father, or rather the existence that provided that other half of the powerful Bloodline, it did not know much.
"Ennus is now over three hundred years old."
"If the Amethyst Dragon that sired it is still somewhere in the wilderness, it is likely an Old Dragon over four hundred years old."
Thinking of this, Garros couldn't help but feel a slight chill in his heart.
"Old"—a word that for most biological races meant weakness, slowness, and the end of the road—represented a deeper accumulation of power, more terrifying magical might, more exquisite combat skills, and more cunning wisdom when applied to the uniquely gifted Dragon Clan.
An Old Amethyst Dragon over four hundred years old would have a Life Level of at least 20.
If it were an outstanding individual among Amethyst Dragons, with extraordinary talent and exceptional encounters, it might even be possible to break through that difficult threshold and achieve a startling qualitative change in its life level, reaching rank 21 or even higher.
Thinking that such a powerful and elderly kinsman might be dormant within this vast wilderness,
and that its offspring wandering outside had just been defeated and subdued by him, a trace of unease inevitably rose in the depths of Garros's heart.
This wasn't fear, but an instinctive caution toward an unknown, powerful existence.
However, he then thought that Amethyst Dragons generally belonged to the True Neutral camp.
They were completely different from the Chromatic Dragons, who enjoyed committing evil and spreading fear, or the Metallic Dragons, who were keen on punishing evil and maintaining the order of justice.
As the head of the Gem Dragons, the nature of an Amethyst Dragon tended more toward being independent and aloof from the world.
They often chose to establish their lairs in secluded places, or even outside the Material Plane, quietly watching the changes of time and the rise and fall of civilizations, maintaining a cold, detached attitude toward worldly developments and rarely taking the initiative to participate in any form of secular struggle.
Of course, there were differences between individual dragons.
But overall, a neutral Amethyst Dragon was certainly easier to deal with than an Evil Dragon; to some extent, they were even easier to have pragmatic exchanges with than certain stubborn Metallic Dragons.
"Actually, there's no need for excessive worry."
"Worrying too much about distant and uncertain possibilities isn't planning ahead; it's fighting with shadows and wasting mental energy on idle thoughts."
Garros slowly exhaled, calming his mind as his gaze became steady and sharp once more.
"I understand your ambition, and I know your past dreams."
The Red-Iron Dragon's huge and heavy head turned slightly, his gaze falling on the Amethyst Lion King. "I know you've chosen to submit out of necessity at this moment."
"But I can tell you."
"Under my dragon wings, the probability of you realizing the blueprint in your heart will only become higher, not lower."
His voice was calm and deep, yet it carried a convincing power.
If charisma could be visualized, then Garros's value in this regard would surely have reached a quite astonishing height, no weaker than his physical stats.
"Ennus, you are still the administrator of this land."
"The lion pride under your command shall continue to be led and directed by you; the Molten Iron Tribe needs loyal warriors and lords, not slaves who have lost their Souls."
Hearing these words, the Amethyst Lion King's previously dim gaze suddenly brightened, and his entire spirit was visibly invigorated.
"Really?!"
He let out a low growl mixed with surprise and disbelief.
"The Molten Iron Tribe excels at allowing every kin to maximize their value and occupy the most suitable position, and you are the most suitable choice to garrison and govern these plains."
Garros said: "As long as you meet some necessary prerequisites and abide by loyalty and obligations."
"Whether you wish to gradually develop this place into a prosperous land with order and civilization, or let it maintain its original savage style, that is your freedom; I will not interfere too much."
"I only look at the results—prosperity, flourishing, and warriors and resources that can be mobilized at any time."
On the other side.
Hearing the conversation between the Red-Iron Dragon and the Amethyst Lion King, Iron Dragon Sorog's gaze flickered slightly, and he listened intently without revealing his intentions.
"First, you will continue to serve as the lord of this place, enjoying governance rights and most of the autonomy, but you must no longer use the title of King; there is only one King of this land."
"Second, the tribe will, according to need, dispatch a certain number of elite Molten Iron warriors, led by reliable leaders, to be stationed at the strategic passes, resource nodes, and near your lair."
"They will be responsible for assisting in defense, supervising the flow of resources, and maintaining the tribe's basic order here; you must cooperate and may not obstruct them."
"Third, the lion pride must be incorporated into the tribe's military system, regularly providing qualified warriors and accepting the tribe's mobilization..."
Garros proposed several conditions; the terms were not lenient, but they could not be called harsh either, and to a large extent, they preserved Ennus's autonomy.
The Amethyst Giant Lion thought for a moment before readily accepting.
"You are so powerful, wise, and brilliant; surrendering to your command will be the wisest choice I have ever made in my life."
He continued to let out low growls, expressing submission and respect.
Garros nodded slightly, then, as if remembering something, added, "Next time you express such compliments and loyalty, you may say it directly in dragon language; in this regard, I prefer to hear the actual voice."
The Amethyst Giant Lion's expression turned solemn, and he nodded very seriously, taking note of these words.
After briefly explaining the follow-up matters and leaving behind an Advanced communication tool for long-distance contact, Garros led the Dragon Clan to soar into the sky, tearing through the heavy curtain of rain as he embarked on the journey home.
"Garros, it seems you have finally made your decision."
"Will we widely adopt this strategy of enfeoffing lords to govern new territories in the future?"
On the return journey, Iron Dragon Sorog flew steadily beside the Red-Iron Dragon; he did not speak aloud, his deep voice resonating directly in the depths of Garros's mind through telepathy.
With the Molten Iron Tribe's continued high-speed development and rapid expansion, the territory under its command was becoming increasingly vast and scattered.
How to effectively guard, govern, and stabilize these newly acquired territories had become a crucial practical issue.
Long before the battle to retake the Quenchfire Highlands, when the core members of the Ignas Dragon Flight discussed future planning in the telepathic network, they had focused on this issue.
They proposed several different governance strategies, ranging from centralized power to a loose Alliance.
Now, judging by how Garros handled Ennus and his lion pride's territory, he was clearly inclined to adopt the relatively traditional yet efficient enfeoffment system.
"Yes, Solrog. This currently seems to be the optimal solution."
Garros responded: "The tribe is in a period of unprecedented rapid expansion, and the window of opportunity is fleeting."
"The enfeoffment system can maximize the enthusiasm of the conquered, stabilize newly acquired territories as quickly as possible, ensure the effectiveness of our rule, and liberate us from tedious local governance so we can focus on more important directions."
Enfeoffing those powerful creatures that had been subdued as lords.
Letting them continue to manage the lands and clans they were familiar with while pledging loyalty and fulfilling obligations to the Molten Iron Tribe was undoubtedly the most efficient, lowest-cost, and least resistant method.
But this method also had an obvious drawback.
—It placed extremely high demands on the supreme ruler.
The leader at the apex of power must possess unparalleled deterrent force over the various lords under their command and must have the absolute power and prestige to ensure no lord dared to harbor ulterior motives.
Otherwise, let alone continuing to expand.
The vast force could very likely begin to disintegrate from within, falling into an endless cycle of rebellion and strife.
However, for Dragons, who are long-lived and only grow stronger, the impact of this drawback was minimized.
Dragons do not age and weaken like Mortals; they only grow stronger as time passes.
As long as Garros was still alive and maintained his momentum of continuous growth.
The lords under his command would naturally remain loyal, and might even gain more benefits from following an ever-strengthening Dragon King.
In short.
As long as Garros remained powerful, his territory would be as stable as a rock; if there ever came a day when he fell, then what became of this territory would no longer matter to him.
"The name 'Tribe' might be dropped before long."
The Iron Dragon let out a low and pleased laugh.
Witnessing firsthand and being deeply involved in an organization growing from nothing, from weak to strong, step by step, developing into a formidable and vast power.
This process itself was enough to make Iron Dragon Sorog feel incomparably satisfied and joyful.
Afterward, time flowed quietly beneath the curtain of rain.
Since the war between the King of Molten Iron and the Amethyst Lion King was decided, the northwestern region of the Serel Wilderness had one less renowned, separatist regional king.
And under the command of the Molten Iron Tribe, there was now one more Lion-Beast lord with the Bloodline of an Amethyst Dragon, as well as a massive legion composed of numerous fierce Lion-Beasts and monsters.
However, both the Amethyst Dragon-Lion Ennus and his Lion-Beast legion had suffered significant injuries in this battle.
They needed a considerable amount of time to recuperate and recover their strength.
In the short term, this newly joined force could not provide much substantial help for the further expansion of the Molten Iron Tribe.
Currently, they remained stationed in the vast territory centered on Echo Canyon, and this area, which originally belonged to Vicious Beasts and monsters and had previously been unnamed, was officially named the Lionheart Plains and marked on the Molten Iron Tribe's constantly updating military map.
What was different from before was that the supreme ownership of these plains now belonged to the Molten Iron Tribe.
The status of Ennus and his lion pride was now that of guardians and administrators ordered to stay in place and exercise management rights on behalf of the tribe, rather than their previous role as rulers.
The Molten Iron Tribe planned to build some sturdy forward outposts, watchtowers, and small fortresses in the strategic locations and resource-rich areas of this new territory, and leave behind a capable and loyal core Molten Iron legion to be stationed there for assistance in defense.
This served both as a deterrent and as tentacles for communication and supervision.
Besides this.
Just as Garros had mentioned earlier, as the price and obligation of their surrender, the lion pride needed to provide troops for the Molten Iron Tribe.
Those powerful Lion-Beasts, in addition to being able to form an independent specialized legion themselves, would also have their elite individuals selected based on their different characteristics and sent to other legions of the Molten Iron Tribe, where they would be mixed with warriors of other races to fight in coordination.
Various mineral resources, magical plants, special hunting grounds, and so on discovered on the plains.
Their extraction and main revenues would also be centrally allocated by the Molten Iron Tribe.
When the Molten Iron Tribe needed it, the Amethyst Dragon-Lion lord Ennus also had to fulfill his obligations, respond to the call, and fight for the tribe.
Not long after.
New information was transmitted back to the Molten Iron Tribe through scouts and also reached Garros's ears.
"Yesterday's regional king could turn into a corpse today."
"This wilderness is truly becoming more and more chaotic."
Garros whispered silently in his heart and continued his training.
The Python King located in the Lost Marsh was attacked.
An overwhelming number of eagle and bird-type flying Vicious Beasts and monsters, led by a powerful Firebird, attacked and killed the Python King; after a fierce battle, the Python King died, the flock of birds occupied the Lost Marsh, and the pythons scattered and fled.