Translator: AnubisTL
Kingdom of Lothurn, Royal Court, Rear Garden
Iron Dragon Gordon lay sprawled on his side, belly exposed, adorned with a dazzling array of jewels and ornaments. Even his dragon horns had been meticulously carved and polished by skilled artisans, etched with intricate patterns resembling narcissus blossoms.
Every dragon scale on his body had been polished and engraved, each gleaming like the finest obsidian, flawless and unblemished.
Several maidens attended to him on either side, continuously offering him a variety of delicacies: succulent roasted meats, rich broths, sweet fruits, and delectable pastries.
Yet Gordon remained unhappy, lounging listlessly. He occasionally opened his mouth to accept the treats offered by the maidens, his brow furrowed as he gazed at his bulging belly.
He felt as fat as a pig.
No, even fatter than a pig.
His plump flesh nearly overflowed between his scales, his belly bulging in thick rolls. Even the iron dragon's typically rigid facial armor had grown fleshy jowls.
The iron dragon stretched ten meters long, dwarfing even red dragons of the same age. In girth, he nearly rivaled Garos himself.
The difference was stark: Garos was all bulging muscles, as hard as steel, while Gordon was covered in layers of fat that rippled like waves as he crawled across the ground.
Given the dragonkind's formidable digestive capabilities, heaven only knew how much Gordon had to consume daily to reach such a state of obesity.
After another hour of relentless feasting, Gordon finally stopped eating, resolving to lose weight.
"My dear Gordon, are you unhappy? You've been eating less these past few days, and you seem to have lost a little weight," Eileen, a graceful young woman with a crystal crown perched atop her head, hurried to the iron dragon with dainty steps, her voice filled with concern.
Eileen, fourteen years old, was the princess of the Kingdom of Lothurn and the king's most cherished daughter. Unlike her siblings, who were embroiled in power struggles, Eileen's innocent nature had earned her the king's special affection and the fondness of her brothers and sisters.
The young dragon Gordon was her beloved companion, having been by her side since she was six years old.
"Ugh, Eileen, I want to lose weight," Gordon mumbled.
"But you're so cute just the way you are! Why would you want to lose weight?" Eileen asked, puzzled. She threw herself onto Gordon's belly, nuzzling her cheek against his soft flesh.
"I can barely fly anymore," Gordon grumbled.
Gordon flapped his dragon wings, creating a gust of wind, but his massive body remained motionless. He grumbled in frustration, "It's no use. I can barely fly anymore."
"Don't worry," Eileen said cheerfully. "I'll have the court mage inscribe some magic formations on your wings. That should help you take flight again."
"Good boy," she cooed, "eat a little more. Finish these last few pieces of cake, and I'll give you a sapphire."
The promise of treasure brightened Gordon's eyes. He was still hungry and couldn't resist the delicious sweets, so he devoured several more pieces of cake.
My luck is truly terrible, Gordon thought, wistfully recalling his days roaming the wilderness. If I hadn't been brought here, I'd be ruling my territory, expanding my domain, and roaming the wild with my lithe, powerful physique.
"I've arranged for the artisans," Eileen announced, taking Gordon's massive claw in her hand. "Your claws, fangs, and scales need maintenance."
Gordon lumbered to his feet and slowly moved from the rear garden to his private chambers. A dozen artisans meticulously polished his claws and fangs, removing dust and grime. They then carved intricate patterns into his claws, dragon horns, and scales, transforming the iron dragon into a magnificent work of art. The only flaw was his excessive bulk.
Sierre Wilderness, Ironforged Clan.
After two weeks of deep slumber, Iron Dragon Solgorn had fully healed from his injuries. Now brimming with ambition and enthusiasm, he began meticulously planning the Ironforged Clan's future.
First, he restructured the battle groups.
The Bonechewer Clan was officially renamed the Starbreaker's Hammer, designated for frontal assaults and defensive formations.
The other battle groups, which had retained their original clan names, were reorganized based on their specialized roles.
Agile and mobile units like the Giant Wolf Knights, Giant Lizard Knights, and hyena knights were consolidated into an all-knight battle group called the Crimson Iron Cavalry.
Sorcerers, shamans, and similar units formed the Annihilation's Eye.
The most numerous but less specialized warriors and other units were grouped into the Steel Will.
Following the battle group restructuring, Solgorn implemented a more detailed hierarchical system, established reward and punishment mechanisms, and created clear advancement pathways. This gave his monster clans tangible goals to strive for, transforming them from mindless followers into motivated warriors.
The Iron Dragon understood the importance of ideology.
True cohesion wasn't forged through shared clan names or rigid systems, but through the presence of a powerful, majestic lord whom all his subjects could revere and pledge their loyalty to.
Solgorn temporarily appointed the ogre Ugo as commander of artisans, tasking him with constructing statues of Garos throughout the various clans.
Simultaneously, he ordered the wisest sorcerers from each clan to compose songs praising Garos's might and wisdom. These songs were to be taught to the young clan members, ensuring they grew up hearing tales of Garos's glorious deeds and extolling his greatness from an early age.
The songs varied according to the preferences of each clan's creatures.
For example, among the ogre clan:
Crack! The enemy clan's walls have fallen!
Sizzle! Dragon breath burns the chieftain to cinders!
Gnaw! Beneath the charred skin lies succulent meat!
The wind from the king's wings carries the scent of meat across the Sierre Wilderness!
Thump! Thump! Follow the Crimsonwing's flight!
Where our feet tread, blood boils into broth!
They revered strength, their purpose in life being to eat. With their simple minds, the songs they sang were filled with food imagery, their style crude and primal, making them easily spread among the ogres.
Regarding territory:
Garos's earlier plan to establish outposts and garrisons in strategic highlands, passes, and key routes was now being implemented by the Iron Dragon Solgorn. Using the base camps of several clans as nodes, they connected them to form a unified territory and stationed appropriate units in critical locations.
Even more crucial was the Scaly Earth Rift Road.
Nick's Caravan returned, bringing Garos more black oil and other essential resources, then departed with a larger haul of purple copper ore and high-quality minerals from the symbiotic pool.
Nick's Caravan returned laden with riches. Following the Ironforged Clan's instructions, they boasted of their profits, attracting bolder merchant caravans.
Initially, the caravans were cautious and apprehensive. But after discovering that the Scaly Earth Rift Road was no longer plagued by monster attacks and that the monster clans were willing to trade fairly, the frequency of their journeys increased steadily.
The ferocious beasts and demonic creatures surrounding the Scaly Earth Rift Road were even being cleared out by the monster clans themselves.
As a result, the Scaly Earth Rift Road, once nearly abandoned due to the ogre clan's rampant pillaging, gradually flourished once more.
A temporarily stable trade route had formed between the Ironforged Clan and the civilized world.
Raw ores, hides, claws, fangs, and other materials from ferocious beasts and demonic creatures were transported to the Southern Kingdoms.
In return, black oil, armor, weapons, alchemical tools, message stones, and other goods flowed into the wilderness, bolstering the Ironforged Clan's resources and fueling their growing power.
With the Iron Dragon Regent's assistance, Garos no longer had to concern himself with the mundane affairs of his territory. He could now focus his spirit entirely on his training and evolution, and with a steady supply of black oil, his life settled into a peaceful and stable rhythm.
Unfortunately, peaceful times seemed to slip by faster.
Before he knew it, three years had passed in a blur.
During this time, the territory prospered under orderly management, and the seventeen-year-old Garos officially became a juvenile dragon.
(End of the Chapter)
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