The top of their heads is covered with fine scales, and some individuals grow small bony protrusions on their foreheads; the number and hardness of these protrusions symbolize their status within the tribe.
Generally, their entire bodies are covered in fine scales, which can appear in various colors such as red, black, blue, white, or green. They also have a long, thin tail behind them, resembling lizardmen. However, because their cries sound like dogs, they are named Kobolds and belong to the demi-human category.
Note: They possess dragon lineage in their bodies, but they are Dragonkin whose bloodline is so thin it's nearly non-existent. They hold extreme awe and loyalty toward dragons, possessing a fanatical sense of affiliation, and serve as the exclusive servants of dragons.]
Ignoring the gazes of the Kobolds, Jona Velli moved her claws and walked over to the wild boar that had just been dragged onto the ground, beginning her meal.
Watching the wild boar they had painstakingly captured being eaten just like that, the Kobolds finally snapped out of it.
Thud—
They were vassals of dragons, with thin dragon blood flowing in their veins. Their nature to serve a True Dragon, etched into their very bloodline, made them all kneel on the ground.
"Greetings, Great True Dragon!"
Every Kobold showed a face of excitement. In their eyes, being enslaved by a dragon and serving a True Dragon was their supreme honor, an act that brought glory to their ancestors.
Jona Velli gave them a faint glance and continued eating.
Soon, this ordinary wild boar was swallowed into her belly, leaving behind only a pile of fur and a skeleton.
Having eaten her fill, Jona Velli lay down, looked at this group of sycophants, and said lazily,
"Who is the patriarch?"
The old Kobold stood up tremblingly, unable to hide the excitement on his face.
"Reporting to the Great True Dragon, I am the patriarch of the Dogtooth Tribe."
Crystal blue pupils sized him up. The Kobold patriarch trembled all over under her gaze, but he still stood tall with his chest out.
This was a proper job interview; he had to perform well.
Jona Velli's dragon face showed undisguised disdain; after all, this old fellow was far too thin and weak. Nevertheless, she opened her dragon mouth.
"Submit... or die."
For a Kobold, this was never a multiple-choice question. The old Kobold knelt to the ground again, looking as excited as an old knight receiving an honorary knighthood.
"Great True Dragon, the Dogtooth Tribe is willing to submit beneath your majestic wings and serve you for generations."
Jona Velli nodded, thinking to herself,
'They really are a bunch of sycophants, but that works out fine.'
"Then, under the witness of the god of contracts, sign a master-servant contract with me."
The loyalty of Kobolds was well-known; there was no need for a more restrictive slave contract.
An ice-blue contract scroll covered in frost emerged before the Kobold patriarch, filled with dense dragon language script.
He did not hesitate, immediately biting his palm and letting his blood fall onto it. A flash of ice-blue radiance followed, and the master-servant contract was established.
"From now on, your name shall be Dog-Leg."
Jona Velli said casually. Just as the Kobold patriarch was about to agree excitedly, Jona Velli suddenly changed her mind.
"No, that name feels a bit insulting to myself, hmm."
Hearing Jona Velli go back on her word, the Kobold patriarch's expression stiffened, but soon, Jona Velli's next words made him look joyful again.
"You shall be called Little Shunzi from now on."
"Yes! Great Master!"
As if afraid Jona Velli would change her mind again, the Kobold patriarch prostrated himself excitedly.
Jona Velli scanned the surroundings and found that these Kobolds were all skin and bones, without any sense of strength. Her disdain was undisguised.
Immediately, Jona Velli had an idea and told the old Kobold to lead her to their tribe. Little Shunzi naturally did not refuse.
Before long, under Little Shunzi's lead, Jona Velli arrived at the Kobold tribe built inside a cave.
Inside were mostly old, weak, sick, and disabled Kobolds, as well as many newborn young Kobolds.
With her sharp senses, as soon as Jona Velli arrived, she was repelled by the stench hitting her face.
Damn! Can someone tell me how long it's been since these Kobolds took a bath?
Caves were already enclosed places, and combined with the Kobolds' lack of hygiene, that smell was something else.
Jona Velli's arrival first stunned the Kobolds, followed by excited cheers and dog-like barks one after another.
"Woof woof woof!!"
"Am I seeing this right? Was that the Great True Dragon just now?!"
"Woof woof! Great! We're saved!"
"Woof woof."
A flash of embarrassment crossed Little Shunzi's face. He hadn't expected the first meeting between the Great True Dragon and their Dogtooth Tribe to leave such a bad impression.
He roared loudly,
"Quiet! Do not be insolent before the Great True Dragon!!"
Little Shunzi's roar gradually quieted the excited Kobolds, but the glint in their eyes grew even stronger!
Little Shunzi trotted flatteringly to the front of Jona Velli.
"Great Master, I am truly sorry, we..."
"Enough."
Before Little Shunzi could finish, Jona Velli interrupted him.
"Call out the Kobolds in your tribe who are relatively strong and have firm willpower."
Though he didn't understand what Jona Velli wanted to do, Little Shunzi obediently did as told.
In a short while, over thirty Kobolds were called out.
"Great Master, I have followed your..."
Little Shunzi's words stopped abruptly. His red pupils widened to their limit, his face filled with shock. It wasn't just Little Shunzi; every Kobold present was stunned.
Following their gaze, they saw over thirty drops of bright red dragon blood floating quietly around Jona Velli.
"I presume I do not need to explain what this is. You have the right to choose for yourselves: whether to become more powerful Dragon-Blooded Kobolds or to shrink back is up to you.
However, let me state beforehand that this is undiluted dragon blood. The power within is difficult to control; one slight mistake and you will die on the spot."
Since Kobolds are naturally Dragonkin with thin dragon lineage, their success rate for dragon blood transformation is much higher than other races, but the probability of death is still not low.
Not just Kobolds; any race with dragon lineage has a higher chance of successful transformation.
This was all thanks to the dragons' eyes for finding beauty; there were many such Dragonkin races with thin dragon blood in their bodies.
Little Shunzi swallowed hard. Looking at his aged body, he knew this was an opportunity.
Once successful, it would be a complete transformation. Even if he failed, he didn't have many years left to live anyway; he might as well take the gamble.
Steeling his heart, he reached out to fuse with the dragon blood floating before Jona Velli.
With the first one stepping forward, more and more Kobolds came to take the chance.
The moment the violent dragon blood merged into their bodies, it began to spread rapidly like an enhanced version of cancer cells, destroying original cells. The bone-chilling cold made these Kobolds curl into balls, letting out pained yelps.