182: Chapter 181: Out of the Woods and into the Flower-Lit Clearing 182: Chapter 181: Out of the Woods and into the Flower-Lit Clearing Leon was profoundly impressed by Angomog.
That mighty Red Dragon in his pri had indeed been defeated by Leon, but achieving such a victory had drained Leon’s mana completely.
He did not possess the strength to hunt Angomog down afterward.
Leon knew Angomog was formidable, even more so than that Death Knight.
After all, the Death Knight was a foot soldier—without a nightmare steed for mobility, a grounded unit could never match the level of a flying adversary.
Even so, successfully breaching the Cloud Giants’ castle wouldn’t be an easy task.
According to what Leon had gathered from the Cloud Giants, Angomog was rely considered a troubleso foe at best.
With this thought, Leon nodded thoughtfully.
The last ti he had seen Angomog was several years ago.
Back then, Leon was still a young dragon.
In such a lengthy period, it was entirely possible that Angomog had encountered so fortuitous event that dramatically increased his strength.
…Then again, it wasn’t entirely certain that the Red Dragon in question was Angomog.
After all, the Lost Plateau was vast, easily accommodating dozens or even hundreds of dragons.
It surely wasn’t ho to Angomog alone; it was entirely plausible that there could be an older Red Dragon, perhaps even an ancient one, residing there.
A challenge level of at least 20 would be expected for an ancient Red Dragon.
Even if Leon did encounter such an opponent, while victory wasn’t impossible, it would still be risky.
Unless he was absolutely certain of success, it wasn’t worth the gamble.
Life was singular and precious—recklessness was not an option.
“What am I even thinking?”
“Why should I care who it is?
What does it have to do with ?”
No matter who that Red Dragon was—whether it was Angomog or not—Leon realized there was no reason for him to clash head-on with the other dragon.
It wasn’t as if he had been ambushed or robbed.
His sole target from the beginning had been the Cloud Giants.
Focus on who owes you.
Don’t invite unnecessary trouble—there’s only disadvantage and no reward.
Once the Cloud Giants were dealt with, then he could consider any debt transfers.
There would be ti later to seek compensation from the Red Dragon if necessary.
Information about the Red Dragon wasn’t of the highest priority.
Gathering intelligence on the Cloud Giants remained his main objective.
The problem was that all of the Frost Giant villages near the Cloud Giants’ castle had already been visited.
Leon decided to search further afield.
He resolved to spend three more days looking—if nothing ca of it, he’d leave.
He couldn’t stay in this icy wasteland indefinitely.
He wasn’t that intolerant of the cold; Red Dragons naturally made their nests in high-altitude regions, often in snowy mountain caves.
Still, they disliked the cold.
Lava-heated or volcanic caves were the most cherished nesting sites for Red Dragons.
Had it not been for this current predicant, Leon would likely be lounging comfortably in his castle, sleeping soundly after a hearty al, and eating again after waking up.
“If I were Mankus and still alive, what would I do?”
Leon placed himself in the Cloud Giant’s shoes.
If he were Mankus and had narrowly survived, what would his next steps be?
As a Cloud Giant, it would make sense to seek assistance from fellow Cloud Giants of the sa rank, rather than turning to lower-ranking Fire Giants or Frost Giants.
Pride wouldn’t allow otherwise.
“First, I would surely find a place to lay low, then plan my revenge…”
Leon mused for a mont, recalling his understanding that in contrast to most types of giants, who preferred communal living, the fundantal unit of Cloud Giant society was the household.
While these scattered families were separated by significant distances, they were not isolated—every household or individual knew the location of their nearest neighbor.
In tis of crisis, news could spread from one Cloud Giant family to another, quickly organizing a formidable Cloud Giant army if necessary.
“Cloud Giants—I can still seek out other Cloud Giants.”
Fire Giants bore a particular hatred for Red Dragons, and within Frost Giant society, rank was determined purely by brute and ruthless strength—violence perated their entire culture.
By comparison, Cloud Giants were far easier to negotiate with.
Leon decided to seek out other Cloud Giants for discussions.
Cloud Giants typically resided within permanent cloud formations or atop towering mountains, sotis thousands of ters high, as many cloud altitudes matched such elevations.
Leon spread his wings and began his ascent, flapping vigorously.
Deciding to use the Gathering Form and Scattering Energy ability, he swiftly climbed altitude, breaching the cloud layers to search for a castle built atop the clouds or perched on the peaks of mountains towering above them.
After half an hour of fruitless searching, Leon landed atop a mountain and felt montarily dejected.
Was that a White Dragon or a Silver Dragon?
The distance was too great for Leon to discern imdiately.
Whether it was a White Dragon or a Silver Dragon, Leon lacked any real interest.
He lived by the principle of not ddling unless provoked.
But with this approaching dragon—whether White or Silver—things might change.
As the dragon ca closer and closer, Leon was finally able to identify it: it was a Silver Dragon.
The shimring scales gleaming like pure silver in the sunlight were sothing a White Dragon could never possess.
Because of their preference for similar nesting locations, Silver Dragons and Red Dragons often clashed—these conflicts were typically fierce and fatal, with the Silver Dragons usually gaining the upper hand due to their more nurous allies.
Leon was unsure whether this Silver Dragon was here to cause trouble for him.
While he wasn’t one to instigate, he certainly wasn’t afraid of conflict either.
Silver Dragons, regardless of size, didn’t particularly concern him.
In fact, with his recent frustrations, he wouldn’t mind a fight as a way to vent.
Leon waited patiently for the Silver Dragon to approach.
“Leon.” The Silver Dragon spoke in Dragon Language, its voice accompanied by a faint hiss.
“Your na is Leon, correct?”
“How do you know my na?” Leon replied in Dragon Language.
“I’m a friend of Mankus,” the Silver Dragon said.
“He ntioned that you would surely co looking for him.
He said you liked to stand upright—if I hadn’t seen you standing, I might not have recognized you and wouldn’t have dared approach.”
“From the way you’re talking, it seems like he’s still alive.” Leon couldn’t hide his excitent—he hadn’t expected things to take a sudden turn for the better.
The Silver Dragon landed beside Leon, its size comparable to his own, and said, “Alive, yes, though it’s hardly different from being dead.”
“Was his injury severe?” Leon asked—not out of concern, but out of re curiosity.
“Not too severe.
He’s mostly recovered now,” the Silver Dragon replied with a chuckle.
“It’s just that his centuries’ worth of treasure has been completely plundered…
I’m sure you can understand that feeling.”
“By the way,” the Silver Dragon introduced itself, “I’m Grianna, a Silver Dragon.”
“Leon,” Leon responded.
“You already know—just a Red Dragon.”
“I never thought I’d be able to have a peaceful conversation with a Red Dragon.
It’s truly remarkable,” Grianna said, her chin adorned with whisker-like spiny fins.
A row of spines extended from the top of her head down her neck to her tail.
“Mankus told you were a particularly unique Red Dragon.
I didn’t believe him at first, but now I see it’s true.”
Leon chuckled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
“Lord Bahamut was right,” Grianna said with a nod.
“Even the most chaotic and evil of Red Dragons can have a chance at redemption.” tallic Dragons generally held respect for Bahamut, acknowledging him not as a deity but as a king.
“I don’t think I need any redemption.”
“You didn’t co here for that, did you?” Leon asked.
Whether Tiamat or Bahamut, Leon couldn’t care less.
“Let’s talk about Mankus instead.
He owes a set of Dragon Armor and still has so of my treasures.
I hope he hasn’t lost them.”
“That’s sothing you’ll need to discuss with him directly.” Although the Cloud Giant lived in Grianna’s lair, she had no intention of inviting Leon over.
“Wait here for a mont—I’ll be back soon.”
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