Chapter 868: One more person is one more bit of strength
"Bro, is it cruel?"
"A little."
"Hahaha, it’s perfectly normal. In any world, once a dominant race erges, the other races either beco slaves or they beco food. The end result is the sa."
This conclusion, this rule of the world, struck a chord with Orion.
In his own Titanion Realm, there were three demigods—two from the sea race, one from the humans. He imagined that long, long ago, the humans and the Sea Race must have fought a great war unknown to him, one that ended in a kind of harmonious power-sharing arrangent that partitioned the world.
There was a hidden balance in the Titanion Realm, one that Orion was not yet strong enough to break. In fact, this was the very reason he and the Stoneheart Horde had been left to grow in peace.
"Where there is oppression, there is resistance," Alexander’s voice cut in. "The races on this continent have united. They build cities, they seek out dragon nests, and they work together to drive out and kill the dragons."
"After killing a dragon in this world," he continued, "you are cursed. A Dragonslayer’s Mark appears on your body. This mark radiates a powerful hatred. If it is sensed by any dragon, you will be hunted down and sward."
It was a rule of this world, a thod the dragons used to keep the other races in check.
"So, we can’t kill dragons?" Orion asked, a flicker of doubt in his mind.
Not being able to kill dragons didn’t sound like his brothers’ style at all.
"No. We have to kill one. We must kill one," Leonidas responded, his voice filled with a raw killing intent. "Bro, if we don’t kill a dragon, how do we get a dragon soul? And without a dragon soul, who’s going to lead us to the Dragon’s Boneyard?"
Orion guessed what was coming. "So our first mission is to slay a dragon?"
"You got it! My bro is so smart!"
"Heh." Orion shrugged, rolling his eyes at Leonidas’s terrible joke.
"Bro, can our Champions Alliance invade this place?" Having understood the first step of their mission, Orion posed a new question.
"Don’t even think about it. It’s difficult. Very difficult," Leonidas said, his tone turning somber. "The Uynting Realm is a large world ruled by the dragons. It has a realm-wide protective formation."
"A small group like ours can teleport in without making any big waves; the dragons don’t care. But if they detect a large number of enemies and feel threatened, they’ll activate the realm formation, cutting off the teleportation passages. At that point, no matter how many warriors we bring, it won’t be enough for the dragons to slaughter."
"And besides," he added, "there are always dragon demigods stationed here. Invading this place would be a huge effort, a massive drain on ti. The gains aren’t worth the cost."
Alexander and Leonidas had been here once before. They had considered invading this world, but after much research, they had abandoned the idea. Even now, with the full might of the Champions Alliance, including the Deputy Commander and Arthas, invading this world would be an arduous undertaking.
"Then why don’t we just steal the living dragon eggs?" Orion asked, another question coming to mind.
"Don’t even think about that either. Every living egg in this world is marked from the mont it’s laid. An egg like that is a hot potato. Whoever takes it is dood to be hunted."
Leonidas had no interest in stealing living eggs.
Orion had a feeling that the dragons’ control over this world was absolute, overwhelming.
In the City of Lube, at the rcenaries’ Guild.
In most cities, the main hall of the rcenaries’ Guild was more like a grand tavern lobby than an office. rcenaries posting and accepting quests could not only find plenty of lounge areas to wait in but could also order food and drink from the staff.
In a large lounge in the southwest corner, a group of three n and two won sat together, speaking in low voices.
"Commander, we’ve already recruited the three hundred mbers we needed. Why are we still waiting another day?"
The speaker was Aiden, a handso young man. He was also a powerful Alpha-level lancer. As a core mber of the Dragonslayer’s Lance rcenary Corps, Aiden was proactive and passionate.
He was also proud. Youth has the capital to disdain all else.
"Yeah, Commander. We’ve recruited practically every available rcenary in the area. We’re not going to find any other powerful recruits by waiting," another voice added in agreent. "After all, Lube is a remote border city. High-tier rcenaries and hunters from other cities rarely co here."
The one who seconded Aiden’s opinion was Alilien, a short, thin woman with two swords hanging at her waist. Though Alilien appeared slight, the body beneath her leather armor was clearly defined with muscle. She was a swordswoman.
"Aiden, Alilien, we are going to slay a dragon. The more people we have, the higher our chances of success," the corps’ deputy commander, Neil, said, looking at their silent, wine-sipping commander before gently placating the two more active mbers of the team. "One more person is one more bit of strength."
"Right now, our team is lacking a high-tier tank. If we could just wait for a orc berserker or a human Shield Warrior to show up in the next couple of days, this operation would definitely go more smoothly."
"Perhaps fewer people would have to die."
Deputy Commander Neil was a Beastfolk, a clever male fox-person.
"You two should be more patient," a gentle female voice added. "The commander is never wrong. We just need to listen to him."
As she spoke, she passed two plates of delicious sweets to Aiden and Alilien.
"We know, Yala. We’re just worried that peak Alpha-level dragon will get wind of us and fly away!" Alilien said.
She and Yala were the two won in the group; the forr was mischievous and lively, the latter gentle and virtuous. Alilien took the opportunity to lean into Yala’s embrace, and while enjoying her full figure, playfully reached for her fluffy cat-ears.
Yala was a cat-woman who served as the group’s steward. She was also an assassin, and most of her duties involved protecting Deputy Commander Neil, the fox-tribe archer.
"That dragon won’t run," the greatsword-wielding commander, Borg, finally spoke, his voice a low rumble. "That canyon has the crystals it loves most. Given a dragon’s nature, it won’t easily abandon its nest. Besides..."
He was about to say more when two powerful, oppressive Alpha-level auras approached from a distance, drawing his attention and putting the entire group on high alert.
"Hehe, I assu you all are the mbers of the Dragonslayer’s Lance rcenary Corps?" Leonidas’s boisterous voice rang out.
He scanned the group, his gaze lingering on Commander Borg for a mont before finally settling on the human swordswoman, Alilien.
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