Chapter 44: Swamp Brawl

When the dragon wings of the dragon beasts swept over the swamp and looked down at this so-called "tribe," a feeling completely different from what they expected surged into their hearts. There was no chaotic stench, no disorderly clamor, but a kind of vigilant orderliness.

All buildings were built in the most defensible positions, connected by sturdy pine plank roads. Drainage ditches were clearly visible, ensuring that the tribe would not become a mud pond in the rainy season. The totems were no longer carved with primitive fear symbols, but patterns depicting Druids transforming into elk to guide Lizardmen, bringing harvest and order. This is a shaped faith.

There was no destruction of nature here, but the use of nature. Thorns were cultivated into natural fences, and poisonous mushrooms were planted on both sides of key roads as plant defenses. In a corner of the tribe, there were even fish farms composed of countless small grids, and several strong Lizardman fishermen seemed to be sprinkling something into the pond.

If you observe carefully, you will find that there are a large number of swamp giant crocodiles lurking under the main waterways and mudflats leading to the tribe. The size of these swamp giant crocodiles is larger than their wild counterparts, and their scales present a kind of ink-green that is almost black, covered with hard moss and barnacles, as if they were completely integrated with the swamp environment.

Their eyes are no longer the pure madness of wild beasts, but a kind of calm, almost cold waiting. The most significant feature is that the key parts of their heads and backs are covered with biological armor carefully woven from tough vines, hardwoods, and polished animal bones. This is not a simple binding, but as if it were symbiotic with their scales, providing extra protection without affecting their flexibility.

The watchtowers of the Lizardman tribe were not built at will. They were built from a mixture of huge, fire-treated hardwoods and vines, cleverly relying on the largest ancient trees or natural high ground, forming a cross-view with no dead ends.

Each watchtower not only had regular Lizardman archers, but the top platform was also specially reinforced, setting up the real killer—bed crossbows. More importantly, the tower body was wrapped in living thorn vines, which could grow rapidly under the urging of the Druids, entangling enemies trying to climb. The Harpies could clearly perceive that these vines were an extension of the Druids' natural perception network.

These bed crossbows did not seem to be regular standard equipment. Their bow bodies were made of swamp ironwood and the tendons of some kind of giant creature, looking rough but powerful. The crossbow bolts were even more impressive. Compared with ordinary crossbow bolts, they were more like huge throwing spears. The arrowheads were not made of pure metal, but of polished obsidian, and simple armor-piercing and wind-walking runes were carved on them.

Igro said contemptuously: "Humph, a circle of tamed poultry." He sprayed sparks with a sulfur smell from his nostrils. "Look at those buildings, neat and uniform like a beehive, which really makes people angry. Such things should not exist. That Druid turned Lizardmen into docile sheep. Conquering this place has no glory at all, just like crushing an exquisite model, but it is very interesting."

The White Dragon beast Zelath said confusedly: "... Where are the treasures hidden?" Her ice-blue pupils scanned below. All materials—dried fish, collected moss, polished stone tools—were classified and stored in specific huts or elevated platforms. "Too poor! There is not even a decent trophy. They must have hidden the good things. They must be in that long house built of stone!"

The Bronze Dragon beast Aequilon exclaimed: "A kind of... efficient order." He observed with the rigor of a soldier. "Look at those warriors, their scale armor is maintained as brightly, and the angles of the spears in their hands are unified. There is no loose wildness in their eyes, only vigilance and obedience. This Druid has achieved what many commanders find difficult to achieve. He is a remarkable figure."

Vilanse: "Everyone, small talk ends here. Explain your intentions. Don't tell me you are just passing by here. I don't believe this."

Lady Tali: "Aunt Vilanse, my father asked us to invite you to be a guest. Do you want to go yourself, or do you want us to do it for you?"

Vilanse gritted her teeth and said: "No wonder Kadowen has become more and more chaotic recently. It turns out that bastard is making trouble again. I really regret not killing him on the spot."

"Lady Tali, you talk too much!" After saying that, Vicks launched a linear lightning attack towards Vilanse, but was easily dodged by Vilanse.

The Druid counterattacked. She did not rush into the enemy formation, but stood up, and her front hooves stepped down heavily. Suddenly, the swamp ground of the entire tribe began to churn violently, and thick thorn vines broke out of the ground like giant pythons, entangling the limbs of the four dragon beasts, trying to limit their movement and spellcasting.

Then she let out a long and ancient deer cry, and several huge swamp giant crocodiles rushed out of the surrounding swamp waters, and a group of fierce Lizardman berserkers also rushed out of the shadows, attacking the dragon beast group.

Vicks ignored the vines under his feet and spat out several linear lightning breaths, accurately sweeping across the charging Lizardman berserkers and giant crocodiles. The smell of burnt paste permeated the air, and the first wave of ground troops was instantly paralyzed. At the same time, he cast "Mirror Image," and several illusions that were difficult to distinguish appeared beside him, interfering with the Druid's locking.

Zelath seemed extremely angry at the vines that bound her. She raised her head and spat out a cone-shaped extreme cold breath. It was not aimed at the Druid, but at the ground under her feet. Instantly, the swamp water, vines, and two giant crocodiles rushing over were frozen into huge ice sculptures together.

"Not bad, very clever Druid spell," Aequilon exclaimed, "But this can't trap us. If you have no other moves, then..." This Bronze Dragon beast seemed more interested in watching the battle than participating in it, and didn't even mean to break free from the shackles.

"Bug, you pissed me off. Let you taste the strength of the powerful Igro. It's too late to beg for mercy now!" After saying that, he flapped his dragon wings, forcibly tearing off the scorched vines. And locked onto the Druid, a cone-shaped flame breath whistled out. Wherever the flame passed, huts and trees were turned into ashes. The Druid elk jumped sideways nimbly, but the mane was still scorched by the high temperature.

Just after landing, Vilanse, who sensed the crisis, instantly turned into a turtle and rolled backward, and easily launched "Thorn Cage." After a few breaths, countless ice cones fell like raindrops. She barely blocked this fatal blow, but saw Vicks rushing over like lightning. When he was about to approach, with a loud bang, the Blue Dragon beast was overturned to the ground in the explosion of fire.

Immediately afterwards, several vines suddenly grew from the ground, firmly trapping Vicks, and began to take root in his body. The Blue Dragon beast's body gradually withered in constant wailing. At this time, a small tornado appeared out of thin air from the ground, instantly crushing the dangerous vines that were entangled.

At the same time, three spherical lightning bolts flew towards Vilanse one after another. After breaking through two layers of shield walls, the thunder storm ball exploded, and the dazzling thunder light swallowed the Druid's figure. The shockwave of the explosion lifted all the mud and water around.

The thunder light dissipated, half of the Druid elk's antlers were blown to pieces, and her body was scorched, kneeling in the mud, her breath weak. The emerald light in her eyes dimmed.

Seeing this, the four dragon beasts surrounded from different angles, but none dared to step forward. Having learned the Druid's power, no one could guarantee that she had no trump cards in her hand, so they confronted each other, as if waiting for the moment when the Druid couldn't hold on, but this was obviously wishful thinking.

Seeing the green light suddenly light up between the Druid's eyebrows, the surrounding plants gradually withered and decayed, and the scorched wounds on her body healed miraculously. Seeing the scene in front of her, the four dragon beasts did not dare to hesitate, and the attacks followed one after another.

The first to do it was Iroge. Seeing him directly use "Fire Domain," covering the entire area in flames. Vilanse, who had no place to stand, had to turn into an eagle and fly towards the swamp behind. This was exactly what Zelath wanted. Seeing her use "Cold Current," freezing the swamp, Vilanse, who had no way back, had to stand on the ice to meet the enemy.

Before she could stand firm on the ice, several wind blades flew over one after another. Helplessly, Vilanse had to dodge everywhere. Unexpectedly, the ice surface suddenly cracked, and a blue dragon claw slapped her away. Just as she was about to get up, the Harpy's thunder spear was already in front of her eyes.

"Aunt Vilanse, compared to back then, your methods are even more powerful. However, there are many of us today, so you don't need to make meaningless resistance."

"Humph, don't even think about it." After saying that, the Druid elk took a deep look at the destroyed natural land, let out a low cry mixed with sadness and determination, and then her body turned into countless dancing leaves and light spots, merging into the fog of the swamp. She used her last strength to cast "Wood Escape" and escaped the battlefield.

"Too excellent, this battlefield calculation and analysis ability. Being able to resist for so long in the face of five Master Ranks is really a master! If it weren't for our many dragon beasts, we would have fallen. Don't you think so? Black Dragon Vicks."

"Hahahahaha!" As soon as Aequilon finished speaking, everyone present laughed. Vicks, who was scorched all over, looked at his body and laughed along.

Lady Tali: "Don't laugh. If you laugh again, Vilanse will really run away. If you can't hand in the task by then, see how you handle it."

Aequilon: "I expected this kind of thing long ago. I specifically borrowed the Hunter's Compass from Klausuna to ensure she can't run away."

…………

This place is like a corner forgotten by time. Huge ancient trees grow in a ring, and the twisted tree roots are exposed on the surface like sleeping giant pythons, forming natural stairs and barriers. The canopy is tightly intertwined high in the sky, almost obscuring all sunlight, and only a few golden light pillars penetrate down like holy light, accurately illuminating the center of the clearing.

There is a clear spring there, with water lilies emitting soft light floating on the water surface, forming a sharp contrast with the filthy swamp water outside. The air is filled with a rich breath of life, a mixture of soil, flowers, and ancient trees, almost dispelling the sulfur, ozone, and bloody smell brought by the dragon beasts.

The Druid elk stood by the spring. The scorched wounds on her body were healing extremely slowly under the nourishment of the surrounding life energy. There was no panic of a fugitive in her eyes, only a deep exhaustion and majesty that could not be desecrated.

Igro stepped forward first, burning the green grass into scorched black with his burning front claws. He broke the silence with a thunderous voice: "Run, old deer! Why don't you run anymore? Your jungle traps and those slippery Lizardman brats couldn't save you!"

The Druid slowly raised her head, her eyes calmly sweeping over the Red Dragon, her voice like wind blowing through the forest, hoarse but full of power: "Run? No. I just led you away from the place where I poured too much effort. Every piece of land scorched by your fire and frozen by your ice is crying to me. This is the last pure land, not to be defiled by you."

Zelath roared impatiently, her cold breath condensing the water vapor in the air into frost: "Less nonsense! Where is the shiny stuff? Your treasure! Hand it over, and I'll give you a quick death!" She sniffed greedily, but there was only the freshness of plants and water here, which made her very dissatisfied.

"There is no such dirty thing here. What there is is the breathing of this forest, the peace of the tribe, and the cycle of life. These, you will never understand, and you will never be able to take away."

Vicks stepped forward with heavy steps, his voice hard: "Your tribe has indeed shown rare order, which is worthy of recognition. But order will eventually submit to stronger order. Surrender, Druid. Your knowledge may still have value to our master."

"Submit?" The Druid slammed her front hooves on the ground, and the light in the forest seemed to tremble with it. "Nature never submits! I may fall here, but the forest will remember your scent. Vines will entangle your skeletons, fungi will decompose your scales, and rain will wash away everything that exists of you. The revenge of nature, though slow, will surely come."

Aequilon: "Druid, you may be right, but you can take a look at this thing." After saying that, he took out a scroll, which emitted an ominous aura, making people feel extremely uncomfortable. "I think you should be able to guess what this is for. Are you willing to talk about surrender now?"

The moment the Bronze Dragon beast took out the scroll, Vilanse had already guessed its function and had to say helplessly: "I can surrender, on the condition that you are not allowed to touch any of the creatures in the forest and swamp."

Lady Tali: "Deal!" ===== CHAPTER 45 =====