Chapter 6

Once the lizardman forces are trained, eliminating the swamp monster should be prioritized. Sakavi didn’t believe a beast that had dominated the swamp for centuries lacked power; as a cunning, treacherous black dragon, he would never choose to fight in unfamiliar territory.

From the lizardmen, Sakavi learned the swamp monster periodically purges surrounding races to prevent any one group from growing too strong. It had been less than half a year since its last clash with the lizardmen; luring it out now would require effort.

For a large beast, nothing is more intolerable than someone encroaching on its territory. Sakavi planned to transform into a smaller version of the swamp monster and wreak havoc nearby.

The swamp monster’s primary attack is acid. Since black dragon breath is also acidic, Sakavi could mimic its appearance without direct contact with other races.

According to the lizardman chieftain Loen, around the swamp lived not only the lizardman tribe and the neighboring lizard folk, but also two Lokar fisherfolk clans, a bog toad tribe, and the Naga’s junior version—the serpent tribe.

The lizard folk were traditional allies of the lizardmen, and due to their low reptilian intelligence, Sakavi dismissed them outright. The bog toad tribe reportedly had a priest capable of casting fourth-tier spells—approaching them risked exposure.

Even the swamp monster dared not provoke the serpent tribe lightly; though their strength was unknown, they clearly weren’t harmless. Following the principle of picking the softest targets, Sakavi planned to strike the two nearby fisherfolk clans.

The night in the Stinking Marsh usually belonged to frog croaks, wingbeats, and the low mutterings of fisherfolk. Warriors of the Broken Scale tribe patrolled among flickering glow-mushrooms, wielding crude bone spears—all was normal.

But this night would not be as tranquil as before. Sensing something, the high priest hurriedly left his reed-thatched hut and began praying before the totem pole.

The intruder tonight was unusually powerful—even the fisherfolk’s god, “Kur,” pretended to nap. When no answer came, the high priest collapsed to the ground, his face twisted in terror, leaving the chieftain speechless.

Suddenly, a tentacle covered in suckers erupted from the water and lashed toward the high priest. One patrolman spotted the attack but remained frozen in shock, his alarm cry incoherent.

With a thunderous boom, the totem pole and the wooden pilings supporting the floor vanished. Amid the screech of splintering hut wood and the brief, piercing screams of fisherfolk, a massive, nearly invisible gelatinous body rose from the swamp depths.

Fishermen awakened from sleep screamed and scattered in panic—but it was all futile. Where the giant tentacles struck, reed huts, drying nets, and stored grain were all flattened.

Some fisherfolk who tried to resist discovered their bone arrows inflicted no damage. In response came a stinking spray of acid.

When the first rays of dawn pierced the mist over what had once been the fisherfolk village, all that remained was a silent, polluted expanse of water, littered with countless fisherfolk corpses.

Looking at the slaughterhouse-like scene, Virensa frowned, unsure what to say. Sensible Sakavi did not boast of his deeds, but said: “Let’s gather the fisherfolk corpses and burn them. Leaving them here will breed disease.”

“That’s true. But Sakavi, I hope this is an exception. No living being should be slaughtered like this!”

“Of course. Once I establish power here in the swamp, there will be no more killing.”

If one examined the ruins closely, no signs of corrosion were visible—only traces of tree sap. The surviving fisherfolk likely dared not return; with their low intelligence, their first move would be to storm the swamp monster’s territory and demand an explanation.

After instructing the birds to monitor the swamp monster, Sakavi began laying traps in the area. When the swamp monster entered, it would find its escape route underwater lined with spikes—though these normally couldn’t stop it, Sakavi had no intention of giving it time to clear them.

Intelligence indicated the swamp monster would arrive at dusk. Perhaps due to the long absence of rivals, its vigilance had dropped severely—it even dared to travel by day.

At dusk, the mist cleared, and the water glowed crimson under the setting sun. The cries of returning waterfowl rose and fell. Virensa sighed: “Having someone watch the sunset with me is so delightful. I wish I could enjoy this every day.”

But Sakavi had no mood to admire the sunset. Though the water remained calm, his instinct told him the swamp monster had arrived. Suddenly, a shriek shattered the silence—a massive head slowly surfaced.

“Who dares attack the mighty Visas?!”

In response, a fireball exploded in its face. With a cry, the swamp monster plunged back into the water. Another scream followed—a tentacle thicker than Sakavi rose from the surface, instantly corroding all surrounding aquatic plants.

“Insect, you’ve made me furious!”

Immediately, a water blade shot toward Sakavi. After assessing its strength, Sakavi made no move to dodge—it struck his chest scales directly.

The terrifying water blade left only a faint white mark on his scales. Sakavi sneered: “The Lord of the Swamp is nothing but a joke. It’s time someone replaced you.”

Enraged, the swamp monster lashed out with three tentacles. Seizing the moment, Sakavi cast a solidify spell, turning the water’s surface into thick sludge. Simultaneously, over a dozen prepared lizardman sorcerers unleashed water arrows, severing two tentacles in succession.

As the final tentacle neared Sakavi, a wind blade formed instantly, slicing it into three pieces. Dragons are powerful not only because of their dragon heritage, but primarily due to their innate affinity with elemental forces.

Humans and elves must chant to communicate with the elemental plane before they can wield elemental magic. Dragons, however, wield elemental magic as effortlessly as picking up an object.

Of course, this applies only to simple elemental spells. Complex spells requiring elemental shaping still demand incantations.

“Fire!”

At Sakavi’s command, forty-five poisoned spears plunged into the swamp monster’s body, followed by a second volley, then a third.

Sensing disaster, the swamp monster spat a water orb that exploded, blasting open its escape route. Before the sludge could flow back, it fled into the water.

What seemed like a flaw in the plan was intentional. Sakavi couldn’t afford to lose the lizardmen—if they all perished here, the cost would be too high. Seeing the swamp monster retreat far enough, Sakavi decided to give it a surprise.

As the swamp monster struggled toward its lair, the ground beneath it suddenly surged upward, forming a small island—and it was stranded. Looking at the confused monster, Sakavi asked: “Brother, like the gift?”

“You black lizard, I %＊@&#&!”

Realizing it was again the black dragon behind this, the swamp monster raged. But Sakavi, a dragon universally despised, wouldn’t be rattled by such petty insults.

“Brother, calm down. I’m a villain recognized by the world—bullying other races is my job. How can you scold me for it? Ahahahaahaha!”

The swamp monster: “………….”

As Sakavi laughed, a tentacle erupted from the ground and wrapped tightly around him. He’d assumed the swamp monster was helpless out of water—apparently, he’d underestimated it.

Just as Sakavi began to suffocate, the tentacle suddenly loosened, and the swamp monster screamed in agony. Sakavi sighed: “Didn’t expect you’d use your last trick so soon. Too bad.”

When planning the ambush, Sakavi had anticipated unexpected developments. He’d coated the spears with spores from a specially cultivated plant—one that, once awakened by magic, rapidly took root.

This plant seemed useless—but planted inside a living body, it became deadly. Trapped, Sakavi bit into a scroll hidden in his mouth. The spores instantly “woke.”

A beast that had lived for centuries wouldn’t die from such a trick. Within dozens of breaths, the swamp monster killed the plant with its internal acid. But that time was enough for Sakavi to escape.

Wiser now, Sakavi flew into the air to attack from a distance. But he never imagined the swamp monster’s arsenal was endless—it overwhelmed him completely.

Even a simple water arrow became a rain of projectiles. Barely dodging a steam bomb, Sakavi decided to close in for melee.

Perhaps sensing his intent, the swamp monster intensified its attacks. Five water cannons exploded midair, scattering countless lethal droplets—completely blocking Sakavi’s path.

Using speed beyond belief, Sakavi dodged the water cannons, hurtling toward the swamp monster like a black arrow—only to collide head-on with a hyper-concentrated steam bomb.

Watching the black shadow plummet from the sky, the swamp monster finally exhaled in relief, planning to heal and then punish the lizardmen thoroughly. Suddenly, a searing pain struck its head. Before it could react, Sakavi tore off half its skull. Watching Sakavi leap off its body, the swamp monster was both terrified and furious.

Terrified that it had been struck silently after being hit; furious that it had nearly been killed. Watching the half of the swamp monster’s head regenerating, Sakavi marveled at its tenacity—unlike himself, who relied on illusions to evade attacks.

No time to think. Sakavi lunged again. The swamp monster fought back, whipping its tentacles relentlessly. Two hours later, Sakavi turned to Virensa, who was watching the moon from the island: “Got any healing herbs? Or a healing spell?”

“No. If you’re this tough, why need healing? Just get killed—it’d be better.”

“Accident, accident! Hahaha! I got carried away. Next time, I swear I won’t.”

“You could’ve bitten straight for the kill. Instead, you chewed off each tentacle one by one. Fine here—but next time? Afraid someone’ll sneak up on you after?”

“...I know I’m wrong.”

Seeing Sakavi covered in tentacle wounds and acid burns, Virensa couldn’t bring herself to scold further. After bandaging him, Sakavi, wrapped head to toe in linen, cheered: “Virensa, don’t I look like a mummy now? Hahaha!”

Virensa rolled her eyes: “I don’t know what a mummy is. I only know I want to kick you into the swamp right now.”

Sakavi suddenly remembered mummies didn’t exist in this world. Fearing Virensa would ask what a mummy was, he quickly changed the subject.

“This time, I dropped so many scales—I can convert plenty of followers. What a windfall!”

Virensa: “………….”

“Then keep your scales and stay here. I’m leaving.”

“Don’t go! I can’t fly, and I can’t touch water—what’ll I do if you leave?”

After returning with Virensa to the lizardman tribe, Sakavi could only nod and agree as Virensa lectured him endlessly, daring not to utter a single word of protest.