Chapter 77: Trolls of Gray Leaf Island

Sakavi moved away from the chaos and clamor over Split Scale Island, his wings carrying the fierce wind of high altitude, flying toward the island to the northeast that was larger and steaming with primitive power. As the distance closed, the details of Gray Leaf Island gradually became clear in his sharp dragon pupils.

Trolls were accustomed to using the most primitive ways to set fires, fell trees, and even uproot giant trees with their bare hands, clearing out crude open spaces and roads. The edge of the forest was uneven, as if it had been gnawed by a giant beast.

In the center of the Blood Claw tribe's territory stood a "Skull Totem Pole" piled up with giant beast skeletons and complete skulls. Fresh vines and dripping fur hung on it, silently proclaiming their latest hunt. At this moment, the loyal believers of the troll god Ushgo-Lamumu were following the shaman's frenzied dance, roaring and jumping around the totem pole, offering loyalty and blood to their god with the most primitive rituals.

On the hillside of the Stone Hammer tribe, the dull sound of giant stones colliding echoed. They used brute force to excavate the mountain, building crude but extremely sturdy giant stone fortresses and walls, looking like tumors grown from the mountains themselves.

They were the construction masters among trolls and also the only stone statue suppliers in the surrounding islands. Those stone statues full of primitive tension were piled messily outside the territory along with the quarried crushed stones. These rough-lined stone statues did not look like they had been carved, but rather like the trolls had smashed their unyielding will directly into the hard rock.

The swamp occupied by the Deep Moss tribe was itself a natural barrier. The fluorescent fungi they deliberately cultivated meandered in the fog, forming a deadly living map; while those totems composed of rotten mud, bones, and glowing paint constantly emitted witch-craft fog declaring the territory.

It was this soil rich in magic power and the extremely harsh environment that created their status as monopolists in the herb and magical plant industry of Hamodo, and also ensured that they were the only masters in this deadly swamp.

In the distance, the volcano where the Ember Bone tribe was located sprayed thick black smoke columns without stopping, like a scar branded on the earth. The thick sulfur smell permeating the air was its silent declaration.

As blacksmiths among trolls, their craftsmanship was indeed crude, far inferior to the fine work of dwarves and the clever skills of humans, but they understood the principle of practicality above all else. The heavy tools they produced, such as iron anchors and giant hammers, became one of the indispensable hard currencies in the eyes of pirates and various evil-aligned creatures due to their astonishing cheapness and durability.

When Sakavi swept across the east coast of Troll Tooth Island at low altitude, a fishy, salty scent completely different from the inland tribes rushed toward him. This was the territory of the Split Fin tribe, a tribe that deeply branded the troll's frenzy into the roaring waves and sharp reefs. The camp of the Split Fin tribe was cleverly embedded in the coastline, merging with the sea.

Their residences were different from their inland kin, not caves or mud houses, but sheds built with whale ribs, giant sea beast vertebrae, and broken shipboards looted from shipwrecks. These structures were streamlined to withstand coastal storms, and the roofs were covered with thick aquatic plants and waterproof sea beast skin, emitting a strong fishy and putrid smell.

The camp core was built on a natural reef group not far from the shore, connected to the main island by a crude stone bridge. This "Tidal Fortress" turned into an isolated island during high tide, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and was the residence of the tribal Great Chieftain, as well as a refuge for the entire tribe when facing invasion.

On the towering cliffs along the coast, they used natural caves to set up countless observation points, monitoring the sea level at all times, looking for merchant ships to loot or sea beasts to hunt.

They disdained using nets to catch small fish. Their targets were deep-sea giant beasts, such as giant squid, shield-scale sea monsters, and even juvenile sea dragons. They would drive assault canoes chiseled from whole giant trees, go out to sea in groups, fight sea beasts with giant bone barbs, and drag them back to the shore with brute force.

They possessed an amazing skill—taming sharks. The tribal shaman could guide nearby bull sharks or megalodons through bloody rituals and feeding, allowing these ocean killers to cruise around the fleet, coordinate in battle, or pursue when prey escaped.

Their ships were simple but incredibly sturdy, the bows often carved with the skulls of sea beasts or sharks, and the sides of the ships hung with heads of enemies or hunted sea beasts to deter others. They were the most chilling maritime force in the archipelago and nearby waters, besides human pirates.

They and the fish-man tribe of Shell Cliff Island were irreconcilable mortal enemies. The two sides engaged in endless conflicts for the rich fishing grounds, shipwreck treasures, and maritime hegemony. The Split Fin trolls regarded fish-men as "thieves stealing the gifts of the ocean," while fish-men regarded them as "evil barbarians."

Despite being savage, they were important and dangerous trading objects for human merchants. The deep-sea giant beast oil they provided was top-grade magic lamp oil and waterproof material, sea monster tendons were raw materials for making top-grade bowstrings, and giant pearls were worth a fortune. Although trading with them was no different from dealing with a tiger, merchants in Hamodo still flocked to them.

When Sakavi's dragon shadow swept across their coastline, the reaction of the Split Fin trolls also carried the wildness of the ocean. They did not assemble in the arena like their inland compatriots, but boarded their assault ships one after another, using hunting harpoons to rhythmically strike the sides of the ships, emitting a roar like war drums. With their highest maritime etiquette, they paid tribute to this powerhouse who could control the sky.

Sakavi's heavy body finally landed on the high platform paved with beast bones prepared for him, and the earth trembled slightly. He looked around with satisfaction at this group of his most powerful, most savage, and most "pure" servants. The air was filled with the scent of sweat, blood, seawater, and savage power.

This chaotic, wild, yet vibrant scene was exactly what he wanted. These trolls did not understand exquisite flattery, only worshipped absolute power. And Sakavi was the embodiment of power. Here, he didn't need to weigh and calculate like he did with humans, didn't need to restrain his pressure like he did with fish-men; he only needed to exist to harvest the most direct awe and submission.

Five chieftains with exceptionally massive bodies walked forward. They were different from ordinary trolls, wearing crude but giant metal decorations, mostly looted or exchanged from dwarves. They clenched their right fists and struck their left chest over their hearts heavily, emitting a dull sound, and then deeply lowered their heads. This was the troll etiquette for showing the highest respect, meaning "my power is for your use."

"Very good! I have witnessed your determination and power. My loyal servants, prepare to pour my anger upon the world! Let the entire world tremble at our feet! Tell me, are you already eager to drink blood? Are you ready to burn everything for me?"

"We are always at your command, great master. Your will is our only guide. Your order is the direction we rush toward."

"The gate of the Abyss has been opened, and those ignorant demons dare to desecrate my territory. Soon, I will lead you there to appease my anger with their wails. And you, my loyal claws, will also build a ladder with their bones to win the rewards you deserve. Endless treasures and vast territories are just ahead. Now, prove to me that you have enough courage and power to take them all into your pockets."

When the soldiers under his command fell into a sky-shaking carnival due to the black dragon's promise, the five chieftains exchanged glances silently. The shadow of demons hovered in their hearts, and cold fear gripped their throats. Any words of dissuasion seemed so pale and powerless; they could only suppress this deep worry in their hearts, maintaining a firm appearance while walking on thin ice in the torrent of fanaticism.

Fortunately, the troll race possessed a terrifying reproductive ability. They followed the savage rule of "three litters in two years, five cubs in one litter," and combined with the short cycle of reaching adulthood in only ten years, making their population base as unstoppable as a wildfire, often erupting into conflicts with surrounding islands.

Despite the extremely high infant mortality rate, which carried out cruel natural selection, this was only a necessary loss to maintain ecological balance for the entire race. If it weren't for their generally low intelligence, which limited the development of civilization, the pattern of this continent would probably have been a different look long ago.

The fleeting hesitation of the troll chieftains could not escape Sakavi's eyes. He had no intention of pointing it out. Selfishness was a nature that intelligent creatures could not strip away. If they really had no reservations, Sakavi would instead suspect whether these chieftains had already been invaded by the tentacles of mind flayers.

After all, that abandoned Mist Island had once been a colony of mind flayers. Who could guarantee that there were no certain magic arrays left behind there, or that they hadn't really left at all?

Regarding that Mist Island, Sakavi had no intention of going there. Although dragons were powerful, they were not invincible. As the absolute masters of the Underdark, the mind flayers' eerie psionic power was enough to reverse the power gap.

Sakavi knew deeply that in this world full of crises, there were always some gifted races that could achieve cross-level kills. Without full preparation, he would not easily step into that dangerous place.

Through an in-depth assessment of the population of the five major troll tribes, Sakavi selected three thousand of the strongest individuals as the foundation for reproduction and growth. He knew clearly that in this cruel land, almost no trolls, including those mysterious shamans, could live to old age.

Their strong and short lives became the most ideal living military assets, providing new blood for his future wars. However, these trolls had a fatal flaw: their power system was completely in a primitive state, without any systematic inheritance.

Even the shamans who could cast spells had abilities entirely based on personal exploration in ignorance, and what they obtained were only some fragmented, elementary spells. Among the five thousand trolls on the entire island, not even a single truly High-Level capable person had been born. ===== CHAPTER 78 =====